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violetwolfraven · 5 years ago

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“Damn. The heating’s broken.”

Fanfiction Advent Calender Day 13: Jopper

...

Finding Hopper after months of searching was a relief, but did it have to be in a Russian prison in the middle of winter?

“So, how’s El?”

He was acting like nothing had happened. Like he’d just gone on a business trip and hadn’t been presumed dead for over almost a year and a half.

And that fact made Joyce indescribably angry.

“How’s El?” Joyce asked, “She thought you were dead. We all thought you were dead. How well do you think she could be doing, Hop?”

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Joyce found herself softening, knowing how much he loved that girl.

“She’s alright,” Joyce clarified, “I legally adopted her, moved her and my boys out of Hawkins. Her powers came back about six months ago and sensed you were still alive. We’ve been looking for you ever since.”

“You moved out of Hawkins?”

The question caught Joyce off guard, “Well, yeah. After everything that happened—“

“What did the kids think?”

“Well, they didn’t really want to go. Jonathan didn’t want to leave Nancy and Will and El knew they’d miss the boys. But you know Hawkins. It’s not safe.”

“But we all always stayed anyway because it was our home.”

Joyce scoffed, “Are you really going to criticize me for getting my kids to safety? Your daughter as one of them?”

“She can take care of herself, if you haven’t noticed,” Hopper pointed out, “And for that matter, I seem to recall that Jonathan can, too. And wasn’t that Steve Harrington kid teaching Will self-defense?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he can take on everything that comes out of portals in Hawkins!”

“They’re not little kids anymore, Joyce,” Hopper pointed out, “God, El, Will, and the others are 15 now, aren’t they? As much as I hate it—and I do hate it, as much as you—they’re old enough to make their own decisions.”

Joyce sighed, “I know. I just... I just want to protect them.”

“Heh. I get that.”

Joyce shivered suddenly, realizing how cold the prison cell was, “It really sucks, doesn’t it? I don’t know if you’ve been keeping track, but today’s Christmas Eve.”

“Guess we’re not exactly settling our brains for a long winter’s nap,” Hopper muttered, heading over for a small heater in the corner, “Damn. The heating’s broken.”

“Well, then, I guess our kids wouldn’t want us freezing to death,” Joyce huffed, shifting over closer to Hopper when he sat back down.

“Um...”

Joyce enjoyed the way Hopper seemed very awkward as he put his arm around her a little too much.

#stranger things #jopper #joyce byers #jim hopper #advent calender fics #damn. the heatings broken

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mirdaniaa · 7 years ago

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christmas spirit

Joyce’s mother wrinkled her nose. “Well, you really got into the Christmas spirit...again.”

Joyce rolled her eyes at Hopper as she took her mother’s coat. “Well, you know, it is Christmas...that’s the whole reason you’re here.”

“We’re Jewish, Joyce.”

“Thanks, Mom, I’m aware.”

It hadn’t been Joyce’s idea for her parents to come for Christmas, but they insisted. More correctly, her mother insisted and her father just went along with his wife. They wanted to spend the holidays with Joyce’s new and improved family. They’d never liked Lonnie--but then, they’d never exactly liked Hopper, either. Either way, this Christmas would be interesting.

“I just don’t see why you should have such a goyische Christmas tree.”

“Because I like it. End of story. Can I get you anything?”

“You can turn up the heat--it’s so cold up here!” The Horowitzes lived in Florida now, and they liked to remind Joyce at every opportunity.

“I’ll do that.”

“When do the kids get home?”

“School lets out at 3:45, Hopper will pick them up.”

“You call your husband by his last name?”

Joyce gritted her teeth. “Yes, Mom, I do.”

Ruth made a noise like she was storing that information away for later. “Well, where am I sleeping?”

“In here.” Joyce showed her parents to the office, where she’d made up the pull-out sofa. That was one thing she missed about the old house--it had been so small that there wasn’t any room for guests. Now that she and Hop had moved into a bigger house to accommodate their three kids, she didn’t have an excuse for not putting up her parents. “I’ll just let you two unpack.” While they did that, Joyce went out to the wraparound porch. Hopper was already out there, leaning against the railing and smoking. He wordlessly handed the cigarette to her.

“They’ve been here for five minutes and I’m already gonna kill them,” she said, sucking on the cigarette like it was a lifeline.

“I have something that’ll help.” Hopper reached into his pocket and produced a flask. Joyce snatched it out of his hands.

“Oh, thank god.” She took a large swig of what turned out to be whiskey. “We’re gonna need. So much of this.”

“Yeah, don’t worry, I already stocked up.”

Joyce stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you so much.”

He smiled, settling his hands at her hips. “I love you too.” He leaned down to kiss her.

“Joooooyce!”

She breathed deeply through her nose. “I know you stocked up, but I need you to go to the store and buy more.”

“More?”

“More.”

#stranger things fanfic advent calendar #Joyce is jewish so jot that down #jopper #Joyce byers #stranger things #fic by me

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obeydontstray · 3 years ago

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Obeydontstray's Stranger Things Master Post!

all links lead to stories home on AO3. All fics are rated mature, most are nsfw

(those with a * are on going)

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JOPPER

If I Have To Go :Teenaged Joyce and Hopper are growing up and growing apart. Then, as adults they have to deal with the lingering feelings.

Errands : (post season 1) Hopper's on his Christmas Day errands. He has one last stop after his visit to the lock box in the woods

Lights : (post season 1) Joyce doesn't know how to deal with things like Christmas lights anymore. Hopper says it's a matter of making new memories with them. Maybe the lights have a new message for her.

Long Day : Joyce comes home from a long day to find something... out of the ordinary.

