[ Verso knows the Expeditions' protocol well. He remembers helping to determine the core foundations of it, even, so many years ago, and his quiet tracking of the Expedition ever since has allowed him to keep up as they keep building on. When he and Renoir returned from Expedition Zero, Verso had shared everything he could remember, helped to establish the landmarks and rally points that they have. The Indigo Tree was an obvious choice, massive, sprawling, gleaming branches stretching through the sky. Its not too far from here -- the Expeditioner that he'd been tracking before, making their way inland from the shore, must've known to head that way.
But he watches as Gustave lurches back into life. The look in his eyes, faraway and empty. Verso -- tries, he does, but its easy for him to forget how little the Expeditions have actually seen, how horrifying it really is to have most of your team cut down like nothing the minutes after you land when you've been training for years to try and get onto the mainland and fight to make a difference. The futility of it. The Indigo Tree seems like the last thing in Gustave's mind, now. If he can even see far enough in front him to tell it might be up ahead.
He waits. Somehow, Gustave manages to actually get to his feet. For some long moments it seems like the man might collapse again, and Verso is watching, ready to sweep in and pick him up again and make sure the man doesn't just dash his head on the rocks of the waterfall. But he's strong enough, or maybe just -- stubborn enough, to keep standing. To even start moving, one stumbling step after the other.
Verso wants to go to him, but -- no. Surely that would only put him in worse shock. Too much to process all at once. And as always, its better for him to help from a distance, without meddling too much directly unless a situation actually calls for it. Gustave's hollow, sunken eyes stare ahead as he manages to bring one foot after the other. Continuing, somehow. As all the Expeditions do.
He picks his way through the trees to follow him, quiet. There are nevrons around the fields, but they're easy enough to avoid. There are -- other things, that lie ahead, that may be worse. ]
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But he watches as Gustave lurches back into life. The look in his eyes, faraway and empty. Verso -- tries, he does, but its easy for him to forget how little the Expeditions have actually seen, how horrifying it really is to have most of your team cut down like nothing the minutes after you land when you've been training for years to try and get onto the mainland and fight to make a difference. The futility of it. The Indigo Tree seems like the last thing in Gustave's mind, now. If he can even see far enough in front him to tell it might be up ahead.
He waits. Somehow, Gustave manages to actually get to his feet. For some long moments it seems like the man might collapse again, and Verso is watching, ready to sweep in and pick him up again and make sure the man doesn't just dash his head on the rocks of the waterfall. But he's strong enough, or maybe just -- stubborn enough, to keep standing. To even start moving, one stumbling step after the other.
Verso wants to go to him, but -- no. Surely that would only put him in worse shock. Too much to process all at once. And as always, its better for him to help from a distance, without meddling too much directly unless a situation actually calls for it. Gustave's hollow, sunken eyes stare ahead as he manages to bring one foot after the other. Continuing, somehow. As all the Expeditions do.
He picks his way through the trees to follow him, quiet. There are nevrons around the fields, but they're easy enough to avoid. There are -- other things, that lie ahead, that may be worse. ]