#goldgambit

* — — 𝐥𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬  𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 :  𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥  [...] // @goldgambit

‘  this  will  be  a  night  we  won’t  forget .  ’ ( black swan )

"Oh yeah~ You got that right." He chuckles grandly at her statement. He's standing right up in front of her, thumbs hooked into the loops of his belt. He briefly uses his finger to push up his hat so he can stare down at her with those target eyes of his, before his hand returns back to his belt. Even though he's encroaching upon her personal space, she seems not to be too intimidated by him. If she is, he can't tell, anyway.

When he'd first met The Memokeeper, he'd done so over a radio call. At first, he'd assumed he was an ally to the 𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝑑. After all, it was Acheron that was supposed to be on the other line. Not Black Swan, here. Though apparently, it was entirely possible that ole Swannie here could turn out to be a pretty nifty ally. At least, that's what he picked up from their conversation. She didn't seem to have any intentions of dueling him. Not from what he could tell, anyway. 

"Now look," He responded finally, "I know we ain't known each other fer very long— but from the way I see things..." Boothill began, placing his arm above her head. Was he flirting? Or intimidating her? Either way, it wasn't really clear. "I think we might have a mutual enemy, am I understandin' that correctly, Swannie?" His grin depends, head leaning in like some kind of rabid wolf cornering its prey.

"Listen, Swan." Now, he was trying to intimidate her. "I ain't tryna be yer enemy here, so you let me know... if you want that Impostor dealt with, you just point me in the right direction..." He chuckled dryly, and even though he would rather die than ask for someone's help in fighting her... there was something unique about Memokeepers. He knew enough about their identities and followings to recognize that this was a rare opportunity, and so he extended his hand out. Metaphorically, that is.

"But... if you wouldn't mind sharin' a drink with me, maybe we could discuss collaboration~?"

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 [...] // @goldgambit // FOR AVENTURINE!!

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒'𝑠 𝑎 𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑺 caused by the way he clicks open steel lighter, the flame igniting a cigar resting in a bullet-shaped holder resting between his teeth. After taking a drag off of it, smoke slipped out from between his lips as he rested his lighter away. The cowboy lets the taste of the cigar roll around in his mouth before exhaling the smoke fully. He doesn't fully regard the fact that his finger has an ignitor inside his index finger, simply preferring to use the zippo lighter he has on him. It feels real and makes the sight a bit less jarring. Not that he cares about what other people think of how he lights his smoke up. More his image he thinks about.

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 the IPC strategist with a bit of attention, The Galaxy Ranger— 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗟, looks at the blonde up and down. Those target-shaped pupils shrink and enlarge for a moment, several different sensors give him different information all at once. He moves to keep his cigarette held between his teeth, shifting all his weight towards his left to give himself an angled stance. His thumbs lock into his belt buckle, eyes narrow softly before eventually the cowboy simply LAUGHS loudly. 

"I'll give ya props kid—" The Cowboy finally speaks, "Ya got guts to flag me down the moment I get in this here dreamscape... I'm mighty impressed." He tips his hat towards the other before standing up straight. His sharp teeth flash a moment as he chomps down lightly on his cigarette. The brass clicks between the jagged edges, "Unfortunately, I ain't interested in whatever it is the IPC wants, I've got my own priorities here in Penacony." The Cowboy isn't afraid to make a threat towards the gambler, his hand dropping near his holster, hovering near it eagerly​​​​​​.

"Step aside now, Gambler." It's his only warning.

𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃

@goldgambit asked: ❝ There you are, my little associate~ How I've missed you! Where I've been, you ask? Well, time sure flies when you're having fun. ❞ Aventurine surprises Neo, flashing a smile and a wave of his hand. ❝ What have you been up to? Taking hearts and crushing skulls? ❞ ( for Neo )

𝐍𝐄𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐒, 𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓, 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 due to the obvious, but she allows Aventurine to prattle on because she knows he wants something. The young woman makes a soft, barely-audible noise at the question, gives the Stoneheart an unreadable look that slowly, surely, curls into a smirk on her mouth. Slipping from her seat and to her feet, she takes a step to the right. A pretty blond in a very familiar outfit takes a step to the left.

