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Right. After Lune's inexplicable stint in San Francisco, she was forewarned about this Aurora, the name popping up more than enough times in conversation with her friends. So at least she's prepared when she wakes up at the hospital and shakes off her stupefaction at once more waking up in another strange place. This is Etraya, then.
She spends a significant amount of time of bombarding this figment of Aurora with questions, but at the end of it all, she still isn't satisfied with the answers. Frustrated and deeming further interrogation a waste of time, she leaves, grabbing a croissant on her way out. She packs her coat and glove up in her Pictos space in the heat outside, having every intention of figuring out a way to contact Sciel or Gustave, but then...
then there is the trolley. And it is, along with these curious automatons, entirely fascinating to her and she ends up completely losing track of time simply going around gawking and poking (sometimes literally) at things.
Lune doesn't believe in fate, kismet, whatever. Coincidences, yes. But maybe there's a little something more than pure dumb luck involved when she unexpectedly spies a familiar figure a few benches down, that messy head of hair unmistakable.
Lune smiles, and takes a seat next to Gustave like it's any old day back in Lumière, before the Expedition. Hello again, friend.
"Why am I not surprised to find you here?"
She spends a significant amount of time of bombarding this figment of Aurora with questions, but at the end of it all, she still isn't satisfied with the answers. Frustrated and deeming further interrogation a waste of time, she leaves, grabbing a croissant on her way out. She packs her coat and glove up in her Pictos space in the heat outside, having every intention of figuring out a way to contact Sciel or Gustave, but then...
then there is the trolley. And it is, along with these curious automatons, entirely fascinating to her and she ends up completely losing track of time simply going around gawking and poking (sometimes literally) at things.
Lune doesn't believe in fate, kismet, whatever. Coincidences, yes. But maybe there's a little something more than pure dumb luck involved when she unexpectedly spies a familiar figure a few benches down, that messy head of hair unmistakable.
Lune smiles, and takes a seat next to Gustave like it's any old day back in Lumière, before the Expedition. Hello again, friend.
"Why am I not surprised to find you here?"
The trolley is absurdly inefficient, but it's a good way to get out of the apartment and familiarize himself with Etraya and all the strange and fascinating locations Aurora has built for the people she's taken so far— even if he's taking notes on how best to streamline the process.
So he's lost in thought when the light steps sound, when someone takes the seat next to him, and only when those words come in that voice does he blink out of his reveries, poring over his notes, and look up, startled. "Lune!"
A heartbeat's worth of staring, and then he's drawing her in again, just like had back in San Francisco, his chest shaking with a laugh. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find you here, either. Sciel was sure you'd show up."
Much more sure than he'd been, but in this case he's happy to be wrong.
So he's lost in thought when the light steps sound, when someone takes the seat next to him, and only when those words come in that voice does he blink out of his reveries, poring over his notes, and look up, startled. "Lune!"
A heartbeat's worth of staring, and then he's drawing her in again, just like had back in San Francisco, his chest shaking with a laugh. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find you here, either. Sciel was sure you'd show up."
Much more sure than he'd been, but in this case he's happy to be wrong.
Lune returns the embrace, breathing a small laugh of her own— fond amusement. She can read between the lines, since she'd probably feel the same way herself were their situation reversed. The odds of her showing up here as well after San Francisco? They have to be slim.
"Maybe we should learn some lesson about Sciel's predictions by now. The tardiness I could've done without, both times— not my decision."
A hint of displeasure, there. She's still annoyed at Aurora that the rest of the team wound up in Etraya without her, and about the time she'd spent by herself in San Francisco without them. A part of her wondered if perhaps she was just going to be stuck there alone for good, so maybe it's no wonder that she now leans into the contact with Gustave so uncharacteristically easily. Her palm lingers on his shoulder for a beat after pulling away, squeezing gently before pointing at his notes.
"Are you already redesigning this contraption? It's obviously not optimized to reach a more efficient level of locomotion."
