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whimsicaldoxy · 23 hours ago

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𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 - 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐘

pairing: fred weasley x reader

summary: you give fred a cassette player for his (belated) birthday—and george gets a gift, too.

notes: muggleborn!reader, no use of y/n, established friendship, fluff, you and fred listen to bowie together, george likes to show up at the wrong time, this might be my fav one from my drafts

────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

It was a warm afternoon when you found yourself standing on the doorstep of the Burrow, a small package clutched in your hands. The brown paper was crinkled from being wrapped hastily, but the excitement in your chest made up for the imperfect wrapping.

Everyone was gathering at the Burrow for the summer—Harry, Hermione, and of course, you.

You had been waiting for this moment since April. Fred and George’s birthdays had come and gone during the school year, and you’d had to hold off on giving Fred his gift. It was something that didn’t quite fit in the wizarding world, something Muggle-made that you knew would make him raise an eyebrow and ask questions.

You had thought about getting him something magical, of course, but that seemed too predictable. Fred, with his mischievous grin and endless energy, deserved something that was completely unexpected.

You took a deep breath and knocked on the door, listening to the sound of scurrying feet from within.

“Oi, who’s at the door?” came George’s voice from the other side.

Before you could even answer, the door swung open to reveal George standing in the doorway, a smirk on his face. “Ah, it’s you. What’s the surprise, then? Come to pull some prank on us?”

You couldn’t help but grin at George’s teasing. “No prank this time, promise,” you said, holding up the small wrapped package. “I come baring gifts.”

“Oh, a present, is it? Hope there’s something for me.” George’s eyes lit up with interest, but he quickly stepped aside, pulling the door open wider.

“There might be,” You laughed as you stepped inside, walking through the warm and winding rooms of the Burrow. The Weasley family was as lively as ever, and you loved every moment of it. You could hear Fred’s voice floating from the kitchen, his loud laugh echoing as he bantered.

“Frederick!” You called out as you entered the room.

Fred turned around, his mischievous grin spreading across his face when he saw you. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favourite birthday-present-delaying friend,” he teased, his eyes sparkling with the usual prankster gleam. “What took you so long, eh?”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “I had to wait until summer. I couldn’t give you this at school,” you said, holding out the small package. “It’s… a bit of a Muggle thing.”

Fred raised an eyebrow and eagerly took the gift. “A Muggle thing?” he repeated, clearly intrigued. “Wait, it’s not going to explode is it?”

You laughed. “No, nothing like that. But you’ll see.”

Fred carefully unwrapped the gift, his eyes narrowing as he uncovered the small, sleek device inside. “What in Merlin’s name is this?” he asked, turning Muggle contraption over in his hands. He looked at it with obvious confusion, but also a bit of fascination.

“It’s a portable cassette player,” you explained, a grin tugging at your lips as you tried not to laugh.

Fred blinked, staring at it now with complete confusion. “A what now?”

You laughed, taking the player from him. “It’s a Muggle device. You can play music on it anywhere.”

Fred’s eyes widened as he took the cassette player back from you, turning it over in his hands. “Wait, wait, wait. So, this plays music? Like, magically? How does it work?”

“No magic involved, actually,” you said, smiling at his bewilderment. “It’s all Muggle technology. You put in the cassette, press play, and voilà—instant music.”

Fred started pressing buttons on the player as though it might suddenly spring to life in front of him. “So… how do you get the music onto these, then? Do I have to cast some kind of spell or—”

“No spells required,” you said with a laugh. “You just record music onto the cassettes. I made you a mixtape to start you off.”

Fred paused and looked up at you, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “A mixtape, huh? What’s on it?”

You handed him the cassette with a smile. “A little something I thought you’d enjoy. You’ll see.”

You turned to George, who had been watching the exchange with interest.

“So,” George began, raising an eyebrow, “I take it my turn’s next?”

You grinned, having anticipated this exact reaction. “Couldn’t leave you out, could I?” you said, reaching into your tote bag.

George’s eyes lit up with mock anticipation. “Excellent. What Muggle contraption have you brought to boggle my mind and win my undying affection?”

With a flourish, you pulled out a round package from your tote bag, handing it to George. He opened the paper swiftly, revealing a smooth black sphere with a little window on one side. He held it up for all to see, furrowing his brow as he inspected it.