The Dark End of the Street : A birthday gift for @starmaammke ! Joyce Byer's marriage is on the rocks and she finds comfort in someone else. Based off of the song 'Night Moves' by Percy Sledge.

Christmas Time in Hawkins : Written from a advent prompt list on Tumblr by @justablobfish. A collection of Hopper/Byers family Christmas shorts. Bonus New Years Eve chapter :)

Brown Eyed Girl : Before Vietnam, Hop had a brown eyed girl of his own.

Smoke : Totally plotless smut because Hop and Joyce need a little downtime to work out their frustrations.

Paperwork : Another Jopper plot what plot. Jim's working late and Joyce is home alone.

Domestic Life : Roommates AU. Takes place after high school, before Jim leaves for police academy.

Distractions : There were times that Joyce enjoyed Hop's scrutiny. Tonight is just not the night. Cop/person getting speeding ticket AU

Rock Bottom : Something's got to change or someone will find him rotting in a pile of empty beer cans. (tw: addiction, alcohol abuse, emergency medical situation)

First Day of School : Jim Hopper can't figure out where Sarah got her bravery from, or her big heart. parents meeting when they take their kids to class AU (the Hoppers stayed in Hawkins AU)

Tension : Lonnie Byers never did know when to shut his mouth.

Cell Blocks C & D : Jim Hopper leads a pretty boring life in jail until he gets moved into a new cell. (jail au)

The Only Thing Worth Fighting For : (post season 1, is not finished but may be updated in the future...maybe) There are no secrets in a small town. Things are tough, but they're looking up.

Saturday Night Rumble : Jim starts a new family tradition. Will is more than thrilled to join in.

Waking Up With You : Hop hates mornings a little less now that he has someone to wake up to.

Starry Eyed : Hopper knows everyone in town, and sometimes it pays off.

From Beyond the Grave : Joyce takes Hop on an unusual date.

My Protector : Things heat up for Hop and Joyce after a confrontation with Lonnie.

Little Moments : Short, mostly unrelated one shots based off of Tumblr prompts.

The Strange Disappearance of Mr. Knickerbocker : Hopper has a friendship with the local town drunk, Lenny Knickerbocker. When Lenny goes missing, what will Hopper and the Byers family do to find him?

Rainy Day Woman * : AU in which James 'Jim' Hopper is a playboy news anchorman and his effect on the lives of those around him in a newsroom that the director built around him.

Voyeur : Joyce and Bob's relationship is a little lackluster, so Joyce finds a way to come out on top.

Haunted Hawkins : Joyce and Hopper had several spooky encounters over their years as friends, long before they knew of the real monsters that roam Hawkins.

Simple Kind of Man : Chief Hopper has an introspective moment in the December following Will's rescue. Rated M for possible triggers. post season 1

O Death : When Jim finds out Chrissy Carpenter has been killed, Joyce is determined to be a support for him.

Good Hearted Man : One of Hopper's posessions triggers a strong memory in Joyce

So Loud, So Close : (post season 2) Joyce and Hopper's first holiday with all of their children under one roof. And Hopper's thinking the cabin isn't nearly big enough.

Trick or Treat : When all the kids are busy, Hop throws a little Halloween party of his own.

I'll Be Watching You : Joyce and Hopper shared a cigarette at the Snow Ball, but what if they shared a bit more?

Pit Stop : Teenaged Joyce and Karen decide to have fun with the cute guy behind the counter at the gas station. (tw: threesome)

Teenage Wasteland : Hopper and Joyce try to recapture a bit of their teenage years.

She's No You : Hop spends a night with a stranger trying to work through some things.

What Happens In Vegas : Business woman Joyce Byers is looking for a good time, and she's found it. (prostitute Hop AU)

Stargazing : It's cold outside, but there's no where Joyce would rather be.

Just One Night : Joyce needed the comfort of someone who had been through the same things she had. It's supposed to be just one night. No strings. But things end up a little messier than she planned.

I Wanted You : Highschool AU! "You're an idiot, Jim Hopper."

Stranger Things Have Happened : A small collection of supernatural/sci-fi aus drabbles from Tumblr prompts. Jopper mini adventures!

Family : Small entries for a fic war on tumblr. Just small moments between Joyce and Hop. Trying to adjust to being a new couple.

Jane's First Christmas : (El) Jane Hopper's first Christmas with Hop and the Byers'.

Not So Vanilla : Some totally plotless kinky fun for Joyce and Hop.

Rainy Night : Joyce Byers is not a very good hiker. (hiker/forest ranger au)

Christ Haunted : (southern gothic au) Teenaged Jim Hopper spent several hot summers in South Carolina with his favorite Aunt and brought home a whole new outlook on life. Returning to the south after a tragedy, Hopper and Joyce stumble into a decades old mystery. Secrets run deep in the old south.

The Resurrection of Everything : (post season 3) He's real, and he's really here. A sliver of what he was, a ghost of a former man. But he's solid and warm and here.

Right Back to You : Joyce and Hop have been friends since they were kids, but are they growing apart?

Long Cool Woman : (secret agent AU) Detectives Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers are working on a case, working under the guise of being married. But...will that lead to more?

He Wears His Heart on His Sleeve : Various ficlets from prompts. All Jopper centered.

One Mississippi, Two Mississippi : Jim tried to find if there's anything solid beneath the front page drive in news. A ficklet based off one of my favorite songs, Night Moves by Bob Seger. Teenage Jopper. Mostly angst, some smut.

Like He's Just Your Understudy : A highschool!Jopper fic inspired by Taylor Swift and Bon Iver's song 'Exile'. Joyce isn't his home anymore, so what is he trying to defend?

