The long awaited moment is finally here ! Gustave and Verso finally meet in person. What will happen now ? How are they going to react ? This chapter is the biggest to date, I hope you'll like it !
Aaaaaand you have it ! After more than 100 pages (god) they're finally able to talk to each other ! Sorry for the slow burn up until this point, I hope it was worth it !
The story will obviously continue, but I'm gonna take a break : first because this chapter drained me I'm not gonna lie xD (need to do something else a bit, like sleep) and also because I need a little bit of time to properly write the following chapters ! I have ideas, but I must organize them into a cool story that holds together. I hope you will like it.
summary: joining expedition 33 was the right decision - you could watch over Maelle and help form history. Learning more about her illusive brother was merely a potential plus you choose to ignore.
wc: 2.5k ON THE DOT
tags: slowburn (?), they're in love but don't know it, strangers to lovers, angst and fluff, SPOILERS FOR ACT 1!!!!!
𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆
It was a depressing evening. The day of the Gommage was not one for smiles, for laughter, for unweighted love - yet flowers bloomed and people danced, as if those in their hands weren’t destined to flit away in the wind at the stroke of a brush. Lovers, family, friends, and even complete strangers all embraced for one last warmth before their unjust end. A head on a shoulder, a hand in another, tears mingling in a final kiss - all to end in petals. The Gommage was painful, but you kept smiling. Maelle was beside you, ten years your junior, and needed your help in consoling the children. It was necessary that you never break, never falter under the weight of tiny hands needing your comfort. Maelle was still young, regardless of what she believed, and couldn’t handle it all on her own.
Emma makes her rounds, keeping an eye on all those with flowers decorating their doomed bodies. She falters, praying no one sees, but you do. You see how she pauses just a few steps from Gustave, where his entire world is narrowed to one point.
Sophie.
She is - was - a true sweetheart. Loved and appreciated by all; you are no exception. It was only a night prior that she pulled you aside and in hushed tears, begged you to watch out for him - Gustave. Her warm hands held your cold ones, teary eyes meeting solemn ones. It was with a tug at your heart that she made her plea - a final wish, she called it. Who were you to deny? A shadow in the lovers lives, not admiring but not resentful. Merely appreciative, if not daydreaming on days where your strength was weak and the warmth you craved was wrapped away.
Now she stands there at the end of the harbor, the looming figure of The Paintress overshadowed by the grief of the shattered man holding her. It wasn’t pity or sympathy you felt, only understanding. You didn’t turn away when the petals flew, a glowing thirty-three hanging like an omen in the sky. You didn’t step back when Maelle shied away, tucking her face into your sweater. It was indistinguishable from the little ones hiding behind your legs, clutching your hands and wiping their noses against your clothes. Your own tears fell silently. An apology of sorts.
Gustave was frozen by the harbor, a broken image of angel highlighted by an unforgiving God. He never asked for the blessing or the punishment it brings. The love he craved enough to leave was permanently gone. If your heart tugged in his direction it was no one's business but your own.
“Come along Maelle.” The two of you usher the crying children away, gentle sniffling a broken symphony. She follows beside you and occasionally glances back at Gustave, torn between her duty and her support. Deep down she knows he needs time, so she follows you, sticking like a welcomed glue.
It’s late into the night, the small city a quieter hum now that another number is gone. It made no sense to drink and party, but hey. If you were destined to die on this expedition, so be it. For those who come after. It’s those mumbled words that catch the attention of Lucien, stumbling over from a barely concealed sulking Gustave.
“And what, pray tell, are we lamenting?” Your friend grins, arm slung over your shoulder as he steers to the very impressive five table layout. A warmth flickers in your chest, the grip loosening.
“The silence I was enjoying.” You say dryly, tilting your head to grin slightly at him. He chuckles, easily amused as usual, and sits down heavily on a table. His hand clutches a bottle, taking a long swig that makes your own liver ache.
“You wound me dearest, truly.” He sighs. Margot walks past, sliding a token in your hand with a wink before shoving Lucien off the table. He squawks like a bird and a small laugh catches your attention. Gustave. It’s nice to hear, especially when it doesn’t falter as his eyes catch yours.
You look away first.
𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆
He thought nothing of you at first, not during the festival and not when the expedition first arrived on the beach. You stood beside Maelle so he kept his eyes trained there, always airing on the side of caution. It’s when the man in the suit steps out that he looks away - a fatal mistake. The explosion hits, dread coiling in his stomach with ill intent while his ears ring a violent tune. Only one word, one soul, rips through his mind as a cursed symphony. Maelle.