“Ta-da! A Magic 8-Ball!” you said.

“A Magic 8-Ball?” George repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. “Looks more like a shiny Quaffle to me. What’s it do? Explode? Curse you with bad luck if you throw it at someone?”

“Nothing like that,” you said, holding back a laugh. “It’s a Muggle… uh, fortune-telling device. You ask it a question, shake it, and it gives you an answer.”

George stared at you, blinking. Then he threw his head back and laughed. “Wait, wait��this thing’s supposed to tell the future? Without magic?”

“Exactly,” you said, smiling wildly. “Here, give it a go.”

You handed the Magic 8-Ball to George, who turned it over in his hands, squinting at the little window on the bottom. “Right,” he said, his tone still dripping with mock seriousness. “Let’s see if this Muggle marvel can outwit a Weasley. O’ wise and mysterious ball,” he intoned, holding it up dramatically, “will my brother Fred ever stop being a complete prat?”

He shook the ball vigorously, and the little triangular answer floated into view: ‘Don’t count on it.’

Fred, who had been half-listening, looked up from his cassette player with a mock-offended gasp. “Oi! What’s that supposed to mean?”

George grinned, holding up the ball. “See? It knows you already.”

─── 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 ───

The evening at the Burrow had mellowed into a warm, cozy hum. Dinner had been a chaotic affair as usual, with Mrs Weasley fussing over everyone’s plates, Mr Weasley excitedly asking you questions about the cassette player, and the twins making an endless stream of jokes. Harry and Ron had been enthralled in an intense game of Wizard’s Chess, with Hermione and Ginny supervising closely. Now, most of the family had drifted off to their own corners of the house. The living room was quiet, save for the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth, and you and Fred were sat in front of the well-worn sofa, on comfy cushions scattered on the floor.

Fred had been inspecting the cassette player all day, pressing buttons and turning it over like he expected it to sprout wings and fly. Now, he was finally ready to give your mixtape a proper listen.

“All right,” Fred said, pulling the player onto his lap and looking over at you with a mischievous grin. “Let’s see what kind of musical wizardry you’ve conjured up for me.”

You laughed, nudging his shoulder. “Just press play, and let the magic—well, the Muggle magic—do the rest.”

Fred flipped your gifted cassette over, examining the words written in your neat, tidy handwriting.

For Fred ♡

1. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - STEALERS WHEEL

2. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - QUEEN

3. REBEL REBEL - DAVID BOWIE

4. GO YOUR OWN WAY - FLEETWOOD MAC

5. ALL THE YOUNG DUDES - MOTT THE HOOPLE

6. RIGHT DOWN THE LINE - GERRY RAFFERTY

7. PIANO MAN - BILLY JOEL

8. HEROES - DAVID BOWIE

“They’re songs that I grew up listening to,” you said, watching Fred as he read the track list. “My Dad’s favourites, and also mine.”

Fred inserted the tape, the satisfying click of it locking into place sounding louder in the quiet room. He pressed the play button, and for a moment, there was only silence, followed by the scratchy hiss of the tape starting up.

You sit and listen to each song, taking in the lyrics, feeling the rhythm.

And as the final song began to play, Fred turned to you, his eyes locking with yours.

I, I will be king

And you, you will be queen

Without a word, he stood up, extending his hand towards you. “Come on,” he said, his voice playful. “We’ve got to dance to this one, don’t you think?”

“Dance?” You blinked, unsure if you were hearing him correctly.

He nodded, still holding out his hand, a look in his eyes that made your stomach flutter. “Yeah, why not? How can you not dance to something like this?”

You laughed, a bit hesitant but swept up in the moment. “I’m not much of a dancer,” you teased, but there was something in Fred’s gaze that made you want to join him.

“Neither am I,” Fred shot back with a wink. “But I’m sure we can manage.”

With a soft chuckle, you placed your hand in his, and he pulled you up from the cushions, and before you knew it, he had twirled you around, your laughter filling the room.

You stumbled a bit but caught yourself, Fred steadying you with a chuckle of his own. “See? We’re practically pros already,” he teased, his voice warm with amusement. “Let’s see how well you really dance.”

