#my 90s byler Au stuff

[imactuallyreallycool]

Take a small break from working on bylerween stuff :)

So here’s a quick sketch that I’ll finish later :)))

[castlebyersafterdark]

hi, do you have an opinion on the fic A Cruel summer w you? its always one i think of in regards to 'how explicit is byler fic realistically' cos the world building and description of both emotion and physical desire are very detailed, but they never go beyond kissing and everything about the set up (summer camp away from prying eyes, age 19 byler) suggests these boys would be going beyond kissing, but the story never goes there and the tags even say 'friends with benefits - the benefits are just kissing, shut up' or something, which speaks to me of self-censorship based on audience responses rather than doing service to this story. maybe themes of shame will come up later and i really hope they do, but for now it certainly reads as self-censorship which is such a shame as these authors, let loose, could be wonderful. perhaps theres a nsfw version they keep private, but i found it interesting they chose such elaborate details and these ages for the characters and expect people to believe they would stop at kissing... it's either a reflection of feminine emotionality (lets face it, byler in fics are often, psychologically, girls who are called mike and will) or it's a microcosm for whats happening in media at large which is lots of PG films and this huge lack of sexuality and sensuality in order to draw in as big an audience as possible (you mentioned being a former marvel fan, maybe this relates to that?)

Prefacing this one to say - nothing is a personal critique to follow here! Personal taste and a read on greater fandom in general!

So, I've skimmed it. I've checked out most of the 'big fics' in the fandom. Envious over authors who can craft long fics. Wish I could, but it's never gone well outside of original writing for me, so I'll leave it to the people who expertly weave these hyper detailed long form fanfictions.

This fic in particular looks so lovingly crafted and intricate in it's worldbuilding which is cool - it's just not for me. I'm picky with the setting for these characters and I do prefer stuff either 'ambiguous' in time period or accurate to the era (80s/90s), unless it's pure AU not based in reality (like a fantasy or dnd au). I like that the show is from a certain era so modern stuff just doesn't do it for me. I also am not a fan of rivals/enemies to whatever for them. I'll read one where they meet differently than as kids, but I'm just not fond of the trope with them otherwise. Which is fine! A lot of people like it and I'm sure a lot write it well! Just my personal taste for Byler.

So, I don't know too much about the fic in great length, as I've skipped around just to see the vibes, see where it went, etc. And here's my thing: no one HAS to write sex scenes/smut/spicy fics/whatever you want to label it. That's ok. It's the total lack of acknowledgement sometimes that gets me confused, like what do we think a real relationship is for Mike and Will? Why does it have to be as chaste as I see everywhere? Topic's been talked to death, but again, it's probably tied in to all the points you've made. Nineteen year olds at a summer camp are probably sneaking around and going further than making out. So. Ehhh. Is it dedication to the craft and with the writing style being so detailed, a fade to black or simple allusion to something beyond PG would feel out of place to not then go into detail, because of disinterest in writing a sex scene? Self-censorship due to the fandom's pressures of judgement? Unsure, and you can write what you want, of course. This is just one of the only fandoms where I've seen the defenses raised alllll the tiiiime where you need to overly reassure that you weren't thinking about or implying sex. Which I think is a disservice more often than not when you're exploring any sort of queer romance. Why do we have to be so sanitized?

Don't even get me started on Marvel, we're currently going through a messy and bitter divorce. But this is a good article I've bookmarked because the title is a great toss-out line when talking about the state of today's media: Everyone is Beautiful and No One is Horny . Not exactly what we're talking about, but I wanted to reference the title and the article is just an interesting read or re-read.

[songofdefiance]

okay I'm like... a stranger things fan in that i enjoy the show but don't really engage with it very deeply (because it is VERY straight and somewhat predictable and hey, kudos to all the people who subvert it with fanfiction, which i also enjoy, but it's not something i want to write for)

