maximumlegend | etraya ic inbox.

[ ...

There sure is something happening here.

Something Fabian is kind of unsure about. His brain still feels a little hazy, considering you don't sit at the police station all day while having nothing to do without your brain feeling like it's slowly turning itself into much - but his mind is slowly starting to activate, trying to figure out what's up.

Was there.. a text? Did he send a text? Actually, he hasn't checked his messages at all today, so maybe Gorgug texted him that he was coming over. Usually Gorgug of all people knows to instead call him when he has to urgently let him know something though, right..?

...

Fabian has no idea what's happening, actually. ]

Hey! [ Energetic. ] .. Gorgug. [ More uncertain now.

The fake baby peeks out of its carrier at the half-orc. ]

Did I miss something?

[ Please don't scold him for not checking his messages ever.. :( ]

[ It's Fabian stepping enough into view that gets Gorgug to lift his head, music on, but the change in light from the corner of his eyes gets him to look up, and to deposit the pieces in his hands onto his lap so he can tug down at the earphones. ]

Hey. [ Greetings first, and a smile, dopey smile at the sight of Fabian. He's been sitting around for maybe half an hour (maybe a full hour?), and he's more on the sleepy side than agitated. But he takes the cubes and stencil he dropped, shoves it in his hoodie pocket this time, and finally shakes his head to the question asked. ]

I thought I'd come over. I think I can stay the night. [ ... ] Is that okay?

[ Only now, is he asking if it's okay?--when he has a big stuffed in a blanket, a pillow, and a change of clothes, as well as the other miscellaneous bits and pieces he got in there (and all to do with tinkering). But maybe-- maybe he got overexcited, which wouldn't be easy to tell right now with Gorgug's subdued energy.

But he is looking at Fabian with a hopeful eagerness that only shows in his eyes--but, it does show pretty well, for someone who knows the half-orc.

S-sleepover, dude? ]

[ Indeed - the eagerness isn't lost on Fabian. If anything, it's what keeps the other from reacting right away, since seeing that emotion in Gorgug's eyes is definitely enough for him to freeze up with surprise for a moment. Sure, the Bad Kids wanting a sleepover isn't too strange after they spent plenty of time practically sleeping as one giant cuddle pile in the Hangvan, but Gorgug going out of his way to ask for it now, and then seeming kind of excited about it..

... ]

I-- O-Of course. Of course that's okay.

[ Like Fabian hasn't been desperate for company.

.. and like Gorgug didn't know that already. Fabian's thoughts can't help but flash back to the conversation they had in the hallway of the hospital, and he has to duck his head for a moment, feeling his skin darkening even further with a slight blush at the realization. Gorgug listened to him. Gorgug listened to him so much that he's here, sitting on his porch with a bag, wanting to surprise him with this.

Even though it's a wish come true for Fabian, it almost feels undeserved. Like the gesture is too grand, like Fabian has to do something to earn this first.

He tries to push that feeling out of the way, knowing that Gorgug would just want him to receive this kindness.

As Fabian approaches, he does frown with the realization of a sudden slight worry though. ]

But wouldn't you get in trouble for sleeping over at someone else's house? Is that something you are allowed to do here? [ They seem kind of strict, after all, with the curfew rules and all..

And even though Fabian knows Gorgug can handle trouble - has seen Gorgug bash trouble with his axe plenty of times before - he's not sure if he wants to subject the other to this place's brand of trouble. ]

[ Gorgug is getting up onto his feet with the permission granted to stay. True, he would need to do that regardless, but that's the part--as well as Fabian's approach--that has him hoisting himself up, and even grabbing his bag too, after. A smile grows on his face, seeing himself at this part that he's been waiting for, with the question of how exactly him staying over is going to work: ]

I am, with family. [ He deliberately pauses, that smile widening more, making the edges of his lips start to lift against his tusks. ] I asked if we could be family, and Eos said yes.

