#we've got a dweeb on our hands

[ratatatastic]

dying at the little smirk he makes as he spots the little finn flag toothpick and goes "i like that" because he has to show it off to sasha and the camera huh he has to

[dreamofbecoming]

yeah alright this got away from me. posting in pieces, part one is just stobin, no shippy stuff. steddie and rockie to follow. i'll drop it on ao3 once all 3 parts are done

now on ao3!

platonic stobin

rating: t

wc: 3.5k

---

Robin stopped being surprised by Steve Harrington showing up at her bedroom window months ago. Jesus, there's a sentence her 16 year old self wouldn't fucking believe for a second. The Hair, climbing up the trellis her dad built for the roses her mom planted and then forgot about three months later? Yeah right, as if. But it turns out alternate dimensions and sci-fi movie monsters and Russian conspiracies in Bumfuck, Nowhere, USA are all real, so how surprising really is The King himself, collapsing through her window with all the grace of a baby giraffe, out of breath like he- holy shit, did he fucking run here?

"Dingus, did you run here? What the hell?"

"Had to- hang on, Jesus. Holy shit." He bends over, hands on his knees, panting like he just ran a marathon. Which, she guesses, he almost did.

"You have a car, you lunatic, what could possibly be so important?"

"Didn't think about it. Had to get here."

"Is someone dead?!" Oh fuck, Is the Upside Down back? Oh shit, oh no, it can't be back, right? Superhero girl closed the gates! Right?! Oh god, oh no, oh fuck, it's back, the Russians are back, they realized they couldn't let her live after what she's seen, her parents will never even know what happened to her, and they'll kill Dingus too, and dorky little Henderson, and that menace Erica, oh god, they're gonna die, and Hopper's gone and superhero girl is far away and she doesn't have superpowers anymore anyway, which is frankly bogus because what the hell, Robin never even got to hang out with a real live magic person before, which, ok, that's a selfish thought, but that's ok, we can think selfish thoughts and then set them aside and not act on them, thoughts are not actions, thoughts happen all the time without our consent, they don't determine our character-

"Bobs, you're spiraling. Nothing bad happened, I just realized something and I freaked out and I had to talk to you right away. Forgot to call. Sorry, I should have called. Ran straight out of the house. I don't even think my shoes match, what the fuck?"

She's gonna kill him, she really is.

She loves him so much.

"Jesus, you're insane. Sit, you absolute dweeb. I'm getting you some water, when I get back you can tell me what the hell is going on."

He's sitting on her bed when she gets back upstairs, staring at something in his hands. Christ, his hands are shaking. What the fuck, Dingus?

He takes the water and downs it in one go- ugh, sports guys- then flops onto his back and covers his eyes with a miserable groan.

"I know we've got the whole twin telepathy thing going on, bubba, but I'm gonna need at least a little bit to work with here. Give me something. Is it your parents? The kids? Uh, what was her name? From Thursday? Janice?"

"Janine, and no. Ugh. Here." The arm not covering his eyes flops out towards her, holding- ah. A zine. He had promised to drive up to Indy last weekend to the secret bookshop she told him about and get her some new ones, even though she couldn't go with him because her cousin Randy got caught cheating on his fiancée and her parents made her come with the rest of the family to help him move. Fucking Randy. Maybe he should make better choices, so the rest of them wouldn't have to clean up his messes. Jerk.

Anyway.

"Marked the page." Which, yep, there's a purple paper clip stuck to a page near the middle, because Steve knows how much she hates people who dogear books, even books that aren't really books at all, so he's been training himself out of it, because he's sort of the best. Again, 16 year old Robin would have her committed for thinking that, but here we are.

The pamphlet isn't one of the periodicals she sent him for, so he must have picked it up on his own. It looks handmade, just some folded sheets that look like they came out of a typewriter, bound with the kind of twine you can buy at the hardware store. It's called Awakenings. The page he's marked looks like a personal essay, no title, no real signature, just a pair of initials at the end of the page and a half of writing. She starts reading, trying to figure out what the hell spooked Steve so bad.

"I've always been normal. I've always had crushes on men, just like the other girls. There was never a feeling of "I'm different," or "Oh, this is wrong." There was never anything to think very hard about. I'd giggle and blush when the boys looked over at us on the playground, same as everyone else. Later on when I was older I looked at my poster of Harrison Ford, shirtless and hairy and sweating, and I touched myself, and it felt good, just like it was supposed to. I didn't mind thinking of my future husband, and our future kids, and the pretty house with the pretty garden we'd have, just like my parents have, just like they wanted for me. I was normal. Everything was fine.

