tfln overflow / open post

[superniceone]

(open / overflow)

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[recreatable]

Damn, you know your standards are low when you're relieved that your relationship might last a few more days.

Verso wouldn't call it 'home', really, but that's too somber of a conversation to have when he's trying to keep things as forcibly light as possible for Gustave's sake. He leads them out through the house and out onto the streets of Lumiére, where there's an obvious discomfort at being among the citizens here; he keeps his head down, keeps to the periphery, doesn't let his gaze linger on any of them too long.

Still, he jostles Gustave's elbow with his own. "I guess that's a rain check on throwing myself into the harbor, then."

[superniceone]

"I'd rather you didn't," Gustave says, jostling him back with his own. The fact that he does, actually, seem to be quite popular will probably complicate Verso's attempt to keep his head down. They're not stopped constantly, but Gustave is well known enough that more than one person waves him over for a quick chat. Ophélie hands them each a flower, asks a probing question about Sophie that he defers, and Gustave's mask of good humor flags immediately at the end of each conversation.

"Hey," he says when they finally arrive, "sorry about that."

[recreatable]

People approach, and Verso politely steps back and keeps out of the conversation as much as possible, merely observing. He wonders if Gustave can tell that Ophélie is interested in him, or if he's painfully oblivious to that, too. He's never been so glad to make it back inside; he quickly opens the door and beckons Gustave inside, shutting the door behind him.

"You're the people's hero," he says drily; it's not Gustave's fault everyone likes him. As he leads Gustave further inside, it's clear that this place is nowhere near lived in — the furnishing is minimalistic, although clearly designed to keep him happy. Untouched books on the shelves, the only one out on the coffee table the one Gustave had returned to him with the pressed blossoms inside. There's a piano, but there's no sheet music.

He takes the gifted flower and sticks it in Gustave's shirt pocket. He can keep it — Verso doesn't want a reminder of all the destruction caused in his wake. Very casually, he says, "What does Sophie make of all of this?" Gustave isn't the only one who suspects he might get dumped.

[superniceone]

"I'm a familiar face," Gustave counters, and— well, it's not like he thinks he's unpopular or unlikeable. He's always been a bit of an awkward nerd, but he has always really enjoyed people. He loved the people of Lumière; it's one of the reasons why he'd been so determined to save it.

He snorts a little at the flower, taking both it and the one he'd been given, tucking them into the pocket of his jacket instead. He drifts to the piano, plunking out a few simple chords; it's less depressing than looking at this carefully arranged little habitat created for Verso.

"Uh—" Gustave has to pause and actually think about the question. "We're not telling everyone about everything, you know? Just certain people. She seems glad to be back, I think."

[recreatable]

Verso hums noncommittally. He's not going to encourage Gustave to reconnect with the love of his life, even though he probably should for Gustave's sake. Besides, it's hypocritical. He hasn't even broached the idea of Julie with Maelle. He wouldn't know where to start.

So, he just says, "I see. Dark and mysterious." Leave her guessing, Gustave! Keep her in the dark about the harsh realities of this world! It'll drive her crazy (really crazy).

Then, canting his head toward Gustave: "An engineer and a musician, too. Have you ever played?" Gustave doesn't really strike him as the musical type, honestly. He'd probably rather disassemble and reassemble the piano.

[superniceone]

"Not trying to be mysterious. I just—" Gustave sucks his breath in through his teeth, frowning thoughtfully. "I want her to be happy. I think she will be."

He chuckles quietly at the question, though, playing the first few notes of Chopsticks. Verso's famous composition, isn't it? "I took some lessons when I was young. I was— fine." Gustave's music was just like his art: the technical skills were there, but there was no inspiration to create, no passion behind his rote ability to copy whatever already existed in front of him.

[recreatable]

'Fine' seems about right. He can't really imagine Gustave practicing until his fingers bleed. It'd cut into his inventing time.

"We can't all write Chopsticks," he snarks, before gesturing for Gustave to make himself at home. There's a divan for him to sit on if he wants, although the whole area looks a little sterile, like a model home. Fitting, really, since Verso's just a model person in a model family. "I'll, uh, get the wine."

[superniceone]

"Sure," Gustave says, and he considers the divan before drifting to the bookshelf. He doesn't really expect this to reflect Verso's taste, necessarily, but he is curious to know what's been arranged for him here. He thinks he should probably be happy that Verso has such a well-furnished home here, that he's been so well set up in the city. He probably would be, too, if he weren't so well aware of the fact that Verso wasn't sure he even wanted to be there at all.

"Hey," he says when Verso returns, and he moves to perch a little awkwardly at the edge of the divan. "Do you think Ophélie was flirting with me? Not to sound vain."

[recreatable]

There's nothing out of the ordinary on the bookshelf, really, but Gustave might notice that they're all books Maelle is fond of.

"That's a little presumptuous. The smiling and hair-twirling could mean anything."

Joking, of course, as he returns with two bottles in hand — one already half-depleted, for himself, and a new one for Gustave. He's a gracious host who won't make Gustave drink his backwash, because he didn't exactly buy wine glasses, either. Until yesterday, he hadn't expected to ever have anyone over, and last night's conversation really hadn't left him with the desire to go shopping.

[superniceone]

"I feel like it's fair to point out that's just the way she is," Gustave says, continuing to absolutely miss the flashing neon signs right in front of his face. He doesn't seem bothered by being handed a bottle directly; he did have wine glasses, and he'd still forced Verso to drink like a philistine anyway.

