--Statuesque--

[takesitall]

[Once again, Aventurine--Kakavasha, but in public he goes by Aventurine to keep his allure--has been dolled up and brought out to be shown off and fawned over at one of his aunt's galas. He and his sister are lucky, their aunt was able to locate them and get them out of a bad situation with the death of their parents, but...well. Parisa knows damn well that her brother is just being used as a status grab, what with his general beauty and intelligence and general good luck. But they can't do anything about it. They haven't got the money to get away from their aunt.

So Aventurine is dolled up and brought out to the gala, sitting more or less by himself in the garden. Like a statue.]

Comments

[ignoranceisblight]

Well, when it comes to sweets, I'm always a fan of anything that heavily features nuts and honey. I also enjoy bougatsa... But to tell you the truth, I'm not picky when it comes to sweets at all.

[takesitall]

Excellent taste. But what about not-sweets?

[ignoranceisblight]

When it comes to things that aren't sweets, the spicier the better. That aside... I enjoy keftedes, tirokafteri, tsigareli, and pork souvlaki especially.

[takesitall]

Oh, you're perfect. It's not the exact same as the stuff we grew up with, but all of that is some of our favorites.

[ignoranceisblight]

Is that so? Wonderful.

[Maybe he can cook for them sometime, then.]

What else do you enjoy?

[takesitall]

...like, hobbies or...?

[Parisa winces. Aventurine wasn't allowed to explore that sort of thing.]

[ignoranceisblight]

Food. I meant food.

[... He'll encourage Aventurine finding hobbies once the siblings are away from their aunt.]

[takesitall]

Oh. Have you ever heard of chai? And there's a type of roast chicken that Sis makes that I love, with the spices.

[ignoranceisblight]

[Ratio perks up a bit at the mention of chai.]

I have heard of chai, actually. I'm fond enough that I keep some around the house, usually.

[takesitall]

Really? We haven't had it in years, Auntie's never been terribly fond of it but it was a favorite of ours growing up...

[ignoranceisblight]

[He nods.]

I tried it a few years back and I was hooked.

[takesitall]

[The rest of their date is amazing, and they make plans to have one at least once a week for a while. Now that Parisa's met him, they don't even need to take her along!

For the best, really, because one week Aventurine shows up at their meeting place absolutely furious. His sister would have probably only made it worse, even accidentally.]

[ignoranceisblight]

[Oh, that's.

Hm.]

Aventurine, what's wrong?

[takesitall]

Do you think if I shoved my aunt in a lake, you could get me out of whatever trouble that'd cause?

[ignoranceisblight]

That's unlikely. What happened?

[Said as he reaches out for Aventurine, to gently tug him down next to Ratio on this bench.]

[takesitall]

Other than trying to control all the wedding plans?

[Aventurine goes, but he keeps a little space between them so he doesn't hit Ratio when he starts gesturing.]

That, essentially. And trying to say we can live with her for a few years while we "get our feet under us".

[ignoranceisblight]

Absolutely the hell not. I have my own place that's plenty big enough for us and Parisa, I have already been living on my own for a while, there will be no need to "get our feet under us". I'm not allowing her to extort the two of you any further.

[Because that's what it feels like at this point.]

[takesitall]

...that's what it is at this point, isn't it? Extortion. I know she uses Parisa for free labor, sewing and stuff, and I tend to do the finances...

[ignoranceisblight]

[Ratio nods.]

It's extortion at this point, and we need to do something about it.

[But how to get her away from Aventurine and Parisa...

Asking Jade is a deal with the devil, but maybe Wing could dig something up...]

[takesitall]

Goddess.

[The fire kind of leaves him and he just slumps against Ratio.]

I hate this.

[ignoranceisblight]

I know, I do too.

[As he wraps his arm around Aventurine.]

I can have a contact of mine look into her, but... we could use the fact that my family has more sway in the community to pressure her into backing off.

[takesitall]

That would be nice.

[He sighs and just leans against Ratio even more.]

Mama would kill her, if she saw what her sister was like now.

[ignoranceisblight]

I'll talk to my parents tonight, then--or in a while, if you'd like to speak to them yourself?

[He'll just... privately have Wing start looking into her.]

Oh?

[takesitall]

Let's wait on meeting your parents, at least until I calm down.

[So give him a few hours.]

Mm. She used to be a lot less...this.

[ignoranceisblight]

Alright.

[He pulls Aventurine a bit closer.]

I see...

[It's hard to imagine her as anything but like this but he's perhaps not being especially fair. It's difficult to want to.]