“What the fuck is happening?!” Leo curses, Lucien and Margot tucked alongside the two of them behind a rock. Dust and blood fills the lightning-striked air, making it hard to breathe. Before Gustave can even fathom a response, Margot is dead and they’re scattered. His head hits the ground hard, his eyes rattling in his skull as the ringing sharpens. The beach is shaking, why is the beach shaking?
With immense strength, he forces himself to look up - only to be met with the hands of a truly terrifying nevron. His training screams at him to act, to use his sword, to do what they all came here to do! But he falters.
A blur comes in and he's off the ground, thrown to the side as Lucien yells at him to move! Just as he starts to wake up, to feel the panic and turn it into fuel, Lucien is shot away. Something, someone, is screaming; it’s so loud and his ears are hurting like his throat and - oh. He’s screaming. Screaming for the crumpled girl in front of him being dragged away by other expeditioners he knows he owes his heart to. Light eyes meet his, Maelle’s name ripping out of his throat as she leaves his line of sight. That damned nevron takes her place.
The large ball of chroma forming should terrify him, but he only feels numb. Is this what it means to be an expeditioner? It all goes dark right when a familiar form steps in his place, chroma exploding in a purple light.
𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆
The first thing you notice is that your head hurts. The second is the yelling from somewhere below you.
“Are you alive up there?!” It takes a minute but you roll over, just enough to catch sight of a familiar face. Lune. She sighs when she spots you, out of relief you hope. It’s honestly hard to think when your brain is rattling around. Through some form of magic, truly you haven’t a clue what spell she did, you’re on her level.
“Sight for sore eyes..” You croak, being rewarded with a rare smile. Lune helps you up and you brush dirt off of your uniform, double-checking for any life threatening injuries. She heals both of you to play it safe.
“Your mind is an enigma to me.” Lune chuckles as you both take a much needed breath in the fallout of whatever the beach was. You glance around the cave you’re in, brain helpfully blocking out the bodies of who knows how many expeditioners.
“Cozy.” You comment dryly, the ball of chroma in Lune’s hand lighting the way. She mumbles on about contingencies, a rapid-fire pace you can’t even hope to keep up with. The cave widens and you look around, only snapping back into focus when Lune speaks to someone that isn’t you.
What you say makes your heart drop. Gustave sits with a gun to his head, lowering it not even a second later with Lune crouched by his side. You don’t know the man - not beyond Maelle, at least. The ache in your chest at the thought of her will be settled later. Quietly, you join Lune by crouching at Gustaves other side, pushing his hand down the rest of the way until the gun dissipates. His eyes catch yours and you look away first, pretending not to notice how encapsulating they could potentially be.
“We will find her.” The whisper seems to waken something in him, your voice and the promise it holds. He’d frankly forgotten that Maelle was important to you too, guilt worming its way into his heart. That’s why he stands up, not saying anything beyond a grateful nod.
The ground, hell the entire cave, rumbles beneath your feet. Gustave steadies you and Lune - though she’s already floating - as the nevron emerges from the dark. It’s tall as fuck and the ball of chroma at its head is well protected. Thankfully you’re a hell of a shot.
You don’t even think before shooting at it, dashing to the side to get at the slim opening in that weird cage. Gustave looks at you, then Lune, and then back at you before shrugging and running forward, sword drawn.
“I work with idiots..” Lune mutters before floating higher, shards of ice striking any weak point her calculating mind sees. Pain hits your side and you spot blood on Gustaves collar, but the attack patterns are quickly taking route in your mind. Within the minute the nevron is gone, Lune is pushing a healing tint in your hand, and Gustave unhooks the infamous Lumina converter from his pack at Lune’s insistence. The tint is sweet as you chug it, watching curiously as the converter actually works.
Gustave sighs with relief, standing up and rubbing his neck.
“Good, now let’s go. Any survivors should meet at the Indigo Tree.” Lune takes the lead while the two of you walk side by side. It’s silent for a while as the events of the day seep in, Sun slowly lowering in the sky. To pass the time you admire the landscape, tragedy be damned. Working with kids taught you to appreciate all that there is to see, and damn is it a beautiful sight. The Sun illuminates all there is; buildings older than your world, trees glimmering, and water sparkling at a nearby creek. A sigh leaves your lips, attention so focused on your surroundings that a pair of brown eyes slips by unnoticed.
He thought you were a little odd. Not in a bad way - his friends and family all tended to be weird as Maelle would say. He could see why she liked hanging around you. It was bothering him that he never paid attention before; you’re strong and for some reason, his mind is telling him he needs to keep an eye on you. That’s why he’s watching so closely, even when your merry little trio runs into two more nevrons.
