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bmodiwrites · 1 year

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I am on a cheesy movie kick & this is the direct result. It's corny and fluffy and not done yet. Check back for part 2 soon! Oh & leave a comment if you'd like to be on the tag list. I'll add you to part 2!

It all starts with Black Betty.

Steve is in his new rental studying for his comps when the loud music begins to play. Though it’s not the worst sound in the world, Steve’s brain focusing in on it is not ideal. He is renting a place off the mainland in hopes of getting through the slump of cramming without any distractions.

Clearly, that’s not going to happen, not even in this new place.

All is well until Molly starts to whine. Steve’s so in love with that dog that he immediately stops what he’s doing to investigate. “Are you still feeling bad, Molly girl?”

She stops whimpering when Steve puts a hand on her but she still seems a little off. Getting up from his chair, Steve prompts Molly to sit up when he notices it – there’s the smallest little swell to her stomach.

It takes no time at all for Steve to abandon his books and stalk out his back door, instead. There’s an unruly boy dog that lives in the house next door that Steve is absolutely positive is the culprit. Sweet Molly follows him out the door, though her steps are lethargic and slow, further driving home Steve’s diagnosis.

“Hey, excuse me – “ Steve says, practically shouting over the music.

He’s just mad enough not to notice the true beauty of the man sitting on an old wooden beach chair right away, though that changes quickly. Steve’s immediately transfixed by a thick head of dark brown curls and the biggest chocolate eyes he’s ever seen. A flare of lust settles in his belly – it’s the first one in a long, long time.

Though, that too is easily forgotten when Molly whines again and Steve remembers why he made the trek out of the house in the first place. By now, the music’s been turned down and his neighbor’s attention is completely on him.

“You’re my new neighbor, aren’t you? I’ve seen you watching me from the porch.”

Steve scoffs at the question, both because it’s annoying and the stranger’s voice is disgustingly hot. Is it too much to hope for a bad attitude to come from such a gorgeous creature?

“I haven’t been watching you. We live within 100 yards of each other, where else am I supposed to look?” There’s something so adorably obnoxious about the man before him that Steve continues, unable to decide if he’s truly upset or he just likes the fight they’re heading for.

His neighbor starts to laugh, even puts up both of his hands in surrender. “I’m just playing. I’ve noticed you, that’s all.”

“You’re hilarious,” Steve says, ignoring the beautiful man’s easy compliment.

“What’s say we start over, huh? You can have a seat and I’ll grab you a beer. As a peace offering.” His neighbor is almost out of his seat already when Steve gets himself back together enough to answer. He’s surprised how much he wants to ditch the books and join this rude man.

“I’m fine, honestly.”

“Oh, come on. Have a beer – I’m trying to be neighborly.”

“I don’t want one, thank you.” Steve reaches up to run a hand through his hair, a little exasperated. But, so does his neighbor. It’s almost like their movements are in sync.

The eeriness is hard to shake off.

“Well, I’m Eddie. And this little guy,” the man, Eddie, says as he reaches down to pet the dog Steve’s out here to complain about in the first place, “is Bugsy.”

Steve stares down at the dog in hopes that his lingering glare will relay his very unhappy message. Instead, the silence it causes is heavy. So much so that Eddie works to fill it in.

“This is usually where you tell me your name. Introduce yourself.”

Without thought, Steve shook his head. “No, I don’t think I will.”

Eddie is taken aback for the briefest of moments but eventually pushes on. “Then what can I do for you, neighbor? You sure looked amped up when you came barreling over here.”

Suddenly, Steve’s anger returns with a vengeance. “Your dog, that stink butt, knocked up my dog. My sweet little Molly!”

The smirk that takes over Eddie’s face is almost enough to have Steve swinging, but he holds onto his composure. He’s about to be a master’s graduate, fist fitting would be unbecoming.

Though, the urge is so very strong.

Especially when Eddie’s look turns into a laugh.

Things do not get any better after that. Steve is determined to pin Molly’s condition on the rascally dog, despite the knowing look Eddie has on his face. When the man tells him to check out one of the local vets in town, Steve almost chucks the card back into his neighbor’s face. While he knows he’ll be there bright and early the next morning, Steve isn’t very inclined to back down. Not even when he’s the obvious fool.

