#stobin shenanigans

[steviesbicrisis]

hear me out HEAR ME OUT

Robin and Steve decide to do a Sailor Moon cosplay except Steve is the one dressing up as Sailor Moon and Robin is Luna (her reasoning is “I am your voice of reason and you won’t catch me dead wearing a skirt”) but Eddie feels left out so they agree to let him be Tuxedo Mask (they tell him he’s completely useless when it’s too late) (a little revenge for meddling in Soulmates businesses).

[steviewashere]

Robin shaves her legs once and makes Steve feel them. This in turn convinces Steve to try shaving his legs (ignoring that he was swim captain or whatever—I don't care).

Eddie comes back to their apartment to see Steve bent over, ass naked in the bathroom shaving all of his everything—pubes, legs, chest. He literally falls to his knees and sobs so hard he almost throws up. Got snot coming out of his nose, spit down his chin, hands clutched to his chest. Almost screaming.

He fucking pets Steve's chest, digs his fingernails into the bare skin of Steve's legs, cradles Steve's naked balls and is like: "I'm sorry for what that monster did to you."

And Steve is all: "For the last time, babe, it'll grow back."

"Yeah, but I have to wait. What am I supposed to do in the meantime? Wh—What hair am I supposed to twirl between my fingers when you're still asleep in the morning and I miss you?"

"I have hair on the top of my head, y'know."

"Next thing I know, you're gonna shave that, too." And then he just leans in and kisses Steve's balls and keeps murmuring apologies.

Robin can hear them through her bedroom wall. The next morning, she pulls Steve aside and begs him to never shave again. "If I have to hear your fucking boyfriend bemoan the loss of his 'baby's ball hair', I'm going to machine wash and dry every single one of your prized cashmere sweaters. And then crease every toe of your sneakers. And then replace your weird full fat cow's milk with skim. Swear to god, Steve. Never make me hear that shit again."

Safe to say, Steve listens and appeases both of his soulmates.

[piratefishmama]

No upside down but they still found each other AU where once they get out of Hawkins and move into a little apartment together in the city, Stobin set up a 'date night' routine once a week.

Obviously not a typical date night cause Platonic with a capital P, but they alternate each week who gets to plan the date night activities meaning they both get to do something fun, interesting, exciting, and potentially ridiculous that they themselves wouldn't have thought of.

One such date night, on Robin's turn to plan, is a relatively cheap art exhibition at a local small time independent gallery, focusing on portraits of people the artist has seen around the city, quickly sketched, then painted afterwards.

Her most recent crush had suggested she attend it as her best friend was the artist and was absolutely shitting it over revealing his work to the public that'd inspired those works, certain that everyone would hate them.

They get dressed up, ready to play the part of Fancy Art Connoisseurs, Steve ready to meet and big up Robin to this cute girl Robin had gushed about endlessly as the best wingman ever

Only for them both to wind up stuck one one particular painting titled and described:

E. Munson Angel Incognito Oil on Canvas, The most beautiful man i've ever seen in my life. I was certain i'd seen an angel.

It's Steve.

Sitting in the park, feeding the birds, painted to look... ethereal. Moles dotted with gold, sunlight hitting his soft hair just so, catching the rim of his glasses.

And Robin is immediately on a mission to be the best wingwoman ever because this is NO LONGER about her crush on Chrissy dammit she MUST find this artist, present Steve to him, and "now KISS" smush them both together like barbie dolls.

Good thing Eddie is nearby.

[hairmetal666]

After the Russians, Steve learns three important things about himself:

Robin is the best friend he's ever had; the uncontested other half of his heart. His soulmate, the platonic love of his life, his missing puzzle piece.

He's not in love with Nancy anymore. It's really saying something that hearing those words come out of his mouth is the shock of his life. Once the drugs wear off, though, he realizes they were absolutely true. A surprising win for the Russian truth serum

Her bathroom confession...he sits with it for days. Not--not because she's a lesbian, of course not, but because. Well, Robin knows herself in a way he's never allowed himself to. And he thinks that maybe maybe he likes boys in the same way. That he always has, but never let himself acknowledge it, the way his eyes wanted to catch in the locker room, the drunken, fumbling touches between him and Tommy.

The last one...he's not sure, is the thing. How can he be sure? Like, in his mind, his imagination, he's very into it, but what if it's different in real life? And how can he even find out? He tells, Robin, of course he does, and they go to Indy, right, to a bookstore and she throws a few zines at him and he sneaks some porn (he's definitely into the porn), but that's not--it's not practical experience. And he's not ready to go to one of the bars, for sure, so he doesn't--like what's he supposed to do?

It's around this time in his bisexual spiral that the kids start hanging out with Eddie Munson, that he starts thinking about Eddie Munson. He always noticed the long, dark curls and the bright, brown eyes; the slender cut of his waist; the wry slant of his mouth as he shouted insults at the jocks; the glinting silver of the rings on his fingers--fingers that were long and callused, fingers that could grip around Steve's--

Nope, he's not going there. Even though, a little voice in his head says, he cares for Steve's kids and maybe he's not good at school but he's smart and he's also so pretty, with his pale skin and his big eyes--

No. He doesn't have a crush on Eddie Munson. Absolutely not.

And when he picks up the kids from their little dnd club and sees Munson standing against his van, he doesn't feel an electric zing in his chest, the first stirring of butterflies in his stomach; that would be crazy. They hardly know each other. It goes like this every time, and he's almost able to believe he doesn't care.

Until Eddie trips over the threshold of Family Video, stumbling on an untied bootlace and gangling his way through the front doors. The clatter catches both Robin and Steve's attention.

"Welcome to Family Video," Robin says. Steve stares.

"Uhh." Eddie's eyes flit between them, his face getting redder by the second.

Fuck, he's so cute and Steve's saying--without thinking about it, he's saying--"let me help you find a movie, man."

"Yea--sure, yeah." Eddie's hands are stuffed in the tight pocket of his jeans.

Steve takes a few steps down the closest aisle. "So, what--uh, what are you looking for?"

"Horror? Nothing in particular."

They make their way to the horror section, and it's like some insane, deeply horny demon takes over. He starts grabbing movies off the shelf, no rhyme or reason, doesn't even know what most of them are.

Eddie's staring at him with wide eyes and a raised eyebrow, and Steve just keeps grabbing tapes, is sort of doing a running commentary on titles and tag lines, and he can't stop, why can't he stop? it's like smoke is coming out of his ears. Robin is watching him from the counter with her mouth hanging open, gummy worm dangling down her chin.

