#a beautiful stranger

[redemptivexheroics]

A Beautiful Stranger [Closed Starter]

@scrawnylittlenobody

Lex was at a party of boring higher ups for his father's company. He really didn't want to be here, but here he was, and funny, he had to be here, but his father couldn't bother to show. He was drinking when a redhead sat down across from him, and he looked up. "Sorry, really not in the mood for company. Frankly, I don't want to even be here," Lex said. But when she asked if he was Lex Luthor, he arched a brow but nodded. "I am; who might you be?" Lex asked in return. funny for someone who usually chased women around; it was weird having one approach him, and even weirder that she didn't immediately know he was Lex Luthor.

[purplefeathersandblackleather]

We Keep This Love In A Photograph

"I swear it will get easier, remember that with every piece of you. It's the only thing we take with us when we die." - Photograh (Ed Sheeran)

Part 1: Sketch As the days until Christmas are ticking down, I find myself aching with an unfulfillable longing. To have a Stephen Strange of my own to enjoy all that I treasure about the season with. To wrap me up in his warm, loving arms when I come home after a bruising day of battling impatient, short-sighted customers who’ve lost touch with the meaning of the Season.

I know your pain, I hear you, V. I knew as soon as I saw this part that I had to draw this for you. I would be lying if I said that I didn't cry for a while after that because of my own struggles back before I met who I now believe is the love of my life. I wanted to do one last, good thing before I went to holiday. As the last petal on the lotus of my inspiration furls inward, shielding itself from the cold and resting for the winter, I will give you this promise.

Stephen is here, with you, even if you can't see or feel him.

I know that it will never ease the full wound of him not being here in the 3D, but he is with you in spirit. And I will draw as many pictures as I can to help you feel like he is. Here you have a way to be with him and should you ever want anything drawn of the two of you, I will be happy to do so for you. Even though you are not together physically, I hope he will come to you in your dreams for Christmas, as I still hope one day that Tony will do for me again some day. Please know that you are in my heart always and even though I do not post new art, I will be looking after you even during Gahan Nidra. Merry Christmas, my dearest friend.

@sobeautifullyobsessed

[sobeautifullyobsessed]

<He couldn't help but laugh at the question because he knew it sounded just as absurd to her as it did to him whenever he thought about it. He shook his head a little afterwards and took her hand in his own but did not answer for the moment as he contemplated his answer and what would be the correct way to word it. There were a lot of variables to consider in this explanation, but he wanted to make it as easy as he could for the moment so as to not confuse her more than she already had become.>

My family ... wasn't really much of anything that was worth talking about. Disappoinment and...tragedy. But that's not a subject for now. Anyone from anywhere can technically come from "magical background", should they choose to take the time to learn and open their minds it. I myself - as you have probably figured out by now - used to be a doctor and in that stage of my life I had no interest in metaphysical knowledge or abilities. But then...well, life finally broke down the walls of the "perfect life" I was building for myself.

<He smiled as he watched her look at the surroundings while he spoke, until the last part had drawn her attention back to him. Slowly, he held up his free hand to show her the scars she had noted on them earlier which were now more of a deep red than they were before due to the coolness of the afternoon air settling in on the Sanctum. He was still self-conscious about them, even years after the accident, but this was his Soulmate, the woman he loved before than even life itself. And if he trusted anyone to not judge him or their history, it was this beautiful woman in front of him.>

I was in a car accident that left me no longer able to perform my job, I was told of a place called Kamar-Taj, where I would be able to gain the ability to use my hands again. It was there that I studied - and continue to learn on many occasions - about the Mystic Arts. It was there that I met my two teachers: The Ancient One, who we lost to battle, and Damon Renner.

<He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as he looked into her eyes while he spoke once more. He thought about it and began to realize things now that he hadn't been emotionally prepared for and it made him look away.>

He's the one I was getting the medical books to help when I found you. He's also the one who sent his familiar to me to lead me to your side. He...just lost his Soulmate to a very large battle and is very badly wounded. Of course...of course he would lead me to the one I'm meant to be with.

