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[ It's a good thing that Gorgug doesn't mind sitting in silence, isn't it? Nor that he questions the silence, despite this being Fabian. But it's for a good reason: this is about Riz's birthday box, and that deserves careful consideration. That's why Gorgug is nodding as soon as Fabian comes to his conclusion, showing how much he knows about EMPs. ]

Get him lots of EMPs.

[ That's right, Fabian. You've got it. ]

I will!

[ He HAS got it! Another win for Fabian! Another great idea from HIM!! He's pumping a fist in the air, that's how excited and ready he is for this.

.. until Fabian realizes that there's no way he's going to be able to fake this - especially when maybe EMPs may be something real nerdy if Gorgug read up on them. And then who the hell is Fabian going to ask what it's supposed to be in this place? He doesn't know any nerds here other than the two nerds he has to get birthday presents for!

This is a mess.

His energetic posture disappears a little - though he's still trying very hard to make it seem like it's there, mind you! He sucks in a breath, trying really hard to look super cool and dignified as he asks: ]

What are EMPs?

[ Like this is a normal question to ask for a guy who pretended to totally know what that is only a moment ago. Nothing weird here, Gorgug! Don't overthink it! In fact, don't think at all! ]

Oh. Well, they're just burst of electricity, or electromagnetic energy, and I read you can put them into grenades to shut down electronics, specifically, and maybe you can put them into other kind of weaponry with the right materials, too...

[ Look at this, Gorgug explaining, even though Fabian was acting like he knew what it was a moment ago. But even with Gorgug's explanation, he's speaking in that way where it's a new subject for him, or at least under the terms that he's using.

....and even so, he was willing to let Fabian act like he totally knew what he was talking about. He could've had it all. He could have gotten away with it! ]

We're dealing with robots, and electronics, so we should have shit that fucks them up. And maybe shit we can hack with. Riz should.

[ Because he said 'we' but that was basically their conversation a while back, okay! And Riz can take precedent because he's a special birthday boy. ]

[ Oh. For a moment the thought so it's nerd shit goes through Fabian's head, considering how little he knows about electronic things like that. After all, isn't the fun part of the grenade supposed to be the explosion? Why would you want it to do nerd shit on the side?

.. on the other hand, Gorgug does seem rather convinced of this idea, and he does know way more about it than Fabian. Maybe he should just follow Gorgug's lead on this one. Because Riz is a nerd, so he would appreciate nerd shit gifts..

Prob.. a.. bly..?

Still, that leaves another problem entirely that makes Fabian frown. ]

But where do I even get that?

[ Gorgug. Do you think this looks like a guy who knows where to get hacker equipment? This guy? Fabian Aramais Seacaster? ]

I can't make those things the way you can. [ Triple classing may be a bit much. Especially to a class that actually involves reading. That's your personal hell, Gorgug, not his. ]

[ How do you get it...? Gorgug looks at Fabian, blankly. ]

How did you get the Hangman?

[ Isn't the answer obvious, Fabian. Unless Fabian has been so anti-companion bots, so anti-Aurora he found a way to bring the Hangman to Etraya through some other means that didn't involve points?

Which Gorgug would like to know about, thanks. ]

[ ...

Guess whose frown is growing even bigger? That's right. It's Fabian's. At this rate it's going to swallow his entire forehead. Even his shoulders are slumping at the very thought. ]

Come on, Gorgug. Who is going to be enough of an idiot to give out the very weapons necessary to defeat themselves?

Edited 2025-01-05 14:56 (UTC)

I mean, whatever they give us, we'll have to make upgrades...

[ That much Gorgug was thinking already, considering what they're up against. But at least Gorgug has gone back to his natural state of looking worried as he thinks. What to do... ]

We can get pieces to put together Riz's birthday present-- I can do that for you. But a wristband like the one Riz has got back home, I... [ hrrrm. ] It'll take me a while to make something like it. The grenades will be easy. [ Easier. ]

We'll have to get Riz's arm size, too. [ Gorgug pats his forearm. ] So I know how snug to make it.

