#ihni writes

[ihni]

The sound of the doorbell is what wakes him. The morning sun is shining in through the window, hitting the messy curls on the pillow next to him and making them shine like gold. The sight makes him smile, and his first instinct is to reach over and brush the curls away from his boyfriend’s face. There’s nothing better than getting to watch him wake up, after all; watch those blue eyes flutter open and squint against the light.

The doorbell rings again before he can act on his urge, though. It is followed by loud knocking, which rouses the body next to Steve; unfortunately in a less peaceful way than Steve had imagined. Billy’s eyes shoot open and he tenses as he immediately takes in where he is, and with who. Wide, blue eyes meet Steve’s.

“Shit!” he says and is halfway out of bed before Steve can even react, pulling a shirt – Steve’s, not that it matters – over his head. “It’s Neil!”

Steve has just opened his mouth to protest, say that it’s not – it can’t be, Neil doesn’t know about them – when there’s a knock again, and an angry man’s voice drifts up from outside.

And it is indeed Neil’s voice.

Shit.

Steve jumps out of bed too and nabs for the other shirt that’s been discarded on the floor – but no, no, he can’t show up at the door wearing Billy’s shirt, he can’t, so he drops it again before hurrying to his closet. He pulls on an old T-shirt, and then whirls around and grabs Billy’s face between his hands. Billy’s face, which has gone ashen with fear.

“Stay here,” Steve says. “I’ll get rid of him. It’ll be okay.”

He turns and walks out of the room, squaring his shoulders as he goes. In his periphery, he sees Heather’s head peek out of the guest room that she and Robin stumbled into late last night while blushing and giggling, but he ignores her as he makes his way to the stairs.

The knocking and shouting continues, sending equal measures of anger and fear down Steve’s spine. How did the man know to come here? Billy said he’d told him that he was going to a party last night; said that he wasn’t even given a curfew. The man would have had no reason to suspect that the party was in fact a very private affair at Steve’s place, with just him and Billy and Robin and Heather – a safe place, as all of them knew about each other’s preferences by now – and definitely would have had no reason to show up on Steve’s doorstep this early in the morning. As far as Steve knows, Billy’s dad doesn’t even know Steve by name, and shouldn’t know where he lives.

He’s halfway down the stairs when a hand grasps his arm.

“Don’t,” Billy says, voice shaking. Steve turns – he’s standing a step below Billy, so he has to look up to face him – and sees that Billy’s shaking his head. “Don’t open the door.”

He’s scared, Steve realizes. Really scared.

From outside the door, they can now make out Neil’s angry words between the bouts of knocking. “I know he’s in there! Open the door. William!”

Billy is just standing there, still holding on to Steve’s arm. His eyes are big and pleading. He’s obviously terrified, and it feels so wrong. No one who has fought monsters with the same fervor as Billy should ever have to be scared of a mere human.

A calm settles over Steve, followed by resolve. He gently extricates himself from Billy’s grip – ignoring the way Billy trembles – and says, “Don’t worry. I won’t let him hurt you again.”

He continues down the stairs, but Billy shoulders past him and blocks his way. Puts both hands on Steve’s chest and pushes. “I don’t care if he hurts me,” he hisses. “But he’s dangerous.” The man yells some threats from the other side of the door and knocks again. Rattles the door handle for emphasis, this time. Billy flinches and looks over his shoulder before continuing, “I don’t want him to hurt you.”

“He’s not going to hurt me,” Steve says. He doesn’t know that for sure, but he can’t imagine it. This is his house, or, well, his parents’. Neil is the one who’s trespassing. And Steve knows the Chief of Police.

He walks past his boyfriend and crosses the hall. A hand lands on his shoulder again. Not forcing him to stop or trying to hold him back; just there. Imploring.

“Please,” Billy begs, and it pierces Steve’s heart like a knife because Billy doesn’t beg.

Billy, acting like this, is not right. The man on the other side of the door has brought Billy too much pain already. This has to end. And that end starts now. By getting rid of the immediate threat.

They’ll figure out the rest later.

Steve walks on. Stops in front of the door and only then realizes that Billy’s standing there with him, still with a hand on his shoulder. He’s watching Steve with big, wet eyes and shaking his head silently. Don’t do this, he doesn’t say out loud. Please, just ignore him.

But Steve can’t. Not this time. Not when the man is ranting on his doorstep on a Saturday morning, threatening to break in. Not when Billy’s standing here next to Steve, shaking with terror.

Billy is not getting hurt by that man in Steve’s house. If Neil tries to set one foot inside, Steve will kill him.

Steve reaches for the door, and with his other hand, he pushes Billy up against the wall just inside the door. Close enough to touch, but out of sight of his irate father. He can feel Billy’s heart beat frantically under his hand, and silently vows that this is the last time. This is the last time Billy is afraid.

He breathes in deeply and takes a second to slip into spoiled rich-boy mode. Then he opens the door.

“What?” he drawls, unimpressed. He gives the man outside a contemptuous look. The man draws himself up to say something, but Steve doesn’t let him speak. “Do you know what time it is? It’s Saturday, man. Some people are trying to sleep.”

