maximumlegend | etraya ic inbox.

[ Gorgug is indeed checking out the space as he enters it, though also taking the time--once they're in the main living space--to remove his axe's holster, the same one that Fabian gave him; and then he has his backpack, and then his tool strap to work his way through as the offer of clothes is given-- ]

Yeah, okay-- [ He might be distracted, as each item (particularly, the axe and Gorgug's school backpack) gets lowered and placed by some out of the way wall with a heavy thunk. The tool strap comes off, joins them, and then he can finally take off his dirtied hoodie, only catching afterwards his goggles from his head as they peel off with his clothing.

He sets the goggles with his things, but keeps a hold of the hoodie, looking back finally over to Fabian. ... and actually looking at Fabian, from his legs, to the hoodie in his own hand. ]

...are you sure you'll have anything that'll fit me?

[ Because he, uh,

feels like there might be a problem here. ]

[ Fabian lets out one of his usual overconfident huffs.

The sort of huffs that usually end up in disaster - yet disaster that he apparently never quite seems to learn from. ]

Of course!

[ Like it's natural for him to have something in half-orc sizes. When Fabian is definitely more compact than Gorgug, despite getting closer build-wise than most of the other Bad Kids. ]

Don't you worry about it! You just go ahead and shower, and I'll go look in my closet and get some clothes ready for you while you're in there. [ He's even waving his hands a little, trying to direct his friend in the direction of the bathroom without touching him and getting slime all over his own hands too. ] I got this!

[ Do you want to believe this, Gorgug? Or do you perhaps want to press X to doubt? ]

[ He wanted to press X to doubt.

He was gently pressing it when he asked the question in the first place, with concerns about leg wear visible in his mind's eyes. And it should continue to persist, really...

But there's something about Fabian's confidence that--doesn't entirely dismiss Gorgug's worry, but that makes it hard for Gorgug to argue, to maybe suggest they figure out the clothes situation first and then he goes for a shower. There must be something, even if it turns out to be a little tight, Gorgug can handle it until alternatives come along. ]

...Okay.

[ And so, despite any logic (and that note of doubt that one might be able to glean from his tone), Gorgug concedes without any more protest. A frown and furrow on his face, and he follows the direction of the shower, letting his concerns stay on the pout of his lower lip.

But he should trust in his friend, right? Fabian wouldn't let him down. So he can undress, and get washed up knowing that there'll be some options out there. Maybe some kind of baggy trouser, even if it doesn't reach all the way down his calves!

At least he doesn't have to worry about his underwear situation, and once he does come out from the shower, washed and refreshed and with a towel over his shoulders (just because he feels a little too naked since--he is), it won't be butt naked. ]

[ Don't worry, Gorgug. While you are showering, your loyal and dependable friend Fabian has been diving right into his closet to get something out of there that will make you look fashionable in this new place.

So when the half-orc comes out of the shower, Fabian is already waiting there. He's sitting on the couch, seemingly looking something up on his earpiece, but turning his head and attention to Gorgug the moment he hears the other guy and halting all of that. ]

Great timing! I put an outfit for you right over there on the table.

[ He gestures in its direction.

And it's-- well, it sure is an outfit Fabian would wear, that might be the first impression here. At least it seems that he was thoughtful enough to grab a wide and loose shirt by Fabian standards, since he realized his crop tops would maybe cover up maybe only the very top of Gorgug's chest, though the shirt does not leave a whole lot to the imagination either with that deep cut neckline..

The pants, however, are unfortunately just skinny jeans.

Good luck with that one, Gorgug. ]

[ With the way it's laid out, the shirt is actually surprising for how baggy it does look, from first glance. He's not as wide as some half-orcs, not like Ragh, and so when Gorgug turns to it in Fabian's gesture, his guard is low, his hope of something...decent enough for a day (or a few hours) being kindled as his eyes go down to the pants....

And this was always his concern, wasn't it. Why did he let that guard down to now let the worry set back in.

No, he should better investigate. Gorgug approaches the clothes with a sealed mouth, picking up the shirt and-- there's a tie, so that actually really works? And he thinks it shouldn't be much of a problem; and it's so much of the lesser problem that he would rather keep looking at it than eventually turning over to the actual problem that are the jeans. ]

...

[ He continues to say nothing. Instead, Gorgug puts down the jeans and also takes the towel off from around his shoulders, letting his zajiri tattoos and the the flower that blooms in metallic symbolism on his shoulder become visible, for the time he undoes the shirt and gets it on; tying it back up, fiddling with the cuffs as they don't manage to reach all the way down his arms. Bothersome, but fine--expected, even, and Gorgug doesn't mess with that so much beyond some failed attempts to make them lower more, but it's all a distraction from the larger problem.

