@barbarasbae’s Works

✧✧Wandering Eyes✧✧

MIN YOONGI X READER

A night at the frat house leaves you wanting more from the mysterious man who somehow has a way with words. From tequila shooters to shooting stars, Min Yoongi has all the knowledge... and the charm.

⚠️ Warnings: swearing, mentions of drugs and alcohol, sexual innuendos, basically anything that you would see at a college frat party ⚠️

The speakers were blaring that all too familiar but never comforting music that you'd grown so used to being in and out of frat parties. Knowing the guys came with its perks; occasional free alcohol and admittance to private parties. However, this Euphoria themed event was not sitting right with you. Sure, you had dressed up with your blue lace romper and glitter under the eyes to match, but you still felt solemn inside. Unfulfilled. Taking another shooter off the counter, you hurriedly downed the taste of tequila and prepared to lose yourself in the music that you didn't listen to.

Reaching the middle of the floor, you bump into someone who had been dancing with their friends. Tall, honey-skinned, and dark hair, his look was complete with his taste of fashion. The shirt he chose to leave whichever dorm he was staying in was very mesh and very see through. His chest has been glitterfied just as everything else at the party and his eyeliner perfectly shaped his almond eyes.

"Hey," he said, voice deep and concerned, "You okay?"

However, the music was still too loud to make out anything this man before you was saying. Everything was starting to become a blur you realized as the alcohol finally hit and made its way through your system, intoxicating your body and your mind. This wasn’t your first drink of the night, that was for sure as you were trying your hardest not to pay attention to the wandering thoughts in the back of your mind. Trauma from your past had started to resurface and it felt as though the night sky fell on your chest, collapsing your lungs between the Earth and infinity. It was all too much for you to handle, a song timed just perfectly in the shower to make you remember those nights spent alone in your room and the smell of your blankets bringing back the nostalgia of it all. Being a freshman was still new and the invigorating feeling of being on your own was something you had grown to love. However, you couldn’t stop your mind from wandering back down the path to the way things used to be and the troubles you had. 

It wasn’t something that could fully be expressed which was the worst part. It was those little things that led to a 10:00pm breakdown, sure, but it would sound unimportant if phrased to someone as you dopped all your feelings. They would see it as nothing more than on overreaction on your part and would shame you for not being stronger in their heads even if they weren’t brave enough to say it out loud. So, the solution to everyone’s problem was for you to leave the uncomfortable dorm you resided in and do what you do best. Cope.

“I’m fine.” You slurred out, still aware of your surroundings although they had taken on a hazier feel. Your limbs started to feel heavy but you continued to lose yourself in the beat of what you assumed was The Spins by Mac Miller. Frat Boy Favorite. 

“Are you sure? You look a little tired.” The guy said, voice laced with concern. It was almost aggravating how eager he was to seem like your Prince Charming.

“I don’t want to sleep with you.” You said bluntly, as you moved away from him, taking another swig of a beer you don’t remember paying for at the bar table. You don’t even like beer. 

The lights started to change color and you assumed that meant Jungkook was messing with the remote again. A tall and somewhat lanky guy, he was one that you didn’t expect to join the frat as quickly as he did. He seemed more like the nerdy gamer type and that’s exactly what he was until he had worn a sweatshirt which read “Take Yo’ Panties Off” and the guys asked him to join the next day. His story of pledging was the funniest to you out of the rest of the guys and he was the newest recruit as well as one other whom you had yet to meet.

The other guys within the frat, Namjoon and Seokjin were the oldest. They were both seniors and had a very particular way of doing things. Namjoon was tough on the other guys as he wanted them to embrace traditional procedures and to respect one another. Seokjin was less traditional and more modern. He knew people didn’t join frats for the brotherhood, they joined to drink and he made sure that fun was always #1 priority of the guys. As one could see, they butted heads quite often but everyone had fun in the end. 

Jimin and Taehyung were Juniors. Jimin was the absolute fuckboy and he prided himself on that fact. Bright pink hair and studded jackets, he drove the girls (and the guys) absolutely wild, each one of their crushes on him somehow continuing to exist knowing they were only a one-night stand. He was seductive with his entrancing eyes and he could persuade any random person off the street into bed with him if he so desired. 

