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fineprintedsunsets · 8 months

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𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐌𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒

🎃 This Is For Haunted Hoedown Day 8! | My Haunted Hoedown Master-List 🎃

best friends-lovers au + "this fear you feel? it won't last."

Synopsis: Your heart has been broken, and your best friend Ransom has made it his mission to make you smile, with all your favorite things of course.

Word Count: 2.4k

Warnings: Throw on this ambiance and spend a day with Ransom as he attempts to cheer you up: tooth-rotting fluff. flirty friends. obvious friends with benefits. a cameo from all my favorite books. sweet!ransomdrysdale x nerd!reader. all the fall vibesss. like alot of fucking angst. Part 2 "We fell in love in October?" maybe?

Baby I'm A Project Lovin' Me's A Mistake.

“Hey sweetheart, How are you doing this morning?” You expected this. Your best friend called you every morning, asking about your plans, checking in, and seeing if you were alright. After, he hung up and went on with his day.

Ransom was like that.

But today, your only reply is a muffled sniffle. Your head is buried deep into your white pillow, both dry and wet tears staining the surface. “Sweetheart? You okay?”

“Yeaaaahhhh” You grog, putting the phone on speaker. You were in fact, not okay. Your boyfriend of 3 years decided to break up with you, he didn’t give a reason, but you're almost ninety percent sure it has to do with a girl you saw him flirting with weeks ago.

It was a red flag, but when you're in love you ignore them.

You wish you hadn’t.

“What happened?” Ransom asks urgently, the sound of his voice is comforting, to hear something then sniffing and silent sobs.

“Nothing, Ransom. I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine, sweet girl.” You never knew how much you missed his little nicknames until this moment

“I am-”

“I'm coming over.” Ransom rushes out, and embarrassment fills your aching body. He has seen you like this a dozen times, always comforting you, but this time you felt so stupid, How could you not see the signs?

“Please, no-”

The line goes dead, and Ransom disconnects his end. All you can do is scream into your pillow.

🍂

“Shortcake, you have to get out of bed sometime today.” Ransom stands over top of you, his sunglasses hanging by his shirt collar, an expensive-looking jacket on.

“Mmph!” A pillow goes hurdling across the room, heading right for Ransom. Unfortunately, he catches it, launching it on the opposite side of your bed.

“Shortcake.” He says seriously, Ransom's eyes look over your crumbled frame, the blanket covering your half-naked body.

“Ransom. Please. I’m fine.”

“Why don’t I take you out, just you and me? How does that sound?” Your head perches up at his offer, seeing the smile blooming on his smooth features. “Yeah? You like that idea?”

Finally moving your head away from the pillow you’ve been face to face for the last three hours, you nod your head in agreement. Spending a day with your best friend is exactly what you need.

“Get dressed, Shortcake.” He laughs, snatching the blanket off your body, you screech as the cool air caresses your thighs. You throw the blanket in his face, running towards the opposite end of the room to your closet.

“Sneaky little-” You crack a little smile, Your mood is lightning just a bit, but it’s going to be hard to fill the hole your ex left, Ransom would make you forget, for the moment at least.

He would make sure of it.

🍂

The weather was beautiful, auburn colors swirled inside the tree’s leaves, yellows and oranges and red collided to make bursts of colors. It was magical.

Autumn had always been your favorite time of year, the Halloween music, the movies, the pumpkin spice lattes. Everything about this season was extraordinary. Ransom’s car matched the leaves, a light orange, its convertible roof folded down.

It allowed you to smell the Autumn wind, feeling it flow through your hair, wiping it around your face. Ransom fingers find the radio, switching it to the nearest station.

The acoustic version of Boris Pickett's “Monster Mash” blares through the station, and Ransom would be damned if he missed the smile that blooms on your face. Although a weak one, he would take all you had to offer.

“Go ahead, I won’t judge. Sing it, shortcake.” Ransom offers, tapping his fingers against the wheel to the beat, turning left on G.R Drive, heading for town. You shrink back, embarrassment flooding your cheeks.

Ransom keeps one hand on the wheel as his other presses into your jaw jokingly. You rear back, “Stop it.”

“Sing it then.” He bargains, his finger poking at your chest. Ransom wanted so desperately to see a true smile from you, even if it meant forcing you to sing Monster Mash.

“Fine! Stop poking me!” Your buck against his hand, telling Ransom to keep his eyes on the road as you tune into the music, listening to the lyrics.

“He did the monster mash.” You start quietly, twirling your fingers in your lap. Your hoodie is drawn over your knees. Ransom is trying very hard not to burst out laughing, he keeps one eye on you, watching your mouth sync with the lyrics, and one eye on the road, going straight for a place he knows you’ll love.

“From my laboratory in the castle east…” You started again, tapping your foot to the beat, the wind settling your nerves for the moment.

“To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast.” You pick up now, moving in tune with the beat, moving your hands, joking with your body, swaying your hips against the seat belt.

“Sing it, baby!” Ransom laughs, his face was practically red from holding in, and with it you join him, listening to the rest of the song play out.

What is with the fall and happy memories?

🍂

“The bookstore? The fucking bookstore!” You squeal excitedly, watching Ransom’s own features bloom in enjoyment, seeing your cheeks puff. The bookstore's front was decorated with paper leaves, stringing a banner across the glass windows.

Its exterior was black and gold, the perfect place for a sad girl. Books heal all wounds. Ransom’s already by the door, pulling his scar tighter as he holds the frame open for you, urging you in.

“As much as I love seeing you toggle, we have books to buy, sweet girl.”

“I love you, you know that?” You say playfully, although not exactly a lie. Ransom had always been like this, ever since you met in college.

“I love you too.”

Books. So many books. It took all your energy not to scream right there and then.

“Good morning!” An employee greets you both with a small smile, and you return it with glee, going straight to the new release stand, not even bothering to wait for Ransom.

Every book released in the past month was here, you wanted to get all of them. You circle around the table, seeing authors ranging from Nicolas Sparks to Ana Huang. A hand grabs your shoulder, spinning you around. Ransom greets you with a smile, handing you a black basket.

“Go crazy, sweetheart.”

“Ransom…” Because he knew you were going to protest, you always do, he places a finger to your lips, cocking his lips in a grin. “I’d rather spend my money on my shortcake.”

Did you already say you love him?

Because you really do love him.

And you do exactly what Ransom tells you, you go crazy.

Your basket is almost filled to the brim. You had insisted on stopping at three books but Ransom wanted you to fill the whole basket. You wanted around now, taking in the spice scent of hair and the smell of freshly printed paper-backs.

It’s not until you see Ransom, a book in his hand, flipping through the pages, that you truly start to panic. The cover, although rather innocent looking, displayed woods, and the name “CREDENCE” sprawled over the cover.

You have never run faster in your life. You attempt to snatch the book out of his hands, surprising him with your speed, but he grips it nonetheless, laughing as you fail to stop him. Halting completely, you watch in terror as Ransom’s back faces you, blocking your sad attempt at receiving the book he begins to read…

Ransom's voice is extracted, dark and husky. “That’s it…Noah says in a strained voice…” Your thighs clench at his words, not because of Ransom in particular, but because you know exactly what scene he is reading.

Oh god.

“Ransom! Shut up-”

But he ignores you, continuing on.

