#Tw: racism

[aftgficrec]

Neil & Matt shenanigans?

I gotta wonder if any of these were written from personal experience… -A

previous recs for matt & neil friendship:

Matt & Neil or Matt/Neil* here

Allison & Neil or Matt & Neil** here

Matt & Neil forehead kisses here

‘The Christmas Gift,’ ‘baby, it's cold outside,’ and ‘andreil’s christmas time with dan and matt’ here

‘it's sad but true (how much i miss you)’ here

‘My Best Friend’ here

‘Secrets’ and ‘'ah yes, my shirt will cover this'’ here

‘disarm you with a smile’ here

‘A Form Of Endearment’ here

‘work in progress’ here 

‘I'll Race You There’ here

‘when you are close to me (i shiver)’ here and ‘when you are close to me (the thumping in my chest remix)’ here

‘skylight’ here

‘Clear as Day’ here

‘I Spy’ here

‘Already Taken’ here

‘Bad Apple’ and ‘You are a Fox’ here

‘Scars Like Stars’ here (updated)

‘Someone New’ here

‘I will help you swim’ and ‘Looking in the Mirror Never Felt so Good’ here

‘Wish I Had a River’ here

‘White Hands’ here

‘if i could look past the present’ here

‘I Quit Talking Again, I Know You're Still Listening’ here

‘and when i'm a little unsteady (stay a while with me)’ here

‘Blood Spilled (But None Wasted)’ here

‘Cryptid Serial Killer Witch Man’ and ‘The endless mental math required to simply survive.’ here

‘Sent to Drain’ here

‘Do I want to know if this feeling goes both ways?’ here

‘If You Love Me, Come Clean’ here

‘A Quiet Little Seedling’ here

more shenanigans-y:

*hijinks from Matt & Neil or Matt/Neil: ‘Come Get It Now,’ ‘diet mountain dew,’ ‘tampons’ tumblr fics, ‘Breaking News, the Josten-Boyd Affair,’ ‘do some matt and neil best friend headcanons,’ and ‘a thought.’  here

**M&N hijinks from Allison & Neil or Matt & Neil: ‘chef!andrew trying (and failing) to woo picky eater neil,’ ‘Dare You,’ ‘together…Chapter 22: Too Drunk,’ ‘Matt Boyd and Neil Josten Bromance…,’ and ‘and you’re shining like the brightest stars…’ here

‘I'll be home for Christmas (You can count on me),’ ‘pointless traditions,’ and ‘Merry & Bright’ ch 14, 24 here

‘brosten being dumb and doing stupid shit’ here

‘Mis-Match’ here

‘Perennial’ and ‘Neighbours’ series here

‘Seeing Colors’ here

‘Falling in love in a...Dance Club?,’ ‘Fox magic! Thirty years of virginity can make you a wizard?!’ (updated), and ‘Proper Decorum’ here

‘Spinning Wheels’ and ‘We're A Mess’ here 

‘A Day Out with Dad’ here

‘We Used To Be Friends’ here (completed)

‘The Runaway Game’ here

‘5 times realisation struck Neil & 1 time he acted on it’ here

‘We Can Be Soft’ here

‘Seasons of memory’ here

‘sugar, sugar & everything sugar’ here

‘In the Eye of the Beholder’ and ‘Wait, Neil Has a Boyfriend?’ here

‘call it what you want’ and ‘Andrew scares the waiter’ here

‘12 Ways to Woo a Minyard’ here

‘The Rob Chronicles’ series here

Boys' Night by knoxham [Rated T, 2871 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2020]

Having the evening to themselves, Matt and Neil plan an awesome Boys' Night that consists of movies, a surplus amount of food, and maybe a bit too much alcohol. Everything starts off great, but when they wake up the next morning with no memories, no money, and no eyebrows, they try to retrace their steps to figure out what the hell happened last night and run into a few problems.

tw: alcohol

Neil's Bright Idea by Demi_jos10 [Rated G, 1954 Words, Complete, 2018]

Neil loses his first bet with the Upperclassmen.

I’m sorry, I said Ikea sucks (I just bought a table for 60 bucks) byAcetober (allfortheBoyds) [Rated T, 1715 Words, Complete, 2023]

“Neil,” Matt says once he gets his words back. “Buddy, no. That is an actual crime.” Neil only looks at him in confusion. “It’s just a store,” He argues and Matt does his best not to groan in despair. “It’s not just a store. It’s Ikea. It’s an experience.” or Neil has never been to ikea, Matt takes it upon himself to change that

Lost Cause by Current_hyperfixation07 [Rated T, 7108 Words, Complete, 2024]

The one where Neil Josten faces his toughest challenge yet - finding a date to Senior Prom. Or 5 times the Foxes try to find Neil a date to Prom, and the 1 time he finds a date himself. Neil is oblivious, Andrew is smitten, and the Foxes are trying their hardest to get Neil a prom date by sending him on a series of blind dates. What could go wrong?

a drunk neil josten is an honest neil josten by sam_sational [Rated T, 2574 Words, Complete, 2023]

"You should probably change your pants first, Aaron will stab you if you ruin his reputation at Eden's." After Dan, Renee, and Allison graduate, Matt gets roped into going to Eden's on a Friday night. Neil is more open than usual.

don't be afraid of the beautiful and high mountain by Leahelisabeth (fortheloveofcamelot) [Rated G, 3194 Words, Complete, 2020, Locked]

Previously recced here

It only took a second for it all to go to shit. One moment, Matt was taking in the spectacular view through the lens of his camera, capturing the way Neil’s hair glowed in the sunlight, and the next, he heard the sound of sliding rock and Neil is gone. Matt and Neil take a day to go hiking and very little of it goes to plan.

tw: serious injury, tw: blood/gore, tw: vomit

2:26 by rather__odd [Not Rated, 1537 Words, Complete, 2023]

Previously recced here

No one expected Neil to be good with kids, least of all Neil. That was before Penelope.

