facsimile

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀choices  in  which ..     i'd  rather  keep  to  myself  for  the  time  being.     [  not  that  he  hadn't  trusted  the  other,    in  fact  that  was  the  reason  why.    trusted  him  too  much,    that  speaking  the  mess  of  his  mind  into  existence  just  seemed  like  an  invitation  to  scare  him  off,     to  lose  everything  he  had  spent  so  much  time  meticulously  building.  ]

⠀⠀↯          oh.     (     a  hand  came  to  cradle  at  his  jaw  briefly  before  raising  an  eyebrow  at  the  other,     )     hmm,     like  what?     if  you  don't  mind  me  asking. 

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀maybe  a  bit  more  stubble  than  usual,    otherwise  no —    i  was  just ..    spacing  out,    i  have  a  lot  to  think  about.

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀mmh ..    [  a  quiet,    stubborn  sigh  left  him,    gaze  flickering  elsewhere,    avoiding  gustave's  form  just  as  it  had  been  lately.    it  was  purposeful,    yet  getting  him  to  admit  that  aloud  was  another  story.  ]     when  would  you  have  had  the  time  to  wrong  me?    we've  hardly  been  around  one  another,    i'd  say  that  conclusion  is  a  bit  of  a  reach.

⠀⠀↯          that's  what  i  thought  at  first  but  now  it  feels  deliberate.     i—-     (     he  stopped  himself  short,      pausing  as  he  pressed  his  lips  together.     )     if  i  did  something  to  wrong  you,     verso,     i  would  prefer  you  tell  me.

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀i'm  not ..    / avoiding /   you.     i've  got  other  things  on  my  plate,    just  as  you  do.

⠀⠀↯          then  if  you  have  to,     i—     if  i'm  not  able.     keep  her  safe.     do  what  you  must.     (     he  pulled  away,     though  kept  a  steady  eye  on  the  other.     )     i  did,     yes.     if  i  can  see  through  you,     certainly  i  can  see  through  my  sister.     i  just  wish—     agh.     i  feel  so  useless.     helpless.

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀if  she's ..    this  set  on  remaining  within  the  canvas,     i  have  a  feeling  it  will  end  with  us  fighting.     [  gaze  shifted  towards  the  ground,    lips  parting  around  a  weary  sigh.  ]     she  lied  to  renoir  —    i  know  you  noticed  that  too ..    there  is  no  way  to  convince  her,    not  without  doing  it  the  hard  way.

⠀⠀↯          it  could  be  worth  a  shot.     (     he  tried  to  reason,     but  it  sounded  less  motivating  and  more  resigned,     like  he  knew  the  other  was  right.     but  it  wouldn't  be  gustave  if  he  didn't  give  it  one  last  valiant  try.    )     . . .     she  won't  be.     (  . . .  )     i  don't  want  to  think  about  how  this  could  end,     i  don't  want  this  to  end  in  us  fighting.

⠀⠀↯          and  now  you're  putting  meaning  into  my  words  that  are  not  there.     (     gustave  pointedly  replied,     the  playful  retort  almost  dripped  with  fondness.     neither  would  say  the  obvious,     that  sort  of  thing  was  not  wired  within  them—     or  in  gustave  at  least.     he  was  glad  he  could  toe  the  line,     see  what  was  received  and  if  it  would  be  reciprocated.     )     fine,     fine.     don't  need  to  get  all  defensive  about  it.     though,     is  that  true?     thought  it  was  only  maelle  you  were  asked  to  keep  an  eye  on.
            
            /*     especially  with  all  of  the  parallels  and  their  character  motivations...     they  could've  been  so  great.

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀see ..    now  you're  making  yourself  sound  desperate.     [  verso  shook  his  head  dismissively,    refusing  to  say  the  obvious  aloud.    it  was  evident  through  the  simple  observations  alone,    but  most  of  this  was  noticed  throughout  the  nights  spent  talking  for  hours  when  neither  could  sleep.  ]     to  be  fair,     i  watched  / all /  of  you  long  before  any  of  us  met,    just  so  we're  clear  there's  no  special  treatment  here.
            
            ⁄          no ..     i genuinely was too,    but once their characters develop more,    it's really easy to notice just how much their personalities complement each other

⠀⠀↯          ah,     sure,     sure.     whatever  helps  your  mind.     (     a  lighthearted  shake  of  his  head  as  he  rolled  his  eyes.     his  arms  unfolded  and  a  hand  came  to  rest  upon  his  hip,     the  languid  motion  now  smooth  and  easy.     he  doesn't  know  the  last  time  he  felt  like  this.     )     mhm. . .     sure.     i  mean  i  don't  mind  it  if  you  do,     really.     you  can  just  tell  me.     you  don't  have  to  lie  about  this  for  your  sake.
            
            /*     god  theyre  so  silly...    but  also  me  as  hell  PLSSS,,     at  first  when  i  saw  this  ship  i  was  so  confused  by  it  but  as  i  thought  and  played  more  i  was  like  ok yeah  maybe..... 

unfortunately, i do recall, * a sigh leaves him, before he shifts, head in hands, * i'm so behind. it just feels like /so much/.

