#anyway uhhhh yeah thanks for the tag!

[crepusculesque]

Tag nine (9) people you’d like to know better

tagged by @wifegideonnav! 

last song: Famous Last Words by MCR. I’ve been on a kick for the last week-ish

currently watching: Not a whole lot, but I started watching the new season of Black Mirror with one of my friends.

currently reading: Just finished Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke and picked up The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, but I’m not very far in yet. 

current obsession: Aside from tlt (which is an obsession I’m now convinced will never really go away), I’ve been getting wayyy into the lore of Destiny (the game series). So if you’ve seen me reblogging vaguely suggestive art containing alien bug goddesses, that’s that.

I’ve done this once or twice before but I always like getting tagged in these things :)

Again no pressure to do this but passing it along to some people I don’t think I’ve tagged before: @androgynousladyjellyfish @soupseason @bimbomcgee @shutup-rachel @officialbogwitch @na102 @fire-swift @mercymornsimpathizer @yaboywillyshakes

[peacockrulz]

N tries to tell another joke (gone wrong)

Sequel to This

[codecicle]

Hey bestie voted for the one and only JuanaFlippa!! Could I perhaps have our girl as a DnD DM ? (She would cause so much chaos just like her father lmao)

she's saying this because charlie made another character that he didn't realize would fall in gay love and then his character Fell In Gay Love

‼️ vote for either flippa or grizzly in the transmcytshowdown and send proof to get a little doodle of your request ‼️

[fawna12]

Things I remind myself of as a queer neurodivergent teenager who's still trying to find their place in this world:

It's okay to not know who you are yet

It's okay to not know what you like to wear yet

It's okay to not know how you want to be perceived

It's okay to not know your name yet

It's okay to still be finding yourself

It's okay to learn where you belong

Being cool doesn't matter, but if you feel like it does? What would child you think of where you are now?

Would they think you're cool?

My child self would. They'd be so happy.

It's okay to make new friends

It's okay to not want to lose the old ones

It's okay to be unconventional

It's okay to not care what people think

It's okay to care what people think

It's okay to unmask, if it's safe

It's okay to not feel safe enough to unmask

It's okay to still be learning

It's okay to learn, and to watch, and to observe, and to perceive

It's okay to try new things

It's okay to fail, even if it doesn't feel like it.

It's okay to have a goal.

It's okay to still be finding your place.

It's okay to wait

It's okay to want

It's okay to be happy

It's okay to just be

It's okay to want to be like cool people

It's okay to be excited

It's okay to want to be inspiring

But it's also okay to not.

You'll figure it out eventually

You'll learn and find your place

But even if you don't? Even if you still feel lost?

That's normal, and that's okay.

Even if you aren't a teenager

Even if you're an adult.

[crossbackpoke-check]

i’m not sure if you’ve heard yet but nico’s tattoo is all of his family members’ astrological signs smushed together which is so… i’m obsessed

NO I HAD NOT HEARD!!!!! (partially because tumblr decided i was not to see people’s asks??)

oh my god. oh my god. that is so unbelievably. actually i take it back it is incredibly believable and i love that for him

[nightlyrequiem]

hiya!! ^_^

zoinks!!! Gender-specific request!!!! 😵‍💫 fem!reader :3

lounge singer!reader x val, where theyre both mutually pining because teehee!! and then one night reader sings 'Valerie' by amy winehouse and mark ronson (?? I think) and val immediately decides its for her!!!! 😈

then val confronts reader and shes (reader) is like 'yeah i did that hehe' and they engage in ..... uhhhh!!! lesbianism!!!! :P

i plucked this idea off of @jooseboxxe!!! All credits due fourth (ФωФ)

thank youuu!!!!! 💫💫

-🃏🌀⭐️

Had a lot fun writing this. I'm almost done the first chapter for the actual lounge singer fic!!! it won't be like this, not exactly anyway. Excited for that :3

I love when women engage in lesbianism. Maybe I'm just biased though

Tags/Warnings: WLW, Lounge Singer Reader, Mutual Pining, Referenced Sex, Sexual Tension, Confessions

Valerie

Valeria isn't the type of person to keep other people around for very long. Unless they can continuously prove themselves to be useful, she will drop them without a second thought. For so long she tried to come up with reasons as to why you were useful to her. You weren't benefiting her cartel, weren't a foot soldier, didn't have any information. She wanted any reason at all because an actual reason meant it wasn't because she was falling for you.