[ His smile already looks goofy, but it feels more so when he knows which family member Fabian is exactly, and he's looking at his friend now, and who he's become now in this weird family system... ]

What do you think, uncle?

[ Can Fabian appreciate being made an uncle (on top of a father) if it comes with the benefits of not being alone? Or is this a great insult to the man of the Seacaster family? ]

[ He doesn't reply at first.

No, instead Fabian is very busy making that kind of face he makes when he's trying really hard to figure out something in his head. He's likely just trying to process the information Gorgug is telling him here, or maybe - for a moment - he is imagining himself as an uncle..

.. it feels a little difficult to imagine. If not just because he doesn't have any living siblings to begin with, let alone ones who have kids! Or who would even have kids Gorgug's age, which is almost Fabian's own age.. ]

I am..

[ Sorry, Gorgug. He's still not moving, even though it'd probably be helpful if Fabian unlocked the door. Thankfully the baby seems to be keeping quiet for now, rather than causing more panicked shenanigans with these two.. ]

.. your uncle now..?

[ He doesn't seem to disapprove.

Fabian just seems really baffled by this idea. He's looking kind of comical in this moment as he's staring at his friend like Gorgug grew a second head, really.

The implications of all this haven't even hit Fabian yet, or he'd probably have a repeat or continuation of the warm feeling from a moment ago. No, this is solely Fabian trying to wrap his head around Fabian-the-uncle. A strange concept. ]

[ But Fabian?? This makes all the sense in the world??

At least Gorgug's mood isn't tanking with his announcement seemingly falling flat with Fabian. He clearly just needs to explain more this brilliant logic. ]

Yeah. I asked Eos if you could be my uncle, and now you're my uncle. I didn't know what else you could be, except a granddad.

[ And do you want to be a granddad, Fabian?

You can take all the time you need in digesting this. Gorgug, for now, isn't looking at the door in any signs of needing to rush. Just as his friends do for him, he would like to give him this time to get on the same page as him.

In his wonderful mind palace, serene and simple. ]

[ Sorry, Gorgug. But the uncle thing will still be weird.

.. though Fabian at least seems to slowly understand a little bit more what's going on here. So if he just drops the 'uncle' part of it, doesn't think about it too hard, then he can focus on the parts of this he can wrap his mind around without feeling too weird.

Instead he's just feeling a little more..

A little more what? It's complicated. It feels like there's a thousand different emotions knocking around inside of him right now. ]

You asked?

[ It means even more to Fabian when he doesn't exactly have the most positive impression of the beings that run these worlds. Gorgug went to one of them to ask for a favor like this.

And-- for him. Why else would Gorgug ask for this specifically? Fabian wouldn't need to be his uncle unless Gorgug wanted to stay here.

He's close enough by now to practically be right in front of his friend, but the half-elf's face drops, his cheeks starting to colour a darker hue than the usual with a blush. He isn't even really sure what to say. What words could possibly cover everything he's feeling in this moment? ]

You.. [ ...

If Gorgug looks closely, Fabian's eye may seem kind of glassy, like there's water gathering in it, though the boy is furiously blinking in order to try and keep it out of there. ]

Thanks, Gorgug. I-- Um. [ He swallows. ] I don't know how to thank you for this.

[ For wanting to stay with him. For wanting to make sure he isn't alone. ]

[ You asked? Gorgug nods, apparently willing to give plenty of confirmations (and explanations) to what he's done. If it had gone on any longer, maybe he would have started questioning if he had done the right thing, or if this plan was dumb, or just plain weird.

Fortunately, it doesn't come to that. Instead, it comes to a curious reaction from Fabian; one that almost starts to worry Gorgug when he watches the other's head lower, but when he looks--and Gorgug does--he notices for once something more in the expression worn, in Fabian's inflection, that he usually catches.

