#this all just comes back to my fic idea of charles and edwin dress up as each other but because theyre just magicing up the clothes

[the-ipre]

starting my sixth (?) dead boy detectives rewatch and very fun how charles also seems to have extradimensional pockets because he draws his cricket bat out from his inner coat pocket. also the way their clothes sizzle at the iron makes me wonder how much it is actually A Part of them as a projection of their Ghostly Self

[dont-offend-the-bees]

I Got Sunshine in a Bag

Something else a bit different today! I had a different fic idea, but when I started writing it it was already becoming a bit long and involved and tbh, I had such a busy/painy week last week that I really had to cut back on the fic time! So I whipped this one together in my phone notes app instead, short 'n sweet. It's audio script format-ish, which is something I like to play with sometimes. Very much skimping on the detail/sound design though as I really just wanted focus on the dialogue and get something out today! 1.2, T-rated, also available on Ao3. Thanks again, @painlandweek!

Silence. A hollow, echoing emptiness, broken by slow, deliberate breathing. Then, muffled as if from the other side of a wall, a voice:

EDWIN: Charles?

Beat.

EDWIN: Charles, where are you?

Another beat. Then, a clearer voice, hoarse and weary:

CHARLES: In here.

EDWIN: ... Oh. In the…?

CHARLES: Yeah.

EDWIN: I see.

Beat.

EDWIN: May I… come in?”

CHARLES: ...Yeah.

EDWIN: Right.

Fabric rustles.

EDWIN: Ah, if you wouldn’t mind…?

CHARLES: Oh, yeah, yeah. Here. Grab my hand.

Leather squeaks against leather. More rustling, and some slight huffing. The barrier breaks, and Edwin's voice returns clear and close.

EDWIN: Thank you. Hm. Have you redecorated?

CHARLES: Shoved some stuff around.

EDWIN: It’s very… homely.

CHARLES: (chuckles) Cheers.

Silence again, this time with two sets of breathing. Then, the slight creak of a weight sinking down onto leather cushions.

EDWIN: Charles. Are you… alright? You disappeared in quite a hurry.

CHARLES: 'M fine.

EDWIN: ...

CHARLES: Stop lookin’ at me like that.

EDWIN: Like what?

CHARLES: Like... (laughs) Like you can see right through me.

EDWIN: (lightly) I’ve no idea what you mean.

CHARLES: Right.

Beat.

CHARLES: I… I panicked. A bit.

EDWIN: Whatever for?

Beat.

CHARLES: ... You ever have to say something, or like, wanna say something, yeah, but… but you know once you say it, things’ll be different, and it’s fucking terrifying so instead you just… don’t?

EDWIN: I am… familiar with that anxiety, yes. But if there’s something you want to say to me, Charles, I promise I’ll do my utmost to take it in good faith. You need not fear repercussions. I don’t imagine there’s much you could tell me that would change my opinion of you.

CHARLES: I know. I don’t — I don’t even think things'll be bad different. If anything they’ll be good different. Great different. I’m just a proper coward.

Edwin tuts.

EDWIN: Charles. You are a great many things, but a coward is not one of them.

Charles chuckles, quietly. Edwin follows suit.

EDWIN: Hm. Now. Will you say what you wish to say?

Leather creaks, fabric rustles.

CHARLES: Edwin?

EDWIN: Yes, Charles?

CHARLES: You know I… I love you. Yeah?

EDWIN: What a question. Yes, Charles. I know that you love me. I’ve about thirty years of anecdotal evidence to the fact.

CHARLES: No — I mean, yeah, but what I'm tryna say is…

EDWIN: ?

CHARLES: You know I’m… I’m in love with you. Yeah?

Beat.

EDWIN: ...Oh.

CHARLES: Mm.

EDWIN: That is… a revelation.

CHARLES: News to me too, mate.

EDWIN: How long have you…?

CHARLES: Known? Not long. Week or so. How long have I loved you? Fuck, I don’t even… now that I know it’s there, it. It feels like it’s always been there. Know what I mean?

EDWIN: ... Yes. Yes, Charles. I most assuredly do.

Beat. Charles laughs, breathless.