Slimmer problem, even. The jeans that Gorgug pick up next, staring down at them with the zip undone and with the legs next to his. He glances over at Fabian, a 'are you sure?' in his throat, but-- he'll try it. That's where this will lead, won't it?

Gorgug gets his leg and foot stuck immediately. ]

Shit. [ Okay, okay, just-- pull out, pull out. Give it a wiggle, and, um, don't lose balance, just shake it-- ] Shit!

[ And in a flash of immediate emotion, Gorgug gets his foot to go through to the other side: by ripping the leg of the pant on either side, a heavy bang as his foot hits against the ground in that flash of rage. ]

[ Fabian is mostly trying to look away. Not like he hasn't seen Gorgug get dressed before - please, they're Bloodrush teammates, he's pretty sure he has seen Gorgug getting dressed more than anyone else in the world at this point - but he can imagine the other might like a little bit more privacy when they're not in the showers after a game. When being dropped into this place is its own entirely confusing and overwhelming thing, and with Fabian there wasn't even slime involved.

But.. it's hard to notice the sounds of what's going on.

Especially the sound of an audible rip.

Fabian gasps like he doesn't have four other sets of the exact same pair of pants, and he immediately turns his head into his friend's direction to see what's going on. ]

Did you rip it?!

[ He sounds more shocked than offended, at least.

Though it's mostly because it's his instinctive reaction. Fabian isn't really thinking. If he was, maybe he'd be a touch more delicate on the topic of Gorgug breaking stuff, but-- he likes those pants, okay!!

Gorgug, did you rip his nice pants?! ]

[ oh no

Fabian is upset.

And it's more the volume of the delivery than specific emotion put behind it, although alarm has its own connotations to inspire in a person. A person ready to be panicked, like a half-orc who has been caught invoking sounds that he shouldn't be, and the response to that is-- ]

No! [ The most anguished, caught red-handed no that one could say, right before they start struggling against their pants again. But instead of doing the smart thing, like taking his leg out of the pant leg, Gorgug is, at first, attempting to pull it up higher up his calf, which only causes it to struggle and to tear further. And there might be room here where Fabian could speak up, think to or try to intervene as Gorgug is doing nothing but practically yanking at these jeans. But, alas, it's already too late: Gorgug is far too gone in paying attention to more than his current predicament.

Because with a whine suited for a teen, he pulls the jeans with enough force and emotion to do more than just tear at the stitching, but to rip the upper portion of the jean apart in his hands.

And now Gorgug is standing there, jeans partially on one leg and jean material in both hands, looking like he's about to cry. ]

They don't fit!! You said you got this!

[ 😭 😭 😭 😭 ]

[ Fabian tries to intervene the moment he realizes where all of this is going. But-- alas, getting up from his seat and trying to rush over to Gorgug is just not happening in time. Not before the half-orc already pulls on the pants even harder, completely ripping them to shreds.

Which is a pretty devastating sight, but there's not much time to linger on that when Gorgug is already speaking up again with a whine that Fabian may have heard from the other before, but which sure isn't a very common thing. Somehow it makes Fabian ~~go into a panic~~ panic even more than everything that happened before now, like there's the immediate instinct to solve the whining. (And dodge the accusations.)

And instinct sometimes makes someone do the most simple thing. Which - in this case - means that Fabian is latching onto Gorgug's hand, either compressing the jean material in it or forcing the other to drop it, and without saying a word he's starting to tug the other along through the apartment. Even while Gorgug is wearing nothing but a shirt and the most partial pants in the whole world. Short shorts would probably cover more of one's lower half than the amount of jeans Gorgug has on right now.

Thankfully it's not like Fabian has to tug the other all that far, given that it's just a small apartment. So there's hardly any time for Gorgug to protect or say more before they're already standing in Fabian's walk in closet.

Which.. truly is a walk in closet. Probably nothing compared to what the half-elf is used to having back home, but for any normal apartment's standards it's impressive. Not to mention there's so many clothes here, despite Fabian not even having been in this place all that long. ]

Well, come on, then! Grab something that does fit you!

[ A quick glance around may reveal that Fabian did at least make a good pick for the top, considering there are so many tops in this closet that would absolutely not fit Gorgug. So many tight shirts and crop tops. It's like a half-orc's nightmare.

But it's also true that.. it doesn't seem like there's a lot of pants that fit Gorgug. Most of it seems similar to the jeans he just ruined, and some just are short shorts...

