ispyblu

[ispyblu]

at a conference I attended recently, a researcher pointed to the difficulty of finding material in archives because so much depends on the metadata and the terminology used to describe things changes over time. "it would be so helpful," the researcher said, "if I typed 'lesbian' into the library of congress database, it would also show me results that were categorised in the 50s, when the materials were interpreted as 'intimate female friendships'"

which is what tag wrangles at Archive Of Our Own do incredibly effectively: searching for "omegaverse" also leads to "alpha/beta/omega dynamics" and "alternate universe: a/b/o" and so on. but ao3 achieves this frankly incredible categorisation and indexing system by the power of countless volunteers putting in hours and hours of unpaid and unthanked free time, and it's completely understandable that most archives do not have that kind of infrastructure, but also how incredible that a fan-run website has better searchability, classification, and accessibility than the library of congress

[ispyblu]

“So I’m supposed to hit the thing now, right?” Steve says with a furrowing brow as he scans down his character sheet. He was usually better at math than English back in school, but now even the numbers on this page are doing little flips around.

“Yes, Steve, that is the object of this fight: to win.” Dustin’s eye roll is almost more pronounced than his attitude.

Steve jabs his pencil toward him and is about to remind him to watch his tone, again, but Eddie’s voice starts before he does.

“Give him a break, alright? It’s his first time,” His voice is firm, but not unkind, and Dustin surprisingly listens. Steve reminds himself that this is Eddie’s domain, and the dungeon master himself flashes him an encouraging smile. “Go ahead, dude, what’re are you thinkin’?”

“You didn’t give us a break our first time,” Lucas grumbles.

“You little gremlins have years of experience on our esteemed guest here, didn’t think I needed to.”

Mike huffs loudly, “Don’t tell me you’re going easy on him just because you’re dating now, because that’s cheating!”

Eddie’s head snaps toward Mike. The sass from his face drops into fear.

“Wheeler.” He slowly raises a crooked finger, “You dare accuse your,” A hand goes over his heart, “beloved game master of such a heinous crime as cheating?”

Gareth groans. “Now you’ve done it.”

“The integrity of this table—my integrity!—at stake here and judged by a child,” The dramatics are in full swing, as are his arms that wildly slam against his chest as if he’s been shot. His head drops and his expression sneers at Mike. “I didn’t realize you’d so quickly forgotten who exactly caused the last near-TPK of this group.”

Steve doesn’t know what the hell a tee-pee-kay is, but judging by the boos now resounding around the table, it seemed very serious. Even Dustin is giving Mike the stink eye.

“I’ll still never forgive what you did to Bastian.”

“Oh come on, he was remembered as a hero!”

“You FED him to the ENEMY!”

“That wasn’t my fault, the soldiers tricked me and the dragon’s AC was���!”

“SILENCE!”

The room stiffens. Dustin and Mike shamefully retreat into their seats once more as Eddie narrows his eyes in their direction.

Steve blinks. Blinks harder. Looks anywhere he can that isn’t directly at his boyfriend. He shifts in his seat as memories of a certain moment in Reefer Rick’s boat shack flood his mind.

No, no, he will not be thinking about that in front of the kids.

“Good. Now, if I recall correctly…” Eddie turns to Steve with the sweetest smile reserved only for him, like he didn’t just command the entire room into shutting the hell up, “Steve’s initiative is higher than both of yours and it is still his turn. Go ahead, sweetheart.”

The jock’s face burns bright red all the way to his ears. His brain racks itself to try and think of something—does he attack? Does he roll? What’s his weapon again?

“Well um. I guess—”

But all he can do is stare right back at Eddie’s brown doe eyes that are still trained on his own.

“Uh…”

Jeff shakes his head. “Great job, man, you broke him.”

[ispyblu]

So we definitely need more positive representation of DID, but you know what would be funny? Mildly inconvenient representation of DID.

