#so i'm trying

[umbralstars]

I still have no clue how to draw him

[onbearfeet]

Tonight's work: four Beardevil skins. I imagine a barbershop quartet, harmonizing from inside a dumpster. (It's possible I'm tired.)

[dbphantom]

I frew up

[shanie-the-toyaddict]

Come and see what I've got cooking!!! @mrwrestlingkevinsteen - Hope this is in the general direction of what you were looking for!

Steenerico Disney World Fanfiction under cut.

Just getting into the park had been a challenge. 

First, Kevin had ended up paying for the tickets anyway. As it turned out, the few pesos that Generico had to his name wouldn’t pay for a bag of popcorn on Main Street let alone the park tickets. But by that point, they’d already spent thirty minutes in a line to buy them and the utterly crushed look on Generico’s face when presented with the possibility of not getting in had opened Kevin’s wallet far faster than he’d ever willingly admit. 

He’d certainly never tell anyone that he bought park hopper passes so that they could also visit Epcot. To be fair, though, those were for Kevin as well. He wasn’t about to miss Animal Kingdom for the world. 

Maybe that was why he sprung for three days’ worth of tickets. There was just too much to see at the parks for one day, especially with him having to lug an overeager masked luchador around the whole time. 

And therein lay the other problem. 

The mask. 

Kevin would never dream of making his partner remove it. People could call him a shitty friend all they liked and, honestly, Kevin knew they probably had a point. But he wasn’t that much of an asshole. 

So when the people at the front gate told him that Generico couldn’t enter with it on... 

There had been shouting. And tears. And more shouting. 

Most of the shouting was done by him, at miserable, plastic-grinned jackasses who couldn’t comprehend what the hell they were asking and whose necks he really wanted to wring in the damn turnstile. 

In the end, he’d managed to convince them. Eventually calming down long enough to find his inside voice and, through a sheer act of God, keeping himself from using the foulest language he had at his disposal, Kevin explained to them that the mask was for religious and cultural reasons and that he could never remove it, not even to enter the Happiest Place on Earth. 

Also, the phrase “Special Needs” might have left his lips, something that may or may not have been brought on by the fact that Kevin was doing everything in his power to keep Generico from having a meltdown at the front gates. 

Whatever it was that did the trick, he was just glad it did because they were permitted entry into Magic Kingdom, with a note given to Kevin to take to Guest Relations for an exemption on Generico’s mask. 

They no sooner got into the transportation center and to the top of the ramp for the Monorail when he was grateful he hadn’t broken skulls.  

The Monorail, all sleek and striped, brought a gleeful smile to Generico’s face that made Kevin shake his head. Motioning at the train, Generico was already overjoyed and they hadn’t even gotten into the park yet. It was another thing Kevin would never admit to – how much seeing Generico smile made him happy. The idiot was a walking, too pale, too skinny stack of unnecessary emotions on his best days but when he was at his happiest, Kevin couldn’t help but be warmed by Generico’s radiance, that stupid too-broad smile of his fluttering Kevin’s heart whenever he got to see it. 

And Kevin could already tell he was going to see it a lot before they left Orlando. 

Still, the last thing he needed was for Generico to lose control on the fucking Monorail. 

“Calm down buddy,” Kevin said as they got into the car, “We haven’t even hit Main Street yet. This is just the transportation.” 

Generico didn’t stop grinning. 

“I mean it!” Kevin warned him, “Save some excitement for later. I’m not carrying you back to the hotel at noon because you burn yourself out halfway to It’s A Small World” 

The luchador nodded vigorously. “Sí. Calm. Sí.” 

He proceeded to be only slightly calmer in the moment that followed but, frankly, Kevin was ready to take whatever he could get. 

At least he kept quiet on the trip around the bay. They’d no sooner started moving then Generico was turned around, his eyes on the scenery. Kevin had to admit, the ride was nice enough, and the trip through the Contemporary was always fun. He’d always found it neat how they built the hotel around the Monorail and while he’d been to Disney World before, pulling straight into the center of the building on a TRAIN was still pretty cool. 

