"Friends don't lie."

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: DAY 3 - Inspired By

what tv shows, songs, books, and so on have inspired you while creating this pairing? what has helped shape them and their relationship into what it is?

Wren Holloway and Eddie Munson have the kind of dynamic that looks unlikely at first glance but feels inevitable once you see it.

Eddie is loud where Wren is quiet. He performs - big gestures, bigger words, chaotic humor that fills a room before anyone can judge him. Wren doesn’t compete with that energy. She watches, listens, and sees the parts of him he doesn’t advertise. Where other people see “freak” or “trouble,” she sees someone trying very hard not to be rejected.

Their connection isn’t explosive - it’s steady. Eddie gravitates toward her calm like a storm finding still water. Around Wren, he doesn’t have to exaggerate himself to be interesting. Around Eddie, Wren doesn’t have to shrink herself to stay safe.

It’s chaos × quiet. Performance × understanding. Loud devotion × soft resilience.

He makes her braver in the world.

She makes him feel chosen in it.

And that’s what makes them work. 🖤

Carmen Newby

MARATINES 2026 ♡ DAY 1 ⸻ realizations

It's a late summer night and Ash sits on the curb across the street of Hawkins Police Station. Her knee stings where she scraped it earlier that night, skin split and sticky with blood.

She's been there at least an hour and a half already, bouncing her feet nervously, almost jumping every time she sees movement in the building.

Finally, after what feels like forever, the door finally opens.

Eddie's dishevelled silhouette appears and he slowly steps out. The streetlight illuminates his face, his expression somewhere between offended and victorious.

Ash is moving before her brain catches up.

"Ed!"

"Ash?" he looks up, startled.

She crosses the street in a rush and throws herself at him, arms locking around his waist. Eddie staggers back a step and lets out a surprised laugh. Then he wraps his arms around her, tight and sure.

"You waited?" he asks quietly, his voice getting caught up in her hair.

"Of course I did."

They stay like that longer than necessary. Long enough for the cold to creep up her legs and the ache in her knee to start again.

Eventually, Eddie shifts, loosening his grip just enough to look down at her.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Yeah."

Slowly, they pull apart and start heading away from the station, the hum of the lights fading behind them.

"Wasn't sure if they wouldn't keep you for the night," she says.

"Nah. Callahan's too soft for that." Eddie pats down his jacket, then his jeans, finding a beaten pack of cigarettes.

He takes one out and lights it with a practiced flick.

"Next time," he adds between taking a drag, "I just gotta run faster."

"And maybe don't stop halfway through climbing a fence to curse out the cops."

He looks at her sideways, amused, and there's something in his expression that makes her stomach flip.

For a moment she lets herself think that if Callahan didn't let him go that night, she would just march into the station and demand to bail him out herself.

And that's when the realisation dawns on her. Not all at once. Not dramatically. Just a quiet, awful understanding settling in her chest.

Eddie tosses his cigarette, crushes it under his boot, and then slings an arm around her shoulders. Pulls her in close and continues to walk.

"Alright," he says, voice warm against the night. "Let's get you home, sweetheart."

Ash leans into him without thinking, drawn to the heat of his body. She swallows slowly, allowing herself only one thought.

MARATINES 2026

DAY 7: ONE TRUE PAIRING

There was a time in late 1985 when Connie Cunningham smoked behind the school to forego her hunger cravings and caught the eye of Eddie Munson. Not even ten minutes later, they end up in the back of his van, kickstarting a romance for the ages. You see, Connie never imagined the effect that one hookup would have on the rest of her life. She was sure that their dalliance was nothing more than casual to both of them—just a way to blow off steam every once in a while. But the universe had so much more in store for the both of them.

Between Connie's struggles with her crumbling family and Eddie's life on the fringe of Hawkins, their burgeoning relationship turns into a safe haven for them—one that has to remain a secret nonetheless. But secrets in Hawkins have a way of rising to the top eventually, so when Connie finds herself in the crosshairs of the supernatural forces that threaten the town and Eddie is entangled in the ordeal in the worst way possible, it is no surprise that the allies they find along the way find out the truth and the couple realizes that it's not nearly as bad to have people know the truth about them.

Their love transcends the suburban conformity of their hometown, even beyond the terrifying world that lingers beyond their own. Connie's best friend, Caspar, drags Eddie's mangled body back into our world, knowing she would never be able to live without him, and takes him to get help before the military arrives at the scene. Though Connie and her brother Curtis remain trapped in Hawkins, she knows Eddie is safe with Caspar.

When the nightmare is long over and Connie and Eddie look back at their life in the little house by the ocean that they bought in Oregon, they sometimes can't help but laugh at the way they beat the odds at every turn. Though that time was traumatic, it brought them together even closer. Their children are grown themselves, and they look forward to living the rest of their lives in peace. And it all happened because of that one chance encounter.

( FEBRUARY 14 ) there's just always going to be that one ship that's a little more meant to be.

— i miss you more than i remember you.

( insp. )

WATTPAD | AO3

Ash Puckett wouldn’t say she hates her life. Sure, she wishes she didn’t live in a run-down trailer on the edge of Hawkins, didn’t have to spend her weekends working at the Cinema just to help pay bills, had a normal family, and could finally get out of this town for good. Doesn’t everybody?

When her mother lands herself in the hospital yet again, Ash doesn’t think much will change. She’s worried—she always is—but it’s not like this is the first time it’s happened.

