#and it can be that they’re all dating or that max is dating both el and lucas and they’re just buds

[carmenilla]

incoming anti-milkvan rant but pro-elmike rant (and some byler mixed in there because you know me)

my rants aren’t very organized so i apologize :,)

mike and el haven’t been together since like the first season, and their relationship has been descending since then.

the most they’ve spent by each other’s side was in season three, and even then they were in a group setting like the whole time and it wasn’t them, together. also we’ve all seen the season three blocking. they are almost never next to each other

with will it’s the opposite. mike and will spent no time together in season 1, but spent 90% of the time together in both season 2 and season 4 (el was barely with mike in either of these seasons) and while season three had them be less of a pair, once again, the season three blocking comes in clutch and makes sure to pair mike with will in every group setting

they even spent the end of season 4 together. even after mike confessed his “love” for el. el and mike aren’t talking, they aren’t with each other, they’re not even paired together in the blocking of the final shot. (we all know who is, though.

when are mike and el ever together since they’ve been dating, excluding scenes that further the deterioration of their relationship? they’re barely together at all.

el continuously has a plot/subplot of coming into her own. being independent. not being defined by papa, or her dad, or mike (as max says in season three). obviously she wants to have a family and loved ones. she deserves to have that. she does have that - but that’s not going to be taken away or lessened by her standing on her own two legs without anyone else telling her how they want her to do so

all of this has been leading to a milkvan breakup. it’s been built up for multiple seasons now. they’ve laid the ground work. mike and el were best together and understood each other the most when they were friends.

notice how i didn’t say “just friends” - romantic relationships are not actually any stronger than friendship. just different. in fact, friendship is stronger, and while romance can heighten that (like with other pairings in the show) sometimes it just doesn’t (like with mike and el).

mike and el haven’t been friends for a while. like how people say “just friends”, they’re just dating. they’ve been doing this since they were so young and they’re still so young and they don’t understand the importance of the friendship aspect of romantic relationships. they only understand what girlfriend and boyfriend are supposed to do, and they can’t even try to do that without it all falling apart.

they need to be friends again. their relationship would be so much stronger. i miss their friendship. they were so sweet and so understanding and so good together when they were actually friends. a lot of couples are both friends and dating, especially in stranger things - look at lumax, my favorite example of this and why i love them so much. but mike and el aren’t. and they should be. they were best when they were

i fucking love elmike and there’s no chance of me getting them back if they keep trying to date each other “correctly” instead of, i don’t know, trying to be friends again. making genuine connections with each other. being true to the nature of their relationship. they are such friends, and maybe if they were friends and dating it would work out, but they’re not and it’s clear they’re not going to be. so if it’s one or the other, they should pick friends. they are amazing together as friends. they were always best as friends.

and then when we flip over to the byler side of things. mike and will have had a long time being friends. they’ve been friends, best friends, since kindergarten. in season 5, they’ll be in junior year, and they will have been best friends for ten years. they’ve had time to have their relationship develop, unlike mike and eleven. they are so clearly very good to each other and with each other as friends - but there is something grating on their relationship and friendship recently. something bubbling beneath the surface, making smooth sailing not so smooth.

yes, this is a metaphor for homosexuality. homosexuality is banging on their door. these bitches GAY. and it’s straining their friendship. they’re still friends, obviously, and they still want to be, but by ignoring this whole other piece of their relationship, they start fighting and misunderstanding each other for the first time in the history of their friendship. something clearly needs to change here.

when byler does become canon, there is zero doubt in my mind that they will still also be friends. that is the backbone and most important part of their relationship, and that is why their relationship will work. and that’s also 80% of the reason why i ship them, especially over milkvan, who just aren’t friends anymore like they were in s1.

something needs to change here in both mike and el’s relationship and mike and will’s. something that will benefit all these characters individually and their relationships. something that the creators have been laying the groundwork for for multiple seasons now. and i cannot wait to watch it happen. i love all three of these characters so much and i need them to get their happy ending

[menaceadored]

my favorite stranger things ships are ronance and elumax

[carigm]

SPOILERS FOR ST5 FILMING THIS WEEK+ A THEORY

Okay, I’m going to try and break down all the filming leaks we got this week and put them together into a theory.

In case you don’t know yet, ST’s production has moved back to Stone Mountain, GA this week. This is a woodsy area that’s been used before in the show to film all the UD forest scenes as well as just the regular forest scenes in the show.

On Monday of this week, someone who lives close to the area came upon a set. And it was the Castle Byers pictures we got. I’ll add them here too.

Some observations. To me this version of castle Byers doesn’t look like the original one we first saw. That one was much fuller and looked more stable. It also doesn’t look like the version Will left behind after destroying it in S3. We know the UD is stuck on the time Will was there, so imo the version of castle Byers we are seeing here is the one that was damaged by the demogorgon when it grabbed Will, back in S1.

Based on this pic and a little video of the set, we all speculated they could be filming something related to Will, perhaps even a flashback. Here’s where it gets interesting.

I was looking at the castingtaylormade insta page (they post all the casting for extras and photo doubles needed for the show) and I came across this.

Production was looking for a minor photo double and “adult” one to work on the 20th (aka Tuesday of this week) as well as some other dates in February and March.

Now, we know they were filming at the castle Byers set the same day that this minor photo double was needed. I don’t think I need to spell it out here. They were looking for a child, so younger Will scenes are basically a guarantee to have been filmed this week. As for the adult photo double filming the same date, well there’s quite a few options. If it’s a little Will flashback/vision we’re gonna see, perhaps the adult photo double is gonna be older Will himself. Maybe we’ll get current Will having visions of his younger self and his time in the UD, and we’ll see both versions of him. Let’s not forget he was able to shift to the UD in S2 without physically being there.

Another option for the adult photo double could be Vecna. Will and Vecna are bound to share scenes this season, so perhaps we’ll see whether Vecna was involved from the get go in Will’s disappearance.

Now it gets even more interesting, because today we got new pics of the “UD” set from this week. There’s a lot of fog, and a very poignant blue and red lighting mix.

We know the UD usually has a blue tint, but there’s been instances where it has looked red, especially in S4. However, the most red we’ve ever seen in the UD was when Will was having his S2 visions of the MF, remember how he would appear in a cloud of hellish red and lights would flash? Yeah. Another big use of red in this show has been for visions, like Will’s UD ones but also El in Billy’s mind in S3. And ofc more notably Max’s Vecna vision in S4.

I want to specifically focus on one picture.

As you can see, there appears to be a figure walking along the tree path, with perhaps a taller figure on the left but that is hard to tell because it could just be part of the tree. Stranger Things Spoilers was the account that got these set photos and look at the comment they just liked on Insta.

I think it’s safe to say they’re hinting that the figure walking is Will.

Which basically ties this whole week of filming together and seems to be pointing at the fact that Will is gonna be exploring his UD connection and that’s a major component of this season (duh).

I personally think we’re gonna see Will have visions of his time there as a child, but also he will be able to go there mentally like he did in S2, perhaps this time being taunted and brainwashed by Vecna. “He spies back”.

So there you go folks, it seems like our beloved Will Byers is gonna be greatly suffering from supernatural horrors beyond our comprehension, once again.

I wonder what will be able to pull him back from all this mental deterioration he’s surely gonna face again.

Could it be the power of family love and perhaps…gay love?

The Duffers did say to rewatch S2 🤷‍♀️

[morganbritton132]

Idk if you’ve mentioned it before but what is everyone in the Party’s jobs?? We already know Erica is a kickass politician and Lucas is the family embarrassment doctor but what does everyone else do besides bug Steve lol?

Also is Dustin still with Susie or did that ship sail away in the EMTTS?? <333

So, fun fact about me: I am not a big fan of future AUs. I don’t particularly like reading them and I’ve never written one prior to the Tiktok Saga. I think the problem I have with them is that it’s really hard to determine where a character should be thirty-odd years down the road. How or why a one-off post about Eddie being bad with technology turned into all this, I do not know.

I don’t have everybody’s job picked out because I don’t really think about it until it’s relevant to the story, but luckily, I do spend way too much time thinking about this AU so I have few that haven’t been mentioned.

The ones that have been mentioned: Steve is a teacher, Eddie’s a musician, Nancy’s a journalist, Jonathan’s a photographer, Lucas is a doctor, and Erica is a senator.

I think Argyle owns a very successful marijuana dispensary in California where him and Jonathan live and it gives him the freedom to travel with Jonathan when he goes out of town for business. Argyle just has the vibe that should not be working a nine-to-five. Also, I think that Argyle as an old man stoner with long completely gray hair is just so cool.

Robin is also a teacher, but she teaches at a university in the linguistics department. She spoke four languages when she joined the party, she now speaks nine. She’s written a book. She has a kickass rating on Rate My Professor. She’s likely the front runner to take over the department once the current dean retires next year.

I really like the idea of Max becoming a physical therapist. She had a long road to recovery after Venca and spent over a year in physical therapy just learning how to walk again. She knows what it’s like. She knows when and how hard to push her patients, and she’s good at the job. This also makes Max a doctor so Erica includes Max when she says that Lucas is the worst Sinclair.

I’m less defined on what kind of careers that Will, Mike, and El have. I just haven’t found a job that I’m like, yes, that makes perfect sense for that character. I do think that Will has a career where he can be creative and that he’s successful, I just haven’t narrowed it down to what exactly he does.

Mike and El, on the other hand, I have no idea. I mentioned before that Mike had a band that opened up for Eddie on CC’s first national tour and I imagine that he did one summer or during his gap year before college (if he went to college). El, I like to think, travels a lot and has got to see the world and be free of the responsibility of saving the world. But those two, I think, are tough to pin down to a specific career.

