Level 1
Monoco: I see you’ve got stronger.
Verso: Well, I didn’t spend the last few years hiding in the mountains.
Monoco: The mountain where a Pélerin cut you in half and you cried for my help?
Verso: Yeah, the mountain where a Stalact stomped you and I had to evacuate you.
Monoco: You want to fight?
Verso: Well, unlike Gestrals, I need sleep, so I’ll pass.
Monoco: Coward.
Verso: Have you seen how weak you are now? I’d beat you blindfolded.
Monoco: In the mountains, I have learnt inner peace. These petty provocations do not work on me anymore.
Verso: I’ve missed our little excursions.
Monoco: Hmpf…
Verso: Yeah, you do too, I know.
Monoco: Remember our first battle against the Duallist?
Verso: Sure do, we got our asses kicked pretty hard.
Monoco: And this one time we tried to swim to the red tree island and you got eaten by that snake?
Verso: Oh, yeah, turns out living inside a snake’s belly is possible when you’re immortal. Carving my way out was a nightmare though. Remember that time when you, uh, challenged Esquie to a duel?
Monoco: Well, someone conveniently forgot to mention that Esquie’s the most powerful creature in the world. Good times. Oh, and remember when…
Monoco and Verso fall back into the familiar pattern of their camaraderie.
Verso: Good times indeed.
They spend a bit more time bragging before going back to the others.
Level 2
Verso approaches Monoco, who is carefully cleaning his Nevron legs.
Verso: Polishing your collection of nev legs?
Monoco: Yes, aren’t they beautiful!
Verso: Beautiful is… a word that one could use.
Monoco: Hrmph. Your lack of enthusiasm is disappointing.
Verso: Why do you need to polish them anyway?
Monoco: A warrior must be prepared for battle. And battle is just as much mental as physical.
Verso: Mental, eh?
Monoco: Imagine you’re a Nevron. And you see ME. Charging toward YOU. BRANDISHING the WELL-POLISHED and GLEAMING LEG of one of your brethren! Think of the intimidation, muahaha!
Verso: True. I wouldn’t wanna battle anyone who’s using your hairy foot as a club. But more for the smell than the intimidation.
Monoco: And THEN, I transform into one of THEM! HA! Intimidation AND CONFUSION! From that alone, the battle is already won. The rest… is mere clean up.
Verso: Funny, doesn’t seem to work for you against Stalacts, does it?
Monoco: Stalacts are too stupid to realise they should be intimidated and confused.
Verso: Right. Definitely not ‘cause you’re afraid of them.
Monoco: Pah! Me? I fear no Nevron! Least of all a STALACT.
Verso: Perfect! In that case… Wanna go intimidate some Stalacts? We’ve got some time to kill.
Monoco: Errr. Yes, well that would definitely be quite… exhilarating. But maybe later, I really need to finish polishing all these legs, I’ve still got 20 more to go.
Verso: I’ve missed you. Alright then, c’mon, move over and hand me an extra cloth. Let’s get these legs shining so bright they blind our enemies and send them screaming!
Monoco: (happy grumble)
As they polish the Nevron legs, Monoco exuberantly bellows a war chant. And bullies Verso into singing along. They sing together with great gusto. Lune comes over to shush them, but ends up joining the polishing effort. It takes a while, but they finally finish and head back to the others.
Level 3
Verso: Monoco. Let me cut your hair.
Monoco: Why would I be foolish enough to do that?
Verso: Just a trim. You look like an overgrown mop.
Monoco: I beg your pardon! Have you looked in a mirror lately?
Verso: Yes, my hair is impeccable.
Monoco: Mmmhmm.
Verso: Stop being grumpy. C’mon, let’s give you some style.
Monoco: You first then.
Verso: Fine!
Monoco: Hmmm, actually, that does look nice. OKAY, I’M IN! STYLE AWAY! Ooooooooooh, yes, indeed, this is quite fetching.
Verso: Great, we’re twins.
Verso and Monoco are now bound by a manly love of style. Which they would never admit to each other. As is tradition, they now spend too much time arguing over who looks better, before heading back to the others.
Level 4
Monoco: I’m bored, let’s play cards or throw some dice.
Verso: Nuhuh. You always cheat.
Monoco: No, I always win. Only the weak cry foul when their skills fail them.
Verso: The other Gestrals never wanna play with you either. Are they all weak?
Monoco: Poor losers. Fine, how about a duel? We haven’t had a proper duel in ages! Yes, a duel will be even more fun. Get our blood flowing!
Verso: Alright, get ready to lose! AHA! You, sir, have been DEFEATED.
Monoco: You got lucky.
Verso: Ahhh, what was it you said? “Only the weak cry foul when their skills fail them?”
Monoco: Mmph. You’re right. Or I guess I’m right since I said that. You have grown more formidable than I remembered. Your skills are strong. I respect your win.
