A/N: Originally written as a fill for the Homestuck kinkmeme. I lost track of my story from being away for so long due to school and some crazy writer's block, so to keep it linear I decided to upload it here for flow and organization.

It started off as something to get extra income to support himself and Dave. It was a simple task combining his favourite thing - puppets - and what the internet was made for - porn. In the beginning, Bro wasn't particularly proud of it, but as time passed there were more subscribers, which meant more money. Suddenly he could buy Dave more things like new clothing, a better quality camera for himself to film, and instead of two meals a day (which was usually cheap take-out and leftovers) there were snacks in between. Slowly but surely it became his pride.

And someone else wanted it as his pride too. There, on his recent upload was a comment aside from the usual 'wish that puppet was me LOL':

'nice videos u got some good stuff here i can help u out if you want just email me ur number and we can talk it out peace.'

Instead of being excited, he was skeptical. First, the grammar was one you wouldn't expect from a business man. Secondly, it was a business deal over a porn site. Would it be safe to trust a random stranger? Would this guy be lying? He wasn't really sure. Investment was tricky thing, and Bro wasn't really sure if he could trust a random stranger with his money. He was thinking of just ignoring the comment altogether, do this the way he had always done - alone.

"Hey, what's for dinner?" Dave said, looking up for the first time in an hour from his grade four English workbook.

Bro shrugged. "Too busy working little man. Whatever's in the fridge today."

Dave groans, because he knows past the knives and swords, somewhere hidden deep the fridge is actual food. Behind Bro's back Dave gets up, and he can hear the small pit-pattering of Dave's feet, fridge opening and metal hitting the floor. Dave opens the microwave, removes the puppets and warms up his food.

"By the way, I have a field trip coming up," said Dave.

In the Strider household, every penny was saved. Field trips from school was one of the things they use to consider a small luxury because why waste twenty-five dollars for one day when that can buy some groceries? Now with the extra income it was possible for Dave to attend.

Bro's mind went back to the shoddy man's comment. What if this man could help him? Making the site itself was a risk he was jumping into and it had worked. Anything he could do to keep a roof over his head, feed himself and Dave, and give his little brother a good education. Besides, if the man tried anything funny he was pretty damn positive he could kick the guy's ass.

So he replied.