essek.

[tactic]

Comments

[tactic]

No, it isn't. I was just in my room a moment ago, see?

[ Turns around and points to...

Wait a minute, that's not his room through the open bathroom door. ]

[unconsecuted]

No, you're stealing someone else's bathroom is what you're doing.

[Peering around Aventurine to look at the room. SEE. YOU ARE A THIEF.

He glances back from the direction he came with a frown. Why would Aventurine just be walking up inside of his bathroom, though?]

[tactic]

[ WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS ROOM? ]

Don't tell me I'm going to walk into your bathroom every time I try and walk into mine.

[ That's such a horrible room layout?? also can you give me a Caleb mem :pleading: but make it soemthing gay ]

[unconsecuted]

[the way you demand this but haven't even given me one. pauses my tagging to do this for you.]

It's not like I want you walking into my bathroom when you're trying to walk into yours!

[Have a gay Caleb mem even though Aventurine tried so hard to set him up with Wriothesley. (It's TTRPG, but if you would like to watch it at all, here you go. It goes on until about 4:01:00 but you can watch a tad after for more Essek gets verbally beat up by friends.)]

[tactic]

[ STARTS CRYING UNCONTROLLABLY me not aventurine. Aventurine just turns back around to stare at Essek with wide eyes, and then he's suddenly frowning. Except that frown lasts all of two seconds before he breaks out into a stupid grin. ]

Wooow... Essek, to think that you had so many friends who genuinely care about you. Aren't you a popular guy?

[unconsecuted]

[He stands there like a fucking statue, frozen, NOT UNLIKE WHEN HE HAD BEEN PARALYZED, hands balled into fists and expression shocked. Imagine having to live your most embarrassing and soft moments for a second TIME. A third! A fourth!

His expression sours slightly, but not with any real heat.]

Stop that.

[tactic]

[ The way Aventurine is like, emotionally touched but also this is suuuuuch good material to tease Essek with. He is thriving. ]

That Caleb guy seems awfully close to you.

[unconsecuted]

[UGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! This was the LAST memory he wanted Aventurine to see of him. He wonders if one of the hosts can give him something that will wipe Aventurine's mind.]

...It's complicated.

[tactic]

[ CAN YOU RELAX!!! Anyway, he grabs Essek by the arm to pull him into the bedroom because that's enough bathroom time, and then Aventurine drops himself down to sit on the edge of the bed. ]

How so? Tell me everything.

[ SPILL DA BEANS ]

[unconsecuted]

[Oh my GOD. He rolls his eyes as he is dragged away into the room. Aventurine really sits down on this bed and doesn't even offer him a seat, just expects him to sit down as if he doesn't have MANNERS! Like he was raised in a barn!

Standing there like a fucking teenager getting grilled about their love life by their parent.]

There isn't - Aventurine, [and it's a hiss of pure embarrassment.] Those were his words, not mine. It's not...

I don't have time to worry about that right now. When I go back, I could be dead. I mean - obviously, Laudna means I am not dead in some timeline, but it may not be my own.

[tactic]

Quit being so high-strung for once and take a breather!

[ Pats spot next to him on the bed!! GET OVER HERE AND TALK ABOUT BOYS WITH AVENTURINE ]

All that frowning is going to cause wrinkles, and what will Caleb think about that? Besides, it's not like sitting here and thinking about your potential demise is going to change anything either.

[unconsecuted]

[One day, he is going to smother Aventurine in his sleep, and this week might be the week because their rooms mysteriously conjoin.

He acts huffy, but finally begrudgingly moves to sit on the bed which is funny because afterward, he feels antsy enough to stand.]

Shut up already. This is why I don't tell you anything.

[THE KARMA OF GETTING BACK WHAT HE GAVE TO AVENTURINE.]

[tactic]

[ DO IT. KILL HIM.

But this is another way to kill him... He watches Essek sit, and then stand back up immediately, and Aventurine decides that one of them should at least be comfortable. He sprawls out on his side, propping an elbow on the bed to brace his head with his hand. ]

I'm not going anywhere until you tell me something. And if you try to leave, I'll just follow you out and ask you questions where anyone else could hear them.

[unconsecuted]

[Don't just recline as if this is a girl's sleepover and they are painting nails and talking about boys!!! He paces slightly. Slow, but still pacing.]

Do not. [DO NOT. Wtf, he isn't leaving, damn.] I don't know what you are trying to learn here exactly.

[tactic]

[ He will come prepared with nail polish next time. ]

What's so complicated about you two? How's that for a start?

[unconsecuted]

Like I said, those were his words, not mine.

[Wait, this makes it sound like he is super interested and being spurned. He waves a hand dismissively.]

There are more important things to accomplish right now. Like being alive, like stopping a madman. It isn't something we have discussed. I am... still coming to terms with things I have done.

[He knows Aventurine is looking for something better, annoyingly.]

...Caleb has become a close friend, and he is an interesting man.

[tactic]

[ HMMMMM ]

I heard how you were talking about yourself, and how he responded to you. I must say, he's got quite a way with words.

[ His teasing tone shifts into something a little more sincere. ]

I can see why you think he's interesting... He really believes in what he says. He really believes in you.

[unconsecuted]

[His expression is slightly disgruntled. YES, OKAY, WELL. He can't help Caleb's wizardy charm. He frowns at Aventurine, and then after a moment, he once more makes an attempt to sit on the edge of the bed.]

It isn't something I deserve really. That is the least interesting part. He is curious, and he tries to do good, and the only allegiance he has is to his friends.

[tactic]

[ This is so cute i'm so happy for you essek you deserve only the best!!!! ]

Wow, he's the type of guy everyone strives to be, isn't he?

[unconsecuted]

[So many of you did a complete 180 now even though I have said for so long he has food at home. I'M LOSING IT.]

He would not agree, I don't think.

[tactic]

And he's modest! Oh, be still my heart!

[ Throws himself down on the bed so he's lying on his back with his arms outstretched on either side of him. He will take up as much room as possible. ]

He likes you too, doesn't he? I'd bet my life on it.

[unconsecuted]

Aventurine.

[It's TIRED and lacks any venom. He doesn't even try to hit Aventurine for these annoying transgressions, and instead, he sighs quietly. He doesn't really say anything in response to the last part. He doesn't try to deny it.

Aventurine can see the very edge of his face as he sort of stares off into the middle distance of the room thoughtfully, mildly frowning. His violet eyes lower to the floor, still just as contemplative.]

One day, you're going to bet your life and not have enough luck to cash it in.

[tactic]

[ He watches what he can of Essek's face from where he's lying on the bed, and Aventurine's silly, wide smile falters for a moment as the words catch up to him. But the smile doesn't disappear all the way, softening into something brittle and wane. ]

Sorry, force of habit.

[ There's a laugh in his tone, but it lacks any real energy behind it. ]

My own life and my luck... Those were the only two things I ever had to bet with.

[unconsecuted]

[After a moment, he glances over one shoulder at Aventurine, the whisper of a wry smirk on his lips.]

You know, I have a spell which imparts luck onto someone I choose, and if I cast it at a higher level of magic, I can pick an additional person. It increases the probability of an attack, or a dodge, something like that. Fortune's Favor.

You and I would make a rather unstoppable team, I think.

[Breaks the game with immense luck.]

You spent a great deal of time betting?

[tactic]

[ He cracks a bigger smile at that, recognizing Essek's efforts for one thing, but also really liking the idea in the first place. ]

Think of everything we could accomplish if we weren't constantly at each other's throats.

[ All in good fun, of course. ]

But I did. I do. Maybe not as much as before, but back when I had nothing to lose, it made sense to gamble.