fabian aramais seacaster (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
maximumlegend) wrote2024-04-26 08:23 pm
maximumlegend) wrote2024-04-26 08:23 pmetraya ic inbox.
▶︎၊၊|||||၊၊၊|။||||။၊|။ 0:20
You have reached a MAXIMUM LEGEND!
maximumlegend) wrote2024-04-26 08:23 pm
You have reached a MAXIMUM LEGEND!
( idk WHENEVER MINGLE HAPPENS IN JUNE ), voice
The sudden appearance in a spaceship was bad enough, but this? this, appearing outside of some random diner not just wet, but sticky and lost and confused--
It must be a cosmic joke. It might even be the principal. Is it the principal? Gorgug doesn't know, but he's kinda feeling like he did when he showed up in space all over again, before the news of universe destruction was laid out to him by Adaine.
Just kind of over all this, thanks.
Fabian, as the resident Bad Kid who told Gorgug to check his contacts back on the other device, you will get a call coming through, so hope you're paying attention to it--because it's from one gorgug; and indeed, on the other end when you do pick up (you better pick up!!!). ]
Hey?
[ Comes the voice of one (1) Gorgug Thistlespring, sounding both unsure and tired. ]
no subject
It's a fair call-out though. It's an entirely true call-out. The only reason there's an exception right now is that Gorgug was definitely on that weird space station with them, and then he wasn't here back with them, and now there is a Gorgug call coming through his earpiece. ]
Gorgug!
[ Hence this. The ultra rare quick pick up of a call by Fabian Seacaster. ]
Are you here after all? You came back too?! [ A slight pause, just long enough to be semi-awkward, but just short enough that maybe Fabian is cutting the other off right as Gorgug may start to speak with-- ] Are you okay?!
[ Some things never change. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
day of Having It chat, text
...you're going to be waiting a while.
Quite a while, actually, until you get a text from your earpiece that is simply: ] check your crystal [ from Gorgug.
Do you even have your crystal on? Why would you, even. But now is a good time to go and check it, and find out that you have some messages from Gorgug on there, sent... closer to the time All That was happening.
And the first message is an image of yourself, with a battle sheet, somewhere in a forest--Kei Lumennura, in fact, once Fabian thinks about it. It's not a close-up photo, taken at some point when Fabian was dancing with a renewing confidence in himself, finding himself, when not knowing who exactly he was any more. A photo that, apparently, Gorgug's just had all this time.
With it is a message. ]
even when you didnt know what having it means, i always knew you had it
[ This, apparently, is how Fabian has it: by always having it. ]
no subject
But when nothing arrives in return - not from Gorgug, anyway - he kind of gives up on the idea that anything might. It's not really like Gorgug to trick someone, but.. maybe he did? Maybe Fabian is just the idiot falling for this kind of stuff. It does make him a little more disgruntled, but he keeps it to himself, especially since that's where the anger and annoyance turns anyway-- to himself.
Until he gets a message anyway. Probably by the time he's already half-forgotten about the whole deal. It almost makes him think Gorgug is telling him to check the group chat for something important, but he isn't talking about the earpieces, he's talking about his... crystal? Fabian is pretty sure he hasn't looked on that thing much at all since arriving here, other than to look at the rare few pictures he has saved on there of his parents and Cathilda.
So seeing that message instead is a surprise. Even more so when he realizes he's a little bit younger in that photo, and then in turn realizes what that means as to where he is back there. Or when it was - so close to his initial breakdown, and his attempt at reinventing himself after it, scrambling back up to his feet to dance.
He hadn't really thought about how Gorgug and Riz were watching him back then.
He had considered the fact that either of them might have recorded it in any sort of way even less. He didn't really think anyone was paying attention to it at all - he had mostly just been dancing for himself.
It makes all of this.. a lot. Fabian isn't even sure whether or not Gorgug intended it that way. He knows the other guy can be surprisingly thoughtful, but sometimes Gorgug also has less thoughts going on than anyone might suspect. It means this could lean either way, and Fabian bites his lip as he looks at the photo and the message, feeling his eyes growing a little watery.
