[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.
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.
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.
[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.
[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.
[ 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.
[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.
[ 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.
[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.
[Idiot. He shakes his head slowly, though maybe ever so slightly amused.]
I don't know if anything will come of it. As I've said, we have to both survive whatever happens when we finally run into Lucien. If we do, if Laudna is anything to go by - timelines are so fragile...
[A small shrug. He glances away.]
There are other things: I'm likely going to be a fugitive, always on the run; Caleb has his own goals... Our lifespans are also not congruent. I live for a very long time, and Caleb lives for so short a time.
He's quiet as he listens, and the silence stretches on even after Essek has finished speaking. He doesn't like thinking about incompatible lifespans, and he shoves the thought aside by dragging a hand down his face. ]
You know, you're what the kids would call 'a bummer' in this day and age.
[No, no. Let's think about incompatible lifespans. Let's think about them... (This is why they break up with each other later when Caleb gets older, by the way.)]
For what, thinking about the logistics of things before running head first into them?
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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.
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[ 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.
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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.]
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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.
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Do not. [DO NOT. Wtf, he isn't leaving, damn.] I don't know what you are trying to learn here exactly.
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What's so complicated about you two? How's that for a start?
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[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.
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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.
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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.
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Wow, he's the type of guy everyone strives to be, isn't he?
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He would not agree, I don't think.
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[ 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.
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[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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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[This is just teasing. It's both of them. It's because they are pretty similar aside from the yin and yang of personalities.]
I guess I also gambled in my own way, too. [AS HE SAW. Annoying.] Except I had a great deal to lose. And have.
But the only good gambles are those with the highest stakes.
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It's the highest risks that pay out the highest rewards, after all.
[ And he's got no interest in the small change. ]
You're either braver or stupider than I am. Now that I have more to lose, I'm less likely to gamble.
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So am I.
[Sometimes fucking other people complicate your desires and wishes!!!!!!!!]
Everything I've always done has been dangerous. But now...
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[ hehehehe ]
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Stop that. There isn't anything between us.
[Yet. That comes after the whole tabletop campaign is over.]
Weren't you the one trying to get me to talk to Wriothesley?
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That was before I knew about your pending love interest back home!
[ He refuses to believe there is nothing there after That Memory. ]
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I don't know if anything will come of it. As I've said, we have to both survive whatever happens when we finally run into Lucien. If we do, if Laudna is anything to go by - timelines are so fragile...
[A small shrug. He glances away.]
There are other things: I'm likely going to be a fugitive, always on the run; Caleb has his own goals... Our lifespans are also not congruent. I live for a very long time, and Caleb lives for so short a time.
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He's quiet as he listens, and the silence stretches on even after Essek has finished speaking. He doesn't like thinking about incompatible lifespans, and he shoves the thought aside by dragging a hand down his face. ]
You know, you're what the kids would call 'a bummer' in this day and age.
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For what, thinking about the logistics of things before running head first into them?
[IT'S SAID KIND OF POINTEDLY.]
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