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[ What if he had to do so right now... let Gorgug think about it. ]

Well, I did describe you as a pirate to Clark. [ So if they wanted an example of how Gorgug has introduced Fabian to people. ] But if I describe you... I guess I mostly tell everyone you and the other Bad Kids are part of my adventuring group?

[ Hm. ] I think I told Krouse you're the most popular kid in school, so-- I'd say that.

[ If he didn't tell Krouse, maybe it was someone else? Was it Spider-Man, he/him? Or it was in a conversation that never happened... ]

I might mention your bike. [ If Gorgug had to go on, as he is now. ] And how your bike hates my van.

[ Really important info, here. ]

[ He laughs a little. ]

I don't think the fact the Hangman hates the van is exactly cool.

[ But apparently everyone else did pass muster - or surely Fabian wouldn't be laughing. He'd be whining, the way he always does. ]

But introducing me as the most popular kid in school is pretty good. That's what I've also been doing myself-- even if some people here utterly refuse to believe I am Maximum Legend. Can you believe it? I think it's pretty obvious if you just take a single look at me! [ You know. Because of the obnoxious golden tattoo.

But Fabian does mean it beyond just the tattoo, okay. ]

You were working really hard on it. [ Hey, it was hard not to notice everything that Fabian was getting into back at school, even if Gorgug couldn't always be there. But the people wanting to talk to him, the constant study sessions and even the attempts to give time to his friends for relaxing (even if it was hard to relax under the stress of schoolwork).... ]

I think you were doing a good job. I couldn't do it--I didn't even have time for my birth dad, before he left.

[ And maybe it's just because Gorgug's never thought about arranging anything for other people that is the key issue here on that, but--Gorgug can appreciate the effort it takes. It's envious, really. He doesn't know how Fabian, Fig, and Kristen do it. ]

I bet a lot of people liked it.

The freshmen seemed to like it.

[ It seems that Fabian is eagerly latching onto this particular compliment. Maybe it's because he really did put a lot of effort into all of it. The moment he realized his friends didn't have time for him anyway after classes and Owlbears practice, it was something to pour time into rather than sitting all alone in a far too empty house.

Not to mention that it filled up the halls, even if it was always just temporary. ]

Which is good, right? I wish someone organized fun lo-fi study nights back when we were freshmen and new to school. [ His tone shifts a little, obviously more light and joking as he adds: ] You know, instead of first day detention.

[ FABIAN.. Whose fault was it that both you and Gorgug were in detention, huh!!

Not Gorgug's!! ]

[ Did we need a reminder of detention and the following death from being in detention?

It's cool, Gorgug's actually really good at emotionally blanking out from that! It's so long ago, right? ]

I would've taken it over a lot of freshman and sophomore. [ HONESTLY... LET'S BE REAL.... Their school years so far have sucked bad!!! ] I mean-- we learned a lot and really grew together as a team, but...

It would've been nice if life wasn't always as crazy.

[ Right? Do those two years feel like a whirlwind of crazy to everyone else, or is that just Gorgug? ]

[ Sometimes Fabian says little things that are so telling, and he doesn't even understand just how telling they are.

Like so: ]

Isn't that what life is like?

[ Sorry, Gorgug. Fabian's life has never not been crazy. If anything, this junior year is almost the most calm period in his life he's had, despite the murders.. and the whole deal with the gods.. ]

I mean, last year and the year before that were a lot like the stuff I was off doing with papa. On a grander scale, yes, but-- it wasn't all that different from everything I did before. [ .. a slight pause, and then: ] It's more fun with you guys though.

[ He'd say to not tell his papa about that last part, but. You know. Even Fabian hardly ever gets to talk to his father, let alone any of the others! ]

[ Imagine being Fabian, already going out on adventures and all that... admittedly, if Fabian ever told them about his previous adventures, Gorgug forgot about it. Huh.

But Fabian saying he liked it with them--that gets a small smile out of Gorgug, and despite what he just said, he already feels the need to tilt his head, admit: ]

I wouldn't take an easy time over being part of a team with you.

