#i will be a mike wheeler defender until the day i die

[eddiemunsonbrainrot]

and when this is about Mike in season 5… i will be full on sobbing and that is not an exaggeration

[milevenstancyendgame]

@stardust-moth your 100% spot-on tag meta needs to be reblogged:

#mike wheeler defense squad#I almost made a post exactly like this#pointing out how he thinks so highly of each and every one of his friends#to the point of superhero status and TELLS THEM SO#contrasted with how he sees himself#as nobody important#just some wasteoid#not exactly Mr Popular#like Lois Lane but not even that cool cuz at least she's a star reporter#etc#will's 'you're the heart' monologue makes me emotional because HE NEEDED THAT#HE NEEDED TO KNOW HE'S APPRECIATED AND HIS SUPPORT IS WORTH SOMETHING#not only is mike an extremely big-hearted sweetheart who genuinely cares about people#but he's also VERY MUCH IN NEED OF SUPPORT HIMSELF TBH#which is why i will defend my son michael wheeler with my life until the day i die#stranger things

Mike's Pep Talks & Sense Of Justice

So one thing I really love about Mike is that he always tries to act when he sees one of his friends suffering or injustice going on. It's an astute feeling of what's right and wrong, plus trying to give to others what he didn't receive himself from his parents (reassurance, praise, emotional availability, honesty, etc).

I think the first example we got of this, was in s1 when we first see the boys being bullied in school. The bullies specifically targeted Dustin here and directly after they leave, Mike tells him that he thinks his different anatomy (cleidocranial dysplasia) is like a superpower, that it makes him cool, like Mr Fantastic.

There's a nice reference to this at the other end of the seasons, when Will tells Mike in s4 that he makes him/El feel like they're better for being different.

In a similar vein, Mike tries to see the good in Will getting insight into the Mind-flayer's perception/feelings, calling him a super-spy.

He also is adamant about Lucas, Dustin, and Will being equally his best friends, reassuring Dustin (who wasn't even upset, but just assumed Lucas was Mike's best friend; and he visibly brightens up afterwards).

In s1, he also defends El when Lucas says she's a weirdo and not a superhero ("The X-men are weirdos!"). He tells her several times that she's a/his superhero when she doubts herself, and reassures her about her appearance.

He also tells the others several times not to exploit El's powers and to respect her boundaries ("Stop it, you're freaking her out! She's just scared and cold.", "She's not a dog.", "Stop it, you're scaring her!", "You're treating her like a machine, when she's not a machine.").

After the police questions the boys at school, Mike tells his family at dinner that he wants to go out and help search for Will, saying that they should be doing something. His mother forbids it, Nancy makes a condescending remark about Will, and his father patronises him, making Mike exclaim in righteous anger: "I'm the only one who's normal here! I'm the only one who cares about Will!"

There's a parallel to this in s2, after they escaped from the lab and gather at the Byers' house. Everyone is in a state of shock and feeling hopeless/like there's nothing they can or should do, but Mike talks about how Bob founded the AV Club and that they need to avenge him (because it's the right thing to do).

Of course jumping from the cliff in order to save Dustin from getting maimed is another example of him just finding it unbearable to see his friends suffer. The way he tries to protect El over the course of all seasons is another example (too many to list them all, but random ones are letting her stay at his house, although he knows it gets him into danger; trying to protect her from Brenner and the demogorgon, trying to keep her from over-using her powers in s3, saving her from Billy, etc).

These are all instances I can think of atm, though I'm sure there are more.

[buck-yyyy]

actually if you genuinely hate mike wheeler im legally obligated to jump you. see look it’s written in the US constitution, right here.

[kylespence]

mike is like the best boyfriend ever!!! he treats el better than anyone else ever does and also better than most guys treat their girlfriends in the world nowadays. i mean, he called her every night for 353 days and all just because he said a little lie to her because he was threatened and forced to by hopper that he’s an overly possessive boyfriend? what in the world. whoever thinks mike’s a bad boyfriend is honestly fucking stupid.

I mean, if anyone had a boyfriend like mike wheeler, none of ya would be complaining. he’s the most sweetest, selfless, kind hearted boy and would literally give el the whole world if he could. he’s her first friend, first kiss, first love and so on. that list will keep on going. el loves mike so much and he loves her. end of discussion!!!

[bylerchoseme]

This volume felt really disconnected and it feels like such a separate show at times and idk how to explain it.

There must be an explanation for the final choices Of the scenes chosen in regards to Mike because if they were trying to really push mi//ven then why do we see Mike looking so fondly at Will. Make it make sense, I want to have hope I do but I’ve been burned too many time by so many shows. The Duffers have certainly lost a bunch of viewers after this mess

Volume 2 doesn’t exist. Episode 8 was amazing minus the van scene until the ending which made me lose all hope. Episode 9 was just a huge decline from the moment it started all the way to the end. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. The only positive was Lumax but even they went through a rough patch. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Max.