BUT

i am also a huge fear street trilogy fan, fucking adore those movies, and lately my brain won't stop thinking about a stranger things au with the fear street characters

not everything fits neatly one-to-one, but here are a few ideas:

the main thing i got stuck on was the idea of cindy and alice kind of serving as a steddie parallel (so no alice until s4, sadly, but w/e), except i'd keep their backstory from 1978 - in that they used to be best friends, until cindy decided to try to live up to her rich, absentee parents' expectations, alienating herself from both alice and ziggy; cue ultimate Drama for their s4 reunion, when alice has been accused of murder and cindy is trying to keep all the kids safe

deena and sam being mike and el? look, i do think byler is adorable, but i also love the idea of the 90s baby lesbians being the mike/el parallel. deena is (i think) strong-willed enough to be the 'mike' in this situation, while sam is the one who's escaped the lab

kate is dustin. full stop. she's a straight-a student but she's also a massive nerd, and is assertive enough to kidnap cindy and get her to help in s2

i haven't really figured out who would be Nancy in this scenario bc even though Cindy is Steve (down to the polo shirt), she's also a lot like Nancy. so i guess she's like. a fusion of them

at some point Cindy and Alice have a heart to heart, where Alice admits that she wishes she could do what Cindy did so that it would get her out of shadyside, but that she's convinced that the town is cursed (by vecna rather than Satan, but yeah) and so gave up on that. Cindy admits that she's had crippling self doubt all the while and isn't convinced she'll ever be able to leave either

meanwhile, in California, deena has to be physically held back from going after sam's bullies; when Sam slams a roller blade into Main Bully's face, deena walks out holding sam's hand, and she might as well be holding a sign that says "i love my girlfriend and am proud of her"

"violence is bad, deena." "shut the fuck up - you did great, Sam"

ziggy and max are A LOT alike (beyond just being played by sadie sink), so ziggy is vecna's target, and Cindy is going feral trying to find ways to keep both her and Alice safe

(cue a lot of guilt from Cindy because how did she not notice, how did she not realize just how bad it had gotten for her sister)

i don't think i would put nick goode into the story, exactly, but i would probably say "hey when you're picturing one, picture the guy who played adult Nick/Solomon goode". man does a good job being a creep

hard to say who the other adults would be in this story, bc fear street was (purposefully) bereft of actual adults. sorry jopper. it kinda plays into the theme of adults not really being reliable in actual tough situations, so I'm not too upset about it, though

ngl I'm leaning towards Ruby Lane being 8? maybe nurse lane can be the only adult, trying to figure out what happened to her daughter

uhhhh... hmm. Tommy was Cindy's bf for a while, and he's genuinely a good dude, unwittingly gets involved in s2, does his best to help out. unfortunately, i think he also ends up being the mind flayer's avatar in s3 (I'm putting poor Cindy through the ringer I'm so sorry)

this would require A LOT of character development that i would have to build myself but I'm kinda leaning towards arnie being Cindy's Robin? they both end up working at scoops, and bc Cindy knows he's dating Alice (Alice and Arnie do genuinely like each other and like dating, but it's more of a bi4bi arrangement), but Arnie is generally pretty chill around her and Cindy eventually relaxes. they bond during the Russians stuff and arnie comes out as bi, and Cindy is like "cool"

we've got Josh and Simon to round out the Party

okay I'll admit it, i have no fucking clue who any of the byers are in this scenario. genuinely zero idea. aaaand with that, that's all i got

(this is 90% because Cindy/Alice makes me sad and i want them to be happy; no Alice does NOT die, she gets badly hurt but she lives)

[l393ndjean]

Welcome to My Blog Earthlings

Sup! This is a formal introduction to my blog. It's probably the only formal thing here.

My online/pen name is Jean Danika Cresswell, but ya know, Jean's fine. I'm on a bunch of other sites, basically if they have the same user name and profile pic, it's me tho. (Ao3)

Wanna hear the podcast I manage and edit? Of course you do! Follow @thethreematchsticks for more info!

She/Her/They/idrc

I'm Bisexual and annoying. That's a deadly combination. Apparently I'm agender too. Welp, that explains a fuckton.

I live in Australia and my favourite pastime is to mock how Americans stereotype Aussies.

My current fandoms are:

STRANGER THINGS

IT 2017

The Osemanverse

I Am Not Okay With This

Pixar

Percy Jackson (I've only read the main series)

The Hunger Games (not TBOSAS)

if there's harry potter stuff on my blog it's because I was a major Harry Potter kid. I can't be assed to change this entire post so count this as a disclaimer that I DO NOT SUPPORT JK ROWLING OR ANY OF HER WILDY WRONG VIEWS.

@red-in-revenge is my tumblr shit little cousin and I reblog about 90% of their posts. They are my favourite mutual, I'm sorry everyone else. 💕

@dailydoseofdumb is my actual real life cousin who i basically forced to get tumblr. He's like the Steve to my Robin but also the Mike to my Max. @twissty4 is my mum, or more accurately, me using mum's blog. She only has tumblr so she can follow my au blog @byler-makemewanttobelieveitsokay

@sunnycswiftie is my little sister! If your hurt her I will destroy you.