“-Holding my face as he kisses my nose, and then my lips. Good girl”. Ransom doesn't stop despite your pleas, and the more he reads, the more your thighs clench, maybe it wasn’t the book or the scene, maybe it was-

“I feel his fingers slip under the waistband of my shorts, and he starts to pull them down.” He faces you now, reading the pages, his lips pursing to make his voice seem seductive. Ransom is doing it to piss you off, but you are far from it.

“I look at him, pleading” He looks up for dramatic effect, allowing you to hang onto his every word, “No.”

“Yes”.

“He pulls my shorts and panties-”

You snatch the book out of his hand, carefully trying not to crease the cover. “We're done, let’s go.”

“These are the types of books you read?” He whispers, clearly poking fun. He plops the book from your gripping hand, putting it back on its stand. You try to hide the blush forming on your cheeks, Your best friend or not, that was embarrassing.

“An innocent girl like you?” Ransom smiles, grabbing your basket and heading for check-out. Your lips are slightly parted, looking distraught in the middle of a bookstore.

“Ransom!”

“Come on, Shortcake. We have more places to be.”

What the hell just happened?

🍂

“That fear you feel? It won’t last.” Ransom states, his tone a bit more serious. You quirk your brows as you walk down the street, your books stashed in the back of Ransom's convertible.

“Fear?” You question, look to where he walks next to you on the cracked sidewalk. Leaves crunch unearth your feet as you lose your arms in your hoodie, letting the fabric hang.

“You're afraid to trust again, aren’t you shortcake?”

You closed your mouth quickly. Ransom wasn’t entirely wrong, it had only been a few hours, but you truly thought it would be the last time you would ever love again.

“I trust, Ransom.”

“Who?” He asks, stopping in front of a little coffee shop just around the corner of the bookstore. It looks fairly empty from what you can see in the window.

“I trust you.”

That’s all he’s ever wanted to hear.

You order the first pumpkin spice menu item you read. A latte with whipped cream and real pumpkin. Ransom ordered a black coffee, because… of course he did. You both find an orange booth to settle in, sitting across from each other. Candles are lit throughout the shop as baristas call out orders to the other customers.

You bring your lips to the steaming cup, not caring if it burns your tongue or not, you feel the whipped cream gather on your flesh, smelling the cinnamon rooted throughout the substance. Ransom laughs, reaching over the table, and swiping his thumb across your nose to wear the whip cream sets. “You're a messy girl, shortcake.”

“That’s what your dad said.” You joke, laughing as Ransom shakes his head.

“I’m taking the books back.”

“No!”

He tilts his head in a way that says “Now who’s laughing”.

Unfortunately, it was not you.

You two sat in the coffee shop and converse, ordering drink after drink and dessert after dessert, loud laughter could be heard from one source,

Your table.

🍂

It had been a long day. The night sky rose above you, the air now having a layer of coolness to it, enough to bite you if you went outside. As soon as you got into your apartment, Ransom started you a bath, fiddling with a lighter for a few minutes, trying to light your favorite fall-themed candle.

He poured a generous amount of bubble bath into the tub, watching the hot water steam, turning the liquid into white bubbles.

“Shortcake, Bath’s ready!” Ransom calls, and you put your books down, having about ready to organize them. Your stomach ached from all the pumpkin you practically inhaled today, and a warm bath was just the thing to relieve every taught muscle.

You lean against the door frame in nothing but a towel, smelling the bubble bath mixed with the scented candle. You smile, looking at Ransom, “Thank you.” It dissipates from your lips with more appreciation than you could imagine.

“Of course.” Ransom goes to exit, but your fingers wrap around his wrist, turning him around. “Are you going home?”

“I’ll still be here when you get out of your bath.” He whispers, leaning forward to place a soft kiss against your temple, you don’t think much about it, now when it makes you want to melt. “You're full of surprises today, huh?”

“Anything for you, sweetheart.”

Anything.

🍂

The feel of your best friend's lips against your temple, the sound of his flirty comments and funny resolve, you were starting to look at Ransom in a different way.

A way you both desired but pushed away.

“Ransom!” You call, and in an instant, he’s walking into the bathroom, shielding his eyes as he stops in front of the tub. You smile, heat blooming in your gut.

“Come here, silly.” The hesitation in his steps chips at your heart, but you pursue with it regardless. Ransom kneels by the tub, and carefully you unshield his eyes, holding onto his fingers.

“Shortcake, I don’t want to do anything you're uncomfortable with-” You grab his hand from where it rests in yours, and despite begging to be able to pull away, Ransom doesn't do it. He watches as you glide his hand, being held by the wrist, across your shoulder, bringing his fingers lower to slide down your breast, as your unoccupied hand splashes water upward, making the movement easier.

Ransom’s breath catches as his fingers meet a hardened peak, his eyes locking with your own. “Sweet girl-,

“You showed me what it was like to feel good again, Ransom.” A pained look blossomed on his cheeks, looking to where you sit in the bathtub.

“It was my pleasure.” You see clearly he’s fighting with himself, how far should he go with you? He didn’t want you to think he was using you. You and your ex just broke up.

Ransom also couldn’t deny the burning sensation that settled deep inside him, did he have feelings for his best friend? His best fucking friend of four years?

“It’s too soon-” He pulls away, unsure of his wariness, you sigh, feeling his fingers leave your chest. Perhaps it was for the better, it was so soon, and the last thing you wanted to do was use Ransom for pleasure.

If there was one thing you had known, the one thing that interaction did clarify, You loved him.

Maybe, you always had.

#masterlist #fanfic #oneshot #fluff #ransom drysdale #knives out #chris evans #hauntedhoedownmasterlist #hauntedhoedown #inklore #hauntedhoedownday8

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fandomanimatic-tournament · 8 months

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Fandom song animatic tournament: Side A Round 1

You'll be back - Hamilton Musical

"You'll be back like before I will fight the fight and win the war For your love, for your praise And I'll love you 'til my dying days When you're gone, I'll go mad So don't throw away this thing we had 'Cause when push comes to shove I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love"

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Set it Off

"So could you Tell me how you're sleeping easy How you're only thinking of yourself Show me how you justify Telling all your lies like second nature Listen, mark my words, one day (one day) You will pay, you will pay Karma's gonna come collect your debt"

Remember that we're voting on how Iconic they are for ANIMATICS, not for the song itself. In order to make things fair, the tone and mood of the song should not affect how iconic it is (for example, a serious song should not be considered more iconic than a joke song just because it's serious)

Propaganda and animatic links of the songs under the cut:

You'll be back - Hamilton Musical

Propaganda:

the amount of animatics I had to sort through to find the one I was actually looking for was astronomical

Animatics with the song:

Karmaland Animatic

Steven Universe

Hazbin Hotel

Villainous

The Lion King

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Set it Off

Propaganda:

I was appalled when I found out this song had a chance if not appearing on the polls. This song is my everything. It was there for me in my darkest moments and for my brightest days. This song and all it's animatics got me through life both metaphorically and literally. This song is my everything

wolf in sheeps clothing turned me evil as a young child /pos

This had SUCH an effect on me in middle school

The anthem for edgy middle schoolers with tragic OCs everywhere Not to mention that "Burn. In. HELLLLLLLLLL YEAAHHHHH!" Is just downright iconic

Admittedly I still want to make an animatic for this myself, but it's a fun song that just OOZES villainous or anti-hero charm and popping up unexpectedly and the bridge???? Shifting from darker to hopeful only to drop back down?? "Start all over, start all over-- who am I kidding, let's not get overzealous here! You've always been a huge piece of shit" is just. mwah. incredible. And there's an official acoustic version of it too which I don't know if it's used as often but it has an entirely different vibe. Instead of the cocky or confident singer who has their target EXACTLY where they want them, it's someone who's given up and is tired of all of it. There's Options. it's fantastic.