He pulled you in again, this time swaying slightly to the rhythm, still laughing as the song played on, the music dancing between you both. Fred moved effortlessly, his carefree nature taking over, but there was something else in the way he looked at you—a softness, a warmth. The way his eyes lingered on yours, the way he smiled as if he were seeing you in a completely new light. It wasn’t like the teasing, mischievous glances you were used to. This was… different. Nice.

And I, I’ll drink all the time

Cause we’re lovers, and that is a fact

For a moment, the world seemed to fade away. There was just you, Fred, and the music, swirling around you both like the most natural thing in the world. You felt your heart beat faster, the connection between you deepening in a way that made everything else feel distant and unimportant.

Yes, we’re lovers, and that is that

Though nothing, will keep us together

Fred leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping, suddenly more serious than before. “You know,” he began, his breath brushing against your ear, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to—”

But before he could finish, there was a loud crash from the kitchen, followed by a loud shout of, “Oi! Who broke my broomstick?” George’s voice rang through the house, cutting through the moment like a knife.

Fred groaned, pulling away and looking toward the noise with an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, for Merlin’s sake,” he muttered, clearly annoyed at the interruption. He shot you an apologetic look.

But before you could compose yourself, in walked George, his eyes scanning the scene with a mischievous glint. “What’s going on here then?” he asked, his tone full of curiosity, his gaze flicking between you and Fred.

You immediately felt a bit flustered, fumbling for words. “Uh, nothing. We were just—well, just listening to music,” you said, your voice betraying a slight nervousness.

George raised an eyebrow, grinning knowingly. “Right, music. You sure about that? Looks like you two were dancing to me.”

You could feel your cheeks redden, but Fred jumped in before you could say anything more. “It’s nothing, George. Just messing about,” he said, his voice light but with an edge of annoyance at the interruption.

George leaned against the doorframe, still grinning. “Messing about, huh? It looked more like you two were about to start practicing for a Ball.”

Fred rolled his eyes, though there was a slight flush to his cheeks. “We weren’t doing anything like that,” he said, a little too quickly. “We were just… you know, dancing a bit. No big deal.”

George’s grin only grew wider, clearly enjoying the teasing. “No big deal, huh? Sure, sure. You two looked like you were in your own little world there. Was it a slow dance, or—?”

Fred groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Merlin, George! You’ve got the worst timing. We were about to—” He stopped himself suddenly, realizing he’d almost said more than he’d intended.

You could see Fred trying to recover, but George was already on the case. “You were about to what?” George asked, his voice dripping with teasing curiosity. “Come on, don’t leave me hanging. What’s all this about dancing and moments?”

Fred let out a frustrated sigh, but the corner of his mouth twitched up into a smile. “You’re a real pain, you know that?”

George looked as if he was enjoying every second of it. “Oh, I know. Just don’t mind me. You two go ahead and finish whatever moment you were having before I showed up.”

Fred gave George a playful shove toward the kitchen. “Right, get out of here. Go break something or prank Percy or something, would you?”

George put his hands up in mock surrender, though the grin on his face remained. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave you two alone. But don’t forget—I saw everything.”

With that, George turned and disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving you and Fred alone again. You both stood there for a moment, the awkwardness lingering in the air.

Fred rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes avoiding yours for a second before he looked up with that familiar grin. “Well, that went well, didn’t it?”

You raised an eyebrow, your lips curling into a smile. “Oh, absolutely. Nothing says ‘good time’ like being interrupted by your twin brother in the middle of a perfectly fine dance.”

Fred’s grin grew wider, though there was a hint of something else behind it. He looked almost… a bit sheepish. “Yeah, I was this close to telling you something,” he admitted, his voice quieter now, his eyes flicking over to you for a split second before he looked away.

You blinked, trying to hide the sudden flutter in your chest. “What were you going to say?”

Fred chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck again. “Oh, you know… nothing important.” But even as he said it, you could tell there was more to it. The way he shifted his weight and avoided your gaze said otherwise.

You frowned a little, stepping closer to him. “Fred, come on. You can’t just leave me hanging like that.”

He laughed softly, clearly torn between his usual playful nature and the moment’s strange vulnerability. “I wasn’t going to say anything, really. Just that… well, it’s nothing. Forget about it.”

You studied him, trying to read the subtle way he was acting—like he was holding something back. Something he wanted to say but couldn’t quite get out.

You had hoped, just for a moment, that Fred might finally say the thing that had been on your mind for so long—that he felt the same way you did. But now, with the silence stretching between you, you weren’t so sure.

