#feeling halloweenish

[theuniversalscat]

💀 🎂

[utb-art-dump]

Is it a possibility to see Polly appear in any of your artworks?? Anyway, love your stuff and keep doing what you’re doing <3

And behold:

[Insert montage of efnisien taking various pet photos, as he should]

Thanks for the request!

[bluerosefox]

Dinner?

Feeling a bit Spirit Halloweenish.

Danny blinked, stared blankly, blinked again before slowly very slowly closed his front door.

A few seconds later Danny opened the door again and once again meet a certain tallish young man, around his age if maybe a few years older, in front of him...

Who was it?

Bruce Wayne....

Bruce freaking Wayne, someone according to what he heard from Sam telling him from what she heard from her parents had apparently just dropped out of med school and was 'in the wind' according to rich elite gossip talks, was at his front door.

........

Why?

Wait... Did he just ask Danny out on a date?

-x-x-

Bruce Wayne has just dropped out of med school and is beginning his training into becoming the person his city needs him to become. While looking into where he can he remembers how in his teen years the planet was almost destroyed but was saved by a ghost teen hero and looks into it. He digs deep to uncover what happened, uncovering impressive firewalls Amity Park has, etc and finds out about Danny Fenton/Phantom.

He decides to go visit the younger man, who is just about to start college himself, and ask a few questions.

He uhhh... Bruce just wasn't expecting to find Danny very cute (even though he was pretty certain Phantom had been his first male crush when he saw a photo of the teen years ago), and adorable with his owlish stare, and well the first words out of his mouth was

"Would you mind joining me for dinner?"

-x-x-

[the-cinnamon-snail]

Brain can't make decision the decision might need to be made for me because I'm bad at things and super indecisive but still can only get and only really want one.

Reasonings under the cut I guess but it's just me ranting because if I do IRL my mother might get mad at me and call me greedy for somehow implying that I want both.

Okay so essentially these are the same size of about a foot and both are only like 12.99 so I can get only one

Orange - I love him so much he's so silly. My favorite color is orange and the soft colors are pretty calming. He looks more excited and happy, obviously good buddy material. The downside is I am afraid of getting such a light fur color because what if he gets dirty :[

Black - the Halloween like black and orange color combo is absolutely iconic. This one gives off the illusion of being slightly fluffier despite being the same pattern of plush. This one looks more mischievous and playful, still good buddy material. Downside is when I think of getting this one I've gotten attached to the other one and feel sad for leaving it behind just because this one has a clear spooky aesthetic :[

So I need this choice made for me, and I'll go with whatever this poll chooses to make things easier for myself on which one I should get.

[karasukarei]

Miscellaneous WinBre-adjacent Experiences

I did lots of random stuff during my recent trip and I thought some of them would be of some interest to the WinBre circle 👀

Edit: Omg I forgot to put everything under a cut I'M SO SORRY FOR MAKING EVERYONE SCROLL

Stuff under the cut:

WinBre x Sanrio

Natori's concert

Shizuoka's tea fields

Other random things of some note

WinBre x Sanrio collab

Yeah the title says it all. If I were to be brutally honest I didn’t really like many of the collab designs… The only one I found that was pretty nice was Suou x Kuromi.

The chibis really weren’t that cute imo ;-; 

Also the collab was held at the TV station, so they had the original promo standees on display too!

Yeah this is me simping.

Ok but this was both unhinged and genius. Whoever decided to put the standee in the aquarium. You are my new hero.

Natori’s concert - 劇場〜再演〜

I managed to score tickets to Natori’s concert in Osaka! This is gonna be a mini concert review (and some mild simping, cos I followed Natori even before Wind Breaker). (Just in case you’re not aware, Natori was the artiste for Wind Breaker’s opening Zettai Reido)

Overall, it was REALLY GOOD. He’s one of the rare singer/songwriters who isn’t just a musician, but is an actual performer. I’m not even kidding when I say that he sounds way better live than in any of his recordings, and the way he changes the notes between cadences on the fly really makes each live performance unique. He’s also really big on dancing and enjoying the music, multiple times he’d tell everyone “踊ろうぜ” (let’s dance!) and he’d just start dancing as he sings, it’s just so chill and enjoyable. They also had a brass triplet on stage, they were SO GOOD, the sax player even switched to flute for some songs!

The stage decor was pretty cool as well, you can essentially split the performance into two halves. For the first half, it was a sort of halloweenish sort of situation, where there was like grey cloth (I think to mimic grey stone or thick cobwebs) draped over the stage pieces and overhanging the projector. Once he starts Gekijou (song 11), all of that falls off and you can see all the intricate wooden detail on the stage sets!!! It was SO COOL, and the different decor really complemented the two halves of the setlist.

Setlist

(source)

Commenting on just the memorable parts or areas that I found of note:

Song 2 Sleepwalk was where all the dancing started! It’s so groovy and the easy swing is SO CATCHY, I really admire how he just sings all these long run-on lyrics effortlessly! (I must admit that the way he sings the endings of a few lines, even in other songs, quite erotic cos of how he growls a bit and alters the notes x_x)

Song 6 EAT was SO GOOD live. I heard the demo before and the quality wasn’t great so I couldn’t really appreciate it, but this version was GOOD. It was so much more polished and had better mixing, and you can feel the high and low tension points in the song now, instead of it sounding a bit flat in the demo.

Song 9 Terminal wasn’t a really big favourite of mine when I first heard it, but it’s SO GOOD live OMG. The tension points were a lot clearer, and singing along with the repeating "da da da la da da da" makes it so much more immersive. This completely changed my perspective on the song, I really like it so much more now!!!

Song 10 Seishatachi I REALLY like this song (it’s the B-side to Zettai Reido), from the live you can tell it’s a pretty technically difficult song cos of the all the off-beats x_x I also realised that the very last syllable in the song is a very very long “da-“ that you can’t hear in the recording cos of all the mixing ^^; he just screams “DA——“ into the mic and holds it for a few seconds, it was SO COOL.

Song 11 Gekijou’s true stars were the brass triplet in my opinion, hearing them live was really what turned the performance into a theatre!!! Natori also welcomes you by saying “劇場へようこそ！” (Welcome to the theatre) while striking the same pose as the key visual, it’s just so cohesive and well thought-out and I was SO IMPRESSED by all the planning that went into this one song.

Song 13 Overdose had an extended mix with the chorus repeating at least 2-3 times at the end (I didn’t count cos I was having SO MUCH FUN). I must admit I wasn’t that big a fan of Overdose (yes I’m a weirdo, my favourite songs are Eureka and Cult), but DAMN the party atmosphere in this mix was amazing.

Song 15 Melodrama is his new collab song with Imase, the only note I have is that you get to hear Natori sing both parts instead of splitting with Imase hahaha (I do actually prefer Natori’s voice over Imase for this song).

Song 16 IN_MY_HEAD is an unreleased song and it is SO WILD, the video they showed with the song felt like something out of a Kyary Kyary Pamyu MV with brains spinning around on neon coloued backgrounds x_x But it’s pretty different from his previous songs, it’s far more rock-influenced with more repetitive choruses and head-banging. Part of me likes to think that Kitani Tatsuya might have had some influence on this www.

Song 17 Zettai Reido was one of the only songs he played guitar for (I can’t remember the other one but I do remember it was an acoustic guitar for that), and damn this is a REALLY hard song. I do think this is one of the few songs where his recordings were slightly better, but tbh I do very much prefer the live version because his voice wavers a bit and gives the song so much more flavour.

Songs 18 and 19 Eureka and Cult - DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HAPPY I WAS TO HEAR MY TWO FAVES IN A ROW. THE JOY AND EXCITEMENT. THE ACCOMPANYING VIDEOS WERE SO NICE TOOOO. I especially loved the one for Cult, it was an animated view of a town from up on a hill, and you can see the seasons and day/night cycles throughout the year, and was just so chill and poignant ;-;

Song 20 Itoudenwa sounds SO GOOD live, I already liked the original version but I LOVE the live version, he really sounds like he’s serenading and crooning you ;-; This was also the song where they popped streamers!!! I was surprised at how well they timed the pop, it blended seamlessly into the music and was just such a pleasant surprise.

