#Steddie x ofc

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

TOW Eddie and Steve date the same woman:

Robin: I wish I didn't have to go believe me. . .but unfortunately, I have to. By the way. . .what's the name of the girl you're both dating?

Eddie and Steve: [insert Name Here].

Eddie and Steve look at each other.

Robin: Byye! *runs out*

[xoxoladyaz]

Every day I get closer and closer to writing my massive multiverse spanning OFC x Stranger-Things-Boys Reverse Harem fanfic saga

[pencilscratchins]

i have reached the part of the steddie hyperfixation where i make them domesticated men in their 50s. having a blast! (twitter) [ID in ALT text]

[frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe]

@steddieangstyaugust Day 11 - Sobbing Sunday: Temporary Character Death

i’m challenging myself to keep all these at either 127 or 1,270 words each, see day one for more of an explanation!

They won.

Eddie is chewed up, but lives.

Max has a broken leg, but she's alive.

They’re safe.

…but Eddie’s boyfriend isn’t here yet.

Everyone else is at the Byers’ new place for a cookout. Wayne’s manning the grill, Hopper is chopping up watermelon, Nancy is fishing a pop out of the cooler…

Where the hell is Steve?

Eddie’s getting worried, and by Robin’s expression, so is she. She was dropped off by her parents and hasn’t seen him since their last shift together two days ago.

Hop listens to her explanation, nods, and grabs his keys. 

Eddie’s in the backseat, Robin in front.

They get to the house, the lights are off.

Hop does three rounds of CPR before Steve takes a breath of his own.

steve loves to pretend everything is fine, huh?

see the collection on ao3!

[every-aj-needs-an-angel]

Some softish wedding vibes for the lovely @flowercrowngods sorry this took all day

The wedding was beautiful. A cosy little affair in the forest surrounding the Byers-Hopper cabin, just The Party and their immediate family. The guests had a myriad of mismatched chairs decorated with pretty tulle bows, the aisle strewn with wildflower petals collected by the kids, fairy lights strung from the trees casting a warm glow over the dusk ceremony.

The older teens of the party had been on decorating duty and they’d done a great job, even if Steve did say so himself.

Joyce looked stunning in her simple, lace summer gown, Hop beaming and wiping tears from his eyes as Jon walked his mum down the aisle.

Claudia sobbed loudly, Dustin tutting but handing her tissues, shhing her every now and again, making everyone hide a smile behind their hands when she'd wailed "it's just so beautifulllllll!"

Murray had officiated, dressed in ceremonial robes and actually on his best behaviour for a change. Will was Joyce's man of honour, El was Hop's best woman, Steve had never seen either of them look more radiant.

Steve had been roped into dress shopping by El and Max because although she was doing much better, Max's eyesight wasn't what it once was and Steve was apparently the only one with any fashion sense. He was glad he'd gone with them because the three of them had had so much fun, both girls had picked beautiful dresses without really needing his help at all, not that it stopped him smiling to himself as they spun happily in front of the floor length mirror, letting the skirts flow around them, or from taking them both for new records and ice cream, that Dustin had thrown a two hour fit for missing out on.

Then somehow the mum's had talked him into taking all the boys to hire tuxedos, not that he'd minded but Eddie had tagged along when he heard from Dustin that it was going to be a fun road trip with new records and ice cream, and seeing him spin out of the dressing room, all high on life from being with the kids and out of Hawkins, his hair tied up in a messy bun had taken Steve's breath away. Luckily he'd managed to cover it up with a laugh when Dustin had popped out next dressed in a white tux, strutting around because he thought he looked like Elvis.

So they all looked gorgeous and it was all just very sweet and picturesque and romantic.

Although Steve could've done without Mike snarking in his ear at every opportunity, snapping his name like his nanny used to when he was misbehaving, except Steve wasn't doing anything wrong. In fact the first time he'd been told off he'd been up a ladder hanging lights, the second time he'd only walked out the cabin, now dressed in his suit, trying and failing to get his tie perfect. The third time he'd been stuffing cake in his mouth in a rush because his and Max's song had just come on but he was torn between moving and eating, so he'd sloppily thrown the cake in his mouth, frosting pouring out the edges of his lips. Steve didn't get his reaction, yeah it was a little gross but Max was laughing so who cared.

So as soon as the song ended and El came back to dance with Max, Steve grabbed Mike by the collar and dragged him into the cabin.

"Okay, what's your problem? You've been at me all day!" Steve demanded to know, hands on his hips.

Mike spluttered and grouched incoherently, something about Eddie, him being a person, which was just perplexingly obvious. And for someone who'd had a lot to say all day, he suddenly wasn't saying anything, but Steve knew if he just waited Mike out, he'd eventually get his thoughts out in a coherent sentence. Except Will came dashing into the cabin, eye's lighting up when they landed on Mike, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him back out into the party, before he ever had a chance.

Steve sighed rejoining the reception, mingling and chatting and trying not to be too obvious as he watched Eddie, maybe he'd said something to Mike, maybe he'd noticed the way Steve hadn't really been able to keep his eyes to himself, since, well since forever really but he'd definitely been more consciously aware of his lingering gazes since he'd woken up in the hospital with a joke and a groan, and they'd only become more incessant since he'd first seen him in that damn tux. Christ, Steve get a hold of yourself!

He just hopes he wasn't making Eddie uncomfortable, he didn't think he was because every time Eddie glanced over, it was always with a big smile, the one that started soft but grew until his dimples were showing when Steve smiled back, so he was almost sure that probably wasn't it, surely he'd look away like Robin did when men letched over her.

The next time Mike snapped at him, he was only dancing with Robin, not closely and certainly not well. Dancing In The Moonlight by King Harvest was playing, it was a song they all knew and loved and listened to whenever they all hung out. Robin had dragged him to his feet, just as he'd sat down with Wayne to chat about next weekend's game, and forced him to dance, waggling his arms around and doing all the silly moves until he couldn't help but join in.

Steve's eyes immediately snapped to Eddie, who was sitting by the edge of the makeshift dance floor, looking more miserable than Steve had ever seen him, even when he was a wanted man and on the run. Steve handed Robin to Mike, who protested about being forced to dance, but Robin had had a few glasses of wine and didn't seem too fussed about who she was dancing with, so long as she had a dance partner.

Wayne had his arm slung over the back of Eddie's chair but Eddie was slouched forward head in his hands forlornly watching everyone dance instead of joining like he usually would. Wayne and Steve shared a smile as he headed towards them, Wayne jumping up with a mumbled excuse, disappearing over to the buffet table to chat with Claudia.

Steve loved how he never needed words with Wayne, it was like he could read Steve like a book, had since their first meeting in Eddie's hospital room, he'd just given Steve a hard stare and for a second he thought he was about to get a smack or at least thrown out but Wayne had just given him a soft smile and pulled out another uncomfortable plastic chair for Steve to sit with him at Eddie's bedside.

They'd been fast friends, bonding over stories of Eddie, sports and an adoration of cheese of all things. Wayne even called him son, like he did with Eddie but that was probably just because there hadn't been a weekend since Eddie left the hospital, where Steve hadn't been at their new government bought apartment, screaming at the tv or the radio with Wayne, Eddie huffing and rolling his eyes and bemoaning that he was being forced to put up with two sports fanatics.

But Steve quickly learned the easiest way to settle Eddie was through his stomach, staying after the game to make fresh pizza or four cheese gnocchi or manicotti, from recipes he'd stolen from an old trunk in his attic, watching with pride as both Munson's wolfed down his food, was the easiest way to make Eddie beam at him.

Eddie hadn't noticed Steve coming over, didn't even perceive his presence until there was nothing but a pair of legs directly in his eyeline, forcing Eddie to look up at him.

"Hi," Steve said tentatively, Eddie's smile settling quickly back into place but not quite meeting his eyes.

"Stevie," Eddie greeted, aiming for normality but just the fact that he hadn't drawn out the e gave him away, "nice moves," he teased, sounding a bit too grouchy to be playful.

