#restave

[theartsypumpkin]

"Oh, he's asleep."

I actually finished this commission last week but then the VN happened and I lost track of that week a little! HOWEVER! HERE WE ARE!

I had the pleasure to be commissioned by @mollerson for their Renoir/Gustave vision! The world needs more sleeping Gustave in the Manor's library! And more Renoir with a very very open shirt. Molly, thank you again for trusting me with this.

[zombiearmor]

For the writing game!!! Could I ask you for some Renoir/Gustave? Maybe Renoir seeing Gustave in a suit for the first time >:)

The old man that we all desire!? And suits!? But of course!! This is for the writing quests game! Ahhh, this was fun! Thank you for this prompt!

"Has he really not seen you in a suit yet?"

Gustave was standing in front of a mirror, turning this way and that, while Sophie hovered nearby, eyes narrowed in scrutiny. She made a soft sound before smoothing her hand over his shoulder and then tugging at the corresponding sleeve.

"No? He hasn't?"

Sophie glanced up at him before turning her attention to the other sleeve. "I just find it hard to believe. You've been together for… a month now? Officially, that is."

"He usually comes by my workshop to visit—"

"Ah, so he's only ever seen you covered in grease, hair a mess, and your shirt only partially buttoned?" Her expression grew teasing then, and Gustave could only dip his head and laugh: Sophie was… unfortunately very accurate in her assessment. "Still, did you really need to get a new suit for your first date with him?"

"It… seemed suiting." He opened his mouth and then shut it again at that unintentional pun. "New beginnings, you know? I just felt like after—"

After their own relationship fell apart. After Gustave found friendship in a former enemy. After affection blossomed anew in his chest.

Sophie came to stand before him, planting her hands against his shoulders. "I'm happy for you," she said, a sense of finality in her voice that settled something in Gustave's gut, something that had been churning the entire time he'd been growing this… relationship with one Renoir Dessendre. Sophie carefully adjusted his tie, like she used to before, and automatically, Gustave tilted his chin up to make it easier for her to work. "You deserve happiness."

"Soph…"

"You do." Her smile softened at the edges. "I also hope you'll tell me more about Monsieur Dessendre when you have a chance" —Sophie swept behind Gustave and peered over his shoulder— "and what he thinks of my work."

He chuckled softly and nodded, wringing his hands. "Right…"

Sophie touched his elbow and then headed toward the front of her shop. "Take one more look at yourself in the mirror, but don't linger too long." She paused briefly to glance at him again. "I won't be used as an excuse for being late."

"I know—I… I know."

And so, Gustave looked at himself in the mirror. Really looked at himself.

Clad in a dark green jacket and slacks, he could already hear Sciel saying something about how it would bring out the flecks of said green from his eyes, and Sophie had paired it with a brown waistcoat and a tie that matched the suit itself. His hair could still use a bit of taming, but that battle was often a lost one, especially if the breeze from earlier was still about.

Even so, Gustave had to say that he looked good—perhaps aside from the nervous look that he wore upon his face. He tried on a few different smiles in the mirror before sighing quietly and rubbing at the back of his neck.

He'd chosen the color green as a nod to new beginnings. For himself. For Renoir.

For the two of them together.

Gustave just hoped that he wouldn't fuck things up on their first actual date.

Right.

Straightening his shoulders, Gustave nodded at his reflection and then marched out to the front of Sophie's shop. She was already speaking to another customer, though she did shoot him a brief smile before returning to her task. For his part, he gave her a small nod and then stepped out into the streets of Lumière.

It was a fine spring day with just a hint of chill from a cool breeze coming off of the sea. The sun wasn't setting just yet, and he and Renoir had agreed to a stroll around the gardens before dinner together. Renoir had insisted upon a… laid-back outing, almost as if he were worried that Gustave would flee at the first sign of anything remotely serious between them, and said worry was warranted at the time: Gustave had frozen like a scared animal in his workshop when Renoir had first brought it up.

