For The Fic Writers, Eddie Munsons Car Is A 1977 GMC G2500 Gaucho

We know that Facebook is brainscorching your parents and tiktok is brainscorching your cousins, but some of you refuse to admit that you got your brain scorched here. However unlike those sites there isn't an algorithm here you just make bad choices.

My biggest tip for fanfic writers is this: if you get a character's mannerisms and speech pattern down, you can make them do pretty much whatever you want and it'll feel in character.

Logic: Characters, just like real people, are mallable. There is typically very little that's so truly, heinously out of character that you absolutely cannot make it work under any circumstance. In addition, most fans are also willing to accept characterization stretches if it makes the fic work. Yeah, we all know the villain and the hero wouldn't cuddle for warmth in canon. But if they did do that, how would they do it?

What counts is often not so much 'would the character do this?' and more 'if the character did do this, how would they do it?' If you get 'how' part right, your readers will probably be willing to buy the rest, because it will still feel like their favourite character. But if it doesn't feel like the character anymore, why are they even reading the fic?

Worry less about whether a character would do something, and more about how they'd sound while doing it.

Uni.

Jealousy Looks Different On You

[Part One] ✨ [You Are Here] ✨ [Part Three]

Steve can be a jealous man. He can be.

Just not in the same way that Eddie seems to thrive on it. Steve doesn't have a right to jealousy outside a relationship, so even if he feels jealous, he'll never act on it.

He thought it was just one of the many ways Eddie and he were incompatible romantically.

It was the same song and dance when they'd go out. Eddie would drag someone onto the dance floor and spend most of the dance making eyes at Steve until his catch of the night got jealous enough to pull Eddie out of eyesight.

Steve is used to that. That's the routine.

Except.

Well, except Eddie's broken the routine now, hasn't he?

Flipped the entire script by saying the things Steve has wanted to hear for years. I wouldn’t have rejected you and Jesus, Steve, you’re the only one I’ve really wanted.

Steve knows Eddie well enough to know that Eddie believes he's telling the truth or believes he really does want what he's saying to be the truth.

And now, sitting in silence in the back of a taxi that Eddie's gotten them, Steve can't bring himself to hope about it. Eddie's not a liar, as far as Steve knows, but that doesn't mean he actually wants Steve. Not for real. Not in the long run.

Steve can't give Eddie all the things Eddie seems to enjoy most. He's heard enough about Eddie's sex life to know they aren't super compatible in that department. And as far as he knows, Eddie's never even had a relationship. Just one-night stands and friends with benefits situations, which, y'know, Steve's not judging him about because Steve had all that once, too.

And maybe it's shitty of him to think but because Eddie's never been in a long-term monogamous relationship, Steve's not sure that one between them will work.

Okay. It's a lot shitty for him to think.

There's no real basis for Steve to think this other than that everything Steve wants out of a relationship, Eddie's shown him he wants the exact opposite.

Maybe Steve's just thinking shitty thoughts because it's easier than hoping that this might work.

The ride to the apartment is awkward only for Steve. They can't exactly talk about liking each other romantically in the back of a taxi where a stranger can clearly hear them, so they don't. Instead, Eddie chats up the cabbie about everything and anything that comes to his mind and Steve sits with just his thoughts.

Which are not being kind.

God, he's kind of a shitty person, isn't he?

Steve lets them both into the apartment and it feels different now. It's not like Eddie's never been in Steve's apartment. Hell, he's been sleeping in his old room for this whole 'break from the LA stress' he's taken. Has been here three days already, so this isn't even the first time this week that Steve's let them both into the apartment.

It's just different now that Eddie knows. Steve's been living his life with the assumption that Eddie knew but now he knows and everything is different.

"You, uh, want a beer?" Steve asks as he toes off his shoes, stalling because he doesn't know how to start this conversation. Isn't even sure he wants to because having this conversation means there is no going back. He won't be able to unsay these things, Eddie won't be able to unhear them. It'll be out there. All his hurt and love and fear and hope.

"Steve," is all Eddie says, in a tone that says 'we need to talk'.

So, Steve swallows thickly, nods, and heads for the living room. It's so stupid but he suddenly feels exposed, so he picks up a throw pillow from the couch before he plops onto it. He turns completely sideways, back to the armrest of the couch and legs crossed, pillow in his lap to act as a barrier of some sort. Something to feel less exposed.

