#people need plums

[raccoonfallsharder]

yo. wsp. sooooo i been writing some thoughts lately and i need help with something

HOW THE FUCK DO I WRITE GOOD SMUT? like i tried once and it was fucking BAD lollll. i seriously need help and you're the only person i can actually ask because you. are literally. the best at that. so pleassse send help

bb i love you and you are a sweet little raspberry pastry. i am so flattered to be asked something like this. i don’t know if i am the best but i do think any success i have is from learning from the best! im not great with advice but here are some things i believe have helped me.

the most important thing i can tell you is this: WRITE “BAD” SMUT! who cares? no-one has to see it?? write bad smut, and then write more bad smut, then go back and reread your og bad smut and decide what you would change so you enjoy reading it just a little bit more. then write some more bad smut. the first time you ever wrote a sentence, was it an ivory tower example of academically flawless grammar, punctuation, and spelling? was it an evocative and award-winning piece of revelatory poetry inspiring massive social change on a global scale? no way. you probably didn’t even have all your letters facing the right direction. WRITE BAD SMUT OR YOU’LL NEVER WRITE GOOD SMUT.

also write bad smut because it’s fun honestly and who cares how good it is?

next most important piece of advice: i think you gotta start by asking yourself what you like best when you’re reading smut. nono wait back up. first you gotta read A LOT of smut. no, more. however much you’re thinking, probably more. then you gotta figure out what your favorite parts are and why.

now. on a more individual note. every author’s smut is different and personal because everything author’s writing is different and personal and smut is in some ways even more personal, right? (don’t stop making plums) so what you’re writing will always look different. but here are some things that have worked for me and maybe they can provide a good space for you to start exploring how you want your smut to look. (warning for late-night first-draft rambling ahead)

for me, there are two parts to what makes smut satisfying (again, this is personal preference).

the first is when the smut is very rooted in an emotional core — specifically, the characters and their motivations. what does each character want? if it’s only an orgasm, why is it only an orgasm? if it’s more than an orgasm, what is it and why? and what does that look like?

sunshine-reader in sunshine wants a playful one-night stand but is incapable of not offering warmth. rocket in the same narrative wants connection because he’s rocket and never feels connected enough. their connection is warm and open because (they think) it’s low-risk and short-lived.

pearl-reader in wyndham/cicatrix wants to exercise autonomy for once in her damn life. rocket/“the monster” in wyndham/cicatrix wants revenge-sex. both of these two are grappling with their own versions of grief and that shows through in their motivations too (at least id like to think so).

in window, sex between jo and rocket looks different when it’s their first time versus when rocket’s trying to coerce her into taking up more space versus when jo is spiraling as they head back to terra, because the goals and motivations are always different.

knowing your characters’ motivations for sex, the way they’re trying to communicate with each other, and their outside-the-bedroom neuroses can also help make sense of kinks, too. in my imagination, rocket always has control issues (especially mcu rocket tbh) because of his historical lack of control and what it means for him to be under someone else’s power. (but i also see him with a complicated/conflicted praise kink a la adorations because he wants to believe nice things about himself while also not believing them, or not believing compliments are genuine).

all of the above is the philosophical part of smut — the emotional core that makes smut more satisfying for me personally as a reader. after that, we get into the technical writing-shit. i think, much like actual sex, the pay-off is better if you savor the journey. so at least for me, that means writing beyond just pinched nips, grinding, penetration. it means taking time to explore the way it feels to be touched in even the mundane parts of our bodies: different textures, pressures, etc.

for example, a claw prickling over the inner flesh of the forearm is not explicitly sexual but. i mean. ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ or is it. you know?

