#to dustin and lucas they’re not acting any differently than how they always do…

[hellinhawkins]

hot take but I don’t think that lucas or dustin (or anyone, for that matter, other than robin) are going to see what’s going on between mike and will until it happens. they don’t suspect ANYTHING. when they actually get together everyone’s going to be shocked

[longtallglasses]

some miwi headcanons just bc ! older ones

i see young mike as kind of loud and not realizing how loud (and annoying) his yelling near people is (ie karen yelling in s1 “mike let’s go!” “COMING!!!”) however he quickly learns not to yell around will, adopting his softer voice for him BUT

in school he’s constantly calling over to will “will come here” “will sit next to me” “will! over here! look at this!” trying to get his attention “will, will, hey will…” other kids are like dude shut up… so many kids know will’s name who’ve never seen him, and mike’s thought of as that kid who’s always calling out for his friend.

i’m an avid rock collector!mike enjoyer. on the playground, in the forest, at the park, at the lake. he’s picking up all the cool ones, storing them away for very important scientific reasons like “this one’s shiny in A Different way!” he sets aside his favorites to show and give to will, very much in the style of a cat bringing a dead rodent to their owner, like “got something special just for you :) a Very Cool Rock :)” will loves how much mike enjoys it and is very excited to receive them, feeling quite special.

will loves stuffed animals (i mean we been knew) when he was younger they all had names and backstories, interpersonal drama and storylines he played out. two stuffed cats he definitely thought of as him and mike subconsciously, as they were best friends. he would act out little dramatic scenes of them running away from some oppressive kingdom, going on an adventure and meeting new friends along the way. … and he may have made them kiss a few times …

obviously small will loved drawing, but i don’t think he was always confident in his skill. after people tell him he’s good he gets caught up in trying to be really good, and gets frustrated when he can’t do something the way he wants. hence crumpled up attempts in the trash mike fishes out. there’s a spell of time where he gives up for a bit and jonathan asks why he hasn’t seen him drawing lately, and will says he doesn’t think he can get any better, it’s too hard. jonathan tells him it doesn’t matter if it’s perfect, he should just draw to make himself happy “draw for the campaigns, your friends think it’s so cool” so will keeps at it focusing on drawing what he thinks him and his friends will appreciate

while watching scary movies in the basement mike and will always held hands under blankets. it started when they were younger and they first got permission to watch a scary movie, they didn’t want to admit they might be getting too scared. during a big jump their hands reached out on instinct and too caught up in the movie they didn’t let go. when it was over they didn’t talk about it, but then it just kept happening every time they got scared. which led to holding hands when upset outside of watching movies. they never really discussed it, it just felt like their little secret thing.

all the boys were nice to holly but will was the only friend who actually liked seeking her out to play w them. (fascinated by a little sister unlike lucas and only-child dustin) mike and will would play games with her sometimes, will thinking she was really cute, and mike thinking it was cute will really liked her. cue karen thinking will is the best influence on her son

i have such a strong image of kindergarten miwi right after they become friends making mud pies together every recess. their teacher scolds them the first few times having to scrub their hands when they come back in. it gets so bad when the recess monitor sees them heading for the dirt they’re yelling “Michael! William! don’t even think about it!” they think it’s so funny to rile them up, they start spreading mud on each others arms “will you need more than that!” they only try to eat it a few times, it does taste really gross. after they’re banned from the dirt, they move to the sand box, it’s only a bit cleaner.

[runninguplenorahills]

Ok, but takes about certain relationship/friendship dynamics are usually one of the worst takes in this fandom lmao. Not even just melvin because yeah, melvin shippers literally created their own stranger things au and claim it’s canon, but also just other dynamics have been twisted into something they’re clearly not.

[I’m just ranting now and it’s all based on what I got from the show so feel free to disagree]

For example elmike. I love elmike but I will never ever understand how people actually think that El is more important to Mike than Lucas and Dustin!?!?!? Of course Mike cares about her and I’m not trying to invalidate that but he simply doesn’t care more about her than he cares about his other friends!! And Lucas and Dustin are so important to him it’s a crime to disregard his connection to them like that!!

Or willel. I do like willel and I’m happy that El gets to have a bigger family now but to me it’s very evident that her and Will are not as close yet! El didn’t notice or didn’t really care about the fact that Will didn’t get letters from Mike and Will also didn’t feel comfortable enough to confide in her about how that’s making him upset. Everyone always talks about how Mike was in the wrong with the way he acted towards El at rink-o-mania but Will didn’t act any differently! And he also didn’t attempt to comfort her about what happened! Will also didn’t know about the fact that El was lying to Mike because she didn’t feel comfortable to talk about her insecurities with him. What I’m saying is that while they did have some bonding time their bond just isn’t as deep as a lot of people make it out to be and the takes that resulted from thinking that Will and El have some kind of mega-sibling-bond are some of the most out of character takes I’ve ever seen. Like, they’re so trivial and simple but so out of character. I mean, I do think that we’ll get more bonding between them next season but not to a point that overpowers their relationships to other people.

And then we also have the Max/Eddie sibling dynamic which doesn’t make any sense because it’s not compatible with canon whatsoever!! Max immediately thinks that Eddie killed Chrissy which is a valid assumption and Dustin shuts her down by telling her that she wouldn’t think that if she actually knew Eddie! Which is clear evidence that Max and Eddie were never close ever! They didn’t know each other past appearances and reputations and the fact that they both lived at the trailer park didn’t change that at all. Eddie was never an older brother figure to Max and it just makes me mad that people try and make it seem like he was because they’re quite literally also just disregarding what Steve is to Max in the process. They’re putting Eddie above Steve for Max which just isn’t the case at all!! Steve literally got a Max-letter while Eddie didn’t actually know Max! And well, Max is in a coma now and Eddie is bones so the chance of friendship development doesn’t even exist.

I’m sorry for the rant but, essentially, I don’t like out of character scenarios and that’s a personal problem hahaha.

You ever see takes for a storyline or character or relationship and you're like "how did you get here when the show has been telling you otherwis since S1"

[pedgito]

i can’t stop thinking about eddie eating reader out in his throne chair after a d&d game pls i NEED it

author’s note: when i tell you i screamed as soon as this request came in, i can’t even explain the feelings i’m having.

cw: 18+ (minors dni), semi-public (they’re alone and don’t get caught), more acquaintances with benefits, eddie has a small crush on reader, mentions of eddie losing his virginity to reader, oral (f receiving), fingering, assisted masturbation, eddie’s such a giver no one can tell me differently, lots of dirty talk, if i missed anything lmk!

word count: 3k

You never noticed how often Eddie stayed late after Hellfire’s weekly D&D sessions—not until you started staying around too. Your acquaintance with him had been gradually growing and his hesitancy at letting you in the club at the beginning had been obvious and with a lot of added tension.

Maybe his anxiety of having you join came from the intimidation he felt from you—it’s how you liked to think of it, but he never had any good, valid reasoning for it. Eventually, with some convincing on Dustin’s part, Eddie gave in. Eddie would come to his senses after several weeks, a few months of your insistent cheerful attitude and mission to change his view on you.

And it wasn’t that Eddie looked at you negatively, that wasn’t even close to his opinions on you—he just couldn’t stand how easily you checked off all his boxes. He thinks it’s just a coincidence when he sees you wearing a Def Leppard shirt, similar to one he had shoved in the back of his drawer, but then it happens again with Dio, then Metallica, and Eddie feels like he’s losing his mind. You’ve always got your Walkman attached to your jeans and your headphones secured on over your ears and he can hear the beat of his favorite Ozzy songs as it blares through, the music flooding his own ears as you sifted through your locker beside him, but when Dustin finally drags you along to your first Hellfire meeting, Eddie can’t stand it.

Forget how much he complained about needing another person to fill out the table, or someone to fill in for Lucas’ growing absence, because when you walked through that door, all urgency suddenly faded away.

It wasn’t a no—rather an absolutely not.

Eddie still caved regardless; Dustin was an excellent negotiator.

Eddie gives you the cold shoulder for about three weeks; minimal conversation, barely any actual eye contact with you, but then you end up spending one night helping him clean up after a particularly rowdy session—half eaten chip bags, cold pizza, and empty soda cans strung about like a tornado had blown through. You’re not sure why you offered to help, but you did.

Selfishly, you were hoping Eddie would finally give up his defensive act of wanting nothing to do with you. But, he doesn’t—in fact, he’s probably more stubborn in that moment of you two being alone than he ever has been, but you can’t ignore the several times you catch him glancing over, eyes peeking up from where his head was downturned, trying to keep himself busy.

You were beyond it—taking matters into your own hands.

You shoved yourself between the table and him and he kissed you without question—heated and forceful, clearly he’d been holding this back for a while. It’s a dangerous routine you two fall into from then on and it never leaves the four walls of that theater room, like it doesn’t exist outside of there.

And Eddie should feel horrible for defacing school property in such away, but it’s the only area of the school that lends some remnant of privacy, sectioned off from the main building, and everyone was already long by the time you two started up—if it ever got that far, which was typically always.

It was a full-fledged addiction and Eddie couldn’t get enough.

Thus, how things ended up the way they did tonight in particular. Eddie was frustrated most of the day, it wasn’t hard to notice, but you don’t pry—you never did. It was an unspoken rule and you both respected it. But, you weren’t completely soulless and cheering him up seemed like the best option, even if the sex was better when he was tense and riled up.

You plop down his throne, a velvet cushion surrounded by intricate wooden design carved into the backing, it was a cheap knock-off of something that could potentially be worth the money—but Eddie loved it, cherished it, and never let anyone sit in it, not even you. His back is turned to you, muttering around with something near the entrance, shoving and stuffing some items away, only when you clear your throat does he finally look over his shoulder.

You expect him to make some snide comment or ask you to move, but he doesn’t, his eyes darkening slightly. And that scares you more than anything, body tingling with anticipation. He thumbs at the lock, flicking it closed and blindly reaches for a chair, forcing it under the doorknob for extra security.

You already know what’s coming, pressing against the arms of the chair to lift yourself up and out, but Eddie shakes his head, stalking toward you.

“Don’t move”. He tells you, voice smooth and confident.

You gently sit back down, watching as he wiggles his way between the table and chair, the legs of the throne squeaking slightly as he shifts it back.

“You’re not mad?” You ask curiously, head peering up to look at him from where he’s settled between your legs, hands pressed against the arms of the chair too, covering yours.

He shakes his head casually. “I mean—yeah, it’s my chair, but I only say all that shit so Dustin keeps his hands off, that kid would be power drunk if I let him DM for a night.”

“Fair point.” You nod slightly, eyeing the growing smirk on Eddie’s face. “I don’t like that look—“

“Why not?” Eddie asks teasingly, knee bumping your own to spread your thighs further apart. You didn’t wear skirts often, but the humid Indiana weather wasn’t too kind near the end of Spring and you really wanted to wear it anyways.

“It’s never a good sign.” You tell him, his figure sinking further down until he’s settled on his knees, wrestling with your legs until they’re resting over his broad shoulders. “See?”

Eddie laughs into the skin at the bend of your knee, leaving soft, open-mouthed kisses into the dip of it, never trailing further up your thigh—he was waiting for something, eyes locked on yours.

“We’re out of condoms, Eddie.” You remind him, “We can’t.”

“I can fix that.” Eddie supplies—the hot, calloused palm of his hands roaming up your legs and over your thighs, squeezing at the flesh until you’re keening forward, hands shifting behind you onto the pad of the chair, trying to keep yourself from slipping any further forward. “I don’t need to fuck you to feel good.”

“Is that so?” You ask, watching his smirk grow into a full grin, finger squeezing harder, cunt clenching underneath the cover of your skirt.

“This is already doing enough for me,” He chuckles softly, your mouth falling open slightly as his fingers dip underneath your skirt, pulling at the hem of your underwear, “do you mind?”

You shake your head furiously and it’s all Eddie needs to break the dam, pulling at the material with fervor, already soaked with your wetness—and he somehow manages to make the awkward fidgeting even more endearing as he finally gets the last bit of your lace panties past your ankle, dropping them to the floor carelessly.

“Don’t hold back,” He reminds you, leaving a hot, saliva slick trail of kisses up your inner thigh, hands cupping under your calves until he can adjust your ass near the edge of the chair, giving him perfect access to your throbbing cunt, glistening with sticky arousal, “you know I hate it.”

The first contact of his tongue against your cunt is like electricity jolting through your body, gasp ripping from your chest as he licks you fully, moaning at the way you coat his tongue.

“Gonna make a mess of this chair, aren’t you?” He comments redundantly, lips closing over your clit gently as he sucks, one of the hands used to prop yourself upright shooting to his wild and untamed curls, entangling into them, hand molding the curve of his head as you guiding him slightly, hips rutting shamelessly into his waiting mouth.

You nod dumbly, head falling back as your breath quickened. “The velvet, it’s gonna get ruined.” You complain, voice catching on the last word as one of his hands joins his diligently working mouth, slapping at your cunt gently, the cool air of the hit a shock to your system. He laughs quietly at your reaction, startled and half-frustrated as your eyebrows knit together, staring daggers into his obscured face, tongue rubbing slow circles against the delicate bundle of nerves. He drags two fingers, your preferred middle and ring, through your excessive wet arousal and dips them into your waiting hole with no resistance, his face lighting up at your wrecked tone, letting out a broken sob at how easily his fingers sink into you.

“Who cares—“ Eddie replies, “so pretty like this, like a queen or whatever that saying is—“

“A throne fit for a queen?” You guess, a small laugh escaping your chest. “I’m honored, truly.”

“Yeah—yeah, that.” Eddie was only a savant with words when he felt like it, and right now he was far too distracted. “Wider, sweetheart.”

You obey, stretching your legs open further, letting him adjust you until they hang over the armrests, giving him even more room to work, both hands free.

“Sweetest pussy I’ve ever tasted,” Eddie tells you through muffled tone, his mouth occupied with your throbbing heat, “it’s fucking ridiculous.”

Despite the overwhelming pleasure you feel in the moment, you’re puzzled at the comment, remembering how he opted to leave out the fact that he was a virgin until his dick was already buried inside of you the first time, fucking you sloppily over the table.

“Wait—I thought,” You start, sensing the beginning of an incoming banter, but it dies on your tongue, just as Eddie’s prods inside of you, his idle fingers traveling up to your clit, giving it a deserved amount of attention.

“Just take the compliment.” Eddie grumbles against you.

You laugh softly, enjoying how easy it was to frustrate him. But the rumble of his voice against your cunt is satiating a need you didn’t know you had, the full vibrations like magic.

You hum slightly, “Keep talking.” You encourage him.

Eddie’s eyebrows furrow from below, half of his face buried in your core. “I’m a little busy.” He protests. You tug at his hair slightly, pulling his face away from your cunt, “—oh, you’re serious?”

There was something about his voice—warm and soothing, it brought you comfort, but the calming contrast of his voice as he spoke such filthy words was stomach-clenching, making your brain go fuzzy and lose all sense of time and thought.

“Oh—okay,” He nods, taking a short breath before letting his fingers take over for a moment, staring up at you wantonly, eyes wider than ever as you pull at his hair more, a soft grunt leaving his lips, “fuck—I really like that.”

“I know.” You reply confidently.

Eddie senses your pride, feeling the need to knock you down a peg—it’s not that he didn’t mind the easy switch in dynamics, but he needed to feel that control tonight, even if it required embarrassing you a little.

“Almost as much as I like watching you touch yourself,” He says, gripping the wrist of the hand bound in his hair, pulling gently until you released him, “—go on, since you felt the need to sit in my chair without asking.”

“But, you said—“

Eddie chin tilts up, head cocking to the side in warning.

“You’re so annoying,” You mumble, listening despite his obvious ego as it oozes from him, you lean forward and press two fingers to his lips and Eddie doesn’t even question it, wetting them gleefully with his tongue—and maybe you get too greedy, causing Eddie to pull tug your hand away, pressing it carefully to your already sensitive cunt, the pads of your fingers resting over your aching core, dragging through your folds and over your clit. Eddie let’s go then, using both hands to grip at your thighs, holding you open as you touched yourself.

You know he’s definitely straining in his jeans, hard cock pressed against the line of his zipper—so you imagine how pretty he looks bare, ruddy tip pressing up against the start of his stomach as he kneels before you.

He’s watching, unashamed—lips pink and swollen as he pulls his bottom one between his teeth. You’ve never felt embarrassed or ashamed around Eddie, a stark contrast to any other person you’ve been with—Eddie adores every part of you, from head to toe, beginning to end, it’s everything you could want in a sexual partner—serious or not.

“Do you wanna come?” Eddie asks challengingly.

“Yes—yeah, I do.” You answer softly, a soft gasp falling from your lips as your fingers circle your clit, apply the perfect amount of pressure. You could applaud Eddie on how attuned he was with your body, but nobody knew it better than you.

“Fuck, look at you,” He replies with admiration, watching the way you cunt clenched around nothing, aching to be filled, “—god, I could fuck you right now.”

“Can’t.” You reply breathless, adamant on your safe-sex stance.

“I know,” Eddie agrees, “but, I can dream, right?”

“Dream all you want,” You snark, “but finish what you started.”

He laughs slightly, nodding in agreement.

“You’re right—sorry, sweetheart.”

Your fingers alone were enough, but you were being selfish, seeking the feeling of his tongue as it flattened against you, the ungodly noise as he ducks and laps at your slick, drinks it in like nothing, eyes peering up at you daringly, waiting for more.

You whine as his tongue works you over, his body unable to resist as his fingers join again too, filling you up with three instead of two, and it’s a lot to take in, even for you, his fingers mirror the girth and width of his own dick almost, long and thick, the blunt edge of his rings pressed up against your core.

“Look at me,” He muffled into your cunt, pulling back slightly to look at you, mouth glistening with wetness, “—want you to look at me when you come.”

You nod deftly, fingers working quickly to relieve that painful ache of an impending orgasm, mouth hung open on a soundless gasp as you tip over the edge—your vision whites out and you’re almost certain you go blind for half a second, not even remembering half of the encouraging, sappy shit Eddie says to you as you work through it—it’s like white noise.

“That’s good,” Eddie says softly, “—fuck you’re so warm.”

You almost forget his fingers are still buried inside you until he’s pulling them out, gently resting your back down to a more comfortable position, hips screaming for relief.

He takes his fingers in his mouth, sucking greedily—Eddie’s never been one to shy away from typically grosser stuff, he wasn’t ashamed of any of it. He’d just as easily shove his tongue in your mouth after coming down your throat, it made no difference to him.

You let out a rough sigh, making a weak motion to your discarded panties on the floor. Eddie laughs softly, reaching for the garment to shove them in your waiting hand.

“I hope you’re good at getting stains out ” You comment, feeling the wet, sticky puddle under your ass—a mix of his saliva and you, leaving a growing mark in the material.

Eddie makes a face of uncertainty, “Yeah, not so much.” He brushes it off, “Either way, no one’s gonna know.”

Which was true, it was just as indiscernible as all the other stains riddling the furniture in that room.

“Besides, there’s gonna be a few more by next week.” He comments slyly, you pull your underwear back on, lifting yourself from the chair with shaky, weak legs.

Eddie sees it, reaching for your arm immediately.