“Fred,” you said again, this time your tone gentler. “You don’t have to pretend. If you were going to say something, I want to hear it.”

Fred hesitated for a moment, clearly conflicted.

Finally, he looked back at you, his expression softening. “It’s just…” He paused again, then sighed. “I was just going to say that… I’m glad you’re here. You know, hanging out with us. I mean, it’s not like I don’t appreciate everyone else, but…” He trailed off, looking for the right words.

You tilted your head, a soft smile forming on your lips. “But?”

Fred looked at you for a moment, the playful spark in his eyes returning. “But it’s nice having you around. I’ve always liked hanging out with you.” He paused and, as if he realized how simple that sounded, added quickly, “In case you didn’t know.”

You laughed, feeling a warmth spread through you. “I know, Fred,” you said, your heart swelling just a bit. “I’ve always liked hanging out with you, too.”

There was a brief silence between you both, one that seemed to stretch just long enough to feel like something more. Fred seemed to realize something, his eyes widening for a moment as though he’d said more than he intended. Then the tape clicked, indicating the end of the mix.

“Right, well,” he said, rubbing his neck again, his tone a little sheepish. “Guess that’s it then. I just wanted to say thanks… for everything. For the mixtape, for the dance, for being, well… you.”

You blinked, feeling your chest tighten. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Fred,” you said softly.

“Well, I guess that’s enough sentimentality for one night,” Fred said with a wink, nudging you lightly with his elbow. “Before George gets any more ideas about ‘moments,’ right?”

You laughed lightly, but a small part of you still wondered if he meant to say something more, the slightest hint of disappointment hidden behind your smile. “Right—yeah. Can’t have George getting the wrong idea, can we?”

Fred’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second, though you almost missed it. It was gone so quickly, replaced by the same easygoing grin he always wore. “Yeah,” he said, his voice light.

You felt the unspoken words hanging between you, your chest tight with the quiet yearning. But Fred was already moving toward the kitchen, shrugging off any possibility of lingering conversation. “I’ll just go make sure he doesn’t turn the kitchen upside down,” he called over his shoulder as he left.

You’d hoped for more, for him to say the one thing that had been circling your thoughts for so long. But in that quiet moment between you two, Fred had danced around it—just as he always did.

#☆—𝑪𝑬𝑪𝑬 𝑾𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.#fred weasley x reader #fred weasley x you #fred weasley drabble #fred weasley oneshot #fred weasley imagine #fred weasley #fluff

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patemi-pk · 2 days ago

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ITALY - Part 3

100% Disney (2018-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover.

Disney Comics (2022-?)

Yes, we must publish those Disney Global stories too and, after publishing some of those on Topolino, Panini decided to make a spin-off just for them (a bit like LTB Young in Germany). Its fate is unclear, because recent issues have been reprisals of older volumes, so it's probably dead.

Disney Hero (2019-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the character on the cover. In 2024 it was dedicated all year to Donald Duck, for his 90th birthday, covering his interaction with other characters. It seems that this Donald-centric format will continue in the forst months of 2025 too.

Disney Love (2019-)

This is part of an effort from Panini to have more thematic comics to be published during the summer. Disney Love, in fact, it's published monthly only on July and August every year (except for 2019, when it had a Valentine's day issue and a June issue too). It collects mostly stories from the old female-centered publications of the past (Minni, Minni & co., Minni amica del cuore), plus a minority of stories from Topolino.

Topolino in Giallo (2021-)

This is part of an effort from Panini to have more thematic comics to be published during the summer. Topolino in Giallo, in fact, it's published monthly only on June, July and August every year. It collects Mickey detective stories, plus one Egmont Mickey story never published before, per issue. Contrary to most of these titles the covers are new and all done by Davide Cesarello.

Disney Team (2021-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover. It is supposed to alternate between duck stories and mice stories, in fact the name changes every volume between Paperino in team and Topolino in team, but the divide may not be so clear.

Disneyssimo (2019-)

Yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover. It has 7 issues per year: Invernissimo (for winter), Primaverissima (for spring), Risatissima (for April's Fool time), Estatissima (for summer), Vacanzissima (for the summer holiday season), Scuolissima (for back to school time), Natalissimo (for Christmas time).

