#blue oyster cult tee

[jarofalicesgrunge]

Cliff Burton in San Francisco,CA, Circa 1977

📸©️ ??? credits to the photographer!!!!)

[einsteinsugly]

Thank you! I did remember eric thinking about the gang as the Beatles but not really them listening to the Beatles on the show and I always thought that was a lil weird? I am not a listener and they are way before my time but like they are the biggest band in the world and weren’t they huge in the 1970s? It would make total sense for them all to be Beatles fans I think

The Beatles broke up circa 1970, at the very beginning of the 70s. Eric happily compares the gang to The Beatles on multiple occasions, so he's an obvious canonical fan, and Hyde wears a Beatles shirt at one point. I can see Donna being a fan, too. Kelso and Fez like the weird stuff, imo.

Eric is canonically a fan of The Beatles, Wings (given the poster), Styx, Aerosmith, Rush, Air Supply, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and KISS. I can see him growing out of the last two, since Pink Floyd has massive stoner vibes, and KISS seems to be a phase of his in the earlier seasons. I kind of base this off my Eric-y dad, as my Donna-ish mom divulged that he used to be a fan of hard rock, and I was surprised. He also says that he likes Lynyrd Skynyrd (saying that it's a quintessential American band), but that band screams more Hyde to me.

As for Donna, she's canonically a fan of Led Zeppelin, Pat Benatar, Kansas (she wore a t-shirt in season 7), and Janis Joplin. She also says she loves The Talking Heads in season 8 because there's a girl in the band, but at large, they seem more like a Kelso-y band to me. Fleetwood Mac has way more of a Donna-ish vibe, imo.

For Jackie, she canonically likes ABBA, Captain and Tennille, The Carpenters, and Peter Frampton. For the latter, she loved the guitar solo.

Hyde, on the other hand, wears so many band tees. Led Zeppelin (he wears lots of them), The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Grateful Dead. He totally took that Beatles tee from Eric, imo. He also listens to The Sex Pistols and Blue Oyster Cult, and tells Eric to be like Bruce Springsteen and not like Simon and Garfunkel in season 4. He, along with Eric, compares Eric Clapton to God. And he dances to Sinatra. :)

Meanwhile, Kelso's canonically a fan of KISS, Foghat, and Molly Hatchet, and Fez is canonically a fan of Stevie Wonder.

[retroillustrates]

Mutant disabled albino swordspeople protagonists discussing their lives, let us not disturb them.

🗡️Clare cannot apply makeup, but isn't shy of her stigma (maybe I should have given her arm a different shade as it's after all a sort of prosthetic in their way)

🗡️Elric has several band tees (and why shouldn't he as he has over 30 tribute songs and bands). His fav is Blue oyster cult (he has curly hair, I read 3 books to make sure lol)

Edit: Even if he didn't have curly hair I'd still draw him like this. It fits his sense of style lol Besides, the comics from the 80s depict him with quite lush hair, which I like

⚔️I'm sticking with book Geralt's design

[fullmusicbardsquared]

Hayato Playlist Explanation

tee-hee :-]

Sole Survivor - Blue Oyster Cult

There walked a lonely man, Silent, mute, the only man Not knowing how, not knowing why Was he the sole survivor

Why should he be alive, Breathing still while others died And the only question Why was he the sole survivor

Sole survivor, cursed with second sight Haunted saviour, cried into the night Sole survivor, cursed with second sight Haunted saviour, cried into the night

Oh my gosh. This song perfectly sums up Hayato's terror and the burdening curse Bites The Dust places upon him.

Lullaby - The Cure

Lullaby is a terrifying song about the narrator being tormented by "the spiderman", who talks to him in an almost sweet manner, and it is fucked up and creepy. him and kira.

Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure

Close my eyes And hold so tightly Scared of what the morning brings Waiting for tomorrow Never comes

Yeah..

Boys Don't Cry - The Cure

This is one of those songs where the actual lyrical content comes second to the vibe it gives in my mind.

Cat People (Putting Out Fire) - David Bowie

He isn't the cat person, but I still feel like this fits part of his determination at the end.

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

you know.

Tape Deck Ghost - The Microphones

I'm hiding here In the back room That's where I spend my nights Recording

While he isn't a ghost, he is kind of ignored by Shinobu and implied to be by Kosaku, based on what we see and some of Hayato's lines.

I Am A Rock - Simon & Garfunkle

Given how unpopular Hayato seems to be, I think he would have built up some walls between other people, even his parents.

People Are Strange - The Doors

About the same as I Am A Rock.

Private Idaho - The B-52's

This song is a little too upbeat musically, but the paranoia and fear the actual lyrics show is accurate. there's a theory that the song's imagery is inspired by this twilight zone episode, implying some escapism in it.

Runaway Boys - Stray Cats

it slaps <3 sorry man no logic here

Push Back The Hands - They Might Be Giants

You would give up your right arm to go back To when you had a right arm You'll need some muscles to move it backward Push back the hands of time

Broken glass is glittering like diamonds Can't hear yourself thinking over the sirens Push back the hands of time Push back the hands of time

Dawn breaks like a fallen vase Push back the hands of time Unwelcome vision of rosy fingers Push back the hands of time

It wouldn't help you if you'd had any sleep It wouldn't save you from the mission creep Push back the hands of time Push back the hands of time

Screeching tires but never a collision

I WILL NEVER STOP PUSHING THIS SONG AS PART 4'S ENDING BECAUSE OH MY GOD. THE FALLEN VASE = TEAPOT. BROKEN GLASS GLITTERING LIKE DIAMONDS. NO SLEEP JUST MISSION CREEP OH MY GODDDDDDDDD

Pet Sematary - The Ramones

This is mostly about Stray Cat heehee :3

Third Bomb - Yugo Kanno/the JoJo soundtrack

well like.. basically his theme.

