#anyways alex is a twink but he's a deep voiced twink.

[bcdwclves]

I also have a voice ref for Alex, because I also love him that much. It's Archer, from Fate: Unlimited Blade Works, but Kaiji Tang as Archer.

[lunior-art]

Several question so I can learn more information (tm) about your obsession with this movie, since everyone's is different <3

So questions:

How did you find the movie?

Do you prefer Nigel or Alex? (I'm sorry to ask this since they're both bae but deep down we all have a favorite)

Favorite scene and favorite line?

:D

-Sincerely, @fingerprint-insurance , citizen of the United States of @laurelwen

Get ready for the rant

1. from our favorite @theoryofwhatnow ‘s edit on tiktok. innocent little me found a Like Minds edit in the midst of Sandman edits and accidentally was sucked into a black hole of obsession. this also occurred during my school d&d session where my friend judged me HEAVILY

2. they really are both bae but Nigel. sorry guys i can’t escape the insane psycho twink syndrome however i do feel alex is more complex internally than Nigel. but i just really dig how tom sturridge looks

3. i think my favorite scene may be controversial but it’s when Nigel is found in bed with his mother (i’m NOT into incest i promise that isn’t why it’s my fav scene) Nigel just looks so scared and vulnerable in that scene. so much so that it shocked me when i first saw it. Nigel has always seemed calm and collected while always having something smart to say back but when his dad confronts him you can really see him. without the insane psycho part it truly seems like he’s just a kid. and of course my TRUE favorite part is when he sees alex rush in. you can clearly see how his shoulders relax as he says “Jack. You made it” while his voice breaks and he smiles a little (i’ve done this rant before but STILL)

Favorite line is “Well, I’m sorry, Jack, but you were the one who got inside my head”. this WHOLE time in alex’s perspective we are conditioned by him to believe that Nigel is the only freak. but THIS line completely flipped that for me and i realized. wait. in Nigel’s perspective, Alex would be such a freak as well (drugging him and trying to kill him should’ve been a clear indicator but i’m blind). anyway this specific line made me realize many things about their dynamic and that it’s not psycho x victim. nooo. it’s actually psycho x psycho and i love it

- sincerely, Lunior-art, recent inductee of the United States of @laurelwen

[heartshapedcreaturefromcriptoon]

Like, literally all of them? Go fuck yourself?

"Less representation than Gravity Falls..."

So...

I guess all of the crippled queer kids are just going to have to be okay with Tyrone (strangely appropriative and fetishistic name for the disfigured clone of your 13 y/o white boy character) happily exclaiming something like how he's apparently "Better Off Dead!" when he gets a soda poured on him and destroyed, huh? Oh Wait! I forgot.. That was Paper-Jam Dipper!

Nope. I think crippled queer kids would much rather appreciate Toby and Minty being there just fine. After all, I think that it must be the first time we've ever seen any visible wheelchair users in a Queer Coded Disney Show since Kim Possible. Let alone this queer coded and let alone twice. And they're two separate characters existing at the same time and their presence doesn't even revolve around teaching anyone anything! They're just ALLOWED to EXIST!

Didn't see anything like this in Grabbity Balls though, did see a stereotypical man-ish little girl with a big, deep man-ish voice be implied to have "something wrong with her" by an adult authority figure character who's voiced by the same straight, white, openly anti-black Canadian man that you all have been heralding as the ultimate alley for your fictional LGBTQ+ Cartoon Characters' rights, for some reason.

At least the Star Crew tried to give us this:

Which in my opinion was a bit more forwarded and impactful than some dude bro frat boy "love guru" type character just wearing a bunch of symbols and ornaments around his neck, even if they both didn't get through the censors ... You all know this is way more explicit than that.

Speaking of in your face and explicit Queer Coding:

Golly gee... I wonder why such cute and beefy but shy Little Leather Monster Complete with his own Harness and what appears to be a Gimp Mask just had to be regulated to the back?! So funny how Daron Nefcy literally said Disabled Rights, Trans Rights, and Leather/Kinkster Rights while Alex Hirsch only said Eugenics, "Trans Rights" (if you can pass to him, if he can pronounce your name, and you don't say "bae" ) and of course, let's not forget Cops at Pride, despite how little they could apparently both get away with... :)

... But of course, the last and most important Queer Reading to me in Star vs. :

The whole idea of being forced to be with someone you don't love to the point where you have to take a Secret Lover and elope with them and preserve your own sanity because you're a"Bad Girl" who likes a lot of dirty, kinky things to the point where your own voice actress is herself an open kinkster who likes dirty kinky things and that shows through her fun performance, as well as the canonical writings of this kinky character.

And we're not even getting into all of the WAM and Food Fetish stuff in Star vs. The Forces of Evil but it's there, and it's 'glorious'

And after the show is over ,like the actual Queen of Darkness you are, you gotta go sue your old washed up has-been rock star ex boyfriend for misusing the forces of what he says is kink to abuse you ... Because kink is great actually and he's just evil.

Anyway, Esmé Bianco is amazing.

Don't even get me started on Meteora and the blatant disrespect. Especially after Jessica Walter's passing.

I'm writing this post because I'm just ... So fucking sick of people shitting all over the wonderful representation that Star vs. was able to even achieve in favor of praising Alex Hirsch, every time... When in reality, Star vs. The Forces of Evil has overall better representation and overt, and, as some have even said, both in out the show, literally abject Queerness in it than Hirsch will ever have in whichever eye y'all tried to put the eye-patch on your sexy twink Bill Ciphers only to have Hirsch shit on all that and immediately "fix it" by redesigning it as some disfigured ablest caricature before literally switching over to yet another anti-black one.

Dana broke up with Hirsch for a reason: He's a jerk!

If you think that Daron didn't do a "queer enough" narrative with Star vs. despite it being so by it's nature since day one, despite that being already being promised by it's very nature in it's influence being Sailor Moon and Scott Pilgrim, and if you read the Book of Spells even and still say shit like: "I don't see how Star vs. is QUEER????"

Then like, I'm sorry you can't look a little deeper to find that queerness already everywhere in the narrative all around you and if you actually think that Alex Hirsch ever did Representation TM better than Daron Nefcy, all I can say is that I'm sorry you're like a misogynist with shit taste in men and I'm so glad Dana Terrace is free from her shitty boyfriends shadow now at least.

Saying something even more petty about this because I'm gay: A giant, "Size Shifting", People Eating, Purple Pussy Monster who spends his time in mostly just booty shorts, his Chocolate Fountain Jumping Wife who orgasms when she eats candy and left her arranged marriage so that could have more orgasms, and their Giantess, Purple Pussy Monster of a daughter who sucks the souls out of people and spent most of her life as the Milfier than her own Mom, Terrifying Headmistress of a reform school, where she sucked the life of her own students in a Bathory-uqse fashion, before blowing up her cyborg simp, with his own heart, then probably being able to use the severed arm of her Lizard Cyborg Ex Boyfriend as a make-shift dildo to get a final wank in before ultimately experiencing a growth spurt, losing her mind, and killing everyone ... Will always be more Queer in their very nature, than a floating stale dorito in a top hat and two "gay" cops that are designed to be classicist, racist stereotypes for the sake of the unspoken running "joke" that they could even get along, ever were...

