#this is one of The best episodes this season no cap

[doctor-cunt-phd]

Holy fuck episode 19. Christopher Judge you write a MEAN episode

[mortalscience]

ten caps per episode - Law and Order Criminal Intent - s01e20 - Badge

Bad guy is trying to hack the NYPD system and sees an image of handcuffs closing while a police siren sound plays. Goren and Eames burst in the room. Goren: That’s your virtual arrest. Eames: And this is your actual one.

[onewordshy]

Wish I could bottle the feeling this gives me

[leupagus]

Guys I Might Have Three Nickels

I've been watching "Agatha Christie's Marple" for the past few days and it's pretty good! Marple adaptations all tend to have a better caliber of actors than a lot of bog-standard mystery shows (looking at you, "Madame Blanc"), and while Joan Hickson's Marple is right up there with David Suchet's Poirot and Jeremy Brett's Holmes as "literally can never be beaten, these are the best anyone's done it," both Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie do a fantastic job as Miss Marple.

Then I got to "The Secret of Chimneys," Season 5 episode 2

and guys

Guys

So there's a murder of a viscount, like there is, and this detective Finch rolls up and immediately spots Miss Marple (in her NIGHTIE! standing at the window like some kind of hussy, honestly Jane) and doffs his cap to her with that little smile that makes you go, "huh."

At this point I've watched a couple dozen Miss Marple episodes where she goes through detectives like wildfire and this guy's supposed to be a "*guru*" so I'm expecting some battle of the egos or something and like, Stephen Dillane is great! But bleh, I might have to skip this one.

Then my dude asks Miss Marple to SHOW HIM THE BODY, with a pleased little smile at her as she goes "uhhhhhhhh but my knitting?" (He even does that thing where you use someone's honorific and wait for them to give you their name, and that's when I was like "ohhh this bitch knows exactly who she is.") What follows is what I can only describe as a meet-cute in the secret passageway where the viscount was shot (and in fact the body is STILL THERE) and where Miss Marple literally asks the police equivalent of "is there a Mrs Finch" and he looks at her like this:

At which point I'm like "ohhh my dude not only knows who she is, he deliberately came here without a sergeant so he could draft her," and sure enough he just starts...handing her pieces of evidence like "hey babe can you decipher this note for me thanks love you" while Miss Marple is like, "this approval and camaraderie coming from a cop... not sure if want."

Next is a series of romantic strolls through the gardens while they discuss murder, during which Finch reveals his undying love I mean his research into Miss Marple and the "dozen case files" of her previous exploits that he's collected like some deranged fanboy. Miss Marple responds to this by BLUSHING LIKE A SCHOOLGIRL and stammering about how pish tosh it's nothing really, and I couldn't find a gif of it but he's staring at her like this:

Yeah I bet u r tempted

He also makes a half-hearted attempt at negging her "amateur sleuth" status, only to then immediately assure her that he makes like, so much money being a big fancy detective and can keep her in all the yarn and garden seed she could ever desire.

There's also a late-night tryst at the compost pile right after Finch has been (mildly) poisoned and Miss Marple is like "men are so weak" as she roots through the garbage for clues.

Not how he wanted their first date to go D:

The next morning there's another murder which: bummer, but also allows the two of them to read love letters together and for Finch to give Miss Marple the following look as she explains how secret assignations among lovers can "quicken the ardor":

Miss Marple then goes onto solve the murders and btw hands over the priceless diamond that's been literally missing for two literal decades that she found in her spare time. The entire scene features Finch looking at her like this:

After the dust settles, Finch and Miss Marple have a lovely moment where he calls himself "another one of your casualties," then super casually mentions that he's probably going to have to go on assignment to use the diamond in a daring international espionage case and I can't decide if he's asking Miss Marple to go with him or simply trying to show her that he is cool and smart and would make an excellent wife, but either way the episode ends with her turning him down and Jane, we need to talk about your priorities.

Anyway I've already written 2K about the subsequent 10-year epistolary romance these two have following this episode because I make poor choices.

[armageddon-generation]

Empire of Death was bad and cemented several fundemental flaws in this season.

I watched this in the theatre, and the contrast between everyone's excitement before Empire, and their universal disappointment leaving the theatre was super disheartening. I'm gonna try to articulate my problems with episode, and how they're linked to fundenental structural issues of this season.

SPOILERS BELOW:

Sutekh

The moment the UNIT characters died the story was robbed of any stakes. (Also? Kate and Ibrahim?? During Pride month?? Disgusting)

Sutekh was pointless, big CGI spectacle who was barely there. Saying he's been latched onto the TARDIS since Pyramids of Mars was such an asspull. Why couldn't he have latched on during Wild Blue Yonder? wouldn't that make much more sense??

You're telling me the guy who holds all life in contempt is invested enough in learning the identity of Ruby's mum he willingly reveals himself??

And then they defeat him by dragging him through the Vortex just like before, which it's been explicitly stated *didn't work* last time? He just *lets* Ruby leash him??

The 'death of death is life' bit, and the idea of the Doctor representing life as a Ying to Sutekh's Yang, is a cool concept just jammed in there with no real buildup or depth.

The issue is bringing Sutekh back takes so much effort- a literal, clunky clipshow of Pyramids of Mars, a whole episode spent building up to the reveal of a silly anagram entirely unrekated to Sutekh's previous appearance. And it just... amounts to nothing. What a silly way to cap off a season meant to be jumping-on point for brand-new viewers.

Mel was just takingup space. Pointless.

Ruby's Mother

I don't have a problem with the *concept* of Ruby's mum being normal. I really like the idea thematically. The execution was terrible.

First of all it leaves so many unanswered questions (why the snow? Why was time changing? Why was she shadowed? Literally just for the sake of the mystery-box?) and represents the worst thing about this new era- RTD using fantasy logic to handwave any logic at all, and just do whatever he wants without properly justifying it.

Second, I *hate* how easy and simple and neat the reunion is. Ruby seems incapable of getting angry with anyone. She has never once argued with 15, or Carla, or anyone besides that one moment in 73 Yards. She has never expressed any kind of negative feeling towards her mother for abandoning her. And it's fine for her to reach that conclusion! It's just bizzare we never see Ruby struggle with her feelings beyond the shallow goal of wanting to find her.

(Also Carla? Has nothing to say?? Just welcomes that woman in with basically no comment? Carla is a 2D cutout of a person, used as a plot device and otherwise relegated to the single character trait of I Love My Daughter. The children yearn for the ilk of Jackie Tyler, Sylvia Noble, even Francine Jones.)

15 & Ruby

The emotion behind 15 & Ruby's split felt entirely unearned because we've never seen their bond develop. They never argue, never disagree, Ruby hasn't learned anything about herself or grown or changed. The closest we got to that is 73 Yards, which was undone. She was already brave and kind and musical and sure she loved her adoptive family when we met her in Church on Ruby Road.

Similarly, 15 tells us Ruby encouraged him to talk about family in a way he never has, but that was in what, two moments across the season? And they seemed random, unrelated to Ruby being with him. New viewers will assume 15 is just that open anyway- he was discussing fatherhood with a dead man's hologram- and old viewers assumed trauma-dumping was just a new trait of 15's personality, not Ruby-specific.

The problem is we're told Ruby & 15 are best friends but it isn't earned. I liked 15 crying initially but both he and Ruby do it so much (15 cries about 5 times in this one episode) it loses its impact and I'm becoming numb to it. There is no contrast, no downtime.

Season Structural Issues

I think the biggest problem is Season 1's storytelling priorities. It's much more interested in selling *the show* (look at our big budget! And guest stars! And how flexible our format is! Musical episode! The Beatles as props! Bottle episode! Indie folk-horror! Black Mirror! Gay Bridgerton!) it forgot to put effort into developing and investing us in its characters. I liked a lot of the individual stories this year but in retrospect a lot of them feel like they're wasting space that needed to go to essential character and theme setup.

These skewed priorities, combined with the cut down episode count, really impact the pacing of the season. Ruby and 15 were barely together! Even in Rogue they were seperated for most of the story!! We only loop back to a flashback of 15 meeting Carla in Rogue!

This is made worse by the baffling insistence on a 45-minute runtime. We know key sequences were cut from almost every episode, with highlights including:

The Gobin King invading Ruby's flat and her banishing him with scratchcards in The Church on Ruby Road: Her missing 'companion saves the day' moment!

Refrence to the Toymaker in The Church on Ruby Road, which was itself referenced in The Devil's Chord. 'I told you about the Toymaker when we first met' sir, objectively you did not.

The TARDIS jukebox playing the Sugarbabes' Push The Button in the opening scene of Space Babies, hastily cut around in the final edit. This is the setup of a running joke still in the episode, and part of the story's climax. The first encounter with the Bogeyman was also longer, with 15 taking particular interest in its skin

Extended scenes in Abbey Road from The Devil's Chord, including an apparently significant speaking role for Cilla Black, according to her annoyed actress.

Cut dialogue from The Devil's Chord explaining the musoical number was caused by Maestro's power lingering, and that banishing them undid everything they'd done. Fans inferred thos based on the rules established in The Giggle, but again, new fans haven't seen The Giggle and were left clueless.

An opening sequence for The Legend of Ruby Sunday where 15 & Ruby meet Susan as a nanny in 1947 America, a blue-skinned waitress, and an astronaut meeting a colony of giant, sentient ants. At the end of this we actually see 15 decide to go to UNIT for help. In the broadcast version he just sorta shows up.

Really what Empire of Death exposed to me is how emotionally hollow the season was. I enjoy the exoperimentalism, but not at the cost of character. And then in the finale Russell reverts to almost a parody of his RTD1 finales, with the nonsense logic and lack of consequences. All the worst bits of Last of the Time Lords and The Giggle put in a blender.

[sleepybbie]

#TRENDING ! | nagi x reader

summary: your and nagi’s name seemed to be in the main headline of hashtags on twitter when you woke up one day…

proplayer!nagi x idol!fem!reader

warning! mentions of threats and hate comments,

a/n: this fic is based on episode 9 of season 2 of aggretsuko on netflix when they found out retsuko and tadano were dating TwT

it really wasn’t tensional.

you were feeling lonely, and so did he. nagi followed what you told him. he thought if he were to hide through his identity with a cap, mask, and some glasses, then he wouldn’t be easily recognized by the public, and then he would be able to meet up with you in secret with no one to disturb you two. go at his place, exchange kisses and words of affirmation, cuddle and have your time together.

the pro football player, going out with one of the most beautiful known idols in japan. basically you. it was a death sentence at just that.

ever since your manager, sara, allowed you to date someone after the success of your first solo album to be released, you had never been more happy to tell nagi the news, in which he too was delighted, kissing the temple of your head after. finally, you don’t have to hide your phone every time she checks.

your manager says that if this information were ever to be turned in public, there’s a chance that your career would have a turn for the worse, and that you have to keep it private.

fans are crazy, she says. and she wasn’t wrong.

you received a couple of threats from letters you thought were fan letters, and even some during your concerts, in which they were gladly taken away by security and were banned from ever attending to your concerts. being famous is scary, but nagi had became your comfort after all of that. that’s why you dated him. surprisingly, you two have already been dating for 3 years, in secret from your manager even. only his best friend reo knows about your relationship and so as your two closest friends. they were amazing at keeping secrets.

you promised your manager that you would try your best to keep a low profile when going out, using the same method every famous people do when walking outside in public—which is wearing a disguise.

since the two of you were famous, you told nagi that the best disguise is just a simple cap, mask, sunglasses and an attire that would look plain. nagi took these suggestions in mind, and used them one day during a rest day. you were used to wearing disguises, so you had a usual waiting for you in your hotel room. you had finished doing a song rehearsal, and nagi messaged to you if you wanted to go out on a date for your free day.

without thinking, you said ‘yes.’

maybe you should always take your manager’s words in your head all the time. and the thing is, she had no idea you were dating him.

wednesday, 11:02am

sara sat down on the computer chair as she slammed the finished documents over her desk, stretching her arms up in the air along with a tired sigh escaping her lips. she just finished her paperwork for your album, talking to various producers who’ll help you out and such, making schedules and plans afterwards.

thank goodness it was a rest day, you were probably busy anyways and she doesn’t want to do anymore work for she only messaged to you about the upcoming rehearsal you were having on friday and to prepare. and that was that. the stress she was having at the moment irked her.

“it’s like seeing my old self…ugh, my back hurts..”

without saying anything more, she opened her computer, google, then checked out the latest news. maybe a little drama could spice up her boring day..

“new trial; kiinomori, says not guilty,” boring.

“a car crash happening after a cos event, yesterday,” do car crashes always happen now?

“japan’s new technology shocks the tokyo community,” eh, not interested

“wanted: extra line artist,” why are you even looking for help here on the news website??!

‘even the news are starting to become uninteresting…well at least the crime rates aren’t going up any sooner..’ she thoughts to herself, clicking on the mouse to see if there were any particular headlines that might catch her interest. maybe about you would be nice.

however, something stopped her from scrolling.

“photo of japan’s football genius and japan’s most beloved idol’s lovey-dovey date.”

her eyes widen a little. no, that was impossible. you wouldn’t find a boyfriend that soon, right? and a football player? no, far too impossible..it just might be another idol, yeah. maybe even a colleague? yeah, that must be it.

steadily, her mouse clicked on the news page, and in an instant it opened.

“are the two going out as friends? or something more?” was what the article stated in the first sentence. sara took a good look on the photos, and all she could see was what she recognized to be the genius nagi seishiro’s back, his white hair flowing out of the cap on his head, holding a lemon tea drink in his hand, and the other in his pockets. nagi seishiro, the proclaimed genius football player who participated in the blue lock project? dating? sara barely knew anything about him, but woah.

beside nagi, was a girl smaller than him. sara couldn’t see her face, so she went forward to scroll down for more pictures.

that moment when she continues to scroll down on her computer, eyes intensely trying to take a good look on the photos took by the secret paparazzi, they kept only taking shots of nagi’s face, not even bothering to let the viewer look at who he’s with. her patience was almost running out…

that was until…she finally identified who the footballer was with.

time pauses, the tranquil silence was eerie, and sara felt her heart stop at the moment. jaw dropped, eyes wide, and the cup of coffee she bought at starbucks almost fell to the ground, a drip of the coffee falling on her desk.

“y…y/n..?”

then the whole public went on fire.

“WHATTTTTTTTTT???????!!”

“EEEEHHHH????”

“HUHHH????”

“HAHH?????”

“FOR REAL?????”

“HWHSHUHHHH???”

“OH MY GOOODDDDDDDD??????”

the article, with now over 2 million views, ended the statement with, “will the two get married soon??”

“a-aha..ahaha..they’re joking right?? y/n with t-that guy..? ahaha..ahaha..” one was on the verge of insanity from astonishment.

“PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER, MA’AM!”

the number one trending hashtag on twitter, over 400 brand new tweets not long after the news broke out in public. your closest friends, saw the article. and not long after they tried their best to contact you to no avail.

“you’ve seen the article?”

“yes, i have. have you seen the way y/n’s instagram has been popping up after?” one of your friends showed the other on her phone screen, your verified instagram page. it seems your followers had multiplied after the article was posted online. from 30k to now 70k followers. your friends were able to read the newly added comments from your last post. the other comments are mostly from the good fans, showing their support for you and nagi’s relationship, and some were mostly from those nagi fangirls in which they despise the most..