Cat's In The Cradle - Henry Chapin

I feel like this is the closest to what little we hear of Hayato and his dad's relationship.

Childhood's End - Pink Floyd

You shout in your sleep Perhaps the price is just too steep Is your conscious at rest If once put to the test You awake with a start To just the beating of your heart Just one man beneath the sky Just two ears just two eyes

:(

[eulerami]

30 questions ask game

“Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better” 

Tagged by: @dep-yo-tee and @eydika I finally got around to it ;_; 

Tagging: Anybody, this is kind of a personal list, so I’ll leave it up to you. Tag me if you do it! 

Name/Nickname: (Matt) Euler   

Gender: Male

Star sign: Gemini 

Height: 5′5″, 165 cm

Time: 6:02 PM

Birthday: June 15

Favorite Bands: The Cure, The Twilight Sad, Blue Oyster Cult, Queensryche (Geoff Tate please,) Idlewild, The Cranberries  

Favorite Solo artists: Kate Bush, Utada Hikaru; hard to think of at the moment 

Song stuck in my head: Sleepwalking - Chain Gang of 1974, thanks GTAV

Last movie: Drive 

Last Show: Fargo 

When did I create this blog: 2012 

What do I post: Gay shit 

Last thing googled: “Buffalo NY Erie coast” 

Other blogs: Art blog 

Do I get asks: Occasionally, but not many since I nixed anons 

Why I chose my URL: Euler am I 

Following: 619, not many are active anymore 

Followers: 1982 on main 

Average hours of sleep: Need 7-8 or I am an abomination 

Lucky number: Gotta’ go with 9 

Instruments: Weak for guitar and fiddle, but I played a trumpet all my school years. Would love to pick up a guitar again. 

What am I wearing: Crappy tank and basketball shorts  

Dream job: Author or write a TV show 

Dream trip: Mongolia, Tuva, Buryatia, Mexico, Argentina, Thailand, Iraq, Morocco & Ethiopia. If I get to ride a horse or hop on a motorcycle through some bigass open landscape, I can die happy.    

Favorite food: Tom kha kai....anything really fresh 

Nationality: American 

Favorite song: All Along the Watchtower 

Last book read: Tarahumara: Where Night is the Day of the Moon

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: Hmm... None of them, to be honest, cuz all the shit I love is usually these horrible conditions and situations lol 

[jackalopesao3]

My parents reaction to their first Ghost Ritual

So my parents wanted to go to a Ghost show with me. They have never listened to go Ghost before except for on the way to the show.

Their reactions were the following:

Upon parking the car, my father spots someone in Papa Emeritus III attire and asks for a photo. My mother then gets out of the car and gets her photo taken with him too.

My father heads straight for the merch booth before the show and we get matching tee shirts.

They really enjoyed seeing everyone's enthusiasm for Ghost and were looking at license plates to see how far people traveled to see them and were quite impressed.

We get into the venue and the people sitting next to us were a father and son. The son was pretty young and had a kickin' Papa II cosplay. My parents LOVED that.

They were very impressed by Nothing More and so was I. They definitely paired well with Ghost.

My parents were CONVINCED TF wasn't wearing a mask. I had to explain to them several times that it was a mask. They were stunned with how realistic it was.

They loved the show. I think my dad took more videos and pictures than me! They got really into it. I pointed out the sax solo in Miasma and they thought that was really cool.

My mother loved Mary on the Cross and Square Hammer.

My father loved pretty much all of their songs. He said they remind him of Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult.

I was sad yet relieved they didn't end with Monstrance Clock. I think the orgasm speech would have been awkward to hear with them.

On the way out, my parents were so impressed with the fan base. They couldn't get over how nice everyone was and how there was just this sense of community. I told them about how nearly everyone in the fandom is amazing. Ghost fans, we are awesome.

I definitely think Ghost gained two new fans tonight. We all had a great time. Can't wait for the next ritual!

[theweeaboss]

I was tagged by @thirsty-ho-scenarios (hey guuuurl <3)

I’m tagging @nathanexplosionofficial , @paperslacker , @atoenjeru , @edgtheow , @eddiethehead-uwu , @dicksoutformtl , @ghoulswife , @gore-emporium and anybody else who wants somethin to do. lol

1) Height: 5'6″

2) Last thing I googled: “good good family guy”  lmao. the weevil monster is me.

3) Favorite musicians: rn I’m super into Motley Crue, GNR, AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, Veruca Salt, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Arctic Monkeys, Alice Cooper, Iggy and the Stooges, The Midnight, Third Eye Blind, and of course Dethklok <3 but this is a VERY short list in comparison to everything I jam to

4) Song stuck in my head: "I’m Alright” - Kenny Loggins XD

5) Followers: 269 on main, 195 on sideblog. a lot of which are shared. lol

6) Following: 271

7) Do you get asks: very rarely. but i do like them :3

8) Amount of sleep: i try to average 6

9) Lucky number: 7 and 13, but i have no luck so who’s to say?

