( the thing about Eddie is that, while he is all too happy to dish out the flirting, when it comes to being on the receiving end? completely flustered. so even though it's not that heavy handed of a line, it still stops Eddie in his tracks, and has him pulling a strand of hair across his face to hide the smile that line provokes. )
I guess I should've asked you to use the magic word, huh? ( once he's recovered, he drops the strand of hair and drops one hand on the door, the other resting on his thigh as he drums his fingers along to the beat of whatever atrocious music Steve undoubtedly has playing. )
I'm gonna make you a mixtape one of these days. You know, so you have something halfway decent to play when I bum rides off of you. ( as if he isn't secretly willing to put up with whatever Steve listens to whenever Steve is the one driving. )
( Steve has his eyes on the road. he's a very conscientious driver. it's for the best, though. he may not be far enough on his bicurious journey to properly handle bambi boys grinning to themselves under a veil of crazy curls. it's bad enough that he's started to notice things like Eddie's fingers and how he's constantly moving them and how impressively he can articulate them or how often they end up in his mouth. or that he is pointedly aware one pair of Eddie's jeans has holes substantially higher on his thigh than all the rest. he's gotta take this thing one step at a time, getting all flustered by finding Eddie's smile cute is just so past the realm of acceptable friend flirting that it would probably put him in a tailspin. )
Uh, yeah, ( Steve says, because that is the definition of asking nicely. occasionally aesthetics and sugar need to be involved, too. but, to be fair, ) Unless you're not the p's and q's type. ( is... this flirting, still? polling on Eddie's opinion of appropriate etiquette?? if he likes to be bossed around (in a sexy way)? it is all very blurry and not even Steve is aware of what he's really asking, there, so good luck to Eddie trying to decipher it.
there is a stark gap between them in that Steve is entirely content with whatever the radio DJ decides he should listen to. instead of scrounging for records, or keeping up with new albums, or knowing entire sets by heart, name and all. Steve mostly enjoys whatever on the radio he can hum or sing along to when there's nobody else riding shotgun. he still makes a scrunched, doubtful face. ) Just nothing ear bleedy, all right. ( Eddie has little way of knowing what a remarkable concession this is, since there's no way he is aware that Robin is currently the only friend with radio privileges. not even Dustin, his favorite shithead, can mess with his radio. )
( maybe there's a part of Eddie that enjoys this part. it's the nebulous nature of it, the not knowing if they're really on the same page, that makes it exhilarating, probably more so than it has any right being. but there's no harm in a little bit of flirting, right? at least that's what Eddie tells himself every time he digs just a little bit deeper, as if trying to see just how much pressure he can apply before Steve finally bends and breaks.
and those are probably thoughts he should not be having right now. not while he's still in the car next to Steve, at least, since they aren't doing either of them any favors. there is a line, after all. while Eddie is comfortable toeing it, there's an art in trying to figure out just how close one can come to crossing it without making the other uncomfortable. and Eddie, try as he might, isn't always the greatest when it comes to social cues. it's part of what got him labeled as a freak, after all. ) You know me, always the rebel. But, I'm always willing to make an exception, you know, for a friend. ( the way he says it, it almost sounds like a foreign word. because up until a little while ago, it had been when it came to Steve. and yet now, it feels foreign for a completely different reason. as if Eddie wishes there could be more to it, but he knows better than to ever expect anything like that from Steve. )
Nothing ear bleedy, got it. I do listen to more than just the ear bleedy stuff, I'll have you know. ( while yes, thrash metal is his bread and butter, he also enjoys a variety of other songs, mostly thanks to Wayne, but also from his parents. well, his mother, because he's not giving his piece of shit father any credit. ) What kind of stuff do you usually listen to, anyway? Might help me pinpoint stuff to focus on. You know, for this hypothetical mixtape.
