#also never been much of an original post person but since i posted some byler fanarts i got some notes and new mutuals :')) nice

[kocch]

I posted 2,106 times in 2022

That's 748 more posts than 2021!

103 posts created (5%)

2,003 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@magentamee

@onstoryladders

@spacepearl

@will80sbyers

I tagged 2,073 of my posts in 2022

Only 2% of my posts had no tags

#byler - 467 posts

#heartstopper - 313 posts

#fanart - 312 posts

#stranger things - 308 posts

#art - 159 posts

#will byers - 81 posts

#mike wheeler - 70 posts

#personal - 58 posts

#about me - 50 posts

#heartstopper cast - 48 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#will agrees quietly. “but you found me mike when i thought i was lost forever” he raises a hand to touch mike’s cheek stroking his skin with

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

byler listening to music together!! for the doodle requests

thank youu!! byler listening to smalltown boy and being cute boyfriends!!!

ask me a byler doodle

134 notes - Posted October 16, 2022

#4

See the full post

171 notes - Posted November 22, 2022

#3

bylerweek 3: blue and yellow

ok but this is the best prompt for having a crossover: byler x hearstopper

239 notes - Posted November 4, 2022

#2

bylerweek 2: fake dating 

will byers is back to hawkins and he is turning heads!! breaking hearts!!! mike suggests that they start dating, so will won’t be the center of the attention anymore (something he can’t handle well).... the arrangement is a great one, and will and mike keep saying it’s just temporary, a trick of some sort, but the party don’t believe it for a sec

299 notes - Posted November 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

when I say that Will being canonically gay in stranger things is the biggest proof we need for byler it’s not simply because we know he is gay and that’s it - there is context that comes from being in fandoms for something like 12 yrs or more. 

first of all, I’ve started watching ST because of people talking about will and byler on twitter (in july), as a person who barely knew anything about it (I didn’t even know mike and el were a couple, so I was super surprised they decided to make it romantic in s1 when I didn’t really feel like it would happen). 

i was a sherlock fan who shipped sherlock/john. i’ve shipped non-canon couples for a long time (fandom spaces are queer spaces a lot of times). i know what it feels like to read things from a text that could imply things - a text that could be queercoded, depending on interpretation. i know what it feels like to have fun with fanon and ship things that are potentially there, but not textually canon (like steddie or ronance, imo). it’s fun and it’s mostly harmless, until the writers decide to use it as queerbait to make their fandom stay with them for a long time because they’re rooting for their queer ship (i think supernatural is the worst example of this, as they confirmed the one-sided love and then killed the queer character and sent him to hell LMAOOO). those are milking the fandoms, knowing the strongest core of a fandom is the hardcore ones (many queers) and not the casual public.

i’m a big fan of hannibal, yuuri!! on ice and she-ra, three shows that are mostly queercoded until they aren’t (and they confirm the queer ship to be canon). i swear, people CAN tell. you can see when there is a creator and writer and team who truly wants to tell a queer story/relationship, even when they can’t show it openly (like hannibal or yoi). as a person of the community myself, i’ve been able to tell it was canon. it’s different from fans just shipping things, or queerbaiting, there is care and intention and writing and parallels and romantic framing and so many things that make you see that it is there.

(now, for byler i hope it’s different. every straight couple in ST has at least one kiss and i think byler HAS to have at least one (dramatic, passionate, show-stopping) kiss because it would be totally unfair if they don’t. they have to be totally and utterly canon)

what is different about byler and stranger things, compared to sherlock or other shows for the straights? 

it’s will being canonically gay. bbc sherlock would never do that. bbc sherlock would mock feelings. he would laugh about love. he would probably be even a bit homophobic, just for the sake of it.

