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[ At least Fabian can't blame Gorgug for spending more time away from them when the circumstances are like this. If he had any ability whatsoever that seemed like it could get their friend out of those mirror shards, then Fabian would be doing the same thing Gorgug is doing right now - but he doesn't. He's looked into it, he's thought about it, he's talked about it with Riz since the other is usually better at figuring out how to tackle things that are more complex than 'just jump right into the situation and figure it out from there' - which has always been Fabian's prefered solution to things like these.

But he knows at this point there's unfortunately nothing he can do. Maybe it's nothing new in this place. Has there been anything he has been particularly good at? It doesn't feel like it. All he can do is hope that Gorgug can work out some sort of solution. If it's within his abilities, then.. surely he will. Fabian knows how much Gorgug seems to have taken to the artificing side of things, no matter how little Fabian himself knows about what that actually entails in a case like this. A lot of working in his lab, apparently.

It's getting late, though. And Gorgug still hasn't come back to the apartment. Surely sleeping in the lab can't be all that comfortable either, so though Fabian waffles on the decision for a little while, in the end he decides to take the Hangman out for a ride towards the lab. Maybe he can take Gorgug back to their apartment that way, which will cut down on the time it takes to walk back from the lab instead.

Though Fabian steps off the Hangman outside of the lab, the bike follows him into it all the same. It's not like Fabian is the only person worried about Gorgug here, after all. The Hangman is similarly fond of the half-orc, and though a bike can't exactly look worried, that look surely is evident in Fabian's gaze as he enters, even though he's formed his mouth into a smile. ]

.. hey, Gorgug.

[ He doesn't start speaking as loudly as Fabian usually does, not wanting to startle this friend when it definitely seems like Gorgug is still working, with the way he's sitting at his desk.

Sitting at his desk, and.. uh.. not doing much, apparently. Or maybe he is? What the hell does Fabian know about artificer work, really. ]

Is everything alright over here? It's getting kind of late, so I thought I'd come check in on you. [ He pauses, momentarily glances over his shoulder, and then turns back to look at Gorgug again. ] Oh, and the Hangman too.

[ The latter doesn't speak up yet, like it doesn't want to rudely interrupt an important Talk between his master and his master's friend, but it does let out a very motor-esque sound that's likely meant to be agreement. ]

[ He doesn't realise Fabian is speaking to him, initially. That is, he picks something up, his name, he thinks, but it's like a dream: a noise he thinks he's hearing than anything actual real. A trick of the mind than anything grounded in reality.

Except there's a voice still speaking, words, and it's not actually until Fabian's mentioning checking in on him that Gorgug turns his head to look at him. His gaze confused, which is normal for him, but--he's not focused on him clearly. Fabian is there--or is he? Was he always there? Gorgug looks back at his hands, at the screen a little way up, and...was he talking with Fabian?

He moves slowly, out of it; turning his hands so the palms face up, before he lowers them down onto the table with a ] Yeah [ spoken, in the hopes that he said something that actually matches whatever Fabian just said. He didn't hear him right. The world is shifting out of place.

Sorry, give him, like... five minutes. Maybe ten. To get the emptiness ringing out from between his ears despite the life actually present.

(But is this real? Maybe this isn't real.) ]

Gorgug..?

[ Fabian can't help but call the other's name again, because.. there's clearly something wrong here, even if he can't put his finger on it right away. Gorgug looks fine, after all. Outwardly there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him, it's just that his reaction is definitely strange.

And not just to him, apparently. It only takes a moment of silence before the Hangman is already revving up, a start of Sire--, but Fabian holds out a hand towards the bike, indicating that he's got this.

Which the Hangman seems to believe, since it turns around to instead do what it does best - guard the entrance to Gorgug's lab. Like a loyal guard ~~dog~~ bike.

It gives Fabian the room to instead step over towards where Gorgug seems weirdly spaced out. He puts a hand on his friend's shoulder, hoping that it might catch the other's attention a little bit more and root him. ]

You seem out of it. [ To put it mildly.

Bro. :( He's worried. ]

[ The revving, though perhaps the Hangman should've been enough noise before for him, does seem to worm itself into Gorgug's ears some. There's a complaint he should be whining about bringing the bike into his lab (as much as he likes the Hangman, it's his lab!), but the thought doesn't occur to Gorgug in a way that it connects. Doesn't seem worth making, or saying.

