[ Aventurine's passing by the cabin, highkey envious the people listed on the plaque didn't get BARN, when he spots a familiar face. Immediately, he's walking right into the place with a hand held up for a casual wave. ]
Oh, Mr. Daan! Feels like I haven't seen you in ages.
[ It's been a couple of days. Also, the word "murderer" is floating around on Aventurine's cheek, oop. ]
[ HELP AVENTURINE. Him spite-wishing everyone into the barn.
Daan is here, but he's got you know, a blanket over his shoulders. He's also got a new eyepatch! Yaaay. Daan really comes with so little free real estate while Aventurine is out here... fresh-faced... tit window... ]
...
It's already the fourth day.
Feels kind of strange, to be honest...
...
You've got a little...
[ Gesturing to his own cheek around where Aventurine's got bad words. ]
[ He is so flippant about it but what can he do!! Nothing! Anyway, he strolls right up to Daan and leans forward as if to get a good look at his face. ]
[ But the word that appears over the eyepatch will have him draw back, gaze darting to the side like he hadn't seen it, and he pretends to take in the cabin's interior despite having seen it before. ]
It still suits you. Maybe because it's your usual wear.
[ He fixes his attire in general just a bit. He looks much better out of the robe and in his proper clothes -- kind of wrinkly and stained still despite his attempts, but he looks definitely more comfortable in this. ]
...
Sure.
You also know how to pick your clothes, looks like.
[ That's fine, probably. They have their names on them now but clearly nothing is actually stopping anyone from coming in. If someone wants to really claim their bed territorially, they can do that eventually. ]
It's alright. If I were to stay in a place, I was preferring this or the house... and the atmosphere in this one is a little bit better.
Dusty, but we're working on that.
[ Nodding briefly at a bucket of water and rags out probably near towards the doorway. ]
[ No protest means Aventurine will further throw himself onto the mattress of the bed, arms spread eagle while his legs hang off the side. He stares at the ceiling of the cabin with a somber expression on his face.
[ HELP Aventurine is so funny. He looks like he doesn't know what to do with this praise. ]
No, not really... but I've had some experience sleeping at the edge of the woods, in shabby barracks... whatever. Not by choice, mind, and I don't have any wishes to go back to it either... but you learn to get crafty.
My eye, the reliability of my medical kit. Wouldn't take "yes I have" for an answer unless confirmations were done in his own specific way, which were more antagonistic than necessary.
[ He's like... very mildly irritated, but mostly tired. ]
[ Puts us in the Dressed to the Nines or Cloud Nines whatever the hell this place is officially called. Daan is looking at the spread and raising a brow. ]
I'd almost say this place outright spoils in comparison to the meagre things we had over on that side.
Meanwhile, Aventurine is already busying himself by trying on different accessories and admiring the way they look from a huge, full-length mirror. All the glitz and glamor are a bit of a contrast against the bandages still wrapped around his arm and some on his face, but he doesn't seem to mind. ]
Oh, it absolutely spoils. When I first arrived in this town, I took a bath for about two hours.
I was told about your return on this side. Are your injuries healing well? I'm assuming that you did return... well, alive, like Mr. Kanda did but anything could surprise me here. Pseudo-immortality and all.
Yes, I returned alive, but barely. The others took me to the healing pool and that mended the severest of my injuries.
[ He plucks a fancy little fedora off of a nearby rack and turns it over in his hands. ]
I'm recovering quickly, thanks for asking. The first few days were the hardest. I was acting a bit strangely, and then I had the pool's effects to deal with. Was it the same for you?
Plenty, but nothing that you all haven't already been asking.
Seems like the current plan is to wander around until you discover any anomalies, suffer a little bit, win prizes to make up for the trouble... or make graphics and interpersonal rankings to somehow unlock tomes for Mr. Nehan to peruse.
[ Raising his brows. Does he have that right, more or less? ]
[ Frankly it is rude you rated him flat and terrible but also he'd kind of hate it if you rated him good and juicy so there's just no winning here. Stop looking at his ass unless you're interested for real. ]
Roughly similar times to what we usually deal with on the other side? At least there's more motivation to participate in this than over there.
[ 🥺 He would have given you a generous ass rating, Daan, it's just that other people got to you first. ]
Right again. There's a bit of danger when it comes to retrieving these tomes, but no one's gotten seriously injured or died yet. The real trouble always arrives on Thursdays.
At least they apparently have the generosity of undoing the death... to a bare-minimum level. Heard that you had the misfortune of arriving a bit far away from the spring and it was a close call.
