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[finalgambit]

Aventurine;

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[finalgambit]

[ groans and shoves his hand straight into vox’s face. ] I ate you twice. I think we left simple in the dust ages ago… [ he tries to squirm out from under him. ] And besides, I deserve a thank you for personally saving your ass in round 2. Greed targeted you.

[bsod]

[ HEY? Vox sits up, letting him go. He wipes at his face with the back of a sleeve. IF YOU LEFT FINGERPRINTS— ]

I figured they would. The girl I took out ended up being their heart.

[finalgambit]

[ what'cha gonna do about it... voxxy? ]

It was the same girl that wanted your ass during intermission. [ pokes his chest. ] I guess that's actually double thanks. [ his smirk grows just a liiiittle bit wider. ]

[bsod]

I'm aware.

[ Makes a face. This is hard for him. ]

So... thanks. Twice over. I owe you.

[finalgambit]

… [ he didn’t need an actual thanks, but it’s kind of cute to hear him relent and give it to him. his smirk softens to a smile and he straightens his bowtie… just because he needs to fidget with something. ] You don’t owe me. It’s just a friend thing. I didn’t do it so you can owe me. I did it because I like you, and I didn’t want to see you hurt.

[bsod]

[ His gaze flicks down to Aventurine fiddling with his tie and then back up. ]

Yeah, I still don't get that.

[finalgambit]

What's there to get?

[bsod]

Everything?? Why you even like me in the first place?

[finalgambit]

I liked our back and forth. It felt... different, casual... but with a hint of malice, because we still had beef with each other for one stupid reason or another. And then in the pizzeria... that whole debacle just, didn't you think it... the whole experience... [ brought us closer together? even if only a little bit. ] And you're easy to talk to. At least I think so.

[bsod]

[ Something in his chest twists when Aventurine suggests he liked the banter, the rivalry, even the bit of malice.

Why did he have to be brought here to find this? ]

I... [ A laugh. ] I really don't get you.

[finalgambit]

...you don't need to get me. [ ... ] But [ he hesitates, ] you shared something about yourself with me, so how about I do the same?

[bsod]

No, I guess I don't.

[ Only time will tell if he actually comes to understand the way Aventurine ticks. ]

... If you want. This doesn't have to be a sharing session.

[finalgambit]

...it'll check off another box on our rom-com trope bucket list. [ maybe. he doesn't know much about these stupid romance movies, but he figures there's some trope about the rich and the poor. he might be loaded now, but it's not like that was always the case... ]

Did you ever notice my brand and, no, I'm not talking about the one this place gave me. [ he tilts his head slightly. ]

[bsod]

[ They already made it past the third act misunderstanding so it should be smooth sailing from here, right? ]

That one? Yeah, I've seen it. Why?

[finalgambit]

[ he stops fidgeting with his tie,
something he's been doing this entire time... wups. ]

Do you know what it says? [ he takes vox's claw and moves it over it, so that he's covering it. ] ...someone paid just sixty red copper coins to put a brand on me, put me in chains, only to throw me to the gallows so they could bury me in golden sand...

[bsod]

Someone... bought you?

[ Probably not too different from the concept of a soul deal, and he won't pretend that a lot of people who make such deals are treated any better.

He traces the mark on Aventurine's neck with a finger, mindful not to prick skin or draw blood. ]

How'd you end up where you are now?

[finalgambit]

...yeah. I'm rare. I'm from a planet called Sigonia, and it was annihilated in an attack, so I may very well be the last of the Avgins. And you can tell because of our eyes. [ that's part of the reason he wears sunglasses. ]

My " master " made us all fight... threw us into an arena...

I killed all the others and then... then I killed him. [ his smile broadens and he almost laughs. ] I was found by the IPC and I gambled my life for a position, because what did I really have to lose? Nothing. I literally had nothing.

[bsod]

[ What a weird feeling, to feel a bit bad for someone else. It's been a long time since he's had any sort of sympathy in him. ]

That's quite the rags to riches story you've got there. No wonder you're so "all or nothing" all the time.

[finalgambit]

…mm, [ he snakes an arm around vox, tugging him flush against him. if they’re not going to kiss, then they can at least cuddle… this position is compromising enough, so they might as well do something with it. ] like I said, I haven’t got anything to lose. If I do die, then I’ll just get to see my family again. I’m not afraid. And if I win, well, then I’ve accomplished whatever I’ve set out to do. To me… all the gambles I take are win-win.

[bsod]

[ He tenses for a second, not expecting the move, but he settles a second later. He's not used to being all touchy feely with people. ]

That's a hell of a way to live. From one gamble to the next.

[finalgambit]

...that's got to mean a lot coming from a demon, hahaha. [ he buries his face in vox's chest, shutting his eyes. ] Is this a trope? ...spilling the details of my backstory and my addiction, so you can try to fix me. A shame there won't be any of that. Need to keep the drama train running strong.

[bsod]

[ Vox isn't sure what to do with his hands for a second. Finally, he rests one on Aventurine's shoulder. What is happening here? ]

I'm not here to fix anyone, Aventurine. Not you, and certainly not me.

[finalgambit]

It was a joke. Relax.

[bsod]

Mm. I wouldn't pursue a career in comedy, in that case.

[ This is weirdly cozy. ]

[finalgambit]

[ rolls his eyes. ] I didn't plan on it.

[ the movie has finally ended, and everything has wrapped up into a near little package. hooray. there's a few moments of silence and then a blood curdling scream. oh, were you comfortable, well get fucked the both of you, because there's some horror movie playing now. it does pump the breaks... so it's not at a 10 the entire time. ]

This is my first time in this place. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. [ gives vox a sidelong smile. ] Especially for an impromptu date.