#I honestly think I would be fine if the guy who played Mike said that we were all gonna cry

[ihonestlydontknowwhattocallthis]

In my head I’m hoping it ends with them just living out their normal lives (well lives and deaths) in the house and it just ends how any season would end but I know it’s not gonna end like that and their prolly gonna all move on or Alison and Mike will move out of the house. Or worse, both.

[0daylighthours0]

A Deep Dive into Milkvan and Byler's Development: If Milkvan Was Endgame All Along, Why Was it Written Like This???

SO. I've been rewatching st with my mother, who's never seen it before. And she was a fan of milkvan throughout seasons 1 and 2. Viewing those seasons again I could see why, they're cute. However, come season 3 and INSTANT distaste. And, listen, my mother is not the consciously shipping gal. She simply routes for main character pairings as writers intend, doesn't read between the lines, doesn't nothing. And she does NOT know my own opinions on the pairing. In other words, completely unbiased, uninternet drama influenced eyes. We've now reached season 3 and, after getting through a chunk of it, I asked her,

"so what do you think of Mike and El?"

and she expressed to me that they seem to be, quote:

"not very good together."

She said El's character doesn't suit the way she's acting now (in the first few episodes, concerning Mike), that Mike is more likeable and interesting when he's away from her. She doesn't like the way they ditched the party, and when it comes to their 'making out' the scenes are seen by her from Hopper's perspective (in other words, distasteful). She claimed that they'd be much better characters as friends.

And ya know what, she's right. And I mean like - duh, that's what we've been saying all this time, I'm not stating anything new here. But guys, wouldn't it be strange if the central couple of the show, pivotal that it is liked by audiences and is rooted for by them as they are THE pair, would be so dislikable like this? So uninteresting, so cliche.

I mean, okay, let's do a little mental experiment I like to do to test if I'm not just acting delulu. Let's play a game. In this game, milkvan ARE meant to be endgame. They are in love, they were all along, and they're here to draw in viewers and appease all El stans. Now, seasons 1 and 2 their relationship is honestly fine. Surface level, yeah, people will watch and appreciate them. They perfectly blend in with all the other neat pairings of the seasons, and have their own unique character traits to stand out as a main couple.

Just pretending our mate Will doesn't exist, we now get into season 3. Now, writers have nothing to lose here. If you've finished season 2, you probably like milkvan already. The issue is that they're already together now, so what's the conflict going to be? The arc? And every central couple needs that conflict to stay juicy.

Just take a look:

Jancy: quarrels, struggle to understand one another

Jopper: not yet together, one sided? will they won't they

Lumax: ...

Lumax? Lumax. Huh, guess they were simply together. Some loveable bickering, maintained a friendly dynamic while clearly in closer proximity. Well then, writers can do the same for milkvan right? Well, yes easily. But one might argue that since they are supposed to be THE pairing they need more going on between them than that. So what'll it be? Well, it seems that writers thought,

"hey, why not break them up?"

ok so.. that's a bit risky. I mean you want people to like this ship, if you break them up then that threats: 1. there being a disliking to one or both characters, 2. coming off generic if done incorrectly, 3. the break up might make no sense considering how in love they came off as just a season ago. But hey.. it could work, if done right. Some kind of misunderstanding, similar to Jancy. Maybe an argument leading to a sudden parting. I mean, yeah, Yeah! I can see that. Perhaps Mike is being too overprotective whilst El's trying to sacrifice herself for something, so she NEEDS to separate herself from him attempting to hurt him less. Or, I dunno, something akin. What's crucial is that us, AS THE AUDIENCE, still know them to be deeply in love. I mean, we have to still want them to be together. And we've seen couple trouble before. Just take a look at Lumax season 4 - did you or did you not want the best for both of them as a pair? You most likely did. See, it's doable. So did people like milkvan season 3 the same way, even after a separation plot? No.

Okay well, there are obviously those who'll always love milkvan no matter but, see, season 3 tainted it. "We need to write them like this cause it's more realistic to teenager behavior" my ars. You can make it messy without making it icky. Not only did it sour their unique dynamic, it flabbergastingly stomped on Mike as a character.

Honestly, I feel Mike has always been a mild struggle to write. Season 1 his motivations were 'find Will' (who still doesn't exist in our mind game yet shh) and 'protect El'. This worked well for him. Afterwards though, El and Will became more separate plots to him. But as a main character it remained integral that he be closely linked to them somehow. This sets him apart from Lucas and Dustin, who can easily be given any arc any season as their plots have the flexibility of a side quest nature. Since what Mike does is meant to matter more - with there probably being a better way of phrasing that but you know what I mean - it's harder knowing what he'll do when El and Will (who we'll GET to sh.) are their own separate people. And Mike is just a boy, he doesn't have super powers and he isn't a cop, which leaves there even less for him to do which is of significance. Season 2 writers decided upon having him support Will's arc, making himself of enough relevance by being able to take credit for some Will development in the story, and the plots that surrounded that, and then Mike was thrown a little bone by being the one to come up with the idea of burning those vines in the finale.

Truthfully, you don't really remember Mike's deeds much when reminiscing the series. It isn't like Dustin who's bond with Dart sticks to everyone, or Nancy and Jonathan responsible for kicking out Hawkins Lab. This is due to them, again, being able to traverse all sorts of adventures without limits. But my guy Mike can't do dat. Sadly, this kind of leads to him coming of as a little.. well... insignificant. And I know I know, the Mike truthers are gonna come at my throat. And hey! I love him too. I only want the best for my boy.

This makes season 3 a unique case cause it seems that, for the plot they decided they wanted, writers actually had to almost entirely change his character. I mean mate s2 Mike and s3 Mike are two different peoples, don't even. And I don't believe that the Duffers had their story and character turnouts completely drawn out from the very start at all. If I was to guess, I'd assume they have vague ideas of little plots they plan to include in future, but there is definitely a lot that has come unpredicted or changed throughout st's runtime. And one of those phenomenons are Michael Wheeler. So they decided to make this guy a di-

So they decided to make him more douchy, more movie typical teenage guy. It's not as if he wholly sucked, he didn't, but he didn't really do much. Whined about his girlfriend, separated the party. I mean what even was his arc? (UnLESS–)

You see, if milkvan is written to be loved, then season 3 was strike one. All of its charm was stripped away. It seems they had some cute scenes after their reconciliation, but it's not enough. It's just sort of

"oh, ok, so they're happy with eachother now. yayy."

and Stranger Things should want to be anything but boring. Sure they often enjoy indulging in tropes, but they always do something different with them. Something standoutish. And from this point on milkvan just got dull. Either writers ran out of ideas or lost interest, honestly (still with our mind game of telling ourselves they're meant to be).

But it's okay. Look, so season 3 was a bit rocky, maybe lost a couple of fans for the guys, but it is salvageable. Easily, easily. Looks like we want a plot of Mike struggling to tell El he loves her. Great! Much to work with.

So let's get into it. Season 4! Choices were... made. And, okay, now we can't go any further without bringing in our boy Will.

Mike is intrinsically tied to Will and El and has been from the start. Maybe Will was more of an accident. Maybe s1 Will was just a plot device for Mike, then s2 Will was a plot device again and Mike needed to be there as the main boy character. Come season 3 and it seems their relationship still matters. Will was sidelined - hard - so most of Mike's moments revolved around El. But as his bond with Mike is the only that's been properly built up, that's the only friend we'll get him interacting with in a way that matters. So the Mike and Will tie continues!

But that does not have to be the case for season 4. Now the writers have a chance.

They made Will gay.

Ok so.. ok so yeah that's fine. Yeah! I mean they didn't have to do that, might put them in hot water with the bylers since milkvan is their golden beauty but.. you know what no no that's okay. He's been hinted at being queer since episode 1, why not make it canon! Cool that works. Explore that, especially since we now have Vecna who can easily target Will for this. Give him a boyfriend! Or a guy crush. He's at a new school now? That's cool. Maybe we can explore some new male character Will's taken interest in. Hey maybe he meets someone who interests him which rises to surface his whole sexuality plot and-

he's in love with Mike.

Ok. No. No. What are you doing? What do you mean?? You didn't have to do that. Strike- strike EFING TWO mates! Strike. 👏 efing. 👏 2!

This was part 1. I am tired and gots to get my ars in bed. But ohohoh, do not worry. I am just getting started.

[eddiemuonson]

"Bad Reputation" - Steve Harrington x f!Reader

Summary: You wanted to pretend you were going out with someone as the guy from school insists on hooking up with you. Among the people at a party, you choose Steve Harrington, who has a bad reputation.

Warning: Cursing, fluffiness, alcohol

Word count: 3.1k

Someone from school was throwing a party you weren't supposed to be at, but you went to anyway. Robin made you go with her so you would do something on the weekend.

And then she dragged the whole gang with her, including the kids - the kids were actually 18 now.

Among too many people, you were trying to squeeze between them so you didn't bump into Riley, because he was insisting too much on hooking up with you for weeks.

You were thinking about hitting on someone just so you could get rid of him, but the only guys available, which you would hook up, included Eddie, who was getting high with his friends.

Jonathan, but he was too preoccupied with Nancy, and... Steve Harrington. You didn't know him well enough, and he was really involved in just talking with Dustin and Mike and some other guys, drinking some beer.

The fact he wasn't hooking up with any girl was weird, but understandable.

It's not like he was still that guy who would make a line so girls with kiss him. His bad reputation ended up making him become different than that guy.

You thought to yourself, that maybe if you could ask him a favor, you could make Riley give up on you.

Not that it was the greatest idea, but Eddie wasn't actually really into hooking up at parties and you were somewhat friends.

You walked towards the boys and Dustin and Mike ceased the conversation just to have a look at you. Henderson gave you a smirk and you thought it was cute.

You noticed Steve made the same course as them and stared at you. Well, you made it halfway, might as well just finish it.

"You're Steve Harrington, right?", you asked as he nodded, puffing his chest. He was "retired" from being a jerk, and now the girls would usually hit on him.

"Yeah, that me", he said as he gave a side smile to the other boys. Both of them gave him a grimace look, leaving you both alone. "And who are you?".

"I'm (Y/N). Can you do me a favor?", you were looking around you as you tried to find Riley. Harrington wasn't really getting your point, but nodded anyway.

"I'm trying to get rid of a guy, can you pretend we're going out?". You spoke close to his ear as the music was too loud.

"Uh, sure. But you know I have a bad reputation, right?", he questioned, like it's a warning. You honestly don't care at all, because you don't judge people either way.

"I don't mind, really. And I don't see it that way". You smile at him, you really didn't.

"You're not pranking me, are you?". He sounds really suspicious and it almost makes you gasp.

"Why would I do that?", you seemed kind of offended, he was playing defensive. "Look, are you gonna help me or not?".

Steve looked like he was having a meltdown, he took too long to think and you were already giving up your decision. Maybe it would've been better to ask Eddie, he's always doing crazy shit anyway.

"Fine", he gave in. "And what's in for me?", Steve asked and you grinned at him, sipping on your beer. "You know what? I've got something better. I pretend to be your hook up, and you help me get my good reputation back".

You almost snorted, why would he, of all the things he could ask for, want to have a reputation after all?

Although you knew he was always a jerk to girls, he would always be the least of the romantic, always getting in trouble for going out with committed girls as well.

Maybe it wasn't a bad idea after all, he was nice, you've heard. Robin was his closest friend and she sure would never lie about him.

You found Riley walking around with a friend and immediately crashed your lips against Steve's. He wasn't really waiting for that so it was a sloppy kiss at first, just pecking.

He wrapped your waist with one of his arms while holding the beer with the other. He tasted like cinnamon as he was chewing a gum and it made you melt down under his kiss.

You opened one of your eyes slightly as you watched Riley leave. You broke the kiss and looked and Steve, who was still shocked by your sudden approach.

"Wow, could've warned me first", he said as he rubbed one hand against his soft hair and you chuckled.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were expecting it", you used your thumb to clean up your smudgy lipstick on his lip.

"Not that fast, honestly", he gives you a nervous grin. "Who is the guy, by the way?". Harrington asked as he followed you to the kitchen. You were looking for something stronger. You needed something to get through the night.

"Riley Edwards he's on the band group. Robin probably knows him". You found a bottle of Gin and decided to make yourself a Gin Tonic.

Steve was just behind you as you were making the drink. You probably didn't know what to do next, you just know you're supposed to be kissing when the guy is around.

But other than that, what are you going to do when he's not around? Maybe kiss him again properly would be nice.

"I already said no to him. But he's too persevering", you finished your drink and almost chugged it entirely.

Steve watched you with his brows furrowed. "Jesus, easy with that".

"You're not playing boyfriend here", you provoked.

You laughed at his sudden worriness and offered him the cup. He grabbed it and sort of savored it first before drinking it. His face went bloody red and he almost choked.

"Fuck, this is strong as hell, (Y/N)", you were still chuckling watching him scrunching his nose.

"Yeah well, don't act like a baby girl", you drank the entire cup and decided to make another one, while he rolled his eyes to your response.

"We said we'll help each other out, right. How am I going to pretend to be your hook up if you're hammered?", Steve had a point though.

And then you decided you would slow down on the alcohol. Maybe later probably. You found a tequila bottle and placed it on the sink as you looked for shot glasses.

He looked at you and shook his head. "Nope. No, no, no. I am not drinking that. Forget it".

You gave him a side smile, Steve still held a grumpy face because that wasn't what he signed up for.

You filled the glasses and went looking for some lime, only to find all of them were already in the trash.

Harrington was still in disbelief. "Fuck, I don't drink that without a lime".

"Oh my gosh, how do you want a reputation if you can't even fucking drink a tequila shot?".

"Well, I don't drink tequila shots, for starters", he retorted.

"If you do it, I'll flash you", you saw his eyes brighten up and he downed it all. He hissed at the taste and chugged on his beer.

You did you shot and closed your eyes. This was probably the strongest tequila you've ever had in your life. You leaned against the sink and took a deep breath.

"Now flash me", Harrington sat on the table, making a "come here" gesture and you burst out into laugh.

"Oh, Steve. I was just kidding", you squeezed his cheek and he frowned. It made you laugh harder.

"You manipulated me!", he shook his head as he watched you still laughing at him.

"Maybe I'll do it, who knows?", you respond.

You opened the fridge looking for a beer, grabbing one bottle and leaving to the backyard holding Steve's hand. He was on your tail still trying to get rid of that horrible taste.

Madonna was blasting outside and you saw Robin dancing with a girl, you couldn't but hold a smile at her.

She was having so much fun and she deserved to. Steve grabbed you by your waist while dancing and you thought it wouldn't be a terrible idea to dance with.

The alcohol started to make its way through your system and you knew it will soon hit your head. But you didn't care at that moment, because you wanted to have fun as well.

He was intently resting his face against your shoulder and you laughed at the way he was playing an affair so perfectly. Or maybe he was already too drunk too.

You spinned around to face him and he definitely had a drunk smile on his face. His hair was kinda messy and he smelled like Calvin Klein and tequila.

"How am I doing?", he asked as he still danced, twirling you around him and you chuckled.

"Better than I expected", you said. "How are you not hitting on girls in this place?".

He had a different look in his eyes as he shrugged his shoulders. Steve sipped the rest of his beer and licked his lips. Suddenly you felt very attracted to him.

"I don't care about that anymore. I just want people to realize I'm different now".

"And yet you still want to rebuild your reputation", you retorted him and he leaned against the wall. One of his knees bent over as he rested his foot there.

"I don't wanna be the bad guy anymore", he seemed upset. Things with Nancy didn't go well either, that was when he realized he needed a change.

"You know what I think?", you asked as you got closer to him. He raised his eyebrows waiting for your answer. "I think you look very pretty right now".

You grabbed him by his colar and he stiffened against your touch. "And you don't seem to be a bad guy at all. But I'll help you fix it". As you finished your line he leaned on to kiss you.

It was an intentional kiss with a mixture of booze and desire. He was obviously very attracted to you as well and made it clear as his tongue touched yours.

He grabbed your hip firmly with one free hand and deepened the kiss, tasting every bit of you. You gritted his tongue between your teeth and heard him groan, amused.

Harrington twisted you around and pulled you against the wall, almost merging into your body as he started to kiss you faster. You were lightheaded over the alcohol and the kiss, nibbling on his lower lip and he rubbed his finger against your skin.

It didn't last too long as you heard someone behind you. "Well, holy fucking shit", the voice said. You and Steve both opened your eyes at the same time, he even loosened his touch against you.

Billy Hargrove stood behind you and laughed along with his friends from the basketball team. "If it isn't King Steve fucking Harrington working his way up to someone's pants".

His words were nasty and you felt Steve growing mad in front of you. He turned his torso around and faced Billy, who was holding a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Just get lost, Hargrove", he said, feeling a little groggy from the tequila and the other one laughed. Everyone around stopped their dancing to stare at them.

"No, you know my favorite hobby is to never leave you alone", Billy stated, sipping on his beer.

You couldn't be more stressed over this, you just wanted to have a good time. You should've known he was going to make an entrance and make someone's life a living hell, and it always had to be Steve.

"Whatever man, I'm not playing your game", Harrington said and faced you. He tried to ignore Billy but the guy just wouldn't stop being an asshole. "I'm sorry you have to go through this".

His words were so soft and warm and it made you feel angry by the way Hargrove just makes someone uncomfortable and it wasn't right. It was just so messed up.

"Why don't you go find someone's pants yourself, hm? You think you're so different from everyone else but you're just another asshole", you pointed at him and he furrowed his brows, still chewing a gum.