‘found her lol.’

‘nagi could do better lmao.’

‘she’s not even that good looking.’

‘she’s just attention seeking lol.’

yeah, they definitely despise them. since not long, the two were preparing their bot accounts, about to fight them back.

even the team blue lock members’ were able to read the article, jaws dropped on the floor in surprise. how did the lazy genius managed to pull a famous idol like you?

“wha…what is…what’s this..?”

“holy crap, so this is why they’re trending?”

“i…i’m shocked.”

“woah! nagichi is actually dating y/n? how lucky, aha! they’re trending!”

“is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“so this is what that guy’s keeping away from us, huh?!”

“i didn’t even know he was dating someone. better yet, someone famous.”

“is this also why he’s late for practice?”

“it’s almost 3 million views now, they really are taking over the headlines.”

“wait, since they’re dating can i ask nagi if i can get an autograph from her??”

“shut up, igaguri.”

your friends were almost screaming at the end of the line when you answered their call, curled up over your bed and a little shaking, covering your naked body in the blankets with a sleepy nagi next to you. this wasn’t intentional, it really wasn’t. you didn’t know, you didn’t know that there was a secret paparazzi nearby. now you’re scared of what your manager might say to you after this. will she force you two to break up? or never see each other again? make you say you’re just friends with him? no, no, anything but that.

you thought the morning routine for this day would be blissful, with yesterday’s love making was comforting and full of passion, and now you’re awoken with news about you and nagi’s relationship now being in public.

“Y/N! YOU AND NAGI ARE TRENDING.”

“y-yeah, i know..” your voice was hush, like a whisper. you felt afraid of what might happen.

“y/n, are you alright over there? we can come over if you want. is nagi there with you right now?”

“n-no, you guys don’t have to..and yeah, he’s with me right now...’s just asleep..” you replied.

“it’s insane. it hasn’t even been hours and you two are—

your other friend’s voice has been cut off quick, “you don’t have to remind that to her..! listen, y/n, don’t be scared ok? i know it’s scary, but stay strong. trust me, that’ll get over soon.”

their voices are a little muffled on the end of the line, probably fighting over the phone.

the moment you felt movement beside you, you were quick to turn your head to see nagi already waking up from his sleep. great, now how are you going to tell him?

“guys, i’ll call you back later. i have to talk to sei about it. bye now.” then the call dropped. when you looked back over to nagi, his eyes were half lidded, white locks covering his right eye as he rubbed them awake.

“morning..”

“ah…morning, sei…uh..” you nervously avoided eye contact, fingers padding through your phone to look for the article about you and your now public boyfriend that went viral online. nagi tried to pull your figure close to him, arms wrapping over your stomach with a mumble, “it’s so early…hey y/n…go back to sleep with me..”

“it’s 11am now, sei..don’t you have practice today..?”

“ah, you’re right…what a bother..too tired from last night..” fuck, how are you supposed to tell him now? it’s now or never.

“hey, sei…i think you should see this..”

“huh?”

passing your phone over to your boyfriend, you anxiously played with your fingers as you can spot his pupils reading the article displayed over the screen, lazily. it took him some time to finish, his thumb scrolling down to continue reading before nagi lays the phone down between the both of you and groans. “ahh…what a pain. how did they even manage to recognize us? ‘thought my disguise was good..”

“paparazzis are terrifying..” was what you replied. in a few moments, you sighed, covering your face with both of your palms, letting go of the blanket that was covering your upper chest. “what should we do? this is bad…if sara sees this then we’re done for…how did this happen?? oh please, i don’t wanna leave you, sei..”

“didn’t she say you’re allowed to be in a relationship?”

“yeah, as long as i keep it private..!” you say, almost yelling at him. nagi stares at you, hugging the pillow he’s laying underneath. realization hits you, then you covered your mouth, embarrassed. “ah, sorry…i didn’t mean to yell at you..”

“ts fine…” he responds. you hid your face beneath your palms again, expression filled with nothing but worry and little fear. your insta’s been popping up, more followers were added and even more comments popping at your last post. and when you looked over to twitter to see your name trending over the hashtags, the whole world fell down over your shoulders.

“hey, y/n…look at me.”

you couldn’t.

“y/n. hey, let me see you..” nagi who was now sitting up, grabbed both of your hands off of your face to make you look at him.

pretty, you were so pretty. so pretty for him. “it’s gonna be alright..”

“no, no—easy for you to say but…my..my manager..she’ll..” then you looked down over the blanket again, breath hitching as you struggled to breathe a little. nagi had to hold you close to him in order to calm you down, hands brushing your hair, voice hushing your small whimpers. “shh, hey, hey..take deep breaths…c’mon…calm down..”

he always did that when you had panic attacks. most of the time after your concerts or handshakes with your fans. nagi holds you close, then stays quiet. maybe you’re overreacting a little bit…yet at the same time, it’s going to be scary facing the public afterwards.

nagi stayed with you for a while until you could face him calmly, with steady breaths and a peaceful heart. he could see the notifs popping up on his phone.

99+ new messages.

38 missed calls from reo

17 missed calls from isagi and the rest ongoing. his phone too was exploding this morning. but first he has to make sure you’re ok.

when you finally managed to calm down, nagi continues to brush your hair back, looking straight to your eyes. “feel a little better?”

you nodded. “just…just still a bit scared of sara..”

“yeah? well i’ll make sure to apologize. i was the one who dragged you out after all.”

“n-no, sei! you don’t have to i—that’ll make it more worse i’ll be the one to talk to her.” nagi shakes his head, not approving of your idea. “it would be a hassle if you had to go through that alone…at least let me talk to her too..” your boyfriend caressingly rubs your hand together with his, he could still spot the small bruises he left on your neck..a loving gaze pictured over his face.

“it wouldn’t be so much work unlike practice. i’ll come with you…wherever you are. sometimes i wish we were cats so we can spend 9 lives together, y’know?”

you couldn’t say anything much for this dork, except pull nagi for another hug. you prayed to whatever existed that you don’t ever get pulled away from him, your beloved. you sometimes wished things don’t turn out to be in a bad way, after all, you’re an idol of love and kindness. however sometimes, maybe the entertainment industry should be less strict on their idols, including you. nagi was the only one that made you feel alive from them. from all the negativity you’ve been feeling because of what you do.

you love nagi seishiro. and nagi seishiro loves you. that’s there to it.

in the end, you and nagi managed to talk to sara about the whole relationship situation going on, and the only thing she was mad about was that fact you didn’t tell her you were dating, better yet a pro player. she just gave you a warning and then head straight to ask permission to your company about your relationship.

then not long after too, the situation calmly fainted down, and everything went back to normal. maybe except about some of your fans who are quite upset that you’re in a relationship.

still, you were glad the company was kind enough to let you two stay together. maybe it’s because you’re with someone famous, too, but it didn’t really matter.

yeah, maybe you were overreacting.

[mrsharrington83]

Code Blue

Summary; The aftermath leaves Y/N second guessing everything in her life. Losing friends and witnessing her boyfriend of two years getting closer to his ex is enough to push her over the edge. Will they be able to pull themselves out of this hole that’s darker than the Upside Down itself? (For the sake of this fic, what happened at the end of the last episode of season 4 hasn’t yet happened)

Warnings; usual Stranger Things, things. Swearing, blood, injury, alcohol consumption, mentions of death and suicidal thoughts. If any of this is triggering, please don’t read.

A/N; I haven’t written anything in so long! It’s a long fic! 6.5K words, my longest on here yet. I apologise if this is bad, I’ve just been in a writing mood so thought I’d let out a lot of angst and fluff (we love it) I am a British writer (England) so sorry if things don’t make sense to you! Thank you for stopping by, hopefully my writing streak stays strong. Requests are always open. Love to all xoxo

The aftermath of the supposed earthquake had everyone second guessing. Some people left, other people were packing to leave. Having known what really went down, you sat in silence staring into your vanity mirror as everyone else you knew went to help the community at Hawkins High.

You just couldn’t stomach it. Cuts and grazes over your skin, tiredness evident in your eyes, your hair still clumped with dirt from the Upside Down, dried blood. You hadn’t even showered yet. You didn’t know how to process anything that had happened over the past 72 hours. You were accustomed to this kind of thing having it been a big part of your life for the past few years, the most recent battle however, took the biscuit.

Small Polaroid pictures littered around the back wall of your desk. Smiles, memories, better times. Max and Dustin when she stole his cap. They were in mid laugh so it was blurred a bit, but a happy memory that was stuck in time. That same Max was now in hospital, fractured bones, blind, unresponsive. Not laughing and joking with her friends, not happy, not anything. Doctors didn’t know if she’d ever wake. She was such a selfless soul, way beyond her years, but still so young. Too young. You all were.

Pictures of the group, you and your boyfriend Steve. A picture of you and Eddie during a D&D game. His hair all over the place, tongue sticking out, you laughing, Dustin in the background pulling a stupid face.

Memories.

Eddie.

Your best friend.

Gone.

Just like that.

He didn’t run this time, and fuck. You really wished he did.

The tick of your small clock dragged you away from the pictures, the light ticking mocking you, “shut up! Shut the fuck up!” you screamed from deep in your lungs, a howl so painful from your chest, putting what was left of your strength and upset from the past few weeks into knocking the blasted thing to the floor, hearing the glass and mechanics hit the floor in one swoop. It was a gift from Eddie one Christmas as you were pretty much always late. Bittersweet.

Guilt built in your stomach as you stood up fast, pushing your stool back with your legs, failing to the floor, cupping the bits of broken glass as sobs wracked your body, not realising your hands were clenched around the shards, the all too familiar claret running through the lines in your palm and down your fingers, dripping into a pool on the wooden flooring of the bedroom.

Your breathing hitched as you remembered Eddie die in your arms, the way blood trickled from his mouth. The look of pure terror on his face. He knew he was dying, but he kept it together till the very end for the sake of you and Dustin. His best friends, the people that were there for him no matter what everyone else was saying. You didn’t want to believe it. Dustin’s screams and sobs as the light left his eyes. You saw them gloss over. The way you both shook him, screamed into his ear, telling him not to leave you both behind. Your hands covered in blood. His blood.

Dropping the bits of glass on the floor, you pushed your feet and newly cut hands against the floor, the small slitters of glass that were still on your palm slicing deeper into your flesh until your back met the wall, your hands and body shaking, the tightness in your chest getting worse and you struggled to fill your lungs with air. You felt like you were about to pass out.

The past 72 hours had been, by far, the worst time of your life. You’d witnessed what you thought was your boyfriend of two years get closer to his ex, eyes can be deceiving, but there was something in his own eyes that glimmered whenever he spoke to Nancy, deep down you always wondered what Steve saw in you. Maybe you were just a knock off version of Nancy. Someone to keep him grounded in all of this. A warm body to forget all the wrongdoing in the world. Someone he knew cared about him. Perhaps more than he cared for you. You didn’t know that of course, it was just what your mind was telling you.

Your best friend had died for a town that hated him, Max, the girl who had adopted you as a cooler older sister after Billie died was lying in a hospital bed with the looming same fate, Vecna was still out there somewhere and you were sure there was even more danger on the horizon.

Even after everything that happened, your mum hadn’t bothered coming home. She was always away with her new man for weeks on end. She had called up one night before the phone lines cut out to make sure the house was still standing after witnessing the news, but other than that all you got was, ‘with everything that’s happened in Hawkins, I’m going to stay with carl for another few weeks, maybe more. Be careful out there.’”

You’d never felt more alone. You didn’t blame your friends or Steve. They wanted to help out, of course they did. You did too, but you were in no way the right frame of mind to be seeing people crying for their loved ones, talking to people that had lost others whilst you were reeling from losing your own.

You pulled yourself off the floor with great difficulty. It felt like you had a ton of bricks weighed down on you. Metaphorically speaking, you did. Though it wasn’t bricks, it was the weight of hurt and anger, of death piling up one by one. “Get yourself together Y/N. get your fucking self together.” Rummaging through your dresser, careful not to get blood on everything, you pulled out some comfortable lounge clothes that were bigger in size, purposely avoiding one of Steve’s t-shirts as you dragged yourself to the bathroom.

Putting down the toilet seat, you placed your clothes and rinsed your hands under the cold tap. Water on open cuts made you wince, but at least you felt something other than emotional pain. Watching your fresh blood mix with water and into the sink like a mini whirlpool was almost mesmerising. Picking out the last few shards of glass making the water redder with each bit. You were lucky water was still running. There were some parts of Hawkins that had no water.

Turning the dial on the shower you undressed. Peeling your clothes from your skin. Clothes you wouldn’t bother to wash. They would go straight in the bin. You had enough awful reminders on that night, you didn’t need more. Stepping into the shower, careful not to slip, you submerged yourself in warm, running water and closed your eyes, feeling old blood, mud and debris leave your tired body.

Steve had come home early, with both of your parents almost always being away you basically lived with each other. When your mum was away, he’d stay with you and if his parents were away, you’d stay with him. He had his own keys to your place, and you had your own to his.

Steve kicked his shoes off in the hallway, tiredness in his bones. The house was silent apart from the sound of water from the shower, you were at least out of bed. When Steve left this morning you were curled up in a ball with covers over your head, blocking out the world. He leant down and burrowed his head in your blankets kissing the top of your head, saying how much he loved you and that he’d be back as soon as he’d helped out in Hawkins High, with a running car it was easier for him to pick up robin and bundle Dustin, Will and Mike in the back of along with all the supplies, it was a squeeze, but not a long drive and with everything that had happened, the kids didn’t mind being on top of each other, breathing, alive. In truth, Steve didn’t want to get out of bed either. His temples ached, his bones felt heavy and the wounds he had were still throbbing, not letting him forget about the events.

He sighed and flopped onto the sofa, leaning his head back hoping to get the knots out of the muscles in his neck, tension. He didn’t want to disturb you in the shower, even though all he wanted to do was bury his face in your hair, your skin, breathe in the only place he felt safe, the only thing that made sense to him. Seeing everyone at Hawkins High, the missing persons post filled with faces he knew, faces he didn’t, the heartbreak of all of Hawkins. All he wanted was you, but instead he just sat there.

You pressed your head against the cool tiles in the bathroom as you turned off the shower, the familiar car engine shutting off in the drive, you knew Steve was back, yet you didn’t think you could see him face to face yet. You breathed out heavily and stepped out of the shower pulling a towel from the back of the door, wrapping it around yourself and another for your hair. Red staining the white cotton as you’d opened old wounds as well as your still bleeding palms that stung. You bent down to get the first aid kit from under the sink as you got to work on your wounds. You at least looked cleaner, your split lip and eyebrow not looking as bad now you’d washed, half of these injuries you didn’t even know when you’d got them, from fighting demobats to being thrown across the floor by Eddie when you tried to help, bruises from being pulled away from your friend as his lifeless body lay motionless, wounds from yourself from hitting the wall in desperation. You looked how you felt. Completely broken. You wrapped bandages around your hands and left it at that. Drying off and throwing oversized clothes on, you reached for the door handle, your hand visibly shaking.

