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. ]
I can still see. [ That's good. ...and about all he can judge about it when he can't feel anything, so trying to tell how secure it is isn't an option.
But he can turn his head left and right, to see if it falls off! Not very quickly, since he doesn't have good mobility for that, but--
Murphy, are the straps coming undone? Can you tell? Do they look secure? ]
Thank you. I don't know why I can't have eyes, or-- eye holes? The golems I've seen, they have sight in their heads. I'm pretty sure the last one I fought could see from its head.
I think because Sleep doesn't want us to be without our masks... it is also attached to the Murmur. It means we're always connected to one another.
[ His shoulders give a small little shrug. ]
But you've fought golems before? Actual ones? That's... [ He'd like to say crazy but more insanity will be coming. ] ... I'd like to think it'd prepare you for what is going to be headed our way.
[ Well, it sounds like he'll have to keep the mask on, then. ...even if he doesn't really have a choice! ]
If golems start attacking us, we'll put together a team and do our best not to die. [ Was that what Murphy was trying to say? Regardless, even with his mild-tone, there's a hint of confidence in this plan. It's what him and his friends always do!
...though, maybe he should ask: ] Have you ever-- fought monsters before?
[ He thought about asking 'have you ever been in a fight before?', but he does look like the guy who might've punched another guy. This is different. ]
Yeah, that kind of feels how things are here, too.
[ Everyone coming together to survive. It feels like that is about what it's like in this city. Of course, it's rougher than all that - still, one can't argue with results. ]
... but yeah, I've fought monsters before.
[ A pause and huffing laugh. ] Killed one with a brick once. More than once.
Nno... there's monsters in the woods. Or outside town. [ Well. ] That is, monsters can end up in backyards, but-- it sounded like, you have a monster problem, sometimes. But you didn't take fighting classes to deal with them.
[ You know! He's just a normal guy! With a brick! ]
No, I was just in a weird town that was crawling with monsters.
[ He waves his hand like that makes sense, but it doesn't. Clenching his fist, he feels the irritation roll up in him, but it's -- ]
I had to just kind of use whatever I came across to survive. [ Which sounds less funny now that he says it. One shoulder slumps but he smiles slightly. ]
Anyway, I'm glad that there weren't any monsters too close to you... but with rock skin, I suppose you'd be mostly safe? Maybe? I dunno... sorry, that sounded insensitive.
I don't have rock skin back home, but it's okay. Thank you. Sorry your town was weird and crawling with monsters.
[ That can't be insensitive, can it? But it feels like he's gotten to know this guy a little better. Maybe! ]
Do you want-- I don't know if I'm holding you up. I can go start looking for a house. Or an apartment. [ This city looks more like an apartment kind of environment. ]
You should find some good bricks.
[ Does that joke land? Gorgug brings out his rocky arms, tries turning the slabs that make his palms, and then pulls in the bits of stones that make fingers, lets one on each side stay up.
(He's trying to give him two thumbs up. Is it working?) ]
It wasn't my town. Sorry, it was a town that I had stumbled into... honestly, no town in my world was like that one. [ As far as he knows? Fuck, even thinking there might be more makes him upset. ]
Well - I was gonna just head back to my hovel.
[ Which is just a garage that he's been calling his own. Scratching his forehead (or rather the area on his mask where his forehead would be, ha ha), he sighs. ]
But what were you asking? You wanted to go somewhere?
I don't have experience waking up in a city on my own, so I thought, maybe I should look around and, I should know where to stay if I'm going to be stuck here. [ That sounds like what would be called a good place? ] And I guess... I don't know if I distracted you, so, I didn't want to keep you hanging around. I didn't want anything.
[ Should he try and stick with Murphy? That seems weird, and the man would probably find that really weird, so he should do the normal thing any 15/16 year old in an unknown city should do and be by himself. Obviously. ]
But I appreciate that you helped me. And you helped with my mask, too.
[ He holds his hand up - he did intend to just leave, but he realizes that he should try to be a little more helpful than that, actually. ]
Come on. We can figure out some place for you.
