maximumlegend | etraya ic inbox.

no
they're just points

[ Hm. ]

do you think i care about points?

not points necessarily

[ Sure, Gorgug has bought a lot of stuff, but.. he also needs a lot of stuff! Life is much easier when your class just involves your own physical body and very little else. Other than like.. you know. A sword. Which Fabian already had. ]

but you often care about different stuff here than i do
i didn't know if this was one of those things

Edited 2025-03-11 18:19 (UTC)

[ It's interesting. Meaningless, really, but Gorgug still wonders enough to ask: ]

what do we care about that's different?

[ There's a slight pause.

Maybe Fabian doesn't really know how to put it into words until after he's considered it for a moment. Maybe he's trying to figure out how to not sound mean about it, since he doesn't mean it in a rude way, but-- you know, tone is hard to get across over text. Especially when you're not some expert texter. ]

you care about changing this place for the better

[ Or so it seems to Fabian, anyway. Which is a good thing, in a way. It's a kind thing. In fact, Fabian is pretty sure he's making himself sound like the worse one here when he admits-- ]

i would just burn it all down to the ground if i could

[ Does he want to make this place better? It sounds more virtuous than he feels about things, but maybe it comes across that way, somehow. In comparison to Fabian's bitterness, which comes through in the next message sent.

It's dramatic, but also probably sincere (he should never underestimate his friends), and Gorgug doesn't focus on its extreme nature. He considers the two emotions, and instead, after a moment or so: ]

i want to make things better for my friends
for you
but i don't think i can change anything about this place for the better

we're still trapped and far away from home
it's always going to be a cage
no one can change that

[ No matter what's inside it. ]

[ But that doesn't change the difference here, Fabian thinks. The more his mind lingers on that thought, the less he likes it, so he ends up not voicing it. Not even through text. He pushes it down. For another time, maybe. Or for never.

Instead-- ]

well i like this place better since we started dating
not that i like this place
and i still want to destroy it
but you know what i mean

[ ... ]

i suppose what i am trying to say is that you did change one thing for the better

[ He doesn't truly believe he can change anything--that's Gorgug's verdict on his actual capabilities within Etraya. What has he done to change anything? Except buy a couple of buildings... that's about it. Sure, maybe he helped with putting people's souls back into their bodies that one time, but it hasn't made an overall difference.

But Fabian's message back does make him smile. Boyfriend cute... ]

it doesn't have a lot of dating spots

[ Or any, really.... ]

but i like you too

i don't want to lose you and riz

[ There's an unspoken too, made clearer by the inclusion of Riz--because this is his team. Fabian and him might be dating, but there's more than that between them, a deeper bond underneath this side of their relationship.

And it feels unfair to exclude Riz in some subjects, even if they're not dating him... ]

unfortunately it seems like we have very little influence on that

[ Not to be a bummer after their cute exchange just now, but.. well, it's just the truth of the matter, isn't it? Fabian isn't even turned off by the way Gorgug words it, because Fabian feels the same way. It doesn't matter that he's dating Gorgug and not Riz - they're still all friends. A party. Fabian doesn't want to lose his boyfriend nor his best friend.

But that's the problem with this place. ]

i doubt adaine wanted to leave us here either
yet she's gone
and we don't even know where she is

i know
and i know she doesn't like you any less than i do
or any of us

[ Fabian!!! He was trying to share how much he cares about you (and Riz)!!!! ]

i just wanted to say that i care about both of you a lot

[ Can he make this better? Not really, but after a few seconds-- ]

should we ask aurora if we can stay until we all get kicked out? she told me people who don't want to go back can stay here
i want to go back, but i don't want to leave you and riz
so
i don't know how it's supposed to work but that would mean we still get to see each other?

[ ????????? ]

[ Sorry, Gorgug. This just happens to be one of those topics Fabian has a whole lot of feelings about! (You know, like pretty much any other topic ever.) ]

i'm not sure whether that is a good idea
it might be used against us
maybe it wouldn't ever let any of us go back home

[ He knows the other is willing to trust Aurora, but.. even with Gorgug's faith in her, Fabian has absolutely none. Maybe it's his father speaking through him, or just natural distrust, but he doesn't want to lay this sort of thing in anyone else's hands. ]

i will just do what i can to ensure i will be here with you two
nothing else we can do

[ It's never good to bring up asking Aurora for a favour, huh...