Now, for Dustin.

Dustin has had a very successful career as a researcher and his career has taken him all over the world. Now what exactly does he research? That’s up to you. This man is a scientist and that’s all Steve and Eddie can tell you about Dustin’s job because it’s just over of their heads. He loves it and that’s all they need to know.

Dustin and Suzie are currently not together. They have dated off and on since they’ve known each other and have always split on good terms. It has just always been the wrong time for them because when they’re together, they’re great. They hit it off and decide to start dating again, and then they just get busy. They’re both top of their field and work crazy long hours all over the world, and the cost of that is their relationship.

I think they both kinda know that one day, they’ll meet up at the right time, but for now, they’re good friends and they date other people. Steve thinks that they’re soulmates and he’ll randomly give Dustin an update that Suzie is single again. Dustin is always like, “How do you know that?”

“We’re friends on Facebook.”

[glisten-inthedark]

STanon, some commentary on e1 of season 3–

it’s funny how when I first watched season three, I thought Hopper was being entirely too protective and controlling regarding Mike and Eleven, but now that I’m a Byler shipper and I’ve seen more analysis and also since season four happened, I find his wording of his frustration with the situation extremely interesting

we all know that Hopper in season one both acknowledges that he was sexually active in high school so you would think that, even if he was being protective of El as his daughter, he would think them being all excitable and kissy in their first ever relationship would be “normal.” it happens all the time: hormones, inexperience, eagerness, the honeymoon stage of having your first ever bf/gf

but what Hopper says is this: it’s constant, it’s not normal, it’s not healthy.

not “it’s annoying” or “it’s inappropriate” or “they’re moving too fast” or anything I’d expect a father who’s stressed about his daughter growing up or who’s protective of her and wanting to shelter her from boys/kissing/eventually sex

constant, not normal, not healthy.

each one is so interest to me. constant and we see a great parallel between Mike and El, and Lucas and Max, where they’re dating and it’s clear they like each other but they’re not constantly sucking face and we see them having other interactions and fun exchanges of dialogue that make their relationship feel a bit more real. not normal despite Hopper having also been a hormonal young teenager who knows what having your first relationship is like so you would think that if this was “normal” he would recognize that even if he didn’t like, or that Joyce would call him out on it. not healthy which is a more emotion and psychology-heavy term and odd considering in this same scene Hopper is being very emotion-avoidant.

hell even my mom started agreeing lol like when Hopper said it was the first day in 6 months that Mike and El haven’t met up at the cabin she was like “whoa that’s way too much” and we both agreed that the way Eleven told Mike he could still come visit her even though he was telling her his grandma wasn’t okay also wasn’t healthy. imo it’s bordering a bit close to codependency which is why I’m really glad she and Max start hanging out.

Hello! This is one thing that always got to me too!

What Hopper says about Mike and El's relationship is very telling, because like you said, he didn't said they were annoying of that they were going too fast.

No, what he says about it is that it isn't normal or healthy, and we sure, we can assume he's exaggerating at first, however we'd soon learn he isn't.

Will talks about Mike blowing them off all summer to be with El, he's constantly around her and she's constantly around him.

Some of Mike's behavior lead me to believe he was in dealing with limerence, obsessing over Eleven in order not to deal with other things. And if we are on the team bisexual Mike Wheeler it might further help with this hypothesis.

At one point, they were becoming too connected, almost codependent on some levels.

And we can't excuse that on them being teenagers, while most teenagers might experiment and get into relationships, most of them do have emotional maturity to navigate friendships and being in relationships.

And while during season 3 Mike was acting like this towards everyone, in season 4 it became clearer that he had Will adjacent issues he needed to deal with because he never sent Will any letters.

One thing to note as well, as that Mike - who's usually defensive - made no attempts to tell Will he was trying to call and talk to him, and I me wonders why.

[emblazons]

Thinking about that post that said Will had to be 'written out' of some of the S3 narrative because so much of it was about performing heteronormative relationships…& as an emotionally intelligent gay kid he quite literally stands entirely outside of both of those things.

Like. The Duffers said the premise of S3 was puberty, but in truth it's more like kids trying to act more mature than they are, not only by pretending they’re not into “childish” things but also emulating the relationships of the adults around them (for good & bad).

In S3, Lucas is literally just parroting his dad (and whoever else) when it comes to explaining relationships to Mike, and Max is projecting her displeasure/fear of divorce (because of her own parents) by repeatedly breaking up with Lucas and encouraging El to do the same while quoting Cosmo to her. El has her own streak of performative influence from her time watching all those soaps while locked up for a year—and Mike is just doing the best he can to keep up, seeing as (as we see with the Karen considering but then never actually cheating with Billy plot) Wheelers are often motivated by responsibility and duty to their relationships more than actual feelings or depth with their partners.

From the very first episode though…Will literally says “I’m not gonna fall in love," and while I know a lot of people like to talk about how that's kind of a sign he’s already falling in love with Mike, it’s also showing us that he stands apart from all the other people and “couples” we see this season…because he’s not performing social rituals trying to emulate the relationships of the adults around him.

Will is the only character outside of Dustin (who also comments on this tendency to be fake in love to Steve, ironically enough) who is refusing to take part in the ritualistic gambits of "dating" with his friends, on top of embracing his desire to continue doing the things he enjoys even as we are learning he is genuinely in love with Mike.

Will is the only one being genuine about his interests and desires rather than performing normativity (social and heteronormative) like the rest of his friends--the only one who is in love with his chosen interest because he enjoys being around him, and its that dissonance from the "play"/ sandbox narrative of S3 that makes it seem like The Duffers "forgot" about him (which, given the fact that S5 is confirmed as Will's Coming of Age season, obviously isn't true).

...I just think it's interesting that the season where everyone starts being shallow (because...thats the word for it. We should bring that word back lmao) is the season where it feels like Will gets neglected the most—not because he isn't important to the story, but because Season 3 was when The Duffers introduced dishonesty and ongoing romantic relationships as a concept for their "kid" characters, and Will's heartfelt affection for Mike and unwillingness to lie to anyone stands apart from that.

-

Bonus Thought: If you really want to get into it, you can also pull on how watching Will lie to Mike in Season 4 about the painting hurts all that much more because its the first time he's betrayed his character to "match the energy" of his peers—him "ripping off the bandaid" was him not only choosing to save Mike & El's relationship by sacrificing his own feelings, but also him choosing move into the same kind of dishonesty and shallowness he's been watching everyone around him get away with for two seasons now, even though it was going to break his heart to do so.

S4 got Lucas and Max back to the honesty and closeness they hadn't been mature enough to manage in S3...but that's not something Will got to see for himself. Getting us back to honesty for El, Mike and now Will (who have also been lying to themselves and each other in their performances of normalcy) will be a critical part of the "repair" that happens in Season 5.

[hotluncheddie]

stop being a goblin and let me kiss you

part 4

˚✧₊⁎ ⁎⁺˳✧༚ ⁎⁺˳✧༚

one thing about eddie munson, steve has realised, is that he may be a little freaky. but he just wants the same things as everyone else. we’re all just monkeys at the end of the day type deal.

because flirting with a boy is the same as with a girl. same schtick, same moves same king steve charm. even if they’re being pulled on a metal head with sparkly brown eyes. the classics work every time.

steve kind of already knew this, if he’s honest. he saw the way girls would twirl their hair and lean into eddies space when he was dealing at parties, sometimes steve’s sometimes not. and he saw how eddie would be flattered in his big brash way and knock 5 bucks off what was already a overpriced item.

where as if steve went up to him and twirled his hair and leaned into eddies space he’d get a bit of brash but also a bit of blush and at least 10 bucks knocked off. now not to say steve’s a mathematician here but 2+2 still equals 4 last time he checked.

so he sings louder once he sees eddies grin in the rear view. even if robin says it threw her off and not to do it again because it impeded her artistic expression or whatever. steve thinks they sounded great just need to work on their singing in rounds section, get it perfect. maybe perform it for hop just to see him squirm. squirm and say nothing, not after the lemon square incident two months ago. robin has him wrapped around her little finger, the terror. shes so cool.

even when robin gets out (with a 'see you tomorrow. you’re both idiots. i love you. you’re giving me grey hairs.’ in that robin way which leaves steves heart feeling little warmer) and eddies grin fades and he’s trying to skulk in the shadows like a gremlin. not moving to the passenger. so steve rolls with it, and pulls out less of a classic, more just his own personal comedic repertoire; his mary poppins voice. he likes to think he can smell the soot he sounded so much like those chimney sweeps. dustin tells him his ears have started bleeding if he gets out so much as a ‘ello’.

but it gets eddie in his passenger seat, sitting the same way as anyone else he’s ever dated/wanted to date has been. and like steve also said, the classic moves never fail and eddies hairs nicer than most girls he’s dated (hairspray can make things distinctly crusty) so, he tucks a lock behind eddies ear, revealing his pretty blush. just like all the girls he’s ever done it to, and that one time with harry bishop in camp. only steve is realising he thinks eddies blush might be the prettiest.

he’s also realising that with eddie the classics go much better along with what steve’s been trying out more and more lately: just being steve. plain, boring steve. seeing how that fits in with the lines and the moves and the schtick, because he’s not really king steve now at all.

he thinks (hopes), with eddie, ‘just steve’ might be enough.

so he asks eddie about the most recent part of the campaign he’s running. missing last weeks to work, which is unfortunate because he uses the sessions to catch up on gossip from el and max. he even let them customise one of his shirts since they’re on a fashion craft kick at the moment. tried it on then and there, the girls revelling in half the table going pink at the sight and steve revelling in how comfy crop tops are. he might ask them to do a couple more.

so eddie talks and talks, about the twist the kids noticed and the one they didn’t. about how well will fits in with the party, doesn’t know how they all did their other campaigns without him. moves so his back is against the door and his knee is propped up, hands gesticulating.

he’s grinning the way he does when he forgets there’s any reason to hide. how steve wants him to all the time, when they’re together. uninterrupted eddie munson, no watered down crap, steve wants it all.

then eddie is poking him with the tip of his shoe, talking about how steve is ‘always asking about dnd, you don’t wanna play dude?’ and steve grabs his foot to hold it there against his leg, starts fiddling with eddies laces, one hand on the wheel. says how ‘nah just like hearing you talk about it’ because that’s true, that’s steve, he likes hearing and watching eddie talk about it, being exited, happy.

but they’ve arrived at the new and improved munson trailer and eddie is staring at him, mouth a perfect ‘o’. steve thinks he has time for a little more king, before eddie has to get out and leave.

so he dips his head, looks up at eddie through his lashes, asks real innocent. ‘if i did play though, would i have to call you master?’ and yeah that snaps eddie out of it.

eddie coughs. coughs again and goes bright red. spluttering ‘no steve. christ. no. you’d call me eddie... or the whatever npc i’m voicing at the time.’

