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corrodedcoffinfest · 3 days ago

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Correction:

I just realized I'd pulled these instructions from our past "It's Complicated" event and had not noticed that in the "for the artists" section it still said you needed to focus on a pairing.

You can, but it's definitely not required for this event.

The updated verbiage is:

For the artists! Art is definitely welcome! Any entries for the prompts must be focused on at least one Corroded Coffin band member, and fit the prompt and guidelines.

Sorry for any confusion this may have caused. It was just an oversight on my part. ❤️

Corroded Coffin Fest Pop-Up: Willie Week

Hello walls. Let's get on the road again. It's funny how time slips away. If you've got the money, I've got the time.

So, the theme for this event is: Willie Nelson.

I thought it might be fun to have events that cover single artists from time to time, and I couldn't think of a better first pick than Willie. 100+ studio albums. A career that's spanned nearly 70 years so far, where he's covered many different genres. He's a legend of outlaw country, and one of the pioneers who dared to rebel against the system.

That's pretty metal, if you ask me.

So, for this challenge choose any song(s) from the list above, and create something inspired by it for the days of the week.

This event runs between August 17th-23rd, 2025.

You can interpret the song any way you'd like, as long as you've focused on one or more members of Corroded Coffin. I've made a playlist with all the songs, so you can listen to Willie's distinctive picking of Trigger, his battered and worn guitar. Or, I've made a spreadsheet that has all the linked lyrics, if you'd rather just pick songs out that way. (Of course, you can just go off the title, too. You're in charge of the interpretation you choose!)

GUIDELINES:

Please tag us here at @corrodedcoffinfest when you post your entries so we can reblog them!

There's no word limit for fics for this event.

Your entries must be posted on the correct day of the event. (Sad Sunday entries on Sunday, Melancholy Monday entries on Monday. And so on. However, there is no obligation to make the tone of your entry match the daily theme. Wistful Wednesday can absolutely have have happy fics, too!)

You'll get a comment from this blog with a "🤠" when it's been checked and added to the queue.

Submissions can be connected to other prompts from the pop-up, but they should still be able to stand alone.

Feel free to use the ao3 collection after you've been reblogged here!

All submissions should include any pairings featured, a rating and any content warnings (CW) or tags that you think are appropriate. All explicit material needs be under a cut. Headers make my life easier, and a sample of one could look something like this:

For the artists! Art is definitely welcome! Any entries for the prompts must be focused on at least one Corroded Coffin band member, and fit the prompt and guidelines.

Please submit your entries between 12:00 AM EDT and 11:59 PM EDT on the day of the prompt in order to not be missed for reblogging. There will be a card posted each day as a reminder of the daily theme!

Roll me up and smoke me when I die. 🤠

#mod post #corrodedcoffinfest: willie week

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corrodedcoffinfest · 3 days ago

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Data Nerds: Stats & Charts

There were 182 unique submissions during our second year. We averaged 5.87 entries per day. Be sure to check out the full masterlist to see all the entries you may have missed!

First up, the most important stat:

What Is Freak's Name:

For the second year in a row, the leader was Not in Work.

But for an actual name, Frankie has came out as the winner this year, unseating Grant from last year. Frankie was used in 25 entries with 13.9% of the total entries having used that name for our dearest Freak.

Ratings of Works:

The teen rating was still vastly more popular than any other rating for this event. This year, not rated was added to the stat keeping.

POVs of Works:

The most popular point of view to write from was still Eddie, just as it was last year, and 73 works came from his perspective.

Entries By User:

We had 15 unique participants over this year's event! That was down from last year's 24, but it was exciting to see new people join us this year — welcome!

There were 3 users that submitted for each day of the month-long event: @steddieas-shegoes, @the-unforgivenn & @thisapplepielife. That's two years in a row for all three! 🎉

Honorable mention to @glassbxttless because they submitted every day except the last and that's only because they didn't want to cut that entry down to our 1000 word limit. 👏

I know how big of a commitment that is — thanks for joining me in this huge undertaking!

Type of Entry:

Again this year, for type of entry, fics were far and away the most submitted type. The average word count for the fics submitted was 944. Which is up from last years average of 840.

Entries By Week:

Week #2 had the highest number of entries, and even figuring for daily average for shorter weeks, it still comes out ahead with an average of 6.14 submissions per day.

Our most popular prompt was a three way tie, each one receiving 9 entries: I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream & Never Been Kissed.

We were down 33% from last year's event, so we will see what the interest looks like next summer! Maybe with the final season coming out there'll be a boost, who knows?

Wanna compare these stats to last years? HERE is the stat post from last year's event.

Main Relationship:

A new stat this year is main relationship. The frontrunner for this event was Eddie/Steve with 66 entries. General was not far behind with an adjusted total of 57 when adding in other general categories like Eddie & Gareth, which were just broken down a little more specifically.

And that's a wrap on the second annual Corroded Coffin Fest! Be sure to check out the big masterlist to see all the entries!

As always everything for EVERY event we've had can be found in the big spreadsheet. Check it out and catch up on works you may have missed!

Thank you all! 🦇

And of course, I invite you all to meet back here in just a few weeks for Willie Week. It's the last week long event of the year. Everything else will be single day events!

#corrodedcoffinfest #mod post #stats #charts #ccf #data

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corrodedcoffinfest · 4 days ago

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Would you ever consider making one event or prompt free from romantic relationships of any kind, so it’s just stories about the four band members? I’m always hoping for fics about the guys and their friendship, but it seems like Steve or “fem!reader” appear way more often than Jeff and Freak.

Hi there!

First, I would like to stress that friendship/gen submissions are always welcome for our events here at Corroded Coffin Fest! So, if you or anyone else would like to submit entries featuring more Jeff and Freak, please do! They'd be welcomed here with open arms, just like all other entries are.

Main Relationship wasn't a stat I tracked on the spreadsheet, but that seemed like something that could be added to give an easier way for anyone who wanted to sort the spreadsheet to find gen fics and/or any relationships they want to read about!

So I did it! That's what took so long to answer this ask. We're sitting at 674 entries, and 35% of the submissions for all our events were classified as general. That's not counting the ones that are sorted as Jeff & Eddie or Eddie & Gareth, which I think could also be considered gen.

Doing this also gave me a chance to clean up dead links from username changes, blog deletions and just my own errors.

So, if you haven't yet, please feel free to check out the newly updated master spreadsheet. You should be able to find fics there that you may have missed!

As for your question, I'm not at all opposed to encouraging more friendship fics with prompts in the future. (Events for 2025 are already set and announced though, and you can see them on the upcoming events calendar.)

However, the main problem with strictly excluding anything (such as romance) is that it's simply easier said than done. Making sure something isn't in an entry would leave me with the time consuming responsibility of reading through every single entry with a fine-tooth comb as they come in and then make subjective judgment calls deciding if they included that element or not all before reblogging, or entering them into the masterlist and spreadsheet.

And that seems a bit daunting, to be honest.

So, while I think having a prompt that encourages focusing on them as friends would be fun and totally doable, I also can't imagine a scenario where I would say other interpretations of the prompt are not allowed. CCF has always had a you do you vibe when it comes to interpreting prompts. The more freedom to tackle a prompt, the more probability we'll get entries at all. (We were down 33% from the same event last year, and I'd hate to dissuade anybody from participating by limiting what they can generously bring to our shared table.)

A general suggestion I'd like to throw out to anyone that would like to see more gen entries for our events is to make sure you interact with the ones you enjoy when they are submitted! Show them love. Reblog them, like them, leave comments, etc. Find ways to let the author/artist know you enjoy those types of entries, because romantic pairings definitely seem to find more traction. So, encourage and show excitement for gen fics, and maybe we'll see more submissions!

I hope that makes sense. I just want everyone to get the most out of CCF, and I feel like giving as much freedom as possible allows all the different pockets of our fandom to submit entries focused on what they love.

Thanks so much for asking. It gave me the chance to expand the master spreadsheet to include relationships, and I think that will come in super handy! 🦇

#corrodedcoffinfest #asks #mod post

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corrodedcoffinfest · 4 days ago

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Below is a collection of all the different masterlists from this event.

Click on the week header to see all the entries from that week. Or you can also click each individual prompt to see all the entries tagged for that prompt.

Check out every submission from every event we've ever had over in the master spreadsheet. We are now up to 674 total entries!

Week #1

Prompts: Band of Brothers // Selling the Drama // It's Five O'Clock Somewhere // I Know What You Did Last Summer // Under the Dome

Week #2

Prompts: The Cutting Edge // The Good, The Bad and The Ugly // ER // Teenage Dirtbag // Have a Drink on Me // Scream // Desperation

Week #3

Prompts: 8 Seconds // Poetic Justice // Breaking Bad // You're Gonna Go Far // Day Drinking // Get Out // Needful Things

Week #4

Prompts: Without Limits // Clerks // Friday Night Lights // Runnin' Down a Dream // Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo // Poltergeist // The Outsider

Week #5

Prompts: Bring It On // Never Been Kissed // The Office // Six Days on the Road // Closing Time

#masterlist #mod post #corrodedcoffinfest #corrodedcoffinfest: year two #ccf #full masterlist

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corrodedcoffinfest · 4 days ago

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Week Five: Masterlist

That's it! We've done it! In our final week we covered 5 prompts, and there were 31 total entries: 31 Fics Written, 0 Pieces of Art & 0 Other Works.

Color-Coded Ratings Key: General, Teen, Mature, Explicit, Not Rated.

