#griefabyss69 writing

[griefabyss69]

Component Malfunction

Written for @steddiemicrofic!

[ AO3 ]

'PLUG' wc: 437 | rated: G | cw: N/A Steve finds that he is very happy when Eddie engages with his sensors. It elicits various human emotions in him.

"Steve," Eddie says, holding onto the cord that connects Steve to the source of his initializing program. "Can you understand me?"

Steve opens his eyes and uses the mechanism in his face to smile, as he was programmed to when he is Pleased. Eddie is beautiful and he takes care of him. Eddie gave him human emotions so they can bond in the same language.

"Yes Eddie, I understand you," he replies.

"Good, how do you feel? B.O.D.Y. Protocol please," Eddie says, carefully putting the cord down. "Then H.E.A.R.T. Protocol."

Steve stops admiring him and runs the requested scans.

"Body is rested at 98% energy: Leg appendages due for inspection in 37 hours, newly installed software is operational, no known errors." he says.

Eddie's hand touches his face. It is soft compared to his own metal skin but Eddie has told that him he likes it that way.

"Heart malfunction: There are three errors; there is one update." Steve reports.

Eddie looks sad whenever he gives him the H.E.A.R.T. report, but Steve does not know why.

"I promise I'll fix it," he says, leaning in to press his lips against Steve's other cheek.

One of the errors disappears, but Eddie hasn't asked for another report or for updates on them, so Steve is unable to tell him at this moment. Instead he smiles because he is Pleased.

"Thank you Eddie," he says.

"You're so welcome," Eddie replies, brushing their noses together.

Steve's Pleased mood changes to Happy.

"I am happy," he says, because Eddie wants updates on the status of that. It would be logical for Eddie to pair that with the status of his H.E.A.R.T., but at this time he is unable to offer him ideas on his operation.

Steve is a work in progress.

Eddie smiles and expresses affection at his statement; he kisses Steve's mouth and the second error is fixed. His mood status changes again.

"I am elated," he reports.

"Yeah? Does it feel good when I kiss you?" Eddie asks, pulling away which does not feel good.

He looks at Steve and he has eyes that remind Steve of when Eddie added Category: Nature to his internal visual memory. They are as beautiful as the soil that hides the layers of Earth that many of Steve's components come from. Eddie's eyes hide Steve as well, and he feels safe.

"It feels good when you kiss me," he answers.

"I'm glad your sensors are working," Eddie says, expressing relief by lowering his shoulders and sighing. "I'll get your H.E.A.R.T. working too."

He leans in and kisses Steve again, and the last error resolves.

[thefreakandthehair]

Spicy Six -Ber Month Fanworks Challenge

It's that time again! I'm so excited to host the Third Annual Spicy Six Fanworks Challenge, with a twist this year! Rather than winter-specific prompts, we have a mix of both fall and winter prompts. With all of the fun October events happening, this felt like the best way to capture both seasons. The past couple of years hosting the seasonal challenges has been such a blast, and I can't wait to see what people come up with this time around!

Here are the rules: 

It's a Spicy Six challenge so of course, you must include someone from the Spicy Six (Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, Eddie, Steve, Argyle). Don't feel pressured to include everyone, of course. You can be ship-specific or general. Chrissy is also included! (I know that makes seven– I just don't want to change the title, honestly.)

There are two links below, one for dialogue prompts and one for more general prompts. There will be a claims process, but I've decided to make it easier for everyone (myself included) and will not be limiting how many people can claim the same prompt this year. In years past, it's led to a lot of back and forth trying to choose second options, third options, etc. and there's more than enough creativity in this fandom for people to make vastly different interpretations of the same prompt!

To claim a prompt, simply shoot me a DM with which prompt you'd like from what list (i.e.: prompt 6 from dialogue prompts'). Since I'm not limiting prompts, don't worry if I don't get right back to you!

One prompt per person. You're welcome to use as many as you like, but you can only claim one.

No restrictions for fanart, and no word count minimum or maximum for fics. Long fics, ficlets, drabbles, all are welcome.

Posting will run from November 15th through December 31st. Additional posting details here!

When you post, please use the tag spicysixbermonthchallenge and tag me so I can see and reblog it!

Please feel free to reblog to spread and signal boost.

Dialogue Prompts Here Inspiration Prompts Here

tagging some peeps who've been along for the ride before/expressed interest & some writing/art pals (this is open to everyone!! not just those tagged!): @starrystevie @hexiewrites @stevespookington @withacapitalp @maxinemaxmayfield

@maxineholtzmann @stevethehairington @just-my-latest-hyperfixation @formosusiniquis @sourw0lfs

@steddieas-shegoes @steddieasitgoes @judasofsuburbia @kkpwnall @thisapplepielife

@werepuppy-steve @medusapelagia @frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe @starthecozy @sidekick-hero

@shares-a-vest @steddie-island @acasualcrossfade @hbyrde36 @ao3usermelancholyhues

@cuips-not-cute @arelliann @stervrucht @griefabyss69 @kaspurrcat

@sparkle-fiend @ahhrenata @nostalgicbones @henderdads @undreaming-fanfiction

@riality-check @wynnyfryd @aidaronan @stevesbipanic @hereforanepilogue

[vecnuthy]

🪱🧠 Wiggly Wednesday 🧠🪱

Tagged by @just-my-latest-hyperfixation sending luscious dirt vibes your way to feed the babies 🖤🖤 I've had this brain worm wriggling around in my head for a while, but it requires spice and I really feel that I just cannot do spice, but, regardless, here's my nsfw maybe au brainworm that I have definitely already kind of written the beginning of:

Steve finds a handwritten note in the adult only section of Family Video that prompts him to choose a number between one and twelve, saying that it would be fun (wink wink). Steve eventually caves because he's bored and curious and writes a number down, then gets a tape a week later saying something along the lines of "Your choice awaits." Later that night, he finds out that it's basically the 80s version of a camboy video, and the guy in it loooves the sound of his own voice, and, looky there, Steve does too. A lot. He likes the way the guy (Eddie, obvious to us) touches himself even more, and by the end of the video, Steve is shaking and sweaty and in the sweetest pain bc the guy on the video said he couldn't touch himself, only watch.

And Steve does what he's told.