Animatics with the song:

DSMP Technoblade animatic

Yandere Highschool

Your Turn To Die

Miraculous Ladybug

Scum Villain Self Serving System

Please keep in mind that I don't know all the media and fandoms of the animatics provided as examples and I don't have the time (nor the will) to research them all. Don't come into my notes or my ask box complaining about them being included, I will simply block you.

#fandom animatic tournament #tumblr poll #tumblr tournament #tumblr tourney

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griefabyss69 · 5 months

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Counting Time

Been thinking about guitars lately

Written for @steddiemicrofic!

[ AO3 ] [ Tip / Commissions post ]

‘Rest’ wc: 387 | rated: G | cw: Mentions of Eddie's fun little romp around the Upside Down but he lives don't worry <3

A rest is the absence of a sound for a defined period of time in music, or one of the musical notation signs used to indicate that.

Eddie's used to living life like one big guitar solo, clean wails crashing into a fuzzy crescendo as he goes from thought to action to event to end and back again.

There are times when he's quieter, maybe even the acoustic version of himself during downtime, his fidgeting sluggish as his tempo slows and he falls asleep.

But he never stops.

It's always one noisy note to the next, even when they're subdued, and he's pleased to be living that way, sometimes switching up the instruments just to try something else on for a change.

Going from the echoing vibration of the last note of Master of Puppets to the steady beat of a war drum is a terrible fucking idea, though. Sure, he wanted to do something new, be brave, but for the first time in his life he experiences it.

A rest note.

It counts the beat of silence, where all is dark and still and he's not an instrument at all, he's just an unconscious, shredded up body.

He gets lucky – the song starts back up, this time more of a new wave kind of synthesizer thing with how the machines all beep around him.

He gets to manipulate the steady sound of his heart though, which is pretty much the only fun he can manage without moving his body, though after the first time he has to be careful because otherwise he freaks out the nurses.

So he focuses on a repetitive beat instead of a melody, no huge tempo changes or fingers scaling up and down the neck of his metaphorical guitar. A softer drum than before, something that suits the atmosphere, everything all subdued and sick.

Recovery takes a lot out of him, almost as much as the bats did, but he never experiences that silence again, even if he's feeling like the faint flutter of a flute instead of something heavy and chugging, makes himself choke laughing thinking about becoming the intermittent Ding! of a triangle.

The deep parts of his music come back in the form of two different kinds of warm hands. One's rough, bracing, a constant support, the other is sliding it's fingers between his own as he's helped into bed, and they both take on the singing for him while his vocal chords are still recovering.

#griefabyss69 writing #steddie fanfiction #steddie fanfic #steddiemicrofic #steddiemicroficnovember #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things fanfic

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singsweetmelodies · 3 months

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tagged by lovely @car-bo-hydrate to try this <3333

star sign: virgo

favourite holiday: new year

last meal: a hot mug of tea and some south african buttermilk rusks (comfort food breakfast!!! ❤️☕)

current favourite musician: probably taylor swift, but as always, it's hard to choose just one. OOOH! lately, dove cameron is high up on the list too

last music listened to: confetti (acoustic version) by little mix - LISTEN. ever since ms perrie edwards put out a tease that her solo music is coming soon, i have been on a big little mix high again, listening to all my old favourites and hyping myself up sooooo much for that perrie music drop 👀👀👀😍

last movie watched: my girlfriend and i rewatched shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings again last night for movie night <3 LOVE that movie, omfg. both my gf and i firmly declared all michelle yeoh's scenes our favourites 🤭

last tv show watched: you know, it's actually been really long since i've properly watched a TV show, so the answer to this is probably something silly like reruns of FRIENDS

last book/fic finished: 2 different answers here!! last book was iron flame by rebecca yarros (yes, i caved to all the hype and read it on the plane - yes, there were bits that pissed me off, but i mostly enjoyed it) and last fic was one of AO3 user venerat's landoscar masterpieces, "i'll kiss you first" <3

last book/fic abandoned: hmm... i tried to read this rom-com called "you & me: a mlm single dads romance" while on holiday in SA, and i just... couldn't make it more than 5 chapters in. the cringe (& the VERY american focus of... everything...) was just too much for me, especially because i tried to read this right after a super delightful wlw rom-com recommended to me by darling @duquesademiel. after that, this one just... couldn't compare. at all.

currently reading: well, i'm back to work, so my time for books has unfortunately dropped exponentially... all i'm actively reading rn is a bunch of f1 rpf fics, to be perfectly honest

last thing researched for writing/art/hyperfixation: "WHAT COULD CAUSE A SCANDAL IN THE REGENCY ERA" 🤣🤭

favourite online fandom memory: storytime sundays where we tell those long DM fics with @boxboxbrioche and @welightitup <3333

favourite old fandom you wish would drag you back in/have a resurgence: HMMM! i am mostly over all my old fandoms by now, to be fair, but if i really had to choose one... probably one direction?? because a proper resurgence would mean the reunion, right? (right?) ((so maybe i'm not quite as "over it" as i pretend 🤭))

favourite thing that you enjoyed that never had an active fandom: ohhhh, i can't think of a name immediately now, but it's definitely some or other book series that, if it had a fandom at all, was so tiny that i was practically the only person in it 🥲

tempting project that you're trying to rein in/don't have time for: LISTEN. i have had the most awful writer's block for months, and now that i can finally write again, somewhat, all that i want to write are the things that i should NOT be focusing on rn, because those things don't have deadlines but other things do *charles_wtf discord react*

prime example: about 2838474829 piarles smut WIPs and a/b/o and chussyverse explorations, instead of... my PWFE fic. some belated birthday fics. some celebration fics i promised nearly half a bloody YEAR ago. oops 😭😭 but, we'll get there. we will! just like this will be ferrari's year (i am delulu) xD

no idea who's done this yet and who hasn't, so i'm just going to tag some friends and hope i'm not double-tagging anyone - also, if i miss anyone, please feel free to say i tagged you anyway, because i'd love to see your answers <3 @boxboxbrioche @welightitup @hourcat @teamnick @sedicii @francophones @radiocheck, if any of you feel like giving this a go <3333

#tag game #tagged!#oh i am so behind on my tag games that it's not even funny - but i loved doing this one!! tysm for thinking of me charlotte <3

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pharawee · 9 months

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5 Songs Tag - QL Shows Edition

I was tagged by @leonpob and @wanderlust-in-my-soul. Thank you so so much! 💜Negl I saw this tag game going around and I was waiting for someone to tag me because I love (Thai) BL soundtracks. I have a playlist and everything. I could rec you songs for hours. I apologise in advance for this list probably having more than 5 songs. You can't expect me to decide. You just can't.

When you get this, list 5 songs from the Asian QL media that you actually listen to.

🎶They do not have to be custom-made for the series. 🎶Non-western tracks only. Let's support Asian music and languages! 🎶Feel free to tag anyone who may be interested in participating. 🎶Add #5qls tag to your post for others to find the new favourites!

1. Noh Phouluang, พร้อมเคียง (Nitiman)

Probably the first Thai song I fell in love with (aka the song that started a ~16 hour long playlist). This song will always have a special place in my heart. Sometimes I still catch myself just humming along while I'm out shopping. Think of Nitiman what you will (personally, I loved it) but the soundtrack was really good. I'm still sad one of the songs never made it to spotify. Also, Noh has an amazing voice. I really hope he gets to sing again.