10) What are you wearing: sweats and my way too big galaktikon tee lol

11) Dream job: i really wanna write for sitcoms that cater to people with absurdist and clever senses of humor

12) Instruments: my voice. dassit

13) Languages: English. i have a very VERY slight understanding of Japanese

14) Favorite song: i have way too many. Currently, i’ve been overplaying “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by my boy K-Logg, “Bed of Nails” by Alice Cooper, and “From the Ritz to the Rubble” by Arctic Monkeys

15) Random Fact: I’m probably gonna sing at karaoke night tomorrow :D

16) Aesthetic: ummm grungy, harajuku witchy trad-goth punk with a touch of beach bum, vaporwave thot. in short, i’ve blown entirely too much on clothes these past 7 1/2 years

[toucansafari]

20 questions

tagged by @slothssassin (thank you! <3 ) 

I tag @taika-papu @gaydemogorgon @moodybidoof and @shirals

nickname: mon, monmon, mon-chan

zodiac: gemini

height: 5′ 3″

last movie i saw: A terrible Tamil movie called Petta

last thing googled: magic circles

favorite musician: Iron Maiden, Aqua Timez, Blue Oyster Cult

song stuck in my head: Portals of Light by Falconer

other blogs: My art blog @crayoncat-art

do I get asks: Not really

following: UHHHH 3k something... I follow any blog that has art and I think a lot of the blogs are inactive ><

amount of sleep: 8 but I am never rested :(

lucky number: i don’t know.. but i like 7

what i’m wearing: A Mass Effect Mako tee, warm hoodie, cat patterned PJs 

dream job: Concept Artist :D Or a freelance illustrator

dream trip: Japan, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, FInland, Nova Scotia, Seoul

favorite food: Pav Bhaji (Indian savoury food) and cake :3

play any instruments: No..

languages: English, Tamil, Hindi, A bit of french that i learned in school and weeb Japanese

random fact: I studied engineering for 4 years but didn’t complete it. I had one exam I needed to retake, but I never bothered. So my degree is literally 40 marks away but idc really

describe yourself as aesthetic things: Animal skulls, feathers, wings, always online

[djbcadventures]

The DJBC Happy Hour - Show # 438 Playlist

Alfred Hitchcock was the special guest co-host, or at least a caricature of the horror filmmaker, last week.

(Special Open – Dance Macabre – Saint-Siens by Erich Kunzel & Cincinnati Pops Orchestra) “Halloween” – John Carpenter “Science Fiction – Double Feature” – Richard O’Brien “Midnight Stroll” – The Revels “This Is Halloween” – Danny Elfman (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

“The Headless Horseman” – Bing Crosby “Dracula” – Gene Krupa “Witchcraft” – Frank Sinatra

“Don’t Fear the Reaper” – Blue Oyster Cult

“Ave Satani” – Jerry Goldsmith

“People Are Strange” – Echo and the Bunnymen “Helter Skelter” – The Beatles “Thriller” – Michael Jackson

“Tubular Bells” “Funeral March of the Marionette” – Tee Vee Toons Orchestra

[dirtgrubbing]

Rules - Answer 21 questions and then tag 21 people you want to get to know better.

Tagged by - @sapphic-dee (ahhhhhh thank you sm!!!)

Nickname - I don’t really have one, people usually just call me my full name (Kayla)

Zodiac - Aquarius baybeeee

Height - 5′10”

Last movie I saw - errr fuck, I can’t think. Oh I watched Pacific Rim again hahahah

Last thing I googled - the word ‘Crustacean’ ffs ashdkdsk

Favorite musician - oh god, I honestly can’t answer that. I listen to so much music, and all different genres so that’s really hard. I’ll try and list a few of my favourite bands/artists though. The 1975, Tool, Deftones, SOAD, Letlive., Florence and the Machine, The Smiths, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Blue oyster cult, Nirvana... there’s so many more! I hate that question, I feel like I’m betraying every artist I listen too aksjdksdk

Song stuck in my head - Couldn’t be more in love by The 1975 (lowkey cried over it like 10mins ago)

Other blogs - @anti-chrxsts - it’s literally just a Michael Langdon from ahs blog rn to be fair, I haven’t been on it in a while too.

Do I get asks? - Sometimes! It’s much appreciated!

Following - 311

Followers - 58 ahaha

Amount of sleep - I get like anywhere between 6-3 hours a night hahahaha fuck

Lucky number - 11

What I’m wearing - A rick and morty graphic tee and some grey sweatpants pmsl it’s comfy okay

Dream job? - I’d love to work in a cute little book shop

Dream trip? - Banff National Park Or Amsterdam heh

Favourite food? - Literally ANYTHING, as long as it’s veggie. I make a mean chilli though!!

Play any instruments? - no hahaha unless the recorder counts

Languages? - Just English, I know a little french but I’m definitely not fluent (I wish I was)

Favourite songs? - AgaiN I CANT DO THIS ITS TOO MUCH PRESSURE. A few off the top of my head would be; Ænima - Tool, Me - The 1975, Sugar - SOAD, Copper Colored Quiet - letlive, How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths

Random facts - I’m usually quite good at guessing peoples ages ??

Describe yourself as aesthetic things - This is tricky!! I can’t think of any nice things so I’m just gonna go with burnt toast

I tag; @mrs-dirtgrubkelly @methpacito @macrights @fatmacsbeard @maccadon @hughhcney @birdwithteeth & literally anyone else who wants to!