Or at least he does this time, because he's just so engrossed in what this tattooed guy with the slightly gravelly voice is doing, and he hates that he can't see his face, and he's just kind of frozen until the guy on the screen sets him free, but then he succumbs far too quickly.

It's the first of a few tapes that appear.

There are more notes asking for Steve's thoughts and for more numbers, and Steve's frustrated as all hell because he's jerking off too damn much, and he's trying to do one night stands that just aren't cutting it because those girls are just not this guy, and the guys are just not this guy, and his hand isn't satisfying, because he just wants that guy's hands on him, his voice in his ear, muttering the nastiest things that he can't even fathom, that make him blush shades of red that he can feel all over his body through to his bones, that drip like hot honey down his spine and make his fingers tingle and his chest squeeze and stomach swoop so wildly that he want to scream.

But yeah, it's bound to be a multichapter thing or a longggg oneshot kind of thing, which is intimidating, so who knows if it'll happen, but. Brainworms.

Tagging @steddieas-shegoes @sidekick-hero @cuips-not-cute @corrodedbisexual @thefreakandthehair @griefabyss69 bc I feel like y'all have brainworms 😌🫶

[steddieas-shegoes]

Hi! I've spent hours reading your Steddie stuff when I honestly should have been sleeping because work and adulting. Gotta be some of my favorite writing! You have requests/prompts open? I have 2! If you like them :) 1. The Soulmate idea of people having a moving animal tattoo representing their Soulmate. Steve has hyperactive bat who loves to drape itself around his neck quite possessively. Eddie with a retriever pup or something that likes to curl up over his heart. 2. Always a sweetheart Steve? No King Steve era thing. He bugs Eddie to learn about D&D to understand his kids better qnd our poor metal gremlin melts :) I'm Soft Boi, so sorry for no angst.

I'm posting the 1st one here, but on the second one, I am gonna just give a rec instead. Last Man Standing by @griefabyss69 (GriefAbyss on AO3) is kind of this request but taking it to filth level 😈 But anyways, this idea is so fucking cool my dudes. I love a good soulmate AU, and when it's something super unique like this, I lose my shit. I definitely think someone could make a slow burn with this idea and if anyone does, please let me know! - Mickala ❤️

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

He used to hate it.

A bat was such a menacing and disgusting creature.

Anyone who saw it would give him a look that was equal parts apologetic and concerned.

But when Steve started getting left alone at home, when he only had surface level friends, when he cried himself to sleep because the silence wasn’t enough to drown out the negative thoughts, the bat wrapped itself around his neck, and he didn’t feel so alone.

He’d started sleeping with his hand on his shoulder just to feel closer to his soulmate.

Hoped that whoever it was wouldn’t be disappointed that he was theirs.

————-

Eddie convinced himself for his entire childhood that the golden retriever tattoo that ran up and down his arms every day was some sympathy soulmate tattoo.

There was no way his soulmate was someone this hyper.

And then Wayne explained there was usually a story behind the tattoo, something more than just the personality or energy of a person.

At night, the retriever would pace across his chest, eventually settling right over his heart.

He wondered what his tattoo representation was.

He hoped it was a bat.

————-

“Dude, it’s not a big deal. Just show us!” Tommy yelled to Steve from the pool.

Steve had managed to hide it from his friends for so long.

He wasn’t ashamed necessarily, but he definitely didn’t need Tommy and Carol or any of the rest of the basketball team to see it.

The tattoo often stayed hidden pretty well during the day, usually hid on his thigh or stomach. He got away with always wearing shirts for practice and skipped post-practice showers with excuses that he had a study group to get to.

But his pool was a problem, especially now that he was at an age where everyone wanted to come over to swim when his parents weren’t around, which was often.

He tried to make excuses, said he was just worried about the sun, worried about a creepy neighbor watching.

It only worked a couple of times.

Now it was night, so no sun.

The neighbor was on vacation.

And everyone expected him to strip down and get into the pool.

So he did.

Everyone stared in silence as the bat flew from his stomach to his back and settled on his shoulder.

It seemed like it wanted to be seen, but still wasn’t sure how it wanted to be perceived.

Steve could relate.

No one commented on it, probably too afraid that one wrong word would get them kicked out of the pool permanently.

When he went to bed that night, the bat took its place around his neck, his hand rested in its place against his shoulder, and he sighed.

“I hope you’re being seen,” he whispered into his empty room.

——————-

The golden retriever was completely still for more than eight hours the same night Starcourt exploded.

Eddie tried not to panic for the first few hours, knew it could be any number of reasons the tattoo wasn’t moving.

But after hour six, he called Wayne at work, worry carrying over the line as fireworks boomed in the background.

“It’s not moving. It- you said when it stopped it meant- they can’t be, though.”

“Eds, take a few slow breaths, son. C’mon now, you’d have known if he-”

“But what if mine’s broken? What if the connection isn’t right?” Eddie tried taking breaths, but it wasn’t working.

The more he thought about it, the more likely it was that his soulmate was gone.

By the time Wayne made it home from work, the retriever had moved from his forearm to its usual place over his heart, and Eddie was fast asleep on the couch, his hand resting on top of it.

—--------------------

Being dragged into more freaky Upside Down shit was not on Steve’s to-do list. Then again, it never really was.

He wouldn’t have even bothered coming with Dustin and Max if not for the fact that Dustin was terrified something had happened to his new best friend Eddie.

He tried to hide his terrible mood, but knew he was failing.

He woke up this morning to his bat already on his leg, seemingly asleep, though it was normally still around his neck or on his shoulder when he woke up.

It hadn’t moved all morning, and he was a little worried about what that might mean.

He was also getting more worried by the day that he’d never meet his soulmate.

He knew it was dramatic, but most people he went to school with had met theirs by now, their tattoos now permanently placed in matching spots on their bodies.

“Dustin, this is so stupid,” he reiterated for the hundredth time as they walked up to the boathouse door.

He kept thinking it to himself as they poked around looking for Eddie, as he was being held against the wall with a broken bottle to his neck by Eddie, as he felt a flutter in his stomach at the way Eddie was watching him as they told him about the Upside Down.

He didn’t take the time over the next couple of days to pay much attention to his tattoo, didn’t really consider the fact that what little time he slept, he was so out of it he didn’t even notice whether the bat was on his neck or not.