He might still do it, just for the chance of sticking with Fabian and Riz. There's no way Fabian will agree to it, so it's something they'll have to find out -- but hopefully not. ]

we can have a date. i set up another one for us

in an hour

[ Another text: ]

captain gets a kiss

[ Maybe this way he can lighten the mood... if just a little! With a tiny call back. ]

[ . . . . . ]

are you trying to distract me from thinking about how dumb this place is with a date
because it won't work

[ Literally not even ten full seconds later: ]

alright
it might be working actually

[ Dammit, Gorgug! Do you know what sort of power you hold over him? ]

[ Wow Fabian he was just about to answer that first part, but-- ]

good
i put a lot more work into this than the last one

[ The one that was them walking around Fabian's hedge maze... ]

and if i can't distract you from everything else by being your boyfriend
i don't know if that's a good sign?

i would have to work harder

[ Probably?? ]

are you going to at least tell me what it is

[ Because Gorgug is being all mysterious about it! He can't tell him that he put more work into it - a low bar, technically speaking, given what Gorgug had to think of on the spot earlier today - and then not say what that work lead to! ]

Edited 2025-04-14 13:19 (UTC)

[ Oh, Fabian wants to know? ]

i was thinking we could have lunch on that lake by the maximum? i can use the hangvan to get out on the water and we could open the side door and have a nice view

[ The waters aren't choppy, they don't have to worry about getting wet. ]

what do you think?

[ He's about to offer they stay on land if Fabian wants, but he'll let the other guy make the choice himself!! ]

[ .. oh.

That's actually kind of nice.

Sure, it may be on the simple side of things, but considering the way this place can get at times.. maybe simple is actually kind of nice. For once.

Fabian stares at the words for a moment, but then does reply. ]

that sounds good

[ Pause. ]

is it going to be romantic? [ B-Bro? Bromantic? A bromantic date, bro? ]

[ that sounds good

Phew!! Oh boy, great, he's never sure if he's hitting the mark--

is it going to be romantic?

Doesn't it sound romantic?! Gorgug deflates some upon reading that follow up, but he just needs to-- he needs to stay strong! He wants to mention about flowers, but decides instead: ]

i'll light candles

[ He's going to find all of the scented candles he can and then find places to sit them on a sway van boat. ]

[ Gorgug may be stressing over here, but Fabian is texting so absolutely casually.. A total mismatch of vibes going over here..

But thankfully for the other, the next reply that arrives is: ]

sounds good

[ A-Approval!!! ]

i will be there in an hour
you are working hard

it's no big deal

[ Even in the midst of working hard, he's gotta be cool about it...!

But after that, he gets to work: an hour is a good amount of time to prepare. He's got most of the details settled, just with an extra trip taken to grab the candles, and Gorgug spends the rest of the time setting up the back of the Hangvan, with Zaphriel's guidance, chill as always. Another trip is taken to look for double-sided sticky tape (so that the candles don't accidentally tip over), and all of this takes place out by the lake close to where the Maximum sits.

It makes Gorgug think about if Fabian were to look outside and spot them, but he also doubts Fabian would ever do something so random.

He does his best. He's got a basket with food inside, plates and cups and some choice of drinks set together, and the Hangvan is already in flotation mode by the edge of the lake. Gorgug's wearing clean clothes, a hoodie swapped out for a plaided hooded shirt and white tee underneath. Something to keep him cosy, though the weather is warming up.

And he got a cologne, too...!!

After it's been an hour since their last contact, Gorgug shoots Fabian a message, we're ready. can you see the hangvan from the maximum?, and he'll get off from the van and stand on the land between it and the lake-- with some flowers behind his back, ready to present once Fabian does show up... if he shows up... if he won't be delayed!!

We're doing our best Good Boyfriend attempt, here! ]

[ Gorgug is lucky in some ways - mostly the way that Fabian actually can't peek out from the Maximum, because he's no longer there. The moment he realizes this is going to be a date for real, it's not like he can just show up in any outfit! He has to shower, and then put on his normal clothes, and then head over to the Manor to actually pick out something that feels a little more date-appropriate from his huge wardrobe.

Which means that when Fabian does show up, he isn't coming from the direction of the boat-slash-dance-studio, but from their compound instead. Dressed to the nines. Does he know Gorgug probably won't be? Sure, but that doesn't mean Fabian can't dress up! Doesn't Gorgug deserve to have a little bit of eye candy while they're on their date?

Still, when he shows up and realizes that Gorgug.. well, did kind of dress up in his own way, Fabian smiles. It's just cute, watching Gorgug make these efforts to make this something special. Something special for them. It makes the smile a little grinny since it's amusing, but there's something very genuinely excited about it too. ]

Hey, handsome.

