#brief eddie cameo

[unfinishedslurs]

Nancy as Orpheus (stoncy)

inspired by this work by aletterinthenameofsanity

“My boys,” Nancy snaps, like the words are ripping themselves out of her chest, “are in that hellhole. I’m not leaving them there.”

Eddie pales further, and for a moment Nancy resents him. For caring about her, for trying to stop her. ��You’ll die,” he says quietly. “I can’t—I can’t come with you like this. Wait for Robin, Nancy, please.”

She doesn’t know how Eddie ever thought himself a coward, when it’s so clear that he’d follow her if he were capable of walking. He’s not hers, not like Steve and Jonathan are, but he cares so much. Her heart swells. “I won’t die. Not without them.”

“Nancy—“

She smiles as reassuringly as she can. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

“And if you’re not?”

“Write a song about me.”

“Come and get them, Nancy Wheeler,”  he coons in her mind. It’s a cold feeling, slithering up her spine like a snake. She doesn’t let it get to her, just takes a deep breath and grips the knife on her hip. 

The Creel house is only two miles from here. As long as she stays away from the vines and keeps quiet, the monsters can’t find her. And if she makes a mistake, Henry won’t tell them.  

He thinks himself a god. All-seeing, all-knowing. Omnipotent and powerful. He’ll let her get close, let her see the life bleed from their eyes before he kills her. He made one fatal mistake, though, and it’s that he underestimated her. 

He’s more than a man, but not as much as he thinks. And she’s Nancy fucking Wheeler. 

She’s getting out of here, and her boys are coming with her.

“You’d lay claim to them?” He smiles, cruel and awful. “You, who doesn’t deserve it? Death follows you like a lover, Nancy, like these boys do. How long did you think you could go without leading another to their demise?”

Her hand falters, and he moves closer. “Fred makes a lovely decoration, don’t you think?”

Unbidden, her eyes follow his gaze to one of the pillars, and she gasps, tears springing to her eyes when she sees the mangled body there. God, Fred. 

“He was in so much pain, and you never even noticed he was struggling. Poor boy thought he was going to hell. I saved him, released him from his suffering. Do you believe in Heaven, Nancy Wheeler? Barb did.”

Barb went to church every Sunday. Prayed every night, hands clasped at the foot of her bed. Once, during a sleepover, Nancy heard her asking forgiveness. When she asked what for, Barb turned pale and quietly, firmly told her it was nothing. 

“She thought she was in love with you. She needed salvation. I gave that to her. Sad, lonely little Barbara, bleeding while her best friend abandoned her to the mercy of a monster. Was it worth it, Nancy?”

She can’t stop staring at Fred, even as her vision blurs. Barb, her first friend, her first kiss, her closest confidant. Sixteen and alone and dying because Nancy was young and ready and willing to leave her behind for a boy.

“Was it worth it?”

She shakes her head. 

[edsbug]

I just realized I don’t think I've ever requested a fic from you and I'm???? appalled???? Please forgib 🥺🖤 I'd love to see how Eddie x reader deal with a big storm coming into Hawkins; currently holed up bc of Hurricane Beryl at the moment. 🌀🌩

hii steph!! i hope you made it through the hurricane alright. thank you so much for requesting this, it was so fun to write! i hope you like it<3

thunderstruck

pairing: eddie munson x gn!reader.

summary: eddie and reader prepares for a storm. (wc. 1.1k)

contains: horror films, uncle wayne makes a cameo, pure fluff.

The first rumbles of thunder rolled through Hawkins as the sky darkened, heavy clouds gathering in an ominous, bruised mass. You looked out the window of Eddie's trailer, watching the branches of the old oak tree sway in the rising wind. Eddie sat at the small kitchen table, fiddling with a string on his acoustic guitar, his usual energetic demeanor subdued by the approaching storm.

“Hey,” you said softly, stepping away from the window. “Need any help with that?”

Eddie looked up, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Nah, just trying to get this thing to stay in tune. But thanks baby.” He set the guitar aside and reached for your hand, pulling you gently into his lap.

As you settled against him, the first drops of rain began pounding the roof of the trailer. “Looks like we're in for a big one,” you remarked.

Eddie glanced up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Perfect night for a horror movie, don't you think?”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “You're impossible. But yeah, sounds good.”

The two of you spent the next hour fortifying the trailer for the incoming storm. Eddie found a stack of old towels and you helped him roll them up, pressing them against the bottoms of the doors to prevent any water from seeping in. You checked the windows, making sure they were securely latched, while Eddie double-checked the flashlights and gathered some candles and matches, just in case the power went out.

As you worked, the wind picked up, howling through the trees and rattling the metal siding of the trailer. The sky was almost black now, flashes of lightning illuminating the landscape in brief, eerie bursts.

You and Eddie settled on the worn-out couch, a stack of VHS tapes and snacks spread out on the coffee table in front of you. The opening credits of Nightmare on Elm Street had just started when the phone rang. Eddie jumped up, nearly tripping over the coffee table in his haste to answer it.

“Hello?” he said softly. “Oh, hey, Wayne.”

You could hear Wayne's voice faintly on the other end, his tone filled with concern. Eddie glanced at you, his expression softening.

“Yeah, we're okay. Just getting ready for the storm,” he said, his voice reassuring. “I've got everything under control. Don't worry about us.”

Wayne's voice rose slightly, and you could make out the words “stay safe” and “call me if you need anything.” Eddie nodded, even though his uncle couldn't see him.

“Thanks, Wayne. We'll be fine. You stay safe at work, okay? Yeah, talk to you later.”

Eddie hung up the phone and turned back to you, a sheepish smile on his face. “My uncle wanted to make sure we were alright. He's stuck at work until the storm passes.”

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you at the concern in Wayne's voice. “That's sweet of him.”

“Yeah, he's a good guy,” Eddie said, plopping back down beside you. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes. Freddy Krueger.”

As the movie played, the storm raged outside, the sound of rain pounding against the thin roof and thunder cracking in the distance creating an eerie soundtrack. You and Eddie huddled together under a thick blanket, his arm wrapped around your shoulders. The flickering light from the TV cast strange shadows on the walls, adding to the spooky atmosphere.

Every now and then, the power would flicker, the screen going black for a few seconds before the backup generator kicked in. Each time, Eddie would squeeze your hand, his touch reassuring.

“I've got you, sweetheart” he'd whisper, as he pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head.

As the last credits of Nightmare on Elm Street rolled off the screen, the exhaustion from the night caught up with both of you. Eddie's arm around your shoulders felt warm and comforting, and the rhythm of his breathing lulled you into a peaceful state. The flickering TV screen provided a gentle glow as you and Eddie drifted off to sleep on the couch, wrapped in the warm, thick blanket.

Outside, the storm continued to rumble, but it was a distant sound now, more soothing than threatening. The rain had lessened to a gentle drizzle, and the occasional flash of lightning was just a dim flicker on the horizon.

The first light of dawn seeped through the clouds, casting a soft glow over the drenched landscape. Wayne pulled his truck up by the trailer, the engine’s low rumble mixing with the distant sounds of birds starting their morning calls. He stepped out, stretching his tired limbs after a long shift, and glanced at the trailer. The sight of it standing unharmed brought a sense of relief.

Wayne quietly let himself in, careful not to make too much noise. He walked into the living room, a smile creeping onto his face as he saw the two of you on the couch.

Eddie's head was tilted back, mouth slightly open, one arm draped protectively around you. You were curled into his side, your head resting on his chest, the blanket cocooning you both. The TV was still on, a static-filled screen casting a dim light over the room.

Wayne shook his head fondly, moving to switch off the TV. The sudden silence was almost jarring, but neither of you stirred. He then picked up the empty snack bowls and soda cans, placing them quietly on the kitchen counter.

He stood for a moment, just watching the two of you sleep, a sense of pride and affection filling his chest. Eddie had always been a handful, but seeing him like this, so caring and protective, made Wayne’s heart swell.

When you woke up, it was to the smell of coffee and bacon. You blinked, momentarily disoriented, before realizing you were still on the couch, nestled against Eddie.

Eddie stirred next to you, his eyes fluttering open. He gave you a sleepy smile, his hair a wild mess. “Morning,” he mumbled, his voice rough from sleep.

“Morning,” you replied, stretching. “I think your uncle's home.”

As if on cue, Wayne appeared, a mug of steaming coffee in hand. “Morning, kids,” he said, a twinkle in his eye. “Hope you two slept well.”

Eddie sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Yeah, we did. Thanks, Wayne.”

Wayne nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. “Good. There's breakfast in the kitchen. Figured you'd be hungry after a night like that.”

You and Eddie exchanged a grateful look before getting up and heading to the kitchen.

“Think it's safe to say we survived?” you asked, a teasing note in your voice.

Eddie chuckled, pulling you closer. “Survived Freddy Krueger and a thunderstorm. Not bad for a night in Hawkins.”

[lavendermunson]

i want you, bless my soul - eddie munson

from the candy cane box at leia's christmas tree farm

summary best friend au, with the prompt “So, um. That was something. Should we do that again?” for the one and only @onegirlmanytales thank you for requesting my love, I hope you like the direction I took and enjoy it so much!!

cw FLUFF. best friends to lovers. two oblivious idiots in love. r's first kiss. brief mention of insecurities. steve and robin cameo!

w.c 1.7k

“No one has ever kissed me… let’s just forget about it!”

You sigh, placing the freshly baked cookies on a beautiful porcelain bowl Eddie gave you last Christmas. Their scent calming every nerve your best friend decides to play with today.  All of your friends are arriving in a couple of minutes for the annual Christmas party.

“You are telling me no one has ever kissed you under the rain?”

“Eddie please, just stop it”

“No one has ever kissed you under the moonlight!”

He tries to guess. You regret telling him about your first kiss. It hasn’t happened yet… but he thinks it has, he just thinks it was bad or embarrassing because you’ve never told him. And you tell him everything, he is your best friend.

“You are never going to guess, I'm tired of this now”

He chases you around your house, as you walk with the bowl of cookies in your hands. You place them on the coffee table of your living room, alongside all the other snacks and drinks to enjoy the night. 

“I know! no one has ever kissed you under the mistletoe. That’s why you don’t have one” 

Eddie thinks he hit the jackpot, smiling brightly at you. 

“No one has ever kissed me, okay!” you snap, tired of his games. “I haven’t had my first kiss yet” 

You throw your hands in the air, standing in front of him. Eddie was the only one who didn’t know about this. The rest of your friends know, because you know they weren’t going to laugh or make fun of you. But Eddie is capable of it, not because he is mean. His personality is just like that, he is the joke expert and the prank master. This was a serious topic to you, something that kept toying with your self-esteem.

Your arms fall to the side, your hands close on a fist, white knuckles and eyes shut trying to hide the embarrassment that’s eating you alive as you wait for Eddie to laugh at you and make a hundred jokes about this. 

You wish the floor could swallow you whole.

Eddie notices the way you tense up, confessing the secret you’ve held for a long time. He thought there was some catch to it, but there wasn’t. Who the fuck can live without ever kissing your lips? he asks himself, when he has been dreaming about it since the first time he met you at the arcade. 

You were babysitting the kids, holding their quarters for them as you paced around the sticky carpet. Back when Eddie’s ears got used to quieting down everything around him except your sweet voice. 

He didn’t want to lose you, he could never. And he was sure he wasn’t your type, with your room having a Karate Kid poster and a picture of Michael Schoeffling ripped out of a magazine.

Missing the picture of Eddie Van Halen on your jewelry box, he knew your type was far away from him. 

You were never going to like him, his friends would tease him about it. They would fill Eddie’s mind with ideas that tormented him before going to bed. You are way too out of his league.

He is happy with the best friend title because he gets the best friend treatment. He gets to hug you when you see him, cuddle with you on movie nights, and hang around his trailer all day. He would never trade your presence for anything, not a metal concert, not even the fame some rockstars get overnight.

For Eddie you are everything, you mean everything. His life is so much better with you around.

But he doesn’t laugh or start making a full comedy show, instead, you hear the thump of things falling out of his pockets. His lighter, a pack of cigarettes, previously chewed gum wrapped in a piece of paper, and his van keys. He empties his pockets trying to find what he has been looking for and when he finds it, he goes around your house looking for tape.

“What are you doing with that? no one is coming here to kiss me, only our friends” 

“Well? m’lady. I doubt you want to spend another Christmas unkissed” He takes your hand, guiding you closer to him until you are both under the mistletoe. “This is how it works, you stand here, and as the rule says you kiss the person in front of you”

You watch as Eddie taps the branch with his finger. Pointing at it, then at him, and finally at you. You are exactly in the spot, you look at him. Begging him to kiss you.

You've thought about it for a while. What would it be like to kiss him? Not someone random, not a guy who coats your ears with sugar at work. Just Eddie.

The guy who sits on the edge of his bed, shirtless, and while his fingers are gentle with the strings of his guitar you can’t do anything else but admire. Trying to memorize all of his features and tattoo that scene on your head for the rest of your life.

The guy who asked you to color his tattoos, trusting your artistic eye and trying to kill time before the pizza got to his trailer. You asked for a rain check that night, knowing you’d lose your mind the second your fingers touched his bare chest.

“And who’s gonna kiss me?” you ask. 

“Uhh, Jonathan?” Eddie asks, raising one of his eyebrows. Trying to question you to see who your type is.

“I pass” 

“Steve?” Eddie’s voice cracks. If you passed at Jonathan, there’s a high chance you could say yes to Steve and he would fall to his knees, defeated. 

“I don’t think so” 

His brown eyes are wide open. Shit. Not even Steve?

“Let’s just enjoy our evening…” Unless you want to kiss me, you think.  “Let’s forget about it”

You try to escape from the compromised positions, but your legs feel heavy as you step aside. You thought Eddie was going to kiss you. 

When you try to escape, he wraps his fingers around your wrist and pulls you back to him.

“Wait”

You feel a jolt of electricity, his touch being hard on you yet not hurting. His eyes looking for yours and when you finally lock your gaze with his. He takes a deep breath, ready to risk it all.

Eddie pulls you to his chest, resting a hand on the small of your back. You feel the goosebumps all over your body, his breath tingling your lips. He notices the shine in your eyes, pleading for him to do something because you are too nervous to move.

If he wanted to kiss you, he would kiss you. That’s what you believe. 

He looks at your eyes, at your lips. Impatient, he is making you melt under his touch, and you feel your insides are screaming at him to do something. You decide to wrap your arms around his waist, afraid of him slipping through your fingers and regretting this moment.

You capture him. As he looks down at you like a starved man. 

Eddie’s mind is clouded with hundreds of thoughts. This could be so good, this could get bad and ugly. It’s your first kiss, it should be special. It should be with someone you like, Do you like him? Do you want him?

He snaps back to reality when you reach for a strand of hair that fell to his face. Tugging the curl in the back of his ear. Your fingers send shivers through his spine, feeling your gentle touch against his skin. He melts under your touch too.

“Let’s get this over with” he breathes out, digging his fingertips on the small of your back to keep you close. His lips press against yours, you close your eyes enjoying the moment. 

But it’s your first kiss. You don’t know what to do, but just as you start to panic Eddie cups your cheeks, his thumb pressing against your warm skin. 

“Relax” he whispers on your lips, taking control of the situation. You feel his lips crash with yours, dancing against them as you try to keep up with the pace.

Is this how it feels? To kiss someone for the first time, or even better, to kiss the boy you love for the first time. Your mind is in the clouds, every part of your body feels lighter as a feather.