Oh the world is ending and you need to know about this one specific thing? Yeah I have a guy for that but he doesn't feel like fronting right now

Sorry what's happening rn is this the bad guy? Yeah I just switched in idk what's going on

I know you're dating one alter but we're currently co-con with another alter who hates you so idk how I'm feeling rn

And just who do i think I am? It's funny you should ask that I actually don't know right now

[ispyblu]

my mans running animation only got two frames

[ispyblu]

saw an elderly woman walking around with a tote bag whose design were the four AO3 fic category squares and she very excitedly asked if i was a reader or a writer bcs nobody else at the con had recognized it, and after telling her that i've been writing fic since fanfic.net, she solemnly nodded and explained that she'd been reading fic since "the days of personal websites" but that she only started writing fanfic when she was 47 and oh my god when i tell you that i genuinely teared up on the spot!!!!! like!!! HELL YEAH???? LITERALLY NEVER TOO OLD TO START WRITING. NEVER TOO OLD TO WRITE AND SHARE YOUR FIC.

her enthusiastic "i'm a very nice and bubbly person, i swear! but i love writing angst and major character death :)" nearly took me the fuck out.

icon. legend. diva. i wish her nothing but a kajillion million comments and kudos. i hope her fic updates crash AO3. i hope she knows i'm promoting her to my personal patron saint of AO3.

[ispyblu]

So after nearly 6 months of binging all my favourite tropes with Steddie fics... I am gonna have to actually plan out how I will tackle writing all the fics I wanted to read, but that do not yet exist. Because hoo boy, I feel like I am running out of fics to read [ignores the 100+ tabs open and then 100+ fics marked for later], so I am gonna have to get writing.

The list of fics to be written is getting really reaaaaally long. So outlines are going to be a must.

Also why are there like barely any Soulmate AU's? 13 pages on AO3 and majority are unfinished wips. It's devastating as a Soulmate AU reader to see. Still, I can't complain if I am not going to do my part.

Better get crackin' I suppose.

[ispyblu]

Steve and Robin accidentally outing themselves because Eddie walked into Family Videos on the first day of Pride like, “What’s up, queers?”

And they both turned to the other like, “Did you tell him about me?”

Eddie is just like, “…?”

And Keith is like, “…”

And Dustin is very loudly like, “Is that why you won’t date each other? Oh my god, why didn’t you just say that!?”

[ispyblu]

STOP no more live-action remakes. We're going the other way now. Animated Casablanca. Animated The Godfather. Animated Oppenheimer. Animated Fight Club.

[ispyblu]

Eddie coming out to Steve and Robin doesn't go exactly as he had expected it to go. He didn't know what he expected, but it was definitely not Steve going,

"Yeah, I know."

"You... know."

"Yeah man, you returned youngblood paused at 14:20, only people who like dicks and butts do that. It's almost at the start of the movie too, and I know you don't like hockey."

"I could have rented it for my uncle!"

Steve doesn't say anything.

"Do you always pay that much attention to where people pause their moves or are you stalking me specifically?"

Steve shrugs, "working gets boring, and it was important information about you specifically."

"why"

"I wanted to check if you would consider dating me, like I did with Vicky for Robin."

Eddie is grateful for Robin's gasp because he can't react to those words himself. This whole conversation had him completely out of the loop and now Steve wants to date him???

"You never told me you liked Eddie!" Robin exclaims. At least someone is as lost in this conversation as him.

"I did tell you," Steve answers matter of factly.

"When?"

"When I said 'those metallica guys are hot' and you said 'ew, they look like Eddie' and I said 'yeah'" Steve throws his hand up, like that's obvious.

"That's not saying anything!"

"Well, you said that you were jealous Tommy Thomson was looking at me and I got it from there, I thought this was the same."

Robin opens her mouth, closes it, embarrassed.

"Can we go back to you wanting to date me?" Eddie asks.

"Sure, now that it's out, do you want to come to mine tomorrow? If we count this as our first date we can make out tomorrow."

"That's not how that works," Robin says.

"It is now," Eddie says almost in a groan.

