"You've reached Gustave. I am not available at this time, but feel free to leave me a, what is it, a 'voicemail'? Clever... Ah, I will respond promptly. À bientôt."
( gustave was on the same boat, because new technology is still new, and the two of them would definitely be like grandparents in this situation trying to sort through it. )
Or Lumière, if we're being honest.
( the cars!! )
She is still a kid. I'd feel relieved if someone else did all the responsible things in my stead. What about you? Found yourself settling?
[Or Lumière. The cars. The strange technology. Even the number of people.
He's glad to learn that Maelle has been in good hands. Not that he doubted it, with Gustave now here to provide her with protection and moral support.]
Good. Let me know if either of you needs anything.
As for me... I'm an old hand at wandering about, staying alive. This is just the "second verse, same as the first" sort of situation for me. Now with less Nevrons!
( he considers this, even as he sent that first message, and figure that maelle would be fine, sleeping, should he decide to step out. should verso be up for it. regardless, he'll pose it as a general question, rather than as an invitation.
for now. )
In all your wandering about, were you able to find a place that sells good wine?
[And yet Verso isn't stupid — general question as it may be, it has the sense of an invitational follow-up to it.
In which case, he'd be torn. His guilt gnaws at him, of course; the truth is a weight that he only seems to bear again and again. But he can't—he shouldn't—avoid the other members of 33 forever.]
Oh, yes. It was my priority once I found myself in Panorama. A little hole-in-the-wall establishment, if you feel like sitting down for a drink. I can show you sometime.
You realize that an invitation for a drink is an invitation for many of my questions, right?
( not of the variety verso might be considering, rapt with guilt as he is. the chance to talk to someone from the expedition 0? it'd be an incredible thing. )
[Ah. A little spike of anxiety. Verso, for all his secrets, does not like to have them pried open — especially in a situation like this one. But again, he cannot avoid it forever, and maybe Gustave's well be more innocent and less interrogative than he imagines?]
( gustave can't help but laugh, as he pulls away from his tinkering, waiting for that 'location' to be sent, and finding, after verso's admittance, that he isn't familiar with that feature on the phones either. this whole texting situation was a lot to get a hang of. )
I'm afraid that's beyond me as well. Would it work better to meet somewhere familiar and head there together?
( to think he's gonna have some #GuyTime, amazing )
( setting the tools he has managed to collect down on the table, he gets up and checks up on maelle, who sleeps on the bed, likely tired from all the exploring she did during the day. he had promised her a day at that 'bowling' place, a proper outing, but his work schedule hadn't freed up yet; whatever she went on to do in her time, well, who knew— she comes back to him safe every evening for dinner, so there's not much else he can ask for.
he fixes the blanket over her, just so it won't be tossed off the bed, and scribbles her a note that he tacks onto the door.
and then he's on his way, to meet verso. it's close to where he's staying (and it took him a long time to get a good parking spot for his car), so gustave walks, and waits at the curb, hopefully not for a speeding motorcycle (sir). )
[To be completely fair, the speeding motorcycle that growls down the street, its engine rumbling louder and louder, does come to a slow as it nears Gustave. Atop it rides Verso, who is no longer donned in his Expedition uniform — but rather a linen button-up shirt and plain airy slacks, which he had stolen away from the newest diffusion zone just a few days prior.
He straightens as he comes to a stop, flashing Gustave his default smile as he places both shoes on the pavement to keep his ride balanced. He wears his casual, unaffected mask with ease.]
Bonsoir.
[Notably, he has not bothered to seek a place to park, or to kill the engine. A gesture to the empty space behind him; big enough for two.]
So, I realized we can walk... or we can ride.
[The thing about having a motorcycle means that parking is a lot less of a trial. He can roll it into any space that fits.]
( the gesture comes easily, a light wave, bonsoir, the language they speak back in lumière a comfort to him especially now in this new world afflicted by too many transient peoples, cultures, histories, artifacts. seeing verso on his motorcycle makes gustave thankful that maelle, at the very least, has a car. these contraptions seem a little too untethered for his liking.
he glances at the seat behind him, and shrugs. )
It's your gas.
