[A/N: i'm sure this kind of thing has been done before, but i'm wondering whether or not there's a cuddly version of it. Not everything has to be p0rn, you know. Sometimes we can just have a nice long hug with the tentacle-like cables of our gay computer friend. Now wouldn't that be nice?? Hopefully can be read as queerplatonic bc that's what i was shooting for.

I don't know any kind of sign language and refuse to do research on it for such a stupid purpose (like this isn't a good fic, i mean) so sorry if Stan sounds kind of robotic. Idk what kind of contractions exist.

TW/CW: office (setting), Mind Control Facility (setting), friendship, Stanley uses sign language (but idk which variant, you choose), some sadness, easy convincing, some excitement, physical pain (mentioned), helping a friend, nerves, computer consoles, wires/cables, scene negotiation??? asking for/giving consent, being wrapped/tied up, physical contact (????), asking for adjustments, happiness!!! petting (??), brushing hair, nostalgia, apologies, being carried, platonic kisses, hugging, snuggling/cuddling, kisses, flirting, proposing something, gentle rejection, watching something together]

"Perhaps he simply missed a memo."

Stanley took a few labored steps and breathed in deeply. He badly wanted for a specific feeling to flood his senses, but knew that he would be as unable to satisfy them as he ever had been. He dejectedly glanced around the office: having rifled through all of the desks in this part of the building countless times without finding anything that could come close to what he wanted. He wondered if some other desk somewhere might have it, and he knew just who would know.

He trudged up to a door and rasped on it three times. His partner choked back a surprised yelp at the action. "Ehm. Yes, what's the matter?"

Stanley signed to one of the cameras in the ceiling. 'Is there a teddy bear in the office?'

"A teddy bear??? No, no. Why would there be a teddy bear here? Why do you want to know???"

Stanley made a puppy dog face. 'I want a hug.' He made a heart shape with his fingers and slouched his arms to his sides.

"A hug?... Um, no, i don't believe there is anything here that could give you that. Hmm… There are some pillows in the lounge, would that work for you?" Stanley shook his head. "Huh. Well, how about a mannequin? I have one of those if you think it'll help." Stanley seemed to consider for a moment, but then made a face and shook his head. "Well, i'm not really sure what else to offer you! Those are the only things i can think of right now. Did you have anything else in mind that would sate? I'm really drawing a blank here, Stan."

Stanley considered what he would want. He knew what he would like the most, but he wasn't clear about the details of how to attain it. He knew Narrator wouldn't be very helpful with it. 'Can YOU hug me?'

"ME hug you?! St-Stanley, you know i can't do that. I mean, YOU could hug ME if you wanted: really holding any one of these computers would do it. But… uhg, i can't really reciprocate the moootiooon. There's not a lot here that i can DO when it comes to directly, physically interacting with you."

Stanley pouted his lip. 'Are you certain?' He blinked cutely.

Narrator sighed in thought. "Well, i… i'm pretty sure. There is… hhhuh, one thing that might work, but…" Stanley grew very attentive. "I can't guarantee it will. And even if i can manipulate this thing, i can't say for certain that you'll be safe there. I would rather not try than see you get hurt."

Stanley walked through the office. 'I have been hurt before. It's fine.'

"Well, yes, i KNOW you've been hurt before. But I'VE never hurt you myself."

He paused. 'You have hurt me plenty.' He made a face.

He huffed incredulously. "When?!"

'You blew me up.'

Narrator sputtered. "Wha–! Ah! Oh please! That was instantaneous! Did you even feel anything then? Do you explicitly remember any one single physical sensation you had at that time???"

Stanley blinked. 'If i say 'yes,' will you try to hug me?'

Narrator grumbled. "Oooohhh Stanley, you're insufferable!" He huffed. "Fine, i'll TRY to hug you. But keep going, i can't do it here." Stanley grinned wide and hurried along.

"When Stanley came to a set of two open doors, he eh– oh, sorry. Um, but it is through the left door." Stanley complied. "Really, it's at the end of the main story. You know the way. Would, um… would you still like me to narrate???"