2. Pantherist, กี่เหตุผลที่ทำให้รัก (WHY R U)

There's just something about this song that's so beautiful. It's so comforting to me. Negl this song is defnitely one of my happy places.

3. พัตเตอร์ ภูเบศ, ฉันรู้ ฉันรู้ (OUR DAYS)

If you know me even a little bit, then you know I love synths and 80s vibes. I also love Our Days. It's how I discovered Palmy. Putter was a complete surprise though. Sadly it's his only song (on spotify) so far.

4. Newery, พรหมลิขิต (I WILL KNOCK YOU)

youtube

Why this song never made it to spotify I'll never know. It's perfect. The whole soundtrack for this series is perfect (as is the series itself but I digress). This is Newery singing a perfect(!!) cover of Destiny and I could listen to this for hours.

5. Kacha Nontanun, ขอลืม (THE LUMINOUS SOLUTION)

youtube

Another song that never made it to spotify and it is an outrage. Kacha's voice is heavenly and the chorus of this song hits so hard. It's so sad and haunting and soft, and it captures the series perfectly.

6. Taro Shatree, แค่เธอลอง (EVEN SUN)

youtube

I think we can all agree that Even Sun was ?? ???? but, you guys, this song! When it first came out I had it stuck in my head for WEEKS. I can't believe it's not on spotify. Taro Shatree is definitely on my radar now (even if he deleted like, half of his discography from spotify😭). Most recently he wrote and arranged this song for Boom Raweewit (Lue in Chains of Heart) that I also really like.

BONUS: Boy Sompob, ฟังใจ (LA PLUIE)

Oh no, I forgot a Boy Sompob song. This isn't right. You can't make a list of QL songs and not put Boy Sompob on it. Anyway, here's an an acoustic version of ฟังใจ. He sang this live. LIVE. I love one (1) man.

I'm tagging @cytharat @liyazaki @asianmade @singto-prachaya @respectthepetty @bengiyo (please feel free to skip this, of course 💜)

#5qls #tag game #this was so much fun #and i'm so proud of myself for listing only 7 songs #you don't know how hard that was #what i love most about thai bl soundtracks is how chill and vibey they are #they have this easy listening 80s/90s vibe to them that really appeals to me #and this extends to thai pop in general #i also don't mind that some of the actors turned singers don't have perfect voices #i actually enjoy it a lot because it adds to their charm

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burninlovebutler · 2 years

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18 - Nothing There // Forever Winter // a.b x oc

warnings: mania, SAD, undisclosed mental illness(es), brief mention of non-consent, sexual themes, 18+ always, mdni, please don't hate me

18/? - Austin shows up to Elsie’s apartment in a panic with news that could shatter her heart, but it is something far more sinister that is the culprit of her heartache

see masterlist/summary for background info + chapter log

(NOT elvis!austin just fit the vibe // gif cred: @karamelcoveredolicity i think ?)

𝚂𝚘 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙸'𝚖 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍, t𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝙸'𝚖 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎

𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎

𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚜

'𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚍𝚊𝚢

-ELSIE-

I sat on my bed folding some of Nox's work clothes that spread across the mattress. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been feeling lonely without Austin. Even though I had Nox back, it wasn’t the same. Nox and I weren’t best friends. Despite what all my other friends said, I didn’t believe that I needed to be best friends with my partners. At least I never had been. There was a distinct line between relationship and friendship, no overlap.

I had been feeling so disconnected lately, not just from Austin, but from Nox, from everything. I made up with my boyfriend, but I still felt heartbroken. Maybe even more so than when I was at Austin’s.

I still loved Nox, but the feeling of him touching me wasn’t the same. It felt empty – boring, loveless. We’d only had sex maybe two times since I came home. He had tried, lord had he tried. But I fled from his touch every time. Nox could be vicious but something he’d never do is force me into anything I didn’t want to do. That was the biggest difference between him and my exes, sadly.

I couldn’t get that night out of my head. Austin was so much bigger than Nox, I didn’t need to feel him inside me to know that. Even just his touch was better than Nox. I never thought I could finish with another person – only ever by myself. I had accepted that men just couldn’t make me come, but Austin did – three times. And that wasn’t counting the times the thought of him helped me finish - alone.

What the fuck was wrong with me? Thinking this shit about my friend. It should feel weird to know what your best friend’s dick or tongue feels like - and well it did, kind of. Or maybe that was just how illicit it felt. Either way, it was more temping than anything.

Oh yeah – and of course there was the fact that I cheated on Nox. Well at least, I think? Were we even together after he kicked me out? Regardless of the technicalities, Nox could never find out about it. Even just the thought of his reaction was enough to scare the shit out of me.

But he wasn’t stupid, he picked up on the shift between us and relentlessly pressed me about it, until I finally gave in and told him a watered-down version of truth or dare. He wasn’t happy about it but surprisingly didn’t react as bad as I thought.

Yet after having a taste of what I could experience with someone else – the rigid, fast sex Nox offered was no longer enticing. But if I was going to save my relationship, I needed to forget all of it.

If I was going to save my friendship, I needed to forget it. Pretend it never happened.

Austin’s cold front could very well be a symptom of what we did. He might’ve seen it as a mistake. Whether that was a good or bad thing, I wasn’t sure.

I methodically pressed Nox's black button downs, taking extra care making sure they were creaseless and symmetrical. He had been a tyrant about organization lately which naturally meant I was deep cleaning the house and reorganizing everything.

Suddenly a frantic knock at the door yanked me out of the monotonous zone I had fallen into. I warily slid off the bed and went to the door, finding the frenzied knock quite odd for the middle of the day.

Standing on my tippy-toes I squinted an eye through the peep hole finding Austin on the other side. Both relief and anxiety rushed through me as I opened the door.

“Hey Aus-“ He dashed past me. “Whoa, what is going on?” I questioned, immediately noticing his outfit. An oversized t-shirt with sweatpants. It was like below 0 outside, what the fuck was he doing without a jacket.

“Elsie I am so sorry, but something happened.” He began pacing back and forth, “I saw something.” I genuinely had no idea what exactly I was perceiving in front of me and didn’t know what piece of it I needed to focus on first.

“Austin I’ve been trying to call you-“ I started before Austin cut me off again.

“Els I don’t know how to tell you this,” He halted his pacing for a second trying to catch his breath and shaking the cold out of his bare arms. His pale face made it seem like he’d seen a ghost.

“Austin breathe, please.” I walked to him, grabbing his frigid shoulders, “What is going on?” My eyes scanned his blues, desperately searching for an answer. They were unreadable, fogged with something that registered as familiar, but I couldn’t put a finger on what exactly.

He ripped out of my grasp and started to pace across my living room again. “I really don’t want to tell you this El, I really don’t” His movements gaining momentum as he spoke. “So, I went to Roast right? To work on my role, right?”

I cautiously nodded, “Right.”

“When I was walking home, I saw something.” His voice accelerating.

“Okay yes, and what did you see?” I probed to finally get to the point.

He inhaled a deep breath, stopped pacing and faced me, “I saw Nox with another girl.”

Immediately my heart dropped into my stomach. I had suspected him of cheating for a while but I never thought it was real. I thought it was just my own paranoia, my insecurities. “Are you sure it was him Austin?” He nodded.

