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[superniceone]

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[superniceone]

Does it really count as lying if they're both so acutely aware of the fact that it's just shared fiction? There had been nothing romantic or tender about their conversation; he imagines they both found it a little uncomfortably raw, even if it did ultimately feel good to speak the words.

Gustave seems to consider the encouragement for a moment, his eyes cut down obviously to Verso's mouth, before he bursts into incredulous laughter again. "Guy talk. I would never live it down."

[recreatable]

Verso takes the brush-off well, in a way that suggests it hasn't bruised his ego in the slightest. He throws a cursory glance back at the campfire. Sciel catches his eye and waves, before he settles down on his back again.

"Ah," he says, in false-regret. "Should've gotten you more blisteringly drunk."

[superniceone]

Gustave snorts quietly at Sciel's wave, as if to indicate how thoroughly his point has been made. He's not quite drunk enough to impulsively do much more than an awkward arm touch, but he can't help his own curiosity.

"I really can't tell if you're- if I'd- hmm." He rolls onto his side as well, as if that might keep the conversation just between them. "If I did- invite you off somewhere, privately. I have no idea how you'd respond."

It's less that he's thinking of doing just that, and more an admission that he still finds Verso's thoughts and motivations extremely opaque.

[recreatable]

Even four drinks in, the cogs of Gustave's mind are still eternally moving, apparently. It's really not a big deal; Gustave wouldn't be the first expeditioner Verso's shallow charm worked on, and unless a Bible-level miracle happens and they succeed here, he won't be the last. Of course, Verso doesn't say any of that aloud. It's probably not very endearing.

Teasing: "Should I invite you, then?" A cant of his head, a quirk of his lip. "Take the pressure off?"

[superniceone]

It's the glimpses of vulnerability, the careful reading of the Expeditioners that feels genuine that have warmed Gustave to Verso more than any of his more overt attempts to be charming. The teasing tone makes him laugh quietly, still just watching him like that might help him crack the code.

"I don't think you've got any interest in doing that," he says, similarly neither offended nor upset. If anything, a little embarrassed when he finishes with: "But if you do ever ask, I don't think I'll say no."

[recreatable]

Verso makes a face at Gustave's modesty—which, somehow, against all odds, he's determined is genuine—before pausing, as if contemplating the idea. Then:

"And I don't think you'll remember this in the morning." At least, not in any significant way that isn't clouded by embarrassment and regret. "I'm a consummate gentleman, remember?"

[superniceone]

Gustave does, actually, look moderately offended at that, before he swears softly under his breath. "Do you really think I'm that boring?"

His shoulders shake with soft laughter, and he drags his hand down his face. "That I must be - blackout drunk after four glasses of wine because I'd - do impolite things to you in private?"

Okay, upon reflecting on his own phrasing, maybe he's a little drunker than he'd realized. But he stands by his point.

[recreatable]

"Ooh, 'impolite things'. Sexy."

He imagines that Gustave is, in fact, very polite even when doing 'impolite things', but that's not the point of argument right now.

"You weren't offering before the glasses of wine."

[superniceone]

Before the wine, Verso hadn't chosen to spend quiet conversation with him over the company of their friends - which happened to include two of the most beautiful women alive. Regardless, Gustave rolls his eyes at that. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that drunk words are sober thoughts? I'm not this way because I don't- want things."

He makes a sound like he's annoyed, flopping onto his back again.

[recreatable]

Gustave's annoyance is somehow ridiculously endearing, and he remembers his thought from earlier, that drinking with someone was no way to remain unattached. He reamends his declaration that he wouldn't get attached with a less strict one: it's all right to be, like, a little attached to the expeditioners. Just a smidge. Hardly even noticeable.

He grins.

"Are you trying to talk me into taking advantage of you?" he asks, amusement in his voice. "You should know, I'm very impolite."

[superniceone]

It would be frustrating how infectious Verso's grin was if he weren't enjoying himself so much. "Would it be more appealing if we called - it community service? I have spent the last several years too busy with the Lumina Converter for fraternization, you know. Maybe I'll be less of a stick in the mud."

This is so dumb.

[recreatable]

It's very dumb, and made even dumber by the fact that Gustave calls it fraternization. That's all the proof Verso needs to know that Gustave is out of practice. Next, he's probably going to say something like 'funny business'.

"When you put it that way, it would be wrong not to."

[superniceone]

He was being silly!! On purpose!

Gustave holds his own face, just sitting with this for a moment. "Great. Love this. I've made myself literal charity case. This is why I drink alone." He's laughing pretty hard though.

[recreatable]

Verso pushes himself up to a sitting position; the wine makes his head feel a little swimmy as he does. The laughter from the campfire has died down significantly, but he can still hear the sound of Lune and Sciel talking in low tones. It feels somewhat like being sent to bed while his parents were throwing a party, and hearing the muffled sound of revelry through his walls.