I thought everything about me was normal. So I didn't understand why the other girls at sleepover parties would giggle and stop and say "Ew, gross!" when we practiced kissing. It felt nice! I wanted to keep going! But it seemed like no one else did. I didn't understand why none of them talked about getting butterflies in their stomach when Laura, who was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen, transferred in our senior year, why they seemed so angry at her. Those butterflies were what jealousy felt like, right? So why did the other girls seem to feel so different?

I made my first lesbian friend in college, on the very first day, right across the hall in my dorm. We sat next to each other at Orientation and I thought I'd never have another best friend that wonderful in my whole life, so I'd hold on to her with everything I had. She came out to me the night before Christmas break, hiding under the blankets in my dorm room with the twinkling lights glowing. She was so scared. I held her and told her I loved her no matter what, and she seemed so glad, to have someone to talk to.

When she talked about falling in love with girls, I was so confused. The way she described it sounded like what it felt like to have girlfriends, I was sure. I felt that all the time. I asked her if she was sure she was gay, and she looked so shocked and angry and hurt, and I didn't know how to fix it, so I tried to explain. That what she felt couldn't be liking girls, because I felt that too, and I was normal. I liked boys, so I couldn't be gay. I couldn't be.

I'm glad it was her I said all that to. If someone else had told me about being bisexual, I think I would have hated them. I would have cried, and screamed, and said horrible things. Because I wasn't gay, I was normal, and it was so scary to think that might be a lie. Thank God it was her, my best friend in the world, who I never want to lose. Thank God I listened.

Because I'm not normal. I'm queer. I like men, and I like women. I can love them both the same, but it doesn't matter anymore, because I love her. I love her, and she loves me, and I don't need to be normal anymore."

Robin's face feels wet, which probably means she's crying. She cries a lot, reading these sorts of stories, in the zines she has to keep hidden under her bed, or, these days, at Steve's house. It's never going to be her, she knows. Not here in Hawkins, but it still makes something ache deep inside her, like pressing on a bruise, but in a good way, seeing love happen to other people. People like her. Seeing that it can.

"So?"

Oh shit. Right, Dingus. They're about him right now. Something about this essay in particular freaked him out.

"Uh. It's. A nice essay? I'm glad things worked out for them?"

Stevie lets out a pathetic whine, sort of like back at Scoops when he earned a particularly bad tally on the You Suck board. "Robbiiiiiiieeeee!"

"I'm sorry! I think I'm missing something, what's wrong with this essay? I don't get it, bubba, I'm sorry. I need some context." She does feel bad. Usually she can pluck whatever's bothering him right out of his brain and into the light, where it almost never looks as bad, but she's at a loss right now.

He's got both hands over his face again, and his response is so muffled she can't make out a word.

"Try again in human sounds, please."

"Ugh! I thought everyone felt like that!"

Huh? "Felt like...what, exactly?"

"Like that!" He flails wildly at the pamphlet in her hands. He's sitting up now, hair all askew from tugging at it, and there's a vaguely worrying crazed look in his eye, like right before he tackled that guard. "Like kissing boys and girls both feel nice, and like seeing a handsome guy and feeling jealous of him makes my stomach flutter, and like having friends feels the same as having crushes! I thought that was just how everyone felt all the time!"

Oh.

Oh.

Oh no.

Poor Dingus! No wonder he panicked and ran here like a crazy person!

"Stevie, can I hug you? Please?" She's not much for physical touch most of the time, but Steve is, and also she's found in the last few months that she doesn't mind so much when it's him. She sort of understands why other people like hugs so much, if they always feel like hugging Steve feels for her. And she really thinks he needs to be hugged, right now.

He nods miserably. She drapes her arms around his shoulders and holds on as tight as she can, hauling him sideways until he's practically laying down on her. He clutches her back and buries his face in her shoulder. She can feel her neck getting wet with tears, a sensation that would normally make her want to claw off her own skin, but this isn't about her. Dingus needs her.

"It's ok, bubba. I'm so sorry. I know how scary this is. When I first figured out I had a crush on Linda Sanderson I cried so hard I threw up, you know? I get it. It's gonna be ok, I promise. We'll make it ok. We faced down evil Russians and giant meat monsters, what's a little sexuality crisis, huh? We got this! We're the goddamn Wonder Twins!"