"Steve Harrington is a great guy. He's mature enough now to realize he was a jerk and he's not like that anymore. Now, if you'll excuse us, you're disturbing my moment with him, at least he's getting in someone's pants", you finished as you pulled Steve close to you.

On purpose, of course, you made him grab your ass as you gave him a feral kiss and he responded to it the same way as you. Harrington felt his head pound over the stress and the way you pulled him against you.

You heard when people around you booed Billy and cheered, throwing plastic cups over him and the basketball team. You waited until he left to break the kiss, but Steve kept on going, squeezing your ass and moving his tongue too fast.

A moment after that and he had to pull some air into his lungs, laughing. "Shit, you just- that was so wild". He pecked your lips, licking them.

"Think you still want a reputation?".

"Fuck no, doesn't matter if it worked or not", he gave you an honest smile, holding your waist too close to him. You felt that part of your skin become numb.

"That's good for you. You don't need to be so dependen-", he cut you off as he cupped your face and gave you another kiss.

Steve took his time to taste you with a slow kiss, holding you against his firm hands, savoring your taste. You didn't have time to react as he grabbed your hands and dragged you inside the house, going upstairs.

Obviously you knew what was going to happen, and unlike you thought, you were hoping for it. Not because it was Steve, but because the way he's been treating you the whole night.

He didn't stop between groups to show off, he didn't brag about winning another night.

He made a mental note to himself he wouldn't fuck anyone at the party, but the way you were looking at him and the way you reacted to his touch gave him fuel to his body. Maybe it was also because of the alcohol.

He never liked to mix drinks because of the way he tends to act around people, like it would be different this time. He found a spare guest room and closed the door with a kick, hovering over you in the bed.

Harrington hit his knee on the corner of the bed and yelped, making you laugh. "Fuck. Shit".

"Such a smooth way to get into someone's pants", you say as you chuckle, looking at the stare he gave you.

"Shut up or I'll rip your clothes off", he warned before leaning over you, spreading wet kisses on your skin.

"Yes, please", you whine. Steve feels his body shiver by the way you say it and sucked on your neck. If it gets a hickey or not, you will not care about it on the next day.

He took a long time on the crook of your neck, inhaling your perfume and the smell of your skin. His hands were properly rubbing your inner thighs and your core squeezed.

His bulge started to grow and he felt an intense urge of pounding on you all night. But something inside his guts tells him otherwise and he breaks the contact, and you flinch.

"Everything okay?", you squeeze his wrist lightly and he rubs his hand against his silky hair. He hums before sighing heavily.

"Yeah, fuck. Sorry. Shit", you don't understand squat he's complaining about. His dick is pressed against his jeans, almost crying for help.

"Steve?", you coax. He looks at you like he's having trouble fixing his thoughts.

"I don't wanna be this guy. Like, this", he mentions with his index fingers, pointing at him and the bedroom. "God, I wanna make things right. I wanna have sex, not fuck around".

Okay, he's drunk. But this talk is kind of nonsense to you.

"Is this because of what happened? Because I don't give a single fuck", you explain, watching him sit next to you. He shook his head.

"No, not at all. I don't wanna fast forward moments like that, around too many people. Yeah I think it's hot as fuck and I'll probably cum in like three minutes, which is exactly my point here. I wanna appreciate things", he made a speech you were not in the mood to hear because you wanted to suck on him so bad.

But then you realized what he meant. It's supposed to be a fuck and nothing else, and that wasn't what you really wanted. You wanted a relationship, a commitment.

"Maybe this is a drunk talk but I've been feeling like that for a while. And on that note I realized you didn't come after me because it was me, because obviously you would find someone better than me. Eddie would be a nice option", he grasped one hand on your thigh, softly.

"But I look at you and I see you don't care about how people look. And I really dig that", Steve wouldn't shut up and you just wanted to kiss him. But if you laughed he would be offended, so you let him speak. "And now I feel such a douche, I look so needy when I'm drunk. Fuck me".

You laughed at the way he said it and he looked at you, chuckling.

"Steve, I get that. I get you. I don't like it either, but I just thought 'why not?'. And it's okay to not want that. I mean your crotch says otherwise, but I understand it", you joke about his bulge and he leans against the bed, hiding his face with one hand and holding his crotch with the other.

"Fuuuuck. Alright, show's over. I'm definitely going to need a thousand shots after that". Harrington got himself up and walked to the the room. "Care to join me?".

"Hm, I have a better idea", you grab his hand and pull him across the house, making your way outside.

"Where we going?".

"To my house. We're going to listen to some nice and less loud music, eat some snacks and then maybe have proper sex". You stop walking, only to look at him as you speak into his ear. "Without anyone else around".

His face brightens up and he pulls you closer before you can walk again. "You just made your way to my heart instead", he says giving you a soft and gentle kiss on your forehead.

"I wanna pick the songs", Steve stabilished while grabbing your hand, walking on the sidewalk by your side.

You didn't care you left the party with King Steve, per se. He was definitely getting under your pants, but with a meaning. You laughed at the way he said he wanted to pick the music, and then it came to your head that this is the result of a great idea you had, only because someone wouldn't stop being so annoying.

[gaybitchfx]

Hey!!!!

I love your writing!

Can i request Eddie Munson x male reader, where the reader is a total menace to society, and like Eddie is seen as a freak.

The type of guy to steal a street sign, just someone who hardly takes anything seriously and is just goofy the whole time.

But when the whole Vecna thing happens people start to see that the whole "I'm dumb, let's do something fun" front is just a facade and he's actually this insecure boy, with a fucked up family, that just tries to keep the others happy.

And like him kinda sacrificing himself in the Upside down, but he makes it out alive through dumb luck and a few skills he picked up while being a menace to society

Note: I’m so glad you love my writing! And I snorted when reading this 😭 This shit is long too since I had to rewatch episode 9 to remember what had happened.

A LITERAL MENACE

Character(s): Eddie Munson

Type of reader: M!Reader

Category: Fluff & Angst

Warning(s): Spoilers for season 4 and episode 9!

Edited: ❌

You were an…odd case.

Whenever Jason would throw insults are Eddie or call him a freak you would literally threaten him and throw your own insults till Eddie has to make you shut up. Like right now, Jason had decided to pick on Eddie once again for the 3rd time this week.

"Listen here you dirty blond bimbo, my patience with you is quickly becoming limited and I'm ready to just throw you out the goddamn window!" You pointed and shouted at him getting everyone's attention in the cafeteria. "Pssh...as if you could even pick me up L/n. You don't have the guts." Jason laughed making his little gang laugh as well.

"You think I'm playing games now huh?! I'll fuckin soccer kick you in the goddamn balls Carver!" You said and as you were walking towards him Eddie quickly grabbed you and just pulled you away from Jason.

"You're lucky I'm bein held!!" You shouted before Eddie put a hand over your mouth. “Just allow your little freak boyfriend to take you away you fucking menace.” Jason scoffed making your blood boil. Eventually everyone resumed to what they were doing and you just sighed when you calmed down. "Honestly, he's so goddamn annoying. Next time he bothers you Eddie make sure to tell me so I can get a stop sign and whack him in the head like a tennis ball." You said with a grin. Everyone at the table blinked owlishly at what you said.

"You don't...actually mean that, right?" Dustin asked as he nervously laugh. "Maybe I do maybe I don't. It all depends on how I feel." You shrugged as you took a bite of your apple.

"You really are a menace Y/n." Mike said making you laugh. "I've been told that for years Mike! Sometimes it's a compliment and others, like Jason and his little basketball friends, it's an insult. But I'll take what you said as a compliment!" You said and gave Mike a slap on the back making a small 'oof' sound come from him.

Now, when you got involved into the whole Vecna thing your personality did a whole 180. You were scared, worried, hell you didn't even know what other emotions you were experiencing all at once.

"I'm fuckin scared man, why did i even agree to this?!" You shouted over Eddie playing his guitar as you held a a baseball bat with nails close to you along with a shield that had more nails in them. "Don't worry Y/n! You'll be fine!!" Dustin shouted before putting goggles on and saw the bats weren't too far. "Eddie!! We gotta lock down in T-minus thirty seconds!" Dustin shouted at him as one hand showed a 3 and another showed a 0. Eddie nodded his head and began playing faster.

"T-minus twenty!" Dustin once again shouted and Eddie played faster. "T-minus ten!" You were pacing back and forth as you watched the bats get closer and closer making you scared shittless. "Five!" Dustin shouted and held up his hand. "One!" And with that Eddie did one last strum of his guitar before they all started running inside. Everyone was shouting at each other before they finally got inside.

"Dude...most metal ever!" "Oh my... Oh my God." They both hollered and jumped in excitement. You and the other hand was walking back and forth while gripping your hair in a panic state. "It's alright Y/n. Calm down we're all safe." Eddie said, trying his best to calm you down.

"Calm down?! How am I gonna calm down when there fucking man eating bats right outside that can come and get us at any second?!" You shouted at him, your voice cracked while doing so.

"Wow... This is the first time I'm seeing you like this.." Dustin said, his eyes widened in shock. "I'm not who you really think I am. I'm not so upbeat when it comes to things like this... I have family issues and I really just wanna keep you all happy so none of you have to worry so much when you might have your own problems.. I even worry about what you guys think of me so I put up this little facade to make you all like me." You blurted out while sniffling since you were crying from both stress and fear. They both stood there in silence as they allowed the information to sink in.

"You don't gotta put up an act to make us like you Y/n. You can just be you and we'll still like you." Eddie said as he placed a hand on your small and gave it a couple pats. Dustin nodded agreeing before he jumped since the banging outside became louder. All three males stood close to the exit and kept their guard up.

"Hey, dipshits! Give up that easy, huh?!" Dustin shouted as the banging became quiet. "Hush! Is this really necessary?" Eddie hushed Dustin. "They're on the roof." Eddie said and pointed his spear up at the ceiling. "Shit, shit shit," Dustin muttered under his breath as all three of them began to follow where they were heading.

"It's too quiet... Is there any other way to can get inside?" You asked as you looked at a certain hole in the roof before one had put its head inside scaring everyone. Dustin and Eddie both began stabbing at it since they were the ones with a spear while you only had a bat which you were pretty good at handling. Eddie then grabbed a chair and stood on it before placing his 'shield' over the hole.

"Wait... Are there any other vents in here somewhere?" You asked making Eddie's eyes widen. "Oh, shit!" Eddie quickly got off the chair and grabbed his spear before running to where he knows where one of the vents were, Dustin and Y/n followed right behind him.

When they got to his room a bunch of bats came flying out the vent. Eddie had quickly closed the door before they could come out of the room, but as soon as he did that one of them began hitting the door and soon more followed. "Shit!" Dustin shouted as he, you, and Eddie made a run for it to the exit.

"That's not gonna hold!" "Let's go! Let's go!" "Holy mother of mary!" The all shouted as Dustin climbed up the rope and Eddie followed right after him. "C'mon Y/n!! Hurry up!!" Dustin screamed. "That door isn't going to hold forever!!" Eddie shouted. You held onto the rope before a little thought crossed your mind.

You pulled on the rope completely making it fall down and then you moved the mattress out of the way. "Y/n!! What the fuck are you doing?!!" Eddie screamed at you, worry in his eyes. "I'll make sure to come back. If I don't than one of you can take all the shit I own!" You told them with a smile. "Y/n!" Dustin shouted but you were long gone. You pulled an Eddie and ran outside attracting all of them to you.

You stayed a couple feet away from the house and held the bat you hand in your hand ready to swing. So when one came at you, you didn't hesitate to hit it and a couple more followed after and you just went ham on hitting them. "C'mon you fuckers!! Let's play a lil baseball and see how things end!!" You shouted before whacking one off to the side.

Eddie and Dustin had to go quickly because now that max 'died' it caused four large splits into the ground. "What about Y/n?!" Eddie shouted at Dustin as they watched his house get split into slight halves. Dustin couldn't even answer that question because he didn't know if you were actually alive or not.

Dustin looked over at the slightly split house before seeing a hand on the side of the open part of the house. And out came you from around the corner limping, bleeding a bit, and really tired. "Y/n!!" Dustin shouted as he ran over to you. Eddie followed right behind Dustin before they both pulled you away from the large crack. You looked at the two with a smile. "Told ya I was gonna come back." You said with a thumbs up.

"H-...How? I thought you died in there..." Eddie sobbed as he hugged you with a tight ass grip along with Dustin. "Dumb luck I suppose. And my sweet baseball moves!" You laughed before groaning.

"Can we go to the hospital at least? I think I fractured my ribs and pulled a muscle in my leg. After that let's see if we can get Eddie's name cleared from being a murderer." You said. "O-...Oh right the hospital!" Dustin exclaimed as he wrapped one of your arms around his neck to help you walk. Eddie stood there about to say something, but instead he kept quiet.

"You too pretty boy, let's go." You said and motioned him over to you. Eddie let out a breathy chuckle before wrapping your other arm over his shoulder.

[panandinpain0]

Hi could you do a fluff/Angst headcanon of dating Will x Male reader???

Home

Of course! I love Will so much.

Requested by: Anon

Will Byers x Male!Reader (Hopper is the father figure to Reader, but not like Eleven- he's just the only parental role you have in your life)

Something to know about me- I hate being sad so I avoid angst if I can. Which is one of the reasons why I am terrified for tonight when vol. 2 comes out...

For that reason- this oneshot is set in season 3, I need some nostalgia before I get hit with this

Enjoy while we still can 🥲

--

You and Will had been going out for a couple of months now and you were both incredibly happy

Your loved ones supported you

Strangers didn't, but why did they matter?

Honestly everyone just wanted the two of you safe and happy.

That's why when you go on dates Hopper trails along.

He thinks you don't notice, but you do

Ever since you had gotten together Joyce had voiced her concern for you two to Hopper

So he decided to keep an eye on you

(Let's be honest, he was going to do it whether Joyce said something or not)

You were basically his son- and even if you weren't, he still felt responsible for you

And if anyone laid a hand on you, man, watch out

So when you came to visit the Byers' house after school to meet with Will while Hopper was over

And you were covered with bruises and cuts

Blood, sweat, and tears caused by something other than "hard work"

You should have seen Hopper's face.

It was redder than when he yelled at Eleven to keep the door 3 inches open when Mike was over

You had knocked, even though you didn't need to.

You had a key, Joyce had given one to you years ago

Walking into the kitchen you could see Hopper, Joyce, Jonathan, and Will sitting at the table

Joyce and Will had jumped up when they saw you

And offered you a seat at the table

Which you took

They all shouted questions at you while Joyce patched you up

"It was nothing," you say

"Just some kid."

"'Just some kid?'" Hopper would shout back.

He and Jonathan would threaten to find the kid and beat him to a pulp

But the three of you would convince them not too

"I'm fine, really."

And you were

Fine- that is

You would take anything as long as it meant being with Will

Other than those parts of your relationship everything else would be bliss

Watching movies (Jonathan joining sometime, man that guy seems a little lonely)

Drawing together

Trying to draw each other and then laughing at the drawings

Joyce teaching you how to cook

Hanging out as a couple with him and his group of friends

You'd team up and convince them all to play DnD just like you used to

They would have your back.

If anything happened, you knew you wouldn't be alone

Because they were your family

Your favorite moments were the quiet ones, alone with Will

Holding his hand as you laid on his bed in the afternoon, cuddling

The window open and the hot air and sun filtering in

You would look into his eyes for hours

Running your fingers through his hair

Or watching him draw

Or listening to music together

Then everything happened.

The Mall fiasco

...The Mind Flayer

Billy.

Hopper.

...

Joyce thought it was best for them to move.

You were torn in part, both you and Will

It wasn't like Joyce liked seeing it, but she needed to leave

To get away

So as you joined lips with Will for what seemed to be the last time you realized something

You would rather be with Will, than anywhere else.

Yes, Hawkins was your home physically

But your real home?

Will Byers.

--

You move to Cali with the Byers + Eleven! Yayyyyy!

I was really debating on whether to make you and Eleven siblings but I ship Jopper and it'd be weird if Joyce and Hopper were a thing while you and Will were a thing- you get it.

Who else is petrified for tonight?

Heh... yayyyy

-Author Max <3

[friendsdontlieokay]

Mike has been acting very weird lately, like how he used to react to El being missing. He snaps at the tiniest things, gets irritated about simple stuff, stays rude and upset most of the time... he's just different and not like himself anymore.

At first, it seemed like it was probably because of the combination of puberty and the bleeding of hell into Hawkins altogether, but maybe there's something more to it, like he wants to disguise himself or is hiding away from something...from himself.

But as always, everyone is too upset and dazzled up with their own lives to pay attention or talk out with the boy, and Mike doesn't mind actually, it's always been this way and it's honestly better if no one gets to see through the mask he's wearing.

Until a fair evening when the family starts to have an early dinner and Ted starts to bicker about how he's going poor and poor in his studies and everything regarding life as each day goes by.

Ted being Ted, keeps saying the most nerve hitting comments one by one, like how Mike's so young and already on the path to failure, how he has no good future ahead of him or how he should be more like Nancy, in a calm manner whilst feasting on his chicken, of course.

But unlike all the other times, Mike genuinely snaps and throws his plate out of the table, breaking it, and everyone gets off guard by the sudden incident.