As she watches you sing on stage, highlighted under a light glow in a shimmery dress that shows off some of her favourite features, she knows that she has fallen. Valeria hates herself a little for it. For letting herself get so attached. Maybe it could be justified - not be her fault - if you two were sleeping together. It happened only once. When Valeria had stayed late to check inventory and clean the bar herself. A break from the cartel. You had stayed late with her. A few too many drinks in both systems and the rest is a memory. One she thinks of often.

Nothing had happened since. You were friendly and actively sought her out for casual conversation, not a thing people do regularly, and she didn't mind. In fact, she liked talking to you. Your voice was as smooth and soft when you weren't singing. You are different to the people from her world. Not hardened and malicious. Just a woman with a voice and a passion. She rests her chin in her palm and closes her eyes, allowing your voice to wash over her and drown out all other sounds. The way your voice raises and lilts on certain notes reminds her of when she had you under her. crying out a similar melody.

If it were just sexual, Valeria would be fine. She tries to tell herself that her preoccupation is just that, but she knows better than to actually believe it. While she wouldn't mind having your legs hung around her shoulders again, she also wouldn't mind taking you to dinner. Hearing you laugh at something funny she said. Laying next to you and falling asleep. Learning your passions and fears. You feel so far away and unobtainable despite staying late most nights lates just to talk to her. Asking her all kinds of questions like you actually have any interest in what she's saying. You even remembered her birthday. Even remembered that she doesn't like cake, so you bought her an expensive bottle of chardonnay instead.

The soothing lull of your voice fades when you finish your song, and she opens her eyes. Admiring and envying the easy smile gracing your lips. She doesn't recognize the song you begin to sing. Upbeat and longing. Her heart stutters when you sing 'Valerie' for a split second she thinks it's her name. You look past the other patrons, right to her. Staring so intensely that she thinks even though the name is off by a letter, you are singing about her.

It's hard to focus on the rest of the performance because all she can think about is that you're singing for her.

The night crawls to an end and she can't close up the bar any faster. Valeria is desperately, and pathetically hoping, that this is one of the nights you stay late. She wipes down the same counter with distracted repetition. Casting impatient glances towards the dressing rooms where you disappeared to. Soon enough, you emerge from the dark hall, still in your dress, fine jewelry glinting around your wrists and neck. Valeria glances away.

You walk up to her and take a seat at the bar. 

"What'd you think of the show?" You inquire.

"It was good." Valeria says, setting down the rag. "It's always good."

You smile. "Yes, you always seem to think so."

"What was the last song you sang?" Valeria asks. Giving you a look from the corner of her eye while she cleans glasses.

You stare back. "Valerie." You say.

"Valerie." She repeats. She sets down the glass and looks at you. "I don't like tiptoeing around people, and I don't like it when people play games with me."

Yor smile falters, shifting into something more confused.

"... what?"

Valeria frowns. "Did you sing that for me?" 

She watched you shuffle, eyes darting away from hers. "I did." You say without hesitation.

"Why?" She presses.

"What do you mean 'why?'" You scoff. Eyes snapping back to hers. Something familiar dances in them. "I like you. I thought that was obvious."

It was obvious. To anyone it would've been obvious. However as much as Valeria isn't the type of person to keep other people around, she's also not the type of person to be kept. She's attractive, and rich, and has the allure of power but under that shiny wrapping paper is something rotten. Valeria isn't something you can just say you 'like'. Something so innocent and juvenile. You either haven't gotten the chance to see beneath that exterior or there's something wrong with you.

You chew the inside of your cheek waiting for her to respond. Disappointment flashes across your face.

"You don't like me back." You say. 

"... I wish I didn't." Valeria admits, her voice carefully flat. Her words look like they sting. The room is quiet and tense. Valeria can't take it anymore. Slowly, she walks around the counter, circling you like a predator. You turn your head, tracking her. It's smart to not have your back to her.

She comes to a stop in front of you. Eyes scanning your face for something. Whether or not she finds what she's looking for doesn't matter. Valeria grabs ahold of your arms and pulls you into a searing kiss. Fingers dinging into your skin like she hates you. Her tongue meets yours with aggression. You give in without a fight. Pulling her closer to you, feeling the hard and soft lines of her body against yours. She pushes you against the counter and you use your hands to lift yourself up. Letting her step between your legs. You lock your ankles behind her back to keep her close to you, like if you don't she'll get scared off and leave.

She clumsily paws at you through your clothes like she's never touched a woman before. grabbing at your breasts and waist. You pant into each other's mouths like animals. Pent up from holding yourselves back from doing what you've been wanting to do. Your own hands explore her like it's the first time again. Roaming over her biceps and back. Grabbing at her firm ass. Being one again is the only thing that feels right. Natural.

