tlv inbox

[superniceone]

Hey, uh. It's Gustave. I'll get back to you when I can.

[ic inbox for thelastvoyages - happy for comm threads or action spam if you're catching him around the barge.]

Comments

[escapeartiste]

[It's not an interrogation!]

That bad, huh?

[superniceone]

I think he's a recent arrival? I reached out this morning.

[anything can be an interrogation when you're a white man with a guilty conscience.]

[escapeartiste]

I guess it'd be a bit harder when they're new.

I don't really think there's anything I can do but, if there is something

tell me, okay?

I want to help.

[superniceone]

[he resists the kneejerk urge to insist that he doesn't need it — that he should be the one helping her.]

I'm sorry, could you please go back to being a bratty fourteen year old? I don't know how I feel about you growing up. [but he gives her a little nudge to indicate, yes, of course I will.]

[escapeartiste]

[COMPLETELY ignoring the conundrum that is the barge.]

Yeah, sorry. I'll try not to.

[She offers the device and nudges him right back.]

[superniceone]

[gustave chuckles at that, sipping again at his coffee, before he hums.]

I've been getting back into fighting shape recently, you know. Figured out how to call up the Academy in the Enclosure.

[escapeartiste]

[She smiles a little, breathing a raspy laugh.]

Are you expecting a Nevron to show up or something? We don't really have to fight here.

Most of the time.

[Says the child who regularly finds people to fight for funsies.]

[superniceone]

I'm not not expecting a Nevron to show up, and I feel like that's a perfectly reasonable expectation, considering everything else. [he gives her a pointed look, come on.] I was trying to invite you along.

[escapeartiste]

I know.

And I was trying to be a bratty teenager.

[Which CLEARLY worked.]

[superniceone]

[he's cracking up slightly and doing his best to hide it behind his coffee.]

Good point. Probably best not to let you around me and a sword.

[escapeartiste]

[HOW DARE YOU.]

Too bad you already invited me.

Unless you're afraid to lose to a teenager again.

[superniceone]

I'm not worried about that. [he pauses for dramatic effect.] I'll just make the enclosure give you a really, really bad sword.

[escapeartiste]

[She rolls her eye, maybe at the dramatic pause or maybe at his threat. It's a mystery.]

That's fine. I have my own.

[At least she's nerfed into the ground. She can't embarrass you that hard, Gustave.]

[superniceone]

You want me to let you bring a real weapon in there? [he's getting up, but only to refill his cup.] Sounds a bit boring for you, honestly.

[escapeartiste]

If you want to duel with sticks we could just go to the gym for that.

[She's already grumbled at Vaggie several times about the gym not having any real weapons. Why it has to get limited to the Enclosure seems silly to her.]

[superniceone]

[he slides in across from her this time when he returns with a refreshed cup, shaking his head.]

Not a chance. Far too public. You realize the optics are terrible wherever I fare extremely well or extremely poorly against you.

[escapeartiste]

[Shrug.]

That's not really my problem.

Besides, what's wrong with fighting with actual weapons? You never had a problem with it before.

[She's not going to beat you up that bad!]

[superniceone]

What— No— [he reaches over, tapping the display of the word actual.] I meant in the Enclosure, specifically. If I have to rely on a simulated weapon, it's only fair if you do the same.

[escapeartiste]

Don't you have your own?

[superniceone]

I do not. Didn't have one on me when I arrived. [and he hadn't sought one out at first, because this place was ostensibly peaceful. he's low-key changed his mind about that one, at least.]

[escapeartiste]

[Oh. OH. Oh.... no. She frowns as she connects the dots.]

You could ask the Admiral.

You probably should have something here anyway.

[superniceone]

I have come to realise that, yes. I— haven't actually thought about whether or not Pictos work outside of the painting.

[would he just have to carry it around out in the open all the time??? it sounds like such a hassle.]

[escapeartiste]

I'm pretty sure they work here. I haven't had any problems summoning my rapier and I

have tried painting.

Just a little.

I don't see why anything wouldn't work.

[superniceone]

[there's no judgment. if gustave has an issue with her painting, it's only if it threatens her like staying in the canvas might. he's curious.]

You've tried painting? And how did that go?

[escapeartiste]

[Yeeeeeaaaaaaaah... About that...

She shrugs. Clearly regretting bringing it up at all.]

Not great.

[She's pretty certain she's not going to be allowed to do that again.]

We were trying to fix my face but

I messed it up. And

it didn't work.

Obviously.

[She's still frowning a little even as she turns the device so he can read it from across the table.]