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grandmameredith · 5 months ago

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ok I'm on my stranger things shit again and i saw a hc somewhere that Steve got his 'King' nickname from streetracing/ racing and omg its just so on point in all ways.

like first of all hawkins is such a small town that before the mall if you didn't want to go to the arcade or just get drunk in a field then driving really fast was probably ur only other option for entertainment.

in terms of plot/character though:

just imagine Steve at 15 or younger learning to drive by himself bc his parents weren't there to take him places and there was no one to teach him. Imagine him being so good at it bc he has no kind of warning in his head from his parents teaching him, or anyone who would know if he scratched the car or hurt himself.

imagine getting his nickname from being undefeated at his racing - that's why when Billy arrived he was 'usurped'. Even though Billy is arguably attractive you can't get that popular in like a week and Billy is known to be reckless especially at driving, so it makes so much more sense.

imagine when Billy says he's finally seeing King Steve is because of how reckless and uncaring about his own safety Steve used to be bc of how noone would care if he showed up home injured.

imagine Steve relying on his instincts from driving around all the streets again and again to be able to drive his car with all the kids back to the Byers' safely with his concussion and vision screwed because no matter how shit he might feel he would still be better at driving than a 13 year old.

imagine him driving the toddfather into Billy's car in s3 despite how cars like that are not built for it and knowing exactly how to do it. imagine him knowing the exact make and model he was destroying and how unsafe it was and doing it anyway, unthinkingly, because his friends were in danger.

imagine eddie ceding the rv to him in s4 bc of course the drug dealer knew exactly where teens who could sell to hung out and had seen him in action. imagine Steve knowing exactly how fast he could go in a trailer without breaking down without thinking.

imagine throughout all of this giving the kids rides at the most legal speed ever bc he just cares way too much, taking only the safest shortcuts, and then one day they see him driving when he's alone and realise that he is NOT a safe driver at all he's just protective of them specifically. imagine him being able to drive as fast as he wants with eddie or robin in the car bc neither of them care.

imagine hopper knowing the entire time and giving the most violent shovel talk ever the first time he had el in his car before he realised that Steve would rather die than endanger any of the kids and realising that Steve being safe around himself is the problem.

finally, imagine Steve driving slower the more he spends time with ppl who care bc he finally has ppl who would notice if he fucked up and crashed, imagine him driving safely bc of the kids until he starts doing it for himself too. imagine him finally starting to care about his own safety bc of his found family and just- ughgggggghhhhhh he makes me ill

🥲🥲

#stranger things #steve harrington #steve x eddie #steddie #stranger things s2 #stranger things s3 #stranger things s4 #eddie munson #jim hopper #headcanon #tumblr fic

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kakerutori · 3 months ago

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Can we please talk about how Mike has been late to something in the first episode of every season. In s1 it was wrapping up the game and going to bed. In s2 it was the arcade. In s3 it was the theater at Starcourt. In s4 it was school.

What do you guys think Mike is going to be late to in s5? My idea is that the Wheelers start going to church to kinda be supportive citizens and ward off evil, symbolically for the rest of the season and so Mike is late to church? Also for the brilliant irony? Also to establish churchgate? Thoughts??

#another idea was Mike was late to the radio station #thanks to the bylerrrrrrr discord for sparking this conversation #wanted to throw it out to everyone #Byler #mike wheeler

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love-byers · 7 months ago

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i'm losing my goddamn mind. where do i even START

in the arcade scene, there is so much emphasis on mike putting his arm around will. it's extremely clear, in our faces. it's a soft, endearing moment of physical affection and comfort between them. we SEE the moment being initiated. its meant to stick out in your memory. i mean i dont know how else to to explain how different a scene like that is when we can SEE IT. we see it, all of it.