But then Fabian's in his view and Gorgug looks at him, their height level with Gorgug's place in his chair. He seems out of it--Gorgug looks down in an action that could be taken as sheepish, but he finally does bring his hanging hands towards himself, near his stomach. ]

Sorry. I'm not... [ What can he say? He trails, starting before he even knows what to say, before tugging his mouth aside in a half-hearted smile. ] I think I'm tired. And I'm worried about....everyone.

[ It makes sense, doesn't it? That he wouldn't a full 100% percent, and it's not that he doesn't feel bad. He feels bad for everyone stuck in that mirror, and he's here trying to recreate a procedure that he never paid attention to the details for back in freshman year. He still thought palimpsests had to be cleaned phones. ]

[ There's nothing I think about Gorgug being tired from Fabian's point of view. It's clear the other is tired, especially when Fabian may have seen Gorgug space out at times ever since getting to know the other, but nothing to this extent. Even the reason for the fatigue is clear, given what Gorgug had been working on. Of course he would have given it his all if it was to save other people - to save Adaine.

Something that's reflected in the very next thing he says, making Fabian's expression grow a little less worried and instead just.. more generally soft. He smiles, hoping that it's reassuring, despite his own worries about their friend. ]

I think it's time for you to sleep. [ Not here, of course. Fabian doubts Gorgug is going to get some good sleep if he's constantly surrounded by a physical reminder of the work he has to do. ] I know you're worried. I am too.

[ He admits. ]

But I don't think you sitting here and tiring yourself out is going to bring Adaine back. [ Fabian slowly pulls his hand off the other's shoulder now that he's sure he's gotten Gorgug's attention. ] If you get some rest, then you will be able to think about the problem more clearly afterwards.

[ Fabian's probably right. There's a part of him that does want to protest, while the other part still feels foggy-minded, cloudy on doing anything. And it's a larger, fuzzier part of his head than the other.

He turns in his chair so he can face Fabian better, looking up at him and humming nonchalantly for as a response. Before he lowers his head, leaning forward slightly to let it rest against Fabian's torso, without really being close enough to support any weight on him. ]

...I'm sorry we're not doing anything again. I-- [ 'haven't abandoned you'? No, that sounds weird. ] ...Are you lonely?

[ Ah, no, that's weird too. He scoots back his head. ] I know Riz is around, but after the stuff we talked about, you know, I wanted to know you weren't feeling bad. That you're okay.

[ Just for a moment, Gorgug's head leans against him.

Just for a moment, Fabian is very tempted to play with the other's hair a little bit - but then Gorgug's head is already gone, pulled back once more, and instead he's saying all of these things. Thinking of Fabian, even though he looks like he could just drop asleep here on his desk from how worried he must be about Adaine. No matter how dramatic Fabian has been about the whole attention matter, it's not like he's going to be an attention hog right now. Not at a moment like this - even though it sure makes his heart feel like it's swelling to know that Gorgug is thinking about him at all. ]

I'm okay.

[ It's why he doesn't hesitate to say that, smiling at his friend. Sure, he is also worried like hell about Adaine. He's worried about Riz and Gorgug too, who are both tiring themselves out - Riz with his investigation into it all, Gorgug with his attempts to create some sort of solution to the situation. He's still mad as hell at this place over it all.

But-- lonely? Well, he misses his friends, but right now it is so not Fabian time. Right now he can be okay, because that's the only thing he can go to support his friends. Be there for them, instead. ]

Just worried about you, man. [ He gently nudges the other with an elbow. ] I don't think I have seen you leave this place in days.

It's school all over.

[ It's a joke, but not entirely untrue, lacking in the bloodrush games that means that Gorgug has to come out and smell the sun and the occasional bloodied nose (not always his own). Except he's been more aware of his shortcomings, the time not spent with friends, the way he's struggling against a fix to a problem he has no business solving.

And will it ever be enough?, some voice in him whispers, his company at times in this lab. Nothing you do will ever be good enough for anyone.

Why is he bothering? He tells himself it's for Adaine, for Rosie; he reminds himself it has to be for everyone. But it's not a lie, is it? He cares about his friends deeply. They care about him.

