the appeal of domesticity
Series Metadata
Listing Series
-
Tags
Summary
As he walked among the other — legit — students, he couldn’t help but notice how easy it seemed to pretend to fit in, to be one of these many desperate students losing nights over an exam instead of a high-stake gamble.
“Ah! Scholar King, bless us!” a crying voice caught his attention. The Scholar King.
It took a moment for Aventurine to remember why that epithet sounded familiar, and when it did, he couldn’t help the chuckle escaping his lips.
Blessed Gaiathra, he was sure Ratio hated this tradition.
-
or, Aventurine pretends to be a student to attend one of Ratio's classes.Series
- Part 1 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
“Were you worried about me?” Aventurine asked, not sure if he were hoping for an easy out or to be drawn even further into Ratio's orbit.
“Do not state the obvious,” Ratio said, bluntly.
Oh.
“I see…” Aventurine muttered, thrown off by Ratio’s easy admission. “I can’t really help it, though. I don’t know how to swim,” he said with a small smile. “Lucky me, you’re here!”
-
or, after a mission ended with Aventurine nearly drowning, Ratio takes it upon himself to teach the damned gambler how to swim.Series
- Part 2 of the appeal of domesticity
-
how to reheat your snacks, a guide by a distraught cat dad by greenery_0
Fandoms: 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game)
15 Sep 2024
Tags
Summary
Aventurine tries to stand up with all three cat cakes in his arms, and miscalculates. The cat cakes, aware he’s trying to bring them out of the bathroom, throw a tantrum.
He slips, saving himself by grasping the bathtub before he could hit his head, at the last moment.
The cat cakes aren’t as lucky.
Their desperate screeches as they fall in the tub, scrambling to stay above water, stab at Aventurine’s heart.
Supposedly, they’re extremely resistant to external harm. However, having all of them wailing and pawing at him, Aventurine can’t help but feel the bud of panic starting to spread.
They seem fine, only a little puffed up. That is, until he touches them.
They’re sticky.
-
or, a recipe for disaster (Aventurine isn’t panicking, he’s just moderately worried).Series
- Part 3 of the appeal of domesticity
-
would you take my hand, if i asked? by greenery_0
Fandoms: 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game)
05 Jun 2024
Tags
Summary
Expecting it to be something related to his next mission, Aventurine opens the first notification without paying attention, only to find himself in the Veritas Prime students forums.
Finding a link to enter had been easy and, while he rarely checks the forums, he finds most of the student’s activities — gossip — amusing.
However, this time is different. As the page loads, Aventurine finds himself staring at a blurry photo of Ratio’s back.
-
or, students gossiping about their favorite professor somehow bring Aventurine and Ratio closer together.Series
- Part 4 of the appeal of domesticity
-
mission lunch box, success? by greenery_0
Fandoms: 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game)
25 Jun 2024
Tags
Summary
“Giraffes, bears, donkeys, dormice, flamingos, parrots… peacocks?”
Does Ratio want to eat him?
He flips the page to the recipes with birds meat as a base. Most of the recipes, regardless of if it were flamingos, parrots or peacocks, follows the same steps: pluck the feathers off, cut the meat to pieces, then first let it stew in a ceramic container and later roast it with specific herbs and plants — Laserpicium? — he’s never heard of.
On the footnotes it’s advised to clean the bones of the flamingos to make wind musical instruments, while for the peacocks it describes how delicious their brain is, since it stimulates the intelligence. Aventurine calls bullshit, but the idea of Ratio getting a migraine from such a statement amuses him — not that he plans on cooking an Attini Peacock to test it.
-
or, Aventurine attempts to cook millennia old recipes to make Ratio’s lunch box.Series
- Part 5 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
“Your little ducklings are worried by your prolonged absence,” he says, stirring while still being mindful of the three sleepy cat cakes napping around him. “Told you, you didn’t need to take so many days off.”
Aventurine is still amazed that Ratio extended his leave from his duties, be it the University or the Guild, to be close to him during his recovery. He also suspects that Ratio has been partly motivated to do so by Aventurine’s incoming trial.
Ratio sighs, the sound fond and terribly familiar to Aventurine, who raises his eyes again to look at his dear doctor. He watches as Ratio leaves their dinner on the low table, right in front of the couch, before he leans down, running his fingers through Aventurine’s hair, weakly pulling on his head to make enough room for himself to sit on the couch.
