#mike is shoving his feelings down and if he does not have an emotional explosion i will go insane

[hopefullyandrogynousartist]

will byers:

"well we used to be best friends"

(my) fan translation:

"I understand that long distance calls are expensive, but you know what's not? Letters, Mike, and you've sent dozens of those to El. You're sending so many letters to a girl that you don't even seem to really like! Why do you seem like you're pulling away from me specifically? Are you doing this to the other people in the party? What is going on? Please tell me. I need you to tell me."

[dinitride-art]

El and Mike are terrifyingly similar.

I was rewatching season four, and in episode one when Will and El are at school and Angela and her friends destroy El’s project, she says something very similar.

“I tripped.” The same thing that Mike told her in season one when he was lying about what happened with Troy. About the scrape on his chin.

When Mike gets scared, he gets defensive. He lashes out. That scene at the end of season two when he was hitting Hopper because he was basically having a panic attack, is Mike being scared and shoving everything outwards because he doesn’t know how to deal with it. El does the same thing. All of season one where El is fighting people is her being scared and defensive. Breaking Troy’s arm because he tried to hurt her friends, snapping agents necks, the flashback to the lab where she killed those two guards when they tried to lock her away- same formula as Mike’s reactions. Which is why when they fight, it’s bad. Because neither of them are thinking, they’re just scared. And then they put up every wall they can think of to try to feel safe again.

Neither of them are very good at relationship conflict and processing their emotions. El always says she’s okay- from season one when she’s crying in Mike’s closet, to the space in between season three and four where she’s been telling Mike that she’s been okay- and she never is. Mike’s also in a constant state of ‘I am not okay’ and ‘I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to even begin processing this’. See: the rain fight, Mike and Hopper at the end of season two, Mike yelling at everyone in season three and coming off as controlling, Mike yelling at El when Will’s fake body is pulled out of the quarry. This is the number one thing that they’re both terrible at.

This fight is a result of Mike’s fear of- losing people, letting go of his and El’s relationship, accepting his feelings for Will, being gay. Generally, those seem like Mike’s motivations. Can’t know for sure, but at least in the vicinity of those concepts. El’s side of this is her fear of- losing people, being different, change, uncertainty in important relationships. She lost Hopper within the last year, and he’s even who she does her project on and why she hits Angela in the face with a roller skate. An important parental figure just died, and she might blame herself for it because of his deaths relation to the upside down. In short: she’s going through it. And that’s without mentioning being taken away from all her friends, being bullied and losing any power she had to defend herself, and the overall uncertainty in her and Mike’s relationship. Does El know that people can break up and still be friends after? Probably not. Lucas and Max just kept getting back together, and almost all her other examples probably came from tv and movies.

So, they’re both on edge, and scared. And are having this conversation after Will was arguing with Mike and told him that he didn’t reach out. And Mike’s not talking at the start of this episode. We start off bad. And then it gets even worse. Mike goes to talk to El about what happened- but that means that he’s confronting her about lying to him the whole time- which Will told (ohhhh. God damn Will really is the problem in this relationship) her would make Mike mad when he found out. And Mike yelled at her yesterday which reminded her of traumatic memories- so she’s. Uh. Not doing great either.

Which brings us back around to my point here; Mike and El are kind of the same person. In terms of their way of dealing with emotions at the very least. Which is saying that they can’t do emotions. And when one of them gets scared and lashes out it sets off a chain reaction. Which would be fine, if they didn’t have many major miscommunications to set them up for an explosion of everything they’ve been avoiding.

Mike and El aren’t both in the wrong- nor are they right. They’re freaking out, which sets off every small fear and miscommunication and lie that exists, and it bounces between them until El’s talking about Mike not loving her anymore and Mike’s talking in his panicked season three voice.

Behind those bangs they’re hiding everything.

[malereader-inserts]

Count On Us

Fandom: Twilight Pairing: Cullen family & Son!Brother!Reader Summary: When you’re on your knees, your family is quick to pull you up - because you shouldn’t face this all by yourself Word Count:  1591 Request: Could you make a cullen family x male reader where the reader goes through a tough break up so everyone decides to devise different plans on how to make him feel better

“Did you hear?” The Cullens perked their ears up, always loving drama with these mundane humans, they hadn’t been in school for a week since there was sun out but you, their human brother had been in all week.

