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[maellum]

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[maellum]

[There's a slight pout for how quickly she's on the move, but Sciel's belly was already complaining...

With a sigh, Maelle sits up, too.]

Are we bringing it back in here?

[cache_coeur]

If you’d like. Could be a little messy, though.

[Up she gets to her feet.]

Besides, you’ll feel more alive upright. People were made to move around and keep busy, you know.

[maellum]

We can be messy on the sofa with the wine stains.

[Thanks, Gustave. Maelle's hair is a messy red nest, and she scratches her scalp through it with a thoughtful tilt of her head towards Sciel.]

You've just revealed to me why you never seem to stop moving for long.

[cache_coeur]

Yes, the sofa is a better bet.

[Sciel heads to the door, but on second thought, stops at the closet and pokes her head in for a second, gaze passing over Gustave’s clothes briefly.]

Well, I like being alive!

[maellum]

[Gustave's closet... a less bleak thing, these days, but still behind. Maelle tries to peer over Sciel's shoulder, as if she can tell what she's looking at exactly.]

What are we looking for?

[cache_coeur]

[Sciel chuckles, reaching an arm around Maelle’s shoulders again and giving her a squeeze.]

It’s getting colder. Gustave’s going to need some warmer clothes.

[maellum]

Like a scarf. You'd think the beard would keep him warm enough.

[Strange to be here for the change of seasons, for cold, but Maelle isn't upset. She hopes it snows here so that Gustave can see it.]

Do we take him shopping, or do it for him?

[cache_coeur]

It’ll need to be a little longer for that, I think.

[She smiles and closes the closet.]

He owes me a shopping trip, but you and I could go, maybe tomorrow or the day after. Or we could drag him with us.

[maellum]

I think we should drag him with us. He's avoided it thus far.

[And he did something sort of dumb so he has to agree to go!]

[cache_coeur]

[She guides Maelle out to the hall, through the living space, to the kitchen.]

Is that a suitable punishment, you think?

[maellum]

It's a start. He might owe us company on several shopping trips.

[No complaining allowed.]

[cache_coeur]

He’s a good sport, he’ll do it.

[She lets go of Maelle’s shoulders to start puttering around the kitchen, pulling out the cutting board, a knife, this and that.]

Do you think Etraya gets snow?

[maellum]

I hope so. I really want him to see it.

[She lingers in the doorway, leaning her shoulder against it as she watches Sciel, thoughts drifting to Gustave, to snow. He should have been with them to see it on the Continent. He would have loved it, loved Monoco's station, loved the beautiful landscape of snow and ice.]

[cache_coeur]

I’m sure he’d like to see it with you. With all of us.

[Breakfast is quickly underway, and Sciel cracks eggs one-handed into a mixing bowl. She can imagine snow now: a first for Gustave, another round for everyone else, the pinching reminder of why it shook out that way. But it’ll be fun, too. They can make it that way.]

And I hope Verso doesn’t freeze out there.

[maellum]

Yeah. I think it'll be... bittersweet, at first. But that just means we have to make sure he enjoys himself.

[Which probably means throwing snow around until he can only think about defending himself.]

Do you think Verso is going to stay... out in the woods or something? For that long?

[cache_coeur]

[Milk next, then whisking them together. Sciel’s gaze is fixed on the bowl.]

Well, he’s used to surviving out there. But who knows! I feel like I can guess exactly how Gustave will react to the season, but Verso is a surprise every time.

[maellum]

Maybe we need to make sure Verso has warm clothes, too.

[Not during the Gustave shopping trip, of course.]

[cache_coeur]

He doesn’t have all his gear, so I think so, but I’ll bet he’s fussier about what he wears! Maybe better if he go with us, on a separate trip.

[The best thing to do right now is to make sure neither feels neglected, and it’s a little easier when she loves to dote.]

[maellum]

Wouldn't want him having to pretend he likes a coat we got him but he actually hates the style.

[He seems the type!]

[cache_coeur]

Well, he could have gotten himself a new coat second-hand almost any time in the last sixty years, but he’s still wearing that ratty double-breasted one with chipped buttons, so he might just refuse in the first place!

[maellum]

We'll just give him no choice. He can't refuse.

[Calm down there, Maelle.]

[cache_coeur]

[Sciel reaches over to the sink to wet her fingers, and flicks the droplets over the hot pan; the drops bead and skitter over the surface.]

And what, hold him down and sew him into it?

[maellum]

I'll hold him down, you sew?

[How can he refuse the two of them?]

[cache_coeur]

I’m not going to be any help there! [She laughs, attention still on making breakfast.] Better hope Sophie shows up next. Our Sophie.

[maellum]

I do. Sometimes.

[A little confession here in the kitchen.]

Not just for things like that, but... you know, Gustave. Maybe they're past getting back together, but they still cared about one another. Maybe it would help. "Hey, I died, you died... let's get a drink?"