Although I also heard you can revive anyway, but I'd understand not wanting to test that overmuch.
[ (zia voice) they should show up in the gacha store in giant gacha boxes ]
... I think I've grown a bit tired of dying.
[ You chase after it one time and it's not as great as everyone makes it out to be. Especially after the third time. ]
Yeah, revival's here take something away from you for about 24 hours. It leaves the people in distress, and I've had to keep an eye on people after they've revived to make sure they don't hurt themselves.
Why does Cloud do anything that he does? I stopped asking a long time ago.
[ Cloud having the audacity to tell Aventurine that he gets into too much shit and Aventurine having to fire back that Cloud is with him 90% of the time. ]
At least things have started to calm down for the living side now.
[ Just grins in response to that first part, then moves on to the second. ]
I was arrested and given a trial to answer for my various crimes. Instead of facing punishment when I was found guilty, I was offered a job by the very people who captured me.
I would've assumed you had enough tact to not say anything too insensitive.
[ He always had that kind of impression about Aventurine, and working for wacky big corp that basically binds him 2.0 makes a lot of sense for it. ]
Suit yourself, really. The only other thing we've got to talk about is the situation though, and I think we've all collectively beat that dead horse into the dirt.
Then I'm afraid you've lost the coin-flip. I had much to gain from learning how to become a doctor, actually.
I've... always had a certain talent for it, in a way. Inherent. Given to me due to my upbringing. But I grew less fond of it as I grew up.
You give up yourself to heal, the Baron had said, but there's not much to lose if you haven't got much that's "you" to begin with. I wasn't good for much of anything, just a little stone picked off the roadside, shined just enough to be presentable.
Learning the school of medicine, it was my choice for once.
[ He's quiet as he listens, attentive, a small smile on his face at hearing Daan relay his tale. It's not the hopeless version of events that he's so often come to expect during moments like these. ]
This is a coin-flip I'm glad to have lost, Mr. Daan.
[ And he's being entirely sincere. ]
You were an invaluable part of living side from what I could see, and even now, you continue your good services here. I think I speak for us all when I say that this choice you made has benefited us greatly.
You're all very resourceful and had Mr. Greengrass over there, Mr. Nehan here otherwise. I'm sure you would have managed one way or another even if I hadn't been here.
Not that I'm going to knock being of use and of help. Glad that they came in handy, even if we all collectively agree it would've been better if we could just avoid getting hurt to begin with.
[ It has been the longest Monday, and Aventurine has dragged Daan over to the hot springs so they can roll up their pants and dip their feet into the water in an attempt to relax. Occasionally, it'll feel like something's grabbing their ankles, but he's gotten used to these ghostly hands by now.
Exhaustion is the most prominent emotionshare coming from him at the moment, and Aventurine lies back against the ground so he can chill there while his legs dangle in the spring. ]
What a day it's been. Don't you think so, Mr. Daan?
Daan will oblige this he supposes even though he's not a fan of being too much around others with EVERY SINGLE EFFECT on full blast. He frowns whenever there's a ghostly feeling over his feet, but says nothing. ]
It's been an inordinately long two months, yes. But I suppose that's just how things are when you're going through it.
[ His three days in Prehevil also felt like forever. ]
[ He closes his eyes and there are a million thoughts running through his head. He'd once made a spectacle out of his own death, used people to direct that ending for him, but seeing Geto's reaction had reminded him of something else, along with a guilt that Aventurine still carries with him to this day. ]
It's hard to say without having been there when the decision was made.
They know people need to die. They know there's something beyond the veil of death, at least here. In a non-flashy way so the cult won't catch on, but just comforting enough to say your hopefully-temporary goodbyes to a friend. Done by loved ones over the cruelty of having to do it to yourself.
I think they just did the best of what they had available. We can wish for better all we want, but there are limits.
[ The logic pans out, it's just that his emotions stubbornly refuse to catch on. Aventurine stays there for a while, quiet and musing, arms outstretched on either side of him as he stares up at the night sky.
Geto's resilient. This, too, is simply going to have to become a part of him now. ]
Hm. Well, I hope that this experience has given you a better understanding of each other.
[ Since what all he knows is that Boothill has good reason to hate the people Aventurine works for, but since Aventurine doesn't necessarily seem to like the IPC either... maybe you guys will be ok? ]
...I don't know, yet. First things first is that I'd need to ensure I can leave Prehevil at all.