"You know," Eddie grabs something from the shelf, "I think I'll just do Friday the 13th again. Can't go wrong."

And he leaves Steve standing there with half the horror section collected in his arms. He stays there while Eddie pays, face burning. It's been--well, a really long time since he's struck out so hard, and he wasn't even really trying.

As Eddie's walking out the door, his sad pile of movies shifts, then tumbles to the floor.

"You have a crush on Eddie Munson." Robin accuses.

"No!" He ducks down to collect the tapes, hoping to hide the crimson of his face.

"You do." She points an accusatory finger in his direction. "I haven't seen you this pathetic since Scoops."

"It's nothing."

"You know," she crouches down with him, "you could just, like. Try to hang out with him."

"After that? Are you kidding? I'm surprised you don't already have a new You Rule/You Suck board going."

"Oh, I do, it's up front." She jumps to her feet. "But still. You should try. And you have an easy in with the kids."

He glares at her in response, starts re-shelving all the dumb movies, and then they get busy, so the topic is dropped. He thinks about it thought. He thinks about it and he--

Instead of waiting in the car for the kids to get done at Hellfire the next time, he goes in.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

It was a few weeks after the spring break from when Robin was able to finally check on her best friend.

Robin: My parents have finally lifted my punishment! Free at - Oh my God! Okay, I'm so glad you and Nancy worked things out, but I did NOT need to see that.

Steve was lying on the couch, someone's face at his neck, dark curly hair hiding it. The person was shirtless. Meanwhile, Nancy walked up behind Robin.

Nancy: Hey, Robin.

Robin whirled around, her eyes wide.

Robin: If you're there . . . *in a horrified whisper* . . . who's on top of Steve?

Robin turned around to find Eddie Munson sitting up and straddling her best friend's waist.

Eddie: Hey, Buckley!

Nancy: Really, I was gone for a minute, and you already have your tits out. You couldn't wait for me?

Eddie: Sorry, he looked good enough to eat.

Robin: Oh my God! Eddie's a guy!

Steve: *his voice thick with sarcasm* Eddie, why didn't you tell me you were a guy?

Eddie cackled.

[afewproblems]

98 for Robin?

98. "Hold me back!"

Ahhh thank you very much for this! I'm sorry it was so late nonny!

This is taking place in the same universe as this piece which you can also read on AO3

***

"I swear to God" Robin moans as she smacks her head onto the counter, "I will walk into traffic if I have to explain the plot of Labyrinth one more time". 

Steve puts the money from the recent rental into the till and shrugs, "I dunno Birdy, I liked your take on it this time". 

She snorts, finally cracking a grin, "you just liked the look on her face when I talked about how half the movie is Bowie's package and the other half is Muppets". 

"Potato, Tomato," Steve hums, closing the till with a soft snick.

For a Saturday opening shift it had been strangely slow. 

They had their usual guests during the day, screaming children with parents who were clearly at the end of their tether. Irritating teens who stole as many snacks as their thieving little backpacks could handle. Movie nerds who asked for as many titles as they could think of before settling on something so obscure there was no way they carried it -or on the off chance Family Video did have it in their inventory, it was already checked out. 

However, with half an hour until Keith was set to arrive for the closing shift, the front door bell jingled harshly to announce a new presence in the store and in an instant Robin’s stomach falls into her shoes. 

Because Tommy Hagan and Carol Perkins have just walked in. 

Robin has dealt with assholes from highschool before, she had to wear a sailor outfit with shorts for her last job for fucks sake, but she’s also never gotten into a physical fight with any schmucks from her forth period algebra class. 

Steve on the other hand…

He’s on the other side of the counter all of a sudden, standing in between her and Tommy.

His expression seems neutral, but Robin can read the line of tension in his shoulders as Carol whispers something into Tommy’s ear.

"Welcome to Family Video," Robin says, her voice clipped and stony, "it's two for one Saturday and all the sections are labeled so you should be able to get in and get out". 

"Come on, we just got here," Tommy scoffs, he's glaring openly at Steve while Carol seems to be scanning Robin, watching her carefully.

"Boy, you really do have a type huh Stevie," Carol sneers from Tommy's side, "at least this one plays an instrument, she's just as stuck up as Wheeler though from what I remember".

"If you guys don't want to rent anything, then leave," Steve says slowly, deliberately with wary hostility.

"You're suddenly so fucking tough huh?" Tommy scoffs, stepping closer towards Steve.

Carol moves with him but her eyes widen slightly in surprise, she grabs at his arm and pulls just slightly, "Tommy--"

"I'm not going to fight you man," Steve sighs, running a hand over his face and into his hair, Robin watches as his shoulders droop ever so slightly.

She knows Steve has complicated feelings about his former friends, they'd known one another for such a long time and those old feelings don't just disappear.

He'd been hurt to see Tommy and Carol gravitate towards Billy so easily. To egg him on as he bullied Steve their senior year, the tables turned so suddenly it was like whiplash.

Well, Steve may feel conflicted about his old shithead friends, but Robin has no such compunction.

"He won't but I will," Robin blurts out, the words run away from her faster than she can even catch up to them.

Steve closes his eyes, his expression pained while Tommy and Carol both turn to her with equal looks of surprise. 

Huh, it's the first time in her life she's ever seen Carol Perkins speechless and it's glorious. 

Robin lets the thrill of it carry her forward until she's stepped around the counter to stand beside Steve.

“Yeah, Steve's gonna have to hold me back,” Robin snarls as she grabs Steve’s hand and places it on her own shoulder. 

Steve gives her a withering look as he mimes pulling a zipper over his own mouth.

"You let your bitch off her leash huh Harrington?" Tommy says with a lecherous grin as he stares at them both.

He lets out two barks and laughs again as he swings an arm around Carol's shoulder, her tinkling laugh joins his own and Robin can't believe this is even happening. Did she hit her head getting out of Steve's car this morning?

Fuck this.

"Funny stuff Hagan," Robin bites out, "your ass must be pretty jealous of your mouth for all the nasty shit it gets to spew in public".

"What did you just say to me?" Tommy snarls as he stomps closer, his ears have turned a ruddy pink that matches the flush crawling up his neck.

Carol tries to reach for his arm, whispering, "just drop it Tommy, let's go," but he wrenches away from her and continues forward, only stopping as a flat palm catches him in the chest.

