[ The rest of the week is a strange dreamlike haze. The oversized guest house meant for fourteen people is shrunken down to just the two of them - a temporary paradise at the border between life and death, and Gustave feels like a ghost haunting the premises. Time is split between brainstorming ways to overcome his fate and stealing moments with Date, a little shy, a little desperate, anxious to make the most of his dwindling days. Ultimately, Date decides to gamble on getting both of his wishes; Gustave's not entirely confident it will work, but he has no frame of reference, and Anna seemed encouraging enough. On the final night, they make their prayers, and, against all odds set by his fried nerves, he falls asleep in the crook of Date's arm.
The first shocking thing is that he wakes up. Jerks up to a sitting position with a guttural gasp like a man coming back from the brink of drowning. He's in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed, and he's breathing. The panic of the unknown is balanced by the thrill of being alive. It worked, then.
Now what?
He calls out; there's no response. In the room there's nothing immediately familiar. The style is not that of Lumiere - it's closer to the way things had been in the game show house, futuristic and minimal - and it's also obvious that someone lives here. Gustave wonders if he should try to escape before the occupant of the room returns, at least until he opens the closet. Inside the closet is a coat. A very familiar coat.
This is Date's house? It must be; maybe that's how the wish evened out, keeping Gustave alive by sticking him somewhere outside of Lumiere. His first thought is thank God. His second thought is that he needs to get back to Maelle. His third thought is oh, thank God, I'm really alive, he really used that wish on me. And Date's not here now, but -- he'll be here soon, surely. Right? He has to hope so.
So Gustave tries to settle. He finds some clothes of Date's that he can throw on - his own wardrobe is missing, but surely Date won't mind if he borrows a shirt and some sweats - and he paces the entirety of the studio apartment. He peers out every window with an anxious buzz, staring at the towering unfamiliar buildings and the weird machines and the complicated, calligraphic symbols of Date's language that he can't read, wonders what half of what he's looking at even is. Looks in his fridge. Looks at his work desk with its ominous corkboard. Looks at the big rectangular devices sitting in the room that he doesn't recognize, and the small rectangular device he does recognize, tries to put the record on but can't figure out the sound system. Looks through Date's record collection and wonders what he'll do if Date doesn't show up.
[ There is an extreme, deep panic in Date when he wakes up and Gustave isn't there. His immediate thought is, of course, his wish didn't work. That Gustave is gone, he's truly gone, and that's it. He doesn't even realize for a long moment that his mask is gone as well — that his face is different, fixed, no longer the facsimile of Saito's face but his own, real and true. But that's nothing next to the panic of Gustave being gone.
Is he in Lumiere? Did Date save him and he went back home before Date could tell him goodbye? That doesn't seem like something he would do but Date is quickly running out of answers and the production staff doesn't seem to have any either. No one knows where Gustave went which does not help Date at all. It's late by the time the production staff tell Date he needs to go, that he can't keep waiting here for Gustave, and Date is about to curse all of them to hell if it meant being able to wait just a bit longer for him.
But he knows he has to go. If anything, he has to get back to Mizuki.
It's as he's driving back that he breaks, when he finally reaches the familiar streets of Tokyo, he has to pull over somewhere and press his face to his hands and just. Sob for a while. He doesn't know if he'll ever see Gustave again and he knows that if he went to Lumiere, that's a good thing, that means Date's wish worked but even so — even with how much he insisted he would be fine if he only had that week with Gustave — he's not fine. He's very much not fine.
He's such an idiot, he thinks. Falling for a guy that quickly and losing him in the same breath. He's such a soft-hearted idiot and he knew it was reckless of him and stupid and no matter the brave face he put up in front of Gustave, he knew this would break him. He knew it would. He just... really fucking liked Gustave and wanted a future with him and wanted to hope for the best. Is it worth having his face back if he doesn't have the person his heart wants the most?
It takes... a while for him to pull himself together. He's lucky Aiba isn't here with him, that she's still at ABIS until he returns to work and picks her up. It means he can't trust her to drive for him while he's all out of sorts but it also means that he can be this pathetic in private. He thinks then that he doesn't even have a picture of Gustave, something to remember him by. He just has his memories — and that sets him off all over again, causing him to need more time to get it together.
Eventually, red, puffy-eyed and all out of tears, he gets back on the road to drag himself back home. At least he can be pathetic there, alone. Build back up his walls before he gets to ABIS and throws himself back into work to ignore the pain in his heart. That's the plan, at least.
When he gets home though, he's got his suitcase trailing behind him as he opens up the front door with his keys and steps inside the genkan. He toes off his shoes and rubs at his face as he drags his suitcase out into the main area and notices that — the lights are on? He pauses, blinks, and then just like that his eyes land on Gustave.
Gustave, who is here. Alive. In his apartment.
Wearing his clothes.
That's a lot to process all at once though and so Date just freezes, brain unable to handle the multiple points of information he's processing at the moment and instead he just stares at Gustave, stunned. Quietly — ]
[ it feels like ages pass; after a certain point, his wondering about what his next steps should be in lieu of Date's return turns into worrying about them. Was he wrong? Maybe that wasn't Date's coat, and he was just seeing what he wanted to see. When he goes and checks again, he's almost certain, but now doubt is setting in - he questions his memory and his surroundings in kind. This really might be some random person's house - he could be completely wrong, and even more completely lost, displaced from his own reality into another entirely. Spending time puttering around here might be wasting precious seconds he doesn't have to spare before he gets found out. Or, alternatively, maybe this is the next life, and nobody is coming to get him at all - they're waiting for him to get outside.
It all sounds awfully unlikely, compared to the simplest solution: that this is Date's world and his wish worked and Date is just at work or something. However, the longer he spends alone and confused, the more he starts to feel anxious, like he's missing something obvious, or he's trapped. It gets to the point that, when he does hear the door open, he summons his weapons out of instinct, one gripped tightly in each hand as he peers from his spot in the living room, heart in his throat. Cautious, hopeful.
For once, hope prevails. Because it is Date - looking abjectly miserable, but Gustave hardly notices. Here is his proof: everything worked out, or almost everything, enough of everything for this moment. He stares back at Date for a moment, equally stunned. Then relief - nearly overwhelming - floods his body, breaking through into his expression. The pistol and blade vanish into nothingness with a flash of teal Chroma. Gustave stumbles over to him in a half-run, crossing the short distance of the room as fast as he can manage, and wastes no time in throwing his arms around Date's slim frame, crushing him against his chest without hesitation in a tight embrace. ]
It is you, I knew it. Putain, you really did it, [ he rambles breathlessly, fingers twisting in Date's shirt, and he finds himself laughing helplessly, repeating: ] You really did it.
[ Date brought him back. He's alive. He's far from home, but fuck, he's alive and Date's here with him, this amazing freak of a man who saved him. ]
[ He's stunned, really. Truly. He doesn't know what to do with himself. He stares at Gustave as Gustave stares back and his mouth hangs open, slightly ajar. Is this — is that — Gustave is here? Gustave is alive. Gustave is alive...? His eye drops down to the weapons in his hands, widening slightly as more questions come to him at their appearance — and then disappearance! — but then Gustave is rushing across the room and crushing him against his chest and honestly, Date realizes he doesn't care at all when he feels Gustave's beating heart against him instead.
