Harry Potter Fic Recs 6

How the Duffers likely will make the general audience AWARE of Byler and CHEER for Byler

First the TL;DR:

The Painting Lie

Will comes out to Mike

Will gets bullied for being gay

Mike and Will face danger together, alone, for the 1st time

And I'll spell out exactly how and why!

We in the Byler fandom have our theories: Flickergate, Lettergate, Churchgate, etc. While totally fun and while it would be amazing if they became reality, they don't answer the question of how the Duffers would manage audience expectations to make them accept and cheer for Byler.

Because we all know the reality: on a surface level, season 4 ended with a grand "love confession" from Mike to El. It appeared to have culminated a four-year arc that started from show's beginning. For the vast majority of viewers, a Byler relationship will be a HUGE SURPRISE.

This isn't just heteronormativity; it's also the fact that in EVERY slow-burn romantic relationship in fiction, you need to make the audience start to wonder "Will they or won't they?" for a while first. The audience needs to start thinking that these 2 characters (1) MIGHT be together, and (2) eventually that they SHOULD be together and cheer for them!

For Jonathan and Nancy, there were a lot of moments suggesting they MIGHT be together in Season 1. Then in Season 2, we had THIS episode that made the audience think Nancy absolutely SHOULD be with Jonathan instead of Steve:

Anti-Bylers raise a fair point that there "isn't enough time" to replace a relationship that seemed to have been "fulfilled" at the end of s4, with an entirely different one. Of course, the ground has been laid for four seasons, but HOW EXACTLY can the Duffers make the audience accept and cheer for Byler, after seeming to have "built up Mike and El for 4 seasons"?

Showing Byler is POSSIBLE:

The most obvious (and elegant) way for the Duffers to accomplish this is the Painting Lie.

The main things that make the General Audience/GA dismiss the possibility that Mike likes Will back are (1) he confessed "I love you" to El and (2) he said "it's not my fault you don't like girls" and so can't be gay or bi.

The show has to address that, and there are ways that are pretty obvious.

The fact that El had no role in the painting COMPLETELY undercuts the "I love you" confession in the GA's mind. Anti-Milevens completely underestimate how this will affect Mike and El's relationship, and how the audience views it. Many things Mike said didn't apply to El, but applied to Will.

When El finds out, she'll realize that Mike only said he loved her based on a LIE. She'll realize that she clocked Mike for not loving her when they argued in s4. Mike might desperately try to repair things, but this will show the GA that Mike and El WILL PROBABLY NOT end up together.

And Mike will be confronted with the fact that he felt romantic love because Will described HIMSELF. This will show the GA that Mike and Will MIGHT be together.

Then there's the OTHER Chekhov's gun that needs to fire: Will comes out to Mike. Will is still in the closet at the end of s4. This HAS to be resolved. And he HAS to come out to his mom and his best friend.

When he comes out to Mike, he of course won't spurn Will. Will likely explains he was afraid Mike would be homophobic because of what he said that one summer, "It's not my fault you don't like girls":

Mike will need to explain why he said that. Whether he's honest or comes up with an excuse, it's a golden opportunity to get the GA to revisit that scene and think that Mike might have been lashing out due to his internalized homophobia.

We've been told that Season 5 returns to Season 1 themes. The Core Four are probably bullied for the Hellfire Club, and Will might be bullied for being gay. Since Mike and Will are attached at the hip, the same accusation might extend to Mike. This would force Mike to have to CHOOSE to stand up to the bullying. (This might be the reason we have a BTS pic of Mike with a bruise on his face) It could strongly hint that Mike is standing up not only for Will, but also for himself. And it could clearly parallel Jonathan fighting Steve in s1, which showed Nancy that "only love makes you that crazy sweetheart, and that damn stupid."

Once the GA sees the POSSIBILITY of a Mike/Will romance, their mental floodgates will open. As Jancy shows, It doesn't take long to get an audience to cheer for a relationship, especially when the seeds have been planted. And Byler has FOUR SEASONS of material for the GA to revisit and look back on!

