Siphoning gas from anything would be fine, but it wouldn't last for that long and a pain in the ass to get just for a few blocks. Fixing them up would also take some time, but theoretically, it could all work. Just not for long. As soon as the gas you have is used... that's it.
[ He holds his hands out in a surrendering position. ]
It's kind of fucked like that... people choose where they live and everything's a free for all, really... but we all try to live relatively close to each other just because of what a nuisance it is to try to get anywhere.
[ It might sound like a waste of time, but Gorgug wonders if it's completely like that. Regardless, the subject of living coming back around does bring up something maybe more immediately helpful: ]
Is the area everyone lives in close by? I don't know what to do, but, I think I still want somewhere to stay? [ ... ] I think-- Yeah, it makes sense to, like, if I still live indoors, somewhere...
[ Even if he feels pretty weird being a rock golem. ]
[ He makes a circling gesture but pauses as he realizes that actually the name that Gorgug gave -- he probably doesn't know what that means. ]
I'll show you.
[ Murphy makes a face underneath his mask. He's glad that it isn't actually shown. The whole Murmur thing is something he's still getting used to, honestly. Even months of being part of it, he still just feels weird about hearing other people's voices in his head; seeing images that they want; all that bullshit.
But it's useful in this respect that he's able to reach out to Gorgug and show him on a "map" of the city about where everyone is located. He tries to imagine the map of New York and circle the area that has the most people living - which seems to be Midtown and Manhattan itself, as far as he can tell. ]
[ Oh, this feeling-- Gorgug recognises this feeling, experiencing it somewhat in the dream. It's not the same as when his friends send him Messages, though there's something similar, but this is more in-depth as the imagery seeps in as Gorgug accepts the connection that's requested.
A map. Gorgug stands as still as he already has been for the most part as he focuses inward, follows where Murphy leads. But then there's a feeling the older man may notice, like Gorgug trying to look around at the map, as he asks (in a voice much clearer over the Murmur, echoing the same muffled one that can be heard out loud): ]
Do you know where we are?
[ Gorgug hasn't been really paying attention to any street signs. None of them were familiar, so he quickly gave up on keeping track.
But there's a noticeable ease that Gorgug has about this form of communication, even if there's a certain curious quality coming through. ]
[ Breathing out a little sigh, he nods. He's never been to New York before but thought a long time ago that it'd be fine to visit. Wishes and horses or something.
He still remains connected to Gorgug as he shows where they are - Manhattan. They're relatively close to Central Park. He intends to go there so he can lay face up in some puddle - a desire to be close to water is eating at him, yet again. ]
Okay. [ Hm hm, he's learning, he's learning! So they're in around this area, and that area's where people mostly live out at... ] Is there anywhere else I should know about? Anywhere dangerous, or-- something like that?
[ Do the unstable people hang out anywhere, or just everywhere? ]
I guess no more than the average city, though. [ He works his jaw back and forth as he thinks more about it. ] The subway and deep underground is absolutely -- [ A pause as he looks at Gorgug then looks away. ] -- nowhere you should be. Nowhere anyone should be. It's filled with --
[ He makes a gesture with his hands before letting them drop. ]
-- you just start go insane while you're down there along with monsters.
[ Best to put it that way. ] Anyone explain tethers to you, yet?
[ Okay. Gorgug would've guessed those turned-insane people would be down in the undergrounds, but now he's wondering what else would turn them insane from being down there. Something to do with close proximity to them? Or something to do with the underground?
He would ask, but the question gets put on hold for the one Murphy gives him. Tethers? ]
I don't remember the word... [ He admits-- thinking about it, with nothing changing about the face for a mask he has despite the way his voice emotes. So it's been the entire time--but then again, a mask is just a mask. ]
[ He crosses his arms as he decides to explain this important bit of information for him, as well. Of course, he only keeps his arms crossed for a short second - he's already rubbing the back of his head. ]
They're ties that you create with other people. Not like ... the power of friendship or whatever, but literal psychic ties that you end up creating with another person.
