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[ 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. ]

Nothing from Elmville I've seen.

[ It's not like the place is huge, but.. well, with all of the random stuff happening around, it can sometimes be a little bit difficult to navigate. Sometimes you can't even recognize a certain area because of all the new things there..

So there could be something from Elmville around. But if it's there, then Fabian sure hasn't noticed something. ]

No one else from Elmville aside from you, me, Adaine, the Ball and Adaine's sister either. [ No Aelwyn, thanks. Fabian is distancing himself from his embarrassing past as fast as he can!! WATCH HIM GO!! ] Not to mention that the Ball and Adaine arrived here together with me, but you two didn't show up until on that spaceship. I don't even know if she made it off there and to this place the way you did or not. [ Fabian shrugs a little. Finally done with the bowl of cereal he was filling up, he reaches over to pull open the right drawer for Gorgug. At least he figures the other is probably looking for the eating utensils, right.. ] How do you make sense of any of that? I don't think even the Ball could, though he sure is trying.

[ Nothing is more athletic than Fabian trying to dodge his history with Aelwyn.

If Gorgug notices, he doesn't say anything--mainly because Fabian talks enough that he wouldn't get the chance. He does look down to the opened drawer, and reaches in and takes out a--knife. Not spoon. Oh, thanks, that's where those are, Fabian!!!

So now Gorgug is standing there with his knife, about to go over and get a sample of that gooey substance, but, speaking to Fabian first...! ]

You wanna look for Aelwyn? She could've come in a building. With a building? I don't know what kinda building she would come in.

[ Is Gorgug strange, or is Etraya strange? ]

[ ....

............

..................

Gorgug, you sure are making his attempts to dodge Aelwyn so much harder when you're forcing him to roll twice in a row for it. Especially after the first one was already a successful roll! So rude!!

It leaves Fabian awkwardly quiet for a moment, until he slowly says: ]

Don't you think Adaine is likely already looking for her? [ S-So Fabian doesn't have to, right? Bud? Pal???? ]

[ Is she? It's not that Gorgug doesn't think she would, but there's also something very telling that--honestly, if Gorgug had spent any time thinking about it before, he might've been able to figure out about Aelwyn and Fabian. About how that stopped being a thing, and there was no knowing why it stopped being a thing because Fabian--stopped talking about it. Zip. Zilch. And Gorgug's never been the sort to really ask (he forgets to be nosey), on top of having his own break-up with Zelda and them dealing with the Night Yorb and all... ]

Yeah. [ Yes, true. But Gorgug is looking at you, Fabian, with a curious hold of his brow. ] But you don't want to?

[ Some people would be able to pick up on things or infer them, at least.

Sorry, Fabian, but Gorgug is slower than that. He's at least not aiming to be anything but curious about the question!

But is it that awkward, bro? Is it that bad?? ]

[ It's killing him that Gorgug is asking him about it so directly.

And the worst part is that Fabian knows it's not even on purpose. It might be with some of their other friends. He can imagine Fig or Kristen being unable to not tease someone over something like this. He can imagine Riz and Adaine being a little too investigative in their own ways.

But with Gorgug it's just that the other has zero clue that Fabian is radiating the feeling of not wanting to talk about it, and that makes it somehow feel worse. Like Fabian could have avoided this if Gorgug's braincells had rubbed up against each other a little harder.

He opens his mouth, feels unsure about his answer, closes it again before saying a thing. Fabian glances off to the side as his eyebrows slowly knit together into a frown. It makes him give off a bit of an impression of a sulking child. ]

No. I mean-- It's--

[ UGH!!!!!

Fabian throws his arms up into the air. Dramatically. It's a good thing he was done with the cereal, or there would have been a spoon flying through the air and milk everywhere. ]

I don't think I am the one she wants to see right now, okay?! [ He doesn't even seem angry as much as he just seems embarrassed.. ]

[ The cogs click, click, click.... ]

...

[ --ah, they're starting to turn, and... ]

Oh. [ Oh, Fabian. Do you like the sound of that oh? That comes directly after you admit that the girl doesn't want to see you, and all the implications that can give--and the unfavourable ones that are being taken? Because this is where Gorgug's braincells rubbing together have gotten him. ]

Okay... [ Like there is a landmine that could go off if Gorgug probes this line of questioning, and you know, he doesn't really want to. And he sounds exactly like a guy that wants to avoid mines, which is pretty easy when he figures to switch subjects. ]

Is my cereal ready?

[ 'Cause he's still kinda hungry. ]

[ Oh no.

Not the oh. Anything but that oh. If Fabian was feeling awkward enough about this topic already, that little oh makes it feel like Gorgug just decided to drive straight over Fabian's heart with a bulldozer, however unintentional.

Maybe that's why Fabian is suddenly very focused on this bowl of cereal instead, feeling his face heat up with embarrassment as he quickly slides it over to his friend. Even though his brain is desperately trying to find some way to come back from this.

Yes, he did want Gorgug to realize he didn't want to see Aelwyn, but-- like-- not like this, dude!!