Didn’t think about it until a moment in the RV alone with Eddie, when something in his brain told him to check on the bat.

“Sorry, just. Can you wait one second?” Steve interrupted Eddie’s thought as kindly as he could.

“Uh, yeah?” Eddie responded, confused.

He slipped to the back, not bothering to close the curtain that separated it from the rest of the RV.

He lifted his shirt in hopes of seeing it, but it wasn’t there.

He groaned and unbuttoned his jeans, rushing to just check and see if the bat had moved at all.

He shoved his jeans down and frowned.

It was in the same place still.

On his inner thigh on his right leg.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, or what he thought was under his breath.

“Everything okay?” Eddie’s voice was much closer than he expected, making him jump and rush to pull his pants back up. “Shit, was that your tattoo?”

“Yeah. It hasn’t moved in a while.”

“Neither has mine.” Eddie moved in closer. “Actually, mine’s on my thigh too. Kinda makes it hard to check.”

“Which thigh?” Steve couldn’t help asking.

“Right.”

“What is it?”

“Golden retriever. Can’t really imagine who it would be,” he admitted.

Steve’s first and only pet had been a puppy. A golden retriever named Daisy.

She was his entire world for almost a year until she chewed on one of his dad’s expensive watches and ended up being given to a man who worked with him.

He cried for days after that, didn’t talk to his dad for weeks, not that that was difficult to do since he was gone more often than not.

He vowed that he would get another one the moment he was an adult.

That didn’t quite work out.

But his nannies all used to call him a retriever, his energy contagious in the best way, his playful demeanor a relief. As he grew up, it got dulled by his parents, expectations, society, but he knew inside, all of that was still there.

“What’s yours?” Eddie asked, shaking him out of his thoughts.

“A bat.”

Eddie tilted his head and looked at him, eyes squinting to take him in.

“A bat?”

“Yeah. He’s a playful guy, but kinda shy it seems like,” Steve’s smile was fond until it was sad. “At least until he stopped moving.”

“When did he stop moving?” Eddie ignored the fact that it was a he for now.

“I guess I noticed it the day we found you in the boathouse.”

They both stared at each other for a moment, possibly coming to similar conclusions.

“What about yours?” Steve asked quietly, though something told Eddie he already knew the answer.

“The day you found me in the boathouse.”

“I-”

“How-”

“Dingus, we gotta go!” Robin was suddenly yelling as the RV door slammed open.

They could figure this out later.

They would have to.

—-----------------------

As Steve sat by Eddie’s bedside in the hospital, he thought about how often the bat tattoo had been the only comfort he had, the only thing that kept him from being completely alone.

He thought about how Eddie had always done his best to include the people who didn’t belong anywhere else, how he’d put on a show to protect himself, but hated being seen.

Wayne watched him from the other side of the bed, silently judging him, probably trying to figure out how to kick him out.

But he couldn’t.

He felt the pull now.

Now that he’d been around Eddie, somewhat gotten to know him, how he was fearless when it came to the gremlins, was willing to give up his own life if it meant getting Dustin to safety, he could feel the tug on his heart.

It was inconvenient since they didn’t know when or really even if Eddie would wake up.

So he waited.

He waited for Wayne to kick him out. He waited for doctors and nurses to have answers. He waited for Eddie to wake up.

He waited to know if he’d be able to have his soulmate or not.

—-------------------

Eddie’s first word when he woke up was Steve’s name.

Steve let out an uncontrollable sob, curling down so his head rested in the sheets of the bed.

Wayne’s hand was on his back, his voice trying to speak to him and Eddie at the same time.

They’d gotten closer over the last few days, Wayne’s calm presence enough to keep Steve from completely losing his mind with worry.

But the pain meds in the IV drip seemed to catch back up to Eddie within minutes and he was asleep again.

“He woke up though. Your boy woke up,” Wayne said to him, holding his hand.

“Yeah. He did.”

—-------------------

When Eddie left the hospital, Steve insisted on pushing his wheelchair to Wayne’s truck himself.

The nurse agreed with little argument; The hospital was incredibly understaffed and overrun with patients from the “earthquake” and she had a million better things to do.

The walk down was mostly quiet, but not awkward.

“I think some of my tattoo is missing,” Eddie finally said, barely more than a whisper.

“From the bats?” Steve asked.

“Yeah. I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault. Doesn’t change anything.”

“No?” he asked, voice full of hope.

“Not a thing for me.”

—------------------------

They dated.

It was unconventional in every way.

Steve had never pictured himself with a man, but now he couldn’t picture himself with anyone but Eddie.

Eddie had to explain that they couldn’t just go out and hold hands like any of Steve’s other dates, they had to be careful.

It wasn’t always easy; Steve got frustrated and Eddie got insecure.

But they always ended their nights with soft kisses, with whispered words of comfort and promises.

They fell in love like that, the tattoos only the beginning of something that no one could have expected.

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is:  @wynnyfryd! Wynnyfryd has 34 fics in the Stranger Things fandom and all of them are in the Steddie tag!

i don’t know, you figure it out

Plot Holes

biting you biting you biting you- oh! kissing you!

Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!

She's got some of the FUNNIEST writing in this fandom, and it's very snappy too like. She's an editing demon for sure, she can take a concept that I'd think would take paragraphs to explain and find the right words to make it hit just as hard with like, two sentences. I also really really love how descriptive her metaphors are, really visceral sometimes, and she's really good at writing realistic life events but still making them fun to read about even when it's about like, devastating shit. The sex she writes is also intense as hell! -- @griefabyss69

Below the cut, @wynnyfryd answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

I am but a humble bisexual — I see two beautiful brown-eyed men makin’ beautiful brown eyes at each other, I go a little insane for two years. It is what it is.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

late-night moments of quiet hopeful hesitant intimacy over a shared joint or cigarette. Thin wisp of smoke between them, stars dancing in their eyes. Yeah. YEAHHHHHHH 

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

This isn’t really a trope so much as a dynamic, but I love a good dipshit 4 dingus dialogue-heavy scene. Don’t get me wrong, I think Eddie and Steve can both be very smart and knowledgeable in their areas of interest/expertise, but these are two young dudes with no access to the internet. I love letting them be confidently incorrect dumbasses. Just ‘yes and’-ing each other’s stupidity while an exasperated third character begs for mercy.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

Well, this question is impossible and furthermore rude. This question came into my home and didn’t take its muddy boots off. This question never mailed me a thank you letter for my lovely wedding gift. That blender was expensive; the absolute nerve. No but seriously, I think The Lathe by palmviolet is going to stay with me forever.