Steve adored that about their dynamic, the playful mocking, the poking and tickling and doing whatever they could to make the other bite back or laugh hysterically or both but it felt less like their playful banter and more like a defense mechanism, like maybe Eddie was mad with him.

And maybe it was something about the soft warm lighting or the giant strawberry moon peering down on them or the fact that they were at a wedding but something felt bigger, heavier but at the same time incredibly delicate like one wrong move could destroy them both.

"Dance with me," Steve murmured instead of teasing him back, holding his hand out for Eddie to take. Eddie furrowed his brows and blinked owlishly at him, Steve couldn't help thinking he looked adorable but if he let his introspection go on too long, he'd be lost for the night. Steve wafted his hand impatiently, trying to snap Eddie into the present but he only blinked slowly at his outstretched hand too.

"Aren't you dancing with Robin?" Eddie eventually asked hesitantly, which confused the living bejesus out of Steve because surely he couldn't mean…

Steve shook his head vigorously trying to send that mental image back to the pits of hell where it belonged, glancing purposefully over to the dance floor, he could see Robin'd got her arms around Nancy's neck blushing deeply as she babbled constantly. He knew she hadn't quite been able to look at Nancy the same way since they'd visited Creel together but Nancy had her arms securely around Robin's waist, listening intently and grinning and maybe, just maybe…

"I think she's content with her new partner," Steve mumbled, knowing full well that Eddie knew Robin almost as closely as he did, knew that Eddie could see what he saw and that whatever he was doing was some kind of avoidance technique, "dance with me."

They'd danced before, alone and in front of the party, there was no reason for Eddie to be nervous, didn't stop him looking anxiously around Steve's legs at the dancefloor, "There's people," Eddie muttered dejectedly.

Steve glanced over his shoulder and then back to Eddie, with a confused frown, "You mean all the people who love and care about us?" he asked affectionately.

Eddie snorted and huffed, "You," he corrected shortly.

Steve's brows furrowed deeply, "Huh?"

Eddie sighed, rolling his eyes, "All the people who care about you," he clarified grumpily.

Oh no, he's gone down the rabbit hole.

Steve sighed heavily, "Okay, that's not even close to the truth, but for the sake of not arguing, if they care about me, they have to care about you," he informed him.

Eddie sniggered, "Why, you gonna beat 'em up if they don't?" Eddie tried to tease but it came out too flat.

"No," Steve sighed, hooking his finger under Eddie's chin and forcing him to look at him, "anyone who doesn't care about you, doesn't get to care about me. These people are my family but if it came down to a choice of them or you, I'd pick you every time," Steve admitted sincerely.

Eddie's breath hitched but he didn't say anything, looked like he might cry if he did.

Steve decided it was time to just use his trump card, "Dance with me. Please."

And just like that Eddie jumped to his feet dragging Steve onto the dancefloor, because Eddie never denied Steve anything when he said please, not that Eddie ever denied him anything really but it was like a little button that overpowered all Eddie's apprehension and theatrics.

"Can I stay with you please?"

"C'mon Eddie, up, Owens says it'll be good for you to go for a little walk. No? Please?"

"Could you just keep talking until I fall asleep please?"

"Can you pick Dustin up tonight please?"

"Could you bring milk when you come over please?"

"What's wrong Eds? Talk to me, please."

They got situated just as the song changed to a much slower one, At Last by Etta James. Appropriate, Steve thought gleefully. Eddie just stood there, a little shell-shocked and unsure but not running away so Steve gently took his hands and put them on his waist, circling his own around Eddie's neck, except Eddie had his arms perfectly straight keeping a space between them.

"What're you doing?" Steve asked, fond amusement in his voice, it wasn't like they'd never been close before.

"Leaving room for Jesus," Eddie replied, Steve recognised it as an autopilot response, Eddie long lost to his mind, but Steve couldn't help it, the bubble of laughter just burst right out of him. Sometimes Eddie was just inadvertently funny and when Steve laughed he'd stand there like he was replaying the conversation until Eddie was laughing too at his own comment but Eddie's face crumbled, trying to pull away but Steve just held on tighter.

"Hey, no, Eds. I wasn't laughing at you, just maybe we're a bit old for Jesus to need to dance with us. C'mere," Steve said, pulling Eddie closer, wrapping his arms more tightly around him, swaying slowly to the music.

The look in Eddie's eyes as they listened to the song told Steve all he needed to know about why Eddie had been avoiding him, why he was only looking his way when he thought Steve wasn't looking, why he was being so evasive, how he'd managed to spiral so far that he thought he and Robin, ugh, Steve can't even think it.

Even Mike's snapping made a whole lot more sense, "Stop messing with Eddie," boy really needs to learn to stop grumbling, "he's a person, he has feelings!" Mike could see Eddie pining and had taken it on himself to try to stop Steve doing whatever mundane task that had Eddie yearning.

It was probably the sweetest thing Steve had ever seen Mike do for someone who wasn't El or Will, even if it pissed Steve off that he'd always be a cad in Mike's eyes, that he just assumed that Steve was a bad guy (when he's done nothing but throw himself in front of him and his friends time and again to protect them) that he was purposefully leading Eddie on, being intentionally enticing just to hurt him.

Not that it mattered what Mike thought, he could only hope that it was all his biases and not that Eddie hadn't been venting to the kids, all that mattered was that that wasn't what Eddie thought of him.

The whole atmosphere of the night had changed, everyone had slowed and quietened, couples solely focused on the person in their arms. But Steve felt the ground under his feet change, drew from Captain Steve the guy who'd thrown the first punch at Billy to protect his kids, felt Sir Steve crawl up his throat, the Knight who'd gone into battle against an all-powerful beast and brought his comrades out of the pits of hell because he'd seen now, seen clearly for the first time in god knows how long and he couldn't just go back to pretending, not without giving this is best shot. And thank god for Etta James because she was going to help him, because he could do this, he could be brave and fight for what he wanted for a change.

He had a horrible singing voice but Eddie already knew that, told him so often and in many imaginative ways.

"I found a dream that I could speak to, a dream that I can call my own," he sang quietly, trying to copy Wayne's looking into your soul look, trying to let Eddie see that his feelings are reciprocated, classing it as a win when Eddie grins, blushing deeply and mushes his face into Steve's neck.

"I've found a thrill to press my cheek to, a thrill that I've never known," he continued, nuzzling further into Eddie's neck because now he was this close it was like he couldn't get close enough.

"You smiled," Steve murmured against his skin, unable to wipe the lovesick smile off of his face. He and Eddie had always been close but they both knew this was different.

Originally it started with helping him limp around when he'd refuse to use his crutches, then when Wayne had to go back to work Steve started staying the night so Eddie could sleep without having to worry about waking up alone after a nightmare, he'd only spent the first few hours on the sofa before Eddie woke up screaming, sweaty and shaking, Steve hadn't even thought about it just clambered in behind Eddie pulling him flush against him, shhing him and running his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face, he didn't bother with the sofa again after that, they just shared Eddie's bed, soothing both their nightmares with the others presence.

But they've had time and distance from their trauma since then, most of them have been to therapy and they're all doing better, they can sleep in their own houses, in their own beds, they can all actually sleep for eight hours and wake up well rested. But he and Eddie stayed as close as ever, it's rare that they're never not touching, if Eddie's tired he'll attach himself to Steve like a backpack. They hug, they hold hands, Eddie even kissed him on the cheek one time, Steve's pretty sure it was an accident but he'd been so busy trying to hide the blush that'd sprung to his cheeks to really read the situation, maybe if he had they might've got here sooner because looking back Steve's not really sure how he missed all the signs, Eddie sits in his lap on movie nights for god sake.

"You smiled," Steve sang, pulling back to look at Eddie, to look at the adorable endeared grin and the pretty blush he can't hide because his hair's all tied up, still neat as a pin, showing just how much hairspray Claudia had used to hold it in place.

"And then the spell was cast," he crooned, because it was, from all the way back in school when Eddie would taunt the other jocks but there was never any bite in it when it came to Steve, his teasing came with a smile he never saw directed at anyone else, and he still remembers how it would make him preen a little and how he'd always feel a little peppier for the rest of the day.

