#and cares enough to tell ed to hang back a bit

[godasfarasyoureconcerned]

tonight i’m thinking so hard about the fact that stede killed ned low and immediately dismissed himself and when ed went in to check on him he took ed by the collar and slammed him against the wall to give an outlet to some of his energy and bad feelings. what i’m thinking about in particular is the moment where ed stopped at izzy’s suggestion, and more importantly the moment where he pushed forward against izzy’s suggestion

thinking about izzy saying “give him a minute. first kill’s always a mind fuck” and about ed ignoring his advice. thinking about the fact that izzy could probably tell stede would be feeling bad after this, or at least “mind fuck”ed enough to need some space from people, something that izzy frequently takes for himself when he feels bad too. thinking about ed disregarding the suggestion and getting real actual fucked by the mind-fucked guy. thinking about whether or not they would’ve rushed into sex if ed had truly given stede the space and time that izzy was suggesting. thinking about how he knows that it’ll be hitting stede hard and about the fact that he cares enough about that to try and lessen the blow. thinking about izzy giving an order to ed for the sake of stede, rather than giving an order to stede for the sake of blackbeard. thinking about ed ignoring it because they’ve long grown out of any semblance of that relationship where izzy offers advice to blackbeard. thinking

[toxiccoworkeryaoi]

Eddie would come up with the most elaborate schemes to kiss Steve for the first time.

here's mine: He realizes Steve is a gossip early on, like the first time they all hang out someone mentions a rumour in passing and Steve latches on. Eddie is delighted. He's enamoured by the twinkle in Steve's eyes and the intensity in his probing, even the enthusiasm in giving out the information he has about the people in question.

So Eddie knows what he has to do.

Whenever Eddie sees or hears something that frankly should not be any of his business he makes sure to tell Steve. He doesn't mention it to anybody else and most of the time he doesn't care about it much, but he needs to tell Steve.

And he only does it when it's just the two of them. He finds Steve in a secluded corner of the Family Video, says "i think my boss is cheating on his wife" and is rewarded with a gasp.

He follows after Steve when he goes to refill the popcorn in the middle of movie night and casually asks "you know who I saw the other day coming out of Laura's house at 3am?" Steve raises his eyebrows higher than Eddie has ever seen.

He calls Steve at midnight on a Wednesday and opens with "my neighbors are definitely getting back together" Steve answers with a devastated "noooo!"

He leaves the kids in the cookie aisle to go catch up to Steve and lean on the shopping cart shoulder to shoulder and whisper "dont look now, but Heather and Monica are here together, right behind us. They ARE dating" Steve looks immediately.

And Eddie's not only excited about his initial reactions, but he thanks the heavens for his discovery because it gets him Steve's total, undivided attention every.fucking.time. without fail.

Steve turns fully to him, touches Eddie's arms for emphasis, shoves him when Eddie says something dumb, tugs on a strand of his hair a bit when Eddie says something silly, opens his eyes SO wide or squints at him and his eyelashes look sooo pretty. Steve leans in and whispers back and grins and teases and scrunches his nose in the most adorable gesture Eddie has ever seen in his life.

With practice, Eddie goes from having to give Steve's shoulder a back handed slap to get his attention, to just looking at him directly for like 5 seconds and then Steve knows Eddie has something to tell him.

so he does it at dinner, on a nondescript date at a nondescript hour because, mostly, Eddie just kinda can't take it anymore.

He's listening to Steve tell this story about a costumer and frankly, forgets to look away from him and Steve interprets this as Eddie having something to say. He cuts himself off, tilts his head and asks "what?" with mirth in his voice.

Eddie smiles, a little mischievous and says "c'mere I have to tell you something"

Steve smiles back, but says "we're the only ones here, Eds" gesturing to his kitchen.

Eddie rolls his eyes a bit and threatens "do you want me to tell you or not?"

Steve leans across the table, his cut off tank almost touching their spaghetti.

Eddie wants to shove his hands through the armpit holes, but he settles for holding Steve's jaw and threading his fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

Steve's lips are as soft and warm as he expected, he tastes of the red sauce they cooked together and he smells good enough to eat. Eddie indulges in a thorough kiss but keeps it short.

No matter how many times Steve looks at him like he's the most interesting person in the room, he hasn't outright said that he likes Eddie like that, so he'd rather be careful.

Eddie pulls back and finds Steve smiling, his eyes closed still.

Steve blinks his eyes open and looks at Eddie, his tongue darts out to swipe across his lips and he says "I think that's the best one you've told me yet"

Eddie snorts and feels his cheeks burn "Yeah?" he asks.

"Mmhm" Steve confirms against his lips, already kissing Eddie again.

It takes a while, but eventually Eddie realizes Steve doesn't only give him his undivided attention when he has gossip. He does it pretty much all the time.

Maybe at some point it expanded to everything Eddie has to say.

Or maybe it was like that all along.

[steddieas-shegoes]

wanna shout it from the rooftops

for @steddie-week prompt 'secret relationship'

rated m | 1397 words | cw: implied sexual content | tags: secret relationship, established relationship, love confessions, making out, coming out

🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

As soon as Dustin walked out the door, Eddie was backing Steve against the wall, lips on his neck, hands wandering across his arms and sides.

“God, I thought they’d never leave,” Steve gasped, throwing his head back as Eddie’s teeth bit into his collarbone. “Need you so fuckin’ bad, baby.”

“Looked so good in that apron. So unfair I couldn’t get my hands on you when you were making cookies for us,” Eddie groaned against his skin. “Wanna fuck you right here. Open you up on my tongue-“

“Sorry, Steve! Forgot my-“ Dustin’s voice stopped before Eddie could even register that he should pull away. “What the fuck!”

“Language!” Steve yelled as he shoved Eddie away from him, trying to fix his shirt and hair. Not that it would do any good; Dustin just got an eyeful already.

At least they weren’t naked. Yet.

“Please tell me you were fighting,” Dustin sounds distraught, which isn’t fair. He should’ve knocked.

“You spent months making me feel bad for not wanting to hang out with your new best friend and now you’re hoping we’re fighting?” Steve placed his hands on his hips, subtly trying to catch his breath and will his dick back to soft. “What about that looked like fighting to you? How have you not sat through sex ed yet?”

“You were having sex?!” Dustin’s voice cracked. “In the hall?!”

“Of my home!” Steve threw his arms up. “And no we weren’t having sex, but we were getting there.”

Eddie held his hands up, brain finally coming back online enough to intervene before things got out of hand.

“Okay. Dustin, why the hell are you even back?”

“I forgot my notebook.”

“And you decided to storm in here like it’s your house instead of knocking?” Steve was trying to take it easy, but everything was falling apart.

They’d kept their relationship a secret for nearly three months now. Robin didn’t even know.

Now that Dustin saw what he did, everyone would know and everyone would hate them and then Eddie would leave Steve for making everyone hate them and-

“Stevie!” Eddie’s hands were on his cheeks as Steve focused back in on what was going on. His breath was coming in short pants, and if Eddie wasn’t so close to him, he isn’t sure he’d be able to see him. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’ve gotta breathe for me.”

Breathe for Eddie. He could do that. He did that all the time.

He liked doing what Eddie told him to, he liked the praise that came when he did it, he liked being good. Breathing was easy.

He took a deep breath, then another, relaxing as Eddie smiled back at him encouragingly.

“That’s good, angel. Keep doing that. I’m gonna get Dustin’s notebook, okay?” Eddie didn’t seem like he wanted to leave Steve alone, but he didn’t have much of a choice right now.

“Okay.”

Eddie walked away, towards the study that they’d turned into a game room for the kids to hang out in, and Steve immediately felt the panic settle in his chest again.

“Steve?” Dustin asked, stepping closer to him.

“Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you tell any of us?” Dustin sounded hurt, looked hurt. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was worried you’d hate me, or Eddie. That all of you would hate us for…for being different,” Steve looked down at his hands. “Didn’t wanna lose you.”

“But it’s okay if you’re gay, Steve. None of us would care!” Dustin exclaimed. “I just kinda thought you liked girls. Like Nancy.”

“I do. I just also like guys. I love Eddie,” Steve provided, relaxing slightly at Dustin’s words.

“You love him?” Dustin asked.

“You love me?” Eddie asked from the doorway, clutching Dustin’s notebook tight to his chest.

Steve wasn’t used to keeping his crushes and relationships a secret. He was used to holding hands in the movie theater and kissing a girl goodbye at her door. He was used to being able to show how much he loved someone without a filter.

But with Eddie, he’d held back. He had to in some ways, and they agreed it was best not to give anything away around anyone else for a while, but he’d hoped that Eddie saw how much he cared about him when they were alone.

“I do. I thought it was pretty obvious,” Steve stepped closer to Eddie, ignoring Dustin’s presence entirely. “I love you.”

Eddie threw Dustin’s notebook to the side, ignoring the ‘hey!’ that Dustin let out, and pulled Steve into his arms.

“Can’t believe you told Dustin before you told me,” Eddie laughed against his shoulder. “You know he can’t keep a secret.”

“Yeah, well. I love you enough to not care if everyone knows,” Steve said as he wrapped his arms around Eddie’s waist, kissing the side of his head and lingering there for longer than he probably should in front of a guest. “Was gonna tell you tomorrow after our date.”

“You mean the super secret plans that you wouldn’t give me any hints about?” Eddie pulled away, searching Steve’s eyes. “Will you tell me them now?”

“Maybe when Dustin leaves.”

Both of them turned to Dustin, who was staring at them with a blank look.

“Dustin?” Eddie asked, snapping his fingers to get his attention.

“I’m gonna go,” Dustin said, still looking lost. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“Hey, man,” Eddie let go of Steve to walk towards Dustin. “We good?”

“Yeah! I just thought you guys barely even liked each other and you’re actually in love and having sex and I’m just trying to do the math.”

Steve snorted, but straightened out when Eddie glared at him.

“If you wanna talk about anything, you can stay. You seem kinda…out of it.”