I Will Protect You *: Disgraced starlet Joyce Byers needs protection from her manic ex husband. Help came in the form of a six foot two former FBI agent with broad shoulders and dark blonde hair. And the most devastating blue eyes she could remember ever seeing.

The Little Things *: Post season two. Jim had become a pillar of strength after everything that happened. A strong, warm presence whenever she needed him. Whenever any of them needed him. There was numerous moments in the year following that told her he loved her. But Joyce didn't really believe it until he said it out loud. Will be finished.

Make You Feel My Love : There's some things Jim's not completely a natural at. Some thinks take some learning. (Joyce learning what she likes in bed prompt from tumblr)

Room 12 : Joyce took the kids and left after the events at the mall and now in a brief moment of solace, she reflects on a memory.

Stubborn Love : Post season 3. “Your memory feels like home to me. So whenever my mind wanders, it always finds it’s way back to you.” Joyce finds herself alone and when the memories flood back, she does everything she can to remember him.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Lover I Don't Have to Love

BOPPER (Jim X Benny) a story in 4 parts, posted in order.

Hormones : Jim Hopper and Benny Hammond let their curiosity get the best of them one night in high school.

Fishing Trip : Jim's falling apart and Benny gives him comfort any way he can.

Rainy Night : Benny's car breaks down and he winds up at Jim's trailer, soaking wet.

Benny Was My Friend : Two scenes. The first, when Hopper sees Benny's body after his 'suicide'. The other is set after Joyce storms out of the morgue but before Jim's scene at the Hideaway. Joyce and Hopper provide comfort for each other in their time of loss.

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Jim x Reader

Hop on Top : (Hop x male reader) When Hopper gets an offer to work off his frustrations with Joyce, he doesn't let it pass him by.

Christmas Magic : Hopper made you wait till TWO days before Christmas to go Christmas shopping because he's stubborn and won't tell you what he wants until the last second. But, he had your Christmas present all picked out.

You Should Probably Leave : from a Tumblr prompt. Reader x Jim Hopper OC ficlet.

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Misc

Benny's Burgers : Just another day at the diner for Benny and Joyce.

Fast Car : Once there was a time that Joyce really loved Lonnie. Based heavily off of the Tracy Chapman song 'Fast Car'.

A Little Bit of Sugar : Bob gives Joyce quite a scare. (Pre season 2)

Stare at the Ceiling : Karen has a intense affair with Jim when he returns home to Hawkins after Sarah's death.

Hopper's Wild Years * : Jim needs some downtime. Can't go home, Diane is so cold and Sarah's room is forever empty. But the club is dark and smoky and full of flashy bottle blondes on silver poles. Just a place he can hide and drink. The club Is the underbelly of the city, a warm place from the bitter cold outside. Jim's vices are building, can things change before he slips into the grime.

The ABCs of Jim Hopper Smut : I'm not sue who originally came up with this list, but this is my interpretation of the ABCs of Sex (from tumblr) as it relates to big Jim Hopper.

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and the roleplay that lead to @historianwithaheart and I falling in love! Our Jim Hopper x OC Mella Barton rp!

A Fight For Happiness * : After the Events of Season 2, Hopper finds himself settling into normal life. That is until the new History Teacher waltzes into his office and changes everything. With her sweet smile, big heart and dark past she and Hopper soon realize that maybe they're in love. And Mella (That's her name) couldn't love Jane any more than if Jane were her own. Things seem to be looking up for Hopper, and Mella as they welcome their very own baby into the world. Something isn't right though, it never is in Hawkins, and it's never right with Jim. Suddenly a number comes into their life 12. Who is 012? What effects have the upside down had on Hawkins and it's residents? Will Jim ever get his fairy tale ending? You'll have to read to find out!

#stranger things #stranger things masterlist #stranger things fanfiction #jim hopper #chief jim hopper #joyce byers #fanfiction #jopper #jopper fanfiction #hopper x reader #hopper x benny hammond #jim hopper x oc

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dutifullymadameashley · 7 years ago

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Jopper Advent

December 2: We need to buy you winter clothing

The sky is dark and overcast but the air is too cold for snow. A December wind is blowing just hard enough to rattle the windows in the Chevy as Hopper turns into the school parking lot. He spies the slight, shivering form of Will Byers standing by the front door of the building, and pulls up to the curb. Reaching across the front seat and rolling down the passenger side window, he calls out, “Hey, kid, Jonathan got called into work, so your mom asked me to come get you.”

Will is hugging his arms across his chest to preserve body heat, the overlong sleeves of his coat flapping against his small body. He manages a sweet smile in spite of his chattering teeth. “Sir, I can’t go with you unless you tell me the password.”

Hopper’s brow furrows, a combination of confusion and concern. “What? Come on, Will, it’s freezing out there. Just get in.”

“Mom says I can’t get into a car with anyone but her or Jonathan unless they know the password.” The kid can’t be serious.

Jim shakes his head and sighs. “All right. The password is ‘get in the goddamn truck.’”

Will bursts out laughing. “That’s exactly what Mom said you would say! I totally knew you were coming – Mom left a message with the office.” He climbs into the passenger seat and rolls up the window against the bitter wind.

Hopper notices that the boy’s coat is at least two sizes too big, with a small tear on the shoulder. The sight of the ill-fitting hand-me-down calls to mind Joyce’s words, “People make fun of him…of his clothes.” Jim hadn’t really understood it at the time, but then, he’d grown up in a household where he’d never had to worry about getting what he needed. Making a decision on impulse, he steers the Chevy out of the parking lot and heads in the direction of downtown.