CHARLES: Bloody hell. This is terrifying. How’d you just come out with this, when you thought of it?

EDWIN: There was some deliberation, believe it or not. I didn’t just declare my undying love to you on a whim.

CHARLES: Oh, so you planned it for the run from Hell, then?

EDWIN: There may have been some… last minute amendments to the plan. An element of improvisation, perhaps, when things seemed dire. One must adapt to changing circumstances. But there was a plan. I even dressed for the occasion, if you recall.

CHARLES: Wait. You got all dressed up for me?

EDWIN: Yes. Certainly took you long enough to notice.

CHARLES: Fuck. You were gonna tell me, weren't you? Before...

EDWIN: Before we were interrupted? Yes. And then I had no idea we would both make it out in one piece, and I... had to speak off the cuff.

CHARLES: (laughs) You’re proper mad. And just… just brave. Never met no one as brave as you, Eds.

EDWIN: (softly) Nor I you.

CHARLES: Pfft. Had to scurry off into a little hidey hole and have a panic before I even got up the guts to tell you.

EDWIN: But you did tell me.

CHARLES: ... Yeah. (laughs) Yeah, s’pose I did, didn’t I?

EDWIN: Charles?

CHARLES: Yeah?

EDWIN: May I kiss you, now?

CHARLES: Oh, Christ, yeah.

Kissing sounds, soft, tentative. Then a break, mutual heavy breathing.

EDWIN: ...Well.

CHARLES: Wow.

EDWIN: I’ve… wanted to do that for quite some time.

CHARLES: Me too. And I had no sodding idea. (laughs) How thick can you get?

EDWIN: Do stop being self-deprecating and kiss me again.

CHARLES: Now that, I can do.

Kissing again, louder, more intent.

EDWIN: Mmm…

CHARLES: God. (kiss) I love you. (kiss) I love you. (laughs) I fucking love you!

EDWIN: You don’t have to keep saying it.

CHARLES: Say it as many times as I bloody like, mate. ‘Specially if you keep grinning at me like that.

EDWIN: (chuckles) You’ve rather shown me up. I’ve only said it once, so far.

CHARLES: Got some catching up to do then, don’t you?

EDWIN: Mmm. (kiss) I love you.

CHARLES: Yeah? Still?

Beat.

EDWIN: (sarcastically)... No, Charles. I loved you for thirty years but I got bored of waiting for you to say it back after six months(!) Yes, I still bloody love you.

CHARLES: Just checking. Give us another kiss?

EDWIN: Well. If you insist.

More kissing, rustling fabric. Leather creaking, soft sighs.

EDWIN: Hm… Charles?

CHARLES: (dazed) Yeah, love?

EDWIN: Something’s, ah… something appears to be prodding me in the stomach...

CHARLES: What? Um… Oh! (chuckles) Forgot I had that.

A loud cascade of rattles.

CHARLES: ... What? (laughs) Don’t mean I’m not happy to see you.

EDWIN: Why on Earth do you have… what looks to be an authentic Aboriginal rainstick on your sofa?

CHARLES: Well. Never know when you might need one, do you?

Another chorus of rattles and a hollow wooden thump.

EDWIN: Naturally. Come to think of it, how did you even get this sofa in here?

CHARLES: It’s one of them flatpack types. Put the bits in, assembled it in here. Pretty straightforward.

EDWIN: Yes, but more to the point: why?

CHARLES: So I can… have panic attacks and snog fit boys on it?

EDWIN: Bring many fit boys back here, do you?

CHARLES: Nah. (quick kiss) Saving it for the best.

EDWIN: (dryly) How romantic.

CHARLES: Take you somewhere bit nicer for the second date. Promise.

EDWIN: Oh, it wasn't a complaint. Who wouldn’t wish to have a romantic tryst in a backpack?

CHARLES: Magic backpack. C’mon, now, be fair.

EDWIN: Very well, in a magic backpack.

CHARLES: I could do it up a bit more. Get some nice candles.

EDWIN: Lit candles? Is that wise?

CHARLES: Well, I’ve already got some lit molotov cocktails stashed over there somewhere.

Beat.