Of course, once they got into the park itself, all bets were off. 

“KEVIN!” Generico shouted, rushing up to a statue of Walt and Mickey. “Picture!” 

He had to laugh. 

“Sure,” he said, pulling out his camera. 

He no sooner had the camera in his hand when a third problem struck him. 

The pictures.  They were there by themselves. Naturally nobody had wanted to come with them... which meant that any photos they took wouldn’t be together. 

“Shit,” he whispered softly. Speaking up, he told Generico sadly, “Sorry, pal, I can’t get shots of us both. It’s just gonna have to be you.” 

“Kevin...” Generico lamented, his lip already halfway to quivering. 

It was going to be one of those trips.  

“Look, Generico, I don’t know how you want me to...” 

“I can help you with that!” a voice to his side chirped up. 

It was another one of the workers. “Cast Members” they called them. This one had a slightly more genuine smile on her face, a nametag reading “Stacie”, and was carrying an oversized camera. 

“I can get your picture,” she told Kevin, the smile fading. 

“Ok, and how much would that cost?” 

“If you buy a photo package, you can get as many photos as you want together.” 

It didn’t answer the question. 

It didn’t answer the question but, as Kevin glanced at his partner and his utterly raptured face as he took in everything around him, he realized that saying no to Generico for the entirety of the trip was going to be next to impossible. 

He let out a sigh and wrinkled his face. “Right. Where do I sign up?” 

“How many days are you staying with us?” 

“Three.” 

“Are you staying on property?” 

“No.” 

“Guest relations will get you everything you need. And then you can come right back and I’ll take a photo of you and your friend.” 

Kevin stole another glance towards Generico... except he was missing. 

Shit. 

That time he thought it silently. 

“I’ll be back,” he told the woman and, scanning the area, went off to find his partner. 

It really was going to be one of those trips. 

…........................................   

When he found Generico, it was in the Main Street USA Firehouse, getting angry with a pressed penny machine. 

“Hey! Knock it off! It doesn’t take pesos!” Kevin shouted, grabbing Generico’s wrists and stopping his attempts to shake the machine. “Quarters. You need quarters. And a penny. Here...” 

Kevin pulled the travel pack off his back and, digging out two quarters and an old penny, dropped them in the slot. 

“Pick one,” he told his friend. It took the luchador a moment but he settled on one of a dalmatian in a fireman’s hat. “Ok, now, watch,” Kevin told him and, in one quick motion, shoved the slot into the machine. 

Generico watched eagerly as the gears of the machine turned and, before the penny had even hit the slot, his fingers were in it, waiting. And, no sooner did he have the penny in his fingers, then the penny was on the ground, dropped. 

“Caliente!” Generico shouted before bending over to pick up the offending coin. Once he had it again, he held it between his fingers, turning it in the light. 

It... wasn’t pretty.   The penny was old; the various marks and flaws had transferred onto the design, and as Kevin saw the disappointment in Generico’s eyes, he let out a long sigh. 

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s get you another one.” 

Digging into his pack again, he managed to find another pair of quarters and a bright, shining penny this time. Putting them into the slot, the same as last time, he pushed the tray in. This time, Generico hit the button for a design of Mickey as a fireman and, when Generico tried a second time to shove his hand up the slot, Kevin grabbed it. 

“Wait,” he commanded. 

It only took a few moments but when the penny came out, it was much nicer, the copper shining in the sunlight. 

“Ooooh,” Generico marveled. 

“Great. Now, we’re going to Guest Relations.” 

Generico’s head tilted to the side. 

“The mask! And your photos, did you already forget?” 

Dark eyes widened in understanding behind the mask and his head nodded. 

“God, you have a ten second memory,” complained Kevin. “Let’s go. I’m not getting kicked out of here before we ride Space Mountain.” 

A sharp, sudden look of confusion sprung from behind Generico’s mask, followed by him frantically waving his hands ‘No’. 

“What? No, screw you, we’re riding Space Mountain.” 

Generico’s hands continued waving before they traveled south, covering himself. 