( and how damn expensive it seems to be.
gustave adjusts himself behind the man, the cold feeling of his mechanical arm gripping just over his shoulder. )
[So. He should probably not mention how, on day one, he sped along too fast, wiped out, and landed himself and his bike in a ditch.]
Very comfortable.
[...he just waits for Gustave to take his seat and hold on tight, ignoring the associations that buoy up in his mind when he feels the grip of that mechanical arm. A lost brother. A grave. All the pain that came rolling in because of it.]
I made it here in one piece, didn't I? Besides, it's not that far.
( without knowing that this is something that would otherwise dig knife of guilt further into verso, gustave says this with a sense of levity, some amount of humor. no time to feel conflicted, though, as they are soon on their way.
precarious about verso's abilities in driving regardless of his confidence, gustave keeps to himself to avoid being a distraction, glancing about at the city the goes past them, unfamiliar yet now becoming familiar with each passing day, lacking the architecture he so loves from his home but every head turn offering him some new thing to be fascinated by.
he is more at ease once they come to a stop on the curb. )
[There is a distinct lack of response to that, though it is easily played off by either Verso's focus on driving, or the fact that he needn't respond because the trip it so short. Surely it's one of those things.
They zip down the street, turn down maybe one block or two, and without incident, they arrive at the hole in the wall bar that Verso had described, which is titled fittingly, Hole in the Wall. The outside matches the inside, which is to say, nothing special.]
This is it. Now, I know it doesn't look like much, but trust me... The wine's good. And the bartender's more competent than that other place we visited.
( he knows exactly who verso is referring to. the poor android tried his best, though gustave was more interested in its functionality than in its ability to serve drinks.
stepping off the bike, he dusts off his shirt as he glances up and about the place.
beggars can't be choosers, etc.
once verso has his motorcycle parked and is moving about, gustave will say, shall we?, and make his way inside. the atmosphere definitely feels like a 'hole in the wall', but the bartender greets them most kindly, so it might just be a good sign. up the counter he goes, sitting up on one of the stools there.
at the bartender's remark for what they'll have, gustave turns to verso, )
[He sidles into a barstool next to Gustave, seeming well enough at home in an atmosphere like this one. There were days, long ago, when fancy establishments were his bread and butter, but now? He's more a skrunkly, hole-in-the-wall kinda guy, keeping to himself and his wine glass more often that not.
The bartender seems to recognize him, granting them both friendly grins.]
Ah, Louis, good to see you again. How about the top-shelf stuff you mentioned las time? From the, ah, crate that floated in from one of the old diffusion zones?
[The Bourdeux stuff, Verso? Really looking to treat this friend of yours, eh? He winks. Coming right up.]
Thanks. [Verso flashes him a charming smile in return.] You can just leave the bottle. [A side glance at Gustave soon after-] Apparently, wine and spirits from other diffusion zones surprise the populace now and again. I figured why not be brave and give it a try.
( in the entire back-and-forth, gustave watches in bemusement at how easily acclimated verso seems to have become to the local watering hole and being in the good graces of the procurer of wine and spirits. it seems like something someone from lumière would be far too engrossed in getting right, certainly. )
Might as well.
( once the bottle is brought, along with the glasses, and they are served the wine, gustave takes a moment to look at the bottle. there is french script on the label, which reminds him immediately of him. )
Grand vin, Château Bellegrave...
( unfamiliar to him, regardless. he turns to verso, placing the bottle down. )
Should be good. ( after all, it's wine— he grabs at his glass. ) To you, mon ami.
( don't mind him just being in awe at the idea of getting a picture sent by something he thought could only sent written messages. first the yellow faces, now this? incroyable.
of course he has sciel's number already saved to his contacts. )
Is that a sort of sandwich?
( they've arrived at the resort mostly together, wanting to go together as part of expedition 33 (unofficially, that is), but they've since gone their own ways as different things caught their eye. )
( he can't help but smile to himself at that. not that sciel's dislike of water is a laughing matter, but it does come to show that some things remain the same. and he will always look after her, prioritize her comfort in anything related to getting in water.
sciel seems to be doing okay, so he lets it be. )
The bar, you say?
( ah, he knows. they're all a little peckish for an alcoholic drink once in a while. how else to drown the sour taste of life, back in lumière? )
I should ask you to save me a spot. It should be about time I had something.
