[ Fabian knows his buddy well enough to know the skepticism in his voice, even through text. They don't usually get to text each other about positive things. Even this makes Riz feel doubtful (do positive things exist in this place?) but... he'll trust Fabian. ]
A positive thing that is also a secret. Okay. I'll be there in like half an hour.
[ Well, maybe not pranked, but Fabian certainly has done things that should make Riz rightfully distrustful of this, really. For Fabian reasons, even, not just Etraya reasons. ]
Sometimes you and I have very different ideas about what constitutes as a good thing.
[ Parties. Drinking. Parties. Dancing. Parties. His Grandpapa. Parties. ]
But okay, okay, fine. I'll see you soon.
[ Which Fabian does, or at least as soon as Riz can muster at the whims of the new trolley system that's been put into place, and thank god for that. Riz has gotten real tired of only ever being able to hitch rides with his friends or just resign himself to aching legs at the end of the day. He is not a walking Adventurer, thank you very much.
He still looks a little trepidacious as he steps foot in Seacaster Manor (his own home now, as surreal as that feels), eyes darting around to take in any potential clues before calling out, ] Fabian? Still alive?
[ There's still heart-shaped confetti wedged in Riz's curls; he's clearly come directly from the strange, strange festivities Etraya's holding. ]
[ Well, at least he's getting a cheery greeting. In fact, the way Fabian seems to emerge from down the hallway, speedwalking over to where Riz is-- It's very reminiscent of the way a golden retriever may greet its owner when returning home. Especially since he seems weirdly excited about something.
It doesn't seem like Riz is going to have to guess what said something is though. Not for long, anyway, since Fabian isn't waiting around. The moment he's right up to the other, he's just moving a hand behind Riz's back, holding it there to move the other right along into the Manor. ]
Today I will take this chance to show you that I only have impeccable taste. [ So if Riz thinks his good things are actually not good things, then-- well, that's on him, okay!! Egg on your face, Riz!!
... Showing Riz the something apparently takes a few moments though, because.. you know. Huge manor and all. They're just walking down hallway after hallway. How big is this place? Nobody knows. ]
Besides, don't you much rather want to be in here with me than out there with that entire hearts mess that's going on?
[ There's a moment where the thought crosses Riz's mind: does he know? But he quickly sheds it (as much as he loves Fabian, he doesn't think he bothers thinking too deeply about his friends' orientations or lack thereof; growing up with a sentient tornado probably makes all of that seem relatively irrelevant), deciding instead that Fabian is probably as cross as Riz is about being forced into the whole affair. As much as Fabian is enthused over the idea of kisses, an enforced kisses event is a little much even for him.
He trails after Fabian, two steps and a hop for every one of his long strides, staring curiously up at him. He's clearly excited about something, so even Riz's own ambivalence about surprises can't get in the way of that. It's been an awfully long time since he's seen Fabian excited about anything at all. ]
Impeccable taste, huh? [ He muses aloud, a glint of amusement in his eye. Maybe Fabian redecorated one of their common areas? That seems like a Fabian kind of thing to get excited about. ] I thought you'd be all about that whole Valentine's Day thing. It's not my style, but, you know.
[ It doesn't give away much that it's not his style. Most things aren't. The concept of having fun is a recent development for Riz Gukgak. ]
[ He lets out a huff, though he doesn't seem too particularly annoyed in this moment. Fabian mostly still seems excited for whatever is waiting for them once they're done wandering the endless hallways of this manor, but he apparently just can't skip even a single opportunity to complain about this place all the same. ]
Please. You know I would be getting my kisses in if it was just about any other situation. [ Oh, Fabian.. Riz sure knows.. He really does.. ] But it's a different thing if they are attempting to force it on us!
[ Indeed, it seems like the Riz's assessment was pretty correct. A true detective when it comes to Fabian's.. Fabianness. ]
In fact, them trying to get us to do it makes me want to do it even less! So what should I instead do but spend some time with my good friend The Ball, huh?
So kisses are a yes, but state-sanctioned kisses are a no, [ Riz repeats, a little amused (though it is not entirely lost on him that the way Fabian feels about them today is the way Riz feels about them all the time; it always feels weirdly like something you're just supposed to do), a wry smile on his face. He hooks one thumb into the pocket of his trousers. ] Well, I'm not gonna say no to anything that means more, uh, more chill hangs.
