tfln overflow / open post

[superniceone]

(open / overflow)

Comments

[recreatable]

Rude! "I could." He doesn't, though.

By the time Gustave exits the bathroom, Verso has already fully dressed and stripped the bed of its sheets. That seems to be the extent of what he knew to do with it, though; the dirty sheets are balled up in a corner of the room to be dealt with at a later date.

When he finally ventures out into the common area, he finds a note, written in Monoco's handwriting: I went to visit the apprentices. THEY appreciate me.

Obviously, he's been left feeling a bit insecure about his place as 'Verso's favorite person'. A conversation is in order, but not right now; instead, Verso takes to the kitchen (which, of course, has more knives stuck in the ceiling again), attempting to make something resembling breakfast.

Pretty sure these eggs are burnt, though.

[superniceone]

Gustave couldn't really care less if the eggs are burnt or not. It's been years since he's had a lover to make breakfast for him after a late morning together, and he just watches Verso from the doorway in silence for a moment.

When he's sure he won't actively get in the way, he'll step in to wind his arms around his waist from behind, laying kiss on the side of his neck. He smells like Verso's shampoo; he doesn't hate it.

"Would you like to borrow some sheets?"

[recreatable]

Okay!!! Wow, nonsexual affection. He's still not really sure what to do with this, partly because his hands are busy poking at a piece of rubbery egg with a spoon while he wonders if it's still edible.

"No guest towels and no extra sheets?" It's probably edible. He turns in Gustave's grasp so they're face-to-face, leaning back against the counter and raising an eyebrow. "You think I'm a caveman."

And he's not wrong, but damn.

[superniceone]

Yes, nonsexual affection!! Gustave isn't breaking free from the "aftercare and sappy pillowtalk after sex" label, unfortunately.

Anyway, he'd seen the balled up bedding on the floor and the naked mattress, so he'd assumed. "I officially rescind my offer, then," he says, wry and gently bumping his forehead to Verso's before he releases him. "I'm sure you've got it all under control, chouchou."

[recreatable]

Verso fully kicks Gustave in the shin. Don't call him chouchou when he was just inside you!!!

"On second thought, it might be a good idea to have another extra set." You know, on top of the extra set he totally already has. "I can pick it up when I walk you home."

If that's something he's allowed to do, or even should do. He's not really sure what the boundaries are. It feels as if something has shifted, and while it feels good, happiness tends to fill him with a sort of dread, too. He ignores it for now; there'll be plenty of time to ruminate after Gustave leaves.

He pipes up with, "I made eggs." Sort of. Chickens aren't abundant on the Continent, so it's been about seven decades since he tried to cook this sort of thing. He looks proud of himself for being such a domestic god, anyway.

[superniceone]

"Ow," Gustave protests, but he's laughing as he peels back from him. If anything, he seems pleased at the assumption that Verso will walk him home - he wouldn't blame him for avoiding the place for fear of running into Maelle.

He bites his tongue and patently does not bring up how much this reminds him of the first time she'd made breakfast for him, too. They even fuck up eggs in the same way. Maybe it's the least toxic Dessendre family trait.

Instead, he takes a plate and says: "Thank you. I'm starving, actually." Extremely satisfying sex and a long bath seems to have taken it out of him, apparently. "You'd make a very handsome housewife, you know."

[recreatable]

"Ass," Verso says affectionately, grabbing his own plate and setting it down at the table. Look at them, eating breakfast at the table after spending the night together. It's so normal that it almost makes him feel like a real person, and his chest squeezes with yearning again.

He sits, then resumes poking the eggs with a fork. At least they're not underdone; it would suck if Gustave died from eating raw eggs right now. Then again, he has the distinct idea that Maelle won't allow that to happen. Ever, possibly. He wonders if Gustave realizes that, but he doesn't want to ruin the mood, so he keeps it to himself.

"Maybe I missed my calling." Maybe that was his future before the Fracture, seeing as how he seemed to be a stay-at-home son!! Gustave doesn't know.

[superniceone]

Gustave takes a bite of egg, decides he's hungry enough that they're actually pretty good, and cuts his eyes up to Verso. "I'm about to say something cheesy." This is his warning.

[recreatable]

Verso chews on a forkful of egg. These are not good enough to incite cheesiness, but all right. "Uncharacteristic of you," he says, dryly.

[superniceone]

Gustave makes an offended sort of noise. He'd probably be self-conscious if I'm crazy about you wasn't still knocking about in his head. "Okay, nevermind then. It can wait," he says, just as dry.

[recreatable]

Gustave is ridiculous. Verso has been sweet to him all morning, but he makes one (true) comment and Gustave cops an attitude. He's lucky that Verso is crazy about him!!!