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I’m a big fan of doing canon divergence from different jumping off points — the beauty of having characters live in the same small town their whole lives is that you get so many great opportunities for these “what if our paths crossed sooner” moments.  I have some very loose notes for a S3 fic where Eddie is the movie theater employee who finds Steve and Robin in the bathroom after they escape the Russians, and I also have an old WIP set between S1 and S2 where lifeguard Steve rescues Eddie and then spends the summer teaching him how to swim. Would love to revisit those after I finish the trailer park AU (which I will be referring to as TPAU because my fingers are tired and because ‘toilet paper au’ makes me laugh.)

What is your writing process like?

Uhhhhh. 😂 I mean, for TPAU, basically just insert the scene from Dune 2 of Paul’s first sandworm ride: I’m shaking I’m sweating there is sand in my nostrils and I am surely about to die— oh wait, maybe I’ve actually got this? Am I actually doing it? Oh shit, look at me go!   For one-shots I like to use a more structured outline and bracket method. I start by dividing my doc into numbered scenes, with each scene getting a notes section and a prose section, like this:

This format gives me a lot of freedom to switch up the order of scenes and to move between scenes so I avoid writer’s block. I can also jump ahead to scenes I really want to write without making a mess of my outline. Once I have something written in the prose section of each scene, I go back and work on replacing each bracket with prose until there are no brackets left. Lastly, I create a new blank doc and copy the prose over in order so I can read the full fic and work on edits from there.  

Do you have any writing quirks?

I have been known to abuse a semicolon. And an em dash. And a conjunction at the start of a sentence. Yes, I do have ADHD.   I’m also a lyricist, so I feel like my prose tends to stray into poetry territory pretty often.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

When I’m finished! Which is probably why I tend to stick to one-shots; I get impatient and want to post stuff the second it’s ready.

Which fic are you most proud of?

‘i don’t know, you figure it out’ for SURE. I’ve never written a fic this long or stuck to a writing project this consistently in my life. Like ever. The last time I even came close was my first NaNoWriMo when I was 16, which was, uh… years ago, plural, and I’ll leave it at that. 😂

How did you get the idea for i don’t know, you figure it out?

“There’s a dead rat on his doorstep.” That’s it. That first sentence/scene popped into my head while I was bored at work, and then I started thinking, “hey, you know what? I don’t know that anyone’s ever done a fic where Max and Steve trade places for S4; that might be fun.”  And then NaNoWriMo was coming up, so I thought it would be cool to try live posting a fully improvised fic every day for a month to see how many words I could write. And then this tragic wet cat version of Steve Harrington grabbed me by the throat and took over my whole life.

When writing Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!, what was something you didn’t expect?

How SAPPY these two got!! My god, boys, I’m trying to write smut over here, stop having a beautiful existential crisis! (I blame Briston Maroney for that though lol, I think I listened to ‘Body’ like 1400 times that month.)

What inspired Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!?

@inklessletter posted this totally gorgeous art of Steve and Eddie recording themselves kissing, and I promptly lost my mind.  

What was your favorite part to write from biting you biting you biting you- oh! kissing you!?

This exchange: Steve: “What? I’m just asking!” Robin: “You’re being embarrassing!” Steve: “No, you’re just embarrassed. There’s a difference.” Like it’s just so them lmao

How do/did you feel writing i don’t know, you figure it out?

You know when you set out on a long hike in the summer and three hours later your calves are screaming and you’re covered in sweat and your sunburn’s starting to itch and this one horse fly won’t fuck off and your cell phone doesn’t even get service out here so literally WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF, and then you climb that last hill and look out on the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen in your silly little life? Basically that.

What was the most difficult part of writing Plot Holes?

Ooh, that one was fun! The only real difficulty was trying to keep it to a microfic because the concept could definitely be fleshed out to a full story — @griefabyss69 and I were joking around about “what if someone did ‘plot hole’ for the @steddiemicrofic prompt fill?” and then that fic just fell out of my head in about 15 minutes. 

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

For sure! I’m currently super proud of the graveyard scene in the most recent update of TPAU — I don’t write true horror often, but I love horror so it was really fun to give it a try! Favorite line from any fic is probably this reference to ‘You’re Divine’ in my fic Monsoon Season because I love uncomfortably-aroused prude Eddie, and his internal monologue cracks me up every time I think about it: Freddie Monsoon’s debut novel is called The Fourth Chime, and it is, as far as Eddie can tell, the first installment in a series of unapologetically filthy fuck fests about a man whose lover gets flung into an alternate dimension during an apocalyptic event and miraculously returns as some sort of… sexy bat-boy with a fucking horse dong and a bite kink. Critics are calling it “the most romantic novel of the last decade.” It’s me; I’m Critics.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

My main project right now is finishing TPAU if it kills me, but beyond that, I have a few one-shots for @subeddieweek in the works, including a collab with @griefabyss69 that I’m so so SO excited to share. It’s hot, it’s funny, I can’t wait for y’all to read it. 

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

First of all, as @wormdebut would say: I think you’re pretty. Thank you so much for all your hard work! I love this blog, and I love answering questions <3 Secondly: - Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. - Toss cubed sweet potatoes and parsnips, sliced sweet onion, and fresh garlic in a mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary, and then spread in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.  - Bake for ~40-45 minutes. (Potatoes and parsnips should be soft without being mushy when you poke them with a fork.) - Prep your sauce: I made a dijon drizzle situation by mixing olive oil mayo, a dash of dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a splash of water, but you could also add a little dab of hot sauce, bbq sauce, or different mustards. Basically just grab like four condiments out of your fridge and play around with the flavors you like until you make a mix that’s thin enough to pour. - Drizzle roasted veggies with sauce. - Enjoy a very tasty side dish (or do what I did and eat the whole sheet as a meal like some sort of parsnip goblin because you were too lazy to make the main dish after chopping all those veggies) okay thank you love you byeeeee

Thank you to our author, @wynnyfryd, and our nominator, @griefabyss69! See more of Wynnyfryd's works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[hbyrde36]

Oookay...