“Chief, where are you going?” Will exclaims, with a nervous smile. “Our place is the other way.”

“We’re going to get you a decent coat, Will.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Hopper can see that Will’s face has brightened. “I already have a coat, sir,” the boy says. It’s evident that Joyce’s pride has been rubbing off.

“This “Chief” and “sir” stuff isn’t really necessary, is it? I’m not your boss, and you’re not under arrest, so…”

“Okay, Hop. Whatever you say, sir.” The boy is beaming now, so content with the simplest of pleasures: a warm ride on a cold day, the prospect of a new winter coat, Hopper’s somewhat grumpy company. In all the time that Jim has been visiting the Byers’ house – even occasionally spending the night – he and Will haven’t had many one-on-one conversations. “How was school?” he asks, hoping the question doesn’t sound too forced. Hopper’s awkwardness is unwarranted; Will loves to talk and once he gets started, it’s all Hopper can do to get a word in.

They soon find themselves in the children’s section of Hawkins Department Store. Will peruses the racks, occasionally glancing up at Hopper with an apprehensive expression on his face. “Which one should I pick?”

“Which one do you want?” The salespeople are giving Hopper curious looks, and whispering amongst themselves. Every time he hears Will being referred to as “Lonnie’s boy,” his blood boils and his heart aches. This kid deserves better than his useless father and this unforgiving town.

Will gestures toward a dark green bomber-style coat. “I like this one the best. It looks a bit like yours.” The boy picks up the sleeve to check the price tag but Hopper stops him.

“Don’t worry about that, okay? If it fits, we’ll take it.”

Ten minutes later, they’re pulling into the Byers’ driveway right behind Joyce’s Pinto. She is surprised to see them arriving so late, but she smiles when she notices the delight on her youngest son’s face. She looks at the coat, then at Hopper, unsure how to feel. Will is right – his new winter coat bears a striking resemblance to Hopper’s. Joyce suppresses her instinctual pride, instead relishing the scene of Jim and her boy sharing a happy moment. They enter the warm house together, Joyce hanging back and biting her lip to keep from tearing up.

#stranger things #fanfiction #jopper #will byers

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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A Fresh Start

When Hopper woke early that morning, he found Joyce already awake, sitting on the floor next to the wood stove. A sugar plum vision wrapped up in his warm flannel logger from the night before, softly lit by shades of twilight through dusty cabin windows. She was puffing away on a cigarette, a steaming cup of coffee resting at her bare feet. Focused on keeping the fire stoked, she didn’t notice him staring from his bedroom door.

Will and Joyce had come over to the cabin for dinner and a movie the night before, but a snow storm had rolled in around ten, changing movie night into an impromptu sleepover. Around midnight, Will and El dragged the tv into her bedroom under the reassurance from Joyce that they would be fine with the door closed. Will ended up sleeping in El’s room, leaving the double bed in Hopper’s room open for Joyce. Hopper would take the lazyboy, ever the begrudging gentleman.

Three AM rolled around, and when Joyce could hear Hopper struggling to get comfy in his chair, she offered to share the bed. One thing led to another and by the time the sun came up, neither had gotten much sleep at all.

It was quarter after seven now and the blizzard was still raging outside. It looked like they'd be staying put for a few more hours.

"Morning" he said, sitting down by the fire next to her, rubbing his eyes, and trying but failing to fix his bed head. Joyce couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"The kids are still passed out. I made coffee if you want," she said, passing him her cigarette to finish off.

“Sorry I uh, woke you last night," he said sheepishly, taking the smoke from her and bringing it to his lips.

Joyce looked at him with big eyes and a little smirk.

"Don't apologize. I forgot… how good we were... at that."

She pursed her lips and cleared her throat, being polite in case little ears were listening. Hopper chuckled -- they always did make a good match between the sheets.

Joyce gave a little sigh and shook her head, as if dizzy from her thoughts. She looked back at him, blushing, and then reached for his hands.

"What happened last night…"

Hopper stubbed out the last of the cigarette and threw it in the fireplace before leaning in to finish her thought.

"What happened last night will certainly happen again,” he said in a deep, husky murmur. “Tonight, even. And tomorrow too, if I'm lucky."

Joyce smiled and nodded, pecking him on the lips to keep him quiet, stifling her own giggle.

“If you’re lucky...”

Watching her light up like that gave Hopper hope that they were finally coming to a turning point. Life was slowly going back to normal -- whatever the hell that was. Maybe this could be their year?

No more fighting. No more lies, governmental or otherwise. No disagreements or bad blood between them.

A fresh start. As clean as the driven snow.

Joyce stretched her feet out in front of her on the warm tile and they found a spot on his lap. Toes wiggled as big hands wrapped around her arches and massaged a moan out of her. She leaned back on her hands, and then tilted her head back too, exposing the slim line of her neck. His heartbeat quickened as her silhouette lengthened under his touch, backlit by the soft glow of fluffy white flakes settling on the windowsill. The quiet, early morning beckoned them back to bed.

Hopper continued, pushing his luck.

"Maybe it could even happen again, right now? If we're really… really quiet?"

Joyce looked back at him and then the bedroom where the kids were, and then back at him. It was clear she didn’t really need much convincing.

As the snow piled up outside around the sleepy little cabin in the woods, the coffee got cold and the fire died down, but a long lost love rekindled.

#jopper advent #day 22 #Joyce Byers #jim hopper #jopper #flash fiction #one shot #dedicated to the sweet anon in my asks!#I'll post this on AO3 soon!#i can't remember if i've posted this before??#oh well #hope you all enjoy

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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Joyce & Hopper at Prom commissioned for chapter five of my fanfic, Stand By Me.