They hadn’t seen anything abnormal from you, you didn’t seem like you were struggling about your homework or any of your subjects, nor have the teachers been giving you stick about anything so your siblings thought nothing of it.

“Oh yeah, (Y/n) Cullen?” Another giggled, trying to keep their conversation to themselves, “Heard he got into a messy breakup, they apparently-”

Just as they were about to reveal to the Cullens why your significant other, rather your ex now, had broken up with you. You had interrupted them as you slam the door shut before glaring at the group of girls huddling.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than talk about my love life?” You seethed, Jasper had to hold your shoulders from attacking because you were radiating such anger that Jasper was concerned because he didn’t know you could produce so much feeling. 

“Sorry-” They muttered as they walked into the school as you rolled your eyes.

Snatching yourself away from Jasper’s hold and stomping away to your locker. Rosalie was taken aback with your attitude on how you were muttering incoherent words that your siblings cannot pick any words. 

“I didn’t see anything,” Alice shrugged her shoulders as they looked over to Edward, who also looked confused before shrugging his shoulders as well.

“I can’t read anything from him.” Bella came up to them, smiling at Edward, but wasn’t expecting a question from him, “Bella, what happened to (Y/N)?”

“Oh?” Bella started, tensing up awkwardly, “He got broken up, public too, Monday’s lunch at the cafeteria. They went hysterical, they were shouting before announcing they were cheating on him.”

“That little bitch-!” Rosalie seethed, to think she had liked your ex a lot too.

“Not to mention, when he got explosive - which I don’t blame him, she threw her smoothie which she had made just for that lunch,” Bella explained, scratching the back of her neck, “I would have thought he would told you but I guess he’s taking it harder than he gives out. Then again, Mike did hear him cry a bit in the boys’ toilet.”

“Well, he’s good at hiding his thoughts and feelings,” Emmett commented as Jasper and Edward was visibly uncomfortable as they weren’t able to detect you.

They waited till lunch to come around, despite being in some of their lessons, you made no effort to talk to your siblings. Jasper could feel sadness and anger radiate from you, but it was the sadness that threw him off. He would expected you to feel anger, betrayal and perhaps even annoyance but sadness was something he did not expect. Edward was unsettled that your mind was just blank, you weren’t thinking at all, not even in your maths lesson shared with him. 

As lunch came around, you hadn’t appeared. Bella was with the Cullens as Erik ran up to their table.

“Hey did you hear?” Eric asked, momentarily forgetting the Cullens were there as he talked to Bella, “Apparently, (Y/n) is getting done for slashing his ex’s car’s tires.”

“But, he’s a sweetheart, he wouldn’t ever do that, not even if he’s pissed off,” Bella says, confused.

“Yeah, I know! His ex is gone psycho against him and he’s done nothing wrong - I heard he walked back home. He packed his bag half way through third period and left, missing forth and obviously lunch.”

And so, the group of siblings decided enough was enough, they couldn’t let you suffer alone.

When the group of vampires arrive home, the house was still. Cold and very much not lived in. Nothing of the sort had seemed to be moved, as if you hadn’t returned home. The only indication of you being home that put them at ease was your shoes in the garage and your poorly put away jacket lying about before entering the house.

Rosalie went to find you, after all, she knows what it’s like to be cheated and frankly despite her horrid attitude towards Bella, she has a high emotional intelligence without powers. So, she had found you in your room, and you were under your duvet. She could hear your heart beat, she had let her shoulders relax as she sees you shifted underneath. She sits on the bed and pats you.

“(Y/n)?” She asked softly, whilst she was getting you up, Alice had informed Esme - who had returned home at the same time - of your situation, “Esme is cooking you dinner, wanna peak out for me?”

She knew you hated being treated a child, so it was the quickest way for you to emerge. You pulled the duvet down, eyes very much red and you had a little sniffle but there was a glare within your stare.