“Damn it,” Kevin swore, “What are you...” Suddenly, realization took hold and Kevin rolled his eyes so hard he almost sprained them. “Not that Space Mountain, dumbass! The one in Tomorrowland!” 

He no sooner got the statement out then he saw a mother nearby put her hands over her small child’s ears, leading her away. 

Kevin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.  He was going to have to be more careful about that. 

“Look, let’s just get to Guest Relations before we get ejected, ok? I paid far too much money to get us in here, so behave and I’ll let you ride the teacups on your own.” 

Generico broke out into a toothy grin of agreement and, moving behind the luchador, Kevin pushed him in the direction they needed to travel. 

“Go,” he demanded, “You’re leading. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” 

…........................................ 

  As it turned out, Generico did behave at Guest Relations and Kevin was able to get the exemption for Generico and his photo pass. He slipped both into his travel pack and, after stopping to get a photo in front of the statue, took Generico to Fantasyland to ride the teacups. 

Of course, Generico being Generico, he diverted three times along the way. Once to try and get ice cream (Kevin refused), once for popcorn (Kevin told him maybe later), and once for a Mickey Mouse balloon (Kevin promised Generico he could have one on their way out). 

By the time they actually got through the castle and into Fantasyland, they had already been there an hour and a half, and Kevin’s knee was beginning to bug him. 

“Right,” he told his partner, putting him in the queue, “You can ride, and I’ll be over there on the bench.” Kevin motioned towards a bench nearby. 

“Sí,” Came the quick reply before the line started to move and Generico’s attention was instantly elsewhere. 

“And don’t spin too hard!” Kevin warned. 

If Generico heard, he didn’t answer. 

…........................................ 

  Of course Generico had spun as fast as the ride allowed him. 

“What did I tell you,” Kevin lectured, sitting on the bench beside a woozy Generico. Generico had his head down, resting in his hands and was making quiet moaning noises. 

“Seriously, do you ever listen to me?” he continued. “Ever? I swear to God...” 

Kevin’s anger was cut short by a wibbly look from his partner.  

Deep, cleansing breaths, Steen, Kevin thought silently. 

Taking a moment for one of those breaths, Kevin patted Generico gently on the shoulder. 

“Wait here,” he said sharply, “I mean it.” 

Quickly, Kevin got up and, heading over to a nearby quick service counter, got a cup of water from the attendant. 

Finally, something I don’t have to pay for, he thought, more than a little bitterly. 

He hadn’t intended on spending a ton of money on the trip. Honestly, he hadn’t intended on even paying for the tickets. He’d been saving money for a year at that point for some new electronics and had accumulated more than enough before they got to Orlando. He’d wanted an iPhone since they were released and, between that and the new laptop he’d been eyeing, he was all ready to do some tech shopping as an early birthday present to himself. 

That was the day before. 

But there, in the middle of the Magic Friggin Kingdom, he’d already dumped money for six park tickets, a photo pass, and two pressed pennies. It was far more than he’d intended or wanted but, as he brought the cup of water back to his friend and saw the relief in his eyes, Kevin knew the trip was only getting started. 

He sat down again beside Generico and handed him the water. 

“Are you gonna be sick?” 

Generico gently shook his head. 

“Good. Did you learn your lesson?” he asked. 

Generico nodded. “Sí” 

“Even better. Have some water.” 

The luchador did so, a bit too eagerly. 

“Slowly!” Kevin warned him.  

Generico didn’t slow down much.  Another one of those deep, cleansing breaths. 

Mercifully, as Generico drank the water, he seemed to be doing better. His back straightened and he wasn’t looking quite so pale around the eyes. 

Kevin sighed and placed his hand on his partner’s back, gently rubbing circles between his shoulder blades. It bothered him how much it bothered him. He cared about Generico, sure, but one of the earliest things Kevin Steen had learned in his life was that you took care of yourself first and that those that fell behind, got left behind. But Kevin also knew that, if it wasn’t for one infuriating, generic luchador, he’d probably have gotten lost in his own darkness ages ago. 

