#slidevibes

(That is a joke, you don't have to read anything you don't want to lol. But still just putting these out there in case anyone wants to read these)

Smalltown Boy: (Completed, 11/11 chapters, 25k words) My most popular fic, basically a byler-based finale rewrite based on my original finale prediction on how byler could happen in the finale (I made a yt video on it here). Mike-centric but occasionally switches povs. Includes Mike getting Vecna'd, eyegate, armgate(-ish), basementgate, cutscenegate (y'all remember when that was a thing?), basically what I think the finale would be like in a perfect world.

Eyes Without a Face: (Abandoned, 5/? chapters, 10k words) The sequel to Smalltown Boy! Basically follows college byler in their sophomore year at NYU the week before thanksgiving break! Includes established dating byler, also roommates byler, Will and Mike having separate friend groups (that feels important to me tbh), Will being openly gay, Mike still being in the closet, Will trying to help him out of the closet, etc. etc.

Oh, My Darling (Don't Stop Loving Me): (Ongoing, 3/4 chapters, 15k words) This one's like insanely angsty and I wrote it out of rage for Mike's ending shortly after the finale. Basically Mike kills himself and Will and the party find out why.

Triple Bubble: (Abandoned, 1/? chapters, 800 words) Idk why anyone would want to read this but I'm still putting it here. Basically I put Mike in my religious high school.

Anyone wanna place their bets who I’m writing about

🤭I've been wanting to talk about this au for the longest time

I ended up having to make it a modern au as well because vibraphones weren't a part of marching bands until like the late 90s so I just said fuck it theyre in 2026 now

Mike: trombone

Will: vibraphone (hence the variant name Slidevibes)

Dustin: tuba

Lucas: tenors/quads

Max: snares

Jane: colorguard

(Yes I'm combining two of my interests in honor of Mike's birthday being a week before WGI Indoor Percussion World Championships. Yes this can be interpreted as Slidevibes. And YES there will be a 2026 version next week. Maybe with the whole party.)

Mike Wheeler: Infinity 2025 - "Des Vu"

Why: It has very strong themes of memory and the present, and I think he'd actually have a great analysis about the show, but he'd just say it's his favorite because "the nature sounds in the beginning are cool". He doesn't have much to say about the musical aspect (ESPECIALLY as a trombone player...god imagine the rants he'll have to sit through next week as Will goes on and on about mallet technique...love them tho<3) and tends to focus more on visuals and themes in a show, hence why this one is his favorite.

Will Byers: Rhythm X 2025 - "Hands of the Creation"

Why: Firstly, who doesn't love Rhythm X? Second, I think he'd absolutely LOVE the themes of creation in this as an artist. I was tempted to choose a much more visually artistic show as his favorite (Matrix 2025 - In the Wake of Creation, link here) but after listening to some of the music from Rhythm X again, there's no way Will wouldn't hear that and not make it his personality for at least a week. Plus, it's about Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel! How cool is that as a concept? Since Will plays the vibraphone and participates in indoor percussion himself, I think music would be one of the first things he looks for in a show, with theme and visuals second. And in this au, he was one of the lucky people who got to see Rhythm X live, and let me tell you. IT CHANGED HIS LIFE.