"YES! I'M A FAILURE, I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, BUT IT'S NOT MY FAULT, I DIDN'T ASK YOU GUYS TO BRING ME IN THIS WORLD, YOU DID! AND NOW YOU'RE BICKERING CAUSE YOU CANNOT KEEP MANIPULATING YOUR "LITTLE BOY" TO OBEY YOU ANYMORE! I CAN'T DO THAT SO DON'T EVEN EXPECT ME TO!" and with that being said he storms out to his room.

Nancy, who's growing more and more astonished by her brother's behaviour, follows him with a rush and enters the room before he gets the chance to lock it.

"Mike, what the hell was that?"

"What the hell was what?"

"What is going on with you?"

"What do you mean by what is going on with me?"

"Mike what the hell just happened in the dining room? You just broke your f**king plate!" She snapped.

"Oh so now you're here to punish me because I broke mom's favourite plate? Fine I'll pay for it!" There he goes again, he's not the same kid anymore who would spend hours in the basement playing DND, or the naive yet smart kid Nancy once knew.

"Mike seriously what is wrong with you!?"

"EVERYTHING NANCY, EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH ME! NOTHING IS RIGHT ABOUT ME! THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW RIGHT? I'VE ADMITTED IT! SO NOW JUST GO TO YOUR ROOM AND TALK WITH JONATHAN OR STEVE OR WHATEVER! JUST LEAVE!"

"MIKE! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH YOU, SERIOUSLY! YOU'VE BEEN ACTING SO WEIRD THESE DAYS, WHAT'S GOING ON!?"

"Weird.." suddenly he's stressfully calm. "I told you already everything is wrong, dad was right, I'm a f**king failure, that's what's wrong with me".

Nancy's already drawn back by the confession "Mike.." she goes nearer and places a hand on his shoulder "you can talk to me you know".

He throws her hand away "talk to you!? You're the golden child Nancy, you would never understand!" He snaps again.

"Mike-" "No! Don't Mike me right now! You'll never understand, no one ever will, I don't deserve to be here, to exist, I don't belong anywhere, I'm an outcast, a monster!" it looks like he's trying to hold back his tears.

But instead of being sympathetic, Nancy's voice is stern "MIKE! NONE OF THAT IS TRUE, YOU KNOW THAT! YOU'RE NOT A MONSTER!" And when Mike dared to look back at her eyes, he realised that she's been trying to hold back her tears too. She feels so ashamed of herself, for letting Mike lock himself out, far away from the world, from the people he cares about and the people that care about him, for him to be so alone, so scared, to think he doesn't belong, to shrink in pain every passing second, but she has come here to fix it and she will

Nancy sits on the bed and makes him sit right beside her too. "Mike..what happened?" "Nothing" he replies, but she isn't letting go this time "Mike. What. Happened?" There's determination in her voice and Mike's not sure if he can escape it, but he tries, tries to lock himself in once more.

"I don't know, it doesn't matter". He lies. "YOU DON'T KNOW? IT DOESN'T MATTER, MIKE? WELL IT MATTERS TO ME! MY LITTLE BROTHER'S SAYING HE FEELS LIKE AN OUTCAST, A MONSTER, LIKE..LIKE HE DOESN'T BELONG AND YOU'RE SAYING IT DOESN'T MATTER?" she snaps again, and Mike spots a tear trickling down from one of her eyes.

He feels bad for not telling her the truth, but he can't, as much as he hates to admit it, he knows that Nancy's going to hate him if she gets to know WHO he is, or WHAT he's like, and he doesn't want his sister to hate him.

"You wouldn't understand"

"Then try to make me"

"You won't understand Nancy! There is something so wrong with me, I am broken! I've tried to fix myself, I've tried to fit in but I can't! I don't know how to!"

"Mike-"

"And if I tell you, you are going to hate me too, I just know that"

"MIKE!"

He jolts by her tone and looks up to her just to see that tears are spilling out of her eyes with seemingly no end, and for a slight moment Mike wants to comfort her but that would be totally out of context.

"DON'T EVER SAY THAT AGAIN! DON'T YOU EVER EVEN DARE TO THINK THAT! I AM NEVER GOING TO HATE YOU! NEVER EVER! YOU'RE NOT A MONSTER BUT EVEN IF YOU WERE ONE, I WOULDN'T HATE YOU!"

For a millisecond, Mike thinks she'll understand but then again he's too afraid to risk it, he knows that if he tells her, she's simply gonna walk away and never talk to him again, maybe she wouldn't tell their parents, but it would still be horrifying to see her every day and get reminded of how the ice between them almost finally broke but he destroyed it because he's so damn disgusting. But he knows Nancy, and he knows that she's not gonna leave him alone, so he decides to spill it before he starts understanding how much his sister genuinely cares for him and loves him, in more depth. Like ripping off a bandaid.

His heart is almost bursting out of his chest and he's on the verge of a panic attack, still he's ready to go and make Nancy hate him.

"You don't understand Nancy I'm gay! I'm a f***king faggot" he's crying now, there's no reverse button in life, he has already doomed everything.

"SO!? I KNOW IT MIKE IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING! DID YOU REALLY THINK I'M GONNA HATE YOU FOR THIS? YOU'RE MY LITTLE BABY BROTHER, MIKE, AND YOU THOUGHT I WOULD HATE YOU FOR BEING GAY!?" He looks up to her and he internally breaks, not like he's damaged-broken, but he's sad-broken, because Nancy's not only spiling tears right now, but she's wholeheartedly crying, gasping-crying.

He's also crying just like her and he's so glad and surprised and relieved it's like a 404 error, he doesn't know what to do, he doesn't know what to say but he knows he needs to say something, cause Nancy's crying and he feels like a bad guy for thinking she would hate him.

"Nancy I-" before he even gets the chance to finish, Nancy pulls him into a hug and even though she's practically crushing him by hugging him so tight, he doesn't mind at all, in fact he feels like he's finally able to breathe after ages so he just leans into her hugging her tighter and sobbing hard recklessly.

"Mike, I'm so sorry that you had to feel like you couldn't talk to me, to leave you alone in this bullshit hell hole to suffer all alone, to make you feel like a monster for never checking up on you and for always being so indulged in my own life that I barely come to know about what's happening in your life, for-for being such a selfish person, I know I don't even deserve to be your sister, you're such a good kid and kind hearted person Mike. Gosh, you're a paladin, a literal paladin, you're the heart of the party who cares about his loved ones so so much, who would do anything to protect the people he loves. And Mike, I know it's usually always the other way around, and I'm sorry that I couldn't give you a chance to say that but I truly look up to you, and I am so so so proud of you, bub, and honestly it feels so weird to call you my little brother cause you're so tall and big but it feels like you were a kid just yesterday, learning ABC's from that little phonics book you had, and it's hard to believe that it has been so long gone, I just wish I could've kept you little for just a little while longer, I wish I could play barbies with you for a little bit more time, I wish I talked to you and hugged you even more, I wish I hadn't turned away from you, I'm so sorry Mike for growing apart and distant, and I can't even blame it on my age, that is totally on me, and even if you don't or can't forgive me I just want you to know that I'm really very sorry. You're so grown now, you've literally been through hell and back, and still doing so that it's almost hard to believe that you're still that tiny marshmallow that couldn't pronounce my name and used to call me Nanny, but still deep inside I know that you are still him, you're still my baby brother and Mike, I know I don't say it as much as I should, and right now you might have a hard time believing me but I love you so much, I really really do." To be honest, Mike didn't know that, maybe when they were children he did know that, but they've gone through such huge metamorphosis in their own lives, he doesn't know it anymore, but he believes her, he truly entirely does, but he's sobbing so bad right now, he is in no state to speak so he only clutches to her tighter, sobbing even harder.

Mike is so overwhelmed by everything, how everything's going okay, and maybe even more than okay, by how everything's fixing, all this time, he felt like a mistake and right now someone's telling him he's not a mistake, that he's valued and that somebody looks up to HIM, and it's not just someone, it's Nancy, the golden child in his family, the best student in his school, an aspiring journalist, a badass who can almost win any battle, who kicked off Vecna's ass. Nancy Wheeler is saying she looks up to him and is proud of him, that really is such a big achievement on its own, but then again at this moment he knows that Nancy is no one apart from just his big sister, his superhero sister, his first best friend, his sister, his Nance, his Nanny.

But as much as he loves everything, he absolutely hates the way Nancy looks at herself, or how she thinks she's worthless because that's a lie, she's amazing everybody knows that, and he would never ever admit it yet he feels disgusted by the thought of Nancy thinking she couldn't give him a reason to look up to her, cause he's been looking up to her since God knows when. But for a fact, he knows she's not lying or making that part up to show him his better sides because that's exactly the way he feels about himself too, he just knows that they need to be there for each other and be each other's mirrors to show them their real true and wonderful selves.

"Mike I would never hate you, I could never do that even if I wanted to, and I would never want to. We're gonna fix everything that's hurting you okay? We're gonna fix it together I promise, and this time I promise to keep the promise, it's a promise."

Mike's already relieved and glad that she doesn't hate him for being gay, but one thing he's also super grateful for is how it's Nancy he's confiding too, or who has practically forced him to confide into them but be doesn't mind anymore, instead he feels like he's at peace and a huge burden has been removed from his chest, not only the burden of coming out, but the burden that had captivated him to reach out and talk to his sister, from hugging her because of the unsettled awkwardness that was reserved between them for a while, a long long while. He subconsciously envied Jonathan and Will or Lucas and Erica's relationship and bonding, but the same old awkwardness stopped him from achieving the same bond which he had with Nance before the world turned to massacre, or more like before she went to highschool, but right now her warmth was enough to calm him down and making up for all those lost time, he finally feels like he's home after a long long long period of time, he feels safe.

They sit their hugging and crying for what feels like ages until Nancy speaks again and they slowly start to pull away from each other "And just so you know, if anyone says anything, there's a reason why I've got a Russian mackarov in my room". He chuckles at that and pulls away finally.

"How did you know?"

"Know what? About you being gay?"

"...yea"

"Mike come on, I am your sister"

He raises an eyebrow

"What? You don't believe I'm your sister?" She lets out a dry chuckle.

He sighs in annoyance.

"Fine. I might or might not have read your unsent letter to Will"

"Hey! That's an invasion of personal space! That's a crime!"

"Ha! Says the one who used to steal from my piggy bank on a daily basis"

"Dude! That's not the same!"

"Dude that's not the same~" she mocks

He stares again in disbelief, though he doesn't hate it as much as he should considering everything .

"Now go grab me a glass of water, I'm thirsty from all the tears I just shred!"

"What!?"

"What what? Go bring me some water, I'm thirsty" She shoo shoos with her hand to try to drive him away but he doesn't budge.

She sighs in disappointment and ruffles his hair vigorously "Come on little big guy, get me a glass of water, go!"

He keeps his eyebrows knitted together but heads towards the door anyway.

"Hey umm Nance?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry. I-I mean thank you, and...I love you too"

She smiles and audibly whispers "doofus"

He goes outside the room but pokes his head almost instantly.

"Um also, if money's missing again from your piggy bank, hehe"

Her eyes widen and she throws out a pillow at him.

"Ow!"

"Michael Jeremy Wheeler, I hate you so much!" and with that being said, she starts chasing him because no matter how much she loves him, she will never be able to not hate him cause that's what siblings are.

[blairsanne]

Pretend to Be Nice - 3 - Bathed in Love

For the @deanobingo 2023 event!

Prompts: Anders Johnson - Smoking

The Almighty Johnsons - Anders & female Reader 5098 words

Summary: You find out what Anders did to deal to the mortal who'd drugged you, and try to get back to normal as 'friends'. Anders tells himself that that's all you are, despite asking his brothers for insight into your previous conversations and being unable to stop touching you.

CW: Alcohol consumption, marijuana use, mention of hookups, mention of drugging. Angsty? Slow burn I guess? (This is a multi-part story.)

Series Masterlist here

You took a deep breath as you climbed the steps to the front door of Axl’s place. In the bright, warm light of the early afternoon, the house had a cheery, welcoming look, despite what had transpired the last time you were there.

You knocked on the door and chewed your lower lip as you waited for an answer.

“Oh hey!” Axl lit up when he saw it was you, then tilted his head, gesturing in confusion to the case of cold beer in your hand. “You brought piss?”

“Yeah, I- I was actually hoping to speak with Zeb. Is he in?” “Oh. Yeah, come in.”

Axl ushered you down the hall toward the living room, where Zeb was laying on the couch playing a video game.

“Zeb, you have a guest.”

“Oh- hi!” Zeb paused his game and scrambled to sit up.

“Hey. I just- wanted to thank you for looking after me the other day.” You put the case of beer down on the coffee table, then stood awkwardly beside it.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that. Y’know, I totally would have done it even without the Bragi orders. I’m always happy to help the aesir.”

“What?”

Axl sat down in the chair closest to where you were standing and looked up at you with mild discomfort. “When Zeb was tending to you, that was ‘cause Anders ordered him to.”

“But I would have!” Zeb repeated defensively. “Totally at your service.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose. “I’m sorry, Zeb. He shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, it’s fine.” “I suppose the beer is more of an apology, then.” “I really don’t mind.”

You moved to sit on the couch opposite him. “I’m causing trouble everywhere I go these days.”

“What? Of course not.” Zeb pulled a beer out of the case, cracked it, and passed it to Axl, before offering the second one to you.

“Er- ta.” 

“I’m really sorry Garrett did that,” Axl offered, his voice low with guilt. “I never thought he’d- well he said he hadn’t before, but-”

“Wait, you know who it was?”

Zeb’s brows raised. “Didn’t Anders tell you?”

“No…?” “We dealt with it.”

“Yeah,” Zeb enthused. “Mike and Anders came by to tell us what happened and get intel on the guests. Then Mike tracked down Garrett using his hunting powers.” Zeb’s eyes shone with awe. “Axl totally told him off, and Anders used his powers on him to make sure he didn’t do something like that again.”

“Oh.”

Axl shrugged. “It was.. sort of the least we could do.” Especially when I was the one who wanted you to come out.

“And the best part was-” “Zeb-” “-when Anders punched him! It was awesome!” “Zeb.”

Zeb looked between Axl and you, finally noting the way you’d gone still, staring at the table and trying not to cry, vision blurred.

You had been trying not to think too much about what could have happened, or why you were drugged in the first place, telling yourself that since you didn’t get hurt, it wasn’t a big deal. But knowing that they’d all gotten together to sort the guy out made it feel more real, somehow. Their insistence that he be stopped from doing it to someone else highlighted the luck you’d had this time in a way that made you feel ill.

You took a deep breath and focused on Zeb. “Anders what?”

Zeb grinned. “He punched Garrett in the face!” Axl shifted uncomfortably. “He was… pretty mad.”

You winced. “Well, I gave him a lot of trouble, it seems.”

“Really?” There was a laugh of incredulity in Axl’s voice.

“Yeah, I guess I was really out of it. Honestly, I don’t really remember.” You sipped at your beer. “But, uh… it’s nice, knowing you all had my back like that. So, ta.”

“I’m surprised Anders didn’t tell you.” “Yeah, usually he’s keen to brag when he does something good for once.”

“Maybe he’s had his fill of me,” you suggested lightly. “Nah. No way.” You were startled by how quickly and adamantly Axl denied the idea.

Zeb nodded to himself. “Probably just wanted to give you some space.”

“Yeah, I was kinda nervous to text you, if i’m honest,” Axl admitted. “Why?” “I thought… you might be cross with me? Since it was my mate, and my party…” “No. I know you’d never do something like that. Or approve of it, or what have you.”

You turned your gaze to Zeb, remembering how you’d immediately ruled out that he could have had a part in it. 

Everyone’s always looking over me.

“Thanks again, eh?” “Of course, any time.”

--

Ty stepped into the lobby at JPR to find Anders sitting on the edge of the long table, sorting through various ad mockups as he rubbed at his chin.

“Hey.” Ty held out a black box with an envelope taped over the front. “Special delivery.”

“You’re giving me your package, bro?” Anders snickered as he took the box, surprised Ty wasn’t trying to get Dawn to sign for it.

“Sign here, dick.”

Anders did so, then nodded to Ty when he turned to leave. Dawn and Ty made eye contact, but he rushed out without another word.

Anders pulled the envelope off and chucked it on the table as he whistled at the label on the box.

“Now that’s a bottle of whiskey.”

He set to work opening the box to pull out the hefty bottle inside.

Dawn scooted over from her desk and swiped the envelope from the table. She opened it up to find a card that she read out loud.

“Anders, Your brother told me what you did. Thank you. You’re a good friend and a good man.”

Dawn snorted and looked at Anders incredulously. 

Anders paused, looking past the bottle and into space as he realized this was a gift from you. Thanking me? ‘A good friend’, eh?

“Not signed,” Dawn noted. “Mm.” “So… Who’s it from?”

Anders plucked the card from her fingers and tucked it away. “A friend.”

She raised a brow, suspicion lacing her voice. “If they’re a friend, why not just bring it themselves? Why courier it to you at work?”

Anders frowned. It was a fair question, but he understood somehow. Your confession had put an unfamiliar wall between the two of you. Even he felt strange when he thought of calling you directly now. If you were really friends like you’d said, then he shouldn’t hesitate to treat you as he’d always done.

“There’s that nosiness again,” he chided her, instead of answering the question honestly.

“Well, the last time you had a mysterious friend couriering you things at the office, we ended up running Colin’s mayoral campaign.”

Anders snickered. “Fair cop.”

--

A few days later, Anders found himself standing in Ty’s living room, drinking beer with his brothers and grandfather.