we don't see mike touch el, argyle is in the way. ARGYLE. we couldn't see a nice moment of physical affection between the main 'couple epic love story' of stranger things because they couldn't move argyle out of the shot for two fucking seconds?? and then in the second shot we still can't see his arm around her???? no, this was on purpose. the constant obscuring of mike and el's moments in s4 diminishes how the audience views their relationship. because their moments like that are not meant to be meaningful or stick out in your memory. because they are not in love, and their romantic relationship does not go past the surface level of physical touch. there is no deeper emotion here (as opposed to the byler scene where mike is COMFORTING will, steering him away from the scary moment), if anything it's about mike using that moment with el, putting his arm around her, to escape the awkward moment with argyle. and then when they're walking away not only can we still not see his arm around her, there are so many people around!! it is not a moment of connection between mike and el. meanwhile during the byler scene, we only see one person walk by in the far away shot, well after we've seen the arm grab moment.

we don't see mike put his arm around her because it doesn't matter. we don't need to see it because their relationship is on its last leg, it's going to end anyway. the writers/directors are breaking their relationship down by stripping these moments from us. diminishing the value of these moments by not giving them any attention or care in production. if the directors didn't care enough to show it, why should we even want to see it? or care? (edit: and ofc this is all 3d chess. it's all on purpose. they obscure mlvn on purpose, it's all part of subtextual storytelling.)

also duh the fact that we've only seen mike do this arm thing twice and it's with his girlfriend and the boy who's in love with him is extremely telling

#ByLeR iSnT eNdGaMee #okay grandma let's get you to bed #stranger things #byler #will byers #mike wheeler #byler endgame #mike wheeler i know what you are #byler analysis #milkvan is bones #anti milkvan #anti mileven #byler cinematography

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dreaminginpencil · 2 years ago

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She slid closer, cross-legged on the floor they probably shouldn’t have sat on to begin with. But they’d been on worse floors before, in worse shape. Steve flinched when she took his hands. “Listen,” she whispered, her eyes pleading. “Just- just listen.” Steve closed his eyes and felt her thumbs brushing over his hands in repetitive, slow circles. There was plenty he could hear – engines from cars starting outside, the annoying buzz of the store lights, faint laughter from the arcade, the ticking of the clock. Louder than all of it was her heartbeat and her slow, deep breaths “There,” she said. Steve could hear the smile in her voice. “Listen.”

bring me your peace (what of it you have) by @bruxaed

24k | completed | S4 rewrite | mature

sentinel & guide au; steve harrington follows the sound of eddie munson’s heartbeat.

#steddie big bang #steddie big bang 2023 #stobin #platonic stobin #steddie fic #steve Harrington #robin buckley #stranger things #stranger things fanart #stranger things art #dreaminginpencil #fic: bring me your peace (what of it you have)

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thethingsweneversaid · 2 years ago

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Am I crazy or did I just crack the mystery of the monologue scene????

Why did they lose against Vecna in season 4? What were they missing?

They lost the race against time. Time was obviously significant this season (The grandfather clock, Vecna's obsession with time, the UD being frozen in time). The time was simply up, they were too late. Who’s to blame? Mike Wheeler.

Okay, let me explain, haha.

Throughout the whole series we all know Mike being late, or almost late to things is recurring. Every season in fact. S1: Mike’s campaign was too long, and he tried to get the party to stay past their curfew. S2: Mike was trying to get in contact with El on his walkie, almost making him late to the arcade. S3: Mike was almost late to the cinema because he was with El, making them almost miss the beginning of the movie. S4: Mike was reading El’s letter, almost making him and Nancy late for school... He begins every season with a race against time. Also worth noting that El was the reason for him being late in s2, s3 and s4. Also ALSO worth noting that in season 1, Mike begs his parents to let the party stay longer. The campaign took two weeks to plan! They need to finish it. He has no rush. While in all the other seasons (when he was late because of El), we get a "Shit! Shit! I'm going to be late"-version of Mike. He's stressed out and rushed. Not sure where I'm going with this last point, but I'm sure it means something and that it'll make sense in s5. The point is, Mike gets distracted by El.

Now for the monologue. This time, it's not Mike getting distracted by El. It's him distracting El.

