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[ Even in the face of Fabian's grin, there's a relief bigger in the face of his enthusiasm. It doesn't brush away entirely his nerves, but there's a giddiness left behind that's more manageable, tolerable with Fabian being so agreeable. Even though he seems ready to go off on a date right this instant -- ]

I don't-- I don't have something yet, but, I, I can set something up. I'll set up a lunch date. [ For the hurry to explain and clarify his plans (or not yet plans), there's a perkiness to Gorgug's voice, an enthusiasm of his own to put this together. For them to have their date. ] You have anything you want? That you don't want? I can do whatever you wanna do, too--

[ Look, he's gotta make sure that Fabian doesn't have his own ideas! Because Fabian has ideas (read: thoughts) about everything. ]

I want to spend time with you.

[ Sorry, Gorgug. It seems like this is the one time Fabian is letting his opinions go, because he's just that excited about this date idea. Especially with Gorgug seeming all flustered over it. It makes Fabian want to push just a little bit more - an excited grin plastered on his face as he stares up at Gorgug's face.

You know, a little push like-- ]

Right now.

[ Chop chop, Gorgug!! Time for a date!! It's time!! Come on!! ]

[ R-right now!?!?! ]

O-- okay!

[ Right now! It's happening right now! Don't mind the way Gorgug's looking left and right, like an idea will jump out and show him what exactly he has to do. Nothing does, but you know what Gorgug does know you do on dates?

You take your partner's hand. ]

Let's go outside.

[ And you tell them what you're going to be doing together. Yeah! Let's get outside and a plan will surely piece itself together as to what they can do in this strange, strange place called Etraya.

(How about a ride on the trolley? Should they ride in the Hangvan if the trolley isn't around to get on? The Kwik Trip isn't a good dating spot.... and they already ate, so there's no point going to the café....) ]

[ Poor Gorgug's mind is so full of thoughts, and yet Fabian's is so empty. It seems like they have switched for the moment, considering how the default is usually the opposite of what's going on right now.

But.. you know, why would Fabian even have to think about something right now? He's being taken out on a date! Okay! Yay!

So he's just standing there with Gorgug. Outside now. Confidently. Sure the other has a full instantaneous date idea. Hence why he just grins over at the other, asking: ]

So, where are we going?

[ No pressure!!! (A lot of pressure.) ]

[ Oh no, where's his instantaneous date idea the second he and Fabian stepped out of the manor?? Where is it!! ]

U-uh-- [ Uh-- ] How about we, I was thinking... how about we check out the maze behind the boat? You ever thought about what's in the middle?

[ How about it, Fabian?

Have you ever wanted to walk your own family home's hedge maze? ]

.. you mean the hedge maze?

[ There's even a brief pause before he says it. Fabian slowly blinks. It's like he had to even think for a moment what Gorgug meant by the maze behind the boat, since Fabian certainly wasn't expecting the other to suggest a date idea that's.. practically part of Fabian's actual house..

He blinks once, then twice, and then-- ]

Gorgug, you want to have a date over at my place?

[ Though Fabian sounds more confused than disapproving of the plan, it's not all that hard for a nervous mind to stretch it into the idea that Fabian might not be feeling happy about this plan.. ]

[ ... ] I've always wanted to see what's in the middle.

[ He asked Fabian, but in truth, it was him: he wants to see what's in the centre! And he does feel shy about admitting it, but he's going to continue to be honest: ] And I thought if we're having a date all day... maybe some time just walking and talking-- we don't do it a lot. The day looks good. It'd be fun solving a hedge maze with you?

[ Is that-- okay? It's not very exciting, Gorgug knows, but he kinda likes the idea of just... walking with Fabian. When they never really have anywhere to walk to, or they're usually sitting and chatting or laying in bed...

This could be some time for them. Without trying to impress each other.

(And it gives Gorgug more time to try and impress Fabian later in the day!) ]

[ At first he's still quiet. That's the thing with Fabian, after all - he's always lived such an over the top life, far from anything normal, that the idea that a date can just be walking together seems kind of wild to him. Especially on a day that's meant to be special. To celebrate love. Dates have always been something over the top in his mind.

(If only he shared this knowledge with Gorgug-- It might have prepared the other for the sight he would witness this night when coming over to the Manor, really.)