“-and so we went our separate ways,” Olaf concluded, wrapping up a story about a former lover.

“You ghosted her, you mean,” Mike amended.

“No?” Olaf squinted at his eldest grandson. “She was quite alive.”

“Okay. So, hypothetically-” Anders shifted his weight and gestured. “A woman says she’s in love with you, but then refuses to sleep with you. What’s that about?”

“Virgin?” Olaf guessed.

Ty groaned.

“Or Christian,” Olaf amended, grimacing.

Anders shook his head. “Neither, I’d reckon.”

Olaf gestured, squinting. “Non-Christian vow of celibacy.”

Anders rolled his eyes. “She’s not a virgin, grandpa.”

“But she doesn’t want to root?” Axl snickered. “Isn’t that all you do?”

Everyone had a good laugh while Anders huffed. “What I’m saying is- why tell me if she’s not up for it? I mean, isn’t that the point?”

“Maybe she wants to feel loved in return?” Ty offered. Anders looked at him with confusion. “You know, not just a root, but a relationship? You do know what those entail, right-” “Okay, no need to be sanctimonious.”

“I think what Ty is saying, Anders-” Mike interrupted, putting his hand on Anders’s shoulder. “Is that maybe this woman has seen what you’re usually like with women?”

Anders tilted his head up, stroking his chin. “Charming, irresistible, desired-” “Dismissive, easily distracted, unloyal…”

“I’m saying-” Ty interrupted, knowing Mike’s harsh tone was going to irritate Anders. “Maybe she’s only interested in pursuing a serious relationship.”

“Bad luck falling for Anders, eh,” Axl quipped.

Anders narrowed his eyes as he looked between his brothers, not really disagreeing with them but unhappy about the situation all the same.

“Did your Bragi powers not work on this mystery woman?” Olaf asked suddenly, a teasing glint in his eye.

“I didn’t use them on her.” Anders shook out of Mike’s touch. “She dumped her feelings on me out of nowhere, and then announced that nothing would come of it. I hadn’t even considered it before.”

Axl laughed. “And now you want her ‘cause she rejected you?”

Ty grimaced, rolling his eyes. “Don’t take that as a challenge, Anders.”

“Ty’s right,” Mike agreed. “Best to let it go.”

“Maybe it was reverse psychology,” Axl suggested.

Anders hummed dismissively. “Doesn’t seem the type for that. But then why tell me at all?”

Olaf shrugged and pulled out a joint. “Women are the eternal mystery.”

“Aw, grandpa- Not in the house,” Ty complained.

Olaf tilted his head and gestured to convey his deference. “I will take it outside.”

Just then the doorbell rang, and several more guests arrived.

--

A short while later, Anders was helping Ty move beer into a chilly bin while everyone else was outside.

Anders paused, looking over at his brother with a guarded expression. “You’ve been in love before.”

“Yeah?” Ty pulled another case of beer out of the fridge and placed it on the counter.

“So, when someone says they’re in love with you, what does that- actually mean?”

Ty raised a brow and turned to Anders. He’d thought they’d finished with this topic, but clearly Anders was still bothered by this mystery woman’s confession.

“To- be in love?” “Well, how do you know?” Anders gestured with his hands. “Is it just- do you wanna root, or-?” “Oh.”

Ty licked his lips and contemplated it seriously. It wasn’t the sort of thing he usually discussed with Anders, but his brother was being surprisingly earnest, so Ty decided to respond honestly.

“Sure, yeah, that’s part of it. But it’s not only that. It’s like- Well, for me, anyhow, I just… Want to be around them, because that makes me happy. And I want them to be happy. Even if that means not being with me. It’s… caring about the other person enough to put their needs over your own, even when you really just want them to yourself.”

He met Anders’s contemplative gaze and shrugged. “Though I reckon it’s a bit different for everyone.”

Anders chewed his lip for a beat. “What about… a friend? That you also want to root?”

Ty hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Sure? That’s… similar? But there’s a difference between a friend and a partner. Being in love is more like a partner feeling than a friend feeling.”

“Like your friend Dawn?”

Ty scowled. “Like your friend Dawn?”

Anders frowned. “But I so don’t want to go there.”

“Good.”

Anders looked at Ty in annoyance. “But if I did, then that’s what being in love is like? A friend you want to shag?”

“No, it’s- It’s more complicated. Sure, maybe you want to- shag- but it’s more than that. It’s something you- you should just know, when you feel it.”

“Okay, so then what about the chick that told me she was in love with me?”

Ty shrugged, sighing as he realized that Anders really was stuck on the whole idea. “I have no idea.”

“Does she see me as a friend she wants to bone?” “How would I know that, Anders?” “I dunno, you think like a chick.” “Okay, very funny.” Ty rolled his eyes and got back to his task.

“But she said she was in love with me.” “Then she’s in love with you.” “But she also said nothing would come of it.” “Then- don’t worry about it.” “So why tell me?”

Ty sighed in exasperation. “You’d have to ask her, I reckon.”

Anders grimaced. Fat chance.

--

You laughed as Stacey and Olaf argued over her driving his car.

You were sitting in Ty’s backyard with them and Ingrid, passing a joint back and forth that Stacey was abstaining from.

“I’m just saying, you shouldn’t drive high. Last time you hit like three rubbish bins.”

You stilled when Anders sat down next to you, so close you were touching, his thigh and arm pressing against yours.

You took a long drag of the joint, then offered it to him, feeling your pulse in your neck as you watched him casually puff at it before passing it to Ingrid.

The others continued the conversation, and after a moment, Anders turned to you. “Got your delivery.”

You met his gaze, unsure what he thought of it. “And?”

“It’s mint, but if you’re trying to get in my pants, I’m actually a cheap date-”

You let out a groan and rolled your eyes. “That wasn’t what I was-”

“I know.” He let out a humming giggle, chuffed to have gotten such a reaction from you. Even if part of him was confused why you didn’t want in his pants.

The joint made its way back to him and this time Anders blew the smoke out his nose while smirking at you. 

You shook your head at him. “I was just trying to thank you.”

You took your toke and passed it off again.

“You didn’t have to thank me.” “No, I did. It could have been a lot worse than it was.” “But it wasn’t.” “Thanks to you.”

“Mm.” Anders put his hand on your knee and gave you a serious look. “I would never let someone hurt you if I could help it.”

On some level, you already knew that. Anders always protected the people close to him.

“Well, ta. You’re a good friend.” “And yet you don’t call, you don’t write.” His slightly teasing air was undercut by the genuine concern you read in his eyes.

“Well… After Michele’s,” you hedged, not wanting to directly reference your confession. “I thought maybe I should leave you alone. I didn’t want to annoy you.”

He flashed you a slightly stern look. “You never annoy me.”

“Bullshit.” “I annoy you, and then you laugh it off.”

He poked at your side until you elbowed him to stop, laughing despite yourself. “You’re such a dick.”

He smiled to himself as he took the joint back from Ingrid. You might have called him a dick, but the way you’d said it couldn’t possibly be interpreted as an insult, amused and affectionate.

You took another puff when he was done, then leaned over to hand it back to Olaf.

Anders joined in on the conversation the others were having, and as you did the same, you found yourself relaxing somewhat, falling back into the easy chemistry you’d always had. It felt nice to know with certainty that he wasn’t trying to avoid you. That he didn’t seem to think less of you for having been honest about your misguided feelings. That he was willing to be nice about it and pretend you’d never said so.

He turned to you as the conversation topic shifted to something he didn’t care about, lowering his voice. “Hey, come out with me and Axl tomorrow.”

You pursed your lips, contemplating it.

“C’mon, it’ll be fun.” He lowered his head and raised a brow. “You do still know how to have fun?”

You rolled your eyes, but smiled as you felt yourself won over by his playfulness. “Oh, fine.”

He tried to contain his grin as he took the joint back from Ingrid, quite pleased with himself.

Everything’s back to normal, he told himself, even as he kept constant contact with you.

--

Some time later, you and Anders were standing inside debating which of the clubs you should hit up the next night. There was a new one you hadn’t been to before that you were suggesting, but Anders wanted to go to his favourite spot, knowing he’d get lucky there.

He was making his case, leaning in toward you as you found yourself glancing at his lips a little too often. Standing this close, you basked in having his undivided attention, the smell of alcohol on his breath not enough to overpower the lingering notes of cologne on his warm neck.

“We already know the layout, and the bar always runs us a tab. Plus they have those fruity shots you like.”

“-Is he bothering you?”

Michele’s voice startled you out of the spell you were under in Anders’s presence, suddenly making you aware of your surroundings again.

You shrugged and smiled at her, signaling that everything was fine. “No, we were just making plans to continue the Frigg hunt.”

Michele winced, knowing exactly what sort of Frigg hunts you ended up on with Anders and Axl. “More like planning another night of filthy shags in the bog.”

Anders grinned, expression caught between offense and amusement. “I thought it was Ty making things cold in here, but I see it was just your usual warm personality.”

Michele laughed. “Because you’re known for your congeniality?”

“Most women find me quite charming, actually.” “Mortals. Using your powers to trick people into overlooking your being a prick isn’t exactly saintly behaviour.” “I’m not a saint, Michele, I’m a god.”

You rolled your eyes, not interested in listening to the two of them bicker, even as they continued to do so.

It hadn’t been as bothersome before, but now that Michele knew about your feelings for Anders, it seemed more like she was purposely putting him down in front of you, and you hated it. Almost as much as you hated thinking about Anders rooting around Auckland. He can do whatever he wants, you tried to remind yourself. He’s a grown man, and not mine.

You listened to them spar a few more seconds, then decided you’d had enough. “Fucks’s sake,” you muttered as you walked off.

Anders turned his head to watch you, unsure why you’d gotten fed up. Usually you’d jump in to defend him, or at the very least change the topic. It was you he’d been wanting to talk with, but Michele seemed to be extra pointy with him these days and he could never stop himself from sniping back.

Michele caught the confusion in Anders’s expression before he forced his usual aloof air again to turn his attention back to her. She made eye contact with him long enough to sneer as she started walking away herself to find Mike.

Anders gestured in mild offense and confusion at having you both just walk away from him mid-conversation. And they call me rude.

He shook his head and looked over to see that you had instead struck up a conversation with Axl, who was towering over you with a chuffed expression. Whatever you were saying, he’d lit up, and Anders found himself smiling softly as he watched Axl duck down slightly to give you a hug.

A moment later he approached you both with three open bottles of beer.

“M’lord,” he greeted Axl, offering him one. Axl snorted as he took it.

Anders turned to you with confidence, and you caught him giving you a lookover before turning on the charm. “Goddess,” he purred, holding out another bottle.

You hesitated, caught in the blue of his eyes even as you reminded yourself that you weren’t going to take open drinks from men anymore. But it was Anders. “Ta.”

He sucked on his lower lip briefly as he watched you take a sip, then turned to Axl. “Band’s back together.” “Right! She was just saying we’re all going tomorrow.” “Should be fun,” you said with forced enthusiasm.

In truth, you weren’t really convinced. It was difficult to say no to Anders, and Axl had looked over-the-moon when you’d told him, but you knew the reality of watching Anders try it on with women all night was going to make you sick.

Anders caught the lie in your tone, and assumed you were worried about a repeat of Garrett’s actions.

He placed his hand on your back, voice soft. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.” He tilted his head toward you. “Always.”

“I’m fine, really. You needn’t worry.”

He narrowed his eyes at you, unconvinced.

You lightly batted at his chest with your free hand. “I mean it. Don’t be weird.”

He raised his brow in mock offense - lips curling up betraying his amusement and relief that you did seem to be alright - and his hand slid up your back to squeeze your shoulder. “It’s weird to watch over my friend now? You wound me.”

You smiled and looked up at Axl. “The focus is meant to be on finding the Frigg.”

Axl nodded. “Several dozen women down, several million to go.” “That’s the spirit.” “D’you think we could bring Zeb?” Axl suggested.

“Oh, sure-” you started to answer. “Absolutely not.” Anders scowled. “Three gods together, that’s something the Frigg might take notice of. You and your weird flattie? Not the right look.”

“Don’t call him weird,” you complained softly.

Axl scowled. “Hey, Zeb’s a good mate.”

“Irrelevant. A Frigg-magnet he is not.” “Well- I don’t want the Frigg to be into him anyway-” “He brings down the whole vibe.”

“Anders,” you chided. “That’s not nice.” “I’m not trying to be nice, I’m trying to be a god.” He gestured at you with his beer. “You just want him there because he’s got a crush on you.” “What?”

“I saw how chuffed he was to have you in his lap that night. Not that I blame him- You’re probably the hottest chick who’s ever said more than three words to him-” “Don’t be a prick, Anders,” Axl interjected. “Zeb’s really sweet. You shouldn’t say those things.” “Why not? They’re true.” “Because I like Zeb.”

Anders’s fingers pressed into your shoulder slightly where he was still holding on to you. “Oh, is that what you go for now? Spindly mortals who’ll follow you around making moon eyes?”

You’d caught the mild offense lacing his mocking tone, but couldn’t help but feel like he was making fun of you. You looked down at your beer. What I ‘go for’ hasn’t changed at all.

“I’ve just had a gutful of hearing shit-talk about people I care for, that’s all.”

Before Anders could crack a joke about you caring about Axl’s flattie, Axl gestured. “Yeah, stop talking about him like that. He’s my best mate.”

Anders raised his brows and ran his tongue over his teeth, seeing he was clearly outnumbered on the issue, despite not thinking it was all that deep.

He was quiet for a beat, then, hoping their offense had subsided, piped up. “That aside, my point remains.”

“Fine, I get it. Just gods.” “And one goddess.”

Anders squeezed your shoulder, shaking it somewhat until you met his gaze again. When you did, he flashed you a smile that you couldn’t help but begrudgingly return.

“Yeah, yeah.”

--

The rest of the night passed in relative ease, drinking and laughing with the other gods and goddesses. 

Whenever Anders was around, he was on you; sitting or standing so close you were pressed against each other, his hands finding reasons to touch you. It wasn’t completely abnormal for him, but it was more than you were used to, and you told yourself not to read anything into it despite your feelings. 

If anything, most people would be hands-off after an undesired confession like that, but you wondered if he was trying to reassure you that it was fine. He’d seemed so relieved that you still wanted to be friends when you’d left his flat that day, after all.

The sun had long set when you were sitting on the couch in the living room, Anders on the floor in front of you, his shoulder against your bare leg. He had ditched his jacket at some point, the top buttons of his collared shirt open and sleeves rolled up. Ingrid was sitting across from him, getting ready to do a tarot card reading for him.

Anders had always thought it was bullshit, but a bit drunk and a bit high, he was open to anything entertaining at this point.

Ingrid pulled a few stones from her pocket and rubbed them against each other, but after a moment she frowned. She looked up to you hopefully. “Do you still have that amethyst I gave you?”

“Oh-” You dug around in the pocket of your shorts while Anders turned to look at you with surprise as you produced a smooth purple stone from it. You’d been carrying it around ever since, but if she needed it back, you were more than happy to oblige. “Here.” “Thank you, dear.”

Anders grinned to himself as he stared at your chest, getting a great view as you leaned over to hand it to Ingrid, but had the sense to turn his attention back to Ingrid before you would notice.

“Yes, that’s much better,” Ingrid murmured, waving the stones around in front of her, eyes shut.

Anders watched her in great amusement, excited to see what was going to come of all the woowoo hippie posturing. Was she going to tell him how many hot chicks he was going to bed that week? What sort of client the next big campaign JPR landed would be? 

Michele walked over, tilting her head at you. “Can we talk privately for a mo’?”

She turned her attention to Anders as you nodded your assent. “That’s a good spot for you. On the floor, like a dog.”

Anders grabbed one of your bare legs and ducked under it, hugging your calves against his chest on each side of his head. “I’m quite comfortable between a woman’s legs, actually. As I recall, so are you, eh, Michele?”

You shoved Anders’s head with both hands, making him laugh as he let go to fall away from you. You scrambled to your feet, shaking your head at him as you followed Michele away from the living room.

--

Standing just inside Ty’s bedroom, Michele gave you a worried lookover.

“I just wanted to see how you were, with the Bragi situation.”

You shrugged defensively. “What do you mean?”

“You avoided us for a while, and now you’re all over him again.” “I am not.” “No, you’re right; he’s all over you. Like grabbing at your legs just now? But what’s worse is you’re letting him.”

“What am I supposed to do?” You hugged yourself defensively. “It’s never been an issue before, so I can’t just get cross with him out of nowhere.”

“You can, actually. Just tell him you don’t want his perverted little hands all over you.” “Right, except that I actually do, and he doesn’t mean anything by-” “Ah! That!” She pointed her finger at you accusingly. “You’re letting him get away with it because of your feelings for him.” “And I don’t mind.” “You should mind. He’s a wanker.” “Could you stop?” “No, not until you come to your senses. He is a lying, conniving little pervert who-”

“Stop it! You know I care about him, so just-” You took a step back, gesturing. “You can think whatever awful things you want, but I don’t want to hear it. You’re as bad as he is.”

You turned to leave, but stopped when she reached out to touch your forearm.

“I’m sorry.” She sighed heavily. “I just… I don’t want to see you get hurt, that’s all.”

Too late for that.

You debated telling Michele that you’d already confessed, and that nothing had come of it, but you worried that would only make her hate Anders more. He didn’t owe you anything, and the idea of her harassing him over it was even more pathetic than the rejection itself. Wanting to protect Anders, you decided to continue keeping that confession a secret, just as he seemed to be doing.