“Not a child,” You muttered.

“You alright?” Rosalie asked, placing a comforting hand upon your shoulder, “We heard about your ex and-”

“It’s stupid,” You interrupted, waving her off.

She kept a firm hand on you, “You know you’re not alone, and it’s your first relationship. I don’t expect you, I mean, we don’t expect you to be fine. It’s okay to be upset.”

You sighed, sitting up and looked at her with teary eyes, “I guess,” there was a pause to your words as you tried to not break down and cry, “Why didn’t they want me? Was I not good enough for them?”

“Aw, sweetie...” Rose knew what you felt, the cheating makes you think you were never good enough. She held you tight in her embrace as you let out small sobs.

You’ll never trust again, building trust would be hard for you and it was because of your ex. You didn’t deserve this, the family says, you don’t deserve to feel like you weren’t worthy of love and question what had gone wrong during your relationship. It was unfair and unjust. 

“You’re always good enough, don’t let them dictate what you feel and what you are. You are always worthy of love, you had never done anything wrong. You were the good one,” Rosalie firmly spoke, as you look in her eyes, “Okay? You hear me?”

You nodded meekly as Esme calls you down. Rose gives you a kiss upon your temple as you rubbed your tears away before darting down the stairs to the kitchen. Esme makes your favourite food for tea, you smiled weakly as she ruffles your hair. Kisses your head, and gives you a tight hug. She doesn’t need to mention the elephant in the room, you were thankful. 

Your mother talks, how brilliant her son is. How you’ve done so well in classes and your extra curriculum. She does anything to talk about you, positively, stop you from thinking you’re anything but that. As you finished your food, she sweeps away your plate and shoves you dessert, giving you eyes saying just this once. 

As you eat your dessert happily, Emmett pulls you outside to play some baseball. Your brothers, Jasper and Edward laugh as you protest. But, the three of them only do it just to keep your mind busy, away from your heartbreak. 

They had heard you cry, utter the words of doubt and refuse to let you feel that again. Jasper tries to teach you how he does the bat trick, but you had failed miserably and hit yourself more than you liked. 

Emmett was pitching, and yet, every time you manage to hit the ball. It went either went straight to Emmett’s mitt or to Edward, who reassures you with more practice you’ll get better. The baseball game only stopped them Emmett accidentally let go off the ball too early, resulting to Alice saving you from getting smacked in the head with a concussion as she catches the ball, inches away from your shocked face.

“I think that’ll be enough, thank you!” Alice calls, throwing the ball to Emmett and pulling you indoors.

You wave away from your brothers, who snicker at Emmett. Alice brings you into your room, calling for an intervention for your wardrobe to be cleaned out. Despite your complains you help her, you throw away the clothes you didn’t want nor fitted in anymore - Alice threw some that wasn’t in your fashion sense either. You spent an hour or so, cleaning and dancing about in your room. 

Carlisle came home, Esme welcomed him and told him about your unfortunate breakup. Carlisle’s heart broke but was fixed when Esme had filled in the fact that your siblings were there to pick you up. So, when you were released from Alice’s grasp, you hid in your father’s office.

He laughs as you tuck yourself in the corner, a book in your lap, just wanting a few minutes to breath ad some peace and quiet.

“How are you feeling?” Carlisle asked, ruffling your hair and kissing your head, “Feeling better I presume?”

“Yeah,” You nodded, smiling brightly up at your dad, “I really do.”

“Well, you can always count on us, you don’t have to be alone.” Carlisle reminded you as you nodded, the sincerity written all over your face.

“I know, and I’m thankful for that.”

You love your siblings, and you never have to doubt their love for you. Because when you’re at your weakest, they’re always there to pick you right back up.

[nerdyvocals]

Hopper Is Alive

Spoilers for The Battle of Starcourt, read at your own risk

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So everyone knows the theory that Hopper is “the American” in the Russian Parisian shown in the end credit scene, but the show basically confirms that he is. How, you may ask? Let’s take a look at season one.

