#CCFest

[jo-harrington]

I need to plug in my iPad. The words are wording tonight folks.

[dreamwatch]

There Goes My Hero

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest

Day #12 - Prompt: Ow! | Word Count: 999 | Rating: T | CW: language, canon typical violence, fat shaming, mention of blood, injuries, mention of past bullying | POV: Matt | Pairing: Steddie | Tags: Angst, hurt/comfort, violence, fighting,

This was the very first thing I wrote for CCFest back in April!

****

Matt’s not a fighter. He’s not brave. 

He spent years skulking around the halls of Hawkins High, desperately trying to make himself smaller, to make himself invisible. Until Eddie came along and told them it was all bullshit anyway. Until Eddie came along, bigger and bolder than everyone else, a huge willow tree for them all to take shelter under.

Fighting to him, to all of them he thinks, is learning to take a slap and then walking it off. Saying ’it’s fine, it doesn’t even hurt’ as you wipe the blood from under your nose. Not biting back when they call you a fat fuck.

Fighting to him is just taking it.

And that’s mortifying, honestly, fucking pathetic, but he just wanted to keep his head down, play his music and DnD, and be left alone.

So he doesn’t know where it came from, so suddenly, although maybe that’s a lie. Like saying it doesn’t hurt when your face stings, and you’re standing in the hallway, humiliated. If he digs deep, really thinks hard about it, then it’s probably years of pent-up anger. Of having his shit stolen from his locker, of seeing his friends getting picked on and not having the guts to do a fucking thing about it other than watch and hope you’re not next. So yeah, blind, impotent rage, right? The kind that makes good people go off in the world and do bad things. 

This was his bad thing.

He hopes the other guy is okay, mostly because he doesn’t want to go to jail. He hasn’t seen Eddie since they got brought in to the ER, and he really hopes he’s okay. His face looked a mess. 

This was the eighth show on their little midwestern tour. They put it together themselves, all piled into the van, and Jeff’s station wagon (they’d laughed when he bought it, but it was a genius idea in retrospect), and just took off for a few shows over the summer. Nothing big. No real agenda other than to play and get the fuck out of Hawkins.

It would be understating it to say that Hawkins had done a number on Eddie. They still have no idea what happened. Eddie told them he got bit by dogs which just made them angry, honestly, because the stench coming off that bullshit was stifling. What they do know for sure is that he nearly died. That whatever happened left him hollowed out, physically and mentally. That it broke something in their friend, which broke something in them.

Watching Eddie recover was hard. They were all sure the band was over but in some fucked up, twisted, alternate-dimension weirdness, Steve Harrington got Eddie to play again. 

Steve. 

Harrington. 

What the fuck?

And fuck knows what he did, or said, or bribed Eddie with, but it worked. He picked up the guitar again, trading lead for rhythm with Jeff while he built up his strength and coordination, but for all that he was frustrated the light came back on. Eddie was back.

Matt wasn’t letting anyone take him away again.

It only took one show at The Hideout to know they were never going to play there again. Eddie was a curiosity now, something to be gawped at. Someone thought it would be hilarious to throw a cheerleader’s pom pom onto the stage, and it sent Eddie into a spiral. He holed up in the bathroom and wouldn’t let anyone in until Steve showed up and alikazam! the door opens. They were in there for an hour. Eddie was red-eyed and a little dazed afterwards and that was the last night they ever played in Hawkins. 

They’re in Des Moines when it happens. The show was great, objectively fucking awesome. There must have been a couple of hundred people in there, and the manager wanted them back, people asked for tapes. It couldn’t have gone any better.

So of course it went to shit.

They’d barely opened the back of the van to load up before some six-foot giant grabbed Eddie by the collar and punched him so hard in the face that blood sprayed from his nose, landing on Gareth beside him. There was a moment of complete silence, where it felt like the world just stopped or his vision had just whited out. And then—

He’s never punched anyone before, is the thing. He didn’t know there were ways you’re supposed to hold your hand, your thumb, and even if he did he’s not sure he would have done it anyway. What he does know, now at least, is that he has a mean fucking right hook. Jeff was trying to push the giant off Eddie, and Gareth was standing there with Eddie’s blood on the side of his face, shocked to shit to be fair to him, so the asshole didn’t get a second to register Matt approaching, hitting him square in the jaw and onto his ass.

And he doesn’t know what happened after that really, just that he was kicking him, boot slamming into the soft side of the man on the floor, over and over until it was Eddie, face like an abattoir floor, that pulled him off.

He mulls it over while he waits for an X-Ray. There’s definitely something broken, he can feel the grinding when he moves his hand and it hurts like a motherfucker. They still had a few shows to go. He ruined the tour with one punch. 

Jeff opens the curtain and sits next to him on the bed.

“How’s the hand?”

“Fucked. How’s Eddie’s nose?”

“Fucked.”

They sit in silence, shoulder-to-shoulder, self-declared best friends forever. 

“I can’t believe someone recognised him out here,” Jeff mutters, maybe to himself, Matt can’t be sure.