But it felt like magic when they met for real, not the king and the jester but Steve and Eddie, battling the unknown side by side, Eddie smiling real smiles, teeth and dimples, all for Steve, because of Steve. And then of course he'd just had to be the hero and Steve had swore at him the whole way to the hospital because he'd been so mad but after days at his bedside, the first time he woke up and smiled at Steve, he knew from that moment on he was done for.

He'd just never thought they could have this, never dreamed Eddie would feel the same way so he buried that feeling deep down, enjoyed his friendship, relished being someone Eddie could rely on, being his confidant and still even when Eddie said "don't punch me but…" Steve had been too scared to rock the boat, didn't want to lose what they had because just because Eddie was interested in men didn't mean he was interested in him.

Who'd've thought Mike Wheeler would've been the one to make Steve see what was right on the end of his nose.

"And here we are in heaven," Steve trilled, resting his forehead against Eddie's trying to calm his heart before it beats right out of his chest, because there's butterflies taking flight and Steve's never in his life been nervous about a kiss but this one feels monumental and he can feel it coming and he wants it now and he also wants to wait and let this moment last forever.

"For you are mine," Eddie crooned, sounding more like a question. And as much as Steve always melts whenever Eddie sings, the fact that Eddie's still questioning his intentions, after he declared that Eddie's the most important person in his life, after what they're currently doing, just makes Steve realise how long Eddie's been his, how blind they've both been, how they've both been so wrapped up in what they can't have neither of them noticed it was right there for the taking.

Steve beams at him, let's Eddie see the way he makes him feel, the way he's always made him feel, nods like he's agreeing to a marriage proposal, deliriously happy and tear streaked.

"At last," Etta sings into the moonlit evening, as the boys seal their promise with a kiss.

[frogcabbage]

Ed going around slandering Stede right now

[thegayestaddams]

i dont personally ship things like stonathan or stancy or buckingham HOWEVER. i make one exception bc i am very much a fan of ‘the older teens are in a confusing polyamorous relationship that fuckin NO ONE can decipher and every single one of them states this twisting map of romantic relations in the same way one would explain that 1+1=2’ and i will die on this hill

[hedgefrogpresents]

We Wrote Stranger Things Season Five But There's Gay Vampires And It's A Puppet Theater

I wrote a 95 page treatment of how Stranger Things season five would go if I got to be in charge of it and then we acted it out scene-by-scene in the Hedgefrog Puppet Theater and made our friends voice characters with us and also there's a musical number and a drag bar and Eddie is alive and he and Steve are hooking up but it is NOT romantic it is PURELY sexual and also Steve and Robin are a horse and Max gets to have a sword (as a treat) 💕🦇✨🐎💕

[steviesbicrisis]

There's only (1) way I write established relationship steddie:

[steddieonbigboy]

Eddie doesn't realise Steve has been flirting with him because he acts the exact same with Robin. Steve's just like but I've been calling you babe! And Eddie is like yeah you call Robin babe all the time too.

[dutchimagine]

ooooh gorl i think u rebageled to the wrong blog bby

pov: Eddie and Steve have decided to become nuns

(and have lesbian sex)

[infinite-orangepeel]

im actually losing my mind about the camboy steve thing u wrote i am changed i will never be the same

aw! i’m truly so honored 🥹 i never would have thought anyone else would care about my perv!eddie stories hahaha but i needed to get them out of my head somewhere. surprisingly the response has been so overwhelmingly lovely and supportive and i couldn’t be more thrilled 💛 thank you!!! hope you’re having a wonderful day or night :)

[steveharringtonsdick]

hey @ steddie artists... someone draw Them with this as a ref pic pls.

[lioniheart]

Hey so I was writing a Fruity Six™ fic inspired by Tales of the City that I had planned to have well balanced POV chapters, focusing on all of my babes, and I got to 5 chapters, right. But then some stuff started annoying me and I took a break, reread it, and am now torn between rewriting it with a different start.

The original is a post season 4 AU, 1987, everybody lives, where Nance, Robs and Jon took a year before college to deal with the, yk, trauma of it all, and the babysitter's club gets very close, so halfway through the school year, Steve suggests a road trip, they visit San Fran and decide to stay there a bit longer, in this super cool house owned by Ms Madrigal (a trans woman with a great ability to clock everything, better than Murray's) and then deciding actually? We could just stay here. But I got kinda of mad at it cause it sounds too improbable and I don't want to separate them from the rest of the party and shit so I'm not sure abt it anymore.

The second plot bunny said to make it a no Upside Down AU with Nance, Jargyle and Eddie already living in Ms Madrigal's [who's dating Wayne and is Argyle's something (tbd)]. Then platonic Stobin escapes their hellish hometown (maybe Robin gets outed and Steve won't let her run away alone or smth) and end up in San Fran, where they find a home and family with these very queer lovely people.

[schrijverr]

A Behind the Scenes of: Robin and Rose's Wedding

With Robin and her wife Rose as special guest, Jonathan gives insight into their illegal wedding that happened in '94.

On AO3.

Ships: Robin x ofc (background: jargancy, steddie, byler, elumax, jopper)