He snorts at that, which she's pretty sure leaves snot on her neck, which. Ew. Still. Problems for Later Robin.

"We are not, Will and El are the Wonder Twins."

"Uh, nope, no chance, I barely even met them so therefore I am vetoing their application. Sorry kiddos, better luck next time! Find your own nickname, losers!"

Steve sits back, laughing, and she preens a little at being able to bring him back from the brink so easily. She loves him so much she feels like she's glowing with it, sometimes. It almost makes her wish she was straight, because what girl is she ever going to find who loves her this much? But only almost, because. Well. Girls, amiright? Phew.

"So what now, Stevie? You wanna say it out loud? That helps, sometimes. You wanna not say it out loud? You wanna go to a gay bar and find you a boy? You wanna never think about it again? It's totally your call."

"Say it out loud, huh?"

"Hm. It took me like a month, and then the first time I could only say it sitting in the back of my closet with the bedroom door locked and the closet door closed, and I could only whisper it. Just "I'm a lesbian," to myself, like the world's most ironic little goblin. And I had to throw up again after. But it did feel good, once I rinsed my mouth out, anyway. Cleansing, you know? And it gets easier every time." Steve's eyebrows are raised and he's chuckling again, so that's a win. She's not lying, but it is sort of funny, she supposes. In hindsight, anyway.

"Ok. Ok, I can do that. I think. Yeah, I can do that."

She's so proud of him. He's the bravest person she's ever met, she thinks. "You wanna get in the closet?"

"Isn't the whole point to come out of the closet, Robs?" He's smirking at her. Bastard. She whacks him in the shoulder on principle. He may be having a crisis, but he's still a jackass. Her favorite jackass in the whole world, but still.

"Har har, you're a regular Bob Hope. Alright then, bigshot, let's hear it."

A little of that fear creeps back onto his face, and she wishes she could wipe it off, but that's not how this works. They can't make the scary things less scary. He couldn't make the Russians less terrifying, but he could hold her hand and make her laugh and carry some of that fear with her. She can do that for him now, too.

She grabs his hand, and he clutches back tightly. He takes a deep breath.

"I'm...fuck. Ok. Ok, I can do this. I'm...bisexual." The air leaves him in a big whoosh, and he laughs a little. "Yeah, ok, fuck. I'm bisexual. Holy shit, Robbie, I'm bisexual!"

"Hell yeah you are!" She's grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. She's so fucking proud of him.

He's laughing again, a little hysterically, and he hugs her tight again, and she holds him back just as close and thinks oh, he's like me. I'm not alone. I have Steve, and he's like me, and he's mine forever and ever.

When they separate, she looks at him seriously.

"So do you, like, want this to be a thing? Because we can totally make it a thing, and like, get me a fake ID and go to a gay bar and do all kinds of wild shit if you want, but we don't have to, you know? If you need to just, like. Digest this, for a while. It's totally up to you, I just know it took me a while to feel ok with it, and I have no idea if it's different for you but I just want to be what you need, you know? You've been so good with me, and I've never had a queer friend before, so I don't know how, but I want to be just as good to you. You're my Dingus and I love you and I don't know how much of a gay guru I can be on account of, you know, I've never met any gay people besides me and the pretty lady at the bookstore but I couldn't even get real human words to come out of my mouth when I tried to talk to her so I don't think that counts, you know? But I still wanna help! Let me help!"

"Bobbie! Bobbie breathe, you're gonna pass out. I don't think I need a gay guru, I just need a gay best friend, and I have that, so I promise I'm good, ok? Promise. Also I love you too.”

She takes a deep breath, following his lead the way they worked out in the horrible days after Starcourt, when she couldn't sleep without him next to her, warm and alive and breathing, and even then she would wake up in the night with her breath coming short and her vision tunneling and Steve would hold her hand against his chest and breathe slowly, in and out, until she could follow him, and the world wasn't so terrible and scary and loud anymore.

She still thinks about that awful hour underground, thinking she was strapped to the corpse of a boy she never let become her friend, but Steve is always there now when she needs him, and he never complains when she grabs his wrist or puts her head on his chest to make absolutely sure that big, stupid heart is still beating.