( Steve doesn't actually know what his limit is. he barely had much concept of queer before Robin, besides the fact it was something he was supposed to despise. if there were occasional curiosities — like eyes wandering in the showers, or the realization he didn't exactly hate the feeling of another guy pressed against him during wrestling — they were easy enough to silence. he liked girls more. thought about girls more. so it didn't really mean anything.
after Robin, things are a lot more convoluted than they used to be. started out simple; not being able to hate Robin for liking another girl when she was possibly the greatest person he'd ever been able to form a connection with. from there it had sort of had a bizarre ripple effect. wanting to support her in having feelings for someone, in the complicated feelings of wanting someone that she couldn't have. wanting quite desperately for her to have success that she seemed to think was impossible for someone like her. and maybe, maybe, from there... he's started to wonder about other things. girls can like girls so guys can like guys. wondering what that is like these days doesn't seem as petrifying as it used to be, with someone around that had more or less helped him see being queer didn't have to be as awful as he was conditioned to think it was.
so he's open. and curious. but completely inexperienced, which isn't helping. he wasn't even entirely sure flirting was happening, much less how to respond, the first few times. to be fair the world was sort of ending, he was a little distracted!!! he's sort of catching on, now, but somehow he's only halfway there. are they flirting flirting, or does Eddie just... act like this with everyone? because Steve has seen Eddie literally bow to girls as he holds a door open for them. the guy is just so goddamn confusing, who the hell knows when he's being serious or if he's just a smarmy charming weirdo whenever he has the opportunity to anyone available at the time. all Steve really knows is that Eddie isn't afraid to be a little flirty so whatever his motives are, why not test the waters a little?
he's pretty sure it doesn't mean anything. but it's fun. and possibly good practice. who knows. Steve does know he's into it and right now, that's enough.
Eddie gets an eyeroll for the strange inflection he gives the word friend. Steve is sincerely unaware of why that word feels awkward to the guy, and instead takes it to mean that he can't quite believe that he's friends with a former jock. Steve does not deign to respond, because he does not apologize for being a former jock! hell, he considers himself a current jock. he's grown a lot as a person and feels no shame in calling a guy colloquially known as a freak his friend. if anything he's glad he's not the guy he was in high school, because it turns out Eddie is definitely a guy worth knowing, and he knows he wouldn't have bothered if life hadn't thrown them together at the right time. )
Radio mostly, ( Steve muses, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. ) Rock I guess. Trooper, or Foreigner, or... ( he pauses, snapping as he tries to remember specifics and ultimately fails to do so. it's fine. he'll rally! improvise. ) The guy with the pipes and the mustache. If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call ... that guy. ( you know, Eddie. Freddie Mercury. that guy. it takes some degree of bravery to sing in front of Eddie Munson, sing Freddie Mercury no less. but Steve knows he can hit the notes, or frankly he wouldn't. he's grown a lot as a person but not grown so much that he'll risk failure in front of somebody he likes if he doesn't have to. )
Radio, psh. ( for as much as Eddie derides convention and conformity, he can be just as judgmental as the very people and things he's complaining about. it is something that he's working on, because he has to admit that a) not everyone fits into neat little boxes and b) Nancy Wheeler is a certified badass and she would normally not be someone he would ever dream of giving the time of day. if he had continued his strict line of thinking, he would never have considered taking her up on her offer to help tutor him and wouldn't be close to actually graduating. a goddamn miracle, if you ask him.
but he still has his weaknesses, and ranting against top 40 radio is definitely up there. then again, he's been known to tune into other radio stations that spun more than just metal, so he isn't sure he has that much room to judge. ) Okay, points for Queen, I'll give you that. ( and if he looks a little shocked, maybe even flushed, at the fact that Steve just...up and sings that effortlessly? it's nobody's business but his own, goddammit. )
You have a good voice. ( no, his voice absolutely does NOT sound strained, thank you very much!!! ) Did you take singing lessons or do you just...naturally know how to do that? Because talk about not fucking fair. ( in more than one way, but Eddie is not going to admit that in front of Steve. )
( Steve rolls his eyes at the psh. yes, the radio, along with everyone else. what's so bad about the radio? he watches MTV, who doesn't, but it's in a mind off as he does something else sort of way. plenty of people get by just fine on whatever the guy on the radio decides to put on, and Steve is perfectly content being one of those people. the elitism does Eddie exactly no favors, and as his friend it is really Steve's duty to remind him that.
