synflux | [CLOSED] The Golden Ratio

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[CLOSED] The Golden Ratio

WHO: Dr. Ratio + Aventurine
WHAT: Permanent catch all for Ratio and Aventurine's shenanigans
WHERE: Anywhere and everywhere
WHEN: Various
WARNINGS: Patch 2.2 spoilers abound. Suicidal ideation. Now with NSFW. Other content warnings will be listed in starters

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[ It is May 5th. Only a scant few days after their arrival to this ruined planet. By now, the deal with Penacony would have concluded. Whether or not the IPC successfully obtained Penacony, he is not sure. But he is certain of one thing: that Aventurine's luck would hold. And that would be enough to guarantee the IPC a favourable outcome, even if the initial goal was not met.

He stands by the large window in his room, overlooking the city of Shinjuku. The skies are cloudy, slowly darkening as time trickles into the evening. The weather forecast had indicated rain would fall soon. How fitting, he thinks, that it would rain on this day.

They have never spoken about this day; not once. But he has come to expect a certain routine every year: a lack of communication during the day, whether it be through text or voice call, and then his sudden appearance in the evening at the scholar's office (and it never seemed to matter whether he was at the University or the Intelligentsia Guild's headquarters, he always seemed to know), accompanied by the strongest of spirits. Though Ratio is loathe to consume alcohol, and normally makes that clear, this day is always an exception.

He waits patiently. Their environs might have changed, but he does not expect the routine to change. ]

( Aventurine would like to say he's forgotten in the madness that was arriving here, on the crumbling remains of a dying planet, of getting to learn enough about it that he can find his footing and start to build a plan forward. If they're stuck here -- and it certainly does seem that way, at least for the time being -- then he's going to make it work for him; he's already read through what he can access on the network, already earned himself enough of the currency here to get access to the things he needs. It keeps him busy.

Not busy enough to ignore the date.

He spends the day as recklessly as he always does; there's no thought of what Ratio might do if he doesn't show up in the evening, because Aventurine always does that, too. Blame the luck gifted to him on this day, years ago.

With the setting sun, Aventurine finds a decent bottle of the strongest stuff he can afford and sets off. It's nothing like he used to get back home, but it's better than what he could get on the meager allowance afforded him by LILITH.

The first drops fall on his head as he approaches the assigned quarters for the team Ratio's been assigned to, and Aventurine can't help but grimace. Rain. Just his luck.

Like always the thought leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

Finding the good doctor's quarters with ease, Aventurine raps his knuckles on the door in silence -- there's no one else who it could be, on this day, at this hour. )

It's unlocked.

[ He does not move from his position, only turning once Aventurine has entered the room and locked the sliding door behind him. His eyes instantly drift to the bottle of alcohol. He hadn't expected anything extravagant, but— ]

It seems unwise to spend so much for a single bottle of alcohol.

[ He gives the gambler a look of consideration. ]

How much have you earned so far?

( That Ratio already knows where and how he's earned some extra cash brings a tight smile to his face -- it would be wider, more true, if it were any other day other than this particular one. )

Don't worry, Doctor. Enough to make things a little more comfortable without arousing suspicion.

( A flash as he flips an Imaginary chip up into the air before snatching it out mid-fall. )

Our own stipend was so stingy, I just couldn't help myself.

( He sweeps in, as if he's still wearing the finery he usually adorns himself with and not the lounge clothes provided by LILITH. That's a work in progress, once he can figure out to change, he will. His eyes alight on the cups on the table -- waiting for him, no doubt -- and he quickly pours them both a glass. )

[ The ever familiar chip. The one chip, worth a miracle. Its design is something of a comfort to see now that they're trapped here.

His eyes trail after the gambler's every movement, gaze quiet but no less intense. He doesn't comment on the grandiose way Aventurine sweeps across the room, and how he still seems to fill the tiny space with his presence, even without his ostentatious outfit.

He accepts the alcohol without a word, swirling the tinted liquid in the opaque cup. The flimsy plastic material is hardly suited to its contents, but they are not in their home star system. Here, they have nothing to their name.

At least Aventurine has him. ]

What have you procured this time?

