#and it’ll just make will feel like mike is saying it to everybody | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tellmealovestory · 2 years ago

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Kiss Me - Chapter 2

Summary: 4 times you and Eddie kissed and it meant nothing and the 1 time you kissed and it meant everything.

Warnings: Like 1 swear word and another bit of awkwardness between these two!! Masterlist

The closer the clock ticks to midnight the more intense the game of Dungeons and Dragons seems to get as they work to end their current campaign before the new year.

Sitting in the basement of Mike’s house watching it all unfold isn’t your usual scene. It seems no matter how many times Eddie or Dustin have explained the rules and point of the game to you you still don’t understand it, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying.

Eddie begged you to come, convincing you that you couldn’t spend another night studying or hanging out by yourself.

“Bullshit!” Dustin shouts in exasperation after he rolls the dice. It doesn’t take an expert to realize it’s a bad roll and now the game hangs in jeopardy.

Attempting to cover up your laugh by coughing Eddie catches your eye. Instead of shushing you like he normally would during intense moments of game play he has to fight his own growing laughter.

You know that if you both keep staring at each other like this one of you is going to break, most likely you and it’ll take too long to stop your laughing fit and get everybody back on track. So you do the more mature thing, nodding to the stairs and silently letting Eddie know you’re going to get some air.

As much as you enjoy hanging out with the younger kids, sometimes their rambunctious personality and being surrounded by so many boys takes its toll on you and you occasionally have to slip out for a few minutes of alone time.

Upstairs there’s another party going on, this time for the adults. You catch Karen being the perfect hostess, wandering around the living room refilling everyone’s drinks and offering them bite size snacks. Working your way through the crowd you slip out the front door and onto their driveway.

It’s cold outside, cold enough to see your breath come out in puffs of smoke when you breathe and to make your lungs burn with each inhale and exhale. Snow flurries fall around you and there’s a stillness in the air that makes it feel like you’re the only person left on earth.

You aren’t sure how long you stand in the Wheeler’s driveway, leaning your back against a maroon car before Eddie comes stumbling out the front door, eyes lighting up when he catches a glimpse of you.

“Christ, it's cold.” He shoves his hands deep in his pockets, cheeks turning a rosy red from the bite in the air. “What are you still doing out here?”

Snorting at his words you can’t help the sarcastic quip that slips from your lips.

“Making s’mores. What’s it look like?”

“You planning on making me one? ‘Cause I’m fuckin’ starving.”

Matching smiles curve your lips up and you appreciate how he never gets offended by your occasional sarcasm, instead choosing to join in on your own games of inside jokes and secret smiles that annoy everyone else in your friend circle.

Shuffling his feet in an attempt to keep warm you want to tell him he can go back inside to the warmth and your friends, that he doesn’t have to spend the last few minutes of the year out here freezing with you.

“Want me to take you home?”

“No,” you say with a quick shake of your head. “I’m good, I just needed a few minutes of peace.” Guilt blooms in your chest like a flowering garden that he thinks he needs to ditch the party and game to hang out with you or leave early to take you home.

“You’re having fun.” You gesture towards the house where light is spilling out from the windows and drunken laughter streams out from the open front door. “Besides you’re in the middle of a super important game,” you tease, glancing at him as he leans his back against the car mirroring your position.

“Games over for now. After that roll of Dustin’s there wasn’t much more they could do till next time.” Eddie lifts his shoulder in a shrug and you note the fondness in his voice when he talks about the younger boy and the club he started.

He shuffles his way a little closer so his shoulder is lightly pressing against yours. A few beats of comfortable silence pass and you both stare up at the sky watching the snow flurries fall faster.

Turning more serious he says softly, “I’d be having more fun if you were in there with me.”

He takes his hands out of his pockets, pinky finger brushing against yours before intertwining them like you’re children and he’s making you a pinky promise. He doesn’t miss the way you smile after that first touch or how you duck your head down to stare at the snow beginning to cover your shoes.

He’d do anything to see that smile on your face and he’s relieved that you seem to have forgotten about his earlier offer to take you home.

Another comfortable silence settles around you and you know you should head back soon before you both turn into popsicles or Dustin runs out to forcibly drag you back in. Instead of saying any of that though you savor just a few more minutes of alone time with him.

Drawing a pattern in the snow with the toe of your shoe you sigh before murmuring a soft, “I guess we should go back in. Maybe we can steal some more of those snacks MIke’s mom made.”

Nodding your head towards the front door the same way you did downstairs in the basement you only make it half a step forward before his hand wraps around your elbow stopping you in your tracks.

“It’s midnight,” he starts as if you could forget about the holiday. And when you stare at him dumbly you wonder if he expects you to say Happy New Year, but before you can begin to form those words he’s speaking again. “So we should kiss.”

“What? Why?” you blurt, cringing at how you sound.

It’s been a few months since you had thrown yourself at him and had your first kiss and neither of you had brought it up again since that night. You had assumed it was a one time thing so to hear him suggesting another one has you knitting your eyebrows together and wondering if this is some kind of joke.

“Cause it’s tradition or some shit like that.”

You bark out a laugh at his explanation, but he continues, “If you kiss someone at midnight it’s supposed to bring good luck and I can use all the luck I can get. ‘86 is gonna be my year, baby! I’m walking that stage with you at graduation, diploma held high, middle finger in the air.” He does a little dance at the end that makes you giggle.

Once your giggle fit ends your face softens and you turn more serious wanting to tell him that he doesn’t need luck to graduate. He’s going to. You know that with as much certainty as you know that the sky is blue and water is wet.

His fingers tighten around your elbow and he gently pulls you back to him. Nudging your foot with his like he wants to start a game of footsie he arches his brow, cocks his head to the side and drops his hold from your elbow. Placing his open palms in front of him in a silent invitation he leaves the choice up to you. Yes or no to another kiss he says silently.

You don’t have to think too hard about it. It’s just a kiss between friends on New Years Eve and hell, you’ve already kissed him once before, what’s another one? And it is tradition as he so eloquently put it even if it’s one you’ve never partaken in before.

“Hm… I guess we could,” you drawl in a teasing tone, “not like there’s anyone else in there I’d want to kiss. Alright, Munson, let’s do this.”

“Wow.” He rests a hand over his chest and adds, “you’re such a romantic, princess, all business with you, huh?” He gives you a playful smirk to let you know there’s no malice beneath his words, all teasing in good fun, but even without the smirk you know he would never say anything mean to you.

His voice lowers a few octaves when he says c’mere and your heart does somersaults inside your chest.

You step up to him half expecting this second kiss to be like the first one, hands to himself, but that’s not the case as he reaches out to cup your cheeks.

His fingers are colder than death’s themselves, never mind his metal rings and you hiss at the ice cold touch against your skin. Resisting the urge to step out of his embrace Eddie’s face falls and he swears beneath his breath before dropping his hands and you immediately miss the way they felt against you and the level of comfort his touch brought even if it was freezing.

“Uh sorry about that.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Guess I should have warmed them up beforehand…”

“It’s fine, really.”

You’re both talking over one another, neither hearing what the other is saying and when the miscommunication dawns you both let out a pair of matching laughs.

“So you uh ready now? Promise I’ll keep my hands to myself this time,” he says with a small smirk.

“You don’t have to keep your hands to yourself.” The words escape your chilled lips before you can stop them and it takes your mind a few seconds to comprehend that yup, you did indeed say those words out loud.

Your mouth drops open and you try to walk it back before he teases you about it, but he doesn’t. His eyebrows raise and you can practically see the toll trying to behave himself is taking on him right now.

“Good to know.” His smirk widens before he asks you again if you’re ready. You give a short nod of your head that he takes as confirmation.

Unlike the first kiss you’re both aware and ready for this one to happen.

Even so when his lips touch yours you’re not prepared for how they’re going to be nearly as cold as his hands were. You gasp against him, but you don’t pull away, instead choosing to focus on how soft his lips are and how he tastes like Mountain Dew when you hesitantly kiss him back with no idea what you’re doing.

It’s a quick kiss, lasting only a few seconds longer than the first one, but you think you begin to understand why people enjoy doing this so much. It feels good, feels nice, even if it’s with someone you’re not romantically interested in.

He’s the first to break the kiss, forehead resting against yours and you smile softly despite yourself. Basking in a new kind of silence you keep your eyes shut for a few more seconds and Eddie does the same.

But like earlier when he interrupted your silence Dustin comes barreling out the front door to interrupt this moment.

“Son of a bitch!” he shouts. “I knew you two were together! Wait till everybody else hears about this. Guys!”

Before either of you can speak or contradict Dustin you see a glimpse of his retreating back as he heads inside to the basement to start some rumors.

“Yeah,” Eddie drawls, “sure you don’t want me to take you home? We can pick up some pizza, a few movies maybe.” There’s a lightness to his words and you appreciate his offer even more this time. You both already know that it’ll take some convincing to get them to believe that you’re not together, but knowing that Eddie will be by your side makes it all a little easier.

You begin to walk back towards the house where it’s warm and the food is, but before you reach the steps you give him a bright smile and turn around to face him. “Happy New Year, Eddie, you’re right, ‘86 is going to be our year.”

Tags;

@gaysludge

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson fan fiction #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson #my writing

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reikunrei · 2 years ago

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got some little (big) brain worms thinking abt Heroes popping up twice in Stranger Things and how i would not be surprised if it shows up for a third, and probably reading into it a little too much but hey! that’s what this website’s for, babeyyy!

not sure where exactly i’m going with this, but i think i’ll figure it out as i go along. overall, i think the song works very well for the whole show, and many of the lyrics i feel work very well for El’s character, but i’m especially interested in tying it to Mike and Will, too.

i started thinking about this because i remember specifically when it plays in s3, they cut out the lines “And we kissed as though nothing could fall / And the shame, the shame was on the other side” in the final verse, so i wanted to go back and see exactly when that happens, and compare it to when the song shows up in s1, and see if it’s founded to believe that it’ll show up a third time in s5.

obviously, a good deal of the songs in the show are likely for the purpose of nostalgia and fitting the era, but for the big emotional scenes, they have to be considered very closely, I think.

under the cut because uuuuh i don’t know how to be succinct :3 be advised, a lot of this contains endless rambling and tangents bc I wanted to write stuff down as I worked it out in my brain

first! i want to break down what exactly happens in each of these scenes and my immediate thoughts/interpretations.

Heroes in s1e3:

it starts playing just as the kids roll up on their bikes behind the fire engine to stay hidden from all the cops.

“i will be king” plays as they pull Will’s “body” out of the water and we and everybody else realizes that, yes, this is the Byers kid.

Mike says, “it’s not Will. it can’t be” before/during “though nothing will drive us away.” in this moment, Mike (and the others) don’t want to believe it’s Will because not even death will drive them apart.

“Oh, we can be heroes” starts when Lucas says that “it’s really Will” and when Mike snaps at El. she wanted to be the hero, she wanted to help these boys find their friend, she still wants to help them find their friend, she wants to be the hero, but Mike isn’t having it anymore. he has the understandable knee-jerk reaction of getting angry because he’s so upset thinking he’s lost one of his best friends in the world forever, believing that El deliberately ran them around in a circle (like how he also gets frustrated with her when they go back to the Byers house) because they don’t understand that she’s correct.

Mike is the first one to leave in this scene. he yells at El, and then picks up his bike and runs off, leaving Lucas, Dustin, and El.

“I can remember / standing by the wall” plays as Jonathan comes up on Joyce running away from their house after the Demogorgon came out of their wall.

“And the guns shot above our heads” plays as Mike gets home, and “And we kissed as though nothing could fall” plays when he reaches out to Karen and weeps into her arms. this kind of automatically makes me think of all of the boys spending time together, playing dnd, dealing with pretend “guns” and weapons, but reveling in it, having fun, because it’s all just games. they “kissed” so to speak, they celebrated their fun and their victories, because for them, nothing could go wrong. except it did this time, and now all of that love is turned painful at this abrupt loss of life and hope.

interestingly, “And the shame, the shame was on the other side” is split between Mike and Karen, and Jonathan and Joyce, both pairs of which are hugging. maybe Mike is feeling ashamed that he though to trust in Eleven, maybe he’s feeling ashamed that he couldn’t save Will, that maybe he could have saved Will if he had tried to go out on his own rather than humoring this random girl, and he feels guilty for it. for Joyce, since at this point she doesn’t know that they found Will’s “body” maybe she’s leaving the shame that she’s “crazy” behind. she saw this thing crawl out of her wall, it’s not just in her head, it’s not just faulty wiring, something is wrong. and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks, as she later expresses to Jonathan as they leave the morgue, and she insists that she knows she sounds crazy, but she knows she’s right.

before we get into the song in s3, i want to describe the scene leading up to it:

El reading Hopper’s letter to her.

overall he explains that while life hurts sometimes, that means you’re alive. in the end, you’ll only hurt more if you ignore all of the pain, because that just makes you apathetic. you get “stuck in one place, in a cave, you might say. A deep dark cave” because once you ignore the hurt, you don’t feel much of anything at all.

he expresses how it hurts to see her growing, changing, becoming distant (which is also what he says during the focus in on Mike as they leave the Byers’ house on their bikes, but hey, let’s not get too distracted here!) and that scares him more than anything else. because he doesn’t want things to change, even though he knows it’s inevitable.

he then goes on to hammer home that it’s good to keep changing, to keep moving, and nobody should stop her. she should make mistakes, learn from them, and remember the hurt.

then, the song starts.

Heroes in s3e8:

it begins playing right as El finishes reading Hopper’s letter, and it picks up on the “I will be king” line. i think the “king” in question is the sentiment he expresses in his letter.

“you will be queen” is sung over El as she assures Joyce that she’s okay. this feels too literal, but i’m a snotty crying mess after watching the scene again so i can’t really think too much rn, but i do think that El is the “queen” in question.

“Though nothing will drive us away / We can beat them forever and ever.” even though things might keep dragging them back down, they have to keep beating back those monsters, both literal and metaphorical. they have to beat back the Upside Down, but they also have to beat back their trauma because of it. they have to deal with it rather than ignore it. they won’t let the apathy take them over. they might yearn for things to go back to the way they were before any of this happened, but what would be the point in that? it would be the same as being apathetic.

i also love the “we can be heroes just for one day” line in relation to El, specifically because of this idea she has in her head of being a hero vs a monster. in this context, it almost feels like she’s trying to assure herself that she doesn’t have to be the hero. she doesn’t have to be this big, powerful, amazing person all the time (like Mike and the others have painted her out to be, despite how that will ultimately hurt her more). she’s allowed to be a hero “just for one day,” and for no more.

this also makes me think of how so much of s3 was about El overusing her powers, and that scaring Mike because they don’t know what it’ll do to her. like, they end up relying on El again and again, making her be the hero, always saying how “this’ll be easy because the girl with superpowers is on our side!” when constantly putting her up on this pedestal led to her ultimate crash and burn. she is allowed to be a hero “just for one day.”

the switch to “we can be us just for one day” is also interesting, because it makes me think of them longing to just be allowed to live again, to be kids. especially in relation to El and Will. El has only recently been allowed to live a “normal” life, and Will had his “normal” life ripped away from him, but neither of them will ever get that normalcy back in its entirety, despite their yearning for it.

and then we get to the final verse. all of this pans across Jonathan closing the moving truck door and Joyce looking back into the house one last time before locking the door. they’ve endured so much trauma in that house, and in this context (again taken very literally) the lyrics are driving home that the Byers have been through hell, but they will continue to “beat them forever and ever” and power through the change and the hurt along with the other characters.

and the part that got me thinking about this at all: the removal of those two lines.

“And we kissed as though nothing could fall / And the shame, the shame was on the other side.”

right away, those two lines are the most hopeful to me. "we can be heroes just for one day” always sounds more like a plea to me, it sounds desperate, but “And we kissed as though nothing could fall” just screams that love is the answer, and feeling the hurt makes the joy so much richer. everything could be going to shit around them, but that “kiss” will save them every single time.

“And the shame, the shame was on the other side.” they’re allowing themselves to feel all of their feelings without trying to hide any of it. they’re moving on from trying to keep themselves buttoned up. moving and changing and growing might be messy, painful, they might make mistakes, but that’s okay. they don’t have to be ashamed of any change that comes their way.

but neither of these lines appear in s3. how come? i know that the decision could purely be because they wanted to trim down on time, but just a few seconds...? especially when the final verse played all the way through in s1? who knows how far ahead they were thinking when they made s1, but the Duffers seem to do everything very deliberately, so, at the very least, it was a deliberate choice to remove those 2 lines from s3.

compare and contrast:

in s1, the song plays over the whole party. in s3, the song mostly plays over El and the Byers, most specifically Joyce and Jonathan. however, Joyce and Jonathan are also present in both s1 and s3.

in both instances, Hopper is a big part of the lead-up into the song.

in both instances, the song comes in on the lyric “I will be king.”

in both instances, there’s an emphasis on acceptance. in s1, it’s about the boys accepting that their friend is really dead, but also about Joyce finally accepting the severity of the situation she’s in, and accepting that she’s gonna sound crazy even when she’s right. in s3, they’re accepting that they have to move on, that they have to keep growing and changing, and they can’t remain stuck in one place, otherwise they’ll only get hurt, even if the change also hurts.

“oh, we can be heroes just for one day” plays most often over shots of El in both scenes (minus the final shot of each scene, both of which have Joyce (and Jonathan) as the final lyric plays out).

branching off of the above point, i find it interesting that i had different interpretations of the same lyrics between both seasons. in s1, she (and the boys) wanted to be heroes and save Will. in s3, it feels very much like El wants to stop being the hero, that they all want things to go back to “normal.” although, you could also argue that she wants to be the hero again, meaning to get her powers back.

while in s3 the shots of Mike don’t take place during the song, he has similar moments in both seasons: we see his pain the most out of the other characters with scenes dedicated to him in the aftermath, and in both cases he goes home to his mom and asks for her comfort. in contrast, he’s the first to leave in s1 and the last to leave in s3. also in contrast, he’s visibly crying in s1, while he isn’t in s3.

and, the final point that got this whole ramble started: removing “And we kissed as though nothing could fall / And the shame, the shame was on the other side” from s3.

in the context of El:

I’ve already said this a few times, but the “we could be heroes” line always jumps out as distinctly El to me, especially because of her insistence in being the “hero” rather than the “monster.” she wants to be the hero so badly, she wants to save her friends, but it doesn’t come as naturally to her as she wants it to. this isn’t any fault of her own, it’s just how life works, nothing will be as neat as she wants it to be, but it makes her desperate for it.

“We could be heroes just for one day” as I said before has always sounded like a plea to me. whether it be read as “let me just be a hero for one day and nothing more” or “please I want to be a hero so bad” they’re both desperate pleas for something. and I think El is desperate for both.

in the context of Mike:

I didn’t actually start thinking about his relation to this song on his own until I started writing this up, but I think it’s super interesting, and sort of obvious once you realize how prevalent he is in both scenes.

Mike is a big fixture in both scenes.

in s1, he’s the one who gets upset, certain that it’s not Will’s body, and goes home to weep in his mother’s arms as the (false) reality sets in. we see the rest of the kids upset, we see Lucas and Dustin beginning to grieve, but the focus is on Mike.

I feel like it’s also obvious that he, too, wanted to be the hero in s1. he and the others were so certain that the adults didn’t have the whole picture, and they were determined to find Will on their own without help.

in s3, while he’s not a main aspect during the song actually playing, the lead up to it ends up focusing on him a fair amount (hesitating as all of his friends get on their bikes to leave, him being the only one to look back at the house before riding off, him going home and falling into his mother’s arms again. though, notably, he’s not weeping this time, he just looks... empty).

he also did many heroic things in s3, like taking on Billy in the Sauna Test, trying to convince everyone that El should ease up on her powers, always physically protecting her and his other friends.

most notably, though, Mike is the only one we see a further reaction from after the fact. we get long, dedicated moments to emphasizing his pain at losing someone, and the one consistency in that loss is Will.

this leads me back to the two missing lines, and how they remained in s1 when the only person Mike lost was Will, and how they were removed in s3 when he was losing both Will and El.

two thoughts with this:

1) maybe the lines were removed because, as i said before, those lines feel the most hopeful out of the whole song. and in s3, because he’s losing his best friend and his girlfriend in the same instant, he’s lost his hope. matched with the fact that he isn’t crying like he was in s1, he’s falling into that cave of apathy that Hopper warned El about.

2) maybe the lines were removed because, even though the whole season had Mike and El dealing with their romance, she’s not the one he should have been kissing in the end.

b-b-b-b-bonus 3) it’s both at the same time.

and so we finally get to the song in the context of Will and Mike as a duo:

the song as a whole, but especially the final verse, and more especially those two lines, I feel like are extremely closely tied to Mike and Will as a pair because of how the lyrics appear (or don’t) in the show.

a lot of what we saw of Mike in s4 was him being wishy-washy. he’s unsure of himself, finding himself not as emotionally mature as El and Will, and being stuck in forcing himself not to feel his strong feelings for El (and Will). obviously, we see this most explicitly with El in s4, with him being afraid to tell her he loves her because he thinks it’ll hurt when she “inevitably” decides she doesn’t need him anymore, but we’ve established that the hurt is good! he just hasn’t learned that lesson yet! he’s scared of feeling so much, but that’s coming to bite him in the ass. not only because it’s greatly unfair to his friends, but also because it’s unfair to himself. it’s stunting him, and he’s unable to keep growing and changing like he’s supposed to because he’s trying to keep things exactly as they were/are.

when we get to his feelings for Will, obviously we have nothing explicitly stated right now. but we can infer that there is something going on in Mike’s thick skull, and maybe we’ll get something more concrete in s5. i think it’s safe to say, though, that he feels shame. he feels shame at not being able to tell El he loves her, and he’s ashamed that he can’t tell Will how he truly feels. and i think, if he is queer, he will feel ashamed of that, too.

but we all know they (the Duffers) won’t let him wallow in that.

Will also feels shame. he’s terrified of being true and open about his own feelings, always hiding behind El in s4, but we can see that he’s accepted his feelings to some degree. he knows he’s in love with Mike, and he’s accepted it, fear and shame and all. he’s already one step ahead of Mike in terms of emotional maturity in this department, and I think he’ll be the one to get Mike to really open up. Will will be the one to have Mike dissect himself, to look inward and acknowledge all of his strong feelings, and embrace them. Will will show Mike that it’s okay to feel shame, they don’t have to shove it all down and pretend to be “normal.” only when they acknowledge their feelings, including the shame, will they be able to grow as people and as characters.

