Mundus sine caesaribus
we are not a free people until all people are free! highly political / human rights mixed with fandom (particularly stranger things) all pronouns
First things first... FUCK ICE. FUCK TRUMP. FUCK MAGA. FUCK TRANSPHOBES. FUCK HOMOPHOBES. FUCK PEOPLE THAT DON'T AGREE WITH THE INHERENT RIGHT TO SHELTER, FOOD, HEALTHCARE, AND THE RIGHT TO LIVE. Hit the fucking block button if you don't agree with any of those things because this is not the place for you and I want nothing to do with you. This isn't a 'oh, but I agree with everything but one' kind of statement either. If you don't agree with all of that, get away from me.
Now:
If you could have sworn you'd been here before... I deleted my account in 2024 and have had been operating on the DL since (liking a lot, reblogging like crazy, and occasionally leaving comments but otherwise I've been hiding in my little hobbit hole). Now apparently I'm posting shit people like again.
I lost a lot of my tumblr short writings, HCs, and mutuals. Some days I don't feel like I am ready to be back here but that doesn't matter. My page is where I post my own works, I vent, and I share (maybe too much) political things.
Do NOT share any of my shit with AI, I will find you and it won't be pleasant for any of us (I cried when I hit a squirrel with my car, it will likely be more unpleasant for me). Fuck AI.
A note for ANY fandom: here and here
Here's a list of my works (I'm building it back up with new works as well as reposting old works).
You can also find me on AO3 here.
Mental health links (or random links) here!
WORKS IN PROGRESS:
what if instead: master list | ao3 temporarily on hiatus
you sound like i know you: part 4 in the Trapped with You series that I will one day finish - not on tumblr yet | it's on ao3
Hunger Games AU: it's only here on tumblr and it may not be continued extra sad version here.
Smash: AO3 | Part 1 Absolutely Smash | Part 2 Famous My ASS | Part 3 Drip Trip
COMPLETED WORKS:
The Ghost of You: coming to tumblr sometime | ao3
Silence: not here yet | here on ao3
i wouldn't be caught with you: part 1 | part 2 (coming sooon!) | ao3
light in my darkness: apparently, I like to title my works in lower case - soon to be on tumblr | ao3 has it!
Don't Stop Me Now: Another fun one slotted to join tumblr soon | ao3
HOLD THE BUS: Look, this one is all caps and not here yet | A-OH-3
Can You Handle It?: Well, can you handle waiting??? | AO# (jk AO3)
All I Need: is for this to be here already! COME ON TUMBLR! | a03
One Penny: Ouch... Maybe? | ao3
Every Inch: is it done yet? Omg.. more?! | AO3
Trapped With You: it's about to get real... cozy when this gets here | ao3
Stuck with the Thought of You: PART TWO TO TRAPPED WITH YOU WAITTTT - Read that first. (still not on tumblr???) | AO3
Darling Angel: Part 3 of Trapped with you (read 1 first!) (then read 2, obviously) | AO3
Did I have too much fun with that? Yes. Does it matter? Ye-! No, not really. :D
Tumblr Only Works:
Hot Steve
🎵There's something about me that is so poisonous, it's dangerous. I can't be enough.🎵
We are back! And this story is complete and will be 17 chapters.
In this we have a batch of award shows, but not the Oscars yet. And we met the incredible Joyce Byers.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |
~
“Take the glasses off!” “Take the glasses off!” “Take the glasses off!”
The press was relentless as Steve walked down the red carpet at the SAG Awards. He was in a simple black tux with an off-white vest and priest collar shirt.
He was still sporting his cut from ‘Black, No Sugar (Unless it’s You)’. It was a faux-hawk with frosted tips and he could tell from the reactions that people were not liking it.
He just smiled and waved at the fans who had shown up to see him, glasses firmly on his face. It was only once he got past the media and to the fan line up did the glasses come off.
A fan ducked her head and blushingly said, “I like your glasses.”
Steve grinned at her and tapped her pink tortoiseshell glasses. “Me too.” He signed her photograph and moved on to the next fan.
He finally got into the venue feeling a little stretched thin. He looked around and let out a pained sigh. He didn’t see Eddie or Elise anywhere. They were all seated together, but he couldn’t see them in the densely packed crowd.