Paper Mitologia (2024-)

This was supposed to be a miniseries, collecting that mythology Disney Global series and other mythology stories. The selection has been soon precarious, collecting early on stories with a weak connection to mythology, but appearently it has prove itself to be successfull, because they are extending it, making Le dodici fatiche e 1/2 di Pippercole the main series of the future issues.

Disney Play/Topolino Junior (2020-)

This is a title for younger readers, so featuring games, articles and shorter stories, some of those made for this magazine, others are reprints of older Topolino stories, others are foreign tales.

Disney Special Events (2019-)

I don't know how to describe it. This is the randomest of random titles, as much that I would say it's not a title per se, but a collection of different initiatives that did not meet the criteria to embark in a burocratic hustle to register a new publication. We need to publish those thematic hardcover small books attached to Topolino (i Topolibri)? Let's publish them here! We need to publish the new Darkwing Duck volume, but we don't want to revive the older Disney Premiere title where it was featured? No problem, toss it here! We need to publish a reprint of Epic Mickey? Say no more! We need to continue publishing the Definitive Collection edition of Fantomius because there are so many people who still collect it, but the Definitive Collection closed? Let's do volumes which are aestehically identical to those and publish them under this label! We need a volume of Area 15 because there is a fair event in Milan, but Topolino Extra had been paused at the time? Let's do a volume ina completely different format and publish it here! We need some books to exploit the UEFA European Championship, without naming it? We have some space here! A calendar? Here! A cover collection volume? HERE! A Snowhite book for the anniversary? Dont worry! A cheap edition of Life and Times? Again, we hare room! And I've not covered every random book this series features. The one thing about it it's that these are, generally more curated books, not really some cheap random ones, but still there is no coherent lineup.

Ok, it was quick.

An addition to this:

Le più grandi avventure Disney (2019-)

Can you forget that something exists? Yes, you can.

And, yes, it's a collection of random stories linked by the theme on the cover.

#disney #comics #disney comics #fumetti #panini comics #italy #disney magazines

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coffee-at-annies · 3 days ago

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I mean Skenes had a rise last year akin to Crosby’s first year. Went from college to the draft to double A to triple A after spring training and then got called up two months in and pitched the first inning of the all star game and ended with rookie of the year. It takes a lot though to get anyone talking about a player outside their team and market, especially with rookies. The buzz around baseball is much different because the league is so much bigger and the schedule is kind of insane.

Like you can absolutely compare Shohei Ohtani, arguably one of if not the best baseball players in the world, to Connor McDavid, including the scores 4 by himself, loses 6-4. There’s a reason the tungsten arm o’doyle tweet was popular. Ohtani and Trout had the same vibe as McDavid and Draisatl being the best one-two punch in hockey and still losing games. The oilers have gotten better and Ohtani is on the Dodgers now (which actually has Tkachuk leaving Calgary to go win a cup with the panthers vibes lmao). That’s the thing with narratives. While they aren’t 1:1 you can twist them to make them feel similar. Doesn’t hold up if you spend a bunch of time thinking about it tho.

As for Sid he absolutely would have spent time cooking in the minors. Skenes is an outlier. Most players take time to develop. I’m going off pirates cause they’re the boys I spent two summer watching. Of our most recent first round picks, Skenes got fast tracked to the majors and they put a lot of training wheels on him to make sure they didn’t fuck him up in the process. Limited innings, limited pitch counts, enforcing 5 days of rest even if that meant a bullpen game or two.

We fast tracked Henry Davis, (1OVA in 2021) and got him up to Pittsburgh in 2023. Mind you mlb draft is in the middle of the summer/season for some reason so that’s a season and a half rather than 2 full seasons. Hank ended up in left field rather than at catcher because we had 2 catchers in Austin Hedges and Jason Delay and later called up Endy Rodrigues to replace Hedges when he was traded at the deadline. Hank had to lose weight to play left and actually put on 10lbs of muscle by spring training to play catcher for 2024 after Endy got Tommy John surgery. The buccos first round pick in 2020, Nick Gonzales (my averaged sized short king) (7OVA in 2020) didn’t get his first call up to the majors until 2023 and he’s been bumped around between second and shortstop as the team tries to figure out where he’ll best fit in a way that gets him playing time every day. Our 2022 pick, Termarr Johnson (4OVA in 2022) hasn’t had his major league debut yet. He’s been slashing it out in the minors trying to make it work.