I feel that it would be a disservice to not have the song show up again, with those two missing lines added back in. I feel like the fact that they decided to put the song in twice is already evidence enough to think it could show up again, but the fact that they cut out those two lines of the last verse feels like we were meant to take it into consideration, and assume that it will appear in s5 again, hopefully now with those two hopeful lines tucked back in to remind us what the core of the show really is.

i believe Will and Mike, while the world is growing darker around them, will “[kiss] as though nothing could fall” and they will leave their shame “on the other side.” they will express their love for one another, come to accept their growth and their changes, no matter how scary it might be to embrace who they truly are, and they will be unbeatably strong for it.

but alas, I am ready to be proven wrong now that I’ve jinxed it and the song will never show it’s face again :-)

#I say things #byler #stranger things #will byers #mike wheeler #eleven #I just have to post this so I stop thinking abt it I think #we’ll see if I get embarrassed and delete it later LOL but it’s fun to look forward to smthn like this #like obvs a lot of the music in the show is for nostalgia reasons #but for big moments like this? it’s important

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clemmietimes · 2 years ago

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really i just don’t like how they got rid of luke, bonnie, and mike. luke dies bc god forbid we wait like 10 minutes for him to pull himself out , we have to get to that empty house NOW goddammit- wait who could have imagined that ice that can’t hold a grown could not also hold a child/grown adult?? woops oh well he’s dead moving on.

and im not saying mike and bonnie were the most loyal characters BUT they go from being pretty and but trying their best to make things work people to doing one of the most treacherous things in the series; stealing ALL the supplies from and a truck which basically leaves a newborn baby and everybody else shit outta luck. because fuck you if you had a positive relationship with these characters

i will talk about the kenny v jane another time bc i can’t put it into words the way i want to but do know that i don’t HATE it but i don’t LOVE it either. the closest i can think of is jane isn’t wrong about kenny being dangerous but the whole situation was essentially just manufactured therefore the point feels kinda moot? idk just give me some time y’all it’ll come together

i have mixed feelings about this episode… i like what they were going for but the execution and how they got there was mmm..

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delayed-affection · 2 years ago

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Chapter five

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Hopper successfully makes it inside Hawkins lab. Weaving in and out of rooms as he tries to find who or what he's looking for.

He stops in front of the marked off hall. He sighs after a short thought and goes in. He tries the first door he sees but the door is locked. He mutters a no before noticing a tag reader to the right of him.

A gun cocks behind him, "Hands up. Hands up!" The man demands. A security guard arrives with his gun drawn, pointed at Hoppers back.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." Hopper says hiding his fear and panic

"Forgot all the cameras, bud?" he asks not really looking for an answer,

Hopper turns around with his hands up, "Look, Dr. Brenner asked for me specifically. Okay?" he claims, "How else do you think I got in here?"

"What's your name again?" he asks pulling out a walkie, keeping his gun pointed at him but the guard puts his back in its holster

"It's Jim Hopper." he smiles "Chief Jim Hopper."

He starts talking into the walkie "Yeah, I've got Jim Hopper-" before he can finish what he's say Hopper punches him in the face sending him to the ground.

The guard goes to pull out his gun but Hopper whips his out pointing it at him, he shoves him into the wall with the gun to his head. Hopper takes the guards gun putting it in his jacket before snagging the name tag off his chest.

He swipes the tag and the door buzzes letting him know that he can now enter. He walks through the doors backwards keeping his gun pointed at the guard. He briefly scans the area before shooting that tag reader.

"Drink." Lonnie says "It'll calm your nerves." Pouring them both a glass, "Help you think straight, yeah?"

"I don't know what to do." She says watching him as he joins her on the couch.

She sniffles, "This whole time... I... I could... I could feel him. He was... He was so close. He was... was right there. I knew he was alive. Our hands... our hands were almost touching. Now it's like I... uh..."

She starts to cry a little, "God, it's like I can't feel him anymore. Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" He asks

"Like how everybody is looking at me." She explains "Like I'm out of my damn mind."

"Hey." He whispers "You're not gonna like this, but I think you need to seriously consider the possibility that all this... Its in your head."

She scoffs as he continues, "You remember your Aunt Darlene?"

"No. No, this is not that." she states

"I mean, when something like this happens, your mind makes up stuff for you to cope, you know?" He explains "I mean, Jesus, there's a funeral tomorrow for our little boy and you're saying his body is fake. He's in the wall. I mean, how do you explain that?"

She tries to talk but nothing comes out so he continues on with what he is saying, "It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't. At least go talk to a shrink or... What's about Pastor Charles or someone-"

She sighs interrupting him "I don't- Well, they can't help."

"Joyce, you just told me... that Will is gone." He says "What else is there to do?"

"Will?" Hopper calls out searching for the boy with his flashlight sweeping the area. He is in and out of rooms before he enters one with a camera pointing at a bed.

He shines his light on the bed to find a little stuffed lion. With drawings hung up on the wall.

"What was Will saying?" Mike asks the group, "Like home... Like home... But dark" he gets up off the couch.

"And dark." Lucas adds

"Empty and cold. Wait, did he say cold?" Dustin asks

"I don't know. The stupid radio kept going in and out." Lucas complains

Dustin sighs "It's like riddles in the dark."

"Like home." Mike says pacing back and forth "Like his house?"

"Or maybe like Hawkins?" Lucas chimes

"Upside down." El says weakly

"What she'd say?" Lucas asks looking at the siblings that are sitting on the stairs.

"Upside down." Y/n says getting up walking towards the table

"What?" He asks again

"Upside down." Mike says following her over, they both take a seat at the table

"When El showed us where Will was she flipped the board over, remember?" Y/n says flipping the board over.

The boys join the at the table.

"Upside down." Mike states, "Dark. Empty."

"Do you understand what they're talking about?" Lucas ask Dustin earning a 'No' from the boy.

"Guys, come on, think about it." She says trying to get them on the same page as Mike and her.

"When El took us to find Will, she took us to his house, right?" Mike asks

"Yeah. And he wasn't there." Lucas comments

"But what if he was there?" Y/n theorizes "What if we just couldn't see him? What if he was on the other side?"

Getting no response from the two boys Mike flips the board right side up, "What if this is Hawkins and..." he flips the bored upside down, "this is where Will is? The upside down." He explains

"Like the Vale of Shadows." Dustin comments finally catching on.

"Will!" Hopper shouts walking around following the sound of alarms. He presses an elevator call button and stares down the hall. Guards yell as he slips into the elevator pressing a button making the doors close before they can get to him.

Dustin flips through a folder full of papers until he finds what he's looking for.

"The Vale of Shadows" he reads out "is a dimension that is a dark reflection or echo of our world."

The door of the elevator open to dark empty hallway, Hopper walks out and starts calling for Will.

Dustin continues to read, "It's a place of decay and death. A plane out of phase. A plane of monsters. It is right next to you and you don't even see it."

"An alternate dimension." Mike says

"But... how... how do we get there?" Lucas asks

"You cast Shadow walk." Dustin responds

"In real life, dummy." Lucas says

"We can't shadow walk, but... maybe she can." Dustin comments making them all look over at El.

"Do you know how to get there? To the upside down?" Y/n asks and El shakes her head

"Oh, my god." Lucas sighs

Hopper coughs as he walks through a door way. He stops in tracks and gasps, "What the hell?"

He shines his light at the pulsing mass on the wall and he walks towards it. He puts his hand out to touch it, absolutely entranced by it.

Something runs behind him making him turn away from the rooted mass and pull his gun out. He tries to do a swipe of the area before he is injected with a needle from behind.

Jonathan enters the house to find his mom and dad sitting on the couch together.

"Hey, kid." Lonnie greets him like he supposed to be there and this isn't a surprise.

"What's going on?" Jonathan asks not liking how close they are

"Your dad's, uh, gonna stay here tonight." Joyce stammers "on the couch."

"Yeah, I'm here as long as you need me, okay?" Lonnie states, "how you holding up?"

Jonathan walks over to the blanket covered wall, ignoring him. He moves the blanket over to reveal a hole going straight through the house.

"What happened?" He asks more so towards his mom

"Don't worry about that." Lonnie replies

"Mom,"He says walking over to her, "that thing you saw before did it come back?"

"Jonathan, that's enough." Lonnie commands thinking that he's just entertaining his mothers delusion

Jonathan sighs, "Can we talk? Alone?"

Now in his room, "You need to leave." He says to Lonnie

"I know you're upset. We all are. But you need to listen to me. Your mother is sick. Really sick." He States

"Yeah. Well, you being here, you're just making it worse, like always." He informs him

"Worse?" He scoffs

"Yeah!" He says hoping that he can paint the picture by himself and leave

"She took down that wall with an ax. She said Will was inside and that he's talking to her." He informs him

"Yeah." He says "Maybe he was."

"This isn't some kind of joke." He states "Your mom was half frozen to death when I got here. Trembling, scared out of her mind. You come in here and you start feeding into her hallucinations or whatever the hell you want to call it, you're gonna push her right over the edge. You hear me?"

Jonathan just looks at him knowing it's no use to try and explain to him what's going on.

Lonnie sighs "Look, I'm on your side. I'm here to help. I'm gonna make things better around here for all of us."

Jonathan scoff at that statement, "Thank god you're here." Backing away from him

"Do me a favor." Lonnie says "At the funeral tomorrow, just behave."If not for me, for your mother."

Lonnie looks around his room real quick, "Take that down. It's inappropriate."

"Ah! Dad, you're... you're choking me." Mike says as his dad does his tie in the mirror

"Ah... there. It's supposed to be a little tight." His dad explains "looks good."

Mr. Wheeler zips up the back of Nancy’s dress, “Here we go. You look nice, sweetie”

Nancy looks at her through the mirror, “Anything else?” Her mom asks “You can borrow my black heels if you want. The ones you wore to Cathy’s birthday.”

“I’m fine. Thanks” she replies

Y/n knocks on Dustin’s door, “Hey, are you ready? Moms waiting for us in the car.”

He slides his door open ��As ready as one can be to bury their friends fake body.” He says

“You know a simple ‘yeah’ would have sufficed.” She replies putting arm around his shoulder and leading him out the house.

Jonathan struggles to figure out his tie. He sighs with frustration and takes it off.

Joyce sits in Wills room on his bed with no emotion, she’s numb and is dreading what she has to do.

Lonnie walks into the doorway, “Come on. Time to go.”

She groans not wanting to leave, he holds his hand out to her, “Come on.”

She sighs before taking it and they start to head out.

“Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your god.” The pastor recites, “I will strengthen you. Yes I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Joyce can’t look at the casket, she tries but ultimately fails and turns her head.

Lucas, Mike and Y/n keep their gaze at the ground. Dustin looks at those around him. Nudges Lucas’ arm catching the attention on the other two.

He nods his head over to a girl who’s crying, “Just wait till we tell Will that Jennifer Hayes was crying at his funeral.”

Mrs Wheeler shushes the boy, making him fall quiet.

Flowers are thrown on top of Wills casket as it has now been lowered into the ground.

“I’m so, so sorry.” Mrs wheeler says going in for a hug, which Lonnie accepts

“Oh, thank you so much for coming.” He replies

“Yeah, if there’s anything we can do…” Mr wheeler says shaking his hand

“I appreciate it. Thank you so much.” He says

Joyce stands off to the side letting him do all the talking. As she finally lets go of a breath, she didn’t know she was holding.

Almost coming to a realization.

Joyce is standing at the kitchen counter preparing food. “I see Will the Wise is back.” She says turning to look at Will who’s sitting at the table,“What’s that shooting out of his cane?”

“Fireballs.” He replies continuing to color “I couldn’t find the red crayon, so that’s why it’s green.”

“Oh, well… if he’s so wise, why does he need fireballs?” She asks “Why can’t he just, you know, outsmart the bad guys?”

She walks over to the table and places down a plate

“Most of the time, yeah, totally.” He answers looking up at here “But… sometimes the bad guys are smart, too. You know?”

“Yeah. So he needs fireballs?” She questions

“Well, yeah, to burn them to a crisp.” He explains

“All right, Well, I don’t know who’s been raising you, but I’m gonna get you some new crayons because it looks like he’s shooting cabbages.” She says

She ruffles his hair and they both laugh.

Hopper gasps as he wakes up. He starts to get up and he notices that he’s back at home. His breathing gets heavier, the realization kicks in as he remembers what happened last night.

He quickly gets up grabbing his gun and runs outside looking for anyone or anything.

He looks at his neck in the mirror, grabbing at his skin. He stops and suddenly starts to rip about his house.

Going through everything and anything, nothing is off limits. Pictures, lights, cups, cabinets, radios all being ripped opened or looked at.

He flips tables and chairs. Takes apart his phone and banging it on the side of a desk til it breaks.

Breaking lamps, glass, and anything fragile. He flips open his knife and cuts into his couch. Ripping everything out of the cushions.

He’s knocking over books and opening up radios. He looks up at the light above him talking off the shade. He finally finds what he has been looking for.

He pulls a listening device out from in between the two light bulbs. He’s seething .

Dr Brenner is listening to a conversation that had to do with the boys calling out to Will.

“Will! Will, it’s us! Are you there?” Lucas can be heard yelling

“Can you hear us?” We’re here!” Dustin says

Wills voice is distorted “Hello? Mom?”

“Why can’t hear us?” Lucas asks

“I don’t know!” Mike yells

“Mom, it’s coming!” Will says

Brenner puts the headphones down on the table, “She was there.” He states

This is where we know for sure it’s been, right?” Jonathan says to Nancy as the sit on the ground of the cemetery

“So that’s…” she asks pointing at the paper in his hand

“Steve’s house.” He answers “And that’s the woods where they found Will’s bike and… that’s my house.”

“It’s all so close.” She points out

“Yeah. Exactly.” He says “I mean, its all within a mile or something. Whatever this is, it’s… it’s not traveling far.”

“You want to go out there.” She comments

“We might not find anything.” He replies

“I found something.” She states “And if we do see it… then what?”

He sighs “We kill it.”

He jumps into the passenger seat of the car and begins to pick the lock to the glove compartment.

“What are you doing?” She asks

“Just give miss a second.” He says popping it open

He grabs the gun out and checks if it loaded, grabbing the box of bullets out too, stuffing them into his jacket.

“Are you serious?” She questions him stunned

“What? You want to find this thing and take another photo? Yell at it?” He argues closing the compartment and steps out of the car.

“This is a terrible idea” she says

He closes the door “Yeah, well, it’s the best we got. What? You can tell someone, but they’re not gonna believe you. You know that.”

“Your mom would.” She states

“She’s been through enough.” He explains not wanting her to get involved

“She deserves to know.” She argues

“Yeah, and I’ll tell her… when this thing is dead.” He replies

“I don’t know what in the world caused it.” The principal explains to what should be a repair man.

“Let’s take a look, huh?” The man replies walking over to the burnt up radio

“Mr Clarke says he’s never seen anything like it.” He says

“Mr Clarke?” He asks

“Yeah, he runs the AV Club.” He explains

“That right?” He replies inspecting the radio

“Apparently, some of the less athletic types go nuts for this stuff.” He comments leaning over to look at what he’s doing

The man walks back to his van and the man inside starts the engine. They drive off and leave the school.

Joyce watches as Lonnie mingles with others while she’s sat at a table.

Mr Clarke is standing at a table putting food on his plate as the group walks over to him.

“Mr Clarke.” Mike says

“Oh, hey, there.” He says turn to look at them, Dustin snags something off the table and puts in his mouth handing the other to his sister. “Nice to see you again, Y/n. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

“How are you guys holding up?” He asks

Mike plays well into the act looking at the floor, while Dustin munches on snacks.

“We’re… in… mourning.” Lucas says sounding much more like a robot than someone actually mourning.

“Man, theses aren’t real Nilla Wafers.” Dustin states being more disappointed at that than the fact that they’re at a funeral

Mike sighs, “We were wondering if you had time to talk?”

“We have some questions.” Y/n says

“A lot of questions.” Mike informs the teacher

They find an open table and sit down.

“So, you know how in Cosmos, Carl Sagan talks about other dimensions? Like, beyond our world?” Mike explains

He agrees “Yeah, sure. Theoretically.”

“Right, theoretically.” Mike says

“So, theoretically, how do we travel there?” Lucas asks

“You guys have been thinking about Hugh Everett’s Many-Worlds Interpretation, haven’t you?” He replies “Well, basically, there are parallel universe. Just like our world but just infinite variations of it. Which means there’s a world out there where none of this tragic stuff ever happened.”

“Yeah, that’s not what we’re talking about.” Y/n says earning an ‘oh’

“We were thinking of more of an evil dimension like the Vale of Shadows.” Dustin explains “You know the Vale of shadows.”

“An echo of the Material Plane, where necrotic and shadow magic-“ he says

Mike cuts him off before he can start on a tangent of explaining what they already know, “Yeah, exactly. If that did exist, a place like the Vale of Shadows, how would be travel there?”

“Theoretically.” Lucas adds

Mr Clarke grabs an empty plate and pulls out a pen, “Picture… an acrobat…” he draws two lines and a stick figure on top of it, “standing on a tightrope. Now, the tightrope is our dimension. And our dimension has rules.”

“You can move forwards, or backwards.” He draws two arrows in each direction “Bur, what if… right next to our acrobat, there is a flea?” Drawing a dot on the plate.

He continues his explanation, “Now, the flea can also travel back and forth, just like the acrobat. Right? Here’s where things get really interesting. The flea can also travel this way… along the side of the rope. He can even go… underneath the rope.”

“Upside down.” The group says in unison

“Exactly.” He says

“But we’re not the flea, we’re the acrobat.” Y/n comments

“In this metaphor, yes. We’re the acrobat.” He replies

“So we can’t go upside down?” Lucas asks earning a no

“Well is there any way for the acrobat to get to the Upside Down?” Dustin questions

“Well… you’d have to create a massive amount of energy.” He explains “More than humans are currently capable of creating, mind you, to open up some kind of tear in time and space, and then…”

He folds the plate in half and then stabs the pen through the plate, “you create a doorway.”

“Like a gate?” Dustin asks

“Sure. Like a gate.” He replies “but again this is all-“

“Theoretical.” Y/n interrupts

“But… what if this gate already existed?” Mike asks

“Well, if it did, I… I think we’d know.” He answers “It would disrupt gravity, the magnetic field, our environment. Heck, it might even swallow us up whole.”

The group starts to worry as he continues “Science is neat. But I’m afraid it’s not very forgiving.”

Officer Callahan and Powell pull up to Hoppers house and knock on his door, noticing the state of his house through the window.

“Hey, Chief!” Callahan calls out continuing to knock when he does get an answer “Hello? Whoa!”

“Hey!” Hopper exclaims opening the door with his gun drawn.

“Jesus, Chief. You all right?” Powell asks

“What are you doing here?” Hopper questions clearly on edge

“We tried calling, but-“ he tries to explain

Hopper interrupts him “Yeah, the phones dead.”

Callahan is quick to change the subject “Hey, so Bev Mooney came in this morning all upset. Said that Dale and Henry went hunting yesterday… and the didn’t come back home.”

“She thought they were on another binger but she’s not so sure now.” Powell explains

“I think this whole Will Byers thing has everybody on edge.” Callahan comments his thoughts on the matter

“Where was this?” Hopper asks

“It was at the station.”he replies

“No, no. Where did Henry and Dale go hunting?” He explains

“Oh. Uh, out near Kerley.” He replies now understanding the simple question.

“Mirkwood.” He mumbles

“What?” Powell asks not being able to hear him

“Okay. You go back to the station.” He instructs “I’ll take care of this, all right?” He goes to walk back inside

“Are you sure?” Callahan asks

“Yeah, leave it.” He replies opening the door

“Oh, hey. Uh, they found Barbara’s car.” He informs him before he can get any further inside.

“What?” He ask stepping back outside

“Barbara Holland’s car.” Powell states “Seems she ran away after all. Staties found it late last night at a bus station.”

“Funny right?” Callahan comments “They keep doing our job for us.”

He lets out a dry chuckle “Yeah. It’s funny.”

He walks inside closing the door on Callahans face.

They head to leave, “Is he off his meds again?” Callahan asks getting in the car

“He’s been spending too much time with Joyce Byers. That’s what I think” Powell says driving off

Lonnie hammers a piece of plywood over the hole in the Byers house. Joyce walks into the living room to find out what he’s doing.

She sighs “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” He replies “You want to freeze to death all winter?”

He continues to hammer in the nails, she looks over at the lights that were once hanging now on the coffee table.

“I told you not to take these down.” She says

“They were in the way, babe.” He states “How long are you gonna keep those up? I mean, really?”

She goes to hang them back up ignoring his question.

“You know, it’s a shame what they’ve done to this family.” He says

“What?” She asks genuinely curious as to what he’s talking about

“The Sattler Company.” He explains “I went to the quarry on the way over here. I just wanted to look around, you know? Couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t believe it.”

He goes back to hammering “No warning signs, no fence, no nothing. Ought to be held accountable if you ask me.”

Mike stabs a pencil through a piece of paper as he finishes explaining everything to El, “It would take a lot of energy to build a gate like this. But that’s got to be what happened. Otherwise, how’s Will get there, right?”

“Right” she says looking at the boy

“What we want to know is, do you know where the gate is?” Lucas asks

Dustin spins around in a circle with a compass in his hand.

She shakes her head no, “Then how do you know about the upside down?”

The room falls quiet as they all turn to look at Dustin.

“Dustin, what are you doing?” Y/n asks “Dustin?”

“Dustin!” Mike and Lucas yell

“I… I need to see your compasses.” He informs them gaining a what from Mike “Your compasses. All of your compasses, right now!”

They throw all over their compasses of the table, “What’s so exciting about this?” Mike asks

“Well, they’re all facing north, right?” He replies

“Yeah, so?” Y/n says looking down at the table

“Well, that’s not true north.” He answers

“What do you mean?” Mike asks

“I mean exactly what I just said. That’s not true north.” He says and they all just look at him “Are you all seriously this dense?”

Lucas shrugs, “The sun rises in the east, and it sets in the west. Right? Which means that’s true north.” He explains pointing to the wall behind Mike

“So what you’re saying is the compasses are broken.” Mike comments

Dustin sighs “Do you even understand how a compass works? Do you see a battery pack on this” holding up a compass to Mikes face “No, you don’t. Because it doesn’t need one.”

“What Dustin is trying to say is that the needle’s naturally drawn to the Earth’s magnetic North Pole.” Y/n explains to the two boys after she finally got what Dustin was getting at.

“Thank you, I knew I wasn’t talking nonsense.” He says

“So what’s wrong with them?” Lucas asks

“Well, that’s what I couldn’t figure out, but then I remembered. You can change the direction of the compass with a magnet. If there’s the presence of a more powerful magnetic field, the needle deflects to that power. And then I remembered what Mr Clarke said. The gate would have so much power- “ he explains

“It could disrupt the electromagnetic field.” Mike says finally catching on

“Exactly.” Dustin responds proudly

“Meaning, if we follow the compass’ north…” Lucas comments

“They should lead us to the gate.” Y/n informs

El looks at them in shock and fear, knowing what would happen if they go to the gate.

