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Bimonthly, but in retrospect whenever the attendees so feel like it, a meeting is held between geniuses. This meeting is strictly business-related, and any off-topic discussion is strictly prohibited, their conversations nothing but erudite and scholarly.
Such is the basis on which the Educated Congregation’s formation occurred.
To say they stuck to this basis even once... would be a stretch.
In a secluded, dimly lit room tucked away in Herta’s office, four intellectual paragons sit around a large black table, an assortment of drinks and delicacies scattered around it.
“Honestly,” Genius Society member #83, Herta, sighed, setting her pure crystal glass onto the table and leaning back. “I have no idea why everyone is so worried these days! The space station is completely fine! Sure, we’ve had some… minor issues as of late but no one has been harmed!”
“No one…” Genius Society member #76, Screwllum, remarked with a nod, “Save for the several researchers who were harmed in the attacks of the Annihilation Gang, the Antimatter Legion, and the Fragmentum due to the Stellaron. Affirmation: You are incorrect.”
“I must say, I never received any thanks for my efforts against Ifrit.” Intelligentsia Guild member, Doctor Veritas Ratio added, twirling a pen between his fingers absentmindedly. “Mr. Screwllum, for one, can attest to my aid.”
“Screwllum,” Herta nodded, “And only Screwllum! You didn’t bother telling anyone else!”
“Shame on me for assuming the Genius Society would figure it out on their own!” Ratio retorted, his hands lifted in mock defense.
“I am kinda curious,” Herta added. “Why does every follower of the destruction feel the need to come after me!? What have I ever done to upset them?”
“Destruction of knowledge is the purest form of destruction.” Genius Society Member #81, Ruan Mei, replied softly after a bite of pastry. “This station is a sanctuary of knowledge. It’s no surprise, frankly.”
Herta sighed and slumped back in her chair.
“What a hassle…” Herta muttered.
“Wild leap, I’m sure,” Dr. Ratio commented with a smile, “But you really make it seem as if you don’t value your researchers.”
“You are no one to talk, Ratio!” Herta clapped back immediately. “Every time we see each other you have some new complaint about some coworker or ‘uneducated moron’ (She enunciated in a mock imitative tone) no matter where you go!”
“It’s not my fault the IPC is so… dull.” Ratio scoffed.
“Who’s that guy you’re always mentioning again? That Avgin guy you’re obsessed with?”
“Don’t get me started.” Ratio groaned, covering his face with his hand. “And for the record, I am not ‘obsessed’ with Aventurine.”
“And yet you’re always mentioning him! Honestly, if I didn’t know better I’d say you’re a fan of the guy!” Herta countered, eliciting another groan from Ratio.
“Herta is not incorrect, to put it lightly.” Screwllum nodded, “You always have some word about that boy.”
“Foolish.” Ratio shook his head. “That gambler is nothing but a nuisance to me.”
“Whatever you say, doctor!” Herta muttered, exasperated.
“How about you?” Ratio focused on Herta anew. “If I were to claim you were obsessed with that Stellaron Hunter girl, the hacker, what might you think?”
“I’d agree!” Herta countered. “Silver Wolf was the first time anyone’s matched our Screwllum in terms of hacking prowess! That Punklorde girl is of great interest to me!”
Ratio had no response to this and sat back in his chair with nothing more to say. Herta however did not, doubling down.
“Admit it! You’ve got admiration for the guy! The only difference between us is I’m not afraid to admit my gaze towards her!”
“It’s true.” Ruan Mei nodded. “Every time she comes up Herta talks for an eternity. I’m convinced she’s in love.”
“Only in the figurative sense.” Herta smiled, “More than our dear doctor can claim!”
“What are you implying…?” Ratio asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Nothing, relax. Just a joke.” Herta waved a hand in his direction. “Oh! Before I forget, has anyone seen the Trailblazer recently? I need their input on a few tweaks I’ve made to the Simulated Universe.”
The conversation redirected, Ratio relaxed slightly, able to release some of his tension. The rest of the night went by without a hitch, and the four parted ways when one of Ruan Mei’s creations required her attention, though not before taking a few pastries with her on her way out.
With the Smart People Gossip Club (The name Genuis Society member #84, Stephen Lloyd, dubbed their congregation, promptly leading to his lack of an invite.) officially over for the night and scheduled again the following month, Dr. Ratio was left entirely to his own devices. He tried finding a quiet spot to read in the Master Control Zone, but quickly abandoned that idea, the conversations of the surrounding researchers causing him to bail no more than five minutes in.