Stanley smiled and nodded. 'Yes please do.' He followed the Narrator's path, faithfully listening to the story that he knew by heart at this point.

He made his way to the control room of the Mind Control Facility and tilted his head when he heard the Narrator. "Now, i think this should work with aaanyyyyy console heeere… probably…" Stanley looked around. "But i want to say that it would probably work best at the console in the power room. I'll be able to do it properly there, i believe."

Stanley cocked his head, still not sure what the Narrator intended to do in order to hug him. But he trusted him, and he appreciated that he even considered humoring him like this, so he entered the large room. He slowly walked up to the console with the two buttons, a bit apprehensive of whatever was to come. He examined it for any changes.

"Now, Stanley, i'm going to need you to remain calm here, okay? It might be a tad startling. But i assure you, I am trying my best to do this correctly. Um–" he cleared his throat; "l-let me know if i need to do anything differently during this. I haven't done this before, and i'm not too sure… hoooow much the human skeleton can endure." Stanley's eyes got wide and he furrowed his brows. "Right then! Let's try this, shall we?"

Some of the metal panels on the console flung open. Stanley reflexively stepped backwards and held up his arms to defend his body. He peeked into the machinery to see big, thick bundles of cables within. Much to his surprise, the bundles started to move: sliding past one another like the bodies of great snakes. Several tumbled out of the open panels with a heavy thud, with only a few showing the large plug piece that acted as the end of the bundles. They writhed and slid about on the floor, falling away from the confines of the computer.

They were getting closer to Stanley's feet, and he anxiously cowered. He signed quickly. 'What is this?'

"Well, they're cables, Stanley. This is the closest thing i have to a proper physical presence that can interact with you, and so far it seems as if i do have some agency over how they move." Stanley glanced up with a scared expression. "Oh. Uh, that is to say: i can move them. I didn't mean to imply that they can move on their own. Apologies for worrying you."

Stanley breathed deeply through his nose and examined the cables again. Most bundles were about as thick as his forearm, with only a few being more or less substantial. They were all completely enveloped in what seemed like transparent vinyl, which bound all of the colorful wires together tightly; and all of the ends that he could see had big plugs that capped them off. They all led back to the console, so he figured that one end had to remain plugged in for them to be able to do this. 'This does not hurt you, does it?'

"Oh, no, of course not. I can't feel much at all through them, honestly. So you have to let me know if i need to change how i do something. I'm not going to be able to tell if i'm crushing or constricting you at any time. You need to be honest with me. For that reason, i won't be wrapping around your arms: i need you to be able to communicate. I hope that's still alright…?"

Stanley watched cautiously as some of the bundles crept closer to his feet and started to circle around him. He took another deep breath and nodded his head. "Alright." Narrator spoke softly and clearly. "I'm going to try to wrap around you now." Stanley nodded once more.

Two of the thinner bundles slid up against Stanley's legs, one of them snaking between them once at his ankle. They slowly wrapped up around his calves, leaving him very ample room to still be able to move around. Stanley cocked his head as he watched. He was already feeling a bit better than he had been, noting how warmth was starting to bloom in his lonely chest.

"I know that hugs are not traditionally given to just your legs. I'm going to wrap another cable around your body as well. It's beside your hip now." Stanley looked over and saw the large plug hover at his side, surprised that such a hearty cable was going to wrap around him. It moved even slower than the ones on his legs, but it coiled more around his midsection.

Stanley considered. 'Can you hug a bit tighter?" He held his arms out so the cable could cover his chest.

"Oh, sure. Let me know when it's comfortable." The large cable started to constrict around him so slowly that Stanley wasn't sure if anything was even happening. When he realized that he was being squeezed, his face reflexively contorted into a happy smile. He hadn't had anything like this in such a long time that he had forgotten what it felt like. It was like real, warm sunshine was shining on his face again, and he could all but chase down every last endorphin that raced through his brain.

He held up a thumb. "Understood. How does it feel???"

Stanley grinned and nodded. 'I really like it. I feel very happy right now.'

"Oh, that's splendid!" Narrator smiled back. "Ah, it's so wonderful to see you happy, Stanley!!! You know that it's what i always want for you. I'm very glad that i could help you with that."

