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opulentconceptions · 4 months ago
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Signed, D.C.: “Wild Amendments” | The Monocled Alchemist Podcast #76
Exploring the primitive garage beat sounds on the Satan Records compilation “Signed, D.C.” 76: SIGNED D.C. | Wild Amendments Signed, D.C.: “Wild Amendments” | This set features rare single sides and one-off acetates from another dimension in time. Featured songs in order of appearance: The Wild Angels – movie promo spot #4 Apollos – That’s The Breaks Herd – Things Won’t Change The Monkees…
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golbiey · 3 months ago
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happy long weekend!!! i wanted to compile all of my sonic prints in one post...theyre available on my shop!
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earlycuntsets · 2 months ago
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02/2011 alternative press from mcrhollywood
photos by roberto vhamorro
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risky-witchy · 3 months ago
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Was watching a video called ‘Marisha being proficient in note taking’ (watch the video it’s epic the link is here) where Beau is going crazy conspiracy mode and the things that gets brought up is Aeor, specifically Cognouza and in that she and Jester have a moment talking about it splitting from Aeor, specifically theorizing that maybe it is ‘a defense mechanism gone wrong’
I don’t know how much Matt had figured out at this point but from what has been revealed in Downfall,,, this theory is right on the money. It would be interesting to know if Matt had this thought out already or if Marisha’s rant inspired it, either way she knocked it out of the park - when watching the video I was shitting my pants cause of how much more Aeor lore we know now and what scraps we had of it back then and Marisha still figured that shit out it’s just impressive
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beetlejuicesgraveyardrevue · 7 months ago
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nothing has ever been more important to me than this two second clip of ray toro
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batman-gif · 5 months ago
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finally got around to making an MCR album Uquiz, go for it suckers tell me how I did
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darbydraws · 1 year ago
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I promise X
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stargrltara · 12 days ago
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: ̗̀➛ “ i like ‘em tough and mean
jim logan is the worst that i’ve ever seen ,,
inspired by hundred dollar bill - lana del rey
⋆ ˚。⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚。⋆
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decamarks · 11 months ago
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Made this for the Neopets beauty contest last week! And then it got removed, due to 3D renders not being allowed...?! (I'm still impressed at myself for getting it >75kb, as per the extremely ’90s ruleset.)
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milligramspoison · 1 year ago
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SNEAK PEEK OF THE DANGER DAYS ACTION FIGURES
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raycatz · 2 months ago
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Wait a second-
I don't have a better in game photo atm but I just noticed- is Wind's slouched pose in Entrance pt.2 (x) a reference?! He has a similar pose and expression as the WW low health animation. (and Wind saying c'mon is a reference / good bit of detail too haha)
art is from @/linkeduniverse
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zazagundam · 11 months ago
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starrysorry · 6 months ago
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All of the Four wips are so exciting! That said however, the Wind wip sounds very cute. Can I ask about Happy Little Wind Waker for the wip game?
Finally have time to respond! Happy Little Wind Waker is a WIP of Wind doing various different festival activities with the others in the Chain. It's still in the idea and rough sketch stage (gotta figure out what everyone's doing), but here it so far! Him and Sky are trying the food, he and Wild are watching a tournament, and he and Legend are about to get super competitive with some ball tossing game
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earlycuntsets · 3 months ago
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mcr shows on youtube pt. 1 (2002 - 2005)
-> pt. 2 (2005 - 2007)
-> pt. 3 (2007 - 2011)
-> pt. 4 (2011 - 2023)
02/16/2002 american legion garfield nj – sarah lewitinn
03/01/2002 loop lounge passaic nj – ATØMIC JĒY