[ It's the best way that he can explain it. ] They're somewhat crucial to being able to survive here. Without them, your sense of self and ability to reason starts to get all -- [ His mouth twitches underneath the mask. Somehow, he feels like he shouldn't swear so much, and pauses to think of an adequate word. ] -- messed up.
[ His eyebrows furrow. That felt a little too scrubbed a word. ]
The tethers help to, well, keep you tied to reality.
[ Oh. Some psychic stuff, which-- well, Gorgug doesn't know a lot about that, but he must imagine it's something that some people do, maybe, if not for the same reasons. His body is mostly still, but there's a creak as his mind thinks about having his head nod, but the actual stone that represents his head doesn't move too much. ]
So, do I... have to do anything special to make a tether? I don't really mess with psychic stuff. [ It's not his class!
[ Murphy feels a hundred yard stare settle on his expression. It's good that he has his mask on to avoid showing his hand too much. He honestly doesn't fully understand the tether situation, but he has heard the quickest way would be to engage in sexual activities with a person.
His eyebrows furrow as he glances toward Gorgug - and all his rock glory. A part of him flinches, but he soon shakes his head and refocuses his stare. ]
It's ... well, I dunno about special... just having an emotional connection with someone seems to be enough to create a tether with them and you.
[ That is the response of somebody trying to sound like they get it. It's that simple. Just have an emotional connection to make a psychic tether?
Gorgug creaks his head to the left, creaks it to the right, the sound like the grinding stone that it is as it rubs against the lower one that makes up his neck. He kind of wants to ask for tips, but that sounds like asking for help in a way that would make him look dumb, and he isn't here for that. Which leaves Gorgug empty, with nothing else but to... be here, he guesses. Stay safe.
His head turns back to Murphy, his black mask facing staring at him with its dot white eyes. ]
Then, I guess... I'll find somewhere to live and-- do that. Make a...connection. [ And then, thinking about it for a second more: ] Sorry you're turning into a fish person.
[ It feels like something nice to repeat. Sympathies, his condolences. ]
[ Murphy decides to say that much since he at least gets the tone of the response. It barely makes any sense why anything works, but it's one of those things he feels like he should've tried instead of focusing on surviving. Both are equally important --
-- he rubs the back of his head, messing up his hair. ]
But yeah, thanks... [ About being sorry that he's turning into a fish. ]
I think the tethers are... well, caring about someone deeply and having them let you care about them... to connect you to them so that you feel like you can find them if you need to do it... the idea that the person you care about is always close by. [ His shoulders do a quick jerking shrug. ] At least, I think that is what it is.
[ So tethers are just something that happen. Gorgug isn't sure why Murphy expanded on it (his confusion was surely not so obvious!), but if it is just a thing that happens, then it isn't something he needs to worry about, right?
It's just a thing that happens. Just like everything else currently going on: where you're on your vanboat one second, and in the next you're here, stuck in a city of bickering exes who happen to be gods, surrounded by rubble. ]
I...can do that, [ he says, a little uncertainly--not because of the ask from making a tether, but just because...it's still strange. Still odd. Here are the new rules of life to abide by, here's the new laws for living. ] I got good at making friends recently.
[ So he should be okay, technically. Maybe. He's still a person-shaped pile of rocks with a mask acting as an expressionless face, but that's what he has to be now. This is where he is now. This is what's happening.
He will attempt to sound understanding about it, like he's got this. It doesn't sound like there's much else for him to do. ]
It is good that he has the gas mask to cover up his momentarily confused expression. However, he shakes his head and decides not to read into that bit. ]
Yeah, me too. [ It took him a long time to be able to acquire his first tether, and he's slowly opening up a little more the more time spent in this strange place. ] Anyway, I think the two of us are ... friends, right?
[ More of a half-statement, half-question than anything else.
