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that-one-unhinged-dadvid-blog · 29 days ago

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My theory about David having an inferiority complex!

Sooo I've been thinking...we know that David is horrifically traumatized...buttttt I've been doing some research annnddd I think he may have an inferiority complex.

For those of you that don't know, an inferiority complex is basically a persistent low feeling of insecuirty and inadequatecy. Not to be with low self-esteem, an inferiority complex is less so feeling insecure about yourself, and more so feeling like everyone is better than you, although self-loathing is very common in an inferiority complex as well, so it can be difficult to differentiate the two. I'll be using some information from this article for my post, so feel free to read up on it if you'd like to know more. https://www.everydayhealth.com/inferiority-complex/symptoms/ and I'll also be using info from this article https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-the-inferiority-complex-5186892

Ok! Let's begin, what's the first sign of an inferiority complex? Sooo, according to the article, it's feeling insecure, incomplete, or unworthy. Now, this one is a little subtle, but! We actually do see that David is actually extremely insecure in "With Friends Like These" as he feels that he can't do anything alone. Which also tends to be another symptom of an inferiority complex. He says, and I quote: "I never could've kept this place running without Gwen" "If I can't find someone else...if I can't do this on my own...there may not be a 'next summer' after all..." "But what if I can't do it alone!?" anddd "How do I know I won't screw it up?" While David doesn't show it a lot, these lines show that he is actually very insecure, but just hides it behind a cheerful exterior.

We also see him refer to himself as a "vulnerable cat" in Preston Goodplay's Good Play. We also see that he blames himself for Jasper leaving despite it really not being his fault in Dial M for Jasper (He doesn't know that Jasper actually died) He also blamed himself for the platypus eating the Culture Day feast, even to the point of crying, rocking himself back and forth, and calling himself a failure. Hell, he says that he's "the worst camp counselor there ever was" in Cloak and Hunt. Sooooo, yeahhh, he definitely checks this box.

Now, he does show another sign, which is insomnia. This one was a throwaway line in one episode, but in Scout's Dishonor, David says, and I quote: "Now, all that's left is to recharge with a full 8 hours of lying in bed, awake! Waiting for tomorrow!" This could be seen as just a joke throwaway line, which is totallyyyyyy not true, and I am definitelyyyyyy not overanalyzing this silly camp cartoon at ALL! But yeah, we see that he DOES sleep, in The Forest, Cult Camp, Dial M for Jasper, and With Friends Like These. There's possibly more, but those are the main ones I can think of so far. So, this line doesn't mean that David just doesn't sleep, but it COULD mean that he has insomnia, and because of that has a hard time sleeping, so much so that sometimes he just can't sleep. And just lies in bed, and as a way to try to make this more positive, which is David's coping mechanism, he tries saying that he cant sleep due to just being so excited for tomorrow, whennnn that's not the case, I'm sorry bby.

Alright! Now there is perfectionism. This one is also more subtle, but it definitely is there. We see just how much pressure David puts on himself to put things perfect. An easy way of showing this is Reigny Day (Oh Reigny Day, I hate you) We see that when Gwen keeps trying to inform him of the weather when the camp critic committee was around and David was running for the counselor of the year award; (he got ROBBED in that episode, he should've won it) and he ends up snapping at Gwen "WHAT Gwen!? I have gone through a LOT of planning and preparation to make this day happen. What could you POSSIBLY tell me, that I don't already know!?" This also seems small, I mean this is a big event, but we see more of his perfectionism; it's mainly in camp activities. But one is a line in After Hours where David says "At least I have another chance to make tomorrow's activity the best that it can be, again" and in the Lake Lilac Summer Social where he pressures himself WAY too much to make the Lake Lilac Summer Social fun.

This starts off as a sweet, genuine desire, but then he starts freaking out about it. He even says to Gwen "I thought the Quartermaster might have some fireworks that we could set up at the end of the night to make everyone forget the TERRIBLE party we've been having, but then I couldn't find-" then he gets cut off.

We see this again in A Camp Campbell Chirstmas or Whatever, when he tries to make the perfect Chirstmas...without it even being Chirstmas. WHile the other ones could be more subjective about whether it was perfectionism or not, this one isn't David straight up says "But this HAS to be the perfect holiday for everyone!" So yeah, David is a perfectionist, check!

More signs from the website, https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-the-inferiority-complex-5186892 this one has even more signs that fit David WAYYYY too well.

