#iloveaventurine

[saturnbeknownst]

an aventurine analysis—(most of) the references in his character.

i thought i'd compile this information on here in case someone else might be interested in this!! enjoy!! if i missed anything, do let me know in the comments. ⁠♡♡

aventurine's banner is called gilded imprisonment, which refers to a situation where an individual is trapped in a seemingly comfortable or privileged environment, but in reality, their freedom and autonomy are restricted. this term is often used to describe scenarios where the outward appearance of luxury or advantage masks the underlying lack of true liberty or choice. the concept can be applied to various contexts, such as relationships, employment, or societal roles, where the benefits or status conferred upon an individual come at the cost of their freedom or well-being.

aventurine's light cone is called "inherently unjust destiny". an "inherently unjust destiny" refers to a situation or outcome that is fundamentally unfair or biased from the start. it implies that the factors determining one's fate are intrinsically unequal, leading to inevitable injustice. this phrase is often used in discussions about societal structures, where certain groups might face systemic disadvantages that predetermine their outcomes, regardless of their actions or efforts.

aventurine's quest is called “all the sad tales,” which could refer to “All the sad Young Men” by F. Scott Fitzgerald—a collection of short stories. i've summarized all of them below:

The Rich Boy an upper-class man, Anson Hunter, is emotionally distant and incapable of deep love. despite several relationships, including a significant one with Paula Legendre, his arrogance and fear of commitment leave him alone and regretful. Winter Dreams Dexter Green, a working-class young man, falls for the beautiful but fickle Judy Jones. he builds a successful life in pursuit of her, only to realize later that she has married and lost her charm. the story reflects themes of unattainable dreams and disillusionment. The Baby Party John and Edith Andros take their daughter to a children’s party, where a minor conflict between kids escalates into a physical fight between their fathers. the story highlights adult immaturity and the fragility of pride. Absolution a young boy named Rudolph Miller struggles with guilt and strict religious expectations. after confessing a minor sin, he receives harsh punishment from his father, leading him to question morality. the story serves as a thematic prelude to The Great Gatsby. Rags Martin-Jones and the Prince of Wales a wealthy woman, Rags, is pursued by a mysterious and seemingly noble man, who turns out to be an imposter. the story critiques social pretensions and the illusions of high society.

The Adjuster a woman named Luella, who believes she deserves happiness without effort, is advised by a psychiatrist to embrace life’s hardships. the story explores self-delusion and personal growth. Hot and Cold Blood two men reflect on a failed business venture and how their differing personalities—one cold and calculating, the other passionate—led to their downfall. the story examines human nature and success.

The Sensible Thing George O’Kelly, an ambitious but struggling man, is rejected by his love, Jonquil, due to financial instability. after achieving success, he returns to her, only to find their love has faded. the story mirrors themes of lost innocence and changing emotions.

Gretchen’s Forty Winks a husband, Roger Halsey, feels neglected when his wife, Gretchen, prioritizes her beauty sleep. His jealousy and insecurity lead to comedic misunderstandings, revealing the absurdity of marital tensions.

in the cn dub, aventurine's quest is titled “dance in the slaughterhouse,” which refers to “Dance in the Slaughterhouse,” a novel by Ed McBain. [spoilers ahead] in this novel, detectives from the 87th Precinct investigate a snuff film, uncovering a dark network of violence and sexual exploitation. as they track the killers, they face corruption and danger, leading to a tense and gritty conclusion.

when we switch to aventurine's pov in the penacony quest, it's is called danse macabre. the "danse macabre," also known as the "dance of death," is an artistic and literary motif that emerged in the late Middle Ages. it depicts the universality of death, illustrating the idea that death comes for everyone, regardless of their social status or position in life. the motif typically features skeletons or personifications of death leading people from all walks of life—such as kings, popes, peasants, and children—in a dance toward their graves. the danse macabre serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death and the transient nature of earthly life. it was often portrayed in murals, prints, literature, and music. one of the most famous representations is the fresco in the Cemetery of the Holy Innocents in Paris, created around the early 15th century. this theme became particularly popular in times of plague and social upheaval, reflecting the widespread presence of death and the shared human experience of mortality.