They were, he knew, an odd pair: a victim and his murderer.

Perhaps it was that very oddness that drew them together though?

Renoir's first words to Gustave upon being repainted into Lumière were a heartfelt apology, and there was a genuineness about his speech and actions that… spoke to Gustave, made him listen and not write him off immediately, as he originally thought he would. Gustave was a stubborn man, yes, but he could be sensible. He might also have a bit of a weakness for individuals who could regale him with tales of times long past and technologies all but forgotten and buried.

But truly, the man had done his part and proved to Gustave a thousand times over that he was earnest and genuine in his desire to court him.

When Renoir handed him a book on the engineering of trains from before the Fracture as a sign of his affection, Gustave had, perhaps, felt his heart did a little awkward flip inside of his chest. The rose that had accompanied it was nice, too.

And now, he was going on a date with Renoir Dessendre. His first date in years.

The man was standing just outside of the entrance to the gardens, hands resting upon the handle of his cane. Gustave could not help but notice the clench of his jaw and the way that he would shift his weight from one foot to the other: Renoir was every bit as nervous as he was.

When the man noticed Gustave approaching though, the relief upon his countenance was palpable, and somehow, that made the twist in Gustave's gut loosen, made the worry ease just a little bit. Pale eyes took him in from head to toe, and then Renoir smiled, appreciative; Gustave could feel his gaze sweeping over him like a caress.

"Good afternoon, mon beau."

The compliment wrapped up in the form of a sweet endearment drew a flush to Gustave's cheeks.

"I… hope I haven't kept you waiting?"

Renoir offered his arm to him, which Gustave happily took.

"Not at all, but please know that you will always be worth the wait."

[walrusface]

Fic: Immutable Gustave/Renoir, R Resurrected by the Painters before they left the canvas, Renoir lives like a ghost on the edge of town. His only visitor is Gustave, the man he once killed - who now finds himself unable to stay away from his killer. Together, they try to work out what this second chance might mean.

I've been writing some post-game situationship Gustave/Renoir, where they are both reckoning with their own resurrection (and they decide to hold hands about it.)

[mollerson]

omw with a Restave one for you

Renoir had been missing for weeks, nobody had heard from him, he wasn't answering his messages, and he'd basically disappeared

When Gustave breaks into the manor to try to search for answers, he finds Renoir sitting in front of his Canvas, eyes streaked with blue and white chroma, completely lost within the colors.

He's not a Painter. He's only ever gone into a Canvas with Renoir. He doesn't know what he's doing. But for the love of his life? He'd do anything...

in the words of our TEEHEE and OOPSY enjoy

Gustave bashed on the door; he didn't care that the rain had thoroughly soaked him. His heart raced in his chest as his hand pounded on the wood. His voice could only be described through heavy pants and cries as he demanded to be let in.

There was no answer. He hadn't gotten one for the weeks he had tried to get in. Everyone told him to give up. What was so special about the man in the manor? Even Emma had suggested he go see someone special, but he knew he wasn't crazy.

There was a man in that manor, a man Gustave loved with all his heart, who would visit him in his workshop, a man who brought the daily newspaper, a fresh bag of coffee and hours of endless conversation. He had been invited inside on a few occasions, as the man's partner, as Renoir's Dessendres partner. They explored the world of the painters together. When the house became empty, once all the Dessendre children had finally moved out. Gustave spent many days lounging about in many of the rooms. From the four-poster bed he shared with Renoir to the many hours of reading in the library.

The heart started to sink when the man hadn't turned up for 3 days, then 5 days, and once it hit a week, Gustave, who knew something was wrong.

Gustave had finally hit his limit. He hit the door one more time, using his whole body for one last impact…. nothing. His wet curls framed his face as they hid the streams of tears that mixed with the endless rain. He slouched down, his body now leaning on the door as all the energy sapped out of him.