Day Twenty-Seven: Bring It On

but he's a cheerleader by @steddieas-shegoes | WC: 916 | Rating: T | CW: none | Tags: halloween party, halloween costumes, steve in a cheerleader costume, post season 3, good babysitter steve, eddie has a crush on steve

JULY 27: Bring It On by @the-unforgivenn | WC: 999 | Rating: E | Pairing(s): None | CW: Boys being complete idiots, mention of Catholic faith, sexual content, kinda dubcon, maybe/not really because Eddie is totally into it | Tags: Corroded Coffin, stupid bets, Eddie cums in his pants because of course he does, Fuckboy!Rockstar!Eddie Munson

Are You Wearing Rhinestones? by @glassbxttless | WC: 1000 | Rating: Not Rated | Pairing(s): marching band!gareth emerson x cheerleader!fem!reader | CW: Nothing that I can think of

storm's a-coming by @thisapplepielife | WC: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: Language | POV: Goodie (Freak) | Pairing: None | Tags: Goodie Turns 16 on November 7, 1983, It's the Biggest Thing Happening In Hawkins That Day, Isn't It?, Friendship, Missing Plot Featuring The Corroded Coffin Boys set during "The Vanishing of Will Byers"

Day Twenty-Eight: Never Been Kissed

Lilac by @glassbxttless | WC: 1000 | Rating: Not Rated | Pairing(s): marching band!gareth emerson x cheerleader!fem!reader | CW: there’s some boob touching!

what's a little kiss between friends? by @steddieas-shegoes | WC: 900 | Rating: T | CW: none | Tags: friendship, established steddie, no this isn't cheating, eddie's just gonna help gareth get over his kissing virginity, first kiss

Corroded Coffin Fest 2025 - Day 28 - Never Been Kissed by @jo-harrington | WC: 994 | Rating: T | Tags: Fluff, Friendship, Crushes, Slight Teen Angst, Platonic Kissing, Boys Will Be Boys in the Purest Sense

Kiss me under the bleachers by @shelleyminx | WC: 997 | Rating: G | CW: bullying | POV: Eddie | Pairing(s): Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington | Tags: Pre-Steddie, Eddie Munson is bullied at school, Jason and Tommy are terrible, Steve is a sweetheart, Am I a fucking bet? trope (sort of), bonding over M&M's and sharing a secret place

JULY 28: Never Been Kissed by @the-unforgivenn | WC: 996 | Rating: M | Pairing(s): Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader | CW: Some steamy kitchen kisses. Allusions to oral sex. | Tags: Rockstar!Husband!Eddie Munson x Wife!Reader, Eddie's wife is in a bookclub, Married!Eddie Munson, making out

Not What I'm Wanted For by @eternal-sunflowers | WC: 998 | Rating: T | CW: drinking, brief mentions of being used for sex in the past | POV: Steve | Tags: pre-steddie; steve has a secret; spin the bottle gone wrong; robin and gareth are little shits (lovingly); eddie is a sweetheart; getting together

Day Twenty-Nine: The Office

what's best for everyone by @steddieas-shegoes | WC: 928 | Rating: T | CW: none | Tags: band manager steve, friendship, light angst, arguing, happy ending, established steddie

Corroded Coffin Fest 2025 - Day 29 - The Office by @jo-harrington | WC: 1000 | Rating: M | CW: Screenplay format, boys will be boys, humor, fluff, arguing, slightly vulgar mention, brief kiss | Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

JULY 29: The Office by @the-unforgivenn | WC: 996 | Rating: T | Pairing(s): Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson | CW: Angst, Open ending | Tags: Pre-Steddie, Steve x Eddie, Steve is married, based off of Casino Night episode of The Office, Rockstar!Eddie Munson, Equipment!Manager!Steve Harrington

Day Thirty: Six Days on the Road

less than a week by @steddieas-shegoes | WC: 992 | Rating: E | CW: none | Tags: corroded coffin/steve, free use steve sorta, implied polyamory but with this word count limit you just have to make your assumptions, group sex, light bondage, anal sex

Corroded Coffin Fest 2025 - Day 30 - Six Days on the Road by @jo-harrington | WC: 999 | Rating: M | CW: Boys will be boys, friendship, angst, humor, psychological torture.

JULY 30: Six Days on the Road by @the-unforgivenn | WC: 719 | Rating: T | Pairing(s): Gareth Emerson x Wife!Reader | CW: Angst | Tags: Angst, Older Corroded Coffin, Married!Gareth Emerson, Husband!Gareth x Wife!fem!Reader, OC!Daughter!Clara Emerson, Gareth has kids, touring

final call by @steddieas-shegoes | WC: 881 | Rating: T | CW: none | Tags: famous corroded coffin, eddie needs a hug, friendship, the band is taking a break, light angst, hopeful/happy ending

Corroded Coffin Fest 2025 - Day 31 - Closing Time by @jo-harrington | WC: 978 | Rating: T | Pairing: Eddie Munson x Store Manager!Reader | CW: Meet-ish cute-ish, revisiting canon events of 1985, revisiting an AU, hurt/comfort, angst

Closing Time by @mrsjellymunson | WC: 1000 | Rating: E | Relationship: Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington; Steddie | CW: Oral (m rec), mention of a fantasy involving chain, cum eating, spit as lube, fingering (m rec), ball play, handjob | Tags: getting together, Jeff's stellar wingmannery bears fruit

Picture This by @shelleyminx | WC: 900 | Rating: G | CW: none | POV: Outsider | Pairing(s): Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington | Tags: Eddie has a crush on Steve, Chrissy as Corroded Coffin's manager, end of tour blues/joy, Steve and Robin are two menaces (and sweethearts), all of them are just dreamy young people and I think that's beautiful

That's it! We're done for another year. Big thank you to everyone who submitted during this event! Big masterlist of all weeks to follow soon. 🦇

#corrodedcoffinfest #masterlist #mod post #week 5 #days 27 thru 31 #ccf #corrodedcoffinfest: year two

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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JULY 31: Closing Time

CW: Angst, memory loss, CTE. I definitely cried writing this.

A bittersweet sequel to May Mayhem Bingo: Lovers to Friends to Strangers

WC: 783

Tags: Memory loss, CTE, Older!Eddie Munson, Older!Steve Harrington, Steddie

Pairings: Steve x Eddie

Rating: M

Summary: Their love is that some other beginning's end.

Series: @corrodedcoffinfest 2nd Annual CC Fest: Media Mania

“Eddie.”

It’s phrased as a statement. Steve’s voice, roughened with age, calls to him, snaps Eddie’s concentration on the novel in his lap to his husband that’s looking at him back as if he’s seeing him for the very first time.

“Eddie,” Steve says again, crows feet crinkling as he tilts his head, “you look fuckin’ old.”

A laugh barks straight out of him, age-weathered hands gripping at the white-knuckling the wrought iron patio chair. “I don’t look a day over thirty.” His face falls, torn between flagging down nurse Theo and falling to his knees in thanks for this miracle.

He has his husband back.

But he doesn’t know for how long.

“Steve,” Eddie croaks, arms shaking with the need to feel him close, and Steve holds up a broad hand.

“Don’t, honey. Don’t strain yourself.” There’s a serenity to his gaze as he surveys the ample grounds. “Who is it that you ask for when you need something around here?”

“I –”

For once, Eddie’s at a loss for words. How Steve can be so lucid and all at once so goddamn calm is just beyond his comprehension. It doesn’t make any sense.

And what doesn’t make sense usually ends in disaster.

In fact, most everything ends in disaster as of late, and Eddie had started to lose hope. He really started to believe he was losing Steve for real.

Nothing this good can come without a price, and that’s why Eddie blinks back his tears, treading lightly as he asks, “Are you all right, Stevie?”

Eddie’s husband blows out a long breath, whole body sinking against the seat. “I am.” A wrinkled hand scratches at his nape as he admits, “I did get a little wigged out there. I’ve been… uh, aware, I guess, for about ten minutes.”

Eddie practically chokes on his own spit. “Ten minutes?”

“Figured it out pretty quick. I guess I remember this place from… well, I don’t really know from where. Or when.” He smiles sheepishly, and Eddie’s heart skips. “I’m almost afraid to ask what year it is.”

The more he talks, the more Eddie allows himself to believe. Even when he knows he shouldn’t.

He’s learned so much about moments like these, and the peace that seems to emanate from Steve sends off every single alarm in Eddie’s brain.

But he just can’t call for Theo quite yet.

He’s gonna be selfish. He’s gonna enjoy this.

He’s gonna enjoy Steve.

For almost an hour, Eddie loses himself in his husband, sitting as close as he can get without being in the man’s lap. He holds his hand. Touches his leg. Leans in for so many kisses he loses count.

Steve reciprocates. Each and every time.

Even as his smile falters, squeezing Eddie’s fingers as he asks, “So. Where’s home for you nowadays?”

Eddie can sense his longing, the fear in his tone as Steve braces for the worst.

Like Eddie could be anywhere else than where his heart resides. “Sweetheart, I am home.”

Steve’s touch trembles as it traces new lines in Eddie’s skin. “Oh, you’re gonna say, home is wherever I am, and damn it Ed, I love you for it, but this can’t be a life for you –”

“Fuckin’ right I’m gonna say it,” he says thickly as the tears finally fall, “I am home. Here. With you. My room is right next to yours.”

That lopsided grin Steve flashes is just so genuinely him it makes Eddie’s chest ache. “Well, that can’t be ethical.”

“It is when we damn near built the whole wing.”

Steve sits back with a knowing hum. Eddie’s not gonna waste his breath telling Steve that hush funds from the government, a handful of double-platinum albums and a lot of wise investments built Harrington House, one of the best CTE-focused memory care facility in the country.

It’s almost like Steve already knows. “Take me home, Eddie,” Steve whispers as he tucks his head to Eddie’s chest, “I want you to take me home.”

