#love is the hope for a future together
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sidekick-hero Ā· 11 months ago
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(steddie | 2.4k | teen | tags: future fic, steddie in their 40s, second chances, mutual pining, happy ending | @steddielovemonth Love is the hope for a future together by@acasualcrossfade | AO3)
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"I don't know, Robbie. I mean, it's been years! Even if there ever was a 'spark' between us, it's probably long gone."
He doesn't look over at Robin as he says this, pretending to be engrossed in grading papers. They both know that he hasn't made a single mark on the paper in front of him since Robin burst into his house with her spare key and announced, "Eddie's coming to the wedding."
"Inside voice," he had chided her, even though April was at her friend's house doing a school project. Old habits die hard.
Plopping down next to him at the kitchen table, Robin had happily ignored him as she continued, "Lucas just called me, it's going to be a surprise for Dustin. Eddie's finishing the tour two days early, so he's coming straight from the airport. But he will be there, Steve!"
Trying his best not to show how his heart had started beating faster as soon as Robin had mentioned Eddie's name, Steve had shrugged nonchalantly. "That's nice, Robbie. Dustin will be over the moon."
"That's nice, Robbie." She repeated in a surprisingly good imitation of his tone. They definitely spent too much time together. "You can act indifferent all you want, Steve. I was there when you refused to leave the house for a whole week when Eddie went to LA, remember? I held your hair when you puked your guts out after drowning your sorrows when Eddie brought what's-his-face to Max and Lucas' wedding. You two belong together, Steve! You just had bad timing. You've never both been single at the same time - until now. That must mean something. Maybe he's not just coming for Dustin, that's all I'm saying."
Which had actually led them to discuss whether Steve should put them all out of their misery by finally growing a pair (Robin's words) or decide that whatever had been between them that summer, when Eddie had recovered from almost being eaten alive by demobats, was long gone (Steve's words).
"I beg to differ, Dingus. I saw the way he looked at you at our little 'Fuck Off Upside Down' anniversary party. He spilled his beer when you walked in the room, Steve. No one else did."
"He's clumsy. You know that. I'm surprised he never fell off the stage," Steve jokes. He's not sure who he's trying to convince, Robin or himself.
Robin's expression changes to something more serious as she puts her hand on top of his, still holding his red grading pen in a white-knuckled grip. "Steve, listen. I'm not saying you have to do anything. You and Eddie have been friends for almost twenty years. We've all been. You're not going to lose him no matter what you decide. But," and here she takes a deep breath, "I just want you to be happy, Steve. You deserve to be happy. And I know that you're not unhappy, I know that. You've got April and you've got me and you've got the kids, even though they're scattered all over the country. But I also know that you've never stopped imagining a future with him, have you?"
"He kissed me," Steve blurts out, and to Robin's credit, she doesn't react except for her hand on his to twitch in surprise. She makes a questioning sound in her throat, clearly waiting for more.
"The night before he left. We had this big going-away bash, remember?" She nods. "We all got pretty drunk after the kids left and you and Vicky had gone to sleep in the guest room and I had offered to sleep on the couch so Eddie could have my bed. His back was still bothering him and he had a long drive ahead of him the next day. But he insisted on sharing and I was too drunk and tired to argue. The next morning he got up very early, probably thinking I was still asleep when he got dressed and left. Only he didn't leave. At least not right away. He came over to the bed and kissed me. On the mouth. And he said, 'You'll always be my almost, Stevie.'"
Robin looks at him with wide eyes, and Steve thinks that maybe he should have told her sooner, that maybe he violated some code between them because they tell each other everything. But something about this morning had felt, well, almost sacred in a way. As if putting it into words would make it less so.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Robbie. I just..."
"You had to keep it to yourself so it would always be the one dream you could turn to?" Robin suggests in a soft voice, and Steve wouldn't have said it like that, but she's right. Every date that didn't feel right, every relationship that went down the drain, hell, even when his marriage imploded on him, he thought of that one kiss and dreamed of a life where Eddie would have stayed. Or where Steve had followed him.
