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[ Gorgug here, taking You can't say that to mean that he's so right and he's so good at reading people, actually!! But that's okay, he knows it's difficult to be read like an open Seacaster book. Gorgug can accept how vulnerable it makes his pirate-adjacent boyfriend feel, that he won't comment on it. His eyes on Fabian initially, but then turning to the ground in front of him, nodding in silent acknowledgement.

Until Fabian speaks again. That, too, he understands; Fabian had been upset, and Gorgug does try to reassure him as best as he can, saying: ] I contacted you as soon as I could. Maybe I-- overreacted with my initial text. [ Just maybe. ] But some people are weird? So I didn't know. We meet plenty of people who decide to kill us just because.

[ And he realises now that he can share: ] And he wanted to meet me in an empty church. It had real murder vibes.

[ In Gorgug logic land, where anything can happen. ]

[ At least it does look like Fabian is trying to be good. Trying to listen to the other. Yes, he looks a little bit awkward about the way they're sitting here and talking about feelings - especially when it's happening a little less organically than the previous times, or maybe the stakes just feel a little lower when neither of them are feeling particularly existential at the moment - but he does peek over at Gorgug. It sounds like he's trying to listen to the other and process what he's saying, despite Fabian's own awkwardness. ]

I don't think you overreacted. [ He admits, still peeking over at Gorgug.

Sure, nothing happened, but it sounded shady to Fabian too! Besides-- ]

It's not like we ever know for sure that we can just trust everyone here. And that guy seems.. [ ... ] weird. Yeah.

[ Fabian looks away again. ]

You didn't overreact.

[ So that's not the problem, seems to be the implication.

.. but there's a distinct lack of pointing out what the problem is, huh. Small baby steps when it comes to communication, but he's still not on your level, Gorgug.. ]

[ He didn't overreact, Fabian says. He wonders if that's true, but not in a way where he wants to take all or any particular blame for where they are right now. They know this isn't that serious, and is there the possible they've both overreacted in certain parts of all this? Maybe not about Chrollo, but...

But there feels like there's a but here. A continuation that hasn't been spoken--either an actual 'but', or the real problem hasn't been hit to draw out Fabian's emotions. Gorgug sits there, trying his best to play back their exchanges to the best of his ability, though he's mainly been pouting to himself about Fabian going out and smooching people, but more so just pouting in general. At the sky. On the ground. ]

I didn't guess very well what you wanted from me, but I already agreed that we could do stuff once I got back. [ His tone isn't accusatory, just a reflection on the events, adding: ] That's how I saw it.

[ That was the next part, in Gorgug's mind: his inability to guess what Fabian wanted. Which wasn't his snacks or his bag, but his body. ]

That's not it.

[ It's not fully snappy, but there is definitely a bit more energy in it than the previous thing Fabian said - and involuntarily so, if the surprise on Fabian's face after he's already said the words is anything to go by.

The surprise quickly turns into guilt instead, realizing it's his own fault for not being more clear about this. For not specifying what the problem was to Gorgug a moment ago. Fabian stares at the ground, his body a little more bent over as he finally tries to speak. ]

It's just-- [ ... ] It felt like you didn't even care that I was worried about you. All the stuff after-- It was just because of that.

[ All of the dumbness.. ]

[ He wonders when he gave that impression, but it's also hard to remember half of their exchange with how-- dumb they both got, honestly. It doesn't bother Gorgug in a hurtful manner, but he takes the confession as it is: this is Fabian's feelings. And regardless of what Gorgug remembers or not: ]

I did-- I message you because I knew you would want to know. And I tried to get back to you, but it was far, and I was worried you would think I was taking too long, or get mad I was taking too long.

[ Honestly, more of the latter. Fabian gets huffy with him, and if he was honest about that exchange... ]

Sometimes, it feels like... I don't know if I know the right thing to say. What people want to hear. [ He's taking glances at Fabian, his head tilted towards Fabian, looking between him ad the ground between them. ] I don't know if that's an us thing, or... I guess I've always had that problem.

[ Is it a point that has a place in this discussion? It does, when he knows what it is that he means to say, keeping his gaze on Fabian now. ]

I do try to take you seriously.

