Chapter Text
Chapter 1
[art by thidwick]
Excerpt from FlunkieTV’s Hellfire and Homies Podcast
“Of course I read fanfiction—I was a gay teenager growing up in the early 2000’s. Back then, that was the only kind of representation we got.” Eddie’s voice is that kind of fake angry people get on podcasts when they are clearly having fun and want to get heated about something. “Kids these days are spoiled! All they gotta do for gay representation is load up Netflix and watch Our Flag Means Death or Steven Universe or some shit—back in my day we had to slog through hundreds of fanfics of girls getting sold to 5D before you got to the good stuff.”
Gareth’s voice pops up with “I think Our Flag Means Death is on HBO—“
Jeff talks over him, voice going high with delight. “You read Fifth Dimension fanfiction?!”
Eddie is completely unapologetic. “Reading about Steve Harrington getting railed is my self-care.”
“IS?!”
“Listen. I don’t think you fully understand the nature of the beast here. I was about sixteen years old—they’d just gotten the band together, it was a thing. And I was trying to find something on fanfiction.net—the search system on fanfiction.net sucks, by the way—and I found a fanfiction of fuckin’ two boys keeping their relationship a secret from the world as their band took off, and my brain got rewired or something.”
Dan is clearly still reeling. “You shipped Stilly Harringrove?!”
“And I hated myself for it. I would do this thing—“ Eddie laughs, now, finally embarrassed. “I didn’t want to like their music or anything because I was ashamed, so I would pull up death metal or something in one tab on YouTube and open a—“ he laughs harder, barely able to get the words out. “—a fuckin 5D music video in the other tab, and I’d mute the 5D video and pretend they were singing metal or something. I’d watch that shit for hours.”
“HAHAHAHAHA THAT’S SO MUCH WORSE THAN THE LINKIN PARK NARUTO AMV’S” Jeff crows, and Eddie laughs along good naturedly.
“Did you, like—you know those edits of, like, the 5D guys as punk rockers and shit? Was that—“
“They definitely had their spot in the folders on my computer.” Eddie admits. “I liked Steve Harrington as a punk sometimes? But I more liked him being in those pink sweaters and shit. I went crazy for the trope of, you know, Billy being a punk rocker and Steve being a soft little femboy type—“
“I’m still not over you shipping Stilly. Who are you? What did you do with my DM?!” Dan circles back to the topic, and Eddie makes an ehh sound that’s almost a verbal shrug.
“They say you ship someone you project onto and someone who’s your type, right? And it was so easy to project onto Billy Hargrove, you know?”
“THAT’S a dangerous statement if I ever heard it.” Gareth comments, and Eddie’s voice trips over itself to assure,
“It was before all the problematic stuff came out! This was back in 2010–it was a totally different world back then. He was only like, what, fourteen when the band got together?”
“Whoa, I forget how young they were.”
“Yeah, so, anyways. Different world. And he was, you know. The one who wanted to do punk rock, the rebel-type, from the wrong side of the tracks. Also―he never talked about girls like the other guys, so the fandom at the time had a lot of theories about him being gay. Obviously, now we know better, but―you can see where little Eddie could just slide himself right into Billy Hargrove’s shoes.”
“Oh my god―to all the listeners out there, I swear Eddie has never assaulted anyone, or gotten more than an acceptable amount of publicly drunk, or―what are the other things he’s done?” Jeff is quick to save face.
“I definitely don’t like MILFs.” Eddie says, and the group cracks up again.
“The dude has been to PRISON and that’s your hang up?!” Gareth just about screeches.
“I don’t wear big fur coats either.” Eddie adds, deliberately missing the point. “His fashion sense has really gone off the rails―”
“Oh, shut up!”
Group Text Conversation between the members of Hellfire
Dan, Jeff, Gareth, Eddie
September 13th, 2022
Gareth: Link: Archive of Our Own
Gareth: Look people started writing Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson fanfic hahahahaha
Gareth: what do we think the ship name should be? Munrington? Edeve? Eve? Steddie? Harringson?
Eddie: 👀
Jeff: Why would you send that to him, now we’re not gonna see him for the next three days
Eddie: Goodbye guys, it was nice knowing ya
Gareth: [ Image ]
Dan: 😂😂😂 IM LITERALLY CRYIGN RIGHT NOW
Gareth: NOT THE MESSY BUN
Gareth: How is Eddie the perfect Y/N
Jeff: Eddie being sold to Fifth Dimension: [Link to Tiktok video of someone ascending to the sky]
Eddie: I’ve died and gone to heaven
Eddie: [ Image ]
Gareth: Oh my god.
Gareth: I’ve created a monster
Excerpt from FlunkieTV’s Beyond Hellfire: Just the Homies Podcast
“We need to talk about stuff that’s relatable for the masses on this thing sometimes.” Jeff complains, after a thirty minute segment where the guys rated the fuckability of various DnD races and revealed way too much about their kinks. There’s still about thirty minutes left of the podcast, and they’re looking for things to talk about.