Taehyung wasn’t as crazy as his counterpart, but he was also on the fuckboy scale. Big puppy dog eyes and the sluttiest outfits a man could wear (and he wore them to class, they were not exclusive to parties) he also knew how to use his good looks to his advantage. He and Jimin would write lists for the week to see how many notches they could get under their belt and would compete against each other for the highest. It disgusted you, yes, but they were your friends. 

Hoseok was the happy drunk. The brother that was always at parties to drink and to have the best time imaginable. He was usually the one that worked the DJ and would play his favorite tunes as he stood atop one of the chairs in the corner of the room and pointed at the mob of dancing people below, trying to encourage them to sing along with him. Hobi was your favorite. Definitely. He also gave the best hugs. 

Sitting at the minibar, you toy around with your red solo cup, dragging your finger along the indentations and counting the individual dots. When you lost count, you would start from one again and would quietly scold yourself for not remembering if you were on twenty-eight or twenty-nine. You were thankful that the Euphoria party allowed for you to cry and it would be on theme and not an actual issue. The glitter tears were complimented by wandering eyes and not addressed as a problem to the people who approached you about it.

“I love your makeup.’” Great, another guy who can’t take the hint. The seat next to you filled with an average sized male in a blue button-up and platinum blonde hair. It was definitely dyed but it was a good look for him, you thought. His smile was gummy and sweet and had a summery vibe to it, like it was a smile only few people got to witness at a time and he was sharing it with you, a stranger who was unbeknownst to anything of his lifestyle. His eyes crinkled at the corners and you could see his attempt at guyliner and a little glitter; he was definitely not the experienced with makeup type. He held a Vodka Cranberry in his left hand and a phone in his right with black nails painted so perfectly you could see your reflection in them. Something about him struck you as the type of person who was actually quite interested in what it was you had to say, and not someone who was desperate to get laid this October evening. 

“Thanks, I’m glad I could show off my skills with the same makeup everyone else is wearing.” You said sarcastically, hoping he was the joking type so this upcoming conversation wouldn’t be too painful to have. 

“It definitely looks better on you than it does on me, I think.” He said, asking one of the guys for another beer. Namjoon was on bar duty tonight and he gave you a knowing glance as if to say, “I know this guy is your type, but if something happens let me know.” 

“Nonsense. I like it.” You said, sending Namjoon the “I’m okay” eyes. 

After a couple of moments, it seemed as though your compliment would be the end of the conversation. Blondie had his drink and the music started playing another upbeat tune from Hobi’s interesting collection of songs. The bass could be felt through the floorboards as you stood up to go to dance again. But, as you were about to head out, you were tapped on the shoulder by the boy from before who was now standing up and motioning towards the speakers. 

“My name is Yoongi, by the way. I would love to dance with you if that’s okay?” He phrased it as a question so as not to make you feel cornered into a decision you didn’t want to make. This one was definitely a keeper. 

“(Y/N). Try to keep up.” 

The lights then changed to red and the song’s pace quickened. The dance floor became rabid with Hobi’s choice of playlist and as the tempo became faster, the drinks were downed in the same manner. You were feeling really good now as you let the blackness swallow you whole and allow you to feel free. No worries. No assignments. No drama. Nothing. 

Nothing but you and Yoongi. 

It was almost astonishing how terrible he was at dancing. You weren’t too great yourself, but you were able to sway to some rhythm whereas Yoongi looked like a baby deer caught in the headlights. He gave it his all though and that’s what counted in your mind. Besides, it was kinda cute. 

Your eyes flitted to every area of the room, making sure you were aware of your surroundings in case this conversation went south. Jimin was body rolling next to the same guy who you’d talk to earlier and you figured it would be the better choice for him since you weren’t really interested in one-night stands. Hobi was still dancing and upon noticing your gaze starts to point at you and drunkenly mouth the lyrics to Midnight City by M83. He sent you a smile and crouched down to the table below him, reaching for the infamous Pickle Borg (a pickle jar filled with vodka). Jungkook was over by the beer pong table playing flipcup and trying not to let his bucket hat fall off while he took shot after shot with Seokjin. Namjoon was still at the bar watching over everything but side eyeing the drinks he wasn’t allowed to have being the bartender. Taehyung was probably in the smoke room. 

Just then, Jungkook walked over to the two of you in his drunken state with that stupidly overpriced pink sweatshirt with the panties saying. He had spilled beer all down the front of it and his shoes were sticky with the residue of whatever concoction he had out of the funnel the guys bring out for the newcomers. Seokjin was bringing out said funnel once more which conveniently was a traffic cone they stole off the side of the street. Grimacing, you wondered what the inside of it looked like considering the boys hardly ever cleaned the Frat House. 

