[ It's not far, but just going outside and into the village proper is the furthest they've ever walked together, and Gustave glances down at the hand Verso has twined with his before looking over at him, hardly knowing how to feel. Happy? And he is, but there's an ache to it, to finally strolling through... well, a gestral village, but it's still a public place, in plain sight, hand in hand with Verso, the way he'd imagined so many times before. His daydreams had seen him shyly, awkwardly brushing Verso's knuckles as they walked before building up the courage to take his hand, or maybe they'd walk out of his workshop just like this, like they'd done it a million times before.

But they haven't, and he doesn't know if they'll ever be able to walk hand in hand along a town street again, let alone along Lumiere's. For a moment he can almost smell the salt breeze from the harbor, the flowers from the rooftop gardens, the warm scent of butter wafting from a nearby patisserie... but the stars were never so bright in Lumiere. ]

I believe you.

[ Spoken with a chuckle, as he turns his attention away from the stars and back toward Verso, ignoring the two gestrals squaring up to each other at a nearby hut. ]

I don't know why you might like watching me fiddle with cannon components so much, but I do actually believe you. Even if I don't believe you could have managed to refrain from distracting me for much longer.

[ He squeezes Verso's hand back, marveling that he can, that they're out here together where the gestrals and indeed anyone could see them, if there were anyone to see. ]

Aren't you worried we might run into one of the girls and you'll be forced to finally explain yourself?