Karlach insists I return to Faerun with her, but it's not that easy to just... abandon everything. I still have unfinished business. Sure, it might be smarter to just let it go, but it'll stay in my head.
[ With this topic, Aventurine pushes himself back up to a sit, leaning back on his hands as he studies Daan for a moment. ]
... You've got time to sort your thoughts. Much about our circumstance changes in just a short while here, so what you think today could be different from what you think tomorrow.
[ A small pause before he continues. ]
While it's better to live without regrets, there are some regrets you simply can't help.
Maybe, maybe not. It isn't as if it's been off my mind for the past two months.
[ Black scrawl creeps up over his clothes, over his skin. He can only look down tired at them, unable to control it or hide it. Just like most things in his life, whispers the ever-present voice -- you wear your filth as openly as you do your sleeves, it purrs. NO ANSWERS, it reads, NO ESCAPE. ]
If it were as easy as wishing them away, I wouldn't have gotten into half the trouble that I have, I think. Maybe even a quarter.
[ His ringed eyes follow the scrawl, not bothering to avert his gaze when they're already on such a weighted topic. What do they have to shy from now after months of intrusions and forced interactions in their most vulnerable states? ]
You know your situation best, Mr. Daan.
[ A wry smile. ]
You're a clever man, sensible and practical, with far too many thoughts inside your head. I have no doubt you'll find your answers.
[ Once again, he follows after the words. The feeling of concern grows on his end, but he keeps it from becoming too overwhelming. ]
If you decide it won't be true, I've still got my invitation waiting for you. I don't mean to inflict you with more indecision, but I think I speak for many of us when I say that we'd like to continue seeing you.
[ Hmm, he's still feeling disconcerted over the previous topic, but he moves along. ]
To our cosmos. Or, well, Boothill's in this case. I'm apparently alive in his timeline.
[ Which, neat. But also, great... more work to be done. ]
You could traverse the stars or settle on one of the many habitable planets. We've got quite a few to choose from, and I have the means to make sure you'd be comfortable.
[ Sirs? Hello? Don't like that. 'Daan you're doomed to death too' that happens regardless of where I pick my canonpoint. ]
...
I'm afraid it's not that simple if only because I have... unfinished business, and it would be incredibly difficult to try to settle roots in some-place so far away and new.
[ Unfortunately he's lawful and thinks about things like, idk, citizenship, actually trying to make a normal living... ]
[ It's hilarious in the worst possible way why. He's already unwantedly beloved by like three gods, did not need to add a fourth. The emotionshare is a deep dislike but almost defeatedness about it. ]
I'm glad it's gone. Didn't want to deal with anything like that down the line.
I'm sure my mailbox will be a busy one with everything I have to catch up to, but I'm sure I'll have time to spare for any ones with an emerald wax seal.
[ Just assigns that to him, wrong stone but you're a very peacock man. ]
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w0, monday.
Oh, Mr. Daan! Feels like I haven't seen you in ages.
[ It's been a couple of days. Also, the word "murderer" is floating around on Aventurine's cheek, oop. ]
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Daan is here, but he's got you know, a blanket over his shoulders. He's also got a new eyepatch! Yaaay. Daan really comes with so little free real estate while Aventurine is out here... fresh-faced... tit window... ]
...
It's already the fourth day.
Feels kind of strange, to be honest...
...
You've got a little...
[ Gesturing to his own cheek around where Aventurine's got bad words. ]
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[ He is so flippant about it but what can he do!! Nothing! Anyway, he strolls right up to Daan and leans forward as if to get a good look at his face. ]
... You know, I think I liked the flower better.
[ This eyepatch is okay too, though. ]
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Do you make it a habit to lean into people's spaces, Mr. Aventurine...?
[ As usual, he slinks away -- but the effect disagrees. It conveniently bleeds out from under his eyepatch, reading OUTSIDER. ]
I'm sorry to say, but the flower wasn't exactly best for sanitary reasons. You'll all have to settle for me in a boring cloth one.
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[ But the word that appears over the eyepatch will have him draw back, gaze darting to the side like he hadn't seen it, and he pretends to take in the cabin's interior despite having seen it before. ]
It still suits you. Maybe because it's your usual wear.
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[ He fixes his attire in general just a bit. He looks much better out of the robe and in his proper clothes -- kind of wrinkly and stained still despite his attempts, but he looks definitely more comfortable in this. ]
...
Sure.
You also know how to pick your clothes, looks like.
[ As in they suit him. ]
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[ It is nice... to have his very expensive clothes noticed. 🥺 ]
Most of the people I've run into have commented on one thing. I'm sure you can guess what it is.