[ispyblu]

when u unholster the gas pump and expose its insert and u push it into ur cars hole and feel the hose stiffen with liquid and u hold down on the trigger watching your cars tank fill all the way up until its close to its breaking point and only then do u let the pump slide out and its still dripping and u plug ur car up to make sure nothing leaks out and u dont even clean the pump as u hang it back up for the next car to enjoy

[ispyblu]

au where steve/eddie/robin are hanging out at eddie’s and out of the blue robin asks the room “how long is your ideal hug?”

and with zero hesitation steve replies “at least 45 minutes. probably a good hour or two if i could swing it”

eddie and robin blink.

robin: …i don’t think that’s very realistic, dingus

steve, still reading his magazine and not at all paying attention to the way robin and eddie are Looking at him: *scoffs bitchily* you said ideal, rob, not realistic

and this is where steve will swear that robin and eddie have developed their own psychic link because the next thing he knows, eddie is yanking steve down so he’s laying on top of eddie on the couch and robin is laying down on top of him and: “guys what the fUck”

robin and eddie, in unison: steve sandwich

steve, softly but with feeling: what the fuck

eddie: let us give you your ideal hug, okay sweetheart?

steve, dying inside but also fucking Living: …okay c:

.

.

.

(originally posted on bluesky here)

[ispyblu]

new guy (Steve) keeps coming to the coffee shop where Eddie is a long-time regular and keeps stealing his favorite armchair. petty, passive aggressive warfare ensues; Steve assumes Eddie is flirting, has no idea he's engaged in a turf war

[ispyblu]

Steve slowly realises way more customers end up actually renting something when he flirts a little with them. So for the sake of making sure he gets the Christmas bonus him and Robin were promised if they hit a certain target, he stops being picky about who he flirts with and starts turning his charm on for literally every adult who walks into the store.

It works surprisingly well. At first he's worried that some of the guys who come in might try to punch him, but he's mastered the art of being subtle with his smiles and compliments. So they mostly just have a pleasant chat with him and leave feeling conflicting emotions and carrying a movie they hadn't planned to rent, but somehow felt compelled to. When Steve and Robin get good feedback from the manager for their consistently improved rental figures, Robin starts encouraging Steve to keep it up.

The only issue is because he's spending pretty much every day flirting with people at work, it becomes second nature to him and he does it in his personal life. Most of the time he does it without even realising, but there are the rare embarrassing occasions where he catches himself saying or doing something that would not be interpreted the way he meant it to be.

One of the worst was when he dropped the kids off at the Byers' place for a sleepover and when Joyce thanked him for getting them there safe, he said, "Anything for you, Joyce," in an unintentionally suggestive tone and winked at her.

He got about half way down the driveway before practically running back to her with a bright red face, apologising profusely. "I'm so sorry, that came out really weird. I just meant that like I think of you as a mom and - no wait, shit, that makes it sound weirder." He had to take a breath to find the words and it came out stiff and unnatural when he said, "I appreciate everything you've done for us all and if you ever need help with anything you can always ask me."

The party witnessed the entire interaction and relentlessly tease him about it and mimic what he said while making kissy faces every time he's scolding them for doing or saying something stupid. They only stop when Will tells them to because that's his mom and he doesn't want to relive that weird, uncomfortable moment where Steve sounded like he was trying to proposition her.

An even worse occurrence happened not long after, when Hopper saw Steve standing around by his car, waiting for the kids to get their shit together and get out of the arcade. Hopper was on patrol, so he called over to him jokingly, "Loitering is a criminal offence, you know."

And Steve, before he could stop it, put one hand on his hip, brushed the other through his hair and said, "Are you gonna cuff me for it, Hop?"

Steve's blood ran cold in the deafening silence that followed where they looked at each other with horrified expressions, but Hopper managed to collect himself quickly. "I'm going to forget you just said that because I know that's not how you meant it to come out."

Steve couldn't look him in the eye when he quietly responded, "That would be really great, thank you."