Going back into your room you sighed at the mess. Somewhat thankful that Steve had stayed downstairs. Glass and blood everywhere. You grabbed a dustpan and a brush from a small closet next to the bathroom as well as the small towel you used for your hair, sweeping up the small shards of glass and discarding them in a small bin next to your bed. Wiping the claret up with the small towel and putting that in the bin too. You sat on the end of your bed once again staring at the pictures behind your vanity desk.

“Y/N?” Steve called up the stairs noting that the shower had been turned off for a while, worry lacing his voice. You could hear it.

“Yeah, I’m coming down.” You stood up and dragged yourself to the top of the landing. You could just throw yourself down the stairs and hope for the best. Hope you’d have an ounce of peace from your racing mind, but you couldn’t do that. You couldn’t bring yourself to take yourself over that edge, to make the people that cared about you lose another. You’d all lost too much. Begrudgingly you walked down the stairs, the illuminating light from the sun almost blinding you, you’d been living in darkness for the past few days, being in the Upside Down and then closing all the curtains upstairs as soon as you’d got back home. You’d almost forgotten how bright daylight could be.

Steve was waiting in the kitchen for you, his eyes visibly glowing when you walked into the room, as though you lit up the small space when you stepped in. A smile tugged on your lips that suddenly dropped when you remembered he was looking at Nancy exactly the same not too long ago. The same nagging thoughts you had earlier pulling you back. Knock off version of Nancy. Now that Johnathan was back, of course he came running back to you. Steve looked down to your hands and frowned, he didn’t remember you hurting your hands so much they needed bandaging,

“Sweetheart? What happened?” Steve was by your side in an instant his hands gently over yours as he inspects the bandages,

“I dropped some glass, not a big deal. Just got a little cut up in the process of cleaning it up.” You lied through your teeth, you couldn’t be bothered to talk about Eddie again and how you’d broken the last gift he would ever give to you out of anger. Steve continued to look at your hands, careful not to disturb the bandages around them,

“Do you want me to have a look? I can bandage these a bit better for you, make sure there’s no glass and...” you cut him off with a, ‘I’m fine.’ And pulled your hands away from his warmth, Steve looked a little deflated, but understood. All of you had patched each other up countless times that it was almost routine now, you’d learnt how to stitch wounds, what ointments and antiseptics to use, you basically had a mini pharmacy under your sink for things that people would never believe.

“Honestly, I’m fine Steve.” You forced a smile and went round the Kitchen Island feeling his eyes burning through you. Your house wasn’t the biggest, it was snug. The kitchen was weirdly one of the bigger rooms and probably the nicest, it was one of the only rooms your mum put any effort into before she started gallivanting around the globe. It was bright with several flowers littering the windowsills, yellow lace curtains to match some of the décor. How the flowers hadn’t died yet, you didn’t know. You never watered them.

You and the rest of the group had spent ample time in this kitchen cooking cookies and brownies for movie night, Max and Lucas always managing to burn popcorn, Steve rushing to open windows and flail a tea towel at the fire alarm to stop it beeping whilst Robin was toppling over laughing at Dustin with brownie mix all over his mouth, You’d also spent ample time in here with the older lot of the group, your mum had quite the alcohol stash. Probably enough to open a bar downtown. From several different bottles of vodka, gin, whiskey to wine, beer, cider and god knows what other potent liquid that did the job, which is exactly what you were heading for now.

Steve was slumped against one of the dining chairs as he watched you move around the island, he knew exactly what cabinet you were riffling through, “Ahhh, there it is.” You picked out an unopened bottle of vodka and put it on the side as you went through a different cupboard to pick out a decent glass.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Steve sighed as he watched your every move, “I know things aren’t great at the minute, but we really need to pull together.” You opened the vodka and poured a small glass, turning around and leaning against the counter with your ankles crossed, the glass of vodka in your hand. You shrugged and took a gulp, the burning from the alcohol igniting your insides.

“Look, sweetheart, please.” Steve ran a hand through his hair, the lack of product evident, no one ever saw Steve walking around with no product in his hair, probably because without it, it was so fluffy and never sat in the right place according to him, “this isn’t the answer, that isn’t going to help. It’s not going to bring...”

“Shut up!” you screeched, smashing the glass back onto the counter, thankfully not breaking it, “you think I don’t know that, Steve? For goodness sake! How stupid do you think I am?!” Steve is taken aback, he’s over stepped a line and he knows it, “I know it’s not going to bring Eddie back it’s not going to stop what’s going on here,” you look around the room, “it’s not going to stop Max from being in hospital, it’s not going to stop those poor kids dreaming about what happened over and over again, how fucked they’re going to be in years’ time if they even make it that far, from losing countless people and battling these things over and over again, but maybe, just maybe it will stop my racing thoughts, the hurt, the anger, the resentment I have for this stupid fucking town for five goddamn minutes, okay?! everything is falling apart at the seams, we’ve all lost so much, I even thought you were getting cosy with Nancy again!” you bite your tongue getting caught up in the rift, Steve looked towards you bewildered. You turn back to the vodka bottle, filling your glass halfway, drinking it down like water and filling it up again, “I’m not asking you to understand Steve, I’m not even asking you to deal with this, you know where the fucking door is.”

Steve stood up from the table and walked over to you slowly, turning you to face him, moving the hair that had fallen so effortlessly over your features, “I love you Y/N, whatever you thought you saw between me and Nancy was not that. I’m happy for her and Johnathan, really. I’m so glad were now with the right people, the people who ground us and make this stupid crazy life worth living, you’re my muse. I would never do that to you, sweetheart. Not ever,” moving his hands over your covered arms, to your hands, holding them gently in his, “I’m not going anywhere Y/N, just please, I don’t want to lose you too. I can’t.”

You looked Steve dead in the eyes, his glassed over, tears threatening to fall. The beautiful honey eyes you’d got lost in time and time again, “Maybe you already have.” His hands let go of yours as he visibly slumped, and took a step back, you might as well have been holding a gun, a bullet to his chest with the way he was looking at you. Turning your back to him, your own tears threatening to fall, you grabbed the bottle again unscrewing the cap, pouring yourself another glass.

“What do you mean?” Steve is silent again, his presence still behind you, feelings of uncertainty heavy in the air, “Y/N, look at me please...” the defeat in his voice made you feel awful, this was your boyfriend of two years, the person that had stayed by your side that whole time, through everything. The good times and the bad, the way you both laughed, the random dates he took you on, sometimes even after work, some of which ended up being group outings as one of the kids had seen you both and then got on the walkie talkies as quickly as possible, they ended up calling that ‘code blue’ as the first time it happened Steve was in his Scoops Ahoy uniform, the movie nights, the late night talks, walks, your safety net, the countless jokes that weren’t even funny. Helping him with his hair, the days he was sick and you’d take care of him, and the days he would do exactly the same back for you. He never faltered, he was always brave, always stayed strong for you, for everyone, but here he was, seconds away from breaking down. A painful ache in his voice that cut you in half, the same ache breaking the last pieces of your heart that were still intact, you wiped your tears away with the back of your sweater, turning around to see Steve once more, pain drowning his features,

“I’m sorry, Steve. I can’t do this anymore.” he sucked in a shaky breath as a sob broke from his lips. Pain. Pain that you had caused. You finished your glass of vodka, keeping your back to Steve, you couldn’t watch him break, you couldn’t see the sadness and heartache on his face. As if he hadn’t been through enough recently,

“Y/N, please,” his voice was low, strained, as though he was bleeding out on the spot behind you, “don’t do this, we can get through this, we can get through anything, please just don’t...” you turned round to Steve his eyes visibly blood shot probably from tiredness and the tears that were free flowing down his cheeks,

“I’m sorry Steve.” You walked past him, a slight sway to your walk from too much alcohol in a short space of time on an empty stomach as you tackled the stairs, all you wanted to do was sleep, before you even got half way up the stairs you heard the front door close causing you to stop on the spot, your own sobs now tearing way through your body, this pain was tearing you apart, so much loss, but you had caused this last one.

You found yourself sitting on the end of your bed looking at the pictures behind your desk once again, would you ever feel that kind of happiness again or was this the new norm? A burning hole in the middle of your chest that was once whole and pushed together in the shape of the people you loved. All of those memories seemed like a lifetime ago, how time and life could be fleeting, oh how you took it all for granted.

***

Two weeks had passed.

Two long weeks.

Probably the longest two weeks of your life.

In those two weeks you’d had almost everyone knock on your door, mainly Robin and Dustin, “Y/N, open this door right now or I promise you I’ll put a brick through your window and climb in there myself.” Dustin shouted as he looked through the small glass patterns on the front door for signs of movement, “I’m not joking Y/N.” Dustin looked around your drive and picked up half a brick, “ten seconds, Y/N!” finally he saw movement and put the brick down on the grass, you opened the door and huffed,

“Dustin, every day for two weeks, ae you not bored yet?” He pushed you aside gently and kicked his shoes off before throwing himself onto the sofa and turning on the small TV as if he lived there, “and how can I be of assistance today?” you stood in the doorway of the living room, you no longer had the bandages on your hands, the cuts on your hands were hardly visible now, your other physical injuries were also doing much better, some might not even scar, not that you cared about a bit of scarring,

“You look like shit,” Dustin looked back at you and scoffed, he wasn’t wrong, you’d been wearing the same kind of clothes for two weeks, anything you could get your hands on. Mix matched sweats and sweaters, sometimes Steve’s t-shirts, on a very rare occasion you treated yourself by wearing a pair of jeans. Your usual full of life hair was lifeless and scraggly from the lack of brushing, your eyes blood shot from lack of sleep, red lips from gnawing at them constantly,

“Well, love you too, Dustin,” you rolled your eyes and went to the kitchen fetching juice and cookies on a tray, “so what is it today?” Dustin cleared his throat and made his way into the kitchen, taking a few cookies off the tray as he took a seat around the table drinking juice you’d bought specially for him,

“It’s Steve,” your breathing hitched as you looked to the floor, biting at your already raw lips, you pulled a second chair out and sat opposite Dustin, taking your own cookie and nibbling at it. You hadn’t eaten well for two weeks now,

“What about him?” you took a swig of your own juice and sit looking towards your younger friend,

“Don’t give me that, Y/N. I know you still care, Robin tells me things, y’know, and you’re not someone that doesn’t care about people,” Dustin shook his head, “this act is bullshit, Y/N. Steve is over there wondering what he did wrong, what he can do to help you, he’s broken, Y/N and none of us can get through to him, ne needs you and you need him and we need you both. We need our kick ass non babysitters back. We need to stick together. We can’t all break otherwise what do we have?” you bit the inside of your cheek letting Dustin talk, you had been unfair, everything in this world was so wrong and you were breaking the only good thing in it,

“I’m scared, Dusty,” you looked to him and he nodded, not wasting time to eat more cookies, all the kids loved your cookies,

“We all are, Y/N. you know this isn’t over right?” you looked down knowingly and started to play with the patterned table cover, “Steve needs you, I need you, we all need you. You know Eddie wouldn’t want this right?” you breathed deeply at the mention of his name, “you’re the bravest person he knew, he told me, and do you know what else?” you looked up from the table, “he loved you and Steve together, he saw how happy he made you and that’s what he wanted for you. He wanted you to be happy.” You sighed, breath shaky as a tear fell from your lashes onto the tablecloth you were playing with moments before,

“Well he got one thing wrong, he was the bravest.” Dustin put his hand over yours and gave it a light squeeze,

“Please just come and see Steve? Everyone is round there trying to cheer him up and he looks just as shit as you, if not more. If you don’t come with me, the others are going to try one by one, I’m the nicer one.” He stood up from the table, hopeful,

“Dustin I can’t,” disappointment clouded his eyes, “I can’t go over there empty handed, help me make some cookies?” the usual toothy grin from Dustin was back, one you hadn’t seen for a such a long time, one that made your heart swell. You loved those kids so much and you’d do anything to protect them, you felt bad for wallowing in in your own self-pity when everyone you cared about was going through the exact same thing as you. You’d nearly lost the one thing that made sense and you were going to try and not let that slip any further. You and Dustin got to work on the cookies, not failing to get flour all over the surface and yourselves. Once the cookies were in the oven and cooking, you looked over to Dustin, “Keep an eye on the cookies for me? I’m going to try and sort this out a bit,” you pointed to your mop of a hair as he grinned and nodded, picking up his walkie as you left the room,

“Guys, it’s Dustin, over.” He waited for the usual static of the walkie patiently as he pressed more buttons hoping to hear from the others,

“Hearing you loud and clear, Dustin, what’s the status, over.” Mike was on the other end, uncertainty in his voice, but hugged by hope, Will, El and even Lucas in the background hugging over the other walkie talkie hoping for a shred of good news. Max was still in hospital, though in good hands. There was hope that she’d still wake up, she was strong and a fighter. Lucas sat by her bedside every chance he got, but he too needed fresh air sometimes, to see his friends. Being cooped up waiting for someone to wake up wouldn’t do anyone any good if it was constant. Same four walls day in, day out. It took some time for him to realise that however.

“Guys, we have ourselves a code blue. Over.” Dustin chimed excitedly as the rest of the youngsters screamed in joy, they were out of ear shot from Steve and Robin, all around the pool as it was such a lovely day in Hawkins, warm with a light breeze hitting the trees and pool every now and then causing small ripples, birds still chirping. Even amidst all the uncertainty and heartache, life could be beautiful.

You looked into the mirror having put a little bit of makeup on, an extreme rarity for you with everything that had gone on the past few years, you’d finally put a brush through your washed hair and changed into something more you, high waisted jeans, a black t-shirt and a light denim jacket you could take off if you wanted, you felt the warmth through the bathroom window as you looked at yourself in the mirror once more, “presentable.” You could smell cookies downstairs signalling Dustin had kept to his word and kept an eye on then, not letting them burn. You hurried down the stairs with a skip to your step and twirled to Dustin who was standing in the hall with a cookie jar in hand, ready to pack them once they’d cooled a little,

“There’s the Y/N I know! Yes!” Dustin fist bumped the air with his free hand wishing the cookies would cool down faster. You gathered your shoes and a small bag to put your keys and anything else you needed in,

“what if he doesn’t want to see me?,” you stopped in your tracks, looking at Dustin unsure, “what if I’ve hurt him too much and he never wants to see me again?” you play with the hem of your denim jacket, backtracking, wondering if this was a good idea after all,

“you’re the only person he wants to see, Y/N. we just invite ourselves in and he’s too nice to tell us to get out,” you shake your head,

“You know that isn’t true, he loves you guys as much as I do, even if he’s in the worst mood possible, he’d always rather have you guys around, you know that,” Dustin nodded, putting the cooler cookies into the jar sealing them tightly, “did you bike over here?” you questioned as Dustin shook his head,

“I didn’t,” he grinned and dug his hand in his back pocket, pulling Steve’s car keys out and waving them in your face, “he doesn’t know, obviously,” Dustin shrugged as you shook your head and put your head in your hand laughing in disbelief, a real laugh, something you forgot you could do,

“Dustin! You could have caused an accident!” you tried to sound serious over your laughing that just wouldn’t stop,

“well, you don’t see many cars on the road these days after what happened, maybe people are too scared,” he shrugged once more, “not me, now. Let’s gooooo!” Dustin ran for the front door, cookies in hand, and his small backpack you didn’t realise he had draped over a shoulder,

“Ahhh. Not so fast, keys!” you extended your hand to Dustin, Steve absolutely loved that car, sometimes you wondered if he loved that car more than you and okay, Dustin got there safely, but now he was in your care he wouldn’t be driving that thing,

“Spoil sport,” he ginned as he handed you the keys stepping out into the outside. You took a deep breath. The smell of the outside you hadn’t seen in weeks. The light breeze through your hair the sun tingling against your skin, butterflies and birds, nature. Things you hasn’t stopped to look at for such a long time, “earth to Y/N,” you shook your head and walked towards the car, opening it for you both.

