#flameprism

Waterboy does give the impression of one completely uninitiated in queerdom, so throwing him in the middle of two egotistically confident queer veterans in cunt-serving creates AMPLE opportunity for delightful moments of queer joy and queer discovery for him! I'm sure they'd delight in his wide-eyed awe of everything they teach him--or Flambae would, at least, being (imo) the more solicitous of the two (enjoying helping people, fixating on pathetic men, etc). I think Prism would start out tolerating Flambae roping her into mentoring Waterboy, because whatever makes Flambae happy makes her happy. She'd be a bit long-suffering and terse with him at first, but eventually warm up and grow more indulgent toward him as his charm points and the things that make him interesting become more apparent...

And you've offered two really intriguing possibilities for what those might be! Namely: his anger and his taste in music! Granted, I took the anger he vented at the vending machine as a kind of 'exception that proves the rule', something meant to demonstrate the heavy toll Chase's hospitalization took on everyone. But it could absolutely be a symptom of a more longstanding repressed anger, as you've suggested! I can only imagine how frustrated he must be, never getting a word in edgewise--either because others interrupt him or because his lack of confidence turns everything he tries to say into word salad. ): And because everyone is picking on him!! Poor guy.

And I DEFINITELY think your interpretation is supported by your observation of those metal posters in Waterboy's bedroom. My compliments on your attention to detail, because at a glance I assumed they were all superhero posters!

The superhero posters seem to heavily feature Phenomaman, with Blonde Blazer in the middle, but there are just as many band posters as there are superhero posters. That speaks to at least an equal interest in metal (and possibly rock...? just the vibe I'm getting from the rightmost band poster but idk)--although band posters are really common decor for people who just like to listen to music, so I'd hazard a guess that his interest in metal (and possibly rock) is not as aspirational as his interest in heroism. But I digress.

Disclaimer: I'm not a metal head, but the leftmost band poster appears to be a mash-up of several bands. The subject appears to be wearing make-up extremely similar in style to Norwegian metal band Immortal; its name appears to be a disambiguation of "Black Sabbath", rendered as just "Abbath"; and the typeface of... Metallica, maybe? So those might be good reference points, for anyone trying to sample the vibe of the kind of music Waterboy is into!

(God, I just imagined Flambae driving Waterboy somewhere in his car--with ample towels, of course--and Waterboy meekly asks if he can pick the music, and NORMALLY Flambae would never permit this, but either Waterboy had a rough day or he's trying to be nice to him or he feels like he has to make up for being mean to him earlier, so he grudgingly says, "Fine, but if it sucks I'm tossing you out at the next stoplight." And then Waterboy puts on some absolutely rip-roaring, metal-shredding, guttural screamo-singing bangers, and Flambae's jaw drops as he just. Stares. At the twink fidgeting shyly in his passenger seat. He didn't know Wetblanketboy had it in him!!!)

I can't decide if Prism would like metal (I'm thinking a solid maybe???) but if NOTHING ELSE, I think she'd be impressed or surprised or even intrigued that Waterboy likes THIS. She must have figured he listened to fucking, Kidz Bop! or indie ukulele music or whatever. The Steven Universe soundtrack. Disney songs.

Forgive me Waterboy I didn't know your game... You contain such depths as I had not imagined... Precious little metalhead u can surprise everyone with ur inner rage... He can be like. Aggretsuko djsfhakljf

In fact, I think a particularly compelling start for them would be like, Prism and Flambae teasing Waterboy when he's having a particularly rough day, and he SNAPS. Stutter gone, bellowing at the top of his lungs that he's sick of their SHIT, completely red in the face and teary-eyed with rage, and Flambae and Prism are just like ":O!!!!!!!" Oh shit bro you were repressing all that??? That isn't healthy, you need to come to the spa with us, bro. And then the rest, as they say, is history!