Taking a deep breath, still determined to find out what was happening. He used the door to help him back up onto his feet and started to make his way around the back. He didn't like it. There was a pit in his stomach that knew that this was wrong. To anyone else, Gustave was the puppy that followed Renoir around; most thought of him as the latest plaything, but most never saw the ring. It was their promise to each other that was hidden under his work gloves and the fancy gloves he wore over his metal hand.

He finally went around back, but there was no secret key, no hidden entrance or unlocked window. He knew it was wrong, but as he saw a large rock among the pebbles, Gustave took a deep breath and bashed it on the window. It cracked, it broke, it shattered. the sound of the crashing glass as he took a step back.

Gustave carefully climbed through the window and tried to look through all the spots he could think of — the library, the kitchen, the master bedroom, but nothing. Maybe thinking the man had gotten caught up with a new read or something that had fully taken his interest. But after some debating, Gustave finally went through to the atelier.

For some reason, this room made that pit in his stomach worse cause that meant that Renoir could be either working on a new masterpiece, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, or Renoir was in a painting and had gotten stuck.

He gulped, trying to push back all his fears of what he could find beyond the door.

The door wasn't even closed, not even locked. It was ajar as a thick smell of turpentine leaked down the corridor. His heart pounded, fearful of what he might find. He knew he had been told the stories and even witnessed it when Renoir had to go into a painting for something.

The door crept open slowly, and Gustave choked from the smell; the fumes of the chemicals burned the edges of his nose. The sight alone caused tears to well in his eyes.

No, not… no… why… didn't you tell me…

It was dangerous for a painter to go in alone, never mind without someone outside to help you get out.

Gustave saw Renoir, sat upright, stiff as a board in the armchair. He felt his legs become jelly as he tried to walk over. He knew the rules of when a painter is in the painting - don't touch or shake them. The damage could be irreversible as the chroma could be disturbed. He tried to fight it, but he needed some grounding, some semblance that Renoir was real and in front of him.

He knelt next to the chair and took Renoir's hand, the feeling of his wrinkled hand that was almost flaky, not here. That you would be the person away from the turpentine, and they would disappear.

Gustave took a breath. What was he to do? He didn't have painter's abilities, but it's been 2… no 3 weeks since Renoir could have possibly been stuck in the painting and the way his body is already slowly fading. The mask of depleted chroma across the old man's face.

He held his lover's hand, giving it a light squeeze and kissed the matching ring before he let go. he finally faced the painting. The large canvas of golden swirls and blood red splatters moved across the front. He reached his hand out, remembering everything Renoir had told him and leapt…

He awoke on some grass; it was soft, dry. Gustave took everything slowly as his body got used to being on the canvas; it felt heavy and unwelcome. He tried to look around, seeing if this was a painting he had been in before, but with endless forests and greenery. it felt - changed. After getting up, he noticed his clothes had changed, rather than the plain clothing he was used to wearing - the everyday sweater and plain black trousers. Here he was in a whole get-up of brown, layered clothes with a lining of gold and an odd-shaped bag on his back.

He walked, he walked for what felt like hours, and the scenery didn't even change. Maybe this is what this painting was - an endless forest. For the first time in a while, he let out a chuckle. Maybe the whole thing had finally gotten to him, or maybe he was truly insane for jumping headfirst into a canvas. He was a fool.

He didn't have enough time to react when he heard a loud crash behind him. A boom that shook the ground. He already felt the hard ground on his shins as he fell. Maybe if he lay low and hid, whatever that was, he might not be seen if he didn't move.

When he let the dust settle and started to turn from his spot, he was met with a familiar sight.

It was an older man, wearing a black suit with a blazer on his shoulders decorated in golden swirls, like the canvas. Those eyes, those piercing grey eyes locked in on him.

For a second, Gustave breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, love, you scared me…" he started to get up, dusting himself off with a smile. "…why didn't you tell me about heading into a canvas? I could have…"

which was quickly wiped away when he was cut off with the cane under his chin, and those eyes he was looking at never softened.