“Is that a building..?” Your head cranes back to take it all in, Lune getting a grin on her face that is definitely not dorky. She’s already climbing before Gustave can blink, the two of you sharing an exasperated look.
“I swear..” He mutters, clicking his tongue before climbing as well. You take a second to wipe the sweat and blood off of your brow - ew - before doing the same.
The breeze gains strength the higher you go, your eyes watering. Lune seems intent to keep climbing even as the handholds run out. While it is technically mean to force her hand, you’re tired and not too fond of heights. So, you shoot out a window and hop inside, Gustave thumping down beside you.
“This is a safety hazard.” He comments at the destroyed flooring, but he still looks so excited at all he’s experiencing. Beneath that grimace is the same energy any little boy has; you see it all the time at the orphanage during apprenticeship day.
“That’s what makes it fun. Maelle would be jumping off the walls in here.” You chuckle, remembering how the runner could never keep still. Gustave thankfully laughs with you. You weren’t sure when Lune got there but based upon her unamused expression, it wasn’t just then.
“Guys, focus. We still have a mission.” She steps further into the house while you shuffle forward, tired of being active. Gustave takes the other half of the building.
It’s after listening to a depressing journal that you all walk out of the building. Lune pats your shoulder to get your attention off of the ground.
“Indigo Tree, come on.” She ushers you both forward, Gustave now in the lead. Just as you take the first few steps down, crouching to avoid a nevrons sight, you see the handholds.
“Hey. Something might be over there.” You point west just past a large nevron, broken mountains concealing whatever the end point is.
“We don’t have time for distractions.” Gustave shakes his head, Maelle his priority, but you can already hear how his interest is piqued. Lune debates in her mind, the Sun low in the sky. She knows that it’ll be growing dark soon.
“The Indigo Tree is far, we might not even make it in time before dark.” Lune explains. The rock digs into your back as you lean against it, smug in your silly victory. Gustave glares weakly at you but relents with a sigh, already forming his sword.
“There could be an old camp down there?” You suggest in an attempt to get back on his good side. Gustave, the angel he is, takes the obvious olive branch and nods with a small smile.
“Go on.” Lune gestures at the nevron - more specifically its chroma center. You sigh dramatically but shoot it, Gustave faltering in his own attack. Lune covers with a fire ball, bless her.
“...Did you just do that without looking-” He parries mid-sentence, grunting at the strength behind the nevrons own sword. You nod, dodging one of Lune’s ice shards with a yelp.
“Watch the damn ice!”
Lune quickly apologizes but hides a laugh of her own, floating off the ground as the sword swings her way. The nevron hits the ground, shaking what feels like the entire continent. You almost stumble but catch yourself. Gustave doesn’t have such luck, doomed to be clumsy, and would’ve fallen on his ass if it wasn’t for you catching him.
“Oh uhm, thanks.” He clears his throat, embarrassment obvious with how his cheeks flush. The urge to laugh is there but you hold back, only nodding with a semi-cheeky smile.
“Come on, it’s getting dark.” Lune flies forward, forcing you both to jog behind her.
The ground is fractured beneath you and even with the grappling spots, your stomach still swoops when it disappears. There is nothing but clouds around you now, but you can make out a faint circular looking base up ahead. Definitely a camp.
Lune lands first, waiting for the fog to clear and you both to catch up. Damn her agility. Your feet hit the ground and you stand still for a second, letting your stomach settle. Heights are decidedly not your friend. Brown eyes glance at you with what could be called concern. You meet them with a practiced dismissive smile.
The fog clears and all of your heads turn simultaneously to the assumed base.
“Is that a fucking mime?”
𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆
this will be continued I pinkie swear <3 THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR ALL OF ACT 1!!!!!!
If Maelle had a nightmare, he’d let her curl up next to him without a word. Just wordlessly open his arm and rub her back until she drifted off again.
Sometimes falls asleep with his arm still attached (which Lune will usually remove for him).
Always says “Goodnight, team,” even if they’re all passed out already.
Sleeps close to Maelle but never smothers her. If she wants to get closer, she can.
Snores but not obnoxiously. Maelle finds it comforting.
Always ends up cold because he gives everyone else his blankets if they want them. He never complains.
Usually falls asleep first. If he’s not actively being spoken to, he’s gone in five minutes flat. Quiet, warm, dad-asleep.
Classic “dad-who-slept-on-the-couch” energy when he wakes up.
Lune
Sleeps on her back most nights. (“Aren’t you afraid of sleep paralysis??” “No??? Should I be??”)