Not that Gorgug's suggestion is bad. It's just.. unexpected. New?

But if Gorgug wants to do this, then it's not like Fabian is going to say no. Especially when the other has such a lengthy explanation as to why he wants this. ]

Alright. [ It's maybe not the world most energetic agreement, but nothing about it seems like Fabian is feeling some sort of reluctance about it. ]

If you want to, then we can go in there. Though I've been in there before. [ Obviously. It's Fabian's house! Even if he hasn't lived there for incredibly long, given that they only settled down in Elmville once he started going to the Adventuring Academy, it's still been a few years. ] Though not recently, so I'm fairly sure I don't remember the path through there.

[ He does know what's in the center.

But Fabian is at least tactful enough to not tell Gorgug that. ]

[ Gorgug's sure Fabian is humouring him when he agrees to it, but it isn't laughing or scoffing in his face, so--that's a win in Gorgug's book. He's not exactly sighing out in relief, but there's a fondness when Fabian accepts it; because it might be a silly and simple ask, but it's nice that Fabian wants to give it a go. Now and then, Gorgug likes life to be simple.

And while solving a hedge maze isn't simple to Gorgug (it's kind of a secret Goal), it's probably low on the list of activities Fabian would have in mind. But he's going along with it, and that's what counts. ]

You can't help me unless I ask for help. [ His voice is already sounding brighter, determined. He's gently pulling on Fabian's hand so they can start walking around the back. ] I've got a good feeling. I can solve this in no time.

[ He even has a trick up his sleeve that he got through...some of it before! Granted, he doesn't know how much because he got so incredibly lost and then ended up being spat back out the way he went in, but he's pretty sure he remembers some turns! And that might mean something!

...

This is a new day and a new Gorgug Thistlespring!! ]

[ Well, sounds like it's time to start heading in the direction of the hedge maze! Which Fabian is already doing, heading towards the room's door so they can make their way down the Manor and outside - but rather than walking over to the door in a straightforward way, Fabian just has to be a little bit dramatic about it.

Which, in this case, means that he's walking towards the door backwards, not even having to look at where he's going.

Instead he's looking at Gorgug as he heads backwards, grinning as he says: ]

This sounds more like a date for you than a date for me.

[ Gorgug, he's teasing!!! He's just teasing now he's gotten over the surprise, okay!! That's all!!! ]

[ Uh oh, Fabian. You're in the best position to see the clogs in Gorgug's head turn, the excite in his face starting to drop away as he might be thinking about how this is not a date activity--

are you going to stop what's coming next?! ]

[ Oh, gods. One would think that Fabian is used enough to Gorgug being Gorgug to stop these things fully from happening before the thought even forms in Gorgug's mind - by saying something else, for example - but Fabian just can't help but naturally want to tease sometimes.

Apparently that overrides his Gorgug senses, since he only realizes a moment later what kind of avalanche he just started in the other's mind.

There's a touch of exasperation in his face as he quickly says, before Gorgug can speak up: ]

It's a joke! A joke!

[ Please, Gorgug, learn to recognize a joke!!! Get your joke recognition stat up!!! ]

If I did not want to go into the hedge maze with you, I would have told you! You know I would have told you! [ If not just because Fabian Aramais Seacaster is absolutely incapable of not whining about something when he doesn't like it. ]

O-oh. Y-yeah.

[ O-oh.

What Fabian says does make sense, even if it takes a moment for Gorgug to realise it (and with Fabian's help), a sheepishness crossing his face. But he's picking his pace back up, his mind still feeling like it's having a little difficulty making sense of 2+2=4 in his head: that is, that this is still an okay dating opportunity.

And he figures out why, with those few seconds. ] You have to tell me if you get, like, bored. If this isn't fun for you? We can both make guesses... or we can do something so it's fun for both of us?

[ Liiike. ] Maybe you can blindfold me and tell me which direction to go, and we can see if we get there.

[ Look. He's thinking on his feet.

Nobody said Gorgug Thistlespring is good at thinking on his feet. ]

...

[ There's a slight moment of hesitation where Fabian wonders if he should be this horny on main or not, but then he does say, trying to pass it off as something real casual in both tone and facial expression-- ]

There are some other places we could try blindfolds.

[ Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.