His lips are so soft. What the actual fuck? How were you able to survive so long without this?

It’s your first kiss. But it feels like it’s Eddie’s too. He can feel his body fill up with electricity, his heart thumping against his chest – just like yours – He has kissed girls before, even boys. But this feeling is new, he is finally kissing someone he loves.

“WOAH! They are kissing” You break away from the kiss as you hear Robin’s voice. She looks at you then at Eddie, a smile showing off on her face. “Sorry, keep doing that!” 

“Good job, guys!” Steve says, pushing Robin to the kitchen as she keeps her thumbs up in the air.

Eddie shakes his head, looking down at you. Seeing that smile he loves so much as you giggle, with your body so close to his. You try to catch the air he knocked out of your lungs, keeping him pressed against you.

“Woah indeed” His eyes look at the mistletoe, at your puffy pink lips, and at your flushed cheeks. He grins proudly. 

“That was… something” you smile, scrunching up your nose as you look at his matching pink lips and cheeks.

“Should we do it again?” he asks, his chest heaving up and down. 

“Please” you whisper, feeling your body yearning for more of him.

“Anything you want, princess”

He kisses you again, this time he quickens the pace of it. You feel his tongue brush against yours causing you to whimper. He giggles at your reaction, groaning for more of you. Eddie is addicted to your taste already. If the smell of your chapstick made him crazy, this sure is going to kill him.

You start to move your tongue, feeling the closure as your teeth crash with his, and the mix of chapstick and saliva, with a touch of cigarette coats your bottom lip. You can’t get enough of the feeling of his lips keeping yours warm and nice.

“Fuck, you taste good” his shaky words come out as he takes a breather, inches from your lips. His teeth find your bottom lip, nipping at it as you open your mouth for him once again.

You won't be spending Christmas unkissed.

reblog to support your creators! comments are appreciated !! ♡ thank you for following my christmas event, your support means so much to me  🎄

[hairstevington]

Stranger Therapy

Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Summary: Based on this text post, Steve and Eddie match on Tinder and decide to go to couple's counseling on a first date to see how long it takes the therapist (Murray) to figure them out. Link to Ao3

Word Count: 3K, check out part 2 part 3 part 4 and epilogue!

Warnings: Nothing too serious, Steve/Eddie went to high school together but don't know each other, modern day AU, aged up, brief Robin cameo, Matchmaker Murray, and my fav tag of all - gay scheming!

A/N: I'm a counselor in training currently but I don't specialize in couple's counseling so this may or may not be accurate? Idk man it's just fun and silly I love our stupid boys sm. Original post by @hxneyfarms

It’s a match!

“Robin, it worked!” Steve shouted from the couch. She ran from the kitchen and joined him, peering over to stare at his screen.

“I told you it would! It’s funny!” she insisted. Steve rolled his eyes and anxiously pulled up the profile of his new match. 

“Oh, shit,” Steve said. “I remember swiping right on this guy. Didn’t think I had a shot.” He looked through the pictures. They were all candids, slightly blurry, or shots of him with his friends, but due to his distinguished look it was easy to pick him out even in a crowd. 

“Show me his bio,” Robin ordered. Steve closed out the pictures and scrolled until the bio was in full view.

Eddie, 25. Shit at bios.

“Well that’s kind of boring,” Steve said. 

“Yeah. You think he’s a bot?” Robin asked.

 “Or a catfish, maybe,” Steve mused. “Either way, I still think I should take your joke down. I don’t talk like that in real life, and people might get confused.”

Robin had convinced him earlier to change his bio and replace it with - let’s go to couple’s counseling and see how long it takes the therapist to realize we don’t know each other. Steve had been a little tipsy when he agreed, and he assumed nothing would come of it. But then, Eddie matched with him. 

“You’re thinking way too hard about this, Dingus,” Robin replied. “People write weird shit in their Tinder bios all the time.” 

“Eddie didn’t,” Steve countered. 

“Yeah, but look at him,” Robin responded. “He’s distinctive. It’s attention-grabbing in itself.”

“And I’m not?” Steve asked. Robin chuckled.

“You’re the kind of pretty where if you don’t have something witty in the bio, people will think you’re just some ignorant surface-level airhead who’s never worked a day in his life, and that’s not cute.”

“Okay, ouch,” Steve said. 

“It’s a compliment!” she insisted. “Like, you need to show that you’re witty and funny and able to poke fun at yourself, otherwise you’re going to attract the wrong kind of people.”

“And this guy’s the right kind, huh?” Steve opened one of the pictures back up - one where Eddie was passed out on the couch with a beer still in his hand. As they looked at the screen, a notification popped up. Eddie sent you a message.

“Let’s find out,” Robin said. 

-

Eddie: If your bio is serious, I’m in

Steve: Wait, really?

Eddie: Yeah xD sounds fun

Eddie: You got a therapist in mind?

Steve: Honestly didn’t think I’d get this far

Eddie: Boo. 

Eddie: You’re lucky I know just the guy

Steve: Okay…

Steve: So how do we do this?

Eddie: Dude, it was YOUR idea

Steve: Ok but I’ve never done it before!

Eddie: Steve! I’m your first? <3

Steve: Yeah, yeah. I’ve never pranked a therapist before. 

Eddie: I hope you’re either rich or have really good insurance. Otherwise this is gonna be an expensive first date.

Steve: I got it covered. 

Eddie: I figured you did. I’ll call the guy in the morning and get back to you with the appointment time. 

Steve: Okay. How’s your night going by the way?

Eddie: Nope!

Eddie: That’s not part of the deal, Steve. We go into this blind or not at all.

Steve: This is insane.

Eddie: Once again, your idea. I’m excited. Are you excited?

Steve: Thrilled.

Steve: I’m still concerned about how you know the perfect guy for this.

Eddie: 😛

Eddie: Don’t worry about it.

-

“I don’t even think he’s serious,” Steve said after he recounted the entire interaction to Robin.

“I don’t know, Steve. Sounds serious to me.” 

“What if he’s like - not right in the head?” Steve wondered, reading the interaction over and over again. “Like, who is this therapist and why does he know him? Is he actually going to make an appointment? What if this whole thing crashes and burns?”

“I honestly think he plans on it crashing and burning,” Robin replied. “And then after, the both of you either hit it off and laugh about it forever, or you have an amazing failed date story to tell your friends until the end of time.”

“That’s…actually genius.��� 

“I know.” 

Steve read the messages one last time, focusing on the bits where Eddie was mildly flirtatious. Steve! I’m your first? He could tell if Eddie was being condescending, or what vibe he was going to bring to this absolute insane first date. But, as Robin said, it would be a story no matter what. 

He tried to focus on that and not the anxiety that started brewing in his veins.

-

The appointment was set for two weeks later. Eddie still refused to talk to Steve other than for details on where to go and at what time, so for the whole fourteen days, Steve assumed he was being pranked right back. Eddie was messing with him, or he’d cancel, or Dr. Bauman didn’t actually exist, or he’d be murdered, or, or, or -

None of that happened. Instead, on a Tuesday afternoon, Steve pulled up to an office building about fifteen minutes from his apartment. He’d passed by it several times and never once wondered what went on inside. 

Apparently, really weird first dates.

They had decided to meet up in the parking lot and walk in together. The whole thing was crazy, but having one of them pick the other up so they could drive in together was way over what was needed to commit to the bit. 

Steve got there first. They needed to be fifteen minutes early to fill out paperwork. It was twenty minutes prior to their appointment time. 

This was weird. It felt a lot different than all the times he’d met someone for coffee. In another world, that’s how he and Eddie would have met. But no. He had to agree to this stupid thing, and now he was too far into it to back out. Jesus Christ. 

Eddie’s car pulled in a few spaces down. Steve knew it was him from the hair alone - unmistakable. He got out of his car and walked towards his date, his palms sweaty. Eddie got out of his car a moment later, eyeing Steve as he approached him and smirking. 

“What gave me away?” Eddie asked. 

“You think I wouldn’t recognize my boyfriend?” Steve snapped back, pleased at the way he was able to take Eddie off guard. 

“Touche. Well, come on, then. Let’s do this.” 

-

Before they knew it, they were sitting in a cramped waiting room, alone, filling out paperwork. It consisted of insurance information first, followed by names and some quick background questions about the “couple.” Steve began filling it out, thankful that he was still on his dad’s fancy rich-person insurance. It covered basically everything, even fucked-up couples fraud with Dr. Bauman.

“Are you not worried I’m gonna, like, steal your information or something?” Eddie asked as Steve wrote down his policy number.

“I mean…should I be?” Steve responded. 

“No,” Eddie answered with a shrug. “I gotta say, though, you’re way more trusting than I am. It’s ballsy. I like it.” 

“Uhh…” Steve was trying to concentrate on the paperwork, but the compliment was throwing him off. “Thank you, I think.” He continued filling out the paperwork.

“You’re from Hawkins?” he asked. Steve nodded, absentmindedly. “I’m from Hawkins.” This caught Steve’s attention. 

“No shit.” 

“Yeah, seriously.”

“Small world,” Steve replied before turning his attention back to the form.

“You have a cute middle name,” Eddie teased. 

“Shut up,” Steve responded. He wanted to find Eddie’s pestering annoying, but instead he found himself smirking, even giggling a little bit. This whole thing was so ridiculous. He shoved the clipboard onto Eddie’s lap. “Your turn, lover.”

“Euch,” Eddie groaned. “That is not one of our pet names, no way.” 

“Noted,” Steve chuckled. He was…kind of enjoying this way more than he expected, as weird as it was. He’d grown accustomed to a lot of even stranger things in his life, so this didn’t feel as shocking as he’d initially thought. 

“Don’t look,” Eddie said as he covered the paper.

“What? Why not?” Steve asked, confused. 

“Because not all of us are as blindly trusting, Steven,” Eddie responded. Steve shook his head and looked away. 

“Good thing we’re in therapy to work that shit out, Edward Munson.”

“You looked!” Eddie exclaimed. 

“It was right in front of me!” Steve pointed out. 

“Fair enough,” Eddie sighed. “Okay, now we gotta put down a reason for doing this.”

-

Fast forward ten minutes, Eddie and Steve were seated next to each other on a relatively small but cozy burnt orange couch. The color was ugly, but the seats were comfortable. Steve noticed the cushions had a natural dip that kept inching him closer to the person sitting on the opposite side. He figured this was certainly intentional. 

The doctor sat in front of them, reviewing the papers the pair had just filled out.

“Hello, my name is Dr. Bauman, and one day I may let you call me Murray,” he began, his eyes fixed on the papers in front of him. “I see here on your sheet that you’ve been feeling distant from each other, and that you’re looking to feel more connected, right? Can you tell me more about that?”

“We’re just launching right into it, huh?” Eddie asked. 

“Well, we are on a time crunch here. Your decision how you spend it,” Dr. Bauman answered. 

The man was immediately intimidating.

“Ooookay,” Steve said, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess it just feels like - like he and I don’t even know each other anymore.” Eddie stifled a laugh, covering his mouth with his hand to make it seem like he was maybe getting emotional or perhaps trying not to sneeze. 

“I see,” Dr. Bauman said, eyeing them both suspiciously. “Let’s begin with how you two met and we’ll go from there, okay?”

“We were high school sweethearts,” Eddie replied with a grin.

“Wow,” Dr. Bauman commented. “Well, it’s common for a lot of development to happen from then to now. How did you two get together?” Eddie looked to Steve, as if to say, you’re up.

“It just kinda…happened, I guess,” Steve began. “We were assigned as partners for a project and really clicked.”

“Yeah, and then we snuck around for a while. Sneaking kisses in janitor's closets and empty classrooms, you know the drill.” Steve tried not to blush at the thought of sneaking around with high school Eddie. If they were both from Hawkins, did they actually go to high school together?

“Snuck around for the thrill?” Dr. Bauman asked.

“No,” Steve responded. “I wasn’t out yet.” Eddie looked at him curiously, as if he wasn’t expecting Steve to say something so serious. He wondered if it was actually true. 

“Well, that and -” Eddie added. “- he was a popular jock and I was kind of a freak.” This time, Steve looked at Eddie curiously. Steve was a popular jock. Eddie could have assumed that, or made a lucky guess, but something told him that wasn’t the case. 

Eddie Munson. Munson. 

Oh.

Oh!

It took Steve a minute to recover from that information. They did in fact go to school together, they just had never interacted. Eddie obviously remembered, and he obviously knew that Steve didn’t. So what was the goal here? Was Steve being punked or something just so Eddie could get free therapy?

“Steve, you look a little pale there,” Dr. Bauman noticed. “Did that trigger something?”

“Yeah -” Steve croaked, now unable to look at Eddie. If he had, he would have noticed Eddie didn’t look as smug as Steve assumed he was. “Yeah, I just don’t think about high school that much anymore.”

“Why not?” the doctor asked. 

“Because, I - I’ve changed so much since then. I’m not that guy anymore, and I don’t want to be that guy.”

“Ah, I see,” he hummed. “So, Eddie fell for someone who no longer exists. I think I’m understanding the problem here. Eddie, do you feel that you’ve changed?”

Damn. This guy’s kinda good.

“Uhhh -” Eddie began. Neither of them expected this to get so serious so quickly. It didn’t even feel like it was about their imagined relationship anymore. “N-no, I don’t think I have.”

“And Steve, do you think Eddie has changed?”

Steve thought about the limited memories he had of Eddie in high school. Cocky, slightly unhinged, just as he was now. But there was something different, he just couldn’t really pinpoint what. Maybe if he’d talked to Eddie for longer than like ten minutes total in his life, he’d have a better idea. 

Then, he realized the point of this wasn’t to be serious. It was to make shit up. Steve pivoted back to the original plan. 

“Yeah, I mean -” He shifted in his seat, finding himself now thigh to thigh with Eddie, despite not meaning to be. “He’s, uh - it just feels like we don’t have anything in common anymore?” It was something he’d heard lots of couples say.

“Do you want to make this work?” Dr. Bauman asked. 

“Why else would we be here?” Eddie answered. Dr. Bauman narrowed his eyes. 

“You tell me.”

Eddie and Steve were kind of not good at this. Their story was based in truth and not very exciting. They both seemed to realize this at the same time.

“Steve slept with the dogwalker,” Eddie proclaimed. Steve scoffed, half-amused, half-offended. 

“Yeah, well you sold drugs to my mom!” he shot back. The two guys looked at each other, pretending to look angry while simultaneously wanting to laugh. 

“Woooah, there,” Dr. Bauman responded. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Do we want to begin with Steve’s infidelity or Eddie’s illegal activity?”

“That’s not gonna, like, go on record or anything, right?” Steve asked, suddenly anxious. “Like, the cops aren’t gonna show up at Eddie’s door?”

“Our door, babe,” Eddie clarified, not the least bit nervous. 

“Depends on how long ago this happened, I suppose,” Dr. Bauman answered.

“Long time ago,” Eddie said. 

“Are you still currently dealing?”

“No, I don’t even do drugs anymore. Well, like, except pot - but that’s legal now so it doesn’t really count, I think.”

“Dude,” Steve whispered. 

“You brought it up,” Eddie replied just as softly. 

“Right,” Dr. Bauman responded, taking it all in. “No report needed, then. Let’s move onto the dogwalker.” 

They continued to add to their lore as the appointment went on. At one point, Eddie even faked tears. His acting was…decent enough to avoid suspicion, thankfully. When the clock hit 1:45, their time was up, and they’d successfully managed to fool Dr. Bauman. Mission accomplished, date over. Right?

