[ ON HIS OWN COUCH. Unfortunately, Nehan is unfazed as he sits, besides a brief eyeroll. Beats the itchy feeling of being a room apart, and he's not shy. ]
You say that, but you seem tired.
[ Not all the time, but in close proximity. An empty gaze here, a moment of quiet weariness there. ]
[ Amazing, thanks for taking up less than 90% of his couch with your twink body. The question hangs in silence for a moment, his tone unchanged when he does answer. ]
...Nothing. I'm just going where fate takes me. Why?
Not too long ago, my sole reason for living was to survive. To preserve what I had. But before fate takes me, truly takes me, I want to be able to look back on my journey and think that the end wasn't for nothing.
[ He frowns thinly. Rests his hands neatly against Aventurine's... leg... since it's the only part of him he can reach and this week is a nightmare, and taps a finger against his knuckles as he looks at nothing in particular. ]
...Surviving. I guess it was the same for me. I'm tired of how much surviving costs, too.
[ Not in a monetary sense. He spares Aventurine a sidelong glance now. ]
You're a nuisance, but I admire the energy. Maybe someone as annoying as you will make something of yourself in the end anyway.
[ He finally pushes himself up, drawing his leg to his side of the couch. But then he returns to invade Nehan's personal space as he twists around to drop the back of his head against the other man's lap instead.
[ A NUISANCE!!! He flicks Aventurine's temple now that it's in range. ]
Keep your expectations low.
[ But since they've made this into some sort of game, he's more careful as he pushes Aventurine's bangs to the side, out of his face where they usually hang, looking him in the eyes. ]
Are you going to be able to rely on him, too? [ He means Boothill. ]
But okay, Nehan can gayly stare into his eyes... There's not a hint of light in them.
At the mention of Boothill, Aventurine lets out a long sigh. It had been so satisfying getting to hit him with a tire iron, but he can't help thinking back to what he'd seen on the screen during the Ranger's final moments. ]
I'll have to talk to him, won't I? [ small grumble ] I'm sure we can come to some sort of understanding... A common goal and whatnot.
[ Like an infestation... Annoying. His hand just rests there unmoving for a moment, but when he starts to speak he'll lazily card his fingers through Aventurine's hair. ]
Good idea. Right now, I can't seem to navigate or control this fog any better than you two can. But there could still be more out there. Hidden, like our garden and inn were.
[ Neatly folds his hands back over his stomach as he closes his eyes and enjoys his petting. ]
I could make out silhouettes in the fog, but it was difficult to gauge the distance from where I stood. We can start by mapping out this town... That way, we'll be able to notice if anything changes, if more ground is added or lost or stays the same, in the coming days.
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[ Lifts his leg at the tap to give Nehan room to sit between his spread legs. :)
He laughs, quiet and thoughtful. ]
Nothing in all the cosmos, mine and this one, could convince me to give up. Not after I've made up my mind.
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You say that, but you seem tired.
[ Not all the time, but in close proximity. An empty gaze here, a moment of quiet weariness there. ]
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True enough. I don't hide it as well these days.
[ The constant nightmares have only exacerbated the problem, but that, at least, he's kept to himself. ]
But... this isn't the same kind of tired that I was before.
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Is that so... What's changed?
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[ Folds his hands on his stomach as he thinks about this. At least his arms are nice and polite and not splayed out everywhere now. ]
Nehan, what do you live for? [ Slight pause when he remembers their current situation. ] You know what I mean.
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...Nothing. I'm just going where fate takes me. Why?
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I'm going to find something to live for.
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That implies you haven't found it yet. So what are you living for in the moment?
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[ Nothing. Questions without answers. ]
Not too long ago, my sole reason for living was to survive. To preserve what I had. But before fate takes me, truly takes me, I want to be able to look back on my journey and think that the end wasn't for nothing.
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...Surviving. I guess it was the same for me. I'm tired of how much surviving costs, too.
[ Not in a monetary sense. He spares Aventurine a sidelong glance now. ]
You're a nuisance, but I admire the energy. Maybe someone as annoying as you will make something of yourself in the end anyway.
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[ He finally pushes himself up, drawing his leg to his side of the couch. But then he returns to invade Nehan's personal space as he twists around to drop the back of his head against the other man's lap instead.
Like this, Aventurine smiles up at him. ]
Don't get too tired, Nehan. We're relying on you.
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Keep your expectations low.
[ But since they've made this into some sort of game, he's more careful as he pushes Aventurine's bangs to the side, out of his face where they usually hang, looking him in the eyes. ]
Are you going to be able to rely on him, too? [ He means Boothill. ]
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But okay, Nehan can gayly stare into his eyes... There's not a hint of light in them.
At the mention of Boothill, Aventurine lets out a long sigh. It had been so satisfying getting to hit him with a tire iron, but he can't help thinking back to what he'd seen on the screen during the Ranger's final moments. ]
I'll have to talk to him, won't I? [ small grumble ] I'm sure we can come to some sort of understanding... A common goal and whatnot.
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Until we can get outside assistance, he's all you have to work with.
[ Nehan doesn't count himself, he's a cultist and should not be trusted. ]
Besides, you seem pretty soft. If you didn't kill him already, I doubt you're going to. So you may as well broker an alliance.
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I have no interest in taking lives.
[ It slips out a little more seriously than he means it to, so he throws in something lighter. ]
Only livelihoods.
[ IS THAT LIGHTER? ]
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...You're less dangerous than you look.
[ WAS THAT NOT DANGEROUS ]
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Will you behave.
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Just trying to be dangerous enough for you.
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You just like being a pest.
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YOU KNOW THERE IS ONLY ONE OBVIOUS MOVE THAT MUST BE DONE
LICKS NEHAN'S HAND ]
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though his expression is very this as he wipes his hand off on aventurine's shirt. ]
I'm going to evict you from this building.
[ no he cannot do that ]
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[ LIKE A PEST... Anyway, he takes Nehan's hand and guides it to his hair again. Pets, please. ]
I'm going to spend some time looking around. See if I can find anything that I might have missed the first time.
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Good idea. Right now, I can't seem to navigate or control this fog any better than you two can. But there could still be more out there. Hidden, like our garden and inn were.
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I could make out silhouettes in the fog, but it was difficult to gauge the distance from where I stood. We can start by mapping out this town... That way, we'll be able to notice if anything changes, if more ground is added or lost or stays the same, in the coming days.
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