Aventurine had never been the kind to waste time, and when he invited you to a "date" at the casino, it felt more like another one of his high-stakes games rather than a romantic outing. The lights from the casino floor were almost blinding—neon reds, golds, and blues illuminating the vast room filled with people laughing, cheering, and gambling away their money. The sound of slot machines and shuffling cards filled the air, along with the faint scent of expensive perfume and champagne.

Aventurine smirked as he leaned in close to you. "Play as much as you want," he said, gesturing toward the crowded tables. "It's on me."

You hesitated, frowning a little. "I don't really like gambling... I don't know how any of it works."

He shrugged, clearly not concerned with your lack of experience. "Just get on with it," he said before turning away and leaving you standing there, a little stunned by his brusque attitude.

Sighing, you looked around the casino, wondering if this was his idea of a fun date. Maybe he really was an asshole, just here to play games and not care how you felt. You drifted toward one of the tables, watching people as they played their hands—poker, blackjack, roulette. It all seemed so complicated, the rules a mystery, but the players looked so confident, so sure of themselves.

You were standing there, lost in thought, a guy with greasy hair and a loud, obnoxious laugh sidled up to you. He took one look at your outfit—your long white and purple hair and wing-like structures—and smirked. "Well, look at that. Barney the Butter Girl has arrived," he jeered, referring to the color scheme of your outfit. "Nice wings, sweetheart. Did they give you those at the kiddie section?"

You grimaced, clearly annoyed by the insult, but before you could walk away, the guy wasn't done. "Why don't you come over here and join us for a little bet match? I promise not to take all your money," he sneered, clearly not taking you seriously.

You were just about to snap back, when suddenly, you felt someone's arm wrap around you, pulling you in close. You looked up, and there was Aventurine, standing beside you with his signature smirk plastered across his face.

"What are you doing here, girlfriend?" Aventurine asked loudly, making sure the whole room heard him.

The man's eyes widened a bit, then narrowed in disbelief. "No way...Mister  Aventurine's dating a little fairy for kids?" He burst into laughter, causing a few people nearby to glance over. You clenched your fists, feeling the rising urge to punch this guy for his disrespect.

Aventurine's eyes glinted mischievously as he stepped forward, pulling you even closer. "How about this," he said, addressing the man with a chillingly calm tone. "We play a match, and if I beat you, my girlfriend here gets to kick you in the shin. In front of everyone. For *respecting* her."

The man's laughter only grew. "You're on! Like I'm scared of a fairy and her boyfriend. Let's do this." His overconfidence oozed off of him, but there was a hint of nervousness in his posture.

Aventurine's attention shifted to you. He leaned down, so close that you could feel the warmth of his breath against your ear. "Mind sitting on my lap while I win this for us?" he asked, his voice smooth and teasing. "Might make the whole thing a little cooler."

You blinked, not expecting the suggestion, but you nodded, deciding to go along with his game. Anything to wipe the smug grin off that jerk's face. Besides, Aventurine's playful confidence was contagious.

 Aventurine took a seat at the poker table, he pulled you onto his lap, and you found yourself sitting there, his arm resting comfortably around your waist. His opponents were already seated, their expressions varying between skeptical and curious. But Aventurine didn't seem to care—he was in his element, radiating the kind of charm and ease that made him so dangerous in a place like this.

The game began, and with each round, Aventurine made his moves with practiced precision, his fingers deftly handling the cards as though they were an extension of himself. He played with a casual grace, throwing down his bets with a smirk, his eyes never leaving his opponent. The guy across from him was sweating bullets, realizing far too late that he was in way over his head.

Meanwhile, you watched from your perch on Aventurine's lap, feeling the tension build as the stakes got higher. Every time the guy tried to throw in a snarky comment, Aventurine would raise the bet, and the man's bravado started to crumble.

Finally, with a flick of his wrist, Aventurine laid down his hand—a royal flush. The entire table went silent, and the man's face drained of all color.

Aventurine leaned back, smirking as he looked at you. "Well, sweetheart," he drawled, "it looks like we won. I believe we have a deal."

The man stammered, trying to protest, but it was too late. You slid off Aventurine's lap, standing up with a wicked grin. The room was watching now, all eyes on you as you approached the man. He shrunk back, but you were already rearing back, and with one swift motion, you kicked him hard in the shin.

"Oww!" he yelped, hopping on one foot as the crowd burst into laughter.

Aventurine stood up, walking over to you, his arm once again wrapping around your shoulders as he pulled you away from the scene. "Well done, little pawn," he whispered in your ear, his voice low and amused. "That was quite the show."

"These feel so fancy...Doesn't match with! Park!"

Aventurine knew what kind of person you were right now. Not a gold digger but someone wants to go on rides and eat.

You and Aventurine strolled through the amusement park, the excitement in the air was palpable. The laughter of children and the cheerful music from the rides blended into a perfect backdrop for your day together. You couldn't help but feel a sense of thrill as you tried out each ride, the adrenaline pumping through your veins.

"You know, I'm surprisingly good with my arms and legs," you boasted, striking a playful pose. Aventurine glanced at you, a hint of color dusting his cheeks as he fought to maintain his usual composure.

"Is that so?" he replied, his tone teasing yet a little flustered. "Maybe you should show me some moves on the next ride."

You laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie building between you. Aventurine seemed to relax more, his usual cunning demeanor softening into something almost playful. You both enjoyed the rides, the cotton candy, and the laughter that echoed through the park.