"Oh Dingus." Suddenly, Robin's arms wrapped around him in a hug, and it wasn't until he saw the wetness on her shirt that he realized he was crying. "I can't promise you it'll work, but I really think you should talk to him. Your life doesn't end at 40, Steve. You can still have the future you've always dreamed of."
Steve nods against her shoulder, tightening his grip on the best thing that has ever happened to him besides April.
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Dustin and El's wedding is a small affair, just family and close friends, which is basically the same in their group.
Steve tries his best not to show his inner turmoil and mostly succeeds. There are handshakes that turn into tight hugs, hellos that turn into stories about kids and grandkids, neighbors, vacations, jobs, life. It's great to see everyone. It also helps distract him from the butterflies that have taken up permanent residence in his stomach for over a week now.
It works until everyone is about to take their seats and Eddie still hasn't shown up. He's supposed to be one of Dustin's groomsmen, along with Lucas and Mike and Will, while Steve is actually Dustin's best man. He only cried a little when Dustin asked him to.
Just as the officiant is ready to start without him, the heavy double doors open and Eddie walks in like Aragorn into Helm's Deep (Dustin insisted that Steve watch the movies if he didn't want to read the books, and Steve may have thought of Eddie more than once while watching Aragorn, sue him).
He rushes to his spot next to the other groomsmen, ruffles Dustin's hair as he passes him, and mumbles, "Sorry, shrimp, the airport lost my luggage." Then his eyes fall on Steve and he freezes for a moment before giving him a bright, dimpled smile. "Hey, Stevie," he whispers before stepping to the end of the line of groomsmen.
Steve is glad that Hopper is recording the whole ceremony, because he doesn't hear a thing that's being said.
Later, everyone gathers in the dining room and Hopper and Claudia each give a heartfelt speech before it's Steve's turn. He has everyone toast to Dustin and El's future, because while the past may have brought them together, it's the future that belongs to them and their love. He forces himself not to look at Eddie as he says this, knowing that his face would give away his thoughts.
And then Eddie stands up to say a few words as well, something no one expected him to do.
"I've known Dustin for 20 years now, and the only time I ever doubted that he was a genius was when he let El go without a fight. But you know what? I was wrong. Dustin and El may have taken the scenic route to get here," Eddie tells the guests, "but sometimes that's the best way to get somewhere. If you're willing to take the long and winding road, the road less traveled, as Frost would say, you know that whatever's at the other end is worth it."
Steve desperately wants to believe that Eddie is not just talking about Dustin and El, but he doesn't even look at Steve when he says that. He just sits down again next to Robin at the table right next to the one where Steve is sitting with Dustin and El and their parents, because Steve is part of the family, too, as Claudia had pointed out.
The rest of the evening is kind of a blur until everyone gets up to go to the ballroom where the dance floor has been set up. Dustin and El open with their first dance, "You and Me" by Lifehouse, and Steve has never been prouder of his little brother as he watches him lead El across the dance floor with the biggest, toothiest smile on his face.
"They've come a long way, huh?" says a voice next to him and Steve doesn't have to turn around to know it's Eddie.
"Yeah. I'm glad they made it." Steve agrees, his eyes never leaving the dancing couple. More and more people are joining them now, and Steve can feel the fond smile on his face grow.
Eddie's hand rests on his arm as he steps around Steve to face him. He extends his other hand to Steve, palm up, and asks, "May I have the pleasure of this dance with you?"
As if Steve could ever say no to Eddie.
Just as they step onto the dance floor, "You and Me" fades out and the next song begins. It's "Unchained Melody" and Steve suspects that Robin had a hand in it. It's the song Steve listened to a lot after Eddie left and she once complained that he ruined the song for her. Apparently not enough to put it on the playlist when he and Eddie hit the dance floor.
"I always kind of liked that song," Eddie tells him, and Steve snorts. "No, really! It's not really metal, but I don't know. I just feel it, you know? It's real." Eddie explains, veering close to rambling territory.
"Is that so?" Steve has to ask as he slowly sways, his hand in Eddie's and his arm wrapped around Eddie's waist.