-
or, Aventurine’s return from Penacony.Series
- Part 6 of the appeal of domesticity
-
wash away your troubled mind by greenery_0
Fandoms: 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game)
22 Aug 2024
Tags
Summary
Sharing a bath is a relatively new development. Ratio likes his space, and Aventurine knows that both preparing and enjoying a bath is like a ritual to help Ratio unwind, after a stressful day.
After they returned from Penacony — after Ratio enveloped him in his arms and hugged him tight, after making sure he was alive, safe — the lines delineating their partnership got blurrier.
He doesn’t know when their life took a turn for the domestic, but Aventurine isn’t going to lament his luck — he’s going to clutch this sweet blessing for as long as he’s allowed to keep it.
-
or, they take a bath together.Series
- Part 7 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
“But they’re so smart!” Aventurine whined as an excuse, trying to defend the snacks from Ratio’s scolding. “It’s their hobby.”
Nous forbid, no.
He didn’t let Aventurine’s poorly constructed defense or the snacks’ pitiful wobbly eyes distract him from finishing setting up the parental controls to manage the snacks’ online activities.
“These are just the effects of your influence,” he said, bluntly, staring at the guilty looking snacks. “You can’t be teaching them such frivolous pastimes.”
Acorn found Aventurine’s gambling account, Rose had a penchant for risky investments — and really, Aventurine left them access to his bank account? — while Bell had recently been interested in creating a new cryptocurrency.
Those parental controls were urgently needed.
Series
- Part 8 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
Eventually, he gets up, light on his feet, making sure not to disturb the cat cakes.
Aventurine can feel the pull the sight of them has on him, making him wish he could afford to go back to lay down on the bed with them. However, he’s a routine to follow — he can’t just daydream about Ratio snuggling with him and their cat cakes.
or
Mornings find Ratio inexplicably lonely. Truthfully, mornings without Aventurine and the snacks make him realize how lonely he is.
Those thoughts will do him no good. With a sigh, he leaves his bed, tidies up, and goes to prepare for his daily routine — alarm clock at 6 a.m. system time, then preparing his breakfast and lunch box (Aventurine’s too in case he stays the night), workout until 7:20 a.m. system time, and then at least half-an-hour dedicated to his bath time, though it depends on his schedule for the day.
Series
- Part 9 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
Aventurine’s fingers hesitate over his screen. Then, with a huff, he sends Stelle half a million credits for good measure and then throws his phone away on the couch.
“Done!” Aventurine giggles. However, whatever he planned to say gets overshadowed by a desperate “meow”.
They both turn towards the door to Aventurine’s bedroom — even the Tuskpir stirs awake. There, looking up at them with betrayal burning in their wobbly eyes, are the cat cakes.
-
or, a new addition to the family.Series
- Part 10 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
“A little birdie told me that the IPC Technology Department is working on a new commercial project,” Aventurine says, his voice lilting at the word project, “and it wasn’t difficult getting my hands on a prototype…”
“Sounds thrilling,” Ratio comments, sarcastically, “hope they didn’t burn all their wit, when coming up with whatever they’re envisioning.” He looks up from his papers, propping his elbow on the desk to lean on his palm — Aventurine has long stopped being ashamed of admiring the good doctor, in particular when Ratio flexes his muscles around him.
“Oh, I wonder… I can only imagine how they must’ve felt working with you,” as he says so, he takes out, from under his coat, a small package. It’s slightly larger than the size of his palm, silvery in color but with a large yellow duck printed on it.
Ratio’s groan says it all.
-
or, Aventurine’s visit to Ratio’s office ends with a promise of bubbles and duckies.Series
- Part 11 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
“A present from the dear doctor,” Aventurine teased, trying to hide just how excited he truly was. “I can’t wait.”
Ratio was just a step behind him, Rose still in his arms, while Bell had managed to climb over his shoulder. Aventurine stifled a laugh, searching for Acorn, only to find her suddenly next to the box, trying to munch on its corner.
“Hey there, you can have it later,” he said, lightly petting Acorn, before separating her from the box. “I know you like to munch on cartoon boxes!”
He’d expected Ratio to make a quip about the cat cakes’ diet. However, no commentary came. Aventurine looked back at him, noticing how flustered Ratio appeared, as if he was nervous.
