[ That is so okay. He'll sit here and wait for the laughter to die down, no part of him discouraged, though he does lean away when any spit gets a little too close to him. ]
Am I? I thought I was being quite generous.
[ Aventurine returns to leaning back in his seat, smile ever present on his face. ]
I'll give you one last chance to consider it. With or without your investment, my team will be winning this tournament.
[ He'll take this as his cue to leave, and Aventurine stands from his seat, fixing Butajiri with a smile that's more sneer than anything else. Oh, how he despises cheaters. ]
Should you ever feel the need to speak with me again, you know where to find me.
[ HE'LL BE ESCORTED OUT!!!!! by the same polite butler guy. once he's on his way out, he will definitely hear the cackling of everyone inside. it seems like there was some additional entertainment made out of him.
though as he begins to leave the private box area, who could there be but a familiar face waiting for him. ]
[ He doesn't pay the laughter any attention. Again, he's used to it.
But then Topaz appears and Aventurine openly balks. His movements come to a halt as he stares, mouth open and eyes wide. Is she real?? Has he already gone crazy again so soon??? He's usually got a cooldown timer for that. ]
[ ain't no cooldown here in cyoa land, babey. topaz just cocks her head to the side, still smiling through her brow furrows in slight concern. ]
Isn't that what I should be asking you? I didn't get briefed that you'd be here...
With this much cash flow and dirty money [ she juts her thumb out in the direction of the private box ] you think that the IPC wouldn't be even a little curious? I've been sent to scout, even if we haven't decided on what action to take on this planet yet.
[ This... All the things she's saying make sense. She's here, in the flesh, talking about being sent here to scout a planet and Aventurine finds himself nodding along to what she says. ]
Work together with me.
[ It slips out before he can think about it, and he drifts closer, to a familiar person rather than a familiar concept or scenario. ]
I'm on a team. I'm supposed to participate in the tournament.
[ He says this with his usual bravado, but something slips at the end, like a moment of clarity before he quickly recovers. ]
Hey, you don't happen to have your gun on you, do you? I'm a better shot than I am a swordsman.
[ Gestures to the sword at his hip, but he doesn't mention the entire eyeball that grew in the middle of his forehead. Thank goodness for mihoyo bangs. ]
[ they sure can walk and talk—welcome to the dark tournament arena. the private boxes are at the very top, but heading downward will bring them closer to the stands—
at which point the walls begin to rattle and shake. a thunderous cheer as the victor of the last fight is made clear. topaz looks toward the direction of the noise ]
Might as well see what all the fuss is about?
[ numby hops right up into her arms, not wanting to be stepped on by random tournament goers ]
[ SEPHIROTH AS THE VICTOR WOULD BE SO FUNNY. I SEE YOU YUUL. it's not sephiroth but it's because he's seeded in the tournament and fighting later (jk) (or am i)
it's hard to make out the victorious team amongst all the blood and debris. there's a giant smear of blood all over the round fighting ring, coupled with limbs and people torn apart. the demons around them are laughing to themselves. "did you see his head get ripped off? gushed like a fountain!!" "the tongue getting torn out was a nice touch"
an announcement rings out: ]
And soon! Our Invited Guests team with two human participants will take the stage! The Nood Doods!
[ topaz makes a face ]
... weird name... but I can't help but feel for those guys...
Ah, what a mess. Aventurine's gaze stays trained on the bloody smear, something distant in his eyes while he keeps one hand clenched tight into a fist. He looks like he's remembering something unpleasant, something not too different from this arena. It takes a moment for him to center himself, and then he's managing a strained smile as he looks toward the direction of the announcement. ]
Oh, I don't know... They could surprise you.
[ Once again, what have they gotten themselves into. ]
[ aventurine is doing his best to hold himself together, but topaz has no reason to hide her concern. she glances over at him, that silent gaze asking so many questions that she isn't quite able to voice. ]
... and you're in this tournament too?
[ she's not an idiot. some of her gears are starting to click together, but she's obviously nervous to start letting them. maybe these specific ones don't fit together. ]
[ There's a moment of silence as he finally looks away from all the blood, fist uncurling as he directs a smile, confident and assuring, to Topaz. ]
Worried about me? Don't be.
[ He gives her a small nudge with his elbow, the very picture of ease. ]
If you've got time to worry, you've got time to find out as much as you can about the tournament. I want the names of investors, sponsors, and the people running the show. Obtaining intel on the other competitors would also give us an edge. Think you can do that for me?
[ is her first dry comment, but... she wants to be reassured. she clearly wants to believe that everything is going to be fine. her own work is important when trying to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch.
just one more gamble of his that she has to trust in. ]
Turns out your list and mine line up anyway. I'll go ahead and take care of that so... don't lose your head before I come back and bill you for my overtime hours, alright?
[ joking! she doesn't want to fuss either. so she'll nudge him back before sauntering off on her way to speak capitalism-ese...
aventurine can go back to the hotel and prep for whatever he might need! maybe he can see what happens to daan's hand! but he'll be made aware of the time of his fight and when he'll need to show back up with the team in tow hehe. enjoy your gun ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Am I? I thought I was being quite generous.
