[TLV] IC Inbox

[palissant]

[No response can be gained via comms. He isn't interested in making himself available that way.

If you want him, come find him.]

Comments

[palissant]

[True, he does have that luxury. One Verso doesn't begrudge him since he never really plans to use the Enclosure himself anyway.]

Then I'll leave it to you.

[You're the boss, Gustave.]

[superniceone]

[it bugs him a bit that inmates need to be allowed access by a warden — the enclosure seems completely harmless.]

Well. [gustave is openly considering as they approach.] I'll ask it to generate a pre-Fracture train station, and you can let me know if the system's accurate or just making guesses.

[palissant]

[A hum.]

Why don't you let me do it?

[Since he actually remembers the pre-Fracture world and would know exactly what to ask for, as well as immediately knowing if it was wrong.]

I think I know just the place.

[superniceone]

By all means. [gustave indicates the hatch leading to the enclosure, relieved that it still seems to be empty.] In truth, I, uh- I received Maelle's journal. Haven't cracked it open yet, but I thought this might be a good way to... burn off some nervous energy.

[he is anxious as SHIT!!! but he wants to wait for maelle...]

[palissant]

She spent a lot of time writing in that book.

[Hey, at least Gustave has some respect for Maelle's privacy. Unlike the guy who is supposed to be in charge of her welfare and getting her out of here.

Once they're in the Enclosure itself, he pauses. In theory, he knows how this thing works, but he's never actually been in here himself. It takes him a minute, but then the scene unfolds in front of them.

Monoco's Station, free of ice and snow, with a steam locomotive waiting ready at one platform. Verso feels his chest clench just at the sight of it all, but... it's fine. It's fine. It's... exactly like he remembers.]

[superniceone]

Yeah, I can tell. She must have had it for longer than I did. [which is an odd thing to think about, but luckily he's immediately and wholly distracted by the way the station materializes in front of them.]

An actual station. Incredible.

[mumbled more to himself than verso, though he does pause, cast a sideways glance at him.]

—what do you think? Here or somewhere else?

[he'd find it impossibly bittersweet to stroll the empty streets of lumière, and he's been gone a comparatively short amount of time.]

[palissant]

Here is fine.

[If the question is for the sake of his own comfort, it's unnecessary. Beyond the initial pang of nostalgia he has no problems with being here. It's even a little nice to see it how it used to be, though it's far quieter than he remembers.]

I don't remember what this particular station was called before the Fracture. [He says then, thoughtfully.] By the time I found your expedition and brought them here, I was just calling it Monoco's Station.

[superniceone]

That was the name of your friend, right? The gestral. Maelle told me a bit. [shared details that felt safe, somehow. it's easy to see the way gustave's interest was piqued the moment his eyes landed on the train, but he's trying to tamp the almost juvenile side of the excitement down. maybe it's only a fascimile of a working train when all is said and done, but - well. it's a lot more interesting than an illustration in a book.]

Though - I'm pretty sure she'd said something about the trains being covered in snow?

[another victim of the fracture, he guesses.]

[palissant]

They weren't always. Not before the Fracture. [A soft, huffing sigh leaves him.] It changed more than just the shape of the Continent.

[His attention lingers a moment longer on the trains sitting at the platforms, as if waiting for their next passengers, then he glances to Gustave with a quick smile.]

Monoco lived here, with a group of grandis. He, uh... He managed to upset the leader of the gestrals a while ago. [H...ah.] She kicked him out.

[superniceone]

Golgra. [gustave makes an unimpressed face without really meaning to, before he hastily schools his expression.] Not sure what Monoco did to get on her bad side, but I'm with him on this one.

[palissant]

[A nod. Golgra. Right.

Then he does have to laugh a bit.]

Golgra is big on rules. Monoco broke the rules. That's why she kicked him out of the village.

[As for what rule he broke, exactly...]

He knew what he did.

[superniceone]

Golgra—

[gustave makes a face, clearly not certain of exactly what he wants to say, before he just blurts candidly:]

She's a bully. Absolutely zero respect for Expeditioners.

[though he seems much more exasperated than angry.]

[palissant]

[Verso gives Gustave a look, then lets out a little half-laugh.]

What did she do to you?

[He wasn't hanging around for that part. The gestrals know him too well, and besides, the group was safe in the village.]

[superniceone]

Gave me a fake password for the gestral on guard in front of Esquie's nest. [gustave shoots him a sideways glance, rolling his eyes in good-humored frustration at the memory.] A rude one. That I was told to yell.

[palissant]

And you--

[Ah. Ah.]

You believed her.

[superniceone]

[gustave points at verso, mock defensive.]

I had every reason to! We won her stupid arena fight!

[palissant]

[He can't help it. He starts laughing. Hard.]

[superniceone]

Merde. [he's laughing, too, pressing his hands to his face.] Why even put someone on guard without a real password!

[palissant]

Did--

[Oh, help, he needs to brace himself on something he can't breathe--]

Did no one tell you-- gestrals-- are stupid--?

[superniceone]

No, I got that one right away, thank you very much.

[OKAY THE MORE VERSO LAUGHS the more gustave is actually getting embarrassed again, and he reaches over to shove his arm.]

Here I am, being vulnerable with you...

[no it's actually kind of a relief to discover verso is capable of laughter?]

[palissant]

[Verso feels the shove against his arm and snorts, which only makes the laughing worse.

He flaps a hand at Gustave and walks away a few steps. Fuck. Just give him a minute.]

[superniceone]

[gustave!!! is going to go pointedly!!!!!! look at a train!!!!!!]

[palissant]

[Verso will join him when he has composed himself. It takes him about ten minutes.]

So, um.

[Ehem--]

What do you think?

[superniceone]

[he's inspecting the locomotive, his arms folded across his chest. he does not look at verso. wryly:]

I think you'd better hurry up with an equally mortifying story before I decide I can't ever look you in the face again.

[palissant]

[Groan--]

Do I have to?