06/14/2002 club krome south amboy nj – spaceyrayrun
06/29/2002 harmony grange hall no. 12 wilmington de us – spaceyraygun
07/05/2002 american legion – camp merritt post 21 cresskill nj usa – spaceyraygun
07/19/2002 loop lounge passaic park nj – spaceyraygun
08/03/2002 rexplex elizabeth nj – spaceyraygun
08/16/2002 maxwell’s hoboken nj – george koroneos
08/17/2002 alissas basement kinnelon nj – spaceyraygun
09/14/2002 electric factory philadelphia pa – spaceyraygun
12/02/2002 fireside bowl chicago il – brad nolan video on plentyoflegs
12/18/2002 trocadero theater philadelphia pa – spaceyraygun
12/23/2002 factory 324 roanoake va – panterathrashfan13
1/11/2003 fireside bowl chicago il – brad nolan videography
02/20/2003 mississippi nights st louis mo – brad nolan videography
02/21/2003 beaumont club kansas city mo – brad nolan videography
02/28/2003 boonton elks lodge boonton nj – user: random stuff
03/23/2003 club krome south amboy nj – douglas carl
05/14/2003 north star bar philadelphia pa – deadhoarse
05/23/2003 imusicast oakland ca – skyline studios – oakland
06/08/2003 bloomfield avenue cafe montclair nj – spaceyraygun
06/26/2003 the knitting factory nyc ny – luxlillian
07/26/2003 the chameleon club lancaster pa – spaceyraygun
08/18/2003 9:30 club washington dc – TEPMIHATOP_HvH
08/19/2003 trocadero theater philadelphia pa – spaceyraygun
10/23/2003 downtime nyc ny – spaceyraygun
10/31/2003 south amboy nj halloween show – user: MCR stuff and things
11/14/2003 university of connecticut-stamford stamford ct – user: random stuff
12/14/2003 irving plaza nyc ny – spaceyraygun
05/17/2004 des moines iowa house of bricks – 515 archive
06/02/2004 manchester university manchester uk – TEMIHATOP-HvH
06/08/2004 vintage vinyl fords nj – spaceyraygun
06/09/2004 newbury comics shrewsbury ma us – punkstermann
06/10/2004 north star bar philadelphia pa – spaceyraygun
08/08/2004 summer sonic festival tokyo japan – dusted out on route guano
11/08/2004 hard rock live orlando fl – ryanninja
11/13/2004 unknown venue orange ca – TEPMIHATOP_HvH
12/12/2004 universal amphitheatre universal city ca – andrea amador
01/17/2005 trl nyc ny – patty8239
02/03/2005 la boule noire paris – the academy is my beautiful romance
03/04/2005 arrow hall mississauga ontario ca – the academy is my beautiful romance
03/05/2005 john labatt centre london ontario ca – the academy is my beautiful romance
03/29/2005 arco arena sacramento ca – moranestes
05/21/2005 kroq weenie roast irvine ca – the academy is my beautiful romance
05/27/2005 wxdx summer kick off chevrolet amphitheater pittsburgh pa – neeeeonafterglow
06/06/2005 le trabendo paris france – the academy is my beautiful romance
06/10/2005 download festival donington park castle donington uk (interview) – TEPMIHATOP_HvH
06/25/2005 warped tour reliant park houston tx – ibanez27
06/27/2005 hard rock live orlando fl – ATØMIC JĒY
07/02/2005 32/20 warped tour pier san francisco ca – the academy is my beautiful romance
07/12/2005 warped tour thunderbird stadium vancouver ca – kristi haubrick
07/30/2005 warped tour molson park barrie ontanio ca – loveorsympathy
07/31/2005 warped tour silverdome pontiac mi – nightrain5565
08/01/2005 warped tour post gazette pavilion burgettstown pa – price family homestead
08/05/2005 warped tour vinoy park st. petersburg fl – rogo117
08/10/2005 warped tour nissan pavilion bristol va – the academy is my beautiful romance
08/11/2005 warped tour ford pavilion montage mountain scranton pa – the academy is my beautiful romance
08/12/2005 warped tour tweeter center camden nj – katemcilwaine
08/13/2005 warped tour randall’s island park randalls island nyc ny – the academy is my beautiful romance
08/14/2005 raceway park englishtown nj – readydeady
08/23/2005 the underworld london england – leila vardar
08/31/2005 melkweg the max amsterdam netherlands – user: random stuff
09/01/2005 abart zurich switzerland – mychemrock1
09/03/2005 idroscalo segrate italy – nacho en tour
09/15/2005 promowest pavilion columbus west ohio – andreaflowers
09/17/2005 eastern michigan university convocation center ypsilanti mi – amanda
09/27.2005 mesa amphitheatre mesa arizona – mark zeta
10/02/2005 event center arena san jose ca – jason is lost in japan
10/08/2005 gwinnett center duluth ga – living with ghosts
10/10/2005 revolution live ft lauderdale fl – natnizzle
10/14/2005 tweeter center camden nj – decoemergency
-> pt. 2 (2005 - 2007)
-> pt. 3 (2007 - 2011)
-> pt. 4 (2011 - 2023)
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tuliptired · 6 months ago
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could you possibly write an Egon Spengler / female reader love triangle fic! With a lot of jealousy on Econ’s part? I love your Egon fics!
I Wish That I Had Jessie's Girl
Pairing: Egon Spengler/Fem!Reader
Warnings: Minor violence and being not so nice to a lady (its not Egon dw)
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its been a minute...wtf yall know about plumbing???
better formatting on Ao3!