M-Maybe if you look around hard enough you can find a wider set of pajama pants, Gorgug? Maybe one of those wide jogging pants?? Time to explore, buddy.. Explore the wonderful world of Fabian's walk-in wardrobe with its sparkly clothes in neon colors everywhere.. ]

[ sometimes GORGUG gets to be the pathetic meow meow, and this moment is that time.

There's still some upset going through Gorgug when Fabian takes a hold of him--he feels like the big baby that he is, he wants this horror of his own making to stop--but he follows, even if walking makes him all the more aware of the ripped jeans that are half-hanging off his calves. Into a wondrous world of...everything that Gorgug is not: fashionable, dazzling, bold and tantalising. He has been brought into the centre of choice that may very well lead him further into his current predicament, and--

--and he doesn't want to continue to be a big baby about this, glancing at Fabian with the kind of expression that isn't really sure (but also that doesn't know if this is a trap). There's an embarrassing dark shade across his cheeks, but Gorgug will...do it. He can do this.

With half-ripped jeans (and the pieces in his hands, which--he tucks inside the useless pockets of the useless jeans he wears) he goes to the trousers section of the wardrobe, sheepishly pushing along the different...various styles of jean until he finds a wider pant leg. The kind that Fabian started to wear more as he got into dancing...

At least the fabric seems stretchier, and he takes off a pair from the rack, that at least look better than the jeans, feel safer than that style of fabric. He glances at Fabian and then down at what he's wearing, then, just...uses some orcish strength to grab at what's left of them and to tear them off, destroying what was left of them. ]

Sorry. Thank you.

[ 💦

And now this time, Gorgug turns to put on these trousers with an embarrassment that wasn't there previous, and manages to get them to fit. They don't get all the way down his leg, but they do fit, and that's the main thing for Gorgug right now. They don't even clash too much with the shirt that he's wearing, even if the length of exposed leg Gorgug's showing doesn't help any, but.

But Gorgug has calmed down, and he's now dressed. Standing in a bro's walk-in closet, with nothing left to say but- ]

Okay.

[ Okay. He's dressed. ]

[ It's okay. Sometimes a homie is allowed to be a big baby. Fabian is the big baby so often that Gorgug has earned this one. He's trading in his full stamp card right now.

So Fabian just waits there patiently while Gorgug looks for a set of pants that won't immediately burst at the slightest touch of his strong half-orc legs, not seeming worked up in any way at all. Sure, he's a little bummed about the now mostly ripped pair of pants, but his friend's feelings matter way more to him than one pair of pants.

In fact, he waits all the way until Gorgug has not only selected a pair, but also managed to put it on without any ripping going on. Sure, there's the sad reminder of the ripped pieces of jeans on the floor as to what happened here, but Fabian opts to ignore them for now.

Instead he ignores them. Fabian steps over the pieces of fabric, right over to Gorgug until he's right next to the other. Even though the half-orc has calmed down, it's clear that he's still a little bit upset, or maybe just embarrassed about the whole deal - and that's the last thing Fabian wants the other to feel right now.

He smiles at Gorgug, and when he's close enough he reaches out with both of his hands, putting them on the other's green cheeks. Fabian is probably pulling him down just a little in the process because of the height difference, but he continues to have that same sweet, supportive smile on his face the entire time. ]

Has anyone told you that you look real good in that outfit?

[ .. clearly not, since Fabian is the only one seeing it right now, but that doesn't matter. Let a bro lightly joke around while boosting a bro's confidence. And maybe making his day a little better after the slime disaster and then the pants disaster. ]

Because you're looking beautiful right now.

[ ...what is the opposite of going into a rage?

Because Gorgug might be experiencing it in this moment. Yes, he was feeling pouty (still), but he wasn't expecting Fabian to try and do anything about it. This next part after him getting dressed is meant to involve them leaving the walk-in closet, and maybe Gorgug realising and trying to fix those jeans with a mending spell (can anything truly help the jeans at this point? probably not).

But Fabian has other plans. He has other ideas, none of which Gorgug has any expectation or suspicion for, even as he comes over to him, as opposed to out of the closet so that Gorgug can step out, too. It's only as the hands come to reach for his cheeks that a confusion starts to trickle over him, though Gorgug doesn't resist, despite the small worry that this is somehow going to turn out bad for him (is Fabian mad about the jeans? he's probably mad about the jeans).

The worry he did have, however, isn't the direction that he should have gone in. Instead, the confusion that had trickled in is now a flood--one that freezes on his face like a deer in headlights, the warmth perhaps instant against Fabian's hands. His eyes are on Fabian's singular, and they're what manage to regain movement again when they look down, Gorgug not pulling away still from an otherwise gentle hold. He doesn't think he must look very good, really, and he knows Fabian is just being nice, but--he can still appreciate the sentiment all the same.