Well, I can do that much..

[ That shouldn't be too hard, especially not with how much time the two of them spend around each other. Fabian is pretty sure he could even get it done without Riz truly realizing what has happened - because they can't ruin the surprise!

But if Fabian still sounds a little bit awkward at all.. Well, it's not since he's doubting the fact he just spoke about, he's still pretty confident about that one. It's just that he feels a little bit bad at the thought of Gorgug putting together all of Riz's birthday presents.. He'll have to think of something he can somehow get his hands on or make too, despite having very little ability in that department.

Fabian raises a hand, rubbing the back of his head, like it might suddenly make an idea rise to mind.

(It doesn't.)

Which is why he instead asks-- ]

What about you then? [ Don't think he has forgotten it was your birthday too, PAL!!! Even if you say Riz's birthday is more important! ] Isn't there anything you have been wanting?

[ Look at this fool, feeling bad about letting Gorgug do things he likes. As if Gorgug's got anything better to do than to help his two friends.

It's better than being asked what he wants, anyway. He thinks about it, and... what does he want? ]

Uh... [ He...looks down at his hands, then around his lab. Sure, there's equipment he could ask for, but it would feel weird to ask for the kind of stuff he wants for a gift when... it'll probably cost a lot. ]

...let me think about it.

[ --He found it. The cheat code...!! ]

[ To be fair to Fabian, he's being good and staying quiet while Gorgug thinks. Maybe he's finally realizing that some people - .. okay, mostly Gorgug, especially Gorgug - need a little bit more time to think about these things than Fabian himself does.

But when Gorgug slowly looks around, and then says that, as if he hasn't just thought about it.. Fabian's facial expression shifts to a point where there's almost visible question marks hanging in the air above him as he makes that face. ]

Do you really not know?

[ Gorgug?? Surely you have some desires in you, right? Friend? Pal?? ]

There's nothing you have been missing in this place?

[ yeah he's got a desire in him alright-- ]

Yeeahhh... [ But have a dragged out yeah, that already sounds the but upcoming. ] But we're running on a point system where I don't know what anything costs. What if I ask for something expensive? A lot of my tools would be expensive back on Spyre.

[ And they even have to pay postage on them! He's not getting everything he needs from Elmville. And sure, the cost to his points haven't been that unreasonable for some of the equipment he's gotten already, but he doesn't know what it's going to come to when Fabian puts in a purchase. What if it's like--50 points? For a magical screwdriver? ]

So what if it's expensive?

[ If Gorgug knows Fabian at all, this reply should not be surprising. In fact, it sounds like Fabian himself didn't have to think for even a moment before he was already saying this - like it just comes naturally to him.

Like Fabian has ever had to consider the costs of things, even here. It's simply impossible. ]

Do you think that I wouldn't buy you something expensive? [ There's almost a little bit of a sense of determination in his tone. Like this is a challenge Gorgug is posing him. A matter of proving their friendship.

And Fabian would never fail a challenge like that!! ]

[ Oh, right. Fabian is rich.

Granted, Gorgug never got that Fabian is rich, since it comes off him like a cologne. But does he know how rich the guy is or isn't in Etraya? What does Fabian get with his points? Gorgug never asks either him or Riz...

But... ]

Well... okay. [ It takes a moment for him to come to that 'okay', but there it is. He should let Fabian buy him something, right? ] I guess....a van would be cool. Or my van? Can I get my own van?

[ Fabian got his motorbike, right...? ]

It's kinda busted still, but I can fix it up. Now that I don't have homework.

Of course you can get the van!

[ .. granted, Fabian was so ready to go along with absolutely any request coming from Gorgug that he isn't thinking too hard about this one - just repeating what Gorgug is asking for since he was ready to do just that.

It looks like he's only really thinking about what Gorgug just asked after Fabian hears the words in his own voice - stopping to blink for a moment. ]

The Hangman is likely going to be weird about it though. [ Apparently that's the thing Fabian realized after a second... Not that it's a protest. If that's what Gorgug wants, then Gorgug is going to get it!