He's unsure of what to write back, even.
It takes a few moments before a reply arrives. ]
i didn't know you took a picture
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
[ during july mission, text ] un: gorgug
do you identify as pirate
[ pause. ]
still
?
no subject
There's no reaction from Fabian. Not even after ten minutes.. What do, Gorgug? ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
text
no subject
Just a little treat for Fabian Aramais Seacaster? ]
can you write that again
[ HE WILL INQUIRE WHAT IT IS IN A MOMENT, JUST.. let him have this!! ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
[ july mission, action ]
What he's fiddling with probably won't be immediately clear, even once you start approaching. And does that matter more than the half-orc being there, without even a text or call? (Was there either such thing?? Would you known, Fabian?) There does seem to be a stick of some kind in one hand, and that's being on used one something in his other hand...
But who cares, really. You just came home, your baby with you, and here is Gorgug waiting for you, a bag by his side. Say hi, FOOL. ]
no subject
There sure is something happening here.
Something Fabian is kind of unsure about. His brain still feels a little hazy, considering you don't sit at the police station all day while having nothing to do without your brain feeling like it's slowly turning itself into much - but his mind is slowly starting to activate, trying to figure out what's up.
Was there.. a text? Did he send a text? Actually, he hasn't checked his messages at all today, so maybe Gorgug texted him that he was coming over. Usually Gorgug of all people knows to instead call him when he has to urgently let him know something though, right..?
...
Fabian has no idea what's happening, actually. ]
Hey! [ Energetic. ] .. Gorgug. [ More uncertain now.
The fake baby peeks out of its carrier at the half-orc. ]
Did I miss something?
[ Please don't scold him for not checking his messages ever.. :( ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
after curfew break, DA BOYZ
Multiple feeds connected to his and Adaine's crystals, and set up to save the footage--Gorgug follows them anxiously, as closely as he can. He can't track them all at once, his crystal not large enough for that even with its upgrades, and he has to swap between whichever one appears immediately important. He knows the moments it goes wrong, and how nothing ever stops being wrong--how could it, when someone dies? How could it, when against Riz and Fabian's best attempts, they fail to reach the hospital unscathed? Refusing to turn around, which could very well mean their lives. They know it could mean their lives. They persist. (Of course they would.)
And for what they find, Gorgug isn't sure they find any answers, or even questions to satisfy the mystery searcher in Riz. Was it worth it? Was this a success?
Did it even do anything?
It feels like a heart attack to Gorgug: a big, horrible mistake they weren't prepared for, with all those days of preparation crumbling like play sand. What were they doing? Thinking? They're better than this, and Gorgug played a part in their results: he didn't prepare them better. He didn't protect, and all he can do is watch, secure the footage. Make sure there's room for it to be saved and wait for Fabian to make his return.
(He watches them do so, even if he doesn't see them. Hears ragged breathing, can imagine the state of them from experience.)
When they make it to the front door of Fabian's house, it's already opening before they can touch the handle. Gorgug is there to collect them, each an arm around some part of them, to help them handle the weight of their bodies. Leading them first through into the living room, setting them onto the couch, his voice kept low and the lights dimmed.
'Hey, hey, let me-- let's sit down, it's okay. Where does it hurt most? Let me heal it. Do you want a drink? It can wait 'til morning.'
Reassurances, care. Anything about the mission, Gorgug isn't interested in right now; not when the pair have been through hell, and when Gorgug's first aid that he can administer is weak, and his healing between the two of them drains what little magic he has to spare. Some wounds might close, but hardly enough: the exhaustion sticks, and everything that's happened tonight.
It makes it easier to tell them to sleep. They'll heal better with it, and Gorgug can get some magic back, further giving them the comfort he can't right now. And really, how can either of them argue? With the state they're in, and when it's easy for their half-orc friend to do as he had at the doorway (somehow even easier, even if Riz has never weighed much--he doesn't like how easy it is). He takes them all to the bedroom that's not unfamiliar, settles them down after pushing back the covers, and even joins them, just because--he doesn't want to leave them alone. Sleeping with the two is nothing new, his only jitters being in getting in the way, and trying to take up as little room as possible despite his size.