The words that escaped the man's mouth sent a shiver through him. "Who are you?"

[walrusface]

I return for more writing request game. 👀 Restave. Gardening or flowers. ❤️❤️

He has no right to be here. That much has been clear since the first breath Renoir took in New Lumière.

Their new Paintress had swam into vision in front of him, stern-faced and worried.

You’re here because Verso asked for you, she’d told him.

Not forgiveness. While her own father might warm her heart, the separation is clear: this version of Renoir is the version that ran her canvas-brother through, the one that took Gustave from her for the supposed greater good. It seems that even his original gommage isn’t enough to sate the need for vengeance.

Since that moment, Renoir has spent his recovered months in the shadows of the town he’d once proudly called home - but that memory of himself feels like another man altogether. What is he now? Who is he now, without a mission, without a home, without his wife, without the family he sacrificed everything for?

But his son is here, barely speaking to him, barely speaking to anyone. There’s nowhere else for Renoir to go.

Approaching the rooftop garden during the day feels like a transgression in itself. His weight rests heavily on his cane as he walks, old pains bothering him more now that there’s no reason to push them away. The painted-in aches have learned how to make themselves inescapable.

The sun is bright and the garden is a private oasis away from the celebration of the city. Renoir expects to be alone - and he hesitates, therefore, when he finds someone else up here.

The quiet man in the garden doesn’t appear to have noticed him yet. He’s bent over to tend to the red flowers, his hands careful and diligent in their work.

Any Lumierian would be troublesome enough; Renoir keeps out of their way when he can, well aware that he’s nothing but a figure from their nightmares and a reminder of a darker, more dangerous world.

But this is no random Lumierian.

This is The Brother.

Half-hidden in gloom, Renoir watches the face of a man he remembers covered in blood. He watches careful hands tend to the plant when he remembers how they once looked clutching desperately to their weapons and fighting for survival.

The man - Gustave, he remembers, while he wishes he didn’t - sighs, and an unwanted memory flutters through Renoir’s mind.

In the darkest corners of his thoughts, he remembers what this young man’s last breath had sounded like.

His hand tightens on his cane. He can’t say that he regrets what he did, any of it, all for the love of his family - but facing down the very man he slaughtered, that’s one cruelty too many. That’s too much for either of them to take.

“You know,” Gustave chimes up as Renoir prepares to make his exit. Gustave doesn’t look up from his flowers. “If you’re here to help, I need someone to weed that bed over there.”

He hikes a metal thumb towards a forgotten flower-bed near Renoir: half in shade, it’s strangled with weeds. Neglected and forgotten, Renoir isn’t sure if he can even see a single real flower in there. Thoughtfully, he nudges the bed with his foot, and then looks back at the young man in his garden.

Gustave’s jaw is clenched. He’s breathing through his nose, slow and steady, only betrayed by the occasional, accidental gasp for air. On the surface, he’s the perfect vision of calm.

Renoir wonders how far down the true panic goes.

He looks at the weeds, then he looks at the kneeling man trying his best to tend his garden.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” he observes.

Finally, Gustave looks up at him. There’s something steady in his eyes, something that’s as resigned as it is scared.

“Then we do the work,” Gustave says. “It only gets worse if you let it grow.”

There’s nothing here but empty metaphors and careful figures of speech.

Renoir holds his gaze. Moments pass. He could say he’s sorry, he knows. He could stand here and allow the excuses to flow: reasoning and explanations and apologies, every single one overlapping the next, and not a single one would change the fundamental facts. He killed this young man and he’d do it all over again in the same circumstances - and yet here they both are, in the same sun-soaked garden.

He’s the first one to break eye contact, lowering his gaze and feeling his grip on his cane only tighten.

“Let’s get to work,” Gustave murmurs, returning his attention to his own flower bed as if there’s nothing more to say.

It’s a large garden. The list of chores is endless. The work to be done will be hard and unforgiving.

Together, silently, they begin.

