maximumlegend | etraya ic inbox.

[ It's a good thing that Gorgug's mind actually kept on working for a moment there. Because Fabian wouldn't have much to do say to that first part other than him also having absolutely no idea, and maybe some other complaining about this place that he's constantly spouting off, but--

Oh.

Oh. Gorgug. ]

what's this
have you become a rebel, bro??

[ If only Fabian was the type to use emojis, because there would definitely be a smug smirk emoji after that to show his intent. His tone. It's hard to be as dramatic over text as you can be in person, okay! ]

i do what i want now

[ That a yes, but even more cool and rebellious! ]

and i want to date you
or take you on a date
since we're already dating

[ Sometimes, it's not always good when Gorgug does continue, but it's okay. He got there! ]

we can meet up in town?

[ Really, can Fabian ever say no to the idea of a date with Gorgug? Not really. He's way weaker to the other than he would ever care to admit to, even just to himself.

But there is one thing giving him pause here, even in the face of Gorgug's own rebellious determination. ]

won't it be weird to go on a date in the middle of a mission

[ Not even anymore in the sense of 'shouldn't we be doing something else'.. More just in the sense that it's kind of weird, right. ]

[ Gorgug does think about it, but honestly: ]

it's already weird dating in a place with no events and nowhere to go

[ Sure, they've made it work at times, but where are they going shopping in Etraya? Kwik Trip?? ]

[ ... ]

you know what
you're right

[ Not much to say against that. They're dating under weird circumstances either way.. The singular upside compared to dating back home is the fact they don't have to endure any weird teasing from the girls. Because Fabian just knows that's going to happen the moment any of them learn about this.

Other than that they don't even have proper dating venues.. Not even Basrar's... And that's hardly even a proper place, as far as Fabian is concerned!!! ]

where did you want to go for a date then

do we want to look for events in the city?
find places to go and have a day out together? and then eat?

what's your idea of a date?

[ Gorgug throws out the ideas first just so it doesn't look like he's relying on Fabian to decide!! (Would he mind?) But he does want to know what Fabian wants to do.

[ Gorgug, please understand the impact your questions are having right now. Fabian's brain is suddenly having to be way more alert than it expected to have to be, and it's kind of throwing him into a mild crisis here.

Mostly because he has to give a good answer? A cool answer. Gorgug has to be impressed by whatever suggestion he makes here, because he is Fabian Aramais Seacaster and his boyfriend is asking him what his idea of a date is--

P-Panic, gods, wait, h-hold on--

There's so many thoughts going through his mind right now. ]

going dancing together?

[ W-Wait, Gorgug doesn't like dancing the way he does, shit-- ]

no
i mean
having a nice dinner together

[ B-Better??? Maybe??? Bro, he was not prepared! ]

[ Gorgug is looking at these messages.

His brain is working. Examining the change of answer, why that would be, and how he would personally feel if he gave it a chance.

There's a long pause then, before: ]

we can have a nice dinner and go dancing

[ bro. ]

[ bro indeed. ]

do you want to

[ It's just hard to tell over text, okay! He can't tell what feeling Gorgug is approaching this with, especially because Fabian knows the other isn't exactly the world's biggest fan of dancing.

And even if Fabian is sometimes a bulldozer in half-elf shape, it's not like he's going to force Gorgug to do stuff against his will during a date. That's the opposite of how a date is supposed to work!! ]

[ Does Gorgug think he would fit with Fabian's kind of dancing crowd? No, and he knows he's been adamant about not dancing previous times. But, when it comes to dancing, now... ]

yeah

[ He wants to ask questions? But maybe if he just says that, Fabian will say more and give him the answers anyway! Fabian always talks so much in person. ]

[ ...

Well, the answer is clear enough.

And yet Fabian is left unsure. How would Gorgug have a change of heart like this? Is he just going along with it for Fabian's sake? How does the other really feel?

Knowing how Gorgug writes, Fabian isn't going to get any answers this way, so.. ]

where do you want to meet up

[ Might as well go get his answers that way. He'll know so much more about how Gorgug intends a 'yeah' like that if he can just look the other in the eyes. ]

[ It's time to use this Google thing to grab a good location... ]

there's a spot called union square. we can meet and look up dance places and somewhere to eat

unless

you want to decide that now and meet up for food and dancing?

[ ??

Does Gorgug have to wait to meet his bro. :( ]

no let's meet up there

[ Before he has to GUESS even more over here what Gorgug really feels. He was asking to meet up ASAP, bro!! Time to go!!!

In fact, as if to leave no more room for more talk over text: ]

see you there

[ And he is OFF!!! Even if Gorgug sends more messages, it seems that Fabian just.. isn't checking them anymore..

Instead he is waiting for Gorgug off over at Union Square. He must have brought the Hangman with him on the mission to be able to get there so quickly.. Not to mention that Fabian somehow seems perfectly prepared for a date. He's dressed up all fashionably, jewelry and expensive sunglasses (yes, over his eyepatch!!!) and all, and he's waiting there while sipping from a takeaway drink he must have bought somewhere on the square. He does definitely stand there looking like he belongs in this world. ]

okay
but what kind of dance place are we going?
should i dress up?

fabian?

