Archive of Our Own

Aventurine is honestly a bit amused with what’s happening right now. It’s only the day after Christmas, and the two of them woke up early to leave the inn to…

Set up this ice shanty (tent) on a frozen over lake. The two of them took off on a vacation to another planet, one that’s said to have some of the most beautiful sights in the winter. It’s synonymous with a winter wonderland. Nothing like the planet Jarilo-VI that Topaz had a project on, but a neighboring one. It seems like the Doctor can’t help but keep working even on his holiday. And Aventurine thought he was the workaholic here.

The two of them manage to set up the ice shanty. Despite its shabby appearance, it’s actually doing its job of keeping them warm against the winds… although, it’s dark in here. And there’s not much space for them to move around. Well, it’s not a bad thing. He can cozy up to Ratio in the meantime. He sets up the foldable lawn chairs, unfolding them and setting it up next to the bait box.

Dr. Ratio is preoccupied now with using an ice auger to drill out the hole of ice. Aventurine sits back in his lawn chair, watching Ratio at work. He brings his gloved hands up to his face, breathing in them. “Doctorrr.”

“What is it, Gambler?” Ratio asks between sounds of scraping and ice finangling. 

“It’s cold. Did we bring a heater?” Aventurine sighs dramatically. “I can never get used to the cold like this!” 

“You did dress warmly enough, yes? I sent you a list of what clothing you needed to buy…” Ratio clicks his tongue, “But yes, check the duffel bag. You can set it up if you want.”

He remembers the list. It was meticulous and detailed, but it made it easy for Aventurine to get his shopping done in a few swipes. Regardless, he complies, huffing as he unzips the large bag for the portable heater. It’s rather small, but it’ll have to do. It’s sad that neither of them can harness fire. Maybe they should’ve brought Topaz along… well, she would probably be complaining less than he is right now. That woman has quite the resistance to the freezing cold. Also, he can’t turn down the alone time with Ratio. It was just his luck that Ratio agreed to go on vacation with him in the first place.

Truthfully, it’s another collaboration of sorts out of shared interests. Aventurine wanted to do some sight seeing with the year-end bonus he received for his promotion (read: incentive for his quick recovery). Ratio, on the other hand, had been enlisted by Ruan Mei to collect some data on a creature she was investigating, leading them to their adventures out on the ice. 

“Doctor…” Aventurine drawls, dragging out the heater. “Have you ever gone fishing before?”

“Of course I have.” Ratio insists, scooping out the rest of the loose snow out of the way, letting it collect in a pile on the other side of the lawn chairs. “It’s just… been a while, that’s all.”

Aventurine laughs. “Well, I guess that’s why I’m here. To be your good luck charm, right?” 

“Nothing like that. We just both benefited. You’re welcome to return to the inn if you’re too cold.” Ratio adjusts his glasses, clicking his tongue at the cold himself. He tosses the shovel and auger to the side, finally settling in the other lawn chair. “Alternatively, feel free to talk about anything. How are the cat cakes?”

“They’re great!” Aventurine hums, “they messed up my decorations, but they’re so cute I just had to forgive them. Other than that, everything’s going smoothly. What about you, Doctor?” And then he leans over to switch on the heater. It kicks into action, bringing a bit of warmth into the ice shanty.

“I’ve been working on a project, but something else has caught Ruan Mei’s eye. I had no choice but to accept her whims.” Dr. Ratio’s now fiddling with his fishing rod, more specifically attaching the bait. “That is good to hear. As you know, I’ve also been working on grading students’ papers.”

“Did anyone pass?” Aventurine grins, even though it feels like it’s too cold to even keep up with the small talk. He just watches Ratio at work, almost as if he’s hypnotized. 

“A couple of students have shown promise.” Ratio sighs. What’s unspoken is that it’s quite a feat, considering the amount of traveling Ratio did over the semester. “Some withdrew last month. I do remind them that they’re the ones who sign up for the class.”

“Oooh boy! You’re just a tough professor, Doctor!” Aventurine laughs, “Would I pass?”

Ratio pauses, staring directly at Aventurine. He nods. “You would. I know you could be a committed student. I’m sure you’re aware that you’re smarter than the others in the Intelligentsia Guild. Only you have something worth talking about.”

Aventurine smiles, but wonders if it’s just a sign that Dr. Ratio’s bleeding heart influenced him.

He wouldn’t know, truthfully. He never had that chance for such formal education. He always relied on his luck, and perhaps a little skill and determination. “Well, thank you very much. Of course, something like that isn’t in the cards, I’m afraid.”

“And that’s fine. Not everyone has the chance for it… but if you do pursue it further down the line, I’ll support you.” Ratio remarks quietly, now casting out his line in the ice cold water.

Aventurine flashes a small smile, but lapses into silence. If he knew this would be the majority of this ice fishing trip, then maybe he wouldn’t have agreed to come. There’s only so many topics they can go on about without going back to mulling over the past, or touch upon things that Aventurine isn’t ready to talk about.

Bless Veritas Ratio’s kindness. But the wounds from Penacony still haven’t healed. 

It was easier on their missions. The two always found something to talk about in regards to the mission, but this one is more of a personal assignment than anything else. Aventurine finds that he’s starting to run out of things to say.

He looks down at his hands, and then looks over at Ratio, who’s undoubtedly struggling with the fishing hole. He reaches over for the tacklebox, seeing that Ratio also brought a rod for him. In comparison, he’s actually gone fishing once or twice before, succeeding solely because of his luck. He ties one of the bait worms to his hook, and similarly casts it in the same hole.

“Aventurine, I leave it to you to get a bite.” Ratio sounds almost exasperated, but a smile ghosts his lips for a brief moment before he shakes his head. 

Aventurine grins wickedly, “Should we bet on it?”