‘so what might that be?’

‘this game i’m mostly a goblin names earwax.’

...

‘huh. cool. not very sexy though.’

still pink eddies all doe eyes and wet lips. ‘your kind of a weird guy harrington, anyone ever tell you that?’

‘once or twice.’

steve’s smile grows and eddie nods to himself, staring into the distance he nods again, then sort of falls out of the car. seeming to forget that steve still has a loose hold of one foot.

jumping back up eddie waves, closing the door. steve wiggles his fingers and watches eddie slink up the path to the front. although it looks like he’s talking to himself, gesturing around. starts shuffling his feet and rubbing the back of his neck once he’s at the bottom of the porch steps.

whirling around eddie bounces on his toes, fist gripping the front of his tee. says a little too loud and a little strangled. ‘you don’t, uh, you don’t wanna come in for a bit do you?’

˚✧₊⁎ ⁎⁺˳✧༚ ⁎⁺˳✧༚

part 1 (eddie) part 2 (steve) part 3 (eddie) part 5 (eddie) part 6 (steve) part 7 (eddie)

(shhhh i know i already wrote a version of this but i didn't like it so changed it shhh shhhhhh)

EDIT: the tags keep glitching so i'm gonna put people in the replies instead, mwah!)

[henry-fox-biggest-stan]

Honestly the biggest byler proof shouldn’t be the eyewitness parallel, or the little women parallel, or whatever, but just like, the fact than Will canonically is in love with mike

There’s no reason for him to have a crush on Mike if they’re not endgame. Lots of queer people (myself, for example) figured out they were queer before feeling romantic attraction for anyone for the first time. My first crush came after I discovered my queerness. Will has always felt different, always been different, always has been called homophobic slurs by both bullies and his own father.

The duffers could have easily said “Will realized he was gay when all of his friends began dating girls while he found no appeal for it, when the idea of mike kissing el and the fact than it was expected for him to eventually kiss a girl felt gross to him, when all his friends were growing up and becoming teenagers with hormones who liked girls while he just didn’t, when he realized he always liked looking at men more than women, when he thought a man was a hundred times more attractive than a woman, when he found himself not looking away from the men in bathing suits at the pool or the hot actors in tv,” but they didn’t.

There’s no need for him to have a crush in his straight best friend, specially because Will is one of the main characters, if not the main character. Specially because they said than he would have a happy ending in s5.

“Oh he doesn’t need a boyfriend for a happy ending, crushes aren’t forever, he can get over mike during the s5 time jump.” True, absolutely true, genuinely, so true. But what’s the point in having him have a crush on mike just to get over him in s5?

“Oh but they made the same thing with Dustin and Max.” It’s nowhere near comparable. Dustin didn’t know Max, max was new, the only thing he knew is than she was from California and really good at videogames, she even beat his record. He found her attractive and most importantly, interesting (a new girl from California, who played videogames and was even better than him??). Mike and Will had known each other for most part of their lives, they were best friends, they probably knew each other better than Dustin and Lucas knew them. It has been shown since the start than their relationship is different, Will doesn’t lie to Mike, Mike is able to tell when Will is quieter than usual, he’s always the one closest to him when he’s having an episode, he slept at the hospital while Will stayed there (we didn’t see Dustin or Lucas do that). And, did Dustin have a whole confession? Was Dustin’s crush built up for 4 seasons?

Plus, I think it really served a purpose. Both Dustin and Lucas being attracted to Max meant than half of the party wanted her to join. Will didn’t care, and Mike was against her joining. Majority won, Max hung out with them. If it was just Lucas who was interested, while Dustin and Will genuinely didn’t care, Mike probably would have won and she wouldn’t have spent big part of the season with them. Sure, Lucas still would have hung out with her because he is his own person, but she wouldn’t have joined the group, at least, initially.

There is no reason to have Will have a crush on mike, a crush building up for four seasons, just for it to get nowhere and for him to get over him during the time jump.

“Oh well, the painting helped mike and el’s relationship.” Debatable (the way they ended s4 was, well, something), but my own opinions aside, sure, yeah. Will used the painting to confess his own feelings which he disguised as El’s to help Mike become more confident in his relationship, and it kinda worked.

However let me ask you this, in what world is using a gay character’s (a gay character than has suffered probably more than everyone else in the story [except El], a gay character who is in love with his best friend, who has suffered homophobic bullying, who feels like a mistake for being different, like he will never be happy or find anyone like him because it is the 80s) feelings as a plot device to further a straight relationship than has supposedly been building up since season 1 (so they shouldn’t need anything else to further it) just to have this gay character’s feeling disappear once they have served their purpose, which is to further and help a straight relationship, something normal or okay to do?? What kind of representation is that?? That’s actually homophobic, and I mean it. Will ending up single isn’t homophobic of course not, but the way than the duffers have used his feelings as a plot device for a straight couple, specially if they are going to disappear after, is. And we know they’ll either disappear or Will will get a boyfriend (whether it’s Mike or some new guy, and we know there are no new male characters Will’s age) since I don’t know what kind of happy ending unrequited love is (and they have promised us a happy ending for Will).

[sapphicsoldierwriting]

Elmax for the "send me a ship" ask game

Ty for asking me, sorry I’m a bit late!

Elmax hcs based on this post:

Who said “I love you” first

Max. She let it slip while they were cuddling and then kinda panicked about it, but her nerves were immediately calmed when El said it back.

Who would have the others picture as their phone background

They both would. On one of their dates, Max snaps a picture of El and sets it as her background. Once El realizes, she does the same thing. (In a modern au lol)

Who leaves notes written on the fog in the bathroom mirror

They both do. El starts it by writing little messages every so often, like “I love you,” “E + M,” or “Max” with a bunch of hearts next to it. Max calls her cheesy but eventually starts leaving them too, although they aren’t always romantic. Sometimes she slides her hand down the mirror to make it look like a bloody handprint, accompanied by ominous notes like “help,” or “he’s coming.”

Who buys the other cheesy gifts

El. She’s a huge hopeless romantic. She gets inspired by movies and bases a lot of her gifts and date ideas based on those. She’d definitely be the type of girlfriend to give huge bouquets and heart shaped chocolate boxes with little hand written notes attached to them. Max has a box of all the teddy bears El has given her for holidays and sometimes for no reason at all.

Who initiated the first kiss

El. It was during one of their sleepovers late at night, when they were lying in the bed giggling about anything that came to their minds. It got quiet for a moment and El just went for it. It felt right to her. Max was super shocked and confused, but she was over the moon obviously.

Who kisses the other awake in the morning

El, most of the time. She’s a natural early riser, and after she’s had her morning coffee, she loves to wake Max up with a bunch of kisses all over her face (normally resulting in a groan and “five more minutes”). There are a few rare occasions though, when Max wakes up first and returns the favor.

Who starts tickle fights

They both do. Ever since El discovered tickling, she started randomly running up to Max and attacking her with tickles. After a while Max started seeking revenge. Now it’s a challenge for who ever can make the other laugh the longest before they break free.

Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch

El. She likes spontaneously showing up from time to time with a box of a sandwich, fruit, and sometimes candy. Occasionally though, when El is having a bad day, Max will show up with a plate of eggos or a bouquet.

Who was nervous and shy on the first date

Mostly Max. She had never dated a girl before and was unsure of what the “rules” were, and was really scared of messing things up. (El had never dated a girl either but was less nervous about the social aspects and stuff, due to her upbringing.)

Who kills/takes out the spiders

They both do. When they see a spider, it’s on sight. They show no mercy.

Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk

El. She’s a very giggly drunk and loves to go on and on about her amazing girlfriend. Max thinks it’s very cute but knows it’s a sign to get her home and drinking water.

[solarmorrigan]

I’ve just read made with love (and yarn) and it’s absolutely fantastic but it also made me think: Eddie gifting Steve his very own hellfire shirt and Steve wearing it but everyone just assumes that Steve is wearing Eddie’s shirt and they’re all just very nonchalantly *shoulder shrug* “guess they’re together now”

So when Eddie and Steve actually get together nobody is surprised because “we knew for months already” and Steve and Eddie are very confused because “we’ve been together for two weeks?”

