[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.]

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[palissant]

Another beat.

"You can't."

He's talked about some of it with Gustave, though not all of it. His arms drop as he turns away from her.

"I'm not talking about it with you."

[escapeartiste]

She is quick to close the gap because he can't read what she has to say unless he's looking. Turning away very effectively shuts her out and she knows this.

No. Please, Verso. Don't treat me like a little kid and just talk to me.

Give me the chance to at least try. Please?

[palissant]

"No, Maelle."

His voice hardens slightly.

"I'm tired, and I don't owe you the energy it would take to try to explain anything when you're just going to use it to argue with me."

He keeps just enough distance between them that she can't touch him.

"We tried talking once already. I've already seen how that ends."

[escapeartiste]

I won't argue. I won't.

Please, Verso.

I just

I'll listen, I promise. It won't end the same.

Please believe me.

[palissant]

"Why should I."

He hates that he still cares about her but can't trust her. That he still wants to protect her but can't speak openly with her. It just makes it all more difficult.

"Or-- let me ask you first. What single reason do I have to be okay."

[escapeartiste]

She visibly hesitates until her lip thins and she makes the slightest shake of her head.

The answers she would like to give don't actually work and she's slowly figuring that out.

[palissant]

He makes a small gesture, as if to say 'there you go'.

"Then what do I have to explain?"

[escapeartiste]

There's a pause before she types. More hesitating.

Am I part of it? Even here?

[palissant]

His expression pinches slightly. Here's where he could lie, but he doesn't.

"You are."

[escapeartiste]

She nods, defeated. There's a rasped sigh while she wrestles with some thoughts.

What can I do?

What do you want me to do?

[palissant]

"Nothing you can or will do. There's no point in you asking."

She already knows what he wants. He already knows she won't do it.

[escapeartiste]

She is finally going to put her foot down, just a little.

Stop answering for me.

I said I would try and I will. So just

tell me. Please.

[palissant]

"Let me go."

Simple as that. He has no intentions of living when this is done, if he ever gets out of here. He wants the canvas destroyed, he wants his existence to be over.

That's all he wants.

And he doesn't believe for a moment that Maelle will allow it, if she can help it.

[escapeartiste]

She frowns until she starts crying and it takes a decent length of time for her to attempt typing. She did, in fact, know what the answer would be but she still needed to hear it for herself. Again.

I don't want to. You know I don't want to.

But okay, I'll try.

She wipes at her eye with her sleeve so she can type a bit more.

It's just

How?

We're both here.

I don't want to ignore you when we're both here.

[palissant]

"That isn't what it means, and you know it."

And though he's sure she thinks she's being sincere he doesn't believe her. Not a word. He doesn't make a move to give any comfort while she's crying - he doesn't even have tissues to offer. Instead, he just sits down, and waits.

"But you're going to have to figure that out for yourself."

[escapeartiste]

There's a quiet sniffle as she looks down at her device, thumb rubbing at the side of it. She gives a very slow nod in understanding. It takes her time to type again.

I'm sorry, Verso.

I just wanted us to be happy but

I messed that up and

hurt you instead.

I'm truly sorry. If I

If this makes you happy then I'll do it.

And once more for good measure.

I'm sorry.

She'll offer that much and then turn to head back to the door to leave.

[palissant]

"I was broken in ways you could never fix long before you knew me."

She just made it so much worse. One of his hands curls tight around the arm of the chair, his knuckles whitening. The apologies are like ice through his veins. He wants to believe she means it, but he can't.

And he won't be happy, he'll just be gone. And that's fine.

[escapeartiste]

That hurts to hear and she glances back, saddened with pity, and then she leaves.