Merch and goodies haul

GINTAPE (i.e. streamers) - THEY ARE SO PRETTY. This one is pretty beaten up after I tried to get into the case (oops) but I do have spares (might consider a giveaway in future… let’s see how things go.)

Chiitara snack collab - it’s a cheese snack (that I don’t really like…) but they gave out one to each person at the end of the concert! The packaging is limited edition, and the Osaka and Tokyo performances have different designs! The Osaka design I have reflects the food in Dotonbori, while the Tokyo one includes landmarks such as Tokyo tower. Imma be honest the collab is super funny, cos the company that sponsored the snack is a completely unrelated food company called Natori (HELP). 

Gacha album cover art pins - kinda sad I didn’t get Zettai Reido or Eureka, but at least I have Cult and Overdose!! Overdose appears to be especially in demand lmao (for obvious reasons), but I must admit it had the nicest design too.

Zepp tour early bird code - the little card you see includes a code to get access to the earliest round of balloting for next year’s Zepp tour!!! Still wondering if I should just try… Idek if I can take leave ;-;

Shizuoka’s tea fields

In one of Suou’s daily character question, he mentions that a place he’d like to visit is the tea fields of Shizuoka. For personal reasons, I really did make a trip down to the tea fields ^_^

I went tea picking here!!! It is very back breaking work and I have ever greater appreciation for the farmers who grow and process tea now (they are my true heroes; I don’t drink coffee www)

Also here’s the mountain with the word “tea” (茶) on it! It used to be planted with pine, but then weevils destroyed it so they switched to cypress ^^;

Super random but we got lost while looking for this, we ended up too close to the mountain so we couldn’t get good photos ^^; there was a tea shop there with a really kind owner that served us different types of tea and showed us the way to the best photo spots! 

^ this was the original spot we ended up in but you can't see the word really well ^^;

Random merch and other stuff I guess

Yeah I found the vegetable curry, it was the LAST ONE in store. Maybe this will make me start eating vegetables.

I also had a chance to try Wasanbon in some tea snack I bought from Ise Shrine:

It certainly tastes expensive 😳

Thanks for listening to my simping. Please have a nice day ^_^

[thetorturedfagdepartment]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Halloween Heartbeat Ch 2 ༉‧₊˚.

Read part 1 here!

A/N: hi guys! Part 2 :3 I hope everyone enjoyed part 1! And if you hadn’t read it yet please do!!! Also I’m probably gonna get part 3/last part out around the 1st or 2nd 😭 sorry it’s just SOOO HARD FOR ME to get motivation to write. But I hope you guys enjoy this part it’s kinda rushed SORRY BUT PLEASE ENJOY . (Also sorta proofread like I said I rushed it so if there’s any mistakes JUST IGMORE IT. PLEASE.) [update! I don’t think I’m gonna write a part 3 :((( just because Halloween is over and I feel it’s weird to make things after said holiday, but if you guys want one I will post it, it’ll probably just be a short rushed one tho… but more fics to come trust.]

Tags/warnings? Ellie x reader au , Halloweenish au, modern au, Halloween horror nights sorta, Dina + Jesse mentioned, established relationship, mainly fluff, mild smut near end, smut, makeout sesh (please tell me if I missed any :3)

“So yeah… we kissed and now we’re going out.” You say to your friends.

They just stare at you in awe. One of them speaks up.

“S—so you’re telling me. We took you somewhere you hate and you bagged a baddie like her for being a complete pussy…?!?!” One of your friends said and the others just nodded in agreement.

“Well I mean— yeah I guess that’s what happened.” You then scratch the back of your neck and your friends just chuckle and giggle.

“Woah you’ve really outdone yourself this time…”

You and your friends continue talking about Ellie for a few moments until she texts you telling you she’s outside.

“Ah! She’s here, I’ll see you guys later. She told me she was gonna give me a tour of some of the stuff. Well, wish me luck, 'cause it’s basically a date..!”

Your friends wave goodbye and you head outside. You and Ellie had been friends for about 4 weeks before you two started dating and now it had been about 2 since you guys began dating. Everything has been good so far, and you two just clicked. Ellie was so passionate about everything she liked, just like you. She didn’t judge you either, not for music taste, fashion sense, or anything. You had decided to wear a cute outfit for her. Cute bottoms and a nice top.. you even picked out this shirt because it was her favorite color.

You step into her beaten-down truck. She told you that this truck used to be her old man’s and that he and her liked to fix it up together.

“Hey beautiful,” Ellie says as she kisses your cheek, she was always such a gentlewoman. “You look good… very cute.”

“You think? I wanted to look cute for you..” you said with a tiny smile appearing. Ellie always knew how to give you butterflies.

“I know so, nowwww… let’s get a move on hm?” Ellie then starts up her old rustic truck and you guys drive to her work.

“Sooo Ellie, how does this work? You just gonna sneak me in the back?” You chuckle and she rolls her eyes.

“No baby girl, I don’t have work till 6. I just have some employee bonuses, you know since I’m the manager.” Ellie laughs and you guys pull into a parking structure special to employees.

“Wow. I’ve never been over here!”

“Well of course you haven’t dumbass.” You scoff at Ellie and you guys get out of her truck.

Ellie takes you in and you guys scan the tickets she has from working here.

“Soooo where to first?” You ask her holding her hand.

“I’ll show you some cool stuff from my Job.”

Throughout the first few hours, Ellie takes you around through back ways and helps you understand ways to get to certain rides within good time. She then stops with the whole tour and wants you guys to enjoy the day.

“Okay, so what ride do you wanna ride?” Ellie says holding your hand as you guys walk on the upper lot.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll be able to ride this ride here..” you tell her with a sly grin and, Ellie turns to look at you looking confused.

“What is it, not a ride that’s from this amusement park?” She laughs and is still oblivious to the dirty joke you told her.

“Ellie I meant— never mind…” you roll your eyes and the joke finally clicks in her head.

“Oh— oh! You meant.. ah— good one…” Her face flushes and she feels the heat in her face rise.

You then begin laughing at her and she feels like an idiot. You couldn’t help but smile at her embarrassed look.. the way she laughs and her face brightens up… it just makes you want more and more of that look. You guys begin to walk over to the Harry Potter section. Ellie told you that was her favorite..

“Jeez, it’s cold…” you mutter out, arms wrapped around yourself to keep you warm.

“Oh, you’re cold? Here..” Ellie then begins removing her zip up revealing a cute sweater. “I don’t get cold easily, I just like wearing jackets.” She then puts the jacket on your shoulders and you slide into it.

“Thanks, elles… you’re so sweet…” you then lean over and kiss her cheek, having her face brighten up.

“Ah, it’s nothing— just taking care of my girl…!”

Her girl? She’s such a dork… You guys walk over to one of the street sells men and get 2 butterbeers.

“Mmm, I love these! They were always my favorite as a kid…” You smile at Ellie and she chuckles.

“Yeah, you told me you used to come here often as a kid right? Well, I’m glad I can bring back the nostalgia for a good price! Gotta love employee perks huh?” She shoves you a little with her body and you roll your eyes.

Ellie and you go on with your date until it’s time for her to get ready. She takes you to the place in the back where she usually gets ready for horror nights.

“Sooooo, what look are you gonna do tonight?” You ask sitting on a chair near her.

“Uhh, probably just the normal one why?”

“I don’t know I wanted to see if you were gonna mix it up..” Ellie then turns to look at you and chuckles.

“Well we don’t usually mix it up, plus I’m not good at makeup so I usually just keep it plain Jane.”

You nod and watch Ellie get into her ‘costume’ which was really just pants, a tank top, messy hair, (which she didn’t need to do anyways…) blood, and fake cuts. While she was doing the makeup you just sat there on your phone. You don’t even realize that Ellie is picking out props and stuff. Once you look up you realize how.. how hot she looks like this?! I mean yeah you’ve seen her in ‘costume’ like 2 times, but never when she was your girlfriend. And damn were you glad this woman was.

“Uhh hey, you gotta a little drool there.” Ellie jokes as she realizes you’ve been staring at her maybe a bit too long.

“Oh uh heh— yeah…”

“Hey so I forgot to ask, what are you doing for Halloween?” Ellie asks as she continues looking through the props. The question almost goes completely over your head due to how you were eyeing her.