“Woah,” He smiles, “don’t go down just yet.”

“Oh, shut up.” You say playfully, shoving his hand away when you feel stable enough. “What are you even getting at?”

Eddie’s smile turns devious, crowding into your space as you fall back against the edge of the table, succumbing to another compromisable position.

“You, me,” His finger trails from himself to you, “and a lot of free time next Friday after the campaign.”

You smile slightly, patting his chest gently.

“Yeah—if someone can actually remember to bring protection.” You remind him, his face falling slightly.

“I told you I can pull out.” Eddie says defensively, voiced raised in offense.

“With your track record?” You ask, eyebrows raised in question. “I don’t think so.”

“It was one time—and the condom broke.” He tries to argue. “That wasn’t my fault.”

“You’re not knocking me up.” You tell him, finger shoving at the center of his chest. “We’re not even friends, Eddie. We just fuck, right? That’s what we agreed on.”

Eddie shrugs indifferently. “I mean, we could be friends.”

Your lips pull into a tight smile, smugness flooding your features. “If only you didn’t despise my literal existence on a daily basis.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Eddie nods in agreement, moving to allow you room to escape his entrapment. “If only.”

“At least the sex is good.” You shrug, grabbing your backpack. “Give me a ride?”

Eddie laughs at the hidden meaning, mind running with unspeakable thoughts. He senses your disapproving look, fixing himself immediately.

“Yes ma’am.” He clears his throat, throwing up a mock salute. “It would be a pleasure.”

He always manages to sneak his dirty thoughts in somehow, earning a soft smack on his arm in return. You weren’t good at resisting though, knowing that there was truth to it—Eddie was impossible to quit.

[strangerfigs]

i can’t get over “we’re friends. we’re friends.” and “are ‘friends’ electric?” on mikes official Spotify playlist, and Dustin saying “you can feel it… the electricity” after Lucas says he was just holding Max’s hand in s2 because she was scared (just like when Mike held Will’s in s2 because he was scared) and Mike’s too Spotify song being “Small Town Boy”, a song referring to the oppression and mistreatment of closeted gay youths, set during the 80’s. And Troy literally tripping Mike after specifically targeting Will for being Queer and Mike later pushing Troy due to Troy, again, targeting Will’s queerness, but specifically talking to Mike when he says this.

And Karen’s “with everything going on with will (…) I never want you to have to hide anything from me” speech in s1 paralleling jonathon’s speech to will in s4 which we know was alluding to his sexuality, for sure, and eleven literally being in the CLOSET (where mike stored her) during this conversation with Karen. And Mike, having a one-way sign pointing to his closet. And Mike saying, “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls” in s3 despite being called clueless by multiple sources.

And Mike saying “the last year had been weird” in regards to their friendship/Will being in California and El saying “will has been acting weird, I think he may like someone” about Will. And Mike saying you can have more than one best friend in s1, like literally fighting dustin on it, and then in s4, specifically mentioning “max, lucas and dustin… they’re great… they’re great… but it’s hawkins. it’s not the same without you.” even though he was pulling away from will? and dustin saying mike always complains about joyce telemarketer job because he can’t make it through the line, and will saying mike only called a couple of times, and the government listening to phone calls being a reoccurring theme in st, and el hiding from the government, and in s3, mike telling el he will call her on dustin’s cerebro. And Will confirming he was also pulling away in “so if you felt like she was ever pulling away or being mean” and “not just listening but hearing” and i didn’t say it, you didn’t have to, and yes! yes that makes total sense! and will understanding mike to a deeper level than even the audience at times. and will thinking that they were going to play games for the rest of their lives (still believing this in s4 despite everything! and includes el! it doesn’t matter!) and will feeling like a mistake. and mike feeling like he is just some nerd. and el telling mike they are different. and in s3, the motif of “different species” and mike making will feel like he is not a mistake at all. and mike and will repeatedly being on the same page. ‘welcome to my world’. mike being unable to balance his relationships with el and will. mike no longer calling el in s2 when his main focus is on el. despite what he said, mike sticking by will’s side post reunion with el. “in the closet at the rink o maria” and mike showing no interest in girls. and mike growing out his hair and changing his look because of eddie. and once again, nancy saying she thought mike was acting weird because of will

and I’m spending romantic time with my girlfriend as Will and Mike do the exact same things Lucas and Max do, Mike even had wrapped his arm around Will’s shoulders the same way in s2. And Mike continuing to look to support from Will despite his non-interest in girls. And Mike (and Will’s) non-reaction to the Sauna Scene. And Dustin and Lucas’ obvious attraction to other females - Dustin with his crush on Nancy, asking others to dance. Lucas saying girls don’t like them in 4x1. Mike needing guidance from his friends when making any step with El.

“Our son? With a girl?” *scoffing” and Mike/Nancy’s best friends both going missing in s1, but Mike showing an obvious difference in how he acts about it, and Mike saying he fell in love with El the moment he saw her, but contradicting himself later by saying he wants to send her back, and focus on what’s more important (Will) and literally swatting her away when she tries to comfort him but always seeking out Will for comfort, and heroes playing when they find Will’s body, and then again when the Byers leave - Mike staring at their house - and hugging his mom just like he did after the scene with Will’s body found.

Mike’s OPEN EYES when Eleven kisses him after telling him she loves him (something he tried to do) (and like, I get the shock - I do! - but really? Keeping his eyes literally open?) and Mike pushing El’s hands off him when they are making out, and El the one to usually cling onto him, and Mike constantly lying to El despite “friends don’t lie” (?) and Mike nodding to “sometimes it’s hard to tell people the truth, especially if they won’t like it” and Mike saying “it’s not destiny, it’s not fate, it’s just dumb luck” despite later saying that it was love at first sight later.

Mike saying he loves her with and without her powers but then focusing on her powers later in the speech - this whole speech (pushed by Will) ending with him telling her she needs to fight/she can move mountains/she is his superhero - and saying she saved the world twice when really, wasn’t it three times? but she specifically saved will twice.

mike unobservant to el’s bullies but observant to will and his behavior. the awkwardness at the airport. will sabotaging the whole day by his behaviors even tho his gf was quite literally just humiliated. ??? mike lacking to comfort el after her mistreatment. not only this but antagonizing her further. mike getting mad at will for not telling him. mike looking at will on the ride home from the roller rink. mikes stupid custom made heart shirt always pointing at will.

the music overlaying of “being different” “you’re the heart”, the fact that it’s called “you’re the heart” even tho that’s what WILL TELLS MIKE and the scene is supposed to be between m*leven.

mike freaking out when he looks over at will and he catches him looking. mike looking at will multiple times where will is not looking at him. Murray’s “I’m sensing tension” and “experiencing sexually” and mike looking saddened when will says El commissioned the painting.

Mike not seeming to be excited to reunite with El. Mike saying he did not know what to say. Or how to explain himself. (Until Will is standing next to him and provided him some material to work with.) Mike being afraid Eleven won’t need him anymore and his parallels to Brenner. Eleven realizing she does not need Brenner.

Mike joining D&D despite acting like he was too cool for it last season, contrast to Lucas who actually seemed to grow out of it a bit. Mike seemingly out of character, his actions and behaviors not making sense or matching old behavior, argyle literally saying he is wearing a knock off, Mike saying El will realize he is just some nerd - !

Mike being can only referred to as hopeless and oblivious. Mike’s biggest smiles this season coming from scenes with Will. Mike’s behavior/words so contradictory because the only time we see him act like he doesn’t know how to live is when he is without Will.

Mike have it a binder full of Will’s drawings; with them all over his basement and in his room, but no sights of El anywhere.

Mike acting like he doesn’t give a shit about D&D all summer but asking what Will is doing when he puts D&D in the donation box. Showing that he was faking his disinterest (and this being confirmed in s4 with Hellfire)

El asking him if they’d be like brother and sister before Mike kisses her. (After quite literally describing brother/sister relationship between them before)

“Best thing I ever did” - a totally STRAIGHT thing to say to a friend - contrasting both JOYCE AND JONATHAN’s words to Will which were much more familial love sounding, showing that yes. That was totally possible for it to be done differently but nope. Gotta make it sound GAY! And ROMANTIC!

Like literally just need answers to these questions! And more. Thanks. Like these are genuine plot holes to me if they don’t address all of Mike’s queer coding lol.

[beth-march]

hey! just gotta say i so agree that will doesn't take precedence over mike's other friends and you're so brave for saying it. i never really got where the take that mike prioritizes him ever came from tbh. maybe st2 but mike would have done all of that for any for his friends. the way i see it will is mike's oldest friend but he's never been his closest friend. obviously mike considers the whole party his best friend but there's a reason why in st1 dustin thought that was lucas. he and lucas definitely exude the most brotp energy and he and dustin definitely share a lot more interests and seem to spend a lot more time together than he and will ever did. and on what mike said this season to will, i don't see it as disingenuous but it still doesn't mean will takes any sort of precedence (so much that they were the ones that fell out of touch and were having problems even before will left hawkins). he doesn't say "they're great, but they're not you", he says "they're great. it's hawkins, it's not the same without you". i think he just means things don't feel the same unless the party is all together (which really fits with the theme they went with of the party being a little less tight and going different paths this season i think)

You’ve done such a good job of articulating something here that I couldn’t put my finger on! You’re right, Mike didn’t mean that he prefers Will with what he said about Hawkins not being the same without him, he means that Hawkins is not the same when the party is apart. Especially what with how those party members still in Hawkins are drifting.

Ngjfjfj it is literally brave of me to say. People are crazy here! But it’s always annoyed me because it takes away from Mike’s other friendships, which are so incredibly beautiful.

I think about Lucas and Mike so often! You’re right, there’s a reason Dustin thought it was Lucas and not Will. I always think about how close they’re shown to be in S1, how they don’t hesitate to disagree and then don’t take long to resolve things maturely out of care for each other. S3 was amazing for them, too, obviously. Their camaraderie is so easy and flows so naturally, they’re so much fun to watch together. It’s also significant that they’re in similar stages of their lives, both having their priorities change to focus on the girls they love in a very real, very grown up way. They have a lot in common.

Dustin and Mike are so iconic. Never forget that Mike was ready to jump off a cliff for his beloved Dustin. Also, their scenes together this season, however brief, were so sweet! I love that they’re still so close, in this club together. It shows that they’re still hanging out and that they have similar interests, which, honestly, we don’t see every pairing within the party hanging out just for the purpose of fun, but we do for Mike and Dustin!

It’s definitely a fanon thing, that Mike’s friendship with Will takes precedent. If it had been Dustin or Lucas in Will’s position in S2, Mike would have acted in the exact same way. I’m glad I have some people agreeing with me!

[itsonlystrange]

Friendly reminder that the only person Mike has ever been willingly vulnerable to is Will. And the only person Mike truly trusts 100% of the time, is Will. That says a lot about their relationship.

The fact that Mike allowed himself to be vulnerable multiple times throughout season 2 AND season 3 towards Will, really goes to show how much Mike trusts Will. Mike hasn’t opened up to anyone else in the show willingly. It’s always been Will. Out of all the characters they choose Will for Mike to not only care about the most, but also to spend the most time with. They’re always side by side. To the point where the party doesn’t even acknowledge how close they are - - they just are. The party doesn’t even acknowledge that Mike has tons of Will’s drawings on his wall. He just does. It’s normal. Nobody bats an eye to how they always stand right next to eachother leaving NO room to breathe and no inches between them.

They gravitate towards eachother

And the thing is, we see time and time again how awful Mike is at opening up. I mean he really bottles up his emotions and then just throws that bottle into the ocean. But with Will, he allows himself to be real and authentic. He doesn’t try to act like a “man”, he just is himself. He doesn’t try to hide how he really feels. He opens up to Will when he doesn’t even allow himself to do that to anyone else. And even during their fight, he didn’t try to ridicule Will. He stayed calm. When you KNOW that If that rain fight was between Lucas and Mike instead, it would have been WAY different. And I mean WAY different.

The writers really go to show that at the end of the day, Mike really does love Will, regardless of any romance between them, he does. He is affectionate with Will, and he is genuine. There’s no lie or awkwardness. It’s all just real. And you can tell how hard it is for Mike to open up to people but with Will he doesn’t feel shake for that.

The writers know what they’re doing. They’ve really made Mike and Wills relationship the center point of ST, almost subconsciously. Because it isn’t in your face like some other relationships, it’s just there. It’s authentic. It isn’t forced. There isn’t any awkwardness or fumbling. All of their moments seem real and you can just see how much they care about eachother. Their bond is one of the strongest If not the strongest out of all of the ST characters. To the point where you can’t even compare Byler to a non romantic pairing. Because that’s the thing, the writers don’t treat Mike and Will has friends. They don’t treat them like Max and El or Dustin and Lucas. No. It’s so much more real than that. Mike and Will trust eachother. And you could say it’s because they’ve known each other the longest, but even when Mike is with Lucas, who we know probably met eachother in 1st or second grade, which is still a ton of years, Mike literally sucks at apologizing and can be a major asshole. Lucas and Mike’s relationship feels like a friendship because it was written as one because it IS one. Mike and Wills relationship doesn’t feel like a friend ship because it wasn’t written as one because it ISNT one. It’s much much more and way deeper than that. And yes, Mike was an asshole to Will in season 3, but he genuinely apologized and biked all the way in a thunderstorm to his house. Would he have done that for Lucas? And the fact Mike couldn’t even bring himself to call his own girlfriend, “the love of his life”, apparently, and didn’t even apologize to her until he felt compelled to because they all thought they we’re going to die, and even when he DID apologize, he never apologized for the lying, which broke them up in the first place!

If he’s going to bike ten miles in the pouring rain just to apologize to a “bro” when he can’t even call the “love of his life” and say sorry for something HE DID? Yeah. It’s obvious who he prioritizes more.

This isn’t to say Mike doesn’t love or care about El, he does and that’s a given. However I don’t think he’s IN love with El romantically.

The writers have shown time and time again that even when Mike and Will aren’t on the best of terms, they still care about eachother. Will is quite literally the only person Mike feels comfortable around. He doesn’t have to pretend to be anything he isn’t. He just is. And I think that is so important.

Mike said it himself, Will Byers is the best thing thats ever happened to him.

Yeah, that’s true love.

[kaypeace21]

Do you have any meta/theory on the significance of the cleric/paladin d&d characters vs wizard/dungeon master. Is maybe one more Will and Mike's relationship and the other their role in the story as a whole? Sorry if you already mentioned this and this is redundant

Yeah, I’ve talked about it before. But why not talk about it again? It’s been a while- and Will’s recently published journal (plus st tweets) added more to this symbolism

The Duffers used Will and Mike’s d&d classes to say they’re soulmates! XD

Will in all 3 seasons identifies as a wizard- he even writes on the mixtape he makes “will the wise- wizard mix” (which is a different class than clerics). Even in s1 Will’s castle byer’s password was “rhadaghast” a lothr wizard.

But in s2 Mike (the paladin) says that Will is a cleric. Meaning this reflects how Mike (alone) actually feels about Will. In d&d, they have similar moral values, powers, and generally need and depend on each other in the lore of d&d.  Mike says Will is a cleric,despite Will still identifying as a wizard in s3, since it shows how deeply Mike actually feels about Will.

It shows he views Will as one of the only people who understands him and views him as a his moral compass 

“ strength of conviction gave many paladins a sense of common fellowship but did not always endear them to others. In many cases, paladins did not get along quite as well with other non-paladin adventurers, with the exception of clerics with similar beliefs.”

“A Paladin tries to hold to the highest standards of conduct, but even the most virtuous Paladin is fallible. Sometimes the heat of emotion causes a Paladin to transgress his or her oath (of honesty, courage, compassion, honor ,and duty). A paladin who has broken a vow typically seeks absolution from a cleric who shares his or her faith or from another paladin of the same order…

“The paladin might spend an all-night vigil in prayer as a sign of penitence, or undertake a fast or similar act of self-denial.”

“After a rite of confession and forgiveness, the paladin starts fresh.”

“Using the ‘lay on hands’ power, paladins can grant their comrades (or themselves) additional resilience with a touch of their hands and a short prayer, though they must give their own strength to do so.”

And Mike calls El a “mage” which wasn’t even a class in D&D (in the 80s)- A line he says to Max about zoomer (who he doesn’t like) …so… how much do you want to bet Mike was the one who made him and Will matching by giving him and Will “lawful good” (since this is writen in his starter kit). And he already ignored the fact Will is a wizard. 

But in Will’s recently published cannon journal he also does this- he keeps Lucas (Ranger) , Dustin (Bard) and his own character (a wizard) …but he changes Mike to a cleric !!!

Because Clerics have the strongest of healing abilities

Mike thinks Will brings out the best in him. And Will thinks Mike as someone who helps him heal. So they both call each other clerics.

D&D also represents their romantic relationship

when they fight in s3 Mike says “I’m not trying to be a jerk. We’re not kids anymore. I mean…what did you think? That we’d never get girlfriends. Play games for the rest of our lives?” And the truth is that’s actually what Mike wants- which is why he was upset about Will trying to give away the d&d game . And why he still has all of Will’s d&d pictures on his basement’s wall (which he’s kept on his wall for years- despite removing the old poster from the wall). And during Hopper’s speech, when it pans to Mike , Hopper says “I miss playing games every night.”

* He also caresses Will’s  d&d drawing- when he thinks he’s dead- and has a binder filled with every d&d drawing Will has ever given him.

 In the first ep - Will  admits he rolls a 7 (since he couldn’t lie to Mike)-  and in the last ep of s1 (they show us Mike smiling at Will right before Will rolls a 14- since they’re 7s together.) Mike even apologizes to EL saying “sorry I sound like a 7 year old.” When talking about how all 3 can play with toys & right after talking about Will visiting to play. and mentions Will’s rolls as a way to convince Lucas to help him look for him.And Mike even mentions Will rolls as a way to convince Lucas to help him look for him in the first ep.

Mike in the last ep in s1 ,writes a d&d story for Will.  in ep one Will tells Mike “it was a 7, the demogorgan it got me.”At the end of the season Mike writes a whole story of him and his friends killing a 7 headed monster, and showing the decapitated head of the monster to king Tristan (Will). Similar to how at the hospital he tells Will to not worry cause “it’s dead now”. This is right after Will rolls a 14 (cause Mike and Will are 7s together). And Mike who is a fan of starwars has King Tristan give them medals after killing the monster. Cause he wants Will/king tristan (instead of Leia -a girl) to present him with medals and be his romantic love interest (and praise him for being a hero)…

In the pilot, they even say Will uses d&d to “escape” his insecurities about his sexuality “like mike” & Mike uses d&d to “escape” his insecurities about not having a gf.  * And no, dustin & Lucas didn’t use d&d to “escape” anything- in the pilot script.

Mike angrily yells “El’s not stupid. It’s not my fault you don’t like girls” to himself- cause Will hit a nerve when saying mileven was ruining their friendship - because a part of Mike is trying to use El to put distance between him and Will . Dustin in s1 foreshadows the fight, saying “all you want to do is spent time with her… and you know it and he knows it. And nobody says anything until you’re yelling at eachother like goblins with intelligence scores of zero.” (Another  d&d ref/ ‘love makes you stupid’ ref.).

