[ Maybe it's a sign of the fact that Fabian is getting used to the way Gorgug reacts to things that the response doesn't fully shot the mood he's trying so hard to keep up here. Or maybe the fact that Gorgug sounds so awestruck helps, considering Fabian will take just about anything that props up his ego, thanks.
So his grin doesn't fully drop. It just turns a little bit more amused as he gets off the edge of the tub, moving over into Gorgug's direction instead until he's standing right in front of the other. ]
It's meant to be romantic. [ He says - pointing out the obvious, but with a teasing hint to his tone.
(Well, it's meant to be romantic, but also sexy-- But saying the latter is cringe, okay! Even for Fabian! Cringe!) ]
See, I murdered that rose bush-- [ He reaches out, his hands moving up until he can reach the goggles on top of Gorgug's head, pulling them off him. It instantly makes Fabian's hands dirty, but he doesn't seem to care. ] --for you.
But it's good to (be reminded) know. Gorgug switches from the petal sprawl to Fabian as he comes to him, his eyes going lower from his face to the silk piece that he wears, not quite done up right to make it as covering as it should be around his chest.
So Gorgug notices, before he looks back at Fabian's face, his goggles removed from his head as Fabian speaks in a certain kind of way. Smoothly, just as much as his words are themselves: he murdered a rose bush for Gorgug. Because it's romantic.
And when he says it like that, it does make Gorgug's heart skip a beat. Or does that have something to do with the way that Fabian's looking at him, dressed in something so thin? Is it all of the above? ]
That's very hot, [ he remarks; not dishonest, and maybe-- not unused to speaking about violence and romance in the same vein, like two complimentary dishes. Wondering if Fabian likes it too, as he continues, ] I would've liked to watch you. I bet you-- really fucked it up. I bet there's nothing left.
[ Okay, so maybe Gorgug's sexy talk needs some work. But that's fine. It's something they can work on, and it's not like it just outright kills the mood right now. Not when they're still standing in a bathroom together, and Fabian is still almost naked, and the candles and the rest of the atmosphere he set up are still all perfectly there.
Besides, Gorgug is trying. That definitely makes this salvageable, even though Fabian feels more amused than aroused by the other's words as he moves to put the goggles down next to the sink. ]
Alright, dirty guy. [ Not even meant in the sexy way, given.. you know. Gorgug's current state. It kind of looks like the other crawled his way through an oil spill.. ] Less talking, more undressing. How else are we meant to take a bath together?
[ Look behind him, Gorgug! It's all set up! Fabian was ready for this!
Though he can't fully resist the sexy talk himself, adding with a wink (or, you know, a momentary closure of his one eye): ] Unless you'd like me to help you with that?
[ Fabian's winking is almost like he's got something in his eye...
To the point that Gorgug think he does, but - perhaps fortunately - he's easily distracted by what follows it: Unless you'd like me like to help you with that? Air catches in Gorgug's throat, and for a second, he forgets what he's wearing in hopes of what he could be wearing in this instance. Buttons, with a shirt really close to his skin.
But in the same instance the dream is in his mind, Gorgug looks down at the dirtied, ragged hoodie that is on him. The contrast between him and Fabian so evident, that it would be-- kinda rude to let Fabian have to mess around trying to get him undressed. ]
I can do it, [ he says, in a voice hurried once he gets out of his own head after a second or so of brain freeze. He raises his arms and grabs at the back of the hoodie, pulls it off to a mess of hair covering his face for his effort. Gorgug brushes at it, but it's useless, when after dropping the hoodie to the floor (and he hesitates, folds it loosely in half before depositing it on the ground), he does the same with the short-sleeved shirt that's the last protection between the free air and Gorgug's skin.
It's dropped on top of the hoodie, to keep it in place. There's no attempt at a sexy unrobing, but when it comes to his jeans, that's where Gorgug pauses. His brain might be attempting to continue at Doing Its Best here, since this is a sexy thing, and Fabian made that offer, and-- was it sincere, or a means of telling Gorgug to get to it? His hands at on the button of his fly, but he's looking at Fabian again, searching it for an answer, before: ]
Did you... want to help me out?
[ Whatever happens, Fabian is going to see him naked. Nothing new, but there's a difference between the way Fabian himself is robed right now, and Gorgug undressing himself, putting his body on display. Does Fabian want to see him do that? To present himself? Or do he want to take charge?
(And which does his mind want? Whichever option makes Fabian take the most charge, is what his mind is already tickling at the thought of.) ]
[ Fabian doesn't try to intervene with Gorgug taking his own hoodie off - either because it'd be too awkward, or because Gorgug is already doing it before Fabian can get in a word or a hand edgewise, really. So for a moment he just quietly watches the other, the casual waiting turning into a bit of a curiosity when he realizes Gorgug stops undressing midway through - wanting to know what the other is thinking. What he wants to do.
It makes it easy to immediately reply to the request when it comes.
(Because maybe Fabian had been hoping that Gorgug would say that.) ]
Well, I don't do this for just anyone.. [ Of course Fabian has to be Dramatic about it though. He'll do it, but-- you know! He has to put it this way, putting a teasing tone into his voice. ] But I'm willing to make an exception just for you.
[ He smiles in a way that actually does manage to genuinely look sexy - he may have been preparing for this whole scenario ever since their date earlier today, actually - as he puts his hands on the top of Gorgug's pants. ]
Same goes the other way around, right?
