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[ The greeting is as appropriate to the mood that Gorgug suspected Fabian might be in--displeased about another mission, but far too used to it to make his usually agitation be known off the bat. Gorgug gives a quick ] Sure [ to the invitation, the sound of his boots echoing well inside the music-less room, the door closed behind him.

And where does he sit? Directly next to Fabian, slipping down close where Gorgug's leg bumps against a knee poking out, the bent limbs allowing some short space between their bodies. His own legs sprawled out, in the same manner as Fabian's had been in the middle of his stretches--but Gorgug's not getting into those, himself. ]

I didn't think the mission about the dying universe would involve entertaining a bunch of people.

[ It feels like idle chatter, the talk before getting to something deeper. Which it is, and yet, it's more than what Gorgug has extra on his mind. He wants to figure out Fabian's mood: how into prep talk and the such he's eager to get into. ]

Yes, me neither-- Though I suppose it's preferable to the alternative. [ Which would be-- what, just standing there and watch a world die in front of their eyes? Fabian is pretty sure that would have been his idea of it when the idea was brought up by Aurora through Gorgug. It's not like they were going to actually let them save a world, anyway.

Not that Fabian is necessarily saying this like it's a good thing. The guy still both looks and sounds kind of grumpy, but it's the usual levels of grumpy whenever Fabian gets into talking about this place. His usual rambles. This mission might involve a dying world, sure, but it doesn't seem to get him more worked up than the usual. ]

Like working. [ He rolls his eyes. ] I swear, if I have to listen to a boss again-- oh, gods.

[ Fabian moves his hands up, starting to gather some of the hair that slipped out of his bun to make his hair a little bit more neat. There seems something casual about his entire talk. Something habitual, like this is just more of the same to Fabian. He certainly doesn't seem to be catching on to the fact Gorgug might be thinking of something more or something different here. ]

[ Gorgug hums a sound that's agreeable to Fabian's exasperation, if short. A glance taken at Fabian, before he's looking back at the length of his legs, longer than Fabian's own beside him. Anything they have to talk about the mission should be done with Riz, and he'll surely have a hundred things to rattle off for them to consider and start putting together.

He rocks his feet, lightly tapping the tips of his shoes together. Slow, but: ]

--I'm still worried about Solmara. About the people checking up on us and trying something. [ It's funny, how the pair of them had been speaking about this: Gorgug worried about a problem he didn't take seriously before (tried to even get Fabian to leave it alone, even if it wasn't the root of what Fabian was attempting to deal with), and now they're here with it-- Aurora nearly getting parts of her snatched, with Etraya itself nearly being disrupted and the people inside it.

Gorgug wonders if Fabian will say something about it. He wouldn't blame him if he did. ]

Aurora isn't...great, about defending herself. And it's been pretty easy for people to come here and do whatever they want.

[ When Fabian looks at Gorgug while the other speaks, there does seem to be something like that thought in his expression. His eyebrows raise in surprise-- because yes, it is strange. He does remember talking about it with Gorgug in the dark. And while Fabian hadn't been very personally worried about the topic itself back then, it did seem like Gorgug had wanted to desperately avoid it for some reason.

And now he's.. bringing it up? By himself? It's not even like Fabian prompted it. Gorgug could easily have let Fabian ramble on about how annoying and dumb the missions are, and it's not like Gorgug ever would have had to say a word about it.

(And-- well, Gorgug's care for Aurora is a bit of a touchy subject, and it doesn't really sit right within Fabian, but he's a big boy. He's been grown to try and be a little bit more of a big boy, anyway. He can shove down the feeling of having someone he's close to care so much for something he hates. It's not like it's the first time he's ever done it.)

So rather than commenting on that, Fabian's eyebrows knit together as he instead asks: ]

It didn't sound like you wanted to do anything about it before.

[ It's not really criticism - you know it's criticism when it's coming from Fabian, considering he never bothers to hide that in his tone - as much as it's.. well, confusion. He wonders what changed for Gorgug. ]

[ Okay, it might not be a criticism, but don't call Gorgug out anyway? Even pointing it out makes Gorgug wince. ]

No one else was doing anything-- I didn't know what to do! [ Or maybe there had been some ideas given, but it's purely defensive, and Gorgug lets his shoulders slump as his head sinks in defeat. Ughhhh. ] I'm an idiot. I should've done something. I should've-- said something about it.

[ Even if now, Gorgug doesn't know if it would have changed anything. But there's blame in the pit of his stomach, and in gurgles down there at times like annoyance, but it's still mostly directed at himself. He should've been better, but he hates these kinds of calls: making any, deciding what to do.

He looks at Fabian now, as pitiful of a kicked dog as he looks. ]

I don't want people coming here and fucking things up when it sucks we're stuck here in the first place.

