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carolperkinsexgirlfriend · 5 months

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Steddie Upside-Down AU Part 46

Part 1 Part 45

Hopper’s idling by the trailer when Steve and Eddie exit on the way to school the next morning. Eddie’s forehead immediately breaks out in anxiety-sweats. He stumbles back a step on instinct, arm up to waylay Steve. Nothing good ever came from the Chief of Police loitering in front of a drug dealer’s trailer.

Hopper cranks his window down, leaning out enough to stick his head partially out, and shouts over at them, “you cleared to go to school already, Harrington?”

Eddie drops his arm – threat categorized, acknowledged, and discarded. Steve steps over the threshold and down the front steps, each foot placed carefully, lest he stumble in front of Hopper.

“It’s fine,” Steve says, like he always does.

“Your doctor say that?”

Steve shifts his eyes toward Eddie, like he’s begging for help. Eddie clears his throat, pointedly not curling his shoulders in when Hopper shifts his glare over to him. “He went yesterday,” he calls over, like a chump. Because what his majesty wants, Eddie will provide.

Hopper raises his eyebrows, letting them stew in the silence as he keeps his eyes trained on Eddie. Weakest link sighted. And just like every time he finds himself in this standoff with the bane of his existence, he folds. “He’s not supposed to go back until Monday!”

“Munson!” Steve grouses. Eddie’s guts churn at being last-named again.

“But” Eddie starts, waving his hand in Steve’s face like that’ll buy him a few more seconds of grace. “You gotta let him go, Hopper.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” he grouses, still glaring into Eddie’s eyes.

Eddie fidgets, hoping Steve won’t be too pissed off. “Harrington here’s a flight risk,” he says, patting his head lightly, like a dog who’s just performed a marvelous trick. “You don’t give him something to do? We might never see him again.”

Steve scoffs, but notably doesn’t pull away from Eddie’s hand or refute his point.

Hopper continues glaring at both of them before sighing out like a beleaguered dog and rolls up his window. He doesn’t drive away. “Is that–” Steve starts, squinting at Hopper through his now-closed window. “Is that permission?”

“We don’t beg for permission, Stevie.” Eddie trails his hand through Steve’s peach-fuzz hair before skipping over to where his van’s parked, knowing without looking that Steve’s following him. He slides into the driver’s seat, waits for Steve to slide in as well before turning the key in the ignition. “We don’t even ask for forgiveness.”

He smiles over at Steve, cheeks hurting from the force of it. He feels like he’s just taken three shots of espresso, back to back to back. Steve smiles over at him, small but real, eyes shining in the morning sun. His hair glows golden in the sunlight, and his skin, still slightly sallow, is flushed pink in the cheeks.

“We don’t?” Steve asks quietly. He sounds excited. Like a kid told he’d get to open his birthday presents early.

Eddie’s endeared, any reluctance drained out of him around the second time Steve Harrington had saved his life. “Naw.” He reaches over, patting Steve’s knee, not letting his fingers linger like they want to. He cranks the engine, Black Sabbath booming from the speakers until Steve turns it down a few notches. “That’s for squares. And you, Steve Harrington, are a certified badass.”

Steve’s smiling out the window when Eddie glances over, watching trailers pass by. Electric Funeral turns over to War Pigs. Eddie sings along quietly as Steve bops his head along to a beat he doesn’t even know.

Hopper follows them all the way to school, his truck idling at the curb until Eddie pulls into a spot and takes out the key. Neither of them mention anything.

School passes in a mindless haze. Eddie listens to lectures on calculus and geography and the themes in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, lets it all fly over his head. Not even in one ear and out the other – that implies it went into his brain at all.

Jeff gives him dirty looks throughout calc, like he can tell Eddie’s checked out past the point of return and is feeling a sense of paternal disappointment over his lack of work ethic.

Eddie’d checked out long before Demogorgon’s and Demon Worlds made an appearance in his life. Now, class feels like biding time until he can get Steve back in his sights. Graduating feels like another step away from Harrington that he doesn’t want to take.

So he sits and stews and ignores Jeff’s disappointed eyes, and regrets that Steve’s a year below him and not smart enough to pass calc either.

Seeing him walk into lunch is a religious experience. Eddie sighs into his suspicious casserole, staring at Steve with reverence. He’s talking to Barb quietly, standing beside her in the lunch line.

Steve laughs at something she says, and Eddie swears he can almost hear it across the cacophony of the lunchroom rush.

“Dude,” Gareth says from beside him.

Eddie jumps, whipping his head over to where Gareth had snuck up on him. “When did you get here?” he hisses, narrowing his eyes.

Gareth stares back, deadpan. Eddie misses when his little sheep were at least a little bit afraid of him. Honestly, the gall. “I was here before you sat down.”

Ah, well. Eddie hunches, looking around the table that’s seemingly filled in around him. “So?”

Gareth leans closer, keeping his voice lowered. “Are you, like in love with Harrington?” Gareth asks, voice quiet enough for discretion even as it lentils up harshly at the end.

“No, shut up!” Eddie hisses back, but something restless and wanting unfurls as the fishhook in his ribs slackens with Steve’s approach. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

“—could help you,” Barb is saying, inexplicably sitting at the wrong freaks and geeks table again. Clearly, there’s still trouble in paradise. “I’m free Thursday’s after school.”

Steve slides in next to Eddie, matching suspect casserole to Eddie’s own. He doesn’t look away from his conversation from Barb, but he slides his knee into Eddie’s, easy like breathing. Even easier, with Steve’s track record of not doing that.

“Really?” Steve asks, leaning toward her over the table.

Barb shrugs, nonchalantly, pulling that same bagged sandwich from her bag to munch on. “Sure, why not?”

She says it like it’s nothing, but Steve exhales like the world just stopped ending. “Thanks,” he sighs. “I’m just so behind, and my Dad–” he cuts off, shoves a forkful of slop in his mouth like that’s the reason for the pause. “I just don’t want to be held back.”