A Real Knock-Out by SensationalSunburst [Rated G, 1377 Words, Complete, 2018]

Matt liked being the guy that people could depend on. So, when Andrew left him on Neil Duty on Eden’s overcrowded dance floor, he took it seriously. Matt had been surprised that’d he’d been invited at all, even more so when he actually accepted, but as a man put a heavy hand on Neil’s shoulder, spinning him around, Matt was glad he came.

tw: implied/referenced racism, tw: attempted noncon

I'll Follow You (into the light) by DeyaAmaya [Rated T, 5576 Words, Complete, AFTG Exchange 2018]

Previously recced here

Neil is a paramedic in a rainy city. Andrew will be gone in a few months. And Stuart Hatford just wants Neil to find a date.

tw: homophobia

Neil Josten Builds Himself a Life by tomat0head [Rated T, 9424 Words, Complete, 2021]

Previously recced here

After spending years of his life on the run, then more time under the careful watch of the FBI, Neil is finally free to live on his own and start a new, real life with his best friend and FBI supervisor, Matt, at his side. Along the way, Neil meets a five foot nothing goth wannabe Ikea builder, adopts a cat that is half demon, and makes a group of weird, somewhat annoying friends. This is the story of how one Neil Josten, after years of struggle, finally builds himself a life.

If You Ask Nicely by harvroth [Rated G, 967 Words, Complete, 2016]

"Hey, Matt, why don't you just ask Andrew if you can have a go with his boyfriend?" Dan, seemingly noticing, and not caring where her boyfriend's attention is, startles both Matt who gulps, and turns to look at Dan, blushing, and Neil who also looks up at Dan who is grinning.

Ain't Nobody's Business by jostenminyard (onceuponahundred) [Rated G, 873 Words, Complete, 2016]

Everyone mistakes our close friendship for fliting and an adult went to the director with their concern of our big age difference. For the ultimate BROTP Matt and Neil.

You learn or you die by SagaEllen [Rated T, 1387 Words, Complete, 2021]

Previously recced here

"Listen," He hoped his eyes were determined, maybe a little intimidating, but not threatening - panic won't help them now. "You trust me with that, and I will let you buy me another entire closet with my uncle's blood money." Nicky gaped. "Your uncle's-" He cut himself off with a firm shake of his head. When he met Neil's gaze again his eyes were practically shining and the redhead felt like he was going to regret that promise so very much. In other words: The Monsters plus Dan and Matt go on a trip that ends before it even started. Neil has a skillset.

tw: blood

The Boy Who Hates Movies by 0bsessednerd [Rated M, 11636 Words, Complete, 2024]

Neil didn’t enjoy movies for whatever reason. Maybe he didn’t like how fake they were? Maybe he wasn’t allowed to enjoy something so frivolous? Or maybe he was just insane? Nicky always said it was the last one. Because who didn’t like movies? He hoped this next movie night would be different! He had personally selected the movie and got everyone’s favorite snacks to make this night the best one yet. What could go wrong? ~~~ Five times Neil disliked the movies they watched and one time he loved it.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced drug addiction

Current Obsession: Matt hightailing it out of the dorm before The Shower Scene fandom fun post by @corvidhours [Tumblr, 2021]

boys will be boys hcs by @triquetrine [Tumblr, 2020]

aka neil josten and matt boyd doing nothing other than being besties.

neil, andrew, matt, and kevin + pro league shenanigans hc by @triquetrine [Tumblr, 2021]

matt’s the first one to go pro (because he graduates first) and he is both extremely excited and extremely nervous

Brosten hcs by @demo-whale [Tumblr, 2024]

Part 1 - Matt carries Neil everywhere they go together Part 2 - Matt and Neil can both speak Spanish 

Matt: Repeat exactly what Andrew said fandom fun post by @chai-and-cherries [Tumblr, 2022]

Neil roasts Matt in the pros hc by @eggscelsior [Tumblr, 2019]

have my jacket fandom fun post by @kevinandthepalmetthoes [Tumblr, 2021]

Art

My fav idiots art by @em-xzm

matt boyd is Not Upset meme by @sizzicus

best mate and help pick out baby supplies art by @gremlinddrawss

Neil & Matt making gains at the gym + beefy Andrew reaction art by @intradaya

0 🦊 given art by @riovgle

“Neil hit Riko” edit by @matthcwboyd

Matt and Neil’s friendship is severely underrated art by @markiehh

Matt resting elbow on Neil’s head and bro hugs art by @cute-electrocute

[secretly-a-catamount]

it makes me wanna tear my hair out, even if I do understand what the purpose of that characterization is.

contrasting a literal league of assassins to a pseudo family of vigilantes is an interesting thing to do when discussing how a child character was raised, but sometimes I think both the comic riders and the fandom writers lean into a (Arab family) league of assassins to a (white family) pseudo family of vigilantes kind of thing, which I don’t think is helpful. It’s not that the league of assassins are villains because they’re Arab, they’re villains who just happen to be Arab. The bat family aren’t better — better, objectively, of course, if we’re talking about how we want our superheroes to morals to go —because they are mostly white. They’re just superheroes who happen to be white. but I don’t think a lot of people understand how to do those two things separately so it just ends up being really racist. which is really terrible because they’re not really engaging with the material in a way that could make it very interesting

Whoever said Damian ruined Talia’s life was right like I thought at first it was harsh but since his entry into canon Damian and his stories are used as a vehicle to villainize Talia to make his white family look better.

And I specifically say white because it’s often Bruce and Dick Jason Tim who appear in Damian’s stories with “nice” traits to contrast Talia and Ra’s ruthless cruelty.

AO3 TikTok fanon batfamily stories racist and DC helped it be that way and continues to pander and feed into it.

[ladykailitha]

The Harrington Pattern Part 1

Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late uploading today, but I went to bed early last night and forgot to schedule this.

Oops!

But! Welcome to what I've been calling Steve is a History Nerd agenda. We see in season two on Steve's essay for colleges that he can link his grandfather's military service with his prowess on the basketball court.

It is also surprisingly well written. *shakes fist at the Duffers stop telling us he's stupid and then showing the opposite, please! Let him be smart, too!*

Summary: The Renaissance Fair is finally back in Hawkins after three year absence (Starcourt was built on the fair site and after the fire it was bulldozed back to it's original field). Everyone is excited, even Steve to everyone's amazement. But Steve is hiding other hidden depths as he offers to help the kids make their costumes for the Fair.

