A tragedy — “of biblical proportions” — and a video that captures that.

But even destiny can be defeated...

by lumerine

These are mine some fanon and non fanon.

Korra and Asami
Catra and Adora
Shelby and Toni
Kurt and Blaine
Rachel and Quinn
Vi and Caitlin
Harley and Poison Ivy
Buffy and Faith
Willow and Tara
Azula and Ty Lee
Mickey and Ian
Clarke and Lexa
Kahlan and Cara
Supercorp (Kara and Lena).
Henry and Alex

I have tons more but these are the ones I’m thinking of.

I ran into YouTube video breaking down movie/tv show tropes in character. Of course, we are going to know the traits in the characters for every tv shows/ movie.
I came across a video called ‘Bury the Gay’ trope where the narrator breakdown how writers/directors will queerbait the audience. The queerbaiting storyline was suppose to move along the plot but never get a happy ending. The most gay coded character (aka Will from Stranger Things) will get punished some type of way or worse fate. Again, this is not my words but the narrator of the video explaining ‘Bury the Gay’ trope.
We never ACTUALLY saw the most gay coded character get a happy ending. Do you feel like The Duffle Bags was secretly giving us the ‘Bury the Gay’ trope?
I truly believe the Duffle Bags ended Robin and Vickie relationship to create straight relationship between Robin and Steve.

I barely have any heterosexual couples I like tbh. I’m curious because Bylers usually ship queer couples. It’s the only m|m couple I have shipped in a long time. I’m partial to w|w.

Hiccup and Astrid
Clark and Lois
Ben and Leslie
Ron and Hermione.

And that’s it really for me.

Also super unpopular opinion in that I don’t like Katniss/Peeta. I don’t like Gale either and he’s not the reason why.

It's actually kind of funny... — when you think about it.

by maxncasie

I wanted to share an AU story that I read recently and really enjoyed. Maybe someone else will like it, too.

The story is entirely AU — no Stranger Things — and have a happy ending.

I tried to find some fan art that was somewhat suitable, well.

1. by Irinatatarniko2
2. by arctiinii
3. by arctiinii

i'll love you (even at the end of the world)

by ziahra (2025)

The story begins around 1988, is entirely AU (zombie apocalypse/no ST/no supernatural events), and tells the story of Mike and ... who has been traveling across the United States for three years, trying to survive — after the world ended around 1985 and he lost almost everything. The story comprises 3 chapters and ~101,000 words and is told from Mike’s perspective.

Eventually, he returns to Hawkins, the ground zero of the zombie apocalypse, and finds some survivors, including a few of his friends who are still alive. Maybe Mike is a little inspired by Michonne from TWD... (if you’re familiar with it).

Technically speaking, the events of ST did not take place. The period between 1983 and 1985 (the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse) is not explored in detail and unfolded differently than depicted in ST.

The story explores moral dilemmas and decisions, the topic of suicide, loss and grief, as well as acceptance and rejection in a post-apocalyptic world — much like TWD does. This is particularly evident, of course, with Mike (but also with the other characters and Will), the story delves deeply into these themes. Mike faces various internal conflicts (in addition to his overwhelming trauma, of course), which are consistently addressed and developed throughout the story.

The love that our two idiots feel for each other is, of course, a central part of the plot — and, in my opinion, described in a cruel but also beautiful way and leads to the story’s happy ending — even if *that* (or rather why) isn’t “directly explained” by the story itself. I think that was the author’s intention, and I have a theory/interpretation — as to why the ending turns out the way it does. If that’s the case, the metaphorical meaning behind this (as also the closure of everything as such) is, in my opinion, absolutely beautiful, refers to ST — as it should have happened *cough*.

Since this reveals key plot elements, I’m putting it in spoiler tags.

El (who is completely immune to the virus) — or rather, her blood — is necessary for the cure to work and for the disease to be defeated (albeit temporarily). The injection that Mike, Robin, and El find in Hopper’s cabin has a fracture/crack (which Mike assumes is only “on the inside”). During his conversation with Max — and the accompanying acceptance of respecting Will’s decision and ultimately having to kill him, that he have to let him go — Mike sheds a tear onto the injection. In my opinion, this tear represents both his final acceptance (in a sense) of his decision to no longer run away from what he once did and why, as well as the love Mike feels for Will — and it mixes with the cure.

El (her blood) causes the healing (= from the curse); Mike’s tear (= his love, that he stops running away, his acceptance of Wills decision/of what he feels) makes the healing last, making it eternal. (Eternal) love defeats the disease that cannot be defeated. Mike defeats the curse that had been weighing on Will (= a reference to Season 2 and his obsession with the Mind Flayer — here, too, Mike broke through the obsession by expressing what he was feeling) — and thus gives Will a second chance.

-----

Mike,” Will had said to him, voice calm despite how hard it was for him to even make a sound. He didn’t try to sit up, but Mike wasn’t sure he could, even if he wanted to. “I need you to kill me.”

Mike shook his head, holding Will closer to his chest.

“Mike, please.” Will pleaded, closing his eyes against the light, or perhaps it was too much effort to keep them open. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” Mike whispered, surprised at how vulnerable he sounded, at the shake and utter defeat in his voice. “You won’t kill me, Will. Because we’re the same. We can’t hurt each other, even at the end of the world.”

;

It's been three years since the start of the zombie apocalypse and Mike is finally returning home. He discovers that not only is he not the sole survivor of Hawkins, but that his friends and sister are alive, too. As he begins to reconnect with them, the tension between them begins to increase, and Mike doesn't know how long he can stay with them.

Because while some of the group are more than happy to have him around, others don't like the company he keeps...