His arms wrap around Gustave, hesitant for a moment, before tightening in a desperate hold, fingers curling into the back of his shirt and he steps into the hug, legs nearly giving out from underneath him as he sinks against Gustave. His face is pressed into his shoulder and he holds him oh so tight, shaking in his grip as the reality hits that Gustave did not leave him, Gustave is alive, and they have a future together?
They have a future together!
Oh, it's hard not to cry again at that but he can't — he can't. He's not alone anymore, he needs to keep up appearances (though does he, really, with Gustave?) but he still can't stop shaking regardless. Gustave is real and here and alive and he's here. ]
Gustave... [ His voice is thick with emotion, lifting his head and rubbing his face against his hair, just clutching him tight. ] Gustave, my Gustave, my... [ everything. No, that's too much. Don't be weird. ] My Gustave.
[ he's beginning to think Date was more stressed out than he was, by the way he's trembling - which is outrageous, considering only one of them was dying, but what can Gustave do at this point but accept Date's outrageous feelings? Every emotion this man has is enormous. Besides, it's not like Gustave can blame him. The situation is unreal. He still doesn't feel like he's entirely grasping how huge this is, what this is going to mean for him, exactly, but it's such a joy just to know it worked and he's alive and he's not alone. As long as he survives, he's sure he can get back to Lumiere -- and if he's alive, then he has to believe that the wishes are real, and everyone back home is going to be okay, too.
What a hurricane of victories. Maybe Date's holding it together, but Gustave's certainly a little misty-eyed, and unlike Date, he's not so ashamed of it. Fuck shame: they just made a miracle happen. He nuzzles into Date's hair in return, just happy to feel him there, taking a deep breath of him. Of life. ]
I'm here, [ he replies simply, the tremor in his voice muffled by his proximity, and for a moment or two, Gustave is happy just to hold him, and be held.
It's going to work out. For the first time in -- god, he doesn't want to think about how long, he truly feels like things are going to work out. Maybe the first time in his whole life. There's still a lot to figure out, but he can do it. No, they can do it -- him and Date. Clearly, they can accomplish anything. A surge of gratitude like nothing he's felt before overcomes him from head to toe, and he chokes out another laugh, half-tearful. ]
Where have you been all this time?
[ Today? Or is that his whole life, too? That feels dramatic, but he can't help thinking it in the face of everything this man's done for him. ]
[ Gustave's joy is infectious, even with Date still reeling from the misery of the day. He hears his laugh, hears his voice choke up, clutches him all that much harder. Gustave is alive. He's alive, which means there's so much more they can do together. They have a future together. And on top of all that, it must mean Gustave's wish worked too — which means he'll be able to go home! He knows how much that means to Gustave and that's. That's a good thing. Even if he very desperately doesn't want Gustave to leave right now.
That question gets a choked out noise from Date, pressing his face into Gustave's shoulder and closing his eyes tightly as he tries not to let the tears slip. Where has he been? He doesn't know how to answer that, existentially. Because god, if he knew Gustave before now, well... ha, would he even have been smart enough to pursue him? Maybe they were meant to meet now, on that stupid show, so they could have this together. ]
I was waiting for you at the resort. I thought — I thought the worst. They finally had to kick me out, I had no idea you'd be here.
[ Voice muffled as he speaks into Gustave's shoulder before he pulls back with a deep exhale and finally looks at him properly. He can tell Gustave's eyes are wet, that he's dealing with a flood of emotions just like Date is and Date gives a small smile.
He wants — god, he wants so much. But just the satisfaction of having Gustave in his arms is enough though. ]
[ leaving and getting back to Lumiere is a problem for future Gustave. At present, there's nowhere else he needs to be but here. When Date pulls back, Gustave keeps his hands securely at Date's waist, returning his wavering smile with one of his own and a tilt of his head, sheepish and bright despite the tears burning the backs of his eyes. The explanation does dim that brightness a tad, the well-worn creases in his forehead deepening as he furrows his brow. ]
They didn't know? Well - how would they know, but still--
[ it feels awfully cruel to do that to Date. If he really was dying before they pulled him here -- no, if they were able to find him and pull him to their silly little beach house in the first place, then surely they would've been able to find him a second time. Then again, maybe he's trying to apply logic to something inherently illogical. He doesn't know how what they do works; he only knows the results. Gustave shakes his head, looking at Date again apologetically. ]
Sorry. I... didn't mean to scare you. I mean, I -- I wasn't expecting this either, but worrying you - that's the last thing I wanted. I put you through enough already with all of this. I...
[ no, apologies aren't quite right. Gustave pauses, then fixes Date with a sincere gaze, shifting his hands to sit on his shoulders instead, where he grips him tightly but gently. ]
Thank you. Thank you for saving me. I - I can never repay you. You... They let me have my wish, but you're the one who gave me a chance to see it come true. To live. [ he swallows thickly. ] My whole life, I've been getting ready to die, you know, and you... Now I can get ready to live.
[ who can say no to free food?!? Certainly not three guys suffering from various levels of unemployment, and also Date. The catch: they only get to go if they all go together.
Also, it's Denny's.
However, this does not bother Gustave, as he doesn't know what Denny's is. Guaranteed he's overdressed. ]
Hey, you're... the guy from the scavenger hunt! Monsieur, um...
[Edamura is not overdressed, because he knows what a Denny's is and what kind of formality it deserves. at least this one doesn't seem to be nearly as crappy as the ones he breezed through during his trips to America?? he bets the coffee is still shit, though. which is a shame, because he might have needed a cup or two to deal with. . . . . . . . . . .]
[. . . . . . . . SIGHS DEEPLY]
[for now, he narrows his gaze at Gustave from across the table, before finishing for him in a tone that is entirely too mild]
[ Date is here! Date is not overdressed. He is not even in his usual outfit. He is looking cool but don't make fun of him or he'll cry. Anyway! He is sitting next to Gustave and when the bean seems exasperated at Gustave of all people, Date is immediately going to pick on him.
Because how dare you. Gustave is precious and has done no wrong. ]
Edamame also works, doesn't it? Our little soybean.
[ He's looking through the menu at the moment, chin propped up on his hand, elbow on the table, while he looks through the offerings lazily. He did order a coffee though, because he doesn't care about what the coffee is like here. ]
It's nice to see everyone and get together. Really great that they offered this.
[ It's okay Gustave, you're not alone in being overdressed! Because while Rom knows exactly what a Denny's is and what level of decorum it deserves, he did not make a career as an influencer by half-assing the step of establishing an image! I'm too lazy to get reference images but he sure is in some flavor of gaudy goth jacket.
Also he ordered a coffee for himself, too. Sorry bean, he's loyal to you but not to your fancy coffee standards. At least when he hears that nickname dropped, he smiles at Date ... and shifts his legs out of the way so Edamura has more room to kick across under the table. ]
It certainly is nice, isn't it? How generous of production to treat us so lavishly~
[ He prefers this over the beach though, thank god. ]
They did say this won't be recorded, but -- shall we start with proper introductions, anyway? This might be some sort of hidden camera prank, after all.
[ some of us spent the entire show at the beach, rom...
unlike Date, Gustave immediately looks apologetic, holding up his hands placatingly. ]
Edamura! Sorry. That's what I was going to say, I just... couldn't think of it. Sorry.
[ maybe Edamura and Date are better friends?? Must be. Rom looks like a complete weirdo to a man from turn of the century not-France, but he won't judge on appearances! Besides, he's being perfectly polite right now. ]
Right, yes. I'm Gustave. Nice to meet you, monsieur. And to see you again, too, Edamura.