I wanna say something:

Will is the best person in the whole entire world. He would rather his best friend whom he is in love with so much be happy than to see him suffer. He loves Michael Wheeler. HE TRULY LOVES MIKE. He is so in love with him. Despite the heartache, he is still by his side even though it’s the hardest thing ever. Mike is the luckiest person in the world to have Will. He will never be loved by anyone as much as he is loved by Will. Mike is Will’s ride or die. God bless Will. He only thinks of others before himself. He is selfless and a pure soul. I love him so much. He deserves everything. I just need and want Will to be happy for once in his traumatic life. He deserves the best and only the best. Will is an Angel. The world doesn’t deserve him. I wish I could give him a hug. I’ll always defend William Byers no matter what. Mike changed Will’s life. Will will never be in love with anyone else for as long as he lives. Mike has Will’s heart.

Don’t trust the Duffer’s anymore. It’s better for your own personal health. They’ve led everybody on with false beliefs. Nothing that was said ended up happening. They love torturing Will. Episode 8 and 9 is insulting, cruel, obnoxious, rude, sick, queerbaiting, disgusting, vile, and a bunch of other words I can’t think of right now. Will always has to pay the price. Unfortunately. This kid is a joke to them. He can’t ever be happy. The last two episodes of Season 4 are offensive too. I don’t consider them canon. As far as I am concerned, season 4 ended when Mike apologized for how he has been acting the past few days which was episode 4. Everything after falls flat. I don’t know this show anymore.

Honestly, Mike deserved to have a real character arc. I feel sorry for him. The writers ruined him completely. He isn’t the Mike we all love and know. It’s very sad. I don’t hate Mike. I am appalled. He had so much potential. RIP Michael Wheeler.

[byliever]

This.

Mike Wheeler deserves more love.

[arcadialedger]

Eleven and Humanity: A Season 3 Meta

As an extension off of my last meta, I would like to discuss the character of Eleven when it comes to humanity. Not only is it a central theme of the character, it is an idea the show plays with all the way through series 3. 

Eleven was a girl not granted humanity until, as I disucssed, she was found by the ways and given a life and a home. Interestingly, however, Eleven’s struggle with being seen as a human and not a machine to be used for her powers is something which comes up more primimently in season 3, with the character of Max.

It should be known that I found Max, though realistically characterized, very frustrating in season 3. Her lack of knowledge and worldview outside of her own experience  not only got in the way of Eleven’s other relationships, but showcased just much maturing Max has to do. 

And the disagreement between Max and Mike is not only one of my favorite elements of season 3, but a fight in which I FIRMLY TAKE MIKE’S SIDE.

Max is looking at the world through a very juvenile feminist lens, where she views El as this all powerful superhero who they can always turn to to save the day. What she doesn’t realize, however, if the damage that El’s powers cause her.

MIKE DOES.

He’s seen the toll it takes on her, he’s seen her bleed, he’s seen her pass out. He knows how she was used for her abilities and treated like a lab rat. And god when he stands up for himself in 3x6.

“We are treating her like some kind of machine when she's not a machine, and I don't want her to die looking for the flayed when they've obviously vanished off the face of the earth. So can we please just come up with a new plan because I love her and I can't lose her again.”

God, every time I hear this line I want to get up and clap for Mike repeatedly. Because of everyone in that room, he is the ONLY DAMN PERSON who is defending El’s humanity. The only person seeing her as more than an asset and a weapon. As he always has from the beginning. 

Max doesn’t realize that Eleven is not an all powerful being, that her powers have consequences. Mike knows this better than anyone-- he helped El right after her escape from the facility and saw firsthand not only how she was treated, but how the use of her powers can affect her. 

IT’S ALMOST LIKE HE’S THE ONLY ONE REALIZING THAT HER NOSE BLEEDS BECAUSE HER BRAIN IS BLEEDING WHEN SHE USES HER POWERS.

It’s not that Mike doesn’t agree that El isn’t her own person who knows her own abilities and cna make her own choice. It’s that he’s ciritcizing the others for viewing her as nothing more than an asset to always turn to and pressuring her, when she is still impressonable and affected by her upbringing, unable to question a lot of what is around her because she doesn’t know any better. Yes, El can make a choice, but when everyone around her turns to her like a all powered God to fix all of their problems, well, there isn’t much of a choice, is there?

And Mike is the only one to see El as more than her powers. He’s the only one to see her as, excuse my language, a HUMAN FUCKING BEING. As he was from the very beginning, when he found her and cared for her and showed her all that she had been missing. 