[raith-way]

What is Jo Holbrook's fave piece of clothing and why

thank you for the ask!!

this is difficult, because jo doesn’t really like wearing clothes. she has a thing about feeling constrained. she also lives lightly and doesn’t really hold on to things, with a few small exceptions. so in the beginning of her fic, i’d say she doesn’t have a favorite piece of clothing. later on in the fic, her favorite pieces of clothing are tied. there’s an old tee shirt of tony’s that he swears is a blue oyster cult shirt but could be anything because it’s so incredibly faded, and bruce has this faded blue button-up that’s missing half the buttons and is so worn through in some places that the material is see-through. those become jo’s comfort clothes because it feels like being surrounded by tony and bruce, and tony and bruce have both accepted that their clothes are no longer just theirs.

[einsteinsugly]

Things Steven Hyde Loves:

First off, the people in his life: His kids, Becca and James. His wife, Jackie. His de facto brother Eric, and his best friend Donna. WB, Angie, and his foster parents, Red and Kitty.

Zeppelin, and music in general. Punk is the soundtrack to the revolution. And Grooves is his man cave, in the best possible way. Camaros. French fries. Weed, or a whole "bag of love." Zen, the "dojo of coolness." The color black. Throwing stuff at glass. Throwing punches in stupid faces. His shades. Orwell novels. Especially "1984" or "Animal Farm." Playing chess, particularly with Jackie.

Honorable mentions: Not the government, corporations/corporate tools, or the police. Not hair metal, especially Twisted Sister *glares at Kelso.* Protests. Conspiracy theories. Questioning everything.

Band tees, concerts, vinyl records, cool tattoos, El Caminos, beer, a good pair of boots, Levi's, working on cars, electric guitars, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Santana, The Rolling Stones, flipping assholes off, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, owls, Twin Peaks, The Heathers, Little House on The Prairie, eye rings, Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," collecting matchboxes, The Who, John Lennon (the music, not the person), leather jackets, denim jackets (especially with a sherpa lining), vests, motorcycles, lighters, playing cards, AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, Bob Marley, brownies, cookies, pizza, black coffee, his fro, graffiti, cash not credit

[radroller]

30 Questions & 20 Tags

I was tagged by @bewitchedbunny, thanks a bunch!!!!!

The rules are to answer 30 questions, and then tag 20 blogs to do the same.

Nicknames: Uh some folks call me Steve or even Stevie. Honestly could call me Shitpot Blue as a nickname and I’d still probably be okay with it.

Gender: Male

Sign: Taurus!

Height: 6′6″

Time: 12:19

Favourite Bands: Queen, Earth Wind & Fire, Rolling Stones, Blue Oyster Cult, Gorillaz, Def Leppard, Wham, Toto, Fleetwood Mac

Favourite Solo Artists: Weird Al……idk, i mostly listen to bands.

Song Stuck in my Head: Give it Up by KC and the Sunshine Band. And YES, that IS the same song that was stuck in my head last time I did this meme like…2 months ago. 

Last Movie I Saw: Thor Ragnarok

Last Show I Watched: Kamen Rider Kuuga and/or Gargoyles! I watched both last night but I don’t remember which i watched last.

When Did I Created My Blog: August 2015

What Do I Post: MOSTLY reblog other peoples’ stuff, but sometimes I post fan art and OC junk. Also I like to liveblog series that I watch/read sometimes.

Last Thing I Googled: Kuuga episode 9

Do I Have Any Other Blogs: My art blog @artroller

Do I Get Asks: Sometimes! I’m always open to asks.

Why Did I Chose My URL: It’s based of Dio Brando’s ROAD ROLLER DA line from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

Following: 1,063

Followed By: 332 AND I LOVE THEM ALL!!!

Average Hours of Sleep: Like 7 hours maybe

Lucky Number: 7

Instruments: I used to play piano but I kinda hated it so I stopped

What I’m Wearing: Tie-dye tee-shirt an some sweatpants.

Dream Job: comic writer

Dream Trip: Disney World or Tokyo.

Favourite Food: Noodles

Nationality: I’m American and VERY distressed.

Favourite Song: Right now it’s something between Under Pressure by Queen, September by EWF, or Come and Get Your Love by Redbone.

Last Book I Read: Future Quest by Jeff Parker and Evan “Doc” Shaner. If comics don’t count then i don’t knooooow.

Top 3 Fictional Universes I Wanna Join: Power Rangers (any not bad season), Medabots, Pokemon

I Tag: @kodagnu, @d-manaceattorney, @fernandaps2, @shadesoforlando, @minatokun, @naga-rider, @radicalapollo, @destinytrio, @naytile, @psychedelikarp, @skullxhawk, @chaos-chaos-chaos-x, @spaceboxingpsycho, @impey-barbicane, @trick-starr, @cofaqriqus, @riceyhot, @quigalchemist, @tik-tok-toki, @minima-life, @dlastspacedandy

[eulerami]

I was tagged by @notsometownie , thank you 8)

rules: tag 9 people you’d like to get to know better or catch up with

last song:  Cloudbusting - Kate Bush, right before that was Florida Man - Blue Oyster Cult. (New song! So good! Have to mention!)

last movie: Spirited Away at 2AM 

currently watching: corazón valiente for the third time in the background

currently reading: I’m in the middle of like, 6 different fics, but I’m also (trying) to finish a couple books on Mongol history and Tengriism, and a paper surrounding cronyism in the Sierra Madre regarding natural resources. 

currently craving: Another cup of coffee, but that’ll involve me having to get up. 

tagging: @writerofblocks @dep-yo-tee @saintlyangels @dreamingambereyes @sleepfight @kitkatpurrpurr @xx---locketdragon---xx @awsnapanat-20 @megafreeman @meisakurohashi 8)

[reginaldbelchhuggins-blog]