You put the phone down dreamily, smiling to yourself as Janine clung to your shoulders, having listened intently to your call. It was Duke, a friend staying with your neighbor. You had taken to talking one morning, you let it slip about your place of employment, and soon enough the boys were ridding his boiler of a spirit. He would call you during work hours, simple things like asking if you made it in ok, if you had dinner waiting- things that didn’t warrant calling a ghost hotline, but he was so sweet that you couldn’t resist. He had the cutest accent you’d ever heard, and not to mention the pure charisma he exuded with sandy hair and tanned skin. You sighed, leaning on your hand as you remembered him saying he “just wanted to talk to the sweet girl on the other end.”
Before you could indulge in your debriefing with your friend, the garage opened, and outpoured four men in brown. It didn’t take a genius to guess what they missed, brains filling in the blanks as Janine shook you around and you both giggled like highschoolers. 
“That line is for work calls,” Peter scolded you lightly, picking up the phone and inspecting it. Janine rolled her eyes, going back to whatever was on her computer and you looked down at your paperwork, a little embarrassed.
“You don’t get it,” Janine typed fast. The men groaned, as Peter fell into Ray’s arms dramatically.
“Oh, I get it.” He did his best at mocking your voice. “Oh, Duke, run away with me into the sunset!” Ray played along, doing a worse impression of you as your face burned from the teasing. “Duke- let’s go horseback riding on the beach!” 
Winston joined in, sounding like a belle. “Run up the phone bill, Duke!” 
As you tried to speak up to put an end to the symphony of phony-you, Peter interrupted you. “Duke, I haven’t had a real date in months- of course I’ll marry- ow!” He rubbed his forehead, eyes flickering from the spot he was struck and the golf pencil clattering to the floor. Soon, the other two men were pelted as well, covering their faces as you tossed writing utensils like rice.
You placed the container down. “It’s not my fault if he’s a romantic,” you defended yourself, straightening your clothes. Ray and Winston raised unbelieving eyebrows at you, bending over to pick up the mess. 
Ray stood with a small handful, unbending at the waist. “Just don’t know why you’re so obsessed with him, that’s all.” He had the cadence of a worried older brother, which made you uncross your arms. 
Janine leaned in to you. “Knows guitar. Beautiful brown eyes. A little dumb.”
You nodded. “A cute smile.” 
“So tall!”
“Deep voice.”
“Southern voice!” 
Ray looked offended then, placing a hand on his heart. “I’m southern! What makes him so special?”
Janine pushed her glasses up with her ring finger, crystal chain swinging as she did. “Kansas doesn’t count.”
“Well, excuse me if I’m not as good as Mr. Baywatch,” he stood with his hands on his hips.
Winston looked at something over your shoulder. “What do you think, Egon?” That’s what you were forgetting- you mentally cursed yourself for foregoing the quiet man as he started up the stairs. He paused, looking over the banister. 
He was silent, mouth opening but words hesitant. “I wouldn’t be tripping over myself for a plumber.” The rest of the men erupted in laughter, Janine telling them off, swatting at them as she said that they were just old and bitter. Your head fell into your hands, mind spiraling with ways you’ll get them to let it go.
You sat behind your desk, sipping on the coffee Egon had brought you. Just the right kind from just the right shop- in exchange for your help in the lab. The liquid warmed your insides as he watched you, waiting for a verdict. 
You put the paper cup down. “It’s the right kind,” you admitted. He didn’t budge. “ Thank you , Egon.” He was satiated, as the door opened and you turned your attention away. It was Duke, the sudden appearance making you jump, quick to fix your hair and tug on the hem of your shirt. He was all smiles, sauntering up to you with a few things in hand. Egon looked unamused, making a small amount of space for the man.
“You have another ghost?” You beamed up and him, nervous in the air of the spontaneous visit.
He laughed, voice rich like honey. “Hey, sweet girl- I can’t see you?” You shook your head light heartedly, subconsciously leaning forward in your seat. He held up what was in his arms. “Brought you something.” a little coffee cup with a yellow sleeve, and a thin batch of flowers. “You didn’t already have, right?” He hesitated before he put the cup onto the wood. Your eyes widened a bit, as he hadn’t noticed the forgotten favor from Egon that you quickly placed in a short, open drawer space underneath the actual table top. You felt bad, doing it in front of your friend, but he’d just have to understand, right? 
“Not at all,” you assured him. “Thank you, so much. You didn’t have to.” You brought the drink to your lips, taken aback by the taste. This was the kind you hated. From the place you made a point not to visit. You smiled weakly, taking the flowers in your hands. Pre-cut flowers, destined to die in a week.
He grinned back at you, before something flashed behind his eyes. “Before I forget- the bathroom pipes in your walls? The ones running through your bedroom? They’re sounding a little shaky, you might wanna get them looked at.” He leaned a hand against your desk, the other in his back pocket.