[ asdjkdfkldhjfdshf???? Ow, what the fuck. There's definitely a not subtle yelp as his shin is kicked and he hisses, wincing slightly. People are being mean to him?? HIM???? He's a baby! ]
Didn't know beans could be so violent...
[ Terrible. Hate it. No good. But alright, moving on, he briefly wonders why he didn't bring Aiba along because man, it sure would've been nice to have her dig up dirt on Edamura just for funsies. But no, he will behave. ]
Anyway, I'm Kaname Date. [ BUT ONLY ONE PERSON GETS TO CALL HIM KANAME ] You can call me Date-san.
[ Looking right at Edamura.
AND THANKFULLY... His and Rom's coffees arrive so Date is going to take a sip of his, black and sugarless, humming around the edge of the mug. ]
[ Date was once again, forced to take vacation because of labor laws. He, of course, objected very strongly to this — he didn't need a vacation! He had stuff to do! They couldn't keep him out of ABIS if they wanted to! And then Boss brought up some very specific blackmail material from the time she took him to a cabaret club for his birthday and idly suggested she would send it to Gustave and, well, Date found himself off of work for a few weeks with no one to blame but himself.
It was Ryuki who suggested he get out of Tokyo then. Come on, Mr. Date, go somewhere with Mr. Gustave. It'll be romantic! And so that had Date looking online for places to take Gustave. After running through a few ideas, he landed on taking him to an onsen but he also knew Gustave wasn't as used to public bathing as Date might be and with his arm... well, it would probably be better for them both to go somewhere with a private onsen.
So, while it cost a bit of money, he eventually landed on booking them a private suite at Yoshimatsu. It was about a two hour drive from their place to get there but he thought Gustave would like the sights, plus their room had a great view of Mt Fuji and he thinks Gustave will like that too. So, he put a lot of thought into it! And he was excited to share with Gustave!
Thankfully, Gustave seemed just as enthused when he pitched the idea to him and off they went.
It was kind of funny, in retrospect, how close this place was to Atami and he ... wasn't taking Gustave to Atami. When he mentioned this to Boss, she laughed at him, told him he'd become a changed man. No longer wanting to run away to Atami and fuck around, now he was "whipped and collared", she said. Which only gave him thoughts of Gustave putting him in a collar and look, he didn't need another kinky fantasy of Gustave to get off to. But here he was!
The staff is nice when they arrive and there are complimentary yukatas for them both waiting in the suite. Date, of course, became very excited about the idea of Gustave in a yukata immediately but he also didn't want to spoil it for Gustave by being a creep right off the bat. Still. ]
[ The chain of silliness-and-also-blackmail that led to this event remains largely unknown to Gustave. From his perspective, Date's taking a break (normal) and wanted to travel somewhere with him (they'd previously discussed this) and that's about as complicated as the story gets - although he has become necessarily aware of Date's tendency to get absorbed in his investigations. Funny: he absolutely would have pegged him as a slacker more interested in laying around at home with his dirty magazines than a dedicated public servant, but it turns out Date's probably a harder worker than Gustave used to be. It's a charming little surprise from a man full of mostly depressing big surprises up to this point.
So here he is. He feels slightly guilty that he's here instead of Mizuki or something, but, on the other hand, Mizuki's technically an adult, and he supposes this is more of a couples' thing, especially once he gets there. There weren't exactly a lot of places to go in Lumiére. Or vacations to take, for that matter. Or hot springs, or anything that looked remotely like this at all. Gustave's in awe of most of it. He was impressed by the big city, and he's impressed by this, too - a quieter destination, more steeped in this culture that he's never known before. And also, it has hot springs. ]
It's amazing! Is this really okay? I mean, on your wallet... This is all so -- fancy?
[ money also wasn't a huge thing in Lumiére, considering the world was slowly ending, but he knows it's very important here. Still, even as he speaks, he can't help staring out over their (private! the luxury!) hot spring and the big mountain looming in the background. ]
There's nothing like this at all back home.
[ are they in yukata already?? guaranteed gustave looks super dashing and cute if so. ]
[ You know what? They are in yukata already because why not!! Showered, changed, Date looks pretty relaxed with his hair loose and in his yukata. They're both blue and matching which on one hand, matching! But on the other hand, blue and not purple. Oh well. Date is trying not to blatantly stare at Gustave in his yukata so instead, he is unpacking his suitcase!
He's. Usually the type of guy who lives out of his suitcase on a vacation but he is trying to be a clean and responsible adult this time around. ]
It's fine. I get paid well and I had some money saved up. [ On one hand, Boss is constantly deducting his wages. On the other, he is a Special Agent technically so his pay is higher than the average detective. He's just also blowing his money constantly on stupid shit. Or was, until he realized he wanted to spend his money on Gustave instead. ]
No vacations, huh? Well, nowhere to go on vacation either. Hm.
[ Man, living in Lumiere sure is a different world than anything Date knows. ]
[ me belatedly: dammit i accidentally skipped the cutscene where date would've had to help him put it on
good thing Gustave is a smart cookie who (clearly) figured it out on his own... eventually! He does indeed look very handsome, despite his still-drying hair and his slight fidgeting in the unfamiliar clothing. To him, it feels like a big bathrobe. Considering the surrounds, maybe it is a big bathrobe? No, that's rude to think. He turns back to Date, watching him with slight curiosity. His own suitcase is rather overstuffed, as one might expect of a man suffering from a combination of never traveling for pleasure before and commitment to good grooming habits - something he's realizing after the fact as Date unpacks. He'll figure that mess out... later.
Admittedly, part of him is also watching because Date rarely hangs around with his hair down when he's not sleeping. It's always a little longer than Gustave remembers -- and as much as it should probably make him look unkempt, Gustave always thinks it makes him look sort of wise and ethereal. Assuredly, he's neither. But he is pretty, as Gustave has previously stated, and he can't help admiring Date a bit while he's not looking. ]
Exactly. We'd take time off, sure, but the most exotic locale you could visit was the farmland at the edge of the city. Not very thrilling, unless you're very fond of chickens and potatoes. [ although, to be fair: who isn't? He waves his hand dismissively. ] I meant more -- the way everything looks, the environment, all that. It's totally different from anything I've ever seen. Not that Tokyo was familiar, but I've always lived in the big city, at least, and... this isn't that. It's... I really feel like I'm in a different world, now.
[ he had before, too, but it's especially potent here, a far cry from the faux-French culture he's always known. ]
[ Date, despite himself, does not realize Gustave is watching him as he unpacks. Which is hilarious since the only reason he's unpacking is so he doesn't blatantly stare at Gustave. Good trade off, boys. But he isn't aware of Gustave's thoughts about him with his hair down either and would very much take advantage of them if he was aware. Instead, he listens to Gustave until the last bit of his suitcase is empty and he's left standing there, holding a comb and unsure what to do with it. ]
Reality sinking in, huh?
[ He'll just... place the comb on the dresser nearby before moving to approach Gustave. A sympathetic smile follows and he reaches out, brushing some of Gustave's hair off his forehead before leaning in to kiss his forehead sweetly and pull back after. ]
There's a big wide world out there and we've only seen a little bit together. If I had a bit more lead up time, I would've made good on that promise to take you to Paris. But next time, alright?
It really is different going from the city to anywhere outside of it. I grew up in the city and the first time I left, on a vacation like this too, it was a bit of a culture shock. First time I left the country was even stranger, too.