and it’s not just will being canonically gay, it’s his love for mike being canon. i’m sure other people have said it, but will’s love for mike is NOT JUST A CRUSH. it’s not ridiculed. sure, it’s used to forward a straight ship (that is sinking), but the story is not finished yet and i want to believe that byler is endgame and the writing in s4 was meant to 1) leave things uncomplete and unseattled between mike and will, between lies and non-confessed feelings; and will being in the middle of a relationship that is sinking. 2) mike responding to will’s feelings of love and to no one else, not even el begging for him to say he loves her. 3) making EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHERS feel sorry for will. cry for will. pity will. root for will. root for GAY WILL. (people who think he is straight and he loves el don’t count, those are morons) 

will’s love for mike is LOVE in capital letters. it is not a crush. it’s never treated as something to laugh about, or something like a one-sided crush like Dustin’s crush for Max or Steve’s crush for Robin, those feelings are clearly more superficial and you can see that they’re not gonna happen from miles away. will’s love is A LOVE THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS. it’s totally romantic. deeply rooted. it’s like those loves you can see between jancy or lumax or even more jopper in s4, a love that saves one another, that makes people do crazy things, a love that is inherently part of the character, that makes them FEEL and DO and LIVE and you can’t imagine them not being in love with that person. 

these writers know how to write that type of love. each canon ship they made (even s1/2 milkvan in some ways), i’ve loved it. they know what they’re doing, how to make it feel like it’s true love even without writing grand love confessions or making them kiss every other episode. it’s in THE NARRATIVE, the things the characters do and say and imply.

and even more, about byler... something i wrote in a fic i’ll never finish but imo it’s the biggest point we can take away from will’s love and confession in s4. WILL SEES MIKE. will sees mike for who he is and loves him anyways. he sees the best and worst in him and still loves him and knows him and grounds him to reality and tells Mike how he could be the best version of himself, pushing him to fight for it (you are the heart). will’s love is ancient and deep, it’s a love that we don’t even know when it started, it’s always been there, it’s always been part of will (and part of mike, because it IS MUTUAL). it’s like breathing. like the sun every morning, it’s just there. it’s not going away. it’s not even a choice, at this point, there is an helplessness in the love will feels - it’s too big and too much for him he would love to run away from it, but still he can’t deny his heart. 

and that’s why i think byler is endgame. because will is canonically gay, and he is in love, and no one is making fun of him for that. his love for mike is serious, profound, romantic, genuine. it makes you cry and root for him. it’s LOVE. the strongest of forces. and every byler scene is made with care. it’s never taken lightly, not even their fights, they always matter. there is no mocking in there. no sneer. it’s treated genuinely. almost like the creators are telling you: “look here, look at them, it matters. it matters to them and it should matter to you. there is something serious brewing here, and it is romantic love”

474 notes - Posted September 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[blingyu]

My Byler Fics I’ve Written! :D

Hey guys, I just wanted to link on my tumblr the 3 Byler fics I’ve written so far on ao3, my username is also Blingyu on there! I’m not much of a writer by any means, I just do it for fun and when inspiration strikes (most of the things I’ve written stay in a vault aka my notes app lol) but I’m semi-proud of these three. 

I just thought I’d link it here in case any of you guys wanted to read :) It’d also be amazing if you gave feedback (positive or constructive). I always feel like I’m not characterizing them right, which is why I don’t post majority of the things I write lmao. 

My Person (Who Knew All Along That It Was You?): Mike Wheeler realizes that Eleven isn't his person. She never was. He was trying so hard to fix a relationship that was doomed because of one simple fact: He didn't love her. He tries to sort out his emotions when he comes to a conclusion. He did have a person. He always did. It just took him a long time to finally realize it. Word count: 3,830 (Mike-Centric)

My One and Only (I Know it's Real I Can Feel it): “Hm, I wonder why Wheeler is acting so strange today?” Max questioned, looking smug.“Shut up, Maxine.” Mike seethed beside Will, looking at the redhead with pure hatred. If Will was honest, he didn’t fully understand what was going on in this situation. By the knowing smirks and smiles it looked like everyone else caught onto something he must’ve missed. Or maybe Mike let them in on something that Will wasn’t a part of. He hoped it wasn’t the second one. “Maybe Will knows why?” Dustin asked.“Huh?” Will said, “Know what?” “Nothing. Don’t listen to them.” Mike rushed to say. --- OR: Will is asked very subtly to go on a date with a nervous Mike Wheeler. The only problem is that it is so subtle that Will doesn't quite understand that he's going on a date with the person he's in love with. Word count: 6,430 (Will-Centric)