Neil Hargrove is proper; not a hair out of place. It’s the first thing Steve thinks as he sees him up close – he has seen the man from a distance at times and listened in on the occasional phone call between him and Billy, but Billy has never let Steve even get close to the house on Cherry Lane when he knows that his dad is home.

The man is of average build and doesn’t look particularly dangerous from an outsider’s point of view, but there’s something cold in his eyes that sends shivers of fear down Steve’s spine when he’s pinned under Neil’s gaze. He doesn’t let his discomfort show, though; just lets the man take in Steve’s appearance fully – his messy hair, the way he’s just wearing a shirt and underwear, and how he’s obviously just got out of bed – and waits for him to speak.

“I know he’s here,” Neil growls – actually growls, like an animal. Steve sees movement out of the corner of his eye but doesn’t dare glance to where Billy’s huddling up against the wall. Instead he leans against the side of the door, placing himself more firmly between Billy and his dad.

He has seen the bruises on Billy’s skin and he has hated that he has to let Billy go back to that house time and again, but this is the first time he truly sees what Billy faces at home. He thinks, idly, that he won’t be able to let Billy go back there again.

“What are you talking about?” he asks, and tries to make it sound as if he thinks the man isn’t all there in the head. By the way Neil’s face turns darker, he succeeds.

“My son, William. I know he’s here.”

“William,” Steve deadpans, as if it’s a word he has never uttered before. He raises one eyebrow. “Look, there’s no William here, man. You’ve got the wrong address. Go yell at someone else’s door. Or don’t, I don’t care. Just go away.”

He starts to close the door, but Neil’s hand shoots out and stops him. He doesn’t move to go inside, but he’s holding the door without letting it close, and staring at Steve with narrowed eyes. A challenge. A threat.

“I’m not leaving without my son.”

So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?

Steve draws himself up and narrows his own eyes as he stares back. He manages to dial back on the disgust, but some of it must shine through because he can feel himself sneering. “Who are you again?” he asks. Flippantly.

“My name is Neil Hargrove,” Neil says, pronouncing every syllable with obvious annoyance. Good. “And my son, William –“

“You mean Billy?” Steve says, letting surprise color his voice. “You’re Billy’s dad?” He doesn’t let the man answer, instead he lets out an incredulous laugh. “You think Billy is here?”

“His car is parked down the road,” Neil seethes, and oh. “You’re on the basketball team with him. And I know what he’s like. He’s a dirty little faggot who –“

Steve lets his face shut down. Slips on the mask that he has seen on his parent’s faces on many occasions during boring parties and work functions. The ‘do you know who I am’ persona. His voice is ice cold when he speaks.

“I’m not sure what you are insinuating, Mr. Hargrove, but if I were you, I’d stop talking.” Something like uncertainty flickers in Neil’s eyes. Steve drinks it in. “I don’t know if you know my parents –“ He nods to the brass plaque next to the door with ‘Harrington’ etched into it “– but I’m sure they won’t be too impressed when they hear that some lunatic showed up at their door on a Saturday morning, accusing their only son of being …” He holds Neil’s eye. Can’t – won’t – say the word the man used, not with Billy behind the door. “… a deviant.”

Disgust is dripping from his voice – disgust over this sorry excuse for a human, disgust over the fact that he has to deal with this at all – but that lends him credibility in this particular instance. He sounds just like an offended rich boy. An offended rich boy with influence.

As if on cue – which it most likely is, since Steve suspects that the girls have been listening in for some time now – there are soft steps behind him on the stairs, and Robin’s voice drifts out from behind him, “Steve? What’s going on?”

He lets the door open just a little bit wider under the guise of turning around, allowing Neil Hargrove to see Robin. Robin, whose hair is also sleep-mussed, and who is wearing an oversized button-up shirt. It’s not Steve’s – she must have taken it from his dad’s closet – but Neil doesn’t know that. She paints a perfect picture of a confused girlfriend who just woke up to the sounds of yelling, and Steve is so grateful that he’s friends with her.

“Nothing, baby,” he says, softening his voice. “Go back to bed.”

Robin hesitates with one more look at Neil. Licks her lips, as if she’s worried. “Should I … call someone? The police, or …?”

Perfect. Thank you for the assist, Robin.

“No, there’s no need to bother Jim this early in the morning,” Steve says, making sure to use Hopper’s first name, and turns back to face Neil. Neil, whose face has paled. Who has possibly started to realize that he may have messed up. Steve gives him a stiff smile and lets his voice go cold again as he continues, “Mr. Hargrove here was just leaving. Isn’t that right, Mr. Hargrove?”

Too proud or too angry to say it out loud, the man just gives a jerky nod and steps back. Steve will take it, as long as he leaves.

Starting to close the door again, Steve sneaks one glance at Billy’s pale face an arms-length away, and adds, in a sudden bout of inspiration.