another thing for me is to focus on detail. when our senses are overwhelmed we tend to focus on very specific details: the light coming through the window, the stroke of the back of the knuckles on your shoulder, the scent of the pillow. you could say “then she reached orgasm” or you could say “she squeezed her eyes tight. the crackle of electricity in her abdomen snapped taut, and then broke apart in a shower of sparks.” you could say someone was spanked, or you could say there was a crack in the air, and a stinging heat bloomed on their asscheek. don’t just say what happened — say what it felt like, what it looked like, what it smelled and sounded and tasted like. (i mean sometimes you gotta just say what happened or the scene can get too dense…but overall, i opt for relying on sensory description over exposition).

the rest imo is window dressing. are there certain phrases or words you particularly like to read or hear? are you someone who loves or hates the word “pussy” or “dick”? would you rather avoid explicit terms all together, or use them often? or sporadically, for impact?

anyway. like i said these are just my initial late-night first-draft thoughts so they might be rough and they ARE just things that have helped ME (everyone has different thoughts/ideas on this!) but i hope maybe this is a helpful place to start??? also if any of this did not make sense i apologize i am sleepy just lmk and i am happy to expand/clarify

also you are a precious little cherry tart, a springtime crocus, and i love you. please write more smut and allow yourself the freedom of enjoying it. ♡♡♡

[anoonimthepoorchad]

Oh Intermezzo we're really in it now

[bonnieisaway]

why did i not think of this before? why did this take me so long to think of? i've been editing this show for well over a year now and it onyl just occured to me to do this?? ive adored this song for ages?? im always looking for excuses to edit this scene and i JUST fucking thought of this?>!?!?!?????????????

anyways. if it cost me my life man i'd save my only friend. that's something i could live with. i could take that to the end. if it cost my my life i'd save my only friend!!!

[chatonyant]

Return of the mount hua sect..... I wish I had something substantial to say but instead all I have is me screeching over fan content and also the official animations and trailers

My brain is just. Constant yelling about certain moments in the novel and the exasperation of knowing it has 1551 chapters and fan translations are nowhere near that number. Oh my god. The spoilers I've seen from memes and other fanart hurt my heart. I'm just. Grabbing this novel. And eating it. Aough. It's so fun.

The official trailers for s2 of the manhwa is very funny because apparently it seems that a catchphrase of this manhwa is "to those who haven't read this: I envy you"

So its appeared at least twice

It's so funny

It's even funnier when it's a trailer recapping the premise of the story which means it's bloody!! And sad!!! And serious!!!!! And then you look at the comments and it's people going "this is the man who will whack you on the head six times but say "HEAD" only five" it's great I love this story

[oliversshipacc]

I found a website that has screen caps from a bunch so now I can mindlessly obsess over my favorite clue (1985) ship! Grum (Mr Green x Professor Plum)

Professor Plum is questioning things rn

[potatoesandsunshine]

look we all knew if i was gonna do trw/acoc blending together it was gonna be with my favorite faildaughter and the spymistress that represents her every fear and also maybe her terrible adolescent crush

[melitheduck]

I ran out of fruit tea, but I feel fruity! What do I do( ´-｀)/

Thank you for reading this shit♡

[exopelagic]

fruit <33333333333

[raccoonfallsharder]

I’m asking as someone to fears critique, but if you could get advice from the fic writers you admire/like, would you

hey nonnie ♡♡♡ i’m not sure if you’re the same anon who asked something similar yesterday but regardless, i will answer here. i wanted to take some time to think about this and i am entertaining my sister/the goddamn love of my life this weekend so im a bit distracted but HERE GOES (behind the cut to save everyone’s sanity. a little)

writing is VERY personal. imo each person’s process and style are distinct and different AND SHOULD BE. the best writing is an extension of self. ((this also means that OF COURSE criticism can be scary for a lot of writers - or artists - because the whole creative process is wrapped up in identity, in like….plucking the fruit off our branches and saying “here. i made this to share. it comes from sunlight and soil and rain and ME and I really hope you like the taste??” - all this to say you’re not alone in your vulnerability && nervousness))

so i think there is a difference between asking for advice & asking for critique and you should be very careful && explicit about what you ask and from who

advice is great to ask from writers you admire. & i would absolutely ask any of the writers i admire for advice. but imo advice looks like:

