etraya | video, un: gorgug (pre-mingle)

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video, un: gorgug (pre-mingle)

[ The camera turns on and focuses in on a motley duo: Riz and Fabian, a Goblin and a Half-Elf respectively (and, it has to be said, the camera has to be considerably zoomed out to accommodate both of their heights) who wear matching expressions of distinct disgruntlement. Behind them is a clue board that Riz refers to every now and then while he talks, his speech quick and efficient, words stumbling over each other in his haste to get them out. ]

Uh, hey everyone. Welcome back to Etraya, I guess? I’m just going to cut straight to the chase: a team of us did some investigation of what was happening back at Moorecroft, and I think there are some things that everyone should know. We went ahead and tried to figure out what the whole curfew thing was about – in case some of you just decided to behave yourselves the whole time, our curfew was being maintained by robots that would straight up kill you if you decided to stay out.

First, some of us went to check out the hospital, which is where most of the suspicious activity was coming from. Something there had the ability to lock away people’s powers, and they were able to somehow mimic people we knew from home, which were sent out to attack us. Presumably, that was to get our guards down. Fabian and I managed to get into the underground, where… [ He frowns, rubbing the palms of his hand together. ] Honestly? Things there were pretty inconclusive. There were a bunch of hand-drawn pictures along the walls of the corridor, stuff from around town, and it looked like they were raising some sort of… kids down there? Some of the rooms were obviously for teens our age, and other rooms were for really little kids, and it all led to some sort of tracks that led somewhere else. Where and why, we don’t know. But something real fucked up is going on there. You don’t find empty hidden bunkers of kids stuff without it being super fucked up, you know?

The others ran into other stuff around the city – smoke that turned into these big monsters that tried to eat them, the things those robots were trying to protect us from. Others ran into these android kids, who we can pretty easily assume the rooms in the hospital were for. The monsters didn’t try to go after them; apparently they only went after people who didn’t belong. Namely, us. Now, we don’t know what the hell those monsters were, but Adaine could feel what sort of arcane energy they were giving off – it was some seriously powerful reality-shifting energy. Conjuration, but the sort you’d only get from really, really powerful wizards.

That energy isn’t restricted to Moorecroft. She felt it here too, once we got back. That doesn’t bode well for any of us.

[ Riz takes a deep breath, glancing up at Fabian. ]

Did I miss anything?

Yeah, maybe some more emphasis on how fucked up this all is? [ Riz may have sounded relatively composed. Just objectively trying to get information across. Fabian, on the other hand, sounds anything but. He’s not looking majorly upset - yet - but he’s definitely both looking and sounding annoyed as he speaks. It isn’t aimed at Riz, nor even really at the viewers, like it’s some sort of general annoyance at this place. ] We almost died back there. Someone actually did die! And it’s not even the first time, since the stuff with the maze and the stuff with the plushies was just as fucked up!

[ Riz grimaces, a row of sharp teeth on display as he tugs at Fabian’s arm, hissing in a far less officious whine: ] Dude, time and place, this is just the mission report—

[ Unfortunately, Fabian just keeps going, wildly gesturing with his hands at this point as he speaks, the smaller boy visibly giving up on stopping him beside him: ]

We can’t just act like this place is normal! If it really wanted to help us save our worlds or whatever, then it could at least stop constantly trying to kill all of us, right?! How are we supposed to trust anything in this place when clearly it does not have our best intentions in mind in any way? [ His hand gesture arm swing is so wild that he almost manages to accidentally hit Riz. Sorry bud. At least it’s a near miss. ] I mean, the least we can do is for people here to stop holding hands with the companion bots! They’re trying to kill us!

[ Wait, what is that weirdly specific mention—

And a deep sigh can be heard from the other side of the video, which then ends there. Wow, wonder who that could've been!!! ]

( ooc: responses can come from one of the three boys (riz, gorgug, or fabian) just as an fyi! )

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What?! You guys broke up? Why didn't you say anything?

[ And if they were just gonna break up, like, three months later, why the hell did Gorgug go through such great lengths to stay in contact with her while they were busy trying to save the world? There they were, taking down the Nightmare King, but Gorgug had to deal with an angry girlfriend and Kristen had to deal with an angry girlfriend and Fig --

God, he doesn't get this shit. It's always oh, it's worth it in the end, except for when it's not, because apparently high school relationships don't last forever. (He pointedly decides not to think about what this says about high school friendships either.) ]

Dang. [ He rubs at his forehead. He needs to change Gorgug's relationship status from 'clingy girlfriend' to 'cruising, apparently'. ] So. Not cheating. Um... I'm sorry, dude, that sucks?

[ He looks desperately at poor Fabian, who is now the go-between when all Fabian really wants to do is maintain his righteous indignation. Sorry, pal. He needs to know if he's supposed to be comforting Gorgug or not. ]

[ bro... BRO....