[ And everyone else, but does he really need to clarify that? If he had to go through hell and back, then let it be with the Bad Kids. Let it be with Fabian.

He hates the horrors, but he prizes each and every one of them. ]

[ There's a slight pause, like there's a faint hesitation in this. Like even Fabian "overly impulsive" Seacaster is thinking twice about saying this so easily, weighing in his head for a moment whether or not it's appropriate enough to bring up before he says it.

Apparently he's made his decision though, since he does speak up with: ]

I'm glad that you prefer a world where I did punch you on our first day of school over a world where I didn't.

[ L-Look, Gorgug punched him right back? They're even, r-right?! ]

I mean, just imagine where you would've been now if I hadn't. [ Especially since the Bad Kids only ended up as a party together because they were stuck in detention and couldn't form a party with anyone else.. ]

[ You wanna know the reaction you get for saying that, Fabian?

You get a chuckle from Gorgug's throat, a heh where he doesn't open his mouth, but smiles after the fact. Heh. Yeah, that was a weird way to meet someone, huh. But the chuckle can definitely be heard over the call. ]

Terrible. It was worth the detention punching you back. [ ... ] I could've skipped the dying part, but I haven't had to die twice yet, so.

[ So it's a good deal only getting to die once? Unlike Kristen. But Gorgug sounds unperturbed about the whole thing. ]

[ Hey, if Gorgug sounds unperturbed, then of course Fabian isn't going to make a big deal out of it either. Or even think about it too hard. If Gorgug can talk about it so casually, it surely can't be something that's secretly festering deep down in the other, right.

Zero thoughts. Only vibes. ]

Well, at least I am sure there's going to be no dying here. I mean, this place is..

[ His voice trails off for a moment. ]

It is strange. [ That's for sure. It's trying so hard to pretend to be a normal town, but it sure isn't.. ] But it does not exactly seem like there is a secret hidden dragon lurking somewhere either.

There's the robots who show up if you break curfew. [ You know, the companion bots that seem really into killing people who don't comply... ] I don't know if they kill you on sight or if you get a warning... I haven't asked a lot about it.

Riz probably knows.

[ Let's not kid ourselves: they'll just ask Riz about everything going on in the city if they wanna know about it!! ]

Oh, I bet The Ball already knows every single thing there is to know about this place. [ Fabian doesn't even sound sarcastic or annoyed about that. He sounds completely calm and neutral - because it's just a fact, of course. Why wouldn't Riz already know everything? That guy could walk into a room and immediately tell every single important thing about it, Fabian is pretty sure. It's what Riz is good at. ]

.. Curfew kind of sucks though. [ And not just because Fabian, much like some of the other Bad Kids, just doesn't like the concept of rules in general. Though that fact sure doesn't help. ] That means we cannot see each other at all while curfew is going on. Almost as if this place hates fun or something like that.

It's even on the weekends. Who has curfews on weekends? [ ...Plenty of people, but if it's being called a curfew, why does it have to be a bummer! Gorgug is in complete agreement. ]

We should ask around if people do parties, or if we need permission. I don't know that Riz would know about that. I don't think he'd ask.

[ Because the kind of information Riz would ask about....is potentially not the one about winding down and having fun. That's the one thing they can't go to Riz about! ]

[ With absolutely zero hesitation at all: ]

Of course he wouldn't know.

[ Does Fabian believe that Riz is so unbelievably good at smart investigating that he'd already know way more about this place than them? Yes.

Does he also believe that Riz would have zero idea of how they could have fun here? Also yes.

Fabian and Gorgug are of one mind in that regard about the remaining third of their Bad Boys group.. ]

Who would we even need permission from to throw a party though? I mean, I'm.. [ .. well, he doesn't like saying it, but if it might help with a party.. ] I'm a cop. I am the permission, I imagine.

[ whoa.