“Uhh I don’t know, usually ever since I started college I’d just go to my parents and pass candy with them.”

“…really..? God you’re a loser.” She laughs and shakes her head as she grabs a fake axe from her prop box. “Hmm yeah it feels like an axe night tonight—“

“I am not a loser! But why did you wanna know if I was free?” You then stand up and flick her forehead.

“Ow! Hey! Uh— I wanted to know cuz my friends are having a party that night.” Ellie rubs where you flicked and shoves you.

You end up shoving her back and she shoves you onto a couch in the corner of the room.

“Uh—“ you freeze looking at her. “Y—you said a party…” you try and distract her from the odd position you two are in.

“Y—yeah.. Dina and Jesse are gonna host it..” Ellie swallows and clears her throat.

“Y—yeah I’ll go… Well, what are you gonna wear?”

“Not sure… probably gonna be a werewolf.” She then adjusts herself on top of you.

Ellie was straddling your lap and you were sitting back on the couch, in the makeup room. You and Ellie haven’t been this close yet… it was new. You didn’t want her to get up though… she looked so pretty on you. Like a goddess that was made just for you.. how did you get this lucky?

“Maybe you should just go like this..” your hands travel up her sides, sending shivers down her body and the blood to her cheeks.

“You mean in my work attire? Yeah no thanks.”

“Aww, but you look so sexy…”

“Sexy?!? Do you have like weird attractions I should be worried about?” Ellie tries to hide her blush through a laugh.

“Oh haha. I’m sorry you just look good… your shift doesn’t start for another 20 minutes.. how about we have some fun?” You then lean closer to her lips and she leans down a little bit.

“Guess we do have time to kill..” Ellie replies as she leans down to your face kissing you passionately.

You groan into the kiss, your tongues dancing together. Ellie’s hips begin grinding into yours. Her hands grip your waist and travel under your shirt and they stop at your bra.

“Is this okay..?” She asks before her hands go under.

You nod as a reply, and she instantly moves her hands under groping your boobs and toying with your nipples. Pulling and pinching them between her thumb and index fingers.

“Fuck.” You moan out as you nibble her neck. Not caring if you leave hickeys for everyone to see.

A few more moments of this goes on until Ellie’s phone rings.

“Shit hold on babe.” She then removes her hands and picks up her phone as you pull your lips away from her, resting your hands on her hips. “Yeah? … ugh okay … be out in a sec, okay bye. It’s Jesse.”

“Let me guess gotta go?”

“Yeah, but hey. You can wait in here for me? Just don’t play without me.” She winks and you feel your face heat up.

“Whatever idiot.” You say with a laugh.

Ellie pulls herself off of you and she kisses your forehead. As she leaves the room your mind begins to wander. God you felt as if you were already falling in love with her. And damn were you looking forward to that Halloween party now.

[thehayhaylstorm]

Was feeling halloweenish today and i finally drew my Tav ready for Halloween 🎃

[batty4steddie]

Written with @spicycinnabun ❤️️ | Rating: M | cw, read, kudos and comment on ao3 | We have a playlist. 🦇 | Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Can I Keep It?

Chapter 7: Bad Vampire!

Eddie stepped on the gas and took them back towards Lover’s Lake, turning up the music so they could drown their thoughts. Skull Rock was close to Rick’s house, which was funny in a not-so-funny way because Eddie had spent all weekend wishing he was far away from it, and now he was right back. Eddie had spent many a night in these woods, but never for pleasure like Steve. Eddie went purely for business. Horny teenagers were good customers. 

Rock music flooded Steve’s ears. He didn’t mind. It was nice. Steve looked at Eddie for a long moment. The moonlight reflected off his pale skin, highlighting his long, milky neck. It was completely bare; Eddie was still in disguise, his hair pulled back. He was absolutely glowing, and Steve could feel his mouth watering. He quickly turned his attention back out the open window. The breeze brought in a variety of scents, which felt a little less overwhelming than how good Eddie smelled to him. Steve took another deep breath of fresh air.

Fifteen minutes later, Eddie pulled the beemer into the cozy spot multiple tires had sat in before, the grass yellowing in two straight lines. The familiar skull-shaped rock was lit by the car’s head beams, emphasizing the shadowy caverns of its eye sockets and making it look even more Halloweenish than usual.  

What was he thinking, going into the woods alone with a hungry, possessed vampire? Was he stupid? Yes, Eddie’s brain supplied for him immediately, very stupid. But would the guy who’d taken Eddie home, comforted him, and fed him his mother’s cooking really kill him?  

…Maybe, maybe not, but his instincts said no. His gut said no. It had been right about a thousand times before.

Eddie turned down the music, figuring it was probably best they didn’t make too much noise out here. Who knew who, or what, was listening, waiting, or watching. Ugh. “Maybe you can sink your fangs into the raccoon population terrorizing the trailer park,” he suggested. “My uncle’s been unsuccessful in dwindling their numbers so far.”  

Wayne’s attempts consisted of a bunch of broken traps and a lot of cursing. Mostly about all the bullets he would have to waste to kill the damn things. Eddie personally thought they were cute. Tiny trash bandits waving their little hands around and screaming at people who came near their treasure. Their homes had to be in the forest, right? Not only in the dumpster behind his favorite Chinese restaurant, Wok My World. 

As soon as Steve turned his head back in Eddie’s direction, Eddie’s scent invaded his nostrils again. He flared them, trying to stop the excitement that began to pump through him. It felt like he was here on a date, about to get laid. He wished. The bite on his neck started throbbing, and his pulse quickened. He was beginning to feel aroused. 

Eddie’s suggestion distracted him momentarily. However, the thought of munching on raccoons wasn’t appealing to Steve at all. “They’re too cute to eat.” 

Steve kind of thought Eddie had a cute raccoon quality. He was going to have a hard time with this. He didn’t want to get out of the car, and he didn’t want to be a vampire. 

“Too bad,” Steve heard. Not from Eddie but from inside his head. Like somebody was invading his mind. Steve knew that voice. It was the one and only and very dead, Billy Hargrove. He was doing this? “Harrington, I think you have a little crush on someone, don’t ya?”   

Eddie raised his brows, oblivious. “You’re going to have a hard time finding anything to eat if you think all the animals in the forest are cute.” He poked his tongue out the corner of his mouth. “Maybe you should eat me instead?” 

Eddie wasn’t cute. He probably wasn’t delicious either, but he had to be easier to swallow than raccoons and bunnies. 

Eddie expected Steve to laugh or roll his eyes in that semi-fond, semi-irritated way like he did with the kids (because maybe, just maybe, Eddie was growing on him the same way they had). Instead, he zoned out, expression taking on an eerily dormant quality—lights on but nobody home. Eddie’s smile fell. 

“No!” Steve suddenly yelled, his upper body jerking, expression contorting like he was in pain. A few seconds later, he went limp, head dropping to his chest.   Steve wasn’t saying no about his little crush because he couldn’t even contemplate that… that he had a crush on Eddie. He couldn’t believe Billy was back either—from the dead and currently controlling his entire body. He didn’t want that. Internally, he was pitching a fit; thrashing his body around, growling, foaming at the mouth and throwing punches.

“Sweet baby Jesus, what now? ” said Eddie, almost exasperated by the stress. His stomach felt like it shrivelled to the size of a pea. He reached out, tentatively placing his hand on Steve’s shoulder. Steve only swayed a little; a puppet with its strings cut. “Stevie?” 

Eddie didn’t know what to do. Shake him, slap him, yell at him?  

Steve re-animated just as Eddie started shaking him, lifting his head and rolling his shoulders, dislodging Eddie’s hand from him. His eyes were liquid black, and his face transformed with a smirk. It was a twisted, serpentine thing. Somehow, it didn’t look like it belonged on Steve’s face. It looked like someone else was wearing his face. Possession. “Wrong. It’s kind of pathetic, don’t you think? What you’re doing right now.”  

Eddie gaped. That was Steve’s voice, but it also wasn’t. It had a cruel, mocking quality that didn’t fit Harrington. Not the version Eddie was starting to get to know.  

“I saw everything that happened in his bedroom back there. Do you really think pretty boy is interested in you like that? I mean, even if he does swing that way occasionally, freak meat isn’t what he goes for. ” Not-Steve laughed, and that sounded wrong too. Overly theatrical and biting.  