[ And then, brightly: ]
But I want you to be able to see as much of the world as you want. You — you especially deserve it, okay?
[ listen, gustave is just looking at him fondly.... unlike date's lecherous and sinful gaze........
he definitely gets caught when Date turns around, but he just smiles a bit haplessly, squishing his eyes shut when Date leans down to smooch his head. Once again, he's being spoiled; unfortunately, he's absolutely getting used to this treatment. It's nice! It's nice. The more time he spends away from home, the more Gustave realizes - though without these exact words - that his whole life has been a relentless buildup of tension and trauma, gommage after gommage, and being released from that cycle has been akin to slowly bleeding that pressure out of him. It's okay to be spoiled, actually - to relax, and think about himself first, if only in moments.
Date clearly thinks so, based on that comment. He chuckles, shaking his head faintly and leaning back on his hands. ]
I - thank you, firstly - you know, I wasn't really a get-out, explore-the-world type growing up... [ unspoken is the obvious reason: what would the point have been? There were too many other things on his mind, and there was nothing beyond the city limits but seawater and monsters. ] But I think I can see the appeal now. Especially if you keep pampering me with things like this.
[ When Maelle returns to Lumiere after the competition, it's in much better shape than she's expecting. There are even people already restored, despite everyone having gommaged when they'd forced Maman out of the Canvas. Unbeknownst to her, it's the work of Gustave's wish to protect the Lumiere he had always known, as well as the people inside — but with the Canvas safe and sound, it means that she can get to work, immediately, on repainting the things that matter. Gustave foremost among those things.
There's almost no time wasted between when she arrives and when she attempts it — more confident and at peace than she was the last time she painted, without the threat of losing everything clouding her mind. She reunites with Emma, says hi to Gustave's apprentices, who are inexplicably back, yet doesn't question any of it. Perhaps her wish to save the Canvas did more legwork than she thought. But when she can't find Gustave anywhere she looks, she clambers back up to their usual spot — the Hanging Gardens — and puts him to paint.
It's gradual, as it had been with Sciel and Lune, red and white petals swirling and coalescing into a corporeal form. She reminds herself that it's about his essence, the truth of the person that he was. Maelle thinks about when she'd first moved in with him — hiding herself away in the room he'd prepared for her, slamming doors, going to sleep spiteful and bitter, as though knowing it was only a matter of time before she was shuffled out. She thinks of how there'd been food waiting for her in the morning.
How he could be such a scatterbrain, but so intelligent at the same time. How he always remembered the small things, like tape for a sprain, a tissue for a runny nose, a tie for her hair.
She thinks of how he'd looked back at her, one last time, before he died. The small shake of his head, how he'd said for those who come after.
All the petals finally come together then, giving her memories and feelings form — bringing him here, really here, in front of her. She watches, wide-eyed, as he appears in the Canvas, unsure if she can believe her eyes. Maybe she won't be able to believe he's flesh and blood again, until he finally draws breath again. ]
[ Would it be better or worse if he'd gone in the night, still asleep, neither he nor Date aware anything was wrong until the latter opened his eyes? No - this has to be better, because at least he can say goodbye.
The fear of death by aging has largely left him when it happens. They've just come back from a brief run to the grocery store - a futuristic miracle of Date's world that still enthralls him enough to make that particular errand a delight - and when he sees the first petal, Gustave mistakes it for a torn piece of onion skin that must have come off while putting away produce. Then there's another, and thirty-two years of experience seeing them blow away into ashes in the wind make it impossible for him to mistake it again. His heart jackhammers, and he realizes this is it. He should have been keeping better track of the time; he'd gotten too confident, too comfortable, forgotten to count the days since the last gommage, and now it's here and he's going. No other explanation comes to mind. This is it.
There's a clunk as he drops the can he was holding, and even though he's suddenly so scared he can barely think, he retains enough clarity to think of Date, to want company, to want to apologize for this. More than two weeks; not nearly enough. He sees his arm disappearing, evaporating into Chroma, but he reaches desperately for Date's elbow, gripping his sleeve, looking at him wild-eyed. ]
Kaname -- Kaname, I'm going, [ he pleads, frantically, knowing there's no help to be found and no answers and no time. ] I'm sorry. Keep going without me, please. I'm so sorry, I -- I loved you, okay? I love you,
[ and whatever else he was going to say is lost, his physical body fluttering away into chips of paint, red and white like rose petals, until those, too, vanish into nothingness, and Gustave is gone.
Except... he's not. He's only gone from Tokyo.
There's no way of knowing if time has passed, or how much, or anything like that; there's no moment of peace for him to gather his thoughts or contemplate oblivion. He's simply not there, and then he's there again, back on the rooftop garden, as if he just woke up from a long, horrible, wonderful dream. If it weren't for the fact that his face is still wet with tears, he might doubt any of it happened. Gustave blinks, inhales sharply like a man nearly drowned, and glances around bug-eyed at everything, so familiar-yet-not. The flowers, the sunset, the half-repaired buildings, the Tower bent in the distance, and-- ]
M -- Maelle?
[ he almost doesn't recognize her with her snowy hair and clothing he's never seen her wear, but, ultimately, his heart would know her anywhere, down to the last freckle. His mouth hangs open, eyes wide, and his muscles tense, ready to rush to her, sweep her up in his arms, and yet -- the torrent of emotions in him is so violent, so confused, that he finds himself frozen to the spot, stupefied, unable to comprehend what's happened to him. ]
Edited (i say same thing two time) 2026-02-10 04:41 (UTC)
[ Gustave has, of course, told him about the gommage. The way people fade away into petals of red and white. The routine of it all. The barely suppressed horror. Date couldn't quite wrap his head around it, couldn't quite fathom what it would mean to have your loved one fade away into nothingness in front of your eyes. The idea was so foreign, so distant to him, that while he could intellectualize how terrible it must be, he couldn't exactly feel the same kind of terror no matter how much he tried to put himself in Gustave's shoes.
Until today, that is.
It's so innocent — a grocery run and Date was sure he was talking about something irrelevant as they were putting away the groceries. His thoughts on green onion or something. He wasn't paying attention, he wasn't thinking about anything else. Aiba was with them, as much as she could be with them, tucked away in his eye and just observing as she does which means her voice comes first. A warning. Date. But she's too late to catch his attention before he feels the tug on his elbow and looks up to Gustave — panicked and... and... fading. He's fading away.
Date doesn't know what's happening, his reaction time isn't quick enough. What he's seeing doesn't make sense to the logical brain. Gustave is fluttering away into nothingness and Date looks at him mouth parted, eyes wide, confusion on his features. ]
Gu — Gustave?
[ I loved you, okay? I love you is what he hears and Aiba in his head, frantic, shouts Date! And Date stumbles forward, to grab him, to grasp him, but all he gets is empty nothingness because Gustave is — gone.
He's gone. There's nothing left. Aiba is talking in his head, panicked in a way he hasn't heard from her before but he can't hear her. It's all just — white noise. Gustave is gone and he doesn't understand. He was right here, he was right here. He used his wish, to make sure Gustave could live and instead he's gone.
Slowly, he sinks down to his knees, realizing only belatedly that his whole body is shaking. The strength to keep standing is not in him but he does subconsciously, unthinkingly, pull up the recording of Gustave disappearing in his eye. If he could just understand —
Date, don't ... don't watch that.
