#apologies if you're a mutual who wasn't @ed!!!

[wyfy-meltdown]

My gender is not available for remote playback

@strawberry-seal77 @mecheye @starryneitz @sailemo

Type "my gender is" on your phone and let your phone finish the sentence, then tag your moots to keep the chain going, I'll go first.

My gender is a little bit more intense than I thought I could have done

@mirukosbitchywife @get-junpeid

[izzysillyhandsy]

Some Too many thoughts about episodes 4 and 5 and "Moving On"

This got wayyyy too long and rambly... but I had to write this down because it's been bugging me since last Thursday.

I have some issues with the last two episodes, episode 4 and 5, regarding, of course, my favourite character Izzy Hands and his relationship with Ed in particular.

Don't get me wrong - there was so much great stuff. I love Izzy finally being able show his feelings without having to pretend everything's alright - all it took was fucking things up so spectacularly that even Izzy didn't care what everyone thought of him. One could argue that the Kraken phase was necessary to "burn it all down" so to speak - Izzy and Ed needed this cathartic event to get out of their mutually harmful relationship.

But still... there is this underlying unfairness of it all, the disproportionate hate and aggression, the destruction of Izzy's whole life, sense of self and reality. What even are you?

Was this really necessary? Or, in other words, did Izzy have it coming? Did it serve him right?

And now that Izzy has decided to keep on living and has to deal with the trauma of being literally taken apart by the love of his life - is the only option available to him to completely distance himself from everything that happened (blow your brains out or move on)?

What happened in the first 3 episodes wasn't just Ed lashing out in anger, a payback for Izzy's betrayal. It wasn't just Ed going off the rails as a reaction to his most trusted friend pushing him towards violence at the lowest point of their lives. This wasn't "just" cutting a toe off in a moment of desperation and emotional breakdown.

No, Ed kept on going with destroying everyone and everything around him (and it was Ed, not whatever "Blackbeard" is supposed to be - Ed can clearly switch between the two and it is a concious decision to put on the Blackbeard mask to distance himself from his own cruelty).

And the person who he targeted almost exclusively was the person he was closest to, the person with obvious love for him (and of course Ed knows this), the person who kept falling apart before his very eyes and still tried to be there for him and, in his way, keep him safe.

I'm still not over the fact that Ed kept kicking Izzy who was already down, and just didn't stop until he was literally on his deathbed. And even then it wasn't over, there was one more act of cruelty left. Izzy killing himself felt natural and logical (and isn't that absolutely horrible?), almost a relief - "quick and clean" as Izzy'd put it.

Only the most ardent Izzy haters would still insist that Izzy deserved this (fucking hell, nobody deserves this, ever). Also, the show absolutely didn't frame it that way, Taika and Con (and the rest of the crew) didn't portray it that way - in my opinion, what Blackbeard did to Izzy was supposed to be seen as unforgivable (as opposed to other instances of casual violence depicted in the show).

So, as happy as I am with Izzy moving on to discover who he actually wants to be without Ed, episodes 4 and 5 left me confused and a bit frustrated. After all that happened in episodes 1 and 2, Ed can just go off be soft with Stede? He immediately comes back to the ship after being banished and gives the most half-arsed apology in history, then has fun showing off to everyone how nice he is now?

(Disclaimer: I love Ed, I love all the Ed/Stede scenes, that's not the point)

Where are the fucking consequences, show? That can't be it surely? Ed almost gets rewarded for just being Ed - contrast this with how the narrative (and parts of the fandom) kept on punishing and condemning poor Izzy for much, much lesser transgressions.

And it's apparently got to Izzy too, because now he blames himself as well:

Don't know what you're talkin' about. A shark did this. Dangling my legs over the side of the ship. Served me right, too.

NO IT DIDN'T, IZ. You thought you knew this man.

It actually makes sense that he'd see it this way, though.

Izzy's last conversations with Ed were his "I have love for you" (Come on) and Ed's "I dreamt that you killed me" (It was good for me - It wasn't even like that) where Izzy realized that nothing is/was as he thought it was.

Up to the end of S1, I believe this is what Izzy's whole life was built on:

a. Ed and Izzy are a team, captain and first mate, relying on one another. They've been together for a lifetime, they love and care for each other - not in so many words, not romantically (at least not for the last years or so, if ever) - but Izzy knows he would do anything for Ed (and I'm sure he has, many times), and Ed would probably do anything for Izzy (I'm not sure if Izzy's belief here is based on concrete events in the past, but I very much hope so).

b. It is Izzy's job to see that Ed is content and, above all, safe. Ed wouldn't trust anyone else with this.

c. Izzy talking back and challenging Ed's decisions is not only tolerated but expected.

d. They trust each other above everyone else, they know each other better than anyone has ever known them, noone can really come between them.