It's You (You're the One that I Want): Lucas’s advice seemed sound, but he was still a little lost, “Wait, I don’t have to say it’s a date?” Lucas shook his head, “Remember? Chill. You just have to flirt a bit and he’ll pick up what you’re putting down. The lovey dovey confessions can come afterwards when you’re alone together, after you kiss.” Mike’s whole face turned red at the prospect of him and Will kissing. But Lucas’s advice did help him feel more relieved at asking Will out on a date. He didn’t have to say the true extent of his feelings today, he just had to ask out the boy subtly. --- OR: Lucas gives advice to Mike on how to ask Will out on a date once the party knows about his feelings. The only thing is, Lucas didn't realize that since the two had been best friends for 10 years and they were both boys, Mike needed to be a bit more clear that this hang out would not be platonic. Word count: 7,631 (Mike-Centric)

The last two fics are the same story btw, but one is told from Will’s perspective and the other is told from Mike’s! I originally only planned to do Will’s but after I posted it and read it again I just kept on thinking about how funny it was that Mike would accidentally not inform Will that they’re going on a date and wanted to show what he was going thru. It’s fluffy miscommunication, and I enjoy it so much :] They each have some different scenes, particularly Mike since he’s the one planning the date in question. You can read one or both if you’d like! They both stand well alone.  

(P.S. The last two fics are song lyrics so if you know the songs ily <3 also im a sucker for platonic madwheeler what is new) 

[beepboop358]

Anti-Byler Argument Refuttals

Although I discussed all of this in my Byler Proof master slides post, I wanted to do a separate post specifically just refutting the most common anti-byler arguments.

1. "Mike and El's relationship is too developed" and "They have been through too much together to break up now!"

This is probably the thing I hear the most when people argue that Byler will never happen. The weirdest part of this argument is that people assume that they will never drift apart, and that they will never ever break up, as if we didn't just see them drift apart, break up, and not officially get back together in S3? Yes, they have both been through a significant amount of trauma, but their relationship is not as developed as people think it is, they barely even know each other really. They spent a week together in S1, then El was gone for a year. Mike and El don't reunite until the very end of S2, probably a few days after halloween. If we work out the timeline between Halloween of 1984 and July 4th of 1985 in S3, that's 246 days, so it's actually less than a full year they have spent together, getting to know each other.

The “development” people argue that Mike and El have just doesn't stand up. Mike and El do not have intimate conversations, their conversations are incredibly awkward, and they just kiss frequently in the beginning of S3 before they break up. That's not development. Hopper even refers to their constant kissing as "not normal and not healthy." Mike couldn't tell El he loves her to her face, which is a parallel to the failed relationship of Stancy where Nancy couldn't tell Steve she loved him, and we later find out it's because she doesn't, which all happens during the blank makes you crazy scene that is extremely similar to Robin's coming out scene. And yes, Mike and El have endured a lot of trauma together, but so has the rest of the group and people don't seem to use this argument the same way with the other couples, or between the friendships. History doesn't determine the future if there's no feelings involved, things can always change. This is idea of staying in a relationship where there is no real love but there is history/benefits is hinted at in S3 when Mike dresses almost identically to both of his parents.

2. "Look at how much Mike cares for El! They're in love!"

No, they're not, and how they treat each other proves that they're not. I firmly believe neither Mike nor El is seriously, romantically in love with each other.