So, I'm still struggling with The Thing™

Not only processing the outcome of the election, but reevaluating my faith in humanity, not to mention the 51% of my fellow Americans who I gave FAR too much credit to thinking they'd do the right thing.

But the world spins on, even if (as a friend said to me today) it feels like it should all come to screeching halt so we can get a bereavement period, and now, a few days on, I want to try and get back to the stuff that brings me joy, like writing.

You know the drill. Send me an ask with the name of a fic and I'll write and share 3 sentences. Make help me write 💜

Midsummer Nights

- Summer camp fic (ch 3)

Fuggi Regal Fantasima

- Ghost Eddie fic (ch 2)

Caught In The Undertow

- Depressed Eddie (ch 7)

Forever After 💫

- Follow-up to It's Only Forever (formerly secret one-shot)

From Fuggi Regal Fantasima Ch 2:

Before he could bring himself to try a second time, the phone started to ring. Eddie prayed it was Robin calling to check in. Even knowing it was futile, he reached for the handset, stomping his feet angrily when his fingers touched nothing but air.   Goddamnit! Think, Munson, think!  What had been different last night when he’d managed to touch Steve for almost a full minute?  Well, he’d been annoyed at first, then a little turned on if he was honest. Obviously his concern for Steve’s well-being had taken center stage once he’d gotten a look at how badly hurt he still was, but wounded or not a shirtless Steve Harrington was a fucking sight to see. Eddie would challenge anyone—gay, straight, or otherwise—to stand in his presence and be unaffected. But surely horny ghost magic could not possibly be a thing. No, he’d been worried. Like, really fucking worried. The same way he felt moments ago when he couldn’t get Steve to wake. He hadn’t thought about it, he’d just acted.

No pressure tags 💜 @penny00dreadful @pearynice @steddiecameraroll @devondespresso @dreamwatch

@griefabyss69 @eriquin @sourw0lfs @thefreakandthehair @sidekick-hero

[wynnyfryd]

🐳 howdy ✨

Hello there, lovely. Welcome to my blog. If you’re here I assume you’re also a deranged little doofus, and I love that about you. The brainrot gripped me and never let go, so this is primarily a steddie blog (and occasionally a personal one when I remember to check my asks.)

Steddie fic masterlist below. I also post a ton of drabbles and shorter stories on my blog, and if you want more content you can check out the monthly writing challenge I created and run with @steddieas-shegoes at @steddiemicrofic <3

————————

in progress

i don't know, you figure it out (trailer park steve au)

rated E | posting to tumblr in daily parts under #trailer park steve au, which will be added to ao3 as chapters are completed

ch. 1: part 1-5, ao3

ch. 2: part 6-8, ao3

ch. 3: part 9-12, ao3

ch. 4: part 13-18, ao3

ch. 5: part 19-22, ao3

ch. 6: part 23-27, ao3 | artwork by @inklessletter

bonus scene: stobin hangover brunch

ch. 7: part 28-32, ao3 | artwork by @foxprism

ch. 8: part 33-36, ao3

ch. 9: part 37-40, ao3

ch. 10: part 41-47, ao3

ch. 11: part 48-53, ao3

ch. 12: part 54-55, ao3

ch. 13: part 56-60, ao3

ch. 14: part 61-64, ao3

ch. 15: part 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | ao3

In which the Munsons get new neighbors, but instead of the Mayfields it’s the former King Steve and his recently widowed mom.

manic goblic dream boy

13.2k | not rated | 28/? chapters | ao3

this is where I archive all my tumblr drabbles when I remember to actually do that. each chapter is a standalone piece

completed fics

game, set, match

2.2k | E | good boy eddie munson pwp, written for @subeddieweek day 4 | ao3

baby it's cold outside (but it's real warm in your mouth)

9k | E | enemies to smothered, written with @griefabyss69 for @subeddieweek day 3 | ao3 | artwork by @donttellunclesam

Steve and Eddie get snowed in.

biting you biting you biting you- oh! kissing you!

2.5k | M | platonically non-platonic stobin crack with a dash of pre-relationship steddie | ao3

Get blackout drunk and French your friends: the musical.

it was love, love alone

2.5k | E | silly sweaty steddie sex | ao3 | podfic by @reena-jenkins

Steve and Eddie get freaky on the Hellfire throne.

nine of diamonds

1.1k | T | crack-fluff written while my train was delayed | ao3

a kinda-sorta-not-really Eddie POV sequel to ‘is this your card?’

Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!

5.8k | E | weirdly sentimental slut time based on this art by @inklessletter | ao3

Chicago 1994: Steve and Eddie move in together, then they watch a film.

yoga dom steve series

33.3k | E | dom steve x sub eddie kink exploration series | ao3

Eddie’s ADHD as hell and Steve’s a hot stretchy boi who’s gonna box breath the brain bees into submission. or something.

relax (lay it back): 12k | E | ao3 | cowritten with @gorgeousgreymatter-x for @flintandfuss’s birthday

relax (that’s that): 2.6k | E | ao3

a masterpiece of art, it’s true: 3.3k | M | ao3

i know it’s hard to do: 9k | E | ao3

blue dream: 6.3k | E | ao3

your kiss is on my list

2.3k | T | fluff, getting together | ao3

Steddie Week 2023, day 3: discover | first kiss | ‘kiss on my list’ by hall & oates

is this your card?

4.5k | T | hellhonk origins | ao3

Steve, Robin, and Eddie kill time in a bar.

damn right, you do

2.7k | T | prompt fill for @mcneen | ao3

Steve could use a hug. Fortunately Eddie's a great hugger.

Monsoon Season

6.1k | E | crack prompt author AU | ao3

Beloved children's author Eddie Munson, meet notoriously petty smut writer Steve Harrington.

TITS! Magazine

11.9k | E | art student Eddie x model Steve AU | ao3

Eddie finds a magazine, then he finds a man.