And still, throughout the duration of the season, we mostly see her being pushed to the limit with her powers. 

Eleven’s powers are, yes, a valuable asset in battle. But she’s also human.

She’s not an all powerful god who can burden the weight of everyone’s problems, she’s a 15 year old girl. And God bless Mike Wheeler for seeing that, while the rest of his friends grew to see her and use her like a powerful card to play in a fantasy game. Like a figure in one of their D&D campaigns, to be played and put up against evil at risk of her own life. 

Eleven’s humanity is something she is still both recognizing and learning the meaning of, and I hope in season 4 we continue this journey. 

Addition: A friend of mine made a wonderful video on YouTube discussing this very topic. Here’s a link to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leZbemyRdTM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0QSfjB3MllQx0XoIS4LTC1Ag9AnGqbxTuaBMQpmWuEJA83mwdTqtZaKbM

[totaltozier]

Just Another Day: Chapter 1 - Stranger Things/IT Richie& Mike Twins AU

Here it is! The Stranger Things/IT (2017) crossover you’ve all been waiting for! In this fic all of the events regarding the Upside Down and the Shadow Monster HAVE happened but everything involving Pennywise? Never did. (Pennywise? I don’t know her!). All of the losers club live in Hawkins with the rest of the party and most importantly, Mike and Richie are twins!

WORD COUNT: 1.5k

SUMMARY: Stranger Things/IT crossover in which Richie and Mike are twins, Mileven is real, and even though Hawkins Lab was shut down what lies beneath the Upside Down is still up to no good!

“Richie hurry up you’re going to be late for school and I am not driving you two again this morning, I swear!” Karen Wheeler shouted up the stairs towards the bedrooms of the house.

Richie came running down the stairs as he quickly threw his hoodie over his head.

“I’m not Richie, I’m Mike! Geez woman, and you call yourself our mother!” Richie called back. He often pretended to be his twin brother Mike, but thanks to Richie’s horrible eyesight and his need to wear glasses, Mrs. Wheeler often figured it out.

“Richie, we are not playing this game again today! Now hurry up, and get out that door!” His mother demanded.

“I’m goin’, I’m goin’!” Richie whined as he slipped into his running shoes and grabbed his backpack from the floor, slinging it over his shoulder. “See ya’ mom!” he called out before shuffling out the door.

“God, you take forever” Mike greeted his brother as he joined him outside. Mike was the organized twin. The one who was always on time, his shirt neatly ironed, and his lunch packed the night before. He had been on the porch for ten minutes waiting for his brother to join him so they could walk to the bus stop together as they always did in the morning. “And your sweater is hideous, go back to wearing those Hawaiian shirts.”

Richie laughed from beside him as they headed down the street. Richie pulled up his hoodie slightly while holding down the bright yellow and grey flowered shirt underneath. “What, you mean this old thing under here?” Mike rolled his eyes. “I’ll be dead before I stop wearing these!” Richie proclaimed.

“When you die can you take those light up sketchers with you too?” Mike chirped back causing Richie to nudge him with his shoulder.

The two boys approached the street corner where their bus picked up them up and Eddie was standing by the stop sign waiting for them like always.

“Morning Eds!” Richie greeted as he came to a stop next to the smaller boy, sliding his arm around Eddie’s shoulders.

“Don’t call me that!” Eddie responded and shrugged Richie off of him. “Good morning Mike.”

“Hey Eddie.” Mike replied.

The three boys chatted with each other in the few minutes before the bus pulled up to take them to school. Normally they would all ride their bikes together to school, but the other week Eddie had gotten a scrape on his thigh from toppling over his bike when he and Bill were racing around town so naturally his mother banned him from riding his bike for the next month until he got “better”. Out of solidarity, Richie and Mike offered to ride the bus with him each day until Eddie got his bike back.

Once inside the hallways of Hawkins High School, the three boys made their way through the crowded space and to their lockers before homeroom started.

“Morning losers!” Richie greeted the group of friends congregated in front of their lockers.

“God that sweater is ugly!” Max stated right off the bat.

“Yeah Richard, where the hell did you get that ugly thing?” Beverly added.

Richie looked down at his sweater before grabbing the bottom and pulling it off over his head. He tossed the bright blue and purple hoodie onto the top shelf inside his locker.

“Gee guys, I’m sensing this one wasn’t much of a crowd pleaser! Eds, why didn’t you say anything when I bought it?” Richie asked.

Eddie shrugged from beside him at his locker. “Dunno, I thought it was cool.”

Richie glanced at Eddie quickly and grinned. He quickly grabbed the books he needed for class and threw them into his bag.