[ It's not the quality of the fabric, he can tell you that. Maybe everyone here is a pervert, actually. ]
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...
Your eyes?
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Oh. I'm rather touched now.
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...That wasn't meant to be a forward comment.
[ Wait no... ]
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[ Like that's just his decision to make SURE. Anyway, he drops down to a sit on one of the beds. Whose bed is it? He doesn't care. ]
How do you like your cabin?
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It's alright. If I were to stay in a place, I was preferring this or the house... and the atmosphere in this one is a little bit better.
Dusty, but we're working on that.
[ Nodding briefly at a bucket of water and rags out probably near towards the doorway. ]
And you?
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Dark times ahead. ]
Not great, friend. We've got a real rat problem.
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My condolences.
If you kept the flower crowns, maybe they'll work as deterrents? I remember being taught that they're not fond of powerful herbal smells.
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Really? [ There's hope?? ] I didn't keep mine, but maybe the others did. If this works out for us, you might have saved us all.
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You can tell me if that works or not. I'm also not a fan of waking up to rats in my face either, if you can believe it.
[ It IS meant to be sardonic. ]
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[ When he what? ]
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Hate where you've been assigned that much, do you?
I'm afraid we're a bit crowded though. Eight people and an extremely large dog.
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[ Oh noooooooooo. ]
Which reminds me, which room is his bed in?
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[ He points at the other bed in the same room, actually. ]
The one you're currently in is technically mine.
[ By virtue of it not being government-assigned, but between the cabin squad's agreements. ]
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Guess we'll be getting to know each other a lot more, friend.
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Not that I mind, I think... but I do hope you have intention to thank Mr. Iwatooshi for the kindness.
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[ Pretends like he's offended, but he carries on as usual. ]
I offered to pay him back should an opportunity ever arise. No worries, Mr. Daan, I don't plan on taking advantage of his kindness.
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Well... make yourself comfortable then.
Or really, you're already doing that.
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Let me relish in it for a little while before I return to that horrid barn.
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[ It really is. He personally is glad to have the cabin for reasons probably similar enough to Aventurine. ]
Not cashing in your comforts day one?
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[ It's interpersonal drama. ]
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If you say so.
Regardless. The cabin may have our names on it, but it's not enforced, and the common areas are free for anyone to use.
[ Though if they keep fucking leeching us we may start asking for some damn locks. ]
Wrapping hay in a robe might make for a passable mattress.
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Friend, you are just so full of good ideas. It's like you've stayed in barns all your life.
[ Are you the second coming of Christ, Daan. 🥺 ]
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No, not really... but I've had some experience sleeping at the edge of the woods, in shabby barracks... whatever. Not by choice, mind, and I don't have any wishes to go back to it either... but you learn to get crafty.
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But he'll show surprise, eyebrows raising as he finally sits back up. ]
Don't let anyone take this bed away from you.
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So you're asking me to kick you out right now?
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Yeah! I want to see that side of you.
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Let's not be a second Mr. Akabane.
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Oh, you mean Karma?
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He's been keen to try to rile people up, as far as I can tell.
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[ Aventurine's thinking back on his Karma interaction, and while the kid's been super weird, he's been mostly okay...
It's just that shit bounces off of Aventurine. ]
Hope he hasn't been getting to you too bad.
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My eye, the reliability of my medical kit. Wouldn't take "yes I have" for an answer unless confirmations were done in his own specific way, which were more antagonistic than necessary.
[ He's like... very mildly irritated, but mostly tired. ]
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[ Aw, cute, everyone has their interpersonal drama in their lodgings. ]
Maybe you should be telling me to leave. It'll be good practice for that kid.
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Odd approach to establishing rapport.
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And pats the empty space next to him. ]
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[ Looking at him... and he sits, at the edge. Just enough distance for it to be a point. ]
What do you want, Mr. Aventurine.
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To see if we've become closer friends.
[ And before Daan can respond, Aventurine is up on his feet and strolling toward the door. Thanks for sitting next to him. :) ]
As always, take care of yourself, Mr. Daan.
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Have a good evening...
Good luck with the rats.
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W5, monday
I'd almost say this place outright spoils in comparison to the meagre things we had over on that side.
[ YOU GUYS. TRULY HAVE SO MUCH SHIT. ]
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Meanwhile, Aventurine is already busying himself by trying on different accessories and admiring the way they look from a huge, full-length mirror. All the glitz and glamor are a bit of a contrast against the bandages still wrapped around his arm and some on his face, but he doesn't seem to mind. ]
Oh, it absolutely spoils. When I first arrived in this town, I took a bath for about two hours.