How Season 5 can make the GA CHEER for Byler:

First, the show can continue to make the audience want Will to have a happy ending. Second, we already know that Will is in danger and Mike is again rallying the party in s5. This likely will echo Mike and Will's relationship in s1 and s2 (probably with flashbacks, including the newly-filmed flashback to when they were young kids, bringing their long-time closeness to the forefront of viewers' minds).

Plus, we likely will have Will and Mike facing danger together, alone, for the first time:

It was Jonathan and Nancy facing danger together in s1 that made the vast majority of viewers ship Jancy then. Mike and Will facing death together will put their love and their willingness to risk their lives for each other to the fore, and make millions say "They should just kiss already."

There are SO MANY WAYS to get the audience cheering for Byler. Will probably lives in Mike's house because the Byers don't have their own house in Hawkins anymore. The romantic tension between Mike and Will s5 that will make s4 look like nothing in comparison.

When Will comes out to him, Mike might ask, "Is... there anyone you like?"

He'll ask NERVOUSLY, like he once did before:

Will probably won't answer honestly, and it will lead to a new cycle of these two boys mutually thinking their love is unrequited LOL

But this time the General Audience will be fully aware of it. Will and Mike become THE "Will they or won't they?" couple that everyone is talking about. Mike's sexuality will not be officially revealed until mid or late season in order to keep up the suspense. If Season 5 is released in more than one volume, there will be a flurry of videos and articles revisiting past seasons, finding evidence of Mike's feelings for Will that we Bylers have analyzed and curated for years.

Season 5 will be messy. And glorious. It will be the most Byler season of all.

-teambyler

Heteronormativity is so powerful and here’s an example:

This is the “Cool” “Cool” scene. The pictures above show the moments after where they’re literally just staring at each other. There’s tender, emotional music playing in the background. They get interrupted right after by the sound of Argyle’s car and then Jonathan.

Basically, this is the trope of staring into each others’ eyes, having a moment, then getting interrupted. And if this were any straight couple (like jancy, lumax, or jopper, which I’m pretty sure all have a moment like this during the series), people would be like “oh they’re definitely getting together.” Like, actually imagine this is Jonathan and Nancy before they get together. It seems romantic, doesn’t it? The general audience would assume they’re going to end up together. But because Will and Mike are two boys…

It’s not homophobia. You can be accepting of LGBTQ+ things but still be affected by a heteronormative perspective. It’s the same thing that makes us think that characters being straight is the default and they have to be confirmed otherwise. Point is, the GA’s view of Byler is so much different than the straight couples. (There’s also Robin and Vickie, who are very much perceived as a couple or almost-couple, but that’s because it was outright stated. Byler is not.)

"when you're...different, sometimes you feel like a mistake."

Second Son Navigation | A Regulus Black Series

Synopsis: Forbidden from contacting Harry over the summer, you opt to explore the eerie halls of Grimmauld Place where you stumble upon a lonely portrait of the House's second son.

Warnings: Story is not canon compliant. Includes time jumps. Magic lore is altered/not compliant with canon HP series.

Status: Completed (03.14.23 - 04.24.23)

Main Masterlist

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX (Epilogue)

Iconic

woah guys I just found leaked footage of vecna in the upside down while Mike and will are chasing him:

SLYTHERIN // fic recommendations

note: remember to read the tags! + i do not own any of these works

REGULUS BLACK

le lendemain matin

the salt and the sea

forever

the better of two bad options

a pen

the door

the black heir

distraction

THEODORE NOTT

love is sour grapes

by netws & nott

something stronger

like snow on the beach

the only heaven i'll be sent to (is when i'm alone with you)

TOM RIDDLE

desiderium

love again

from the glue

salted caramel, metal, strawberries, vanilla, and ink

midmorning

effects of amortentia

DRACO MALFOY

our little secret

honeydukes

firsts

how could i ever forget?