Fabian is just going to have to soothe his pet-bike-familiar. ]

[ ...You know, this does bring up a rather curious point that he's never thought to ask, or did and then forgot to: ]

Does he get weird about other people's vans?

[ Is this just a Hangman thing, or specifically to do with the Hangvan? Is it because of Zaphriel? A Heaven versus Hell situation?? ]

[ There's a slight moment of thought, but then: ]

I don't know. As far as I know, he has not exactly been around that many vans. [ Especially when they have never really needed another van for transportation when the Hangvan was a thing.. And when Fabian is by himself, he can just drive to places on the Hangman..

Though Fabian does suggest: ]

Maybe he is just jealous.

[ Of it getting Fabian's attention? Gorgug's attention? Anyone's attention?? Who knows. ]

[ The Hangman being jealous of the Hangvan...... ]

...we can make him into a van.

[ This is what Fabian means by jealous, right. This is totally a thing that can be fixed. ]

I don't--

[ He was about to say that he doesn't think that of all things is the problem, but apparently Fabian is just so dumbstruck by what Gorgug is telling him here that he has to pause for a moment.

And blink. Blankly blinking. ]

Gorgug, you think the Hangman's problem is the fact that he isn't a van? [ ???

Bro, how does your mind work. Fabian doesn't get it. It's too wild for him. ]

You don't think so? Maybe he wants to know what it's like. Maybe he wants to be big.

[ Fabian, maybe it's his dream!!! You don't know! Do you?? ]

You don't think he'd like being a van for a while?

[ Does Fabian know?

Fabian feels like he knows, but on the other hand, it's not like he's ever asked the Hangman if he'd like to be big. That's not just something you ask someone else, okay. Not even your pet motorcycle!

So rather than going into that question specifically, he decides to point out the next most logical thing. ]

What's so much better about being a van, compared to being a motorcycle? [ Fabian thinks the latter is definitely more cool, for one.. ]

You're bigger. You can listen to music. You can put the heater on and you're surrounded by walls and can put stuff inside it.

[ ... ]

And my van can go on water.

[ You want logic, Fabian? Are you ready for this? Were you ready for this?! ]

The Hangman can do all of that too!

[ ...

Well, maybe not really-- ]

If someone cast Enlarge on him, he would be just as big as the Hangvan! [ These were not the conditions they were working with, and Fabian likely knows it. But stuff like this brings out the competitive spirit, even if Fabian truly doesn't care when it comes down to it.

It's just him getting swept along in the moment. Like usually. ]

[ Gorgug is listening, Fabian. He is listening and looking at you, the way you're acting in defence of your Hangman, and he's coming to one conclusion.

He says it with a nod: ]

You're jealous of my van, too. It's okay.

[ It's okay, bro. He knows he's got a nice van, too. ]

[ See, Gorgug is clearly not on point with that conclusion.

And yet it looks like he is. Because it would be so easy to just calm down and react to this in a normal way to prove that Gorgug is wrong, but of course that's not what Fabian does. Instead he starts looking more and more baffled with each passing moment, until his jaw is practically on the floor. ]

What?!

[ A true 'the lady doth protest too much' attitude going on here.. Even though Fabian absolutely means every single word of what he's saying here.. That's why he's so baffled! It's the conclusion Gorgug arrived at out of nowhere! ]

Why would I be jealous of a van?!

It's okay, you shouldn't! Just because it turns into a boat and you love boats, I know it's gotta be a lot for you!

[ Clearly, as part of being part-pirate. This ruffles the feathers of Fabian's non-existent parrot, which is also Fabian. And Gorgug tries to speak empathically, even bringing his hands out to make soothing, it's okay gestures. ]

I won't tell anyone, [ he reassures; because he can see how embarrassing this must be for Fabian! ] It's between us. It's okay. There's no competition. Zaphriel never looks down on you and the Hangman.

...

Except for the fact he's part van.

[ And because the Hangman is smaller. Never forget. ]

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