Jeff, the traitor, looks over to Barbara and unhelpfully contributes, “are you guys planning a study group?” he asks, continuing before she has a chance, “because this one could use a little of that.”

Eddie doesn’t let anyone else get in a word. “I can’t Jeffery,” Eddie sneers. “Thursday is Hellfire.”

Steve furrows his eyebrows like he’s thinking deeply, starts, “we could maybe do it on Wed—”

“That’s fine!” Eddie says. “I’m doing fine!”

He glares around at the table, daring anyone to say anything. Jeff scoffs, and Steve still looks worried, but no one says anything. Study group is born, and Eddie’s plans are finalized: his graduating class will be moving on without him.

He only hopes Wayne understands.

Part 47

Taglist: @deany-baby @estrellami-1 @altocumulustranslucidus @evillittleguy @carlprocastinator1000 @1-8oo-wtfbro @hallucinatedjosten @goodolefashionedloverboi @newtstabber @lunabyrd @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @manda-panda-monium @disrespectedgoatman @finntheehumaneater @ive-been-bamboozled @harringrieve @grimmfitzz @is-emily-real @dontstealmycake @angeldreamsoffanfic @a-couchpotato @5ammi90 @mac-attack19 @genderless-spoon @kas-eddie-munson @louismeds @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @pansexuality-activated @ellietheasexylibrarian @nebulainajar @mightbeasleep @neonfruitbowl @beth--b @silenzioperso

#steddie upsidedown au #steddie fic #eddie munson #steve harrington #my fic

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will80sbyers · 13 days

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Do you still have the list of movies that inspired ST4? I had a picture of it but I lost it and I haven't been able to find it since. Please and thank you in advance.

Yep!

Long post warning lol

300

2001: A Space Odyssey

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

12 Monkeys

28 Days Later

13th Warrior

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Altered States

Amelie

American Sniper

Analyze This

Annihilation

Aristocats

Armageddon

Assassins Creed

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Arrival

Almost Famous

Batman Begins

Batman V. Superman

Basket Case

Battle at Big Rock

Beauty and the Beast

Beetlejuice

Behind Enemy Lines

Beverly Hills Cop

Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey

Billy Madison

Black Cauldron

Black Swan

Boondock Saints

Borat

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Burn After Reading

Broken Arrow

Blade Runner

C.H.U.D

Con Air

Cast Away

Congo

Constantine

Children of Men

Cabin in the Woods

Crank

Casablanca

Carrie

Crimson Tide

Clueless

Dukes of Hazzard

Don’t Breathe

Death to Smoochy

Doom

Dark Knight

Dogma

Deep Blue Sea

Dreamcatcher

Drop Dead Fred

Die Hard

Die Hard 2

Die Hard 3

Don’s Plum

Dances with Wolves

Dumb and Dumber

Edward Scissorhands

Enter the Void

Ex Machina

Event Horizon

Emma (2020)

Forrest Gump

Fargo

Fisher King

Full Metal Jacket

Ferris Bueller

Fallen

Fugitive

Ghost

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Ghostbusters

Good Fellas

Girl Interrupted

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Get Out

Good Will Hunting

Hackers

High Fidelity

Hellraiser 1

Hellraiser 2

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hidden

High School Musical

Hurt Locker

Heat

Hunger Games

Highlander

Hell or High Water

Home Alone

I am Legend

It’s a Wonderful Life

In Cold Blood

Inception

I am a Fugitive from Chain Gang

Inside Out

Island of Doctor Moreau

It Follows

Interview with a Vampire

Inner Space

Into the Spiderverse

Independence Day

Jupiter Ascending

John Carter of Mars

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

James Bond (All Movies)

Julie

Karate Kid

Knives Out

Kingsmen

Little Miss Sunshine

Labyrinth

Long Kiss Goodnight

Lost Boys

Leon: The Professional

Let the Right One In

Little Women (1994)

Mad Max: Fury Road

Magnolia

Men in Black

Mimic

Matrix

Misery

My Cousin Vinny

Mystic River

Minority Report

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Neverending Story

Never Been Kissed

No Country for Old Men

Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

North by Northwest

Open Water

Orange County

Oceans 8

Oceans 11

Oceans 12

One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ordinary People

Paddington 2

Platoon

Pulp Fiction

Papillon

Pan’s Labyrinth

Pineapple Express

Peter Pan

Princess Bride

Paradise Lost

Primal Fear

Prisoners

Peter Jackson’s King Kong

Reservoir Dogs

Ravenous

Rushmore

Road Warrior

Rogue One

Reality Bites

Raider of the Lost Ark

Red Dragon

Robocop

Shooter

Sky High

Swingers

Sword in the Stone

Step Up 2

Spy Kids

Saving Private Ryan

Shape of Water

Swept Away

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Superbad

Society

Swordfish

Stoker

Splice

Silence of the Lambs

Source Code

Sicario

Se7en

Starship Troopers

Scrooged

Splash

Silver Bullet

Speed

The Visit

The Italian Job

The Mask of Zorro

True Lies

The Blair Witch Project

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Tangled

The Craft

The Guest

The Devil’s Advocate

The Graduate

The Prestige

The Rock

Titanic

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Fly

Tombstone

The Mummy

The Guardian

The Goofy Movie

The Peanut Butter Solution

Toy Story 4

The Ring

The Crazies

The Mist

The Revenant

The Perfect Storm

The Shining

Terminator 2

The Truman Show

Temple of Doom

The Cell

To Kill a Mockingbird

Timeline

The Good Son

The Orphan

The Birdcage

The Green Mile

The Raid

The Cider House Rules

The Lighthouse

The Book of Henry

The A-Team

The Crow

The Terminal

Thor Ragnarok

Twister

The Descent

The Birds

Total Recall

The Natural

The Fifth Element

True Romance

Terminator: Dark Fate

The Hobbit Trilogy

Unforgiven

Unbreakable

Unleashed

Very Bad Things

Wayne’s World

What Women Want

War Dogs

Wedding Crashers

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Welcome to the Dollhouse

Welcome to Marwen

Wet Hot American Summer

What Lies Beneath

What Dreams May Come

War Games

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Weird Science

Willow

Wizard of Oz

Wanted

Young Sherlock Holmes

You’ve Got Mail

Zodiac

Zoolander

#stranger things #ask #st4 #st4 movies

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a-dinosaur-a-day · 6 months

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Fossil Novembirb 8: The Raptors Are Back

Palaeohierax by @quetzalpali-art!