Gorgug does feel guilty relying on Fabian here. Even if he still thinks that Fabian was making a big deal out of nothing (again!!) with the robots, it doesn't feel right to rely on someone about your own personal shit after fucking around with them. He's a little relieved, though it's more awkward than anything with the conversation regarding his ended love life-- and when Riz seems baffled, he rubs at the back of his neck. Unintentionally letting Riz process this, even though Gorgug's just more embarrassed than anything useful. ]

It's okay. [ He looks down as he says it, not wanting to talk about it, or to make a big deal. But it's brief, since he guesses he should explain: ] I didn't say anything 'cause I thought you didn't want to know anything. In case our timeline broke? Or something else bad happened 'cause you were still dealing with Cassandra as--you were still dealing with the Nightmare King.

[ J-just hurrying to say that!! F-forget the other thing he said!! ]

I didn't want to break the timeline. I don't even know everything either. Fabian knows more than me.

[ A first?? ]

[ The moment Gorgug mentions the name Cassandra, Fabian's leg is shooting out. It's like some sort of Bloodrush reflex, except this is a very intentional thing happening here - to kick Gorgug in the shin so the other can correct himself. Even if Fabian figures it may be too late already, because Riz is so damn perceptive. This is the sort of thing they could still pull the wool over the eyes of some of their friends over, but certainly not Riz.

Dammit, Gorgug, he thought you could keep your mouth shut! He was trusting you, bro!

The only thing Fabian can do now - after having been forced into the most awkward position possible by BOTH OF HIS FRIENDS, thanks guys!! - is try to ramble on and hope Riz doesn't think about it too hard in this moment. Enough so Riz realizes he shouldn't be asking questions, or diving deeper into that name. ]

And you know what?

[ Just look at him. He's already making those dramatic arm gestures again the moment he's speaking up. He is the moment. He is the Drama. Forget everything else. ]

Not only does Fabian know the most, this entire thing is supposed to be about me! [ Usually he makes it about him for the sake of making it about him.

But he can make it about him as a distraction. Just for once. Even if it means saying: ]

All these hands are getting held out here, but who is holding good old Fabian's hand, huh?! [ Clapping his hands with each word now. For emphasis and attention. He has never been more like his papa than right now. ] No one, that's who! This is an injustice of the worst kind..!

[ Riz blinks three times in rapid-fire. He wishes he didn't catch onto that. He's trying really, really hard to not hear what he'd just heard, but once the cat's out of the bag, that's it. ]

Cassandra? The Nightmare King's -- [ he cuts himself off before he can finish the sentence, but his mind's already filled in the gaps. The Nightmare King is actually some sort of being called Cassandra, who they are presumably on first name basis with on account of the fact that she (not he?) was possessed by something, which means that they didn't kill the Nightmare King but rehabilitated them, and... and... ]

Ohhhhh no. No, no, it's fine, I didn't hear that, it's fine! [ Riz does what Riz does best, and just sort of winds up pacing around the room smacking his head like that will make him magically forget what he'd just heard. It's fine. He can just put it out of his head! He can do that, right? He can, right? Even if he doesn't, it's not like Kalina can do anything with this information except for find a way to make sure that Cassandra stays dead or at least dormant, or uses their unwillingness to straight up kill an innocent against them, or warn the Nightmare King about what's going to happen, or, or, or maybe Riz could throw up? He's feeling a little queasy. His ears wag comically on either side of his head as he slaps his cheeks with great force and drags his hands down his face, successfully ignoring Fabian's noble attempts at a distraction.

His voice crawls up an octave. ] It's good! It's fine! This is cool! It's not like anything terrible can happen if Kalina finds out, and I'm totally not thinking about it -- it's cool! It's -- it's --

[ ... ]

Gorgug, just hold Fabian's hand or something, I don't know!

[ Excuse him for a second. He's just gonna go throw up, like, a little bit. A totally cool and normal amount. ]

[ HE'S BEING BULLIED, HE'S BEING BULLIED! For good reason, and Gorgug can feel himself sweating as Fabian grows louder--and how despite Fabian's best efforts, Riz is also rising in his own panic. Gorgug's head is on a swivel with the way he's looking between Riz and Fabian, his heart going into an anxiety. A worry. Into trouble!!!

Gorgug shoots up onto his feet, and though Fabian might want continued use of his hands for his charades, Riz told Gorgug to do a thing and so Gorgug is going to do it! Even though his grabbing Fabian's hand is done in the same motion as Gorgug staying faced in Riz's direction, even approaching him, if not getting immediately into his space. ]

I can punch you? I can punch the memory out of you! [ He glances at Fabian, though it's too brief to mean anything other than looking for his support. ...and tugging at his hand to make him join in this hell he's created for them. ]

We have to beat Riz up! He can't remember if he blacks out!

[ IT'S SCIENCE. LOGICAL. FACT!! ]

[ Fabian's dramatics instantly stop the moment he realizes no one is even paying attention to it. That it was the least succesful distraction attempt he's ever performed in his life - and that's a hit right in the pride for a bard, okay. Even a relatively more recent bard.

Even Gorgug holding his hand is doing absolutely nothing for his mood here, because.. well, between already having been annoyed as hell over Gorgug's behaviour and then his failed distraction attempt, Fabian's mood is so low that it's currently digging its way to the center of the planet they're currently standing on.