The crowd parted and Steve let out a little gasp. There was Joyce Byers. She recently done a sequel to a Tim Burton movie and she was nominated tonight. She spotted him and made a beeline straight for him.
Steve frozen where he was. Someone as famous as Joyce Byers knew who he was. This was more terrifying than any audition ever.
“Steve Harrington,” she asked, cocking her head to the side. “Right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he managed to croak out. “I don’t think there is a person in this room who doesn’t know who you are.”
She blushed and waved her hand at him. “Flatterer!”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, that’s not hyperbole or an exaggeration and you know it.”
Joyce’s smile went from shy to sly. “So all the rumors that you’re just a dumb bunny aren’t true, noted.”
“My parents have tried a lot of things to sully my name,” Steve said with a shrug. “That one was the one that stuck.”
Her face and shoulders fell. “I did hear about that, honey. I’m so sorry about how you were treated. I’m glad you were able to overcome all that and still act. I’m not sure I would have had that been me.”
He smiled at her. “All thanks to Robin Buckley and her parents. Owe them so much.”
“Richard was such a charmer back in the day,” Joyce said wistfully. “And Robin definitely gets that from him.”
“And she knows it,” Steve said with a grin.
“I just want to congratulate on that absolutely sublime of a film you did with her,” she said with bright smile, putting her hand on his forearm. “If they have any sense in their head, all three of you will win tonight.”
“Thank you for that,” Steve said, positively beaming. “We all know that there is very little sense in Hollywood. It’s practically embedded in its DNA.”
Joyce laughed. “That certainly true. But there was another reason I came over. Are you familiar with the film critic, Nancy Wheeler?”
He frowned. “A bit. She was the one who broke the story of my being caught in the back of a limo with a producer back in the day. I don’t have very fond feelings toward her for that. Even if she thought she was doing her job.”
She nodded grimly. “She’s friends with my Jonathan and I happened to overhear an argument they were having over her next article for Variety.”
“Uh oh,” Steve said darkly. “That can’t be good.”
“No,” Joyce said with a grimace. “She’s writing a piece about how only people of LBGTQ+ people should play those roles and that in this day and age actors don’t have the ‘problems’ getting non-gay roles these days, therefore they should just come out.”
Steve let out a pained sigh. “Going after Eddie for not being gay and going after me for playing to ‘type’ in the same breath. That is some extra kind of fuckery.”
“Agreed,” she murmured. “I was looking for Eddie to tell him, but I spotted you first. Jon was really upset about it, especially since I’m currently dating Jim.”
“So he was looking out for his mom’s boyfriend,” Steve surmised. “Because that kind of backlash would absolutely blow back on the movie itself.” She nodded. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll pass it along and let my agent know we’ll need to get out ahead of this.”
“Of course,” Joyce murmured. “I’ve told Jim and if you tell Eddie then we can all avoid this unpleasantness.”
Steve thanked her and then set off for where his seat was supposed to be, and thankfully Robin and Eddie were already there.
He gave each of them a hug as a greeting but when he hugged Eddie, he whispered, “There’s something I need to talk to you about of the ceremony.”
Eddie just nodded and they all sat down for the award show, Steve sitting between the two of them.
The lights dimmed and the comedian hired to host immediately started in on the jokes. Making everyone they could vaguely uncomfortable and being asinine.
Steve grimaced through the butt jokes about a couple of queer movies including their own. He really hated those kind of jokes because there were plenty of people on both sides of the aisle that enjoyed it and making it a joke only served to further stigmatize it from someone who might actually enjoy it from trying it.
First up was Steve for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.
“And the winner is...” said the rail thin blonde who looked only vaguely familiar. “Steve Harrington- ‘Dancing in the Dark’!”
Eddie and Robin were pounding on his back and congratulating him. He went up to stage and took the award from her.
“Wow,” he breathed. “There are a lot of awards worth having, but I think the greatest one you can get is when your own peers see the work you do as worthy. So thank you. Also thank you to my best friend and best director an actor could ever dream of, Robin Buckley, my co-star Eddie Munson, you make my work better just being who you are, Richard Buckley for giving me the chance, and to all the cast and crew who all came out of this movie with a hatred of Karo syrup and red dye.” He raised the award and then repeated, “Thank you!”
There was thunderous applause and he was carefully lead away as someone slipped into his empty seat.