Alright we're back with a look at the raptors of the Paleogene!

Raptor meaning, of course, bird of prey. Which I wouldn't have to say, except this is a dinosaur blog, and a lot of the time people in dinosaur circles use "raptor" to mean "Dromaeosaur" exclusively. Ironic, given that birds of prey used the word first!

Pulchrapollia by @drawingwithdinosaurs

We've already talked about some of the birds of prey that appeared right after the extinction, such as all the early owls, Qianshanornis, and Danielsraptor. Truth is, being a carnivore is a useful ecology, and birds - having evolved from Paravians like Dromaeosaurs - already have a lot of the tools for chowing down! So, carnivorous birds just keep re-evolving all the time - corvids are sometimes considered raptors, and they're deeply nested within Passerines! And of course, modern roadrunners are essentially mini Velociraptors, but they're cuckoos!

In fact, it seems that most birds alive today evolved from a carnivorous ancestor! All the early-branching members of Telluraves, aka "Core Land Birds" (which includes all passerines and many more besides) are raptorial - owls, hawks, eagles, kites, seriemas, even falcons. And the early ancestors of Passerines and Parrots - things like Halcyornis - were birds of prey as well!

Dynamopterus by @thewoodparable

As we saw with Danielsraptor and Qianshanornis, fast running predatory birds have been a thing since the ash started clearing up from the asteroid. There are just so many small animals to eat and so little time to catch them! Relatives of falcons and seriemas continued to pursue (heh) this lifestyle, and were quite common in the Paleogene fossil record.

In fact, Seriemas - today limited to just a handful of species in South America - had a very successful time of it during the Paleogene and Neogene, with species spread all across the globe. Dynamopterus (sometimes called Idiornis) was from the later Eocene of Europe, and it lived very similarly to living seriemas in its ecosystem! Itaboravis was present in the early Eocene in South America, and we also have Bathornis in North America!

Bathornis by @drawingwithdinosaurs

Bathornis was a very terror-bird-like seriema relative that lived in North America from the Eocene through the Miocene, found in many different environments and at many sizes throughout its existence, including plains and wetlands. Flightless like its terror bird cousins, it had a strong beak to help in catching food and powerful legs for moving quickly across the landscape to catch it!

Ogygoptynx by Apokryltaros/Avancna

Of course, I cannot ignore flighted predatory birds entirely. Though modern ones don't have a lot of fossil relatives (they start appearing in the Oligocene with forms like Palaeohierax), it seems that volant raptors were simply found in other clades - many owls were diurnal, and the relatives of modern parrots and passerines were small carnivores as I mentioned above. With ridges over their eyes to help with glare, these animals could find prey over long distances and fly to them rapidly from their perches - something quite terrifying for the little mammals they ate!

From grasping talons to sickle claws to powerful beaks and eyes, these animals - though small - had major impacts on their environments. Some grew to be so large they would hunt humans - but that's a story for another article.

Sources:

Mayr, 2022. Paleogene Fossil Birds, 2nd Edition. Springer Cham.

Mayr, 2017. Avian Evolution: The Fossil Record of Birds and its Paleobiological Significance (TOPA Topics in Paleobiology). Wiley Blackwell.

#Fossil Novembirb #Novembirb #Dinovember #Dinosaurs #Birds

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ghost-bxrd · 1 month

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Howdy!

Hope you’re having a owl-some day!

For your Court of Owls Au, I was wondering at what point does everyone accept Tim as part of the flock?

I saw one post that said Bruce takes him under his wing as soon as he realizes his parents go south for the winter (and fall, and spring, and summer lol) without him

And another that said that Cobb wouldn’t view him as part of the parliament until Jason does

I feel like Cass would probably probably love her little owlet brother pretty quick? He joined the fray before her so she wouldn’t have known a time before so I think she would be less inclined to think of him as a cuckoo. Do you agree?

I’m curious at what point Dick would. Canon Dick was teaching Tim flying patterns pretty soon after he accepted Tim as a mentee but Talon Dick had a stronger connection to Jason so I wonder how that would impact their relationship

I’d love to know what makes Jason accept him as a bird of a feather instead of seeing his presence as fowl play

Also would Cobb immediately accept him after Jason says Tim is a part of his party or would he have to do something that proves his loyalty or be in some sort of danger that makes Cobb begrudgingly view him as part of the family?

I’m also curious, once they do accept him, how protective of Tim are they all? Do they keep him close to the nest or let him fly free with the expectation that he keeps them in the loop?

How would they react to him being in danger after they’ve claimed him as one of their own?

(Sorry for all the bird puns, I made one and then couldn’t help myself and had to make more lol)

Hi! So the Talon!Dick Au (Owl Song) is a different universe than the one where the entire batfam is part of the Court of Owls (Court Family Au).

But to answer your question: Cobb would really only accept Tim after Jason has warmed up to him.

Before that, Cobb would only ever see him as an imposter. A poor substitute for the son ward him and Bruce lost. Him threatening to gut Tim was a very serious threat, and also one Bruce had to put his foot down with and straight up order his (slightly deranged) Talon not to act on.

Tim’s attempt to help stabilize the Court (and Bruce) doesn’t help his case very much, because while it sure improves the over all dire situation Gotham’s found herself in after Jason’s death, Tim unwittingly had to take over a lot of the operations and projects that used to be Jason’s.