You heard a small snort that didn’t come from either you or the man trying to court you. You nodded, once. “Thanks. If my apartment floods with toilet water I’ll know who to call.” Duke looked around at your workplace, either impressed or concerned as he craned his neck towards the ceiling.
He let out a low whistle. “This place has to be at least half a century old.”
“Octogenarian.” Egon spoke up, evading your gaze as he stared down the other male. 
“No kidding,” Duke stilled, before looking around again. You cleared your throat, placing a hand over his.
“Thank you, again. I don’t know anyone who’d go out of their way like this for me.” You locked eyes for a minute, just smiling at each other before Egon interrupted, again.
He started toward the lab. “The samples are ready.” You sighed out your nose, remembering how these were the ones you were particularly excited to look at under the microscope. 
You patted his hand apologetically, before getting up as Egon disappeared into the firehouse. “Duty calls. I’ll see you later?” Duke looked a little disappointed, but he agreed nonetheless.
“Later,” he gave your hand a squeeze as he strolled towards the exit. 
Egon had a few slides set up, as well as seedlings and sprouted plants off to the side when you arrived. You sat in your designated wheely, short-backed chair, silent and a hefty amount of awkward as he messed with something behind you.
“He got the wrong coffee.”
“I know.”
“And you hate store bought flowers. He tried to charm you by offering to fix your pipes.”
“I know. ” You swiveled around to face him, self-conscious as you remembered the fact that Egon was standing there for the entire ordeal.
You closed your eyes as you put your hands out. “Look. Everybody makes mistakes. So what if I’ve mentioned it to him a few times.” Egon ceased what he was doing and gave you a single look as you slumped back in defeat. “Just drop it.”
“I didn’t say anything,” he turned the microscope’s light on, “now, these are samples of Platanthera ciliaris grown with ectoplasm, rather than cut prematurely with store bought fertilizers-” You cut him off with a light punch to the arm. He slid the scope in front of you. As you put your eye to the lens, your mind blanked upon looking down at blurry shapes and colors. This part always got you. 
“How do you…” You gestured to the knobs on either side without raising your head. He was quiet before placing light fingers on your right hand, guiding the knob forward, your skin prickling at the touch. Nothing changed as he retracted his hands.
“It’s still not…” You were about to sit back, to let him try it himself, when there was something in your way as wheels screeched across hard floors. A warm body, a respectable distance behind   your own, and warm hands encompassing yours. He silently guided the knob again, back and forth until the slide was clear.
You hoped he couldn’t feel your heart through your clothes as you swallowed. “That’s- good. I can see.” Your breath was taken away at the sight underneath you, yellow and orange and green cells as far as the slide went. Little square boxes, reminiscent of sliced citrus fruit sitting in the long tendrils of the plant. With the ectoplasm, their cell walls grew thick, and seemed to breathe, coiling and writhing. Before Egon could back away, you voiced your awe.
“It’s beautiful,” you said honestly. He stayed where he was.
A beat or two of silence, but he spoke eventually. “I know. It did wonders for their growth. It makes me think, what could this mean for human development?”
You watched on as the cells seemed to twitch, reminiscent of an animal stretching itself. “Living, retentive material on a living, thinking human being? Is that ethical?”
He didn’t say anything as he raised the brightness for you. “I’m unsure.”
You could see even better now, the remaining bits of dirt clear on the root of the flower. “Venkman could help.”
“Perhaps he could.” 
It was comforting, the way he was close to you. Undoubtedly, he was in a bit of an awkward position- his lower body was rolled away from the small of your back. But it was almost funny the way he nearly let all of his weight rest on you, while barely touching you at all. The scientist didn’t go out of his way to touch people, and when he did it was stiff and rigid. But he was languid now, deep breaths in tandem with yours as you reveled in the quiet. He started going out of his way for you very far into your employment, and your coworkers swiftly teased you both for it in the privacy of a room the other wasn’t occupying. He let you have the good chair, he brought you the good coffee. He let you watch on and talk endlessly while he worked, something that the other men didn’t have the privilege of. He listened to you divulge him in a topic he never previously cared for, as you ate all of his food. So to be touched, as brazenly as this, was simultaneously surprising and expected. He was your friend. But he was Egon, so his pelvis would stay out of contact with your body as he leaned forward onto you.
But the presence was lost, as the scrape of wheels against the ground made you raise your head, a bit disappointed. He had a little slide in hand, with another flower. It was your favorite, marked “ectoplasmic”, incased in clear material. He had the ghost of a guilty smile as you took it from him, marveling at the new color created. 