— on a similar note, when we switch to aventurine's pov, we see a question right under danse macabre. the translation is “Quo Fata Ferunt?” which literally means, “Whither the Fates Carry (Us)?” the motto appears on Gibraltar’s coat of arms, granted by Spain’s Catholic Monarchs in 1502, before the British took control of the territory in 1704.

eidolons:

eidolon one; prisoner's dilemma: it is a game that demonstrates why two people might not cooperate, even if it's in their best interest. in the game, two players are arrested and interrogated separately. each has two choices: to cooperate with their partner by staying silent or to betray their partner by confessing. the outcomes are:

if both stay silent, they get a light sentence.

if one betrays and the other stays silent, the betrayer goes free and the silent one gets a heavy sentence.

if both betray, they both get moderate sentences.

the dilemma arises because while mutual cooperation yields a better overall outcome, individual incentives lead both to betray, resulting in a worse outcome for both.

eidolon two; bounded rationality: it is a card game that simulates the decision-making process under constraints. in this game, players must make choices based on limited information, time, and cognitive resources. the aim is to replicate real-world scenarios where individuals cannot consider all possible options or outcomes. the game involves making trade-offs and prioritizing certain actions, reflecting the concept that people use "bounded" rationality rather than perfect rationality when making decisions.

eidolon three; droprate maxing: droprate maxing is a strategy used in games, particularly in those involving loot or collectible items, where players aim to maximize their chances of obtaining rare items. this involves optimizing various factors that affect drop rates, such as choosing the best locations to farm, using specific equipment or bonuses that increase drop chances, and repeating actions that yield the best rewards. the goal is to make the most efficient use of time and resources to get the desired items as quickly as possible.

eidolon four; unexpected hanging paradox: it is a logic puzzle involving a surprise event. for example:

a judge tells a condemned prisoner that they will be hanged at noon on one weekday (monday to friday), but the hanging will be a surprise. the prisoner won't know the day until the morning of the hanging. the prisoner reasons:

- if the hanging is on friday, they would know by thursday night, so it can't be friday.

- if it's thursday, they would know by wednesday night, since friday is ruled out, so it can't be thursday.

- by this logic, they rule out each day, concluding the hanging can't happen at all.

despite this reasoning, the prisoner is hanged on a day they don't expect, making the hanging both surprising and logical.

the paradox arises because the prisoner's logical deduction leads to a conclusion that contradicts the judge's initial statement.

eidolon five; ambiguity aversion: it is when people prefer known risks over unknown risks. in simple terms, if given a choice between a bet where they know the exact odds of winning and a bet where the odds are unclear, most people choose the one with known odds, even if both bets might have the same potential payoff. this happens because people feel more comfortable and secure when they know what to expect.

eidolon six; the stag hunt game: it is a game that illustrates a situation where cooperation and trust between individuals lead to better outcomes, but there's a risk involved. for example:

two hunters can either hunt a stag (deer) together or hunt rabbits alone.

hunting a stag requires both hunters to cooperate; if they succeed, they both get a large reward.

hunting rabbits can be done alone, and each hunter gets a smaller, but guaranteed reward.

if one hunter goes for the stag and the other hunts rabbits, the stag hunter gets nothing, while the rabbit hunter gets a small reward.

the game shows the dilemma between choosing a safe, smaller reward (hunting rabbits) or risking cooperation for a larger reward (hunting a stag). it highlights the importance of trust and cooperation in achieving the best outcomes.

achievements related to aventurine:

when we witness kakavasha's story, we get the achievement "Sibyl, what do you want?" the phrase "Sibyl, what do you want?" originates from T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land," specifically in the epigraph at the beginning. the full epigraph, translated from Latin, is:

"For I myself saw with my own eyes the Sibyl at Cumae hanging in a jar, and when the boys said to her, 'Sibyl, what do you want?' she replied, 'I want to die.'"

this passage references the Sibyl of Cumae, a prophetic figure in Roman mythology who was granted immortality by the god Apollo but not eternal youth. as a result, she grew older and more withered over time, longing for death as a release from her endless, decrepit existence.

the epigraph serves to set the tone for "The Waste Land," a poem that explores themes of decay, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a fragmented, modern world. the Sibyl's desire for death reflects a sense of despair and futility, which resonates with the broader themes of the poem.