He was brought back stage and the award was whisked away and he was given a heavier actual award that he was told to get engraved later. Then he was shoved in front of cameras and interviewers as they shouted questions at him.
“What do you say to rumors that you are dating your co-star, Eddie Munson?” was the first shouted question.
Steve burst out laughing. “God, if you believed every rumor about Eddie’s dating life, he’ll have had seventeen boyfriends and forty-two girlfriends in the last three years alone. Give it up, guys. He’s never going to come out and tell you who he’s dating and frankly, you won’t hear it from me either.”
“That’s not a no,” the interviewer said wagging their eyebrows.
“It’s a ‘none of your business’,” Steve insisted.
“Steve!” another interview called. “What’s next for you?”
Steve looked over and smiled. It was Veronica Stiles. The interviewer who had threatened to eviscerate anyone who asked him the hair question again.
“I’ve got a busy and packed schedule coming up,” he said with a smile. “I just wrapped up ‘Black, No Sugar’ with Jim Hopper and I’m on my way to play video game heartthrob and swashbuckler Billy the Blackheart. Then if all goes well you might be seeing me in tight spandex soon.”
“Oooh...” Veronica cooed. “Any hints on who it might be? Like DC or Marvel?”
Steve just smiled and shook his head. “My lips are sealed.”
There were a few more questions and then he was allowed to finally go back to his seat, award in hand.
Eddie shook his shoulder in excitement and grinned back at him.
There were a few more awards and then it was time for Best Leading Actor in Motion Picture. Steve reached out and took Eddie’s hand. Win or lose, Steve would still be proud of Eddie’s work on the film.
“And the winner goes to...” the presenter said, tugging at the envelope. “Gosh, they sure do seal these things tight.”
Eddie’s knee started jumping up and down from the sheer amount of suspense.
“And the winner goes to, Billy Hargrove- ‘Light of an Alaskan Dawn’!” she screamed.
There was a bunch of clapping and Eddie looked up at the camera as it passed over him, his disappointment evident on his face. Billy’s movie was pure awards bait and everyone knew it. It was an one-man epic about a man struggling with depression during the six months of no light in Alaska and how like the sun, he eventually came back around.
Steve leaned over and whispered something in Eddie’s ear that made him burst out laughing just as Billy passed them.
Billy shot the two of them a dirty look, but wisely said nothing as he got up to give his acceptance speech. He spoke about how meaningful the movie was and how grateful he was for the opportunity.
Steve wanted to gag, it was all too much. And likely too fake, too.
The music began as Billy waffled through his speech, so he raised his award and then was led off stage.
Robin gave them a strange look, but continued the rest of the show ignoring them.
She cornered them both and demanded to know what Steve said to Eddie that made him burst out laughing.
Steve shook his head. “I’ll tell you after I tell you what Joyce Byers told me before the show, because wooboy are we going to need something light to brighten the mood.” And then he explained her warnings.
“Did you hurt Nancy Wheeler in a former life or something?” Eddie asked with a scoff. “Dated her brother? Something, anything.”
Steve actually grimaced. “Not her brother, no. But our parents were friends and they set us up, I think her parents thought that dating a movie star would get her into places she wouldn’t have otherwise. Then when she cheated on me with...” he let out a pained sigh.
“Jonathan Byers,” Robin finished for him. “Though in Jon’s defense, she told him they had broken up when they had sex. They even dated for awhile before Jon found out about the cheating.”
“Holy shit,” Eddie hissed. “I would have dumped her too. My uncle always said never date a cheater because how they got you is how they’ll get the next one.”
Steve nodded. “Yeah, that what he said his mom said, too. Then of course Jon leaving her was my fault so she stalked me for awhile to try prove that it wasn’t her fault she cheated.”
“Oof,” Eddie muttered shaking his head. “So what, is she anti-LQBTQ now?”
Robin snorted. “That would hypocritical of her considering she’s got her own girlfriend, but it’s more that she’s gone down the leftist rabbit hole of only disabled people should play disabled people, trans people should play trans, gay should play gay... etc.”
Eddie’s eyes went wide. “It’s dickheads like her that made that one British actor come out as bi after playing a bi teenager. Like the kid was barely seventeen at the time but he was forced to come out just to stop the harassment.”
“Yeah,” Steve said with a nod, “and I think she’s smelling blood in the water.”