Cobb was… very protective of the “little street rat” turned “Heart of the Court”. Having someone else “bully” their way into their lives to insert himself into the achingly vacant place Jason left behind dialed his murderous instincts up to a million.

The only reason Cobb doesn’t ignore the command to not hurt Tim is because he can see that both Bruce and Dick take comfort in his presence. That’s it. The moment he thinks Tim is “obsolete”… well. Timbers should keep himself useful is what I’m saying. There’s a proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over him at every step and turn.

As for Cass, she wouldn’t have very many contact points with Tim. She rarely stays at the manor for long, usually opting to oversee Court operations from the Shadows to make sure there are no unnecessary deaths or civilian casualties happening. When she’s home she usually also stays hidden, choosing to observe the manor’s occupants. And sometimes, when Dick or Bruce look particularly sad, she curls up in the seat next to them and leans her head on their shoulders. That always seems to make them happy.

Once Bruce finds out about Tim’s parents being a no-show most of the time and he moves into the manor… well, I think Cass would be intrigued, but everyone’s body language is sending her a lot of mixed signals in regard to the newcomer’s presence.

Dick doesn’t have an issue with Tim. He’s… less than happy about it at first though. Especially when he thinks Tim really is supposed to be a replacement for Jason. But Bruce clears that one up very quickly.

Regardless, Cobb doesn’t agree (he rarely does)

Jason would eventually, and very grudgingly, realize that Tim is the personification of a sad wet cat and extend an olive branch to him in the form of just— existing with him in the same room without spitting vitriol.

Tim straight up thinks he’s going to be murdered. Right now. (Because he can totally see Cobb staring at him from the shadows, he’s got a sixth sense for that look by now)

It’s a slow going progress, but over time Jason’s animosity towards Tim morphs into a fierce kind of protectiveness

And Cobb doesn’t like it, not at all. But Jason’s claimed the kid as part of the parliament, so he’s bound to accept him into the flock as well now.

I’m not sure yet whether Cobb ever truly ends up becoming protective and fond of Tim, but there would definitely have to be another catalyst for it.

#court family #court family au #jason todd #batfamily #dick grayson #bruce wayne #batfam #tim drake #Cassandra Cain #William Cobb

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jimraisedmeup · 17 days

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TICK // 21.1 - hold me now FINALE

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Rating: mature (angst, language, sexual content)

Word Count: 2300

A/N: sigh... this is the finale of part one: TICK. in case anyone hasn't seen me talk about it already, i had part one written out for the last two years and i have been posting it for the first time on here (revised and revamped). i have started a part two: TOCK. it won't be released nearly as quickly as this has, because i haven't finished writing it yet. but the prologue will be out this weekend.

as always, thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has taken time to read this. i welcome any feedback about not only TICK... but also things/interactions you'd love to see in TOCK.

☾

I have a picture Pinned to my wall An image of you and of me and we're laughing, we're loving it all But look at our life now All tattered and torn We fuss and we fight and delight in the tears that we cry until dawn Oh, whoa

☾

October 31st, 1984 - evening of tina's halloween party

Eddie Munson strummed his guitar, swaying slightly in his bedroom.

He didn't have it hooked up to the amp so he could easily hear if anyone came to the door.

A part of him was still getting used to the fact that he had clients.

A miniscule splash of shame made him flinch, but he shook it off rather quickly. Another thing he was getting used to. Pushing away his feelings.

Taking a long sip of the beer sitting on his dresser, Eddie held his breath, and then let it out slowly. Then he downed the rest of the can and tossed its empty shell into the trash can next to his bed.

He began strumming again, scarred fingertips running over the strings with precision. These days, most of his time was spent with one of three things in his hands: his guitar, a beer, or his dick.

A quarter of the way through "The Last in Line", the Munson boy finally heard the tapping on the trailer's front door. Removing the guitar carefully from his body, he sauntered to the living room, lighting a cigarette.

Eddie knew exactly who was supposed come to his trailer to meet that night. A kid named Billy. Apparently, he was fairly new to Hawkins, straight outta sunny California.

Overcompensating for something with that fancy blue Camaro.

Opening the rickety door, Billy stood before him in all his glory. Eddie was vaguely aware of trick-or-treaters exploring the trailer park, some of them staring at him, but he truly didn't give a flying fuck.

He opened the door wider to allow Billy to step inside. "Trick or treat, pretty boy?"

Billy looked around the place, seemingly without judgment, before turning his eyes to Eddie.

"Is that your Halloween costume? Very Cuckoo's Nest. But I can dig it."

Eddie looked down at his own appearance for the first time that night. Hawkins High gym shorts. Black t-shirt riddled with holes. He didn't even want to imagine what his grown out hair looked like, or the ghoulish bags that were surely under his eyes.

Deciding to remain silent after Billy's strange comment, Eddie continued to switch between his beer and cigarette, staring back at his client.

Billy had no room to pick fun at Eddie's attire, considering that the Hargrove kid wasn't wearing a costume, either. He was shirtless under a leather jacket, his tight jeans proving that he was trying a little too hard. Or did he look like that all of the time?

"You got another one?"

"Of what?" Eddie inquired, deadpanned, turning his back and striding towards the kitchen.

"Beer," Billy replied. "I have like an hour til I gotta be at this party."

Eddie opened the fridge, squinting at the light in his face. He tossed a beer can to Billy, who caught it with ease.

"What party?"

"Some preppy bitch named Tina."

"Hmm," was all Eddie had to say.

He didn't really know what he was doing. He knew exactly what party Billy was referring to, and knew exactly who Tina was. Maybe it was the beer and pills subduing his social skills.

But at this point, he didn't mind a bit of company. Even if it was with a stranger, a newcomer to the tiny town of Hawkins. His uncle Wayne spent almost every night at work or at the bar, leaving Eddie alone with his intrusive thoughts.