makeup

draco malfoy with shy!male!reader headcanons

cherry juice

MATTHEO RIDDLE

the cat

puppy eyes

the game

rainy nights m.r

LORENZO BERKSHIRE

like nobody else

what we used to be | masterlist

season one:

part one part two part three part four part five part six part seven part eight

season two:

part nine part ten part eleven part twelve part thirteen part fourteen part fifteen part sixteen part seventeen

season three:

part eighteen

escape from madness (murphy’s law) — john murphy

summary: in which y/n and murphy are trapped in the bunker made to withstand the nuclear apocalypse and are slowly losing their minds, losing their sanity, losing themselves, and so much more. but, at least they have each other. [130618]

warnings: mentions of suicide, mental illness, insanity, self-destruction/destruction in general, violence, implied smut, season 3 spoilers.

word count: 2.9k

masterlist

‘murphy’s law’: a supposed law of nature, by which means that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

AT FIRST, IT wasn’t bad. In fact, they thought they’d found their own personal paradise. The lighthouse bunker was a miracle. There was a place to sleep, there was food, there was alcohol, a pool table, a tv, alcohol. Alcohol that didn’t taste like Monty’s bitter moonshine, and that was enough of a reason to stay.

“This place is amazing!” You’d let out a gasp of disbelief, your eyes wide and trying to absorb as much of it as you could. You couldn’t believe it. It seemed unreal. Your boyfriend had tugged quickly on your hand a moment later, pulling you eagerly along to the kitchen where boxes of food were stacked on the counter, one atop the other. Your stomach grumbled at the sight and immediately, the two of you were ripping open a box and tucking in.

Keep reading

Does Mike know Will is gay?

Okay, so I have 5 background points/assumptions to make first, though I don't think the first two actually need examples/further context, to inform this take.

1)Mike is smart and very quick on the uptake.

2)We also know he is very intune with Will/will's feelings/Will's actions/how to interpret Will.

3)We know Mike associates his affection/closeness with Will as a childhood thing he needs to outgrow.

Evidence:

>lots of physical and emotional closeness in s1 and s2 before he actively starts to "grow up"

>his definition of friendship + inability to describe what is different from friends/family in romantic relationship (outside of just mouth kissing) in s1

>actively attempts to distance himself from Will and works to only talk about El (until the mindflesher planning) in his presence (who is s3 boy talk that Mike and Lucas have about girls more of a reminder for, himself or Will? I guarantee you Mike picked up on how bereft Will was feeling before the rain fight if s4 is anything to go by)

>actively attempts to pay a lot of attention to El, even works to be close to her but cannot connect with her on that level (removing hands/singingg but still kissing, not understanding why El dumped him, created opportunity for that "couples finish each other sentences thing" with the ____ makes you crazy, expects her to still need the same guidance as s1, hides his more nerdy interests by being more physical in the relationship, etc). Mike is trying so hard to be a good boyfriend he really can't understand the breakup.

>"it's not my fault you don't like girls" comment being meant to say Will is just not mature enough yet. Mike is upset Will has not moved on to growing up by getting a girlfriend despite Mike giving him the opening at the Snowball

(I firmly believe Mike knew what he was doing at that dance, he just didnt expect it to hurt so much to begin separating himself from Will.)

>the symbolism of hiding with both of the girls in the party from the puberty monster (ie the mindflesher)

>I also think there is something deliberate to the way Mike screams for Nancy during the mindflesher mall invasion scene. Something about the pause and framing just makes me think it was a very deliberate decision. I think Mike was specifically asking Nancy to protect in his place, rather than just trying to signify the danger. I won't say this is necessarily about Will, but I think there is something important that Mike yelled for Nancy and not a more generic guys or danger call.

>fear of Will leaving Mike behind (symbolized as the dnd donation scene) and relief that Will affirms they will still be friends/play in the same party (the subtext is so interesting here)

>insistence that being friends means less closeness should be excepted/accepted (of course El has lots of letters because she is girlfriend)

4) s4 struggle for Mike to be himself and deal with the fact that his connection and want to be connected to Will have not faded.