But it's too late. He watches it. And then he watches it again. And again. His understanding doesn't get better with more views, the confusion only grows. This was a gommage, right? That's all he can think. Gustave is gone and Date is... alone again. The groceries on the countertop go untouched and Date remains there on the floor until his knees hurt, face wet and looking completely lost.
[ She's not sure what to expect, having never brought anyone back the same way that Gustave needed to be brought back. Sciel and Lune, they gommaged — but they hadn't died nearly so violently as Gustave had. Would things be the same? She was so sure, back in the competition, that so long as she protected the Canvas, she'd be able to paint him back to life, and it's only now as she actually attempts it that she wonders if she should've had more doubt that it would work.
Unnecessarily, it seems, because after the paint settles, he's there — really there. Confused and a little scared looking, but there. Maelle doesn't think twice about it; he'd died, after all. Of course he'd be a bit disoriented, suddenly back in Lumière... ]
Gustave...!
[ The smile that breaks out onto her face is equal parts relieved and excited, so much warmer than any expression she had really worn before the Expedition. Maybe because she hasn't ever experienced happiness quite like this, elation like this. He's alive. He's alive. During the competition, and facing Verso, there had been a lot of times where it had felt like she would never see him again... but finally, she's put those worries to rest.
She doesn't quite surge forward to hug him — that'd be embarrassing — but she does reach out and put both hands on his arms, squeezing tight as if testing his solidity. Holding him there and looking at him, alive and breathing and without the glassy-eyed stare she'd seen him with last. If she looks long enough, maybe she'll forget she ever saw him that way. And much as she tries to keep it from happening, her eyes well up with tears, too, and she has to blink rapidly to try to keep them from falling. As before when they'd reunited, she feels a need to reassure him, keep him from spiraling even more or going into a stressed-out ramble: ]
It's okay! You're back, you're really back... [ a helpless, forced out breath, half-way between a sob and a laugh. ] Don't — Don't freak out.
[ Everything she went through and fought for was worth it for this moment. She has so much to say, so much to tell him, but right now, she's just. So, so openly happy to see him. She knew she missed him, but now that he's in front of her..... she can't fathom how she's gone all this time without him. ]
9 hours interrupted occasionally by metal pipe falling noise
[ Don't freak out, she says. Easier said than done. He's trying his very best not to freak out after the ground almost literally fell out from under his feet. There's so much to process here. His brain moves quickly, trying to take note of everything, what it means. Lumiére is here, all around him - does that mean his wish worked? He supposes he'll have to look and see if the Monolith is still standing to be truly sure, but, if nothing else, he's standing here, and he'd thought that was impossible, considering he was dead. Twice-dead, potentially.
And -- Maelle is standing here, too, her eyes full of tears, a little different-looking but not that different-looking. God, he's missed her terribly. There were days where he could hardly think of anything else, worrying about her, wanting to apologize to her, desperately needing to make sure she was okay but having no way to do so. Now she's here, smiling so warmly, and when she squeezes his arms like that, he knows she's real. She's safe - she's alive. That's enough to snap him out of his shock, at least slightly; he stares at her for a moment longer like he forgot how to blink, fingers slowly curling up towards her arms, and then draws her in all at once, holding her almost too tight against his chest and burying his face in her hair.
Here is what he's been missing. Suddenly, his questions all feel like they can wait. ]
I'm sorry, Maelle, [ he chokes out, a sentiment that's been stewing in him for months and months - he can finally tell her. ] My brave girl. I -- I don't understand how, but -- thank God, you're alive, I just wanted you to be safe, and I...
[ Gustave barely knows how to put what he's feeling into words. They tumble out of him somewhat uselessly, a hollow representation of how dearly he wanted to protect her, how much he missed her, how much he was sorry to leave her, how glad he is to see her again. All he can do is hug her a little tighter. ]
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The first shocking thing is that he wakes up. Jerks up to a sitting position with a guttural gasp like a man coming back from the brink of drowning. He's in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed, and he's breathing. The panic of the unknown is balanced by the thrill of being alive. It worked, then.
Now what?
He calls out; there's no response. In the room there's nothing immediately familiar. The style is not that of Lumiere - it's closer to the way things had been in the game show house, futuristic and minimal - and it's also obvious that someone lives here. Gustave wonders if he should try to escape before the occupant of the room returns, at least until he opens the closet. Inside the closet is a coat. A very familiar coat.
This is Date's house? It must be; maybe that's how the wish evened out, keeping Gustave alive by sticking him somewhere outside of Lumiere. His first thought is thank God. His second thought is that he needs to get back to Maelle. His third thought is oh, thank God, I'm really alive, he really used that wish on me. And Date's not here now, but -- he'll be here soon, surely. Right? He has to hope so.
So Gustave tries to settle. He finds some clothes of Date's that he can throw on - his own wardrobe is missing, but surely Date won't mind if he borrows a shirt and some sweats - and he paces the entirety of the studio apartment. He peers out every window with an anxious buzz, staring at the towering unfamiliar buildings and the weird machines and the complicated, calligraphic symbols of Date's language that he can't read, wonders what half of what he's looking at even is. Looks in his fridge. Looks at his work desk with its ominous corkboard. Looks at the big rectangular devices sitting in the room that he doesn't recognize, and the small rectangular device he does recognize, tries to put the record on but can't figure out the sound system. Looks through Date's record collection and wonders what he'll do if Date doesn't show up.
He paces some more. ]
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Is he in Lumiere? Did Date save him and he went back home before Date could tell him goodbye? That doesn't seem like something he would do but Date is quickly running out of answers and the production staff doesn't seem to have any either. No one knows where Gustave went which does not help Date at all. It's late by the time the production staff tell Date he needs to go, that he can't keep waiting here for Gustave, and Date is about to curse all of them to hell if it meant being able to wait just a bit longer for him.
But he knows he has to go. If anything, he has to get back to Mizuki.
It's as he's driving back that he breaks, when he finally reaches the familiar streets of Tokyo, he has to pull over somewhere and press his face to his hands and just. Sob for a while. He doesn't know if he'll ever see Gustave again and he knows that if he went to Lumiere, that's a good thing, that means Date's wish worked but even so — even with how much he insisted he would be fine if he only had that week with Gustave — he's not fine. He's very much not fine.
He's such an idiot, he thinks. Falling for a guy that quickly and losing him in the same breath. He's such a soft-hearted idiot and he knew it was reckless of him and stupid and no matter the brave face he put up in front of Gustave, he knew this would break him. He knew it would. He just... really fucking liked Gustave and wanted a future with him and wanted to hope for the best. Is it worth having his face back if he doesn't have the person his heart wants the most?
It takes... a while for him to pull himself together. He's lucky Aiba isn't here with him, that she's still at ABIS until he returns to work and picks her up. It means he can't trust her to drive for him while he's all out of sorts but it also means that he can be this pathetic in private. He thinks then that he doesn't even have a picture of Gustave, something to remember him by. He just has his memories — and that sets him off all over again, causing him to need more time to get it together.
Eventually, red, puffy-eyed and all out of tears, he gets back on the road to drag himself back home. At least he can be pathetic there, alone. Build back up his walls before he gets to ABIS and throws himself back into work to ignore the pain in his heart. That's the plan, at least.
When he gets home though, he's got his suitcase trailing behind him as he opens up the front door with his keys and steps inside the genkan. He toes off his shoes and rubs at his face as he drags his suitcase out into the main area and notices that — the lights are on? He pauses, blinks, and then just like that his eyes land on Gustave.
Gustave, who is here. Alive. In his apartment.
Wearing his clothes.
