Work Text:
Aventurine, previously called Kakavasha, a blonde IPC worker who is one of the ten stonehearts, who is favored by the Aeons and is blessed by luck itself—
Is currently sitting on a stool with a table in front of him, and on the table, there is a slab of wet clay that is yet to be touched or to be made into something.
Other than the obnoxious piece of clay in front of him, he's also accompanied by someone very, very familiar, currently facing him eye to eye. A purple haired man with a calculating expression always worn on his face— Veritas Ratio.
A cough was let out by Ratio, and that only prolonged their eye contact. Ratio's eyes were practically screaming for Aventurine to hurry up. As if it were saying, I don't know you, and you don't know me.
Aventurine has been attending sculpting classes for a while now, and no one knows about it— even his best friend, Sunday, a person he enjoyed teasing as much as he did with Ratio.
How did Aventurine get into sculpting? Well, Aventurine noticed that in Ratio's work office, there are many, many sculptures of all kinds. He never really gave much thought about it.
That is, until he did think about it.
Why did he have so many sculptures just laying around like that? How did he even manage to keep them all here, without anyone bothering it? and most importantly, why did no one seem to care that he has so much of it?
It bothered him a lot, and he thought of a lot of possibilities as to why his cherished friend of his has so many dry pieces of clay just laying around. Did it have to do with beauty? or perhaps is this a new way for geniuses to keep up with their smarts?
Aventurine knew Ratio was a sculptor, and this shouldn't be questionable, but just— why?
So, here he is now, attending a sculpting class in some obscure city, hoping to understand Ratio more towards his love of sculptures and the act of sculpting, with said friend looking deadpanned right in front of him.
While Aventurine has been attending sculpting classes secretly, Ratio picked up a side gig as a model…
Calling it as a side gig would be an overstatement.
It all started when March 7th took a picture of him for a photography class and uploaded it to social media. She was looking for ideas, and coincidentally, she happened to bump into Ratio, who was working on his sculptures for a project.
That damned gambler commented on her post, drawing all sorts of attention by saying— and quote on quote, “I didn't expect a certain professor to have a side gig as a model.”
It may seem like a harmless comment, but the amount of texts and emails he received from it was brutal. Due to his rather good looks, all kinds of people were asking him— begging him to model for them.
Though, the pestering died down after a while of him ignoring them. After all, he was a professor with students to teach. He can't just abandon his responsibilities with something that would waste his time.
However, one account didn't stop. It texted him everyday, offering him all kinds of gifts if he could work as their part time model at an art studio. However, he remained unmoved.
Until a certain title from the gifts list catches his eye.
Every sculptor knows this book, an infamous yet rare book that is yet to be obtained by him. Sure, you can get the pdf online with some tweaks. However, this account offered the physical copy.
There were only fifty physical— original copies available around the world.
He needed that.
With a sigh, he gave in. After all, it's just standing still and letting other people reference you, right? Ratio, as a sculptor himself, gets this. He often needs to find something, or someone, to reference off. He understands.
With that, he was on his way to the art studio the next day.
On his way to the art studio which was a few miles away from his workplace, he thought of all sorts of things he could do once he got his hands on the physical copy— and how joyous he would be.
With the book only being on his mind, he got into the building, completely unaware of his surroundings, and once he finally reached the planned classroom for him did he finally focus.
Ratio took note of the only student in the classroom who was currently busy getting their tools at the back, and put down his backpack that won't be of any use for today’s session in the personal belongings locker.
After hearing that the other person is done and finally took their seat after what felt like forever, Ratio took a seat for himself in front of the student, finally peeling his eyes from his phone and—
Aventurine?
Ratio audibly choked on his own saliva. Was this some kind of elaborate prank? A hallucination from the result of his sleepless nights from marking too many papers? He blinked. Once. Twice. A third time, just to be sure.
Aventurine, too, was equally dumbfounded. Did Ratio actually get a side gig as a model? His comment on March’s post from weeks ago was merely a joke, a sarcastic remark.
When Aventurine took a seat earlier and looked at the model’s back, a certain professor came to mind. However, it couldn't actually be him.
Wrong. He was so wrong.
Ratio mentally slapped himself, and reminded himself to be professional. He let out a fake cough, and both of their eyes were met. Ratio’s eyes screamed I don't know you, and you don't know me.
However, Aventurine had other plans.
“Doctor,” Aventurine purred, tilting his head, “it seems like you really did have a side gig for modelling.”
All of Aventurine’s thoughts of Ratio quickly subsided when he realised that— now Ratio knows he's been attending sculpting classes! at a professional art studio, too, all rented for himself! Out of all the random models that could've been chosen, it just had to be him?
Just as quickly Ratio’s eyes averted from seeing Aventurine, his gaze snapped back from that remark. He scanned the man in front of him and his eyes locked onto Aventurine's hands before finally replying, “and when did you start going to art studios, dirtying your hands with clay, gambler?”
Aventurine looked down at his own hands, forgetting what he was really here for, and why this familiar is in front of him right now, right here, at this moment.
He responded with a light chuckle, and quickly thought of a way to shift the focus onto something else, “well, doctor, or should I say, professor-turned-model,” he leaned back on his stool, “since we're here now, allow me to do my work?”