“Well, thank you so much, Dr. Bauman,” Eddie said. “I think you’ve really helped us out today.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Steve said, smiling. “We feel so much better.”

“Now hold on a minute,” Dr. Bauman said with his hands up. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, in my professional opinion.”

“There is?” Eddie asked, confused. 

“Oh, definitely. Most couples go to a minimum of four sessions, and that’s still a low average. Plus, this was only intake. I mean, unless you guys weren’t happy with the counseling I gave you today…”

It felt like a challenge, and Eddie loved challenges. Meanwhile, Steve was too awkward to come clean or tell the doctor they weren’t interested. 

They made another appointment.

-

“Well, that went pretty well, I think,” Eddie said as they left the building. 

“You knew me already?” Steve asked once they were a safe enough distance from the office and Dr. Bauman. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I just knew your name and face, man. And, like, your vibe,” Eddie answered. “Back in high school, anyway.” 

“You should have told me,” Steve said. 

“You should have remembered,” Eddie shot back. “Whatever, it was fun. Right?”

“Eddie, I have no idea what that was,” Steve replied. “We have to cancel that appointment.”

“Why? You don’t want to see me again?” Eddie grinned. Steve rolled his eyes.

“No, I - I mean, I don’t want to waste his time. That spot should go to other couples who need it. Meanwhile, we could go get coffee like normal adults.” 

“I dunno,” Eddie said, kicking a pebble in the road as they walked. “I kinda liked it. You can’t tell me you didn’t.”

It was true. Steve couldn’t say that he didn’t.

“Doesn’t matter.” Steve unlocked his car and made his way to the door. “We’re canceling.”

“He’s the one that wanted to see us again, Steve,” Eddie reminded him. 

“Yeah, because he thought we were an actual couple.” Steve was getting frustrated at Eddie’s antics, and the way he refused to back down. “I don’t know if this is gonna work, man. This has been, uh - well, it’s been weird, but I think -”

“We have to go, otherwise you’ll be charged a cancellation fee,” Eddie blurted out. It was a lie, a bold-faced lie, and yet -

“So, I’ll pay the fee. Can’t be more than the cost of a full session,” Steve figured. 

“Ugh!” Eddie groaned in frustration. “Okay, fine. Look - I’m annoying as hell, I’m a mess, I’m broke, and I could never afford someone like Dr. Bauman. I don’t know about you, but some of the things he said actually made me think and I kind of want to ask him about, like, real shit.” 

Steve stared at him blankly for a minute. 

“You - you want me to keep going to fake couple’s counseling with you so you can get actual therapy?” Steve asked, stunned. 

“I mean, you could work your shit out, too,” Eddie suggested.

“What shit? I don’t have shit,” Steve insisted. 

“Of course you do! Everyone does!” Eddie yelled. 

“You’re insane,” Steve muttered. The thing was, he wasn’t saying it out of anger. He was saying it in understanding. 

Because the thing was, Eddie had a point. Dr. Bauman was good at what he did, and Steve knew he’d never sign up for individual counseling. He already had the appointment. Eddie smirked. 

“You’re with me, aren’t you?”

Fuck.

“Fine,” Steve agreed. 

-

Notes from Dr. Bauman - 3/18

Eddie and Steve

Together since high school

Feelings of disconnect

Steve/dogwalker

Eddie/mom/drugs

Clearly lying

Clients are faking their relationship for me, for some reason. Will continue to work with them to figure out why. 

They aren’t dating…but they should be

(next chapter)

------------------------------------

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[twistedtummies2]

Top 10 Portrayals of Inspector Lestrade

Having just finished my list of my favorite fictional detectives, I felt it was time to return to my absolute favorite of the bunch: Sherlock Holmes. In the past, I have done lists related to Holmes himself, as well as his friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, and his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty. I recently revisited those three countdowns to see if I would change anything, and…at the moment, no, I think they’re still pretty solidly set. HOWEVER, I’ve never gone over any of the other major characters in the Sherlock Holmes universe since those three. I haven’t covered his other allies, or any other noteworthy antagonists he faced. So, I decided it was time to fix that problem. These lists WILL have descriptions, but they’ll be very brief, partially just because I don’t have a TON to say about most of the characters/portrayals involved. We’ll start off with a Top 10 devoted to Scotland Yard’s most competent detective, Inspector Lestrade.

In the books, Lestrade is one of Holmes’ closest compatriots. While the super sleuth frequently interacts with various Scotland Yard officers, Lestrade is the most recurring, and has the most rapport with Sherlock. Their relationship is an…interesting one, to say the least. On the one hand, the two do care about each other, and there is some level of mutual respect under their respective, prickly surfaces. However, the pair bicker constantly, and always seem to be trying to one-up each other. Holmes concedes that Lestrade is probably the best detective at the Yard, but with the caveat that he is “the best of a bad bunch.” Lestrade, meanwhile, often tries to downplay Holmes’ unique skills in favor of boosting his own ego, and is forever frustrated by Sherlock’s antics. At the same time, he recognizes Holmes is very helpful to himself and the force, and for all his faults, he always manages to help the Inspector catch the crooks in the end. Indeed, the main reason Lestrade usually fails is because he ironically tends to jump the gun: he’s someone who fails to look at the big picture, or else notice the smaller details, which is what Holmes is very good at. If he just took his time more, he could probably get to the bottom of things more quickly…but Holmes can do all that in an instant, so it’s a good thing he’s hanging around. Different interpretations throughout adaptations and reimaginings of the Holmes universe have reinterpreted Lestrade in a number of ways (and with no less than two different pronunciations of his name; “Leh-strawed” seems to be the most common, but a couple choose to say “Less-trade”). Some versions of him are more comical and bungling, while some are more serious but still not quite as brilliant as Holmes. Some make the character more bullheaded and easily angered, while others make him more supportive and friendly. Many of the best find some sort of balance between these disparate elements; while he may not get the kudos that Holmes and Watson get, Lestrade is an interesting character in his own right, with a lot of layers writers, actors, and directors can play with. Having said that, here are some I particularly enjoy. So STOP IN THE NAME OF THE LAW! Here are My Top 10 Favorite Portrayals of Inspector Lestrade.

10. Frank Finlay, from A Study in Terror & Murder By Decree.

Finlay played Lestrade, by sheer coincidence, in two completely different films that have the same premise: Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper. He looks, sounds, and generally behaves exactly the same in both movies, too. It’s rather uncanny, really.

9. Eddie Marsan, from the Guy Ritchie Films.

In the first film, Lestrade is a major character, and the way they play with his relationship with Sherlock is surprising; it’s just a shame he’s little more than a cameo in the second film.

8. Jeffrey Jones, from Without a Clue.

Arguably the most bumbling version of the character on this list. However, since this movie is an outright comedy, I don’t mind this. (Please keep a certain elephant out of the room; I am only addressing portrayals of the character, not the people who played them.)

7. Peter Madden, from the 60s BBC Series.

In some ways, I think this might be the most book-accurate take on Lestrade, especially in terms of physical appearance. Madden only played the character in the first season of the series; in the second season, actor William Lucas took over. Weirdly enough, Madden did appear in the second season playing a completely different character in one episode. Not really sure why he was recast.

6. Dennis Hoey, from the Universal Films.

Alongside Jones, the most bungling version of Lestrade, frequently used as comic relief. In most of the films - not all, but most - he makes Nigel Bruce’s infamously doofy Watson look like a genius in comparison. He’s a lot of fun, though, and the chemistry between the three performers is great every time.

5. Rupert Graves, from Sherlock.

Arguably the most serious version of Lestrade on the list. I love the sort of normalcy he brings to the crazy world of Holmes and Watson, and the way he’s able to just put up with all the nonsense Sherlock shoves onto him, as well as find ways to rein Holmes in.

4. Archie Duncan, from the 50s TV Series.

This Lestrade is able to be extremely funny without actually being a moron; while he always needs Holmes to help him out, it’s mostly just because he’s impulsive and hotheaded, and therefore doesn’t always think things through or notice the details Sherlock notices. (Just like in the books.) Duncan, like Peter Madden, would weirdly play other characters in the show BESIDES Lestrade, including a villain in one story. Very talented performer who was always good to see in action!

3. The Version from Moriarty the Patriot.

This is probably the most friendly and encouraging version of Lestrade on the list, though he still gets righteously annoyed with both Holmes AND Moriarty in the series. I love his energy and the integrity the character has in the show; like Holmes, he’s willing to bend the rules to see justice done, and will never give up no matter what, which explains why they like each other above all else.

2. Akiko Morison, from Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century.

This version is a female descendant of the original inspector, named Beth Lestrade. She actually was more of a standout to me in this show than Watson was! Once again, this version isn’t depicted is an idiot - she’s fiery, strong, and very good at her job, with great instincts. Her problem is that, once again, she doesn’t always pick up on the details or fully understand the situation, which leads to conflict and her need to have Holmes around.

1. Colin Jeavons, from the Granada Series.

The definitive take on Lestrade, just as Jeremy Brett was the definitive take on Holmes, in my opinion. Jeavons plays Lestrade as a slightly pompous and rather sarcastic police officer, but he also seems to be one of the versions of the character who has the best sort of relationship with Sherlock. I love the chemistry between the pair, and how they each seem to sort of admire each other, though neither will ever admit it. At the same time, that competitive rivalry between the two has rarely been showcased better. Altogether marvelous.

[justmeinadaze]

We're A Family Part 14 (Steddie X You)

A/N: I'm not sorry for the cliff hanger esc ending 😈

I'm going to use this opportunity here to say thank you to the step parents, partners, siblings, foster parents, adoptive parents...all y'all raising children who aren't biologically yours...you are amazing and deserve love and appreciation. The woman I call mom is technically my stepmom but she has been more a mom to me than my own. She showed me how mothers are supposed to be and I love her everyday for that <3.

Warning: Smut, FLUFF, and slight angst, Mr. Harrington pops up making a brief verbal cameo , Eddie mentions an incident about Steve's past heartbreaks as well as briefly (very brief) touches on his life right after moving in with Wayne, I think that's it.

Word Count: 3535

“Does he have to wear a suit?”, Eddie asks as he browses the clothes on the rack above him. 

“I mean he doesn’t have to but it is his first date technically so…”, Steve grins as Dylan rolls his eyes. 

You had already done the whole mom thing where you cried for ten minutes straight because your “baby” was growing up and asked a girl on a date to a dance. When he asked the guys to take him clothes shopping, he had hoped to avoid more of that, thankful when you offered to stay home and watch Aurora. 

“Calm down. I’m not going to coo at you and tell you how big you’ve gotten.”, the man teases as he playfully reaches for his son’s cheeks. 

“I don’t think I should wear a suit. I don’t want to seem…overeager.” Dylan’s eyes scan the shirts in front of him. “What did you guys wear on your first dates?”

“Jesus, um…”, Eddie’s eyes fly to ceiling as he thinks. “Jeans and a Guns & Roses t-shirt, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Of course, that’s what you wore.”, Steve chuckled. 

“Hey! We were like eleven and went to a movie. It wasn’t anything fancy. What about you, sire? I imagine you came out of the womb with a date the next day.” The metalhead smiled as Dylan laughed. 

“For your information, my first date was in 6th grade. I took a girl to the Snowball dance. And yes…I wore a suit.”

“Oh, please tell me there are pictures in a box somewhere at home.” 

“No, thank God.”

“We can ask grandma.”, Dylan smiles mischievously.

“I swear, if either of you ask my mother for pictures—”

“Oh! You’ll what?”, Eddie joked. 

“I’ll…be very upset.”

“Uh huh.”

****

“Do we have to watch it again?”

“Yes!”, Aurora giggles.

You laugh at her smile as you replay “The Empire Strikes Back” on the tv. “Yeah. I’m glad you’re happy. I’m going to kill your dad.”

Just like Dylan had with Harry Potter, Ro seemed to attach to Star Wars. Steve was watching “A New Hope” one afternoon and she sat beside him the entire time completely transfixed. Ever since then she insisted on watching anything you would allow that was Star Wars related. 

“Beep, Beep!”, she mimicked as the front door opened and your three boys came through. 

“Star Wars still?”, Steve asked.

“I hate you. This is your fault.”, you laugh as you quickly rose to your feet. “Sooooo, what did we get?”

“You’ll see.”, Dylan smiles. “Are you guys still chaperoning?”

“Well, I don’t have a choice being a teacher and my boss volunteered me.”

“That’s the spirit, Harrington!”, Eddie chuckles as he wraps his arm around the boy’s neck. “Yes, we will still be there and we promise not to embarrass you…much.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going to go call Daisy and tell her what I got.”

You three watch as he excitedly runs up the stairs before you lightly smack Steve’s arm. “What did he get?”

“I can’t tell you!”

“Call it payment for me watching those movies back-to-back with our three-year-old instead of me murdering you.”

“Oh… you won’t murder me. You love me too much.”

########

Dylan watches his dads with intense fascination as they get ready, occasionally getting distracted when he heard his sister say something cute as she helped you get ready out in the bedroom. 

“Mama hair up.”

“Yeah? Here can you brush it for me so I can pull it up?” Aurora grins excitedly when you hand her the brush.

“When it comes to hair, kid, you should let Steve take the reins on that one.” Eddie smiled as he moved out of the way and allowed Dylan space in front of the mirror so the man could show him some techniques. 

“Oooo… Din purty.”, Ro compliments him before waddling to the metalhead. “Daddy! Mama…tie…for hair.”

“Mommy needs a hair tie?” She nods aggressively as he reaches across the sink to get her what she’s asking for. “Here you go, princess.”

“Tank you, daddy.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” His eyes follow after her as she grins and runs back into the bedroom. 

“Alright, little man. What do you think?”

Dylan turns his head from side to side as he checks out his hair. “I love it. Mom! What do you think?”, he asks as he steps out of the bathroom. 

“Oh my god!”, you squeak making the boys laugh. 

“She likes it.”, Steve confirms as he sprays some of his cologne on himself before giving his son a little spritz on his wrist.

“Wow. Bubaful.”, Aurora coos as they all come out together. 

Dylan had decided to not to wear a suit but a nice button up shirt with a small black tie hanging down his front. Still wanting to have some remnants of himself, he decided on wearing his converse with the black jeans he bought fully rounding out his ensemble. He actually looked like he tried to fuse Eddie and Steve’s style together. 

Steve threw on a blue polo with some black slacks and shiny matching shoes. Eddie was donning a plain black shirt with black jeans like Dylan’s and sneakers. 

“Aw, look at my guys.”, you grin as you climb off the bed. 

You were wearing a stunning, casual blue dress with a cute floral print with similar color flats. 

“You look beautiful, honey.”

As the doorbell rings, Ro claps her hands. “Kee!”

“Yes, that would be Aunt Kierra. Here, go open the door and make her feel old.”, you giggle as you push Dylan towards the stairs. 

Eddie picks up his daughter as you four head down as well. 

“Really? Of course, everyone looks good.”, Kierra whines playfully. “Hi Rara.”

“Kee.” She aggressively wiggles out of her father’s arms to run to her aunt. 

“Ah yes. Fun aunt is here and now we don’t matter.”, you smile as you give your sister a hug. As you pull away you notice her own grin turn into a line. “Uh oh. What happened?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“You’ll tell me now.”

“Dylan, can you take this dork and turn on those god-awful movies she likes?” You son laughs as he grabs his sister and carries her into the living room. “So, Mr. Harrington, the evil one not this one here, went to visit our mother the other day.”

You sighed as Steve gently ran his palm down your back. 