But he takes a step back, indicating his intent to leave. ]
Anyway, you know how to get a hold of me? [ Murph's a man who has to go see a pond - and thankfully, Central Park isn't that far to dunk his head into a puddle. ]
[ Can a teen be friends with an adult? .... well, this adult was a confused knight with him, so maybe that can indicate a bond. Good thing Murphy doesn't need an answer about that from Gorgug! (Even if he would say yes, just to be supportive...) ]
I think at you. [ Now that's one question he can answer, and he tries to tap at his forehead, like he has an actual real forehead he can do that with, but he ends up knocking his mask halfway off his face. ]
Noo nononono... [ He does manage to catch it, fortunately, and he fixes it back up, nothing behind on the rock where it sits. How? Who knows. Gorgug just doesn't want to lose it. ]
[ Murphy starts to say that Gorgug got it but pauses when the mask the rockman's wearing almost is knocked off his face. His head jerks toward where it is falling and his hand reaches out - but it's already caught, and he pulls his hand back. ]
I'm glad.
[ It's a lame response but he isn't sure what he should say. ]
Hey, is your mask fragile? [ Looking it over, he was hoping that it wasn't something that'd just shatter if it fell. But probably not! He just is sometimes a worrywart for no reason other than sometimes it's nice to worry. ]
[ He stares at the mask on Gorgug's face and wonders if there is a better way to fix it on the rock. His mouth works side-to-side beneath his own mask as he tries to mull over what to do. ]
-- well, I wonder if more straps might be the answer.
[ And he starts looking on his person to see if they can't come up with a makeshift solution. ]
Straps would be good. [ You know, it probably wouldn't be bad to make it harder to lose his apparent face. But he's also noticing the way Murphy is moving around, and: ] Do you carry straps around?
[ Is he the Strap Man? Is that why he thought about straps--!? ]
No. I'm thinking we'll have to make some makeshift ones for now.
[ Which would probably be ripping some pieces of clothes into straps until they could find something better. Does he have a knife or anything? No, but he does have webbed hands that are slowly turning into sharp claws. Cool? Not really.
He's trying to figure out how to rip his sleeve. Probably from the cuff down, yeah? Probably? ]
This wasn't where Gorgug was expecting this to go. Why not just be the strap guy who happens to carry around straps? Gorgug's watching Murphy, confused at first as the claws come out and then he's... measuring out his arm? Wait-- ]
You don't have to... [ It's not really a rushed protest. Gorgug, admittedly, isn't sure how to take what he thinks is happening. Be touched? Embarrassed? He kind of is embarrassed, actually. He doesn't want to lose his sight (and hearing, and means of speaking) while walking around, and it's not like he has better alternatives.
It's just awkward. ...and sure, it might be nice, too, but.
Gorgug doesn't know what else to do but to stand there, motionless, his emotions only evident through the sound of his voice, and perhaps the way that he's constantly connected to the murmur through the mask. ]
[ His chin drops a little as he tilts his head in confusion. Of course, he isn't sure how much of that confusion comes out in his body language and tone of voice - most of which continues to be muffled by the mask itself. ]
This is just a stopgap until you get something better.
[ A tilt of his head in the opposite direction before he does tear long strips off his own sleeve. It's not the most even of cuts, but hey - one does what one can as he rips off the material. He makes some noises as he looks it over - all right. ]
I wouldn't want to leave you without something, anyway.
Which is a moot point, now. It's been torn into, ripped, and Gorgug isn't going to fuss at this point about it. ]
I'll take care of it. [ You know, his strap of shirt. But if Murphy is going to remark on it like that, he'll treasure it as much as one can a random slip of cotton shirt! ] Also, not to-- can you also put it on? I think I will-- I'll definitely knock my mask off if I try that.
[ He's already thinking about trying to bend his arms in a new way he hasn't tried yet, and-- yeah. That'll go bad. ]
Well, it is important. [ The mask. ] But I think you already got that --
[ Anyway, he's got the straps of fabric so going to try to wrap it around the forehead(?) of the mask and around the back of Gorgug's head.