[ His hands move to undo the button on Gorgug's jeans, but Fabian manages to do it blindly - his one eye turned upwards instead, to Gorgug's face. ]
Really, it would be okay, maybe, if Fabian was just undoing his pants in a casual, natural way. It would be okay if Fabian told him that he was the exception, since Gorgug was following along for that point. They're boyfriends, so of course they're each other's exceptions. That's how this goes. Gorgug wouldn't be getting naked in front of anybody else, or be asking another person to undo his pants (who he was still deliberating on if they want to have sex or not?).
But put together the deliberate tone, the way that Fabian continues to watch him throughout; how aware Gorgug is of Fabian's hands on his jeans, when it plucks at the button keeping them in check. He doesn't look down, because he doesn't think that he can--that Fabian won't let him look away to anywhere that isn't his face.
Because he asked him a question, and that's what's important here. I'm the only one who can do this--he's being told the rules, and Gorgug nods dumbly, accepting. ]
You're the only one, [ he repeats. He manages to glance at Fabian's shoulders, covered in the robe -- not reaching out immediately, but aware of its presence. Trying to calculate the correct next move. ] I'm the only one, too.
[ Which means, after a second or so, Gorgug does raise his hands; leading them over to Fabian's shoulders, or hovering close, waiting to see that Fabian won't tell him off first. And if he doesn't, he'll settle them on there.
Ready to tip it back and off Fabian's body once he's given permission--or a sign--to do so. ]
[ When Fabian found Gorgug attractive for the first time, he kind of imagined it was because Gorgug was being so intense about it. That's what made him realize it, after all. When the other was hovering over him, pushing him down, trying to force him - there had been something so sexy about that entire thing that it turned a knob in Fabian's brain to make him see something about Gorgug he had never noticed before.
But the ironic thing is that this is pretty much the opposite of that. Gorgug isn't being fierce. He isn't raging. He's nodding kind of dumbly, he seems kind of flustered, his movements are a little hesitant, like he's waiting to see if Fabian tells him to do it or not. It's the complete opposite of what Fabian found sexy that first time, and yet.. he doesn't think this is unattractive at all. Fabian finds himself hardly having to put up an act here, because he is just genuinely enjoying himself. Gorgug wanting him to lead is also kind of nice, actually.
At first he doesn't give Gorgug a sign. First he fully undoes the other's pants so he can let them drop to the ground - underwear included -, and only when he's done with that does Fabian finally say: ]
You're the only one too. [ It's said so casually, but confidently. Fabian makes a slight gesture with his hands and then says: ] Go ahead.
[ It was already pretty obvious, but with Gorgug dropping that rope off Fabian's body, it's even more clear that Fabian is just entirely naked right away. He steps back, moving to sit on the edge of the tub. ]
Now why don't you take that off too [ - probably like, you know, Gorgug's socks.. ] so you can come join me in here?
[ There's a kind of intimacy here that has Gorgug guessing. Trying to understand what it is he should be doing, how he should be reacting: is this sexual, or is it romantic?
But there may be a part of him--as Fabian undoes his pants and underwear and removes them, without touching him in any obvious, specific ways--that makes him question instead: is it both? The clothes drop from his body, and Gorgug is aware of their removal, jeans pooled around his feet without looking down to confirm. He stays on Fabian instead, and when he gestures Go ahead, Gorgug obeys, letting the robe fall with far more ease and grace than Gorgug's own clothing.
That's when he does finally look. A glance down between them both, to confirm what he already suspected as much about the other as he had himself.
There's still a question here between the both of them, the one that Gorgug is trying to figure out, but it's okay: he'll try and follow Fabian's cues than ask. But he's also kinda wondering where Fabian got the inspiration for this, a side question to the main one. This seems like some kind of high level dating tech, the way he's acting? Sitting on the edge of the bath? Is this what cool people who date do?
But, okay. Finish up. There is peeling the rest of the jeans away from his feet and taking off his artificer gloves, allowing them to drop on top of the abandoned leg wear. Socks were tugged away when the jeans were, and Gorgug steps forward, away from it all as nude as Fabian. He's not shy about his state of undress (not feeling as he had been with Fabian's hands close to his junk, anyway), and he finds himself watching the other and the bath curiously as he comes closer. Stopping before he gets too close to the rim, around arm's length from it and Fabian.
Okay. He can do this. He's going to be the best at following, and ask the helpful questions, such as: ]
...Are we getting in the bath, or just hanging out on it?
[ It's asked very sincerely, if still sounding...like it does. ]
[ At least Fabian sounds amused by the question, rather than annoyed. He seems to be in a good mood - something in his tone makes it sound like there's a laugh on his lips just waiting to spill out - and only a moment after saying those words Fabian is already slipping into the water. A little careful, because splashing the entire bathroom does feel like it'd ruin the mood. Or at least accidentally douse some of the candles.
He moves until he's on the other side of the tub, shifting so his back is against the tub itself. So he can look at Gorgug while the other is standing there in all his glorious undressed display. Maybe still a little dirty from his work in the lab, but-- well, what else is a bath for, right? ]
Besides, we are not hanging out. I am going to pamper you. [ Fabian says it in the way he often says these things. As if it's some sort of royal declaration, rather than just some guy saying some thing. ] Is that not what we should be doing on this very special day?