[ A lazy jerk of his occupied hand towards the bottle. What has Aventurine seen fit to have them try on this dilapidated, lonely planet? ]

Edited 2024-05-11 03:05 (UTC)

( He does have Ratio, and the fact that it means... a good deal to him is something Aventurine isn't ready to examine yet. But especially now, here, and this day -- it's better to have Ratio than be alone.

Because he has to know. And he knows without saying -- he's seen Aventurine's file, he's heard the reports of what happened before it had seemingly faded from interplanetary news. He's capable of putting one and one together without any input from Aventurine.

So he doesn't have to explain why he's here, aiming to get drunk on his birthday because his birthday was the day sand ran red with the blood of his clan until there was just him. Kakavasha.

What a joke. Aventurine takes a drink -- it's not bad, though certainly not anything like he'd brought to Ratio's office. )

Honkaku Umeshu. A plum wine that I was told was very popular. Not their best bottle of the stuff, but I couldn't afford the best. For once. ( A put upon, troubled sigh that he exaggerates. ) It's not bad. Careful, Doctor, it's sweeter than your taste buds allow for.

[ There are a great many things that go unsaid between them. Ratio's former desire for Nous' gaze. His shame in assisting the IPC with anti-planetary weapons. Aventurine's desire for death.

The Katica-Avgin Extinction Events, and the gambler's deep, deep grudge against Oswaldo Schneider.

Ratio raises the cup to his lips and takes a delicate sip. True to Aventurine's word, it is very sweet, and he almost wrinkles his nose in disgust. However, it has a sour note that balances out the saccharine flavour and he contemplates the taste for a moment. ]

It is not the worst you've forced upon me.

[ The honour for that would go to the Star Year 8071 Wild Shore Sanhuajiu, which had boasted 52% ABV and was one of the last batches of sanhuajiu made by a famous distillery on the Xianzhou Fanghu right before the Third Abundance War destroyed it. Whatever flavour profile that liquor was meant to have had been lost on him as the alcoholic burn had overwhelmed his taste buds, and worse, they'd had it on an empty stomach.

That was the first and last time Aventurine saw Ratio completely drunk. As it turned out, Veritas Ratio did not handle liquor well. ]

Edited 2024-05-12 07:55 (UTC)

( As much as Aventurine wants to die just so he can see his family again, to hear his sister's voice again, he knows that he and they won't rest easy if Oswaldo Schneider is still around. He's working on it, at any rate, though it's a lot harder to work from the inside here.

He'll get back to it.

At Ratio's expression a tight smile flickers across his face before he takes a seat, taking a much larger sip of his own. )

Is that a challenge, Doctor? But don't worry, I don't plan on getting you as drunk as I want to be tonight.

( He'd been charmed by it, but saying that tonight of all nights is... not the time. There won't ever be a time for it, he's sure, but he'll certainly entertain the thought of letting Ratio know how much he likes the other man. )

[ He rolls his eyes—an expression he usually doesn't make in front of others, citing a lack of professionalism, but around Aventurine, he has opted to allow himself to be more expressive.

What they have is much more than a professional relationship, he knows. The label he would venture to put upon it is friendship, though he can't be certain if Aventurine feels the same way. Not because of a lack of self-confidence—rather, it is because he knows Aventurine well. The gambler has placed many barriers around his own heart, to protect it from all the suffering he's gone through. Ratio has not tried to pry them apart. He waits, patient as ever, for Aventurine to lower the walls himself. ]

Do not expect me to carry you back to your room.

[ Though he says that, there was only one time that had been necessary, and it was the year after the dreaded Sanhuajiu, when Aventurine brought yet another spirit with an impressively high ABV. That time, Ratio had been careful to moderate the speed of consumption. Aventurine... less so.

This Honkaku Umeshu did not seem to have nearly enough alcoholic content to warrant such circumstances. ]

( There's too much at risk for Aventurine to tear down the wall he's built around himself. Not only his own heart, already battered and bruised over the length of his life, but also Ratio's wellbeing. The people he cares for, the people who care for him -- they haven't exactly ended up living long, fulfilling lives have they? It's the price of his luck, he knows, that he will keep on living and they will not.