It didn’t stop Eddie from turning a deep red. Mortified at being outed so casually, angry at being spied on by a fucking Upside Down wizard. At least he wasn’t scared anymore. “Who the fuck are you? Vecna? Get out of Steve!” 

Outside, an owl hooted—the who, who, whooo taunted Eddie in a way that was too coincidental. 

Not-Steve bit his lip in amusement, rolling his eyes. “I can’t claim that title, but maybe one day. I’m someone else.” He shrugged. “And no, I don’t think I will. I’m enjoying being inside him. Wouldn’t be the first time, if you get my drift.” 

While Eddie tried to figure that out—was this someone who knew Steve? Had... been with Steve? Somebody Vecna had killed? Was Not-Steve a woman or a man? That comment made it seem more likely it was a man. He was also getting major douchebag vibes. “Dude, that is incredibly disrespectful.”  

Yeah, this was no powerful wizard. More like a minion of Vecna’s, just like Steve had suggested.  

Steve was having an out-of-body experience. Completely paralyzed and unlike in the convenience store where he had blacked out (that must’ve been Billy, too), Steve was conscious. He was there, in the Upside Down, with Billy, but also still in the car with Eddie. He could see Billy talking to him but also see himself with Eddie. Billy’s ability to read Steve was uncomfortably uncanny. Billy had always seen right through Steve, and now he was reading Eddie like a book and using Steve to do it.  

Billy looked the same. He was the same gorgeous asshole with perfectly tussled curly hair, smug shit-eating grin, barely buttoned red shirt, in the tightest jeans that gave Steve’s a run for his money—all topped with his signature leather jacket. 

Steve felt utterly violated and spied on, and the comment about Billy having been in him before made him feel queasy. He’d never been in him. Sure, Billy had been on him before, by elbow checking him, grinding against him just to push him down when he hadn’t planted his feet like Billy insisted he did when they were playing basketball and again when they were outside the Byers’. 

Billy had gotten something out of taunting Steve and roughing him up. When he’d finally and rightfully socked Billy in the mouth, it was like that had turned him on. Billy had liked it, and it was like he had been waiting for it. 

The version of King Steve everyone talked about was the basketball captain, the good-looking great fighter and keg king with a perfect family. Billy was desperately trying to become king and take all of his titles. Only none of them were up for grabs. The title of king still belonged to Steve. 

Steve could be dense, but with the way Billy looked at him and flirted with him by calling him pretty boy more than once, Steve had thought Billy was queer. When Billy had straddled him, fighting him, Steve could’ve sworn Billy had been hard, but Billy had thrown a few good punches to make Steve loopy.     Steve didn’t want to think about if the kids hadn’t been there or if Max hadn’t stabbed Billy in the neck with the tranquillizer. If they had been alone, Billy could have gotten a couple more hits in and knocked Steve out. 

Maybe Billy was talking about a sick fantasy he had been planning when he said it wasn’t the first time he’d been inside Steve. 

“Maybe we should eat him,” Not-Steve mused, not talking to Eddie anymore but to the car at large. Or so it seemed until he added, “What do you think, pretty boy? He’s like cafeteria food. Not hot or appetizing, but he is cheap and available.” 

Eddie spluttered. “I am not!”  

“I would say I'm sorry if I thought that it would change your mind, but I know that this time I have said too much, been too unkind…”  

Steve’s guilty pleasure song, Boys Don’t Cry, came over the car’s radio. 

Steve didn’t want to eat Eddie. He couldn’t even bring himself to eat Thumper or Bambi. “Fuck no, I’m not going to eat him. He’s more Bambi than Bambi—the most doe-eyed guy I’ve ever seen,” Steve said, and suddenly he could speak and was very much back in his body and out of the Upside Down. 

If Steve weren’t a vampire, he would’ve turned red because he had just told Eddie, and not Billy, that he wouldn’t eat him because he thought he was cuter than Bambi. Fuck was right. 

Eddie was still trying to recover from being compared to the slop they served in the school cafeteria when Not-Steve’s eyes drained of their demonic color. Not-Steve had left the building (body), and this time, it was very clearly Real-Steve who had spoken. 

Bambi. That was a new one. Of all the things people had called him, some even downright creative with their nastiness, nobody had ever compared him to a Disney character before. Doe-eyed. Did Steve really think his eyes were doe-y?  

While his face wasn’t burning with embarrassment, Steve dropped his gaze because he still felt it. He hated Billy, hated that he was right about their feelings. He didn’t like being used as a puppet and to accuse Eddie of anything. 

Steve could tell by Eddie’s gaze lingering a little longer on him that Eddie liked him, but Steve liked that. He liked being liked, and he’d been enamored with Eddie, too. Steve looked down at his hand as he flexed his fingers, happy not to be paralyzed anymore and in control of himself for now, skull ring glimmering on his ring finger. 

The loaded silence stretched between them as the song continued, “So I try to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies. I try to laugh about it…”  

Eddie broke the tension with a nervous laugh, twisting one of his rings around his finger. Steve looked like Steve again, which was a relief—such an immense relief, even, that Eddie had to stop himself from jumping over the console and throwing his arms around him. He fiddled with his rings more. “Fuck, well, that was a trip. You okay? The… that thing isn’t still inside you listening, is it? You got it to scram?” 

Eddie’s voice got Steve to look up. “I’m okay, but I… I don’t know.” Steve felt alright—a little dehydrated, but that was it, and surprisingly, he didn’t feel like Billy had been in him in any way. “That thing was Billy Hargrove. Max’s brother, if you remember him from school. He’s such a motherfucker.” No pun intended since he probably slept with at least half of the housewives in Hawkins. “I thought he was dead. I hope he’s not listening or going to do that again, but knowing him, he likes to fuck with me. Think that was him back at the store, so that’s the second time he’s used me.” 

Billy Hargrove. That name rang a bell. Eddie’s gaze darkened briefly. He felt a surge of protectiveness for Steve. “I remember Hargrove.”  

Two years ago, when he transferred to Hawkins High, Billy Hargrove had been the name on everyone’s lips. The Californian Adonis who’d rocked up in a blue Camaro, guns blazing. Eddie had met him. Had a begrudging appreciation for the style and theatrics and had been unwillingly entranced by the pretty face, but that was where any admiration ended. The guy couldn’t have been more of a sexist pig if he tried, and he’d banded together with Tommy Hagan, which explained more than enough about his character.  

Knowing that was who was possessing Steve was just the worst fucking thing. Yuck. Just. Yuck. 

Steve swallowed. He’d pushed a lot down that Billy had brought right back up for him. At the time, he had been trying to make it work with Nancy, and had been fucking up in school, and there came Billy, the good-looking bully, who’d tried to take over his whole persona. Steve had been frustrated for more than a couple of reasons. 

“I’m sorry he talked to you like that, I wouldn’t… he didn’t, you know… he was lying.” It wasn’t like Steve cared much about his reputation, but he wouldn’t let that go. No matter how he swung, he didn’t swing that way for Billy. 

Eddie’s eyes widened. His insides squirmed, screaming at the fact that his thing for Steve was now hanging awkwardly between them, and Steve was fully aware of it. Great. That was just fucking great. At least Steve didn’t seem too disgusted. It didn’t seem like he was about to throw Eddie a knuckle sandwich. But maybe he was still in shock from being fucking possessed two minutes ago.  

“No, yeah, no, I didn’t think so,” he reassured Steve quickly. “Demons are notorious liars, man.”  

And that was what Billy now was: a demon who had possessed Steve like Regan in The Exorcist, thankfully without the head spinning and projectile pea soup.  

Of course that asshole had been lying. Eddie was glad Billy had never been with Steve that way, but if Steve had occasionally swung in his direction, that would have been… ideal was a creepy word to use, but it would have been nice, maybe. Steve wasn’t interested in him—that was clear as day—but to know another dude who was also interested in other dudes would have been refreshing. There were only two people Eddie was aware of who leaned the same way as he did, and they were— 

Steve’s back went ramrod straight, catching Eddie’s attention. His body language mirrored Steve as he followed Steve’s stare and caught sight of the bushes in front of the car’s head beams rustling ominously. Eddie was almost relieved for the next bout of fuckery about to be laid upon them, if only to escape this conversation.  