( tucking away the papers he's been scribbling on, gustave makes his way towards the pools and to the bar, where he finds sciel pretending not to be looking around. his friend—one of his closest—teeters on the edge of excitability when it comes to to their social interactions as of late.
maybe it has something to do with a fate they both know is true, deflected, if just momentarily. )
Is this the seat you have saved for me?
( gustave rolls in, smooth and friendly, pointing at the seat beside sciel. the heat is oppressive, but he's found himself keeping mostly cool by wearing a tanned linen shirt and brown linen trousers; his trust backpack, the one he carried into the continent, is strapped to his back, unsurprisingly.
he shoots sciel a smile, his hand pushing to her shoulder and back in greeting. )
[ Ah, there he is. Sciel's in a kind of midriff of her own, not so dissimilar to her Expedition clothes. But gone are the leathers, leaving her in khakis and soft soles for the moment. It's...an odd feeling, to not be trekking about, to be in such a calm place.
One that'll be gone soon. Isn't that just the way?
She gives him a smile, reaching over for him. ]
'Course, who else would it be for? Sit, sit. Did you grab any food on your way?
[ It's fine if not; she's still got a hot dog for him (she will NOT suffer alone, okay) at the bar. ]
( he thought he had been invited to enjoy a hot dog with her! besides, he was too busy being pleased with himself and his notes to really stop and forage for food. it's unlike the continent and their camps, the way he doesn't really have much of an empty belly here.
a benefit of a proper civilization, he supposes.
sitting himself down, he brings forward his backpack, pulling out his journal and showing it to her. please let him nerd out. )
No, non, I've got one for you to try right here. But if you're still hungry or if it's not to your liking...I may need to go bother the grill cook again.
[ Which won't take but a moment. Someone's cooking up something meaty, by the smell of it. She can't say the food's been completely enjoyable; it's so much red meat, and some of it might not even be meat, but still... ]
You should. We should probably keep track of foods in general, especially since... [ She gestures. ] Well, you saw what was in the city.
[ Weird eggs and things. ]
Give a try, yeah? And I'll get you a drink.
[ She hops off the bar to go behind it, scooting beside the bartender with a gentle, "pardonnez-moi, mon ami!" as she looks for things to use. He keeps getting her drink wrong, so she wants Gustave's to be a good one. ]
( so much red meat, as opposed to the majority of fish and vegetables that they would get to indulge in in lumière. it's quite the change in their diets, but gustave thinks it's done a bit of wonder to his energy levels, even if some of the food is entirely too vile at times for his preferences.
he's yet to see what the buzz about hot dogs is about... may he be pleasantly surprised. )
Nothing too strong, Sciel.
( he will have to drive back, and he doesn't want to give maelle too many reasons as to why she should be the one to drive instead.
glancing at the hot dog, he takes it into his human hand, at the way it's presented with the bun. it seems so innocuous.
and so, he takes a bite, and chews... chews... ponders upon it. )
[ No, nothing too strong. The both of them have to drive back and she doesn't want her or her friend to be in an accident. So she looks for something vaguely sweet with just a bit of alcohol, something easy to mix and let him try. She grabs some ice and makes him a little orange drink, sliding it over to him. ]
Saw him making something similar. Called a 'Bellini'. Give a try.
[ If he doesn't like it, she'll drink it no problem. But she eyes up the hot dog. ]
Isn't it a little weird? Kind of chewy.
[ She really doesn't like the name of it but apparently it's a sausage, and that's understandable. It just looks odd. ]
( gustave glances at the drink, seeing this orange concoction a little skeptically, but trusting that sciel won't lead him astray. as it were, the hot dog wasn't so bad, even if it's a little dry and kind of chewy, as she states.
he sets the hot dog down, grabs at the drink. )
I imagine this is what over-boiling pâté would be like, if you take out most of its flavor.
( for even if they didn't have a lot, they still managed with some of the few fowls they managed to keep and breed, though there was a definite preference for their eggs in the long-term than their meat. with a tilt of the glass, he takes a sip of the so-called bellini.
after the sip, he takes another, then sets the glass down, pointing at it with his left forefinger. )
[ She laughs a little as she circles back around the bar to sit with him. ]
It's strange. Everything here tastes just slightly off. But perhaps that's the lack of vegetables?