Jungkook put his arm around Yoongi and laughed as he stumbled towards the wall, leaning on the platinum-haired boy for support. “You drinking from the funnel, man?” He asked.

“Jungkook,” you said, curious as to why he would offer since you both know the rules, “that’s exclusive to frat members?”

“It is,” Seokjin piped in with the funnel in hand and a bottle of Cracken stuffed in his back jeans pocket, “Yoongi is one of the new recruits.”

And then it hit you as to why he was so nice. Why he hadn’t tried to make a move on you when you were in front of Namjoon. He was friends with the guys. Or would be, anyways.

“Oh.” Was all you said before the funnel was placed above Yoongi’s head while he crouched down to his knees to make it easier for Seokjin to hold it. Jungkook was tasked with pouring since he was too drunk to hold anything and he took the Cracken out from his friend’s back pocket and unscrewed the top off, taking a swig himself before he poured it. He held the side of it with his pinky finger and balanced the glass on his arm as he drank the proper way before he took the rest of it and dumped in into the cone.

Yoongi’s mouth wrapped around the bottom part of the funnel as his adam’s apple bobbed up and down with every swig he took. Even while drinking he looked beautiful and you didn’t know if you thought that because you had a genuine interest in the guy or if it was because you hung out at the frat every night. He didn’t spill a drop as the funnel slowly emptied and before any time had passed, he was up in the air back on his feet with arms outstretched in victory, Jungkook hugging him at his side and laughing with him.

Yoongi stumbled a bit over to you as he leaned and whispered in your ear; alcohol coating his breath and making his words sound sickly sweet. 

“That skill of mine carries over to the bedroom, you know.”

Your knees felt weak as you took in the weight of his words. He winked before turning back to Jungkook who was offering him another shooter. You told yourself that the kind of forgetting you needed to do tonight would be fixed by the alcohol and nothing more; you would not allow yourself to sleep with any guy no matter how drunk you were. But he was really pretty. And he did insinuate romantic attraction first. 

You were eighteen. Who gives a shit anyways?

“Prove it.” You said as you watched him smile, grabbing his wrist and leading him up the dark stairs towards an unoccupied bedroom. 

1.) I have been given the title of Ven Gogh from my bestie and then occasionally I'm hit with Darwin.

2.) Brown/horribly dyed black with box dye. I've had every color just to settle on black and it's kinda anticlimactic after my last attempt at being blue.

3.) Blue but like the Harry Styles fanfiction kind.

4.) 5'8 :)

5.) Three, sadly. They all live to annoy me.

6.) I have six cats!! Getting my seventh next week 😭

7.) Yellow tehehe (I'm a Hufflepuff)

8.) 11

9.) Okapi! It's a mix between a zebra and a horse and they're like a failed attempt at breeding a unicorn.

10.) The inevitable death that will one day consume us all. That or the fact that our planet is going to go hurtling into the sun and we're all going to slowly burn alive and the planet is going to set itself on fire. Oh, and ladybugs.

11.) I really like Othello!! I'm old, I know.

12.) Pansexual. I have too much love contained to be forced to share it with only one gender.

13.) I don't even know myself 😻 I like to fall somewhere between man, woman, and intergalactic space alien.

14.) English. I use the stuff I learn in there for my fanfics. For example, parallel structure. I also have a hot English teacher. Don't tell her I said that.

15.) Just my ears, but I hope to have my septum soon. I'm not opposed to decking myself out in piercings, I think they're the coolest.

16.) Not yet, but I will be getting one on my wrist hopefully in the near future! I want to get a meaningful one and then cover the rest of my body in Junji Ito.

17.) I play volleyball!

18.) I used to be an active cosplayer (cringe, I know) but now I play the ukulele, I draw, write, read, play with makeup, watch a crap ton of movies, play volleyball, and learn new languages!

19.) I will listen to anything except for country! K-pop tends to be my favorite genre but I also love Japanese metal, indie, punk, pop punk, rock and oh geez the list goes on.

20.) I've read so many great books in my lifetime but I would have to say it's between "Looking For Alaska" by John Green and "Running With Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs. Those ones have impacted me the most.

21.) My favorite shows (because I can't possibly pick just one) are: The Walking Dead, Strangers From Hell, My Holo Love, BBC Sherlock, and Alice In Borderland; not in that particular order.