“I’d rather not intrude right now,” Dustin said, gesturing to the way their hair and clothing was still a bit disheveled. “But you are gonna tell everyone soon, right? So I don’t have to keep it a secret?”

Eddie looked over at Steve, smiling when he gave him one nod in agreement.

“Yeah, dude. We’re gonna tell everyone at the next movie night,” Eddie said as he turned back to Dustin.

“Thank god!” He breathed out. “Then I’m leaving so you two can do…whatever it is you do.”

He didn’t wait for them to respond, rushing out the door, nearly forgetting his notebook again.

Eddie laughed as he slammed the door, his head falling onto Steve’s shoulder as they fell against the closest wall. Steve was holding Eddie up, laughing with him at the absurdity of being caught by their favorite, but most likely to tell everyone, kid.

“He’s gonna go tell everyone right now, you know that, right?” Steve gasped out between laughter.

“Oh yeah. We’ll be lucky to have another hour before they’re all showing up here with questions,” Eddie said breathlessly.

He pulled back to look at Steve, both of them flush with sudden relief that it was no longer a secret. He leaned in to kiss him once on the corner of his mouth, smiling when he felt Steve’s lips turn up.

“I love you,” Eddie whispered.

“Even though I made you wait to tell everyone?” Steve sounded unsure suddenly, like maybe Eddie would retract everything.

“You didn’t make me do anything, sweetheart. We both agreed to wait.” Eddie cupped his jaw and kissed him slow, much softer than where they’d left off before being interrupted.

No matter how much he enjoyed taking Steve apart, how much he liked seeing him covered in bite marks and bruises, he liked seeing him melt like this more.

“I love you,” Steve said against his lips, already letting Eddie take more of the weight he didn’t have leaning back against the wall. “Want you. Before they get here. Please.”

“How can I resist when you ask so nicely?” Eddie nipped at his bottom lip before pulling away. “Let’s go to your room this time. Don’t want any more interruptions.”

Steve nodded and led Eddie upstairs.

If the kids showed up in an hour, Eddie would make excuses for why Steve was asleep in bed, field their nosy questions, and ease some of the burden of coming out for Steve. If they didn’t, he’d get to keep showing Steve how much he loved him.

Over and over again. Until the whole world knew.

[bambieyedoll]

AGAIN TOMORROW .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

summary: exam stress pushes her deeper into old habits she thought she’d outrun but embry feels every bit of her pain, and he’s not about to let her face it alone.

pairing: embry call x reader

word count: 1,3k

warnings: mentions of ed, trigger warning, angst and fluff, embry comforting reader, sensitive topics, exam stress, short writing, comfort writing.

masterlist | check out my other work !

it started with the clock ticking.

that relentless, mechanical rhythm. mocking you. reminding you that time was slipping through your fingers while your brain refused to cooperate.

textbooks and notebooks surrounded you in a chaotic sprawl across the bedroom floor, their pages smudged with highlighter and anxiety. your laptop screen glared white at you, a half-written paragraph blinking like a metronome. you couldn’t concentrate, the words blurred into nonsense. everything felt too loud and too quiet at once.

you hadn’t eaten more than a few bites of toast that morning. and maybe a sip of coffee, though it had long gone cold beside you now, untouched for hours. your stomach ached, but the thought of food made your chest twist. you didn’t feel hungry. just hollow. as if the feeling had been replaced with something else, something sharper. something crueler.

and beneath the gnawing stress of exam season was that voice. the one that lived in your head, soft but merciless:

“you didn’t study enough today. you didn’t get through all the chapters you planned. you’re wasting time. you don’t deserve to eat yet.”

you hated that voice. but it felt like the only one telling the truth.

so, when your phone buzzed with a message from embry saying “can i come over?”, you didn’t answer. you didn’t want him to see you like this. not when your eyes were dull and tired, your hair unwashed, your hoodie hanging loose on shoulders that had become sharper, thinner.

you told yourself he’d be better off not seeing this version of you.

but you forgot one thing.

he could feel you. through the imprint. even when you shut him out, even when you locked your doors and buried yourself under books and guilt, he still knew. maybe not everything, not the details, but the ache, the panic, the shame. it reached him like a fog wrapping around his chest.

so when the knock came soft, almost hesitant, you weren’t surprised. not really.

you stayed still, hoping silence would make him leave.

but then the doorknob turned slowly, and his voice followed. warm. low. careful.

“baby?” a pause. “i brought you tea.”

he stepped inside, and you flinched. not from fear. from shame.

you were sitting on the floor, hunched over your books, surrounded by notes that hadn’t made sense in hours. your limbs felt too heavy to move.

embry crossed the room slowly. no frustration. no lecture. just a worried softness in his face that nearly broke you.

he set the mug down beside you. chamomile, you could smell it, and then crouched beside you.

you didn’t look at him. you couldn’t. if you did, he’d see everything. the guilt, the fear, the way your mind had twisted in on itself like a trap.

“talk to me, baby” he said gently, his voice like flannel and dusk. “i’ve been feeling you all day. you’re… hurting.”

your throat closed up. you wanted to apologize. wanted to say i’m sorry i’m so much, i’m sorry i’m broken, but no words would come out.

the pressure behind your eyes swelled. you swallowed hard, but it didn’t help.

embry looked at the untouched granola bar on your desk, then at your sunken eyes. he knew what this was. finals stress had only made it worse, the fixation, the self-denial, the punishing voice in your head whispering that you weren’t doing enough, being enough.

“sweetheart,” he said gently, “have you eaten today?

tears pricked behind your eyes.

you shook your head.

embry didn’t scold you. he didn’t sigh. he simply moved, sat behind you on the floor and pulled you back into him, wrapping his arms around your waist and burying his face in your shoulder like you were the one he needed.

he reached for your hand, slow and patient, like touching a scared animal. when his fingers laced through yours, something inside you cracked.

“i’m sorry,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “i didn’t want you to see me like this.”

embry’s brows drew together. his grip on your hand tightened just a little. grounding, not restrictive.

“like what?” he asked, gently.

“like a mess,” you said. “like i’m falling apart.”

he turned toward you fully, pulling you gently so you faced him.

“you’re not a mess,” he said, firmly but softly. “you’re exhausted. you’re overwhelmed. that’s not the same thing.”

your throat burned.

“i’m so tired,” you admitted, voice trembling. “i try to study but i can’t think. i can’t eat. i feel like i have to earn every breath. every bite. and i can’t.”

embry inhaled slowly, deeply. not surprised, just aching. he held you tighter.

he didn’t rush to speak. embry brushed his thumb over your knuckles, eyes searching your face like he was memorizing you.

“you don’t have to earn food,” he said finally. “you don’t have to earn rest. or love. or care. you don’t have to earn anything with me.”

tears welled before you could stop them. you looked away, ashamed.

“you don’t have to ace every test. you don’t have to shrink yourself to be worthy.” his voice broke a little. “baby, you’re my entire world.”

“you’re my imprint. you’re the girl i love, the one meant for me. whether you pass or fail, whether you eat one bite or ten. none of that changes what i feel for you.”

“but i feel like i’m always failing,” you whispered, breaking a little with each word. “like no matter what i do, it’s not good enough.”

embry didn’t hesitate. he gathered you into his arms before the sob could escape. he held you close, tucking your head beneath his chin like he was shielding you from the world.

“shh, baby,” he murmured, lips brushing your temple. “you’re doing your best, and that’s more than enough. you’re not failing, you’re trying. and i see how hard that is. i see you.”

you melted into him as the tears broke loose, muffled and aching in your chest.

“i don’t want to keep doing this,” you whispered. “but i don’t know how to stop.”

embry kissed the crown of your head. “we’ll figure it out. together. step by step. okay?”

you nodded, tears wetting his shirt.

he rocked you slowly, one hand splayed on your back, the other brushing soothing circles along your arm. he didn’t try to fix it. he didn’t offer empty words. he just stayed. present. steady. unshakable.

eventually, your breathing slowed. the panic didn’t vanish but it softened. it became something less sharp. less alone.

“i brought something,” he said after a while, pulling his hoodie pocket open. inside was a small container neatly packed with sliced strawberries, a couple crackers, and a little chocolate heart wrapped in foil.

you looked at it, then at him. he held it out gently.

“no pressure. i just thought… maybe food could feel safe again. just for a few minutes. just here. it’s just you and me.”

you hesitated. but the way he looked at you—not disappointed, not demanding, just quietly hopeful—made something shift inside.

you took a piece of strawberry.

it was small. just one bite. but embry’s face softened like you’d done something heroic.

“that’s my girl,” he whispered, kissing your temple again. “i’m so proud of you, baby.”

you leaned into him, chewing slowly, and he held you like you were the most precious thing he’d ever touched.

when you finally crawled into bed, wrapped in one of his old sweatshirts, embry curled in behind you and held you close, his voice warm against your skin.

“you’re not alone in this,” he murmured. “i’ll be right here. every step of the way.”

you turned toward him slowly, eyes tired but searching his face, your fingers brushing along the line of his jaw.

“even when it’s too much?”

he smiled softly, achingly, and kissed your forehead like it was the most sacred thing he’d ever touched.

“especially then.”

he rubbed soft circles along your back, slow and steady, like he was rewriting the panic in your body with every pass of his hand.

and that night, for the first time in days, you fell asleep with a full heart and just enough hope to try again tomorrow.

[hawkinsbnbg]

Four years after everything ended, Steve and Eddie ran into each other by chance.

In 1990, when Steve stumbled upon Eddie in a coffee shop in Chicago of all places, he didn't expect to end up on his back that night with the other man pounding him into the mattress.

At some point, he was too cock-drunk to care about his dignity so he kept begging Eddie to come inside him.

"What if I knock you up, babygirl?" Eddie nipped at his chin teasingly.

In response, Steve only clenched around the thick cock tighter, earning a guttural groan from the other man.

He bit his lip and smiled sweetly, "Guess you're gonna be a daddy 'cause m'not on birth control right now."

Eddie just cursed under his breath and pulled out to take off the condom. When he slid into Steve again, they both let out a strangled moan.