And also, maybe a part of him resents how Will is making him feel. So he says this whole speech , in the garage, to himself - to keep his romantic feelings for Will under control ( expecting Will to agree with the heteronormative statement). Which is why he was so shocked when Will (who he assumes is straight) and he expects would agree -  instead says “yeah, I guess I did. I really did.” (about never getting gfs but instead being together for the rest of their lives). 

And the  “crazy together” scene (which is romantic since both Mike & Flo both equate love making you ‘crazy’. Flo says “ only love makes you crazy and that damn stupid”). And the ‘crazy together’ scene also has a zoom-in on Mike’s d&d game.

(x)(x)

Mike and Will both love each other (and El is just confused). He wants to be with Will- but he’s scared. The Hopper dialogue even says “Lately, I feel like you’re pulling away from me or something? I miss playing board games every night.” Mike was upset when Will gives the game up- but Will says “I’ll just play with yours when I come back… if we still want to play?” In other words- the ball is in Mike’s court- if he wants Will, he has to initiate it. Because Will assumes he was “stupid” to think he had a chance. Mike is also acting “stupid” because he’s pushing away Will despite loving him, and hurting him in the process (the opposite of a cleric).

But Mike in s4 will admit his feelings to Will… since after Will says this line, Mike asks

“Yeah, but what happens if you want to join another party? ” (find someone else (‘another’) before that- the other ‘species’, or just someone else: girl, guy or otherwise?”

But Will decides to make himself vulnerable and just be honest,  and shyly admits “Not possible” (much to Mike’s happiness)

so yes- this tweet is about byler

They even answered the question of ‘what makes Mike crazy’ with one’ joke’ response - of Will asking about d&d. And in a separate post made fun of mileven by ending it with “can we just play d&d?”

And when, Mike and Will open up to each other about their mental-health issues,  that’s when they both agree that no matter what they’ll be together- “crazy together”. It’s a double entendre - they’re crazy cause they’re in love- but also “crazy” and will be “together” to help each other through their issues.  This theme is double-downed on in Will’s cannon journal (where it’s established “crazy together” is shown to be Mike & Will’s thing- not mileven’s). As Mike tells Will to tell him when he’s having ptsd episodes since- they're “crazy together”.

*Will draws Mike’s d&d character next to the sticky-note. And we also see throughout Will’s whole journal- Mike’s d&d character is always by Will’s (d&d character’s side). And on the cover of his journal Will ONLY draws his and Mike’s character- cause they’re “crazy together”.

Mike specifically says to get him when he’s having ptsd episodes about the mf (which represent Will’s se*ually abusive father- theory here/ here).

That’s what love is - like Flo said only love makes you “crazy” and “stupid” and this is only applicable to byler.  Mike and Will love and  bring out the best in each other-  heal each other. Being “crazy together” to Mike is about being selfless and wanting the best for you partner’s happiness no matter what- with mileven it was simply a way to excuse his poor behavior to El (under the guise of ‘love’).

 For all the supernatural stuff to stop , Will has to face his trauma and heal. This involves having a strong support  (of friends and family) and Will learning to not hate himself any longer, because of his past abuse and sexuality. And to stop correlating his love (for Mike) with his past abuse/trauma (represented by the monsters. And Mike and Will have to embrace their love for each other. And let go of their shame. When Will ‘dies’ in s1, Mike hugs his mom ,and  Heroes plays, and the lyrics are “and we kiss as though nothing could fall and the shame… was on the other side.” In s1 the term “other side” was used to describe the upside down. So it’s saying Will’s shame relating to Lonnie will eventually be on the other side, and so Mike and Will kiss ‘as though nothing could fall’. In Will’s journal he even draws Mike’s d&d character again with the caption “never Kenny Roggers”. This is because Jonathan asks ‘who would you rather  be friends with David bowie or Kenny roggers?”. And Heroes was originally sung by David Bowie- making the byler hint of this being ‘their song’, more apparent. The cannon Will-comic is even titled  the “other side” and Mike is on the opposite end (‘the other side’ waiting for Will who is trapped in the upside down looking up at the imposing figure of the demogorgan). The demorgogan in blue light and mike in opposing red light. The monsters Will created are based on the d&d game and his prior abuse at the hands of lonnie. But byler’s love is also represented by d&d- and thus the only way to stop it.

gif credit: cath-avery 

[lottalucamotion]

Stex Appreciation Month day 31: Nit Picks and What You’d Change

*Cracks knuckles*

Alright.

Once more this will be all text and no art since this is topic is probably better covered in words.

So basically I will be breaking down Stex into the way I would direct it if this was “Luca’s Starlight Express”. Some aspects will be full on changes, though most will just be a mix and match of aspects of different shows over the years that I liked.

So let’s begin this break down.

So first off I’ll talk about what seems to be wrong with Starlight and what the trends seem to show. I of course no nothing for sure, but this is just speculation based on rumors and little tidbits of information I’ve picked up on during my time in the fandom.

It seems like the biggest flaw that the show has is the lack of care, mainly by Andrew Lloyd Webber, for the show in general. While the show is heavily credited to have been created by ALW no doubt because he’s more the household name, Stillgoe is the one who really made Starlight what it is. Lloyd Webber was just reluctantly along for the ride. He was never fully on board with the idea of making Starlight a musical, and just intended for it to be a music collection for kids. It was to the point that ALW felt the need to put a disclaimer for critics saying that he didn’t really want to make it.

Starlight was always meant to be an audience entertainer, not a critic entertainer. From the minute it was conceived as a train musical on skates, it was damned to be crucified by critics, and well, the biggest issue with where it has ended up is the lack of acceptance to just let it be what it is.

This is not to say the show hasn’t always had some flaws. Where it seems to have always lacked is the story. It relied more on the spectical of being a series of being a roller skate show with music and races rather than a musical with a complex story and characters. Don’t get me wrong, this by no means implies the characters are not likable. The main cast has a lot of likable qualities even if they’re characterizations are fairly basic. In a sense this, give a chance for the audience to interpret the characters how they want. Though on the other hand it can also make the the main characters difficult to root for since their motivations are never really made clear.

In addition to that there are of course that matters of making certain characters out to be shallow stereotypes, and the critique that there is sexism in the story. Honestly, I think the poor direction in which the “fix” for the sexism critique is due to attention being paid too much to professional theatre critics who don’t actually want to give stex the time of day so they just say the story is sexist with no further elaboration, causing the direction to go blind into whatever the hell “I Need Me/Ich bin Ich” is.

Though not everything I would apply to my ideal stex is related to story. Most of it is just things are of no real consequence, just preference for this sequence or that song.

So now that this ramble is over, let’s actually get to the real meat of the matter.

I like the transition between the introduction of the nationals and Rolling Stock rather than starting with Rolling Stock.

I have a difficult time deciding whether Engine of Love should be Rusty’s intro or Call Me Rusty. I’m leaning more toward Engine of Love simply because I like that song more. Though putting in Engine of Love means that there won’t be any Whistled at Me variation. I would be okay with that even if I do love the pop version. Forgoing the “Dream Engine” plot point altogether honestly makes creating a more compelling characterization for Rusty and Pearl easy (Pearl’s dream train is a steam engine, and Rusty’s a steam engine so it just makes no sense why she would fall for and electric and diesel when she’s specifically looking for a steam engine).

So on that note let’s talk about what plot I have in mind for Rusty and Pearl. Pearl is a young excursion car who works around a lot of vintage engines for a luxury tourist line. Rusty and Pearl have known each other for a long time and promised each other that they would run their first race together.

While other engines are more inclined to be prejudiced toward steam engines, coaches find them quite romantic. However, Rusty’s physical state and the fact that he’s a switcher engine means that the coaches not only don’t believe he is capable of racing, but also believe it’s too dangerous for him. When Pearl agreed to race, she was not aware of how dangerous racing could be for Rusty.

Basically “Make Up My Heart” rewrite where Pearl makes the point that racing with Rusty could hurt him physically but she also doesn’t want to hurt his feelings.

It makes Pearl’s motives for leaving Rusty much less likely to be read as malicious, and makes more sense for their eventual romance.

As for Rusty, I prefer the writing going more toward how Rusty was originally written, more motivated to prove himself rather than racing to win over Pearl. Rusty’s reluctance to race coming from the fact that no one believes in him rather than just being rejected by Pearl. Obviously it stings the most coming from Pearl since the two of them were the closest, but she’s not the only factor. Maybe he even has thoughts that the coaches are right and he could get hurt.

Speaking of romances, let’s talk about Greaseball and Dinah. Dinah actions are likely the biggest sexism complaint source, and I won’t really deny that criticism. I get that we want everyone to get a happy ending at the end because that’s just the nature of this musical, it’s supposed to be light hearted and all. So if Greaseball and Dinah have to get together again, some justification should be given there, like implications that Greaseball and Dinah’s relationship beforehand is good and worth keeping even if just through the actors’ body language (like maybe Greaseball acting a bit more lovey-dovey toward Dinah in Pumping Iron rather than just having him treat her like all of the other coaches). Greaseball can still be a general asshole without being mean to Dinah. They can still have an argument about Greaseball’s cheating, but instead of having Dinah immediately backpedal to try to beg him out of leaving her, it should be an agreed action, where Dinah willingly leaves Greaseball as well as him leaving her. 

Greaseball should also at one point show some sign of remorse, maybe he notices her in U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D., watches her, thinks about it for a bit after she leaves, but shakes it off for the time being since he has a race to focus on.

Back on the subject of songs, for Lotta Locomotion, I’d love to see it with more subtle lyrics like “A Lotta Locomotion” but slap hard like “A Whole Lotta Locomotion”.

Bring back the original coaches. Yeah maybe Ashley is “outdated” and not PC but this is coming from the same people who put the confederate flag on the diesel gang and named the British Engine Brexit. I can’t fathom why they got rid of Buffy too?

I like all versions of ACDC and think what version would be best depends a lot on the voice of who’s playing Electra.

Red Caboose toaster hat edition - no Canoose. Also Killerwatt has no rights, I’d bring back the original components.

I actually really like the newer versions of the Rockies, I just don’t like the new Right Place Right time, the original version was the best in my opinion.

Even though I would include Caboose, I do like how Flat Top was given a more prominent story role without him, and would kind of like to emulate that.

Dustin should also be given more fleshing out in the first act, for example, having him sing “There’s Me”. While on one hand, having Caboose sing There’s Me gives more ways to think about his character, it just makes sense to give that comforting role to someone like Dustin (plus Dinah and Dustin being friends would just be the cutest shit ever).

Go back to the “Hey you” version of the Rap, none of this train Tinder bullshit we have now.

I usually hate the love songs in Stex but “I Do” is one of my favorite of all stex songs so that can stay as is.

Lastly,

Bring back No Comeback.

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

First Loves, Gentle Kisses, and Families (Sriracha, Part 28.)

Description: A problematic college student gets the worst summer job of the ‘83 - Jim Hopper, the Chief of police in your hometown will have you as his secretary since his old lady Flo has two months lasting holiday. It was agreed so Hopper could let you far away from all the trouble.

Part Summary: Eleven bringing more people to your life was something that was terrifying, yet fun and full of adventure at the same time. And there were more exciting news about to come from the Hawkins Lab.

A/N: The Snow Ball is approaching, romance is in the air, everyone is feeling good, this is going to be fluffy.

Word count: 2.3 K

Tagging: @nemodoren​, @creedslove​, @missdictatorme​

Master list: H E R E

It was just a matter of time before you found your way to at least respect the children Eleven was friends with. There was this Sinclair boy, Lucas, who always had some dumb jokes that made you at least chuckle. There was Dustin, who sometimes had the front teeth and sometimes he hadn’t got any because of some weird illness he had. There was also Maxine, who was quiet, but she liked to cook with you and Eleven. You already knew Will and his Dungeons and Dragons and you’ve seen Mike around already, so there was no surprise there.

Just before December was about to start, you first noticed that Mike and Eleven maybe are a thing. You noticed those careful touches that you shouldn’t see, you could notice how aware Mike is around you and how El blushed every time he looked at her.

Once, you asked Hopper about that when you were about to lay in the bed.

“Hey, I feel like you’re keeping some secrets away from me.” - You furrowed and put on your pajama pants, putting your hair in a comfortable hairstyle, so it wouldn’t bother you during the night. Hopper's eyes closed as he tried to guess what you're talking about. His eyes popped out then, figuring out that you had found out about the lab stuff, and his arm hugged the blanket a bit tighter. - “You do?” - Hopper mumbled, his voice cracking a bit.

“Obviously. I feel like there is something weird every time I get back to Hawkins, like, you know, there’s something different. Almost… Almost as if you and El are keeping some secrets and other things away from me. Did you know anything about that?” - A clear amusement could be heard in your voice, which made his testicles crawl back inside of his belly. Was he about to be bitched down as a fourth-grader who came home late? Were you about to turn into a furious, yelling, plate-throwing demon he was used to? - “Do I know about what, exactly?” - The man asked as he watched your body laying down next to him, cuddling to him in the ice-cold late November night.

“You didn’t see that? El and Mike? You hadn’t noticed?” - You giggled, turning your head at him, smiling. Hopper could feel the damn relief falling off of his back. It was just El and Mike… Well. It was his daughter and that little Wheeler bastard you were talking about. That was when his eyebrow got a spasm.

“Oh, come on, don’t be a jackass. First love is the most beautiful one, James.” - Your laughter could be heard when you watched Hopper having a facial expression of rock. His hand was thrown over your waist, yet his body was ridiculously tensed. - “Hopper, stop this, don’t act like a fucking idiot. She is our princess, yes, but this would come over the time either way. And I like this Mike Wheeler. I know him since the day he was born, he’s a good kid.”

With that, Hopper shoved his face into the pillow, grunting annoyedly at you supporting Eleven’s damn choice. This battle was lost even before it started - he knew that he could go against you and your opinion, theoretically speaking, but you would pull out such arguments that it would make him sit on his damn ass. - “I’m with these two together way more than you. I know how Mike acts around her and I know he’s damn sweet to her. Let it be Hopper.” - You whispered to his ear before you slowly brushed your fingers under his t-shirt. Yes. This argument and battle were lost long before it even started.

The life went on, how much more could you possibly say? You went to work, studied in your free time, took care of Eleven, her friends and Hopper - the life in its entirety has never been better when you thought about it. Eleven was properly happy for the first time in forever and you couldn’t be happier about that.

It was a week after December started - and a week remaining to Snow Ball. Early Christmas, Hopper called it jokingly, but he was right. When he came home that day, you hadn’t expected him to be there that soon. You were pleasantly surprised because you and the kids were just in the half of a karaoke marathon and you were just staying Ghostbusters with a small help from Will the Wise himself. Hopper watched you with an amused smile - there was something magical about watching you work with children; whether it was studying with El or making dumb things with the whole gang, you always made it fun for both sides.

Last time he came in and you were just doing stuff, you played D&D. And oh my, you were just lost - visibly lost at what the hell was happening. Mike and Lucas helped you with building a character and you even got pretty far into the story, with the help of the boys, of course, but you still didn’t have any idea about what the goddamn hell is going on. You only knew that some kind of Minotaur had sliced you in half and just like that, you were dead and out of the whole story.

So this time, seeing you slaying Ray Parker’s song, that was a pleasure. And it was damn sweet when you repeated Who you gonna call? and the gang yelled back Ghostbusters! with lots of laughs as the melody slowly faded away.

“Would you mind if I steal Mr. Parker here for a minute or..?” - Hopper asked once the song ended.

“Only if Lucas and Dustin won’t cheat during Never Surrender. Mike, you’ll watch them and if they do cheat, points down.” - You said, a bit sad that you won’t see Dustin and Lucas chaotically yelling the romantic song. They were bickering about something, but you just walked to Hopper, smiling at them. - “Yada yada yada, can’t hear you. Do your best and don’t cheat or you’re out. I’m not playing games with karaoke.”

Hopper took you to the bedroom, sitting you down on the bed even if you said it’s completely pointless. Only when you finally sat down and heard Corey Hart and Dustin in sync yelling the first verse, Hopper gave you a completely normal envelope. You smiled at him before taking it out of his hands. And boy, when you finally opened it, you were taken away, watching that piece of stamped paper in your fingers.

“Merry Christmas, baby.” - The man kneeling in front of you whispered, smoothing both your thighs. You started shaking with excitement. Your eyes were scanning the paper to see if it isn't fake. But it seemed to be real.

“Is… Is this… Are you for… Is it even real? Are you telling me..?” - You whispered, watching the adoption certificate of Jane Hopper, presumably Eleven, in your palms.

“You’re now officially a proud mom.” - Hopper smiled with tears in his damn eyes. It was so pleasurable to see you as happy as you were in that moment. You were crying like a baby, let’s face it, but you tried to contain yourself just because there was only a piece of cloth between you and a room full of teenagers.

This was something huge, something you thought you would never achieve. That piece of paper was saying that Eleven is yours and no-one could deny that. And the document was even official, which was just breathtaking. You cried along with Jim in the backroom for the next ten minutes before you walked into Lucas and Max performing Material Girl from Madonna. And Lucas was just slaying the whole text while Max performed the backup vocals.

Not an hour from that, while Hopper decided to read something, the moment you didn’t like came by - Steve Nanny McFee Harrington came to pick up the boys and Max to drive them home. But you weren’t quite done with the contest, so you walked into the cold evening and looked at him. That was a thing you haven’t done before. You haven’t spoken to Steve in almost a year, which was crazy to think of since he was a big part of your life before.

“Hey, wanna come in? It’s freezing out there!” - You called in the direction of the car, smiling at the boy. He watched you like a dear in the headlights, trying to make out if you’re making fun of him or not. But when your smile widened even more than before, he stopped the engine and walked to the cabin, hearing first notes of Runaway, Max's song of choice.

“Hi there.” - You whispered with a smile, looking at the boy. Steve seemed to be mature. You didn’t know why or how was that possible, but the boy in front of your eyes looked… Really like an adult.

“Yeah, h-hey.” - Steve got out of his lips before you closed the door after him. The kids waved at him before continuing with their little karaoke. You, without hesitation, prepared Steve some warm chocolate so he wouldn’t freeze. The cabin was warm enough, but that boy just seemed to be cold. - “Haven’t talked to you in a while… How… Are things?” - He asked awkwardly as he looked around the cabin.

There was Eleven’s drawing hanging on the fridge, a lot of her pictures, there were even pictures of her and her friends there - you especially loved the one where Dustin was pretending that he had rabies when you made them Hopper’s triple-decker extravaganza one evening. There were pictures of you and Hopper side by side, pictures when you were alone with El - like hugging her on the couch or cooking with her. It was obvious that you had a family life and that you’re happy with it. It felt strange to see his former best friend’s sister, and his past crush, to have such a life at such an age and to be happy with it.

“They’re going just great. A year ago, I wouldn’t ever think that I can have a life like this, yet, here we are. It’s kind of a miracle.” - You smiled, giving him the mug, making yourself one as well. - “How are you? You and Nance are still hitting it off?”  - You smiled wickedly, but as soon as you could see his miserable face, you knew that you hit some soft spot in steve.