CHARLES: What? They don’t go off or anything. Time doesn’t really work the same in here. Saves me having to light ‘em in a hurry, don’t it?

EDWIN: Next you’ll be telling me you have them stored next to the gunpowder.

CHARLES: ...

EDWIN: Charles.

CHARLES: Demolition section, innit?

EDWIN: Charles.

CHARLES: (chuckles) Alright, alright. I’ll do a re-shuffle.

EDWIN: Thank you. Hm…

CHARLES: What? (fondly) You’ve got your scheming face on.

EDWIN: I was merely thinking a throw pillow or two might brighten this place up nicely.

CHARLES: Making yourself at home, are you?

EDWIN: Objections?

CHARLES: Nope.

EDWIN: Good. Now, I know we haven’t a floor so much as a nebulous, void-like expanse, but how do you feel about area rugs?

CHARLES: (laughs) Fuck. C'mere, you.

Kissing, gentle sighs and soft giggles fill the echoing expanse of the pocket dimension.

~~

Thank you so much for reading, do drop in and say hi in the reblogs/replies, I really love hearing from you! 💛 Should be a fic tomorrow that I'm pretty emo about, but it needs a little sprucing up first! Painland Week Prompt List

[fandoms-in-law]

Ghostly Assistance

Summary: In 1989 Charles and Edwin have only been friends a few months when Steve and Robin meet them, sent to England by El who insists someone in London can help them get Eddie back. Steve isn't pleased when the ghosts suggest it sounds like Eddie is dead but Edwin and Charles agree to help regardless.

Author's note: Anyone else wonder how the detectives got their office? Cause I do. Also yeah, my idea for today was angsty and that's basically never my vibe. Thank you that this is out of my brain now, it's over shadowed multiple of the fics I've been writing this month just by knowing it was coming up at some point. Also decided my idea doesn't work for questions the fic and Steve bring up quite vehemently.

My Idea prompt for today: Steve finds out he can see ghosts by meeting the Dead Boy Detectives, which would be fun if it didn't explain why he's been able to see and hang out with Eddie when no-one else can. They'd hoped it was some upside down thing instead

/\/\

Eddie was alive; he had to be. Steve could see him, talk to him, just not touch him, but that just meant he was trapped in the Upside Down and they needed to save him. It couldn’t mean he was dead, no matter how the kids worried.

If Steve was somehow seeing a ghost, he’d surely be seeing more of them around Hawkins. It would be ludicrous to suppose that out of everyone killed by the Upside Down, Russians and US experimentation, only Eddie had become a ghost.

His faith in Eddie being alive, and El’s certainty there were people in London who could help bring him back was everything pushing him onto the plane, and Robin coming along made it almost feel like a holiday for them. Time away with his best friend to help save the man that meant so much to them all. It felt more like the adventures the kids described from their DnD games than anything they’d gone through yet.

Three years of quiet from the Upside Down, of worrying that it might come back but being assured by Will and El something was preventing that, assured by Eddie that he’d let them know if something bad was about to happen, and they finally had names of people El was sure would help. Even if the threat of danger wasn’t gone from Hawkins it was at least quiet enough for the trip to happen. Especially when they ensured their return flights could be brought forward free of charge.

/\/\

The names El had given them weren’t in any London phone book Robin had found and she’d taken to leading them around London, as if hoping to just run into them somehow. Steve didn’t think that would work but he also hadn’t been allowed to keep the note El had written with the names of who they were looking for.

Just having it calmed some of Robin’s frantic energy over doing this so he hadn’t argued that much. He was beginning to want to know what the names were though, having forgotten since boarding their flight.

Just as he turned to ask her Steve realised he’d been about to walk into a very formally dressed boy and dodged out of the way, tugging Robin further in also as a second boy was talking to the first he’d seen. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” He apologised quickly as the odd looks he received.

“Steve?” Robin asked, sounding bewildered.

The formally dressed boy just nodded, “It’s fine.” He said, nodding and turning as if to carry on, but the second boy paused a moment, looking him over as if wanting to say more.

“Why are you talking to the air? What’s with yanking me here? Nobody is there.” Robin huffed, pulling herself out of his grip to gesture directly at the two boys.

