AQUA.

[tactic]

WAIT HERE

Comments

w0, monday.

[tactic]

[ Guess who's at the cabin, staring at the plaque of names.

He's got his back to anyone approaching, but even that back tells a story... of envy. ]

[keeper]

[ she opens the door and pops her head out, after seeing a figure through one of the windows... so now she can read the envy on his face instead. ]

—Oh. Aventurine.

[ she tries not to smile at his expense, but doesn't entirely succeed. ]

...Dare I guess where you're staying?

[ does he want to make a game of this too? (i'll spare you yuul.) ]

[tactic]

[ He looks so defeated. This place is breaking him. ]

Hello, Miss Aqua. I don't think you'll have to guess very hard.

[ Anguish... He's going to smell like barn until who knows when. ]

[keeper]

[ chin up... ]

...

[ yeah. yeah he does smell like barn. ]

...Maybe you can ask someone for a trade?

[ NOT HER. ]

W3 FRIDAY

[keeper]

[ she'll probably be around the pharmacy (that has ice cream) the next morning when she spots aventurine. the effect hasn't worn off just yet and there will probably be an uncomfortable, annoying ache for him, but it's not nearly as bad as yesterday at least... she is hopped up on pain meds, wao

but anyway they can find a seat somewhere outside to chat ]

...I can't believe we were here just a few days ago.

[ HE WAS A BAB!! she smiles a little and waits to see if he has any questions or commentary, before she starts probing herself... ]

[tactic]

[ Secondhand numbed from painkillers, nice.

He leans back against his seat, a small, tired smile on his face as he reminisces about something that happened earlier this week. It's always the end of the weeks that seem to bring on the horrors. ]

A good memory... So much has happened since then.

[ Go for the probe, Aqua. ]

[keeper]

[ we really went from cute baby hours to hospital fire to flea bath/party games to cyoa to break-in (with multiple deaths sprinkled here and there, just for funsies,) and now it's Official Die Day/Weekend, ]

...Mhm. It was an unexpected change of pace.

[ a pause, before she GOES FOR THE PROBE ] Will you tell me more about your sister?

[ they seemed inseparable... ]

W4 TUESDAY

[keeper]

( from here! )

[ WHY ARE ALL OF OUR THREADS SO SERIOUS!!!!!!! GOD!!!!! anyway, she can see his expression fall a bit. ]

...What's on your mind?

[tactic]

Very little escapes you, huh?

[ He's smiling but the reaction is ]

... I was just thinking... that it's a little different for me here.

[keeper]

Only because I'm watching you extra closely.

[ you seem to always hide a lot behind your smiles. ]

How so...?

W4 FRIDAY!!!!!!

[keeper]

[ THE PROMISED HOSPITAL PC!! WE WILL NEVER HAVE A SINGLE LAUGH THIS GAME

she's been around save for when he has other visitors, just sort of worriedly hovering as you do. she'll have brought him a glass of water and a plate of cut fruit like an asian mom. ]

...Hey.

[ she looks composed but is projecting otherwise ]

How're you feeling...? [ injury report pls ]

[tactic]

[ He's starting to stay awake for longer periods of time, though he still gets tired rather quickly and there's an insanely painful migraine eating away at his skull. Half of his face is covered in bandages, and there are more bandages around his neck and right arm, but he at least has more color to his face now.

There's a quick, small smile in thanks for the water and fruit, though he doesn't touch either one for now. ]

Better... I'm sorry to have worried everyone.

[keeper]

[ aventurine... your beautiful face that has caused so many people to lose their gacha dollars...

she shakes her head. ]

You don't need to apologize for anything.

[ just glad you're still here. she'd ask what happened but... it seems more important to let him get rest. ]

W5 MONDAY

[keeper]

[ IT'S EMOSHARE WEEK: everyone gets the same, steady baseline emotions of warm fondness and care, the feeling of being wrapped up in sunlight, or perhaps the brightness of the stars on a clear night.

i'm totally ignoring murder from last week they are in the amusement park. not a single sad or serious thought will occur. ]

...Where do we even start?

[ they're just bombarded by rides and games. ]

[tactic]

[ Yeah, this is overwhelming, but not in a bad way. Aventurine's own emotionshare betrays how excited he feels to be here. He's all about flashing lights and thrills, so he's right at home at this boardwalk. ]

How about some games? I bet I could win a couple of grand prizes.

[ They'd just have to walk around with giant, human-sized plushies after. ]

[keeper]

[ this is a very cute reaction. ]

Sounds good to me. I won't leave you to do all the heavy lifting, either.

[ YEAH THEIR ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE PLUSHIES!! anyway there's ring toss, hoops, shooting, ball-rolling or whatever it's called, whac-a-mole, high striker... etc. etc. ]

We can work our way through. Are you feeling up for a test of strength, reflexes, or skill?

w6, tuesday.

[tactic]

[ It must be a late start to Aventurine's day, because he's only just now leaving the apartments. He's made his way down the stairs and is about to cross the lobby when he runs into... Aqua!

He stops for a moment, initial surprise quickly turning into a greeting smile instead. ]

Hello, Aqua.

[keeper]

[ AHHHHHH it's one of her victims from yesterday... she immediately goes over to him to apologize. ]

Hi, Aventurine. I'm so sorry about yesterday...

[ it's AWKWARD and she FEELS BAD! ]

I hope you know I didn't mean any of it.

[tactic]

[ WAVES IT ASIDE ]

Don't fret over it, really. I know how awful those curses can be.

w6, thursday.

[tactic]

[ OKAY

WHERE IS AQUA is she at the hospital or her room or floating face down in the spring, well. Wherever she is, Aventurine is also right there beside her and watching her with a strained look on his face. ]

[keeper]

[ dad says it's my turn to be in the hospital!!

her injuries aren't entirely mended but they're definitely less drastic than before. she has bandages over her left forearm, right upper arm, her chest and her abdomen (though those aren't immediately apparent under her hospital gown).

...her hair is lighter than usual, and when she opens her eyes, they're yellow. she blinks a few times and looks around, but her gaze doesn't land on aventurine.

she probably doesn't realize just yet he's in the room with her. ]

[tactic]

[ i think we should blow up the hospital that means no one gets injured

As soon as she stirs, Aventurine reaches for her, lightly placing the tips of his fingers against her arm where there are no bandages. He doesn't apply any pressure to the touch, just a moment of contact as he calls out to her. ]

Aqua...?

[ He looks into those unfamiliar yellow eyes, the tone of his voice obviously concerned. ]

W7 TUESDAY

[keeper]

[ they are chilling wherever... ]

...How are you feeling about all this?

[ going back home especially... ]

I don't think you ever told me exactly what happened to you before you arrived here. Something about wading through a river...?

[ that was 923847329874894 years ago i had a hernia pulling up that thread to check. anyway i must shake out the lore from you before the game ends, we can do a stupid thread tomorrow for pardi, hypothetically, ]

[tactic]

[ Then they are chilling at the hot springs!! Dipping their feetsies into the warm water and occasionally getting jumpscared by a ghostly hand grabbing onto an ankle. ]

Apprehensive, I suppose.

[ But aren't they all? There's a stretch of silence as Aventurine debates what to say and how much to say. Though now that they're in the final stretch, he doesn't see much of a point in keeping secrets or being vague. His emotionshare remains steady. ]

And yes, good memory. In simple terms, I died.

[keeper]

[ foot soup hours!!

anyway have some immediate feelings that are just Don't Like That At All. it's affection week so i have an excuse for her to put an arm around him!!!! ]

...Then we'll have to figure out a way to help you.

How did it happen...?