[walrusface]

HELLO. I AM HERE TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS. A FULL INTERVIEW EVEN. 👀👀👀 For Verstave, #10, 13, 19, 20, and 23. For Restave, #2, 4, 8, and 18. For Lucien/Gustave, #11, 17, and 21. For all three, #22 and 25: who steals their partner's clothes in the relationship?

Phi, I adore you. Here is my full-on Expedition 33 Gustave Ships formal interview, based on the ship ask game.

Verstave

10. They're getting married. Who proposed? Where was that proposal? What season is the wedding taking place?

Let's say this is somewhere in the Golden Ending that lives in my heart: Gustave lived, and together with Verso they were able to persuade Maelle to willingly leave the canvas and live her life. They came back to the wreckage of Lumiere together and helped to rebuild the place from scratch, piecing together the city and just falling into one another's lives almost accidentally.

They're together for years. Decades, as Gustave's immortality kicks in too, an accidental gift from Maelle just as Verso's is an unwanted gift from Aline. And they don't need to get married. Not really. They already know, soul-deep, chroma-swirling, that this is forever. A wedding would just be a formality.

"We could do it, you know," Gustave mentions anyway on the way back from a friend's wedding.

"Do what?"

"A ring on your finger. A ring on mine…" He trails off and shrugs apologetically. "Just… One day - if you wanted."

And it's not quite a proposal, not exactly, not in those words.

But they're married by the following spring.

13. What's something they like to do together?

I tend to imagine them enjoying existing in one another's space, maybe co-creating. The pair of them sitting down on one of the benches on the harbour, Gustave leaning against Verso as he's writing in his journal while Verso is scribbling half-planned notes for a composition (or knitting, since I've recently tormented you with my head-canon that Verso learns to knit in Lumiere.) No pressure, no need to talk, no threats, no world-ending-chaos. Just the pair of them and some peaceful silence.

19.1 An ideal free day for them would look like? What are they doing on that day? (there are technically two question 19s, but someone else asked about 19.2 so I'm doing 19.1 here)

Coffee and pastries together on their balcony for breakfast; visiting friends during the morning; duelling with Monoco in the afternoon; back to Lumiere for a romantic dinner date in the evening, both of them trying to spoil the other. Finishing the day with embarrassingly sappy sex.

20. Who likes public displays of affection more?

I think they come far more naturally to Gustave and that he'll do them absent-mindedly, but once something clicks for Verso he's obsessed. He wants to be holding hands whenever he can, he wants to kiss Gustave's cheek even if he's just leaving the room for a second, he wants to basically have some form of contact between them at all times.

22. A headcanon you have for this ship?

I think that Verso read every page of Gustave's journal after he died and before he brought it back to Maelle. I think he read it and another part of him just died over what he'd done, or what he hadn't done (and then when Gustave gets brought back through whatever handwavey method you'd like, Verso's already fallen for him quite a bit through his words alone.)

23. Describe this ship in the most out of context way that you can.

Murder victim falls for murder enabler.

25. Who steals their partner's clothes in the relationship?

BOTH. I may have written a whole-ass fic about it because I am weak for this trope. I choose to believe that they share a wardrobe. And also that Verso absolutely tries to get Gustave to borrow his clothes because he just likes the look of him in them.

Restave

2. Favorite thing about this ship?

There's a moment in Stone Wave Cliffs where Gustave says: "Why are you doing this? We’ve done nothing to you. We should be on the same side," and for me that's the whole crux of the fascination of this pairing. I am fascinated by both characters separately - they're both principled, they're both dangerous, they're both stubborn - and while Painted Renoir is one of the game's antagonists I don't think he's in any way a villain.

There's such an allure for me in the idea of scenarios in which the pair of them have to interact in a way that doesn't leave one of them dead, because I genuinely think that there's scope for them to hugely respect one another.

4. How do you see this ship? Examples: "totally married", "besties who date sometimes for fun", "toxic exes that definitely shouldn't be 10 feet near each other".