"Maybe we should learn some lesson about Sciel's predictions by now. The tardiness I could've done without, both times— not my decision."
A hint of displeasure, there. She's still annoyed at Aurora that the rest of the team wound up in Etraya without her, and about the time she'd spent by herself in San Francisco without them. A part of her wondered if perhaps she was just going to be stuck there alone for good, so maybe it's no wonder that she now leans into the contact with Gustave so uncharacteristically easily. Her palm lingers on his shoulder for a beat after pulling away, squeezing gently before pointing at his notes.
"Are you already redesigning this contraption? It's obviously not optimized to reach a more efficient level of locomotion."
Actually being in Etraya is a whole different beast than just hearing about it. It's a lot on top of everything else. The Gommage, winding up in San Francisco, finding her friends, losing her friends (again)... now this. Admittedly, she'd wondered if she was just going to be stuck in San Francisco for good after days went by without any sign of Sciel, Gustave, Maelle or Verso. She'd wondered if maybe she was stuck there, alone.
Let's think of it as a detour, rather than the end. Sciel's words came back to her more than once during those days, trying to take a page out of her book of optimism. It was easier said than done, but she'd managed until waking up in that hospital.
The apartment is a sharp deviation from the kind of housing they're used to in Lumière, the architecture hardly particularly aesthetic. But it doesn't matter, so long as the team is here.
"I think it needs more rubble," Lune jokes wryly with a hint of a smile. "Or maybe stubborn pine cones, a rock or two."
Since those things seemed to always find their way beneath their bedrolls at night in spite any thorough inspections prior.
Let's think of it as a detour, rather than the end. Sciel's words came back to her more than once during those days, trying to take a page out of her book of optimism. It was easier said than done, but she'd managed until waking up in that hospital.
The apartment is a sharp deviation from the kind of housing they're used to in Lumière, the architecture hardly particularly aesthetic. But it doesn't matter, so long as the team is here.
"I think it needs more rubble," Lune jokes wryly with a hint of a smile. "Or maybe stubborn pine cones, a rock or two."
Since those things seemed to always find their way beneath their bedrolls at night in spite any thorough inspections prior.
Things are slowly settling back into their right places, and Sciel couldn’t be more pleased about it. Those two weeks hotel-hopping in San Franciso would have been beautiful even if that’d been all the time they could have, but having Lune with them for keeps is so much better. It puts a bounce in her step and makes her look forward to having something to celebrate. They’ll have a proper welcome-home party tomorrow, when she’s had a chance to figure out groceries, and it’ll go far, far better than the first night with Verso, thank the stars.
“I’ve been saying that for weeks, but for some reason everyone objects!” she says, roving around the kitchen as she talks. Wine glasses from this cupboard, a bottle from that one, a corkscrew from the jumble that is their utensil drawer.
She looks back at Lune, beaming ear to ear.
“But it’ll do, your room? I thought about a second bookcase but didn’t get around to tracking one down.”
“I’ve been saying that for weeks, but for some reason everyone objects!” she says, roving around the kitchen as she talks. Wine glasses from this cupboard, a bottle from that one, a corkscrew from the jumble that is their utensil drawer.
She looks back at Lune, beaming ear to ear.
“But it’ll do, your room? I thought about a second bookcase but didn’t get around to tracking one down.”
Lune pulls her eyes from the glimpse of that messy utensil drawer at the question, already mentally organizing it. Her expression softens a little, a small but genuine smile spreading to her lips. She'd bunk wherever she could if needed; after the Expedition they've had practice roughing it, but of course Sciel had taken it upon herself to fix up a whole spare room for her.
"Yes, of course. Thank you."
The bookcase would fill up quickly with the books she'd erm, borrowed, from San Francisco, but she'd sort out the haul stashed away in her Pictos later. She tips her head inquisitively, watching Sciel bustle about. "Gustave mentioned you were sure I'd show up. What made you so certain?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you."