In the end, Steve had been railed into oblivion with a stomach full of hot cum.

A week later, Eddie sought him out again, wanting to continue their breeding process.

"It's for science," Eddie murmured as he bottomed out inside Steve.

"Yeah," Steve snorted, breathless and a little bit cross-eyed because of how big the other man was. "How noble of you."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Eddie grinned, eyes crinkled warmly. “Think it’s gonna catch this time?”

“Dunno,” Steve wrapped his legs around the resilient waist as the other man started moving, grazing his sweet spots effortlessly. “But we should keep trying until we succeed.”

“You’re right,” Eddie leaned down and kissed him soundly. “Fuck, you’re always right, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, uh–” Steve mewled and rolled his eyes back when Eddie nailed his prostate. “I– I tried my best.”

“My good girl,” Eddie kissed him again but it was messy and sloppy. “So smart, so pretty. Bet you’re already thinking about our children’s education, hm?”

“Y– Yeah,” Steve nodded blindly, jaw hanging open so Eddie’s tongue could fuck his mouth.

At this point, he didn't know what he was even talking about anymore. He just babbled nonsense and drooled at the mindless pleasure that coursed through him incessantly.

Above him, Eddie kept going on and on about how they were going to make a happy family, how he was going to be a great mom, how Eddie was going to be the kind of dad who would spoil their children rotten.

And yeah, Steve found himself very into the idea. Not only the hypothetical pregnancy part but also the part where he and Eddie built a home together.

“Be mine, sweetheart,” Eddie whispered between the kisses, desperate and pleading. “Gonna treat you right, gonna be a good husband for you, gonna make you breakfast, gonna help you pick the lawn, gonna sing ABBA songs with you, gonna do the dishes for you, gonna give you my everything, gonna–”

“Shut up, I’ll be yours,” Steve clung to the other man and sobbed. “All yours, Eddie. All yours.”

It was a long time coming, an overdue confession that neither of them had been brave enough to tell each other.

But now, now when their family and friends and the fucking world were finally safe, they had nothing to fear anymore.

They were as free and in love as they could ever be.

And when Eddie’s lips met his own in a tender kiss, it felt like coming home.

A quick stroke on his neglected cock was enough to tip Steve over, prompting a high-pitched moan from him and sending sparks flying in his blurry vision.

Eddie followed after him immediately, burying inside him to the hilt and filling him up with a deep groan.

After a few seconds, Eddie pulled out carefully and drew him in a lazy kiss before collapsing beside him.

For a moment, they just lied there to recollect their wits.

“You meant it?” Steve asked quietly once they both calmed down, afraid that it was just sex-addled talk.

“Everything,” Eddie propped up on his elbow to look at him seriously. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I do you, baby.”

“Me too,” Steve smiled softly. “Been waiting for you, Eds.”

“I’m honored, sweetheart,” Eddie gave him a warm smiled.

Then they moved away from the wet spot to cuddle.

Later, they would have to get up to take a thorough shower, and maybe order something to eat if the mood struck.

But for now, Steve was content to doze off in his boyfriend’s loving arms.

[thewayitalknj]

Since a few of you kindly asked for a Part 2, here you go! Thanks for the love!

Warnings - reader feels a bit insecure for a split second! Word Count - 2.6k

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Full Mini-Series Masterlist Here

You stare at him, cold blooded. So he did figure it out? You shut the door behind you and reach for the silk robe hanging on the back of the door. 

“Aw come on don’t cover up because it’s me-”

“Eddie, what the fuck are you doing here?” 

He makes a silly dance move, trying to be funny but definitely not helping. “What do you mean? I came for a private dance.” 

You finish tying a bow and cross your arms. “How did you know I work here?”

He gets up and walks towards you. He moves your robe off to the side and points to your birthmark. “This. I noticed it while you were dancing.”

You sigh and look back up at him. He stifles a laugh, “Ed, this isn’t funny.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were a fucking dancer?”

“Oh yeah, because that’s a great conversation starter-” You notice him looking you up and down. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” 

“Like I’m hot or…some shit.”

“Well, I mean-”

“Look, I get off at midnight. We can go back to my place to chat afterwards if you want. But for now, you can hang in the dressing room. We won’t be back there until we close up anyway.” You open up the door and motion for Eddie to leave.

“...does this mean I don’t get a private dance?” You give him a stern look this time, “yes ma’am.”

As you enter your front door Eddie goes and takes a seat on your couch as you head to your bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. When you take a seat next to him just a few minutes later you explain everything to him.

You have been working at the strip club for over a year now. As much as you loved working at Family Video it just wasn’t paying enough. Bianca was a regular at FV with her family, and you grew a work-type friendship with her. One day she came in by herself and asked if you wanted to come to a charity event they were holding at the club. She immediately made it clear how odd it sounded about having a charity event at a strip club but assured you it was always a hit ; how the money went towards good causes in the city and the toy drives were always overflowing. You wanted to show your support so you went and had a fun time. Bianca introduced you to everyone, from her boss to her coworkers to regulars. It was a strange family-oriented work environment you never imagined. When Pam, the owner and boss, asked if you were interested at all in working for them you turned it down. But when bills started piling up and the holidays were around the corner you thought earning some extra cash would be helpful. So you went back, and was hired right from your interview. 

Pam explained how the club was run by women for women only. Everyone took you through training, first just as a waitress. You learned tips and tricks, and also had to come up with a fake name for security and privacy.

“Wait, so what’s your ‘fake name’?” Eddie asks using quotation marks.

“Lilith.”

“Why Lilith?” 

“It means ‘belonging to the night’. It’s also associated with meanings like ‘demon’ or ‘spirit.’”

“Well that’s badass. How did you come up with that?”

Look down at your lap. “Um, in one of your D&D books. The one you gave me about character building.”

“No shit.”

“Yeah…so anyway. I didn’t even think about dancing but Bianca asked me one day if I wanted to try it, so I did. Everyone thought I did a good job…I was on the next night and it just took off from there.”

“Why haven't you told anyone?”

“Because when Bianca asked me to come to the charity event I didn’t really know what to think about her being a stripper. I didn’t want to judge her, and I didn’t want people or colleagues to judge me. I really enjoy it. I have this new built confidence when I walk through those doors. We all really care for one another and root each other on.”

Eddie shifts himself closer to you. “What do you mean ‘new built confidence’?”

“Let me answer this with a question for you. How do you feel when you’re DM’ing at Hellfire?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know, like I’m taking charge. Assertive. I know what I’m doing and I like how I make people feel afterwards.”

You reach and put your hand on his leg. “That’s exactly how I feel when I’m dancing.” You smile, shake your head, laugh to yourself.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s just hilarious that we both feel the same way about two completely different scenarios.”

“Hm, true.”

“Can I ask you a question though?”

“Sure, anything.”

“...What did you think…about the dance…on your birthday?” You gulp.

“Psh, don’t you remember the way I was talking about you when I came here the next morning?” You nod. “Everything I said was true. I couldn’t get you out of my head. And then when I figured out it was you I just…had to tell you I knew. Couldn’t live with that secret, it would have driven me nuts.”

“How did you ask for me anyway? You didn’t even know my name.”

“I asked for the devil from the night before. The women who led me to the private room recognized me from when I was called up for the dance.”

You pondered, “Was she dressed in all silver?”

“...yes?”

“That’s Jade. She gave me a bit of a pep-talk, I almost asked her to go out instead of me.” 

Eddie looks at you muddled, “why didn’t you want to dance for me?”

“Because you're Eddie, you’re one of my closest friends and it just felt…I don't know, awkward.”

“Well, if I’m being honest your friend is very beautiful but,” he takes your chin and lines you up with his eyes, “I’m glad it was you.”

You smile, “I’m glad it was me too.” 

You stare at him for a bit, melting into his touch and his eyes ; and when your lips touch just seconds later without even realizing how close you were, you feel like you died and went to heaven. It was when his tongue slipped its way into your mouth that that confidence you talked about earlier started to kick in. You kick yourself up and straddle his lap, bringing your hands to his shoulders to steady yourself but never breaking the kiss. His hands find your hips, rings digging deep into your shirt, bringing them along to the slow steady pace as he starts with his own hips grinding up. You follow his rhythm and hum, starting to feel way too good.

And even though that confidence was built up for a few moments, your insecurities came rushing through. You part and separate yourself too quickly and mumble “no” ; Eddie looks upset as you stand up. “What’s wrong? Did I take it too far, I’m sorry-”

“No no it’s not you it’s just..me. I’m sorry.”

“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

You stutter, tears beginning to paint your cheeks. “It’s just-you never did any of this before. And-now you find out I strip and we’re suddenly making out on my couch. I feel like I’m in some stupid rom com where I took off my glasses and suddenly you see me differently.”

“Hun, I can promise you it’s nothing like that.”

“I don’t mean to sound rude Eddie but I think you should go.”

“But-”

“I just need space, if that makes sense? Can I call you tomorrow or sometime later this week?”

“Yeah of course, whatever you need. I know this is a lot for you.”

“Yeah-yeah it is.” 

He walks over and kisses you on the top of your forehead before leaving. 

“And that’s basically what happened.” You swirl around in an office chair, disappointed in yourself. You were a mess, you spent the whole next morning thinking about Eddie and what happened. Today is even your day off, but you felt like you needed company so you made your way to the club for some hopeful reassurance you weren't taking this too far or overthinking.

“I think it’s sweet he’s giving you space, he understands your concerns and he’s respecting it. You don’t see that a lot nowaday..” Your other co-worker and current security cam watcher Leah has been listening to your rants all day. She just came back from maternity leave but wasn’t ready to dance, so her shifts have been bartending and security watch, mainly the private rooms from the cameras. When you arrived at the club no private dances were happening, so Leah took you to the security room for privacy. “I’m kinda glad you came though, I want to show you something from the night he was here.” She holds up a VHS tape and puts it in the VCR. You watch with bated breath as Eddie shows up on screen.

“What does-”

She puts her hand up, “Just listen.” You watch the footage, as Eddie paces the private room waiting for you to arrive. 

