018.

[scentofyouth]

[There's lots of inkblots on the journal page, almost as if he had started to write the entry but then suddenly decided not to.]

Well, well. It seems like the mood in the monster's lair is different from the last time. I didn't know that my absence would have this much effect.

Comments

[musiquejeunesse]

Gilbert[...]

[What is there to even say? Clearly he hasn't thought this through]

[scentofyouth]

What?

[musiquejeunesse]

[He pauses before replying, until something simple finally comes to himl.]

I just realised there was a book I meant to loan you. But never mind, it can wait until school starts.

[scentofyouth]

Is that all?

[musiquejeunesse]

There's a wonderful chapter on stargazing. It even goes beyond the things we learn in Astronomy class. We can try it out when we get back.

[scentofyouth]

What if I don't want to go back to school?

[musiquejeunesse]

You have to go back to school, Gilbert.

[scentofyouth]

No, I don't. I can stay here.

[musiquejeunesse]

Did Auguste say that?

[scentofyouth]

[.......INK PLOTS]

I will stay with him forever.

Oh yeah, he went there.

[musiquejeunesse]

Even with the way he treats you?

You deserve better, Gilbert.

[scentofyouth]

Oh! And I assume that the 'better' would be you?

[musiquejeunesse]

That's not what I'm saying.

[scentofyouth]

No, Serge. You don't know what you're even saying.

[musiquejeunesse]

Don't I? No one would treat someone they care about the way he does.

[scentofyouth]

[YOU KNOW, IF THIS WAS FACE-TO-FACE HE'D SO SLAP YOU FOR THAT.]

No! You don't know anything.