That was until three letterman jackets appeared, one belonging to Hawkins’ very own basketball star and Chrissy’s loving, devoted boyfriend, Jason Carver. It sure was impressive, the way he’d carried on with his Mr. Faithful schtick after he’d let Eddie jerk him off. So devoted. 

Eddie’s messed up heart decided to start booming over twisted feelings instead of the actual alarming problem at hand, which was that one of the jocks was holding a baseball bat, and they all had bloody murder in their eyes.  

“Shit,” Eddie muttered. He tried to restart the car but fumbled the keys. They dropped from the ignition and hit the floor with a jingle. “Christ, damn it!” 

Eddie folded himself sideways to disappear from view, inadvertently placing his head in Steve’s lap. The lights hopefully blinded the jocks enough that they hadn’t seen him. 

Here, Steve had been worried that his dick wouldn’t work as a vampire, but the second he felt Eddie’s nose graze his cock through the fabric of his jeans, it started to stir. Thankfully, it was very much alive, but Steve didn’t want to find out like this by accident. Eddie’s head was in a place he wanted it to be, but before his mind could go there and make him cream his jeans, Jason fucking Carver appeared. 

Carver and his gang were already charging toward them as Eddie scrounged on the floor for the stupid keys. 

“Harrington!” Jason called, obviously having recognized the beemer the closer he got. He stopped by Steve’s window, which was still open from earlier. Eddie froze. “Hey, have you seen that little freak, Eddie Munson? We’re looking for him. He killed Chrissy.”  

Steve’s eyes narrowed. Jason was talking to him like they were good friends. That always annoyed him because they were never friends. Jason was a little too perfect, always in his letterman jacket, like there wasn’t anything beyond basketball and Chrissy. 

Eddie held his breath, staring at the close-up fibers of Steve’s jeans. He still had the flimsy disguise on, but the sunglasses were slipping down his nose, and he knew from the soft intake of breath up above that Jason had realized he was there.  

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to interru…”  

Eddie’s sunglasses fell to the floor. 

There was a long, horrifying pause. “… Munson,” Jason spat. 

Suddenly, Eddie was being yanked up by his ponytail and dragged out of the open window. Jason must have been eating his Wheaties because that fucking hurt. Eddie yowled like an alley cat, twisting wildly to free himself, but Jason still had his hair in a tight grip and the collar of Eddie’s jacket in the other. He felt Steve’s vice grip lock around his legs, keeping him from being yanked out completely. Jason’s bare arm was right beside his face, sleeve shoved up from the scuffle. Eddie growled and did the only thing he could think of, taking a page out of Steve’s new book by opening his mouth and biting Jason’s arm hard until he tasted metal. 

Steve heard teeth breaking flesh and then immediately smelled blood. Fresh fucking blood. His fangs emerged. He had to have it. 

Crack! Eddie let go as a burning pain lanced through his cheek. Carver had just bitch slapped him. Blood dripped into Eddie’s teeth as he was pulled back into the car. 

He was a little dazed, but when he locked eyes with Steve, he must have started fucking hallucinating. Steve looked monstrous again, eyes red and black veins practically popping from his skin. He had a rabid hunger and anger on his face, staring fixedly at Eddie’s lips.  “Gonna make him pay,” Steve promised. 

Eddie’s eyes dropped to Steve’s lips as they released their vengeful threat. Steve rubbed Eddie’s cheek with his thumb, then leaned in and kissed the blood right off Eddie’s lips. It didn’t last more than a second. Steve’s cold lips hitting his, his growing fangs poking Eddie and making him let out a small whimper. Then it was over, and Steve was licking Jason’s blood off like he’d just enjoyed a delectable treat.  

Steve immediately wanted more: blood, kisses and sweet revenge.

He let go and threw open the car door, hitting Jason with it. He got out and shut the door behind him to keep Eddie safe. With Jason on the ground, his lackeys came out of the woods, but it was too late. 

Steve had just kissed him. Eddie sat there, dumbfounded and still processing that, as Steve bolted out of the car and attacked Jason. Once again, his speed was immeasurable. Eddie’s heart pounded as he stared out the now-closed window. Steve was straddling Jason, hunched over his body, the same mouth he had just kissed Eddie with attached to Jason’s wrist and drinking his blood. 

Unlike Larry’s, Steve didn’t mind Jason’s blood. It was sweet and tangy, kinda like the orange sauce on orange chicken. Steve watched the light in Jason’s eyes fade as he drained him. It excited him that the evil bully was circling the drain. It was satisfying for a reason that Steve couldn’t put his finger on. He felt no remorse, surprisingly, since he was sound mind and body for this kill.

Drinking Jason’s blood was something he wanted to do, had to do, to protect Eddie and satisfy his vampiric needs. He didn’t regret it all. He was proud and full of sweet ‘n sour vampire fuel. There was little to no mess this time. Steve let Jason’s limp arm fall and punched him in the face for good measure. 

Steve was back in the car before Eddie could decide, once again, what the fuck he was supposed to do about the situation. The other jocks were white as sheets. They looked at what had happened to their leader, looked at each other, and then booked it, running in the opposite direction. Not very loyal lackeys, Eddie thought faintly. 

“Got him back for you.” Steve grinned at him, pleased as punch. 

And it was almost endearing. His fangs were stained like he’d just been eating a cherry popsicle. Eddie felt the absurd instinct to pat him on the head and call him a good vamp.  

“You… did,” answered Eddie slowly, fighting the weirdest combination of emotions known to man: terror mixed with dread mixed with affection mixed with heart-fluttering flattery.  

Eddie still seemed to be in shock, so Steve started the car for him. “In case Jason pulls a Larry, let’s fucking go!”

Eddie shook himself. “Steve, you’re not thinking straight. You’re really not thinking straight, buddy.” You kissed me! You killed Jason Carver! Killing Jason was actually the more likely thing to happen compared to Steve kissing him. It was just the blood on Eddie’s lips that he had been after. He’s a fucking vampire, Eddie reminded himself. And then, for the fifteenth time that day, he screamed at his mind to focus on the real problem. “You know what? Let’s go to the cemetery. There’s nobody with blood there to be in danger of those chompers.”  

Except for Eddie, but now that Steve was full of… Jason, he probably didn’t need any more blood—at least for a while. 

As they backed out of Lover’s Lake, Jason rose to his knees, mouth opening wide. The headlights caught his new fangs and black hole eyes. Eddie stepped on the gas and turned the wheel, tires squealing as they got out of there. 

“Maybe there isn’t anything straight about me anymore,” Steve said quietly. Steve’s skin warmed up full of tasty blood, and his darker veins dissipated slightly. His eyes went back to their normal honey-tan color. Steve had gone from a normal guy to a bloodsucking killer. “Technically, I’m not even human anymore.” 

It was laughable and a lot, not just for him but for Eddie. He wasn’t sure why Eddie hadn’t run away from him when he’d turned in the convenience store. Now, he suggested they go to the graveyard. If he weren’t a vampire, that would’ve given him the creeps. 

Eddie blinked hard but didn’t suddenly wake up in his bed, so he wasn’t dreaming. Had Steve just told him he wasn’t straight? There was no way. This had to be Hargrove’s influence. He was fucking with Steve, had control of his body and now his thoughts and feelings too. “Tell me that again after we’ve reversed this curse, and maybe I’ll believe you.” 

Steve wasn’t sure what Eddie was referencing. He revealed something that Eddie didn’t believe, but he wasn’t lying about anything. That left him feeling miffed. 

Eddie cleared his throat and continued, “I don’t think the police will check the boneyard. They’re gonna be after you now, too.” Especially as soon as Carver’s buddies squealed about what had just happened. “We need to get your Ghostbuster gang together to figure out how to fix you, stat.” 

Eddie wasn’t too worried about Steve biting his friends. So far, it only seemed to be the people who angered Steve that got fang-banged by him. (People who insulted Eddie and tried to hurt Eddie, but Steve probably would have fang-banged anybody to defend them, not just Eddie.) The trick was to keep Steve away from people who triggered his knightly instincts.