“Fuck!” Eddie said softly. “She’s not after you, she after me.”
Robin pursed her lips. “I’ll lunch with Bob, Chrissy, and Jim and see if we can’t form a unified statement.”
Eddie and Steve nodded.
“So what was it that you told Eddie that made such a scene?” she asked pulling her phone out of her purse.
Eddie and Steve shared a glance and then Steve said, “That he must have slept his way through the SAG-AFTRA voters.”
Robin blinked at them for a moment before nodding solemnly. “That tracks. The media likes to portray Stevie here as a slut, but I don’t think Billy’s gone to an event with the same woman twice.”
Steve grinned, feral. “They only do that because I’m gay and Billy’s straight. Trust me if the shoe was on the other foot, they would absolutely be painting Billy with the same brush.”
“True,” Eddie said. “At least a made a disappointing moment more fun.”
“Don’t worry, darlings,” Robin said, putting her phone away and then draping her arms over each of them. “There is always the Oscars!”
alright I've got to do some quick math to explain attitudes towards AI to my boss.
we're looking to create an AI policy, and when we were talking about this, my boss (older millennial) was genuinely shocked to hear that younger people do not (seem) to view AI positively (a la the recent commencement speakers being booed)
please rb for larger sample size!
Question 1/3
What is your age, and do you feel AI is a net positive or net negative in our lives today?
• Now or Never Moment by MysteriousMidnight | Eddie and Steve dated after the final battle with Vecna, until Eddie left to pursue his dream of becoming a rockstar. Years later, in the aftermath of yet more tragedy, Eddie reunites with Steve and attempts to make amends, but it's not without a few bumps along the way.
important tags: Omegaverse, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Past Relationship
• My Spring of Love by offbeatrinkydink | the one where Steve Harrington discovers some important new information about himself thanks to Eddie Munson's video rental history and is remarkably chill about it.
• The King is Dead by psuedo_anonymous | Three days suspended from Hawkins High taught Steve Harrington two things: he desperately needs to let go of the steering wheel, and only Eddie Munson knows how to take it from him.
important tags: Slow Burn, Identity Issues, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down
• beneath this empty sky by emmy_award | They meet in a club, like everyone does these days
important tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Single Parent Steve Harrington, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down
• Fragile (Handle With Care) by LexiRoseWrites | A love story from start to finish. Two people going from strangers to lovers. From hesitant glances to heated stares to loving embraces. Trauma recovery, falling in love, and starting a family together. The road is long and bumpy, but the destination is worth every mile.
important tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
• Kiss the Cook by Just_my_latest_hyperfixation | Between burst pipes, DnD campaigns, annoying influencers, and the shiny new mall project that is threatening their neighborhood, it's all a lot to deal with, but he guesses he'll just have to suck it up - pun, again, very much intended.
important tags: Alternate Universe - No Upside Down, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Restaurant
• Someone who cares by Just_my_latest_hyperfixation | The one in which Steve Harrington, overtired and over-stressed businessman and single dad, hires Eddie Munson as a nanny.
important tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down, Domestic Fluff
Steddie, who have only just started dating, so Eddie is still getting used to how affectionate Steve is.
Actually... scratch that.
Eddie can't get used to it. And he wishes for his own dignity he could get past his swooning when those Dreamboat Harrington tendencies capture him.
Especially now, after Steve all but sauntered up the driveway to greet him with a featherlight kiss on the cheek.
There isn't anyone around to witness this (thank god), as Eddie stands shell-shocked and speechless, watching as Steve wipes sweat from his brow and shakes his head, damp tousles curling like a babe out of an MTV music video.
Steve bounces his basketball, the noise jolting Eddie back into existence. He breathes heavy as he takes his boyfriend in, his greedy eye settling on an obscene pair of gym shorts.
Eddie squares his jaw, lips quivering as he grits his teeth.
so what if one time while Dustin was staying back a bit late at hellfire to help clean up because his momma raised him right, he's about to leave when Eddie stops him,
"Hey, idiot don't forget your dice." and he tosses the pouch at Dustin, who barely catches it because he's an unathletic loser. He scoffs and smiles anyway, "Thanks dad."
Before Eddie can process that, Dustin walks out, completely oblivious to the fact that he'd even said the D-word. Eddie stands there for way longer than he should, circling through pride, affection, and offense because he is NOT old enough to be a father!