He also had a weird moment with Jonathan, when he and Nancy walked into Family Video - which to be fair is Steve's main flirting ground - one afternoon later that week.

"So I heard you tried to flirt with both my parents?" Jonathan opened with.

And instead of more blushing and apologising, something unhinged in Steve's brain made him lean forward and say, "You jealous, Jonathan?" and even more wild is the fact that his body thought it would be a great idea to press his index finger to the middle of Jonathan's chest as he said it.

Jonathan looked at him, wide eyed, and only found himself able to let out a blank sounding, "Um."

Nancy, however, stared him down and said, "He's taken, Steve."

Steve pulled his hand away like he'd been burnt as soon as he caught on to what she meant.

And because Steve is a disaster, what was meant to be an assurance that he would never go for Nancy's partner, comes out entirely different.

“Relax, I’m not after your boyfriend. I have much better taste. Like… you, for example." It dawned on him that his tone had been way off as both Nancy and Jonathan stared at him like he had grown an extra head. "That sounded better in my brain. I've moved on, I swear. I meant my past relationships show that my type is not Jonathan. No offence, Jonathan, you are a good looking guy, like you're unconventionally handsome and it's kind of charming... I need to shut up."

He heard himself digging a deeper hole but couldn't make it stop.

"Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?" Robin said, slapping him on the shoulder. "You're supposed to flirt with customers, not everyone."

"I'm sorry, I was going for reassuring this time. Why does everything I say sound wrong lately?" Steve groaned with his face pressed to his hands.

"If it makes it any better, it totally would have worked on me if I was single and into guys," Jonathan shrugged.

"No, Jonathan. That doesn't make it better." Steve snapped in response.

Eddie is blissfully unaware of this new development, until he invites Steve and Robin to one of Corroded Coffin's shows.

Steve can't keep his eyes off Eddie the entire time, and it seems as if Eddie notices and thinks it's weird because Robin definitely notices and announces to Steve that he's being weird. Also, Eddie's eyes keep flitting over to him and he definitely messed up a note or two at some point, which must mean Steve's weird behaviour is throwing Eddie off. Steve tries his best to stop but he keeps doing it so in the end he just lets himself stare and decides he'll explain it to Eddie later.

Then someone tries to approach Eddie at the side of the stage after their set, looking at him with an expression Steve recognises as one that says 'come home with me'. And he feels awful about it because he should let Eddie have that with someone, especially after all the shit he's been though, but his traitorous feet carry him through the crowd to steal Eddie's attention before the person can get there. Robin's left to follow after Steve like a parent chasing a toddler who's running with a sharp object.

Eddie's got no clue that Steve just ruined some potential action for him as he downs a bottle of water so quickly some of it drips down his shirt. Steve's brain suddenly goes 'wow I wish I was that bottle of water', which he will admit catches him off guard because where the fuck did that thought come from? All the other times he'd behaved like this, it was without any thought at all until after the fact. He's also weirdly satisfied when he notices the person who was coming over to talk to Eddie is walking away dejectedly.

"Hey, you guys made it!" Eddie says, his face lighting up as he notices Steve and Robin standing there.

"Of course we did," Robin smiles.

Eddie gives both of them a hug, but Steve's seems to linger a little longer and Steve has to fight himself not to lean in closer and smell Eddie's hair because that's a really fucking weird impulse, especially since Eddie is all sweaty from performing.

"So, what did you think?" Eddie asks, a slightly nervous tone in his voice.

"You were awesome," Steve says, and mentally pats himself on the back for saying something that sounds normal.

"Really?" Eddie asks hopefully.

Something about the look in his eyes makes Steve's chest feel strange. Which is the only explanation he has for immediately demolishing his winning streak against his flirty tendencies.

He means to compliment Eddie on how talented he is at playing guitar. That's what he tells himself anyway.