Theo’s at Eddie’s side, his own eyes shining as he helps the lovers to their feet. He barely holds it together as he walks hand in hand to Steve’s room, heart finally full after running empty for so many years when Steve tugs the covers back and welcomes him to bed. Theo helps them in, smoothing Eddie’s curls away from his face, sniffling as he promises to stay close.

Just outside their door.

As it closes with a soft click, Eddie pulls Steve close, peppering kisses along sun-kissed grays and beautiful fine lines.

“You’re home, sweetheart,” Eddie stifles a sob as his husband’s breathing slows, and slows, and slows. “We’re going home.”

@munsonscharm @mrsjellymunson @rebelfell @rip-quizilla @mugloversonly

@fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @losingmygrasponreality @loserboysandlithium @gracieheartspedro @glassbxttless

@1deverland @1lostsoul0fishbowl @perpetualmess @punkrockmlchael @kellsck

@keeryhours @clarafornerlyknownasclaire-blog @the11th-plague @katethetank @alastorssimp

@anaibis @darkyuffie-blog @duncanhillscoffeecups @dreamwatch @sidekick-hero

@american-idiot-jpg @mopeymopeymouse @munson-blurbs @corrodedcorpses

@corroded-hellfire @word-wytch @wolfqueenxxx @80s-addict @kelsiegrin

@l1lpip @hugdealer @veemoon @amanitacowboy @sexmetaleddie

@s1mp-4-ga11y @stalactitekilla

divider: @strangergraphics-archive

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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Written for @corrodedcoffinfest

Eddie leans against the back wall watching the band play their final song, arms crossed against his chest. They’re good, which he can’t always say when a band swings through here, it’s the policy to give everyone at least one shot, good or bad. But these ones are a little more polished, more practiced than most, and the song writing is solid. They might have a chance at playing some of the bigger bars and clubs. Deep down in his chest he feels a pinch of jealousy.

They finish up and the houselights come on, and everyone gets ushered out of the club; it’s more like a cave the way the walls and ceiling look like they’ve been badly chiseled in rock and covered in the thickest, roughest plaster you can find, and you’d miss it from the street if you didn’t know about it. It special, a secret passed along by word of mouth.

He pays the band while they breakdown and slips them a card with a couple of numbers scribbled on the back, a guy he knows with a bigger venue and another with a studio that rents out downtime for cheap. They’re still thanking him on the way out when the guitarist stops and points at the scores of pictures haphazardly stuck on the wall.

“Holy shit, is that Dave Mustaine?”

Eddie doesn’t even have to look at it. “Sure is.”

There’s excited babbling as they point at bands and musicians they idolise, people who’s CDs they have at home. Most of those bands never graced the stage, but they’d prop up the bar, knocking back Lemmys all night. Those days are mostly over now.

“Who are they?”

Eddie follows their eye-line to a familiar picture, pinned to the wall between Dave Grohl and Lars Ulrich. Four young faces stare back at him from another time, all of them flipping the bird. He always loved this picture.

“That, gentlemen, is Corroded Coffin.”

He gets a round of polite nods, and while it always stings a tiny bit he’s past the worst of the hurt now. Some bands get cards with phone numbers and a helping hand, and some go home with their tail between their legs. That’s life.

“Maybe we’ll get a photograph up there one day.’

Eddie smiles brightly at them. “Keep playing like that and you will.”

He locks up after them and starts cleaning down the bar, upending all of the stools but one. The stool looks as good as the day he bought it and Eddie polishes the little brass sign on the back, neatly etched letters that spell out ‘Wayne.’ It’s a touchstone in the madness, something solid and grounding on nights when he feels unmoored. Nights like tonight.

The floor is next, dark and perma-sticky with spilled drinks and god knows what else. He knows every inch of it now, every little pit, every deep scratch or stain, he knows them all.

They played here twice in the early nineties, and he can still see the drawing of a dick on the wall closest to the stage, courtesy of Matty. The guy is a forty-five year old accountant and father of three, and Eddie can’t wait to bring his kids in here to show them their Dad’s artwork.

When he’s done he grabs a coke and hops up onto Wayne’s stool, owner privileges. The wall behind the bar is full of pictures, but these are different. These ones are family. Gareth holding his youngest baby minutes after he was born; Jeff and Eddie asleep on sun loungers in Dustin’s back yard; Matt and Lily’s wedding day. And the earlier ones, the gig shots taken by Jonathan Byers for twenty bucks and some weed, the cover of the little EP they put out, paid for by friends and family. A picture of Wayne and Eddie watching the sign go up outside not long after Eddie took ownership.

Back when Corroded Coffin played here it had been called The Pits, which had been funny at the time, back when he was twenty-five and either drunk or high or both. But he had bought it because it had potential, it had heart, it just needed someone to squeeze life back into it. And Eddie had needed a project, something to squeeze the life back into him after working an endless stream of dead end jobs. So ‘The Pits’ became ‘Eddie’s’ and Chicago metal heads had a new home.

The street door slams shut making him jump, but he already knows who it is, even without the low whistle and light bounce on the stairs.

“It’s me.”

“Hello me,” Eddie replies with a smile, waiting for the next line.

“Meet the real me,” Steve says, slipping his coat off, “and my misfits way of life.”

Eddie tips his head back and Steve kisses him on the cheek, but here’s the thing about Steve Harrington: he’s locked in to Eddie in a way that feels scary sometimes, to be seen and known that well. Even before Steve’s eyes pinch as he looks into Eddie’s, he knows.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

Eddie sighs. “Just thinking about—” he gestures at the pictures, memories of another time. “Getting melancholy, as I am wont to do.”

Steve hugs him tight from behind, and Eddie grabs at his arms. He gets trapped in his head, caught up in a past of shoulda, woulda, couldas, snared up in jealousy for young bands playing his stage, and he wants a do over. He knows the pitfalls, the mistakes, knows they just needed to practice more, fuck around less, take it more seriously.

Too late now.

Steve grabs his hand, pulling him off the stool.

“C’mon, let’s go to bed.”

Eddie touches his fingers to his lips and presses a kiss into the brass name plate, then ducks behind the bar and grabs the overflowing box of demo tapes ready to search for the next group of kids looking for a helping hand.

Thanks to my husband for the idea, though I don't think I did it justice.

Eddie's bar is a bit of a mashup of two places I used to go to in Soho - The Crobar and St Moritz. St Moritz was the weirdest little troll cavern but the music was excellent and the vibe was sleazy. Both bars were famously frequented by the likes of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters and Lemmy. I saw a photo of the owner with Dave Murray, but I swapped him for Dave Mustaine because it made more send in a Chicago bar. :)

A Lemmy is a Jack Daniels and Coke - Lemmy's favourite drink. Most metal bars will know what you mean if you ask for one.

'Hello me, meet the real me and my misfit's way of life' is a lyric from Sweating Bullets by Megadeth. I always love the thought that Steve knows this music almost as well as Eddie after all these years.

I feel kind of gutted I haven't been able to do more of these, but it's been a weird month. I have got some that I started that I might try and finish in the coming weeks, if the muse strikes.

@the-unforgivenn Last one!

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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this was written for @corrodedcoffinfest Media Mania

Picture This

Prompt Day 31: Closing Time | Word Count: 900 | Rating: G | CW: none | POV: Outsider | Pairing(s): Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington | Tags: Eddie has a crush on Steve, Chrissy as Corroded Coffin's manager, end of tour blues/joy, Steve and Robin are two menaces (and sweethearts), all of them are just dreamy young people and I think that's beautiful

Summary:

Corroded Coffin releases many albums, goes on tour, become the main characters of rock n' roll controversies as bands do. But decades later, one specific picture appears on the preface of their photo biography.

One that only exists because of a ridiculous idea and a hot stranger willing to go ahead with it and make it even greater.

Eddie tackles Doug onto the floor and they both gasp when Gareth adds himself to the pile of people. Jeff doesn't seem convinced to join in, but Chrissy gives him a light shove and he lets his own body fall, the four of them kinda laughing as they roll to the side, lying on the stage they just made the last show of their first national tour. The venues are not that big, but it's fulfilling, a sense of dream coming true tucked under layers of hard work, traveling in an uncomfortable bus, eventually sharing motel rooms. It's amazing anyway. The sold out date tonight left them with a burning hope that there will be a next album, another tour, a lifetime of this. They're exhausted, but so happy it's hard to leave the place and pop up the bubble.

“Man, I want to climb that!” Eddie laughs, pointing to the theatrical hardware that holds multiple lightning equipment.

“You don't!” Chrissy, their former classmate and now tour manager answers, eyes widening.

“Uh-” a guy enters the stage. Not someone they know, probably around their age, wearing a plain black shirt tucked under his jeans. He doesn't look like a staff member either. “They're not here!” he shouts at someone backstage “Yeah, I'll let you. Have you tried the back entrance? You know these rock dudes… They just vanish.”

The five at the stage trade suspicious looks. Unknown guy starts picking up stuff like used water bottles and setlist papers and throwing them in a trash bag.

“This might've got you guys some more twenty minutes. Then you have to go, I'm sorry.” he keeps his work, never minding their excitement.

“I doubt it would break just with my weight!” Eddie continues, despite the others' silence.

“It wouldn't. But I don't recommend climbing there. You'll be seen by the lightning guys and probably get a fine.” Trash guy says.

“Hey, you're like a security guy or something?” Jeff inquires, analyzing the way he's dressed; not rock n’ roll at all.

“My dad owns the place. And we're closing, but you seem to be enjoying some last minutes with the stage, so. Have your fun, just don't break anything.”