 You hadn’t driven in forever, was it something you could forget? Fastening your seatbelt, making sure Dustin did the same, starting the car and opening the windows, you pulled the sun visor down, a small Polaroid falling onto your lap. You turned it around to see a picture of you and Steve, your heart beating against your chest as you ran your finger over the photo. It was the first one you took together, before you were even official. Halloween 1984. That stupid party, the night Steve and Nancy broke up. You found Steve crying on the back step, you spent the rest of the night trying to cheer him up. One too many beers, weed and a stupid camera, “he kept it...” Dustin looked up at you as you put the photo in the dashboard opposite Dustin,

“Of course he did, he keeps everything,” you didn’t know that, you didn’t say anything further as you pulled off the drive, it wasn’t a long drive. It was actually an easy enough walk, you didn’t live far from Steve. The nights he would randomly turn up at your house and throw pebbles at the window even though no one else was in the house, small memories making you smile.

The drive was quiet, Dustin looking out the window the whole way there, your heart still hammering against your chest, would people be happy to see you, would they hate you, would things be the same, what the fuck were you going to say to Steve? Pulling onto his drive, things got too real, you heard laughter from the other younger people of the group outside as you locked up the car, Dustin rushing to the back gate with cookies, though before he could you were tackled by El, Mike, Will and Lucas, “Y/N OH MY GOD YOU’RE HERE!” mike exclaimed as you laughed with the kids, some of them sopping wet from the pool, of course they still loved you, “we all missed you so much, it’s so good to see you” you ruffled everyone’s hair, something you always used to do when they were younger, something you still hadn’t stopped, tears in your eyes, you smiled, for once they weren’t sad tears,

“I’ve missed you all so much, I’m sorry I haven’t been around, I’m sorry I haven’t been stronger for you all.” They all hugged you tighter, understanding, when did they all grow up?

“we all understand,” Lucas looks at you empathetically, “Max would want us all together, so would Eddie,” you hugged them all just that little bit tighter as they lead you into the back gate, not much had changed in Steve’s back yard except the grass was unkempt, the pool still clean somehow, “we will let you talk to Steve now,” you took a deep breath and looked towards the back sliding doors Robin leaning against them smiling as she ran out to hug you,

“Oh praise the heavens you’re here, I cannot deal with him in there for one minute longer,” you looked towards robin apologetically and she shook her head, “none of that, Y/N. Go see him, bring our Steve back, yeah?” she smiled and sat next to the kids, stealing one of the cookies you made.

You made your way into the house, the house that had so many different memories, you kicked your shoes off and put them where you always do before poking your head into the living room, Steve’s back was towards you as he was staring at the TV something you guessed he’d been doing for the past couple weeks, a lot like you really. His hair was too dishevelled and free of product, but oh fuck did he look like home. “If you’re there to try get me outside in the pool again, Robin I swear to fuck I will change the locks on this house.” He signed defeated and tuned round, his pupils dilating, shock on his face, the evident bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, “Y/N?” he scrambled off the sofa as fast as he could, scared you were a figment of his imagination, “is... is it really you? You’re here...” he stood opposite, reaching out to you,

“Steve...” tears welled in your eyes, “I am so, so sorry, I never wanted to hurt you, I didn’t want what I said, I was so lost in my own mind,” he pulled you into a bone crushing hug, “please forgive me, I’m so sorry,” you pulled away to look at him, tears in his own eyes as he brushed your free falling ones away with his thumb, “I love you so much, I was so scared of losing you too that I fucked up and lost you anyway,” he pulled you back into him, the smell of cedar, bergamot and a slight hint of cigarette smoke, home.

“You didn’t lose me, sweetheart. I love you, more than anything,” he pulled you into him, lips crashing together, cola Popsicle and a small hint of your home cooked cookies that Dustin must have been bringing to him secretly. Everyone loved your cookies. He pulled away and smashed his lips against yours again over and over, the taste of salt now from both of your tears, small lazy kisses planted all over your mouth as he pulled away, your lips slightly swollen, his honey eyes full of life once more, he was never going to let you go. He pulled you flush with his body, your head resting against his chest, as he ran his fingers through your hair, “you’re my home, Y/N. Wherever you are. That’s home to me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, okay?” you kissed him again, your cherry chapstick smearing over both of your mouths,

“you’re my home too, Mr. Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington,” you looked up to him, a smile on your face, no longer crying as you knocked your hip with his. The emptiness in your heart glazing over a little, the pieces of your broken heart slowly reconnecting, the feeling of life, love, family.

“Have you seen my hair right now?” he ran a hair though it, washed, but lifeless. “Give me a minute, yeah? Put a movie on.” He kissed you softly before sprinting out of the room. You sat on the sofa you’d sat on countless times as you went through old rentals that would probably never be returned as the video store was one of the places to be destroyed, you placed a VHS in the TV as Steve bounded down the stairs, his hair no longer lifeless and messy, but perfect. Your smile so big your jaw could dislocate, “better? The hair is back,” he grinned and jumped over you on the sofa, “Return of the Jedi? One of my favourites.” He pulled your legs over his lap, both of you draped over the sofa like nothing had changed, his hands caressing your knee, smiles not leaving either of your faces.

“GUYS, CODE BLUEEEE.” Dustin shouted from behind the sofa as everyone else bundled in, “and look at that, Farrah Fawcett spray,” Dustin grinned,

“That’s top secret, dude!” Steve shook his head, a genuine laugh falling from his mouth as everyone pulled blankets and cushions around themselves, your cookies in hand. A good old fashioned movie night, things were going to be okay, you looked over to Steve, his eyes glistening as he squeezed your leg. The people you chose as family, Robin in the corner of the room beaming for the both of you. Both of her best friends back together, where they belong. There was a long road ahead for all of you, but at least you’d always face these things together. You were all so much stronger together. A team. A family.

[princessamericachavez]

Even before the episode, while rewatching old seasons, I was just struck by how big an impact Buck’s had on Eddie’s life. 

Like, please, picture this: 

You are Eddie Diaz, ok? An army vet who quite literally just went through an extremely traumatic experience, immediately got left by your wife and in a desperate move to find happiness for you and your son you move across the country to start a new life. 

You are the new guy at work and this man about your age really has it out for you. That’s fine by you. You’ve put up with enough bullshit in the army, you are just here to do your work, it’s harder than that to get under your skin. Plus, this guy seems okay, aside from all the dick measuring, and you’re sure he’ll tire himself out if you just don’t play along. Then, oh surprise, after a single shift you give the guy one compliment and he folds completely, before you know it he’s decided you two are friends. Fine, good. You miss the army’s camaraderie. This will probably be just like that. 

Few weeks in, Christopher comes up. You hesitate because you don’t like talking about your kid with strangers, but you are worried about him being out there alone during the earthquake and there’s really no way to avoid the subject forever. You’re already dreading the pity looks from people who don’t understand this kid is the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Instead, you get a wide smile, “he’s super adorable, I love kids”. In retrospect, you should’ve expected it. What you don’t expect is the way Buck spends the entirety of the shift reassuring you that Chris is alright, even when you’re pretty sure you’ve done nothing to betray your worry (you know better than to panic, it does nothing to help), but Buck seems to notice anyway and keeps sprouting curiosities to reassure you. He even drives you across the torn up town at a reckless speed to make sure you can reach your son as soon as possible. 

Few weeks later, abuela has an accident. Buck drives you to the hospital, even though you could’ve taken a cab to the firehouse to pick up your truck, and goes all the way in with you. He’s a good friend like that. Turns out, he’s a very good friend, because he catches you by surprise calling ahead to let the Cap know you need help with Chris and arranges a whole day of him hanging out with the 118. You didn’t ask for it, and he doesn’t expect so much as a ‘thank you’. 

Next night, he makes a big deal of introducing you to a woman and you are already dreading, once again, the reveal moment when you have to explain that thank you very much but you are still married and really your only priority right now is your son and- wait, that woman is the perfect caretaker that might or might not be the solution you’ve been desperately searching for to get your and your son’s life together.

This guy you just met a few weeks ago has given you friendship, reassurance, company, thoughtful help without you ever asking (you’ve never been good at asking for it) and he’s just sitting there smiling proudly while he helps you possibly assure your kids future.

All of this... it happens in the first FOUR episodes of s2 after Eddie is introduced. No wonder he’s in love ride or die for Buck. Who wouldn’t be?

In a year, they are inseparable. In two years, Eddie makes him Christopher’s legal guardian in case he dies. In three, Buck saves his life. In four they are basically a family and the person Christopher goes to in a panic. Five years in, Buck is in a coma and Eddie Diaz cannot even look at him, cannot picture a world where he’s dead, cannot envision his life without him. 

[sassenach77yle]

|| COUNTDOWN || SEASON 1 EPISODE 04 || THE GATHERING ||

#83daysofoutlander☆

Rupert surveyed Jamie critically, with an eye to the oatstraws in his hair and the stains on his shirt. I saw his glance flicker to the oatstraws in my own hair, and a cynical grin split his face. “No wonder ye’re late, laddie,” he said, digging Jamie in the ribs. “Dinna blame ye a bit.” “Willie!” he called to one of the men outside. “We need some clothes, here. Something suitable for the laird’s nephew. See to it, man, and hurry!” Jamie looked around, thin-lipped, at the men surrounding him. Six clansmen, all in tearing high spirits at the prospect of the oath-taking and brimming over with a fierce MacKenzie pride. The spirits had plainly been assisted by an ample intake from the tub of ale I had seen in the yard. Jamie’s eye lighted on me, his expression still grim. This was my doing, his face seemed to say. He could, of course, announce that he did not mean to swear his oath to Colum, and head back to his warm bed in the stables. If he wanted a serious beating or his throat cut, that is. He raised an eyebrow at me, shrugged, and submitted with a fair show of grace to Willie, who rushed up with a pile of snowy linen in his arms and a hairbrush in one hand. The pile was topped by a flat blue bonnet of velvet, adorned with a metal badge that held a sprig of holly. I picked up the bonnet to examine it, as Jamie fought his way into the clean shirt and brushed his hair with suppressed savagery.

The badge was round and the engraving surprisingly fine. It showed five volcanos in the center, spouting most realistic flames. And on the border was a motto, Luceo non Uro. “I shine, not burn,” I translated aloud. “Aye, lassie; the MacKenzie motto,” said Willie, nodding approvingly at me. He snatched the bonnet from my hands and pushed it into Jamie’s, before dashing off in search of further clothing. “Er … I’m sorry,” I said in a low voice, taking advantage of Willie’s absence to move closer. “I didn’t mean—” Jamie, who had been viewing the badge on the bonnet with disfavor, glanced down at me, and the grim line of his mouth relaxed. “Ah, dinna worrit yourself on my account, Sassenach. It would ha’ come to it sooner or later.” He twisted the badge loose from the bonnet and smiled sourly at it, weighing it speculatively in his hand. “D’ye ken my own motto, lass?” he asked. “My clan’s, I mean?” “No,” I answered, startled. “What is it?” He flipped the badge once in the air, caught it, and dropped it neatly into his sporran. He looked rather bleakly toward the open archway, where the MacKenzie clansmen were massing in untidy lines.

“Je suis prest”

he replied, in surprisingly good French. He glanced back, to see Rupert and another large MacKenzie I didn’t know, faces flushed with high spirits and spirits of another kind, advancing with solid purpose. Rupert held a huge length of MacKenzie tartan cloth. Without preliminaries, the other man reached for the buckle of Jamie’s kilt. “Best leave, Sassenach,” Jamie advised briefly. “It’s no place for women.” “So I see,” I responded dryly, and was rewarded with a wry smile as his hips were swathed in the new kilt, and the old one yanked deftly away beneath it, modesty preserved. Rupert and friend took him firmly by the arms and hustled him toward the archway. I turned without delay and made my way back toward the stair to the minstrels’ gallery, carefully avoiding the eye of any clansman I passed. Once around the corner, I paused, shrinking back against the wall to avoid notice. I waited for a moment, until the corridor was temporarily deserted, then nipped inside the gallery door and pulled it quickly to behind me, before anyone else could come around the corner and see where I had gone. The stairs were dimly lit by the glow from above, and I had no trouble keeping my footing on the worn flags. I climbed toward the noise and light, thinking of that last brief exchange.

“Je suis prest.” I am ready. I hoped he was.

Cap 9 The gathering ~outlander

[messiisgodibeliveinhim]

That episode in season 2 of Avengers Assemble where they're having a mini civil war and Steve and Tony pretend to not like each other anymore. Bickering in the middle of the battle but at the same time, making sure the other doesn't die. And then they're pretending to have a verbal standoff again, only for it turn into one of the best moments in AA.

'You don't get it, Cap. Arsenal is my father's greatest creation'

'No, you don't get it. Arsenal isn't your father's greatest creation. You are.

Make him proud, Tony.'

And I fucking cried.... Like, that is such a sweet moment. The soft way in which he says 'Make him proud, Tony' while squeezing Tony's shoulder and giving him that proud, really soft smile......... 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

AA!Steve gets Tony Stark. He is a flawed man who keeps making mistakes, but in the end, he's a hero who's willing to do whatever it takes to save everyone. He's a genius who has not one, not five but seventeen different ways to defeat the bad guys (Steve's words, not mine) and takes any risks necessary to save the world ('Tony Stark does that 5 times before breakfast', Steve says to Fury). AA! Steve doesn't jump to conclusions, isn't judgemental and isn't a hypocrite. He's supportive, patient, loyal and pretty much in love with Tony Stark!

Avengers Assemble Stony is absolutely precious to me!

[annamarielabeau]

I watched episode 8 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians last night….gosh!!

I have to say one of my favorite parts was the reveal, I had chills through the entire sequence. I’m happy Percy didn’t find out until the end because it made the reveal so much better and incredibly sadder.

Charlie Bushnell is amazing as Luke. Seeing him breakdown while still not putting his personal feelings in the way (for the most part) and seeing him lose it when Percy brings up Hermes! 😮‍💨 Honestly I just kept thinking of how much Luke is allowed to be and feel betrayed and he’s allowed to be angry, go off man.

But when Annabeth saves Percy and takes off the cap.🧢 Seeing Luke’s face made me so sad, again absolute chills because there is a huge history with Luke and Annabeth and Charlie and Leah really really got that message across. Imagine someone you’ve seen as your brother and best friend be a minion of Kronos and eventually have no remorse.

And in the end it was seeing Annabeth being upset that made him run away in my opinion.

Side notes:

1. I am so so excited for season 2!! Silena Beauregard!! Can’t wait to see her and more of the Aphrodite Cabin!! (That’s my cabin btw) And of course my boy Tyson of course!! Plus after reading the Sea of Monsters, I am so excited to see Charlie as Luke being this official, in a suit bad guy.