You managed to glow so hard you nearly felt your cheeks ache. “You’re spoiling me.”
Janine was bored, taken to filing your nails to match her own in the middle of the slow day. The compact radio on your side of the desk went on, playing your station of preference as you let her work on you. She stops filing, blowing the dust off the edge.
She eyes you for a moment, before going back to your hands. You narrow your eyes as she keeps her head down. “What? What was that for?”
“Your aura is all outta whack.”
You frown. “Well then, I apologize for my ‘aura’.” Janine wasn’t pleased, cocking one eyebrow as she dragged the file back and forth. 
She sits up a little straighter, bringing your hand up to her eye. “This is bad. I’ve only seen something like this in my sister.”
You sneak a look down at your nails. “Your boy-crazy sister?”
“I’m telling you- this is bad.” Janine drops the file, holding your hand. “And I can tell what’s happening.” She takes a pause, as if her next words will hurt coming out. “You’re in love.”
“Alright, you got me,” you pull your hands back, surrendering sarcastically. The little woman grabs them again, insistent.
“So you’re not in love with Duke?”
“I mean-”
“So you’re stuck between two lovers?” 
Taking your hands back again, you roll away from her, eyes widening and voice reaching a ditzy pitch. “I am not in love with Egon!”
She has an expression reminiscent of a psychiatrist as the light catches in her glasses. “Honey. I never mentioned Egon.”
You freeze. Without thinking, you rise from your chair, only to be pulled back down. “You’re just confusing me,” you protest.
She cages you into the receptionist booth. “The only thing confused is your heart. You’re stuck between two guys and now you have to choose one.” You scoff, crossing your arms. She keeps on, voice lowering a bit as if she remembers the men upstairs.
“I see it, we all see it. Except the two eggheads,” she flicks you between the eyebrows with manicured nails. “Friends and coworkers don’t do what you do.”
The spot on your face stung. “I’m telling you, he’s just my friend,” you almost pleaded.
Janine’s eyes nearly rolled off her face. “Of course. He lets you bother him all day because you’re friends? He’d lay himself out on the ground for you to walk on if you asked. You just don’t think he would because you’re too scared to lose him if you make assumptions.” She presses a finger to your chest. “But you should’ve seen the two of you the other day.”
Your blood runs just short of icy. “You were there?”
“Egon does not touch people. And there you were, this 6ft scientist hanging off of your back like a koala.” She smirks to herself as she lets up, rolling back to her spot and starting to work on her own nails as you sit there, stunned. “You like the big-weird-doctor,” her voice teases you.
There’s nothing for you to do but roll back to your own spot, silent as she keeps going. “And you’re not gonna say anything to Duke?” His name snaps you back to reality as you turn your head to face her.
“I don’t…” You try to argue your case, barren as it may seem, but it served no purpose when nothing came to mind.
“So you’ll say something to Egon?” Her face brightens with hope.
“I…” Nothing, again, as you search the floor for some sort of answer.
“So you won’t say anything to anyone and you’ll die an old hag?” She whines, setting the file down against the wood, eyebrows furrowed as you throw your head back, squinting at the ceiling.
Your brain was scrambled, not knowing whether it was on the offensive or the defensive. You make a resolve without thinking, tone self-assured. Or, in denial. “I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. And I’ll…be with Duke because he actually likes me.” She starts to speak, but her words are cut off by a low, shaky rumbling reverberating throughout the firehouse. Both pairs of eyes instinctively flit downward, until a creaky note followed by a loud spraying noise and a curse resound from above you. 
The voice of the man in question cuts through the very loud chaos happening in your walls, calling down the hall. “The lab sink! It’s flooding!” The sounds of running water and creaky metal fill the space. Amidst the noise, you can hear Ray announce that “he’s got it!” as he makes it to the lab along with two other sets of feet, and you rush to the staircase.
“No, you don’t! You’re an engineer, not a pipefitter!” You leant on the railing, waiting for a response. You got one, as the madness quieted for a second, Janine coming out from under the desk. In an instant, it erupted again, even worse as you and Janine’s hands went flying towards your ears. There was a hellish cacophony of metal, gushing water, and creaking inside and outside the wallpaper, comparable to construction. You stumbled back to the desk, fingers pressed into your hair.
“Who do we get? What number do we call?” Janine hands you the phone, yelling over the endless pandemonium.
You have to yell back. “No one, after the work Ray did- no commercial plumber would come within 50 feet of our driveway if he wanted to keep his license.”
She shakes the phone at you, exasperated. “Well, what do we do? This place is falling apart!” You’re forced to take it then, holding back a sigh as you bite your cheek and punch in the only number you knew to contact.