They can grumble, if they like. They've earned it, and Gorgug stays up for a while despite the good idea this had been from him, and how he needs to sleep as well.
Somehow, he does drift. And yet Gorgug still wakes in the early morning, sight cloudy and a grogginess in his limbs that he doesn't like. He should sleep more, but seeing the figures in front of him (congratulations: Gorgug didn't break the bed in his sleep), any and all complaints leave him, his biggest worry becoming getting up quietly enough to not disturb the pair.
(Read: not disturb Riz.)
He manages to slip away into the wider space of the house, moving, thinking. There's little in the kitchen for breakfast, and the starting cries of a waking baby hurries Gorgug into its bedroom to take care of it, hushing it and holding it to his chest. Breakfast for it comes first, and then the careful preparations to leave the house with it to go into town for food.
Fabian likes fish. Does Riz like fish? He probably likes eggs and toast, so he can get all that. And coffee? Plenty of coffee.
The quality about fish that sticks out to many a people is a striking one: its smell. When it's gone off, but also when it's being cooked, and it's fortunately the latter that might stir the two boys at some point. That, or is it the subtler smell of the coffee? Or maybe--
...it's the horrible consequences of their actions from the night before. Could be that, we guess.
Wake up when or how you like. There will be coffee ready, even juice in the fridge, and Gorgug in the kitchen not doing too badly with the scrambled egg set aside and already cooked (and in a bowl, in case he needs to reheat it). But he is fighting at keeping the fish together, while also picking out bits of bones while it's still in the frying pan.
Yes, he is giving the occassional 'ouch!' at his progress. And squinting his Gorgug squint, hunched over the stove. This might be the first time it's gotten any use. ]
no subject
Most of it will come to him in bits and pieces while his mind slowly reactivates himself, but all that registers when he wakes up is just the ache in his limbs, the pain whenever he tries to move them just a little bit too much. It's not like he hasn't felt pain before - he has gotten hurt plenty of times in battle, to not even speak of how often he's been knocked unconscious because of it - but usually Kristen is always there to patch them right back up after a battle. Fabian can't even remember the last time he had to sleep a full night without being healed first, and his body is paying the price for it this morning.
It means it takes him a long while to get out of bed. Forcing his body far up enough to sit up is hard enough, but he's also trying to not disturb a still-sleeping Riz - though nothing seems capable of waking the goblin, because even Fabian trying to detangle their sleeping positions doesn't seem to wake the other in the slightest.
And considering Riz looks just as bad as Fabian feels in this moment, he just allows the other to sleep. He even tucks Riz in a little after Fabian has left the bed, slowly making his way through the hallways of his fake house - hallways that suddenly feel way too long with the tiny steps he has to take to prevent his legs from locking up due to the overwhelming ache.
Eventually he makes his way to the kitchen though, only to spot-- ]
Gorgug.
[ The name spills out from his lips a little weakly, but if the other turns to look at Fabian, Fabian will actually put a very weak smile on his lips. ]
Making breakfast for the heroes? [ Look, do they seem like heroes right now? Probably not, given all the bruises and wounds on Fabian in the moment, or the ones that were still on Riz's sleeping form. But as far as Fabian is concerned, he fulfilled his duty of keeping them both alive, both out there and then while dragging themselves home. Even if he isn't really fond of his current state, he at least does feel like it was a relatively badass thing to do. It's the sort of thing that would've made his father proud, and that's enough to keep that smile on his face despite the fact that he's leaning against the side of the doorway to keep himself standing up. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
action, spar (end of month)
Barbarian classes are about brute strength, while still covering all that. See, it's not that Fabian's weak, but just that Gorgug? He doesn't have anything but his smaller throwing axes to use in this. His axe is way too much for fighting another person--not because Fabian isn't good, but because it's not a safe weapon to begin with.