Verso: And I respect your loss. You were right, old friend, that was fun. Come on, let’s go get a drink. I’m parched.
Monoco and Verso are thrilled to have fought each other once more. It’s their own special way of displaying affection for each other. The duel reminded Monoco of some skills he had forgotten. They share a few drinks, which Monoco can’t drink because of his mask, then head back to the others.
Level 5
Verso approaches Monoco, who looks deep in thought. Monoco is thinking about what happened after the Paintress was expelled from the canvas.
Monoco: …
Verso: Everything okay?
Monoco: How does it feel, reaching one’s goal after so many years?
Verso: …
Monoco: At the end of the day, I am just a Gestral, I always support you, but still…
Verso: Will a duel help you feel better?
Monoco: Not today. I know I shouldn’t grow attached to humans. They are ephemeral creatures. They come and go and when they go, they never come back. Yet… I share their sadness. I share their joy.
Verso: Because Verso knew what you were like outside the canvas. And I know what you are like inside here. You are the most loyal friend, and certainly not “just” a Gestral.
Monoco: When I left you ten years ago, I convinced myself that it was for the Grandis’ sake, but really, I could no longer watch the death of Expedition after Expedition.
Verso: Yeah… I know.
Monoco: Yet here I am with you again. Am I loyal because that’s who I am? Or because Verso painted me that way?
Verso: You’ve kicked my ass enough times to know that it’s just who you are.
Monoco: That is very true.
Verso: Now don’t get too arrogant.
Monoco: Sometimes I wish things could go back to how they were before. When we could play with Clea, Aline and Renoir. It felt like nothing bad could happen to any of us.
Verso: Good times never last.
Monoco: Bad times seem to have made themselves comfortable though.
Verso: Well, it’s up to us to make sure they go away. Want to go hunt some Nevrons we are absolutely not ready to take on like in the good old days?
Monoco: That would… warm my heart.
Verso: Then let’s go get cut in half.
Monoco is touched by Verso’s willingness to endure bodily harm to raise his spirits. And Verso knows Monoco would do the same for him. They battle a few Nevrons in the middle of the night, like in the good old days, before returning to the others.
Level 6
Monoco: It is a beautiful evening. The colours in the sky. The shining of the stars. Tonight is a night full of promise.
Verso: Is it?
Monoco: We shall bring Noco back.
Verso: I thought you wanted to wait, until things calmed down?
Monoco: Who knows how much time tomorrow will allow. No. Let us give Noco the gift of today. It’s a simple journey to the Sacred River. We’re not far, it’s close to the Station.
Verso: Golga won’t be happy that you’re jumping the queue again.
Monoco: I’ll deal with Golga later. You helped me bring Noco back once before, will you help us again, my friend?
Verso: Always.
Verso promised Monoco that they would bring Noco back. The Sacred River is not far from Monoco’s station, to the north. At camp, Monoco sits by himself, thinking. Verso knows his old friend wants to talk, even if he is too proud to admit it. Verso approaches Monoco.
Monoco: …
Verso: You ok?
Monoco: …
Verso: At least, Noco is safe, and can begin readjusting.
Monoco: Everytime he returns, he is slightly changed. I mourn the loss of who he was before. But he’s still there, my old mentor. Thank you, my friend.
Monoco seems about to cry. They’ve always been best friends, but Verso and Monoco’s bond grows even stronger from their adventure. They spend a bit more time together, as Verso cheers Monoco up. They return to the others.
Level 7
Verso approaches Monoco. He knows exactly what Monoco is thinking.
Monoco: …
Verso: Noco always said that he didn’t mind waiting in the queue. Why were you so adamant about bringing him back sooner?
Monoco: There was never supposed to be a queue. Verso- Verso wanted us to experience the excitement of new beginnings. He gave us the gift of the river. Why shouldn’t we use it?
Verso: …
Monoco: Noco found me after the Fracture. Noco raised me, taught me, protected me. It’s my turn to protect him, that’s how it works. He took care of me, now I take care of him. Except I can’t.
Verso: Because of me.
Monoco: I know why you’re doing this. And I know how it might end. I’m not gambling on tomorrow.
Verso: Monoco-
Monoco: (tired exhale)
Verso: Why help me then? If-
Monoco: For Verso. And for you.
Verso: My friend.
Monoco: Verso gave us many new beginnings. He would have wanted a new beginning for you too. You deserve a new beginning, if you want one. Every one of us does.
Verso: …
Monoco: Now come over here and let’s snuggle.
Verso: Little spoon?
Monoco: Obviously.
Monoco and Verso understand each other more than ever. The bond they share is unbreakable. Their heartfelt conversation reminded Monoco that actually, there is another skill he had forgotten. They spend more time together being weird and sentimental, before returning to the others.