Now, while we already went over the first sign that he has, there is another one we have yet to talk about, which is a tendency to over-analyze compliments and criticisms. Now, this one is also kinda subtle. But he DEFINETILY has a tendency to do this. Now, while we don't really get to see if he overanaylzes compliments since he doesn't really get complimented (Justice for my boy) we DO actually see how he reacted to a compliment in Bonjour Bonquisha. When Bonquisha's boyfriend started complimenting him about his speech, David seemed pretty confused. Looking around, he even says "Uhm...thank...you...?" He even has a very confused expression throughout it. Now, him overanaylzing insults is pretty easy to see, as well...I mean...Max. Max tends to insult David, and while I would argue the insults get more lighthearted in later seasons, seeming a lot more like friendly ribbing instead of genuine insults, David probably doesn't see that because...it's David (Sorry baby, I love you) Now, while David tends to brush these insults off with a smile, thissss isn't his actual reaction. This is more of his toxic positivity being toxically positive, and not allowing him to show sadness, buttt thanks to Arrival of the Torso Takers, we have this line after Max insults him: "I'm so happy you're here, I'm only going to cry over that remark (About Max knowing that Daniel wasn't David because he acted like a good camp counsoler) for 2 hours later!" Now, this could just be a joke about how David is overly sensitive, buttttt the insult is pretty small, especially considering some of the shit Max said in season 1 ("God, it's like you live in this stupid make believe world where everything's greatttt! The universe doesn't work that way, idiot!") butttttt speaking as someone with an inferiority complex, the lightest insults can get stuck in your head, and you can overanalyze them, anddddd because of that, they can easily make your cry. For example, one time a friend jokingly called me an idiot, and I kept overthinking it andddd eventually ended up crying! :D

Soooo I think you can already see some parallels with that! So we can check that one off!

Next up is persistently looking for validation and praise from others. This one is also pretty subtle, but it's definitely there! One is him desperately trying to get the camp counselor of the year award. This one is pretty obvious, but what further submits this is that we see that he doesn't want this award because he thinks he deserves it. He says himself that he's the worst camp counselor there ever was (LIES!) in Cloak and Hunt. And we see that he's easy to blame himself for things, considering himself a failure, and not believing that he can do anything on his own. He also never tries to tell Max that he's wrong whenever he insults him. Andddd is VERY quick to believe that Daniel is a better camp counselor than him in Cult Camp. So he doesn't want that reward out of a genuine belief that he deserves it; it seems more like he wants it as a way to desperately convince himself that he deserves it, which makes his obsession with it in this episode even sadder looking back on it.

Another is a smaller one, as it is a throwaway line, but when he pretends that Larry talked, what does he makes Larry say? "Make sure to respect David and everything that he does for you!" ....Someone give this boy therapy, PLEASE. We already know that David is incredibly insecure, so the fact that he made Larry say this...yeah, it's him trying to get more validation. Since if the campers respected him, it would mean that he would get more validation. He also agrees to make a bet with Pikeman to prove that the campers and counselors can be nice for one day, without any regrets. And immediately panics and says "I'm the nice one!" When he calls Jermy a dummy for confusing pine and birch, which don't worry, we'll get to that soon.

And by soon, I mean right now! Soooo, the last sign that we'll discuss for this post is possibly the most subtle one. Soooo one sign of an inferiority complex is beating others down to make them feel insecure, as a way to make up for your own insecurity. This one is kinda hard to see, as David is a very sweet person, I mean, he was canonically called a marshmallow in human form by Max so that really tells you all that you need to know. But! He does show this! Trust me bro.

One of these is pretty small, but when he made Gwen's profile for her on Noise, he put her as the "2nd best counselor at Camp Campbell," andddd considering that there are only 2 counselors...yeahhhh. Gwen's coffee mug also says #2 counselor, but we are unsure if Gwen got this for herself, or if David got it for her. But it IS implied that David got it for her in Camp Corp. Since when David asks if she's sure that she wants to get the camp back, she stares at the mug and says "You're goddamn right I am."

Another is with Jermy Fartz, now as I've mentioned, David made a bet with the Woodscouts that everyone at Camp Campbell could be nice for one day. And while Max nearly made them lose the bet because...he's Max, David is actually the one that has them lose the bet. Jermy said that he represents "the sticks of the pine tree" and this causes David to laugh and says "Pine!? That's clearly birch! Birch you big dummy!" He also used to be a troublemaker and used to insult people as a kid, but considering how we are unsure if he had an inferiority complex ever since he was a kid, I don't know if I can count it.