So his throwing axes are just--better, for what Fabian seems to have in mind. It's not a way of fighting Gorgug is used to, using them double-handed and opposed to...throwing--but it's not bad training for him. What if he does lose his main weapon? What if he needs to get close with what he has, and be smart about it? And this kind of close combat (without a metallurgy axe looming over him) works in Fabian's expertise. Gorgug listens to him, to what he has to say about what Gorgug's doing wrong, or right.
And Gorgug can give him his rage, his difficult to down body, his aggression in return.
...but this isn't all of his aggression, is it?
It's been on Gorgug's mind for a while. And it's there that early morning, with them still in their apartment and with some time before they've planned to go for their training, and with Fabian surely his energetic self. This might interrupt those plans some, so--he should talk about them now, putting his bowl from breakfast into the sink (and there's a few things in there that need to get cleaned.....later....). ]
Hey, Fabian. I had an idea about, uh, training today. It's something to do with what I was learning in barbarian classes?
no subject
This is the sort of thing they need to be practicing. Especially when they have no clue what the hell this place is going to throw at them next. Especially when they're the two physical fighters on the frontlines, when they have to hold the line to make sure their more fragile party members stay safe.
Fabian doesn't have any special ideas today though. He's ready for a round of what has become their usual sparring in this place, using the calm of the morning to already start stretching in their apartment, thinking about maybe getting some dancing practice in too--
Which means he's definitely sitting on the ground stretching his feet and toes when Gorgug speaks up. It makes him look up, his one eye turning in the other's direction. ]
Hm?
[ Fabian has no clue where this is going. Not like he's ever been remotely close to barbarian class, after all. It's just not his thing.
Still, he trusts Gorgug to say without seeming to really worry about what this could mean: ]
Sure. What is it?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
september, during shards shennanigans, action
But it's for Adaine. It's for so many other people, that it's been paralysing at times. He's been catching himself blanking out, the way he used to for months after-- that. Back after he died, finding himself forgetting what he had been doing, paused in the middle of some action, and his eyes boring into absolutely nothing. The floor, a wall, a screen of words right in front of him--and never noticing until he came to.
When he's lucky, that's all he does: becoming aware again with nothing other than lost time for it. The worst is when he was holding onto something, and the fact there's a cloth now on the floor dyed by the colour of some liquid it soaked up, the container he was drinking from crushed and left discarded on the floor under his computer desk is-- fine, it's fine. Accidents happen. It doesn't matter. Better than had it been something important.
What should matter is that he does more than stare at the coding on the screen, doesn't let his vision blur or let his mind go anywhere it shouldn't. That he keeps the volume up on his headphones, keep his focus.
(Don't let the nagging in his voice speak to him, You can't do this, you were never gonna do this. You keep fooling yourself, you're not even good at being a barbarian.)
Gorgug tries to do that. He does. But if he had promises made, a schedule he was meant to keep or thoughts outside of working on getting this technology working, well, he's half-keeping to the latter objective: his mind isn't as on the ball as it should be.
Because some kind of mental block is catching up with him on this--night? day? evening?, that it's easy to find him sat along the desk and counter with the crystal screen and keyboard, a palimpsest sitting on a softly glowing board, and just--nothing else happening. No movement, no sign of recognition if or when someone enters, Gorgug's hands paused over the keys like they might start typing.
He'll start doing something in a moment. Any second now. He'll reboot, or something. It's fine. This is fine. ]
no subject
But he knows at this point there's unfortunately nothing he can do. Maybe it's nothing new in this place. Has there been anything he has been particularly good at? It doesn't feel like it. All he can do is hope that Gorgug can work out some sort of solution. If it's within his abilities, then.. surely he will. Fabian knows how much Gorgug seems to have taken to the artificing side of things, no matter how little Fabian himself knows about what that actually entails in a case like this. A lot of working in his lab, apparently.
It's getting late, though. And Gorgug still hasn't come back to the apartment. Surely sleeping in the lab can't be all that comfortable either, so though Fabian waffles on the decision for a little while, in the end he decides to take the Hangman out for a ride towards the lab. Maybe he can take Gorgug back to their apartment that way, which will cut down on the time it takes to walk back from the lab instead.