There is silence in the studio for a couple beats.
“Let’s check what’s trending. What’s trending, Dan?” Gareth asks, the first to break it.
Dan looks at the list. “NFL stuff, names I don’t recognize…I don’t know about any of this…Oh! Steve Harrington wearing that dress. I bet our fearless DM could talk a little bit about it.”
“What am I supposed to say?” Eddie asks.
“Come on, we all know about your huge hard-on for Steve Harrington. You’ve got to have thoughts about it!”
“Ehh, it’s overrated. Like, props to him for doing it, it was obviously kind of groundbreaking or whatever for straight guys, but I didn’t really care for it, and the discourse around it gets me annoyed so I haven’t been listening in too much.”
“What?! I thought you’d be obsessed with it!”
“Your fave is trying to overcome gender-norms or whatever. Thought you’d be thrilled!”
“Okay, first of all. It’s not even the first time he’s worn a dress, or a skirt or any other feminine shit. I have literally 56 pictures saved on my computer in my ‘Steve Harrington in women’s clothing’ folder―
“Not the Steve Harrington in women’s clothing folder―”
“ ―it’s not like it’s the only time he’s done this. It’s just the most widely seen because it’s on the cover of Vogue.”
“Still―”
“Second of all! Half the article he’s talking about how people think he’s gay for not being super traditionally masculine. And he spends a lot of time talking about how much he likes girls and how guys who like fashion aren’t automatically gay, and it’s kind of annoying, actually. Like, it just makes me feel queer-baited, because he’s straight up kissed Billy Hargrove on stage before, and there was so much talk for so long. For him to just talk about how he ‘doesn’t have to be gay’ just feels almost like a betrayal. I don’t know why people are acting like it’s such a good thing, or a step towards progress for our community, because it just seems to me like he’s using our culture when it benefits him, and throwing it away when it doesn’t.”
“Oh, I guess I didn’t think of it like that…”
“I don’t know, man. I know I’m overreacting. I’m just―I’m too deep in the fandom. I keep getting my hopes up that he’s at the very least bi, so when I get a reality check that he’s straight I get all annoyed again. I’ll be fine.”
Direct Message Communication on Instagram between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 3rd 10:12 pm
steveharrington061992: hey u up?
October 4th 3:04 pm
eddiethefreak: Hi! Sorry I was up but not on insta. What can I do for ya? Who is this?
steveharrington061992: lol its steve harrington
steveharrington061992: I heard that you’re a fan. My friend told me that he heard you talking about me on the podcast. apparently your super into me
October 4th 6:47 pm
eddiethefreak: Haha yeah, I’m into Steve Harrington. Is this, like, a fan account of him or something? One of those tumblr RPs? There’s not really any photos on your page
steveharrington061992: oh yeah, this is a side account. my label won’t let me on my insta page cuz my posts are too weird or something, so i use this one if i wanna be on insta. i dont have any pics so i can be in cognito
October 4th 9:50
steveharrington061992: i can prove it heres a pic of me rn
[Image of Steve Harrington in low lighting. He’s in bed, shirtless, with his hair askew in a tangled bedhead. He looks a little annoyed.]
steveharrington061992: im not a scam i just wanted to talk
steveharrignton061992: or sext a lil
[art by Marsetta]
Text Message Conversation between Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham
Chrissy
October 4th 10:01
Eddie: Hey someone on the internet is pretending to be Steve Harrington and trying to sext me.
Eddie: How bad of an idea is it to play along?
Eddie: Nevermind, already doing it
Direct Message Communication on Instagram Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 4th 10:05
eddiethefreak: 👀
eddiethefreak: I could be down for a little sexting
eddiethefreak: What are you wearing, Steve Harrington?
steveharrington061992: just a sleep shirt and some boxers.
steveharrington061992: i can b wearing a lot less tho 😏
eddiethefreak: yeah, you wanna take your shirt off for me?
steveharrington061992: ok
steveharrington061992: its off now. im in just my boxers
eddiethefreak: you hard, baby?
steveharrington061992: yeah
Text Message Conversation between Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham
Chrissy
October 4th 10:10pm
Eddie: HELP what do I say I’ve never sexted before
Chrissy: Eddie please do not sext strange people on the internet.
Chrissy: Do I really need to tell you how bad of an idea this is?
Eddie: I don’t know I thought it could be fun
Eddie: They’re pretending to be Steve Harrington!
Eddie: My favorite person
Direct Message Communication on Instagram Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 4th 10:11 pm
steveharrington061992: um what next
October 4th 10:15 pm
steveharrington061992: whyd u stop?
eddiethefreak: Sorry tbh I don’t really know how to sext
steveharrington061992: thats ok
steveharrington061992: you were doing fine til u stopped
eddiethefreak: gimme one sec
Text Message Conversation between Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham
Chrissy
October 4th 10:16
Chrissy: I know you sometimes forget, but you are famous now. You can’t just pretend like nothing can hurt you. Imagine if it’s an anti-fan on the other end? Or someone else who is rooting on your downfall.