“Oh, and if you’re looking for Billy in Loch Nora –“ He gives Neil, who’s half-turned to leave, a slow once-over, showing just enough disdain to make it clear that someone like Neil Hargrove doesn’t belong in this part of town, “– then I suggest you try the Holloways next. I think I saw him with their daughter Heather at the party last night.” He gives a sardonic little smile at the way Neil Hargrove’s face shutters. Everyone’s heard of the Holloways, just as everyone’s heard of the Harringtons. “I’m sure Tom and Janet will appreciate being disturbed on a Saturday morning just as much as I have. Who knows, it might get you a mention in the Post.”

With that, he shuts the door in Neil Hargrove’s face and locks it, and turns to his wide-eyed boyfriend. Who hasn’t moved from his space behind the door.

He ignores both Robin running out into the kitchen on silent feet – probably to make sure that Neil Hargrove actually leaves – and Heather coming downstairs, in favor of putting his hands on the sides of Billy’s face and lean in so their foreheads are touching. Billy is shivering and his breaths are uneven, but he reaches up and grabs at Steve’s wrist and the back of his head with something akin to desperation.

“I can’t believe you,” he whispers. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy about you,” Steve says, and is rewarded with a shaky little laugh.

“Shit,” Billy breathes. “I was so scared, Steve. I thought he was gonna –”

“But he didn’t.”

They stand there for a little while, just looking at each other. Holding each other and breathing each other’s air. Gradually, Billy’s tremors subside. His heart rate slows.

Eventually, Robin comes back into the hall and announces, “He’s gone. Got in his car and left.” She adds, pointedly, “Didn’t look like he was heading for the Holloways’, either.”

Steve looks at her and then drifts his eyes over to Heather, who’s sitting on the second to last step on the stairs, looking at them with one eyebrow raised. He winces. “Yeah … uh, sorry about that, I guess. I should have asked first.”

“You should,” Heather agrees. “But you didn’t, which means that you owe me one.” She looks between Steve and Billy and says, “I would have agreed if you’d asked, but you know. You still owe me.”

Steve laughs. Heather turns to Billy and points one well-manicured finger at him. “So I guess we’re dating now, you and I. I hope you know that I expect to be wooed.”

After Billy gives her a little salute, she nods and turns to Robin. Smiles lewdly as she takes in her appearance in the oversized shirt. “You look good in that,” she says, biting her lip. “Let’s see what other fun clothes we can find in that closet.”

The girls disappear up the stairs, giggling. Steve has a suspicion that his parents’ closet are going to be in complete disarray soon, but can’t bring himself to care. It’s a small price to pay.

“Do you want to go back to bed, too?” Steve asks, and belatedly realizes what it sounds like. “To sleep some more, I mean!” he adds. Because a Neil Hargrove scare first thing in the morning is probably not exactly a turn-on. “Or do you want breakfast? I can make breakfast. We have –“

“I want to go back to bed,” Billy says, thankfully cutting off the rambling.

“Okay,” Steve says and reaches out for his hand. When Billy’s hand slots into his, is it perfectly steady. No more tremors. “Okay, let’s do that.”

But Billy shakes his head. “I don’t wanna sleep, though.”

“… no?”

Billy’s looking at him through his lashes – his ridiculously long lashes, which he knows is Steve’s Kryptonite – and gives a small smile.

“Not gonna lie, babe. That was a terrifying experience. But …” He takes a step closer, brushes the lightest of kisses against Steve’s lip before leaning in and whispering in his ear, “… the way you shut him down like that, that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Then he abruptly turns and sashays away, but not before giving Steve’s butt a quick squeeze as he passes.

He stops at the bottom of the stairs with one hand on the bannister, and looks over his shoulder all seductively. “You coming?”

Oh, Steve is coming, all right.

He chases Billy up the stairs. (And this time, when he catches him, he’ll hold onto him and never let him go back to that house again.)

#harringrove #steve harrington #billy hargrove #buckleway #heather holloway #robin buckley #stranger things #harringrove fic #ihni writes #got this scenario stuck in my head and had to write it down #wrote it over the course of a few hours #:)

[elysiumwaits]

Harringrove for C, or just Billy for P?

Billy Hargrove is desperate for touch. Steve can tell by the way Billy's fingers wriggle under the hem of his shirt whenever he's close enough (and Billy is always close enough). Blunt fingernails will scratch lightly at his lower back when he's fighting with the coffeemaker on the counter, before Billy even says "hi" or "fuck you" or anything. And then, he'll just rest them there, the slightest touch of skin on skin, like Billy can't help but reach over and soak up Steve's warmth, like he can't stand not to be touching Steve.

And like, Steve actually listens when Robin tells him about her psychology classes and her papers and shit. He's had an experience or two himself, of course, so he's not exactly a stranger to trauma. So he understands that Billy might actually hunger for it, in that nebulous way that Steve tosses concepts around in his brain. He gets it in that same unspoken way that he gets why Billy doesn't talk to his dad and why Max spends a lot of time at their place instead of home. 

But he doesn't know what to do with it.

The truth is that Steve? Steve also longs for touch, loves to get his hands on Billy. But after a little bit, Steve can't stand the feeling, tries to twist away because sometimes, the simple brush of Billy's fingers against his skin sends shocks skittering through his skin. 