2. When Percy got back to camp, and Annabeth was like don’t look at Clarisse, who looks upset and mad as she should be. I find it so funny that Percy and Annabeth were able to detect everything in the series like the lotus flowers, crusty, but not Clarisse not being the lightning thief. She’s not Percy’s friend clearly and it never once occurred to either of them that she’s upset because Percy beat her dad and her cabin’s ego?! I love Clarisse and can’t wait to see her redemption and proving Percy wrong, she is hero and a great fighter and deserves the world.

[mamaestapa]

Man or Superman?|| Jamie Drysdale x reader

•pairing: Jamie Drysdale x reader

•summary: You and Jamie dress up as Clark Kent and Lana Lang from Smallville for the Ducks annual Halloween party

•warnings: talks of alcohol consumption and lots of fluff<3

Halloween 2023

"Jamie baby!" you called from the entryway of your shared home, "you and Trev almost ready?" You applied some more lip gloss to your lips in the mirror on the wall next to the staircase as you waited to hear your boyfriends response.

"Yeah, we'll be down in a minute."

You smiled at your reflection in the mirror as you fluffed up your hair a bit more. You heard heavy footsteps pounding down the stairs, signaling that your boyfriend and his best friend were finished getting ready. Even though Jamie doesn't live with him anymore, he and Trevor are still inseparable. Your smile widened as you saw Jamie's reflection appear in the mirror next to yours. You turned around and took in the full costume your boyfriend was wearing. He looked perfect, but in your eyes, Jamie always looked perfect.

"Look at you," you crooned, "you make a perfect Clark Kent."

Jamie blushed at your words as a wide grin pulled at his lips. He walked up to you and wrapped his arms around your waist, gently pulling you into him. "Thank you," he said sweetly, "you make a perfect Lois Lane."

"Lana Lang."

"Lana Lang!" Jamie corrected, his blush deepening as he realized he said the wrong name. He couldn't believe he got the characters name wrong again. He grimaced slightly, softly mumbling "sorry" under his breath. You shook your head and chuckled softly at how flustered Jamie was.

"It's alright J," you reassured, "you'll get it by the end of the night." You said with a wink, making Jamie smile sweetly. You got up on your tip toes and pressed a soft kiss to his smooth cheek before you pulled away from him to put your boots on.

This year for Halloween, you and Jamie were dressed up as Clark Kent and Lana Lang from the 2000's tv show Smallville. The two of you binged the show about teenage Clark Kent during Jamie's recovery from shoulder surgery last season. You both fell in love with the show, watching too many episodes in one night for many weeks straight. While you binged the show, you constantly told Jamie that he resembled teenage Clark--which never failed to make the boy blush. So since you thought he looked like Clark, you decided that dressing up as Clark Kent and his love interest during his teenage years, Lana Lang, would be perfect for Halloween this year.

You tried to get Trevor to dress up as Lex Luthor, but he refused. He says it's because you and Jamie deserve to do a couples costume this year, but you think it's really because he just doesn't want to wear a bald cap.

So instead Trevor is going as a Ghostbuster again, this time with Mason McTavish and not Jamie, leaving you and Jamie by yourselves in your couples costume. Which neither of you are complaining about at all. It's a nice change to get to do a costume theme with just the two of you for once.

Once you zipped up your black boots, you followed Jamie into the kitchen to grab your purse. Trevor walked into the kitchen shortly after the two of you, grabbing a water bottle from off the counter. He looked at the two of you with raised eyebrows as he took a generous gulp of water. He wiped water off of his lip and pointed at Jamie.

"Dude, you really do look like Clark."

"Thanks bud."

Trevor gave a curt nod as he turned his attention to you. He wolf whistled as he his eyes trailed up your body, "You make a good Lana, Y/n/n."

You shook your head, rolling your eyes playfully at Trevor as the sound of his infectious laughter filled the room. "Shut up, Z. But thanks, J thinks so too."

Trevor wiggled his eyebrows at Jamie as he leaned agaisnt the kitchen counter. He let out a dramatic sigh as he did so. "So what are you Jimmy, man or superman?" Trevor teased Jamie, a playful smirk on his face as he eyed his best friend. Jamie chuckled in response, shaking his head at Trevor as he replied, "I haven't really figured it out yet."

"Hey," you said, shooting Trevor a look of feigned hurt, "you stole my line." Trevor just stuck his tongue out at you as pushed himself off the counter and grabbed the keys to his bronco. He twirled the set of keys in his hand, walking toward the front door of yours and Jamie's house.

"Come on lovers, don't wanna be late!" Trevor called from over his shoulder as he walked out of your home. Jamie put his hand on the small of your back, chuckling to himself as as he led you to the front door and out of the house.

"Trev," you said cautiously as you walked toward his car, "should you be driving if your going to be drinking?"

"Don't worry about me princess, Smallville here said he'd be DD."

"Smallville?" You and Jamie both asked at the same time, both your brows raised in amusement. "Yup," Trevor said, popping the "p", "that's my new nickname for him."

"You know," you began, "you should've dressed up as Lois Lane. We could've had a little love triangle going on." You teased, reaching out to poke Trevor's shoulder as he backed out of your driveway.

"Ha," he laughed, "you wish."

Jamie shook his head, "I disagree, I think Lex would've been better. I'd love to see Z in a bald cap."

"Shut up, or you're walking to this party."

post by jamie.drysdale

liked by trevorzegras, yourusername, and 20,009 others

tagged: @trevorzegras @masonmctavish23 @yourusername

jamie.drysdale- 👻->🦸🏻‍♂️

comments:

trevorzegras- ok smallville

yourusername- So, what are you? Man or Superman?🤔

jamie.drysdale- @yourusername I haven't really figured it out yet😉

anahiemducks- this years costume>>>>

user1- SOMEBODY SAVEEE MEEE

masonmctavish23- Clana and yourshipname 🔛🔝

_quinnhughes- I was promised Trev would be in a bald cap. I'm so disappointed.

nhl- It's a bird! It's a plane! Oh wait, it's just Jamie Drysdale.

trevorzegras- @_quinnhughes idk who promised you that

user2- Z as Lex Luthor would have been THE BEST. we were robbed😭

_quinnhughes- @user2 Agreed.

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post by yourusername

liked by jamie.drysdale, jackhughes_, and 25,880 others

tagged: @jamie.drysdale

yourusername- you are my purpose, you're everything🤍 (iykyk;)

comments:

yourusername- the smallville costumes were a success!! except for the part where trevor refused to dress as lex luthor... -pinned comment

jamie.drysdale- I love you. Thanks for saving me a dance❤️

yourusername- @jamie.drysdale I love you more, smallville ;)

jackhughes_ - Oh we need to see Z as Lex

trevorzegras- @jackhughes_ no we don't.

user6- THIS IS TOO SWEET.

jamie.drysdale- @jackhughes_ @trevorzegras next year😉

trevorzegras- hottest clark kent i ever did see

anaheimducks- Alexa, play "Everything" by Lifehouse

kristinkreuk- Oh I love this!! You make a beautiful Lana❤️

colecaufield- Such a good show. but @trevorzegras I'm so disappointed in you.

jamie.drysdale- @colecaufield wouldn't he have made a great Lois Lane?

_quinnhughes- Omg Trevor as Lois is even better.

trevorzegras- !?!

load more comments

hey loves!!

just a cute little month late halloween fic for all my jamie drysdale girlies🥰

i’ve been watching smallville recently, and it could be just me…but hear me out. if you don’t think too much and if you squint, jamie kind of looks like tom welling as clark kent!! i see it, but i could be crazy lol. they’re both super cute though ;))

thank you again for all of the love and support!! it means so much to me. you’re all the BEST🤍🤍

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Season One was Fun, but it’s the Reason for All of Chat Noir’s Problems

While season one of Miraculous is certainly not perfect, it’s got a lot of good content. Fun episodes, interesting character setups, and interesting plot setups make it a solid opening season to this type of show. There is, however, one massive flaw, the repercussions of which we’re still feeling to this day. That flaw is the dynamic that it establishes between Ladybug and Chat Noir. A dynamic that works great for a duo, but falls apart when you add a larger team.

General Talk About Team Dynamics

When you’re writing a story with a team or core group, the characters need to be designed around each other. How will they interact? Who are the key characters? Who is the leader? Who is the brains? Who is the comic relief? And so on. 

Each character should, by and large, fill a unique role. This is especially true in larger cast because you’re going to have to balance writing all of these characters, so you need to have clear logic for who will be doing what. This is a big reason why having 18 heroes with only one clear main character is a terrible idea. There just aren’t 18 unique roles to be filled. There will be overlap and characters will end up being defined by their powers and little else. That’s why most shows cap out at 7 or 8 people in that core team and why the core team usually starts as much smaller group.

The size of your team is a huge factor in deciding how clearly the character roles need to be defined. If it’s a team of two, then the fact that the team is so small will make the characters feel important just because they’re the main focus. This means that you can get away with one of the characters being more silly and less obviously important. One of the best examples of this is Kim Possible.

That show sees the titular character doing most of the heavy lifting. She’s the fighter, the badass, the brains, the one everyone knows. Her partner, Ron, is mostly there as comic relief. However, you don’t watch this show and think “why is Ron even there? Why doesn’t Kim bring X?” Because there is no X. Kim and Ron are the only options, so Ron can be as silly as the writers want him to be without coming across as just another part of the team. There are even episodes centered around showing that Kim and Ron can’t function without each other. They are the only viable team.

Let’s contrast them to these four:

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are four of the best know hero characters in modern media and they are exceedingly well balanced. While different versions will mess with the family dynamics, the general pattern is that Leo is the serious leader, Raph is the tank/second in command, Donnie is the brains, and Mikey is the artsy comic relief. The property would not be enjoyable if you didn’t have all four characters there to balance each other out.

However, if the world is ending and you have to pick two turtles to save the day, then you’re probably not picking Mikey for your roster. He’s a strong fighter and a fun character, but the roles that the other three play make them better picks in almost every scenario.

This is true for pretty much any show with this kind of dynamic. If you have a comic relief character, then they’re going to be fun. They might even be the fan favorite! But from the perspective of the story, the comic relief character is there to lighten the mood and assist the team. The other ones are there to take charge and solve the problems. The only way to get around this is to give the comic relief a strong second role that elevates them to more than just the comic relief. (Quick note: this isn’t something that you need to do, btw. Mikey is fine as-is because he doesn’t need to feel more narratively important for the story to work.)

A decent example of a character who is both the comic relief and a key member of the team that you can’t remove if you want to win is Sokka from Avatar the Last Airbender. If you look at the core team, Sokka is the one who is usually cracking the jokes and lightening the mood. He also has no powers, making him the weakest fighter. However, he’s also the one who makes the plans. He’s the “idea guy”. Take Sokka away and the story doesn’t work. The team can fight without him, but they probably won’t win without him because they won’t know where and when to fight.

This is Chat Noir’s problem.

Team Dynamics in Miraculous

Miraculous season one didn’t make Chat Noir a Sokka. It make him a Ron and that worked because there was only Chat Noir and Ladybug. Chat Noir didn’t need to have his importance clearly defined, he was important just because he was Ladybug’s partner. He was the one who kept her from fighting alone. No one else was treated as a viable alternative.

But she’s not alone anymore. There are 17 other people on her team. We’ve seen her fight with different groups and win even though Chat Noir wasn’t able to make it (something that you would never see in Kim Possible). This is the problem. The issue that’s been building and building ever since Rena Rouge first got her miraculous.

If you ignore personal preferences and just look at the roles filled by the different miraculous holders, then Chat Noir doesn’t feel like the obvious pick to stand beside Ladybug. What does he offer that no one else does? What is his unique role outside of comic relief? What makes him scream “duteragonist”?

To fix this problem, you have to go all the way back to the beginning and either nix the larger team or rewrite season one to establish Chat Noir as something more than the comic relief. This doesn’t need to be an aspect of his powers (though I do have thoughts on that). Looking at the previous examples, we see that Donnie is vital because he’s extremely good with technology. Sokka is vital because he makes the plans. Chat Noir could have been vital for a reason as simple as “Ladybug trust him above all others and they constantly work together.” But that’s not what the show did. Alya is both Ladybug’s second in command and her sole confidant. The one who knows all the secrets. Now that Alya - and the rest of the class - have permanent miraculouses, be ready for even more episodes where Chat Noir feels like he’s just there to be Ladybug’s silly arm candy. Which isn’t a problem if Chat Noir is mostly just the love interest a la Tuxedo Mask, but if that’s all he is, then maybe don’t have his family be the center of the plot or put his name in the title?

(Yes, I simplified some of these characters' roles. I'm just making broad statements here to provoke reflection on the writing. I'm not critiquing any property save for Miraculous.)

[thebaddexample]

FILM THEORY: DEATH RETURNS TO INANIMATE INSANITY!! BUT IT'S NOT TACO OR LIGHTBULB!!

Warning, spoilers and possibly cringey or bad writing, but it's 1am for me so eh

(First off, shout-out to my mom for coming up with this idea for me to make a theory on- You're the best :3)

(Second, thumbnail by me :])

(Thirdly, I might rewrite this during the day at some point because I'm really tired, but had to get this out before I slept bcs I'd forget to otherwise)

(Fourthly, I know that this isn't a completely original idea, and people have done it already, but I wanted an excuse to make a theory and there's evidence, so I thought "why not?" It'll make people upset with me if I'm right, and I get to pretend to be Film Theory for a bit. It's a win-win!)

(You are legally required to read this post as MatPat's voice /silly /j)

————————

With the horrifying tweet that Brian made last Saturday, there's a lot of people (including you, probably) worried about who will die in the finale, the harsh battle between whether we say "bye" to a bright light, or "so long" to our sour cream schemer. My answer? Neither!! Object show community, inanimate fandom... whatever we call ourselves! I'm about to present to you why our beloved (and somewhat recently hated) host is going to be the death of the season.

————————

First of all, the trailer (and @inanimateinsanityfan 's recent tumblr post "invitation") has somewhat implied that the focus of the movie, the A-Plot at least, will be around Cobs attempting to get to MePhone4 somehow, whether it be luring him up to Meeple Headquarters or trying to get down to him. We've seen from previous episodes that Cobs wants him dead, but it's hard to tell if he's changed his motive, since we haven't seen him since Episode 13 "Mine Your Own Business". However, he has been consistently sending his newer MePhones to eliminate MePhone4, as 5C clearly states in Episode 6. The newer models have features like tracking (much like MePad) and knife hands (NOT like MePad), which MePhone4 doesn't have, which should in theory have made him easier to kill.

Speaking of the abilities, the MeLife function is only ever used by MePhone4, or at least we only ever get to see him do it. Why? Well, I have an idea but that's a theory for another time. The point is; MePhone4 seems to be the only Meeple product with the ability to bring people to life, and has all of the contestants on there as far as we know. This means that, unless there's a creative solution to perma-kill one of the contestants, MePhone4 needs to die first for any perma-death to occur in the first place.

And hell, removing the regeneration ability as a whole would be a great way to cap off the season, to establish that there's no more retrying and that everything is now set in stone. And even if we do get that damn FOURTH season (bonus points to whoever gets the reference), it'll at least spice things up with having, say, MePad as a host instead, leaving the spot open for someone else to claim and have an interesting story arc of their own.

