Chapter Text
There was a buzzing noise in Aventurine’s brain. The kind of buzzing that reverberates through every fiber of your body. It numbed him from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toes. The buzzing was the only thing he could feel,it was as if all his cells where replaced with TV static. He thought of nothing, he couldn’t. For a few minutes of time he was only tingling from the inside out with cold, sharp static.
Ba-dum!
He feels his heart pound in his chest once, causing his fingers to twitch. Though he was still numb, he had his sense of awareness back.
Ba-dum!
Another heart beat, this time his eyelids twitch. He can feel the warm liquid of the dreampool he was in, lapping every so softly at the places his body and the surface met.
Ba-dum!
His eyes jolt open. His body flinches, sending ripples through the pinkish-blue liquid he was lying in. though his limbs felt the invisible sensation of pins and needles, the rest of his body felt nothing but soreness and ache. He takes a deep breath through his mouth, parting his dry lips. Suddenly his tongue is coated in a bitter taste, not far off from tasting like a very rich dark chocolate. He almost wants to gag, but his abdomen is to sore to allow such a contraction in the moment. The sensation in his limbs dissipates, and he bends his joints. He curls his gloved hands around the edge of the dream pool, and attempts to push his body up and out of it. However Aventurine only manages to do half of that, flipping himself onto his stomach before losing strength. He takes a few more breaths and then settles back into the pool for a moment.
I thought for a moment that that would actually work. So death really doesn’t exist in the dreamscape then?
He forms his first conscious thought, contemplating it in the silence of his mind. He purses his parched lips, and his mouth contorts into a frown momentarily.
This isn’t right is it? Maybe I am dead and this is just the afterlife.
He quickly shakes that idea from his mind as he remind himself of the feeling of his heart pounding in his chest, and his lungs filling with air.
He gathers enough strength to sit up and try lifting himself once more. This time using his legs to try and stand. using his arms for balance and support. He manages to stand up.
The dreampool’s water is strange, it doesn’t work like regular water. Its pinkish hue dazzles its surface as if there where lights hidden in the tub. And although it looked, smelt, and felt like warm bath water, when one emerges from its body they do not become wet. Aventurine can feel the liquid slip off his skin, almost like he was emerging from a cocoon of water.
Though not physically exhausted, he was most certainly mentally exhausted, causing his glowing eyes to sag with weariness.
I didn't actually die.
He states in his head, conflicting emotions mixing together inside of his brain. On one hand, he was confused and on the other, disappointed in a way.
He steps out of the dreampool. His legs feeling like jell-o as he tries to walk across his hotel room. Before he can take more than a few steps however, a familiar voice catches his attention.
“Good morning to you too gambler.”
Dr.Ratio greets strongly, his voice carrying perfectly across the room. He sits in a sofa chair, facing the dreampool.
Aventurine raises an eyebrow,
“How long have you been watching me doctor?”
He asks, the bitterness on his tongue beginning to fade.
“Long enough.”
Ratio responds, flatly. He crosses his arms, glaring into Aventurines eyes. Ratio’s eyes ever so slightly pace back and forth over Aventurine’s face, as he took in every detail of Aventurine’s expression. The doctor’s eyebrows narrow in thought and scrutiny.
Aventurine sighs,
“Did you not try to wake me up? Im disappointed.”
He teases a little, shrugging his shoulders and adjusting his clothing.
Ratio’s mouth twists into a glowering frown.
“I didn’t know if waking you up would even be possible, mind you.”
He sneered, his nose wrinkling with annoyance. However Ratio’s eyes where soft, and the exact opposite of hostile.
Aventurine grins a little after noticing.
“Oh right, the whole being dead thing! I was supposed to die wasn’t I?”
He responds with sarcasm.
Ratio looked at him appalled.
“We need you alive. You weren't necessarily supposed to die, rather experiment with death in the context of the dreamscape.”
he shoots him a harsher glare,
“Dying would’ve just been an unfortunate side effect of said experiment.”
“Unfortunate?”
Aventurine questions, hiding behind a grin.
“I doubt that.”
He adds with the shrug of his shoulders.
Dr.Ratio narrows his eyes.
“I don’t.”
Aventurines expression softens a little at that but he says nothing.
“Listen to me gambler,”
Ratio says firmly, standing up.
He strides forwards a few paces and grabs a hold of Aventurines wrist. Aventurine glares at the doctor, his eyes boring into his. The glare makes Ratio drop his wrist as they continue to make heavy eye contact.
“You’re alive, and you’ve received the information that we need. That is all that matters.”
He tells Aventurine, his voice noticeably softer than before.
“Something is bothering you isn't it?”
He continued flatly.
Aventurine shoots his gaze to the floor,
“I did my part and you did your’s. Let’s just get back to the ship.” He responds, his gaze only meeting Ratio’s again when he finishes speaking.
Ratio sighs.
“Fine, I will not waste time asking if you won’t answer me.”
He replies.
“Let us be careful leaving though. the reverie’s security has been increased. Since they found out what’s been going on with in the dreamscape they have been on fairly high alert.”
Aventurine tilts his head, almost playfully
“I take it they won’t be so kind to any ambassadors of the IPC strolling about the lobby then?”
“Most certainly not.”
Ratio agrees.
The two walk a few more paces to the door, and Ratio begins turning the knob. Just before the door is swung open however Aventurine pushes his hand against the doctors chest firmly, halting further movements.
“Trust me doctor, we’ll be fine.”