22.) My favorite movie.... Well I'm technically not allowed to talk about it but it involves clubs and fighting and just a little schizophrenia.

23.) I have a stupid ass nose that I hate with every fiber of my being but I'm pretty decently okay looking in real life. Or you can just imagine I'm some super hot guy if you want 🥲

24.) I play a ton of Persona 5 so I think it'd be illegal for me to reveal my identity as I consider myself a Phantom Thief 🎉😻

25.) Sunflowers. I know it's basic, but ever since I had a dream about J-Hope in a field of sunflowers I've been in love with them.....and him.

26.) Favorite food?!?!? PANKO SHRIMP

27.) I'm good at everything (that's a lie)

28.) I wish I was better at portraying myself as a human. I get into my complexes where I think everyone is a randomly automated bot and I'm living in a simulation, so I tend not to trust easily. (This is also a lie, if I had to be better at anything it would probably be lying)

29.) I spend a lot of time centering myself around Kpop. I mean like four hours a day. Whether it's looking at pictures, watching music videos, listening to it, putting on Chan's lives in the background to keep me sane, it's an all day sort of thing.

30.) I thought it already asked me about hobbies, but I'll pretend it says "What type of Hobbits do you have" so that I can say I keep a little Frodo Baggins in my back pocket.

💛🦐

Get to know me asks

Nickname?

Hair color?

Eye color?

Height?

Any siblings?

Any pets?

Favorite color?

Favorite number?

Favorite animal?

Any phobias?

Favorite game?

Sexuality?

Gender identity?

Favorite subject in school?

Any piercings?

Any tattoos?

Do you like sports?

What are your hobbies?

Favorite music genre?

Favorite book?

Favorite show?

Favorite movie?

Describe one thing about your physical appearance

Describe one thing about your identity

Favorite flower?

Favorite food?

Something you’re good at?

Something you wish you were better at?

Something you spend a lot of time doing?

A hobby you have?

Timmy things in movies 12/x: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Hi there! I just finished reading nearly all of your work and I want to say I LOVED it, especially your writing for Fight Club. I was wondering about your thoughts on The Narrator from Fight Club (the main character who shares a brain with Tyler), or if he’s at all involved when you think about Tyler. Xoxo love ur work

Hiiii omg!!

First of all, I'm so so grateful you took the time out of your day to read my fics! I'm so glad that you enjoyed them!

I personally love Edward Norton and his role within Fight Club, so I do often think of him while writing. When setting up a plan for creating another addition to Fight Club in fanfiction, I usually try to think of Edward Norton as well such as, "is this an interchangeable dialogue between both Edward Norton and Brad Pitt?" However, I usually tend to put in the Brad Pitt gifs and gear things towards his style of being Tyler Durden because that's my own personal appeal but also others as he's quite the individual.

Thank you for asking!!

💛🦐

I love that idea that if you know someone’s story, it’s impossible not to love them. This is potentially hokey but incredibly true, as far as I’m concerned. 

HAPPY 39TH BIRTHDAY ANDREW GARFIELD! ⌘ b. AUGUST 20, 1983 Los Angeles, California

Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter —covered in blood

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

Count the Ways // S.H.

Request: could you do a steve imagine where they’re a couple and they go to a party together but y/n gets really drunk and steve starts to get nervous because of what happened with nancy but then she just starts telling him how much she loves her and he feels better? it would be so cute - anon

A/N: Such a cute request! Thank you so much for sending it in. I hope you like it and that I have done it justice. I wrote this in an hour and it isn’t edited the best, I’m really sorry but I’m so busy this week that I wanted to get something out for you all!

Warnings: alcohol, underage drinking (American laws), drunk reader, drunkenness, fluff, happy, cute.

Word count: 1.6k

Keep reading

NCT

Johnny Seo:

The Sun: You felt a certain connection when it came to Johnny Seo that you didn't feel with anyone else. After a night at Mark's place, he decides to take you hiking. What chaos will ensue on your "nature hike?"

(Romance/Fluff/Chaos)

Headcannon #1: Cute things you and Johnny do!!! Just a little drabble because I love me some Johnny Suh ( ˘ ³˘)♥

(Romance/Fluff)

Yuta Nakamoto:

Fight Club: (Part One) Based off the 1999 film Fight Club; Yuta is trying his hardest to fit in amongst the guys within the club and slowly starts to realize what type of person Johnny is. He'd always fought for fun, but Yuta is beginning to think he'll have to fight for you.

