Chapter Text
Shatter-stars now gone, the rest of the Rat Grinders (new name pending) were no longer inherently predisposed to mocking the Bad Kids, hatred now drained, but they had still been surprised by Mary Ann and Gorgug getting together.
No judgement, like Kipperlilly would have had, but surprise. Adaine and Oisin had a flirty thing during the year (not forced on his part, but acting on it was entirely fueled by the shatter-star in his chest granting him courage), but in the planning sessions where the Rat Grinders went over every interaction with the Bad Kids with a fine tooth comb (led by Kipperlilly looking for any excuse to destroy them socially, any scrap of weakness to capitalize on), Mary Ann had expressed no interest in the half-orc (not even in her own way) after meeting him through her triumph over him in Bloodrush, and Gorgug seemed to hate her, due to said triumph over him in Bloodrush.
The remaining Rat Grinders were hanging out in Basrar's, slowly learning how to reconnect as an adventuring party/friends after betraying Lucy and being used as pawns in the game of a power-hungry madman.
(How do pick up where you left off with someone whose death you allowed? That you killed? Who you betrayed? Who missed out on life for almost a year, first trapped in a fiery hell of a god she didn't worship for most of that year before being semi-rescued by your enemy, whose parents grieved and friends missed dearly and teachers mourned the loss of a bright spark full of potential? How do you sleep at night, knowing you killed your best friend? What lengths did you go to for power, and how does it feel to be face to face with a now-living reminder of what it cost you?)
"What about the Beach Bums?"
Ivy looked disgusted at Ruben's suggestion. "We are not calling our adventuring party the Beach Bums!"
Not-so-coincidentally, considering how much time they spent there, the Bad Kids walked in, ordering rambunctiously at the counter before settling down in a large corner booth, none of them sitting normally. Kristen was braiding Adaine's hair as she slumped back against her, absorbed in a large tome; Riz had perched on the top of the booth against the wall, occasionally slipping onto Fig who was slouching with one leg up, thrown across the seat; Fabian was splayed out with all the swagger of a pirate king lounging on a throne.
Gorgug walked over to their table to say a quick "Hi, uh" to Mary Ann, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, before rejoining the rest of his group.
Ivy eyed the two of them playfully, still bitchy despite no longer being outright evil-bitchy (she had apologized to Mazey about Twister, and everything else, clearing her name for everyone who had hated her because of it, but she and Aelwyn got along well for a reason). "That was it? Just 'Hi?' No kiss? What's even the point of him?"
"On our second date he brought me a new strawberry."
"Ohh!! That's so sweet." Lucy gushed, happy for her friend.
"He can pin me to the wall one-handed while he eats me out." Mary Ann followed up.
Oisin spat out the sip of milkshake he had just taken (not just because it was a dairy product), prompting a "Hey!" from Ruben, whose ukulele was in the blast zone. Ivy gave Gorgug an assessing look from across the room.
"Strong and thoughtful, not a bad combo. Excellent work, Mary Ann."
Mary Ann did not change her expression, but those who knew her well could see she looked pleased.
("Okay, but one-handed? One?? Really?!")
Meanwhile, over at the Bad Kids' table, Riz had turned bright red, impressive considering his green skin. Kristen looked over at him, concerned.
"You okay there dude?"
"Yeah! I, just, you know how my hearing is better than most? Well, I just heard Mary Ann brag about Gorgug to the rest of the Rat Grinders."
As one, the rest of the Bad Kids' heads whipped around, except for Gorgug who let his forehead thunk down onto the table. He knew whatever made Riz turn that color was not something he wanted the rest of them to repeat.
"What! What! What did she say?!" Fig cried out.
"I'm not repeating that, it's private. You should all be high fiving Gorgug though.”
The half-orc in question was now groaning, still face down. Fig raised up his hand so the rest of them could high five it one-sidedly.
"You da man, even if we don't know why!" Kristen said enthusiastically, somehow still missing the stationary target.
If you had asked Mary Ann two years ago what she liked in a romantic partner, she would have stared at you blankly until you became uncomfortable and walked away, not certain if you had asked the question at all.
If you had asked her five months ago, she would have been confused why you were interrupting Kipperlilly's 8,000th rant about the favoritism shown towards the Bad Kids and said something like "Shared interests," shatter-star loosening her tongue slightly.
If you had asked her a month ago, after she hid her crystal number in her favorite store under her favorite starter Quokki Pet she recommends to all beginners, she would have looked at you unnervingly before glancing away and muttering something like "Strong" or "Tall" or "Green."
