★ AVENTURINE

[doublefists]

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[doublefists]

[ immediately and without hesitation punches him in the arm with her other hand ]

[tactic]

[ OKAY KID PACKS A PUNCH

Grips his poor arm and lets go of the thing and wishes he still had his shields. ]

I'm trying to help you.

[doublefists]

[ not this icon ]

By doing what, exactly? I don't need your help, Piltie.

[ just assumes that he's a topsider because he dresses nice, ]

[tactic]

... I feel as though I should be insulted by what you just called me.

[ Aventurine like IS THIS A SLUR? ]

But the truth of the matter is, this place is haunted, and what you're doing is going to stir awake the past residents of the estate.

[doublefists]

[ IT'S NOT A NICE TERM ]

Not my problem. [ and also: ] What, really? I'm not four, you think I'm going to believe that?

[tactic]

I'm serious! Are you telling me nothing strange has happened since stepping foot inside this mansion?

[ ... Peers at her a little closer. ]

For all I know, you could be a ghost as well.

[doublefists]

[ makes a FACE at him. very maturely. ]

I'm not. I just punched you a second ago, ghosts don't do that. [ she's so grouchy... girl chill ] Ghosts aren't real, anyway, stop trying to freak me out.

[ ... ]

Have you seen anybody else around here?

[tactic]

As a matter of fact, I have. I was here last week where I encountered a girl about your age, dressed in white.

[ And then he lowers his voice, gesturing to his face. ]

She had a great big hole where her face should be, though.

[doublefists]

[ stares at him ]

Okay, spooky. Annnnnd what about real people? Have you seen a girl with blue hair? About eleven. Her name's Powder.

[tactic]

[ THERE ARE TWO OF THEM? ]

Hmmm. Just you! Have you lost someone?

[doublefists]

[ two of them??? ]

No, I didn't lose her. [ defensively ] I just - need to know where she went. She's my sister.

[tactic]

[ Two children...

But oh, he softens a bit at that. ]

If she's as tough as you, she must be doing fine. Where did you see her last?

[doublefists]

[ many such cases ]

She is. She is tough. Tougher than she thinks. [ insistently, but also, reluctant: ] ... A month ago, but if I'm here, wherever this is, she might be here too.

[tactic]

Alright. How about a little deal? I'll help you look for your sister since I know the layout of this estate, and in exchange, you tell me your name.

[doublefists]

[ she looks very conflicted here, because she doesn't want to, but. it's probably pretty clear that finding her sister takes priority over whatever safety she might get from keeping her name a secret, so. ]

Violet. [ just a touch sullenly. ] It's Violet.

[ no last name but it's okay she can also be a gacha character ]

[tactic]

[ Ah. And with that, Aventurine's brows lift with some understanding of the situation. ]

Nice to meet you, Violet. [ Even though she PUNCHED HIM. ] I'm called Aventurine. I assume you've searched most of the lower floor by now?

[ Straight to business! ]

[doublefists]

[ he really did just allow her to punch him without retribution, huh ]

Yeah. I've been calling for her but she's not answering. [ ... ] Her name's Powder. But if she sees you first, she's going to kick you and run.

[tactic]

[ OKAY?? ]

A familial trait, I assume. [ What has he gotten himself into. ] Let's try the second story, shall we?

[ And he'll lead the way to the very fancy stairs. ]

[doublefists]

You just look like you could be some Academy guy that'd call for an enforcer, that's all.

[ grouchily. but she'll follow! despite herself, she sticks close, but not in the way a kid might look to an adult for protection. it's more like she's making sure nothing is going to sneak up on him. ]

[tactic]

[ Aw, Vi, you care. :pleading: ]

Academy? [ Laughs, but in a good humor kind of way. ] That's funny considering I never went to school.

[doublefists]

[ she's a softie :pleading: ]

Really? [ looks at him like ? ] You look fancy enough to have gone to one.

[tactic]

Fancy? Is that so?

[ Preens as he dusts at his jacket even though there is no dust there. ]

Nothing a bit of luck and a penchant for fashion can't do.

[ HE LOOKS SO GAUDY IT'S SICKENING ]

[doublefists]

[ she makes a face at this, sorry aventurine ]

You should stay out of the lanes. They'll pull your wings off like a bug. [ this is so rude, but she means it in a nice warning way... ] So if you're not an Academy guy and you're not an enforcer, what are you?

[tactic]

[ Get his ass. ]

Just a humble merchant. [ Okay. ] What are you? What are these Academy guys and enforcers you seem so unhappy about?

[doublefists]

Fissure folk.

[ is her answer, even though she doesn't think he's being entirely honest with her, but eh. merchant seems fine enough. she rolls her shoulders, walking after him. ]

And they're topsiders. They make all the rules and follow none of them. Sure as hell beat us down when we step out of line, though.