'You did! You're doing a fantastic job!' He wagged his thumbs and grinned wide.

"D'ooohhh, you're sweet." He chuckled softly. "Is there anything else i can do for you while we're here???"

Stanley pat the cables as he thought. 'A bit tighter?' He cocked his head.

"Okay. Let me know when."

Narrator carefully coiled the cables around Stanley's body. If he started here at where 'comfortable' was, then he didn't want to rush too quickly into 'unpleasant.' He had the cables move very, very slowly.

'Tighter please.' The cables squeezed a bit more. Stanley held up a thumb when the cable was tight enough for him to be very aware of his breathing. It wasn't at all uncomfortable, but it did heighten his mood to be held so firmly. 'Very nice.' He made a silly face.

Narrator giggled. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

Stanley nodded vigorously. He drank in the feeling of the dense cables wrapped around his body and his legs, feeling a rush of elation with each of his heartbeats. He pat the topmost cable in time with rhythmically tilting his head from side to side. He hummed a happy little tune, and after a few moments, Narrator joined in as well. "My word, Stanley!! Had i known it would make you THIS happy, i would have tried it long ago!!"

He grinned so wide that he could barely open his eyes. 'It feels amazing! I cannot stop gushing.' He wagged his fists excitedly. 'I am over the moon right now.' He continued dancing.

Narrator could barely stop himself from reacting as if he saw a cute little kitten. "Aaaaaawwww!!! That's– goodness. Oh dear, that is very good. I'm very happy as well. I'm very happy that you're happy. It's very… good. I'm happy." He unconsciously rubbed the plug against Stanley's back as he tried to speak.

The feeling shot up his spine straight to his skull, bouncing around and leaving him aching for more. 'Do that again!'

"Do what??"

'Rub my back. Please.' He put on big eyes.

"Oh. Like that???" Narrator repeated his action.

Stanley nodded excitedly and grinned so hard that his cheeks hurt. 'Yes, it feels great!' His mind couldn't keep up with his hands, so before he knew it he had signed 'can you brush my hair?'

"Um. Sure. With the end of the plug, correct??? I believe that could work as a brush…"

Stanley had reeled his hands and used them to cover his embarrassed face, but cautiously lowered them when he heard that his request was accepted. He shyly nodded his head, letting his smile return at the prospect.

"Okay." The cable dragged up from its place on his back, against his neck, and gently brushed though his thick hair.

The metal of the plug was warmer than Stanley's skin, which surprised him a bit. He didn't mind at all: he was too enraptured by the sensation of fingery appendages barely scraping against his scalp as they pushed his hair out of their way. Narrator was moving slowly: not wanting to accidentally rip or pull Stanley's hair, which gave him ample time to truly indulge in the tingly sensation of it all. He let out a shaky whine, almost becoming overwhelmed by the feeling. He knew that the tears that pricked his eyes would be noticed.

Narrator quickly pulled the plug away from him. "Oh dear! Did i hurt you? I'm so sorry, Stanley, i didn't mea– what? I didn't hurt you??? I don't understand, why did you make that face if…"

Stanley didn't wait for him to ramble. 'I have not felt somebody brush my hair since i was a kid. I forgot how much i liked it.' His hands trembled a bit. 'I have not had this much physical contact in a very long time. Long before the parable.' He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. 'Thank you, Narrator. I really appreciate this.' He affectionately rubbed his hands along the cable and gave a bittersweet smile.

"I see…" Narrator gently rested the plug against the back of Stanley's head, rubbing lightly up and down. "I didn't know that about you. I didn't know that it had been that long for you. I'm very sorry, Stanley, i should have offered this sooner. I don't know much about it, but i've heard that certain animals need physical contact in order to maintain good mental health. I know that's difficult in our current standing, but i should have put more effort into making this bearable. I'm so sorry, Sta–"

He continued to listen, but had stopped paying full attention. He leaned his head back against the plug and closed his eyes peacefully. It took a few minutes for it to return to properly brushing his hair, but Stanley was elated that Narrator continued to humor him with it. He wondered if he would be able to coax him into brushing his hair again sometime; whether or not he would be tangled up like how he currently was. Surely that wouldn't be too big of a request.