And, this is why it's good to have more than one makeshift strap so that he can try to use another piece of torn fabric to wrap around when it seems like the first strap isn't holding it as well as he would like. ]
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Date: 2026-04-12 07:39 pm (UTC)[ He clicks his tongue yet again. ]
Siphoning gas from anything would be fine, but it wouldn't last for that long and a pain in the ass to get just for a few blocks. Fixing them up would also take some time, but theoretically, it could all work. Just not for long. As soon as the gas you have is used... that's it.
[ He holds his hands out in a surrendering position. ]
It's kind of fucked like that... people choose where they live and everything's a free for all, really... but we all try to live relatively close to each other just because of what a nuisance it is to try to get anywhere.
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Date: 2026-04-12 07:48 pm (UTC)Is the area everyone lives in close by? I don't know what to do, but, I think I still want somewhere to stay? [ ... ] I think-- Yeah, it makes sense to, like, if I still live indoors, somewhere...
[ Even if he feels pretty weird being a rock golem. ]
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Date: 2026-04-12 08:02 pm (UTC)[ He makes a circling gesture but pauses as he realizes that actually the name that Gorgug gave -- he probably doesn't know what that means. ]
I'll show you.
[ Murphy makes a face underneath his mask. He's glad that it isn't actually shown. The whole Murmur thing is something he's still getting used to, honestly. Even months of being part of it, he still just feels weird about hearing other people's voices in his head; seeing images that they want; all that bullshit.
But it's useful in this respect that he's able to reach out to Gorgug and show him on a "map" of the city about where everyone is located. He tries to imagine the map of New York and circle the area that has the most people living - which seems to be Midtown and Manhattan itself, as far as he can tell. ]
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Date: 2026-04-12 08:16 pm (UTC)A map. Gorgug stands as still as he already has been for the most part as he focuses inward, follows where Murphy leads. But then there's a feeling the older man may notice, like Gorgug trying to look around at the map, as he asks (in a voice much clearer over the Murmur, echoing the same muffled one that can be heard out loud): ]
Do you know where we are?
[ Gorgug hasn't been really paying attention to any street signs. None of them were familiar, so he quickly gave up on keeping track.
But there's a noticeable ease that Gorgug has about this form of communication, even if there's a certain curious quality coming through. ]
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Date: 2026-04-12 08:49 pm (UTC)He still remains connected to Gorgug as he shows where they are - Manhattan. They're relatively close to Central Park. He intends to go there so he can lay face up in some puddle - a desire to be close to water is eating at him, yet again. ]
Around this area, I think.
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Date: 2026-04-14 05:26 pm (UTC)[ Do the unstable people hang out anywhere, or just everywhere? ]
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Date: 2026-04-16 07:43 pm (UTC)[ He hates to admit it, but it's true. ]
I guess no more than the average city, though. [ He works his jaw back and forth as he thinks more about it. ] The subway and deep underground is absolutely -- [ A pause as he looks at Gorgug then looks away. ] -- nowhere you should be. Nowhere anyone should be. It's filled with --
[ He makes a gesture with his hands before letting them drop. ]
-- you just start go insane while you're down there along with monsters.
[ Best to put it that way. ] Anyone explain tethers to you, yet?
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Date: 2026-04-18 04:43 pm (UTC)He would ask, but the question gets put on hold for the one Murphy gives him. Tethers? ]
I don't remember the word... [ He admits-- thinking about it, with nothing changing about the face for a mask he has despite the way his voice emotes. So it's been the entire time--but then again, a mask is just a mask. ]
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Date: 2026-04-19 11:21 pm (UTC)[ He crosses his arms as he decides to explain this important bit of information for him, as well. Of course, he only keeps his arms crossed for a short second - he's already rubbing the back of his head. ]
They're ties that you create with other people. Not like ... the power of friendship or whatever, but literal psychic ties that you end up creating with another person.
[ It's the best way that he can explain it. ] They're somewhat crucial to being able to survive here. Without them, your sense of self and ability to reason starts to get all -- [ His mouth twitches underneath the mask. Somehow, he feels like he shouldn't swear so much, and pauses to think of an adequate word. ] -- messed up.