So it's better for the both of them. Aventurine will take his friendship with Ratio over the aching fear that comes with a gamble he won't make. This way he can keep Ratio, alive and brusque and cutting, and not have to worry about losing him.

He settles in the seat fully, leaning forward to take another sip -- it's not bad, and he actually thinks he likes it more than some of the things he'd taken to drinking over the years. )

C'mon doc, that was only the once. ( It's said with a joking pout, and he leans back further into the seat. ) Unlike your office, here actually looks comfortable enough to pass out in -- so don't mind if I do, later.

[ This, too, is something Ratio is aware of. That is why he waits. It is not his decision to make, how their relationship should proceed. Not that is hoping for any more—not that he wants any more. No, he is quite satisfied with what they have already. That Aventurine chooses him, of all people, to be with on his birthdays is already indicative of the faith he has in the scholar.

He will not be the one to break the fragile trust the man has extended to him. ]

And where do you propose I sleep tonight, gambler? Do tell. Am I to walk to your quarters and take up residence there?

[ He takes another sip of the umeshu. Mm, it isn't bad at all. He doesn't dislike it. ]

Not in the mood to share your comfortable bed, doctor? ( It's a hollow tease, said out of habit rather than meaning, and he tries not sigh, tries not to run a hand through his hair and let the other man know how much he hates this day. Seeing Ratio really is the best part of it, and knowing that once he does it's a quick trip to feeling numb. ) I've slept on worse than this floor. It'll do fine.

( His next sip is longer, more, and he pours himself a refill without waiting for Ratio to finish his. )

[ There are a number of ways he could respond to that, and he even considers retorting with something equally suggestive, if only to see how Aventurine would react. But it's only a thought he entertains, because he isn't nearly as inebriated to go through with that idea (but the fact that he even entertained it means something, doesn't it?)

In the end, he decides not to respond to that, and takes another sip of his drink. ]

So you intend to make a poor host out of me. Do you really think I would let you sleep on the floor?

[ And while Aventurine is busy pouring himself another cup, Ratio stares down at his unoccupied hand, focusing for a moment and willing an Imaginary chip into existence. It is not exactly the same as Aventurine's, bearing his personal owl motif on each side instead, but that was intentional.

Nonchalantly, he plays with it, flipping the chip between his fingers the same way the gambler has shown him many times before. He doesn't draw attention to the action, waiting to see how long it will take before the other man notices. ]

[ The night sky is bright and clear without the light of the city polluting the atmosphere. Ratio does not find Aventurine in the campervan, though the temperatures have dropped to a nippy chill that leaves him wanting to seek warmth in the vehicle.

He eventually finds the man outside, distant from the campfire, but not so far that he cannot feel its warmth. He's positioned just so to isolate himself from the other Outsiders who have seen fit to camp out under the stars. Aventurine is laid out on the sand, gazing up at the stars that glitter brightly above them, the skies cloudless. ]

Gambler.

[ It is a greeting. Ratio stops next to the man, standing, observing him for a moment, before sighing and sitting down next to him. He does not say any more, waiting for the other to speak. ]

( Like anyone born in the desert, Aventurine knows that nights can get surprisingly cold compared to the oppressive heat of the day. It keeps him close enough to camp instead of wandering out further into the desert just to get away from anything that reminds him too much of home -- but luckily the sky above lacks the astral phenomenon that made life there so damned difficult for every unlucky bastard who ever was born on his home planet.

His musings are met with a welcome interruption, and Aventurine grins up at the other man. )

Doctor. ( He says nothing for a brief moment before, in a sign of trust -- or perhaps how grateful Aventurine has been for the comfort Ratio has offered him over the past few days -- he continues once the doctor has settled down in the ground next to him. ) It was never this dark unless it rained. There was always something happening in the sky -- I didn't realize night could be so black until I was in my teens.

( Ratio is a smart man who knows enough about the history of Sigonia-IV and its position in the universe to understand what Aventurine is talking about. And what happened to so drastically change his understanding of what a night sky should look like. )

[ Ratio turns his eyes to the sky, listening quietly as Aventurine speaks of the home he rarely shares to the scholar. He knows, yes; he's done all the research he can to understand the Sigonian's history, but it is not the same as a first hand account from the man himself.