No Son of Mine

4.5k | M | angst, hurt-comfort | ao3 | podfic by wildishly

Steve shows up at Eddie's door with a handprint on his cheek and his heart on his sleeve.

i’ll stop the world and freeze with you

634 words | G | meet-cute AU drabble | ao3

Eddie promised he’d take Max ice skating, only he doesn’t actually have a single solitary fucking clue what he’s doing. Good thing there’s a very helpful Hot Guy who can assist.

The Great Scavenger Hunt of 1986

7.9k | T | heart-warming Christmas fluff | ao3 | listen to the podfic

In 1985, Little Debbie releases their new Christmas tree snack cakes. In 1986, Robin gets the flu, and Steve sets out to cheer her up with festive treats. It's easier said than done.

(My one and only completed attempt at podfic, godDAMN how do y’all finish these editing projects?) written for Hellfire Christmas 2022

patience is a virtue

1.7k | E | self-indulgent pwp | ao3

Being patient sucks. Literally.

hayrides and late harvests

651 words | M | pre-smut drabble | ao3

day 5, prompt #31: “Let me help you. I’m begging you to let me help you.”

Bobbing for Apples at the Bottom of Lover’s Lake

1.9k | M | getting together, mopey steve x vampire eddie | ao3

Steve goes missing at the Halloween house party; Eddie tracks him down.

Steve H. Who Works in Accounting

2.9k | E | pwp that made me laugh | ao3

Robin’s in pain. Steve’s bisexuality isn’t helping. (or: Steve gets embarrassed and apparently he’s kinda into that.)

microfics

@steddiemicrofic prompt fills

paint it black 🎂🖤🎂

290 words | M | bonus round ‘birthday’ to celebrate @steddieas-shegoes | ao3

Steve bakes Eddie a birthday cake.

make me

388 words | E | March prompt ‘pin’ | ao3

“Eat a dick, Munson.” “Make me.”

Plot Holes

404 words | T | January prompt ‘hole’ | tumblr | ao3

the gates are open and time’s all fucked

🎵 Troll Toll 🎵

404 words | M | January prompt ‘hole’ | tumblr | ao3

three fandoms converged in a future wood, and I— I regret that I wrote this

the kind of charm we need

548 words | G | September prompt ‘charm’ | ao3

Nancy doesn’t appreciate him, but someone else might.

at the bottom you’ll find all our friends

442 words | M | MCD/angst | July prompt ‘pool’ | ao3

The trouble is, Eddie doesn't stay dead.

discontinued fics

note: fics in this section are NOT complete and will very likely stay that way. read them, write your own version, print em out and eat em if you like but so HELP ME if you ask when the next chapter is coming i’ll end u thank you 😘

stupid fucking star stuff

3.4k | M | stardust AU | ao3

Steve’s a star and Eddie’s in love with a guitar.

babysitters and book signings

4.2k | G | famous author Eddie x just-some-guy Steve | ao3

Steve takes the kids to a convention to meet their favorite fantasy author, one critically-acclaimed and unfairly attractive Eddie Munson.

[tinytalkingtina]

Writing patterns game

rules: share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able and see if there are any patterns!

Thanks for the tags @hairstevington and @devondespresso <3

Going from most recent to oldest (even if it's only 6 months, just happy I have a number of fics now!):

Fancy Falling Into You Here - "G-d damn BBC Sherlock," Eddie grumbled as he fumbled plugging his phone into its charging cable for a third time.

Silver Moonlight - “There, how does that feel?”

Cool Whip - Steve stared at Eddie in complete silence.

Soaring Symphony - “You better not have poisoned it, witch, or else.”

Three and Counting - Steve held up another tape.

Illusory Courage - Stephen Harrington, heir to the barony of Loch Nora, left Lord Carver’s manor scowling.

Only the Moon Knows - They forgot to draw the curtains: moonlight paints the room in shades of pale yellow.

The True Face of Bravery - "'Mi'lord', your squire is whining he can't find your club, the one with the spikes and-um."

Shaking things up a little - "Steve, what exactly are you doing right now?"

Logical Imperfection - Lieutenant Engineer Junior grade Theodore Munson of the Indiana Class USS Roane squinted into the maintenance conduit, mentally willing the isolinear chips to give up their secrets.

Apparently I like either giving long and wordy character titles, or starting in the middle of the action. And also saying Steve's name?

Tagging a few folks (feel free to ignore though!) @little-annie @chaiyaprovo @teddywesworl @wynnyfryd @griefabyss69 @adverbally @dreamwatch

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Writing patterns

I was tagged by @cranberrymoons and @eyesofshinigami - thx, lovelies! ❤️

Rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

1. Eddie never regretted becoming a criminal.  - from "Over the Edge"

2. “You can’t be fucking serious,” Steve says.  - from "Sweet Indulgence"

3. It starts as always, on the edge between sleeping and waking.  - from "Sleep with one eye open"

4. Ping. - from "The adventures of Eddie Munson, jerk"

5. People call it the Hole.  - from "Be my escape"

6. Eddie has never understood new year's resolutions. - from "Don't cha wanna dance?"

7. Steve has always been all movement, all fluid grace, for as long as Eddie remembers.  - from "We'll give it a shot"

8. Eddie swivels morosely in his desk chair, stretches until something in his lower back pops. - from "Baby, it's cold outside"

9. “Y’know,” Steve muses. “I think many people really don’t understand how important dessert is for a well-rounded meal.”  - from "A well-rounded meal"

10. Eddie is up on the roof when Steve pulls into the driveway.  - from "Exactly what it's meant to say"

So it seems I like to open with one of three options: a) POV character introspective, b) Jump right into the dialogue, c) Attention-grabber sentence that (hopefully) makes you keep reading bc you wanna know more. 😅

Some zero-pressure tags: @frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe @griefabyss69 @lunaraindrop @maxinemaxmayfield @rainbow-nerdss

[zombiethingy]

(early) WIP weekend

Let's do another WIP weekend since I got a four day one again! (and I definitely need some kicks in the butt ^^)

In a reblog of this post (so people can find you in the notes) or new thread (w/ rules attached) if you want to play on your own, post up to five (5) filenames of your WIPs; not titles, file names.

Post a snippet from one of them. Snippet must be words you wrote in the last 7 days. We’re posting progress here. If you haven’t made any, go make some and come back to play!

After you’ve posted, people can send you an ask with one of your file names. You must then write 3 sentences in that file. If the filename is one you can’t share from (for example, an event or gift fic), write 3 sentences on it anyway, and then 3 more on another to share.