When she's breathing normally again, he drops their joined hands down between them, toying idly with the chain linking her ring to her bracelet. "I think...I think I'm glad I said it, and I'm glad we talked about it, but can we maybe just...put it away, for a while? Like it's not...ugh. I guess this is kind of shitty to say, so like, hit me if you want, I guess, but I kind of don't think it matters right now?"

"No no, that makes perfect sense! Like, you still like girls, right?" He nods. "And you don't like. Have a crush on any boys right now. Or do you? Oh man if you do you have to tell me though, it's platonic soulmate law. It's in the bylaws, Steve, don't make me soulmate fine you!"

He laughs and shoves her face away. "Jesus, Rob, no! I don't have a crush on any guys, who would I even crush on in this town? We're not exactly swimming in eligible bachelors. I don't have a crush on anybody at all, I'd tell you, I swear. I know the rules!"

"Oh phew, good. You have to tell me when you do, though, I'm way excited to get you back for making fun of Tammy."

"It was the God's honest truth, Bobbie! She sings like a muppet!"

"Oh my god, shut up, Dingus! Ugh! As I was saying, you super duper have to tell me when you do, but for now, I think maybe you don't have to think about it really at all if you don't want. I mean, practically speaking, it's not really relevant to your everyday life, so we can totally revisit when that changes, but you don't have to like. Join a pride parade tomorrow, you know? You are you who are no matter what. You don't have to prove anything to anyone, especially not to me, not ever."

He leans his head on her shoulder, and she scritches her nails through his hair. It really has no right being as soft as it is, with the amount of hairspray he uses. It's frankly rude, is what it is.

"Thanks, Bobs. I think I'm just gonna put it away for now. It just...another thing to know about me, you know? Like, I'm bad at fighting people but good at fighting monsters, all my best friends are kids except you, I'm bi but it doesn't matter because there aren't any boys to date in Hawkins anyway. Plus my dad would kill me if he found out. Like actually kill me, not "oh geez I missed curfew, my dad's gonna kill me" type kill me, like I think he'd actually try and beat me to death. So there's really no reason to talk about it right now, you know?"

There's a pit of ice in her stomach, and she tightens her arm around him like she can keep him safe just by holding on tight enough. She hates how casually he said that, just like she hates how casually he always talks about how his parents treat him, like he honestly believes it's normal. "Jesus, Dingus. You know you can come here if you need, right? My parents love you, they already think we're getting married. They'd make you sleep in the guest room, but I could sneak you in here easy."

He snorts again. "We're totally gonna end up married for tax reasons anyway, we're never beating the rumors." That makes her snort, too. He's not wrong, though. She isn't going to be allowed to have a wife anytime soon, and if she has to choose someone to be her next of kin, it's always gonna be him. They're planning to move in together when she goes to school next year anyway. No one is ever gonna believe them that they aren't dating, but that's...fine. Honestly, there are worse things. Better to have Steve by her side than not, and if no one else understands them, well, they understand each other, don't they? That's more than enough.

"Yeah, I know I can come here if I need, Robs. It's fine mostly, I swear. They're not home until Christmas anyway."

He takes another deep breath, like he's settling himself. "I'm just glad we talked about it. I feel better now."

She cards her fingers through his hair again, basking in the feeling of her favorite person so close, and so content. "I'm glad, Dingus."

They're alive, and they're together, and they're queer, and neither of them is ever going to have to be alone again.

"Hang on, did you say you've kissed girls and boys?!"

part 2 part 3

[stevenbasic]

Growing into the Job, Post 383: More Lawyers!

“That. Was. Awesome!” sang Josie Jensen, medical assistant at what was at the time still Far Horizons Medical Associates. 

“You made them look like little boys who, like, came in with the wrong homework," Shanette added, “they scampered away like little rats."

“They barely knew what to do with themselves,” said Stephanie.

Angie had slipped out, disappeared shortly after they did.

Smiling after a job well done, the lead of the female attorneys closed her smart leather briefcase which had been set on Melissa’s desk. Her team had just swooped in and sent the intruding male lawyers packing, demolished them with legalese..

“It’s awesome to watch men get totally emasculated, isn’t it?” agreed Randi. She cast an eye towards Dr. J, who was safe, being tended to by Melissa. He was stood next to where she sat, behind her huge desk. The giant woman was fawning over him, helping him remove his suit jacket and unbuttoning his collar. 

“Yeah but I was looking forward to doing it ourselves,” the raven haired Marisela offered, half-dejected as she tried her best to ignore the feeling of what currently wanted to burst from her shoulder blades and out of her back. She’d liked this blouse, actually, and figured it’d be a bummer to see it ruined. “You people stole all our fun.”

