[Ugghhhh. WELL, Aventurine would understand if he met Lucien and had to fight terrible things inside of Aeor, then get cursed by red eyes on his body.
Sighing, he lets himself get dragged away, still not used to having to walk instead of someone simply pulling him along in a float. Annoying.]
Me? You're the one who keeps giving off atrocious insecurities. Guilt, fear - should I name them all one by one so you'll acknowledge them? Aventurine.
[He pulls his arm away, not to escape the touch, but to force Aventurine to look at him.]
You don't have to feel any kind of way. It wasn't as bad as you're making it out to be in your own head. My interest didn't mean I'm madly in love with you. I have feelings, but they work differently than most people.
[ That sounds bad but also, can Aventurine join the fight. Maybe that's how he gets to meet Caleb.
He's made to stop, and when he's forced to look at Essek, the emotions that he gives off are still rancid. They only heighten with each one that gets named, and he makes a noise of complaint from the back of his throat, eyes widening as he tries to quell the uncomfortable squirm in the pit of his stomach. ]
... It does, [ he says, tone reluctant as he tries to silence his emotions from continuing to go haywire. Sometimes, you are a man filled with only insecurities. ] It's not that I think you're madly in love with me, I just...
[ His hand comes up to rub at his forehead, and he grimaces out the rest of the words. ]
I hate that I have to refuse you something.
[ Aventurine who complains about alway being surrounded by tsunderes, also showing tsundere tendencies. But Aventurine who is used to giving people he cares about anything they want, also struggling to deny them. ]
[ i'm sorry to tell you this but they're only getting worse also hello i'm back returns to the fucking mines
But if Essek sincerely asked Aventurine for the cure of all diseases, he would find a way. He's from magic space, they can do the impossible there. ]
Don't turn me into a sap on top of everything else.
[ So what if he's a loser who feels his emotions too much and Essek has somehow become a very close, important friend to him and he's never had friends to begin with and now he's like wow, I was so stupid and blind the entire time. ]
[Which is fair, he has spent a great deal of his life not answering people's damn questions. A small sigh escapes him. He does not grab Aventurine, but he does start walking on again, slow, as if waiting for Aventurine to come along, too.]
You are a sap. It was better to get it out of the way. You are only unnecessarily blaming yourself because you happened to be able to feel what I felt. If you had not, you would have never known and accepted our mutual agreement this boundary.
There isn't anything to feel bad about, you know. You give me enough simply by being my friend.
[ Oh... Well. This is overwhelming, and Aventurine watches as Essek resumes his walk, not following along just yet. He's left a little dumbstruck, a little flustered, and if there's a lump in his throat that feels hard to swallow around, then he won't make any mention of it.
Instead, he finally takes a step forward, and then another, easily catching up to Essek to slip their arms together. Aventurine doesn't mean to cling, but his hold is tight as he looks anywhere but at Essek. ]
... Thanks. You probably don't have any idea how much easier you've made it for me to endure this place.
[ It's the sort of gratitude that might even be felt without the aid of emotionshare, but it's there all the same. ]
[Ok, silly goose. He walks slow and even comes to a stop, looking back to make sure Aventurine is alright, mood worried. He lets Aventurine catch up, settles his arm over the one twining around his. After a moment, hesitant, he laces their fingers, worried mood lifting a bit.
Aventurine won't look at him, but he's looking at Aventurine.]
Likewise. Fool.
[He doesn't want his feelings to be soft, but they're soft. Regardless of all of this mess, Aventurine really is his friend.]
I missed your annoying antics even if they got on my nerves. We haven't spoken in some time. So when I saw you here... [He finally glances away himself.] I was relieved even though I didn't want you to have to be in another place like this.
[ This is different from their usual, lacking the jabs and teasing remarks they so often resort to, but it's still comfortable despite the series of events that brought them to this point. Aventurine squeezes Essek's hand, reassuring and reassured all at once. ]
Our rotten luck.
[ There's a bit of a laugh in his voice as he tries to find some humor in their situation. But it's mostly relief that washes over him, as well as his own soft affection, and he tugs them toward a new location that isn't the rat exhibit. ]
Come on. We'll turn it around and make the most of it.
[Well, sometimes even the two idiots must have time for an emotional, level-headed moment together. And now is that time apparently. He is glad Aventurine is not spiraling at least.