Chrissy: Or even someone underage who is just having fun and then will end up posting it on social media as a huge scandal.
Chrissy: I know it seems like harmless fun to mess with them or get off while pretending it’s Steve Harrington or whatever. But you really need to consider the potential consequences.
Eddie: Okay, yeah no, you’re right.
Eddie: Thanks Chris.
Eddie: I can always count on you to stop me from making stupid decisions.
Direct Message Communication on Instagram Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 4th 10:25pm
eddiethefreak: Sorry I was just thinking about it, and I think it’s probably a bad idea for me to sext with someone who is effectively a complete stranger. I know you’re saying you’re Steve Harrington or whatever, but in reality there’s no way to confirm that. And even if I could confirm that, there’s no guarantee you wouldn’t use this in some way that would damage my reputation. So I’m sorry I won’t be able to sext you anymore. :( Sorry to like…start and then stop again.
steveharrington061992: no worries, i understand
steveharrington061992: im kinda the same way. i cant really send any dirty pics or anything either. I was just feelin kinda lonely i guess
steveharrington061992: sorry. hope this doesnt make it weird for u to be my fan
eddiethefreak: lol no I think I’ll be fine.
Text Message Conversation between Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham
Chrissy
October 4th 10:31 pm
Eddie:
[Image:]
[no worries, i understand
im kinda the same way. i cant really send any dirty pics or anything
either. I was just feelin kinda lonely i guess
sorry. hope this doesnt make it weird for u to be my fan]
Eddie: So this is what he said
Eddie: Is it weird I find it kinda cute??
Chrissy: Yeah kind of.
Eddie: I just keep imagining it as Steve Harrington on the other end!
Eddie: Like, I know it’s some weirdo old man or something
Eddie: But the image in my head is Steve Harrington.
Eddie: Also like… “hope this doesn’t make it weird for you to be my fan”??
Eddie: Adorable. Like, I think I’ll be fine haha. I know you’re not the real Steve
Direct Message Communication on Instagram Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 4th 10:35 pm
eddiethefreak: Are you ok though? You seem kinda sad.
steveharrington061992: oh do i?
steveharrington061992: sorry i didnt mean to
eddiethefreak: Don’t apologize! I was just curious. If you don’t want to tell me anything, you don’t have to.
steveharrington061992: no its fine. i guess i am kinda sad. its nothing major i guess i was just missing my bandmates a lil
steveharrington061992: the band broke up a while ago n everyone has so much going on so sometimes i feel left behind
eddiethefreak: ??? I feel like you’ve been the most successful one though after you guys split??
eddiethefreak: Like, I haven’t even heard of Tommy AT ALL since the split. Or Jason, either, really. Honestly even Jonathan after that 1 indie album.
steveharrington061992: Not in my job. ill always do ok with that cuz of my parents.
steveharrington061992: just like jason has a fam + kids now. and tommy has always had carol. jonathan and nance just posted theyre in africa. and billy doesnt even talk to me anymore so who knows.
steveharrington061992: i know i have friends but it kinda sucks to be single haha
eddiethefreak: Hence the sexting
steveharrington061992: exactly
steveharrington061992: its ok tho thanks for stopping me from doing something stupid
eddiethefreak: Anytime. And, you know. If you want to rant about anything, I’m here.
eddiethefreak: Sometimes anonymous stuff is easier.
eddiethefreak: What are you gonna do now?
steveharrington061992: idk. any suggestions
eddiethefreak: you could always read lord of the rings. That’s like my self-care book haha
steveharrington061992: nerd
steveharrington061992: thank you
Excerpt from FlunkieTV’s Beyond Hellfire: Just the Homies podcast (youtube version):
Jeff pulls an artfully aged looking scroll out of a bowl full of similar slips of paper. The entire space has been designed to look vaguely fantasy-themed, and the bowl itself is no exception. It’s wooden, with vines carved into the rim. Jeff, Eddie, and the rest of the Hellfire group sit on chairs artfully located next to a blazing fire. A heavy wooden table sits in front of them. Eddie’s seat has an end table with some decorative skulls, potions, and a goblet next to it.
“Who was your favorite character you’ve created?” He reads aloud from the scroll, and the bottom of the video shows an animation of the writing on the scroll, with the question credited to user mikey_wheels on twitter.
Gareth grins. “For me it was definitely Armand Louis, this paladin with a giant mustache who took his shirt off and showed off his muscles at every opportunity. The taking off his shirt bit was a fun gag―especially when he was wearing heavy armor and it wasn’t always easy to do. But what I really liked about him was that he was really fun to roleplay. He was just like, endlessly enthusiastic and hopeful. And it was really fun to jump into that role.”