“Y/N, you think his dad was upset about you changing your name? Oof. Mom called me screaming saying you were taking it too far. She said she was going to call Charlie and side with him if he decided to go to court…” Her sympathetic eyes met yours. “I didn’t tell her…about him…ya know.”

“I should go talk to her—”

“Well that’s not happening.”, Eddie interrupts. “Sweetheart, do you really think talking to her is going to do any good? She doesn’t care. Now Steve’s dad… he can’t do anything right?”

Steve shook his head. “I mean what can he do? I have no inheritance from his side. Unless he wants to fight my mom. I don’t know. I think it’s more of an image thing now. Two kids with half his name and they aren’t…pure Harringtons.”

Your heart breaks as you listen to him speak. You know how much he hates this conversation. Aurora and Dylan are his kids; no ifs, ands, or buts about it. However, his father and your mother insist on finding little ways to remind him that both children don’t have an ounce of his DNA. 

In a court of law, if you both left him, he would have zero say in where the kids go. Steve understood that would never happen. You both loved him and he loved you. This was his family but those little technicalities always loomed especially when other people brought them to light. 

“Jesus. And our mom thought the Munson’s would be the biggest problem in this dynamic.”

Eddie sticks his tongue out at Kierra who chuckles as she comes around to give him a hug. 

“Hey guys. Can we go now? I don’t want to be late.”, Dylan asks as he comes around the corner. 

“Yes. Sorry. We got distracted by life. Let’s get a move on.” Painting a smile on your face, you grab your dates and head of the door. 

##########

You snuck a picture from your place in the car as you three watched Dylan shyly shuffle up to his date who had been waiting at the front door of the school. Something he says makes her laugh and she blushes as he extends his elbow to her like he had seen the guys do numerous times. She grins, looping her arm in his before heading into the dance. 

“What was your first date?”, Eddie asked as he leaned forward from his place in the backseat.

“Oh my god. I think I was about Dylan’s age. A boy asked me to dinner and a movie. Of course, dinner was some fast-food joint and we snuck into the movie but…”, you giggle. “I had fun. What are you guys going to do when Aurora starts dating?”

“Kill them.”, the metalhead pretends to glare into the distance making you and Steve laugh. 

“Can we not think about our daughter dating? I don’t think I can handle that right now. I can barely handle this.” Steve continues to chuckle as both men get out of the car and open the door for you. 

“Thank you guys for helping him pick out an outfit and getting him ready.”

“You don’t have to—”

You cut Eddie off with a kiss as you wrap your arms around him. “I know I don’t have to. Just let me, okay?”

“Yes ma’am.”

As you entered the dance, Steve had to detach from you two to tell his boss he was there and offer any assistance they may need. You and Eddie snuck a little closer to where the kids were, smiling when you say your son and his date sitting at a table talking. You can’t help but laugh when “Come Sail Away” by STYX begins to play. 

“Isn’t this way outside of their generation? It’s barely in ours.”

“Eh, I’m sure they have to play it as safe as possible.”, the metalhead grins as he takes your hand and pulls you towards the edge of the dance floor where some of the other adults were swaying to the music. Your arms wrap around his neck as he clings to your waist.

“So, you and Steve would have went to school here to, right?”

“You are correct but we didn’t really hang out till high school.”

“Do you remember him?”

“Oh, princess, everyone knew who Steve Harrington was. King Steve with his awesome fashion sense and cool head of hair. I fucking hated him.”, Eddie chuckles. “Something changed his junior year. He started seeing this girl and I think she changed his perspective on some things. By senior year, he was a new man more or less.”

“What happened to the girl?”

“They broke up. She, uh, told him she didn’t love him.”

“Aw. Poor Stevie.” Your eyes shifted towards him, watching as he talked to some of the other teachers. “What about little Edward Munson. What was he like at school here?”

“Oof. Angry. Confused. Nerdy.”, he laughs. “I had been living with Wayne for a little under a year at this point. I was still trying to figure things out and this town sure as hell didn’t make it any easier.” You lean up on your toes to kiss his lips before resting your cheek on his chest. “I think the one good thing that came out of middle school was me getting into D & D. I thought it was amazing and gave me a place I could escape to.”

The music picked up tempo and you grinned as you watched Dylan walk his date to the dance floor. Eddie twirls you in his arms and your grin grows as you both dance along to the faster beat. You don’t see it but Steve pulls out his phone and begins recording his little family having fun. 

“Dylan is yours, right?”, asks one of his colleagues.

“Yeah, that’s my son.”, he beams before pointing towards you and Eddie. “That’s my wife and husband.”

She tilts her head at his statement but he doesn’t notice nor care. He’s having too much fun watching you three.

##########

“Well, look at this.”, the metalhead grinned as he looked around the classroom. “The kid who was bad in class actually has his own classroom.”

Steve thought it would be a good idea for you guys to walk around a bit and allow Dylan some time alone with his date without you in the room so he decided now would be a good time to show you his room that you two hadn’t got to see yet. 

“I wasn’t bad…I just didn’t care.”

You smiled at him as you wrapped your arms around his waist, giggling when you feel something vibrate. 

“Is that me or you?”

He grins as he pulls out his phone before it gradually begins to fade. “My father is calling me.” You take the phone out of his hand and place it on his desk, allowing it to ring as you bring his lips to yours. 

“I love you. No matter what he or my mom says.”

“I know.”

“I know you know but I also know…sometimes when he says things…it still hurts you.”

“Like Aurora and Dylan not being Harringtons.”, Eddie cut in. Steve’s phone went silent but after a few moments yours started to ring, grinning sassily as you flashed him the screen. “Do you think we should go for gold and see if he calls me?”

You handed the metalhead your phone. “Do with it what you will, my love.”

He raises his eyebrows playfully in your direction before placing the device to his ear. “Mr. Harrington! How can the Munson-Harrington family assist you today?”

“Where is my son? I need to speak with him NOW!”

“Uh, last I checked, you hadn’t spoken to Steve in three years. When did he become your son again and what do you need from him?”

Your hand reaches out to grip Steve’s chin, turning him to face you. “Look at me, baby. Let Eddie handle him and you focus on me.” He exhales heavily as you palms slide down his chest. “We won’t get in trouble, right?”

“Not if we don’t get caught.”  

He lifts you into his arms and places you on his desk, lips mingling with your own as your limbs circle around his neck. 

“Is this the real reason you wanted to show us your classroom?”, you tease as he smiles. 

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’ve fantasized about bending you over my desk.”

“Then do it, Steve. Please. I’m yours, baby.”

His fingers fumbled with his zipper as you lifted your hips to pull your underwear down your legs, grinning when you toss them to Eddie who sticks his tongue out as he catches them. Your eyes gesture towards the closed door and he gets the message, heading that way to keep a look out.

“Mr. Harrington, no. Dylan IS Steve’s son. He loves him and has helped raise him for half his life so far. I know that’s a foreign concept to you since you don’t know what actually raising a child looks like.”

Steve turns you till your back is to him and you lean over his desk as he grips your hips, guiding his cock into your entrance. Your eyes flutter closed as he thrusts into you, hitting that spongy spot deep inside of you making you moan. 

“Y-yes, Steve. Fuck.”

All sound drowns out of the room as he leans his chest down to your back and wraps his arms around you. 

“Does that feel good, honey? My dick—mmm—deep inside you like this.”, he mewls into your ear. “Tell me, baby.”

“Your cock is so deep. F-feels so good…please.”

“Do you think you can be quiet if I fuck you harder? You wouldn’t—fuck—you wouldn’t want us to get caught, right?”

You shake your head and he smiles as he lifts his arm up your body till its nestled under your chin. Your back arches as he roughly rolls his hips against yours at a faster pace. 

“Mr. Harrington, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t hear a word you said mostly because I don’t care but also because I’m watching Steve fuck our wife and, as always, it’s the hottest fucking thing in the world. Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to let them finish and then most likely cum in his pretty little mouth. Fuck off and leave our family alone.”

With that, Eddie hangs up the phone and tosses it to the side as he unzips his pants, pulling out his own cock as he strokes it to the sight of you both. 

“Cum, baby. Be my good girl and cum for me, honey.” Steve grunted when your pussy clenched tighter around him, his palm quickly moving to cover the loud moan that escaped your mouth. “You like that? Mmm—you like me calling you a good girl?”

You place your hand over his, feeling his alone won’t stifle the continuous whimpers that you pant out as he continues to whisper in your ear. The coil in your tummy snaps as you lean your head back against his shoulder and grip his hair through your fingers. 

“That’s it. That’s it, Y/N. Fuck, you’re so…so fucking…beautiful.” His arms cling to your body as you feel him thrust his release into your cunt. Neither of you moves as you both try and catch your breath. “Are you ok?”

You nod as you gesture towards the groaning metalhead. “He…he may need you though.”, you say with a knowing smile. 

Steve gradually pulls out of you, kissing your cheek before tucking himself back into his pants and sauntering towards Eddie. They exchange a soft kiss, the man smiling as he descends to his knees and takes his cock into his awaiting mouth. 

You search the desk, finding the tissue you were looking for, and use it to clean between your legs. After readjusting your dress, you slide up beside them and Eddie hastily brings your lips to his. When he turns away, you continue to trail kisses along his neck and jawline. 

“Fuck, Steve. Don’t…don’t move.”

His palms come down and hold the boys head by his hair as he pumps his hips. You cover his mouth as a strangled grunt leaves his lips and his body folds in slightly as he climaxes. Steve milks him, licking every last drop till the boy was clean before rising to his feet. 

Their eyes meet and Eddie gave him a big tooth filled grin. “So, your dad says hi.”

########

“Did you have fun, baby?”

“Yeah, mom. I did. I asked Daisy to a movie next Friday. Is that ok?”

“Uh, I don’t see why not.”

You sister smiles as you for walk into the house. “I don’t know what you did but Mr. Harrington isn’t returning our mother’s calls.”

“Good. One less thing to worry about I guess.”, Eddie grins. “Where’s Ro?”

“She knocked out about an hour ago. I was afraid to move her and wake her up.” She gestures towards the living room and he heads that way, carefully lifting her sleeping frame in his arms. He pauses at Kierra’s side allowing her to kiss her niece’s forehead. 

As she leaves, Dylan gives her a big hug before running upstairs and Steve throws himself down on the couch as you begin locking up the house. 

“Shit. Hey, baby. Can you bring me my phone? I want to send my mom some of the pictures I took tonight.”

“Yeah, of course.”, you smile as you grab his phone from the counter. “Can I send myself some so I can send them to Kierra?” He nods and your smile grows as you unlock his device. 

“She’s going to get a kick out of him and her slow dancing. We should send Dylan some to so he can show Daisy—what?” You had frozen in place and your smile had faded as your eyes scanned the screen in front of you. “Honey? Y/N, what’s wrong?”

“’Baby #3 Expenses.’”, you read. 

“Y/N…I—”

“’Can we afford it?’ No, Steve. We can’t.”

He exhales heavily and he rises to his feet. “Actually…if you look at the math—”

“Really? Really. Ha-have you thought about, oh I don’t know, SPACE! This is a three-bedroom house, Steven. We-we would have to move which cost time and money! And…”

“What’s going on?”, Eddie asks as he cautiously enters the living room.

“The three of us have our jobs and two kids…we-we barely have time for anything else!” You feel yourself start to panic as you wrap your arms around yourself. “We are NOT ready for a baby right now.”

“Well, that sounds familiar.”, the metalhead sighs.

###########

@adequate-superstar @kalinaselennespeaks @alienthingstwo

@steddieloverrr @manda-panda-monium

@decadentwombatmiracle @katie-tibo @marsupiooo

@local-stoner-bitch @steamystrangerfics @lunatictardis

@adaydreamaway08 @hazydespair @actuallyspencerreid

@moviefreak1205 @waylandmorgernsternherondal-blog

@kik51199 @strngrlytn @idkidknemore @damon-loves-pie

@k-k0129 @micheledawn1975 @eddie86baby

@justmeandmymeanderingthoughts @3rriberri

@sashaphantomhive @chelebelletx @big-ope-vibes

@munsonzzgf @munsonmoonshine86

[whenmemorydies]

My meta/commentary shortcuts*

*putting all of this in one spot so its easier for me to find shit. feel free to like/reblog if this is helpful for you too. posts are in reverse chronological order by tv show/film.

The Bear (TV) - writings

Another Storer/Calo musical deep cut

Eddie Vedder has another connection to The Bear, in addition to his heavy presence in the show's soundtrack.

Restitching scenes and dialogue to set up 1x01's meet cute

Or, why the usual gooey, mushy bullshit is not bailing us out in this romantic dramedy.

Chaos and Consistency

Consistency is the antidote to chaos and Carmy needs to figure out what Sydney and Marcus already know: making something consistent is not the same as being consistent.

You love taking care of people: Fine Dining in the Time of Late Stage Capitalism

How the fine dining industry helped create season 3 Chef Carmy and how it’s on its way out. A submission to #sydcarmyweek 2024

Carmy's sketches of Syd

Carmy sketches his soulmate a found family member while another found family member gives him shit for it. A submission to #sydcarmyweek 2024

Carmen, Natalie, and the Berzattos

A closer look, through the lens of intergenerational trauma, at the Berzattos and their impact on Carmy in season 3.

The Claw, The Scrunchie and The Prayer Card: Part 2 (Timing)

A deduction as to why we see the hair claw in 3x01 and not in 3x09 with the scrunchie and prayer card in Carmy's apartment.

Breakdown of a racist microaggression in Ice Chips 3x08

Analysis of one of the more uncomfortable moments during Natalie's labour. Includes @vacationship's reblog with excellent meta re: Donna's POV.

See this? Carmy trying that shit with Tina

In which Carmy reverts from ally to a regret.

Reply to @mitocamdria on Sublimation and Shame

Theorising on sources of Carmy's shame.

The Claw, The Scrunchie and The Prayer Card

Carmy's mementos as breadcrumbs back to his loves.

This needs to get good or go away.

Trauma-informed analysis of 1x07 The Review in light of seasons 1-3 of The Bear.

The things you learn...

Where Sydney learns some things about her spouse platonic business partner while dining with him.

Reply to @vacationship on Christopher Storer's cameo(s)

Storer makes an appearance in 3x06 Napkins but has he shown up at other times as well?

The legerdemain of racism: demands for season 4 of The Bear

Can The Bear rise to the challenge put forward by Toni Morrison?

Mikey's ghost and Claire as a reverse-engineered haunt

Reblog thread discussing the concept of "the haunt" in season 3 and how it likely relates to Claire - with @vacationship, @thoughtfulchaos773, @espumado, @kdbleu

Claire Dunlap = Clear [as] Mud

Reblog thread discussing the meaning behind Claire's name - with @currymanganese, @vacationship, @moodyeucalyptus, @ago0112

Richie and the viewer

Querying some 4th wall breaking by Tiff and Richie. With analysis in reblog by @currymanganese of Richie as Chris Storer's author avatar in the show.

Alone

Analysis of the use and editing of "Together" by Nine Inch Nails in 3x01 Tomorrow to convey elements of Carmy's trauma response.

Ancestors and The Bear

Analysis of culinary ancestry and legacy as they relate to Carm and Syd.

3x01 Tomorrow

Brief look at how the first episode of season 3 has been crafted through the lens of a traumatic episode. Also a remembering of my Ammamma.

Liveblog of my first watch of Season 3

Or don’t binge season 3 whilst in a feverish fugue state.

Lessons from a mentor: every second counts

Analysis of the parallels between Chef Terry and Sydney and what "every second counts" means to various characters in The Bear.