If you asked her now, after she and Gorgug had become official, she'd tug at his shirt and point up until he nodded, granting permission for her to leap up and wrap her legs around his neck to ride on his shoulders. "Him." She'd say, before running a hand through his hair, causing him to shudder slightly. You would feel uncomfortable at the sexual tension. Fig would feel electrocuted and the need to track down Ayda for hot tub time.
"Do you think you could put in a good word with Adaine for me? I apologized, but I feel weird trying to talk to her more, and it's not like I can catch her in person without an audience ready to throw down." Oisin prayed (did he still have the right to pray after all he had done? Who would take him as a follower anyway?) hoped he hadn't ruined his shot with her, after a crush developed all the way back in freshman year. Unfortunately, only having the courage to act on it when possessed and as part of an evil wannabe God of Rage's plan didn't really present him as genuine in his affections. Or as a worthy suitor.
"I'll ask if she wants your number." Mary Ann semi-agreed, following the Code of “I'm Your Friend But I'm Still Going to Ask Her Point Blank If She Wants Me To Encourage The Interest Or Shut It Down Gently On Her Behalf” (as everyone should do when "scoping out the situation" on behalf of someone who had the chance of making their crush uncomfortable).
Oisin looked pained but nodded. "I guess that's the best I can ask for."
Bad Bitches
Fabian: "I need you all to get the fuck out of my house"
Fig: "Aw, why? Don't you love us anymore?"
Fabian: "I am trying to spend time with Mazey and you are cramping my style"
(Fig, Adaine, and Kristen laugh reacted to this message)
Adaine: "OooooOooOoooooooh"
Fig: "Sounds like a skill issue my man. Git gud"
Kristen: "*eggplant emoji* *eggplant emoji* *eggplant emoji* *eggplant emoji* *peach emoji* *eggplant emoji*"
Adaine: "Fabian's getting his kisses innnnnnn"
Riz: "We'll be back tomorrow night for movie night, be prepared"
Fabian: "Yes yes I'll get the good popcorn now get the fuck out"
Mary Ann looked over his shoulder as Gorgug angled his crystal for her to see the group chat. "Not going to say anything?"
"I'd really rather not. He's still mad we fuck more at his house than he does."
His friends were so small. Even Fabian, the other heavy hitter, was a slender half-elf. Kristen had gotten buff but she was still a squishy human and much shorter than him. Heck, Riz was 3ft tall and skinny as a twig. Every time the goblin climbed on top of his head for a better view Gorgug was afraid to move too fast, afraid the slightest movement could send him tumbling to the ground with the force of a reckless barbarian.
Mary Ann was tough.
Gorgug didn't have to worry about his strength when he hugged her.
He was still careful, of course. He was always careful. Growing up in a gnomish household meant he was always at threat of breaking something.
(He grew up in a too-small house with too-fragile items, a towering giant above his parents at just six years old. How do you grow up with an existence of knocked over projects and broken furniture? The fear of breaking something every time you didn’t mind your strength enough? ("I mean, you keep saying that, but I keep breaking things.") What do you think of yourself when told your whole life by society you’re a creature of mindless rage, reinforced by the trail of broken doorknobs and utensils that follow you? What strength of spirit is necessary to become someone interested in creation instead of destruction? Who are you at your heart when you find a way to use destruction as a tool for creation, and creation as a tool of destruction?)
She was so much more powerful than him. But all that she had gained from grinding came at a cost, so she wasn't as durable as she should have been at her level.
But kobolds were hardy folk. Painful, squeezing hugs were part of their culture, and she had worse from her great-great-aunt at the last family reunion than Gorgug at full strength. She was strong enough to hold up his full weight and sturdy enough to be squeezed on his rough days.
He didn't have to be careful when he hugged her.
He was, anyway.
But he didn't have to be.
(He didn’t have to be afraid he would break her.)
"Hey. Mary Ann said you wanted to talk?"
"Would you be interested in getting dinner sometime?"
Ivy sent the response before Oisin could steal his crystal back, having taken advantage of his celebration that Adaine texted him to nick it and respond in a more direct way than he ever would have done.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Oisin was going to lose his mind, watching the typing indicator write something out before pausing, then writing again.
"She's probably not interested anymore. It's fine. You were right to do that, best to get the band-aid ripped off quickly." Ivy gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder in response, still not used to openly showing affection.
In Mordred Manor, Adaine was being sat on by Fig while Aelwyn and Kristen argued over how to respond. Gorgug and Mary Ann were hanging out in Adaine's room as well, chilling on the lower bunkbed as they decorated Quokki Pets, while Fabian and Riz watched the scuffle from the top bunk, firmly staying out of it.