Jason was obviously a key reason for them being too late as well. The scenes switch between Lucas fighting him and Mike’s monologue, comparing the two. Jason destroys Max’s walkman, destroying her connection to Lucas and the world outside her mind. Mike tries to get El to wake up by lifting her out of the freezer, taking off her glasses, Will shoves the radio away. They’re trying to get her out of Max’s mind and into the real world again. But El doesn't want to wake up. She is ready to fight for Max. The boys obviously tried to help because who knows what would’ve happened if they didn’t? They thought El was dying. When Mike begins his monologue, El looked away from Max and up “towards Mike’s voice”. She was listening to him now. Getting distracted. El continuously tells people throughout the series to be quiet when going into her “trance”. People talking distracts her, and she needs to concentrate. Mike also reminds the audience of the importance of the sensory deprivation tank. "It helps her calm down and focus on her powers". With Mike removing all the aids that help her concentrate (the glasses, the tank, the radio), while also talking to her, we can only assume that now, El isn’t only fighting to save Max, but also to stay in Max’s mind, further slowing her down.

At the end of the monologue, Mike reminds her she has to fight, and El’s eyes snap back to Max. That’s when she breaks loose from the vines. Whether you think El believes what Mike is saying and utilizes his loving words for strength or not, it’s still a distraction. I’ve seen a lot of people say that they felt impatient while watching this scene. Like «get on with it! Vecna is literally killing Max RIGHT NOW». And we're probably right to feel impatient! That's probably what the writers were going for! The audience was supposed to feel like that. El lost valuable time because of it. Mike is making them late this time too.

Will is also kinda to blame in this (I don't blame any of them, it's just an unfortunate set of events and they all did what they thought was best, but you get what I mean) Because in a way, Mike is distracted too. Distracted from the truth. That happened when Will lied to him in the van, disguising his own feelings for Mike, using El as a distraction for Mike to focus on instead. Will's guiding Mike towards a lie. He convinced Mike that El was feeling a certain way, which she WAS NOT. (For example: "You make her feel like she’s not a mistake at all, like she’s better for being different." cue Mike and El’s fight where she accuses him of thinking she’s a monster too, like everyone else.) (This also contrasts Will singling Mike out as the only person that doesn't treat him differently in season 2 in that scene with Will and Jonathan.) Mike doesn’t make El feel the way Will portrayed it in the van, though Mike is led to believe that she does.

Therefore, making the feelings that was the foundation for the monologue a lie. Both to Mike and El. It isn’t authentic. This doesn't apply to them. which brings me to my next point.

"A paladin swears to uphold justice and righteousness, to stand with the good things of the world against the encroaching darkness, and to hunt the forces of evil wherever they lurk. Different paladins focus on various aspects of the cause of righteousness (honesty=righteousness and honor for Mike), but all are bound by the oaths (promises, “friends don’t lie”) that grant them power to do their sacred work. Oaths, honor, and rigid rules define a paladin's everyday actions. Breaking these oaths (by lying) means their deity will revoke their powers."

This is why his monologue didn’t work. It was a lie (And Mike knowingly or unknowingly portrayed that lie to El). Without his honesty, Mike the paladin loses his powers. He couldn’t save them.

Will’s selfless attempt to save their relationship sadly turned out to be counter-productive in every way, hindering all of them from seeing the truth. Will was also the one that told Mike not to stop, when in reality, maybe stopping and letting El be was exactly what he should've done. He's the heart. But he's Will's heart. That's what Will would've wanted Mike to do, seeing as Mike has saved him/snapped him out of his episodes multiple times by speaking to him: Of course Will thinks that's the right thing to do! Mike's doing what Will would've needed, not El.