“Can I like… Pretend to be climbing? If one of you guys give me a hand I'll be able to reach it and we can take a picture and-”

“No. Chance. My shoulder is fucked.” Doug is still lying on the floor, facing the stage turned off lights. Jeff doesn't even bother answering.

“Oh… It would be a cool picture, though.” Chrissy pouts “Gar?”

“Don't Gar me, Chris. I can't and won't lift this sack of bones. Take a normal picture instead.”

“I can do it.” Son-Of-Someone interjects, uninterested. “It seems like a cool photo to have.”

Eddie rolls on the floor and finally looks at him. Tall, broad shoulders, athletic, All-American-Hot-Type. Chrissy jumps excitedly.

“Thanks! What's your name again?” she asks, offering a hand for him to shake.

“Steve.” He smiles charmingly at her, but it's Eddie's stomach that begins to flutter.

“No need to worry, man. I was just joking-” he starts, desperately trying to get himself out of a possible crush and to go back to his post-concert euphoria.

“It's nothing. Actually… Wait here!” and he runs yelling something that sounds like Bob or Rob or whatever before coming back with a girl on his tow.

“Father Harrington is gonna kill you if he hears about this.” she sighs.

“Father Harrington always wants to kill me either way, might as well give him some reason.” He shrugs “Okay, figure out a cool pose or something.” He turns back to the band “You too! Robin will take the picture for you, join them!” Chrissy shyly gives Robin her camera and the others discuss what they should do.

“Hi. You're… Ed, right?” Steve approaches casually, smiling like he's hiding something. Eddie thanks every God for his lack of blushing.

“Yeah, Eddie.” He's still wondering how to greet this handsome stranger when he's interrupted.

“Cool, Eddie. Hop on.” Eddie thanks every God because no one is paying attention when he actually blushes because this stranger is pointing at his own back.

Their pose is kinda stupid. Doug and Jeff hold Chrissy up in their arms and she laughs, surprised. Gareth Kneels in front of them, making Devin horns with both his hands and sticking his tongue out. Eddie climbs on Steve's shoulder and pretends to be trying to reach the hardware with a hand while making devil horns with the other and opening a devilish smile. Robin takes their picture then asks them to hold on.

She does something they can't see in the back of the stage and two canons shoot bright colorful pieces of paper at them, just like it happened at the end of their last song. Shocked, everyone but Steve looks kinda marveled at the beauty of it and Robin shoots a picture that showcases their spontaneous joyous faces. Steve is smiling with a knowing look, while Eddie looks up to the paper, Gareth falls to the floor laughing surprisingly, Chrissy is on the verge of tears.

Corroded Coffin releases many albums, goes on tour, become the main characters of rock n' roll controversies as bands do. But decades later, this picture appears on the preface of their photo biography.

What a way to close. What a way to start.

A/N: and that's it for Corroded Coffin Fest 2025! What an honor it was to participate!!! Joining this fest gave me the courage to post some of my writing, read amazing fics and get a lot more love than I ever thought I would!!!! My first fic for the fest was about pre-concert jitters, so nothing more fitting than the last being about post-concert joy.

I hope you guys enjoyed this little thingy! Immense thanks to the CCfest organizers, writers and readers. I hope I can see you on the pocket events and on the next edition!

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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Closing Time

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest’s Media Mayhem event | Prompt: ‘Closing Time’ | Rating: E 18+ SMUT MDNI NSFW | WC: 1000 | Relationship: Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington; Steddie | CW: Oral (m rec), mention of a fantasy involving chain, cum eating, spit as lube, fingering (m rec), ball play, handjob | Tags: getting together, Jeff's stellar wingmannery bears fruit | A/N: This is the smutty conclusion to these previous parts:

Pt 1: Have A Drink On Me | Pt 2: The Office

My masterlist

Eddie’s on him in seconds, shoving Steve towards the coffee-brown couch, cupping his face and devouring his mouth even as they stagger backwards. Steve’s grasping at everything he can reach, Eddie's shirt, his skin, that damned chain. Pausing at Eddie’s ass, Steve squeezes, hard, and Eddie whimpers.

Pulling back just slightly, Eddie’s eyes flit around Steve’s face, irises blown entirely black. Stunned and incredulous, he mumbles breathily,

“Fuck, Stevie. I've wanted this for so long.”

Steve groans, pulling Eddie back towards him and grinding his substantial bulge into Eddie’s crotch. Eddie reciprocates a little too hard, knocking Steve off-balance onto the cushions with a thump.

Momentarily, Eddie can't move, he just stares. Steve’s panting, hair messy, eyes glazed, lips swollen and shiny; he's a vision. Eddie's chest heaves as his gaze roves over Steve’s broad, hairy pecs and the swelling inside his lightwash jeans, mirroring Eddie’s that’s now uncomfortably confined within his tightest pair (sue him, he wanted to look sexy tonight). Swallowing, he mutters,

“Tell me what you want.”

Half-crazed, Steve stammers,

“T-take off your shirt.”

Eddie’s shirt can barely be called such anymore, and he quickly discards the scrappy fabric. Steve trakes his eyes over Eddie’s lithe, wiry form, dark tattoos brought into stark relief by the dim lamplight illuminating his alabaster skin. He raises a hand, rumbling,

“Shit, Ed, you're so crazy fuckin' hot… C’mere.”

Eddie complies instantly. Surprising him, Steve pulls him to the sofa, simultaneously rising and dropping between his thighs. He immediately starts working Eddie’s belt, Eddie groaning at a sight he thought he'd only ever see in his fantasies - Steve Harrington, kneeling in front of him, breathless and eager to get in his pants.

Freed from its confines, Eddie’s cock stands proud, hard and leaking. Steve's tongue flicks out, and he hums as he licks at his slit and swollen head, Eddie jerking in his seat with a broken,

“Aaah-haaaah!”

Wide-eyed and desperate, Eddie moves to free the denim trapped beneath his ass, but Steve stops him.

“No, leave it. I've been obsessed with this goddamn chain for years, it haunts my fuckin’ dreams.”

Eddie shivers, oblivious that he’d ever had this effect on anyone. Had he known, he would've worn dozens of the things…

He shudders as Steve takes him into his mouth. Eddie's sweaty from playing, but Steve revels in his musky scent and salty taste as his fat length slides over his tongue. He licks everywhere, memorising every ridge and vein, every noise Eddie makes above him. He realises he's never enjoyed having anyone's dick in his mouth quite this much.

He winds that goddamn chain around his hand, tugging it whilst swallowing Eddie as deep as he can, bobbing, moaning, hollowing his cheeks and sucking. He wants to practice, get Eddie deeper, have this chain wrapped around his wrists while Eddie—

His fantasy’s halted when Eddie howls suddenly, and without warning his pulsing cock spills his hot release into Steve’s waiting mouth. Steve splutters, drinks down what he can, a little dribbling down his chin.

Eddie releases his deathgrip on the upholstery, and mere moments later he's flipping Steve onto his back on the couch. Quickly removing Steve's jeans and boxers, he admires every inch of Steve, mumbling,

“Goddammit, these fuckin’ thighs!”

Eddie palms at Steve’s quads, then pushes his knees up and apart, spreading him. Pausing once more, he takes in Steve’s prone position, his impressive cock lying heavy against his belly, his pretty pink hole twitching under his hungry gaze. It's almost too much. Almost…

Eddie plunges two fingers into his own mouth, coating them generously with spit before probing gently at Steve's entrance. Steve’s trembling, grasping at the cushions as Eddie slips his middle finger inside. He moans at the intrusion, clamping down and sucking him in. Eddie sighs and lolls out his tongue, curving it so a glob of his saliva drips onto Steve’s hole. Steve gasps, and again as Eddie adds a second finger, crooking and pumping them. It's fast and dirty, but they've waited long enough.

Eddie moves his other hand to cup Steve’s balls, garnering him a breathy sigh. He tugs lightly, assessing what Steve likes, watching as his cock jumps on his stomach. He dips his head down and sucks one into his mouth, rolling his tongue around it, bringing his other hand to wrap around Steve’s length, skilfully gliding up and down. Above him Steve groans, his thighs constricting around Eddie’s head. Eddie licks, sucks, switches sides, all the while working Steve with his talented musician's hands. It’s not long before Steve’s juddering, and as his balls tighten Eddie releases them and shifts so he’s leaning right over Steve’s dick, angling it away from his body. As Steve cums Eddie licks hungrily at his length and head, hot white streaks decorating his face as he sticks out his tongue, slurping at Steve's spend like it's the best popsicle he’s ever tasted.

Steve collapses, sated, boneless, and as Eddie regards his flushed, prone form he whispers, almost inaudibly,

“You’re fucking beautiful, Stevie.”

After resting a while they recover and dress. Terrified he’ll say too much – he does that sometimes – Eddie mumbles,

“I should probably go.”

“No, wait! Will you… come back to my apartment? It’s not fancy, but it has a clean sofa. And a bed.”

Steve smiles timidly, hoping Eddie’ll see the humour.

Eddie gapes, and Steve’s suddenly terrified that he's moving too fast – he does that sometimes…

“Shit, too much?”

Eddie scoffs, lovestruck and adoring.

“God, no! Of course I will. I’ve wanted you for so long I can’t believe I get to have you, that’s all. We've got a lot of time to make up for, sweetheart.”

Smiling and flushed they straighten their clothes, and Steve passes Eddie a bar towel, gesturing to where some of his cum is still ornamenting his skin. Steve reaches into his jeans, retrieving a jangling bunch of keys, and remarks, grinning,

“You gonna help me close up first?”

