#the screaming and crying genre of byler

[kiirotoao]

No but holy shit the implications of “I think there is someone he likes, because he has been acting… weird.”

Just imagine El’s confusion over her brother. California is obviously not that great for the Byers. In that very intro scene, we see El making her diorama (which, as sweet and lovely as it is, it ends up getting nothing but ridicule in school), Joyce getting frustrated with a client, Jonathan hurriedly hiding the fact that he’s smoking weed; things are not picture perfect. But Will? Will’s in his own world, in a dreamland of his own, holding to his friends and his life back home by painting it with a focused and tender look in his eyes.

While everyone at home openly struggles with something, our first glimpse of Will this season is something precious and untainted, a struggle that doesn’t develop until much later when he chooses to face his feelings.

We never see Will acting, quote, “weird.” Will has never really been a character that we see out loud. It all lies underneath. It always has. And when I think about that underlying struggle and yet deep fondness, it just. God, it breaks me.

Imagine Will months prior, starting up this project. He picks out a giant canvas, a page that covers his entire easel. Maybe this is his first time using paint as his medium. Maybe not. But whatever the weather, it’s bigger than anything we’ve ever seen him craft. Ever.

Imagine El’s excitement. She learns that Will is a great artist, and she knows it the minute he shows her a single piece. After that, she’s interested in his art, and yet… it’s at the worst time, because he doesn’t let her into his room, anymore. But she knows that he’s working on his easel day in and day out. The minute he’s home from school, he’s playing music, painting again. Maybe he throws out one or two torn-up drafts. Maybe he skips dinner over it. Maybe he ends up so tired that he’s fallen asleep with paint on his face and doesn’t even know it until she points it out.

She’s impressed and she wants to see what he’s doing, especially because he seems so passionate about it all the time, but he never lets her. He bites his lip and shakes his head. He guards it with his very life. And El is left wondering what has him acting so secretive. So nervous. What is the emotion, where is the energy coming from?

It’s out of place. It’s weird when moving to California isn’t as fun as whatever is on that canvas’ face.

So it must be love. Of course it is. Of course it’s for someone, some girl. What else could it be? What else would make Will seem that out of place, seem that… crazy?

And for all of it to be happening upward of six entire months? That painting didn’t take a day or two, I mean, look at it. It must’ve taken him weeks to get in every detail.

And all of it. Every little smile. Every dreaming thought. Every ounce of passion. Everything. Was because of Mike.

God.

God.

[love-kurdt]

What are your all time favourite fanfics from each genre: fluff, smut, and agnst? <3

oh lord, this is TOUGH. i’ve read thousands of fanfics in my life and it’s borderline impossible for me to choose 😭

i can’t rlly separate them into genres per se bc most of them are multi chapter novel-length fics, but i will if applicable!

i’m not a huge fan of condensing entire works into a single word!!! authors work too hard for their writing to be trope-ified like that! so if any of the writers come across this post, please know that i would write fucking essays about these fics if y’all asked.

and one last disclaimer: i’m currently on my phone with limited cell service in europe and can’t jump between tabs to check peoples’ separate tumblr and ao3 usernames, so i’ve tagged who i know off the top of my head!!

so here are my top 10 (in no particular order, just listing what comes to mind first)

“in the sun” (kurt cobain x OC) by ugh-nirvana on wattpad. it has been my favorite fanfiction of all fucking time; i read this at least once a year. primarily fluff and angst, but it follows the OC and kurt through high school and into adulthood. the author and i are actually friends now bc we wrote two of the most popular kurt cobain x OC fics on wattpad 😭🖤

“the windows of this love” (byler angst) by delusional together (Whyyyyy) on ao3. phenomenal story, i cry every time i read it, and i’ve read it so many times it’s kind of a problem lmaooo. it was also one of my inspirations for TIMT.

“that blue gibson” (dave grohl x OC) by thatbluegibson on wattpad. a literal masterpiece. cute, romantic, fluffy, spicy, all of the above.

