Here I am, and I'm hoping you can understand.

[talkyourwayout]

It was something that got easier, telling people who she was. After Unca Scrooge and Louie, she'd been dead set on telling her family back home before she told anyone else. Lena and Violet had been filled in shortly after that, in part so Lexi could have Lena help her pick out some new clothes. She still loved her old hoodie, but it was definitely boxy and overall boyish, so she preferred just wearing it around the house these days. For that day's meet-up with Gobo, she'd opted for a long button-up shirt - green, of course - along with some gold-colored bangles that had been a gift from her mother after she'd told her. While she wasn't sure it would be a clearly feminine look to Gobo, she felt nice wearing it. That was all she was going for, more or less. Gobo didn't know yet, because it had only been a couple days, and they both kept busy at times. Well, Gobo kept busy, with exploring and map-making... Lexi, on principle, tried not to be busy ever.

Her bangles jingled against each other on her wrist as she headed down the Fraggle Hole - she'd gotten pretty familiar with the spot near her home, over the years. And Gobo was making most of the trek, not her, so she didn't have to worry beyond that, really. As she made her way through that first stretch of underground tunnel, she found herself humming. It was just something about being down there, and she was sure that was why the humming eventually grew into soft singing.

"And I know
I'll find my way -
I'm closer every day
To someone I can be,
No, it's not easy,
But you can figure it out with me."

Comments

[gobetween]

The first thing she's going to hear is gentle guitar music, its own song but still working with her own. Not long after is she going to come up onto Gobo, who'd chosen a spot near her part of the tunnel to wait, and had been singing to pass the time.

♫ While the sun goes 'round, I'll still be found
Following the sound
Something's calling me
When the world goes drifting back to bed
Memories in my head
Wonders follow me

Every morning
Every day
Every evening
Calling me away... ♪

[talkyourwayout]

Lexi grinned upon hearing the music. It wasn't the first time she'd heard Gobo singing that particular song, by any means, and she kept humming her own tune in a response of sorts, until she made a turn around a bend, and in doing so, spotted her friend.

Her smile softened, then - partially out of nerves, but also because of the comforting familiarity of seeing Gobo - and she raised her hand in a little wave of greeting.

[gobetween]

He knew she was there, if only because he'd heard her song bump up against his and mix together with it. So he glanced up with a familiar, warm smile, sitting up some on actually seeing her.

"Hey there, it's good to see ya!"

[talkyourwayout]

"Same to you, Gobo," Lexi responded, lowering her hand and leaning against the rocky wall of tunnel. "How's it going?"

Coming from a culture so focused on music and, really, sound in general, Gobo might notice that her voice was at a slightly different pitch than the last time they'd met up.

[gobetween]

He did notice, which got a curious glance from him that she may notice herself. Asking is put off for the moment though, in favor of answering her first. "It goes about the same as it ever did, I think! Exploring Outer Space is always a new source of excitement."

[talkyourwayout]

Lexi gave an amused snort at that, rolling her eyes lightly. "Yeah, I really don't get why you enjoy all that excitement, but whatever," she teased. "Hey, I wanted to tell you something, though. It's just us today, right?" she asked, peering further down the tunnel.

[gobetween]

Gobo looked down the tunnel when she did, purely just because she did, then turned back and nodded.

"Yeah, we're all alone. What's up?"

[talkyourwayout]

"Okay," Lexi said. Her hands were fidgeting - yes, it had gotten easier, but it wasn't easy. Especially because she doubted Gobo would know any terminology that could help her explain this more precisely. "So, uh... Here, scooch over," she sighed after a moment, walking over to the rock where Gobo sat.

[gobetween]

He watched her curiously, then nodded and moved over, while sliding his guitar around to rest against his back.

[talkyourwayout]

She sat down beside him, sighing again and dragging her hands over her closed eyes for a moment. "I want you to call me Lexi from now on, okay?" It seemed the best way to start with Gobo, honestly - or at least, as good a way as any. "I'm still me, but me isn't Louie. Never really was, I... I'm not a boy, you know?" She laughed weakly as she opened her eyes. "I'm a girl, and my name is Lexi."

[gobetween]

Gobo looked at her for a long moment, then laughed gently and leaned toward her, head tilted some.

"Man, you really are an honorary Fraggle, aren't you?" Another- kind -chuckle and he smiled. "Lexi it is!"

[talkyourwayout]

"I... Huh?" Lexi asked, unusually ineloquent and wearing the tiniest hint of a smile. Something about that - not just the ease of acceptance, but the specific phrasing... It had her curious, in a pleasant way.

[gobetween]

"Once we get old enough, we decide which we want to be called. Other than that it doesn't really matter, and it doesn't usually come up either. So, this isn't all that unusual for me."

He glanced at her, realizing something. "You seemed nervous about it, though. Is it different for Silly Creatures?"

[talkyourwayout]

Lexi liked being an honorary Fraggle for a number of reasons, but this... This was news to her - wonderful, amazing news. She let out a breathless laugh and, walls down in her relief, tackled Gobo in a hug, the two of them landing on the tunnel's floor.

"Gobo, that's...!" the rest was lost in a wave of grateful laughter, though, for a good several seconds. "I didn't know that," she said after a moment, rolling over onto her back. She stayed on the ground, though, because getting up was an unnecessary effort just then. "It's different for us, yeah. Most people usually assume everyone feels like the gender they're assigned at birth- You know, what their body looks like. And even if they get it, once you tell them, they might make too big a deal about it."