And again... If you're an adult and 'Star Vs.' still isn't enough for you... Then maybe you should STOP looking to cartoons and Disney for your ideal representation and make your own...

I'm done.

[justlightlysedated]

For the kisses prompts - #22 for Malex please 🧡

And thank you so much for finding the planetary alinement sequel fic for me 🧡🧡🧡

22. kisses in the rain

Alex is on the phone with Forrest, who calls him periodically every couple of days to talk about what he's doing, and Alex usually pays attention, or pretends to pay attention, but today he can't stop looking out of the window, at the rolling clouds, lighting up with flashes of lightning, the thunder rolls loudly, shaking the very vibrations of his house.

He watches the next flash of lightning and counts the seconds between it and the loud thunder.

Still a few minutes away, he thinks.

He's startled out of his thoughts by a loud knock on his door, and he hears Forrest, sounding a little pissed off, like he's been trying to get his attention but Alex isn't responding.

He picks the phone up, takes it off speaker, and puts it to his ear, mouth open to speak, but then the banging on the door sounds again, and Isobel Evans' voice, of all people sounds out, loud enough that it would have probably been picked up by the speaker.

"Alex! I know you're in there. I don't care if you're balls deep in that Nazi obsessed blue haired twink, we need to talk!"

"I have to go," Alex says, and hangs the phone up on Forrest asking him what's going on, and winces slightly, before he shrugs and drops his phone back on the counter.

He gets up from the couch, reaching for his crutch, since he hadn't been expecting any visitors, and starts to make his way to the door.

Isobel, of course, doesn't have the decency to let him open the door. She opens his locked door, practically blasting it off its hinges and she stalks into the house, eyes finding Alex immediately.

"Where is he?" She demands, stalking forward, one hand aloft, eyes sharp, like she's getting ready to pry the information out of his head if he doesn't answer fast enough.

"Who?" Alex asks, because he's well versed in Isobel enough to know that if she was talking about Forrest it would be in a mocking tone, not one that is tinged with desperation.

"Michael," she says in an obvious tone, and just hearing his name makes Alex's heartbeat spike. "He's been missing for days, and he only did that whenever he was holed up with you."

Alex shakes his head, feeling anxiety and worry bleed into him, "I haven't seen Michael since he walked out of Pony during my set, making it very clear what he thought about my song."

Isobel gives him an incredulous look, but Alex isn't sure what part of his statement she's having trouble believing.

"Over the last year the most contact we've had was text messages when he needed information, so if he's fucked off somewhere it definitely wasn't with me."

Isobel shakes her head, and she looks more irritated than anything, "God save me from my fucking oblivious brothers."

She turns to look back at Alex, "Max is dying. His new heart is failing, and he's known the whole time, and just let us know a few weeks ago. Michael isn't taking it well, and I thought that he'd come to you, but I'm guessing he knows about the Nazi obsessed blue haired twink that periodically warms your bed-"

"He has a name, you know?" Alex says, interrupting her, but Isobel continues speaking like he hadn't spoken.

"-which would explain his dive into the negative spectrum of emotions when he had been feeling pretty hopeful and anticipating your arrival."

Alex blinks at her, feeling confused, "He was hopeful?"

Isobel shakes her head at him, "But I was wrong. I'm wasting my time, because he'd never come here after a rejection."

"Rejecti-?" Alex starts to ask, feeling even more lost than before, but Isobel just turns around and heads back out of his house without even a wave of goodbye.

The slamming of the door coincides with a rumble of thunder, making Alex jump a little.

He hears his phone ringing back where he left it, and he knows that it's going to be Forrest.

A small part of him wants him to go back and answer the phone and explain about ex sort of sisters-in-law who don't know how to wait for someone to open the door, but there is an increasingly louder part of him that is yelling at him that he knows exactly where Michael is, that instead of offering his sort of boyfriend, sort of not boyfriend, any explanations, he should go and demand one from Michael instead.

Alex nods his head sharply and then turns to head to his room. If he's going out into that storm that's brewing, he's going to need to prepare himself.

-

Alex finds Michael at their spot off the Desert View dirt road that leads from town to Fosters Ranch. The truck is hardly visible to the road, but Alex knows exactly where it is.

Alex doesn't pay too much attention as he carefully parks his car next to the truck, and he turns off the car without looking to make sure that Michael was there.

He clenches his hands around the steering wheel and breathes in deeply, and then breathes out slowly.

And then he shakes his head and tells himself to stop being nervous or scared or whatever he was being right now, it was just Michael.

Alex lets go of the steering wheel, and gets out of the car, closing the door with a slam that gets swallowed up by the thunder that sounds immediately after the flash of lightning.

Alex breathes in deeply and closes his eyes at the smell of ozone filling the air.

Alex loves thunderstorms and when it rains so hard the smell of it permeates everything. It makes him sad and melancholy, but also fills him with a mellow sort of happiness.

It's Michael, in a scent that Alex can find anywhere. It's not as good as the real thing, but it helped whenever Alex faltered during the last year.

He looks at the truck, searching for Michael, staring into the cab of the truck, and jumping a little when he finds him sitting on the tailgate.

He looks like he hasn't moved in a while, and he doesn't even twitch when the thunder crashes again.

Alex takes him in for a moment. His face is being covered by his hat, but his clothes looked nicer than anything that Alex has ever seen him wear. Even in the dim light, he can tell that his jeans have no holes, and the sweater he's wearing actually looks soft, and like it actually fits him.

It makes something warm and fuzzy curl in the pit of his stomach, that Michael is doing good, that he's happy and well. Well, he's not really happy right now, if Isobel is to be believed, but from the small, unasked for updates that Kyle gives him whenever they meet up for beers, he knows that Michael hasn't been miserable or drinking like a fish or getting into bar fights or dating anyone.

Alex shakes his head to get rid of the last thought, because he knows better than to hope for anything. If the last three years, since he came back to Roswell the first time have taught him anything, it was that Michael was over him, and Alex just needed to get over it.

Which was much easier said than done.

Alex had thought that he had been making steps towards that, but he could feel the tips of his fingers tingling just from proximity.

Maybe this was a mistake.

As soon as he thinks the words, Michael turns and looks at him. His lips are parted like he was going to speak, and then he seems to realize that Alex was the one standing there, and not Isobel or Max.

Their eyes lock, and Alex feels his heart skip several beats, before it starts racing, matching his quickening breaths.