Whoa. Fabian has unlocked a potential cheat code here, and who knew that being a cop could have any perks? There's research that needs to be put into this, but Gorgug asks after a moment of silence: ]

Can you get us a party permit?

[ Bro. Bro. This place is weird enough to have one of those and can you put out?? ]

[ Whoa.

Whoa 2x combo. ]

You think they have party permits?

[ That's not a skeptical question, for the record. Fabian sounds in awe, like he can't believe Gorgug just thought of this. M-Maybe they could make it happen.

Maybe they can grab.. the party permits!!! ]

[ bro.

Bro.

BRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

You've gotta find out. You're the Maximum Legend. And I think that's what a Maximum Legend does.

[ He really doesn't know, but he thinks he's on track? Maximum Legends hold parties!! ]

[ Well, Fabian can't deny that. Not that he's.. really in the mood to throw a party, with everything that's going on, but..

H-He's got a title to defend! Especially when Gorgug is currently the only one of their entire friend group who understands how important this title is to him! ]

You're right!

[ Which is why, just maybe, Fabian suddenly sounds a little bit too intense about this. ]

I-- I will go look into it right away! You will hear from me! This won't be the end of a Maximum Legend!

[ Yes, Gorgug is absolutely over here understanding a title that he didn't know about until he arrived here. And surely cares a lot about it back home too! ]

Hey. If you're a police guy too, then you have access to the drugs, right? And you can get any alcohol you want. You don't need to go through a Gilear or Ragh.

[ Imagine!!! Just getting alcohol yourself!! ]

Edited 2024-09-13 19:04 (UTC)

[ ....

Judging by that slight pause on Fabian's end, he's considering all of these possibilities. Their sheer magnitude is slowly dawning on him. ]

Well, I-- I am not just a cop! I am also an adult!

[ You hear that, Gorgug? He's an adult now! He's the adultiest adult you have ever met! ]

That means I could do all adult things either way, regardless of my occupation! If even a man like Gilear could do them, then I can do them even more so!

[ This. This is what the mission is actually about!!! ]

What are you gonna do? You can do all the adult things-- what's that mean? [ What do adults do? What do adults do-- ] Are you gonna move in with someone?

[ He couldn't think of anything else!!! But he's asking excitedly, at least. Fabian, what are you going to do with this new power of yours?! ]

[ Fabian considers this for a moment, but.. this place seems like it wouldn't just let them move in with anyone, right. Why else would it place him and his friends all in separate houses? ]

Who would I even move in with, Gorgug?

[ T-There's no girl he's crushing on here, okay! M.. maybe! Some girls he knows here are pretty cute, but-- y-- you know!!

He's trying to not think about it too much before he gets flustered! ]

Do you want to live with me?

You want me to live with you? What, like your kid? I don't know they'd make me your husband.

[ Considering he's been put in as someone's kid, would that work....? Should he ask?

He sounds like he's thinking about this, his tone not joking. Just--you know they put him in a house as a kid, right bro!! ]

[ He's about to say it was hypothetical, but..

.. yeah, this stuff just happens with Gorgug, doesn't it. He tends to take things just a little bit too seriously, immediately giving every single thing that comes across some Thoughtful Consideration.. It's probably wasted breath to explain that he was just being hypothetical after what Gorgug said, and that Gorgug's answer isn't even really answering his hypothetical question as much as it's turning it around, but--

He's just going along with it now. ]

As my friend!

[ D-Dude, don't make it weird! Don't let this place make it weird! ]

What does this place have against a bunch of friends living together as friends, huh? There is absolutely nothing strange about that! [ Let bros be bros!!! ]

[ Wow, bro, why is he only a hypothetical to you... :( ]

Oh. No, it isn't. [ Fortunately, Gorgug just follows this natural progression of the conversation--where he's corrected loudly and exasperatedly--like a normal thing. Just like friends living together. ] You can ask. You can find other single guys and live in a house with them. As friends. It's not weird. It won't be weird.

[ Not weird at all, Fabian. See? Doesn't that sound totally not weird? ]

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