Hellohellohello I am sorry I sat on this for, like, a month, but Anon, you gave me An Idea. And then life intervened and it took me forever to write it, but! It's finally done and thank you very much because it was great fun to write (and I'm so glad you liked the other story, too, thank you for saying so <3)

-

The kids aren’t oblivious. They have eyes, after all

So when Steve turns up wearing a Hellfire shirt and reveals, after Mike demands to know where he got it, that Eddie gave it to him, the kids know exactly what’s going on

Obviously, Eddie and Steve are dating

Which- finally. It only makes sense, the way they’re always in each other’s space, always staring at each other, always laughing at some little joke between the two of them while annoying everyone else. So Eddie finally gave Steve a Boyfriend Shirt, and now they’re dating

And as much as some people (coughStevecough) might like to say that the kids have no manners, or sense of personal boundaries, or common decency, they do actually know how to behave like functional human beings. Like, sometimes. If they care enough. And they do care about Eddie and Steve, so they make some allowances

For instance, significant others get shotgun privileges; if Steve is driving, Eddie gets the passenger seat, and vice versa (no matter how much Dustin grumbles about it)

On movie nights, they leave the easy chair in Steve’s living room alone even though it’s the most comfortable place to sit, because it’s Steve’s favorite place to sit, because Eddie usually ends up smooshed in there with him, insisting that it’s such a big chair it can fit two people (it can’t, really, but that seems to be the point)

When they go out to eat, they make sure that there are two empty seats left side by side so Eddie and Steve can sit together (usually at the end of the table; they both seem to like placing themselves between the kids and the door, which is completely unnecessary, but sort of nice in a way they won’t admit to)

And just occasionally, on nights when gatherings run late and Eddie and Steve seem comfortable, wrapped up in each other and dozing off like a pair of old men and not two early twenty-somethings, the kids will call someone and arrange for another ride instead of catching a lift with Steve or Eddie like they’d originally planned

See? They can be considerate

Dustin pokes at Steve, who lifts his head drowsily from where he’s nodded off curled into the corner of Eddie’s couch, Eddie himself draped all over Steve and half snoring into the crook of his neck.

“Whazzat?” Steve mumbles, shaking his head to clear the sleep and blinking up at Dustin. “Time t’go?”

“Jonathan’s gonna give us a ride, since you two are useless and fell asleep,” Dustin says quietly, his smile conveying more amusement than anything. “I’m just letting you know we’re leaving so you don’t freak out when you wake up later.”

Steve rolls his eyes, but the “thanks” he shoots back is sincere, if grumbled, and Dustin goes to wait with everyone else out in the cool air of the early fall evening. Mike, Will, and Lucas are loitering around the trailer door, waiting for Jonathan to arrive; Max and El are waiting with them before convening to a sleepover at Max’s place across the way.

“Okay, but that is still weird, right?” Mike is asking the group at large, pointing towards the door as Dustin comes out. “Them being together? They don’t even have anything in common.”

Dustin glances back over his shoulder before taking a seat on the front steps. “Who, Eddie and Steve?”

“Yeah.”

“Nah, you’re just mad you lost ten bucks betting it would take them longer to start sucking face.” Dustin smirks.

“Ew.” Mike’s face twists briefly in disgust. “No, look, I’m just saying, they have totally different interests. Like, Eddie’s into D&D and metal and cool stuff, and Steve’s got whatever lame shit he’s into, so what do they even do together?”

“Well, Mike,” Max drawls, “when two people love each other very much - or at least when they each think the other is hot, they–”

“Oh my god, shut up!” Mike screeches, shoving at Max as she cackles at him.

Jonathan arrives not long after that, stemming any further conversation (or yelling) on the topic.

Back inside the trailer, Steve shakes Eddie gently from his nap.

“Hey,” he murmurs as Eddie is stirring. “It’s late. We should go to bed, I don’t wanna sleep on the couch all night.”

(The suggestion that he and his friend both go to bed--as in together--doesn’t even register as weird anymore. His definition of what constitutes casual intimacy is beyond fucked; he and Eddie have decided to stop caring.)

Eddie hums, turning his head to rest it against Steve’s shoulder and scanning the empty room with sleep-bleary eyes. “Gremlins gone already?”

“Jonathan got ‘em,” Steve replies. “Hey– have they been acting weird lately? The kids?”

“Oh, for sure,” Eddie says, stifling a yawn. “But I haven’t had to fight a fifteen-year-old for shotgun in, like, a month, so I haven’t been questioning it.”

Steve snickers. “Yeah. It’s... like, it’s actually been kind of nice, though. Really nice.”

Eddie lifts his head finally, shuffling back a little so he can look at Steve properly. “What has?”

“Getting to be close to you,” Steve says, meeting Eddie’s gaze head-on.

“Yeah?” Eddie asks, a smile teasing across his face.

“Yeah,” Steve says. “And I’ve been thinking that... maybe we could do it more officially.”

Eddie snorts. “Official, huh? You wanna get some forms notarized before cuddling the fuck out of me? Maybe put on a suit and tie?”

“Let’s not go that far, you weirdo.” Steve rolls his eyes. “How about just a date?”

Steve tries not to hold his breath, tries not to be nervous; he’s talked himself into and out of this question so many times since Eddie had given him that club t-shirt, insisting that Steve was at least an honorary member.

“A date, huh?” The way Eddie’s smile has only grown is very promising. “Yeah, I– I think we could do that.”

Steve grins in return. “Good.”

(Barely two weeks later, they decide to announce to the party at large that they’re definitely Official now—paperwork not included—only to receive the most lackluster response they’ve ever seen come out of their loud, dramatic troupe of children.

“Uh, yeah, we know,” Dustin says, barely looking up from the notebook he’s scribbling character notes in. “You’ve been dating for months. Old news, guys.”

“Uh, no, we haven’t,” Steve parrots Dustin’s snarky tone right back at him. “Dude, the hell are you even talking about? Our first date was, like, a week ago.”

This gets everyone’s attention.

“It was what?” Dustin demands, voice gone pitchy.

“A week ago, Henderson, try to keep up,” Eddie says.

Any other forthcoming details, however, are drowned out as Mike stands, jabbing a triumphant finger at Dustin and declaring, “You owe me twenty dollars!”)

[elizabethsaige]

been reading a lot of Stobin headcanons and wanted to share my own because I cannot stop thinking about SteveandRobin

these are just some, I do have many more

enjoy !

- their entire relationship is essentially Robin calling Steve things like “dingus” and “idiot” and just being such a menace to him, but the second anyone else says anything slightly mean to him, she is ripping them a new one so fast, ready to lay them out the second they open their mouths

- she frequently disciplines Dustin, Mike, and Max any time they are rude to Steve, even if it’s a joke (and by discipline, I mean telling them “hey shut the fuck up, i’m the only one thats allowed to be mean to him”)

- Robin “he asked for no pickles” and Steve “Robin, it’s fine”

- the first time Robin goes on a date with a girl, Steve is sitting by the phone waiting for Robin to call and give him every single detail

- Steve gets so warm and fuzzy inside any time he looks at Robin when she doesn’t know he’s looking because he just loves her so much it hurts

- when Robin finally notices, she gives him a weird look and says, “what the fuck are you looking at dingus?”

- (Robin looks at him the same way, he just doesn’t know it)

- Robin and Steve’s children together are Max and Will, but Steve’s children-from-another-marriage are Dustin, Erica, and El and Robin’s are Lucas and Mike

- speaking of Mike, he is like obsessed with Robin. he thinks she’s the coolest person ever. any time they hang out in the group, Mike always wants to be in her conversations or wants her to join in on any games the kids are playing, and he LOVES when she roasts people in other languages, he asks her to teach him the words every time

- every time Robin sleeps at Steve’s house, he judges him for the ugly wallpaper and ugly matching drapes in his bedroom and begs him to change it

- sometimes Steve really doubts his place in the group, worrying that he isn’t important to anyone and is just used as a babysitter or a ride, and on days like this, Robin will hold him and run her hands through his hair and tell him every reason why everyone in The Party loves him and just how important he is, especially to her

- Steve is Stevie and Robin is Robbie, but also Steve is Steven and Robin is Rob, and sometimes Steve is Evie and Robin is Robert, but most of the time Steve is Dingus and Robin is Birdie

- Joyce and Hopper were the last to find out that they are both queer and not dating each other. but before they found out, Joyce gave Steve the ‘you better not hurt her’ talk because, well, she knew his old reputation and she figured it was necessary. and Hopper gave Robin the ‘i know he had a reputation but he’s my son and he’s actually a good guy now’ talk (not realizing that Robin already knew all of this because duh they’re best friends) and then Robin and Steve told each other what was said to them and laughed their heads off

- they throw the absolute best birthday parties together for the kids. they want them to feel so special and so loved on their birthdays because both Steve and Robin dislike their birthdays and never really felt special during any of them as kids

- when Robin is reading and she’s with Steve, she reads out loud so Steve can join in on the story even if he doesn’t always understand what’s going on if she’s halfway through a book (asks many questions and Robin pretends to be annoyed about having to answer them but does anyway

- when Steve doesn’t understand something, Robin is so kind and gentle in explaining it to him and making sure he doesn’t feel dumb (unless she’s overwhelmed, then she kind of gets an attitude about it)

- Robin can actually sing and Steve isn’t the first person to find out (Nancy is - on accident) and they get into a really big fight about it because Steve feels betrayed and it ends with Robin confessing how self conscious about it she is so she doesn’t let other people hear her

[pinetreeshapedtriangle]

When Steve and Eddie finally get together, they don’t bother making a big announcement. They figured the pet names and constant touching was evidence enough. Eddie was out to The Party already, and Steve..well.. he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. Happy to just be together without flaunting it. At first, nobody comments on it. Steve thinks it’s because they already knew, and Eddie thinks it’s because they’re trying to be polite. But one month rolls around, and nobody’s commented on their relationship. Two months and it’s a running joke between Steve and Eddie to see how overly affectionate they can be before one of The Party finally says something. They even have a bet on who will break first. Steve thinks it’ll be Erica, Eddie is still convinced it’ll be Dustin

“My son needs to redeem himself. He gets this cluelessness from you” Eddie jokes regularly.