Like this, he can hear the quiet longing in the man's voice. He can hear the wistfulness, the melancholy, the wonder as he beholds the inky skies, dotted with the glimmer of distant stars. Sigonia-IV was not an easy place to live in. The environment was far too harsh for any semblance of structured civilization to grow, and even the IPC's technology could not change that.

Grasping at the sands beneath him, he wonders what it must have been like to live in such harsh conditions—when the best they could do was just to survive the day. He is fortunate, he thinks, to have been born in a more hospitable place. And, perhaps, he is even luckier to have met Aventurine, the sole survivor of his people, when it was statistically improbable for the two of them to meet.

He is silent after Aventurine finishes his sentence, but then he raises his hand, tracing the bright path in the night sky with his fingers. ]

The sky here is bright to me. This planet—Earth—is part of a galaxy locally known as the Milky Way, named after the river of light that can be seen on clear nights like this. It is a barred spiral galaxy, so what we are seeing is the thickness of the galaxy's disk-like structure.

[ He pauses for a moment, hesitant. ]

...Sigonia-IV had the misfortune of being located in the Jemwil Asteroid Stream, influenced by the stars from the three clusters in its proximity. The Pruthian cluster in particular is host to a volatile triple star system, with its largest star, Utos, being prone to coronal mass ejections. It would be the cause of the auroras observed on your home world.

Edited 2024-05-23 14:12 (UTC)

( Aventurine's eyes follow Ratio's finger, humming in thought. Every planet has a different sky, and Aventurine has never really given them much thought after a while -- he's normally working whenever he's away from Pier Point these days, and he's failed to give the night sky much attention when he's got other things on his plate. There's not much the stars can do to help him with his schemes, unless it involves convincing someone using whatever local superstitions there are. That this planet has its own name for things in spite of never getting to the rest of the galaxy (as far as Aventurine can tell) is quaint, and endearing.

Though-- )

They named their planet after dirt?

( And then Ratio talks about his planet. Aventurine knows the... general source of the misfortune that plagued it, but not the details about it -- that he's taken the time to research it means something to Aventurine that he can't quite name. A kindness and attention to detail he's used to going without when it comes to himself. So Aventurine simply rolls onto his side. It's easier to watch the other man like this, which is suddenly one of the things he wants to do very much.

Not that it's a surprise, given everything that's happened between the two of them in the past month and a half. Both here and in Penacony. )

They were beautiful, when I thought to give them more than a passing glance. I always thought we were lucky to see them. Turns out it was just a visual reminder of how unlucky we really were.

( And all the beauty had been sucked out of it then; they'd been as dull as the rainclouds he's come to associate with his birthday in the aftermath. )

[ Ratio's lips quirk up in amusement at Aventurine's quizzical tone. ]

You would be surprised to know how many civilizations name their planet similarly before achieving interstellar travel. It is only when they encounter the greater intergalactic community that a different name becomes a necessity. This planet, were the IPC to make contact with it, would likely be called Helios-III, named after one of the sun gods of the various mythologies present in their culture.

[ He glances down at his companion when the man shifts, his sunset eyes glowing slightly in the darkness, and ignores the urge to reach out and settle his hand over Aventurine's. ]

The coronal mass ejections would not have produced more than lights in the sky, though the frequency and intensity would have caused difficulty in using electromagnetic devices on your planet.

[ He closes his eyes for a moment, then turns his head back up to the sky. He knows Aventurine does not appreciate his scrutiny for too long. ]

Sigonia-IV's main predicament is its lack of water, and the frequency with which it receives small-scale celestial objects. The impact of these objects can cause significant disruption to the ecology of its contact point, which no doubt contributed to the sparseness of the planet's flora.

[ Ratio knows too much, has done too much research—he's not wholly certain Aventurine wants to hear this; wants to hear his misfortune laid out in such a detached, scientific manner. But he's not sure what Aventurine would want to hear at all. The only thing he's certain of right now is that he shouldn't be alone. ]

( Aventurine knows he should be paying attention, because Ratio is talking about things he actually knows something about -- and it is interesting, finding out the ways in which his home planet was doomed from the start. How his clan was exiled because they were considered acceptable collateral damage for the 'good of all'. For preserving the planet.