Lightning flashes and thunder crashes as they look at each other, and Alex has a feeling like something mystical, something alien is about to happen.

Alex walks closer to the truck and Michael doesn't move or say anything, just continues to stare at him, eyes too big, like he's not sure that Alex is real.

Alex sits down next to him and the truck moving up and down with Alex's weight is what snaps Michael's gaze away from him.

"Hi," Alex says, and his voice comes out breathless and quivering, but he pushes forward anyway. "It's good to see you."

"What are you doing here, Alex?" Michael asks, the question falling out of his mouth almost as soon as Alex finishes speaking.

"Isobel came to see me," he says, and Michael scoffs, looking at Alex and quickly away. "She said you were missing, and she thought you were at my place, and it wasn't until she left that I realized I knew exactly where you were."

Michael shakes his head, scoffing again, as he turns to give Alex a sardonic look.

"That doesn't answer the question. What did Isobel let slip 'accidentally' that made you come all the way over here, when you haven't bothered with a hello since you've been back?"

Alex bristles immediately at the implications in his tone, getting defensive, "I don't owe you anything, Guerin."

"I'm not expecting anything from you, Manes," Michael drawls, a mean smirk on his mouth.

Alex scoffs, "Really? Because it sure seems like you were expecting something."

Michael looks away at that, but Alex is just gearing up.

"Which is the part of all of this that is confusing me. I understand you coming out here and wanting to be alone because your brother is dying, again," Michael flinches at the words, and Alex wants to reach out and comfort him somehow, but instead he keeps talking.

"What I don't understand is you being hopeful about us and taking me being with someone else as a rejection. Michael, you were the one who ended things between us. You pushed me away and reminded me at every turn that while I wasn't like my family, I also wasn't what you wanted."

Michael is looking at him now, eyes wet with tears, brow furrowed, and he's shaking his head a little, like Alex is speaking about something that he doesn't understand.

He doesn't say anything in the lull of Alex's flow of speech, so Alex keeps talking.

"I am sorry, you know," he says. "About the song. I wasn't expecting you to be there when I was performing it. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"What?" Michael asks, sounding disbelieving, and he fully turns, tilting his head up a little so that he can see Alex's face clearly. "Why would you think that I was uncomfortable?"

"You walked in while I was in the middle of singing, and you left the second you realized exactly what the song was about. In conjunction with the fact that you'd just gotten your heart broken, I know you weren't walking into the bar expecting a declaration of love, and I'm sorry that I-"

"Alex," Michael says in a low voice, lowering his head just a little. "Stop apologizing."

Alex opens his mouth to speak, but stops when Michael reaches up and takes his hat off, tossing it to the side and ruffling a hand through his hair.

Without the hat, it's almost like a strip of armor that Michael had been wearing has come off, and he looks at Alex intently, "That's not why I left."

"Oh," Alex says, deflating. "Then why did you leave?"

Michael huffs out a humorless laugh, looking away.

"I thought I was doing what was best for us at the time. Maria had just broken up with me, and while I wasn't ready to jump into a relationship with you, I wanted things that I knew were selfish. And then I saw that Nazi obsessed blue haire-"

"So she got that from you?" Alex interrupts him, giving Michael an exasperated look.

Michael just shrugs unrepentant.

"I saw him there, watching you sing, and I just, I didn't think that in that moment, if given the choice, you'd pick me, not after everything that happened. So I left, because I wanted to give you the space to heal and to date whoever you wanted. But then I heard you were coming back home, and I don't know, I guess I couldn't stop myself from hoping that you were coming back for me."

Alex just stares at him, eyes wide, feeling like someone just turned his entire world upside down. He swallows hard, not really knowing how to respond.

"Michael, I-"

But Michael shakes his head, getting to his feet and standing in front of Alex.

"You don't owe me anything, remember?"

Alex just shuts his eyes, and inhales deeply.

After a couple of seconds where Michael just keeps staring at him, and the storm brews ever closer, thunder so loud and near that it reverberates through Alex's bones, he speaks again.

"I was ready, you know," he says, trying really hard to sound casual and failing. Alex opens his eyes to stare at him, but Michael is looking up at the sky, the flashes of lightning caught in his eyes.

"Or I thought that I was,” he continues, shaking his head and then looking back at Alex and jumping when he sees that Alex is looking at him. “I even went to meet you at the bus stop.”

“So that was you?” Alex proclaims, jumping down from the tailgate.

Michael looks embarrassed, cheeks flushed red, and it reminds him so much of the Michael that he fell in love with that he loses his breath for a moment.

“You noticed huh?” Michael says, making a face.

“I swore that I saw you through the bus window, but when I actually looked there was no one there, so I thought I just imagined it.”

“Well, when I saw your boyfriend there, I made myself scarce,” Michael says, a bitter tone to his voice, but he looks apologetic, so at least he’s self aware enough to know that he has nothing to actually be bitter about.

“Not my boyfriend,” Alex says automatically, and Michael just stares at him a bit incredulously.

Alex rolls his eyes and scoffs, “Like you’ve never had a booty call, Guerin.”

Michael raises both eyebrows at that, and gives Alex a mock shocked look, “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

But he ruins the effect by smirking, and Alex can’t help it, he bursts out into laughter, the tension of the last couple of minutes draining out of him.

He’d thought maybe things between them would just be weird and stilted and painful, but so far it hasn’t felt anything like that. It felt easy.

Alex stops laughing and just grins at Michael, who is just staring at him with a look that Alex is very familiar with.

Alex’s smile dims a little as he continues to stare at Michael who breathes in deeply like he’s steeling himself for something.

“So, not your boyfriend, huh?” he says, taking a step forward.

Alex inhales sharply at the words, and licks his lips, shaking his head.

“So, if I kissed you right now, what would you do?”

Alex exhales a small disbelieving breath, his pulse racing and fingers tingling. Michael has never asked to kiss him before. He’s always just done it like he’s afraid that Alex will tell him no if he dares to ask.

Michael looks away, probably thinking that Alex meant that as a no, so Alex takes a step forward, and Michael freezes, eyes snapping back towards Alex.

“Why don’t you do it, and find out?”

Michael moves forward like he thinks that Alex is going to change his mind at any second, fingers pressed to Alex’s face as he tilts his head to the side and presses his mouth to Alex’s.

The move makes them stagger backwards a little, but Alex hardly notices as he pushes his fingers into Michael’s hair and holds on tight, keeping him close as he kisses him back.

The storm breaks at the same time, and the rain falls hard and cold, pelting them and soaking them almost immediately, but neither Alex or Michael care as they continue to kiss.

Michael digs his fingers harder into Alex’s jaw and kisses him harder, parting his lips and licking at Alex’s mouth. Alex wraps his arms around Michael’s shoulder, pulling himself in closer and opening his mouth to Michael’s.