Though Fabian steps off the Hangman outside of the lab, the bike follows him into it all the same. It's not like Fabian is the only person worried about Gorgug here, after all. The Hangman is similarly fond of the half-orc, and though a bike can't exactly look worried, that look surely is evident in Fabian's gaze as he enters, even though he's formed his mouth into a smile. ]
.. hey, Gorgug.
[ He doesn't start speaking as loudly as Fabian usually does, not wanting to startle this friend when it definitely seems like Gorgug is still working, with the way he's sitting at his desk.
Sitting at his desk, and.. uh.. not doing much, apparently. Or maybe he is? What the hell does Fabian know about artificer work, really. ]
Is everything alright over here? It's getting kind of late, so I thought I'd come check in on you. [ He pauses, momentarily glances over his shoulder, and then turns back to look at Gorgug again. ] Oh, and the Hangman too.
[ The latter doesn't speak up yet, like it doesn't want to rudely interrupt an important Talk between his master and his master's friend, but it does let out a very motor-esque sound that's likely meant to be agreement. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
action; (september-october mission)
But for now, Gorgug and Fabian are going to do something about that. At least...once they reach Kwik Trip. For now, the trees are doing their best to appear haunted, branches dangling like gangly, twisted limbs, and the sky is dark, incredibly so, when it hadn't been before they entered. They don't need lights, but they do need to focus on their feet, where they're going.
And there's something about Gorgug that he doesn't really talk about, because why would he? But he's....not a big fan of scary things. This sucks! He hates it! He hates the vibes!! ]
So... is this what it was like with the labyrinth?
[ Bro, please ignore the slightly worried tone in Gorgug's voice. Please don't look at his uncomfortable face. Just reassure him somehow that this is normal for Etraya and how he doesn't need to think about spooky things popping out around him!! ]
no subject
But this isn't the forest of the Nightmare King, Fabian tells himself. It's just some dumb trick of this place, perhaps designed to freak them out for-- well, whatever reason this place has for doing the shit it does. No good reason.
He's still half-thinking about that, so he's not really noticing his friend's attitude as Fabian is already answering automatically: ]
No, the maze was-- Well, it was just a lot of stone, really. The things in it were dangerous, but they did not really bother to make it look..
[ ...
His voice trails off when he looks over towards his side and spots Gorgug.
Or rather - when he spots the way Gorgug looks so uncomfortable right now. It makes Fabian think for another moment, and then he just holds out his hand. ]
.. you need a hand?
[ Bro?
You want to hold his hand? ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
another one??? meme, sept-oct event, voice: gorgug
From gorgug, that tries to connect for as long as Fabian allows it (but, maybe not for too long). It's been maybe a week since their last encounter, ending without Gorgug seeing any reason.
And now he's calling. He doesn't speak when the call--or if the call--is connected; there's a silence that penetrates through the line, a tension that makes the space around Fabian seem emptier, something lifeless. Like whatever has Gorgug can affect even the electronics he uses.
But maybe that's just Fabian's imagination. Maybe he doesn't even notice.
Maybe he'll wait for Gorgug to go first, instead of taking space being left open for him. ]
another one!!!
Sure, their last encounter was awkward enough, but it doesn't matter. After all, ever since that encounter Fabian has tried to track Gorgug down, thinking that if he could just do things a little different, maybe he really could help the other go back to normal. If he just tried one more time, maybe it'd be different. Maybe he could help his friend, maybe he could stop the insanity going on in this place.
So when there is an incoming call from Gorgug, the first attempt at contact in a week, of course Fabian is immediately going to pick up.
He doesn't speak right away, mostly because he figures Gorgug is going to tell him something if he's the one calling, but..
.. there's nothing.