@sobeautifullyobsessed

*Our paths to here and now couldn’t be more different! Beauty’s heart, connected to Stephen’s through numerous lifetimes, discerned what he left unspoken. An unhappy childhood, marked by a painful loss. A family that may have been at odds with his sensibilities. A loneliness which he sought to fill with a brilliant career and the financial success it granted him. And then a sudden, tragic turn that changed his world—or rather, set him on the path he had been born to travel. She had to wonder if, in all that time, anyone had given him even a bit of unconditional love—whereas her cup of such had been filled to the brim. Surely this was by Design, and she was meant to bring that gift to Stephen’s life.*

I wish I could’ve known you then, Stephen. Not to change the course of your life, but perhaps to soften its edges. I think I had a luxury of kindness given me that I’d have been very happy to share with you…

*Beauty’s eyes reckoned the reddened weals that ran the full length of his fingers, and the slight tremor as Stephen offered her an unforgiving view of them. Even scarred, there was an undeniable elegance to his hand, and she could easily envision his confident dexterity as a surgeon. A mighty blow, that must have been—and his bones must ache as those of her arthritic grandmother’s. Her voice was hushed in soft consideration.*

Do they hurt, Stephen? Can your magic dull the pain? How…how do you manage? And…and how can I help? *she lowered her gaze a moment, carefully arriving at her next observation* Your hands...they’re beautiful despite your injuries, you know. Like something a great sculptor might have made. Those scars just can’t erase their grace.

*He extended that same hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear--a simple enough act, but eloquent in its own way, for its gentleness and familiarity. Something like uncertainty seemed to flicker in his eyes a moment before he went on to explain about his teacher and the loss he had endured. Moving Beauty to her next, natural suggestion.*

But about your friend, Damon—if he’s been badly injured, shouldn’t you be seeing to him now? I don’t want to keep you from where you belong, Stephen. I mean, we’ve lived our whole lives so far without even knowing each other. I can wait whatever time it will take for you to do right by him. I promise I’ll be here when your duty to your teacher and friend is done.

@the-eldritch-sorcerer

[the-eldritch-sorcerer]

💙 ((Hello - I'd like to thank you for your initial ask, and for the embrasive, supportive tenor I see you are meaning to set for anyone interested in role playing with you. I definitely want to pursue further interaction [including a continuation of our current thread] but I need to let you know a few things before we go on.

First, I'm a writer of Romance at every opportunity, so that your characterization of Stephen is right in my wheelhouse. I've been roleplaying on and off for several years with @doctorstrangeaskblog, and had in the past with a couple of others, though they didn't last beyond several months each. Our characters had been 'exclusive', but recently that Mun opened up to possible relationships with other characters, stipulating that all such threads [including ours] would be closed. They also indicated that I should feel free to play with other Stephens, if I so wished. I didn't expect to encounter another Stephen, but I'd like to jump on this opportunity.

However, I'm incredibly invested in my Beauty--she's one of my dearest OFCs--and I find that I'd like to continue with her in your universe, if possible. I'd make some changes to her history, career, etc [like a true multiversal Variant] but her basic characteristics would remain, with perhaps her poetic, romantic tendencies given greater play. If this works for you, please let me know. In addition, I feel an obligation of sorts to run this by 'other Stephen's' Mun, before we commence. I plan to ask them once I hear back from you.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying reading your threads with others, and find them a wonderful appetizer to what might create together.

One last thing- tumblr has me on shadow ban currently [damn that logarithm!] which presents communications challenges, but I've figured out a few back channels. I look forward to hearing back from you and planning out something fun and creatively satisfying!))

Thank you for reaching out to me with these informative pieces of information.

I am glad that my version of Stephen has appealed to you in such a strong manner. I had every hope when I started this blog that I would succeed in making at least one person happy with my take on his personality. I tend to play him a little more softly than most, leaning towards his comic persona mixed into his MCU version played by Mr. Cumberbatch who is a huge inspiration to me. I am sorry to be hearing that your relationship with the other blog owner is coming to an end; it seems like such a waste to put all of that work behind them and you. But I pass no judgement, as it's not my place to.

I was told by my moderator @purplefeathersandblackleather that you were actually looking for a Stephen Strange of your own and that was what led me to reach out to you. I am interested in seeing where your new version of Beauty and my variant of Stephen venture together. As I've said, the thread with you - which can end at any given point - is your own Multiverse, different from anyone else who reaches out to me. If you need to exchange information on my variant's background and your new variant of Beauty before we move forward, I am very happy to get in touch and do so. I understand your hesitation and I am very respectful of your steps, so with any luck, I have said something in these last two paragraphs that have appealed to your creative side.