[ Aventurine returns to leaning back in his seat, smile ever present on his face. ]
I'll give you one last chance to consider it. With or without your investment, my team will be winning this tournament.
no subject
but butajiri just dies down into gross little chuckles.... ]
Will you now...
Then go ahead, underdogs. If you think your bite is even half as good as your bark.
no subject
[ He'll take this as his cue to leave, and Aventurine stands from his seat, fixing Butajiri with a smile that's more sneer than anything else. Oh, how he despises cheaters. ]
Should you ever feel the need to speak with me again, you know where to find me.
[ WAITS TO BE ESCORTED OUT? PROBABLY ]
no subject
though as he begins to leave the private box area, who could there be but a familiar face waiting for him. ]
What trouble did you get yourself into this time?
no subject
But then Topaz appears and Aventurine openly balks. His movements come to a halt as he stares, mouth open and eyes wide. Is she real?? Has he already gone crazy again so soon??? He's usually got a cooldown timer for that. ]
What... are you doing here?
no subject
Isn't that what I should be asking you? I didn't get briefed that you'd be here...
With this much cash flow and dirty money [ she juts her thumb out in the direction of the private box ] you think that the IPC wouldn't be even a little curious? I've been sent to scout, even if we haven't decided on what action to take on this planet yet.
[ earth is a shitshow just nuke it all topaz ]
no subject
Work together with me.
[ It slips out before he can think about it, and he drifts closer, to a familiar person rather than a familiar concept or scenario. ]
I'm on a team. I'm supposed to participate in the tournament.
no subject
until he mentions that he's on a team. her eyes grow wide then, shock clearly written on her face ]
You're what? Haven't you seen them ripping each other in half out there? That's—isn't this too much of a risk, even for you?
no subject
[ He says this with his usual bravado, but something slips at the end, like a moment of clarity before he quickly recovers. ]
Hey, you don't happen to have your gun on you, do you? I'm a better shot than I am a swordsman.
[ Gestures to the sword at his hip, but he doesn't mention the entire eyeball that grew in the middle of his forehead. Thank goodness for mihoyo bangs. ]
no subject
[ exasperation and pleading intermingle in her tone. how can she help if he's still insisting that he has to take the fall on on his own?
she frowns slightly at the mention of the gun, but she does remove it from her holster to give it to him. ]
... only because it sounds like you'll need this more than I will. Numby'll keep me safe anyway.
no subject
He places it into his own holster for the time being. ]
Thanks. If we do well enough here, you might just get back to P45 in no time.
[ Can they walk and talk because Aventurine is going to lead them out of this private box area to try and get closer to the arena for a better look. ]
no subject
at which point the walls begin to rattle and shake. a thunderous cheer as the victor of the last fight is made clear. topaz looks toward the direction of the noise ]
Might as well see what all the fuss is about?
[ numby hops right up into her arms, not wanting to be stepped on by random tournament goers ]
no subject
What a spectacle.
[ He'll head toward the cheering while making sure Topaz herself doesn't get trampled by the crowds.
What are we seeing... who's the victor... IS IT SEPHIROTH? ]
no subject
it's hard to make out the victorious team amongst all the blood and debris. there's a giant smear of blood all over the round fighting ring, coupled with limbs and people torn apart. the demons around them are laughing to themselves. "did you see his head get ripped off? gushed like a fountain!!" "the tongue getting torn out was a nice touch"
an announcement rings out: ]
And soon! Our Invited Guests team with two human participants will take the stage! The Nood Doods!
[ topaz makes a face ]
... weird name... but I can't help but feel for those guys...
no subject
Ah, what a mess. Aventurine's gaze stays trained on the bloody smear, something distant in his eyes while he keeps one hand clenched tight into a fist. He looks like he's remembering something unpleasant, something not too different from this arena. It takes a moment for him to center himself, and then he's managing a strained smile as he looks toward the direction of the announcement. ]
Oh, I don't know... They could surprise you.
[ Once again, what have they gotten themselves into. ]
no subject
... and you're in this tournament too?
[ she's not an idiot. some of her gears are starting to click together, but she's obviously nervous to start letting them. maybe these specific ones don't fit together. ]
no subject
Worried about me? Don't be.
[ He gives her a small nudge with his elbow, the very picture of ease. ]
If you've got time to worry, you've got time to find out as much as you can about the tournament. I want the names of investors, sponsors, and the people running the show. Obtaining intel on the other competitors would also give us an edge. Think you can do that for me?
no subject
[ is her first dry comment, but... she wants to be reassured. she clearly wants to believe that everything is going to be fine. her own work is important when trying to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch.
just one more gamble of his that she has to trust in. ]
Turns out your list and mine line up anyway. I'll go ahead and take care of that so... don't lose your head before I come back and bill you for my overtime hours, alright?
[ joking! she doesn't want to fuss either. so she'll nudge him back before sauntering off on her way to speak capitalism-ese...
aventurine can go back to the hotel and prep for whatever he might need! maybe he can see what happens to daan's hand! but he'll be made aware of the time of his fight and when he'll need to show back up with the team in tow hehe. enjoy your gun ]