The bookcase would fill up quickly with the books she'd erm, borrowed, from San Francisco, but she'd sort out the haul stashed away in her Pictos later. She tips her head inquisitively, watching Sciel bustle about. "Gustave mentioned you were sure I'd show up. What made you so certain?"
Sciel pours two glasses of wine, two more left empty on the counter. They’re all going to be put to work before long, so might as well have them ready and waiting.
“First of all,” she says, matter-of-factly, “we are a team, and the five of us still have work to do. We’d be here forever if one of us was left twiddling their thumbs in America, and Aurora isn’t going to cheat us like that.”
(She maintains Verso is still with them, somewhere, somehow. Having been right about Lune, she’s more sure about it than ever.)
She holds out the wine glass.
“And second…” Her voice grows a little pleased with herself, knowing Lune will roll her eyes and huff at the answer. “I asked the cards.”
“First of all,” she says, matter-of-factly, “we are a team, and the five of us still have work to do. We’d be here forever if one of us was left twiddling their thumbs in America, and Aurora isn’t going to cheat us like that.”
(She maintains Verso is still with them, somewhere, somehow. Having been right about Lune, she’s more sure about it than ever.)
She holds out the wine glass.
“And second…” Her voice grows a little pleased with herself, knowing Lune will roll her eyes and huff at the answer. “I asked the cards.”
Lune pinches her expression slightly, towards something more doubtful and suspicious when Sciel brings up Aurora – still smarting over the less than satisfactory answers she'd gotten at the hospital – but she doesn't argue. She's more than happy to accept the glass from Sciel, her brows arching at that pause, that knowing lilt to her friend's tone that bodes some sort of mischief.
Sciel clocks her reaction, the noise escaping Lune caught somewhere between a scoff and a huff of laughter, indeed flicking her eyes off to the side briefly. "Ah-a. The cards told you."
Her own tone is flat. She's just going to take a sip to hide the indulgent smirk threatening to appear.
Sciel clocks her reaction, the noise escaping Lune caught somewhere between a scoff and a huff of laughter, indeed flicking her eyes off to the side briefly. "Ah-a. The cards told you."
Her own tone is flat. She's just going to take a sip to hide the indulgent smirk threatening to appear.
“Mmhmm,” she hums, continuing to putter around the kitchen, pulling out the half of a baguette left over from breakfast and starting to tear it into bite-sized chunks. “I know you’re a little skeptical about them, but I think if a card reading can pull an entire friend out of thin air, there’s no need to debate their powers, hmm?”
Not likely, not even for a second, and that’s clear in the sly look she gives Lune.
Not likely, not even for a second, and that’s clear in the sly look she gives Lune.
Sciel just smiles wider. She grabs a wheel of Brie from the fridge and pulls out the cutting board to cut that up like a pie, so each has a sliver of the softest middle part.
“She might appreciate the warning,” she replies. “But on the bright side, if I took her job, maybe I would get access to wherever it is they keep all the answers around here.”
She doesn’t need to be psychic to guess that is at the front of Lune’s mind, still.
“She might appreciate the warning,” she replies. “But on the bright side, if I took her job, maybe I would get access to wherever it is they keep all the answers around here.”
She doesn’t need to be psychic to guess that is at the front of Lune’s mind, still.
"Ah, careful," Lune warns dryly, meandering to the table with her wine and taking a seat for the time being— she considers asking if Sciel needs a hand, but Lune's historically been more a hindrance than help in the kitchen. Best for everyone if she just keeps out of the way.
"Some more wine and a little coup d'état will seem like a great idea in no time."
If only. She can only feel faint embers of her chroma within where there should be an inferno, so she's feeling her own uselessness to the fullest.
"Some more wine and a little coup d'état will seem like a great idea in no time."
If only. She can only feel faint embers of her chroma within where there should be an inferno, so she's feeling her own uselessness to the fullest.
“But we’re so good at upsetting the status quo,” Sciel says, pretending to complain.