Pt. 1: Have A Drink On Me | Pt 2: The Office

Thanks so much for reading! 🖤🖤 Here endeth my contributions to the Media Mayhem event, thanks so much to @corrodedcoffinfest for organising it!! 🖤🖤

My masterlist

General taglist (open): @joejoequinnquinn @jamdoughnutmagician @guiltyasquinn @madaboutmunson @airen256 @sunshinepeachx @the-unforgivenn @skrzydlak @comeonatmebruh @jamiecb66 @80s-addict @abellmunsonmovie @definitionwanderlust @sheneedsrocknroll92 @munson-blurbs @wonderlanddreamer @daisy-munson @maedesculpaeusoubi @kurdtbean @mediocredreams @swiftievibez @micheledawn1975 @littlebebebunny @12thatsanumber @alastorssimp @the-baby-angel @eddie-is-a-god @wolfqueenxxx @losingmygrasponreality @richter-raccoon @1deverland @evileyeandthecattywhumps @3rd-conchord @bellalillyrose @steve-loves-eddie @justalotoffanfiction @gracieheartspedro

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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Written for @corrodedcoffinfest.

only a moment away

Set within Wildflowers, Gareth's continued story from my Tuesday's universe.

oh, the mother and child reunion, is only a moment away Paul Simon, Mother and Child Reunion

"Goodie?"

Lana's voice is quiet, softer than Gareth ever remembers it being. There's a nurse that Gareth's seen a few times over the past few weeks, and Sam's still sitting in a chair nearby. Gareth's pretty sure he never moves. Sitting vigil next to his wife.

Gareth would do the same. He gets it.

Goodie always looked like his dad, and as the years have passed by that resemblance has become less apparent. Gareth can't help but wonder if this is what Goodie would have looked like older.

They've gotten old. He knew that. He did. He just doesn't feel like it's been that long since he's seen them, but he turned his back for a minute, and they've aged years.

Not that he hasn't gotten old, too. He has. He accepts it. The wrinkles and the strands of gray in his hair, all of it. He's thankful for it. He hasn't rushed to do the celebrity thing and get work done. He's fine looking his age. He rode hard, and if he looks like he's been put away a little wet, well. So be it.

Seeing the age on himself, on Eddie, has been a victory. They survived. In more ways than one. When they couldn't walk, they crawled. They were kept afloat until they could tread water on their own.

They were helped out.

Out of addiction.

Out of that plane crash.

They made it to thirty. They made it to forty. They made it to fifty.

They lived.

And well, Goodie and Jeff, they never got that luxury. They got twenty-seven years. They joined that awful club, and Gareth's never sure if he hates it when they're included in those lists among Kurt, Janis and Jimi, or if it hurts worse when they are forgotten. Like they aren't important enough to make the cut, as new names, new stars, suffer the same tragic fate.

Dying at twenty-seven.

It's so young.

"Goodie?" she asks again.

Gareth pauses in the living room next to the hospital bed they've moved in, unsure how to answer. He's not Goodie.

"I'm here," he settles on. He is here, so it's not a full lie.

It still feels wrong, and he can't give her false hope, so he adds, "It's Gareth."

"Gareth," she says, "I thought you looked a little puny."

He laughs, leaning down. Carefully gripping her shoulders, kissing her on the cheek, "You're awful. I love you."

"I think he was here."

Gareth doesn't know what to say to that. He doesn't believe it, but knows she does. It doesn't hurt anyone to believe it for her. Not when she lost her only child. No parent should outlive their child, and she's spent so many years without her baby. The fear of that, of losing his girls, keeps Gareth up at night more than anything else.

If Goodie is out there somewhere, anywhere, he's waiting for his mother. Gareth knows that. Believes it.

The mother and child reunion is only a moment away.

Paul Simon.

Gareth thinks in song, can't help it, it's just hardwired into him, and that's the song playing in his head on this strange and mournful day.

"It's the pain meds, she knows who you are," Sam says, putting his hand on Gareth's shoulder. Gareth hadn't even realized he'd gotten up out of his chair.

"Hey," Gareth says, and he hugs Sam. Presses his forehead to Sam's shoulder, and for a second, just one, he pretends it's Goodie.

He misses him.

"I thought I heard your voice," Gloria says, coming out of the kitchen, and Gareth smiles. Of course she's here. Where else would she be? He's sure Mama Jones has been making visits as well.

He misses Jeff, too.

Gloria pushes a glass of tea into his hand, and if Sam reminds him of Goodie, Gloria reminds him of Jeff. Always taking care of everyone, always the one to smooth the edges. The hurt.

Goodie got his humor from Lana, and Jeff got his kindness from Gloria. Gareth's seen pictures, and Eddie got his mom's looks. It makes Gareth wonder what he got from his mama. He's too close to see it.

The Corroded Coffin extended family runs deep, deeper than anything he's ever experienced. He hears bands use that canned line we're a family and he always thinks, not like us.

They all take chairs around the bed, making small talk. There's not a lot to say. It's just a waiting game.

"Sorry, I'm late," Eddie says, breezing in, like he's younger than he looks.

"Eddie," Lana says, voice full of affection, and Gareth doesn't know if he should be offended that Lana seems to recognize Eddie better than she does him. She doesn't think Eddie is Goodie.

"How's the prettiest lady I know?" Eddie asks, as Eddie dotes on her. Gareth knows how brave Eddie is being right now. How much he'd rather be anywhere else, head buried in the sand. Eddie doesn't do death and dying, never has, and that certainly hasn't improved with age.

But he's here, where he's needed.

Gareth wipes at his eyes, and Eddie moves to stand behind him, squeezing his shoulders.

They've had a lot of transitions in their lives, and this is just another one. The course of a lifetime runs, over and over again. It's a circle, he's realized, and they are gonna hit these same beats over and over in different ways, with different people.

It's the rhythm of life, of loss. It's the steady constant, the backbeat, that fuels the song of still being among the living.

"I'm ready to see Goodie," she says, and Gareth watches Sam squeeze her hand.

"You will," Sam reassures.

Maybe she will.

Maybe she won't.

Eddie leans down, arms folding around Gareth, restricting his shoulders as Eddie presses his cheek to Gareth's neck. Gareth reaches up, grasping Eddie's forearms, the only way he can move, being held like this.

Gareth rests his head against Eddie's, and they wait.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @corrodedcoffinfest and follow along with the fun! 🦇

Notes: One day I heard Mother and Child Reunion by Paul Simon and just went oh. I've heard it a thousand times, but that day I must have been thinking about Tuesday's Goodie, and well, here we are.

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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Corroded Coffin Fest 2025 - Day 31 - Closing Time

Summary: Corroded Coffin watches StarCourt Mall burn down on July 4th, 1985

Word Count: 978

Rating: T

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Store Manager!Reader

Warnings/Themes: Meet-ish cute-ish, revisiting canon events of 1985, revisiting an AU, hurt/comfort, angst

So, it's a really funny story, because the first fic I wrote for the Stranger Things fandom, and for Eddie, was called Closing Time. It was the beginning of me writing my beloved Store Manager Verse. And when I saw this prompt, I thought like...damn, I can't do it because I've essentially already done it.

But then inspiration hit. So please, enjoy this little SMVerse offshoot/AU. With a wee little cameo appearance of dr-aculaaa's Steve and OC Sally if you squint.

Check Out @corrodedcoffinfest For all sorts of amazing fics and another great year of CCFest prompts. <3

You can find my masterlist here.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

4th of July was not typically patriotic for Eddie and his friends, but a day of unadulterated fun. This year had been no different, as they attended the Roane County Fair, played ring toss, ate cotton candy, and rode the Tilt-a-Whirl til they puked.

When the fireworks were over, and enough fun had been had, they headed over to StarCourt to haunt the McDonald’s and get fried apple pies and swirl cones to their hearts content.

They were regulars at that McDonald’s partially due to the fact that Eddie had gotten a job at StarCourt for the summer. Keyholder at TapeWorld. And the boys came to bother him every chance they could.

Or rather…Eddie had a job at StarCourt.

Kind of hard to still have one as the mall was burning down before their very eyes.

“Woah,” Gareth leaned forward from the backseat. “What the hell?”

“The whole mall…” Eddie muttered as he watched as the fire department struggled to contain the blaze.

The flashing lights of emergency vehicles glittered as more and more arrived on the scene and Eddie put the van in park so they could sit there and watch. They were too stunned to leave.

It felt like too momentous an occasion not to witness it.

After a few minutes Eddie noticed a car parked a few spots down from his. A beat up Mercury Marquis with a familiar face inside.

The Claire’s Store Manager.

You.

He’d seen you around the mall a ton of times, seen you at TapeWorld a ton of times. You were always stopping in for one reason or another, to get tapes for the store radio, to do your own shopping. At first, he thought you would be mean like all the popular girls but once he got to see you a little more, work alongside you, he started to see that you weren’t all that bad. You even smiled and said hi to him. Him. Eddie Munson.

And maybe he had a little crush on you too.

He’d never gotten the courage to go and talk to you.

But there was no time like the present.

Eddie got out of the van and approached your car. You startled slightly when he knocked on the window, but you got out and rounded to the front of it.

“You ok?” He asked.

“Yeah,” you nodded. “I forgot something at the store and when I got here, it was just…burning.”

“Shit.”

“How about you?” You asked in return.

“My friends and I were just coming to get McDonald’s. Kind of ruins your appetite to see your job burnt down though.”

You let out a cute honk of a laugh, and then sobered up. “Sorry, sorry. It’s not funny.”

“I mean. It is pretty funny. Plenty of people wish for that.”

There was a moments pause before both of you laughed.

You introduced yourself. “I work at Claire’s.”

“I know.” Eddie nodded. “I’m Eddie. I work at TapeWorld.”