That’s it! You can invite others to join in, or just post. I’ll be searching the reblogs to find people to send asks to!

No clues this time -- Choose wisely:

filth part 5

projecting much

an tagen wie diesen

help with the dishes

prologue

Tagging the usual people (no pressure to join obviously, but I always enjoy interacting with you! Thank you for all the asks and comments <3) and everyone who wants to join 💜 @griefabyss69 @thetragicallynerdy @finntheehumaneater @ao3usermelancholyhues

Snippet below the cut:

But then he doesn't really know how to proceed.

"Steve," he prods, hoping for some guidance.

"Hmm?" Steve sounds like he's coming out of a deeply relaxing experience. "That felt so good. Thanks for helping me, baby."

That feels good too.

It doesn't bring Eddie closer to a solution though and Steve's still leaning against him, eyes closed.

He nudges him again.

"Pleased to be of service, but what do we do now?"

"Oh, right," Steve sounds more present. He also bears most of his own weight again, then turns his head to press a kiss against Eddie's cheek, and finally answers. "Just jiggle it a bit and put it back away."

When that's done, he turns around in Eddie's arms, wrapping his own around him in a hug.

"That was such a good idea! Thank you for suggesting it," he says into Eddie's neck, squeezing him closer.

[griefabyss69]

Flashpoint

Written for @steddiemicrofic! And dedicated to @swifterthings. Happy birthday Meg!!! <3 <3 <3

[ AO3 ] 'GUARD' wc: 532 | rated: E | cw: Public sex, humiliation

Steve is a sexual thrill seeker, Eddie gets off on humiliation, and they're deeply in love—a tale as old as time!

By now, Eddie thinks he should be used to the risky shit they do whenever Steve gets adventurous. Sure, maybe a handful of strangers have caught them, but nothing bad has happened; usually they just laugh or duck their head and walk faster.

Still, it's like Steve's either gotten too confident or he's looking for a bigger thrill, because today he's got Eddie bent over the hood of his car in the parking lot of the grocery store.

It's nighttime, but cars are still going by on the road and if someone turns into the lot they'll see Eddie lit up on both sides by the headlights of the Beemer.

Eddie's knees are like jello and he can't tell if it's from the humiliation, the fear of getting caught, or the insane shit Steve's doing to him, with his long fingers stroking the inside of his ass. All he can do is flatten his hands against the hood and rest his cheek on it, giving into whatever Steve decides they're doing tonight. He's pretty sure he's drooling on the metal.

His mind is just starting to slip out of hard reality and into something a little more comfortable when a car does pull into the parking lot. Steve buries his fingers as deep as they'll go and stops, leaning over him to cover him with his body.

"Hide your face," he murmurs in his ear.

"Car trouble?" a man's voice calls from where he's pulled up.

"We're okay," Steve calls back, and Eddie gives a thumbs up, hoping the nail polish will help sell their heterosexuality.

"Pretty crazy to be doing that here," the guy laughs. "But have your fun."

"We will, thanks," Steve replies, wiggling his fingers inside of Eddie, forcing a helpless shudder out of him.

The man drives off and Steve pulls back, no longer hiding him, and once again Eddie's exposed to the world. He looks back, seeing the exhilaration in Steve's face, and understands.

Steve wants to humiliate him and save him. He wants to show him off and be his body guard at the same time.

"You fucking loved that," he accuses.

"Yeah," Steve sighs, happy. "You're lucky I covered you."

Eddie images Steve openly fucking him like this in front of the stranger and shivers, feeling his dick jerk where it hangs between his thighs.

"You love me too much to do that," he says, not sure if Steve's gonna take it as a challenge or not.

"That's not it," Steve says, using his free hand to get his jeans undone and pull his dick out. "I love you too much not to share you."

Eddie groans into the puddle of drool he left on the hood. The haze from before starts to overtake him again as Steve pulls his fingers out. He hears a cap, then there's cold lube sliding from his ass crack down to his balls, making him shudder and widen his stance.

When Steve pushes his dick into him it goes easily, but it's still a big hot thing taking its claim, connecting them in a way that never fails to make Eddie's spine melt.

"I love you too," he moans.

[thefreakandthehair]

WIP Weekend ✨

In a reblog of this post (so people can find you in the notes) or new thread (w/ rules attached) if you want to play on your own, post up to five (5) filenames of your WIPs; not titles, file names.

Post a snippet from one of them. Snippet must be words you wrote in the last 7 days. We’re posting progress here. If you haven’t made any, go make some and come back to play!

After you’ve posted, people can send you an ask with one of your file names. You must then write 3 sentences in that file. If the filename is one you can't share from (for example, an event or gift fic), write 3 sentences on it anyway, and then 3 more on another to share.

That’s it! You can invite others to join in, or just post.

tagged by @griefabyss69! thanks, friend! I finally get to these again because I have WIPs I can talk about now!

the WIPs:

sub eddie week

football AU

aspiring olympian days, beer league nights

lovers rage

icarus' life, chapter 2

no pressure tags: @cuoredimuschio @steveseddie @just-my-latest-hyperfixation @wynnyfryd @steddielations + anyone else who wants to jump in; it's always an open invite!

snippet of football AU:

“That’s it! I've had enough! Harrington, Munson, my office, now!” Hopper’s voice booms above their arguing, echoing off the metallic lockers that surround them. Eddie’s back reflexively pulls straight as though he’s been scolded. He hasn’t felt like a kid in a long time, but damn if he doesn’t feel like he’s about to get himself grounded.  “Goddamn it,” Steve mutters, nostrils flaring and face pinching up into a grimace. “You know, I never got in trouble with Coach Hopper until you fucking showed up.”  It’s not meant to be praise, but Eddie preens all the same, tacking on a wink meant to push buttons that he somehow just seems to know to press instinctually. “Thanks, it’s a gift.”  Steve looks about ready to snap, tendon flexing from his jaw down the side of his neck, but he doesn't have a chance to snark back. “I said now!” Hopper pokes his head back around the corner, voice ricocheting off the walls.

[vecnuthy]

last sentence tag game

rules: in a rb or separate post, post the last sentence you wrote in any of your wips (original, fanfic, etc), and tag as many people as there are words.