They make it to five months without anyone noticing, and that’s when Steve finally break. His kids are never this well behaved, he’s sure they figured it out already and are being dense in purpose, and he’s sick of it. Steve is on a mission to force them to react and acknowledge their relationship. Screw not making a big deal of it.

During their weekly D&D sessions at Steve’s house, Steve is bringing snacks out for everyone like usual when he finally decides this has gone on long enough. So when Eddie says thanks babe like usual, Steve plants himself right in the DM’s lap and smacks a wet kiss to his lips.

The following chaos is shocking to both Steve and Eddie. They had their own theories on what The Party thought of them, but they were both convinced they already knew.

“You’re kissing. Why are you kissing?” Mike asked in his special disgusted way.

“My eyes. My innocent eyes” Dustin was crying out dramatically

Erica made increasingly loud gagging sounds and Will just stared with an open mouth. Lucas, The Party’s only hope for the future finally asked:

“Wait are you two dating?”

“Only for the past 5 months or so” Steve replies, with that bitchy tone Eddie secretly loves.

“You guys seriously didn’t know? It’s not like we’ve been hiding it.” Eddie asked.

“Yeah, we call each other babe in front of you little shits constantly” Steve said, the bitchiness slowly leaving his voice.

“You and Robin call each other babe all the time.” Dustin pointed out.

“Okay true, but Steve and I are always touching. Holding hands or cuddling.” Eddie adds.

“Robin and Steve cuddle. all. the. time.” Max chimes in from the couch. Her and El giggling quietly to each other.

“Just an hour ago he was in her lap watching a movie.” Erica says with an eye roll.

And this is when Steve realizes what happened. He drops his head into Eddie’s shoulder to hide his embarrassed blush. Eddie can handle this one for the both of them.

“Okay… so let me get this straight. Steve and Robin act like a couple, Steve and I also act like a couple.. and none of you thought that was weird?” Eddie is truly lost now. He loves his kids, knows they’re accepting. But he can’t fathom them not having any questions or comments about this. Especially Mike. Mike should have been on their asses constantly about this. But Steve knows. He can hear it before they even say it.

“Platonic with a capital P” All the kids chorus, with horrible imitations of himself and Robin.

Then Robin, beautiful, wonderful, unhelpful Robin, starts laughing. Full body laughs, with snorts and everything. Because how is this their life? Her and Steve are so codependent, that their little band of children just assumed Steve and Eddie were also just friends, because that’s how they always see Steve acting with her, and they made it very clear they were only friends. And it’s hilarious really, to Robin, to Eddie when he finally catches on.

All Steve can do is smile and shake his head. They’re all idiots. Every single one of them. But he wouldn’t trade that for the world

[eskawrites]

sports anon got me thinking about a ronance volleyball au so headcanon list let’s go

Nancy is a fiercely clever setter, she can take in the whole court and make a decision in a split second and her precision never falters

she has a rough first couple of years dealing with hitters who can’t keep up with her--and jealous hitters who just want every set to go to them (looking at you, Carol). but once she and Robin start working together she really shines

Robin is an opposite hitter (she’d be a great outside too but i lowkey hc her as a leftie so she’d do great as an opposite, plus the backwards set-spike combo is so fucking beautiful)

a setter who consistently sets to her opposite over her outside would also probably throw people off, at least in shitty midwestern public school leagues (yes this is from personal experience), so Nancy and Robin get a few easy points that way

Robin takes a while to find her confidence on the court. they place her front row because she’s taller than most other girls, but she’s clumsy and nervous during her first year or so. no one hits the net more often than her and yes Nancy yells at her about it at some point

she figures it out eventually though. gets her form down, learns to place herself better, gets better at spatial awareness. and once she starts actually trusting herself to do it right? damn is she powerful on the court

even after Robin and Nancy start getting along more, no one actually thinks they’re that close until Robin rolls her ankle during a hitting drill. she’s coming down from absolutely nailing a back row attack and lands directly on a loose ball. it’s actually really harrowing, watching her go from a perfectly controlled jump to a crumbled heap on the gym floor. but no one reacts more than Nancy, who rushes to her side, already snapping at the freshmen who let the ball roll loose, then turns so gentle as she tries to help Robin. she doesn’t leave her alone until they get Robin off the court and their coach forces Nancy to get back to work

it’s not a serious injury, but Robin does have to sit out for a few games. she does her best to play it down so she can keep playing, but Nancy is the one who calls her out on her bullshit and forces her to rest (this is incredibly hypocritical of her and everyone on the team points it out. Nancy tells them all (except for Robin) to shut up)

Max is libero btw. and she’s constantly covered in scuffs and bruises from diving to get the ball, but damn if she isn’t the best passer they’ve ever had

Nancy only paints her nails before a big game. the color doesn’t matter, but the feeling of the polish itself is just enough to make her more aware of her finger placement, so she makes no mistakes while setting (like she makes mistakes anyway

once they get closer, Robin starts painting her nails for her as a way to help her de-stress before a game

Karen Wheeler is volleyball mom. Ted hasn’t been to a game since Nancy was in middle school but Karen has never missed one. she coordinates meals for the team before away games and follows their summer league with plenty of sunscreen and a cooler full of gatorade

Mike is reluctantly dragged along to a lot of Nancy’s middle school games, and once he gets older he fully intends on never going to one again, but once Max joins the team Lucas makes everyone go to support her and him, Dustin, Will, and El are immediately so into it, so Mike finds himself dragged to all of Nancy’s high school games, too

Robin and Nancy both help run the elementary school volleyball camp in the spring. Holly always goes because her big sister is there, of course she does. but the year Robin and Nancy start dating, Holly chooses Robin as her pepper partner every single day. Nancy tries so hard to be jealous, but she can only barely manage to hide how fond she is

Max and Robin pepper whenever they need to have a serious conversation. it gives them both something to focus on that isn’t the heart-to-heart and makes it easier for both of them to open up

Nancy and Robin practice serving together and they’re super competitive about it. Robin has the best jump serve on the team and she can put so much power into it--she’s great at nailing those back corners. but Nancy has this gorgeous topspin to her serve and she can get the ball to drop almost as soon as it clears the net, so she’s great at putting the opponent setter out of commission. every other team in their district hates both of them

Nancy is so damn hard on herself and takes every loss and even some of their victories really personally. after hard games she’ll sit alone at the front of the bus, curled up against the window, going over every little detail of the game and all the things she could’ve done better

she tries to push Robin away when she tries to sit with her, but Robin just stays quietly by her side. eventually, Nancy will uncurl and lean against Robin a little bit, or they’ll talk softly about it

other times, after better games, Nancy will fall asleep with her head in Robin’s lap, and Robin will play with her hair and hold her in place on windy roads so Nancy can sleep peacefully

[jopper-lovechild]

things that exist in my stranger things self-insert universe because my mind is an expansive universe:

- dustin goes to harvard for 2 years until one of his science professors challenges him that there’s no way otherworldly planes exist so dustin starts talking about the upside down and even brings evidence of the upside down and the literal CIA has to show up at his dorm room and force him to leave the college with a boatload of hush money (he drives back to hawkins in a brand new porsche and claudia loses her mind)

- eddie is borderline asexual simply because he does not give a FUCK. like he has sex with his partner if they want but it doesn’t consume him because there’s much more important things to focus on like hyper-analyzing every single metallica song that was ever created

- max is a raging bisexual and has an amicable breakup with lucas sometime in high school. they remain best friends <3

- lucas actually becomes a single dad! he went to ucla to play basketball and knocked up a girl his senior year by accident but she wanted nothing to do with the baby and dumped her onto lucas

- mike and el stay together because they’re trauma-bonded but also because they love each other. will goes to an art school in Indianapolis and moves to europe after graduation, never to be seen again (because i don’t want to think about noah schnapp ever again)

- we came up with this before the screenplay but dustin’s dad is from hawkins and his mom is from new jersey. they met because his dad went to college out there and they both ended up moving back to hawkins after his dad graduated. but then his dad was drafted into the vietnam war and died a month before nixon signed the paris peace treaty which is why claudia is a single-mom

- most of the parents grew up in hawkins together and the real reason ted wheeler is so annoyed at mike’s friends is because he hated their parents growing up and all they do is remind ted of his childhood 💀

- i’ve been dabbling with lucas x dustin and chrissy x robin, not sure yet

- two of our sonas are dating eddie and steve so we made them each have a daughter in the future so we can steddie-ify them lol

[schrijverr]

I Found Myself a Cheerleader 28

Chapter 28 out of 28

Bumped to the lowest step on the social ladder after his fight with Billy, Steve gets roped in with the cheer team. What starts as a favor to help them out when one member breaks her leg in turn for protection from the brunt of the bullying, sets the universe on a different path.

In this chapter, With everyone healed, they slowly move back into their lives. As the dust settles, Steve and Eddie go on their first date together.

On AO3.