"Um..." 

Valeria jumps and pulls away, wiping away a string of saliva connecting her mouth to yours. Her gaze darkens and your glad the look isn't directed at you as she glares over her shoulder at the intruder.

"What?" She snaps. Her body blocks you from view of whoever it is that interrupted you. A fact that you're glad for.

"Sorry... just... there's an issue at one of the-the warehouses. Diego needs your help." The man splutters. Either embarrassed at having walked in on such an intimate moment, or fear from the look Valeria is giving him. Maybe both.

Valeria hesitates. Like she's tempted to send him away so she can continue. She runs a hand through her dark hair and reluctantly lets go of you.

"Yeah, okay I'll check it out." She says gruffly. The man takes his cue and leaves swiftly. Valeria turns back to look at you. There's a glimmer of that previous heat but her expression has softened.

"... Do you actually like me?" She asks, staring at you unblinkingly. It almost makes you uncomfortable but you can't look away. "Or do you just want to fuck me?"

You wet your lips. "Can't it be both?" You murmur. "Maybe I want to fuck you because I like you."

Valeria considers your answer.

"Then let me take you out on a date." She orders.

Your heart swells. The rush of endorphins making you feel slightly giddy. "Well, if I have to..."

Valeria scoffs and leans down, kissing you softly. "I'll see you tomorrow." She murmurs. Pulling away and leaving you to sit in the empty bar alone.

[harleehazbinfics]

Home is where my heart is.

Chapter 6: Surprise! Table of Contents | Profile

Word Count: 1188 A/N: ehehehehe yeah of i had to put this in, he's our good lil duck boy. also also, if you want to be tagged for future updates you can dm me or reply under this 👉👈

I ran my fingers through the desk and lifted my eyes to the walls covered in décor and pictures. Lightly humming as I walked further into the room and stood next to the slumping figure fixated in his creation.

“Seems like you’ve been up all night again, your majesty. Something bothering you?” I asked raising my eyebrow as I continued to watch him tinker away.

“Well, the extermination this year finally ended and now, they wanted to have a meeting with me. How fun,” he replied sarcastically rolling his eyes all the while and making gestures.

I laughed, crossed my arms, and replied, “I suppose anyone wouldn’t be enthusiastic to meet the ex-partner of their spouse. Have you talked to Charlie about it? Seems like she needs that extra push, besides, that would mean that you wouldn’t have to see Adam’s face.”

Lucifer’s face immediately lights up at my advice but not a second later he frets, “But, how do I say it? What if I say the wrong thing and she hates me forever?!”

He shoots up from his seat from worry that I had to take his shoulders and ease him back down on the chair and patting them, “You worry too much~. Charlie loves her dad too much to do that anyway. Just say what you want to say and then wrap it up nicely.”

He nods taking a deep breath. He paces around the room thinking what to say first and took his phone out of his pocket. He hovered his hand on her number he dials it up and bites his nails as he tried to soothe himself. While I just silently stood still and waited for him to end his call.

“HI CHARLIEEE~”

I couldn’t help but cringe when he couldn’t control his tone but kept an encouraging smile on my face as he continued to talk to her.

“Listen, there’s going to be a meeting with the angels, and I wanted you to attend for me! I can’t go right now since I have… veryyy important things to do today.”

He looks over at me for approval while I gave him two thumbs up in satisfaction from his performance.

“No problem. Stay safe! Love you!”

He lets out a sigh of relief changing into his snake form making me giggle at his silliness. I plucked him off the ground and placed him on his desk.

“Well, that has to be one of your best performances yet,” I complimented him with a round of applause.

“Thank you, Miledy. I know things would’ve ended up badly if you weren’t here,” he sighs changing back to his normal form.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit. I mean you did all the talking, so give yourself a pat on the back for a good job, your highness,” I smiled dusting off his top hat and putting it on him.

He smiles sadly and says, “I thought I told you to call me Lucifer, Mel.”

I didn’t falter at his words and just squeezed his shoulder, “You know we can’t. Alastor just came back after 7 years, and I’d rather not have him dig his heels on the King of Hell who happens to be a good friend of mine. You know how crazy he gets,” I joked shrugging my shoulders.

He sighs and slumps his shoulders disappointed in himself, “You’re right. I’m sorry that ever crossed my mind.”

I bumped shoulders with him and just replied, “Hey, you took it better than those other idiots who got their heads so far up their asses that no means consent.”

“Hey, just call me when you need something, okay?” he said smiling at me.