“Hey so, I’ve kind of liked you since high school and…no I can’t start with that.”

>>FF>>

“Finding out about dancing? That is just a perk that will come in the soon to be hopeful relationship…no that doesn’t sound right. Soon to be hopeful relationship? Steve is a fucking idiot for coming up with that line.” 

>>FF>>

“So…wanna go out on a date? Bowling, dinner? …What am I, 14?”

>>FF>>

“Alright Munson, you got this. Just tell her you figured it out and that this doesn’t change how you feel.” Then he plops down on the couch and lays back just as you found him.

Leah stops the tape and looks back to you.

“He…likes me?”

“Guess he does. So much for your negative thoughts huh?”

“I can’t believe this. He’s never shown any signs of…anything.”

“Pft, guys are weird. It took my husband years to ask me out on a first date but I waited! Here we are three years later with a new house and baby. It was all worth the wait, and I’m sure this will be for you too.”

“But how can I make this right? I feel like I screwed it all bigtime.”

“Why don’t you invite him to our charity event in a few weeks? It’s how your story started. Maybe it’ll be a new chapter for him too. Show him instead of talking to him to make things right.”

You smile wide, “...Has anyone told you you’re a genius?”

“And I thought Mom-Brain was getting to me already. But I’ll take the compliment.” You give Leah a hug and head out to make a very important phone call.

Eddie (of course) agreed to attend the charity event, and even offered to pay full price instead of the family and friends discount. You went in a few hours earlier to help set everything up while Eddie arrived when the event began. You introduced him to your co-workers ; some already knew about what happened but for your sake played it off like they knew nothing, which you greatly appreciated. Eddie took a seat at the bar, wishing you luck for your performance later which he was secretly looking forward to. Just before heading to the dressing room you stop by the DJ booth.

“Hey Cassie, here’s my tape for my dance. It’s Track 8, and I go on at 11.”

“Got it. Thanks love!” She looks at the cassette and ponders to herself, “huh, who’s Corroded Coffin?”

Your turn couldn’t come soon enough. Eddie was only two drinks in, constantly looking at the clock waiting for 11 to strike.

“You okay babe?” Leah, (or in tonight's case since she’s working, Carmella), comes over to check on him.

“Huh-yeah. Thanks.”

“Of course, she’ll be on in a few. Excited to watch her?”

“Ohyeah-yeah,totally.Can’t wait.” He takes a large sip of his drink.

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?”

“Can I be real with you for a second?”

“I’m a bartender, I’m here to lend an ear to your problems.” Leah leans in, “talk to me.”

“I’ve liked her forever, I’m just stupid and have never asked her out properly. And I don’t want her to think I’m asking her out now because of all this,” he motions his arms around the room.

“Well maybe she won’t think that.”

“But she does, I know she does. And I just feel like a fucking idiot.”

“Eddie, I can assure you by the end of the night you’re not going to feel that way.”

“How do you-” Just then the lights dim ; Eddie looks at the clock ; 11:00. 

Cassie takes the microphone and introduces you, “and now ladies and gentlemen one of our veteran and favorite dancers, Lilith!”

You take the stage ; back turned towards the crowd, grabbing onto the pole ; a beautiful black outfit snug to your body ; and your music hits the stereos, a loud guitar solo opening the song. 

Eddie thought his eyes were going to fall out of his sockets, immediately recognizing the solo as his own. ; And when you turned your head to face the crowd making eye contact with Eddie and giving him a wink, he knew he was done for.

He watched you in awe, he couldn’t believe someone in a strip club was dancing to his song. But in this case it wasn’t just anyone, it was you. Someone he’s known almost his whole life, someone he’s been trying to ask out for way too long but had doubts because of his own stupidity. When your performance was over he whistled from his seat and immediately turned to Leah, “are any of the private rooms taken?”

When you exited the stage and headed back to the dressing room you were met with cheers and hugs. Everyone loved your dance and gave you your praises. 

After a few moments of celebrating and thank yous, Leah came in, a smirk across her face ; more or less as a ‘I told you so’ look. “Room #2. Go, now” The girls all gave a collective “ohhhhhhhhh”, as you rolled your eyes and left.

Eddie is standing in the middle of the room this time. You shut the door and lean up against it. You're the first to speak up ; “So,” you start to walk closer, “what did you think?”

“Don’t come any closer.” 

You stop, baffled at his words. “Why?”

“Because if you come any closer I’m going to lay you on this couch and do unthinkable things to you.”

You blush, hard. “You sure you wanna do that with a security camera in the corner?”

He looks up at the camera and waves, “free entertainment, no?”

You chuckle, such a typical Eddie answer.

“Well-”

“If you wanna know what I thought, I’m seriously never gonna get you out of my head now. How the hell am I going to ever perform that song without thinking straight?”

You look down shyly, rocking on your heels. 

“And as much as I would love to give your friends some content, I do want to do this whole thing right.” He brings himself to stand right in front of you, “let me take you on a date, a proper one. Pick you up, dinner-”

“Maybe…bowling?” He brings his head to the side, giving you a bewildered look.

“I mean, if you want too-”

“I’m joking, but dinner would be great.”

“Cool-cool. Can I pick you up tomorrow at 6?”

“Sounds like a date.” You stand more on your heels, placing a small kiss to his cheek and leaving him alone in the room.

Quick Notes - Didn't expect this to get as much love as it did so thank you again! Reblogs are appreciated! :) also yes I have an idea for a Part 3 but we'll see!

[kayhi808]

hiiii i hope you are doing well. i was thinking abt maybe reader is away on mission or something so bucky takes care of abby and he’s trying to do her hair/pick a cute outfit and he thinks he’s done amazing, (abby does too) but steve sends reader a picture of bucky and abby and it is the most atrocious hair style and outfit but they both have the biggest smile and reader is happy 🧹

My favorite anon! Thank you, I'm hanging in there.🙂 I switched this a lil bit to make it a collaborative effort between Mama's favorite people.

"Papa, is you wakes?" Bucky was awake as soon as Abby stepped into the room, but he pretended to be asleep because Abby is so entertaining when she tries to wake him up. "Pu'a and I done sleeps." She waits a few seconds, "I tinks my pig is hungwy," squashing Pu'a belly against Bucky's ear. "You hears it? His tummy is gwowing."

"I heard it," pulling away from her stuffed animal.

"You's up, Papa!'

"How can I stay asleep when Pu'a's belly is rumbling so loud?"

Abby gives him a smile, "Mine tummy maybe gwowing too."

Bucky quickly sits up lifting Abby's belly to his ear, making her giggle. Her giggle has become one of his favorite sounds. "Is it?" rubbing his head into her belly, tickling her. She wiggles and curls up, kneeing Bucky in the face. Bucky groans falling back on the bed.

"Papa!! I's sowwy!" Abby crawls over to check his face. "I ouch you? I's sowwy! I takes care you. It ok, ok?"

"I'm ok. I'm fine."

Looking relieved, "You'd fine?"

"I'm an Avenger. I'm fine."

Then Abby frowns, "Yous make my heart so scared. Don't ticko me! I don't wikes it."

Bucky rubs his cheek, "I'm sorry. I learned my lesson. I won't tickle you."

Abby nods and gives him a beautiful smile, which reminds Bucky of yours. "But you knows what?"

"No, tell me."

"My tummy is still gwowing."

*****

You're in Washington DC with Director Fury to attend conferences and committee meetings with him. You're only supposed to be gone 3 days and Bucky said he'll bring Abby to the Tower, knowing if he needs help the team would jump in.

Brushing teeth and washing Abby's face was easy enough. Brushing her tousled bed head was another story, but once it combed out, "Ok, are we good?"

"No, Papa. I need pigtails. One over here & one here," patting the sides of her head.

Bucky gets to work, "Ta-da! How does that look?"

Papa tried his best but the pigtails were lopsided and uneven. He didn't make sure the part was straight and there were so many fly away hairs, and Abby didn't want to hurt his feelings. "Uh ..um...I so pwetty! Yay, Papa?"

"Cool, let's find something to wear." As Bucky leaves, Abby takes another look in the mirror & shakes her head. Mama never lets her leave looking like this. She gives a little giggle thinking about Bucky.

Abby waddles into the bedroom to find Bucky going through her packed clothes. "Is you finds my scoon cwothes?"

"Yea, sure. What do you want to wear?"

"You's let me picks it?"

Bucky shrugs, "Why not?

Abby jumps up and down, "Okies!" Mama never lets her do this. She looks through her selection and picks out a flowered top and some cheetah leggings. "Dis! I wike dis! It my favwit! I'll feel pwetty."

Bucky tries to be supportive, "Wow! Um ...good choice. You're always pretty, Abigail Baby. He dresses her & boy is she a sight. Both of them look at each other with so much love. Trying to support the disaster each of them created.

*****

Steve just started making coffee when Abby skips into the kitchen, "G'morning Uncle Steve!" She runs the rest of the way to hug his leg.

"whoa! What...did you? You did that to yourself, Abs?

Giving Steve a twirl, "You wikes it? Papa did my hairs, but I picked-ed my cwothes."

Steve looks at Bucky and he's got a huge smile on his face. Taunting him, "Yea, Uncle Steve. Don't you wikes it?"

Steve kneels down to Abby's level, "You know who would also like this?"

"Who?"

Steve looks up at Bucky while he answers Abby, "Your Mama! I think we should sent her a picture." The smile slowly slides off Bucky's face.

"Maybe we shouldn't..."

"YES! Mama wants to sees me!" Abby strikes a pose, "Take my piture!" Steve cracks up laughing but does as he's told. Abby runs to Bucky, "Now one wit Papa!"

"C'mon, smile Buck."

"Is you smiles? You happy to be's wit me?" Abby looks hopefully up at Bucky.

"Of course Abby Baby!" He pulls her closer and they both giggle and give the biggest smiles.

"Yay! Send to Mama.

"Sent."

"Uncle Steve? Can you make me pancakes? My tummy is gwowing! I hungwy."