Some cuts of cured meats pulled right from the fridge makes the rest of their lunch, and Sciel brings it all over, still on the cutting board. She takes a piece of cheese and pops it in her mouth the moment she puts it down, her own wine glass in the other hand, and she slides into the seat across from Lune.
“But I will confess, I did doubt myself for a moment when it took you an extra day. Some of the other future-Etrayans I met in San Fran arrived yesterday.”
Some cuts of cured meats pulled right from the fridge makes the rest of their lunch, and Sciel brings it all over, still on the cutting board. She takes a piece of cheese and pops it in her mouth the moment she puts it down, her own wine glass in the other hand, and she slides into the seat across from Lune.
“But I will confess, I did doubt myself for a moment when it took you an extra day. Some of the other future-Etrayans I met in San Fran arrived yesterday.”
Lune's expression sobers, and she focuses on carefully stacking a cut of meat and a thin slice of cheese on top of a piece of bread to give herself a moment, grimacing slightly.
"Mm— I'm not pleased about the delays, either." First the team wound up in Etraya for a handful of weeks without her, then the whole thing with San Francisco. Nothing she could do about them, but displeasing all the same. Perhaps precisely because she could do nothing to influence things.
"I thought... for a while, after you all disappeared— that I was just going to be stuck there by myself."
"Mm— I'm not pleased about the delays, either." First the team wound up in Etraya for a handful of weeks without her, then the whole thing with San Francisco. Nothing she could do about them, but displeasing all the same. Perhaps precisely because she could do nothing to influence things.
"I thought... for a while, after you all disappeared— that I was just going to be stuck there by myself."
Sciel slides her palm across the table, resting it in front of Lune, as if psychically holding her hand. She knows she’s busy eating, but it’s the gesture that counts.
“If that was the case, we’d figure out a way to go back to get you,” she says, sure as anything. “We aren’t on a time limit anymore, we don’t have to leave anyone behind.”
“If that was the case, we’d figure out a way to go back to get you,” she says, sure as anything. “We aren’t on a time limit anymore, we don’t have to leave anyone behind.”
Though it's not an actual, physical touch, Lune can almost feel it as if it were. Her lips thin for a moment, pressing together in a line, before relaxing into a tiny, grateful smile as she meets Sciel's eyes. A small nod follows, barely perceptible.
Lune takes a small bite, chewing and clearing her throat after swallowing.
"Did you all get in alright? From there?"
Lune takes a small bite, chewing and clearing her throat after swallowing.
"Did you all get in alright? From there?"
Oh, that smile. She loves it, and she slides her hand back.
“Oh, we were fine,” she says. It’d been something of a relief to get away from the endless, exhausting sprawl of asphalt and motor vehicles, and her own bedroom, new as it is to her, is still more friendly than hotel rooms and that confusing house in the suburbs. It’s better to have Maelle and Gustave close again, too. “Gustave and Maelle went right into taking trips, and without a mission to distract us, they’ve been talking a little more.”
About what specifically, who can say? Sciel pauses there, however, for the brief purse of her own lips.
“Verso didn’t turn up, though. His apartment is cleaned out, keys on the counter.”
“Oh, we were fine,” she says. It’d been something of a relief to get away from the endless, exhausting sprawl of asphalt and motor vehicles, and her own bedroom, new as it is to her, is still more friendly than hotel rooms and that confusing house in the suburbs. It’s better to have Maelle and Gustave close again, too. “Gustave and Maelle went right into taking trips, and without a mission to distract us, they’ve been talking a little more.”
About what specifically, who can say? Sciel pauses there, however, for the brief purse of her own lips.
“Verso didn’t turn up, though. His apartment is cleaned out, keys on the counter.”
Lune's yet to explore Etraya more, but what she'd seen earlier during the trolley rides (of course she rode it more than once) looked more inviting and familiar than the chaos of San Francisco.