He knows the feeling isn't fake, a small smile fitted on his lips. He's not pretending at all. ]

I was actually... I was planning to make you something before the next mission. For your birthday. [ He had been looking at Fabian, but glances down shyly at admitting this. ] I've, um, been trying to work on it for a while, but-- it's usually a hat in some examples? So was Adaine's, but I'm not actually any good at hats, and I didn't think you or Adaine--you wouldn't want to wear hats if they don't look good. And they weren't looking very good.

But I was thinking, [ he continues on, from what must be a very abrupt and sudden topic, looking at Fabian with that smile now a worried pinched, ] is a bangle okay? You seem like a bangle guy.

[ There's explanation that might've been good here, a better build up to this subject or some reasoning that Gorgug jumped to this, but--first, is a bangle okay? A bangle, dude? ]

[ It's definitely an abrupt and sudden topic. And-- well, it's not like Fabian is going to kid himself to think that's what Gorgug was really doing in here. Maybe back when he first got the lab, when Fabian was busy throwing fits about robot hand holding and all, but he knows that recently nothing can have consumed Gorgug's days other than the very obvious problem they are dealing with in this place.

And maybe there is a logical explanation as to why the other's thoughts ended up at this topic. Or maybe it's just that Gorgug is so tired right now that all of his thoughts are blending together. Either way-- ]

Of course a bangle is fine.

[ --of course he has to reassure his friend first. Gorgug looks so worried and tired and kind of sad right now that doing anything else would feel like kicking a small puppy. Absolutely unforgivable. It doesn't matter that Gorgug is one of the few people that can tower over him, or that Fabian would lose every single arm wrestling match that didn't involve some sort of cheating from Gorgug. He seems weirdly vulnerable in this moment, and it's Fabian's natural instinct to take care of that, to lift up his friends when they are low.

Still, given what the situation is like, part of said reassurance has to be: ]

But I also think I'm about one of the last people you should be thinking about right now. [ No matter how much Fabian whines for attention at.. well, any other given time, let's be real. He's not going to be the sort of asshole that demands for it when Adaine is trapped, when Gorgug is letting himself fall apart right in front of Fabian's eyes. ] I think we can both agree to put Adaine on the first place of the list of people you should be thinking about right now, but I feel like Gorgug should be second place on there, don't you think?

[ He counts on his fingers in a way that's clearly that Fabian brand of dramatic and play-acted, before adding with a tone that's just as light as the act itself. ]

I think I can settle for.. you know, maybe seventh or something. Just this once.

[ Sure, it's touching that Gorgug wanted to make anything for him at all - just because he hadn't been around for the birthday party, something he's sure no one blames Gorgug for at all - but there's no time to linger on that before Gorgug thinks he really has to take Fabian into consideration when the half-orc looks like he could pass out right here in his lab. ]

[ Seventh place. Fabian doesn't deserve seventh place, or at least, he wouldn't truly want that, right? When Fabian's felt so vulnerable about his place in their relationship already. They talked about it, they sorted it out, but it's there in the not-so-far back of Gorgug's mind now that Fabian's bringing up his place in Gorgug's considerations. He's reassuring him that's it all okay, but Gorgug looks at him like he's trying to figure out if that's the truth, while also trying to hide what he's doing, too.

Which means he doesn't really figure anything out before he looks away. The verdict in his head is doubtful, deciding that Fabian probably cares more about getting him back to the apartments and rested--so he can get back to helping Adaine, and nothing else. That's why he wants to be seventh, right?

(He doesn't care about a bangle, does he? Thinks the voice in his head further. He thinks you're lying. He just wants you to save Adaine and be done with it, and a bangle's a stupid present. You didn't even say what it does, and he wants you to put him at seventh because you don't matter to him.) ]

...Okay. [ He pauses, wants to say more--'I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you', 'I want to put you closer to first', or even 'I'll put you at seventh, if that's what you want'--but his jaw refuses to unlock, and so he stands up onto his feet instead than try. Pulls a smile tight on his mouth, even if he doesn't look Fabian in the face when he does, quickly busying himself with his computer so he can put it in a powered down state.

It gives him an excuse not to look at Fabain, and that helps. ]

Can I get a ride with you? I can walk, [ he hurries to add. Did Fabian already offer? Gorgug can't remember, his head feels heavy, and he shouldn't presume. Maybe he should walk anyway. You know, even if Fabian is right there. Even if it's kinda far. ] Or I could just sleep here.