It adds a new layer to El being upset with Mike in the cabin by the end of s4, because it isn't as simple as "she knows Mike is lying" or "She's just upset because they lost". She's upset because once again Mike doesn't trust that she knows her own limits (This being a huge reason for conflict in s3 between El/Mike/Max.) Mike worries because he cares of course, but it isn't what El needs ("Mike, I need you to trust me.") When Mike tries to help her, she fails. But she "redeems herself" when she's making her own decision, without outside influences other than love for her friends. She pushes her limits further than ever before, bringing Max back to life, trusting herself and her powers, without Mike knowing.

Mike is the heart, yes. The problem was - the heart was in the wrong place. They all got it wrong this time. They got confused and misunderstood each other. That’s why they lost. In the next season, I believe Mike and El are going to realize that they’ve both been focusing on the wrong things, and that is how they’re going to win. Still using love as their weapon - just a different kind of love that’s not distracting them from what they really need, not slowing them down. El coming fully into her own, reaching her full potential and using her powers the way she knows best, with the support of her loved ones making her stronger - not under the influence of Mike trying to stop her out of worry. And Mike’s heart being in the right place. With Will.

I've seen other people talk about this next part, but I'm adding it in because it further proves the point.

Another indication that proves to me that at least SOME of the monologue is a blatant lie is the Romeo and Juliet parallel, with the word "Montague" spelled out behind Mike, and the "love at first sight"-refrence. "I knew right then and there, in that moment, that I loved you." That. is. a. lie. and there's just no going around it. Romeo and Juliet's romance wasn't actually real love, just infatuation. The Duffers also said they don't believe in love at first sight. For them to use that trope wouldn't just be wierd and cliché, but also contradicts everything we were shown in season 1. Are we just supposed to believe that Mike loved her, decpite them showing us otherwise?

More on the Romeo and Juliet thing in this post.

Conclusion: The Duffers are geniuses I’m never getting over this show.

#stranger things #byler #will byers #mike wheeler #byler analysis #stranger things theory #s5 predictions #stranger things 5 #stranger things 4 #st analysis #byler endgame #byler proof #byler theory

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glamourscat · 7 months ago

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hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii<3333

could I please request some rin okumura x reader dating hcs (fluff ofc) ???

love your writing<333

a/n: thank you <3 also loved this request!! I love Rin an embarassing amount is not even funny anymore lmao

Rin Okumura Dating HCS

Dating rin would be such a wild ride, in the best way possible

He will be so loyal and overprotective, im not crying –jokes i am, i need him so bad

His confession will be sudden (see canon for reference s4 lmao) followed by a moment of silence before he runs off embarrassed and you have to probably chase after him

He is a bubble of sunshine. He sees you? Done. He is happy. In a way he is like an orange cat

Can be a bit clingy but mostly for how he was raised. Still, he went through so much and he just needs someone by his side to truly understand him. To be there for him when he needs to, like he would do for them. To understand where his need of “clinginess” comes from but especially to see him for Rin and just Rin

We see in the show how he is so caring towards his friends and despite his awkwardness and bluntness, he will not hesitate to be there for his friends. From making them food, to just being there as support

Sure, he might not give the best advices, but he loves you so dearly that somehow the advice despite being rather questionable it works out it in the end lmao

On the matter of cooking… he will make so many things :’) from trying new recipes for you to try and rate them. To bake your favs on anniversaries or special occasions… yeah, husband material right here

Not to mention his protectiveness? Which is not overbearing, it’s just the right amount. He trusts you and he knows you trust him back. And in the chance you're an exorcist too, most likely, during fights his eyes will always look out for you

I can imagine his tail subtly wrapping more and more around you as the relationship grows.