This shot already pulls up a parallel between MePhone4 and MePhone3GS, and though 3GS isn't really confirmed dead, they're definitely not gonna be alive any time soon. The parallels could imply that MePhone4 is destined to a fate similar to 3GS; no longer in service, probably broken, and maybe even killed of by Cobs himself.

In addition to this, all of the other MePhones we've seen have all died; MePhone4 technically died with 4S and 5 in the Season 1 finale "Journey Through Memory Lane", 5S and 5C were introduced and immediately killed in Season 2 Episode 6 "Let 'Er RIP", and MePhones 6 and 6+ were also immediately killed upon introduction in Season 2 Episode 8 "Theft and Battery". The MePhones all have something in common, and that is unavoidable and quick death, much like real iphones honestly.

Does this mean that MePhone4 will have to die as a result of MePhone's faulty creation? No, but there is a pre-established pattern with each of the MePhones that goes as a cycle, perpetuating Cobs' cruel style of doing things; he creates something, claims it's his favorite for a year, then makes something a little better and throws the pre-established bond away to die, and rinse and repeat.

But hey! That's just a theory!

An Object Theory!!

Uh- what's the opposite of "greetings and salutations"-?

"Goodbye and see-you-laters!!"

[tapwater118]

The Post-Split Rant, part 3

a.k.a.: Grown Woman really should have finished this like 3 weeks ago give me a break

Part 1 | Part 2

yes i did just section the parts out like this just for the visual gag shut up

BFB Post-Split is my least favorite season, so now I’m gonna wrap up my whinging about it and move on with my life. These are my opinions, you’re free to disagree, bluh bluh bluh let’s just get on with it already.

BFB 28

Okay, I said I would talk about the eliminated contestants here, but I remember them doing more in this episode than they actually did for some reason. I guess I’ll get to them in BFB 29 I suppose.

Anyway the Announcer is back! Announcer’s actually my favorite host out of all the seasons (sorry Four), so when I watched this the first time I remember being really stoked to see him again. And I am glad to say they did him very nicely! He still has his slightly snarky demeanor (in spite of his monotone TTS voice), and is overall used in a very interesting way here. I’ll get more into it later, but it is very clear they didn’t just bring him back for nostalgia points, which I appreciate.

For an “all-in-one” challenge, this episode did it a lot better than BFDI 23, dare I say. Instead of spending a bit too long on the first few challenges and speeding by the rest, they spend time just on the challenges that they can get good bits out of and briskly walk past the others. I feel this approach works a lot better than BFDI 23.

Honestly, pretty nice episode. No real issues here. Not as good as BFB 20 or 26 I’d say, but a good deal better than BFB 22. Moving on.

BFB 29

They said it was impossible. They said it couldn’t be done. Post-Split actually has a second good Taco and Blocky interaction. They’re having an actual conversation! With witty banter and such!What is this wizardry? Why couldn’t we have more like this?

Not related to anything else really but I have to get this out. I find the over abundance of nicknames in Post-Split to be kind of grating at times but NOTHING grinds my gears as much as the stupid “blank”-ster nicknames. “Tacster” “Blockster” “Teadster” SHUT UUUUUUUPPPPPP. They’re just fine in isolation but they use them SO FREQUENTLY I HATE IT. Gelatin uses these the most and I honestly think it’s lessened my opinion of him to a non-negligible degree. Leafster is the only one that gets a past the rest suck so much shit.

Ok sub-rant over. Back on topic.

The whole, well not really backstory… interstory(?) they give Announcer here is very neat, I like it. Really adds a lot of depth to his character. Whoa, Post-Split just had compelling character development. I think I need to sit down. I guess I’ll also add here that it’s nice Taco has something to do other than whinge at Blocky. I mean, there’s a handful of other characters just kinda sitting around that they could also have investigating the Announcer, but I feel Taco fits this role the best (out of the characters available to do so).

The quality-downgrading bit near the end is also fun too- okay enough beating around the bush. I’ll talk about it here because I already have enough to say about BFB 30 on its own; they pretty obviously set Flower up to win. Having her be repeatedly ignored and tortured for those sympathy points, and then having her be the one to save the show to cap it all off.

I voted for Flower to win, and even if they didn’t set her up like this I still would have. She’s one of the few characters in all of BFDI that actually has a serious degree of character-growth throughout the series, from being the prototypical “mean for the sake of it” character in season 1 to having genuine compassion for those she cares about by the end of BFB. Gelatin doesn’t have any of this, and if I can be candid, I have no clue how he got so far in the season.

BFB 29 is good overall, but let’s not dwell on it any longer. The real meat and potatoes of this part of the rant is going to deal with the final episode, one I have so many thoughts on I have to split it into multiple segments. Let’s talk about BFB 30.

Smaller Thoughts on BFB 30

The scenes with the fake seasons add a lot to Four’s character, and are a nice lead in to the fact that he’s actually a huge BFDI fan who really just wanted to be in that show he really loves. Judging by his actions in the early days of BFB it’s obvious this was a rather late addition to his character, but his cruelty to the objects could likely be interpreted as just a culture difference between Algebraliens and objects. I could make a whole separate analysis about this, but right now I’ll just leave it that these aspects of Four’s character are rather interesting.

This is going to be really nitpicky, but I have no clue why Bubble would want Gelatin to win. He’s been nothing but horrible to her the entirety of Post-Split. Maybe you could say the same for Flower’s behavior towards her both here and in season 1, but in that case have her indecisive over her vote, not overly enthusiastic. This choice makes no sense. (Can you tell that Bubble is one of those characters I care way too much over how they’re written?)

Gotta say, very nice how they have Firey reflecting on his actions without outside prompting here, good sign of character development. Now if only they could have had him say something to this effect eight episodes ago… sigh…

From here the episode splits into two plots that it jumps between repeatedly. Going through every scene in the order they happen would start to get confusing, so I’ve given them their own sections. Gonna be honest, not really a fan of how either of these went. Let’s start with the better of the two.

Flower and the Battle for the BFDI

So, Flower and the Announcer start fighting over who should get the BFDI, and Purple Face comes out of nowhere to steal it for himself. They get in the bus, a bunch of other people give some silly reasons why they should have the BFDI, and then the bus is dangling off a cliff. Everyone hops out except those still fighting over the BFDI: Flower, the Announcer, and Purple Face.

Purple Face does not need to be here.

Flower wants the BFDI because she won, it’s her rightful prize, very valid. Announcer wants the BFDI because it’s his life’s work and, as he reveals here, the only remaining copy of that work, very valid.

Purple Face wants the BFDI just because he thinks he deserves it. His reason for wanting it is just as stupid as all the reasons the other characters (who aren’t Flower or the Announcer) gave for wanting it, and those were all treated as jokes. Hell, Firey (and by extension Leafy) DEFINITELY had a better reason for wanting the damn thing.

Why are we supposed to be taking this seriously? Purple Face has been nothing but a joke character the entire season, and now they suddenly want people to feel bad for him. So much of this scene is dedicated to him over Flower and the Announcer, the two this scene should have been focused on.

Time to get to the much weaker of the two plots.

Gelatin Helps Four Find Out His Value

Okay, I’m about to be way too overly negative, so let’s have something positive for a breather. “Choo Choo! Think again, Balloon Buddy!” is one of the best jokes in the entire series. I will not elaborate.

So, Four starts to run away, and all the characters who didn’t go after Purple Face (except Profily) chase after him. After a bit, they all end up on the sun, and a character gives a speech about how they’re all mad at Four, how he’s hurt them and been mean to them throughout the entire season, and he still expects them to all stick around for him?

Pretty nice speech, I wonder which character gives it?

Maybe Bubble? She’s constantly going under ire and has had to take a lot of shit this season.

Or maybe Flower! Maybe she could reflect on when she was a bad person, and how she turned around to better herself, and try to impart the things she learned onto Four.

Perhaps X! They’re Four’s best friend, and have certainly been hurt by him throughout this season. Maybe he could show Four sympathy for the objects? This is probably the best option, because of how close these characters are.

But no, none of these characters make this speech.

Gelatin makes this speech.

Gelatin.

Motherfucking Gelatin.

MOTHERFUCKING. FORK-FLINGING. PEOPLE-PUSHING. BOMBY-EXPLODING. GELATIN.

Gelatin is the last character who should be giving a speech about how being mean to people is bad. HE IS A GODDAMN MENACE! HAVING HIM SAY THIS MAKES HIM INTO A GIANT HYPOCRITE!

And then they play a montage on the BFB to show how fun this season actually was, and convince Four that they all really do like him. Am I the only one that thinks Four got off a little scot-free for the whole murdering and tormenting his contestants thing?

Whatever, let’s take a look at the supposedly “fun” moments of BFB that they want to give Four credit for:

Flower getting excited for like a second that she didn’t get eliminated, before running off in embarrassment because she tried to celebrate with the contestant who actually did get eliminated

A scene mere moments before Four despawns X again

A bunch of people playing with the popper toys, something that had no involvement from Four and likely would have happened regardless of his presence

A scene mere moments before Leafy painfully burns to death

Gelatin’s fork stack, which definitely didn’t involve Four because it happened before they showed up

The boring-ass train ride from BFB 21

Four’s almost-four-way-tie song, which I guess gets a pass

Aside from the last one maybe, how is ANY of this meant so show how much fun the cast has had with Four? And to top it all off the most unfitting piano music plays over the whole thing. Absolute dumpster fire of a montage.

Ending Thoughts on BFB 30

Everyone gets together to have a party and all is well in the world. Except for those 50000 dead Davids in Davidland. A shame, really. (that was a joke)

Wow, this best friends line sure aged well, didn’t it, Teardrop? (Actually thinking about it now they probably planned for Teardrop to join TPOT by this point. So why include this line when they already knew one of his best friends ditched him?)

This line is really corny. But also kinda charming? Weird. I guess all she really wanted in the end was friends, and now she has them! Good for her.

And you know, if I ignore how much I dislike how Post-Split reconciled Firey and Leafy, this scene is really cute. Very nice note to end on.

For the episode, that is. We still have stuff to talk about here.

So, about BFB 30 as a whole. Do I think it’s a good BFDI episode? Yeah, I guess. I have my problems with it (as I have more than made clear), but it still has a lot of laughs, and things conclude in a halfway decent way. So yeah, it’s a good episode.

But is it a good finale? I don’t think so. This is supposed to be BFB’s last hurrah, its final impact on the viewers. It should be putting its best foot forward here, but it drops the ball on so many things I can’t in good conscience say it was a satisfying conclusion to the season.

I just hope TPOT handles its finale a lot better.

Post-Split as a Whole

Welp, that certainly was a ride. Time for some closing thoughts.

While it might seem like I dislike characters like Gelatin from what I’ve said in this rant, I really don’t. I like these characters in the other seasons they’re in! Post-Split just kinda doesn’t do all that great with them.

Additionally, I don’t hate Post-Split either. I don’t love it, though. It’s just okay. It has some high highs, and some pretty deep lows. It has a lot of little things (and some major ones) that all together keep me from loving it like I do all the other seasons.

I’ve seen some people say the Split was the nail in the coffin for BFB, that there was no way Post-Split could have lived up to what came before. I don’t share this opinion. Episodes like BFB 20 and 26 (and to a lesser extent, 28 and 29, and to an even lesser extent, 22) show to me that Post-Split could have been something special.

So what happened? Why did Post-Split turn out the way it did?

I don’t know. I’m not here to do any meta-analysis or anything.

I’m just here to rant.

And rant I have.

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

The Mall Rats

pairing: steve harrington x female byers!reader

WC: 7.2K

warnings: cursing, light fighting, arguing, and (amateur) smut at the end

summary: The Russians are invading!

A/N: ALL PARTS UNDER THE TAG - The Byers Harrington Story-

im only gonna do one episode this season and probably for season4 instead of mixing two like i did for 1&2. 

@alecmores​❤️

series masterlist / steve harrington

previous chapter  next chapter

“Have a nice day.”

You watched the couple leave the store with cones in their hands and slid up to the counter to face the pouting Robin.

“What’s wrong with you today? Is it your period?” You whispered the second question, not wanting anyone to overhear.

She just scoffed, “no bozo.” And before any other comment could leave her mouth, a new customer walked up to the counter.

“(Y/n)!” Dustin’s high-pitched voice greeted you.

You immediately rounded the counter and pulled him into a tight hug, swinging your bodies side to side, “Dustin! I’ve missed you so much!”

You pulled away from the embrace, hands resting on Dustin’s shoulders to look him over. He’s only been gone a few months, but he already looks older. His tight curls squished under a new yellow cap with the words Camp Know Where ‘85 with a chunky computer in the middle, the only indication that he went out of town for most of the summer.

Dustin looked away from you and flashed a gap-toothed smile at Robin’s bored expression, “hi.” His voice was high-pitched and cheery, as usual.

“Hi,” was her monotone response.

“I’m Dustin.” “I’m Robin.” You watched their quick introductions.

“Pleasure to meet you. Uh, is- is he here?”

“Is who here?” Robin questioned the boy, but you already knew who he was talking about.

And just before you could answer Dustin’s question, the parlor doors swung at lightspeed, with Steve’s shining happiness making his presence known.

“Henderson!” Steve threw his arms above his head, giving you just a glimpse of his waist. And then when he got more excited at seeing Dustin’s face, he jumped over to him, hands waving above his head and putting his stomach on full display for the store, it made you flush a bit.

With your arms crossed over your chest and hip digging into the cool counter, both you and Robin watched Steve and Dustin do an intricate handshake, one that you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing before this moment.

“You got the job!” Dustin pointed out, something Steve must have mentioned to him.

“I got the job! And all thanks to this gorgeous gal,” Steve walked behind Dustin to then walk behind you and throw his arms over your shoulders and pull you into his chest. “Probably wouldn’t have gotten it, if it wasn’t for her.”

You flicked the back of your hand into his shoulder and threw a scowl his way, “Steve, you showed up when we were filming the mall commercial. Also our actual boss knew that a guy would bring in girls.”

“Yeah, well,” he shrugged his shoulders, “still wouldn’t have gotten the job if it wasn’t for you.”

“So, you’re saying you’re a stalker and obsessed with me?”

“Yes.” His immediate response.

You ignore the “ews” coming from Robin and Dustin as you turn your head to give a kiss to Steve’s jawline, just as obsessed with him.

With a lull in the conversation, Robin spoke up, “how many children are the both of you friends with?”

“Hm, well, there are the boys. Will, obviously, Lucas, Mike, and Dustin, so that’s four. Then we have Max and El, so that is six. Adding you and Eddie, that’ll be eight for me. Nine sometimes because of Steve.” You answered back with sincerity and sarcasm.

A pinch to your arm jolted you away from the counter and you promptly turned to Steve, who was acting like it was a gremlin that touched you rather than the obvious. You just huffed at his game.

“Dustin, why don’t you go sit down and I’ll bring you some ice cream. On the house as your welcome back.” A flashing smile brightened the teen's face at your words.

“Awesome! Thanks (Y/n), you’re the best. Can I get a banana split?”

“Aye aye captain,” a mock salute before you rounded the counter.

Robin hurried to the backroom when you told her to take her fifteen leaving only you and Steve on the floor. You hummed quietly to yourself as you started to build Dustin’s treat and only stopped when noticed Steve standing beside you, right hand resting on the counter with his left hand resting on his hip. You gave him your attention with a slight rise of your brow, a slight question of, “yes?”

