Lune. He chuckles, nodding, shoulders loose, if not completely relaxed. "Yeah. I'm sure wherever she is, she knows we need her."
It's another weird little jolt, hearing Verso talk about Lune like he knows her. But he does know her, doesn't he? Spent all that time with her, just like he had with Sciel and Maelle. Lumiere is so small these days that it's unusual not to know all the same people your friends know, and Gustave's work took him all over the city, helping out. He'd gotten to know just about everyone, or so it had seemed.
He pushes past it. He hadn't come here to dwell on all the things that make him uncomfortable about Verso; he'd come to make amends. Because they're on the same team. Because they need to be able to work together.
And, maybe a little, for the version of himself from a day ago, who only knew that Verso was an Expeditioner, and helpful, and older than he looks. The version who was glad Verso is here. The version who liked him, even as he found him a little difficult to pin down.
Verso lifts his hands, a placating, open gesture, and Gustave wonders what would happen if he said no. No, how can he be trusted? No, what happens if he has to make a choice between his father and his team? No, there's too much space between them now, a ravine that cracked open, deep and impassable as any from the Fracture?
No, he thought he could trust him, and learning Verso lied, that he held back the truth, hurt more than he could ever have anticipated?
Gustave wets his lip, finds a way to nod his head. "Yeah. Yeah, of course I'm fine with it."
... He's got to be more convincing. He tries a small smile, which mostly makes its way to his eyes, even if it's a little wry. "You can offer things none of the rest of us can. Maelle and Sciel trust you, they're used to working with you. You've earned your place as a part of the team, whether I was there to see it or not. You deserve that spot, Verso. I want you there."
He breathes out a little, hands opening as he tips his head to one side, considering. "I think you and I... maybe we just need to get to know each other. Maybe, in a different life... a different path... I'd still have been there when you joined up, and we'd be just as close as you and the others. If you're willing, I think we deserve to see what we can be, you and me, together. Instead of just being these... stories to each other, that people we care about have told us."
He glances back at Verso, expression open and earnest. "What do you think?"
no subject
It's another weird little jolt, hearing Verso talk about Lune like he knows her. But he does know her, doesn't he? Spent all that time with her, just like he had with Sciel and Maelle. Lumiere is so small these days that it's unusual not to know all the same people your friends know, and Gustave's work took him all over the city, helping out. He'd gotten to know just about everyone, or so it had seemed.
He pushes past it. He hadn't come here to dwell on all the things that make him uncomfortable about Verso; he'd come to make amends. Because they're on the same team. Because they need to be able to work together.
And, maybe a little, for the version of himself from a day ago, who only knew that Verso was an Expeditioner, and helpful, and older than he looks. The version who was glad Verso is here. The version who liked him, even as he found him a little difficult to pin down.
Verso lifts his hands, a placating, open gesture, and Gustave wonders what would happen if he said no. No, how can he be trusted? No, what happens if he has to make a choice between his father and his team? No, there's too much space between them now, a ravine that cracked open, deep and impassable as any from the Fracture?
No, he thought he could trust him, and learning Verso lied, that he held back the truth, hurt more than he could ever have anticipated?
Gustave wets his lip, finds a way to nod his head. "Yeah. Yeah, of course I'm fine with it."
... He's got to be more convincing. He tries a small smile, which mostly makes its way to his eyes, even if it's a little wry. "You can offer things none of the rest of us can. Maelle and Sciel trust you, they're used to working with you. You've earned your place as a part of the team, whether I was there to see it or not. You deserve that spot, Verso. I want you there."
He breathes out a little, hands opening as he tips his head to one side, considering. "I think you and I... maybe we just need to get to know each other. Maybe, in a different life... a different path... I'd still have been there when you joined up, and we'd be just as close as you and the others. If you're willing, I think we deserve to see what we can be, you and me, together. Instead of just being these... stories to each other, that people we care about have told us."
He glances back at Verso, expression open and earnest. "What do you think?"