During the friendship stage, it lingers close. Maybe it will wrap around your hand or wrist a few times when he is seeking out touch but doesn’t wanna be too obvious about it

First stage of the relationship, it will grow a bit bolder, wrapping around you longer

Only to reach a long term relationship where his tail is almost constantly around your waist or holding to you subtly, especially in public and crowded areas

Which, on the matter of the tail, you’re the only one allowed to touch it. From the base, which is an extension of his spine– thus extremely sensitive, to caress the length of it. Also, his pointy ears or fangs, just in general if you’re dating him expect him to be all over you lol

He is such a cuddle bug. Has to be touching you in some way. Quality time and acts of service are important to him but physical contact beats them all

HE BITES. Affectionately. I feel, you know when you see a cute dog or cat and get cuteness aggression? That happens to him and he will randomly bite gently on your shoulder or arm, sometimes your neck.. With the excuse of leaving a hickie too

He is so gentle i am not even joking. I can imagine falling asleep together and he will look at you with such soft eyes, his fingers gently caressing your hair and face, letting his slightly pointer nails scratch in a massage way, your scalp. He is so on love it’s not even funny. He is truly in dreamland by just looking at you

Him being flustered. One month, two years or ten, doesn’t matter. He will always be flustered by you. Especially if you flirt with him or praise him? Yeah, he is gone gone

Dates at the arcade, manga bars and trying out new small restaurants together

I can see him travelling around the world with his s/o. He is such a curious being. One of my favourite scene of his (let’s forget though the way he was treated during it) was when he and the group went to Kyoto for the first time to fight the impure king. He was so giddy at the thought of seeing the kyoto tower

He is just such a pure guy, despite what he went through and his ancestry. His heart is so big with so much love to give. He will be the type to randomly give you kiss attacks just because

A bit angsty, I know, but I truly think when the relationship is getting serious serious he will go to Shiro’s grave to tell him about you. In a way, it’s like he is there listening, to give his approval to Rin as he tells him everything about you two

Overall, dating him is such an experience. Sure, there might be some ups and downs, but you know you will always have him by your side. To grow and learn together, to share stories and silly kisses. Dating Rin means dating your best friend. You two are lovers and partners in crime. Two side of the same coin.

#rin okumura #rin okumura x reader #blue exorcist #blue exorcist headcanons #boyfriend headcanons #imagine blog #headcanon blog #rin okumura fluff #rin okumura x y/n #rin okumura x you

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miwiheroes · 20 days ago

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Your slides are super impressive, this is a thesis level work fr! your third eye is OPEN

I had one thought about the "Live Mike" card on Mike's notice board that could be an additional explanation for its meaning, I'm still on slide 112 so if you added something about this later ignore this lol. But @eeriesilkworm had a really great analysis on electricity being associated with love + sexual tension, especially between Mike and Will, with lots of electricity references in the show to Back to the Future (also includes some interesting theories): https://www.tumblr.com/eeriesilkworm/784951406465597440/back-to-the-future-x-stranger-things-time?source=share

I'll add a few more little details to that as well: Mike's official playlist apparently featured the song "Are 'Friends' Electric?," and the stickers that come with the Stranger Things S3 advent calendar have bolts of electricity doodled on Mike's photo which is consistent with the imagery surrounding Mike into S4, as well: https://www.tumblr.com/jonathanbyersphd/736273262770814976/i-got-a-stranger-things-advent-calendar-bc-im-an?source=share

I think that "Live Mike" card sums up Mike's entire arc in S4: he's in a state of shock, reeling from the burgeoning feelings and sparks he's finally starting to recognize for Will after things seems to start clicking for him a little in the S3 finale. It's an increasingly undeniable emotional + romantic awakening--and it's the "sexual electricity" that Steve tells Dustin about, but even more bc he's also love-struck (just not with El) ! (sorry for all the electricity puns, but like CMON these writers cannot keep getting away with this subtext !!)

In contrast to the subtler ways Mike may have felt it when they were younger, that charge is in full force by Season 4. But even in their very first duo scene, the spark is there: the garage light flickers right behind Mike as he sees Will bike away, as if echoing the jolt Mike feels from their connection. Bc just then, Will had defied the group to be honest with him about losing the game, and it affects Mike--the moment between them is tender, disarming, and electric, setting their bond apart from the rest.