My favourite setting to think about for them is some kind of post-game scenario where they've both been resurrected - in which case we're looking at some kind of "guilty situationship that might develop feelings in the long run".

8. If this ship were animals (if they're not already), what animals would they be?

Gustave is very dog-coded to me: he's the scrappy dog with a missing leg that will come for you if you mess with any of the other dogs it's adopted into its family. Renoir, on the other hand, in my head is linked with lions because of his majestic summons.

So I guess for Renoir I have an enormous chromatic lion cuddling up with a scrappy stray dog.

18. If this ship was a dessert, what kind of dessert would they be?

Lemon meringue pie: sharp/bitter at the core, covered with something light and fluffy, then gently and painfully toasted on top.

22. A headcanon you have for this ship?

If Renoir had actually talked to Gustave at Stone Wave Cliffs, he could have talked Gustave into joining them if he'd managed to persuade him that it was for Maelle's safety.

25. Who steals their partner's clothes in the relationship?

Oh no. Renoir just buys Gustave's clothes for him. No need for anyone to steal anything, and Renoir's going to make sure Gustave's very well-dressed.

Lucien/Gustave

11. Who's the big spoon? Who's the little spoon? Do they switch it up?

My anti-spooning agenda arrives when I say neither. I think they would probably switch it up. I bet they also fall asleep holding hands, like sappy nerds.

17. What are the colors of this ship and do you like them together?

In my head I have grey, gold and purple, the Expedition colours for an Expedition couple. Obviously stylish.

21. What would be some pet names they would give each other?

Lucien canonically refers to Gustave (and Catherine) as "les amis!" Casually friend-zoning himself.

He also calls Gustave "you weirdo", which actually fits in with my friends-to-lovers headcanon for them - I feel like they've known each other for so long and have fully grown up together, to the point that affection for them actually comes in the form of teasing and playing around.

22. A headcanon you have for this ship?

I think they've both had a crush on each other for years - and this is my head canon for Gustave even when I have him in other ships, actually. Growing up yearning, pining and wistfully sighing over each other, while always assuming it was unrequited so nothing ever actually happened between them until it was too late ("until it was too late" may mean that the night before the Expedition took off they finally made their first confessions to each other after all those years.)

25. Who steals their partner's clothes in the relationship?

Gustave is stealing the hell out of Lucien's clothes, and Lucien absolutely doesn't mind, just smiles fondly and lets him get away with it.

[walrusface]

Fic: Exemplar Renoir/Gustave, PG-13 As a promising engineer apprenticed to the Dessendres, Gustave is in the heart of Lumiere during The Fracture. In the aftermath, navigating untruths and uncertainties, he tries to help his former mentor navigate their new, broken world.

I wrote a wee gift fic for @zombiearmor, a "What if Gustave had been around to join the painted family?" kind of a thing.

[zombiearmor]

Ship Ask Game! Ship Ask INTERVIEW, I got so many questions.

Verstave

2, 13, and 20

Restave

4, 15, 22

Guscien

10, both question 19s

Ahhh, THANK YOU FOR THESE WALS!!! 👀👀👀 Shipping interview let's goooooooo. So much fun!!!!

Verstave

2. Favorite thing about this ship?

Honestly? I love how many different ways that you can configure this pairing. I feel like there is some sentiment that it's unfortunate that they never got to meet, but I really love the freedom that that gives us--and that's if you're just sticking with canon. With AUs? Sky's the limit. I also just love how complex they are as characters, so there is so much to explore and dig into in how something shapes them and their relationship. I LOVE exploring their headspaces ahhhh. You can write them soft or broken, smitten or hateful, or anything else! Find reasons to make them do or say the things that you don't think that they would normally do or say. 👀I think Sandfall gave us an AMAZING sandbox to play in as a foundation, but they held back enough info to give us so much room to imagine whatever we want.

I do also love their brotherly parallels and how that can play into the relationship, if Maellicia is part of the equation. Plus their different approaches as to how to get the things that they want? Ahhh I could go on.