[ His eyebrows furrow. That felt a little too scrubbed a word. ]
The tethers help to, well, keep you tied to reality.
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Date: 2026-04-22 01:04 pm (UTC)So, do I... have to do anything special to make a tether? I don't really mess with psychic stuff. [ It's not his class!
Has he gotta go learn a... not-spell? ]
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Date: 2026-04-23 06:56 pm (UTC)His eyebrows furrow as he glances toward Gorgug - and all his rock glory. A part of him flinches, but he soon shakes his head and refocuses his stare. ]
It's ... well, I dunno about special... just having an emotional connection with someone seems to be enough to create a tether with them and you.
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Date: 2026-04-25 05:01 pm (UTC)[ That is the response of somebody trying to sound like they get it. It's that simple. Just have an emotional connection to make a psychic tether?
Gorgug creaks his head to the left, creaks it to the right, the sound like the grinding stone that it is as it rubs against the lower one that makes up his neck. He kind of wants to ask for tips, but that sounds like asking for help in a way that would make him look dumb, and he isn't here for that. Which leaves Gorgug empty, with nothing else but to... be here, he guesses. Stay safe.
His head turns back to Murphy, his black mask facing staring at him with its dot white eyes. ]
Then, I guess... I'll find somewhere to live and-- do that. Make a...connection. [ And then, thinking about it for a second more: ] Sorry you're turning into a fish person.
[ It feels like something nice to repeat. Sympathies, his condolences. ]
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Date: 2026-04-25 05:45 pm (UTC)[ Murphy decides to say that much since he at least gets the tone of the response. It barely makes any sense why anything works, but it's one of those things he feels like he should've tried instead of focusing on surviving. Both are equally important --
-- he rubs the back of his head, messing up his hair. ]
But yeah, thanks... [ About being sorry that he's turning into a fish. ]
I think the tethers are... well, caring about someone deeply and having them let you care about them... to connect you to them so that you feel like you can find them if you need to do it... the idea that the person you care about is always close by. [ His shoulders do a quick jerking shrug. ] At least, I think that is what it is.
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Date: 2026-04-25 07:19 pm (UTC)It's just a thing that happens. Just like everything else currently going on: where you're on your vanboat one second, and in the next you're here, stuck in a city of bickering exes who happen to be gods, surrounded by rubble. ]
I...can do that, [ he says, a little uncertainly--not because of the ask from making a tether, but just because...it's still strange. Still odd. Here are the new rules of life to abide by, here's the new laws for living. ] I got good at making friends recently.
[ So he should be okay, technically. Maybe. He's still a person-shaped pile of rocks with a mask acting as an expressionless face, but that's what he has to be now. This is where he is now. This is what's happening.
He will attempt to sound understanding about it, like he's got this. It doesn't sound like there's much else for him to do. ]
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Date: 2026-04-25 07:39 pm (UTC)It is good that he has the gas mask to cover up his momentarily confused expression. However, he shakes his head and decides not to read into that bit. ]
Yeah, me too. [ It took him a long time to be able to acquire his first tether, and he's slowly opening up a little more the more time spent in this strange place. ] Anyway, I think the two of us are ... friends, right?
[ More of a half-statement, half-question than anything else.
But he takes a step back, indicating his intent to leave. ]
Anyway, you know how to get a hold of me? [ Murph's a man who has to go see a pond - and thankfully, Central Park isn't that far to dunk his head into a puddle. ]
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Date: 2026-04-25 08:06 pm (UTC)I think at you. [ Now that's one question he can answer, and he tries to tap at his forehead, like he has an actual real forehead he can do that with, but he ends up knocking his mask halfway off his face. ]
Noo nononono... [ He does manage to catch it, fortunately, and he fixes it back up, nothing behind on the rock where it sits. How? Who knows. Gorgug just doesn't want to lose it. ]
I'm fine.