TYSMMMM honestly i've debated putting it into pdf form and turning it into a proper thesis statement looking thing, but probably after I've finished the whole thing or after S5

You are absolutely right about everything you're saying with the Live Mike thing, that makes total sense to me!! I could see myself adding all of that in the near future <3

Just wanted to add a little detail with this shot of their arcade scene in S2 episode 1, where you can clearly see this huge, prominent neon sign that has to mean something:

Electricity ....

#byler #byler endgame #mike wheeler #will byers

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thisapplepielife · 26 days ago

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Written for the @corrodedcoffinfest Somewhere Over the Rainbow pop-up event.

paint the town blue

we’re so sad, we paint the town blue

"Where're we going?" Gareth asks, grabbing his jacket off the chair in the motel room. He didn't think they had plans to go out tonight. Goodie doesn't answer, just stands there holding open the door. Waiting. Gareth follows him, plan or no plan. He'll always follow. Eddie, then Jeff, and then begrudgingly Goodie. Gareth dealt into last position. That's just the hierarchy that's been so hard to shake free from, even now, high school long over.

They're supposedly on even footing, each with an equal share of the pie and the decision making.

It sounds great in theory. It hardly ever happens in practice.

Tonight, he hadn't planned on going anywhere. He was just gonna mope around the motel room. Their record deal is falling through. It was so close, and now it's slipping through their fingers. Gareth can feel it. They can all feel it, and there's not a damn thing they can do to stop it.

Conversations have halted, contact dropping off, being met with radio silence instead. They all know what that means.

It was a tenuous agreement at best, but they really got their hopes up this time. If it does evaporate into thin air, if the dangling carrot is pulled completely out of their grasp, Gareth's not sure they'll be able to stay on the road. It was kind of make it or break it time.

He thinks they're gonna break it. Three years is a long time with nothing to show for it other than extra miles on the van and their bodies.

The idling van is parked outside of the room now, Eddie in the passenger seat, cigarette dangling out of the open window. Jeff behind the wheel. Waiting.

"Where are we going?" Gareth asks, slumping into his seat. The worst one. The one with the spring that pokes him in the ass.

"Food, fun, fuzzy navels," Eddie deadpans, taking a drag off his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke out into the night air.

Gareth laughs. Yeah, okay.

A couple pizzas later, Jeff pulls into a strip mall, and up to…an arcade? That's the plan? That's how they're gonna mope? Like they're back in middle school?

Well, fine. They've done way dumber shit while wasting money, he's for damn certain.

The place is dead. Truly, spectacularly dead. That's okay. That means they'll have full run of the place, and they slide dollars into the bill breaker, waiting for it to spit out quarters in exchange.

Armed with a handful of quarters, they all take up residence at Skee-Ball. Maybe if they get enough tickets between them they'll be able to buy a record contract with them. Gareth laughs to himself, and Goodie looks over at him, questioning. Gareth just shakes his head. It's too stupid to share.

Jeff's winning by the trail of tickets coming out of his machine. Eddie throws too hard, the balls are just as likely to bounce back down the lane as they are to land in one of the designated cups.

A group of girls come in later, and they're loud. Giggling, and in the empty place, they stand out. Gareth turns to look. They're older than he expected. He was imagining middle schoolers, but these are women. Maybe their age, or older. One is wearing a bride to be sash.

Bachelorette party.

Normally he'd be more excited about that, but they are wallowing tonight. Not chasing women.

Gareth feels eyes on him. He turns and looks, thinking someone is waiting for their turn. But there are open lanes right next to him, so it's probably not that.

It's one of the women from the bachelorette party. She's cute. And smiling. At him. He smiles back before darting his eyes away, back to the lane in front of him. He feels his cheeks flushing.

He figures that'll be it, but she takes a step closer, getting shoulder to shoulder with him, "You seem good at this. Wanna teach me how you do it?"

Gareth nods, even if he feels his heart jackhammering in his chest.

She's out of his league, and he can't imagine why she's chosen him to flirt with. Eddie's right down there. Everybody loves Eddie, he draws people in like a magnet. Women, men, everybody without even trying.