"That's good," she nods at the news of Gustave and Maelle, pleased, finishing her bread and chasing the mouthful down with a sip of wine. Lune doesn't have all the details, but she'd gotten enough insight during their talks at one of the many hotel rooms to tell that there was tension between everyone— including Maelle and Gustave. Surely any communication can only be good.
When Sciel brings up Verso, Lune pauses. "Does that mean...?"
Does that mean he's gone, entirely? That's a possibility that honestly hadn't even crossed Lune's mind at any point. "People may disappear as easily as they are pulled in?"
"That's good," she nods at the news of Gustave and Maelle, pleased, finishing her bread and chasing the mouthful down with a sip of wine. Lune doesn't have all the details, but she'd gotten enough insight during their talks at one of the many hotel rooms to tell that there was tension between everyone— including Maelle and Gustave. Surely any communication can only be good.
When Sciel brings up Verso, Lune pauses. "Does that mean...?"
Does that mean he's gone, entirely? That's a possibility that honestly hadn't even crossed Lune's mind at any point. "People may disappear as easily as they are pulled in?"
Sciel passes her wine glass between her hands, watching Lune’s face with a calm sort of ambivalence; there’s no rhyme or reason to ignoring the cold facts of his disappearance, but still, her gut feeling about it prevails. She couldn’t explain it any better than she could explain tarot cards, but as she cannot pull Verso out of thin air, blind faith will have to do.
“I don’t know what it means for anyone disappearing,” she says. Her smile breaks out again, like this is an inside joke: “But it wouldn’t be the first time Verso’s wandered off, and it’s not the worst time for him to do it.”
“I don’t know what it means for anyone disappearing,” she says. Her smile breaks out again, like this is an inside joke: “But it wouldn’t be the first time Verso’s wandered off, and it’s not the worst time for him to do it.”
Lune leans back in her chair and mulls it over, watching her tattooed fingers slowly turn the glass by the stem on the table for a while. But she doesn't let the silence linger uncomfortably, tipping her head a little and arching a brow when she looks back up at Sciel.
"What makes you say that? Not the worst time?" she asks, cautiously curious, wanting Sciel's thought process behind that determination before she says anything more.
"What makes you say that? Not the worst time?" she asks, cautiously curious, wanting Sciel's thought process behind that determination before she says anything more.
Sciel watches Lune’s face as she turns and considers, matching that tip of her head. It occurs to her, in a quiet way, that she doesn’t know what Lune and Gustave have discussed.
The thought doesn’t make her uncomfortable –– there’s no point in that, really –– but she knows Lune will be honest with Gustave in a way she won’t.
“You don’t think it’s better for Gustave to adjust to this new situation without Verso turning up the charm?”
The thought doesn’t make her uncomfortable –– there’s no point in that, really –– but she knows Lune will be honest with Gustave in a way she won’t.
“You don’t think it’s better for Gustave to adjust to this new situation without Verso turning up the charm?”
"Ah." Lune nods. That makes sense. "No, I agree."
What a tightrope. She purses her lips for a second, her expression softening a little. She hopes Sciel isn't worried she'd spilled every questionable thing she thinks Verso has ever done to Gustave the moment she spoke to him alone. She's aware Maelle thinks she's being unfair to Verso, insisting upon asking all the questions she wants to ask. Moot point, if Verso really is gone from Etraya.
They're focusing on Gustave, and Maelle to a point, but Lune glances at Sciel with softer earnestness in her eyes now. "I'm sorry. I know you and Verso... have a connection."
What a tightrope. She purses her lips for a second, her expression softening a little. She hopes Sciel isn't worried she'd spilled every questionable thing she thinks Verso has ever done to Gustave the moment she spoke to him alone. She's aware Maelle thinks she's being unfair to Verso, insisting upon asking all the questions she wants to ask. Moot point, if Verso really is gone from Etraya.
They're focusing on Gustave, and Maelle to a point, but Lune glances at Sciel with softer earnestness in her eyes now. "I'm sorry. I know you and Verso... have a connection."