@feathrflaunt  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀hmm ..    you don't remember the fifteen minute stress rant you went on about your work last night?

you, * he murmurs, settling on the couch next to the other and leaning against him, * i.. find i would prefer to stay with you today.

@gentledeath-           ⁄          whaattt that is such a nice thing to say,    thank you so much!!   i hope you have a wonderful day/night omg thank you again  )):

⠀⠀oh.     is  it. . .     that  again?     (     he  wasn't  sure  if  he  could  say  her  name  aloud,     choosing  to  step  around  it  in  this  fragile  moment.     his  thumb  softly  rubbed  against  his  wrist,     a  mindless  soothing  thing  he  does  with  maelle.     though  he  wasn't  sure  what  could  be  seen  as  soothing  for  the  other,     this  part  was  new  to  either  of  them.     gustave  softly  chuckled,     some  of  the  tension  within  his  face  easing  away  with  the  action,     )     aht. . .     i'm  afraid  the  damage  has  been  done.     if  it  wasn't  you,     it  would've  been  a  nightmare  anyway.     and  somehow  i  much  rather  prefer  this.     (     he  softly  joked,     though  not  much  of  it  was  really  one.     he'd  prefer  something  real  than  something  made  up  in  his  mind.     )     don't  worry  yourself  over  it.
            
            /*     youre lucky i like you....... >_>

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀[  thankfully  no  one  had  gotten  hurt,    dreaming  of  that  was  enough,     though  it  being  a  reality  again  would've  played  a  different  part  than  it  did  now.    despite  the  grip  grounding  him,    his  hand  still  shook,    fingers  flexing  for  a  moment  to  try  and  stop  it  once  he  realized,    but  it  was a  futile  attempt,    he  was  too  on  edge  for  his  body  to  fully  let  his  nerves  relax.  ]      it's  just  the  same  thing  that's  been  bothering  me  off  and  on ..    [  to  an  extent  it  was,    the  truth  sat  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue,    wishing  to  be  spoken,    he  just  didn't  think  he  was  entirely  ready  to  speak  of  it  at  the  moment,    not  without  the  risk  of  working  himself  up  once  more.  ]    don't  tell  me  i've  disturbed  the  one  time  you've  managed  to  actually  put  yourself  to  sleep —  ..
            
            ⁄          ermmm....   must've been someone else actually, i fear i don't know what you speak of  <33

⠀⠀(     gustave  let  their  hands  move  into  a  comfortable  position  to  hold  at  each  others  wrists.     he  didn't  notice  the  contact  as  much,     but  allowed  it  to  linger.     his  other  hand  let  go  of  his  shirt  then  too,     no  longer  needing  to  keep  that  distance.     he  watched  the  other  frown,     trying  to  play  off  whatever  just  happened.     he  never  thought  this  would  play  out  like  it  did,     in  some  cases  gustave  might've  thought  he  would  be  the  one  in  verso's  situation.     nightmares  still  plagued  him,     but  he  supposes  he  would  handle  it  better  than  the  one  who  has  been  dreamless  for  years.     his  eyebrows  pinched  together,     )     it's  fine—-     no  one  got  hurt.     it  doesn't  seem  like  nothing.
            
            /*     i think i'm allowed bc of that bomb you dropped in dms......

⠀⠀only  when  i  think  about  it  too  much.     (     a  wistful  sort  of  look  came  over  his  face  then,     bringing  head  chin  down  towards  his  chest  as  if  he  was  embarrassed   by  the  admission.     he  never  thought  about  it  much  since  the  work  on  the  lumina  converter  and  what  lumière  needed  took  up  most  of  his  time.     )     i  used  to  do  duets.     have  you  ever. . .?     or  has  it  always  been  ‘ just  verso? ’
            
            /*     they have so much potential.... i love them dearly sobs

@luminairs  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀[  verso  could  never  imagine  having  to  lose  something  like  that,    couldn't  pretend  that  he  understood  that,    but  he  knew  if  he  ever  lost  the  ability  to  be  able  to  play  the  piano,    he'd  feel  only  half  complete,    because  his  love  for  playing  was  such  a  big  part  of  who  he  was.  ]    ..  do  you  miss  it?    playing,    i  mean.
            
            ⁄          stoopp i love them sm </33

⠀⠀yes.     my  maman  signed  me  up  for  classes  and. . .     (     he  trailed  off,     gesturing  to  what  anyone  could  infer  was  that  the  hobby  stuck.     he  missed  it,     dearly.     the  way  the  feeling  of  playing  the  notes  took  over  his  body.     )     maybe.     if  i  somehow  could  play  it  with  this  hand.     besides,     if  maelle  knew  i  could,     i  wouldn't  hear  the  end  of  it.
            