What writing habits do you (my fave author - let’s call her SunshineDaydream) engage in that you would recommend to others? (common examples include “write even if it’s bad!” or “set aside time to write each day”)

I love how you do that one specific thing I love (write excellent metaphors, paint a scene, channel a voice, whatever). How do you do that? Do you have any tips for doing something similar? (MY process may still end up looking different from SunshineDaydream’s process, but it can be a good place to start)

advice is - how does SunshineDaydream do This Thing? What are her tips for tapping into that energy/mindset? (SunshineDaydream, how did you make that delicious goddamn pomegranate?)

critique is different. critique is “how can i improve this sample of my own writing/self in particular.” and favorite authors aren’t always the best at answering that question. SunshineDaydream makes amazing pomegranates but like??? You’re a plum tree??

if you want critique, you need someone who you trust as a reader (which still could be SunshineDaydream - but it’s a different skillset. could also be a beta or a writing instructor but also, not always) & if it feels really vulnerable and scary, set some groundrules. “can you read this? then i’m going to ask you some specific questions, if that’s all right.” decide what you want to know rather than ask for blanket feedback.

what worked well for you when you read this?

what was challenging for you as a reader? Is there something you think could make that easier?

i am having a hard time with this transition or the flow of these two paragraphs. What do you think?

Read this section - what feeling does it give you? okay, this is what i was trying to convey - how can i get you there as a reader?

does this word choice work? does this sentence makes sense?

what makes the tastiest plum, specifically?

you can scale your questions/requests for feedback as broad or as narrow as you need && have the capacity to accept in the moment (both things which may change from day to day which is FINE because some days are harder than others). AND just because you solicit critique (or advice) doesn’t mean you have to accept/take/use it

OH MY GOD I wrote you a fucking novel, which is not what you asked for SO SORRY fuck me. anyway:

i believe in you && i believe that the fruit you bear & share with others will be good, and that you can ask your fave writers for advice & your most trusted readers for critique but you will always in the end be the only plum tree in the garden

don’t stop making plums

people need plums

[abyssalpriest]

"Great Death" are you for real. Ive been fucking calling him "Lord Death" since before I even knew he was a real person let alone a spirit this damn life

"In some texts, Mahākāla is described as a fearsome god, a "demon who steals the vital essence (of people)" and who feeds on flesh and blood, though he is also said to only devour those who committed sins against the Three Jewels of Buddhism."

"In China, the god was also associated with fertility and sexuality"

bruh why the fuck do i doubt lev is who he says he is

Like i fucking clicked on the "大黒天" name(s) (chinese and japanese) because i was like "fucking sky character spotted!!!!!!" and now im just like. bruh

[chatonyant]

Return of the mount hua sect..... I wish I had something substantial to say but instead all I have is me screeching over fan content and also the official animations and trailers

My brain is just. Constant yelling about certain moments in the novel and the exasperation of knowing it has 1551 chapters and fan translations are nowhere near that number. Oh my god. The spoilers I've seen from memes and other fanart hurt my heart. I'm just. Grabbing this novel. And eating it. Aough. It's so fun.

The official trailers for s2 of the manhwa is very funny because apparently it seems that a catchphrase of this manhwa is "to those who haven't read this: I envy you"

So its appeared at least twice

It's so funny

It's even funnier when it's a trailer recapping the premise of the story which means it's bloody!! And sad!!! And serious!!!!! And then you look at the comments and it's people going "this is the man who will whack you on the head six times but say "HEAD" only five" it's great I love this story

[autisticmudkip]

Save a Disabled Child's Life!!!

Do you care about disabled people’s lives? I hope you do. Disabled people are all worthy of love and respect, and disability rights and justice are vital to building a better, more just world.