He then leaned forward, a playful glint in his eyes. Ratio’s eyes narrowed, clearly not amused by this teasing. But that didn't stop Aventurine, who already launched into motion.
“You see, professor-turned-model—” before Aventurine could even finish his sentence, he was abruptly cut off by Ratio, having enough of the new unnecessary title.
“Formalities aren't needed, gambler-turned-sculptor,” Ratio replied with a slight eye roll, though his tone wasn't harsh— more like a reluctant attempt at dismissing the teasing. Although he looked unamused, he couldn't help but play along.
Aventurine looked surprised at first, but then his expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction, like someone who had just stumbled upon unexpected treasure, knowing it was too good to pass up.
“Okay, doctor,” his eyes locked with Ratio’s, making sure the man in front of him hears every single syllable. “this distance and angle isn't doing my sight justice, and I really, really need a closeup,”
He pauses, his gaze never leaving Ratio’s as he continued, voice slightly lowered for effect, “...of you.”
Ratio’s eyebrow arched in mild confusion, what's up with the emphasis on me? He shrugged, and let out a nod of approval in response to Aventurine, as if consenting to whatever bizzare request this was turning into.
As Aventurine stood, Ratio’s mind started to race all the way back to when this unexpected encounter happened— how and when did Aventurine start taking classes?
Before he could spiral deeper into his thoughts, they were interrupted when cold, wet palms suddenly cupped his face. His sight of the floor was now blocked, and his senses were overwhelmed by strawberry soap.
What met him now was not the floor, but instead Aventurine's abnormally bright, purple eyes that strained with curiosity.
…
This was simply outrageous!
Ratio blinked, his heartbeat quickening slightly from the unexpectedness of it all.
“What-" He paused, "What exactly do you think you're doing?” His voice faltered, both eyebrows raised in surprise. His usual cool demeanor was cracking, the facade just slipping slightly.
Aventurine, looking ever so serious, “observing you,”
…?
He couldn't tell if he was being mocked or not. Imaginary question marks floated beside his head, each one more confused than the other.
Why was he so… serious? Where is he going with this?
Before Ratio could say anything, his face was then flipped to the other side. Aventurine, still looking annoyingly serious as he mentally took note of all the “details” on Ratio’s face.
Ratio wanted to say something— anything— but every attempt resulted in failure as his words got caught up in his throat. His mind scrambled for a way to regain control, but all he could muster up was a sigh of defeat.
Aventurine still looked serious, even muttering about how he'll need to get the contour of his jaw, or he won't forget to count the exact amount of eyelashes he has.
…never in his life had he experienced something so absurd.
And never, ever, had he experienced being thoroughly examined.. being a subject of this… ridiculousness.
His face was probably as bright as Aventurine’s eyes right now, and he could feel his ears heat up from the pure embarrassment he's feeling.
After what felt like forever of his face being observed carefully, he finally mustered up the courage to say something. After mentally revising his words over and over, “You— cough— Are you done, gambler?”
Aventurine's hands stopped in motion, and hung stiffly to his sides.
Ratio realized he had been ignoring Aventurine’s face while being caressed oh so carefully this whole time. He angled his face towards Aventurine slowly— as if he were in a horror game—
Only to find Aventurine looking offended???
Ratio panicked, “I didn't— I didn't mean it like that—” and before he could finish stammering, he was cut off by Aventurine.
“I’m not finished yet,” Aventurine replied, his tone almost clinical as he tried to reach out to lift Ratio’s chin— but it was blocked by Ratio’s hand.
This time, it was Ratio’s turn to be offended.
He deadpanned as he stared at Aventurine's face, all panic from before vanished, then slowly— very slowly— shifted his gaze to the untouched clay slab on the table in front of him.
Aventurine's eyes followed, landing on the sad slab of untouched clay behind him that was almost dried up. His gaze flickered back to Ratio’s face.
“You know,” Ratio starts, his voice lighter but still dry, “Clearly i’m not the only one neglecting their work.” His eyes flicked between Aventurine and the clay.
He continued, “Are you here to work on your sculpting, or-” He shot a suspicious look, his lips twitching in amusement, “are you here to make a fool out of me?”
Aventurine’s expression morphed from feigned shock to genuine amusement, his lips curling into a smirk. “Took you long enough, Doc,” he teased with playful laughter.
He shook his head, eyes sparkling with mischief and leaned in slightly, “How'd you put up with that for so long, did you really enjoy me caressing your face that much?”
…
Ratio’s eyes widened as he stood up, his face fully flushed with a look of pure mortification across his face. Without another word, he packed his things, with full intent on leaving. He was done.
Aventurine, on the other hand, was having the time of his life!
Ignoring all of Aventurine's attempts to make him stay— Ratio walked out of the building, his figure shrinking with distance, and may his embarrassment shrink with distance, too.
Aventurine's laughter eventually died down as he took out his phone, texting Ratio, who probably had his phone off to avoid being embarrassed any further.
“If you need a face massage, just come to me.”
$3000 payment sent.
He sighed as he walked back into the building into his studio’s classroom. He quickly revised all of the little details on Ratio's face he'd taken mental notes on earlier, fully eager to finally start working on his sculpture now.