..."Ready?" Joyce asked with pep and reached for his arm — as if she wasn't about to smuggle booze into Prom under her dress.

"Oh yeah." Hopper sucked in a breath as they headed towards the school's entrance, trying not to trip over his feet as he escorted her into the party. He couldn't take his eyes off her. "You look really pretty tonight," he said, finally working up the courage to tell her what he'd thought since she walked down the stairs that evening.

But Joyce didn't seem to notice the sentiment behind his words.

"Yeah, yeah, you can whistle for it." She grinned, slapping his chest before Karen caught her attention...

Artwork by endlessly talented @toart ❤️

#jopper #young jopper #teen jopper #jopper advent #day 15 #jim hopper #joyce byers #my commissions #by #toart #fanart #fic available on ao3 #ao3 fic #I don't show this artwork off enough #i have been selfish keeping it for myself lol

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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Some Things Last a Long Time

"So, this is it," Hopper said, his arms spread wide in the middle of the room, giving Joyce the grand tour.

He'd done his best to give it a quick tidy before she came over since it was her first time seeing it since he came clean about harboring the living breathing experiment and fugitive from HNL in his grandfather's old hunting cabin. His best wasn't exactly up to Joyce's "neatnik" standards though, and his version of a tidy was more or less just shoving things in various hiding places, wherever there was space to fit more clutter. As Joyce moved further into the cabin, Hopper suddenly remembered a half dozen other things he forgot to do (like sweep and dust) and he just hoped that she didn't notice.

Joyce took it all in, one eyebrow raised, not entirely sure what to make of the shabby chic bachelor decor. The look on her face indicated that she still couldn't believe that he'd been living there with El this whole time. She stood there for a long moment without saying a word and it almost looked like she didn't know what to say, but she had to say something.

"It's, um …cozy?" she offered, looking for the right word for the tiny space.

Hopper nodded as she continued her inspection. He could see the gears spinning as she moved around the living room. Her hands skipped over his Granny's quilt on the back of the chair and the old Hopper family radio that she probably recognized from another life; old, forgotten memories that came flooding back. She checked out the bathroom and its accordion privacy door before making her way to the bedrooms, taking a peek behind the curtain into his room and then poking her head into El's. Joyce blinked a few times and her lips pressed together in thought. He could practically feel the unsolicited interior decorating advice incoming.

"And you two have been living here? For a year? Like this?" she asked, still in complete disbelief.

He nodded again, moving ahead of her in the kitchen, grabbing a small stack of dirty dishes he had missed on the first pass. He slyly ditched them in the sink.

"Well, I think it's really sweet," she said, finally, much to his relief. He had passed the inspection and could relax.

"Wait, what's this?"

Hopper heard Joyce give a little gasp behind him. Uh oh, what ungodly mess did she find now? He spun around to see her facing him with a shocked look on her face like she couldn't believe what she had found.

"You have a picture of me? On your fridge?" Joyce squeaked out, snatching the image from out under the Schlitz magnet to stare at it closer. He forgot it was even there -- a vivid color photo of her, circa 1964.

Hopper always loved how she looked like a model in it, dark hair teased into a bouffant, wearing that bright blue dress. Looking beyond the camera with the most beautiful far-away expression. He still remembered the day he took it with his new Kodachrome; the camera she surprised him with the Christmas before he shipped off. The same one he used to send snapshots back to her when he was so far away. Before everything had fallen apart.

She was staring at him now, cheeks flushed, waiting for his response.

"The kid found it in a box," Hopper said. "She said you looked pretty and put it up there, I swear. I had nothing to do with it!" His hands went up, conveying his innocence, though his smile betrayed him.

"Uh-huh," Joyce nodded, smiling too. Knowing it was a fib but going along with it anyway. "You had nothing to do with it."

#jopper #jopper advent #day 17 #joyce byers #jim hopper #originally a tumblr prompt #fixed up and reposted on ao3 #super short but sweet #one shot

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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The Last Snowball

~or~

Why Joyce Hates Jim Hopper’s Guts (a love story)

December, 1964

"Skipping class again, huh?"

Jim Hopper thought he’d been busted, until he turned to see his tiny brunette friend cross the hall toward him with a great big smile on her face. He chewed slowly on the last bite of his second sandwich of the day as he watched Joyce flutter up to him like a little bird.

"Did you run here to state the obvious?" he asked through a smirk and a mouthful of bologna.

"What? No!" Joyce’s nose scrunched up and she quickly shook her head before the big smile crept back. "You weren't by the steps after fifth, and I was looking for you. I wanna ask you something!"

"Why are your cheeks all red then?" he asked.

Joyce brought a hand up to her left cheek and stood on her tiptoes to look at her reflection in his locker mirror. Indeed, her cheeks were ten shades of crimson, and the blush only deepened when she saw it with her own eyes.

Hopper swallowed and raised an eyebrow slowly.

"What's up?"

Joyce sighed and fidgeted with the lock on his locker door. Then she repositioned the textbooks in her arms, looking anywhere but at him. She tried not to think about how hot her cheeks were getting under his gaze.

"Well -- I don't know if you noticed, but the winter dance on Friday is a Sadie Hawkins," she said holding her breath, before sneaking a peek at him with wide, worried eyes to gauge his reaction. But there was none.

He just kinda shrugged.

"Yeah, I know. Half the junior girls asked me already," he admitted, crumpling the empty paper bag that once held the rest of second-lunch and tossed it in the trash can over her head and behind her. Completely clueless, as usual.