I truly hope that you care about disabled people. Maybe you are even disabled yourself. Here you have an opportunity to save the life of a disabled person. I dearly hope that you will help save him.

Nour Ashour @noor-yashour has two children. One of them, Muhammed, is just four years old, and since his birth has living with a condition that causes muscle relaxation and inability to move.

To treat his condition, Muhammed requires medical treatment, and regular physical therapy sessions. However, due to the ongoing war he and his family are suffering through, he has not been able to recieve proper treatment for over a year. Without treatment, Muhammed will DIE. He will die solely for the sake of being a disabled boy in Gaza. This is deeply unjust.

On top of Muhammed's pressing medical needs, the Ashour family needs help getting other necessities to survive as well. The need to be able to purchase food, water, and safe shelter for the coming winter.

Despite how urgent her family's needs are, and how diligently Nour has been working to raise funds for her family for months, she has only reached a small fraction of her goal! Donations have been extremely slow. Muhammed can't afford this. Without treatment, he will die.

£6,825 / £80,000

Please, I beg you, donate to Nour. Muhammed doesn't deserve to die. Nour doesn't deserve to lose her son. None of the Ashour family deserves to starve or freeze this winter. Donate whatever you can! Even a small amount, just £10 or even £5, is much better than nothing! If you absolutely cannot donate, please share Nour's campaign as widely as you can, both on tumblr and with people you know in person.

Please, just do whatever you can to save Muhammed. Give this disabled child a chance at life!

Vetted here by 90-ghost

Donate to save Muhammed!!!

Tagging for reach:

@meowmaids @chilewithcarnage @irhabiya @2spirit-0spoons @punkitt-is-here

@dirhwangdaseul @toesuckingoctober @a-scary-lack-of-common-sense @galactic-rhea @ddeck

@nibeul @symeona @vaders-georg @halvoric @fleshdyk3

@justmagicalgirl @slowbrobutch @andnowanowl @plum-soup @nyanfaer

@prececosmica @majesticcupcakequeen90 @deathlonging @deepspaceboytoy @neechees

@wouriqueen @coffeelich @bubonicherald @beargif @laurajameskinney

@bulletbilltime @liphia @cyber2000 @zingay @binglam

@2blushie @antiauteur @acnologia-is-best-dragon @bitchmael @fromjannah

@penelopiaad @laughtracklesbian @legallymean @b0nkcreat @esperantokomencanto

@uwu-pinata @syntheticspades @haruspexism @bloodandgutsyippee @wellwaterhysteria

[catcatb0y]

CiFlower MASSACRED my baby. We need vFlower's energy back. SynthV give me the growl, give me the grit, give me the power ans the androgyny again instead of that whispy ass whisper shit. CiFlower's voice cracks SO fucking much, CiFlower has next to ZERO range, I haven't heard a SINGLE CiFlower song that didn't make me awkwardly adjust my volume five times over trying to figure out what in the damn was wrong with my headphones.

Selling Flower to CeVIO was a MISTAKE. VSTeto is an uplift of uTeto's great synthetic voice, offering a higher power, clarity, and range. Even when tuned realistically, she still keeps that cute synthetic charm of her past. CiFlower was given a lower quality voice bank with less power and much, much less range. There are literally dozens of voicebanks that do CiFlower better than CiFlower. ONE and IA are RIGHT THERE.

I want SynthV to pick up the hype that CeVIO SLAMMED into the ground and stomped on when announcing that Flower was going to get a new voice bank. Please. Please SynthV give me back my baby.

HEY SYNTHV AND VOCALOID FANS!

Since we got Teto and apparently getting Gumi soon...

Edit, about 8 hours after posting: I didn't expect this to already get so many votes wow? I don't wanna flood my blog and the reblogs with replies to others but you all have amazing ideas. I meant to include more Vocaloids but Tumblr has a limit on the answers you can add so I had to remove some.