[ He's always trying out new terminology to see if it sounds cool. He thinks this one might stick. Chill hangs. That's Riz and Fabian, right? The Captain and The Ball: super chill.
He's a little touched, too, that Fabian's clearly set something up just for them, as though he -- well, Fabian might not know-know, but maybe a part of him has figured it out? Riz isn't sure if he likes that or not. But the part that he does like is the part where it results in more hang-outs and drags Riz out of the whole mess of pink and hearts and everything else that was making him immeasurably grumpy out there, even if he persisted in the service of clues.
His mind is clearly churning, trying to figure out what it is that Fabian thinks is a good time. Maybe something... physical? ]
So it's something in the manor... are we breaking things?
[ It comes second to his first thought: are we throwing things? ]
Perhaps he's taking after his papa in that regard. Or perhaps - and more likely - it's just that all the Bad Kids are this way, right. Even if some of them are more of a stickler for the rules than others are, they're the Bad Kids for a reason. Someone has to rage against the machine. And Fabian is always ready to do it, especially in this place.
Enough so that he's even turning against his very own beloved kisses. A cruel fate for sure.
At least he doesn't continue his whining-- if not just since he's too distracted by what Riz is saying. Fabian turns his head to look at the other, eyebrows rising as he asks: ]
Dude, you want to break my house?
[ It's hard to tell if Fabian is offended by that idea or not, honestly.. He mostly just sounds kind of confused by that being Riz's first assumption of all things. ]
Wh -- I don't know! [ Riz says loudly, a heated protest at odds with the fact that he's the one who brought it up in the first place. ] It was just the first thing I could think of!
[ Even after years of living together, Riz hasn't considered it to be intentional hanging out. They haven't done planned activities, they're just living together.
Throwing rocks, and busting shit up. That's just guys being dudes. ]
There's entire rooms of busted up shit in here. It's like... a rage room.
[ Riz does not, notably, look at all raged out at the moment. He appears to be equally as confused about himself as Fabian is. ]
[ The answer to that is obvious, of course, considering that it's in Riz's nature to investigate. But Fabian is looking at this from his own point of view, and despite him having lived in this manor for so many years, he's never really felt that need to go exploring.. Hence why it's so wild to him that Riz apparently knows more than he does.
.. but he does sense the potential to get sidetracked here, so if Riz opens up his mouth to answer, Fabian quickly shakes his head. ]
No-- No, of course it's not that! We are-- hold on, we're here!
[ He quickly sprints a few steps ahead of Riz, pulling open the door to a room. Said room seems to be decorated with green and golden balloons, a fancy banner on the wall reading - with calligrapher font - 'Happy Palentine's!'
There's a large table on the room, and on top of the table is what seems to be a very, very large cake that looks like a clue-board. Not photo-realistic 'Is it cake' style, it's still clearly icing, but-- it's a themed cake!! It's a themed Palentine's cake!
Fabian proudly puffs out his chest, like he's waiting for Riz to acknowledge that he's doing something awesome and not rage-room-y at all here. ]
[ Rude as it may be, it's a wise decision to cut Riz off, because the moment he starts talking about all the shit he's found in Fabian's house - it's basically an endless wonderland for a Rogue like him - it'll all be over for him for the next five minutes at least.
All thoughts of yakking Fabian's ear off about his on-going map of Seacaster Manor slip away the moment he sees the sight before him, the room decked out in decorations (their colours, Riz realizes), a cake, a banner, it's not often that Riz finds himself at a loss for words, but now is one of those times. ]
Wha -- you --
[ He just gapes, slack-jawed at Fabian, pointing at him, and then pointing with increasing emphasis at the room before him, completely gobsmacked. Not only is it a shock to have Fabian assemble all of this for even something like his birthday, but for this? Valentine's Day? Palentines Day? Is this really okay? Isn't this a day for Fabian and Gorgug?
For the second time in a row, Riz looks dangerously like he's going to burst into tears, but he manages to keep it together, the tips of his ears going a bright red. ]
Holy shit. You did all this? [ He takes a step forward like he's stepping into a Church instead of a random room of the Manor, one hand pressed to his cheek. ] This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.
[ Funny how that works. The briefcase and the business cards just so happen to be the second nicest thing anyone's ever done for him. ]
[ At first he's inhaling in that sort of way that indicates Fabian is about to start bragging about every single detail of this.