Steve stands his ground in front of Tommy, looking down his nose with cold eyes. 

Steve told her about the last time he and Tommy had squared off. It was just before Robin spotted Steve outside the corner store while she waited for her mother to pay for their things, the aftermath that she hadn't thought much of at the time, but now…

Steve walks forward, using his height to his advantage to tower imposingly over Tommy, his face twisted into a vicious snarl that Robin has only seen one other time, underneath Starcourt.

"Get out, I don't want to tell you again Tommy," Steve says lowly under his breath, just loud enough that Robin has to strain to hear him. 

Tommy's eyes narrow as his mouth pulls into a sneer, "and what are you gonna do about it, you're not scary Harrington," he grins despite taking a step back as Steve continues forward, pushing them towards the front door. 

"I don't have to be scary, but I do have an in with your drug dealer and I can make it impossible for you to score for as long as you live in this godforsaken shithole". 

"You're bluffing".

"Try me," Steve whispers just as the bell dings again at the front of the store. Tommy doesn't look away from Steve even as Carol exclaims a small, 'oh', beside him.

Robin smirks and leans back against the counter, raising her hand in an enthusiastic wave towards the entrance, "hey Eddie!"

Tommy curses under his breath and wrenches himself away from Steve, just in time to see the murderous expression on Eddie's face. 

Carol takes the opportunity to grab at the sleeve of Tommy's shirt and drag him the last few steps away towards the door, they give Eddie a wide berth as they pass. 

Tommy glares at Steve and Robin the entire way, muttering curses under his breath as Robin blows them a kiss with her middle finger.

The bell jingles again as the door swings open and falls gently closed, leaving them in an uneasy silence. 

"You guys okay?" Eddie says quietly after a beat, he steps towards Steve, his brow pinched with concern.

Steve nods silently before turning towards Robin. She expects a lecture from the frown on his face but blinks in surprise as Steve pulls her into a tight hug.

"Don't do that again," he mumbles into her hair, she opens her mouth to speak, to insist that she doesn't need a babysitter like his gaggle of children.

"I know it's just Tommy," Steve breathes out as though reading her mind, "but I don't think I could handle it if something happened to you Robin, I mean it". 

And all at once the fight drains out of her as Robin wonders just how she wound up with someone like Steve Harrington in her corner. 

"I wasn't going to let them talk shit," she huffs, despite pressing even closer, she feels his head shake against her own.

"I can take a hit and I'm not going to let some asshole have a chance to go after you too," he says sharply. 

Robin rolls her eyes and steps back just enough to look him in the eyes, "remember what your annoying child friend said, if you die, I die".

She shrugs at the incredulous expression on his face, "what? Smartest thing that kid has ever said". 

"You're ridiculous," Steve whispers and there's so much warm affection in his voice as he squeezes her once more, that Robin has to bury her face in his shoulder to hide the sudden shine in her eyes.

Eddie seems to take this as his cue to move forward and let his hand rest on Steve's lower back, the pinched look fading slightly as he smiles at Robin. 

"Well, my original plan was to take Stevie here, out after his shift, buuut I'm thinking the three of us are in need of a night on the town, what do you say Buckaroo?" Eddie asks with a waggles of his eyebrows and a wide grin. 

"I'll come if you never call me that again," Robin says with as much of a straight face as she can muster.

Steve barks out a laugh as he leans into Eddie's side, "oh you've done it now Buckaroo". 

Robin squawks and flaps her hands at Steve until he ducks away behind Eddie who immediately shields his face with his hands. 

"You think way too highly of me if you think that's where I'm aiming," Robin says dryly, snorting as Eddie gasps and lifts a leg for further protection, prompting them both to collapse into a fit of giggles while Steve watches fondly.

They all eventually relax, falling into an easy conversation as Steve and Robin finish up the last of the morning duties. The tension from earlier fading away as Eddie sits on the counter top, with his eyes on the door, watching out, just in case.

[bejeweledbaby]

can vividly imagine steve & robin excitedly doing the hot to go dance at a chappell roan concert. eddie would join but he’s having a better time filming his two, totally not drunk, best friends having the time of their life at the concert.

[morganski-19]

The One with the Closet

Eddie walks out of his room and catches Nancy locking the hall closet. A closet that’s never been open before for too long and is always locked. Eddie has never seen the inside of it. And it bothers him. What is so important in the closet that it has to be locked.

“You know, I’ve never asked, but what’s in that closet,” Eddie asks innocently, pointing to the closet.

Nancy shrugs him off, “Nothing.”

She walks away from him, closing herself off. Eddie follows, not ready to give up.

“But it’s always locked. Has to be something special in there if it’s locked.”

“It’s nothing, alright,” Nancy snaps, glaring at him. “Just a hall closet, that has some stuff in it, that I lock. That’s it.”

Eddie backs away with his hands raised. “Ok, alright. I’ll leave it alone.”

“Thank you,” Nancy says, starting to make her lunch.

Except Eddie can’t leave it alone. Won’t leave it alone. His eyes keep finding their way back to the closet door. It haunts him. Taunts him. Makes him go crazy.

“I just don’t understand,” Eddie says, head hanging off of the arm of the couch in Steve and Robin’s apartment. “What’s so special about that door that she keeps it locked.”

“Just drop it,” Steve says from the kitchen.

“Yeah, never once seen that closet open,” Robin adds. “Never going to either.”

Steve leans back on the counter, arms crossed. “It’s a secret.”

“Something she’d rather keep hidden.”

“Or just a closet that she has a weird thing with. It’s not hurting you, just leave it alone.”

Eddie groans, rolling over to sit up on the couch and taking a second to steady himself. “But I can’t help but wonder what’s inside. Like we share basically everything, why is she hiding this?”

“Because she just doesn’t want to tell you,” Robin says as she flicks Eddie’s forehead. “Sometimes there are just secrets that are meant to stay secrets.”

“Or,” Steve counters, cocking his head to the side.

Robin glares at him. “Nope. No ‘or’. If she doesn’t want you to know, they you don’t get to know. And as the very nice friends we all are, we leave it alone.”

Steve and Eddie make eye contact. “Have you tried picking the lock?” Steve asks.

“Don’t ask me how I know this, but I’m terrible at picking locks.”

“No, stop this,” Robin interjects, standing up. “You two are not going to break into Nancy’s secret closet. Whatever is in there is there for a reason, and she doesn’t want you to know.”

“But you’ve never wondered what’s behind there?” Eddie asks.