Nehan would probably hit them both across the head with his cane.]
Between the two of us, we're supposed to have great luck.
[He follows along with Aventurine's lead. THEY REALLY HAD THIS HEART TO HEART EPISODE IN A WHOLE RAT EXHIBIT, I HATE THIS PLACE.]
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Sighing, he lets himself get dragged away, still not used to having to walk instead of someone simply pulling him along in a float. Annoying.]
Me? You're the one who keeps giving off atrocious insecurities. Guilt, fear - should I name them all one by one so you'll acknowledge them? Aventurine.
[He pulls his arm away, not to escape the touch, but to force Aventurine to look at him.]
You don't have to feel any kind of way. It wasn't as bad as you're making it out to be in your own head. My interest didn't mean I'm madly in love with you. I have feelings, but they work differently than most people.
Does that make sense?
no subject
He's made to stop, and when he's forced to look at Essek, the emotions that he gives off are still rancid. They only heighten with each one that gets named, and he makes a noise of complaint from the back of his throat, eyes widening as he tries to quell the uncomfortable squirm in the pit of his stomach. ]
... It does, [ he says, tone reluctant as he tries to silence his emotions from continuing to go haywire. Sometimes, you are a man filled with only insecurities. ] It's not that I think you're madly in love with me, I just...
[ His hand comes up to rub at his forehead, and he grimaces out the rest of the words. ]
I hate that I have to refuse you something.
[ Aventurine who complains about alway being surrounded by tsunderes, also showing tsundere tendencies. But Aventurine who is used to giving people he cares about anything they want, also struggling to deny them. ]
no subject
His brows furrow slightly. He peers at Aventurine.]
Sometimes you have to refuse even friends things.
[That's just the way of the world. What if he asked for a cure for all diseases? Aventurine can't give him that either, so what's the difference?]
Why does refusing me something bother you so much?
no subject
But if Essek sincerely asked Aventurine for the cure of all diseases, he would find a way. He's from magic space, they can do the impossible there. ]
Don't turn me into a sap on top of everything else.
[ So what if he's a loser who feels his emotions too much and Essek has somehow become a very close, important friend to him and he's never had friends to begin with and now he's like wow, I was so stupid and blind the entire time. ]
no subject
You didn't answer my question.
[Which is fair, he has spent a great deal of his life not answering people's damn questions. A small sigh escapes him. He does not grab Aventurine, but he does start walking on again, slow, as if waiting for Aventurine to come along, too.]
You are a sap. It was better to get it out of the way. You are only unnecessarily blaming yourself because you happened to be able to feel what I felt. If you had not, you would have never known and accepted our mutual agreement this boundary.
There isn't anything to feel bad about, you know. You give me enough simply by being my friend.
no subject
Instead, he finally takes a step forward, and then another, easily catching up to Essek to slip their arms together. Aventurine doesn't mean to cling, but his hold is tight as he looks anywhere but at Essek. ]
... Thanks. You probably don't have any idea how much easier you've made it for me to endure this place.
[ It's the sort of gratitude that might even be felt without the aid of emotionshare, but it's there all the same. ]
no subject
Aventurine won't look at him, but he's looking at Aventurine.]
Likewise. Fool.
[He doesn't want his feelings to be soft, but they're soft. Regardless of all of this mess, Aventurine really is his friend.]
I missed your annoying antics even if they got on my nerves. We haven't spoken in some time. So when I saw you here... [He finally glances away himself.] I was relieved even though I didn't want you to have to be in another place like this.
no subject
Our rotten luck.
[ There's a bit of a laugh in his voice as he tries to find some humor in their situation. But it's mostly relief that washes over him, as well as his own soft affection, and he tugs them toward a new location that isn't the rat exhibit. ]
Come on. We'll turn it around and make the most of it.
no subject
Nehan would probably hit them both across the head with his cane.]
Between the two of us, we're supposed to have great luck.
[He follows along with Aventurine's lead. THEY REALLY HAD THIS HEART TO HEART EPISODE IN A WHOLE RAT EXHIBIT, I HATE THIS PLACE.]
You're giving us too much credit here, I feel.
no subject
I'm giving myself just the right amount of credit, thanks. You're welcome to share in it!
[ anyway they go off and enjoy themselves and you have to pc me it's your turn that's the rules ]