What exactly was inside the box?
-
or, Ratio gifts Aventurine a virtual assistant version of himself (aka the Dr. Ratio — Bespoke Version).Series
- Part 12 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
It all started with a simple proposal.
As they so often did when they met after a long day at work, idle chitchat about their day and insufferable colleagues was the norm. Ratio had been recounting how one of his students had nearly been convinced to participate in what was undoubtedly a fraudulent start-up, involving water purifiers in Thalassa, when the idea struck him.
“Would you be interested in holding a lesson for my students?”
Aventurine nearly let his spoon fall into his soup. “Huh?”
-
or, Aventurine holds a special lesson for Ratio's students.Series
- Part 13 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
“Did you want to send a message to a loved one?” Ruan Mei asked, suddenly closer. Her voice was low enough not to attract the seafarer’s attention, offering him a semblance of privacy. “In case you won’t make it?” Ruan Mei’s tone was detached, with a hint of curiosity lacing her tone, sitting at odds with the question posed. Still, Aventurine couldn’t help his musings.
Did he?
-
or, the aftermath of Aventurine's mission on Lushaka.Series
- Part 14 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
Since Aventurine has been transferred back to Pier Point, after his conditions were deemed stable enough for intergalactic travel, Ratio has been hovering around his bedside like a mother hen.
Not that Ratio is the only one fretting — their cat cakes, Tuskpir, and even hardworking Muffin never leave his side, following after Aventurine in every room, no matter what. The cat cakes have even braved the evil bathroom for him to make sure the 'Evilest of All, The Bathtub', won't hurt him.
Aventurine might’ve been mildly embarrassed, when Jade witnessed that particular scene, but he’s to admit he enjoys being pampered, in the comfort of his home. It also helps soothe his concerns regarding the discussion he wants to have with Ratio.
He can’t — won’t — leave that to a letter.
Series
- Part 15 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
Taking care of Aventurine’s critter-children was easy. This temporary arrangement was pretty much a vacation for Acheron, too.
At times, she might space out, not accustomed to the domestic bliss permeating this house, but luckily the cake-shaped critters were there to remind her of anything she might’ve missed.
If only Acheron weren’t worried about the Tuskpir’s lack of appetite, compared to the three cake-shaped critters. She hoped it wasn’t her presence that made him uneasy. Had he accidentally fed on her dreams, the first night she’d spent here?
-
or, the big powerful emanator gets tricked by a trio of manipulative cat cakes.Series
- Part 16 of the appeal of domesticity
-
Tags
Summary
Aventurine had just came back from his work trip in Penacony to find chaos reigning in his apartment. Impressively so, Parmenides was sleeping through it all, softly snoring as Muffin threw chalk powder at Acorn, Bell and Rose, who were projecting a livestream in the living room, its volume way too high.
The livestream was showing a racing event, its participants the cat cakes of Herta’s Space Station. Aventurine tilted his head, his gaze focused on his critters, who were smashing their soft paws on the tablets he'd bought them, in support of the racer they bet on.
When victory was claimed for the third and last round, Aventurine’s critters erupted in meows, varying from happiness to dismay, all equally aggravating Muffin further. Aventurine stepped in, before his whole furniture would be covered in chalk powder.
“Back from dreadful work and not even a greeting,” he said, pouting. It immediately set three pairs of wobbly eyes, one pair of robotic gleaming eyes, and a pair of puffy, sleepy eyes on him. “So, what’s all this fuss about?”
-
or, two cat dads taking their children on a trip to make new friends.Series
- Part 17 of the appeal of domesticity
-
how to waterproof your snacks, a guide by an amused cat dad by greenery_0
Fandoms: 崩坏：星穹铁道 | Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game)
09 Jun 2026
Tags
Summary
The first time Blueberry Jar eases himself into Aventurine’s bathtub, huffing haughtily as if he hasn’t just splashed soapy water on every tiled surface of the bathroom, the other cat cakes don’t react well — Acorn, Bell, and Rose screech with an intensity Aventurine hasn’t even fathomed they could possess.
Which is why, after a brief exchange with Ruan Mei, that Aventurine and Ratio are invited to visit Herta’s Space Station, with their family of cat cakes.
-
or, let’s make those babies waterproof!Series
- Part 18 of the appeal of domesticity