Which… becomes very apparent the next day when Steve walks into the vet’s office to see that Dr. Munson of Munson’s Veterinary Care is none other than Steve’s neighbor himself. His cocky smile makes Steve’s heart thump in his chest, though he swears it’s because of hatred, not burning desire.

In the end, Steve gives up his name and finds out that Bugsy is a fixed dog incapable of being the father to Molly’s puppies. He feels stupid enough that he doesn’t even insult Eddie when he so affectionately says, “you are the most bothersome person alive.” In fact, he’s a little weak for it.

Steve manages to keep his feelings under wraps for another couple of weeks before he’s desperate and goes running to Eddie for help. Molly’s been trying to deliver her pups for a while and nothing’s happening – other than her increasingly harrowing whimpers of pain. It’s gone too far and Steve knows Eddie will help.

Eddie, despite it being the middle of the night when Steve knocks, doesn’t hesitate to run across their yards and come to Molly’s aid. The pups are there within the next half an hour and Molly is once again safe and happy. Steve’s so overcome, he forgets to try and be upset with his rude neighbor.

Their banter is flirty instead of argumentative.

“Thank you so much for helping her. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” The admission makes Steve’s cheeks heat up, but he presses on. “Molly’s my girl.”

There’s a second where staring is the only thing that happens. Eddie’s big, brown eyes look at Steve as if he’s a puzzle that the man’s finally figured out. His gaze is so steady, Steve is disoriented when it eventually breaks.

Denying their chemistry after that is pretty futile. Steve makes dinner for Eddie the next night and the rest is history.

Steve graduates with Eddie by his side.

When the time comes that their relationship is put on trial, Eddie chases Steve down to bring him back home. Though, it’s with a shiny ring on his finger and a promise of forever that Steve wasn’t all that sure he had before.

They marry in front of the water that connects their two houses and keep them both, though Eddie’s place is their home base. Eddie adds another beat up wooden chair to his perch by the dock and their dogs find a way to cohabitate, despite Molly still not being Bugsy’s biggest fan.

Their family grows by one mouth a couple years later. Blue, their baby girl, is a happy accident that neither Steve nor Eddie is ever going to regret. Her arrival into the world is a whirlwind but they figure it out. Fatherhood, fortunately, fits them like a glove. Steve glows when he holds Blue and Eddie never stops making noises or funny faces to entertain the little girl.

It quickly becomes clear that just the one isn’t enough. Robin, always the reliable friend, offers to surrogate for them. It’s the best decision they’ve ever made. The little boy she gives birth to has big chocolate brown eyes that stare up at them. Travis comes home to a big sister and two dogs that love him from the moment Steve carries his car seat inside.

For all intents and purposes, things are amazing. Steve’s life is even better than he ever imagined it to be.

Except it’s not. Not really.

Eddie’s busy life at the clinic makes it easy for Steve to feel neglected. Between the hustle of having two kids and both of them working full time jobs, it’s hard to find some time for just the two of them. Especially when Eddie has trouble saying no to old ladies and their fickle cats.

After one missed date, Steve’s ready to make up for lost time. When he pulls into the restaurant for their makeup dinner and doesn’t see Eddie’s van, he tries not to get upset. Three glasses of wine later, Steve’s far past understanding and is mad as hell. He quietly pays the bill, seething on the inside.

He waits to unleash his ire until he’s in the car. “Eddie Munson, this is your husband calling. I can’t believe you stood me up on another date. That’s two now, baby. I need you to come bother me, Eddie. You’re never around – “

Steve’s stopped midsentence by a car slamming into the driver’s side door. His preoccupation makes him slow to react, though it’s futile, anyway. He tries hard to get his hands back onto the wheel, yet he’s already too late. The car rolls and turns and flips over with Steve along for the ride. The last thought he has before it all fades to black is of Eddie and his beautiful face.

He so desperately wanted to see him one last time.

#steddie #stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #the choice au #bobbie writes #steve harrington x eddie munson #bother me baby #that's probably what i'll call this #steddie ficlets #ficlets #short things

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bob-artist · 2 months

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Bittern at the grocery store

#misc comics #animal art #birds #bird art #bittern #bitterns #artists on tumblr #sometimes you just gotta draw a thing #i wish i could bittern at the grocery store #i'm short -_-#birds are losers

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sylvies-kablooie · 3 months

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i do unironically think the best artists of our generation are posting to get 20 notes and 3 reblogs btw. that fanfic with like 45 kudos is some of the best stuff ever written. those OCs you carry around have some of the richest backstories and worldbuilding someone has ever seen. please do not think that reaching only a few people when you post means your art isn't worth celebrating.