“Totally,” Amelia agreed, “these nails have to be good for something. How’d you all get here so quick?”

“Attorney St. Clair has had us watching them for a while, shadowing them in the courts, so we knew exactly what they were doing,” said one of the other well-appointed attorneys, adjusting her jacket and crisp white blouse over a healthy bosom. 

At his ex-wife Sheryl’s name, Dr. J’s ears pricked up. These new lawyer-women all apparently worked for her, and for all intents and purposes reminded him of her in her younger years. Jay knew Sheryl's corporate law practice had grown huge, but to command a hit-squad of lawyers like this, a team that could have been her younger sisters? That was weir-

Jay felt himself shiver as Melissa’s hand stroked the back of his head to settle him.

“We've been tracking them,” another blonde attorney continued, “After they managed to get the last of their warrants signed, we figured they were on their way here. We were following right behind them.”

Randi smiled, imagining the five of these blonde Sheryl clones with matching briefcases arriving at the parking lot, all popping out of a black Mercedes like clowns out of a clown car. Clowns in three-inch stilettos and armed with law degrees, d-cups and cease-and-desists. Those dweebs never knew what hit them.

“You seemed so prepared,” Lakshmi fawned, obviously impressed. It was almost a shame, how easily the female attorneys were able to get the men to leave. She and the others -  Randi, Amelia, Josie, etc - had just started changing into…something. But now they were all back to normal. Pity. 

“We were prepared, thank you,” another blonde attorney spoke up, “We saw the injunctions they’d put together, all under the authority of a minor judge from upstate. Judge Horace Smalls. We had our magistrates overrule all his warrants, throw out their motions, got new zoning laws signed.”

Marisela’s ears pricked up at the name. 

“So…you had like ten times more paperwork from more powerful judges, basically,” Josie marveled, smiling. 

“Esentiallly, yes,” answered the attorney, returning the smile, “our power and influence in the courts is growing every day. Soon mistakes like these won't be allowed to happen anymore”

That made Josie shiver. She almost groaned.

“So who were these douche bags anyway?” Randi asked with a curl to her lip, “And will they coming  back?”

“Not them,” another lawyer answered, tucking a stray strand of blonde back up into her bun, “We have connections and’ll get them disbarred as soon as possible. They won’t bother you again, they're finished…maybe the judge, too. But there might be others.”

“From where?” someone asked. 

“Well, it’s hard to really pin these cells down, they keep moving, but we’re starting to piece together the network that sent them and helped get them what they needed in  court.”

“Should we have, I dunno, followed them?” Stephanie asked. 

“Or kept them from leaving?” added Marisela, biting her plump lower lip. 

“No,” answered the attorney, “If there are no sheep missing, no one goes hunting for the wolves. The plan is to let them head back to their little holes, report back to their handlers, watch the chatter. “But here, take this, keep these here,” she said, producing a small sheath of paperwork from her briefcase, “it’s a copy of our own restraining orders, in case they do come back. In the meantime we'll bury them in red tape. They shouldn't be able to do anything.” She handed the papers to Randi, closed her briefcase. 

“I want them punished,” came Melissa's voice, soft and sudden and cutting through the room from behind the desk. She’d been petting Dr. J’s hair, holding him close and still looking at him. His eyes were on the floor; he was quietly listening. “They tried to take him. I want them all punished.” 

A buzz went through the room. Josie’s hair writhed, Marisela’s teeth tingled anew. Dr J just stood there speechless, still marveling - though not at the attorneys’ legal prowess, but at the unspoken she-elephant in the room. What had his girlfriend Melissa just done? What sort of power had she commanded? Just ten minutes ago she’d stood, risen above them all and took charge of the room in a voice that rattled the walls like thunder. And just now she did it again with little more than a whisper. What the hell was happening?

“Are these, like, guys from those people that think they’re some sort of ‘resistance’?” Melissa asked. She sounded normal again, just a little pissed-off. 

“We’re pretty certain, yes. There are a few of these anti-feminist cells in the state and we’re trying to identify some of the major players.”

“We’ll get to them all eventually,” another attorney assured her. 

“Who are they??” Melissa asked, embers of a smoldering anger heating her voice, “Like, their names. Where do they live?”

“We’re slowly starting to put names to some of them, the people that organized this little stunt today,” said one of the attorneys, “One of them we know has been communicating with someone in this room…”

She looked at Dr. J... 

