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[the_freak]

[Eddie would have preferred the theatrics of the drama room, but he did his best to set up an imposing angle for his message. ]

I’m thinking a lot of us could use a chance to blow off some steam, hmm? Lots of work to do around here, and weird ass monsters to fight, but not a whole lot in the way of recreation.

Back home I ran a group called Hellfire Club. Led us in some of the most epic D&D campaigns Hawkins Indiana ever saw. And I was thinking…I could offer my services as Dungeon Master here if people were interested.

Beggars can’t be choosers and I know we have a lot of people who’ve never played, so- lucky you- I’ve decided to open up admission to first timers. Little bonus- anyone who joins gets a Hellfire Mk2 shirt of their very own.

[He shifts to show off the new design he’s printed, a proud smirk on his face.]

I’ll be at the diner this week for people to sell me on their characters. If it’s your first go, I’ll have sheets prepared and can help you fill them out.

Comments

[the_freak]

"People are going to wonder what you're into spending all your rations on that," Eddie notes with a faint teasing smirk.

"Yeah, I uh...I noticed," he agrees, rubbing at the edge of his ring, "So nothing to worry about then, right? Apart from that obvious sexism?"

[farrahfawcetts]

"Unless you end up liking any of them, I guess? Or more people show up? I don't care, dude, no matter what you are going to do with whoever...you're doing it safe."

He grabs a lock of hair and gives it a much gentler tug than the pokes had been.

"I just got you back. I'm not losing you to crotch rot."

[the_freak]

"..." Eddie almost uses that as his opening to admit the truth he's been dancing around, lips parting, but he still can't find the words. He rolls his eyes instead and gives a bashful laugh.

"Yeah, right, that would be a pretty big step down from the whole hero shtick, huh?" he agrees, squinting at that tug to his hair.

[farrahfawcetts]

"It definitely would. And I would 100% put it all over the network and on your fucking grave. Eddie Munson, Metalhead and Freak. Died of Space Gonorrhea, leaving behind his two children: Steve Jr and Dustina'."

He smiles, finally, coming off the high horse of his outrage. No more pokes or yanks. Still, he probably doesn't need much of an excuse to get back to it.

"I'm also not raising those kids. I don't know what to do with that hair, dude. Someone else is gonna take 'em in."

[the_freak]

That gets a laugh, and of course, Eddie can't quite help himself.

"What you think I know what to do with it? I just wash it, man. Not hard. You gonna leave poor Steve Jr and Dustina to be raised by strangers??" He presses a hand to his chest in mock heartbreak. "Also, dude, the Jr. means he's totally half yours. Namesakes only get a Jr. from a parent."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve laughs too, happy for some reason to let the frustration and fear from before go. "Just wash it. God, you're a heathen." But his hair is soft and it looks nice enough. Steve can't help but wonder if there isn't something maybe to it. Maybe he's been wasting his energy all this time with Faberge.

"It's an alien world," Steve says with a shrug. "Maybe he has a third dad? Although the story for how that whole thing happened isn't maybe one I want to think too much about."

[the_freak]

"What else I am supposed to do?? It's hair. You wash it. You run a towel through it, you go." Simple. Hell, they even had that 3 in 1 shampoo stuff. Nice and easy.

He smirks fondly as Steve doesn't even bother to protest. And hell, they basically co-parent Dustin as it is, they could be manage a couple of pretend kids all right. They weren't the worst team. "Sounds like some kind of weird comedy. 3 dudes trying to raise a kid."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve looks completely horrified. "You're a monster. How is your hair so soft if you abuse the shit out of it? It's not fair."

At the idea of the dudes raising the child, Steve laughs and rolls his eyes again. "But you're dead, remember? Cosmic Chlamydia? No baby raising shenanigans for you. I'll just have to teach them about their dad and his undying love for Madonna."

[the_freak]

"Is it?" His eyes try to look at his curls and he gropes them curiously before reaching to Steve's to feel the difference.

"Whose the monster now, Harrington! Don't you fill their heads with those horrible lies. Fine, fine, I'll get checked out, I'll be safe. Can't have you telling our kids I'm the one into pop music."

[farrahfawcetts]

"That's just the start, Munson," Steve warns as he lets Eddie touch his hair. There is a warning look before that, though, as though to mentally threaten Eddie with death if the messes those locks up.

"I'll tell them about your love of football, how you never wore anything other than khakis, and your beloved hobby of accordion. Don't think I won't."

[the_freak]

It's so tempting to muss that forbidden hair, but still sore from those pokes, Eddie doesn't dare...for now, hand dropping after his exploration with those locks still pristine.

"Ugh. Are you blackmailing me into being a good person, Harrington?"

[farrahfawcetts]

"Imagine that..."

Steve gives Eddie a wide smirk.

"Alright, alright. Get tested and I'll stop being a pain in the ass. And if there are Munson children running around... Well. You know what's at risk."

[the_freak]

"Any Munson kiddos out there are not mine, scouts honor," Eddie swears, doing a poor imitation of the sign of the cross rather than a proper scouts honor.

[farrahfawcetts]

"Mmhmm..." He's clearly not convinced but is going to let it go. Going back to the character he created, Steve smiles and slides it over.

"Okay. Evets Baldington is made. When are we actually going to play? I feel like maybe I should like. Read that book or practice or something before so I'm not pulling down the group with not knowing anything..."

[the_freak]

That earns a good hearty laugh. Look at you, being clever Steve. "You can read it. And we can do some practice improv together if you want. I don't think we'll start meetings for a little while still, gotta walk a lot of people through the set up, and finish writing the thing, we've got time."

[farrahfawcetts]

At that moment, the most fun thing he could think of is exactly what Eddie is proposing: doing more of this bantering and pretend stuff. Steve thinks, for the first time, that he understands why the kids like this game so much. Or at least why they like it with Eddie so much.

He really is just a fucking magnet.

"Yeah. Yeah, that sounds nice. And definitely have plenty of time."