WHO: Expedition 33 (Gustave, Maelle, Sciel, and Verso) WHEN: post-mingle, pre-mission WHERE: the apartments WHAT: the remaining members of Expedition 33 NOTES\WARNINGS: spoilers for Acts 1&2 of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
"And when you meet someone stranger, I truly will be heartbroken."
He clasps both of his hands against his chest like he has been struck. Leaning to the side, he continues to act out being shot before sitting properly on the piano stool.
"You feeling a little better about--" The usual head bob. "--things?"
Of course. Maelle motions between them again, the first thing she'll address.
"I am feeling better. You're strange, but I don't want things to be weird between us."
As if there hasn't been some strange feeling there since they met, one Maelle attributes to how horrific their first encounter was and the fact Verso is... well, weird.
"I understand." A little smile. "I'll do my best to keep things just me strange and not weird."
It's his way of taking accountability for having troubled Maelle, as well. The least he can do in this place is ensure that the relationships she has doesn't feel strained in any way. He should have thought of that first, but could only panic at her feelings.
A panic that she wouldn't understand, and if he's successful, he hopes she never understands where his reaction truly comes from.
"Me, too." No more family talk, even if that's what he feels like to her. Not like Gustave, father and brother and everything she needs all in one, but simply someone she's comfortable with and cares about. That part isn't complicated.
"It isn't." He says; he promises. It isn't that far.
Verso does think of saying that she's welcome to come in whenever she feels, but he pauses almost immediately at offering. His chin lifts as he thinks how that would be very bad actually if she were to visit while he's entertaining.
"Anyway, you're always welcome here, so just knock and I'll let you in. Always."
"It can also be unrespectable if you're truly in need, too."
Since she'll always knock, he doesn't need to worry that much. He thinks -- it certainly would make for a humorous story between a few people, at least. Still, he thinks even those that wouldn't find it funny would be understanding.
A brief frown before he smiles. He'd like to give her that option, as well, but fairly sure Sciel and Gustave will be able to be for her first. Regardless, she should have that sense of safety and security.
Maybe that's wrong with what he's trying to do for her, but well, he still believes in her.
She watches him frown, thinking, but smiles when he does. "Unrespectable will be for emergency purposes, only. And the same goes for you too, you know? Even if things between you and Gustave are..."
Both hands lift and drop back down on her lap. Tense? Who knows. She shrugs and continues.
"Whatever they are, we are just a few doors down. If you need help, or something's wrong, Gustave would want to help. He'd want you to come to us."
Will he actually do anything if an emergency happens? He isn't quite sure, honestly. However, he does think that he has to acquire his immortality back -- much to his chagrin. It's needed more than anything that he wants; he'll be able to do more once it's back. At the moment, all he can do is bluff his way out of any situation.
She won't make him pinky swear on this one, but she does hope he's telling the truth.
"What do you think about that mission coming up?" If there's trouble, it seems like it'll happen then. She feels alarmingly numb at the prospect of going somewhere, searching for answers, because the last time didn't go so well. Before the Expedition, she would have been thrilled, she thinks.
"I think it's quite vague and it means that a lot could happen."
It's best to be honest about his feelings than give any of them false bravado. He remembers what she said before and he feels the same; he misses the days when he knew everything ahead of everyone else.
He gives a positive statement. It may be a bit too much since he truly isn't sure what is coming, and he feels like they should all be cautious. However, there has to be a balance in everything, doesn't there?
"But we're also not going there just ourselves." He makes a gesture, wide and encompassing. "Quite a few other people will be coming, too. I've met a few of them, as you know, and they're seem like they're good people."
His eyes drift down; they did just talk about how she wasn't yet feeling ready to leave Gustave's side, but he wants to offer this lifeline to her. "At the very least, we can take heart in that we're not the only ones trying to ensure the mission succeeds."
"Yeah," Maelle nods, agreeing. "The more the merrier."
Though Maelle's priorities are simple. Gustave. Verso. Sciel. Their safety and happiness is what matters most, not a city of people she's yet to meet. Hopefully a number of them are capable, but she can't help but think back on what Cid told her. He's been here for years.
Maelle wouldn't mind that, not really, but she thinks the others would. Gustave would.
Verso feels it is good to remind Maelle that so she doesn't feel like everything hinges on them.
"It's a lot of rocks being sent out by Aurora." He recalls that conversation that they had. The others going are their own groups, yes, but the goal is the same. It feels the same, anyway. At least, he wants to ease the stress the others will feel -- with so many people going, he liked to think participation in the success is more key than solving everything as a singular unit.
It's a hard feeling to leave behind. Every Expedition carried the hope of not only for those who came after, but the sacrifices of those who went before. Strange, to have this relatively easy task... on paper, at least, and with so much aid at their disposal.
"I'm... okay," she settles on. It's not a great answer, but it's an honest one. "Just--worried, I guess. Not about the mission, really, just... in general."