“Yeah, I think how it feels to roleplay them is such a big part of it.” Dan agrees. “Like, I’ve always liked doing really intricate backstories for my characters―”
“Oh, we know.” Eddie grins, because Dan has actually published two books on kindle of just his character’s backstories. Dan continues like he hasn’t heard him.
“But it comes down to how it feels to play them. Like, I loved conceiving Eldethar’s backstory, but he was definitely kind of an edgelord type, which is never as fun to play in real life as you think. I think that’s why I’ve enjoyed playing Sir Percival so much in this last campaign. He is really gruff on the outside, sure, but he gets flustered easily and it’s obvious he really cares deeply about people. It’s been fun with him to be able to peel back the layers bit by bit.”
“The fans love him, too.” Jeff adds. “My favorite character will always be the first character I ever played. Alaric Morgan. I think the name was ripped off from a book I was reading, which was definitely cringey of me. But I just loved him so much. I spent hours filling up my notebooks with his backstory, and he also ended up getting one of my favorite magic items of all time, too: the Teeth of Dahlver-Nar.”
“Oh that’s a great item.” Gareth says excitedly. “Eddie, what was your favorite character?”
“Mine came from pretty early on, too.” Eddie chuckles. “I became an eternal DM quickly. But when I was a kid I had this character I loved. It was this chaotic evil dark elf character who was always up to some kind of scheme. He multi-classed bard and rogue, and honestly looking back I think I did that all wrong, because he ended up OP as hell. He was kind of everything fifteen year old me wanted to be, though. Metal god, legend, worshiped by some, hated by many…he was a lot of fun.”
“Chaotic evil. Was he a murder hobo, then?”
“No, he was…I had this really epic love story for him where he actually had worshiped this fallen god for hundreds of years…when the god was mortal, when he was the highest in the heavens, and even after his downfall. His main goal was to bring the god back to power, and he’d give anything to do it. The campaign itself centered around saving the fallen god, so…it was easy to align his goals with the party’s.”
“It sounds kind of like the evil priest we fought in the last campaign, doesn’t he?” Jeff mentions, and the group seems to agree.
“Yeah, you might say he’s loosely based off him.” Eddie nods along. “It’s definitely a concept I really like. Someone giving their absolute devotion to this untouchable god, no matter what happens. I think there’s something romantic about it, this almost tragedy of knowing someone is so far beyond reach and yet still giving your heart and soul to them.”
“And that’s how you feel about Steve Harrington.” Gareth finishes for him with a smirk, and Eddie beans a decorative skull at him.
“No! That’s not―I don’t worship Steve Harrington! Just because I’m a fan of him doesn’t mean I base every single character off of him or something.”
“But you did with this one.” Gareth’s smirk only grows, and Eddie throws another fake skull at him. He dodges, laughing.
“I did not!”
Direct Message Communication on Instagram Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 7th, 3:34 pm
steveharrington061992: i know i said burgers were my fav food. it was an easy answer! but it really is pho. i got it with rob a couple months ago and im addicted now
steveharrington061992: theres no going back
eddiethefreak: Rob??
steveharrington061992: oh yeah i forget u dont actually hang with me. robin buckley. shes like my best friend in the world. we were in a movie together last year n weve been glued together since.
eddiethefreak: What happened to Tommy Hagan?
steveharrington061992: well. officially we just grew apart
eddiethefreak: 👀
eddiethefreak: What’s the unofficial story?
steveharrington061992: idk if if can really say. it comes down to tho he stood up for me to someone but the way he did it was really not ok. it crossed a bunch of lines and i ended up getting mad at him about it. so he felt really betrayed
steveharrington061992: we havent really been close since
eddiethefreak: Aw that’s kinda sad.
steveharrington061992: ur telling me
eddiethefreak: I’m kinda surprised you’d be best friends with Robin Buckley. You guys don’t seem to have anything in common
eddiethefreak: except for being nepo babies I guess.
steveharrington061992: 😲 rude!
steveharrington061992: lol jk, tbh i think the same thing sometimes. on paper we’re really different for sure.
steveharrington061992: in real life though we’re platonic soulmates haha
Group Text Conversation between the members of Hellfire
Dan, Jeff, Gareth, Eddie
October 11th, 2022
Eddie: OK I need to rant about something but it does involve something people would traditionally think is a bad decision so before I do, I have to preface that you can NOT judge me!!
Jeff: What is it now?
Gareth: ZERO PROMISES
Gareth: tell me tho plz
Eddie: OK. In my defense, I don’t think it’s ACTUALLY a bad decision.
Eddie: You know that game mystic messenger?
Gareth: OH MY GOD I LOVE MYSTIC MESSENGER!!!
Gareth: Are you playing?