[a-shade-of-blue]

Can you donate the price of a coffee so that 10 children (and a 2-year-old baby) can have food to eat? (and at the same time get the chance to win a handmade phone charm made with freshwater pearls?)

I have been talking with Mahmoud (@mahmoudfamily1) and he is really worried about his family. There has been continuous attacks on Nuseirat, where his 17 family members (including 10 children and a 2-year-old baby!) are staying. Just a few hours ago, an air strike in Nuseirat has killed 6 children and their parents! A lot of the casualties coming out of Gaza are children, and I'm really worried about these 10 little children at Nuseirat.

Moreover, their tent has just been bombed, destroying everything they have and leaving these 17 people with nowhere to sleep. Basic necessities are 300% more expensive than usual. With such astronomical price and little funds, they do not have most daily necessities. How are they going to cope with the coming winter? With no shelter to shield them from the rapidly dropping temperature and the heavy rain, with no clothes to keep them warm, and with little food and clean water too!

Low Funds! Only $1,627 CAD raised of $80,000 goal! Last donation was 14 hours ago!

This campaign is #117 on @/gazavetters vetted list. Also vetted by association!

I'm also hosting a freshwater pearl phone strap raffle to raise funds for this campaign (UK only)! Click here to enter after you donated!

Tagging for reach. Please message me if you want off the mailing list. We thank you in advance.

@whompthatsucker1981 @nerves-nebula @augustheart @woodwool @malscare @ptsilencedhill @ihavegaysex42069 @beesmygod @wotsukai @t-800 @solarpunkcast @plum-soup @fiomeras @fithragaer @vaporize-employers @sealbf @moveslikekeithrichards @andva-ri @thehopeof @servalias @amethyst-halo @bsideheart @murderbot @tomiyeee @odddogs @vamptits @rthko @flouryhedgehog @t4tvampireisms @11thsense @khanger @thorerre @yourbelgianthings @handweavers @sketiana @fcbalding @girlinafairytale @loonarmuunar @kittykatninja321 @decolonisers @elpeor @camgirlpanopticon @northirish @death2germany @girlbloke @butchkaramazov @littlestpersimmon@rocking-space-dragon @sapphling @wouldingwaul @forevergulag @alexandrium @marxism-transgenderism @level10headhoncho @northgazaupdates @fuzzypatrolfancowboy @applebunch  @boy-icky @venus-is-in-bloom  @loversdesires  @robotpussy  @bludcrust @petoskeystones  @nonbinaryam34 @kitchener-waterloo @princessjohnfogerty @mandorinart @libelelle @extravapalooza @hongkongtaxi

@eternal-fractal @pathogenic @nonbinary-support @mar64ds @bixels @aria-ashryver @schoolhater @pcktknife @transmutationisms @sawasawako @feluka @fiqrr @irhabiya @sharingresourcesforpalestine @batmanego @lonniemachin @aristotels @watermotif @stuckinapril @chanafehs@malcriada @appsa @serialunaliver @buttercuparry

[spite-and-waffles]

(alt included)

Link to Video. (Please help Panda make money.)

Video description and transcript under the cut.

Description: TikTok video by The Panda Redd. Re-enactment of final scene of Under the Hood. All roles played by Panda (a tall, well-built young white man with a mohawk, wearing a grey hoodie). Setting is a dark basement lit only by a hanging light bulb.

Transcript.

Jason: (holding gun on Bruce) "Bruce, I forgive you for not saving me."

Batman: (glares silently)

Jason: "But why? Why on God's Earth—" (hits Joker across the face)

Joker (tied to a chair): *cackles*

Jason: "—is HE still alive??"

Joker: "AHAHAHAHAHHAHA!"

Batman:

Batman: "I'm sorry, d'you want me to be serious here or—?"

Jason: (in disbelief) "YES, Bruce! I want you to be serious right now! If he had done what he did to me to you, I would've done nothing but search the earth for this pile of death-worshiping garbage!"