“What?” Steve frowned now looking at her in confusion, “Oh, have a good day,” He called after the boys, focusing back on his friend, “The boys we just passed? They’re right there, still.”

She shook her head, following his gesture again, “Nope, nobody other than us on this street.”

“I don’t know what prank you’re trying to pull, Robs, but they’re blatantly there.” He huffed, gesturing again as if that would force her to stop denying it.

The second boy, more casually dressed, made a thoughtful noise, “You think it’d help to tell him we’re ghosts?”

Steve turned at that, eyes narrowed and looking over them again. “I’d know if I could see ghosts. Hawkins must have tons by this point.”

“Who mentioned ghosts, Steve?” Robin gripped his upper arm, looking around confused and concerned now.

“He did!” Steve repeated, gesturing back to the pair.

She shook her head, “Nobody is there.”

“Where is Hawkins and why would there be a lot of ghosts there?” The formally dressed boy had pulled out a notebook and was looking at him intrigued.

“Just admit is Eddie somehow got here.” Robin carried on, talking over him as if she couldn’t hear him at all and Steve was beginning to believe she wasn’t joking or just acting like she couldn’t.

He still glared at her and the boys. “It’s not Eddie and Hawkins, Indiana, America. The amount of death and shit that’s gone on in that town in the last 6 years, there’d be more than enough ghosts I’d know I could see them before now.” He huffed, but held up a hand when he could see another question about to be asked, “And Eddie is someone stuck in the Upside Down who I can see like you, she can’t and do not suggest he’s anything but alive.”

The casually dressed boy laughed, “Mate, you named somewhere the Upside Down? What is it? A pub?”

“Also I would assume Eddie is, in fact, dead, if as you say, you see him like us while others cannot.” The formal boy added.

Steve didn’t reply to either of them, turning to head back the way they’d come as quickly as he could while still walking.

Robin hesitated, looking around where they’d been before jogging to catch up. “Steve? Steve, Don’t storm off. I’ll get lost! Or you will.” She called, only pausing for a second after catching him up to place a comforting hand on his back, “Did the ghosts suggest Eddie’s dead?”

“He’s not dead.” He insisted.

She didn’t reply for a moment, looking torn between agreeing or trying to comfort him about that being a possibility. He heard in that moment the formal boy remarking “What an unusual couple. Charles? Why are you following them?”

“Mate, hey, sorry Edwin said that. Sounds like you’ve been through some stuff. We’re trying to help people where we can. Maybe if you tell us more we could help you, or your friend, Eddie, was it?” The boy called, catching up to them easily and earnestly meeting Steve’s eyes as he offered.

Robin sighed, nodding at something in Steve’s expression though he couldn’t guess what or how it’d changed with the boy offering to help them. “I believed you Eddie is alive before now so I’m sticking with that. But seeing ghosts? That’s pretty cool, right? Bet Dustin would call it metal.”

“No Robin, I don’t think so and doubt Dustin would either when they’re saying Eddie’s dead. Also they’re still here, offering to help.” Steve grumbled. He didn’t want help from people saying Eddie was dead.

“Okay, then listen, they’re willing and the first people we’ve had actually talk to us. All El gave us was 2 names and nothing else to find these people she thinks can help. Can you at least ask them about that?” She suggested gently.

“In a city like London it’s unlikely we’ll be able to assist, but I suppose we can try,” The formal boy, Edwin? Agreed with a heavy breath as if against letting his friend offer their help.

Steve glanced at him for a moment, “Thank you, except, Robs, you kept the note. I know one name began Ed but wasn’t Edward and the other might’ve been Charlie? Charlotte? Something charred but I haven’t seen the note or been told the names since we boarded the flight.”

As Robin huffed and muttered about having said them so many times while trying to find them and riffling through her jacket pockets to find the note, the casually dressed boy, Charles?, grinned, “Your flight from America? Yeah, I’d have forgotten them too. Guessing whomever you’re looking for isn’t in a phone book either.”

“She checked that as soon as she could with no luck.” Steve sighed as Robin half cheered, pulling the note out.

“Oh! Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland! That’s what El wrote.”