Ships: steddie & buckingham

Warnings: hate-crime mention, brief child abuse mention, period typical homophobia (I promise it’s the happy chapter, nothing happens)

~~~~

Chapter 28: The First Date

Time has passed since Eddie first woke up again. Despite his coma, he’s been recovering pretty well all things considered and is released pretty soon alongside Max and Chrissy.

Steve has stayed in the hospital with him for most of it, growing closer to both Eddie and his uncle, while they kept an eye on everyone else too. Despite Robin’s earlier judgments of Eddie, the two have hit it off and Chrissy has also easily come into the fold, turning their trio into a quartet of queer dumbasses.

Chrissy has been officially disowned and is going to stay with the Buckleys until she’s fully healed up. They would keep her longer, but they don’t have the means with only a nurse and a low on the ladder office grunt salary. Just like Steve couldn’t stay forever, even when they wanted him too.

However, Steve will take her in after. Hopper has legally come back from the dead and they have worked out a deal that Steve can buy his cabin from him slowly over the years.

The room that used to be a haunting shrine to his memory is now packed up with joy as Hopper moves out of Steve’s cabin. The Byers are moving back to Hawkins, Hopper is moving in with them, not wanting to rip another family from his daughter and the relationship he now has with Joyce.

The Byers and Hoppers had cleaned the spray paint off and fixed up the door. Steve nearly cried in thanks when he got home to find it welcoming and lively, instead of that violated mockery of his safe space.

At first, Will and El shared Steve’s bed as Steve slept on the couch, while Hopper and Joyce took Hopper’s bed. Jonathan and Argyle had found some mattresses to put on the floor. It were way too many people for the small cabin, but it was filled with joy and people. Steve needed people whenever he wasn’t sleeping at the hospital, unable to be alone.

Of course, he slept over at Robin’s place too, the three of them gossiping and joking around, laughing as they forgot how the world can be cruel to people like them.

It wasn’t without ups and downs of course. Steve had his first bad nightmare soon after going home to sleep, instead of staying at the hospital. It was mortifying, but while tea with Joyce wasn’t the same as tea with Robin, card games with Chrissy or hot chocolate with Eddie, it was still pretty good. It felt a lot like understanding. Like acceptance.

He also finally talks with Nancy. After they’ve waved goodbye to the Byers, who are off to Cali to finish the year there, she pulls him aside and asks: “Uhm, what you said, you know, in the Upside Down, that you, uhm, that you-”

“That I’m in love with Eddie,” Steve fills in for her, putting her out of her misery.

“Yeah, that. Is that…?” Nancy struggles a little more.

“That is still a thing yeah, I’m gay,” Steve tells her and it feels good to tell her that. “I didn’t figure it out until after fighting that demogorgon and even then I denied it for a long time. Sorry for leading you on when it wasn’t going to work out between us.”

“It’s okay, I- I wasn’t in a good place either then,” Nancy gives him a smile and it finally feels like they’re friends again. “I felt safe with you, still do, but- It’s not the same. I- I am also sorry, for being weird during everything.”

“Oh,” Steve says, not able to give another reaction, because he was pretty sure she was never going to mention that ever again.

“Me and Jonathan talked,” she says. “We were in a rough spot before, I guess. Still are. Uhm, he- he’s going to take a gap year, stay with his family, but I can’t stay here. I’m leaving in the fall for college. But with Hopper here, Jonathan is planning on coming with me next year, maybe in the spring already. So, we’re just taking it slow. Seeing where it’s going.”

“That’s good, Nance. I’m happy for you,” Steve tells her genuinely. Because he is. They have had their worst moments together, been their worst selves around the other, have seen their lows, but he would never wish her ill will. She’s been through a lot and she deserves to get better.

“Thank you,” she says. “I’m also happy for you and Eddie. You seem happier with him. You deserve that.”

Steve feels himself blush. It’s still new, but so wonderful and he can’t help but be happy whenever his relationship is mentioned. “Thank you, I am happy.”

And that’s the end of that conversation. They’re not best friends, Steve doesn’t think they’re ever going to be after all that has happened between them, but they are friends. The air is cleared and they’re both finally on the same page.

It feels good to close that chapter behind him on good terms.

Meanwhile, he’s starting a new chapter. With Eddie. Their date has taken a back burner, since Eddie couldn’t leave the house much at first. But Steve has gotten to sit in on his games with the kids, which has been great. Steve is never going to get into DnD, it isn’t for him, but it’s cute how excited they all get and he can listen to Eddie talk for hours and not get bored.

However, enough time has passed and tonight, he and Eddie are going on a date.

A date!

Steve’s first date with a boy.

Eddie’s first date ever.

It feels big.

Huge.

Too big.

But also, so so good.

However, it being good, doesn’t mean Steve is not nearly shaking apart with nerves. Which is how he finds himself on Robin’s bed, groaning into his hands as he complains: “I don’t know what to wear. Robbie, save me!”

“Well, you brought about your entire fucking wardrobe, there must be something,” she rolls her eyes, justified in her annoyance, since she’s been forced to listen to Steve whine about his date for days now.

“But none of it is cute,” Steve pouts.

“You’ve been on dates before. Many!” Robin exclaims. “Why are you being so difficult now? It’s just Eddie. He’s not even that hot. He’s a weirdo who walks on tables, which is highly unsanitary, by the way.”

“But I actually like Eddie,” Steve whines. “And he is cute. He’s passionate.”

Robin doesn’t look like she fully gets that he can actually find Eddie attractive, but she softens up a little when reminded of the fact that those dates he’d gone on were to hide. So, she says: “I can ask Chrissy to tell you what looks hot. She’s still into men.”

Steve considers it for a moment, then shakes his head. “I want you to tell me,” he says petulantly.

“Chrissy’s your friend too. She actually knows what she’s talking about,” Robin huffs.

Chrissy is currently trying to catch up on all the work she missed while being in the hospital and unable to attend school just yet. They could go bother her, but with the two of them dating and Steve spending a lot of time with Eddie, he wants to hang out with Robin. She’ll always be his number one.

“No,” he shakes his head again. “Chrissy will tell me what cheerleaders will like, you can tell me what weirdos like.”

“You’re also a weirdo, dingus,” Robin informs him, but she looks pleased with his insistence.

She gets up and starts going through the pile of clothes Steve brought with a little more interest than before. He’s sure that once he leaves for his date, she’ll squirrel away some of his clothes, but he doesn’t care. He has a few of her shirts hidden at his cabin too.

Robin contemplates for a second, then pulls out a pale yellow polo and holds it up. “This,” she says. “And jeans. Because Eddie is a weirdo like me, who actually likes a preppy cheerleader. I promise, he’ll like this.”

Steve laughs, but not at her, just delighted at the fact they get to do this. That they get to talk about their partners and pick out clothes for their dates. It makes him feel light.

“Go on. Change!” Robin demands, holding out the outfit to him in excitement.

“Okay, okay,” Steve smiles, taking the clothes as he starts undressing. Neither of them have made an effort with modesty, so Robin just waits as Steve changes into the outfit.

“Spin,” she demands.

Steve spins.

“Yes,” Robin nods. “It’s perfect. You look like a preppy little puppy.”

“And that is good?” Steve asks, amused and a little tentative.

“That’s good,” Robin assures him.

“Thank you,” he grins happily, flopping back down on the bed next to her. He’s still nervous, but having Robin help with his outfit calmed him a little.

“Of course, Stevie,” Robin smiles at him. “You’re gonna call me when you get back, right?”

“If I get back,” Steve winks.

“Dingussss,” Robin whines. “Then you call me from Eddie’s place.”

It should be overbearing. It should feel like it crosses a line to be so wrapped up in each other’s lives. But it never has with Robin. She has called him so many times after dates with Chrissy or other big moments. Sometimes she’s alone, sometimes Chrissy will be giggling through the line as well. They click together.

“I’ll call you form Eddie’s place,” Steve promises.

“Good,” Robin nods decisively. “And have fun and all that of course.”

“Wow, thank you for your gracious wishes,” Steve snorts.

“Oh shut up,” Robin giggles, pushing him softly, though he pretends it’s much harder as he groans dramatically and rolls off the bed. Of course, Robin doesn’t believe him for a second, rolling her eyes as she calls him a drama queen.

The two fuck around a bit more as Steve pushes his clothes in the corner, before Robin follows him to the bathroom where he fixes his hair. A part of his products permanently lives at the Buckley house with how often he’s there.

Despite the fact that they have only one daughter, the shelve in their shower is bursting with both Chrissy’s and Steve’s stuff as well. The two of them taken into the fold of Daisy’s and Thomas’ kindness and acceptance.

All of them came out to them after their stint in the hospital. They’ve always kind of known with Robin with how she started acting when she hit puberty, never fully hiding, but not admitting it either. With the rumors that floated around about Steve last summer and Chrissy’s attachment to Robin, it wasn’t difficult to make assumptions, though they patiently waited for them to be ready to say something.

Once Steve deems himself done, they stumble down the stairs. Chrissy throws down her pencil enthusiastically when she seems them, happy to be done. She smiles: “You look great, Stevie!”

Steve twirls a little, blushing as he grins: “Thank you, Chris.”

Thomas pops his head out of the kitchen. Daisy is working late today, so he’s cooking. He knows what’s been happening, also having opened the door for Steve holding all his clothes, after which Robin pushed him aside, exclaiming how it was an emergency. Then they had to calm him down that no, it wasn’t a bad emergency, just a teen emergency. Robin gets her anxiety from her father.

Now, he just smiles at Steve and says: “Have fun. And be safe. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

Robin groans in embarrassment at her dad and Steve feels himself flush. Still, he’s more touched than embarrassed at the concern for him, finally having adults in his life that actually care, so he smiles at Thomas and promises: “I will.”

“You’ll call us when you get back, right?” Chrissy asks, before Robin can accompany Steve to the door. She would join too, but still being in casts makes being stationary easier.

Steve smiles at the fact that Chrissy has also picked up on their closeness habit. He ruffles her hair in a way that has her squawking and ducking away, as he says: “I will.”