Eddie takes longer to join him because, unlike Steve, he'd gotten completely done up for the bar and that includes full lace up combat boots that he can't easily slip out of.

Eddie finally joins him in the living room, pausing when he sees Steve before he moves to sit on the couch, one leg folded under him and the other on the floor. He leaves a respectable foot of distance between them and Steve's not sure if he's disappointed by that or not.

There is a tense silence that falls on them, neither brave enough to really begin the conversation that could be the end of everything.

"Steve, I- I don't even know where to start, man," Eddie finally says, running a hand through his hair.

"Me either," Steve says, looking down and picking at the pillow. "You were the one who said we needed to talk."

"Because we do?" Eddie sounds confused. "I, fuck man, I basically accused you of being in love with me and you confirmed it. We gotta talk about that."

Steve frowns because he doesn't agree. They don't have to talk about it. As far as Steve was concerned, they've been successfully not talking about it for years. Nothing has really changed from Steve's perspective. "What's there to talk about?"

"That you love me! And that I was, am, in love with you, too! That feels like a big deal!" Eddie cries, voice not loud enough to bother the neighbors yet but he can easily get that way. "You- why don't you seem as happy about this as I am?"

"Because I'm not," Steve says, stern and biting as he finally looks up from the pillow. "How am I supposed to be happy about this? This is going to change everything between us. Everything! And I've been- I've made peace with how this wasn't- with how things were between us."

Eddie stares back at him, eyes wide and mouth agape in his shock. It takes him a moment to recover. "I don't... understand. Why, why aren't you happy? Of course this will change things between us, but you make it sound like it'll be for the worse? I thought-"

"What? You thought you'd tell me you love me too and I'd jump into your arms?"

"Well, kinda," Eddie starts, but Steve doesn't want to hear it.

"I can't! Eddie, I can't. I'm not- I-I get that you, that you've just realized I loved you, but I've been living with the assumption that you already knew. I thought you knew for years. And now you're sitting here, telling me that you've felt the same. What, this whole time?"

"Yes! For longer, probably!" Eddie argues back, anger and hurt mixing on his face. "I've never known you to not go after the person you want, so why did you say anything sooner?"

"Why didn't you!?" Steve shouts, feeling the heat of tears in his eyes. He throws the pillow at Eddie and jumps from the couch to pace the living room. "We lived together for years! And I watched as you brought home guy after guy after guy. I listened as you waxed poetry about the perfect man for you; a fellow metalhead who would want to go to concerts with you, someone who'd play DnD with you and enjoyed your other nerd things, and-and-and," Steve stutters over the word, fighting back making a sobbing sound because it's one thing to let Eddie see his tears; it's an entirely different thing to let him hear the whole sob-fest Steve's fight back. "And a laundry list of all the kinks they have to b-be into so you don't get bored. I- God, you'd laid out your incredibly long list of standards that I didn't fit before I'd even realized I liked men. That I liked you! Why would I even try when I already knew I'd never measure up?"

He's pacing still. Movement helps him push the urge to cry down and makes the tears dry up. It takes him a while to realize that there's been no answer from Eddie. So, Steve finally gets his emotions under control and turns to look at the couch, to see Eddie's response.

He's not expecting to see tears falling down Eddie's own cheeks and wearing a face of heartbreak and regret.

Eddie is devastated over a Grindr match that ghosted him. It’s been a couple weeks now that Steve 23, seemed to be offline. He scouted the app, thinking the guy’s phone might have broken down, maybe he had to make a new account. But there was nothing. He forced Gareth to download the app, because maybe he did something wrong, maybe Steve blocked him. 

Still nothing. 

He had no way of knowing that his crush went by Stevie now, and has migrated to Tinder. Or how she was constantly thinking about Eddie 25, feeling shitty about leading him on, letting him believe she was a cis guy. 

Rabbit Hole

God, never Google when Season 5 of Stranger Things is coming out. I just wanted the release date, clicked on a link, then another… and suddenly there was fan art… and now I’m on page seven of AO3, deep in Steve/Eddie. Have you seen how long their fics are? What even is this? I have never seen a fandom so collectively committed to the idea that writing anything under 10k words is for the weak.