[ At least he's making some things more clear for you, Gorgug.. Though perhaps also more confusing at the same time. Who knows what definition of 'pamper' Fabian is currently operating on! ]
[ Gorgug, polite guy that he is (or just needing to know an appropriate place for himself) waits for Fabian to lower and set himself in, so Gorgug knows where to start placing his own limbs inside. One leg in after the other, and if Fabian is facing one way, then he should... get in to have his back facing the other side of the tub, so that he's facing Fabian, right? That's what makes sense!
He also knows what pampering means, actually, thank you very much. His face even lights up, since that means--! ]
You've got face masks and the tiny cucumber slices?
[ Gorgug wants to try a face mask and tiny cucumber slices, please? ]
[ Apparently Gorgug has a very specific idea of pampering.
One that Fabian certainly didn't know about. Has he ever seen Gorgug with a face mask or cucumber slices? Of course not! He's seen his mother like that a whole lot, but mama and Gorgug have relatively little in common in general.
So Fabian looks a little surprised for a second, but then he's smiling. ]
You can't just jump steps, you'll ruin the surprise! [ .. the surprise being that there are face masks? Or that there aren't? Who even knows!! ] All you have to do is just sit there and let me pamper you.
[ He pauses for a moment. Either for dramatic effect, or maybe he's making sure the words properly get through to Gorgug before he continues with a: ]
[ He's jumping steps? He can't ask any questions about what's coming up?? Gorgug's never been pampered, or never in a bath before, so there's apparently something to this that he doesn't get. But Fabian does. It's kinda hard to remember that one of them has more actual dating experience than the other in situations like this...
But Gorgug's so intrigued about what's to happen that he nods obediently when Fabian asks for his cooperation. And maybe he's not meant to question what's to come, but he does have one, before he shuts up politely: ]
Should I close my eyes? I can close my eyes.
[ It just feels like... one of those surprises where he should close his eyes! And he'll even close both his eyes for a moment, as if this will help Fabian decide if they need to be closed or not.
But if they need to be shut or open, Gorgug will follow Fabian's instruction! While internally vibrating about what's to happen. Who knew baths could be so exciting? It's like he's a kid again! ]
[ That doesn't sound like the sort of 'sure' that would imply that Fabian thought about that all along. It sounds more like the sort of 'sure' that's just going along with Gorgug being Gorgug over here..
But Fabian doesn't mind. It really doesn't ruin his plan. It might make it even more enjoyable for Gorgug, actually, depending on the other's expectations here. ]
Just sit there. Don't do anything.
[ In the meantime he moves over to a corner of the bath, grabbing a bottle that he's been hiding on the other side of the tub. It's shampoo - but not just any shampoo. It's not even Fabian's shampoo. No, he actually did steal Gorgug's own shampoo just for this occasion. He may not be a rogue, but he does still have pirate blood, okay!!
Having taken the bottle, Fabian moves back over to Gorgug. He guides the other's body - mostly by pushing down with his hands on the other's shoulders - to lean against him, Gorgug's back against Fabian's chest. It does mean the other has to lean down and sink a little into the water, given the height difference, but after a few moments of adjusting Fabian decides it works out well enough. He squeezes some of the shampoo out of the bottle before rubbing it between the palms of his hands - still not giving Gorgug any indication of what he's about to do other than the sounds the other might have picked up on and the way he's been moved around. ]
[ It might be a Gorgug thing, but it's a Gorgug thing very much inspired by Fabian's own actions. Because admittedly? This is exciting. Gorgug's excited, about what Fabian's going to do, what any of this will lead to. And he isn't even going to guess any of it (not beyond the cucumber slices, which he's very much hoping for)--he's putting his entire trust into Fabian in this moment. The half-elf could do anything, and the thought isn't even occurring to him.
He hopes what he does to him is the cucumber slices. He is not getting off the subject of the cucumber slices, here.
All Gorgug can hear or know is what Fabian does. When Fabian's hands press back on his shoulders, Gorgug lets his body lean until he meets another, or what he takes to be Fabian after figuring that doesn't feel like it might be the tub. He gives a quick, humoured ] Fabian? [ to confirm, but he won't ask anything further. Just hears the eventual noise of something sloppy behind him, which might not be cucumber slices.
But you never know. ]
Yeah, [ he answers--heart not a hundred percent on this being anything to do with cucumbers, but a hundred percent on being ready. His voice giddy, his hands dipping into the water at his sides, but then coming over to rest over his legs.
[ Most people might feel the pressure when the other person seems so giddy about the surprise.
But Fabian Aramais Seacaster doesn't even know the word pressure. Of course not! He knows his plan is great, and he has never been uncertain about anything ever in his life! (That part might be a lie.)
So he doesn't even hesitate. Once Gorgug is fully in place and seems ready, Fabian lowers his now shampoo-covered hands until they start moving into Gorgug's hair. Mostly to get the shampoo on there, but there's a little bit more to it than that. There's something practiced about the way Fabian's fingers move over Gorgug's scalp with soothing motions. Maybe Fabian learned how to give himself massages like that as part of his beauty routine, who knows.. But he sure is using the knowledge on Gorgug like that, giving the other a scalp massage as the hands keep moving through the other guy's hair. ]
But when Fabian starts touching at his scalp, the thought around cucumbers has left Gorgug's mind: he's invested in what's happening here, what's going to happen. He does wonder if it's a hair wash (they are in a bath--it makes sense, right?), but then Fabian's hands press and tug against scalp and hair, and it soon becomes too elaborate to be a simple shampooing. Is this how Fabian has baths? Actually, that would be kind of weird, but also, what does Gorgug know what rich people get up to?