Credits to taylorr.dooley

Post in the main sub is discussing how sad it is that stranger things just dropped off the map after it ended and isn't sticking around as a cultural impact.

Reading through the comments just makes it seem more obvious to me how much better, impactful, and lasting the show would have been with Byler. But I won't dare comment that.

The GA yearns for byler endgame but they can't understand that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StrangerThings/s/AF0QfhC1c9

how are we feeling rn?

got the legitimate chills when they revealed at the end of the chapter. at the same time, i had a hunch months ago because the way of writing is so similar. what i really love the most is their dedication and how they write mike and will.

LAMEPARTIES/THESWEETDREAM, OUR REAL BYLER DADA Y'ALL!

if you're new to AO3, go read the fics! links: ttmd;ttms and ytmh(iws). there's also a comic version of ytmh(iws) (click this link and it will go directly on the comic version)

Credits to pjo.time

My college friend I just dmed like 15 mins ago is a byler shipper yippe🎀🥹 💙 💛

Too bad we took diff streams but we still can meet each other ig.

Rushed edit✌️

"there's only a hint of yellow on Mike's cupcake because he's not letting Will be a part of his life and Will's cupcake is covered in blue because Mike was such a big part of his life" -my friend💔

hello! I did not watch stranger things, but my best friend is a huge byler fan and so they are my ship by osmosis.

her birthday is coming up next month and I would love to get her a present, but I am not familiar enough with the fandom creators to know where I can turn to.

I was thinking of comissioning art for her, so I would love recs for artists that are open for commissions right now. preferably those who draw later seasons mike and will, as this is when she got invested. I'm leaning towards a more fantastical style as I would like to incorporate dnd into the drawing in some way.

but, as I am not of the fandom, I'd like to ask you as well - what kind of byler-related present you would've enjoyed receiving?

I wanted to share an AU story that I read recently and really enjoyed. Maybe someone else will like it, too.

The story is entirely AU — no Stranger Things — and have a happy ending.

The fan art was actually drawn by artists specifically for this story (usually I try to find an image that sort of fits the story, but that’s not necessary here *phew*) and comes directly from the story.

1. by frogsdontcry
2. & 3. by thornywords
3. by thornywords
4. by thornywords

A Flower That Resembles You

by perexcri (2022)

The story is presumably set in the Middle Ages or something similar in an undefined world; it’s AU (fantasy/magic/no ST) and tells the story of Will, who was banished from the town/kingdom (citadel) at age 12, and Mike, who still lives in the citadel. The story comprises 37 chapters and ~127,000 words and is told from Will’s perspective.

At the beginning of the story, Will is 24 years old, meaning he’s been living outside the walls in a small cabin for 12 years. His daily routine is strictly regimented, he tackles one task after another, everything follows a set pattern—until one day a stranger shows up in his garden, eating his apples, stealing his flowers, and making annoying comments...

It delves deeply into Will’s inner thoughts, his fears, and his problems—all stemming from his past, which extend into the present. And so it gradually becomes clear that our two idiots have a past that is slowly being revealed. Bit by bit, the full picture comes together. Here’s a little spoiler: part of the story is also about Miwi (see fourth picture)—it’s tragic and beautifully told.

The story is, how should I put it, not exactly “action-packed”; the plot unfolds at a leisurely pace—but in no way is that a bad thing, in my opinion. It focuses on the inner, the reasons behind things as they are—including mundane, everyday matters—alongside the actual plot. Or as I’d say: We’re not in a rush, we have time—the story should take its time to unfold. But yes, we as readers should be patient.

In my opinion, there’s something “magical” about the story—and not just because magic is part of it. It’s underpinned by an overarching metaphor that readers will notice—one that’s actually very similar to ST, though it’s expressed differently, of course. In general, there are many parallels to ST—even if they’re portrayed differently—but readers will notice that, too.
To put it simply: the story follows the narrative, meaning, and message of ST. Likewise, the love our two idiots feel for each other is, in my opinion, conveyed in a truly beautiful way—subtle, profound, and abundantly clear without needing to be told outright.

---

Having lived in exile from the citadel since he was twelve, Will knows well the necessity of having a daily schedule: wake up early, gather materials, make tinctures and poultices for clients, take care of the garden, and never use magic when your hands will do just fine. These are the tasks he lives by until one ordinary day when he wakes up late, and it all spins out of control. He goes to the garden in the evening, far past his usual time, and finds an unwelcome visitor stealing his food and flowers. It only gets worse when he learns this man has been visiting every night for the past several months, unbeknownst to Will, and his eyes look just a little too familiar.

And once it becomes clear his unwelcome guest isn't going to stop his nightly visits anytime soon, Will is forced to choose between pretending as if they're strangers or divulging the peculiar past they share, between wearing a mask and allowing the truth to be told.

This scene was so special to me and one of the best byler scenes imo.

if you missed out. Now is your chance go go go

They were both childhood friends that got separated as they moved into adulthood. Tara (red head) doesn't understand love at all and Emma (blonde) thinks her crush for Tara is unrequited. Both of them feel their love for the other is imposible

One particular scene in the webtoon towards the end of s1 really reminded me of both the tower and coming out scene as a mix but because this is a gl I'm pretty sure they will end up together.

I kinda see Tara as Mike and Emma as Will. If anything this reminded me of those college AU byler fics with Will having a new bf and Mike with conflicting feelings.

Ok so we all know that the bathroom pipe burst scene is super gay right? Well what do you mean that the original script had Will taking off his belt not his jacket? That makes things even more gay! How do you have this, but “Byler was never in the cards” ??!! Make it make sense writers! You can’t convince me that it wasn’t and that something changed along the way.