Joyce goes through Lonnie’s bag while he’s in the shower. She pulls out a piece of paper for a lawyer that specializes in accidental death or injury. She looks down at the paper in disgust.

Nancy picks up and starts practicing swings, very bad swings. She goes to swing to bat around and spins her around with it, almost hitting Steve.

“What are you doing here?” She asks

“What are you doing?” He says not answering her question

“Nothing.” She quickly replies

“I hope that’s not meant for me.” He half jokes looking to the bat

“What? No. Oh, no, I was just… thinking about joining softball.” She lies

“Well, uh, listen, I’m really sorry.” He states “I mean, even before you threaten me with the baseball bat.”

He walks over and leans on the car, “I panicked and… I mean, I was a total dick.”

“Yeah, you were.” She wastes no time to agree with him

“Did you get in trouble with your parents?” She asks

“Totally, but… you know, who cares? Screw ‘em” He says “Any news about Barbara? Parents heard from her or…”

“No.” She replies shaking her head

He changes the subject “Hey, listen. Why don’t we, uh, why don’t we catch a movie tonight, you know? Just kinda pretend everything’s normal for a few hours. All the right moves is still playing. You know, with your lover boy from risky business? You know Carol thinks I actually kinda look like him. What do you think? Huh?”

He takes the bat from her and lifts it to his mouth , he starts to sing “Just take those old records off the shelf. I’ll sit and listen to them by myself.”

She interrupts him “I just, I… I don’t think I can. I’ve been really busy with this whole funeral thing and… with my brother. It’s been really hard on him”

“Yeah, sure. Sure, yeah, yeah.” He says “I should go.”

“Sorry.” She replies “I’ll call you later. Is that okay?”

She gives him a quick kiss before backing away from him.

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.” He says before he walks away singing to himself

“You were her for the money!” Joyce screams at Lonnie “The money! Admit it! You aren’t here cause of Will. You never cared about him. You never did!”

“Jesus, Joyce, it was his funeral today. Do we have to do this right now?” He complains

“I can’t believe I fell for this.” She raved

“I’m here to help, Joyce.” He claims

“To help?” She yells

“We could use that money for good.” He tries to explain

“Oh, like maybe to pay off your debts?” She argues

“To pay for Jonathan to go to school!” He shouts

“Oh, don’t do that.” She scoffs

“Do what?” He asks

“Lie to me!” She scolds

“I’m not lying to you!” He yells

“Yeah, well, where does he want to go?” She questions him“huh?”

“What?” He asks

“Where does Jonathan want to go to college?” She repeats herself

“We get that money, anywhere he damn well pleases!” He yells not giving her the answer she was looking for

Her voice booms “NYU, Lonnie! He’s wanted to go to NYU since he was six years old!”

“So then he goes to NYU!” He shouts in her face.

“Get out.” She says fuming “Get out!”

“You need me here, Joyce” he states

She laughs at him “Oh, brother, I have not needed you for a long time!” she shoves him anyway from her

“Oh, no? Look what happened.” He scoffs

“Oh, don’t you dare.” She argues “At least I was here!”

“Oh, come on, Joyce” he replies “Just look around at this place. All your Christmas lights. What the hell am I supposed to think? You’re such a great mom? You’re a mess!”

“Maybe I am a mess. Maybe I’m crazy.” She gushed “Maybe I’m out of my mind! But, God help me, I will keep these lights up until the day I die. If I think there’s a chance that Will’s still out there!”

She’s boiling at this point “Now, get out!” She throws his bag at him “Get out of my house!”

Jonathan is practicing his shooting, aiming at some cans. The cans stay in their place as he misses every shot.

“You’re supposed to hit the cans, right?” Nancy teases as she walks over to him

“No, actually, you see the spaces in between the cans? I’m aiming for those.” His words drip in sarcasm

She drops her bat and bag on the floor next to them.

“You ever shot a gun before?” He asks

She scoffs, “Have you met my parents?”

“Yeah, I haven’t shot one since I was ten.” He says reloading the gun “My dad took me hunting for my birthday. He made me kill a rabbit.”

“A rabbit?” She asks

“Yeah. I guess he thought it would make me into more of a man or something.” He explains “I cried for a week.”

“Jesus” she whispers

“What? I’m a fan of Thumper.” He justifies

She lets out an airy laugh “I meant your dad.”

“Yeah, I guess he and my mother loved each other at some point, but…” he cocks the gun “I wasn’t around for that part.”

Nancy holds out her hand silently asking for the gun. He hands it over to her and he explains the obvious “Just, uh, point and shoot.”

“I don’t think my parents ever loved each other.” She states

“They must of married for some reason.” He replies

“My mom was young.” She says raising the gun to the cans “My dad was older, but he had a cushy job, money, came from a good family. So they bought a nice house at the end of the cul-de-sac… and started their nuclear family.”

“Screw that.” He comments

“Yeah. Screw that.” She says closing one eye and focuses in on a can. She pulls the trigger and hits the can making it fly of the stump it was set on.

Jim sits on the floor of his messed up house with the phone to his ear.

“Hello.” A women says answering the phone

“Hey.” He replies

“Jim?” She asks “why are you calling me here? I told you not to call me.”

“I know, I know, I know.” He assures “I just wanted to… I just wanted to hear your voice and, uh… I just want to say that, um…”

He thinks before he continues “even after everything that happened, I don’t…I don’t regret any of it. And those seven years, they were… everything to me.”

“Have you been drinking?” She questions thinking that it would be the only reason why he would call her

“No.” He replies “No.”

A baby can be heard crying from her side of the phone, she tries to soothe it “Shhhh honey, hey… Hey it’s okay… it’s okay.”

He now regrets calling “You know what, actually, I have been drinking, I’m sorry.”

“Jim, I can’t…”she starts

“Just take care of yourself, okay?” He says “Say hi to Bill for me.” He then hangs up before she can say anything else.

He picks himself up off the floor and heads to the door. He stops in his tracks when the phone rings. He picks it and rips the routing cord out of the wall making it stop.

The group and El walk on the railroad tracks following the compass north. Lucas, Dustin, and Y/n lead while Mike and El trail behind.

Lucas sighs, “How much further?”

“I don’t know.” Dustin admits “These things only tell direction, not distance. You really need to learn more about compasses.”

“I’m just saying. How do we know when we get to the gate?” He questions

“Uh, I think a portal to another dimension is gonna be pretty obvious.” He mocks

Lucas sighs looking at the two behind them and sees El wipe her nose.

“Do you think she’s acting weird?” He asks

“You’re asking if the person you always call weird is acting weird?” Y/n replies

“I mean, weirder than normal?” He explains

“I don’t know. Who cares?” Dustin says

El starts to breathe heavily.

“How far, papa?” El asks with her knees to her chest sitting on her bed

“Farther than we’ve ever gone before.” He answers showing her a picture of a man

“The bath?” She says

“Yes.” He replies “Yes, the bath. Is that okay?”

“Okay.” She responds

She walks up some stairs and over to a tank. A man places the wave reader on her head while another opens the top of the tank. They lower her in and place a scuba like helmet over her head.

When she is fully submerged they close the top and black out the tank leaving her in darkness.

“Mike” El says grabbing his arm

“Yeah.” He replies

“Turn back.” She instructs

“What? Why?” He asks

“I’m tired.” She only half lies the use of her powers taking a toll on her

He sighs “look, I’m sure we’re almost there. Just hold on a little longer, okay?”

“You never said what I was saying.” Nancy says to Jonathan as the walk through the woods looking for the creature that took his brother and her friend.

“What?” He asks

“Yesterday.” She states “You said I was saying something and that’s why you took my picture.”

“Oh, uh…” he starts “I don’t know. My guess… I saw this girl, you know, trying to be someone else. But for that moment it was like you were alone, or you thought you were. And you know, you could just be yourself.”

“That is such bullshit.” She claims but she knows she’s just lying to herself

“What?” He questions

“I am not trying to be someone else.” She argues mostly with herself though, “Just because I’m dating Steve and you don’t like him- “

“You know what? Forget it.” He says not wanting to listen to her deny, what is the truth “I just thought it was a good picture.”

“He’s actually a good guy.” She responds trying to catch up with him

“Okay” he dismisses her

“Yesterday, with the camera… He’s not like that at all.” She explains “he was just being protective.”

“Yeah, that one word for it.” He replies

“Oh, and I guess what you did was okay?” She argues

“No, I … I never said that.” He stammers

“He had every right to be pissed-“ she exclaims

“Okay, all right.” He interrupts her “Does that mean I have to like him?”

“No.” She responds

“Listen, don’t take it so personally, okay?” He insists “I don’t like most people. He’s in the vast majority.”

“You know, I was actually starting to think that you were okay.” She admits

“Yeah?” He says not caring to continue this conversation

“Yeah.” She begins “Yeah I was thinking, ‘Jonathan Byers, maybe he’s not a pretentious creep everyone says he is.’”

Now it was his turn “Well, I was just starting to think you were okay. I was thinking ‘Nancy Wheeler, she’s not just another suburban girl who thinks she’s rebelling by doing exactly what every other suburban girl does… until that phase passes and then they marry some boring one-time jock who now works sales, and they live out a perfectly boring little life at the end of a cul-da-sac. Exactly like their parents who they thought were so depressing, but now, hey, they get it.’”

The pounding on the Byers front door makes Joyce jump, “Go away, Lonnie.”

The pounding continues when she doesn’t open the door, she stomps her way and swings it open. Hopper stands in front of her holding up a piece of paper that tells her to be quiet.

He walks in and closes the door behind him, leaving her clueless to what’s going on. He looks at all the Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling.

The group walks into some old forgotten junk yard on a hill. “Oh, no.” Dustin says

“Oh, no? What’s, oh, no?” Lucas asks

“We’re headed back home.” He informs

“What?” Mike replies

“Are you sure?” Lucas questions not wanting all this walking to be for nothing

“Yeah, I’m sure.” He responds “setting sun, right there. We looped right back around.”

Lucas groans “And you’re just realizing this now?”

“Why is this all on me?” He asks

“Because you’re the one had their compass out the entire time, we were basically following you.” Y/n replies

“What does your say” he questions the group

They pull out their compasses “North.”

“Makes no damn sense.” He states

Mike sighs, “Maybe the gate moved.”

“No I don’t think it’s the gate.” He admits “I think it’s something else screwing with the compasses.”

“Maybe it’s something here.” Mike suggests

“No, it has to be like a super magnet.” He explains

Lucas turns to what he thinks is causing to problem, El.

“It’s not a magnet.” Lucas reveals pointing at El “She’s been acting weirder than normal. If she can slam doors with her mind she definitely screw up a compass.”

“Why would she do that?” Y/n wonders

“Because she’s trying to sabotage our mission.” He spits “Because she’s a traitor!”

He walks over to her, “Lucas, what are you doing?” Mike questions

They all walk over to make sure nothing happens, “You did it, didn’t you?” He asks “You don’t want us to reach the gate. You don’t want us to find Will.”

“Lucas, come on, seriously.” Mike begs “Just leave her alone.”

“Admit it.” He tells her “Admit it!”

He grabs her arm and looks at her sleeve “Fresh blood. I knew it.”

“Lucas, come on!” Mike pleads trying to get him to just drop it.

“I saw her wiping her nose on the tracks! She was using her powers!” He exclaims

“Bull! That’s old blood!” He shouts “Right, El?”

She just looks at him with guilt in her eyes, “Right, El?”

She shakes her head as she starts to cry “It’s not safe.”

Hopper pants as he goes from light bulb to light bulb, trying to find any listening devices. He finds nothing an plops himself down on a chair “Should be okay, I mean… I can’t guarantee it, but it should be okay.”

“What the hell is going on, Hopper?” Joyce whispers

“They bugged my place.” He explains at his normal volume

“What?” She says continuing to whisper

“They bugged my place.” He repeats himself “The put a microphone in the light.”

He sighs “It’s because I’m on to them and they know it. I don’t know..”

“Who?” She questions him not having a clue as to what he’s talking about

“I thought they might be watching you, too. I don’t know, the CIA, the NSA, Department of Energy… I don’t know.” He rants

“You gotta explain this to me, cause I am not-“ she says

“I went to the morgue last night, Joyce.” He tells her “I wasn’t him. Will’s body, was a fake.”

Joyce kneels on the floor, her body not knowing how to react to this news.

He confirms her suspicions “you were right. This whole time you were right.”

“What did I tell you?” Lucas shouts at Mike “She’s been playing with us from the beginning!”

“That’s not true.” He defends “She helped us find Will!”

“Find Will?” He exclaims “Find Will? Where is he, then? Huh? I don’t see him.”

Dustin and y/n can only watch from the sidelines not knowing what to do or who’s side to take.

“Yeah, you know what I mean” he says

“No, I actually don’t. Just think about it, Mike.” He replies “She could’ve just told us where the Upside Down was right away, but she didn’t. She just made us run around like headless chickens.”

Dustin walks over to them “all right, calm down!” He commands

“No!” Lucas yells slapping his hands away “She used is, all of us! She helped just enough so she could get what she wants. Food and a bed. She’s like a stray dog.”

“Screw you, Lucas!” Mike shouts

“No! Screw you, Mike. You’re blind…” he exclaims

“Lucas, come on that’s enough.” Y/n says walking a little bit closer

“No!” He yells before turn back to Mike, “You’re blind because you like that a girls not grossed out by you. But wake up, man! Wake the hell up! She knows where Will is, and now she’s letting him die in the Upside Down.”

“Shut up!” Mike yells

“For all we know, it’s her fault.” He continues “We’re looking for some stupid monster… but did you ever think that maybe she’s the monster?”

Mike yells “shut up!” And throws his arm around Lucas pulling him to the ground.

“Knock it off, you idiots.” Dustin says

“Stop it!” Eleven shouts

“Mike, get off!” Y/n yells not wanting this be the moment she has to use her powers just to separate the two

Lucas pushes mike to the floor and Eleven yells sending him flying into some sheet metal. He’s out the moment he hits the ground.

They rush over to him leaving Eleven to stand there by herself.

“Lucas.” Mike whispers to him

“Lucas, come on!” Dustin says as they shake him

“Lucas, wake up! Lucas.” Y/n pleads

“Come on, Lucas.” Dustin begs

“Why would you do that?” Mike turns and yells at Eleven “What’s wrong with you? What is wrong with you?”

Eleven closes her eyes and lets the darkness take her. She hears a bunch of different conversations at once before she focuses in on the person she was looking for.

He’s speaking in Russian, she opens her eyes and follows the voice. She sees a man standing in the middle of the dark abyss.

When she reaches the man she circles him. Examining him. Wondering how he is there before her.

A growl can be heard breaking he concentration making the man disappear. She walks backwards away the low growls. It screeches and she bolts away.

She bangs on the glass of the tank screaming for help.

El cries to herself as Mike turns back to Lucas. Y/n places a hand on his leg and closes her eyes. She searches for the problem.

The boys continue to shake and call out his name. Her eyes shoot open as she gets rid of the concussion, Lucas’ eyes follow in suit.

The boys are quick to calm down and they all take a step back from him.

“Lucas, you okay?” Mike worries

“Lucas… Lucas, how many fingers am I holding up?” Dustin asks putting his hand in his face “Lucas how many fingers?”

“Let me see your head.” Mike says reaching for him

“Get off of me!” He shouts slapping his hand away

“Just.. Lucas. Lucas, let me see.” Mike tells him

Lucas stands up “Get off of me!” He cries

He starts walking from them angry and hurt.

Mike turns to look at Eleven but she’s no longer there. “Where is El?”

He starts to yell for her “El!”

“Eleven!” Dustin shouts

“Eleven!” Y/n calls out

Jonathan and Nancy walk next to each other in silence, flashlights in hand as they start to grow hopeless

Whimpers stop them in their tracks as they listen. They follow the noise and find a deer, half way dead and wanting it’s misery to end.

The kneel beside it, “It’s been hit by a car.” Nancy says touching its leg “We can’t just leave it”

She looks at the gun in her hand and points it at it’s head but she can’t bring herself to shoot it. Jonathan takes the gun from her and says that he’ll do it.

He cocks the gun and she looks away not being able to watch. Before he can shoot it something pulls it way making them jump back.

They follow the trail of blood until it stops out of nowhere.

“Where’d it go?” She whispers

“I don’t know.” He responds “Do you see any more blood?”

Nancy sees something dripping from the hole of a tree, she calls for Jonathan but he’s no where to be found.

She sets her stuff down keeping the flashlight in hand. She crawls into the tree and out into a place more gloomier than where she once was.

She’s covered in goo from head to toe. She gets up and her light starts to flicker. She trudges through vines a goo. A snarling sound can be heard close by making her gasp.

She turns shining her light over to where the creature feast of the deer. She slowly starts to back away. The creature has yet to notice her.

That was until she steps on a stick making it snap in half. It roars as she screams in fear. She turns and runs.

Jonathan can hear Nancy’s voice echo in the woods and yells for her. He takes of in search for her, he only finds her stuff that she left behind.He shines his light around the area calling her name before moving forward.

The hole she crawled through goes unnoticed by Jonathan.

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itsonlystrange · 4 years ago

Text

Okay I’m just saying..do you guys realize what a cultural reset canon byler would be?

Like it would trend on Twitter, 100%. People who have never seen the show before would become interested in it, ESPECIALLY people who are looking for queer representation in shows.

Byler is a good slow burn that’s INTERESTING. It’s not your stereotypical gay guys who obviously like eachother and are only there for comic relief and pushed to the back so that the het ships can get the spotlight. It has DEVELOPMENT. And it’s rare you come across stuff like that.

Neither mike nor will are stereotypically “gay”. They are just regular teenage boys who happen to not be straight. Usually gay ships portrayed in TV and Film are used as comedic relief. Or the overly flamboyant gay guy and the super macho gay guy getting together in the last 10 seconds the show.

Yes, there are a TON of good shows out there that have queer representation however a LOT of them get thrown under the radar or are overshadowed by the more heterosexual ships or shows.

So imagine, a show as big as stranger things, having its two boys be in a canon relationship. Like the internet would BLOW UP. It’d be the topic of every interview. Finn and Noah would be the topic of every interview. Stranger Things would have relevancy again.

Obviously, ST is still relevant however with this whole hiatus it’s falling off the radar easily and people are becoming bored. But this...this would blow it up again.

Obviously queer ships are NOT there to make a show relevant again, at all. That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is, imagine all the lgbtq+ kids that watch ST. The lgbtq+ BOYS that watch ST.

Often, when queer relationships are portrayed in film or television, it isn’t portrayed accurately. And it’s often shown as “if you don’t come out this way then you’re invalid.” Or “if you have internalized homophobia you’re invalid” and a thousand other things. Hell, I remember being much younger absolutely hating myself or not “picking a side” and being so confused with my self and wondering why I was even bisexual in the first place.

But then you have byler, which portrays a much more accurate relationship between two closer than normal boys. It portrays the internalized homophobia, the abuse and bullying people back in the 80’s (and still now) would endure. And yeah, it’s not the most accurate depiction but it’s FAR better than some other popular show’s queer relationships.

Millions of people watch this show, an abundance of them being lgbtq+. And imagine them having a ship to look up to. A ship that doesn’t portray gay relationships as a “joke”. And even better, Mike and Will are teenagers!!

Often, in film and television, queer ships are usually based around two adults. In fact, a lot of times they portray young teenagers being in a gay relationship as “gross.” They say that it’s too “mature”. That having a partner that’s the same gender as you is wrong, and that you need to be a little bit “older” because apparently being in a queer relationship is only for adults because queer relationships are just too “inappropriate.”

But then you have Mike and Will who are two 14 year old boys. Who aren’t stereotypically “gay” as the movies portray. They’re just normal teenage boys. And that’s how it SHOULD be portrayed. We need to stop portraying Lgbtq+ ships as “inappropriate” or “weird”. They’re just two teenage boys in love.

Remember when everyone found out Robin was lesbian after being straight baited? Yeah. The internet blew up. So take that and times it by ten thousand. That would be canon byler.

It’d be a huge step for the media. Unfortunately, we haven’t come that far with queer ships. It’s gotten better but there’s still a lot of steps to take. But having a huge show like stranger things have their two man boys be in a canon relationship and have it portrayed regularly, guys!! That would be huge!!

Imagine all the little kids getting to grow up with that. Or all the teenagers that are Mike and Will’s age struggling with their sexuality seeing these two boys who aren’t stereotypically anything be canonically in love. Like, that would be huge.

I know that if I grew up with a canon byler I would definitely have felt a lot more sure of my sexuality earlier on. So many kids would have a wonderful ship to look up to that isn’t fetishized or treated like it’s “weird.”

And the fact that it’d be the topic of every interview. Noah and Finn wouldn’t see the end of it. People would talk about it non stop. It’d be advertised on social media accounts, the duffers would talk about it, the stranger writers would talk about it. I mean, it’d be big!!

And yeah, it’s sad that a gay ship becoming canon would be revolutionary, but that’s just how the world is. We still haven’t progressed past that yet. And it’ll take awhile before having a gay shop isn’t a big thing.

I often see people say “if byler became canon then everybody would stop watching” which just ISN’T true.

They’d gain so many viewers. It’d be more popular than Mileven ever had been. Yes, Mileven has their cute moments, however at the end of the day, Milevens dynamic has been done before. Thats not to say bylers hasn’t, obviously a canon byler wouldn’t be the first. But it’d be the first big canon queer ship in awhile. Straight ships with mileven’s dynamic happen all the time.

And at the end of the day, ST isn’t a romance show. If Mileven didn’t end up being end game I don’t think many people would care. It wouldn’t be as big as people say it is. I feel like the fandom likes to think that Mileven rakes in all the money but that simply isn’t true. It’s a science fiction show at its core and the core viewers don’t watch for romance. If Mileven is what raked in all their viewers then season 2 wouldn’t have been as successful as it was, considering mike and el don’t even interact until the last episode of season 2. So I really think the fandom is just overreacting on that part. Yeah, people are gonna leave the fandom. Just how people left when stancy wasn’t endgame or when their favorite chatacter died or when something happened that they didn’t like. That’s just how life works. They’re gonna lose viewers regardless of what happens because not everyone will be happy with how season four plays out. But at the end of the day, it’s hot like ST is going to lose 25 million viewers because two 14 year olds weren’t endgame. It’s often easy to forget that the fandom doesn’t reflect ST’s viewership. The fandom takes up only a small percentage OF their viewership. So yeah, some fan accounts may deactivate, just like how a lot of bylers left the fandom after season 3. But it’s not like nobody’s going to watch the show, that’s absurd. Mileven isn’t their main cash cow. It isn’t even on the leader board of st’s main cash cows. If anything, Steve dying would make st lose more viewers than Mileven not being end game. And it’s been made more clear recently that a lot of people prefer Jopper over Mileven, especially with the ending of season 3. We gotta remember that, the FANDOM is mainly teenagers however stranger things main demographic and viewership is ADULTS. And I don’t see many 21+ year olds not watching the show because a ship almost 10 years younger than them wasnt end game. Most of st’s viewers don’t care about the romance

TLDR: canon byler would be huge for stranger things and would probably blow up the internet. It’d also be good commercially and financially for stranger things. Also having byler he canon would be so helpful to all the kids and teens and even adults out their struggling with their sexuality and would make so many lgbtq+ kids, teens, and adults feel seen and feel loved and feel validated. Over all, canon byler would do more GOOD then bad.