@waywardhunter95 @rebeccapineapple @ordelixx @onceithough @thezombieprostitute @ilovetaquitosmmmm @julvrs @unax @s-a-v-a-n-a-34 @winterslove1917 @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 @mrsnikstan @hisredheadedgoddess28 @itsteambarnes @otterlycanadian @purplecolordeer @buckitostan @littleredwolf @mcucatlady @silas-aeiou @hzdhrtss @florie1 @thecubanator2 @enchantedbarnes @selella @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @cjand10 @pancake-05 @ozwriterchick @crazyunsexycool @baw1066 @nommingonfood @jvanilly

"I think I can, Abs." As Steve and Abby walk to the fridge, Bucky's phone lights up with your photo on his screen.

[scp230kinnie]

Hello :D

Can you write some headcanons about Hunter Sylvester from Metal Lord's with a gn or f!reader that dresses y2k/2000s style? Like low rise bootcut pants, a lot of shine and jewelry, wedged sandles, listens to pop and hip hop from the 2000s era, etc etc.

Thank you and have a good day/night :D

I should just be known as that girl who feeds the hunter fans

Anyways here 🤩🤩

Hunter sylvester x f!y2k! Reader

Warnings: none

Characters: Hunter ofc

I feel like if he had a type, this would be his type.

Will make fun of you when you don't wear a jacket #ahoenevagetscold

"Maybe you shoulda dressed warmer then"

But would (maybe) give you his jacket if you're nice

All the juicy couture and playboy stuff dear lord

Of course he uses his dad's card to buy whatever cute shit you want

If you've got one of them hot pink zebra/leopard print rooms... I'm gonna be honest he does not like being there

It just makes him feel kind of out of place

But he will always have you over at his house instead

Even if his stuff smells like old viva la juicy perfume once you're gone

Oh your feet hurt from wearing those wedged sandals or heels? Too bad. Just kidding. Kind of. If you complain juuuuust enough he might carry you a little bit

HE KNOWS he bagged a baddie

Mega virgin so when you wear low rise jeans and small tops oh lord he is ALL over that

If you're like me, BEGGING HIM to help you make an outfit for the next day or whatever cause you're like "I have nothing to wear��️"

He knows nothing about that style so you tell him to pick out a top and he's like "um idk. The black one."

Adores watching you do your makeup, but insists he doesn't care (takes pics when ur not looking)

Personally, I do dress that style, but I listen to metal😭 if you listen to 2000s music though, he does not fw that. Like he'll try, but you kind of have to force him when you hang out

But he will never give you aux unless you're reaaally nice.

I feel like he would live if you did that nail thing on his arm with nails on. First time you do it he'd be like wtf but he'd warm up to it

May paint your nails (messily) if you ask.

Anyways hope you enjoyed that. I'm back guys PLEASE GIVE ME GOTHAM REQUESTS PLSPLSPLSPLS taking gotham requests for ed, oswald, fish, Bullock, Jim, Barbara, Jerome, Alfred, Victor (both of them), Selina, Bruce (both sfw only), and maybe others if I'm feeling up for it

Will also take requests for Victor Campbell from FDB, as well as... sigh... kevin khatchadourian.

Please request I'm autistic

[dire-straits-fn8ic]

i feel like i was raised with the “you can do anything if you work hard enough” mindset but maybe to a bit of an unhealthy level, especially with my undiagnosed til college ADHD making a lot of baseline function a pretty bad struggle.

and so i’d kind of internalized it as that if i cant achieve something that i’m Bad and Lazy and that i Didnt Care About It Enough.

which obviously didnt go well in my crashing and burning and failing all my classes and dropping out era of college

and then i learned to accept the mentality of that there are many things that i’m bad at and that’s okay! i’m just one person with ADHD and failing at things sometimes is totally normal and my struggles don’t make me lazy and a bad person

and this was a huge boost to my mental health to free myself from that type of impossible expectation hanging over me. and adults in my life have definitely reacted negatively to this and thought that me saying that i’m bad at things is a sad mindset. but it’s not! it’s brought me a lot of happiness to be able to rebalance the scales of what success means to me.

i’m bad at things and it’s freeing to not feel like any struggle is a personal failing but just another part of life.

and this all came from the fallout of spending my whole life pushed along the path of “go to school, get into a good college, go to college, graduate, get a career in your field” and then crashing and burning and having a mental breakdown and dropping out and having to pick up the pieces of my identity from the rubble.

and the signs of my downfall are so obvious retroactively, like ever since elementary school struggling to keep any sort of organizational system to track my assignments and constantly forgetting homework. from middle school onwards always having many missing assignments that i’d frantically try to finish in the last couple days of the semester. i got diagnosed with ADHD after high school but didn’t attempt treatment til year like 2 or 3 of college, and then the medications i was put on werent any sort of miracle cure so i gave up after a month and continued to struggle to do college.

i was pushed to take a heavy course load so i could finish in a shorter amount of time. i wanted to dive deep into my major so i took a bunch of computer science classes and put off taking gen eds when i could. i started failing computer science classes. i was constantly missing assignments in everything as usual. i stopped being able to focus enough while at the computer to do any computer-based assignment, which would be a struggle in any major but an insurmountable obstacle for a programmer. in my last semester i was employed 10 hours a week at the start and quickly got past the point of where even without the job i would have struggled to pass all of my classes. so i quit the job and spent the next few months trying and failing to recover or even stay afloat on assignments. i couldn’t do my homework no matter how much i stared at the screen. one time i got drunk and did a homework assignment and figured that maybe that was repeatable so the next couple nights i tried drinking and doing homework and it didnt work and i was crying and trying to drink beer and trying to do an assignment and stared down what was clearly a dark depressed alcoholic path and finally knew i had to drop out like i had been wanting to do for years. i dropped out. my family spent years telling me that i need to go back but thankfully i havent, and now they only tell me that sometimes.

so yeah i’m often bad at things and that’s not a doomer mindset it’s actually a happy beautiful reclamation of my ability to try things and not feel bad if i fail. Because ive gone down a path of feeling like success is the only option, and it was a horrible one. and it didn’t even lead me to success but even if it worked it would be horrible.

[miz-chase]

Same booth/hodgins anon as before, but truly I'm on the b/h brainriot for the fact I can't categorize their relationship??? cause, yes, they're friends but are they like friends friends or work friends? At some point in the show they said they love each other (I love you man/ don't get me wrong I love hodgins) but we don't see them hanging out much outside of the lab. hodgins asked booth advise when he wanted to propose, and booth tells him when he kissed cam's sister. hodgins hugged (or tried to hug) booth multiple times, and booth wanted to give him the money to take care of his brother. aND AND the whole bugboy thing, (that I first didn't like) but LIKE booth calls everyone by a nickname, and the ones that got an special name were bones and technically his grandfather.

But at the same time these are like a handful of interactions in 12 seasons. I really wish the show had explored booth relation with the squints outside of brennan (and sometimes wendell) a little bit more.

I am DELIGHTED to get more of this because yes.

there’s something so appealing in Booth’s …I guess you could call it tsundere “yeah you’re annoying but I would die for you, it’s no big deal”. Like Booth going just as feral for Hodgins as Brennan when they both get Gravedigger-ed, but then immediately going back to “whatever, bugboy, I wasn’t worried”

I think a lot about closeted, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell-era military Booth and how completely unsuited he is for hookup culture. Always wanting something more permanent but not being able to get past his own internalized homophobia. How that makes him really tetchy about any sign of affection to other men. “Guy hugs”, shoulder punches, the way he makes up with Sweets after yelling at him. It’s all a part of his insecurity about presenting as Manly Enough (see: cocky belt buckle)

that coming into direct contact with Hodgins, the radical, casually queer nerd who sees right through all the bluff and bluster. “Yeah, sure man, whatever you say.” He says with a laugh, knowing full well how flustered Booth is. It would take a lot of patience and “Relax, man, it’s no big deal” on Hodgins’ part, but he’s patient and amused by the whole thing. Picture him after one of their interactions, grinning to himself as his desk chair spins in slow circles. “Yeah, he’s into me.”

yeah this ship is Good

imagine the expensive gift Hodgins would get him. It would totally be a super rare baseball card from Booth’s childhood memories and Booth has to go sit alone in his SUV because it made him have Too Many Feelings

[drabbles-mc]

Here We Are

Stede Bonnet x Edward Teach

Written for the 2024 Hurt/Comfort Exchange!

Warnings: 18+, light angst

Word Count: 2.7k

A/N: i don't write for ofmd very often but it's always fun when i do! hope y'all enjoy!

It was as silent as it was ever going to get on the ship. Everyone was down below deck asleep— no bedtime stories read earlier to keep them up on the main deck. And somehow, only some snores were carrying up through the floorboards, which was a bit of a treat. For the most part, the only sound was the water, small waves cresting in the distance, smaller ones still splashing against the sides of the ship. It was peaceful, even with the tiny imperfections traveling up from the bunks.

The ship was rocking slowly enough, gently enough, for Ed to sit comfortably on the rail without feeling like he was fighting for balance. He didn’t feel like he was at risk of toppling overboard and into the water beneath him. The stability of that was comforting in a way, but there was also a small part of him that was too aware of how easy it would be to let go of the railing, lean forward, and fall right in. When he was underwater, the ocean was loud enough in his ears to drown out all of the thoughts in his head, and he could use that right about now. It’d be so easy. He disappeared once. He could do it again.

Then he heard the creaking. It wasn’t the ship rocking on the water. While he hadn’t heard the footsteps, he��did know the way that the ship’s boards groaned beneath weight put on them. Tightening his grip for a moment, fingers curling more around the railing to keep himself in place, he turned to look over his shoulder.

He should’ve known that it was going to be Stede. No one else cared to wander about at this hour—the most they’d do was shuffle back and forth among the hammocks and bunks beneath them. The main deck was for daylight hours.

“Care for some company?” Stede asked as he walked closer. He phrased it as a question but it quickly became evident that there was only one right answer to it.