I see from some of your posts that Tumblr has made you a victim of the Shadow Realm (sorry, I make obscure references behind the persona haha) before we met. I hope that we can continue to stay in touch and keep going from here. I hope to hear from you soon, for I am truly sorry this has happened to you, and I look forward to hopefully continuing to help you with the struggle by giving you a creative outlet. Do take care!

[tightsstuff]

Look into my eyes, it's your professional sex girl

[cheruib]

why is it SO incredibly sweet when a stranger smiles at u like. i don’t know you but here’s a piece of happiness in this crazy world. im giving u this smile because it’s all i have to offer, and i want to offer you something. you’ll forget my face, probably, but you’ll remember this, at least for the rest of the day, or the afternoon, or your lunch break. hope you had a good day. Hope the rest of it is better.

[k-wame]

PAUL MESCAL as Harry All Of Us Strangers (2023) · dir. Andrew Haigh

[bethhiraeth]

fuck personality tests, who have you got set for your Netflix profile pic?

[reikunrei]

my part from a byler m.a.p. that was unfortunately cancelled :( still really proud of my work tho!! it's not perfect and there's lots that i'd change, but for being the first time i'd animated anything in like 3 years.... i'm pretty pleased :]

(finished this around august/september 2023)

(removed the audio bc it's sort of jarring out of context)

[ryan-waddell11]

I just know I would’ve been staring at him during lunch any chance I got.

[steddiealltheway]

Steve can see it in Max. That same loneliness and ache that he finds in himself. For him, it’s result of his parents leaving with no intent to return to him unless absolutely necessary.

He knows he was an accident. Or rather a mistake as his father used to call him when he was particularly angry. But it made sense to him. Steve's the reason his father had to marry his mother. He left him "trapped." And maybe no one says it out loud, but he can tell his mother feels the same way too.

But they must keep up appearances, right?

Which is what Max has been trying to do since Billy died, El moved away, and it's been just her and her mom. But she's been going about it through a different route - pushing people away all while pretending things are fine. But Steve sees the way she picks up the broken pieces of her mom and tries to put them back together - Steve's had to do the same thing before.

So, he starts sticking around a little longer. Offering her more rides to the arcade and around town to pick up groceries when she needs to. Sometimes he'll tell her about a new recipe he's been trying for a casserole and pick up the ingredients, pretending like the milk and butter he bought will spoil by the time he drives home from her trailer.

Of course, they both know it's a lie, but Max humors him and plays along. She'll let him cook dinner while she picks up the bottles her mom left on the floor, dumps out the overflowing ashtray, and feeds the dog. Usually, Steve will ask her what she's learning in school and linger a little longer than usual in hopes that she'll say more than the usual, "I don't know. A bunch of boring stuff."

But lingering has gotten a lot of things out of Max such as her love for Kate Bush, a story about El and how much she misses her, and short quips about Lucas before she gets a sad smile on her face. Steve doesn't really know what to say most of the time, but he hopes that just being there will help.

Unfortunately, lingering and just being there has led him to his current predicament of none other than Eddie "The Freak" Munson sitting on the hood of his car glaring at him as he walks out of Max's place. Steve jumps a little, startled by the figure on his car and becoming more hostile as he sees the expression on his face. He shoves his hands in his pockets and slows his pace. "Is there a problem?"

Eddie snorts humorlessly. "Christ. You're really going to pretend like there's nothing wrong with what's happening?"

Steve's brows furrow, entirely missing whatever point he's trying to make.

Eddie stands up and stalks toward him. "I see you, you know. Always lurking around when her mom isn't home. Coming out of her trailer late at night."

Steve laughs, finally understanding the absurd conclusion he's come to. "Jesus, man. You're delusional."

Steve doesn't expect it, but Eddie sharply shoves his chest and grits, "I don't fucking lie to me, Harrington."

Steve holds his hands up. "I'm not," he firmly states. "Nothing like that is happening here. I'm glad you're looking out for her, but it isn't like that."

"Do you expect me to believe that? Maybe this is why you're always hanging around Henderson and the other kids."

Steve crosses his arms and his jaw tenses. "I'm not a fucking pervert or a pedophile if that's what you're trying to say. I'm just looking after them."

"Why?" Eddie asks, dramatically opening his arms, "Why would King Steve adopt a group of misfits to take under his wing? See, the math isn't adding up."