He sounds touched. He sounds emotional, and Gorgug's been familiar with that in the past couple of days. And he knows what his friend doesn't seem to mind, and he'll take the opportunity in doing it, since it seems perfect right now.

And that's hugging Fabian, friendly and around the shoulders and back. Just like Fig would like. And a gesture he should try showing more. ]

It's what friends do.

[ Right? ]

[ Fabian likes the hug.

Fabian really likes the hug.

And though he's grown in some ways, admitting to that too much still feels awkward. It doesn't even have to do with notions of masculinity anymore, since he sure got over those, but it does have a whole lot to do with actually being willing to express vulnerability. Thankfully he doesn't have to do so right now. He can just lean into the hug, wrapping his arms around Gorgug in turn too. Not clinging quite as tightly as he had been back in the forest, but-- a more relaxed hug.

But an appreciative hug all the same. Fabian knows that he did ask for Gorgug to spend more time with him if he could, but he hadn't exactly expected the other to get on that task right away, even asking the entire system in this place to switch things around so Gorgug could be with him more easily.

He lingers in the hug for a few moments until he knows he has to give it up, letting go of Gorgug again and stepping out of his friend's hold the moment he lets go too. ]

You sure took that 'never a bad friend' thing to heart, huh.

[ It's a very weak joke, since Fabian's heart is still way too gooey and touched to be fully flippant about this, but he is trying to lighten the mood a little bit before he makes himself cry like an idiot all over again.

Instead he steps over towards the front door, opening it so he can let his friend in. ]

You, uh-- You can actually look around now.

[ Before Gorgug thinks he'll have to keep his eyes closed in Fabian's house forever, after that frantic encounter from before. ]

The Ball helped clean up. [ .. a slight pause, like he isn't sure if he should admit to this, but.. Gorgug is also one of the Bad Kids. He'll get why Fabian is saying this. ] He sneaked in right before curfew and then said I couldn't kick him out because he'd be in trouble.

[ It's a typical Riz move. That's what Gorgug will get. And he'll likely also understand it's Riz's way of showing he cares. ]

And then he insisted on cleaning the house.

[ A spoiler: Gorgug likes the hug too.

But Gorgug does like hugs. He likes hugs that he can actually feel enveloped, though his parents' hugs have a very, very special place in his heart. But also getting to put his arms around another person--it's nice. It feels right. And it's nice when the gesture is returned, too.

It's not a long thing. Enough to be felt and to give Fabian comfort, but they're not in the hospital hallway, they don't need anything more fulfilling. So Gorgug pulls back with a fun, dopey smile on his face, confused for a second when Fabian makes his reference, but--oh. That means he did a good thing.

And he can feel proud about himself with that. Gorgug picks up his bag when it's obvious that Fabian's going for the door, walking over to join him. It hadn't occurred to him to think about where to look--but really, it might've come up once he moved on in. But the story that explains more than a simple "I cleaned up" reasoning is one that's...sweet, and very Riz-like.

Fabian had no choice. He was going to have to put up with Riz cleaning up once he got it in mind. ]

Riz likes cleaning up other people's messes.

[ That's either a compliment or shade, delivered with a face--and nodding--that yields to the former.

And maybe he doesn't need to repeat what's already been said, but why not, he can refer back to himself too, if Fabian said. A reminder, while they're stood here by the doorway. ]

We're a team.

[ And a team supports its team. ]

.. I know. [ He says, at least partially conceding. Mostly because he's grateful for what his friends are doing here, for the ways they're reaching out to him in their own ways.

But it's still hard to fully accept, with everything he's learned in his life. Fabian is making some effort now, but it still isn't easy. Though his father's lessons never truly imparted the lesson on him that Fabian should always be a captain and a leader in life in the sense that he should think of his friends as lesser and not trust them - he could never do either of those things, not for real, anyway - they still did impart the feeling within him that he should be independent. That he should be strong enough to solve things like this by himself.