That's a lot to process all at once though and so Date just freezes, brain unable to handle the multiple points of information he's processing at the moment and instead he just stares at Gustave, stunned. Quietly — ]
... Gustave?
;_____;
It all sounds awfully unlikely, compared to the simplest solution: that this is Date's world and his wish worked and Date is just at work or something. However, the longer he spends alone and confused, the more he starts to feel anxious, like he's missing something obvious, or he's trapped. It gets to the point that, when he does hear the door open, he summons his weapons out of instinct, one gripped tightly in each hand as he peers from his spot in the living room, heart in his throat. Cautious, hopeful.
For once, hope prevails. Because it is Date - looking abjectly miserable, but Gustave hardly notices. Here is his proof: everything worked out, or almost everything, enough of everything for this moment. He stares back at Date for a moment, equally stunned. Then relief - nearly overwhelming - floods his body, breaking through into his expression. The pistol and blade vanish into nothingness with a flash of teal Chroma. Gustave stumbles over to him in a half-run, crossing the short distance of the room as fast as he can manage, and wastes no time in throwing his arms around Date's slim frame, crushing him against his chest without hesitation in a tight embrace. ]
It is you, I knew it. Putain, you really did it, [ he rambles breathlessly, fingers twisting in Date's shirt, and he finds himself laughing helplessly, repeating: ] You really did it.
[ Date brought him back. He's alive. He's far from home, but fuck, he's alive and Date's here with him, this amazing freak of a man who saved him. ]
:')
His arms wrap around Gustave, hesitant for a moment, before tightening in a desperate hold, fingers curling into the back of his shirt and he steps into the hug, legs nearly giving out from underneath him as he sinks against Gustave. His face is pressed into his shoulder and he holds him oh so tight, shaking in his grip as the reality hits that Gustave did not leave him, Gustave is alive, and they have a future together?
They have a future together!
Oh, it's hard not to cry again at that but he can't — he can't. He's not alone anymore, he needs to keep up appearances (though does he, really, with Gustave?) but he still can't stop shaking regardless. Gustave is real and here and alive and he's here. ]
Gustave... [ His voice is thick with emotion, lifting his head and rubbing his face against his hair, just clutching him tight. ] Gustave, my Gustave, my... [ everything. No, that's too much. Don't be weird. ] My Gustave.
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What a hurricane of victories. Maybe Date's holding it together, but Gustave's certainly a little misty-eyed, and unlike Date, he's not so ashamed of it. Fuck shame: they just made a miracle happen. He nuzzles into Date's hair in return, just happy to feel him there, taking a deep breath of him. Of life. ]
I'm here, [ he replies simply, the tremor in his voice muffled by his proximity, and for a moment or two, Gustave is happy just to hold him, and be held.
It's going to work out. For the first time in -- god, he doesn't want to think about how long, he truly feels like things are going to work out. Maybe the first time in his whole life. There's still a lot to figure out, but he can do it. No, they can do it -- him and Date. Clearly, they can accomplish anything. A surge of gratitude like nothing he's felt before overcomes him from head to toe, and he chokes out another laugh, half-tearful. ]
Where have you been all this time?
[ Today? Or is that his whole life, too? That feels dramatic, but he can't help thinking it in the face of everything this man's done for him. ]
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That question gets a choked out noise from Date, pressing his face into Gustave's shoulder and closing his eyes tightly as he tries not to let the tears slip. Where has he been? He doesn't know how to answer that, existentially. Because god, if he knew Gustave before now, well... ha, would he even have been smart enough to pursue him? Maybe they were meant to meet now, on that stupid show, so they could have this together. ]
I was waiting for you at the resort. I thought — I thought the worst. They finally had to kick me out, I had no idea you'd be here.
[ Voice muffled as he speaks into Gustave's shoulder before he pulls back with a deep exhale and finally looks at him properly. He can tell Gustave's eyes are wet, that he's dealing with a flood of emotions just like Date is and Date gives a small smile.
He wants — god, he wants so much. But just the satisfaction of having Gustave in his arms is enough though. ]
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They didn't know? Well - how would they know, but still--
[ it feels awfully cruel to do that to Date. If he really was dying before they pulled him here -- no, if they were able to find him and pull him to their silly little beach house in the first place, then surely they would've been able to find him a second time. Then again, maybe he's trying to apply logic to something inherently illogical. He doesn't know how what they do works; he only knows the results. Gustave shakes his head, looking at Date again apologetically. ]
Sorry. I... didn't mean to scare you. I mean, I -- I wasn't expecting this either, but worrying you - that's the last thing I wanted. I put you through enough already with all of this. I...
[ no, apologies aren't quite right. Gustave pauses, then fixes Date with a sincere gaze, shifting his hands to sit on his shoulders instead, where he grips him tightly but gently. ]
Thank you. Thank you for saving me. I - I can never repay you. You... They let me have my wish, but you're the one who gave me a chance to see it come true. To live. [ he swallows thickly. ] My whole life, I've been getting ready to die, you know, and you... Now I can get ready to live.
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SPONSORED: gudate and romura go to denny's (real)
Also, it's Denny's.
However, this does not bother Gustave, as he doesn't know what Denny's is. Guaranteed he's overdressed. ]
Hey, you're... the guy from the scavenger hunt! Monsieur, um...
[ DON'T SAY BEAN DON'T SAY BEAN DON'T SAY BEAN ]
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[Edamura is not overdressed, because he knows what a Denny's is and what kind of formality it deserves. at least this one doesn't seem to be nearly as crappy as the ones he breezed through during his trips to America?? he bets the coffee is still shit, though. which is a shame, because he might have needed a cup or two to deal with. . . . . . . . . . .]
[. . . . . . . . SIGHS DEEPLY]
[for now, he narrows his gaze at Gustave from across the table, before finishing for him in a tone that is entirely too mild]
. . . Edamura.
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Because how dare you. Gustave is precious and has done no wrong. ]
Edamame also works, doesn't it? Our little soybean.
[ He's looking through the menu at the moment, chin propped up on his hand, elbow on the table, while he looks through the offerings lazily. He did order a coffee though, because he doesn't care about what the coffee is like here. ]
It's nice to see everyone and get together. Really great that they offered this.
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Also he ordered a coffee for himself, too. Sorry bean, he's loyal to you but not to your fancy coffee standards. At least when he hears that nickname dropped, he smiles at Date ... and shifts his legs out of the way so Edamura has more room to kick across under the table. ]
It certainly is nice, isn't it? How generous of production to treat us so lavishly~
[ He prefers this over the beach though, thank god. ]
They did say this won't be recorded, but -- shall we start with proper introductions, anyway? This might be some sort of hidden camera prank, after all.
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unlike Date, Gustave immediately looks apologetic, holding up his hands placatingly. ]
Edamura! Sorry. That's what I was going to say, I just... couldn't think of it. Sorry.
[ maybe Edamura and Date are better friends?? Must be. Rom looks like a complete weirdo to a man from turn of the century not-France, but he won't judge on appearances! Besides, he's being perfectly polite right now. ]
Right, yes. I'm Gustave. Nice to meet you, monsieur. And to see you again, too, Edamura.
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[Edamura flashes Gustave a friendly, genuine smile]
It's okay. We've only met once before now, so I don't blame you for forgetting. But it's nice to see you again, too!
[that smile widens, turning a little sharp around the edges, before. . .]
[he swiftly kicks Kaname Date in the shin. thanks for making room for his not-so-subtle violence, Rom]
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Didn't know beans could be so violent...