If it had been anyone else, Ed would’ve come up with a clever and colorful way to tell them to get lost. But it was Stede. It was Stede in his pajamas that everyone else found ridiculous but Ed had grown rather fond of as time had gone on. So he didn’t give any thought into creative ways to dismiss him. Instead, he simply nodded and gestured towards the railing that he was sitting on. Stede could join him, but he wasn’t going to give up his spot of quiet contemplation either.

Stede gave a short nod in return, a small lift to the ends of his lips. He came closer to the railing, standing right by it. He looked at Ed for a moment, studying him but not in the way that he usually did. It wasn’t simple admiration this time—this time he was trying to figure out the best way to land himself so that he was sitting in the same position as Ed currently was without falling over. This wasn’t their usual position of sitting on the deck with their legs beneath the railing and hanging over that way. The way Ed was sitting now seemed so much less secure, and Stede found that he wasn’t quite so willing to fall into the water beneath.

“Right, then,” Stede said as he placed both hands on the railing.

Ed watched him silently, eyebrows raised just the tiniest bit. If it got to be too much, he’d offer a helping hand. But, as it was, he was content to watch Stede figure it out for himself. He had a habit of doing that, of pulling things together even if they were a bit of a fumble at the start.

Stede leaned forward onto the railing, and then back. Then forward, and then back again. Not quite ready to commit to trying to lift himself up onto it yet, a little too afraid of tumbling over the other side. Not that Ed would let that happen. He let out a tiny hmph as he tried to calculate out the best move to make.

Widening his grip on the railing, Stede lifted one leg and rested the ball of his foot on the edge of the railing. He almost pushed himself upward that way, almost had himself on the brink of standing on the ledge. He was about to follow-through on it when he realized what the result of that would be. He shook his head, a quiet, “No, not quite that,” falling from his lips before he brought his foot back down again.

Despite the mood that he was in, the mental arguments he was battling out inside his head prior to Stede coming out onto the deck, Ed found himself smiling. He still didn’t say anything.

Annoyance flashed out of Stede, annoyance at himself, at the ship, at the railing specifically. “Oh, this is just,” he muttered with a shake of his head. Adjusting his grip, he lifted his foot and set it on top of the railing for a moment before pushing it so that it slid right off the other side. He was left with one foot planted firmly on the deck, one dangling loosely over the water. With one leg on each side of the railing, Stede frowned pensively as he sat bat for a moment, realizing that he was at least sitting on the thing now. A few more small maneuvers and he would be replicating Ed’s pose.

A lot of careful leaning and tiny scoots later, and Stede managed to get his other leg over so that they were both dangling off the edge of the railing, a short distance above the sea. Too far for the waves to reach, but just close enough for the mist of it all to spray the backs of his and Ed’s legs.

Planting one hand firmly on either side of him, Stede finally turned and looked at Ed. “Right. Here we are.”

He studied Ed’s face for a moment, waiting for him to come back with some sort of rebuttal. Something quick and witty as usual. Honestly at this point, Stede would settle for something sharp and cutting. As it were, Ed just sat there staring at him, expression impassive except for his eyes. Stede could see all of the emotions there, the sadness, the anger, the hurt.

Ed broke their eye contact first, looking down as he moved one hand into his pocket. Mere moments later he had his red slip of silk in his hand, weaving the fabric through his fingers without having to think twice about it.

Stede lifted one hand and was about to rest it on Ed’s shoulder when he stopped himself. The hesitation caused his movements to stutter for a moment before he placed his hand back on the railing. He could almost disguise it as an attempt to restore his balance, but he and Ed both knew better. Not that either of them said anything about it.

“Not that I’m an expert on it or anything,” Stede spoke up again, gaze still fixed on the man sitting beside him, “but I do think that it is much easier to talk through things when you actually…talk.”

Ed shook his head as he toyed with the silk in his hand. “I didn’t say anythin’ about talking things through. I came out here to sit and stare at the water.” He gave Stede a short, but pointed moment of eye contact. “In silence.”

“Yes, I see that. But, if you don’t mind my saying so, I don’t think that that’s really…” he trailed off for a moment, knowing that his next few words were crucial, “what you need.”

“And you know what I need, yeah?” he scoffed.

“Maybe not, you know, everything. But in this moment?” He nodded and shrugged. “I’d like to think that I have a pretty good idea.”

Ed sighed and shook his head again. “No point.”

“Sorry?”

“I said there’s no fuckin’ point in me talking about it.” He sighed, clenching his fist tightly, most of the red silk disappearing for a moment before his grip loosened again. “All happened so long ago now anyway. What good would it do?”

“Just because it happened a long time ago,” this time Stede allowed himself to place his hand on Ed’s shoulder for a moment, “doesn’t mean that it won’t feel good to talk about it now.”

Ed sniffled, unable to pry his eyes off the slip of cloth in his hand. “Maybe.”

Stede could feel the impulse to say something else, the urge to fill the silence. That was something that he was working on, especially with Ed. Silence wasn’t always the enemy. He fought against the words that wanted to tumble past his lips. He forced his hands to still, not wanting to fidget and seem impatient or serve as a distraction. There was no point in trying to repeat or rephrase the question—Ed knew what Stede had asked. He just had to get to the point where he could actually say the answer.

“What you said to me before,” Ed finally spoke up again, words coming out carefully, more pauses than usual as he chose each one, “about fine things…” he trailed off.

A tiny smile lifted Stede’s lips. “That you wear them well?”

Ed nodded, gaze flickering back and forth between his slip of silk and the ocean water below them. “You meant that?”

The smile instantly dropped from Stede’s face. “Why on earth would I say that to you if I didn’t mean it?”

The sound that Ed made next was something between a scoff and a laugh. It was a sad sound, a hollow one. “Pirate’s life isn’t always an honest one.”

“Not always,” Stede conceded with a nod. “But sometimes it is.” He waited for Ed to spare him another glance. “With me it is.” He let another pause linger before asking, “Why do you think that I was lying to you about that?”

Ed shook his head. “Not just about you lying.”

“What’s it about then?” Stede asked gently.

“You’ve always had fine things, haven’t you? Your old life, the one that you hated so much, you still had them?”

He nodded. “I did.”

“Ever think you didn’t deserve them?”

He paused, really thinking about his answer. “The things I was told I didn’t deserve weren’t ever really things, I suppose.”

Ed gave a slow nod as he processed his way through Stede’s answer. He held out the piece of silk, putting it between the two of them. “My mum had this. It was…it belonged to the people she worked for. I remember the first day I saw it—first day she showed it to me.”

He looked over at Stede. His eyes were sad but there was something expectant in his gaze as well. He was waiting for Stede to have something to say, but for once he found himself coming up with nothing. All of the words that had been on the tip of his tongue just minutes before had disappeared. Instead, Stede just nodded for him to continue.

“She told me…she told me that people like us, people like me, don’t get to have things like this.” He let out a long, shuddering sigh, like those words had been trapped in his chest for far too long. “She said that was just the way…the way it was.”

Stede’s voice was soft, sympathetic as he said, “Ed—”

He sniffled, cutting the other man off. “Joke’s on her though, yeah?” He forced a small laugh that had no chance at being passed off as convincing. “I still have it.”

Stede could see the way that he was starting to fight so hard to bury all of that real, genuine hurt that he’d been carrying around for so long. He was trying to stuff it right back underneath all of the jokes, the sarcasm, the denial he’d been contending with for so many years. Ed wanted it so badly to go away again but Stede couldn’t let that happen now.

Reaching over, Stede rested his hand on Ed’s leg, palm warming him through the fabric almost instantly. He kept his voice soft but genuine. “And you still deserve it just as much now as you did then.”

Ed shook his head, his body tensing up just slightly. Stede was almost certain that he was going to push his hand away, or even just swing himself back over the railing onto the deck and walk away from the conversation completely.

“I don’t,” Ed muttered with a shake of his head, not really sure where he wanted the sentence to go, “I don’t…”

Stede tried to fill in the gaps that he was leaving. “You do. You say…you say that you remember the first day she showed you. But it has very little to do with your fine silk there,” he nodded towards the red cloth. “I think it has less to do with your silk than it does to do with what your mother said you can have.” He paused and when Ed looked him in the eyes he said, “You deserve it, Ed. You deserve fine things and you can have them, too.”

It was almost impossible to catch the way that Ed was shaking his head in disagreement. It was a small movement, one that showed he didn’t really want to be disagreeing with the man sitting beside him, the man that was looking at him with all that earnestness in his eyes. But he wasn’t quite sure how else to respond.

“I don’t know about that, mate,” Ed finally said, his voice just barely above a whisper.

“Do you trust me?”

His expression shifted, eyes widening just a touch. “What?”

Stede’s smile was warm, disarming. “Do you trust me?” he repeated, words said with poignant pauses in between.

The frown that pulling on Ed’s lips in that moment wasn’t a sad one, but rather a serious, pensive one. He carefully constructed his answer. “More than I’ve trusted anyone in a long time.”

He nodded approvingly, giving a nearly imperceptible comforting squeeze to Ed’s leg. “Then believe me when I tell you that you’re more than deserving of nice things.” His smile cracked a little wider. “You wouldn’t be able to wear them so well if you didn’t.”

Something about Stede’s words, about the smile on his face and the glint in his eyes, had Ed finally allowing himself a real smile as well. His eyes were still misty but his body started to relax despite that. His nose twitch as he fought off the urge to sniffle. He finally gave in with a nod before looking back out at the water again.

“Thank you.”

Stede shook his head. “No thanks necessary.” He looked around, took in the state of himself still somehow managing to balance on the rail. “Do you think that possibly, we could reposition for the remainder of this conversation?” He let out a nervous chuckle. “I’m not sure how much longer my good luck and balance will hold.”

Ed chuckled and nodded. Without a word he was easily able to lift and maneuver himself so that he had both feet flat on the deck again. He was standing there with a hand held out to help Stede get to safety before the man had even managed to try and start turning himself around.