It's a curious decision, but one that doesn't distract Gorgug from the process. It's a good kind of curiosity, like he's learning about Fabian. Oh, this is what he thought to do? He decided to give me a bath of rose petals and is massage-shampooing my hair. ]
It's nice. [ In the simplest of terms, it's that. But his voice, nevertheless, has a certain fondness to it. An enjoyment. ] Do you get this done back home? Like in a salon?
[ Is that it? Is that where Fabian got the idea? ]
A romantic Valentine's Day pre-bed date doesn't seem like the right moment to tell Gorgug that he hasn't gone to a place like that in a long while back home because he was kind of embarrassed about his personal state, huh.
In fact, Fabian thinks it's better if he never tells Gorgug that. Ever. That's a private Fabian fact, not for anyone else's eyes.
So rather than directly answering that question, he pivots, his tone as smooth as butter and very flirty, considering he's trying to distract the other: ]
Why, do you want to come over and help me with this instead from now on?
...do you mean helping you practice shampooing on my hair?
[ Is he being a normal level of obtuse, or deliberately obtuse to get out of doing Fabian's hair? It's definitely the latter for once, but who can ever say with him? There's a difference between him getting his hair done and doing it for someone else!
And he would like to enjoy that difference right now, the good boyfriend that he is. ]
[ See, the good news - for Gorgug - about the other often being so obtuse about things is that Fabian 100% believes that this is Gorgug being unwillingly obtuse. You know, like the usual. Gorgug just catches onto this stuff a little later than most people, because his mind works in.. let's call it strange ways.
Which means that Fabian has absolutely zero reason to believe this is Gorgug trying to wriggle his way out of helping Fabian on purpose. So when he replies, he doesn't sound offended or dramatic - which thankfully means the mood isn't broken.
And it also means that Fabian's fingers are still running across Gorgug's scalp, rather than being suddenly and dramatically halted. ]
I mean that you can do this for me too. [ Though, a dangerous question follows.. ] Wouldn't you want to?
[ It would be too straightforward to just say no, right?
And maybe while it's honest, there's more to it than just that he doesn't want to. Fabian's still playing with his scalp, which is nice, and if he's being more honest, in a way that's-- hopefully nice?: ]
I've never thought about it before. I've never thought about sharing a bath together like this. [ And he's not sure how keen he is on the original question (doing this from now on?), but-- he could give shampooing Fabian's hair now and then a go, right? Didn't Fabian say something before? About giving people the compliments you want to hear for yourself... ]
We can do this is you want to. [ He says it in a way where his voice is encouraging on that point, lifting on the word you. ] We can give it a go? Once in a while.
[ Are these the kinds of compromises you make in a relationship? Having elaborate baths with your boyfriend. ]
[ He huffs a little, and after that Fabian is quiet for a second. ]
... no, we don't have to. [ He seems to settle on.
Not that he doesn't get what Gorgug is trying to say here, the sort of compromise the other is trying to make. But it's exactly because he can tell that it's a compromise that he shoots down the idea. The whole fun of this is both being into it, after all. Then he'd rather compromise with Gorgug on other things, instead of wasting it here.
He stops shampooing Gorgug's hair, looking around to try and find the shower head so he can rinse it out. ]
I didn't know if it was your sort of thing or not.
[ Probably not, judging by Gorgug's reaction now. But maybe that makes sense. They are into very different things. ]
[ Gorgug doesn't feel bad exactly, but maybe unsure. About his position, the more it gets talked about. It's a bath and shampoo, and he's actually used to baths more than showers, even if he likes the latter--but a bath was easier to fit inside the tree to accommodate him, and any time he got to stand and have a shower was infinitely better to the cramped conditions he grew up with, always too awkward to ask for more when his parents were always trying to keep up with his growth spurts.
He turns his head somewhat, now that Fabian isn't actively messing with his hair. ]
It's not that I'm against it. This is nice. Your bath is bigger than my bath back home. [ He stretches out his legs in front of him, letting his toes poke up and out of the water. ] Why don't we try it? I've never washed someone's hair-- I really never thought about it until you brought it up?
[ Now he tips his head back, trying to catch Fabian's eye. ]
I can wash your hair after you're done with my hair?
[ Well-- how about they try that now? They're in a bath right now! H-how difficult can it be to wash Fabian's hair?? ]
[ He was about to rinse the other's hair, but he holds back the shower head for a moment - because if Gorgug is looking over at him like this, he'd totally get the water into Gorgug's eyes, and that wouldn't be a great sensation for anyone involved.
Besides, Gorgug's.. making a suggestion? A suggestion Fabian has to stare at the other for, if not just for a moment. He wants to make sure Gorgug really looks like he doesn't mind. For how much Fabian loves his ego getting stroked, it doesn't really feel great if it would only happen in a people pleasing sort of way.
But the more he looks, the more he realizes Gorgug just looks very neutral. Very Gorgug-y. It makes it more likely the other really means this, so Fabian says: ]
Sure.