The names got a reaction from the pair talking to Steve and given the names he’d heard so far he could guess why. Edwin was smirking and Charles burst into laughter, “You’re kidding. That’s aces. Glad I stopped you storming off.”

“Quite so Charles. We’re the people you’re looking for apparently.” Edwin agreed, before his brow furrowed. “I would invite you to join us somewhere but Charles and I don’t currently have a residence. Perhaps we could reconvene at your hotel?”

Steve shrugged, “Guess we’ll have to. How would ghosts get a residence, anyway?” He asked offhand, before turning to Robin, “El asked us to find these ghosts. Apparently your method of randomly walking around London worked.”

“I told you it – So I flew all this way to help you find them and I can’t even see them? Why didn’t El ensure you got all the information instead of me?” Robin began to gloat before pausing in frustration.

“Haunting where they died most often, however neither of us are inclined to remain at the school we died within.” Edwin answered, gesturing to Steve for him to lead the way.

Steve nodded at the answer before replying to Robin’s question, “Probably because you were insisting on coming with me despite being very anxious over the idea of flying. El knows we share everything with each other eventually anyway. We’re going back to the hotel now, come on.”

The walk back was taken over by Robin wondering aloud about ghosts and occasionally Charles or Edwin explaining something more so Steve could share it.

/\/\

It had been a joke the last time they’d helped a ghost solve their unfinished business and been gifted something in return; a bag that Charles had been told to be careful with since it could store many things but also injure those removing items too harshly. He’d suggested trying to solve people problems for payment as their plans for their life and getting an office to do it from.

Edwin was wondering if that joke wasn’t as absurd as he’d thought now, listening to these two humans explain their friend’s situation as well as why Steve was so certain he was alive even 3 years after he was last seen in his body.

It could certainly give them a place to form a reference library for these sorts of problems.

“What about the ghosts, Robin?” Steve exclaimed. She’d been repeating the facts about ghosts that had been shared again, comparing it to Eddie but he clearly had his focus on a different detail. “I can listen and repeat what these boys are saying all you like, but why is there only Eddie even slightly ghost like in Hawkins?”

Edwin cleared his throat, “If I may, you might not have recognised ghosts in your town as such. Perhaps-” He broke off at the glare shot to him.

“You don’t know Hawkins. I can name 5 unjustified deaths without blinking and at least half I know would have unfinished business or a reason to stay. That’s ignoring the kids and that lab which killed or experimented on them until their deaths. If Eddie is a ghost, which I absolutely don’t believe, where are the rest? Why isn’t Barb still trying to reach Nance to ensure her boyfriend is good enough, or Chrissy, I don’t know, haunting Jason’s old mob? Why aren’t El’s siblings doing anything to show they’re there and mad over the guy who killed them still surviving and plotting?” The rant burst out of Steve and frankly left Edwin with more questions, enough that he stood back and started noting down what seemed to be important deaths or locations in Hawkins.

“And why is El also saying Eddie is alive.” Robin added quietly, as if coming to a realisation over Steve’s frustration.

Steve clicked at her, “Remembered that have you? El doesn’t lie.”

“Mates, I think you need to actually tell us what’s gone on in Hawkins. Just talking about Eddie clearly isn’t enough information.” Charles said, gaping slightly between the pair. “What was that about a lab killing kids?”

The story of Hawkins was disturbing, but Edwin was still dubious over the help they wanted. Moving to another country to help, even temporarily, seemed to be an extreme decision. Steve and Robin had barely finished their tale when he stood. “Charles, a word?” He gestured to the closet, deciding it was best to at least remain with the pair until their decision was made.

“Are you truly considering going to America to help these people? They’ve already got plenty of assistance from what they’ve said.”

Charles nodded, “And are getting nowhere with the issue. Sounds like they’re basically just waiting for it to kick off again instead of facing the guy causing all the deaths.” He gestured to Edwin with a grin, “And who better to help than the man who in a matter of months has gained more knowledge about magic and supernatural beings than most ghosts we’ve met? Besides, I know you’re curious. You wanna prove yourself right over Eddie as well as figure out why they haven’t got more ghosts around. Come on.”