Robin folds her arms, letting out a long breath. “I might have.” Steve starts to say something, but she cuts him off. “But, I respect people’s boundaries. So, I’ve never asked.”

Eddie hums, a mischievous look in his eyes.

“This whole conversation just made you more curious about it hasn’t it?” Robin groans.

Eddie stands. “Yep.” One his way out the door, he turns to ask them one more question. “Do either of you have a screwdriver and a hammer I can borrow?”

“Nancy has a tool kit under the sink,” Steve answers making Robin huff in disagreement. “He was just going to keep obsessing over it, better to get this all over with before he breaks the door down.”

Robin rolls her eyes. “Fine, but I want no part in this. If she asks, I knew nothing.”

“Neither do I,” Steve adds.

Eddie gives them a thumbs up, “Deal.”

Later, when Nancy heads out to the store, Eddie rummages under the kitchen sink to find the toolbox. Carefully, or not so carefully, he takes the door off of it’s hinges and wiggles it out of the lock. Behind the door is a bunch of boxes stacked messily on top of each other, with things hanging out of them and other items scattered on top. Just a bunch of things out of order and in a giant pile.

Eddie laughs, at the stupidity of everything really. He thought it was going to be something much worse, but it’s just stuff. A messy pile of stuff.

“What’s so funny,” Nancy says as she rounds the corner, eyes widening when she realizes what Eddie did. “No, no, no. You opened it?”

Eddie continues to laugh. “This is what you wanted to keep hidden for so long?”

“Yes,” she exclaims, slapping his arm. “Now everyone’s going to know.”

“That you’re secretly messy,” he giggles.

Nancy’s face contorts with a mix of anger and sadness. “Yes, you shithead.”

“Wait, Nance, Nancy,” he calls out as she starts to walk away. “You are really so scared of people finding out that you have a secret mess of shame. Most people do. I do.”

“Yeah, but it’s your entire room so that doesn’t count.”

Eddie tilts his head to the side, “That’s fair. But this,” he gestures to the mess in the closet, “is nothing.”

“So everyone won’t rip me to shreds knowing that I’m messy?” she says annoyed, knowing exactly what type of friends they have.

“That’s only if they figure it out. I’ll get the door back on, we can forget about this.”

Nancy crosses her arms, rolling her eyes. “One, I’m putting the door back on, I don’t want you breaking it. And two, are you really not going to say anything about this?”

“Not if you don’t want me to, really. I’ll just forget about the closet. I just, I want you to know that you didn’t have to keep this from me. People are messy, even the cleanest ones. Nothing wrong with it.”

“You’re an idiot, but thank, I guess.”

“You’re welcome.”

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added or taken off) @slowandsteddie, @annieofhearts, @cacdyke, @ubpd, @captain--low, @thespaceantwhowrites, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @anne-bennett-cosplayer, @lunaticparisianlady, @apomaro-mellow, @dolphincliffs, @dragonmama76, @maggiebug417, @stevesbipanic, @fearieshadow, @mentallyundone, @eightpackdiaz, @au79burger @bookworm0690 , @practicallybegging, @potato-of-the-lord

[kittythelitter]

Thinking about a stobin focused shifter au where anyone who spends a little too long in the upsidedown becomes a shifter to a slightly demo/unsettling/vaguely off version of whatever animal they're most like, and control is hard, and amount of time spent in the upsidedown correlates to how much time you can/need to spend in shifted form.

So like Will, even after he gets control, needs to/wants to spend like half his time shifted but can't be shifted full time.

After getting stuck in the tunnels Hopper is like. Needs an hour/day on average and can stay shifted for up to 6 hours at a time.

After the tunnels Dustin, Lucas, Max, Steve, and Mike need a few hours a week/can stay shifted up to 3 hours at a time ish.

And then after season 4, Steve is up to Will levels because he got double (or even triple depending on how you look at it) exposed.

Robin, Nancy, and Eddie are like. Slightly more than Hopper. Like maybe need 1.5-2 hours a day can stay shifted for like 8 hours if necessary.

Dustin is now almost Hopper level because he got exposed a second time.

It takes time to learn control and obviously Will gets the most control quickly followed by everyone who got exposed in season 2. When the younger teens are going through puberty their control fluctuates enough that they all have to take time off from school to work on it. Steve is the best of the Season 2 Crew at getting and maintaining control because he has a lot of practice with physical activity and conditioning and personal discipline when it comes to sports and body control. El can help to a certain extent.

Anyway. All this to say. I can't decide on animals for everyone and I'd love input.

Steve is very much dog. He's loyal and protective and all that good stuff. And he mostly seems like a normal dog maybe with a little bit of a skin condition that makes his skin under his fur a weird texture but mostly normal except when he gets protective sometimes his mouth opens too big and he has too many teeth and bigger claws.

For Hopper I'm thinking also Dog but like. A dog that is Off. There's something weird about that dog like those dogs that look like they might be people in fur suits from certain angles.

Will I'm thinking something small and good at hiding. Like a burrowing rodent maybe. Like a rabbit or a hamster or a mouse or a Rat.

Henry/Vecna/One is a turkey or maybe a turkey vulture because turkeys are ugly and evil.

Dustin I wanna say small predator mammal like a weasel or a ferret or a stoat but IDK.

Mike is i think a very similar dog to Steve and HATES that they're so similar but I'm open to suggestions.

Max is a cat.

Lucas is also a cat because I don't have a better one for him except maybe also a dog like Steve because he and Steve are also similar and he looks up to Steve but I think it would be cute if he and Max were both cats but like very different kinds of cats but I'm very open to input here.

Robin is also a Cat (can you tell cats are my favorites?)

Nancy is some kind of persistence predator I think. Maybe a cat maybe something smaller and cuter but also deadlier. Like those super cute tiny wild cats that are the most deadly predators you know? I'd love input from people who know more about Nancy I love her but I don't get her like I get Robin yk?

Eddie is a raccoon or a bat but I will take feedback on this

Please let me know what you think and if you have other ideas for what animals they should all be.

Really tho I'm just. Imagining the cuddle piles and also Robin and Steve being inseparable in all forms but particularly Robin getting one of those tennis ball chuckers to tire Steve out when he's in a Mood and like. Everyone who doesn't Know thinks Robin has a pet dog and her parents are like. We think it's actually Steve's dog but it likes Robin more and she is more of a cat person but she loves This Dog in particular.

