#starb

Mother of Pearl by Pizzabones aka @glitterfang the incredible artist who also drew all the beautiful art featured in the bind 💖

Ahoy Sailors!

For personal reasons, this year Stevie Week will set off later than usual, in late July or even August.

To help me out and speed up the prompts release, you can comment under this post or in asks with your prompt ideas.

Ever since she was a kid, shes been Barb. A serious child whose frown came faster than her smile, who never shook the habit of squinting even after she got fitted for the right glasses.

Sure, as a squishy faced baby she'd been Bee. And her dad was the only person in the world who called her Honey. But that was as far as it went.

And shes been fine with that, she's never been the kind of girl people look at and think of cutesy things. She's practical.

She wasn't the kind of girl you looked at and called Barbie.

Until Stevie.

Stevie who hadn't changed anything about herself except her curves and her pronouns. Who was unfortunately just as charming as she was in high school.

It's all smouldering good looks, floppy brown hair and droopy brown eyes. Leaning up against any flat surface that she can and lingering on the name likes it's a taste Stevie can't help but savor: Barbie.

Hi Barbie! Barbie, can I get you- Oh, that reminds me Barbie…

"Heya Barbie, Robs was just telling me about this book festival thing-"

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" She's smiling even as she cocks her head to the side like Barb is a puzzle she wants to solve.

And she hates how much that flusters her, a blush rising up to her cheeks. She feels like she's on fire and her face has to match that feeling, fire engine red and completely unattractive. Something she cares about, when it's Stevie looking at her.

Or maybe it's just the topic that's got her tongue-tied. How is she supposed to tell someone that they're using the wrong nickname.

"I'm not exactly a Barbie." Is what she settles on.

"No? You're the girliest girl I know." Stevie comes closer and Barb can feel the taunt of the warmth of her body against hers, the way her hands reach up to snag the hem of Barb's sweater without actually touching. "You're always in pink and your makeup's done nice."

"That's reductive," she stumbles on the comeback.

Leaning closer, they're almost nose to nose as Stevie hums, heat of her breath fogging the bottom of Barb's glasses.

"Maybe," she agrees, "doesn't mean it can't be true too."

Her hands drift lower, finding waistband of Barb's slacks. "Tell me the truth though. Is there something a little lacy under here, Barbie?"

There's no world in which Stevie doesn't feel the way her breath stutters from her mouth. Not when it lands against her mouth.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Stevie's laugh is as hot as the rest of her, smokey and dangerous and close enough that Barb wishes she could taste it.

Steve doesn't do all the failed dating, but he talks like he does, keeping up appearances with these random names when really he's spending the night cuddled up with his ghost girlfriend, being affectionately called a loser, making her laugh, wishing he could share this joy he feels, wishing he could talk about it without ruining what little closure people had.

The Steddie chemistry of season 4 happens, Steve has a minor bi awakening, but he also has a ghost girlfriend so he has no intention of doing anything particularly bi except accepting it.

At the end of it Eddie survives (just), makes a pass at Steve before he's out of hospital, gets an awkward "I have a girlfriend, sorry." But it's definitely odd, since nobody else thinks he does, Eddie even asked Buckley (who after a moment of queer solidarity and "he kissed me back when I kissed him" confirmed him bi and perpetually single) he even asked Henderson (who was confused as to why Eddie cared but also how Steve remained single when Nancy and Robin make so much sense—they do not). So he decides, fuck it, he'll go ask Steve at his house, where there is no answer so he goes to the sliding doors to see if anyone is actually home.

Someone is, but it's not Steve.

This is part of the community challenge but I'm posting to my main for the sake of being a hype man to these fics. 🖤 Most of these are smutty so be mindful of that.

A fic you enjoyed recently: Restless and Wild (Steddie | E | 9.8k) by my lovely friend and Kinktober co-mod @thesecynicaldoeeyes in which transmasc Eddie Munson is experiencing a certain time of the month and just wants to get laid.

A fic you read longer ago that's stayed with you: Sugar Hiccup (Steddie | E | 9.1k) is one I think about allllll the time.

A fic that made you laugh: The Stroke (girl!Steddie | E | 6.1k) by @itcanbepalped but this was very hard to pick because many of Mads' fics have made me laugh.

A fic that made you cry: The Tape (Eddie Munson & his mother character study, Steddie | G | 2.6k) again by the lovely Mads. This was difficult because I don't think there's a lot of fics in this fandom that have quite moved me to tears, I don't usually read the super, super sad ones (yet) and I can't remember if I cried at this one but if I didn't then I definitely got close.

A fic about a pairing you wouldn't usually read: Steve's Cunnilingus Delivery Service (Starb | E | 8k) by Mads again... this is just turning into a Mads appreciation list but I can't help it that they have range ok. Anyway I wouldn't normally consider myself a Starb shipper but this fic is just so great (but that goes for a ton of pairings Mads posts, I'm a multi-shipper anyway but I'll read whatever they see fit to bless us with).

Nancy: If you're so worried, Barb, why don't you come with me?

Barb: You want me to . . . You want me to fuck Steve with you?

Nancy: It would be like all those times we practiced kissing, except different.

Barb: Nancy. . .

Nancy: You promised me a long time ago that we would do everything together!

Barb: I meant like sleepovers and going shopping, Nance!

Nancy: *sigh* It's okay, Barb, you don't have to do it. I shouldn't pressure you. I shouldn't have pressured you about the beer.

Barb: *blushing* It's not bad pressure, Nance. Not this one, at least. . .I'm just. . .

Nancy: Even though I still want to do this, I'm a little nervous, too.

Barb: *teasing* So you want me to hold your hand?

Nancy: *smirking* You can hold other things, too.

Barb: *smirking* It's not safe to do things alone.

Nancy laughed and took her hand.

Nancy: *mockingly*This isn't you, Barbara.

Barb: *scoff* I was definitely wrong. . .this is you. You've always had an adventurous spirit. . .I was just. . .jealous.

Nancy: There's no one else I want to go on this quest with, Barbara.

Barb: *affectionately* Nerd.

Nancy: Takes one to know one.

HAPPY FIRST FULL MOON OF 2026

We're coming back with a new format! Instead of one monster per month, we'll be doing a main theme with extra prompts. On top of that, I'm tentatively implementing a 1k word limit. Consider this month a test run.

I also want to do a recap of the last year! There will be more posts about that but feel free to send asks with:

Your favorite monster fic/art you've made.

Your favorite monster fic/art from another writer/artist.

A monster trope/epiphany/fic/art that felt most ground breaking to you.

And anything else you can think of!

Of course, you're not limited to monster calendar submissions, anything from 2025 counts! Hopefully we'll have a nice list of recommendations by the end of the month 💚

January prompts:

The End (?)

Immortal

Season 5

Undead/Reborn

Wolf Moon

You can use one, use all, mix them, mix with other events, and interpret them however you want! The only requirement is monsters.

No monsterfucking needed! Characters can be discussing monsters, hunting monsters, raising monsters. The monsters may not exist but as long as they are an important part of your story, it counts.

More on the word limit and general rules under the cut.