“Sure. See you around, your highness,” I waved before diving through the floor and leisurely made my way to the hotel.

Poking my head out the ground and saw everyone all gathered by the TV, “Uhhhh.”

“Just in time! Come on!” Vaggie reaches for me and takes me out from the ground throwing me in Alastor’s arms, him placing me on his lap.

“Al? What’s happening?” I asked still in his arms and walks us into a room, probably doesn’t have any plans to put me down any time soon.

“I made a little deal with the princess’ little girlfriend. Now, we have to record a new commercial for her,” he answered walking us towards a vanity, placing me on the seat.

“Oh, they didn’t like what you made for them?” I teased laughing lightly.

“You know I’d rather eat a can of worms than be involved with that,” he says as he rolls his eyes, then squeezing my shoulders. “Now, then time to get you dressed up!”

He twirls his finger above my head and changes my outfit. I looked at the mirror and immediately noticed the dress I was wearing. It was the same loose blue dress that I wore at the bar when we first met.

“Aw, dear. I haven’t worn this dress in ages!” I exclaimed holding my necklace feeling sentimental.

He smiles at me, pleased with himself and responds merrily, “You look ravishing as always, sweetheart!”

He offers his hand for me to take and onto my feet. He dips his head and kiss the back of my hand, while I blush at his actions that he takes in as he takes a peek at my reactions. He gives me a laugh then places both of his hands on my cheeks to hold and cradle me in them while nuzzling his face to mine, making me feel warm and fuzzy inside from his wholesome display of affection.

“As much as I want to cuddle with you, darling. I think we should go help them film now,” I suggested softly with a giggle.

He rolls his eyes with a smile and begrudgingly parts from me, of course not before giving me a kiss.

The door bursts open and there Angel yells, “Let’s go sickos. Let’s get this show on the road.”

~Later~

While we waited for Charlie, Al and I sat on the sofa like we used to when we were expecting Abby and just talked to each other not minding the looks both Husk and Angel gave us.

“Before we recorded the advertisement,” he answers glancing down at me, “where have you been?”

“Just visited a friend. I get worried for him after exterminations happen,” I explained which was all true.

He hums and sees Charlie come in as well, “Well, I hope you had a fun time.”

“—Alastor pulled some strings and it’s about to air,” Vaggie spoke leading her girlfriend to the couch.

“And I pulled a few limbs too!” he ‘laughed’ while Charlie and I exchanged waves.

“Wait, the commercial? You guys made a new one?” she asks.

“Yeah! One of my better performances if I do say so myself,” Angel proudly states.

“That’s amazing,” Charlie starts before getting cut off by Angel.

“SHH! It’s starting!”

But before the ad could play it gets interrupted by a news flash causing a choir of complaints.

“Breaking news in hell today! We just received word from the heaven embassy that next extermination is happening sooner than ever before. That means where’s all royally fucked!”

The TV cuts to the countdown changing to 176 days.

[verdantlights]

Theory time for when you have the time and energy!

Everyone is a little (understandably) delulu about Till being alive in the new art, but my artist brain did a very uncanny theory.

What if the reason Till uses the wrong hand and doesn't have the branding is... Because that isn't Till at all? What if it's Io?

There's also a weird upside down blue triangle between Till's hand and his cheek, basically would've been the reflection of the Till in the mirror. I don't know what's up with that and why it's there but it bothers me, like it's a fragment taken out of a puzzle and matches the background more than the colors used on Till himself.

okay hi im here my gears have been working

im using you to start my own ramble anon thank you i love you anon

also the blue triangle is uhhhh the bandage over tills nose on that specific design

ANYWAYS BRINGING BACK MY PURGATORY THEORY (rolls in whiteboard)

okay so remember the first friday after round 7? this one?

yeah. yeah were bringing this back.

you can clearly see lines in the back showing the false sky, clouds, and trees of ANAKT.

till has an IV hooked up to him and he's still tagged. we would still be able to see his brand from this angle, but there isnt one there.

now we look at todays drop

whats in the background? a false sky and clouds. where is tills brand? nowhere to be found. hes still in his round 7 fit, but he only has one hand up on the "mirror" ...and its not even the correct hand as you said anon

both ivan and sua have both of their hands up and are looking at us with blood on them, representing their "deaths" (i put death in quotes cause i refuse to believe any of them are dead ahahahahshahdnahagabwmde theyre not dead guys!!!!!)

till is not facing us, and we cant see au till's face either.

till is most likely in some sort of purgatory, he has one foot out the door/one foot on deaths doorstep. that purgatory is the Great Anakt.

