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

[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.]

[superniceone]

Maelle—

[every bit of him wants to tell her she's not an item that needs to be fixed, but he knows it's idealistic at best and tone deaf at worst — as much as he'd grieved the loss of his arm, he'd eventually gained use of one nearly as good as the real thing. better, even, if you included its overcharge capability.

so he doesn't say it.]

Were you hurt?

[escapeartiste]

[She shakes her head.]

Dr. Sheehan was with me. I was safe.

[Well, he was there most of the time. It only failed because he left sooner than she did. Oops. She does not mention this.]

[superniceone]

I didn't ask if you were unsafe, Maelle. [there's a slightly stricter tone here, the only that usually only arises with her when it's a matter of her well-being.]

Come on. I want to know these things.

[escapeartiste]

[She looks up at him rather than immediately looking down at her device again. Her jaw sets as she thinks.]

Sorry.

[She eventually types out to offer him before taking it back a moment later to add more.]

It's just

nothing really happened. So it

didn't seem worth mentioning.

[superniceone]

Maelle. [gustave exhales at that, tapping his finger on the tabletop thoughtfully and watching her.] You've got to have more grace with yourself. You wouldn't take one piano lesson and expect to perform a concert.

[he watches her, expression soft.] You'll have time to get there.

[escapeartiste]

Verso probably could.

[She gives half a smile when that's offered but when she takes it back her expression drops again. There's clearly a debate if she should say something or maybe just how to say it. It's a long moment before she finishes typing even though she doesn't have much to say.]

But

I didn't mess up the painting.

I sort of

messed up the timing.

[superniceone]

[he reads that once and again, confusion clear in his expression.] I'm sorry, you might have to explain what you mean by that.

[escapeartiste]

[There's a small exhale.]

Dr. Sheehan set a time limit for it.

To be safe, I guess.

But I lost track of time and never actually did it.

[superniceone]

Smart of him to do. [her safety really is the most important part of any of this, after all.] But you've never tried again?

[escapeartiste]

[She shakes her head.]

He doesn't think I'm ready.

Whatever that means.