#byler #gay mike wheeler #gay will byers #stranger things #stranger things 4 #will byers #mike wheeler

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unnerving-presence · 3 years ago

Note

Your trio of Michaels giving cuddles made me think of how goofy they'd be.

Mike I feel is easily the most goofy. Like flipping you off when you jokingly flip him off, playing little pranks like putting things out of reach if you're short.

Then Mikey. He can be silly, but it takes a long time to open up that much, and it's still nowhere near as much as Mike.

And Michael is just no. That man will chuckle when you're fucked with, but takes almost no part in anyone's schemes.

What's your take?

i agree with most of this actually^^

mike is a little shit. he’s messing with everybody if he’s feeling like he’s the funniest person in the world. i do feel he’d be a bit shittier. he’ll deadass glare at you and slowly tip his full plate of food over the sink if you pissed him off. he’s petty and his mood will also drift towards the others. he’ll start fights with them for no reason and before you know it you’ll have to patch up some of their wounds. i’m sure he’d do all of what you listed, but it’s only to you really. he goes soft on you. messing with your hair randomly, stealing your things and acting like he didn’t, eating your food after you told him it was yours. he does the fighting with the other two. basically mike is softer on you with the teasing while he straight up fights the other two. he’s a little gremlin. especially if you include a/b/o. it’s your choice

mikey is on the more loving side. he’ll make little jokes occasionally but like you said it’ll take a while for him to open up and be more like himself. he doesn’t like to tease you to the extents mike does, but he will tease you on your height. he thinks it’s funny when you tell him that obviously you look like a little ant when he’s as big as he is. it’s cute.

i think michael would take part in the teasing, but most of the time he’ll mind his business and just watch. i do think he’ll occasionally tease you by watching you struggle to get something and then proceed to tilt his head when you ask him for help. he’s more simple with the teasing. say you fall off the bed, michael will just stare and watch as you ask if he can help you up. he’s a watcher, and that’s the worst part. you know he thinks its funny when you give him that ‘are you serious?’ look when he won’t help you. i think he will take part, but he just doesn’t do anything. that’s his way of teasing. oh yeah also poking you. he likes annoying you for no reason at all sometimes.

#ask #anon #trio au

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myonechicagoworld · 3 years ago

Text

CHICAGO FIRE – AMBITION (S01E20)

[locker clanking] Leslie Shay: Hey.

Kelly Severide: Hey.

Leslie Shay: So we’re off and running.

Kelly Severide: For what?

Leslie Shay: [exhales] I went to the doctor’s office this morning and

got my hormone shot.

Kelly Severide: Oh yeah.

Leslie Shay: Yeah.

Kelly Severide: How you feeling?

Leslie Shay: Fine. Yeah, it’s not affecting me at all. Just, uh, it

means the, uh, window for ovulation is gonna be in the

next couple days so don’t make any plans. And um,

as soon as these say that I’m good to go, we gotta get

to the clinic and perform our respective duties [sniffles]

Uh, okay. Yeah. Well… [clears throat] Sorry, I’m just…

I’m really excited.

Kelly Severide: I can see that.

Leslie Shay: Yeah. All right.

Kelly Severide: Hey.

Leslie Shay: Hm?

Kelly Severide: I am too.

Leslie Shay: [chuckles]

cutscene

Otis Zvonecek: Oh!

Joe Cruz: Oh, yeah. Pecan caramel popcorn. Let’s get into this

before Herrmann finds out.

Matt Casey: Herrmann’s gone hunting with his brother. It’s all the

pecan caramel popcorn you can eat.

Otis Zvonecek: All right!

Joe Cruz: Sweet!

Otis Zvonecek: Who brought this in?

Peter Mills: Uh, a paramedic candidate who’s riding with Dawson

and Shay.

Otis Zvonecek: Oh, yeah, Tara. Uh, apparently she spent a couple

of shifts over at 95. Bob Macelroy, uh, said she’s

pretty cool.

Joe Cruz: What, are you stalking her now?

Otis Zvonecek: No, I’m not stalking her.

Peter Mills: [sniffs]

Otis Zvonecek: I just like to know who I’m working with.

Peter Mills: Are you wearing cologne?

Joe Cruz: [sniffs]

Otis Zvonecek: No.

Body spray, maybe.

Joe Cruz: [chuckles]

Otis Zvonecek: Hey, Tara!

Tara Little: Okay.

Hey.

Otis Zvonecek: Uh, Severide, I think Capp’s looking for you.

Kelly Severide: No, I just left him.

Tara Little: Hi, everybody.

Otis Zvonecek: Hey.

Joe Cruz: Hey!

Did you bring this popcorn ‘cause it’s amazing.

Tara Little: I am not above buying people’s affection.

Otis Zvonecek: So, um, I hear that you are quite a graphic

designer.

Tara Little: So is anyone with a laptop [chuckles]

Otis Zvonecek: [laughs]

Tara Little: Yeah, I wish I’d figured that out before I racked up

$60,000 in student loans.

Otis Zvonecek: Uh huh.

Peter Mills: W-what made you wanna be an EMT?

Tara Little: Uh, my roommate’s a paramedic at 35. I didn’t have to

hang out with her very long before I realised the

firehouse is where it’s at.

[alarm buzzes & blares]

(Over PA): Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61.

Gabby Dawson: Here we go.

(Over PA): Industrial accident, Racine and 15th Street.

[siren blares]

[indistinct chatter]

Gabby Dawson: Hey, what happened?

Peter Mills: Uh, a worker backed a forklift into the shelves and the

whole thing came down on top of him.

Matt Casey: Don’t move the pallets.

Give me a hand with that.

Here, watch your back.

Hang in there buddy. We’re gonna get you out.

Otis Zvonecek: Coming to ya.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, can you tell me your name?

Victim 1: Phil. Phil Manfreddi.

Gabby Dawson: Okay, hi, Phil.

[barrels clanging]

[indistinct chatter]

Gabby Dawson: Okay, Phil, I want you to breathe slow and easy for

me, okay?

You see his nail beds, how blue they are? What’s

that mean?

Tara Little: Shock. He’s in shock.

Gabby Dawson: Very good. We’re gonna keep his C-spine nice and

straight. And we need to warm him up.

Okay, I’m gonna lift your head, hun.

Matt Casey: Let’s get the spreaders.

Kelly Severide: Forget the spreaders. Get the torch in here. We

need to cut this beam.

Harold Capp: Copy that.

Peter Mills: Wait, why-why don’t we try and lift it?

Kelly Severide: It’s too unstable. Anything shifts, and it’ll all fall right

back on top of him.

Hey! Is there anything flammable in these boxes?

Man 1 (Foreman): No, sir.

Kelly Severide: Need water over here.

Matt Casey: Severide, kill the torch!

Kelly Severide: What?

Matt Casey: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Look out! Everybody get

down!

[explosion]

[grunting]

- title screen -

[fire extinguisher spraying]

Kelly Severide: Is it out?

Matt Casey: Can’t tell. I need to get in there.

[overlapping shouting]

Matt Casey: It’s still smouldering. This can go up again any second.

We gotta move him.

Kelly Severide: I didn’t make it through the beam.

Peter Mills: Wait. [pants] Wait. How about this?

Kelly Severide: It’s worth a try.

Hadley.

Kevin Hadley: Yeah.

[metal creaks]

Victim 1 (Phil): [screams]

Gabby Dawson: Focus on his face and keep him calm.

Tara Little: All right. You’re gonna be okay, Phil.

Kelly Severide: Quick thinking, candidate.

Peter Mills: [pants]

Otis Zvonecek: Gear’s all picked up, Lieutenant.

Matt Casey: All right. Let’s get back home. Where’s Mills?

[compartment door closes]

[indistinct chatter]

Matt Casey: Leave his ass.

Joe Cruz: You got it.

[compartment door closes]

Peter Mills: So then, what’s the difference between an

oxy/acetylene torch and an exothermic torch?

Kelly Severide: For starters, an exothermic will cut through a solid

block of concrete.

[compartment door closes]

Peter Mills: Cool.

Kelly Severide: Yeah. Here, let me show you what else we use.

[engine drives away]

Peter Mills: [sighs]

Kelly Severide: [laughs] He’ll get over it.

cutscene

[backup alert beeping]

Kevin Hadley: [chuckles]

Otis Zvonecek: Your Lieutenant says the bathroom needs a good

cleaning, candidate.

Harold Capp: [chuckles]

cutscene

Tara Little: Hey. Kelly, right?

Kelly Severide: Yeah.

Tara Little: We have a mutual friend. Jennifer Robinson? She tends

bar at Cubby bear.

Kelly Severide: Oh.

Tara Little: She said to say hello.

Kelly Severide: Okay. Yeah, tell her I said hello.

Tara Little: Will do. It’s nice to have a connection to someone here.

Kelly Severide: Yeah, it’s a-it’s a great group at 51. I’m sure that

you’ll fit right in. Shay and Dawson taking good

care of you?

Tara Little: Yeah. I actually have some copies to go make for

Dawson right now. So I’ll see you later.

Kelly Severide: Sure.

cutscene

Gabby Dawson: Hey, Otis. Check this out.

My grandparents in Madrid. My grandfather

proposed to her there.

Otis Zvonecek: Hmm, you will never see Russian grandparents

smiling like that.

Gabby Dawson: [laughs] The place they’re standing in front of is

one of the oldest restaurants in Europe.

Otis Zvonecek: You been?

Gabby Dawson: No. Someday.

I think Molly’s needs a big, wooden door like this.

Something timeless and beautiful.

Otis Zvonecek: How did I know there was an agenda attached to

this story?

Matt Casey: It is a nice door.

Otis Zvonecek: Look, Dawson, now is not the time to be making

design decisions, okay?

Herrmann’s unreachable in the woods of Ontario

somewhere.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah, exactly why now is the time.

Otis Zvonecek: Well, we don’t have any money left.

Matt Casey: There’s a salvage place I use. There’s all kinds of old

structural pieces. Might take some searching, but

we could take a look.

Gabby Dawson: Really?

Matt Casey: Mm-hmm.

Yeah?

Gabby Dawson: Yeah.

Matt Casey: All right.

Gabby Dawson: Sounds good. Thanks.

Peter Mills: Bathrooms are done, Lieutenant.

Matt Casey: Showers need a good cleaning, too.

Peter Mills: Okay… uh, can I talk with you for a minute first…

in private?

Matt Casey: Sure.

[clears throat]

Peter Mills: I want to apologise for this morning. I know I screwed

up and it won’t happen again. But I also wanna

formally let you know that I will be pursuing that open

opportunity in Squad.

Matt Casey: I heard. But right now, you are on Truck. And while

you’re here, you better act like it.

Peter Mills: Yes, sir.

[alarm buzzes and blares]

(Over PA): Ambulance 61, laceration injury. 670 North Talman

Avenue.

[siren blares]

Lady 1 (Wife): So sorry about this. My husband, Dennis, he was

working on the garage door and it just started

opening.

Victim 2 (Dennis): [groaning]

Gabby Dawson: His arm’s caught in there. We’re not equipped

for this. Call it in.

Leslie Shay: (into radio) Dispatch, this is Ambulance 61. We need

a truck company to 670 North Talman Avenue.

Victim 2 (Dennis): My shoulder! I heard the muscle make a

ripping sound.

Leslie Shay: [pants]

Victim 2 (Dennis): [grunts]

Gabby Dawson: Okay… We’re gonna get you down, Dennis.

Let me support your weight, okay? Tara, take

hold of his legs with me. We’re gonna lift him up.

Tara! I need your help.

All right, come here.

Okay, it’s okay.

Leslie Shay: Dawson, see if you can lift the door.

[grunts]

Victim 2 (Dennis): [groans]

Leslie Shay: Tara, get up here and help me.

Lift this, come on.

Victim 2 (Dennis): [groans]

Leslie Shay: Dennis…

Victim 2 (Dennis): [grunts]

Leslie Shay: This is gonna hurt like hell, but it’s gonna be quick,

all right?

Victim 2 (Dennis): Tell me, what are you gonna do?

[screams]

Leslie Shay: All right, get him down.

Victim 2 (Dennis): [groans]

Arlene, my arm!

Lady 1 (Wife/Arlene): Sweetie, you’re all right.

Victim 2 (Dennis): [groans]

Gabby Dawson: All right, come on. You can come with us.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: Where’d Tara go? She off crying in a corner

somewhere?

Gabby Dawson: Oh, come on, that was pretty gnarly. Cut her some

slack.

Leslie Shay: So you and Casey going, uh, treasure hunting after

shift, huh?

Gabby Dawson: Don’t even start that. I gotta say though, it’s just

nice to be back to normal with him.

Leslie Shay: Normal? Normal as in buried romantic feelings and

unspoken sexual tension? [laughs]

Hey, I ran into Mike, and he said Hallie, she’s-she’s

long gone. She’s history. She’s off finding herself,

doing some medical aid work in South America or

somewhere…

Gabby Dawson: I don’t care, Shay. I got my man, all right?

Leslie Shay: Hey, hey! [snaps fingers] Excuse me, don’t touch that!

That’s not yours! Put it back.

Gabby Dawson: How long ago since that hormone shot?

Leslie Shay: Just don’t mess with my gurney.

Tara Little: Grabbed a couple coffees for you guys.

Leslie Shay: Thank you.

Gabby Dawson: Thanks.

Tara Little: I, uh, I saw the doctor in the hall. She said you saved

that man’s arm.

Gabby Dawson: Well, we got him here fast. That’s the key. A quick

response is everything.

Tara Little: Okay.

Gabby Dawson: Okay?

Tara Little: Mmhmm.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Mills.

Peter Mills: Yeah, Lieutenant?

Kelly Severide: C’mere.

Have a seat.

Pretty good article on the different types of cutting

torches and what situations they’re best for.

Peter Mills: Oh, cool. Thanks, Lieutenant.

Kelly Severide: How are the classes going?

Peter Mills: Good. They’re really good actually. I-I couldn’t get into

vertical rescue this time around so… it’s full up.

Joe Cruz: What are you doing? You can’t stop it.

Mouch: Where’s the defense in this game?

Joe Cruz: There’s no defense in paper football. I get a penalty kick.

Put up your uprights.

Mouch: Aw! [groans]

Joe Cruz: [laughs]

Otis Zvonecek: Can someone please explain to me why our truck

candidate is sitting at the Squad table?

Joe Cruz: Does Severide know?

Otis Zvonecek: Severide’s there. They’re all there. It’s a little tea

party, and Peter Mills is the guest of honour.

Kelly Severide: Call Lieutenant Brunson. Tell him I want you in his

class.

Peter Mills: Great. I will.

Kelly Severide: Good.

Joe Cruz: I guess we’re not good enough for him anymore.

Mouch: What a slap in the face. Mills could use a lecture on

company loyalty.

Otis Zvonecek: I’ve been here, what, five years? Nobody ever

talked about grooming me for Rescue Squad, but

Mills, oh Mills…

Matt Casey: Maybe that’s because he’s busting his ass.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Bet you a dollar you miss that.

Tara Little: Make it a beer.

Kelly Severide: You’re on.

Tara Little: Gee, I guess I owe you a beer.

cutscene

Matt Casey: Chief, got a sec?

Chief Boden: Yeah.

Matt Casey: This business about getting Mills on Squad, you sure

he’s ready?

Chief Boden: Severide thinks so.

Matt Casey: Yeah. I’m sure he does. Have you talked to Mills about

it?

Chief Boden: Yeah, I have.

Matt Casey: A real conversation? Or just long enough for him to say

what you wanted to hear?

Chief Boden: Look Casey, I get it. You are tired of sniffing out talent

and training them up, only to have them poached by

Squad.

Matt Casey: This isn’t about me, Chief. It shouldn’t be about you,

either. Or your feelings of obligation toward Henry

Mills.

Chief Boden: Your concerns… are duly noted.

cutscene

Peter Mills: Yeah, no, I-I know I missed a couple sessions, but,

uh, Lieutenant Severide, he really wants me to take

this class. So I’m hoping that there’s still time to

jump in?

Yeah.

Oh, that’s great.

Great, I’ll wait to hear from you.

Okay.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, what are you doing here?

Peter Mills: Um, taking care of some business.

Gabby Dawson: Okay.

Peter Mills: I feel like I’m doing something wrong. I… I see the way

that people look at me, and I can just imagine what

they’re saying behind my back.

Gabby Dawson: Ambition makes people uncomfortable. You just

have to remind yourself that you’re not doing it

for them.

Peter Mills: Yeah, well, I think it’s something a little deeper though

with Casey, isn’t it?

Gabby Dawson: What do you mean?

Peter Mills: You think he’d be riding me this hard if I wasn’t with the

girl that he likes?

Gabby Dawson: [nervous chuckle] You-you don’t know what you’re

talking about, Pete. You messed up. Casey rapped

your knuckles for it. You know how many times

Otis had to mop this house top to bottom when

he was a candidate?

Peter Mills: Uh-huh.

Gabby Dawson: Uh-huh.

cutscene

[footsteps approaching]

Leslie Shay: Cindy.

Cindy Herrmann: Hi, Leslie.

Leslie Shay: How are you feeling?

Cindy Herrmann: Fat.

[laughter]

Cindy Herrmann: Uh, Christopher left his set of car keys here. I just

need to grab them.

Leslie Shay: Okay. Did he, uh, call you yet to brag about how many

innocent birds he’s killed?

Cindy Herrmann: Uh, No, they’re… they’re deep in the woods up

there, so I don’t expect to hear from him.

Leslie Shay: Mm, well, I’m sure we’ll all get an earful once he’s

back.

Cindy Herrmann: [panting]

Leslie Shay: You okay?

Cindy Herrmann: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I just got real winded walking in

here. That’s what I get for gaining 25 pounds in

the first two trimesters.

Leslie Shay: When did the, uh, shortness of breath start?

Cindy Herrmann: Oh, I guess it got tricky about an hour ago. I-I

should sit…

Leslie Shay: Mmhmm.

Cindy Herrmann: A few minutes, maybe.

Leslie Shay: Yep. All right, well, just to be safe, I’m gonna just go

ahead and take your vitals, okay?

Cindy Herrmann: Oh, it’s probably nothing.

Leslie Shay: Yeah.

Cindy Herrmann: E-Everything look okay?

Leslie Shay: Yeah, yeah, everything’s all right. I just wanna get you

to Lakeshore and have a few things checked out,

okay?

Cindy Herrmann: Okay.

Leslie Shay: So just stay here. Take nice, easy breaths, and um, I’m

gonna go tell Chief Boden, okay?

Cindy Herrmann: Okay.

Leslie Shay: Okay.

Chief, Cindy’s oxygen levels are way too low. It could

be a P.E. We need to get her to Lakeshore now.

Chief Boden: Go. Go!

[siren blaring]

Leslie Shay: All right, Cindy, nice, easy breaths.

In and out, you just relax.

Dawson, she’s lost consciousness. Call ahead to

Lakeshore, give ‘em the report. I gotta tube her.

Gabby Dawson: You need my help?

Leslie Shay: No, just get us there as fast as possible.

Give me the intubation kit.

Gabby Dawson: Lakeshore this is Ambo 61…

Leslie Shay: Tara!

Gabby Dawson: Be advised we are on route with a pregnant

female.

Leslie Shay: Come on.

Hurry up.

Hand me the 7 ½.

Ambu bag.

Come on, Cindy.

38 year-old female, 26 weeks gestation. She went

unresponsive, stopped breathing and I had to intubate.

Gabby Dawson: She’s a friend, the wife of one of our guys.

Doctor: Sounds like a P.E. Let’s push tPA. and tell the CT scanner

we’re coming.

Nurse: Right away.

Doctor: We’ve got her.

Leslie Shay: She shouldn’t be here alone.

Gabby Dawson: You should go with her.

Leslie Shay: You sure?

Gabby Dawson: 100%.

Leslie Shay: Thanks.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: Hey, how is she?

Doctor: The clot travelled to her lungs. We did a thrombectomy and

fished it out.

Leslie Shay: And how’s the baby?

Doctor: The baby’s fine. We’re starting her on blood thinners so

she’ll be on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.

But other than that, she’s fine.

Leslie Shay: Okay.

Doctor: You can go in and see her.

Leslie Shay: Thank you.

Hey, girl.

Cindy Herrmann: Get over here.

Leslie Shay: [exhales] I’m so glad you’re okay.

Cindy Herrmann: Thank you, Leslie.

Leslie Shay: Of course.

cutscene

[knocks at door]

Gabby Dawson: You and Mouch get a hold of Herrmann?

Chief Boden: Yeah, uh, park rangers tracked him down. He’s on his

way home now. Great news about Cindy. Thanks to

Shay.

Gabby Dawson: Uh, oh. What’d I do now?

Man 2 (Chief Hatcher): Morning, Dawson.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, Chief Hatcher.

Man 2 (Chief Hatcher): I came by to see how Tara Little’s doing on

the rig.

Gabby Dawson: Uh… yeah, she’s a nice girl. Putting in a real effort.

Man 2 (Chief Hatcher): Dawson, one thing I know I can rely on with

you is a straight story. And that’s what I’m

looking for here now.

Gabby Dawson: She’s not cut out for a busy house, Chief. She’s

game, has a positive attitude, but she doesn’t

have the stomach for it.

Man 2 (Chief Hatcher): Sound like city work’s not for her. Maybe

the suburbs. Thanks, Dawson.

Gabby Dawson: No problem.

Man 2 (Chief Hatcher): Been nice… not seeing any violations with

your name lately. Keep it up.

cutscene

Matt Casey: I love how solid all this old construction stuff is.

Houses were built to last [grunts]

Gabby Dawson: Cool, let me check it out.

Matt Casey: It’s pretty heavy.

Gabby Dawson: I’m sorry, are you saying I can’t manage?

Matt Casey: Mm, look at that game face.

Gabby Dawson: Give it to me.

Matt Casey: All right.

Gabby Dawson: I got it. It’s fine. It’s not that bad.

Matt Casey: Yeah, you look like you got it.

Gabby Dawson: Okay. No, it’s… take it.