He knows it's not a shame to do so anyway. A logical part of his brain knows this now, but.. it's still hard.

Hard or not, however, he's still very much leading Gorgug inside. ]

It's just-- [ He tries to explain. It's going a little better because he's not as upset as he was back before, back in the hospital, but there's still something awkward about the way Fabian searches for words for things he's never put as obviously out loud before. ]

I just want you to think I'm cool.

[ Even as a party member and a friend. :( Bro. ]

[ I just want you to think I'm cool.

If there's anything to get a bewildered, confused look out of Gorgug, it's that. It's not truly wild, but the surprise shows on his face at that confession--and actually, it is wild to Gorgug, internally. Fabian Seacaster, Mister Maximum Legend himself? ]

You've always been cool to me. [ It's an easy answer to give, where Gorgug doesn't even take his usual second to think or consider his words. ] You and Fig, you're both the closest idea of cool to me. And Fig helps me all the time.

[ Which does make her doubly cool, and maybe he's not making the connection between being cool and accepting help here, but Gorgug does duck his head for a second as, speaking of that: ]

And, you know, I know my friends think I'm cool too, so-- and I don't think it's bad when they help me either. I appreciate it. It doesn't make me weak.

[ It doesn't make you weak, is what he means. ]

[ Gorgug is so sappy in his own little Gorgug way.

But.. you know, maybe that's exactly what Fabian needs in this moment. To just be handled with kiddy gloves. Or, in this case, sappy Gorgug gloves. Something about Gorgug's words does soothe his heart a little, like the implication in them manages to reach him without Gorgug having to speak the exact words out loud.

He breathes in. Straightens up a little as he walks further into the house. ]

Just don't get too far ahead and start bragging about how confident you are, okay? [ His tone is light, playful. It's obvious Fabian is just making a joke, especially when he turns his head towards his friend to show him he's grinning. Sure, there may be some stuff swept under the rug here, but there's no doubt about it that Fabian really does feel better than the mess he had been at the hospital.

Speaking of the hospital - he's taking the carrier off his back once they reach the living room, carefully removing the fake baby from it and holding it in his hands. As soon as Gorgug may have dropped off his own stuff, Fabian looks over at his friend to ask: ]

Do you want to try holding him again?

[ Bro.

He trusts you. ]

[ He smiles--he does, with a breath of relief released through his nose. Gorgug's glad for what sounds like a positive-noted kind of teasing; that Fabian's taking it the right way, and isn't trying to brush him off (Gorgug's not always good at telling these things; or maybe it's hard to keep up with Fabian when he does it, when he's so good at talking, and Gorgug freezes up at trying to get back to the real point).

Gorgug does deposit his bag somewhere, anywhere by a wall and that's a good place to leave it for the time being. He can pick it up whenever if Fabian wants to decide a room for him, and Gorgug isn't fussed about getting it sorted out. Fabian's been out playing police officer all day, and Gorgug's been stuck at school, so he wants to fuck around for a while with his friend before they need to think about anything serious.

Except--this is something serious. It's facing him and spoken, an offer, the baby in Fabian's hands and the way Gorgug goes still. He knows he shouldn't react like this, especially not about a fake baby, but he's looking between Fabian and the baby with an uncertainty that it's surprising he's not taking a step back. Does he have to hold it? Gorgug's held a baby since then, had a careful eye on him and guidance for this instance, even read up on a very simple baby caring book! And yet-- ]

... Are you sure?

[ Gorgug knows Fabian wouldn't ask if he wasn't sure.

But maybe Fabian isn't the only one here who needs kiddy gloves. ]

[ There's plenty of teasing words he could say here too, but-- Fabian doesn't. Maybe he understands that this is a little hard for Gorgug, and though pushing your friends can be a little fun at times, he doesn't want to do it right now. Not when he knows how much effort Gorgug has been making - and is making right now - for him in the aftermath of the Hospital Incident.