“She’ll be right,” you said finally, defeated. “He’s just handsy with friends. I’m not an idiot. I know he doesn’t want me that way. ”

Michele’s shoulders eased, expression softening as she realized it was already too late to protect you from being hurt by the situation.

“That’s because he’s an idiot. Any man in Midgard would be lucky to have you on his arm.” She pinched your chin. “Don’t forget that. You are a powerful, beautiful goddess. And too kind for your own good.”

She let go of you and sighed, looking away. “And since you’re my friend, I’ll try to go easy on that wanker when you’re around.”

“Thank you, Michele.”

You stepped forward to hug her, and she tensed up, fighting her instinct to push you off.

“Yeah, no worries,” she managed between gritted teeth.

--

Back in the living room, Ingrid was softly clapping her hands together as she examined the cards that she’d spread out on the floor before Anders.

“Well, this is a very auspicious reading! How lovely.”

Anders wasn’t sure what to make of any of the strange images on the cards himself. “Oh?”

“Yes, a time of great social well-being. Basking in the warmth of those closest to you. Good time for getting along with family and friends.”

“You saying I’ll make heaps of new friends?” He smirked as he imagined a pile of blondes joining him in his bed. Maybe our night out will be even more fun.

She hummed. “No, more like… the ones you already have will be extra kind to you. Those closest to you.”

Your face came to his mind first. Then his brothers and grandfather. Then Dawn.

He tried to think if anyone had been particularly kind to him of late. Well, they hadn’t been as unkind as usual, at least.

She looked up at him and gestured around his head, running her hands through his auric field. “Bathed in love and good will. How nice.”

“As I should be.” Ingrid let out a small laugh. “Yes, quite right.”

Anders snickered to himself and finished off the rest of the beer he’d been nursing before leaning back against the couch, wondering where you’d gone off to with Michele, but too munted and pleasantly tired to get up to find you.

Bathed in love… Whatever the fuck that means.

---

Part 4 here

---

A/N: This chapter originally was supposed to be mostly their night out... but ballooned into this... so please look forward to next time, haha.

Tags: @laurfilijames @the-poldarkian @i-did-not-mean-to @the-butterfly-blues @midearthwritings @ichoosechoasandbeingqueer @feeweeeee-deactivated20230423 @missihart23 @spngingerbread21 @fortheloveofdurin

As always if you'd like to be added or removed from tagging (for a specific character/fandom/everything) just let me know any time!

[winderlylandchime]

3/3 ‘BRI BRI!! He’s quoting the movie, is that his favorite? i do that too with First Wives Club!! *randomly starts quoting it* I had guests! Who Guns N roses?! We should watch that. Its one of my favorite movi-ITS JUSTIN!! why is Justin here? Poor Bria- FOR A CHANGE? Fuck you Justin, that’s rude. See?! That comment even hurt Brian’s feelings. Why did he feel like he has to say he’s alone? HMMM. Why Brian? Why did you have to make it clear that no one else is here but you two? CANT ACCEPT WH- FUCK ME SIDEWAYS AND CALL IT PARKOUR BRIAN PAID HIS TUITION! HE STILL PAID FOR IT?! FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR? EVEN THO THEY BROKE UP AND HE CHEATED! HE STILL PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS? I wouldn’t give him a penny. WAIT LET ME CALM DOWN…okay, I’m calm. doesn’t Justin still owe him for stealing his credit card? This dude is in more debt by 20 than every other American. A DEAL IS A DEAL. He cares about him even now. He wants his to do good! He wants hi-HE HAS RAGE, HE PACKED HIS COMPUTER?! That he paid for?! I AM SO NOT CHILL! FUCK BEING CHILL! CHILL IS IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR so let me get this hetero *turns to paused Brian on tv* once again, sorry, so 1) he paid for his tuition ahead of time just cause he knew he cant afford it 2) he packed his computer that he bought cause he knows he needs it and 3) he mentioned rage.. and all those little shits swear he doesn’t care, i mean sure he hides it but can you blame him? He was raised in a house that was on fire with parents that purposely threw gasoline on it. So obviously he would hide the glass of water that would keep him alive (i swear i didnt move a single muscle while he talked) dont give me that look! Everything makes sense in here *points several times to his head and accidentally pokes himself in the eye* ow..you didn’t see that.’ ‘I am still confused about Emmett and Ted. I really like them as friends and i don’t want this to ruin it but if they stay cool like they were before, i will love it. But please stop the lover thing’ ‘OH OH OH PLEASE TELL ME THAT THE CELLO FUCKER FINDS OUT BRIAN IS STILL PAYING!!! Please make me happ- Oh justin and Mike, is it weird that i kind of like Michael this episode..I can’t remember if he pissed me off or not, so i guess he’s cool right now, oh he’s here for the money. Get that money!….why is JT playing a trumpet? wait I focused on the wrong thing, he listened to Brian! Brian said ONE thing and Justin went “yup. On it boss” A DEAL IS A DEAL THATS WHAT BRIAN SAID! HE LISTENED! oh brian looks bad. He literally looks like he’s going to overdose. Is he gonna drop on the ground? He looks bad. And people look at this *waves to brian* and say he’s fine? I swear the only reason they thinks so is cause they have never actually seen this man be fine. So they think THAT is his fine. I need to go get some air, i am very upset about this’ He then proceeded to go outside and dragged a chair in the middle of the yard where he then ended up falling asleep. I would call it progress but at this point I know better.

I love the First Wives Club “I have feelings…I’m an actress, I have all of them!”

FUCK ME SIDEWAYS AND CALL IN PARKOUR - I’m going to propose to your brother before this is done.

A DEAL IS A DEAL - so fucking romantic. Sorry Mr. “I don’t Do Romance” Kinney.

“He was raised in a house that was on fire with parents that purposefully threw gasoline on it. So obviously he would hide the glass of water that would keep him alive.”

“He was raised in a house that was on fire with parents that purposefully threw gasoline on it. So obviously he would hide the glass of water that would keep him alive.”

Guys, gals, non-binary pals - standing ovation for Brother Anon. HE GETS IT. He gets our beloved Brian. Our trauma onion. He honestly gets him better than the writer who penned the email explaining the shit show that was S5 gets him ( @sophsun1 linked to it ) HE IS ONE OF US.

Wait I focused on the wrong thing - a deal is a deal that’s what Brian said! He listened! Brian is not done raising this kid.

“And people look at this *waves to Brian* and say he’s fine? I swear the only reason they think so is cause they have never actually seen this man be fine. So they think THAT is his fine.”

I am once again saying that your brother gets him better than the writers of the fucking show.

[wheelcr]

tell us tell us pls ^^ how did you and mike wheeler meet / get close w each other??

ty for the ask sweet nonie! this might be a super long story time / rant so please uhhh buckle up JSHSJJDNSJ

so basically, in my stranger things dr, me and mikey are actually ( kinda ) neighbors and have been since i moved to hawkins when i was like 6. we would see each other on the way to school sometimes or like i would catch him biking around in front of my house, but we never really interacted save for some awkward waving across the street / hall in school

until like 5 months later, when my mom just had to befriend the wheelers ( love her so so much, but her social butterfly - ness is not for me ) and invite them over for dinner. our families were chatting it up and everything, nancy was super nice to me and called me pretty which made me giggle and blush ( i was over the moon omg ) then my beloved mother who just can't keep her mouth shut was all like "my sweet rosie and michael are the same age aren't they? say, why don't the two of you go play in the living room? or upstairs?" or something along the lines of that yadda yadda basically she wanted us to hang out

now i didn't really find it as a big deal but like my only friend in hawkins at that point was dorothea from homeroom, who was a pretty, smart, proper princess. i had no idea how to interact with mike + the hangout was fucking terrible, one of my worst memories in my dr

first off, i tripped and fell down the stairs ( i was fine dw my ass just hurt ), mike then ended up stepping on one of the legos i left on the floor due to me not cleaning up cause i wasn't even expecting anyone to be up in my room that evening, us fighting over the television and the awkward small talk and him cringing at some of my tastes which i found super rude

but then after we had like this really small, brief, yet actually really sweet moment when we bonded over being complete losers. like how i only had one friend and felt like i didn't fit in anywhere and he comforted me and told me he could be my friend if i wanted and kaiauejfn i told him that "i'd think about it" but my lil 7 year old heart was doing flips istg so— that was an epic semi - first impression, and after that, i honestly had no idea where i stood with mike wheeler

that interaction was honestly it for a while. we went back to being strangers who had a soft n sweet lil moment in my bedroom. until one afternoon that finally solidified our 'bestfriendship' as he liked to call it

i spent overtime after class hours helping out with my favorite teacher, mrs miranda, chatting her up just to gain a few extra credits maybe ( yes, ik, slay me ) and i walked out to find mike was getting verbally assaulted and spat on and all that by fucking dickhead troy around the side of the school. i was thinking like 'i knew this mike guy was a fuckin loser but really? troy? that braindead kid from english— oh shit i have to help him don't i' so i did what any logical person would do and walked right up behind him, and grabbed a fistful of troy's hair!!

now, the funny thing is, i'm a few months younger than both of these guys yet, at 7 years old, still stood at around 4 inches taller, so he really couldn't do much to me if he tried. that being said, i yanked this guy's head back and yelled in his face something along the lines of "leave right fucking now", and although my voice cracked on the word 'now' it definitely still did the trick

anyways that's basically the story of how we became friends! the incident with troy earned me the nickname tiger, for the cool 'cool roar thingy' i did in the poor boy's face, which mike still calls me to this day. when i asked him one time during lunch break "why not something like a lion or whatever?" he shrugged and explained that tigers are cool— plus it just so happened that on that specific day, i was wearing my mismatched, tiger striped ribbons that i used to be obsessed with. the faint scar on my cheek also reminded him of a whisker, i guess, how he noticed that? i have no clue

[duck-in-a-thrift-store]

Alright guys here's the first room closeup (+ headcanons/notes), by popular demand:

~Mike & Will's room~

(Plz don't judge my choice of wall art I pretty much just picked it bc it matched the wallpaper colors and there weren't a lot of good options)

Ok so design details

I know yall see that blue and yellow, and the green in the middle. All very intentional. The bed w/ the yellow blanket is Will's & the one w/ the blue blanket is Mike's. They sit on the rug when they're having their little heart-to-hearts that the rest of the party never seem to be a part of for "some reason"

Also, these boys wear a lot of fuckin stripes, so. Blue and yellow striped wallpaper? Green striped rug? Idk man it was screaming byler what can I say

And then there's a record player or whatever on the dresser between them, bc as we all know Will is a music guy and Mike lets Will do whatever he wants even if that means keeping him up listening to his favorite song all night bc he'd never forgive himself if Vecna somehow got Will bc Mike made him turn it off*

*So, to explain what that's all about: after his repeated failed attempts with Max, One went after Will next bc y'know, lots of trauma, easy target, etc (at least that's what the mf thought, I'm pretty sure Will lowkey has powers or smthn)

(This happened before the start of the au btw so it's just sort of background info, it might be mentioned but it won't be happening in present)

But anyway Will almost got Vecna'd and it was partially Mike's fault bc they got in a fight, Mike said smthn stupid and Will ran off, we know the drill (Mike still blames himself for it even tho they made up & Will forgave him and is fine)

Mike kinda lost his shit, honestly I'm thinking in his terror he pushed El too hard to save Will (when she was already doing her best obviously bc that's her brother) and that was part of why they broke up bc even El realized he cared more about Will than her- Mike is pretty much the only one who doesn't know yet lol

And they all survived obviously but now they're both kinda extra paranoid about it and even though they've moved far away and One hasn't followed them they still worry that some day he might track them down, so they fall into a (compulsive) habit of playing Will's favorite songs on repeat

(I'm not giving you his fav songs bc first of all I can't even decide my own fav song and also it just feels really presumptuous like that's too personal of a thing for me to decide for somebody else. I take music very seriously & very personally ok. Funnily enough tho I am listening to "should I stay or should I go" at this very moment)

Anywho, moving along

That desk by the door is mostly used for coming up with new campaigns they don't want the others to spoil (it's ok for their roommate to have insider knowledge that's not an unfair advantage or anything and besides it just can't be helped y'know? /s) no but they do collaborate sometimes and they work so well together as storytellers that the others find it lowkey unsettling (Dustin and Lucas are used to it tho)

>tw: vaguely suicidal themes?

Someone, not thinking I guess, makes an offhand joke about them being on the ground floor so they don't have to worry about Mike jumping out the window, and Will, who somehow hadn't ever actually heard the whole "quarry story," asks what that's supposed to mean and then they very awkwardly have to explain and he's basically like "oh my god what the hell that's not fucking funny why would you joke about that" and for a while after learning about it he's extra conscious of any self-deprecating/self-sacrificing type shit Mike says

Also they have "crazy together" written somewhere in the room no one else will see it. It's uncertain where, or whose idea it was, or why they did it, but they did. Probably to sort of make the room feel more like it was claimed as *theirs* after having to move to a new house far away from familiarity, and as a reminder to always be there for each other when times are tough

[hedgiwithapen]

mike and jakeem in as much trouble or danger as you'd like with "take me instead"

Jakeem stared at the man in the hoodie, very consciously suppressing the nervous laugh in his chest. This was Blue Valley. He'd have expected weird mutant gorillas, giant robots, the undead, honestly just about anything before some random white dude some Vegas poker tournament jacket and a gun. 

But it was still pointed at Mike, expected or not. Jakeem tried not to check his watch, not wanting to twitch. How long could it take to get to Canada and back with poutine? Yz can't be that far away. He could feel the empty pen in his pocket, though.  

"Look, you don't want to do this," Mike was still reasoning with the guy. "We're just a couple kids in a little town where, uh, lemonade still costs a nickel, you know?" He'd ignored Jakeem's hiss to not make the guy mad, which would have made Jakeem a lot more upset if he wasn't also the one using his own body as a block between them. They'd just been walking on a side street, but there was still no one walking around, at least not close enough to notice anything was wrong. Jakeem gave a panicked glance towards the bell tower. Still too soon. 

The guy laughed, gesturing with the gun. "Two said you were a chatterbox. Move it."

"Who?" Mike asked, and Jakeem could hear the patented Dugan stubbornness in his town just as well as he could see his trying to dig his feet into the sidewalk. "We're not going with you. We're not literal toddlers."

Jakeem found his courage. "You could at least offer candy." When the guy looked at him, Jakeem promptly felt said courage flee. "Or not," he squeaked. 

"Funny. Now come here, Dugan, or I'll have to shoot you."

Jakeem grabbed for Mike's arm, but he tugged free. "Don't hurt him. Leave him out of this."

"I'd prefer too," the gunman said. "Need someone to deliver a message, anyways."

"Then take me instead," Jakeem said, shoving in front of Mike.  The part of his brain that screamed with his older sister's voice told him he was being an idiot.  The part of him that had to think ten steps around a problem to make a good wish argued back. This guy, his boss, or whoever, wanted Mike. Him not having Mike was safest.  All Jakeem had to do was run out the clock, and everything would be fine. It had to be.

"Jakeem, what are you doing?" Mike hissed.

"Trust me," Jakeem said, wishing he trusted himself. 

"Real cute,"  the guy said. "Stay out this hand, kid.  I need this particular bargaining chip."

"Why?" Jakeem asked, wincing. Half of him still screamed at the other half that this was a terrible plan. "We're, we're teammates. Anything anyone'd do for Mike, they'd--" he stopped himself. Would they really do the same for him? He wasn't Courtney's kid brother. Pat wasn't his dad. The guy, with his playing card hoodie, smirked. 

"Don't try to bluff." The gun moved, far too close to Mike again. "You run along and tell Pat Dugan and his wife that the King of Spades wants to have a chat."

[daphnebowen]

hsmtmts season four episode four

Zac efron in baywatch is CRAZY BRO

richard Bowen: the French fry and the funnel cake

why does Mike suck at shopping? How do you buy cooking oil instead of tanning oil??? How do you do that???

HOW DOES RICHARD NOT KNOW MARY POPPINS ON SIGHT COME ON NOW Gina needs to educate him BADLY

”Ricky and Gina are just friends” yes Mike. Thank you for your input.

five nights in a row?!?!?!?!?!?

ricky is ranting to miss Jenn and Mike is crazy

MAKE GOOD CHOICES??? NO PROMISES??? What is he planning on doing tonight?!?!?!?

this song is really disturbing but also an absolute bop

spooky indeed…

okay I totally thought Ashlyn was going as ms Darbus too!!!!!! I never would have gotten Eleanor roosevelt??

”for the low low price of one of my cats for the day. That’s fine right?” No. No it’s not.

BATMANNNN I WANNA SEE JOSH DRESSED UP LIKE BATMANNN

” WOW YOU LOOK GREAT!!!”

”let’s get this starty parted!!!!!!!!! Nope wait let me come in again”

”Bowen as baywatch???” Honey you’re not the only one who’s confused this is too hilarious

“I’m scared 😟”

HANDSOME MR MAZARRA IS CRAZY

AND KOURTNEY JUST BLOWS RIGHT BY IT AS IF HER MOM DIDNT SAY ANYTHING AHAHAH

again, ten reasons why kourtneys mom is the best parent

”wait. You think mr mazarra is HANDSOME?!”

“dude. Can’t say that.”

mike. Mike Mike Mike. Why would you only get one bag of candy on halloween??? Have you never had halloween before???

the fact that Mack knows EVERYONES NAMES except for Ricky’s that seems blatant right there tbh like how does he know jets and not Ricky’s???

