castlenim | (no subject)

[Sometimes, he thinks the execution would almost be preferable.

Almost.

But there's no way to rewrite the past, so Sunday must find some way to deal with being in the "temporary" custody of the IPC with the looming specter of Jade, when and if she decides to cash in her "goodwill" in orchestrating Sunday's freedom. Or the facsimile of it.

Admittedly, there are a few benefits to being in his position. Namely, he's more aware of the inner goings-on of the company, and he's picked up on the growing hostilities between divisions. And those who are looking to capitalize on that. If the IPC is dealing with internal struggles, there's a better chance that whenever he's handed off to his next keeper, it might be more on his own terms.

Which is how he finds himself in this very unlikely alliance, waiting for Aventurine to show up opposite him at the table once the other is finished doing whatever his previous job entailed so they can exchange information.

"This is temporary" is quickly becoming a mantra, these days.]

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Our script is blank, unfortunately. You and I aren't exactly the easiest individuals to wrangle into a relationship even on paper.

[ although he says it good-naturedly, the difficulty is clear to both of them.. ]

I'm sure dinner and pleasant conversation will assist us.

A cover story won't be easy to spin, no.

[If Oswaldo knows who Sunday is, was, they'd probably need something more substantial than love at first sight or that they met during a work function.

Sunday's smile turns faintly mean over the rim of his drink glass.]

The easiest option is pity. For me, for my plight.

[For the way Aventurine could see his reflection in Sunday.]

[ Aventurine is quiet a moment, his expression becoming just a little less perpetually amused and a little bit more somber. If he notices any part of that mean little smile he doesn't make it particularly known. He really doesn't have to see it, either, when the words do wonders.

Aventurine hums then, tapping the fingers of his free hand on the edge of the table before finally replying bluntly. ]

...A pity fuck, then. Interesting. I suppose that's something we could indeed swing. Considering my reputation, it would mean you're really quite special to me despite the circumstances being usually awkward for others to hear and not very convincing of anyone's relationship involvement.

That's the issue, isn't it? Oswaldo Schnider needs to be convinced you're besotted enough to have your guard down. That doesn't leave many options.

[Especially considering the circumstances around how they met. Even if no one outside of the Penacony incident is supposed to know the details (and that's no guarantee that Oswaldo didn't) there are only so many ways for the ex-head of the Oak family and a Stoneheart to cross paths.

Makes the meet-cute story...complicated.]

Unless you've got an easier cover story on hand?

Hm...

[ Aventurine considers a moment on Sunday's words before finally off a bit of a sharp barely-there smile. ] ...Perhaps the more transactional the better in this case. He knows me enough to think I'm an opportunistic whore but not well enough for anything beyond that.

It's true I'm not above spreading my legs even for my enemies if it suits me. It looking like pity from my end will certainly make him think I'm after something extra from you. It works nicely... although he'll take extra interest in what you're worth, meaning you'll have to deal with him more than is minimally required.

If that is fine with you, Mr. Sunday, I can't see any need to think too creatively about this. We'll need that for later for any plot twists that come up.

I can read the writing on the wall, Mr Aventurine. Despite this whole situation being technically extracurricular to the company, it doesn't stray very far from IPC philosophy.

[Sunday shrugs, very faintly, but his expression doesn't budge from a mask of affected politeness.]

Results are what matter. If this is the most straightforward method, then it's not really a matter of whether or not I'm fine with it. It's necessary.

Results are easier to obtain when all parties and their opinions are taken into consideration and as satisfied as is possible, you know this.

However... I think we have come to a decision with your response. It is absolutely the most straightforward approach that will give Oswaldo enough potentials as to what it could be if it's a plot against him; he'll be kept distracted by either his ambition and ignorance or his own paranoia.

[ on such short notice, it is a decent position to manage to put themselves in. As if the world had simply stopped and been waiting for them to finishing having out the initial details, Aventurine catches sight of The waiter coming with their dinner.

Perfect timing is always a delight to have during dinner meetings, even if they still are not exactly done with the details. At the very least, however, they know what they'll be working with. ]

Wonderful.

[Sunday sounds anything but enthused, but thankfully, their meals arriving is a good distraction, and he no longer has to entertain this thread of the conversation.

Of course, there's still the other elephant in the room of how they should act around each other to sell the ruse. It seems a daunting task at best, an impossible one more likely, considering how frosty this whole dinner has been so far. But Sunday's not about to be the one to bring that up, and instead, he cuts delicately into his food to start eating.]

[ Aventurine is considering those very things in his silence. A relationship is not something he's ever really had to convince anyone of before, at least not without him pretending to be someone else entirely. But as Aventurine of Stratagems, his reputation is certainly not one for being involved with anyone beyond using them as a means to an end. And when he's doing that... he's never been in an actual relationship with them, or tried to make it seem as such. Any ideas of a relationship were in the delusional mind of the other party.

Sunday is a different beast on so many levels than what he's used to, but ultimately Aventurine mentally shakes his head clear it of too many intrusive thoughts at once. Trying too hard and overthinking it will give them away too early. As he focuses on his dinner, he lets his features soften slightly as he takes the first bite, realizing he hasn't eaten anything today due to his immense stress prior to the Stoneheart meeting. It's not like before way back when and it never will be ever again, but that realization of mild hunger makes the food taste all the better.

He and Sunday will just have to figure each other out enough in the next few days to get their act together— if Sunday thought they weren't starting this charade before arrival at their destination, and he would have some reprieve, he's about to be sorely disappointed come morning. ]

[Sunday assumes they will continue to plan their charade, but he is not expecting anything more than that, no.

More than that, now that he doesn't have to deal with navigating the previous conversation, he's getting the faint impression that something had happened before Aventurine's arrival.

He doesn't like acknowledging it, doesn't even like thinking about it, but their similarities do give him a crumb of insight into someone otherwise inscrutable. And he can recognize the release of tension, the slight relaxation when there's no longer a metaphorical dagger pointed directly at one's throat. He's felt it plenty of times maintaining his position in the Family, after all.

Maybe Aventurine's tardiness had a reason?

He tucks that away to ponder over properly later. The quicker he understands the real goings on of the IPC the better.]