Michael kisses him deep and just a little bit desperate, and Alex loses himself in it, thinking, this, this, this.

This is what he’s been missing. This is what’s always missing. Michael kisses him like Alex was created specifically for Michael to kiss. And Alex can’t help but surrender to the touch.

After what feels like forever and not long enough, Michael pulls away, panting heavily.

Alex blinks rapidly a few times, before he realizes that his vision is blurry because of the rain that is pouring down on top of them.

He looks up at the sky as lightning lights up the clouds and thunder rumbles, and he closes his eyes breathing in deep. Michael drops his forehead to Alex’s cheek, pressing his face along the side of Alex’s face and just breathing.

Alex just tightens his hold on Michael and breathes with him.

[rawstfish]

Mall of Verdanks Chapter 2

Warning: none, unless you count long as one

Gaz glared at Soap.

“Any actual questions, FNG?” He said through gritted teeth.

“That was an actual question.” It was like Soap was challenging him, but it would be the lamest challenge anyone could witness.

“Sure. Anyways-”

“Gaz, I need to see you in my office.” A deep british voice interpreted them. Both men whipped their heads around. Soap could feel his face heating up at the mere sight of his boss. As quickly as he turned his head, he lowered it.

Fucking hell I forgot he was here. Dumbass why would he not be here? He’s the fucking owner of the store, and now look at how your acting. He hired a fucking employee not some blushing teenage girl. He still hung his head low, his thoughts broken by Gaz’s voice.

“I’m training the FNG right now sir.” Soap widens his eyes at his response. How big are these dudes balls to talk to the boss like that? There’s no way his boss isn’t about to take his fucking head off.

“Office now.” The bearded man left after that. Soap could have Gaz mumble under his breath, he could barely make out the words “horny bastard”.

“Excuse me, just stay next to Roach.” Gaz unclipped his walkie talkie from his slightly baggy pants.

“Golem, tell Alex to come over to the cash register in the flower department.” With that Gaz left without any more words. Soap finally lifted his head, looking over towards Roach. Actually looking at his face, you could see his bloodshot and watery eyes. His face the most relax thing Soap has ever seen.

Is this dude fucking high right now? How did he even check that person out? Soap waved his hand in front of his face. Roach had no reaction, he wasn’t even blinking.

“Hey.” Why did Soap think that would work?

“Hey!” He persisted.

“Don’t fucking yell at him!” A force deep voice snapped. Soap Jumped, immediately turning around to face the voice. He was met with a short man, wearing a skull mask. He also had dark sunglasses covering his eyes.

“He just high off his balls right now, now leave him alone.” The new short man continued to snap.

“Why the fuck is he high while working in the first place? And where did you come from?” If Soap was to be honest, he was scared of this little man.

“Because he can, and I just so happened to walk into you yelling at my friend.” His sunglasses- covered eyes found Soap’s tag.

“Oh you're the FNG. A little tip for you then, don’t fucking yell at Roach or me.” Soap could feel his intense glare burning a hole right through him. Even walking away into the back, the man held his glare. Soap felt like he would never escape his glare.

What the fuck is wrong with that dude? Why is he wearing a skull mask? And why am I feeling so intimidated by him? Come on Soap, he’s basically a fucking twink. You could take him easily any day. Once again his first day is going down the shit drain. His ears were filled with heavy footsteps and dragged boots. He broke away from his thoughts being met with a much taller man this time.

“Are you gonna yell at me too?” He questioned the stranger.

“You met Ghost didn’t you?” An American voice questioned back.

“That’s his fucking name?” Soap knew he must look so dumbfounded

“Well his real name is Simon, but he persists that everyone calls him Ghost. Anyway, don't mind him, he’s just short-tempered.” Both of the men snickered at that. Ghost was short-tempered indeed.

“Ahem, You're the FNG right?” There goes Soap’s one second good mood.

“Yeah.” Just when soap thought he would like this guy.

“What’s with the sour look? If it’s the nickname, don’t get caught up about it. We were all the FNG once.” This man tried to reassure, but Soap still wore the sour look.

“Um, do you know why Gaz asked for me, I don’t see him over here.” Great now Soap made this man radiate awkwardness.

“Price called him to the back while he was training me.” The American giggled and shook his head.

“You’ll be stuck with me for a bit then. What do you know so far?” Soap was thankful that the overwhelming awkwardness was starting to leave the man. He would have beaten himself up if he made this dude hate him.

Soap gave him a recap of what Roach had visually teached him.

“Perfect, the next customer that comes over is yours then.” Somehow every person in the mall has perfect timing, because an old lady with packets of flower seeds slowly came up.

----

What a fucking first day. I would have never guessed a plant store, would be so fucking exhausting. No scratch that, I never have guessed assholes run plant stores. Soap clocked out, ready to finally go home. However, he was stopped by none other than Price.

“Before you leave, I need you to get a cake for me.” His gruff voice broke the silence, his blue eyes piercing Soap's own blue eyes.

Why did I need to get a cake right before I leave? Can’t he just get it? He desperately needed to lay on his bed, filled with the stray cats he brought in.

“Okay.” Soap reluctantly agreed.

“It’s from the bakery across from us, and it's under the name Price. I already paid for it.” With that, Price took his leave. Soap stood questioning that if Price hadn’t paid already, would he have made Soap pay for it?

----

Soap was face to face with bright, blue, neon lights. The word “Spetsnaz” being written out. He pushed the glass door open, a bell following his movements. He thought the fluorescent lights in the shop were bright, but this place is proving him wrong. The color white over took his eyes with the help of some blue. Little white, metal chairs were paired with the same styled tables.

There was a skinny man at the front counter, playing on his phone. A broad man wearing a completely black mask stood behind him, chatting with a man who was small in every way and a net hanging over his face.

“Ahem, I’m here for a cake. It’s under the name Price.” Soap nervously said, the two masked men immediately stopped talking and looked up. Their cold eyes staring Soap down. He wasn’t going to move an inch from his spot at the door.

“Oh, you must be the FNG!” The man working the front excitedly stated.

Does everyone in the fucking mall know that term? Soap’s nervousness was instantly placed back with the irritation he’s worn all day.

“Let me go get that for you.” The skinny man left, his big head the last thing Soap saw of him. Great, now he was left with the scariest man he has ever seen. He held his head down, too afraid to even accidentally make eye contact.

“How was your first day? They tear you up already? You look like the type to plead and beg for mercy at the littlest amount of pain.” A thick austria accent said, but he couldn’t tell which man it came from. Whoever it was, made a sharp shiver run down Soap’s spine.

“You're not going to answer him? Trying to play the rule of the strong, silent type?” This time a heavy, raspy russian accent was directed at him. Soap has never wanted to leave a place so fucking fast. He felt like he had to reply now, who knows what would happen if he didn’t.