…I want to know your late night thoughts and how they make you feel…

Billy cracked the beer open noisily, ripping Eddie from his memory, and drank half of it in a few seconds.

Eddie raised an eyebrow at him. "So… you wanted to make a purchase?"

"I heard you have some of the best shit in town." Billy strode over to the television, reading the labels of the video tapes stacked next to it. "I doubt it's as good as anything in California, but we'll see."

Eddie scoffed. "You do realize you're in the literal asscrack of Indiana, right? I don't want to get your hopes up, bud, but I'm sure anything I have is quite… mediocre compared to the precious smoke back in your Golden State."

The sarcastic high pitch of his voice raised a bit at the end of his statement, making Billy look at him in amusement.

"Like I said, we'll see."

Eddie scratched his head, watching as the strange kid emptied his beer and lit his own cigarette with a polished silver lighter.

He immediately handed Billy a second beer, along with another for himself. He made a gesture for Billy to follow him down the hallway.

"Let's go over my inventory, then?"

Billy was the kind of character who wasn't about to hide how nosy he was. He radiated a confidence that was a little disarming, especially as his blue eyes raked over Eddie's messy bedroom.

He pointed at a poster on Eddie's wall. "Metallica. I have the same one on my wall."

Eddie kicked some dirty clothes under his bed before pulling the black lunchbox from his closet. He side-eyed Billy as he circled the room, suddenly feeling vulnerable in his bedroom alone with someone for the first time in months.

Maintaining his stoic appearance, Eddie replied coolly. "I didn't take you for a Metallica fan."

"What do you take me as, Munson?"

Eddie's eye twitched at some suppressed memory that tugged at his brain stem, begging to be recognized. Something about Billy Hargrove reminded him of things he was trying to forget.

He chose to cover his discomfort with crude humor. "I don't know. Your hair basically screams Madonna. I'm torn, though, because your pants radiate more of a Steve Perry vibe. I would have guessed Journey."

…'Separate Ways' is my all-time favorite song…

Billy's single dangling earring shook as he chuckled at Eddie's words. "I happen to care a lot about my appearance, unlike other people in this hick town, apparently."

Shaking the lunchbox to get Billy back to business, Eddie pointed inside of it. "So… I have weed… uppers, downers. You didn't exactly specify what you were looking for here, man."

But Billy was still lurking around the room, taking in the various items on his dresser and the stuff on his walls. Eddie's stomach plummeted when the leather-clad boy stopped directly in front of two polaroid pictures pinned to the wall.

"Well, now. What's this?"

"That's… nothing."

"She's hot. Does she go to our school?"

"No." Eddie replied a little too quickly, a little too harshly.

Billy peered at him over his shoulder with a smirk. Then he raised his hands in mock defense. "Calm down, tiger. I'm not trying to step on any toes."

Just when Eddie thought Billy was moving on from the cursed images, he was wrong.

"Is she even wearing underwear in these? I like the amateur porn look of it."

"Will you please shut the fuck up?"

Eddie gripped the lunchbox tighter. He was conflicted, confused. He felt extremely defensive over the pictures. He also felt embarrassed to still have them on his wall after all these months.

But then… he also found a weird sense of comfort in Billy trying to pry his way into his personal life. Someone who didn't know Eddie before his life fell apart.

The Hargrove boy was unfazed, clicking his tongue and holding back a smile.

"Okay, fine. I'll take a gram of smoke. Throw in some uppers. I think I want to be up late tonight," Billy sighed thoughtfully. "I hear all the religious bible belt girls get freaky on Halloween."

Sorting out the products in his hand, Eddie frowned in distaste.

"I wouldn't know, Hargrove."

After thinking for a moment, Eddie Munson made a spur of the moment decision.

"Hey, I'll cut you a deal on this if you take me to the party with you. You're driving, though."

Billy turned to him with a wicked smile.

☾

Hold me now, whoa Warm my heart Stay with me Let loving start Let loving start

☾

Before he left his trailer, Eddie tore the Polaroids off of his wall and stuffed them under the mattress next to an all-too-familiar red envelope.

Hiding them away was the only option. Out of sight, out of mind.

Billy waited patiently while Eddie quickly showered and dressed, thumbing through the Munson cassette tape collection. "You got quite an impressive assortment here."

"Thanks, I guess?" Eddie grumbled from the bathroom, pulling a shirt over his head, just as equally tattered as the one he had on previously. "I'm ready when you are, Perry."

As they exited the trailer, Billy nodded towards the home across the street.

"I'll be damned. Trailer park girls are a lot more interesting than the girls that live in town."

Eddie knew just what, or who, Billy was referring to.

The trailer that sat opposite Wayne Munson's was home to a pair of older girls, best friends or cousins, who knows. Maybe around 21 years old. They moved in only a couple weeks prior.

Tonight, one of them sat on their front porch, lighting up a joint that Eddie had sold her sometime in the last week. She had introduced herself as Katrina. Her short, almost black hair was visible against her pale skin even from a distance.

Her interest in Eddie made him squirm.

Maybe we can hang out sometime.

I don't think so. Sorry.

"Munson!" Billy chirped, slamming his hand on the roof of the Camaro. "C'mon, I'm ready to party."

☾

You say I'm a dreamer, we're two of a kind Both of us searching for some perfect world we know we'll never find So perhaps I should leave here Yeah, yeah, and go far away But you know that there's nowhere that I'd rather be than with you here today Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

☾

The party was a goddamn freak show.

Eddie and Billy arrived together, but casually separated as the night went on. Eddie didn't mind. He enjoyed the anonymity of attending a party without a date.

A part of him felt bad for not calling Jeff or Gareth… but then again, nowadays his entire social life was his band and Hellfire. It felt nice to stray from his usual routine, away from his usual company.

Eddie couldn't help but overhear the whispers of some of his classmates as he passed them in the drunken crowds.