Steve couldn’t tell if Eddie was happy with him or not. Maybe Eddie feared him. He had just killed Jason, kind of. Temporarily stopped him from killing Eddie was a more accurate description. Also, drinking blood had finally satisfied Steve’s thirst. He hadn’t realized how thirsty he had become for blood and Eddie. Kissing him had felt like the most natural thing. And Eddie had done something that excited Steve. Biting Jason and drawing his blood had been really fucking hot. 

Steve wasn’t trying to hide that he liked Eddie back.  He thought he’d made it clear by kissing and protecting him. 

“Do you think we can find an empty coffin for me to hang out in when it becomes daylight?” Steve asked with a smirk, reaching down to grab his sunglasses from the floor. He put them on. “It’s a myth about the sunlight, right? The sun is gonna come up soon, so maybe you won’t have to worry about me eating you. Or do you think these shades will protect me?” 

Eddie glanced at the sky. It was turning a golden orange. The sun was minutes away from coming up. He knew Steve was joking but answered thoughtfully, “An aversion to garlic was supposed to be a myth, too, so I think we should be careful. Try to avoid it.” There wouldn’t be any empty coffins, but if things got bad, Eddie guessed they’d have to stick Steve in the trunk or something. He added, “Call me crazy, but I’m not worried about you hurting me. I trust you.”

That was the God’s honest truth, and Eddie was probably a lunatic for it, but he felt safe with Steve. It was the whacked-out supernatural forces he didn’t trust, not Harrington. What was happening to Steve wasn’t Steve’s fault.

Eddie’s answer was logical. Steve hadn’t been too worried. He was worried enough to bring it up, but at the reminder of what the garlic had done, he took the sun coming up more seriously. He hadn’t felt pain since the garlic jerky burnt his fingertips. He couldn’t imagine what the sun would do until they saw it themselves. 

Steve looked at Eddie. He noticed that Eddie’s hair tie was barely hanging on, so he reached out and took the elastic off.  “How’s your head?” Steve asked, having forgotten how violent Jason had gotten with him. His cheek was still really red. Steve gently ran his fingers through Eddie’s hair to detangle it. It felt really soft, probably thanks to his shampoo. He sunk his fingers into the top to rub Eddie’s scalp, knowing it was probably sore and tender. “I liked it when your head was in my lap. We could’ve put on a show if he hadn’t noticed it was you.” 

Focusing on the road was getting a little tricky, what with the lack of sleep, but Eddie didn’t lose focus entirely until he felt Steve’s fingers in his hair. His claws had retracted so Eddie could feel Steve’s soft fingertips grazing his scalp. He hadn’t been paying attention to the pain in his scalp, too caught up in adrenaline, but his hair follicles were screaming now with the attention brought to them, so the soothing touch made him make an embarrassing sound. It could’ve been something close to a moan, but then Steve had to get Billyfied again, and Eddie’s brain imploded.

The car veered dangerously off the road and onto the shoulder for a few seconds before he pulled it back on track.

Steve growled and bit back the urge to pull Eddie’s hair for that stunt. “Dude! Be careful with my car, would ya!” He let go so they could get to the cemetery without crashing. 

“I was being careful until you molested my head!” Eddie snapped, losing his cool and white-knuckling the steering wheel. “Quit distracting me! And quit… flirting! ”

“That wasn’t what I was doing.” Molesting Eddie’s head. Wow. Steve was just trying to make Eddie feel better. He was taken aback at being told to stop flirting, too. Jesus Christ. He wasn’t the one that almost took them off the road. 

Now, both of Eddie’s cheeks were scarlet, not just the one Carver had slapped. Eddie was used to being the flirty one, the inappropriate one, the I will make you uncomfortable before you make me uncomfortable one. He didn’t know what to do with this openly flirtatious, straight but not acting straight jock.

And then there was the whole consent issue because Steve was under the influence. It was rapey of Eddie to like that comment, to like that kiss, to like Steve at all. It was fucking with both his head and his heart, dear lord. So no, neither of them were doing very well right now, thank you.

Eddie took the next turn aggressively, going over the curb. 

If looks could kill, Steve’s narrowed eyes would’ve gotten the job done. A dirty look would do since telling Eddie to be careful hadn’t gone over well. 

The sun had started to rise, and with their new direction, the glare was very close to hitting their windshield. Just when Eddie thought things couldn’t get worse, he saw smoke up ahead. “Is that a fire?”

He leaned forward, and yeah, those were flames, but the closer they got, the more human-shaped those flames became until it became very clear that somebody was walking along the side of the road, on fire. 

Eddie hit the brakes hard, making them both jerk forward. He hesitated instead of getting out of the car to help because this person wasn’t screaming or acting panicked like a normal person on fire would. They were calmly, sluggishly walking as their flesh melted off. Eddie rolled down his window.

“ GRRRUUUUUUHHHHH….” 

Eddie rolled the window back up, cutting off the crackling groan. “That is barbecued vampire bacon right there.”

The sunlight was slowly creeping into the car. It reached Steve’s collarbone. “Shit, Steve!” Without thinking much beyond preventing Steve from being flambeed, Eddie reached out and yanked Steve sideways out of the line of fire. Steve’s face hit his lap.

What they saw out Eddie’s open window was horrifying. A zombified vampire was on fire. Was Steve going to spontaneously burst into flames and go up into dust, too? Not on Eddie’s watch, apparently. Steve wasn’t sure what the fuck Eddie was doing to him or why his head suddenly needed to be buried in his lap. This was comical. 

“Who’s molesting who now?” Steve snarked as he got comfy. Maybe if he just went to sleep here in Eddie’s lap, the sun wouldn’t make him go up in flames. 

Eventually, he felt the sun on his legs, and he didn’t feel like he was burning. So, was he going to be okay? “Do you think me going down on you is the antidote or something?” Steve smirked and started to undo Eddie’s belt. Something about being a well-fed vampire was making Steve horny. Surely, Eddie wasn’t going to let him get his pants open, but Steve was going to try. He thought it was a grand invitation.

Eddie spluttered. “Do I—Jesus Christ, no .” If Eddie’s dick had magical vampiric healing properties, that would be too good to be true. There was the sound of metal clinking and—

“ Steven. Bad vampire!” Eddie smacked Steve’s hand away from his pants. The little fanger had actually gotten Eddie’s belt open and was starting on his zipper. Eddie didn’t know if Steve was short for Steven, but it felt right. “When I said you could eat me earlier, I meant the blood in my neck, not there. ”

Well, also there, but Steve wasn’t supposed to actually take him up on it. Billyfied Steve was really testing Eddie’s sanity. Eddie gripped the wheel so he didn’t do something stupid like bury his hands in Steve’s beautifully luscious-looking hair and say, “Let’s try and find out, shall we?” 

How was he supposed to survive? Hell, he’d take facing Vecna over this sort of personal torture.

Steven, ugh, that sounded like his mom was getting after him. Steve had to laugh when it was followed up with a bad vampire and a smack to his hand. Steve stopped and moved said hand out of the way, letting Eddie do his pants back up. 

Eddie didn’t trust himself yet to step on the gas pedal again, too busy willing himself not to get the world’s most inappropriate boner by thinking of sad and gross things like dead kittens and that time he accidentally walked in on Wayne in the tub.

That worked, thank God.

Eddie defended himself. “I’m not a creep like that, man.” Steve had to know he wasn’t about to take advantage of him in his current state. He didn’t know what sort of impression Steve had of him by now, but he would never sink to that level of grody human trash. “I was just trying to keep you from being turned into a fucking fanglet mignon. The sun almost grilled you through the window just now.”

There was sunlight on Steve’s legs, but his jeans must have protected his skin because nothing was happening. “There are some big shade trees at the cemetery we can sit under. Just stay down until we make it, okay? Or hide in the fucking back seat."

That was a way safer option for all parties. Eddie continued to scold him, totally killing Steve’s blood buzz. He hadn’t had anyone stop him or complain when he took their pants off before. He seriously considered biting Eddie’s thigh through his jeans just to shut him up. Steve shifted off Eddie’s lap but stayed low like he suggested.  “When I need blood again, I’m taking you up on your initial offer. I just thought we could’ve had a little fun after the day we’ve had. Since you’re not like that or into having my mouth on you, I’m gonna keep it off you.” Steve’s good mood was quickly dissipating. He climbed into the backseat, deciding that some space between them would be good. He sighed and stared up at the ceiling as Eddie started the car. 