[ And cheese. Real cheese, not this weird floppy nonsense people have been putting on the burgers. She's been mostly avoiding those. But the ample amount of red meat has absolutely changed how she feels a bit. Initially, it was almost nice: more protein, something to make her feel a bit stronger. But it's heavy in contrast to their diet back in Lumière.
She grins about the drink. ]
Good, huh? It was recommended to me one morning. [ Like she should've been drinking that early. ] I watched someone else make it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Gustave. This is Verso.
[H-hi.
... ]
Just checking in. Did you find Maelle?
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( a light diss )
I did. She's sleeping right now, which is nothing short of a miracle.
This place has rejuvenated her spirit.
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[And maybe some help.]
Has it? I guess that's not surprising. This place might not be the epitome of luxury, but it has plenty that the Continent could never hope to afford.
Though I'm sure your presence helped, too.
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Or Lumière, if we're being honest.
( the cars!! )
She is still a kid. I'd feel relieved if someone else did all the responsible things in my stead.
What about you? Found yourself settling?
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He's glad to learn that Maelle has been in good hands. Not that he doubted it, with Gustave now here to provide her with protection and moral support.]
Good. Let me know if either of you needs anything.
As for me... I'm an old hand at wandering about, staying alive. This is just the "second verse, same as the first" sort of situation for me. Now with less Nevrons!
1/2
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for now. )
In all your wandering about, were you able to find a place that sells good wine?
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In which case, he'd be torn. His guilt gnaws at him, of course; the truth is a weight that he only seems to bear again and again. But he can't—he shouldn't—avoid the other members of 33 forever.]
Oh, yes. It was my priority once I found myself in Panorama. A little hole-in-the-wall establishment, if you feel like sitting down for a drink. I can show you sometime.
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( not of the variety verso might be considering, rapt with guilt as he is. the chance to talk to someone from the expedition 0? it'd be an incredible thing. )
That being said, I would not be opposed.
1/3
I'll endure. A drinking partner's often worth it.
1/4 i lied
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15 minutes pass]
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I'm afraid that's beyond me as well.
Would it work better to meet somewhere familiar and head there together?
( to think he's gonna have some #GuyTime, amazing )
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...Good idea for now.
Do you remember the building where we first ran into each other? We can meet there. It's a short walk.
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Or 'reads' good to me?
( he is having such a blast with these phones, leave him— )
Would 15 minutes be alright?
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[Verso knows about EMOJIS at least. Heh.]
15 minutes is more than enough time for how fast my motorcycle goes. [sir????] See you there soon!
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How did you do that?
( the emoji )
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[Because their phones are so retro and they have no clue how limited their emojis actually are.]
🙂
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( setting the tools he has managed to collect down on the table, he gets up and checks up on maelle, who sleeps on the bed, likely tired from all the exploring she did during the day. he had promised her a day at that 'bowling' place, a proper outing, but his work schedule hadn't freed up yet; whatever she went on to do in her time, well, who knew— she comes back to him safe every evening for dinner, so there's not much else he can ask for.
he fixes the blanket over her, just so it won't be tossed off the bed, and scribbles her a note that he tacks onto the door.
and then he's on his way, to meet verso. it's close to where he's staying (and it took him a long time to get a good parking spot for his car), so gustave walks, and waits at the curb, hopefully not for a speeding motorcycle (sir). )
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He straightens as he comes to a stop, flashing Gustave his default smile as he places both shoes on the pavement to keep his ride balanced. He wears his casual, unaffected mask with ease.]
Bonsoir.
[Notably, he has not bothered to seek a place to park, or to kill the engine. A gesture to the empty space behind him; big enough for two.]
So, I realized we can walk... or we can ride.
[The thing about having a motorcycle means that parking is a lot less of a trial. He can roll it into any space that fits.]
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he glances at the seat behind him, and shrugs. )
It's your gas.
( and how damn expensive it seems to be.
gustave adjusts himself behind the man, the cold feeling of his mechanical arm gripping just over his shoulder. )
How exactly comfortable are you driving this?