And it's more than an awkward silence. It's a hollow silence, like something is being sucked right out of Fabian the more he listens, and-- he's going to speak up. Of course he is. If there's one thing anyone can count on when it comes to Fabian, it's that he's going to yap. ]
Gorgug? [ A little more tentatively at first. Worried, too. The worry stays, but it's coupled with something more intense as he adds: ] Gorgug, where the hell are you?!
you're joking!!!!!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
un: blackhat | voice
Hey.
[ A ragged swallow, gulping down air. ]
I need to talk to you.
no subject
But after a few calls even Fabian must realize that some situation must be dire, because he finally does pick up then. ]
Krouse..?
[ His voice sounds a little slow and thick, like he was sleeping - or trying to, more like, with the state of things.
After a moment he seems to realize something about the way Krouse sounds though, and Fabian's tone shifts closer to awareness, something sharper in there. Worried, almost. ]
What's going on? Where are you?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
action; post october-mission
He can't figure that out. Of all the people Krouse would have called being able to tolerate being around after that clusterfuck of a month, Fabian wouldn't have made the top ten. But here they are, in Krouse's painfully organized apartment, having beers.
It was an impulse decision on Krouse's part. An idea that hit him in the Kwik Trip, standing in front of the beer display, staring at the Spotted Cow label and trying not to think about anything (anyone) it reminded him of. Drinking alone is pathetic. Drinking with someone is a social activity. Krouse doesn't want to do social activities, but he doesn't want to drink alone, working himself up to the kind of dulled out haze he's almost never actually indulged in.
So he grabbed two six packs of beer and a bottle of vodka, because he doesn't actually know how much he needs to drink to get drunk, and sent Fabian a text. And now Krouse is standing in his bedroom, holding the neck of his third bottle, staring at a picture. It's next to another one, of Krouse and his mom, but Krouse is only handling so much at a time.
Gingerly, he takes the dried grass bracelet off the corner and sets it on the nightstand. He picks up the frame, careful not to put his thumb on the glass, and carries it back out to the living room.
"This is Noelle," he says, holding the picture where Fabian can see it, and tips his beer back to down what's left of it, warmth liquid and nauseous in his stomach. But he's good. He's together.
"She's," Krouse says, bouncing his knee, "She was - "
Noelle, all of fifteen, smiles awkwardly up out of the picture. She's sallow and hollow-cheeked, her shoulder-length brown hair frayed at the ends, her brown eyes sunk in shallow purple hollows. Her shoulders are slightly hunched under her large hoodie, her legs poised on the school picture day stool swallowed in baggy jeans. She looks fragile, strained.
But Krouse can see past that. He can see the glint in her eye, watchful and alert. A line of steel along her spine even as it curves unseen by the photographer's lens.
"She was my team captain," Krouse says, quietly. "She had...something kind of like Gorgug had. The anger issues, you know? Not her fault. She got sick."
She was sick in this picture, too. Krouse knows the signs now the way he didn't back then. But that's not up for discussion. His secrets might be everywhere, but he's keeping as many of hers as this place will let him.
"We were..." Krouse clears his throat. He swaps the empty beer bottle in his hand for a new one from the coffee table with a flex of his power, then feels like an idiot, because he doesn't have a hand free to open it. He doesn't want to put the picture down.
"We were together. Probationary. I was the one on probation." Krouse forces a thin, papery laugh, not looking at Fabian, who probably is looking - sympathetic, or worried, or something. "I still don't know why she ever gave me a chance. I was such a fucking prick."
Is a fucking prick.
"I always pissed her off, too," he says, and now he's just rambling, tongue loosened with alcohol and exhaustion, "You'd think all the practice would have counted for something with him, but - no. I guess I'm just good at pissing people off. Trash at making them feel better."
no subject
After that is where the blurriness starts. It's probably because of Gorgug, judging by the hints of the other guy that Krouse is dropping. Did Fabian start about Gorgug? Did Krouse? The half-elf really isn't sure, and he just stares at Krouse and the picture the other is holding, turning over the words in his head.
Maybe if the faint blurriness wasn't present in his mind, Fabian would have the social graces to not say what he's about to say.
But a few beers don't make only Krouse's tongue loose, apparently.