#i often wonder about how many things would be considered classic or high art had they only received the marketing #how many short films that were made for class could have been the most powerful thing you'd ever seen? if you'd seen them?#“you know the greatest films of all time were never made” etc etc #but like. these works of art ARE being made. it's just enjoyed by a smaller audience with equal impact though #i think about this one furry i used to follow on insta who had the coolest worldbuilding ever. it's been years.#thought prompted by that sketch of nimona from ten years ago that was just for a character design #posted to the creator's tumblr and now it's nominated for best animated feature film at the oscars #and by the genuine emotional reaction a fan comic made me feel. how much work had gone into it. how beautiful it was to me.#idk what to tag this but i hope whoever needs to hear it does #writing #writer #fandom #fandom culture #artist

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ardri-na-bpiteog · 2 months

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Also increasingly aware that a LOT of people "manage" getting through the 40+ hour work week by sleeping less than is healthy and relying on stimulants like coffee and energy drinks to keep them going.

For people who are unwilling or unable to do this...work really does just dominate your life. Like we really should not have to rely on unhealthy practices just to have a social life or keep on top of housework or whatever.

I know I post about this a lot but I'm so TIRED all the time and it's just so depressing that this is how we're expected to spend the one life we have.

#i have to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night to even barely function #with sleep #getting ready for work #commute #cooking #and errands #I typically have maybe 2-3 hours to actually do what i want in a day #and I'm usually too tired to actually do the things i want to do #and that's with a very short commute #if i actually had a long commute I'd basically do nothing but work #i see my friends like once every few weeks or months #because we're all so fucking busy with work and have such little time for socialising #and none of us even have kids or anything!!

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wolven-chimera-2023 · 3 months

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I hate being short but theres something fun about being on the bus and kicking your feet like you’re not in fact an adult going to work and instead are an innocent little fella whos never done a thing wrong in your life (there is a severed human arm in your backpack.)

#short things #short #public transport #dismemberment tw

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stil-lindigo · 7 months

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the fox god.

a comic about a trickster.

creative notes:

–

all my other comics

store

#cw: emotional abuse #cw: gaslighting #cw: animal death #charity - a god whose name was only ever meant to be ironic #i love playing with the concept of religion like this #im not religious at all but i did go to a christian school for twelve years #and i remember learning about the story of abraham. who long story short gets told by god to kill his son to prove his love for god.#and at the veeeery last minute god goes sike! this was a test to see if you'd do it! here's a lamb to slaughter instead #but the whole concept of that exchange in and of itself is so #anyway #one thing i meant to include in the creative notes but i ran out of room for is that charity never calls cunning by his name.#it's just “fox”. which was a small touch to indicate that he never acknowledged cunning's identity outside of being something exploitable.#but for all charity's hidden disdain for cunning #he still stole all his strengths and coveted them. he became known as the fox god.#so maybe some part of cunning survived. despite everything.#“give me your heart.”#“my god. it had always been yours.”#comic art #hearteaters #stillindigo art #stillindigo comics #one more comic to go until im finished with this collection!!

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sunsetsimon · 1 month

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more random simon headcanons <3

☼ his favorite colors are black, blue, and grey. his personal style is very plain, black hoodies, white tee's, and black sweatpants are his go to. simon doesn't want to stand out any more than he already does with his large frame, so he opts for comfort over style.

☼ simon is very helpful around the house, constantly tidying up and fixing anything with a problem. he has no issue doing the dishes or folding the laundry, but for some reason he hates sweeping and mopping? you don't get it, it's not an intense or demanding chore, but simon claims that "it's too boring" and he'd rather trade something else with you. it becomes an agreement for him to do most things in the room, and then you come in after to finish with a quick sweep and mop.