That’s how it’s gone for all our top 10 draft picks in the last 5 years. Sid would probably be up there but it’s hard to tell since baseball is an incredibly large and deep draft. There’s also the fact that most players are drafted out of college though there are some boys who get drafted in high school. Jared Jones, the Geno to Sid’s Skenes was drafted out of high school in 2020 and spent 4 years pitching in the minors before stunning in spring training last year to make the opening day roster.

Comparing baseball with its entire system and levels with hockey does not work unless you’re willing to overlook some things while making your comparisons. Which is your argument for why it doesn’t. I think. Like you I think this has gotten away from me. Anyway I’m nodding with you and shaking your hand they are different sports and you can’t just drop one boy into the other because Sid did baseball cosplay that one winter classic and people think it would be fun. Also like we called Skenes up and our record was a single win better than the year we drafted Skenes so like he’s the crowning jewel in year 5 or 6 of the rebuild but Pirates still have to figure out how we’re getting the playoffs.

i love when people put players in a different sport but its clear that they dont watch the sport. like im sorry but sid would NOT be a pitcher and geno's skinny ass wouldnt be catching.

#sorry I’m just talking about the pirates I don’t pay a ton of attention to the wider league #feel free to ignore me #also there’s something in here about cutch and legacy and the fact that he came back #but also like baseball doesn’t have a salary cap and it makes team structure and free agency insanely fucked #there are roster constraints in hockey that just don’t exist in baseball because of the lack of cap #I have absolutely lost the thread since it’s after midnight #so sorry about that

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neonponders · 2 years ago

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Part 27 for @wrecked-fuse ‘s pocketverse 🍦

Part 26

( pt. 7′s art 🎩 ) ( pt. 9′s art 👀 ) ( pt. 14′s art 💨 ) ( pt. 19′s art 🦇 ) ( pt. 20′s art 🍳)

~ on ao3 ~

• • •

“Since when are you and Eddie Munson friends?”

Steve scratched his patchy stubble. “I wouldn’t say we are, but he’s got little guys too. You saw ‘em.”

“Yeah,” Max answered distractedly, preoccupied with watching the littles riding their bikes through Family Video. “But I figured Dustin finally made you cave for Hellfire.”

Steve opened his mouth, but their heads turned toward the very Eddie Munson in question, wielding the cassette case for Dark Crystal threateningly. “Choose your next words carefully, Harrington. And yes, hi, still here.”

“I see you,” Steve droned from behind the counter. The flood of church-goers had already come and gone from the store, stocking up on their Sunday evening plans and leaving the store mostly devoid of customers; especially since all of Hawkins knew the best movies were gone between Sunday and Tuesday.

Which also meant that they had been given a list of documentaries by the middle and high school faculty to be fulfilled by Monday morning. Robin sat on the confetti-printed carpet with the storage boxes, sorting and piling up the demanded inventory.

Steve finished, “D&D isn’t my thing.”

“And what is your thing?” Eddie challenged, smiling cockily.

“I’m a visual person, not an imagination person,” Steve countered.

Eddie’s smile faded somewhat. “I can’t fault you there, jock star. Even we use figurines and books to help us.”

Steve’s brows furrowed a little, but his, “Thanks,” was sincere. Then he focused on Robin and the littles riding their bikes amongst the piles. “Why doesn’t the school library have these things?”

Robin lifted a video and read aloud, “Childbirth: Richard’s Story. I think some people would burn the school to the ground if they heard about Richard.”

Steve shrugged. “We’ve all seen it. Why is it a surprise?”

Eddie answered, “Because kids are free to rebel before they join the cult comforts of their adult hive minds.”

“Do you always talk like this?”

“I’m not wrong - shit.”

Steve took a deep breath, which paused when headlights refracted off the storefront windows. He squinted in the gloom until he was sure, “Everyone relax, it’s Chris.”

The littles emerged from underneath Robin’s crisscrossed legs - small Eddie on Robin’s shoulder peeked out from underneath her bobbed hair. “Chwissy?”

“Me!” little Chrissy celebrated. “Big me!”

Chrissy stepped into the store and said, “Hey, Steve!” before waving at her parents, who drove away after dropping her off.

Gliding to the floor, small Eddie declared, “Chwissy! Wanna see me wide? I fwy like E.T.!”