”g-force”

”wow guy! The one who almost ruined the take!” “Wow.” “Yeah, like that!” Ricky is so over Mack I swear

“oh good, spark is here.” “His name is mark and you know this” they said with fake smiles and wide eyes

”sister slayed the remodel” “indeed she did”

”you got it… buddy” the most unconvincing thumbs up ever!

gina trying to hide her mark and spark poster board but it keeps bouncing back PKEASE DONT BE FORESHADOWING

kourtney is SLAYING

Ricky mocking jet is DEFINITELY josh “gotta play it cool tonight bro”

”call. 9. 1. 1.” YES HELP KOURT NEEDS A COSTUME

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA RICKY SPITTING IN MACKS DRINK I CANT THE MOST OUT OF POCKET THING HE HAS EVER DONE seriously though I would literally do the same

”iS tHaT fAbRiC?”

”jetty’s got a cruuush!”

only candy, Michael? Omg he’s so dumbbbb it’s giving “its only a song” “a song can mean everything”

he got her a bottle cap?? Tacky.

he’s a little bit too full of himself.

asking “who is it “ ON HALLOWEEN BRUH like it’s definitely not gonna be little kids looking for candy which, by the way, you don’t have! 🤦🏼‍♀️

I wanna be called “cutie” :(

“bestie of the week” so degrading

omg this is so chaotic I can’t even Dani is like confronting Ricky about his costume and Gina is so confused and Ricky isn’t sure what to say… this is messy yall

RICKY JUMPING INTO GINAS ARMS AWW

omg Maddox is dying

“AS A FRIENDDDD” girl just admit it already she’s so shook

Mad and mad are… bad YES THEY ARE MADLYN FOR LIFE

NO SEBLOS IS NOT OVER FIGHT ME CARLOS

oh crap Mack why you have to go and say things like that

Ricky is so over it lmao the whole time Dani is talking he’s like “shut up shut up shut up” POOR GINA THOUGH

“Troy and Gabriella are characters, not a couple!!” - Kourtney

ricky: “well…”

”WHAAAAT???” The excited squeal is literally me every time something rina-y happens ♥️

the way Mack was like oh shiitake mushrooms and Dani’s look of astonishment - no, you two will not be cheating on each other with the best couple in history TODAY 😝

jet is a VIBE BRO- “I’m so glad this is out in the open, it was getting exhausting” honestly SAME

oh no. Gina’s mom. (She doesn’t deserve a name)

buddies. Always a bad sign 😳

richard just got friend zoned after him and Gina admitted they were a couple in front of all their friends. Oof. Can’t say I don’t blame him for running

”I like to dress up as Mary poppins and you like to give over the counter pharmaceuticals to children.” Yeah Jenn that’s probably a bad sign…

PREACH MISS JENN PREACH YOU AND MAZZY ARE WAY BETTER I think

i agree mike and miss Jenn got together way too soon after the divorce it was like BAM and idk how to feel about it

maddox’s hair looks so cute curly!!

lowkey wish Emmy and Jet would have gotten a duet

sharing songs with each other is literally the first step in any perfect relationship you can not prove me wrong

SEBBIEEE!!!! He really is a knight in shining armor

”not harder than you not talking to me!” Oh, um, think again… BOMBSHELLS

awww ash’s voice is so good

RINAS POLAROID PIC IS SO ADORABLE PLEASE

ashlyn and Maddox’s chemistry is honestly super good they are both absolutely gorgeous and can sing like no one’s business (but technically ash and big red are still together, right? So… wouldn’t Ashlyn be cheating if anything were to happen??)

pause. Richard. Please don’t break up with Gina. That would be the stupidest thing you’ve ever done. I have faith in you tho.

the way pumpkin guy awkwardly climbed thru the window

i still can’t believe Seb cheated

jarred is literally the worst at reading social cues like bro can’t you see Seb and Carlos are going through something over here? Take a chill pill and let them figure it out before you jump in ugh

hes not even that good looking either LMAOOO

Poor sebbie! But he shouldn’t have cheated imo

yes Ricky. Unleash all of your problems on miss Jenn. She will help you. She will use her magic powers and fix everything.

Ricky looks like he has a unibrow BAHAHA

yes miss Jenn call in those reinforcements

[captain-athos]

Can you explain the beach boys’ entire history? If you’d like

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LIKE!!!

I don't know that I can give you their entire history because there is So Much but I can absolutely give you some highlights!

Brian Wilson was really the creative driving force behind the group because he was just... OBSESSED with music, like he would listen to the radio and try and figure out all of the separate instrumental and vocal parts, he got a tape recorder and used to just mess around with overdubbing himself, he learned piano etc. And he used to share a room with his brothers (Dennis and Carl) so they just used to dick around doing harmonies together, and then eventually they started roping in their friends and cousins to come join them as well, and hence the Pendletons were born! (the Beach Boys name came later.

They were originally managed by their dad for like... a really long time. By all accounts this was a terrible decision (he used to fine them for like... swearing and hanging out with girls) and once they were popular enough they ditched him (but the dad used to just like, hang around and try to keep giving them advice. Just because he could.)

The Beach Boys saw the Beatles as rivals and vice versa, because their initial popularity was somewhat usurped by the British Invasion of the mid-60s. Famously this culminated in the Rubber Soul > Pet Sounds > Sgt. Peppers pipeline, where the release of one album led to the inspiration for the next, which led to the next. These bands were experimenting with the idea of an album as a whole, complete collection of songs that were intentionally written to be put together, in a certain order, with overarching themes and no filler. I think you can especially hear the Beach Boys influence in Beatles tracks like "Good Day Sunshine".

Dennis was actually the only Beach Boy who could surf (Brian Wilson was terrified of the water!) and it was his idea for them to come up with surf-themed music that would come to define them as a group.

Having said that though, once the British Invasion happened (and subsequently squashed surf rock as a genre) the only reason the Beach Boys were able to stick around is because they diversified their sound from straight surf tunes, which is ironic because at the time literally everybody was shouting at them to stick with the formula.

Dennis was also the only Beach Boy that stuck by Brian while he was going off and writing Pet Sounds and then Smile, and the only one who really like... appreciated that he was essentially the creative force that drove them.

I think Dennis is kind of an underrated member of the band because most people tend to think of him as the "hot one" or "that guy who starred in Two Lane Blacktop" (not a movie I would recommend to anybody, ever) but he also just seems like... unshakeably loyal and kind but in the most unhinged way possible

He actually ended up tangled up with the Manson family, who tried to take over his house while he was away touring and then Charles Manson tried to threaten him to let him stay so Dennis Wilson just dragged him out into the street and beat him up lmao (having said that Manson also like used up his money and continued to threaten him afterwards... just via phone call)

Also Dennis and Mike Love literally hated each other so much they took out restraining orders on each other and honestly mood

Mike Love is a contentious topic among Beach Boys fans because some people think he gets unfairly hated on. He's a generally gross dude and a massive Trump supporter though so I literally don't care drag that cunt lmao. I also personally think he took advantage of Brian Wilson's mental state in the 90s to take over ownership of the band name and retroactively get his name on a bunch of songwriting credits that he didn't previously have. He had his Beach Boys band (not the original lineup, his own group that still tours under that name) play at some Trump rally a few years ago and the other surviving members (Al and Brian) had to try and make sure they got word around that they were NOT FUCKING INVOLVED IN THAT SHIT

Back to the music. There are a SHITTON of unreleased tracks for the Beach Boys, as well as demos and alternate takes. I definitely recommend listening to some on youtube if you get the chance, because I find the alternate takes just as fascinating as the ones that got released. Plus having parts absent from the final mix helps you appreciate the complexity of some of the individual harmonies

ALSO, due to budget and pressure from the record company, a lot of tracks were actually finished to Brian Wilson's satisfaction. The band actually produced an album called Stars and Stripes, where they re-recorded a bunch of their songs but asked famous Country singers to sing lead. Brian Wilson has actually said a few of these are his preferred versions, because he was able to finally take the time to carefully craft the vocals to how he'd wanted them. This includes the beautiful version of Caroline, No by Timothy B. Schmit, and Warmth of the Sun by Willie Nelson.

I would LOVE to talk about Brian Wilson more but I have a lot to say on him, some of which I've touched on when talking about the use of Our Prayer in OFMD but maybe that will be another post for another time.

If you want to know more, there are some lovely documentaries out there. The "Classic Albums" episode for Pet Sounds is great. "Brian Wilson: Songwriter" is also good. I kind of wish there were some good documentaries out there that didn't focus on Brian so much, but unfortunately the ones that don't... aren't very good. "The Beach Boys: An American Family" is one to steer clear of because Mike Love was the primary advisor on that and it's not only inaccurate but is incredibly obvious in its portrayal of him as the saving grace of the band, and of the Wilson brothers as incompetent idiots.

Love and Mercy is also a recommendation, it's a beautiful film about Brian Wilson's life, but again to be taken with a grain of salt due to the primary consultant on that one being Melinda Ledbetter, his second wife. The film very clearly puts her in the 'saviour' role, for that reason.

I hope that's enough info to get you started!! I am at all times down 2 talk Beach Boys so thank you for the ask ksdjfhsdjkfh

[antisociallilbrat]

We're The Losers, And We Always Will Be Chp. 10

Read on Ao3

Chp. 9

Chp. 10

Summary: Stan talks to a lost love and Syd sees torment

Warnings: Stan's infamous bath scene is referenced a few times, Bev's dad is mentioned but not in heavy detail, only like a line or two, and there's some major graphic MENTIONED character death. It involves a dr*g overd*se and a s*icide, if need too you can skip Syd's part. If I missed any warnings just let me know

A/N: I WILL FINISH THIS FIC I SWEAR. Anyways I'm back on my bullshit

Since Stan has been in Derry it has felt like there’s this, this voice, screaming at him to leave, and it feels guilty.

He hasn’t wanted to remember anything. Still not convinced this isn’t some sick joke. Or better yet, maybe he took some bad poppers at a party and he’s stuck in a coma. Maybe he saw a rerun of Jacob’s trial, that’s why he’s making a guest appearance. He always thought the guy was cute so he's playing his love interest. Of course, Syd is here, he knows her, and Wendell, Sonny, and Freddy are probably just the faces he’s seen at said party. Mike though, fuck, Mike is the thing that shatters the hopeful fantasy of just being stuck in a coma. 

Mike- Richie- the Trashmouth, who is Stan Uris’s best friend. Mike, who is infuriatingly so much like Stanley Uris and like how Stan Barber is like Richie Tozier. That can’t be a coincidence. He would argue his jokes are far better though. Also now that he has started to remember Richie, is he really that annoying? He’ll have to ask Syd. 

The few memories that have forced their way in, some good, some bad, are mainly of Mike- Richie. Growing up with him and confiding with him when being gay and the son of the Rabbi became too much. Being Jewish in his past life isn't surprising, since he’s still genetically Jewish. He would like to say he can’t imagine the pressure that went with being the son of the Rabbi but he can remember his Father’s scolding eyes just fine. He always thought Stan was too much of a ‘fairy’ and too soft. His Father would call him a fairy because of how much time he would spend with Bill. 

“That Denbrough boy is turning you into a faggot.”

And Bill, the man who's books have always been a sense of escape growing up in this life- the voice inside his head roars with such a ferocity whenever he tries to remember anything about him. It uses the same intensity it has when it’s screaming at him to turn around and leave Derry. He’s only going to get them- no, he’s not going there. He can’t, his heart hurts.

Yet Jacob has been nothing but comfort since they’ve been here but he can’t get too close. Stan doesn’t shrink back at thought of being gay, or of having gay feelings for Jacob. Or Bill? It’s the same person- kinda. What scares him is the feeling of heartbrokenness that surrounds the idea of Bill. Whenever a memory threatens to leak through, the voice just tightens the chains around it. Honestly, he thinks he prefers it that way. 

He doesn’t care if they’re supposed to be out remembering, trying to figure out what went wrong during the ritual. He doesn’t want to remember. The longer he’s in Derry, it feels like he’s losing his choice in that. 

Especially now as he sits in the synagogue, the place where he properly pissed off his Father at his Bar Mitzvah, sitting by his best friend who is entirely too much like his past self, as he stares up at the face of his wife. Or the wife of Stanley Uris. For a moment, the voice in his head runs quiet. “Patty?”

“Stanley? Is that really you?” She dashes as fast her aged body can carry her over to the stop of the spiral staircase, her slippers shuffling against the carpet, “Oh please, please come where I can see you.” 

Apprehension runs down the back of his neck, this could easily be a trick of It’s. Mike squeezes his shoulder, causing him to jump at the sudden contact. Mike doesn’t notice as his eyes are still on Patty, probably thinking the same thing. 

“Stanley,” she pleads, descending the stairs, back into the light.

Now that he can see her better, any tension bleeds out of his body. She’s not just one of It's games, she’s just Patty. That’s enough to get him on his feet. Mike stands with him, his hand still steady on his shoulder.  

“It’s okay Rich, it’s just Patty,” he says as reassuringly as he can.

Mike gives him a look, his eyes worried behind the magnified lens, “You two know each other?

“Yeah, we’re…,” he searches for the words, this is so overly complicated, “we’re old friends,” he settles on. Not a lie but not nearly enough of the truth, that’ll just have to wait till they’re in the safety of the others. 

Mike scoffs, but he must sense Stan’s reluctance to push the issue, letting his hand fall from his shoulder, “Then I’ll give you two some time to catch up,” he spares another glance back at Patty, still untrusting, “I’ll be right outside if you need me.” The “So I’ll be close enough to hear you scream if you need help,” goes unsaid but still appreciated nonetheless. 

Patty ushers him up the stairs and unsteadily he follows her to an all too familiar office, his Father's old one. She’s tried to make the place homier, with a comfortable couch and pictures of what must be family and friends, and there's a candle lit, its applewood scent trying to override the inherently musty smell of the room. It’s not working. 

The ugly green carpet has at least been ripped out and replaced with hardwood but the wallpaper is still that piss yellow. There’s a stain on the wall where a large painting was replaced.  The flute lady and her crooked face, he can still hear her wretched music and feel the rows of her teeth around his face, she’s going to rip his face off- He shakes off the nightmare, rubbing at the sides of his face and expecting to feel the silvery skin of scars. There’s none, for now. 

The flute lady’s painting has been replaced with a smaller frame. It’s a photo of a smiling couple. Patty was beautiful in her younger years, she's still pretty now- just in a grandmotherly way, and it’s easy to see why he married her. Beside her, the face of Stanley Uris stares back at him.

His hair is even darker than it is now, curls immaculate, a kippah resting on the top of his head. Stanley Barber has never worn a kippah a day in his life. He’s clean-shaven with thin framed reading glasses perched on his nose. He's dressed in fancily crisp khaki pants and a baby blue button-down tucked into his pants. If he wore something like that, Syd would look at him like he’s grown a second head. He has the same sentiment, he would never dress like that. He's wearing sandals right now for fuck's sake, Stanley Uris wouldn't do that. And it may just be his imagination but Uris's eyes look haunted, and the eye bags tell him that Stanley Uris never got a lot of sleep. In the days leading up to Wendell’s summoning, he barely slept too. Too busy being plagued with nightmares of bathtubs filled with blood, blood that was coming from him. 

“You grow up to be very handsome.” Patty breaks him out of his scrutiny of Uris, standing beside him. 

“Huh, if you say so."

“I do say so.” She tells him, turning to pull out the chair across from her desk, “Come on then, I’m sure you have questions.” She wraps the blanket that was on the back of her chair around herself, even though she's in a pink sweater. He remembers her being perpetually cold.

But she is right, he does have one particular question gnawing at him. He takes his seat as Patty sits across from him in her desk chair, vaguely reminding him of a principal's office. Like when he would get busted for smoking pot in the bathrooms, simpler times. 

Stan swallows the lump in his throat and asks the question he’s not entirely sure he wants the answer to, “How did you know? How did you know I was Stanley?” How much does she know is what he needs to know. Does she know about It? And how did she end up in Derry? How badly did he break her heart?

“After being married for nearly twenty years, a wife knows her husband, although I suppose my husband died in 1994 as I’ve always thought.” She says this matter of fact, despite the small smile. 

“...And what do you make of me?”

She studies him for a moment, “I don’t know. I know you’re Stanley, but I don’t think you’re quite my Stanley,” she leans over her desk and whispers, “But there are some things that we’re not supposed to understand and I’m okay with that. After the life I’ve lived, I take comfort in my blissful ignorance and the knowledge that there are bigger forces that are just outside my understanding. That used to annoy my Stanley, such a factual man he was.” She falls back in her seat.

He snorts, “Yeah, I think me and him had different views on things. Sometimes I can’t believe we’re the same person.” 

“No, I see him in you. You’re more like him than you think, I can just sense it.”

That stops him short. Patty had just given him reassurance for an insecurity he didn’t even know he had. This whole time he’s looked at Stanley Uris as this unattainable idea, there was no way he could live up to who he was, he was just so different. But hearing Patty, the woman he loved and was married to in his past life say that they’re alike, helps.

“So do I have to worry about suddenly having the urge to dress like a mini lawyer?”

“Accountant actually,” she corrects with a giggle.

He smiles at her, proud of himself for making her laugh. He’s missed it. Being here with Patty, it’s the lightest he’s felt since he’s gotten here, or in weeks. Besides last night when he was with Jacob, but that was more feeling safe than light. He wishes he could just stay with her, or at least at this moment, but it can’t last. Not when Patty’s eyes get a faraway look in them, remembering something.