[ Gorgug doesn't know why he bothered to try and get Fabian's attention when he knows his texting habits.....

But it would take Gorgug longer to get to the spot, even if he didn't fuss over the messages. He has the Hangvan with him, but what is he going to do about the traffic in this place when he's got a van? Gorgug's reconsidering his modes of transport because of this city, but it's a kind of whining kept to his head as he makes his way to the meeting spot. Crowded, busy, but the world is so majority human that it doesn't take too much for Gorgug to spot Fabian.

Spot a half-elf, and you've found his boyfriend. Gorgug doesn't show up as obvious, making use of his prototype bracelet with a face and build more human--though, still lanky and tall, but paler, black-haired, his scleras white instead of black... ]

Fabian--

[ Fabian, that's your boyfriend's voice--but that face is of one ~~Zac Oyama~~ one human with a worried brow, a hoodie over his head from his denim trucker jacket, and white jeans that go with the blue and white of his upper attire.

He's pulling on the strings of his hoodie, his expression a wince. ]

It's me. I'm incognito.

[ Bro!!!!! ]

[ Considering Fabian doesn't exactly expect Gorgug's disguise, he doesn't even realize the other is already present until Gorgug speaks his name. Until that moment Fabian is just very calmly standing there and sipping his drink, perhaps even having looked in Gorgug's direction as the other approached before looking away again, still waiting.

It's only upon the realization that he properly looks at the other, turning his head back with his one eye growing wide in surprise. Fabian doesn't even manage to say anything at first. He just-- stares. Completely baffled. Some parts of Gorgug are still recognizable enough, but it's..

Gods, it's mostly the eyes that are throwing him off. Gorgug's change of skin color is one thing, but the eyes feel so weird when Fabian is used to staring into the darkness all the time. It's hitting Fabian with even more surprise considering he didn't even think for a moment about disguising himself. (Or, let's be real, just changing his ears, considering that would be all Fabian has to do.. Many regular humans have tattoos just as obnoxious as Fabian's own..) ]

... As a human? [ Obviously.

But Fabian is still looking so utterly baffled that his brain probably can't think of something more intelligent in the face of this other than the obvious question he's asking right now. ]

[ Gorgug isn't sure how to feel about the way that Fabian's looking at him--proud of how well his disguise has worked, or awkward? Both? The latter feeling is winning out, and Gorgug shrugs, black eyebrows stitching together in a similar fashion to how his own usually do. ]

Most of the people here are human? [ It's a human world, even if not everyone fits the standard definition of human, appearance-wise. Some even look like genasi. ] My skin makes me stand out, so... and I'm part human.

[ In a way that's never recognised, and even feels peculiar for Gorgug to acknowledge. But he thought about his mother, with this disguise--from the photos of her side of the family, of her brother and her around the time before she fell pregnant with him. ]

[ Gorgug is part human.

It's something Fabian doesn't really think about a lot, really. Gorgug is just Gorgug. He doesn't really think about how both of them are half human, despite the fact that the human part is clearly much more prominent with Fabian than it is with the other. Then again - it's way easier to think of yourself as simply a mix of your parents when you have seen said parents a lot. Fabian's hardly even seen Gorgug's biological parents.

Is that why it feels so utterly weird to see the other without the orc part of himself?

Fabian opens his mouth, no doubt to say something stupid and impulsive. It's the look on the other's face - that slight awkwardness - that gets him to stop, first closing his mouth again to use his brain for a moment. Mostly to realize that-- okay, he really doesn't want to say something here that might hurt Gorgug. He cares about Gorgug and Gorgug's happiness too much.

So, slowly trying, Fabian's own drink going ignored in his hand for a moment-- ]

Do you like looking full human?

[ See, once he has Gorgug's opinion on this, he can much better decide on what he can or can't say here. You don't start a date off by insulting your boyfriend. Fabian is trying to be his best self here, especially when they might end up dancing! ]

[ Does he like it?

It's a complicated question, but also not at the same time. There's a shift in his brows, not showing that complication any less, but when he speaks-- ]

It's not my face. It doesn't feel like me.

[ --so comes through the 'easy' part of the problem. This isn't him. Would he like it if he could somehow make an entirely human version of himself? Would that make a difference?

Gorgug isn't sure, and it's not something he can do right now, so it doesn't matter. Instead, he looks down at his hands, the same ones that he's looked at before in using the disguise gadget to shift his form. ]

I like being me.

[ It's easy. It's simple! It's him. And that is a good enough assessment from him. ]

[ Okay. Yeah. Same assessment as Fabian - which is a good thing, considering the thing he was worried about was saying Gorgug looks better as a half-orc when maybe Gorgug's own feelings on that would have been a little bit more complicated than that.

Apparently they're not though. It makes Fabian drop any and all filter he was trying real hard to hold onto a moment ago, deciding it's unnecessary now. Instead he shifts his drink to the hand that's further away from Gorgug, so he can use his now-free closer hand to reach up and touch the other's cheek, Fabian's fingertips only slightly disappearing into the side of Gorgug's hairline.

He leans in a little closer.