Joker: "I love you too, Sugar Plum."

Batman: (holds hands up) "Okay, yeah, I get that, totally, I get that. Um. Have you tried?"

Jason: "Excuse you?"

Batman: "Have you tried to kill him yet?"

Jason: (to Joker) "Is he being serious?"

Joker: (also confused) "I'm gonna be honest with you, Junior. I don't know."

Jason: "Got it. Great." (turns back to Batman) "What the fuck does THAT mean?"

Batman: "Okay, so no, you haven't. Cool. Do it."

Jason:

Jason: (lowers gun) "What."

Batman: "Do it, cap his ass. Shoot him."

Joker: "I'm gonna go with Junior here, and say...what?"

Jason: "You want me to shoot him?"

Batman: "I want someone to shoot him! Give me the gun, I'll do it!"

Jason: (mutters, brain blue screening) "What is going on right now? This should a lot harder than it is."

Batman: "C'mon, son! You decapitated like eleven people three days ago! Fuckin' do it!"

Jason: "There, you happy? Jesus. Was that so hard? All of this time and it was THAT easy!"

Joker: (turns to Jason quizzically) "This has gotta be some sort of test, ri—"

(BANG! Jason fires. Joker lands on the floor lifeless, eyes still open.)

Batman: "I don't know what you're talking about "easy". There's nothing there." (nods at floor)

Jason: "What the fuck is that supposed to—" (looks down at floor where the Joker was lying)

Floor: (is devoid of Joker)

Jason: (stares)

Floor: (continues to be sans anything but carpet)

Jason: "What the fuck?"

Batman: "Yeah."

Jason: "WHAT THE FUCK?"

Batman: "Take as long as you need with this."

Jason: (looking around frantically) "I just shot him! He hit the floor! What the f—"

Floor: (is just vibin')

Jason: "Where the fuck did he go??"

Batman: "See that shit? That shit right there happens every fucking time!"

Jason: "There's not even a blood stain! It's just gone!"

Batman: "Yeah, like two days after you died, I chased him into a helicopter where he got shot like six times. The helicopter exploded and crashed into the ocean. And his body was gone before Superman could find it."

Jason: "Oh my God. I don't understand how this is even fucking possible!"

Batman: "He's like a cryptid! I don't fucking get it!"

Joker: (disembodied laughter) "AHAHAHAHA HAHAHA!"

Jason: (freaked out, turning in circles trying to find him) "Oh my God!"

Batman: "THAT OMINOUS SHIT HAPPENS TOO! I DON'T KNOW, DUDE!"

Jason: "Dude. Fuck whatever's going on here, that's some fucking bullshit."

Batman: "Thank you! Finally someone gets it!"

[hairmetal666]

Eddie owns a record store, gets to talk about music everyday. Life is good. Great, actually.

He's consolidating the Christian rock section on a quiet Wednesday morning when it happens. A man with swoopy dark hair, tight dark blue jeans, and a plum Member's Only jacket walks in, and doesn't take his Ray Bans off even once he's solidly inside.

Eddie is awestruck. This dude is gorgeous. Heart stopping. He watches him browse in quiet astonishment, unable to say anything until he blurts, "Can I help you find something?"

The man smiles--Eddie's heart stops--and he says, "Nah, just browsing. Your sign caught my eye."

And he's still not quite with the program, the rich honey of the man's voice taking him totally by surprise. "Ah, oh, it did?" He manages after a few long beats. "Painted it myself."

"No shit? It's great."

"Thanks, man. I also think it's some of my finest work."

The guy laughs. "How can I know unless I see some of your other pieces?"

Eddie's face heats, but he's never been known for having good impulse control. "Maybe you'll get lucky."

Spots of pink bloom on the man's cheeks and the tips of his ears. "And here I was, thinking I was getting special treatment."