The bell rang signalling the remaining three minute everyone had to get to their homeroom classes and everyone in the halls started to disperse. The group of friends spread out, muttering about how they’d see each other at lunch and headed off down different hallways. Richie and Mike were still walking with each other though. Being twins, they were always paired together in classes throughout middle school. Once they reached high school they thought they would finally be separated by their classes and have different schedules, but somehow, they were still stuck by one another for home room every morning, as well as a few other classes too.

“Did Eddie actually think your sweater was cool?” Mike asked as they climbed upstairs to the second floor of the school.

Richie shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess so.”

The two boys quickly took their seats in class as the final bell rang. Eleven and Stan were also in their homeroom too. Richie slid into the spot next to Stan and placed his backpack on the floor next to him. Across the room Mike was sat next to El, whispering something into her ear as she quietly giggled back.

Richie felt a weird feeling, one that was fuzzy in his chest. Similar to the feeling he had when El first came into their lives that dreary fall a few years ago. That feeling when he and Mike had to protect Eleven but he noticed her gravitating to his twin more than him. It was similar to the feeling he had when he saw Beverly cozying up to Ben when they were having their group movie nights. It was a weird feeling that he couldn’t quite explain.

Richie must have been zoned out for a while when Stand nudged his arm, pulling him out of his trance.

“Richie?” Stan said.

Richie shook his head, making his black curls bounce. “What Stan?”

“Did you finish your homework? Miss Williams is collecting them at the beginning of next period.” He whispered.

Richie quickly glanced at the clock, noting that there was only ten minutes until the end of homeroom but he hadn’t even started last night’s math homework. He was too busy watching the newest episode of The Walking Dead with Eddie, the two of them in his basement practically screaming of fright while hidden behind blankets.

“Shit Stan!” Richie mumbled and shook his head. “Can I copy yours?”

Stand rolled his eyes but slid his answers towards Richie. “One of these days I’m going to give you all the wrong answers, that’ll teach you a lesson.”

Richie was feverishly scribbling down numbers and symbols faster than he could think. “You’re the man, Stan!”

Richie had gotten away with the copied math homework and even talked his way through an English assignment too. Sure, he often procrastinated and forgot about deadlines, but Richie was actually smart and held a good grade average. Richie knew he had a way with words and liked to talk himself through situations, just because he could.

Richie made his way into the main cafeteria, scanning the rows of tables for his group of friends. Bill and Lucas were always the first ones to snag a place to sit, claiming all the seats for their friends. What caught his eye was actually Dustin’s classic red and blue hat, the same one he’s been wearing since seventh grade. Richie zig-zagged his way to the table and plopped himself down in between Eddie and Ben.

The whole group was talking amongst themselves, multiple conversations happening at once.

“What are we talking about?” Richie asked as he took a bite of the sandwich Mike made for him last night.

“Lucas was explaining the new game he got for his x-box last night. He got past level ten already!” Eddie explained.

Dustin chimed in from across the table. “We were talking about going over to his house after school to check it out!”

Richie nodded his head. “Awesome, sounds cool! Eds are you going?”

“Yep” Eddie answered and took a bite of his pizza which he bought from the cafeteria.

Lunch carried on like usual; the group discussing the movie they had all seen together last Friday. Richie was yelling at El over the thematic meaning of Channing Tatum’s character in the newest Kingsmen movie. Mike was trying to defend El, although he agreed with his twin, mostly just beeping Richie until he shut up.

Max was just about to stand up and tell the both of them to quit it when all of a sudden, the floor rumbled below them. The red-haired girl gripped the table in front of her, the rest of the group doing the same. Everything around them started to shake harder for five seconds before stopping as if it never happened.

“What the hell was that?” Dustin asked. The matching faces of confusion surrounding him signalled that no one knew the answer.

Suddenly the lights in the cafeteria blacked out, leaving only the light dim of sunlight stretching in from the windows above.

“What the fuck?” Richie and Mike said in unison.

Everyone looked around frantically in the dark, trying to make sense of what was happening. Before anyone else could speak their confusion, the fire alarm went off, beeping at the highest pitch possible, alerting the students to exit the building as fast as they could.

The group of friends quickly gathered their belongings, As Richie grabbed his backpack from the floor, he noticed as Mike grabbed El’s hand, gripping hers tightly in his as they started towards the exit. Richie looked over at Eddie, a look of panic and shock falling over his face.

And the fuzzy feeling was back in Richie’s chest.

Taglist:

@alwaysmebeforeyou @aburbules @88-shooting-stars @twostepsfromlou

[trashmouth-lies]

Will I call him an idiot, oblivious, head full of rocks? Yes. But I will defend Micheal Wheeler until the day that I die.

also the way Will looks genuinely worried for Mike after Nancy’s “I’ve seen Mike’s room worse than this” joke

He’s mentally ill, it’s like a spider sense I just know

what kind of danger? mike, what kind of danger? danger danger.