Duke was underneath the sink unit, working hard as he lay on the towel you gave him to stay out of the inch of water that accumulated onto the floor. “It’s a good thing you called me when you did,” he marveled as he reached for a tool in the worn satchel you held like the daintiest picnic basket.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that I did.” He sends you a smile from the ground, and you return it, until you hear the slosh of something dragging against water. Duke looks to the side, and you do the same as you look up, expression flat. Egon was in his chair, working at his workbench like there wasn’t centimeters of stagnant water at his ankles. You knew he was freaked out of his mind, he was just being difficult.
“Egon,” you inquired sweetly.
“Hm?” He was playing innocent.
Your voice retained the same sweet cadence. “Why are you here?”
Egon gazed at both of you incredulously, like he had no idea what he was doing wrong. “It’s my own laboratory, I think I reserve the right to be here.”
Your jaw clenched. “Of course. Hey, Duke, tell me again about your football team,” you hid the venom in your voice as your stare didn’t leave Egon’s sitting figure.
Duke shined when he recalled his years in high school sports. “Oh man, you have no idea. I was the best running back in Valentine. I was riding high, ‘till I tore my ACL. Could’ve gone pro.”
Egon spoke as you were about to praise the former athlete. “Interesting you mention football injuries. Many players can develop CTEs and never notice.” Duke blinked, nodding slowly.
“My head’s okay. I think.” 
“I’m sure. Poor impulse control, rage issues, and eventual dementia but- there’s no way we’ll know until you’re dead.” He shrugged, smile lopsided.
“And what a cute cadaver you’ll be, with cute Duke Juniors at your side after they do the autopsy,” you bent slightly, voice saccharine and expression strained as you got Duke’s attention again. It felt mean to think this, but he was a little easy to please.
“It might not be the CTE that gets him, after all. In fact, plumbers are easily at risk for infectious diseases. Hepatitis, staphylococcus. On account of the fecal matter and septic water.”
Before you could distract him, Duke looked offended, brows knitting together. 
“Nerds like you don’t get sick? With your samples and your tests?” He glanced at Egon sideways.
Egon simply shook his head. “No. Because I’ve never swam through human shit for a paycheck.”
Duke almost got up from his spot underneath the sink, sitting up on his forearm and pointing a tool towards the seated man. “I didn’t go to some big school for years just so I could be called doctor like you did. You don’t even patch anyone up,” he retorted harshly. Egon, the man who avoided confrontation, seemed smug and amused by the insult, ready to spit back himself.
You squatted to be level with him, internally thankful that your legs were strong enough to prevent you from falling backwards into standing water. “I’ve never told you how cool I think it is that your truck is so tall. I didn’t even know they made them that big.” God, you sounded like a cheerleader as you rested a hand on his chest, but it worked.
He was content with that as he wiped his hands off on a rag. “Y’know, sweet girl, I’ve been meaning to ask. Tomorrow’s Friday, wanna come out to the bar on 5th and Franklin? I’ll show you a good time.” He spoke low, eyes lower. Egon didn’t give you time to respond, as he was fully turned towards the both of you, face more than annoyed.
“She hates that club. And she told you that, because it has to do with why she doesn’t have her license, and she tells that story to everyone. Were you the exception, or did you just not care enough to remember? Because she won’t jump into bed with you on the spot?” For the second time that day, your blood turned to icy as you stood up fast, water splashing onto Duke’s shirt underneath you going unnoticed to everyone in the room but him as he grabbed the hem. 
You could barely control the anger in your voice as it rose in volume. “Egon,” was all you had to say, firm and frustrated as you stood with hands on your hips. He looked like a scolded child, wordlessly wading through the flood and following you outside.
You stood standing across from each other, Egon very interested in your shoes. “What the hell is wrong with you?” You questioned him, infuriated as you pinched each of his ears, pulling him down as he winced in pain. 
When you let go, he weakly soothed his red cartilage. “You don’t understand,” he muttered, immediately regretting his choice of words as your eyes lit aflame.
“What don’t I understand? That you didn’t mean to be a jerk to the guy trying to ask me out?” Egon took your reproach, until he couldn’t anymore.
“He doesn’t really like you,”’ he said reluctantly. 
“How would you know?” You crossed your arms and narrowed your eyes. Was this why he was being so petty?
Egon sighed, before looking frustrating and starting off on a tangent. “He got you the wrong coffee, the kind that gives you a stomachache. And he got you store bought flowers that died within a week. Anyone who’s ever known you will know to get you a potted plant so you can keep it alive yourself. Not to mention that you’d have more stimulating conversation with a mailbox than him.” Egon looked choleric and uncomfortable as he tried to reason with you, voice raising slightly.