"You're saying were together," he points out.
(There's a lot of past tense going on there, actually.)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
cw: talk of dubcon
cw: talk of dubcon, nsfw
cw: talk of dubcon, nsfw
un: gorgug, video (dated SOMETIME THRU THE MONTH!!!)
And when Fabian connects the call: ]
Hey. [ It's just Gorgug on the screen--looking like he normally does, even looking momentarily away from the screen before he returns to it. ] Are you doing anything later?
DARING TBH!!!!
Before everything went down Fabian wouldn't have found this very weird. Of course Gorgug would just randomly contact him - they're friends. It's what friends do. And even though Fabian sucks at checking his messages, he does at least pay attention when he's got a call.
But this hasn't happened much recently. He can't really remember the last time they had a call like this where it wasn't Fabian initiating the call in the first place. And it doesn't even seem like there's an emergency or anything, judging by the way Gorgug looks, so..
Is something up? Fabian frantically tries to think of what he could be forgetting here, but he can't think of anything. ]
Me? [ Hence the slightly awkward initial answer, like Fabian has been truly caught off guard. ] I-- uh, no? Did you want to do something?
I DARE!!!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
backdated to 12/09 | text un: mason
you are invited to (1) cool party at the maximum on 12/13
from 7pm-???
pet rock contest, best decorated rock wins a prize
party games, drinks, sleepover, and a SNES!
rsvp with heather mason
ps: if you cannot come, donations for the cause are happily accepted
un: gorgug, text
if i die it's chrollolucifer's fault
no subject
Maybe it's a bad thing, since Fabian is definitely taking it very seriously, immediately shooting a text back. ]
what do you mean
[ ??? BRO?? Explain? ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
14th!!!!! action, the MANOR
And-- Gorgug's been thinking. That brain of his has been at work, since Gorgug knows what day this is. It's a day of romance, he's done this with Zelda, but now--he's in a relationship with Fabian. They like to do the couple stuff, they've been trying it out. But also, they've been trying it out--and what does Fabian think about a day of romance?
He could surprise Fabian with chocolates (and flowers? Do you get guys flowers?), but also--does Fabian want to do anything? Is it his thing? Not his thing?
It's one of those things he wants to have a discussion about (and it would be nice to talk to the other Bad Kids about, especially Fig or Kristen, but--well), even if...it takes Gorgug a while to decide how to approach it. If to approach it, directly.
And he decides not to, catching Fabian in that time after they've put away their bowls, when they're about to think about other things, except: ]
Hey, so... I'm thinking. Do you want to--spend some time together today? Maybe a lunch in the Hangvan somewhere nice, or...indoors? At the Maximum? Do you want to do anything today?
[ Hey?? Hey bro??? You want something special? We're just standing here, asking, our hands in our hoodie pocket. ]
no subject
But Fabian, who has famously only ever had one.. well, it wasn't even really a girlfriend as much as it was an awkward obsession followed up by an awkward make out session, is not used to thinking about this day this hard. He would have realized later, upon spotting the hearts everywhere, but none of those have popped up during breakfast so far.
Which means that when Gorgug asks him this question, it has an entirely different meaning for each of them. Gorgug is asking him something very, very Purposeful, whereas Fabian thinks he's just asking to hang out..
So Fabian blinks at the other before casually shrugging. ]
Sure? [ He seems so.. cool about this. So nonchalant. Maybe Fabian really just IS that cool about a day of love, huh. (No, that's not the case at all.) ] I mean, I thought you were going off to your lab, but if you want to hang out-- of course I don't mind.
[ Even though there's clearly no special reason to hang out today, right.
Right?? ]
I was thinking about getting some dance practice in, but-- if you want to do a fancy lunch, then sure. Did that idea just suddenly come to you?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
( same day, later ) text, un: gorgug
people are getting extra points if they find cards with challenges and do them
romantic
friendly challenges?
i got a toy from someone
do you want the points?