[ Same greetings as back on the train, even though he's not even putting on an act this time.. It's just a very excited-to-see-Gorgug-happy-puppy-style little tease, okay.. ]

Nice shirt.

[ Some of us just expect Fabian to be carrying around stylish clothes to change into after dancing his little heart out. And some of us are apparently wrong.

Not only that, but Gorgug was wrong about whatever expectations he had on Fabian's style of dress. When he shows up, the outfit takes him back-- and definitely makes him feel underdressed, but Gorgug doesn't get self-conscious about it, at least. He's smiling, looking Fabian up and down when he approaches him with his own grin and suave. ]

Thanks. You look dressed for a restaurant instead of the back of my van. [ Truly... he looks overdressed for the occasion. Nevertheless, Gorgug brings the arm he's been hiding behind his back to hold out to Fabian a small bouquet of flowers of mostly red and white (definitely more red than the whites), and a singular yellow freesia-like flower in the centre. ]

I got you flowers, [ he states the obvious, the smile he's been wearing turning a touch shy, but also more giddy and hopeful. ]

[ Please, Gorgug, can some of us not dress up for a back of a van water picnic as if they were visiting a famous restaurant?

Not that there's any time left to comment on clothes. Not for Fabian, anyway. Because Gorgug pulls out those flowers, and Fabian just--

He stares.

Only for a moment, and then he's already taking the small bouquet from the other, but even then he's technically still staring at the flowers. Just as they are in his own hands now, rather than Gorgug's.

(But it did feel special, Gorgug had said, earlier today. Maybe it's about the intent.)

Fabian stares at the flowers like he has been mesmerized by them. His cheeks grow a little darker, and despite the fancy outfit he's wearing, he doesn't really look all that cool in the moment. If anything, he seems half-baffled, half-shy. ]

No one has ever given me flowers before. [ A pause, and then, perhaps remembering another incident with Gorgug-- ] W-- Well, not like this.

[ That first day of school didn't count! That was different. Gorgug was right earlier today, this does feel different!! ]

[ Fabian's probably gotten flowers on other occasions. The sort that Gorgug can't imagine, except for something to do with family functions, though his father's side of the family doesn't seem the sort to hand them out. But when it comes to dating? Gorgug nods, understanding, considering-- well. Aelwyn. ]

I didn't think you did. But, I like flowers. [ He figured that out, after talking about them all day. ] And I figured if you didn't like them, we could throw them away. But I got these because, these colours make me think of you. [ He points, first to the red, ] Because you wear your Owlbears jacket all the time, and the white [ pointing! ] is like your hair.

And then this-- [ to the singular yellow ] --is the way you stand out.

[ He's smiling, has been this entire time, and he looks at Fabian now with that fond look; a little flushed himself, but in a good mood kind of way. ]

I don't know what the flowers are or if they mean anything.

[ He's not that deep into flowers. ]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't want to throw them away. [ Quite the opposite. The more he looks at the bouquet, and the more he thinks about every single word Gorgug is telling him here, the more Fabian actually wants to look into whether there's a spell to make sure that flowers will never wilt. To preserve-- this. All of this. This moment. The gift, given to him because it's something Gorgug likes, because it made Gorgug think of him.

The way Fabian stares at the flowers is a little shy, especially with that blush on his face, but at the same time kind of like he's in love with the flowers. ]

I like them. I like that you like them. I mean--

[ He may be realizing that he's sounding like a total dork here, but that's just making him blush more. ]

.. thanks for the Valentine's present.

[ If Gorgug were a little more perceptive, he might see clearer the depth of Fabian's reaction. What he does see is the touched expression, and that might be enough--Fabian likes them. He says that he likes them, and that Gorgug likes them too, and that's nice. Gorgug likes those things too, and nothing about him is judgmental about what Fabian says, or even knows he could be judgmental.

He just continues to smile, pleased that he made a good choice. ]

Cool. [ Cool. ] I'll get you flowers more.

[ That's a little note he can make about Fabian to himself. And with that being simple and straightforward to Gorgug, he turns a step, half-facing between the van and Fabian. ]

You wanna get in? I got a vase in case you decided to keep the flowers.

[ When and if Fabian decides to get in, though he can see the sight of the interior from where he stands, there's an onslaught of soft cushions on two sides of a low table, scented candles sitting on small square boxes turned over and covered with different fabrics (and also clued to said structures); there's a picnic basket tucked to a corner, and lo-fi tunes are coming from the van's radio. ]

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