Then Robin walks him to the door, the two dragging out their goodbyes as they always do, trying to cling to the other for as long as they can, before they truly part ways. With that done, Steve gets into his car and drives to the trailer park.

Eddie is sitting on the steps of his trailer when Steve pulls into the trailer park. He’s smoking a cigarette in a way that shouldn’t be as hot as it is, long fingers deftly holding the cig, bracelets moving whenever his arm moves.

Steve swallows heavily, before he parks the car, now getting spotted by Eddie. He lights up, those beautiful eyes sparkling as he waves, shaking his head to unsuccessfully get his hair in check and out of his face.

“Stevie,” Eddie greets, stepping closer, realizing their outside and awkwardly leaning back out of Steve’s space.

“Hey, Eds,” Steve replies, smiling, though that twinge still goes through him. He might finally be at a place where he is comfortable with his sexuality, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the world is. So, bro high five it is for now. “Come on, let’s go,” he nods to the car to distract from the reality and get the date back on track.

Eddie grins happily at that and does a dorky little cheer that Steve finds way more attractive than he should.

When he looks away he meets Max’s eyes. Being in the hospital has really scared her mom and the two have been closer than ever. Steve helped Wayne built a ramp to the trailer so Max can get in with her wheelchair. Right now she is at the top of that ramp, giving Steve an amused look.

He flips her off with a grin, then gets back in the car. His sides twinge a little, but his stitches have been taken out finally. Eddie’s are also still there right under his shirt and pants, but right now neither of them care. The wounds are healing, aches are fading and all of them are looking towards the future.

Steve starts to drive and Eddie smiles at him when he glances over. “Hey, Stevie,” he greets, a shy smile on his lips.

“Hi, baby,” Steve says back, letting his voice go soft and warm. He has done this song and dance many times before, but this time it feels good to see the person he’s with blush and giggle, leaning in slightly.

They’re on the bigger road now, which leads out of town, so Steve feels a bit more confident to put his hand on Eddie’s thigh.

Next to him, Eddie takes a sharp breath and Steve listens to see if it was surprise of discomfort, making himself at home when it turns out to be surprise.

It’s quiet for a few seconds, but Eddie has never done well with silence, so he breaks it when he asks: “So, how is this gonna go?”

Steve knows Eddie must be even more nervous than he is. The second he saw Eddie grin, most of his nerves faded. He has done this before, he knows this. It feels right with Eddie. However, Eddie is in the deep end without swimming lessons.

So, he projects as much confidence and comfort in his voice as he answers: “Well, I’m gonna drive to a town where no one knows us. We’re gonna get fries and milkshakes that we’re gonna eat on the hood of the car in a parking lot somewhere. Then we’re going to the drive in theater and watch a movie. And then we’ll drive home. How does that sound?”

“That sounds good,” Eddie answers, boisterous personality creeping back into his voice again. It is not as if Eddie hadn’t known what they were gonna do, Steve told him before, but he obviously had to hear it again.

“Good,” Steve grins, glancing over to meet Eddie’s own. “Now, pick a tape and put it on.”

Eddie dives into his glove box with glee, judging Steve with fondness as he goes. Steve can defend himself about some of his music tapes, since Robin, Chrissy and all the kids have left tapes to play throughout the years. Others… not so much.

Then Eddie stills and his voice is suddenly quieter as he asks: “Why- You have the Master of Puppets album.”

“Oh, yeah, I, uhm, I might have bought it,” Steve flushes, a bit embarrassed. “So you would have something to listen to that you liked when we drove.”

He doesn’t dare to look at Eddie, instead focusing on the road. But he shouldn’t have worried, Eddie lets out a loud noise, somewhere between a squeal and a scream, before he exclaims: “That is so sweet,” and rushes to put in the tape.

At the positive reaction, the smile returns to Steve’s lips, widening even more.

In the passenger seat, Eddie starts to head bang wildly, singing along to the songs in that deep, nice voice of his that Steve has come to love so much. Corroded Coffin hasn’t performed yet since spring break, but this private concert of pure joy is the best Steve has ever seen.

The drive is filled with karaoke, laughter and jokes. It’s perfect, just driving them could have been the date and Steve would have been happy.

Still, he’s excited for the rest of their date as they pull up to a diner. Inside they keep their distance, Steve talking to Eddie about the latest baseball game, he watched with Lucas and Hopper. Eddie nods along, listening. It’s sweet that he’s trying, because Steve knows that it isn’t really Eddie’s cup of tea.

They both order fries and a milkshake, like Steve had suggested, but they also order a burger. Then wait until they can take it with them.

Steve drives them to an empty field, parking alongside the road and they spill out of the car, both giggling like they’ve done something they shouldn’t.

They sit shoulder to shoulder on the hood of the car. Eddie leans his head on Steve’s shoulder and Steve feels like his heart explodes as he buries his nose in Eddie’s curls for a second, breathing in the smell of smoke that clings to Eddie and his three-in-one shampoo, conditioner, body wash that Steve despises yet loves.

Despite having their own, they steal fries from the other and share their milkshakes as they point out shapes in the clouds to each other. They laugh like little kids when one looks like a dick, before Eddie gets distracted by a cloud he swears looks like a d20, but Steve can only see a blob.

When their food is gone, they get back in the car again, this time they hold hands over the console as Steve navigates to the drive in theater and Eddie insists on buying their tickets, since Steve paid for dinner.

Steve argues: “I asked you out, I pay. You can pay next time.”

Eddie blushes happily at the next time, but shakes his head stubbornly anyway. “I feel like it was a mutual asking out, despite all the end of the world things. Besides, I finally have money – government hush money, but still – if I want to help my boyfriend pay for our date, I should be allowed to.”

If he’s honest, Steve was sold the second Eddie said boyfriend. He still can’t quite wrap his head around the fact that he has a boyfriend now and it’s enough to make him smile widely like a giddy loon.

Of course, Eddie clocks that immediately and soon Steve is standing next to Eddie as he defiantly pays for their tickets. Though Steve doesn’t mind, Eddie looks cute when he’s smug.

Afterwards, Steve couldn’t tell you what the movie was actually about (luckily he doesn’t work at Family Video anymore, having been fired for obvious reasons). Instead, he spends the whole movie staring at Eddie, holding his hand.

They’re parked in the back, out of sight as best as they can. It gives them the confidence to sneak a few kisses here and there, though nothing more than that.

They’ve kissed before, but Steve never tires of it. Eddie is just so eager and enthusiastic. It’s endearing and hot. He’ll make soft noises against Steve’s mouth and grip him as closely as Steve grips him. Despite the amounts of girls he kissed, he never knew how much fun just making out could be. He could kiss Eddie for hours.

The movies ends and they drive back home, this time the music playing quietly in the background as they talk.

“I wanna go to college, is that weird?” Eddie softly says.

“Why would that be weird?” Steve asks.

“I don’t know,” Eddie shrugs. “I’ve failed senior year two times, only reason I’m even graduating this year is because you threatened the government into feeling bad about me being hunted by the town and nearly dying for their mistakes.”

“You’re smart. If you want to I think you can do it,” Steve tells him. “What would you wanna do?”

“Creative writing,” Eddie smiles, it’s small and a little shy. He explains: “I love music and if the band takes off, I’m 100% doing it, because that would be the dream. But I love stories more. Like, I can work on my DnD campaigns for hours and I love thinking about the stories. Reading. I want to create worlds.”

“That sounds amazing,” Steve tells him honestly. He has always loved listening to Eddie talk, following along as he spins a tale out of thin air. “You can definitely do it.”

“You think so?” Eddie asks.

“Yeah, I do,” Steve replies. “Ask any of the kids and they tell you your campaigns are insane. I think so too from all I’ve heard second hand and what I witnessed. You’re a natural storyteller. You can totally do it.”

“So, you don’t think it’s silly?” Eddie inquires, sounding like he believes Steve, but needs to hear it again.

“I don’t,” Steve tells him. “Where do you wanna go?”

“Not far and nowhere special,” Eddie says, excitement bleeding in again. It’s clear he’s thought about it a lot. “I wanna start following courses at the community college, part time at first so I can work and help uncle Wayne pay the bills. Hush money is good, but doesn’t solve everything.”

That Steve knows. The hush money allows him to have a few nice things and bridge the gap when he looked for new employment, but he’s not set for life or anything close to it. So, he hums his understanding.

“I might follow Robin and Chrissy,” Eddie goes on, catching Steve’s interest more. “I mean, Robin is waiting for her right?”

“Yeah, saving up for college,” Steve says.

“And you’re probably following those two to where ever they decide to go to college?” Eddie continues.

Steve flushes slightly. It’s not that he wants to do long distance with Eddie, but the thought of not living near Robin kills him. He can’t survive if he can’t easily check up on her in the middle of the night. “Yeah, sorry,” he whispers.

“No need for sorry, sweetheart,” Eddie says in that soothing deep rumble, obviously having caught onto Steve’s thoughts. “I knew you two weren’t going anywhere without the other when I agreed to date you. I want to stick close to them too.”

The confession eases something in Steve’s chest and happily he says: “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Eddie nods. “Robs is pretty cool, Chrissy too. I like them. I wouldn’t mind transferring whatever college credits I build up here to a local college elsewhere. We can all rent an apartment together, two couples, but they don’t have to know how. It’ll be fun.”

Steve can picture it in his mind’s eye. When Eddie suggested running away to the city together, bats circling above their heads, he didn’t have the mind to think about the details. But he can’t say he doesn’t like the image Eddie’s painting.

“I’d love that,” he admits softly.

“That’s good,” Eddie smiles. Then asks: “What do you wanna do?”

Steve thinks, rubbing his thumb over Eddie’s hand mindlessly as he does. The two haven’t let go since they got back in the car after paying for tickets.

“I don’t wanna go to college,” Steve tells him after a moment. “Everyone always thought I would, but I don’t want to. I wanna work with Robin in that stupid fruit shop until you all go to college and then I wanna do something with my hands.”