Eddie’s stomach gave a little jolt, his eyebrows crinkling in instant regret. He bit his lip. Oh, how fucking wrong Steve was. But Steve was also overridden by lusty Billy-infused vampire hormones right now. He didn’t know what he was saying. He would get over it pretty quickly once he was regular Steve again. He would probably be disgusted by everything he’d said and done toward Eddie. There was no way these were his true feelings.

And besides, maybe Eddie wanted to be more than just a little fun. He’d been the experimental fun for Carver, and look how well that had turned out. Maybe he wanted to be… You know what? It didn’t matter because this wasn’t happening. Steve would thank him later for preventing it.

It was a bit awkward since it was on the floor near him, but Eddie reached back and grabbed a pack of strawberry Big League Chew from the basket, keeping his gaze far away from Steve’s after he noticed an honest-to-God, actual pout gracing the guy’s lips like he’d been denied his favorite toy. (And that was so cute it was fucking unfair.)

Eddie tore the pack open, shoving the entire contents into his mouth so it would be occupied and wouldn’t run off on all the ways Steve was wrong about him not being like that or not into having his mouth. Eddie scrunched the bubblegum wrapper in his fist and chewed his frustration out until they got to the cemetery.

[nevertheblood]

🎃🎃 Trick-or-Treat, pls 🎃🎃

HELLO thank you for the ask! <3

this treat is especially for you because while I was napping the other day somehow many of YOUR AUs got caught up and mixed in my head, and I DID want to make something halloweenish, so... here. i gently hand you succubus!dazai and mafia bodyguard!chuuya :3

Chuuya hadn't planned to be in the middle of the red light district after midnight on a Saturday. It had just sort of... happened.

It's not like he's anything close to prudish about it - in his line of work, he can't afford to be - and it isn't the noise, or the bright lights, or the smells that bother him, either. It's more the general feeling of something disgusting, a seedy, grimy undertone that buzzes in the air like flies, that seeps through every brick, every crack in the concrete, every wire of every flickering neon sign, until everything feels so soaked in greasy, sticky sin that nothing could ever cleanse it.

There is violence in the veins of this city, blood that runs in the gutters to feed a beating, battered heart. Chuuya has been tangled up in this huge and electrifying system for almost his whole life, and for the most part, it's a thrill; the bloodshed a means to turn chaos to control, the one handle he might claim to have on his own mess of an existence.

He uses his strength for protection. That's what he tells himself, anyway. Maybe it's what he needs to do, in order to cope.

He'd been called out less than an hour ago. He’d made pretty good time, for the weekend, speeding down the city expressway on his bike, orange streetlights glowing in his peripheral vision, and he'd been able to park nearby, close enough to walk easily. Everything's going a little too well, to start with, and he's on edge as he turns the corner into a dimly lit alley, blinking signs and the residual fluorescence from neighbouring streets the only light to see by.

He finds the right building with well-practiced ease. Chuuya rarely frequents brothels himself, but thanks to his work he knows the way these seedy backstreets tangle and criss-cross as well as the furrows and scars that line his own skin, if not better. There's a puddle by the entryway, of oil or waste water or who knows what, and Chuuya sees his own inverted form, the glow from the stairwell, the vague shape of the skyline above, ripple and distort and blur together.

He hops over the puddle, and starts up the stairs.

He's expecting to have to confer with the establishment's owner on arrival, to have her explain the issue first, but to Chuuya's surprise, the man Chuuya is looking for – or at the very least, someone matching his description – appears to be standing in the hallway, blocking Chuuya's path.

Chuuya stops, and casts his eye over his target.

He's standing at the top of the stairs, above Chuuya, making him look almost unnaturally tall and imposing. He is tall, actually, long legs crossed nonchalantly at the ankle as he leans on the peeling plaster wall. He is staring at Chuuya, eyes fixed on him as he'd ascended the stairs, which is unsettling to say the least. His hair is brown, framing his face in messy curls, frizz like a halo in the stairway’s glow. He's wearing low-rise jeans that cling to his skinny hips and a brown waistcoat over a ratty grey t-shirt that may once have been white. Those clothes match what Chuuya's looking for, unique enough that he's now certain he’s not mistaken – this is his man. His eyes, then, Chuuya thinks, must be brown as per the brief he’d received, but they're almost shining amber in the sickly yellow strip light; amber like a warning, a caution to stop.

The man says, “You've been sent for me.” His voice is smooth, sing-song, playful.

Chuuya's not here to play.

“I’ve been sent to kick you out, actually. You need to leave the premises immediately.”

The stranger doesn't respond to the demand. Instead, he smiles, slow and easy, strangely self-satisfied. “Why should I listen to you?”

“Our organisation controls this whole block.” Chuuya rests his hand at his hip, where his gun holster is clearly visible under his waistcoat. Not the most subtle of threats, but Chuuya’s found that subtle rarely works on idiots like this.

“Oh.” A raised eyebrow, disappearing into a curly fringe that hangs low above those deep brown eyes. “You're mafia.”

Chuuya does not confirm or deny the idea. Not incriminating himself, in case anyone is listening in, but not downplaying his own power, his own capacity for violence.

Rather than saying anything else at all, he carries on with business. “The proprietor here called me, saying you were being a nuisance—”

“A nuisance? How rude—”

“—Hanging around for days on end, not buying anything, just standing in corners like a creep, making paying customers nervous. She asked me to move you along.”

“Move me along? I'm not some mangy stray cat.”

Debatable, Chuuya thinks. He moves up two more steps, closing the distance between them, quietly and instantly raising the threat. “Are you going to go nicely? I'd rather you didn't make this harder for both of us.”

The tall man pouts, as though he were a five-year-old child. “But I'm hungry.”

Chuuya swears he can feel his eye twitching. “Then go eat. How is that my problem?”

“I'm trying to. But you showed up, and made it your problem.”

“What do you—”

The man blinks, then, and as he does so, in the space of half a second, his eyes flicker and change from a honeyed brown to black, deep black, all the way across the sclera, void and empty and inhuman.

“Ah,” Chuuya says, the flat tone of simple understanding. This oddball stranger had probably expected Chuuya to be frightened, or to flinch, but he simply stares back into the inky blackness of those eyes, unimpressed. This is far from Chuuya’s first rodeo, after all. “You’re an incubus.”

The man grins. His teeth look much sharper, now, than they had before. “Succubus, actually.”

“You’re a man.” Chuuya raises one eyebrow. “Aren’t you?”

The tall demon leans over, leering at Chuuya, his face and his dreadful teeth just this side of too close. “You really think it’s as simple as that? Men are always one thing and women another? My goodness, little human. You have a lot to learn, don’t you?”

Refusing to be intimidated, Chuuya folds his arms. “I don’t have to learn anything. I told you, you need to go, and that’s as far as you and I have business with one another.”

The smile full of teeth disappears, and it’s back to the childish pout. “You’re no fun.”

“I’m not supposed to be fun. I’m here to make you leave.”

“I just wanna feed here. I’m not causing any bother.”

“Do you plan on paying for a service?”

“I don’t need to. There’s residual sexual energy in the air all around this building. I can feed on that just fine, what do I need your human coins for?”

“If you’re not gonna pay, then you need to leave.” Chuuya thinks he’s starting to sound like a broken record. He doesn't feel the need to reach for his gun, or any of his knives – this tall weirdo isn't especially a threat at present despite his midnight-black eyes and unholy sharp canines, more just an annoyance. “Go... feed elsewhere.”

The succubus leans back against the grimy wall, and smirks. “Make me.”

[susandsnell]

Headcanons

Jonathan Crane has mixed feelings about many animals (given his traumas relating to them), but I do think if Selina has any particularly Halloweenish/spooky cats around her (usually black with orange eyes, or cats that look like pumpkins with orange fur and yellow eyes) that cat is getting a weird, tall uncle

[candycryptids]

Should really just make a post with all my silly little oc Spotify playlists. Might as well be this one.