Now, it seems like:

a. Ed has/had no use for Izzy's love and concern.

b. Izzy has failed his job, and noone else could have failed as spectacularly.

c. it is Izzy's fault Ed lost his mind and will to live because Izzy dangled his legs over the side of the ship.

d. Ed's kept Izzy around because he's useful and convenient, but he's not irreplacable ("the hands that kill" if you excuse my pun, even used one last time to kill their master), and it only took a few weeks with fuckin' Stede Bonnet to make Izzy redundant.

In Izzy's mind, his whole life was a lie - he was never loved, appreciated, or even safe. And it was his own fault too.

DJ said in an interview that Izzy shooting Ed was him finally breaking up with him, and I agree (very generous of me, I know).

Izzy goes through the breakup phase alone - at first, he thinks Ed is dead, then he believes he has nothing else to say to Ed and Ed's said everything there was to say as well, no apology needed or expected. It's done.

BUT.

We know this isn't true, right? What kind of conclusion would that be to the most important relationship in the series (apart from that other guy, I forgot his name)? After all of this, all the implied backstory, all of Con's and Taika's brilliant acting choices - there must be something more satisfying coming then Yeah... well... Not movin' on is worse.

I hope I'm worried for nothing and the next 3 episodes will address this (but there's so little time! And there is so much else going on!).

Also, I'm fully aware that in episode 4 and 5 Ed was 100% in his arc with Stede (we had the Ed/Izzy arc in episodes 1 and 2 after all). Ed and Izzy didn't interact at all in both episodes (excepting the one look during the apology). While Izzy was shouting at headless unicorns, himself and an indifferent universe with his hair attractively in his face, Ed wasn't even on the ship. Izzy moved on without any confrontation, apology, without any contact to Ed at all. To keep on living, he had to distance himself from all the trauma and throw himself at Stede.

I just felt a bit drained after episodes 4 and 5 - for me, Ed and Izzy are the central relationship of the show, Ed and Stede are like an added bonus. And after the first 3 episodes, I felt the showrunners kinda went in that direction as well (not as completely as I did obviously). And then they put Izzy on a different path and decided not to waste time with Ed actually thinking about poor Iz at all.

I really, really hope they don't drop this fascinating dynamic just to make Izzy accept that life is great without Ed and Stede and Ed running off into the sunset. Izzy (and us) have invested too much energy and love into that relationship. I want them to come to an understanding, an acknowledgement of what they were to each other, and what they are now.

Some healing stuff, or whatever. To quote Hornigold, of all people: You gotta move on, ya know? Or... you blow your brains out. Or, we could just make some soup.

(Also, Ed has to suffer because of (losing) Iz. It's only fair.)

[multifandomqueen01]

Before It's Too Late-Eddie Munson×Bestfriend!Reader

Summary: You FINALLY confess your feelings for Eddie on the way to save Hawkins, just in case one of you doesn't make it.

Warning: A perfect combination of angst and fluff. Mutual pining. Mentions of potential death/violence. Doesn't progress beyond making out, although there are subtle smutty references. Language.

A/N: I'm writing this based off a ten second clip that was shown in the trailer. So if you're reading this after Volume 2 comes out, just ignore the fact that it probably doesn't follow the plot at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An eerie silence had come over the group as the winnebago barreled down the road, with Steve at the wheel. You were seated at the far back of the motorhome, squished between Eddie and Dustin, who were both being uncharacteristically quiet.

Eddie clutched his makeshift weapon with both hands, putting his rings on display and causing his knuckles to turn white. His knee was bouncing anxiously against yours and you placed a gentle hand on top of it. He lifted his gaze from the floor and gave you a small smile.

Your stomach fluttered as you smiled back at the boy that you had known since childhood. He had been there through it all and now there was a chance you could lose him. Eddie wasn't just a friend, he was the man that you had grown to love.

There was no denying that Eddie loved you too, but whether it was the same romantic, all consuming way that you loved him, was unknown. You had never discussed your feelings for one another, always thinking that there would be more time.

If the past week had taught you anything, it was how naive you had been, and now you were both hurdling towards a certain death and there just wasn't enough time. You'd give anything to go back to sophomore year, when you first realized what love was, but it was too late.

"Hello? Earth to Y/N.", Eddie's voice sounded muffled at first, growing clearer as it pulled you out of the depths of your mind. You blinked several times, bringing everything back into focus. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine."