"It's good," he tries to explain. It's important to him that Billy knows Steve wants the touch as much as Billy wants to give it. "It's just... too much. Sometimes? Like, it's so good it almost hurts."

And Billy says, soothingly, "You don't have to explain, baby." Later, when they're curled around each other on top of the blankets and half-asleep, he'll add that he likes touching something without also having to destroy it. 

#harringrove #my writing #ihni! #ely writes

[disdaidal]

Touch starved roommates, touch starved ROOMMATES!

Oh 🙊 This is one of my favorite tropes, honestly. I've also loved writing this one (even if it's not a ST ship, but anyway).

This turned out a bit long (I was supposed to post a small snippet only) but oh well:

—

Slowly, Cloud started running his long, slender fingers through Zack's hair again. Massaging the scalp underneath with gentle, rotating motions. The blond tried his best not to gawk at his gorgeous raven-haired friend whose head rested comfortably on his lap. Bright blue eyes speckled with mako green, half-lidded and hazy—long dark eyelashes spread like a curtain around them—, stirring prettily every time Cloud's fingers hit the spot. Cloud bit his lower lip and barely held back a whine when Zack's eyes closed, and the other man suddenly hummed deep and low in his throat. A sound which vibrated deep within his chest, and came out less like a sigh and more like a small moan. If Cloud didn't know any better, he could've sworn this moment between them had slowly turned almost... erotic. The thought alone made him swoon, just a little bit. His mind had quickly drifted off somewhere else for a moment—to a land far, far away filled with dreams and inappropriate desires regarding his best friend slash roommate—that Cloud knew he should not even consider doing, let alone be thinking of. Deep in thought, swirling through a hot daydream, Cloud's hands had gradually stalled over Zack’s head. His mind spiraling out of control and entering an unknown territory, that felt both strange and good; far better than his reality. His head spun, his ears rang with the blood rushing through them, and his chest suddenly constricted with emotions and desires that couldn't be unleashed, so he kept them safely locked inside his mind instead. That is until a snap of fingers interrupted him. Cruelly pulling and dragging him away from that sweet, sweet, hot daydream, that made him feel so happy and safe for a moment. Away in a dream. Cloud blinked dumbly. His big, baby blue eyes all wide and confused. "Huh?" And there it was again. That wide, playful grin that Zack used whenever he was flirty—with Cloud, or just anyone, really. The corners of his eyes wrinkled with joy while his turquoise eyes glinted and sparkled with this sudden, self-satisfied mischief.

"Where were you? You kind of zoned out for a bit," Zack asked, smirking. "Were you daydreaming about me?" Cloud's face burned. He looked away, not wanting to witness that stupid, smug grin plastered on Zack's stupid, smug handsome face, that Cloud had become all too familiar with and knew like the back of his hand. Unlike Zack, Cloud was painfully shy on most days, and his cocky roommate love to tease him and make him blush.

Cloud wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Not today, not now. “Don’t be ridiculous, Zack. Why would I ever daydream about you?” “Hmm, let me see...” Zack put a finger on his lower lip, pretending to look thoughtful there for a moment. Cloud considered punching him just for that. “Oh, I know! Cause I’m hot, irresistible and funny?" "Umm, how about modest?" Zack hummed, casually and unironically, and continued, "'Without me, your life would be lonely, boring and miserable. 'Cause you're not exactly a people person, Cloud; you don't actually go out and put effort into making new friends and connections, so that's where I come in. I bring them here and take us to all these cool parties, so you won't have to sit here alone and die of boredom. Also, not to be mean or anything but you can't cook to save your life. Like, seriously, dude. You lived off of microwave foods and energy drinks for months until this one mysterious, handsome chef moved in, took over your kitchen and saved your day. And every single day he cooks you these nice, delicious meals completely free of charge and out of the goodness of his pure heart because he likes to see you full and happy. So... you're welcome, babe."

Cloud rolled his eyes and wanted to argue that there was absolutely nothing mysterious about Zack. But his lips had already quirked at his friend's words, instantly betraying his delicate, quickly crumbling facade. It hadn't gone unnoticed by Zack whose victorious grin only seemed deepen at this quiet admission. Zack wiggled his eyebrows stupidly, and Cloud could only snort fondly and shake his head at him. This guy. “You’re so full of yourself. You know that, right?” “But I’m not wrong, am I? You'd miss me, terribly.”