So, caring for Generico was going to come first. 

Generico was still sipping on his water as Kevin rubbed his back. 

“You know I’m your friend, right?” 

Generico took another drink of water. “Sí. Kevin amigo. Amigo numero uno.” 

“And you know I don’t want to see you sick?” 

“Te importa mucho.” 

“Yeah, I do care. And I don’t want you to be miserable on your vacation, so if you – " 

Generico cut him off. “Ours!” 

Kevin stopped. “What?” 

“Ours!” he repeated sharply before, using his free hand, he motioned to Kevin and back at himself. “Kevin y Generico, Disney World! Amigos!” 

Oh. 

Kevin smiled. “Right, buddy. Our vacation. Together. So let’s try to make it a good one, maybe? No more running off, and no more dumb shi---” Kevin stopped himself, eyeing the myriad of children around them. “No more dumb stuff,” he finished. “We stay together and we’ll have fun. Comprendo?” 

Generico made several gruff hums of affirmation as he nodded vigorously.  

“Good, now, finish your water and we’ll go ride ‘It’s A Small World’.” 

In what was the latest of such, Generico broke out into a wide grin and, quickly finishing his cup of water, got up and tossed it in a nearby trash can. The spring in his step as he did so, however, was impossible to ignore and, as he stepped back in front of Kevin, he held out his hand.  

Kevin paused for a moment to look up at his friend. His eyes were dark but shining and the joy in them was unmistakable. Beyond that, the fondness there, beyond their norm, both grateful and kind, and Kevin could hear the words hidden in their gaze. 

Thank you, Kevin, they said. Thank you for being such a good friend. 

At least, that’s what Kevin hoped that particular look meant. 

Kevin smiled in return and, taking Generico’s hand, got to his feet. 

“Come on,” he said warmly, putting his arm around the luchador, “there’s a boat ride waiting for you.” 

[chaotic-neutral-knitter]

I think one of the kindest things you can do for people with various mental health struggles is just... let people back into your life after they've been absent for a while.

Making friends as an adult is so fucking hard already and isolating yourself from other people is a very common symptom of depression, anxiety, burnout, ocd, trauma, grief, etc. Which means that someone will do the hard work of recovery/healing and resurface back into a world where their previous friends have written them off because they stopped showing up.

So if you know someone where you're like "yeah we could have been better friends but they fell off the map a bit" and that person suddenly reaches out, or starts showing up to events even though you kind of forgot they were still in the group chat... well they may have been Going Through It and you don't actually have to punish them for their absence you can just be glad that they're back.

[soaptaculart]

The cat and the dad she said she "didn't want"

[ducktracy]

sharing a very sage bit of advice from The Simpsons' own John Swartzwelder that i've been trying to hamper down in my writing and drawing alike. let your inner crappy little elf do his worst

[wishfulmuses]

Wall of text.

[dr11ft]

chicana miku 🤎

[magentasnail]

I'm absolutely obsessed with the book of bill, best thing i've ever read and it no joke gave me actual nightmares !! 100/10

[snarkspawn]

based ofc on this

[kuuhaiyu]

i really can't emphasize how heartbreaking it is that the recent harassment campaign against @/90-ghost (among others; see: 1, 2, 3) has led to well-meaning people telling others not to listen to him. he is one of the most visible survivors of the genocide here on tumblr. his entire journey of escape is so well documented! and yet, it only took a few people confidently pointing fingers to create an entire witch hunt accusing him and other palestinians of being disreputable scammers and liars.

i can't help but feel like the reason why people were SO eager to believe those accusations, is because it was uncomfortable to see posts from palestinians every day asking for our time, attention, money, and support; so when someone presented the perfect excuse to ignore all those posts and asks while also taking the high ground, people just LEAPED onto it. they wanted to believe it, because it would be more comfortable.