points for Queen, huh? well, who knew they could meet in the middle somewhere. Steve's expression shifts into something that is not quite a smirk, not quite a smile, but whatever it is is openly pleased. definitely more rewarding than an eyeroll. it's strangely rewarding to get kudos on music taste from Eddie, who is the antithesis of a guy who is content to listen to whatever is on the radio.
despite all their newfound common ground, Steve can't help a bark of a laugh at the idea he's had singing lessons. he scans Eddie once, like he's waiting for the punchline to the joke, but it never comes. ) No, ( Steve says, shrugging his shoulders, and feeling strange and on the spot in a maybe not-that-bad a way? he can't quite tell. Eddie is probably just being dramatic, but what isn't fair about being able to sing relatively in tune? Steve didn't figure it was that hard a skill to master. ) Just Music with Mrs. Rice til 6th grade. Whatever, knock it off. You're the guy in a band, Munson.
( okay, being in a band doesn't really mean you can sing, Steve, but listen!!! being in a band does imply more musical talent than your average person. maybe singing just gets grandfathered in! )
( Steve really is full of surprises, and Eddie can't hold back the look that says all of that even if he wants to. from the moment in the boathouse until now, Steve has continuously kept Eddie on his toes, it would seem. a Cheshire-like grin spreads across his face as Steve tries to brush it off like it's not super impressive just to be able to sing in key without the music to back you up. )
Yeah, I play guitar in a band. ( then again, Steve does have a point. it takes a similar set of skills to be able to listen to a song on the radio and be able to figure out the matching chords on the guitar. )
I think it's cool, you know. Maybe we'll tap you for a song. ( it's mostly a joke because he can already hear Steve protesting along with the rest of his band, but then he thinks about how cool it would be if Steve were featured even just on one song. he stops himself from getting too carried away. ) Really, though, not everyone can just do that, so, you know, it's pretty impressive.
( well, for all the times Steve can surprise him, sometimes Eddie knows exactly what Steve will say before he says it. ) Uh, no. ( the denial is even paired with a slicing hand gesture, even though his point was perfectly clear with just the words. Steve is a lot better than he used to be, less caught up with appearances and what people might think. however, he is a guy incredibly reluctant to risk making a fool of himself, and going up on stage in front of people just puts a mic on his potential shame. even if its just in front of the rest of Eddie's band... too many judgmental nerds involved in that situation, it's still a no. while it is important to have aspirations, maybe get the guy to go to karaoke first. baby steps.
complimenting him is ... not not working, though. even though Steve feels somewhat flustered — it can't be that big a deal to sing in tune, but he's not the musically inclined one in this car. ) Shut up, ( Steve huffs, without any heat, because just taking a compliment??? not likely. and from a guy? impossible. Eddie breaks plenty of dude rules, you'd think he'd be used to it by now. but the slight fluster and weird warm feeling indicates no, Steve is not used to it at all.
thankfully, pulling up on their destination is a good distraction. ) Come on, that pizza isn't gonna get itself. ( Eddie should be forewarned that Steve will judge any strange toppings that he puts on their pizza. Steve will eat anything, but he will complain about it. )
( oh, don't worry about Eddie, he'll just be over in his seat, hiding behind a strand of hair, as if that's enough to cover up the blush and grin combination that he has going. as if he's the one that just received the compliment, not vice versa. he gets Steve's point loud and clear, though, and knows better than to persist, letting the subject lapse.
but Eddie's memory is pretty damn good. it has to be to run his Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. so Steve can count on Eddie bringing it up again at a most opportune moment. for now, though? pizza deserves their undivided attention. )
Yeah, yeah, you're lucky I deem pizza more important than this. Besides, I'm famished; I feel like I can eat two whole pizzas right now.
( what, Eddie take advantage of Steve's wallet? never!)