Joyce deflated.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, keeping the smile plastered to her face, desperately trying to ignore the heaviness in her chest at his words. "Who?"

Hopper shrugged again and turned back to the mess in his locker, getting ready to head out.

"A bunch of chicks. I told 'em 'No.'"

"Oh." The heavy feeling disappeared just as quickly as it came. "A bunch, huh?"

"Why'd you ask?"

"Uh… well, I don't know," Joyce sighed and trailed off. "I just thought, maybe…"

"Yeah?"

"You and I..?"

She didn't want to say it -- she couldn't possibly say it. The words caught in the back of her throat, but Hopper was getting impatient.

"Well? Spit it out!"

Joyce took a deep breath.

"Well, it's just that... it's the Snowball. And I wanted to see if maybe you wanted to go. With me?"

She shifted her weight nervously as she waited on his response. It felt like forever as she watched his face change from clueless to amused, confused, and then back again.

"Hmm, no thanks," he said finally, coolly shrugging his hunter green plaid jacket over his broad shoulders. "I got plans."

Joyce's face fell for real this time, and she leaned back against the lockers, letting his locker door shield her disappointment. Hopper was rummaging around his locker again, banging books around on the shelves and dropping his winter gear at his feet -- hat, mitts, a pair of long johns, and big woolly socks.

"Why don't you ask your new boyfriend?" he asked rather bluntly from behind the locker door.

"Who? Lonnie?” Joyce leaned forward to glare at him. “Lonnie's not my--" She bit her tongue and steered the conversation back on track, knowing the topic of Lonnie Byers was not a welcome one with Hopper lately.

"I wanted to ask you, dummy!" she told Hopper, feeling her mood start to sour. "Since you're like... I don't know? My best friend?"

"Aw," Hopper said, clutching for his heart and rolling his eyes. "Be still my beating heart. You make it sound so special."

Joyce bounced on her heels in frustration. Sometimes she wished she was taller so she could properly smack him on the back of the head.

"I just mean-- We went to our first Snowball together. Shouldn't we go to the last one too?"

"Uh, no?" Hopper said and then ducked out of her reach when she aimed for his arm. "What? I'm struggling to see the big deal here. It's just a dance!"

Joyce raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. What a stick in the mud!

"It's the last Snowball, Jim."

"And this is the last week I can bag a doe with my tag, Joyce."

He bent down to gather up the small pile of clothes on the floor and shoved them into his backpack. Joyce set her jaw, grimacing.

"A deer?"

"A female deer," he grinned up at her.

Joyce clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

"You're telling me you'd rather kill some poor, innocent creature than dance with your best friend all night?" Her voice trailed off, hopefully conveying the intentions behind the words -- I like you, you big doofus.

But Hopper didn't catch on.

"Yes, absolutely."

He said it so abruptly, Joyce struggled not to look too offended.

"Well, I… I thought you could only hunt 'til Last Light anyway?"

Hah! She had him there -- according to Indiana fish and game regulations, he wasn't allowed to hunt after the sun went down. Honestly, she didn't know much else about hunting other than that small fact, but Joyce clung to it like a life raft.

"Why don't you just come to the dance afterwards, then? Meet me there?" Joyce persisted.

"No can do!" He pressed his lips together, unapologetically. "I plan to be elbow deep in blood n’ guts after Last Light."

Her jaw dropped, and it made him smirk again.

"That's disgusting!" Joyce said, horrified.

"So's a Sadie Hawkins!" he exclaimed. "Girls asking guys? What's next? Cats chasing dogs? C'mon, Joyce." Hopper snorted at his own joke and stood up.

Joyce tried to ignore the rude passing comment, even though it made her want to stab him with her women’s lib pin. Why was she asking him again? Oh right. Those pesky feelings... the same ones she'd been fighting for the last four years. Just when she thought she had them beat, making herself believe she only ever wanted to be just his friend, feelings would rear their ugly head again and make her act like a complete fool. Like right now, for example:

"But it's the last Snowball!" She tried with him one more time. “Come on, don’t be such a party pooper.”

Hopper slung his backpack over his shoulder and grabbed the last of his junk shoving it back in the locker, anywhere it would fit. He heaved a sigh.

“So? We had Homecoming last month. Prom's in spring. How many dances do we really need?"

Never mind that Joyce was helping Karen plan each of those dances and leading the Pep Club in decorating the gym for all of them too. Or that this was their last year of school -- ever! He knew perfectly well how much it all meant to Joyce and she couldn't believe he wasn't a being bit more sentimental about all of it.

"It's our last Snowball."

That's when Hopper finally got it. And then he rolled his eyes.

"You realize that none of the guys are going, right?”

"Nuh-uh.” Joyce shook her head. “Not all the guys. Some of the seniors are going with the gals!"

She didn't know exactly how many, and she left out the part where it was mostly the steadies going together, hoping to convince him.

"Well, none of the single guys are going," Hopper assured her again. "Trust me. We all have plans. Besides, that dance is only for the freshmen and middle-schoolers, now. Last year was so lame."

"Plans?" she echoed.

"Yeah. I told you! My card's punched all week."

"Heya, Hop!" Benny called out, interrupting them from down the hallway, catching their attention over the top of the other student's heads. He raised his .22 in his hand to Hopper like a chalice. "Hunting?"

"Hunting!" Hopper hollered back and turned back to Joyce. "See? Hunting."

Joyce rolled her eyes and let out a grumble -- at least his plan wasn’t Chrissy Carpenter again.

"How many times can a man go hunting in a week?" she asked pointedly.

"Well, Beatles say there's 8 days…" Hopper started, slamming his locker shut.