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Very comfortable.
[...he just waits for Gustave to take his seat and hold on tight, ignoring the associations that buoy up in his mind when he feels the grip of that mechanical arm. A lost brother. A grave. All the pain that came rolling in because of it.]
I made it here in one piece, didn't I? Besides, it's not that far.
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( without knowing that this is something that would otherwise dig knife of guilt further into verso, gustave says this with a sense of levity, some amount of humor. no time to feel conflicted, though, as they are soon on their way.
precarious about verso's abilities in driving regardless of his confidence, gustave keeps to himself to avoid being a distraction, glancing about at the city the goes past them, unfamiliar yet now becoming familiar with each passing day, lacking the architecture he so loves from his home but every head turn offering him some new thing to be fascinated by.
he is more at ease once they come to a stop on the curb. )
Is this it?
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They zip down the street, turn down maybe one block or two, and without incident, they arrive at the hole in the wall bar that Verso had described, which is titled fittingly, Hole in the Wall. The outside matches the inside, which is to say, nothing special.]
This is it. Now, I know it doesn't look like much, but trust me... The wine's good. And the bartender's more competent than that other place we visited.
[poor Thomas]
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( he knows exactly who verso is referring to. the poor android tried his best, though gustave was more interested in its functionality than in its ability to serve drinks.
stepping off the bike, he dusts off his shirt as he glances up and about the place.
beggars can't be choosers, etc.
once verso has his motorcycle parked and is moving about, gustave will say, shall we?, and make his way inside. the atmosphere definitely feels like a 'hole in the wall', but the bartender greets them most kindly, so it might just be a good sign. up the counter he goes, sitting up on one of the stools there.
at the bartender's remark for what they'll have, gustave turns to verso, )
You're the expert here, mon ami.
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The bartender seems to recognize him, granting them both friendly grins.]
Ah, Louis, good to see you again. How about the top-shelf stuff you mentioned las time? From the, ah, crate that floated in from one of the old diffusion zones?
[The Bourdeux stuff, Verso? Really looking to treat this friend of yours, eh? He winks. Coming right up.]
Thanks. [Verso flashes him a charming smile in return.] You can just leave the bottle. [A side glance at Gustave soon after-] Apparently, wine and spirits from other diffusion zones surprise the populace now and again. I figured why not be brave and give it a try.
*is revived*
Might as well.
( once the bottle is brought, along with the glasses, and they are served the wine, gustave takes a moment to look at the bottle. there is french script on the label, which reminds him immediately of him. )
Grand vin, Château Bellegrave...
( unfamiliar to him, regardless. he turns to verso, placing the bottle down. )
Should be good. ( after all, it's wine— he grabs at his glass. ) To you, mon ami.
text.
...It's not, actually, very exciting, but at least the sun is out. ]
Gustave! Have you tried these? They're very strange.
[ Weird meat things. But hey, better than rations and weird meat from out in the Continent! ]
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of course he has sciel's number already saved to his contacts. )
Is that a sort of sandwich?
( they've arrived at the resort mostly together, wanting to go together as part of expedition 33 (unofficially, that is), but they've since gone their own ways as different things caught their eye. )
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A hot dog!
[ He'll just need to imagine the exaggerated flow of her arm, like she's revealing something most incredible. Which...it's not, let's be honest. ]
They've got a funny taste but aren't too bad. They've got all sorts of different food here.
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( he jests, because that's hardly a poor little puppy. interesting take for a name, but he supposes there might be a reason for it. )
I haven't really looked into the food yet.
I'm surprised you're by the pool, too.
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[ Like, what do you mean it's a hot dog, why are we eating dogs?? She'd just as soon eat vegetables and fish all the time. ]
The food is out here.
So is the bar.
[ She is keeping quite far from the water, thank you. ]
They say the pool isn't too deep but I'm happy to stay dry.
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sciel seems to be doing okay, so he lets it be. )
The bar, you say?
( ah, he knows. they're all a little peckish for an alcoholic drink once in a while. how else to drown the sour taste of life, back in lumière? )
I should ask you to save me a spot. It should be about time I had something.
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I'll grab you a spot. I can even make you a drink!