[ Because Fabian just came to tell him to stop, or something. His train of thought is very good and smart right now. ]

[ Of course Fabian has absolutely no idea of everything going through Gorgug's mind right now. He's not Adaine. He has no fancy Detect Thoughts spell.

But what he does have are his instincts. That, and his knowledge of Gorgug as a friend. Even if he doesn't fully know what's going on, it feels like there's something wrong. Something more than just Gorgug being exhausted, because Fabian is pretty sure anyone could tell that about the other guy right now even without having to know him on a personal level. It's the way he's-- making excuses, almost, the way he asks for something and then immediately reduces it to something unnecessary, like helping Gorgug is an unnecessary thing right now.

As if Fabian would mind giving Gorgug a ride on the Hangman when there's clearly room for two on his bike.

He can't guess what the hell specifically is wrong though. So rather than even trying to figure it out, Fabian opts for the more direct route. The one where he reaches out, a hand landing on Gorgug's arm as the other is fiddling with the computer. ]

Hey. [ Fabian starts, and then pauses - like he's hoping his friend will look at him.

Even if Gorgug doesn't do that though, Fabian will still continue to talk after a second. ]

What are you thinking about? You can tell me if something is wrong. [ The last thing they need is another dumb misunderstanding. ] And don't say nothing is wrong. I can tell you are thinking about something.

[ Gorgug doesn't look. He makes a show like he might, when there's a second of silence where Fabian doesn't keep speaking; turning his head, but not making eye contact--just a sound, a 'mm?' to show he's paying attention.

But regardless, the fact that Fabian says what he does--he feels stupid. He isn't sure if anything going through his head makes sense, or--does he believe any of that? Is he being weirdly emotional for no reason? Gorgug can't get his thoughts straight, even with Fabian there beside him asking him what's wrong.

The crystal computer shuts down, and he exhales; tries to find in his own mind what's reasonable to even bring up or say without dismissing Fabian's concern entirely. But none of it, reflecting back, feels right. ]

I'm a little-- I'm a lot tired. My head feels weird. Sorry, I, I kinda don't know what I should be doing right now.

[ He turns to Fabian as he says it, his gaze hard to keep on the other at first. But he rubs at his face like it might help his situation, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes to give them a good rub, too.

Then he looks at Fabian, standing there, the same old Fabian, and tries to not think about any places, sixth or seventh or eighth. It doesn't matter. He's being stupid right now. ]

I'm okay. Let's get Adaine, then-- I'm gonna sleep. I'll sleep for a week.

[ A lot tired sounds about right. Though it's a little concerning if these are the places Gorgug's mind goes to when he's tired. Is that an usual thing? Is it this place getting to him, or Adaine being in trouble getting to him, or maybe everything getting to him at once-- Fabian can't tell, but he knows he worries. ]

Look, not to sound like Jawbone here or anything.

[ Because god knows that the male half of their party loves to do nothing more than run away from him whenever he starts like this. Or-- well, Riz and Fabian, anyway, since the way they're unwell is a little more visible. ]

But it's okay to not be okay. Or whatever he'd say. And by that I mean-- You need to rest now. I'm making an executive decision here, alright? If you don't watch out, I'm going to proclaim myself party leader and force your ass to bed regularly. [ Wouldn't that be so scary, Gorgug!! Just imagine it!!

He moves to put his hands on the other's cheek - mostly to keep Gorgug's head in place. To avoid letting the other look away from him again when Fabian says: ]

You're going to get with me on the Hangman, and then I'll bring you back to the apartment for some sleep. Then we'll go back here and work out the Adaine situation first thing in the morning, alright? Just as long as I am convinced you are well rested enough for it. [ He shakes his head. ] You know she would not want you to completely tear yourself apart like this for her sake.

[ There's the start of a small; small, sheepish, around the point of Fabian calling himself team party leader and all his horrid threats. They're not bad--Fabian's got a point, and he would've agreed around then, if not what happens next. A gesture that shouldn't lead to anything, but--

Fabian touches his cheek. Tilts it to put Gorgug's attention on him, and Gorgug does look at him, his eyes on Fabian's one as he tells him the plan, what they're going to do. And he's listening--he is. He's also noting how Fabian's hands are nice to the touch, his skin calloused, but it's not the first time Gorgug's noticed that.

