[ Well, at least it's good to see everything here looking more or less the same. Fabian did think that the city looked about the same when they returned, but-- you can never know for sure, especially with the reason in mind that Gorgug stayed back in the first place, rather than coming on the mission with the two of them.
Seems like nothing bad happened though. Which is good. Especially when it means that Gorgug is just the same as ever - which, in this case, means a little bit slow on the upkeep. ]
Damn, are you saying we look like ghosts? [ Fabian says - lightly, clearly just teasing the other.
And yes, he is reading the nervous puppy energy Gorgug has going on here, but he's pretty sure that Riz is going to jump up on Gorgug's shoulders any second now, so Fabian will let the other go ahead first. He can wait a second! ]
[ There's a lull after Fabian speaks in which Riz doesn't say or do much of anything, instead looking questioningly between the two of them as though expecting something else. They've both been pretty chill about this whole boyfriends thing so far, but they've been separated all month! Isn't now around the time where they should, like... kiss? Relish in being reunited with their romance partner? The last thing Riz wants is to get in the way because he's too excitable about seeing Gorgug again.
Which he is, to be fair, itching to greet him with the same enthusiasm he feels. The mission hadn't been entirely bad, but he'd missed Gorgug an awful lot, and had thought to himself several times that everything would've been easier if Gorgug was around too. But once he realizes Fabian isn't moving (maybe they'll get their kisses in in private? Riz appreciates that, frankly, though he doesn't want them to withold on his account, except for the part of him that does), he takes the hint and all but hurls his entire body in Gorgug's direction, implicitly trusting that Gorgug will catch him.
Even if he doesn't, he'll just latch on like he always does. ]
We're back! And we missed you! [ Riz shouts loudly right in Gorgug's ear (ouch). ] Fabian, get in here!
[ It's hug time! Toxic masculinity is dead, and hugs are cool now! ]
[ Yup, this is about what he expected. Even Riz calling out for him to join in isn't all that strange - really, if Riz hadn't, then Fabian figures Gorgug might have - and he just responds with an eye roll that seems more fondly exasperated than genuinely annoyed at any of this.
So he is moving over to join in on the hug. Obviously just in the normal way, rather than climbing all over Gorgug the way Riz is saying, but he moves an arm around Gorgug's back, playfully nudging Riz's side with his other hand. ]
Alright, alright. You don't have to make it mushy.
[ Says the guy who also makes things mushy sometimes.. ]
[ Gorgug, in all his wisdom, wouldn't say they look like ghosts--and doesn't think that, either, other than to decline the comparison to himself. What he does do is shake his head, that slowness to him that's stuck on what to do. It's odd, seeing them; this mix between where it's so peculiar to see them again, but he feels like the odd one out in this scenario. Maybe he's the one who's just come back from a month long mission.
Being Gorgug is like that, sometimes.
And you know what helps to get him out of it? His friends. And one friend hurling himself at him, and fortunately enough, Gorgug does open his arms to catch him, and, feeling Riz latch onto him with a hug, he wraps his own arms around him too. Tucks his head down, and remembers what a Riz hug feels like.
Oh. His friends are back. They're really back.
This time he's a nod when Riz tells Fabian to join them, though he's delayed (still) and does so when Fabian's walking over. He removes one arm from around Riz (and even with one, he can well secure Riz against him) to put around Fabian. One ear ringing from Riz's well-placed shouting ("well-placed"), but it doesn't stop him from hearing Fabian's odd complaint. ]
You love mushy.
[ A call out! A call out!! While Gorgug is hugging both his pals and mushy cuddling with them...!! ]
Yeah, Fabian. You're the mushiest one here, [ Riz shoots back at Fabian, as though he doesn't have one arm hooked around the back of Gorgug's neck and one foot wedged into his side to keep his perch, turning a little to tease him properly. They're not altogether wrong, but they're not altogether right either; the three of them as a collective are pretty mushy without one of Adaine's barbs or any of Kristen's nonsense to help balance out their propensity for intense support.
He still reaches out with one arm to hook it around Fabian, pressing all of them closer together for a moment - his arms are only so long - before letting him go. ]
All this is is an appropriate reaction for being apart for a whole month. [ See? He's normal! This is normal! This is cool! ]
[ Or so Fabian is saying to what is literally his best friend and his boyfriend right there, while he's hugging and getting hugged by them both.. Yes, clearly the worst. Clearly Fabian doesn't like them at all. That's why they are mushy hugging in the moment.
