tfln overflow / open post

[superniceone]

(open / overflow)

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[superniceone]

Well.

That actually stunlocks him for a moment. "There's— a lot we'd need to do before that was feasible, just infrastructure-wise. But it would be amazing to get at least one up and running, wouldn't it? Even just for people to navigate across the Continent without Esquie." His voice is almost cautiously excited, but Verso will probably feel more than hear the way that he sighs. That's the sort of thing Maelle will be able to able to fix with a wave of her paintbrush, isn't it?

"Hey," he murmurs. "If this— confrontation with her father doesn't go as planned. She'll be alright, won't she?"

[recreatable]

Verso worries his lip. "She'll be fine," he says, because that's what he has to tell himself. In the real world, Maelle is trapped in a burned body with a dead brother and a mother who resents her. It doesn't feel good to think about it, but—

It'll get better.

"She's his favorite. Everything he does is for her."

Sounds familiar. Maelle has a way of attracting that in people.

[superniceone]

Gustave hums quietly at that, tries to take solace in the knowledge that no matter how things shake out — Maelle will be alright, somehow. "Tomorrow comes," he murmurs, and pointedly doesn't think about how it might not if things turn out poorly in Lumière.

He takes another deep breath, decides that he doesn't want to let himself ruin the ease between them with heaviness, and tries to redirect. "Another question." Gustave pauses for just long enough to reach up and touch his own neck. "Do I need to worry about this bruising?"

[recreatable]

The shift in subject is so sudden that he can't help but laugh. "Only because you bruise like a peach." He takes no responsibility, thanks.

"—You can tell everyone you were bitten by a Nevron, if you like. I'll say I had to tear it off of you."

[superniceone]

"Oh, yes, of course. One of those little leech Nevrons we've run into so many times on the way here." Gustave bumps his elbow back gently into him. "Need to find an excuse to head back up into the snow."

[recreatable]

Um, he's not particularly flattered at being compared to a leech, but he'll let it go; the post-sex afterglow has him feeling magnanimous.

"Regretting that you didn't make any snow angels?"

If Gustave even knows what those are. The people of Lumière don't even think gestrals are real; who's to say they know about snow angels?

[superniceone]

He mostly meant that most Nevrons would be more interested in eating him than taking a little nibble of his neck, but he offended if you must, Verso.

"Regretting I didn't bring any turtleneck sweaters to wear." Gustave's intention had been to park and read for a few minutes, but he's actually enjoying just kind of vibing here, Verso pleasantly warm behind him.

[recreatable]

"You can go as often as you want once you singlehandedly get those trains running." What was it Gustave said about it being a huge undertaking, requiring infrastructure, blah blah blah? "Maelle would like it, too. We used to go all the time."

Well, she went with her real brother and he went with Alicia, but the fact remains the same.

"I give great ski lessons, by the way."

[superniceone]

"Mmmm. That's right. Two, three weeks tops should be all I need." Gustave closes his eyes, not at all tired, but allowing himself just a moment to relax. They should leave soon, he thinks; it feels strange to be away from the group for too long. "We'll go skiing with the Grandis. Truly a grand romantic adventure." But he's smiling, not mocking.

[recreatable]

Verso lets the next few moments pass in companionable silence before reaching over to gather up both of the books. Maelle might enjoy reading them, too; then again, Maelle could bring anything she wants into this world, so maybe The Hound of the Baskervilles pales in comparison.

"Did you want a bag for these, monsieur?"

so French...

[superniceone]

"I brought my own, thank you," he says with another quiet chuckle, eyes still comfortably closed. "I'm going to tell you something before we go, and you're not allowed to tease me for it when we step outside your hut, alright? That's the boundary I'm drawing."

hon hon baguette... eiffel tower.....

[recreatable]

Wow, they could have a conversation about how Gustave trampled over every single boundary Verso ever set in his attempt to be Pepe Le Pew, but again: magnanimous. Besides, it's not like he's good at boundaries anyway. Just look at how he blurs the boundaries between truth and fiction.

"Tease you? That doesn't sound like me." Which is a tease in itself. He can't be stopped. "But now you've piqued my interest."

[superniceone]

Gustave is a horny little skunk. Verso's father was just trying to do him a favor by murdering him in cold blood, honestly.

But he snorts at Verso's answer, still clearly aiming for light spirits, good humor. "I wasn't— trying to be mean when I called you mon chéri earlier." There's not a chance in the world he'd be able to manage this if he actually had to look at Verso right then. What he's trying to say is: he really hopes that doesn't make Verso too self conscious to say that kind of thing in the future, because Gustave found it insanely hot!!!!

But he'll just clear his throat and move to get up. "That's all. Do you need to pack anything else?"

[recreatable]

Verso smiles to himself, smug and pleased, as he follows suit and gets up, too. He didn't think Gustave was 'trying to be mean', because that implies a level of audacity that Gustave just doesn't possess, but yes, the comment would have made him too self-conscious to ever say it again.

"I'm good," is all he says for a moment. There's nothing to pack; he's been living a minimalistic lifestyle. None of the creature comforts he'd enjoyed when he lived in the manor. He does pick his jacket up off of the floor and sling it over his shoulder, though.

