[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]

[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?

[superniceone]

[he's just clearing his throat and rolling up his sleeves, as if he absolutely has not heard him.]

[palissant]

[S t a r e .

You're actually going to make him do this, aren't you.

G r o a n s . . .]

I once fell into Lumiére harbour. In the middle of the day. In front of everyone there.

[superniceone]

[that's... concerning, not embarrassing! gustave gives him a sideways glance.]

What? How?

[palissant]

[Huff...]

I was--...

[Huff!]

I was following a girl I liked and I wasn't looking where I was going.

[superniceone]

[gustave laughs aloud at that, as much at verso's indignance as the story itself.]

Okay, alright. You've been adequately redeeemed.

[palissant]

[He makes a face.]

If you're wondering if she saw - yes, she did.

[superniceone]

And how did that work out for you? Surely she jumped in to save you. [he can't resist the teasing here ok!!]

[palissant]

Of course not. She stood there and laughed.

[But he's smirking.]

I was never sure if she agreed to go to dinner with me out of pity.

[superniceone]

Oh, so you still got a date out of it. I don't pity you at all. [gustave is trying not to laugh. he's failing, which is obvious by the tremble in his shoulders.]

[palissant]

[Verso is smirking a little as well, because honestly, it is pretty funny.

Though, there's a touch of sadness around it when he speaks again.]

Her name was Julie.

[superniceone]

Yeah? [his voice is soft, gently curious.] Did you date for long?

[palissant]

[A soft, almost self-depreciating laugh.]

No.

[Then a shake of his head.]

She was part of Expedition Zero.

[And Gustave knows how many survivors came back from that.]

[superniceone]

[the laughter fades from his face into something a little more somber, a little more sympathetic.]

I'm sorry. [he hesitates, then adds:] I was engaged, for a while. She was — perfect, honestly. It's not always a kind world.

[palissant]

[A small grimace crosses his features for a moment. Some things are best not asked about, and he doesn't want to have to create some lie about how and when Julie died.

Gustave doesn't ask, and he's thankful for that.]

No, it isn't.

[And isn't that funny, considering what this world was created for. He clears his throat.]

So, the train?

[superniceone]

[he's equally grateful when verso doesn't ask any questions. it's a surprisingly comfortable moment of commiseration.]

Mmh. Are you going to hate me if I take the engine apart? Could go for a ride first.

[palissant]

[A short laugh.]

No, I won't hate you. I always liked trains, you know? We can go for a ride if you're interested.