Lucas is struggling with being both a nerd and a jock and fears the judgment of his friends. Steve sets out to help him overcome those doubts to be himself.

Tagging the untaggable: @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

***

Nobody expects Steve to be excited for the Renaissance fair. Dustin, Will and Lucas spend hours plotting bribes, schemes and out and out manipulations to get Steve to agree to take them. Even Robin expected him to side with her about the dust and the filth. Eddie expected him to be dismissive of the fantasy aspect of it.

Boy were they all wrong.

For it was Steve to bring up to the group after a rather successful D&D session.

In his hand was a bright pink flier and a wide grin on his face.

“Guys! The Ren Fair is back this year,” he said in lieu of a greeting. “I’ll finally be able to show off that tunic I’ve been working on.”

All heads turned to Steve in shock.

There was a cacophony of questions.

“Since when did you know how to sew?”

“What do you mean back? I didn’t even know Hawkins had one to begin with!”

“You want to go to the Ren Fair?”

“Why would you want to spend all day in the heat and dirt?”

Steve looked around at all off his friends in shock.

“Guys, I love the Ren Fair,” he muttered. “Didn’t you guys know?”

All their jaws dropped.

And Eddie? Eddie felt an icicle to the heart at the sight of Steve’s hurt expression.

“You’ll pardon the peasants, my liege,” Eddie said, bowing grandly. “I’m afraid we have all be harboring under the delusion that Ren Fairs were beneath your notice.”

Steve blinked at him a moment. “But I love that stuff. It’s the history and sword fights and jousting. It’s the like medieval Olympics. It’s the romance and chivalry of knights fighting for a fair maiden’s hand. It’s getting to dress up in fancy clothes and rip into turkey legs like a savage. What’s not to like?”

Dustin frowned. “Who here knew Steve liked history?”

Robin and Nancy raised their hands. They looked around waiting for me people to join them. But they stayed down.

Steve ducked his head and scuffed the floor with the edge of his sneaker.

“The ex-girlfriend I’ll buy,” Dustin continued. “But Robin didn’t become friends with Steve until after he graduated so how did she know?”

Robin blinked at them owlishly. “You mean you guys don’t know?”

Everyone looked around each other and then shook their heads.

“Steve was in my AP history class my junior year,” she said as if this was know fact.

“You do know that AP stands for advance placement, right?” Mike asked.

Eddie smacked the back of his head. “She was in it, dude. Don’t be an ass.”

Steve looked up at him and smiled a little.

Good, Eddie thought. Nothing like a little Mike violence to cheer up Steve.

“He wrote an essay for early placement college exams,” Nancy said. “He didn’t get a chance to turn it in because of our second go round with the Upside Down, but it was really good. It needed a little neatening up with the actual writing, but the history was solid.”

Steve blushed. “Thanks.”

Dustin looked skeptical. “What’s your favorite part of history?”

Steve opened his mouth and then closed it again. “I liked hearing about my grandpa’s time in the US army during WWII, but that was more because he made it interesting. But I really like the Industrial Revolution. Or rather the first Industrial Revolution. There have been four. The first one was from 1760-1840 and featured heavily in the textile movement.”

The room was silent.

“Why textiles, Stevie?” Eddie asked as the silence grew awkward.

Steve lit up like a child at Christmas morning and he began talking about the British textile movement.

“What the hell?” Dustin huffed, breaking into Steve monologue.

Steve ducked his head again and blushed. “Just because I’m not interested in science and fantasy doesn’t mean I’m stupid.” He straightened up. “And yeah, sometimes I get things wrong. But everyone does at some point. In fact I get a hell of a lot more flack for my intelligence than Eddie does and he repeated his senior year twice!” He took a deep breath and then ran his fingers through his hair.

“No offense,” he said waving to Eddie.

Eddie looked up at him with earnest eyes. “None taken. I concur.”

They all looked around at each other in shock. Like they hadn’t realized that they had done that.

After a few moments, Steve put his hands on his hips and pointed at all of them.

“So do you guys want to go or what?”

Eddie sat back with a smile as everyone roared their approval.

*

“No corsets,” was Robin’s only firm and fast rule for Steve when it came to dressing her up for the Ren Fair.

Steve looked her up and down. “Why on earth would I want you in a corset? Have you looked in the mirror?”

“Uh...” Robin said. “Is that a trick question? Of course I have. I don’t what that has to do with saying no to corsets though...”

Steve rolled his eyes. “In order to give you the curve you need to match the proper silhouette you would need to be cinched to hell. And as this is supposed to be fun.”

He grabbed her hand and started hauling her toward his car.

“Where are we going?”

“Thrifting!” he said with glee.

It took three different stores and a stop at the mall to get everything he needed.

“Give me three days,” he told her when he dropped her off at her house. “And I think you’ll like what I come up with.”

Robin eyed him warily. “If you say so.”

Steve laughed.

He crashed the next D&D session, showing up early to pick them up.

“What is everyone wearing to the Ren Fair?” he asked with a note pad on his lap and wagged the pen in his fingers.

“You want us to dress up?” Mike asked, eyes wide.

“Why not?” he asked with a shrug. “I’ve made my costume and currently reworking some thirfted threads for Robin’s outfit.”

Eddie blinked. “You made your costume?”

Steve shrugged again. “Yeah. I like sewing.”

There was suddenly an uproar and he held up a hand. “I can’t make you a full outfit before the Fair, but I can make over already made clothes to make them more historical. And maybe for next year I’ll have the time to make something special for everyone.”

Dustin eyed him suspiciously. “Like what?”

“Like tailoring pants to a tighter fit,” Steve explained “adding a sash or belt, turning old coats into vests and cloaks, things like that.”

They still weren’t sure how that would work out.

“Now I talked to Joyce and Claudia,” he continued. “And they’re both willing to help out in making sure everyone has something nice to wear. That includes Max and El.”

“Are the fair maidens joining us?” Eddie asked.