If Mike was really deeply, romantically in love with El, why did he treat her like he did in S3? If he really cares about her that much, why did he wait for Lucas to guide him at all times in matters regarding his relationship with El, instead of just taking initiative, but he does take initiative with Will? Why can't her apologize to her? Why wasn't Mike more upset about El dumping him? Why couldn't he tell El he loves her to her face? Why did he consistently lie to her throughout the whole show? Why did he stop calling her in S2? Why did he give up and say she was dead, but never gave up on Will? Why did he scream in her face in S1? And no - it isn't because he's just shy or awkward. Mike doesn't act like he is truly in love with El because he isn't. He is projecting his feelings for Will onto El, and he is deeply in denial about his sexuality due to his internalized homophobia and hasn't fully processed how he feels about Will throughout the series (up until the ending of S3). And why does Mike have such an odd reaction to El saying she loves him if he does love her? If he loves her that should be exactly what he wants to hear, so why does he look so confused and scared? And why doesn't he just say it back right then?

El isn't seriously, romantically in love with Mike. They meet in S1, and he immediately takes her in, saving her life. He looks out for her, and actually cares if she is okay, and no one has ever done that for her before. El was abused her whole childhood until Mike lets her live in his basement. He was the first person to treat her like a human being, and show her compassion, which she has never experienced before. It makes total sense that she would cling to their relationship like a security blanket. Mike is an emotional attachment for El. He makes her feel safe, because of how he saved her life previously. El has very limited knowledge of love, life, friendship, relationships, and social behaviors since she was locked in a lab for over a decade of her life, she was never truly exposed to these concepts like the other kids in the party were. Everything El thinks she knows about love she learns from watching soap opera's alone in Hopper's cabin. Of course her perception of what romantic love is, is warped. If El was seriously romantically in love with Mike, why was their break-up no big deal to her? Why was she smiling, laughing and looking at pictures of boys with Max right after she supposedly dumped the love of her life? Why did she not seem even the slightest bit upset about it the entire season?

If they're both seriously in love, then why are their interactions so awkward to watch and why does it feel so unnatural and forced? Why don’t Mileven’s interactions feel romantic? The official released scripts on 8flix describe several Mileven scenes as "awkward". It's no coincidence that detail was included in the script.

3. "But they already have Robin"

I mean this comment basically means that sense the show already has one confirmed lgbtq+ character, there can't possibly be any others. What?! There isn't a "one gay character limit per TV show". This comment really bothers me because it reeks of homophobia. If you don't ship Byler that's fine, but refusing to even explore the possibility there could be more than one lgtbq+ character in a TV show just because one already exists? Yeah no. Queer people existed in the 80's, definitely more than just one, so capping out the amount of queer characters in the show is just icky.

Also, Robin was not originally written to be a gay character. It was decided during the filming process that Robin should be a lesbian, because Maya Hawke and Joe Keery were not getting romantic vibes between their characters. Just because the show introduced a new gay character in S3, it does not mean the queercoding of Will and Mike is erased to make room for Robin, and keep Mileven together. Making Robin a lesbian, does not cancel out Mike and Will being gay/liking each other, and the show's future plans for byler.

4. "Mike's not gay."

Does this seem straight to you?

Giving your girlfriend a drawing of your male best friend, that was drawn by him, but telling her it's your drawing so she'll hang it up on the wall you coincidentally face while you make out with her, to remind you of him.

Taking your girlfriends hands off of you while you're making out with her, and keeping your hands folded in your lap away from her.

Only being able to apologize to said male best friend and being more emotionally invested in that relationship than your relationship with your girlfriend.

Mike is the only other person besides Will pictured in close up shots with rainbow and fruit imagery.

Even the die-hard Mileven fans have to admit that's more than a little coincidental, and if we know anything about the Duffer brothers, it's that they love incorporating intricate details in their show to reveal things about the characters/plot.

If you want more examples, some images, or just a more in-depth analysis of byler throughout the series, I suggest you check out my Byler Proof master slides :)

[sunnybyler]

debunking arguments for will byers being heterosexual

the fact that there are real, actual people who believe will byers is heterosexual blows my mind. comments of literally every st post about will are filled with people screaming that he’s straight, even if the post had nothing to do with his sexuality. and the fact that people are so pissed at the idea he might be just screams homophobia. not everyone who believes he’s straight is homophobic obviously, but i’ve seen people get so aggressive about it. so, today i’ve come to debunk a bunch of the arguments i’ve seen! most of these were formed off of my personal belief he’s gay, but if you believe he’s ace / aro i’m sure you’ve seen some of these about your beliefs too.