Putting his fork down, he shoots Gustave a pointed—and slightly amused, despite his best efforts to be annoyed by this—look. "Cheese goes great with eggs."

[superniceone]

He ducks his head, laughing at the both of them. "I was just thinking that the one nice thing about living apart is the fact that I get to look forward to seeing you again." He cuts his eyes to Verso. "Too much?"

[recreatable]

What the fuck! That's very cute! He's flustered!

"I—" He laughs, a little disbelieving, shaking his head. What does he even say to that? It's impossibly sweet, and he feels his heart speed up despite all of his best efforts. "I bet you say that to all the girls, Casanova."

[superniceone]

"Yeah, that's me. Leaving a trail of broken hearts in my wake." Gustave's tone is flat, but it's clear he's pleased with Verso's reaction. "Just looking for the silver lining."

[recreatable]

Verso pokes at his eggs again, grateful that his fuckass bob (Gustave has a type, obviously) hides the way his ears are growing pink. He can tell, because they feel increasingly warm with each passing second. "I guess I should give you something to look forward to, then. As a favor."

[superniceone]

Gustave gestures to Verso's plate, silently asking if he's finished so he can clear the table. "Such a generous man, monsieur."

[recreatable]

Miraculously un-Gommaged even at the 2,000 comment mark, Verso slides his plate over to Gustave. There's still quite a bit of egg on there. The morning's activity works up an appetite, but also, he's kind of picky and those eggs—despite being made with love—were pretty gross.

"That was me asking you on a date," he clarifies, because apparently Gustave is incapable of picking up on his oblique attempts at flirtation.

[superniceone]

Gustave takes the plate, not sure if Verso disliked them or if he's still just in possession of a failing appetite. Regardless, he'll go to scrape the plate into the trash.

"You don't need to ask me for anything," he says lightly. "Beck and call, remember?" He had, apparently, been absolutely serious.

[recreatable]

"I'm being serious," he scolds, because Gustave is not being serious!!! He is an important person with lots of obligations, as evidenced by the fact that he was literal hours late last night. Verso still had sex with him anyway, which probably says something about his self-respect or lack thereof. "When can I see you again?"

[superniceone]

"So am I." Gustave gives him a slightly baffled look, moving to wash up the pan, too. "I told you — I agreed to yesterday because I'm tapping out of responsibility for the month." He shrugs one shoulder, dismissive. "The girls are way better at handling the whole... people thing. Tell me when you want me, and I'll be there."

[recreatable]

Verso stands to hover around Gustave while he works, although he doesn't offer to help. Look, he's tired. He's accomplished more this morning than he accomplished in his whole first week back in Lumière.

"You're not going to just wait around until I want you," is another scold, because he should probably try to be, you know, slightly responsible here. You know the situation is bad when the centenarian who can't stop fucking thirty-year-olds is the voice of reason. "You have a city to reintegrate to."

Besides, he doesn't trust himself not to get greedy and want Gustave around always.

[superniceone]

It's like, three whole dishes, he's fine without assistance. He's incapable of keeping a straight face beneath the scolding, though, and he only barely resists the urge to flick sudsy water at him.

"Verso." Even, measured. "No one else gets to set my priorities for me." And no one else is able to understand why he isn't overjoyed just to be alive.

[recreatable]

Verso makes an disapproving little noise. Pretty sure his opinions about Gustave's priorities are objectively correct, actually! There's something unpleasant about someone shaping their life around him, even if it's only for a few weeks. Historically, that sort of thing hasn't gone well.

"Now I see where Maelle gets her stubbornness from." It wasn't from him, that's for sure!!

It only registers that he's conjured a deeply unpleasant topic after the fact, but as soon as it does, he frowns. "What happened to wanting to be productive?"

[superniceone]

"I can't keep trying to pour from an empty cup." Gustave can tell that Verso is genuinely bothered, and he hesitates, tries to reframe it. "Look, I really just— I need some time off for once in my life. I'm not going to be waiting around on you. I'm going to be taking a break, and you're the only person I'm happy to let interrupt."

It's not like he's got a job to get back to, or an Expedition to prepare for.

[recreatable]

He doesn't want Gustave to have regrets. The best way to avoid those would be to encourage him to reenter society, to rebuild his bonds with the people he belongs with. Otherwise, Verso is liable to get selfish and want to interrupt him all the time; he's liable to get crazier and want to stay, or equally as terrible, want to ask Gustave to come with him.

But what is he going to do, deny Gustave? He's not very good at that, clearly.

"Tell me when I'm allowed to interrupt you next, then." He refuses to have Gustave at his beck and call. Maelle might get a teeny, tiny bit of stubbornness from him after all.