But then Riz speaks on, saying this is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me, and Fabian immediately exhales that breath again before he's been able to even say a single thing. It's a good thing that Riz is standing ahead of him, because it gives Fabian an opportunity to let some surprise and near-fluster cross his face without the other seeing it.
He quickly pushes it down, trying to sound as huffy as he can when he speaks up with: ]
Oh, come on, The Ball! It's just a cake and decorations!
[ .. ones that Fabian worked pretty hard to get and put up, but-- sshh, this is like the gifts all over again. Fabian can't just say these things, not even two years after the initial gift incident. ]
[ That's the thing, though. Growing up, Riz didn't have the cake and decorations, not really, not after his Dad died. Not because his Mom wouldn't have been able to figure it out - she's a whiz with a coupon book, that Sklonda Gukgak - but because he hadn't really had anyone to invite to something like a birthday party after they'd grown out of the tendency to have the whole class over. One year, he'd given out invitations, and...
It was fine. Him and his Mom gorged on cupcakes and soda. And now he has friends to celebrate birthdays with, and they have all the cake and soda they like, and it's awesome, and he's so, so happy about it! They even have parties when it's nobody's birthday, just so they can have fun together! It's the happiest he's ever been in his life! But this isn't that, either. This is for him, and only for him, on a day that Fabian should by all rights be sharing with -- well, with his romance partner. Fabian chose him to celebrate, and it's not even his birthday. He's pretty sure that Palentine's Day isn't even a thing.
Not that long ago, Riz put that necklace on Fabian more or less by force. ]
Hey! Don't you dare call my Palentine's gift nothing! [ And of, course, he whips out his crystal and starts taking pictures of everything. It's all going to get eaten, and the decorations are gonna be taken down, and he wants to remember this, damn it! He's going to have to hassle Fabian into taking some selfies too, he thinks. ]
Seriously, man. Thank you. This is, this is so -- [ he struggles to think of a more masculine word and immediately gives up ] so sweet. [ His smile doesn't dim, though his brows furrow as he asks, tentatively, ] Is this okay, though? I mean, isn't this, like... supposed to be a day you spend with Gorgug?
[ Riz wouldn't have minded. As weird as it is to suddenly become the third wheel, so to speak, it'd bother him on birthdays or the holidays, but something like this? This is for them. ]
[ Somewhere between the copious amounts of photos that Riz is taking and the way he's calling it sweet one of the muscles in Fabian's face twitches.
Not in anger. Of course not. No, this is utter embarrassment. It's a wince out of realizing how cringe this is becoming. Toxic masculinity may be dead and all, and Fabian loves being admired and all that too, but-- gods, if Riz ever brings this up again, Fabian will die. Especially in front of other people. And the problem is that it's definitely a risk, somewhere between the photographic evidence and Riz's motormouth. ]
Yes, of course it's fine.
[ It is the reason he's sounding a little bit huffy as he's saying that - though he does fully mean the words, crossing his arms across his chest. ]
Surely you are aware how long a day is, The Ball. Do you really think I'm not capable of dividing that time up?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-03-05 02:32 am (UTC)[ Fabian knows his buddy well enough to know the skepticism in his voice, even through text. They don't usually get to text each other about positive things. Even this makes Riz feel doubtful (do positive things exist in this place?) but... he'll trust Fabian. ]
A positive thing that is also a secret. Okay. I'll be there in like half an hour.
You PROMISE it's a good thing?
no subject
Date: 2025-03-09 03:55 pm (UTC)DUDE
why are you not believing me????????
have i EVER pranked you even once in my life
[ Well, maybe not pranked, but Fabian certainly has done things that should make Riz rightfully distrustful of this, really. For Fabian reasons, even, not just Etraya reasons. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-03-15 09:31 am (UTC)[ Parties. Drinking. Parties. Dancing. Parties. His Grandpapa. Parties. ]
But okay, okay, fine. I'll see you soon.
[ Which Fabian does, or at least as soon as Riz can muster at the whims of the new trolley system that's been put into place, and thank god for that. Riz has gotten real tired of only ever being able to hitch rides with his friends or just resign himself to aching legs at the end of the day. He is not a walking Adventurer, thank you very much.
He still looks a little trepidacious as he steps foot in Seacaster Manor (his own home now, as surreal as that feels), eyes darting around to take in any potential clues before calling out, ] Fabian? Still alive?