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no subject
Date: 2023-06-03 07:19 pm (UTC)I guess I should've asked you to use the magic word, huh? ( once he's recovered, he drops the strand of hair and drops one hand on the door, the other resting on his thigh as he drums his fingers along to the beat of whatever atrocious music Steve undoubtedly has playing. )
I'm gonna make you a mixtape one of these days. You know, so you have something halfway decent to play when I bum rides off of you. ( as if he isn't secretly willing to put up with whatever Steve listens to whenever Steve is the one driving. )
no subject
Date: 2023-07-02 09:46 pm (UTC)Uh, yeah, ( Steve says, because that is the definition of asking nicely. occasionally aesthetics and sugar need to be involved, too. but, to be fair, ) Unless you're not the p's and q's type. ( is... this flirting, still? polling on Eddie's opinion of appropriate etiquette?? if he likes to be bossed around (in a sexy way)? it is all very blurry and not even Steve is aware of what he's really asking, there, so good luck to Eddie trying to decipher it.
there is a stark gap between them in that Steve is entirely content with whatever the radio DJ decides he should listen to. instead of scrounging for records, or keeping up with new albums, or knowing entire sets by heart, name and all. Steve mostly enjoys whatever on the radio he can hum or sing along to when there's nobody else riding shotgun. he still makes a scrunched, doubtful face. ) Just nothing ear bleedy, all right. ( Eddie has little way of knowing what a remarkable concession this is, since there's no way he is aware that Robin is currently the only friend with radio privileges. not even Dustin, his favorite shithead, can mess with his radio. )
no subject
Date: 2023-07-07 01:05 pm (UTC)and those are probably thoughts he should not be having right now. not while he's still in the car next to Steve, at least, since they aren't doing either of them any favors. there is a line, after all. while Eddie is comfortable toeing it, there's an art in trying to figure out just how close one can come to crossing it without making the other uncomfortable. and Eddie, try as he might, isn't always the greatest when it comes to social cues. it's part of what got him labeled as a freak, after all. ) You know me, always the rebel. But, I'm always willing to make an exception, you know, for a friend. ( the way he says it, it almost sounds like a foreign word. because up until a little while ago, it had been when it came to Steve. and yet now, it feels foreign for a completely different reason. as if Eddie wishes there could be more to it, but he knows better than to ever expect anything like that from Steve. )
Nothing ear bleedy, got it. I do listen to more than just the ear bleedy stuff, I'll have you know. ( while yes, thrash metal is his bread and butter, he also enjoys a variety of other songs, mostly thanks to Wayne, but also from his parents. well, his mother, because he's not giving his piece of shit father any credit. ) What kind of stuff do you usually listen to, anyway? Might help me pinpoint stuff to focus on. You know, for this hypothetical mixtape.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-17 03:38 pm (UTC)after Robin, things are a lot more convoluted than they used to be. started out simple; not being able to hate Robin for liking another girl when she was possibly the greatest person he'd ever been able to form a connection with. from there it had sort of had a bizarre ripple effect. wanting to support her in having feelings for someone, in the complicated feelings of wanting someone that she couldn't have. wanting quite desperately for her to have success that she seemed to think was impossible for someone like her. and maybe, maybe, from there... he's started to wonder about other things. girls can like girls so guys can like guys. wondering what that is like these days doesn't seem as petrifying as it used to be, with someone around that had more or less helped him see being queer didn't have to be as awful as he was conditioned to think it was.
so he's open. and curious. but completely inexperienced, which isn't helping. he wasn't even entirely sure flirting was happening, much less how to respond, the first few times. to be fair the world was sort of ending, he was a little distracted!!! he's sort of catching on, now, but somehow he's only halfway there. are they flirting flirting, or does Eddie just... act like this with everyone? because Steve has seen Eddie literally bow to girls as he holds a door open for them. the guy is just so goddamn confusing, who the hell knows when he's being serious or if he's just a smarmy charming weirdo whenever he has the opportunity to anyone available at the time. all Steve really knows is that Eddie isn't afraid to be a little flirty so whatever his motives are, why not test the waters a little?
he's pretty sure it doesn't mean anything. but it's fun. and possibly good practice. who knows. Steve does know he's into it and right now, that's enough.
