Inbox (Synflux)

[curingidiocy]

Dr. Ratio

"There's no rush."

Dr. Ratio

Greetings, I am Veritas Ratio.

Dr. Ratio

Knowledge should flow freely between people, and the same fate should befall truth. You can ask me about technical problems at any moment, and I shall do my utmost to give you a reply.

Dr. Ratio

But before you ask, remember to establish best practices for intense self-rumination, and remember that time is precious for everyone, as for me, so for you.

Dr. Ratio

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Comments

[stonehearts]

Nicknames? ( He frowns, because while Ratio hasn't shied away from chastising him with 'gambler' when he holds out on the other man, it's not one of the names he's been loudly repeating over and over again. Aventurine, of course, but then--

Oh.

One of Aventurine's hands goes to wrap around Ratio's wrist, grip tight. Someone knows his name; he does not blame Veritas for it, because there is nothing more satisfying to Aventurine than to hear Kakavasha said with pleasure and love. But someone knows it, and they don't know what it means, and the good natured smile and ease with which Aventurine carries himself sharpens, frozen on his face as he pushes through the panic. It's fine, he tells himself, because if Taryon thinks it's a nickname that the doctor uses for him then he won't use it himself, and he won't tell anyone it either. )

Understood.

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio realizes it at around the same time Aventurine does, and his stomach drops. This was why he had initially been hesitant to use Aventurine's true name, but it had slipped out from his desire to imbue that name with memories of love and affection once more.

He feels the hand wrap around his wrist, tense and fearful, and carefully does not react, instead maintaining eye contact with Taryon as he immediately considers damage control. He must be careful here, lest their neighbour figure out more than Aventurine is willing to share. ]

You have our word that it will not happen again, and as an apology for disturbing your rest for so long, you may call on a favour from either of us if you are in need of assistance, no matter how mundane or ridiculous that request may be.

[ First, a mention that any type of request is allowed, to activate the man's imagination and draw it away from the nicknames. Second... ]

...and I would appreciate if you kept everything you've heard to yourself. Despite my egregious oversight on this front, I am a private individual and do not wish for others to know the contents of my personal life. I am tired of the ever present public scrutiny I face back home.

Please.

[likemybooks]

[Aventurine promptly shuts up, to Taryon's surprise. He had been rather blase about the whole affair, but hearing the specifics - those bedroom pet names that must be in some language from their world - must have alerted him to how little Ratio hid. He doesn't think to look to deeply into that: if he had an embarrassing kink that everyone learned about, he'd be pretty upset.

Ratio's expression, once Taryon looks at him, is just as concerning: rather than the shame from earlier, he looks more serious. It's rather strange, how getting into specifics makes them take it more seriously.]

I won't share any of this. God, I don't want to talk about this with anyone else. [He folds his arms over his chest and shudders.] But I will as a favor of you two in the future. When I need it the most.

[He has to think of something drastic, just to make surviving all that noise worth it.]

[stonehearts]

( A warmth bursts in Aventurine's chest as Ratio simply knows what has him so on edge -- it isn't Taryon's fault, nor is it Ratio's. The other man has no way of knowing that it's more than a nickname, that his name was left in the dust of his home planet long before Jade told him to discard it, as worthless as his identity was. Aventurine has never let his anger rest with the wrong targets, and therefore there is none in his voice, just a guarded tone that was not there previously.

His hand relaxes around Ratio's wrist, though he does not pull it away completely. )

You'll find that we're quite good at handling anything you might throw at us. In fact, I look forward to the challenge.

( No matter how dangerous or ridiculous it might be. )

[curingidiocy]

[ Though he has Taryon's word, Ratio can't help but feel discontent with the whole situation. This shouldn't have happened in the first place. He should have had his room soundproofed before they started doing anything. It had slipped his mind with the commotion they'd been thrown into upon returning to Neo Tokyo, and then the vacation in Okinawa. He had relaxed too much.

He does not allow any of his upset to show, hyperaware of his partner's presence against his side. ]

As I stated before during our mission abroad, I do not specialize in combat. I would appreciate it if you keep that in mind when you collect on your favour.