Eddie hums quietly in agreement. "Back in '86, when I was trying to settle down in LA, I used to listen to it for hours." Eddie admits quietly and Steve's heart is suddenly in his throat. "I felt every single word and every single word made me think about what I was leaving behind."
"Eddie," Steve begins, only to be gently silenced by Eddie's finger against his lips.
"Please, Stevie, I have to say this now or I never will. So please, just listen, yeah?"
Steve crosses his eyes to look pointedly at Eddie's finger against his lips before looking back up at Eddie, who snorts at the gesture. "Brat," he teases, taking his finger away.
"Okay, I'm listening," Steve tells him, and mimics zipping his lips.
Eddie's eyes sparkle with amusement and affection, and something deeper. Something that makes the seeds of hope in Steve's chest tentatively open and reach for their sun.
"Stevie, sweetheart, you certainly know... I mean, you must know that I..." Eddie rambles and Steve has never seen him so lost for words. He doesn't say anything, but he brings their joined hands to his mouth and kisses Eddie's in silent reassurance.
Eddie's eyes find his and the expression in them is so unbearably soft that Steve almost has to look away. No one has ever looked at him like that before. "You were always the one who got away, Steve. My almost. Even when I was with other people, you were there. On every stage, in every hotel room, on every stretch of highway, you were there. And I almost told myself it just wasn't meant to be. I had you as a friend and that was a gift I never thought I would have, I shouldn't be greedy and ask for more."
He takes a deep breath, like he's steeling himself, gathering every ounce of that incredible courage Steve has seen time and time again, even as Eddie keeps insisting he's a coward. Steve knows better, and Eddie's next words prove him right once again.
"But the funny thing is, it never stopped me from hoping for a future with you."
They stop dancing, if you can call what they were doing dancing, and look at each other, eyes searching for answers. For reasons to hope.
Steve is the first to break the silence, a soft grin on his face. "May I speak now?"
That makes Eddie laugh softly and he nods.
"Is this what you want? A future with me? Because that means a future with a middle school teacher with a little pet tornado who's currently staying with her mom. You have to mean it for her as much as you mean it for me. This means being all in, Eddie."
Steve hates that he has to say this, that he can't just fall into Eddie's arms and kiss him senseless. But Eddie needs to know what a future with Steve means. If he wasn't sure he wanted that kind of future, then they couldn't have one together. At least not the way they both wanted it.
Eddie cupped Steve's cheek in his hand, his smile growing with every blink of his chocolate eyes. "Steve, I know who you are. I know what it would mean to be with you, and I want it so much that I can barely stand another day without it. I love your little pet Tornado, she's adorable and funny and she has great taste in music. No idea where she got that from, though," Eddie teases before sobering up. "I want to be a family. This tour was our last for at least two years. The guys need a break and so do I. And after that, we don't know yet, but whatever it is, it will be something we agree on together. You and me and April."
Maybe Steve should ask more questions, be more cautious. But he's waited twenty years for this, and he can't wait another second to finally kiss the man he's always been in love with.
He's ready for his future to begin.
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poorly-drawn-mdzs Ā· 11 months ago
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Bros before Ho(oh my god is that Hanguang-Jun?)
[First]Ā PrevĀ <ā€“-> Next
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caycanteven Ā· 1 year ago
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shakes rapidly
...c'mere pap lovers, I brought you food~! /j
(I will make headcannons for the Papy's soon I promise)
Big love to the creators of Swapfell and Fellswap šŸ«¶
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datcravat Ā· 1 year ago
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we are SO back
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madd-nix Ā· 2 months ago
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Doodled the two sets of twins! ā¬›ā¬œšŸŒžšŸŒ›
Years later, after Ingo has returned from Hisui, Tate and Liza go to check in on their old tag team battle partners by taking a trip to Unova. Ingo and Emmet are of course thrilled to see them and catch up with them.
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screechingfromthevoid Ā· 5 months ago
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I think the same reason I love Dorym is why I love Loquatious and Laerryn. One, the devotion of it all. But secondly, and more importantly, "But there's one story of a fairy who stumbled into this world and fell in love"
Because Dorian is an air genasi prince who left home to find something real. His home floats on wind and he's never wanted for a thing. And he came down from his clouds only to find himself stumbling, tumbling, into love with just a man.