Hah.

He wonders, idly, if Qlipoth would have extended his blessing so readily to Aventurine if he knew. )

It sounds much better when you talk about it, Ratio. ( That much is true, and Aventurine lets his eyes travel up to the stars once again. ) C'mon, give me some other facts. If you've run out of them for my little pile of dirt, what about yours?

( He knows he should be paying attention, but Ratio's voice is soothing, especially when he really gets going. Aventurine doesn't want him to stop talking -- and there really isn't much to say about Sigonia. It likely still exists, maybe thriving under the guidance of the IPC. But it isn't his home anymore.

He... isn't sure what is, these days. )

[ Ratio looks back down at Aventurine again with a bemused look. There is something different about Aventurine tonight. He is a little more greedy, a little more childish, a little more honest. It's clear he wants Ratio to keep talking, regardless of whether or not he understands, and the idea that he might just want to keep Ratio close fills him with an emotion that is hard to describe.

He can't help himself; he reaches out and brushes a strand of hair out of the Sigonian's eyes, noting, not for the first time since their acquaintance, how beautiful and vibrant those unique two-toned eyes are.

In a quiet, gentle, and fond voice: ]

Are you perhaps thinking of visiting soon? We would certainly welcome you.

[ And then he presses two fingers against Aventurine's forehead, firm but teasing, and turns away, pulling his hand back to rest in the sand again, and looks back to the skies. ]

Veritas Prime is located in the Mytikas Star System, which is part of the Ovid Cluster, located adjacent to the Laurel Wreath galaxy. You may be familiar with that name if you have read up on the Second Machine Crisis. Individuals fleeing from the galaxy during that period of time sought refuge in the Ovid Cluster, with Veritas Prime eventually becoming the prime destination for these displaced people.

At the time, Veritas Prime was a desolate planet, unworthy of bearing a name in the greater intergalactic community. But through the efforts of the refugees, some of whom had been part of the Philosopher Union, the planet was terraformed and transformed into a planet of abundance. The individual who led these efforts went on to establish an institute of knowledge, to further research techniques to keep the planet thriving and plentiful. To enshrine and honour his contributions to the star system, the planet and the institution were given his name.

[ Anyone who read up on his planet's history would know all of this, but it is a touch embarrassing to recite that history—the origin of his name and the weight that it bore. ]

Edited 2024-05-27 04:32 (UTC)

I would never dream of doing such a thing, doc. I'd insist upon the floor.

( He could get his beauty sleep the next night. Which is probably more indicative of how much he dreads the concept of not being drunk on this day, this night. Taking another drink, he-- smiles, because that is something new, isn't it? Every time Ratio offers something about himself, something new -- but this is something he's learned specifically to show off to Aventurine.

Raising a brow, he looks up to the other man, away from his talented fingers. )

Have I rubbed off on you?

[ The look Ratio gives him in response is quite clear—that Ratio will not be letting him sleep on the floor, no matter how much the gambler insists. This is a fight they both know Aventurine will lose, because by the end of the night he will be far too gone to resist when Ratio picks him up off the floor and deposits him in the bed.

But that is a matter for the future as Aventurine's eyes are finally drawn to the chip moving in Ratio's hand, and the scholar's lips curl up, slight, but just enough to make it clear he's smiling. ]

Hardly. It is not difficult to learn a simple parlor trick like this.

[ Both of them know it takes quite a bit of experience to move the chip with the ease Ratio does it though—this isn't something he's learned recently.

With a sharp movement, he flicks the coin into the air, arcing towards Aventurine, perfectly calculated to land in the gambler's hand should he open it palm up to receive it. ]

( Somehow, of all the responses Aventurine was expecting, that never even crossed his mind. Ratio wouldn't mind him visiting? And not as part of the IPC, presumably, because no one would truly welcome a Stoneheart -- everyone is well aware of what having one of them visit would mean for the planet. His eyes go wide in surprise that he can't quite swallow down before Ratio presses his fingers against his forehead and he can feel his jaw go slack for a second before he removes them and yet, despite the tease, the place where they'd touched his skin burns.

