these_soft_bees
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Verso knows his soul is not original to him. A stitched-up, fractured, and glued-together thing, stained with memories not his own and heavy with the grief of unimaginable loss. His very existence is a farce, a tragedy played out in canvas and ink. He wants nothing so much as to end it. To give the ragged remains of a soul back to the one who created him, let her find someone else to carry the burden and the memory of the man to whom it once belonged. And yet. And yet, still, buried deep inside him is the desire to make this second-hand soul his own. To take the old discarded thing and make it into something new. To live, as they all deserve to live. All he needs is someone to show him the way.
- Language:
- English
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- 18/33
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Bookmarked by these_soft_bees
26 Sep 2026
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Against all odds, Lumiere survived.
Maelle did her very best to restore the city and repaint everyone that she could reach - and then she left. Now the city stands, promising a future; tomorrow has finally come and Gustave... has no idea what to do with it.
For the first time in generations people have started looking towards the Continent not as expeditioners, but as settlers. There is just one problem: Nevrons still exist. If they are to ask Maelle to paint a bridge between the continent and Lumiere when she next visits, they need settlements on both its ends, under a shield dome.
But the original plans for the dome's construction have been lost and, unfortunately for Gustave, the one who might be able to help is one Verso Dessendre - the man who let him die... and the one who might just show him what tomorrow's for. But while Gustave slowly rediscovers the man all call a traitor, Verso struggles to confront the terrifying possibility that there might still be things in this world worth living for.
Mostly written, updates Tuesday and Friday
Bookmarked by these_soft_bees
26 Sep 2026
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"I'm leaving Paris," Verso says brusquely, by way of a greeting. He has never been very good with words; that has always been Papa's strength, not his.Gustave inhales sharply, watching him in silence, his hands clutching his notebook so hard the spine begins to twist.
"You want me to come with you," he says finally, looking at Verso as though he has entirely lost his mind.
Or:
Time is running out. With war looming over Belle Epoque Paris, Verso must make a choice between his duty to his family and the young Writer who has unknowingly stolen his heart.
He chooses Gustave.
- Language:
- English
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- 88,728
- Chapters:
- 10/10
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Bookmarked by these_soft_bees
17 Sep 2026