"Why can't she just say yes?" Gorgug asked, immediately regretting getting in the middle when Aelwyn, Kristen, and Fig's heads all snapped toward him accusingly. Adaine remained motionless on the floor, accepting her fate of being squashed by an Archdevil.
"She can't seem too eager, not after everything he did to her!" Fig explained.
"Yes, she needs to play hard to get so she can have the dominate hand in their relationship." Aelwyn had achieved ownership of the crystal and was crafting the perfect scathing reply; cutting but leaving the door open for a possible romantic entanglement.
Kristen restated her argument, determined to get someone on her side. "Or she could just tell him she wants a hate fuck and then to never see him again! She's got options!"
Adaine cast Mage Hand and deleted Aelwyn's message, replacing it with a simple "Yes. I'd like that."
Oisin fist pumped the air before feeling foolish and settling back down. Ivy looked him up and down. "What are you planning on wearing?"
He looked down, defensively. "What's wrong with my normal clothes?"
She tsked before invading his closet and pulling out options. "You're trying to show her you truly care, put some effort into your appearance."
"Mary Ann, you know Oisin well. What should Adaine know going in?"
She looked up from her Quokki Pet to stare at Fabian. "If you wear something the color of his scales, he'll lose his mind."
"Mary Ann! You evil mastermind!" Fig immediately started pawing through Adaine's closet. "She's got nothing. Aelwyn?"
Aelwyn nodded. "I'm on it."
Gorgug drove Mary Ann home, after the entire group had been dragged into a planning session about the upcoming date. Adaine had gone into a trance to tune all of them out, so Aelwyn had been elected to force-feed it to her later. Adaine would promptly ignore it all. "Was that too much? I know they can be a lot."
She reached over and grabbed his hand. "It was fun. We should do it again."
"If you get a Scernked Soolnaught, then it'll be easy to get to Raspberry Level quickly. But if you get a Kernmig, you'll unlock more characters for when you spell things upside down. Both are habitat compatible with the ones you already have."
Gorgug nodded seriously. "I have you to guide me; I'll get the Kernmig. I need a new way to get Fig to stop asking about the bench sex.”
“Are you ever going to tell her the truth?”
“Honestly, I don’t think any of them could handle the truth. I can barely handle the truth. In fact, I’m thinking about the truth right now and it’s making it difficult to think about literally anything else. We should go."
Mary Ann wasn't going to let Gorgug get into all of her interests without reciprocating. She asked to listen to his music one afternoon and decided it wasn't for her, more into the background music from Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing with the occasional Yakety Sax whenever she got bored during Official Meetings and thought it funny to play while everyone argued. She still requested Zaphriel play what he liked when they drove around in the Hangvan though, finding it a small sacrifice to watch him get into the music, knowing he wouldn't suggest it for himself when he knew she wasn't into it.
She didn't let her ambivalence stop her when a few weeks later, she unceremoniously sent him a playlist. It was made up of songs she noticed him jamming out to the most, and a few some friends from the forum boards recommended when she mentioned her boyfriend was into that kind of music.
Gorgug hugged her in thanks, in that big, comforting way he always did, but this time he squeezed like he needed to hold her tight, like the hug was more for him than her.
He didn't delete Zelda's playlist. One day he'll be able to listen to it and won't feel weird listening to something made by his ex, Mary Ann pointed out. She didn't mind him doing it while they were dating, lacking the ability to feel jealousy about something as unimportant as exes (user SuperSpecialSquishmallowFan had gotten the new polar bear dog squishmallow before Elmville had even gotten a shipment, that was worth being jealous about), but he had been clearly uncomfortable every time he played it during battle.
*Riz added seven people to the chat*
*Riz renamed the chat Privateers Not Pirate*
Riz: "Do you think Fabian is going to be okay when the baby comes? Do we need to do anything to prepare?"
(Adaine, Mazey, Fig, Gorgug, Ragh, Squeem, and Kristen hearted this message)
Fig: "I'm moving in officially, but we should probably do something else as well"
Gorgug: "I can stay over more nights. I broke my bed again and it's nice to sleep somewhere where I don't fear for the structural integrity of the headboard"
(Fig hearted this message)
Fig: "YOU broke your bed or you and Mary Ann broke your bed???"
*Gorgug Thistlespring has left the chat*
*Fig Faeth has added Gorgug Thistlespring to the chat*
Riz: "What if you took him to the bank again?"
Riz: "Threatening someone would make him feel better"
(Fig and Ragh hearted this message)
Adaine: "Mazey, could you invite him over to your house when he gets stabby?"