She loved Huey and everything, but god.

"So this? This is... Really great."

[gobetween]

The tacklehug surprised him, and he hit the floor with a sharp "Oof." Once he was released he sat up- spent a second checking the guitar (it's fine) -and then looked over at Lexi.

"Really?" Man, Silly Creatures get weirder, don't they? After a moment though, he smiled. "Well, I'm glad you're so happy right now!"

That was always a nice thing to see in such a good friend, no matter the cause- though Identity was always one of the best ones.

[talkyourwayout]

"Really," she confirmed, with a little chuckle. Who would've thought...?

Lexi sat up a little, propping herself up with her hands against the ground. "I didn't think that would be so easy to explain to you."

[gobetween]

He nodded a bit at first, then looked up with a short laugh. "What's that supposed to mean?"

[talkyourwayout]

"I mean you don't know a lot, dummy. You make it too easy," Lexi said with a smirk.

Okay, so she'd really meant she wasn't sure if the concept would be totally alien to a Fraggle, or something, but the fact that Fraggles were utterly clueless was still true.

[gobetween]

He gave her a mock glare, snorting some. "I know plenty of things! How can I help it if you Silly Creatures are so weird, eh?"

[talkyourwayout]

"Yeah, sure, I'm weird. Even though you're the one who eats construction sites," Lexi pointed out.

[gobetween]

"Yeah, that're made from radishes. Can I help it if Doozer sticks are delicious?"

[talkyourwayout]

"Didn't you have to be told they were made from radishes? I'm sorry, what was that you were saying before about knowing stuff?"

[gobetween]

He stammered a moment, then settled for shoving her back over, as little a "fall" as that would even be. Almost immediately after, he started laughing, unable to keep it from bubbling up any longer.

[talkyourwayout]

Lexi didn't even fight the shove or the fall, laughing as well. "See, I'm right," she said with pride, before sitting back up - fully, this time. She rolled her shoulders back and smiled.

"Now my back's stiff. And people say you're good for me," she commented idly, with another little laugh.

[gobetween]

"I didn't tell you to keep laying on the ground." His giggles ebbed off naturally, though still broke through a bit here and there.

"People really say that?"

[talkyourwayout]

"Look, you should know by now that if I'm lying down, I'm not going to want to get up." Lexi shrugged. "And yeah. My mom and Unca Scrooge, mostly."

[gobetween]

"Wow, that- that's really nice of them." He laughed gently. "I don't know what to say. I hadn't really noticed anything special-" He paused and waved a hand. "Not that our friendship isn't special!" He snorted.

"What I meant was, you seem just like anyone else I've ever hung out with, especially now. It's... Actually kinda like being with another Fraggle when we hang out."

[talkyourwayout]

"Don't get a big head about it," Lexi said, though her smile remained in place. "I never thought about it, either, until Unca Scrooge pointed out it."

But of course, Scrooge - either one - was one of the few people who she ever really put stake in what they said. So when he'd brought it up, she'd thought about it. He'd gently worked a lot of it out of her, really, and while it hadn't been the easiest thing to discuss - emotions never were - it had been an interesting conversation.

But rather than relate all that to Gobo, or explain the person she used to be, she just shrugged with a quick laugh, and patted Gobo's arm. She didn't know how to say it - and didn't think she really needed to - but she was thankful to him, for how he'd helped her open up.

[gobetween]

"I never get a big head about anything!" Another put-upon scoff. But after, there was a gentle smile. Though she hadn't said anything, he seemed to get it all anyway, and slung an arm around her shoulders to pull her into a hug.

[talkyourwayout]

Lexi sighed affectionately at the hug, giving Gobo a quick squeeze in return.

"Pretty sure you do that all the time, but okay," she chuckled.

[gobetween]

He kept an arm- and after a moment, his tail -around her, and snickered some.

"Name one."

[talkyourwayout]

"Okay, but you asked for this," she snorted. "How about the time you were so sure you knew where we were going - even though it was a part of the tunnels you'd never been to before? And we ended up in that weird... Underground quicksand-y swamp? Or when you decided you knew how to use an oven? Oh! Or how about when we met in the first place because you couldn't leave well enough alone after tripping three of my traps?"

[gobetween]

That got a nudge which, in such close proximity, had him using his entire body to shove against her.

"First, I said one. Secondly..." He tightened his arm around her shoulders and leaned his head closer, until they were touching. "Look at all the fun we've had together! And you remember it all. That says pretty much everything it needs to, doesn't it."

[talkyourwayout]

They did have fun - and even the messiest of misadventures were fond memories with some time, when it was them. Lexi smiled.

"Yeah. I guess it does."

[gobetween]

A last little squeeze before he pulled away, giving her a bright smile before he moved, rocking up to his feet.

"Hey, why don't we take a walk, see where we end up?"

His smile widened some, as he offered a hand down to help her up.

[talkyourwayout]

Lexi wasn't gung-ho about exploring, like the rest of her family. She likely never would be, but... Sometimes, maybe it wasn't so bad. Palling around with Gobo? That was always fun in the end.

So she took his hand, and got to her feet, nodding. Who knew where they'd end up, and what sort of mess they might get into? She sure didn't, but she did know they'd get out of it all okay - together.