"You sure about that? Cause' your face is doing that thing it does when you're trying to bullshit me-"

"I said I'm fine!", you snapped, startling Dustin who had begun to nod off. After uttering a quiet apology you climbed to your feet, only for Eddie to grab you by the wrist.

"Talk to me.", he pleaded, the tone of concern causing a lump to form in your throat.

"I need to use the washroom.", the quiver of your bottom lip told Eddie that you were making up an excuse, but he released his grip anyway, knowing how much you hated breaking down in front of others.

As you ran into the closet sized washroom and locked the door behind you, the tears began to fall, accompanied by loud, involuntary sobs. You prayed that the sound of the engine had been enough to drown them out as you slapped a hand over your mouth.

"I'll be out in a minute!", you yelled, quickly responding to a series of light knocks on the door.

"It's me.", Eddie announced, before knocking again. Knowing that he wasn't about to give up, you reluctantly unlocked the door. "It's a good thing that neither of us are claustrophobic, huh?", he joked, joining you in the close confines of the washroom.

Eddie had never been comfortable in emotionally charged situations, yet he always knew how to comfort you when you were upset. If his attempt at making you laugh didn't work, he would draw you into his embrace and hold you close, which is exactly what he did.

As you buried your face into his chest and soaked the front of his shirt with your tears, he bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to stop his own emotions from overflowing. Eddie had never been brave, but he wanted to be for you.

"Eds. I'm scared.", you admitted, pulling away just enough to look up at him.

"I'd be questioning your sanity if you weren't.", he chuckled, letting his arms fall down to his sides.

"I'm serious! What if we don't make it?", you asked, lowering your gaze.

"Hey! Look at me.", he cupped your face with both of his hands, forcing you to look him in the eyes. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"But what if something happens to you?"

"To be honest, I think dying will royally suck. It's not something that I'm looking forward to. But you'll be just fine without me. Especially now that you have all these new friends-"

"Fuck sakes, Eddie! Stop doing that!", you yelled through your tears, shoving him back against the wall. "Stop acting like your death won't matter. I can't lose you...I just can't! Not when you're the only man I've ever loved!", the words burst out of you, needing to be heard.

"You love me?", Eddie's voice was just above a whisper when he finally found the courage to speak. "Like more than just a friend?", his big, brown puppy dog eyes searching your face for clarification.

"Yes, much more than a friend."

"Right. I just wanted to check before I made a complete fool of myself."

He pushed off the wall and closed the short distance between you, caressing the side of your face with one hand, while the other went around to small of your back. His gaze never wavered from your lips as you began to lean in, your stomach fluttering wildly with anticipation.

The moment that his mouth collided with yours, everything else faded into the background. Moving tentatively, you parted your lips, allowing Eddie to deepen the kiss, while your hands wrapped around the back of his neck.

"So does this mean you feel the same way?", you inquired breathlessly, being the first to break the kiss between you.

"Naw.", Eddie shrugged, causing the hopeful expression on your face to drop. "I definitely love you way more than you love me.", he added, bursting into hysterics as you rolled your eyes at his antics.

"That's not true!", you insisted, hitting him playfully on the arm.

"Oh, you wanna bet? Just how long have you felt this way?", he asked smugly, folding his arms over his chest.

"Since Sophomore year."

"That's cute. Try middle school."

"Middle school? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I could ask you the same question, Sweetheart. But if you must know, I didn't think I stood a chance, and I was fucking terrified of losing you.", he confessed, laughing half-heartedly at the irony of it all. "But, hey! At least now we know the truth, and it's better late then never."

"Is it? Because all I can think about is what could've been, and now we'll never get to know.", you sighed, feeling sorry for yourself.

"Y/N, don't say that. It's not too late. Not yet.", Eddie's voice broke as he reached out for you.

His mouth crashed into yours, with a level of urgency that wasn't there the first time. The small washroom filling with the sound of heavy breathing, as Eddie guided you back against the wall, his hands wandering eagerly along your sides.

"Holy shit. I love you. I love you so much.", he babbled, peppering your face and neck with kisses. "You're all I ever think about. Jesus Christ. I want you so bad.", Eddie's excitement became impossible to ignore as his body pressed up against yours.

"Baby, I want you too.", you moaned into his mouth, feeling the heat grow between you. "But not here, not like this.", you added, placing your hands on his chest to try and put some distance between you.

"Then I guess that leaves us with only one option."

"Which is?"

"Neither of us are allowed to die.", Eddie stated stubbornly, knowing your survival wasn't something that either of you could guarantee. "Cool?", he pried, grinning down at you.

"Yeah, cool.", you smiled back, embracing him before he could see the tears that had begun to pool in your eyes, both of you refusing to let go of the other until you had reached your destination.