Gareth: Who is your love interest? (The correct answer is 707)
Gareth: I guess I will accept Jaehee too, but we both know you’re not romancing Jaehee
Dan: What is mystic messenger?
Eddie: Ok first of all, the CORRECT ANSWER is Zen
Eddie: Second of all, I am past that phase of my life.
Gareth: OMG you should play it!!
Gareth: It’s so fun!!
Gareth: Maybe a little less fun if you’re straight tho
Gareth: There’s only one girl and she’s kinda butch
Jeff: It’s a dating sim game where you pretend to text these fake anime dudes and they fall in love with you.
Jeff: It sets itself apart from other dating sims because it copies the same format of text conversations, and they’ll text you at random times in the day and stuff.
Eddie: It’s great, 10/10 would recommend
Eddie: Back to me though
Eddie: So here’s the deal:
Eddie: Someone’s been catfishing me by pretending like they’re Steve Harrington.
Eddie: I KNOW they’re not actually him!!!! I’m not stupid
Eddie: But I’ve been playing along because it’s basically like a mystic messenger specifically tailored to me
Eddie: It’s amazing
Eddie: why don’t more people do this?
Jeff: Eddie.
Jeff: Do I really need to tell you how bad an idea this is?
Eddie: Chrissy already did, but I’m being careful!! don’t worry
Dan: Didn’t you hate him because of the dress thing?
Jeff: I’m definitely worrying
Eddie: That was ages ago dude. I’m over it.
Eddie: And Jeff stop don’t ruin this for me 😭 I’m having so much fun
Eddie: I talked to Chrissy, I’m not giving any kind of nudes or random payment info! So I’m safe!!
Dan: Didn’t that one sister-wife lady get catfished and the catfish wrote an entire book about it? Think about that. Any info you share with this dude could end up being made into a whole book of humiliation.
Eddie: :(
Gareth: OK
Gareth: 1. Actually I think that sounds kinda fun, I never thought of catfishing that way 😂. As long as you only share stuff you’d be ok with Literally the Whole World knowing about, I think you’re good.
Gareth: 2. Can we circle back to how your mystic messenger bf is that MANCHILD Zen??
Jeff: Gareth please don’t
Jeff: If you give him even the smallest green light he will continue and this is such a bad idea.
Gareth: Idk if it is! If he KNOWS he’s being catfished, I don’t think it’s bad. Even if the dude makes a book, Eddie can just be like “I knew I was being catfished, I was just messing back because I was bored.”
Gareth: Like that comedian who responds to scammers
Eddie: :)
Eddie: Thanks Gare-bear, Imma be zoomin past these red flags now
Direct Message Communication on Instagram Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992
October 20th 10:53 pm
eddiethefreak: Do you think you could send another pic??
steveharrington061992: i look gross rn :( i can send an old pic of me tho
[A selfie of Steve Harrington with Robin Buckley, both wearing jackets and smiling at the camera. Underneath their heavy jackets are a hint of sailor uniforms]
eddiethefreak: Wait you guys filmed “Memories of Summer” in the cold?
steveharrington061992: oh yeah.
steveharrington061992: a lot of the scenes were inside luckily but yep we did a lot of the filming in jan. i thought my balls were gonna fall off haha. those shorts were SHORT
eddiethefreak: yeah I remember those haha
eddiethefreak: I heard you got hurt in that movie, though, but no one would say the details. What happened?
steveharrington061992: oh yeah. it was a whole thing. idk how much I’m really allowed to say but I guess it’s been awhile since it came out by now so it’s chill
steveharrington061992: it was during the torture scene. lets just say it got a littttle too real.
eddiethefreak: Wait what??
eddiethefreak: The TORTURE SCENE??!!!
eddiethefreak: Where did you get hurt? Are you ok now??
steveharrington061992: yeah I’m fine it was just a little head injury. im used to them by now lol. don’t really remember too much of it so its all good.
eddiethefreak: I’m glad you’re okay. What happened though???
steveharrington061992: just the guy they got to do the torture scene was apparently this big anti. he wanted me dead but luckily he was escorted away b4 it got too bad
eddiethefreak: !!!!
steveharrington061992: the director really didnt want the bad press tho and he was pretty big so it was hush hush. nbd tho i was ok
eddiethefreak: Didn’t you have to go to the hospital??
eddiethefreak: That doesn’t sound ok to me
steveharrington061992: it was fine. apparently i was really funny when i was drugged up
steveharrington061992: i kept crying about how i dont have a penis LOL
steveharrington061992: for the record i def do have a penis
eddiethefreak: hahahahahaha
eddiethefreak: why did you think you didn’t??
eddiethefreak: Do you have any videos?
steveharrington061992: not that I’m allowed to share :/
steveharrington061992: it was this whole thing about how robin and all the other girls i liked just treated me like one of the girls
steveharrington061992: in hindsight very ironic
steveharrington061992: but ill have to tell u the whole story in person if we ever meet its not good in dm
Excerpt from FlunkieTV’s Hellfire and Homies Youtube Series
Eddie sits at the front of a large wooden table, crouched in his throne like a gargoyle. His hair bounces around his shoulders as he sets the scene, face intensely focused on the game.