We also see him being pretty judgemental towards people in the city, saying that some Larpers are probably going to "A drug convention" and feeling pity for the people at Camp Corp.

Now, as David possesses a freighting amount of the signs, and that this does actually explain a lot of David's behaviors, while I will admit this started out as just a random thought, looking over all the evidence I've compiled, I do genuinely believe that he does have an inferiority complex, hell, a common cause of an inferiority complex is childhood trauma, which this does fit with David, as he is HEAVILY implied to have abusive parents, and Cameron, a man he sees as a father figure, is emotionally abusive to him. So we even have the cause of where this could come from if he does have an inferiority complex, which I genuinely believe that he does.

But that's just a theory...

A CAMP CAMP THEORY!

Thanks for reading!

#theory #anaylsis #fan theory #overanalysis #overanalyzing #it's both #cc david #david camp camp #cc max #max camp camp #camp camp david #camp camp max #cc #camp camp #proshitters dni

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strangersteddierthings · 1 year ago

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No Regrets - Part Two

TW: OC Character Death (dude doesn't even get a name). Steve reflects on killing both demo-creatures and humans with detachment. Mentions of Major Character Deaths but as a reminder, they don't stay dead! (Well, Chrissy and Fred do)

Part One🦇 Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four🦇Part Five🦇Part Six

Maybe he should feel bad about watching Robin grow smaller in the rear-view mirror, her face a mixture of disbelief and anger. Maybe he should feel regret for his actions, for the betrayal Robin probably feels right now.

He doesn't.

Looking at the bigger picture, at the regrets he actually does have in the waking world, this is small potatoes. A non-issue. Robin will forgive him in the end.

War Zone is like a ghost town compared to the first time Steve was here. Though, that should have been expected. The panic hasn't swept through town yet. So far, it's just one dead girl. Fred'll join her sometime this afternoon. Evening? Sometime later today.

Nineteen-year-old Steve would hate himself for not trying to help. For not doing his best to save Fred.

But.

Well, Fred dying will help Dustin, in the long run. Will help Eddie. And that's more important. That's the goal. The dream, if he's allowing himself to be cheeky in his own mind.

Steve's not heartless, or anything like that. Robin, his Robin in the waking world, still calls him a softy and worries his kindness will get him killed on the daily. He always puts the safety of the group above himself. The first to volunteer on supply runs or for scouting or taking watch through the night. He knows he can run on empty for much longer than anyone else he knows.

The end of the world has a way of skewing what kindness and softness are, though. Those first few months were the hardest. Steve wanted to save everyone they came across. Help as many people as possible, but rations run dangerously low that way. Clean water can become contaminated quickly by ignorant people. Not everyone handled the apocalypse with grace.

The first harsh lesson Steve had learned was two months into the end of the world. They'd ventured to Indy to find supplies. Medicines. Try and stock up on things they didn't need yet but wanted around for the just in case of it all. They'd found some survivors, which wasn't surprising in itself. The surprising bit was that these guys had made it on complete luck it seemed. They were loud. Jumpy. Panicky.

When Lucas and Mike, on scout duty, had reported back demogorgon activities nearby, one guy started to panic. Got loud and couldn't bring himself back down. Steve was closest, tried to shush him but he wouldn't be quiet.

"Move," Murray (may he rest in peace) whispered, seeming to have appeared from nowhere, shoving Steve away, nudging him out of the way. Murray stepped behind the guy, one hand covering his nose and mouth, the other arm around his neck. It made the guy panic more, fighting Murray and then Murray just-

Steve remembers he flinched at the noise, turning away to cover his mouth and calm his own panic. The noises stopped though. Steve had shot a horrified look to Hopper, but Hopper wasn't looking at Steve. He was looking beyond, at Murray and what he'd done, nodding his approval.

The demogorgons didn't find them that day.

"You can't help everyone, Steve," Murray said, once they'd started the trek back to Hawkins. "The safety of the group comes first, over just one person."

Lesson heard. Lesson learned. Lesson put to use four months later.

So. Fred must die, for the good of the group. Patrick, too, if Steve can't get to Vecna in time. He should be able to. Vecna will try and take Max first, tomorrow. Patrick the day after. If everything stays the same.

The clerk doesn't even blink at what Steve buys, or the quantity of what he buys, but his eyebrows do go up a little at the total.