“No. I was, in fact, a terrible boyfriend and she started dating Jonathan Byers a month ago, they seem happy, tho. A terrible boyfriend, would you believe that? Just as you always told me.” - Steve turned the awkwardness into a joke, but you punched his shoulder with a giggle.

“I have never told you that you’d be a terrible boyfriend, Harrington. I just told that you and me? That wouldn’t work. And I told you a million times, again and again.” - You told him, looking him in the face with a smile on your lips, feeling a bit better around him each passing minute.

“Turned out I’m the best single mom Hawkins High basketball team had ever seen.” - Steve said proudly, which made you laugh again.

“Listen, dude, I love you and I always did. But not in the way you desperately wanted me to. You’re like a little brother to me - whatever happens, call me, we can hang out, talk things out, yeah?” - You offered him a sisterly hug and Steve accepted, smiling into your shoulder. - “Don’t you forget I’ve seen you running naked around our pool when you were small.” - You whispered, making him hug you even tighter.

He got over the crush some time ago, but the shock of you dating Hopper was just so huge, that he never brought himself to say hi to you when he met you in Hawkins. He couldn’t wave at you or look you straight in the face. It was just so hard - you were turning his offers down him for years at that point, but you fell in love with a total shit like James Hopper? That wasn’t fair.

But now, it felt just good and natural to hug you as a friend only. It didn’t feel pressured or weird. Steve started to see the value of a true friendship after he started hanging out with Dustin Henderson and his douche friends. And he could see why you and Hopper were making things work so well - when he looked at your mutual relationship without his jealousy, he could see why your bitching-down nature could hold a man like James grounded in reality and why his nature could make your head make fly in the skies.

“But we’ll sing karaoke now and we’ll show these teens how to slay a song hm?” - You asked, more like told him straight forward, and dragged him in front of the couch. Steve tried to resist with laughter, but in the next minute, you were yelling the text of Total Eclipse of the Heart into the hairbrushes like the whole mattered on this performance. Hopper was standing there, in the doorframe of the bedroom, watching as you made Steve laughter on many occasions when you just fucked the words up because you wanted to.

And for the first time, Jim wasn’t a bit jealous when it came to Steve - because no matter if the boy was a prick, they get to know each other during the second incident in Hawkins. And no matter how hard he tried to get under your skirt previously, that kid had a heart of gold. He just needed friends because, in reality, Steve was lonely. And it felt right when Hopper saw you two jamming to the song.

[elmaxheadquaters]

It was 1984... 15

January 3, 1989: The sun had finally slipped past the sky, leaving it’s orphaned hues of orange and violet to be overcasted by the materialized moon's strong shades of lavender and blue. It’s beautifully dark reign casting a shadow across everything it touched, including the small apartment of two employees to a forever standing film store that went, and still goes by the name of Family Video.

This apartment, which had stood idle for countless minutes was now being disrupted. By the opening of a white door of the opposite end. From the now agape hole into the tiny living space came a red headed girl, wearing a uniform shirt with three white stripes that had been stitched into the top sides of it’s dark blue fabric.

The girl had bags under her eyes amongst her abundance of freckles. She had been forced by her coworker -and roommate- to take the night off, by the woman’s words, “you’ve never half-assed so hard… I’ll cover your shift, you go home and relax or whatever you do to not look as dead.” this of course was retaliated by the redhead’s born with stubbornness, but was shot down quite quickly by the previous woman’s debateful attitude.

She kicked the door closed while pulling out the old and faintly colored yellow scrunchie that once held up her burnt orange locks into a high ponytail. She wrapped it around her left forearm as she walked on the creaky wooden floorboards to what presumably would be her room.

This room that sat amongst others, kept the contents of the inside hidden by the absence of luminous energy had this effect stripped away as fast as the speed of light in the girl’s act of flipping the even tinier area’s neutrally tan hued switch.

The room had now been bathed in yellow, showing a bed as the eyesore inside. On top of the mattress sat old and worn rainbow sheets, with many pillows, all covered by white pillowcases. With the acception of one, instead of a pillowcase covering, the one sitting in front of the others’ was covered by an old flannel shirt. Above the bed were pictures illustrating mainly another girl, a few pieces of paper stained by vibrant colored crayon wax to show crude illustrations surrounding the word “MAXIE” or simply “MAX”, and many thin keepsakes that had been collected over the years.

The girl who’s hair that now was draped over her shoulders and back stumbled to the other side of the room, to a dresser. The top had been repurposed into a shelf, holding a frame with the words “Love you Max! -Dad” carved into the wood, inside of it was a picture of a man and a little redheaded girl. The frame held two strips of photos in between the glass and wood, all picturing the girl in most of the photos above the bed acting doltish with the girl that stood before it, the older strip had a piece of tape holding it together across the center and the other that was made much closer to the present day seemed to still be in perfect condition.

She busted the first drawer open before immediately shoving her hand into the contents inside. When she took her hand it had a tight grip on a white tank made of thin fabric. The girl threw it behind her with the intent of it to fall atop the bed covered in rainbow. She closed it with force while advancing to the third drawer. Inside were what seemed to be an abundance of many things from pajama pants to tee-shirts all crammed into the compartment. The redhead pulled out a pair of worn down sweatpants and flung it behind her, the same way as the tank top while forcefully shutting the overstuffed drawer with a push.

The girl quickly stripped herself from the dark blue uniform, revealing to no one, a dark bra covering a plethora of the many scars that dared stain her freckled skin, they came from faint to clear. She paid no mind to them, it wasn’t as if she wasn’t familiar with her own body.

The blue uniform fell to the floor, among many other clothes and items while it was being replaced by the thin tank top. The black skinny jeans she wore -and hated- met the same fate was soon substituted by the sweat pants. The girl looked down, finding her equally thin jacket. Without a second thought, the redhead grabbed it swiftly and wrapped it around her hips.

She flopped onto the mattress of her bed, with her head falling onto the flannel pillow. Letting out a low and stress filled sigh, she grabbed it from under her head and stared at the fibers that held it together, she swore each one held a story from where it came from, each one full of happiness and heartbreak.

Her thoughts trained themselves onto the yellow telephone that had been stained by colorful inks, all coming together to create small illustrations of almost illiterate symbols and small creatures like frogs and lizards. She let the synthetic fabric of the miss purposed pillowcase fall onto her chest as a idea formed in her head..

Her left arm grazed over the flannel patterned pillow before grabbing it whilst she stretched her torso towards the phone. Her reach hit it’s limit as she grabbed the phone. While retracting herself back into the groove she had made into her color filled sheets so long ago. The redhead dialed in a series of numbers that had been pushed so many times that the numbers it included had started to fade.

The familiar hum from the ringer inside the yellow casing made the girl’s smile grow wider, her heart quickened as the thoughts of the one she loves filled her head.

“Hello?” The voice was crackly and hinted with exhaustion, yet it was soft, silky, and sweet as it filled the redhead’s ears.

“Hi El.” The girl sat up in her bed, whilst she visioned the girl on the other end in front of her. Her honey colored eyes that the redhead could swear would be the death of her, her rose colored lips forming into it’s naturally sweet smile, her darkened but golden brown locks of hair that was just long enough to hit her shoulders.

“Maxie!” The voice from the receiver crackled through into the girl’s ear. She felt as if it had body melted. More than anything the redhead wanted the girl she heard to be more than just a vision in her head.

She grabbed the pillow from behind her, wrapping her arms around it as tight as she could. Maybe her wish couldn’t be fulfilled, but it could be compromised.

“Max,” the whisper like sounds of a breath flooded out the speaker of the telephone. Max followed with a curiosity filled hum just before an all to quick response came through, “Nothing, it’s nothing. I just really miss you.”

“I miss you too El,” Max’s heart seemed to have cynical flip with El’s words. She had told Max before, many times, that she missed her. But now it was different, everything was different after the week prior, “But, don’t forget it’s O-“

“Only 42 days,” El cut off the redhead, surprising her in the process. Max had been counting down the days until she could see the brunette again, she didn’t expect her to be doing the same, “I know Max, it still doesn’t stop me from missing you.”

“Well it doesn’t stop me either. But there is not much I can really do about it.” Max’s heart felt as if it sunk deeper than it has in a long time, she loved El. And she would do almost anything if it meant she could see her right then, and right now that anything was to just wait for the days to go by.

She heard a small and crackled, “I know.” Before the redhead let in a sharp yet soundless breath. Max went back to her roots, “Let’s not dwell on such things my girl,” El giggled slightly at the mediocre mix of accents Max had pulled into as she spoke those words.

it was always a joke when things got even slightly heavy. And it always has been, that’s how Max coped with things. Even in others’ darkest moments. As long as she could get a smile on their face, it was a win in her book, “How was your day?”

“Same as always, find a few things in the woods like always.” El loved the woods. Maybe because it was the thing she escaped into on that night, or maybe it was because she had spent so long living in it after everyone thought she died almost 5 years ago.

“Oh yeah? Like what?” Max sat up, the bed creaking with the sheets shuffling before going back down on the opposite end. With her elbows resting against the end of her mattress, one lifting her head and the other holding the phone.

“A lot of things. Little things, big things, weird things, rocks.” Max had rocks, some from her own collection she created when she was smaller. But most of the little treasures were from El. Some had been painted, some were left plain, some were covered in dirt and rugged, while others were clean and smooth. El liked rocks. To the brunette they were more than just a thing you kicked on a road while walking.

One thing is something Max will never forget was the day El showed her collection to Max, saying how some of the rocks reminded her of her friends. How Mike was like a long, skinny, cold, black and white colored slag. Will was like a small pebble, warm, colorful, more than meets the eye. Lucas was dark, strong, rugged, easy to throw and hard to the hit, a good candidate for any rock fight. Dustin was like a boulder large, soft, and warm. Max noticed how she had a lot of one type of rock, before asking why there were so many. Her answer was, “Because they remind me of you, you are not supposed to find them here, but I found one, and bought the others,” El had reached over Max, grabbing one of the biggest out of all of the little pile that sat outside the window. Showing it to Max, letting her hold it in her hands, “They are strong, and yeah they may not be the prettiest on the outside,” She took it back as she started to telekinetically crack into halves of it, holding the two pieces in her hand. On the inside the rock was full of sharp diamonds, they reflected the light from outside the window right next to them. Casting a beautiful sight of light all around them, “But they’re really pretty on the inside.”

She looks at the half El had given her afterwards, the diamonds on the inside of the rugged exterior seem stare back at her, she remembers how her heart fluttered the whole time. How the thoughts of kissing her almost got the best of her that day.

“Oh! Did you get it yet?” El asked, her words clear and curious.

“Get what?” Max asked back, she hadn’t gotten anything besides bigger eye bags since El had left a week ago to go back home.

“You’ll see,” Max visioned the smile on El’s face with those words. She then heard almost a yell through the phone that sounded like a whisper to her, “I gotta go. I’ll call you back, okay Maxie?”

“Okay, Ellie. Bye.”

“Bye bye.” with that, El hung up.

Now silence fills the empty room. It wasn’t unhappy but it still had lingering sense of loneliness. She couldn’t wait until until she could hug El again, she could see her again, she could kiss her again.

Max crawled to the opposite end of the bed, putting the phone back into it’s forever resting place on the bedside table next to the decorated lamp. Whilst through the wall the white door opened once more, with the women who made Max come home in the first place coming through.

“Hi.”

“Hi Robin.”

“You got a package, from El a presume.” The woman threw the small package that originally sat cradled in her hand onto the bed.

Wrapped in a tan orange colored paper, with a string in a small bow holding it together. The insides were of two pieces of paper and a rock. Max smiled as she held the rock in her hand. The first piece of paper was a color filled page with the word “MAXIE!” written in soft shades of pink and yellow, with butterflies and hearts drawn around it. The second was a letter in scribbled words, as she read it her heart melted...

“Max,

I love you…

I love how you always know what to say…

I love how you only let me and now one else play with your hair…

I love how you can always see the good in everything, even when you’re sad you can always find it. Always…

I love how you keep everything I have ever gave you…

I love when you don’t question the words I ask you the meaning of. Yes, the others don’t either, but I love it when you do it…

I love how you listen to my “ramblings”...

And there is so much more I love about you, like your hair, your eyes, and your smile. But this paper is too short to list it all, I can’t wait to see you again.

Love, El”

///

(10-21-19 / 11-2-19)

Colors for Max’s Sheets: (here)

Pixelated 80’s Poster: (here)

Background Reference: (here)

Inspiration: (here)

[sadbi-hours]

Here it is! Finally! My Stranger things’ Fanfic Rec list I’ve put off for months yooo! Anyway, I hope you find something to read and enjoy y’all :)

(Oh, the * at the front of the fic title means they are my favorites!)

* objects in the mirror by Snickfic  (Complete)

Jonathan has no f**king idea why Nancy and Steve gave him the Nikon. He doesn't know why they're so insistent on seeing the pictures he takes, either. 

why you should read it?:one reason: you can’t tell me that Jonathan doesn’t have a thing for taking pics during sexy times! you just can’t...and this fanfic is the reason why!

And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars Series by  Drhair76 (WIP)

The many adventures of Steve, Jonathan and Nancy as they figure out their relationship. (feat. Robin, the kiddos and a heck ton of parental figures.)

why you should read it?: Because Steve/Nancy/Jonathan’s relationship is the cutest thing in this little series...but it’s also very real in a way that’s not supernatural. Just go read the series! Warning: It does get a little angsty in later parts!

Emotion Sickness by  Shypt  (WIP)

After the Battle of Starcourt, Steve struggles with the damages that the Russians left behind. In dealing with the aftermath, with the help of Robin and the Party, he uncovers a larger conspiracy at hand than just re-opening the Gate.

why you should read it?: Post s3 fic, where Robin and Steve are left with powers after the Russian’s experiments...and how they deal with that and the large conspiracy at behind why. 

* it's a risk, it's a gamble by  nondz (pinkjook) (Complete)

“I think we should pretend to date,” Robin says.

"What?" Steve answers.

why you should read it?: read this post and all my feelings will be revealed...or aka the emotionally sweet stoncy fic where Robin and Steve pretend to be each others beards... that might have made me weep silently a few times haha!

* Strike from the Records (it's not over 'till we're done) by SylphofScript (Complete)

If there’s one more thing Steve should have walked away with after so many incidents with the otherworldly, it’s to never trust the slow points.

They were only ever a blanket of lies, covering up a brewing storm.

Too bad Steve never learns.

why you should read it?: A long connective fic, where each character is common or not so common whamp trope! So beware, it gets super angsty in parts!

Have Happened by cortexikid (Complete)

"I overheard you. You were talking in your sleep.”

Steve's heart fluttered nervously.

“It was a little funny at first,” Nancy admitted, her tone a mix of teasing and apologetic, “you were moaning my name and I thought it’d be kinda funny if Mike accidentally overheard you having a sex dream about his sister—”

Steve couldn’t control the guffaw that escaped him.

“But then you said Jonathan’s name. Right after mine. All in the same breath.”

why you should read it?: You know, why not! I’ll admit, this story doesn’t entirely work for me anymore since the monster hunting trio had grown so far from their s1 characterizations, but it’s still a fic worth reading! So i am rec-ing it!

Slide Over Here by empathieves (Complete)

Nancy says Jonathan's name instead of Steve's two weeks after the Monster Hunting Incident. Steve says it instead of Nancy's name a month after. They don't talk about it until two months after, when it's become increasingly hard to ignore that Jonathan Byers has become a part of their sex life without even being in the room.

why you should read it?: Another post s1 fic, where Nancy and Steve slowly start bringing Jonathan’s name into their sex life...and how they eventually act on their desires! 

Searching For Your Heart by cali-chan (girls_are_weird) (Complete)

One of the world's biggest action movie superstars is coming to town, and every kid in Hawkins High is determined to win MTV's back-to-school scavenger hunt and get a face-to-face meeting with their idol. Mike and his friends are sure they've got this in the bag— until the contest throws a wrench in their plans and their only shot at winning is partnering up with Mike's longtime crush, El Hopper.

why you should read it?: I’ll admit I didn’t finish this story...I was a little too fluffy for my tastes, but It’s still a cute story worth reading!

Bad at Love (Can You Blame Me for Trying) by GeoffsEightGreatestMistakes (Complete)

He liked to think the world was done throwing him curveballs. He’s had to kill the Demogorgon, get his face punched in by a crazed stepbrother, listen to his drunk girlfriend tell him she doesn’t love him, and tell his best friend that he’s a piece of shit. He thought he had somehow managed to catch enough curveballs for a lifetime. He was wrong. The newest curveball may be the hardest one yet.

why you should read it?: It’s Stoncy and my fav romantic angst trope: (not so) unrequited love/Pining! 

* every night my mind is running around her by magneticwave (Complete)

In which Nancy gets married, Lucas gets hot, and Dustin gets to give lots of people advice that he’s only moderately qualified to dispense. 

why you should read it?: This was my first ever ST fanfic! I had to add it on principal...of it being absolutely amazing lol! 

* Ducks on the Pond by The Stephanois (ballantine) (Complete)

Steve Harrington knows two things to be true: the St. Louis Cardinals are the best baseball team in the world, and Nancy Wheeler is far too amazing for him to hog all to himself.

why you should read it?:  It’s one of my all time favorite stoncy fics, it combines two things I absolutely love into one story: Poly relationships and Baseball (I won a MVP trophy in HS for Pitching) ...and also uses the age old euphemism of bases for sex;) 

Across the Many Miles by FeoplePeel (Complete)

Nancy packed her bags and moved out West for Caltech. Jonathan’s East at NYU. Steve’s in the middle, Hawkins, Indiana and separated from the only people who understand by a seemingly endless stretch of land on each side. The story doesn't start there, but it doesn't end there, either.

why you should read it?: It’s actually been so long since I’ve read this one...and bruh is it long...so it’s definitely not a causal read, but it’s very very good read if you have the time for a long, long story. 

* let this pass you by CallicoKitten (Complete)

Steve’s not entirely sure at which point in his life he became Dustin Henderson’s personal chauffeur. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. Maybe he can pinpoint the exact moment it happened and it honestly keeps him awake at night more than the demo-dogs or the Demogorgon or any of the insane shit that’s happened in Hawkins recently.

---

the kids drag steve on a trip to chicago to find El's sister, steve figures some shit out in the process

why you should read it?: It’s stoncy, the party, and a road trip all rolled into one...what more can you ask for haha?!

Talk Me Down by anomalation (Complete)

Nancy knows what she wants: Steve and Jonathan both, and maybe a fight. Steve knows he'd do anything for these dorky kids. Jonathan doesn't seem to want anything, but he'd also never ask them. And none of them are interested in forgiving Billy.

Featuring: some D&D, a Christmas party, a lot of relationship negotiating, no excuses for shitty behavior, and yet also the firm belief that nobody deserves abusive parents.

why you should read it?: Another really long, long fic that I completely enjoyed the one time I read it...and It had a nice and real redemption arc for Billy that I liked. 

* For the Three of Us by brokenpromisesandhope

5 times Jonathan loved Steve and Nancy and one time they loved him back.

why you should read it?: The summary pretty much says it all...