Contrary to his earlier claim, some payment had been due him, and for the foreseeable future, there was a bedroom set aside in the space station for him alone. He retired there now, stripping his top to relax in one of the chairs next to the bed. The room itself wasn’t much, the minimalistic aesthetic of the futuristic Herta Space Station not sparing the room he lounged in. The seat offered a wonderful view of the cosmos beyond, however, and after a while of unfocused, half-assed reading Ratio set the book down on the night table and sighed, gazing out into the stars.
A sudden ping on his phone jolted him out of his dream some hours later and Ratio awoke, groggily, his neck aching from his position in the chair. The lights in the room had automatically dimmed to nothing as he slept, so he blindly and groggily felt around him until his hand made contact with his phone. He sleepily opened it, and immediately jolted awake.
1 New message from: Aven. 1:34 AM System time.
“Hey, Doctor! Work’s been a total bust lately, stop by sometime! I won’t even be mad if you lecture me the whole time! Soooo boring. I’m free tomorrow around four, if you don’t show up I’ll get u fired from the smart people club <3
Love, Aventurine
Ratio stared at his phone for several minutes, blinking, trying to process what he just read. It did not evade him as he did, that his heart skipped a beat reading the final line.
“Ridiculous.” Ratio muttered, turning his phone off. A second later another ping made him jump, and he checked his phone to see another message from the Avgin.
1 New message from: Aven. 1:37 AM System time.
I know u read this, don't ignore me!!!!
Ratio cursed under his breath and thought of a response.
From: Veritas Ratio. 1:38 AM System time.
I have far better things to be attending to than indulging an imbecile.
Ratio tried his best to convince himself that was true.
From: Aven, 1:39 AM System time.
See you tomorrow!
Ratio grumbled and slapped the phone back onto the table. He didn’t bother changing, flopping down onto the bed with a curse and sighing.
“Why am I so nervous about this?” He asked the air bluntly. “No, no. I’m above this. Where there is emotion, there is logic. Whatever that crazy gambler has in mind, I’m nervous that the outcome may harm me in some way. That, combined with the fact that I’m completely unsure this is even Aven."
"That this is even Aventurine.” He corrected himself, then swore. He rubbed his forehead with his hand, groaning into the empty room.
“What an irritation…” Ratio muttered. He sat up and opened his phone again, rereading each message once more. Then again. Then a third time. By the time he had read them a fourth, Aventurine’s voice spoke the words in his head and he muttered incoherently into his pillow as he lay back down.
There are two things that truly angered Veritas Ratio. The first, famously, was idiocy. The second, much lesser known, was not knowing something.
Simply put, any time Ratio was unaware or unsure of something, he educated himself, an aspect of himself he was incredulous to discover existed in virtually no one else.
Currently, Dr. Ratio was completely unsure of what he felt and completely unsure of how to find out. He opened a search engine, his fingers hovering over the keys, no idea of what to actually search coming to him, before finally setting the phone down and sighing.
This is not something that can be solved this instant. He decided.
With that hint of assuredness resonating with him, he took it as an excuse to go to sleep, keeping his thoughts as far away from Aventurine as possible.
. . .
Ratio awoke the following day exhausted.
His thoughts were a mess, keeping him up until the small hours of the day when he finally slept. For five hours. He slid himself grumpily out of bed, stumbling over to the adjacent bathroom to look in the mirror.
He, himself, was a mess. Ratio winced as he stared at the reflection in the mirror. He was meeting Aventurine in just several hours from now! He needed to straighten himself out.
He drew a bath and slowly lowered himself inside, sighing as the warm water enveloped him. He relaxed for a few minutes before picking up a book and reading, this time much easier than the night before, for a while before exiting. He was significantly calmer now, and he took the opportunity to dress himself and get ready.
It was only after looking at the time did that calmness shatter.
He was around half an hour late if he wanted to arrive at Aventurine’s office on time.
Without a second thought, he bolted out the door, whizzing past researchers down the space station until reaching the Supply Zone. The shuttle he needed was still there, the conductor apparently encountering some navigational error just moments before they were about to depart.
Ratio forced himself into the shuttle and full-body sighed in relief as he sat down on a bench, his chest heaving from running the whole way. He received a few odd looks from the people around him, but he paid them no mind, taking out a small booklet from his pocket to ground himself.