Also. Eddie having a compulsion to dig through everyone's stuff including dirty laundry piles and trash. And Eddie accidentally instinctively washing his weed and being like. Oh shit. Shouldn't have done that.

[wynnyfryd]

“Steeeeeeeve!” Robin sings as she throws open the front passenger door, in a tone that sounds like she might actually burst if she doesn’t tell Steve whatever juicy news she’s procured in the single hour they’ve been apart while her parents forced her to attend church. “Wait,” she frowns, looking into the car. “Why are you sitting here?”

Steve shoots her a tired smile from the passenger seat and reaches out to squeeze her hand. Eddie waves from the driver’s side, Dustin chirps “Hi, Robin!” from behind Eddie’s head, and she nods a quick hello to them both before turning back to Steve. “Thought I was about to kick Eddie out of my seat,” she says, and okay, rude. “Is it your ear again?”

“Yeah, it’s doing the thing,” Steve says mildly as he climbs out of the car. Eddie scoffs. Pretty understated way of saying ‘I’m probably going deaf from all the head trauma and my ear aches and it’s not always safe for me to drive,’ but whatever.

Steve pauses to hug Robin — kinda squeezes the life out of her, lifts her up and shakes her like he’s trying to knock pennies loose from her frilly dress pockets — and then he hops into the back with Dustin.

“Dude,” Dustin says, sounding so disappointed. “You’re really gonna give up shotgun just like that?”

Steve smacks the back of his head. Dustin yelps “Ow!” and then mutters, “Jerkwad.”

“Shithead,” Steve thumps him again. They tussle for a second until Steve gets him in a headlock, ripping the kid’s hat off and ruffling his hair with a triumphant fist, and Dustin says, “Get off me! This is child abuse, I’m telling mom!”

“She’ll never believe you,” Steve grins, “but go ahead.”

“What the hell are you wearing?” Eddie asks Robin once everyone settles in, because she looks like she’s been forced to wear Nancy’s clothes again.

Robin and Steve mean-mug him in tandem, doing their freaky soulmate sync up shtick, and Robin sniffs, “First of all: Shut up.”

“Steve, control your wife,” and yeah, okay, he deserves the vicious flick to the funny bone he gets for that.

“Secondly, I am wearing the sexist garb of the good Christian girl that my parents like me to pretend to be once a week, and thirdly,” she whips around in her chair to look at Steve, eyes bright with unshared gossip, “you will. not. believe what I overheard today! It is truly, like, so scandalous, Steve, oh, my god!”

Her hands are going crazy with excitement as she speaks, reaching out to slap at the nearest forearm, which just so happens to be Eddie’s. “Watch it, Buckley, Jesus—!”

“—is our Lord and Savior,” Dustin supplies. “Would the two of you like to at least let us leave the church premises before you continue to take the Lord’s name in vain?”

“Aw, Dusty,” Eddie coos as he pulls out of the lot, “you saying you don’t want the big man upstairs to smite our ruin upon the mountainside?”

Another round of synchronized stink faces from the mean girl twins at that, and Dustin snipes “way to butcher the quote, idiot,” but at least someone in this car recognizes his good taste.

Eddie drives them back to Steve’s place as Robin launches into a sordid little tale of Sunday debauchery. Apparently, she excused herself from the sermon when it started getting a little too fire and brimstone for her liking, took to wandering the halls to kill time while she was pretending to be off using the ladies’ room, “and then,” she says in a hushed, slow rasp like she’s telling ghost stories around a campfire, “I heard…”

Steve and Dustin are on the edge of their seats. The leather squeaks as they lean in further.

“…the unmistakable sounds of lovemaking coming from the administrative office!”

“Oh, gross!” Dustin recoils like he’s been burned.

Steve’s brows pinch in offense. “Who fucks in a church?”

“I’d fuck you in a church, baby,” Eddie smirks at him in the rearview, hamming up the cartoonish leer just to piss everyone off. Dustin makes a retching noise and Robin flips him the bird.

Steve’s frown lines deepen. “We’re not fucking in a church,” he says. He looks so serious, all stern and grouchy like Hopper when he’s had to spend too much time around Mike, and Eddie’s having way too much fun riling everyone up so he sticks his bottom lip out and pouts, “Aw, Stevie, come on! Not even a quickie?”

“Gross!!” Dustin shouts again.

“So gross,” Robin concurs.

Eddie just laughs and turns the radio up.

[shares-a-vest]

Platonic Stobin Month, Day 7: Scoops Ahoy

Prompt List

Robin bursts through the swinging door from the back room of Scoops Ahoy with a box of fresh napkins. She claws open the box (having long misplaced the store's scissors), probably further chipping her nail polish. But who gives a shit, it's pointless keeping up a fresh manicure when you're slogging through day after day of slinging ice creams.

She quickly decides to overstock the takeaway accessories counter with white napkins, each printed with the dorky Ahoy! logo and anchor. At least it'll be one less job to do come closing time. She jumps with a high-pitched squeal as someone taps her on her shoulder.

Robin turns to find a girl about her age. And she rolls her eyes immediately. Typical. Blonde hair, tied up in a high ponytail with a scrunchie matching her earrings and bracelet, all tied together with a pastel pink and purple coordinated ensemble.

"Is Steve here?" she asks, seemingly disinterested as she smacks gum.

Ah, yes. Steve's latest conquest. Carla, wasn't it?

"On a smoke break," Robin supplies, feigning a smile.

"Ew," Carla says, recoiling as a disgusted look washes across her face.

Robin has seen her co-worker Steve Harrington strike out with the ladies an embarrassing amount of times so far this summer. And they aren't even halfway there yet. But she has to agree with Carla's weary look and yeah, the dingus deserves to miss out on a hot date (fine, this chick is pretty hot, okay?) due to his smoking predilection.

It also serves him right for taking a stupid amount of smoke breaks just to weasel his way out of wearing the dumb Scoops hat for as long as possible. But Carla doesn't have to worry about that part.

"If he asks about Carla," she drawls, eyes darting about as she presumably works through a reasonable excuse. "Tell him I haven't come by."

Ouch. Not even a half-elaborate lie. Just plain stone-cold.

"Sure thing," Robin says, giving a weak salute that makes Carla huff a mocking laugh.

Why would she salute while wearing a freaking sailor's outfit?

She should give Steve a 'You Rule' point just for her own lameness.

Robin waves the board about as Steve walks back into Scoops Ahoy, begrudgingly slapping his sailor's hat back on as he steps over the threshold.