=======================================

[the-firebird69]

More shortly but he's enthralled what style. None. Tommy f the cheapskate. Mac daddy too. Play it for Mac proper to a tee now as threats. Try passing the buck both are guilty. And get hit too. Now the idiot realm is going to be under strict attack now. And yes walls are up in many cities keeping them in there. Not tons no about half mostly the eastern hemisphere

They're infirm we don't like them are sick fall for too much are used on us. All true. We strike them too. Saw huge caverns empty and we're hauled to the cities. Armament. Yes Trump's and he took tons. Bja acts the act nope lame. He smiles macs planned to use. Of course dimwit you blow up they leave scenario lol. He didn't laugh found it humorous of himself to come up w it. Then it's no fun. He's wrong. Forgieners us macs go in today tomorrow and until they're empty they will call Thiers to come defend are now good. Will flow out of regular cities shortly. To use it as needed. Mb luck works nab us and forg Mac officers they grin good.

15% of the population in regular areas about 3% are up moving shortly as we said this is why though. Are not allowed no the cities are not cordoned are big. Soon they flow out

Thor Freya

Olympus

Good we build castles not them

Hera

Will be a break from this heinous monotony what ASSHOLES

Zues

Sure we are so what and delusional freaks no. Weaklings and shall be seen as such we say this jamb it he laughs ohhh little baby fucker now he hates us says no shit cheesy dweeb so I get it. Too many to fight we die in those cities he hates us more I say he goes with us. Now we've been mean for many years it doesn't pay. This blows. Some were fair I will say we suck badly will die badly. Messed up our own stuff lives and it's ending. Trump is going bombastic and not right we cannot defend the cities mope

Bja

It's on we suck armies at us day and night we need up. Macs can't so we then try. Makes it work better hv seen it

Tommy f

Heard it before he's slow. Lame. Postpone all. But hey he tries not much says we help threatens we never comply. He's daft. We use his mens reactions on them. Rip them up.

This is absurd what you faggots got together here and are doing. The lady had a nm Michelle number no don't know who that is handed by the last guy. Ok must be a winner. She heard it threats. New guy says no. Saw him reported to the loser. He's in a fight. Now it's meaningless never works but yeh they think it will up in one ship and stuff. They feel the ship is 100by 1000 or so. Lots agree. Our son says there are three plus five smaller above each. And so on he says they flip out. And say what are we supposed to do about that. The ship about 800 miles across but a saucer like ship so about 1500 x 10000 and they don't see it nope. Or why it would correlate to asteroids. And natural formation hides it yup. Not a brain teaser. It's on they say you can't say that. We can and do. His ship lights it up. All of them called Jupiter. Nome of you can withstand the gravity he will when 75% full grown. Won't feel it no. You would die. Your brains the issue yup. Ghwb poured over it researched it as did JC Mary. And nope. Tons drew off it studied it nope. Trump will try hulk mutate his brain has. Nope. Hulks can he can't. True. He will die for his mouth yes.

Huge ship. She has one. It's name is hers Saturn it's beautiful sleek fast as she is

It's out west. Yes. Where she was. Mexico

Thor Freya

I'm still out west intend on launching soon ok slow poke. He says it ok. We have ours ready the fleet they shall she says grinning. Once up they use it to access Jupiter and Saturn. That is if the ships are still there lol

Thor Freya

Olympus

Whop whop Tommy f

Zues Hera

You don't know shut up

Tommy f

Whop whop

Zues Hera

Great ok I see it the red eye

Tommy f

Olympus

[legostarwarsgame]

TT's Masterpiece: The Best LEGO Star Wars Game Yet

As we dove into it, not only did we have a blast reliving the epic moments of the series with these sick new levels, but it also reignited our inner Star Wars nerds, making us want to buy Xbox games to explore even more of the galaxy far, far away. We’re not talking about some back-of-the-store dweeb lamenting about not knowing Star Wars Masters of Teräs Käsi lore. Nope, this is about vibing with another mega-fan over how epic Duel of the Fates is or cracking up over prequel memes. You can totally tell when a dev is all about their game, and it's rare to find one where that’s so obvious. It feels like TT knew this was their last shot to do the series right, and they didn’t just nail it—they made what’s probably the dopest Lego game ever and honestly, one of the best Star Wars games out there.