☼ he's extremely low maintenance. he always buys the cheapest products he sees, opting for a basic body wash and 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner. when you first started dating, he didn't even own a proper face wash, using the bar of soap from his shower. simon isn't the type to have a whole routine, but he does pay more attention to the things he purchases so he can impress you with a new scented body wash or a moisturizer you'd mentioned.

one of his favorite gifts to ever receive from you is a bottle of cologne, loving the way you're drawn to him every time he gives himself a spritz. now every christmas he asks you to get him a new one that you'd like him to wear!

☼ cannot handle spice for the life of him. we all know that foods in the UK are usually seasoned with just salt and pepper, and not commonly spicy, so he's sensitive to it. something you may consider mild will have him breaking into a sweat and chugging down a bottle of water to ease some of the burn. his cheeks get flushed red and he just shakes his head in pain, reminding himself to never trust you when you say "oh it's not that spicy!" ever again.

☼ he has the lowest screen time, averaging about 20-30 minutes a day, and that time is spent either texting/calling you, taking photos of you, looking through photos of you, or making lists for you. the only extra app he has downloaded is goodreads, and even then you were the one that downloaded it and created his account. his passcode is set as your birthday too of course.

he's a little obsessed.

#short and sweet #trying to get back into things #.wbm #ghost x reader #simon riley x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #cod x reader

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sysig · 3 months

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Permission to headbutt: Granted (Patreon)

#My art #UT #Sans #Papyrus #Ft. something smol and I do on a regular basis ♪#This could be Handplates or it could be classic Undertale I leave that up to you lol #I definitely picked up a lot of the style quirks lol - but there are some of the ones that I like myself! Like Papyrus' darkmode clothes lol #And Sans' shorts having the stripe in the front haha - little details ♫#Realistically it probably is Handplates tho just based on where my head's at lol - I love the Handplates dynamic :D #Handplates #I talked myself into it! Pfft ♪#I found myself relating a lot to Sans especially while rereading - I want nothing more in the world than for my siblings to be happy! <3 #So I gathered up a bunch of ideas of things especially me and smol do together and this was the most obviously cute one haha #Easiest to do! Tho I did still go a little extra on this lol #I'm trying to do more digital stuff ♪ It wasn't the best art day and I'm still a little nervous to jump right in :')#Not doing any sketches on paper beforehand feels weird but I guess it is thematic in a way lol #And I'm still pleased with how they turned out hehe #It really does feel nice to be drawing them again <3 #And doing silly sibling things! Hehe #I dunno how clear it is since it's so ingrained into how smol and I talk to each other lol family language!#One of us will literally just announce ''bonk'' and the other will prepare for/lean in for a headbutt haha #She is a tiny bit taller than me - it's not quite /this/ extreme but she does lean down for me! S'cute <3 #I like to think Papyrus would do the same hehe ♪ Let your lazy brother headbutt you! He can only reach so far!#On minimal effort anyhow hehe #It's just a fun way to be silly together ♫♪#Also yes I did show this to her and she cosigned lol - ''Cute'' -smol

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naivegh0ul · 5 months

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thinkin ab being ghost's little assistant <33

Being Ghost's assistant is actually more fun than it seems. Yes, you know he's a scary, powerful man. And he's fired many assistants before you just for breathing too loudly, but he seems to take a liking to you... sort of.

He orders you around most of the time, barking commands at you. "Go get my tea. And don't spill it this time." He grunts. The last time you had gotten him tea, you'd tripped over a wire and spilled it all over your white shirt, staining the fabric and making it see through. Ghost had been more concerned about his tea than the fact that your tits were visible through your blouse.

Like the dutiful little assistant you are, you wander off to the office's kitchen and brew Ghost a cup of tea, adding a tea bag and no sugars. That has been drilled into your head many times, most of those times have you bent over Ghost's desk, your hands pulled behind your back as Ghost thrusts roughly into your cunt, growling down at you about he specifically told you no sugars, and now his tea is too sweet to drink.

Occasionally, he's nice to you. Calling you into his office just so he can have you sit on his lap and look pretty, his chin resting on your shoulder as he types away emails and you lounge on his lap.

Once he's done with that, then he'll push your thighs apart and slip his hand under your skirt, kissing down your neck and along your shoulder as his fingers rub your clit through your lacy panties, his gravelly voice cooing in your ear about how good you're being for him, sittin' so pretty on his lap, letting him do whatever he wants with you.

