When Reading Fanfic Keep In Mind That For Professional Literature:

When reading fanfic keep in mind that for professional literature: 

Short story: under 7,500

Novelette: between 7,500 and 17,500

Novella: between 17,500 and 40,000

Novel: over 40,000

Fics over 40k are literally a novel written and shared for free.  If you have written a 40k+ fic, you have literally written a novel.

lucas sinclair is who i will always turn to when i start to doubt byler

let me explain…

i would just like you guys to watch this (credit to @/hawkedited on tiktok for this edit!)

this video PERFECTLY displays what mikes relationship is like with lucas. in season 1, dustin says that lucas is mike’s best friend, and he’s right! ofc all three are mike’s best friends, but lucas gets a lot of screentime showcasing what his friendship with mike is like in season 3

we also see some great scenes of will and lucas’s friendship, and honestly it’s similar in a lot of ways. lucas sinclair is the BLUEPRINT for what a normal best friendship is like for both mike and will. (dustin as well, but we just don’t get as many scenes with him interacting with the rest of the party past s1)

they are very sarcastic with each other, and it’s easy to talk to lucas about the most ridiculously boyish topics because he is what both mike and will see as heteronormativity. it’s easy for them to be friends with lucas, because they are truly best friends

but with mike and will, although they are best friends, their friendship is a direct contrast to being friends with lucas. that sarcasm and bickering is nowhere to be seen in byler, because that’s the point! we’re supposed to understand that will and mikes relationship is special. it’s not a normal friendship, and their feelings are deeper than anything platonic.

the way mike speaks to will in soft tones, almost reverent? thats not normal for mike. he doesn’t talk to anyone else like that. so why is will so different? we know it’s not because he “can’t handle sarcasm” because he’s got his own brand of sass, and he and lucas are often being sarcastic and joking with each other in s3.

it’s just the way mike treats will. he truly cares for will on a deeper level than friendship

holy shit look at this beautiful editing I’M TREMBLING, this byeler fanvid is making me cry like a BINCH (credits at the end of the video)

Shit no wait no shit wait shit waiiiit????

Are you telling me that the ‘it was a seven’ in season one was setting up SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING the origins of “friends don’t lie” and why it’s such a huge deal to Will to not lie to Mike even if it works against him? So they actually set up the van scene in that exact moment??! Except in the van scene he lies for Mike even though it STILL works against him. To show how important Mike is to him. That it’s never actually been about lying or not lying. It’s about Mike.

Actually Mike. Friends do lie. When they’re in love with you.

Ohdjsjxhrb

That is all.

mike coming out to dustin while off on a mission in s5

they’ve been walking around for about an hour now, making casual conversation and commentary on the invalding aspects of the upside down into their world when dustin decides to ask.

“so i’ve been meaning to ask, what’s up with you and el?” dustin asks as he carefully steps over a vine. 

“huh?” mike turns around to look at him, a confused expression on his face in response to the question that to him came out of no where. “what are you talking about?”

“well you guys are barley talking to each other let alone in the same room anymore. honestly it’s been nice to not turn around to you guys making out every five seconds but likewise it’s a little off putting the space between the two of you” dustin comments as they continue on. 

“oh,” mike says “i mean that’s probably because we broke up.” 

dustin stops and looks up at him with a clear expression of shock on his face “what?!? when!?!” “uh, since a little after the rest of us got back from lenora?” mike offers, getting a little uncomfortable by how surprised dustin is. 

dustin looks at him with utmost sympathy “aw man dude that sucks, i’m so sorry.” mike shakes his head “nah it’s fine. it’s for the best i think actually.” dustin sputters “”for the best”?! man what are you talking about? you guys were completely wrapped up in each other just last summer, how could you even say that?”

“dustin-”

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