"Let me rephrase that," Joyce interrupted. "How many times can a man go hunting in a week and bring home absolutely nothing?"

Hopper narrowed his eyes on Joyce and chewed his bottom lip, biting back what he really wanted to say. She knew full well he hadn't gotten anything yet this year, and he was quickly running out of time to prove his machismo to his pals. Now she was purposely rubbing salt in those wounds.

"Look at you, being funny," he said flatly, moving her aside to follow Benny out the double doors. "Don't let me spoil your little party, okay? Slow dance with Karen if you have to," he added with a wink.

"I hate you, Jim Hopper!" Joyce called out after him, meaning every word in that very moment. Just when she thought Hopper might change, here he was, being his same-old callous self.

"Feeling's mutual," he chuckled over his shoulder. "See ya later!"

"Yeah, whatever, Captain Funwrecker." Joyce grumbled back as she watched him walk away.

Her spirit was crushed.

Her crush? Crushed.

Was it too late to bottle all those feelings back up? Swallow what was left of her pride and ask one of the shy, senior guys instead? At least, she thought, Bob Newby’s always a sure thing.

Lonnie was her original back up choice, but she already knew he'd laugh in her face too, just the same as Hopper had done.

Lonnie wouldn't be hunting, though. Just drinking and partying at the quarry or whatever he and his miscreant friends liked to do for fun -- she still hadn't quite figured that out, though she was beginning to think maybe being a miscreant was more fun than it sounded. More fun than hunting poor innocent creatures anyway. Or playing lone wallflower at the dance again...

As the last bell rang, Joyce wondered why all the boys she liked had to be such jerks.

---

#jopper #young jopper #joyce byers #jim hopper #teen!jopper #jopper advent #day 23 #ficlet #on this episode of who crushed on who first...#silly holiday fluffy angsty nonsense for all you lovebirds out there!

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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Sneaking around

His uniform was unbuttoned, and her jeans were off, but that was as far as they had gotten into it when they heard the front door slam.

“Shit!” Joyce mumbled into Hopper’s mouth. Breaking away mid-kiss, she hit pause on their heavy petting session. He just shrugged and switched to tracing tiny circles with his tongue down the side of her neck while she stopped to listen--

The boys were home early.

“Maybe they forgot something? They’re supposed to be at the Wheelers til 8,” Joyce whispered to Hopper.

He continued to kiss her neck, nibbling at her earlobe, trying to entice her back. If they were quiet enough, they might just get away with this.

Joyce gave in, enjoying it for a moment before she heard her oldest say, “Hey, where’s Mom?”

"Her purse is here," her youngest said. "She must be in her room."

Joyce bolted up, knocking her lover over, nearly rolling him off the bed. Hopper felt like he was in high school all over again. He chuckled to himself when she started fumbling with her clothes, acting like her father was coming through the door with a shotgun any second.

“What are you doing?” he asked, bemused, casually buttoning his shirt back up, watching her struggle to pull her jeans on.

“Hiding! Maybe they’ll think I’m not home. Get over here,” she hissed, waving him over to where she was climbing into her closet, aiming for the spot behind her bathrobe.

“Oh, that’s great. We’ll both fit in there.” Hopper rolled his eyes at her. “Finish getting dressed, Joyce. It’s probably time to tell them anyway.”

“Mom? Are you in there?” Jonathan called out to her from the other side of her bedroom door.

There was a pause before Will chimed in.

“With Hopper?”

“Shit,” Joyce said again.

It was time to fess up.

#jopper advent #day 21 #flash fic #originally a tumblr prompt #my repost

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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Terminal Thoughts

"Aeroflot 118 to Rome is now boarding at Gate 11B."

A disembodied voice echoed throughout the terminal, the thick accent announcing the next departing flight. It repeated in both Russian and Italian before a few passengers at the gate stood up to gather their things.

The quiet couple sitting at the next gate over watched, waiting for their own flight, still another hour away. The pair could still pass for tourists -- just two people who spent a few weeks on the road in Russia with nothing more than a rucksack and the clothes on their backs. Sure, they might have been a bit older than the usual nomadic crowd, but they blended in all the same.

The small group next to them formed a line to board the plane: Businessmen were chatting idly with other businessmen as they waited for first-class to board. Families hugged, seeing their loved ones off at the gate. A group of students and their teachers did roll-call to make sure everyone was there. Just ordinary people, going about their lives. All those carefree souls, ignorant to the evils threatening humanity.

Joyce envied them for it.

None of these people had a clue what she had gone through to get to this point. Or what Hopper went through... And unless hell froze over in her lifetime, Joyce realized that she could never be like those people ever again.

She had something, though, and that was the man sitting right next to her. Someone she thought she had lost forever. Sitting next to her was a second chance, and she was undeniably grateful for it. Joyce looked over to Hopper, taking his presence in, letting herself stare. He was a sight for sore eyes. Almost the same, but not entirely. A bit older and different, somehow. Changed by his experience in Kamchatka.

While he had been relatively quiet after the rescue, he was even more so now that they were all alone. Their assigned FBI agents had dropped them off in the outskirts of Moscow the night before with new passports and an allowance, advising them to find their own way home. Suddenly, they were by themselves for the first time in a long while. Joyce thought that maybe he'd open up to her that night when they got settled in the hotel room. Instead, he simply held her in his arms on the bed, watching Russian State television in complete silence into the darkest hours of the morning.

It was clear Hopper wasn't ready to tell her what happened to him after he disappeared and she wasn't going to push the issue. Whatever it was, she only knew that it left him rough around the edges and grizzled. Was the old Jim Hopper even in there anymore?