The change is small, subtle. But his eyes do look away, if briefly: down to Fabian's lips, the view of his collarbone peeking out, and Gorgug doesn't need to think hard. His mind remembers their disaster of a spar, and why his mind goes places to see Fabian's skin.

...Fabian's being nice to him, and he has thoughts like that. He wouldn't be standing this close to him if he knew--he wouldn't be offering to give him a ride if he knew.

Gorgug doesn't immediately respond. He closes his eyes, nodding his head in agreement when he can't get the words out first. But, with that done: ] --Sleep, sleep first. That's what I meant. Promise.

[ His eyes open as he speaks, but looking at Fabian the way he's holding him to is a struggle he can't keep up, and Gorgug raises his hands to take Fabian's, gently lowering them while spreading his mouth into as reassuring of a smile as he can muster. ]

Let's go, captain, [ he says, to encourage Fabian to get moving--to not have them linger. He's ready, please, he's ready. He can't keep having Fabian look at him like this. ]

[ See, the problem here is that Fabian could clearly realize something was wrong with Gorgug a moment ago, but there's no way he's going to realize that any of this is going on inside of the other guy's mind now. To Fabian it just looks like Gorgug finally managed to realize somewhere inside of his sleep-deprived mind that Fabian was right about this whole thing, and it just makes him smile at the other, easily allowing Gorgug to grab Fabian's hands and lower them.

He's still staring for a moment though. Sorry, Gorgug. It's not terribly long in reality, but it might feel longer in Gorgug's mind when he's already so occupied with these thoughts.. ]

Great, let's go.

[ Then he finally - mercifully, perhaps - turns away to start heading out of the lab. If Gorgug was still holding onto Fabian's hand, then he's not bothering to pry it out of Gorgug's grip. Might as well tug him along to make sure he really is following him, rather than grabbing any excuse he can get to stay in the lab.

The Hangman is already waiting outside, and Fabian will at least definitely let go of his friend's hand so he can settle in on top of his bike, leaving an empty spot in the back for Gorgug. ]

Come on, get on. We will be back in no time thanks to the Hangman.

[ Gorgug doesn't keep a hold of that hand--what right does he for the contact, that he deserves to? But he follows Fabian's lead all the same, happy to keep behind him unless Fabian tells him to hurry it. Then again, it's only for as long as it takes for them to get outside to the Hangman, where all the while... Gorgug wants to say something, desperately.

I don't feel good. I don't feel good.

It's trapped there in his throat, kept in place by the shame. He might not be looking Fabian in the face (soft features, his smile cool-looking on that face), but he can't get rid of the feeling that he's doing something so bad. And-- and he understands the reason, but why? Why is he feeling this bad about it, right now? When he couldn't keep his head on straight before Fabian showed up here.

He doesn't speak to the Hangman once they arrive to him. He keeps quiet, hums in the affirmative when Fabian speaks, and gets onto the back of the motorcycle with him, placing his feet either side of the back wheel. It's not the hardest part: that's reserved for his mind telling him to put his arms around Fabian's waist, lean in. It makes his skin burn between the layers of his clothes, and he ignores it, knows he'll ignore it by putting his hands on Fabian's shoulders instead.

The sooner they get back, the sooner he can get to bed. He needs to stop thinking about everything now--he needs his thoughts to stop racing like he's going to suffer a heart attack. ]

[ Fabian takes off practically the moment they're seated - like he doesn't want to give Gorgug time to change his mind about this, to decide that he wants to hang back all the same, like the easiest solution to the other's condition isn't obviously just to spend a night in a comfortable bed. Away from the work that's been driving him crazy.

It's why the hands on his shoulders also stand out to him. That's just how it usually works whenever the guys are hitching a ride on the Hangman, after all, and Fabian knows that Gorgug is strong enough to easily be able to hold on just by his hands resting on Fabian's shoulders like that.

Fabian does attempt to make some small talk along the ride, but most of it is replied to more by the Hangman - another thing Fabian doesn't really find too strange. Gorgug is tired. Fabian's more just trying to entertain himself during the ride, and he talks to the Hangman often enough while they're driving. It feels relatively normal.