Usually, Steve would just brush it off and tell the person to fuck off and mind their own business. But his parents have just left town again without leaving a note and Max had snapped when Steve tried to help her clean the place because it looked worse than usual, and he was just generally feeling like shit and angry at his parents and Max's parents for not being there. So he broke, "Because I don't want Max to end up like me! I don't want any of those kids to grow up without a role model. And god forbid if any of those other kids' parents fuck up, and they’re left with only me. I need them to know that I'm there for them! Because sometimes it feels like whenever the world goes to shit, I'm the only one who is there, and I plan to stay there, okay?!"

He finishes his rant breathing a little heavier than usual and noticing that a few of the lights in the trailers have turned on around them. He looks around and awkwardly nods to the people glaring out their windows. God, he needs to get a grip.

When he turns back to Eddie, he notices the conflicted expression, jaw dropped, eyebrows knitted together, eyes searching him as if he's still wondering if he's lying.

A door creaks open behind them and Steve curses under his breath as he hears Max say, "Eddie, leave him alone. Do you really think I would hook up with my damn babysitter? Jeez."

"Language," Steve quietly lectures as the door swings shut. He runs his hands over his face and takes a deep breath. It's been a long fucking day.

A hand lands on his arm and tugs him away from Max's trailer. Steve glances up at Eddie, leading him across the way. "Where are we going?"

"My place," Eddie says.

"Why?"

"So we can talk."

God, the last thing he wants to do is talk to Eddie of all people, the guy he's been actively avoiding since Dustin started worshipping the ground - or rather tables - he walks on. But he lets himself be pulled away in the trailer and practically deposited on the couch in the living room.

He glances up and comments, "That's a lot of mugs."

"My uncle's, but that's not what I wanted to... Christ," Eddie says, pacing in front of Steve and tugging his hair in front of his face. The anxious display makes Steve feel even more tired, but he lets him pace. God, what is he even doing here?

"I'm sorry," Eddie blurts out. "I'm just..." he trails off and rushes over to grab a stool a few feet away before dragging it in front of the couch. He sits on it but his leg still holds that nervous energy as it rapidly bounces up and down. "I jumped to conclusions, and it was really shitty of me, man. I just... didn't believe what Henderson was saying about you and thought 'Oh, this makes way more sense than Steve Harrington being a good dude.' And I'm sorry to accuse you of that. And I... I didn't know about your... parents and stuff. Like I knew they were away a lot because of your parties but... I just never connected the dots. And I'm sorry. No one deserves that shit, man."

Steve doesn't know what to do this whole interaction, especially with it coming from Eddie Munson who he doesn't think he's ever talked to before this moment, but... he needs to hear it. God, he needs to hear it.

Of course, he can't let him know this, so he does what he's best at and brushes it off. "It's fine. You were just looking out for the kids. And really just ignore what I said back there, it isn't that big of a deal."

Eddie worries his bottom lip before he blurts out, "I know what it's like." He pauses and takes a deep breath. "I mean, I know what it's like to have... absent parents. But in my case, eventually, my uncle Wayne took me in, and I can only imagine if he didn't." He gives him a pointed look and lowers his voice, "Do you have someone like that?"

A big part of Steve wants to leave right now, and he knows there's nothing stopping him. But a bigger part of him needs to stay. Needs to talk about the emptiness in his house that he can never truly escape at the end of the day that he can’t talk to anyone about. Because he's not supposed to be weak. He's supposed to take care of the others. So he admits, "No, I don't have... anyone like that. Except Robin but..."

"That's different," Eddie finishes the thought for him.

Steve nods. He loves Robin, but he loves her as a platonic soulmate and not as a parent figure in his life. "You know, I once had this basketball coach in middle school - Mr. Weston. And I remember looking up to him so much. I wanted to be just like him, and I would go to his office during lunch and ask him for advice or talk about dumb shit that my father would never talk about. But he never shamed me for my questions. And sometimes he even packed an extra dessert for me." Steve smiles at the memories and runs a hand through his hair, remembering the day he got the news. "But one time, when I went to his office, he had this look on his face. And I just knew it was bad news. And really, it wasn't bad news to him because his wife was pregnant. But she wanted to move a few states away to raise the kid closer to her family. And it wasn't his fault, you know? It wasn't like he purposely chose to move away from me, but I felt like I was abandoned again."

Steve wipes a tear from his eye and puts his head in his hands. "God, I don't know why I'm even telling you this story. Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Eddie says quickly. He pauses and shifts on the stool, his gaze being far away. "I remember him. He was one of the only gym teachers that defended me against all the shitty middle school bullies. He was a good person.”