He thought about another one in the meantime. 'Would you mind if i sit down?'

"--some of the footage before we were– what? Oh, you want to sit down?" He nodded. "Well, if you don't mind, i think i have a better idea! Let me know if you like it." He loosened the lowermost coil around Stanley to be situated underneath his rear, which made him jump a bit. He shot his vision downward to see what he was doing, but barely got a glimpse before he felt himself being lifted off of the ground. "How's that??? Is that okay??? I figured that i could probably orient the wires to be something like a chair. Does that work for you???"

Stanley's mind was trying to flip through the surprise of being lifted and how to properly go about asking why as his hands were trying to make moves in broken-off words. He felt as if he was tilting backwards, so he anxiously grabbed onto the cable again and tried to compose himself. 'It is a bit odd. This does not hurt you?'

"No, no, i still can't feel anything. But what about you? Is it uncomfortable??"

Stanley hummed as he considered. He shook his head. 'No, it was just surprising. I feel fine.' He nodded. 'This will work for me.' He pat the cable again and smiled.

Narrator sighed with relief. "Oh, good. Yes, i thought using the cables for this as well would keep you nice and wrapped up completely. We're already here, so we might as well. I'm happy that it works for you." He continued to brush his hair, and Stanley leaned into it as he closed his eyes. Narrator hummed. "I really enjoy spending time with you like this. I love when the two of us can come together and be friends for a while. Honesty, we need to do that more often. You are the best friend i've ever had, Stanley."

His eyes snapped open, and he glanced around to try and find exactly where the camera was. After a moment, he opted for not letting the moment pass over making eye contact to say it. 'You are the best friend that i have ever had too, Narrator.' Stanley grinned wide and lifted both hands up, holding his middle and ring fingers down.

Narrator chuckled fondly. "Love you, too, Stan." He wiggled happily.

Stanley felt that something was missing from all of this. 'Are you certain that you can't wrap around my arms? Very loose, around each individually. Please?' Even something very light on his arms would be satisfying.

Narrator grunted a bit. "I would really rather not, Stanley: i don't want to inhibit your communication at all…" Stanley made a puppy dog face again. Narrator sighed and conceded. "But if that's what you really want, then sure. But i am not going to make those tighter."

Stanley smiled and nodded, and felt thin cables start to coil around either arm at his shoulder. They wrapped around less than three times over the full length of his arms, with the plugs at the ends hanging limply near his wrists. Stanley maneuvered to hold onto them, and rubbed them lovingly against his face. He gently kissed either as if they were a friend's hand. Narrator hummed. "My, you are a strange one." He gave a friendly grin.

He tried to sign again, and understood why Narrator thought it would prevent easy communication. He managed anyway. 'Can i hug YOU now?' He emphasized by raising his eyebrows, hopeful that he'd be allowed to reciprocate.

"Oh, Stanley, you needy thing!!" Narrator sounded incredulous, but Stanley giggled cutely. "Fine, yes, alright!! But you need to give me a moment to reorient."

The cable around him slithered along his body completely while still keeping him wrapped up. He could feel it become the slightest bit tighter, which he didn't mind. He glanced to his side, seeing the end of the cable again after all this time. It slowly hovered nearer to his front, and Stanley moved so it would be in between his arms. Once it was, he noticed that the full cable stopped moving. "There. I hope that works for you."

Stanley grinned brightly and quickly scooped the cable into his arms. He pressed it close to his chest and wrapped his hands around it in a bad attempt at reflecting the embrace. He smiled wide and rubbed his face against it, just underneath where the plug was. He hummed, and he sighed, and he looked up at it as if this were his best friend, which it was!

"O-oh. That… wow. I… didn't expect that to feel so nice."

Stanley didn't want to let him go, so he tried to sign without. Narrator was able to understand. 'Can you feel it?' He snuggled it again.

Narrator took a moment. "It… it seems so. At least a bit."

'Do you like it?'