“the rawest desire (in it’s friendliest form)” (byler smut) by bangingbiddies on ao3. they have a very apropos username; this fic had me slamming my laptop shut multiple times and screaming at my cat. probably the best smut i’ve read tbh.

“i’m a wreck (without you here)” (byler angst) by @oldfashionedmorphine on ao3. INSANE. BEAUTIFUL. LYRICAL. i cannot praise this story highly enough, it’s one of my favorite byler fics of all time. alcoholic mike wheeler is my favorite mike wheeler ngl.

“second chances and dances” (byler angst/fluff) by @foodiewithdahoodie on ao3!!!! i’m a huge sucker for dad mike fics, and this one is *chefs kiss*

“lost without you” (byler angst/fluff) by julia_skysong on ao3. another dad mike fic i actually just finished for the 3rd fucking time in the past 6 months. i recommend reading this whole series, it’s so well written (and is still being written!!).

“fence sitter” (byler smut) by pinkcash on ao3. exactly what the title suggests. sensually spicy and severely suspenseful.

“boy in my class [gerard way]” by lilyrose93 on wattpad. it’s a gerard way x OC. very cute, very cliche, but if you’re looking for ✨fluff✨, this is it. and listen, i know writing about real people who are still alive is kinda weird but like… this one is serious, ok??? 💀

“tell me i’m a bad man” by therevengeparade on wattpad. along the same lines as the one before this— it’s teacher/student frerard. very messy, very smutty, top tier drama. if it helps at all, this was probably my initiation to gay fanfic. so… thanks therevengeparade!!! love u!!!

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happy reading, friends 🥰🖤✨

[jaymari-lyn]

I wanted to share some artists that I think really match up to my favorite Stranger Things ships

I did this a while ago, but looking back I definitely don't agree with a lot of the artists I chose, so I wanted to share my new pairings.

Byler- I think Conan Gray really encompasses the struggles of loving from afar and the pain that comes with queer, "unrequited" love. The entirety of his album, Found Heaven (which literally has an 80s synth pop vibe) screams byler, as well as other songs like Heather, Family Line, Summer Child, The Exit, The Cut That Always Bleeds, Fight Or Flight, Can We Be Friends?, Little League, Idle Town, and Crush Culture. I just think his music really represents Mike and Will's story-both the good and the bad.

Steddie- For them I have to say the Arctic Monkeys. I think they're music genre is a good mash up between Eddie's death metal and Steve's overall style (we're never really told what kind of music he likes, but I like to assume some sort of pop). I Wanna Be Yours, You Get Me So High, Do I Wanna Know, R U Mine, 505, and No. 1 Party Anthem all give me steddie vibes.

Ronance- girl in red is definitely so ronance. I wanna be your girlfriend, girls, You Stupid Bitch, hornylovesickmess, we fell in love in october, i'll die anyway., Too Much, and bad idea are great examples of songs that fit Nancy and Robin.

Lumax- I was having a hard time thinking of one for lumax, but Benson Boone honestly really fits them. He sings really passionate music, and I think one of the key parts of their dynamic is the fact that they'reboth very passionate, just in different ways. Max is fierce and fiery and Lucas is drawn to that flame, while also kindling it with his own loving personality and encouraging her, no matter what. I think Beautiful Things, Work Of Art, In the Stars, Cry, Ghost Town, and Slow it Down represent them well.

Elmax- Katy Perry gives me major elmax vibes, specifically One Of The Boys and Teenage Dream. They're both really fun, feminine, pop teen romance albums that feel like embodiments of El and Max during season 3. I Kissed A Girl, Teenage Dream, Part Of Me, Dark Horse, E.T, Firework, and The One That Got Away are the songs the remind me of them the most.

Rovickie- Chappell Roan is the first artist to come to mind when I think of Robin and Vickie. Good Luck, Babe! Literally feels like it was written from Robin POV, plus Casual, Picture You, Kaleidoscope, Red Wine Supernova, and Pink Pony Club are some other songs that I think fit the ship.