as for ivans, his background has the pink hearts. that probably is just. him dying for the one he loves. im a bit unsure about ivans honestly. i will say that both faces arent covered at all. yes ivans eye is covered by his hair, but his face still isnt obscured by perspective. he bared his whole heart for till

now as for sua... blinks my eyes autistically at you about the android sua theory.

okay so listen. sua is partially covered in the back, and her body is turned in a way so that her other hand is obscured. we know shes still using both hands though because we can see her elbow. so why is she partially obscured? because bababababababaa aaaaa android. or the theory that sua will come back "wrong"

the sua in the back honestly reminds me of my september. like genuinely i get my september vibes from the sua in the back. shes so uncanny. she looks lifeless but still.... somehow alive. and the real sua looks like she knows. she knows something while also being sad or melancholy.

its terrifying tbh.

thats all i have i might come back with more cause im p sure i forgot a few thinfs

im just like. whats getting me is that they uploaded a day early. are we getting a double upload?? cover maybe??? teaser??? idk

[marclef]

okay so uhhh. definitely wasn't expecting this any time soon. or ever. but unless my tumblr has been lying to me for 3 days straight then i guess it happened.

uhhhhh. thanks for 700 followers bros 👁👁💧

like. i didn't even see my tumblr get to 400. unless i've been hallucinating that it's been at 300 for the last month. am i going insane? maybe. but uhhh. that's a lot of people looking at me. kinda freaking me out a little. but thanks regardless i guys, it does mean a lot to me ✨❤❤❤✨

anyways. i die. nervous. some various rambling under the cut and in the tags but here's an artistic rendition of how i feel right now. enjoy.

so yeah. i don't know how the hell my follower count has doubled in like, two months. maybe it's the Fake Peppino Hugs? a lot of people have been wanting hugs after all. it uhhhh kinda makes me feel weird knowing there's this many of you. but i'll try to manage.

speaking of hugs, yes i've seen the new asks and requests in my inbox i promise!! i will get to them when i can, but for now i'm gonna try to focus on getting a couple other big important things done. mainly, a large Fake Peppino headcanon-related post i've been planning, and getting a few more characters up on Artfight before July.

and also.... i might be getting commissions up soon too?? i don't know how soon, but it'd be a way for me to get income right now since i don't have a job. or, if you don't wanna commission me but still wanna show support, i have a link to me Ko-Fi on my intro post as well! really any support is welcome, but i'm trying to figure out how to do commissions and pricing and stuff since it'll be the first time i *officially* do them. i hope you'll think about it though!!

but yeah, i've got a good few things i've gotta get done with, i'm trying to take things a liiiiittle slow right now though so i don't burn myself out fully. i will try to get stuff done soon though! expect that big Fakey post in maybe a week or so, and i'll update you all on other things that happen as well!

thanks for reading if you have, love ya's ❤❤💗💗💗❤❤

[creatingblackcharacters]

Re accepting racism in fandom: I'm not really "in" fandom, other than consuming the source material, possibly tossing a fanwork into the void, and occasionally scrolling through tags, so I might not be exactly who you were asking, but I wanted to throw in my two cents.

Personally, I've been in so many conversations ranging from discussions to arguments to full on fights online about bigotry of various kinds, and it has never gotten me anywhere. This very well might be because I'm not good at explaining or educating on these points, it might very well be a me-problem... but there's also just so much bullshit going on online that at this point I've pretty much given up, I just block and move on. I try to reblog and distribute posts that explain what the problem is better than I could and hope that my followers take note, but I've stopped confronting people directly years ago. I just walk away. If it happens in a group or community I'm actually a Part of and I know my talking points, I'll bring it up, but uhhhh ... not a great success rate so far. Last few times, the end result has been that I've had to leave over it anyway. Not a great loss obviously, but, yeah. I think your perspective on it (with the goal of removing ignorance rather than necessarily changing minds) has made the idea less daunting (thank you for that!) but I'm trying not to get into fights on the internet any more unless someone enters my personal turf (comments on my posts, engagement with my fics, etc.). This isn't something I'm Proud of, I've got very mixed feelings on it, but since you asked I thought I should give you the honest answer 😬

Hm!

[sovhina]

Tagged in wip whenever by @777greywolf thank you sm!! <3333 uhhhh imma tag uhhhh @lilas @galadae @laaskrin and uhhhh @paleiido no pressure as always but yeah! Behold my dragon age blorbos! I almost didn’t cut talim in bc this ain’t about him but I guESS he can stay. Anyway behold my heroes of thedas,,,,and talim

[artistica18]

Last Line Tag Post

Thank you @amielot for the tag!! I don't know what I'm doing!!!