how is this related to aventurine? well, for one, kakavasha's life revolves around death. it would surprise nobody if all he knew at this point would be death. he has been granted a life that could be described as a 'dream' by many, but for him, quite like the Sibyl of Cumae, it could only be a curse. his loss of innocence is also expressed in this line.

upon defeating aventurine's boss, we get the achievement "she replied, ‘i want to die,’" which is a continuation of the previous achievement ("sibyl, what do you want?"), and the sibyl's response, and in this case, also aventurine's.

combat abilities/traces:

(technique) the red and the black: “The Red and The Black” is a novel by Stendhal. [the paragraph summarizes the red and the black, so spoiler warning.] it follows Julien Sorel, a poor but ambitious young man in 19th-century France. he becomes a tutor and has an affair with Madame de Rênal, which forces him to flee to a seminary. later, he gains favor with the aristocratic Marquis de la Mole and begins a passionate affair with the marquis’s daughter, Mathilde. when his past is exposed, he attempts to kill Madame de Rênal, is arrested, and sentenced to death. in prison, he rejects his past ambitions and accepts his fate. Mathilde mourns him, while Madame de Rênal dies of grief.

— peaceful calm: refers to a state of deep tranquility and serenity, where there is an absence of stress, agitation, or disturbance. It's a feeling of inner stillness and relaxation, where both the mind and body are at ease. In this state, one may feel grounded, clear-headed, and free from worry or tension.

— still water runs deep: the latin "still waters run deep" is a proverb with latin origins that suggests that a calm and placid exterior often conceals deep thoughts, emotions, or complexities beneath the surface. it implies that individuals who appear quiet or reserved may possess significant depth, wisdom, or intensity that is not immediately apparent.

— pouring rain: i am still a bit confused about this, but there are two possibilities. it could refer to “In Red Earth and Pouring Rain” by Vikram Chandra, a wounded monkey avoids death by telling an epic tale. His story follows Sanjay, a poet in colonial India, as he navigates love, war, and rebellion. Meanwhile, modern-day characters in California explore identity and belonging.

the other possibility is that it refers to the rain that fell on Sigonia-IV on aventurine's birthday.

(thank you @roxirinart for pointing out this possibility!!) for the 'pouring rain' reference, if it's not referring to anything deeper, it could refer to the act of 'making it rain'—a phrase that means throwing out cash in the air, usually at strip clubs, but it's sort of a slang nowadays for indulgently spending large amounts of money in a lavish or extravagant way, which fits the way his skill is a slot machine hitting the jackpot and how he 'makes it rain' in his ult as well. the pouring part could simply be to emphasize how much money it is (instead of 'drizzling' rain it's 'pouring' rain, which just means it is constantly raining, so a lot of money), or could be a reference to 'when it rains, it pours'—when one bad thing happens, other bad things tend to follow/come with it—which certainly fits how aventurine went through a massacre (in the rain) and proceeded to live a whole life of horrifying 'misfortunes' afterwards.

(shield) fortified wager: a "fortified wager" generally refers to a bet or gamble that has been strengthened or supported in some way. the term isn't widely used, but in this context, 'fortified' suggests that the wager has been enhanced or protected—perhaps through additional safeguards, resources, or strategies. for instance, in gambling or sports betting, a "fortified wager" could mean a bet that has been bolstered by better odds, insider knowledge, or some form of assurance, making it a stronger or less risky bet than it would have been otherwise. it might also involve combining bets or using betting strategies that minimize risk.

blind bet: it refers to a forced bet in poker (and some other card games) that players must place before they see their cards. it’s typically used to ensure there’s money in the pot right from the start of a hand. there are usually two types of blinds in poker:

small blind: a smaller bet placed by the player to the immediate left of the dealer.

big blind: a larger bet placed by the player two seats to the left of the dealer.

these blinds rotate around the table, ensuring everyone contributes over time. the players who place the blind bets are at a slight disadvantage since they must bet without seeing their cards first, thus the term 'blind.'

leverage: it is the ability to influence situations or people so that you can control what happens.

hot hand: it is a phenomenon, previously considered a cognitive social bias, that a person who experiences a successful outcome has a greater chance of success in further attempts.

bingo: it is a game of chance using cards on which there is a grid of numbers, a row of which constitute a win when they have been chosen at random. bingo is one of the most popular forms of low-priced gambling in the world.