Fight Club: (Part Two)

(Romance/NSFW/Angst)

Hendery:

Coffee?: Just a short imagine featuring a very loveable Hendery and a very loveable reader! Coffee definitely does start conversation!

Ever So Slightly.

Steve Harrington X Reader

⚠️ Warnings: this one is very PG-13 with a bit of angst ⚠️

Harrington fondly thinks back to his car... And your lips.

His BMW 733i was parked outside of Hawkins Highschool, the soft screeching of tires as he put his foot on the brake and eased it into a parking space. There wasn't a soul for miles, the only brightness coming from the singular streetlight in the middle of the lot, shining down on the two students who had made their way to the familiar building after hours. Both windows rolled up halfway and feet placed on the dash. The night was calm and quiet with the exception of cicadas chirping their songs and filling the void with something other than the nothingness of the quiet town. Stars shone overhead and created patterns of light across the sky, however, not enough for illumination of any sort. Just darkness for miles.

He looked so lovely. His eyes glanced up and down over your frame but not in a way other than pure and utter admiration. He felt just as calm as the world around him, not feeling a care in the world at what everyone else had gotten up to tonight. The party at Tommy Hagan's house that he had been expected to show up at. The Dungeons and Dragons campaign at the Wheeler's. The movie showing at the theatre in town. None of it mattered. The only thing that he could care about in this moment was your soft touch on his arm or the delicate breaths you took as you explored every inch of his mouth further. Your hands gliding up his face and fingers intertwining in his hair. The content state of your heartbeat pulsating calmly and the way your shirt felt under the palms of Steve's hands. Everything about you was so perfect, so- meticulous- that Steve assumed the universe placed you in Hawkins for the sole purpose of being his.

Cherry chapstick colliding with the taste of Steve's last cigarette, you had to say you felt the same. His manly but beautiful frame beneath you digging deeper into the seat with every kiss placed with intention and passion. Your hands running over the top of his jeans and hooking into the belt loops. He was your solace, your brain suddenly blank from all the intrusive and desolate thoughts from earlier. His lips guiding you to the freedom from pain and offering you a home to wander into; a blanket and a a cup of warm tea at the entryway of peace.

His hair felt so soft under the callouses of your fingers and the strands ran through like silk, slipping away from your grasp only for you to collide with them again. A slight pull of his hair left Steve in a state of frustration as he wanted to melt further into you and not to be pulled away. This longing wasn't a sexual one but more of a sensual one; wanting to envelop himself within you as close as humanly possible, wanting to flow through your veins and seep through your chest until the two of you were one. Pulling you back in, his cheeks are flushed and soft noise of fondness escapes your lips as you allowed him to know how he was making you feel.

"Hey," you said, breaking the quiet. It seemed forbidden to speak with how serene everything was even though your voice was just barely above a whisper. Steve looked down at you in confusion with furrowed brows, wondering what you were going to say. "We should put on some music or something."

Steve smiled. Of course you wanted music. It was your favorite thing in the entire world and he was pretty sure that he was a close second. Reaching around your frame to turn on the stereo, he shifts through the channels until he finds something suitable. A dark and low synth song starts to play through his speakers, perfecting the aesthetic of the night.

"This okay?" He asks, turning back to you and seeing your eyes light up.

"Absolutely."

.

Walking through the hallway on the last day of school was tiresome. Seeing all of the places that held memories that were good and bad filled your vision and your mind as you truly realized this was the last time you would be here. The green and orange tiles and the posters with tigers on them seemed to mock you as you continued your path towards the rows and rows of lockers for clean-out day.

Your shoes scuffed against the floor as you lost yourself in thought. Nothing would ever be the same again. Sure, it was a new chapter in your life but part of you would miss this old one. Riding around the block with your friends and singing your favorite songs. Staying up late drinking and coming into school high the next day. Sharing pencils with the weird kids in class who insisted they draw all over your notebook which you didn't mind. You felt like a collection of different thoughts and times just like the drawings that filled those pages.

Turning the corner you thought back to everyone you've met. The good and the bad and the in-between which was reserved for one person in particular- Steve Harrington himself. Leaning against one of the lockers wearing a dark yellow sweater and blue jeans looking as ethereal as ever. His hair had grown quite a bit from the last time you'd seen him and it made you laugh at the memory of how much Farrah Faucet hairspray he would put in it. Now, it was unkempt and a bit ridiculous.

