[ Aventurine has also aged, mostly spiritually, but it can be seen on his face when he walks into the combination pharmacy and ice cream store. He looks exhausted, mirth from that very first week gone as he comes to a stand beside Caelus.
Still, he makes an effort. ]
There's even more at the shopping center's food court.
[ sad men seem to be a hit around these parts, so maybe this is good for him. caelus wouldn't know anything about that as he can't remain somber for too long. the goofy always leaks out eventually.
he spares aventurine a glance. his 'I'll tell you in a few days' timer is counting down. tick-tock. ]
You don't have to push yourself if you don't want to talk to me.
[ no idea yet if aventurine's exhaustion is caelus-specific or just how he looks at people now. will need that explained. ]
If I didn't want to talk to you, I wouldn't be here.
[ He's teasing, though he will find the nearest surface to sit on while Caelus peruses the many flavors of ice cream. ]
Don't take my appearance personally. Everyone in this town either died or placed one foot in their grave on Thursday. Only Nehan and I were spared, so we've been kept busy tending to the wounded.
[ he's not relieved. yes he is. the misread won't be his first time getting used to forgiveness flowing so easily toward him. the kill was brutal and cruel and not at all strategic. everything by impulse. the bat. the girl. the body.
and then that shitshow execution, emphasis on the show. ]
You've worked hard between that and the notebooks. I'm going to prescribe you a break.
[ caelus being a bit influenced by their setting and the fact this is also a pharmacy hello ]
The next hour, bare minimum, no lifting a finger. What ice cream do you want?
[ It had been quite the show, but not one consciously made by Caelus. He's mindful of that as their conversation moves along. ]
Playing caretaker when you've only just arrived?
[ Sure, he'll play along. Something to distract the both of them, a sweet ending to an otherwise horrid week. Aventurine considers his options for only a few seconds. ]
[ ....... okay you said he should pick on his own so it's gonna be crushed or*os and gummy worms. pseudo mudpie. ]
Here.
[ also hands a plastic spoon ]
I have a question. It's nothing that's in your notebook. It's about the night Boothill got you. It's been bugging me for a while, though. Is now an okay time? On your mandated 'break?'
[ There's a second's pause once the question is finished, and Aventurine looks mildly surprised, his eyebrows raised as he regards Caelus with some concern. ]
Don't tell me this has been eating away at you since my death.
[ He shakes his head. ]
You didn't let me down. I was at the cabin that night with Miss Robin because I was hoping to talk to her about private matters. When everyone fell asleep and I was the only one to wake up, I returned to the barn to see if anyone else was awake.
[ it's caelus' job to protect everyone. the second bodies started dropping, he'd failed. in the aftermath, he merely wants to know how badly he performed. normal evaluation stuff. figured aventurine would be good at that, given his profession. ]
I don't know if I'm relieved or not, yet. I spent a lot of time thinking about it.
[ Goes back to eating his mess of an ice cream. What a silly thing to worry about. Aventurine's not worth that much thought, but he doesn't voice that part out loud. ]
Unfortunately, no. Not that night. What we thought would be a private moment to ourselves ended up being eleven people stuck in that small cabin all together.
[ aventurine is annoying and a pseudo-villain when it suits his goals, but he's worth saving. admittedly, the I'll-save-you bar is low. it's on the ground. limbo under that. ]
I should also tell you, when our memories were on full display, some people saw you when we fought. I told all of them it was fine and we were working together here when we were alive, but you should know. It wasn't on purpose.
[ at last, scooping himself something fully chocolate-y. ]
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Still, he makes an effort. ]
There's even more at the shopping center's food court.
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he spares aventurine a glance. his 'I'll tell you in a few days' timer is counting down. tick-tock. ]
You don't have to push yourself if you don't want to talk to me.
[ no idea yet if aventurine's exhaustion is caelus-specific or just how he looks at people now. will need that explained. ]
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[ He's teasing, though he will find the nearest surface to sit on while Caelus peruses the many flavors of ice cream. ]
Don't take my appearance personally. Everyone in this town either died or placed one foot in their grave on Thursday. Only Nehan and I were spared, so we've been kept busy tending to the wounded.
[ Thursday feels like a lifetime ago. ]
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and then that shitshow execution, emphasis on the show. ]
You've worked hard between that and the notebooks. I'm going to prescribe you a break.
[ caelus being a bit influenced by their setting and the fact this is also a pharmacy hello ]
The next hour, bare minimum, no lifting a finger. What ice cream do you want?
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Playing caretaker when you've only just arrived?
[ Sure, he'll play along. Something to distract the both of them, a sweet ending to an otherwise horrid week. Aventurine considers his options for only a few seconds. ]
If they have the Neapolitan, I'll take that.
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[ caelus seeks the telltale neapolitan stripes. once found, he scoops into the largest disposable bowl option. hard work deserves a pint. ]
Any toppings?
[ everyone loves having to think deeply about what type of sundae their character likes ]
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Whatever you think will go well with the ice cream. The Neapolitan itself was a recommendation to me by Miss Aqua.
[ He's not usually spending too much time at the ice cream section of the pharmacy, so he's happy to let Caelus take the wheel. ]
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Here.
[ also hands a plastic spoon ]
I have a question. It's nothing that's in your notebook. It's about the night Boothill got you. It's been bugging me for a while, though. Is now an okay time? On your mandated 'break?'
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Thank you.
[ He will avoid the gummy worms for now but the or*os and ice cream combination is not bad at all. ]
Ask me anything you'd like.
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You didn't stay with us in the barn--I get it. You didn't seem that comfortable and Boothill wasn't helping.
[ their liquor fights. truly a lifetime ago. ]
But you came back there, I think? That's what it sounded like. Was it to get something of yours?
[ no use being coy ]
I've been wondering this whole time if you were trying to get help from the only Trailblazer around.
[ shoulders tight ]
I know it sounds conceited, but that was the first week, so we didn't know the ritual would make us sleep through everything.
[ exhale ]
Did I let you down?
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Don't tell me this has been eating away at you since my death.
[ He shakes his head. ]
You didn't let me down. I was at the cabin that night with Miss Robin because I was hoping to talk to her about private matters. When everyone fell asleep and I was the only one to wake up, I returned to the barn to see if anyone else was awake.
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[ it's caelus' job to protect everyone. the second bodies started dropping, he'd failed. in the aftermath, he merely wants to know how badly he performed. normal evaluation stuff. figured aventurine would be good at that, given his profession. ]
I don't know if I'm relieved or not, yet. I spent a lot of time thinking about it.
[ divert divert divert. ANYWAYS: ]
Did you get what you needed from Miss Robin?
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Unfortunately, no. Not that night. What we thought would be a private moment to ourselves ended up being eleven people stuck in that small cabin all together.
[ It was so... cramped... ]
My, that feels like ages ago now.
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I should also tell you, when our memories were on full display, some people saw you when we fought. I told all of them it was fine and we were working together here when we were alive, but you should know. It wasn't on purpose.
[ at last, scooping himself something fully chocolate-y. ]