Non-Specific XIV playlists (made up of XIV songs and some remixes of them, includes songs from Canon Crossover Raids like NIER and Ivalice) [Battle] [Relax]

Chuusday’s playlist [Workshop] (factory noise/boss themes/electronic) and [Dreaming Of electric Kaarakuul] (gramophone graininess and blues)

Tuesday’s Playlist [Chores Simulator] (Louie Zong, Piano, Waltzes, the feeling of being in a new small town possibly on the coast)

Ishi’li’s Playlist [Dazzling Eorzean Adventurer In Purple] (Creepy Nuts, hip hop, 8-bit/chip tune, J-rock. The most vibe varied playlist so far imho, but Ishi has a wider range of musical tastes because of their background…)

Levraut’s playlist [Pirates + Investigations] (Sea shanties, drinking, sailing songs, hints of harpsichord, occasional tension)

Tangy’s playlist [Internal Thoughts] (Basically All Elevator Music BayBee) and [Orange Jams] (shoegaze/garage rock, crunchy)

Mochiie’s Playlist [Doesn’t have a Name Yet] (sprinkle of traditional Mongolian, Bollywood, romantic Hindi songs, XIV music) not nearly as long as my other playlists yet.

Swydghem’s (and Solkmyna’s, they’re sorta blended, I was listening to it the whole time I was writing [This]) playlist [The Sea Rises To Meet You] (Somber, more women’s vocals than men, longing, Gaelic)

Maltagliati’s playlist [Haunting Hours are 24/7] (Halloweenish and Video Game Chill-hop with some Dungeon Crawling sprinkled in. Laid back hanging out in a haunted house or perhaps in Haukke Manor’s basement on a dare, summoning Creatures. Or, low stakes hide and seek with a monster. I dunno.)

Bonus round: Chuu+Tue’s combined playlist, a very small mix of music I’m slowly cultivating. [Marriage Of Flesh And Machine] (Electro, Piano, Crunch, Dance Hall, Orchestral??? tempo and vibe vary wildly between chased by Wolves In An Abandoned City and Trendy Department Store Introspection. They are more than the sum of their parts; it is a chaotic collision of Viera and Machine into something new and beautiful and strange.)

[wawamouse]

Wip Wednesday!

+some musings

Oz Magi!!! Oz Magi!! The season is upon us once more! This will be my second year participating so I’m excited. Last year I wrote that Adebisi-focused fic, Nothing New Under the Sun, which was pretty fun to research for and imagine. I feel like I take a fic more seriously if it’s a prompt or request… 🤣 Definitely encourage any other new folks to the fandom to check out the event! …I haven’t exactly narrowed down my own wish requests for this year, but I have a couple that I’ve been thinking about :)c

In WIP news: I have another gifset I want to post but I still have to come up with the text to accompany it -_- (Yes, that’s right, I have to) (it's been a month) (I'm stupid)

As I mentioned in the notes of “Low Life”, I have a Halloweenish fic I’m trying to get done by the end of the month… So naturally, I’m getting quite a lot done on everything but that wip. Hey, if it gets done, it get done. If not… Eh, I haven’t attempted horror in a hot second, so idk what I excepted, honestly.

Hopefully now that the “Speak Low” series and “Saving Sympathy” are done—2/3 of wips I distracted myself with—I can now buckle in and focus some more on “In the Course of Destiny” ch.5 and also “Crash” (the first distraction… now a bonafide Struggle on its own). And then my timeloop fic and Desire Path. Yup, I’ve decided that’s going to be the order of my priorities. I’m sure nothing will change that.

Anyway here’s a snippet from an Androids AU that I’ve had around since like last year and haven’t been able to do much with yet... (many such cases) LMAO.

[nelyoslegalteam]

TRICK OR TREAT >:3

you >:3 at me as though i wouldn’t treat you, darling?? and after you have bestowed The Criminal on me? nonsense. i’ll be nice <3

here, treat yourself to poe party, a series whose full name i still do not know despite having trained for such long titles in the emo trenches of 2005. would you like every author you read in high school english class to be lovingly mocked? do you like comedy with unexpected feelings?? are you looking for something halloweenish to watch that isn’t horror? have fun <3

[mossyscavern]

Don’t be afraid, i’m not that dead.

________________________

Duncan takes a deep long breath and exhaled.

“Sammy. I wanna let you know that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened and I love you for that… But what the fuck.”

“I couldn’t exactly leave him.”

“Leave hi-… Sam. That’s a fUCKING ZOMBIE!!!” He yelled, pointing towards the corpse with very dark brown hair shuffling around aimlessly. Wearing an old school uniform and a mask hanging from its neck, his right eye rolled to the back of his head before going back to normal… ish.

“Yeah… but seriously, hear me out-.”

“Oh ok, yeah I’m sure the walking dead has something to say.” He says sarcastically. “Don’t be rude! But seriously, let me tell you what happened.”

———

In mount Todd while playing wick, I was running away from Lilian, the little girl really did not want me to live.. mostly cause I was trespassing.

*duncan: standard, no offence. Sam: none taken, let me finish.*

By the time I was almost out of options, until I saw the shed. I didn’t think nothing of it and ran into the building, shutting the door.

And remember how you said I needed to bring energy drinks? *duncan: yeah?* I made the mistake of not bringing any at all.

*duncan: SAM! Sam: I’m sorry, ok?! I didn’t think I needed any, so..*

I fell tired and I just… collapsed, didn’t know what time it was but I could definitely see it was dawn. And before you know it I met Tom.

*duncan: and you didn’t freak out?! Sam: to be fair it was Halloween. Duncan: … true.*

So before I knew he was a zombie I asked what he was doing in mount Todd, what his name was the whole sha-bang… when he grabbed my hand, led me to his grave and pointed at the tombstone.

———

“Soo turns out, his name’s Tomothy weaver and is a zombie… from mount Todd.” Sam explained, smiling awkwardly as Tom leaned his head on the redhead’s shoulder.

Duncan is so speechless, all he can do is gape and shift his eyes between the two while Sam subconsciously pats Tom on the head.

“… Tom weaver?! The missing kid of the 1924… is a fUCKING ZOMBIE?!!??!” Duncan shouted, making Sam and Tom flinch, Tom’s flinch being a bit more aggressive. “Shit, sorry I-i’m not mad I’m just… speechless.”

Duncan says, a bit guilty about it. Though Tom hadn’t come out of hiding, he did lean his head back onto Sam’s shoulder… which had brought confusion to Duncan once more. “Why’s Tomothy not all… brain eating or something?

“I questioned that too… but I guess it all comes from the brain itself. He feels alive but… knows he dead, right?” Sam questioned. Making Tom nod as an answer, which is a little freaky. “Ok he understands English… how?!”

“Not sure, but it’s better than nothing.. thinking of teaching him signs.” Sam says with a shrug. “Uh huh… good idea.” Duncan says, getting up to leave… then came back.

“do you know what he eats if it’s not brains?” Duncan wondered. “Baked lamb and mashed potatoes, it’s the closest food he can eat similar to his era.”

“… do you get A’s in history?”

“B+’s honestly, I just pay attention and never did extra credit.” Sam shrugged, causing Tom to bump his head at Sam and stare daggers at him. “Lo siento, force of habit.” Tom stared for a second, then relaxed again.

“Amazing, Travis ain’t gonna believe it if he was here.”

“… Duncan-.”

“Alright! I’m going, geez.”

Sam sighed in relief when he left and turned to the zombie sadly. Two years in this town and Sam never thought he’d bring back an actual zombie.

Only one other question remained in the redheaded boy’s mind…

how the hell did someone manage to resurrect the dead?!

________________________

Sooo… didn’t have a lot planned Halloweenish for wick… (which sucked by the way)

So to make up for that? I have a zombified Tom au!

In context, Travis was preying in broken Latin, not knowing that he accidentally said a spell to raise the dead.. thus making the ghost version disappear, back into his own rotted corpse since... he was in front of Travis.

Saved this for later and I’m finally bringing it out of drafts…

I should’ve done research for this.

[hypnofantasma-asks-and-doodles]

apologies for all the questions but i got another banetai one, do banetai have any specific naming conventions like vani? or can they just have any name?

not reaaallly atm

Jackie is a nickname form of Jackal, and she's really the only example i have really. i feel like you can sort of name Banetai whatever you'd like really, though i personally like to keep in mind a sort of horror/darkness/halloweenish feel to them because of their "monster under the bed" theme

[cuetlaxochitl]

i wanna change my url so bad but it doesnt feel halloweenish yet