Blorbo Torment Nexus

Set in the millionaire Ford AU here

Stan stared uncomprehendingly at the gift box that had been set before him. Even though Ford had invited him up to celebrate their birthday together—their first one shared since Stan had been disowned—for some reason he hadn’t expected Ford to get him a gift. It hadn’t crossed his mind that his brother would consider buying something for him.

But then again, why wouldn’t he? Ford was a millionaire now, even if he didn’t flaunt his wealth. Buying a birthday present was no problem for him.

It was a problem for Stan though, because Stan hadn’t gotten Ford a gift. He hadn’t thought Ford would give him something, so he hadn’t bothered to bring something for Ford. And that was a huge problem, because now there was a gift in front of him, and Stan—having given Ford the impression that he too was a successful millionaire—had nothing to gift in return.

And the worst part was that even if he had thought about it, he wouldn’t have been able to afford a gift. Stan was flat broke, in debt and lying through his teeth to his brother so that Ford would like him again.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” Ford asked, interrupting Stan’s mental spiral.

“Y-Yeah, of course,” Stan tried to inject fake cheer into his voice.

He opened the gift carefully, holding his breath. Breath that rushed out of him in a shocked exhale as he saw what was inside.

A watch. A very, very expensive looking watch.

Ford looked proud of himself at Stan’s reaction, smiling. “I bet you’ve been eyeing one of these since they were announced, hm? I know how much you always liked gold chains and accessories. This is one of those special order models—the one that was advertised as having only a limited amount in production? I had it imported from Italy.”

A special edition watch imported from Italy. Stan’s stomach sank. This thing had probably cost Ford thousands. It was probably worth more than everything Stan owned combined.

Stan plastered on a smile of his own, turning his shock and unease into something casually pleased, like the price tag on the watch was no big deal to him. Ford thought he was rich too; he couldn’t overreact over a gift and blow his cover.

“Yeah, wow, Ford. It’s great,” Stan said, and Ford beamed brighter, clearly patting himself on the back for a successful gift. “Can’t believe you nailed my taste so well. I love it.”

That wasn’t a lie. Stan did love it. He did love expensive watches and gold chains and nice things. He just couldn’t afford them.

So far on these visits to Ford’s house, Stan had gotten away with looking like the vagrant he was. Ford didn’t flaunt his wealth, so Stan claimed that he kept it low-key during casual visits since he knew Ford preferred that. Ford had even thanked him for his consideration, and never questioned Stan’s old clothes or rundown car again.

But now he had something he couldn’t get away with, because Ford had just given him a birthday gift, and Stan had nothing to give in return. So he resorted to what he did best: he lied.

“Speaking of imports, yours hasn’t come in yet,” he said casually, picking up the watch and admiring it. “That’s why I didn’t mention anything about gifts earlier. I felt kinda bad showing up for our birthday empty handed, but you know what international shipping is like. Can’t control it.”

Ford waved him off. “Oh, that’s alright, Stanley. The gifts aren’t as important to me as spending time together. I’m really glad you were able to make time in your busy schedule to come see me on our birthday. I know you probably have tons of friends who wanted to celebrate with you, but it’s been so long since we shared a birthday together. I’m grateful you chose to come here, even if it’s not the type of party you’re probably used to.”

“Hey.” Stan nudged his brother. “Nobody’s more important than you, Sixer.”

That wasn’t a lie either. Stan just wished he’d always been equally important to Ford too.

He tried to shove that thought away. Things were going well now. Ford liked him again. Granted, that was only because he thought Stan was rich and successful, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Ford had offered Stan a chance to be brothers again, and Stan wasn’t going to ruin it.

“Buuuut…” Ford drew out the word, giving Stan wide puppy-dog eyes. “You could always give me a hint at what you got me. Since I have to wait.”

Stan felt his insides freeze into ice, but he kept his grin up. “Are you kidding? That’d spoil the surprise!”

He had no idea what he was going to get Ford, or how—

The watch glinted in the sunlight from the window, and Stan realized the answer was right there.

He’d have to find something for Ford. Something really good and really expensive; enough to rival what Ford had gotten him. And if Stan found himself unable to steal his chosen gift, well. He now had something in his hands he could sell to buy it.

The thought pained his heart, less so because of the money and more because this was the first gift Ford had bought him since they were teenagers. The first gift Stan had been given since he was thrown out of their childhood home. But… but he’d promised Ford something good, and now he had to put his nonexistent money where his mouth was.

Besides, as much as Stan wanted to keep the watch, he lived in his car. It wasn’t easy holding onto expensive items when you lived on the streets. Even if you got hold of them, someone else would take them from you at some point. Stan had robbed people and been robbed himself many times. He’d had his car broken into, his meager belongings stolen. It happened.

It was probably best to sell the watch as soon as he could and use the money to buy something for Ford, rather than wait too long and have it be stolen down the road.

He crushed the wistful part of him that whispered that the money from selling the watch would be enough to put a down payment on a small house. It was a silly thought. He’d never be able to afford the mortgage and bills. And besides that, where would he live? What was the point of living somewhere all alone, with no friends or family close by?

“Let me see you put it on,” Ford demanded suddenly, interrupting Stan’s musings.

Stan blinked but said nothing as Ford snatched the watch from his hand and fixed it around Stan’s wrist. It fit great.

“It looks amazing on you!” Ford praised.

“Haha, yeah, it does!” Stan hoped his smile didn’t look as empty as he felt. “You sure know how to pick em.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STAN TWINS!