"I'll admit it's been awhile since I seduced anyone," he says, because he too is admittedly out of practice after years of staying uninvolved with expeditions, "but I think"—said like it's only a theory, when he's certain it's a fact—"you might be terminally incapable of taking a hint."

[superniceone]

"It's not the first time I've heard that," Gustave says, and it's not untrue. He squints his eyes closed like he's putting a lot of effort into thinking. After a moment's deliberation, he lifts himself with his arms and rotates just enough to drop his head against Verso's knee.

It's just a better vantage point to sort of watch him. "Could also be that I'm trying to give you an out for when you sober up. It's not impossible."

[recreatable]

Verso looks down at the head against his knee, watching Gustave watch him. "You know, I've never had to convince anyone this much before." Usually, there's not any convincing involved at all. He already molds himself to be the sort of person other people might like; that does the heavy lifting for him. Good-naturedly, he adds, "You're hurting my ego."

[superniceone]

"Verso." He squints up at him, holding his hand up, palm outward. "Don't play pitiful. I think you know I'm already convinced."

[recreatable]

Gustave says 'don't play pitiful' like he isn't the one who's been making Verso persuade him into doing impolite things to each other for the past five minutes. (Sorry, fraternize.) All the same, Verso laughs dryly and rolls his eyes before standing, pulling Gustave up by the hand.

"Not to criticize, but you could sound a bit more enthused." Still smiling, still good-natured.

[superniceone]

"I am trying not to make things weird," Gustave defends, and but he clasps Verso's hand with his own, hauling himself up to his feet with it. There's enough of a headrush from going flat to upright that quickly to stagger him a step and a half into Verso; he sways, then curves his back enough to tip his forehead briefly and pathetically into Verso's shoulder.

"But I am extremely enthused," he whispers while he's got the excuse of being so close, and then straightens himself up with an unsteady smile.

[recreatable]

Charming. Gustave has every bit the natural charm that Verso has to fake, and he tilts his head as he considers that for a moment before releasing Gustave's hand. There's nothing weird about this, but holding hands would definitely tip it over into questionable territory.

"That's more like it," he says, taking a few steps backward, hands linked innocently behind his back. He slows his steps before he gets too far, leaving a last chance for Gustave to back out. "Come on."

[superniceone]

Gustave would laugh in his face if he were able to hear Verso's thoughts. (These thoughts, at least; others would obviously receive a more... room temperature reaction.) He does resist the urge to look over at the fire and the source of the hushed murmuring around it, because this is only going to look suspicious if he looks stressed about it.

"I'm coming," he says, mock-complaint, because what he nearly says is a surprised 'right now?', and he has enough wits about him still to feel like that would absolutely torpedo whatever agreement they've come to together. He catches up with him, only playing up his unsteadiness slightly. "Lead the way."

[recreatable]

Contrary to Gustave, Verso's not self-conscious at all; he'll tell the others they went Nevron-hunting to blow off some steam, if they ask. Monoco will be furious that he wasn't invited. It'll be a whole thing.

He does lead the way, stepping through the brush that surrounds their camp. Gustave did look a little wobbly on his feet, so Verso turns back to make sure that he hasn't fallen over and ends up walking face-first into a branch, nearly getting poked in the eye. Merde. As he rubs his face, he says, "...Look out for the trees."

[superniceone]

It startles a laugh out of Gustave, somehow manages to ground him a little more. It's easy to think of Verso as almost a mythical figure, a piece of living history - an immortal fragment of Expedition Zero. Little moments like that just prove how ultimately he is also just a person, and the reminder comes with a strange wash of relief.

"Here, sorry, I shouldn't laugh," Gustave murmurs. He figures there's enough distance and obstruction between them and the camp to step in, closing the distance between them and gently catching Verso's jaw in his hand, just so he can inspect his face for damage. It's unnecessary and he knows it, but he also feels like that's the kind of thing he's allowed to do in a moment like this. "Hmm. I think you'll be fine."

[recreatable]

He absolutely shouldn't laugh. But it makes Verso smile a little, too, a wry, crooked tilt of the lips. He allows the inspection, although of course it's ridiculous, because Verso hasn't had a real lasting injury in— well, ever. Any scratches will be gone by the morning, he's sure. It's endearing, anyway. Cute, even. He can see why Lune's so fond of Gustave.

"An engineer and a doctor," he says with sarcastic amazement, before leaning in enough that their noses brush, a nonverbal announcing of intentions. They're probably, what, ten feet from the outskirts of camp? That's enough. "Any other talents I should know about?"

[superniceone]

Gustave wasn't really expecting a stray branch to take someone out who'd been living in his nevron-infested place for multiple decades, of course, but it made for a convenient excuse to reach out.

The question does seem to give him pause, though, even as he takes the proximity as tacit permission to lean in and brush a kiss against Verso's mouth. Some part of him realizes he may very well be horrified at his own actions in the sober light of day; he swallows that down. "I make very adequate crepes?" he says like it's a question.