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[ Not long after this announcement, because if the fae are saying not to worry then he's going to do exactly the opposite of that. ]
I think it may be wise for you to take Lune and Maelle and get away from the castle. Somewhere buildings won't collapse on top of you if things worsen.
I think it may be wise for you to take Lune and Maelle and get away from the castle. Somewhere buildings won't collapse on top of you if things worsen.
What makes you think they'll want to argue? It would have to be more comfortable than bunking with strangers in a suspicious castle.
I know that they've missed you.
Just suggest it as a way for everyone to convene on what's been learned about this realm and its rulers so far. A way to reconnect and catch up.
[ It's called manipulation, Gustave, it's easy. ]
I know that they've missed you.
Just suggest it as a way for everyone to convene on what's been learned about this realm and its rulers so far. A way to reconnect and catch up.
[ It's called manipulation, Gustave, it's easy. ]
Because the cracks here are spreading, and I don't trust anything the fae have to say. Telling us not to worry should very well make us worry. I know that they aren't going to be ranking our well-being as a priority when they're wrapped up in their own court politics.
I'm not very keen on finding any of you crushed under rubble should buildings start collapsing.
I'm not very keen on finding any of you crushed under rubble should buildings start collapsing.
I've noticed. It was my job in Lumière to notice things like this, and I told you, I'm prepared.
Just because I have to ask, why aren't you trying to convince them if you're so, well, "not very keen" about this? I'm just trying to figure out your interest in all of this.
Just because I have to ask, why aren't you trying to convince them if you're so, well, "not very keen" about this? I'm just trying to figure out your interest in all of this.
I took them where they needed to go, and somehow most of us ended up here. They don't have much reason to follow my lead anymore. You're here now. You've known them longer.
But I still have an interest in keeping the people I care about away from unnecessary danger.
But I still have an interest in keeping the people I care about away from unnecessary danger.
Maelle told me a little about what ended up happening. And yeah, I have. I know them, which is why I'm doing what I can but trusting them too. I'm not the leader. We're in this, whatever this is, together.
Right, yeah. That, I get. What I don't know is why you won't tell them that, but you're telling me.
Right, yeah. That, I get. What I don't know is why you won't tell them that, but you're telling me.
nearly forgetting about SPOILERS
Then it's worth the discussion, isn't it? Together.
[ What is this turning into. He didn't come here for therapy. ]
Why won't I tell them to get out of the castle, or that I want them safe? The former, I already explained as much. Leader or not, they look up to you. I saw what it did to them, losing you.
The latter, well, I already have told them. In my own way. They know. Maelle knows.
cont.
Suppose I'm still figuring that out.
[ Maelle has more-or-less claimed him as part of her 'family' but that is entirely too loaded of a statement for Verso to make himself, and he doesn't think Gustave would be too excited about the idea, either. ]
But someone needs to make sure Renoir keeps his distance, now that we're all veritably trapped together. That's my responsibility, so you lot can have a little less to worry about.
You're really here.
[How's that for a Hello, I'm sorry I thought you were a cursed hedge maze hallucination?]
[How's that for a Hello, I'm sorry I thought you were a cursed hedge maze hallucination?]
I am, yeah. Here. Me.
[ Alive, somehow.
But he erases that part.
Honestly, he could keep going, digging that hole, but the benefit of these things is he can put the Leaf down instead of continuing to run his thoughts into the ground. So there's that. Instead, when he picks it back up after a second, he says: ]
Did you know they have a ship in the harbour that sails itself?
[ Alive, somehow.
But he erases that part.
Honestly, he could keep going, digging that hole, but the benefit of these things is he can put the Leaf down instead of continuing to run his thoughts into the ground. So there's that. Instead, when he picks it back up after a second, he says: ]
Did you know they have a ship in the harbour that sails itself?
cont.
Looks like we've got the time.
[ And then some. The mention of Renoir brings back all the questions he's been mulling over that he just hasn't figured out how to put into words. ]
I think I've got that handled. For now at least. It's a temporary solution, but I'm working with what we've got.
[ Which isn't much. ]
So consider that more time to figure the rest of it all out. The important parts.
cont.
Renoir will only keep to agreements so long as it suits him.
[ No matter what he says, this revelation only raises Verso's anxiety about this situation. None of this is good. Apparently Renoir needs another confrontation, because what the hell was he even doing talking to Gustave in the first place?
After a moment's contemplation, ]
It seems both of us are doing what we can to keep him away from Maelle, but should something happen to me, should Renoir find a way around whatever you agreed to, I think we ought to prepare for the worst.
[His response is both better and worse. It lets her off the hook in a way, and it doesn’t require her to get him moving again.]
I heard mentions about it, but I haven’t made it out to see it yet.
Can you imagine if our ships could have navigated themselves?
I heard mentions about it, but I haven’t made it out to see it yet.
Can you imagine if our ships could have navigated themselves?
It's nice to watch. Calming. I thought about jumping on it and seeing what's going on in it, but I haven't yet. We could go together?
Yeah, the things we might have seen. Maybe there's more out there, past the Continent. Have you ever wondered what else might be there that we just didn't know about? I do sometimes.
Yeah, the things we might have seen. Maybe there's more out there, past the Continent. Have you ever wondered what else might be there that we just didn't know about? I do sometimes.
one day we'll be free of these
I wouldn't call it a solution.
You held your own against Renoir pretty well before, but I could teach you how to do better. To last longer and buy Maelle more time, if necessary.
[ While he had assumed Gustave wouldn't fill him in on the details, it can't hurt to ask, can it? Verso realizes not everyone is as dodgy with the truth as he is, and he's hoping that Gustave can at least believe that Maelle is a priority for the both of them. ]
Dare I ask what his demands were?
the end of june can't come fast enough LOL
If you want to get technical, if it solves the problem it counts as a solution.
[ Gustave laughs out loud at that attempt at praise(?), which would have surprised anyone near him, if there was someone. One for three wasn't great odds, though generously, he hadn't... he'd survived the first encounter, too. It doesn't count as far as he's concerned. ]
I did what I had to and I knew I wasn't going to survive so I gave Maelle the best chance she had.
Sure. Yeah. If you think it can help.
[ It can't hurt anyway. ]
All he asked was that I keep Maelle away from you and Clea.
cont.
[ Would he have gotten this far without technicalities? ]
Is that so.
[ "All he asked."
Talk of training is momentarily suspended while his mind does somersaults to keep him from immediately going to tell Renoir off for this. He's a little more flabbergasted about Gustave's end of the deal. More shocked that he hasn't upheld it, at least so far. ]
And yet you haven't told me to stay away from her.
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