There is something so earnest about a man who is considered magical and wondrous in a world that already has magic, falling in love with someone who just is.
It's a thought that scratches the back of my mind a lot. It goes hand in hand with Liam saying "he has no idea if Dorian returns his feelings". Because from Orym's point of view why would Dorian have feelings for him? Dorian. The beautiful blue prince who is extremely talented in both music and magic. Dorian is everything Orym admires in other people. Everything he doesn't see in himself.
But Dorian does have feelings for Orym. Because Orym is everything he's not. He's firm and reliable. He knows who he is and is unapologetic about it. Orym was the only one in the (original) Crown Keepers that wasn't tempted by the spider queen. Because he was too principled. He was too good. Dorian's alignment changed. Dorian felt himself getting worse. Yet Orym stayed steadfast. In the face of everything he did not change.
Their pursuits were the same. They wanted to protect their friends. At any cost. But Orym somehow stayed unchanged. He always knew the right way of doing things.
So the handsome prince fell in love with a guard and planned to stay with him until he no longer wanted the company.
I literally said to a friend "I know he leaves. But he is so devoted to Orym I don't know how they're going to get him to."
And it was the one thing neither could argue against. Family. Orym knew about family. He knew about duty.
But even a continent away Dorian couldn't stop thinking about Orym. His little tactician before he was the savior blade. Even when his world came crashing down, Orym called and he went.
Idk. I think there's something beautiful in the way that Dorian loves Orym. I think it is very reminiscent of the fey who stumbled into this world and fell in love. I think it will be a love that will always be with them. That they will have to recover from. A love they might have to mourn before they ever have it.
Even if they never... If there is no love confession, if they have to mourn the loss of the people they thought they were, if there's no way for them to be together; Dorian will always love Orym. In the same way Orym loves Will. First love often lingers.
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feroluce Ā· 6 months ago
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Had the cutest realization last night- so there's a saying we have in English meaning to get something done by any means necessary. It specifically includes dishonest methods, such as violence or lying. So when you're willing to resort to that kind of thing to achieve your goals, you say you're going to do something
"by hook or by crook"
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turtleblogatlast Ā· 1 year ago
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Iā€™ve gone on and on about how Leo wants to be who Splinter finds is the ideal person (which just so happens to be Splinterā€™s ideal version of himself) but I have yet to really touch upon how Donnie is the one who most directly parallels Splinter himself to an honestly shocking degree, Raphā€™s taking from Splinterā€™s teachings and parenting has resulted in an unhealthy mixup in the different dynamics of a family versus a team, and Mikey is the one who is simultaneously the most focused on family and the most intrinsically himself which both leads to his better grasp of mystics and honestly what just might be the healthiest dynamic with Splinter.
#rottmnt#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles#rottmnt headcanons#itā€™s late so Iā€™m just speaking from the top of my head haha#anyway yeah#the Donnie Splinter parallels are crazyyy tho#I always see ppl say Leo is just like splinter but no Leo WANTS to be like splinter but heā€™s more a Karai#meanwhile Donnie exhibits many of Splinterā€™s traits and behaviors#basically Leo has taken on many perceived Lou Jitsu attributes#including his stance his most flaunted skills and his overall demeanor#while honestly being more of a quiet and determined soul at his core that is most like Karai - with the same hope and love for family#we see the more Karai aspects of Leo throughout the series but most blatantly with Future Leoā€™s portrayal and how Casey Jr talks about him#Donnie though - rather than Lou Jitsu he has many Hamato Yoshi attributes#itā€™s funny too because Donnie ALSO parallels Draxum in many ways#(you know who else does albeit to a much lighter extent? Mikey)#make no mistake I super wanna get into Raph having a hard time separating team and family and just sorta jumbling them together#but that mindset can be unhealthy!#SHOULD I GET INTO HOW RAPH ALSO PARALLELS HAMATO SHO IN SOME WAYS AS WELL AS ATSUKO#not to mention his direct parallels to OROKU SAKI HIMSELF#and Mikey - I actuallly have a touched briefly upon how his individuality and sense of self has led to his greater control of mystics#but I do think itā€™s interesting that he has arguably a more healthy relationship with splinter than the others as well?#idk itā€™s late#and I may be talking about nonsense BUT#I gotta stop here bc Iā€™m very sleepy but Iā€™ll probably be back in these tags rambling more later lol#would just like to add that splinter loves them all very much he is just a flawed and depressed man with a lot of untapped trauma#which unfortunately ends up affecting his boys to different degrees
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noelles-legacy Ā· 9 months ago
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An evening stroll with Millie, Sebastian, Noelle and OminisšŸ’ššŸ¤
Noelleā€™s a bit oblivious when it comes to taking hints, but in a way it still works out. I imagine her love language is more gift giving while Ominis is more based on physical touch and quality time. They both still appreciate each other thoughā¤ļø
Oh! And of course Millie @the-ozzie and her Sebastian are there too! I could definitely see Millie and Noelle getting together really well and I feel like her and Sebastian set a good example (couple wise) on how Noelle and Ominis get together, since neither of them donā€™t really know how to show affection, even though they both know they love each otherā€¦ there a work in progress.