[ He tries with everyone. ]

[ There's a slight pause where Fabian is very much not looking at Gorgug, but then he says, sounding kind of defeated as he does: ]

I know.

[ He knows. Of course he does. Gorgug likes him, or he wouldn't be dating him. Mama loves him, even though she's staying away from him for a whole year. Maybe that is why he's feeling so bad, he thinks - because it feels like he shouldn't be feeling this way. That he shouldn't be bummed, because everyone cares about him and loves him, and if something they do makes him feel bad, that's on him, actually.

Isn't that why it would have been so much easier to pretend nothing happened? Why is Gorgug forcing him to talk about this, when it's just making him feel worse? ]

If you think I was wrong, you can just say so, you know. [ Fabian doesn't sound angry, at least.

Whatever is going on with him-- It sounds a whole lot more complicated than that. (But when isn't stuff a whole lot more complicated when it comes to Fabian, right.) ]

You don't have to tell me whatever I want to hear.

[ Does he think that?

There were parts, sure--there was the stuff about the kissing, but Gorgug's already brought that up, and he doesn't want to do it again. There's no reason to, he thinks: because he doesn't want to say Fabian was wrong. He doesn't know that he thinks that, or it's not how he's feeling.

He looks over at Fabian, sees the way that he's not making eye contact with him now, the drop in his voice. And maybe it has more to do with the phrasing, what Fabian says more than any of that, or maybe it has to do with Gorgug's own softening mood, but...

Gorgug starts shuffling. He'll lift his butt up and move over with a crouch if there's enough distance, but he comes to sit next to Fabian, side by side. Settles, looking at his face and then down at his leg, and if Fabian's hand is close, he'll take it to hold to rest over their legs next to each other. ]

You weren't wrong to care. I don't think that. [ He tries, as he said he often does, to consider the better words to say here--what would be considerate of what Fabian's said, how he thought Gorgug didn't care that he was worried.

And he tips his head, leaning it close to the side of Fabian's, as if trying to lightly nuzzles against it. ]

Thank you for caring, [ he says, his voiced dipped to speak the gratitude only to Fabian. ]

[ When Gorgug moves closer, and then even leans into him like that, Fabian doesn't move away. At first he still seems really determined to not look at Gorgug as it's happening, but after a few moments of the affection, he does turn his head just a little bit. Thankfully Gorgug happens to be sitting on the right side where Fabian can actually see him like that, especially since it'd be difficult to do so otherwise with the two of them so close in this moment.

It does still feel a little bit like Gorgug is just saying what he wants to hear, but.. Fabian doesn't want to view this that cynically. Not when Gorgug is being so sweet about it. He's just trying to make things right.

So.. Fabian should do the same. Or he'd be a really, really shitty person. ]

Sorry for saying I'd kiss other people.

[ It's a little bit mumbled, but with how close they are, Gorgug should totally be able to pick up on it. ]

I wasn't thinking about what I was saying. I shouldn't have hurt you.

[ He doesn't speak immediately; but some form of acknowledgement comes in the way that Gorgug strokes the skin of Fabian's hand with his thumb, a short hum following. ]

I knew you didn't mean anything. I think it got worse when I was laying on the ground thinking about it. [ Sulking on the ground is not always a great plan, apparently... ] I'm sorry I was cagey about where I was going. Maybe I can make us radios or a secret messaging system so I don't care about Aurora seeing it? I was looking into it, but some other projects got in the way.

[ One of his many hundreds of projects. How is he meant to focus on secret communication devices if he has robots to make!! ]

Ugh.

[ Apparently that draws out a groan from Fabian. But it also makes him actually look at Gorgug, rather than awkwardly looking away, kind of like he's pretending they're not both sitting here having a conversation with each other.

Now he's actually acknowledging the other. And his expression has shifted slightly - some of the awkwardness from before making way for slight exasperation. Not with Gorgug himself, necessarily, but with this part of the other. The part of Gorgug's brain that's burdening the rest of Gorgug. ]

Don't say that. You're already doing ten thousand things. [ As far as Fabian can see, anyway. He doesn't know a lot of the more technical details of the stuff Gorgug is working on - he just knows that the other always seems to have something to work on. Sometimes the projects seem to pile up in the other's lab. ] You can't overwork yourself just for our sakes.