[ The next moment he's guiding Gorgug back into position with his hands, trying to get the other to look ahead so Fabian won't get water into his eyes as he starts moving the shower head over Gorgug's hair. ]
My hair is a little different than yours though. More coarse. [ Not by that much, but-- well, now Fabian has been touching Gorgug's hair so much, he can feel the difference in texture. ] I actually didn't know your hair would feel like this.
[ Not like Fabian ever goes around touching other people's hair to feel the difference. ]
[ Oh, he's got to look forward, okay. Gorgug turns back his head when he's given the signal to do so, the agreement in place, and-- he is warming up to the idea more. Is 'warming' the right word? It's odd, if he's honest, but also in that way where it's completely foreign outside of the original setting he had placed Fabian getting this entire idea from: a hair salon. That's nice, or so Gorgug's memory of it is, since he doesn't get his hair done that often.
But they're talking about it now, doing each other's hairs and their differences, and while he has some immediate interest in said differences and how they feel for real: ]
Do you have to do anything special with it? Do you-- do you need a special shampoo? Different hair types have different shampoos.
[ He remembers that fact as he's talking, so maybe that's a thing with Fabian's hair, right? Does Fabian actually spend a lot of time caring about his hair care products? Is that a thing?
Because that shampoo that Fabian swiped of his was just a random bottle he got from the Kwik Trip than carefully picked... ]
Yes, of course! That's why I went ahead and stole your shampoo for this. [ Maybe 'stole' is a big word, really.. It's not like you have to be all that sneaky around Gorgug in the first place when the guy doesn't notice most things. But Fabian has a flair for the dramatic, as always.
And surely the shampoo is important to Gorgug, right? Surely it's something hand-picked, something he had tons of consideration for..
.. right? ]
I have three different kinds of shampoo I use-- and two kinds of conditioner. [ Maybe a little over the top, but Fabian says it like it's a normal thing - rinsing out the last bit of the shampoo with his fingers in Gorgug's hair before he puts the shower head away again. ] Honestly, you have no idea how long it took for me to find ones that work for me here. This place truly does not think of how much investment some of us have into our hair care!
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So his grin doesn't fully drop. It just turns a little bit more amused as he gets off the edge of the tub, moving over into Gorgug's direction instead until he's standing right in front of the other. ]
It's meant to be romantic. [ He says - pointing out the obvious, but with a teasing hint to his tone.
(Well, it's meant to be romantic, but also sexy-- But saying the latter is cringe, okay! Even for Fabian! Cringe!) ]
See, I murdered that rose bush-- [ He reaches out, his hands moving up until he can reach the goggles on top of Gorgug's head, pulling them off him. It instantly makes Fabian's hands dirty, but he doesn't seem to care. ] --for you.
[ Dork. ]
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But it's good to (be reminded) know. Gorgug switches from the petal sprawl to Fabian as he comes to him, his eyes going lower from his face to the silk piece that he wears, not quite done up right to make it as covering as it should be around his chest.
So Gorgug notices, before he looks back at Fabian's face, his goggles removed from his head as Fabian speaks in a certain kind of way. Smoothly, just as much as his words are themselves: he murdered a rose bush for Gorgug. Because it's romantic.
And when he says it like that, it does make Gorgug's heart skip a beat. Or does that have something to do with the way that Fabian's looking at him, dressed in something so thin? Is it all of the above? ]
That's very hot, [ he remarks; not dishonest, and maybe-- not unused to speaking about violence and romance in the same vein, like two complimentary dishes. Wondering if Fabian likes it too, as he continues, ] I would've liked to watch you. I bet you-- really fucked it up. I bet there's nothing left.
[ And that's hot, right. To point out. ]
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Besides, Gorgug is trying. That definitely makes this salvageable, even though Fabian feels more amused than aroused by the other's words as he moves to put the goggles down next to the sink. ]
Alright, dirty guy. [ Not even meant in the sexy way, given.. you know. Gorgug's current state. It kind of looks like the other crawled his way through an oil spill.. ] Less talking, more undressing. How else are we meant to take a bath together?
[ Look behind him, Gorgug! It's all set up! Fabian was ready for this!
Though he can't fully resist the sexy talk himself, adding with a wink (or, you know, a momentary closure of his one eye): ] Unless you'd like me to help you with that?
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To the point that Gorgug think he does, but - perhaps fortunately - he's easily distracted by what follows it: Unless you'd like me like to help you with that? Air catches in Gorgug's throat, and for a second, he forgets what he's wearing in hopes of what he could be wearing in this instance. Buttons, with a shirt really close to his skin.
But in the same instance the dream is in his mind, Gorgug looks down at the dirtied, ragged hoodie that is on him. The contrast between him and Fabian so evident, that it would be-- kinda rude to let Fabian have to mess around trying to get him undressed. ]
I can do it, [ he says, in a voice hurried once he gets out of his own head after a second or so of brain freeze. He raises his arms and grabs at the back of the hoodie, pulls it off to a mess of hair covering his face for his effort. Gorgug brushes at it, but it's useless, when after dropping the hoodie to the floor (and he hesitates, folds it loosely in half before depositing it on the ground), he does the same with the short-sleeved shirt that's the last protection between the free air and Gorgug's skin.
It's dropped on top of the hoodie, to keep it in place. There's no attempt at a sexy unrobing, but when it comes to his jeans, that's where Gorgug pauses. His brain might be attempting to continue at Doing Its Best here, since this is a sexy thing, and Fabian made that offer, and-- was it sincere, or a means of telling Gorgug to get to it? His hands at on the button of his fly, but he's looking at Fabian again, searching it for an answer, before: ]
Did you... want to help me out?
