Strangrr Things Five Could Go One Of Two Ways.

Cobra Kai Masterlist

Miguel Diaz x Reader

motivation (gn! reader) | ~from the vault~

Maybe. (fem! reader) | ~from the vault~

a great thing (fem! reader) | ~from the vault~

chicks dig musicians, kid (fem! reader) | ~from the vault~

Vulgar Display of Power (fem! reader)

Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz x Reader

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before AU | fem!Reader | Chapter 1: Out

hatefuck [COMING]

.................................................... Requests for this fandom are closed for now! |Request away

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

there's no way these two aren't in love

true i don't get how people ship mileven

Second Son Navigation | A Regulus Black Series

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

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

Status: Completed (03.14.23 - 04.24.23)

Main Masterlist

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX (Epilogue)

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

First the TL;DR:

The Painting Lie

Will comes out to Mike

Will gets bullied for being gay

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

And I'll spell out exactly how and why!

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

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

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

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

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

Showing Byler is POSSIBLE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Season 5 can make the GA CHEER for Byler:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-teambyler

I’ve been meaning to do something like this!!

I asked my friend who doesn’t watch Stranger Things some questions

I wanted to hop on the trend about asking friends about Byler and so I sent a text to my friend about “3 rhetorical characters relationships.”

I wanted to see how this looked to someone with an outside perspective and no bias based on gender. I am one of those believers who FULLHEARTEDLY believes that if Will was a girl, everyone and their mother would be demanding Mike break up with El and get together with her. So I told my friend about the relationship between Boy (Mike), Girl 1 (El), and Girl 2 (Will). I basically gave him a run through of M!levens relationship vs Bylers. I told him about M!levens getting together, their fights, and their “ily” scenes. I told him about Bylers fights, the monologue in s2, and general quotes they’ve said to each other.

Once I was done I texted him:

He agrees that “Boy” is in love with “Girl 2”

I then told him about how “Girl 2” was actually a boy

He STILL agrees that “Boy” in love with “Girl 2” even though he now knows that “Girl 2” is actually a boy!

So then I pulled the old “One of these characters is canonically in love with the other, which one is it?” with these photos:

Guess who he said?

He agrees just with a basic rundown and photos of their faces that Mike is in love with Will. He literally said “it’s so obvious”.

In short Byler canon

Bonus:

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

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

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

word count: 2.9k

masterlist

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

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

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

Keep reading

SLYTHERIN // fic recommendations

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

REGULUS BLACK

le lendemain matin

the salt and the sea

forever

the better of two bad options

a pen

the door

the black heir

distraction

THEODORE NOTT

love is sour grapes

by netws & nott

something stronger

like snow on the beach

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

TOM RIDDLE

desiderium

love again

from the glue

salted caramel, metal, strawberries, vanilla, and ink

midmorning

effects of amortentia

DRACO MALFOY

our little secret

honeydukes

firsts

how could i ever forget?

makeup

draco malfoy with shy!male!reader headcanons

cherry juice

MATTHEO RIDDLE

the cat

puppy eyes

the game

rainy nights m.r

LORENZO BERKSHIRE

like nobody else

Iconic

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

my byler fic recs/bookmarks !!

100k+

A Glimmer of Light Refusing to Fade by MagicSchoolbusDropout08 - a post s3, s4 rewrite, and s5 prediction fic that is possibly one of the best works ever written. nothing has ever impacted me as much as this fic and works can't describe how much I love it. (warning: this fic is amazing, but super duper dark so be careful with that)

a cruel summer with you by andiwriteordie, astrobi, and wiseatom - AAAGGGHHHHHHHH !! a summer camp au that literally SAVED my summer :) it has such good writing + the best playlist on earth

RESPONSIBILITY by Wheelerboi - a spideywill au that was my introduction to real writing 🫶 it’s still being updated but even so i recommend it SO much

To Hell and Back Again by perexcri - a post s4 apocalyptic fic that’s SO perfectly made. i was completely hooked the whole time i read it and read the whole thing in one go

Rock 'n' Roll by bylerisc4non - a band au that i love more than life itself. it’s longer, but so insanely worth it. the ending is actually my favorite thing ever and overall it’s just so perfect

15-20k+

what a match: i'm half-doomed and you're semi-sweet by perexcri - a post s4 apocalyptic au that is one of (if not my most) favorite byler fic that i’ve ever read <3 it’s SO funny but also genuinely so insanely well-written since perexcri is the coolest person that’s ever lived