Right. He's still talking. )

I gotta say, doc, it doesn't really sound like a place that'd want someone like me visiting. ( He has so little to offer -- not as Aventurine, but as Kakavasha, and certainly not to a man who's named for the hero of his planet. Still, the idea of there being two Vertias' who have brought a sense of pride to their home planet feels right. A smile steals over Aventurine's face as he once again watches Ratio's face in the firelight. ) Just wait a few more years and there'll be tiny Veritases running around named not for him but for you. Given the sheer amount of books and documentaries on you, they're damn proud of what you've accomplished.

( It's one of the great mysteries of the universe as to why Nous has overlooked Ratio -- even Aventurine finds himself wondering from time to time why Doctor Veritas Ratio is excluded from their number. A small, selfish part of him is grateful: Nous' loss is Aventurine's gain. There's no way in hell that a member of the Genius Society would give even a Stoneheart the time of day, let alone agree to work with one.

That's something he'd never let Ratio know, for he's unsure how the other man would take it. )

That's the history, though. What's it like, Doctor?

[ In the firelight, the faint tones of pink dusting his cheeks are near invisible, but he turns back to Aventurine with a frown. ]

Nonsense. We welcome anyone with a desire to learn, or those who simply wish to behold the efforts of our predecessors. And I--

[ He stops abruptly, looking if he'd just caught himself saying something he shouldn't, and turns away. The lack of eye contact is a clear sign that he's embarrassed. He only looks back when he's teased about children being named after him, and the look on his face could be described as displeased to anyone less familiar with him. But to Aventurine? It's downright bashful. ]

Well, that is to be expected. It is natural for people to name their children after exemplary individuals in history.

[ If it were any other person saying that, he would have brushed it off easily, as it was simply fact and one he easily acknowledges. But with Aventurine, he can't help but feel a little self-conscious. He's never felt this way before, and he knows it's because he's realized his own feelings. This was bad. He was losing control of his calm far too easily. So he tries to move on nonchalantly, onto Aventurine's next question.

What is Veritas Prime like, Aventurine asks. He has never really stopped to think about it, now that he's being asked. Always too busy with some equation or research, or his work as a teacher, he's never stopped to truly soak in the wonder that was his home planet. He closes his eyes again, recalling memories of the university. ]

It is... a beautiful planet, awash with verdure, and full of life and potential. There are bountiful oceans, and its cities gleam with white exteriors. It is peaceful but full of activity.

[ He has never been the most eloquent when it comes to describing something non-clinically. He purses his lips and frowns, finding his own words to be inadequate. ]

You will understand when you visit.

Edited 2024-05-28 08:33 (UTC)

( It doesn't matter what Ratio says next, Aventurine's expression is hardly the picture of a man who has a tight reign on what he shows others -- it's a little lopsided, but the smile reaches his eyes, the slight glow warm instead of the cold glare it can be. The doctor is shy, is he? There's the temptation to tease him about it but...

Aventurine doesn't want to ruin this moment, the expression on Ratio's face and the warmth that he feels twisting through him. Instead he's going to take it and tuck it away in his mind, something as small and fragile as those other dear memories. Something to cherish when this, too, is taken away from him.

He doesn't want to think about that. He doesn't want to think about Ratio... not being there. Not being on his side, in his corner. So he tears his thoughts away from it, from the warmth. )

And you want to unleash me on it! Come on, Doc, does your planet really deserve that? ( Ratio doesn't have to paint any real picture for Aventurine to want to visit. He wants to go because it's Ratio inviting him, because he does want the other man to show him someplace that shaped him as much as anything else. A trip that doesn't have a secondary agenda or any other things to overshadow just... enjoying themselves. ) I'd like to see it. With you, of course. If--

( Should he survive. Should he awake from the dormancy he found himself in back in their world. But he's finding the idea even more appealing now than it had been with just the doctor's prescription in his hands. The proof that there were some things worth living for; why he should bother taking one step after the other.

It's hard still, to think like that. To believe it. But with Ratio here, bashful and inviting him to his world...

It's easier. )

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[CLOSED] The Golden Ratio

Day of Kakava

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Gazing at the Stars in the RV Park

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