(It might involve just a touch of tip-toeing, but don't point it out.) ]

I miss your tusks. [ It's not a complaint, for the record. Not a usual Fabian style complaint, where he starts groaning and huffing. Instead he's grinning as he says it. Playful - even a little flirty in a way he doesn't bother to hide. He already wasn't caring about people staring at him for looking a little odd, why would he care about people staring because he's getting a little handsy and sweet with his own boyfriend in public? ]

Edited 2025-08-16 21:20 (UTC)

[ O-oh. Gorgug tips his chin downward, not leaning in closer himself after Fabian does, but the touch and motion does seem worth lowering his head for. Or maybe it's Fabian's face that does it, the way that he speaks, and what he says with it. This isn't a face that Fabian cares much about either, and Gorgug smiles, small and fond, still a little reserved. ]

I still have them, [ he admits; a detail that Fabian may or may not already know, but with that way Fabian is speaking to him-- ] You can feel them. If you wanted to.

[ With a kiss. Gorgug doesn't say it outright, but there's a playfulness in the suggestion that Gorgug attempts to get across; even though, with Fabian's hand right there, he could just touch them with his fingers.

But they're flirting right now, right? They're flirting? Wouldn't it be more fun with lips? In the usual way Fabian's mouth catches against the side of one of his protrusions. ]

[ Gorgug doesn't have to say it outright. Not with the intention that Fabian used as he was talking a moment ago. Not with the way Gorgug looks right now - because even if the face might be a little hard to recognize as Gorgug, the expression on it is very much like the other in this moment. It's that slightly shy expression that Fabian likes so much.

So he doesn't say anything. Instead he leans in further to test Gorgug's statement. He presses his lips against the other's, kissing him, and-- Yes, even though the tusks were not there at all when he was looking a moment ago, he can sure feel them now, the familiar way they press up against his face whenever he kisses Gorgug.

Fabian is definitely kissing for a moment or two longer than absolutely necessary before he pulls away again, his feet moving fully back and flat onto the ground. ]

You're right. [ He says, slowly removing his hand off Gorgug's face too now - and smiling as if he just simply felt them by hand, rather than thoroughly kissed Gorgug for it. ] They're still there.

[ A slight pause follows. Though Fabian does seem to feel the need to add: ]

You know that if you just showed up as yourself I would have fought everyone who gave you odd looks, right?

[ Fabian feels his tusks, and Gorgug feels Fabian, the press of his mouth and the close proximity of his face. His eyes flutter close for as long as it lasts, and Gorgug smells the scent on his skin, and the moment replaces the shy look to something more happy, if still pinched at the sides. Pleased with himself, happy.

In between Fabian's words, he takes a hold of the hand that Fabian drops. ]

I know. [ Gorgug doesn't doubt that, even if he would think it's overkill. But it's Fabian, so it's alright. ] I just don't want to think about it when I'm out with you. But...

It's probably weird to be on a date with me if I'm like this. [ He looks at his hand holding Fabian's, which means lifting them to do so. He doesn't look like himself, and Fabian has to put up with that. ] I can change back. I just didn't want to... have people bug us. I wanted this to be about us.

[ Without worrying about him drawing attention on the both of them, even if Fabian has some non-human like features. ...which, really, was just his ears. ]

[ Considering everything from a moment ago, there's definitely something very soft and gentle in Fabian's eyes as he stares at the other. It's not a look he gives very often, but he can't help but fully let down his guard in this moment. Fabian isn't even thinking about anyone who might pass by them. He's just looking at Gorgug - at Gorgug's very, very goofy human face - and smiling with an endearment for the other that Fabian usually wouldn't dare to admit to in words while listening to him speak. ]

You can stay this way. It's fine.

[ It's a little weird, but Fabian also thinks it's important to have Gorgug feeling comfortable. Fabian thinks fighting people for his boyfriend on a date is kind of hot, but hey, if that's not the kind of date activity Gorgug enjoys in this moment, then Fabian is ~~weak enough for the other to be~~ willing to go along with it.

He doesn't even try to pull his hand away from where the other is holding it. ]

You're sure you can handle looking like that and dancing though?

[ Gorgug doesn't exactly feel relieved when Fabian says it's fine. He's glad that it is, but it is still weird, he thinks: not being his own face, not being entirely himself. If this city wasn't so weird about non-humans, he wouldn't be doing it. It could be him and Fabian, hand in hand.

It still can be, of course.

...

Until Fabian follows up with a question, and Gorgug's expression turns puzzled. ]

Don't you think this guy can dance?

[ Does Gorgug need to prove it? He's letting go of Fabian's hand and taking a step back, and he does a small jig on one spot consisting of moving his fists up and down, and rocking on his feet.

Very cool dad move. ]

Oh--

[ Do you see that look on Fabian's face? It's definitely the look of a guy who can't decide if he should be laughing or cringing right now. At the moment it kind of seems like his cringe is holding back his laughter, actually. ]

Don't-- Don't do that, Gorgug. [ Please. You can't do this to him. How is he supposed to react to that? And in public? ] Forget being green, this is going to draw attention to you regardless! And not the good kind, I can tell you!

etraya ic inbox.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)