Steve nodded. “Yeah. Joyce is doing El and Will, Claudia is doing Dustin and Mike, and I’m doing Lucas and Max. Eddie said he already had a costume, so I didn’t have to worry about him.”

Eddie grinned. “You better believe it, pretty boy.”

Steve ducked his head and blushed. “So we’re all going thrifting with a $5 limit for each of you. But I wanted to brainstorm some ideas of what you wanted to go as so we don’t waste time wandering around.”

Everyone started shouting at once and it took Steve a good ten minutes before he got everyone calmed down enough to get what they wanted. Dustin wanted to go as a hobbit, but Steve had to nix that one.

“You don’t want to go running around the grounds barefoot,” he explained with a wince. “It’s not safe.”

“I’m going to have to agree with Stevie on this one,” Eddie said. “You guys have never been but there is all sorts of stuff laying around. It’s not indoors and the pathways are dirt lined. Think the state fair. It’s more like that then going to comic book convention.”

Dustin grumbled but conceded the point. Steve got them to decide on... well not quite peasant gear, but more rough around the edges than what Steve would be wearing.

Well, all but Lucas. He didn’t want to wear what they were wearing but he refused to say what he did want to wear.

So Steve dropped him off at home last.

They pulled into his driveway and Steve turned to him. “Do you not want to dress up? Because I won’t make you.”

Lucas picked at the loose string on his sweater. “It’s not that. I just remember the last time we did a group costume and they all thought I should be Winston because I was black like he was.”

Steve frowned for a moment. “The Ghostbusters, right?”

Lucas nodded. “I knew if I brought it up they’d shoot me down again.”

“So what did you want to go as?” he asked.

Lucas huffed out a sigh. “It doesn’t matter. It’s a stupid pipe dream anyway. Especially since you have to make Max’s dress and Robin’s costume, too.”

He opened the door to get out, but Steve reached over and slammed it closed.

“One, Robin’s costume is almost done,” he said counting out on his fingers. “Two, do you really think your girlfriend is going to want to wear a dress? And three, let me be the judge on what’s too much for me, okay?”

Lucas huffed a laugh at his second point. “Yeah, that was dumb of me.”

“So what is it?”

Lucas looked down again and heaved out a sigh. “An elf.”

Steve’s mind was whirling with the possibilities. “What colors?”

“What?” Lucas asked, not sure he heard Steve right.

“What colors would you want it to be?”

He pulled out the notebook and scrambled for a pen. Lucas pulled a pencil out of his bag and handed it to him.

“Uh I was thinking of a light blue and with a silver trim?” he said hesitantly.

Steve sketched something out. “Like this?”

Lucas leaned over to look at the drawing. “A little shorter so I’m not tripping over it and maybe those puffy pants?”

Steve adjusted the drawing and Lucas nodded.

“Yeah, like that.”

“All right,” Steve said. “I know exactly what to do and how to do it. It won’t be perfect because I don’t have time to do it right so I’ll be doing a lot of cheating. But yeah, it’s doable.”

Lucas gave him a hug. “Thanks, man.”

*

Steve called the one person he knew he could help him.

“Eddie,” he said the second the other man picked up. “I need your nerd connections to do a huge favor for Lucas.”

“Wha’cha got, big boy?” Eddie asked with a grin.

“You wouldn’t happen to know any Trekkies would you?” Steve asked chewing on his bottom lip.

“That depends, Stevie,” Eddie replied, “what’s the need?”

“Pointed ears.”

Eddie hummed. “I’m assuming you’re thinking Trekkie because of Spock and that’s a good thought. But I’m guessing since we’re going to the Ren Fair our stalwart ranger is wanting to be an elf?”

“Yeah,” Steve said. “Do you know anyone who can help?”

“Better than that,” Eddie said. “I know where to get the ears in the right... shade?”

Steve perked up. “Oh? I’m guessing Jeff?”

“Right in one, darlin’,” Eddie said with a soft smile. “I’ll give him a call and then call you back.”

“Thanks, Eds,” Steve breathed. “You’re the best.”

“Thanks, doll.”

****

I am so excited for this, guys. You have no idea. I'm little history nerd myself and this really fun to play around with.

Just a heads up. We WILL be addressing Mike's casual racism from the Ghostbusters scene because I don't like that it's never been addressed.

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @gregre369 @artiststarme ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @danili666 @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @vecnuthy @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @dragonmama76 @scheodingers-muppet @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual

[questionableadvice]

TW: RACISM

~ The Whittier News, December 7, 1920

So this happened. It may seem so long ago that it's another world, but my grandmother was born in 1917 and died in 2021. She lived 104 years from a time when this was something you might see in your morning newspaper to watching Obama become President. History isn't a nice place but I think it's important to realize where we came from. Let's not go there again.

[cardierreh15]

Ion know it’s something about yall not speaking about systemic racism on this app as well as wtf is going on in Palestine (and In other countries for that matter) —

It’s not because yall wanna keep the “peace” on your profile. It’s not because yall wanna “keep politics off yalls page.”

No. I know what it is.

Yall racist 🤣

If it has nothing to do with the white/japanese men yall write and read about, yall don’t wanna talk about it or hear about it and that’s hella lame.

Yall telling me tumblr/fanficition dick is more important than what’s going on with Palestine, Sudan, Congo … more important than your black mutuals simply being dragged for trying to create something that makes them happy and/or shows representation?

Yall can’t speak up?

That’s so wack.

You know who dfk you are and ion gotta say no names.

And if you’re black and you’re also pulling this card you oughta be ashamed of yourself and fucking embarrassed.

[munson-blurbs]

Addressing racism, bigotry, and rape apology under the cut:

I’ve always been a blog that addresses difficult and uncomfortable topics. It would be incredibly hypocritical of me to ignore this, and so I won’t.

I do not and will not support the careers of bigots, rape apologists, and those who willingly surround themselves with them.

As fans, we do not (and should not) get a say in who celebrities date. Sometimes we like a pairing, and sometimes we don’t. Maybe we vent about it to a friend, but the truth is that we don’t know these people and they don’t know us.

But I do know myself, and I am a person who has always stood against any kind of bigotry. I refuse to allow the haze of a public persona to cloud my judgment.