Stede placed his hand in Ed’s glad for the assist. He managed to get safely back onto the deck of the boat without nearly toppling in the other direction and into the sea. He didn’t quite stick the landing, stumbling a step so that he was nearly falling right into Ed. He caught himself at the last minute, but it didn’t stop Ed from tightening his grip on his hand.

Ed cracked a small smile. “Careful.”

Stede laughed, a twinge of nerves to the sound. “Trying to get better at that.”

They no longer needed to keep their hands clasped, but neither of them pulled away. Ed gave a tiny nod, the squeeze he gave to Stede’s hand one that he didn’t even realize he was giving. “Easier getting better at things when someone’s there to help.”

[littlehypnone]

eds rain is my absolute favorite so this is me requesting literally anything about her and eds and regressing

hi! sorry it took me a longer bit, I hope it's okay and that you like it <3

780 words, no cws, little eds rain (she/her), cg mountain, they go for a walk, no big bad feelings

“Good morning, Rain,” Mountain yawned, stretching, as he walked into the common room and saw the water ghoul sitting by the table and eating breakfast.

“Hi, Mounty!” he replied through a mouthful of cereal, trying to smile, too. Moutain was just a bit too sleepy still to notice Rain was little this morning, somehow missing the shark plushie laying on the table. He left to go to the kitchen and pick up a cup of tea, leaving Rain alone again.

When the earth ghoul came back, Rain had already finished eating, and was now just sitting, hugging the shark while rocking back and forth.

“Are you alright?” Mountain asked, yawning again.

“Mhm… yeah,” Rain hummed, shrugging. “I jus’ wan’ed go to the gardern bu’ my legs are wobbly.”

“Oh, you’re all small. I didn’t notice, Petal, I think I’m still asleep,” the earth ghoul chuckled before sitting down next to her and ruffling her fluffy hair.

“I’s okay,” she giggled, hiding her flushed face in the plushie, getting a bit shy.

“Anyway, what was that about a garden?”

“Oh, yeah!” Rain perked up. “Wan’ed go for walk.”

“We can still go, I can grab your crutches or wheelchair,” the earth ghoul proposed. Something in Rain shifted, though, she curled in on herself more and let her hair fall over her face and hide it. She definitely didn’t want to use any mobility aids, for whatever reason, and Mountain would never push. “Okay, and what about me carrying you? I can piggyback you through the garden.”

“You– you would?” Rain lifted her head just enough for her big, bright eyes to peak through the curtain of dark hair.

“Of course I would, Petal. With pleasure,” Mountain reassured and Rain’s face lighting up made his own lips curve into a smile. “Do you wanna go now?”

“Hm… yeah but you didn’ eat.”

The earth ghoul chuckled at how considerate she was. Always so caring. “That’s true, but I have my tea, it’s nearly finished already. It’ll be enough for now, I can eat later when the others will.”

“Huh…” Rain seemed to be thinking Mountain’s argument over. “If you say so den... can we go?”

“Absolutely. Do you think you can wait here while I go get you some warmer clothes?”

“Yes, I can!” Rain giggled, so enthusiastic.

“Okay, then, I’ll be back soon.” Mountain leaned down and kissed her forehead before turning around and leaving to fetch something to dress Rain in. It wasn’t that cold outside, but she was in just her pyjamas and she tended to run even colder than normally when she was regressed. The earth ghoul grabbed his own sweatpants and a hoodie Rain would surely drown in. She’d love it. He also got a pair of warm socks, Rain’s own this time.

When Mountain returned to the common room, Rain was waiting patiently, just as when he’d left her.

“Such a good little ghoulette, aren’t you, Petal? So patient,” he praised her, making her beam even more. He helped her get dressed in the clothes he brough—she did love the hoodie—and soon enough Rain was hanging off Mountain’s back, arms and legs all wrapped around him.

They went out into the garden, Rain taking a big, dramatic inhale of the fresh morning air, making Mountain chuckle. He went wherever she’d tell him to, letting her enjoy whatever she wanted. It was her walk, after all.

At some point she ordered a little break. Mountain sat down on a wooden bench by one of the greenhouses and held Rain sideways in his lap, now all happy with how her morning turned out.

“Would you mind telling me why you were so against using any aids earlier?” the earth ghoul asked, choosing his words carefully. If he’d sense any big feeling from Rain, he’d drop it, but they both knew some things had to be talked over with her when small. “You absolutely don’t have to, but you can, if you want.”

“Uhm… I jus’–” She tensed a bit and hesitated, but it was obvious she wanted to let it out, in a way. “I wan’ed to go and I planded to be big and I would just go but den I dunno why I woked up like this and jus’ got sad a bid.”

“Oh, I understand now,” Mountain said, “Thank you for telling me. Would you like to talk some more about it?”

“Not really,” she admitted. “I know crutches aren’t bad and i’s okay to use dem, but I just had… I just had some feelingz. But now i’s okay because you wend with me!”

“Yes, I did and I’m very happy about that, too, Petal.”

[crayzdyaln]

well HELLO! !!!! 😈😈 I've come to shoot back at you and ask for interactions between your ocs and mine. I love your art btw 😝😁😁

Hello there… 😈😈😈. I’m very excited for this one, but i am sorry for the tiny wait… i waited until I had an actual free block so i can ponder this correctly… (i love your art, i still need to draw your ocs. I still haven’t recovered over the Vohn art you picasso-ed.) (Also this is color coded as usual! so this shall be dang long.)

-Marcus would undoubtedly be intimidated by Yuudai, he wouldn’t try to hide that fact either. He’d probably feel like he had to walk on eggshells around him, that was especially the case whenever Yuudai had first moved to Bullworth, He didn’t know what to expect of him. And the unexpected is by far one of his worst fears, for SURE.

-Marcus would probably try to do some of his science work for him, which is a pretty crazy stretch for him—it’s like stomping out all of his pride. But… it’s a silent plea for Yuudai not to beat his ass. He eventually stopped doing those things once he got to the idea that he didn’t actually care about him, so now they just kind of exist near each-other when they ‘interact’. Marcus doesn’t particularly dislike him, but the fear is still there.

-BENNIE on the other hand, Marcus withers away just a little bit every time they interact. Imagine the ash baby meme. It’s less of a HATE dynamic and more of a character typical annoyance issue. Marcy doesn’t hate him, but their personalities clash so hard to the point it’s almost insane. He’d probably tell him to hush or lower his voice on multiple accounts.

-Marcus hates being ‘teased’, he takes himself far too seriously for that, which is another reason he perishes little by little every time they interact with one another. Any time Bennie would try to make conversation with him he would shake his head immediately and distance himself as soon as possible. (When Bennie would trade their glasses and mock him Marcus would just squint at him. “Very very funny, asshole. Give them back, you’ve done that for long enough. I don’t even sound like that—”)

-Rudy time!!

-Bennie would be a friend of his, he’d find him easy to be around, or entertaining—it’s a mix of both. I think they would definitely hang out more.

-He’d bring Bennie to games, even though he doesn’t particularly care for hockey he’d go there to see him—just to give them something else in common. They could go to one of Bullworths random games and shout obnoxiously from the bleachers (games that Rudy isn’t actively in).

-But, you’re definitely right. Rudy would be a snitch. That would really be the only thing Rudy would seriously criticize about Bennie, he’d try to express to him that he thinks he’s being far to reckless, that he needs to find another way to channel his restlessness. Stuff like that. He would keep a couple things from the teachers/prefects to save him, but eventually he would cave in and snitch on him in the end. It’s in his blood or something…

-Rudy would like Yuudai, he’s always thought that the greasers were a cool bunch. When Yuudai first came to Bullworth he tried to befriend him, even if they didn’t have much in common initially.

-When offered Yuudai’s answers he would decline, sure… he cheats on the down low, but he respects Yuudai—he doesn’t want him to think of him as the hypocrite he truly is, so he tries to very obviously deflect every offer.

-They could do their hair together, I think Rudy would try to steal his hair gel. And try on the leather jacket, he’d make jokes about he looks like he’s in Grease. Or, just try to act all cool.

- I think overall he’d just try to make as much interaction as he could, without actually going to the shop—because he would most likely just get kicked out.

Last but not least.. Vohn time! -

-Vohn would like Bennie, and he wouldn’t exactly mind his pranks—he’d just see it as his own little thing. Like when people say ‘boys will be boys!’ that’s kind of it, plus he’s just kind of oblivious. He’d probably even give him the resources to do so at times, why not?

-The two of them would be pretty different, definitely. There is no doubt. But he doesn’t mind, Vohn just likes making friends whenever he CAN, so he takes whatever he can get. He’d just sit quietly while Bennie talks to him, that would be most of every one of their conversations.

-Vohn would like Yuudai as well, they’d be similar for sure. He’d find him interesting, style wise and just personality wise in general. Their interactions would be chill, Vohn would ask a few questions about him—then go back to sitting in silence as they smoke.

-He wouldn’t know how to respond to him calling him an old man though, but he wouldn’t object. Just sit there awkwardly.

[neonsix67]

My lamb!! (This pic has already been posted by @spotlightstudios per my request because I thought I wouldn't get around to actually posting about it, but here I am so awe well)

My little thing ♡

Physical concept explanation -

-> As always, I live to add a tail to everything I can but I mainly did it here because it helps me understand how to be more expressive with this specific creature, because I'm not the most comfortable with drawing animals.

->I mainly used the Tarot fleece for this because that the fleece I main-ed, but I did just unlock one of the second round of fleeces so idk...that may be subject to change but I really do like the design of that one for the Lamb.

->Can't really see it, but this Lamb has some heavy eyebags. Earned through extreme devotion and hard work, the stress of managing 24 idiots 27/7 has its weight over time, and never being able to sleep, eat, or die has some more...visible side effects.

I didn't change a thing with Narinders' design, at least not his Bishop design. I expect something a bit more...indulgent when I get to his defeated follower form.