Until her father shows up and decides that this time he cares and insists she can't stay alone, causing her to move across the town with him and the picture-perfect family he crafted for himself. Ash expects the worst part will be the awkward dinners, being away from her best friend Eddie, and sharing a room with Gracie, her half-sister, but soon she's about to discover that it would be the least of her worries.

Because what's coming is bigger than her family problems. Bigger than Hawkins. Bigger than the whole world she knows.

MARATINES 2026 ♡ day seven⸻one true pairing

True Love ⸻ Richard Siken

CHRISTMAS YEARS EVE EXCHANGE

Madison Byers & Steve Harrington for @freakin-p4l

MARATINES 2026 ♡ day four ⸻ adaptation

'He remembers the first time they spoke proper, at Halloween. That's a whole lifetime ago now.'

Game of Survival – A Stranger Things Story: Chapter One Teaser

Ash pulled out a folded flyer she had been holding onto all day. She slid it across the counter like she was dealing cards.

Eddie stared at it for half a second before snatching it up, like he was scared it will vanish.

His eyes scanned the bold print.

THE HIDEOUT — WEDNESDAY NIGHT — LIVE MUSIC

He blinked once.

Twice.

Then he looked up at her like she just opened the gates of heaven.

"No way."

Ash's smirk broke free. "Way."

Eddie's mouth fell open, and for once, he looked genuinely speechless. An occurrence that surely didn't happen often. If ever.

"You got us a gig at the Hideout," he said, voice cracking a little on the last word like he didn't trust it.

Ash shrugged like she hadn't just handed him his biggest dream on cheap paper.

"I might've mentioned you to the guy who books the Wednesday slots. But you have to bring your own equipment. And of course, don't even think about getting any money out of it."

Eddie clutched the flyer to his chest like it was a love letter.

"You–" he began, then stopped, shaking his head like his brain couldn't keep up. "Ash. How– what did you do?"

Ash leaned on the counter, chin tilted. "I'm charming."

Eddie barked out a laugh. "You're terrifying."

"That too."

Eddie looked down at the flyer again, holding it as if it were sacred. Then his eyes flicked over her face like he was memorising it.

"Are you serious?" he asked, like he needed to hear it again.

Ash's teasing eased just a little bit. "I'm serious."

Eddie exhaled, long and shaky, and for a second, all the drama drained out of him.

Then it came rushing back twice as hard.

"That's insane!" he yelled, grinning. "The guys are gonna lose their damn minds."

She watched him like he was a dog, chasing his own tail like it was the best entertainment in the world.

"You up for some celebration after... this?" he gestured vaguely at the lobby.

Ash huffed, suddenly aware of how heavy her feet felt." I think I'm tapping out tonight."

Eddie frowned. “What? No. I'll come get you after your shift."

“I have my bike."

"It'll fit in the van," he said immediately. "We'll just–"

"Ed," she cut in, tone sharp enough to stop him cold.

He froze, then lifted his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I hear you. Not pushing."

But the grin was already back, unstoppable.

"We’re still celebrating," he added. "Soon. I don't care how tired you are. This is big, Ash."

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. Her lips parted, ready to try to calm him down again–

–and then Eddie leaned closer, over the counter, enough that she caught the scent of cigarette smoke and cheap cologne and the cold night air he dragged in with him.

His voice dropped into something quieter.

"Seriously," he said. "Thank you."

Ash cleared her throat, straightening her back. "Yeah, well… don't make me regret it.

Eddie’s grin returned. "Oh, you definitely will. Because I'm not going to shut up about this for the next year."

She forced her smirk back into place. "Get out. Gareth's waiting."

Eddie tucked the flyer into his jacket and bowed dramatically. "As you command."

He backed away slowly, still grinning at her like she hung the moon.

Then, as if he couldn't resist, he pointed at her.

"Wednesday," he said.

𝓥𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮’𝓼 𝓓𝓪𝔂 𝓔𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮: Carmen Newby x Jonathan Byers

CHRISTMAS YEARS EVE EXCHANGE

Madison Byers & Steve Harrington for @freakin-p4l

Celebrate Stranger Things Event: Love

Ship stuff, friend stuff or family stuff! What relationships mean the most to your oc?

⤷ The most important and influential relationship for the three McGowan siblings are each other. Ginny, Gordie, and Jessie have been relying on each other for years. Ginny sticks around for their sake. Her other most important relationship is Steve Harrington. It’s completely unexpected as Ginny has never expected herself to be into a guy like Steve. For Gordie and Jessie, their friendship with the Party is quite important and influential, even as they drift apart as they get older.

MARATINES DAY TWO: LOVE LANGUAGES

steve & shawn.

MARATINES 2026 ♡ Day Seven ⸻ One True Pairing

There's just always going to be that one ship that's a little more meant to be.

Ben first fell in love with Steve began as a small crush as a child while they were still friends...but obviously things changed. Then Steve came back to save him and the others from the Demogordon...then he was the one who stood up for him against Billy...Then he was the one who he first confessed to with who he really was and accepted him...From time and time again after that night in the Byers house...Steve Harrington was the only one in Ben's life he could trust and depend on. And who Ben was truly in love with from the very beginning.

Side note: SO! I was originally gonna do this for Day 5 and my beloved Hoppington again with a different edit for Day 7 but uh I did not plan my time well lol!! I also uploaded this vid on my YouTube!