90s alternative rock, masculinity and The Bear

Analysis of the use of 90s alternative rock, including grunge, in The Bear's soundtrack, and its use to further the show's take up of masculinity.

3x06 Napkins

Predictions for the sixth episode of season 3. CW: discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation as it relates to Mikey; also contains discussion of the 'Napkins' scene in 1x08 Braciole and how its 2nd out of my top 3 tender scenes in The Bear.

2x06 Fishes (Copenhagen/Pantry scene)

Analysis of the Copenhagen/Pantry scene in 2x06 Fishes between Carmy and Mikey/ 3rd out of my top 3 tender scenes in The Bear.

Quit? And where you gonna go Ritchie?

Short analysis of Richie and Tina's relationship.

Reply to @sydcarmyfan on the story between Syd and Carm's clothes.

I mend clothes in my spare time and so does Syd.

2x09 Bolognese and Richie’s apology to Nat

Short analysis of Richie and Nat's relationship, based on a personal theory that Richie and Nat previously dated.

Reply to @hwere on if Syd was a white character

I wouldn't be watching the show, lmao.

Reply to @mod-doodles on what will happen when Syd finally lets her guard down with Carmen

Lucky ass man is not now nor will he ever be ready lol

Reply to @yannaryartside on gaslighting showrunners (lol)

The maths is mathing and all signs point to Sydcarmy endgame

Sydney is Carmen's best friend

Analysis of 2x03 Sundae and when Carm tells us that Syd is his best friend.

1x03 Brigade alley scene as a balm

A balm for the anxiety I felt when Season 3's episode list was released LOL.

Reply to @thoughtfulchaos773 on 1x03 Brigade alley scene

Thoughts on why the alley scene in 1x03 Brigade is my favourite Sydcarmy scene in The Bear (thus far).

Preliminary thoughts on The Bear, race, power and privilege

Analysis of The Bear and its approach to the white gaze (hint: idgaf about it), power and privilege.

The Bear (TV) - image-based meta/snark

Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross summarises the premise of The Bear (with the help of a few gifs)

Blood ties and lineage

Charting the creative journey of an ingredient and a dish through Carmy and Syd's culinary ancestry.

Offerings

Love is a language and language is nothing if not pattern recognition. A look at Carmy's patterns.

Warm/Cold Light

Just gifs to make an unsubtle point (re: Sydcarmy & Clairmy)

Lunch or Dinner

Lyric/GIF set to Lunch or Dinner by Sunshine Anderson

Wet T-shirt Contest (Bridgerton vs The Bear edition)

Some of us get lakes in a garden, some of us get the Fak-ed toilet.

You're the most excellent CDC at the most ex...cel...le....

A journey to the end of Sydney's hero worship.

Coming Back

Lyric/GIF set to Coming Back by James Blake feat. SZA

Head Tilt (The Bear vs Bridgerton edition)

Sydney, don't do anything Anthony wouldn't do!

Syd and Carm making eye contact

Thats it.

Under the Bridge (TV)

Reply to @cairhienin on Under the Bridge and the actual murder of Reena Virk

Discussion of Reena Virk's murder and the absence of race in analysis of the case, then and now.

Monkey Man (Film)

Violence and Love in Monkey Man

Analysis of Monkey Man in the context of state violence and resistance. CW for mention of rape, murder and forced displacement.

Immediate reaction to Monkey Man

My immediate thoughts after watching Monkey Man in cinema.

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997, Steven Spielberg)

19/03/2024

The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a 1997 film directed by Steven Spielberg, sequel to Jurassic Park and inspired by the novel The Lost World by Michael Crichton.

The franchise continued with Jurassic Park III (2001), Jurassic World (2015), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

Four years have passed since the dramatic events at Jurassic Park. Professor Ian Malcolm, one of the survivors, is contacted again by the now ex-head of InGen, John Hammond, and informed that Isla Nublar, the place where the park stood, was in reality just a showcase for tourists. In fact, the prehistoric creatures were actually created on nearby Isla Sorna, the so-called "Site B" where, following the destruction of the fences caused by the hurricane called Clarissa, they were able to escape from their cages and live undisturbed without the whole world knowing, but now the target of her greedy and corrupt nephew, Peter Ludlow, eager to plunder her to recreate a "city Jurassic Park" in San Diego. At first Malcolm, knowing the very high risks, declines the proposal but, discovering that his girlfriend, the paleontologist Sarah Harding, has already gone to the place, he decides to leave immediately to bring her back, aided by the photographer Nick Van Owen and the engineer Eddie Carr.

Not long after Peter Ludlow, together with a team of hunters led by Roland Tembo, arrives on Isla Sorna to begin the capture of some dinosaurs and in particular, an adult male specimen of Tyrannosaurus rex.

After a day's march, Dieter Stark, Tembo's deputy, loses his life in the jungle, devoured alive by the small Compsognathus and that same night the camp is attacked by T-Rexes, attracted by the smell of the puppy's blood left impregnated on the jacket by Sarah. In the general escape, the hunting team crosses an expanse of tall grass falling victim to an ambush by seven Velociraptors; despite this, Ian, Sarah, Nick and Kelly manage to reach the communications center, where Nick requests reinforcements from the mainland while the others have to deal with the Raptors.

Jeff Goldblum is Professor Ian Malcolm: a mathematician expert in chaos theory. He is, together with Hammond (and with the exception of the children, who only appear in a brief cameo), the only main character from the first chapter to also reappear in the sequel. At the end of the first film, Malcolm managed to escape from Isla Nublar, and during these four years he revealed the facts of Jurassic Park to the public.

Julianne Moore is Dr. Sarah Harding, Ian Malcolm's girlfriend.

[lemotmo]

As there is continued confusion over the Cameo's...stuff like that definitely falls under IP clauses in contracts. Its why if you go to a convention, any celebrities that have their own booths (not affiliated with a brand or franchise) ONLY have things for sale that are related to them. So headshots, posters, shirts, books, etc that only feature THEMSELVES in images they have licensed. And their credits will be used in briefs, but they can't sell anything that has directly to do with what they're famous for beyond themselves. Also, NDA's exist for a reason! I wouldn't be surprised if there was an NDA for any potential plot line or scrapped plots. I think it was clearly the "It was supposed to be Eddie not Buck" is what crossed the line and violated an NDA. But just my spec!

Interesting stuff Nonny. Thank you for sharing this.

[scoops-aboy86]

All-Inclusive

Here’s something that was also inspired by this prompt from @hotluncheddie back in January that I’ve been poking at on and off ever since. It’s 7k of no Upside Down, Steddie somewhere in their mid-twenties maybe, with brief Chrissy and Robin cameos, chubby Steve Harrington. 😜

-

A meet-cute: Eddie works as a masseur on an all-inclusive cruise ship, and Steve was supposed to be coming on the trip with a girlfriend (and possibly future fiancée, he has the ring packed and everything) but, well. He boards the ship alone. Which sucks, because the cruise is mostly couples and he’s all alone, filling his time swimming laps in the onboard pool and visiting the ship’s spa just to keep himself occupied. 

There’s also the buffet, which clears out most days if he times it right, shows up when most of the couples go ashore for day tours and just hangs out in there for a change of scenery from his cabin or the pool, sometimes until it gets crowded again. If he overdoes it on the complimentary drinks sometimes, so what? He’s on vacation. If the drinks lead to losing track of just how many times he’s gone back to the buffet to reload his plate or how long he’s been in the dining hall, who cares? It’s not like there’s anyone with him to notice. 

And anyway, he wants to lose track. He’s hungry, why bother with thinking about it when he could just eat and enjoy himself? That’s what vacations are for.

Eddie, meanwhile, is really starting to sweat every time Steve shows up on his schedule—which is most days, sometimes twice. He finds out that Steve keeps asking for him specifically, even though Steve isn’t one of the talkative ones, just sort of zones out during his massage and goes completely relaxed under Eddie’s practiced hands. So, like, it’s safe to say that Eddie is becoming pretty familiar with most of Steve’s body, and he notices the cumulative effects of the ship’s all-you-can-eat food and drink. He definitely notices the way Steve seems to be getting more sensitive by the day and sometimes it’s all Eddie can do not to react to the punched out little noises Steve makes more and more often. 

At first Steve asked for Eddie because he feels more comfortable with a guy touching his body right now, and… okay, the other masseurs aren’t as pretty. But he’s on vacation, okay? And wallowing, but he’d prefer not to wallow too much. He’s known he’s bisexual pretty much forever but never had much chance to act on it beyond making out with some guys in college, no one he ever felt much of a spark with. But Eddie? After a while Steve asks for him because he thinks he does feel some sort of electricity between them, even though everything always stays strictly professional. 

They’ve never even had a real conversation—until one night, when Eddie is covering the poolside bar for a friend and Steve parks himself on a stool, his swim trunks maybe a little snug but still acceptable to wear in public. When he rests his elbows on the bar and leans forward to order, he catches the way Eddie’s eyes flit down to where his arms are pressing his hairy, softening pecs together into the faintest suggestion of cleavage, then dart back up with a slight flush to his cheeks and oh, Steve likes that. Likes that when Eddie looks him in the eye after his gaze is a little darker, a little bit wilder. Likes the tattoos that are on display, the piercings he usually takes out when he works in the spa, and the hint of stubble on his face. 

By the end of the night, Steve can’t even remember the name of the girl he was supposed to be on the cruise with, and it’s not just because he’s tipsy and overly full from sitting belly-up to the bar for hours, Eddie passing him appetizers he hadn’t ordered more often than the drinks he did. He is, however, becoming very familiar with the taste of Eddie’s mouth as they stumble into his cabin. The waistband of his swim trunks is rolling down under the weight of his full belly but he doesn’t even care, can’t think of anything but the way Eddie is pulling him along by a firm grip on his hips. Massaging love handles he didn’t quite have at the start of the cruise, tugging and leading him through the kiss until Eddie’s calves come up against the bed. 

Eddie falls backward and pulls Steve down with him, onto him with a moan. He doesn’t even pause the kiss to catch his breath, just gets more frantic with his mouth and his hands, and Steve has never felt more manhandled or wanted in his life. 

A while later, once they’re sated and cleaned up and resting, and Steve is sprawled on his back with Eddie half cuddled up half sprawled over him, practically curled up around Steve’s belly like a contented cat, Eddie asks, very quietly, if it’s alright if he stays the night. 

Because Eddie has dated, but never anything that progressed from dating to in a relationship; he’d never seen the appeal of it, or met anyone he clicked with enough to try. With Steve, though… They’ve been talking for hours and never once has Eddie gotten bored, enamored with the slightly bitchy side of Steve that comes out sometimes during their banter. 

And he’s never been with anyone who’s accepted food they didn’t ask for so easily. Not all of the guys he’s been with have liked the particular attention he pays to their bodies, the way he wants to worship the parts of them that are soft, but Steve has always been so responsive—even in the spa, when touches were strictly professional, making those noises that had Eddie thinking about every unsexy thing he could call to mind in order to avoid any outward signs of how much it affects him. Tonight, not only has Steve let him touch those places, he’s reveled in it. At one point he’d gone so far as to drag Eddie’s hands to his belly, plump lip caught between his teeth until Eddie grabbed and squeezed and kneaded, and his mouth fell open in a beautiful moan as he’d arched into the touch. 

So Eddie asks, and Steve just smiles and runs his fingers through Eddie’s sweaty curls, and says of course, he can stay as long as he likes. 

After that, they meet up almost every night in Steve’s cabin. The cruise boasts 24/7 room service, and occasionally they put that to the test… which is Steve’s idea, actually. Glancing over at Eddie one night, eyes heavy-lidded after sex, and asking, “Why’d you keep bringing me food that night, at the bar?”

Eddie pulls a lock of hair across his mouth to hide the half smile half nervous wince it’s doing against his express wishes, and deflects with a question of his own. “Why’d you keep eating it?”

Steve shrugs. “I like to eat. It’s kind of why… Well. You know how this is a two-person cabin?” It’s not something they talked about that night at the bar, but Eddie has wondered. “My ex wanted to go on a vacation, so I took time off work and booked this, but… when she found out about the all-inclusive part, she said she didn’t want to come with me if I’m just going to…”

“Eat?” Eddie guesses softly, after Steve trails off. 

“Yeah.” He looks down at his belly, which is bloated as usual, and presses a hand to it. Lets his fingers press in as much as they can—not much, towards the top, but leaving soft divots that go deeper as he drags his hand down. “I’ve always liked it. And I don’t mind gaining weight from it, but I’ve always been in the minority there.”

Breath catching in his throat, Eddie drops his hair to lay his hand over Steve’s. “Right there with you, sweetheart.” As soon as the words are out of his mouth he wants to swallow them up, worried that he’s been too forward, shown just how much his stupid heart is on his sleeve way too soon in what to Steve might just be a vacation fling. 

But Steve just hums and lifts his belly a little, wobbling it slowly up and down with Eddie’s hand still along for the ride. “Thought so,” he says with a shy little smile. “I like that. I really like you, Eddie. And I want… I mean, if you don’t mind…” 

Every inch of Eddie is buzzing to hear where that sentence is going, his cock slowly stiffening back to attention at Steve’s hip. Thinking of that night at the bar, Steve sitting there in just his swimsuit, not even a shirt, and gradually but steadily putting away everything he was given. 

“I’m hungry,” Steve finishes, cheeks flushed and eyelids drooping a little further, because he can feel exactly how interested Eddie is and feels an answering stir between his own legs. 

So, room service. While they’re waiting, Steve shows Eddie the contents of his suitcase—a range of incrementally increasing sizes because he’d guessed, he’d known, he’d planned. Plus some things that had already been a little tight on him when he’d boarded. 

Steve accepts the delivery in sweatpants and a button-down shirt that strains at the buttons, showing tanned skin and chest hair through the gaps. Faint, clothing-imposed rolls on his front to match the ones starting to form more naturally on his sides and back.

Eddie stands behind the door when the food arrives (because he’s not technically supposed to fraternize with the passengers, as a member of the crew), watching. He can’t see which waiter it is. Despite the all-you-can-eat nature of the cruise, they don’t actually get a lot of this, and he can imagine several of his fellow crew members having truly amusing reactions… and a couple who would, silently but effectively, be absolute dicks. But Steve just seems pleased to get the food, nudging the door closed with his foot and presenting Eddie with the large, silver-domed tray because—and Eddie is still inwardly reeling from this in the best goddamn way—he wants Eddie to hand-feed him. 

This cruise job was just supposed to be a way to kill his summer, build up his resume, and avoid apartment hunting. You know, after his latest Craigslist roommate situation went sour from his weird sleeping patterns, poor memory for doing his half of the chores, and habit of learning songs on his guitar by ear, the same track set on repeat for hours at a time. His life is kind of a perpetual disaster. And now Eddie finds himself sitting on the plush lap of one of the hottest guys that’s ever so much as looked in his direction. Steve isn’t even watching the food in his hand, he’s watching Eddie, trusting him to get the next bite to his lips. It’s heady and sweet, that confidence in him even though they’re still practically strangers. 

When Steve is full, he guides one of Eddie’s hands to his packed belly and presses needily into the touch. But there’s still food left, and it feels so freeing to moan “Keep going, keep, keep feeding me Eddie…” 

No one has ever seen this much of him before, both physically (as the stretch marks can attest to) and intimately. Steve knows they don’t really know each other yet, but he wants to. There’s potential here, he feels it in every gentle brush of Eddie’s thumb against his bottom lip, a tiny encouragement while Steve struggles to chew and laboriously swallow. Every bite lands heavily in his overtaxed stomach, and when he looks down at himself he’s bigger than he’s ever been and framed by tattooed legs and he feels so warm and full and everything is perfect. 