[ He thinks he already knows Fabian's stance on this, but. Boyfriend check up!! ]
no subject
Uh oh. ]
do you mean those dumb hearts
i have actually been burning the ones i found in the manor
[ Yeah, Fabian's stance is probably pretty obvious, huh. But whereas he usually wouldn't have cared, now he feels a little bit awkward when Gorgug is asking after them.. ]
should i have saved them for you?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
( day of mission announcement )
That's what Gorgug finds out from talking to Aurora during her announcing the mission: he can stay back, if he chooses. With a cost, but he can try and do something about the defences of Etraya, with try being the keyword. Can he do anything about it? He's just one guy, and he knows he can make good tools and equipment when he puts his head down, but Etraya's a big place. Is it even worth it? But leaving Etraya so soon after finding out that more trouble might come to their door in the state it's in is...
He doesn't like it. It doesn't feel right. Gorgug's sitting in his workshop after the fact, the bot he was in the middle of putting together now left on the table in front of him, its innards exposed, not yet covered. He could do that now, but his mind isn't on it. He should talk to the other two, he should talk with--everyone. This mission is about survival.
Gorgug shoots them off a text, which means Fabian will receive a ping. Hopefully he's paying attention to his earpiece these days--! ]
do you want to talk about the mission? manor or maximum?
[ Manor or dance studio, he means. Where you at, boyfriend?? ]
no subject
[ You seem to be in lucky today, Gorgug. It doesn't take long at all before that reply arrives. Maybe Fabian was keeping an eye on his messages ever since he saw the message about the mission going up, just in case one of his friends was going to shoot him a message about it..
And it's really no surprise that Gorgug might want to talk about him. Especially when he brought up the idea of going to a world like this in the first place, asked people about it. Maybe he's got some thoughts. They can talk. ]
i'll wait here for you
[ It doesn't seem to be very busy there today, so even if Gorgug is going to say something that requires some privacy - though Fabian doubts it - then they should be fine, he figures. No need to go back to the Manor first. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
upon returning to etraya, camp;
i'm at cabin flamingo
[ It's a message he sends to both of his teammates (his true teammates), since he figures this is the most important information he can give them. As well as sitting outside by the steps of said cabin, his knees bent up high while he sits on a log too small for his tall frame. He'll stretch them eventually, just like he'll get a shower and a change of clothes eventually too, though, making his sitting position might come first.
But he thinks Fabian and Riz would enjoy seeing him first. Also? Gorgug would like to see them before a shower and all that. He's got chores or something, but whatever.
First, comes his guys: one who happens to be his boyfriend.
And who he isn't expecting an actual reply back from that isn't him showing in person. Actually, did Fabian said he prefers voice calls more for things like this? Uhh.... ]
no subject
Especially the horrible, horrible stupid dumb cabin beds here. Terrible. He deserves his huge bed and 80,000 thread count elven sheet blankets, thanks. How is anyone supposed to sleep like this, especially without their boyfriend to cuddle with?!
And then there was also the reality of the mission Gorgug went on. Fabian may trust Gorgug to be able to smash just about anything into the ground, but he's also aware of how dirty this place can be. What if it does something to Gorgug that the other can't participate? If that mission put him through hell and back, Fabian would be about ready to burn this place to the ground.
So somewhere between his own desire to see Gorgug again and his worry about the state the other could be in, Fabian immediately heads towards the cabin when he gets that message. He doesn't care if he has to drop an activity he was in the middle of. Gorgug first. ]
Gorgug!
[ Instead of getting that text back, Gorgug will hear that-- and then a set of footsteps approaching. Rapidly. Very rapidly. Fabian just ran straight over, if the way he's slightly out of breath by the time he actually can spot Gorgug is something to go by. He only stops running when he's right in front of where the other is sitting, his eyes scanning Gorgug immediately to make sure the other is.. alive? Not wounded? Alright? All of the above?
And also kind of trembling with pent up energy, considering Fabian really wants to hug or kiss or make out or actually all of that with Gorgug right now, but isn't so sure if the other is in any state for Fabian to just grab him and do that. He's vibrating, Gorgug!! Vibrating!!!! ]
(no subject)