[ Because the poor robot man will probably mess it up, and she doesn't want that to be such a deterrent. ]
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Don't go too wild for my sake. At the bar, right?
Let me just wrap things up here.
( what is he doing? being a fucking nerd, that's what. )
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[ Being by the pool is pretty wild for her standards, honestly. How she allowed Esquie to carry them across water is beyond her, sometimes. ]
À bientôt!
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maybe it has something to do with a fate they both know is true, deflected, if just momentarily. )
Is this the seat you have saved for me?
( gustave rolls in, smooth and friendly, pointing at the seat beside sciel. the heat is oppressive, but he's found himself keeping mostly cool by wearing a tanned linen shirt and brown linen trousers; his trust backpack, the one he carried into the continent, is strapped to his back, unsurprisingly.
he shoots sciel a smile, his hand pushing to her shoulder and back in greeting. )
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One that'll be gone soon. Isn't that just the way?
She gives him a smile, reaching over for him. ]
'Course, who else would it be for? Sit, sit. Did you grab any food on your way?
[ It's fine if not; she's still got a hot dog for him (she will NOT suffer alone, okay) at the bar. ]
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( he thought he had been invited to enjoy a hot dog with her! besides, he was too busy being pleased with himself and his notes to really stop and forage for food. it's unlike the continent and their camps, the way he doesn't really have much of an empty belly here.
a benefit of a proper civilization, he supposes.
sitting himself down, he brings forward his backpack, pulling out his journal and showing it to her. please let him nerd out. )
Should I take notes on your hot dog discovery?
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[ Which won't take but a moment. Someone's cooking up something meaty, by the smell of it. She can't say the food's been completely enjoyable; it's so much red meat, and some of it might not even be meat, but still... ]
You should. We should probably keep track of foods in general, especially since... [ She gestures. ] Well, you saw what was in the city.
[ Weird eggs and things. ]
Give a try, yeah? And I'll get you a drink.
[ She hops off the bar to go behind it, scooting beside the bartender with a gentle, "pardonnez-moi, mon ami!" as she looks for things to use. He keeps getting her drink wrong, so she wants Gustave's to be a good one. ]
*is revived*
he's yet to see what the buzz about hot dogs is about... may he be pleasantly surprised. )
Nothing too strong, Sciel.
( he will have to drive back, and he doesn't want to give maelle too many reasons as to why she should be the one to drive instead.
glancing at the hot dog, he takes it into his human hand, at the way it's presented with the bun. it seems so innocuous.
and so, he takes a bite, and chews... chews... ponders upon it. )
Hm.
( not bad! though a little dry. )
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[ No, nothing too strong. The both of them have to drive back and she doesn't want her or her friend to be in an accident. So she looks for something vaguely sweet with just a bit of alcohol, something easy to mix and let him try. She grabs some ice and makes him a little orange drink, sliding it over to him. ]
Saw him making something similar. Called a 'Bellini'. Give a try.
[ If he doesn't like it, she'll drink it no problem. But she eyes up the hot dog. ]
Isn't it a little weird? Kind of chewy.
[ She really doesn't like the name of it but apparently it's a sausage, and that's understandable. It just looks odd. ]
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he sets the hot dog down, grabs at the drink. )
I imagine this is what over-boiling pâté would be like, if you take out most of its flavor.
( for even if they didn't have a lot, they still managed with some of the few fowls they managed to keep and breed, though there was a definite preference for their eggs in the long-term than their meat. with a tilt of the glass, he takes a sip of the so-called bellini.
after the sip, he takes another, then sets the glass down, pointing at it with his left forefinger. )
This is much, much nicer.
( but also, they did like to drink in lumière. )
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It's strange. Everything here tastes just slightly off. But perhaps that's the lack of vegetables?
[ And cheese. Real cheese, not this weird floppy nonsense people have been putting on the burgers. She's been mostly avoiding those. But the ample amount of red meat has absolutely changed how she feels a bit. Initially, it was almost nice: more protein, something to make her feel a bit stronger. But it's heavy in contrast to their diet back in Lumière.
She grins about the drink. ]
Good, huh? It was recommended to me one morning. [ Like she should've been drinking that early. ] I watched someone else make it.