something something the Bad Kids supporting each other and trusting each other to have their backs. something being off-kilter in the treatment of one of them.
supporting Kristen in her presidential campaign and cheering on her many attempts at forming religion. making sure her god is taken care of, helping her check in on her siblings and hyping her up when she wanted to get with Gertie or Tracker.
encouraging Fig in her in her ideas and impersonations, going along seamlessly and covering for her or letting her have the space to have her fun. Going to her band's concerts, helping her in her collection of parental figures and helping her get with Ayda.
Adaine being reassured about her panic attacks, praised for her researching skills and being taken in after her house burnt down, instantly. Fabian dancing Adaine's battle for her to make sure she got paid, and all of them stopping at nothing to get her back after her abduction to Fallinel.
Riz going from "school nerd" to one of the coolest kids in town. being carried around, hyped up and praised endlessly for his incredible stealth and investigation skills. him taking stress tokens for his friends and them checking in on him, listening to his theories and supporting him in his fears of Kalina, of Baron.
Gorgug struggling with his size, his relationship to rage, and them showing him they're not scared and how much of a powerhouse he is. immediately supporting him in his decision to multiclass into artificing, encouraging him to get with Zelda and later Mary Ann, and being okay with him dropping Owlbears to get some more peace of mind.
Fabian having issues with his identity as a Seacaster, with how much it means to him and how he wants to be more than that, and his friends telling him "like, get over it." Fabian being told he can't be depressed or down because he needs to be useful and his life rules too much. Fabian being left alone in a mansion with an allowance instead of love, and his friends making jokes about it. forcing him into dealing with rats despite him telling them to stop.
Fabian makes jokes, and doesn't show vulnerability — how could he, when every single time he has he got his skull cracked into the floor by his father or got challenged to a duel by his mother or got physically hurt and yelled at by his friends. by his friends' parents.
and the kids fall for his jokes again and again and never take him seriously, laugh away his fears and say they're jealous of him having a house to himself. they curse him when Gertie swears at him and turn their Moonar Yulenear gifting into a joke when it's his turn.
he doesn't show vulnerability because he hasn't been allowed to, and that feeds into the cycle where his friends stop considering his feelings and traumas because he never mentions them, never shows them how much it truly affects them, and it's a system that never stops until someone breaks it and lends him a hand. shows him a kindness he hasn't had.
I know it's a game show and they all 'do it for the bit' and Lou Wilson himself is the king of committing wholly — for for Fabian, as a character, I wish someone stepped up and helped. That Tracker had been allowed to say her piece on Leviathan. that Jawbone had checked in on him a bit more. that Gilear or Hallariel or anyone else had cared just a little more about this boy so that he wouldn't have to be alone.