“How sure are you?”

“Elsie, I saw him! It was him!” His voice strained.

“Okay but how do you know it was him for sure?”

“It just it was- Oh yeah I took a picture!” He scrambled to pull out his phone to show me. I braced myself for even further heartbreak. I didn’t know if I was prepared to see my boyfriend with someone else. “See look!” He shoved his phone in my face.

I let out a gasp before grabbing his phone and inspecting it. But, something wasn’t right. Before I could even process the photo, a distant but familiar wave of dread seeped into my bones. I turned my focus up at Austin taking in his appearance fully for the first time. His hair was messy, dark bags laid beneath his eyes, thick sweat across his forehead.

All the odd puzzle pieces from the past couple weeks began to piece together. The forgetfulness, the ignored calls, the poker faces, the mood swings. I was so stupid for not recognizing it sooner.

“Austin,” Words struggled to get past the lump in my throat, “Austin, this isn’t Nox.”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but its him. I saw him.” Annoyance pitched his voice.

“Austin that isn’t Nox.” I repeated delicately, “Are you feeling okay? Have you been sleeping?” My first instinct was to reach out to him, press my the back of my hand against his forehead - but I knew it'd only make him retract from me.

“Elsie c’mon I know it’s hard to believe but,” He snatched the phone from my hold and zoomed in on his hand. “Look that’s his tattoo! The dagger!” Austin pushed to convince me.

Leaning forward to once again examine the picture - it still wasn’t Nox. The swirling pit in my gut only grew heavier. I took a deep breath and struggled to remain calm. I had to avoid escalating the conversation so he’d actually listen to me. “Austin, that’s not a dagger.” I carefully handed the phone back to him, “There’s nothing there.”

“Are you blind Elsie? That’s a dagger! That’s Nox!”

I moved timidly closer him, not wanting to set him off, “Austin there’s nothing there, that man doesn’t even have a tattoo.”

I studied him further, all the dots connecting. The wide red eyes, the disheveled clothes, the rapid speech. I was close enough to have my nostrils filled with a smell I was well acquainted with. “Did you smoke today?” I asked softly, meeting his eyes. I tried my best to keep my tone from sounding accusatory.

He stuttered a bit, “Yeah I felt stressed and it helped. I feel better! I got a lot of work done.”

It wasn’t that I was against weed. I fucking love weed. Austin and I smoked all through university and I still smoke almost daily. But at some point, it began to affect him differently. After his break in college, since the incident.

In between the harsh divide of pro and anti-marijuana, there was a grey area that was rarely talked about. It IS an amazing healing plant for most, but not all. Especially with certain mental illnesses or addictions.

I stepped forward and took his cheeks carefully in my hands, “Austin you need to listen to me. I need you to sit down.”

“No you have to believe me.” His voice even quicker than before.

“Please Aus, for me, please sit down.” I begged, hearing my voice waver.

He huffed and reluctantly sat on a wooden dining chair. “You’re just in denial, why don’t you believe me?” His voice came out almost dejected, like he was genuinely hurt that I didn’t believe him. It stung so fucking bad. I just knew that he must be questioning just how much I actually trusted him. He would never lie to me, I knew that. He was just trying to help. A burning, tight feeling grew knowing that he was this upset over something imaginary.

I sat in a seat at the corner facing him asking, “Aus can I see the work you did today?”

“Yes! That’s a great idea!” He grinned wide drawing the silver laptop from his leather carrying case and lifted the top, then turning it to me, “See look!”

Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at the screen trying to decipher what I was looking at. As much as I attempted to hold tears back, one escaped down my cheek. I swiftly wiped it off so that he wouldn’t see. “Aus,” Hesitating, “Austin there’s nothing there.” My tone delicate, like when you have to tell a child their dog ran away.

“What the fuck are you talking about Elsie? I spent three hours studying today. I’ve worked all week on this.” Getting more and more frustrated.

“Austin, this is gibberish.” Swiveling the laptop back to him. The screen displayed an open Word document filled with absolute nonsense. 8617 words of nonsense.

“No no no, what are you talking about? Look I wrote notes, I wrote—” He went to read what he thought was a brilliant line but soon realized he couldn’t. “No Els, I swear I wrote so much,” He scrambled, “The file must’ve gotten corrupted or something.”

His fingers worked frantically on the keyboard looking for a something that didn’t exist. The vicious churn in my stomach was almost enough to make me throw up.

I remained silent, just watching his frenzied desperate movements. How the fuck was I supposed to handle this. We’d been in this situation numerous times, but it never got easier. I never got better at it. And it hadn’t happened in so long, I really thought he was doing good.

This was one of the worst parts about this, having to be the one rip him down from whatever fluffy cloud he was on. I hated it, hated it. These were some of the happiest times I saw him and I had to be the monster to pull the curtain down. Seeing your best friend so confident and happy for the first time in so long and then having to snatch it from him. Knowing that you were the one to trigger the inevitable comedown, watching the joy and euphoria pale from his face because of you.

“Did you take anything else after you smoked?” I questioned, there was no way this was solely induced by marijuana.

“No Elsie I told you I feel better! This isn’t about weed for fucks sake. I saw Nox with another girl. Why don’t you believe me? I literally showed you proof.” His speaking was overly animated, his hands following every word.

“Austin. You have to tell me if you took anything besides the weed.”

He paused, seemingly battling to answer. “Fine fine, I just took some Adderall to help me focus and keep me awake.”

“Austin! What the fuck, why would you do that!” At this point I was growing angry but knew it wouldn’t be helpful. I had no clue how to handle his hallucinations, none the less the pills.

Mental illness wasn’t anything new to me. Everyone I fucking knew including myself struggled with it. But Austin’s was more complicated, more extreme. His episodes terrified me and they were almost always followed with a relapse - sometimes with just one fix, sometimes all. I was even less equipped to handle those.

“El I needed to work, I needed to focus. And I did, this is the best I’ve been in weeks.” Trying so vehemently to convince me.

“Wait wait wait,” I full stopped, “Have you been taking your meds?”

He stayed quiet for a couple seconds looking everywhere but at me. “I just needed a break El, they weren’t helping. I just wanted to handle it myself.”

My hand found his boney wrist, giving it a small squeeze, “Austin you know you can’t do that. You have to call me when you feel like that.”

“I know but I couldn’t- I just couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just… I just wanted to deal with it alone. I just needed to be alone.” He was lying. I just knew he was lying.

The heavy weight of guilt only added to the knots in my gut. Like all my intestines were folded into fortune cookies encasing just one message-

If I hadn’t left that day, this wouldn’t have happened. If I hadn’t acted the way I did – if we didn’t do what we did. None of this would’ve happened. He would’ve came to me.

I made a promise a long time ago that I wouldn’t let this happen, and this was precisely the reason. So things didn’t get messy, so that it wouldn’t come between us. So I could be there for him no matter what.

So I wouldn’t have to leave him, not even for a second.

“Austin. You’re manic.” The words came out bluntly, my voice stern but calm.

He stumbled over his words, “No that’s not what this is. Elsie, I swear to god I’ve never felt better.”

“Yes you are, you’re having an episode. We need to get you your meds.” My emotions were overridden by the sudden urgency of the situation.

He seemed to be lost in his head, ripping it apart for sane answers. I stood up cautiously and tilted his chin up to meet my eyes. “It’s going to be okay, I’m here. I’m gonna help you.”