Surprise flickers on her face; Lune’s so sweet to think of her, especially in the midst of her own turmoil and everything else, but in an instant she feels like she’s stepped right out of her body and into her own head. Strange, after feeling more unobserved for the past few weeks, but this is Lune, not Gustave, and it’s a little different. She knows what it was like to be there, desperately trying to keep the 33 from being a lost cause, and so her surprise breaks quickly into a broader smile. It really is sweet.
“Oh,” she says, a little awkward despite herself. “Thank you, but it’s alright. He’ll be back.”
A beat.
“I hope that didn’t bother you, through the Expedition…”
It had really only taken one missed sentry duty to blow any semblance of discretion, particularly under Lune’s very sharp eye, but Sciel would like to think it was never a problem between them. Especially given… well. A lot was happening, then, and it wasn’t even all that long ago.
“Oh,” she says, a little awkward despite herself. “Thank you, but it’s alright. He’ll be back.”
A beat.
“I hope that didn’t bother you, through the Expedition…”
It had really only taken one missed sentry duty to blow any semblance of discretion, particularly under Lune’s very sharp eye, but Sciel would like to think it was never a problem between them. Especially given… well. A lot was happening, then, and it wasn’t even all that long ago.
Lune wants to ask if the cards told her that too or is this simply more of Sciel's irrepressible optimism, but that feels flippant even if meant fondly. Instead she gives a wan smile, shaking her head.
"It wasn't any of my business. So long as it didn't affect the mission." If Sciel and Verso found some comfort in each other in the midst of all the misery, Lune couldn't really begrudge them that. Even if she was annoyed about that missed sentry duty.
But Lune can't imagine that didn't complicate things here, as Sciel more or less just confirmed the ongoing status. She picks up another piece of bread but doesn't eat it yet. "You're okay, then? Otherwise, I mean— with everything."
Hi, she's trying hard to be a good friend, here.
"It wasn't any of my business. So long as it didn't affect the mission." If Sciel and Verso found some comfort in each other in the midst of all the misery, Lune couldn't really begrudge them that. Even if she was annoyed about that missed sentry duty.
But Lune can't imagine that didn't complicate things here, as Sciel more or less just confirmed the ongoing status. She picks up another piece of bread but doesn't eat it yet. "You're okay, then? Otherwise, I mean— with everything."
Hi, she's trying hard to be a good friend, here.
“Good,” she says. Leave it to Lune to be pragmatic, and for once, she can believe whole-heartedly in the approach. She matches Lune’s smile, devoid of any relief, because if it hasn’t affected the mission now, it’s certainly affected friendships.
But is she okay?
“I really am okay,” she says, and that’s true. “There’s lots to process and grieve, of course, and Lumière is going to be what it is. I think I’m mostly just upset for Gustave. And maybe a little bit upset with him, too.”
She pauses, drawing in a breath and ending up just shaking her head, looking at Lune helplessly. It feels like asking Lune to get involved in something she’s much too smart for, and like burdening her friend with yet another conflict begun in her absence, but it would be silly to pretend it isn’t happening. She can’t just call it triage forever, not when the damage has radiated in unpredictable directions.
By way of an explanation:
“Gustave made it very clear he does not want to talk to me about Verso because of our… connection.”
If the word fits!
But is she okay?
“I really am okay,” she says, and that’s true. “There’s lots to process and grieve, of course, and Lumière is going to be what it is. I think I’m mostly just upset for Gustave. And maybe a little bit upset with him, too.”
She pauses, drawing in a breath and ending up just shaking her head, looking at Lune helplessly. It feels like asking Lune to get involved in something she’s much too smart for, and like burdening her friend with yet another conflict begun in her absence, but it would be silly to pretend it isn’t happening. She can’t just call it triage forever, not when the damage has radiated in unpredictable directions.
By way of an explanation:
“Gustave made it very clear he does not want to talk to me about Verso because of our… connection.”
If the word fits!
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