Is this a comic thing, a writing thing, or just the last line you drew??? Ive never done one of these before.

I'm going with the last line I drew cause its the best one I've got.

Anyway here's Oath of Devotion (WIP)

I love Zevlor.

Uhhhh who do I tag?

I don't talk to people on here

Uh

@monstravat

Yeah

[tombstuck-writes]

Knucklehead: Part 1, Chapter 1

Genre: Midwest Contemporary Young Adult Romance.

Word count: 27,615. Chapter 1/27.

Summary: “There was only one queer kid in town. That’s what he thought anyway, because it was him. If only his online almost-boyfriend lived nearby, things might be a little more tolerable.”

Content warnings: Graphic child abuse (it's not until part 2, and part 1 can be read stand-alone.)

Author's note:

This story is my baby! I've been writing it for almost 6 years, and it's finally seeing the light of day! A big thank you to anyone who reads it. I'll be posting one chapter every Saturday until it's done. Chapters will be under the #tombstuck-knucklehead tag, and I will also link them on the "Read Knucklehead" page on the header of my tumblr site.

Brandon Campbell got out of his car to start another shift at the grocery store. Brandon lived in Cohocton, Missouri, but the grocery store he worked at wasn’t in Cohocton, because nothing was in Cohocton. Nothing except homophobes and Baptist churches. 

And a high school. The very one that Brandon had graduated from earlier that month. He had done nothing since then except do his part-time job at the grocery store.

He went to clock in and saw a familiar face.

“Rodney, hey,” he said, a few different emotions running through his head. Rodney had been his best friend while he was still in school, and they were even on the basketball team together. But he was a year younger than Brandon.

Rodney looked up at him, nodding in greeting. “What’s up, Bran?”

“Oh, not much. Just making some money. You work here now?” He asked.

“Yeah, I just wanted to make some extra money. I’m saving to move out.” Rodney hesitated. “Um, you been pretty absent since you graduated. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, man. Sorry about that. I’ve just been hanging with Nat and she can get kinda…” He trailed off. In reality, he had been doing absolutely nothing except working and isolating himself.

“Yeah, I get it. Hey, at least you’re starting college in August, right?”

“Uhhhh, no.”

“Oh,” Rodney answered. “My bad, I assumed. Sorry.” 

“No worries, man. Anyway, we better clock in.”

He bought Rodney a coke on their lunch break to try to make up for not hanging out that month. He also received a text, from someone he wasn’t expecting.

Hey. Wanna hang out? It was from Norm, another one of Brandon’s friends from school. He had graduated at the same time as Brandon.

I’m at work. Later tonite? Brandon answered.

Hell yeah.

It was strange that Norm had texted him. Hearing from two of his old basketball friends on the same day a month after graduation was a big coincidence. He hadn’t been that close with Norm when they were in school, either. Well, close enough to have exchanged phone numbers, but still.

Norm texted Brandon his address, and after work, he headed over to Norm’s house.

He lived in Green Meadows, which was a small trailer park in Cohocton. He parked in front of Norm’s house after checking the number, then got out. A dog barked at him. He knocked on the door.

“Bran!” Norm yelled after answering the door, smiling. He looked about the same as he had a month ago. He was wearing an old Zelda t-shirt with a million holes in it, and sporting his same old mullet and septum ring. Brandon had kind of forgotten that he was attracted to Norm, but the feeling came back as he smiled at the greeting, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“Hey, man. What’s up?” he said.

“Dude, I watched this movie. Come in, come in— I watched this movie where these people went on a picnic,” He walked into the house, and saw who he assumed was Norm’s mom asleep on the couch. Norm was slurring his words a bit and his gait was uneven. “And I just had this real bad hankering to just like, eat a sandwich on a blanket outside.”

“Oh, wow,” Brandon said. He didn’t really know what else to say. He remembered Norm always getting drunk after basketball games, whether they would win or not. It seemed it had become a habit now.

“Bran, you gotta have a picnic with me,” Norm insisted. 

Brandon laughed. “A picnic? I guess so. That’s so random.”

Norm was running around his kitchen gathering items to make sandwiches. “No, it’ll be amazing, seriously.”

He made two bologna sandwiches and put them in sandwich bags. He dashed messily into the living room, and grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch where his mom still slept. “Come on!”