His gaze went to yours and he faltered ever so slightly. You were still beautiful. Still you. Headphones dangling around your neck and a baggy shirt. Your lips were still stained with that cherry chapstick he'd tasted so many times before Nancy's strawberry one. You seemed quite surprised to see him after so long and you offered up a slight smile. He didn't know what you were thinking in that moment, but he was sure it was the night you two spent in the car, hiding away from the rest of the world.

He remembered when it was the two of you against the world before the mess of the Upside Down. Before the world became more than basketball games and parties. Before the world went crazy. Before he fell in love with someone else.

He felt a slight pang in his chest from how much he had loved you long ago. And to his surprise he smiled back at you. Ever so slightly.

Glimpse of Us

Steve Harrington X Eddie Munson

⚠️ Warnings: this whole thing is just painful ⚠️

"You fill my lungs with sweetness, and you fill my head with you..."

The unfamiliar song started to play softly through the speakers of Steve Harrington's car, leaving him with a feeling of dread and sorrow. It was a foggy afternoon and the trees surrounding the town of Hawkins were tall and provided shade from the very little sun that poked through the clouds. It was darker than usual, a reflection of how Steve felt inside. The soft smell of petrichor filled his senses as he rolled the window down in an attempt to catch the air as he drove by. He was by himself today. No Henderson from the backseat to shout and cheer at the latest adventure they had. No Robin in the passenger side fixing her mascara and droning on about her love of Vickie. No one but the crisp cool air and soft rain starting to fall from the sky, so soft one might miss it if they weren't actively feeling rainy inside. Steve tousled his hair and wiped at his face as he continued down the path to the familiar clearing in the woods; somewhere he would be completely isolated and alone.

Pulling up alongside the road, he put his car in park and slumped against the wheel. His head hurt from the night before as he had stayed up later than normal, drinking an endless amount of coffee to get him through work and then through home. His cardigan felt heavier than usual as he wrapped it around himself quickly, trying to trap in any warmth before turning off the car and walking outside.

The King of Hawkins High now had a slight limp in his walk ever since the battle for his home. His hair was starting to lighten up at the roots and he had lost a couple pounds. Chiseled jawline and sad eyes completed the forlorn look he now wore with contemptness. Vecna was a thing of the past, but the pain the monster left him was far greater than anything that could truly heal over time. Today was full of nostalgia for him so he decided to release his emotions in the only way he knew how to; talking to Eddie.

The trees eventually opened up into the bright and beautiful field he had known all too well; the grassy meadow was a bright yellow in contrast to the darkness of the rest of the world which Steve figured was his friend's doing. Such a happy corner of the universe but such a sad day it held within its corners. 1986.

Eddie looked lovely today. The birds were flying overhead in intricate but beautiful patterns in the sky, keeping a watchful eye on everything happening down below. They paid no mind to Steve as he frequented this place often. Besides from Dustin, he was the only other human to walk this place with the knowledge of what it truly meant. Visions of Eddie running around with Dustin himself, bright eyed and beaming grins as they pranced about the meadow with their makeshift swords and shields. Robin and Steve had sat alongside the outside as they shaped spears using what they had gathered. Erica and Lucas fighting over the binoculars as they playfully expressed that they cared for each other. The last time when things were truly perfect, Steve thought to himself as he sunk to his knees by the site where Eddie rested now.

"Eddie Munson. The Hero of Hawkins."

The inscription was clear even though the rest of the grave had been worn away after quite some time. It was small so it would've been glanced over if you weren't on the lookout for the home of the Hellfire Club leader. There were a few sprouts of miscellaneous plants growing out from some of the sides and around the lot. The dead rose from the last time Steve came to visit laid atop, waiting to be replaced with another flower. He fished into his cardigan and pulled out another rose similar to the other one, although this one was very much alive. The petals were vibrant and dewey, matching the surroundings of the meadow and the sky overhead.

"Hey Eddie." Steve said, getting comfortable on the ground and fiddling with the grass. "It's been a while."

"Nancy and I will have to visit with the kids someday soon." He began, working towards trying to have the confidence speaking out in the open like this. A faint smile appeared on his face as he said his next lines.

"The meadow looks beautiful as ever, Eddie. I can see all the work you've put into it. Your aura was always a contagious one."