“I know,” you parroted. “Not anymore, though, huh?”

“They’re just jobs,” Eddie shrugged.

The two of you stood side by side and watched as the emergency crews worked and lights flashed. Even from this distance you could see them evacuating people from the building.

Some evacuees ran at each other and hugged one another before they were herded towards ambulances.

“I know that guy,” you pointed to a figure wearing the signature Scoops Ahoy uniform, hugging someone tightly. “He comes and buys strawberry lipgloss to look cute for his crush who works over at Waldenbooks.”

Eddie squinted, and laughed. Because he was pretty sure that was Steve Harrington. And from the looks of it, he was getting those strawberry lips smooched by Miss Waldenbooks.

Others were carried out of the smoldering shell of the mall, clearly dead.

“I’ve never seen a dead body before,” you whispered.

“Not even at a funeral?”

“Funeral yeah but not…” You trailed off. “Fresh.”

“Me either.” He noticed that you were getting a little teary eyed. He took a step closer, slipped his hand into yours and squeezed. You squeezed back tightly and rested your head against him. “It’ll be ok. It…this kind of shit just happens in Hawkins.”

“Does it?” You snorted.

“More than you’d think.”

You simply hummed.

There were a few more beats of silence before you said, “hey Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“I…I dunno.” You looked down at your feet. “For coming over here. For checking on me.”

“What are friends for?” There was a brief moment of a shared smile. Eddie cleared his throat. “Uh, unless you wanted to stand here all night, you’re welcome to join me and the guys for ice cream. If McDonalds hasn’t burned down, that is.”

You ducked your head to try and hide the way your smile grew, “That would be nice.”

“Lemme check with the guys.” Eddie thumbed over his shoulder with his free hand and you let go of his other one and gestured for him to go. “Be right back.”

He walked backwards for a second, keeping his eyes on you, taking all of you in, and then finally turned and jogged back to the van.

As soon as the door was open, all three of his friends were miming kissing with their arms wrapped around themselves.

“Oh Eddie,” Jeff said in falsetto. “I love you.”

“You’re so dreamy,” Dave added.

“How could I ever have survived the fire without you?”

“Knock it off.” Eddie growled. “Or I’ll knock you out. I need you three on your best behavior. She’s coming with us for ice cream.”

The other three boys all froze and zipped their lips.

“Don’t screw this up for me,” he pointed at all of them. “Or else.”

“Don’t worry,” Gareth piped up just as Eddie turned to wave you over. “You just need to make sure you don’t screw it up yourself.”

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 5 days ago

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final call

for @corrodedcoffinfest prompt 'closing time'

rated t | 881 words | no cw | tags: famous corroded coffin, eddie needs a hug, friendship, the band is taking a break, light angst, hopeful/happy ending

also on ao3

🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

“Hey,” Jeff says softly as he steps onto the stage. “They’re ready to lock up.”

Eddie nods. He’s been out here since they cleared the venue of guests, sitting in the middle of the stage. The spotlight is on, but he’s not directly under it. That feels too dramatic, even for him.

“It’s not the end.” Jeff grasps his shoulder, squeezes it once. “Just a break.”

“I know,” Eddie says.

But he doesn’t know. None of them really know if this break they’re taking will be short or long, if it will lead to better music or never playing in arenas again. This is all Eddie’s known: playing on stage with his best friends. Walking away from that for any amount of time feels dangerous.

Jeff walks away. Eddie knows he’s supposed to follow. He just needs one more minute.

He feels eyes on him and he knows all of them are waiting in the wings. He hopes this sticks with them, his commitment to this band above all else.

Coming to terms with this break was hardest on him. The others all seemed to be in agreement pretty easily, almost like they’d talked about it before they even brought it up with him. It felt far away when he agreed. Nearly 20 dates still left on the tour, over a month of being on the road doing what they all love.

20 dates passed quickly.

He stands up and rubs his hand over his face. The arena is empty, already completely broken down except for the light and sound rigs on the stage. There’s no rush on it since it’s their last show.

They’re all sleeping on the bus tonight before they head to the airport tomorrow, all of them flying to different places. Jeff is going on his belated honeymoon with his wife, some European city that she’s always wanted to visit. Frankie’s going to his parent’s home on Cape Cod, just in time for a family reunion that he actually wants to go to. Gareth’s going to his mom’s house for a bit to help her around the house. He offered to hire a handyman for stuff and she refused, so now he’s going to take care of shit himself.

Eddie’s going to visit Wayne for a week. And then he doesn’t know.

He hopes he can check on Dustin at college, but he doesn’t wanna impose. It’s his senior year and he’s busy.

He considers surprising Robin and Steve in Chicago, but they’re in a pretty small apartment and he knows they work weird schedules and they’re both doing night classes. He’d just be in the way.

Eddie walks past them and out the back door, knows they’re following him.

When he gets outside, he’s surprised that no fans have stuck around. Usually, no matter how late they leave, there’s at least a small group of people by the doors.

It’s disappointing. He tries not to show it.

They load up on the bus and start to drive. Eddie doesn’t know where they’re parking for the night. He trusts their team to know what they’re doing.

They don’t drive for long. Less than an hour later, they’re pulling into a rest area.

“We should go take a walk, maybe get some snacks from the vending machine like we did when we were living out of your van,” Jeff suggests.

Eddie shrugs. It’s three in the morning, but they might as well.

When he gets off the bus, he’s shocked into silence.

Everyone he loves is standing there on the sidewalk, holding posters, wearing Corroded Coffin merch. Wayne is beaming at him in the middle of the group. All the kids, not just Dustin, surrounding him, cheering for Eddie. Steve and Robin and Jonathan are off to the side a bit, waving their hands like they’re front row at a concert. Even Hopper and Joyce are there, holding hands and smiling at him proudly.

“What’s going on?” He feels the words nearly get stuck in his throat.

“We couldn’t make it to your show, but we wanted to show you that we’re proud of you and we’re excited to see you on the next tour,” Lucas says. The guys are all behind him. They were in on this, he knows it. “Even if it’s not for a while.”

He cries, can’t help it when everyone he loves is standing here supporting him when he’s more unsure of his future than he’s ever been.

Tonight was their final call, at least for now. Maybe it’s not forever. Maybe in a year, they’ll all call each other up, complain about being bored, and work on a new album.

Maybe they won’t reunite as a band again until they’re too old to put on the kind of show they do now.

But Eddie knows that no matter what happens, he’s done something he’d only ever dreamed of before, with his best friends. His chosen family and Wayne have been there and will still be there, even if he isn’t on stage every night. He has enough money to travel a bit, experience things with his other friends. He can keep writing music, maybe play a few small shows solo.

It doesn’t have to end everything forever just because it’s ending now.

🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

Another year of incredible prompts and a reminder that playing with these Barbies can be so fun! Looking forward to the pop up events throughout the rest of this year and hopefully we will see another main event next year 😘

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 6 days ago

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Prompt #31 - Closing Time

It's Thirsty Thursday, and your prompt for the day is: Closing Time.

Get those submissions in by 11:59 PM EDT tonight!

And be sure to tag us here @corrodedcoffinfest so we'll see your entry.

This will blog will leave a comment with a 🦇 when your fic has been checked for word count and queued for reblogging. Please be to use wordcounter.net to determine that all word-based entries are between 300-1000 words. Thank you! 🤘

#corrodedcoffinfest #prompt: closing time #corrodedcoffinfest: year two #corroded coffin #fanworks event #stranger things event

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corrodedcoffinfest · 6 days ago

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JULY 30: Six Days on the Road

CW: Angst

WC: 719

Rating: T

Tags: Angst, Older Corroded Coffin, Married!Gareth Emerson, Husband!Gareth x Wife!fem!Reader, OC!Daughter!Clara Emerson, Gareth has kids, touring

Pairings: Gareth Emerson x Wife!Reader

Summary: Six days on the road. That's it, that's all. That's a promise. Gareth learns that six days and sixteen months are two totally different things.

Series: @corrodedcoffinfest 2nd Annual CC Fest: Media Mania

Huuuge thank you to @dreamwatch for being my lighthouse as I weather the seas of angst 😏

He hasn’t been home in sixteen months.

Gareth didn’t plan it like that. He was meant to head back at the end of Corroded Coffin’s European Tour, after Glasgow.

But he didn’t. Head back home, that is.

He stayed.

You understood. His wife of almost two decades, the mother of his children, the love of his fuckin’ life, encouraged him to stay. To say yes to the invitation to play at that metal festival in London, to be part of something really big as the rock and roll community bid farewell to one of the greats.

To say yes to the obscene amount of cash that they threw his way, a sum that would pad the savings account for his eldest’s education.

She told him just last month that she wants to be a vet. Thirteen years old and she already has her life figured out.

Six more days, and get paid. That’s all it would be.

Until it wasn’t.

He kept saying yes. Yes to the music, the fame, the notoriety. The crowd. The adrenaline. The untouchable feeling of being fucking untouchable – twenty thousand screaming fans, night after night, made Gareth feel as if the sun rose and set with him.

He wasn’t that conceited. He knew it didn’t. But to feel that way?

It satisfied a hunger in his soul that couldn’t be fed anywhere else.

And yeah, it felt nice to be needed for something other than folding baskets of laundry and running kids to their respective events. Felt nice to be eye-fucked by thousands of pretty little things, intentions obvious in their kohl-rimmed eyes.

Felt nice to be loved in a way the stage could only provide.

You said you understood.

So he said yes.

Yes to France and Spain, Italy and Belgium. Scotland. England. Portugal. And all the way back again.

South America was a fuckin’ ride. That’s where six more days turned into six months, and a long and buried habit found its way to the surface again.