Before he could get any words out of his mouth, the skinny man had returned.

“Don’t mind these two, they’re all bark and no bite. Well, except for Krueger.” He could probably sense Soap’s fear. Hell anyone could have honestly.

“Excuse me? When have I ever been “all bark and no bite”, Rodion?” The broad, russian man spoke. At least Soap knows whose voice is whose now.

“To me.” The Rodion guy did a little pose and blinked his eyelashes in response.

“I hit you at least once a day.” The bigger man deadpanned.

“But I know it's out of love and not hate.”

“Yet you still cry about it.” You could feel the smirk on his face.

“Nikto!” Rodion cried, going to kick him but missing completely. The two masked men laughed at him.

How can that tiny guy be so fearless around these two. Now I’m fucking scared of him too. This mall has some seriously fucked up people. Soap quickly walked up to the counter.

“Can I have the cake now?” Soap finally dared to utter words.

“Oh yes, I’m so sorry.” Rodion put the cake down and turned back the mask men. Soap has never grabbed a cake so fast in his life. The sounds of the three dudes followed him until the door.

----

“Price, I have the cake. I’m sorry if I took too long.” Soap was beyond glad to be back in the back rooms. The color gray was never so soothing.

“I’m in here.” Price's voice came from the breakroom.

Upon entering, Soap was attacked by playful colors of tiny confetti. If he didn’t have a tight grip on the cake, he would have for sure dropped it.

“Happy first day, Fucking New Guy.” Soap’s eye twitched at that. The break room was filled with, what Soap could assume, every employee in the store.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Criticize is very much welcome :)

[flintsjohn]

courtesy of my chats with @villanellve, have some snippets of alex dating and living his best gay life, and michael being possibly the lamest, most oblivious and pining idiot in history. the last five minutes of the finale have been cancelled in this, i don’t care.

“Wait, wait, back up a second,” Liz waves her drink at Alex, interrupting him, “Go back to the first one.”

Alex sighs, eyes closing for a second. He ignores the snicker coming from Maria and starts listing off again, counting on his fingers. “There are two main categories, bears and twinks. Bears are usually also divided into-“

“What are you guys talking about?” Alex freezes at Michael’s voice, shaking his head once at Liz and Maria to signal for them to shut up.

Of course, Liz ignores him outright and scoots over in the booth so Michael can sit. “Alex is teaching us about gay culture.”

“Oh, is he?” Michael smirks, head tilting to the side. Alex glares at him.

“Yup,” Liz says, turning back to Alex, “So which type do you fit in?”

“Oh he’s a twink,” Michael says before Alex can even open his mouth.

“You’re a twink!” Alex can’t help himself. It comes out way too loudly and startles Maria and Liz into a bout of laughter. Michael simply arches an eyebrow at him, thoroughly unimpressed, and gives him a self-satisfied smirk when Alex blushes under the attention.

“Whatever,” he says after a second, pushing Maria out of the booth so he can get out. “I have a date to get to.”

He waves at them and Michael stares after him as he walks out of the bar. “Another?” The word is out of his mouth before he can think better of it.

Liz shrugs. “He’s- how did he put it?”

“Living his best gay life,” Maria fills in. There’s a knowing look on her face as she studies Michael that makes him shift uncomfortably. Things have been going well between them after they both agreed to call it quits. Their relationship had been short lived, but fun and easy, and they still enjoy each other’s company as often as they can. All in all, Michael knows he can’t complain. Still, she knows him way too well.

“Right,” he says after a second, clearing his throat. Both Liz and Maria have been very enthusiastic about recounting Alex’s numerous dates as of late. Michael just bites down on his tongue and lets them ramble and pick apart the latest flame, because that’s apparently how best friends work. He rarely contributes, even when they ask his opinion as only other queer guy in their friend group. He knows better than to get himself involved in speculation over Alex’s love life.

*

“Alex, hey, I forgot to ask- how did it go with Mark?” Michael looks up from his beer to follow the conversation. Kyle is currently looking expectantly at a dumbfounded Alex.

“Who’s- Ah, right.” Alex flushes a little at Kyle’s pointedly raised eyebrows. “He was alright, I guess. Last week’s news, though.”

Michael suddenly becomes very interested in the list of ingredients on his beer. It’s not that he’s not happy for Alex and his new found sexual prowess, per se. A big part of him is proud of him for having gotten there. But another, love sick side of him, the one that whispers in his ear at night after he’s back in his airstream after watching Alex walk away with his nightly hook up, wishes that that could be him. He’s not, and he can’t, because he was too late and Alex has moved on, as he deserves.

“What’s up with you?” Kyle asks after he’s been silent for a while. Michael focuses back on the table only to see that Alex has moved to the bar, where some guy is whispering in his ear and making him laugh, head thrown back. Michael frowns.

“Nothing.”

“Guerin.”

Michael groans and lets his head drop on the table with a thud. He doesn’t know exactly when Kyle became someone he trusted enough to rant to about his love life, but apparently that’s where his life’s at.

“You can just say you’re jealous, you know. We all know, anyway.”

Michael snaps his head up and sputters, “Wha- I’m not- That’s not- I’m not jealous! And, frankly, who’s saying that you’re not jealous, hm? You’ve been spending an awful lot of time together and- and- Yeah, maybe it’s you who’s jealous, actually. Checkmate, Valenti.”

Kyle levels him with the most unimpressed stare Michael’s ever being on the receiving end of, and he’s friends with Maria DeLuca. “Sure, whatever you say, Guerin.” He gets a pat on the shoulder and then Kyle is off, leaving Michael to stare mournfully at the spot where Alex has just disappeared from with the new guy.

*

“Dude, I’m telling you, it was amazing.”

Michael looks up in confusion, giving the table a cursory glance. No one of his friends is paying him or the guy next to him any attention, so he guesses it’s him the guy is talking to. “Uh, who are you again?”

“John.”

“Right,” Michael drawls, going right back to his beer. Alex’s latest conquest. This one’s lasted a couple of nights, apparently, because otherwise the guy wouldn’t bother talking to him. He doesn’t remember being introduced, but he’s found that not focusing too hard on the faces of the men circling Alex these days is what helps most.

“He did this thing, with his tongue, I swear-“

Michael flinches at that and mutters around the rim of his beer bottle, “Oh, I remember the thing.”

The guy – John, his mind supplies helpfully – gives him a look that translates into aren’t you two friends though, to which Michael shrugs. He’s not about to explain their whole history to someone who’ll last no more than a week on Alex’s arm. He just ignores the guy until he eventually leaves him alone to his moping.

*

“So, Liz and I were thinking of maybe trying to ask Max to check on my mom, you know- hey, are you listening to me?”

“Uh? Yeah, of course,” Michael nods along to what Maria is saying, but his eyes are fixed on the door, where Alex has just walked in, hand in the back pocket of some handsome stranger.