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imerian Ā· 2 months ago
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ļ½”ā *ļ¾Ÿā +Ė– Stā˜†r ā  boy Ė–+ ā *ļ¾Ÿļ½”
Casey Stoner collage
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Open the cut for more pictures and higher quality scans
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I needed to edit this scan together because collage was too big for my scanner but I'm not very skilled at it so i also added original scans so you can try yourself if you want to print it out or use somehow
And the best detail of the whole thing
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This is just to show how tedious of the work it was to put all stars on, i needed to use cut up twosided tape to this size so i can stick all of them, even the smallest and it was a bit of nightmare lol
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oneluckydragon Ā· 1 year ago
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I know it's a story, oh I know it's just a story. But why does it feel like my worst nightmare?
My Explorers of Sky Hero, Echo!
Lately I've been writing a study on her and this paragraph is taken from my rough rough draft. It's a more in-depth exploration of her character/origin/experiences and since I am a huge fan of the darkrai reincarnation theory, this is my personal take on the concept.
I think it's a bit poetic that Echo, in the aftermath of everything, winds up as a dark-type again (and one connected to the moon no less, the irony) as well. I mean, her timeline of lives has literally been this:
Darkrai (New Moon/Pitch Black) -> Human -> Eevee (Evolution) -> Umbreon (Moonlight)
A lot of her evolution into umbreon has to do with her personal trauma/amnesia and also significant influence from dusknoir (who she trusted and cared about), but deep down I feel like her evolution was also partially determined by the fragmented remnants of her original self. She even tried to evolve into leafeon, which obviously, did not work out as planned. Perhaps this is her past lives way of manifesting in her current self, though she is no longer the same pokemon anymore. Maybe it has something to do with self-forgiveness or acceptance? She still has a lot of healing to do, though.
Once evolving into a dark type, Echo slowly starts to regain some of her memories from her time as Darkrai. And Team Wish's new friendship with Cresselia, who is more perceptive than she has any right to be, gives Echo a lot of insight into exactly who she is. This spirals into Echo battling the reality of her past actions alone for a long time because how is she supposed to admit the truth to Sora? That she was the direct cause of their shared suffering? That she and darkrai are one and the same? That all of the pokemon of the future lived in an eternity of hell because she desired it? Of course, she keeps quiet for a long time out of pure fear-- because if Sora rejected her, she'd fall apart. It's a lot to keep secret but what else can she do?
And bonus!! Does Echo's shadow change during each night of the new moon? Hmm. Sure does seem like it.
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jeremyconfus-blog Ā· 28 days ago
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I've been seeing so much talk about jayvik and people being like "why can't they just be platonic?!"
They are though! Canonically they are platonic! Nothing will change that fact that they are not romantic lovers in the show. But they are so not just friends either.
Well, what are they?
I don't fucking know! That is the beauty of thoes freaks! They are everything and nothing all at once. Their relationship spans through time and space. Winding together a wonderful braid of friendship, hope, and love!