The shuttle took another eleven minutes before finally taking off, and Ratio found himself anxiously shifting in his seat as the shuttle seemed to move infinitely slowly toward its location.
The… other agitating factor, was the fact that Ratio hadn’t the faintest idea in mind why he was so anxious to arrive on time! The rationalities from the night before weren’t working anymore, and the entire way there he grappled with his own thoughts, trying desperately to figure out what was wrong with him.
Eventually, the shuttle reached the IPC station of the Strategic Investment Department. Ratio got up from the bench, stepping unsteadily off the shuttle into the station. The station itself was significantly more lavish than Herta’s, the amber-colored surfaces significantly easier on the eyes than the permanent dull gray. Ratio considered, not for the first time if he should bring some renovations up to Herta during one of their meetings as he walked down a long corridor into an elevator.
His nerves were shot as he watched the electronic number on the wall grow higher and higher until stopping on his floor, his fingers fidgeting by his side, tapping his foot idly on the elevator floor.
The floor was reached and Ratio stepped out. He absent-mindedly adjusted his clothing as he walked down a long corridor of doors, finally stopping short as he reached the correct door.
He stared for a moment at the label, Stoneheart, Aventurine of Stratagems.
For a moment he contemplated turning back.
Then, with a shaking hand, he reached out and turned the handle, stepping into the office of Aventurine.
It was the woman sitting next to him at a table that he noticed first, and coincidentally it was her who noticed him first as well. A second later Aventurine looked up as well, a sharp, beaming smile on his face as he stood up to greet him.
“Doctor!!” Aventurine grinned, stepping over to him and clapping him on the back, the contact making Ratio wince. “You’re late! I was starting to think you weren’t coming! Didn’t you say you had some ‘big important thing to do’?”
“I did.” Ratio said, concealing his crushing nervousness. “It was resolved quicker than expected.”
“And you still took the time to come see me!” Aventurine smiled. “I'm truly flattered, Doctor. Oh yes, before I forget! Ratio, this is Topaz, a coworker of mine, Topaz, Ratio.”
“Just a coworker, huh?” Topaz laughed, standing up as well to make her way over to Ratio.
Ratio did his best to hide his shock, the anxiety in his chest multiplying tenfold as he stiffly shook Topaz’s hand.
Who is this woman? He thought. What is she to Aven? Why did he call me here if she’s here too? Was it because I was late? Did I make a mistake? Should I even be here? His mind raced, every possible negative outcome seeming more and more likely the longer he did.
“Doctor!” Aventurine called, snapping Ratio out of his head. “Come on, sit down! There’s a lot to discuss!”
Ratio realized, with a tinge of embarrassment, that the two had already sat down, leaving him awkwardly standing in the middle of the office. Hurriedly, he sat down in the opposite chair, and the three began idly chatting, though Ratio mostly stayed silent at first.
The conversation trailed casually for several hours, their discussion ranging from IPC rumors, to the Intelligentsia Guild, to Topaz’s excursions on Jarillo-VI, so on and so forth. Ratio managed to relax a bit during the discussion, having ascertained fairly confidently that Topaz and Aventurine were nothing more than friends, though the origin of the comfort behind that truth still left him somewhat disconcerted.
The meeting managed even easier as more time passed, the conversations incredibly similar to the… “Smart People Gossip Club” (Admittedly the foolishness of the name grew on him more than he cared to admit.) he frequently attended, and Ratio found himself engaging more and more in the conversation as it went on, until finally, Topaz announced she had to leave, and after a few more words and final handshakes, departed from them.
Ratio and Aventurine talked casually for a little while longer, before eventually Aventurine rose to his feet, reaching out a hand for the scholar.
“As nice as this has been, Doctor, I think it’s time I got back to work. Let us meet up again sometime though, yeah?”
Ratio nodded, taking the Avgin’s hand and rising to his feet slowly, realizing late how hesitant he was to release Aventurine’s hand.
“Everything alright with you?” Aventurine asked, giving Ratio a skeptical look. “You’re not normally this… stiff.”
“I’m fine, thank you for asking.” Ratio answered dismissively.
“If you say so…” Aventurine nodded. “Remember to get in touch again soon, okay?” Aventurine asked with a sly grin.
“Of course.” Ratio replied dryly. “I- I’ll be off now.” Ratio nodded, making his way towards the door. Aventurine said something after him but he didn’t hear, pushing through the door and closing it behind him. He stood outside the door for a moment, breathing deeply.
