Expedition 33 Archives

Gustave comes to seek the only one able to help him.

An important reminder:

You are reading a work of passion, for free!!!

- if you didn't like reading something - that is totally understandable, silently move on pls

- if - and only IF - the author asked for feedback on their writing, do so in a private exchange with them

But dismantling a fic in the tag for the ship you have read that fanfic from???

He understood that now — that the distinction his mother had drawn so carefully had never existed at all. That every choice worth making had wanting at its root, and every want worth having demanded the courage to choose it.

Sooooo …. something wonderful happened and I need to share it with all of you 🥹

I commissioned art of the first kiss from my Verstave fic Of Pride and Promise — a Belle Époque arranged marriage AU for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, featuring Gustave and Verso falling in love over trains, tea, a storm, and one very inconvenient cotillion.

The art is by the phenomenal Nyoom (@thunderstyled) and it captures THE moment from Chapter 5 — the workshop kiss. The one where Verso, who has been valiantly holding himself together through sheer force of will for five chapters straight, finally snaps because Gustave is standing there in his rolled-up sleeves with grease on his face talking about valve mechanisms and has absolutely no idea what he is doing to this man ;D

I am still not over it. I may never be over it. Please go and shower Nyoom in the love they deserve because this art is a MASTERPIECE!!!

AND BECAUSE I HAVE NO CHILL: this commission inspired me to write a bonus chapter 📖✨

Chapter 11: Of Wanting and Worth is up on AO3 now — it is the workshop scene and first kiss rewritten entirely from Verso's POV. After ten chapters inside Gustave's head, you finally get to see what was happening behind the mask. You get the ball from Verso's side. The conversation with his parents. His sisters teasing him mercilessly. The burgundy coat he spent forty minutes choosing. And everything in between (spoiler alert: there is a lot if simping and yearning in this one. Who would have guessed :D)

If you have not read Of Pride and Promise yet: it is a completed 11-chapter slow burn historical romance about an arranged marriage between an engineer who thinks he is unremarkable and a Painter's son who has been losing his mind over said engineer since minute one. It has: yearning, letters, a storm, Chopin by firelight, class politics, sisters who see everything, and a very slow burn that catches fire in a workshop. Pride & Prejudice vibes, Belle Époque aesthetics, yearning idiots 💝

🔗 Read on AO3 here

We made it!

The Dome Works is delighted to present to you: A Life to Dream — A free Verstave Visual Novel. Explore an alternate reality where Verso decides differently at the Stone Wave Cliffs and Gustave survives to see Expedition 33 through to the end.

The visual novel features 11 story acts, multiple routes and endings (some featuring NSFW content, which is why the visual novel is rated 18+), gorgeous art created by our wonderful artists, music and environmental audio, and of course, a list of future updates with more content that is already in the works.

All 23 members of the Dome Works crew wish Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a belated happy first birthday, and we thank Sandfall for creating such a brilliant game that has touched our hearts and inspired us to create this fan project. We thank you with all our hearts ❤️❤️❤️

© _ADwills

drawing my favorite blorbos for the coe:33 anniversary!!! happy birthday to my favorite sad french people 🫶🏻

Encore, Encore - chp. 16/24

Slow burn Verso/Gustave, Gustave & Maelle family-friends, side Lune/Sciel, time loop angst with happy ending Gustave dies at Renoir’s hand on the Stone Wave Cliffs. Then Gustave opens his eyes to the sound of a cane striking stone at the edge of the Continent. He dies again, he opens his eyes again. Again, again, and again, until he gets it right. Updates every Tuesday. Banner art from this post by aliennotperson! > Read from the first chapter > Read from the current chapter

Happy Tuesday! This week, E33 takes on Sirène in her coliseum and Gustave wrestles with his feelings for Verso. Not to spoil it, but if you're a fan of yearning and idiocy, this is a chapter for you!

To note, I'll be in France starting this weekend! I might post one more chapter before going into hiatus while I'm there if I can manage it, but I'll start posting again on the weekly Tuesday schedule when I get back. Til then, hope your Tuesdays are good.