He can play with you for hours, content to just lean back in his chair and play with your pussy, hiking up your skirt and forcing your legs apart so he can stuff his fingers inside you and make you cum over and over on his thick digits, curling them repeatedly to make you whimper and cry.

But you know his all time favourite thing to do with you is bend you over his desk and spank you. He just loves to teach you a lesson. It doesn't matter how trivial the mistake is, whether it be you messing up his tea again or just a little typo in an email. He'll use whatever excuse to have you in his office, bent over the desk with his hand coming down on your ass over and over.

You know the other office workers can hear your cries for mercy as Ghost hasn't bothered to soundproof his office, but you don't care. You want them to hear, want them to know how he treats you and that you're his good girl.

#fem reader #ghost cod #ghost #simon ghost riley #simon riley #ghost x reader #simon riley x reader #ghost x female reader #simon riley x female reader #ghost smut #just a short little thing #but wtvr

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kittykalliarts · 5 months

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For decades, the blank vision that Iudex Neuvillette wears near his heart has been subject to much discussion in Fontaine. Nobody remembers who it had once belonged to or why the ancient dragon protected it so jealously. It is said that if the Chief Justice would to stare at it for a long while, it would be sure to rain right after. Oh, how beloved that person must've been.

#genshin impact #genshin fanart #neuvillette #visions #wriolette #wriollette #neuvithesley #myart #sorry for the short drabble?#kasndkansd i have emotions over a simple thought i had #the tragedy for someone eternal to fall for someone who's here for only a brief moment eats away at me hhhh #it started with a funny thought of IF neuvillette needs to carry a fake vision for some reason after laughing at the archons for it #and then i remembered how people like kazuha would hold onto their loved one's masterless vision after they died #one thing led to another and now we have some wriolette angst with neuvillette cherishing wrio's masterless vision #after his inevitable passing #and idk if its just the traveller or if its even canon #but i like to think that neuv being a sovereign he would be able to hear the ambition of one's vision and maybe just maybe #he can use wrio's masterless vision to listen to his voice albeit ever so softly

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primalvessel · 1 year

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@charmingbrute

It was quiet; the atmosphere one of dark intimacy in the low light and still Maru waited.

Knelt before his lover, the Miqo'te peered up at him with patient expectancy but said not a word as if afraid to disturb the silence.

His gaze dropped, briefly, to Safiri's crotch and when he met the brunet's eyes once more, there was amusement there along with the curl of his lover's lips and Maru flushed pink across the bridge of his nose.

Patience was rewarded though and the feline swore that his heart skipped a beat when Firi's hand lowered and he watched, near salivating, as his lover opened his pants, pushed them down a short way and eased his cock out.

It was an effort not to mewl with want.

Leaning in, Maru rubbed his cheek against the thick length, felt the brush of Firi's fingers before he nuzzled against it, inhaled the warm, musky scent of his lover and then settled back, pressed a hand between his own legs and sank his teeth into his bottom lip. His breathing was laboured, his heart was racing and then his lover broke the silence.

"Open your mouth."

#charmingbrute #avert thine innocent eyes #i just wanted to write #short things

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noxcheshire · 7 months

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I know Danny is canonically 5’5”

BUT

I like the idea of Danny being even shorter than that. A Danny whose just SO tiny that most people clock him as being either very weak, which doesn’t help with his ghost-bird bones, or being very adorable due to tinniness.

Regardless, he’s been viewed as an innocent figure. In reality though, he is absolutely “violence is always the option” type of short guy. Like he embodies the stereotype of being so short that he has privileges in hell energy.

That type of short guy.

So just imagine this tiny little creature-teenager-child staring up and up at this person, neck craned back just to look them in the face. Danny is frowning at them, this insufferable person whose immediate reaction was to patronize him because Danny was deceptively tiny.

And Danny just goes, “You shall never know peace again,” before picking them up like they weigh nothing but a handful of grapes and YEETS THEM.

#dpxdc #dp x dc #dc x dp #dcxdp #danny phantom #dp x dc crossover #dp x dc prompt #danny fenton #I think it’d be funny if it was Constantine he just picks up and throws #I just feel like he’d be the very first person Danny meets in the vigilante hero department who just does the thing #the unintentional thing #of pissing Danny off #it could also be a rogue #regardless short Danny for the win

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grey-sides · 3 months

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On a Monday morning, Steve's dad frowns at his paper and throws Steve a sidelong glance. On the entertainment page is a black and white photo of Bruce Springsteen kissing Clarence Clemons.

