[She smiles while she gets pulled in. She only gives a nod to his question. Of course that's his deal. But she can think of a better one. If.. he could fix things, maybe it won't be so bad. There's a little bit of hope there.
But that's another thing that will have to wait until later. Once she figures out how to explain everything. She'd rather just not talk about any of it right now. He's here. She just wants to appreciate that first.]
[gustave leans his cheek briefly against the top of her head, not immediately sure what to say. when he does speak, his voice is soft, full of genuine affection.]
I'm sorry that I left. [but he won't apologize for standing there between her and renoir, because he'd do it again right now.]
[She wraps her arms around him and squeezes tight. She could scold him for breaking his promise, for staying to fight a losing battle. But she knows Verso let him die. If it wasn't then, it would have been another time. Gustave was doomed.
It makes her worry more about how to tell him everything he's missed, everything they've lost. But he has his deal so...
Yeah. [he takes a careful breath, obviously soothed by the hug. things have changed, but the most important things remain the same.]
So... tell me about it, yeah? What was it like, traveling with Esquie? [gustave is apparently going to launch into a thousand benign little questions until they retire for bed - lighthearted, never broaching anything too serious.]
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Date: 2025-10-05 01:37 am (UTC)But that's another thing that will have to wait until later. Once she figures out how to explain everything. She'd rather just not talk about any of it right now. He's here. She just wants to appreciate that first.]
I missed you.
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Date: 2025-10-05 01:40 am (UTC)I'm sorry that I left. [but he won't apologize for standing there between her and renoir, because he'd do it again right now.]
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Date: 2025-10-05 01:51 am (UTC)It makes her worry more about how to tell him everything he's missed, everything they've lost. But he has his deal so...
In time, she lets him go so she can type again.]
You were trying to protect me. I don't
blame you for that.
Besides, we have all the time we want now.
[So it all works out somehow.]
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Date: 2025-10-05 06:36 pm (UTC)So... tell me about it, yeah? What was it like, traveling with Esquie? [gustave is apparently going to launch into a thousand benign little questions until they retire for bed - lighthearted, never broaching anything too serious.]