Eddie cocks his head, smiles big. "Well, the day's still young." It's so risky and stupid; no way this guy is queer, but he grins at Eddie, laughs a little too.

"That right? Well, tell me your latest recommendations."

"For you?" Eddie eyes him up and down. "Wham!"

The guy's laugh is warm and rich and Eddie wants to drown in it. "Big of you to say for a someone who's only listened to Enter Sandman for the last four months."

Eddie cackles, points a be-ringed finger. "It's a good song! A great record."

"Hey, I've got no problem with Metallica. I just don't think you should be casting aspersions on Wham!."

"Casting aspersions, do you have a word of the day calendar or some shit?"

"No! It's toilet paper."

Their snickers grow until they're both hysterical, needing to lean against a display to stay upright.

It's like he's living in a dream, hitting it off with a beautiful man who just happened to stumble into his store. They catch their breath and Eddie uses the time to grab a record off a nearby shelf.

"Here," he says. "Try this."

"Joni Mitchell?"

"Don't tell me, Wham! fan, that you're too cool for Joni."

"Nah, she's my best friend's favorite. How much do I owe you?"

"On the house," Eddie shrugs.

"Shit, that's generous. Thanks, man. Now, about your art--" He glances at the shiny watch on his wrist. "Fuck, is it really 3:15? Goddamnit, I gotta get going."

And Eddie wants to call him back, doesn't want this dream encounter to end, but he's dashing to the door--

And just like that, the man is gone, the only evidence it ever happened the lingering chime of the bell over the door.

The bell clatters again, and his head wrenches up hard enough it hurts his neck.

"Was that Steve Harrington?" the customer shrieks.

"No," he scoffs. Except. Except. The hair and the clothes and sunglasses and the face and his lips--

"No!?" He feels the way his eyes have gone wide with panic. He didn't just flirt with Steve Harrington. Of course not. Not ever. He would've recognized--

He runs to the racks of magazines in front of the register, grabbing the latest issue of People. The cover features a glossy, polished photo of the man who just left the store. The one who had the highest grossing movie of the summer alongside his co-star, Julia Roberts. The one who, according to the article within, is in Chicago right now shooting a new movie. The one who Eddie flirted with. The one who flirted back.

He groans and covers his face with his hands. At least he'll never see Steve Harrington again.

---

Harrington comes back.

The second time, he's wearing a jewel blue polo and fitted slacks, Ray Bans nowhere to be seen.

"Got anymore recommendations?" Steve asks.

"What?" Eddie's still trying to accept that Harrington came back.

"I finished Joni. It was good. Recommend something else for me."

Fully with the program, he reaches to the rack behind him, handing the vinyl to Steve without ever taking his eyes off him.

"Seriously?" Steve deadpans.

"Tell me you don't deserve it after last time."

Steve studies the cover of Metallica, a complicated look on his face. "Fine, but you have to listen to the album George Michael released last year."

He mimics getting shot in the heart. "After my magnanimous first suggestion, you dare to punish me with Freedom?"

"Think of it more as an opportunity."

"To regret every decision I've ever made?"

"To expand your musical horizons."

Eddie rolls his eyes. "Fiiiine. It's a deal."

Steve beams. "Good! Ring me up."

And Eddie, he'd comp it again, but Steve gives him this look that tells him not to try it.

As they pass the magazine racks, Eddie points at one featuring Steve on the cover. "That thing you wore to the Vanity Fair party last month was hideous."

Steve snorts, then laughs. "Thanks. My stylist decided to go for something--"

"--terrible?--"

"Avant garde."

"Oh, is that what they're calling it these days?"

Steve pays, throws Eddie one last smile, "next time?"

Eddie nods, already certain this time is the last one.

---

He keeps coming back.

Eddie tries not to read into it.

Steve is straight, famously has a girlfriend. former horror movie child star turned cinema wunderkind, Nancy Wheeler. They're always on the covers of the tabloids, in ever more improbable stories about affairs and secret babies and french countryside weddings.