So when they reach the apartment building and get off the bike, Fabian just smiles at Gorgug like nothing is up. ]

Told you, right? No time at all! The Hangman truly is a marvel, I don't know how we ever did anything here without him.

[ Depending on how much Gorgug might or might not feel like answering though, it seems the bike has got him covered in not leaving an awkward silence hanging here, considering it roars with a: Sire, your praise makes me feel as if I were back in the Nine Hells..! ]

Anyway, Gorgug, you think you can still walk up some stairs right now?

[ The air does something. Help, maybe, but it might be fairer to contribute that to the Hangman's speed than solely to the wind whipping at their faces for it. Gorgug doesn't have to think, he doesn't, and he uses the noise of the ride to cancel out his brain from focusing on anything--on thinking about Fabian in front of him, the idea of slipping his hands lower down his waist.

(He doesn't think about it. He doesn't feel it, the need, to do it.)

It goes on long enough--that and the sound of Fabian's words that he half-heartedly listens to, gives short responses to--and he's feeling something in control of himself by the time that the vehicle comes to a stop. The apartments are a sight of relief, and he gets off with a hand brushing over his face and hair; but he does manage to acknowledge the Hangman, joining in Fabian's praises with a ] Thanks, Hangman.

[ You know, nice and simple. He's looking back at the apartments again, the one that houses their flat, but looks at Fabian when he asks his question. ]

I'm okay. [ He must seem that pathetic right now, huh. But Gorgug works a smile to reassure Fabian on his face, and he starts towards the building to show that he's not that out of it. ] I'll go straight to bed when we get in. [ A beat. ] ...how about you?

[ At the thanks from Gorgug as well, the Hangman roars its engine in appreciation - though it doesn't say anything more, perhaps wanting to give its master a chance to answer Gorgug's inquiry instead without interfering. ]

Ah, I'm not that tired. [ He says, followed up by a shake of his head. Sure, this place has been tiring him out for months in a sense - but Fabian knows there's only so much he can do about Adaine and the others' predicament in comparison to Gorgug. He's been asking around about it, trying to put people's talents to work, but.. that's all he can do. He can't even push himself to pull all-nighters working on it even if he'd want to.

So it's not like he's lying. Compared to Gorgug, he definitely looks more well-rested. ]

I was thinking of getting some practice in instead. [ He moves his hips from side to side a little to implicate he means dance practice, not sword practice, and then starts to head into the apartment building, looking back at Gorgug as he walks. ] But first I have to make sure you're really going to sleep, and not just sit there and worry. Or try to sneak back out to your lab.

[ He wouldn't put it past you at this point, Gorgug! ]

[ Fabian's fussing should be seen as playful, affectionate--thinking about a friend who's so tired that he's not speaking straight, and Gorgug should see that. But maybe he isn't thinking so straight, and he just sees the effort being put forward. It does make Gorgug slow his steps, since: ]

I won't. I'll go to sleep--I'll go straight there. [ He's looking at Fabian, but if he's looking back at Gorgug, he'll gesture his head back at the Hangman. ] Are you going somewhere, or out here? You don't have to follow me....

[ He could be planning to do it in the living room, though....their place is kind of messy in that too full way that Gorgug doubts would be satisfying for Fabian (Riz jumps and climbs on anything he pleases, but he's Riz, there's a height difference). So there's probably somewhere else he wants to be, and if Fabian can be a bro, shouldn't Gorgug be a bro back? ]

I'm okay, [ he tries to reassure. Maybe he needs to do that? He feels like he needs to do that, even if he can't quite grasp the need for Fabian to worry, or-- do anything about him.

(Seventh place.) ]

[ There's something about Gorgug's behaviour today that Fabian really can't fully place. He keeps trying to blame it on the other's sleeplessness, but it doesn't feel right. Even if Gorgug is really tired, surely his brain wouldn't keep going around in these circles, right?

And yet it's like every single thing Fabian says somehow manages to point Gorgug back to this point. To trying to push Fabian away, get him to do something else. Anything else that isn't focusing on Gorgug or helping him.

What's up with that? Gorgug is never like that. Fabian can't remember a single instance. ]

What if I want to go with you?