>return to dnd gaming, which he did not do while working to be close with El and is heavily associated with Will (both s1 scenes end with Wills actions not anyone else's from the party; and interesting aside, the party wins when Will was decisive and lost when he was indecisive)

>trying to find his style (emulation of Eddie and the airport of it, before settling into something more casual that importantly was not preppy like in s1 and s2- he isn't a child anymore nor trying to emulate his dad like s3)

>having several heart to hearts with Will again, just like s1 and s2- in fact, I love these conversations because they show us just how much Will knows Mike. It is Will putting Mike's feelings and thoughts into words, unlike before when Mike would prompt Will to put Will's feeling and thoughts to words (asking Will for his dnd action & ramping up danger to get it, crazy together, what's wrong? Etc).

>not being able to have a true heart to heart with El. They are still out of sync despite the obvious care they have for one another. (Letters bedroom argument, not talking after "love confession", not understanding how to actually support El while she was fighting Vecna to save Max)

>being less physical with El/working to avoid romantic physical contact despite the many, many oportunities (airport scene, little contact at roller rink, bedroom argument, no reuniting kiss)

5)The van scene shows (or doesn't show) Mike in very interesting ways. We get some clarity shots attached to Jonathan's point of view,

some blurred shots when Will is a focal point,

and a lot of Mike looking lovestruck

and seeing Will just completely illuminated.

>Mike is definitely picking up something that Will is saying here that Will is not explicitly saying. Mike is reading Will just like he usually does.

6)Mike is devastated that Will expected him to act as El's heart.

This face says so much. And Mike has so much trouble with this scene as he is once again trying to be a good boyfriend/conform while genuinely caring about El and being terrified she is dying.

So what does all of this mean??

My most base take is that Mike realized that Will really did still view him the same way as he did when they were kids. Will grew up but still loved him. That Will didn't grow up and leave him behind. That their connection is still there, can still be there as they grow up*, and special. I don't think Mike is assigning "gay" as a label to these feelings as I don't think Mike has really processed what this childhood connection actually is.

My most generous read is that Mike clocked Will has special feelings for him, and it gives Mike hope (that he can grow up and still feel this way*) that he can have special feelings for Will too. I still don't think Mike is even considering "gay" or "straight" labels for these feelings yet.

*as a sidenote, I think this is why he makes the devestated face in point 6. Mike thought they were on the same page, had that same connection, and then had a brutal reminder that even Will expected Mike to finish growing up. Gotta be super confusing for the guy: Will made that beautiful painting showcasing their friendship (I think Mike caught the lie about El commissioning it) and said all those words showing he still understood Mike and still wanted their physical and emotional closeness (Will touched Mike too a couple times during this scene). I dunno, to me this scene just reads like Will had exemplified to Mike that it was okay to grow up and still have this very special bond with Mike in the van scene; a notion that just becomes shattered here.

So to finally answer my title question with a short response: no.

This is why Mike gets the "stupid" and "oblivious" moniker (and honestly so does Will, jeezus christ both of them have huge blinders on, but at least Will understands himself) despite his obvious insight and intelligence everywhere else.

I'm not sure how much this lack of insight in s4 is rooted in the Mike's denile (and internalized homphobia) that he just can't be gay or in the understanding that these feelings for Will or so wonderful and good that they can't be gay feelings because gay is bad (again the denile and internalized homophobia).

To answer my title question with more nuance: Mike has definitely realized their relationship is special. That he wants to keep their special relationship. That he knows Will wants to keep their special relationship. That he can't be El's heart and have the full special connection with Will. But Mike hasn't figured out this means he is in love with Will or that Will is in love with him.

But I do think the ending of s4 shows us that Mike is going to prioritize his connection with Will (and hopefully figure somethings out).

The boy with the freckles

Pairing: Alex Walter x female reader

Context: Alex is in college but his past still haunts him and then he meets you

>>>

———

Being fifteen felt like yesterday, but it was years ago.

Alex woke up with a groan, the new day didn’t bring anything new. It reminded him of his past more than he would have liked. In his last year at college, he felt the scars of his teens come alive to haunt him.

It was tumultuous and panic filled, nightmares of that moment he came to know Jackie had left without a word. His ability to place his trust in people had faded because if his own brother could betray him time and time again, why wouldn’t a stranger?