“Do you remember the night Mike Hanlon called our home?” she asks him.

No. Yes. Kinda. He doesn’t remember the details, doesn’t want to, but he remembers how he felt. Being so terrified he didn’t know if he was even going to come back. That maybe he’d be better off dead. If it wasn't for the urgency he had felt to get back to the losers, to get back to Bill, he doesn’t know what he would’ve done that night. What he should’ve done. 

Patty, thankfully, doesn’t wait for him to answer, “I do. I relive it every day. After that phone call, my husband throwing clothes into a suitcase, not even bothering to fold them,” she laughs but it’s not that funny, “I tried to talk to him, to find out what was going on, to help even, if he’d just talk to me, but it was like talking to a ghost. He left his sparrow puzzle half done on the coffee table, I had gotten it for him for his birthday,” her voice breaks as she sniffles, “You didn’t even say goodbye.”

“I’m sorry.”  he chokes out. He’s so mad at Stanley Uris for putting Patty through that, but it’s just guilt. He did that, wasn’t even aware he did that, but now he can pay for his past life’s mistakes, at least the best he can. “I never wanted to leave you like that, I just- I had to come back to Derry.”

Patty wipes a few stray tears away, “I know. I know that now. I don’t understand why, but that’s okay. After you had left, I never heard from you again. I filed a missing person report, I wasn’t sure what else to do, but the police weren’t much help. They never are. It didn’t help when my parents found out about your disappearance. For a while my father had me convinced you had left me for a man, he always thought you were a little queer,” Stan swallows down more guilt as Bill pops into his head, “But I was just angry and scared. It was easier to think you had left me for someone else, but you wouldn’t have done it like that. So I went searching for answers. Even called up your parents in New York. I had forgotten how dreadful your father was.”

There’s a vague sense he lived in New York during his college years, but that time wasn’t important. Not important enough to remember, but…that’s where he met Patty. At some stupid college party and he had thought she was the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. The smell of her perfume and her soft hands cradling his face. He was in love the moment he saw her. She’s much more pleasant to remember than the harshness of his father who also lived in New York. Compared to remembering Derry and It, remembering Patty is safe. The voice in his head doesn’t scream at her memories. 

She continues her story, “Your parents were absolutely no help, and your father made the same jab about you probably leaving me for a man,” of course he did, “But your mother mentioned your childhood home, Derry. Which was funny because you never spoke about your childhood,” because Stanley Uris didn’t remember it, didn’t want to either, “And on a whim, I decided to travel up here. It was Mike Hanlon from Derry that called, so it made sense.”

“And you never left?” The idea of Patty being in Derry all these years, it’s a little scary. She’s not safe as long as she’s here. 

“Well, that wasn’t the plan. When I first came here, no one would talk to me. I learned quickly that Derry didn’t like outsiders. Even filed another missing person report with the Derry police, but they were too fixated solving the escape and the murders at the Mental Institution. They never did. Then I discovered the Neilbolt house.”

A chill runs down his spine. “Please tell me you didn’t go in there.”

“No I didn’t, but it answered my questions because I felt It. ”

“It?!” he squeaks.

“Yes Stanley, it. The presence of an otherworldly being. A thing outside of my understanding, a thing that didn’t concern me but entirely concerned my husband. The reason you went away.” Patty is talking about IT, but she doesn’t know what IT is, not like how he does. And all he knows about It is terror. 

“But then why did you stay here? Knowing that there was this thing here that kil- caused me to go missing?” More importantly, is there any way he can convince her to leave now? It’s woken it up, who knows what It’ll do. 

As she tells her story, she starts to visibly relax and her silent tears start to dry up. As if just telling him her story is making her feel better. She's had a lot of time to keep it bottled up. So Patty hums, amused, “I’m not sure. I just kinda stuck around. Being here helped me feel close to you, and before I knew it I had rented an apartment and was teaching at the elementary school. Then not long after that, I got involved with the synagogue and now I’m one of the leaders here. Ironically I built my life in the same place my husband lost his.”  

Stan flinches. He hates thinking about the fact that he’s technically died before, and it has him jonesing for a blunt. Or at least a cigarette. 

He reaches across and grabs her hand- she still wears her wedding ring- resting on the desk, it’s wrinkled with age but he grasps it tightly, “And you’ve had a good life? After me?” She deserves that but also, maybe selfishly he’s looking for a way to aleave some of the guilt. 

“I’ve done all right for myself, you don’t have to worry about ole’ Patty, Stanley,” she pats his hand with her free one, “I’ve missed you my whole life, and I’ve always hoped to see you again but I gotta say, this isn’t what I expected. You’re back, but it’s for a reason isn’t it?”

Stan leans back in his chair, letting his hand slip from hers and ignoring the dejected look on her face. He could lie, it’s not like he can tell the whole truth, but he’s tired. “It’s for the same reason I left you. We, my friends and I, have to try again.”

“I can help this time,” the look of incredulous he gives her makes her laugh, “I’m serious Stanley, I can help. You just have to let me.” 

“But you’re old.”

He’s an idiot. He said that out loud. He’s such a bad husband, he’s never getting married again. 

Patty bursts into a peal of laughter, “You’re still blunt! And I suppose I am, but with age comes wisdom. Let me help you.”

That’s true, but he’s not having her risk her life. There’s no point in trying to convince her to leave Derry, her life is here and she’s always been stubborn as a bull, but he can try to keep her safe. “No, one of the others has a plan, we’re seeing it through. The best help you can do for me is to promise me to stay safe. Avoid the house on Neilbolt and any other unsettling places and just- stay safe okay?”

“This is Derry Stanley, every place is unsettling.”

“Patty please.”

She relents, for his sake, “Okay Stanley, I promise.” 

“Thank you.” Then the guilt finally breaks him and the tears start. Not the quiet ones like Patty had earlier, no- ugly gut-wrenching sobs. The kind that makes you ache down in your bones. He doubles over, clutching his sides and trying to hide his face. He hasn’t cried this hard since his mom left when he was nine and he realized she wasn’t coming back that time. 

A pair of arms scoop him up and his face is pressed into the softness of Patty’s fuzzy sweater, she still wears the same perfume. She coos at him, running a hand through his curls, “Sssshhh it’s okay, you’re okay, we’re okay,” she repeats this mantra softly. He clings tighter to her. The comfort she’s giving him is like the kind his mom used to give him, this just makes him cry harder. 

“I-I-I I’m so s-sorry! I’m sorry Puh-Patty!” he sobs out, “I left you and I h-had to! But I should’ve said guh-goodbye!” 

“Ssshhh, don’t you worry about that!” She sounds almost as hysterical as he does, trying to reassure him, “Neither of us had a say in any of this, and I know you wouldn’t have left me if you had a choice!” 

He did have a choice, he could’ve slit his wrists.

Her words do little to calm him, he still thinks he could’ve done things differently. He should’ve done things differently. He just keeps apologizing to her till eventually, he runs out of steam and he’s reduced to mumbles. She doesn’t let go of him, still telling him it’s okay, and still trying to soothe him by running her hand through his curls.

He doesn’t know how long they’ve been there by the time his tears finally dry up. Surprisingly, Mike hasn’t come hunting for him, but it’s probably time for him to get going. Even if he’d rather just stay here with Patty, the others are counting on him. Plus the sun is starting to go down outside the window. Reluctantly, he pulls back, “Thank you. I think I’ve cried enough for two lifetimes.” 

“Of course Stanley, I’m just happy I got to hold you again.” Her cheeks are wet but she smiles at him. 

He’s just happy he got to see her again, he’s missed her. When he stands, he towers over her, “You’ll stay safe? You promised me.”

“I’ll do my best. As I said, don’t worry about me. I’m a tuff old gal,” Stan grimaces, “But you have to make the same promise. And don’t hesitate to come to me for help, I’m always going to be here for you.”

Stan pulls her into another quick hug, “You don’t worry about me.” He can’t make a promise he doesn’t think he can keep. She doesn’t ask him again. 

They say their goodbyes. He almost doesn’t want to out of fear it may be a permanent goodbye, but at least this time Patty got to hear him say it. When this is all said and done and if by some miracle he’s still alive, he has to find a way to make it up to her. She deserves it.

When he exits her office, Mike is back inside, sitting at the pew where they were previously. He’s trying to clean the glasses lens with his shirt, looking frustrated too, but when he hears Stan coming down the stairs he plops them back onto his face and sighs with relief, “There you are! I was starting to worry I was going to have to bust in there.” He’s trying to sound funny but there’s a twinge of anxiety in his voice still.

Stan just rolls his eyes, “Yeah, captain Trashmouth to the rescue.”

“Hey! I was worried about you and you just call me names!”

“I call you names out of love,” Mike scoffs at him, “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He starts to head out of the synagogue. No dramatic exit this time. 

Mike scrambles after him as he pushes his way outside. The sun is setting, casting an orange haze on the city, and the evening chill has picked up. Time moves too fast here. He’s not ready to go back to the library, not yet. Wendell will only ask if he remembered anything about the ritual, which he didn’t and he still doesn’t want to but he wouldn’t say today was wasted. He got to see Patty again. 

“Sooo how did that go?”

He hasn’t stopped to think how strange that may have been to Mike. It makes sense Mike is curious, he hasn’t explained anything. He didn’t even remember Patty until a few hours ago. May as well fuck with him. 

“That was my wife. I guess my ex-wife now,” he keeps a straight face as Mike comes to stop, spluttering like a fish out of water. He spots a pharmacy on the corner of the street and chooses to not elaborate any further, “C’mon I wanna get some cigarettes before we head back.” He leaves without checking to see if Mike is following him. 

Mike hurries after him, “Hey! Wait a fucking minute! You can’t just say that shit and then walk off! Also, those are just going to kill you you know!”

Wow, Mike sounds a lot like Eddie. Stan laughs to himself.

-

Syd couldn’t get away from everyone fast enough. Every time she looked at one of them…she was plagued with what she saw in the deadlights. What she remembered. 

When she was in the attic, she felt It before It even appeared. The attic became freezing all of a sudden, she could see her own breath, and then she was ambushed before she could question the change of temperature. She still feels cold. If the others hadn’t shown up when they did, she’s not confident she’d still be here right now.

The face It took, the face of Bev’s father, his face still terrifies her. Honestly, she hadn’t remembered much, just a few details here and there, but seeing It brought it all back. She can remember the foul hands of Bev’s father on her. Syd clings to her dad’s dog tags as she stumbles down the street, not paying attention to where she’s heading. Her dad was kind, he was her hero, she has to remember him when the memories of Bev’s father threaten to overcome her.

Remembering Bev’s father wasn’t even the worst of it. She saw what Bev saw in the deadlights, how they would have originally died the first time if they hadn’t come back as adults. If that was bad enough, she saw what would happen to them if any of them left, if any of them decided to run away from their promise. She wasn’t lying, none of them made it out of their twenties if they fled. They don’t have a choice, they have to face It. But if they don’t figure out what went wrong during the ritual, they'll just die anyway. 

Her first instinct was to call Dina. Dina offers comfort and an escape but if she heard Syd right now, she’d be on the first flight here to help her and figure out what was going on. She wouldn’t understand what Syd was talking about, but she’d still be here. God, Syd loves her. That’s exactly why she can’t call her, she can’t drag her into this. 

Sonny has been a help, especially right after the attack. He had grounded her and given her something to hold on to. It was obvious he wanted to go with her after their conversation with Wendell, but she needed space, even if she was thankful to him. She can’t fall into old feelings, not with Dina around now. She needs time to try to process what she saw in the deadlights or whatever. What would her high school guidance counselor say now she wonders? Suggest for her to start journaling again? Bullshit, the last time she journaled she got outed to the whole school by fucking Brad.

Gradually as she walks she starts to spot more broken down buildings and the streets get dirtier. A homeless man is laying on the sidewalk, a blanket pulled tight under his chin. She knows exactly where she’s heading now, home. 

The apartment building where she grew up, or where Bev grew up, is abandoned. The paint has withered away and the windows are pretty much nonexistent at this point, leaving the insides at the mercy of the weather. The only color on the gray building is faded spray paint from vandals. The doors are open, barely still on their hinges, and they call to her. Inviting her to come explore what is left of her home once upon a time ago. She b-lines for the back of the building instead. 

Behind the building, the huge dumpster sits, right next to the stone fence and the back of the apartment. It creates a small sliver of space that if you’re small enough, you can crawl through the small opening to where the dumpster doesn’t sit completely against the wall. It’s a great hiding spot. She has to wiggle but she manages. The space is smaller than she remembers, but it makes her feel secure. She pulls her sweater over her knees and hugs them.

A sob tries to wrench its way through her chest but she holds strong, distracting herself by staring at a line of ants carrying grains of dirt back into a hole in the apartment’s wall. They create a red line, like the red lines that ran from Stanley Uris’s wrists in the bathtub. If he hadn’t come back as an adult the first time he would end up killing himself. Bev knew this and maybe Syd remembered that, is that why she’s always been protective of Stan? Why she clung to their friendship and at one point tried to convince herself she liked him romantically?

Bev also knew how the others died. Richie’s drug overdose, Bill’s aneurysm, Eddie’s car crash, Ben’s heart attack, and Mike- being devoured by It because he was forced to face It alone. Her throat tightens at Bev’s death. Years of being tormented by her father, only to marry an abusive man who inevitably beat her to death. 

Yes, Syd remembers Tom. Mainly the beatings that were always paired with harsh words. She doesn’t know whatever became of that bastard, she was too busy dying and being reincarnated, but she hopes he’s cold in the ground and rotting in hell. 

Their new reincarnated lives brought about all-new ways for them to die if they break their promise. Those she can remember in detail, too much detail. The way they had appeared in her mind was a shock to the system.

Wendell’s was the same as his past life’s death. Abandoned to face It by himself, again. “All by yourself Wendy boy? I guess your little friends never cared about you.”  Wendell doesn’t make it to the end of the year if they leave him. Driven mad with despair, Wendell would charge into It’s den, where Pennywise is waiting. It barely swallows when It eats him. It’s not quick.

Neither is Freddy’s death. Freddy would go back to Philadelphia, this trip and meeting everyone being nothing but a hazy memory. If they left, they all would forget, reducing It to just nightmares. Freddy would probably live on the streets, bouncing shelter to shelter until one day he got robbed in an alley. That part she saw. He didn’t own much but the gang of men took everything he had, even his crutches. Which they would beat him half to death with. Between the freezing temperatures of a Pennsylvania winter and the blood loss, a couple of hours later he would just be a frozen body on the sidewalk. He never made it to his twenties. 

Mike would never know how Freddy died. In the deadlights, she saw Mike hiking in the woods alone. He looked sad and she could tell he became a recluse after returning home. His hiking gear is heavy on his shoulders and she wanted to yell at him to drop it and run! That’s because she could hear the growling of the pack of wild dogs that were circling him. With his earbuds in, Mike was oblivious. The first dog lunges and takes out his ankle. Mike scrambles to get out of its hold, “Let me go! Let me go!” but it’s no use. Once he’s on the forest floor it’s all over. They shred him alive. 

Jacob’s death is at least quick since he does it himself. Maybe he got tired of always being an outcast, or maybe he’s tired of constantly being villainized. That’s an ironic thought, their brave leader was villainized to the point he was deduced to take his own life. Jacob’s dad is pounding on the bathroom door, begging him to open it. “Jake please, don’t do this! There’s another way! Don’t leave me!” He tries to kick the door down, but It was there keeping it sealed shut. It is always there when they die, it doesn't matter that they don't remember It. Jacob sits in the bathtub, twirling the gun around in his hands, ignoring his dad’s hysterical pleas. His scars look rubbed raw like he tried to claw them off of him but besides that, his face looks passive. He doesn’t stutter when he puts the gun in his mouth and eats a bullet. 

Would she have remembered Stan if they had left? She’s never thought about it, but if they went home, would she forget about him after she went off to college? Or would his death be nothing but another junkie oding report in the newspaper to her? If they left, Stan wouldn’t be able to cut it. One of the main reasons she stays is to make sure they keep their promise this time. She saw what he looks like in five years, strung out on drugs. Too skinny and never sleeping. One day he pushes his body too far. She sees him laid out on his basement couch, eyes wide open with a needle in his arm, foaming at the mouth. Blood Witch plays in the background.

Sonny is the oldest when he dies, twenty-six. Holed up in his home, working on his next innovation in electricity. The bags under his eyes are dark and he studies his notes, tweaking his invention without paying attention. His hair is greasy and he’s in dirty sleep clothes, and she knows that’s because he doesn’t have a reason to go out. His only friends are his inventions. His death happens in a second. He’s not paying attention and his hand brushes against a bare wire, electrocuting him on the spot. His body is charred and his eyeballs burst. It makes her want to scream.

Knowing her own death is just as bad as knowing how the others die. She’s with Dina and they’re studying together in the library. She doesn’t know what exactly happens, except her vision gets hazy and she falls out of her seat, blood pouring out of her nose and ears. “Oh my God, Syd?! Syd, stay with me! Somebody! Please! Somebody help us!” Her vision goes white but she can feel Dina clinging to her as someone else tries to perform CPR on her. Maybe a blood vessel in her head popped? She doesn’t know. Whatever it is, it was caused by It. Her death would be no freak accident.

But none of this is going to happen. It can’t. They’re all staying and they’re going to figure out what went wrong. And honestly, she doesn’t want to forget everybody. They were there for her, they’ve always been there for her. Especially for Bev. 