A few weeks go by, Eddie pretty much forgets about it and chooses not to bring it up, because despite what everyone thinks, he isn't the biggest douchebag in the word. (He still is one of course but not the biggest!) Eddie forgets about it until another hellfire session is over, but Dustin took a little too long, and Steve Harrington comes marching into the school.
"Dude, I told you to be quick today! I promised Max and Lucas I'd take them to the movies!" The perfectly styled brunette started to scold, Eddie found himself a little hot under the collar as he glanced between Dustin and his much taller, much more attractive friend.
Dustin rolled his eyes, "Okay, okay, jesus, you're such a nag, mom." He added the "mom" mockingly, Harrington didn't even bristle. "I'm flattered to be compared to your mother, now move your ass." He demanded, dragging Dustin away by his bag.
Eddie was once again, stuck standing there for a little longer than he should've, before his feet were suddenly moving and he burst into the parking lot and luckily, somehow, Harrington and Dustin weren't in their cars yet.
"Henderson called me dad once!" He shouted over at them, a little out of breath. "If you're his mother I think I owe you a date! Or at least child support!" He called, giving Harrington a sharp grin even though a part of him was horrified at his own actions.
Dustin looked ten times more horrified than Eddie felt, but Steve just turned, glanced Eddie over, and paused. "That can be arranged." He smirked a little before getting in his car, Dustin followed, and even over the engine starting Eddie could hear the kid screeching about dignity or something.
They drove away but Eddie's heart was pounding louder than them turning out of the parking lot.
i think we should be ridiculing them more for this. you don't get to try and go all "queer website" when your staff likes to go on nuking sprees targeting the trans fem users
would be remiss not to mention that the rainbow notably straight up just removed the trans flag colors from it. like they’re gone. it’s the progress flag minus the trans flag colors.
Boom, baby! We are back! And with THE chapter! This is it guys. It's finally happening.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |
~
Steve watched as Mike made the roll for persuasion of Sir Cam. Or as the Party now knew him as, Kas the Bloody-handed.
Jeff’s character nearly throttled the half-human vampire when he learned that he had been leading them astray, but Sir Michaelis had asked for a chance.
A chance to turn the tide of the fight against Vecna.
Mike picked up the lucky die that Will had given him and rolled it.
It bounced along the table, tumbling and rolling until it landed on a seventeen. The barest minimum that Mike needed to convince Sir Cam to betray Vecna and he did it by the skin of his teeth.
Mike took a deep breath. “Kas...you were once a great paladin before Vecna took you and twisted you into this half vampire/half human form. But it is not who you are. I know the sword whispers to you. I have a pretty good idea what it says. But you can fight it. You can overcome. Be that great again.”
Eddie had to admit it was a pretty impassioned speech.
“Sir Camazotz rubs his chin thoughtfully and then nods, ‘I will help you end his reign of terror forever,’ and he pulls off the glove of his right hand, showing the blackened finger tips and claws. He holds it out to you to shake.”
Mike reached out and took Eddie’s hand. “We need your help more than ever. With his castle moving every day at dusk, we spend all day trying to figure out where it will land. But you know the pattern don’t you?”
Eddie looked up at Steve and the pair of them grinned. This was exactly what they had planned.
“Kas nods and says, ‘There are twelve regions that he lands in and it’s based on the hour of a clock. Today was the Bone Marsh and tomorrow will be the Sable Wood.”
“God damn it!” Danny growled. “That’s on the other side of the world! There is no way we can get there in time!”
Eddie smiled. “I didn’t mention the other places on the clock.”
The whole table went silent and Steve cackled with delight.
It was Brian who got it first. “Wait a god damned minute. Steven Harrington, have you been doing more than just providing materials for the campaign? Have you been helping our beloathed DM plan the story too?”
The four freshman gasped in unholy glee and they began giggling.
“Oh, god,” Jeff said, throwing his head back. “Yeah, okay. Now I see why Eddie got so defensive about the moving castle. It was Steve’s idea and he didn’t want him upset.”
Steve ducked his head, but didn’t deny it. Eddie just shrugged because to him it wasn’t a big deal.
“That is by far the coolest thing ever,” Mike said wistfully. “Steve gets to use his knowledge of D&D without having to worry about DM’ing to a large group for his first time!”