"Y-yes, actually. It's very nice." He stammered. "Y-you know, i never could have imagined what proper physical feelings are like. Oh sure, i've seen plenty in the recordings of the office over the years, but you know, that's not really anything that i can even relate to! I mean, as much as i know about humans, and with everything i've seen, you would think that i would have a better grip on what it's like to BE one! But i really don't! And i suppose i don't mind admitting that."

Narrator went on rambling, but Stanley zoned out again; he completely missed everything after "recordings." He continued to snuggle the cord in his arms, rubbing it up and down and bunting his nose against it. He hummed quietly as he nuzzled it, and realized something when part of his face brushed against it. He looked up again at the plug, but decided to interact with the cable itself again. He shortened the distance between the two of them again and gingerly kissed the cable.

Narrator seemed to choke on whatever it was he was saying. "Agck, ahg, STANLEY!!! What are you doing?! Did you just kiss me?!"

Stanley nodded and grinned and leaned his cheek on the cable. 'Is that okay?'

"I, ahgck, you, uhgck!!! What even!!! Ahg, ah…" There was a pause. "Can you do it again???" He asked sheepishly.

Stanley smiled and pecked the cable again. Narrator huffed out. "Y-yes, it's alright. B-ut only if you keep doing it. And keep hugging me."

Stanley grinned wide and cuddled into him again. He pecked here and there, focusing on the vinyl, but sometimes kissing up at the plastic of the plug. Narrator giggled at a few of the affections, which only encouraged Stanley to move more. He nuzzled and squeezed and rubbed and kissed him, and Narrator sounded like he loved all of it. Sometimes the cable would jerk a bit, but Stanley would pull it back and smother it with more fervor. It just made Narrator giggle and laugh more.

At a point, Stanley got so caught up with necking the cable that he actually licked along it a bit. Narrator made a sound between a sigh and a moan in response, and then giggled almost sensually. The response struck straight through Stanley's skull and down his spine, and he felt a wave of heat wash over his face and limbs. His eyes went wide and he glanced up at the plug, which barely wavered back and forth. An idea hit him, and he gave a flirty grin. He continued to smother the cable, and Narrator continued to enjoy it, but Stanley was searching around for something. He spotted it and gasped excitedly, and he licked the cable again. Narrator sighed again, but while he was distracted, Stanley hit the button on the console with his heel.

Narrator was caught off guard and gasped lightly. "Oooohhh Staanleeyyy, you didn't just hit the 'on' button, did you???" He grinned shamelessly. "Why would you do that??? We were having so much fun here, you and i! Why would you want this to end that way?"

Stanley answered him. Narrator sighed almost disappointedly. "Well, i will give credit where it's due: that was a pretty clever proposal. Unfortunately for you, that's not quite what that button does. I am not very interested in doing that right now. Sorry."

'That is fine, i am sorry if i made you uncomfortable.'

"Oh, it's no problem, Stanley. Perhaps some other time." Stanley shrugged and nodded. "But what to do now? Hmm, i really don't want to go through a countdown right now: i'm in too good a mood. Oh, what to do instead?"

Stanley leaned his head against the cable again. 'Silly birds?'

"Yes, i do believe it is silly bird time. Let's see how those silly silly birds have been doing!"

Narrator turned on the monitor and flipped to one of the livestreams available. Stanley got comfortable again and snuggled up against the cable, gently petting it to soothe the both of them. Narrator hummed contentedly. "You're my favorite silly bird, Stanley." He gently brushed the plug through his hair again.

He grinned wide. 'You are the silliest bird there is!' They both laughed, and Stanley kissed the cable again. 'Much better than a teddy bear.'

Narrator giggled. "I agree, you ARE much better than a teddy bear." Stanley giggled and blushed and buried his face in the cable. Narrator chuckled, "much cuter too!"

[Post a/n: this is boring lmao

Hadn't even start writing the cable part yet and found a tentacle fic on AO3: "Tangled Up" by FreddieTheQueen. But that's pr0nz, so. Also "Wires" kind of has that going for it, but is also pr0nz. And i'm sure that plenty of others have it, but i realized that i don't HAVE to read AAALLL of the slash there is: i can stick to the sfw stuff! So mention any other tentacle/cable fics in the comments if you want idc]