“God, you really need to get over that.”

“Hm? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He swivels on his stool to face her, though thanks to the mirror hanging behind Maria he can still see the booth where Alex sits.

“You’re pathetic.” Maria swats at him with the rag she’s using to dry glasses and ignores his pout. “Just talk to him, jeez.”

“Yeah, see, that’s kinda where the problem lies.” Maria rolls her eyes at him and goes back to clearing glasses off the counter.

“You’re not subtle, Guerin,” she says after a moment, “Literally everyone knows how you feel but Alex, because he’s oblivious and busy trying to fuck his way through all of Roswell, and you’re too stubborn and chicken shit to say anything.”

He frowns at her but it doesn’t deter her. She points a finger at him, which makes him gulp. “Get. Your shit. Together. I’m done watching you pine. Ah!” She raises her hand when he opens his mouth to interject, “Nope. First chance you get, you’re telling him.”

She gives him one last look and moves on to other patrons, leaving him to stare sadly into the mirror to follow Alex’s date. He’s apparently graduated from town slut to town creeper. Fantastic.

*

“And then, I swear to God, he spanked me.” Alex tells the story with his hands more than with his words, gesturing wildly. Michael never wants to take his eyes off of him, but at the same time his brain is supplying the wrong images and he’s finding it increasingly harder to concentrate. He clears his throat, unable to keep looking.

“That’s- um. How was it?” He tries, wincing at his own lame attempt at conversation. He’s trying hard, he swears, to be a good friend for Alex, but it’s a little hard when the man he’s in love with has suddenly grown comfortable in recounting his sexual escapades to him.

“I didn’t hate it.” Alex gives him a dirty smirk that makes Michael’s entire body flush. That’s – nice to know, he guesses. It’s cool, really, that Alex has grown out of his shame. Not that Michael expected the enthusiasm, or that he can handle the numerous flirty lines Alex slips in there with more and more frequence.

“So, how’s it going with Maria?” Alex asks. The change of topic almost gives Michael whiplash, not to mention Alex’s purposefully casual tone.

“Oh, um. We broke up, like a month ago.”

“What?” Alex sits up straighter, beer forgotten to the side.

“Yeah, we’re better as friends anyway. We’re good.”

“Oh.” Alex frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Michael opens and closes his mouth around at least three answers, before finally settling on, “You were a little busy.”

That makes Alex blush, but he doesn’t latch on the bait. “We see each other every two days, you could’ve mentioned it.”

“I-“ Michael starts. He shifts, thumbnail fidgeting with the label of his beer. “I didn’t think you’d care.”

“Michael,” Alex says, admonishingly.

“Look, it’s cool, ok? I’m good, and you’re doing great, apparently, with all these dates. We don’t have to discuss me.”

“Yes, we do.” Alex sighs after a second, hand reaching across the table to catch Michael’s. “We’re friends. And friends share life updates. This isn’t a one-sided conversation.”

Michael looks into Alex’s eyes, finally, and swallows before whispering, “What if I don’t want to be friends anymore?”

Alex’s hand retreats immediately, hurt flashing across his features, but Michael is quick to grab it right back. “I mean- shit, sorry. I meant just friends.”

Alex looks at him, clearly uncertain, so Michael takes a deep breath and soldiers on, “I don’t want to hear about all your one night stands. Not because I don’t care about your life, but because I’m jealous,” he hears Alex inhale sharply at that, but he doesn’t stop, “I’m jealous of whoever gets to kiss you, and hold your hand, and dance with you, and f-“ He snaps his mouth shut, eyes falling to his hands still clutching Alex’s.

“I’ve been such an idiot, Alex. I thought that because of all the shit we’d been through, that loving you and being with you wasn’t worth the pain. But it was, it is.”

Alex licks his lips and shifts so his head his closer to Michael’s. “What are you saying, Guerin?”

“I’m saying I want to be with you. I want to take you out and introduce you as my boyfriend, I want to overshare about our sex life just to make our friends uncomfortable. I want to kiss you, and hold you, and make love to you, and fall asleep next to you.”

“Yeah?” Alex’s voice comes out a little choked, but he’s smiling widely.

“Yeah.” Michael nods, squeezing Alex’s fingers in his own. “So what do you say?”

[xo-dailypier-blog]

Hey People!

     It’s been such a long time since I’ve posted anything. But can you guys blame me? It’s been such a snore fest in Santa Monica, I almost just left you guys to you own devices to let you find out all the dirt by yourselves. But we couldn’t have that, can we?

     Anyways, while I don’t have a complete recap of the things going on (not that theirs anything interesting), you guys have sent me your BURNING CHLAMYDIA-LIKE questions that have piqued by interests. 

I would say things in this town are getting set in motion, but only time will tell…

But before we get into the questions, two things: 

1.) Everyone take a moment to say Happy Mother’s Day to QUEEN Phobe! Hopefully she’s been picking up her child from daycare. Am I right, guys? 

Hopefully you guys said HMD to your Mo -- Oh, Yikes ... um Moving on...

2.) Congratulations are in order! You guys voted and our Hottie of the Moment has been chosen…

     It’s none other than: Jason “Daddy” Sorrentino! With his ripped bod, and killer smile, Daddy Sorrentino has captured the hearts of Santa Monica one day at a time. I didn’t vote for him (I was torn between him and Daddy Lancaster, so I sat this one out), but it’s really no surprise. I mean, have you seen him? Ugh, soy hott. 

When asked about his Award Winning Hotness, Daddy had this to say:

“Everyone wanted to know what I’d do if I didn’t win, guess we’ll never know” (Jason Sorrentino, 2019).

... We love original quotes ..... Anyways! Let’s A some Q’s, yeah?

Q: singordie94 asked...

What is the Lipton on Myles Bennett and Julian Stark? The people are talking about seeing them at a bar eye fucking each other? What’s going on, DP? 

A: Hey singordie94,

     Sighhh, Shark Boy and Lava Top. Ok, so as we know, Myles gets pegged. Very progressive, love that for him. Now, the RUMOR (keyword) is that he ditched the strap and tried out the real thing with one Julian Stark. This, allegedly, happened a few months back according to sources close to the subject(s). Sadly, I honestly don’t believe this, this just sounds like fan fiction. Myles has a loving girl friend back home in Texas. It is PREPOSTEROUS to think our little sea critter would be a LIAR. I mean, could you guys really imagine OUR Myles letting Julian go snorkeling in HIS (chocolate) sea? HANG TEN in his boygina? Go KOWABUNGA in that ass??? (Let’s be honest, if this actually happened, there is no way anyone would actually believe that Myles was on top, we’ve seen him in his sea-diving-catsuit-thing, and … momma’s thicc with it). Anyways, I guess I’ll keep an eye on them just in case. But Myles just isn’t the type to cheat/leave his southern belle crying into the butter she has to churn for supper in the middle of her Amish village. (I’m assuming everyone in Texas is Amish. Look, I don’t know what the fuck goes on there, and honestly? I don’t care). Bottom line (tehehehe) is that Myles has his true love, the deep blue sea, and CHRIST as his main priorities, nothing more. Thanks for the question, singordie94, I’ll keep an eye out for ZESTY activity, but don’t hold your breath (like Myles did when he deep throated Julian, ALLEGEDLY).