“Yeah!” Will cried. “Way to go Steve. It’s the little things that you added that made the adventure so much cooler!”
“Oh, gentlemen,” Eddie said, leaning back and putting hands behind his head, fingers laced, “you are looking at the architect of the campaign. I am but its humble builder.”
Steve ducked his head, blushing to the tips of his ears. “He’s exaggerating. I was barely involved.”
Dustin and Lucas gasped.
“Steve! Was that a ‘Lord of the Rings’ reference?” Lucas cackled with glee.
Steve batted his eyelashes innocently at them. “I don’t know what you mean.”
The entire table roared with laughter.
“Well,” Danny said shaking his head, “I don’t know about anyone else, but thank you! This campaign has been the most fun I’ve ever had playing D&D. This not a knock on Eddie’s skills as a DM. He weaves a story like nothing and no one else. But add Steve’s technical know-how and it made for one hell of an epic game.”
Eddie nodded solemnly. “I concur. Steve did a lot of the heavy lifting here. I could spend more time writing a good story because I didn’t have to spend hours and hours upon end trying to find the right balance of fun and challenge.”
Steve’s blush got even darker. “Come on, guys. It’s really not that big of a deal. I have to do something with all the stuff I have and if that means helping Eddie, then that’s the right thing to do.”
“You’re a good man, Steve Harrington,” Jeff said nodded seriously. “And I’ll personally fight anyone who says otherwise.”
Dustin’s grin nearly split his face. “Aww... I don’t think I’ve seen Steve’s face so red before!”
Steve politely excused himself and made a mad dash for the kitchen.
Dustin stood up to follow him, but Eddie waved him down. “He’s just not used to our effulgent praise. Give him a moment to collect himself and he’ll be back out in no time at all.”
Lucas cocked his head to the side. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Steve so... not embarrassed exactly...”
“Flustered,” Danny said with a huff of laughter. “You’re looking for the word flustered.”
Lucas snapped his fingers. “That’s it!”
Mike snorted and shook his head. “I’ve seen him this flustered before.”
“There is no fucking way,” Dustin growled, slamming his fist on the table. “Steve is the epitome of cool!”
“Not when he’s around someone he has a crush on,” Mike said smugly. “He acted like this around Nancy before they started dating.”
“Oh!” Dustin said cocking his head to the side. “That’s what he meant by keeping your distance at first, it’s because he’s actually shy at first and let’s them come to him. That’s why his flirting doesn’t work!”
“As thrilling as this all is,” Eddie said, shaking his head with a fond smile, “I’d like to get back to Sir Michaelis convincing Kas to becoming the Betrayer, please!”
They all settled back into the game and sure enough Steve came back out a few minutes later with cookies.
Eddie smiled up at him and Steve smiled back. Yeah. Steve Harrington was more than okay in his book.
~
Eddie was freaking out. He had D&D in twenty minutes and he had lost his voice. There were only a couple of sessions left and it was too late to cancel this one because he knew that everyone would already be there. He couldn’t even call to explain the situation it was that bad. There was nothing for it, he was just going to have show up and hope everyone understood.
He drove over to Steve’s in silence. He was even too depressed to turn on his music. He pulled up to the house and sure enough there were a shit ton of cars out front and the lawn was riddled with bikes.
He was the last to arrive.
He knocked on the door, pained and waited. Steve answered the door with grin, but it slid off when he saw how upset Eddie was.
“Hey, Eds,” Steve murmured when he saw the forlorn expression and the big puppy dog eyes, “what’s wrong?”
“CAN’T TALK!” he whisper screamed.
Steve blinked at him for a moment. “Ah! Don’t worry about a thing, I’ve got this on lock.”
Eddie wanted to ask what he had on lock, but Steve was sitting him down in his chair at the head of the table, explaining to everyone Eddie had lost his voice, but not to worry, he had a plan. Then he vanished into the kitchen for about ten minutes before coming out again with a steaming mug.
He sat it down in front of Eddie and then pulled up a chair next to Eddie.
“Uh, Steve...” Lucas said exchanging glances with different members of the club, “what are you doing?”
“Simple!” Steve said with a bright grin, “Eddie can’t speak, but I know this campaign as well as he does, so he’s going to give me his notes and I’m going to follow his directions so you guys still get a game tonight!”
Dustin cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure you’re ready to handle all of us?”