Chapter Eight: The Upside Down. The gang has split up. Joyce and Hopper head to the lab to look for Will, Nancy and Jonathan (and later Steve) go to the Byers’ house to lure in and kill the Demogorgon, while the kids hide out at the school and try to keep El safe. Mike kisses El, revealing his feelings for her, and they make plans to go to the Snowball. Plans they don’t get to follow through on.

The Bad Men show up, as does the Demogorgon. El takes down the human adversaries and uses the last of her strength to fight the Demogorgon while the others (specifically Mike) look on unable to help. It’s at this point that El realizes that she probably won’t make it through killing the Demogorgon. She turns around and says goodbye to Mike before finishing what she started. There’s no body, but she’s presumed dead.

Hopper leaves the Christmas party to hide food in a drop box in the woods. He leaves eggos, confirming for the viewers that he’s leaving them for El.

Now let’s look at Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt.

The gang has split up once again. Joyce, Hopper, and Murray are headed to the Russian lab to blow up The Key and destroy the gate. Steve, Robin, Erica, and Dustin head to the radio tower to navigate. Nancy and Jonathan are tasked with getting the kids to Murray’s bunker and keeping El safe, but Billy and then the Mindflayer trap them in the mall.

Murray splits from Joyce and Hop to set off an alarm that will give them a clear shot at the Key. During the calm before the storm, Hopper and Joyce finally confess their feelings and plan to go on a date when it’s all over. A plan they never get to follow through.

Terminator-guy comes out of nowhere and Hop fights him off, getting closer and closer to the Key. In the end, he kills the Terminator, and the Key lets off an electric surge that he can’t pass through. Realizing they’ve run out of time, he locks eyes with Joyce. He smiles and nods, telling her to go through with it. The Key is destroyed. There’s no body, but Hopper is presumed dead.

Three months later, in a Russian prison, an American prisoner is mentioned while a man in a different cell is dragged down several flights of stairs, locked in a cage, and left to the mercy of an adolescent Demogorgon. (It looks bigger than the Demo-Dogs but smaller than the Demogorgon in season one).

Let me list out the parallels here.

A character and their love interest confess their feelings and agree to go on a date

Said character fights an antagonist that showed up unexpectedly

They must sacrifice themselves to defeat the Big Bad of the season

Before doing so, they turn to their love interest to say goodbye

There were no remains of any kind

Months after the fact, there’s a sprinkle of hope: eggos on the woods, an American in Russia

Switch El and Mike with Hopper and Joyce and it’s the same scene. The same scene.

I wasn’t paying attention to these details and I’m too emotional at present to rewatch and confirm, but someone pointed out that when the Key in Russia blew up at the beginning of Suzie, Do You Copy?, those that were killed were reduced to a bloody goo, and supposedly the same thing happened to the Russians killed when the Hawkins Key exploded. But Hopper didn’t have any remains.

This last bit of evidence is a bit of a stretch, but I’m counting it: in an interview the cast confirmed (it was Gaten I believe) that “a main character would die this season”. A main character. Singular. We know Billy died because a body was left behind. No remains, it can’t be a confirmed death.

Now, onto my theory as to exactly how Hopper survived.

When the American army rushed in, we see the charred remains of the Key. None of the building was destroyed in the blast. Only people. This has led me to believe that it would only destroy organic material. Look at the scene placement. Hopper is standing between the Key and the gate. Say a piece of the machine flew off, hit him, and shielded him from the more certain-death part of the blast.

And what if the force of the explosion shoved him through the gate?

I don’t think the Russians already had the Demogorgon in Hawkins. They hadn’t been able to open a gate anywhere else at this time, Hawkins was the closest they had gotten so far, but there was nothing to suggest that they had captured something. There was the cage Erica and Dustin found, but it was empty. Plus, there would have been talk of something so huge through the lab, even if it was coded. This means they opened a hate elsewhere. That’s when they caught the Demogorgon. That’s when they found Hopper.

They couldn’t let him walk. He knew too much. But he knew much more about the Upside Down than they did. So they kept him in a prison in Russia.

I have no idea how they’ll bring him back in season four, but I am certain that he is alive.