Steve swallows his toast and shifts in his seat. But his father doesn't say a thing and Steve doesn't know where to begin. He's not asked to get rid of his Springsteen tapes. But he does find the paper later, tossed on the pile to go in the trash and clips out the picture.

It's not the first time he's seen this exact scenario with Bruce Springsteen. But it is the first time in a long time he's been interested in doing it himself.

He tucks the paper clipping away in a book under his bed. And he thinks about the cash he has saved up and how much longer Robin has to be in school for.

On a Friday evening, he fixes his hair and kisses his mom's cheek on his way out the door. The newspaper clipping under his bed is delicately frayed already, the thin paper worn thinner by his eager fingers.

He picks Robin up, waves to her mom and drives them just outside of town. Eddie's van is already there, quiet and dark because he and his band are already inside.

On a Friday night, Steve tucks into a beer and looks up at the stage. He smiles despite himself and thinks of Bruce and Clarence when Eddie and Jeff lean into the microphone together.

His palms sweat and he presses them to his bottle. The edges of the label are peeling like the newspaper clipping. He taps his toe to the music and smiles wider when a woman takes Robin by the hand to show her how to rock out.

On an early Saturday morning, so early Steve would call it late, he helps Eddie put the instruments away in the back of the van. He watches as Eddie stacks each piece carefully and curses when a cymbal crashes against an amp.

And he thinks about his newspaper and the judgement in his dad's eyes. He twirls his keyring around his finger and thinks of another life where he kept up with his piano lessons instead of baseball.

On an early Saturday morning, Steve closes the van doors just enough to block people from seeing them and he pulls Eddie close. And he wonders what it would be like to do on a stage.

And Eddie is not Clarence Clemons and he is not Bruce Springsteen. But his heart still races and his palms still sweat, and he knows he could bellow out of his lungs with joy if he was standing in front of a crowd.

And later still on that early Saturday morning, Steve feels the calluses of Eddie's guitar worn fingers on his cheek. And he listens to his halfway to hoarse voice tell a story. And he tastes cheap beer and song lyrics on his lips. And he thinks next Saturday, he might join Robin dancing in the dark of the bar.

#steddie #stranger things #greye writes #its short and sweet #thank you for reading!

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sp0o0kylights · 5 months

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Steve Harrington was wearing a Hellfire t-shirt.

It was far too tight on him, the name of the club stretched wide over his chest. The sleeves dug into his biceps, making them pop even more than they usually did, and that was before he crossed his arms.

Worse?

It was short.

Which meant the damn shirt was constantly riding up to give everyone a nice show of the smattering of hair that trailed down past the band of Harrington's jeans.

The same hair that Eddie was determinedly not looking at.

“Henderson, a moment?” He crooked a finger, a smile on his face that was more feral than welcoming.

Rather than cower or even acknowledge that Eddie was two seconds away from murder, Dustin just gave him a gummy grin, all too pleased with himself and his scheme.

“Sure Eddie. Steve, don't just stand there, go help set the booth up!” Dustin gestured to Hellfire’s sad little table, crammed all the way in the back of the gym.

Jeff and Gareth both reacted to the suggestion like a rabid squirrel had been set upon them, nervously inching towards the other side of the booth as Harrington sighed and--shockingly--did as he was told.

‘What,’ Eddie thought angrily, ‘in the everloving fuck.’

“Do you guys mind if I set this down on the table?” Eddie heard Harrington ask as he stormed away, Dustin on his heel.

They wandered just around the corner, out of sight and hopefully, out of the fallen king’s hearing range.

Eddie wasn't sure if Harrington would try and white knight the very much deserved dressing down he was about to give.

Didn’t want to chance it, considering the downright weird relationship he had with Hellfire's freshmen.

(While he’d heard many a tale at his table regarding King Steve since the newest recruits had joined Hellfire, most of them dissolved into arguments without ever really going anywhere.

Best anyone could figure out was that Dustin and Lucas had a bad case of hero worship, while Mike owned a begrudging amount of respect that hailed from a series of misadventures.