Steve swallowed back a tear as he ran his fingers over the inscription he had paid for himself. Eddie would always be known as the hero, even if it was only to a few people who resided in Indiana. Funny how your world can be comprised of a few science kids and a couple college friends. Or how it used to be, anyways. Before everyone grew up.

"We named our oldest after you. Ironically, he's very into Metallica. You would be so proud of your namesake." Steve said, feeling proud for a moment at the mention of his son. Him and Nancy had gotten married in the summer of '99. She had worn a plain and simple wedding dress but she looked beautiful as ever in it, hair pinned to the top of her head and a pearl necklace around her neck. Her smile had beamed so brightly that day and Steve felt like the luckiest man in the world.

"Robin apparently still visits Hawkins from time to time. She moved to Washington not long after everything went down in Hawkins. She said she couldn't take it anymore. We had a party for her and then she left the next day. I haven't heard from her since." The mention of his best friend made him crinkle his nose in fondness, remembering the night they spent drugged in the bathroom of the Starcourt Mall and her coming out to him as a lesbian.

"I know Henderson comes to see you with his family sometimes. He's almost always over at our place. He keeps me updated on everything happening in his household. Turns out, he's a great babysitter too. He tells Eddie all about you and about how great you were."

"Lucas became a professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers. He's quite good, it turns out that he's found his people and his talent. He and Max still have some unfinished business, but as far as I know she lives alone after her mother passed not too long ago. She's doing better now since she woke up from that coma, volunteering at the local hospital. She went back to college to get a degree in nursing."

Steve tried his best to explain everything he knew. Eddie was the glue that seemed to hold their group together. After his passing, everyone went their separate ways and Steve felt very isolated. He missed his kids and the way it used to be sometimes, especially on days like today. But the same part of him that yearned for their reunion was the same part of him that was ever so pleased they all ended up okay. He couldn't be anything but proud of them after they all worked so hard to get where they were.

"The Byers still live in Lenora. Hopper went with them and he got married to Joyce. Jonathan went off with Argyle and started their own clothing line. It's pretty ridiculous, but I've heard that they're making a ton of money from it. Eleven is still with Mike. They visit us sometimes too when they can. They're still distraught over Joyce and her death not long after they had gotten married themselves. Nance and I went up to see them and it was almost as if the whole gang was back together. You would've loved it!"

Steve was laughing now as he explained their wedding even further. It was a shame that Joyce had contracted an illness but she didn't go down without a fight. Hopper visits her grave all the time when he's not too busy working for the post office. He still takes care of Eleven and adopted her the moment he was able to.

"Will is working as a librarian and he got married but that's about all I know. He's the one kiddo that hardly keeps in contact anymore. I heard he's a published author, but I don't know the titles of any of his works."

Steve stopped his rambling and stared down at the plants poking out from the grave. It was refreshing to see some new flowers popping up here and there, a contrast from the yellowing of the meadow grass. It was now starting to rain harder and he could feel the water droplets hitting his head, almost like the ticking of a clock telling him that his time with Eddie was almost up. He composed himself from his slight moment of fondness and looked down at the shining stone beneath his feet.

"Eddie." He said, moving towards the top of the gravestone and petting it in the same way he used to pet his long curly brown hair that was always mischievously framing his face and flying about. Eddie would smoke cigarettes while Steve played with it as he laid on top of his friend and played some of his Corroded Coffin guitar solos. His smile would light up Steve's entire room as the eccentric metalhead boy would sit on the end of the bed and laugh with him about their music tastes and the typical drama of the day. Eddie's Hellfire notebook would be sprawled out on the floor as he placed back and forth while he talked about what was to be expected from their next campaign while Steve listened intently. He would tilt his head if Steve had any ideas to offer and would jump up and down if something he had said would be added to the exciting fun of DND. Munson would run around in Steve's bomber jacket when it was cold. He would hold his hands when he wanted him to know something important so that he would have Steve's undivided attention. Eddie would prance around the field with Black Sabbath blasting through his Walkman. He would yell up at the night sky and ask for the universe to lift the curse that held him to Hawkins.

"I never stopped loving you." Steve admitted. Before he headed back towards the warmth of his car, he took off his cardigan and placed it atop Eddie's final resting place and smiled. "So you don't get cold, is all." He said.

Steve didn't believe in God or any particular religion, but he knew that somewhere somehow, Eddie heard every word.