[ Okay, now that seems to snap Fabian out of his more contemplative state. ]

Hey, you're not an idiot! [ He'll even nudge Gorgug's shoulder as he says it, lightly pushing against it with his hand. Fabian will defend Gorgug from anyone saying that. Even himself. He'll fight you, Gorgug.

It may not be the main point here, but Fabian still wants to have said it. It's important! Gorgug's got to have some self esteem! ]

Besides, what's important isn't not having done anything so far. It's what you'll do in the future! Do you want to do something about it? Should we do something about it?

[ Does Fabian care about Aurora?

Not in the slightest.

But, you know, you can't just make a Bad Kid do something by themselves. That isn't how it works. They're a collective! ]

[ B-bro.

Gorgug looks bad when Fabian calls him out--in defence of himself. Not that he wasn't already, but it's somehow an appreciative bad-looking, where he's thankful, but still sheepish about the current situation. The current discussion.

One where Fabian asks if they should do something, and he feels stumped. Lost. ]

We can, [ he says first, since--he wouldn't ever stop them from trying. ] I know I could make some bots to watch from outside the barrier, or inside, if Aurora won't let me stick any out there. But I don't know what to do if they come from inside the hospital... I don't know if we should try and talk to anyone who shows up outside the barrier again.

[ God, Gorgug doesn't want to make that decision. Should they try and convince them not to sell them out? Say they could join Etraya?

These aren't the kind of decisions he likes to make by himself. ]

[ Could Fabian give suggestions here? Make decisions?

Sure, he could. He's never really been all that indecisive about these sorts of things. But he doesn't - exactly because he can see Gorgug hesitate in front of him. For such a big guy, he starts looking so small during moments like these, and Fabian hates to see it. Gorgug really should feel more confident about himself.

And if this does have to do with those rage nightmares.. well, then Fabian can't just solve it for him. That won't make them go away. It's something Gorgug has to do himself, encouraged by him. Isn't that what Fabian is a bard for? ]

Well, what is your impression of those people go far? What does your gut say?

[ Come on, Gorgug! Time to talk about your feelings! It's your favorite thing to do, baby!! ]

[ His gut wants to avoid the problem. Or maybe smash things? He wants to smash his problems.

Gorgug looks down when the question is posed to him, clearly not happy about it, not wanting to come to any conclusion when he feels so-- all over the place with the problem. But what is his impression? He's seen some conversations about it... ]

...I guess that, they're just trying to survive. Whoever left that banner could've been taunting us, or they could have been leaving a warning, seeing all those marks they left on it-- it was a countdown. Why be obvious if you're going to slip people inside in secret? Not everyone's on the same page about screwing us over.

[ so... ] So I think if-- we could get more intel on what the leader over there can do, or what the dangers are; if we can actually get someone on our side who knows something, we could take out the bigger problem, and maybe see if we can fix their city up so they don't have to go out and screw over people for resources. [ Which feels wrong somehow, and Gorgug looks at Fabian, something uncomfortable in his expression. ]

If they're going to be stuck in a prison, they might as well be stuck in a comfortable one.

[ Like them. ]

[ As he takes in all these thoughts from Gorgug, Fabian takes in a deep breath, slowly exhaling before he speaks. ]

Back before you showed up here, there was talk about another city like this one where the people were forced to fight each other. [ At least-- Fabian feels like that talk was so early on that even Gorgug hadn't joined them yet. Back when it had still been him and Riz and Adaine..

There's not a whole lot of passion in Fabian's voice as he speaks, but his demeanor lacks the awkwardness that Gorgug has when he speaks about all of this. ]

I don't remember if they put a name to that other city though, so I don't know whether or not it's the same place as the one these people come from. But if it was, it might explain why they're acting like a bunch of weirdos.

[ Gorug remembers being told about that. He nods at them being weirdos, an agreed upon impression. Even though: ]

The ones in charge could've been assholes before they even showed up. I just want to keep them off our backs, or having them all come to stay with us. Even if Aurora took them in, would that stop people from showing up at the other place?

[ He grimaces at the idea. ]

Then there's a chance we end up getting people trying to fuck us over again.

Well, then go for it!

[ .. truly inspiring words.

On the other hand, it's not like Fabian knows what specific plan Gorgug wants to go for. All he's trying to do here is trying to be supportive, even if Fabian doesn't particularly likes talking about or thinking about matters that involve Aurora in some way. It just gets him feeling grumpy. Maybe that's why his statement is so vague - because it's more about the encouragement for Gorgug than the actual content of what the other wants. ]

Sure, the mission is coming up and all, but there's time to gather some information before then, if you want to. [ If you're being proactive!!

In fact, despite all of the above, Fabian is still Fabian. Which means he does offer: ]

I can help, if there's anything you think I can do for this.

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