[ any guesses? what a pity, he thinks, that aventurine had never visited the university of veritas prime. his mere existence on campus would have reduced the department of aesthetic philosophy to shambles. no thinking being ought to live so insincerely and survive.

(at the back of his mind, a pedantic footnote scrawls itself out, because aventurine's ongoing crimes against truth should be recorded somewhere: the defining principle of gambling is uncertainty. have you figured it out is a question only posed by men who've confirmed their answer.

why rig your wager, then put your trick on display?) ]

Guessing is the province of those who lack judgement.

[ without the slightest shift in tone - ]

She's waiting for a man who left some time ago. How long have you kept him waiting?