The Short and Miserable Romance of Victor Criss

Chapter 2: First Kiss

Pairings: Henry x Victor, with some side Butch x Mrs Criss Rating: M Warnings for this chapter: Implied/referenced domestic abuse, period-typical  attitudes, homophobic language, noncon elements, and some underage sexual exploration Warnings for later chapters: Violence, homophobia, racism, and sexism that are all period-typical; canon-standard content; underage sex, smoking, and drinking; noncon elements (but no actual noncon); canonical character death; major character death; strong language Chapters: [1], 2, [3], [4], [5], [6], [7] Ao3: [x] Summary:

Told from Victor's perspective, each chapter details either a first or last moment of Vic's growing relationship with Henry Bowers as they navigate homophobia, mental issues, and the growing influence of It. The first two chapters are pre-1988, the middle two will be where the sex is, and the final two are where the romance goes south

Chapter 7 could act as a stand-alone told from Henry’s perspective

Story prompt: The first and last Meeting/Kiss/Time of your OTP

A/N: This chapter, since the Bowers gang are 11-12 years old, draws more on the book for inspiration. Namely in regards to Victor and Belch's personalities, and the flavor text/referenced events. I also used some real life influence, such as my own personal experience with awkward 12-year-old flirting, and the actor playing Victor Criss in the new movie being a dancer (if you didn't know that before, you're welcome.)

Constructive Criticism is, as always, appreciated. Any type of comment is much loved. My editor is another author on this account, Ambiguous, but I am also using the Hemingway app. If you see any grammatical mistakes / continuity errors, please feel free to drop it in the comments so I can correct.

August 1985

The four boys stood side by side in their underwear, staring down the long drop from the edge of the quarry to the lake. Reginald “Belch” Huggins was the tallest, having reached six foot by his 12th birthday. He had skinny legs and broad shoulders, and made a huge splash as he hit the water despite having pretty good form.

Patrick Hockstetter was the second tallest and definitive widest. He was the personification of the word "butterball." He was a vaguely boy-shaped lump of splotchy colored flesh. He howled like a madman as he leaped second, tucking his feet up underneath him to form a cannonball. Belch was coming up for air when the waves caused by Patrick slapped him in the face.

Victor, although he was giggling, felt dread as his turn to jump came up. He was pale and skinny. The others argued over whether the platinum blonde of his hair made his skin whiter, or whether it was the other way around. Either way, he was nothing more than a sparkle of starlight in his white Hanes.

He took a deep breath and prepared himself—

And screamed as he fell forward, pushed, betrayed , by Henry. He was still screaming when his body broke the surface and the murky depths swallowed him whole.

Henry was the one all the girls talked about in a nice way. He wore hard work like it was a tee shirt. It left him with a golden tan, and the slightest definition on his chest that hinted at the body he would have in a few years. Belch lifted Vic onto his shoulders so they could watch Henry leap from the cliff. They cheered as he jumped backwards, getting in two solid flips before splashing down.

The quarry filled with their laughter as the boys played. It was the first time in a long year that they’d had any fun.

They swam until long after the sun had set, and the mosquitoes were coming out to feed. None of their parents were expecting them home. The Criss’ believed Vic was at the Huggins’. Mrs Huggins believed Belch and Henry was at the Criss’. Patrick’s parents might notice if he wasn’t here for breakfast. But they didn’t seem to care what he did since his baby brother Avery had died in the crib five years prior. Butch wasn’t allowed to know anything at all.

Vic still felt the chill that had run down his spine when he opened his bedroom window that night almost a week ago. Henry was standing outside with tears and snot streaming down his face, shaking. He’d had a whopper of a bruise on his neck that he still didn’t explain. Vic thought it looked an awful lot like Butch’s hands, and drew his own conclusions.

“He killed her,” Henry had said. As soon as he was inside Vic’s room, he’d pulled Vic into a tight embrace. That was the first hug of the year, but Vic couldn’t even enjoy it. Henry was trembling so bad. “Butch killed my mom!”

It wasn’t true. She’d survived, but her face was disfigured. Henrietta Bowers had taken her beating, and the one Henry was due for making trouble for Butch. Henry, of course, told Vic all about how it was his fault for making trouble with the Rabbi's boy -- a shy kid a few grades behind them. And while he cried and blamed himself, Henrietta was pulling herself into their sedan, running away to the WomansCare shelter, leaving Henry behind. But he didn’t know that as he held his best friend, his body racked with guilty sobs. He wouldn't know that for a few days, and by then, he'd tell Vic he didn't care. He only knew he'd last seen her in a bloody heap on the kitchen floor, and then he'd ran.

He was only twelve - life wasn’t supposed to be that difficult.

Henry would have stayed with Vic, but Butch had been making regular visits for many years. Vic still pretended sometimes it was just to talk because the truth made him uneasy in so many ways. Instead, Henry wound up staying with Belch. Mrs Huggins wouldn’t give up Henry if Butch set her on fire, so they knew he was safe there. Though Vic had to fight a lot of instincts not to go over there every day, knowing Henry was safe, for even a little while, made things better. Vic didn't even mind collecting, and completing, Henry's homework for him. Mr Caplan never commented on the sudden improvement of Henry's handwriting, either.

In fact, Mrs Huggins and Mr Caplan were some of the few adults who actually gave two shits about them. If Vic had lived to see his 16th birthday, Mrs Huggins would’ve taken him and Belch and fled to somewhere normal. His disappearance would have been credited to the pervert, so no one would look for him. His parents would be, in a small way, glad to see him go. It would have been a nice life, too. But things didn’t happen that way.