[ Not allowed, bro!!! ]

Edited 2025-05-15 13:35 (UTC)

[ Look at this face Fabian is making at him! It's some real 'I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed' vibes because Gorgug has yet to make a machine to give him more time. Which is the real problem here.

Gorgug understands where Fabian is coming from, even if he doesn't look convinced. He doesn't look away immediately, but does eventually turn his head, then sighing and letting it droop to tip against Fabian's. ]

Then I should take you next time I go to meet with a weird guy in an abandoned church?

[ Is that the answer? ]

[ Without hesitation or even the faintest pause: ]

Yes.

[ It's said so quickly and insistently that it seems like Fabian thinks that is the true solution. Not Gorgug having to do more work, considering how prone that guy is to overworking himself. Fabian still can hardly believe he ended up doing that many classes at once, just because Porter was being an asshole about the whole multiclass thing. Who would actually have done that?

Only Gorgug, clearly. ]

And then I shall take you too if I happen to need to go into a dangerous situation. And if the other person involved turns out to be bad, we kill them together.

[ Look at the way he says it. Like he's presenting the most obvious and definite solution ever. A totally normal one, too.

While practically sit-cuddling with his boyfriend, considering how Gorgug is draped over him at this point, and Fabian is just letting him. Enjoying it, actually. ]

[ ... Huh.

When Fabian puts it like that, it makes sense, doesn't it? If it was Fabian going, Gorgug wouldn't mind going too. He wouldn't push it, but then again--should he, now that they're dating? It's not as if Gorgug cared about Fabian less before, but he's independent. He can choose to meet weirdos in abandoned churches if he wants to. It'd be kinda weird (Fabian doesn't seem like the type to meet people who would pick that for a meeting place), but Gorgug wouldn't stop him. Then again, Fabian didn't stop him, he just got more worried than Gorgug thought he would.

But the solution does sound pretty simple. ]

Okay. [ You know? That is a normal solution. ] We meet someone dumb, we kill them.

[ Wow. Was that all it took? Huh. Gorgug's feeling pretty neutral about this, or feeling less in the dumps than he was. Like coming to an understanding with Fabian has helped him feel better. Maybe they've even learned something today?

...

He's quiet for a moment, still looking off as he decides to ask, ] ...You still wanna kiss?

[ Kissing does actually seem like it'd be nice, now. ]

[ Wow. Imagine actually talking about stuff and actually getting to a solution, rather than letting the problem simmer forever.

.. Who knows if Fabian will remember this lesson in the future. Maybe he'll at least bother to apply the lesson a little bit when it comes to Gorgug. But in general? He has way too much to unlearn first before he can get there.

Though any and all thoughts about that fly right out of his mind when Gorgug asks him that question. ]

I wanted to kiss you this entire time, you big idiot. [ Don't worry, Gorgug. For how pouty Fabian seems in this moment, it's not because he's still upset about the entire thing - maybe it's just being asked that question when he wanted kisses!! So badly!! For so long!!! He's been thirsting for those kisses, bro!!!!!!

So absolutely don't mind him if he's going for it right away. This is what he wanted! ]

[ Gorgug wouldn't have thought Fabian's been sitting here wanting to get his kisses in this entire time, but is Gorgug going to complain? He wouldn't be able to, anyway, when Fabian's coming in and pressing their lips together, something fond on Gorgug's own as, maybe, in this moment, he doesn't mind being a big idiot.

Except he should mind, probably. Fix that about himself in the future so he doesn't make Fabian upset, or so they don't both get upset. But this is a better mood to be kissing in than the one Gorgug was in before. He does want to kiss Fabian, and he reciprocates it, resting a hand on Fabian's cheek and feeling warm with this new understanding after the messy back and forth they were having before. A very, very dumb messy back and forth.

He doesn't pull away far when he does, just so he can look at Fabian and say: ]

Thanks for talking this out with me.

[ You know. He doesn't think Fabian wanted to, but he appreciates that he did. ]

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