[ So he just decides to lean into it. Pointing out what Gorgug is doing didn't go over well earlier, so he doesn't want to do that. This feels like the easiest way to instead do it. The most Fabian-like way. It'll probably just seem natural if he says it like this with a light and playful tone, especially when he turns to look at Gorgug with that typical Fabian smile. ]

Edited 2024-11-04 12:33 (UTC)

[ Fabian may be finding something odd about Gorgug, but Gorgug finds it strange that Fabian wants to come with him. Why? Is this a test? If it's easier to just stay downstairs than to go all the way to their apartment or bed again, why isn't Fabian going for the more logical answer in this situation? It makes him feel tense in a way he can't explain, like Fabian truly doesn't believe him--or can't trust him, and...

Doesn't he have a good reason for that? Because he's Gorgug.

He bows his head, looking at his hands for a second. ]

Why? I'm not gonna get lost.

[ He opts for a joking tone, trying for the same effect as Fabian's voice seems to be going for. If reassuring Fabian that he's okay doesn't work, then won't making it sound like he doesn't need to be babied be the better route? Fabian can relax, he doesn't need to watch out for him. ]

[ With them wandering into the building, Fabian takes a quick few steps ahead of them - almost like leaps, though it's not fully jumping. It's almost more like he's dancing, especially when he jumps up onto the first staircase and twirls himself around by the guardrails to face Gorgug again, an easy smile on his face. ]

Maybe I want to.

[ If it wasn't for the fact that they have established the mood of just being two friends joking around with each other right now, that could definitely sound like flirting, especially combined with the expression on Fabian's face.

In fact, if anyone else happened to be entering the apartments at the same time as them and witnessed this, they might assume the same thing, especially with Gorgug looking faintly embarrassed. ]

Have you considered that yet?

[ It is friendly. It's overly fun, and Gorgug thinks--that it has to be on purpose. This is deliberate, and his mind knows where to take it; because while others might see this from the outside and take a flirty tone to it...

He's mocking me. The voice plants itself, and it fits too well into place. Doesn't it make sense? Fabian coming all the way out to the lab in the first place, the kid gloves he's been treating him with. He's someone to take care of, he's got a job to do: he's the one who's got to figure out how to bring Adaine back.

The thought is enough to spike the emotions that are always presence in his gut, as he's staring back at Fabian, the exasperation already reaching up in the hold of his shoulders. ]

Why can't you just fucking let me go to bed on my own?

[ --And up, and out of his mouth. He snaps, and it's not something he hasn't done before, especially throughout his time in junior year and the building coursework he was under stress with. He's stopped walking, his expression incredulous over his usually perplexed crease of his brows.

Fabian knows what he's doing. He's treating him like a kid. ]

[ ...

Fabian stops.

If the situation wasn't so serious, it might even have been comical. Because Fabian still was showing off there on the stairs, and Gorgug's remark hits him so out of the blue that it startles him mid-twirl, making Fabian almost fall down the few steps he's been standing on. It's only thanks to his good reflexes that he manages to catch himself in time before he just falls flat on his face on the ground - a hand shooting out to grab the rails of the stairs, pulling himself back up onto his feet before he can fully fall.

But standing up also means his facial expression is much more visible. And that means it's very obvious that Fabian is absolutely dumbfounded by what he's hearing here, staring at his friend with a wide eye for a moment.

It's true that it's not like Gorgug hasn't reacted like this before. But it's not like Fabian hasn't ran into it that often either, and he didn't expect it to suddenly emerge here and now. ]

What?

[ The word instinctively slides out of his throat before Fabian has even thought about it. Something about the way it sounds is odd. It's a little more high-pitched, it makes him sound younger, somehow. Like the surprise is so genuinely that it's dragging some of the maturity right out of him, leaving this in its wake.

Fabian opens and closes his mouth for a few moments. It looks like he isn't sure what to say, but something about him looks genuinely hurt during said moments. It might even look like he's about to cry, though Fabian blinks a few times in rapid succession to keep that from happening. Nope. Nuh-uh. He's denying himself the tears. Not now!! ]

I just-- [ He looks like he's trying to regain his usual self, some sort of better exterior that doesn't make him feel as pathetic. It partially works, but it doesn't fit entirely into place.

It's messy. Fabian can't fully make it work. ]

I just wanted us to spend some time together.

etraya ic inbox.

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