It's why Fabian does the world's most natural thing. As he's sliding the bowl over to Gorgug, Fabian is sliding right along with it, ending up relatively close to his friend as he asks the world's most normal question while giving him the cereal: ]

I-- I am hot, right?!

[ BRO!!!

BRO, IT'S NOT THAT HE'S UNATTRACTIVE, HE SWEARS!! BRO!!! ]

[ Gorgug is getting Fabian with his breakfast cereal, apparently. Oh no. What? ]

Yes??? [ There is a potential for a panic brewing here, where Gorgug says that (how convincingly?), but then is spinning in his own head as: ] Wait, is that a trick question? Are you tricking me? Is that bad?

[ Bro, dude, bro, dude?? He's got his hands on his cereal bowl like he needs to be ready to protect it, or just because he wasn't given the chance to do anything but grab it.

FABIAN DOESN'T WANT TO BE COLD, DOES HE? ]

No, I just need you to tell me that I am hot!

[ It's that simple, Gorgug! Very simple instructions! Forget that you already said yes a moment ago, apparently Fabian needs.. another yet?! More elaboration on said yes?! Who even knows.

Maybe it's not that simple after all. ]

You can't think that I'm not hot, Gorgug! [ Because that's clearly what he was doing, right. He thinks Fabian ruined all his chances with Aelwyn because Fabian isn't hot enough or something. Right?! F-Fabian can't let that thought exist in anyone's mind! Absolutely not!

At least he isn't touching Gorgug's cereal bowl, so that's safe.. But Fabian seems weirdly intense aside from that. ]

[ It doesn't matter if Fabian's forgotten the bowl of cereal exists. Gorgug's wrapping an arm around it and holding it close to him. He knows how his friends can get when they're intense! His bowl of cereal might still be on the line! ]

You want me to think you're hot for the rest of my life? [ Is this the request? The mission? They may have been talking about Fabian and Aelwyn, but the Aelwyn part has been thrown out of the conversation, in Gorgug's mind. ]

I have to call you hot. [ ???? That is a question. This is now a 100% about Fabian and him being hot and Gorgug is too scared to ask why. He just needs to know the details of this contract where things don't end badly (for Gorgug specifically). ]

[ One dramatic boy and Gorgug is fearing for his life.. Or at least for his cereal.. ]

You don't have to tell me it! [ .. because it might be kind of weird? Fabian feels like it'd be kind of weird to have a bro calling him hot, even if the acknowledgement might be nice at the same time. ]

You just-- You only have to think it!

[ Is this any clearer now, Gorgug?

(It probably isn't.)

Fabian does not realize as much, but thankfully for the other, he is still rambling. And there might be a bit of an explanation in the rambling. ]

You absolutely cannot think that things did not work out because I am not hot enough! That's not it! That would never be it!

[ The biggest problem with whatever is happening here is that Gorgug can't be eating his cereal during it. ...or, okay, it's not the biggest problem, but his cereal is sitting there and he can't eat it?

What is going on right now. ]

I didn't think that! I thought she got bored of you or you said something stupid to make her leave!

[ What does hotness even have to do with it!! Fabian looks absolutely the same as he always has, and being hot has always been a part of that!!

Bro! ]

[ Wow.

Gorgug may as well have hit Fabian with his axe, really. It has just about the same impact as those words. The half-elf looks utterly shocked, like he'll have to pick up his jaw off the floor at this rate. ]

You--

[ He doesn't even say anything more for a moment or two. His mouth opens and closes helplessly, probably with some sputtered sounds that make no real sense coming out of it in the process.

You've crashed his brain, Gorgug! This is your fault! You're saying the one thing he didn't want to hear here! ]

You think that'd happen?! [ W-Why does Fabian kind of sound like he's on the verge of tears.. ]

[ someone saaaaave hiiiiiim

What is he supposed to say? No? Take it back? Gorgug doesn't think that's going to get him out of this, even though it's the one thing he desperately wants--as much as he just wants to eat his cereal. Fabian is a car crash that he can't look away from, like doing so might just make him explode....

So what can he do? Try to smile really poorly and sloowly....shake his....head.....

N-noooo, buddy...... he totally doesn't.....!!!! ]

Gorgug!

[ The entire apartment building probably heard that wail. It was that loud. Sorry, Gorgug, but apparently your reaction was entirely unconvincing to poor Fabian's easily bruised feelings... ]

Why would you think that about me?! I can't believe you'd think that about me!

[ His eyes are definitely filling with tears this time around.

Sorry, bro. He's sniffing. He's sniffing!! ]

No one would ever get bored of me!

[ Says the guy who is currently about to cry at the thought of one person assuming that anyone would.. Maybe people would not be bored of this, but certainly tired of this, Fabian.

[ HELP RIZ HELP

Because Gorgug isn't helping this situation. All he wants to do is to eat his cereal, but how is he supposed to when Fabian is about to full on cry? He's trapped. He's stuck. How does he get out of this? ]

No! [ That's a no that's in agreement! Of course not, bro! ] No one got bored of anyone! Nothing like that happened! I don't even know what I'm talking about!

[ What's a distraction? What could help him?!

...Gorgug holds out his bowl. ]

Do you want a bite? Have a bite!

[ Eat away the sadness! ]

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