So he just smiles encouragingly, nodding as he takes a few steps closer. ]

Yeah. [ His voice is warm, and it's filled with that confidence that Fabian usually turns towards outrageous statements and self-praise - but that can also turn towards others, like it does right now. It sounds like he has total trust in the other. ] You studied. I know you can do it.

[ Just believe in yourself, bro..!! ]

If you hold out your arms, I'll hand the baby over to you. It will be okay.

[ He doesn't want to get this wrong...!!!!

But the only way he can get it right is by trying. Fabian trusts him. And if he's going to help Fabian, this is the simplest step he needs to take. So Gorgug follows his instruction and holds out his arms in a way that he's already done for another baby (if with similar reservations); nervous internally already that he might be holding out his hands weirdly, but he doesn't listen to it.

Bro, he's....he's got this, he'll do it...

Give him. The baby. ]

[ At least Fabian won't drag this out for poor Gorgug. Once the other looks like he's properly in position, the half-elf is already reaching out to put the baby into Gorgug's arms. There's something gentle about the way Fabian does it, but it has nothing to do with him not trusting Gorgug as much as he just wants to make sure to not drop the baby.. He may be a little bit more confident than his friend, but it's not like Fabian feels like a master of this either.

But-- then it happens. The baby is now in Gorgug's arms. Gorgug, you're holding the baby!! ]

There. [ Fabian adds, and as he looks over at the fake baby in the other's arms.. It-- It actually happily coos?! ] .. I think it likes you.

[ All robots love Gorgug.. ]

[ H-he's holding the baby!!!

And once it's in his arms, Gorgug does bring it closer to himself and to his chest, so there isn't a gap between himself and the baby. That's when it coos, a sound that tickles Gorgug's ears with worry, except-- it was a coo? It was a good sound? ]

Are you sure? ...I wouldn't like me. [ He's dropped his voice a notch, glancing between the baby and Fabian as-- ] I did-- you know...

[ Break its arm. Which he also doesn't want to remind the baby of, in case that's a thing it can pick up and be upset over?!

We do not need an upset baby so quickly again. ]

It is a baby, Gorgug. I don't think it can remember.

[ .. then again, it is a robot baby. Maybe it could remember. But even if it would, it apparently doesn't mind Gorgug at all, since the baby still seems very content right there in his arms..

It seems to be putting Fabian in a pretty good mood too. Maybe this was the life hack all along. Putting the baby in a good mood so Fabian also ends up feeling better.

He approaches a few steps, that smile definitely still on his face. ]

Besides, you are trying your best right now, aren't you?

[ It is a robot baby!!! Potentially sent to judge and scrutinise them, making it somehow worse than normal babies. But Gorgug's going to take his friend's reassurance to heart, telling himself that: it doesn't remember.

Which is better for everyone. So Gorgug nods that he's trying, urging the tension in his shoulders to his arms to relax, looking at the baby with...well, not admiration, but hopefulness. It's still a robot baby, but it is Fabian's robot baby: one that he feels deeply about, or what it symbolises for him.

So Gorgug rocks his arms, very gently, to see if the baby likes it or not. He doesn't have to touch anything, just needs to hold it, which is...nice. It's better when he doesn't have to do anything fiddly. Holding a baby is very not fiddly. ]

You're trying your best too. [ But also, sorry Fabian, but we're definitely redirecting our attention onto you. With a small smile, Gorgug settling his gaze onto him. ] Do you feel better? It isn't crying. You didn't mess everything up.

[ How does that feel, Fabian? ]

[ With Gorgug looking over to him, he will be able to notice that Fabian definitely did not expect this kind of attention shift in the conversation. For how much he acts like an attention hungry drama queen all the time, having attention aimed in his direction that's this genuine and sweet is a little bit too much.

Even more so when it came out of nowhere.

His cheeks darken with a blush, and for a moment his gaze travels absolutely anywhere but Gorgug's face, like he can't meet the other's gaze right away.