It’s a symptom of a much bigger problem. We as humans make excuses for people we like, people we admire, as a way to protect ourselves. The reality is that someone many of us liked and admired now proudly aligns himself with a Neo-Nazi supporter and rape apologist.

Joseph Quinn has spoken loud and clear that he is more than okay dating someone who has recently supported a Neo-Nazi (then excused it by saying she’s “not political,” as if one can be neutral about Nazism) and has taunted SA victims. You are the company you keep, and him being with her (in any capacity, even if it was platonic) shows that he tolerates that kind of behavior.

My writing has been a love letter to the fandom. It is not a love letter to Joseph Quinn. My goal is for y’all to feel safe and loved here, not for people to be comfortable excusing vile beliefs.

I will continue to write about Eddie. He is a comfort character to so many of us and his legacy extends well beyond the man who played him.

Going forward, I will not be supporting any future projects of Joseph’s. I will never support those who excuse bigotry. There is only so much you can separate art and the artist when the behavior is happening in real time.

I will not be speculating about the relationship on this blog. This is me stating that I never have and never will condone bigotry, and I’m not going to start now simply because of someone I admired.

Please take care of yourselves. I’ll be here, writing about the metalhead outcast that we love.

Yours till the coffee contemplates,

Bug 💚

[martellspear]

"To the point of accusing people who dislike her [Elia] of racism" as if some people here don't have to deal with this:

Not to mention other violent and disgusting words:

[fayromance]

One of my favorite RC content creators just can't shut up about how she's annoyed by Black people in ATHWTU

I literally don't get what's her fucking deal. They erased their one and only relevant Black character from canon (and, of course, she chose white Volot). The only other Black person in the whole village, Zora (one of Ozar's fangirls) is pretty much absent from the story. She only appears in Ozar's premium scene and says, like, two lines

They successfully scrubbed all Black people from the village. But instead of celebrating this major triumph (well, for them obvs), they complain that there are some Black people in the crowd in the backgrounds. I swear, you have to specifically look for them there because it's literally blink-and-you-miss-it situation

And this right here is one of the most heartbreaking things about this whole situation for me. I had to unfollow so many creators and TG channels I've loved because they couldn't keep their racism and anti-Blackness to themselves. Sometimes I miss their content but I can't bring myself to support racist posts so I have no other choice but to quit

[halfmoth-halfman]

Leaving this blog.

With my mini-series finishing up soon, I've decided to leave this blog as well as my AO3 account once it’s finished. This is not a decision I've made lightly, but circumstances have left this a place where I no longer feel safe.

As of now, I won't be deactivating this blog and will be leaving my fics up for anyone who'd still like to read them. I can't say this decision won't change later, but right now I feel that I've put too much work into this blog to simple delete it.

Below the cut is an explanation of why I'm making this decision, and what has been happening on this blog since the end of last year. It's not required to read or anything to understand the gist of this post; it's simply for my own peace of mind knowing that I spoke up about it. There will be topics that are possibly triggering such as harassment, threats, and racism so please mind the warnings and tags.

The mini-series is queued to finish next week, but there will be no more fic polls or wip wednesdays. I'll still be on here to make sure the queue does its job, and maybe post some stuff from my old drafts as a last bit of fun.

I'll have dms tentatively open for the next two-ish weeks for those who'd like to follow my new account, however I will not be answering anything from empty blogs. After that, asks and dms will be turned off, and I won't be coming back to this blog very often, if at all.

I cannot say thank you enough to the wonderful readers I've had and the amazing people I've met. I don't think I would've ever continued writing without your support and friendship. There's nothing I can do to show my appreciation for all of you.

Maybe we'll see each other again. If not, I hope your inspiration is always flowing, and 2024 treats you kindly.

Mothie 💜

Again, TW: rape/death threats, violent racism, repeated harassment, and mental health.

Back in November, I started getting rude, mean-spirited anons. It wasn't anything I was too bothered with because it didn't happen often and, honestly, my inbox gets flooded for a week or so anytime I post about certain topics. I blocked, deleted, reported and moved on thinking whoever it was would get bored and leave.

However, what started as a few rude anons calling me a bitch or stupid turned into a lot of anons being vile and racist which only worsened over the next few months.

I spoke about it in this post (link) near the end of November. In that post, I mentioned that those were the nicer asks and that was not an exaggeration. I have gotten my fair share of shitty anons as seen here (link) when I had to take a break from my blog because of said anons, but I have never gotten the amount of vitriol that I saw in these asks.

When I turned anon off, I started getting even worse messages from empty blogs that would either be blocked or deactivate within a week. When I turned my askbox off, I started getting hateful DMs. When I turned DMs off, it jumped from Tumblr to my other social medias which I had to private, completely avoid, or outright delete.

I got messages attacking my writing, calling me slurs, threatening to find me and rape or kill me, sending me explicit porn and rape videos while insulting my sexuality, and going into gross detail about how much people I interacted with hated me or how I would never be as good as them. I tried to power through it, pretending everything was fine while I pulled away from this blog, from writing, from friends that I loved and talked to every day. Everything about this blog, the fandoms I enjoyed, the people I talked to, made me so anxious because of these constant messages.

I took several breaks while dealing with this in therapy, repeatedly trying to come back and get comfortable on this blog, but within a few days of coming back the messages would start up again, either here or on any of my social medias I tried to unprivate, and I couldn't deal with it.

Only in the last week or two has it started to slow down and stop on a few of my other socials, which is the only reason I even feel comfortable making this post. However, in regards to this blog and my feelings toward it, the damage is done.

I don't think I can ever truly convey how isolating this has been. So many of these messages were about how I've spoken about my struggles as a black woman in fandom, how much of a burden it puts on the people who interact with me, how inferior I am to them and that I am everything that's wrong with fandom.

I felt scared and anxious to talk to anyone about this, especially people mentioned in those messages, out of fear that this harassment would jump to them. There are friendships that I stepped away from that I will never get back because of that. There are friends that I've felt like I was betraying by never telling them about what was happening because I felt too ashamed about letting this get to me.