Steve hesitates just a bit over the checkbook his parents gave him the first time they'd left him home alone at fourteen. For emergencies only, Steven. It's been sitting in his glove box, unused, since he turned sixteen. He's never wanted to have to explain what he'd used it for. Nothing had ever seemed like enough of an emergency to warrant explaining it to Richard Harrington.

He does find it a little odd that his mind is conjuring up the concept of money. Of all the little things to think about while he sleeps, he really didn't think his subconscious would bring capitalism back.

Steve rips the little check out of the booklet and hands it over. The clerk looks it over before giving a nod and finishing the cash out. Steve takes the receipt when it's offered, shoving it into the checkbook before shoving that into his back pocket.

The parking lot has one other person in it, who Steve is aware of the entire time he's loading the trunk of his car with gallons of lighter fluid, weapons, and padded camouflage. It's only after Steve's slammed the trunk closed and shoved the cart back towards the front of the store that the guy watching him speaks.

"Must be some bonfire you're planning."

Steve rounds his car and opens the door before answering. "It's spring break, man." He slides in, the door falling closed after him. He buckles up, starts the car, and heads home. The house will be empty, he knows.

He works in silence, unloading the car and organizing his haul in the dining room, eyes flicking to the clock. There's still a couple of hours before dark. Before he should go check if Eddie's still in the boathouse, or if the police did go find him.

He sets the timer on the stove for an hour and flops onto his couch and sighs. Just as comfy as he remembers. He can have a nap before making sure Eddie's in jail. Surely his dream will allow him that?

"Mmhm," Steve mumbles as his neck protests movement. He's slow to wake. His head feels like white noise. He thinks he was dreaming but he can't quite grasp at what it was... oh. Family Video and War Zone. Reliving a memory. He wonders if Robin is still mad at him for that day, ditching her with Dustin and Max. It'd been for a good reason and- Steve wrinkles his nose as he sits up, head still static-y. Was it for a good reason? He can't remember what else happened after that....

"He rises," Robin whispers next to him, spooking him. She comes into focus as he sits up straight, leaning out of her space to look at her. She gives him a smile, judging by the crinkle around her eyes and her cheeks rounding. The gas mask prevents him seeing her real smile and he misses it. He thinks about his dream, and getting to see all of Robin's face again.

Dreaming is bittersweet.

"I miss anything?" He asks, because it's a safe question.

"Scouts radioed. The way should be clear in another," Robin grabs his wrist and twists so she can see the time on his watch, "another twenty minutes or so."

The mention of the radio makes him think of Dustin, and how much he misses him. And thinking of Dustin makes him think of Eddie. Steve knows it's irrational for him to miss someone he never knew but that doesn't stop the ache. The almost of it all sits heavy in his chest.

"Right," Steve says. "Want to see how many rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors we can get through in twenty minutes?"

Robin shuffles sideways to be facing him and holds her hands up. "You always lose but okay."

They get about twelve rounds into it before Steve finds himself asking, "Hey Robbie. Do you remember Spring Break?"

Her hands freeze in the air, an aborted motion to make paper to beat Steve's rock. She locks eyes with him for a moment and he can see the worry there. "I- Steve. Is it- did you take a hit? Is it your head? Should I not have let you nap?"

No. No, he doesn't think he got hurt on this run. Well, his shoulder hurts from when he stumbled and slammed into wall during the last loading of the truck, but he hadn't hit his head. He thinks. "I don't know... I hit the wall hard, shoulder hurts, but I didn't hit my head. I don't remember hitting my head."

Robin stands immediately and begins jabbing her fingers around his skull. "Anything tender?"

"Nope. Just a messed up hairdo," Steve swats her hands away.

"Well, you can never be too sure. You are precious cargo. Why did you ask about the start of the apocalypse?"

Steve shrugs. What can he say? That he's forgetting the start of all their horrors? He can't say that, not without coming across like he's either crazy or bragging. Remember the week that ruined our lives and gave us all enough trauma to fill an ocean? Yeah, well, I don't so ha!

He can't be sure but he thinks Robin frowns beneath her mask. "We'll have to have someone look you over when we get back. Steve, if you're losing your memories..."

"I'm not losing memories," Steve lies. Head trauma is serious and he knows he can't take one more hit to the head. He won't be able to continue helping with supply runs or patrols if he is getting worse. If he starts getting migraines, they'll reassign him for sure. Something that doesn't let him leave the safety of their home base at the high school.

