tomorrow is here — closed

[demainvient]

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

Comments

[demainvient]

His hands stay at his hips as he looks over at her, taking in the way her expression gentles, thinking about how she's been trying to take care of him, of everyone, this whole time. "Yeah."

At least, it's not as obviously wrong as it had been before. "You and Sciel been prowling around? Pick a bedroom yet?"

[maellum]

"Picked one for you. Come on," she says, and while she doesn't physically grab him to drag him along to the bedroom, she waits for him at the hallway and then again at the doorway.

"I thought to myself, what's a room that Jean-Napoléon would find agreeable?"

While the name is delivered oh so casually, Maelle's smile is a touch too wide, hands clasped innocently behind her back as she turns her head to hide her amusement. She continues, "I think the big window is nice. Don't you?"

Sciel will be proud.

[demainvient]

He follows her, glancing in at the bedroom once he gets there. "I— what?"

Gustave gives her a bewildered glance, as she smiles that innocent smile at him, hands tucked behind her in that familiar way. He must have misheard her. "What did you just call me?"

[maellum]

"What? Gustave?"

What's some affectionate gaslighting? Except Maelle, for all her dislike of liars, is not a very good one herself. There's mischief in her eyes and a shake to her shoulders as she goes to busy herself fluffing a pillow on one of the beds, suppressed laughter threatening to bubble out.

[demainvient]

"No... I don't think that was it." He follows her into the room, glancing at the two twin beds, the large window that looks out over the city.

He turns to fold his arms over his chest, eying her. "What's so funny?"

[maellum]

"Nothing," she chimes back, and looks to him with a smile. Clearly, she's having far too much fun for it to actually be nothing.

"Which bed do you want?"

They're exactly the same save for proximity to the door.

[demainvient]

He gives her another suspicious look, then glances around before pointing to the bed nearest himself. "Uh, this one is fine."

Gustave shrugs, lifts his hands. "Either of them are fine. Better than a bedroll on top of rock, no matter what."

[maellum]

Maelle flops onto the other bed, staring up at the ceiling, one leg and arm hanging off and grazing the floor. Yet another new bed, yet another new ceiling.

"Old man problems. Your back might be in better shape if you didn't hunch over your projects, Jean-Napoléon," she points out with a raised finger.

[demainvient]

That time he definitely heard it.

Gustave's face scrunches in bewilderment as he stares at her, before the penny drops as a memory resurfaces. His shoulders lift and lower as he blows out an aggravated breath, and he takes the few quick steps needed to get to the door. "Sciel!"

[cache_coeur]

After a beat, Sciel leans into the kitchen doorway, where she has a clear line of sight down the hall to the bedrooms, and, more importantly, at the slice of Gustave in the doorway.

“What?” she calls back.

[maellum]

Maelle squeals with laughter, sitting up with a grin.

"I think it's a good name!" A ridiculous one that doesn't suit him at all, but it sure is funny.

[demainvient]

Gustave glances over his shoulder at Maelle, then back at Sciel, appearing with that innocent face like he doesn't know exactly how this happened.

"Jean-Napoleon? Really?"

[cache_coeur]

Sciel shrugs helplessly, a smile growing on her face.

“I still say it’s one for the history books,” she says, playfully.

[maellum]

"I always forget how long you've been friends," Maelle says, hopping onto her feet. She shoves her way into Gustave's side, smiling up at him. Too much fun.

"There must be soooo many stories. I'm sure Sciel can share them, yeah?"

[demainvient]

"It seems like she already has been sharing them," he says, dry, and looks down to raise his eyebrows at Maelle.

She looks happy, pleased with her little mischief, and he relents, shaking his head. "And here I thought I was safe from pranks."

You know. By virtue of being dead.

[cache_coeur]

“You need girls to tease you, otherwise you’ll get dull,” she says, sagely, leaning against the kitchen door frame.

[maellum]

"Your mistake," Maelle replies brightly. This feels so easy, so normal. She can almost forget the horrors and why she's so reluctant to leave Gustave's side.

Her arms slip around him in a playful hug, affectionate but brief. The threat of retaliation isn't zero. She leaves room to escape. Especially when she nods along with Sciel's words of wisdom.

"Sciel's a teacher. She knows these things, so I think she's right."

[demainvient]

His arm goes automatically around Maelle to squeeze her back, letting her go once she steps back. It's worth it, the prank, to see how amused she and Sciel both look. They've probably both missed tormenting him.

"Sciel certainly knows a lot," he agrees, giving the friend in question an amused glance before he looks over at Maelle. "But seeing as you've picked out a bed to sleep in, don't you think you should get some rest instead of picking on your poor big brother? It's been a long day."

[cache_coeur]

Sciel just grins in return, disappearing back into the kitchen to finish washing up.

[maellum]

Maelle can take a hint. She sighs, but smiles at Gustave. It's nice to be told to go to bed. She never thought she'd miss that, but she has. She's missed everything.

"Rest so I can do it all again tomorrow," Maelle warns. "Are you staying up?"

[demainvient]

"For a little while, yeah." He reaches to tug lightly at her ponytail, offering her a smile.

"I'll be in soon. Us old folks need our rest, too."

[maellum]

There's a fond smile in return at the tug. The separation, even just to sleep, sends a pang of anxiety down the back of her neck, but she doesn't want to worry him.

He'll be fine. They're all going to be fine.

"Okay. You'll regret it in the morning if you stay up too late, remember."

She turns to go get her bed sorted out, glad to have actual pillows and bedding in what seems like forever.