Chrissy laughed and sank to the floor, legs bent to the side as she sat next opposite to Robin and watched the littles slalom in figure eights on the carpet. But in the first couple of minutes of arriving, Chrissy couldn’t help but notice little Billy riding a little distantly from the others. Little Eddie used Steve’s bike, since the latter lay within the arms of his otter plushie, watching Billy.

“Are they okay?”

“There was an incident,” Robin filled in. “Billy - like, big Billy - taunted Stevie, which lil B didn’t like. Now they’re both moping.”

Chrissy’s posture wilted empathetically. “Where’s Billy?”

Robin looked up at Max, who took the cue, “He’s at home. Our parents are going out of town for the week, so he has to prove that he’s around.”

Chrissy seemed to understand this since she nodded, but Eddie draped his arms over the shelves as he asked, “And you don’t?”

Chrissy intercepted, “It’s an older sibling thing.”

Eddie slowly picked his jaw up as he nodded, processing. “Baby of the family perks.”

“Except I’m not a baby,” Max said bitterly.

“Oh, you’ll always be the baby,” Eddie taunted, “and Billy will always be your leash.”

Emotion faded from Max’s face as if she might’ve seen a ghost. Still, she fought, “That sounds like hypocritical crap.”

“That’s parenting,” Eddie scoffed indifferently. “My dad told me about it. He was one of seven, and after he left home, he never spoke to his eldest brother again. He always regretted it. He told me it wasn’t even their fault; parents lower the chain of command to the eldest kids, and they hold the leash too tight, but the person on the other end doesn’t feel it. The leash sure does, though. Hence why his trauma led to me being an only child.”

Steve’s eyes wandered, clearly unsure how to moderate the discussion and thankfully didn’t have to. Chrissy offered to Robin, “Do you have siblings?”

“A sister,” Robin shared, “but our age gap is too big. We barely keep track of one another.”

“I’m counting the register,” Steve announced.

Robin glanced back at him and then at her watch. “Sure, I’ll finish early. Hell yeah.”

She set the stack of movies for the schools on the counter and she and Chrissy got the rest back in the boxes before promptly throwing the storage keys at Eddie. “Look like a charmer, Munson. Big and strong.”

He glared at her but couldn’t stop his eyes flicking to Chrissy as he heaved the box up in his arms. Chrissy was busy huddled next to the otter plushie, talking softly to the littles. Billy had dumped his bike to climb into the plushie’s fluff with little Steve. Small Eddie held onto Chrissy’s fingers while he talked animatedly, and little Chrissy sat on the otter’s arm, petting small Billy’s head.

Steve emerged from the break room, having deposited the money bag in the safe, and folded himself onto the floor like Chrissy. “What’re we talkin’ about down here?”

Chrissy lifted her eyes to him. “I’m trying to ask why they’re upset and what would make them feel better.”

Steve didn’t smile so much as press his lips into a sympathetic line. “B didn’t like the joke of Stevie getting hurt. Ever since B took a bite out of Billy, Billy’s been saying he’ll bite back.”

“ ‘S not my fawlt.”

Their eyes sank onto the small voice coming from within the otter fluff. Steve consoled, “I’m not saying it’s anyone’s fault, buddy. I know you were hungry when you did it, but he was trying to keep you from swan diving out of his shirt. And he shouldn’t have taken it so far as to actually scare Stevie. Now we’re all stuck in the middle.”

Small Chrissy reached over the otter’s arms to hold his hands. “You need to be nice, Biwwy. For Stevie and big Biwwy, too. He’s not weally mean. I can tell.”

Small Eddie seconded, “Yeah! Like me! Chwissy sees right thwough me.”

Big Chrissy smiled and tried, “What if Billy were to apologize? Would that help you say sorry too?”

Billy had his face tucked into the otter fur, making his eyes and cheeks look endearingly plump. “He wouldn’t mean it.”

Steve’s eyes felt huge in his own head. “Why do you think so?”

Blue eyes blinked up at him and fake otter fur caught quiet tears. “I wasn’t sowwy when I bit ‘im.”

“You don’t have to apologize for biting him.” All eyes lifted to Chrissy, who elaborated, “You were hungry and frustrated. It makes sense. But you could tell him thank you for making sure you didn’t hurt yourself while you were hungry and reckless.”

