[ Anticipating the questions and confusion and being braced to answer them is not quite the same as actually being ready. It doesn't help that while Verso does have a set of lies he falls back on, he still just doesn't like to think them out particularly well or thoroughly, prefers to just -- skate by, distract them, there's always something else to think about with everything that the Expeditions are often dealing with. But of course, Verso realizes, with a flicker in his eyes, that Gustave might be much less willing to let go when the last thing he associates with the manor is Maelle.

There's a quiet tension in Verso's body, noticeable now. It does lessen when the door falls shut behind Gustave with a quiet thud, and Verso knows now they can't be easily followed, but some of that tension just remains. It's subtle, but present, and Gustave has gotten a real knack for noticing whenever he's holding something of himself back, and Verso works his jaw slightly, a nervous gesture, as he continues stepping back through the kitchen, gently pulling Gustave with him. ]

This connects to a manor, yeah.

[ Still not willing to fully engage with acknowledging why he knows that Gustave might recognize the place. ]

I really can't tell you -- what the place is, or why it's here. I've been finding doors to it since the Fracture happened.

[ A definite truth. ]

But it's safe here. [ Maelle would've been safe here, under the Curator's care. He doesn't want to acknowledge that directly, doesn't want to give Gustave enough to pin him down, but he can acknowledge some of the facts around it, maybe. ] We can even have something to drink, some of the food. I've done that before.

[ Do you want some water, Gustave. ]