[ shakes in trough memories ]
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[ Observing Aventurine peacock around. ]
I was told about your return on this side. Are your injuries healing well? I'm assuming that you did return... well, alive, like Mr. Kanda did but anything could surprise me here. Pseudo-immortality and all.
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[ He plucks a fancy little fedora off of a nearby rack and turns it over in his hands. ]
I'm recovering quickly, thanks for asking. The first few days were the hardest. I was acting a bit strangely, and then I had the pool's effects to deal with. Was it the same for you?
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[ He was also just very blank and at peace with things but you can only exhibit so many issues at once when you are possessed and do a murder. ]
The last time I was put into the healing swamp, I emerged feeling twice the amount of pain. Seemed a bad idea on a Thursday, so I refrained.
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But ah. Thinks about... Aqua with Cloud's sword... ]
Can't blame you for that. I saw Kanda's still missing his ear, so I suppose he decided against it, too.
[ Why are you all like this. ]
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He's still missing it?
[ He didn't get to look that close with all the excitement and then he's a cat today. HELLO?
Meanwhile Daan has his finger back... wtf... ]
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He is. We were headed to the shopping center yesterday and he could barely walk straight.
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[ KANDA... UN-NERF YOURSELF. ]
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[ TEENS... DIFFICULT... KANDA... SOMETHING MORE THAN DIFFICULT ]
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[ Please, listen to a doctor maybe. Get yourself to walk straight again Kanda. It'll be the only thing straight about you. ]
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[ Just on the grounds of knowing each other longer in the living side... ]
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Looks and sounds like you've been hard at work, all of you.
[ Producing the notebook Aventurine handed him yesterday. He's perused through it. ]
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Everyone's been eager to pitch in. Did you find the information helpful? Any questions?
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Seems like the current plan is to wander around until you discover any anomalies, suffer a little bit, win prizes to make up for the trouble... or make graphics and interpersonal rankings to somehow unlock tomes for Mr. Nehan to peruse.
[ Raising his brows. Does he have that right, more or less? ]
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[ And then, just to clear the air, ]
It wasn't me who gave you a terrible, flat ass.
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I don't care...
[ Stop talking about his ass. ]
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[ Just him. Only he is glad. ]
But yes, expect a puzzle in the middle of this week. You'll be roped into it with the rest of us.
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Roughly similar times to what we usually deal with on the other side? At least there's more motivation to participate in this than over there.
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Right again. There's a bit of danger when it comes to retrieving these tomes, but no one's gotten seriously injured or died yet. The real trouble always arrives on Thursdays.
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At least they apparently have the generosity of undoing the death... to a bare-minimum level. Heard that you had the misfortune of arriving a bit far away from the spring and it was a close call.
Although I also heard you can revive anyway, but I'd understand not wanting to test that overmuch.
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... I think I've grown a bit tired of dying.
[ You chase after it one time and it's not as great as everyone makes it out to be. Especially after the third time. ]
Yeah, revival's here take something away from you for about 24 hours. It leaves the people in distress, and I've had to keep an eye on people after they've revived to make sure they don't hurt themselves.
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[ Stop chasing it, scrungles him. ]
Right. I've heard memory is one of them, so it doesn't even necessarily have to be something objective or physical.
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[ Slight pause. ]
... Actually, I think it would be quite funny to see you smiling and laughing and acting as though you don't have a care in the world.
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[ It's exactly what the cat wants too, and in fact what the cat does to him, which just adds a funny layer. ]
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Only for about a day! I'd miss the old Mr. Daan too much to want it to stick.
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Well, then. Backtracking already?
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No way. I think it would be interesting, just for a day. Like Karma forgetting how to be a brat.
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It's always funny until you're the one experiencing it. But good to know you're not taking these things to heart.
W6, monday
Lively start to the week we're having...
[ NOT GREAT, BUT LIVELY! As he watches... what really should be the last vestiges of flocket-gate but for some reason it keeps going. ]
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Anyway, Aventurine is staring at the TV and watching all the fleas hop around like. Okay. ]
... I know Cloud collected some of them, but they really grew in number in just a short time.
[ Fire fleas are prolific breeders? ]
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[ We can be at the bar. Daan just taps the counter once, looking at all the curses flying around. ]
Why was he collecting them?