What actually comes out of his mouth is, "Yeah, you're really good with your hands, Eddie," and it sounds absolutely filthy with the low tone of Steve's voice and the little lip bite he does after, all while leaning in close and making eye contact. There is no room for interpretation at all, but Steve doesn't feel the usual panic and embarrassment that comes when he accidentally does something flirtatious. Huh.

Even more surprising, when Eddie closes the gap even further, raises an eyebrow at him and says, "You should see what they can do when there isn't a guitar in the way, sweetheart," it doesn't throw Steve off one bit, he only feels a spark of excitement at the challenge.

"Maybe I will," he replies, his gaze darting between Eddie's lips and his eyes. And yeah, he's pretty much realised that he's just intentionally flirting with Eddie at this point. He's hoping he'll leave with him because they can't exactly kiss in front of a bar full of people.

"Oh my God," Robin groans, exasperated, and both boys break apart. "Could you take me home before I have to witness anymore of this? It's bad enough watching you flirt when you don't know you're doing it, Steve."

"Shit, sorry, Robin," Steve apologises. "Yeah, I'll drive you home." Robin thanks him, says goodbye to Eddie and starts walking towards the exit. Steve turns back to look at Eddie. "See you later," he smiles, but when he's about to turn to follow Robin, he feels ringed fingers wrap firmly around his wrist.

"Yeah, you will," Eddie responds, his tone still flirty and his eyes watching Steve with purpose. "Your place or mine, big boy?"

[ispyblu]

I have this cute idea about Steddie where Eddie is actually a comically big softie in comparison to what he shows others.

I’m talking oversized sweaters with sweater paws, fuzzy slippers, messy bun, loving romcoms and trying to save each and every animal he sees on his way.

And Steve finds this out randomly when he stops by, dunno why, maybe drop something off or to visit and Eddie opens the door right after his nap in an oversized sweater, with bunny slippers and all soft faced. He’s sleepy and not fully aware of what is happening.

And that is the moment where Steve falls in love.

[ispyblu]

I know we love writing Steve and Eddie as these big ol' romantic guys, like fully waxing poetics and throwing petals everywhere.

But. Listen. This is totally their dynamic.

*Eddie sitting on his couch during a movie night, Steve is in the opposite arm chair with a heaping bowl of popcorn in his lap*

EDDIE: You should come over here and cuddle me.

STEVE: I would, but I'm eating popcorn and also you keep farting. So I'm staying right where I am.

EDDIE: I am not farting! You're making up—

STEVE: *giving Eddie a you're bullshitting look*

EDDIE: Maybe I tooted, man! It's my couch, I can do whatever I want! Just get over here and cuddle with me. You've been at work all day and I miss you.

STEVE: Mm, but I'm eating popcorn, though. And you didn't want any. *shoves a giant handful into his mouth, obstructing his voice* I also know you. If I come over there, you're gonna stick your grimy hands into my popcorn and eat all of it and then when I ask you to make more, you'll whine and groan and be a big baby about it. So. *he shrugs, swallows his mouthful, immediately replaces it with more popcorn* No, I'm not gonna come over there.

EDDIE: *pouting* My hands aren't grimy.

STEVE: I can literally see the paint from your mini-figure things. I don't want paint flakes in my food.

EDDIE: *still pouting* It adds to the flavor.

STEVE: *deadpan* It leads to lead poisoning. *picks up a piece of popcorn and flicks it at Eddie, watching it bounce off his head* Leave me alone, I'm trying to watch the movie.

EDDIE: *sulking now, huffing and puffing to himself, arms crossed tight over his chest, not even watching the movie, instead watching Steve* I should've pissed in your popcorn when you weren't looking.

STEVE: *sighs* If I come over to the couch, will you stop being annoying?

EDDIE: I could be persuaded.

STEVE: *gets up and plops down next to Eddie, still holding onto his popcorn bowl* My hands are greasy with butter. I'm not cuddling with you yet.

EDDIE: *ignores him and goes immediately for the popcorn, scooping up as much as he can fit between his fingers and shoving all of it in his mouth—well, almost all of it, some of it falls into the ends of his hair*

STEVE: Eddie, come on! I thought you wanted to cuddle?!