You took a step towards him, lowering your voice as you weren’t all that far from the lab- only down the hall. “At least he’s trying! In all the time you’ve known me, how many people did you know to actually try?” It sounded pathetic out loud, but it was true, right? For as long as you could remember, you knew that you’d eventually have no more room to nitpick. He had a brief, hurt expression, eyebrows flying together and mouth open slightly. He looked away once, before nearly begging you.
“He’s only trying because he thinks you’re a challenge!” He put both hands on your shoulders in a moment of desperation. “I’ve lived among men all my life. Even the most mild mannered guy has only one thing in mind, taking you to a club like that. He lets you talk and talk because you won’t think twice when-”
You pushed yourself away, a cynical smile as your face burned inside. “Oh, I’m sure Janine would be surprised to hear that coming from you.” You stepped toward the door, ready to open it and accept his invitation. Egon took a step towards you, as if you were an animal.
“What? I’m trying to tell you, he is an insincere neanderthal of a man, and he’ll do nothing but treat you like dirt.” You were ready to snap then. This was all too much for you, abstract emotions having nothing to do but manifest as frustration. Janine’s words mixed with Egon’s, resounding as negative affirmations through every corner of your head. 
This was all so confusing, and now here he was, telling you that the love you were receiving for so long was superficial. Wasn’t he supposed to be your friend? That hurt most of all, memories of the handful of times you were alone at night, spilling your thoughts out. You were tired, and he did more listening than talking, but you can remember him reassuring you that “ someone will love you. He’ll stop being scared and he’ll tell you with a beautiful flower in hand.” Who cares how you felt about Duke? The love he promised is here, and now it’s up to Egon to tell you it’s not true? You could barely feel tears in the corner of your eyes, disdain making them dry.
Taking a slow, yet shallow breath, you grabbed the door again, turning your back to him. “And you’re being an ass. As far as I’m concerned, you’re not at liberty to tell me who I should and shouldn’t be with.” You couldn’t bring yourself to look back at him, but if you did you’d see the visual representation of someone’s heart breaking into splinters. “I’m gonna go out with him and have fun. And drink.” With that, you were back in the lab, a little shaken as you put on a faulty smile, cheerily saying yes to his invite.
The next day came, and Peter let you go early since they’d finished all their scheduled jobs and Janine was still around. As you thanked him for excusing you, Egon stood wordlessly at the workbench.
You got nice and dressed up, perhaps a little better than you would otherwise. But this was for you, and partly to prove a point. Duke let you know how nice you looked during the ride from your place to the bar, granted he spent the rest of the drive going on about the truck itself. You seldom paid attention, mind so focused on enjoying yourself that you forgot to be in the moment.
At the door, you had to use a different form of identification to get in on account of this same club’s (teenaged?) bartender swiping your license to use for herself. Duke made some wayward comment on you proving that you were of age in some clandestine way, and you just sighed out your nose, handing the unamused bouncer your ID. 
The inside was hot, and loud. You couldn’t walk too far without bumping into someone. You only frequented places like this with friends, so a date was new territory as he sat down at the bar without looking back. He ordered a large beer, for himself, and insisted that you order another drink after you had nursed yours. You declined, you needed to remember tonight, and he seemed almost annoyed at that. The air was a little tense- it was hard to have a good time when only one person’s throwing back. It was only getting better when you did the cheerleader thing again, letting him pick you up with one arm and impress you with another round of shots. You suggested he slow down, and again denied another drink, and he seemed irritated again. You felt a little despondent yourself as he wouldn’t talk, before something across the bustling room got his attention and he halfheartedly excused himself. 
It didn’t take long before you found him in the corner of a bar, trying to impress much younger, much drunker girls. Drunken asshole. You dragged him back by the wrist, talking sweetly to him as you promised him a dance earlier in the night. He got excited, beating you at getting to the floor. As your sultry air fell, you caught a glimpse of bright colors in one of the booths, pointing in your direction. God damn it.
“What are you doing here?” You leaned against their table exasperated as 3 out of 4 of them beamed at you. Winston, Peter, and Ray each had the same dress shirt, buttons undone and sleeves rolled up to different degrees; in purple, red, and green respectively. Egon opted for a dress shirt he had at home, a simple light blue under a sweater vest and tie. He looked nothing sort of tense in the crowded environment, even more so now that you were in front of them. You scrunch your nose in sight of their outfits. “Did your tour bus break down?”
Winston put down his glass. “How’s your date going?” You closed your eyes and raised your eyebrows.
Peter looks over your shoulder at Duke making his way through the crowd. “He looks juiced.”
“It’s fine. Why are you here?” Ray smiled, putting a hand on Egon’s shoulder. 