[ There's still heart-shaped confetti wedged in Riz's curls; he's clearly come directly from the strange, strange festivities Etraya's holding. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-03-22 08:03 pm (UTC)[ Well, at least he's getting a cheery greeting. In fact, the way Fabian seems to emerge from down the hallway, speedwalking over to where Riz is-- It's very reminiscent of the way a golden retriever may greet its owner when returning home. Especially since he seems weirdly excited about something.
It doesn't seem like Riz is going to have to guess what said something is though. Not for long, anyway, since Fabian isn't waiting around. The moment he's right up to the other, he's just moving a hand behind Riz's back, holding it there to move the other right along into the Manor. ]
Today I will take this chance to show you that I only have impeccable taste. [ So if Riz thinks his good things are actually not good things, then-- well, that's on him, okay!! Egg on your face, Riz!!
... Showing Riz the something apparently takes a few moments though, because.. you know. Huge manor and all. They're just walking down hallway after hallway. How big is this place? Nobody knows. ]
Besides, don't you much rather want to be in here with me than out there with that entire hearts mess that's going on?
no subject
Date: 2025-04-05 02:15 am (UTC)He trails after Fabian, two steps and a hop for every one of his long strides, staring curiously up at him. He's clearly excited about something, so even Riz's own ambivalence about surprises can't get in the way of that. It's been an awfully long time since he's seen Fabian excited about anything at all. ]
Impeccable taste, huh? [ He muses aloud, a glint of amusement in his eye. Maybe Fabian redecorated one of their common areas? That seems like a Fabian kind of thing to get excited about. ] I thought you'd be all about that whole Valentine's Day thing. It's not my style, but, you know.
[ It doesn't give away much that it's not his style. Most things aren't. The concept of having fun is a recent development for Riz Gukgak. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 01:08 pm (UTC)Please. You know I would be getting my kisses in if it was just about any other situation. [ Oh, Fabian.. Riz sure knows.. He really does.. ] But it's a different thing if they are attempting to force it on us!
[ Indeed, it seems like the Riz's assessment was pretty correct. A true detective when it comes to Fabian's.. Fabianness. ]
In fact, them trying to get us to do it makes me want to do it even less! So what should I instead do but spend some time with my good friend The Ball, huh?
no subject
Date: 2025-04-15 08:09 pm (UTC)[ He's always trying out new terminology to see if it sounds cool. He thinks this one might stick. Chill hangs. That's Riz and Fabian, right? The Captain and The Ball: super chill.
He's a little touched, too, that Fabian's clearly set something up just for them, as though he -- well, Fabian might not know-know, but maybe a part of him has figured it out? Riz isn't sure if he likes that or not. But the part that he does like is the part where it results in more hang-outs and drags Riz out of the whole mess of pink and hearts and everything else that was making him immeasurably grumpy out there, even if he persisted in the service of clues.
His mind is clearly churning, trying to figure out what it is that Fabian thinks is a good time. Maybe something... physical? ]
So it's something in the manor... are we breaking things?
[ It comes second to his first thought: are we throwing things? ]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-18 07:15 pm (UTC)Perhaps he's taking after his papa in that regard. Or perhaps - and more likely - it's just that all the Bad Kids are this way, right. Even if some of them are more of a stickler for the rules than others are, they're the Bad Kids for a reason. Someone has to rage against the machine. And Fabian is always ready to do it, especially in this place.
Enough so that he's even turning against his very own beloved kisses. A cruel fate for sure.
At least he doesn't continue his whining-- if not just since he's too distracted by what Riz is saying. Fabian turns his head to look at the other, eyebrows rising as he asks: ]
Dude, you want to break my house?
[ It's hard to tell if Fabian is offended by that idea or not, honestly.. He mostly just sounds kind of confused by that being Riz's first assumption of all things. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-06 08:04 am (UTC)[ Even after years of living together, Riz hasn't considered it to be intentional hanging out. They haven't done planned activities, they're just living together.
Throwing rocks, and busting shit up. That's just guys being dudes. ]
There's entire rooms of busted up shit in here. It's like... a rage room.
[ Riz does not, notably, look at all raged out at the moment. He appears to be equally as confused about himself as Fabian is. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-10 09:53 pm (UTC)Wait, how do you know?
[ The answer to that is obvious, of course, considering that it's in Riz's nature to investigate. But Fabian is looking at this from his own point of view, and despite him having lived in this manor for so many years, he's never really felt that need to go exploring.. Hence why it's so wild to him that Riz apparently knows more than he does.