[ He shifts and allows his eyes to obviously stray down the hallway of Redemption's quarters; an indication that he'd like to finish the conversation. ]

Is that all you'd like to speak to us about?

[likemybooks]

I know you would protect me in battle as comrades-in-arm, I won't ask you to rescue me from a monster. [That's not a favor to him, that's how teamwork functions. Taryon's plan is to not ever get into trouble himself.]

Yes, that's all I wanted to bring up. So you'll do something about it, then?

[Taryon has so many things he wants to do today, and this will reduce a lot of his stress at work and with the heatwave.]

[stonehearts]

( Well there goes Aventurine's first choice, but then again he can't argue against the wisdom of that choice. Too easy, then. That earns a huff of laughter from him, though it is more of a put upon thing than true laughter. )

We will. Don't you worry, friend, you won't hear a peep from us.

[curingidiocy]

[ The soundproofing has been moved to the top of his list in priorities, so it'll be installed by end of the day. Ratio nods in affirmation of Aventurine's words. ]

Then excuse us.

[ He brushes past Taryon, making sure to tug his wrist forward subtly to let Aventurine know that he is to come along. ]

[stonehearts]

( With a goodbye nod of his head as he's pulled past, Aventurine goes without complaint until they've put enough distance between them and their disgruntled neighbor. )

Soundproofing, huh? Why doctor, I didn't think you'd get that loud!

( He is deftly avoiding the point that he thinks Ratio might want to get to, just look at him go! )

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio stops only once they've moved into the locker rooms, which is slightly more private than the hallway. He doesn't rise to the bait, his expression still serious as he turns around to look at Aventurine.

Aventurine doesn't want him to apologize, he can tell. He doesn't blame Ratio, even though the scholar should have had the foresight to predict this. Ratio doesn't need to apologize either. It is a blunder that can partially be attributed to the sequence of events, and Aventurine himself could have pointed out the lack of soundproofing as well.

He still feels discontent. ]

Aventurine... I apologize.

[ He shifts the arrangement of their hands so that he's holding onto Aventurine's gently. ]

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine intertwines his figures with Ratio's, though he spends more time staring at their hands than Ratio until Veritas speaks, and his gaze snaps up to the other man's, narrowed in confusion. )

What-- oh. ( A small, wry smile steals across Aventurine's face. ) Come now, Veritas. It isn't anything that could have been helped.

( Which is to say: he doesn't need to apologize, because there's nothing that needs apologizing for in the first place. Though his grin becomes sharper in an attempt to distract Ratio from his own needless guilt. )

I like hearing you say my name over and over again, at increasing volume.

[curingidiocy]

[ The tease has its effect—a flustered blush colours his ears and cheeks a light pink, and he squeezes Aventurine's hands in retaliation. ]

I— w-well, I still must apologize for my role in this blunder! I am aware I am not fully to blame, but nevertheless, I should have exercised more caution.

[ Because Aventurine is worth that much attention to care, he wants to say, but does not. Maybe another day, when they are settled into this relationship and Ratio has gotten used to being honest. ]

...I do not... intend on changing my behaviour during intercourse, so our only option is to rectify the soundproofing immediately.

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine reaches out with his free hand to cup Ratio's cheek, pulling him down so that Aventurine can speak against his lips. But his grip on his hand is warm, firm -- he isn't letting Ratio go any time soon. )

We can do that today, if you want. Or tomorrow, if you've got work to do today. I don't want you to stop being loud -- it does wonders for my ego.

[curingidiocy]

[ Ratio sighs softly into his lover's lips. Tension bleeds out of his shoulders as he relishes in the physical contact, even as Aventurine's words elicit a darker flush. ]

Today. I have accounted for unexpected occurrences in my schedule, so it will be no issue.

[ With one more gentle press of lips, he pulls away reluctantly. ]

Let us complete our morning routines first. We have already dawdled for too long.

🎀

[stonehearts]

We wouldn't want to keep the doctor from cleanliness too long, it's true.

( Aventurine laughs, pressing another quick kiss before he separates from the other man to shower. He would be more concerned, more worried about the potential fallout if not for Ratio's solid, comforting presence. And for now, that's all he needs.

All he wants. )