Brandon drove them and their picnic supplies to the nearest park. The day was extremely nice, with a light breeze blowing and the sun shining, and big puffy clouds floating through the sky. Brandon guessed he was happier to be here with Norm outside on a nice day than cramped up in his room at home.

Norm seemed to deliberate on the best spot for their picnic, before finally laying the blanket out on a nice patch of grass. He plopped unceremoniously down onto the blanket and Brandon sat next to him. The blanket wasn’t very big, so they were sitting pretty close.

Brandon ate his sandwich pretty quickly because he was hungry from work, but Norm didn’t seem too interested in his. He would take a little nibble now and then but mostly he was looking at the sky. 

“Not hungry?” Brandon asked.

“Oh, nah, not really. I just had to bring it to really evoke the feeling of a picnic.” He answered. “When I drink I don’t really get that hungry. I drink too much these days. That’s why I’m getting so skinny.” He felt at his ribs, no doubt feeling the bones underneath his skin.

“Have you ever thought about quitting?” Brandon asked.

“Oh, nah. I don’t really have any other way to cope with stuff, you know?” Norm answered, looking over at Brandon and shrugging.

Norm put his sandwich back in its baggie and laid down with his head on the blanket and his legs in the grass.

“Dude, you gotta see this!” Norm said and pulled Brandon down on the ground with him. He laughed and landed next to Norm with their heads together. Norm pointed upwards. “It’s a mermaid!”

Cloud gazing, Brandon thought with a rush. I’m cloud gazing with Norm while we’re on a picnic. What has my life become?

“I see a dog, I think,” Brandon said.

“What? No that’s definitely a mermaid. And look over there! It’s a little guy running,” Norm exclaimed.

Brandon was enjoying himself, for once lately. He didn’t want their picnic to end, but eventually they mutually decided to get up and pack up the picnic blanket and Norm’s uneaten sandwich and head back to Norm’s house. 

Norm was headed up the front steps of his house, but hesitated at the door and turned around. “I had a lot of fun today, Bran. Thanks for taking me.”

That’s similar to what Natalie said to me after our first date, Brandon thought, but didn’t say. 

“Yeah, man. Me too. No sweat. We should hang out again soon.” Brandon said, smiling. Norm waved cutely and smiled brightly. Brandon waved back.

Driving home, Brandon felt at once excited and uncomfortable about the time he had just spent with Norm. On the one hand, it was his first human contact besides his parents and coworkers for 2 weeks. On the other hand, he did have a beautiful girlfriend — Natalie— and spending time with someone else he found attractive felt a bit wrong.

He wondered, though. Is Norm still thinking about me too?

_____________________________________________________

Author's Note: Thank you so much if you read this far! I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Please consider following the #tombstuck-knucklehead tag if you want to read next week's installment, and follow my blog for various writing-related reblogs, as well as behind the scenes stuff about my stories.

[brianwashere]

if your requests are open, could i have benrey with a s/o who's also part of the science team ? i love your writing and thank you !

Uhhhhh YURRRRRRRR. Benrey Benrey Benrey. Love that little freak (affectionate). I wanna put him under a microscope and study him.

Alrighty I did HCs bcc it just felt right and I wanna work through my inbox.

You uhhhh need a player 2?

-you first met bcc you were a scientist and when you checked in he asked for your passport.

-you were confused, but luckily you got the company email so you had your passport on you

-xe was immediately enamored by you

-less in a “man I love him” and more of a “man he remembered his passport. I should give him my PlayStation tag.”

-so it nervously asked for your PlayStation tag

-you had to explain you were an x box user

-he nearly considered losing interest in you then and there.

-anyway

-you’re good buddies with Gordon, you’ve even met Joshua

-so when you and Benrey start dating he’s pretty off put

-he expressed his concern to you but he never even brings up breaking up with Benrey bcc it’s your life and obviously Benrey makes you happy

-even if they’re very very weird

-Coomer and Bubby knew from the beginning that Benrey liked you—he didn’t tell them—they just knew

-they just watched it happen and said not too subtle things

-“oh young love, don’t you remember those times, Bubby?” “I can’t even remember what I ate last night.”

-Tommy was very similar

-“oh look at that, Benrey’s sweet voice is red and pink around you! Red to pink means ‘I think you’re pretty neat!’ :DD”

-even Sunkist knew what was up

-before you got together he’d catch you as you walked into black mesa and say “I don’t think you uhhhh now where you’re going there, pal.” And he’d walk you around black mesa, purposely misleading you so they got to spend more time with you

-when you do get together it’s probably a very awkward and confusing confession

-Benrey’s like “so uh…I need a player two”

-“Benrey, I already told you I have an x box…”

-eventually you two get there though

-Benrey constantly uses sweet voice around/on you (if you’re ok with it, obviously)

-it’s xer love language

-when you first see him in a form that’s not his human-ish one you’re obviously alarmed but after the initial shock you’re very curious

-you are a scientist after all

-it actually makes xem feel really good about themselves

-it is startling to wake up in the middle of the night and see some humanoid figure in the top corner of your room with 30 fluorescent eyes all staring at you

-“you alright, babe?”

