#they're gonna be worried about us [rembrandt headcanon]

[warriours]

Billy Crystal was Rembrandt’s first crush mostly because of his role on Soap. 

[withinycu]

On their Nicknames:

Rembrandt, Swan and Cowboy’s real names are Marcelino, Michael and Thomas respectively. 

While Rembrandt and Cowboy’s nicknames are a bit on the nose and obvious. Swan’s is a bit stranger. He grew up with Cleon who would tease him that he was a ‘regular Swan’ because he had to grow into his looks. 

[warriours]

Rembrandt really likes Thundercats and Universal Monster movies. Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Wolf Man are favorites though Dracula was the only one he found genuinely scary. Both he and Swan fell asleep during the Mummy. 

He also saw Lon Chaney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame and Phantom of the Opera on late night and was obsessed with both for a straight week. 

[warriours]

Cleon= Demiromantic/ Gray Sexual- While he’s had sexual experience and isn’t above using sex for his own ends, it isn’t of high priority or interest to him. While he hasn’t experienced same sex attraction he is open to it and doesn’t place any judgement on it.

Swan= Bisexual/ Bi Romantic- Has had sexual experience with both sexes but has largely avoided serious romantic relationships finding them a hassle. Until Mercy anyway. He’s semi-open, treating it as ‘need to know information’ and most don’t need to know. Though that said he actively looks out for other members of he gang who fall under the queer umbrella. 

Cowboy= Homosexual/ Homo romantic- Is very promiscuous, it even being the source of his nickname because he ‘likes to ride’. While open and accepted amongst The Warriors he isn’t open in his life outside the gang. His ‘friendship’ with Ajax is the closest he’s had to a romantic relationship. God help him.

Rembrandt=  Homosexual/ Homo romantic- Has only recently come out to a select few, though others in the gang may have inferred it. While he’s had crushes he hasn’t had any serious romantic or sexual experience. 

Mercy= Bisexual/ Bi Romantic- Is many things but subtle about her desires Mercy is not. Even outside her sex work, the fact is Mercy just likes sex and is something of a romantic who will pursue anyone who catches her eye regardless of gender. 

[warriours]

What’s Everyone Reading?

Rembrandt usually reads comics though he does like some fantasy books like Lord of the Rings. General rule is he likes media with unconventional heroes that’s more optimistic in tone or outlook. (Would absolutely love Willow and Dark Crystal) 

Swan really likes Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories. He also really liked Watership Down and has read some more classical works because of Cleon. Though outside the works mentioned he actually reads a fair amount of nonfiction and poetry. 

Cleon is an absolute nut for Greek and Roman mythology/history. He’s the one who nicknamed gave ‘Ajax’ his nickname. And prior to calling him ‘Swan’, he used to call Swan ‘Hector’. 

Cowboy likes westerns though he’s also read some gay/lesbian pulp novels and Mary Renault (not a fan but he has his needs). His favorite novel is Maurice. 

Mercy will read whatever everyone else is reading. (She liked Lord of the Rings okay) But when left on her own really likes romance novels and Danielle Steel especially. 

[withinycu]

Muse Preview- Rembrandt 

The youngest member of The Warriors, and very much the baby of the group. Rembrandt is by no means a fighter but he is observant and intelligent though as the baby of the bunch he’s perhaps the most easily rattled when things go south. 

He’s also gay. Generally speaking he’s only out to Swan who’s something of a big brother figure to him though others in the gang may have inferred his sexuality. 

In the end Rembrandt is perhaps the most uneasy with life with the Warriors which is why when Mercy and Swan leave the city he’s one of the former gang members to tag along. 

[warriours]

5. are there any fears your muse still holds from childhood? 6. what is something that ticks your muse off, no matter what? - Swan, Rembrandt

Random Headcanon Q's | accepting

are there any fears your muse still holds from childhood?

For Swan there’s definitely some fire and brimstone religious trauma that still colors his thinking and worldview. Though he’s at least aware of it and dislikes the hold it has on him. He’s working on it but he’s still a work in progress with him lapsing into that old way of thinking. (His whole dynamic with Mercy is an example of this)

Rembrandt has been terrified of rats since he was a kid and that’s not changing. 

what is something that ticks your muse off, no matter what?

If Swan doesn’t respect you or your decisions he hates everything about you. In the movie obviously Sully/The Orphans is the biggest example. Swan loses respect for them and is literally just like ‘FUCK EVERYTHING’. Ajax is another example, Swan can tolerate Ajax because Ajax can be tolerable but in the park when Ajax sees the police woman again Swan is just like ‘FUCK EVERYTHING BUT ALSO YOU SPECIFICALLY’. 

I think some of that has rubbed off on Rembrandt a little, he knows how dangerous it is to get caught up in emotions or impulses. But I think it really upsets him when others ignore him or don’t listen to him. Like when Cochise and Vermin repeatedly ignore him when it comes to the Lizzies. 

[warriours]

1-4 for Rembrandt !

Development Meme | accepting

@spynorth​

Does sleep come easy to them or no? What does their bedtime routine look like?

Rembrandt has a well deserved reputation for being able to sleep just about anywhere if he’s tired enough. Oddly enough it led to Swan taking him in, as Rembrandt frequently would go to sleep on the fire escape to get away from whatever chaos as going in the apartment. Swan lives in the same apartment building and asked why he did that which is how we ended up here. 