My tags are:

the au: #mmwtbio #make me want to believe it's okay

me talking a lot: #jean rants

things i really like: #jean's favourites

My blog has absolutely no theme.

My Ships are:

Byler

Lumax/elumax/elmax

Stenbrough

Reddie

Narlie

Imogen x Sahar

Tarcy

Taoelle

Bicci

Wenclair

solangelo

My Brotps:

Mike and Max (Madwheeler)

Robin and Steve

Mike and El

Lucas and Will

Dustin and Mike

Richie and Stan

Aled and Frances

Charlie and Aled

They're Siblings your honour

Will and El

Steve and Dustin

me and @dailydoseofdumb

I don't care if they're romantic or platonic

Henderhop

Elmax

Ronance

Notp

Romantic Mileven

Anthing that involves Billy Hargrove

Bro if you just read all that have a drink. OF WATER NOT ALCOHOL THAT SHIT'S BAD FOR YOU.

[parkitaco]

hiiii parker :^) 47, 71, and 85 for u !!

hi suni!!!

47 - what story are you most proud of?

i just answered this one but i'll say another one i'm proud of- idk why but i'm really proud of that funny feeling even tho it's just a silly little one-scene oneshot but?? idk it was like exactly what i intended it to be and i think is just very neatly wrapped up and in the few times i've reread it i've been like wow. there's nothing i would change about this. which happens approximately Never so i'm v proud of myself for that <33

71 - how do you balance writing and life? do you ever feel overwhelmed by the amount of writing you have to do?

um. so the truth is i don't balance writing and life bc writing Is my life. like don't get me wrong i do other things but 90% of the time i'm thinking about writing ideas. i also fully write fanfic at school and it Has gotten me in awkward situations so. yeah. but yes i do sometimes feel overwhelmed!! i'm trying to write original stuff right now but it keeps falling on the back burner bc byler has consumed my mind body and soul and i have to write fanfic every day or i'll shrivel up and die so i always have this like vague buzz of stress in my brain bc i should be working on my original stuff which is like. three steps away from being my literal Job but the blue and yellow gays keep demanding my attention

85 - what would be on a moodboard for your current wip(s)?

OH i'm so glad u asked i love this question!! the wip i'm supposed to be working on rn is a modern au in which will works at a bookstore and mike is his most loyal customer <33 here's a screenshot of the pinterest board i made:

i'm super excited abt this fic actually it should be up in like?? a week or so max?? i keep getting stuck but it's happening i promise

[mizufae]

I’ve figured it out. One of my favorite stranger things headcanons/aus/whatevers is Egg!Mike who is transfeminine because like, idk I just vibe with it okay? But I’m also apparently a diehard Byler truther now and since the first season have just desperately wanted Will to be happy and have everything he wants, and that’s canonically Mike. So there is a disconnect because I want Will to be his big gay self and accept and thrive in his own types of love yadda yadda, but I also want Mike to process all the shit he’s been repressing and in my brain a lot of that shit is trans stuff which would explain why it’s so very very repressed due to the 80s and the small town and the two sisters blah blah. So how can I have Mike and Will be in love, while Mike is a girl and Will is gay??? MAKE WILL A GIRL ALSO. If Will were a little adorable bunny toothed cis girl at five her dad would be pissed off because he’s a douche and he’d try to force her to do all these things she hates and call her shitty names. And Mike would still ask to be friends, and they could have practically the same childhood except they play dressup a whole lot more. And Will could be furious about being a damsel in distress and also a one hundred percent artsy lesbian middle schooler and really fucked up about pretty much all the same things, and Mike would push her away because of lots of stuff but also including gender envy. And THEN Mike would slowly start to crack her egg while Will is in California and have noooo idea how to handle it, and Will would be in Cali like “wtf wtf I thought I was in love with Mike how come these cali chicks are so hot I swear to god I thought I was just appreciating them aesthetically I still love Mike how can this beeeeee” and after all the Stuff gets resolved Will comes out to everyone as gay and Mike is heartbroken until she puts together that waitaminute if Will is into girls, and I am a girl, could Will possibly maybe be into me?? And then they kiss and go to prom together in matching lesbian tuxedos and move to Chicago and Mike gets a government-vetted gender affirming doctor through upsidedown fallout connections and Steve does her hair for a big goofy mid 90s lesbian wedding where Mike wears horrible puffy sleeves like she always wanted and Nancy is her Maid of Honor and El is Will’s and everyone is happy THE END