#replies #ihni #wip ask game #zakkura #clack #i've fallen into this little rabbit hole #i just love their dynamic so much okay #my writing

[magniloquent-raven]

Steve and Billy are both afraid of the dark, but in different ways (they see different monsters in the shadows). Meanwhile Eddie has spent many nights on top of his trailer at night, with his guitar, looking up at the stars. When the three of them become friends, neither Steve or Billy want to admit the dark make them uncomfortable, so they pretend they're not bothered by it. They sit with Eddie on top of his trailer at night and pretend they're not keeping an eye on their surroundings/sit back to back for safety.

omg

omg yes.

feel like steve would've been nervous in the dark as a kid, like a lot of kids are, just not comfortable when he can't see what's going on. his parents bought him a nightlight when they found out his nanny had been leaving the hallway light on for him. but he outgrew it when he got older and less anxious. he thinks about buying himself a new nightlight after finding out about monsters and learning just how right he was to be afraid of things lurking in it. but he can't bring himself to, he's too old for that shit, he shouldnt need it. nevermind that he has panic attacks when he wakes up before sunrise and the jacket draped over his chair looks a little too much like a demogorgon.

and billy. billy had admitted exactly one time in his life that he's terrified of the dark, and it was to his mother, tearfully, after neil threatened to lock him in the basement if he didn't stop bothering her while she was making dinner. she wanted to get him a nightlight, but neil wouldnt allow it. said they couldnt afford the wasted electricity, and besides, a crutch like that would make him grow up soft. he'd never learn. after billy's mother left neil put a lock on his door and when he needed to be punished neil would turn off the breaker to his room. he said it was because if billy wasnt going to behave himself he didnt deserve comforts that neil paid for, and he was lucky to still have a roof over his head.

the first time he sleeps over at steve's it's the best night of his life for a lot of reasons. steve himself, obviously. and the fact that steve never seems to bother with turning off lights. he doesnt question it. figures when your parents can afford to pay the bills you don't care as much about cutting costs.

when they start to hang out with eddie his habit of just walking around the trailer with no lights on at all drives them both insane. he'll go into the next room to grab something, disappearing into the gloom, and it'll put steve on edge, anything could be happening in there where he can't see. or billy will come over to visit him and walk right into a wall of darkness, freezing in the doorway before he pushes himself forward.

hanging out with eddie on the roof changes things though. at first it's just uncomfortable. steve keeps checking the treeline, shifting to glance behind him without looking too obvious. billy chainsmokes. sits as close as possible to steve or eddie, soaking up the warmth of having another body nearby. tries to shove down the spike of panic he gets whenever he isn't touching another person and it feels like he can't breathe in the dark.

but after a while they start to get used to being up there. it's somewhere eddie feels comfortable, safe, and that...helps. just being around him when he's at his most relaxed.

he makes up his own constellations and steve tries to remember them all when he wakes up at night, surrounded by darkness. he watches the stars through his window and counts his breaths. billy starts listening to music with his walkman when he's locked in his room, because if he closes his eyes he can almost pretend he's sitting on eddie's roof while he teaches himself a new song.

the fear doesn't go away entirely, but it does become easier to manage

#harringrove #harringroveson #ty ihni 💖💖 #send me hcs for my birthday! #a raven's writing desk

[leprot00978]

turtle power~

So posting in IHNI is gonna be slow moving forward BC of health but I will be posting 😄

If needed, in between chapters, I highly recommend store-bought serotonin. If you, like me, are on a budget though there is always YouTube!

#Writing #im so tired #dancing in the dark #Fanfiction #IHNI

[myriadof-fandoms]

i'm still in love with @ihni s mini zine idea so i made another one. mainly bc this song is just the billy song for me yk? have like two more songs i wanna do similarly for harringrove so like. i'll be back i guess

the full version is under the cut, once again technology and i? not friends. but i hope it worked anyway

#really wanna work with different writing on the next one #gonna try cursive tho i'll have to practice that agin #*again #and then print for the second one #simply bc i am sick of seeing my normal handwriting lol #also ihni if you read the tags i will absolutely tag you if i finish the patrick fic #i'm currently determined but i need to figure some stuff out #stranger things #harringrove #billy hargrove #father the front bottoms #mini zine #zine #mimi makes things

[mimicteruyo]

#yeah ihni either #the past two weeks have been yo-yoing between struggling to write 100 words a day #and writing 2k a day without breaking a sweat #i guess i should be happy since i accomplished everything i set out to do #(still working on the final item on the list but that was expected + it's a chapter rewrite= #and actually managed a lot more than expected #but mostly i just feel really drained and unmotivated #anyway i really need to start working on some ship week stuff now ideas pls manifest yourselves aaaaa #teruyo talk

[robthegoodfellow]

Comment Bingo Trial Run

Very simple rules: connect 5 squares in a line by completing the task in each square

Very simple goals: encourage readers to comment on fics; encourage fandom writers to KEEP WRITING

STEPS:

Download Bingo Card HERE (png) or HERE (jpg) or HERE (pdf)

Complete the tasks on the card, marking off each as you go, until you've completed 5 in a line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal; NO double-dipping; kudos ♥️ is a free space)

REBLOG/POST your winning card (or list your filled squares) and tag @feedthefandomfest! Glory in your victory.

PROPOSED REWARD:

Bingo Badge!

@ihni and I thought it'd be fun to receive something commemorating a win (who gets bingo first isn't the point—ALL BINGOS are wins), in which case, there could be different tiers of achievement:

Bingo Badge (one line filled)

Double Bingo Badge (two lines filled)

ELITE Bingo Badge?? (ALL squares filled—for the ambitious, or at least for @ihni who will prob eat this card for breakfast)

I can make a badge with my limited Canva skills, but we thought it'd be cool if fandom artists came up with different designs? So if any artists wanna contribute, let me know.

