#im sorry I hate the word boyfriend sooo bad they're a secret fourth thing

[hellonearthtoday]

Just saw your new Steve and Ponyboy art. Adorable. I think the fandom has collectivly agreed that for Steve and Pony, it was hate at first sight. Since I'm a huge Purly enthusiast, what do you think of the idea of Steve groaning "Ponyboy being so annoying" and Curly (being "the awesomest boyfriend in the world") decides 'i'll show him annoying'

I think about this a lot.

I loveee Steve and Pony's dynamic so bad you don'tttt understand. I know we like to pass the "Steve does care to some extent about PB he just doesn't show it" ball around a lot but in my dearest hearts of hearts I veer towards the "Steve genuinely dislikes PB so bad and for very little good reason, they just don't get along" rhetoric because we don't have enough "I hate this bitch for no reason" representation.

Accidentally went on a Steve rant I'm sorry you gave me the opportunity and I ran with it🫢 But haven't you ever disliked someone who everyone else likes? that shit is torture and just makes you dislike them more.

Anywho, Purly...I had to sit and think about this for a second.

Curly (the one in my head) doesn't hang around the Curtis gang nearly enough to catch wind of Steve mouthing off about Ponyboy in real time. All the anti-Steve propaganda he consumes comes from Ponyboy himself, who at one point probably begins to complain to him about how Steve needs to RELAX once in awhile.

Curly (once again in my head) is sort of selfish and doesn't often get mad on the behalf of others unless he has some sort of grudge against them himself🤷‍♂️ just so he can use it as an excuse to jump the people he don't like.

Steve and PB aren't mortal enemies they're just in this petty nightmare grudge match, and Curly unfortunately isn't NEARLY conniving enough to set up an anvil trap, and definitely not competently enough for it to hit it's mark (Steve) so Curly retaliates against the Curtis gang as a whole by just dragging Ponyboy out to pretend he has a bigger social life than he does, and if Steve HAPPENS to be there he's mean mugging Steve the whole time looking like some evil ass fish going "Ya Ponyboy didn't wanna hang out w y'all anyway😒😒" w his arm around Ponys shoulder like he even know him like that

whole time Steve is jus like Who is thisss😐

Steve don't really gaf Abt Curly but his thought process is that all of Ponyboys friends outside forced contact (The gang) have GOT be as insufferable as him, so thats how Curly slowly becomes public enemy #1