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Sciel ([personal profile] cache_coeur) wrote2025-05-13 09:20 pm
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INBOX

”Allô, mon amie! Je ne suis pas disponible pour le moment, mais laissez-moi un message et je vous rapellerai dès que possible! À bientôt!”

CODING
trebuchim: (42345)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-07 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Lune may be frustrated by the situation, but she doesn't want Verso hurt any more than Gustave. There are reasons why Verso is the way he is, and she realizes Gustave can't see it the same way they can; he didn't spend months with the man, fighting side by side. But keeping Gustave in the dark isn't the answer, either.

"And we won't leave anyone to deal with anything by themselves."

They are still a team, regardless of circumstances. Somehow they'll need to try to manage this with as much grace and tact as possible. Lune is the first to admit the latter isn't her strong suit, but that's why Sciel is there. She meets Sciel's eyes and nods. "Of course. Whenever you're ready."
maellum: (pic#17896202)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-08 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Maelle's frown deepens.

"And what do I do?" She asks, crossing her arms. She's certainly been feeling her age these days, and she's not sure she likes it. "Go draw on the sidewalk with chalk while the adults talk?"
trebuchim: (66619)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-08 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Lune's lips press firmer together for a second. She's always tried to see Maelle as an expeditioner first, just like she'd argued at Gustave that awful first night after the beach. But she'd also sort of imprinted on Verso like a baby duck, after Gustave's passing. Is she ready to have a discussion that involves both Gustave's death and – coming from Lune – blunt assessments of Verso and his actions? Lune flicks a glance at Sciel, then gazes steadily at Maelle.

"If you are ready," she says at length, trying to strike a balance between coaching herself in slightly more sensitive terms without babying Maelle in the process.

"You're welcome to join us, but– it'll be a frank conversation. A hard one, potentially. You have to be certain."
maellum: (pic#17896194)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-08 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Maelle looks between Sciel and Lune, eyes dark. She wants to bristle, but the fact that the lump in her throat threatens to suffocate her, some part of her knows they're right to be concerned. That doesn't mean she has to like it, and it doesn't mean she has to agree. Stubbornness was inherited from Gustave.

"I was on the cliff. I was the first one to meet Verso," she points out, voice tight. "Does what I made of him not count because he saved me? Or does my opinion not matter because--because I'll--get emotional? Like a normal person?"

Like now, though she looks away, irritated with herself, a frustrated breath forced out of her lungs.
trebuchim: (823082)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-08 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Lune watches them in sympathetic silence, feeling a tiny prick at her own inability to offer comfort in such situations. It's the bridge all over again, but this time there no Dualliste to interrupt them.

This is Sciel's wheelhouse, not Lune's. She's able to explain all the concerns Lune has but is unable to put into words, offer Maelle that emotional response she's looking for. Lune can only provide distance, facts. It's hard to put distance between and examine rationally something that should have been final and irreversible, but is now thrust right in front of them to be dealt with Gustave. It's going to be difficult enough for Lune and Sciel, much less for Maelle... and Gustave. Lune isn't certain Maelle is entirely grasping how completely this is going to flay them open, expose every step along the way that they'd been too busy surviving to examine properly, to expose them to critical scrutiny. She's hardly looking forward to it, herself.

She's glad Sciel understands, however, and it comes across the words she's speaking to Maelle. Lune wonders, briefly, what it would have been like to grow up with this kind of support. She's happy Maelle has it, in the eye of such a decision.

Keeping her silence, Lune clasps her hands behind her back and waits for Maelle to work things out.
maellum: (pic#17882546)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-08 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"If he should know what's in our heads, that includes mine, doesn't it? I have to be able to speak for myself," Maelle says quietly, glancing to Lune before searching Sciel's eyes with her own. Her opinion of Verso matters. She would be dead a few times over if not for his intervention. They know that.

She also knows they want to avoid too much emotion, tears, panic. Maelle is beginning to think that's simply not possible. Sciel's calm exterior and Lune's logical approach are aspirational, maybe, but there's no world where Maelle can stop herself from letting it all bubble to the surface. She supposes now is good practice, and she presses her teeth into her bottom lip as she steadies herself. Takes a breath. Looks to Sciel again, though she doesn't remember dropping her gaze.

"I'll never be certain and I'll never be ready but I can... I can stay calm. I want to be there for him. For Verso, too. Everyone seems to think... it was quick or easy when he joined us. It wasn't. Not for me."

He was easy to talk to once she let herself, and a friend soon after. It was easy to see where the broken pieces of a brother who missed his younger sister and a sister that missed her older brother fit together. They did one another a kindness by never saying anything about it, not directly, but Maelle saw it just as well as anyone else.

But he was no replacement for Gustave. He was a part of their Expedition because they had no choice if they wanted to defeat the Paintress. It’s that simple... until it isn't. The lies complicate it all.
trebuchim: (05552)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-08 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Lune gives a small smile, but there's nothing cheerful about it. Maelle has had to mature far sooner than is fair, had to carry so much on those slender shoulders already. It is so for all Lumièrans, but it feels particularly incongruous here. She's so much stronger than they perhaps give her credit for, sometimes, but is it so wrong of them to want to protect her from more pain?

Be that as it may, Maelle has made her decision, and now it's their turn to respect it. Lune meets Sciel's eyes, nodding.

"If Gustave agrees," Lune confirms, her expression cast with vaguely grim determination.