But not her. She approached Gareth. He doesn't know why, and by the look on Goodie's face he doesn't know either.

Gareth still takes a step back, letting her step in front of him at his lane. He reaches into his pocket for another quarter, and realizes he's out. He doesn't want to leave to get more.

Goodie is still spying on him, and Gareth holds out his hand. Goodie rolls his eyes, but hands over what he has. Gareth will pay him back later, with interest, he's sure.

With her standing in front of him, he runs his hand down her forearm, covering her hand that clutches the ball. Guiding her to pull it backwards, and then they let it go together.

It's bad. Terrible, really, but she laughs.

Goodie is witnessing this, and Gareth widens his eyes, giving a little smirk. Like, can you believe this is happening?

Because Gareth can't.

Clearly, Goodie can't either, because Gareth sees him nudge Jeff, making sure he doesn't miss out on how in over his head Gareth is right now.

Lesson over, she's planted herself at the lane next to his, clearly settling in to give him a run for his money. Her teach me how to play schtick was bullshit, but he doesn't mind. Not at all. He got to touch her arm, and smell her hair as she stood far too close.

Her friends are loud, and very vocal that they're ready to move onto the next stop on their night. She seems reluctant to leave.

Gareth yanks his bunch of tickets from the machine, and she pulls hers too, pooling them all together as they walk over to the prize booth. She picks out a truly ugly stuffed animal, so hard, so cheap that whatever it's filled with squeaks as she takes possession of it.

She smiles, and she's definitely injected a glimmer of sunshine into this gloomy day where anything good has seemed impossible.

Her friends are leaving, with or without her, and she reaches up and kisses his cheek. Sliding a slip of paper into his hand. He grins, squeezing it. He's not local. He's not even sure what city, what state, they're even in tonight. Jeff drives. He sleeps. They play a gig and do it all over again. It all runs together.

But he takes it. He'll call. Nothing will come of it, but he'll call.

The food and fun portions of the night over, they've moved on, too. And as promised, Eddie has pilfered a tray from the bar they landed in, carrying four fuzzy navels and eight shots of vodka.

Fuck. He was serious.

They each take one shot. Then another.

Settling back into their chairs, the fuzzy navels sit in front of them at the table. Nobody rushing to down them. Eddie always has to be so theatrical.

"We're fucked," Jeff says, the shots loosening his tongue, and if Jeff thinks so, well. Fuck. They're in real trouble.

"Yeah," Eddie agrees, not having the energy to try to hype them up out of this pit of despair either, apparently. If this contract falls through Gareth doesn't know what they'll do. Crawl home to Hawkins, he supposes.

"They haven't said no," Goodie counters, and they all turn towards him. If he's the one being their voice of optimism, they are totally, sincerely, screwed.

"They're gonna," Gareth answers, "I really thought this was it."

Everybody nods. They all thought that. He's not alone there.

They were so close, the closest they've ever been. It wasn't gonna be a big break, he knew that, but it was gonna be a little one. An important one to get their foot in the door.

And now he feels that door slamming shut in their faces.

"Hey!" Gareth hears, and before he can even get his head turned, he's got a lapful of familiar Skee-Ball bridesmaid. He didn't even get her name earlier.

She straddles his thighs, and he instinctively leans back. This is. It's. Well, it's unusual. It's not that he never picks up women, he does, it's just never this easy. She's throwing herself at him, and he doesn't fully understand why.

"Hi," he says, not sure what to do with his hands.

She scoots closer, moving even further up his thighs, pulling herself nearly flush with his chest. He finally moves, resting a hand on her waist.

His cock is hard, trapped in his jeans and pressing against her. He knows she feels it. It'd be embarrassing if she wasn't minutely rolling her hips against him, grinding down, well aware of what she's doing to him in public.

"Wanna get out of here?" she asks, leaning close to Gareth's ear. Gareth nods. The guys will have to continue painting the town blue without him. They can all resume their pity party tomorrow.

Tonight, he's getting laid.