This was supposed to just be a little doodle sketch to post on here yesterday but I never know when to put my pen down and it turned into a whole thing so…

Set in the millionaire Ford AU here

Stan stared uncomprehendingly at the gift box that had been set before him. Even though Ford had invited him up to celebrate their birthday together—their first one shared since Stan had been disowned—for some reason he hadn’t expected Ford to get him a gift. It hadn’t crossed his mind that his brother would consider buying something for him.

But then again, why wouldn’t he? Ford was a millionaire now, even if he didn’t flaunt his wealth. Buying a birthday present was no problem for him.

It was a problem for Stan though, because Stan hadn’t gotten Ford a gift. He hadn’t thought Ford would give him something, so he hadn’t bothered to bring something for Ford. And that was a huge problem, because now there was a gift in front of him, and Stan—having given Ford the impression that he too was a successful millionaire—had nothing to gift in return.

And the worst part was that even if he had thought about it, he wouldn’t have been able to afford a gift. Stan was flat broke, in debt and lying through his teeth to his brother so that Ford would like him again.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” Ford asked, interrupting Stan’s mental spiral.

“Y-Yeah, of course,” Stan tried to inject fake cheer into his voice.

He opened the gift carefully, holding his breath. Breath that rushed out of him in a shocked exhale as he saw what was inside.

A watch. A very, very expensive looking watch.

Ford looked proud of himself at Stan’s reaction, smiling. “I bet you’ve been eyeing one of these since they were announced, hm? I know how much you always liked gold chains and accessories. This is one of those special order models—the one that was advertised as having only a limited amount in production? I had it imported from Italy.”

A special edition watch imported from Italy. Stan’s stomach sank. This thing had probably cost Ford thousands. It was probably worth more than everything Stan owned combined.

Stan plastered on a smile of his own, turning his shock and unease into something casually pleased, like the price tag on the watch was no big deal to him. Ford thought he was rich too; he couldn’t overreact over a gift and blow his cover.

“Yeah, wow, Ford. It’s great,” Stan said, and Ford beamed brighter, clearly patting himself on the back for a successful gift. “Can’t believe you nailed my taste so well. I love it.”

That wasn’t a lie. Stan did love it. He did love expensive watches and gold chains and nice things. He just couldn’t afford them.

So far on these visits to Ford’s house, Stan had gotten away with looking like the vagrant he was. Ford didn’t flaunt his wealth, so Stan claimed that he kept it low-key during casual visits since he knew Ford preferred that. Ford had even thanked him for his consideration, and never questioned Stan’s old clothes or rundown car again.

But now he had something he couldn’t get away with, because Ford had just given him a birthday gift, and Stan had nothing to give in return. So he resorted to what he did best: he lied.

“Speaking of imports, yours hasn’t come in yet,” he said casually, picking up the watch and admiring it. “That’s why I didn’t mention anything about gifts earlier. I felt kinda bad showing up for our birthday empty handed, but you know what international shipping is like. Can’t control it.”

Ford waved him off. “Oh, that’s alright, Stanley. The gifts aren’t as important to me as spending time together. I’m really glad you were able to make time in your busy schedule to come see me on our birthday. I know you probably have tons of friends who wanted to celebrate with you, but it’s been so long since we shared a birthday together. I’m grateful you chose to come here, even if it’s not the type of party you’re probably used to.”

“Hey.” Stan nudged his brother. “Nobody’s more important than you, Sixer.”

That wasn’t a lie either. Stan just wished he’d always been equally important to Ford too.

He tried to shove that thought away. Things were going well now. Ford liked him again. Granted, that was only because he thought Stan was rich and successful, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Ford had offered Stan a chance to be brothers again, and Stan wasn’t going to ruin it.

“Buuuut…” Ford drew out the word, giving Stan wide puppy-dog eyes. “You could always give me a hint at what you got me. Since I have to wait.”

Stan felt his insides freeze into ice, but he kept his grin up. “Are you kidding? That’d spoil the surprise!”

He had no idea what he was going to get Ford, or how—

The watch glinted in the sunlight from the window, and Stan realized the answer was right there.

He’d have to find something for Ford. Something really good and really expensive; enough to rival what Ford had gotten him. And if Stan found himself unable to steal his chosen gift, well. He now had something in his hands he could sell to buy it.

The thought pained his heart, less so because of the money and more because this was the first gift Ford had bought him since they were teenagers. The first gift Stan had been given since he was thrown out of their childhood home. But… but he’d promised Ford something good, and now he had to put his nonexistent money where his mouth was.

Besides, as much as Stan wanted to keep the watch, he lived in his car. It wasn’t easy holding onto expensive items when you lived on the streets. Even if you got hold of them, someone else would take them from you at some point. Stan had robbed people and been robbed himself many times. He’d had his car broken into, his meager belongings stolen. It happened.

It was probably best to sell the watch as soon as he could and use the money to buy something for Ford, rather than wait too long and have it be stolen down the road.

He crushed the wistful part of him that whispered that the money from selling the watch would be enough to put a down payment on a small house. It was a silly thought. He’d never be able to afford the mortgage and bills. And besides that, where would he live? What was the point of living somewhere all alone, with no friends or family close by?

“Let me see you put it on,” Ford demanded suddenly, interrupting Stan’s musings.

Stan blinked but said nothing as Ford snatched the watch from his hand and fixed it around Stan’s wrist. It fit great.

“It looks amazing on you!” Ford praised.

“Haha, yeah, it does!” Stan hoped his smile didn’t look as empty as he felt. “You sure know how to pick em.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE STAN TWINS I LOVE THEM SO MUCH