At least it makes it look kind of comical - all the energy suddenly stopping radiating off Fabian like a plug was pulled, standing there between two green guys who are both just radiating way too much energy themselves. The one silent person in a space with people freaking out. He's not even really holding Gorgug's hand in return, he's more just.. letting Gorgug grasp his while Gorgug is freaking out without Fabian putting any real effort into it in return.. ]

Alright, just slow down, you two. The cat is out of the bag. We can't change it now. Besides, Aerith told me she forgot everything the moment she went back home, so maybe this won't even mean anything.

[ Even if you both SCREAM AND YELL ABOUT IT!! Who do you think you are, Fabian? ]

I can't believe you guys were harassing me and you're making me solve all the problems now. [ He truly is an underappreciated genius... ]

We forget everything the moment we get home?!

[ Sorry, Fabian. Your words have the exact opposite of the intended effect as Riz's fingers, previously simply curled atop his head, outright curl into fists as he pulls fretfully at his hair, his mind wheeling wildly from one catastrophe to another, his pacing only getting worse, heart hammering so quickly that he feels like it almost counts as a medical event, and -- oh yeah, the nausea's coming back big-time now.

Forgetting things has been a subject of paranoia for him for a while now, but never so potently as with their dalliances with Kalina. There's a reason why he has all that insane shit tattooed all over his body. Now that he knows, that they know for a fact that it's happening again, he needs to figure out -- they need to figure out why, or how, and how to prevent it from happening, or sending themselves clues or hints or something so that if one of them gets sent home they can send help, they can figure it out, what if two of them disappear from this place and then one of them is left behind here alone, what if -- ]

Hoo. O-okay.

[ It's moments like these that make it very, very strange that Jawbone never nabbed some of those anti-anxiety meds and went hey, Riz, maybe you could use a handful of these every day? ]

That's -- that's fine. We can find a way around it. It's all good! The devil we know, and all that! Totally under control, I just need to go uh, write some shit down real quick? Just give me a second, I'll be right back.

[ Sorry, boys. Riz, exit stage left, into his bedroom where he keeps all of his notebooks and clueboards and everything else that makes it look as though Fabian and Gorgug are living with some sort of sociopath.

(He is, very clearly, not coming back.) ]

[ Is-- is this okay? Is this alright? Fine?

This is where Gorgug currently is, watching Riz leave. His mind is still on a high (that was still thinking punching Riz was a good option), but there hasn't been any increasing energy to keep it up, and so his thoughts are, well-- not settled, but he's thinking. He's trying to think, still holding Fabian's hand and standing there, watching the door as it closes.

He looks at Fabian, his expression as lost as a kicked puppy who doesn't know why it just got kicked, the silent treatment he had been giving Fabian forgotten. ]

He's going to be right back. [ ... ] Do you think he's going to be right back?

[ Is this actually a good thing, Fabian? His brain is telling him it could be, but his brain also feels like someone filled it with candy floss. It hasn't cleared up, yet! ]

[ Fabian can't believe any of this. For how much he really is glad that both of them are his friend, this truly is just the worst of Riz and Gorgug's traits on display, isn't it. Riz freaking out over something, rather than just allowing them to talk about it. Gorgug not thinking hard enough about some things, and then getting entirely petty over others.

The half-elf lets out a sigh that sounds deep enough for it to have been his soul straight up leaving his body, and then pulls his hand away from Gorgug's own.

He hasn't forgotten the silent treatment, okay!! And especially not the silent treatment followed right up with asking Fabian for help. Not cool. Not! Cool! ]

He's definitely not coming back.

[ Fabian likes to think he knows Riz well enough at this point to know that for a fact, no matter what Riz himself had to say about it a moment ago. ]

Best to let it go for a while, and then check up on him in half an hour to make sure he doesn't spiral too far. [ It's said with the exhausted tone of someone so used to this.. Gorgug, he had to talk Riz down before from changing their entire apartment into one big clue board. You have no idea.

When Fabian actually looks over at Gorgug, the bridge of his nose starts to wrinkle, kind of like he's pouting.

(He's definitely pouting. He just doesn't want to admit to it.) ]

Besides, you are asking me an awful lot of questions for someone who did not want to talk to me mere moments ago.

[ Faaaabiaaaan....!!!

Gorgug knows that tone, and if Gorgug wasn't already close to pouting himself (with Riz definitely leaving them), he is now, more of his tusks showing as the sides of his mouth lower with his grimace. ]

You teased me! On the network! [ Said in the absolute tone of a slighted toddler. ] You were talking about me holding hands with robots after we talked about it! I can't get you back after that?

[ For what it's worth, he sounds sulking more than actually hurt over it as he had been the last time this came up. But he thinks he gets to be petty after Fabian pulled that, okay!

But now that Riz is gone... Gorgug goes to sit back down where he'd been sitting before. Still pouting. Still sulking. ]

This sucks.

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video, un: gorgug (pre-mingle)

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