[She just told him she was going to show Sophie the Hanging Gardens, so he'll be amused to see Sophie in the apartment, but Maelle knows he won't mind. They seem to get along great.]
Come on, then. Up we go.
[And Maelle will lead them back to the apartment, opening the door and announcing herself.]
Me again. Someone wanted to say hi before we set off.
[ He's at the workdesk he'd claimed in the living area, jacket off and sleeves rolled up. Something might seem slightly amiss for a moment before it's clear that what he's working on is his own arm, the fabricated hand and forearm detached from their socket so he can peer into the joint that connects the mechanical arm to what's left of his natural one.
Gustave looks up as they come in, and grips the bottom of the mechanical arm to lift it, jiggling it so the loose metal hand waves at them as they enter. (He thinks he's funny.) ]
Hi, Sophie.
[ He is, as Maelle predicted, amused. ]
You know you aren't going that far, right? Not that I don't always enjoy getting a chance to say hello.
Like he didn't know it was going to be me, Maelle!
(It is hilarious, thank you so much, Gustave. Julian also has no hands and she's more than used to mechanical hands working in mysterious ways, and it makes her laugh, clapping once as to say he did a good job.
Of course, he's gonna get a hug.)
Oh, shush, I felt your brain in here and decided to come see its owner.
[Cute. Maelle is happy to see two of her favorite people get along, and so warmly, too. She looks to Gustave with a lift of her brows, smile seemingly stuck on her lips.]
I mean... I wouldn't be able to show you this thing if not for Gustave. Do you wanna come?
[ Just like Maelle, he'd like to see Sophie's reaction to one of their favorite places. He pushes his chair back and stands, taking a moment to reattach his left arm before gesturing both girls politely towards the door. ]
(She's reaching for Gustave, too. He's gonna get loved on, like it or not, he'll get his arm looped around.)
I mean, none of my shoes are nonsensical, for your information. My true superpower is waking on grates with stiletto heels on, but since you asked so nicely.
You two are really happy about this, huh? It's cute.
[ He'd been slightly concerned that the arrival of the Hanging Gardens might feel strange or out of place here, but that hadn't been the case at all. It's a little slice of home, a place that means so much to both him and Maelle, and even if it no longer looks out over Lumiere it's still a comfort.
He offers a gentlemanly arm to Sophie and walks with them toward the elevator bank, as amused as Maelle is. ]
Maelle can tell you all about it once we're there.
Oh, come on, I feel honored both of you wanna show me something. Again, pretty cute.
(Gustave knows how she feels about all this affection. Absolutely not used to it, learning how to accept it, and learning how to give it back. It's all very new to her, so, he probably get that she feels this to be extremely precious.
[Maelle leads the way, pep in her step. She's excited to show Sophie, and even more so now that Gustave's coming along. Everything is better with Gustave.
As they head out and eventually come to the way up, an aged fire escape with winding steps, Maelle stops.]
Single file time. Gustave, do you want to take up the rear to catch anyone that falls?
I'll be fine, if I fall down, it's on purpose, no worries there.
(Maelle started it, just to make this clear, but she laughs as she goes up the stairs. She's not afraid of heights, so she might even tip-toe to see more ahead.)
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 01:28 am (UTC)/Hi, babe. No, not busy at all. What's up?/
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 01:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 01:32 am (UTC)Pick you up or you'll meet me here?/
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 01:51 am (UTC)(Please, girl has fought in high heel boots! She'll live. She did all of camp in those, too.
So, she arrives.)
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 07:23 am (UTC)Hi. Cute outfit.
[Maelle is in jeans and a t-shirt.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 02:12 pm (UTC)Yeah, the sky is blue, grass is green, so forth! You look cute, too. Wait— Gustave's home.
(His brain signature is located within. Oh. Nice.)
Mind if I go say hi to him before we go?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 04:00 pm (UTC)[She just told him she was going to show Sophie the Hanging Gardens, so he'll be amused to see Sophie in the apartment, but Maelle knows he won't mind. They seem to get along great.]