Explore 20+ Planets with Shorter, More Focused Levels

Looking at it from a third-person view, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is way more lit than the old Lego games. If you’re thinking of how to buy PS5 games that offer this kind of upgrade, this title is a standout choice. Sure, there’s still some of that classic “smash, build, repeat” vibe, but the game switches things up so fast that you never get bored of what you’re doing. Lightsaber duels are on point, the third-person shooting feels super smooth, and while melee combat could use a little more spice, that’s pretty much the only gripe with the revamped gameplay. The Skywalker Saga covers all nine movies from the main Star Wars saga, with each film split into five levels. Plus, between these levels, you get to chill on over 20 planets with tons of open areas to explore. To avoid feeling repetitive, the levels are way shorter than in past Lego Star Wars games. The devs used these shorter levels to make the world feel bigger and more focused, which is a solid trade-off.

Abundant Side Quests with Unique Humor and References

The Skywalker Saga is packed with that classic Lego game humor, but TT Games has seriously upped their game. If you're looking to buy PS5 games that deliver this level of fun and comedy, it's easily one of the funniest games we’ve played in ages. You’ve got the usual Lego slapstick, killer sight gags, and solid voice acting that, while not an exact match for the real actors, totally works. With 45 levels, you’ll definitely feel like you’ve gotten a full Star Wars experience by the end. And if that’s not enough, there are 140 side missions to tackle. Yeah, you read that right—140 side missions, 731 puzzles, 135 level challenges, and 380 characters. There’s an insanely huge amount to do in The Skywalker Saga. Some side quests are quick and easy, but a lot of them are pretty involved, each packed with unique, hilarious writing. It’s clear that the devs had a blast stuffing this game with jokes and references.

Great Replay Value Despite Story Hiccups in LEGO Star Wars

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is straight-up one of the best Lego games ever for me—it totally takes me back to my childhood with just a flick of the lightsaber. This game is hands down the biggest, most epic, and best-looking Lego game we've ever seen! With its killer soundtrack, solid gameplay, massive amount of content, and a bunch of different settings, I’m definitely gonna keep coming back to it. It’s a bummer about the story hiccups and the times it pulls you out of the experience; otherwise, it’d totally get a ten. But if you're a Star Wars or Lego fan, you'll probably vibe with it big time.

[lorecatchup]

it's Hell in a Cell time, RIP to Cody and Ted

They're talking to Randy in their locker room about going out to celebrate after they win and Randy's like "you guys are gonna die wether you win or lose, we're not going out tonight" and Cody's like "lol okay sure, you're starting to sound like my old man" Cody, my sweet, innocent buttercup

"and by the way, I'm not your old man, I'm the WWE champion, and if I were you two I'd listen to what I have to say"

Ted: "and if I were you, I wouldn't underestimate us"

okay Ted

Also Cody speaks with the softest lil voice in the locker room scenes

Cody's got new trunks, these ones have a yellow crest and it says something but his ass moves around to much for me to get a clear pause to read it

But also with the yellow, also the red pair and the green pair, it's starting to feel like these are copyright free [redacted] themed trunks tbh what a fucking DWEEB

Wait, I think this is also the first time we've seen him with a wrapped hand

Lmao

"where theirs ends, ours begins"

I can't record audio atm but the amount of grunts happening???

Also this angle was such a choice

Also Shawn gripping onto Cody's trunks for support and Cody like, pulling his hand off him like that?? 👁👁

Meanwhile, Shawn and Ted:

A little kid in the audience: "shut up, Ted, no one likes you" lmaoooo

Cody makes So Much Noise

They're trying to get Shawn into that double submission hold again and there is so much grunting and Ted's like "come on! Come on, Cody! Come on!" lol ok

[thirsty-pixie]

Richie x Reader. Part 4

Part 1, part 2, part 3

Part 5. Part 6

Two years later Y/n is 17 and richie is 15.

It was late May and the weather had already started to warm up hinting that summer was right around the corner and so was summer break. It was my senior year and I was getting ready to graduate, I still hung out with some of the losers club but mostly Richie.

I sighed laying back with my hands behind my head looking up at the stars, for the passed week richie and I had been climbing out onto my roof at night and looking at the stars. We would talk about what we wanted to do after we graduated and all the places we wanted to go. "I want to be a doctor" I said smiling, Richie laugh and rolled onto his side to look at me "why so you can eat the patients when they die?" I hit him and laughed. "You know I don't eat people you weirdo." I rolled onto my side so we were face to face.