They don’t say it, but they’re both thinking it; Hawkins is going to follow Eddie everwhere. Follow them everywhere. And they can’t keep fighting their way out of things every time it catches up with them.

[wheels-of-despair]

I've curated my little Eddie Bubble so well that every time I encounter a Steddie fic submitted to CCfest, it's like a jumpscare. 😂

[chrishoggephotography]

Kirsteen Harvey supporting Native Harrow. Hug and Pint. Glasgow.

[sualee]

Thank you @brucemacgregor for an epic night of fabulous tunes! And to @celtic_connections for making it happen… Felt so lucky to be amongst such incredible musicians… Special thanks to @annamassie for getting us shipshape! The new album Road to Tyranny is a wonderful thing! Go get it folks! #newalbum #newmusic #celticconnections #ccfest #ccfest2022 #craic #bandcraic #roadtotyranny @blazinbruce_ @alilevack @anguslyonmusic @iainsloan @sualeecello @duncanlyall @edeytime @peeriehoose @annamassie @jennareidmusic @edeytime (at Celtic Connections) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZOzY85ACuC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[karenblumberg]

Gathering my tweets and pics from today's awesome #CCFestNYC hosted at @ITP_NYU. Thank you for organizing another inspiring event, @ed_saber!

Gathering my tweets and pics from today’s awesome #CCFestNYC hosted at @ITP_NYU. Thank you for organizing another inspiring event, @ed_saber!

Yay for another #CCFest today at ⁦@ITP_NYU⁩! Here are slides from the event: https://t.co/wKw5amQGZ8#CCfest12 #STEMed #CSforAll #CSforAllNYC https://t.co/XtsyVxKEbU

— Karen Blumberg (@KarenBlumberg) December 8, 2019

  Excited for @aankit’s opening keynote at #CCfestNYC today! Thanks for hosting, @ITP_NYU! #csforall #csforallnyc pic.twitter.com/kj1GIDduhB

— Karen Blumberg (@KarenBlumberg) Decem…

[findlaynapier]

That was quite the #latenightsession @celtic_connections 10 years ago. Ghosts of @ccfest past. I remember the @fishyfriendsofficial being a total riot 😂 (at Celtic Connections) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKgVSxjhaKa/?igshid=1k71q1nj4mtf0

[hibernophile]

@BBCSSO

Rehearsing for @ccfest opening concert with the brilliant @lauramarlinghq #ccfest17

[reviewsphere]

MUSIC REVIEW: Auld Lang Syne @ Celtic Connections

MUSIC REVIEW: Auld Lang Syne @ Celtic Connections ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @ccfest @BBCSSO @GCHalls @JarlathHendersn @Karenmatheson7 #burns #celticconnections

Burns is as popular and relevant now as ever.

Popular in that his songs – original, collected and reworked (some say stolen) – formed the centrepiece of this year’s Celtic Connections with Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Jarlath Henderson and Shona Donaldson joining the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for a sublime celebration of his life and works – 261 years after his…

[jo-harrington]

Corroded Coffin Fest - Day 10 - Pride

Summary: Eddie Munson should know to expect the unexpected. Especially when it comes to himself.

Word Count: 898

Rating: T

Warnings/Themes: Older!Eddie, Rockstar!Eddie, Asexual!Eddie/Demi!Eddie, Discussion of Sexuality, self-discovery, mention of relationships (Steddie and other), mentions of sex (non-graphic?), it vibes more than describes

Note: This truly could have gone for the Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll prompt--and I have another idea for that one--but I chose this one. Much like a lot of our writing, this is more of a personal thing vs a CCFest thing; mirrors a lot of my own self-discovery and identity. But you gotta roll with the punches sometimes.

Check Out the Main Post for @corrodedcoffinfest here! Even if you didn’t start on Day 1, you can still join!

Tagging: @the-unforgivenn at her request.

You can find my masterlist here.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

He'd always wanted the rockstar life but he’d never understood it.

On paper it all seemed perfect. A dream.

Recognition for his talent and hard work. Endless praise. To be someone and go somewhere, and not get stuck where the name Munson was worth less than the dirt.

Of course, fame had other expectations.

There were reasons dreams and realities were two separate entities.

How could expectation meet reality when reality had so many expectations of its own?

Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. It was all in the name right?

But...straight...that was the default setting, the norm.

And Eddie Munson had never been normal.

The expectation?

You date a few girls, maybe fuck one of them. Or a few. You find your person, find your girl. Fall in love. Get married. Sometimes, love wasn't even required.

Eddie considered himself a romantic, so he always expected...always wanted someone to love.

But sex was everywhere, the talk of the town. He tried it with some varying levels of intrigue or indifference.

He liked feeling good though, and he always felt good when he touched himself. So he learned what made him feel good when someone else touched him too. He’d just…never really gotten to the point where he found anyone who he wanted to touch him more than once.

If at all.

The act...the pleasure...was always separate from the person.

The people he did find interesting? Most times they were characters from tv and movies, one-sided loves that he fantasized about and wished to have. If there was a God, He would let Eddie have his celebrity crushes…his fictional favorites.