Syd curls tighter in on herself, refusing to let the tears fall. Emotionally constipated is what her mom calls her. She misses her mom and Goob. She will make it back home to them and Dina. She rests her head against the brick, she should head back soon but she’s not ready to leave her safe space, not yet. Her eyes start to feel heavy and she lets them fall close. She can head back after a nap, she's owed one. 

A/N:

I'll see ya'll next month

A heads up, Patty won't be the only familiar face we'll see pop up. Sorry in advance...

Yessss Ik Ik Stan and Syd's part were different lengths, its what the story called for I swear

Also I tried to reference the demadogs with Mike and Brad's death with Syd

Next chapter will be set this same day except with some ooey gooey kaspbrough friendship with a side of Eddie Angst

Also also thank you so much to everyone who reads and comments on this fic, it means so much to me, our fandom is small but it is great

[vvendyreads]

Fake It 'til You Make It by Laura Carter

Abbey thought that she was about to have the best night of her life. Her boyfriend, who was also her childhood friend, asks her to dinner and she thinks wedding bells are coming. She is shocked to find that instead of a proposal he actually wants to break up and he's been cheating on her with someone else. To make matters worse, she then quickly loses her job. Abbey decides to turn things around by spending all of her savings on 6 months rent in her dream luxury apartment building. While there, she runs into her ex, who is now dating someone who lives in her building. She's saved from embarrassment by her suave star baseball playing neighbor Mike, who has been bugging her since she moved in. When Abbey and her ex are both invited to her parent's vow renewal in Canada, Abbey decides that she needs a fake boyfriend to bring. Mike volunteers. What Abbey doesn't know is that "Mike Thomas" is actually Ted Thomas, Mike's brother who has been hiding in his brother's penthouse ever since his fiancée cheated on him with his business partner. After Abbey mistakes Ted for his brother, he decides to pretend to be him, fooling Abbey and everyone else.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this one. I love a good fake dating story. Unfortunately, this one was just not for me. Pros:

Fake dating is always a must read for me. Literally. Tell me a story has fake dating and I'm all in. I love the romantic potential of dating someone you normalize wouldn't in a low stakes way. Even better if the characters initially can't stand each other. How else will they learn to get along? I think this trope is so fun, even if it doesn't really happen nearly as much in real life as media would make us think.

Dual POV: I love getting both characters' perspectives in a story. The great thing about books as opposed to real life, is that you can know exactly what another person is thinking. Especially with how this story goes, I think Ted would have been pretty irredeemable if we hadn't gotten his POV.

Interesting settings: I enjoyed the diversion to Canada. This book was set in New York, which I think is having its moment right now. The author didn't really explore that setting much, so I appreciated that she moved the characters to a different location, so we could at least explore that.

Cons: (Unfortunately, there are more of these than pros for me)

Mistaken identity- I really hate mistaken identity. I honestly wish I had known going in that it would be a part of this book, as I may not have read it. I included it in my summary but the official one for the book only describes Mike/Ted as a "hot neighbor". I would have forgiven the mistaken identity if it had been corrected quickly, but he doesn't come clean (read: get found out) until nearly the end of the book, which made me anxious and frustrated for most of the story. I didn't buy his reasons for keeping up the ruse to Abbey.

Too many Britishisms: I understand that Boldwood Books is U.K. based, so this may be nit-picky and not an actual issue. I would maybe buy that Canadians might have similar ways of speaking to British people and many characters were Canadian, so perhaps those instances were normal. That's all fine, but when the same phrases were coming out of an American character's mouth, it took me out of the story. The American born Ted said things such as "feck" and "join the queue" and "a kilo of strawberry jelly" to name a few. I feel like an editor could have caught this (or hope that one will now!)

Ted was very superficial. He spent a lot of time rationalizing that he wasn't this shallow guy but the brother he was pretending to be is, so he must also act this way to be him. He spends so much time focusing on the looks of the Abbey and his ex and using this as a way to judge them. Ted also spends much of his initial interactions with Abbey deciding that she is superficial for doing really normal things, which felt very hypocritical. He's supposed to be the nerdy, shy guy but he just came off as a jerk. He also repeatedly mocks Abbey's period underwear that she accidentally dropped in front of him, which made me kind of hate him.

The book felt somewhat incomplete. There were story lines that started but didn't go anywhere. For example, Abbey desperately needed a job. A legitimate company wants to offer one and tells Ted to have her contact them, but he never tells her about it. The book also ends pretty quickly. I would have appreciated an epilogue to know how it ends.

Neutral?

I think that my ultimate issue is that this felt like a mid 90s-early 2000s chick lit/romance. The characters fell into a lot of the boxes of this time: the guy is a jerk, the girl is in distress, there's lots of talk of shopping and a glamorous life. This kind of book was incredibly popular and I'm sure that plenty of people will appreciate it. I think there was a lot of potential in this book, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[spooner-the-trinity]

Ni Hao a Aloha Mai - Chapters 2 and 3

Michael Eisner watched the two gentlemen walk out of the room with a trumphant glimmer in their eyes and had called in Bob Iger to inform him of the results. 

"You did the right thing, Michael." Bob congratulated his mentor. "We need Pixar as much as they need us."

"What can I say, they're practically part of the family." Michael retorted. "At least it'll buy us some more time with them and who knows… if all goes well, we could be owning three major Animation houses by the end of the decade."

"I'm glad to hear that you're taking thi… three?" Iger did a double take. "You mean, you're keeping the Florida lot?"

Eisener nodded back. "With California now focusing on CGI, we'll need to keep a homestead for the classic pen and paper approach. The Pixar guys proposed this as a condition for the continued relationship."

"Mike, isn't three Studios a little too much?" Iger argued. "Heck, I'd like to think two's more than enough."

"Well, it does help to have a counterpoint around to keep us on our toes." Eisener mentioned. "If we can make money off the inverse of our storytelling. Why not draw from both opposites in terms of the art."

"You heard what Katzenberg said!" Iger protested. "Hand Drawn is a relic of the past, you yourself said you wanted to centralize it all under CG."

"You're right, Bob." Admitted Michael. "We can't afford to be left in the past, but that doesn't mean we can just give up on what is an important part of our history. We gotta fight on and keep the craft going for as long as we can."

"We'll be throwing away money if you do this."

"We'll be throwing away Talent if we don't!"

Iger was dumbfounded. "You’ve finally lost it. After two straight decades on the job, you’ve let it go to your head.”

“Honestly, if it were earlier in these dismal days, a part of me would have agreed with ya.” Eisener shrugged. “But this is the voice of a man who’s willing to take the power back. Who’s ready to pull out all the stops and find new ways to help the medium keep up with CG’s rapid evolution. Who’s willing to see Disney’s magic remain vigilant in the face of a changing culture. This is a pivotal part of the plan going forward, our olive branch to Roy.”

“Are you seriously roping Roy into this?” Iger probed to his superior. “Especially when he’s dusted off his Save Disney campaign with Stanley Gold? You know, what got you in there in the first place?”

“Why not?” snarked the master to the apprentice. “After all, we wouldn’t have all this without it.”

“I don’t have time for this…” Iger facepalmed. “If you wanna play Ghandi, do it when there are human rights on the line instead of our pocketbooks.”

Michael took a look at his famed portrait of Walt and then his cover on Time Magazine before pulling out a pink sticky note. “Then I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.”

“I get it.” Bob Iger proceeded to walk towards the door. “If you’re really taking it seriously, then try to calm down.”

“I’m trying, sir.” Iger added. “But this albatross you’ve chosen to keep around your neck is more than concerning.”

“So you’re that on edge, huh.” Eisener narrowed his stare. “Fine, if you’re just gonna walk off like this, you’re not walking back in. Do ya hear me? I didn’t take any crap from Katzenberg, I sure as hell ain’t takin’ any crap from you!”

Robert Iger opened the door and took in the gravity of the predicament and spoke: “I don’t really feel clean quoting a show that killed off your likeness in one episode… But in the words of Glenn Quagmire: Giggidy-Giggidy-Giggidy-Giggidy-Piss off, Jew!”

With a blunt slam, Michael Eisener watched helplessly as his protege left behind the destiny he had been planning for him. And once more, he felt like a failure.

Back at the Animation building, longtime veteran Berny Mathison looked to Iger as he made his way out for the final time. If these walls could talk, he would be hearing a faint, yet mournful roar when Iger got into his car and drove out the parking lot. 

As for Iger, he tried to keep himself calm in the face of throwing away the biggest opportunity of his career as he drove into the snowy January road ahead. His mind continued to wander until his eyes spotted a little girl watching a smaller boy on his tricycle make his way to the sidewalk… while the girl herself was right on the road. 

Iger honked as hard as he could to get her attention, his focus on the two making their way onto the sidewalk instead of the looming toy truck in front of the windshield. 

WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREE! ARMORED VEHICLE!

D23=3

SMAAAaaash!!!!  

(Robert Iger has left Disney and may very well leave this mortal plane of existence, +10 to Eisener's Stress)

Dan DeBarde

...and done!

Darn, your hand was sore.

Who knew there would be so many papers to sign when producing an animated feature. "Your new partner's waiting for you in the other room, sir."

"So you must be Eric, Welcome aboard…" You shook hands and walked your guest through the door. "How was your flight?"

"In a word, bittersweet. I mean, yeah, you stood up for the Florida place, and hand drawn as a whole." Eric Goldberg smiled back. "A shame I had to leave behind a bunch of my colleagues back home."

"Now you know how 88 of us felt when Eisener shipped them in the opposite direction." You deadpanned to the warmer gentleman.

"Hey, I’m more than happy to pull my own weight around these parts given the second chance you gave us.” Eric confided to his fellow executive. "Though don’t expect me to come in on time for at least a couple months."

“Yeah, I get it. It’s 10 in the morning on the west coast.” You joked. “I’m just glad I didn’t pick Berny, he’d probably would have croaked mid-flight.”

(Eric Goldberg installed as Creative Executive of Feature Animation)

“Just heard from him, by the way...” Eric sighed. “Turns out the half of us that’s stuck in Burbank is being forced into an 18-month crash course in computer animation for Chicken Little. But god bless him, he’s doing his best.” 

“Guess that’s why they call you guys lifers.” You joked back. 

Eric's eyes wandered over your office and found a plushie of a familiar blue creature and picked it up. "So this is Mickey of the Floridian Generation, huh."

“Yep.” You leaned back into your cozy chair, your one solace in this difficult job. 

(Stitch Recognized as Mascot of Walt Disney Feature Animation)

“Can’t say I’m shocked, the little fella’s become an icon of the decade right now.” “See, we actually have him headlining the new tour video with Mushu cause y'know, we've had Back to Neverland for so long, It’s high time we sunset it in favor of something more modern."

“I understand.” Eric smirked. “So what’s the plan, boss…”

“Funny you brought up that crash course, Mister Joe Ranft actually ended up on the shortlist for the position you’ve just filled by taking the initiative to provide the tutelage.” You recounted before pulling out a phone number. “And he pitched the idea of our mascots alongside Mickey and Woody interacting with an old friend.”

You then pull out a photograph of Walt Disney, and Eric was gobsmacked. "Of course, we'll have to heavily vet the actor we bring to fill his carbonite-frozen shoes. But I've interned on Jeopardy long enough to get Trebek's phone number so I'm sure I could get him to stop by for an audition."

"I'd like to think a quick dinner with Roy would work." Eric smiled back.

(Because we're Curious locked in four the tour video)

(Alex Trebek added to Voice Pool)

"Now, Mike decided to call in a few favors from Miyazaki." He continued. 

"The Ghibli Guy?" You tilted your head. "With the long ears."

"Totoro's a production of Ghibli, yes." Eric corrected. "He got in touch with Tezuka Productions and Mike was offered one of three potential titles to adapt into a film."

"Couldn’t we just fix Peoples?" You asked. "I'm sure Kirk and Gary could patch together something presentable from a hot mess like that, just look at Beauty and the Beast for crying out loud."

"Well, you did promise four hand-drawn films."

"Doesn't say we can't still dabble in CG every now and then." You shrugged in your office chair before continuing. "Go ahead, give them a call."

(Roll for Wisedale)

D23=17

"Oh, alright." Eric sighed. "But you better lobby Mike to give Burbank a 2D flick to do in return."

"I'll see what I can do." You then picked up a TV remote. "Like I said, we had to pick a title. And this is what we picked."

You hold up the remote to click on the television to unveil the teaser trailer to their current project. The screen opened with a flip book of frames depicting Doc, one of the seven dwarves, belting out the opening 'High-Hoooooo!' We then see the Blue Fairy waving her wand over Sorcerer Mickey as Ink and paint is being applied to the two. Dumbo and Bambi slide into frame as screens depicting shots of Disney's back catalog of movies and shorts zoomed in to the voices of an entire crowd that was far larger than the other six. "High-Hoooooo!" Silence hit as the screen showing Mary Poppins being served by the Animated Penguins was followed by one of Baloo and Bagheera dancing off into the sunset. The post Walt era films would flow in to the voice of Phil Collins joining in for the chorus and into the Renaissance with a billowing. "High-Ho! High-Ho! High-Hoooooo!"

High-Ho! High-Ho!

Ni hao a Aloha Mai

To All who come to this happy place

ALO-HA MAI!

The screens were congregating into the background as the logo flew in its CGI golden glory: Walt Disney Feature Animation.

"Gorgeous." Eric complimented. "Though a bit self-indulgent."

"Yeah, even I thought it was a bit much, but Phil was at the wrap party and rallied the troops when we announced the save. So I thought we could use it for our calling card." You smiled. "We've even got plans to animate Stitch into it."

"Gotta milk that mascot, eh?" Eric laughed with you, yes this was going to be a fun partnership. "Now, about that Tezuka flick."

"Right! It was back and forth between Melmo and Dororo, both incredibly wild projects, wilder than Astro Boy believe it or not." You elaborated. "One has a little girl jumping back and forth through puberty and the other has a guy carved into literal pieces, one for the 48 demons that carved him up for a warlord."

Eric's eyes widened and his blood churned. "Yikes."

"Yeah, pretty heavy stuff all things considered." You admitted. "But we already locked in Mary Gibbs as the little girl for both of them so let's get to reading." You tapped heavily at the box of tankobans printed by the Tezuka estate as if you were doing a drum roll "And the winner is:"

(Dororo Becomes the fourth or fifth film from Walt Disney Feature Animation!)

"Fun fact, the animators proposed a sequence where Melmo would undergo a rough initial transformation going through all the rough parts of puberty." You joked to your partner. "Yeah, she was just not worth the parental cries of 'The Children'. Maybe next time if this partnership pans out."

"We just gotta wait and see, right?" Eric smiled back. 

"For now, we gotta call up the Beastie Boys and figure out how the carved into pieces bit can work out for us." You go back to your desktop PC only to find a frown on Eric's jovial jaws.

"So... you've heard about Iger, right?"

(Is he okay?)

D23=16

Two sleepless months went by for Willow Bay where she would do her job on CNN or MSNBC as an entertainment industry correspondent, then spend the twilight hours tending to her wounded husband. The now former Chief Operating Officer of the Walt Disney Company would lay unconscious as the days bled into weeks, and to say that Michael was devastated was an understatement. 

He pulled out all the stops for him, calling in all sorts of talent from across the industry to share their wishes for Iger's full recovery. Gift baskets, wine, toys, gift baskets with wine, and letters from concerned children. 

There was even a collection of voice-mail messages from familiar voices of Disney's past from Jim Cummings to Robin Williams, most of them were When you Wish upon a Star (and would see reuse in Once Upon a Studio for the 100th Anniversary) but what ultimately stirred him from his coma was Jennifer Hale's message. She had invited Ilane Woods to sing 'A Dream is a Wish' together, and when Willow played it for him like she usually did for every message. Iger's eyes began to flutter open and muttered: "Hell of a winter, eh."

The road to recovery was relatively rough on the man, not only did he have to get readjusted to his body but he also needed a job to get himself back on his feet financially. Luckily, Fox President Gail Berman has been looking to relaunch Fox Kids as a full network and thought that he could be the best choice for the studio and could very well be the best pick for the job. Given his ties to Disney and the guilt Eisener had meant that Fox could easily buy back the Fox Family Worldwide Library from Eisener since he's been doing a decent job burying it all, but it wasn't enough.

For Fox Kids to bounce back from its demise at the hands of the mouse, they needed a long-term strategy to re-establish itself. Then a sudden idea hit him: Fox was looking to enter a cozy relationship with [adult swim] to rerun its animated shows like, if he could perchase that for Fox Kids,  it would be mutually beneficial due this would cut out the middlemen of licencing and rope in the audience that grew up with Fox Kids back in the 90s. So, once he checked out of the hospital, he took the position and got to work on negotiations. 

(Robert Iger is courting adult swim, bruh. What's gunna happen, bruh?)

D23=22

AOL Time Warner, rapidly bleeding money and looking to shed some deadweight, decided to feed them all of Turner Broadcasting in October of 2004 for keeping everything that would be rendered redundant by the exchange including CNN, TBS and TNT as well as the Looney Tunes shorts from the Turner Library and the complete portfolio of Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry (The latter of which would be folded into the Looney Tunes lineup) due to a few projects being in production. All for a total of $22 Billion Dollars. This Irked Carl Icahn, and prompted him to accelerate his plans to dismantle the AOL Time Warner merger, but that debacle is another story and shall be told another time.