He clears his throat, though, because it feels a bit silly to talk about someone Verso doesn't know, and moves on. "It's a nice place. Do think your hut had a bit more charm."

[recreatable]

Uh, yeah, you think that's just the way she is because she's always flirting with you, he absolutely does not say, because if Gustave has dropped the subject, it'd be pretty stupid to try to convince him a beautiful woman wants to have sex with him.

"Everyone's a critic," he gripes even though he actually agrees, taking a seat on the piano bench, turned around so that he can look at Gustave. "But there's far more things to lounge handsomely on here."

He slides the fall board down behind him, making a point of leaning an elbow back on the piano so that he can do the aforementioned handsome lounging. It's the first time he's even sat at this piano, actually; much like Gustave, he's experiencing some creative block.

[superniceone]

Or a kindness if you're planning to break up with him for a third time, Verso!! Pretty toxic of you.

Except Gustave is one of those boring aggressively monogamous kind of guys, and where he hadn't really seemed to take actual notice of Ophélie's flirtatious overtures, he is clearly dialed in to Verso's. He makes a point of inspecting him, then lifts his bottle of wine slightly. "You are the reigning champion of handsome lounging, after all. I really should be taking notes."

[recreatable]

Gustave has really picked up so well on the applause that Verso needs to survive. The corner of his mouth quirks up, and he lifts his bottle back. "You're not so bad yourself, bel homme."

Bad at being intentionally attractive, maybe. Very talented at being accidentally so, though.

[superniceone]

Gustave does look a bit accidentally rakish — his hair has grown out just enough to be slightly shaggy after that gestral cut, there's already a five o' clock shadow after yesterday's shave, and his slutty little casual clothes are clean but slightly rumpled from spending most of the day in bed.

Of course, the impression he assumes he gives is total slob, which is why he's assuming Verso is teasing him (and also falls entirely in line with his usual skill at only ever really being comely by complete accident.)

Gustave closes his eyes for a moment, amused, just trying to recall Verso's specific phrasing once back during the Expedition. "You should probably know you're not as hard up as you think you are," he says, all in clear good humor.

[recreatable]

"—I believe hand signals were mentioned at some point." It was a come-on, you absolute testicle!!!

[superniceone]

Testie be for real right now. Gustave laughs a little into his sip of wine, wiping his mouth with his hand when he lowers the bottle.

"It's a salient point! And you're sitting on a piano bench, it's not like I can just pounce you." What if he breaks it!!

[recreatable]

Then he'll get another piano bench??? Not that he really believes Gustave has ever pounced on anyone in his life. He's fairly sure they're not commensurate in horniness, just as people.

But he removes himself from the bench, if it's going to be such a cockblock. "It's not a salient point, actually." Essentially: What part of ghosting you for a week don't you get? I'm obviously crazy about you. Settling down on the divan, arm extended across the back, still very shamelessly trying to 'lounge handsomely', he adds, "And I was hoping for a little swooning, at least."

[superniceone]

"Oh, but I've swooned. I was swooning and flattering you just a little while ago, and for it I got teased for having a baby face."

The arm across the back of the divan is — absurd to the point of amusement, honestly, reminds him so much of his awkward friends in their youth trying to cozy up to girls they fancied. Gustave will lean into Verso regardless, because - well. He wants to, and because he's decided to take what he can get when Verso is running hot instead of cold.

[recreatable]

"A handsome baby face," Verso argues. It had been an affectionate tease. "Try it again. I'll do better this time."

[superniceone]

Gustave thinks he can understand just a little, now, how Verso felt — still very much crushed under the weight of his own knowledge, playacting at being a normal person. He rolls his head back against Verso's shoulder. "Je sais qu'on te l'a déjà dit, mais tu es très beau," he says, because swooning is always much more melodramatic in French, and apparently they speak it.

[recreatable]

Gustave's not supposed to feel crushed under the weight of his own knowledge, he's supposed to feel happy. Or at least like his spirits have been lifted a bit. Otherwise, what was all of this for?

It isn't that this is wholly to cheer Gustave up, but that's certainly a motivator for Verso to lay it on thick with a, "Not as much as you, mon beau." There is, of course, truth to the words—he thinks Gustave is very, very handsome—but they're still said more out of a desire to make Gustave smile than because he's overcome with tender feelings.

"Well." A beat. "We'll say it's comparable."

[superniceone]

Gustave laughs again, gently grabbing Verso's face and kissing him soundly. He sits back up after that — slouching into Verso isn't really conducive to drinking wine — and smiles down at his own hands. "You're a— goddamn ridiculous man." I missed you is what that means, and also something he worries will spook him.

[recreatable]

Gustave is smiling, which is a win. Verso smiles back, pleased with his achievement. "All right, all right," he says, as if Gustave is really twisting his arm. "You can be the most handsome one."

[superniceone]

"Oh, that is how I'm known throughout Lumière," Gustave says wryly, and he closes his eyes — not tired, just comfortable. "You were right. This is much better than staying locked in my bedroom."

[recreatable]

Casual affection with other human beings is not something he's wholly acquainted with anymore, and he's not quite sure how to do it without it being strange, but it is something Gustave seems to enjoy. He places his hand on the back of Gustave's neck, letting it rest as a warm weight there. Very normal and casual, like it's not something he has to think about.

"I'm right about a lot of things," he says, echoing that wry tone. "Probably as a consequence of being so old and wise."