Mazey: "All my family is back under the Red Waste so yeah, I can do that."
Ragh: "I can take him with me to Buccaneers practice, get some energy out that way"
Kristen: "we should rly add the hangman 2 this group chat. hed be a great help"
Kristen: "he could kidnap fabian and bring him to 1 of us for sum hang out time"
Kristen: "i bet hed be into helping out"
Kristen: "unless hes pro-killing the new baby just because theyre fabians nemesis. fig, youll have to be the one 2 recruit him"
Adaine: "Explain to me how he could type Kristen. Explain it to me."
Kristen: "gorgug could mke him sumthin that lets him type, idfk"
(Gorgug hearted this message)
Fig: "Nevermind about that Adaine. Answer the question Gorgug!!!!!!!"
*Gorgug Thistlespring has left the chat*
*Fig Faeth has added Gorgug Thistlespring to the chat*
Fig: "Your refusal to answer is making me think she was involved in the breaking of your bed"
Squeem: "Squeem."
(Mazey, Riz, Kristen, Fig, Gorgug, Adaine, and Ragh hearted this message)
Riz: "That's an excellent idea Squeem as always"
Mazey: "Riz, you have to promise me, that no matter what he says, you will not teach Fabian how to shoot a gun."
*Riz Gukgak has left the chat*
*Mazey Phaedra has added Riz Gukgak to the chat*
Mazey: "PROMISE ME"
Riz: "I can make no promises about things that may or may not have already happened"
(Mazey angry reacted to this message)
Mazey: "You better hope you're kidding."
Kristen: "mm, whatcha say"
Adaine: "Nice knowing you Riz."
"Gilear didn't say bye to me."
Gorgug looked up from the cymbal he was fiddling with. "What?"
"When he and Hallariel went on their trip at the start of the year. Fabian made it back in time for them to say bye. Squeem had my crystal but they knew I was home too, they could have stopped by Mordred, or left at a later time. I found out the next day at school he had left. It's so much worse they let Fabian live alone for months, I know, but he couldn't have told me he had proposed? He couldn't have told me he was leaving?"
Her loyal drummer just looked at her, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry. That sucks."
"I know I'm not his biological daughter, but... he is my dad. How could he leave for months without saying goodbye?"
"Sometimes... people who love us... make bad choices. And they don't mean to hurt us when they do. But it still does." He walked over to where she was chalantly leaning on a speaker as tall as her. Unobservant as he was, even he could see her laid-back stance was an act. "Do you want a hug?"
"…Yeah."
He gave her a huge, reassuring, perfect pressure hug. "I'm sorry I can't do more."
"This is enough. Thank you."
"J'accuse!" Kristen yelled, pointing at her.
"J'accuse? What do you mean 'J'accuse?' What did I do?" Adaine had frozen when she entered Seacaster Manor, seeing her entire adventuring party (and Ayda, who looked slightly bemused at the whole production, and Aelwyn, who looked diabolical as usual) sitting in armchairs in the entry hall, each reaching over to turn on a conveniently placed reading lamp as she entered. Adaine didn't remember the foyer containing chairs or lamps when she left.
"It's 3am young lady! You are supposed to be the responsible one, who does not put out on the first date! Look at how messy your hair is!" Fig admonished her even as she laughed her ass off.
Aelwyn was tsking at her, now out of her chair to examine her closely. "Hmm, a large bite mark, five hickeys, sex hair... Well done little sister!"
Adaine looked between all of her friends. "Did you all assume I was going to be prim and proper about dating? I never found someone I wanted to date before, but that doesn't mean I'm not fully capable of appreciating a hot dragon bod once I'm into the person."
She goes to his shows when Fig and the Cig Figs start playing live again, doing underground, un-advertised shows in dive bars while Fig decides what direction she wants to take her career. The Jack of All Trades, Master of All was torn between becoming a reclusive record executive, dropping bangers through her own label every so often, or doing the whole mega album touring thing again. In the meantime, it felt good to play gritty places.
Mary Ann played Quokki Pets every moment Gorgug wasn't available to hang out before/after the show, sitting with whoever else could make it out that night. Earbuds in to dampen the extreme noise of the bar, head down to narrow the amount of stimuli in her field of view, narrowing her perception of the world to survive the sensory onslaught.
Except for when he was on-stage, when she would carefully place her game in her backpack and do her equivalent of jumping up and down screaming for him (sitting up straight and clapping).