[ Whatever happens, Fabian is going to see him naked. Nothing new, but there's a difference between the way Fabian himself is robed right now, and Gorgug undressing himself, putting his body on display. Does Fabian want to see him do that? To present himself? Or do he want to take charge?
(And which does his mind want? Whichever option makes Fabian take the most charge, is what his mind is already tickling at the thought of.) ]
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It makes it easy to immediately reply to the request when it comes.
(Because maybe Fabian had been hoping that Gorgug would say that.) ]
Well, I don't do this for just anyone.. [ Of course Fabian has to be Dramatic about it though. He'll do it, but-- you know! He has to put it this way, putting a teasing tone into his voice. ] But I'm willing to make an exception just for you.
[ He smiles in a way that actually does manage to genuinely look sexy - he may have been preparing for this whole scenario ever since their date earlier today, actually - as he puts his hands on the top of Gorgug's pants. ]
Same goes the other way around, right?
[ His hands move to undo the button on Gorgug's jeans, but Fabian manages to do it blindly - his one eye turned upwards instead, to Gorgug's face. ]
I'm the only one who can do this.
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Really, it would be okay, maybe, if Fabian was just undoing his pants in a casual, natural way. It would be okay if Fabian told him that he was the exception, since Gorgug was following along for that point. They're boyfriends, so of course they're each other's exceptions. That's how this goes. Gorgug wouldn't be getting naked in front of anybody else, or be asking another person to undo his pants (who he was still deliberating on if they want to have sex or not?).
But put together the deliberate tone, the way that Fabian continues to watch him throughout; how aware Gorgug is of Fabian's hands on his jeans, when it plucks at the button keeping them in check. He doesn't look down, because he doesn't think that he can--that Fabian won't let him look away to anywhere that isn't his face.
Because he asked him a question, and that's what's important here. I'm the only one who can do this--he's being told the rules, and Gorgug nods dumbly, accepting. ]
You're the only one, [ he repeats. He manages to glance at Fabian's shoulders, covered in the robe -- not reaching out immediately, but aware of its presence. Trying to calculate the correct next move. ] I'm the only one, too.
[ Which means, after a second or so, Gorgug does raise his hands; leading them over to Fabian's shoulders, or hovering close, waiting to see that Fabian won't tell him off first. And if he doesn't, he'll settle them on there.
Ready to tip it back and off Fabian's body once he's given permission--or a sign--to do so. ]
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But the ironic thing is that this is pretty much the opposite of that. Gorgug isn't being fierce. He isn't raging. He's nodding kind of dumbly, he seems kind of flustered, his movements are a little hesitant, like he's waiting to see if Fabian tells him to do it or not. It's the complete opposite of what Fabian found sexy that first time, and yet.. he doesn't think this is unattractive at all. Fabian finds himself hardly having to put up an act here, because he is just genuinely enjoying himself. Gorgug wanting him to lead is also kind of nice, actually.
At first he doesn't give Gorgug a sign. First he fully undoes the other's pants so he can let them drop to the ground - underwear included -, and only when he's done with that does Fabian finally say: ]
You're the only one too. [ It's said so casually, but confidently. Fabian makes a slight gesture with his hands and then says: ] Go ahead.
[ It was already pretty obvious, but with Gorgug dropping that rope off Fabian's body, it's even more clear that Fabian is just entirely naked right away. He steps back, moving to sit on the edge of the tub. ]
Now why don't you take that off too [ - probably like, you know, Gorgug's socks.. ] so you can come join me in here?
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But there may be a part of him--as Fabian undoes his pants and underwear and removes them, without touching him in any obvious, specific ways--that makes him question instead: is it both? The clothes drop from his body, and Gorgug is aware of their removal, jeans pooled around his feet without looking down to confirm. He stays on Fabian instead, and when he gestures Go ahead, Gorgug obeys, letting the robe fall with far more ease and grace than Gorgug's own clothing.
That's when he does finally look. A glance down between them both, to confirm what he already suspected as much about the other as he had himself.
There's still a question here between the both of them, the one that Gorgug is trying to figure out, but it's okay: he'll try and follow Fabian's cues than ask. But he's also kinda wondering where Fabian got the inspiration for this, a side question to the main one. This seems like some kind of high level dating tech, the way he's acting? Sitting on the edge of the bath? Is this what cool people who date do?
But, okay. Finish up. There is peeling the rest of the jeans away from his feet and taking off his artificer gloves, allowing them to drop on top of the abandoned leg wear. Socks were tugged away when the jeans were, and Gorgug steps forward, away from it all as nude as Fabian. He's not shy about his state of undress (not feeling as he had been with Fabian's hands close to his junk, anyway), and he finds himself watching the other and the bath curiously as he comes closer. Stopping before he gets too close to the rim, around arm's length from it and Fabian.
Okay. He can do this. He's going to be the best at following, and ask the helpful questions, such as: ]
...Are we getting in the bath, or just hanging out on it?
[ It's asked very sincerely, if still sounding...like it does. ]
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[ At least Fabian sounds amused by the question, rather than annoyed. He seems to be in a good mood - something in his tone makes it sound like there's a laugh on his lips just waiting to spill out - and only a moment after saying those words Fabian is already slipping into the water. A little careful, because splashing the entire bathroom does feel like it'd ruin the mood. Or at least accidentally douse some of the candles.