Usually doesn’t move at all. You’d think she was a corpse.
VERY light sleeper.
Sleeps with her bra on.
Probably has a dream journal lmao
If she has bad dreams, she doesn't mention them. She just gets up and works harder that day.
Pretends her mind quiets at night. It doesn’t. She lies awake more often than she admits, thinking about probabilities and consequences and people she wants to save.
One of the last to fall asleep. If people are still chatting, she can’t go to bed because she’ll get FOMO.
Usually the first to wake up.
Does morning stretches.
Elegant morning ghoul. Moves slow, gracefully.
Nobody is allowed to talk to her until thirty minutes after she wakes up.
Startlingly petty in the morning.
Sciel
SPRAWLS. EVERYWHERE.
Sleeps with her bra off. She does not care. (“What if we’re attacked??” “They’re a distraction.” “FOR THE NEVRONS??”)
SO warm.
Loves snuggling, so she doesn’t mind if someone else (usually Maelle) lays close to her.
Rests easier with people nearby. If they’re separated, she lays awake worrying. The first few nights at the Gestral village, before reuniting with the others, was rough because of this.
After Gustave died, she’s usually the one Maelle goes to sleep with when she’s scared or has had a nightmare.
Talks in her sleep. It’s usually just incomprehensible mumbles.
The ultimate blanket thief. And then kicks them all off because she’s hot.
Once got up to pee, tripped and fell over Monoco, face-planted, and just fell asleep like that.
After long battles, she always sleeps closest to Maelle. Just in case the girl wakes up in a panic. She won’t say it aloud, but she likes being the first one Maelle sees.
Always groggy in the morning.
Maelle
Curls up into a little ball. She can make herself VERY small.
On rare nights when she feels safe and unguarded, she starfishes.
Has frequent nightmares, but she’s (mostly) able to not wake up screaming anymore so she won’t disturb the others.
Sleepwalks. Once woke up in the middle of a river. All she can remember of the dream she was having was being in a burning room, then the fire going out suddenly…
Will instinctively cling in her sleep. Like a little sloth.
Snores softly, but only when she’s really tired. It’s more like a warm, whuffling noise. Like a snuffly piglet.
Clings to the blanket with surprising strength. If she’s shivering, good luck getting it back.
Before the funeral, she slept with Gustave’s arm held against her chest like a stuffed animal. It was a gut-wrenching sight for the others.
Cries in her sleep sometimes.
Also cries herself to sleep sometimes.
Wakes up with HORRIFIC bedhead.
Very quiet in the mornings, even more than usual. Stays bundled up until she’s mentally booted up for the day.
Verso
Sleeps on his side but will also sleep propped up against a tree.
Usually the last to fall asleep.
If someone touches him in his sleep, he’ll wake up swinging—hard. The only exception is Maelle. She can nudge him, and he’ll just blink blearily and grunt.
Snores when he’s REALLY tired. And it is LOUD.
Sleep-frowns.
NOT a morning person AT ALL.
Don’t touch him. Don’t look at him. Maelle is the only one allowed to poke him awake without consequences. Monoco is usually the one who will wake him up.
Monoco
Curls up when he sleeps. Or lays on his back.
Usually sleeps away from the others. Because he once rolled onto Lune and almost crushed her.
Snores like an old dog.
Noco would sleep buried in his mane. After Noco dies, Monoco either cradles his jar or sleeps curled around it protectively.
Doesn’t really dream.
Maelle once bumped into him while sleepwalking, and he just shuffled her back toward her bed like a sheepdog.
If anyone tries to wake him early, he grumbles like a bear.
Shifts very slowly in his sleep. Rolls over like a log. If you hear creaking, it’s him.
As another possible Overwatch 2 delay lurks on the horizon, players have been very vocal about what this means for the title.
If it is delayed until 2023, I won’t play it, UNLESS Something more is ACTUALLY done about the vile circumstances surrounding the harassment lawsuit and the toxic environment blizzard allowed to form.
Just think how fast this game would have actually been finished if those disgusting asshole devs didn’t push off their work onto their female coworkers and harbour an unsafe work environment. We’d have it by now if they were decent employees and not lazy but most importantly, we’d have this game and not a huge sexual harassment lawsuit, and an employee would have never of committed suicide if blizzard didn’t hire and protect SEXUAL PREDATORS!!! ~Bambi
Mathew Mercer Is taking a stand with us and with him the critter community join the battle. As an Overwatch fan and critter myself it’s heartwarming to see the voice actors joining the protest. #theonetruemccree
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