Both circle Aventurine like sharks, winding around each other in an ominous glide.

"Weeeeell," not-Aventurine replies, her voice low and syrupy, as if his own voice is being put through a filter, "you know how things get around this time of the universal calendar. So many events, so many chances to kill people in the middle of all the fuss." Neo winks as she passes in front of him, and his not-quite clone slips into view, trailing fingers along his cheek before pinching lightly, a smirk on her pretty mouth.

"But that's not really what you're asking, is it?" Is the condescending coo, in a tone that should be entirely too familiar. "So... let's put our cards on the table, hmmm? You want something I can provide, and I might be bored enough to provide it... if the price is right."

Neo's face slips through the illusory clone's, fingers curling around his tie as the faux Aventurine dissipates, lips mouthing the words she leaves hanging in the air.

SENTENCE MEME ⟶ THE GOOD PLACE / 4.02

@goldgambit asked: we need to bust him open like a pinata . ( for neo )

𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐎 easily resorts to something so violent. Or at least, not from what she's seen of him. Honestly, she's pretty sure that if things weren't going the way they are, he'd be schmoozing the wallet right out of this idiot's pocket and he'd be none the wiser. Unfortunately, that isn't the situation, and while Neo isn't going to (can't) complain, well. Actually being told to handle something instead of finding a way to placate the client is rare.

Neo tilts her head, one brow arched, then tilts her head at her maybe-target.

Are you sure?

Aventurine nods, and that's all Neo needs.

"What the hell's that little purse dog gonna do-?"

Having been gesturing at Neo, seemingly standing idle, the man is startled when her heel suddenly meets his chin from below. The copy shatters with the impact- as does the fake he'd been looking at- but it gives Neo herself, standing behind him, a chance to slam Hush's handle against the side of his knee. It cracks audibly, and as one heavy hand swings around to snatch her hair, she's using Hush to propel herself into the air with the force of its sudden opening, bringing it and herself down with debilitating force as she closes it. He's sent spinning, tumbling to the floor, and Neo once more grabs her weapon and swings it like a club at vital points.

Head, elbow, ribs, head again- until the man is writhing and pleading for her to stop. That they can negotiate, if she just stops.

Grinning widely, Neo raises Hush for one last swing, only to be stopped by a gloved hand on the wrist, the shoulder. Aventurine shakes his head, tutting quietly, and she slumps and heaves a sigh, rolling her eyes as she steps off the man's ribcage.

You're no fun.

"Yes, yes, I know, I'm always keeping you from enjoying yourself," Aventurine hums, pushing her gently away. "Good work though that was, you took it a little more literally than I expected."

And though she preens under the praise a little, she still twists her mouth, gesturing into the air and making another swinging motion with Hush.

You said like a piñata!

"Fair point. A little less piñata-esque next time then, alright?"

Another huff, a shrug, one wrist turning in a 'go on' gesture.

Fine, whatever, just hurry up.

Aventurine laughs quietly, and then crouches to speak to the man who's now clutching his ankle desperately with a rapidly-bruising hand from where she'd been stepping on it. Oops.

@goldgambit: ❛ i’d say we make a pretty good team. ❜ ( meme source. )

   ' it was nice! you... deal with situations quite well. '

   a little too well, in fact. Kaeya is almost jealous of how naturally Aventurine seems to read people. normal people may find it unsettling- but he wishes he could do it almost immediately as the Stoneheart does. it's effortless- human, even.

   not to mention that it seems like they both got what they wanted out of the situation: the blond got some valuable informations out of the people bothering Kaeya, approaching him for his easy-going attitude and with something shiny for him to have if he helped them out, as in for Kaeya's gains... well, there's a giant-sized coin he's holding against his chest. which is precisely what he has been after. doesn't matter if it's made of genuine gold or a big-sized version of a toy, but he wanted it, and it seems like the people bugging him walked away in a better mood and with the informations they wanted. all thanks to the other man.