Matt Casey: Yeah? Sure?

Gabby Dawson: Take it. Ta… take it.

[laughter]

Matt Casey: Doors.

[claps]

Gabby Dawson: Oh, Casey.

Matt Casey: Ooh.

Gabby Dawson: This is it.

Matt Casey: Yeah, we can strip it down, stain it a dark mahogany

or something.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah. It’s perfect. If my mom sees this hanging up

at Molly’s, she is gonna go nuts.

[phone rings]

Gabby Dawson: Let me get this.

Hey.

Peter Mills: Hey there. Uh, look, I’m gonna have to blow off dinner

tonight. Yeah, they’re letting me jump into this vertical

rescue class, and I just can’t.

Gabby Dawson: Oh yeah, no worries. Um, we can-we can do it

tomorrow night.

Peter Mills: Okay. Where you at?

Gabby Dawson: Um, I’m looking at doors for the bar.

Peter Mills: By yourself? You wanna wait until tomorrow? I can help.

Gabby Dawson: Um, no, I’m good. Thanks. Talk to you later.

Peter Mills: Okay.

cutscene

[knocks on door]

Tara Little: I always hold up my end of the bet.

Kelly Severide: Ah…

Tara Little: [giggles]

Kelly Severide: …Very honourable of you.

Tara Little: Am I interrupting something?

Kelly Severide: Uh, not really. Um… come on in.

[laughter]

Tara Little: Okay.

[door closes]

Tara Little: It was kind of a rough time when I started my EMT

certification. My family thought I was crazy shifting gears

from design.

Kelly Severide: Do they support you now?

Tara Little: Not really. But they will as soon as I show them I can

hack it. I could tell that you didn’t really remember

Jennifer. That bartender I asked you about.

Kelly Severide: No, I do, the-the blonde.

Tara Little: Black hair. Black.

Kelly Severide: Oh.

Tara Little: Nice try.

Kelly Severide: [laughs]

Tara Little: She remembered you [clears throat]

When I told her I was gonna be working at 51, she

warned me about you. She said that you were just my

type. That I’d have a hard time staying away.

Kelly Severide: Really?

Tara Little: She’s a smart girl, that Jen.

[door opens and slams shut]

Leslie Shay: What the hell, Kelly?

Kelly Severide: What’s wrong?

Leslie Shay: What’s wrong? I called you, like ten times!

Kelly Severide: I-I must have left my phone at the gym.

Leslie Shay: I told you to be on alert. I’m in the window.

Kelly Severide: I…

Leslie Shay: Now the clinic’s closed!

Unbelievable. Unbelievable!

Kelly Severide: Hey, I’m so… look, hey! Listen Shay, I’m sorry,

okay? We can do to the clinic tomorrow morning.

That’s still in the window, isn’t it?

Leslie Shay: No! There’s no way to be sure about that.

Kelly Severide: I gotta ask, is this-is this you talking or is this the…

Leslie Shay: Don’t blame this on the hormones! You can’t even

bother to look at your phone? You can’t even think to

look at it?

Kelly Severide: I didn’t have it!

Leslie Shay: A baby isn’t an afterthought, Kelly.

Kelly Severide: I know that.

Leslie Shay: Do you?

So I release you of the obligation.

cutscene

Peter Mills: Okay, save some for the lady.

Otis Zvonecek: Why? She tanked Tara.

You tanked the single attractive EMT.

Gabby Dawson: I didn’t tank her, Otis.

Otis Zvonecek: Yeah.

Gabby Dawson: I just said that she wasn’t cut out for the streets of

Chicago, okay? They’ll probably move her to

Mayberry or something.

Otis Zvonecek: Wrong. Her probationary status was revoked,

Dawson.

Matt Casey: Hey, did you show Otis?

Gabby Dawson: Uh… no not yet.

Otis Zvonecek: Show me what?

Matt Casey: The new door for the bar.

Otis Zvonecek: Oh, Dawson, I was happy with the one we had.

Matt Casey: Don’t worry about it. I know the guy who runs the

place. Dawson has expensive taste, granted but I

managed to talk him down.

[alarm buzzes & blares]

(Over PA): Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61. House fire,

4800 block, West Thomas.

Joe Cruz: Oh look guys, Mills is gonna ride with us.

[siren blaring]

[indistinct radio chatter]

[car door shuts]

Chief Boden: Severide, get that gate down.

Kelly Severide: Hadley, grab the K12.

Kevin Hadley: Got it.

Matt Casey: Windows are all covered up, Chief. Can’t get a look

inside.

[k12 whirring]

Chief Boden: Not seeing a lot of signs of occupancy here.

[grinding]

Kelly Severide: Smell a little skunky to you?

Matt Casey: Yup.

Matt Casey: (into radio) Patched into the city service just below the

weather head.

(over radio) They’re stealing electricity. Looks like…

(into radio) …we’ve got a marijuana grow house, Chief.

Chief Boden: (into radio) Give me a small primary...

(over radio) …search team. And be careful in there.

Matt Casey: (over radio) Power’s disconnected.

Kelly Severide: Bring Mills in. Teach him how to breach a grow

house.

Matt Casey: Mind if I run my own company?

[door breaks open]

Kelly Severide: All right, Mills, pay attention.

Wow.

Watch out for booby traps. Don’t get tangled up in

wires or duct work, and keep an eye out for

chemicals or fuel.

Peter Mills: Copy that, Lieutenant!

Matt Casey: Fire department, call out!

Kelly Severide: Anybody here?

Capp, pick him up.

Harold Capp: You got it!

[glass shattering]

Kelly Severide: Pass him to me.

Harold Capp: All right [grunts]

Kelly Severide: Watch the glass. Unh.

[electricity crackles]

Harold Capp: [grunts & groans]

Peter Mills: What was that? Sounded like electricity.

Gabby Dawson: Get him on the gurney.

Okay, we got him.

Chief Boden: Where’s Capp?

Kelly Severide: Right behind me.

[PASS alarm beeping]

Kelly Severide: Capp!

Chief Boden: Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Kelly Severide: Chief!

Chief Boden: Take it easy. We have already got two men inside.

[PASS alarm beeping]

Chief Boden: (over radio) Casey…

(into radio)…you got eyes on Capp?

Matt Casey: (over radio) Not yet.

Peter Mills: Capp, call out!

Matt Casey: Capp, where are you?

(into radio) Chief, the electricity is still on.

Kelly Severide: Come on.

(into radio) We’re looking for a secondary line now.

Hang on.

Kevin Hadley: There. Right there.

Kelly Severide: Yeah.

[PASS alarm beeping]

Peter Mills: Capp, call out!

Matt Casey: Capp?

Chief Boden: (into radio) Talk to me Casey.

Matt Casey: (into radio) He’s caught up in some wires. I can’t tell if

they’re energised.

Don’t touch him! Stay back

[electricity crackles]

Kelly Severide: (over radio) Casey, the secondary line is cut.

(into radio) We’re still looking for other lines.

[PASS alarm beeping]

Matt Casey: (into radio) Can’t wait.

Stand back, Mills.

Kelly Severide: (into radio) Hey Casey, do you hear me?

Chief Boden: Get in there! Help him!

Matt Casey: Can’t tell if he’s breathing.

Kevin Hadley: [grunts]

Gabby Dawson: Hey. How you feeling, Capp?

Harold Capp: Smells like a Phish concert out here.

[laughter]

Gabby Dawson: We’ll take him in to get checked out.

Kelly Severide: Okay.

Gabby Dawson: Come on, get up.

Kelly Severide: I got him. I got him.

[indistinct chatter]

Otis Zvonecek: Rescuing Rescue Squad. Nicely done, Mills.

Peter Mills: [scoffs]

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct radio chatter]

Matt Casey: Not gonna miss your ride this time, huh?

[door slams]

Peter Mills: Lieutenant… how come you never went for Squad?

Matt Casey: Mills… all the lives we save, the people we help… you

think they give a damn which company insignia we

wear?

Dispatcher: (over radio) Truck 81, are you available to assist in a

shooting incident?

Matt Casey: (into radio) Truck 81 responding.

[pounds on door]

Matt Casey: We gotta go!

[compartment door shuts]

cutscene

[sirens wailing]

[indistinct radio chatter]

[ambo door shuts]

Uniform Cop: No rush, ladies. He’s not going anywhere. Territorial

dispute. Couple of corner boys ran up and shot him.

Same old story.

Gabby Dawson: How do I know this guy?

Curtis. This is the guy who helped Antonio bust

Voight.

[siren wailing]

[horns blazing]

Gabby Dawson: Hey, we’re too late.

Matt Casey: Okay. How’s Capp?

Gabby Dawson: He’s good, he’s good. No electrical burns or

anything. They gave him an EKG.

Yeah, I know.

cutscene

[drill whirrs]

Joe Cruz: So what does this mean?

Mouch: According to Boden, the D.A’s office remains committed to

its case against Detective Voight. And after all, Curtis’s

testimony wasn’t the only arrow in their quiver.

Gabby Dawson: Is that what you’re hearing, Casey?

Matt Casey: I thought we were here to celebrate.

Gabby Dawson: [chuckles]

Otis Zvonecek: Exactly! Come on, guys! It’s time for the inaugural

round of beers at Molly’s.

Leslie Shay: Hey, Casey.

Matt Casey: Hey, Shay.

Leslie Shay: Hey.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, how’s Cindy doing?

Leslie Shay: She’s good. Herrmann’s back, glued to her side, which

is driving her crazy.

Otis Zvonecek: All right, guys. Belly up. Come on.

Oh, wait, wait, wait.

[cheering]

Gabby Dawson: Hey.

Otis Zvonecek: To Molly’s.

All: To Molly’s.

[glass clinking]

Matt Casey: Ah.

Kelly Severide: Mm, it’s delicious, Otis. But are you gonna chill it

before opening?

Otis Zvonecek: God, I swear I plugged that in.

Matt Casey: Okay, who wants to see this door?

Gabby Dawson: Me.

Leslie Shay: Hey, can I talk to you?

Kelly Severide: Yeah, ab… Listen about…

Leslie Shay: Look, I’m so sorry.

Kelly Severide: About the other day, I messed up big time. I know

that.

Leslie Shay: It…

Kelly Severide: I’m sorry.

Leslie Shay: [scoffs] I’m sorry. I mean, it was the hormones. Or… I

think. I’m-I’m not sure, but look, I… I think I should

make other arrangements, ‘cause it’s like our

friendship is one of the only really good things I have

going on in my life and I don’t wanna mess that up.

Kelly Severide: That’s the silliest thing I’ve-I’ve ever heard.

Leslie Shay: But Kelly…

Kelly Severide: You’re trying to give me an easy out, I get it. I do.

But I don’t need one, okay. We’re doing this.

Okay?

Leslie Shay: Okay.

Kelly Severide: Come here.

[kissing sound]

Otis Zvonecek: I have to admit, it [chuckles] looks pretty damn

good.

Gabby Dawson: Right?

And, hey, can you… I need a picture.

Mouch: Okay.

Gabby Dawson: Come here.

Matt Casey: All right.

Mouch: I hope this comes out okay. I don’t have my glasses.

Joe Cruz: Just give me this.

All right guys.

[door unlatches]

Gabby Dawson: Oh.

Matt Casey: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, hey.

Leslie Shay: Whoa. Whoa. Sorry

Joe Cruz: Come on, come on, come on. We’re trying to take this

picture.

Kelly Severide: Looks great.

Leslie Shay: Sorry, sorry.

Kelly Severide: All right, guys.

Joe Cruz: Ready?

[camera clicks]

Joe Cruz: One more.

[camera clicks]

Gabby Dawson: Hey, Pete. Hi. I thought you had classes all day.

Peter Mills: Oh I do. Just wanted to carve out a couple minutes to

come see this door. Looks great.

[kissing sound]

[phone buzzing]

Kelly Severide: Uh, I gotta go to the firehouse.

Leslie Shay: What for?

Kelly Severide: I don’t know. See you guys.

All: See ya.

Later, man.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Hey Tara.

Okay.

[knocks on door]

Kelly Severide: Chief?

Chief Boden: Come on in, Kelly. Take a seat.

[door closes]

Chief Boden: Lieutenant Severide. A subordinate has accused you

of luring her to your apartment… and trying to force

yourself upon her.

Kelly Severide: What?

Chief Boden: She hasn’t pressed criminal charges as yet and we

are trying to convince her to keep this an internal

matter.

Kelly Severide: Are you-are you-are you talking about Tara Little?

What did she say I did?

Chief Boden: You’re gonna wanna talk to your union rep. See about

getting a lawyer.

cutscene

Gabby Dawson: I really appreciate this, Casey. It means a lot.

Matt Casey: I know. That’s why I did it.

It seems like things are going pretty well with you and

Mills.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah. They are.

Matt Casey: He’s a lucky guy.

[door opens]

Gabby Dawson: Uh, sorry, we’re closed.

Matt Casey: Hallie?

Hallie Thomas: Hey, Matt.

Matt Casey: What?

I thought you were in South America.

Hallie Thomas: I was. I just got back. The guys at the station said

you might be here.

Hey, Gabby. How are you?

Gabby Dawson: I’m good. I’m good. You look… you look great.

Hallie Thomas: Thanks.

Matt Casey: Uh… You wanna grab a coffee or something?

Hallie Thomas: I’d love that.

Matt Casey: All right.

- end -

Definitions:

C-spine – The cervical spine (neck region) is the most superior position of the vertebral column, lying between the cranium and the thoracic vertebrae. It consists of seven bones (C1-C7 vertebrae)

Oxy/acetylene torch – Widely used for welding purposes

Exothermic torch – Used in cutting. An exothermic torch works by feeding oxygen through an exothermic carbon steel cutting rod that is charged by the 12-volt battery. The exothermic torch has the ability to cut through mild steel that is three inches thick and makes quick works of re-bar, coated steel, bridge decking, concrete lined pipes and highway guard rails. It will burn through common metals even when they are covered in mud, dirt or rusted out

P.E. – A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in the lung artery. It usually happens when a blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs

7 ½ - Size of tube for intubation. A 7 – 7 ½ endotracheal tube (ETT) is generally appropriate for an average woman and 7 ½ - 8 ETT for an average man

tPA – Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only FDA approved treatment for ischemic or thrombotic stroke, which is stroke caused by a blood clot interrupting blood flow to a region of the brain. It has also been used in treatment for pulmonary embolism and myocardial infraction. tPA is a blood thinner

Thrombectomy – Removal of a thrombus (blood clot) under image guidance

Phish concert – American rock band

EKG – Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) records the electrical signal from your heart to check for different heart conditions. Electrodes are placed on your chest to record your heart’s electrical signals, which cause your heart to beat

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violetwolfraven · 4 years ago

Text

Modern!Wormsies Headcanons because I’m terrified wormsies is going to die before 2021 gets here

Tw for mild horror. I don’t think this is that bad but read at your own risk. I don’t l know why I created it I just felt compelled to but don’t read it unless you’re as insane as I am and are fully prepared to read the most cursed thing I have ever created. Seriously. This is by far the most cursed thing I have ever written. Good luck. 💜

So anyway they’re not selling to survive obviously since it’s modern au.

In my modern au they’re all theatre nerds cause why not.

So they’re backstage one day and Race finds this blue thing behind an old set that has probably been there for several years.

Lo and behold, it is a worm on a string.

And Race is kinda weirded out and wondering who left it there but he’s like aight guess I’m keeping this thing.

He ties it to a strap on his backpack and forgets about it for the rest of rehearsal.

Then Romeo (one of Race’s 3 adoptive brothers, the others being Jack and Crutchie) notices it and f l i p s o u t.

Romeo drags over Specs and Jack and Crutchie to show them the worm Race found and they’re all like omg this is the best thing we’ve ever seen.

Race is still kinda confused but like hey whatever this might as well happen and he just figures if his brothers and his little brother’s boyfriend are gonna obsess over worms, why not join in?

They all get worms somehow. Romeo gets a green one, Specs gets a purple one, Jack gets a dark blue one, and Crutchie gets a yellow one.

When they all show up to rehearsal a few days later with worms, a few others pick up on it and are like lmao let’s join in on the insanity.

So anyway Albert gets a red one, Smalls gets a green one, Mike gets a purple one, Ike gets a yellow one cause it’s the opposite of purple, and Elmer gets a green one.

All the others are all kinda just whatever do what you want don’t involve us in your insanity.

BUT THEN

Over the course of the next couple weeks, only a couple more people join in on getting worms.

Sniper gets a purple one and Finch gets an orange one.

But what’s strange is that everybody starts noticing...

The kids with worms pick up choreography...

Faster and Better...

Than the kids without worms...

They’re stretchier and more agile...

...almost like..?

Almost like...

They...

don’t...

have...

spines..?

They wiggle just like their worms wiggle wiggle wiggle.

And Specs is the most logical of the ones with worms but even he fully believes his worm gives him special powers.

They spend their snack breaks talking about this and a few more people decide to get in on it.

Jojo gets a yellow one, Mush gets a dark blue one, and Blink gets a light blue one.

Davey, Spot, and Katherine still refuse to believe in this.

Sarah got a pink worm and they were all terribly disappointed in her.

But anyway they hold out their lack of belief despite how the kids with worms continue to perform better in dance numbers than the few left without.

Kenny caves and gets a dark blue one somewhere in here.

There are now a lot more kids with worms than kids without and the holidays are rolling around.

Ike gets Hotshot a red worm and Hotshot in turn gets red worms for all his crowd on the stage crew (Bart, Rafaela, Joey, Hildy, York, and Vince).

Hell, even the crew kids perform better with worms, it turns out.

Cause they can run fast to get places they need to be and squeeze through spaces they shouldn’t be able to squeeze through.

But anyway Katherine and Davey and Spot are starting to get a little creeped out.

Cause their friends and partners are starting to act more and more like they’re in a cult, even more than the cult that they’re already in (the drama club).

They pretend their worms have fucking personalities and make tiny hats for them and stuff.

And the ones left without worms are dropping like flies and getting assimilated to the other side.

Buttons gets a light blue one, Tommy Boy gets a pink one, Henry gets an orange one, and

And Sarah gets Les a green worm.

That’s kinda the last straw for Davey.

He fucking waits until his siblings are asleep and he throws their worms in the trash.

But mysteriously

They both have their worms back in time for rehearsal.

And Davey gets home that night and there’s a light blue worm waiting on his pillow.

He throws it away but it’s tied to his backpack strap the next day.

He flushes it down the toilet and it shows up in his favorite hoodie pocket.

He tells Katherine and Spot, super freaked out, but they don’t really believe him cause there’s no such thing as magic worms... right?

Then Katherine finds a purple worm on the seat she usually sits in during breaks.

She’s moderately creeped out so she leaves it there and goes to a different seat but the next break the worm is on that seat.

She can’t remember seeing anyone move it.

Meanwhile Spot is making out with Race behind a curtain (obviously) and Race

Race fucking pulls a red worm out of his sleeve like a scarf trick and gives it to him.

Spot is super weirded out by this and wants to just throw the dumb thing away the minute he and Race are done making out, but he just...

He can’t.

He can’t get rid of the worm, so he ties it to his backpack.

Katherine and Davey are mildly horrified that Spot has given in and won’t give up his worm even though you’re encouraging their cult-like behavior, Spot, come on.

Spot insists that he could throw away his worm if he wanted to, he just... doesn’t want to. And besides, he can keep up with the others on theatre stuff now, so why would he?

So Kath and Davey are

The

Last

Ones

Left

Without worms.

Davey’s worm is still following him around but he refuses to give in and he always gets rid of it as soon as he finds it but it always pops up again.

Katherine’s shows up less frequently, but it starts getting more and more frequent and she starts getting more and more freaked out as one night, she goes into her room and that fucking purple worm is on her pillow.

None of her friends have been to her house in the last 24 hours so this development is fucking terrifying.

She calls Davey and flips out on the phone to him about it and he’s trying to calm her down but Sarah ends up stealing his phone after a few minutes because she’s my girlfriend, Davey, not yours.

When Davey gets the phone back, Katherine is significantly calmer. He asks her if she threw the worm away.

She

Didn’t

Throw the worm away.

She claims it’s fine, that they might as well give in, Davey, we’re the last ones left without worms, just out of stubbornness. And anyway our friends with worms are doing fine; look at your siblings if you need proof.

Sarah and Les are having a tea party with their worms and Davey is getting pretty scared at this point.

He’s the last one left without a worm, though that blue one still always seems to show up wherever he is.

Until

Opening night

Their

Show

Afterwards everybody’s pumped up and ready to go to Applebee’s to celebrate and Davey is relieved because no one has mentioned worms in the last 24 hours or even really looked at the ones still tied to their backpacks.

He thinks maybe the others got bored with it and this thing is finally dying, especially since that damn light blue worm hasn’t showed up today either.

But then Davey is just sharing a nice coffee alone with Jack backstage (which he hasn’t done since the worm thing started because honestly his boyfriend was creeping him out).

Jack suddenly starts crying, and Davey’s all like hey what is it? Babe look at me what’s wrong?

And Jack just goes I’m sorry love I know it hurts now but it’s better in the long run trust me.

That’s when Elmer, Specs, Sarah, and Mush burst in behind them and grab Davey, shoving a bag over his head and dragging him somewhere.

When the bag is taken off of Davey’s head, he’s tied to a chair in the middle of a choir room that all his friends have somehow squeezed into.

They’re all holding their worms.

And Davey is like guys if this is an elaborate prank it wasn’t even that funny to begin with but now it is very very much not funny.

But Sarah just goes in a sad tone it’s not a prank Davey.

Les not looking like he’s trying not to laugh is what makes Davey believe it’s not a prank.

And Davey is legitimately terrified at this point because even Spot and Katherine are looking at him with a solemn kind of pity and when he asks them for help they just shake their heads and tell him everything will be okay.

He turns to Jack and is still clinging to that last little bit of hope that one of the people he loves might not have gone off the deep end.

That last little bit of hope that the boy he loves is still the boy I fell for. I know you’re still in there so please just untie me Jackie.

Jack looks like he’s trying not to cry but he doesn’t move.

Instead he says I love you Davey. It’ll all be over soon.

Do it, Race.

Race steps forward and Davey just about has a heart attack because

He’s

Holding

That

Goddamn

Light blue

Worm

And he takes some rainbow duct tape out of his pocket and tapes it to Davey’s shirt.

And the others all start chanting one of us one of us one of us as Davey can practically feel the spine leave his body and travel to another dimension where there’s a man who collects them.

It turns out the others were right that he should just give in.

Now it’s time for them to get the rest of the school.

