[ No reprimand? Well, that seals it. Something is wrong.
Luckily, Aventurine's itinerary for this mission could best be described as "loosey-goosey." Plenty of time to collect evidence here in Ratio's lab before he starts stringing a plausible theory together. Most important (and admittedly a little surprising), his presence is not somehow making things infinitely worse; not the IPC or the Stonehearts or his own antics, then. Reassured, Aventurine regains control of his feet and sweeps in closer. ]
I was concerned that you might've been kidnapped, honestly. [ Tone light, teasing, he dilly-dallies near a shelf of samples, but can't discern anything relevant about them from a glance. ] Your desk's a mess, Doctor.
[ He stuffs his hands in his pockets as he comes to stand next to Ratio. The Cheshire cat smile that bends his lips feels especially false when presented to the doctor, but he's reasonably confident that Ratio can't see the worry hiding just past it, even if he knows the smile itself for show. ]
But you're alright?
[ There is care in the question posed; not enough to seem baldly worried, but even the best actors and fakers cannot always conceal their concern. He may know the truth, but he's still curious about the answer. ]
no subject
Luckily, Aventurine's itinerary for this mission could best be described as "loosey-goosey." Plenty of time to collect evidence here in Ratio's lab before he starts stringing a plausible theory together. Most important (and admittedly a little surprising), his presence is not somehow making things infinitely worse; not the IPC or the Stonehearts or his own antics, then. Reassured, Aventurine regains control of his feet and sweeps in closer. ]
I was concerned that you might've been kidnapped, honestly. [ Tone light, teasing, he dilly-dallies near a shelf of samples, but can't discern anything relevant about them from a glance. ] Your desk's a mess, Doctor.
[ He stuffs his hands in his pockets as he comes to stand next to Ratio. The Cheshire cat smile that bends his lips feels especially false when presented to the doctor, but he's reasonably confident that Ratio can't see the worry hiding just past it, even if he knows the smile itself for show. ]
But you're alright?
[ There is care in the question posed; not enough to seem baldly worried, but even the best actors and fakers cannot always conceal their concern. He may know the truth, but he's still curious about the answer. ]