.. but he does sense the potential to get sidetracked here, so if Riz opens up his mouth to answer, Fabian quickly shakes his head. ]
No-- No, of course it's not that! We are-- hold on, we're here!
[ He quickly sprints a few steps ahead of Riz, pulling open the door to a room. Said room seems to be decorated with green and golden balloons, a fancy banner on the wall reading - with calligrapher font - 'Happy Palentine's!'
There's a large table on the room, and on top of the table is what seems to be a very, very large cake that looks like a clue-board. Not photo-realistic 'Is it cake' style, it's still clearly icing, but-- it's a themed cake!! It's a themed Palentine's cake!
Fabian proudly puffs out his chest, like he's waiting for Riz to acknowledge that he's doing something awesome and not rage-room-y at all here. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-05-25 10:18 am (UTC)All thoughts of yakking Fabian's ear off about his on-going map of Seacaster Manor slip away the moment he sees the sight before him, the room decked out in decorations (their colours, Riz realizes), a cake, a banner, it's not often that Riz finds himself at a loss for words, but now is one of those times. ]
Wha -- you --
[ He just gapes, slack-jawed at Fabian, pointing at him, and then pointing with increasing emphasis at the room before him, completely gobsmacked. Not only is it a shock to have Fabian assemble all of this for even something like his birthday, but for this? Valentine's Day? Palentines Day? Is this really okay? Isn't this a day for Fabian and Gorgug?
For the second time in a row, Riz looks dangerously like he's going to burst into tears, but he manages to keep it together, the tips of his ears going a bright red. ]
Holy shit. You did all this? [ He takes a step forward like he's stepping into a Church instead of a random room of the Manor, one hand pressed to his cheek. ] This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.
[ Funny how that works. The briefcase and the business cards just so happen to be the second nicest thing anyone's ever done for him. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-06-01 01:02 pm (UTC)But then Riz speaks on, saying this is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me, and Fabian immediately exhales that breath again before he's been able to even say a single thing. It's a good thing that Riz is standing ahead of him, because it gives Fabian an opportunity to let some surprise and near-fluster cross his face without the other seeing it.
He quickly pushes it down, trying to sound as huffy as he can when he speaks up with: ]
Oh, come on, The Ball! It's just a cake and decorations!
[ .. ones that Fabian worked pretty hard to get and put up, but-- sshh, this is like the gifts all over again. Fabian can't just say these things, not even two years after the initial gift incident. ]
That's nothing!
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 02:14 am (UTC)It was fine. Him and his Mom gorged on cupcakes and soda. And now he has friends to celebrate birthdays with, and they have all the cake and soda they like, and it's awesome, and he's so, so happy about it! They even have parties when it's nobody's birthday, just so they can have fun together! It's the happiest he's ever been in his life! But this isn't that, either. This is for him, and only for him, on a day that Fabian should by all rights be sharing with -- well, with his romance partner. Fabian chose him to celebrate, and it's not even his birthday. He's pretty sure that Palentine's Day isn't even a thing.
Not that long ago, Riz put that necklace on Fabian more or less by force. ]
Hey! Don't you dare call my Palentine's gift nothing! [ And of, course, he whips out his crystal and starts taking pictures of everything. It's all going to get eaten, and the decorations are gonna be taken down, and he wants to remember this, damn it! He's going to have to hassle Fabian into taking some selfies too, he thinks. ]
Seriously, man. Thank you. This is, this is so -- [ he struggles to think of a more masculine word and immediately gives up ] so sweet. [ His smile doesn't dim, though his brows furrow as he asks, tentatively, ] Is this okay, though? I mean, isn't this, like... supposed to be a day you spend with Gorgug?
[ Riz wouldn't have minded. As weird as it is to suddenly become the third wheel, so to speak, it'd bother him on birthdays or the holidays, but something like this? This is for them. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-06-23 03:08 pm (UTC)Not in anger. Of course not. No, this is utter embarrassment. It's a wince out of realizing how cringe this is becoming. Toxic masculinity may be dead and all, and Fabian loves being admired and all that too, but-- gods, if Riz ever brings this up again, Fabian will die. Especially in front of other people. And the problem is that it's definitely a risk, somewhere between the photographic evidence and Riz's motormouth. ]
Yes, of course it's fine.
[ It is the reason he's sounding a little bit huffy as he's saying that - though he does fully mean the words, crossing his arms across his chest. ]
Surely you are aware how long a day is, The Ball. Do you really think I'm not capable of dividing that time up?