He moves until he's on the other side of the tub, shifting so his back is against the tub itself. So he can look at Gorgug while the other is standing there in all his glorious undressed display. Maybe still a little dirty from his work in the lab, but-- well, what else is a bath for, right? ]
Besides, we are not hanging out. I am going to pamper you. [ Fabian says it in the way he often says these things. As if it's some sort of royal declaration, rather than just some guy saying some thing. ] Is that not what we should be doing on this very special day?
[ At least he's making some things more clear for you, Gorgug.. Though perhaps also more confusing at the same time. Who knows what definition of 'pamper' Fabian is currently operating on! ]
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He also knows what pampering means, actually, thank you very much. His face even lights up, since that means--! ]
You've got face masks and the tiny cucumber slices?
[ Gorgug wants to try a face mask and tiny cucumber slices, please? ]
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One that Fabian certainly didn't know about. Has he ever seen Gorgug with a face mask or cucumber slices? Of course not! He's seen his mother like that a whole lot, but mama and Gorgug have relatively little in common in general.
So Fabian looks a little surprised for a second, but then he's smiling. ]
You can't just jump steps, you'll ruin the surprise! [ .. the surprise being that there are face masks? Or that there aren't? Who even knows!! ] All you have to do is just sit there and let me pamper you.
[ He pauses for a moment. Either for dramatic effect, or maybe he's making sure the words properly get through to Gorgug before he continues with a: ]
You can do that, right?
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But Gorgug's so intrigued about what's to happen that he nods obediently when Fabian asks for his cooperation. And maybe he's not meant to question what's to come, but he does have one, before he shuts up politely: ]
Should I close my eyes? I can close my eyes.
[ It just feels like... one of those surprises where he should close his eyes! And he'll even close both his eyes for a moment, as if this will help Fabian decide if they need to be closed or not.
But if they need to be shut or open, Gorgug will follow Fabian's instruction! While internally vibrating about what's to happen. Who knew baths could be so exciting? It's like he's a kid again! ]
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[ That doesn't sound like the sort of 'sure' that would imply that Fabian thought about that all along. It sounds more like the sort of 'sure' that's just going along with Gorgug being Gorgug over here..
But Fabian doesn't mind. It really doesn't ruin his plan. It might make it even more enjoyable for Gorgug, actually, depending on the other's expectations here. ]
Just sit there. Don't do anything.
[ In the meantime he moves over to a corner of the bath, grabbing a bottle that he's been hiding on the other side of the tub. It's shampoo - but not just any shampoo. It's not even Fabian's shampoo. No, he actually did steal Gorgug's own shampoo just for this occasion. He may not be a rogue, but he does still have pirate blood, okay!!
Having taken the bottle, Fabian moves back over to Gorgug. He guides the other's body - mostly by pushing down with his hands on the other's shoulders - to lean against him, Gorgug's back against Fabian's chest. It does mean the other has to lean down and sink a little into the water, given the height difference, but after a few moments of adjusting Fabian decides it works out well enough. He squeezes some of the shampoo out of the bottle before rubbing it between the palms of his hands - still not giving Gorgug any indication of what he's about to do other than the sounds the other might have picked up on and the way he's been moved around. ]
Ready?
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He hopes what he does to him is the cucumber slices. He is not getting off the subject of the cucumber slices, here.
All Gorgug can hear or know is what Fabian does. When Fabian's hands press back on his shoulders, Gorgug lets his body lean until he meets another, or what he takes to be Fabian after figuring that doesn't feel like it might be the tub. He gives a quick, humoured ] Fabian? [ to confirm, but he won't ask anything further. Just hears the eventual noise of something sloppy behind him, which might not be cucumber slices.
But you never know. ]
Yeah, [ he answers--heart not a hundred percent on this being anything to do with cucumbers, but a hundred percent on being ready. His voice giddy, his hands dipping into the water at his sides, but then coming over to rest over his legs.
It's starting...! ]
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But Fabian Aramais Seacaster doesn't even know the word pressure. Of course not! He knows his plan is great, and he has never been uncertain about anything ever in his life! (That part might be a lie.)
So he doesn't even hesitate. Once Gorgug is fully in place and seems ready, Fabian lowers his now shampoo-covered hands until they start moving into Gorgug's hair. Mostly to get the shampoo on there, but there's a little bit more to it than that. There's something practiced about the way Fabian's fingers move over Gorgug's scalp with soothing motions. Maybe Fabian learned how to give himself massages like that as part of his beauty routine, who knows.. But he sure is using the knowledge on Gorgug like that, giving the other a scalp massage as the hands keep moving through the other guy's hair. ]
There. How's that?
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But when Fabian starts touching at his scalp, the thought around cucumbers has left Gorgug's mind: he's invested in what's happening here, what's going to happen. He does wonder if it's a hair wash (they are in a bath--it makes sense, right?), but then Fabian's hands press and tug against scalp and hair, and it soon becomes too elaborate to be a simple shampooing. Is this how Fabian has baths? Actually, that would be kind of weird, but also, what does Gorgug know what rich people get up to?