"Steve," she warns. He knows it's a warning.

He shakes his head. "I just. I had a dream about Saturday. Very vivid. Just made me think about it, is all."

Robin softens, sinking back down to sit beside him. She finally answers, "yeah. I remember Spring Break."

"I miss everyone," he confesses, because it's true. Because it's safe.

"Me too," Robin says, leaning her mask against his.

They wait in silence until the scouts call the all clear and they can head back home.

They make it back to Hawkins before night falls but just barely. The gates get rolled shut behind them and the unpacking gets started. The whole community has gathered for their return. This is their longest run to date with how far they had to go this time and Steve doesn't blame anyone for needing to see their loved ones as soon as possible.

"Robin!"

Steve turns just in time to watch Vickie launch herself at Robin. Robin must have seen her running, though, because she's already braced for impact and catches Vickie easily, arms grabbing at Vickie's thighs to support her weight as she wraps them around Robin's waist. Vickie places her forehead to Robin's as their excitement switches to tenderness and Steve averts his eyes to give them privacy in this moment.

"Steve, here," Ted Wheeler offers up a box to Steve, who takes it without question. "For the Daycare."

"You got it."

The Daycare is actually a wing of the school that used to be where the language arts classes were held. Daycare doesn't quite sum up what they use the area for, but calling it the Orphanage was too dark. Steve waits through the decontamination process. Once through, he takes the time to pull his mask off and enjoy the feeling of an artificial breeze on his face before heading to the Daycare.

"Please tell me there's something useful in that box," Annie Click says when Steve pushes his way into one of the rooms they use for school. Another room is dedicated to being a daycare, kids too little for learning, another is schooling for kids who would be in middle school, and the last room is lines with beds.

"Sorry, Mrs. Click, but I didn't pack it," Steve says apologetically.

"My problem to sort out then," she stands and Steve can see the determination in her through the weariness. She'd been a bitter old lady as his teacher but the world ending must have shifted her priorities. There's no one better suited to look after the kids than her, here.

Except maybe Joyce, but she's got bigger things to deal with.

He heads for the door when Annie calls out to him, "Since you're here, would you mind checking on the kids for me? Holly's supervising bedtime but she's lenient with her friends."

"Will do."

He heads across the hall and down a door to the sleeping room. The lights are dimmed and peeking in he sees a lot of kids sleeping, or pretending their best to be. Holly is sitting in a rolling chair near the door, one leg bend and pulled up on the seat as she rests her head on it.

Steve clears his throat to get her attention. She must have heard his footsteps because she doesn't spook. Just uses the foot on the ground to spin the chair to face the door. "Oh. Hi Steve."

"All good here?" He whispers.

"Yeah. Everyone's asleep."

"You can probably head home now. Your dad's back."

Holly shrugs one shoulder at him, spinning the chair back away. "Maybe later."

Steve takes the hint and backs away. His chest aches for Holly. All the kids had to grow up fast, given the state of the world, but Holly's hurts him most. He knew her in the Before, and she was there when Karen... Well, she's got a lot of weight on her shoulders at barely eleven years old.

To think. If they'd have been faster on that Spring Break. More diligent, thorough. Holly might have never known about the Upside Down at all.

More regret he can carry, he thinks, as he shoves his mask back on and heads back to the truck. There's more to be unloaded, and always work around to keep him so busy he doesn't have to think of the regrets.

He works so late into the night that once he gets back to his cot and collapses into it, there are no thoughts let in his mind as sleep claims him.

@i-less-than-three-you @nburkhardt @afewproblems @skepsiss @music9009 @apomaro-mellow @soaringornithopter @reighnofdreams @eddie-munsons-lunchbox @sirsnacksalot @livelifeliketheresnotomorow @sageclipse @schnukiputz @mbloggotdeletedsothisismybackup @lumoschildextra @juleswashere3 @yet-still-more-banched @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @yearningagain @starlight-archer @andrew-mini-ard @chaosgremlinmunson @aol19 @goodolefashionedloverboi @gutterflower77 @moomkin77

#steddie #my fic #time travel au #apocalypse au #it's both #is steve dreaming? time traveling while he sleeps? will his changes matter?#i mean im pretty sure we all know the answers to that but im pretending i can be cheeky about it all #also if u think i made a mistake in my plot or that ive forgotten my own lore just know... that maybe that was on purpose #butterfly effect AU might be a better thing to call this

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