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[ Cloud having the audacity to tell Aventurine that he gets into too much shit and Aventurine having to fire back that Cloud is with him 90% of the time. ]
At least things have started to calm down for the living side now.
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It's only Monday. More nonsense to come, I'm sure. Is it just me or do the curses feel particularly abundant this time?
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... I suppose I should feel thankful that I've managed to dodge them this time.
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...
I should also be grateful.
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[ That was something. But now he's staring at Daan like HMMMMMM. ]
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[ Looking back at him like... what... ]
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How often do you get cursed?
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[ Just looking at him like. ]
You're not looking for viable targets to appease your boredom with, are you?
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Mr. Daan, I am appalled that you would think that of me when I have only ever been especially kind to you.
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You're quite good at the social aspect, Mr. Aventurine. I know very little about you.
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[ He is just a guy. ]
But if you want to know something in particular, all you have to do is ask.
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I'm feeling a sense of déjà vu. Aren't you?
[ He pours Aventurine a drink and slides it over the counter. ]
How'd you come across your current job, then?
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I was arrested and given a trial to answer for my various crimes. Instead of facing punishment when I was found guilty, I was offered a job by the very people who captured me.
[ Easy. ]
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What crimes were you found guilty for?
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[ But it was still what he'd been aiming for. ]
As for my crimes, just the occasional deception and fraud. Oh, and the murder of my master.
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"Master" doesn't typically imply a very fair relationship.
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[ Casual and meant to beat the potential jumpscare of a memshare. He's not falling for that shit again. ]
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[ Is his neck tattoo typically visible? ]
Far be it from me to judge you for murder, in this environment...
What was it, again... the Interastral Peace Corporation? A little bit ironic of a name. Satisfied with your post?
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[ It is visible! ]
... I made use of the resources it provided me. After recent events, where I stand now in my post remains to be seen.
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Sounds like you had some personal plans of your own.
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Quick to catch on. Has your curiosity now been satisfied?
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Something I learned a lot about later, that first impressions are everything.
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[ Even if it feels like ages ago after everything that's happened. ]
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[ He's just ribbing on him for the sake of it he's not bothered. ]
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[ HE DIED. ]
I'm making up for it now.
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Are you, now?
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Aren't I?
[ Holds up his drink glass and gives it a little shake, ice clinking around inside. ]
And you've gotten quite a bit of backstory out of me, too.
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[ The cyoa, the execution, the bits and pieces he'd caught on screen or in reflections during his long weeks here. ]
Perhaps I've been treading a bit too carefully in the wake of all that's occurred for you.
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[ He always had that kind of impression about Aventurine, and working for wacky big corp that basically binds him 2.0 makes a lot of sense for it. ]
Suit yourself, really. The only other thing we've got to talk about is the situation though, and I think we've all collectively beat that dead horse into the dirt.
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Tell me something about yourself, then. Something you haven't told many others before.
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[ Well actually since memshare is perma-on, Aventurine can have this ig. ]
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Once it's over, he looks to Daan with an inquisitive gaze. ]
... You're a good doctor. How much of yourself have you lost?
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[ The Baron... he buries complicated feelings regarding the man, his father-in-law, and faces the other present man. ]
What a question to ask, Mr. Aventurine. Would you like to hedge your bets on a guess?
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[ He's an all or nothing man, after all. ]
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Then I'm afraid you've lost the coin-flip. I had much to gain from learning how to become a doctor, actually.
I've... always had a certain talent for it, in a way. Inherent. Given to me due to my upbringing. But I grew less fond of it as I grew up.
You give up yourself to heal, the Baron had said, but there's not much to lose if you haven't got much that's "you" to begin with. I wasn't good for much of anything, just a little stone picked off the roadside, shined just enough to be presentable.
Learning the school of medicine, it was my choice for once.
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This is a coin-flip I'm glad to have lost, Mr. Daan.
[ And he's being entirely sincere. ]
You were an invaluable part of living side from what I could see, and even now, you continue your good services here. I think I speak for us all when I say that this choice you made has benefited us greatly.
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Not that I'm going to knock being of use and of help. Glad that they came in handy, even if we all collectively agree it would've been better if we could just avoid getting hurt to begin with.
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[ Teasing, of course. ]
What a relief that's not the case.
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[ YOU STUPID WATER BOTTLES!!! But no he knows he's not all talk he actually can stitch and bandage you guys up so. ]
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Fair enough, Mr. Daan. Modesty doesn't much suit you.