The safety of Belch’s house came with the price of freedom, and without freedom, Henry got bored. So grabbing his dad’s old tent from the garage, it had been Belch’s idea to go camping. He was tired of the piss attitude Henry got whenever he was bored, but was too nice to say anything. So far, it had been a good idea.

The boys put on their shoes for safety reasons, but were still too wet for their clothes, as they went about setting up camp. Patrick built a nice fire, and stared deep into it as he burnt every hotdog he touched to a blackened crisp. Belch was setting up the tent - his dad had showed him how once upon a time, before the accident. Henry and Vic sat around with the small radio, trying to find the right mood music. It was one of the last true purely happy memories with Henry Victor would have, and somehow, he knew it. So he was taking all of it that he could.

“Ooh, stop here!” Vic slapped Henry’s hand. That earned Vic a nasty glare, and a punch on the shoulder. “Dude, it’s Queen. You always have to stop on Queen. It’s an unspoken rule.”

“No I fucking don’t,” Henry spit back. “I listen to real rock music not that psuedo-hippie bullshit. And if you don’t get your fucking hand off my radio I’m going to shove it up your ass.”

“You’re going to shove my hand up my ass or the radio?” Vic asked, sarcastically. “I need to know how much to prepare.”

“Keep talkin’ like that and it’ll be both. First your hand, and then the radio. How you like that?”

With a huff, Vic sat back and crossed his arms. “Fine, you get to pick the tunes, and tell us when to stop swimming, and what comics we can bring. Anything else you want, master?”

“Maybe,” Henry said, eyeing Vic coolly. “My boots haven’t been licked in a long time. Got some real nasty shit crusted up on them.”

Vic couldn’t help but smile, and had to cover it by pretending to rub the chapped skin from his lips. He didn’t really care that Henry was being a little bossier than usual. If Henry had told him to wear his mom’s lingerie, Vic would’ve showed up in a saucy pink ensemble. But he was in a weird mood, and craved every morsel of attention he could get. Needling Henry was the quickest way to get a bite in, so Vic was being, as his Mama would say, incorrigible.

But it was time to take a break. Henry was growing frustrated, and Vic didn't want to ruin his first night out in forever. So instead, he said, “Sure thing. Let me just go chop my balls off first. Maybe then you’ll stop twisting them,” and stood up. He caught Henry looking as he walked away, and blew him a kiss. If anyone else had done such a thing, Henry would have rearranged their face. But Vic was special. He had special privileges to get away with more, as long as it wasn’t too gay.

As Vic sat down on a blanket by the fire, Patrick handed him a beef flavored stick of charcoal. He managed to find some pink colored meat in the layers underneath, and then ate it in three large bites. He watched Henry’s face scrunch up in concentration as a song warbled into existence.

When Belch finished up the tent, he came and sat beside them. Drawing deep from his chest, he proved his nickname was well-earned. He started burping along to the chorus of the song Henry had stopped on – Blue Oyster Cult’s Don’t Fear the Reaper.

Vic and Patrick were howling with laughter, but Henry was not amused. He turned up the volume, trying to drown Belch out.

“Is that coming from your mouth?” Patrick was in awe. He hadn’t hung out with them that much yet so it was forgiven that he’d never heard Belch’s true talent. “Oh, that is freaky. Do it again.”

Belch got up and began to bob his head not unlike a chicken, burps breaking out every time his face came forward. He shuffled around with the grace one would expect from a boy of his stature. This broke Patrick up into tears.

"I fucking hate all of you," Henry said.

Vic was on his feet, too. He was so giddy from laughing that he took Belch’s hands and began to dance. Belch didn’t think anything of it, and was kind enough to burp in the opposite direction of Vic’s face. Henry turned the dial on the volume again until the speakers were vibrating. Vic and Belch both started singing along, louder than the radio. They sang along until the song ended, even as Henry threw pebbles and rocks at their feet.

As Billy Idol’s Dancing With Myself started playing, Belch and Vic let go of each other. Henry gave up and went after a hot dog. Patrick gave him a cigarette instead, and the two shared it as they watched Vic and Belch dance – but mostly, they watched Vic.

Not surprising, Vic was a much better dancer than Belch. The spry blonde wasn’t doing anything complicated. He'd picked up a few things from movies and music videos, and practiced until they looked okay in the mirror. Where Belch looked like a bag of potatoes being swung with great enthusiasm to the beat, Vic looked like he was actually dancing. In a few years, he could compete against Michael Jackson himself.

When that song was over, Vic plopped to the ground. That seemed to break some kind of spell. Henry looked around, nervous like he’d been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to. Patrick let out a deep breath, and his livery lips split into the biggest, curliest smile Vic had ever seen outside of a cartoon. Henry cleared his throat and handed Patrick the cigarette. He then stood up, rubbing at his crotch.

“I gotta piss,” he said, as if it needed explaining.

“Want someone to hold it?” Patrick asked.That was the first time he'd done one of his weirder jokes, and it took them all by surprise. Patrick locked eyes with Vic. Vic found himself unable to look away as Patrick held one of the hotdogs down near his crotch, and started rubbing it. Vic knew what he was simulating, but the blackened outside was cracking and peeling. Instead of imagining a regular dick being masturbated, Vic's mind conjured some filthy, disease ridden thing. He gagged, earning him another smile from Patrick.

Henry did a double take, scowling: “What the fuck did you just say?”