Warnings: homophobia mention

~~~~~~~~

“I can’t believe Jonathan Byers is a misogynist,” Robin says. They’re still setting up and both her, Jonathan and Rose are shuffling into frame and sitting down.

“Will you let that go, I never said that,” Jonathan complains as he adjusts the mic on his shirt.

“You let Steve and Eddie talk about their wedding and didn’t ask me,” Robin counters, pouting heavily. “I think that’s very misogynistic of you.”

“I immediately agreed when you asked,” Jonathan exclaims.

“But I had to ask,” Robin counters.

“I’m not a mind reader!” Jonathan says exasperated.

“Be nice to Jon, dear,” Rose speaks up, finally interrupting the argument, though she looks more amused than actually chastising.

“Alright, alright, at least my wedding photographer didn’t have a crush on my wife, so that’s a win,” Robin pretends to give in only to tease Jonathan again.

“Oh my god, did Steve tell you that?” Jonathan groans.

“Of course dingus told me that,” Robin informs him cheerily. “Now let’s start talking about our wedding.”

“Thank fuck,” Jonathan sighs. “Just know I’m keeping that in to show what I put up with when you guys are over. I don’t know when these turned into roast Jonathan videos. Nancy and Jane were lovely guests, you know.”

“I feel like it adds character, shows the wide extend of personalities we have,” Robin grins. “Now dance monkey, dance.”

Jonathan shakes his head at her. Despite it all, he doesn’t actually look annoyed. Then he straightens up and starts the video: “Hi, I’m Jonathan Byers, the main photographer and editor of A Collection of Queer Photography. Today, I’m here with Robin and Rose to talk about their illegal wedding in ‘94.”

“Hi, I’m Robin,” Robin introduces herself. Her bracelets clink together as she waves, there are laugh lines around her eyes and mouth and her hair is dyed a bright green. She’s wearing a funky patterned button up to go with it.

“And I’m Rose,” Rose adds, also waving. She’s wearing a deep green dress and a nice necklace and earrings. Her red hair cascades down her shoulders and she smiles with red painted lips.

“As with the other wedding, there was a structure to the layout,” Jonathan explains. “First you have the proposal, then the ceremony, the wedding photo shoot, the party itself, the morning after and then you two leaving for your honeymoon. That’s quite a lot, so I don’t know if we’re talking about the last two. We’ll see where it goes.”

“Fair enough,” Rose says as Robin snatches up the book and excitedly flips to the right page.

“Okay,” Robin starts once she found it. “First one is Accepted Proposal, ahh, so exciting.”

Accepted Proposal is taken at Argyle’s restaurant, since it had been empty at the time, save for the Boston crew, as well as a known queer safe space. In it is Robin on one knee in front of Rose, in her hand she has a little box popped open to show the ring in it. Rose has her hands clapped over her mouth in shock, tears in her eyes. Robin just grins shyly at her.

“I loved your proposal,” Rose smiles softly. “I didn’t see it coming at all and it was just perfect. You always manage to find a way to sweep me off my feet and make my dreams come true.”

“Oh my god, I am so gay. Steve 100% didn’t prepare me for this,” Robin breathes, before backtracking. “Not that I want to ruin this moment by mentioning Steve, I just meant that that is so sweet and beautiful and I love you and it’s all overwhelming.”

“Ahw, baby, come here,” Rose coos, pulling Robin into her chest and holding her tightly in her arms as Robin melts into her hold. Rose kisses her forehead and says: “I love you too.”

“We’re going to be like this the whole time aren’t we?” Robin speaks up, a little muffled from where she is burying her head in Rose’s chest.

“Probably,” Rose agrees.

“God grant me mercy,” Jonathan sighs.

Robin straightens up to point out: “You’re an atheist.”

“Yeah, but a man can wish,” Jonathan jokes, before he moves back to their task at hand: “This was taken at Argyle’s diner after closing. The diner was a queer gathering place to those that knew, but we also got a lot of drunken students.”

“Yeah, I wanted to ask it somewhere private and safe that wasn’t like our living room,” Robin says. “And there isn’t a better place to go. Our first date was there too.”

“It was perfect,” Rose tells her.

“I’m glad,” Robin smiles.

They hold eye contact for a second, while Jonathan introduces the next one: “Alright, on the same page we also have Wedding Preparations, which is taken by Steve. Wanna tell us what’s going on here?”

The photo in question is of Eddie, Robin and Rose surrounded by fake flowers at their kitchen table. They seem to be gluing them together into one big flowery monstrosity, whose purpose isn’t clear. The flowers are a mix or white, light pink and a dark red.

“We were making the flower decoration piece for our wedding and wedding photo shoot,” Robin says. “We might not have had a big church wedding or some shit, but we were going to have a pretty wedding.”

“It was part of my scrapbook and Robin was determined to make one, since we couldn’t do most other stuff. It was very sweet,” Rose answers.

“Well, what else was I going to do?” Robin asks. “You wanted a nice wedding, I was going to try my damnedest to make it so.”

“And I’m very lucky to have that,” Rose tells her.

Jonathan gives the two a fond smile, before flipping the page. “Okay, page 182 and 183 is the ceremony, starting with Here Comes One of the Brides, which is a reference to the song here comes the bride, but queered, because that’s what we’re all about.”

Here Comes One of the Brides is taken in the apartment Robin and Rose shared. Most of their furniture has been moved to Eddie and Steve’s and the living room has been turned into a wedding location. A few chairs are set in rows facing the place where the flower piece they’ve made functions as decorative piece.

It had been a small wedding, but all the chair are filled. At the front is Robin in a three piece pinstriped suit with bow tie, her buzzed hair freshly shaved. She is biting her lip and crying a bit, though doing a great job of pretending she isn’t.

Behind Robin is Steve, who is the best man, while Rose’s sister is maid of honor, waiting opposite to Robin as Rose walks the aisle, though she isn’t in the image. The wedding was officiated by Argyle, who is wearing a beautiful tiered skirt and blouse, and is grinning happily.

“Ahww, our little makeshift wedding venue,” Robin says. “We truly got married in our living room.”

“I think it was very romantic anyway,” Rose adds. “It was like we were able to visit that memory every day.”

“That’s such a sweet way to look at it,” Robins tells her, making gooey eyes as Rose blushes and thanks her.

“It was a nice wedding,” Jonathan says. “I think your guys properly transformed the space and made it feel fancy.”

“Thank you, Jon,” Rose says. “And thank you for taking all the photos too. I love this photo of Robin, she is so handsome, I love her in a suit.”

“Why thank you, darling,” Robin drawls jokingly, though she’s blushing too.

“No problem, did it with love,” Jonathan assures them. “And it was also personal gain, honestly. It added to my personal portfolio. I’m mostly glad that you agreed to let me use them for this, because your wedding has so many good queering of heteronormative moments.”

Robin laughs at that. “Yeah, it’s almost as if we’re two dykes tying the knot.”

“Yeah, almost,” Jonathan agrees with humor in his eyes.

“Still, thank you,” Rose smiles.

“Totally thank you, like without you I wouldn’t have this very beautiful photo of my wife,” Robin says, pointing at the page.

On screen a photo of Rose appears. She is wearing a gorgeous white wedding gown. It is a princess dress with all the ruffles and frills that fan out around her like a flower. She doesn’t have any sleeves, but she is haloed by her veil, which turns into a train. In her hand she has a bouquet of roses.

She is smiling, practically glowing as she walks down the aisle next to her father, who is giving her away with foggy eyes. She has been one of the lucky ones with accepting parents. Off to the side, her mother can be seen, crying her eyes out. Rose however is repressing the water works, looking like a picture perfect bride.

“For the record she’s pointing at Rose Given Away,” Jonathan informs the camera, before replying: “I love this photo. It such a typical bridal photo, but there is something about it that I can’t describe, but that is just so gay.”

“I think queer femininity is different than traditional femininity,” Rose says thoughtfully after a second. “A lot of traditional femininity is tied to attracting a man, which isn’t really a goal in queer femininity, so there are certain things that just aren’t present. I don’t know if what I’m saying makes sense.”

“It totally makes sense, she’s just being humble, but she’s actually super smart and reads a lot and is into gender theory and shit,” Robin interrupts, hanging off Rose as she does.

“Thank you, dear,” Rose tells her.

“Always, darling,” Robin replies.

“That is super interesting, I like that,” Jonathan agrees with Robin. “That is totally the vibe.”

“Not to mention she is super stunning and beautiful and looking like a fucking princess,” Robin adds. “Like, I’m not going to get graphic here.” “Please, don’t.” “But I regret not doing a garter thing, but it might be better, because I would not have come back out from under there.”

“Oh my god, Robin!” Rose squeal laughs.

“That’s you not getting graphic?” Jonathan chokes, stuck between appalled and dying of laughter.

There are also chuckles coming from behind the camera, before Argyle asks: “Can we please keep that in?”