The very same misadventures that, despite all protests to the contrary, was clearly some sort of babysitting gig for Harrington.)

Either way, plenty of the King’s court would have loved to take this opportunity to fuck with Hellfire.

Given that Henderson was absolutely too old to require a babysitter at fourteen, Eddie would bet his lunch money that was what Steve was here to do.

Something the club couldn’t afford since they were forever and always two seconds away from being stripped of club status and banned from school grounds.

“I would love to know what went through that all A’s brain of yours when I said,” Eddie whirled on Dustin when they were firmly in the clear, voice low and furious. “no Henderson, do not invite King Steve to help, he is an invading force and would ruin our peaceful kingdom!?”

He clasped his hands behind his back before leaning into Dustin’s face. “Because clearly whatever you heard wasn’t that.”

To Eddie’s continued frustration and confusion, Dustin did not treat this like the threat it was.

None of the freshmen had ever truly treated Eddie like a threat--had somehow skipped that part of the usual onboarding ritual entirely.

Eddie, town freak and drug dealer, who had cultivated his looks and craziness to such a degree that most everyone steered clear, wasn’t used to it.

Everyone had been afraid of him at some point in this shitty school. Jeff, Gareth, hell even half the staff--and that the dorky trio of fourteen year old's clearly thought this all was play-acting made his eye twitch.

Even if it was--maybe, sometimes--welcome.

“I know what you said, but I’m telling you I’m right.” Dustin argued immediately, and oh God, he was using that tone again.

A hand went up into the space between them and Eddie groaned aloud, knowing what was coming.

“First,” Dustin ticked a finger up, “Hellfire really needs the money. Even thirty dollars would get us new figures, but more than that, if we don’t fundraise, we can’t go to Gen Con!”

Dustin's eyes bored into Eddie’s, full of fire and conviction

“Yes,” Eddie said through gritted teeth, “but--”

“Second!” Dustin cut him off, and God the little shit even threw him a look while he did it, like Eddie was the one being ridiculous here!

“We had to fight just to get our table! Principal Higgins was in algebra today practically begging the mathletes to show up, but then tried to tell us we couldn't be here? That’s messed up!”

As if denying them a spot to fundraise was the worst thing that asshole had ever done.

Eddie sighed, breath blasting out of his mouth like a dragon’s.

“Because people think we’re freaks and satanists, Henderson. You don’t typically invite freaks and satanists to the school’s annual Holiday Bazaar. Especially not when all the local moms are paying to hawk their bullshit crafts and tupperware!”

It was more than that of course. The Hawkins High Holiday Bazaar was a tradition spanning several years now. Starting in the gym and spilling clear into the parking lot, everyone from local artists to even some local shops came to host a small table for the day, thus growing the event from a small school fundraiser to a Hawkins' “must-do.”

Half the fucking town was here to sell, and the other half was here to shop, which meant Principle Higgins had wanted Hellfire banned from the fucking premise.

Eddie had been forced to pull out one of his trump cards he’d been saving--blackmail on Higgins that related to the man’s not--so--legal addiction to Percocet that he relied on Reefer Rick for.

(And bless Rick, that hadn’t been the only tidbit he’d shared with Eddie about Higgins. That information, however, Eddie needed just so the asshat wouldn’t give him the boot from school entirely.)

The only reason Eddie had pulled it out to secure their rightful spot, was because of Gen Con.

It was Hellfire's White Whale, their grand adventure, and this was going to be his year to take his friends on one last epic quest to make memories of a lifetime surrounded by people who understood them.

Come hell or high water, Eddie was going to Gen Con--but being able to fundraise by selling wares and baked goods at the stupid Holiday Bazaar would go a long way to help.

Even if he had to listen to the band repeatedly play ear-bleeding renditions of Christmas songs.

“All the clubs get to have a table, and we’re a club!” Dustin continued, like it was that simple. “But you know, I get it. We look scary.”

He gestured down to his own Hellfire shirt, before gesturing towards Eddie’s entire outfit.

Like Eddie didn't know what he looked like, let alone that he'd made this outfit specifically to scare people away from him.

(And maybe add some rockstar flair to this dinky little hick town.)

“You know who doesn’t look scary?”

Dustin held out his hands and swiveled his body like he was presenting a prize instead of gesturing in the vague direction of;

“Steve!”