* decide on me (decide on us) by mjolnirbreaker (Complete)

Robin could very well die tonight in her stupid work uniform, and honestly she doesn’t want to dwell on it. So she’s going to make it her personal mission to figure out what’s up with Steve’s romantic life, and hopefully they don’t die before she solves the puzzle.

why you should read it?: It amazes me to this day...just how close to canon this author had gotten for Robin’s characterization and her relationship with Steve! 

* fly me to the moon by bleuboxes (Complete)

It's a Saturday night; he's watching one of those Star Wars movies with Robin - who won't shut up about how hot Leia looks.

Steve mentions something briefly about how he likes Han’s hair, rugged tough guy appearance, and general aloofness. Robin rolls her eyes, mutters an 'of course you do', then throws popcorn at his face.

why you should read it?:  Okay, I related way too well to this story! Han Solo was one of my bisexual awakens too...and I didn’t realize until years later lol! It’s also a sweet story about how Robin slowly helps Steve through his awakening like a real BFF should. 

God Help the Outcasts by willwrite4coffee (Complete)

Robin Buckley's always been a little different, but to her, that's never been a bad thing.

She's been on the outside looking in, an outcast, but she'd rather spend her evening with Sousa than at a kegger.

Being an outsider has never been a bad thing.

(also known as, why does no one know Robin in such a small town like Hawkins?)

why you should read it?: A cute little story about Robin and Steve’s friendship directly after the events of s3...and how the party and Nancy and Jonathan slowly begin to accept Robin into the fold. 

Oh, and anything by @trulyalpha! Here’s the Ao3 link!

[alabasterswriting]

In the Shadow of the Beast

Summary: Will Byers is used to nightmares. He isn’t used to having company in them. Unfortunately, Billy Hargrove isn’t going anywhere.

Follows the events of seasons 3

At first, he doesn’t realize it’s not a dream.

It starts, as it always does, in Hawkins. There’s a street – Main Street – with the woods at his back and the library at his front, and all around him are houses he can traverse by memory. Biting cold air shifts into searing heat with every turn of a second, and white spores dance across his eyelids, stinging like salt on an open wound. It hurts to breathe so he’s learned not to, and he’s trained himself not to jump at every chitter. The world echoes – hollow like an empty grave and just as lonely.

He’s used to it. Expects it even. The heart-stopping, bone-chilling fear that accompanies every fluttering eye is as much a staple of his life as his own heartbeat. Sometimes, he can almost pretend it’s a comfort. The world of Before is such a bygone memory as to be complete fantasy, and there’s an ease to be found in repetition. Expectation is a bright light at the end of a tunnel, even if that light is as pale and blue as a corpse. 

The problem, Will finds, with expectation is the inevitable realization that it cannot shield you from reality.

He expects the other shoe to drop; that doesn’t mean he’s ready for when it does.

The Mind Flayer is back. Whispers echo through his head as cold burrows under his skin and prickles his neck. He’s not surprised, but he isn’t ready either.

He’s resigned, as something too close to relief curdles inside his belly. The wait is over. The anticipation hanging over his head swings in a graceful arc downwards, detaching emotions from feeling as cleanly and quickly as any executioner. He’s numb – feeling too much to feel anything at all.

When he opens his eyes to the familiar hellscape, he thinks he knows what to expect. Emptiness – that crushing sensation of being alone, just waiting for the monsters to show themselves. It’s a brief respite, but one Will has learned to appreciate. If he hadn’t already spent an inordinate amount of time living inside their minds, he would have thought they did it on purpose. But no, the Mind Flayer is the only one who thinks in this world; everything else is just a beast hunting for food. Will is experienced enough by now to know the drill.

Go to sleep, open his eyes, wait for the monsters, repeat.

He doesn’t expect the Other.

The Other is new, and Will would be happy if he hasn’t already learned that nothing good ever comes from New.

He’s tall, this new person, and as human as human can be. Summer-kissed hair curls across his forehead in the latest style while muscles bulge beneath his shirt. He’s gorgeous, and different, and stands out like a bleach white stain on a black shirt.

There’s a ringing in Will’s ears like the chitter, chitter, chitter of a pollywog. The two are standing outside the carcass of a house on Loch Nora, new and different, and it would have been pretty if the Upside Down were capable of such things. Instead, all Will can see is the netted membrane and broken carnage of a world not fit for life.

And the Other. He cannot ignore the Other.

He doesn’t look at Will, and his face is only half visible beneath the flickering streetlamps. It looks like he’s listening to something, silken whispers that brush against Will’s subconscious and lure him in like a particularly addictive drug. He knows those whispers. They froze his insides and ripped him to pieces until all that was left was flayed flesh fit only for monsters.

That was the point, of course, but Will doesn’t care. Facts matter little when you’re the one on the arse end of the proverbial stick.

Will doesn’t notice as his feet usher him forward. He doesn’t notice as the world shrinks around them, constructing a bubble of tension three feet thick. He thinks he feels water under his feet, cold and wet and murky, and his skin prickles with dread.

The Other turns. Familiarity strikes.

And Will Byers wakes with a name on his tongue, lost and forgotten in the bright morning light of a new day.

~*~*~*~*~

Billy Hargrove.

His name is Billy Hargrove and Will knows him only from the distant glimpses made around Hawkins and his friends’ stories.

They’re few and far between, but always highlighted by Max’s bruises and Lucas’ fear and the protective glares of Mike and Dustin. They appear as snapshots of suspicion in his head, piling on top of each other like pieces of a particularly unpleasant puzzle. In his mind, Will hears the revved engine of a black Camaro as it shrieks into the school parking lot, and the cruel insults spewed across a busy pool. They’re normal insults, typical of every bully Will has ever known, and Billy Hargrove is nothing if not a bully.

But they’re past that now. Human cruelty has given way to monstrous evil.

He hears screaming. He hears a teenager begging his sister for help. He sees a hand smash through a window to kill that same sister, and a body given the inhuman strength to break chains. Will remembers that strength and he knows how easily it can kill the unsuspecting. He’s numb, so numb, as if he’s been encased in ice and yanked from his body. He can’t do anything. He can’t say anything. It’s all he can do to keep the memories at bay.

Again, the Monster has trapped him, and He won’t even give him the decency of acknowledgement.

It’s for the best, he tells himself. It’s even a relief, except not really. Is he really so disposable? His life ruined, and for what? For a Beast who won’t even look his way? Not even to gloat?

And the Monster does gloat. Will recalls His pleasure-filled mocking in every dip of his stomach. He sounds like Lonnie and echoes with the undertones of Troy and James. The Monster raped his mind with ice-clawed fingers, and suddenly it’s as if he doesn’t exist. He’s been replaced. Discarded by a human with muscle and charm and a name that reads like the old.

Silver lining: the Beast has a type.

Williams.

It’s a small consolation that isn’t a consolation at all. The identicality of their names is meaningless to Him. Will is the only one who will notice or care. He’s the one placing meaning on what is no doubt a coincidence. But the thoughts linger because, what if? What if the Monster chose Billy because they share a name? What if He chose Billy because He was looking for Will? What if it’s not a coincidence? What if Will meant something?

He almost laughs at the inanity of it. Pining after a Monster the way Mike pines after El. He knows it won’t happen. He knows it’s foolish. He knows he can no more get an apology out of the Devil than he can normality out of his life. But it eats at him. He wants to scream. He wants the Monster to know every little thing He ruined, even though Will knows He won’t care. If anything, He might be amused. It would just be a waste of precious air from Will’s lungs, and he can’t even pretend that helps because he still wants to do it.

He wants to scream at Him to go away, all the while still screaming to be taken back.

He’s like a junkie who’s lost his fix. He craves the nothingness that comes from being a part of something so incomprehensible. That sensation of power he felt as the demodogs ripped and teared and barreled their way through the bodies of those who’d hurt him. There was no concern. No pity. No prying questions and gawking acquaintances. The bullies couldn’t hurt him. Neither could the soldiers. Nothing could because he was nothing and it’s enough to make him resent the fire and the burning and the fact that he is still breathing. Maybe they wouldn’t be in this mess if his friends had just listened to him in the first place. Certainly, it would no longer be his problem. 

But it is his problem. Somehow it always is, and Will can’t decide if it’s because the Upside Down won’t let go of him, or because he won’t let go of it.

Maybe it’s the lack of resolution. Maybe it’s the anger.

Maybe it’s the fact that no matter how the Beast seems fit to ignore him, Will can still hear Him whispering in the back of his head. He echoes, like loud music coming from a neighboring house, and Will can hear everything, but lacks any power to act.

He’s become nothing more than a shadow of Billy Hargrove. 

They’re not alone. There are others that stand behind them in the mist, but they are as faceless and inconsequential as the demodogs; only good for the numbers they provide. Billy is different. He stands at the forefront, eyes wild with a primal fear Will knows down to his bones.

It brings him no comfort, but also no surprise.

They’re surrounded on all sides by the crumbling houses of Hawkins, Indiana. Spores dot the sky, falling like snow atop their heads. It’s dark and quiet, lacking even the familiar chittering of the pollywogs, and the cold encases him in as if welcoming him home. Will cannot feel it. Not like normal people. Dr. Owens warned it might be a holdover he may never be rid of. He’s become as much a part of this world as any monster now – as much as any of the dead.

This should trouble him. It doesn’t. Death is an old friend, and death by frozen hell even more so.

“I know you,” the piece of Billy left to drown in this world says. His face is twisted in an expression of confusion and that particular brand of wariness only the Upside Down can incur.

“Yeah,” Will acknowledges with a shrug. He’s unused to others in his nightmares, but then this is less a nightmare and more something else. A vision? A link? True Sight? It’s abnormal, whatever it is, but Will is used to that, too. The air sours as he elaborates, “Will Byers.”

Billy nods. “The freak.” He looks like he wants to hate that – hate that the freakiest kid in Hawkins is somehow here but can’t because the relief at the obviously human company is too great.

Will gets it. He does. But he also knows just how horrible of a person Billy is even without the Mind Flayer inhabiting his body to be happy about it. As far as he’s concerned, Billy belongs here; if not in the Upside Down then in Will’s nightmares. Bullies were staples of his dreams Before. It stands to reason they should make an appropriately twisted return After.

“I didn’t get you,” Billy says again. His voice echoes strangely, and there’s a question in there, one he’s too proud – or too afraid – to ask.

Will shakes his head. “No.”

“So, what, is this just some freak thing you do?” Billy spits. A scowl has grown on his face, as if another human has made him comfortable enough to be cruel.

Typical.

Will gives another shrug because this is his life and it’s just weird enough to be the truth. “Sometimes.”

“Sometimes,” Billy scoffs. A streetlamp flickers blue over their heads. “And how is it then, Will Byers, that I’m stuck here and you’re not?”

For no reason Will can discern, Billy’s question strikes him as absurdly funny. He wants to laugh at that – at the pure ignorance of Billy Hargrove – but he doesn’t. Billy’s new and the Upside Down doesn’t allow much for laughter. Instead, Will tilts his head, and says, “I guess you just have more in common.”

There are bruises on Max’s arms and she jumps at loud noises, and Lucas always has an excuse not to walk her home even though she very pointedly never asks him to.

As far as Will’s concerned, the Mind Flayer couldn’t have picked a better host. 

Evidently, Billy does not agree.

His hand whips out, lightning quick, to wrap around the collar of Will’s shirt, and he yanks the boy forward so that they are nose-to-snarling-nose. If this were the real world, Will would be frightened, but there’s something about Billy, about being in this dying dimension, that’s reassuring. Human evil is for the Rightside Up, not the Upside Down. The only evil here belongs to the monsters.

And Billy, for all his posturing and cruelty, is no monster.

“What did you say?” Billy questions, calmly, with the control of a predator about to pounce.

Will doesn’t bat an eye. “The Mind Flayer thought you would be a better host. He and I didn’t really get along.”

They didn’t. Not really. Only sometimes, in the way a victim might come to get along their kidnapper, or two enemies might band together against a greater foe; Will hadn’t liked the fire any more than the He had.

“The Mind Flayer, huh?” Billy leans back but keeps a fist around Will’s collar. The air is stale around them. “Is that what He calls Himself?”

“He didn’t say no to it.”

“‘He didn’t say no to it,’” the teen mocks. “How cute. Making up little names for Him.”

“Better than nothing.”

Billy glares. “No wonder I’m in this mess if you’re all He had. Your little friends, too, I’m assuming, if what He’s said is true. Couldn’t even finish Him off.”

“We tried,” Will defends, though doubts whisper in the back of his head. They shouldn’t have burned you. They should have just shut the gate. “We thought–”

“You thought. You thought,” Billy echoes, and Will ignores the sudden static in the air. “Well guess what, freak, you thought wrong.”

Close gate. “We did what we could.”

“And it wasn’t enough.”

The accusation lands heavily between them, more suffocating than the air they’re breathing. Fury courses through his veins as Will shakes. He wants to scream. He wants to rage and shake his fists and stomp his feet and the only thing that holds him back is the knowledge that he’s not sure what he’d be screaming at. The fact that Billy is so wrong, or that he is so terribly right? 

Billy’s grip intensifies. It’s tight, but intangible, as if the teen had taken lessons from Darth Vader. Static buzzes between them, red gathering on the horizon as the temperature plummets. “You can’t even deny it, can you?”

Will stubbornly keeps his mouth shut.

“Useless.” Billy grits his teeth, and shoves Will back into a stumble. “Go home, freak. I’m sick of looking at you.” 

Will needs no more encouragement. He spins on his heel and makes a beeline for the road. He’s familiar with this area – Maple Street is only two blocks away – and he can easily hide out the rest of this nightmare in Mike’s basement. He’s ready. His feet are carrying him forward.

He slows. He stops. His heart is heavy and he hates Billy, but Max was crying and no one deserves the Upside Down.

Not even bullies.

Will turns and squares his shoulders, forcing himself to look Billy in the eye with as much conviction as he can muster. “We can help you, you know. If you let us.”

“What makes you think I want your help?”

“Max.” Those desperate pleas had to come from somewhere. A trap? Yes; that doesn’t mean they weren’t true.

But it’s a mistake. Billy’s face, already closed off, turns to stone, his blue eyes glowing like ice under the streetlamps.

“Max,” he growls. “Max, Max, Maxie Maxine. Of course. Well, how ‘bout you take your help, Will Byers, and shove it up your ass. Whatever your friends did with you obviously didn’t take. You’re still here. No, I’m better off figuring this out on my own.”

He’s not, but already Will can feel himself fading, slipping out of the Upside Down as easily as he fell in. There is no time to argue. He grits his teeth. “Suit yourself.” No one can say he didn’t try.

Billy fades. The Upside Down flickers away. Will awakens to the bright morning light of Mike’s basement with his friends snoring in his ear.

~*~*~*~*~

He doesn’t know why he stays silent. Maybe it’s that the timing is never right. Maybe it’s that he doesn’t fully believe it. Maybe he just doesn’t think it matters. For whatever reason, Will keeps his nighttime conversations to himself.

Billy is a hateful, shivering shell of a man the next time Will sees him. His hair is greasy and unkempt, there’s a cut on his cheek, and he bathes in the grime of the Upside Down as if he were born to it. Blue eyes glare behind a red sheen, and the bone white of his teeth stands out unnaturally against the dark landscape that surrounds them.

It’s new, this place. Not that Will spends much time exploring this world, but it’s impossible to visit so often and not learn every nook and cranny. It’s a bedroom – Billy’s if Will has to guess – and he has the sudden inane thought to turn around and see if he can find Max’s. He wonders, briefly, what that would look like before deciding he really doesn’t want to know. With few exceptions, he tries to avoid places he’s liable to go to in the real world. 

“Well, look who decided to drop by.”

Will says nothing and Billy’s lips curl like a particularly rabid dog. “What? No hello?” He stands up, the bed creaking in his wake. “No, ‘how’ve you been?’” He stalks forward. “No questions?” Billy’s arm shoots out, his fist punching the wall with alarming speed and force, enough to chip the paint and break the fingers of a normal person, though no damage is actually done. Will still flinches.

“You,” Billy sneers, “and your little band of freaks have been making quite the mess. Do you know that? Do you have any idea what you’ve gotten into?”

“More than you,” Will states, and the older teen lets out a disdainful laugh.

“Oh, that’s right. You’ve been doing this a lot. You and that girl. What’s her name again? El?”

Will stiffens. His eyes narrow as Billy’s grin turns razor sharp. “How do you know her name?”

“We met,” Billy says indolently. He flicks a spore off the table. “She was very rude – barging into someone else’s house like she owned it.”

“Heather’s.” The girls had told them briefly about their encounter at the Holloway house, and the state of the house itself had filled in the rest of the story.

“Yes, Heather’s. Nice people, her family. Make a good roast.” His features settle into one of idle curiosity, but there’s a gleam to it that reminds Will of his father. “So what brings little Will Byers back here? It can’t be the scenery. And the company doesn’t want you. You have to be after something.”

Will purses his lips. “Something happened. At the hospital. We need to know what.”

“And you think I know? I wasn’t there.”

“No, but you’re the host. You’re…connected.” He thinks of the demodogs, of the eyes they don’t have and how that heightens everything else – hearing, smell, taste. Will’s mouth waters involuntarily. He doesn’t like to think about it – can’t most of the time – but it lingers; the sounds of the dying as flesh is torn from bones, warm viscous syrup covering them like a glaze. 

Blood is sweet, but distinct, like the notes between chocolates.

“Connected,” Billy huffs from the bed. “I don’t know what He told you, kid, but He doesn’t tell me shit. I’m stuck here, remember?” 

“Well, yeah, but…” He shouldn’t have to tell you for you to know.

It’s odd. Contrary to popular belief, Will’s memory of that week is picture perfect, and he knows he was never trapped in the Upside Down like Billy is. No, his prison was a void – an empty black expanse with only the Monster for company. And as much as He liked to gloat, the Monster wasn’t there all the time. Sometimes it was just Will, and he always knew what was going on.

He could see everything, feel everything, taste everything.

Billy is different. He is different. Will remembers whispered manipulations and echoed taunts, the Beast hiding within the darkness He Himself created – an Emperor Palpatine to Billy’s Darth Vader. This, now, is a short con compared to the long end, and Will is fearful of what it means. What changed? Why did it change?

Will knows the Monster. He was the Monster. They shared everything. Billy…Will doesn’t know what Billy is. He’s not like Will, not in the way he’s assumed. And if Billy can’t see beyond his own body, then what does this mean for them? What does this mean for Hawkins?

Who have they been chasing, if not Billy Hargrove?

“But, but,” Billy draws Will from his thoughts. “If you’re gonna speak then do it clearly. I don’t have time to listen to your mutterings.”

Will purses his lips and, before his common sense can catch up to his tongue, says, “Really? You don’t have any time?”

Billy glares balefully. “I,” he jabs at Will’s chest, “am trying to get out. I have a life, and it doesn’t involve being stuck in this shithole.”

“So, you’re – what? – walking around here looking for the exit sign?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no.” Billy leans his hip against the bedside table and leers down at him. “And you seem to be able to come and go as you please.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m…” a freak, a zombie, a dead boy walking. Will Byers should not be alive, and it is only the fact that he is that separates him from Billy.

Oh.

It’s like an alarm going off inside his brain – blaring and painful and whistling at a frequency too high for humans but just perfect for monsters, and Will is inextricably struck by a profound sense of guilt as the realization settles.

