LUCAS.

[tactic]

this is just a placeholder

Comments

[faithkept]

That's logic that will get you into trouble.

[He'll take the book though, tucking it under his arm.]

At this point, I feel like I should throw it into the fire to stop people from stealing it.

[tactic]

[ With no hesitation, ]

Worth a try.

[faithkept]

[JUST GAZING AT THIS MAN.]

You didn't think that over for even a moment... My dear, I really am going to worry about you if this is how you intend to spend your time here.

[tactic]

[ hehehe ]

Hey, you were the one to suggest it!

[faithkept]

It was only in jest! Throwing a demonic bible into a fire with equally demonic runes written around it may very well have horrible effects.

[A normal fire, on the other hand!]

[tactic]

We could take some of the fire from the pyre. That wouldn't have demonic runes on it.

[ It would just come from demonic runes. ]

[faithkept]

[Maybe the fire will become less demonic if it's separated from its demonic core...]

Hm... Or, we could simply start a fire elsewhere without involving the pyre?

[STOP TRYING TO BURN THE EVIL BIBLE.

Oh yeah, while he's contemplating this, a word finally projects over the collar of his fancy white shirt. It just says Nadia.]

[tactic]

[ Bonds over stupid ideas...

But Aventurine's gaze flits over to the collar of Lucas' shirt, and then there's a moment's pause before he has to ask, ]

Would you rather I ignore the words that come across you?

[faithkept]

[Hopefully they do burn it and get megacursed.

There's a little sound of surprise at that, though, and he glances down at himself but he cannot see something on his own collar.]

Oh... Has something appeared? [HE HATES THIS ACTUALLY. WHAT IF HIS OWN ALSO SAYS MURDERER FOR SOME REASON AND THEN HE'LL LOOK LIKE A DOOF FOR STARING AT AVENTURINE'S.] ...I suppose you can ask, if you have questions. I ought to have asked you the same, earlier.

[Said in a note of gentle apology, even though he feels like Aventurine was okay with him not saying anything.]

[tactic]

[ You could call Aventurine a slur and he'd bounce back.

But since he has permission... ]

You've got "Nadia" on your collar there. [ Points. ] I'm assuming a name?

[faithkept]

[AVENTURINE PLEASE.]

Oh! [OH HIS NADIA. He places a hand against his collar, a bit reflexively.] It is, yes. Nadia is my little sister.

[tactic]

[ SISTER MENTION

Aventurine freezes, suddenly self-conscious of the possibility of something similar appearing on his own body, but he quickly recovers. ]

Is she... okay?

[faithkept]

[SISTER MENTION!!!!!

Aventurine can now live in fear knowing that he may be next... There's a little bit of thinness in his smile, but:]

She's doing better.

[tactic]

[ That is such a scary answer, but it could be worse!! IT COULD BE SO MUCH WORSE. ]

What happened to her? If you don't mind me asking, of course.

[faithkept]

[IT REALLY COULD BE!!!!

In any case he's going to look back on this conversation when a few other people ask him about his sister tomorrow and wish everyone could have the same level of tact Aventurine has.]

She was unwell for a time. [Not the sick sister. A little wryly:] Even when the immediate danger has passed, it's impossible to stop worrying.

[Or being afraid.]

[tactic]

[ He can be a real pain in the ass sometimes but at least he has EQ!!!

Anyway, this mood drop is crazy. Aventurine nods quietly, some part of him pained, but he musters up a small smile. ]

Well, I'm glad she's doing better. And I hope you can see her again soon.

[faithkept]

[WELCOME TO MG!!!!

Lucas is grappling with this mood drop and preparing to toss it away like a frisbee though, because he hates 1) being the center of a conversational topic and 2) being responsible for bringing down the vibes. None of that here!!]

Thank you very much. I hope for the same, especially in that it would mean an end to our trial here.

[tactic]

[ He senses it... ]

We can go back to talking about burning the cursed Bible.

[faithkept]

And get the both of us in trouble with our esteemed kidnappers?

[Yeah time to burn the bible!! Except, he like. Hesitates for a second. And then:]

...I take it the word you've been given is one you don't wish to discuss.

[tactic]

[ Just... sighs. ]

Lay it on me. What does it say?

[faithkept]

It's very pointedly saying you've taken lives.

[He won't call Aventurine a murderer to his face... that says he's a murderer.]

[tactic]

[ HUH... It could have been worse! ]

Oh, that's not so bad.

[faithkept]

[Yeah! It could have been his own sister lore, whatever that apparently is!]

...It isn't?

[tactic]

[ HMMM... Since Lucas was so forthcoming about his sister, Aventurine won't just brush this aside. ]

That was a long time ago... It was something necessary for my survival.

[faithkept]

[He is SO CLEARLY itching to ask more, but he also feels like "hey so why was it necessary to do a murder" isn't a great question to pitch to someone you've known for like two whole days.]

I'm sorry that you found yourself in such a situation... And so young, too.

[BABY AVENTURINE MURDERER.]