What the hell is going on? Was all Ratio managed to think as he slowly walked back towards the elevator at the other side of the winding hall. He took out his phone, absently scrolling through the few texts he had with Aventurine, not really reading them particularly, just trying to focus his eyes on something.
He stopped at a message, a few words standing out to him.
They were the texts from the night before, but only two words caught his attention.
Love, Aventurine.
Ratio read them again.
Love, Aventurine.
And in an instant, his trouble seemed to make a lot more sense.
His realization was so shocking he stopped in his tracks just a few steps before the elevator, staring at the words in shock.
But… no that… that wasn’t possible! It wasn’t!
And yet, all logic pointed towards it. The ever-logical Veritas Ratio knew that better than anyone. His constant thoughts of him, his nervousness and anxiety getting there, his reaction to Topaz. All in an instant, everything made sense.
Ratio leaned against a wall, rubbing his forehead with his palm, the hall around him spinning. It just wasn’t possible but…
But it was.
It was and it was so, so confusing. Ratio felt tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
No. Not here. Not so close to-
“Doctor?”
Ratio snapped his head up in surprise, his stomach dropping as soon as he did so. He felt sick as he stared up at Aventurine, the man’s face growing more and more concerned by the second.
“I’m fine.” Ratio said, firmly, pushing off the wall and doing his best to steady his expression. “What is it you needed? Get on with it.”
“You- left your coat in my office but… seriously are you okay?”
Ratio couldn’t bear the sight of the Avgin before him. It was just… too much. He tried turning away, getting himself into the elevator, and tackling this another time but Aventurine stopped him, grabbing him by the back of his robe and pulling him towards him.
“Wait!” Aventurine called, his grip firm. “Seriously! What’s gotten into you!?”
“Just– leave me be!” Ratio yelled back, trying to wrench free from Aventurine’s grasp.
“Not this time,” Aventurine said firmly. “Tell me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I– can’t!” Ratio protested, though his voice was growing weaker by the second.
“Why not!?” Aventurine persisted.
“It– I can’t…” Ratio muttered, leaning against the wall again, this time in defeat.
“Come with me.” Aventurine sighed, grabbing Ratio’s hand. He gave no protest, just dazedly let the man drag him back down the hall.
They entered Aventurine’s office once more and Aventurine sat Ratio down in a chair, walking to the other side of the room to prepare some tea. Ratio sat quietly in the chair, his eyes cast to the ground, unmoving. A few moments later Aventurine came over with a ceramic cup of tea, setting it down on the table in front of Ratio and moving a chair up next to him.
“Listen," Aventurine began, slowly. "I can’t force you to talk. If you’re not going to there’s… there’s nothing I can do to make you. But seriously.” He rested a hand on Ratio’s shoulder. “We’ve been through a lot as teammates before. I can’t honestly say we’re the closest in the world but… we’re not strangers either. I won’t in good conscience just let you leave without trying.”
The hand on Ratio’s shoulder felt awful, and he wanted nothing more than to shake it off. To just... leave.
But…
Something about it brought him comfort too.
Something about all of this, all of this emotion, this fear, this uncertainty …
It all seemed a little easier with Aventurine next to him.
There was no denying his feelings anymore. Not to himself. Ratio knew that now. But admitting them to Aventurine? Especially so soon? How could he possibly have the strength to achieve such a thing?
“Ratio?” Aventurine asked, his voice soft.
Something clicked in Ratio’s head. Just like always. All it took was some clear thought.
He’d thank Aventurine later.
Ratio stood up, making his way over to the window of the office and peering out, the view of space reminding him of his experience of the previous night, only this time it did nothing to inhibit him.
In fact, he somehow felt stronger.
“I–” Ratio began, his voice still unsteady, no matter how sure of himself he was. “There's… something you need to know.”
“Sure.” Aventurine nodded, walking up next to him. “Go ahead.”
“It’s… difficult to easily say.” Ratio added, clearing his throat.
“If you’re here to profess your undying love for me, I won’t blame you.” Aventurine laughed.
...
This fucking guy.
Ratio stood dumbfounded, any plan of action he had shattered in an instant. He scrambled for something to say, seeing Aventurine’s eyes widen in realization.
“No fucking way,” Aventurine muttered, a smirk growing on his face.
“Shut up.” Was all Ratio could manage. “Shut up.”
“You actually are!? I was joking!” Aventurine doubled over in laughter, his hands on his knees as his chest heaved. “There’s no way!”