[ Terrible. Hate it. No good. But alright, moving on, he briefly wonders why he didn't bring Aiba along because man, it sure would've been nice to have her dig up dirt on Edamura just for funsies. But no, he will behave. ]
Anyway, I'm Kaname Date. [ BUT ONLY ONE PERSON GETS TO CALL HIM KANAME ] You can call me Date-san.
[ Looking right at Edamura.
AND THANKFULLY... His and Rom's coffees arrive so Date is going to take a sip of his, black and sugarless, humming around the edge of the mug. ]
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It was Ryuki who suggested he get out of Tokyo then. Come on, Mr. Date, go somewhere with Mr. Gustave. It'll be romantic! And so that had Date looking online for places to take Gustave. After running through a few ideas, he landed on taking him to an onsen but he also knew Gustave wasn't as used to public bathing as Date might be and with his arm... well, it would probably be better for them both to go somewhere with a private onsen.
So, while it cost a bit of money, he eventually landed on booking them a private suite at Yoshimatsu. It was about a two hour drive from their place to get there but he thought Gustave would like the sights, plus their room had a great view of Mt Fuji and he thinks Gustave will like that too. So, he put a lot of thought into it! And he was excited to share with Gustave!
Thankfully, Gustave seemed just as enthused when he pitched the idea to him and off they went.
It was kind of funny, in retrospect, how close this place was to Atami and he ... wasn't taking Gustave to Atami. When he mentioned this to Boss, she laughed at him, told him he'd become a changed man. No longer wanting to run away to Atami and fuck around, now he was "whipped and collared", she said. Which only gave him thoughts of Gustave putting him in a collar and look, he didn't need another kinky fantasy of Gustave to get off to. But here he was!
The staff is nice when they arrive and there are complimentary yukatas for them both waiting in the suite. Date, of course, became very excited about the idea of Gustave in a yukata immediately but he also didn't want to spoil it for Gustave by being a creep right off the bat. Still. ]
So, do you — do you like it?
[ It is, admittedly, a pretty gorgeous suite. ]
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So here he is. He feels slightly guilty that he's here instead of Mizuki or something, but, on the other hand, Mizuki's technically an adult, and he supposes this is more of a couples' thing, especially once he gets there. There weren't exactly a lot of places to go in Lumiére. Or vacations to take, for that matter. Or hot springs, or anything that looked remotely like this at all. Gustave's in awe of most of it. He was impressed by the big city, and he's impressed by this, too - a quieter destination, more steeped in this culture that he's never known before. And also, it has hot springs. ]
It's amazing! Is this really okay? I mean, on your wallet... This is all so -- fancy?
[ money also wasn't a huge thing in Lumiére, considering the world was slowly ending, but he knows it's very important here. Still, even as he speaks, he can't help staring out over their (private! the luxury!) hot spring and the big mountain looming in the background. ]
There's nothing like this at all back home.
[ are they in yukata already?? guaranteed gustave looks super dashing and cute if so. ]
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He's. Usually the type of guy who lives out of his suitcase on a vacation but he is trying to be a clean and responsible adult this time around. ]
It's fine. I get paid well and I had some money saved up. [ On one hand, Boss is constantly deducting his wages. On the other, he is a Special Agent technically so his pay is higher than the average detective. He's just also blowing his money constantly on stupid shit. Or was, until he realized he wanted to spend his money on Gustave instead. ]
No vacations, huh? Well, nowhere to go on vacation either. Hm.
[ Man, living in Lumiere sure is a different world than anything Date knows. ]
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good thing Gustave is a smart cookie who (clearly) figured it out on his own... eventually! He does indeed look very handsome, despite his still-drying hair and his slight fidgeting in the unfamiliar clothing. To him, it feels like a big bathrobe. Considering the surrounds, maybe it is a big bathrobe? No, that's rude to think. He turns back to Date, watching him with slight curiosity. His own suitcase is rather overstuffed, as one might expect of a man suffering from a combination of never traveling for pleasure before and commitment to good grooming habits - something he's realizing after the fact as Date unpacks. He'll figure that mess out... later.
Admittedly, part of him is also watching because Date rarely hangs around with his hair down when he's not sleeping. It's always a little longer than Gustave remembers -- and as much as it should probably make him look unkempt, Gustave always thinks it makes him look sort of wise and ethereal. Assuredly, he's neither. But he is pretty, as Gustave has previously stated, and he can't help admiring Date a bit while he's not looking. ]
Exactly. We'd take time off, sure, but the most exotic locale you could visit was the farmland at the edge of the city. Not very thrilling, unless you're very fond of chickens and potatoes. [ although, to be fair: who isn't? He waves his hand dismissively. ] I meant more -- the way everything looks, the environment, all that. It's totally different from anything I've ever seen. Not that Tokyo was familiar, but I've always lived in the big city, at least, and... this isn't that. It's... I really feel like I'm in a different world, now.
[ he had before, too, but it's especially potent here, a far cry from the faux-French culture he's always known. ]
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Reality sinking in, huh?
[ He'll just... place the comb on the dresser nearby before moving to approach Gustave. A sympathetic smile follows and he reaches out, brushing some of Gustave's hair off his forehead before leaning in to kiss his forehead sweetly and pull back after. ]
There's a big wide world out there and we've only seen a little bit together. If I had a bit more lead up time, I would've made good on that promise to take you to Paris. But next time, alright?
It really is different going from the city to anywhere outside of it. I grew up in the city and the first time I left, on a vacation like this too, it was a bit of a culture shock. First time I left the country was even stranger, too.
[ And then, brightly: ]
But I want you to be able to see as much of the world as you want. You — you especially deserve it, okay?
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he definitely gets caught when Date turns around, but he just smiles a bit haplessly, squishing his eyes shut when Date leans down to smooch his head. Once again, he's being spoiled; unfortunately, he's absolutely getting used to this treatment. It's nice! It's nice. The more time he spends away from home, the more Gustave realizes - though without these exact words - that his whole life has been a relentless buildup of tension and trauma, gommage after gommage, and being released from that cycle has been akin to slowly bleeding that pressure out of him. It's okay to be spoiled, actually - to relax, and think about himself first, if only in moments.
Date clearly thinks so, based on that comment. He chuckles, shaking his head faintly and leaning back on his hands. ]
I - thank you, firstly - you know, I wasn't really a get-out, explore-the-world type growing up... [ unspoken is the obvious reason: what would the point have been? There were too many other things on his mind, and there was nothing beyond the city limits but seawater and monsters. ] But I think I can see the appeal now. Especially if you keep pampering me with things like this.
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back for my precious gudates
the post ayto reunion YAYY
There's almost no time wasted between when she arrives and when she attempts it — more confident and at peace than she was the last time she painted, without the threat of losing everything clouding her mind. She reunites with Emma, says hi to Gustave's apprentices, who are inexplicably back, yet doesn't question any of it. Perhaps her wish to save the Canvas did more legwork than she thought. But when she can't find Gustave anywhere she looks, she clambers back up to their usual spot — the Hanging Gardens — and puts him to paint.
It's gradual, as it had been with Sciel and Lune, red and white petals swirling and coalescing into a corporeal form. She reminds herself that it's about his essence, the truth of the person that he was. Maelle thinks about when she'd first moved in with him — hiding herself away in the room he'd prepared for her, slamming doors, going to sleep spiteful and bitter, as though knowing it was only a matter of time before she was shuffled out. She thinks of how there'd been food waiting for her in the morning.