"What? No!" he whines, looking at Robin as she peaks over the board.

"Turns out smoking is a big turn-off for girlies like Carla," she teases, slowly drawing a tally on the 'You Suck' portion of the whiteboard. "And you didn't even go on the date."

She tsks as she sets the board atop the counter, on full display for any enquiring hot girls. Steve practically vaults over the counter to grab it. But she's sitting on the back bench so she has a momentary height advantage. She snatches the whiteboard up and out of his reach.

Steve collapses against the counter, defeated as he retrieves his scooper from his apron belt and twirls it with a cowboy-like flourish.

"I'm making myself a USS Butterscotch."

"Ooo!" she coos, jumping down from the counter and practically tossing the board away. "Can I have some?"

She grins and leans into his personal space.

"Only if you pack away the whiteboard for the rest of the shift," he bargains.

"Deal, Steve-o!" she sings, sticking out a pinkie finger as a promise.

Steve merely pushes past her to get to the bigger glass bowls set aside for their corporate specialty.

"God, you are annoying!"

Robin is finally packing down for the night, mostly by herself because a certain hair model moron is sulking out the back as he mops the floor at a snail's pace. She's walking towards the front of Scoops Ahoy, readying to slam the roller door shut with deep satisfaction when what she can only describe as a gaggle of children come striding in.

She backs up, outstretching her arms in a failing attempt to block them.

"Nope!"  she says, popping the 'p'. "Sorry kiddos, but we are closed."

She chops her hands in the air, punctuating the 'closed' part of that sentence as she rounds the counter, hoping it will give her some authoritative defence. But it doesn't. Of course, it doesn't. Because this is Scoops Ahoy and Robin is a mere worker in this new, big, dumb mall. And this is a summer job where no one cares about the people providing summer refreshments actually having their own lives… Her life being going home and finishing up lino-printing a pattern onto a lightweight throw over she'd just finished sewing. But these kids don't need to know that.

She looks them over and only recognises former Missing Child Will Byers, standing at the back and blushing. He looks nervously at the redheaded girl in front and Robin assumes whatever is happening isn't actually his idea.

The redhead narrows her eyes and gives a sly smile.

"Is Steve here?"

Well, maybe it's more of an evil smirk. This girl is quite terrifying. She certainly has the boys behind her Bambi-eyed and cautious. Or maybe they're just that lame and using Red to ask for them.

"Hey, Dingus!" Robin calls over her shoulder, reaching back to pound on the wall that separates the back room and kitchenette from the ice creamery. "A bunch of children are here asking for you."

Steve slides open the dividing window and groans.

"Oh no," he laments. "Guys, no. Please, leave me alone."

Despite his whining, Steve walks through the swinging door, shoulders slumped more than they were when he found out about Carla ditching him.

"We just need you to sneak us into the movies," the sour-faced kid with black hair pleads.

"Fuck off, Wheeler," Steve spits, folding his arms. "I'm not paying for five movie tickets."

"We just want you to sneak us in," the third boy (dressed like every different Goonies kid rolled into one) chimes with a hand flourish as if his suggestion is plain as day.

"Lucas!" the girl shoots back at the boy. "Shut up! I'm doing the talking."

Steve grumbles, stepping towards Robin and leaning against the counter so they are shoulder-to-shoulder in defiance against an onslaught of demands.

"We spent all our money at the arcade," Will Byers explains, speaking just above a whisper that has Steve tilting his head to hear him.

"We could just sneak them in out the back?" Robin suggests, sending Steve into a wide-eyed gawking stare.

"Why are you chiming in?" he shrieks.

"I like her," the redhead chuckles, giving Robin a low nod of approval.

"Please?" Wheeler begs, sending the others into a series of groans.

Okay, that one was just plain pathetic.

Robin pushes herself off the counter.

"Come on, dingus," she begs. "Don't you want this never-ending nightmare shift to be over?"

Steve looks between her and the kids several times before he begins untying his apron like a total drama queen.

"If you assholes get caught by mall security, I'm not taking any blame whatsoever," he chides, flailing about with every word.

Robin still has no idea who these annoying children are but, judging by their snickering, this is their general dynamic with former King Steve.

"So what's with the gremlin squad?" she asks as they finally make their way out to the parking lot.

Sneaking the kids into the movie theatre was actually quite easy. Turns out, there's no security scouring the halls of Starcourt Mall as the stores close, nor do theatre attendants seem to notice either. Even though the Scoops uniforms stick out like a sore thumb. Not to mention the cacophony of twerpy nonsense that wouldn't pipe down the whole time...

"Nancy Wheeler dumping me somehow led to me babysitting her brother and his asshole friends 24/7."

"Oh please," Robin laughs, playfully slapping his arm as they reach his shiny maroon Beemer. "You don't shut up about that Henderson kid."

"You wouldn't believe the whole goddamned story if I told you," he warns, unlocking his car.

And for once Robin actually notices a social cue that's flashing like the neon sign of Startcourt telling her to shut up for once. Honestly, Steve just looks sad. It’s the only word for it. She’d teased him about Nancy and no longer being the reigning King of Hawkins High but sue her, it was the talk of their grade. What else was she supposed to talk about working alongside this dweeb?

Steve… yep, Steve.

Maybe she should start off by saying that. And she swears on her life that this sudden realisation hasn’t come conveniently right at this moment because she has one hundred percent, missed the last bus back into town.

"Hey, uh…" she trails off and goddamnit, she shouldn't have been such an asshole. "Can I maybe get a ride home?"

Steve sighs, looking up and giving a weak smile. "Fine. You wanna go buy beer?"

The ‘You Suck’ board is still in full effect, but Robin will remove the tally point for Carla, just this once.

And it isn’t because Carla was hot.

[steviesbicrisis]

@duffers listen I’ll give you this idea for free: all of us NEED a stobin spin off with them trying every possible retail job ever, but we know we ain’t gonna get it.

Season 5 is after a time skip right? One of the trailers for season 5 should be Stobin changing jobs through the time skip: working at the movie theatre, waiters at Enzo’s, baristas etc., one time they briefly consider a new scoops ahoy opening before they both shudder and throw the paper away.

I would pay to see this trailer I swear.