Q: AshersBabyMomma asked...

Can we get an Aldridge update?

A: Well, AshersBabyMomma (cute name btw),

Keeping up with the Aldridge’s has been pretty dull this season.

Alex is, naturally, chasing after Award Winning Hottie, Jason. Their tumultuous relationship is one I’ll have to keep an eye on. You would think they were together by the way they interact, one minute their woohoo-ing in the back of an Uber and the next they need space? Maybe they should just call it quits? And apparently Alex was seen getting cozy with Logan Lancaster. I’m told that there was some serious flirting going on???? I heard that Jason totally came up in conversation too, and Logan called him like, a pussy, or something? (Fighting Words!!!) Whatever he said the two laughed about it, as they continued vibing. And to be honest? I kind of ship it. I mean I am obviously the president of the SorrentinHOEs, but ya girl Alex needs some stability. And hello??? Logan is as stable as they come! Daddy Sorrentino might be perfect at everything else, but maybe he should sit on the bench when it comes to Alex, Logan is scoring too high for him to keep up. #LoLex

Crackhead Asher is one that keeps getting written in about, though. A little bird told me, well, several little birds have told me that they’ve seen a guy (with a striking resemblance to our fav) out with several different guys since he’s been here in Santa Monica. I feel like Asher is a little fruity but is this something he would keep from his family? His twin? I feel like they would care less about this and more about his trips to San Diego to buy METH. The Quality Kind. Hmm, I suppose I’ll have to set up cameras inside his house, too, just to see if this story checks out. I’ll keep you posted.

The only Aldridge that matters is the MATRIARCH herself, Alegenda Aldridge. When she PUMPED IT into Santa Monica in kitten heels (because only SLUTS wear stilettos) I knew that she would be the saving grace of this DEMONIC town. We Stan Alegenda in this household, which is why If you use code SharkTop with your next purchase at Blush Boutique — The Anti-Fashionova, you’ll get 10% off, courtesy of The Daily Pier. Go on and immerse yourselves in the most sanctified of garmets, those floor length khaki skirts aren’t gonna wear themselves! Let’s hope that Alegenda does not fall into the EVIL clutches that have her siblings, and let’s hope that she can, instead, EXERCISE the DEMONS on her siblings KNEECAPS.

But honestly, who am I kidding. I enjoy her efforts, but in this town? She’ll probably be smoking the same crack rock as Asher by the end of the month. Tragic. I’ll keep you posted, AshersBabyMomma.

Q: dddonewiththebullshit asked...

I KNOW THAT JAMIE FUCKING CARTER READS THIS FUCKING BLOG AND I JUST WANT HIM TO FUCKING KNOW THAT I HAVE HAD IT UP TO MOTHER FUCKING HERE WITH HIS GOD DAMNED NOISE. HE IS THE MOST INCONSIDERATE NEIGHBOR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIM CONSTANTLY WAKING UP MY PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! BECAUSE HES CONSTANTLY BRINGING THE ENTIRETY OF SANTA MONICA BACK TO HIS PLACE TO BANG THE FUCK OUT OF THEM LOUD ENOUGH FOR THE ENITRE BLOCK TO HEAR, AND NOW I HAVE TO HEAR HIM FIGHTING WITH SOME TWINK!!!!!!!!!! ABOUT SOME FUCKING!!!!! PAINT!!!!!!! BRUSHES!!!!!!! HE DOESNT DESERVE RIGHTS, AND I WANT HIM DEAD. #ELECTRICCHAIR

A: I…. Hello?

     This is the only negative thing I’ve gotten about Jamie since I’ve started following him. If hoards of you thirst buckets aren’t writing in about want to “operate his ride” then you’re saying how he looks like a math teacher and you’d like to show him an acute angle (with your legs). Wait, is that last part just me? Yikes, this is awkward. Anyways, it’s true. Jamie and Mackenzie Westwood (the twink in question) dated for like 5 months, and when Mac ended things (because Jamie couldn’t commit) he packed his things and left. Apparently he forgot his paint brushes after his departure so he tried to BREAK INTO Jamie’s house and take them. And I guess they got into a fight. Based on the voice memos I got, it got pretty intense. Some people wrote in asking if Jamie got shot.

     Yeah he got shot … with love. The repressed feeling jumped out! This whole fight was laced with PASSION and I was waiting for them to rip each other’s clothes off and wake up your puppy (again). They TOTES still love each other. I mean hello??? Amazon Prime is right there and you choose to commit grand theft PAINTBRUSH on a random night, Mackenzie???? Give me a BREAK!

     I just hope that this doesn’t interfere with his work, and like, distract him while he’s operating a ride. Wouldn’t want him to ALSO cause a major accident which could kill people. #shade

I guess the final question I got a lot is what couple(s) I ship. And off the top of my head, my top 5 are ... Hmmm, I’ll have to say:

Well obvs, #LoLex

June Armstrong and an Exterminator. The Doll has roaches, and it’s fucking GROSS!!! Someone said she’s become acquainted with them and knows them by name. What a CREEP. Get an exterminator girl, know him by name. And while we’re on the topic of June, The Doll. I see right through her “innocent act”, I heard she hid a razor blade in her mouth in High School, and when she got into a fight one time, she SLICED her opponent. People who went to school with June contact me, and give me the scoop on this.

OLIVA AND DIANA ARE THE LESBIAN POWER COUPLE WE NEED!! I DONT NEED TO ELABORATE ON THIS, MAKE IT HAPPEN LADIES.

(and 5, I guess) And I am torn between Wes/Diana and Wes/Iris. You see, Diana and Wes have history and just thinking about them and all that they’ve been through, the fact that they can find solace through each other’s arms just …. sorry I need a moment. 

But Wes and Iris, it’s just … ugh … the flavors. Both of their pasts have been pretty hard, and I would love to see Iris in a happy relationship. Especially after that Sebastian guy (don’t ask).

So these are MY to watch list, lets hope something becomes of it! 