-“hm? Oh, yeah. Just watchin you..”

-you figured out they actually don’t sleep

-all in all it loves you to Xen and back

[runawaymun]

List 5 topics you can talk on for an hour without preparing any material

tagged by @eldritchteletubbie! thank you babe!!

uhhhh let's see.

Elrond, obviously. Like all the Elrond lore -- and also my opinions about what I like and what I don't like about the choices Tolkien made with his story.

Feminism and the role of women in the Christian church (hint hint: the actual biblical stance is that women are called to leadership just as much as men and the gender gatekeeping was a later addition -- mostly stemming from Augustine. Ugh.)

Queerness and God and the Christian church (hint hint hint: the Bible actually has nothing to say about people who are in a committed same sex relationship that is fully consensual. Like, nowhere. And God himself has no gender. He just tends to choose he/him pronouns. Or actually he's multigendered. Omnigendered, if you will. And there's biblical evidence for this. Anyway uhhhhh yeah I could easily talk about that for an hour I'll stop).

Soteriology and Christology in general? Do you see where I am going with this?

Pretty much any history topic pre 20th century. Like I'm working on getting more familiar with the 20th+ centuries they're just not as interesting to me.

Taggingggg (no pressure ofc just do if you feel like it): @greyjedijaneite @jaz-the-bard @raointean @crumbling-toast @metatomatoes and anyone else who wants to do this! just say I tagged you. :)

[zzoomacroom]

Ooohhh, new getting to know you game!

Tagged by @4typercent and @tj-dragonblade, thanks babes! 💗💗💗

Who was your first fictional crush?

Disney's Aladdin lmao. I remember watching it with my cousin and both of us being like 😍

What's the first colour you think of when I tell you to think of a colour?

Oh fuck uhhhhhhhh orange. No wait, blue!

Which fanfiction emotionally scarred you and still makes you shudder to this day?

I'd rather not say because it's from my current fandom and it's actually really good (the part I read anyway), but I had to stop reading because it squicked me out badly and triggered some old trauma. But that's on me for not taking the tags seriously enough

I'm coming to your house for dinner, non-negotiable, what are you making me?

Umm uhhhh I don't know, what do you like? This is a lot of pressure 😭 how about some pasta? With like a bunch of veggies and pesto sauce? I can make some pretty good soups? Or I could make carnitas in the crock pot and we can have tacos (don't worry, I get the good tortillas from the Mexican grocery store, none of that Mission bullshit)

Do you prefer lions or kangaroos?

Kangaroos, they're like real life Pokémon

Which fictional villain do you brush past the glaringly obvious issues for because you really like them?

Oh gosh I'm drawing a blank...I kind of agree with @tj-dragonblade about Erik from Phantom of the Opera. Only because I was like 15 when I saw it and thought "I want a dark, mysterious man with a beautiful voice to be obsessed with me 🥺"

Oh, and Jareth from Labyrinth. I mean, come on, it's Bowie. Hmm, I may have a type...

What would accompany your picture in the Burn Book in Mean Girls?

Fat, annoying nerd with a mustache

How many days would you last in the universe of your favourite fandom?

I'd probably be fine, I tend to stay out of trouble and I'm not important enough to get the attention of any villains (hopefully)

Have you heard of Mischief Theatre?

No, but I just googled it and it sounds like fun

Do you feel sorry for Medusa?

I guess? Idk, if anything I envy her--snake hair and the ability to turn people to stone? Sounds awesome, sign me up. Yeah, it's probably obvious that I don't know much about Greek mythology

Which song makes you think of your OTP?

"In My Life" by the Beatles is sooooo dreamling coded, I might just work it into one of my fics. Also "Shelter Song" by Temples. But I can manage to make nearly any song about my blorbos

Which song makes you dissociate and daydream the fastest?

Pink Floyd's "Atom Heart Mother" suite. It sounds like the soundtrack to some grand, epic adventure

No pressure tags: @duckland @marvagon @kydrogendragon @tryan-a-bex @mallory-x @goofygooberton @fleabagoftheendless and anyone else who wants to join in! ✨️