[ A small gesture with his hand. ] Do you want to be around people or live on your own? [ And he does finally start to take a step with another gesture that Gorgug should follow him as they figure this one out. ]
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no subject
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. ]
no subject
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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Date: 2026-05-06 11:27 am (UTC)But he can turn his head left and right, to see if it falls off! Not very quickly, since he doesn't have good mobility for that, but--
Murphy, are the straps coming undone? Can you tell? Do they look secure? ]
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 11:42 pm (UTC)[ So he says making another knot. ]
That should tide you over until we find some actual straps for the mask, at least.
[ He lets out a long sigh. ]
I'm glad you're able to still see, too. It'd kind of be pointless otherwise.
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Date: 2026-05-07 03:58 pm (UTC)[ It was just slow! And very big. ]
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Date: 2026-05-08 12:53 am (UTC)[ His shoulders give a small little shrug. ]
But you've fought golems before? Actual ones? That's... [ He'd like to say crazy but more insanity will be coming. ] ... I'd like to think it'd prepare you for what is going to be headed our way.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-08 08:34 pm (UTC)If golems start attacking us, we'll put together a team and do our best not to die. [ Was that what Murphy was trying to say? Regardless, even with his mild-tone, there's a hint of confidence in this plan. It's what him and his friends always do!
...though, maybe he should ask: ] Have you ever-- fought monsters before?
[ He thought about asking 'have you ever been in a fight before?', but he does look like the guy who might've punched another guy. This is different. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-05-09 01:13 am (UTC)[ Everyone coming together to survive. It feels like that is about what it's like in this city. Of course, it's rougher than all that - still, one can't argue with results. ]
... but yeah, I've fought monsters before.
[ A pause and huffing laugh. ] Killed one with a brick once. More than once.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-09 05:57 am (UTC)...were they in your backyard?
[ Did he just... pick up a brick because they ended up outside his house? ]
no subject
Date: 2026-05-09 04:08 pm (UTC)... were yours?
no subject
Date: 2026-05-09 04:18 pm (UTC)[ You know! He's just a normal guy! With a brick! ]
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Date: 2026-05-09 04:35 pm (UTC)No, I was just in a weird town that was crawling with monsters.
[ He waves his hand like that makes sense, but it doesn't. Clenching his fist, he feels the irritation roll up in him, but it's -- ]
I had to just kind of use whatever I came across to survive. [ Which sounds less funny now that he says it. One shoulder slumps but he smiles slightly. ]
Anyway, I'm glad that there weren't any monsters too close to you... but with rock skin, I suppose you'd be mostly safe? Maybe? I dunno... sorry, that sounded insensitive.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-09 04:44 pm (UTC)I don't have rock skin back home, but it's okay. Thank you. Sorry your town was weird and crawling with monsters.
[ That can't be insensitive, can it? But it feels like he's gotten to know this guy a little better. Maybe! ]
Do you want-- I don't know if I'm holding you up. I can go start looking for a house. Or an apartment. [ This city looks more like an apartment kind of environment. ]
You should find some good bricks.
[ Does that joke land? Gorgug brings out his rocky arms, tries turning the slabs that make his palms, and then pulls in the bits of stones that make fingers, lets one on each side stay up.
(He's trying to give him two thumbs up. Is it working?) ]
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Date: 2026-05-09 05:16 pm (UTC)[ He holds his hand up weakly like an apology. ]
It wasn't my town. Sorry, it was a town that I had stumbled into... honestly, no town in my world was like that one. [ As far as he knows? Fuck, even thinking there might be more makes him upset. ]
Well - I was gonna just head back to my hovel.
[ Which is just a garage that he's been calling his own. Scratching his forehead (or rather the area on his mask where his forehead would be, ha ha), he sighs. ]
But what were you asking? You wanted to go somewhere?
[ Another laugh. ]
Could always use more bricks.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-09 06:01 pm (UTC)[ Should he try and stick with Murphy? That seems weird, and the man would probably find that really weird, so he should do the normal thing any 15/16 year old in an unknown city should do and be by himself. Obviously. ]
But I appreciate that you helped me. And you helped with my mask, too.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-10 01:40 am (UTC)[ He holds his hand up - he did intend to just leave, but he realizes that he should try to be a little more helpful than that, actually. ]
Come on. We can figure out some place for you.
[ A small gesture with his hand. ] Do you want to be around people or live on your own? [ And he does finally start to take a step with another gesture that Gorgug should follow him as they figure this one out. ]