Oh, he thinks, oh. Because the Mind Flayer never makes the same mistake twice. He learns and He adapts and while His fury has made Him rash, He’s also made sure that this host will not have the weaknesses of the first.

Weaknesses like living.

“You’re what?” Billy questions, and it’s all Will can do not to look at him with horror. There’s a lack of pain where Billy hit him. “A freak? Gotta say, that’s not much of a secret.”

It’s not, and Will would probably be the first to acknowledge it, too, but he’s too busy staring to speak. It all suddenly makes a terrible sort of sense and he’s not sure whether to vomit or run. Possibly – probably – both.

“Hey!” Billy snaps his fingers. “Byers. Either get your head out of the clouds or get out. I don’t have time to be babysitting your useless ass.”

“Sorry. I–sorry.” Will shakes his head, but cannot look away.

“Tch. Of all the people to be stuck here with, it had to be you.”

“Would you rather someone else?”

A scoff. “I can think of at least a dozen other people I’d rather be in hell with, each one sexier than the last. None of them are you.”

“Good to know,” Will mutters, pushing aside the horror with a great deal of effort. “But I’m still the one you’re stuck with.”

“Lucky me. Here’s a thought: you let me go back to figuring out how to get out of this hellhole and I won’t kill you the moment I do.”

“You can’t kill me.” He knows this. The truth settles old and heavy in his bones. Whispers hiss in the back of Will’s mind; there’s a part of him that calls to the Upside Down with the fervor of a dying man wishing for home. This is his world. He loathes it, despises it, wishes it did not exist, but it is his. His in the way the demogorgons do not chase him and the demodogs follow in his wake. His in a way it is not Billy’s.

Billy, who stands in this room that used to be his as if it is the only thing keeping him here. An echo of what could have been.

“Oh really? Who’s going to stop me? Your mom, who everyone knows is insane? Your brother, the creep? Your little friends? Face it, kid, I can do whatever I want to you. And when I get out, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“You’re not getting out.”

“Says who?”

“The Mind Flayer.”

Billy snorts. He chuckles, honestly amused, still clinging to the foolish notion that Will has long since abandoned; the belief that death only comes for other people.

“The Mind Flayer,” Billy echoes with contempt. He pushes away from the nightstand and ambles forward, stopping until he’s barely an inch from Will. At home, there would have been a rush of displaced air. Here, Will feels nothing. “In case you haven’t noticed, Byers, your ‘Mind Flayer’ isn’t here. He’s too busy traipsing about with my face to care about what I do.”

“Traip–He’s murdering people!”

“Yeah? And what am I supposed to do about it? I’m stuck, remember?”

Stuck yes, but, “Not always,” Will mutters, memory striking. The knot in his chest suddenly begins to unfurl, as if the realization is enough to spark a small measure of hope. “You were at the pool and the sauna and…” was he wrong? Could Billy get out? Had he just been jumping to conclusions? Maybe the Mind Flayer is just trying something new, but Billy’s sudden bark of laughter brings his thoughts to a screeching halt.

“Oh sure, the pool. Yeah, I was there for all of a few seconds before He pushed me back down here. I want to get out, not be kept on His fucked up little leash.”

“But you were there?”

“What, are you deaf? I just said I was.” 

“But you remember it,” Will exclaims, mind running a mile a minute. He was wrong. Oh, thank God he was wrong. Billy isn’t…he isn’t…“You were there. You felt it.”

“Yes,” Billy drawls, part derisive, part questioning.

“Do you feel Him now? Can you find Him?”

“Are you nuts? No, I cannot feel Him. He’s there. I’m here. What about this aren’t you understanding?”

Will stops. He was never unaware of the Monster. Never. Even when trapped in the void. There was no separation between him and the Beast.

A face appears in the window of Billy’s room, blank and covered in grime. For a moment Will thinks it’s going to do something, but it merely walks by as if it doesn’t notice them. A lost soul wandering through hell.

Slowly, so slowly it’s almost painful, Will turns back to Billy, who doesn’t seem to have noticed the face. Billy’s feet are almost melded to the floor, but he moves unhindered as if intangible. The blue glow of the lamps strikes him into shadow and for a second Will swears they’re outside, a flash of lightning engulfing the world in red, the landscape replaced by fields and hills and mountains. It’s familiar, this sight. He knows it. He died in it. Fields of corpses, hills of flesh, and mountains of bone.

And there, right in the middle…

No, Will trembles. No.

The world flashes back – blue and dark and eerie. Billy peers down at him, like a man about to squash a bug. “How the fuck did you survive anything? It can’t have been any skill on your part.”

Will can’t even muster the energy to be angry at the insult. He wasn’t wrong. He just wasn’t completely right.

The Upside Down is hell, and they’re all at the mercy of the Devil.

He feels his heart thunder in his chest, the acrid taste of bile tingling his tongue as sweat gathers along his brow. His skin prickles – not with cold, never with cold – but something he can almost remember as such. The air is cloying with the sweet scent of decay and it wafts off Billy like a child in his father’s cologne.

A child. He’s not even nineteen.

What is he going to tell Max?

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Billy grumbles from above, but there’s cotton in Will’s throat and his tongue is too big for his mouth.

I’m sorry, he wants to say. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry I can’t help you. I’m sorry I almost think you deserve it. 

“Byers!” The yell jolts Will from his mantra and he jumps under Billy’s towering form. “Tch. All that yelling and now you decide to be quiet.”

“I–I–”

“You? You, what?”

“I…um…” Where had he left off, again? He was asking questions. He was…”You, uh…you’ve taken control before.”

“Yeah,” Billy drawls.

“He’s given you control, so you, um…you can get out.” He can’t. He can’t get out. But the truth won’t travel past his lips and he tries to tell himself it’s fine. Billy isn’t a friend.

There’s a glint of intrigue in those volatile eyes, and Will pushes down the nausea it incites. Billy raises a brow. “You want me to try and overpower the Monster? What, you don’t think I’ve tried that?”

“Never hurts to try again.”

Billy huffs. He rolls his eyes. “Fuckin’…”

“Do you have a better plan?”

Silence. Billy shifts, body twisting towards the window. He twitters his fingers along the sill.

“And if I overpower him, I’ll get out? For good?”    

There is no way out except the one the Monster creates. Will draws in a breath, as much because he can’t remember when he stopped, as because it feels like he can’t. The words are spoken before he can think.

“You’ll get out.”

Billy nods, a grin of unnatural white shining through the gloom, and Will comes to the conclusion that he will never be able to look Max in the eye ever again.

I’m sorry, he thinks. I’m sorry I can’t help you. I’m sorry I won’t even try. I’m sorry, but I need to help my friends.

Mike is right. El is expending too much energy. She won’t be able to beat the Mind Flayer if she keeps this up. Will knows this. He knows the Monster. But Billy is human, and human monsters are for the Rightside Up. If Billy can overpower the Shadow, even for a second, they might stand a chance.

Humans can be killed, and Billy is dead anyway.

There’s a shift in the air. It’s suddenly too heavy, too cold. Will shakes as his breath mists in front of his face. The spores stop in midair and Will knows what’s happening before Billy even opens his mouth.

“She found Him.”

El.

Will can feel her. She’s here, but not – in that In Between place Will only has vague recollections of – and it makes him uncomfortable to feel that pressure of occupied, but unseen space. For a second, he wonders if he might have been able to do something to help. If he told his friends about his dreams would El be struggling now? Not that it matters. Billy and the Mind Flayer are not mutually inclusive entities. No, Will shakes his head. Had he told, he would only have gotten in the way.

Billy lowers himself to the bed. His lips quirk, teeth catching on a lightning strike. There’s an unnatural sheen in his eyes, like a junkie about to get a fix. “You’d best be going, Byers. I’m about to have company.”

The Mind Flayer is close. There’s a tangible change in Billy’s posture as red begins to dot the sky. Something like brine fills the air and Will can feel himself slipping. He’s waking up. Already, his vision is starting to blur.

“Wish me luck, freak.”

But Will is gone before he can wish for anything.

~*~*~*~*~

He’s standing on a mountain.

It’s crafted from melted flesh and broken bones, and his feet sink into the sludge so that he’s ankle deep in decomposition. Rot burns his nose and a chill prickles his spine. The sky above is bleeding and crackling, and there are bodies as far as the eye can see. They create hills and mountains and valleys, their skin stretched and faces eternally frozen in terror, and Will is quite sure there are more people here than there have ever been on Earth.

Maybe this is Earth. Maybe the Mind Flayer won. It’s too vivid to be a nightmare, and too familiar to be anything else. He’s been here before. He’s seen this before. The dead stare at him with sightless eyes and he knows exactly what they’re asking.

“Are you here to stay?”

A corpse stands beside him. His clothes are torn and his eyes are red, but the anger has settled into a mellow sort of surrender Will is familiar with. It’s the same look he’s seen in the mirror after one too many nightmares; the type that says he knows nothing will ever be the same again so why pretend.

Will faces his companion. Above them, thunder rumbles. “No. Just visiting.”

The corpse snorts. “You are a strange one, Byers.”

“Thought I was a freak?”

“You are. Didn’t think you’d come here, though.”

“I don’t. Not normally.” It was only once, really. Once, after his mind had grown fuzzy and the dark had settled in, and there was no more breath left in his lungs. Dead, a voice says in the back of his head. You were dead. “Never really saw the point.”

Darling. You stayed.

“Not much to look at.”

“No, not much.”

Billy hums. For a moment, they stand in silence, looking out into the great expanse of bodies that surrounds them. Will isn’t wearing any shoes and even if he were they wouldn’t have protected him from the sludge. Something – he thinks it’s a rib – is digging into his ankle and he shifts awkwardly to escape it.

“You knew, didn’t you?” Billy asks and Will can’t muster up the grace to pretend ignorance.  

“I…guessed.”

“You guessed. You bet my life on a guess.”

Will winces, but says, “If I was wrong you would have been out.”

“If you were wrong, I would have been stuck in a body that had just spent days guzzling bleach. You think I would have lasted like that?”

“…No.”

“No. You didn’t even try to find another option.”

Will’s tongue feels thick as he says, “There was no other option.”

“Well,” Billy shrugs with faux nonchalance, “I guess we’ll never know. Now that I’m dead and all.”

And that right there is the crux of the matter, because no matter what Will chose, Billy was never going to walk away with his life. Getting him out any other way would have left the teen an incorporeal ghost with no body to live in.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”

Billy snorts. “No you’re not. If you were really sorry, you would have tried harder.”

“That’s not–”

“Oh no? You wouldn’t have tried more if I were Max? Or El? Or your brother?” Billy’s eyes bore knowingly into his. “I don’t need your apologies, freak. I don’t want them either. Just quit lying to me and admit you didn’t give a damn.”

Will swallows harshly and bites the inside of his lip. The problem is, Billy isn’t entirely wrong. If it were anyone else, Will would have told. He would have jumped through every hoop and every idea in order to save them. He would have spoken up. But with Billy…

“You’re right,” he says after a minute. “I didn’t give a damn. Not about you, at least.”

“Well, thanks for the honesty I guess.” 

“That doesn’t mean I’m not sorry. I’m sorry Max lost her brother. I’m sorry you’re one more death I have to think about. I’m sorry you died before you could be worth something.”

“Worth something, huh? Well, I’ve got to say as apologies go, yours need some work.”

Lips thin, Will swivels, hard hazel looking into dispassionate blue. “Your sister lived in fear of you. My friends were terrified of you. You were cruel and selfish and possessive, and you don’t get a pass just because your dad is a bastard. My dad is too, but I still know my brother would sooner cut off his own hand than ever raise it towards me.”

Billy glares, the ravaging of his body only serving to highlight the monstrosity inside him. “You know nothing, Byers. You think you can stand there and judge me? No. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to judge me just because you think you understand.”

“You tormented your sister.”

“I protected my sister!”

“You almost killed my friend.”

“What, the nig–”

“You insulted every person you came across. I’m sorry you died, Billy, but if it had to be anyone, I’m not sorry it was you.”

They dissolve into silence. The only sounds are the rumbling of thunder in the distance and their own heavy breathing. Billy’s eyes have turned to flint and it’s a wonder Will hasn’t started bleeding with how tightly he’s clenching his fists.

It takes minute before Billy grins, nose and lips twisting viciously. Bloody teeth stretch from under torn skin. “And you said you and the Monster didn’t have anything in common.”

Will flinches before mumbling, “No. I just said you had more.”

“More? Oh no. I think you just hide it better. You traded me. Make excuses all you want, but that’s what you did. Me for your friends. The good of the many, right? Gotta say, that’s cold, Byers.”

“That wasn’t–ugh, forget it.”

“No, no. Go on. Tell me. You made me think I could escape. You made me fight so that the Monster would have to hold me back. Whether I succeeded or not didn’t matter. I didn’t matter. And, hey. You were right in the end. It all worked out just fine for you.”

“We almost died!”

“But you didn’t. The only sacrifice you had to make was me.”

Will thinks of Hopper and dares not correct him. He doesn’t want to know what he would say. “You were already dead Billy,” he says instead, as if the information were new. “What was I supposed to do?”

“Be honest. I hear that’s your group’s whole thing.”

“Maybe. I’m…not the best at it. Not anymore.”

“I’ve learned.”

“And would you have fought, if you knew it wouldn’t matter?”

There’s a beat of silence where Will thinks he has his answer, but then, “I don’t know. Probably not. I just…that girl – El – she…did something. Some nonsense.”

Will shifts. He eyes Billy who pointedly ignores him. “Must have been some pretty big nonsense.”

“Tch. Don’t test your luck, freak.”

“I’m just saying. You protected her. Not your usual style.”

“Of course, I did. It’s what I do. I protect. What, did you think I’d just take off and run? Isn’t that more your thing?”

“I don’t–”

“You do. Oh don’t look at me like that; it’s not a bad thing. You’re alive, aren’t you?” He digs a foot into the sludge. “I’d’ve run, too.”

“Really?”

“‘Course. And seeing as I’m clearly more athletic than you, I probably would have had more success, too.”

Will snorts. “No you wouldn’t. Once He has you in his sights, He doesn’t let you go.”

“Learn that the hard way, huh?”

“Yeah. Running doesn’t get you anywhere. Fighting doesn’t, either. And I have tried, just so you know. The only thing that seems to work is fire – and telekinesis.”

“Lot of that going around then?”

“No more than usual.”

Billy laughs. It’s harsh and grating and full of disbelief. “Well, thanks for not setting me on fire, at least. I figure that was the next idea.”

“You got lucky. We were a little busy with the flesh monster.”

“Well, at least I can take comfort in not burning to death.”

“It’s not pleasant. Takes a while, too.”  

“I thought it might. Got enough of that shit in the fucking sauna.”

“It didn’t look comfortable.”

“It wasn’t.”  

Will has no reply to that. He can still feel the burn of radiators along his skin and has no wish to tread further down memory lane. So he stays quiet, and Billy doesn’t speak. Thunder rumbles in the distance. Will pulls himself up from the sludge he’s begun to sink into, pajama pants covered in filth, but Billy is not so inclined. The muck reaches his shins, and if they were to measure they would find themselves standing at the same height.

Something, somewhere, screeches and it melds into the air of this world as nothing more than white noise. Billy twitches.

“Did–was there a funeral?” His face is half shadowed in red, and the torn flesh makes it hard to discern, but Will thinks he almost looks hesitant. Scared even, making his attempt at nonchalance all the more obvious.

Will nods. “Yeah. People think Hawkins is cursed now.”

“Well, they’re not wrong.”

“No. They had a big memorial for everyone, though. A lot of kids from school were there. You had most of the girls crying.”

“Crying over the fact that the hottest guy in Hawkins was dead?”

“Billy.”

“You can’t deny it. Hawkins just doesn’t make ‘em like me.”

“Oh yeah, it’s such a shame.”

“Tsk tsk, Byers. No need for sarcasm.”

Will rolls his eyes, but lets it rest. Instead, he says, “Your mom was crying.”

“Who? Susan? That woman cries over swatting flies. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Not Susan. The other one. The blonde. She wasn’t there long, but I saw her. Max pointed her out. Said that–Billy?” But Billy doesn’t respond. He’s too busy staring, bloodshot eyes wide with shock and a curious mix of fury and longing.

“Blonde? She–she was there? She came?”

Will’s brow furrows. The shaken quality of Billy’s voice is confusing and there’s a story somewhere in there that he’s missing. “Of course,” he says after a second. “Max recognized her from some of your old pictures. Said she just appeared out of the blue the night before.”

“And did she…did she say anything? Do anything?”

“No,” Will draws out, curious and trying not to be. “Not that I saw, at least. She just…cried. Next thing I knew, she was gone and everything was over.”

“Huh.” There’s a pause. A sniff. Will pretends not to hear it. “Huh. Well, how nice of her to show up, then.” But his eyelids are flickering and Will turns his head in an attempt at privacy. It’s not his business no matter how much he wants to ask.

“So,” Billy says after a minute. “You’ve talked to Max.” It’s not a question so much as a very awkward attempt at distraction, and Will isn’t so cruel yet as to call him out on it.

“I mean, we are friends,” he states. “She misses you.”

“Tch. I doubt it.” 

“Well, she misses the idea of you. You were still an abusive asshole.”

There’s a bark of laughter to Will’s left and he finds his own lips twitching with the shadow of a smile. “You really don’t pull any punches do you, Byers?” 

Will shrugs. “Why would I? You’re dead. Who are you going to tell?”

Billy chuffs and runs a mangled hand down his face. “The fact that you are the last person I’ll probably ever talk to has to be enough punishment for anything wrong I ever did on Earth.”

“I’d say the fact you have to spend eternity here is your punishment, but I know of plenty of people who ended up here that were kinder than you so what do I know.”

“Does that mean you admit to being a punishment?”

“I’m not discounting the possibility. My dad certainly thought I was punishment for something.”

“Mine too. Word of advice, kid: never become a father. They’re all good for nothing pieces of shit.”

“Not all of them.” Will thinks of Mr. Sinclair who always has time for them, of Bob and Hopper, and even Mr. Wheeler. They may not win World’s Best Dad, but at least they care. Still, the image of Neil, stone-faced and cold, as they lowered Billy’s casket into the ground stops him from voicing any more. There was no caring in Neil Hargrove.

Billy shrugs, old hurt settling over him like all the other wounds. “The ones that matter are.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” It’s always the ones that matter in the end. Who cares if other dads are good if yours is shit? 

“And I wasn’t abusing Max, okay? Let’s get that straight. I was protecting her. Neil would have torn her to shreds. He still might now that I’m not there to be his punching bag.”

“If the person you’re protecting is afraid of you then you’re not doing a very good job.”

“She just didn’t know what was best for her.”

“Sure she did. She knew to stay away from you, just like you knew to stay away from your dad. You weren’t doing it to protect her. You were doing it because you were angry and she was an easy target.”

“It kept her safe.”

“Maybe from Neil. But you weren’t any better.”

“She just…she just kept doing stupid shit. Getting into my stuff, being disrespectful, talking to that nigge–”

“Billy.” The word is stern and Billy sneers. Will doesn’t particularly care. Lucas is his friend and he gets enough of that shit in Hawkins. “Max will miss the idea of you, but you were nothing but a bully. And even if you’re right – even if Neil turns to her, we’ll be there. We’ll keep her safe.”