Eddie gets an eyeroll for the strange inflection he gives the word friend. Steve is sincerely unaware of why that word feels awkward to the guy, and instead takes it to mean that he can't quite believe that he's friends with a former jock. Steve does not deign to respond, because he does not apologize for being a former jock! hell, he considers himself a current jock. he's grown a lot as a person and feels no shame in calling a guy colloquially known as a freak his friend. if anything he's glad he's not the guy he was in high school, because it turns out Eddie is definitely a guy worth knowing, and he knows he wouldn't have bothered if life hadn't thrown them together at the right time. )
Radio mostly, ( Steve muses, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. ) Rock I guess. Trooper, or Foreigner, or... ( he pauses, snapping as he tries to remember specifics and ultimately fails to do so. it's fine. he'll rally! improvise. ) The guy with the pipes and the mustache. If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call ... that guy. ( you know, Eddie. Freddie Mercury. that guy. it takes some degree of bravery to sing in front of Eddie Munson, sing Freddie Mercury no less. but Steve knows he can hit the notes, or frankly he wouldn't. he's grown a lot as a person but not grown so much that he'll risk failure in front of somebody he likes if he doesn't have to. )
no subject
Date: 2023-07-26 12:19 pm (UTC)but he still has his weaknesses, and ranting against top 40 radio is definitely up there. then again, he's been known to tune into other radio stations that spun more than just metal, so he isn't sure he has that much room to judge. ) Okay, points for Queen, I'll give you that. ( and if he looks a little shocked, maybe even flushed, at the fact that Steve just...up and sings that effortlessly? it's nobody's business but his own, goddammit. )
You have a good voice. ( no, his voice absolutely does NOT sound strained, thank you very much!!! ) Did you take singing lessons or do you just...naturally know how to do that? Because talk about not fucking fair. ( in more than one way, but Eddie is not going to admit that in front of Steve. )
no subject
Date: 2023-09-10 11:25 pm (UTC)points for Queen, huh? well, who knew they could meet in the middle somewhere. Steve's expression shifts into something that is not quite a smirk, not quite a smile, but whatever it is is openly pleased. definitely more rewarding than an eyeroll. it's strangely rewarding to get kudos on music taste from Eddie, who is the antithesis of a guy who is content to listen to whatever is on the radio.
despite all their newfound common ground, Steve can't help a bark of a laugh at the idea he's had singing lessons. he scans Eddie once, like he's waiting for the punchline to the joke, but it never comes. ) No, ( Steve says, shrugging his shoulders, and feeling strange and on the spot in a maybe not-that-bad a way? he can't quite tell. Eddie is probably just being dramatic, but what isn't fair about being able to sing relatively in tune? Steve didn't figure it was that hard a skill to master. ) Just Music with Mrs. Rice til 6th grade. Whatever, knock it off. You're the guy in a band, Munson.
( okay, being in a band doesn't really mean you can sing, Steve, but listen!!! being in a band does imply more musical talent than your average person. maybe singing just gets grandfathered in! )
no subject
Date: 2023-10-02 01:35 am (UTC)Yeah, I play guitar in a band. ( then again, Steve does have a point. it takes a similar set of skills to be able to listen to a song on the radio and be able to figure out the matching chords on the guitar. )
I think it's cool, you know. Maybe we'll tap you for a song. ( it's mostly a joke because he can already hear Steve protesting along with the rest of his band, but then he thinks about how cool it would be if Steve were featured even just on one song. he stops himself from getting too carried away. ) Really, though, not everyone can just do that, so, you know, it's pretty impressive.
🎀?
Date: 2023-10-24 05:36 pm (UTC)complimenting him is ... not not working, though. even though Steve feels somewhat flustered — it can't be that big a deal to sing in tune, but he's not the musically inclined one in this car. ) Shut up, ( Steve huffs, without any heat, because just taking a compliment??? not likely. and from a guy? impossible. Eddie breaks plenty of dude rules, you'd think he'd be used to it by now. but the slight fluster and weird warm feeling indicates no, Steve is not used to it at all.
thankfully, pulling up on their destination is a good distraction. ) Come on, that pizza isn't gonna get itself. ( Eddie should be forewarned that Steve will judge any strange toppings that he puts on their pizza. Steve will eat anything, but he will complain about it. )
🎀!
Date: 2023-10-29 01:00 am (UTC)but Eddie's memory is pretty damn good. it has to be to run his Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. so Steve can count on Eddie bringing it up again at a most opportune moment. for now, though? pizza deserves their undivided attention. )
Yeah, yeah, you're lucky I deem pizza more important than this. Besides, I'm famished; I feel like I can eat two whole pizzas right now.
( what, Eddie take advantage of Steve's wallet? never! )
After you, pretty boy.