“Sure!” he replied. “Besides I’m just the mouth piece, it’s still Eddie’s notes and stuff, I’m just providing the voice.”
They all kinda looked around at each other.
“I’m down,” Danny said with a shrug. “Because the alternative is no D&D and I want to see how Steve can handle it.”
“All in favor?” Jeff asked, raising his hand. And instantly every hand went up. “The ayes have it. Let’s do this, Steve. Show us what you’ve got.”
Steve grinned and Eddie just sat there stunned, holding his mug of...he took a sip and nearly moaned when the flavors of peppermint and honey hit his tongue.
That was when he noticed that somehow Steve had found a blanket to wrap him in, so he snuggled deeper into the warm fabric.
Things were actually going pretty well, until the party turned left when they should have turned right. Instead of going to the base of the volcano where Eddie had planned the fight to occur, they had instead wandered into a marsh.
Eddie was stumped. He had no idea what to do. If they didn’t have a fight here there would be little to no experience for the night, and they needed that to get to the level they needed to be for the finale.
But Steve was on top of it. He was scrambling through the notes and when he found what he was looking for he gave a little cry of ‘Eureka!’
He showed it to Eddie and his eyes went wide, nodding emphatically. That was perfect!
Steve cleared his throat. “I want everyone to make a knowledge nature check.”
Everyone made their rolls and enough of them succeeded for Steve to say, “You recognize the signs of a Shambling Mound. Roll initiative!”
Everyone scrambled to do as they were told. They rattled off the numbers and battle began.
Taylor and Brian shared knowing smirks as Steve crafted a battle that was challenging and exciting.
By the end of the night, everyone was talking about the duo DM and how cool it was. They had something to brag about now. Most people had multiple DMs but how many of them had two at the same time?
Just the Hellfire Club, that’s who.
Afterwards it was just Eddie and Steve, everyone had pitched in and cleaned up, leaving the two boys alone.
Eddie raised up his fourth cup of peppermint tea. “Thanks for this, by the way,” he croaked.
“He speaks!” Steve said dramatically and then waved him off. “It was no trouble, can’t have our DM losing his voice before the finale.” He snapped his fingers. “Speaking of which, since we’re having it here, Erica was wondering if we could deal her in for the last battle. She already has a story lined up with why she’s showing up at the last moment.”
“Sure,” he creaked. “The more the merrier.”
Steve nodded and the paused. “How did you lose your voice anyway?” he said replacing Eddie’s now tepid cup with one that was actively steaming.
Eddie took a long sip of the tea, reveling in its soothing affects. “I may or may have not been practicing my scream singing last night.”
Steve’s eyebrows shot up. “And you thought this was a good idea to do the night before a session?”
Eddie blushed, the red going all the way to the roots of his hair and down the column of his throat. “It’s not usually this bad. It’ll be a little rough in the morning but–” he was forced to stop as his voice ran out of strength.
“But this time it didn’t come back,” Steve finished shaking his head. “You absolute dork.”
Eddie pulled a strand of hair in front of his face and ducked his head. He nodded, then took another sip of his tea, letting the steam hide the red of his cheeks.
Steve leaned on the counter, head propped up on both hands. “Though it did make for a fun session.”
Eddie barked out a rough laugh. “Yeah.”
They sat in warm silence for a while before he muttered, “When you pulled out that Shambling Mound for the marshes, God... I wanted to kiss you.”
Steve sighed wistfully. “I really wish you would.”
Eddie stared at him for a moment, before he got to his feet, setting down his mug. He came around the counter and Steve straightened up.
He cupped Steve cheek and pressed their lips together. Steve let out a shuddering breath of relief before he deepened the kiss. Their hands came up to pull the other closer until they were flushed together.
Steve felt like he was coming home at last. Eddie felt like he was soaring. They were both right.
I sometimes feel that I'm not doing enough with my life, but at least I grew my first two arms significantly before a cactus would have been expected to.
Finally finished this! I just couldn't get over this ice cream called Bubble O' Bill. Max picked it for Billy and for Steve the Fat Frog and I wanted to draw it. (Yes they started to share clothes XD) This is for my fan fiction "Leaving Hawkins" chapter 18! I experimented a little with cover art design ideas and ended up liking none of them but put them under the cut anyway X3
Since it's not really a cover art by design, I will just leave it as a piece of the chapter.
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