There is certainly a lot to worry about, for certain. He supposes that things will hit in waves or all at once. It isn't up for him to decide how anyone takes what they've come to know and what they've been told, anyway. But he does think they can at least mediate how much they're having to subject themselves to sorting through.
"I've spoken to those that've been here for awhile... I think it's okay to take things one day at a time for now." A small smile. "And we're here to help you if you need it."
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He clasps both of his hands against his chest like he has been struck. Leaning to the side, he continues to act out being shot before sitting properly on the piano stool.
"You feeling a little better about--" The usual head bob. "--things?"
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"Things?" She asks, pointing to him and then herself, "Or things?"
She makes a broader motion.
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Verso copies her gesturing between the two of them before gesturing broadly.
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"I am feeling better. You're strange, but I don't want things to be weird between us."
As if there hasn't been some strange feeling there since they met, one Maelle attributes to how horrific their first encounter was and the fact Verso is... well, weird.
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It's his way of taking accountability for having troubled Maelle, as well. The least he can do in this place is ensure that the relationships she has doesn't feel strained in any way. He should have thought of that first, but could only panic at her feelings.
A panic that she wouldn't understand, and if he's successful, he hopes she never understands where his reaction truly comes from.
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"Down the hall isn't too far away."
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Verso does think of saying that she's welcome to come in whenever she feels, but he pauses almost immediately at offering. His chin lifts as he thinks how that would be very bad actually if she were to visit while he's entertaining.
"Anyway, you're always welcome here, so just knock and I'll let you in. Always."
Much better way to put that part.
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The invitation makes her happy. It feels more stable and solid than it did before, when he first told her he'd be living here rather than with them.
"I'll keep it to respectable hours. Promise."
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Since she'll always knock, he doesn't need to worry that much. He thinks -- it certainly would make for a humorous story between a few people, at least. Still, he thinks even those that wouldn't find it funny would be understanding.
A brief frown before he smiles. He'd like to give her that option, as well, but fairly sure Sciel and Gustave will be able to be for her first. Regardless, she should have that sense of safety and security.
Maybe that's wrong with what he's trying to do for her, but well, he still believes in her.
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Both hands lift and drop back down on her lap. Tense? Who knows. She shrugs and continues.
"Whatever they are, we are just a few doors down. If you need help, or something's wrong, Gustave would want to help. He'd want you to come to us."
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Will he actually do anything if an emergency happens? He isn't quite sure, honestly. However, he does think that he has to acquire his immortality back -- much to his chagrin. It's needed more than anything that he wants; he'll be able to do more once it's back. At the moment, all he can do is bluff his way out of any situation.
"I know. I'll come if I'm in trouble."
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"What do you think about that mission coming up?" If there's trouble, it seems like it'll happen then. She feels alarmingly numb at the prospect of going somewhere, searching for answers, because the last time didn't go so well. Before the Expedition, she would have been thrilled, she thinks.
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It's best to be honest about his feelings than give any of them false bravado. He remembers what she said before and he feels the same; he misses the days when he knew everything ahead of everyone else.
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Maelle shrugs, looking to the bare apartment walls.
"We're the first expedition to go on multiple missions."
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He gives a positive statement. It may be a bit too much since he truly isn't sure what is coming, and he feels like they should all be cautious. However, there has to be a balance in everything, doesn't there?
"But we're also not going there just ourselves." He makes a gesture, wide and encompassing. "Quite a few other people will be coming, too. I've met a few of them, as you know, and they're seem like they're good people."
His eyes drift down; they did just talk about how she wasn't yet feeling ready to leave Gustave's side, but he wants to offer this lifeline to her. "At the very least, we can take heart in that we're not the only ones trying to ensure the mission succeeds."
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Though Maelle's priorities are simple. Gustave. Verso. Sciel. Their safety and happiness is what matters most, not a city of people she's yet to meet. Hopefully a number of them are capable, but she can't help but think back on what Cid told her. He's been here for years.
Maelle wouldn't mind that, not really, but she thinks the others would. Gustave would.
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Verso feels it is good to remind Maelle that so she doesn't feel like everything hinges on them.
"It's a lot of rocks being sent out by Aurora." He recalls that conversation that they had. The others going are their own groups, yes, but the goal is the same. It feels the same, anyway. At least, he wants to ease the stress the others will feel -- with so many people going, he liked to think participation in the success is more key than solving everything as a singular unit.
Hopefully, he's right in how he thinks.
"So, how're you feeling?"
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"I'm... okay," she settles on. It's not a great answer, but it's an honest one. "Just--worried, I guess. Not about the mission, really, just... in general."
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There is certainly a lot to worry about, for certain. He supposes that things will hit in waves or all at once. It isn't up for him to decide how anyone takes what they've come to know and what they've been told, anyway. But he does think they can at least mediate how much they're having to subject themselves to sorting through.
"I've spoken to those that've been here for awhile... I think it's okay to take things one day at a time for now." A small smile. "And we're here to help you if you need it."
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"You're all about the pep talks now, huh?"
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"Always wanted to motivate others with speech."