If they could only have one food for the rest of their life, what would it be?

Spaghetti

What would the bring with them to pass the time on a long flight?

He’s never been on a plane so I think most of his time would be spent looking out the window/ around him. But barring that he’d bring his sketchbook and/or something to read. 

Do they play an instrument? If not, have the ever wanted to learn?

Not particularly. Swan has offered to teach him how to play the harmonica but he’s just not particularly interested. 

[warriours]

Rembrandt tag drop

[withinycu]

If I’ve done my math right Swan/Michael would be 17 during s1 so he’s only recently dropped out of school. And Rembrandt/Marcelino is roughly the same age as the main kids. 🤔

[withinycu]

Like even though Swan/Michael sees Rembrandt/Marcelino as a baby who needs protecting the truth is Marcelino is actually very self sufficient and capable. 

[withinycu]

Stranger Things Verse- Michael/ Swan and Rembrandt/ Marcelino

(He and Rembrandt go by their given names Michael and Marcelino) Both grew up in Hawkins, though Michael hates the town but is more or less stuck there. Michael also hasn’t lived with his parents since he was sixteen but no one knows why which was also when he dropped out of high school to start working. He lives in the same trailer park as Eddie and Max, as does Marcelino who alternates between staying with Michael and his Mother and Older brother.

 As in his mainverse, Michael has a truck load of siblings some of whom periodically stay with him along with Marcelino and Cowboy/Thomas. While he likely knows the Hellfire club or Eddie at least socially he isn’t super close with them because he doesn’t get the geeky shit. The only who calls him ‘Swan’ is Cleon. (Not sure what their dynamic is in this tbh)

He’s also much more guarded about his bisexuality which was the reason he was kicked out in both verses. But the 80s were kinda worse than the 70s in a lot of ways plus Hawkins being a small town doesn’t help. Though in both verses Michael’s trailer is something of a safe space for kids having trouble with their parents/guardians especially because of sexuality/identity issues. 

As for Marcelino he’d actually be the most interested/open to joining the Hellfire Club. As in his main verse both his mother and older brother have substance abuse issues which is why he frequently stays with Michael who along with Cowboy/Thomas are the only people he’s out too. 

[withinycu]

Is your muse easily flustered? Do they blush, swear, etc.? ( for all the warrior kids)

Vanilla Sunday Meme | accepting

Swan

Swan isn't easily phased by much. Though when he is he's definitely more of a swearer or clench jaw and quietly fume type.

Mercy

She's flustered by the small, gentle things. Being given flowers or being told or treated in a gentle or accepting/loving way. She usually expresses it by just not knowing how to act. She may be a little defensive almost or immediately question why the person did it.

Cowboy

While not quite on Swan's level he does actively try to keep his emotions or reactions in check albeit mostly out of fear. This can make his reactions feel a little off- for instance, he might act almost overly upset about being teased if it's someone he likes or downplays his reaction even if means a great deal to him so as not to come across as being 'too much' or outing his interest/himself.

Rembrandt

Probably the easiest flustered and most likely to show it- he'll turn red and/or laugh. Depending on what the person does he might start talking nervously or show in some other way he's feeling really flustered.

[withinycu]

There’s definitely a certain self-destructive streak in Cowboy. He’s out and accepted by his friends within the Warriors but he’s very acutely aware of the limitations of the life he’s living and doesn’t see a way out. Part of this is down to his age, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless when young. But at the same time his fears and anxieties as a young gay man in the late 70s/80s (or the 50s for when interacting with WSS muses) are extremely well founded. 

And while Rembrandt shares these anxieties and has other concerns due to his lower class background and ethnicity he does benefit from having much closer and more open relationships within the Warriors such as his found family dynamic with Swan and later Mercy. 

Cowboy doesn’t quite have that, limiting the relationships he has with the Warriors and not developing the same degree of closeness even seeking out unhealthy attachments that fuel and support his sense of isolation and hopelessness. 

[withinycu]

Various Rembrandt Headcanons- 

He lives in the same apartment building as Swan and has one older brother who’s a drug addict. His mother has also struggled with substance abuse which has seriously affected her ability to care for both of her children. 

Rembrandt would sometimes sleep out on the fire escape to get away from both of them. Swan noticed and started doing little things to look out for him slowly developing the big brother/little brother dynamic they have now. 

He’s only formally come out to Swan and Cowboy who he’s good friends with. 

[withinycu]

The Warriors Group Dynamics-

In terms of how Swan interacts with the main nine we see in the film he was closest to Cleon with Rembrandt and Fox being close seconds. As for the others he trusts them but isn’t close to them. He cannot stand Ajax and has at points done things to subtly antagonize him. 

Rembrandt is much shier and tends to stick close to either Swan, Cowboy or Fox. Though he does like Cochise and Vermin. He finds Snow a little intimidating if only because he’s harder to read than Swan. He does his best to avoid Ajax. 

Cowboy moves the easiest through the group having friendly relationships with almost everyone while able to keep a level head about the differing personalities and dynamics within the group. Even with Ajax he’s well aware of his flaws and tries to use what influence he has over him to keep him in line.