(Gorgug was finally becoming comfortable with the identity of Famous Rock Star after years of being dissociated from the title, feeling like a hanger-on of the Cig Figs, only there because he was Fig's friend, much like how he had joined the Owlbears for Fabian's sake. It may have helped he had a supportive girlfriend that didn't find his rock stardom a wedge between them, and really more of a minor inconvenience to have a super famous boyfriend ("It's very loud in here." "Yeah, I'm sorry." "You're worth it."), but despite any inconvenience, was still proud of him for his accomplishments. Becoming the first barbificer ever and believing in himself and his abilities was likely the biggest confidence booster, but still. Girlfriend happy for his accomplishments felt really good.)
Sometimes other Rat Grinders would tag along, sitting with her and whichever Bad Kids & Associates could make it. Oisin used the time to further woo Adaine, as having crazy wild sex with someone doesn't mean you trust them with your heart, and Ivy hung around mostly to talk to Aelwyn when Adaine dragged her along ("Aelwyn's here." "Fuck you. I'll be there in 20"). Ruben attended very rarely as he was Not into Fig's kind of music, now free of Porter's poison. It felt nice, having friends around that were interested when she spoke and yet fine with her ignoring them when she didn't want conversation. Maybe it should have been this healthy all along. Maybe there had been multiple sources of poison that killed their adventuring party.
"What did you think?" Gorgug asked after the first show. Fig had talked him into jeans tight enough to show off his thighs, with the rest of the goth look working way too well on his tall frame. His smudged eyeliner was making it hard for her to tear her eyes away from his face, even as her neck developed an ache from the angle.
"You were good." Mary Ann wanted to climb him like a tree. She didn’t have to be into the music to be very into his skill, or his stage look, and she very much didn't have to be a metalhead to spend the full set watching him throw himself into the beat, muscles flexing as he hit the drums. Mid-song he broke a stick and swiftly pulled out another without losing rhythm. She was going to lick his arms later. It was a perfectly normal reaction.
"Thanks! Do you want to- we can leave, but- or we can get a drink with everyone-"
His heart was pounding, blood racing, the adrenaline of performing replicating all the best symptoms of rage. Her being there, at his show, watching him with her undivided attention, was doing something to him that he would very much like to act on.
"We're leaving now." She had considered sticking around with everyone else, she really did. However, she was determined to suck his cock within the next 30 minutes as she was sure she'd get an even better view of his face when doing so, and plans with friends would get in the way of that.
"Good, that's- Great, yes, let's go." He went to pull his keys out and found them already in her hand.
"We're leaving now."
"Hey! Great show, right? We're all going out for dinner to celebrate." Fig interrupted, preventing their escape.
"We're going out for mango soda." Gorgug panicked. That really couldn't keep being their excuse for things. At some point their friends would catch on.
Ayda walked over from where she had been terrifying Ruben. "Excellent, where? We can all celebrate my paramour's success there."
"Bye."
Gorgug shrugged ruefully at Fig while his tiny girlfriend pulled him out the door. “Text me where you end up and we’ll see if we can make it.”
“See if you can make it?? What are you planning on doing?! Mary Ann I need him capable of drumming tomorrow night!!!”
His nerves had been firing ever since he woke up in his freshly broken bed, little bits of nervous energy keeping him at the edge of rage, senses going off like he was about to be attacked by some unknown assailant. At some point he had made his way into his workshop and started shaping metal with his bare hands, needing something to fidget with but unable to focus on one of his current projects. He made a strawberry. Then another. And another. He had gotten into the habit of absentmindedly making little metal strawberries when troubled. Mary Ann appreciated every single one he gave her and kept them on a shelf in her room. He found them soothing to make, and it was gratifying to create something so simple that generated so much joy.
When he looked down, it had been three hours and dozens of strawberries piled on the desk in front of him. He painted them a rainbow of colors and suspended them from some scrap metal, an artificer's anxiety turned mobile. He sheepishly presented it to her when they met up that night.
"You made these all today?"
He nodded.
She dragged a bench over to him to stand on before wrapping him in as big a hug she could with their [still present] height difference. He slumped into it, knowing she could support his weight easily.
"Rough day?"
"...Yeah." He said, face muffled as he pressed it into her neck.
He helped her carefully hang it above her bed. She would look up at them when she couldn't sleep and remind herself even the strongest person she knew had bad days.
"We died, Mary Ann. I died on my first day of school and you died in a practice forest as a sacrifice to a corrupted god. I'm 17, and I died when I was 14. Does that seem right to you? Even for adventurers?"
"No. It doesn't."
"Do you think Aguefort really knew we would be the ones to defeat the Last Stand? Or did he find out after we beat it and traveled back in time to record that message?"
Adaine looked at Riz. "Son of a bi-"