Struck between the innate desire to claim this as some victory on the surface - like he always has, like he's been taught to do - and the knowledge that Gorgug would absolutely know it when he'd be faking it, Fabian can't say anything for a moment before he arrives at: ]

It's not crying because you're here.

[ Ah. Fabian's cute.

It's one of those times where Gorgug can see what's going on: mainly by the way that Fabian's avoiding his eye, which Fabian rarely does with people unless it's intentional. He's embarrassed, and Fabian looks pretty cute even when he isn't embarrassed, but this is a special type. Especially when he's trying to dismiss the reassurance in the way he does. ]

It definitely isn't. [ Sorry, Fabian, but Gorgug knows that isn't true because it wasn't crying when Fabian got home!!! But it's not an argumentative point, just plainly stated, as Gorgug looks down to the baby in his arms, a little more...appreciative of its presence. At least so he can say: ]

Fabian's going to be a good papa to you, even if you are a robot, or actually a secret spying machine. But don't make it too hard on him, alright? This really means a lot to him, and he's a good guy. He's one of my best friends.

[ Can you try to make a case for your friend in a setting that's meant to judge you? Gorgug's doing it anyway, apparently, and through a robotic baby in his arms...

It's worth it. :) ]

[ Yeah, that definitely is not getting rid of this blush.

Especially since it does still feel a little ridiculous. Fabian knows that Gorgug doesn't even mean it in that way, that he's being sweet and supportive, but Fabian is well aware that trying to take good care of fake babies isn't exactly something that should be a priority here. It's just that it's difficult for him in particular to ignore, just like his friend is pointing out. This really means a lot to him.

Fabian swallows, trying to get rid of some of his fluster. It leaves the blush on his cheeks, but at least he can force himself to look back at Gorgug and actually speak up, rather than stand here speechless with the fluster. ]

Alright, alright, are you sure that whoever is spying on us through the baby needs to know every detail of our friendship? [ He's blushing so hard!! Don't you dare mention the blush, pal!! Dude!! ]

[ Fabian sounds like he wants Gorgug to stop, but it's really hard when Fabian's making faces like that. Gorgug's got his eyes on him, a very obvious sweet and silly smile on his own face, and he even chuckles a heh behind his lips.

But it's true, that Gorgug doesn't really care about whoever is or isn't spying on them. He looks at the baby with a particular indifference, looks back at Fabian, and he can't help himself; he's just feeling giddy--between Fabian accept him coming over and staying around, and that plan working in the first place. ]

I dunno. You're blushing. You want me to keep going?

[ Sorry, bro. He just really wants to tease you. He's so obvious in his delight that he's grinning, his tusks showing fully in the expression. ]

[ Fabian makes a fatal mistake.

Or-- well, it feels fatal to him. It's actually not that fatal at all when the blush on Fabian's face was obvious enough even when he was trying to look away and hide it, but it feels to him like it's so much more obviously there when he actually turns his gaze to look over at Gorgug when the other speaks.

And the words themselves don't help. Him pointing out the blush, teasing Fabian with it, grinning about it, but not in any way that seems malicious, or even really making fun of him the way it might have been with some of their other friends. There's something so fond about the way Gorgug expresses this, and it only makes Fabian blush even further, the colour reaching the very tips of his ears. ]

I-- I am only blushing because you are being ridiculous! [ He stammers - though it's exactly that stammer that makes it obvious that Fabian is just flustered, rather than angry.

Which is made even more obvious when he simmers down a little to add: ]

And you are also being.. [ Ridiculous, yes, but also-- ] .. very kind. Thank you.

[ H-Hmph!!!

Fabian doesn't want to linger on that for too long though, quickly adding more. ]

And I have just come home from a very long and hard day of work, thank you very much. [ Yes, sitting around at the station for most of the day with his fake robot baby. Very hard. Very long. ]

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