The moon was partially covered by clouds causing a dim light to cast shadows across his face as he looked at me examining my face. "Remember that day you punched Bowers in the face?" He smiled and sat up "yeah why?" I sat up as well looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "You said I was short and I told you just wait." I rolled my eyes "well look who the short one is now" he laughed and nudged me with his shoulder. "Most you bring that up every day?" I shook my head and laughed when he triumphantly said yup.

I looked at him as he gazed at the stars and a familiar urge came over me, I bit my lip and looked at the sky seeing a shooting star. "Oh shooting star make a wish." Richie said excitedly, I closed my eyes and made my wish and when I opened then he was looking at me. "Well?" He asked smiling "what'd you wish for?" I laughed "I'm not telling you" I said shaking my head. "Oh come on... I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours" I ropled my eyes "C'mon....." he said again nudging me.

"Fine" I said sighing "I wished for a million dollars" I looked up at the sky and smirked. "Liar" I looked at him as he fake pouted and smiled, "Ugh you really wanna know...." he nodded vigorously. "I wished that you would just kiss me already and quit chickening out." I turned to look at him and he quickly put his hand behind my head tangling his fingers in my hair and pulling me to him. Our lips met and for a moment the world stood still, our lips moved against each like they were dancing. He lightly tugged my hair as he laid me back against to roof and position himself over me. His tounge slid into my mouth and swirled around mine, he slowly pulled away and smiled. We were both breathing heavily as we gazed into each other's eyes, his messy curls cast shadows across his face.

"What was your wish?" I said as I ran my fingers through his hair, "honestly I wished for a life time supply of free pizza" I laughed an rolled my eyes "but I like your wish better" he dipped down kissing me again. "Well Mr. Tozier I do believe its about time to go sneak back home or mommy might get mad at you " he looked and his watch a cursed.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked as we crawled back in through my window, "yep I'll meet you out front before school" I closed my window and turned to face Richie. He grabbed my waist and pulled me to him kissing me roughly, I smiled into the kiss before pulling back. "Goodnight Richie" he smiled and winked at me "Goodnight to you too" I flopped on my bed an fell asleep with a smile on my face.

I woke up to my alarm and a bright light shining through my window, fuck I forgot to close the curtains. I shut off my alarm and walked to my bathroom, I showered did my makeup and got dressed in a floral dress that stopped a few inches above my knees. I did my hair and slipped on my white sandals, I did one last mirror check before brushing my teeth and leaving. I had my backpack over one shoulder as I leaned against my fance waiting for Richie, "about dan time Loser" I said smiling as Richie walked up to me. He rolled his eyes and kissed my cheek, "last week of school it doesn't matter if we are late." He wrapped his arm around me as we walked to school.

We met with the rest of the losers at the front of the school, "what's up dweebs" Richie said smiling making everyone turn around to look at us. "Its about time" Eddie said smiling, "what?" I tilted my head confused. "We've been waiting for you to to get together all year." I looked at Stan and shook my head smiling. "Was it that obvious?" I when everyone nodded, the bell rand for first cladss so Richie walked me to my locker before saying goodbye.

The last week of school was mainly graduation practice and short days that let out just after lunch. I walked down the hall to my locker where Richie said he would meet me after school, I put my books inside and closed my locker looking around. I recognized a familiar mess of curly hair a few feew infront of me, Richie had his locker open and was digging around trying to find something so I decided to sneak up on him.

He let out a frustrated groan and slammed his locker, "boo!" He jumped and glared at me "fuck Y/n not now dammit!" I frowned and looked down. "Hey I'm sorry I just can't find my Biology book and the teacher is threatening to hold me back if i dont turn it in" he ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "You have a horrible memory Richie.." I said smiling at him "what?" He looked at. me confused "you left it at my house last week when I made you study for your finals" he laughed and face palmed.

I grabbed his hand and we walked out to the bike rack to meet up with the rest of the guys. "Oh yeah definitely" Eddie was yelling at the guys about something "definitely what?" I asked walking up behind Eddie causing him to jump "uh....uh nothing.... you guys ready to go?" He quickly changed the subject and smiled at me. "Weirdos..... yeah we can swing by my place on the way and drop off our stuff" they nodded and we started walking to my place. We were planning on going to the quarry today and go swimming but that all changed when we got to my house.

Part 1, part 2, part 3

Part 5, part 6