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[ People think he's a bit too modest. Like he's Catholic or something. ]
I'm not going to start preening myself though. It just is what it is. You wouldn't praise a gun for firing a bullet.
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Comparing yourself to a gun is an interesting analogy.
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[ he has gun trauma now ]
I want to know more about these people who would think of you as modest.
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A handful of them are you lot, actually. I don't really have any specific names, just feels like a broad stroke.
Part of it might be because of the "saddest person" survey.
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Oh. I guess I did contribute to that, but I really didn't think you'd win.
[ HE DIDN'T KNOW GETO WAS RIGGING THE POLLS ]
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Coming fresh out of a horrible situation and my appearance didn't help.
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That was a simpler time, wasn't it? I'd almost forgotten... It feels like I've been here, in this town, my entire stay.
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[ You're more a Silent Hell girlie than a Camp Scawwy. ]
Helps us to have someone so knowledgeable about happenings over here though. Your notebooks have been useful time and time again.
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[ Laughs a little. ]
It's been an interesting experience every time someone new arrives. It's like I'm meeting them again for the first time.
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That may as well be true with the brief time we knew you. It might be nice even.
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... It was fine. The fresh trauma they'd experienced only moments before arriving was certainly a drawback.
[ But those things happen! START A NEW PC WITH ME IN THE NEW WEEK ]
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Enough of that and more to go around, unfortunately. Drink away your woes if you want, take the drinks out.
Just be sure to return the glasses afterwards, if you would.
[ W7 AT LAST!!!!! ]
w7, monday.
Exhaustion is the most prominent emotionshare coming from him at the moment, and Aventurine lies back against the ground so he can chill there while his legs dangle in the spring. ]
What a day it's been. Don't you think so, Mr. Daan?
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Daan will oblige this he supposes even though he's not a fan of being too much around others with EVERY SINGLE EFFECT on full blast. He frowns whenever there's a ghostly feeling over his feet, but says nothing. ]
It's been an inordinately long two months, yes. But I suppose that's just how things are when you're going through it.
[ His three days in Prehevil also felt like forever. ]
Tired out, are you?
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He pats the spot on the ground next to him. Come lie down, Daan. ]
I guess I should count my blessings in this case. I could have been cursed like so many of the others.
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How many have you got? Still countable on your fingers?
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I didn't have that many to begin with, but yes. Still countable on my fingers.
[ Just looks up at Daan from where he is now on the ground by himself. ]
What about you?
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[ The curse count is low. ]
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[ He's been sick of curses since w0. Anyway, he's going to spread his arms out on the ground and soak in the hot springs warmth. ]
That was quite a spectacle earlier, wasn't it? With Geto and Mathis.
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[ Even if it's fucking death. ]
They know what number they have to reach. They're not there yet.
[ Glancing aside at him, knowing Aventurine can draw a conclusion. ]
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... I wonder why they're going about it this way...
[ Killing each other. Geto had clearly been distressed about it and witnessing that had left him with more questions. ]
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[ He closes his eyes and there are a million thoughts running through his head. He'd once made a spectacle out of his own death, used people to direct that ending for him, but seeing Geto's reaction had reminded him of something else, along with a guilt that Aventurine still carries with him to this day. ]
It's hard to say without having been there when the decision was made.
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They know people need to die. They know there's something beyond the veil of death, at least here. In a non-flashy way so the cult won't catch on, but just comforting enough to say your hopefully-temporary goodbyes to a friend. Done by loved ones over the cruelty of having to do it to yourself.
I think they just did the best of what they had available. We can wish for better all we want, but there are limits.
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[ The logic pans out, it's just that his emotions stubbornly refuse to catch on. Aventurine stays there for a while, quiet and musing, arms outstretched on either side of him as he stares up at the night sky.
Geto's resilient. This, too, is simply going to have to become a part of him now. ]
It's almost over.
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What will you do after this? I'm sure a busy fellow like you has got plans to return to.
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[ Very much news to him, but he doesn't see any reason for Boothill to lie. More importantly, however, ]
And yourself? I couldn't help but overhear a thing or two during our group-wide discussion.
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[ Since what all he knows is that Boothill has good reason to hate the people Aventurine works for, but since Aventurine doesn't necessarily seem to like the IPC either... maybe you guys will be ok? ]
...I don't know, yet. First things first is that I'd need to ensure I can leave Prehevil at all.
Karlach insists I return to Faerun with her, but it's not that easy to just... abandon everything. I still have unfinished business. Sure, it might be smarter to just let it go, but it'll stay in my head.