At the threshold of the hut, he turns to hand Gustave the loaned books. "...So am I disallowed from teasing starting now, or once my boots touch grass?" It's an important distinction.

[superniceone]

Gustave snorts at that, taking the books and bringing his bag to his side so he can carefully tuck them away. "Oh, just say it, whatever it is." He's trying to sound annoyed, but he's grinning just a little too much to actually pull that off.

[recreatable]

A pause, then: "I'm flattered, actually." He's very mature about this; nothing to tease about. "Chéri."

Well, maybe a teeny tiny tease. Just a little!! But that's it as he steps out onto the red grass, glancing up at the sky in an attempt to approximate how long they've been gone. It's been— a while. Longer than he'd planned. He's not mad about it, though; this is the first time in a long time he's done something like this, spent time with someone for the sake of spending time with them, and the positive effect on his mood is pretty staggering. Maybe life isn't completely terrible all the time.

"Come on," he says, jerking his head. "We'll grab some more of those blossoms on the way back and charm the girls."

[superniceone]

Gustave will laugh again and roll his eyes at the little term of endearment, but the smile in his exasperation is genuine. Oh, he's definitely being teased— but it's an extremely pleasant way to be teased, makes his stomach flip like he's once again a teenage boy with an out of control crush.

"Better bring some for everyone," he says, "wouldn't want to hurt Monoco or Esquie's feelings." Gustave is joking, but he also definitely isn't, and he will spend the evening being taught by Sciel how to weave them into a flower crown. He isn't very good at it.

And when it's time for bed, he will, very boldly, unroll his bedroll only several feet from Verso's instead of politely on the opposite side of the camp.

[recreatable]

Sucks to suck. The daisy chain that Verso makes for Maelle is great.

It is indeed very bold to set up shop so close to Verso, but he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he kicks off his shoes and settles down on his own bedroll, eyes on the sky and its half-baked constellations created by a little boy.

"Good call." On Monoco and Esquie, that is. "I don't think I've seen Esquie preen so much in decades." He's too big for even a flower crown, but Maelle had fastened a few blossoms on him regardless. He'd seemed overjoyed, but then again, maybe he was just feeding off of Verso's uncharacteristically light energy.

[superniceone]

"You mention decades so casually," Gustave says, and he knows they both have a complicated history things like 'the average human lifespan,' but he seems buoyant right now. "That's— a pretty incredible friendship, you know."

He stretches himself out comfortably, his own shoes still on. Gustave is on his side, unpacking one of the books to read in what little light is available. "And I do have some flowers for you, too. In case you were feeling left out. They just— take a long time to dry." He's pressing them in his journal.

[recreatable]

Oh, man. Gustave is liable to make his shriveled heart grow three sizes. That's cute as hell.

"Good that you told me," he says as he turns his head to smile wryly at Gustave. "I'm very sensitive about these things."

He's not. Verso hadn't expected anything at all, and he'd been entirely fine with that. The flower he'd handed to Gustave was impulse, and the rest of the ones they'd picked had already had the girls' (and Monoco and Esquie's!) names on them, as far as he was concerned. He doesn't need things like that, but— even he has to admit that it feels good to be thought of.

He turns his attention back to the dark night sky, then says, sounding a little surprised, "Today was... a good day."

[superniceone]

It's probably best if it remains unsaid that romance wasn't Gustave's original intention with that. He has just always been a man with a deep sense of fairness—and it wasn't fair if Verso was the only one who didn't get any flowers!!

He leans up on one elbow, book held carefully, though he's not quite reading yet. Preparing to read, if anything.

"You didn't think it'd be?" The surprise makes him curious. He was personally a little dubious about the direction of the day the moment he'd agreed to let a gestral near his head with scissors, but the results had been better than he'd expected. "But— I'm glad I could contribute."

[recreatable]

Gustave could say he had a good day, too!! But since he doesn't, Verso quips, "I was more talking about the gestrals." He's just kidding, obviously; Gustave did contribute, but some bullying is always in order.

He doesn't elaborate on the surprise, just cants his head toward Gustave's book before closing his eyes. "Enjoy your book." A beat. "Well, my book."

[superniceone]

He was getting there, Verso, gawd!! Gustave huffs a quiet laugh, opening to start actually reading. In a very low voice, as if making sure Verso is definitely the only one who hears it, he'll say: "I certainly will. Sleep well, chouchou."

[recreatable]

He should have killed Gustave when he had the chance.

"Shut up," he grouses before shifting so that his back is to Gustave. Embarrassing!!!

[superniceone]

"Sure," Gustave says, laughing. "Thanks for the good day." But he'll roll over and stay up late enough reading that he's noticeably tired the next day, and he will absolutely blame Verso.

And for once he'll succeed in acting like a normal human around Verso for the next several days. Sure, he smiles easily for him, but at least he's not weird about it!! It'll be not long after they've returned again from Sirene with 46's journal in hand that Gustave will perch near Verso without asking.

Seems like you and Lune are finally on solid ground again, is what he wants to say, but maybe it's better to let Verso bring that up himself. So, instead, he supplies: "How come you've let Maelle see your poetry and not me?"