“Enough!” Ratio exclaimed. “I’m leaving. D-don’t contact me again.” He said definitively, making a break for the door. Before he could though, Aventurine’s hand pulled him back, spinning him around, and in an instant Ratio felt his back against a wall. Aventurine’s eyes bored into his, that same sickly smirk burning into him all the more.
“I didn’t say you could leave yet.” Aventurine grinned. “Let's talk more, yeah?”
“A-Absolutely not!” Ratio objected, yet found himself pinned under the Avgin’s considerable strength regardless. “That’s enough, g-gambler.”
“You’re in my office, friend,” Aventurine smirked.
“Or… maybe not friend. ”
Ratio’s heart skipped a beat.
“As in…” He started warily. “Rather a… foe? Or…”
“What do you think, Doctor?” Aventurine asked, his smug grin moving closer to Ratio’s face, Aventurine’s gaze studying him without ever moving from the other’s eyes. “Or rather…” He trailed a finger down Ratio’s arm. “What do you want it to be?”
“Isn’t– isn’t that… obvious?” Ratio muttered, his heart racing.
“I want to hear you say it.” Aventurine smiled, moving closer.
“I would r-really rather not…” Ratio’s voice came out in a whisper, his lips scarily close to Aventurine’s.
“Do you want to kiss me, Veritas?” Aventurine asked.
“Yes…” Ratio nodded softly, without really realizing what he was saying. Nothing really mattered at that point anyway. Ratio couldn’t bring himself to care.
“Then say it.” Aventurine prompted.
“I… I want us to be something more. More than coworkers, m- more than friends. More than… associates.”
“God, what a lovely thing to hear,” Aventurine whispered, before pushing his lips against the other’s.
In an instant, it felt as if Ratio’s entire world was new. A million new possibilities and truths and matters and questions and uncertainties all seemed to become real in nothing more than that instant, doubling every second that their lips stayed connected. Their kiss broke and it was as if Ratio’s world lost its core, before Aventurine reached up and pulled Ratio into another kiss and his core was back, twice as strong and blazing hotter than ever before. The birth of a universe between just two people. And both of them loved every second.
Ratio barely noticed the two moving until Ratio’s back fell against Aventurine’s desk, his body landing with a hard thud– assured to leave a mark the following day– but Ratio didn’t care, and neither did Aventurine seem to, even as documents and assorted items fell off of the desk to the marble floor. Their kisses were feverish, Aventurine’s hands keeping Ratio firmly pinned against the mahogany desk, not that it took much force to hold him, Ratio’s entire body weak with emotion.
Aventurine pulled back for a moment, taking in the state of Doctor Ratio before him, the esteemed professor and scholar of the Intelligentsia Guild… undone completely, sprawled out desperately all over his desk.
Aventurine raised a hand to cup Ratio’s cheek, relishing the feeling of Ratio leaning into the touch.
“I love you, Veritas.” Aventurine breathed, not bothering to wait for an answer before diving the two into another passionate kiss.
“I-” Ratio panted as their kiss broke, his face burning, his entire body trembling.
“I love you, Aventurine”
. . .
Bimonthly, but in retrospect whenever the attendees so feel like it, a meeting is held between geniuses. This meeting is strictly business-related, and any off-topic discussion is strictly prohibited, their conversations nothing but erudite and scholarly.
Such is the basis on which the Educated Congregation’s formation occurred.
Yet tonight, one member was noticeably absent, his seat vacant to the three filled chairs around the black table.
“Still no sign of Ratio, huh?” Herta sighed.
“Correct.” Screwllum nodded. “No sign.”
“Think we gotta worry about him?” Herta asked, leaning forward.
“I doubt it.” Ruan Mei shook her head.
“But isn’t that weird?” Herta wondered, looking from Screwllum to Ruan Mei.
The two geniuses shared a look, before Ruan Mei spoke up, a slight, knowing smile on her face.
“Around a month ago Dr Ratio went out for a meeting with the Avgin man, Aventurine.”
“Hold up,” Herta leaned further forward. “Aventurine? The guy he was always ranting about? The one he totally had a crush on? That Aventurine?”
“The very same.” Screwllum nodded. “Logic: You appear to be more on the dot than you initially thought.”
“Dr. Ratio of the Intelligentsia Guild and one of the IPC’s Ten Stonehearts…” Herta sighed, leaning back. “Interesting pair don’t you think?”
“Certainly no more than us.” Screwllum nodded, eliciting a laugh from all three of them.