            /*     RIGHHTTT.... i made the hc before i even realized it uuggrrhh </3

well, i think-- * he really had no comeback. brows furrowed, he stirred the contents of his bowl, * oh, whatever. you can think that all you'd like >:( 

@feathrflaunt  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀i think ..     you just don't like being wrong,     but i'd like to believe i'm right more times than you are.

i suppose one might look at it that way. although.. i'd say it's more of a seventy-thirty ratio. that being, me correct seventy percent of the time, and you thirty. 

maelle  said  nothing,  she  /couldn't/  say  anything,  it  was  if  her  mouth  had  gone  dry  and  any  words  died  in  her  throat.   her  breath  hitched  as  she  looked  away  again,  attempting  to  find  something  to  busy  her  thoughts  and  blurry  vision  with.  she  had  thought  the  truth  would  be  better  to  hear  than  whatever  excuse  of  a  lie  would  come  instead,   maelle  was  wrong.   even  now,  with  her  and  alicia's  memories  combined,  she  still  deeply  missed  gustave,  he  had  become  her  family  during  the  period  she  thought  she  had  done,  had  taken  place  of  the  older  brother  without  maelle  even  realising  it  like  she  does  now.  to  think  all  of  this  could  have  been  avoided  almost  destroyed  her  all  over  again.⠀⠀⠀the  thought  was  there,  that  if  she  had  remembered  who  she  was,  where  she  came  from  before  all  of  this, she  could  have  saved  him  herself,  perhaps,  or  maybe  she  still  wouldn't  have  been  strong  enough  against  renoir.⠀⠀⠀maelle's  jaw  tightened  and  she  sniffled,  quickly  wiping  her  eyes  on  her  sleeves  as  quickly  as  she  could.  even  through  her  feelings,  the  fiery  emotions  that  bubbled  and  wanted  to  make  their  way  out  —-  there  was  nothing  in  her  that  could  resent  verso  for  this,  she  wasn't  even  all  that  angry,  it  was  just  that  gnawing  sense  of  emptiness,  of  realization,  which  almost  made  her  feel  worse.⠀⠀⠀‘  ...  thanks.  for  telling  me  the  truth.  ’
            
            ⠀⠀⠀ノ  if  we  keep  them  hidden  in  the  pocket,  then  they  can  have  as  much  fun  in  there,,  without  having  to  face  the  horrors  of  their  world  </3

@tomorrowcomes  ⠀    ⠀     ﹠̲ ⠀it  was  too  late  to  take  back  the  truth  now,    even  if  he  wanted  to ..     it  wasn't  the  easiest  thing  to  get  off  his  chest,    and  while  it  had  admittedly  lifted  some  weight,    the  fact  that  the  guilt  of  it  was  resurfacing  made  it  feel  as  if  he  were  right  back  to  square  one.     he  had  no  right  to  cry,    to  be  upset  over  something  he  could  have  prevented  from  happening  to  start  with,    but  it  was  more  for  her  than  himself,    for  being  conscious  of  the  pain  his  choices  up  until  now  brought  her.     ‘  because  i  was  afraid ..  ’
                     of  the  attachment  she  had  to  gustave,    of  what  that  could've  prevented  in  the  end —    at  the  time  he  believed  that  the  lying,     the  persuasion,    would  be  easier  without  the  other  male  picking  up  on  all  the  deceit  before  maelle  could  ever  even  make  a  decision  for  herself ..     ‘  afraid  that  if  you  found  out  about  the  canvas,    and  he  was  there ..     you  would  refuse  to  help  me  send  maman  home.  ’
            
            ⁄          i'm just putting verso in my pocket atp  </3    all of them actually will be in there,    happily

she  had  knew  the  answer  that  was  coming,  although  to  say  that  maelle  wasn't  hoping  for  a  different  one  would  be  a  lie.  she  knew  the  truth  when  she  had  asked  the  words,  but  for  her  own  piece  of  mind,  she  wanted  an  answer  —-  and  even  though  he  didn't  lie  to  her,  she  almost  wished  he  did.  would  the  lie  have  been  easier  to  stomach  .ᐣ  to  delude  herself  into  thinking  that  it  was  always  going  to  end  this  way,  no  matter  what  she  or  verso  did  .ᐣ   though,  perhaps  at  the  edge  of  her  mind,  she  would  always  know  that  wasn't  the  truth.⠀⠀⠀she  couldn't  look  at  him,  her  feelings  twisting  deep  in  her  gut,   and  with  it,  came  the  question  she  may  regret  asking.⠀⠀⠀‘   ...  why  .ᐣ  ’⠀⠀⠀gustave  had  nothing  to  do  with  this,  had  nothing  to  do  with  their  family  and  their  grief,  but  somewhere  along  the  way,  he  became  *her*  family.  he  died  for  her,  but  he  didn't  have  to  —-  it  swirled  her  thoughts,  finally  giving  a  once  over  to  the  painted  version  of  her  original  family.⠀⠀⠀‘   why  did  you..  let  him  die  .ᐣ  ’
            
            ⠀⠀⠀ノ  i  think  about  that  a  lot,  ugh.  that  he  looks  so  composed  that  you  would  never  even  notice  until  /  unless  you  noticed  the  faint  details  of  tears  nd  the  tear  tracks   </3  it's  such  a  subtle  detail  but  it  just.  holds  a  lot  of  weight  in  such  a  small  design  decision  tbh