EDDIE: *smiles, teeth, popcorn and all* Nah, I just wanted your food. Thanks, by the way.

STEVE: *sighs and resigns himself to having to share his popcorn* I have got to stop falling for this every time.

EDDIE: *loudly shushes Steve* You're talking over the movie, be quiet.

STEVE: I hate you.

EDDIE: No, you don't.

STEVE: *sighing again* No, I really, really don't.

*Eddie cuddles into Steve's side, stealing more popcorn as they both watch the movie...and then...a small toot is heard*

STEVE: Stop fucking farting, Eddie!

EDDIE: *cackling*

[ispyblu]

Traffic Jam

“I just don’t think you can get a date anymore! You’re so bad at flirting it’s embarrassing. Embarrassing!”

“Oh my god will you shut up Robin! This traffic is already bad enough without your whining. Why do you even care anyway? I’ve told you I just haven’t found the one yet.” Steve puts his head on his steering wheel trying to visualize himself away from this situation.

“I just feel bad like I’m leaving you behind just because I have a girlfriend now,” she sounds nervous. “You know I just want the best for you dingus…”

Steve turns to look at her, a soft look on his face. “Of course I do know that Robs I just -OH MY GOD”

“WHAT!” Robin shrieks, smacking his shoulder.

“LOOK AT THAT GUY!” He points at the first person in the other lane waiting at the red light.

“What about him?” Robin asks.

“He’s the one robs…I’m gonna get him.”

“WHAT.”

——————/—-//—————————

Eddie just wants to go home.

He’s waiting his turn at the light fantasizing about his soft bed waiting for him after a long shift when people all around him start honking.

“Excuse me, sir?! SIR?!”

Eddie flips around to see a guy around his age with his window rolled down in the other lane pointing at him.

“Me?” Eddie mouths to him, pointing at his chest.

“YEAH YOU! The hot guy on the motorcycle! Are you single?!”

Eddie hears a gasp as the girl in the passenger seat hits him.

Random guy drives up next to Eddie and then just…stops.

The cars around them are going crazy Eddie mentally captures some new swear words for use at a later time.

“Hey,” random guy says softly to him.

“Hi.” Now that he’s closer Eddie gets a better look at him and what a specimen he is. Soft brown hair and eyes to match. Moles to rival Eddie’s own freckles. The brightest smile he’s ever seen.

“So are you?” Random (hot) guy asks.

“Am I?”

“Single?”

HONK

“MOVE OVER ASSHOLE YOU’RE BLOCKING THE ROAD!!!” The guy behind Random Guy screams.

Random Guy rolls his eyes and leans a little out the window closer to Eddie.

“Hold that thought give me just a moment,” he says so incredibly softly and sweet that Eddie blushes. Then he turns his body around till half of it’s hanging out the window.

“EXCUSE ME SIR I’M TRYING TO SEE IF THIS MAN WILL DATE ME CAN YOU JUST HOLD ON FIVE MINUTES-“

The girl next to him smacks him again.

“Steve maybe we should-“

“No Robin! I told you I was gonna talk to him when else would I have the chance to? What if I never saw him again?” He leans back towards Eddie.

“So whatdya say?” Random Guy Steve’s eyes are twinkling. There’s an endearing smirk on his face. “Can I take you out sometime?”

Eddie is gobsmacked and all signs point to “Yes.”

———

Sponsored by my two hour commute to work and back

I originally wanted to write this as like four sentences but I thought it was good with a little more context.

I couldn’t decide between the traffic stopper to be Steve or Eddie but I do write more Steve being obsessed fics so I thought I’d continued the pattern

[ispyblu]

Idk where they are, or what is happening but Steve randomly shows up wearing the shortest, tightest gym shorts to ever exist...

Eddie: How could you come here looking like that?

Steve: Huh?

Eddie (breathing heavily): I need to sit down.