How he could be such a scatterbrain, but so intelligent at the same time. How he always remembered the small things, like tape for a sprain, a tissue for a runny nose, a tie for her hair.
She thinks of how he'd looked back at her, one last time, before he died. The small shake of his head, how he'd said for those who come after.
All the petals finally come together then, giving her memories and feelings form — bringing him here, really here, in front of her. She watches, wide-eyed, as he appears in the Canvas, unsure if she can believe her eyes. Maybe she won't be able to believe he's flesh and blood again, until he finally draws breath again. ]
YAYYYYY(?)
The fear of death by aging has largely left him when it happens. They've just come back from a brief run to the grocery store - a futuristic miracle of Date's world that still enthralls him enough to make that particular errand a delight - and when he sees the first petal, Gustave mistakes it for a torn piece of onion skin that must have come off while putting away produce. Then there's another, and thirty-two years of experience seeing them blow away into ashes in the wind make it impossible for him to mistake it again. His heart jackhammers, and he realizes this is it. He should have been keeping better track of the time; he'd gotten too confident, too comfortable, forgotten to count the days since the last gommage, and now it's here and he's going. No other explanation comes to mind. This is it.
There's a clunk as he drops the can he was holding, and even though he's suddenly so scared he can barely think, he retains enough clarity to think of Date, to want company, to want to apologize for this. More than two weeks; not nearly enough. He sees his arm disappearing, evaporating into Chroma, but he reaches desperately for Date's elbow, gripping his sleeve, looking at him wild-eyed. ]
Kaname -- Kaname, I'm going, [ he pleads, frantically, knowing there's no help to be found and no answers and no time. ] I'm sorry. Keep going without me, please. I'm so sorry, I -- I loved you, okay? I love you,
[ and whatever else he was going to say is lost, his physical body fluttering away into chips of paint, red and white like rose petals, until those, too, vanish into nothingness, and Gustave is gone.
Except... he's not. He's only gone from Tokyo.
There's no way of knowing if time has passed, or how much, or anything like that; there's no moment of peace for him to gather his thoughts or contemplate oblivion. He's simply not there, and then he's there again, back on the rooftop garden, as if he just woke up from a long, horrible, wonderful dream. If it weren't for the fact that his face is still wet with tears, he might doubt any of it happened. Gustave blinks, inhales sharply like a man nearly drowned, and glances around bug-eyed at everything, so familiar-yet-not. The flowers, the sunset, the half-repaired buildings, the Tower bent in the distance, and-- ]
M -- Maelle?
[ he almost doesn't recognize her with her snowy hair and clothing he's never seen her wear, but, ultimately, his heart would know her anywhere, down to the last freckle. His mouth hangs open, eyes wide, and his muscles tense, ready to rush to her, sweep her up in his arms, and yet -- the torrent of emotions in him is so violent, so confused, that he finds himself frozen to the spot, stupefied, unable to comprehend what's happened to him. ]
one lil crashout interlude for the culture
Until today, that is.
It's so innocent — a grocery run and Date was sure he was talking about something irrelevant as they were putting away the groceries. His thoughts on green onion or something. He wasn't paying attention, he wasn't thinking about anything else. Aiba was with them, as much as she could be with them, tucked away in his eye and just observing as she does which means her voice comes first. A warning. Date. But she's too late to catch his attention before he feels the tug on his elbow and looks up to Gustave — panicked and... and... fading. He's fading away.
Date doesn't know what's happening, his reaction time isn't quick enough. What he's seeing doesn't make sense to the logical brain. Gustave is fluttering away into nothingness and Date looks at him mouth parted, eyes wide, confusion on his features. ]
Gu — Gustave?
[ I loved you, okay? I love you is what he hears and Aiba in his head, frantic, shouts Date! And Date stumbles forward, to grab him, to grasp him, but all he gets is empty nothingness because Gustave is — gone.
He's gone. There's nothing left. Aiba is talking in his head, panicked in a way he hasn't heard from her before but he can't hear her. It's all just — white noise. Gustave is gone and he doesn't understand. He was right here, he was right here. He used his wish, to make sure Gustave could live and instead he's gone.
Slowly, he sinks down to his knees, realizing only belatedly that his whole body is shaking. The strength to keep standing is not in him but he does subconsciously, unthinkingly, pull up the recording of Gustave disappearing in his eye. If he could just understand —
Date, don't ... don't watch that.
But it's too late. He watches it. And then he watches it again. And again. His understanding doesn't get better with more views, the confusion only grows. This was a gommage, right? That's all he can think. Gustave is gone and Date is... alone again. The groceries on the countertop go untouched and Date remains there on the floor until his knees hurt, face wet and looking completely lost.
He thought they had more time. ]
date losing compilation
Unnecessarily, it seems, because after the paint settles, he's there — really there. Confused and a little scared looking, but there. Maelle doesn't think twice about it; he'd died, after all. Of course he'd be a bit disoriented, suddenly back in Lumière... ]
Gustave...!
[ The smile that breaks out onto her face is equal parts relieved and excited, so much warmer than any expression she had really worn before the Expedition. Maybe because she hasn't ever experienced happiness quite like this, elation like this. He's alive. He's alive. During the competition, and facing Verso, there had been a lot of times where it had felt like she would never see him again... but finally, she's put those worries to rest.
She doesn't quite surge forward to hug him — that'd be embarrassing — but she does reach out and put both hands on his arms, squeezing tight as if testing his solidity. Holding him there and looking at him, alive and breathing and without the glassy-eyed stare she'd seen him with last. If she looks long enough, maybe she'll forget she ever saw him that way. And much as she tries to keep it from happening, her eyes well up with tears, too, and she has to blink rapidly to try to keep them from falling. As before when they'd reunited, she feels a need to reassure him, keep him from spiraling even more or going into a stressed-out ramble: ]
It's okay! You're back, you're really back... [ a helpless, forced out breath, half-way between a sob and a laugh. ] Don't — Don't freak out.
[ Everything she went through and fought for was worth it for this moment. She has so much to say, so much to tell him, but right now, she's just. So, so openly happy to see him. She knew she missed him, but now that he's in front of her..... she can't fathom how she's gone all this time without him. ]
9 hours interrupted occasionally by metal pipe falling noise
And -- Maelle is standing here, too, her eyes full of tears, a little different-looking but not that different-looking. God, he's missed her terribly. There were days where he could hardly think of anything else, worrying about her, wanting to apologize to her, desperately needing to make sure she was okay but having no way to do so. Now she's here, smiling so warmly, and when she squeezes his arms like that, he knows she's real. She's safe - she's alive. That's enough to snap him out of his shock, at least slightly; he stares at her for a moment longer like he forgot how to blink, fingers slowly curling up towards her arms, and then draws her in all at once, holding her almost too tight against his chest and burying his face in her hair.
Here is what he's been missing. Suddenly, his questions all feel like they can wait. ]
I'm sorry, Maelle, [ he chokes out, a sentiment that's been stewing in him for months and months - he can finally tell her. ] My brave girl. I -- I don't understand how, but -- thank God, you're alive, I just wanted you to be safe, and I...
[ Gustave barely knows how to put what he's feeling into words. They tumble out of him somewhat uselessly, a hollow representation of how dearly he wanted to protect her, how much he missed her, how much he was sorry to leave her, how glad he is to see her again. All he can do is hug her a little tighter. ]