His eyes were soft blue and full of pure defeat. When I pulled him into my arms, he pressed his head against my stomach. I kept an arm curled around his head and another rubbing his back “It’s gonna be okay, I promise.” I repeated in a whisper.

A quiet cracked voice muffled, “Don’t leave again, please.” The beg echoed a memory, one I had tried so viciously to forget.

“I won’t, not for a second.”

Not even for a second.

I brought Austin back to his loft and helped him sort out his medications, which ones he was supposed take and when. I even brought him one of those weekly medicine organizers. I finally convinced him to take his daily dose and had him show me his lifted tongue to make sure he swallowed.

He refused to let me stay over no matter how much I insisted.

I made him pinky promise to send me daily updates of when he took his meds.

He didn’t.

I blew up his phone every day for the past week.

No response.

Excruciating worry built up in my ribs until it became too much. I needed to devise a plan to get everyone on good terms, so I could stifle Austin’s touch just enough to be there for him completely. I wouldn’t have to avoid him because it was tense and awkward. I could keep an eye on him without being clouded by something else - something I didn’t understand and wasn't sure I wanted to.

So I wouldn’t have to leave. Not even for a second.

Next Chapter: 19 - Not Even For A Second

// i am so sorry for this chapter and for what i'm about to do to you in chp 19 just remember ily 🥲

as always thank you for any love shown for FW and for any like, reblog, comment 💜 it means the world to me truly

-M🥀 xx

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its-hai-time · 8 months

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hi i have had turnabout light brainrot for the past like 2 days but specifically about the concept of a soundtrack for it bc i am absolutely obsessed with video game osts so i am going to unload all my thoughts. i'd imagine the song for klavier's apartment is really empty and just doesn't have much going on. would fit how he is just. really alone there. also it's in c minor. idk i just think every depressing song in c minor sounds good. i don't know any other locations the case would include, but i'm still playing around with what klavier's jail cell theme might be. athena's is a music box version of her theme and trucy's is a slower/sadder remix of her's, so i've tried slowing down guilty love. unfortunately the music production team is amazing and it still sounds very peppy at .25 speed, and just doesn't fit the vibe at all. so i thought maybe it would instead be guitar's serenade or the gavinners • twilight gig. both are absolutely GORGEOUS themes that i would love to see reused, and both come from cases where he lost someone important to him (daryan went to jail and his law mentor died). even just incorporating elements of those songs into a different new theme created for the turnabout would give me psychic damage and make me pass away instantly from how happy i would be. an acoustic guitar with some reverb would fit extremely well too, and i'm always one for throwing mallet percussion into everything and anything, so i can see it having a marimba or vibraphone as well. additionally, given this isn't just an added case to another game and is rather a whole new game, apollo's theme would get an update like it does every game. 2013 had this beautiful electric guitar section, and 2016 had what i think is a synth solo that was absolutely amazing. i think it would be really cool if this version included the bell bits that were in the orchestra and 2013 versions of the theme!! also the 2013 version's ending is honestly my favorite of all time, so it would be neat if it included something similar to that. honestly even if you never listen to another theme from dual destinies PLEASE listen to apollo's theme it's so good i force everyone i meet to listen to it. i have so much more i could say but i'm just now realizing how long i've already made this so i'm gonna stop now. sorry i am a massive game music nerd and love your comic lol. super excited for part 13, but remember to take your time and not feel pressured to release it before you think it's ready.

the thought that someone can have actual brainrot for my work is amazing aaaaah. Anyways I'm LOVING these music ideas, especially for Klavier's apartment, you'd expect it to be pretty over the top for the rock star himself; but he really doesn't live in his apartment that much, it's kind of a lonely place when you look around at it. A slower, understated score fits much better to show how empty the place is. Anyways I've never played past aa4 so I'll be checking out those apollo themes soon I guess lol.

anon if you wanna message me with your musical score brainrot I'm literally so open. I always love opportunities to talk about the game au as a whole rather than just the one case everyone knows.

#anon you're literally so sweet aaaah #dw part 13 is in the works!#hailey answers

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thii-nii · 7 months

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On Repeat Tag

Thank you for tagging me, @pharawee!! 🌼 I haven't done a music tag in quite some time. (〜￣▽￣)〜 This is always fun to do, but I still feel very awkward about sharing my music.

The game: Put your Spotify On Repeat playlist on shuffle and post the first 10 songs!

A longtime favorite. I also really love this live performance.

I first fell in love with Monovated's voice thanks to "Chaser", a song he worked on with Kriz and Primary for the D.P. OST. Sadly, he doesn't seem to have a lot of songs himself and some really aren't my style. But this one very much is. I love being sad to this song. (I still haven't been able to find the lyrics for it though, very aggravating.)

I looove the beginning of this song especially. It's on my On Repeat playlist, because I really enjoy singing along to it. My neighbours probably hate me. ^^;;

From the My Dearest OST. The beginning makes me a little insane. And the lyrics are just so beautiful. Maybe I'll manage to make an edit inspired by this song in the future. I can't wait for more heartache and drama soon. 😎

Obsessed with Primary's work on the D.P. OSTs and the Weak Hero Class One OST. Beautiful scene, beautiful song, really love listening to it.

I found this song on the I Feel You Linger in the Air playlist and got a little too attached to it. Which reminds me, I still haven't checked out all of the songs on that playlist.

...I'm just really obsessed with this song. 🔥🔥🔥 (& The lyrics fit really well with Gilchae and Janghyun from My Dearest. 😂 Blorbo thoughts even while I'm singing and dancing along. lol)

Everything about this!! 🔥

DURDN!! 💜 (Please also check out these acoustic versions of WARUNORI & apart. Yay, thanks!)

I've been a Utada Hikaru fan for most of my life and I still really love their music. Bittersweet dance-pop is one of my favorite genres!!

#tagged (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)#wahhh is there really no way of making these previews smaller? idk how to make the embedded code work ;__;#so. yeah. this is it. my weird music taste.

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hellowhisperingstars · 1 year

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The Beginning

Summary: Eddie is visited by someone unexpected and given a warning.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Words: 3.6K

Warnings: Child neglect, death of a parent, ghosts, Y/N use, drugs and alcohol, cursing, an insane amount of commas. Let me know if I missed anything!

A/N: Here is the first chapter! Just mostly back story and the like, Y/N mentioned but not seen. Please let me know what you think!

Series Masterlist - Forward

Eddie Munson hasn’t always hated christmas. In fact it used to be his favorite holiday. His mother was able to keep that spark of magic alive for a long time, she made it special with her stories, her songs, and her laughter. She loved christmas. His dad on the other hand was never really around and when he was he was too busy getting high or drunk to care much about his family, birthdays, or holidays. His mother tried her best for years but when she got sick everything kinda just stopped. No lights, no tree, no stockings, and no presents for little Eddie.

Her death was the catalyst for the rest of Eddie's life. His father had to step up and be the adult which he hated and failed at, most of the time leaving Eddie to care for himself. When he was around his son he was teaching him things that no father should ever teach a child, how to hotwire and steal a car, how to pickpocket people on the street, how to pick a lock, and how to scam nice people out of anything really. Christmas was never important to him.

It was one fateful December night that brought it all to a halt when Eddie’s father was arrested for some reason or another, he didn’t remember, or care. What he did remember was the cops showing up at his rundown shithole apartment to collect evidence but instead found him, laying on a sad mattress that sat on the floor with only a thin sheet to cover him in the freezing home. His hair was matted and dirty, and he was thin, too thin for a boy of eleven.