After a moment of it, he does press a quick kiss to Gorgug's cheek before removing himself from all this mushyness. Not too far, but just-- taking a step backwards. It's too awkward to talk in a hug pit, okay! ]
So, Gorgug, did you get a whole lot done without us here?
[ Gorgug has no shame for being mushy. It's only as the other two draw away that Gorgug does too--receiving that kiss, and his mouth pulling into a brief, wider smile where he ducks his head for a second. Because he might not have shame, but he might be still shy about getting that mushy in front of Riz.
But he does look at Fabian for a second, a quick thing of acknowledgement before he raises his arm on Riz's side to help him have a better perch. If he needs it; he could also tilt his neck to make space in that area if Riz decides not to just drop down. Regardless, Gorgug's been asked a question, and so while doing any of that: ] I made around six camera bots and put them outside Etraya. I need to make more, but, I spaced them out so there's a good view from every direction. I just need to make sure they're picking up strange activity and telling me, but I, I think I did okay. It's a start.
[ Look, he's being positive! There's plenty more he wishes he got done, or could get started on right away, but that takes time, and there's other things to consider. Like looking between his friends, and pointing out rather happily: ]
[ Riz jumps off Gorgug's shoulder easily enough, landing in a slight crouch on the ground below as Gorgug rattles off everything he'd managed to do in their absence and leans slightly away from him, eyeing the well-populated lab behind him. ]
Damn, you were hard at work. [ It was probably easier for him to work without him and Fabian around to distract him, Riz thinks. Riz works better when nobody's around to distract him too. But that's fine for a few days, or even a week at a time... after a month, he thinks he'd get kind of miserable. Still, he can't fault his productivity. ] I'm pretty sure you accomplished more than Fabian and I. We got to see one of those dying worlds, but we didn't really find out that much.
[ They'd been distracted by the prospect of staying alive. Fabian especially. His eyes dart over to Fabian, knowing how close he'd come to death, the thought of which still nags away at him, but it worked out! It was fine! It's okay! He did a good job! So instead of saying any of that, he just gives Gorgug a thumbs-up. ]
But neither of us died! So hey, success on that front!
[ He didn't want Fabian to die, obviously. That would be awful. He also didn't want to have to be the one to tell Gorgug that Fabian died on his watch, though, and he's deeply relieved that he doesn't have to. ]
[ As Fabian slowly pulls out of the hug now Riz has jumped down, he's definitely staring right back at Riz while Riz is looking at him - and Fabian knows what the other is thinking. He's pretty sure it's the exact same thing he's thinking about, with all the emphasis here on not having died.
Which, technically, he didn't. But Fabian also knows he sure did get closer than he ever had before in this place. Does that mean he should tell Gorgug? Or shouldn't? He doesn't want to put his friends into a weird or bad mood, but he also doesn't want this to turn into a Thing if it ever comes out later and it turns out Gorgug cares..
Ugh. Uggggh. He just came back from that dumb mission, he doesn't immediately want to have to contemplate all of this! Why make him!
It's why Fabian looks like a kid getting dragged to the dentist against their will as he admits, not directly looking at either of the other two at first: ] Well, I almost died, I suppose. But The Ball made sure it did not actually happen.
[ Once more, internally: Ughhhhhhhhh.
He sucks in a breath, trying to act all Cool and Casual and Nonchalant as he fully turns back towards his friends. ]
[ Being apart from them for a month--or, really, any form of social interaction--has mucked with Gorgug's brain chemicals in a way where, maybe, the sight of the two of them isn't quite connecting right. Are they the odd thing out, or is he? Even after a hug that was very real, and Gorgug's listening to Riz now, who only cements how very much the pair didn't die.
He doesn't notice the subtle intricacies of Fabian's state of mind that might be reflected in his posture, until the other speaks up--and then, it's only surface level. That pouting face of his before he huffs it away. And Fabian's really trying to make it a point that nothing actually happened.
...they do nearly die all the time, so this is--one of those times when he should trust what Fabian says, right? There isn't anything deeper to this, and Gorgug stares at Fabian for a few seconds as he stays in a buffering state.
... ]
Okay, [ he finally says, reasoning, ] Almost dying isn't dying.