Eddie doesn’t usually have much after regular business hours, but on Tuesday nights he meets up with some of his friends amongst the staff for a dnd session. Chrissy, the bartender friend he covered for, comes to observe the game whenever her girlfriend (one of the waiters, who could talk the ears off a rock if given half a chance) is still on duty. She usually stays to help him clean up after, and she’s been good-naturedly teasing him about where he keeps disappearing to at night for a while by the time he breaks and tells her about Steve. 

She studies him for a moment, then says that he seems happier. “And I’m glad, Eddie. You’re a good guy, you deserve this.” Pausing, she purses her lips. “Just be careful, okay? I really hope your Steve is one of the good ones, he seems like a sweetheart. But I’ve been on both sides of the deck and sometimes passengers can be way too good at getting what they want and just… going home. That said, if you need a plan for what to do if your supervisor finds out, Robin and I have your back.”

“Oh? Seduce you over to the working class side, did she?” Eddie jokes, because Chrissy is the quintessential cheerleader type and he knows that she grew up with money, though she’s estranged from her family these days.  

Chrissy smirks. “Actually, it was the other way around. We got caught in… let’s call it a compromising situation, and right there on the spot she came up with the most elaborate lie about how we’d been long distance pen pals for years, fell in love, and only just had a chance to get together. She started rambling about how much she loved me, the details were just—That’s when I knew.”

And Eddie is well aware that he and Steve aren’t there yet. They’ve only been hooking up for a couple weeks now, and yeah Eddie has sleeping over privileges (and has to be very sneaky leaving in the morning so no one sees him but he still reports to work at the spa on time), but love? They’re not in love. 

… Okay, he might be, but he has no idea about Steve. 

The next night, Steve is halfway through a snack Eddie is feeding him when he says, casually, “I used to be a jock in high school, y’know.”

Eddie perks up, because Steve had maybe made some vague references before, but… “Really?” he asks, taking the pause in feeding as an excuse to look the man before him up and down. Reaching down pat and rub his bottomless pit of a stomach. “Kept up with it, I see.”

Steve hums and puts his hand over Eddie’s to encourage the groping. “With swimming, a bit. I used to be the swim team captain and basketball co-captain.”

“Really,” Eddie says, not skeptical so much as already daydreaming about Steve running around in sinfully  tiny shorts. “And what would your teammates say if they saw you know?”

“They wouldn’t want to be seen in public with me,” Steve says with a laugh. “I mean, look at me.”

Eddie blinks the fantasy away and does look—at something just as good or better. Steve is back in the outfit he’d worn the first time he’d set foot in the spa. The shirt has become skin-tight, polo buttons undone to allow for Steve’s thicker neck. Arms bulging out of the sleeves. Belly pushing up and hanging out the bottom enough to reveal his navel, bulging out over tight jeans that couldn’t even button, that couldn’t even go up all the way around his thighs and ass. Spilling out because he’d been stuffed near to capacity before even putting it on, but still eating, always eating, given wholly over to a vacation daze of never letting his mouth go empty for long. 

“I mean,” Steve continues, “would you?” It sounds flippant, far too casual for Eddie to really feel like it’s not secretly a serious question. 

“In a heartbeat,” Eddie replies immediately, and if that isn’t wearing his heart on his sleeve… But Steve had asked, and if the shy but bright smile on his face is anything to go by that was the right answer, so what the hell. “I mean, what, you expect that to bother me? It would, but in a really good way.”

He leans down, not to kiss Steve but to mouth at the shallow hollow of his throat, nuzzling down to the chest hair peeking out through the strained v of his polo. 

“I’d do exactly this on one of the deck chairs outside for everyone to see, if it wouldn’t get me fired on the spot.” He slings a leg over Steve’s and scooches down to snuggle further into his soft chest. “Partly because it’d get indecent real fast,” he adds while shoving a hand into Steve’s pants, into a painted-on pair of boxers. Peeling down the put-upon elastic band so he can easily take him in hand and give a squeeze. Steve gasps above him, his own fingers curling into Eddie’s hair like they belong there, and Eddie scooches further and presses a wet kiss just above his navel because they do, they do.

And while Steve is distracted, he reaches for the nearby plate of cheesy appetizers and lifts it towards him in offering. It balances easily atop his belly, which means Eddie can’t glance up and see his face, but that was bound to be eclipsed anyway considering what he has in mind next. 

“Enjoy it, sweetheart,” Eddie tells him in a rough voice, then dives in to wrap his lips around the head of Steve’s cock. He closes his eyes as a tremor jolts through Steve’s entire body, overfilled tummy sloshing and bumping against his forehead, but just keeps working his way down with a muffled moan.

“Fuck, Eddie,” Steve gasps, one hand still in his hair. From the sound of it, the other is pushing food into his mouth. “‘S so—Ohfuck, makes everything taste so, mmm, so much better—Love it when you suck me off, feels like all the flavors are brighter, and I’m eating it all for you. Gon—gonna come down your throat, feed it back to you, mmmm—Make you, make it drip b-back out, so full. Eddie, god, I’m so…”

Eddie is drooling, swirling his tongue and twisting his fist the more the wetness gathered, savoring the sweet taste of Steve’s precome. He dips low and swallows around him, eyes streaming from a slight gag, but his cock is diamond hard in his own clothes. The combination of Steve’s stream of consciousness babble (increasingly just a good-muffled litany of Eddie’s name as he loses himself to the dual onslaught of sensations) and the softness of him, the press and warmth all around, is driving Eddie wild. He feels like he’s being consumed even as he bobs on Steve’s dick, eyes rolling back in his skull a split second before his throat is flooded with come and Steve’s hiccuping cry is muffled by nothing, because he’s already plowed through it all. 

He wonders when the last time Steve got off without food involved. 

He wonders if Steve could eat himself out of this outfit entirely, snap through it like rags and moan in sensual relief as the pinch of it all disappears. 

He comes in his pants. Eddie is so behind on laundry but this is all he ever wants to do anymore. 

Steve still comes into the spa at least once a day, still asks for Eddie every time. Every time he shows up, he seems to be fresh from the buffet. If it’s twice a day, Eddie can see a noticeable difference since the first visit; after a few days, Steve begins to sheepishly admit that he can’t comfortably lay stomach-down on the massage table. “Overdid it again,” he’ll say, running a hand over his belly where it juts out and pulls his shirt taut, tracing seemingly idly over red stretch marks where doughy skin peeks out the bottom but always meeting Eddie’s gaze directly when Eddie looks up from following the motion. He has shirts that would fit him still; he just chooses not to put them on until they nearly don’t. 

There are whispers now, whenever Steve comes to the spa—gossiping about how he's blowing up, sometimes spilling out of his clothes in public, increasingly more often than not arriving with food still in hand. Today he shows up with a messenger bag slung over one shoulder, so pleased with himself that he’s all but bouncing on the balls of his feet; it’s full of leftovers from the buffet. Instead of a massage he asks Eddie to feed him, even though he’s already stuffed, and it’s a miracle that Eddie doesn’t come in his work uniform slacks. (He comes in Steve’s greedy mouth, instead.) 

“That was so fucking hot,” Eddie tells him later that night in Steve’s cabin, popping one of the profiteroles he’d brought as a preemptive apology for the next thing he’s about to say into Steve’s mouth, “but we can’t do that again. If anyone catches us like that while I’m on duty, I will absolutely be fired and dropped off at the nearest port… No, hey—don’t pout, sweetheart, it’s just that I’ll be damned if I’m made to walk the plank before I’ve even gotten your phone number.”

Steve’s eyebrows shoot up, his mouth falls into a breathless oh with pastry cream in the corners, and he immediately starts patting around to get his phone out of his pocket. He’s not actually wearing pants, but it’s the thought that counts. 

And it really does. They hadn’t exchanged phone numbers because they don’t need to on the ship, where they’re generally never more than a few hundred feet apart at any given time and can usually find each other within three guesses of where to look. Steve’s eagerness to exchange numbers now makes Eddie downright giddy; his eyes might even be a little damp as he places another profiterole in that perfect, sweet little oh. 

They don’t actually get around to exchanging numbers that night; Steve falls asleep to his belly as tight as a drum and Eddie gently wiping traces of dessert from around his mouth with a warm washcloth. He wakes up in the morning to the sheets next to him still warm and Eddie’s phone number scrawled on a scrap of paper left on the pillow. 

Yawning, he finds his phone, adds the number, and sends a first text so that Eddie will have his too. Then he dozes off again, still digesting. 

When he wakes again, it’s past noon. His belly grumbles; it’s angry at him for sleeping through the breakfast buffet, even though he’s not exactly empty… but he’s not full anymore, either, and that just feels wrong now. He wishes petulantly that Eddie didn’t have to go, that he could stay and feed Steve all day, rub his belly and tell him how big he’s getting, how insatiable he is, how impossibly hungry. In the absence of food to push into his mouth Steve reaches between his legs, stroking himself as he locates his phone, tapping briefly at it with his free hand and setting it to one side before calling for more room service on the cabin phone—because the buffet doesn’t have pancakes and waffles out anymore, but he can still get them if he asks. 

Throughout the call he keeps stoking, trapping the handset between his shoulder and softening cheek so his other hand can paw at himself, hefting and jiggling and squeezing and kneading, struggling to keep his voice even as he lists out everything he wants. When that’s done, he grabs his cell phone again and considers ending the video he’d been taking… but he’s so close. So close just from thinking about how much he’s had and how much more he still wants, how quickly he’s gone from normal-looking guy to fat, how big he’s eaten himself and still isn’t satisfied, doesn’t want to ever stop, and all he wants is—

“Eddie!”

Coming hard and out of breath, winded just from laying back and pleasuring himself, Steve ends the video. He’s still a quivering mess when he opens his texts to see Eddie’s responses wishing him a good morning, telling him how he almost hadn’t been able to leave for wanting to wake Steve up with his mouth. He’s a grinning quivering mess as he sends the video in response, along with the message, “Since you didn’t, I had to settle for waking up like this. Wish you were here.”

And doesn’t think until a few moments of no reply yet later that… maybe that was a little too forward for what they have. 

Is it too soon? They’ve got to be more than just screwing by now, with Eddie sleeping in Steve’s bed more often than his own and exchanging numbers and how much they share about their own lives in between stuffings and fucking. But… even if they are more, it could still be too soon, right? 

All his life, people have been telling Steve that he falls too fast, too willingly—because he’s a romantic at heart, and he doesn’t understand why that would be a bad thing. Except that it keeps costing him things, like his parents’ affection and now an entire almost-fiancée, and. What if it costs him Eddie too?

But he shouldn’t have worried. By the time he’s partway through an expansive breakfast, Eddie has sent a series of overheated-looking emojis, “Look what you make of me, sweetheart,” and a selfie in what Steve easily recognizes as the bathrooms in the ship’s spa. His uniform pants are down around his knees and his shirt held out of the way in his mouth, barely visible at the top of the frame, evidence of his orgasm dripping down his sleek, tattooed chest and over the hand still wrapped around his spent cock. 

Steve knows how Eddie’s schedule works, and the timestamp on the messages isn’t on the hour—Eddie either had a break in clients or had excused himself in the middle of a massage just to see what Steve had sent. And then liked it so much that he had to stop and touch himself right then and there. 

The very thought is enough to make Steve feel warm all over, and he finishes breakfast panting with his non-eating hand wrapped once more around his own cock, jiggling his way to a second (and eventually a third) round of coming his brains out thinking about this man. 

“So,” Eddie says one night once they’re cuddled up and both spent, Steve too crammed full from stuffing himself in his room all day. Too sated to move except where Eddie’s hands strokes absentmindedly over the expanse of his stretch-marked skin—on his belly, sides, thighs, even his arms now. “What happens after the cruise? What’s next for lil Stevie?”

Steve blushes at the nickname, pleased in a way that mixes sweetly with tongue-in-cheek embarrassment in his gut, but isn’t sure how to answer. Is Eddie asking about… him? Them? Some unknown third thing?

“Well… I guess I have to go back to Indiana,” he answers hesitantly. “Um. Back to working at my dad’s company, which sucks. I’ll probably need to order a new desk chair, heh.” A brief pause, as Eddie rubs over his full stomach and massages a burp loose. “I’ll… probably have to slow down a bit. On this. Which really sucks, because I’m going to have to get used to being hungry sometimes again.” 

Eddie pats his belly, seemingly entranced by the ripples sent out by even that gentle impact. “Yeah… Vacation eating doesn’t quite work in real life, does it?”

And the words are sympathetic, but there’s something sad behind them too, something resigned. Steve doesn’t think he’s messed up yet, but he’s pretty sure that he might if he doesn’t get the next few minutes right. He tries to rock a little, wanting to roll to face Eddie, but finds with another, wetter burp that he can’t; he puts a hand over the other man’s instead. “What about you? Are you… shipping out again, or heading home?”

“Home,” Eddie murmurs, not looking up from their hands. He bites his lip, then adds, “Between things. Honestly, this was meant to be a temporary gig anyway. I’ve been saving up to move somewhere less in the middle of fucking nowhere, you know? Somewhere with better job opportunities. I just… have to have enough for my own place.”

Eddie has told him before that he also has his home base in Indiana, some small town Steve would probably struggle to find on a map, with the uncle who basically raised him. His refuge in between attempts to strike out on his own, failing again and again because no one who isn’t family seems to want to live with him for long. Which is insane to Steve, because Eddie is so caring and sweet, who wouldn’t want to be constantly in his orbit?

True, he’s never seen the guy in his natural element because they’re always in his cabin, crew quarters being off-limits to passengers, but surely he couldn’t be that difficult a roommate. Sometimes Steve thinks wistfully of what it might be like to come home from a long day and fall straight into Eddie’s open arms, aware that he’s halfway in love—and that the ’halfway’ part is a lie to protect his own heart, just in case.

Steve bites back on what he wants to do (blurt out ‘Move in with me’ like a moron; he’d learned his lesson about that the hard way, ages ago) and asks, “Does, uh. Does ‘somewhere’ include Indianapolis?”

“It might,” Eddie replies just as carefully. “It could.”

“Do you ever… come up to visit? To look at apartments or do interviews or anything?”

Brown eyes flick up to meet his briefly, then back down. “I could. I mean, I haven’t much because it’s a long drive for a day trip, and unless I sleep in my van, staying overnight can get… Uh, and I don’t know anyone I could couch surf with up there.”

Taking a chance, Steve shifts his hand and twines their fingers together just a bit. “You know me. And I have a bed—I mean, a guest bed. A whole guest room, even. And a couch too, but you could have your pick.”

He spots the start of a grin while he’s still rambling and thinks with a wave of relief that he’s gotten it right after all. 

It takes some figuring out, and help from a waiter that Steve has been exchanging sarcastic jokes and gossip about some of the other passengers with since pretty much day one of the cruise, but Steve finally gets to see Eddie’s room on the ship about a week before the cruise ends, on Eddie’s day off. 

“Sweetheart, meet my sweetheart,” Eddie says, magnanimously letting Steve touch his acoustic guitar. “Not to be confused with my electric sweetheart, who decided to wait this one out safely on dry land.”

Steve raises an eyebrow, and doesn’t take it at all personally that Eddie lets him touch the instrument but not hold it. He’s not totally sure how to hold a guitar and wouldn’t want to drop such an obviously prized possession. “Do they have names, too?”