Finally! A Good Fucking Roadtrip by Julia_Skysong - an insanely well-written sequel to Lost Without You. it’s after the events of LWY and is just as good. i LOVE the party’s dynamic so much in this and physically could not recommend it more

what can i do by delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy) - a college-age byler fic where holly completely clocks them both and saves the day. it’s so perfectly done that i genuinely have no notes

my favorite AUs

snakebites and bitter tonics by byersworld - a cowboy byler au that actually makes me want to bounce off the walls because of how perfect it is. it’s based off of the game Red Dead Redemption, but you don't need to had played it before to read it

the start of an age by delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy) - THE byler fic ever. i could not possibly love this fic any more than i do. i’m being so serious when i say that i had a small obsession with medieval times because of this fic. it’s a medieval byler au with knights, arranged marriages, and a WHOLE lot of gay people

sweetheart, you're so cruel by perexcri - another band au that is without a doubt one of my favorite fics ever <3 sometimes i’ll just come back and read it again because it’s simply that good

Operation Matchmakers by midnighteverlark - a teacher byler au that is so so so so good <3 there’s a little miscommunication but in the best way

get him back! by delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy) - a grown up byler au where they accidentally reunite after years and have to work together and AAGGHHH

The Wonderful Whitman by gaysforbyler - a byler rewrite of The Great Gatsby that is SO insanely good i have no words. it’s literally the same amount of words as the real book (which is insane on its own) but it’s also just so perfectly well-done and i’m so in love with everything about it

my ao3 is your_ivy_grows13 if you want to check my bookmarks! i haven’t posted anything of my own yet but it’s a good place to check for new bookmarks

she is a lesbian to me ❤️ and also my soulmate!

Sansa Stark is a lesbian and here’s why:

So, in honor of sapphicsansafest, I’m making a meta master post about why I believe Sansa is a lesbian. This will include a few quotes and I’m going to separate it into a few sections.

Sansa’s descriptions of other women:

“The queen was drinking heavily, but the wine only seemed to make her more beautiful; her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had a bright, feverish heat to them as she looked down over the hall. Eyes of wildfire, Sansa thought.”

Even when Sansa hates Cersei, her descriptions of her are always focused around her beauty. The way she describes her eyes and cheeks is also similar to the way the men that are attracted to Cersei describe her.

“Twenty mules awaited them within the waycastle, along with two mule-walkers and the Lady Myranda Royce. Lord Nestor’s daughter proved to be a short, fleshy woman, of an age with Mya Stone, but where Mya was slim and sinewy, Myranda was soft-bodied and sweet-smelling, broad of hip, thick of waist, and extremely buxom. Her thick chestnut curls framed round red cheeks, a small mouth, and a pair of lively brown eyes.”

Similarly, her description of Myranda is very focused around her looks and specific details like her being “sweet smelling” and “extremely buxom” seem to point towards Sansa being attracted to Margaery. Once again Sansa’s descriptions of women mimic the way straight men describe them. Sansa’s interactions with Myranda are something I'll comment on later.

“Sansa had never been this close to the Dornishwoman before. She is not truly beautiful, she thought, but something about her draws the eye.”

Her description of Ellaria is also interesting as it helps show that the way Sansa thinks about women isn’t solely an aesthetic appreciation. She also enjoys the way unconventionally attractive women look.

“Slim and sinewy, Mya looked as tough as the old riding leathers she wore beneath her silvery ringmail shirt. Her hair was black as a raven's wing, so short and shaggy that Alayne suspected that she cut it with a dagger. Mya's eyes were her best feature, big and blue. She could be pretty, if she would dress up like a girl. Alayne found herself wondering whether Ser Lothor liked her best in her iron and leather, or dreamed of her gowned in lace and silk.”

This might be the best example of Sansa’s attraction to women. She once again thinks about the beauty of a woman who isn’t conventionally attractive and she even comments on her eyes. She then contextualizes her attraction by convincing herself that she’s thinking from a man’s perspective. In reality though she’s thinking about how Mya looks her best to her and is unable to really think of that because it's not considered proper.

“When Margaery Tyrell smiled, she looked very like her brother Loras.”

This one is pretty self explanatory. She thinks of how lovely Margaery looks repeatedly and when Margaery is admirable and happy, she once again contextualizes her attraction by bringing a man into the picture.

My thoughts on her “crushes” on men:

Now, her 3 real crushes in the books are Joffrey Baratheon, Loras Tyrell, and Waymar Royce. They all follow a very similar template. Men straight out of the songs and stories that Sansa loves.

“Sansa did not really know Joffrey yet, but she was already in love with him. He was all she ever dreamt her prince should be, tall and handsome and strong, with hair like gold.”

And

“Joffrey smiled and kissed her hand, handsome and gallant as any prince in the songs.”

Joffrey is someone Sansa likes because he’s the prince out of songs, the idealized prince in the stories. And Sansa loves songs and stories so she thinks she loves Joffrey. When she comments on Joffrey’s beauty, it’s almost always in the context of songs or stories. He’s also the easiest crush, her betrothed who she has to learn to love.