Steve nods. God, he was a good person.

Eddie continues, “I'm sorry that he left. And I bet he still regrets leaving you behind."

Steve leans back against the couch and looks away, shaking his head. "I bet he forgot about me."

"You're kind of hard to forget."

Steve looks at Eddie and sees a slight blush on his cheeks as he shakes his head and waves his hands as if trying to make the comment go away. "What I mean is that there's no way he's forgotten about you. Someone who you used to have lunch with all the time to the point of giving you free food... Nah, man. He remembers you. I think you may have been as important to him as he was to you."

The thought breaks away at a wall Steve had built up long ago. "Thanks," he practically whispers.

Eddie just smiles at him, small dimples appearing on his cheeks.

"You didn't deserve it either, you know," Steve says. "The absent parent stuff. Even with Wayne, they should've been here too."

Eddie's smile falters a bit as he swallows and looks at the ground. "Thanks," he mumbles. He looks up at Steve and comments, "Getting sappy with Steve Harrington. Who knew."

"Yeah, getting sappy with Eddie Munson," Steve echoes back at him.

Eddie laughs, "I'm surprised you even know my name."

"You're kind of hard to forget," Steve says easily.

That same blush comes back to Eddie who shifts in his chair a bit as if he needs to process the information with his whole body.

They sit in the moment for a bit before Eddie gets a somewhat serious look on his face and offers, "You know, I'm definitely not a parent figure or anything, but I'm always here and around to talk about that whole thing if you need to."

Steve's heart beats a little faster at the sheer genuineness. "Same here," he can't help but offer in return. He glances down at his watch and sighs, "It's getting late, so I better..."

"Right," Eddie says, standing up and leading him to the door. "Do you need water for the road or anything?"

Steve smiles and pats him on the back without thinking too hard about it. "I'm good, man. But thank you. For everything really."

"Sorry for being an asshole," Eddie apologizes again.

"Usually that's my line," Steve accidentally voices before cringing a bit, wondering further why Eddie's been so kind to him.

But as he opens the door, Eddie comments, "I don't know. It seems like Dustin was right about the whole reformed jock thing. Maybe your crown really has fallen - which is a good thing by the way."

Steve slightly smiles at him before he turns to leave. But he can't help but say, "I wonder what the neighbors will think about me leaving your trailer so late."

Eddie groans then laughs. "Sorry to ruin your image."

"I wouldn't mind," Steve replies, honestly unsure what he means by that. "Goodnight, Eddie."

"Goodnight, Steve," Eddie says, that same blush on his cheeks, only this time Steve isn't sure if it's something he said or a result of the cold night air.

In bed that night, Steve feels a slight weight lifted from him and can't help but feel like he’s a little less alone.

[yesloulou]

Charles goes surfing in Melbourne | AusGP 2024 🇦🇺🌊 via ariannaoioli on tiktok

[purplefeathersandblackleather]

@sobeautifullyobsessed

For yours and @the-eldritch-sorcerer to get inspiration for your story, since Beauty is a music teacher in a library. I saw it and immediately though of the two of you.

[sobeautifullyobsessed]

literally who is that in your profile pic?

Thank you for Asking! My icon is taken from a piece of artwork created by @purplefeathersandblackleather , as a Christmas gift💖💚 It depicts the character (Beauty Lincoln, who is wearing a wedding ring in this work) that I've used for role play with a couple of Doctor Strange RP'ers.

This is the piece in full, which includes the Artist's own RP character, Damon Renner and Tony Stark. Notice the Sanctum Window ornament on the tree!

Unless you're a fan fic writer--or an RP'er, I suppose--you can't imagine the joy it gives one to see the vision realized, of the character that you've created. Purple💜also gifted me this sketch-

If they should ever decide to color it in, I plan to make it my new icon--and possibly the banner on this blog, or my sideblog @mostly-romance ...

Actually, now that I think of it, I'm going to make it the banner on my sideblog right after I post this!😀 If you enjoy RP or beautiful pieces of artwork (especially those featuring Stephen Strange) I highly recommend you go follow @purplefeathersandblackleather!

[theghostinyourwalls]

I can’t believe we’ve all been cropped out of these pictures

[imactuallyreallycool]

really cool... i present my greatest idea so far..

byler sleeping beauty au

please

please

pleaseeeeeeeeeeee please please