“The only two ladies I could ever be in a relationship with are nameless,” Eddie replies solemnly. “You’ll have to share me with them, I’m afraid.” 

And then he abruptly goes red, maybe because neither of them has mentioned the R word yet and he just went and implied it like it’s a given that’s where they’re headed, and Steve can’t help himself. He leans into Eddie, crowding him against the wall—not a long way to go here, in any direction—and kisses him hungrily. (He’s always hungry; for food, for Eddie, all the time now.) 

“I think I can handle that,” he tells a dazed looking Eddie before going back to examining the room. Again, doesn’t take that much time, but for such a small, blank space Eddie seems to have breathed so much life into it. Posters and polaroids taped up all over the walls, the pictures mostly behind the scenes shots on the ship. People he’s seen around and people he hasn’t. Eddie must know the waiter, Robin, too, because she appears in a number of them standing arm in arm with a more petite blonde girl who crops up in a lot of the photos. In one, she’s very clearly giving Eddie a wedgie. 

“That’s Chrissy. And, uh, there’s almost a reason for that one that doesn’t make us sound like feuding second-graders,” Eddie says, following his gaze and still flushed from the kiss. Or maybe from being pushed around a little? “She was my in for getting this job. Known her for years, she’s kind of my other half… in a completely platonic way, of course.”

Steve snorts. “Well that’s good, I’d hate to be sleeping with a guy who’d date someone he let hook his underwear over his head.”

Smirking, Eddie gives him a little shove—doesn’t move Steve at all, the hand just sinks into him with little effect. “First off, she’d need a ladder for an atomic wedgie, calm down. Second, she’s so not my type.”

“Oh yeah?” Steve looks Eddie up and down, then down at himself in feigned surprise. He smooths down the front of his cheerful yellow shirt then drags his hands back up, easing his belly out from where he’d tucked it into his shorts and the hem of said polo up too. Right on cue, Eddie’s eyes drop down to watch. “I never would have guessed.” He gives himself a little jiggle. “Remind me what your type is again, baby?”

Baby. Baby. Eddie has no idea what his face does in response to that because most of his blood is roaring straight to his dick, and he’s forgotten to worry about the fact that one look under the bed would bring Steve eye to eye with several days worth of dirty laundry. Forgotten that he was nervous about sharing his private space with Steve, with all the messy edges and nerdy interests showing. But if anything, Steve seems to enjoy the mess—looking at his pictures with interest (zero recognition of any of his metal band posters or niche horror movie favorites, but Eddie can work with that), and still flirting with him. 

“You,” Eddie breathes, then falls backward onto his tiny single-occupant bed and pulls Steve down with him, onto him with a moan. Kissing him so hard and frantic and completely uncoordinated. 

Steve nips at his lip, causing Eddie to groan and break the kiss. He lifts up on his elbows and knees, and they both have a moment when they realize that his belly hangs down far enough to just brush against where Eddie’s cock strains against his fly, soft against hard. Then Steve smirks and leans back down onto him with intent. “Was this your plan, Eddie? Get me alone in your room and have your way with me?” 

“I mean,” Eddie replies breathlessly, straining upwards trying to get another kiss. “It wasn’t not the plan.”

“Smooth,” Steve chuckles, and grants him a quick peck. “Didn’t plan it very well though, I don’t see anything here I can eat.” His eyebrows tilt and his bottom lip curves out in a pout that Eddie wants to bite. “What am I supposed to put in my mouth if I get hungry, huh?” He grinds down just right to make Eddie’s eyes roll back in his head. “Oh, wait. I guess there is one thing I can think of…”

Later, after Steve has sucked Eddie’s soul out of his dick and come into his own fist about it, then licked his hand clean with the fastidiousness of a cat who got the cream, and they’ve worked out that they can both fit on the bed if Steve lays on his back and Eddie lays half on top of him, half leaned against the wall… 

After all that, Steve asks about the guitars. Ha asks about the band Eddie had in high school that practiced in a friend’s garage and played once a week at the local shitty dive bar, and about one of the dirty t-shirts under the bed (which, yes, he did notice) that matches one of the posters on the wall. 

Eddie is pretty sure that he answers everything with stars in his eyes. He jokes that yeah, the posters do come with him wherever he travels, and melts when Steve asks if he’ll bring them when he visits him in Indianapolis. “You mean you really meant that? About me staying with you?”

“Yeah, of course,” Steve replies, smiling. “I really like you, Eddie. I don’t want this to just be some vacation fling.”

“Me neither.” Eddie’s arm tightens around him in a brief squeeze. It sets off a grumble in Steve’s empty, impatient stomach that makes them both giggle. “Ready to sneak back out again, big boy? I can text Robin to whip us up another distraction, and to have a snack sent to your cabin.”

Steve stretches under him, warm and pliant like the world’s snuggliest teddy bear. “Mmm, yeah. Make it a big one, that was a lot of exercise just now. I had to do a lot of the work, you know.”

“Well that won’t do,” Eddie teases, giving him a kiss before rolling off to find his pants, and in them his phone. “I’d better make sure my little ex-jock don’t have to lift a finger for the rest of the day, huh?”

When Steve sits up, Eddie has a perfect view of the way his side rolls and belly stack up atop one ever-thickening thigh. The luscious fruit of night after night of heady indulgences, day after day of Steve marathon-stuffing himself at the buffets, insatiable. So perfect that Eddie wants to swoop in on him again, but he knows it will be even better if he can slide more treats past Steve’s plump lips, spoil him and feel his stomach swell and round out while sweet whines and whispers of please, more slip out around mouthfuls, more, please baby I need it, fill me up, never felt so good before, doesn’t feel as good if it’s not you feeding me, baby—

Eddie has to check himself that he’s not drooling. Even though the cruise is almost over he still gets to keep Steve; this is the best day of his entire goddamn life. 

The last night before the cruise ends, Eddie lets himself into Steve’s cabin to find the man in question naked beneath a robe that no longer fully closes over his gut. He’d woken up early along with Eddie (who had to get to work) to start on one last lazy breakfast in bed and is still eating now, never having dressed and never having stopped. So full there are angry lines spidering over his belly and hips and he’s moaning between bites, during bites, pawing desperately at himself with one hand in a pitiful attempt to ease the ache even as his other hand still brings food to his mouth. Room service trays are scattered everywhere, scraped clean before discarded for the next, and the next, and the next. 

He sees Eddie and whines wordlessly, spreading his legs wider so his belly drops between meaty thighs and almost kisses the mattress. Eddie has been watching it get closer all goddamn afternoon in the pictures and videos Steve keeps sending. The last text is bouncing around in his head like a screensaver: Baby i need you i need more. 

Baby. It still gets him every goddamn time. 

Eddie opens the to-go box of cake he’s brought right there on the bed, fingers in Steve’s soft hair as he croons for him to sit up, just a little bit further, come on, sweetheart, I brought what you need. Watches until Steve, on his hands and knees, starts twitching his hips and moaning face-first into his post-dessert dessert before Eddie fingers and then fucks frantically into him while he finishes the rest. Comes hard and deep inside Steve, who’s almost sobbing don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop and yes yes YES as Eddie slides a plug into his greedy, messy hole to keep him full there. 

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Eddie pants as he helps Steve collapse safely to one side. “Back when you booked the tickets? Just wanted to eat and eat and no one ever tell you no, hmm sweetheart? Keep you full the entire trip. Make you so much bigger by the end of it.”

Steve groans, almost slurs the words, “Fuck, don’ make me horny again, Eds… Ate s-so much, I could pop.”

Eddie shushes him, laying a finger across Steve’s sticky lips and only a little surprised when Steve responds by immediately opening them, licking and drawing it into his mouth like it might be candy. Like he doesn’t know how to respond any other way. Sucks on it instinctively and jesus fucking christ if that doesn’t make Eddie’s cock twitch again. The things this perfect man has been doing to his libido for the entire cruise is downright diabolical, it’s so amazing. He hasn’t been this on the cusp ready to go again so fast since he was a goddamn teenager. 

So he massages Steve’s swollen, churning tummy and coos over every freckle and stretch mark, every curve and bulge the way he’d wanted to from the moment he’d noticed them beginning to form. Gleefully and deliriously egging Steve on until his dick is hard against the soft underside of his belly, ready for the next round of their last hurrah. 

On the ship, anyway. 

Eddie already has Steve’s address saved in his phone. 

Plans saved in his calendar app to drive up and start job hunting in a mere two weeks, the longest either of them could stand to imagine being apart. 

Dreams of moving there, living with Steve and having this every goddamn day. Steve has already told him he can stay as long as he wants, so they’ll see. Chrissy and Robin might swing down from Chicago and they’ll go on double dates, Steve happy to polish off any leftovers that the girls don’t want to bring back to their hotel room when they’re out on the town. 

Would he have leaned so hard into it without Eddie to eat for, to seduce and impress and tip over the edge of infatuation to utter, love-soaked devotion? Maybe. But that would have been eating to fill a void in his life, in his heart. This, what they do together, the way Steve consumes and Eddie helps him push past his limits and break through to that blissful state of truly full, is beautiful. A connection that neither of them has felt before, not in any of Eddie’s casual affairs or Steve’s serial relationships. Something new and promising and bright… and big.

What started as a straightforward all-inclusive cruise might just have led to the best thing to happen to either of them in their entire lives, and Eddie can’t wait to see just how big Steve decides to get. 

[jedivoodoochile]

“My kids found a picture of me from (1985) with Eddie Van Halen, where I look 12, and he looks 14, and I thought, ‘What a cool life I’ve lived, where my kids can find a picture of me with Van Halen on the internet.’ It’s like looking back on footprints in the sand. LOOK WHERE I’VE BEEN.” --Michael J. Fox

Michael, of course, was the lead actor in the most successful movie of 1985, "Back To The Future". Eddie made a very cool "instrumental" contribution to that movie.

The concept of Back to the Future is that Marty McFly (played by a young Michael J. Fox) has traveled back in time to his own parents' adolescence and must engineer their meeting, or risk being erased from the future himself. To command his sci-fi obsessed father to ask his future mother out, Marty dresses as an alien and pays McFly senior a late-night visit. To prove his futuristic credential, he blasts his fathers' ears with a Sony Walkman loaded with a cassette marked "Edward Van Halen." And while this blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment could easily be chalked up to an homage, the bombastic music playing IS IN FACT a riff from Eddie.

The commentary from the DVD of the film fleshes out the backstory: The rest of Van Halen didn't want to be involved in Back to the Future, hence the tape couldn't legally say Van Halen, so they added the name "Edward" in a smaller typeface. The film also wasn't allowed to feature the band's music, but relied instead on a solo piece from Eddie. The exact authorship of the piece remained unclear until 2012 when Eddie confirmed to TMZ that it was him "just playing a bunch of noise." The "noise" was actually a musical piece composed by Eddie for the 1984 movie "The Wild Life" and is titled "Out The Window". It can be found on YouTube. Eddie wrote the entire musical score for that movie.

Music was a strong element throughout the Back to the Future trilogy–Huey Lewis plays a talent show judge, there's a running joke about Chuck Berry, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers appears in both sequels, and ZZ Top sound tracked Back to the Future Part III. But it's Eddie Van Halen's brief instrumental cameo that has proven to be one of the MOST enduring moments. Not bad for an uncredited appearance where you don't even see the man in question!

[perksofbeingahalfie]

if you loved s8e6 Confessions, please consider reading my crack treated seriously one shot that I published two weeks prior but still managed to hit all the same points, including Eddie's catholic guilt, Eddie being in denial, brief hot priest cameo, the first half of a gay revelation, coincidence as God moments, gratuitous food metaphors, talking about something without actually talking about it, and of course, glee reference

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59897104

[mafiatsunafish]

I know about 9-1-1 and Buck through TikTok first (pls don’t judge me, I have a bit too much time in my hands and they’re all over my fly) and no words could describe how confused I was when I actually watch its s1 and met Buck 1.0

The sweet, adorable, whole some golden is now a straight-up menace to this goddamn society and needed to have a big ass warning sign before approaching (affectionately)

Along with all things that had been thrown into my face in only the first ep, the shell shock was fucking real. I was NOT prepared to deal with all of that in my first time watching the show.

That man in s1 for me is the epitome of a walking red flag despite many of his sweet sweet little details.

But now, after binge watched into s6, seeing his character development at its finest. Sometimes, I wish to see 1.0 play boy Buck have a brief cameo, just for comedic relief.

( s1 Buck is a disaster bi in deep denial and confusion, until he meet Eddie in s2, welp)

[ohblackdiamond]

ace’s eighties vlog

this home movie of ace before and during his hammersmith odeon concert in 1988 london is oddly interesting, in places. the video/audio quality is not good. it’s not exactly a kinder, gentler ace or anything, but it is a pretty off the cuff, honest ace. he films a brief, somewhat deprecating overview of his hotel room (including a look at a framed photo of a woman that’s definitely not his wife and the comment that “the best part of this trip so far is this jacket,” followed by a zoom in on the jacket’s patch, which he found cool) before heading out to join with the rest of the band and head to the venue. 

you get the very obvious impression that for all that ace had been to london prior as a member of kiss, he had never gotten much of an opportunity to sightsee. (lydia comments on this regarding kiss’ first trip to japan, saying she and jeanette were really the only ones who really got a chance to see anything while over there-- the boys were mostly stuck.)

during the drive, he’s pointing at various tourist attractions/historical buildings and asking about them (”this is... this is hyde park? this is hyde park. ... i should’ve taken this camera with me yesterday.” “is that where princess di lives?”) as he tries to record them on the camcorder.

it was kind of neat to see since i’d assumed at this point in his career, roughly 15-16 years in, he would’ve been basically inured to any interest in any area he was performing in, since he’d toured all over the world. he keeps pointing his camcorder towards a much fancier, modern hotel (the royal garden) and saying “this is the hotel we should’ve stayed in... and didn’t...” he’s definitely bitter, though it’s no comparison to paul from around the same time; ace seems more resigned. there are about a dozen fans outside of the venue hours and hours prior to the show, holding albums and yelling excitedly. around the very end of the recording, you can see the fans crowding around as ace and the band leave as well.

cameos include a very young eddie trunk, the 1988 members of frehley’s comet (of course), and, unless my eyes deceive me, gordon gebert. it may not be worth a close perusal or, indeed, much perusal, but it’s an interesting look at the way things were for ace at this point. ace is fairly quiet and toned-down, though he cracks a few jokes and makes some dry comments here and there. per basically everyone who ever worked with ace, up until probably the 2000s, he was able to play even when trashed out of his mind. he’s definitely sober for at least the early parts of this in the hotel/car, though-- that being said, it looks as though they arrived at the hammersmith odeon around lunchtime, probably a solid seven or eight hours before the show, so i can’t exactly vouch for his sobriety any time past that. kind of neat stuff.

[hairstevington]

Stranger Therapy - part 2!

Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Summary: Based on this text post, Steve and Eddie match on Tinder and decide to go to couple's counseling on a first date to see how long it takes the therapist (Murray) to figure them out. Chapter 1, Link to Ao3

Word Count: 3k again!

Warnings: This one has a moment of actual therapy lmao, nothing TOO serious but Eddie has low self-esteem and Steve is closed off, modern day AU, aged up, brief Robin cameo, Matchmaker Murray.

A/N: OMG I was NOT expecting such a big reaction to part 1!! Here is the much requested part two, and I plan to continue for probably another two or three chapters. Thanks to all who have read so far!! PS I really did look into the counselor code of ethics for this one lmao

“So, how’d it go?” Robin asked once Steve got home. 