“That’s some high idealism, Byers. You can’t keep her safe. Not from Neil. She’ll have to go home sometime.”

“At least we’ll do better than you.”

“A high bar.”

“Not really.”

Billy laughs. It’s not pretty, as if his vocal cords are decaying as they speak. “I’ll hold you to that then. She’s a pain in my ass, but I’ll hold you to that.”

“You can.”

“Good…good.” He clears his throat and spits out a chunk of bloody tissue. It’s ignored. Billy sinks further into the squalor. Will does not.

“Think we’ll be seeing each other again?”

“In hell? Maybe someday.” Will is fairly sure this is where he’ll end up when all is said and done. Why else would he be drawn to it so often?

“Heh. Well, I’d save you a seat, but I can’t stand you.”

“Feeling’s mutual.”

“Then I hope to never see you again, Byers.”

“Leaving already?” But Will can feel the pull. He’s warmer – the rotting earth disappearing and the thunder more a distant rumble than a roar.

“Sad to see me go?”

Yes. No. “Not really.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t be the first.” Billy’s skin is stretched taut over his face giving the impression of a grin despite it not being funny. “Just – tell Max…” he trails off, gaze distant.

Will allows him this time even though he has the feeling there is no time left to allow. He’s fading. Still, he resists if only because he feels he owes Billy this.

There’s another long second and then Billy is shaking his head. His eyes crinkle around the edges and the familiar anger is back. “Jesus fuckin’ shit,” he mutters to himself before squaring his jaw and facing Will. “When you get back, tell Max to send Neil down to me. Shouldn’t take much convincing.”

Will can’t help but shiver. “Saving him a seat?”

“I’m saving him a whole fucking world. She can send Susan too, if she wants.”

“I don’t think so.”

Billy shrugs. He’s sunk so far into the rot that his shoulders only reach Will’s knees. “Suit yourself. She’d do fine without her. Most kids do.” Billy didn’t, but Will doesn’t say that. Almost wistful, Billy continues, “She’d do fine without any of us. She’s strong like that.”

It’s as close to an apology as Max is ever going to get and she isn’t even here to hear it. Not that it means much. The damage is done. If Billy is looking for absolution he won’t get it from Will.

He isn’t Max, who Billy abused.

He isn’t Lucas, who Billy attacked.

He isn’t any number of the people Billy hurt.

Will is just the only one here, and his forgiveness is as meaningless as the dead.

But there is a note of desperation in Billy’s voice as he says, “You’ll let her know, right? You’ll tell her to send him straight to hell?”

No. Probably not, but, ”I’ll tell her.”

Billy’s lip quivers. Decomposition has reached his chest. He’s scared. He’d be a fool not to be. Will wants to reach out and place a hand on his shoulder, but the world is fading quickly, and the valley of bodies is slowly being replaced by bed sheets and sunlight. They’re running out of time.

Through a desecrated mouth, Billy tries to speak. “I gue-guess this is it. Do me a fav’r, f-freak. Don’t c’me back.”

“No promises.”

A puff of air that might have been a laugh. The muck has reached his neck. “Fig’res. G’ess I-I’ll be h’re ‘f you do.”

We’re always here.

“S-see ya, frea–” Billy’s face is wrenched apart. His bones and musculature are stretched over the landscape, a grotesque figure of skin melding to skin. One more body added to the Monster’s collection.

Will does not look away. He can’t even bring himself to flinch. The ground moves, bodies undulating as if the world is laughing. There is no wind in this place, but the voices of the dead carry, silent as they are to his ears. Lightning strikes. A chill crawls up his neck; it’s time to leave. He flickers.  

See ya, Billy.

Will opens his eyes. He breathes in the scent of decay and exhales into clean cotton. Sunlight forms bands across his face, too bright and warm though he revels in the sensation. His blankets are soft and his feet are clean, and the only sound to be heard is that of Jonathan snoring beside him.

He’s a good brother. The best. And Will can’t help but thank the universe for the fact that his brother never turned into Lonnie the way Billy turned into Neil. He’s safe with a brother that will keep him that way, a mother who will fight for him, and a new sister with the bravery of a superhero.

El’s powerless now. She can no more help anyone than she can herself and the Monster isn’t gone. That doesn’t mean she won’t fight. It’s what she does, and Will resolves that no matter the odds she won’t be alone. He’ll fight with her. Because she’s his sister. Because this is as much his fight as it is her’s. Because the Beast isn’t done with him.

Will will do better than Billy.

He’ll protect his sister.

He’ll protect his brother.

He’ll protect his friends.

Will curls up against Jonathan and goes back to sleep.  

[brittlebutch]

ADHD Steve Headcanons

Has absolutely no interest in most school subjects and struggles to pay attention with practically everything. Genuinely tries to focus during class but is constantly spacing out during lectures and forgetting to take notes. 

Dyslexic as all hell. This combined with his general struggle to focus and get work done means that his essays and writings for class are always kind of a mess. 

People just automatically assume that he’s just a jock who doesn’t give a shit, but he’s really trying and just isn’t getting anywhere. He gives up on trying to convince other people that he’s making an effort, but he does still keep really trying when other people can’t see him. 

He managed OK working at scoops because he could just remember ice creams by their appearances instead of their labels, but he STRUGGLES working at the video store. Robin winds up being the one who takes any job involving reading labels/synopses

Socially oblivious as fuck. Has a hard time processing audio sometimes and an even harder time picking up on things like tone and nonverbal communication. Shit just flies straight over his head, and it makes his reputation of being stupid kind of worse

See: the scene where Lucas and Dustin are arguing about D’art and the cat

Used to get into trouble constantly as a kid for running off whenever he saw something that caught his attention, but never really understood why it was a big deal until he was taking the kids on a casual excursion and one of them practically evaporates away from his side and Steve nearly has a heart attack. 

Gets them to promise to tell him or drag him along with them instead of running off alone, and since he’s genuine about coming with them to check whatever it is out (unless they’re in a situation that legitimately calls for absolute focus on getting somewhere else), they actually listen. 

Steve gets debilitating head trauma in literally every single season and it’s done No favors for his memory, which he’s pretty sure is worse than ever. The kids step up and help him find ways to help him remember things and remind him of things on their own

He gets migraines sometimes too. Sometimes he gets a decent enough warning before it really hits, but sometimes it just hits debilitating out of nowhere. This has not made reading any easier. 

He’s super impulsive. Like a solid 80% of what he does is entirely impulse with no thought behind it. Sometimes it leads to shit he really regrets, but other things - like sticking around to fight the Demogorgon and stepping up to protect the kids - he doesn’t. If he wants to have an actual serious conversation about something he Has to script it and Cannot Deviate From The Script Even Once because once things go off rails they go Off The Rails

He still teases a lot, but sometimes goes too far without meaning to. He has a hard time feeling out Boundaries with this sort of thing, and a lot of it is what he’s used to and isn’t always good at conveying the difference between friendly teasing and cruel teasing. People eventually realize what’s going on and decide to just be upfront explicit about their reactions to things, and Steve makes a genuine effort to apologize and never make the same kind of joke again. 

None of the kids take him very seriously as an authority figure, but once they lean more towards friends he realizes that if he phrases things more as Discussion instead of Instructions they’ll start to listen to him more seriously about things. 

Has a moment every once in a while where he wonders if it’s weird that most of his friends are several years younger than him but decides not to worry about it. 

Gets along really well with the kids because he communicates more on their level and does things in ways that they vibe with better than other adults tend to

Understands hyperfixating on interests and getting annoyed with you’re interrupted too suddenly. Gives warnings instead of demanding everything halt all at once. More lenient about letting things wrap up than others usually are. Also takes the time to listen to the kids talk about their interests and focuses even if he has no fucking idea what any of them are saying. 

Has had to come up with a lot of ways to circumvent learning/school problems and has come up with his own ways of doing things because he’s grown up with undiagnosed learning disabilities. Everyone thinks that his low/mediocre grades means that he’s useless to go to for help with school but he has some really clever solutions and shortcuts that he’s more than willing to pass along. 

Least likely to yell or get annoyed with someone for talking too much / fidgeting around / not sitting still. 

Takes them seriously. They say things and he takes them at face value, he may verbally express doubt because he’s used to being tricked/teased, but at the same time he’s actually listening and is usually already on board despite his words. 

Sometimes parents will crack jokes about being/acting like one of the kids and he brushes them off pretty easily out loud but it like.. hurts his feelings pretty harsh. Just because he can’t sit still and actively enjoys hanging around the kids doesn’t make him A Child, but he doesn’t know how to say any of this so he just doesn’t

Can’t think of any movies he likes because he can’t stand sitting still and quiet for the entire duration of a film and almost invariably winds up distracted by something and leaving with no clue what the plot was 

[sulietsexual]

Could you elaborate why you were dissapointed in season 3 of Stranger Things? I haven't seen it yet but feel free to spoil stuff, already saw tons of gifsets on here.

royalweirdonj said:Thoughts on Stranger Things 3?

Okay, so I have some mixed feelings about this season, so I’ll talk about both the good and the bad and why I was ultimately disappointed with this season (at least in part). So we’ll start with …

What I Liked 

First and foremost, I absolutely loved what they did with El’s character development and characterisation this season. El is a character who hasn’t really had the chance to grow or develop because she’s always so isolated and/or going through so much trauma. In Season 1 she was basically just a traumatised child and in Season 2 Hopper kept her very isolated and her weird sojourn to find her mother and her sister didn’t feel authentic to me. But this season finally gave her the opportunity to start to develop her own sense of self and I loved that, especially the medium through which she did so, ie her friendship with Max.

We’ve all wanted this friendship since Season 2 but I don’t think that any of us realised how glorious it would be. El is a reserved and unsure character (when she’s not being pushed to save everyone) and so she really needed someone like Max in her corner, someone who was loud and assertive, who would stand up for her when she couldn’t stand up for herself and who could show her how to be more dominant and make her own boundaries and rules. I loved the shopping montage, particularly the part where Max helped her pick out clothes that felt like her (”Not like Hopper or Mike, but like you.”), as well as their sleepovers, the way they investigated everything together and the bond which formed from them being the only girls in a group of boys who didn’t always understand each other. It was a really sweet and organic friendship and I’m so glad that the Duffers decided to develop it.

And speaking of friendships, I also adored the dynamic between Steve and Robyn, the way the show turned what we all thought would be a romantic relationship on its head and instead turned it into a sweet and snarky friendship between two people who genuinely liked one another. Robyn herself was a great character and her presence on the show greatly improved the overall tone. I loved how smart and quirky and snarky she was and Mia Hawke really made the character feel authentic. And I really loved the subversion of her and Steve’s relationship and her coming out scene. Steve Harrington proved what an absolute cinnamon roll he is with his reaction to her coming out; I loved that his only response was to tell her that she needed better taste in women and I loved that in the Three Months Later sequence they were still besties looking for jobs in the same place so they could stick together. 

Steve Harrington remained the awesome character he’s always been. Loved that his and Dustin’s friendship is still so intact and that they still care about one another so much. Also loved him sneaking the other kids into the movies on a regular basis. And I liked how the series demonstrated that while he isn’t book smart, he’s smart in other ways, such as figuring out where the music on the recording came from or using the vial of green substance to jam the elevator door open. It shows that he knows how to think on his feet and that he pays attention to his surroundings and is street-smart. I love what they’re doing with his character, allowing him to continue to grow into a more kind, smart and compassionate character with every season.

Also, I loved seeing Science Teacher Scott Clarke again! I missed him in Season 2, so seeing his epic reappearance was amazing! Wish he’d been in more than just one episode.

Characters aside (although, I should mention that I love Joyce Beyers more with every season, her “Mom Voicing” the Government was brilliant and I liked that they touched on her grief over Bob’s death) but that aside, the season felt really well-paced. Only having eight episodes meant that the story progressed quickly and there wasn’t a lot of filler, which was good. There was also so much excitement and action going on that it was very easy to binge-watch the whole season. That being said, I feel like the season changed direction mid-way through, which brings me to …

What I Didn’t Like

Following on from the previous paragraph, I feel like Season 3 started as a character-based season and then quickly switched to a plot-driven season (and on an added note, I was kind of annoyed that the plot this season was literally the same as last season ie the Mind Flayer has taken over someone close to one of the party members and they have to close the gate to stop them - again. Also, the subplot with the Russians was kind of lame). 

There was so much characterisation laid down in the first half of the season which was then kind of forgotten about in the second half once the action got underway and then was never resolved. Will spends most of the first three or four episode lamenting his lost childhood and desperately trying to re-connect with his friends. It’s heartbreaking to see how much he craves the days before everything, the days where he felt safe, where his friends were there for him and not concerned with their romantic entanglements. It was actually a really interesting look into Will’s character and how he’s desperately clinging to the old days but once the Mind Flayer comes into play, this is pretty much dropped. Aside from a half-hearted attempt from Lucas to bridge the gap, Will’s disconnect from his friends and the fact that they’re growing up faster than he is and therefore growing apart from him is never addressed again, leaving this particular thread unfinished. 

Hopper’s characterisation and his storyline regarding being a parent to a thirteen-year-old was also left unresolved. Overall, I didn’t love Hopper’s characterisation this season. He seemed overly aggressive and I really didn’t like that he got so drunk when Joyce didn’t turn up for their date. He’s obviously having communication issues with El, and the opportunity to resolve these issues died along with him. His jealousy over any man who even talked to Joyce was irritating and I didn’t like that he essentially threatened a fourteen-year-old kid and seemed pleased with himself when said kid then hurt his daughter (because it meant that he got his way and that’s all that mattered). I understand why he was so alarmed with El and Mike spending so much time together but the fact that this never got resolved in an adult manner irritated me. And his death, well, we’ll talk about that soon because that pissed me off beyond belief.

Billy’s character needed more depth. I did feel a bit sorry for him this season and he definitely felt like a better character than the previous season, but any development he had (including his relationship with Max) happened offscreen, so it was hard to believe that Max would grieve for him so much after everything we saw him do to her in Season 2. Obviously things have gotten better between the two of them and Billy himself is nowhere near as gross as he was (although he’s still a dick) but we never got to see this growth/development, so it was hard to really empathise with his character or feel grief over his passing, even for Max. 

Nancy’s character felt (once again) kind of useless this season and her storyline was (once again) so separate from the main storyline that I really feel that it could have been removed entirely and it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference. Also, I get that we were supposed to feel that she was being treated in a sexist manner by the men at the newspaper but, I mean, she was only an intern. She wasn’t there as a reporter, she was working as a intern and it’s an intern’s job to run menial tasks such as getting coffee, picking up lunch and doing boring tasks like photocopying and filing and the bad treatment she received seemed to be based more off her intern status than her gender. Also, what did she think, that she would become some groundbreaking reporter based off a summer job with zero experience or writing credentials? Lastly, Jonathan barely felt like a character this season, his sole reason to exist seemed to be to prop up Nancy’s storyline and I hated that after Jonathan delivered that epic (and entirely true) speech about how Nancy didn’t understand the lower class and how he needed the job and wasn’t born with the same silver spoon in his mouth that she was, he then turned around and apologised and said that he was wrong (which he totally wasn’t). Yet another example of Nancy treating a boyfriend like crap and getting away with it, but hey, “feminism”!

I also didn’t really like the dynamic they wrote between Joyce and Hop. It was good at first, with him going to her for advice on how to deal with El and Mike. But once she “stood him up” and they developed that weird snarky “banter”, I found myself growing tired of the dynamic. Also, bringing back the creepy conspiracy theorist from Season 2 to tell them they needed to bang (like he did with Nancy and Jonathan) was, again, so annoying. I hate when characters are told that they have feelings for one another, rather than developing naturally. So yeah, never been much of a Jopper shipper and this season made me even less so. Bring back Bob!

Oh, and lastly, Erica Sinclair is the most annoying little snot of a character. I didn’t find her entertaining at all. She was rude, obnoxious and mean, horrible to pretty much every character, took advantage of Scoops tasting policy while acting like an entitled brat and I just honestly could not stand her. I wish they’d left her out of the Steve/Robyn/Dustin dynamic, she was just such an unnecessary addition.

What I Hated

So, characterisation issues and weird bait-and-switches between it and plot aside, there were a couple of aspects to the new season which I truly hated.

First of all, this season was unnecessarily violent. Like, I get that there’s been violence in this show before, but it’s always been stylized violence, usually aimed at bad guys and quite subdued. But this season? Wow. Starting with that horrible imagine spot where Billy envisions bashing Karen Wheeler’s head in, it just never let up. Having grown men savagely beat up teenagers was way more than I needed to see and the violence often seemed really gratuitous and unnecessarily drawn-out. Steve’s torture at the hands of the Russians was really hard to take, especially because it went on for so long. I hated having to watch them punch Robyn in the face. Jonathan’s brutal beat-down from the Flayed Editor of the paper was horrible to watch and, once again, went on for way too long. Also, watching Flayed!Billy literally choke, punch and smack thirteen-year-old El around was horrifying. Also, his taking of Heather (and later on his attempt to take El) was incredibly rape-y, what with him leaning over them while they were incapacitated and telling them “Don’t move/struggle”, “It will be over soon”. Totally uncalled for and incredibly hard to watch. Maybe I’m oversensitive but I honestly don’t think that the show needed to display that level of violence.

The character assassination of Karen Wheeler continued, with her and her creepy middle-aged mom friends sitting poolside to perv on a eighteen-year-old kid. Imagine if the genders were reversed and it was four middle-aged men perving on a young girl? Also, why would she even consider sleeping with a teenage boy? Sigh. Remember when Karen Wheeler was a concerned and caring parent, who was strong enough to yell at government officials when they wouldn’t tell her what was going on and dropped by a grieving friend’s house with food and comfort? At least she and Nancy had that sweet scene in which she was encouraging to her daughter, but the rest of the time she was just useless and didn’t even know where her kids were.

Speaking of which, why did this show separate Joyce and Hop from their kids for so long? And why on earth would Joyce and Hop be willing to be separated from their kids for so long, after everything they went through the previous year? It felt so OOC for them to not even be suspicious that they hadn’t spoken to either of their children for at least three days, just taking the word of other parents that their kids were alright. 

And lastly, the thing which pissed me off the most and actually made both me and my husband instantly switch off from the show and feel like we had just wasted eight hours watching this season, the death of Jim Hopper.

I know, I know, the Stinger maybe hinted that he was still alive. I know we didn’t see a body. I know that there were hints of time travel in future seasons and that Jim Hopper possibly isn’t dead. But you know who doesn’t know this? The characters. And I hate that. I hate that El has now lost her father, less than two years after finally finding one. I hate that she’s now alone, separated from Mike and while, yes, Joyce will take care of her the best she can, it’s never going to be the same. I hate that Joyce now has to suffer through the heartbreak of losing yet another man she had feelings for, less than a year after she lost the first. I hate that she made the decision to move away (even though I understand it) which separated her kids from their relationships and removed El from the one person who still loves her with all his heart. I hate that the season ended on such a downer, with such loss and tragedy and sadness. It really brought down the whole season for me and left me with a horrible, sad and empty feeling and not at all looking forward to more seasons because of all the crap the characters have gone through.