With his mother gone and his father in jail Eddie was pushed onto his Uncle Wayne, his fathers older brother, the older Munson male took him in with open arms, giving him a room, clothes, food for his empty belly, and an education. A home.

Eddie thrived from the love he got from his uncle as he grew up and learned to love music. For Christmas when Eddie was twelve his uncle got him a guitar. His very first acoustic. Eddie wrote this machine slays dragons on it in white paint. Bringing his love of music and magic together.

It was his favorite thing until he was eighteen and Wayne had saved up enough money to buy Eddie his sweetheart for Christmas. A NJ Warlock, it was absolutely beautiful and it was his most prized possession sitting in a place of honor in front of the mirror in his room.

Money was tight that following year so Eddie followed in his father's footsteps and started dealing on the side, only weed at first and never to minors. He hated selling the harder stuff, he's seen what it did to people. Wayne once questioned where Eddie was getting the money from but Eddie just smiled and said he had a good side job with a wink. It worried Wayne but he bit his tongue and let Eddie make his choice. He was always careful about it.

He met you that year, his first senior year at Hawkins High, you were a transfer student coming in towards the holidays. You quickly became inseparable. Another reason for Eddie to love Christmas was that it reminded him of you. He loved everything about you, your eyes, your hair, your smile, anything and everything he loved. And you loved him fully and completely. Any free time was spent with him, next to him, under him. It was all him. He was it for you.

Then Chrissy died, Eddie was on the run, and you both were thrown into the world of the Upside Down. Finding out a whole different dimension sat under Hawkins was a hard pill to swallow, unbelievable really, until you saw Eddie, Steve, Nancy, and Robin in the Upside Down version of Eddie's trailer smiling up or down at you and the kids. You wanted to help, to fight, but Eddie denied you he would never live with himself if anything happened to you. So you stayed behind in the park with Erica as you both watched for Jason Carver and his goons, keeping an eye on the Creel house.

Max had miraculously survived her brush with death, but for just a few minutes she was gone, that was enough to bring the upside down to the right side up. Gates and cracks opening across Hawkins. She almost didn't make it out of the coma she was in.

Eddie almost didn't make it either. His wounds made him bleed out almost completely. He was lucky that Steve and Dustin were able to get him out when they did. You sat next to him in his hospital for as long as you could, holding his hand while he slept. Your fingers fiddling with the handcuffs that locked him in the bed. He was alive but he was far from being out of danger. Even with giant holes in the ground they still believed that this sweet nerdy boy was evil. Once back on his feet they put him in jail and on trial, it was only with the help of the teens and kids talking to Hopper, who was also mysteriously not dead, that they dropped the charges against Eddie declaring him innocent and letting him go. Hopper had spoken to the judge on his behalf, getting him to see reason.

People had always avoided Eddie before. Now they jeered at him, purposely making his life hell for deaths he had nothing to do with. Chrissy, Fred, Patrick, Jason, even hurting poor Max. They said he was evil, a child of the devil, and a cult leader. It made him angry, jaded, hurt. Someone had even gone as far as to throw a brick at you one night as you were walking to your car after your shift at the diner. Just to get at Eddie. He practically destroyed the ER looking for you. The scar on your forehead is a horrible reminder of the lengths people would go to hurt him. So he pushed you away. Pushed everyone away. Wayne, the band, Hellfire. Everyone he cared about, kept at a distance, if he wasn't in your lives you wouldn't be hurt by those who hunted him, hated him. So there he was, the town freak. Alone. Like he always should have been.

7:50 pm Christmas Eve 1989

Eddie grunted as he lifted his arms in the air, he groaned in pain as the muscles in his back stretched. Lifting heavy boxes and organizing inventory in the stock room of the record shop was hard work on his beat up body. His wounds had healed but the scars were still painful sometimes, tonight was one of them. He dropped his arms, rotating his right shoulder as he moved around looking at more boxes that needed to be labeled, checked off, and shoved onto shelves. It was tiring work but it was the best he could do. The record shop was the only place that would hire him after everything was done. He asked for the overnight shifts, the shop was closed, no one knew he was there and he didn’t have to worry about being targeted for anything. He could have his headphones on as he restocked the store and tried not to think of his old life. He was asked to come in earlier tonight to help with inventory. He wasn’t going to argue with more money.

The bell above the front door chimed as someone walked in. A gruff voice asked about him and he looked up a few seconds later as his Uncle pushed open the door to the stockroom. “Hey Kiddo.”

“Wayne.” Eddie said, looking over his shoulder at his only family before he went back to work, opening up a new box and looking at the records inside. Making a face when he saw it was a bunch of boy band cassettes. This town wouldn’t know good music if it bit them in the ass. Glancing up at his Uncle he grabbed a pen. “Not to be rude but what are you doing here?”

“It’s Christmas Eve, Ed,” Wayne said as he shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “Shops closing early. Wanted to see if you would come by the new place for dinner.”

Eddie sighed as he checked off the inventory list and lifted the box and set it on the shelf. “Can’t. Staying late tonight. Gotta get the shop restocked for the day after Christmas sale.”

“It’s one night Ed.” His uncle huffed. “One night as a family. That's all I’m asking.”

“I just said I can’t.” Eddie snapped looking over at his Uncle. “Don’t you have a shift at the new plant anyway?”

“Got tonight and tomorrow night off for the holidays.” The older man shrugged. His nephew has been running from him for three years now. It was really starting to get on his nerves. “Look, I know your still scared of this stupid town but it’s been three years Eddie. It’s time to work it out and come home. Me, your band, the Hellfire kids, Y/N. We miss you. We want you back.”

“Why can’t you just accept it’s better this way?!” Eddie growled, pushing his long hair out of his face as he turned on his uncle. “I like being alone. It’s easier. So just let me be alone... I have to get back to work.”

Wayne watched as Eddie turned back around lifting the next heavy box onto the table to open, label, and mark off the list. “If that’s what you think is best you're dumber than you look. We need you. I’ll make enough dinner for two, come join me when you get your head out of your ass.”

Eddie listened to his Uncle leave, the slam of the stock room door making him flinch. His hands clenched into fists at his side as he took in an attempt at a calming breath. The pen in his hand bit into his palm before he chucked it across the room in anger. They didn’t understand, no one understood. Looking around the room he groaned at the mess of boxes. It was going to be a longer night then he thought.

10:30 PM

He was done quicker then he expected, his anger making him work faster to try and get that energy out. He was able to organize the entire stock room and restocked the shelves and displays in the shop all before eleven o’clock. So Eddie took the time to just sit in the back and contemplate his life. His face fell into his hands as his elbows dug into knees. He needed a break. He was just so damn angry. This town will eat you alive. Maybe calling it an early night wasn't a terrible idea. Slapping his knees he stood up and moved from the back room to the front of the shop towards his bosses office. Knocking on the door he heard a gruff, “Yeah?”

Pushing open the door he leaned against the frame. “Back is clean and the front restocked. Mind if I head out for the rest of the night?”

“Nah, you're fine.” His boss said, looking at his watch. “Gotta get home to the family myself. Have a goodnight, Munson. Merry Christmas.”

“Uh yeah,” Eddie muttered. “Merry Christmas, Frank.”

Turning around Eddie closed the door behind him, heading back to the stock room to pull his hoodie over his old Metallica shirt before slipping his leather jacket over it, checking that his keys and cigarette pack were still there before he clocked out. He waved at Frank, who was coming out of his office, before Eddie stepped from the warm shop out into the cold dark evening.