DEBUNKING A BUNCH ;

1. “noah said he’s not gay!” wrong. read the whole interview, not just the headline. so many of the headlines i’ve seen are like ‘noah schnapp shuts down gay theory!’ which just isn’t what happened at all. he said it was up to interpretation. big difference. personally i believe if it was a certain thing he would’ve just said he’s straight, but you can take his comment however you want. but saying that he said he wasn’t gay is flat out wrong. i’ve seen people be convinced by this and it makes me so mad.

2. “he’s just not ready to grow up!” true. and i believe that’s how mike meant the “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls” line. but why can’t it be both? did you see will’s face after that line? it hit me hard. as a bi girl, i know how it can feel when someone says something that may hint at your true sexuality when you’re not out yet. and that’s how the line hit for me. the line was very specific and stranger things has always been very careful with how they write and direct things. mike could have said “it’s not my fault you don’t like anyone” or “it’s not my fault you don’t have a girlfriend” but no. “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls”. even the word ‘yet’ being added to the line could have completely changed how it came off. i think mike realized how his words sounded as soon as he said it. he instantly softened because he knew those words suggested that will would never like girls, like people had bullied him for his whole life.

3. “there’s no proof in the show!” first of all, wrong. his sexuality has been suggested since episode one. but counterpoint: there’s no proof that he’s straight.  why is he just assumed to be straight? just because he hasn’t come out doesn’t mean he’s not gay. i didn’t just suddenly turn bisexual when i came out, that’s not how it works. i always have been. i won’t go too far into the proof he is because so many have done it better than me (i can send you a link to my favorite posts about it if you’d like to see), but here’s a few: - he’s been very specifically targeted for being gay his whole life. his father and the bullies at school purposefully picked out that one thing. it was mentioned frequently and like i said, stranger things never does something “just because” - when joyce was asked by hopper if will was gay, she simply said “does it matter?” instead of shutting it down - he’s been frequently placed around rainbows - there’s been lots of subtext in people’s lines that suggest will’s sexuality. ex. his mother being “proud” of his “rainbow ship”, “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls” - the original pitch for the show said that will was a kid with sexual identity issues

4. “he danced with a girl in the snowball episode!” dancing with someone of the opposite gender doesn’t instantly mean you’re straight. also, the script literally said that he wasn’t looking at the girl, but he was looking at mike. so.

5. “he’s just a kid!” so are mike, el, lucas, max, and dustin. they’re the same age as will and their crushes and romantic feelings are accepted but will’s aren’t just because his feelings might not be straight? okay, makes sense.

6. “you’re just saying that because you ship byler!” this is one that’s been said to me more than once. yes, i personally ship byler. but that’s not the reasoning at all. there’s so much evidence and subtext about will being gay. my beliefs about his sexuality actually have nothing to do with my ship. and there’s tons of people who don’t ship byler but still believe he’s not heterosexual. i know people who are hardcore mileven shippers and still admit that there’s been tons of hints about him not being heterosexual.

you’re right that it isn’t certain until it’s confirmed by someone, but the same can be said about will being straight. and if you still think he’s straight, that’s okay, you’re entitled to your own opinion (as long as you’re not homophobic and wouldn’t be disgusted or angry if he did turn out to be gay). but i’ve seen people say that we have no proof for our thoughts or that our theory is crazy and it makes me so mad. we do have proof for the theory he’s gay, and people who believe he’s ace / aro have evidence there too. i can admit that even though i believe him to be gay. in fact, i haven’t seen any evidence for why he’s heterosexual that wasn’t either misinformed or that i can’t debunk easily. feel free to throw me other arguments & maybe i’ll add some i forgot, but i hope this may have helped someone to realize we’re not so insane.