I constantly worried that making a post like this would feel like, "Oh, Mothie's whining and trauma-dumping into the void about fandom racism again", that those messages would be right and it would force people to feel like they had to support me. Or worse, that people would agree and it would only make things worse. I've wrestled with so much guilt trying to decide to make this post and figure out what to do to make me trust myself again.

Ultimately, I don't think I was wrong for talking about my issues in fandom, and I don't think anything I've said has warranted this kind of harassment. I don’t know the who’s or why’s behind of this, but I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never really know. Truthfully, I'm not sure it even matters at this point. In the end, I think moving on from this blog entirely would be the best thing for me right now.

But, man, does it fucking suck.

This was the blog where I felt comfortable enough to start writing again, to start posting my fics. It's the blog where I met so many friends, got the courage to join new communities, found new hobbies, new music, new things to enjoy in life. It feels silly to say about a blog, but this was a place where I felt like I was able to carve out a space for myself. I put so much work into making it my own, and now the only thing I feel about it is anxious.

Hate messages and threats and racism have always been a part of fandom, and the internet as a whole. I’ve known since I started participating in fandom spaces that it was going to and continue to happen. I've known that I had to have a tough skin, especially if I ever spoke up about problems I faced because no one was going to have my back if I didn't have my own. I thought I had learned how to deal with it, and how to make a safe space for myself. But this goes beyond that. I did not deserve this. No one deserves this.

In some ways, it feels like admitting defeat, like I'm weak or hypocritical for not being as strong as I pretended I was and leaving. In other ways, it feels freeing to start over, and I'm choosing to view look at this optimistically even if it bittersweet. I don't want to let this scare me away from writing or from speaking about things that are important to me. All I can do now is say I'm so incredibly sorry to those I've hurt by stepping away or keeping this secret, and make sure I'm able to at least leave this blog on as happy a note as I can have.

[ticklemerainbows]

TW: INCEST, GROOMING, RACISM

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Hey friends. Ya'll that know me know that I don't ever post about drama or things going on in the simblr community but I thought this one was worth talking about. I'm not going to tag the account but the simblr is @/gittessimsadventuresog.

Gitte has talked numerous times about intentional incest, grooming and racism in their games in a discord server I'm in, and when confronted about it tried to play the "i was young/a teen at the time card" after blatantly being proud of the fact before being called out. We thought she was joking at first (because who wouldn't?) but very quickly realized she was 100% serious in the way she plays her game. Which, everyone plays in a different way but like...ew?

After being rightfully kicked from the server because of it proceeded to go into other servers trying to play the victim without giving all the details as to why they were blocked and kicked.

I've noticed that several of ya'll associate with Gitte, and this is in no way trying to dictate or tell anyone who they should be friends with, but I thought it right to throw the information out there so you guys can be informed and make your own decisions.

These are just a handful of screenshots but there are quite a few more if this isn't enough.

*names hidden for anonymity.

[ladykailitha]

A Love Connection Part 7

Just one more chapter after this one, can you believe it? Thank you all for coming with me on this wild journey about a crack idea I had at work.

In this we have Steve talking with Tommy, Billy's date and the first half of Eddie's.

Heads up for Billy being his racist self.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

~

Billy and Eddie were whisked away so Steve would still be surprised, but Tommy was there for him to talk to. It wasn’t something they always showed on the show, but it provided closure for both the Suitor and the Catch.

Steve smiled when he saw the freckled red-head sitting in his seat, the two seats on either side, empty. He had his hands clasped between his knees and he smiled ruefully.

“Hey, Steve,” Tommy said with a sad smile. “You didn’t pick me because I didn’t come off as genuine, huh?”

Steve grabbed the other chair, the one he supposed Billy sat in, and set it down next to the Suitor. “Yeah. You got higher scores when it sounded like it was something you really liked.”

“I do like Paris, though,” Tommy admitted. “It was the first place I felt free to be myself. That’s why I like taking dates there.”

“But maybe not on the first date, huh?” Steve said with a wink. “I’m not sure how they would have pulled that off if you had won the date.”

Tommy grimaced. “Probably taken us to Vegas and the little Eiffel Tower.”

“Ooh,” Steve winced. “Yeah, that would have been bad.”

Tommy snorted and looked away.

Steve reached out and took his hand. “It’s not to late. To be a firefighter, I mean. There are lots of places that take and train volunteers. You wouldn’t have to quit what you do now, but I think you’d be happier if you could at least be a firefighter part time.”

“I think I’d be happier too,” Tommy admitted. “Thanks for calling me out on my bullshit. I needed that.”

“Take care of yourself, Tommy,” Steve said softly.

Tommy leaned over and pressed a kiss on Steve’s cheek. “You too, Steve. Just be careful with Billy, huh? He’s a little too rough around the edges, if you know what I mean.”

“I will.”

~

Steve was sitting with the film crew waiting for Billy to arrive. Steve was dressed in a jewel-toned blue suit with a black button up. His accessories from his belt, to his shoes, to his pocket square was also black. He fiddled nervously with the obsidian cufflinks they let him borrow. From what Bob had hinted all the way through the question half of the game show Billy was a smoke show.

Then he walked through the hotel’s front doors and everyone’s eyes turned his direction. He was what you would expect of a surfer. Sun-bleached blond hair, blue eyes, and tan. His white teeth gleamed at Steve when he smiled.

He was wearing a light grey suit with white button and slip on Vans. He was every person who was attracted to men’s wet dream and he walked as if he knew it, too.

Steve would have rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t deny what thrill Billy sent down his spine. This man was a panther. All sleek lines and danger in his hooded eyes.

Fuck.

Steve rose to meet him and Billy ran his tongue slowly over his teeth.

“Damn, babydoll,” he purred. “You’re even better in person than your picture. Either that or you clean up really well.”

Steve laughed, trying hard not be disarmed by his charming personality, but it was hard. Billy oozed confidence. He may have said werewolf, but this man could out seduce the sexiest of vampires.

He smoothed the front of his suit jacket. “Probably a little bit of both.”

Billy wagged his eyebrows suggestively. “I hope you’re hungry.” He offered his arm to Steve how took it. “The show got us a table at my favorite restaurant, it’s a steakhouse called xx. They have the best surf and turf in the city.”