[scartetqueens2]

Chapters: 6/6 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley & Eddie Munson, Eddie Munson & Wayne Munson, Steve Harrington & Wayne Munson, Steve Harrington & The Party, Eddie Munson & The Party Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Eleven | Jane Hopper, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Wayne Munson Additional Tags: Mutual Pining, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Misunderstandings, Coming Out, Gay Eddie Munson, Lesbian Robin Buckley, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Bisexual Disaster Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington Friendship, Good Friend Robin Buckley, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Gender Issues, Gender Identity, Genderqueer Character, Babygirl Steve Harrington, except literally, Eddie is a radio host, for some reason, Hawkins is basically nightvale, and Eddie's Cecil Palmer, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Eddie Munson Lives, Steve Harrington Has A Crisis, and then Outsources His Crisis, Eddie Munson Has a Crush on Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington Has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Good Uncle Wayne Munson, Everyone Thinks They're Together, Genderqueer Steve Harrington, Nonbinary Steve Harrington Series: Part 1 of always burning, world keeps turning Summary:

"Do you--Harrington, do you know other gay people?"

"One," Steve says, and then, after a moment, "and a half."

"And a half?" Eddie boggles at him, "What does that mean?"

"He's figuring it out!" says Steve, defensively, "Taking his time, y'know? Whatever, the point is. It's cool you're gay, man."

Eddie comes out to Steve, and Steve's heartbroken about it for some reason. Eddie thinks Steve's dating Robin. Everyone else thinks Steve and Eddie have been dating this whole time. Robin doesn't get paid enough for this shit.

Also, Hawkins has been cracked open like a badly-baked cake, and everyone's settled into the most mundane apocalypse possible. Eddie Munson starts a radio programme about it.

Meanwhile, Steve gets his nails painted, and outsources a crisis he isn't having.

[hitlikehammers]

Posting is LIVE!!!

💦 NOW through 31 OCTOBER ☕️📽️

✨permanent tag list: OPEN (lmk if you want to be added/removed and DO NOT WORRY, I’m not planning to post chapter updates on this fic here, and if I do you won’t get tagged after this): @pearynice @hbyrde36 @slashify @finntheehumaneater @wxrmland @dreamwatch @perseus-notjackson @estrellami-1 @bookworm0690 @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @nerdyglassescheeseychick @swimmingbirdrunningrock @goodolefashionedloverboi @sanctumdemunson @theheadlessphilosopher @lawrencebshoggoth @grtwdsmwhr @eddie-munson-addict @sharingisntkaren @lostonceandneverfound @slime-hoe

STEVE AND EDDIE MAKE A PORNO  |  Explicit  |  55k

Author: @hitlikehammers

Artist: @hagnoart

Beta Reader: @dontwasteyourchances

[Link to fic]  |  [Link to art]

Pairings: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, (background Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham, Nancy Wheeler/Barbara Holland, Jonathan Byers/Argyle; porn film scene pairings indicated in the relevant chapters)

Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Chrissy Cunningham, Jonathan Byers, Barbara Holland, Argyle

Tags: Friends to Lovers, Nay: oblivious!BEST friends to lovers, Romcom, Porn, Y’know because shooting a porno is the orienting plot device, Humor, General Shenanigans, Coffee-related Innuendos Abound, Platonic Stobin, Happy Ending (not THAT kind), (…okay also a lot of that kind because again: THEY ARE SHOOTING A PORNO)

Trigger Warnings: This fic is inspired by a film where the filming of a porno is a central plot device; sex positivity, orientation positivity, sex-and-pairings-for-aesthetic-appeal-NOT-for-endgame-purposes are the name of the game.

↳ Keep reading below for a summary!

Unlikely but inseparable best-friends-since-middle-school Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson move in together after graduation and, honestly? Lead a semi-stable if generally-uneventful life (or not-entirely uneventful, fine, because Eddie takes personal offense to that characterization of anything involving himself): but they make a decent living as minimum wage grunts and they never starve, which of course counts as a win in late-stage capitalism. So what if it’s always been paycheck to paycheck and they’ve only just made it outside their hometown: they still do earn their paychecks, Eddie’s booking more weekend shows to pad his kinda-pitiful record store wages, the cafe Steve works at is expanding and a promotion to senior manager isn’t wholly out of the question, and they did make it out of their back-assward hometown, no matter how far they got. Most of all, through better or worse, bound thicker than blood: they’ve got each other. It’s not the life Steve was raised to expect, but it’s not one he’s trade for anything in the world. 

Which is still true when, due to a very unfortunate lack of communication—with good intentions! It honestly was all above-board and stupidly well-intentioned—they may have entirely unwittingly paved their way into bills-so-overdue-the-utilities-are-canceled. Like: bye-bye-water-mid-shower-canceled. 

Which: fucking late-stage capitalism. Ruining everything. 

And it is ruined: it’s the holidays, which means there are extra hours but they’re being vied for Hunger Games style, and the lack-of-heating thing’s going to be a real problem with the Midwest winter that’s creeping up quick. Basically: ‘up shit creek without a paddle’ is an understatement. 

But then, opportunity presents itself in the most time-honored of professions when they run into the shocker (or: not-really-a-shocker, dude was hella repressed) partner of a straight-laced douchebag classmate at their ten-year-reunion: an adult film star who reveals $100k could be within their grasps—bills paid, debt cleared, money to spare for the first time in forever—if the form of...well.

Shooting their own porno. 

So umm...fucking late stage capitalism? 

And honestly it’s a solid plan, despite being absolute insanity (though that’s honestly unsurprising because, again: nothing’s uneventful when Eddie Munson’s your best friend), but the question that rears its head ultimately isn’t one of revenue, but one they probably should have thought through a little harder from the get-go: when budget’s tight, cast is limited, and promotional value is crucial—alongside everyone banging everyone? 

You’re also probably gonna have to fuck your best friend on camera for cash in the process.

(Goddamn previously unrealized and unacknowledged feelings late stage capitalism, man. Fucks up everything.)

[whathehonestfuk]

Stobin getting married super quick after Robin turns 18 because they're platonic soulmates and they need to make sure they get informed if anything happens to the other one also tax benefits and it affords Robin a lot of safety to have a husband

They just forget to tell people it's 1000% platonic because the concept of it being anything other than that is so ridiculous to them

Ques shenanigans and Eddie's pining

[steviewashere]

Thinking about a fic idea right now where Steve comes out (maybe with a little Steddie...maybe; might be best to start them pre-relationship in this). Walk with me here.