But he keeps coming back. And eventually, they grab dinner. And that dinner becomes lunches, movies, clubs, concerts. Eddie's in paparazzi photos, and there's no speculation about their relationship. Steve has a girlfriend.

But sometimes. Sometimes Steve will rest his hand on Eddie's nape, his lower back, let it linger. He'll trace a finger down the tattoos on Eddie's forearms or the patches of his battle vest. He'll lean too close when they talk, unafraid to press their bodies together. And he catches Steve's eyes on his mouth more than once, his pupils wide.

Over the next few weeks, Steve's gaze on Eddie's mouth gets hotter, his looks longer, and it's killing him. All he wants to do, all he ever wants to do, is close the distance between them, appease the gnawing beast of desire in his chest.

But Steve has a girlfriend.

They don't talk about her, not even when he knows all about Steve's best friend, Robin, and the gang of kids who adopted him, or Joyce and Hopper, his surrogate parents. Never Nancy.

He tries not to read into it.

---

They're supposed to meet for dinner. Steve scored reservations at a trendy new restaurant, but Eddie's late. Astronomically, horrifically late. It's pouring rain, it takes fifteen minutes to get a cab, traffic is a nightmare.

Out of patience and time, he decides to run the last few blocks to the restaurant. By the time he reaches the building, he's soaked to the bone, spluttering harsh breaths through mouthfuls of rain.

Steve is walking in the opposite direction, hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat.

"Steve?" He calls.

He turns and this is the first time Eddie's seen him angry. "You're late," Steve's eyes rake over him, and his face softens in an instant. He takes Eddie's wrist, leads him into an alley where the buildings are close enough to block some of the rain.

"What happened?"

"Traffic."

Steve's gaze go all soft and gentle, and Eddie's knees buckle a little. "You look like a drowned rat."

"Yeah, well." Eddie scoffs. "We can't all be beautiful movie stars."

"You're more beautiful than I could ever be, even soaking wet."

He shakes his head, ignoring the cascade of butterflies; Steve shouldn't say things like that. His vigorous movement sends wet strands of hair slapping him in the face.

Steve reaches out, softly brushes it back.

Eddie stops breathing.

Steve closes the distance between them.

What a thing, to be kissed by Steve Harrington. What a terrible, glorious thing.

He breaks it fast, face red, can't catch his breath. "Nancy," is all he can say.

"Nancy?"

"You have a girlfriend."

Steve's face scrunches. "She's not my girlfriend."

Eddie's mouth drops. "Yes, she is." They went to the Oscars together.

"Eddie." Steve takes a few steps back. "Eddie. I'm gay."

He laughs, an ugly honking thing. "C'mon. What could she possibly get out of that?"

Steve's eyes widen, eyebrows reaching his hairline, mouth pursed in a bitchy line. It takes Eddie a minute but, "Ohhhhh. So, it's all--?"

"It was the best way."

"But you're--?"

"I thought you clocked me immediately! Wham!???"

"That was because of the jacket!"

"Have you ever met a straight man who dresses like I do and likes George Michael??"

"That describes five dudes I see a day!"

"And you thought they were straight??"

Eddie stares into the middle distance, replaying some of those interactions, and--"Huh. Okay. I get hit on at work waaay more than I realized."

"For fuck's sake, Eddie!" He's shaking his head, but Eddie sees the way the corners of his mouth shake with suppressed laughter.

"I'm sorry! You have a very public straight relationship!"

Steve giggles, pulls Eddie close. "Is this okay?"

"So okay."

"You do like me back?"

"Are you kidding! Thought I was going insane, how much I want you."

"And now?"

"Come back to my place?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

And Eddie, he's seen Steve playing at love dozens of times, but this--right here, in a soggy, smelly alley where they're both soaking wet--it's more perfect than any movie.