Edwin fought the smile that wanted to break through. “No I-”

“Did you just gesture that they’ve hidden in the closet from us?” Robin’s voice came from the room outside the closet.

Steve huffed as if he’d tried to keep her quiet. “Edwin isn’t on board with coming back with us yet. Charles is convincing him.”

“In the closet? Are they-?” Her words drifted of, clearly implying something from the quiet groans Charles and Steve let out, Charles shaking his head.

“Don’t think so and definitely not currently. Best friends like us, I’d guess.” Steve replied after a thump that sounded like he’d shoved her lightly back.

Robin laughed, “Or two boys in a closet.”

“Convenient place to argue with the illusion of privacy. You think we should try that at home?”

“Nah, imagine how insufferable the kids would get if we started going into closets together all the time?”

Charles laughed, meeting Edwin’s eyes, “Guess Steve could hear us too.”

“Clearly. And You’re correct. I’m curious, but what if helping reveals us to death, or puts us at risk of whatever has prevented ghosts from forming in Hawkins?” Edwin returned to their conversation. “Or worse, since I’ve already encountered information on things that destroy ghosts entirely.”

“Wait!” Steve called, yanking the door open, “Death exists? Did I hear that right? Would you prefer we try and contact him directly?”

Edwin rolled his eyes, “Her and no, that would be the height of stupidity. Please close the door and refrain from further eavesdropping.”

Steve barely nodded as he did so, already turned to Robin. “Robs, Death is female! I wonder what she’s like?”

After a moment to hear the two friends start gossiping over death together Edwin and Charles finally continued their discussion over whether they should help, hopeful that Steve wasn’t listening still.

/\/\

“Do you think they’ll really get us a place?” Charles asked. They had decided to wait at London airport for the day or so it would take Robin and Steve to get home and were wondering over something Robin had offered. “Would be brills if they could even get it in London.”

Edwin wasn’t quite so convinced or excited by the thought. “We’ll have to wait and see, Charles. Although I would be grateful for a place to collate our research and cases.”

/\/\

“Are you the pair El said would help?” Eddie hesitated, ready to run from the two boys who’d appeared through the mirror in his trailer bathroom. There wasn’t a gate forming at least so he didn’t worry about the Upside Down being pushed to merge with Hawkins again.

The first boy to come through paused, looking him over. “Yes we are and despite El and Steve’s insistence you definitely seem to be a ghost.” He said.

“He’s Edwin. I’m Charles. Are you Eddie?” Charles greeted, having straightened up from where he’d fallen.

“Yes and no, I’m not dead. Vecna doesn’t let ghosts form. Come on, I’ll point out where my body is to you.” Eddie gestured, leading the way out. “I don’t think he can see me, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”

Edwin kept his voice hushed while replying, “You’re friends were beginning to think Vecna is dead.”

“Annoyingly he isn’t. I was hoping they’d believe that if it stayed quiet for long enough though. They’ve not been relaxing and have only just figured out patrols that don’t leave everyone a bit sleep deprived. I’m keeping him here for as long as I can.” Eddie explained, crouching behind some trees where they could see one of the gates El had mentioned needing to close each time they reopened.

“How?” Charles asked, seeing Eddie’s body moving to go through the gate and being pulled back somehow.

Eddie grunted, putting effort into yanking Vecna away from the gate. “Whatever Vecna did to kick me out of my body still lets me refuse to let it leave here. I go and see Steve or El if he’s distracted and I’m certain he won’t try to go through for a while.”

“It’s difficult to do.” Edwin observed. “This is a very unusual occurrence but then I still don’t understand El’s powers either.”

“Bet I could beat him though.” Charles offered. “If he’s got a body of his own around here, that is.”

Eddie snickered a little, “Yeah, please don’t kill me going after him.”

Charles nodded, “Course, Mate, would hurt someone Steve likes so much. You okay if we go back to him now though, do some research and planning to see if we can help?”

“Just keep me up to date on any plans.” Eddie waved them off, staying close to the gate just in case his body tried breaking through again.

/\/\

Steve was fuming, heartbroken, and an entire mix-up of emotions he couldn’t break down enough to understand. He was also staring at Edwin and Charles as if they were speaking Russian until Robin stepped in front of him. “Steve? Steve? Are Edwin and Charles back? What are they saying? Your reaction is scaring the kids.”

