#008. ━━ joyce byers ♡ interactions.

[strcngergirls]

@havvkinsqueenueen​​ ​ ♥ starter call from joyce!

“What you went through was unimaginable, and, in case no one else has told you: I’m proud of you. You suffered but you prevailed and not everyone can do that.”

[strcngergirls]

@creelsclocks said: i’ll survive alone, i always have. 

“Just because you’ve done it before doesn’t mean you have to do it again.” Joyce furrowed her brow and looked at him with a pout. “No one deserves to be alone. So, come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and rested. We can talk about your survival in the morning.”

[strcngergirls]

@vitaegratis​ said: ❝  people always go away.  even if they don’t mean to.  no one stays.  ❞

“That may be so, sweetie,” Joyce watches him pointedly, a faint look of sadness in her eyes. To be so cynical at such a young age was unfair. To be put through so much heartache so early on was unjust, but it was the way the world worked. Life was unfair, but true strength was learning to persevere. “But that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. Closing your heart to others only hurts yourself in the end. A wise man once said ‘it’s better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all.’”

[strcngergirls]

@wednesdcys​ said: “i swear on my late scorpion’s soul, my hands are clean.” 

“On your… what? Now, honey, uh, I’ll take your word for it this time, but next time, if you want to convince me of your innocence, maybe leave out the part about poisonous bugs. I’m sorry about your scorpion, though. I had a pet die around your age, too. Always sucks.”

[strcngergirls]

@de2thletter​ said: ❝ you have very beautiful children - morticia @ joyce !

“Thanks. Wish I could say it was all me, but…” Joyce laughs, offering a dramatized shrug that said ‘oh well.’ Lonnie wasn’t good for much these days— or ever— but he did manage to give her two beautiful children. And El was a bonus that she’d never expected but welcomed with open arms. “They’re a handful for sure, but I love them to bits. You have kids?”

[strcngergirls]

@cleryc​ said ❛ despite everything, i believe that people are really good at heart.  ❜

It was moments like this when Joyce knew that she hadn’t failed as a parent. After everything her son had been through, he still had the heart and empathy to find the good in others. She had raised him well, even if Lonnie seemed to think otherwise. 

“My sweet boy.” Reaching forward, she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him in a motherly embrace. He was getting older now, old enough to start being embarrassed by his mother, but Joyce didn’t care. One day he wouldn’t need her anymore, but while he still did she was going to take advantage of it. And to think that she had been so close to losing him. “This world doesn’t deserve you.”

[strcngergirls]

@firstcurse​ ♥ starter call from joyce!

“El talks about you all the time.” She admits with a chuckle, glad to finally meet the one her daughter had spoke of. If it hadn’t been for Henry, Joyce would’ve never gotten the chance to meet El and never would’ve had the pleasure of taking her in and helping her succeed through the hardest trials. Henry wasn’t perfect, but nobody was, and Joyce knew that better than anyone else. “It’s good to finally meet you.”

[strcngergirls]

@zoomingupthathill​ ♥ starter call from joyce!

“No. Nu-uh. Nope. Absolutely not.” Joyce shook her head and waved her hands in tandem, trying to emphasize how against the idea she was. Max may not have been one of her own kids, but Joyce was protective over her nonetheless. Especially when she knew how much Max had gone through. “No skipping meals. No one goes hungry in my house. So, come, stay for dinner. My cooking’s not that bad, I promise.”

[strcngergirls]

"Don't worry. Don't - don't worry..." Jonathan for Joyce? (or ur pick!)

“Don’t worry? After everything that’s happened, how... How can I not worry? What if something bad happens?” It feels like she just got her kids back, like things were finally settling into place again. But after everything they went through in Hawkins, it didn’t take much for Joyce to worry about her children.

[strcngergirls]

‘  the only thing i’m really sure of, i’m unsure of almost everything.  ’ – Benny to Joyce !

“Well, that makes two of us.” Joyce smirked at she held up her half-empty bottle of beer. It felt weird to be living like a normal person again, after everything she’d seen. If it hadn’t been for Hopper, she’s pretty sure she would’ve had a nervous breakdown—even more so than when Will first disappeared. Now that she had him back, she was desperate to keep him safe. But there was a fine line between protecting and smothering as she’d soon found out. Which was why she’d taken the time to leave the house for a good old-fashioned night out, at the suggestion of Hop.

“I thought I’d seen it all with Jonathan. But having two teenagers in the house at once is like... playing whack-a-mole blindfolded. It never feels like I’m hitting the mark, y’know? Teenagers are too different nowadays.”

[strcngergirls]

@dehddie​ said: “ if you hear me screaming bloody murder, there’s a good chance i’m just enjoying myself.” 

“Right. And what if it’s not? What if you’re actually in trouble? What then?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t be the boy who cried wolf. Can’t you enjoy yourself at a lower volume?”

[strcngergirls]

@anim8edheart​ sent ❰❰ TACKLE ❱❱  sender hugs the receiver so hard they almost fall over / do fall over

The sudden movement nearly cause Joyce’s heart to leap from her chest. She was quick enough to regain her footing, preventing a two-man tumble to the ground, but she couldn’t hold back the ripples of laughter that escaped with each breath. The more and more she got to know Alexei, the more she was convinced he was just a child inside a man’s body. “Alexei? What’s gotten into you all of sudden?” 

[strcngergirls]

@witnss​ said: he’s collecting trophies like a seasoned serial killer, it’s quite impressive actually. 

“Impressive? I was leaning more towards ‘concerning’ but I guess ‘impressive’ is.. certainly one way to look at it.” Joyce cupped her cheek in her hand, wondering just how many lunatics actually lurked among them. How long until the craziness built up and exploded? “I’m running out of patience for crazy people.”

[strcngergirls]

@racointeur​ said: 💋  ─  be caught standing under the mistletoe  + joyce and hop *eyes*

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she glanced up, noticing the small bundle of green hanging above the doorframe. A feeling of nostalgia washes over her, a memory of their youth together replaying in her mind like a movie reel. She’s pretty sure they used to make fun of traditions like this, opting to smoke and snicker in the background than participate in silly teenaged traditions. But after all they’d been through, feeling a bit childish didn’t sound too bad. With a smirk, she tilted her head and pouted. “Are you gonna bend down for it, or do I have climb all the way up?”

[strcngergirls]

Joyce, what is something you've always wanted to do for yourself but you've never let yourself have?

Ask my muse invasive questions!

"I've always, always, wanted to go on a vacation to somewhere tropical. It sounds lame, I know, but with kids it's hard to get a moment alone and even harder to travel anywhere without spending a fortune. Maybe Hawaii? Or Bahamas?"

[strcngergirls]

@familybyerstm​ asked: let me hold you for a minute . (Jonathan and Joyce)

Joyce leaned into her eldest's embrace. It felt like just yesterday she was holding him in her arms, cradling him as he cried out into the scary new world. In the blink of an eye he went from being two feet tall to hovering above her. Jon had grown up so fast, too fast, but she was grateful that she had raised a good boy, no thanks to Lonnie.

“I love you.” Her words were muffled as she spoke into his shirt. The Byers were strong, but they weren’t invincible. Will and Jon had been through so much already and they were still so young. It pained Joyce to know that life could and would be so cruel to her babies, but she was confident enough that they would overcome anything. Her boys were strong and they were the only thing keeping her going. “I’m glad you’re safe. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”