[ Riz is visibly surprised that Fabian relented and told Gorgug the truth; he's got a shit poker face when he's not actively trying to have one, and his wide eyes and open mouth tell the tale there. He was leaving it to Fabian to talk about it himself, really, but Fabian never wanted to talk about any sort of perceived weakness, even if it was some dude poisoning him. He lets his mouth snap shut again, instead nodding to back Fabian up.
Besides, Gorgug's next question is confronting something that Riz didn't exactly tell Fabian about. It just didn't seem important. He thinks that it's possible that Fabian caught on, if he wasn't too busy just recovering from the whole ordeal, but he never said it out loud. Instead, he had simply slipped out of their shared apartment, telling Fabian he had to go pick up a few things (he did come back with a couple of sandwiches, to be fair), and then returned with all of that nervous energy he couldn't quite get rid of finally having left his body. It didn't seem important to address, not if it would upset Fabian more when his body was still frail from his near-death experience, but it's not like he's going to lie.
So instead, he turns to look Gorgug in the eye -- not satisfied, necessarily, but sure of himself. ]
Yeah, [ he says bluntly. ] I shot him in the head.
[ He had given him a chance to do better. Hand over the points Riz himself had lost gambling for his life, or meet the wrong end of his gun. Giving away his points would have killed him eventually, granted, but Riz likes to think he dealt with it well enough. ]
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Seems like nothing bad happened though. Which is good. Especially when it means that Gorgug is just the same as ever - which, in this case, means a little bit slow on the upkeep. ]
Damn, are you saying we look like ghosts? [ Fabian says - lightly, clearly just teasing the other.
And yes, he is reading the nervous puppy energy Gorgug has going on here, but he's pretty sure that Riz is going to jump up on Gorgug's shoulders any second now, so Fabian will let the other go ahead first. He can wait a second! ]
Surely we look better than that!
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Which he is, to be fair, itching to greet him with the same enthusiasm he feels. The mission hadn't been entirely bad, but he'd missed Gorgug an awful lot, and had thought to himself several times that everything would've been easier if Gorgug was around too. But once he realizes Fabian isn't moving (maybe they'll get their kisses in in private? Riz appreciates that, frankly, though he doesn't want them to withold on his account, except for the part of him that does), he takes the hint and all but hurls his entire body in Gorgug's direction, implicitly trusting that Gorgug will catch him.
Even if he doesn't, he'll just latch on like he always does. ]
We're back! And we missed you! [ Riz shouts loudly right in Gorgug's ear (ouch). ] Fabian, get in here!
[ It's hug time! Toxic masculinity is dead, and hugs are cool now! ]
Sorry we took so long.
SNIPES THE TAG ORDER LIKE A REBEL!!!
So he is moving over to join in on the hug. Obviously just in the normal way, rather than climbing all over Gorgug the way Riz is saying, but he moves an arm around Gorgug's back, playfully nudging Riz's side with his other hand. ]
Alright, alright. You don't have to make it mushy.
[ Says the guy who also makes things mushy sometimes.. ]
woe....
Being Gorgug is like that, sometimes.
And you know what helps to get him out of it? His friends. And one friend hurling himself at him, and fortunately enough, Gorgug does open his arms to catch him, and, feeling Riz latch onto him with a hug, he wraps his own arms around him too. Tucks his head down, and remembers what a Riz hug feels like.
Oh. His friends are back. They're really back.
This time he's a nod when Riz tells Fabian to join them, though he's delayed (still) and does so when Fabian's walking over. He removes one arm from around Riz (and even with one, he can well secure Riz against him) to put around Fabian. One ear ringing from Riz's well-placed shouting ("well-placed"), but it doesn't stop him from hearing Fabian's odd complaint. ]
You love mushy.
[ A call out! A call out!! While Gorgug is hugging both his pals and mushy cuddling with them...!! ]
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He still reaches out with one arm to hook it around Fabian, pressing all of them closer together for a moment - his arms are only so long - before letting him go. ]
All this is is an appropriate reaction for being apart for a whole month. [ See? He's normal! This is normal! This is cool! ]
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[ Or so Fabian is saying to what is literally his best friend and his boyfriend right there, while he's hugging and getting hugged by them both.. Yes, clearly the worst. Clearly Fabian doesn't like them at all. That's why they are mushy hugging in the moment.
