tactic | essek.

[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.

[ They can both have weirdo eyes. ]

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

[Weirdo eye squad.]

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

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

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.

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

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

[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.

[ 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. ]

[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.

[ 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?

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

Nothing.

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

"Was"?

[ 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.

[The whiplash I have with these threads is killing me.

He immediately feels bad about the "nothing" now because while he is a neutral evil little shit, he has manners. But he grunts loudly and quickly reaches up to try to FIX HIS HAIR when it's ruffled!!! His white coif... Anyway, it's now a mess, and he looks more normal and less put together.]

Sorry. I would give you my brother.

[He would not do this actually because he care him brother.]

What was she like?

If he's anything like you, I don't want him!

[ Teasing, of course. And then he settles back down. ]

She was kind... And exceptionally stubborn. She worried about me too much, but I guess that was partly my fault for always giving her the runaround.

He is nothing like me.

[Hilariously, Aventurine would probably love Verin, but perhaps they would be way too much alike. This is probably why Aventurine doesn't annoy him half as much as he makes out.]

So you were always annoying. [Peering at him as kids do when they are looking through you into the center.] Do you regret it?

... I used to. I would think about how I should have been a better brother to her. All the trouble that I wish I had never caused her.

[ He really was such an annoying child, but he smiles fondly, glancing first at Essek before turning his face up to the imitation of starry skies. ]

But then I think about the precious memories I have of her, even the ones of her scolding me, and I wouldn't change a thing.

[His turn to look at Aventurine. :| But after a very long, studious few moments, he follows the look upward, too.]

I study a kind of magic that changes probability. So if there is something I want to happen, I can cast a spell to increase its chances of happening.

I wouldn't mind finding spells that change time, like the past. You could fix mistakes, or even make choices you didn't get a chance to make.

[Anyway.]

But it doesn't sound like she was the type of person who would change anything either.

Edited 2025-06-19 06:27 (UTC)

[ He's quiet as he listens, contemplative and slightly stunned to hear something he hadn't expected to hear at all. But after a moment, once the quiet has allowed itself to sink in, he reaches out a second time to ruffle Essek's hair.

But he's gentler this time, and his hand lingers, heavy with an unspoken weight. ]

... How'd a little brat like you get to be so smart?

[NOT THE HAIR!!! Whatever. It just stays sort of mussed up, but he does kind of swat at the hand to punish it for daring to think it can ruffle his hair much less touch him!]

Don't patronize me.

[Idiot Aventurine with your dead sister.]

I learned mostly on my own, usually by reading.

[ OKAY?? CALM DOWN ]

... It paid off.

[ Even though Essek is a NERD and a DORK. ]

Though I'm not so sure about your more recent reading selections...

[HE'S CALM? Oh, you mean the second part. Yeah, that still stands.]

I'm still learning.

[He is very critical of himself apparently. Ignore the things you have accomplished because they are not worthy enough yet. Anyhow, looking at his hoard. Leave him alone.]

It's the only thing that room had.

[ HMMMMMM. ]

How do you fare with ghosts?

[GHOSTS. He glances dubiously at Aventurine.]

Ghosts...? They are... whatever, I suppose. They don't bother me. Are you trying to scare me? I'm not Astolfo.

Oh, no. Just that there happens to be a rather large and well-curated library in a nearby estate. The only problem is that it's haunted.

[ Puts down Twilight... ]

If you're interested, I can show you the way.

.....

[The stare is an intensely studious one, trying to see if he can pick apart pieces of Aventurine's face which will give away some trick or prank.

His mouth closes resolutely.]

Take me.

(no subject)

tactic - 2025-06-24 00:50 (UTC) - Expand