Edit: here is my attempt to justify myself for this. 💜

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spaceorphan18 · 3 years ago

Note

I read with interest your view and that of @hopefulobjectmiracle about tumblr Klaine fandom. Is there more shipping these days than 2010-15? I ask because there seems to be a smaller group that only ship Kurt with Blaine but there seems to be a huge rise in Kurtbastian and Hevans shippers. Likewise, there’s many more pezberry or faberry shippers. And a lot more of those shippers trying to discredit Blaine or Brittany as OTP for Kurt and Santana. There seems to be new younger people joining Tumblr declaring a love for all things Klaine, and then a week later shipping Kurt with everybody else!! Has there been a change since the show aired?

Hi Nonny! :)

Hmmm.... There's not really a clear answer to this because the way shipping evolved is different than people just finding things now.

There are kind of two different things going on here -- Kurt related shipping and non-Kurt (blaine/klaine) shipping. I can't tell you much about non related Kurt things -- however, I will say that Faberry was HUGE when the show was on. It's a subsection of the fandom I never interacted with but it was around in season 1, and loud enough that the show makes nod to it from season 2 forward. Brittana was always around, too, and the reason Brittana became a thing on the show was, partly, due to fans crying out that they should be a couple -- and more than the throwaway joke the writers made in the first season.

I don't know what happened to those ships over time, or how the evolved since the show ended -- I'm sorry :/

But now, I will tell you the epic history of Kurt shipping. (Again. i should really dig out my old notes on this, lol)

Here we go long post...

I found it! I'm going to quote myself so I don't have to write it out again, lol. This was originally from an ask about the BBO (Better Boyfriend Olympics), but it'll work here, too.

Okay, so let’s go back to 2010 when there wasn’t a Klaine fandom, there was a Kurt fandom. A lot of the BBO stemmed out of the Kurt’s Boyfriend Shipping wars of 2010.

Back then, there was just a Kurt fandom, and a lot of opinions about who he should date. Believe it or not, Kurt was shipped a lot with the other guys on the show, there was a healthy dose of Kurt/Finn, but Kurt/Puck was huge, and there was a smattering of Kurt/Mike (I never really did see much Kurt/Artie now that I think of it, which is kind of funny in retrospect, but I’m sure it’s out there.) Anyway - when the show announced Kurt was getting a boyfriend – well, things began to get heated up.

Three big ships emerged

Kurt/Sam - because the rumor was that Sam was originally supposed to be Kurt’s bf (probably not, but that rumor was big at the time). Btw, they were the canoe ship (I have no idea why) and was also known as Kum (rolls-eyes). This ship’s fanbase was so huge and lasted so long, that the show felt the need to address it head on in Season Two’s Rumours (not a joke).

Kurt/Karofsky - Also known as Kurtofsky, they were also called themselves the Pirate ship (god, Idk why, shipping wars are weird, yo). These people were also really passionate, mostly about Dave, but liked the whole idea that Kurt would save Dave and they would have this weird - enemies to loves love affair or something. I don’t know, I could never get past the squicky assault aspect, but whatever.

Kurt/Blaine - which. at the time, was… the biggest possibility? It’s funny cause the other two ships were just as big as the Klaine ship, and really the fighting became over who was going to be the best option for Kurt.

And that’s the thing. Fans of Kurt were so passionate about who was best for Kurt, because everyone had seen him go through hell and back on the show, so his boyfriend needed to be perfect for him. And you know who was perfect (at first) – Blaine. More on that in a second…

However, Blaine brought his own bit of baggage – namely fans of Darren Criss (and/or Starkid fans). Unlike Chord Overstreet or Max Adler, people knew who Darren was before he was on Glee. So his own fandom joined in on the Klaine of it all. At first it was all fine – as the shipping wars continued, it was less about Kurt vs Blaine and more about Klaine vs the other shippers. Well, that was going to change….

Original Song happened and Kurt and Blaine got together ending the question of who would ultimately be Kurt’s boyfriend. And things were nice and cozy headed into season 3. You’d think the Kurt/Sam and Kurt/Karofsky ships would die out, but not really, they stuck around for a long time, and kinda morphed into something else.

See, The First Time happened. And for the first time Blaine wasn’t the perfect prince that he was in season 2 – he had more of a developed personality, and more flaws. And… some people didn’t like it. (Also added to the mix was Sebastian – and the Seblaine and Kurtbastian ships were born, but those kinda go off on their own thing and I’m not really going to bring them up much here.) Anyway, what really got fandom split was Dance With Somebody.

You had two sides of an argument, people who saw Kurt’s POV and people who saw Blaine’s POV – and guess what happened. The two sides began to fight with each other over who was “right” in the argument. (My god…) And thus started what fandom started referring to as The Better Boyfriend Olympics.

See - for reasons I don’t fully understand - instead of seeing that each of the boys have a fault and each were wrong in the episode, each side wanted to say that their side, and their POV was the correct way – that one boyfriend was more oppressed and the other was not as good a partner.

On the Kurt side, though, you had a lot of the old Kurt fans and ships who didn’t like Blaine (and/or didn’t want Blaine as his partner) so they vehemently decided that unless Blaine was the perfect boyfriend again, he didn’t deserve to be with Kurt. Meanwhile, you had the Blaine fans, many of them Darren fans who wanted Blaine to have more depth to him than just being Kurt’s boyfriend, and not being Kurt fans first (or originally) they were going to push back at the Kurt fans who were lashing out at Blaine.

Compounding this was the fact that during season 3, there were so many cast members and characters that unless you were Finchel, you were begging for scraps and your featured episode to come along. Meanwhile - Kurt got a ton of screen time, but didn’t sing much, while Blaine sang a lot more, but didn’t get much story. The Kurt fans resented that Blaine was always singing. The Blaine fans were annoyed that the Kurt fans resented it, and tried to remind the Kurt fans that Blaine barely got any development.

Either way, a war had begun. And then The Break Up happened.

Now Kurt fans had a specific reason to point at – Blaine being a terrible boyfriend. He cheated. He’s terrible. The end.

The fandom was not firmly split into sides - you were either a Kurt fan - a lot of them who HATED Blaine - partly because he was getting more attention at the time, partly cause he did sing more, partly because they were made up of Kurt ships that didn’t work out, and partly cause they saw so much of themselves in Kurt that they projected onto him their own feelings, and loving Blaine was not a part of that projection. Or you were a Blaine fan - who spent a lot of time defending Blaine to the point of exhaustion, and became so resentful of Kurt that they wished Blaine could be with anyone else because Kurt (fans) didn’t understand Blaine and should just stop trying.

Weren’t there any Klainers you ask? Ha, well…. Klainers, people actually liked Kurt AND Blaine were stereotyped into two categories. Category A) the really really loud fanbase (usually on Twitter) that harassed the creators, RM, Chris, Darren, various crew about Klaine every second that they got – to the point that it started to feel embarrassing (that’s probably my own projection). Category B) People who thought (think) that Chris and Darren were (are) in a secret relationship. (Spoiler alert they aren’t, never have been, and never will be.) The two of these categories overlapped A LOT, and many of the fans of one boy or the other just disassociated completely.

You could still be a fan of the Klaine relationship, but you had a preference to which boy you were actually a fan of – you couldn’t like both, or else you were a Klainer, and that was not cool. (I spent a long time NOT identifying as anything, and trying to make sure everything I did and said was equal – a) cause I was new to fandom and b) cause I hated that either one or the other of these characters were villainized so frequently.)

Anyway - Season 4 continued. Adam showed up, and Kurt fans got all excited, but the problem was that a lot of them saw him as the perfect boyfriend again – not a real character but a prop that could make Kurt look good and be everything for Kurt. Look, I liked Adam, I did, but he was underdeveloped, and this weird idea that your boyfriend needs to be perfect in order to be a functioning relationship is just unrealistic. I digress. Meanwhile, we didn’t get a lot of Kurt POV, which didn’t help things, and meant even more projection over his character.

Meanwhile, the Blaine fans had formed their own community, which became viciously defensive of him. I think the whole fandom was toxic during this time for a lot of reasons, and I really wanted to quit it. Many people did – the show wasn’t being fun anymore.

Season 5 came along, the boys got back together, tempers simmered, but the whole idea of the Better Boyfriend Olympics came back every time a conflict happened. Arguments about who was the better boyfriend ensued, gatekeeping as to why their pick was best and why your opinion sucked still ran through the fandom. Not helping was the fact that Cory had died, and the creators, actors, and crew – as well as media – was tired of Glee.

The one nice thing, though was that a lot of the old crowd had moved on by then, and there was an influx of newer people coming in during season 5 (and season 6) – they weren’t here for the season 3 droughts and season 4 wars, and brought in a newer and fresher perspective.

But still - we had the end of season 5 and the summer of spoilers and season 6 to get through. At this point, the Kurt and Blaine camps had moved to their parts of the internet and really not speaking much to each other if they could help it. When an argument happened on the show, the same kind of Better Boyfriend Olympics came up again – one boyfriend was worse than the other, and unless they changed xyz they were not good enough for the other. But at this point, it was incredibly tiring. I know that I was just ready for the show to be done with.

I should say, as an aside, not helping things were the rise of some rather vocal BNF-ish fans, who dug their heels in about their own opinions. The refusal to even acknowledge that one side or the other might be right, or have valid points was not helping anything. A lot of people on both sides refused to even listen to the points on the other side – and instead of being frustrated at the show, the creators, or whatever, they took it against each other, which wasn’t fun to watch either.

Season 6 happened - Blainofsky happened, and that killed enthusiasm for the season on both sides, most people just kind of wanted it to be over. And then the ending came quickly, and I think a lot of people who were just plain unhappy about everything left for good.

The Better Boyfriend Olympics, or this weird competition that always pitted the boys and their fandoms against each other in the name of one being better than the other, leveled off after this. I won’t give myself /that/ much credit - but one reason I created @todaydreambelievers was to give fans of both Kurt and Blaine a safe place where we could enjoy and discuss both boys without the BBO rearing its head. And you know what – it did mend a few hearts.

For the most part, it’s been pretty quiet since. Fandom is quieter, but I think the people who have come into it after the show has ended are a lot less judgmental and argumentative. (I suppose it helps if you know how the story is going to end.) And the cool thing, for me, is finding a group of people who enjoy Kurt and Blaine equally (or respectfully) – and reclaiming the name Klainer as a good thing.

I’ll end by saying this – it’s been relatively peaceful, even with the influx of new people throughout the years, but I have been seeing shades of BBO pop up again. Look, you don’t have to like Klaine to be a fan of one or the other of them. But there are a lot of terrible things going on in the world, a lot of things to be angry and get indignant about. How a fictional couple was written ten years ago is not one of them. Be respectful of people, and know that maybe the side you understand better isn’t the only side worth listening to. ;)

////////////////////

So, I suppose that's part 1 of this full picture. Onto Part 2.

Here's the thing -- I've stayed, mostly, in my little tumblr buble over the past five years -- blissfully unaware that I suppose things were going on around me. Except... they really weren't. Until the pandemic happened, and Glee went to Netflix internationally, and a whole bunch of young kids grew up and started watching the show.

By the time I ended TDB in 2019, there weren't many of us left. I knew there was our small, dedicated group of fans. The tinhatters (the group who thought Chris and Darren were in some kind of relationship. spoiler alert -- they're not). And I know the Kurtbastian fans have been kicking around for a while. But no one was around in huge numbers.

And then boom - pandemic, and I'm shocked (not in a bad way) that this show has already seen a resurgence. The weirdest part, for me, is the fact that not only is history repeating itself -- seriously, people are bringing up old conflicts that have been dead for ages, and old shipping wars I never thought I'd see again -- but I think this new group's relationship with the show is much different.

I think that Kurt is a character whom a lot of people can still identify with. And because he's on his own in the first season, it's still easy to project yourself onto him. And then shipping goes from there. Blaine went from being the exciting option, omg are they really gonna do Klaine?? to -- hey Klaine is the boring canon choice, we can choose who we want for Kurt.

Layer over that years of Blaine hate still circling the interwebs. The echo chamber that Twitter and Tiktok create. And the fact that neither Chris or Darren seem to have the army of fans they once did (well -- Darren does, but they don't really watch Glee anymore). And you get this varied landscape of shipping.

No, some days it doesn't feel that different from the BBO days. The fact that I still get asks about Blaine and TFT car scene or Tested makes me feel like I'm back in 2013. Other times I'm perplexed by resurgences -- such as Kurtbasitan and Kurt/Sam. (Please don't bring back Kurtofsky guys)

But there's a saying -- Same Shit, Different Day.

I think there is an entirely different group of people than the original people watching, and their reasoning for shipping whatever is much different. But they've certainly come to a lot of the same conclusions that brought about the shipping wars in the early days.

At the end of the day - I think Kurt will always been a fandom mattress. But ship what you like and be nice to everyone else. There's enough hate in the world -- no need to dump on people's escapism.

#that's how s.o. sees it #klaine history #klaine #and fandom #did I answer the question?#idk

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marypsue · 3 years ago

Text

Know what time it is? That’s right, time for more unsolicited fic samples from my Stranger Things ageswap AU.

...

Karen debates with herself all through dinner. This should be an easy decision, really. Cut and dried. She doesn’t owe Hopper anything. They’re not friends. There’s no way Karen would ever let herself get killed, or nearly-killed, for him a second time.

Except. It’s not for him. It’s for Joyce. And – for Karen too. She just wants to know, for sure, that she didn’t imagine it.

She just wants to know what the hell is going on.

Mike’s acting weird tonight, too, like it’s Christmas Eve and he can’t wait to go to bed so it’ll be Christmas sooner. It’s probably got something to do with whatever girl he and Joyce’s big brother were talking about in the Byers’ kitchen, after they’d tried to get rid of Karen. Obviously she’d eavesdropped after that. She’s totally curious about who it is and why Mike’s trying to keep her a secret, but – Joyce comes first. Teasing Mike about his nonexistent love life is a distant second.

Karen should ignore the note. Stay home. Do her homework. Not go mess with monsters. But instead, she finds herself biking out to the appointed place for the appointed hour. She remembered a jacket this time, but the night air against her face is still cold.

She knows something’s wrong when she hears voices, laughter and shouts up ahead. And when she pulls up to the crossing and sees five boys waiting instead of just one, her suspicions are only confirmed.

“You said not to bother telling anybody!” Karen snaps at Hopper, swinging herself off her bike as it rolls to a stop. “You said nobody’d believe us!”

“Which is why,” Hopper growls, glancing over at his little group of friends, “I didn’t tell them. Just said to meet here. With weapons.”

Karen looks over his gang, too. It’s the usual suspects – Cal and Benny, and even Bobby Newby, the one they all call the Brain, who gives Karen a smile and a wave with the hand that’s not holding a flashlight almost as big as his head. There’s also a kid Karen doesn’t recognise, a curly-haired nine- or ten-year-old with the skinniest neck Karen’s ever seen and a pair of heavy black glasses that look way too big for his face. Benny’s carrying a battered baseball bat, and Cal’s got a slingshot sticking out of his back pocket. Karen suddenly wishes she’d thought to bring something to hit things with, too.

“That’s what’s worrying me,” Bobby pipes up, with another curious glance at Karen. “Just what are you planning to show us that’s dangerous enough we have to bring weapons and unbelievable enough you can’t tell us what it is?” He tries for a laugh, but it comes out more of a spooked, wheezy chuckle. “Should we be writing our wills?”

“That brain of yours is gonna get you into real trouble someday, Newby,” Benny says, hefting his bat up over one shoulder. At twelve, he already stands head and shoulders over the other three. Jill claims he’s already had visits from university football coaches looking to get an early start on poaching him, but everybody knows Jill’s full of shit. Still, it’s not the most outrageous thing she could’ve said about him.

That monster would make even Benny look tiny, though. The bad feeling that’s been slowly growing on Karen all afternoon only gets stronger.

“We waiting on anybody else?” Cal asks Hopper, and adds, with a perfectly straight face, “Maybe the rest of the school?”

“I’m not the one who let a nine-year-old tag along with me,” Hopper grumbles, and the nine-year-old in question sputters and pouts.

“I’m ten! Almost.”

“My mom told the Callahans I’d babysit. Couldn’t get out of it,” Cal protests. He glances over at Karen before adding, “And at least Phil’s not a girl.”

“No,” Karen says, sharply. “Just a baby. Just like you.” Bad feeling or no bad feeling, she suddenly wants to see these guys’ faces when they meet the monster. “Well? Are we going?”

Hopper nods once, before starting down the tracks. “Yeah. Everybody keep up.”

Karen follows him, without a look back. She can hear his friends coming behind her, trailed by Phil’s protests that he’s not a baby, he’s almost ten, is anybody even listening?

The woods are just as creepy as they had been last night, but it’s hard to be creeped out when there are four annoying boys yelling and bickering and cracking fart jokes behind you. Hopper is at least pretty quiet, glancing over at Karen every so often like he’s checking she hasn’t run away screaming yet. But even he shoots back if one of the others starts in on him. None of them seem to be taking this seriously.

Until they find the deer.

Karen’s the only one who hears it, at first. Under the chatter, she thinks, at first, that it’s a woman’s scream.

“Shut up!” she snaps, holding up a hand with her palm out for the boys to stop. “Did you hear that?”

Bobby sweeps the huge flashlight he’s carrying over the trees to either side of the tracks. There’s the faintest tremor in his voice as he says, “If you’re just trying to freak us out…”

The sound comes again. This time, in the quiet, Karen can tell the high-pitched bleat isn’t human. It’s off the tracks, to their right, somewhere in the trees. Somewhere close.

“What is that?” Karen asks.

She isn’t really expecting any of the others to have an answer, so she’s surprised when Benny pipes up. “Sounds like a deer. Fawns cry like that, sometimes. And does if they’re looking for the fawns.” He shifts his grip on his bat. “Or if they’re hurt bad but not killed. Dad and I found one one time, got itself tangled up in a patch of old fence and half-strangled itself…”

Karen doesn’t want to hear any more of that story.

“We shouldn’t just leave it, if it’s hurt,” she says, maybe a little too fast and too loud. Hopper groans, and Cal gives her a flat, unimpressed look, but Bobby’s nodding his agreement, and Benny just shrugs.

“What’re we supposed to do about it if it is hurt?” Phil pipes up, pushing his glasses up his nose and smearing fingerprints over the lenses as he does. The second he takes his hand away, his glasses go sliding right back down. “Can you call 911 for deer?”

The twelve-year-olds exchange looks.

“Okay. Stay with the twerp,” Hopper says, at last, looking from Cal to Karen. “Benny and me’ll check it out.”

Bobby’s chuckle sounds forced. “Because that doesn’t sound like the last thing the first victims in a scary movie ever say at all.”

“Yeah,” Phil pipes up. “On Scooby Doo, when the gang splits up is always when the monster finds them.”

“On Scooby Doo,” Cal repeats, deadpan, turning that unimpressed, sardonic stare on Phil. But Hopper looks over and meets Karen’s eyes. She’s pretty sure he’s also thinking more about the second half of that sentence.

“Fine,” Hopper says, at last, like it doesn’t matter to him either way. “We stick together. But none of you better get squeamish on me. And,” turning to stare at Phil, “your mom and dad ever hear a word about what you did tonight, and the last thing you’re gonna have to worry about is Scooby Doo monsters.”

“I’m almost ten,” Phil complains, trailing along behind them as Hopper and Benny lead them off the tracks and into the trees, following the sound of the crying deer. “I meant a serial killer or something might get us. I know monsters aren’t real.”

The deer, when they find it, is lying on its side in a pile of dead leaves, its eyes rolling in frenzied terror, its sides heaving. One of its delicate back legs is caught in the enormous teeth of an ugly iron contraption, the blood puddled around it gleaming almost black in the flashlight’s beam.

“Gross,” Karen says.

“Cool!” Phil says, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“That’s awful,” Bobby says, mournfully looking down at the deer as Hopper and Benny try to pry the trap’s jaws apart. “How can something like that be allowed?”

“It’s not. Not for deer,” Benny says, with a grunt. “Must be having problems with bears out here. Can you point the light a little more this way?”

“Bears,” Cal says, like he’s disappointed but not exactly surprised. “Say, chief, what was it out here that was so important we all had to see it, again?”

“Shut up,” Hopper grumbles, hauling hard on the trap. “And I told you not to call me that.”

“Whatever you say, chief.”

There’s a tremendous creak and a groan from the trap, and the teeth finally, finally start to come apart. As soon as there’s enough space for it to get its foot out between them, the deer kicks its way free, catching Hopper in the arm with a flying hoof as it goes. The others back away as it staggers to its feet, its injured leg buckling under it –

And then there’s a blur of grey from between the trees, a soft and sickening thud, and the deer is gone.

The quiet buzz of the forest at night is shattered by a chorus of screams and wildly-waving flashlights.

“Holy shit! Holy shit, what was that!?” Benny shouts, dropping the bear trap and scrabbling for his bat in the leaf litter.

“A bear?” Cal offers, sounding rattled for Cal, and Benny shakes his head.

“Only if it was a mutant – that thing – you all saw it, right?”

Five heads nod.

“That was it,” Karen says. The relief of knowing it was real, that it wasn’t her imagination, is paling fast next to the reality of the thing. “What we were going to show you. How could it have gotten out of that basement? We broke down the stairs -”

Hopper shakes his head. He’s still glaring into the dark, between the trees, in the direction the – the monster had taken the deer. “Maybe it dug its way out. Remember, it came through the wall?”

“Through the wall?” Bobby echoes, with the faintest hint of a nervous laugh. “Well, it’s a good thing I wasn’t planning on ever sleeping again.”

“What the hell, Hop,” Benny says. He’s found his bat, and he’s holding it low but with both hands, ready to swing at a moment’s notice.

“I was just wondering the same thing,” Cal agrees drily, not taking his eyes from the dark woods as he reaches back for his slingshot.

Hopper shrugs, straightening up. He grips his arm just below the shoulder the deer had hit with his opposite hand, giving that shoulder a careful roll. “Not much to tell. I took Karen out last night to look for her friend and we ran into that thing in an abandoned house.”

Karen tries not to wilt under the questioning looks that turn in her direction. She shrugs, defiantly, silently daring anybody to say anything about her and Hopper hanging out alone. She’s not sure why he’s trying to pretend he isn’t Joyce’s friend, but that’s something to investigate further, later.

“That was a monster,” Phil says, thankfully drawing attention away from Karen again. “Right?”

He looks into the flat glare he’s getting from Cal, and shrugs. “What? We were all thinking it.”

“It can’t be – it’s not a monster,” Benny says, slinging his bat over his shoulder. He’s changed his tune, Karen notices. He also seems to be starting to relax, a little, but he doesn’t stop moving around, doesn’t stand still, keeps looking around at the trees. She wonders who he’s trying to convince – the rest of them, or himself. “Cal was right. It could maybe be a bear. If it had…mange…”

“You seen it up close?” Hopper says. He doesn’t wait for Benny to answer. “It’s not a bear.”