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... You've got time to sort your thoughts. Much about our circumstance changes in just a short while here, so what you think today could be different from what you think tomorrow.
[ A small pause before he continues. ]
While it's better to live without regrets, there are some regrets you simply can't help.
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[ Black scrawl creeps up over his clothes, over his skin. He can only look down tired at them, unable to control it or hide it. Just like most things in his life, whispers the ever-present voice -- you wear your filth as openly as you do your sleeves, it purrs. NO ANSWERS, it reads, NO ESCAPE. ]
If it were as easy as wishing them away, I wouldn't have gotten into half the trouble that I have, I think. Maybe even a quarter.
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You know your situation best, Mr. Daan.
[ A wry smile. ]
You're a clever man, sensible and practical, with far too many thoughts inside your head. I have no doubt you'll find your answers.
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He wishes that were the case. The text shifts and transforms into something else -- THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY OUT. ]
...I tried my best. I don't know if that is, or will be true.
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If you decide it won't be true, I've still got my invitation waiting for you. I don't mean to inflict you with more indecision, but I think I speak for many of us when I say that we'd like to continue seeing you.
[ Just throwing that out there for our guy. ]
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[ He really desperately wants those answers but life! Hates him so bad. ]
What exactly is your invitation?
[ He's not really sure where Aventurine lives, what he does, what all that actually entails. ]
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To our cosmos. Or, well, Boothill's in this case. I'm apparently alive in his timeline.
[ Which, neat. But also, great... more work to be done. ]
You could traverse the stars or settle on one of the many habitable planets. We've got quite a few to choose from, and I have the means to make sure you'd be comfortable.
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[ Sirs? Hello? Don't like that. 'Daan you're doomed to death too' that happens regardless of where I pick my canonpoint. ]
...
I'm afraid it's not that simple if only because I have... unfinished business, and it would be incredibly difficult to try to settle roots in some-place so far away and new.
[ Unfortunately he's lawful and thinks about things like, idk, citizenship, actually trying to make a normal living... ]
W7, saturday
Anyway Daan is just here giving off such 'what the hell was that, why' energy as he stares off into the horizon. ]
It's... over? I think...
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... Not exactly what I had been imagining... But I certainly won't complain about the end results.
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[ Worse being. Dead. ]
Not totally sure that we should've asked to confront the cult themselves after all, but hindsight is 20-20 as they say.
[ Very funny thing to say as a man with one eye. He looks towards Aventurine. ]
Good work.
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Thank you. To you as well. You had quite the appeal to that god.
[ Daan... your Seduction... ]
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I'm glad it's gone. Didn't want to deal with anything like that down the line.
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Have you decided on what's next?
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Don't know. A lot of things I'm unsure about in the future.
Won't find out until I see them, right.
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[ The way he says this in agreement, but there's a heaviness in the air. ]
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[ Mr. 'I put fate into my own hands, even if it's on a gamble'. ]
What kind, mind telling?
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[ A laugh, but it's dry. ]
I won't bore you with the details, but I had a bit of a disagreement with someone about our futures. The decision I'm waiting on is from them.
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[ The emotionshare is very... distressed... Like he has been through something... ]
In any case, I'll find out tonight.
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Are you sure you're going to be alright? I know our abilities are limited, but if there's anything...
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[ He'll laugh to break up some of this tension he's created. ]
Actually, when the situation first occurred, you wouldn't know this, but you were a great help to me.
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[ He does seem actually surprised, even if he's not super emotive. ]
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[ Sometimes you are at your lowest point, but still manage to have a good time thanks to people. ]
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Then I'm glad I was able to lend you any support for the time you were here.
[ His unofficial not-roomie... on and off... ]
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[ A small smile. ]
And I hope this won't be the last I see of you.
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[ He's modest sometimes but he can be a little shit. ]
Only if it goes in reverse too.
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[ As long as he gets there... He's still WAITING TO FIND OUT WHERE HE GOES!!! ]
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[ Aventurine your fucking. Black hole something. Argenti will be there to rescue you... ]
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Oh? I'll use it as something of a lure, then. Come by and I'll take you to the most renowned locations for alcohol. My treat, of course.
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Who am I to turn down such a generous offer then?
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Don't be a stranger, Mr. Daan. We've got plenty more stories to share over drinks.
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I'm sure my mailbox will be a busy one with everything I have to catch up to, but I'm sure I'll have time to spare for any ones with an emerald wax seal.
[ Just assigns that to him, wrong stone but you're a very peacock man. ]