“I’m just saying, bosses need a right hand man,” Patrick said, putting a weird emphasis on right hand. He bit into the wiener he’d been flogging. “Someone to wipe your ass and hold your dick and all that jazz.”

A rose color blossomed on Henry's cheeks as he realized how he'd misunderstood Patrick. He blinked a few times, and then pointed at Patrick. “We don’t do that homo shit around here, alright?”

“It’s not homo,” Patrick called after him. Then, with a wink in Vic’s direction: “Not unless you want it to be.”

Vic shifted in his seat. He was Henry's right hand man, or so they said. The image of him on one knee, hand out for Henry to rest his dick on, crept into Vic’s brain. It was compelling in a strange way, and Vic shivered, not sure how to process how it made him feel. Maybe Henry had seen the same thing in his mind, because he looked everywhere but at Vic. He slapped Patrick on the back of his head before disappearing into the underbrush to relieve himself.

The three of them lit up the last cigarette. Vic took a long drag, let the smoke escape through the side of his mouth, and then passed it onto Belch. They got halfway through when Vic saw Henry out of the corner of his eye. He was standing behind a tree, and gesturing with his head for Vic to follow. Belch and Patrick didn't seem to notice, and had started discussing which actresses they wanted to bang. Vic flicked his eyes back Henry's way, and the bigger boy was gone. A small ball of excitement forming in his belly, Vic stood up. He brushed leaves and dirt off his ass, and started heading in the way he saw Henry go.

“Where you going?” Belch asked, coughing.

“Paris,” Vic shot the answer over his shoulder. Patrick’s titter followed him as he walked along the side of the lake. He tried not to make too much noise, listening for Henry. He wound up going a good ways down before he spotted his friend leaning against a tree.

Moonlight splashed against Henry’s young frame. His blue eyes were searching the sky, a small smile curling his lips. Vic was struck with how beautiful Henry could be. Even with fading bruises marking his body, he was ethereal. There were so many things going on in Vic’s head, he wasn’t sure exactly what his body wanted to feel. He was queasy, and happy. Nervous.

You don't even know what he wants, Vic's brain said, being reasonable. But Vic did know what Henry wanted. It was the same thing Henry always wanted when he shuffled Vic off into private. He wanted some kind of touch that wasn't painful; some kind of affection that wasn't laced with poison. He wanted Vic to hug him, to pet his hair, to reassure him that he wasn't a monster, or stupid, or whatever other terrible thing Butch had planted in his head.

But there was something different in the air. Henry was contemplating too hard about something. There was only one way to find out what that something was, so Vic snapped his fingers, then hit the side of his right hand flat with the palm of his left. It was a nervous tic he’d picked up from his Papa. He did it again as he strode towards Henry, looking around at the area of the Quarry they were in.

They were right at the curve of the lake, where the moon was the brightest. It gave the area a strange blue tint, like they were caught in the glow of a battery operated lantern.

Henry turned his head when he heard Vic approach, and watched him with a thoughtful expression. When Vic was close enough for a good conversation, he started picking up pebbles and tossing them into the lake. The tiny splash they made was good noise. Plip.

“How come I’ve never seen you dance before?” Henry asked, picking at his cuticles.

Vic shrugged. Plip. In went another pebble.

“You saw me dance at Veronica Grogan’s birthday party,” Vic said. He could clearly see the conga line of eight year olds with no coordination trying to do the Locomotion. It had been a spectacular mess, but loads of fun.

“That doesn’t count,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. “I mean like you were dancing just now.”

Vic shrugged again. “Just haven’t felt like it, I guess.”

“I liked it. You should do it more,” Henry said. Vic turned to look at him, and Henry was staring off in the distance. He was rocking against the tree. Vic rolled it over in his mind before he said a quick, “Thanks.”

“I like… I like a lot of things you do,” Henry sounded like it was difficult to say what he was saying. Vic supposed for someone like Henry, it might have been. He wasn’t used to using his words to express the things inside of him. So Vic didn’t interrupt him. Instead, he stood up, hand full of glittering pebbles, and gave Henry his full attention. "I like that you're smart. I know I rag on you a lot for it, but that's just something I have to do. Can't have the guys thinking I'm soft on you." Henry paused. He took a deep breath. Vic was curious now. “I like the way you smile. It makes me think of cats and happy shit. Your face makes me think of cats...like the way their faces just… stick out...”

Vic waited a few moments, making sure Henry was done. Henry was blushing, his eyes refusing to look at Vic. Vic didn't know what to say to that. He took the sentence apart and examined every piece of it. He came to the conclusion Henry was trying to compliment him, and decided to return it.

Dropping the pebbles in to make a pattering of plips, Vic was forming his thoughts before speaking them.

“Well, thanks, Hank. Your face makes me think of..” Vic wanted to say Kevin Bacon , but he stopped himself. He could do better. He needed to do better. “You know when it’s cold outside but the sun is shining? Or when your mom hangs the towels over the heater so your ass doesn’t freeze in winter?” Henry nodded. “That’s what I think of when I look at your face. When everything else is just fucking cold, I can look at you and feel warm.”

"Why?" Henry asked, scrunching up his face.

"Because you're my best friend," Vic said, and at that moment, he truly believed it. The way Henry made him nervous sometimes - like they were dancing on the edge of the quarry's cliff, waiting for the other to take the plunge first - he had never felt for anyone else. But as Henry closed the distance between them and took Vic’s hands in his, Vic knew he never would. Just like Vic was special to Henry, Henry was special to Vic. Henry ran his thumb over Vic’s, and Vic massaged circles into Henry's palms. Although they didn’t hold hands as often as they did when they were little, Vic didn’t think this usage of physical affection was anything other than ordinary. At least, not until Henry brought one set of hands up to his lips, and gave Vic's a little kiss. This drew small laugh from Vic, who asked, “What’re you doing?”