"...I hear he's selling drugs now…"

"...just like his dad…"

"...Jesus, he looks deranged…"

"...how does he know Billy?"

The only solution Eddie could think of was to slither his way into the kitchen, in search of a bottle of familiar amber liquid.

"Oh Captain! My Captain!" Eddie hissed, voice dripping with leaden sarcasm.

Holding the bottle of Captain Morgan in his hand, Eddie deliberately ignored the scrutiny of Steve Harrington who stood nearby. Nancy Wheeler was at the punch bowl next to Eddie. Harrington observed both of them with a weird look on his face, dark sunglasses obscuring however he was really feeling.

Eddie winked at Harrington, then poured himself an entire cup of the rum and wandered off to cause mischief.

☾

You ask if I love you Well, what could I say? You know that I do and that this is just one of those games that we play So I'll sing you a new song Please don't cry anymore I'll even ask your forgiveness Though I don't know just what I'm asking it for

☾

Upon returning to his uncle's trailer many hours later, Eddie watched with hazy, drunken vision as Billy sped off into the darkness. He didn't recall much of the events at the party.

He knew they had fun. Billy went upside down at the keg with crowds cheering him on. Flashes of some sophomore girl tugging on Eddie's belt buckle, trying to persuade him into the nearest empty bedroom. Eddie wasn't sure if he was polite about it or not, but he turned her down.

But now he was home safe. Though still piss drunk, and still completely lonely, he kind of regretted shooting down the girl. Eddie sat down hard on his front steps and lit a smoke.

"You look like you need help," a small, simple sentence uttered in the darkness.

The neighborhood was foggy and the voice was close to unfamiliar, but he knew it was that Katrina girl from across the street.

"Help with what? Do I look helpless?" Eddie chuckled bitterly.

He heard the sound of bottles clinking together and then the shake of a pill bottle. "You need help forgetting. I think I need it too. Let's help each other, yeah?"

Shameless and inebriated, the rest of his night was a rushed, sloppy blur.

Something felt dangerous about mixing drugs and alcohol, but he welcomed the numbness taking over his senses.

Something felt wrong about having a woman in his bed, but he pushed her onto it anyway, stripping off her pants and not even bothering to completely remove his.

Something felt raunchy about the sound of her moaning another man's name, but it helped Eddie with his guilt over whispering your name as he was inside of someone else.

☾

Stay with me (Stay with me) Let loving start Let loving start, whoa

☾

…aaaand here's Billy!

A/N: fun fact: i rewatched season 2 and Billy Hargrove does indeed have the same Metallica poster as Eddie in his bedroom. was it done intentionally by the creators? the whole time i watched it, i genuinely wondered if he and Eddie were friends at school and it was just never portrayed in the show because, well, Eddie hadn't been cast yet.

(song lyrics credit: "Hold Me Now" by Thompson Twins)

TAGLIST for this series if you would like to be notified when I post new chapters!

taglist: @siriuslysmoking@emesis-nemisis@ishouldclean@thegirlblogstuff@insert-geeky-things-here@melonmonstereater@well-be-okay-dear-valentine@mewchiili@maridevial @sp1dyb0y1008 @totallynani @the-historical-biscuit2468 @borhapgirlforlife19 @amandaauroraelli @daggerdear @nvrendfangirl @lausnotverybright @salvinaa @psychotickoda @hiimerinhime @heyyallitsnaomi @trixyvixx @rstaverous

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie x fem!reader #eddie munson smut #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fanfiction #eddiemunson #eddie munson x female reader #stranger things #eddie munson slow burn #eddie x you #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x buckley!reader

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the-rat-wins · 3 months

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Does this frog make you feel calm?! Or perhaps like you have been mildly poisoned with henbane?

Please enjoy these extra notes regarding things that appear in my Shameless Big Bang fic Last Night at the Verona Grand Hotel, in order of appearance. Also now listed in the work endnotes on AO3 (but without the pictures).

This post contains lots of spoilers for the fic.

The train that Mickey takes from Chicago to Los Angeles is an Amtrak route called the Southwest Chief.

Mickey reads Treasure Island as a reference to Loftec’s fic Take this waltz.

The green popsicle is Melona.

I went for fictionalized geography around where exactly the hotel is, but the descriptions of the view on the drive up are based on pictures of Los Liones Trail.

The Verona Grand is, of course, inspired by the early years of the Chateau Marmont, but also crossed with a creepy old hotel I’ve stayed at in Colorado. The name is a reference to the setting of Romeo and Juliet plus the Neptune Grand from Veronica Mars (for that sunshine noir energy).

The Mark of Zorro (1920): Full disclaimer, unlike Mickey, I didn’t watch the whole thing (I didn’t have the good incentive of looking for my crush), but the moments I referenced are here and here.

(About ten years ago, I went to an outdoor movie screening that had been advertised as The Mask of Zorro but turned out to be The Mark of Zorro; after about 30 minutes, we all gave up and went home. Sorry, Douglas Fairbanks! We wanted Antonio.)

Hunter’s name is a reference to 1950s actor Tab Hunter, who came out as gay in 2005. (One of his long-term relationships was with Anthony Perkins of Psycho fame, after they met at the Chateau Marmont.)

KY Jelly has been around since the early 1900s (!). Here’s some of the vintage packaging. We’ll just assume Mickey was distracted and didn’t look too closely at the tube (or thought it was pretentiously packaged hipster lube; thanks for that idea, Deanna!).

Mickey calls Davie “Nurse Ratched” as a reference to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; the actress who played her in the original movie, Louise Fletcher, played Frank’s mother in season 2 of Shameless.

Nerve pills: These are fictionalized (I don’t know how well they worked or what they tasted like; probably not nice!) but they’re based on Carter’s Little Nervine Pills, the active ingredient of which was extract of hyoscyamus, which (if my Googling is correct) is henbane. Henbane is quite toxic and can cause hallucinations. It was commonly associated with witchcraft, since ointment made with it could cause people to see things and feel like they were flying. Never change, early 20th century medicine.