“Nothing, just admiring.” He tilted his head and licked his lips before flashing a smile knowing he got your heart racing.

You bit your bottom lip to suppress the giant smile wishing to form and just rolled your eyes before going back to your task, “don’t you want to catch up with your friend?”

“You mean our friend?”

“Yes, our friend, but pretty sure that’s your best friend. You even have a special handshake.”

Steve stepped closer, your elbow brushing his uniform top, and dropped his head to be closer in height, “are you jealous? Of a thirteen-year-old?”

“No.” Your answer was sure and quick as you worked to add the toppings.

You heard the chuckling and without looking at his stupid (pretty) face, you knew he had either a shit-eating grin or one of the annoying smirks that made you want to slap him (you would never though). His arms slid and wrapped tight along your abdomen, a firm and comforting squeeze causing your back to be firmly pressed along Steve’s chest.

“No displays of PDA at work, Harrington. You know the company policy and Buckley’s rules.” You gave two quick taps to his forearm.

He didn’t give any type of response, but as quick as a breeze, he left a kiss on the side of your head before removing his arms and leaving you behind the counter, heading over to Dustin’s booth. You stood frozen for a moment, fully and slowly letting your body and mind catch up to what just happened in those few seconds, and when it did register, your face felt hot.

Once the sundae was crafted you grabbed a spoon and headed over to the corner booth and as you walked closer you could hear bits and pieces of Steve and Dustin’s conversation.

“Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No.” “Mm-hmm.”

“Who’s hotter than Phoebe Cates? Gotta be someone special, she’s a babe.” You placed the treat in front of Dustin and slid beside Steve.

“Oh, just my girlfriend,” Dustin smugly replied as he dug in.

Your eyes widened and you turned your head towards Steve, he just gave a tight-lipped smile.

“Brilliant, too. And she doesn’t even care that my real pearls are still coming in. She says kissing is better without teeth.”

You opened your mouth to say something but closed it when nothing came to mind. Again you just glanced at Steve and saw he held a similar expression at this new information regarding Dustin and his new relationship.

“Well, I’m- I’m proud of you, Dustin. That’s ro- that’s kinda romantic. Right, (Y/n)?” His voice stuttered for your help. “Yeah, yeah. You’re really growing up, Dustin. Gonna be a real chick magnet when you’re older, just know it.” ‘Tone it down a little idiot’

Dustin grinned at both your praises and continued with his food, “so, do you really just get to eat as much of this as you want?”

“Yeah. I mean, sure. It’s not really a good idea for me, though. I gotta keep in shape for the ladies.”

“Oh, and where are these ladies you talk about? I would love to meet them.” You faced Steve head-on with your fist digging into your cheek as your elbow sat on the table.

You saw how Steve’s ears burned red at the tips and how his mouth was opening and closing, only stuttering sounds leaving the void. Dustin was just grinning as he dug his spoon for another scoop of ice cream.

“He’s struck out a few times when you weren’t here,” Robin voiced from a few booths away.

“Oh really?” “She’s cool.”

“Ignore her. She’s not.” Steve responded to both of your statements, “so, where are the other knuckleheads?” His attention was back on Dustin.

The question caused Dustin’s mood to drop a bit, “they ditched me yesterday.” He shoved the plastic spoon into a banana.

Both you and Steve gasped, “no,” Steve replied in disbelief. “My first day back. Can you believe that shit?” “But Will was so excited to see you again, told us himself that morning.” Now you were upset on Dustin’s behalf and upset with Will.

“They’re gonna regret it, though, big time, when they don’t get to share in my glory.” His light was back. “Glory?” Steve looked at you for a second then back to Dustin, “what glory?”

Dustin licked his lips of leftover ice cream, looked around at the pretty empty dining room, and scooted a bit closer to Steve. You and Steve both leaned in closer as well, wanting to know what this glory Dustin was talking about was.

“So, last night we were trying to get in contact with Suzie…”

Steve made a phone gesture and Dustin nodded. “Cute name,” you blurted out. Dustin hummed in agreement.

“And, uh…” he leaned his elbow on the counter and covered his mouth with a hand. He took another glance around the store, customers in seats or booths talking while Robin was at the counter taking orders. Then it seemed that Dustin said something, but it was too low for you to hear a word. Even Steve looked confused, and he was sitting beside Dustin.

“What?” Steve after a moment of processing the nonexistent words.

Dustin clicks his tongue and swipes at his nose, “uh…” he inhaled deeply and once again covered his mouth making his words unintelligible.

“Dude we can’t-“ “Just speak louder.” You and Steve spoke at normal volumes. It seemed to piss Dustin off as he banged his fist on the table and shouted.

“I intercepted a secret Russian communication!”

You sat up straight as all noise died off and heads turned your way. Nervous laughs spilled from your mouth and you threw your hands up, “sorry, my- my friend has bad humor. Please, as you were… please.” You gritted the last word through clenched teeth.

Luckily everyone turned away, a few still eyeing your table, Robin included with her brows raised. You pushed hair away from your face and looked at the boys.

“Dustin, what the hell are you talking about?” “Yeah. What- what does that mean?” The tween rolled his eyes, “it means, Steve, (Y/n), we could be heroes. True American heroes.”

“Huh.” “Mm-hmm?” “No.”

Their eyes turned to you as you shook your head with a scowl. Your nails tapped the counter the longer you thought about Dustin’s words.

“What? You don’t want to be a hero?” Dustin questioned.

Still, you shook your head no. “We’ve done enough ‘heroism’ in the last two years. I’m not getting involved in anything more.” You were putting your foot down.

“Woah, okay, let’s just- what’s the catch?” Steve threw an arm atop the booth behind you.

“No catch, I just need your help.” “With what?”

Dustin grabbed something from his backpack, a book. “Translation,” and when you looked closer it was a Russian-English English-Russian dictionary.

“Do either of you even understand Russian? Cause I don’t. And Steve you barely passed Spanish, which again, isn’t Russian.” Telling the boys the one problem standing in their way. Steve opened his mouth like he was ready to defend himself but closed it and cocked his head in surrender. 

“We’ll manage.” Dustin said with an air of confidence.

You just shrugged and left the booth needing to help Robin with the growing crowd.

-

You sat in the food court with your headphones covering your ears as a cassette played music while your eyes focused on your book in hand. Occasionally you would take sips from your soda and scan the crowded dining area.

You tried to distract yourself from earlier with Dustin and Steve. Dustin instantly thinks about being heroes, American heroes, that is, trying to take down Russians. You saw how Steve’s eyes lit up at the idea, of getting some fame and glory. Probably thinking this would show his dad something or just get him off his back, you weren’t sure.

You wanted no part, not even a finger involved in this little idea that’s festering in their brains. The past two years have already been enough, you don’t need to be doing something for the limelight. Even though Russians are a lot better than interdimensional monsters trying to rip you apart. You would like to just put all that behind you and move forward with your relatively good life.

With your eyes so focused on an invisible point, you didn’t notice the person standing before or even waving their hands in front of your eyes until you were given a light push to the shoulder. You blinked a few times and then when you saw the culprit, they blew wide. You thought it was Steve or Robin just annoying and telling you to head back, but instead, someone you completely forgot about stood before you.

You slipped the orange foam coverings off your ears, “Tessa.” You sounded breathless in your ears.

The girl who stole your first kiss stood tall in the loud mall. Her hair lightened and was full of volume and bounce, a shine to her lids and lips while her lashes were curled in black. She wore tiny gold hoops, a few gold necklaces stacked together, and some rings littering her hands. She wore a flowery summer dress that was designed with flowers in white and orange, it stood bold against her dark skin.

She looked as beautiful as ever.

“Hi, (Y/n),” her smile curled around your name, “how have you been? It’s… it’s been a while.” She held her arms behind her with her shoulders pulled back.

‘did it suddenly get hotter?’ ‘were you sweating?’

“Uh… I’m- I’ve been o- okay. Didn’t think you- I thought you didn’t want to be around me?” You leaned forward a bit, trying to keep that line as private as you could in a crowded and loud shopping mall.

Her head dropped and she rolled her lips, you couldn’t help to follow the motion. You looked away and at your lap, it was like she had a magnetic pull on you. You didn’t like it.

“Yeah… kinda shitty of me to just… leave you in the dust. I’m sorry,” you looked up at the apology, “I- I didn’t want my parents to find out… and with the way you acted at school the following day- I knew to keep my distance. For both our sake’s.” She sat down in the empty chair at your table. She put a hand on the table and stretched towards you.

“I was wondering… if there’s any way we could… be friends again? I do miss you, and Will. He was like a second brother to me.” She gave a comforting smile, her eyes shining from the light.

With hesitation, you jerkily move a hand from your lap and set it over hers. It’s been so long since you shared the same bubble.

“I would- I would like to be friends again. But I think… I think it needs to be done slowly. I can’t just- just cannonball back into it. And, I think we should think about it a little, to see if we do.”

She nodded with understanding, she always understood without many words. She patted your hand with her free one before standing up and walking away, a smile threw over her shoulder and she disappeared into the moving crowd.

‘what the hell just happened?’

You didn’t do much reading after that. You just slipped the headphones back on and reset the cassette. You checked your watch and rolled your eyes as you saw you only had five minutes left of your break so you gathered your things and headed back to your ice cream parlor.

Distracted by the beat and lyrics of your music, you, once again, don’t hear the snickers of girls trailing behind you or hear the rapid clicking of heels. When you’re just a foot from the store, a sudden push to your back made you trip over yourself and hit the square linoleum floor.

Your book smacked the floor, your walkman and headphones crashed with a terrible sound, and thankfully, your empty soda cup didn’t spill anything. Your elbows and knees hurt a bit.

The laughs behind you made a scowl paint your face. You pushed yourself off the floor and turned at the commotion and felt yourself freeze up at the main person, but pushed through it.

“What the fuck is your problem, Carol?” You stepped close to her.

She stepped back and bumped into her followers. Her red hair was curled and styled as usual with shorts and a tight shirt as her outfit. Her eyes raked your work uniform and she laughed even harder, hands holding her stomach from pain.

“Oh,” she sighed, “you are so entertaining to watch. That whole thing with Tessa… what would Steve think?” Your shoulders get tense.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A stiff reply. She continues her snarky giggles. “Oh really? You looked just about ready to ki-“

You shoved her shoulder, hard, making her lackeys hold her for support. You felt the eyes on you but kept yours trained forward.

“How about you mind your fucking business, Carol. Steve and I do, and you’re not a single thought in our heads. Could’ve give a shit what you and Tommy are doing, but from what I’m seeing, you’re still a bunch of jackasses who are pathetic losers that enjoy other's misery.” You hissed the words close to her face before turning away.

You were the bigger person. You weren’t looking for a fight, you just wanted to put her in her place and walk away as she floated away from your thoughts once again. But it was never that easy with mean girls who are looking for a fight.

As your eyes caught the storefront, you saw Steve standing near the entrance with a worried expression. One hand on his hip while the other gripped the doorway, a cleaning rag slung over a shoulder. And then he started moving forward, quickly and you didn’t know why until you felt her claws yank your shoulder and a burning touch spread over your cheek.

Carol just smacked you.

You stood stunned for a second before you leaped towards her and grabbed a fist full of hair and started pulling as she cried like a baby. It didn’t last long, Steve wrapped his arms around your waist, and her friends, with great effort, pried you off her. Steve turned you away from the fight and walked you away as you screamed profanities at her. He went back for your fallen items when you were settled in the back room.

And that’s where you stayed for the next four hours of your shift. 

-

“Do you… wanna talk about earlier?” “Nope.” “Okay.”

The constant ringing of the desk bell pulled Robin away and you heaved a sigh with closed eyes, a thank you to the heavens. Your head gave a small thump on the table in the back room, arms limp at your sides.

Dustin was originally in the back room when Steve dragged you through the double doors, the boy's eyes blown open at your seething energy. Then Robin came through the doors and shooed the two out, Steve tried to talk back but Robin shoved him away and told him to man the counter for a few minutes.

Now you were alone and cooled down, knowing you’ll need to tell Steve about earlier, especially Tessa. You hated that you instantly succumbed to her presence, it’s like you unintentionally cheated on Steve. You love Steve too much to withhold those thoughts and feelings that needed to be said.

You heard the swoosh of the doors and footsteps coming your way, two sets. Then you heard the scraping of a chair being pulled out and stuff being set on the table, guessed it was Dustin and the other person was Steve. And even with your head still down, you had a feeling they were communicating through looks and silent gestures.

“(Y/n)? Baby?” Steve’s low voice was right next to you, “are you okay?” His hand rubbed along your spine.

You didn’t want to look into his eyes, cause the second you do it will either be two things; Steve instantly knowing what’s swimming in your thoughts or you crack and start spilling everything. And you don’t want to have that conversation at work.

By the grace of some angels, Robin called for you up front and you shot up from your chair, the legs screeching against the tile. You push through the doors and stand beside Robin, hands on your hips and a sigh out your mouth; you had to withhold the eye roll.

“Hello, Erica. How may we serve you today?” You plastered on a fake sunny smile and your even faker sweet voice.

Erica Sinclair was in the colorful parlor practically every day since summer started. Always comes in with her group of friends and asks for a sample of every flavor. At first, you allowed it cause she was Lucas’s sister, but just after a week, you were over it.

“I would like to try the peppermint stick, but one of your workers won’t allow it.” Her steely eyes set on Robin who had a bored expression on her face.

“Erica, I’m sure you’ve tried peppermint stick plenty of times to know how it tastes. It’s peppermint.” Your customer voice slipping up.

“Yes I have, but I would like to try it again. Are you refusing me service?” Her hands sat on her hips as she cocked her head. You closed your eyes, having to stop another eye-rolling.

“Robin, why don’t you head to the break room.” And she didn’t have to be told twice. Your attention is fully on the head-strong girl.

“Erica, I was very lenient with you at the beginning. But you can’t come here every day and abuse our sample policy, you’re technically robbing us.” You leaned against the counter.

Erica stood her ground, not making a move and you weren’t either. You weren’t in the mood today. When you saw people entering the store and getting in line, your customer service voice perked high. “If you’re not planning on buying any ice cream today, may you please move out of the way so I can attend to the paying customers behind you?”

She stayed in place and you were worried you would have to give in and get a stupid sample of peppermint stick for her. But she rolled her eyes and walked away, you held your chin high at the small win today.

As you helped the last customer in line, you turned around to head through the doors and you could hear the boys and Robin talking. And just as you entered you heard the end of a sentence she was saying, something amazing as Steve and Dustin wooed in awe.

“That was pig Latin, dingus.” And Steve smacked Dustin with his banana peel, “Idiot.” “But I can speak Spanish and French and Italian, and I’ve been in band for twelve years. My ears are little geniuses, trust me.”

Steve looked up your way, arms crossed over your chest as you leaned against the door frame. Your brows were raised, giving him a silent ‘what are you gonna do?’, he eyed Robin with a cautious look as he held the tape recorder.

“Come on, it’s your turn to sling ice cream, my turn to translate. I don’t even want credit. I’m just bored.” She leaned in with her hand held out.