Little Chrissy and little Steve raked Billy’s hair off his face, wiping his tears for him. Big Chrissy finished, “I have a feeling you both really like being helpful. Am I right?”

Little Eddie answered, “Biwwy and Stevie made us croissants!”

Chrissy nodded like she had been right about something. “Billy likes helping, too. He acts like he doesn’t, because for some reason boys have a weird idea of what strength looks like. But he does.”

This close to the floor, big Steve noticed Max’s fidgety shuffling, sparing her a glance that made her go still.

Chrissy finished, “If you try to talk to him, I’m sure Billy will reciprocate. He’s that kind of person. He’s not all bad. He just needs to know how he can help.”

Little Billy sniffled and wiped his nose on the otter. “How d’you know he’wll be sowwy? And mean it?”

“Because if he isn’t, then I’ll make him sorry for something,” she smiled with a wink. “But seriously, Billy’s helped me a few times. I’ve got him figured out.”

Steve huffed congenially. “Wish I had him figured out.”

Chrissy inhaled like she might’ve intended to speak, but little Eddie flew up to her eye level and moved a piece of hair that had been hanging over her eyelashes, causing her to blink several times out of rhythm. “Thanks, Eddie.”

Then the larger Eddie said behind them, “Good job, lil dude. We ready to roll?”

Chrissy unfolded herself from the floor with little Eddie and Chrissy in her hands. She answered a chipper, “Yeah.”

Steve picked up the otter over his forearm as he rose to his feet. “What do you two have planned for a Sunday night?”

Eddie countered, “You mind your sleepover and we’ll mind ours.”

Steve started to roll his eyes, but Chrissy brightened, “You’re seeing Billy tonight?”

Robin arrived from the break room, then, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and catching the look Steve gave her. They frowned at each other, eye brows wagging in silent confusion they both failed at communication.

Max scoffed, “Oh, come on. Your littles lick each other. What’s the surprise? Are we going or what?”

Chrissy burst into giggles. “They what?”

Steve dodged, “I gotta lock the doors. Everyone out!”

Chrissy laughed and Eddie smiled as he dropped his jacket onto her shoulders on their way outside. “My van’s heating is out.”

“Thanks,” she said, voice and cheeks warm. Little Chrissy’s excitement over Eddie’s jacket had her nervously lifted a hand to push her hair behind her ear even though it was tied back in a pony tail.

Little Eddie distracted her with, “Chwissy? Can I wide in your hair?”

“Sure. You need to talk up there, though, so I know you’re still there.”

Little Eddie happily sat astride her scrunchie like a saddle. “I’m here! The world is beauwtiful on your head, Chwissy.”

“Tone it down,” big Eddie hissed as he opened the passenger door for them, earning bubbling laughter from both Chrissy and little Eds.

As for Steve’s car, Robin and Max fell into their seats, the latter holding the shoebox bedroom and the former holding the littles and their otter in her lap. Once the engine woke up and Steve got his headlights situated, little Stevie asked, “Are we weally going to Biwwy’s tonight?”

“That’s up to you two,” Steve answered. “We don’t have to, but I’m going to be a selfish asshole and crash there with you, if we go.”

Little Steve laughed and Billy thanked, “I want you therwe, Stevie.”

He let himself smile softly when he glanced at the blond tuft in all the otter’s fur, safely bound in small Steve’s arms. “Have a nap, B. We’re going home first.”

Little Steve looked up at him. “Home? Are we okay?”

“Yeah, we’re okay. But you guys will need an overnight bag...and Stevie, if all else fails, I think I know something that will cheer Honey B up. How’s that sound?”

“Good! Sounds good!”

Steve nodded at the street ahead, but he could feel the silence in the car like a fog. Then simultaneously, Robin and Max said together,

“Do I want to know?”

“Billy and I share a wall.”

Steve grimaced and waved at the air like he were swatting gnats. “It’s not about you! It’s about making a little guy with a big heart feel better. Jesus.”

More silence.

Then Robin asked, “Will you drop me off before you get married or am I handcuffed to this sleepover too?”

Steve didn’t grace that with and answer.

#harringrove #wrecked-fuse #neonponders #pocketverse #pocket!au #like magnets #by the way i have no idea what time of year it is #is it summer? is it spring? is school all year??

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