After a moment of it, he does press a quick kiss to Gorgug's cheek before removing himself from all this mushyness. Not too far, but just-- taking a step backwards. It's too awkward to talk in a hug pit, okay! ]
So, Gorgug, did you get a whole lot done without us here?
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But he does look at Fabian for a second, a quick thing of acknowledgement before he raises his arm on Riz's side to help him have a better perch. If he needs it; he could also tilt his neck to make space in that area if Riz decides not to just drop down. Regardless, Gorgug's been asked a question, and so while doing any of that: ] I made around six camera bots and put them outside Etraya. I need to make more, but, I spaced them out so there's a good view from every direction. I just need to make sure they're picking up strange activity and telling me, but I, I think I did okay. It's a start.
[ Look, he's being positive! There's plenty more he wishes he got done, or could get started on right away, but that takes time, and there's other things to consider. Like looking between his friends, and pointing out rather happily: ]
Neither of you died. You didn't come back early.
[ A positive! Right?? They didn't die, right?? ]
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Damn, you were hard at work. [ It was probably easier for him to work without him and Fabian around to distract him, Riz thinks. Riz works better when nobody's around to distract him too. But that's fine for a few days, or even a week at a time... after a month, he thinks he'd get kind of miserable. Still, he can't fault his productivity. ] I'm pretty sure you accomplished more than Fabian and I. We got to see one of those dying worlds, but we didn't really find out that much.
[ They'd been distracted by the prospect of staying alive. Fabian especially. His eyes dart over to Fabian, knowing how close he'd come to death, the thought of which still nags away at him, but it worked out! It was fine! It's okay! He did a good job! So instead of saying any of that, he just gives Gorgug a thumbs-up. ]
But neither of us died! So hey, success on that front!
[ He didn't want Fabian to die, obviously. That would be awful. He also didn't want to have to be the one to tell Gorgug that Fabian died on his watch, though, and he's deeply relieved that he doesn't have to. ]
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Which, technically, he didn't. But Fabian also knows he sure did get closer than he ever had before in this place. Does that mean he should tell Gorgug? Or shouldn't? He doesn't want to put his friends into a weird or bad mood, but he also doesn't want this to turn into a Thing if it ever comes out later and it turns out Gorgug cares..
Ugh. Uggggh. He just came back from that dumb mission, he doesn't immediately want to have to contemplate all of this! Why make him!
It's why Fabian looks like a kid getting dragged to the dentist against their will as he admits, not directly looking at either of the other two at first: ] Well, I almost died, I suppose. But The Ball made sure it did not actually happen.
[ Once more, internally: Ughhhhhhhhh.
He sucks in a breath, trying to act all Cool and Casual and Nonchalant as he fully turns back towards his friends. ]
So, really, nothing important happened!
[ Nailed it. ]
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He doesn't notice the subtle intricacies of Fabian's state of mind that might be reflected in his posture, until the other speaks up--and then, it's only surface level. That pouting face of his before he huffs it away. And Fabian's really trying to make it a point that nothing actually happened.
...they do nearly die all the time, so this is--one of those times when he should trust what Fabian says, right? There isn't anything deeper to this, and Gorgug stares at Fabian for a few seconds as he stays in a buffering state.
... ]
Okay, [ he finally says, reasoning, ] Almost dying isn't dying.
[ ...
He turns to Riz. ]
Did you kill the thing that almost killed Fabian?
[ That goes without saying, right? ]
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Besides, Gorgug's next question is confronting something that Riz didn't exactly tell Fabian about. It just didn't seem important. He thinks that it's possible that Fabian caught on, if he wasn't too busy just recovering from the whole ordeal, but he never said it out loud. Instead, he had simply slipped out of their shared apartment, telling Fabian he had to go pick up a few things (he did come back with a couple of sandwiches, to be fair), and then returned with all of that nervous energy he couldn't quite get rid of finally having left his body. It didn't seem important to address, not if it would upset Fabian more when his body was still frail from his near-death experience, but it's not like he's going to lie.
So instead, he turns to look Gorgug in the eye -- not satisfied, necessarily, but sure of himself. ]
Yeah, [ he says bluntly. ] I shot him in the head.
[ He had given him a chance to do better. Hand over the points Riz himself had lost gambling for his life, or meet the wrong end of his gun. Giving away his points would have killed him eventually, granted, but Riz likes to think he dealt with it well enough. ]