They can be romantic to some. They can be platonic to others.
At the end of the day, we got a wonderful look at what soulmates are. A beautiful look at what unconditional love for your friend is! What it is to hold out hope for someone you love.
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austinslounge Ā· 1 month ago
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"The Bikeriders" Director, Jeff Nichols, talks to Gold Derby about meeting Austin, and how he realized that Austin was the perfect actor for the role. šŸ„°
"He's a movie star, like stone cold. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to walk up and shake his hand and understand that..."
- Jeff Nichols
Link to Full Interview on Gold Derby
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lady-lostmind Ā· 11 months ago
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Dreams
Love is: Having hope for the future together.
a @steddielovemonth prompt Thank you @oh-stars for betaing this!
WC: 560 | Rating: G
ao3 link
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Eddie has always been a dreamer. Even when all the odds were stacked against him, he had high hopes for his life. Always thought he was bound for more than being a high school drop out that lives in a shitty trailer. Itā€™s why he suffered through two extra years of high school in the first place. Itā€™s what had him practicing his guitar for hours a day. Convinced if he worked hard enough, if he was the best, he could do it. He could get out of here. Play music and make money. Maybe buy Uncle Wayne a real house. Finally repay him for everything heā€™d done for him. Make up for being such a little shit growing up.Ā 
What Eddie didnā€™t ever see in his dreams was Steve Harrington. He seemed too unattainable even for his wildest scenarios. Eddie would have laughed in your face if you told him that, one day, he would be laying next to Steve, sprawled out in his bed. That heā€™d let out a content sigh when he feels Eddieā€™s fingers trail across his skin. That heā€™d look at him like he hung the fucking moon. That Steve Harrington would one day tell Eddie ā€˜The Freakā€™ Munson that he loves him. That Eddie would believe him. But now, as he lays here, staring into Steveā€™s eyes, he canā€™t stop the dreams from growing inside him.Ā 
Dreams bigger than heā€™s ever imagined before. Dreams completely wrapped up in Steve.Ā 
He wants to give his boy the fucking world. Wants to get him away from this place that ripped them to shreds. Wants to show him he already has the family heā€™s been searching for.Ā  Buy him that fucking RV and load it up with their giant mismatched, makeshift crew. Eddie wants to buy him a house big enough to be the home base of the group. Let him be the one the group flocks to for holidays and big events. And Eddie knows they will. Because itā€™s Steve. And he may not realize it, but heā€™s the glue. The kids all adore him. Hero worship that Steve doesnā€™t see. But Eddie does. As much as they tease him and give him a hard time. He sees it in their eyes. Steve put his life on the line for them. Over and over. He was the babysitter. Thatā€™s a bond that stays put.
Eddie never thought heā€™d end up being one of those people who revolves their life around their significant other. Never thought heā€™d find someone that stuck around long enough, honestly. But all his plans are now their plans. He canā€™t imagine doing any of the things heā€™s dreamed of for so long without Steve, now. It wouldnā€™t be worth it. He knows, as much as he wants more, wants a life bigger than Hawkins, heā€™d be content if none of it happens, as long as he has Steve.Ā 
Most of all, Eddie wants to make sure heā€™s happy. Because fuck if anyone deserves to be happy, itā€™s Steve Harrington. Even if it means listening to shitty pop music in the car, or having Robin Buckley interrupt them constantly, or playing chauffeur to the gremlins everyday. Barely getting a moment to themselves. Itā€™s worth it to see the way Steveā€™s eyes sparkle when he smiles.Ā 
Eddie would do anything to see that smile.
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eugenedebs1920 Ā· 1 month ago
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I donā€™t have kids. I donā€™t plan on having kids. I donā€™t want kids. Honestly, I prefer to not be around kids. Yet for some reason the future is important to me.
There has always been a sense of urgency to right the wrongs of the past, and to clear the way for future generations to travel. A drive to leave this rock in better shape than I found it when I left it.
That was a camping rule instilled in me as a kid. Leave the camp site in better shape than when you got there. I can remember as a kid, going around and looking for trash someone, at sometime had left behind. That way when the next person came to enjoy this little slice of nature, hopefully they would enjoy and appreciate it as I did.