The ZZ Top beard didn't help matters either. A squirelly mess of dirty blonde and gray, it made Hopper look so much older than his forty-two years. In a silly attempt to make him smile, Joyce called him "Rasputin" in the taxi on the way to the airport earlier that night. Their driver had laughed at her joke, but Hopper scowled, so she knew the beard would be gone as soon as he got his hands on a razor -- or three. He’d lost all the excess weight he had put on the summer before, too, and where his clothes used to fit tight, they hung off him now. He must have kept active locked away in the gulag. It looked as if he had volunteered for another tour in 'Nam.

Most of all, Hopper looked the way Joyce felt: fucking exhausted. They had been living their lives in a constant state of fear for so long. It felt like they were always running from monsters, or tangled up in a dark web of intergovernmental conspiracies... or something even bigger than all that combined. Was a boring, normal life even on their radar anymore?

Joyce wished they could just run away from it all, even though she had already tried that once and failed. This was proof of what running away from her problems got her... sitting in the boarding lounge in an airport in Russia, watching strangers go about their day, wondering if they could ever be happy again.

Fantasizing about what it would be like.

She bumped Hopper's shoulder to catch his attention. He grunted, looking down at her, as she nodded toward the dwindling group of passengers in front of them. They were almost the last ones at the gate now, and their flight wasn't for another hour. How easy would it be to just slip in with this flight to Rome? Take the train through the Italian countryside, find a little seaside villa to rent? Go on that fancy Italian dinner date? They could spend the next week forgetting everything that had happened, and picking up right where they left off. Make up for all that time apart.

"Whaddya say? Take a little detour on the way home?" She raised her eyebrows at him and repeated a line she heard Karen use once: "I've heard the Amalfi Coast is lovely this time of year.”

Hopper looked at her like she had lost her mind. He shook his head, realizing a second later that she was only joking.

"What? I've always wanted to see Italy! We're already halfway there," Joyce reasoned with him, only sort-of joking now. "And the kids'll be fine for another week."

"Tempting. But no," Hopper said. A smirk touched the corner of his mouth at her flighty suggestion before the almost-smile faded away to a grimace. "I'm done with this side of the world for a while," he grumbled, taking her hand. He laced his fingers with hers and then leaned over to kiss her forehead.

"Take me home… please?"

Joyce chuckled and sank into his embrace, content to go home too. Back to normal, whatever that was for them now. As they continued their never-ending wait for the red-eye to New York, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Fine,” she said, “but you owe me a trip to Europe."

#jopper #jopper advent #day 18 #joyce byers #jim hopper #fluff and angst #because that's how jopper shippers roll

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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confessions of an accidental prom queen ♛

{a teen!jopper playlist} summer’s meant for loving and leaving /// 1965

cosmic americana /// sadcore /// 60s bubblegum pop, soul & country covers /// & that feeling when you realize you’re in love with your best friend, right before he ships off to war...

58 songs, 3.5hrs on spotify

Featuring music by: Lana Del Rey, Lykke Li, Taylor Swift, Zella Day, Florence, Katy Perry, Lord Huron, Cults & more...

/// listen in spotify ///

tagging @chiefharbour for new (jopper playlist) music!

#joyce byers #jim hopper #jopper #jopper advent #day 11 #spotify playlist #watch this get eaten by tumblr #the patsy cline covers are my fav #otp playlist #jopper radio #sadcore #doom-wop #not very christmassy but it's something!!

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andcontemplation · 4 years ago

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Annoying P.I.

“Dun dun dun dun…” Hopper bobbed his head and beat his hands on the top of the steering wheel as he sang; something to do to stave off the boredom of the sleep-deprived drive to Illinois.

Their hostage, Alexei, was content with the remnants of his 7-eleven slurpee in the backseat, none the wiser to what was brewing up front. Joyce didn’t want to have a meltdown in front of the Russian scientist but someone was giving her no other choice.

She gritted her teeth.

Hopper was driving her up the wall, nit-picking and arguing with her about every little thing over the last 24 hours. And now this...

He was on his eleventh rendition of the Magnum PI theme song, humming the tune as loud and as obnoxiously as he could. Drumming on the steering wheel and then the dash. Making little “tch-tch” snare drum noises before going back to the “dun-dun-duns.”

“Would you stop that?!” Joyce finally snapped.

But he kept going. Either out of spite or the fact that he was singing too loud to hear her. Joyce took a deep breath before letting it all out.

“For the love of all that is holy, Hop! Enough with the freakin’ Magnum!!”

He turned to her, instantly irritated.

“Well, excuse me for trying to keep myself from falling asleep at the wheel and killing us all, Joyce.”

“But do you have to do that? We have a radio y'know." She glared at him across the car.

He smirked and checked himself out in the mirror, smoothing out his mustache.

“I thought you liked Tom Selleck.”

“Oh, I do,” she said, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as it all started to make sense: the stolen convertible, the loud Hawaiian shirt, the mustache... the not-a-date date.

“So? What’s the problem?” he asked.

“You! You’re not Magnum PI. You’re not Tom Selleck. You’re just annoying.”

“Oh, I’m annoying?”

He snorted so loud that Alexei leaned forward to ask Joyce something in Russian. Joyce imagined he was likely asking if Hopper was going to be ok, or what in the fuck his problem was. She reassured the other man, trying to tell him that it was okay in broken English with a slight Russian accent, as Hopper listed off all the ways she annoyed him.

Joyce lit a smoke. This was going to be a long drive to Illinois...

#jopper advent #day 20 #originally a tumblr prompt #my repost #one shot #joyce byers #jim hopper #ficlet #lol I love making them fight

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