“Yeah?” Steve said. “What’s your favorite thing to get there?”

Billy talked about all his favorite dishes all the way to the car. There right out in front was a cherry red 1969 Chevy Camero, glimmering like brand new.

“Wow, Billy,” Steve said in awe. “She gorgeous.”

Bill beamed as he opened Steve’s door for him. “I rebuilt her myself. Surfing isn’t a year round sport, so in my down time I rebuild antique cars.”

Steve slid into the seat and Billy closed it behind him. On the dash there were a couple of cameras so the show could get video of them talking on the way to the restaurant.

“I know you said you were a gearhead,” Steve said brightly. “But that’s incredible. What other cars do you have in your collection?”

Billy really lit up when given the chance to talk about cars. He talked about cars all the way to the restaurant. Which would have been fine if Steve had been able to get in a word edgewise. He liked cars, too and tried to say as much but Billy would talk over top of him, interrupt, or even straight up ignored what Steve said.

Billy was a gentleman, opening doors, and pulling out chairs, but when it came to actually listening? Nope.

Steve got a New York style steak with garlic russet potatoes, and beer battered asparagus. Billy got lobster that he picked out himself from the tank of still swimming lobsters. Steve objectively knew that a lot of restaurants did that to preserve freshness, but it did bother him a little, that you could look a creature dead in the eye and tell it you wanted to eat it.

He also knew it was hypocritical of him to eat steak and other meat, but he didn’t look it in the eye the first.

Dinner went fine, but mainly because Billy was forced to eat on occasion, so Steve could actually talk.

He talked about his kids at school but he could tell Billy wasn’t interested in that, so he talked about playing and coaching basketball. That got Billy’s attention.

He had played basketball in high school too.

“I was made captain my senior year,” Billy bragged. “Got us all the way to the championship but we lost to a bunch of...” he looked at the camera a moment and then considered his wording a little better, “coloreds.”

“I don’t think they like people to use that term anymore,” Steve said with a frown.

Billy threw back his head and laughed. “They why do they still use it in the NAACP then? And they use POC and WOC which the C stands for color. I mean there are worse things to call them. Plus it wasn’t like the team just had blacks on it.”

To change tact Steve talked about how he had been the captain of his high school team from his junior year and how in his junior year they got all the way to state and won, but because the school didn’t have the money to get them to regionals that year, they had to forfeit.

“That sucks,” Billy huffed stabbing at his lobster. “You guys couldn’t do like a bake sale or some shit. I bet you could have pulled in a lot of money if you had done a car wash.”

Steve plastered on his best doting parent where the kid is actual nightmare smile. “Oh sure, the principal just didn’t give a shit. It wasn’t debate or drama so he didn’t care. I know it’s usually the other way round, but he had come from one of those progressive schools. He even took away our chairs and made us sit on big rubber balls or bean bag chairs. It was a mess.”

After dinner Billy took him for a walk on the pier. There was an awning set up with fairy lights and citron candles for Billy to ask Steve his questions. They sat on Adirondack chairs and drank fruity cocktails.

“Have you ever gone skinny dipping?” was Billy’s first question.

Steve’s eyes flicked toward to the cameras, but he didn’t seem to be suggesting that they do it then. “A couple of times. My parents growing up had a pool in the backyard and I’ll admit to a little naked action in it from time to time.”

Billy wagged his eyebrows. “Do you ever put out on a first date?”

“Only if the date is doing really, really well.” Steve suppressed a sigh. Of course all the questions were going to be sexual.

“Duly noted,” Billy said slyly. “What is the freakiest sex position you’ve ever tried?”

Steve shifted in his chair a little uncomfortably. “I’m not really in to weird positions when it comes to sex, it’s what ever is comfortable for us both.”

Billy chuckled darkly. “Vanilla, huh. Quite a rarity in gay men.”

Only for you, Steve thought frantically. Sheesh. He had thought that Billy’s forwardness was a turn on the past couple of days in the studio, but now out here with the sun setting, and it getting dark? Suddenly Steve’s heart rate was beginning to pick up and not in a good way.

“Have you ever been in multiple sex partner situation and if so what?” Billy asked, after taking a drink from his glass.

Steve’s eyes flicked back to the cameras again. He had, but this was going to be shown to parents of his kids and he really didn’t want to get fired from his job. The skinny dipping as kids was one thing. Everyone did stupid shit as a kid. But admitting to a threesome? Not so much.

“If you make it to a second date,” Steve said with a wink, “I’ll tell you then.” He hoped that was enough of a hint for Billy but vague enough for everyone else.

“Saucy!” Billy purred. “I like it. Final question. Did this date go well enough for me to take you back to my hotel for me to fuck you into the mattress?”

Steve laughed. “As hot as you are, I think I’m going to wait to see how Eddie’s date goes. But if we make it date two, you’re on.”

Billy pressed a kiss to Steve’s lips. Searing and exhilarating. Steve was tempted into giving in. He wasn’t likely to see Billy again after show. But no.

What kind of message would he be sending his kids if he did that. He gently pulled away.

“Wow,” he murmured. “Bet you make all the boys go crazy.”

Billy chuckled. “You have no idea.”

Then Billy drove him back to his hotel.

As they were removing his battery pack and mic, the tech asked, “He’s so not getting that second date, right?”

Steve laughed. “Not a chance in hell.”

~

Steve arrived back in Hawkins and it felt strange. Like he was only visiting the town he grew up in. Like he was a different person. It was probably all the cameras and the fact that they wouldn’t really be talking to anyone he knew.

He was dressed in blue jeans and a red sweater. He had a blue button up shirt underneath it and the sleeves pushed up. He was really hoping he got to keep the clothes because he loved this sweater.

He got off the plane and was greeted by Eddie holding up a sign that had his name written in sparkly paint.

If Billy had been a smoke show, Eddie Munson was a wild fire. He had deep brown eyes, curly brown hair that reached his collar bones. He was dressed in ripped, black jeans and a leather jacket.

Then he smiled and Steve was smitten. His dimples had dimples.

“Hey, Eddie,” he breathed once he was he was close enough.