It's a curious decision, but one that doesn't distract Gorgug from the process. It's a good kind of curiosity, like he's learning about Fabian. Oh, this is what he thought to do? He decided to give me a bath of rose petals and is massage-shampooing my hair. ]
It's nice. [ In the simplest of terms, it's that. But his voice, nevertheless, has a certain fondness to it. An enjoyment. ] Do you get this done back home? Like in a salon?
[ Is that it? Is that where Fabian got the idea? ]
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A romantic Valentine's Day pre-bed date doesn't seem like the right moment to tell Gorgug that he hasn't gone to a place like that in a long while back home because he was kind of embarrassed about his personal state, huh.
In fact, Fabian thinks it's better if he never tells Gorgug that. Ever. That's a private Fabian fact, not for anyone else's eyes.
So rather than directly answering that question, he pivots, his tone as smooth as butter and very flirty, considering he's trying to distract the other: ]
Why, do you want to come over and help me with this instead from now on?
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...do you mean helping you practice shampooing on my hair?
[ Is he being a normal level of obtuse, or deliberately obtuse to get out of doing Fabian's hair? It's definitely the latter for once, but who can ever say with him? There's a difference between him getting his hair done and doing it for someone else!
And he would like to enjoy that difference right now, the good boyfriend that he is. ]
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Which means that Fabian has absolutely zero reason to believe this is Gorgug trying to wriggle his way out of helping Fabian on purpose. So when he replies, he doesn't sound offended or dramatic - which thankfully means the mood isn't broken.
And it also means that Fabian's fingers are still running across Gorgug's scalp, rather than being suddenly and dramatically halted. ]
I mean that you can do this for me too. [ Though, a dangerous question follows.. ] Wouldn't you want to?
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And maybe while it's honest, there's more to it than just that he doesn't want to. Fabian's still playing with his scalp, which is nice, and if he's being more honest, in a way that's-- hopefully nice?: ]
I've never thought about it before. I've never thought about sharing a bath together like this. [ And he's not sure how keen he is on the original question (doing this from now on?), but-- he could give shampooing Fabian's hair now and then a go, right? Didn't Fabian say something before? About giving people the compliments you want to hear for yourself... ]
We can do this is you want to. [ He says it in a way where his voice is encouraging on that point, lifting on the word you. ] We can give it a go? Once in a while.
[ Are these the kinds of compromises you make in a relationship? Having elaborate baths with your boyfriend. ]
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... no, we don't have to. [ He seems to settle on.
Not that he doesn't get what Gorgug is trying to say here, the sort of compromise the other is trying to make. But it's exactly because he can tell that it's a compromise that he shoots down the idea. The whole fun of this is both being into it, after all. Then he'd rather compromise with Gorgug on other things, instead of wasting it here.
He stops shampooing Gorgug's hair, looking around to try and find the shower head so he can rinse it out. ]
I didn't know if it was your sort of thing or not.
[ Probably not, judging by Gorgug's reaction now. But maybe that makes sense. They are into very different things. ]
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He turns his head somewhat, now that Fabian isn't actively messing with his hair. ]
It's not that I'm against it. This is nice. Your bath is bigger than my bath back home. [ He stretches out his legs in front of him, letting his toes poke up and out of the water. ] Why don't we try it? I've never washed someone's hair-- I really never thought about it until you brought it up?
[ Now he tips his head back, trying to catch Fabian's eye. ]
I can wash your hair after you're done with my hair?
[ Well-- how about they try that now? They're in a bath right now! H-how difficult can it be to wash Fabian's hair?? ]
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Besides, Gorgug's.. making a suggestion? A suggestion Fabian has to stare at the other for, if not just for a moment. He wants to make sure Gorgug really looks like he doesn't mind. For how much Fabian loves his ego getting stroked, it doesn't really feel great if it would only happen in a people pleasing sort of way.
But the more he looks, the more he realizes Gorgug just looks very neutral. Very Gorgug-y. It makes it more likely the other really means this, so Fabian says: ]
Sure.
[ The next moment he's guiding Gorgug back into position with his hands, trying to get the other to look ahead so Fabian won't get water into his eyes as he starts moving the shower head over Gorgug's hair. ]
My hair is a little different than yours though. More coarse. [ Not by that much, but-- well, now Fabian has been touching Gorgug's hair so much, he can feel the difference in texture. ] I actually didn't know your hair would feel like this.
[ Not like Fabian ever goes around touching other people's hair to feel the difference. ]
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But they're talking about it now, doing each other's hairs and their differences, and while he has some immediate interest in said differences and how they feel for real: ]
Do you have to do anything special with it? Do you-- do you need a special shampoo? Different hair types have different shampoos.
[ He remembers that fact as he's talking, so maybe that's a thing with Fabian's hair, right? Does Fabian actually spend a lot of time caring about his hair care products? Is that a thing?
Because that shampoo that Fabian swiped of his was just a random bottle he got from the Kwik Trip than carefully picked... ]
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And surely the shampoo is important to Gorgug, right? Surely it's something hand-picked, something he had tons of consideration for..
.. right? ]
I have three different kinds of shampoo I use-- and two kinds of conditioner. [ Maybe a little over the top, but Fabian says it like it's a normal thing - rinsing out the last bit of the shampoo with his fingers in Gorgug's hair before he puts the shower head away again. ] Honestly, you have no idea how long it took for me to find ones that work for me here. This place truly does not think of how much investment some of us have into our hair care!
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