But now a quick question (not really heavily ruling on answers but I am a little curious) but I have this idea for another Lamb OC/self-insert. Adding her would mean the existence of another Lamb with this version of the story, and I would likely pair it up with the other Lamb, or should I keep the Lamb of this one as the last and just make this other one a separate story? So the question is-

My version of the lore under break

Okay so I am running very heavily on a family dynamic here. Spot can advocate... but the whole idea is that Narinder kinda adopted this thing and it was SO gosh dang grateful that it worked, lived, and breathed for him. It wasn't long that Lamb starting viewing Narinder as a sort of father figure, never having one for itself since lambs were hunted down to extintion. Lamb would use every death as an opportunity to see Narinder and tell him about the Cult, or the most recent crusade, or just what sort of people Lamb has been meeting, anything to keep his attention.

The first time Lamb called him "Dad" was a slip up, quick and accidental, but Lamb never really apologised, and seeing that Narinder didn't really get mad at the title, Lamb just kinda kept calling him Dad, and eventually even gets cute with it and calls him Papa Nari (this is a reflection to me playing the game...but I met him one time and was like...yeah that's Papa Nari, no one can tell me otherwise). Eventually Lamb hangs around enough during that little bit of time that it takes for it to be resurrected it begins to talk to Aym and Baal as well, who both, seeing that their Master favors this one, oblige to conversate with. It wasn't much longer after that that Lamb began to really view the two as older siblings, playing knucklebones or sharing cult dynamics like a sort of gossip with the two.

As time progresses and the Cult grows, so does the family dynamic, and the Lamb is viewed as Papa Nari's golden child, which doesn't really bother anyone other than Narinders siblings, who catch on that this Lamb is successfully a killer by nature and is learning to be loved by The One Who Waits. Slowly, as they each fall to its blade, does it really sink in that this mission may succeed in the Fifth Bishops' favour. Well, that doesn't quite sit right with Lamb... what will happen when they complete Papa Naris' mission? Don't get it wrong...it WILL complete what was asked, but Lamb has this nagging fear and anxiety that this happy afterlife, this second chance at a real family, will be stripped when they kill all the bishops and provide with Narinder the freedom he so deserves.

So far, that's all I care to type out for now, but boy has this been lingering on my mind for the past couple of days.

Oh and quickly back to the idea of a second Lamb! Spot! Know that this doesn't stop me from crossing our headcannons together. In my mind, your Lamb still exists somewhere out there and just ticks off Papa Nari by not doing anything killing wise. It does not like it one bit but doesn't mind it enough seeing as it makes Papa more proud of it when it continues with the mission.

[themunsonhorrorpictureshow]

timezone.

word count: 1.3k

inspired by:

eddie munson x steve harrington

a/n: English is not my first language, so it might contain some mistakes, please be kind.

warnings: angst with a happy ending

eddie is feeling homesick after so many months on tour

— Hey Eds, we're going to that bar we saw down the street, are you coming?

— Nah man, I'm still kinda jetlagged, gonna rest a little bit.

Gareth knew he was lying, they've been friends for so long that he could know when Eddie were even breathing different. But all that knowledge also made him realize the tears stuck in his friend's throat, even though they were separated by the hotel bedroom door.

— Alright man, we're out, but call us if you need something.

Eddie didn't answer, but he knew Gareth would understand, he heard his friends footsteps going down the hall until the silence was his only company again.

It's been an hour since he entered this bedroom, an hour that his head is hurting, a whole pack of cigarettes is gone by now and he feels this pain covering his chest. He doesn't remember the city or even the country he is in now. Everything he can remember is Steve's sleepy voice on the phone.

This feels so wrong now... He should be happy, right? The band is doing great, they've been on tour for... Eddie lost count of the months by now... But he should be happy, he should be drinking with his friends, celebrating their success, because this was his dream right? Become a rockstar, have a successful band, playing all around the world, live from his music.

But he didn't even unpacked his clothes, he didn't see the view of the bedroom window that was booked specifically for him... He doesn't care, to be honest, the view might be great, but it's only gonna remind him that he's away from home.

It started when their manager said they would need to be on the road for more two weeks, but then those weeks kept multiplying, and now the sweaters he brought with him don't even smell like Steve anymore.

He kept calling everytime they landed in a new place, and Steve always answered, even when he was at work or when he was already sleeping, he always answered, he always said "love you, Teddy" before hanging off. And Eddie knew Steve was unhappy.

Their calls got shorter everytime, the distance got colder everyday... but Steve wouldn't admit it, of course not, he knew how important that was for Eddie, he wouldn't say those bad and selfish words that were floating on the back of his mind... asking for Eddie to come back home, to come back for him.

It's been so long since they left Hawkins, since they became each other's family, but now Steve's memories are tormenting him. Everytime Eddie calls, Steve can hear his mother's voice far away in his head "It's just one more business trip Steven, you know it's important, we're gonna be back soon, honey, you won't even realize the time passing by"... But he always realized the time passing, he always knew there'd be another business trip after that, but he never complained, because that was important, that was his dad's job, what kept the house, so he should just be patient and wait for them to come back.

...

Gareth, Jeff and Grant ran back to the hotel after the message Eddie sent on their groupchat, with only three words "I'm going home", but it was too late, everything they saw was the taxi leaving, and they knew who was that long brown curled hair sitting on the backseat. They were nervous, of course, what would they do without Eddie? How would they tell their manager? What would they do about next day's concert?

Their heads were spinning, but they weren't angry... to be honest, there was a light relief growing in their chest now, because Eddie's left meant a break. All of them were tired, that's why they were drinking in the goddamn daylight, how else could they go through that?

But after all their fights with the management, asking to go back home, to have days off... one of them was finally brave, maybe dumb, enough to go home, to ignore the contract, to breathe again.

Eddie always said he was a coward, but he was the bravest amongst them, and they always admired that.

...

He always hated sitting by the corridor side on the plane, but that was the only place he could get on the full flight. His leg was anxiously shaking, the old lady sitting beside him had a judgment look, but he didn't give a single fuck about that. He was finally going home, and his heart was beating so fast, he thought he could die any minute. But he wished he didn't, he couldn't die, mainly not right now, not before feeling Steve's arms around him again.

— Young man, can you please stop shaking your leg like that? You're disturbing me. — said the old lady, with a fake politeness.

— Sorry, I'm anxious to come back home, it's been a while since...

— I don't wanna know about this, just calm yourself down someway and stop disturbing me. — she said before opening her novel again.

In an usual day, Eddie would answer that, he'd tell the old lady to go to hell or he would be even more annoying just to piss her off. But right now he had no energy to even care about that, nothing else mattered. So, surprisingly, he decided to follow the upset lady's advice and calm himself down.

He needed to write, he needed to put all those words out of his chest, but he couldn't write on his phone's notes, no, he always hated that, so fucking old fashioned, he always wrote on paper, he believed the phone's keyboard blocked the words on his mind.

But he didn't have his journal with him either, packed his stuff so fast, his notebook was know inside his bag, surrounded by clothes. The pain in his head was coming back, he felt suffocated with those words crossing his mind. Luckily, he finally saw the flight attendant walking down the corridor.

— Excuse me... — he realized how his voice sounded loud and desperate, feeling some pairs of eyes looking at him now — Can you get me some napkins and a pen?

— Of course sir. — the flight attendant said with a polite and kinda confused smile on her face.

She came back about two minutes later, handed him a few napkins and a blue pen, still with a slightly confused look. Eddie just murmured a "thanks" and didn't even look to see her leaving.

His scrambled handwriting started filling the blank space, every word making him breath a little bit better because he could finally feel he was coming back home.

"You're wearing my old clothes, but you, you wear it better

And every time I see your face, the moon should be jealous

And I keep talking to the wall 'til he's a friend of mine

I call you every hour just to tell you that I'm losing my mind

Now I know you're sleeping

Where I'm supposed to be in

Wish I could've stayed

Only thing that keeps us apart

Is seven thousand miles, running like a mad dog

Only thing that keeps us apart

Is a different timezone

So fuck what I'm dreaming, this fame has no meaning

I'm coming home

Only thing that keeps us apart

Is a different timezone

Tomorrow I got another plane, I'm not gonna take it

Instead, I'm gonna fly straight to you, I paid double for the tickets

And I don't give a shit about the contracts that I signed

And they can say whatever, we'll be making love, I'm fucking you tonight"

He was going back home, and his heart was beating normal again, because every minute passed was one more minute closer to Steve, not his voice on the phone, not his face on a screen, not a stupid timezone of difference... Eddie was coming back home.

[seafavoured]

𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐍 𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄, they were all busying about the process of packing up their things. all save silver, whose vocal prowess was enough to be called an instrument by its own right. finely tuned and well honed to their craft. flint went about his business, packing the double bass to its leatherbound casing with meticulous care. heedful of its varnish and not to catch the scroll nor end pin as he secured the top. still, even with focus so narrowed, he saw silver in his periphery, hyper aware of the other wandering closer.

the others all seemed preoccupied : edward and ned were embroiled in a heated argument, though they looked more likely to kiss than throw blows. time would tell, he supposed, though his vindictive side did hope for the latter. jack stood glaring nearby, gnawing on a drum stick. izzy and the younger jack both hung about the doorway in discussion with their respective security guards. the ladies seemed too preoccupied with their affections to notice the rest of them, eleanor's arms wrapped 'round the shoulders of both.

his attentions blotted them all from focus, narrowed to the one who now stepped adjacent him. ❛ not keen on playing fourth wheel, were you? ❜ a dry tease accompanied by a nod and cocked brow toward the lesbians. ❛ i hope you've gotten yourself a date for the press junket, at least. i would hate to see you so ignored all evening. ❜ there was a question in the reeds of his jests. hinted and toyed at, but never posed outright.

he bent, hands busied with buckling the clasps of the case ere he stood to full height once more. hoisted a shoulder strap, bass hanging heavy at his back. ❛ you sounded lovely today, by the way. it was wise of ed to give you lead vocals on that track ... bit pitchy at the end though. ❜ bait, and nothing more. the barest hint of a smirk tugged at his mouth, gaze fixed down upon them with an intensity absent when turned to the others.

@pyratezlife / silver.