“Hi-ya, Steve!” Eddie said brightly. “Normally I do breakfast in bed, to start the day off, but as that’s off the table, I found a great place that makes killer waffles that isn’t the diner we’re going to for dinner.”

Steve cocked his head to side. “Yeah, so are we doing Benny’s for breakfast or dinner?”

Eddie burst out laughing, his infectious grin making his eyes sparkle. “I guess I walked into that one. Benny’s is for dinner. I heard he has the best chili burger in the world.”

Steve took his hand. “Well, then lead on, MacDuff!”

Eddie looked down at their joint hands with a wondrous expression. He looked back up at Steve and then dragged him off to his car. It was a nice, black Pontiac Sunfire two-seater.

“That is a very nice car,” Steve purred.

Eddie laid over the hood like he was cuddling the car. “She’s my baby. Which is not to be confused with my sweetheart, which is my guitar. But she’ll be making an appearance later.”

“I didn’t realize music producing was so lucrative,” Steve said honestly, going to open his door. Eddie jumped up and swatted his hand away.

“None of that,” he huffed. “I am a gentleman.” He opened the door for Steve and he slid in. Then Eddie ran around to the other side of the car.

As he started the engine he replied, “This is from my being a frontman for a heavy metal band. I still big fat royalty checks for that. But also producing can depend on who you’re producing. In this case bands like Metallica and Five Finger Death Punch are very lucrative indeed. Just because I didn’t join the whole throw money at you to prove my worth doesn’t mean I don’t have it.”

“I guess now I wondering what I did get three rich guys as my Suitors,” Steve admitted shyly.

Eddie glanced over at him before turning back to the traffic in front of them. “Does the money make you uncomfortable?”

Steve shook his head. “I grew up with money, but my parents threw me out when I told them I was gay and I’ve had to learn to live without it. I have an apartment I share with my best friend, I teach history and coach middle school children. There is nothing in the application or the questionnaire I filled out that would suggest I’m rich. So it just seems a little wild to me, I guess.”

Eddie nodded, fingers tapping on the steering wheel. “I guess I can see that. Maybe the only ones interested were rich dudes.”

“I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse,” Steve said with a huff of laughter. “But I’m here now. I knew you had money going into this date, I just wasn’t aware of how much. And it really doesn’t make a difference to me. You were sweet and genuine, two things the other two definitely weren’t.”

“Tommy said that you encouraged him to be a firefighter,” he said with a hum.

Steve whipped his head to stare at Eddie in shock. “I didn’t know you guys were sequestered like I was.”

Eddie put his elbow on the window sill and rubbed his temple with his finger. “All the Suitors stay at the same hotel. Billy and I took him out to drinks to commiserate him losing. He’s not a bad guy. A little hotheaded, though.”

Steve smiled and cocked his head to the side. “Yeah that tracks. I really hope he goes for it. He deserves to find a little bit of happiness for himself.”

“Yeah.”

They drove the rest of the way to the diner in comfortable silence. It was a sweet little 60’s themed diner called Big Ma’s that was tucked away behind the Hawk Theater.

The waitresses were dressed in period costumes that were light blue with stark white aprons and hats.

Steve looked around in wonder. “I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. I can’t wait to try something new with you.”

Eddie lit up. “You really haven’t been here before? I hear the waffles are amazing!”

They were seated and given menus. When they both ordered coffee the waitress brought over and left a pot for them to share.

“Real cream for the coffee?” Steve marveled as he poured some into his mug. “I think I’m going to have to cheat on Benny’s for breakfast from now on.”

The waitress must have heard because she burst out laughing.

After much debate Steve and Eddie both decided on a breakfast platter with a stack of waffles to share.

The waffles were big squares, topped with fruit and homemade whip cream and doused with real Vermont maple syrup.

They chatted throughout the whole meal until they got into a fork fight over the last bite of waffle. Steve won, but he was pretty sure that Eddie had let him.

They then took a tour of the town, Steve leading the way and showing Eddie everything he loved.

~

Part 8

Tag List: CLOSED

1-@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @dreamercec @wheneverfeasible @themoonagainstmers @garden-of-gay @little-birch-boy

10- @ollieolive @dissociatingdemon @stripey82 @kultiras @micheledawn1975

[myfandomrealitea]

I hate it when some anti's preech about "listen to poc voices" yet get mad and call the same poc's racial slurs when they do something they deem as "irredeemable". Heck even Xenophobic too when ppl are callingout artists, almost 50% they'll say stuff like "Oh ofc its a _____ "

I don't strictly think that racism is solely an anti pitfall or mindset. I know plenty of people who identify as proship who have the same "listen to X!" battle march until X are no longer in harmony with their thoughts and opinions.

Racism, in my opinion, should never be classed as something that is simply 'fandom.' Racism is down to the individuals. And those individuals are everywhere. Antis just happen to correlate their racism with their other personal beliefs and values.

That said, you can always report racism you see on online platforms. While it may never truly silence those people, its certainly a pleasantly annoying inconvenience to them to experience chat bans or having their accounts removed. Even however temporarily; its one less racist voice in the sandbox.

[aestariiwilderness]

Watch people visibly change their minds on what it's okay to do to people or not based just on who the victims are.

Very telling video. Source: https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/37117

[tryingonametaphor]

saw a white guy make pani puri on tiktok and all the comments were westerners saying “pani puri clean version!” 😐 incredible. no really, keep it up. keep telling me how indians are dirty. and how normalised it is to say shit like this about indians because it’s a big fat joke to the west. both white and western poc. i love when people say that colonisers recreating food from my culture is when it’s consumable!

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

smol note re: the bachelorette rolls for Simply Lilac

More specifically, the name of one of them and why I'm now changing it. cw for racism, particularly towards African Americans.

It’s come to my attention that ‘spooky’ - while not a racist term in origin - has a history of being co opted as such in the US. So while I know that’s the official name from Sims 3, I’ll be calling it Goosebumps Day (and renaming it in the rolls) from now on.

English is my native language but I am not American, so I only recently learned this. It's an easy enough thing to find a synonym for, I figure. So yeah, welcome to Goosebumps Day?