“Thanking you,” Henry said. He decided to elaborate when he saw the frustration on Vic’s face. “For helping me with Butch, and… just shut up and let me do this, because it's never happening again.”

He kissed Vic’s hand again. Turning their hands over, he kissed Vic’s wrist, and then his forearm. It wasn’t unpleasant, but Vic was too confused to really appreciate the moment. Henry drew the line at kissing. They'd tried it once - a kiss on each cheek - and had decided it was too weird. He was even more confused when Henry stopped kissing his arm, and, instead, brushed his lips against Vic’s. It wasn’t a kiss, exactly. It was testing for one. When Vic didn’t resist, Henry put a little more force into it.

Vic lit up like a sparkler on the fourth of July. He felt dizzy, smelling the lake on Henry's skin, and their pheromones intermingling. As Henry kept kissing him, he thought he might pass out. Like the dames in the movies, just swooning over their cowboy. Vic brought a hand up to Henry's hair, and pulled him in closer.

He hadn’t noticed Henry had dropped his hand until he felt it, warm and soft, sliding into his underwear, cupping his penis. He couldn’t speak. He tried to, but he was scared when he realized what Henry was doing. What he was really doing. It felt good. Vic knew he needed to tell Henry to stop before they got caught, but he didn't want him to stop.

But if he did those things, what did that make him? Was he queer? Was Henry? A bullet of fear broke through Vic's heart as he thought about Butch finding out. He could see Henry - so big when he was with his friends, and so small in Butch's shadow. Butch would crush him, grind him into dust. The thought made Vic's heart twitch. The image of Henry's face, caved in, an eye jutting out, was so vivid that if Henry's mouth hadn't been there to catch it, he would've gasped.

“No,” Vic said, pulling away. Henry didn’t seem to hear him. He just stepped in closer, and went back to it. Vic squeezed the wrist of the hand fondling him as tight as he could, and pulled it away from him. Henry looked down at the wrist, and then took a step back, jerking it from Vic’s grasp.

“I thought you liked me,” Henry said, sounding hurt. His face twisted into something so full of hate, it was worthy of Butch. “I’m not a flamer. If you tell anyone, I’ll-”

“I do!” Vic said, before the fear could really settle in Henry, and Vic lost him. Lost everything. “I do like you, Henry. But can we just… do more of what you were doing before? I liked that.”

Henry licked his lips, and reached out to brush the hair behind Vic’s ear. He ran his thumb along Vic’s lip. Vic thought maybe another kiss was coming, but instead, he pulled Vic by the hand until he was falling in step behind Henry.

“You think you could maybe get those hotdogs away from Fucknuts before he burns all of them?” Henry asked, starting back towards their camp.

“Yeah, okay,” Vic said. “Henry...” He wanted to ask what’s next? But he had the feeling they were in dangerous territory. So he never finished his sentence.

“And where the fuck are the marshmallows? Didn’t I tell you to bring marshmallows, the big kind?” Henry turned to walk backwards while he talked. Vic was in awe that he didn’t trip even once.

“I’ll get them for you, Hank,” Vic said. That brought another smile to Henry’s face. He hopped in place a couple of times, and then broke out into a full sprint. He always tried to get a head start because Vic was faster, but the younger boy passed him easily, as always. By the time Henry actually made it back to the others, Vic was whipping Patrick with a burnt wiener as the two boys laughed, and Belch had a skewer of Marshmallows ready for smores.

Henry went back to Butch the next day, deciding to take his punishment like a man. Vic didn’t see him again until school started. He was unsure of how things were left between them, so he didn’t say anything, letting Henry make all the moves. Sporting a shiner and a cracked lip, Henry draped his arm around Vic’s neck while Patrick and Belch were in Home Ec, and dragged him into the bathroom.

“We can do that stuff you like,” Henry whispered. “But I want to try something.”

Vic sat on Henry’s lap, his boots planted against the wall so anyone who entered only saw Henry’s underneath the stall. They took turns filling their mouths with smoke, and, on Henry’s suggestion, each other’s tongues. It was nice. Henry came home with him after school. They made out until Mama called them down to dinner.

The next week, Henry started dating Veronica Grogan, but Vic knew it wasn’t the end of whatever madness had gripped them that night at the Quarry. Henry was a lot like Butch in that sense. Sure enough, he watched Butch come ‘round the house in the afternoon for his Mama, and Henry come ‘round in the evening for himself. And Vic was just fine with that. He didn't know if he was gay, or straight with an exception. He knew Veronica was just some thing to throw people off their scent, and that the more he and Henry sucked face, the closer they felt.

Sometime before Christmas, Vic looked at Henry from across his bed and realized he might just be in love. He didn't really know what love was - his parents certainly didn't know enough to tell him. But as he brushed the hair from Henry's face, he knew that if Butch ever caught them, he would take every last punch Butch had to throw if it meant Henry got away safe. They weren't just best friends, or brothers. He wasn't just some right-hand man, there to keep Henry's mission on point and to reel him back if he got in too deep. Henry had become his everything, and he was the only thing keeping Henry alive, sometimes.

And sometime before the new year, after Butch was reinstated on the force after a long and grueling suspension, Henry realized the same thing: that Vic would die for him. He only needed to ask.

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