[ It's quiet but cracks like the lightning bolts she rains down from the skies, white-hot and intense, and she shifts on the grass so she too faces Gustave more fully. Her face is a cast of defiant anger, fierce and beautiful in the warm glow of the fire. Not all of it is directed at Gustave, but rather at the situation as a whole. She understands where Gustave is coming from, each of his fears and concerns, but the shade of defeatism coloring his words rubs her the wrong way after everything they've already been through. ]
We don't know. We don't know if he's the only one involved. We don't have all the pieces, not yet. But we will find them. The Lumina Converter works! Every day it gives us a slightly bigger advantage. Every day we learn more, grow stronger.
[ She motions with one hand, flat palm slashing through the air. ] That day on the beach? We weren't prepared for anything like that. But now we know he's out there, and we know something of what he's capable of. What's the first step of problem solving? Identifying the issue. How is he doing what he does, how was he spared by the Gommage. We figure that, and the rest will follow.
[ She has to believe that in order to keep going. Otherwise, what's the point? ]
"If he comes"? What, you want to lay down and die because we might be outmatched? We all knew the risks, the specifics are irrelevant. Maelle knew them too. Now we have to find a way to deal with them, because that's what we do.
[ But the fight goes out of her as suddenly as it was ignited, and she seems to deflate, shoulders slumping a little as a heavy sigh gusts past her lips. Now, all that's left written across her expression is weary sympathy, her eyes beseeching him. Her voice is whisper-soft when she finally goes on. ]
Come on, Gustave. What other choice is there? Today was tough, but we continue. We have to. We can do this, all of us together. We can find a way to keep her safe.
no subject
[ It's quiet but cracks like the lightning bolts she rains down from the skies, white-hot and intense, and she shifts on the grass so she too faces Gustave more fully. Her face is a cast of defiant anger, fierce and beautiful in the warm glow of the fire. Not all of it is directed at Gustave, but rather at the situation as a whole. She understands where Gustave is coming from, each of his fears and concerns, but the shade of defeatism coloring his words rubs her the wrong way after everything they've already been through. ]
We don't know. We don't know if he's the only one involved. We don't have all the pieces, not yet. But we will find them. The Lumina Converter works! Every day it gives us a slightly bigger advantage. Every day we learn more, grow stronger.
[ She motions with one hand, flat palm slashing through the air. ] That day on the beach? We weren't prepared for anything like that. But now we know he's out there, and we know something of what he's capable of. What's the first step of problem solving? Identifying the issue. How is he doing what he does, how was he spared by the Gommage. We figure that, and the rest will follow.
[ She has to believe that in order to keep going. Otherwise, what's the point? ]
"If he comes"? What, you want to lay down and die because we might be outmatched? We all knew the risks, the specifics are irrelevant. Maelle knew them too. Now we have to find a way to deal with them, because that's what we do.
[ But the fight goes out of her as suddenly as it was ignited, and she seems to deflate, shoulders slumping a little as a heavy sigh gusts past her lips. Now, all that's left written across her expression is weary sympathy, her eyes beseeching him. Her voice is whisper-soft when she finally goes on. ]
Come on, Gustave. What other choice is there? Today was tough, but we continue. We have to. We can do this, all of us together. We can find a way to keep her safe.