“Can you believe this was Egon’s idea? Here, no less?” The man looked into your eyes sheepishly as you glared down at him. 
“Oh, I can believe it. Well, I hope you and Rosenberg enjoy your night.” You gave Egon a mocking grin, before departing to find Duke. You did, and he was, again, with another girl. You got his attention, and he was excited to dance- just extremely handsy. So much so that you had to hold his wrists to keep his hands on your waist, rather than your front or rear. 
Eventually, he spoke low and into your ear, but it wasn’t the titillating, sensual way that one would towards someone they were trying to romance. It made the hair on your neck stand for the wrong reasons as it registered as sleazy, predatory. Drunken words:sober thoughts, Janine’s voice sounded in your mind. 
“C’mon, let’s go to my place,” Duke finally ended his slurry of obscene suggestions as his hands tried at grabbing your wrist, motioning to lead you out to the apartment he didn’t even own. You resisted, heartbeat racing as you tried to politely let him know you were fine here. His half lidded eyes became aggravated as he tried again to drag you out, this time with a tighter grip and a stronger force. You couldn’t stop his strength as he started to pull you away from the safety of a crowd and towards the dimly lit exit, fingers digging at his in a desperate attempt to free yourself from the grips of this man with a getaway car and a plan. 
You were able to escape his tight hold, and he spun around, irate. “I went through all this trouble to listen to you bitch and moan about stupid shit, and you won’t even sleep with me?” As you stood there, dismayed, he managed to spit out a disgusting, derogatory insult at you, looking down at you in the flashing lights of the club. Drunken bastard. 
You were appalled, and before the record could change, you brought your hand up and to the side of his face, hard. He was stunned by the slap, cheek red as he looked back at you in disbelief. Your fear turned into great offense and disgust at the sight of the man in front of you. In an attempt to regain his pride he took a step forward, enraged and embarrassed. As he got almost chest to chest with you, he reached for your neck. 
Before he could choke you out, there was a hand on his shoulder. Almost as quickly as he looked over his shoulder, there was a fist connected to his other cheek, and you could swear a tooth or two came flying out. 
It all happened so quickly that you could’ve blinked and gotten to where you were, talking to a police officer outside as Duke and Egon were seated on the curb, handcuffed. The officer nodded as you gave your statement, and let Egon, who was sitting calmly, off with a warning as he wasn’t intoxicated and acted in your defense, while Duke hurled expletives and beer from his spot against the road. The car sped off with him in the backseat, and you tiredly sat down next to the tall man, stretching his wrists out from the handcuffs.
“Hey.”
Egon’s face was illuminated by the fluorescent lights of a 24 hour grocery behind him in the entertainment filled street. His brown eyes were soft and slightly rounded, albeit worn. “Hi.” He looked at you expectantly with a trace of worry as you scanned him. He looked beautiful at night. “Are you okay?” He bashfully held both of your hands in his.
You nodded. He didn’t seem to believe you, examining any part of your body that was exposed. You pinch his ears again, pulling him down. “Thanks for spying on me,” you let him go, “But. Thank you for being there, really. I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you were warning me.” He looked guilty as he rubbed the tops of his ears.
“I should be apologizing. It’s not my place to police what you do. I’m sorry I acted childish.” You let out a small huff, leaning your head on his shoulder. He was a warm refuge in the cooling air of the night.
“But, you wouldn’t have had to if I just rejected him.” 
He hummed. “True,” he agreed without thinking. He realized what he said as you let out a short laugh. “Objectively, it is true. But you shouldn’t blame yourself for him being disgusting. This could’ve been avoided if I had just gained the courage to tell you.” You sighed, before freezing.
“Tell me?”
It was his turn to freeze, eyes on the ground as he sat still. You shook his shoulder a bit, trying to convince him to let you in.
“Tell me what? C’mon, no more secrecy from now on.” He pursed his lips, sitting like a deer in headlights. He swallowed, battling something in his head before he rose silently, stopping in front of the tiny grocery store. You watched on as he robotically made it past cut and wrapped bouquets, artificial and destined to wilt soon. He stopped in front of a little potted thing, tiny compared to the others on sale but precious and hardy in its own right as its blossoms were finished blooming.
Egon took a breath in, and you stood to be with him. “I promised you. That the love of your life will be there with a flower in hand.” He looked between you in the pot. “If you’ll have me?”
The sounds and colors of the club melted away, painting you both in light like oil portraits. How blind you were. He looked grecian, his nervous face bathed in blue.
 “Of course. Even if you had to act like a caveman for me to realize."
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z0mbiefrank · 1 year ago
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heres a google drive to save us all having to face youtube to mp3
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