“So what are we going to do about it?”

Karen glances over at Bobby. He still looks scared, but she’s surprised to realise it’s giving way to determination. He hefts the enormous flashlight, and Karen squints as the light flashes directly into her eyes. “You said you were out looking for Joyce Byers. I’m guessing it’s not a coincidence that you found that instead. Or that you said to bring weapons.”

There’s a moment of awkward silence as everyone avoids looking at Karen.

“Wait, wait, you think that thing got a kid?!” Phil yells, at the top of his lungs. Karen, Bobby, and Cal all turn to shush him, and he turns the volume down a few notches, but the offended horror in his voice doesn’t change. “And you expect us to kill it?”

“No,” Hopper says, a little too firmly. “Don’t be an idiot. We got no idea how to kill it yet. Or if it’s got a – nest, or a den, or something -”

“Where it mighta taken the kid it ate?”

“Phil, for the love of Christ,” Cal sighs. “I told these guys you could be cool.”

“That was before the kid-eating monster was part of the picture!”

“Go home if you want,” Hopper says, starting in the direction Karen thinks the monster had gone. “Just wanted you to know, so if anything happens to me…”

“If anything -” Phil turns wide eyes, magnified doubly wide by the thick lenses of his glasses, onto Cal. “This is a prank, right? You guys are all just yanking my chain. Really convincing monster suit. Who’d you get to wear it?”

“All of you can go home, if you want,” Hopper repeats, with a glance back over his shoulder. “I don’t need you for this part.”

Then he turns and walks into the trees, out of the flashlight’s circle and into the dark.

“Oh no you don’t,” Karen mutters under her breath. And then, before she can think about what could be waiting for her in those dark woods, before she can think about what a colossal mistake she might be making, she stomps into the dark after him. “Hopper? Jim Hopper, you are not going looking for my best friend and leaving me behind!”

Hopper’s voice floats back to her. “Then keep up!”

#'but mary what about this other fic that you've been talking and talking about -' you'll take what i give you and you'll like it #stranger things ageswap au tag #stranger things #this is mary's fic tag

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kendallroydefender · 4 years ago

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New beginnings (Billy Hargrove x reader)

A/n: this is set after season 3. I do not agree with some of his actions in the previous seasons but they shouldn’t have killed him off (maybe they didn’t who knows)

He was save. You actually did it. Only a week ago you had gotten the codes through the phone, finding out Billy had not only survived but was now trapped in the upside down was a big surprise for all of you. You had told your friends Steve, Nancy and Robin as soon as you discovered the messages he’d been sending and with the help of Max, Dustin, Lucas and Mike you found a way to get him out of there. El and Will didn’t knew about these events since they moved, although Nancy told Jonathan about it. Now you sat in the back of Steve’s car next to Billy with Robin in the passenger seat, Nancy drove the Kids home before meeting you again at the cabin Hopper used to life in (wich was a whole different story but Murray tried his best to get his contacts to get Hopper back from Russia). The ride was almost silent nobody knowing what to say. You looked at Billy who stared out of the window in his thoughts, he seemed so small and lost. His eyes catched yours and you offered him a small smile, the ghost of a smile appeared on his lips too. As soon as you arrived at the cabin you brought him to Hoppers old room telling him to take a shower and change into some of Steve’s clothes. Nancy came back soon with some Pizza for you to eat, y’all decided to stay at the cabin together for a few days to figure things out. It was new seeing him so silently, almost shy. You only knew Billy from seeing him at school and then from what happened with him and the mind flayer. The evening went on almost as quiet only a little bit of chatting in the group since you wanted to let him talk to you about what he had encountered whenever he was ready. When it was time to sleep you laid down on the couch with Robin, Nancy slept on the retainer and Steve on Elevens old bed with the door open. Everybody seemed to fall asleep pretty fast but you couldn’t sleep. At some point you sat up and saw on your wrist watch that it was 2 pm, you let out a small huff before getting up to get a glass of water, as you passed the other bedroom you saw that light was shimmering under the door and you knocked softly before peaking your head in. Billy layed on the bed lifting his head and looking at you "Come in.“ he said and you did as he said, closing the door behind you. He shuffled making space for you on the bed. "Can’t sleep either?“ he asked and you nodded "Guess you neither?“ you asked before adding "Sorry of course you haven’t. Who would after... it all..“

"Haven’t had a good night of sleep in some time.“ he said quietly "It was like being trapped in an nightmare, it- I-" You saw tears glimmer in his eyes "Hey it’s okay.“ he looked at you and your heart broke, he looked absolutely lost and broken, you didn’t knew what happened but suddenly your arms went around him and pulled him close, his arms held you tight as he silently cried into the crook of your neck. With your left hand you softly played with his hair. After minutes he sat back up again "sorry.“ he mumbled and you reached to take his hand in yours "You don’t need to apologize.“ he shook his head "No sorry for everything you had to go through to help me and for being such an asshole back then.“ "Yeah you kinda were a dick but you saved us too remember? If you hadn’t sacrificed yourself in the mall last summer it would have been way worse.“ you said and gave his hand a squeeze "Thank you..“ he cleared his throat before asking "Was it you?“ You didn’t knew what he meant "Huh?“ "Was it you who got my messages?“ it clicked with you "Yes.“ "Thank you.“ he smiled at you again and you felt a blush rise to your cheeks "You don’t need to thank me Billy.“ you said "But I want to. I was a douche but I want to change and you could have just ignored the messages.“ you shook your head "And leave you in the upside down? No we all know that it’s an nightmare, no one deserves that." He smiled "Not even the ex keg king Hargrove?“ he asked and you chuckled "Not even him.“ You two just smiled at each other for a moment, hands still interwined. You ended up talking to him for another hour or so before you fell asleep on his bed. Billy looked over at your sleeping form, you looked peaceful wich calmed him down a lot. He felt safe with your hand in his, a feeling he hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever. He fell asleep shortly after you.

You woke up from the sun shining through the window. Opening your eyes you saw that you were curled into Billy, who rested next to you, legs entangled and his arms around you. And you couldn’t help but smile, he stirred in his sleep before his eyes fluttered open slowly. "Sorry.“ he said again beginning to release you but you stopped him with laying your hand on his upper arm. "No more apologies.“ you smiled at him. Someone knocked on the door and before Nancy‘s head appeared you

and Billy made some space between you. "Hey we made something to eat if you want to.“ she said and you nodded and got up after she left again "Ready?“ you asked and Billy nodded following after you. You all ate and you felt that Billy was more at ease today. "Soo the kids are coming over today again.. if that’s... alright?“ Steve asked, he was still a little unsure of the whole situation and how to act, a year ago Billy and him would fight everytime they saw each other and now they were eating eggs together. Billy looked up for a second before he nodded, he then looked at you before reaching out for your hand under the table "I- uhm thank you all. For what you did.“ it was quiet for a moment THE Billy Hargrove was saying thank you and it seemed honest. "Well we did more dangerous things.“ Robin said jokingly remembering her and Steve’s encounter with the Russians last summer.

The day went by, the kids came over and Billy and Max had some time alone to talk, they seemed closer, Billy was really trying to be better. You slept on the couch when you heard someone scream, sitting up you saw that Nancy was also awake. She pointed towards the door of Hppers room "I got it.“ you said and hurried towards the door. Inside it was dark, Billy was still asleep but he tossed and turned, letting out small whimpers. Your heart sank and you sat down at the edge of the bed "Hey, hey Billy. It’s okay.“ his eyes opened and he looked at you with panic in his eyes for a few seconds before he recognized you and memories of the last few days rushed back to his mind. He wrapped his arms around your middle and you put your chin on top of his head "I‘m here, you’re safe.“ you said softly while stroking his hair once again. You laid back down pulling him with you, you drew circles onto his shoulder while he slowly drifted back to sleep. After that night you slept in his room every night. The others catched on the way your behavior towards him had changed, always encouraging him or squeezing his hand assuringly. His demeanor also changed a lot, he lost most of his old ways (a little bit of the cockiness was still there, we’re talking about Billy Hargrove here) and his new weariness slowly faded in these days. Nancy soon had to return to college and Steve, Robin and you took turns working at home video with the two taking more shifts so you was mostly at the cabin with Billy, wich not only made you happy but also made Steve glad not to have to stay alone with his ex enemy. It was almost winter but you sat outside of the cabin with Billy a cup of tea in your hands and a blanket around your shoulders. The close proximity now something normal to you, but it still made your heart flutter none the less. "How long will we stay here?“ he asked, shrugging you answered him "I don’t know, we haven’t thought that far.“ a small chuckle left his lips "We wanted to get you here safe first and then figure something out.“ you laid your head on his shoulder "I can’t go back to my family“ he cleared his throat before mumbling "My dad would probably kill me. He thought I ran away, max said.“ "You don’t have to, we will find something.“ You told him "You will be fine, it’ll take some time probably but everything will be okay.“ you added, you felt his arm wrap around your shoulders pulling you closer "I know I will. As long as you’re there with me.“ he said softly. You looked up at him, a smile on both of your faces, suddenly you were overly aware of how close your faces were. You could feel his breath on your face and you saw his eyes wandering to your lips before he came closer, his lips ghosted yours as he stopped and waited for your permission, you cupped his cheek and closed the gap. You inhaled sharply and your heart did Saltos in your chest. You broke away when you needed air but he rested his forehead on yours, still holding you close. You laid your hand on top of his and said "I will be there. Whatever is going to happen you will have me.“ and he smiled pecking your lips once more.

#billy hargove x reader #billy hargove imagine #billy hargrove fanfiction #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove

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swiftie-miraculer13 · 4 years ago

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Last Day In Heaven Pt.5

-First-. -Previous-. -Next-

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Then Marinette told Kagami and Luka whom she got pretty close recently of her plan and asked them to come with her to the party. They already knew she was MDC . They accepted and helped her collect more evidence against Lila. On patrol that night Ladybug told Ryuuko and Viperion that they could catch Gabriel on action at that party and that they should keep an eye on him and record if they saw anything suspicious as evidence against him. It didn't take long for the duo to realize who the other was. So now Kagami and Luka knew the other was a hero too. When they asked how did she knew they would be at the party she said she kind of knew Marinette and couldn't tell much because of secret identities and closed the subject.

The following days almost all Marinette did was working on the dresses and thinking about her plan. She thought of all the things that could go wrong and made a plan for every one of them. Nothing could stop her from getting her revenge.

.......

Her own dress was named "Karma". It was symbolizing how despite all the dark, nasty rumors around her she was actually a pure white. But if it meant the real dark, nasty ones would be exposed she could lose some of her innocence, add some gray to her pure white while doing karma's job, making sure they got what they deserved. And who knows maybe it would benefit her. Save her from being too naive, getting used. Being completely white only ended up hurting her after all.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

When her MDC original dress arrived she quickly opened it and took a look at the dress. She would prefer fancier dresses but even if it was a little simple for Lila's taste it was still elegant and still and MDC original. That alone was enough to make everybody look her way. There was some chinese words on it's sleeves but she didn't bother search what it meant, or was it japanese? Honestly she didn't know and didn't care. She took a pic of the box the dress came in and posted it on social media with the caption "Thanks for the dress @mdc. So excited to wear it at the party!" She wouldn't show anyone her dress untill the party-not even Adrien- she wanted to surprise them.

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

The night before the party MDC posted these lines on her social media;

It'll be the last day in heaven

When karma'll come to bite

You think they'll survive it?

No, they will not.

Everybody was confused to say the least but they would learn what it meant soon.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

When the day of the party came all of France was excited and was waiting for MDC to reveal her identity. The party would be on live while the guests made their speech so everyone else would learn of her identity at the same time as the party guests.

When it was finally the time, MDC stepped out of a limousine with her two friends by her sides. Masks on all of their faces. Marinette normally would get nervous from all the eyes on her but right now she was in her Ladybug persona, locked to her target, determined to take the villian down. She was one of the last ones to arrive. Not too early and not late enough to be actually late, just in time to make an appareance. So she didn't get to chat with too many people before she was called to stage for her speech. She walked to the stage with a cold expression, with ice in her eyes. But Lila didn't seem to recognize that as she stepped aside so she could be in front of the mike with an excited smile on her face.

She plastered a fake smile on her face and started her speech "We all are here to congortulate the lovely couple but first I have a present for them." Just then a video started playing behind her. Lila turned her back to the crowd to take a good look at it. Then all of Lila's lies from her Ladyblog interviews started playing with the mentioned celebrity denying ever meeting her. All the color drained from Lila's face as she realized what it was. She wanted to scream, stop the video, break the screen. But she couldn't, she couldn't even move. It was like she was frozen in place. And as her lies were being exposed one by one some symbols started to show up on the trail of her dress in the dark. They almost looked like...flames?!

Gabriel feeling the intense negative emotions from the crowd, tried to sneak away and trasform. But was noticed by Luka who was watching him the whole time. He followed him and recorded how he was sneaking from the crowd when he got in the man's restroom he followed catious not to make a sound. He was still recording when he said "Noroo , dark wings ri-" and couldn't finish as he knocked on the door. He said "Occupied" . And decided to wait untill the person was out of there to transform. But they took longer than expected. Luka already sent the recording. And the police would be here in any minute like they agreed to before the party. Gabriel waited a little more but when the other person still didn't get out yet he decided to get out and find somewhere else to transform.

__________________________________________________

Guys I won't be active for a week or so cause I won't have internet connection. I don't want to leave the story like that when it's so close to the ending but I don't have any choice. It's just a week, not a long time but I still feel bad because updates were used to be so fast and after all that leaving it for a whole week.. I don't know, just sorry again 😔

tag list @aestheticnpoetic @i-have-problems315 @kuroko26 @user00000003 @a-star-with-a-human-name @artorbust @mochinek0 @sassakitty @multi-fandom-freak0221 @ur-average-reader @lavenderchaitea @joejosyxd @michaelshadow7779 @goblinwhoships @bluerosejuliet @lilithseraphina @hauntedwintersweets @littleblue5mcdork @marinettepotterandplagg @nik-nak-3 @smolplantmum @genderfluidmoma @elmokingkong @gimme-more-caffeine @abrx2002 @talutah0 @yeet-this-bitch @clumsy-owl-4178 @wannajointhecrabcult @dnsakina @silvergold-swirl @pale-lady-dreamer @iwritelikeimrunningoutoftime @lavenderjunes @thecaptainthunder @niftyshiftyminty @plz-excuse-my-inner-ravenclaw

#last day in heaven #miraculous #miraculous ladybug #ml salt fic #ml salt #ml fic #lila rossi #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste

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yelena-bellova · 4 years ago

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Don’t Be Afraid: Poe Dameron x Solo!Reader - Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One: Old Friends

Series Masterlist

Plot: Y/n and Poe pay a visit to Maz Kanata, but don’t find what they expect to.

Warnings: maybe one curse word

Word Count: 6.1k

A/N: This day has been...a day...and I almost didn’t get this one out because of how long it took me to edit. There’s so much dialogue in these chapters that can’t be cut (especially about planets created for Resistance Reborn lol) so sometimes I feel like it’s a bit messy. Anyways, hope you enjoy!

————

“Y/n. Sweetheart, wake up.”

I groggily moaned as I forced my eyes open, blinking a couple times till my vision was clear. I hadn’t intended to fall asleep but as soon as Poe had said it was going to be a while till we arrived at our destination, I was out like a light. We were flying a one man ship so I’d inevitably ended up sitting on Poe’s lap, the sound of his heartbeat had soothed me to sleep.

“We’re coming into the atmosphere,” he announced.

“Good,” I yawned, “Anything from the Falcon?”

Poe shook his head, “Nothing yet.”  “Wow,” I breathed as I took a look at the planet we were approaching, “That’s Ephemera, huh?”  It’s beautiful, Bee commented.

“It is beautiful,” Poe replied, bringing one hand off the controls to squeeze my thigh affectionately.

What kind of planet is it?  “It was once a mining planet, like Bespin. But here they mined the tibanna gas to extinction.” Poe explained to the droid, “After it was all gone, the Empire abandoned its colonies and most of the settlers ran with them. Good riddance, from what I hear. It left the planet back in the hands of its original inhabitants and a few holdouts who weren’t there just to cash in but had grown to love the place. And then, surprise, they discovered tuusah.”

“What’s tuusah?” I asked, still admiring the colors of the planet.  “Residue from the mine runoff. Turns out tuusah has medicinal properties, so a new industry was born. Maybe it wasn’t as lucrative as the Empire’s strip mining, but it was a heck of a lot kinder to the planet’s flora and fauna.”

When were they ever kind?  “You’re right,” he said. “The Empire has never been kind. But the planet is a resort destination now, and the capital is called Wish. What a name, right? It used to be Outpost 665 or something boring like that. But now? Wish. It’s one of the largest spas in the galaxy. All kinds of mineral baths and healing treatments and some kind of legendary oxide therapy that’s supposed to make you look younger.”

Poe and I had both seen our share of the galaxy and anytime we’d go on missions together, we’d get into a debate of who knew more about the planet’s history. Once we knew where we’d be going, we’d both usually try to cram as many facts into our heads in an attempt to outsmart the other.

“What?” he chuckled as he caught me staring at him.

“Nothing,” I grinned, “Just enjoying the lecture, Professor Dameron. When’d you find time to study?”

Poe’s lips tugged upwards into a small smirk, “Doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve got nothing.”  They don’t have any treatments for droids, right?  “I think you’re safe. Bee,” I laughed, “We’re not here for facials, we’re here for Maz.”  Poe flew us through the pastel clouds of the planet, it was absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn’t have minded coming back at some point. But the thought of visiting planets purely for recreation seemed like a distant dream. Maybe one day Poe and I could vacation somewhere but for now, our trips were centered on war.

A transmission came in from the landing strip.

“Welcome to Ephemera airspace,” came from a breathy, zen-like voice, “Please identify yourself so that we can grant you landing clearance.”  “This is…” Poe hesitated in giving his name, we hadn’t thought whether or not we should’ve been using aliases. Was it likely that the First Order was hiding out on a planet known for their spa facilities? No. But being cautious never hurt anyone, especially people in our situation.

“Poe Dameron, is that you?” a familiar voice came through, “Oh, give me that mike, dear, I can take it from here.” There were more muffled protests on the other side, leaving us confused.  “Maz?” Poe called.

“What? Of course it’s me, you fool. Who else would have asked you to this backwater?”  “Maz, is everything all right?” I asked.  “Baby Solo! Your boyfriend didn’t tell me you were coming too!” she cried happily, putting heavy emphasis on the word ’boyfriend’.

“Yeah, it sounded like something was going on.” I replied.

“Bah. Just some people getting a little possessive with the equipment. Nothing to concern yourself with. I’ve handled it. Now hurry up. I haven’t got all day.”

Poe furrowed his brows as we looked for a place to park, “Uh, I’d be happy to land, but I don’t see anything that looks like it’ll hold the ship up. Am I in the right place?”

“Oh, you’re right. Isn’t that funny? Some kind of security measure, the locals assure me, but really I think they’re just partial to the undulation.”

“Undulation?” I repeated.

“You’ll see. Everything here sways a bit. Now...let me...”

It took a moment of hearing various sounds on Maz’s end before one of the platforms solidified before our eyes.

“What in the...?” Poe mumbled to himself.

“It’s perfectly safe, Dameron.” Maz assured, “Now are you going to land or not? I thought you were on urgent Resistance business.”

I shook my head in disbelief, only Maz could have picked a place like this. “Copy,” I said. “We’ll see you in a few minutes.”

“Good, good. See you soon. Oh, are you hungry? Have you two eaten? I should have food brought up, shouldn’t I? I’ll have to ask them to prepare something special unless...you don’t have time for a psychedelic experience do you?”

Poe chortled at the question, “Not today, Maz. Like you said, urgent business.”

We landed on the, surprisingly stable, platform Maz had formed for us and headed into the grand looking facility. For all my years of knowing Maz, I still sometimes didn’t understand her. Her connections spanned across the galaxy and back, she knew everybody from beggars on the streets to political diplomats. She had eyes everywhere even if she didn’t move around all that much. Out of all the people the Resistance was seeking aide from, I had no doubt that Maz could probably help us the most.

————

“I’m not helping you with anything,” Maz said, adjusting her goggles to see us clearer. Our faces were nothing sort of shocked. “If you recall, last time I stuck my neck out for the Resistance, the First Order destroyed my castle. Do you know how much I loved that castle?”

“I know, it was spectacular.” I replied, memories of that day flooding back.

“The best. Do you know how long I had had it?”

“A thousand years?” Poe offered.

“A thou...” Max paused, and shot daggers at Poe, who offered her a playful smile in return, “Longer than you’ve been around, flyboy, that’s for sure. So don’t sniff at me like I’m being unreasonable.”

Maz put her hands in a bowl of colorful thick goop and pulled out a handful. It reeked something awful but she didn’t seem to mind as she offered us some, “You want?”

“No, we’re fine.” Poe answered for both of us, my face was scrunched up in disgust at the odor.

Here we were, sitting on lounge chairs inside one of Wish’s day spas putting everything out on the line. And here Maz was refusing to help us. She was perfectly content to sit with her feet soaking in mud and having attendants bring her various teas. She hummed as she rubbed the gelatinous stuff into her face without a care in the world when Poe and I bore the fate of the galaxy on our shoulders.

“What is that stuff? It smells horrid.” I commented, taking another whiff of the air and immediately regretting it.

“Feline poop.” Maz answered casually, “From some species that’s lived here so long that it’s practically native to the planet. Imagine. A planet with no solid ground but plenty of cats. The story is that the founder of Ephemera was a Rothkahar philosopher. He domesticated this species because he thought them of advanced intelligence...or maybe they domesticated him. I forget. Anyway, later on, he found that their excrement had healing properties. High concentrations of tibanna gas, naturally processed into tuusah. Does wonders for the skin.”

Rubbing animal feces into your body to achieve better looking skin. Sure. Totally normal.

“That’s great, Maz,” Poe said, changing the topic quickly, “But can we get back to the topic at hand? The Resistance needs your help.”

“Yes, you told me.”

“We need a place to hide and regroup. It needs to be outside of prying First Order eyes but able to handle our needs for housing, supplies, communications...” Poe explained.

“Didn’t you say there were only a handful of you left on a single ship? What needs could you have?” she replied.

Poe and I glanced over to each other, surprised at how insensitive she sounded. This wasn’t the Maz I knew.

“There’s going to be more,” I pointed out, “The Resistance is scattered across the galaxy and we’re going to continue to grow. We need shelter but we also need people like you. Leia was the only member of our leadership that survived, we need your help in leading the Resistance.”  “Lead the Resistance?” Maz’s eyes moved suspiciously between Poe and I, “I thought that was your job.”