If enough people are into this, I'm open to planning a more organized event, but figured this would be fun to try out for now.

no pressure, just tagging anyone who seemed interested: @sanguine-tenshi, @adelacreations, @redfeathered, @heartbreak-sandwich, @magniloquent-raven, @sepulchralsmile, @inquisitiveadventuress, @mrprettywhenhecries, @1jet2unknown, @iravenish, @six-demon-bag, @billyharringson, @suometar, @tciddaemina, @phoenix-burns-wildly, @lafey, @doctor-of-war-and-heartache, @supercomplicatedperson, @g-arya, @hesitantsorrows, @soap-lady, @fan-written, @we-want-mini-mini, @komatsuna-yuki, @calico-kiwi, @pinkittwice, @puppylove24680, @starcourtjesus

P.S. To facilitate unhinged liveblog comments, install the AO3 Floating Comment Box!

if you have any questions/concerns/suggestions, let me know! 💛

#comment bingo #feed the fandom fest

[renabooksandart]

My second fanfiction binding project: Of cats and men, a stranger things fanfiction.

The wonderfully talented @ihni who writes the most amazing Harringrove stories (honestly, whenever I get an alert that a new chapter is up, my day is made) wrote this one and it’s so great! All of you who like Harringrove and would love to read a story about Billy with little kittens, should totally check it out (if you don’t already know it). It’s super cute and heartbreaking and sweet.

I had a few different ideas how I wanted the book to look, but in the end I liked this really simple design best.

I made some artworks for the dust jacket but right now I don’t really like any of them. But I drew a few of the photos mentioned in the story and put them in the book. Right now it’s only Billy and kittens, but I plan to draw Steve with kittens too.

#fanfiction bookbinding #bookbinding #my art #billy hargrove #harringrove #book binding #book cover #of cats and men by thei #fanfic #billy hargrove art #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #fanbinding #steve harrington #billy x steve

[ihni]

A Billy who likes the feeling of soft fabric on his skin.

Steve figures this out eventually, because whenever Steve is wearing his more expensive sweaters and shirts (the fancy ones, the soft ones, the really good-quality ones), Billy is more likely to touch him. To brush up against him, cuddle up to him, nuzzle closer. And, Steve notices, Billy will - seemingly incidentally - drag his fingers over whatever Steve is wearing, before backing off.

It's not that Billy doesn't touch him normally. Billy will happily touch him at every opportunity. It's just that maybe his touch lingers for a little longer when Steve is wearing the Good Shirts.

Billy doesn't only like Steves cloths; he has his own favorite items of clothing, too. Old cotton T-shirts that has been softened by time and wear, rather than being soft from the beginning, and some button-down shirts that, while being some atrocious cotton-polyester blend, at least has the fit to make him look fantastic. He's okay with what he's got. He's not gonna spend eighty bucks on a sweater when he can get a fully functioning one for a fifth of that price. He's not made of money, after all.

But he admits to himself that he quite likes the feeling of expensive fabric. A couple of times when he's spent the night at Steve's, he'll pull on one of Steve's shirts for breakfast - seemingly by accident. Just, you know, grabbing the closest thing to him, which just so happened to be Steve's, rather than his own. By the way Steve smiles at him, Billy suspects he knows ... but he doesn't say anything, so it's fine.

(Naturally, Steve buys Billy the eighty dollar shirt for Christmas. And a wool pea coat for Valentine's day. A light blue poplin shirt for his birthday. A fancy button-up in a silk-cotton blend because 'I saw it and thought of you' ...)

(Billy will still rub up against Steve like a cat that wants scritches whenever he's wearing something that feels good to the touch, but now he gets to wear those things himself, too.)

(Steve loves watching him in secret, how Billy will absent-mindedly rub his fingers over his own sweater sleeve, or the collar of a shirt when he's distracted, and smile to himself.)

#billy hargrove #Steve harrington #harringrove #ihni writes

[feedthefandomfest]

Comment Bingo: Angst Edition

Very simple rules: comment on a fic with the given tag in a particular square; repeat until you've completed 5 squares in a line

Very simple goals: encourage readers to comment on fics; encourage fandom writers to KEEP WRITING

thanks to @ihni for helping me brainstorm tags 💛 approach this one with care, friends—definitely substitute tags of your choosing if any of these are ones you prefer to avoid!

STEPS:

Download Bingo Card HERE (png) or HERE (jpg) or HERE (pdf)

Complete the tasks on the card, marking off each as you go, until you've completed 5 in a line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal; NO double-dipping; flame is a free space)

POST your winning card (or list your filled squares) and tag @feedthefandomfest! Glory in your victory.

REWARD:

✨ victory badges ✨

New badge for this card, but here are examples from previous cards:

Tag me when you earn a bingo (or double, triple, quadruple... FULL CARD bingo) and I'll reblog a shiny badge with your name on it to commemorate the win.

FAQ:

Can I comment on tumblr or only on AO3?

Either one is great! The tags are drawn from AO3, but most can be adjusted to suit tumblr as well, so I say go for it. Tumblr fics deserve love, too.