“All right, so you’re planning on seducing the main boss. Great, yeah. Of course you are.” He rolls his eyes, accustomed to this by now from his players. “Well, okay. So you’re coming up to the steps of the temple of Barshebol. You feel a darkness settle over your shoulders, and you realize that this monster is going to be stronger than anything else you’ve ever faced. You will need to choose your disguise carefully―”
“I turn into Steve Harrington.” Gareth announces.
“Oh, fuck you―” Eddie’s curse is drowned out by the hysterical laughter of his friends, all delighted about the twist.
“I go up to Barshebol, and pull a strand of hair coyly behind my ear, and―” Gareth frantically pulls out his phone, holding it up to his mic triumphantly. From the device, Steve’s voice plays, just barely modulated and choppy enough to let an experienced listener know it’s been deep-faked. “I’m so angry at myself for not realizing you’ve been here, all along. My perfect match―”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Eddie shrieks, diving over the table to retrieve the phone. “HOW―?!”
Gareth is now cracking up, unable to speak over how hard he’s laughing. Through sobs and gasps of laughter, he chokes out, “--found your ao3 account―”
“No fucking way!!”
“Wait, what’s happening? What??” Dan tries to get answers over the chaos happening around him. Jeff finally pries Eddie off of Gareth, once Eddie has retrieved Gareth’s phone and is holding it in front of his face, astounded by whatever he sees on there.
“You know how there’s Steve/Eddie fanfic out there now?” Gareth answered, wiping a tear from his eye. “Well. There’s not a ton, but I found one of them bookmarked on Eddie’s ao3 account, and―”
“Used an AI to deepfake Steve Harrington’s voice saying the cheesiest line from the fic?! You’re evil!!”
“I didn’t even know you could deepfake stuff to sound that real! That’s insane!”
“I deepfaked his voice saying most of the dialogue from the fic, actually.” Gareth announces proudly. “Consider it an early birthday present, Eddie.”
Eddie chucks Gareth’s phone back at him, smacking him in the face with it. “You’re the worst person alive. Fine. You can have advantage and inspiration on this one, asshole.”
Direct Message Communication Between user @eddiethefreak and @steveharrington061992:
November 29th, 2022
eddiethefreak: dude I can’t believe you’ve never played with them! You should try!
steveharrington061992: idk i feel like the kids would get annoyed with me. i tried to ask dustin some q’s about making a character one time and he bit my head off. i think he thought i was messing w/ him but i really didn’t understand.
eddiethefreak: Well that’s stupid. If you want to do a video call or meet up at any point, I could definitely talk you through it.
steveharrington061992: ill think about it. idk if im ready for you to see how dumb I am yet. I can be pretty stupid. my dad used to call me a low-watt-bulb haha. i think he thought it was nicer than just calling me an idiot but i kinda wish he’d woulda just called me an idiot.
eddiethefreak: Dude that’s fucked. I’m sure you’re not that bad. Even if you were, I volunteered running a campaign for middle schoolers when I was in college. I guarantee you, you can’t possibly be as bad as some of them.
steveharrington061992: wow what was THAT like?
eddiethefreak: Oh my god do I have some stories for you. Oh btw, can I just text you? I know it might be weird to ask, but I just don’t usually use insta very much. You can totally say no!
steveharrington061992: oh yeah no worries! just plz dont give it out to anyone else. i cant get another phone # my manager would kill me. its XXX-XXX-XXXX
eddiethefreak: lol no worries. Your secret’s safe with me.
Text Conversation between Eddie Munson and XXX-XXX-XXXX
Steve (NOT REAL)
January 3rd, 2023
Steve: [ audio message ] “Yeah, I know! It’s weird! I just don’t really like my name. It’s so….I don’t know. Lame. Steve is just so basic. One syllable. Steeeeve. I feel like everyone named Steve peaked in their high school or college days, you know? It’s such a frat boy name. Plus it sounds kind of like Sneeze if you think about it.”
Eddie: SNEEZE?! How?! They’re not similar at all!
Eddie: Also what about Steven? That’s two syllables
Steve: [ audio message ] “I don’t know. Steven is what my dad would always call me, and so it makes me feel like I’m in trouble or something. I don’t know. I think it’s just the whole thing. I feel like there’s so much baggage to the name, like everyone who says my name has this whole persona attached with it. I don’t know. Sometimes even the people I sleep with will say my name and it’s just in this way that makes me cringe. Like what they’re really into is my famous persona and not, like, who I really am.”
Eddie: That makes sense.