“Ser Gregor was the monster and Ser Loras the true hero who would slay him. He even looked a true hero, so slim and beautiful, with golden roses around his slender waist and his rich brown hair tumbling down into his eyes.”

And

“Wed to Ser Loras, oh . . . Sansa's breath caught in her throat. She remembered Ser Loras in his sparkling sapphire armor, tossing her a rose. Ser Loras in white silk, so pure, innocent, beautiful.”

Loras is also an ideal out of the songs. Sansa says it herself. He’s the hero she wants. She always thinks of him in that context. It makes sense that she crushes on him. He’s a safe easy crush. It’s like the asoiaf equivalent of crushing on some guy in a boyband.

Sansa’s interactions with Margaery

“You will love Highgarden as I do, I know it.” Margaery brushed back a loose strand of Sansa’s hair. “Once you see it, you’ll never want to leave. And perhaps you won’t have to.”

The way Margaery tries to appeal to Sansa and talk to her almost echoes a flirtation. Pushing a strand of hair behind someone’s ear is a textbook romantic move. And the persuasion relies on Sansa liking Margaery and is all about finding love.

“”Margaery’s kindness had been unfailing, and her presence changed everything.”

The way Sansa thinks of Margaery is quite striking and loving. It is as though Margaery was this big important force in Sansa’s life.

“Margaery was different, though. Sweet and gentle, yet there was a little of her grandmother in her, too. The day before last she’d taken Sansa hawking.”

Sansa also goes on what pretty much amounts to dates with Margaery. And the sentiment of Margaery being different is very similar to Arya’s thoughts on Gendry: “Only Gendry was different” and their relationship is often considered to have romantic undertones. It’s also interesting that gentle is used to describe Margaery when that is one of the words Ned used to describe Sansa’s future romance.

“She is so brave, Sansa thought, galloping after her.”

Sansa clearly admires Margaery immensely and her thoughts are always complimentary. She clearly crushes on her.

Sansa’s interactions with Myranda:

And you must be the Lord Protector’s daughter,” she added, as the bucket went rattling back up to the Eyrie. “I had heard that you were beautiful. I see that it is true.”

Alayne curtsied. “My lady is kind to say so.”

“Kind?” The older girl gave a laugh. “How boring that would be. I aspire to be wicked. You must tell me all your secrets on the ride down. May I call you Alayne?”

The complimenting of Sansa’s beauty is another common trope in flirtation. And the way she interacts is very sexual and ostentatious. It’s flirty. And asking to call someone by their first name is also a romantic trope.

“Randa. It seems a hundred years since I was four-and-ten. How innocent I was. Are you still innocent, Alayne?”

She blushed. “You should not ... yes, of course.”

Sansa is nervous around Myranda in a way she’s not around men. She even blushes. Myranda is also directly questioning Sansa about her sexual experience.

“Despite herself, Alayne found herself warming to the older girl.”

She starts developing a crush.

“She is trying to make me blush again.

Lady Myranda must have heard her thoughts. “You do turn such a pretty shade of pink. When I blush I look quite like an apple. I have not blushed for years, though.” She leaned closer.”

Once again, this is super flirty and seductive. She’s complimenting Sansa on her blush and implying her own experience. This whole conversation is ripe with that stuff.

“She ate with Mya and Myranda. “So you’re brave as well as beautiful,” Myranda said to her.

“No.” The compliment made her blush. “I’m not. I was so scared. I don’t think I could have crossed without Lord Robert.”

Once again Sansa blushes at Myranda’s comments.

“By the time they finally reached her father’s castle, Lady Myranda was drowsing too, and Alayne was dreaming of her bed.”

This is some interesting word play. It might not be intentional but ships like Braime have similar lines.

And a few miscellaneous/bonus things:

“Septa Mordane said all men are beautiful, find his beauty, try.”

This is how Sansa thinks about Tyrion. She’s a child forcibly married to him so she’d probably judge him harshly regardless but this phrasing struck me. It’s very similar to the way lgbtq people are often told to try to love another gender even if they cannot. And the way Septa Mordane taught Sansa about attraction and gender obviously has a huge influence on her perception of her own sexuality.

“When a serving girl brought her supper, she almost kissed her.”

And this is Sansa thinking about kissing a girl.

“I am coming for you, Lady Sansa, she thought as she rode into the darkness. Be not afraid. I shall not rest until I've found you.”

The fact that the true knight Sansa wishes for, the hero out of the stories, the romantic trope is Brienne, a woman, has some awesome queer implications. Even if her relationship with Brienne isn’t really a romantic one, it certainly fits the idea of courtly love.