She slides off his lap, and he stands, trying to stealthily adjust his dick in his jeans, but Goodie grabs his wrist. Holding him hostage as he digs through his jacket pocket. Goodie finally pulls out a strip of condoms, and Gareth wants to kill him.

"We got enough problems, don't add more," he says, shoving them into Gareth's chest. Released from his grasp, Gareth takes them from him. Putting them in his jacket pocket.

She's waiting by the door, grinning, and he hurries to catch up.

The next morning, Gareth is the last out of the motel room. It was a long night. A goddamn great one. But long.

"I'm gonna marry her," he says, piling into the van, throwing his bag towards the only open space left. He doesn't even mind the errant spring digging into his thigh this morning. Nothing can ruin his good mood. Not even Goodie.

"You can't marry the first girl you fuck," Goodie says, and Gareth slugs him, laughing. She wasn't his first. Goodie knows that. He's just being an asshole.

Jeff pulls out onto the highway.

"Goodbye, Des Moines," Gareth says, "you were good to me."

"Omaha," Jeff says.

"What?" Gareth asks.

"We're in Omaha. Des Moines is tonight. You're living in the future."

"Oh," Gareth says, "well, I knew we were somewhere in the middle."

Goodie laughs, but passes Gareth the pizza box with last night's leftovers. They're eating on the road this morning. They've all clearly decided to keep on trucking. Acting like things are fine, normal. And maybe it will be. Maybe the label will send them an offer.

Maybe they won't.

Tonight, they'll play another gig in another bar, in Des Moines, and that's something they can do. Something they're good at.

After checking in at the next motel, they call home to get their messages. They never have messages. But they always check, anyway. Just in case.

Today though, Mama Jones had two to pass along to them. The first, from Di. And Mama Jones couldn't help teasing her son. It's the first time he's ever given out his home number to a girl.

The second, though. The second is from the label. Now, they anxiously stand around the front desk of the motel, waiting for a fax. Once it's in their hands, it's not an offer, but the door isn't totally closed either. It's notes. Conditions. About the singing on the demo. They like one, but not the other, and Gareth is worried this is gonna be a big problem. Eddie and Jeff have always split the front man spotlight. You write it? You sing it. That's the Corroded Coffin way, an unwritten agreement.

And now if they want to sign this deal, one of them is gonna have to take a big step back.

"It's fine," Jeff reassures.

"It's racist," Eddie snaps. "We'll find another label."

They won't. At least not fast enough. They all know that.

"Eddie, just. Stop. Let's make a decision that's the best for all of us," Jeff counters, and Gareth agrees. If they can get their foot in the door, get off the ground, then they'll be more able to do anything they want, later.

"Fine," Eddie agrees, "we'll call them."

It's not racism. Turns out, they like Jeff, not Eddie.

Gareth is kind of scared Eddie's gonna explode now that the tide has turned against him. He's a hothead, they all know that, but he takes it better than any of them could have ever predicted.

"That's good, now I can focus on the guitar. Get really good. Get my name in the mix on one of those best of all time lists," Eddie teases, like that was his plan all along.��

If he's okay with it, well, they're all okay with it, too.

They'll sign on the dotted line.

When he calls to tell Di, she says she's counting the days, the miles, to see him again.

Gareth feels the same damn way. His luck has changed, the tides turning. He's not sure where any of it is gonna lead, if anywhere at all, but he's ready to let things play out.

He's got a record contract, and he's not really sure how, but he's pretty sure he's also got a girlfriend.

All in all, not a bad twenty-four hours.

And if you want to write your own, or see more entries in this pop-up, check out @corrodedcoffinfest to see other entries for the Somewhere Over the Rainbow popup event!

#corrodedcoffinfest: somewhere over the rainbow #corrodedcoffinfest #gareth stranger things #eddie munson #stranger things #thisapplepielife: corrodedcoffinfest #thisapplepielife: short fic #jeff stranger things #freak stranger things #corroded coffin #corroded coffin fic

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