Robin and Rose exchange a look, before Rose says: “Sure, it’s not me exposing myself.”

“I don’t expose myself, I speak truth,” Robin declares.

“Of course, dear,” Rose says, patting her arm, before she turns to Jonathan: “So, what’s next?”

Jonathan looks back down to the book, which had kind of been forgotten in the chaos. “The next one is First Kiss as a Married Couple and this whole page is about you two being officiated as married.”

The photo that appears is of Robin and Rose’s first kiss at the altar, unofficially wedded. Rose is pulling Robin in by the lapels of her jacket and Robin is enthusiastically clinging back, half pulling Rose’s veil off.

“I love the enthusiasm in this photo,” Jonathan says. “I talked about this with Eddie and Steve, but a lot of straight couple getting married don’t even like each other, which makes it more insane that love like this wasn’t legal. It’s just weird. But I’ll get off my nonsense and just say I love the enthusiasm.”

“I must agree that I also love the enthusiasm,” Robin nods, before she looks at Rose and bats her eyes: “I love it when you pull me into a kiss by my lapels. Very hot.”

“God, you are ridiculous,” Rose giggles. “But you’re so handsome in your suit, I feel like I can’t be blamed. Plus, you ripped off my veil and nearly tripped us both over, it was just practical to hold you put so we wouldn’t fall.”

“You know me so well, woman after my own heart,” Robin fake swoons.

“So are you, handsome,” Rose replies, booping her nose. Then she turns to Jonathan and says: “I think to add to your point, another aspect is that a lot of straight culture is being respectable and especially those that like get married in a church. PDA is kind of demonized and seen as sinful, they’re not kissing like this.”

“Huh, yeah, never thought about that, but that’s probably because the only straight wedding I attended was between mom and dad,” Jonathan says. “And like Steve and Robin if you want to count that. I refuse to count the others, they were queer.”

“And you are so correct for that, bestie,” Robin tells him.

“Oh my god, you are no longer allowed to hang out with the teens when you come visit me at work,” Rose exclaims. “They’re corrupting you.”

“Slay,” Robin attempts to deadpan, but a grin is breaking through.

“I hate you,” Rose giggles.

“Love you too,” Robin replies, letting the grin break through on her face.

The two of them giggle as Jonathan moves on: “Then the next photo is Unofficially Officiated, which is of the ceremony itself.”

It is of Argyle when officiating. He is speaking passionately, clearly visible between the smiling Robin and Rose. The affection from the photographer clearly shines through in the image.

“You are so gay for Argyle it’s hilarious,” Robin comments. “Like this our lesbian wedding and you manage to focus wholly on Argyle and it still be gay, because you use your camera to create fucking heart eyes at him.”

“I can’t help that he’s pretty,” Jonathan defends himself, blushing deeply.

“Ahw, you are pretty too, buttercup,” Argyle comments from behind the camera.

“You did look amazing,” Robin agrees. “And I love your officiating speech. It was very out there, I loved the energy.”

“I tried,” Argyle says.

“Alright, then the last one on the page is Celebrating, which I love. It’s tells such a story,” Jonathan moves on.

Celebrating is of Robin, now turned to Steve with her back to Rose. She is screaming with wide eyes as if she can’t believe that just happened and needs Steve to confirm. Steve is holding her hands, also screaming. Both are jumping with joy. In the background is Rose, rolling her eyes fondly at the duo.

Robin and Rose lean over to see the photo. Rose starts laughing the moment she sees, while Robin flushes red. She complains: “Rose always bullies me for this.”

“No, I don’t,” Rose argues.

“Yes, you do,” Robin pouts. “Remember like last week when you kissed me and asked if I needed to go find Steve to yell at him? We’ve been married for 23 years, this joke can die.”

“But it’s so funny,” Rose says. “It was cute, I swear. You were so excited about it. And I know how you and Steve are, I knew that when I said yes.”

“Alright, if you say so,” Robin gives in.

“I do say so,” Rose promises, punctuating her point by kissing Robin on the cheek.

“You kind of said all that needed to be said about this one,” Jonathan adds. “I do like to point out Rose here. She looks so fond, which I love as a little detail.”

“See, Jon agrees that it’s fond,” Rose says.

“Still a stupid joke,” Robin mumbles, but she doesn’t look too disgruntled.

Jonathan flips the page and snorts when he sees what’s on it. He says: “Okay, so these two pages are the photo shoot we did for your wedding and I love all of them, but I think we should just explain what we were doing and pick two to talk about so it doesn’t get completely out of hand.”

“Alright, I want to talk about my children,” Rose immediately agrees.

“I wanna talk about the Rob and Rose one,” Robin says.

“Okay, so we got two picked,” Jonathan says. “Now the concept for this was a stereotypical wedding photo shoot, but with an edge of ridicule. We took it seriously, but also made it absurd. I think you came up with it, Robin?”

“Well, it was collaborative,” Robin replies.

“No, it wasn’t. You made fun of me and then we did it anyway,” Rose corrects.

“You and I remember this very differently,” Robin says. “Why do you think that?”

“We went through my old wedding scrap book I made when I was fifteen and there were photos like this one in it and you laughed for like twenty whole seconds before demanding we did this. How else was I supposed to interpret that?” Rose asks.

Robin is quiet for a minute, then says: “Okay when you say it like that, I get why you think that, but I was never laughing at you, just the concept of it.”

“It was in my wedding scrap book,” Rose points out.

“That you made when you were fifteen!” Robin exclaims. “Everyone is stupid at fifteen.”

“Yeah, what were you doing at fifteen then, huh?” Rose shoots back.

“I was being jealous of Steve and the attention he got while being mad at him because he left crumbs everywhere,” Robin answers honestly.

“I thought you were seventeen when you two met,” Jonathan pipes up.

“Long story, Jonathan,” Robin waves him away. “The point is, it wasn’t meant as making fun of you, my love, so let’s just look at them and agree about that.”

“Of course, dear,” Rose gives in easily. She never was truly upset about it, but you don’t spend over twenty years around the party without starting silly arguments for the sake of arguing.

“So, first up Newlyweds Rob & Rose,” Jonathan starts out.

On screen the photo that appears is of Robin with Rose standing in front of her. They look to be posing for a family portrait in the late 1800s with serious faces. Robin has her hand on Rose’s shoulder, taller than her, but only because of the step stool that is clearly in frame.

“Okay, so this was meant to be like a typical 19th century family portrait,” Robin says. “And I think it’s so funny that you can just see the step stool right there. Because Rose is a lovely, beautiful, tall queen and I’m the butch one of us two, so to fully parody it, I had to be taller.”

“It’s hysterical,” Rose agrees. “But I was so terrified of you being up on that thing. I love you very much, handsome, but god, your coordination.”

Robin cackles loudly at that, falling into Rose’s side. She crows: “Oh my god, that is amazing, Steve told me the same exact thing when I mentioned talking about these to him. Remember when I almost face planted?”

“I do,” Rose tells her, sounding a little pained at the memory, but amused by Robin’s delight.

“It was a terrifying shoot for all the wrong reasons,” Jonathan agrees, snorting softly. “I also really like the title. Nance came up with this one, she’s said you guys would appreciate the gender fuckery of it.”

“We do,” Robin says immediately.

“Yeah, we are very much a butch4femme couple,” Rose nods. “This felt very accurate of us, while also fitting with the theme. I loved all the titles honestly.”

“The titles were very good and as Rose said, I am very butch. I border on this woman-not-woman edge of lesbianism and that makes me more comfortable with being addressed in a more masculine way, like going by Rob most of the time,” Robin says. “And honestly, I feel really blessed with how I’m represented in this book. Like I love all the other girls in there, but god what I wouldn’t have given to see a butch dyke when I was a teen, you know.”

Jonathan looks very touched by the comment and he replies: “I’m very honored you think that I presently you right, that means a lot.”

“Come here, you,” Robin exclaims, chocking up a little as she pulls Jonathan into a hug. More muffled because of it, she says: “Fuck, I told Steve I wasn’t gonna get mushy and here I am. He’s gonna laugh at me.”

She lets go and both of them wipe their eyes as they pretend not to. Rose puts a comforting hand on Robin’s back.

To move on from the moment, Jonathan says: “Then the other one we wanted to talk about is Wedding Picture with the Children.”

The photo is of Robin and Rose, sitting on the ground together. Rose’s dress fans around her as Robin sits in a mermaid pose next to her. It had been a lot of work to get their huge collection of garden gnomes they usually keep in a display near their front door positioned around them, forming a small army. Robin and Rose are both smiling proudly and happily, albeit a little cheeky too.

“Okay, so a lot of people have asked about the gnomes,” Jonathan informs them. “Why all the gnomes?”