There has never been an urge in me to reproduce. The thought of raising a child never appealed to me. Dogs! I love dogs, and have had a few since I was a kid. A little human though, just no interest.
People will ask, ā€œdo you want to hold my baby?ā€ Not once have I responded a yes to that question.
Children, especially when theyā€™re real young, theyā€™re like weird alien things that just excrete fluids. Otherwise theyā€™re loud, obnoxious, stinky (hey! I think people have used this same description for me! šŸ˜‰) want to crawl all over you with their inevitably sticky hands. No thanks.
Yet their ability to live in this country with as much if not more of the same opportunities and liberties I had is invaluable to me. Even in my lowest of lows, in my worst of times, it was important to ensure my actions would not negatively impact those after me.
I smoke, I drink, I indulge, Iā€™m not as young as I use to be. Iā€™d say, at best I got another 40 years left in me, thatā€™s what Iā€™ve lived so far. If Iā€™m being real, a little less would probably be better.
Iā€™m not a deeply religious man. Iā€™m not without my own thoughts and interpretations. I think religion can be a guide on how to live life morally and with compassion. Far too often it is not.
What do I think happens when you die? Nothing. You just cease to be. The chemical energy in you goes dormant and you are recycled back into the earth from whence you came.
The driving force to be the best person I could be was to see others happy, to see them prosper and to be content in their lives. That makes me happy, seeing others happy. Like a laugh, itā€™s contagious, youā€™re laughing because someone else is laughing and you have no idea whatā€™s so funny to them, but their hilarious moment becomes your own.
Same with prosperity. When you see someone who worked hard and is proud to show you their new home, or their new car, whatever it is, you can pick up on that sense of satisfaction. Regardless if itā€™s your own.
Since the new deal we have inadvertently, or unwittingly, helped each other out. I pay into social security so that the widow down the street has an income to live on. Although I donā€™t have children I happily pay taxes for them to get an education, and so on. This is what has made our country strong for so many years. This selfless sense that we are in this together. That we are on the same team, going towards the same goal. When someone falls, you pick them back up, because thatā€™s what you do.
Something has shifted in our culture of late. An overwhelming move towards I got mine, and you got yours. Not breaking from our comfort zones. Trapped within our own small circle. Eye contact is awkward, and common courtesy isnā€™t so common.
What changed?!
There is now the potential to reach out to strangers around the globe with the touch of a button, but half of us donā€™t know our neighbors names. We can see devastation clear across the world and feel sympathy for them, but we wonā€™t let someone in during our commute.
When did this shift in attitudes switch in us as citizens in this country, and around the world? This notion that you are more important than, more entitled, more deserving than anyone else.
We are all just people going towards the same goal. We may not know each other but we should know that everyone has their struggles, everyone has pressures, we all are trying. Trying to make it another day, another week, to another paycheck.
Cant we relish in the thought that we are all fighting the same battles, we just fight our own demons?
This goes beyond letting someone in during traffic. It goes beyond opening the door for a stranger. This is about the ten billion of us yet to be born, who are barely born, and what their futures will be.
Every action, every decision, every choice and move we make will have impact in one way or another moving forward.
Will these be acts of greed and resentment?Acts of intolerance and animosity. Will they tear someone down, hurt them? Every action matters.
Or with the decisions you make, will they be that of kindness and care? Will they be accepting and understanding? Will the lift people up, help them out?
The choice is yours.
I know, just as I was taught when I was a child, camping in the mountains of Colorado, that I want to leave this site a better place than when I got there. So people who visit in the future can enjoy it just as I did. So that they have the same opportunity as myself. I hope youā€™ll do the same.
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herefortheships Ā· 4 months ago
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It happened. I have listened to the entirety of MacArthur Park. All seven and a half minutes of it, and even repeated certain parts. A song I would have never looked up on my own, all because of this hopeless romantic, moldy old poltergeist and his gorgeous middle-aged goth babe. šŸ’ššŸ’œšŸ’ššŸ’œ
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