Can one comment count toward multiple squares if the fic fits more than one category?

Since the goal is for as many fics to receive comments as possible, try to comment on a different fic for each square.

Is there a time limit?

Nope! Take your time or set your own deadline, whatever works for you. This blog is still in its early experimental stage, so feedback welcome. Play around and let me know what you like and what might be added/changed—including ideas for squares on future cards!

Do I have to record progress on the actual card?

Nope! If it’s easier to keep track in a different way, that’s fine. This is all very honor system, so if you say you earned a Bingo, we’ll call it a win 🎉

Some people have been tracking not just completed tasks, but the fics they read along the way, so that when they post a bingo, they can also promote the fics/authors in a little rec list. Not required, but definitely cool to see!

Can I adjust the task in a particular square to suit my comfort level?

Of course! If you deliver something in the spirit of the task, then it’s all good. Use your best judgement in constructing a comment that will make the author smile, and you can consider it a job well done.

In general, so long as each square has produced at least one comment, you’re golden and I salute you 🫡

Happy commenting!!

#comment bingo #angst bingo #feed the fandom fest #i feel bad for even posting this #hey kids do you like pain #please don't sue for emotional distress

[disdaidal]

Sometimes I really kind of envy you native English speakers who make writing and posting fics seem so fucking easy. With near perfect grammar and hardly any typos. Or those of you who are capable of writing & updating your fics whenever the muse hits you just right... and not like, once in six months. Actually, try two years lol.

Whereas me, a non-native speaker, who occasionally struggles even with basic English grammar:

I'm fine. Totally.

#personal #okay so i've been writing this one piece of fiction for a while now #actually two but i've seemed to put the other one on hold for a while at least #(i may have mentioned this already like five times during the past two weeks but my point is i'm still working on it) #many thanks to @ihni who recently gave me some words of encouragement <3 and ofc @catzy88 who gave me even more insp *saatananauru* #and i'm actually really kind of enjoying it because there's no pressure to write it and post it #i write it in small sections. whenever i feel like it. giving myself enough time to plan it and think about it. even getting new ideas #and for once i'm trying not to keep editing and fixing it as i go. i just write whatever crap comes to my mind and just let it flow #i try not to think about how many mistakes and typos i make because that way i'm never gonna get it finished #but at the same time... when it's finally time to go through it #fix typos. missing words. possibly poor grammar. i know i'm just gonna hate it so fucking much lmao #but i'm really trying my best here okay. and i'm trying not to rush it. for once #because i used to write like this as a teenager. when there was nowhere really to post your original stories (thank god for that) #so i did it in my notebooks. and i quite enjoyed it doing that way #and i'm not sure why i'm even rambling this because most of you are never gonna read it anyway lol. so who gives right #but it matters to me and i'm feeling good about writing again so here i am rambling about it. no matter if you care not. so cheers mateys <

[weird-an]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

Oh, what a lovely thing! Especially because I write all these fics for myself and the love for the characters in the first place and reread them a lot.

I thought about this for quite a while, so here are my five favourites (at the moment, might change in a minute!):

Daily Affirmations - Billy living with Hopper. "5 times Hopper slowly tries to coax Billy into opening up after taking Billy in + 1 time Billy opens up on his own. "

I love letting the characters work through their issues.

Cross Road Blues

Billy sells his soul to a demon at the cross roads. It's Steve Harrington. Harrington who's apparently a demon and still sucks at school. Neil Hargrove gets a literal mouthful of what he deserves.

I mostly write Canon Divergence, but this was me dipping my toes into another AU. Crossroad! Demon Steve derailed my brain for the whole time. I have a visual mind and it's a whole movie in my mind. - Also hot demon sex?

Members Only

Billy getting hot and heavy with Steve and Eddie at Lover's Lake.

I'm really feeling the summer vibes in there. And I love to use smut as a form of liberty and self expression.

A Study In Bruises

Jonathan notices Billy's bruises - and how he looks at Steve.

I enjoy an outsider's POV - and at the same time it was the perfect opportunity to explore the differences and similarities between Jonathan and Billy.

Extended Stay

Billy lives with Joyce and Hopper moves in. It's hard for both of them.

I wrote this for you, Ihni and for myself. Because Billy deserves a home, but a home isn't that easy to build.

Bonus other fandom:

Snake Charmer

Aziraphale becomes interested in snakes - Crowley is jealous.

My first fic for the ineffable husbands. Crowley's POV is so much fun.

Omg, this post has become a ficlet on its own. Thanks for this great ask! I need to love myself a little more.

#thanks for the ask :) #good things #harringrove #ihni #you lovely person

[dragonflylady77]

I'm fixing my (secret) valentine exchange fic before it's posted to the collection and I stopped and wondered...

Should Billy full name Steve or not? (in a full of love way, not an angry way)

ICYMI: Steven MiddleName Harrington started when I was writing a frankly ill-timed visit and it was @ihni's idea. I think I used it in another fic as well but I'm too tired to remember rn.