[ Nothing to see here!! ]
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Date: 2026-04-25 11:03 pm (UTC)[ Murphy starts to say that Gorgug got it but pauses when the mask the rockman's wearing almost is knocked off his face. His head jerks toward where it is falling and his hand reaches out - but it's already caught, and he pulls his hand back. ]
I'm glad.
[ It's a lame response but he isn't sure what he should say. ]
Hey, is your mask fragile? [ Looking it over, he was hoping that it wasn't something that'd just shatter if it fell. But probably not! He just is sometimes a worrywart for no reason other than sometimes it's nice to worry. ]
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Date: 2026-04-26 03:22 pm (UTC)I don't know, [ he admits, and there's a beat of silence before, also: ] I can't see anything without it, so I don't really want to find out.
[ That would be bad? That would be bad. ]
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Date: 2026-04-26 06:13 pm (UTC)[ He stares at the mask on Gorgug's face and wonders if there is a better way to fix it on the rock. His mouth works side-to-side beneath his own mask as he tries to mull over what to do. ]
-- well, I wonder if more straps might be the answer.
[ And he starts looking on his person to see if they can't come up with a makeshift solution. ]
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Date: 2026-04-30 06:53 pm (UTC)Straps would be good. [ You know, it probably wouldn't be bad to make it harder to lose his apparent face. But he's also noticing the way Murphy is moving around, and: ] Do you carry straps around?
[ Is he the Strap Man? Is that why he thought about straps--!? ]
no subject
Date: 2026-05-04 02:28 am (UTC)[ Which would probably be ripping some pieces of clothes into straps until they could find something better. Does he have a knife or anything? No, but he does have webbed hands that are slowly turning into sharp claws. Cool? Not really.
He's trying to figure out how to rip his sleeve. Probably from the cuff down, yeah? Probably? ]
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Date: 2026-05-04 08:20 am (UTC)This wasn't where Gorgug was expecting this to go. Why not just be the strap guy who happens to carry around straps? Gorgug's watching Murphy, confused at first as the claws come out and then he's... measuring out his arm? Wait-- ]
You don't have to... [ It's not really a rushed protest. Gorgug, admittedly, isn't sure how to take what he thinks is happening. Be touched? Embarrassed? He kind of is embarrassed, actually. He doesn't want to lose his sight (and hearing, and means of speaking) while walking around, and it's not like he has better alternatives.
It's just awkward. ...and sure, it might be nice, too, but.
Gorgug doesn't know what else to do but to stand there, motionless, his emotions only evident through the sound of his voice, and perhaps the way that he's constantly connected to the murmur through the mask. ]
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Date: 2026-05-06 04:15 am (UTC)[ His chin drops a little as he tilts his head in confusion. Of course, he isn't sure how much of that confusion comes out in his body language and tone of voice - most of which continues to be muffled by the mask itself. ]
This is just a stopgap until you get something better.
[ A tilt of his head in the opposite direction before he does tear long strips off his own sleeve. It's not the most even of cuts, but hey - one does what one can as he rips off the material. He makes some noises as he looks it over - all right. ]
I wouldn't want to leave you without something, anyway.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 05:07 am (UTC)Which is a moot point, now. It's been torn into, ripped, and Gorgug isn't going to fuss at this point about it. ]
I'll take care of it. [ You know, his strap of shirt. But if Murphy is going to remark on it like that, he'll treasure it as much as one can a random slip of cotton shirt! ] Also, not to-- can you also put it on? I think I will-- I'll definitely knock my mask off if I try that.
[ He's already thinking about trying to bend his arms in a new way he hasn't tried yet, and-- yeah. That'll go bad. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 05:33 am (UTC)[ Anyway, he's got the straps of fabric so going to try to wrap it around the forehead(?) of the mask and around the back of Gorgug's head.
And, this is why it's good to have more than one makeshift strap so that he can try to use another piece of torn fabric to wrap around when it seems like the first strap isn't holding it as well as he would like. ]
-- how's that?
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