Robin looks to Rose and gestures as if to say: Go ahead.

“Well, I already collected gnomes when we met. I started collecting them when I was nineteen, I think,” Rose answers. “My grandma moved to a care home and she had two in her garden that my mom wanted to throw out, so I stole them. They were so ugly, I loved them. From then on it became kind of a thing for me. I think I drunkly took that one from a garden once.”

She points at one, which gets circled in the photo on screen. The gnome in question has overalls and is holding a little shovel.

“They’ve always kind of hung around my dorms and apartments. A lot of dates thought they were creepy, but that night I met Robin we ended up on the topic. When I told her about it she said ‘gnome way’ and I gave her my number right then and there,” Rose tells Jonathan. “She was the one that demanded we put them in a display case by the door when we moved in together.”

Robin is smiling fondly and looking quite pleased with herself as Rose recounts the story. “Best pun I ever made,” she says. “11 out of 10, would do again.”

“No matter how many times I hear that, it just keeps being iconic,” Jonathan laughs.

“Personally, I consider myself not the stepdad, but the dad that stepped up for these gnomes,” Robin says. “I was channeling my inner dingus for this photo in particular. Don’t I look exactly like him on his wedding with the kids in the party.”

Jonathan and Rose both laugh, then Jonathan glances at the photo again, before gasping: “Oh my god, I can totally see it now.”

“Wait, gimme,” Rose demands as Jonathan wordlessly hands her the book. She looks at it closely, before exclaiming: “Oh my god, you totally do.”

“Of course I did, I know that man inside and out,” Robin says, almost affronted at the idea she couldn’t imitate Steve flawlessly.

“God, you’re ridiculous, I love you so much,” Rose tells her, handing the book back to Jonathan.

Robin’s face lights up in a big smile as she replies: “I love you too. Very much.”

As they gaze into each other’s eyes, Jonathan flips the page. He says: “Page 186 and 187 was the first and second dance. I put them as four in a line to tell kind of a story from left to right, starting with Asking for a Dance.”

The photo is of Robin, bowing as she kisses Rose’s hand. Rose is grinning widely, half hiding behind her other hand.

“Look at you, handsome. Always such a gentleman, made me feel like a princess,” Rose gushes.

“You are a princess,” Robin assures her, making Rose blush.

“Stahp,” she giggles.

Jonathan adds: “It is a lovely photo of you two. Very much a mix of that queering of the heteronormative and queer gender expression.”

“I live to queer it all,” Robin cheers, grinning widely as Rose high fives her.

At that, Jonathan shakes his head, before moving on: “Next to it is First Dance, title kind of speaks for itself here.”

In the photo Robin and Rose are very close together and swaying. Robin’s coordination prevents complicated choreography, however, she valiantly lead Rose that day and they danced for a big part of the night.

“The way I struggled with even this,” Robin groans in embarrassment. “Ask anyone and they’ll tell you I am the most uncoordinated person alive. The fact that we didn’t fall a hundred times is a combination of a miracle and your strong arms steadying us. Even with Steve coaching me for weeks late at night, I barely managed.”

“I think it’s very sweet that you tried so hard and I had a great time dancing with you,” Rose tells her gently.

“Still, I think I did better the second time around,” Robin says.

“Maybe, but I think this first one is still my favorite,” Rose replies.

“Ahw, stop, you’re gonna make me cry,” Robin exclaims, again burying herself in Rose’s chest as she hugs the other closely.

“Oh, I’m sorry, baby,” Rose immediate apologizes, petting Robin’s hair.

“Don’t say sorry for being perfect and lovely,” Robin says, voice muffled.

“Ahww, baby,” Rose coos, hugging her tightly, which makes the muscles in her arms bulge. After a second she lets go again and asks Jonathan: “What’s the next one?”

“Next one is Father-Daughter Dance with you and your dad,” Jonathan says.

The photo that appears is of Rose dancing with her father. She looks much like him, both of them with red hair and big frames. They’re both smiling, pride washing off the image.

“Your dad is so nice,” Robin says. “You look so much like him, it’s insane.”

“My dad is the best,” Rose agree easily. “Both my parents are. I am so lucky to have them and they make it easy to forget that not every parent is like that, but once you start hanging out with other queer people, you start to realize how common it is for parents to not be accepting. It’s heartbreaking sometimes.”

“I think it’s lovely that we got to have your family in here to show that it can be different, just like my mom and dad,” Jonathan says. “It’s easy to get lost in the gloom and doom, but it is getting better. Not perfect, but better. And it can be really hopeful to see.”

“Yeah, you should be fucking proud about it and loud, baby,” Robin adds. “Your parents are the fucking best and it truly shows that all the other shitheads aren’t products of their time, because there are people who knew better, even back then. And, honestly, I kind of love this little piece of tradition we had in our wedding. I love that we got to have that.”

“Ahw, you’re gonna make me cry,” Rose replies, dabbing her eyes as she hugs Robin and kisses her cheek.

Jonathan gives them their moment, before he says: “We wanted to show both sides of how coming out to parents can turn out and the effects of it. Despite the tragedy, I do love The Second Dance of you and Steve.”

Second Dance is Robin and Steve dancing in their suits. Both of them are crying, tears streaming down their faces as they cling more than dance.

Robin looks over to see and tears kind of spring up as she does. Softly Jonathan asks: “You still okay, Robs?”

“Ye- yeah, yeah,” she assures him swallowing heavily. “Just- kind of forgot that was in here. Hit me out of nowhere.” She wipes her eyes.

“Want to tell it yourself or us to do it?” Rose asks kindly, rubbing the back of Robin’s neck with her thumb in a soothing manner.

“I can do, thank you,” Robin says.

“Alright, take your time,” Rose smiles as Jonathan nods.

“Okay, so,” Robin sniffs. “This was my second dance with my favorite dingus. My dad wasn’t there to dance with me, so Steve did it. I- I, uh, also was his second dance at his wedding, because he really wanted one and I did too, honestly.”

She takes a deep breath: “We have this big family, but Steve is the closest to blood I have. He is kind of my whole world. Like, I don’t know what I would do without him honestly. He’s been there for me through everything. He’s the first ever person I came out too and he was my hype-man through everything. When I started dating, he was always my backup, gave me eating out tips and shit.”

Despite it being an emotional moment, Rose lets out a soft snort at that and both Jonathan and Robin crack a grin, the tension slightly broken.

“I’ve seen online people calling us weird for being so close and saying Steve has feelings for me, which is ridiculous,” Robin says. “We’re just way too comfortable with each other, because we care and we need each other to live. If I have to make sure the weird spot on his dick isn’t cancer so he grows old with me, I totally will. Fuck anyone who thinks otherwise.”

“Anyway,” she turns back to the photo. “Neither of us had our parents in our lives anymore and as much as I appreciate Jim or Wayne, it just wouldn’t have been the same. So me and Steve danced and we both cried, because in that moment it just hits you, you know. You just realize that the other is the person you have. That it’s not just going to be over and you can’t go back home and tell your mom that despite all her worries you did get married, that I found someone who loved me even without all those ladylike manners she failed to instill on me. That I was okay.”

Robin now starts crying. She isn’t sobbing, just silent tears streaming down her face as her voice gets tighter and more strained.

“It never truly becomes real that you’re not welcome back. That their love was conditional. That never sinks in after it happens. And it hit me that in that moment it was real and Steve was there to catch me. He is always there to catch me. That’s why I love him so much,” Robin says.

She wipes her eyes again and clears her throat: “I’ll stop being sad now. Just love that man so much, he’s my soulmate.”

“I’m glad you have Steve,” Rose tells her. “He is really cool. He’s one of my best friends too honestly. I remember you crying and wanting to comfort you and Steve just told me that it was okay, that he had you and I should finish the dance with my dad and it was so easy to trust him with you. And sure enough by the time you two were done dancing you were laughing and smiling again. I honestly thought he was a wizard.”

“He never told me that,” Robin says.

“Must have not come up,” Rose shrugs.

“I love him,” Robin sighs happily.

“Me too,” Rose agrees.

“He is pretty great,” Jonathan adds, more to say something, because he feels awkward.

“But not as great as his husband, am I right, Jonny-boy?” Robin jeers, breaking the tension as Jonathan groans and everyone else cracks up again.

“I hate all of you,” Jonathan informs them, before pointedly flipping the page and ignoring their giggles as he reads: “Twirling Trio, is what we’re looking at right now.”

On screen a photo of Lucas twirling both El and Max on the dance floor, the three of them giggling appears. It had been a good day for Max, so her crutches are leaning against the wall in the back, just in case.