He let out a huff, watching as a puff of steam left his mouth like smoke. He snorted at himself as he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets turning to walk down the street towards his apartment. He used to do that all the time as a kid, making it look like he was smoking a cigarette, two fingers up to his lips as he took a hit. He remembered his mom laughing at him as he smiled up at her. Then he actually started smoking and the little game wasn't as fun anymore.

A shiver ran down his spine as he huddled further into himself trying to conserve as much body heat as possible. On his walk he passed the diner you worked at a few blocks away from the record shop and stopped for a split second to see if you were working tonight, but you weren't there. ‘Probably off for the night. Home. Warm. Safe.’ Eddie thought as he continued down the street towards his own home and maybe the liquor store.

“Hey murderer!” A slurred voice yelled as a snowball filled with rocks hit his back making him wince for a second before he just kept walking. He swallowed down his anger, he wasn't looking to get arrested again. Besides, the person was probably already stumbling out of sight anyway. ‘Definitely the liquor store.’

It came up on the right quickly as he booked it down the street, careful of the ice and snow as he moved. When he grabbed the handle a tiny bell rang to the left of him catching his attention. Looking down at the bundled up woman she smiled at him with a lidded plastic bowl in her hands. He noticed a slit in the top just big enough for money to be pushed in. “Isn't it a little late for you to be ringing that damn bell?”

"Would you like to donate to the broken family fund?"

“Sorry lady,” Eddie scoffed and shook his head as he pulled open the door stepping inside to grab his booze. Muttering to himself as he wandered the aisle looking for something to make him forget his own name. “I am from a broken family. The last thing we want is fucking charity.”

Grabbing the cheapest bottle of whiskey he could find, he turned to the register. Placing it gently on the counter he got out the cash he needed as he waited for the cashier to ring him up.

“Cold night.”

“Uh yeah, it sucks out there.” Eddie nodded. Throwing his thumb towards the front of the store he gestured to it. “Hey you know you have some woman asking for donations by your door?”

They both looked but she seemed to be gone. The cashier shrugged, giving Eddie his total. “Hmm must have moved on. They like to roam this time of year, hoping to feed off of people's holiday spirit.”

“Vultures.” Eddie grumbled as he handed him the cash watching as the other guy pulled his change and bagged up the whiskey before handing him both. Pocketing his change he grabbed the bag. “Thanks man, have a good night.”

“Merry Christmas.” The man said with a bored wave as Eddie left the building back out onto the street. Looking around Eddie shrugged, the woman was no longer in sight, he continued home. He was close now just about a block away. He stopped in front of an alley to pull the pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, pulling out one and the lighter from the carton. Putting the cigarette between his lips he flicked the lighter to life before taking a deep breath, letting the nicotine calm his nerves. He felt uneasy all of a sudden, something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what.

A light flickered in his peripheral vision. Looking to the right down the dark alley he saw nothing but boxes and trash cans. He blew the smoke from his lips as he narrowed his eyes. Another flicker, a slow movement. It almost looked human.

“Nope,” Eddie said, shaking his head as fear crushed his chest. He's had enough otherworldly bullshit to last him a lifetime. Thank you very much. “Fuck that. Not today.”

Eddie moved quickly down the empty street to his apartment. That cigarette was gone by the time he was outside his building. He flew up the flight of stairs and to his door unlocking it quickly and rushing in locking it behind him, backing away from the door like the thing had followed him. He waited for a few minutes but when nothing happened he gave a shake of his head as he backed into his kitchen putting the bottle on the counter before moving farther into his home to settle down for the night. “You’re losing it, Munson. Stop being so fucking paranoid.”

After a quick shower he stepped into his gray plaid pj bottoms you bought him for Christmas three years ago. Sighing, he walked back into the kitchen grabbing the whiskey bottle from the counter and went to flop on the couch. Taking the remote from his old coffee table he turned it on to something mindless. With any luck he would soon be so far gone that he wouldn't even remember what it was. Holding the bottle by its neck he used his other hand and cracked it open, flicking the cap away from him as he brought the bottle to his lips taking a good pull before he swallowed, giving a wince as it burned his throat. Taking a breath he put the bottle on the table and pulled out a little wooden box from under the couch. His stash. Plucking a joint free he placed it between his lips and lit it with the zippo from the box tossing the lighter on the table. With a joint in one hand and whiskey in the other, Eddie leaned back on the couch ready to just fade. Scoffing again as the show ended and “It’s a Wonderful Life” started to play. Your favorite movie. “Of fucking course.”

12:00 AM

Halfway through the movie and he was feeling good, his fogged up brain letting his thoughts drift as he killed the roach of his second joint putting it out in the ashtray on the table. Taking a healthy swig from the bottle he watched as the TV faded to black for a moment letting his reflection stare back at him. But he wasn’t alone. There in the screen just behind him was a figure, coughing on his drink he swiftly turned around to see no one. The few lights in his home started to flicker, panic set in, was it something from the Upside Down? He couldn’t handle that, not now, he was in no position to defend himself. High and half naked. Breathing hard he practically dropped the bottle on his floor as a figure stepped from the darkness behind his couch as the lights stopped flickering.

He blinked in shock. This was a dream. There’s no way she could be here. She’s dead. But there she stood looking as healthy as he always liked to remember her, her long brown hair just as curly as his. The pretty sundress they buried her in just as pristine. Their matching brown eyes locked in the moment. “Mom?”

“Hello Munchkin.” She said as she smiled at him. A little laugh bubbling out of her. “You’re not so little anymore.”

“I don’t understand.” He stood from the couch, swaying slightly from the booze and drugs.

“You’ve lost your way, baby.” Lousie said as she walked towards him the furniture was the only thing between them. “I didn’t raise you to be like this. You are a good person Eddie, a caring person. I taught you to help others.”

Shaking his head he stumbled away from the couch towards the door to his room. “This isn’t real. I’m seeing things.”

“Edward, you need to listen to me! I don’t have much time to tell you this!” She pleaded as she moved towards him. “Tonight you will be visited by three ghosts. Trust them. Let them help you.”

“That’s just a story,” Eddie said as he swayed looking at her, it hurt to look at her. He missed her so much. She reminded him of better times, happier times. Tears blurred his vision, she wasn’t here. Not really, it wasn’t possible. This was just some fucked up hallucination from being cross faded. “You’re not her.”

“If you keep going down this path you will end up more broken and alone then you already are.” His mother said as she stood in front of her very grown up son. “I don’t want that for you.”

Against his better judgment Eddie brought his hand up to try and touch her, but stepped back when all he felt was air. A gasping breath left him as he watched her start to fade, like a flickering candle, her short time was up and he was scared to blink, fearing that he would miss these final moments with her even if this was just a dream.

“Remember,” She said as looked at him. “Three ghosts. Listen to them, learn from them, and be happy. I love you, Munchkin.”

“Mom.” Eddie whispered as she flickered one more time before fading completely. And just like that she was gone, like she was never there to begin with. He blinked back tears, shaking his head as he stumbled to his room not caring that the TV was still on. Falling onto his bed he pulled the covers up over himself. Sleep. Sleep would prove this was just some fucked up dream. He could still hear Christmas music playing from the TV and he groaned. He hated it, everything about it. The music, the cold, the feeling. Everything.

Eddie Munson didn't always hate Christmas. But he did now, because it reminded him of all the people he had lost.

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