honestly, i understand feeling overwhelmed by bad news, by the number of asks and messages in your inbox, and so on and so forth. i understand needing to set boundaries for yourself so you don't get burned out. i think this is really when you have to have a set of principles to fall back on, even when you're tired, uncomfortable, angry, and/or sad. so here's the one i suggest, which has been working for me best: don't make your discomfort with this situation into someone else's problem, and for god's sake don't make it a public problem.

if you hate seeing fundraiser posts or news about gaza, i can't emphasize this enough, JUST MOVE ON. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND SCROLL PAST! all you have to do is absolutely nothing. which is what you were doing anyway, so it shouldn't be hard. if you don't have the heart to read, or reblog, or share, or donate, or support in other ways, at the very least, don't obstruct the efforts of people who ARE trying to make a difference. this is, quite literally, the least you can do.

[laughingcatwrites]

As a reminder that good exists out there, a coworker recently confessed to me that he found out his child is questioning their identity (kid's gender redacted for this post). The kid is keeping it from him, so he can't say anything to them or show that he knows, but he's doing his best to get mentally prepared and educated so that he'll be ready whenever his kid does feel comfortable enough come to him.

For context, this guy is a big, bulky middle aged dude who loves sports and typical outdoor "manly" activities. As his coworker and friend, I know he's a kind and sweet teddy bear of a person, but his kid probably views him as a stern, authoritarian figure, the way most teenagers view their parents. His family lives in a conservative area, so I'm sure between that, their dad's looks and interests, and the fact that their dad is a Figure of Authority, the kid is worried that they won't be accepted.

But you know what? When he found out about his kid, the first thing he did was reach out to his closest queer friend and ask for resources for parents of questioning children. His biggest fears are that his kid will be bullied or discriminated against and won't feel comfortable enough to be themself. His second action was to find himself a mentor in another parent who went the same situation (kid coming out in a conservative town). The other person is preparing him for some of the struggles his kid may face and the fights he may need to take on as a parent to make sure his kid is safe and treated well.

Something I want to emphasize for people focused on language as the primary method of allyship is that when we spoke, he used some outdated terms and thoughts about gender and sexuality. That does not make him bad. These were the terms and thinking used about questioning teenagers when he was growing up and he never needed to learn more current ones. But now that he does have that need, he's throwing himself in head first because that's his kid and he's darn well going to make sure that his kid feels welcomed and has a safe place to be themselves even if they never come out to him.

[aphel1on]

i have such a love for characters who descend into madness or villainy out of deep, deep empathy. characters who fundamentally cannot cope with the cruel realities they find themselves in and blow up about it in spectacular fashion. fallen angel type characters with tears of outrage in their eyes. characters who break before they bend, and break so badly they splatter blood all over their noble ideals. every variation on it gets me so good

[buddieinmybeddie]

LGBTQ+ folk what was your gender/sexuality pipeline?

[madqueenalanna]

been seeing homies get deep into "the terror" and making me want to rewatch SO i spent two hours in the dead of night reading the wiki/the subreddit/other linked articles and like. one of those articles was deadass fucked up

there was a woman who spoke inuktitut who was writing a book containing a lot of inuit oral histories, and in nunavut she was able to hear passed-down recollections of when survivors from the franklin expedition were passing through

and like. i can't imagine being an inuit family/group, knowing that europeans exist but having never seen them, seeing 8-9 shambling, blue-skinned, cold-to-the-touch out-of-their-minds white men come wandering by. they invited the men inside their igloos for warmth, for food, to be hospitable. the men refused to eat, refused to speak, and when trade was offered, clutched their possessions close and refused to entertain the idea of trade. this was, offputting, to say the least. the group set them up in their own igloo, with their own fire, and left three whole seals for them to eat. and then they fled cause what the FUCK get out of there. they came back in a few days to check on the strangers. the three seals were completely untouched, while all of the men had killed and eaten each other

i mean. fuck dude. there are obviously pretty dark angles to view the franklin expedition from– honestly can't think of a good angle, it's pure colonialism and british exceptionalism– but that specific interaction, that inuit group who were living lives as normal until a dozen fucking walking dead showed up and did cannibalism. no wonder that story got passed down, i'd be shitting my pants if i saw that