“It’s a good day for me when I get to photograph polyam people,” Jonathan says. “They’re a great throuple and I love how close Lucas and Jane are as friends too. That’s really important. Now, this page is early in the wedding and then 189 is later in the wedding. Next one is Wedding Cake and Stolen Kisses, which I think is a hilarious photo.”

The photo is of Steve sitting in a chair with Robin in his lap. The two are sharing a plate of wedding cake, but the photograph is taken when Steve is momentarily distracted by Eddie. Eddie is leaning over the back of the chair, stealing a kiss from Steve as well as a bit of cake, though that might be a fail, since Robin is on her way to stab his hand with her fork.

“I stabbed him so hard, he bled,” Robin reminisces fondly. “I think he still has a scar on his hands.”

“You were very protective over that cake,” Rose comments.

“Of course I was, it took us two days of cake tasting to pick one and it was very expensive,” Robin says, like that is a normal thing to say.

“You and Steve are sharing the plate,” Jonathan points out.

“That’s different,” Robin shrugs.

Jonathan shakes his head at her, then moves on: “I love the storytelling that is happening in it. I love capturing little moments where in people shine through, like in this other one on this page of Mike and Will. The Whipped Cream one.”

Whipped Cream is of Mike and Will both in neat suits. Will is eating some cake, but has some whipped cream on his upper lip. Mike is smiling softly at him, shaking his head fondly as he wipes away the whipped cream with his thumb. Will is staring dumbly, looking very love stricken.

“It was truly luck that I managed to catch that one and I’m so pleased. It’s such a cliché and I love that,” Jonathan says. “And then the next one – sorry, I’m kind of speeding through these, but otherwise it’s too long.”

“Go ahead, baby boy,” Argyle encourages him from behind the camera as Robin and Rose both nod and gesture to go ahead.

“Feel free to interject,” Jonathan says anyway. “So, the next one is Talks of Love.”

The photo that appears is of Argyle, Nancy, Robin and Rose. Argyle is smiling widely, having Nancy under one arm and Rose under the other. Robin is holding Rose’s hand and resting her face happily against her arm.

“This is the transition photo to later in the night when people started drinking,” Jonathan explains. “Argyle had taken his officiant role a little seriously and he was speeching. It was really cute and romantic.”

“He was waxing poetry about you and Nance, of course you think that’s cute,” Robin says.

“Hey, I was talking about the beauty of love and how we’re all connected, man,” Argyle speaks up from behind the camera to defend himself.

“You still remember what you were talking about?” Rose asks, sounding surprised.

“Nah, he’s just has been repeating the same speech about love since ‘86, you just haven’t heard it as much because we had less time to get stoned together since we met,” Robin says.

“And it’s amazing every time,” Jonathan defends Argyle.

“Ahw, thank you, baby boy,” Argyle says, smile obvious in his voice.

“Whipped,” Robin hollers.

“I have let you talk about your wife and your wedding for hours now, don’t you fucking dare do this to me, Robin. Let me live in peace and let’s just go talk about the conga line,” Jonathan says, pointing accusingly at Robin to punctuate his sentence.

“Let me live in peace and let’s just go talk about the conga line,” Robin repeats, dying of laughter as she does.

“What did you name that one?” Rose asks, leaning over to see if she can read it, but her view is getting obscured by Robin, who is still laughing.

“Conga Line of 1994,” Jonathan answers, a little embarrassed about it.

As the title suggests the photo is of Argyle, Dustin, Eddie, El, Lucas, Joyce Robin, Rose and Steve forming a conga line. It is clear that some, if not most, of them have had a little too much to drink at this point.

“Joyce totally started that conga line,” Robin recalls, mirth in her eyes. “She said I do not have to drive or be responsible and I respect that about her.”

“You were the second person in the conga line, love,” Rose reminds her.

“Yeah, because I have taste, thank you,” Robin sniff snootily.

“It was pretty great, I loved it. I couldn’t not photograph it. It’s just delightful and shows the vibes the wedding got when it went on for a little,” Jonathan agrees. “Which is even more visible in the other two, starting with Kiss the Bride.”

Kiss the Bride is of Robin, her bow tie undone along with the top buttons. She is hanging of a smug Rose and is covered in lipstick kisses, looking quite pleased with herself as she grins into the camera. Rose’s lipstick is smudged.

“I have this one framed on my desk,” Robin says. “I love that photo.”

“Really?” Rose asks, blushing. “Don’t you share your office space with your coworkers?”

“Yeah,” Robin answers as if that means nothing to her. “If they want to make a comment about it, they are just getting a ramble about you and how great my wife is. Their choice.”

“God, you’re a doofus,” Rose tells her affectionately, before coyly adding: “I love how you look in my lipstick.”

“Same,” Robin sighs dreamily.

“Not to interrupt you two being gay for each other, but-” Jonathan starts out. He gets interrupted by Robin hollering: “Too late.”

“I knew that,” Jonathan sighs fondly, nudging her with his elbow. “I just wanted to add how this one along with Off to the Wedding Bed is some hilarious visual storytelling. Do you remember yelling that everyone had to leave, because you were going to fuck your brand new wife?”

“Yes, I did, Jonathan. It’s almost like I have two of the most annoying roommates, who like to remind me of that humiliating moment every time they have an opportunity,” Robin deadpans, exaggerating her pout.

The photo they’re referencing has appeared on screen and is of Rose’s back. She has lost her veil and train and currently has Robin slung over her shoulder, obviously carrying her off. Robin is cackling as she looks into the camera. Eddie is whistling in the foreground and Steve is clapping as he grins, next to them is Nancy, who is shaking her head fondly.

“You jumped in my arms right after,” Rose reminisces with a sappy smile. “You’re so cute.”

“It was mortifying,” Robin says. “I had to face everyone of them the next day covered in hickeys. They all knew.”

“I think they all already kind of guessed,” Rose informs her.

“We totally did, brocacho,” Argyle agrees.

Robin buries her head in her hands, before straightening out again. She’s still flushed but determined: “No, I refuse to be embarrassed. I love my wife and I am horny for her, always have been. You all can go suck my dick!”

“Love the energy, handsome,” Rose laughs.

“Same energy you had that night,” Jonathan adds, which earns him a shove from Robin, though she’s laughing too.

Jonathan bounces right back and adds: “I do think that Eddie, Steve and Nancy really add to the photo. I know we’re joking about it, but this book celebrates queer sex too, despite how it is often deemed perverted and wrong. I love how we made something lovely out of it.”

“Same, honestly. I felt like such a predator for so long, because I was attracted to girls,” Robin agrees. “And it’s just as beautiful as other sex. Just as nasty too, but we won’t talk about that right now. Shout out to all the nudes you took that didn’t make it in. We could have had a whole page of Argyle nudes or Nancy nudes.”

“Shut up,” Jonathan squeals, pushing her over this time as she cackles.

Robin pops right back up, like nothing has happened, then demands: “Let’s talk about the morning after photos.”

“Do we have time for that?” Jonathan asks Argyle.

“It’s already pretty long, baby boy,” Argyle answers.

“Maybe we should just leave it here,” Jonathan offers apologetically.

“But I wanna talk about those photos,” Robin pouts. “Can’t we part two it? Come on. I need something to rub in Steve’s face.”

“You should have lead with that,” Jonathan jokes, before finishing up: “That was a behind the scenes of the wedding of Robin and Rose, thank you both for being here.”

“Thanks for having us,” Rose replies politely.

“Yes, thank you for giving into my demands,” Robin teases.

“We’re going to do a hopefully shorter part two, so until then I guess?” Jonathan says. “Bye.”

“Bye!” Robin waves excitedly

“Goodbye,” Rose smiles.

~~

A/N:

I kind of didn’t say a lot about certain pictures, because I didn’t want it to get too long and I let chaos reign and kind of flesh out this relationship more :D

[portaltothevoid]

For Whom the Bell Tolls - Chapter 21 - A Forest

Pairing: Eddie Munson x OFC (Kat Ramsay), sequel to Foolin’

Summary: Eddie and Steve have a heart to heart on the way to Nancy’s. The group faces a new threat.

Warnings: None that I can think of?

Word count: 1.8k

Chapter song: A Forest by The Cure

Tag list: @munchabunch​ @madaboutmunson​​ @earl-greater

Thunderstorms were usually comforting. The low rumbles or sudden cracks, the lightning that would fork across the sky or illuminate everything in this almost lavender glow. Here though? In this other world? In the Upside Down? It did nothing, but caused an uneasy feeling to settle around Kat. It was constant.

Everything was muted and abysmal. These snowflakes, or whatever they were, constantly floating through the air like ash from nuclear fallout. Blood red skies above only glowing a deeper red which each flash of lightning in the clouds overhead. Robin and Nancy had wandered ahead, set on a path of determination. Eddie and Steve had fallen to the back of the pack, while Kat just kept to herself. Her arms crossed, she tried to keep pulling them as close to her body as she could in order to self-soothe.  