Eddie: [ audio message ] “I actually used to hate my name too, back in high school. But it was mainly I think because every time I heard it, it was people talking about how much of a freak I was. When I moved to Cali, I made a lot of different types of friends, and they would say my name with so much affection, it made me start liking it again. I think it had a lot less to do with the name itself, and more with how people said it.”
Steve: [ audio message ] “Wow I never thought about it like that. But I think you’re right. That’s probably why I like nicknames so much. Like, Billy used to call me princess all the time, and I remember the other members in the group wondering why I was so okay with it. They thought I should be angry or something, but I liked it. It felt kind of…special, I don’t know. Robin calls me a dingus, and I love it. It’s weird, but it’s like I can feel how much she likes me when she says it, so I love it when she calls me that.”
Eddie: Now I have to come up with a nickname for you.
Steve: [ audio message ] “You don’t have to!!! I wasn’t saying it because I wanted you to say anything. I was just kind of venting.”
Eddie: [ audio message ] “Aw, so I can’t call you Stevie, then? Daaammn. I was so excited to use it, too. ‘Stevie, you’re such a sweetheart.’, that kind of thing.”
Steve: [ audio message ] “.... no you can call me Stevie if you want. Jesus Christ, dude. That was―I was chewing on gum and it literally dropped from my mouth. What is up with your voice?”
Eddie: [ audio message ] “You like it? I can do more if you like.”
Eddie: Sorry that was so dumb. Feel free to never listen to that one in your life haha
Eddie: It’s just me trying to be sexy and failing
Steve: [ audio message ] “We have a different definition of failing I think. You’re a lot sexier than you think you are.”
Eddie: 😂Thanks dude
Text Message Conversation between Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham
Chrissy
February 7th, 7:49 pm
Eddie: HELP I think I’m catching feelings for the catfish Steve
Eddie: I know it’s stupid but the deepfaked voice he uses sounds so realistic
Eddie: and he’s so sweet and lonely and self-conscious and I just want to pat him on the head and give him a hug
Eddie: and obliterate him (sexually)
Eddie: Help what do I do??????
Chrissy: Give me a second to recover from “obliterate him (sexually)”
dicktoe’s tumblr post and subsequent reblogs:
[Image of Steve Harrington’s signature on a clearly photoshopped image of the singer together with Eddie Munson, in greyscale with shimmering hearts around their faces]
I have no regrets.
____________________________
harringtonssugarbaby
*Intense side-eye* You should. Seriously, fans these days are so disrespectful to famous people. Just because Steve Harrington is famous doesn’t give you a free pass to come up to him and harass him or force him to sign this kind of stuff. He’s a person, too.
____________________________
dicktoe
Oh my godddd I didn’t HARASS HIM. I showed him the photo, explained the joke, and he LAUGHED. He thought it was FUNNY. He even took a picture of it on his phone so he could show his friends. Jesus Christ.
____________________________
harringtonssugarbaby
Steve Harrington’s a nice person, it’s not like he’s going to kick you out if he’s uncomfortable about something. Just because he’s being polite about it, doesn’t mean it’s okay to bring such an uncomfortable and inappropriate picture for him to sign. He didn’t consent to that pervert talking publicly about all the ILLEGAL PORNOGRAPHY he read about Steve, or all the negative effects that have happened since.
Now all of a sudden so-called “fans” feel like it’s their right to bring these horrible and offensive signs to Steve Harrington’s concerts, no matter how uncomfortable it makes him. (See this video where you can see his face clearly falling when he sees one of those weird signs at his concert). He doesn’t say anything because if he did, y’all crazies would call him homophobic for it, just like you did when Billy spoke up about feeling uncomfortable about the fanfiction.
Steve Harrington is straight. Stop shipping him with a total stranger, it’s weird and deluded.
___________________________
dicktoe
Sorry I can’t hear you over my shock that there’s still homophobes on tumblr in 2023.
_____________________________
unfinishedletter
Can we just make it clear that we didn’t call Billy Hargrove a homophobe because he said he was uncomfortable with RPF? We called him a homophobe because he used the f-slur and said specifically “get that f***y shit of me off the fucking internet, it’s fucking vile.” If he’d even tried to be nice about it, we would’ve stopped quietly. Obviously we were hurt and offended that he said that gay people were “vile”.
______________________________
tig
also the way we responded was objectively hilarious. I love 2014 tumblr
__________________________
tig
#wait how did you respond #i need to know #im sorry i wasnt there for that
thousands of Omega Billy fanfic. Also t-shirts of this specific fanart where he’s in a skirt and very submissive and breedable
he was furious and it was HILARIOUS
and before anyone comes for me for this crossing his boundaries or whatever, let’s just remember his MULTIPLE hate crimes against LGBT people: [x],[x]
AND black people: [x],[x],[x]
And all the racist and homophobic shit he said which I won’t bother tagging because there’s too much of it. He is a terrible person and I Don’t Care if he was offended by the t-shirts
Text Conversation between Eddie Munson and XXX-XXX-XXXX:
Stevie
February 22nd 11:23 pm
Stevie: [Image of a paper in someone’s hand, showing a clearly photoshopped image of the singer together with Eddie Munson, in greyscale with shimmering hearts around their faces]
Stevie: haha we r so cute together
Eddie: LOL did you make that?
