--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]

A shame, because some of them really could use someone to tell them no. Really, you'd think with how focused these people are on appearances, some would try better hairstyles or less stupid-looking outfits.

[takesitall]

You'd think.

[He smiles.]

I forget, did I give my name?

[ignoranceisblight]

You didn't, no.

[And admittedly, he didn't ask or give his own name.]

[takesitall]

You can call me Aventurine. Auntie might get mad if I gave you my real name, she tends to do that. Says it makes me more appealing.

[ignoranceisblight]

Your aunt needs to prioritize better.

[Just saying.]

Aventurine. I'm Veritas Ratio.

[takesitall]

Her priority is showing me off.

[Ratio, Ratio...]

Oh, the scholar?

[ignoranceisblight]

[He makes a face at the first part, then nods.]

Yes, the scholar. ... My relatives dragged me out here, but perhaps it wasn't so bad this time.

[takesitall]

I'm sorry they made you come to Auntie's gala...but I am glad you came. It's been much less miserable this time.

[ignoranceisblight]

I'm glad I did too. I've enjoyed talking to you.

[And he does not say that lightly.]

... Perhaps coming to these more often won't be so bad. To keep you company, if nothing else.

[takesitall]

I don't think I would complain.

[And he doesn't. He still hates going to these things and still spends a fair bit being paraded around like a prized cow, but he's able to escape eventually and find Ratio. They always end up chatting, just the two of them, and Aventurine ends the nights in a much better mood than they start.

One night, after escaping the crowd, Aventurine finds a quiet cubby somewhere and just sort of melts. He can't go looking for Ratio right now, he's exhausted from the dancing.]

[ignoranceisblight]

[And Ratio still hates going to these himself, but talking to Aventurine is always worth it.

As soon as Ratio can escape, he makes a beeline for the quiet cubby Aventurine's hidden himself in. As he slides in, he removes his headpiece with a small smile.]

Mind if I join you?

[It's half-joking, Ratio knows his company is likely welcome.]

[takesitall]

Please.

[He makes room for Ratio.]

I hate dancing. They want to do nothing but talk and brag...

[ignoranceisblight]

[Ratio sits down, setting the headpiece in his lap.]

Sounds like you could use a better dance partner.

[He's pretty sure Aventurine's aunt would never allow it, but...]

[takesitall]

Or at least a quiet one. [He sighs.] The women are the worst. I don't even like women.

[ignoranceisblight]

That makes the both of us. At least I can get away with scaring them off when they bother me.

[He shifts so Aventurine can lean against him.]

[takesitall]

[And he does with a sigh.]

If I did that, Auntie would have words. And so would Sis, but only because she doesn't want me to get in trouble.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He sighs softly, reaching up to smooth Aventurine's hair.]

I wish I could help the two of you get away from your aunt.

[takesitall]

It's a money issue. She took us in out of familial obligations and wants one of us to repay her for our education, at least.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He pauses.]

I could... help with that, if you want.

[The Ratios are loaded and his parents sure as hell wouldn't miss a bit of it for something like this. They might argue it as the better thing to do, even.]

[takesitall]

How?

[It's Ratio, so Aventurine doubts he's going to offer to marry him and so he'll hear him out.]

[ignoranceisblight]

My family wouldn't miss the money to pay for the education.

[But would the aunt get suspicious if Ratio just passed the money along to Aventurine...? That seems likely...]

[takesitall]

I'd need to...do something for you, though, to make sure my aunt didn't get suspicious or start rumors.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He grimaces.]

... Do you have any ideas?

[takesitall]

Hmm...well, she doesn't allow me to work so I can't offer that. I could introduce you to my sister and we say that she did the work, whatever it'd be, but then we'd have to get into fair market prices and all that...

[This leaves basically "marriage", but he doesn't want to suggest that. Not to his only friend.]

[ignoranceisblight]

That'd also involve me having to come up with something sufficiently convincing.