#harringrove #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x steve #steven middlename harrington #harringrove au #dragonflylady77

[billyharringson]

Positivity post because I love this trend and also want to distract myself from the fact that I am once again In A&E with a possible concussion.

Also want to say that if you are not in this but are still a participant in the Stranger things/Billy fandom this is still for you.

Firstly for @intothedysphoria the originator of this trend. I know we've not really spoken but seeing your positivity posts always makes my day and your disabled Harringrove fics are amazing.

@flashwaves my fandom bestie and such a wonderful person. You never fail to make me laugh and I love how you're always there to 'yes and' my most insane and dark fic ideas.

@im-psycho-btw you have no idea how much I smile whenever I see one of your comments. You're so sweet and supportive and getting a notification that you've read something of mine makes me so excited.

@applewillowstone I'm so happy that @flashwaves told me about your discord server because you've created such a welcoming and creative community there. Also your willingness to instantly go to bat for us makes me feel so safe and cared for.

@shieldofiron your fics are just *chefs kiss* and the fact that you always reply to comments is so good. Also thank you so much for introducing me to Munver.

@ihni your drawings never fail to put a smile on my face, nor do your in-depth and intelligent comments, they always make me feel seen and like my writing and contributions mean something.

@dragonflylady77 I would consider you one of my first friends in the fandom, you are so welcoming and sweet and just...I can't put it into words, I just want to hug you so bad.

@destroya2005 sometimes I feel like we share one mind and I always want to eat your ideas.

@bigdumbbambieyes you have got to be one of the sweetest people in this fandom. I love your writing so much and I can't wait to take part in your Harringrove Kinktober event.

God there are so many more and I'm sure I've forgotten like a whole bunch of you but as I said, everyone that I've interacted with and chat with this post is for you.

You're awesome, keep being excellent to each other.

#stranger things #positivity post

[camaro-and-smokes]

Bookmark rec

Thank you @ihni for coming up with this idea and tagging me :)

Rules: Pick (at least) ten fics from your AO3 bookmarks, and post them with links and a note of why you like them or why you picked them (alt. your bookmark comment). Then, as tradition goes, tag ten people. Or something, whatever, I'm not your boss.

So here's my list. I'm horrible in describing WHY I particularly like something because I hate analysing fanfics. But I can assure you that each and every one on this list has risen tons of emotions in me. Happiness, sadness, compassion, pain and so on - all that good stuff. And my god HOW MANY AMAZING FICS I HAD TO LEAVE OUT!!! Check out my whole bookmark list for more.

-----

come a little closer (i want you to stay a while) by hazel1706 (12k / Harringrove/son-ish) I honestly don't know what to say about this fic. Not because it's bland but because I've read this...*checks history*... 30 TIMES OVER THE LAST 7 MONTHS. They wrote this for me as a gift in Harringrove Holiday Exchange 2022 and I've never read anything that matches what I like to read/write so perfectly as this fic does. There's pining and there's lemon and so many things going on inside the heads of the characters and and and... Mostly Harringrove with Harringroveson undertones + genderqueer Billy. It has everything I love and need and it's perfection. 💜

The Flatshare by CallieB (47k / Harringrove) Billy moves in with Steve and there's only one bed. But they haven't even met. The idea is so intriguing and unique that it just drew me in immediately.

First to Burn by boltblum (76k / Harringrove) Au where Billy moves nextdoor to Steve, and they grow up as friends. I'm bad in reading long fics bc I can't concentrate but this one kept me hooked throughout. And in the end made me sob uncontrollably.

Cherry by LazyBaker (58k / Harringrove) Billy has gender issues. That right there is like catnip for me, can't help it.

Hands Off the Merchandise by mounrtheantagonist (3,6k / Harringrove) This was the first fic I read that had Billy in lingerie in it. A new kink (men in lingerie) has never been unlocked so quickly as what it did when I read this.

love me the way you love water by lutes_and_dandelions (23k / Harringrove) Six chapters of pining. No other explanation needed.

Shit-faced by SunshineWarrior (8,3k / Harringrove) I'm a sucker for drunk confessions. And this is all about those.

Running scared by Thei @ihni (1,9k / Billy Hargrove) An embarrassing confession coming up in three, two, one: I love Transformers. *Hey! We don't always choose what we love, okay?* So, this has those vibes and I absolutely love this fic.

If I only Told You by CrossedQuills (68k /Harringroveson) Just. Amazing. I think I've read this too at least twice if not more.

within me, an invincible summer by bigdumbbambieyes (48k [WIP] ( Harringrove) This is just incredible. Billy wakes up after Starcourt with a new heart. So many painful and lovely things in this one.

And one extra because I just can't leave this out:

Like Magnets by Pondermoniums (53k [WIP] / Harringrove, Hellcheer) What if Steve and Billy had teeniest tiniest chibi dobbelgangers... This is so cute in so many levels that you have to read it to understand.

Who to tag... No pressure: @destroya2005 @discodeviant @disdaidal @lovebillyhargrove @shieldofiron @spaceofentropy @dragonflylady77 and anyone else who wants to share!!!

#fic rec list #harringrove #harringroveson #fic rec #I was tagged #long post