Tagged by @griefabyss69 thank youuu 🖤🖤

"That story requires whiskey, though."

Sigh, I really need to write more of that western au.

No pressure tags 🖤 @steddieas-shegoes @steddieasitgoes @katdeerly @cranberrymoons @pearynice

[steddieas-shegoes]

Fic and Drabble Masterlist

Drabbles, Headcanons, and Ficlets

Tumblr Drabbles | AO3

Headcanon/Drabble Asks / Headcanon/Drabble Asks Part 2

Tumblr Requests (Rated Teen+) | Tumblr Requests (Rated M) | Tumblr Requests (Explicit) | Tumblr Requests AO3

Steddie Microfic Prompts

PDF/Google Drive Links

Birthday Fics

Chaptered Fics

call me sunshine, send me to space | E | complete | 89,621 words | AO3 Fanart by inklessletter Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 /  Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14 / Chapter 15 / Chapter 16 / epilogue / Bonus Buckingham Chapter 

little nuggets series | E | complete | 82,712 words |  AO3 One Little Nugget / Two Little Nuggets / Three (Or Four) Little Nuggets / Five Little Nuggets / Six-ish Little Nuggets

it led me to you | E | complete | 44,219 words | AO3 Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6

the only time i feel human is when i'm in bed with you | E | complete | 28,150 words | AO3 Art by GriefAbyss69 Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / epilogue

this place is such great motivation for anyone trying to move the fuck away from hibernation | E | wip | AO3    Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6

Fic Recs: spreading the worm | the hype around hype | it's a wynn for us all | the lexicon of omegaverse | thank you gerry much | eddywoww, that's what i call steddie fics | step into the abyss | the sidekick to her own hero | this vamp bites | she's the hottest mess around | the most legit cookie | the freak and the hair and lex | aida the gata' masturbata' | don't worry, bee happy

PLEASE READ: Many of my drabbles and fics can be considered Teen and Up in substance, but I choose to rate them Mature to hopefully keep minors from interacting. If you are under 18, please DNI. I am saying this for your own good. Also, I am 29 and you will find me very, very boring. People your age will be much cooler than me and things they write will be much more relatable. I still hope you find your fun in fandom and when you are an adult, I hope you find your way back here! :)

Posting Schedule (subject to change, check for updates)

I now have a Ko-Fi! Please consider leaving a tip if you're able, it helps fund Liam's hockey expenses!

[hbyrde36]

WIP Something

Last Thursday @dreamwatch tagged me in a post that for her counted towards a Seven Sentence Sunday tag and a WIP Wednesday tag. And I was ill and not really writing for a few days there, but today—TODAY I made words happen and a pretty big push towards finally getting the next (THE PENULTIMATE) chapter of a WIP out.

And oh haha look we're back at Wednesday which was totally on purpose! 😅

So, anyway

Words:

“Huh,” Eddie huffed, flopping down onto Chrissy’s neatly made bed. It jostled the carefully arranged mountain of pillows that were stacked up against the headboard, sending several of them tumbling to the floor. Why did girls always have so many goddamn pillows? “So that’s why you never let me come in here before. You do live in a two bedroom!” Chrissy bent to retrieve her fallen children and put them back in their proper place, except for the last, a bright pink fuzzy number with a cross-stitched peace sign on its front that she wacked him in the back of the head with. “I thought we’d moved past this. Haven't I apologized enough for the setup?” Eddie stuck out his bottom lip, arms crossing over his chest. “Will the lies never cease, Christine? I feel robbed! You and Robin were never sharing a bed?!” “We are now and that’s what matters, right?” “Yeah, yeah,” Eddie waved a hand through the air. “But where’s the pining for the person lying right next to you night after night?! Where’s the lovesick staring at the other person’s face while they sleep and wishing you could just tell them how you feel?! Where’s the drama?!” “I think we've had more than enough of that around here—for life. Maybe now it’s time for us all to just be happy.”

from chapter 11 of No Vacancy

No pressure tags for whatever flavor of WIP game strikes your fancy: @penny00dreadful @pearynice @rocknrollsalad @momotonescreaming @sidekick-hero

@shares-a-vest @griefabyss69 @kikidoesfanfic @thefreakandthehair @medusapelagia

[wynnyfryd]

@griefabyss69 @pennyplainknits @paperbackribs @spectrum-spectre @cranberrymoons @steddie-island i think the people want to know about Indubitably to Suck a Dick 😂😂

—

ITSAD is an unbelievably stupid crack fic idea i had after remembering an old poetry lesson from a high school summer writing workshop and then thinking about how eddie munson would terrorize his english teachers. it’s terrible i love it you can read the first part here. and a fresh snippet where that part left off below:

“You’re both showing off,” Frank cuts in as he steps up to his locker. “And why are you pissing off Ms. Harbert on purpose, man? I thought you were trying to graduate this time.”

Wow. Eddie blinks at him. “Well, hello to you, too, man, Jesus Christ. Who pissed in your Cheerios?”

“Probably Candace,” Jeff says.

“Probably fuck off,” Frank suggests.

“Yep. Definitely Candace.”

Frank groans and shuts his locker, knocks his forehead against the door. Eddie leans a shoulder against the cool metal and levels him with an earnest look, dropping his voice. “She turn you down for Valentine’s day?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Ouch. That’s a yes. And a bad one, too, judging by how miserable Frank’s voice sounds when he says it. Eddie sucks his teeth in sympathy.

Jeff offers no such thing. “Are you two losers done feeling sorry for yourselves now? I want to get to rehearsal.”

Little asshole. Dude always knows just what to say to get them out of a funk, works like a charm every time — not because it’s the correct response, but because Frank and Eddie both start going in on him so hard that they forget to mope entirely, hollering “Wooooow!” and “Seriously, man??” and “Go fuck yourself, Jeff!”

“Yeah, Jeff!”

“You know,” Eddie says conversationally to Frank, “I’m told getting popped in the mouth hurts especially bad with braces.”

“Damn right, it does,” Frank nods, and then they’re laughing, snickering like a bunch of dorks in a nearly empty hallway, which, like. They should probably clear out of. The roaming packs of after-school jocks will be prowling around here soon enough, and threats of violence are only funny when you know nobody means that shit.