essek.

[tactic]

Comments

[tactic]

[ DON'T IMMEDIATELY MEET HIM WITH EXASPERATION. ]

I'm just not sure a child your age should be reading such material.

[unconsecuted]

[He should immediately be met with exasperation. He glances down at the book, then frowns.]

...It's not your business what I read.

[He turns around and...... hurriedly tries to escape into the fort, casting a glance back over his shoulder.] Frumpkin! [The familiar orange cat scurries past Aventurine's legs after Essek, giving a stuttering meow as he does.]

[tactic]

[ Why are all the kids he's meeting such BRATS!!!!

But fine. Deeper into the fort THEY go, because Aventurine is following after them. ]

And if I make it my business? Essek, right?

[unconsecuted]

[Hehe. Bratyard.

He slows to a stop and looks back at Aventurine a bit warily.]

Maybe. [...] Why would you?

Are you following me?

[tactic]

Yes. What if you get lost in here? It's a big place, you know.

[ SMILES... NOT LIKE A CREEPY ADULT ]

[unconsecuted]

[You having to give an explanation thinking I will assign creepy adult to him. (I am.)

Essek continues to warily regard Aventurine before glancing down at Frumpkin. The cat waves its tail and merowls at Aventurine, and apparently this is all that's needed.]

You would get lost before me. [Why is he so cocky...] How do you know my name?

[Puts him on the spot.]

[tactic]

[ Gives a little wave to Frumpkin. ]

I'm friends with Frumpkin.

[ Like this explains anything. ]

[unconsecuted]

[This fucking explains nothing. Essek's expression says as much.]

Frumpkin is friends with many people. This tells me nothing.

[He starts walking again! He assumes aventurine will follow, and at least he isn't running away.]

[tactic]

[ Yes, he will follow this sassy lost child. ]

Maybe Frumpkin is telling people your name and secrets. Ever thought about that?

[unconsecuted]

Frumpkin is a familiar. A wizard can't speak through it, only see and hear what it would see and hear.

[A know-it-all, too, apparently. He turns a corner in the fort and they spill out into the open area with the top lit like the starry sky.]

[tactic]

A precocious little thing, aren't you?

[ But he'll stop at this opening, glancing around and then up. ]

Was this what you were looking for?

[unconsecuted]

[He does not look back, but he does wander in to get comfortable in a little spot where there is already more books which have been pilfered from somewhere.

Frumpkin stands on his toes and rubs up against Aventurine's leg for a moment before prowling in after Essek and the pile. He sits, of course, on top of one of the books because if there is a square, a cat will sit on it.]

Yes. It reminds me of home.

[tactic]

[ He reaches down to get a pet in before Frumpkin leaves for a square!!! And then Aventurine is just going to invite himself into Essek's space by taking a seat and picking up one of the books. ]

Cozy. Have you been away for very long or just while you've been here?

[unconsecuted]

[YOU ARE SUCH AN ANNOYING MAN. Whatever, he's, like, twelve, what does he know?

When he glances in Aventurine's direction, his eyes are very faintly glowing in the dim light. Darkvision...]

I've never been away at all.

[tactic]

[ They can both have weirdo eyes. ]

Really? A smart kid like you? I would've assumed you were well-traveled.

[unconsecuted]

[Weirdo eye squad.]

No, I have always stayed in Rosohna. Leaving would interrupt my studies.

[tactic]

You don't think leaving would broaden your horizons? Teach you things no book ever could?

[unconsecuted]

I would only be able to travel at night, and that's dangerous. Other places don't welcome drow. Mother says the Empire is getting closer, too.

I have to stay with her and my brother.

[tactic]

[ Ah... He will flip through this book in his hands. ]

... It's good to stay close to family. Is your brother older or younger?

[unconsecuted]

[It is probably something stupid from the fort library because this place is hell, but it's fine.

He turns his head a bit away.]

Younger.

[tactic]

[ It's Twilight.

And he's barely paying attention to the book because he's too busy watching Essek. ]

Is that so...? I guess you do have the air of a responsible older brother.

[ This is a lie. He is lying. He would have thought Essek was the bratty younger brother. ]

[unconsecuted]

[FINE. It's fucking Twilight.

He is not looking at Aventurine, but instead carefully sorting his books because Aventurine is in here annoying him. ALSO, THIS IS RUDE. YOU CAN BE OLDER AND BRATTY.]

Someone has to have the brains between the two of us. We can't all wave swords around all day.

[tactic]

[ Extrovert ruining an introvert's life. ]

Haha... Funny how siblings sort themselves out that way, though my sister was both brains and brawn, so I wonder what I was left with?

[unconsecuted]

[.......Cuts a sidelong look at Aventurine, speculative.]

Nothing.

[HE JUST SAYS IT. The annoyance has transcended time and reality.]

"Was"?

[tactic]

[ WHAT A LITTLE PUNK!!!!!! The urge to noogie is strong, but Aventurine will settle for a hair ruffle instead. ]

She passed away a while ago.