Stevie: no!! a fan made it and showed it to me at a signing. thought it was funny
Eddie: Oh yeah “a fan”
Eddie: you’re so in love with me
(Stevie disliked this message)
Stevie: im not!!!
Comments on @stephanie_baby’s duet of a Tiktok edit by @hellfireslut
[The edit itself shows footage of Eddie Munson and Steve Harrington mashed up in such a way that makes it look like they are in a romantic relationship. The duet shows a video of someone just looking shocked at the screen, their jaw agape. The caption says “what is thissss?? #cringe #steddie #fyp #steve harrington]
Jenny420
I’m scared 😰
stephanie_baby
I’m dead. It’s sooo cringey
View 4 replies v
adhdkid
💀💀💀
View 2 replies v
Angela Muse
THEYVE NEVER EVEN SPOKEN I DONT UNDERSTAND
freaksinthesheets
It’s because Eddie thirsts over him in his podcast it’s just a joke
Stilly
Help bring billy back 💔who is this ugly dude
Harringwife
Helpppp he’s so much uglier than billy 💀 im dead
View 37 replies v
Flirro
Walmart Stilly Harringrove
Djor
Right?? I thought we learned our lesson in 2014 what is thisss
View 49 replies v
Group Text Conversation between the members of Hellfire
(February 24, 2023)
(Dan, Jeff, Gareth, Eddie)
Eddie: Okay guys, I know the Steve Harrington jokes are a hit with the audience, but I’m wondering if we could cool it a bit with them? I think it’s getting to be a little too much.
(Dan and Gareth disliked this message)
Jeff: Sure man. Thanks for letting us know.
Gareth: Whyyyyyyyyyyy I love them
Dan: It’s not too much I think. I like them too.
Jeff: Guys. I think he’s talking about the controversy on our social media. It’s been out of control lately.
Eddie: It’s not even just our social media. Apparently a bunch of fans have been going to Steve Harrington’s concerts and making him feel uncomfortable and shit. I can deal with people being homophobic towards me, I don’t really care. But I never wanted it to get back to the actual Steve Harrington, you know? Especially never in such a rude and invasive way.
Gareth: Aw, shit. Yeah. Sorry. No worries. We don’t have to talk about it anymore.
Dan: That sucks, man. I’m sorry you’ve got to deal with that. Has he made a public statement about it or anything?
Eddie: No, just…I feel really shitty about the whole thing. I think if we don’t bring it up for a while it might blow over.
Jeff: Sure dude. No problem!
Post from the Hellfire and Homies twitter account: February 26th, 2023
Hellfire_and_Homies:
Hi guys. Unfortunately, we’ve heard there’ve been a lot of fans going to Steve Harrington’s concerts and just generally being out of line. We do not condone that and want to ask all of you to stop. It’s not cool.
Text Conversation between Eddie Munson and XXX-XXX-XXXX:
Stevie
March 15th, 1:15 am
Eddie: Hi I know you’re definitely asleep and that’s OK! You can respond whenever you want, no worries.
Eddie: I just was thinking a lot about our conversations and stuff and I figure I might as well ask
Eddie: What made you want to message me in the first place?
Eddie: Like, not to be a teenage girl. But what do you like about me?
Stevie: are u ok?
Stevie: i can totally answer. u just seem kinda sad.
Eddie: Kinda yeah. I’m just tired mainly. I made the mistake of looking at the comments on this tiktok about me…lol. They eviscerated me 💀
Stevie: aw yeah I can totally say what made me message you.
Stevie: [ audio message ] “The basic story is that I was actually just feeling kinda sad and horny when I first messaged you. I heard you liked me, and I saw some clips of you, and there was this one of you doing this rant about the capitalist machine, and you just looked, like, electric?? I don’t know how to describe it.
You smiled and I thought ‘this guy is really happy’ or something like that. And I wanted to feel a little bit of that passion turned towards me. I figured it couldn’t hurt to text you.
But then I actually messaged you and you were so much more than that?? I was expecting a booty call, because I’m used to people only wanting sex from me. But then you were nice and asked me about myself, and were just so giving and…I don’t know, one thing led to another and now you’re one of the people I text the most lol. Like an actual friend haha.
Anyways, you are awesome and don’t let any of the haters get to you. You’re one of my favorite people in the world and I’m really grateful to know you.”
Eddie: Thanks Stevie. You’re one of my favorite people too.
This fic has been converted for free using AOYeet!