But there wasn’t a god, and more often than not, he was left alone with his imagination.

Or his disappointment.

Then along came Steve.

That was a journey in and of itself for both of them. First there was adversity, and then a tenuous truce. Then there was something else.

The nerves felt good. The heart to hearts. They both convinced themselves “he's not a bad guy” and then “he’s kinda hot” and “he looks like a good kisser.” Until they took a chance and it turns out they were both good kissers, both good at other things, both good for each other.

Until those expectations snuck in again.

As much as they cared for one another, Eddie was ever the non-conformist and Steve? Well, he lived in the shadow of the world's expectations.

Heartbreak led to bad choices, which led to good lyrics, and better gigs until finally, finally they made it.

Eddie made it.

Self development became self discovery, and the whirlwind of a new world where he had access to literally anything and everything. It wasn't just growing up, it wasn't just a new awareness.

The fame brought endless people who tried to get close to him, tried to touch him, help themselves to his life. His rooms filled up with new and unfamiliar faces. They'd suck and fuck until they had their piece of his pie.

He took advantage of that, of course. Tried to feel good when everything made him feel horrible. Found what he liked and what he didn’t and what made him moan and what made him squirm.

And what…a lot of what…made him feel nothing at all.

Until that was the norm.

A norm outside of the norm.

An expectation for only himself because he realized...no one else mattered. Not when the equation started and ended with him.

For the first time in his life there wasn’t a question of who or what or when or where. Because the answer was sort of “none of the above” and also “all of the above, just in the right scenario and maybe with the right person.”

"You're just tired," they'd tell him. "You just need a break."

Until the break was too long.

"You just haven't found the right person."

But no one piqued his interest.

"How about we set you up with..."

And he tried.

"Try harder."

But he couldn't.

"Come on, smoke this, try this, do this. Change this. Be this."

Until he snapped.

"That isn't me!" He screamed to an empty room. Yes, full of people...but empty faces, empty eyes, empty heads. Staring through him, not seeing him for him. "I can't do it anymore!"

Alone.

Alone and alone and alone.

For the first time in a long time.

As the full rooms emptied themselves of those empty people. As they left him behind.

Silent.

Because he they didn’t know a word for what he was. Didn’t know what to say.

So they didn't say anything.

He was outside of the norm.

Freak once again.

Happy, once again.

Proud.

"But you're not alone Ed."

He stood in a corner of the otherwise empty room and in the other three?

Dave and Jeff and Gareth.

Not empty. Full. Full of love and awareness and acceptance. Full of support. Just like they'd always been for his awful plans and harebrained schemes.

This was no scheme though. It was just him.

Eddie Munson considered himself a romantic, and he always expected...always wanted someone to love.

And maybe the kind of love that he desired--that was expected by both himself and the world--would come to him again, just like it had in the past.

For now though--forever--he could be happy with a different kind.

A love from his friends.

And a love for himself.

[dreamwatch]

FINALLY got an idea for today’s CCFest prompt, fuck a duck. Have I got time to write it now…?

[notifymusic]

Pre show dinner!!! Had a blast at @ccfest #celticconnections #glasgow #notify #notifyworldtour2018 #dropbox #itsinthescheduleindropbox #fish #chips #tune #choon (at Arta Glasgow)

[jamiemallan]

RT @jeanmcameron: @Paisley2021 @johnstone_pb @thegazettepaper Congratulations! And of course it’s @Tannahillweaver’s big 50th birthday concert at @ccfest - a festival highlight of Celtic Connections Director @ShawDonald https://t.co/39bKdL3IHn

Congratulations! And of course it’s @Tannahillweaver’s big 50th birthday concert at @ccfest - a festival highlight of Celtic Connections Director @ShawDonald https://t.co/39bKdL3IHn

— jean cameron (@jeanmcameron) January 11, 2018

via Twitter https://twitter.com/jamiemallan January 11, 2018 at 07:40PM

[chrishoggephotography]

A beautiful night with Native Harrow at the Hug and Pint...Glasgow

[karenblumberg]

My incomplete notes from another awesome #CCFestNYC hosted at @ITP_NYU today! #STEMed #CSforAllNYC

My incomplete notes from another awesome #CCFestNYC hosted at @ITP_NYU today! #STEMed #CSforAllNYC

[gatheredinamber]

Occasional links 2017-02-05

Alasdair has been confirmed as a guest performer on most (but not all) of the shows on Shirley Collins’ current tour — see full details of which guests appear on which nights. Here's a review of Saturday's show in Glasgow.

Alasdair profiles Alex Neilson, linked to the release of his first solo album, under the name Alex Rex.

.@AliRobertsMusic, Tartine De Cloud and Neil McDermott at @thegladcafe last night. C'était merveilleux! pic.twitter.com/qSZfJpuhRS

— Kyle Lonsdale (@kylelonsdale)

February 3, 2017

Watch on #Periscope https://amazing @ccfest show with Tartine de Clous, Alasdair Roberts & Neil McDermott tonight! https://t.co/IMgOZhj9iA

— The Glad Cafe (@thegladcafe)

February 2, 2017