13. What's something they like to do together?

Parallel play! XD I like the idea that Gustave is writing or tinkering, while Verso is either painting or playing the piano--composing music or something. I also like the idea that they're both voracious readers, so they might just spend an evening reading together, leaning into one another's spaces and just enjoying the peace and quiet. 🥹

20. Who likes public displays of affection more?

So, I feel like Gustave would be the first to display affection out in the open, but I think, like you, that once Verso gets going that he just can't stop. After he is comfy with it, I can see him being the one who makes the grander shows of public affection. Like, he's much more likely to kiss or hug Gustave around others, while Gustave might do something more subtle, like touch a hand to his elbow or the small of his back.

Restave

4. How do you see this ship? Examples: "totally married", "besties who date sometimes for fun", "toxic exes that definitely shouldn't be 10 feet near each other".

Power couple. XD I think both of them are both incredibly competent individuals, and they're very dedicated to their goals. They can accomplish everything they want by themselves, but together?? Ahhh. I don't think there's anything that could stop them, and with having the other person supporting them and encouraging them? I think that'd make both of them even stronger individually.

15. One to three AUs you would like to see explored with this ship?

VAMPIRES!!! I will get back to that someday haha. 😂 I also have an idea about Renoir returning to Lumiere to lead Expeditions when the 60th manage to get their journal back to the city in time. 👀 Then there's the darker idea of Renoir pulling Gustave away from the Expedition and then helping him instead, but it's a lot more messed up than simply just, "Please join me to save Maelle."

22. A headcanon you have for this ship?

Renoir doesn't really bring this up, but he does worry that Gustave will leave him one day--either because of their history (this can vary depending on the story being written) or the age difference. He knows that his partner is handsome and intelligent and that he could have his pick of any partner, so Renoir does wonder if he's enough. If he was in a relationship with Aline prior, this is doubly worse, especially if it's in-universe and he knows that he's a painted version of the real Renoir.

Guscien

10. They're getting married. Who proposed? Where was that proposal? What season is the wedding taking place?

So... I'm seeing this for a Golden Ending sort of situation? Both of them plan to propose, but Lucien actually pops the question before Gustave gets the chance. Lucien gets down on bended on knee while they're going on a stroll by the docks, just reminiscing about the day that they left for the Continent together. He's been carrying around the ring for a while now in his coat pocket, just looking for the perfect moment. Gustave, on the other hand, had the idea to propose, but he was still crafting his ring for Lucien, which was getting delayed due to all the visits from his partner; if he had asked first, though, his would have been a little more planned--at a nice restaurant or something instead.

As for the season for the wedding itself... I feel like spring would be good for them? A new beginning for the both of them after all that they had experienced before the Canvas was saved and all. Also, I just like the idea of them having a wedding surrounded by blooming flowers. XD

19.1. An ideal free day for them would look like? What are they doing on that day?

I didn't even realize there was two #19s until it was pointed out to me in the asks. XD

I will forever headcanon that Gustave is not a morning person, so he sleeps in, while Lucien starts his day earlier. By the time Gustave is finally awake, Lucien has already gone out for a run and exercises, and he's brought breakfast back for the both of them. They spend the day with friends and visit a museum or art gallery. Afterwards, they enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant and then head off to the opera house for a show. The day ends with them making sweet, sweet love. :3c

19.2. What was the moment in canon that made you go "Yeah, I ship it"? If they haven't met in canon, what influenced you to ship the characters?

My shipping goggles are always on, and while I did sort of get some Lucien/Catherine vibes during the festival, the big moment for me when it comes to Lucien/Gustave was when Lucien saves Gustave on the beach. Everyone else is running and scattering, trying to save their own skin, and this man comes back to save Gustave. Risks life and limb for him. Ahhhhh ajskdfl;jfsd. That was my moment.

Thank you so much for all of these questions!!! Ahhhhh, I had so much fun. XD