“That sounds like a good goal to work towards,” Eddie says. “Know what you wanna do with your hands yet?”

“No, not yet,” Steve answers. “I might go to trade’s school or find someone who wants to take me in and teach me. I liked patching up the cabin or working on my car. So something like that, probably.”

“You’d look hot in overalls,” Eddie teases and Steve blushes, giggling like the girls he used to take on dates.

They continue to build possible futures they could have together as they drive. Most of them probably won’t exist, but some of them might and it’s good to dream. To believe you can have a future like that.

Steve’s heart feels full with affection to the boy next to him. Neither of them has had it easy, but it feels like the hard part is behind them. That they made it and only need to see where it goes from here, but they can only go up anyway, so it’s okay.

It’s already dark when they get to the trailer park. Most people are already inside, so no one sees the two boys in the front of the car.

“Do you, uhm- do you want to come inside?” Eddie offers tentatively.

They’ve hung out quite a lot already with some heavy making out involved too. However, something in Eddie’s voice sounds too hesitant and Steve finds he doesn’t want to. Not yet.

He shakes his head and softly confesses: “It’s probably silly, but no, I- I wanna do this right, if that makes sense? I finally get to do this with someone I actually like and I want to build it up first, take my time, because I don’t have to rush. It’s stupid, sorry.”

“No, no, it’s not stupid at all,” Eddie quickly says. “I- I quite like that idea.”

“Yeah?” Steve looks up, meeting those eyes.

“Yeah,” Eddie nods, a bit breathless as he stares at Steve with those big beautiful brown eyes of his.

Cutting the tension, Steve smirks and affectionately teases: “Want to get fully romanced, huh, Eds?”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind the full wooing experience,” Eddie grins back, but he betrays his sincerity by curling his hair around his finger.

Steve finds his own features softening and he says: “Let me walk you to the door then. Promise to kiss you goodnight.”

Now Eddie takes the hair he’s been curling around his finger and pulls it in front of his face. In juxtaposition to his actions, he says: “Oh fuck off, Steve.”

“I like sweetheart better,” Steve tells him in a moment of confidence, kissing the hand he’s still holding, before dropping it and getting out of the car.

Eddie scrambles out after him, a little less graceful that Steve had been. Steve doesn’t care, though, he loves how Eddie flip flops between dramatics, grace and clumsiness. It’s part of his charm and Steve is properly charmed.

The two walk to the door. The porch light is left on by Wayne, before he left to work, but Eddie flicks it off, so nosy neighbors won’t be able to see.

He leans in close to Steve, but doesn’t press their lips together, instead smirking as he says: “So, sweetheart, huh?”

Steve feels himself blush, both at the tease and due to the heat that settles in his veins when the petname rolls of Eddie’s lips. “Yeah,” is all he says, a bit dumbly.

Eddie looks pleased with himself, his fingers skittering along Steve’s body until they fall to his waist, curling around his belt loops. Eddie tugs a little as he says: “I was promised a kiss goodnight, remember, sweetheart?”

And it is absolutely unfair how Eddie is using it against Steve, but Steve doesn’t mind it in the slightest, if it means Eddie will call him sweetheart for the rest of their lives.

So, like the whipped boyfriend he is, he obligingly leans down and presses his lips against Eddie’s, enjoying how they’re a little chapped, yet so soft. Softer than Steve had imagined them to be, before they first kissed.

They continue kissing for a little bit longer, neither of them wanting it to end. However, Steve is aware of how vulnerable they are like this, so after a bit, he pulls away and smiles at Eddie: “Is this a yes for a second date?”

“Of course it is,” Eddie smiles. “It was even before you asked me on the first.”

It’s so sincere how he says it and Steve is swept off his feet, unable to help how his heart swells at the words. “Oh,” he replies, giddy. “That’s good.”

“I’m glad,” Eddie tells him, dimples in place like they had been throughout the whole date.

Without making a conscious decision, Steve reaches up to cup Eddie’s face, thumb caressing the right dimple. “I love your smile,” he says, voice filled with awe and affection.

Eddie blushes brightly, Steve can see, even in the dark of the night. He tries to hide, but his fingers are still tangled in Steve’s belt loops and the hand holds him in sight.

“Pretty,” Steve breathes.

“You’re the pretty one, sweetheart,” Eddie replies, getting his blush under control.

“Beautiful then,” Steve corrects, smirking as Eddie blushes once more, this time nuzzling his hand to hide his face. Steve takes pity on him and pulls him into a hug, letting Eddie hide his blush against the crook of his neck.

God, he never wants to leave this moment.

However, the moment cannot last forever, so they each bid the other goodnight, before Eddie opens the door and flicks on the lights, while Steve goes back to his car.

Eddie remains in the doorway as Steve starts the car and begins to drive, waving until he disappears out of sight in the rear view mirror.

All the way home, Steve feels like he’s floating on a cloud and he practically bounces up the stairs to the cabin, keys jingling happily as he unlocks the door.

Inside, the cabin is quiet. The Byers are starting to pack their stuff back in Cali as the kids try to finish up the school year like the rest of the party is trying here. Steve misses the liveliness, but he’s grateful for the privacy.

He kicks off his shoes and falls on the couch, grabbing the phone as he dials a familiar number, not having to wait long, before Robin exclaims: “Steve?”

“Yeah, yeah, Robbie, it’s me,” he tells her, grinning from ear to ear.

“Oh my god, how did it go?” she demands to know.

In the background he hears Chrissy say: “It’s pretty late. Ask if he’s at Eddie. Did they do it?”

“Are you at Eddie’s?” Robin asks, relaying the message, before Steve can hear her move around so Chrissy can listen in as well.

“I’m at home,” Steve answers. “We wanted to do it right. Do the whole romance thing. I kissed him goodnight at the door.”

Chrissy squeals and says: “That’s so cute. Was it a good date?”

“It was,” Steve answers happily, sagging back into the couch as he tells the two of them all about it, not sparing a single detail.

When he sat on the bleachers, dejectedly watching the basketball before the cheer team distracted him, he couldn’t have imagines where his life would be one and a half years later. A lot has happened, not all of it good, but the friends he made because of it are worth it all.

This is the life he wants to live. The future he wants to work towards. And now he can.

~~

A/N:

Eddie deserves to be a little flustered and to be treated right. We love a confident Eddie, but he is also a massive dork at heart <3

I know this is a little shorter than the others, but it felt silly just to drag it out for the sake of it all, but hopefully you enjoyed it all. Thank you so much for reading it in it’s entirely (know that you’ve just read 251 pages), it was a thrill to write :D (and totally didn’t take me from Feb to July to complete before I started posting, what? xp)

[sarcasticassian]

Robin, Chrissy, Vickie and Nancy are in a rock band, Robin sings, Chrissy and Vickie on guitar and bass and Nancy drums, Steve is their manager and Dustin, Steve’s little brother is their number one fan and tags along to gigs all the time, Mike is more reluctant but even he can admit his sister is kinda cool for being in an all girl rock band that slaps, Lucas is their best friend and so he comes along for the ride, holding back Dustin when he gets too enthusiastic and underfoot until he also gets too excited and they cause a small amount of chaos and Erica is an admirer of the band so she squeezes her way into events as well

Corroded Coffin are currently the world’s biggest new metal band, Jonathan is their actual manager but Max, Eddie’s little sister, likes to follow him around and tell him what she’d do instead, Will and El encourage her much to Jonathan’s dismay and Eddie’s delight, they’ve just dropped a killer album (Satanic Panic) and they’re organising a tour, Max suggests the rock band she’s always listening to and after checking out the discography Corroded Coffin agree it would be a good fit

Steve switches off his hearing aid before he tells the girls about CC reaching out because they’re all big fans and CC is a small influence on their work, Robin and Eddie share the same raspy vocal quality, and he was thankful he did because they all scream, he snarks that he’s assuming they’re up to be CC’s opener and he’ll get back to Jonathan

Max and Dustin connect on social media before the band’s get together and it’s the meeting of two of the most chaotic minds and they’re already causing trouble, I just want them to cause shenanigans and that leads to them deciding to parent trap several members of the bands and teams because then they’re forever intertwined and Dustin and Max can keep going to both of their concerts for free, Lucas thinks its a little manipulative, Mike and Will think it’s genius and El would just like to go to concerts and learn about girl power and fucking the patriarchy and Erica knows a lot about that

the adults don’t know they’re being moved around like chess pieces until it’s too late and then one day Steve sits up in bed, accidentally elbowing Eddie on his way up from where they were spooning, and he’s like those little shits they did this on purpose, it’s 3AM but he’s calling Dustin and making Eddie call Max so he has them both on the phone because he knows they did this only for the two fuckers to laugh and say they really only meant to get Vickie and Jeff together because the two of them had openly stated that they thought the other was cute, everybody else just fell into place after that so they can’t be punished but they’ll take the credit

Gareth and Argyle, who are both still happily single, neither ready to settle down, will take it to the grave that they helped the kids by passing on info about any crushes or hook ups with in the adult group, they just sip on their drinks that the kids money bought them because the information came at a price as well as their silence and enjoy the peace and quiet now that nobody is moaning about being in unrequited love or never getting laid

it went something like Vickie and Jeff started to date which made Chrissy realise Robin wasn’t in a secret relationship or pining after Vickie and Robin realised Chrissy was interested so they make a move on each other, Steve gives Robin some space to date Chrissy without him hanging around and ends up ferrying his brother to hangouts with Max who just happens to be getting dropped off by Eddie despite the fact that both of them can drive but Steve and Eddie make plans to hang out and they make it complicated because it’s them but eventually they get together properly and while all this was happening Nancy and Jonathan were slotting into place quietly but sweetly and it works and now the kids have four couples for the price of one and their favourite bends are gonna be able to collab forever