“There’s no point with you.” Ratio retorts, glancing over at the empty bucket on the other side. “If you can catch something before me, then I owe you a favor.”

“And if I don’t?” Aventurine’s grin widens, heart thrumming with the thrill of the bet. It’s a toxic trait of his, or rather a habit he can’t seem to quite break. 

Ratio rolls his eyes. “Those are your terms to decide, not mine. Covering for the bill is not a proper losing term. After all, you always find a way to pay the bill.” 

Aventurine pouts at the accuracy of the statement. “I’ll just owe you one, I suppose? Should I take you out on another vacation to make up for it? How about the Xianzhou Alliance?”

“If you want to go with that.” Ratio huffs out a sigh, returning his gaze to focus on the task at hand. “Fine, bet accepted.”

“It’s a deal then, Doctor. May the best man win.” Aventurine winks, lowering his bait deeper inside the water. 

A couple hours pass. Between light conversation (mostly IPC gossip and then the state of the Simulated Universe project), the two of them managed to catch quite a few regular fish. Some trash. Yet, they’re still looking for the loach Ruan Mei wanted to study. 

As expected, Aventurine ended up fishing up something first, meaning that Aventurine now has a favor from the Doctor that he can cash in at any time. It’s best to hold onto it for when something really matters, though. It’d be a bargaining chip for later. 

The worst happens—the heater blows out, ending the steady supply of warmth for the both of them. Aventurine blinks. Dr. Ratio grumbles, taking out his trusty chalk and throwing it right at the heater. Once it makes contact, the heater jostles slightly but doesn’t turn back on. “Quit misbehaving,” Ratio mutters, summoning his chalk back to himself, but not without shooting a glare at the heater. “I just bought you, and this is how you perform?”

Aventurine stays silent, only amused by the antics. So the Doctor really does have a habit of treating his technology as sentient beings. “We did come all this way, but I don’t mind heading back. We wouldn’t be going back empty-handed at least.”

“It’s most efficient if we finish this now.” Ratio shakes his head.

Aventurine then pushes the tackle box away from them, then scoots his lawn chair right next to Ratio’s and closes the gap between their seats. “Well, good thing there’s other ways to warm up.”

Ratio pauses. Once it processes, Ratio’s frosted face turns into a deeply intense red. “W-What are you suggesting?”

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do when you’re cold?” Aventurine asks innocently with a smirk. “Oh, it’s nothing too crazy. We’d just be cuddling in close quarters.”

Ratio clears his throat. “There’s no need for that. The closer proximity can… do for now, I suppose. I did pack some hand warmers if you wanted to grab those.”

Aventurine clicks his tongue, “Geez, Doctor. Guess it’s too chilly for you to really get in the mood.” He obediently leans over toward the duffel, retrieving the package of hand warmers. “Guess these will have to do for now… we haven’t gotten a bite in a bit. Do you think we got all the fish we could?” He’s tearing the package open, also, tossing some Ratio’s way and keeping some to himself.

“We’re doing work, may I remind you. I will not have you putting our minds in the gutter.” He clears his throat one last time, but catches the hand warmers with ease. Ratio plays with it in his free gloved hand, the other resting still on his fishing rod.

“So, if I finish up here and catch the loach…” Aventurine teasingly pushes another proposition forward, “then we should go back our merry way and warm up properly in the hotel.”

Ratio raises an eyebrow. “Given that we properly prepare it for study, then I’ll agree to that. Will your luck help you with such a silly desire?”

“Oh, Doctor. You’re mistaken. This is a matter of life or death now.” Aventurine chuckles, grabbing another bait to tie to his hook. He casts his line with a small prayer. “If it doesn’t happen, we’ll die of hypothermia… and it’d be so sad, too. Because it’s also a matter of life or death if I get to warm up with you in the hotel. If I don’t, I’m better off a dead man…”

“You are being dramatic.” Ratio sighs, “Of course, hypothermia is a real concern. But I do have the knowledge of what to do, if the situation got so dire. Your methods transcend logic entirely, so I suppose I can’t say anything more than that.”

“Little loach, won’t you come home?” Aventurine sings, swaying his fishing rod to shake up the bait a little, mimicking that of a live fish. “We are su~per cold!”

Ratio only smiles.

It’s not that long until there’s a tug of resistance. Aventurine sits up from his chair, grinning like a child as he starts reeling it in. He tugs it back, playing the same game of tug of war he played with the other fishes he caught, but this one is a little more mischievous. It’s a matter of time before he manages to finally pull it out. He holds the loach victoriously in his hand. “Ratio! Quickly! Take a picture!”

Ratio rolls his eyes, but pulls out his phone to snap a quick photo. He sends it to Ruan Mei for good measure. 

“Looks like I won all our bets today.” Aventurine winks, “So, you know what that means… Let's pack up! We’ll wrap this up and then we get to have fun.”

“Fun, huh.” Ratio snorts at Aventurine’s enthusiasm, but starts packing up their gear and belongings, hoping to relocate them from the biting cold as soon as possible. “Did you find this fun?”

Aventurine agrees readily, “It was nice, Doctor! Let’s go fly fishing next time!”

Geez, fly fishing would really make Aventurine seem like he’s in retirement… but it’s not a bad thought. Maybe in the summer while they’re both wearing silly sunglasses and sun hats, sipping on a delightful drink under the heat of the sun. 

Ratio pauses at the sound of his phone going off. Aventurine peers over Ratio’s shoulder for the message.

Ruan Mei

That’s the wrong one, Veritas.

Aventurine looks over at the loach he caught and compares it to the article that Ruan Mei had linked. “All fish look the same to me.”

Ratio pinches his nose. “I’ll just leave it to one of her actual lab assistants.” He then looks over at Aventurine. “How soon do you want to go fly fishing?”