He had no idea how to answer that question. 

“It was…” He wandered to the fridge to grab a drink, wondering how much of the experience he should share with Robin. Generally, they told each other everything, but wasn’t therapy usually a private thing? So it wouldn’t be too terribly weird to not tell her, right? “Did you know he went to Hawkins High with us?”

“He did?” she asked, just as confused as Steve had been. “Like, at the same time we were there?”

“Yup. Eddie Munson ring a bell?” Robin thought about the name for a second before her eyes widened. 

“Oh my god! Yes I remember him!” She laughed, then continued once she’d settled down. “Okay, yeah. He’s definitely the kind of person who would want to do the first date fake couple’s counseling thing. He was always a little…outside of the box.”

“Come on,” Steve replied. “You say the meanest shit to me, and the best you can come up with for Eddie is that he’s ‘outside of the box?’ Robin, he’s never even seen the box.” She laughed again.

“Okay, sure,” she agreed. “I’m guessing it didn’t turn out to be a good match?”

Steve hesitated again, because no, that wasn’t it. He wasn’t sure if they were a good match, honestly. He ran through the events of the day in his head, then realized just how batshit insane it all was. And Steve had agreed to it. 

And he didn’t even regret it. 

He imagined telling Robin, and her relentlessly teasing him about it like she always did. This would give her enough ammunition to last a lifetime. It probably would be even worse than the fateful day at the mall when Steve had accidentally ripped his pants while attempting to hit on a girl. Robin had a front row seat for that one, and she still brought it up. 

Steve agreeing to go to therapy with an actual stranger, pretending to date said stranger, and working on actual personal issues together? Yeah, no. Steve was gonna take this shit to the grave.

Except, he wouldn’t, would he? Because he had an accomplice. They also weren’t strangers, not really, but they were still acquaintances, at best. An acquaintance that Steve had intermittently thought about kissing ever since Eddie mentioned it with Dr. Bauman. 

Ohhh, this is bad I think.

“Earth to Steve,” Robin said, interrupting his thought spiral. “Are you going to see him again or not?”

“We’re gonna get coffee next week,” Steve lied. He never lied to Robin, and he felt immediately horrible about it, but he couldn’t tell her, right? 

He almost broke and told her the honest truth, because sitting with the lie was so uncomfortable. Instead, he told himself that if he actually got coffee with Eddie next week, then he wouldn’t be lying. Loophole!

“Oh,” she said, surprised. “I really didn’t expect anything to come from this.”

“Yeah, well he’s -” Steve tried to think of what exactly it was about Eddie that was so enticing. He was hot, obviously. Charismatic. He was able to take Steve off guard, and they rolled with each other’s bullshit pretty smoothly. It was strange how connected he felt to Eddie in the session. Like they really were in tune with each other. Like they were an actual couple. “He’s cool. We had fun.”

“I know you’re not telling me something,” Robin said, eyeing him suspiciously. “But I guess it’s not my business. Plus, confidentiality and all that.”

Unlike Steve, Robin had been to therapy before. She had always told Steve he should go, too, but he never had. 

Until now, of course. But first, he had to cover his bases. 

-

Steve: Do you wanna get coffee before our appointment?

Eddie: Sure, gives us a chance to get our stories straight

Eddie: Hold on let me make the joke before you do

Steve: ?

Eddie: About our stories being gay and not straight!!

Steve: I wasn’t gonna make that lame-ass joke

Eddie: Sure you weren’t

Steve: And if I was, my delivery would have been way better

Eddie: oh shit

Eddie: Steve’s biting back today ;)

Steve: Well I gotta keep up with you, don’t I?

Eddie: Mmm i see how it is. Noon work for coffee?

Steve: I’ll be there

-

Eddie had recently been told by a close friend that he needed to get his shit together. The couple’s counseling wasn’t a whole master plan on Eddie’s part - he really did think it sounded fun, and it was - but the thought of talking out some of his issues was appealing, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. 

This close friend of Eddie’s - the one who suggested Eddie had an attitude problem and low self-esteem - had mentioned Dr. Bauman a few times in the past. He apparently worked wonders on couples, even the ones who argued all the time. His success rate was remarkable. 

Thinking back on it, maybe Eddie did kind of want to do couple’s counseling with Steve and Dr. Bauman for a reason. 

Like, come on. There was a spark there, right? There was something, at least. Who else would have gone along with Eddie’s crazy this much? Steve understood Eddie, and while he kept calling this whole thing ‘insane,’ it didn’t stop him from agreeing to it. Because there was something there between them. 

But mainly, Eddie just wanted to see a therapist, he didn’t really want to do it alone, and for whatever reason Steve seemed like the right person to be there. 

Okay, yeah. Steve’s right. This is insane. 

-

The cafe down the street from Murray’s office was small and cozy, and had fancy syrups for the coffee that Steve secretly loved. He came here sometimes, under the guise that he was getting a strawberries and cream oat milk latte for Robin, even though literally none of the workers cared. 

“Your usual?” the barista asked when Steve and Eddie got in line. Steve tried not to notice Eddie’s amused expression and the way his eyebrows were raised expectantly, desperate to know what Steve ordered so often the workers had it memorized. 

“Uhhhh…” Steve wasn’t sure why he was blushing. He never cared much about being seen as masculine, and he was literally going to therapy with this guy, so things were about to get a lot more embarrassing than a coffee order. He looked at Eddie. “Don’t judge me, it’s delicious.” Eddie laughed. 

“I don’t give a shit,” he said. “Whatever it is, own it.” Steve turned to the barista.

“Yes, the usual,” he told her. 

“I’ll get the same thing,” Eddie chimed in. Steve felt a flutter of something in his chest, somewhere between anxiety and flattery. 

They got their drinks and sat down. Steve took a sip and tried not to show on his face how happy this stupid beverage made him. It was a simple joy, you know?

“Okay, so you wanted to come up with some kind of game plan, right?” Steve asked as he waited for the caffeine to hit. 

“Yeah, I mean -” Eddie shifted in his seat uncomfortably. What the hell is he nervous about, Steve wondered. “If Murray figures us out now, he’ll drop us. So we have to be a bit more convincing.”

“How are we supposed to be more convincing? Do you want us to start making out on the couch or something?” Steve suggested it as if he wouldn’t be extremely happy to do so. 

“If it comes down to it,” Eddie teased back. Steve blushed once again. He was so much better at flirting than he was being flirted with. “My favorite color is black or red, depending on the day. I still mostly eat canned foods and TV dinners because I never figured out the whole meal prep thing, but it works out fine because my favorite food is mac and cheese. I play a lot of video games and I have a Dungeons and Dragons group. I’m kind of amazing at the guitar -”

“What are you doing?” Steve asked, not getting it. Eddie sighed.

“I’m telling you about myself, what do you think I’m doing?” He shook his head and chuckled. “So you have context, or whatever. So we’re not just making shit up.”

“Oh, okay,” Steve responded. “What about your family?”

“Yeah, we’re not gonna touch that subject with a ten foot pole,” Eddie muttered. “Your turn.”

“Fair enough. Okay, well my favorite color is blue, I guess. I live with my best friend Robin. I…I’m not really good at this.” Steve took another sip of his drink and wondered why he couldn’t come up with more facts about himself. 

“College?” Eddie asked. Steve shook his head. “Me neither. Do you like music?”

“Yeah,” Steve answered. “I took piano lessons for a while and then I taught myself the rest.”

“Impressive,” Eddie noted. “Do we ever play music together?”

“I guess we could,” Steve said with a shrug. It was fun, coming up with a backstory like that. “Aren’t you going to drink your coffee?”

“Oh Jesus, no. It’s got way too much sugar for my taste.”

“Then why did you get one?” Eddie smiled.

“Because now -” Eddie slid his cup across the table until it was directly next to Steve’s. “-you have one for later.” Steve stared down at both cups, perplexed. 

“That is…like, incredibly sweet,” he said.

“Just like that abomination you call coffee,” Eddie replied.

-

After intake, Dr. Murray Bauman examined the counseling code of ethics, and unsurprisingly there was nothing in there saying it was unethical to continue treating a couple who were lying about being a couple. He didn’t have proof they were pretending, of course, but clients lied to therapists all the time. If they showed up for their appointment, Murray was going to counsel them. That was his job. Truly, it would have been unethical not to work with them. 

They did show up, and they were right on time. Immediately, Murray noticed something was different. They were more comfortable with each other, and Steve in particular looked much less terrified. 

“So,” Murray began, “tell me how your week has been.”

“It’s been good,” Eddie answered. “You really helped us out a lot.”

For a fleeting moment, Murray believed him. He thought that maybe his instinct had been wrong, and they actually were a couple, and they’d somehow managed to get over Steve’s affair in a matter of forty minutes. 

But it was only a moment. Murray was a great counselor, but nobody was that good. His suspicions were confirmed when Steve opened his mouth. 

“We actually think our relationship is solid, and we kinda just want to focus on our own individual issues,” he said. 

It was far too polished of a statement for it to have not been planned. Which meant one thing - Steve and Eddie were just looking for individual therapy, and were going at the same time for…emotional support? Cost-effectiveness? 

Murray nodded. This was all a first for him, and he loved uncharted waters. 

“Okay, what would you like to focus on first?” he asked. 

“I’ll go,” Eddie offered. “So, I have this friend that says I have self-esteem issues, but it doesn’t really make sense to me because I feel like I’m pretty confident. Like, I haven’t really mastered how to be a grown-up or anything, and I’m kind of a mess sometimes, but it’s all part of my charm, you know? I’ve always been a little crazy, but I also think I’m awesome, so…” 

“If you think you’re awesome, why does someone else’s opinion matter?” Murray asked. 

“I dunno, aren’t you the one who has the answers?” Eddie asked. “Just skip to the part where you tell me what’s wrong with me.”

“Well, that’s not usually how this works,” Murray began, “but I think I do see what’s going on.”

“Enlighten me,” Eddie said. 

“You just said you were confident but called yourself a mess and a little crazy in the same breath,” Murray replied. “You can exude confidence all you want, but it doesn’t mean you actually believe those things about yourself. Steve, what do you think about this?”

“Uhhh -” Steve looked absolutely unequipped to answer the proposed question. “I think Eddie knows how hot and charming he is, actually. I don’t think it’s bullshit.”

“I didn’t say it was bullshit,” Murray countered, noticing that this time Eddie was the one to blush. “But there is a difference between ego and self-esteem. It’s not just about confidence, it’s about self-respect and worth. Eddie, do you feel valuable?”

“Like, in this relationship?” Eddie asked. 

“No, in this world.” 

This question stopped Eddie dead in his tracks. His face went pale, and he became visibly nervous at the prospect of being so vulnerable. 

“Fuck,” Eddie said at last. “I mean, uh - not really, but it's not personal, I don't think. Just feels like we're all specks of dust on a rock, you know?"

There was another shift in the room, but Murray couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. 

“Can you tell me a bit about how you grew up?” he wondered. Family history was a standard line of questioning in these early sessions. Eddie froze.

“Actually, I really wanna focus on my thing now, if that’s okay,” Steve interrupted. Eddie seemed relieved to pass the torch, so Murray went with it. 

“Of course. What’s going on with you, Steve?”

“Uhh, well, I - um -” he sputtered, his leg bouncing rapidly. “I keep having this nightmare - like, every night - where there’s a monster in my closet. What do you think that means?”

“Well,” Murray said, leaning back in his chair. “Dream psychology isn’t really my specialty -”

“Okay, but I reeeeally wanna talk about it,” Steve persisted. "Like, is the monster a metaphor about my sexuality or is it supposed to be my dad? Help me out here."

While Steve babbled about his obviously made up dream, Murray caught Eddie staring at the man beside him. There was a completely unmistakable twinkle in Eddie's eye that told Murray everything he needed to know. Whether these boys knew it or not, they cared about each other. 

“As you wish,” Murray conceded. They used the rest of their time focusing on much less heavy subjects, and it was pretty clear that was intentional. He understood, though, that it was important not to take these things too fast. Before long, the color returned to Eddie’s face, and the boys were riffing off each other again flawlessly. 

This was getting more and more interesting by the minute. 

-

“Things were intense for a bit in there,” Eddie said as they walked back to the parking lot.

“Yeah,” Steve agreed. “You okay?”

“M’good,” Eddie replied. “Your dream thing. Was that real?”

“Uh, no. I just thought you needed a break.”

“Oh,” he said. “Normally I’d give you a spirited monologue about how you don’t know me and therefore shouldn’t make my decisions for me.”

“What are you gonna say instead?” Steve asked. 

“Well, considering you’re technically paying for this, I don’t really have a leg to stand on,” Eddie chuckled. “And also, as weird as this whole thing is, I’m glad you were in there with me.” He tried to play it off as a lot more casual of a statement than it was. 

Being in therapy together and actually taking it seriously was an incredibly intimate thing. Steve wasn’t sure he could actually be as open as Eddie had been. 

“I think we’re skipping a whole lot of steps, here,” Steve said, attempting to return Eddie’s light tone. 

“Yeah, well I’ve always hated steps,” Eddie replied. “I tend to trip over ‘em.” 

“Right.” Steve chuckled. “So…same time next week?” Eddie flashed a genuine smile and nodded. 

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Oh, but next time - you’re in the hot seat. No fake dreams, I’m talking real shit, okay?”

“Oh, you’re making demands, now?” Steve asked, amused. “What happened to you not having a leg to stand on?”

“Huh,” Eddie responded, pondering this for a moment. He shrugged. “I guess I can fly.” 

Steve had no intention of actually diving into real shit, especially after he’d seen the way Murray dug into Eddie during the session. Steve wasn’t ready to confront anything. He refused to admit there was anything to confront in the first place. But he would go - of course he’d go, because something deep within him told him he’d regret it if he didn’t.

Steve and Eddie weren’t a couple. They weren’t strangers. They weren’t friends. But damn, they were something.

(next chapter)

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

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[jonathanbyersphd]

Don't Fear The Reaper (8179 words) by Musicalchaos07 Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Jonathan Byers/Nancy Wheeler Characters: Jonathan Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Eddie Munson, Chrissy Cunningham, Background & Cameo Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Supernatural Elements, Explicit Language, Mild Sexual Content, Paranormal Investigators, Jonathan Byers Has Powers, Nancy Wheeler Has a Gun, Investigator Jancy My Beloved, Quite Literally Haunted Jonathan Byers, Protective Nancy Wheeler, Established Relationship, So Married, Fluff and Angst, Mostly Fluff, Chrissy Cunningham is still dead tragically, Drug Use, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse Summary: Jonathan Byers was 13 the first time he saw a ghost, he screamed so loud he nearly woke the neighbor. Seven years and one brief stint in Pennhurst later, he's crisscrossing the country with his girlfriend, dispelling rumors, exorcising poltergeists, and trying to bring families closure. Nancy Wheeler is first and foremost a skeptic, so of course it's her boyfriend who can see spirits. And if it weren't for her own close encounter she wouldn't believe him. She doesn't believe half the stories they hear but she's not about to let him go investigate on his own. Their latest case has brought them to the bright lights of Nashville to solve the murder of an average backup singer. Even though all signs point to one suspect, Jonathan and Nancy know by now that things are never as easy as they seem. But with an ill-natured mourner, unhelpful clientele, and an even more unhelpful apparition it's up to them to sort through the stories to find the truth before it's too late.

Chapter 3... 3 months later 🙈