Come on, then. Up we go.
[And Maelle will lead them back to the apartment, opening the door and announcing herself.]
Me again. Someone wanted to say hi before we set off.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 04:09 pm (UTC)Gustave looks up as they come in, and grips the bottom of the mechanical arm to lift it, jiggling it so the loose metal hand waves at them as they enter. (He thinks he's funny.) ]
Hi, Sophie.
[ He is, as Maelle predicted, amused. ]
You know you aren't going that far, right? Not that I don't always enjoy getting a chance to say hello.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 04:22 pm (UTC)(It is hilarious, thank you so much, Gustave. Julian also has no hands and she's more than used to mechanical hands working in mysterious ways, and it makes her laugh, clapping once as to say he did a good job.
Of course, he's gonna get a hug.)
Oh, shush, I felt your brain in here and decided to come see its owner.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 04:39 pm (UTC)His brain is usually here... doing work. Important brain things.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 04:48 pm (UTC)[ A gentle tease, as he reaches to put an arm around Sophie in return. ]
I'm surprised Maelle agreed to take a detour. She's pretty excited to show you her little surprise.
[ About as excited as he had been to show her, which is somewhere on the level of a small child getting to open a present. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 04:55 pm (UTC)And perspective.
(But hey, this is so cute? Her heart is so warmed and she squeezes Gustave a little as a way to tell him that.)
Yeah, we're definitely going to this surprise thing soon! I just wanted to stop by and squeeze you a bit. Hey, ange, can we take him?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 05:06 pm (UTC)I mean... I wouldn't be able to show you this thing if not for Gustave. Do you wanna come?
[Clearly, neither would mind him tagging along.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 07:39 pm (UTC)[ Just like Maelle, he'd like to see Sophie's reaction to one of their favorite places. He pushes his chair back and stands, taking a moment to reattach his left arm before gesturing both girls politely towards the door. ]
After you.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-17 09:11 am (UTC)By the way, she said 'walking' and 'climbing', so my car is in my garage. You guys lead the way.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-17 05:02 pm (UTC)I see everyone is wearing sensible shoes. Proud of us.
[Proud of you, Sophie!!!]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 02:42 pm (UTC)[ He eschews his jacket and goes to the door, connecting his arm back to its socket as he goes so he can hold the door open for his two companions. ]
A few stairs, though. It needed to be up high.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 06:21 pm (UTC)I mean, none of my shoes are nonsensical, for your information. My true superpower is waking on grates with stiletto heels on, but since you asked so nicely.
You two are really happy about this, huh? It's cute.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 06:54 pm (UTC)Sounds like you're happy to play along, Sophie.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 08:12 pm (UTC)[ He'd been slightly concerned that the arrival of the Hanging Gardens might feel strange or out of place here, but that hadn't been the case at all. It's a little slice of home, a place that means so much to both him and Maelle, and even if it no longer looks out over Lumiere it's still a comfort.
He offers a gentlemanly arm to Sophie and walks with them toward the elevator bank, as amused as Maelle is. ]
Maelle can tell you all about it once we're there.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 08:14 pm (UTC)(Gustave knows how she feels about all this affection. Absolutely not used to it, learning how to accept it, and learning how to give it back. It's all very new to her, so, he probably get that she feels this to be extremely precious.
So, off they go.)
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 08:21 pm (UTC)As they head out and eventually come to the way up, an aged fire escape with winding steps, Maelle stops.]
Single file time. Gustave, do you want to take up the rear to catch anyone that falls?
[She looks right at Sophie with a sweet smile.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 08:28 pm (UTC)[ He waits until they've started up, then takes up the rear as they climb. ]
Has she tried to make you guess what it is, Sophie?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 08:31 pm (UTC)(Maelle started it, just to make this clear, but she laughs as she goes up the stairs. She's not afraid of heights, so she might even tip-toe to see more ahead.)
She hasn't. Maybe she thinks I'll cheat?
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: