#shitty little band kids together

[ellohcee]

Day 2: cat + autumn

Ummm the most autumn cat I know?

[transvampireboyfriend]

Teacher AU

Eddie who studied to be a music teacher but right before graduation Corroded Coffin takes off. It's fast, they have to mail him his diploma to avoid a crowd of fans at his classmates' ceremony.

But it goes as fast as it comes, a few years of touring and then popularity wanes. Eddie is not bothered by it, neither are the guys, they enjoyed it while it lasted, yet they all knew they couldn't live like that for the rest of their lives, so it's all for the best.

Eddie lives off of album and merch sales and writing songs for other bands and artists now. This is when his best friend, Chrissy, tells him she heard the music teacher was retiring at her old pre-school.

Eddie applies for the vacant position, fearing they won't like his former star status but ultimately, after a good interview, he gets the job.

Steve who became a pre-school teacher and started teaching as soon as he could. He lives with his best friend, Robin, and coaches the town's junior basketball teams (both boys and girls) on his off time.

Steve who's nearing his thirties and getting a little frustrated with his love life. No matter how many dates, no matter how many 6 month relationships, no matter how many 1 year and a half and moving in together debacles, he still just never quite fits his partners, he never feels that thing, that excitement everyone talks about. No matter how amazing the person. Robin calls him an idealist, says he's being naïve. Steve sticks by his instinct to hope for more.

Steve who stares (a little slack-jawed) at the new music teacher for a good minute when he comes pick up his kids. Trying to take in the wild hair pinned up by a pencil, the glasses around big cow eyes, the tattoos peeking out of his long sleeves, the dimples.

He was aware Mrs. Wallace retired and a new teacher was brought on, he just hadn't expected his heart to race at the mere sight of him.

Steve completely misses his name, has to ask him to come again when those beautiful brown eyes get a mischievous sparkle and look expectant, like he got stood up waiting for an answer.

"I said it's nice meeting you" the new teacher repeats

"Oh! Of course! You're very nice. I mean it's very- It's nice meeting you too" Steve says and forcefully shuts his mouth, pressing his lips into a thin line.

The new teacher's smile just gets bigger and he nods and leads the kids to his class.

Robin thinks it's beyond funny that Steve doesn't know the new teacher's name, but she refuses to explain, refuses to tell him what it is and encourages him to find out on his own.

Steve approaches the guy in the teacher's lounge at lunch.

Beyond whatever the hell makes Steve's brain functions jump ship when he's around him, Steve does think it was rude of him to stare and not even introduce himself when they first met.

His mother may have been real shitty, but she didn't raise someone impolite.

"Hi," Steve starts, making the other man look up at him from underneath his glasses. Steve looks away for a second to avoid getting lost in those eyes.

"I think I owe you an apology," Steve starts, the other teacher raises his eyebrows and lowers the book in his hands.

"I'm sorry?"

"That's my line," Steve points out, he's rewarded by a small laugh and dimples, "I was rude," Steve explains, "I was staring and I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Steve." he smiles and extends his hands to the other man.

"I know." the guy says, smiling big enough to show his teeth, but gently taking Steve's hand in his own "I told you, they were nice enough to put all the names in my schedule, remember?" he says,

Steve freezes.

How come he didn't think of that? His schedule is the same, all schedules for teachers have everybodys' names. They even distributed new schedules for everyone when the hiring decision was made, Steve just hadn't bother to look at it yet, knowing the important bits hadn't changed.

Steve would facepalm if his dominant hand wasn't otherwise occupied.

"Uh-" Steve starts, thankfully the other man cuts him off,

"Hey," he says, with the kindest eyes Steve has ever seen, and still gently holding Steve's hand, "It's cool. I get it." he tells Steve,

Then he asks, "Are you a fan?"

Steve stares again.

Excuse him?

Judging by Robin's smirk accross the room, Steve's face must be as red as a ripe tomato.

Steve yanks his hand back.

Well, that's presumptuous. Just because Steve isn't very good at thinking whe he's around him, doesn't mean that- Sure, Steve came prepared to flirt with him, but he does not appreciate beaing treated like he's easy.

Steve frowns at him before turning around and promptly walking away. He guesses he'll have to go check his schedule if he wants to know the name of this jerk.

[theemporium]

[1.9k] sometimes it isn't easy being the fourth hughes' sibling. sometimes the pressure to compete with your brothers gets overwhelming. sometimes you just need a tall, hot swiss man to reassure you in the hidden crevices of a bar in jersey.

first nico fic completely influenced by @httplando

.

There was nobody in the world that was prouder of your brothers than you were. 

It took an insane amount of skill, talent and effort to even reach college level. To be scouted and sought after, to gain the attention of coaches in much higher leagues than the kids’ team in middle school. To play for a college, to gain the attraction of professional teams, to be drafted into the NHL. It was fucking insane for one brother to reach all those goals, let alone all three. 

But that was exactly what Quinn, Jack and Luke had done. 

All three of them shared a dream and all three of them have achieved it. And you genuinely could not be happier for them. You saw everything behind the scenes. You saw the work they put into it, the countless hours of training and practicing to hone that raw talent into pure skill. You know exactly what each of them sacrificed to achieve their goal of playing for the NHL. 

And yet, despite how genuinely happy and proud you were, it fucking sucked to be their sister because everything you did felt inadequate in comparison. 

Nobody in your family ever consciously went out of their way to make you feel that way. Never in a million fucking years would they ever pull something like that. But it didn’t mean that you didn’t have these feelings, that you didn’t feel that pit of bitterness and something equally as ugly and self-deprecating burning inside you whenever your parents would gush over your brothers. 

“My boys,” Ellen cooed, reaching to place her hand on Quinn’s cheek, considering he was the closest to her. “You all played so well.”

Quinn let out a small scoff. “Yeah right.”

“Hey, just because you didn’t win, doesn’t mean you didn’t play well,” Jim had retorted with a light nudge of his shoulder. 

“Couldn’t beat us this time, captain,” Jack commented, a wolfish grin on his face as he gave his older brother a mock salute that made Luke snort. 

Quinn’s eyes narrowed, but there was a smile on his face. “Next time I’ll get your asses.” 

Luke grinned. “Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Regardless of who won,” Ellen spoke up, a reprimanding look on her face that managed to shut the three of them up in seconds. “I’m proud of all three of my boys, living their dream and being the damn best in the league.” 

“To the Hughes boys!” Jim jokingly toasted, lifting his glass in the air and the rest of you joined and clinked your drinks together. 

And you know. God, you fucking know that none of it was a personal jab towards you in any way, shape or form. But it was hard to fucking deny the sting you felt as your parents gushed over your brothers. It hurt when you realised there wasn’t really much to gush over when it came to you.

You had made up some shitty excuse about needing to pee when you felt the tightness in your chest. You hadn’t given any of them a chance to be concerned about your abrupt departure. You didn’t even utter a single word as you pushed your way through the crowd of the bar, the establishment heaving with members and fans from both teams. You didn’t even glance at the girl who swore at you when you barged your shoulder against her a little harsher than intended as you pushed past the toilets and into a small alcove instead.

All you could focus on was the band wrapped around your chest, getting tighter and tighter with each breath. All you could focus on was the way your lash line welled with tears that would ultimately make your mascara run. All you could focus on was the thoughts rushing through your head, far too fast for you to even fully keep up. 

All you could focus on was the fact you really weren’t okay. 

You didn’t even look up when you heard a door swing open from one of the bathrooms. You didn’t look up when you heard footsteps. You didn’t look up—or even realise—there was someone standing a few metres away until you heard a familiar voice. 

“Hey, are you okay there?”

And despite the whirling thoughts and panicked breaths, you knew exactly who that voice belonged to. And when you finally lifted your head, the shield of hair finally exposing you to the person, you could see the exact moment Nico Hischier realised it was you. 

And it took a few seconds to realise just what a state you were in. 

You felt your cheeks prickle in embarrassment. You could feel the way your entire face heated up and your stomach dropped a little at the fact Nico of all people—your brothers’ captain and the man you thought about in ways that you never should—was seeing you like this. 

“Woah, hey,” he muttered out, a frown curved onto his lips as he quickly closed the distance between you two. 

And he was overwhelming. So fucking overwhelming in a way that had your head spinning for so many different reasons. It should have felt suffocating when he squished into the small alcove of the hallway with you, especially someone of his height and build.

But it wasn’t. 

It was almost comforting, or maybe that was just how Nico was. You had seen it plenty of times with his teammates, the way he wrapped his arm around them the second they were targeted on the ice or being chirped at by the rivalling team. You watched the way he would calm them down, hold his ground, keep everything in control. 

Maybe that’s what made him such a good captain. 

“I-I’m sorry,” you managed to blubber out, a sad excuse for a laugh escaping your lips as you tried to pretend your lungs weren’t burning for some air. “I’m okay!”

But he didn’t look convinced. 

“Is this okay?” His voice was soothing, calming almost. 

You blinked, taking a few seconds to realise he had lifted his hands from his sides and another few seconds to realise what he was asking before you dumbly nodded your head. 

You blinked again, and Nico’s hands were cupping—almost engulfing—your face as his thumbs softly swiped away the tears falling down your cheeks. You watched the way his eyebrows furrowed together in concern, his cheeks flushed from whatever he had been drinking to celebrate the Devils’ win. 

“Did something happen?” He asked, so gentle in the way he spoke like he didn’t want to spook you. 

“Just…thinking,” you replied with a weak smile, your breathing still a little erratic and uncertain—and he seemed to notice.

“Breathe with me,” he murmured, taking in a deep breath and giving you a pointed look until you followed his lead. “Just like that, schatz, that’s it.”

Your eyes never left his as you copied his movements, as you took deep breaths until the band around your chest seemed to ease and the burn in your lungs was long gone. Your eyes never left him as his eyes wandered over you, almost like he was double checking you were in fact okay and not physically hurt in any way, shape or form.

“It hurts,” you whispered, catching the boy’s attention as his eyes snapped up to look at you. “It hurts when I realise I can’t really compete with my brothers. Quinn is a captain, Jack is one of the best players in the league, Luke is killing his rookie season and here I am, not even sure what I want to major in and I—”

“Hey, hey,” Nico quickly interrupted when he realised your breathing was starting to pick up again. His thumbs continued to run soothing circles over the apples of your cheek, though the frown on his face remained. “You don’t have to compete with them.”

“I know but,” you paused for a moment, and he waited as you tried to gather the words. “They are them. They are the professional hockey players. They’ve known what they wanted to be since they were practically born and I don’t even know what I want to do with my life.”

“And that’s okay,” Nico assured you, and it felt a little ironic coming from another professional hockey player.

You shook your head, letting out another laugh. “And I don’t even know why I am telling you any of this because you probably want to go and celebrate your win. I mean, you do not need to be standing here and listening to my stupid problems—”

“I don’t mind,” Nico said, a soft smile on his lips. “And they aren’t stupid. Your feelings are never stupid, schatz.” 

He was your brothers’ teammate. Forget that, he was literally Jack and Luke’s captain. You had known him for as long as Jack was a part of the team. You had known him as long as he had been friends with your brothers. And yet despite in that time, you could count on one hand the amount of interactions you’ve had with the boy by yourself. 

And yet, here he was, standing in front of you with his hands holding your face and a smile that made your chest feel tight all over again. He was looking at you like your feelings were valid, like he understood. He was looking at you in a way that so many people never could. In that moment, you didn’t feel like the fourth Hughes’ sibling—you just felt like you.

But before you could even let the voice in the back of your head urging you to let the overwhelming emotions take over, the sound of your brothers’ voices snapped you out of whatever daze you were in.

“God, how long does it take for her to pee?” Jack. 

“I don’t know, she’s a girl. Maybe it takes them longer.” Luke.

“You both are so fucking stupid.” Quinn.

“I should go,” you whispered to Nico, and something in your stomach clenched as though you were about to be caught doing something scandalous. A part of you wished that was the case. “I’m sorry you had to—”

But Nico shook his head, his smile a comfort as he took a step back. “Don’t apologise.”

“Right,” you murmured as you gave him a shaky smile. “I’ll…see you later?”

He huffed out a laugh. “I’ll see you later, schatz.” 

You had quickly stepped out of the alcove before you could embarrass yourself further, finding yourself face to face with your three brothers who were busier bickering than realising you hadn’t even exited the bathroom.

You felt like your body was on autopilot for the rest of the night, but your eyes kept wandering in hopes of finding a certain someone. In hopes that you could see him with your own two eyes and confirm that the feel of his hands on your skin was, in fact, real. In hopes that maybe he was seeking you out too. 

And something in your stomach twisted in delight when your eyes met his across the bar, a grin on his lips that felt more easy-going and teasing than the soft smiles he had given you earlier. And some part of you knew that even if your interactions with the captain had been limited beforehand, something in the air shifted the second he placed his hands on you.

Because you had an inkling feeling that tonight wouldn’t be the last time you found yourself hidden in a secret place with the Swiss man, and something quite like hope sparked inside you that maybe the years of secretly crushing on your brother’s teammate was going to turn into something more.

.

[weird-an]

Billy comes home from work, limbs aching and fingers dirty from working at the garage all day. Their apartment is a shitty little thing, a dumpster how Mrs. Harrington called it the one and only time she had been visiting and Steve told her it's more of a home than the big empty house back in Loch Nora.

He stops dead on his tracks. Steve is wearing his best dress shirt and there's a fucking rose next to a candle on the table.

"What is this?" Billy asks. His heart is sinking into a swamp. He hates surprises as much as he hates turning his back against the door.

"Just some... uh.. slightly burned lasagna." Steve's face turns red.

"That's why I do the cooking." Billy frowns. "Are you breaking up?"

This doesn't make any sense. They don't do romance. Billy can't.

"What? No!" Steve groans. "Why would I try to bake cherry pie for that?"

Billy huffs out a laugh, more relief than anything. Also, there's a red smudge on Steve's most expensive shirt.

"We've been together for five years now," Steve begins. "Even if you were in denial for... like the first three years."

Billy swallows hard.

"I love you," Steve says. "And I know you love me, too."

Billy bites his tongue. He has never said it. He can't, stumbles over his own tongue the second he thinks of it. He tries to show Steve instead, sometimes too harsh or too clumsy, because he isn't really sure what gentleness is supposed to be, but he tries.

"Billy, I want to stay with you forever." Steve gets out a tiny black box with shaky hands. "I'll love you every day, every night. Do you wanna marry me?"

He opens the box. The golden band sparkles in the candlelight.

"We can't get married," Billy croaks. The ring is broader than a usual wedding band - which it can't be anyway, because they can't get married and because Billy isn't stupid enough to believe that Steve wants to stay with him until death.

Steve grins at him, a shining star in the dark of the night. "We fought against monsters. We left Hawkins. We can do anything."

"But it's- The state-"

"It's not about the piece of paper," Steve says. "It's about us."

"Yes," Billy hears himself say. Because he can never say no to Steve Harrington. Because he tried to get away from him, but every way to happiness leads back to him. Because Steve is a gift Billy didn't know he needed, because Steve is his ocean, because Steve is the sun rising in the morning.

Steve's smile is brilliant. His lips taste like burned cheese and red wine.

Billy never thought he'd get married. Billy never thought he'd have a future. Billy never thought he could love someone like he does love Steve.

"I don't want six kids," he mumbles. He wouldn't know how to be a father, he thinks.

Steve gives him a knowing look. "How about five?"

[dazednstoned]

Modern Rdr2 hcs:

-Abigail dresses like it's the 2000s (I'm talking miniskirts, low rise jeans, heeled flip flops w the fucking sparkles). She will never change too.

-Charles and Arthur go on dates to those adoption events to pet all the dogs and cats

-the whole gang frequently gathers for family bbqs. Every time someone ends up getting punched, passing out, or storming off

-Abigail puts Jack on one of those backpack leashes for kids (John too if we're being honest)

-Tilly, Karen, and Marybeth do full goodwill, garage sale, and vintage market days. They do not mess around either

-the only thing hosea knows how to do on his phone is play chess

-Sean still can't read in modern time

-john plays guitar and writes really horrible love songs for Abigail

-Javier and john r for sure in a band together, they're pretty good when they sing the songs Javier wrote

-Lenny and Sean co-parent an extremely neglected widgetable

-Arthur listens to facebook reels on full volume in public w no shame. Isaac is mortified every time

-john has various tattoos, half of them are god awful. He definitely got Abigail's name or initials tattooed somewhere and she was livid

-Karen gives herself piercings with a really shitty piercing gun

-arthur and John work together in construction, an auto shop, or in the equestrian field.

-Dutch has a very rigid and lengthy skincare routine

-john uses 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, but he says it's 3 in 1 bc it also counts as bodywash

-Tilly is the only one of her family to graduate college (Arthur dropped out of hs when Eliza got pregnant and john never went)

-Hosea is one of those old people you just see walking around the neighborhood at like 8am

-john and Arthur don't wear sunscreen or put on lotion. Abigail sometimes manages to force some sunscreen on John's face before he goes to work tho

-bill refuses to go to gay bars but uses Grindr

-Abigail cuts John and Jack's hair bc she refuses to pay for something she thinks she can do herself (she cannot do it herself)

-Kieran is a hair braiding god. I'm talking French braids, fish tails, you name it.

-john owns a really shitty pick up truck. Jack was either conceived or birthed in the backseat of it (maybe both)

-Sean falls for those free iPhone scams every time

-the only videogame charles plays is stardew valley. He thought it would be relaxing, it wasn't.

-Tilly and Mary Beth are in a book club together

-Abigail is the type of parent to not let her kid play w nerf guns or watch pg13 movies (John is the exact opposite)

-Sadie spends her weekends at rage rooms

-everyone's fridges are covered in drawings Jack made for them

-John, Javier, and Sean game together. Violence always ensues

-dutch does not tip waiters

-john tried to play catch w Jack once and ended up getting hit in the groin by a baseball. He didn't know 4 yr olds could throw that hard

-Abigail and Karen (& sometimes Charles) drink cheap wine together every Sunday and discuss the dumb things their boyfriends did that week

-Lenny and Hosea do the wordle everyday

-Jack is in little league soccer. John sits back drinking a beer as Abigail shouts at the referee

-Abigail got a tramp stamp of a little bow when she was 17 (she regrets it)

-Hosea exclusively sends emails

-Abigail hides John's weed socks bc she doesn't want Jack to see and "fall into a life of drugs" when he's older

-Arthur is a hiking dad through and through. While John is a sit on the couch drinking a beer w his kid in his lap kinda dad

-uncle is the old drunk that lived in the same trailer park as Abigail and John did when Jack was a baby. He kinda just stuck around after

-Miss Molly O'Shea would be a makeup god and u cannot convince me otherwise

I might do a pt 2 late in the future!

[blushweddinggowns]

Steddie Drunk Dialing Fluff

Steve Harrington-Munson was probably one of the happiest men to be alive in the modern era. He had the perfect life, against all odds. Because apparently having your late teens and early twenties ruined by demons equated to a fantastic adulthood.

He had it all. A loving family, the best friend/surrogate sister he could ever ask for, and he was married to the love of his life. And okay, yes. That had included some extremely embarrassing revelations and internal meltdowns and... a pretty brutal disownment. But he had figured it all out in the end. And here he was, a decade later with a ring on his finger and a nice hyphenated name. Not to mention how he was basically a trophy husband.

Eddie hadn't wasted a moment of the last decade. A symptom of almost dying it would seem. He went for the GED, gathered the band back up, moved across the country to chase his dreams and play in every shitty dive bar he could until they were discovered. All while dragging Steve along for the ride.

As much as Steve had believed in him, neither of them had been prepared for his music career actually taking off. Especially not to the level it did. It was undeniable that his husband was an A-Lister, despite how universally hated he was by half the country. You don't get many out and proud metal front man who loved parading around his high school sweetheart at every social event he could. But Europe loved him, as did the entirety of gay, rebellious youths world wide.

It was so stupid. There Eddie was, painted as an insane freak who was fake-married. With tabloids running story after story about his secret children, his drug addiction, a wife from another country, anything that they could think of. All while Eddie spent every free moment at Steve's side, always opting for a night in with his baby when given the choice. And when he wasn't doing that, he was busy playing surrogate fun uncle to the kids, who were definitly not kids anymore. But that didn't stop them from all getting together for Dungeons and Dragons once a month, hundreds and hundreds of campaign hours on everyone's belts. And that was his life. Spending time with his family, forcing them on hikes and runs, volunteering, working occasionally to help Robin with her translating work, all while coming home to the sweetest thing that ever existed.

God, did Steve love that man. Reminiscing about the love of his life while he was on tour was not helping his fretful sleep. He just... really had given him everything. He loved him so much in fact that he was only slightly pissed when he was woken up at three a.m. from the phone ringing off the hook.

Steve reached for it blindly, still half-asleep when he mumbled, "Mm-Eds?"

"Steeeeeeeeeevie," Eddie's voice slurred back at him, "Baby booooy. How's my baby boy? I miss my baby boy."

Steve smiled despite himself, yawning into the phone. Eddie was lucky he was so cute, considering how the love of his life who could not remember what time zones were, "He misses you too. And he's a little tired right now babe. What's up?"

"Day drunk," Eddie sighed, "Guys, morning show, mimosas, hotel room to sleep it off. Missing you."

"You won't be missing me for long," Steve softly laughed. Though... hearing his voice was quite the reminder of how cold the bed suddenly felt, "Just... one more week. That's not too long right?"

"Too long!" Eddie groaned, dramatic, "I miss you now. Why can't I see you now? Wait-Can I see you now? Cause planes and trains and-"

"And no," Steve interrupted with a chuckle, "You'd only get me for a few hours before you'd have to leave again."

"Worth it," Eddie mumbled out, his voice a little muffled as he tumbled around in his hotel bed, "Want my baby."

The pathetic tilt to his voice was enough to make Steve's heart clench. God he was too precious. Suddenly a red-eye in the middle of the night for a two hour make-out session didn't sound like such a bad idea. But he could be the strong one for tonight, "You have me sweetheart. Want me to stay on until you fall asleep."

"Yes please," Eddie sighed, "Love your voice. It's so... nice. Like... audible perfume. Like poetry or something."

"Oh baby you are wasted," Steve said as he laid back down, nestling the phone to his ear, "Please tell me you drank some water before laying down?"

"... maybe?"

"Babe."

"I knoooow. Keep nagging me though. I missed that too."

"Is my bitching your bed time story?"

He could hear Eddie nodding, rusting against the fabric, "And it's the best. Keep going?"

Steve rolled his eyes, but he did what he was asked. Saying every silly little grievance he could think of. He whined about how cold it was in bed without him, how Eddie had promised to take out the trash before he left and forgot. Again. How he hated how quiet it was without him, how much he missed hearing his voice trailing in and out of every room.

And Eddie listened, mumbling out a few sleepy m'sorrys and I love yous along the way. Until all Steve could hear was the slow, steady sound of his breathing. But he didn't hang up. Not when that was one of his favorite sounds in the world. And the perfect thing to fall asleep to.

Steve smiled to himself as he closed his eyes, a little amazed that Eddie could still make him feel so loved, from hundreds of miles away.

But one thing was for sure. He still had to be the happiest man on earth.

[sam-loves-seb]

thinking about eddie, a decade later, maybe two, and corroded coffin has gone on to be a world famous metal band and eddie gets recognized as their front man everywhere he goes. he loves it, for a time, creating joy with his music, having fun on tour with his friends, listening to entire stadiums sing his words back to him. it's the life he always wanted, and he's grateful.

but it's not 1986 anymore, he's not some twenty year old kid with energy to burn. none of them are. jeff has two kids at home that miss him terribly when the band's on tour, and gareth is married now with a baby of his own on the way. they all still love the band that changed their lives, and the shitty lyrics from their first album they wrote in gareth's mom's garage back in hawkins, and all the music that came after. but now--it might be time for a break.

"We're not breaking up," Eddie announces at their last show. "Far from it. We just--we need a little time to be normal again. To enjoy this part of our life before it's gone. We'll be back, someday, I know we will," he says, and the band nods along with him, their hands held over their hearts as the stadium cheers around them. "Consider it a hiatus. And don't even think about forgetting us while we're gone."

So, Jeff flies home and gets to go to his son's first t-ball game, and Gareth heads back to LA to finish setting up the nursery before his wife goes into labor. And Eddie?

Well, Eddie goes home.

To a little house just outside of Indianapolis, bought in 1989 after they signed their first record deal. Three bedrooms, two car garage, one husband waiting in the driveway when his car pulls up.

(That last one didn't come with the house, but it is what makes this place a home. Eddie's home.)

It's not until Eddie collapses in Steve's arms does he realize how much he needs this. That he realizes how tired he is, and just how homesick he's become.

"I missed you," Steve murmurs into his hair, arms wrapped tight around his waist.

"I'm never leaving home again," Eddie whispers back, clutching onto Steve's polo shirt and letting the tears start to pool in his eyes.

"We both know that's not true," Steve teases, pressing a kiss to Eddie's temple.

"Not for a long while, then," Eddie tells him, lifting his head and cupping his husband's face.

Steve tilts his head, his brows furrowing a bit in confusion, a single crease forming between them. It's deeper than it was when they first got together, back when they were all still kids. His hair is different too, still floppy and styled and perfect, but shorter, only a little bit, and just starting to salt and pepper near his temples. It's barely noticeable, unless you're Eddie Munson and you spend every moment you can studying the planes of Steve Harrington's face.

"I'm retired," Eddie tells him, only half joking.

"You're thirty-nine."

"Semi-retired," he rolls his eyes, takes his husband's hand, and leads him into their house where their two cats are waiting for them. "And making the most of it. Starting now."

[babydin]

Love in the Middle of a Firefight - PART TWO

The pregnancy is easy, despite the circumstances. The pregnancy was the easy part, Joel was supportive, he helped out, he ran around like a Retriever whenever you asked him to and Ellie asked a million questions every single day. But when the baby arrives Joel doesn't know if he remembers how to love something so fragile. - Joel Miller x f!reader - 18+, minors DNI! - (2/?) - Joel is dad, Joel is Daddy, paternal postnatal depression, pregnancy sex, oral. Not necessarily in this chapter, but for sure in this series!! Trauma references. Domesticated af. Angsty in places! - 1193 words - Comments/likes appreciated. Requests are open! - A/N: I didn't think too hard about the timeline, just vaguely after the events of S1, they go to Jackson to Tommy's place and live there and nothing bad happens. This will be in multiple parts but I haven't planned for how many! There will be time-jumps in each of the parts because I'm impatient™️

Ellie looked blankly between the two of you. She had that look like she was waiting for the punchline of one of Joel’s shitty dad jokes. 

PART ONE

“We’re home!”

    Joel and Ellie walked home from school every day. He always took her to school, and he always picked her up. Walking was just their thing. You had been anxiously waiting for Joel to announce their arrival because he had promised he wouldn’t say anything to her until you were all together, you wondered if he had kept up that bargain. “How was school?” You ask, watching Ellie hang up her jacket and then walk into the living room to flop onto the couch. “Some kid pushed another kid into a garbage can and a fight broke out.” Ellie explained, her lips pursing slightly and her brows raising. Joel frowned a little and you asked “Were you either of the kids in that story?” “I was not.”

You took Joel’s hand and sat down with him on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Babygirl,” he said, “we have somethin’ we need to tell you. Somethin’ important.” Ellie’s eyes darted between the two of you as she tried to figure out what was going on before either of you said anything, “I’m not leaving. Fuck off, Joel. I’m not going anywhere. I like it here, I have friends!”  Ellie had fallen into the habit of calling him Dad, unless she was furious with him then he was always Joel. 

Joel reached out with both his hands and took hers, looking at her in a way that almost forced her to keep eye contact with him, “We ain’t goin’ nowhere. We’re safe here, okay? We don’t leave.” He sits up a little and you look between the two of them, they are thick as thieves, they talk without words and there is so much that remains unspoken between them but they know. “Are you getting divorced?” Ellie asked, her chin dropping down into her chest and her eyes looking from you to Joel and back again rapidly. You open your mouth to correct her but decide against it. You and Joel weren’t married, not by any technicalities anyway; you talked about it once, it was always in passing, until one day you set a date with a priest and a chapel but the priest died and there wasn’t anyone else ordained to perform a wedding. That night Joel cooked chicken wings on a barbecue in the yard, you drank beer and sat and cuddled under the stars. You shared your vows, you exchanged rings that you had both made from scraps of metal from the junkyard. Joel had helped you with yours, he was so clever with tools, the ring he gave you was perfect and looked as if it could’ve come from a store; he scratched coordinates inside the band from the spot you had shared your first kiss - they could’ve been coordinates to a burnt out Wendy’s and you’d have been none the wiser, the thought was painfully romantic and you cried when he told you. Yours was a little jankier, but he didn’t mind that, he said it suited him. From that night on he always called you ‘the Missus’. You supposed in a broken world that was about as official as it was going to get. “How would you feel about bein’ a big sister?” Joel’s voice had softened slightly as he presented the question to Ellie. He didn’t know how she would react, she’d grown up in this pandemic, she navigated the world so much differently because of the situations she had been forced into and now they were safe in Jackson, Joel only wanted her to be a kid, catch up on the years she had missed. Ellie looked blankly between the two of you. She had that look like she was waiting for the punchline of one of Joel’s shitty dad jokes. “I’m pregnant.” the words leave your mouth so abruptly that it even catches you off guard, and it’s the first time you’ve said it out loud.  Suddenly it all feels real. The man you were playing house with by your side, the orphan you’d both somehow adopted as your own, in the middle of a war, your found family was about to grow by one more. Ellie giggled in her child-like way and fell back into the couch in a way that made Joel sit up defensively. “It’s difficult for me to believe that someone willingly reproduced with you.” Ellie teased. It’s clear that she thinks her leg is being pulled. “It was an accident, but you don’t need to be a dick about it.” You swatted Joel’s thigh, “Joel!” He turned to face you with an expression that was full of apologies “Obviously I didn’t mean it like that.” Ellie sat up again and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing a little as she looked at you with a calculated gaze, “Are you serious? Are you pregnant? For real?” Your eyes find hers, and your hands reach out to wrap around her own as you nod earnestly, hoping the message gets through. Joel reaches into the breast pocket of his shirt to show her the print out from the ultrasound, he points to the blip inside the hollows of your uterus and makes a sound that might’ve been him saying ‘there’ if he had opened his lips a little more. Ellie’s expression changes. You remember again that she’s experiencing a lot of things for the first time and this is the first ultrasound she’s seen, this is the first pregnancy she’s been this close to. “That’s a baby?” she asked, sounding utterly enchanted by it, unable to take her eyes off of it. “It’s so little.” “The nurse reckoned I’m about 7 weeks along,” you explain, “so in another 30 or so weeks it’ll be fully cooked.” “That’s a long time.” Ellie looked back at you, she sounded disappointed at the idea of having to wait so long to earn her role of big sister. “Trust me,” Joel added, “it’ll fly by.” Ellie’s eyes drifted back to the ultrasound, and Joel pushed it a little closer to her. She pulled her hands from yours and took the photo, bringing it up to her face for a closer inspection, “That’s so fuckin’ cool.” You and Joel both breathe out a sigh of relief in unison. That was all you had both wanted, Ellie’s approval. You were a family, and a team, you had to do everything together or it just didn’t work; you’d fought too hard to get to where you were. Joel put his hand on your thigh and his earlier promises that everything was going to be okay echoed in your mind. But then Ellie reminded you both of just how much of her education she had missed being in her situation and then traveling with Joel when she looked up from the photo and asked, “So when it is fully cooked, will the doctor have to cut it out of you?” Joel pulled a face and took a sharp inward breath as he patted your knee and pushed himself up off the coffee table, kissing your cheek on the way “That is all you, I am going to start dinner.”

[mikalame]

Halloween with Tokio Hotel

Check out @riaisnotok as i got a lot of inspo from them!!

Bill

he goes all out with big fancy decorations as Halloween is his favourite holiday, he drags everyone else into it as well

wakes everyone up super early to start with costumes and on the day of Halloween he gets everyone super hyped up before trick or treating even with Georgs grumbles of 'being to old for this shit'.

Make sure to milk all the people that give candy out for a lot of candy so he can get the most he will brag about it on the way to the next house to do the same thing

doesn't really dress up as gory characters more so fictional characters he sees in shows or reads about but he will make up sure the decorations around the house are gory and scary as shit.

love doing face paint and putting latex and fake blood on everyone thinks it is really cool to see it like drip down and how you can make some one look like they just got beaten up

Tom

Most gory shit ever its his whole thing could be the most plain character ever and he will be like "yeah i wanna be -------- but make me look dead 😁"

Scares little kids with Georg like around the time where 8-9 year old are walking around cause its not super dark but the sun is setting and they hide in bushes jumping out.

threw up in the middle of the night cause he scoffed down his lollies and got sick even though he was told not to eat them quickly but he didn't listen. this also happens every Halloween.

Gets scared by the fake skeleton bill puts up and will screech every time he sees it even in the middle of the night when he gets up to go puke.

Georg

Moves the fake skeleton around the house and even moves it so its hovering over top of toms bed so it looks like it was watching him sleep then laughs his ass off when he hears tom scream.

tom dared him to mix all his lollies together with a fizzy drink then when the drink tasted like pure sugar and no other flavour he punched tom for 'wasting his candy' then steals like 5 from everyone else.

like to get the Halloween drinks they do at cafes and will never admit it though. Gustav found out and now uses it as blackmail when ever he wants something from him.

Dresses up in THE most boring costumes ever think like batman or harry potter you know and they're also from the dollar store where they are really cheap shitty quality. gets hounded at by Bill for it.

Gustav

Makes all the best Halloween snacks like little ghosts and skeletons or zombies and they're all gone by like the 2 day of October because bill made sure this was a month long holiday

helps Georg with scaring tom and puts fake cobwebs in random places so he can walk into them but walked into them instead and screamed cause he thought it was real them got super embarrassed

didn't really do Halloween before moving in with the band but then because of bill he got into it but doesn't really dress up to much kinda basic as well but well thought out.

May tease Georg about his little pumpkin spice lattes but he in fact does drink them as well but comes up with an excuse about why he is going out (they don't really believe him most of the time)

Taglist:@oppopotamus@saumspam@violentnewmarley@adissonsss hope you all enjoy halloween and make sure if you have any ideas reqest them 😁

[meryldian]

⭑Growing up with TOKIO HOTEL pt.3 ⭑

AN .°˖✧: It feels so good to be back writing!! I know I said I would have more time to work on my blog but unfortunately, this summer’s proven to be more busy with work than I anticipated. I hope you guys are still as invested in this little series as I am!! We’re finally getting to the band’s big breakthrough moment.°˖✧

This part may potentially feel slow and not very crucial but! It marks the transition between being a teen band that played at the local club into being blasted into stardom, so I suggest reading it through with just as much love and care :)

Before you read ~ Disclaimers .°˖✧

- The reader is established as songwriter/rythmic guitar/backup vocalist but! The role is barely mentioned so you should be able to imagine her as you please.

- I said “her” because in this series, the reader is female. This is merely for plot reasons as it is very interesting to touch upon the reality of being the only female member in a “boyband”

- As usual, this is heavily based off Bill’s autobiography “Career Suicide” (as well as stories told from the guys themselves in interviews, Kaulitz Hills, q&a’s, et cetera) so expect heavy themes to be touched upon.

- Now that we’re getting into the main story, I must address that this series will be strictly platonic. For romantic interactions between the reader as 5th member and the band there will be separate posts. This is so I can allow you to imagine your own story based off my headcanons without imposing you a relationship.

WARNINGS: Underage drinking, underage smoking, mentions of depression, panic attacks, mature language, sexual themes addressed (non-explicit), “weirdos” (sadly, it’s the reality of the music industry).

Happy reading ~

We left this at what you really had gone to Hamburg for, making music.

Working with David Jost was like a treat. He taught you how to write an ear catching hook, the importance of a strong chorus, how to incorporate a bridge. He was like your music fairy godmother, and you loved it.

On Bill’s side, he grew impatient easily. He just wanted to put his thoughts on paper and sing. He wanted to instantly feel the bass shaking, the sound of the drums and shredding of the guitar.

Tom was rather interested by the production process of making a song. Back then, he didn’t know that little interest would grow into his biggest passion.

You spent days on end locked in a studio, conditionning your songs, coming up with new ones. Having gummy worm fights with Tom and reading shitty magazines with Gustav.

Nights on end destroying your fingers while coming up with new riffs and of course, attempting the riffs your producers shoved at you.

It was definitely a slap in the face to realize that as an artist you couldn’t just write everything yourself. You had a greedy company behind your back that looked for money rather than creativity. And well, as young kids you really had no idea how to actually produce music.

The amount of flat no’s you got to your face when sharing your ideas was insufferable and it made your blood boil.

Georg is the person you’d usually go to. He always listened to you rant and would join your anger in order to have you release it all.

I realized that I refered to both you and Gustav as the glues holding the band together so; let’s look at it this way: you’re the glue making you guys stick together and Gus is the scotch tape that makes you five inseparable.

So, back to the studio, back to writing, back to composing.

Overtime your endless sessions over the summer payed off and delivered the gem that we know now as your debut album. “SCHREI”

Picking the lead single proved to be a hard task, til someone’s girlfriend saw the potential of “Durch den monsun”

David Jost had once spotted the words “Hinter die welt” (beyond the world) on one of Bill’s songwriting notebooks that he shared with you and he was fascinated that such young kids could write such melancholic things.

With an album ready and a single to be released, it was time for the real action

You had a free week prior to the music video shooting. Bill and you took advantage of this to grab your allowance and start ofd by going to the hair salon and perfecting your hairdos. A little trim for him and anything you needed on your cute head.

You were supposed to have a gaming sleepover with Gustav to beat Devil May Cry 3 on your dusty PlayStation 2 and rock out on guitar hero, but your excitement for the music video shoot was so big that you spent all night brainstorming about how your life as stars would be.

Your manager took you guys shopping! The budget did not allow a new outfit for each and one of you but you all at least got a new item.

Cool jeans for Gustav, a new hat for Tom, a punky t-shirt for Georg, an item of your choice and the iconic leather jacket Bill wears in both Monsoon music videos.

A week of rest really flies by, and now the day of the video shoot arrived. You guys were newbies and being completely honest, the label didn’t quite believe in you yet.

Your budget was low and crew not the most promising. Most of these people were new ad had never worked on a project of the kind before.

Funnily enough, many of the people that started working with you guys from the very beginning would be the ones to stick with you through thick and thin and create your little tour family.

At least there was an idea. It was ambitious to film it all in one day and you five knew, but the producers kept reassuring you that most of the work would be done in post-production.

Your day started at 4:30 am when your alarm rang, not a soul up, not even the sun.

It didn’t take you long to get ready, as you’d be dolled up for the camera on set. You did your morning routine, packed your essentials, your outfit, and barely got time to eat before you had to get on the sleek black van that picked you up at 5:15 flat.

The boys were already all inside in exception of Georg, whom you’d go fetch right away.

You would’ve expected the ride to be chatty with excitement but you were all surprisingly calm, the nerves were starting to kick in.

The uncomfortably familiar fear of what’s to come, thinking of every single worst case scenario, what if you sucked, what if people hated you, what if your debut was a flop.

You tried to ignore the bad thoughts by drifting off on Gustav’s shoulder til you reached your first location.

A very public lake, where some families swam freely and unaware that a music video would be shot on their layback spot.

It was disappointing to you guys, particularly to Bill who dreamed of a tremendous production, but you would have to do with it.

David just gave him a pat on the back, it couldn’t be thaaattt bad.

When arriving on set you were given a tiny taste of what the rockstar life would be like.

Catering set up a table of, cheap, yet varied snacks for you to munch on. Makeup and hair station was installed in the back of the van and out of a truck rolled many cameras and new equipment you’d never seen before.

You could see Georg, with his newly permanently slicked hair, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Of course the first one to get ready and start shooting was Bill. Once he started his first scenes the makeup crew took care of the rest of you.

As annoying as it may be to accept, the label wanted you to look as pretty and dolled up as possible. Having a female member in the band was a bet they were willing to take and if their gambling went well, you’d become the cashcow real well.

Extensions were put in your hair, mascara and eyeliner adorned your eyes and a sticky pink gloss glazed your lips. Nothing too extravagant yet appealing enough. You still had to look like a rock chick after all. The delicacy of your look adorned with how punky your outfit probably was made the perfect balance the label was looking for.

The boys probably made fun of you but, they never meant wrong.

You munched on sandwiches and played on your old Nokia as you waited for your turn to take photos and record your scenes.

It’d been quite amusing to see Bill upside down on a weird pole structure to then dunk his head in a dirty fish-tank.

Certainly fabulous.

Suddenly you’re up on a metal platform above water, playing your unplugged guitar and getting drenched by icy water raining down on you.

You played it off (literally) and in one take you were done with your first few scenes. No cuts and no chance to do it again. You had to save time so, if you looked like crap it was your problem.

Nowadays you probably cringe at some of your facial expressions and missed notes on the clip.

Quickly enough some of the guys helped you get down from the platform back onto solid ground and one of the makeup artists wraps you in a towel.

Now, you sit all wet while watching the boys repeat the same steps as you. As a girl tries her best to dry your damp hair before attacking it with a flat iron. Who has time to think of heat damage when you have another outfit to get in and more scenes to film.

The day went on smoothly, but the recording certainly felt rushed. By the end of the day you were left with a feeling of doubt.

The big day arrived.

August 15th, the day “Durch den Monsun” would drop.

You met with the twins at their house and the little family consisting of Bill, Tom, their mom & step-dad and dog Scotty! + you, whom they took in like if you were one of them.

Gordon, Bill and Tom’s step dad set their vhs recorder ready, just in case the music video would never be aired again, you wanted the memory.

The ad break ends and VIVA (German music channel) announces the debut single of Universal’s newest band.

Tokio Hotel with Durch Den Monsun

Somewhen in betwen the start of your journey with record labels the name Devilish was left behind and you guys adopted the new and stylish Tokio Hotel. But that’s a story for another day.

The wind blows a candle and Bill’s face in slow motion was shown on screen.

You could not contain your excitement! Bill and you held hands and shook them in the air as you watched the product of one long stressful day.

Your future self sees the video and points out the numerous flaws and low quality but back then it was so cool to you. You thought you were on top of the world

Honey, you’ve got a big storm coming.

Tom didn’t speak much. He simply watched in awe, a smile of admiration and pride forming on his fine lips.

Later that day, you’d gather up with the rest of the band, David Jost and some crew members to celebrate your debut with cheap gas station champagne and ham and cheese bites the twins’s mom prepared.

You didn’t have much yet, but you’d just made a big step.

In the coming weeks you would see the immediate effects of monsun, were you ready? Who knew. What was undeniable was the immediate success that would follow.

AN: AAAAAA I kinda hate this ⋆｡ﾟﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ It was needed to include some of the process for your debut though! Take it as the calm before the storm I guess! Next part will take on the effects of your quick rise to fame on your everyday life and relationships. It will definitely dig more into your link with the boys, as this part barely had any interactions :(

As usual, take care, remember to eat and sleep!!

Love, Meryl <3

[riality-check]

come get part 4 of platonic hellcheer coparenting! part 1, part 2, and part 3

Chrissy is trying very hard not to be scared out of her mind. For all her effort, she’s failing miserably.

Three separate tests sit on the counter. Three separate tests from three separate brands. The odds of all of them are astronomically low, and she should know. That Google search is the most recent tab on her phone.

(For a moment, when she was typing, she stopped herself, reminded herself that her mom tracks her search history. Then, she shook herself out of it, remembered that she’s twenty years old and hasn’t lived with her mother for a second since she turned eighteen. Then, she kept on typing.)

But oh, God. She’s twenty years old, and there’s three positive tests sitting in front of her.

She’s twenty years old. She can’t even legally get a drink - she’s got a good fake though, and that bartender never looks too hard anyway - but she’s supposed to have a baby? A baby?

She can barely take care of herself. She’s working a terrible minimum wage job, taking phone calls at a truly mediocre pizzeria, but that’s not enough to support her and a kid. Never mind the fact that there’s no place for a baby here, not with a roommate, and she can’t afford this place without her roommate-

Someone knocks on the door, shaking her out of her thoughts.

“Coming!” she calls, and she gets up off the bathroom floor, wipes her tears, and answers the door.

It’s Eddie. True to his word, it’s only been ten minutes since she hung up on him, and it looks like he spent every minute of it sprinting over. She’s pretty sure his shirt is on backwards, and both his shoes are untied, and his hair is thrown up into a bun that honestly just looks like one big knot.

They’re both such messes. How the hell are they supposed to have a ba-

“You okay?” he asks.

Not hi or can I come in or screw you, you’re on your own.

You okay? he had said.

Chrissy can’t help it, she starts crying again right there.

“Woah, okay, yeah,” Eddie says, coming in and immediately hugging her. “Yeah, stupid question. Sorry.”

She hugs him back, clinging onto him because, honestly? She doesn’t have much else. Jason sucks. She’s not going back to him, ever. And her parents-

Oh, God. Her parents. They would want to know, even if she hasn’t spoken to them in years, and-

“Not stupid,” Chrissy says between sobs, just to get her mind off that particular track. “Not a dumb question.”

“I think I should have been able to tell that you aren’t okay,” Eddie says gently, leading the two of them to the couch.

“No,” Chrissy says, pulling back. She wipes off her tears, puts on an intentionally fragile smile, and says, with her nose almost completely clogged up, “I think it’s a perfectly reasonable question.”

That makes Eddie laugh, which makes her laugh, and it feels a little bit better.

They sit down together, and Chrissy watches as Eddie keeps himself quiet by toying with one of the many rings on his hands. It’s the one on his right ring finger, the one he keeps playing with, the one with a big stone in the middle. It doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of them.

Chrissy wonders where he got it from.

Neither one of them says anything, until Chrissy surprises herself by breaking the silence.

“So,” she says, and that’s all she’s got.

“So?”

“So, what do you think?”

“What do I think?” Eddie asks, tilting his head to the side in confusion. “What do I think? This isn’t up to me, Chrissy. You say how this goes. I’m just along for the ride.”

Oh.

“So, if you don’t want to do this, that’s fine. If you want to, I’ll do it with you. If you want to but want me to get lost, I’ll do that-”

“Why would I want you to get lost?” she asks, interrupting what’s clearly become a nervous ramble.

Eddie stares at her. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“What?”

“Chrissy, I’m a twenty-two year old high school dropout who tried to start a band with his friends and got scammed by a shitty record company. I live with my uncle in a trailer park, I’m studying for the GED, which is way harder than it has any right to be, and I’m never going to be able to love you the way that you deserve.”

Eddie spreads his hands out in a ta-da! motion, and while he’s smiling, Chrissy can see how it’s strained at the corners of his mouth.

“You done yet?” she asks. 

“What do you-”

“Eddie, I’m a twenty year old who hasn’t spoken a word to her parents since the second I turned eighteen. I’m working the world’s worst minimum wage job to try to pay for community college, I used a fake ID at that bar where we met again, and I spent way too much of my life in an unfulfilling relationship because I couldn’t see another option for myself. And, newsflash, I also can’t love you that way.”

“At least you’re in college,” Eddie points out.

“You’re getting your GED,” Chrissy counters. “So you’re no slouch, either.”

“Looks like we’re both wrecks.”

Chrissy laughs, and it quickly turns into a cough, reminding her that, oh, yeah she’s spent a lot of the last half hour just crying. Eddie lets her cough it out, then grabs one of her hands. He toys with it like how he was toying with his ring earlier.

“I think,” Chrissy says slowly, “that if we’re both wrecks, then we should be wrecks together.”

Eddie’s fingers freeze where they’re wrapped around her own. “Are you serious?”

Chrissy thinks for a while. Thinks about the fact that while this is still scary, it’s been significantly less scary since Eddie got here. Thinks about the fact that he’s just as scared as she is. Thinks about the fact that, even though she is scared, this kid will at least grow up with way more love than she ever had.

She already knows she’ll never track internet search histories and calories. Ever.

And, while she doesn’t know Eddie all that well, she thinks that there’s some stuff he’d never do, too.

“I think misery loves company,” Chrissy says.

“I don’t think we’ll be miserable. Not if it’s the two of us.”

“Just the two of us?” Chrissy asks instead of pointing out how Eddie is probably right in a way that makes her heart hurt.

That night, after they’d gotten it over with, was good. Because Eddie is sweet and makes things easy in a way that Chrissy loves.

She thinks it’ll be hard, but she can’t imagine being well and truly miserable with him. But maybe that’s just young adult optimism, since it definitely isn’t the blindness of young love.

“No, of course not,” Eddie says. “My uncle is a fucking saint, he’s gonna try to help out in every way possible, whether we want him to or not. And the guys are all back, and while we’re taking a bit of a break - living and working together for a few years means we just need some space - they’ll help out.”

“I don’t have anyone,” Chrissy says. “Like, at all. I don’t talk to my parents, and I’m never talking to Jason again.”

“Okay. What’s mine is yours, then,” Eddie says, like it’s no big deal. No big deal at all that she can’t have anyone help out the way that Eddie’s friends and family are.

“I’m sorry,” she says. For not doing enough, for not being enough, for choosing the hardest option, even though she does think it’s the right one.

“You’re sorry? You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Eddie says. “If anything, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Derailing your life. Since we’re doing this, right?”

“Yeah,” Chrissy says, and she surprises herself by not hesitating, not even for a second. “Yeah, we’re doing it.”

“Okay,” Eddie says, letting out a long sigh.

“And you didn’t derail my life. I think I derailed yours, but-”

“What kind of life do I have?” Eddie asks. Chrissy wishes she could wipe that self-deprecating smile off his face. It makes him look too sad. 

Sad and Eddie shouldn’t belong in the same sentence, she thinks.

“Let’s not say derailed,” Chrissy says. “Let’s say… switched tracks. We were running on different ones, and now we’re on the same one.”

“When trains do that, they crash,” Eddie points out.

“We’re better than that,” Chrissy says. 

Eddie snorts, but he doesn’t have anything to say to that. 

“So, new track?”

She puts her hand out to shake, but Eddie doesn’t grab it. He just wraps his arms around her shoulders, pulling her in for a tight hug.

“New track,” he says, and both of them ignore how he sounds a little choked up.

part 5 exists and so does part 6!

[thisapplepielife]

Written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles December challenge.

You Say Bark, I Say Bite

Prompt Day 1: Open Mic Night | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: Language, Smoking | Tags: Pre-S4, Pre-Steddie, Platonic Stobin, Corroded Coffin

"No, no, no," Steve says, waving his hand in front of him. He's not doing this. 

"Steve, please," Robin begs, "it's just one night. For me. You love me." 

There are so many other ways they could spend a Saturday night that don't involve listening to shitty musicians. They'll all suck. He knows that. They've done this before, and he's never heard anything he's liked. 

"Steve. For me," she pleads, giving him the eyes. 

He sighs. He was always going, but he's not happy about it. And he wants Robin to know that. 

"Tammy Thompson sounds like a Muppet," Steve says.

"You've said," Robin mumbles, annoyed. 

That's the whole reason they're here in Indianapolis tonight, at some under twenty-one club, listening to teens and college kids play shitty music. To hear Tammy Thompson nasal her way through a song or two.

Someone brought a goddamn flute. To an open mic night. A flute. These people are all weirdos. No talent to be found.

Then the little stage is suddenly bustling with movement, bringing in actual instruments and equipment. Okay, maybe they're getting somewhere. This has to be better than another douchebag with a guitar.

Oh, no. 

That's definitely a douchebag with a guitar.

"Is that…Eddie Munson?" Steve asks, cutting Robin a look. 

"Well, duh," Robin says, totally unbothered by this very weird turn of events, "he has a band, you know that."

He knows that? He doesn't know that. He knows Eddie Munson is a dealer. He knows Eddie Munson is a freak. But he didn't know Eddie Munson played the guitar.

"I didn't fucking know that," Steve says, confused, wrinkling his forehead.

"They play at The Hideout every week. Eddie, Jeff, Gareth and Goodie. Corroded Coffin. You know that. Everybody knows that. Eddie is always hanging up flyers everywhere."

News to him. He doesn't know any of these guys. Who the fuck is Goodie? That's not even a name.

"I think you're making shit up. I don't recognize any of those guys. Like, not at all. Did they go to Hawkins? While I was there?"

Robin looks at him like he's an asshole. Okay, they must have. 

"They gotta be way younger," Steve finally says, indignant. "I know Eddie. Because he's been a senior for the last five years."

She gives him a withering look, "Three years. Last three years."

Like that's better. 

Eddie is quietly helping the drummer get his shit set up as fast as they can, and Steve watches. This should be good. This will be way more entertaining than Tammy Thompson. Because he can't fathom what Eddie Munson might think is good music. God, Steve hopes he tries to sing. 

He's positive this will be worth the cover charge, for sure. A trainwreck.

It's not a trainwreck. Eddie Munson falls back, and the black kid takes the mic. Okay, he didn't expect that. He expected Munson to be front and center.

"Who's the singer?" 

"Jeff Williams. His sister was in your class," Robin hisses. 

Oh, okay. Molly Williams was fun. She wouldn't give him the time of day when he tried to get her to go on a date with him, but fun. He didn't even know she had a little brother.

They start playing a song, and Steve doesn't recognize it.

Jeff shouts, "All aboard!" and laughs as the drummer starts clicking his sticks together, then playing, and it's okay. Fine. 

Then, Eddie starts playing the guitar. 

Goddammit. 

Steve hates to be wrong, and hates that this is really working for him. Eddie Munson looks at ease, happy, and kinda hot. Steve's never seen him look like that at school. Not once. Munson is snarky, snappy. Always quick to bite back. Funny, for sure, but Steve would avoid him, because Munson never shied away from trying to make Steve look stupid at every fucking turn. 

But he can play the guitar, apparently.

Robin nudges his shoulder, "They're good, right?"

He nods, not looking away. They're good.

They play another heavy song, but it's Queen. They're doing a metal cover of Bicycle Race, and that amuses Steve, he likes Queen.

After they're done playing, Steve makes excuses, and slips outside into the alley. He's pretty sure Eddie Munson isn't going to stay to watch this other shit.

Eventually, there he is, guitar case in hand. Steve thinks he'd like to ride him like a bicycle, and that's a new thought.

About Eddie. Not about men. 

"Oh, hey," Steve says, leaning against the wall of the alley, smoking a cigarette he bummed. Robin will kill him, but he needs an excuse to be out here. Like he wasn't waiting. Even if he totally was.

"Harrington," Eddie says with contempt, "what brings you out here with us freaks?"

"Robin," Steve says, and Eddie gives him a look.

"Buckley's really friends with you? I thought that was a terrible rumor."

Steve pretends that doesn't hurt, and just nods.

"Too bad, I like her," Eddie says, and this was a mistake. What the fuck was he thinking? Eddie Munson will just give him a tongue-lashing, and not in a fun way. He's an idiot for thinking otherwise. Steve isn't this hard up. 

"Okay, well, you guys looked good," Steve says, pushing himself off the wall. 

Eddie laughs, incredulous, "You thought we looked good?" 

"Sounded," Steve corrects. 

"You, King Steve, thought we sounded good? I've been to your house parties. You don't listen to metal. Do you even know who Ozzy is?"

Steve doesn't, and shakes his head. And Eddie's been to his house? Since when? Nevermind. Doesn't matter.

"You guys were good compared to all that other shit I had to sit through tonight. You sounded like, you know, actual music. I guess." 

Eddie raises an eyebrow, like he can see right through Steve. 

Shit. 

Shit, shit, shit.

Steve suddenly feels like he's in big trouble. Trapped. Backed into a corner.

Eddie smiles and takes a step towards him, and it's predatory.

Steve swallows.

Oh, he's definitely in trouble.

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

If you want to see more of my entries into this month-long challenge, you can check them out in my tag, right here!

[teddypickerry]

Hi!! if you’re still doing requests would you do a loralie gilmore x fem reader one? maybe where they bond over liking metallica (sorry chris lmao) and their friendship turns into a relationship?

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐍.

pairings — fem! reader x lorelai gilmore

word count — 876

warnings — literally just fluffy + flirty lorelai

a/n — first of all, never apologize to chris. secondly… WHAT UP MFS (saying that like i didn’t disappear off the face of the earth for a hot min) hope this tiny little blurb did you justice, i thought it was just cute. love you guys. thank you for messaging me + sending requests lately. you guys rock.

THE TOWN OF STARS HOLLOW was on the brink of Autumn, yet the sun was mistaking the New England town for a tropical paradise. Except the sun didn't accept the idea of paradise. Not with the continuous heat waves that had the town meetings cancelled and air conditioners blasting. Not a single long sleeve in sight despite it being the first day of September.

"This feels like a joke. This has to be a joke, right?" Lorelai Gilmore mutters as she walks down the side walk, fanning herself with her hand while trailing around in her heeled boots that felt like personal hell. Her best friend, Sookie, stood to her right wiping the bead of sweat from her forehead. "If it is, this is the cruelest joke ever."

The two regretted their walk from the Dragonfly Inn almost instantly and that thought only deepened as they walked the towns streets. Luke's seemed so far away and they were ready to give up.

"Watch out!" A voice called from the town square, as the two woman turned to see a ball coming in their direction. Lorelai moved out of the way and Sookie quickly followed, the ball nearly taking out their necks. A woman came jogging over and stopped with a quick glance at the two of them, grabbing the ball and tossing it into her arms. "Oh, sorry. That kid is not ready for soccer tryouts.”

Lorelai locked eyes with the woman who stood before her, wearing a pair of sneakers with shorts and a cut-up Metallica t-shirt. She looked like she somehow didn't break a sweat. Despite her athletic efforts. "Where did you come from, the freezer section?" Lorelai asks.

The unknown woman rubs her lips together before motioning over to the kid standing in the grass across the road. "My niece has shitty aim," She says with a quick smile.

"Well we can't all be... a… soccer player," Lorelai mutters as she realizes she doesn't know the name of a singular athletic star.

"Are you new around here?" Sookie asks the girl curiously as she searches her purse for her sunscreen. Y/N only nodded in response, "Just visiting my sister. She owns the boutique down the road."

"Oh yeah, I like going in there. It's like an episode of The Twilight Zone. I never know what's gonna happen in there," Lorelai chuckles as the woman only nods along. "Cool t-shirt, by the way."

"Metallica fan?" Y/N asks as she eyes her for a moment, noticing the pink tank top with a puppy on it. She found it hard to believe that this smiley woman would be fond of Kirk Hammett.

"Great band," Lorelai nods.

"They know how to play a tune or two," Y/N comments with a quick smirk making Lorelai smile. Clearly enjoying their little talk and what Y/N said next. "It's not too often I run into a pretty Metallica fan."

Lorelai smiles sweetly at those words making Sookie have to hide her smile of excitement with her hand. Before making an excuse to leave the two alone. "I'm gonna head to Luke's before I become bacon out here... nice meeting you."

Y/N gives her a nod as she walks past her, leaving Lorelai stood infront of her and only her. "Yeah, I'll meet you there."

She tossed the ball back over towards her niece who went back to kicking it around the gazebo. Lorelai's eyes still on her as she did so. Enjoying her figure in the summer clothing. "Well I should probably get back to her..."

"Yeah," Lorelai gives her a nod as she breaks out of the trance and looks over at the kid. "She's a cute kid."

"She is," Y/N nods as she gives Lorelai another look once her head turned. "Listen... I'm gonna be in town for a while."

"Oh?" The Inn owner says, obviously too awkward to mumble out something witty as per usual. Y/N nodded before licking her lips. "Yeah, I'll see you around?"

"Yep. It's Stars Hollow; we see everyone and everything. Not in a creepy way... but in a like, we're always looking. God, that sounded very opening scene of Halloween," Lorelai smiles awkwardly before chuckling away her nerves.

"Great movie," Y/N comments with a quick smile as she glanced down at the empty coffee cup Lorelai was holding. Questioning why she was on her second cup of hot coffee on a day like this... but noticing the sharpie'd name written on the side. "…Lorelai."

Lorelai furrows her eyebrows with another soft chuckle. "So you're stalker Michael Myers."

"No, I'm just a girl who can read," Y/N motions to the coffee cup with a nice smirk. Lorelai feels a grin grow at that as she looks over at the woman. "I'll see you later, Lorelai."

"You too, Y/N." Lorelai hums as she watches her head toward the street before turning to her with a confused look. Lorelai only grins as she starts walking to the coffee shop, "I can read too."

Y/N thinks for a moment as she crossed the street and walked back over to her niece. Noticing the ball by her feet. 'Property of Y/N Y/L/N'

"Well, damn."

[peppermint-toads]

𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫

part two

eddie overhears you after his gig, i guess we can call this a lighthearted slow burn, read part one here

cw: male masturbation, alcohol

Eddie was completely bummed out the entire week. Talking to you, actually interacting with you gave him such an intense high. Not even special K made him feel that way. He was experiencing a new low. It was like he missed you. But he’d never even met you.

“C’mon, Eddie. Focus! You remember what Dave said last week? That if we can’t-”

“Get our shit together then he’ll find another band. Yeah, yeah. I know.”

“So why the fuck are you dicking around?”

“I just-I can’t get her out of my head.”

“The radio chick? You’re fucking kidding.”

“No,” Eddie glared at Gareth. “I’m fucking not. I mean it.”

Their set blew. Totally blew. And it was mostly Eddie’s fault. He couldn’t help how distracted he was. He said a sorry goodbye to his band mates, slinking over to the dirty bar to sulk to himself.

He rested his forehead pathetically on his leather clad arm, other arm outstretched and holding onto a lukewarm beer.

“Could I have a ginger ale, please?”

Eddie froze, eyes shooting wide open. He slowly lifted his head and turned to where the voice came from, still halfway hiding behind his arm and messy hair. He didn’t quite believe it. He waited carefully for you to speak again.

You thanked the bartender sweetly, and Eddie melted. It was you. He swallowed down his internal panic with room temperature ale with a gulp.

His fingers shook as he shifted from his barstool to the next. Then he scooted to the next. And the next until he was sitting in the one right beside you.

You glanced over at him once, flashing a bit of an uncomfortable smile.

“Hi?” You asked.

He nodded to himself. Yeah it was you.

“You’re uhm, you’re the girl from the radio.”

“Yeah, yeah. Uh that’s me.” You flashed a weak smile.

“I’m Eddie.” He shoved his hand out, which you ignored.

Your brows furrowed, he sounded familiar. “Eddie,” you mumbled to yourself. Then, your eyes lit up. “Oh! Eddie! You called in the other day. I remember you, you sounded nervous.”

You remembered him.

Fuck. Eddie had a boner. Shit. He leaned further into the bar, attempting to hide his bulge that was becoming more obvious by the second.

“Yeah my friend he made me-” Eddie trailed off lowly, getting in his own head.

“Anyways, I’m a big-uh-big fan of your show.”

“I was a big fan of your set.”

He knew you were being polite, but he didn’t mind.

“I’ve never seen you around here before? Usually only see the same faces.” He said, propped his elbow on the bar and leaned a little closer to you.

You tipped your head back, finishing off your drink. “My boss sent me. Caught wind of a local band. Said they do pretty shitty covers.” You smiled.

“Well,” he grinned back, flagging down the bartender, “your boss was right.”

He directed his attention towards the bartender. “Another ginger ale, for the lady.”

You couldn’t believe it but your cheeks actually flushed, you could feel the heat creeping up your neck and tinging your ears. You took a moment to take in his big brown eyes and messy brown curls, the way he tapped his ring covered fingers on the bar top, his poorly concealed boner.

You let him sit with you for the rest of the night, and Eddie’s brain eventually grew fuzzy from all the beer he’d consumed.

“You know, you don’t seem as nervous in person as you did on the phone.”

Truthfully he was nervous, shitting bricks despite the alcohol. He had just somehow gotten away with concealing his shaking hands and the boner that still hadn’t gone away.

He shrugged, though. Playing it off.

“Maybe you can come by the station tomorrow? If you’re not too busy with the Iron Maiden covers and whatnot.” You asked, peering up at him with a hopeful glint in your eyes.

“Yeah I- I can make that work.”

That night, Eddie did something new. He touched himself like normal, sure. But this time not only to your voice, but to your warm smile, and pretty eyes, and as suspected, your killer rack.

kisses from me and eds as always<3

[creek-ink]

hello hi !! i love your art <33 do you think you could drop any nina hcs you have ?

hello and thank u!! here's some art from earlier today of my versions of nina and jane <3

as for nina's hcs,, well I honestly haven't thought too much on her place in my lil fan storyline I'm making.

so let's see what I can make up on the spot!! kisdbsjhdkdsk

Nina's "origins"

like most creepypastas, I don't like Nina's original story. (lol) so here's my just as shitty version.

nina, in my world, was still a jtk fangirl. she heard his story on the news and was captivated by his mugshot. (definitely the type to romanticize true crime) she began emulating his chelsea grin with makeup and posting abt her infatuation w him on her social media.

this fixation on Jeff opened a door to the slenderman, which it gladly stepped through. like any edgy teen being stalked by an eldredge horror would, she began to document her experience w the monster on her verious social media outlets.

to prevent further exposure of the proxies n what not, nina was due to die. in the midst of her kidnapping, she expressed her interest in working alongside the monsters that stalked her.

in a rather sitcom-y way, nina was now a part of the problem, if u will. working w her fav serial killers </3

her style

clothing:

apart from being engrossed in the emo/scene culture, her clothing style is heavily influenced by the early 2000s. she loves all things gaudy and over the top, often resulting in a hot topic explosion.

intrests:

most likely influenced by her style, her interests in angsty media should be noted. she's an avid reader of johnny the homicidal maniac, death note, and other media in the like. her fave bands include- sleeping w sirens, get scared, msi, and blood on the dance floor.

(while on trips into town, she makes it a point to stop by the local nerd shop to stalk up on (rob) her favs.)

crime: (lmao)

let's just say she's very reckless. she leaves behind crums of evidence everywhere she goes. at this point, she's stopped making an attempt to hide her tracks.

she gets a little too into the killing thing- often being playful and flirting w her victims. she sees it all as one big game and definitely believes she's invincible.

relationships

-jane is her person, the perfect amount of balance and authority that counteracts her crazy. jane sees nina as a person in need of guidance and maybe a bit of parenting. nina sees jane as a big sister of sorts and often comes to her for advice and to confide in.

-toby is her bestie. point, blank, period. those two get into a little too much trouble together. they became close via the long drives that resulted from their extensive missions. at first, nina had the hots 4 toby but soon grew out of them infavor of his friendship.

fun lil tid bit- they like to sit in eachothers company while they read. nina reads her manga/comics and toby his books.

-jeff,, well jeff, for obvious reasons, isn't too found of nina. he finds her annoying and tiring, which is rich coming from him. he does his best to avoid her, but when the unavoidable is unavoidable, she ignores him. they say never meet ur idols and boy, they weren't kidding. all that time fantasizing abt her prince rly didn't match up to the sleazy prick she now works w. let's just say they don't get along.

-as 4 the majority of the creeps, there seems to be a consensus that nina is annoying af, and shes to be avoided. (rip nina)

so this was kinda shit! but either way, I hope u enjoyed the read. I may revisit this someday and flesh it out. or just scrap it all together pff!! lemme know what u think and lemme know any of ur guy's-s hcs or suggestions! i love reading what u have to say. (even if what u have to say conflicts w what i have to say)

[fullyinconsequential]

Here’s a 3am Steddie rant I think every Steddie lover (and possibly hater) should hear. I have no goal to convert anyone—just to say that the ship did not actually “come from nothing.” Here’s why:

I don’t understand how there wasn’t Steddie foresight in the writer’s room.

So they play it up in season 3 like Steve just can’t get the girl and when he does she’s not the right girl and yada yada yada—cool beans. I love his character arc with Robin, their friendship, her queerness. I love their entire bathroom interaction.

Specifically: “It’s somebody that I didn’t even talk to in school. Maybe cuz Tommy H. would’ve made fun of me, or I wouldn’t be prom king…. First of all, she’s hilarious. So funny. I feel like this summer I have laughed harder than I have laughed in a really long time. And she’s smart—way smarter than me…. She’s honestly unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”

Traits Robin Also Has that Eddie Shares:

Outcast

Band Kid

The Witty Banter

Eddie’s personality is VERY Robin. Not perfectly so, but maddeningly close.

Another point:

This is just the same person in different gender specific fonts, A.K.A. Steve’s “love interest” versus a guy who called him “big boy” completely unprompted and interrupted a tender moment between him and his “love interest” and complimented him for an entire scene while Steve wore his clothes.

So, really, one of them’s Steve’s love interest and the other is Nancy Wheeler /hj.

I write a lot, and as someone who both writes and consumes an abhorrent amount of media, whoever wrote this down, casted and costumed this way, and allowed for the interactions between Steve and Eddie to be as nuanced as they were (EX: the scene in which Eddie steps forward like he has more to say to Steve before he goes off and kills himself) had to have known what was going to happen. There is simply no way of not seeing it.

And if they didn’t want people shipping Steddie at the scale which they do, here’s what went wrong:

First: defaulting to Steve wanting his ex back is just plain shitty writing. It means you don’t know where to go with the character anymore, and since you’re certain he’s done all the growing he can do, he’s just gonna double back to the conflict he was in in the FIRST SEASON.

Are you serious right now, bro?

Steve’s arc as a character has been absolutely heartwarming to watch. If anything, he’d have been better off given the “I need to figure out how to be happy on my own” narrative. Throwing him back at Nancy is a cop out, a big one.

Second: Eddie. Throwing Eddie in the mix was absolutely a WILD decision, because he looks like Nancy, he banters like Robin, and GENDER IS NO LONGER A PLAUSIBLE REASON FOR AN AUDIENCE TO DENY CHEMISTRY, OR EXPLAIN IT AWAY. Not in the year of our lord 2023, no sir. Not unless you’re going to explicitly state in some way to an audience that these characters are DEFINITIVELY STRAIGHT. And with Eddie, they went as far off that course as possible.

The outcast stuff. The D&D stuff. The hatred of the system. The mysteriously living with his uncle and not his parents. THE HANKERCHIEF IN HIS BACK POCKET.

So essentially, this is what they did:

They took a beloved character, flubbed over his character arc because they weren’t sure what to do with it.

Then, they created a SECOND beloved character, made him likable, lovable, even, and relatable. Then they gave him half and half personality and looks of Steve’s last two love interests. Then they gave us scenes of them together where they showed chemistry, genuineness, and playfulness.

Then they EXPECTED that we as an audience had enough heteronormativity left as a society to say—oh, those two guys aren’t flirting with each other even a little bit because they’re two guys and obviously that doesn’t happen.

WHEN IN THE SAME SEASON WE WATCHED WILL AND ROBIN GO GAY PANIC AND DESPAIR LIKE?????

Pick a side pick a side, are your characters fucking gay or is your audience fucking blind?

Point being, I have some friends IRL who don’t really get this. They think Steve and Eddie hardly interacted enough for there to be romance at all, but I think it’s less about how much they interacted and more about the (unintentional) set up they were given by the writers.

Steve’s a truly beloved character and I don’t know on ST fan that wants to see him just end up back with Nancy Wheeler like his entire character arc was just to “get the girl” and “have six kids.” Which he already has by the way.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents. I’m not advocating for anyone to ship them, I’m just saying it’s honestly a perfectly logical conclusion to make, especially if you CARE about Steve as a character, you know? We want him to be with someone genuine, someone who challenges him to be better, to be different than he was. Nancy couldn’t handle doing that. Robin could, but they’re platonic af.

So why wouldn’t it be Eddie?

Rest in peace, by the way. You would’ve loved this text post.