The bell wouldn’t stop dining, but you couldn’t move. You just stared as Steve debated in his head, eyes closed with a pout on his lips as he tilted his head side to side, before sighing and swapping the recorder for the scooper in Robin’s hand. With an eye roll, you pushed through the doors and back to the counter to help with the restless customers. Steve joined a minute later and posted behind the cash register as you scooped the desserts.

You hated this stupid situation. How you were having a good summer and then when Dustin returns, saying he has a Russian message, Steve jumps into the action. And now Robin’s being lumped into the mess, you wanted to kick something. Why can’t these types of things leave you alone, why is there always something happening in Hawkins?

You slipped away from the counter and started to bus tables. Spray bottle and towel keep your hands busy as you let your mind go blank, or at least you think your mind goes blank when in reality you’re scrubbing hard at an invisible spot with a scowl painting your face. 

“Everything okay?” Steve’s sneakers entered your eye line. You didn’t bother looking up, “peachy,” you gritted out.

“(Y/n), come on. Look, it's not that big of a deal. It’s just translating.” He huffed and it just made you angrier. You scrubbed harder at the clean table, “I don’t care if it’s just translating, Harrington. I don’t want Robin roped into you and Henderson’s stupid, heroic crap or whatever. Even just something as simple as listening to that tape could have horrible effects and I don’t even want to think about the-”

Steve pulled you into a hug with a hand holding the back of your skull, keeping your face close to his shoulder. He whispered reassurances about how everything was gonna be fine and that the upside down is gone. You wanted to believe his words, but you couldn’t. You pulled away from Steve, dropping the cleaning supplies beside you.

“Uh… can- can I go on a break? I- I think I need some air.” Eyes focused on your dirty sneakers.

Steve’s hands rubbed along your arms before slipping to hold your hands, “yeah. Yeah, I can cover up front.”

You slipped from his touch and rushed out of the loud and crowded mall.

-

After sitting at the entrance for ten minutes, you cooled down enough to head back inside and plow through the rest of your shift. As you shuffled through the crowds of people, there was a strong slam to your chest and it knocked the air from your lungs. A hand came to your chest as you were preparing to tell the person to watch it, but instead, you saw three dipshit kids.

“What the hell are you three doing here?” Daggers pointed at their shocked faces, “You know, Dustin’s at the store right now. Even told me how you guys left him yesterday, he’s been gone for three months.” Fist on your hips.

“Woah, okay, it’s not like that.” Mike spoke up first, “We helped set up his radio tower so we could hear from his ‘girlfriend’.” quotes around the word. “Plus, Mike and El left right away. Max and I, along with Will stayed into the night.” Lucas added.

“Hey! Screw you, man!” “It’s true!”

“Okay!” You held your hands out to stop the arguing boys, “look I don’t care about that. Why don’t you go apologize to your friend while you’re here for… whatever reason. Actually, what is your reason for being here?”

“It’s the mall, why do we need a reason?” Will asked. You watched the three boys, “Cause you’re all up to something. I can tell, and it’s nothing good. Plus where’s Max?” You knew Hopper didn’t allow El to visit the mall, which you thought wasn’t fair, but didn’t comment.

Lucas shrugged his shoulders, “we’re on a break, so she hasn’t called.”

“You mean, you’ve called, but she hasn’t picked up.” Will retorted. Lucas gave him a quick punch to his bicep.

‘stupid boys’

“Whatever. Just stop by the store and talk to Dustin and you all better be home before dark, especially you Will.” You ignored the eye-roll from Mike and gave a quick kiss to Will’s hair as you continued your walk to the store.

Steve was behind the counter serving a couple of girls as you walked over to him. He turned his body towards you, head tilted with a tiny smile. “Feeling better?” “Eh.” He chuckled.

“Oh! Guess who I ran into a few minutes ago.” “Hmm… Daisy Jones?” You shoved his shoulder, “No. Thing one, thing two, and Will. Pretty sure they almost rowed me down when they were running away from something.”

His brows furrowed, “huh.” “What?” He pointed a finger lazily, “Max and El were in here earlier. And then giggled when I asked if El should even be here before they ran out.” You squint your eyes, “huh.”

“(Y/n)!” Robin called your name through the open divider, her elbows on the counter. “We have one sentence translated, The week is long.” She said in a poor Russian accent.

“Oh… great.” You weakly gave thumbs-ups, a strained smile.

-

“The week is long, the silver cat feeds, when blue meets yellow in the west.”

The four of you gathered your belongings and Steve pulled the metal gate down to lock the store, “I mean, it just… it just can’t be right.” “It’s right,” Robin reassured.

“Honestly, I think it’s great news.” “How is this great news?” Steve scoffed, “I mean, so much for being American heroes. It’s total nonsense.” 

“It’s not nonsense. It’s too specific. It’s obviously a code.” Dustin argued.

“Great. Feels like I’m in a James Bond movie now. Dealing with Russian codes and shit. Something bad in the plot is gonna happen and we’ll all be in deep shit.” Hands flared in the air at your dramatics. Robin and Dustin just shook their heads at your antics while Steve grabbed your hand closest to him.

“Yeah, it could be a code or Buckley’s translation skills are just crap.” “No, they’re not, Harrington. It’s correct and obviously, they’ll use codes over radios. They aren’t gonna blatantly say, Fire the warhead at noon. So them saying The silver cat feeds- why would anyone talk like that unless they’re trying to mask the true meaning of their message?” 

“Exactly.”

“And why would anyone mask the true meaning of their message unless the message was somehow sensitive?”

“Exactly.”

You stayed quiet and zoned out as Robin and Dustin talked back and forth, also missing the mocking face Steve was pulling at their words. It’s been a long day, you don’t even want to think about Russians invading Hawkins.

“I can’t do evil Russians. I just want one normal year.” You muttered. Only Steve heard you as Dustin and Robin conversed and continued walking.

With your brain on auto-pilot, you didn’t notice Steve’s abrupt stop until there was a sharp yank to your arm making you stumble. Your sneakers squeaked against the tile as you looked at your boyfriend as he dropped your hand to begin patting his pockets as he stared at a horse ride. He pulled his pockets inside out and loose change spilled to the floor, but he just shook his head.

“Steve?” You stepped closer, “what’s-”  “Steve, what are you doing?” Robin called to him

“Uh, it’s a quarter. I need- Does anyone have a quarter?” He looked at you and you just shook your head no. He called for Robin and Dustin again and they joined the two of you.

“Sure you’re tall enough for that ride?” Robin jokes. “Quarter!” Steve voiced again and Robin threw in one. He spun as he caught it out of the air. Then he placed the coin in the slot and the golden horse started its gallop as its cheery music followed.

“You need help getting up, little Stevie?” A gentle shove to Robin’s arm was your silent ‘stop it’ and Dustin chuckled at her teasing. Steve just shushed everyone as he was focused heavily on the melody.

“Would you two just shut up and listen?”

They quieted down and continued to listen. You looked between the three of them, Dustin’s face changing as the music played longer. Your brows were creased in confusion.

“I don’t-” “The music!” and Dustin stripped his backpack and pulled the recorder out. He played the tape just as the ride ended.

“I don’t understand.” Robin finished your earlier thought. “It’s the exact same song on the recording,” Dustin answered. “Maybe they have horses like this in Russia,” Robin supplied.

“But it’s called the ‘Indiana Flyer’. I don’t- That wouldn’t make sense.” You inputted. Steve shook his head, “This code, it… didn’t come from Russia. It came from here.” His eyes are on the three of you.

A wave of uneasiness crashed over you.

You scrubbed your hands over your face then carded your fingers through your messy hair, “god dammit.”

-

The car was silent. Just Steve driving the both of you to your house, radio so low it wasn’t even playing music. An elbow propped against the window with your fist digging into your cheek as you stared at the fast-moving trees. Your lips were sealed shut since leaving the mall and saying a meek goodbye to Robin and Dustin.

“Baby?” Steve spoke quietly, a hand on your thigh, “what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” His thumb rubbing your knee.

You kept quiet, thoughts in space with glazed-over eyes. Russians were in Hawkins. Evil Russians were doing something in Hawkins and now it was basically up to your little group to figure out a code. Why the fuck were you suddenly given the Spider-Man treatment? With great powers must also come great responsibility, the responsibility to fight demons and find hidden Russians.

“Why didn’t Dustin go to Hopper?” Your first words after half an hour. You didn’t turn your head, but you felt Steve’s eyes looking your way and the quick squeeze he gave to your skin.

“Well, you know Dustin. Always ambitious, and he wants to be a hero.” “But this is something that the government should be handling. This isn’t something we can just stick our noses in for fun. It’s Russia for fucks sake-” “We’ve handled Demogorgans, I think we can handle decoding a Russian code.”

The maroon BMW pulled into your driveway, headlights shining bright on your dark house. Jonathan and Joyce’s car was parked so everyone was home and asleep right now. Steve cut the ignition and you instantly grabbed your things and left the car.

“(Y/n)!” Steve shouted before you heard his door slam shut and his fast steps against the gravel. You walked through the front door and headed straight to your room, already knowing Steve is just a few steps behind. You threw your things on the floor, kicked your shoes off and grabbed a pillow from your bed, and turned around just as Steve walked in and closed your door. You started to smack him repeatedly with the pillow in hand.

“Wha- (Y/n)...” “You’re being a dick right now, Steve.” A huff and you stopped hitting him. “Okay, what’s going on? You’ve been off all day.” Steve stepped closer. You dropped your pillow and curled your fingers into claws.

You gripped the hair at your scalp, “everything, Steve! This whole day has been a fucking mess and I feel like no one is listening to me! I- I don’t want to deal with shit like this anymore! I can barely sleep at night, Steve. Nightmares sink into my brain if I were to close my eyes for more than a few minutes. And- And with today… how Dustin mentioned being American heroes- oh I knew you took his simple bait into helping him.”

An empty chuckle fell from your lips as you turned your back to Steve, “and then fucking Tessa Anderson walks up to me in the food court and… and my heart skipped a beat. And I hated myself during our conversation cause I just thought about how beautiful she looked and I stuttered on my words, I- I even said I would be willing to be friends with her again, but I don’t even know if she was part of the whole Carol incident.”

Small tears dropped from your eyes and rolled down your cheeks and off your chin, you turned back to a motionless Steve and his wide eyes.

“Steve… I- I,” you took a step towards him with your hands clasped in front of your face, “please, please know that I love you so much. It was just old feelings, I- I- I’m a fucking idiot and- and I understand if this ends our relationship-”

Your words were cut off by the force of Steve’s lips, his hands holding your face. You unravel your twinged hands and fisted them into the cotton of the scoops uniform that the both of you were still wearing. Your bodies were so close that your feet stumbled as you leaned back to contact as Steve leaned in further.

Steve pulled away first, his hands still holding your cheeks. You chased after him, scared that it was a final kiss, but he gave two quick pecks before moving out of reach. Your eyes blinked a few times before fully focusing on Steve who held such a gentle gaze.

“I love you so fucking much,” he all but sighed out, “and I’ve been a blind idiot all day.” Your eyes squinted and pursed your lips.

“Wha-“ “I wasn’t paying attention closely to how you were feeling or acting. I just brushed it off like it was nothing, that’s shitty of me. At least with the Russian stuff, I mean. The Tessa stuff… I’m glad you told me, I- I mean I knew you would tell me. Cause you mauling at Carol had a reason behind it- other than her slapping you.”

With closed eyes and a sigh, “Steve… I feel like I’m being a shitty girlfriend.” “How so?” Fingertips ghosting over your earlobe.

You licked your lips, “well, firstly, Tessa. I wasn’t gonna leave you for her, never in a million years. But just- the way she made me feel is how you make me feel and you not being the cause made me feel sick.”

Steve nodded at your words, “wanna know something?” You slipped your hands from his shirt to the band of his shorts and you looked into his eyes.

“Last year… when we started to get closer, and Nancy was drifting away from me… you started to make me feel things. My heart would race and my stomach would form knots, and it was because of you. Nancy used to cause that feeling and when it changed to you… I was worried. But then they stopped completely at the sight or even thought of her one night and soon-“ Steve leaned close, “do I consume your thoughts? Every waking moment? Every dream you have at night? Cause you do.”

His voice dropped in octaves, a shiver sprinted over your spine and you released a shaky sigh, “you do. Your smile would flash in quiet moments and sometimes I hear an echo of your laugh. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you fill my thoughts even if I’m with you. And at night, if I’m alone-“ you moved a hand to hold Steve’s neck as you pushed his face towards your shoulder so your lips would brush the shell of his ear, “I imagine your hands touching me. Your palms slide over my arms and stomach, fingers squeezing my thighs or boobs as you trail wet kisses any place you can reach. And when my heart is racing and my bare chest is panting with want, I set my index finger to my collarbone pretending it’s your tongue. And with a teasing pace, I’ll slowly trail it between my lonely breast, passing my belly button, and stop just before-“

Suddenly you were lifted into the air, the world turned upside down. There was a swift smack to your ass and then you bounced against the springs of your bed with Steve hovering over you. He pulled his scoops shirt off in that attractive way boys do, and then his shoes followed before setting a knee on the bed. His fingers tugged at your top so you leaned forward to permit him.

His fingers sunk into your hair as your lips melted together, bodies moving automatically. You bent an arm behind your back and easily unclipped your bra and slipped the straps from your shoulder and flung it away. You let your fingers tangle in Steve’s messy locks as he trailed his lips toward your neck, making you lean it to the side for more access. Your eyes were squeezed shut and your lips were parted as light pants sang into the quiet night. Your grip tightened on Steve’s hair as you gave small tugs, his groans vibrating on your body.

Your nails scratched his scalp as he dipped his head lower, sucking purple bruises along your collarbone followed by the wet trail of his tongue to the valley of your chest. You laid on the bed as Steve moved his hands, his left going to your right boob and his forearm keeping him propped up.

His mouth latched onto your left breast, tongue wetting your nipple until it was hard and you were arching your back. His thumb swiped over your other nipple and it made you sigh from pleasure.

“Steve…” you moaned quietly.

He gave a kiss to the perked nipple before latching to your lips again. Your knees bent on the side of his hips, trying to push him closer.

Steve pulled just a hair away from your open mouth, “I’m gonna show you just how much I love you.”

He kissed your lips, then your neck which followed to your two breasts that he took more attention towards. His left hand slid further down your waist and stopped at your shorts. His mouth set simple, quick pecks over your stomach that was moving with your fast pants.

One more kiss to the skin above your waistband and he set his eyes on you. Propped on your elbows with your head thrown back before jerking at his stopped motions. His brows rose and he did a quick tug on your shorts, you quickly nodded your head. In one pull he took your uniform shorts and underwear off, leaving only your white socks. You pulled your knees closer to your body before Steve crawled over and set his hands on your calves, pulling your legs down a bit and then pushing your thighs open.

“Steve…” Your fingers curled into your sheets as Steve’s pretty brown eyes just stared at you. His chest was bare and displaying his dark mess of hair along with his thick thighs straining against the seam of his shorts.

He laid on his stomach and pressed kisses to the inside of your right knee, his supple lips dragging further up your thigh. The air of his breathing ghosted over where you needed him most.

“Steve-“ A more desperate whine.

“Don’t worry, baby. Just gonna lull you into sweet dreams.” And he gave a lick of his tongue.

...

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