She knew the others couldn’t pick up on what she was feeling, and while she wasn’t sure how, she knew they were being watched. Not just her, every single one of them walking through that forest. The vines acted like feelers or warning signals. That wasn’t what was keeping an eye on them, keeping track of them. It was something else entirely. 

With each step forward the only thing Kat could focus on was her breathing. She hated how scared she felt. She had lost years of her life training for something like this. There was a time when she would have immediately gone on the hunt for Vecna and taken her shot at him. This time, in her current state, she felt like nothing more than a coward. Terrified of what lies beyond the next corner, scared of what could be lurking in the trees surrounding them, frightened at the thought that not everyone would make it out of this ordeal alive. She was the one with the power. Her responsibility was to save those around her. Given the track record of Vecna: 3 and Kat: 0, her confidence was definitely waning. 

The feeling in the pit of her stomach felt like the moment before you dropped on a roller coaster, only it was constant. She didn’t even feel the dampness of her clothes, but instead was weighed down by dread. Her feet kept following the girls in front of her. Always having them in her sight reminded her to just move forward, because if she didn’t, she was ten seconds to spiraling.

Steve breaking the silence to talk with Eddie helped Kat to focus on something else besides the doom and gloom that was encapsulating her.

“Eddie. Hey, man, uh… Listen, I just, uh…” he sputtered. “I just want to say thanks for saving my ass back there.”

“Shit. You saved your own ass, man. I mean, that was a real Ozzy move you pulled back there,” Eddie said sincerely. Kat couldn’t help, but crack a small smile at Eddie’s reference. Meanwhile, he was shocked at Steve’s gratitude. These past few days have been shocking for him. The people that Hawkins had put on a pedestal, like Chrissy, like Steve, were turning out to be quite the opposite from their supposed “popular” stereotypes.

“Ozzy?” Steve asked, clearly not knowing what Eddie was referring to.

“When you took a bite out of that bat,” Eddie paused when he was met with a blank look from Steve. “Ozzy Osbourne? Black Sabbath? He bit a bat’s head off on stage.”

“I don’t–”

“You know?”

“No.”

“Doesn’t  matter. It was very metal, what you did. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Thanks,” Steve said, unsure of how to take this compliment from Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson.

“Henderson told me you were a badass. Insisted on the matter, in fact.”

“Wait, Henderson said that?” Steve clarified, surprised now by this sudden confession.

“Oh, yeah. Shit. Kid worships you, dude. Like, you have no idea. It’s kinda annoying, to be honest. I don’t even know why I care what that little shrimp thinks, but, uh, guess I just got a little jealous, Steve. I guess I couldn’t accept the fact that Steve Harrington was actually… a good dude.” 

The words just came spilling out of Eddie and once he started, it was like he couldn’t stop. His words were nothing, but true. Henderson was one of his favorites in Hellfire Club. As soon as he spotted him, he saw a bit of himself in the kid, especially his brazen “I am who I am” attitude. Eddie never had a sibling. Hell, he barely had anyone to look up to when he was Dustin’s age. The only person he had to figure things out with was himself and as his reputation precedes him, he didn’t make a lot of good choices. If even just for a year, he could guide Dustin to stay true to himself, that’s what he was gonna do. He wanted to be that older brother figure for his younger friend, but with how much Dustin admired Steve, he always felt as if he was in Steve’s shadow. Steve’s comments and being there for Kat when he wasn’t, like at her birthday, ate him up inside. Not that he would ever show it. 

Jealousy always finds a way to creep in and make itself at home. Steve was the one with the leg up in the world while Eddie had to fight and claw his way for everything he had. He was sick of fighting, of feeling weak. So whenever he could, he was always jab back at Steve. And yet, over these past few days, he was able to see a kinder side to his unofficial archenemy. Steve was with Dustin the whole time helping and making sure not only Kat was safe, but him too. He wanted to protect him and clear his name as much as anyone in that group. The kindness and at some points selflessness, Eddie could do nothing, but respect that.

“Rich parents, popular, chicks love him. Not a douche?” Eddie continued. “No way, man. No way. That, like, flies in the face of all the laws in the universe and my own personal Munson doctrine,” he said as he put his hands over his heart. “And not to mention how you were there to help her,” he dropped his voice to a whisper and nodded in front of him to Kat, “with that whole birthday fiasco…”

Steve wasn’t all that used to compliments outside of his looks, so his only response was to bashfully crook his mouth up into a half smile. This awkward air fell over them and Eddie, trying to diffuse it, leaned in, invading Steve’s space a bit, as he said “Still super jealous as hell, by the way,” causing them both to snicker at the admission. “Which is why I never would have jumped in that lake to save your ass. Not under any… uh, normal circumstances.”

Suddenly a branch snapped. Everyone froze. Steve shone his flashlight in the direction of the sound. No one could see anything, but a distant growling could be heard. Kat slowly turned her head in the direction of the sound. Her hand instantly flew up to the back of her neck, feeling it covered in goosebumps. Whatever was watching them, was making itself known. She waited for Steve and Eddie to be a few steps behind her before she continued forward.

“Nope. Outside of D&D, I am no hero. I see danger and I just turn heel and run. Or at least that’s what I’ve learned about myself this week.” Flickers of shame tugged at Eddie’s voice. Kat frowned hearing him say that, knowing how he had saved her countless times. At this point, she couldn’t really help but share his sentiments with her own self-doubt.

“Give yourself a break, man,” Steve said as he slapped his hand across Eddie’s chest.

“See?” Eddie held up a hand to stop Steve. Kat slowly walked forward knowing they had stopped, but wanted to see where this was going. “The only reason I came in here was ‘cause those ladies came in straight after you. Even Kat. Granted I would have followed her anyway, but she’s not close to you like the other two. And yet, immediately she was taking off her jacket to dive in to rescue you, or some shit. Me? I was too ashamed to be the one who stayed behind. But Wheeler, right there, she didn’t waste a second. Not one second. She just dove right in. Now, I don’t know what happened between you two, but if I were you, I would get her back. ‘Cause that was as unambiguous a sign of true love as these cynical eyes have ever seen.” 

Steve processed what Eddie was telling him as he stared longly at Nancy as she carried on in front of him.

“He’s right, you know,” Kat chimed in, unable to resist any longer as she walked back towards them. “And I, for one, am speaking from experience. If this cynical guy, here…” she said tapping on his chest and cocking her head at Steve, “If anything were to ever happen to him? I’d send whoever hurt him into another alternate dimension. And you can’t tell me Nancy wouldn’t at least try to do the same for you.”

Eddie beamed down at Kat who returned the loving smile. Steve sighed and as he opened his mouth to say something, a loud snapping sound was heard from the woods. Closer than the first one they heard. Steve immediately shut his mouth, but opened it again to say “Wh-what was that?” as he shone his flashlight around their perimeter. 

“Robin. Nancy. Stop,” Kat commanded.

A low growling sound came from behind them. Kat put her hands out, herding the group behind her, shielding them. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing straight up. She knew whatever was watching them, whatever was following them, was only a few seconds away from making its move.

When I tell you guys to run, fucking run. No matter what. Just nod slowly if you understand. Kat said to the group using her telepathy. Everyone nodded, their eyes wide at what she was able to do. Everyone that is, except Eddie. Eddie, we don’t fucking have time for this. If I say run, you run. Reluctantly, he nodded once. Not that he was actually going to obey her. There’s no way he’d leave her to fend for herself. No way.

Quickly, an image of a house appeared in Kat’s mind. She could feel nothing but Nancy’s presence surrounding the image. Run to Nancy’s house. Don’t look back. She instructed and then turned her attention briefly towards Eddie, gaining his attention. I will meet you there.

The growling grew louder, then a sound like someone obnoxiously licking their lips was heard from behind the trees. Branches and dead leaves crunched under this thing’s feet. And then, it moved into full view. It was crouched on all fours. Its head opened like a flower, revealing trails of spit and rows upon rows of sharp teeth. A couple of the creature’s friends decided to join the soirée, popping out from behind nearby trees. Flanking at its heels. The supposed leader let out an ear piercing roar that was aimed directly at Kat.

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