He didn’t remember much after that.

What he did remember was how phone calls got shorter. Long distance calling was expensive.

It just made sense to cut back. Be more mindful of when he picked up that phone.

Soon, it got easier to shrug off the guilt of missing that agreed-upon window, justification swift with promises of next time.

Sixteen months later, and he sits in his den, fingers massaging his throbbing temples as his daughter shouts a load of nonsense about he’s being unfair.

He’s not.

Oh, he's not being unfair at all about this slinky dress she’s wearing. Too short for the long legs she’s sprouted overnight. Or, about the makeup that makes her look five years older.

And he’s certainly not being unfair about telling her to go back to her room and forget about stepping out the door with this fluffy-haired heathen that just showed up like he's actually gonna go take her somewhere.

For a date.

“Mom told me it was fine!” Clara screams as tears threaten to spill over heavily-lined lids. “Jake’s been my boyfriend for three months and mom and his mom said it was okay –”

“It’s true, Mr. Emerson.” The fucker has the nerve to butt in and interrupt his baby girl. “I swear, we’re just gonna go to the movies with –”

“No,” Gareth seethes, fists clenching as he stands. “You’re not. You’re gonna turn your scrawny ass around and go home. You’re not welcome in this house.”

“Gareth,” you admonish, arms crossed over your chest. He’s stunned you’re on Clara’s side. How is it okay that a fuckin’ thirteen year old goes on a date –

“She’s fifteen.”

There’s no longer oxygen for him to breathe. “What?”

Your lips flatten as you reiterate, “She’s fifteen, and she has my permission to date. Jake is a great kid.”

Clara delivers the critical hit. “Not that you would know.”

His lungs freeze. His brain misfires. His mouth pops open like a fish, because gone is the initial excitement and adoration he saw in his baby girl’s eyes the moment he swept her up in a hug. Sixteen months had felt like nothing as soon as he was home once he had Clara in one arm, his twin boys in the other, and your lips on his.

Now it feels like everything.

Next: JULY 31: Closing Time

@munsonscharm @mrsjellymunson @rebelfell @rip-quizilla @mugloversonly

@fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @losingmygrasponreality @loserboysandlithium @gracieheartspedro @glassbxttless

@1deverland @1lostsoul0fishbowl @perpetualmess @punkrockmlchael @kellsck

@keeryhours @clarafornerlyknownasclaire-blog @the11th-plague @katethetank @alastorssimp

@anaibis @darkyuffie-blog @duncanhillscoffeecups @dreamwatch @sidekick-hero

@american-idiot-jpg @mopeymopeymouse @munson-blurbs @corrodedcorpses

@corroded-hellfire @word-wytch @wolfqueenxxx @80s-addict @kelsiegrin

@l1lpip @hugdealer @veemoon @amanitacowboy @sexmetaleddie

@s1mp-4-ga11y @stalactitekilla

divider: @strangergraphics-archive

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two #prompt: six days on the road #corrodedcoffinfest: fic #corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 6 days ago

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Written for @corrodedcoffinfest.

Supporting the Dream

"It's just six days, mom," Gareth whines, packing up his drum kit in the back of the van, and that's exactly why Carolyn thinks he's not ready for this. He sounds seven, not seventeen. He's her baby. He'll always be her baby.

She peers into the van, ready to give Eddie the rundown, to make sure he understands the precious cargo she's letting him haul, but Jeff is behind the wheel.

Oh. That's better. Much better.

Carolyn still holds out her hand through the passenger window, giving Eddie the opportunity to hand over anything he shouldn't have in his possession.

The Quaalude Incident from last summer is still fresh in her mind. They think she was mad, and she was, but more than that she was terrified. For both of them.

Eddie grins, slapping her hand, teasing, giving her five.

She knew he wouldn't cough up any contraband he might have, but she had to try. Had to let him know she's not fooled in the slightest.

"I'll look after him, Mama Jones. Don't you worry. I won't let him do anything I wouldn't do," Eddie says with a big grin.

"That's what I'm worried about," she says, raising a pointed eyebrow. He flashes her those dimples, and she shakes her head.

He's grown into a true charmer, and that's part of the problem. She's watched him grow up. Watched him shed the false bluster and bullshit, spinning it into true confidence.

Eddie knows how good they are, and she does too. She's just not ready for it, and she's afraid Gareth's not ready for it either. That's all.

She reaches in and cups Eddie's cheek. He's a good boy, and she loves him dearly, like he's her own, but he's experimenting. Growing up fast in ways that she just doesn't want for Gareth. Not yet, not ever, if she had her way.

She knows she won't have her way.

"I'll look after him. Make sure he stays out of trouble. You know I'd never let anything happen to him."

She starts, "Eddie—"

Jeff interrupts.

"—and I'll look after Eddie," Jeff says, and she smiles at him. She's sure she's got a little bit of wool pulled over her eyes, but Jeff Williams can at least make it seem convincing. Eddie Munson? Not so much.

"Be good. Be careful," she settles on, "Watch for deer."

Jeff nods, and she hears Gareth bickering with Goodie about god knows what. It's been two minutes. Goodie is clearly less than pleased and is letting everyone know, loudly. She sighs. She knows these boys. They might try to kill each other before the six days are over.

Well, that would solve the problem, she supposes. If they'd realize right now they can't be trapped together in a moving vehicle long-term. That'd kill this whole touring band dream.

Gareth reaches over and grabs the handle to the van door.

"Bye, mom," he says, and slams it shut.

She takes a step back, and watches them go. Their first time on the road, all by themselves.

It scares her in a way none of this music stuff ever has before.

It feels more real.

Carolyn smooths her palms over her pants. She doesn't know why she's so nervous. She knows Lana and Gloria. Has known them for years. It's just that they go further back. Goodie and Jeff have been best friends forever.

She's the odd man out, the newcomer. Just like Gareth's expressed he's felt like over the years as he's struggled to fit in. She gets it. You're never too old to feel a little bit awkward at times.

"Where are they today?" Lana asks, and Carolyn consults the map. If they go the way they planned, they'll always know.

That's a big if.

"Minneapolis."

They all nod, and get right to business. There's been talk of recording an album, and Gareth has been pressing, pressing, pressing to quit school since he turned sixteen. Complains he doesn't have the money for his share of the recording costs, that he needs to work full-time to make it.

He thinks he's gonna be a rockstar.

She knows he's talented. She watched him grow up. Saw how easily drumming came to him. How natural it was.

Prodigy is a loaded word, but it feels close to true. How many ten year olds can hang musically with kids years older?

But she can't let him quit school. They've all got to get on the same page, and she knows the other moms have less control, their boys are over eighteen. But she also knows they still have influence.

They've got to get ahead of this before it gets away from them.

Away from her.

"Should we have invited Wayne Munson?" Lana asks, and they all laugh.

"Imagine," Gloria says, "I'm sure he'd love to have tea with us."

Carolyn has known Wayne forever, and she can't imagine what it's like in that household. Him and Eddie, all alone. Eddie's mouth never stops running and Wayne barely says three words in a row.

"This album," Lana says, and yes. That's the elephant in the room more than this six day tour they're on.

"Yes. That," Gloria agrees.

"Do your boys have the money for it?" Carolyn asks, and they both nod. She figured they did. They've all picked up jobs. They're serious. She knows they are.

"Gareth wants to quit school," she says, and they both make sounds of protest.

She relaxes. They're on the same page.

"Gareth doesn't. I'm thinking about offering to give him his share if he sticks it out and graduates. Is it bad to bribe him?"

"No!" They both say in unison.

And she laughs. Okay. Good.

Now, they just need to figure out how they can help ensure this doesn't go sideways for the boys. If they want to try and make it, well, then as their moms they'll have to figure out the best way to support their dream.

Support their boys.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @corrodedcoffinfest and follow along with the fun! 🦇

Notes: Watch for deer is Midwestern for I love you.

This is vaguely set in my Tuesday's universe, if you're familiar. If not, it's totally fine as its own AU. But "The Quaalude Incident" definitely alludes to Tuesday's, lol.

Header image is from The Goldbergs. I was like, where am I gonna get 80s mom? That's where.

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two # prompt: six days on the road #corrodedcoffinfest: fic # corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 6 days ago

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Corroded Coffin Fest 2025 - Day 30 - Six Days on the Road

Summary: Eddie Munson experiences the road trip from hell.

Word Count: 999

Rating: M

Warnings/Themes: Boys will be boys, friendship, angst, humor, psychological torture.

Note: The three rules for the van have been mentioned in a previous CCFest entry of mine from the Halloween 7 Deadly Sins Event. I did a little bit of a road trip update for it.

Check Out the Main Post for @corrodedcoffinfest here! Even if you don’t start on Day 1, you can still join! There's still a couple of days left! <3

You can find my masterlist here.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

Eddie was the kind of person who liked being on the road.

He liked being behind the wheel and seeing the stretch of open road. His uncle said that it must've been hereditary, since he had been a long haul driver previously.

But after six days on the road with his idiot friends, going from one county fair to another, playing show after show after show, he was getting ready to leave them at a gas station and not look back.

"There are three rules," he told them before they embarked on this trip. "Three. Simple. Rules."

"Eddie, I think we know the ru--" Gareth began but Eddie cut him off.

"No, dingus." He pointed at his friends threateningly. "This is different. You're gonna start to lose your minds. And when that little demon on your shoulder tells you to break my rules, remember that no divine punishment will ever match my wrath."

And wouldn't you know? They broke all three.

1. Eddie would drive, but you had to pay for snacks and gas.

Jeff had gone into the little convenience store with Eddie. When they got to the register and neither of them made a move to pay, Eddie nudged him and gestured to the cashier.