   there's no need to ask Aventurine that, but the Enigma turns towards him with a curious expression on his face, his head canted to the side:

@goldgambit: “Oh, look at you handsome~ I bet everyone just tells you how gorgeous those eyes of yours are, huh?” Aventurine clinks his glasses against Kaeya’s drink, smirking as they mock those who only value the beauty of their rare and unique eyes.

   the praised, pale pupil widens before it affixes on the stranger.

   he's friendly, Kaeya has to give him that: his smirk is complicit, captivating, ad he managed to take him by surprise. he's anything but attentive, usually- but the colorful drinks keep making lone diamond dart to follow the colorful shine of them, magnetically attracted to the sight. by putting himself directly between him and the trays and hands traveling across the bar, he made a smart move.

   ' um, ' ah, very eloquent. he clears his throat, head lowering in a display of bashfulness for seemingly not having something witty to spit out immediately. all he ca manage is to clink his glass back with the man-

  -until he notices his eyes, and a small noise of recognization comes out of his lips.

   ' yours are much prettier, honestly, ' he almost confessed, fingers traveling through the glass ridges to distract himself. very pretty eyes, indeed! he thinks he has seen those somewhere, linked to something... but it has been a long time ago since he acquired that knowledge. he'd need some peace and quiet to remember it properly- for now, the other man seems friendly. he can have a chat.

   ' you'd have to come really close to mine to notice how particular my pupil is- but it does get a bit... ' the Enigma looks for the word, head tilting to the side, a frown on his face. he seems to gain awareness, fingers snapping in the sort of slighty rude behavior that's kind of too endearing to call out.

@goldgambit - Aventurine smiles oh so sweetly ( and with an edge of cunning ) at Lumine. “My dearest friend, has anyone told you, you shine like a real shooting star~?” \ unprompted ask

( 🌙 )      HE WANTS SOMETHING. absolutely he does -- but just what it could be escapes the celestial completely. golden eyes narrow somewhat , glowing as arms crossed all while a playful smirk hinted at her lips.

     ❝    ONCE OR TWICE. and the compliment . . or flirtation wouldn't be all that incorrect.     ❞      it was painfully rare to see her kind crossing the stars this amber era , leading for lumine to lean in with brows raised ; almost expectant for the stoneheart to ELABORATE on why he was saying such at current.

@goldgambit sent: "Don't you know it's bad business to keep a potential investment opportunity waiting hmm~" Aventurine hums while sitting on the chaise lounge, playfully scolding the Oak family head on a rule of the trade. He's made himself comfortable while waiting for Sunday, a glass of soulglad in hand. "Well? How will you make it up to me, Mr. Sunday~"

No, that's a terrible attitude to display first thing when meeting a new potential business partner. Entitled, demanding, immediately seeking to place your opposite in a position of debt. It's certainly a strategy but not one that's going to yield the kind of fruit the IPC is hoping for here. Sunday is tempted to point that out in response but is quite aware that his own person would come across as petty if he did. If all goes well he won't be reliant on the personal (or professional) cooperation and support from Mr. Aventurine but for now it can only benefit him to keep up appearances.

Aventurine wouldn't be the first to try to dazzle him with sheer insolence but insult and impudence, however much he despises them, are something Sunday can handle with grace. "My apologies for making you wait. In an enterprise as big as this there is no shortage of matters to attend to and often they require my personal attention." His eyes dart to the SoulGlad in Aventurine's hand. "I see you've got a refreshment already - that's on the house, of course."

And that, Mr. Aventurine, is all you can hope to weasel out of this perceived transgression. Potential investment opportunity - what a charade. There is nothing Sunday hopes to gain from the IPC stretching their greedy fingers towards Penacony and everything to lose. There's only one party here that smells a potential investment and the audacity with which their envoy sits in front of him, making demands, is enough to strengthen Sunday's resolve to deal with this quickly.