Even if, shyly: ]

...Thank you.

[ Being called beautiful is a lot, and from anyone else it would sound like a tease, a cruel one, than something fun and kind. A kindness that can make him putty in his best friend's hands as the warmth from his face has reached his ears. ]

[ His hands rest on the other's face for another moment before Fabian slowly lowers them - but continues to smile in that same way the entire time.

It does look like that managed to elevate Gorgug's mood a little bit, after all. And that's the important part. That's all Fabian wanted to do here. Not that he was lying, since he does genuinely think that wearing something other than a hoodie for once does look really nice on Gorgug, but.. if that compliment managed to help make the other feel better about this entire situation, that's great.

He steps back, giving the other also room to step out of the closet, instead of lingering in there all day. ]

Now, is there anything you need?

[ It's not like he knows how Gorgug came out of that mission, especially when he didn't arrive here back with them at the exact same time. And when he arrived slimed. ]

Are you perhaps hungry? Thirsty? Or I could show you around the place! Like the clothes store, so you don't have to continue only wearing my clothes. [ He winks, clearly joking as he adds: ] Unless you want to.

[ He knows you don't want to, Gorgug. That fit is nice on you, but also just a little bit too small. Fabian may not be short, but he's no half-orc. ]

[ W-was there something else Gorgug was meant to be doing? You mean he isn't just going to stand there and listen to Fabian's every word?

Oh.

He pinches at the shirt he's wearing when Fabian talks about wearing more of his clothes, looking down at it, the state of himself, and other clothes would be better, but-- ]

I'd like something to eat. Riz wanted me to get a sample of the stuff I had on me--I should get some of that off my bag. [ Or axe, or wherever else there is slime. ] Do the shops close soon?

[ He has stepped out of the closet too, now that they're moving again. Maybe loitering for a moment or so in place if Fabian isn't leading him around, but also taking the initiative to head back into the main living room area.

But that last question is asked to check on what's the better option: sit around and eat, or head straight to the shops? ]

Nah, we have time.

[ So eating first it is! Fabian doesn't even comment anything on Riz wanting a sample of the slime, because-- of course Riz would want that. Fabian doesn't even want to think about touching that gross stuff, but hey, if anyone could find some sort of clue in the sample, it sure would the The Ball of all people. He's smart like that. He can do the slime touching.

Fabian, in the meantime, will help in his own way-- by taking care of Gorgug's hunger! He's already moving towards the kitchen of the apartment, looking through the cupboards and in the fridge..

.. and slowly realizing he doesn't exactly have the skills to make anything substantial for his friend. ]

Uh-- Would some cereal be alright?

[ H-He can do that!! Gorgug, you really want some cereal, right?! ]

[ While Fabian heads to the kitchen, Gorgug's going over to his things he left against a wall and is...staring at them. They're still slimy, and he knows he needs to take the gunk off, but he didn't think yet about the best way to do that. By putting it in a container? Should he find a container?

He'll find a container. Fabian talks before he can start doing anything about that though, and Gorgug turns away from his belongings and looks towards the kitchen.

Cereal??? ]

You just have cereal?

...

[ There's a pause.

Such a meaningful pause, especially when you combine it with the knowledge of the tone Fabian uses when he finally speaks up again. It sounds so much like he's sweating. Like he's so uncertain about the answer he's giving here, even though he doesn't want to sound that way. ]

.. yes?

[ A-Are you judging him, Gorgug?! Is that's what is happening here?

Of course Fabian can't help but immediately get a little defensive at the idea. There's hardly even time for him to breathe between that uncertain little 'yes?' and him immediately moving into: ]

Is there anything wrong with cereal?

[ Bro, you can't do this to him right now. Bro!! ]

[ BRO, WHY ARE YOU GETTING DEFENSIVE ABOUT CEREAL!!! Even if Gorgug isn't taking it quite as--the way Fabian is; it's defensive, yes, but is there a reason for it? Is it because: ]

You can't get anything else here? Do you have to earn it?

[ Is that what this is, Fabian? Can you only afford cereal? Why else would you only have cereal available? ]

... no..

[ That's such a hesitant, drawn-out answer. It's the sort of answer Fabian always gives when there is something up that he doesn't want to talk about, or just desperately wants to cover up.

Because he knows he can't lie and say Gorgug's guess is right, since he'd soon discover that's not the case at all. So he has to quickly think of something else here. ]

It is just that.. [ ...