"Well, this isn't like normal," Jeff just shrugged.

"What do you mean? It's my van. I'm driving. Therefore..."

"But this is official Corroded Coffin business."

"And?"

"And the gas and snacks come from our discretional spending fund."

Eddie stared at him like he'd grown a second head.

"We don't have discretional spending funds, Jeffy," he hissed. "Is this your way of telling me that you didn't bring gas or snack money?"

"None of us did."

As Eddie fished his wallet out of his pocket, grateful that he'd had the good sense to bring extra cash, he debated turning the van around right then.

But the show must go on. They'd be fine.

2. Everything in the van was fair game, just don't fuck with Eddie's tapes.

This one...this one was an accident. It had to be. Eddie would give that to them.

Actually, it might even have been his own fault. About halfway through their trip, he'd passed his shoebox full of cassettes back to Dave and Gareth and told them to pick something.

"It's between The Ultimate Sin," Dave said. "Or Slide it In. I vote Whitesnake."

"Nuh uh," Gareth scoffed. "It has to be Ozzy. Come on, lemme see that."

Eddie didn't witness the destruction of his precious tapes, but he heard them quarrel and then the hard, plastic crunch.

The air in the van seemed to go cold.

"What was that?" Eddie asked with an edge to his voice.

"N-nothing," Dave replied.

"Really? Because it sounded like something!"

Jeff turned around and Eddie witnessed the fear that flashed in his eyes.

Suddenly Dave was stammering. "I-It was G-Gareth!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Shut up!" Eddie shouted, and they all shut their traps. He breathed in deeply and then gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "It was an accident. It's alright. No big deal. Just pass the box up to Jeff and he'll choose something."

The shoebox was handed up and Eddie winced as he spotted the mangled cassettes.

"Actually, you know what?" he said, voice an octave too high. "We're just gonna drive in silence for a little while."

The third and most sacred rule was broken in the middle of the night before they were due to get home.

3. There was no jerkin' it in his van.

It was Dave who committed the sin.

To save money, they usually opted to sleep in the van. No big deal. They'd done it before. Usually, it was a pretty sound sleep, all of them snug as a bug together. But as Eddie was woken up in the middle of the night to several...suspicious noises, he had to remind himself how much he loved his three best friends.

He could've tolerated one of them crapping their pants and staining his seats.

But this?

The labored breathing, the shuffle, the squelching noises. The van was even rocking a little bit from the...vigor.

There was a moan and Eddie couldn't take it anymore.

"Davey?" Eddie spoke, voice hard and clear.

Everything ceased.

"Y-yeah Ed?" Dave choked out after a few seconds.

"You ok there? Seems like you're having some trouble."

There was a shift and Dave let out a long, barely audible groan. Eddie closed his eyes and resigned himself to accepting that Dave just...

He didn't even want to think about it.

"I'm fine now," Dave replied. "Just indigestion. Gonna go back to sleep now. Night."

"Night."

The drive home was tense. Eddie spoke in clipped tones, trying to keep his cool.

He didn't even say goodbye as they jumped out and headed inside their respective houses. He could scream once he got to the trailer. He could break things. And he would.

Jeff was the last person he dropped off before Eddie drove home. He silently slid from the passenger's seat and started up his driveway. About halfway to the door, he stopped, turned around.

"Hey Ed?"

"Yeah."

He walked back down to the passenger's side door and leaned into the window. He fished something out of his pocket and held it out to Eddie. Eddie hesitantly took it.

It was enough cash to cover the expenses for the week, plus two fully intact copies of the broken tapes.

"We just wanted to prank you man," Jeff explained. "It was all a joke."

Eddie felt his mouth go dry.

"Even Dave?" he asked.

"Some good acting and a plastic bag full of mayonnaise."

His vision blurred, and he felt lightheaded. He dropped the objects onto the seat and then waved Jeff closer. The other boy leaned into the window before Eddie grabbed the collar of his shirt with an unforgiving grip.

"You better get inside now," he started, calmly, then he shouted. "OR I'M GONNA RUN YOU OVER JEFFREY!"

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two # prompt: six days on the road #corrodedcoffinfest: fic # corrodedcoffinfest

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corrodedcoffinfest · 6 days ago

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On the Road

gareth emerson x eddie munson

word count: 1k

summary: Corroded Coffin Fest Day 30: Six Days on the Road | Eddie and Gareth are traveling to Loveland, Colorado for Gareth to compete.

warnings: just two idiots in love

notes: Submission for @corrodedcoffinfest! This is a part of the cowboys au I’ve been writing! Big thanks to @peachyproserpina for editing and reading literally every single submission for this month— you’re an angel, my love.

The drive to Loveland stretches out far and wide like the whole world had been laid out flat just for the two of them. A two-lane highway carving through dry corn fields and wide, open blue skies. It’s the kind of road that made you feel like you were driving straight into forever.

The sun was low and gold, shining through the windshield and painting Eddie’s arm with its rays. Gareth had his boots propped up on the dash, a battered truck stop map folded in his lap like he’d been useful at navigating at some point in their drive, and he was working through a sleeve of saltines— spilling crumbs everywhere on that bench truck seat.

“Map says we’re makin’ good time,” Gareth announces, squinting down at it in his lap. “Says we should hit Loveland round… last week.”

Eddie glances over at him, his brow raised. “That the official route there, cowboy?”

“Only if we stop for gas,” Gareth hums, then breaks into a laugh at his own joke.

Eddie grins despite himself and then shakes his head as he turns his attention back to Interstate 70. “You’re such a shit.”

“Yeah, well… you picked me.”

“Still questionin’ that every damn day.”

“Oh, fuck off, Munson,” Gareth laughs, stretching— his body curling like a cat— both his arms up behind his head as he lets out a groan and his spine pops. His shirt rides up a little, exposing a stretch of pale skin right above his wranglers and the shadow of a scar near his ribs. “You love me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Eddie chuckles, but his voice goes a little soft on the edges, like it always did when it was just him and the love of his life.

Outside, the road stretches empty for miles. It’s getting late. There’s not a soul in sight. Just their trailer dragging behind them, full of their gear, Chapel, enough hay to feed an army of horses, and the low hum of the radio filling in the silence between their words. Willie Nelson crackled through the speakers, drowning out every thought in Eddie’s head.

Gareth looks over at him. Eddie’s gaze is straight forward, brown eyes fixated on the task at hand. He admires the slope of his jaw and the way his mouth always tugs up at the corner. He’s got a brown jacket tugged over a nice pearl snap, stetson holding back his mop of brown curls. Gareth smiles that lopsided grin that always knocks Eddie plain sideways as his boots hit the floor and he scoots just a bit closer.

“Hey.”

“What?” Eddie hums, keeping his eyes on the road.

“You gonna kiss me or what?”

Eddie’s eyebrows shoot up, “I’m driving, dumbass.”

“Yeah, well, the road’s real straight. You’re steady. Come on, I believe in you.”

Eddie chuckles, but when he glances over and sees the soft look on Gareth’s face— those blue eyes warm and stupid and so damn in love with him— he sighs, leans just a little closer over the bench, and presses a quick kiss to Gareth’s waiting mouth.

It was warm and simple, over too fast for Gareth’s liking. But when he pulled back, Gareth was grinning like he’d just won the whole damn rodeo— and as far as he was concerned, he had in that moment.

“That the best you got?” He teases, turning his attention back to the map in his lap.

“Keep talkin’ like that and I’ll pull over and really kiss you,” Eddie warns, half under his breath.

But it makes Gareth’s ears tinge pink. He holds his grin in response. “Promises, promises.”

They ride in silence for a while after that. Not the awkward kind— just comfortable. The kind you can share with the person you love and not have to worry about filling a damn thing. The sun dips lower, the horizon bleeding orange and pink. Gareth reaches across the seat, laces their fingers together against Eddie’s thigh without asking, and he doesn’t let go.

Eddie’s thumb rubs slow circles on the back of Gareth’s hand. “Hey,” Gareth says eventually, his voice softer now, “thanks for coming with me.”

Eddie looks over at him again— at the way his sandy blonde curls were catching the last of the light, at the hint of nerves he was trying to hide. Whether that be for the bull he’s gonna ride or because he was falling harder and harder for Eddie every single day, is a mystery to him. “You kiddin’? You think I’d let you haul your pretty ass all the way to Loveland without me? Not a chance. Might’ve had some bunny on your arm by now.”

“I dunno,” Gareth laughs, shaking his head— his curls bouncing every which way. “You used to threaten to leave me on the side of the highway if I played this many Nelson songs in a row.”

“I still might.”

“You love Willie Nelson!”

“I love you! Nelson’s just tolerable by association.”

That makes Gareth grin again— big and bright and full of teeth. The kind of smile Eddie wanted to bottle up and keep in his glove box for later.

They were quiet again as the sun finally drops behind the mountains. Gareth leans his head on the window, his eyes are heavy, sleep tugging at him— but he’s still holding onto Eddie’s hand like it was the only thing tethering him to this very Earth.

And Eddie just drives, glancing over every few miles like he couldn’t help himself. He was falling in love all over again, just like he always did… every damn day. Especially when it was quiet. Especially when it was just them.

Because some roads led to rodeos. Some led to heartbreak.

But this one? This one, where he got to drive his guy around the country while he held his hand and smiled like they had nothing to be scared of when they’re together, felt like home and Eddie has never been happier.

tags ;; @the-unforgivenn @djomorelikedelulu @peachyproserpina @punkrockmlchael

#corrodedcoffinfest: year two # prompt: six days on the road #corrodedcoffinfest: fic # corrodedcoffinfest

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