But again! Trying to play it off as casual, so he quickly instead says: ]

But I assure you that it isn't necessary here! Do you think talking with you isn't fun to me, even though I do it all the time?

[ dogloading.gif, what could Fabian possibly mean--

oh, too bad he can't ask about it, since Fabian's moving along. But doesn't he want to do the blindfolds...?! ]

Yy-- yeah, sure. Is it? [ Uh. ] It's fun for me, too. But I guess, you know... would you still consider that a date, or hanging out?

[ There were opportunities in there, for Gorgug. To simply agree with Fabian, and let himself off the hook on needing to do anything more, or to even keep questioning this choice of action despite Fabian's reassurances. But he can't help it: is this fun for Fabian too?

And while this might still be Fabian's place, Gorgug doesn't stop himself from warning 'Door' when they get close to the door leading out to the back hedge maze--or, more specifically, Fabian's back getting closer to said door. ]

Well--

[ He starts, but that's when Gorgug warning comes, and Fabian does take a quick glance over his shoulder just to make sure he doesn't bump into the door like an idiot. His hands reach behind him, finding the doorknobs with his hands on the double doors, and he just pushes them open as he continues to move backwards into the outside air.

Despite doing all that, Fabian looks like he's pretty seriously in thought. This question is more complicated than the one about whether it's fun for him, honestly. Especially if he has to give a genuine answer. ]

I don't know. I mean.. With us the line there is always thin, isn't it?

[ It's how it feels to Fabian. When he was going for Aelwyn, he always thought of it as some.. courting situation. He didn't think about just regularly hanging out with her.

But he likes regularly hanging out with Gorgug. Gorgug isn't just his boyfriend, but his friend too.

So where does that line run? Even Fabian himself isn't sure, as inexperienced with dating as he is. ]

[ See, that's the thing!! That's the thing!!

What do they say about dating your friends? Is it a good thing? A bad thing? For Gorgug, the line's been difficult to perceive at times: are they two people dating, or are they two friends acting like people dating? It would be easier to tell if Gorgug didn't enjoy their activities, what they did and got up to; but sometimes he worries about how thin that line is, if he isn't putting a certain level of effort into the boyfriend department as he is the friend department.

He doesn't think about it that hard right now, can't get lost into it. But he tries to consider it: not his personal insecurities about their relationship, but, instead--and so so carefully: ]

Well... not to talk about previous relationships, but whenever I hung out with Zelda at her or my place, that might've not been a date, but it did feel special since, we were spending time together. Maybe it's the intent that makes it a -- quasi-dating situation. Because it's about us.

[ Did he go from posing a question about what the nature of their time together was, to putting forward an answer to it? Yes, yes he did.

Because he doesn't want Fabian thinking he doesn't see them as dating, or anything. This is a date! Because they said so! ]

[ It's dating because it's.. special, even when it's not a date..?

... It's weird to think about. Because Fabian does think times he hangs out with Riz are special in their own way too, yet the thought of dating him makes a big neon 'nope' sign appear in his mind if he just stops to consider it for a moment. It must mean there's a difference, but.. what is it?

It's definitely more difficult than he anticipated. Fabian did not think he'd be walking over towards his own hedge maze with what feels like a growing headache, okay. ]

Does this feel special right now?

[ ????

Gorgug, you have more experience. Maybe you answer this one. ]

[ Does this feel special?

Well, considering what they're doing, Gorgug's gaze narrows, his face getting serious as he nods. ]

I'm gonna find out what's in the middle of the fucking maze.

[ HE'S SO SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, FABIAN. Does this truly answer Fabian's question though? Who knows. Except Fabian. ]

[ That definitely does not answer Fabian's question whatsoever!!!!

Not that he isn't glad that Gorgug seems to have found his determination and excitement over this once again, but-- uh, it's still leaving Fabian a little baffled in the face of it all. Is this special? Is it not? Does he expect something more romantic, or does Gorgug?

.. maybe it's something to think about. Or maybe he should just set up a very romantic date later today? Make sure to show to Gorgug just how special this is to him? ]

[ Either way, it's not something he can do anything about right now. So, you know what-- ]

Sure, sure. [ Now they're outside, they're practically at the edge of where the hedge maze starts anyway.. ] You go ahead, so you can make sure I'm not helping you cheat.

[ Maybe this is enough for now, actually. ]

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