“We…” Poe began, biting his tongue almost immediately. Very few knew about our demotions but we wore shame as if the whole galaxy mocked us.

“Expecting me to do your job for you?” Maz grumbled with a humorless laugh, “You two are the commanders in the room. Or has that changed?”

“Nothing’s changed,” Poe replied quickly, causing me to turn to him in confusion. Were we supposed to lie and cover up the fact that we’d lost our titles? Either way, Maz didn’t seem to care as she lay back in her lounger and closed her eyes. We waited for something, anything, to come out of her mouth. She always had some sort of unique and cryptic wisdom to offer. It was when light snores escaped her lips that it seemed like it was a hopeless cause.

Poe rose from his seat and offered me his hand, “This was a waste of time. We should go.”

“No!” Maz shouted suddenly, grabbing hold of his wrist. All of her trademark personality had left the one eye she had opened and she was dead serious. “Listen closely to me, Poe Dameron. You see me like this, and you think me a fool. Good for me, because when an enemy perceives you as foolish or weak, that is when they are most vulnerable in their arrogance. That is when you strike.”  Upon her last word, she yanked down on Poe’s hand and his feet went out from under him. He landed harshly on his back and had the wind knocked out of him on impact. I rose to help him up but Maz forcefully pushed me back onto my lounge chair with her other hand. She climbed off her seat and stepped onto Poe’s chest, bending over so that her face was almost touching his.

“I see arrogance in you. And that is what gets you in trouble, causes pain.” Maz observed before blindly pointing to me, “And fear in you. It’s controlled you all your life.”

I hated when Maz did this, or at least when it was directed at me. While my ego played a part in the mutiny, fear had been my main motive. Fear played a bigger part in my life than Maz even knew. It stopped me from picking up my lightsaber, it stopped me from telling people that I was Force sensitive, it delayed me from deciding to train as a Jedi…

“We learned our lesson,” Poe gritted out, still pinned down and I didn’t dare to help him.

“Have we?” Maz asked, looking between the two of us.

I struggled for words, I didn’t want to have to recount the events again. Especially to someone who could see right through me. The few times I’d slept since Crait had been filled with nightmares containing the transports exploding and the screams of my fallen comrades. Asleep or awake, I was being forced to relive my mistake constantly.

“You asked if we were still leaders,” Poe started, he could tell I was too wrapped in my thoughts to speak, “The truth is that I don’t know. W-We made some mistakes...”

“Mistakes?” Maz repeated.

“We led a mutiny,” I blurted out, the truth flowing from my lips quicker than I could manage. “We were being kept in the dark and didn’t trust the person in charge. I had just lost Dad and Mom was in a coma and I panicked, alright? I-I felt like I had to do something! I didn’t want anyone else to die and we ended up killing so many.”

“And did you?” Maz jutted her chin up as she looked at me, “Have to do something?”

 I blinked away the tears that filled my eyes, guilt rose in my chest as I thought of Holdo. Standing in the hanger as she watched our transports flee the Raddus, she had everything under control while I’d been scheming behind her back.

“No,” I trembled and ducked my head as if that would shield me from her vision.

“Dameron?” 

“No,” he said, “I’m a soldier and she was my commanding officer. All I had to do was trust.”

I peered up to see Maz plop down on Poe’s chest, a sight that should’ve amused me, but didn’t. The moment had drained me of every emotion that wasn’t sorrow or guilt.

“And now what?” she asked.

“What?” Poe said, his eyes rested on me to make sure I was relatively alright.

“Let’s say you’re right. That your actions, your arrogance, got many people killed. Led the Resistance to where they are now: broken, on the run, destitute, and begging for help.”

As I stayed silent, Poe spoke up, “We fix it.”

“How will you do that?” she asked. “You can’t bring the dead back. You can’t single-handedly rebuild the Resistance, although,” Maz snorted and looked between the two of us, “If anyone was going to try it would be you two.”  “I can bring down the First Order.” Poe answered.

“Alone?” Maz raised her eyebrows in amusement

“If I have to.”

She shook her head, “Arrogance. Still.” Maz adjusted her position so she was kneeling over him, “You know who else is arrogant? The First Order.”

“The First Order is evil, Maz, that’s not a fair comparison.” I stuck up for my boyfriend, sniffling after, “No one knows that better than me.”

Maz adjusted her goggles again, seemingly staring straight into my soul. While I’d never explicitly told her about my family history, she’d always known. If you knew the Solo family, it wasn’t hard to connect the dots as to why we suddenly became a permanent party of three one day. I hoped she wouldn’t push it, that was one wound I didn’t need reopened.

“I’ve seen evil in many forms, children. The First Order is no worse than the Sith, or the Empire, or countless others who would use the dark side. As always, they must be countered with the light. But...” Maz finally climbed off of Poe and came back to sit on her lounge chair, removing her spectacles as she did, “I have my own way of fighting. Not everything is about armadas and starfighters, you know.”

Poe sat up finally, rubbing at his sore back and stared at Maz. I was just as surprised, I never thought that she would be the one to disappoint me. She seemed so…

“You think I’m callous,” she finished my thought, “But I’m not. You will be fine without me.”

I scoffed at her dismissal and stood up, “You’re the last person I would’ve expected to say no to helping, Maz. Especially after what happened to Dad…”  “I sure hope you’re right, lady,” Poe said bitterly, “Because if you’re not, me and mine are going to die. And you can sit with that for a thousand more years for all I care.”

With that, we silently made our way out of the spa feeling like even bigger failures than we had when we entered.

————

I dried the last of my tears as Poe asked for clearance to leave for the second time, only to be denied. One of his arms was tightly wound around my torso, Maz’s questioning had opened a floodgate I’d been trying to keep shut. The mutiny, Holdo, Dad…I wished more than anything that my father was here, he would know exactly what to do. How to rebuild, how to lead, how to atone for my sins…

I growled and smacked the side window of our ship, “Why won’t they just let us off this damned planet?”  Poe tried again to be met with the same breathy voice with a different message, “Negative, pilot. You have company.” 

We looked around through the pastel fog that surrounded us and found nothing. A sudden knock on the window had us both jumping and reaching for our blasters till we saw who it was. Maz.

“Open up,” she said with another tap on the glass.

Poe opened the cockpit and Maz leaned into the small space.

“There’s something I meant to tell you before you ran off like that. But first, where did you get this ship? It’s a relic.”

“It’s a loaner.” Poe answered exasperatedly, “I told you we’re down to scrap metal, everything else destroyed. Now what do you want?”

“It’s a relic, but it’s also a collectible. When you’re done with it, come see me. I might buy it.”

I sighed frustratedly, “Maz, what do you want? We’ve got places to be.” That was a lie, we had absolutely nowhere to go.

Maz waved us off as if we had all the time in the world. “We’ve long suspected that the First Order has been taking children and disappearing people on the margins of the galaxy. But things are escalating now: arresting people on phony trumped-up charges. Small crimes that they’ve blown up into capital offenses, or charges simply fabricated out of nothing. People going missing in the dead of night, their families having no idea what happened to them. Nighttime raids or picked up off the streets and vanished. And the people most likely to disappear? People with ties to the old rebellion. And interestingly enough, we’re seeing it with some old Imperials, as well. Those who have been outspoken about their distaste for the First Order, but also those who have remained neutral. Anyone who might pose a threat, now or down the line.”

“Do you think that’s what happened to our allies?” I thought out loud, “They could’ve been arrested?”  “Maybe. Possibly.” Maz answered with a shrug, “But the First Order used to do it in secret. Now they don’t bother. They snatch people off the streets and don’t even pretend to have whatever planet they’ve infiltrated hold a sham trial. Just death or labor camps.”

“Labor camps?” Poe breathed, it was a heavy revelation.

“Someone has to build all those fancy new ships, eh?”

Poe and I shared a look, trying processing the information. “Thanks, Maz,” he said thoughtfully, “Leia will want to know about this.”

“Yes, I thought she might. Rumor has it that there’s a list somewhere of all the people they’ve taken. A big list. No one’s seen it, but I’ve got people chasing it down. I hear something definitive, I’ll call you.”

“Please do,” I responded with a single nod.

“You sure you don’t want to sell this ship?” Maz gestured to our ship once more.

“Not ours to sell.” Poe replied.

“A shame.”

Poe began to close the cockpit just as Maz called our names, “Poe! Y/n!”

We turned our heads to see a knowing smile on her face, “Be the light.”

————

We’d just gotten off Ephemera when we began to discuss the visit.

Bee initiated the conversation, What’s wrong?

“I guess I expected more.” Poe answered, earning a hum of agreement from me.

Well, what did you expect?

“Anything. I’ve known Maz a long time and never once has she disappointed me.” I shook my head, “Guess I can’t say that anymore.”

I’m sorry.

“Maybe our expectations were too high.” Poe let out a heavy sigh.

I leaned my head back against his shoulder and let out a similar sound. My mind was swirling with chaos, most of which I’d created for myself. I felt like there was going to be a dark cloud of shame that followed me around for the rest of my life. Poe’s reply to Maz back in the spa still had me thinking though, we had to fix our mistake. We couldn’t bring back the people we’d lost, but we could try to make amends. The question of how we would do that, I still didn’t have an answer for but I was determined enough to figure it out.

Communication coming in, it’s from the Millennium Falcon.

I sucked in a breath, it was the first contact I’d had since I’d left the ship. What was waiting on the other end? I felt my anxiety building once again at the extreme scenarios that filled my head. As if he could read my mind, Poe grabbed my hand and squeezed hard. His nerves were just as high as mine.

“Put it through, buddy.” Poe requested, his thumb rubbing over my hand lightly, “This is Poe Dameron, everything all right?”  “Poe!” Rose’s voice greeted, “Good to hear your voice. Wait, isn’t Y/n with you?”  “I’m here, Rose. Is everything okay?” I held my breath as we awaited her answer.

“Falcon’s on land,” she answered, “We’re hoping you and Maz will join us.”

“Maz isn’t coming,” Poe said regretfully, “I’m afraid she’s decided to sit this fight out.”

“What? Why?”

I didn’t want to lie to Rose but didn’t feel right telling her just how disinterested in our sufferings Maz appeared to be. “It’s a long story. Where are you guys?”

“That’s a long story too but the short version? Leia secured us temporary shelter on Ryloth.”

“That’s great news, Rose,” I sighed, turning to Poe who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts and giving him a nudge. He shook himself out of his daze, “We’ve got a place to land. Ryloth system.”  “The Ryloth system?” Poe repeated with a small chuckle, “How did Leia pull that one off? I thought Ryloth didn’t pick sides.”  “She’s Leia,” Rose replied.

“She is, indeed,” Poe reenforced as I grinned, I was beginning to think there truly was nothing my mother couldn’t do.

“I’m sending BB-8 the coordinates now.”

I watched as the coordinates appeared on the display screen, Poe examined them, “This says head for the outermost moon. Is that correct?”

“Ambassador Yendor has asked our starfighters to meet there. Once everyone’s collected, he’ll bring you in under cover.”

“Ah,” he said, “So we’re not officially on Ryloth.”  “It’s a bit of a stealth mission. The government knows we’re here but they can’t acknowledge us. We’re working directly with the Ryloth Defense Authority.”

“The Ryloth Defense Authority? I don’t know what that is, but it sounds promising.” Poe said, I heard just an ounce of hope in his voice for the first time in a while.

“Leia can explain once you guys are here. Any word from the rest of your Black Squadron?”  “Negative,” he answered, “But we’re just clearing planet orbital space. We’ll follow up with Black Teams One and Two shortly and give them the coordinates.”

“Affirmative. Leia also wants you to follow up with Inferno Squadron and give them the coordinates, too.”

“We will.” I replied.

“Great. See you soon.”

“Out,” Poe said before ending the transmission, “If I haven’t ever said it, your mother is incredible.”  “I’m pretty sure you sing her praises in your sleep,” I jested, earning a pinch to my side.

 “BB-8, open a secure channel to Black Team One.” Poe directed.

After a few seconds waiting, Snap’s voice came through, “Is that you, Poe? Y/n? Everything okay?”

“All good, here, Snap.” Poe stated, “Checking in on the status of your mission and to give you coordinates to a meeting place.”

There were muffled curses through the speaker of the ship followed by a voice shouting “Yes!”. Snap followed, “Copy that, Poe. And your timing is excellent. Karé and I have left Akiva with Norra and Wedge in hand.”

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle. Some local opposition and some less than effective surface to air cannons. We took care of it.”

“Good to hear,” Poe replied, “And everything’s good with Wedge and…and your mom?”  “Oh, she’s crazy as ever,” Snap laughed, “But aren’t we all these days? It’s her life, right? I’m going to let her live it.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Snap” I smiled, “I’m going to send you the coordinates right now.”  “Received.” he answered after a moment, “I’ll get them to the team. Listen, we’re going to make a couple of detours to see if we can find any of Phantom Squadron still kicking around.”

“Phantom Squadron?” Poe asked, “They haven’t flown together since my mom was still an active pilot.”  “We need people, right?”

I shrugged, “It’s worth a shot, they’d have experience.”  “See, your girlfriend approves. It won’t take long. We’ll see you on Ryloth before you know it.”  Poe chucked under his breath, “Alright, watch your back out there, Snap.”  “Always do.” Snap answered just before Poe ended the communication.

“So are you calling the shots now for my squadron?” Poe asked with a smile.

I snickered, “All I did was endorse the idea. One pilot is enough for me to manage, I don’t need five of you.”

Without even having to ask, Bee started connecting us to Sura and Jess.

“Poe! Y/n!” Sura yelled, causing us to jolt back in our seat, “I can only talk for a sec. Real busy here!”

“What’s going on?” Poe’s voice drained of all humor, “Are you and Jess under fire?”

“Uhh...you could say that.” Suralinda screamed just as the comm ended suddenly.

“Bee,” I hurried, “What happened?”

I don’t know!  “Well, can you reconnect?” Poe cried, nerves had over taken him.

I’m going to try.

“Keep trying,” he replied, “Something’s happening to them, why did I make the call to send them there? I should have-“  “Stop,” I said, attempting to keep my anxiety at bay for Poe’s sake, “We don’t know anything yet. Do not start beating yourself up before we even know what happened.”  He attempted to take some deep breaths as I kept a hand on him, but I didn’t sense his panic decreasing at all. We waited for several minutes, consumed by fear that our friends were dying, until the connection finally went through.

“Poe?” Jess’s voice rang through, “Is that you? Y/n?”  “Jess,” Poe breathed, his body relaxing back into the seat, “Is that you?”  “Oh yeah. I just tagged Suralinda into the ring, so she had to go,” she answered as she panted for breath. There was an unmistakeable roar of a crowd in the background.

“Ring?” I asked, “Jess, where the hell are you?”  “Barterus. Gladiatorial ring. The ex-Imperial Suralinda was looking for? Teza Nasz? She wouldn’t see us unless we bested her greatest warriors in hand-to-hand combat, so Suralinda thought-”

“Fuck,” Poe cursed and threw his head back, “Suralinda thought she’d throw two very much needed Resistance pilots into the death pits of Rattatak for the sake of simply talking to an ex-Imperial who may or may not be of help to us?”

“Well,” Jess responded meekly after a few seconds, “When you put it that way.”

“Get out of there, Jess,” Poe ordered, “It’s not worth losing either one of you. We need you flying for Black Squadron more than we need this Teza Nasz.”

“Yeah, I’m afraid it’s a little too late for that, Poe. The Rattataki don’t take kindly to quitters. It’s sort of a win-or-die situation. But don’t worry. We got this in hand. Oh!”

There was a crash in the background and the sound of a vibro-ax being charged up. It was going to be harder now to reassure Poe that everything was going to be fine…

“I’m up! Gotta go, don’t worry!”

“BB-8 is going to send coordinates for our rendezvous point,” I said, “Get there in one piece as soon as you can.”   “Don’t mess around.” Poe said, ”And don’t die! That’s an order.

“Order received!” Jess announced before disconnecting the communication properly.

“Insanity…” Poe grumbled, though I couldn’t help myself from laughing, “Something funny?”  “I’m sorry,” I said in between my giggles, “I really hope you appreciate that the rest of your squadron are just as hotheaded as you are.”  He sighed irritatedly at me before I felt his chest begin to rumble with laughter. For just a few brief seconds, everything felt okay. Sitting in Poe’s lap, flying together and laughing.

“We need to make one last call,” I said, asking Bee to put it through.

“Shriv here.”  “Shriv,” Poe greeted, “It’s Poe and Y/n, how’s your mission going?

“Oh, you know,” he answered, ”Lots of flying around and getting doors slammed in our faces. But we did find a couple of old friends of the Rebellion. I think Leia will be pleased.”

“I’m sure she will. We’re headed for Ryloth,” I spoke up, “Does Inferno Squad feel like joining?”

 “Absolutely.” 

“Great. We’re sending the coordinates now.” Poe replied as he pressed the button. 

Shriv answered soon after, “Received. We’re on our way.”

“See you there,” I said and ended the transmission, “Well, that’s a little bit of good news.”

“Yeah,” Poe adjusted a control before asking Bee to jump to lightspeed, "We’re going to need a lot more of it though.”

————

We were one of the thirteen ships that landed on Ryloth in the middle of the night. I was happy to see as many ships as that in the hanger when Poe and I dismounted, it was a good start. He was the first one to spot Mom,

“Leia!” he called out and we jogged across the hanger to get to her. Even though I’d known she was safe on Ryloth, I couldn’t relax until I’d actually seen her with my own eyes.

“Commander,” she said with a nod to Poe. He was so embarrassed by his casualness that he hadn’t even realized that she’d called him ‘Commander’ again.

“General,” he greeted again as he blushed, “Sorry for the informality. Just glad to see you again.”

“I’m glad to see you, too, Poe. You too, Commander Solo,” she said, with a wink directed towards me, “Walk with me and tell me what we have.” I’d have to ask her later what we’d done to earn our titles back.

We made our way through the hanger and explained as many people as we could.

“The two pilots there you know from Black Squadron, Jessica Pava and Suralinda Javos.” Poe pointed towards the duo, plus a recently added third person, “The woman with them is ex-Imperial-officer Teza Nasz. They found her on Rattatak after fighting in the death pits.”

Sura and Jess looked…well, they could’ve looked worse. Jess’s dark hair was matted with blood, Sura had a few bruises and her lip was split. Teza Nasz was easily the most intimidating person I’d ever seen in my life. She wore a one-shouldered jumpsuit made up of various animal skins and mismatched pieces of armor. There were lines that were cut into her arm, no doubt by a knife and she had dark red dreadlocks down her back.

“That warlord is ex-Imperial?” Mom asked, I could hear her stifling a laugh.

Poe explained her backstory and how she’d been an officer in the Imperial Navy, strategist in the Battle of Jakku and was assumed dead shortly after. Suralinda and her had known each other at some point.

Mom was thinking it all over, “Well, she looks like a warrior, not a strategist, but perhaps I shouldn’t judge by looks alone. If she dropped off New Republic scopes that thoroughly and was able to rise to power on Rattatak, she’s probably both. What’s her name, again?”

“Teza Nasz,” I answered at the exact moment the warlord turned around and locked eyes with Mom. There was some sort of silent standoff between the two of them, they were both powerful in their own right. Only once Nasz turned away first did we continue our discussion.

“Who else?” Mom asked before a voice called her name. We turned to see a young girl behind us eagerly waiting to shake Mom’s hand.

“It’s good to finally meet you in person, Zay,” she greeted, “Where’s Shriv?”

“Over here,” the Duros said, walking up to join us. “Good to see you General.”  Shriv had been a Rebellion, now Resistance, fighter. He’d seen everything from the Battle of Endor to the Battle of Jakku during the old days. If you wanted to hear some good war stories, Shriv was your man. I’d only heard of Zay from my mother, I knew that she was recently orphaned and an excellent pilot. Naturally her story tugged at my heart.

After we’d caught up and Shriv had excused himself, Mom asked Zay if they’d located anyone. We made our way over to the civilian transport where she said she thought we’d be happy with what we found. She also filled us in on what had gone on during their mission. Once she got to the point where they were unable to locate many of the people they’d been trying to find, I decided to jump in.

“Maz told us something similar,” I said, “It seems like they’ve disappeared.”  “What does it mean?” Zay asked.

“The First Order, most likely,” Poe answered, “If we know about these potential allies, so do they. They’re just getting to them first.”  We made our way to the transport and took a look at the group. There were two native Twi’lek’s handing out hot towels and water to our allies, everyone was in their own conversations that seemed to die as they noticed Mom’s presence. A single figure broke apart from the small crowd and began walking toward us.

“This is-“ Zay began to say.

“I know who this is,” Mom said quietly before greeting the older man, “General Rieekan.”  As they embraced, I finally placed where I’d heard the name. He’d been a General during the Rebellion, working closely with my mother on Hoth and everywhere else the Rebellion had taken them. Poe, Zay and I broke away from them to let the two old comrades catch up.

“I can’t believe you and Shriv found him,” I patted Zay on the shoulder, “Good job.”  “Thanks,” she beamed at me, before her eyes caught my lightsaber on my hip, “Wait, you’re Commander Solo.”

“Last time I checked.”

“You’re a legend!”  Poe and I exchanged a confused look before I turned back to the girl, “How so?”  “Crait! You took on Kylo Ren all by yourself!” Zay exclaimed, her hands flying to her head, “It’s all over the galaxy how you battled each other. A-And then I heard Luke Skywalker showed up and the two of you fought together. Oh man, I can’t believe I’m actually talking to you!”

How the hell had that story gotten out? I assumed that moment would live and die on Crait, maybe it would spread slowly through the Resistance. I didn’t think I would turn into a galaxy-wide tale. Much less, that it would be told falsely with the embellished storyline that my uncle and I had fought together. I wished that was the truth.

“Well,” I awkwardly smiled, “That’s not entirely true.”  Zay’s face fell as if I’d just crushed some dream of hers, “So you didn’t battle Kylo Ren?”  “Well,” I rubbed the back of my neck, “I did, but-“  “So you are a hero!” she grinned before excitedly shaking my hand, “I can’t tell you how excited I am to meet a real live Jedi knight!”

I could tell I wasn’t going to get in a word edgewise, the girl already looked up to me seemingly. But I felt unnerved at the thought that I was letting someone else think I was a hero. Heroes didn’t lead mutinies and they certainly didn’t get their soldiers killed.

Shouts began to rise behind us in the hanger, we turned to see a crowd was beginning to form. I could clearly hear the punches that were being thrown.

“A fight!” Zay excitedly shouted.

Poe, Shriv and I ran off together to see what was going on. I should’ve known things were going just a little too well to continue that way.

————

A/N: Fun Fact: The conversation between Zay and the reader is based on the ending of TLJ with the three kids reenacting the lightsaber fight. As always, thank for all the support on this series! I’m having the best time writing it 🖤

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