God, now I desperately want to write something for them, but I know if my fic is under the unspoken yet sacred threshold, I’ll be exiled from the fandom. God.

Bless this fandom. Seriously. You guys are amazing.

Steve's first game.

Eddie — Dungeon Master, game host

Steve — Paladin in D&D

Eddie: You enter a public bathhouse. Right by the entrance, a security guard is sitting with a crossword puzzle in hand. Behind the counter stands a female gnome with bold makeup and a name tag. Behind her, a rack with keys numbered 1 to 3—though there are no actual keys in sight...

Dustin: Well, Steve, go talk to her! Steve: About what? Lucas: Come on, you’re the dashing paladin in our party. Use that charisma! Steve: What am I even supposed to say?! Eddie (playing the gnome girl): Hey, hey, boys! Welcome to the bathhouse! Steve: Hold on, hold on… uh… Madam… (Steve frantically checks his character sheet, searching for something useful in his inventory.) Steve: I… uh… I need to put on my sunglasses, or else… (dramatically gazes at Eddie) I’ll be blinded by your beauty.

Party: Oooooh!!! Eddie, choking on air: Uh… roll for Persuasion. D20. Steve: No, no! I’m not trying to seduce her! I’m just giving her a compliment! Lucas and Dustin: What do you mean?! Steve, we need information! Steve: This is gonna go sideways, and then you’ll all blame me for ruining the game! Mike: Steve, I really hope your "success" with girls doesn’t carry over into DnD. Just roll already! Steve, sighing: This hasn’t been my strong suit for a while now. (Eddie stifles a laugh, but Dustin’s loud exclamation drowns it out.)

Dustin: Steve, I know dating hasn’t been your thing for a long time, even though I keep telling you about Robin! But right now, you need to get information from the gnome girl! Steve: Fine, just out of curiosity—will my words actually work? Lucas: You have +6 to Persuasion! (Steve rolls the die… and gets a 1.)

Party: CRITICAL FAILURE!!! Steve: I told you! I TOLD YOU! Eddie (as the gnome girl): I’m calling security! Hey, I’m being harassed! Help! (The guard is already rushing toward the group.)

Lucas: I grab Paladin-Steve by the arm, pull him aside, and try to apologize to the gnome girl. “Miss, please, listen… He’s lil nontraditional…” Steve: Wait! Wait! Eddie (in character): The security guard is closing in on you, Steve. Steve: I can’t perform under pressure! But now… Now! (Steve suddenly lowers his voice to a sultry tone and locks eyes with Munson.)

Steve: Mmm… what do we have here? My, you’re so handsome… I’m so glad I put on my glasses earlier, or your smile would have blinded me. (Eddie turns red.)

Eddie: Roll for Persuasion. Charisma. (Steve rolls… and gets a 20.)

Party: AAAAHHHH!!! CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! Mike: Steve, we asked you to get information from the gnome girl, and instead, you seduced the guard! Will, baffled: You didn’t want to flirt with the girl, but you ended up seducing the guard… (Eddie, regretting ever convincing Steve to play, sighs heavily.)

Eddie (as the guard, now smitten): The security guard smiles at the paladin, gazing at him with newfound admiration. He reaches out, gently takes off Steve’s sunglasses, and whispers, “I have already burned under the sun of your beauty. Join me. We barely know each other, but I must ask… will you be with me, now and forever?”

Steve, completely forgetting the game: Yes. Eddie, also forgetting the game: …Yes? Steve: Yes.

This is not entirely my idea, but partly a retelling of a real game in D&D

i hope the person who made the romeo and juliet uquiz never deletes it and also knows that i think about it at least once a month

Dragon!Steve whose parents won't let him have any sort of hoard. As soon as he managed to start one they confiscated/threw out/sold what ever it was. He used to try and fight back but he was just a kid so he lost every time and eventually stopped trying

Til the party comes around and while unconventional he realized his parents can't take these little twerps away from him that they'd fight to stay with him just as much as heed fight to keep them

while they share a similar base flavor, dick tastes more umami while pussy tastes more acidic, though recent menstruation conveys an overwhelming metallic flavor that some diners object to (though i am not one of them). recommended wine pairings are