Another one of the compounds in henbane is scopolamine, which can be used to treat motion sickness. This worked well for my purposes because I had decided that the sickness Ian and Mickey experience when they stay in the wrong time is a cousin to motion sickness (if traveling through space too fast can make you feel sick, why not traveling through time?).

The concept of quantum entanglement is the other one in my mind when I think about what “connects” them each to their own time, but don’t ask me any follow-up questions on that, because honestly I’m not great at physics and I don’t totally understand it. Storytelling-wise, I just like the idea of things being connected to each other on a submolecular level. I refer to this in Two of Your Earth Minutes, as well, for the same reason.

Mickey also makes a reference to the idea of the observer effect. (Lotta quantum mechanics in this dang ghost story!!)

The new movie Ian is going to audition for is A Woman of Paris, directed by Charlie Chaplin.

I think he would have gotten it, don't you?

#last night at the verona grand hotel #shameless big bang #my fic

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quotespile · 5 months

Quote

The sun was prying up the clouds and lighting the brick front of the hospital rose red. A thin breeze worked at sawing what leaves were left from the oak trees, stacking them neatly against the wire cyclone fence. There were little brown birds occasionally on the fence: when a puff of leaves would hit the fence the birds would fly off with the wind. It looked at first like the leaves were hitting the fence and turning into birds and flying away.

Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

#literature #quotes #Ken Kesey #One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest #quote #books #lit

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dansnaturepictures · 4 months

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Fishlake Meadows, Romsey: A special place

This nature reserve is equally as uplifting to visit in the spring and summer months when exotic Hobbies dash through the sky and colossal Stag Beetles roam the canal side path as it is in winter when Gadwall, Pintail, Pochard and Teal immerse me in a world of waterfowl.

A magnificent raptor is a star attraction to this reserve in spring and summer, Ospreys (particularly one) standing like grand statues and offering breathtaking moments of natural wonder when they fish. Many raptors adorn the skies here, Marsh Harrier in its prime habitat, ravishing Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel. Sparrowhawk also a key species in this oasis of wild in an urban area and a non-bird of prey evolutionary lookalike is a mesmerising sight and sound here on spring days, the Cuckoo. Its similarly in appearance to the predatory Sparrowhawk able to fool the adults of its host species into leaving their nest so it can insert its imposter egg. Other key waterbirds to see here include bight Egyptian Geese and Greylags, Great Crested Grebe, Common Gull, Snipe and dazzling Water Rail always a species to cherish seeing. Another of the main stars of this reserve is an elegant giant which is gripping the south of the country now, Great White Egret. Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis are two rarities I was lucky to see here. I was ecstatic to see a Kingfisher catch a fish along the canal when reaching the reserve as was I when I was so fortunate to see a splendid Cetti’s Warbler after being surrounded by their bright and cherry calls evocative of a reedbed paradise. Sedge and Garden Warbler other amazing warblers I’ve seen here. Other passerines it’s a treat to see here include Wren, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Treecreeper, captivating Nuthatch, vibrant Stonechat and Reed Bunting. A Roe Deer a delight to see.

It's an insect haven too with Hairy Dragonfly one of the first spring dragonflies to see and the gem of Banded Demoiselle another key species with Migrant Hawker enjoyed here too. Speckled Wood and Green-veined White fly the flag for beautiful butterflies and Brimstone moth and Grey Birch are among sensational moths I’ve seen here. Drinker moth caterpillar and vigorous ruby Cardinal beetle are other key insects I’ve seen here. Nursery web spider was another of nature’s fascinating little stars which has thrilled me here. Onto plants and there is an array of colour here throughout the seasons created by stunning species such as wood avens, comfrey, meadowsweet, cuckooflower, forget-me-not, hemp agrimony, bird vetch, yellow iris, water lily, hogweed, traveller’s joy and marsh marigold. A sight of intricate and alluring turkey tail fungi clinging to a stump beside the canal at one time lit up by the glorious winter sun was wonderful.

This brilliant nature reserve with its distinctive dead trees and thriving reedbed, wetland, canal and woodland habitat is a star of a reserve that has risen over the past few years and an exciting vision of how to use land for nature and let a landscape be transformed. A lesson of hope, a place I always come back from inspired.

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goldenraeofsun · 2 years

Text

Day 26: Hum

The hum of the airplane rattles Dean down to his very bones, and his heart is about to jackrabbit out of his chest. With shaking hands, he unscrews the fun size bottle of whiskey he brought from the duty-free store by the gate and swigs back a hearty shot.

It does nothing.

Well, nothing except make his blue-eyed seatmate shoot him a look of alarm. After a beat his neighbor asks tentatively, “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Dean grunts.

The plane jolts, and Dean whimpers. Jesus Christ, how long does it take to taxi to the runway? The airport’s only so big for crying out loud.

“Are you sure?” his neighbor asks.

Dean nods and takes another swig of alcohol. “I’m fine,” he repeats quickly. “Other than the fact that I’m stuck in a flying metal tube for the next two hours unless it plummets to Earth in a fiery ball of scrap metal before we land.”

His neighbor squints at him. “That is… extremely unlikely.”

Dean just shrugs and takes another swig of his bottle, now pitifully half-empty.

“I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but flying is statistically the safest way to travel.”

“Thanks, Supes,” Dean says bitterly.

“But I know phobias aren’t always rational,” his neighbor acknowledges, “but I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention it.”

The plane’s engines go from a hum to a blood-chilling roar as they take off down the runway.

Dean’s hands fly to the armrest, bearing down with all his strength. “Son of a bitch, why did I ever think this was a good idea?” he mutters to himself. “I have no fucking clue what I’m doing. I shouldn’t even be in this goddamn death trap.”