“Vecna took Eddie’s body. I’m going to kill him.” He blinked back to himself, going to grab his nail bat from the hall closet.

“No, put the nail bat down.” Dustin immediately jumped up, trying to tug the bat from his grip. “You aren’t killing anyone until Eddie has his body back, whatever that means.”

“Steve, you can’t go after him now.” Robin appeared at his side again. “You’d risk killing Eddie yourself if you did.”

Charles looked around at the various people there, focusing on Will and El as the other two who could see him. “Does this Vecna guy have a body?” He asked.

“Yes, we’ve gone against him before and he was in it then.” Steve growled out. “So let me in there to beat it to shreds. Kill the body and he’ll have to leave Eddie’s, right?”

El shook her head. “He’s possessing Eddie’s now, possibly because it’s less connected and stronger than his own without the vines.” She mused.

“It reduces your ability to find him too. I guess that’s why your early attempts to connect and fight him mentally failed, but if you faced him, went to meet him at a gate or something, could you get him out of Eddie’s body? Send him back to his own? If these two can find his own body and like blow it up at the same time, even better.” Steve suggested, looking between El and the ghosts imploringly, seemingly unconcerned that he’d gone from wanting to be the one to kill Vecna to planning for others to do the most damage in an instant.

Edwin shared a glance with Charles before nodding, “An astute plan, Steve. El, are you able to do that?”

El barely managed to agree before Mike interrupted, “Please tell me one of those ghosts had a better plan you’re agreeing to than the nonsense Steve just spewed.”

“Edwin said the plan was smart.” El simply replied.

“Steve? Smart?” Mike scoffed, “Are you sure that’s what he said?”

Watching Edwin slam one of the research books nearest Mike shut and the boy jumping away from it had Steve and a few other snickering, but soon sobering.

El waited for Edwin to finish his repetition of the praise before relaying it for everyone to hear, “Edwin says of course. Steve’s the one noticing the details that have helped form a viable plan to resolve Eddie’s situation and the threats over our town. Charles also thinks the plan is brills and is asking whether he needs to get explosives himself or we can provide some.”

“Great.” Mike groaned, but was called to start planning by Hopper and Nancy who were ready to fine tune Steve’s idea now someone had one.

/\/\

Hopper stared at Steve and Robin, bewildered and obviously questioning their sanity. “You want to buy an office, in England, for some ghosts who helped you with this? When since the plan to get rid of Vecna and save Eddie succeeded there’s been countless hauntings here?” He listed, breaking each question off sharply.

“I can help with most of those and El is working through the rest. Half of them just need telling what happened with their deaths and that the man orchestrating them all is dead himself now, definitely in hell to please them more.” Steve reasoned.

“Besides, we only asked Charles and Edwin to help us save Eddie and we did promise to get them their own place in payment.” Robin continued. “And if you don’t cosign to confirm it’s legit, Steve’ll just fake his father’s signature and make the Harrington accounts cover everything in case Edwin and Charles struggle at all.”

Steve had been ready to continue their arguments but paused at that. “Actually Hop, you’re right. We should do that as the first option. Charles has said he’ll write still anyway.”

“Brills.” Charles muttered behind them. “Please tell me your parents are rich assholes who never show up?”

“Correct in one. Let’s get you two back to England so we can set up your office.” Steve nodded, turning around. “Eddie’s coming with us and we’re going to have a few days holiday to sight see while we’re there too.”

Charles grinned and Edwin had a small smile also. “You really are being very generous to do this for us.”

“And you were very generous in agreeing to help us and everything you’ve done.” Steve mimicked his speech a little, smiling to show it was just teasing. “Seriously though, this doesn’t feel like we’re doing enough. Are you sure an office space is what you want?”

“Indeed. Along with all the games the other boys are insisting on you bringing back with you I’m sure it will be plenty enough.” Edwin confirmed. He knew the games being given to them wasn’t purely out of kindness; most of the kids had parents pushing them to clear out games rarely played with, but they seemed like a pleasant way to pass an evening at least.