Steve Harrington who has always been a huge Wham! fan. And then eventually a huge George Michael fan. He's got all their albums. Collects magazines with interviews in them (y'know, if there's a U.S. release). So, he's pretty much up to date with all news, music info; that kind of thing. He's always on the money about when interviews are.

George Michael who comes out publicly in 1998 after his arrest. Which, you can watch the clip from the interview here. He's thirty-four at the time, had been private about his sexuality and romantic life up until then.

Steve who's freshly in his thirties.

He's thirty-one. He's had some thoughts in regards to his sexuality for years now. Since Robin came out to him in 1985, he's thought about little things. The way certain guys walked that caught his attention, maybe the plushness of their lips, how they styled their hair. She's introduced him to queer culture at the time—pride parades & protests, some lingo, the handkerchief code, etc. So, he's well aware of a lot of things before the CNN interview airs. He hasn't made any hard connections between his sexuality and the thoughts in his head; maybe he's had a few, soft, questioning moments like: Am I gay? Am I bisexual? Is this what I really think or am I searching for something I don't actually want? Am I just being too observant?

(Okay, thinking about pre-Steddie now. And a lot of platonic soulmates Stobin. Also, I totally (accidentally) half-wrote a fic. Stay with me here.)

Eddie's been a part of Steve's life since 1986. Somehow he survives (don't ask me the fine details, I don't know). And Steve tries his hand at being Eddie's friend because he kind of—no, really—wants a guy friend who's around his age. Cue their shenanigans: the chaos they cause together, the pranks they pull on their other friends, the shit Eddie makes Steve get into (drag racing (cars), stealing scrap from the junkyard, throwing rocks over the quarry to guess the impact they made, other little town shit). Eddie who learns that Steve's a true ally to Robin, so he comes out to Steve, too. They all form a very great, deep bond of solidarity. Become roommates outside of Hawkins, somewhere a little more progressive. They protect each other. Listen to each other.

Cue the day in 1998 when the CNN interview is being aired live, unseen up until then. Steve's already ready to watch, having taken up the middle cushion on the couch. Robin's on his left, criss-cross and making a set of beaded bracelets for the three of them. Eddie's on Steve's right, uncapping a couple bottles of beer to pass over. And they're watching with Steve because Steve likes George Michael and, well, they like Steve and his interests. So they're all there when George Michael comes out. They're all there when the words are said live.

Robin and Eddie are wide-eyed, then laughing something a bit triumphant, high-fiving over Steve's head, maybe chanting something: "One of us! One of us!" Maybe becoming huge George Michael fans as they speak. But, Steve's silent. He's sitting on the edge of his cushion, palms down on his thighs, staring off into nothing. All the celebration stops as the interview continues, words being missed. And Robin and Eddie share an odd glance, a questioning one. Until, finally, Robin asks, "Steve-O? You OD over there?"

Steve blinks back into existence. Mutters, "Did George Michael just come out on live TV?" Eddie answers him truthfully, voice a bit soft and concerned. Steve licks his lips, doesn't move his eyes from his socked feet. "...He knew for a little while," he comments. "Right? He knew for a while."

"Sure, Steve," Eddie answers again. "He probably knew about himself for a long time. Probably...Honestly, probably while he was still in Wham."

Maybe Steve nods at that. Maybe he just stays kind of stoic, thinking too hard. "He's thirty-four," Steve points out.

"That he is," Robin answers this time. "Thirty-four and proudly out."

Steve hums some sort of acknowledgement and then goes back to watching the TV, moment drifting away. He sort of watches in a daze. Up until he turns in for the night. Well after Robin has slumped over on the couch and Eddie's gone to bed earlier—because he has work, or so Eddie's said. And Steve maybe sits in his bedroom, up at his headboard, looking down at his albums. At his Wham! and George Michael albums. Turning the tapes over in his hands, reading the track lists, maybe tracing the edges of the cases with his thumbs. Thinking about how George had said he was telling his life story, even through some of his earlier solo work. He's thinking about how successful George Michael has been. And then he thinks about how George Michael came out later in his life. In his thirties, not in his twenties, not in his teens. Sure, yes, it was definitely more negatively criticized to do so, but it means something to Steve. To be thirty-four and freshly out. And he thinks, too, about being thirty-one and things clicking into shiny clarity—he's into guys, too. He's into women, but he's into guys. That word, "bisexual" looking like the final jigsaw piece. To be thirty-one and proudly out, too.

And he's comforted in that thought, as he drifts off to sleep.

And when he wakes up in the morning, he bustles around Eddie and Robin in the kitchen. They make a shared breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage and toast with jam. They sit at the dining table, forks against plates, shooting the shit back and forth.

Steve cuts a slice of sausage, puts it in his mouth, eats as usual. And just as the conversation is beginning to drift again, he finally speaks what's on his mind. "I'm bisexual," he's able to proudly state.

Maybe Eddie and Robin cheer, too for that. They ask him for his taste in guys. Maybe they tease him a little. Maybe Eddie realizes he fits the bill a little; maybe he waits a little bit before taking a shot, but he still does eventually.

And right before they head off for their respective, regular lives outside of the comfortable space of their apartment, Robin knocks their shoulders together. "Proud of you," she states. "Thirty-one and proudly out. How does it feel?"

They're in the kitchen, washing and drying the dishes because Eddie left for work already with a promise to bring home pizza for dinner. They're in the kitchen, the lights a little fluorescent like the Starcourt bathroom. They're in the kitchen, in each other's orbits, two friends who've seen it all and will continue to see the world together.

"It feels...I feel good. Excited."

Robin smiles at him, something soft and understanding. And as his focus goes back to the plate he's about to hand off, she snorts. "So, Eddie, huh?" And he scoffs, rolling his eyes. She just laughs to herself. Then, when she's calmed a little bit, she states, "He kind of looks like Rowlf. You and I have a thing for Muppets, Stevie. Muppets."

And after their laughter dies down and they live out the rest of the day, Steve thinks about how he can send a letter of thanks to George Michael. And maybe he cherishes those albums a little closer. And he is confident in himself for the first time in a while, all because the representation he didn't know he was seeking, is finally right in his face.

Sorry that got long. But I'm just thinking about Steve who comes out later in his life. Maybe he couldn't make those connections because he didn't have the safe atmosphere to do so; feared the worst if his parents ever realized he didn't care too much about women sometimes, if his eyes drifted to men a little too much, fearing that they'd catch his contemplation. Maybe he found his safe space through Robin and Eddie, but needed a little more of a push and he just didn't find it yet. Up until now.