The plane takes off into the air, and Dean knocks back the rest of his whiskey. Every groan and creak from the cabin gives Dean a mini heart attack. He’s breathing too fast, and the whiskey threatens to come back up several times as they climb farther and farther away from the safety of the ground.

“If people were meant to fly, we would’ve been given fucking wings,” Dean hisses, squeezing his eyes shut. “No, we were meant to stay on planet Earth. Traveling like this is … unnatural.”

“It’s more a matter of aerodynamics than a facet of the supernatural,” his neighbor cuts through his rambling monologue.

Eyes still closed like he can pretend he’s not a thousand feet up in the air, Dean shakes his head. “Not helping.”

“My apologies. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Dean opens his eyes, more than a little surprised at the sincerity written all over his neighbor’s face. “No.”

“Attention passengers, we have reached cruising altitude. You are free to move about the cabin.”

“Thank god.” Dean breathes out heavily through his mouth, but the exhale doesn’t do much to suppress the low thrum of panic still running through his veins. He flexes his fingers, pulling his right arm back from the armrest. “Sorry,” he mutters to his seat neighbor. “Didn’t mean to hog it.”

“Don’t worry about it,” his neighbor says with a warm smile. “You needed it more than I did.”

“Still,” Dean grunts. He cranes his neck. “Where’s the booze cart?”

“Usually they wait a few minutes to let people stretch their legs first,” his neighbor says, “or go to the bathroom.”

“Huh,” Dean leans back in his seat. “You fly often?”

“Not often enough,” he says to Dean’s complete confusion. How could someone want more of this? “I love traveling.”

“I see,” Dean says because he’s not about to tell a complete stranger he’s a Cuckoo’s Nest of Cocoa Puffs.

“It’s not for everyone,” his neighbor says with a slight dip of his head. “But I –” he breaks off as the plane lurches mid-air.

The bottom drops out of Dean’s stomach.

“Attention passengers, we’re hitting a bad bout of turbulence so the captain has turned the fasten seat belt sign on. Please return to your seats.”

Dean’s stomach flies back up into his throat as the plane starts fucking falling, and it’s like Dean’s stuck on a hellish roller coaster made only of death-complying drops. “We’re gonna die,” he moans.

“I don’t think –”

“The last thing I said to Sammy was, ‘see ya on the other side, bitch’,” he plows on. “I didn’t mean it literally!”

“I really doubt –”

“At least he’ll be alright without his big brother,” Dean babbles, “he’s gonna be a hot shot lawyer, and I’m gonna be a smear on the ground. I hope he knows I’m proud of him.”

“I’m sure he kn –”

“’Cause we’re not going to make it, and I’m never even gonna have a chance at that stupid job I’m not even qualified for. I mean, who the hell would employ a high school dropout with only a GED and a give ’em hell attitude?” he says, his voice rising in pitch. “Nobody, that’s who!”

“That seems un –”

“I mean, do I look like a fucking secretary? Sorry, executive assistant,” he makes a pfft noise with his mouth. “No sir. No siree.” God, he sounds drunk – or like he’s about to cry. “Sammy says I can do it, but, fuck, he’s family. He organized this whole interview; of course he’s gonna say that. He’s always thought I was better than I am. But that’s just how kids view their parent figures, right? I thought the sun shone outta my dad’s ass until he up and left us.”

Alarmed, his neighbor just gapes at him.

The plane shudders and unleashes another torrent of words from Dean’s mouth. His last will and testament – or confession? – before he meets his maker.

“What a goddamn cliche,” Dean rambles, “leaving for a pack of smokes – fucking smokes, can you believe it? – and just never coming back. At least Sammy was a good kid. He practically raised himself after that.”

Something deep in the belly of the plane makes a horrible scraping noise, and this is it. This is the end.

“I did my best though,” he adds fervently, “I helped him with his homework, drove him to dances and SAT classes, made sure all the bills got paid on time so Sammy had a roof over his head, electricity, gas, and running water.”

“Very admirable of you,” his neighbor says faintly.

“I even sweet talked one teacher into writing his college recommendation after Sammy forgot the application deadline. Shit, she was a hard ass, but Sammy loved Mrs. Mosely, so I wasn’t gonna let one mistake set him back. I had to change her oil for free, but it got Sammy into Stanford with a full ride, so I’m not complaining.”

“I think that’s the textbook definition of comp –”

“Attention passengers, we seem to be through the worst of the turbulence, so the captain will turn off the fasten seatbelt sign in a minute. When seated, please keep your seatbelt on and enjoy the rest of the flight.”

Dean snaps his jaw shut, his face heating to a temperature only known to Mount Doom.

His neighbor opens his mouth to say something, but Dean just shakes his head and turns away to flag down a flight attendant. That booze cart has his goddamn name on it.

Two hours and change later, Sammy meets him at the arrivals gate, smirking. “How was the flight?” he asks as they make their way to the exit.

“Shut up. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Sam chuckles. “That bad?”

“We hit turbulence five minutes in.”

“Damn,” Sam says sympathetically. “But at least Castiel is excited to meet you.”

“Yippee.”

* * *

Sammy drops off Dean at Castiel Novak’s office in some horrible reverse parody of the first day of school. As he gets out of the car, Dean half-expects Sam to hand him a bag lunch and tell him to play nice with the other kids. But Sam just lets him go with a grin and a wave.

Dean gives his name at the welcome desk and gets a visitor’s pass and directions to the fourth floor.

He spends the short elevator ride fiddling with the cuffs of his blazer and adjusting his tie.

All too soon, the doors open, and Dean steps out only to stop dead in his tracks.

“Hello, Dean,” says his seatmate from his flight-from-hell. He takes a step closer and holds out his hand. “I don’t believe we ever traded formal introductions. I’m Castiel Novak.”

For the second time in two days, the bottom drops out of Dean’s stomach.

Read the sequel here!

#suptober22 #destiel #fanfic #destiel fanfic #first meetings #misunderstandings #secretary dean #businessman castiel #rae writes fic

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