[ Verso's allowed to break every family rule, but he guesses Gustave doesn't know that yet.
Maelle's tutor—he turns the words around in his head. They still sound a little foreign. Alicia had announced that she'd like to go by Maelle at the beginning of this year, and it still takes a little getting used to, although he tries his best to remember. She'd suffered such bullying and exclusion at the academy the previous year, the thing that drove her to schooling at home instead; he imagines the change of name is an attempt to put it all behind her. ]
You mean the tutor that Maelle can't stop talking about.
[ The comment is light, nonchalant, but if Gustave is particularly observant he might be able to pick up on a hint of blink-and-you'll-miss-it jealousy. Sometimes I'm afraid you're forgetting about me entirely, Verso once wrote in one of his letters to Maelle, before scratching it out and crumpling it up. He'd instead sent Sounds like you're having a great time!
He shakes Gustave's hand, firm and practiced. ]
My parents didn't, uh, mention you'd be here.
[ They'd said they'd be out for an art exhibition, or something of that like. He'd expected Gustave would be gone, too. ]
no subject
Maelle's tutor—he turns the words around in his head. They still sound a little foreign. Alicia had announced that she'd like to go by Maelle at the beginning of this year, and it still takes a little getting used to, although he tries his best to remember. She'd suffered such bullying and exclusion at the academy the previous year, the thing that drove her to schooling at home instead; he imagines the change of name is an attempt to put it all behind her. ]
You mean the tutor that Maelle can't stop talking about.
[ The comment is light, nonchalant, but if Gustave is particularly observant he might be able to pick up on a hint of blink-and-you'll-miss-it jealousy. Sometimes I'm afraid you're forgetting about me entirely, Verso once wrote in one of his letters to Maelle, before scratching it out and crumpling it up. He'd instead sent Sounds like you're having a great time!
He shakes Gustave's hand, firm and practiced. ]
My parents didn't, uh, mention you'd be here.
[ They'd said they'd be out for an art exhibition, or something of that like. He'd expected Gustave would be gone, too. ]