Eddie’s left eye twitched.

‘You can't kill him, you need his character for the campaign.’ He told himself firmly, even if he envisioned strangling Dustin like a chicken.

Cartoon squawking and all.

“The King isn’t going to help us fundraise, Dustin.” Eddie said, in an effort to break down why Harrington couldn't be here. “He's just going to cause us problems that we can’t afford to have.”

So many problems, half of which Eddie couldn't think of because if he did, he'd start spiraling.

“Really? Because as you keep saying, Steve used to be the King. People love him, Eddie! Mom’s love him.”

Eddie had pulled himself black up to his proper height a while ago, and now rocked back on his heels while he ran a hand down his face.

There was no getting through to Henderson when he was like this.

Not unless Eddie really lost it, and it was practically club lore that he only lost it when someone missed an important game.

One cannot keep a herd of sheep if their flock is terrified of them, after all.

(“Perhaps you’re just a giant fucking softie.” Tiff, one of Hellfire’s graduating members, told him once. “Honestly dude, I bet you throw up stuffing.”

“Shut up Tiffany, your choker is on backwards again.” He'd spat back, completely offended and not at all trying to distract from how true that was.)

“We can’t be satanic if Steve’s the one selling cookies!” Dustin finished doggedly.

“We’re not even selling cookies--that’s not the point!”” Eddie shook his head, hair flying. He was not going to be sidetracked, he wasn’t!

“Harrington is going to end up siding with all the moms about how we’re all wasting time with D&D, if he even spends the whole time at the table. Is that what you want?”

He stuck out a ringed finger, poking at Dustin’s chest.

“Every single person who comes by our table has to be convinced D&D is a writing and math based game. Good for the mind and souls of growing, impressionable children. A game that got a bad rep because of a few silly images.”

A pitch he and Tiff had come up with during the third or fourth time they had to convince an adult that no, just because their shirts had a dragon on it, didn’t mean they were summoning demons in the drama room.

“Harrington can’t do that because Harrington doesn’t even know how to play!”

This Eddie punctuated by throwing his hands in the air.

Given the startled look of the mother-daughter duo passing him by, clearly was louder than he’d intended--but screw it!

He was right!

Hellfire was in a precarious position to both fundraise and do a little damage control among the slightly smarter members of this shithole small town, and Harrington rolling his eyes and gossiping about how stupid it was would hinder that.

“Okay, first of all, Steve’s played D&D with me and he didn’t even kill his character.” Dustin said it like he was unveiling a smoking gun and not lying through his ass--which Eddie would absolutely be calling him on the second he was done talking.

Because King Steve? Play D&D?

'Ha!'

“And he’s not gonna say shit because we--me, and Lucas and even Mike!--asked him to help, and he helps when its serious. I know you have some weird grudge with him, but I’m telling you Eddie he’s our golden ticket to Gen Con!”

“You’re killing me. You are standing here, acting as a friend, when you are bringing a-- a dark force into the midst our of mission--” Eddie hissed, because he was losing the fucking fight and he knew it.

Dustin Henderson was not a man easily swayed.

Had never been, even when the odds were stacked against him (and Grant and Gareth were howling in his ear.)

The set of his shoulders and the glint of the little shithead’s eye meant Eddie wouldn’t be able to use him to oust Harrington--if he even could get him out without the dick causing a massive scene anyway.

As always when outgunned, Eddie flipped to dramatics.

“Betrayed! By my own chosen heir no less!” He moaned, pressing the back of his hand over his eyes as Dustin scoffed.

"Don’t be so dramatic! Steve will help, I promise! Just don’t be a dick to him.”

Conversation apparently over, Dustin turned around to head back to the table

Snidely, he added over his shoulder: “Plus we’ve all caught on to the heir thing Eddie. You tell everyone that so they do what you want.”

The dick.

“You’re too fucking smart for your own good. I’m gonna start feeding you paint chips to bring that IQ down.” Eddie muttered angrily as Dustin went back to their little table.

He gave himself a moment to get his shit together and stomp a foot like a child when Dustin was around the corner and thus couldn’t witness it, before following his wayward sheep back.

Could only pray to any deity listening that Henderson’s meddling didn’t blow up in Hellfire’s face.

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