He squinted his eyes at the sunlight that crept through into his dark room. He dragged his cover over his head. It was hard work, getting to silence the thoughts in his head. He was a work in progress, he was aware of all the areas he had to be mindful of.

He had to remind himself he was his own person. He had to become secure, to know that he was enough as he is. That the love he gave away for free was actually priceless. That Kylie breaking off their friendship was so she could heal and he had no control over it. He had to come to terms with it, that life changed and so should he.

This dorm room felt huge or maybe it only felt like that since he was alone. He didn’t have Nathan sharing his room or Isaac yelling down the hallway. He could just rot beneath these sheets and no one would know.

But as he slumped in his bed, contemplating if he should skip calculus, there was a knock on the door.

He let it pass. Most cases it would be other students coming by to drop invitations to parties. But there was another knock and he pulled away his blanket to see the faint slit of shadow underneath the door.

“Who is it?”, he yelled out to see the shadow feet shuffle before answering.

“Sorry to bother you but I was told to meet you if I wanted to join the gaming club.”, he heard a voice.

He got out of bed in an instant. He would recognise that tone anywhere. He searched for a shirt as he pulled it over his head to then run past the mirror to make sure his face was alright.

It wasn’t, his hair was a mess, the sunlight had made his freckles stand out. On days like these he wished he looked more like Cole. The only ‘effect’ he had with people was off putting.

“I’ll probably come by another time.”, he heard the dejection in your voice as you began to move away and it threw him into overdrive.

He couldn’t care less about his appearance.

He reached for the door knob and yanked it open, his muddy green eyes catching yours. His throat ran dry, he froze.

He felt like he was fifteen again, not twenty three.

He watched you like he was trying to memorise the brush strokes on a painting he could never get up close. The dark curls of your hair, the deep tan in your skin, the flush of colour in your cheeks and your magnetic eyes.

There he stood, as though life had thought him nothing.

He didn’t know what to say.

He noticed you look away and the skeletons in his closet broke loose.

He was unravelling, his mind convincing him that you could see right through him.

He had to act fast, to work through this, so he stuck out his hand.

“Hi, I’m Alex Walter.”, he winced as he said it. He could see himself from your gaze. He sounded stupid.

But to his surprise, you took his hand.

“I know.”, you replied as your fingers wrapped around his palm.

“You’re the boy with the freckles.”, he heard you say and it made his cheeks flush.

“Ah yes, my only defining quality.”, he sighed as his smile faded.

He knew where this was going. It reminded him of who he wasn’t like. That this was his effect.

He let go of your hand as he folded his arms, he couldn’t help it, the way his body became defensive, ready to hide away.

He had done this before, give away his best in the hopes of a little attention so now he fought against it.

“Makes me stick out like a sore thumb.”, he shrugged his shoulders as he caught the change in your expression.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to be rude.”, you panicked. He was taller than you with his toned arms crossed across his chest. You could tell the glimmer in his eye had vanished, now he looked at you as though he was seeing a ghost.

“I..”, you had lost your words. Where had all your confidence gone?

Your gaze shifted to catch a glimpse of him. His bed head hair mussed like he was a crazy scientist, his eyes reminding you of the meadows back home and his freckles that haunted your dreams, tempting you to reach up and touch his cheek.

“I just think it makes you look beautiful.”, you said, not realising the step you had taken towards him or that his eyes softened with that glow again.

His gaze dipped to your lips just as you looked up to see him.

He was incorrigible, just like his brother. Cause here he was feeling that blissful sense of warmth fill his heart as much as he had tried to run from it.

“Do you?”, he whispered before he could catch himself

“I…”, you were about to respond to his question when he shifted his weight and the moment broke.

“Do you want to come by to a club event today?”, he changed the question.

You thought it was for the best. Alex Walter deserved someone who wasn’t a wreck like you.

He was a coward. All those moments of convincing himself to build up his courage to take on a new adventure had all boiled down to nothing, cause truth be told he was scared.

He was scared of all the love he held for you.