"We don't have to throw everything at him at once. And shouldn't– not just for Gustave's sake. Staggered approach. We'll take it one step at a time, see how it goes. If it's too much, we'll continue another day."

This is what Lune can do; make plans, draw guidelines. The rest would happen as it will.
maellum: (pic#17882349)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-08 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Maelle looks to Sciel and Lune and gives them both a nod. It’s settled, then.

"If Gustave agrees. Lune is right, it doesn't have to be all at once. I... I have his journal, and my entries in it. We're going to start going through it bit by bit. When we can."

So, eventually, he might have a better idea of what they encounterer out in the Continent. The Axons, the places he didn't get to see. But she knows he's most concerned about Verso, this strange man that's joined them in their absence.

"So--there's that, too. By the end of this he might not feel so... behind."

Maybe. She hopes. She's already tired of dwelling on the past.
trebuchim: (02806)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-10 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Lune exhales a slow breath between barely parted lips, decision made. She may still have some concerns about this, but she's proud of Maelle all the same. "Yes. Let's hope," she chimes in softly on the heels of Sciel's comment.

It's been an eventful day, and it's not done yet. Lune feels herself cycling between different levels of confused, worried, stressed and tired. She meets Sciel's gently concerned gaze.

"I'm fine," she says with a tiniest shake of her head, and it can't come as a surprise to anyone that she does. She never tends to her own issues when there are other things to preoccupy her. "We can keep going, if there's anything else. I'd prefer to know everything I need to up front."
maellum: (pic#17882521)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-10 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Maelle is simply glad to be included without an argument or fight. There's something ugly that wants to rear up, but for now, it's appeased. She just wants Gustave to be okay. All of them, really, but it's only natural that she worries about Gustave most of all.

"You know you'll probably be living with when this mission is over, right?" She offers as a way of lightening the mood. It's important information! "There's still room."

Especially with Verso down the hall and Maelle sharing a room with Gustave. She tells herself she'll move into her own, eventually, but she's in no hurry.
trebuchim: (52341)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-11 09:34 am (UTC)(link)
Lune is hardly surprised to hear Gustave and Verso aren't sharing a space. Nor that the rest of them have stuck together. Why wouldn't they, having been reunited with Gustave?

Lune is used to being on her own outside the Expedition– where sticking together was a necessity. They're no longer an Expedition, though. Yet, a large part of her doesn't necessarily want to be alone in that strange new place, before she's found her feet.

"If it's alright with Gustave." She gives a small smile, acquiescing. "Then, yes– at least for the time being."
maellum: (pic#17882357)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-11 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. Maelle visibly brightens, happy to hear Lune's answer. For the time being is good enough, and maybe she'll like the apartment too much to want to venture out on her own.

"There's enough space for us, promise," Maelle smiles. "Whenever we get to go back, you'll see."
trebuchim: (02999)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-11 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Maelle's enthusiasm lifts Lune's spirits for a moment, a tiny smile curving at her mouth for a second. At least her arrival hasn't disrupted whatever existing group dynamic that's been shaped up in her absence too badly. Hopefully.

"Hm– I'm looking forward to seeing it all."

Her left arm drops to hang loosely by her side, right hand clasping the elbow– uncertainty. The curiosity and interest of discovery sparking up within her push against all this newness, and just... new trauma. She probably does need that break at some point in spite of arguing the opposite a while ago.
maellum: (pic#17882264)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-11 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The group dynamic is a mess, and no small part of Maelle wonders if the tension would be so bad had Lune been with them from the start. She feels hopeful that Lune will help them make sense of things and encourage them to actually solve some of their problems. Somehow.

"We didn't get a chance to explore a lot before this mission. No will be able complain they're bored," she says. Though she has far more appreciation for quiet moments now, especially when she can look over and see Gustave whole and alive as if nothing terrible ever happened.
trebuchim: (42346)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-12 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
That, at least, dredges a small huff of laughter from Lune, her smile brief but genuine. "That does sound like you, Sciel."

Said in all affection! In the face of Sciel's obvious concern, Lune realizes she's let her focus drift, to get distracted. She can obsess later, not now. Shaking her head, her hands migrate to her waist instead.

"Yeah. It's just... a lot on my mind." Understatement.
maellum: (pic#17882624)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-08-12 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Maelle rolls her eyes with an amused smile. Sciel didn't waste time, but to be fair, Maelle's found it difficult to go anywhere Gustave isn't. She keeps telling herself it'll get easier, but maybe not so much when the scenery keeps changing.

When Sciel motions to the couch, Maelle scoots over to the far side. See? Plenty of room.

"Is that new?"

Look, their situation is far less bleak than it once was.
trebuchim: (52601)

[personal profile] trebuchim 2025-08-12 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
The rain of ash and petals comes back at the question and Lune has to take a steadying breath, to glance down at herself to check she's still standing in one piece, not slowly fading away. Swallowing, Lune manages to unroot her feet from the floor and move to the sofa, finally submitting and taking a seat, leaning her elbows against her thighs.

"The Gommage," she says slowly, perhaps predictably. Maybe she should be more concerned by this inexplicable change of scenery, but she isn't. Maybe it's just her mind latching onto something that's familiar rather than processing everything else that's new and overwhelming just yet.

"But we don't need to get into that, now. I'll need to speak with Verso later. Ask a few questions."

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