And with that, that concludes my comeback post, I guess. Hope you didn’t fall asleep reading this. And if you managed to to not be mentioned in this post, don’t you worry, this is only just the beginning. 

xo, DP

[oh-no-toshinori]

#4 Pride Month Story

Bisexual, Transgender (FTM), and Polyamory (with bisexuality). What's next? Well, let's do a little bit of a Love Simon kind of deal in the world of Given (anime). I won't be using "Given" for the story, but it'll definitely be heavily inspired. Some background is that there's five people in the band; three males and two girls. Alexander Tipton, Valerie McDonald, Peter Lopez, Alicia Nguyen, and Bongani Kimathi. They're a band of high school rejects. They've all known each other since the first grade, and have been though almost everything together. They're all seniors in high school now, and some of them have finally discovered who they are. This'll be written in the POV of Peter Lopez.

This story contains insults and crude language.

- - -

My name is Peter Lopez. Like a lot of peers around me, I know where I want to go with my life, I know what I want from myself, I know what I need for myself, and so on. Stuff like that. One thing that most haven't figured out by my age is something I've always known since I was joven. To put it straightforward, I'm gay.

My family knows. I'm not disowned or treated differently, but my parents don't actually accept that I'm into men. My mother actually stated that she would have rather me been straight, but she knows it's not something that can be controlled. My dad acts like I never said anything about it, but he also doesn't bring up relationship stuff because he doesn't want to hear how I'm into men.

My siblings are a different story. I have five siblings. Selena, María, Adriana, Diego, and Bruno. Three sisters and two brothers. Ironically I started with three brothers, but Adriana wasn't having it so now she's my sister. Oh, Selena's bisexual as well. Three of the five of us are LGBTQ+ which is really asombroso. The only thing is that Selena isn't out of the closet.

Hold on a minute, where was I? Let's go back to school. . . because physically that's where I am now.

"Peter? Peter!" I hear the teacher call my name. I hadn't realized I zoned out thinking about my sexuality. Oops.

"Sí, Mrs. Stone!" I respond loudly (but not rudely).

"Peter, get out of your head and get back to class, please."

I nod my head before bowing it in response. "Yes, Mrs. Stone."

About forty-five minutes of Math class passes by before the bell rings. Thankfully it was the last bell of the day. Now all I have to do is get through the sea of high school students who; walk in a line that covers the entirety of the walkway as they walk slow, slow walkers in general, people making out while others watch in horror, people having sex in the restrooms, people vaping in the hallways while teachers yell at them, runners, athletes, bullies, and homophobes.

That's what Bay High is filled with. Go Hawks. Yay. . .

I grab my bag and shove everything from my desk into it. I didn't care about what went where. It didn't really matter at this point since I usually organize it when I get home anyways.

I make my way through the sea of students, occasionally bumping into people who called me things like twink or faggot. It wasn't anything new, nor did it hurt, but had they been bullying the wrong person they seriously could have hurt someone who could be far more sensitive than I am. They got lucky enough to end up with me.

As soon as I exit the school, my body goes on autopilot mode and takes me over to Alex's garage. I had no recollection of getting there once I actually got there, but once again it's not like it's anything new.

"Hey, Peter! Welcome back!" Alex announces to me. I look up from my feet and smile. My eyes catch a glimpse of the rest of the band. Guess I'm a little slow today but that's okay.

"Hey guys." I look around and my eyes immediately land on, and stay stuck on, Bongani. It's kind of embarrassing to admit it but I'm pretty sure that I have a crush on him. I'm sure he knows it himself, but he hasn't changed his behavior around me.

I walk over to the band set-up and pick up the bass. Without thinking I start slapping the strings, going through a simple riff to keep me distracted. I warm up like this sometimes. Yeah. I said warm up.

Behind me I hear Alicia tapping on the cymbal as if she were in a jazz band. Alex walks over to his the keyboard, Valerie picks up her 6-string electric, and Bongani get's behind the mic.

Me and Alicia stop playing our instruments as we look to Alex and Bongani. The two of them were kind of the head of the band while the other three of us just kind of helped where help was needed.

Some days, like today, it makes me think that Bongani and Alex are dating, but then I remember that Alex has a girlfriend. Some days it just seems really sus between the two of them.

"Alright Guys. It looks like we're ready. What song do you guys want to work on?" Alex asks the group.

"I want to work on 'Stars'." Shares Bongani.

Stars is a beautiful song. It's about love. It's actually quite upbeat for what the title is. A man falls in love with another person and expresses why the person and the stars are so much alike. There are so many songs out there that say the same thing, but the beat is quite upbeat like "FICTION" by Sumika.

It's on I actually came up with in the first place. I had the idea, Bongani turned it into words, and Alex and Valerie used their musical talent to compose some sounds and rough outlines for music. Alicia was on vacation when I had this idea. Sorry Alicia.

This song is way too personal to me, but that's why I need it to be as perfect as can be.

Anyways, everyone agreed to work on stars. It was one that was Tough on Valerie. The strings were quite fast for what she was used to playing. We all refused to slow down the piece because it would change the sound of what we had in mind, so there really was no going back for us.

Valerie speaks up, her voice very encouraging to us all. "Guys, I think I've actually started to get this one down! I've been working on it at home, too."

"Awesome! Let's get this show on the road and see what you can do!" Valerie beats on her drums in excitement, ready to be able to play such an upbeat song.

Several rehearsals of many songs go by after we make alterations and fixes to 'Stars'.

Before we know it, Day turns into Dawn. As we're all packing our things, Bongani walks over to me and taps me on my shoulder. I jump a bit and look over my shoulder only to see him. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and then I smile genuinely.

"What's up?" I ask him.

"I was wondering who your song was about. It's very non-specific, though I'm curious nevertheless." His light Kenyan accent comes through with each word he speaks. It's quite beautiful.

My mind goes back to the question at hand. I was wondering who your song was about.

Well. This sucks.

My face heats up as I look down to the concrete floor of Alex's garage.

"Well- I-," My hand start fidgeting on their own. "There's this guy I really like. We're really close and I found out that he really reminded me of the stars in the sky. There's an infinite amount of reason for me to like him, yet it feels like he's light years away from me. He's so much smarter. So much more hardworking. So much more intellectual. He's gentle, has common sense, he's super kind and loving. I wouldn't have asked to meet another person. He's so unique. If anyone were to ask to find or have someone just like him, they'd be a fool. I'd only ever ask to have only him." That was too much, estupido.

Bongani looks at me, his deep brown eyes full of interest in what I had to say in response to his curiosity.

"Who is this male?" Great question, Bongani. Glad you asked.

Realmente odio esta situación.

"I can't say that I'm comfortable admitting who, solely because I don't think he's gay, much less bisexual. But um. . . Bongani, the song came together because I was thinking about you."

Bongani smiles, looks down and chuckles. "Peter, you're adorable." He walks closer to me, gently sets his hands on either side of my face, and leans in for a kiss.

¡Nonononononono! ¡YA NO ENTIENDO ESTA SITUACIÓN!

---

I'm leaving this as is. I don't want this to be too long. I'm tired, too. I've been working on trying to get this right for a solid week and a half. I'm done. That's it. Bye-bye.