His mind feels so blank right now. ]

C-- Cereal is great! [ Says the rich kid who has in the past often been incredibly picky about food in front of his friends.

Clearly this is the best lie he could have made up. ]

I just love eating cereal! There is nothing wrong with that, is there? Nothing wrong with me wanting share my love of cereal with my good friend Gorgug!

[ Now Gorgug is the quiet one. Fabian definitely hasn't been like this back in Spyre, so either Fabian is lying, or it's a new development. But why would Fabian lie about it to him?

... and you know what Fabian can't do? Tell him anything about the future.

This is the thought that comes into Gorgug's thinking as he's staring at Fabian with a clear look of confusion, those gears attempting to get moving and to figure out what's going here. And what is going on here?

Something happened, and Fabian can't tell him what! ]

...okay. I'll have a bowl of your best cereal.

[ (It?? worked?? Fabian??) ]

[ Oh hell yes.

One could consider themselves lucky to get away with this. One could be surprised that all of this somehow worked, and count their lucky stars.

But those kinds of people aren't Fabian, of course. Instead of just thinking that he got lucky, he's already busy internally praising himself. Great job, Fabian! Of course he would be able to talk himself out of an awkward admittance! Covered up something that could be a potential social embarrassment once more!

It might be why he's suddenly grinning as he says: ]

One bowl of our best cereal, coming right up!

[ At least this is something even Fabian can't screw up. He's confident enough that he's immediately grabbing a bowl and some milk for Gorgug, who clearly has not caught on to even a single thing! ]

Are you managing to get that sample for The Ball?

[ Oh, right, the sample. ]

I need something to put it in. [ Kind of a problem! Riz surely has something, right? And he could wait for him to show up, but it's not like he's got anything better to do if Fabian is being such a host about cereal, so now he's awkwardly...shuffling, trying to figure out where he can even look for: ] Does he have any, uh, small bags around? Is there anything I can put it in?

[ Fabian, you live here. Gorgug's racking his brain about what in a house can be useful for this, but his brain is again going to food bags. Do they have food bags? They don't even have sandwiches....!!! ]

Are you kidding? You forgot that The Ball also lives here.

[ In other words - there are always things around to gather evidence with. Fabian knows that Riz is keeping a whole lot of it in his room after the whole clue board incident they were dealing with the other month, but it's not like that room is infinitely large. There's just no space for all of it.

So when he opens up one of the cupboards, luckily at an angle where Gorgug should easily be able to see it as well, it is full of evidence containers in all shapes and sizes. ]

Really, we could be running a lab here. In fact, I am fairly certain The Ball would, if only he had more space.

[ Damn. Gorgug should have had more faith in Riz--putting his shit in places outside his bedroom, apparently.

Even Fabian knows where it is, and that's kind of noteworthy in the sense of 'huh, this is what it's been like with them living together'. Gorgug doesn't stand there thinking on the thought, going into the cupboard to find, wow, look--little tubs and seal bags and everything.

All this and no bread or sandwiches. Someone would love to study the pair of them. ]

What other places are around? [ This is an apartment, so running a lab may be a bit too much, just for the space issue, but is there a total lack of...much else?

(Why do they have all this but not sandwiches and condiments??) ]

[ Freud would be having a field day.

Not that Fabian realizes just how much the state of the apartment is saying about both him and Riz, of course. If he did, he'd probably be a little more mortified than he's actually feeling right now, pouring the cereal into the bowl for Gorgug as he speaks. ]

Well, it's-- [ Fabian pulls a bit of A Face. ] It's complicated.

[ That's one way to sum it up.. ]

This place isn't exactly a normal city. There's this apartment building, and then everything else in this place just seems like it was randomly plucked from a world and dropped into this place by something. And most of it already belongs to people in some way. It doesn't exactly make it easy to find a place to just do something if you want to.

[ He's pulled out a couple of bags and a container for the slime sample; more bags than he meant to take out, and Gorgug leaves the extras on the sides as he dodges looking through the cupboard for good scooping implements and just... goes to look for a butter knife in a drawer. A butter knife should be good at picking out globs of slimy substance, right??

It's just finding the right drawer while he's listening to Fabian, which--honestly, it's not the listening part that's hard! It's the understanding part. ]

A woman said the school she worked for showed up here. She said we could check it out whenever we wanted. [ He did manage to speak to one person before Fabian!! ] So, nothing's... nothing from Elmville's here? It doesn't happen for everyone? It's just random?

[ Because-- well, even a school showing up on this place is weird (and random) enough. ]

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