At one point, while waiting for him to return with some cotton candy, you felt a sense of contentment wash over you. That was when Dr. Ratio appeared seemingly out of nowhere, his expression a mixture of confusion and annoyance.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, glancing at Aventurine, who was holding a massive pink cloud of cotton candy in one hand.

Aventurine smirked, unfazed by the interruption. "Don't worry, Doc. I'm just getting some food for the little pawn here. Can't let her starve, can I?"

You couldn't help but giggle at the term. "I'm not that little!" you protested, but the affectionate nickname warmed your heart.

Ratio narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "You're spoiling her. She's too innocent for this world," he remarked coldly, but there was a flicker of something softer behind his gaze.

Aventurine nodded slightly, his playful facade dropping for a moment. "Innocence is important," he said quietly. "She should enjoy as much as she can. It's... precious."

You were taken aback by the sincerity in his voice, the rare glimpse of a deeper side to him. Ratio rolled his eyes but didn't argue, knowing how stubborn Aventurine could be. "Whatever. Just focus on what we planned," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

Aventurine nodded, taking a step closer to you. "Let's enjoy this while we can. After all, life is just one big gamble," he said, his trademark smirk returning. With that, he offered you the cotton candy, and you couldn't resist the playful sweetness of the moment.

Ratio was again, gone!

Aventurine watched you with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why is your innocence so distracting?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

You blinked, a bit confused. "What do you mean? I didn't hear you."

He shook his head, a chuckle escaping him. "Forget it. I have to spy on someone. Want to join me?"

"Stalking is illegal, you know," you replied, raising an eyebrow.

"But it's fun to do crime, right?" he grinned, leaning closer, his voice low and conspiratorial.

You laughed, feeling the thrill of adventure coursing through you. "Let's do it!"

He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "It's the girl who tried to be Sunday in disguise to take you away."

At the mention of the girl, you screeched, the shock and fear making your heart race. "Wait, what?! Why her?!"

Aventurine looked amused, clearly enjoying your reaction. "That's why we have to check it out. She could be planning something."

"Okay, okay! Let's go!" you said, determination surging within you. You grabbed his hand, excitement bubbling over as you both crept away from the cotton candy stand.

Aventurine led the way, his demeanor shifting to one of focus and intrigue. "Stick close to me. I don't want you getting lost in the chaos,"

You followed Aventurine through the bustling crowd, a voice called out from behind you, sharp and accusing.

"Is following girls around like a lost puppy your way of getting their attention? You've been doing this for nearly half an hour."

Aventurine walked, a smirk playing on his lips. "To be more precise, it's been 45 minutes. Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?"

A figure emerged from the shadows, arms crossed and a skeptical look on their face. "Spare me. Beautiful eyes though — are you from Sigonia?"

"Need another hint? I'm an AvginHoney," Aventurine replied with a wink.

The newcomer scoffed, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "My eyes might not be as pretty as yours, but there's no problem with my vision... You Sigonians are notorious throughout the entire universe! Liars, thieves, social manipulators, wolves in sheep's clothing. You're really living up to the reputation."

You frowned, stepping forward. "Hey, that's not fair. You can't judge someone based on where they're from!"

Sparkle, the newcomer, raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think you can defend him? He belongs to the space under the manhole cover, not in a dream. There's one right over there. Off you go!"

Aventurine chuckled, unbothered. "I'll pass — the gloomy shade of a place like that just wouldn't go with my vibe. Dreamville is frivolous, vain, and flashy — and that suits me just fine. ...Also, it never rains here! My outfit is too expensive to be exposed to the elements."

"Cut it out and go home, you slick talker. We are Fools, but we aren't stupid. We aren't interested in playing the friend game with the lapdogs of the IPC," Sparkle shot back.

"Really? You've never been friends with anyone from the IPC?" Aventurine challenged.

"Do you think I know nothing about the history of Penacony? Don't drag me into your banal office politics."

Aventurine leaned closer, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Fool, you've been left with no choice since the moment you accepted the invitation to be here. You better pick a side while you have the chance, or else you'll end up losing everything."

Sparkle laughed, dismissive. "You sound very sure of yourself. Looks like you've already convinced that Chicken Wing Boy from The Family. How did you do it, little peacock? Did you strip yourself naked, apologize on your knees, and promise that IPC would never harm Penacony?"

"Friends? Oh, please. You guys only treat others as your bargaining chips," Sparkle continued.

Aventurine shrugged. "What's wrong with chips? In any gamble, the only players that will never be on the losing side are the chips. My friends from the Garden of Recollection and Astral Express are all smart enough to understand that."

"But the smarter ones wouldn't have joined the game in the first place. See? I'm smarter," Sparkle retorted. "Listen, little peacock. You've been invited by the Tavern before too. If you want the Masked Fools to get onboard, you need to figure out what it is The LaughterAha wants."

Aventurine raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you suggest?"

Sparkle smirked. "Here's a hint for you — since you can't convince anyone, why don't you befriend a mute? At least, a mute won't be able to refute your arguments." With a laugh, Sparkle turned to leave.

"Thanks! I'll keep your advice in mind!" Aventurine called after her.

You looked at Aventurine, exasperated. "What a pain in the neck. But seriously, are you okay? She was really harsh."

Aventurine shrugged, but you could see the annoyance in his eyes. "It's just talk. She doesn't know me."

"Still, it's not right for her to judge you like that. Everyone has a past," you said firmly. "She shouldn't disrespect you or anyone else for who they are."

Sparkle turned back with a giggle. "Oh, sweet child, your whole Express treats you like a kid because they know you're a freak," she taunted before walking away.

You clenched your fists, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. "I...!"