Whew. That got really long. Hope this was coherent! 

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Chapter 2 - The Rogue and The Bard

“Okay, so…You really go play board games with 12 year olds?” Billy asked, raising an eyebrow, not believing what I was saying. “Yes. Dungeons and Dragons, it’s called.” I tried to explain to him. “And you’re…Uh…Part of their ‘Party’ ?” he continued, looking at me in disbelief. “Yes. Mike is the Paladin, Will is the Cleric, Lucas is the Ranger, Dustin is the Bard and El is the Mage.” I smiled, looking at him  as he drove us to school. “And what are you, babe? The charmer of the group? The Fox?” he chuckled, looking at me. “There’s no Foxes in DnD, you, idiot.” Max grumbled from the backseat. “I’m the Rogue…A Tiefling Rogue. That’s why they called me Fox. Rogues are sneaky and sly.” I grinned at him and continued.“I think you’d make a fine Bard. You have charisma, dexterity and strength.” I try to hype him up, but he only smirked at me with a confused look. “Uhm…You can go around and smack people in the head with a lute.” I grin at him, making him slowly start smiling at how weird it sounded, then chuckled. “I’ll buy a lute just for that.” he let out an amused breath before looking back at the road. “Why did they let you in the Party and not me?” the poor redhead pouted. “Would you want me to talk to them? You see, some of them may have some…Issues, but it’s nothing personal. El, our Mage…She disappeared just a few ago and we kinda miss her. I guess they may be reluctant to have anyone else join us because they miss her.” I told her in a soft voice. “Why couldn’t they tell me that in the first place?!” she leaned frontwards, between mine and Billy’s seats, looking at me. “Well…To put it simple, Max…It’s a problem among all ages. We lack one fundamental skill that could solve more than 80% of our problems and that is, drum roll…Communication.” I say dramatically, making her giggle confused. “What do you mean by that? We all talk so much, don’t we?” she asked again, very curious. “Yes, but that’s different. When you talk, you can either hear, just like you do with any noise, or listen, which you only do when you actually use your brain. Thing is, Max…Most of us don’t know how to Communicate. Your problem with the Idiot Party could have been solved very easily if only they were up for communication, but they’re a bunch of silly nerds. Really. Many people pretend to listen, but they don’t and you realise that only when they get busted.” turning to look at her, I smile and pat her head. “I’d say don’t take it personally, they’re just boys, they’re stupid…But I can talk to them. Believe me or not, I know how to make them listen.” “Whoa, really? You can do that?” she gleamed and practically radiated joy. “That’s why they call me Fox, remember~?” I wink at her with a chuckle, before realising we’ve already arrived. “I say, the way things are, my sister’s gonna charm you before I do.” he scoffed, seeing Max skateboard to her classes. “Awww, come on, Billy, don’t be like that. She’s a real sweetheart. I like her around me, just like I like you.” I nudge him slightly, despite not even budging him. “Besides, it’s nice to finally have proper conversations, y'know?” I shrug a bit, looking away. “Say, babe, wanna see me at practice today? You can cheer for me as I beat the shit out of that Pussy Harrington.” he boasted, putting an arm around my shoulder. “I…Hope not literally, but at the game.” I chuckled nervously, looking up at him slightly. “Fine, fine, whatever you want.” Billy raised his arms in defeat in a joking manner. “Billy! That was mean!” I grinned, trying to stifle my laugh. “Now, there, toots, is where you are wrong and you don’t even believe yourself. I heard your sweet giggle.” he poked my cheek, making me blush slightly and look down. “What time?” I asked, sighing, hoping that nothing will interfere. “First class after lunch.” he flashed a charming smile my way. “I guess that can work. Sure, I’ll be there. But, uhm…Apart from the fact that you gotta score…I know literally nothing about Basketball.” I confessed awkwardly. “Well, you got the gist of it. Leave the rest to me.” he winked, putting his shades on his head. “Project, after?” “If you want to, sure!” I smiled

With that, I went on with my daily at classes, and gotta say, time flew by pretty fast, and before I knew it, lunch began and I went outside to eat, just as I always do, listening to music on my cassette iPod. An hour went by fast and I had to go see Billy’s practice match, his team against Steve’s, and for once, I was a tiiiiny bit intrigued by sports. I enter the P.E. room shyly, seeing how everyone was busy doing the warming up, and I sit on the bleachers, opening my book and reading “The Lord Of The Rings”, my absolute favourite fantasy book, before the match began.

“Hey, Black, this place is for sweating, not reading! Give that here!” a voice yelled in my ear, making me yelp, before they took the book from my hands. “Give me my book back, please!” I stand up quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself. “Why are you here? This is hardly a proper place for you.” Steve scoffed, looking at the book. “Psh, what’s this rubbish? You’re really reading this? Nerd.” he rolled his eyes, holding the book above his head, barely out of my reach. “If you want it back that badly, reach up!” he continued, laughing. “Come on, please, give it back! I didn’t come here for trouble, I just wanted to cheer for a friend!” I tried to say, trying to reach my book. “Friend? You? Of all people? Don’t be kidding.” he scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Hey, lookie here, King Harrington! Too afraid to face me and you prefer harassing a girl? You’re such a pussy.” Billy’s voice echoed from behind Steve, as he easily got the book from his hand. “Why don’t cha come on the field and fight someone your size?” he smirked, getting in his face. “I won’t let you win, Hargrove.” Steve sneered, annoyed, before bumping his shoulder into Billy’s and going to field to his team. “So, you came to cheer on me. Guess now I can’t lose, huh?” he smirked, flexing a bit as he took off his shirt. “Be careful out there. If you flex and show off too much, you might forget you’re playing and not trying to find your next hook up.” I smirked slightly, gingerly taking my book from his hand. “Thank you. I appreciate you standing up for me…Again.” I smiled softly, rubbing his arm a bit, as a way to both say Good Luck and Thank you. “Who needs a hook up when I have to charm the pants off of ya?” he got closer to my face, in a teasing manner. “Go fuck them up…Babe.” I whisper lowly in his ear, as the smirk never left my face, and yet, I back down and looked away slightly. “Great, now I’m turned on and it’s entirely your fault.” he shook his head, biting his lip as he jogged to court, ready to start the game.

The game soon started, and while I have to admit I had no idea what was going on, I would cheer every time Billy would score. I think that’s what I’m supposed to do, right?

The whistle blew and Harrington had the ball, dribbling left and right, until Billy came in front of him, looking intimidating as ever, and they seemed to be…Talking? Do people talk during games? They would bump into each other a lot, before Billy somehow threw him to the ground and got the ball, showing off again as he marked yet another point for his team, then turning to wink my way as he saw I was clapping.

What a jerk.

The whistle blew again, one of the shirtless guys was dribbling the ball and Steve was blocking him, but, of course, since he’s the best player in our year, Billy managed to easily secure the ball and dribbled it away from Steve, but then stopped and started taunting Harrington.

“King Steve! King Steve, everyone! I like it, play it tough today.” he got closer to his face, annoying Steve. “Jesus! Do you ever stop talking?! Come on!” Steve tried to make Billy shut up, but to no avail. “What? Afraid the coach is gonna bench you now that I am here? Huh?” Billy laughed as easy going as usual, then dribbled and pushed past Steve and stop ANOTHER point.

This time, instead of looking at me, he went to Steve, offered to help him get up, but told him something in a very intimidating voice and let him fall to the ground again, before coming in front of me, putting his arms on his hips, smirking cockily and panting.

“Liked the show, babe?” he asked, his chin up. “I have no idea what I watched, but hey, I think you won, right? Congrats! It looked like you did all the job, so I guess I know why the teacher likes you.” I clapped my hands in front of my chest, praising him. “Look at her being so cute. Didn’t I tell ya you were melting my heart? Come 'ere, gimme a hug!” he approached me, but I yelped, giggled a bit before stepping back. “No, no, no. Go take a shower first, then I’ll hug you, okay?” I put my hands up to signal him to stop moving, but he only chuckled. “One of these days, I won’t be the only one sweating, babe.” he teased in a low voice, making me blink and tilt my head in confusion. “I…I don’t do sports, Billy, what do you mean?” I smile at him. “You…You didn’t get that, did you?” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “Uh…No, sorry.” I grin awkwardly. “Never mind. Wait for me by the car, will ya? Unless you wanna join me in the shower.” he winked, giving me a charming look. “Okay, I’ll wait you outside. See ya!” I said cheerfully, walking to his Camaro.

However, before I reached the car, I saw Max and Lucas arguing and I ran to them, putting my hands on her shoulders.

“Hey, guys! What brings you here?” I asked, trying to calm down the waters a bit. “Lucas, here, and the rest of his stupid party, don’t understand anything! They act like they want me to be their friend, but then they treat me like garbage!” she yells at him, annoyed. “That’s not true!” Lucas tried to defend himself, but Max refuted with a simple “Yes it is!” “Is this about the AV club meetings?” I went between them, looking left and right. “Yes! They can’t stop keeping secrets from me and it’s so annoying! We’re not in 2nd grade anymore!” she shouted, very angry, making me sigh. “Okay, kids, calm down. First of all, Lucas, I really need to talk to you guys about this. Max deserves to be in the party too, okay? She’d be a great addition. Secondly…Is this about…About Will?” I ask the second question a bit quieter. “Yes, yes it is! Don’t get me wrong, I want Max in our party, but we’re 6 in our party, not only me, and I can’t decide by myself! You, me and Dustin want her, but Will is barely around anymore and Mike declines every time, because of El!” he raised his voice at me, making me smile in annoyance and sign for him to calm down. “Okay, kids, okay, I understand your problems and while I do think Max should be in our party, I think we should talk, the 6 of us…Like, have a REAL talk, because things have gone out of control these days and I wasn’t able to stay in contact with you too much because of school stuff, as you know. Now…Uhm…You should have told me Will wasn’t okay. El is not the only one like that, if you remember. I will tell Max everything that happened to us so none of you will be able to complain again.” I said sternly, looking at Lucas, who widened his eyes. “Wait, why would you do that?! We’re supposed to keep it a secret from everyone! We’re already 6 people and Will’s mum who know these things! You know how words spread! It’s a small town!” he tried to protest, worried, but I only shook my head. “I trust Max with my life and I vouch for her. She won’t spread our secrets, I’m sure of that. She just wants to be your friend, morons. Oh, Max, your brother is here. Let’s go home, shall we?” I asked her softly, leading her to the car. “Sure. Oh, and, you still stink!” she shouted past he shoulder, letting him panic there all alone. “Boys can be real jerks, huh?” I shrugged, rolling my eyes. “Don’t worry, I will show you something you’ll never forget.” “Yes, please~!” she grinned up at me until we got in front of Billy, who looked pretty annoyed. “Hey, King Billy, how are you feeling after such a glorious win? I mean, I think it was glorious, considering how relaxed you were every time you showed off so shamelessly.” I teased him, motioning to Max to get in the car. “With you cheering for me oh so pretty, what was I supposed to do?” he asked, flexing a bit. “Mind if I come over? Or are your parents home? Max asked me to chat and do some girl stuff. Is that okay with you? If not, she can come over at mine?” I smiled at him sweetly. “Awe, come on, toots, stop smiling at me like that, y'know I can’t refuse you. They ain’t home yet, you can come over. But don’t think the little twerp can have you all for herself all day.” he winked in approval, which made me hug him tightly. “Thanks, Billy! You’re the best!” I say, kissing his knuckles before rushing to the passenger’s seat. “Whoa, babe, what was that? Shouldn’t I have been the one to do that?” he asked slowly as he got in his seat, looking at me a bit weirdly. “Does it matter? I think it’s sweet no matter who does it. It was my way of thanking you.” I give him a soft smile as I lean back on my seat, closing my eyes. “Hmm…Hey, toots, can ya hold somethin’ for me?” he asked as he started the car and left the parking lot. “Of course.” I replied absent-minded.

Without realising, something warm softly lifted my hand a bit, and as I opened my eyes, I see Billy’s hand pressed to mine, his fingers intertwined with mine. He wasn’t looking at me, instead, his eyes were fixed on the road, an almost invisible blush gracing his sun-kissed cheeks, making me smile at him. I was debating whether or not I should say something or not, but I settled for just squeezing his hand a bit and turning the music volume a tad higher, which made him grin.

We sang the lyrics to the songs, which made the ride home pretty fast, like usual. When we got out of the car, Max went to my side and dragged me inside, making me chuckle at her eagerness. We both sat on her bed and she looked at me with such curious eyes that she made me want to hug her constantly.

“So, uhm…This is all gonna sound very crazy. It’s gonna be SO crazy that you will think I’m lying, but honestly, out of all those idiots, I’m the person you’ll believe and I’ll show you why, at the end.” I began, smirking a bit at her reactions. “The secret the guys hide is…Like a real life DnD campaign. With the Demogorgon and all that. I know, I know, bullshit, huh? Well, I can’t show you one YET, but by the time I grind some sense into those idiots…Well, I mean, hopefully you WON’T get to see any monster, they are super scary, but like…Basically, there’s this monster that kidnapped Will and got him in other world and uh…We found his body, but this one is the real one, and uhm…Well, we managed to get rid of the monster…I and El, more like, and the way I saw Lucas today, I think something’s happened to Will. Bad enough that maybe the monster managed to find another way here.” I took a deep breath after ranting all that out, making the girl look at me like I just said the Earth was flat. “Okay, okay…So then…Let’s say I believe you. You have no reason to lie, unless you’re schizophrenic or something. First of all, who is this El? And secondly, how did you stop the monsters?” she asked skeptically, but wanting to be proven wrong. “Well…El…El is short for Eleven. She was an experiment who managed to escape and we found her.” I explained to her with a big smile. “You expect me to believe that?” her incredulous look only made me chuckle at her. “Do you know what my real name is…Well, was, actually?” my smile turned into a smirk as soon as she shook her head. “My name was Three. Do you wanna know why?” again, her vigorous nod made me continue my story, as I pulled up my Tshirt sleeve, revealing the “3” tattoo. “Because I, too, was an experiment who managed to escape…That was 5 years ago.” I explained with a chuckle, seeing her mouth agape as she gingerly touched the tattoo. “Whoaa…And what did they do to you?” she asked again, looking as she was going to jump up and down from excitement. “What they did to me…Well, a lot of things. But that’s not the right question, Max. Y'know what the right question is~?” I teased her, before continuing. “What resulted after what they did to me~!” I smirked at her. “What happened? Did you get super powers or something?!” she screamed before I shushed her. “Do you see that notebook on the desk? Well…” I chuckled lowly before I made the notebook come into my hand. “It’s not there anymore, now, is it?” I winked at her when she started cheering and jumping on me. “OH MY GOD, THAT WAS SO COOL! DO THAT AGAIN! DO THAT AGAIN!!” she yelled excitedly, making me open her wardrobe’s door, before slamming it back and then opening the window, making her literally jump and clap at me. “THAT’S SO COOL!! WHO NEEDS WONDER WOMAN, WHEN WE HAVE YOU?! Imagine that! America’s Hero, Katrina Black, otherwise known as The Fox! Oh, look at her, she’s saving the day again! Whoooo!” she made a superhero pose, but I told her to stop in her tracks for a second. “I haven’t really used my powers in a very long time because…Well…It’s not really something you’d want to go out in the open with some people. But…Uhmm…Let me try to make you fly, or, uhm, well, float. Want that?” I asked shifting in a better position so I won’t screw up or anything. “You. Can. Do. That?!” she jaw-dropped, making me blush a bit. “Well…Kinda? Like…Just like how I managed to get the notebook, I can move you in the air. But it’s more difficult so it takes a bit of a strain, so if my eye or nose start to bleed, don’t worry, it’s normal, okay?” I assured her.

Taking a deep breath, I extend my arm towards her and focus, making her slowly raise into the air, moving her left and right as she giggled and pretended to be a superhero or that she was swimming. I couldn’t help but laugh with her, but I had to put her down before a headache would hit me and I could lose focus and drop her.

“Sorry I got you down, I was afraid I might drop you. I can do that again a bit later, if you want.” I cleared my throat, before ruffling her hair. “Is there anything else you want to hear? I should go to your brother and ask him if he’s up for some tutoring. I mean…I was supposed to give him a test yesterday, but I couldn’t come over yesterday, so I told him tomorrow…But I said that not realising tomorrow is Friday and he has a Basketball match, so that’s out of the question.” I scratch awkwardly at my neck. “Say…Do you like my brother? He’s more tolerable to be around since you appeared and…When you’re with us, he’s weirdly nice. Like…I would have never expected him to hold a girl’s hand like that. He’s such a man whore and he’s so violent! …But I guess I kinda get him, in a way. His dad is really…Really…A huge asshole.” she murmurs the last part before flinging herself down on her bad. “Do you…Want to talk about it?” I lean on my arm, petting her hair softly. “If you want to listen…Yeah. Maybe this way you’ll understand Billy better. Who knows, maybe you can tame him or something, I dunno.” she sighed, burying her face in her pillow. “You know…Billy has saved me from bullying twice since you came. And he’s been very sweet with me so far. I…I know he whores around a lot and he’s very violent…And gosh darn it, he flirts with me more than he breathes, I think…But I really appreciated that he didn’t beat up a guy when I asked him to. He had him by the throat, and I begged him not to punch him…And he didn’t.” I confess, putting my head on the pillow next to her. “Woaw…Sure that was my brother?” she chuckled, turning on her side. “Haha, yeah, I promise, it was him.” I grinned softly. “So…So, I don’t really know everything, okay? But…But Billy is afraid of Neil. He’s always screaming very aggressively at Billy and it can’t be a recent thing. And I think he sometimes hits him too. He can’t accept my mum as his mum, which I can understand, but he hasn’t had someone in his life who has been as nice as you are since his mother left him.” she explained, smiling sadly. “Well…To be fair, I was expecting something like that. Childhood trauma usually manifests in two ways…Either like me, or like him. But…But I think…Maybe I can somehow handle this.” I brought her into a hug, which she reciprocated. “He’s been a part of my life all this time and I don’t know him as something more than a violent guy…But can you help him? I know it’s a lot to ask, but…” she trailed off, not knowing what to say. “Don’t worry, Maxi, I will see what I can do. I’m kinda stuck with him the whole year whether I like it or not, so I won’t let him get worse than he is.” I giggled at her, but before she could say anything, the door opened, revealing Billy, his shirt halfway unbuttoned. “There’s so much love in only one room, but what 'bout lil’ ol’ me~?” he slurred in a supposedly sexy way, leaning on the door. “Billy! Remember how yesterday I was supposed to give you that test, but I couldn’t come over? Like, I said I would give it to you tomorrow, but I didn’t realise tomorrow is your match and…And like, you have to celebrate your victory, so I won’t stress you with a test, clearly. But like, you want to take it today, or do you want on Sunday?” I ranted on as I got on the edge of the bed, but before soon, he just chuckled and picked me up bridal style. “Let’s take that test. I’ve been staring at your lips all day, Kitten, and today I’m even more motivated to find out their taste.” he laughed, getting me to his room and gently pulling me on the bed. “Are you sure, Billy? There’s no rushing…I mean, you can have a few days more to revise…And this chapter is not the easiest one, so I won’t blame you.” I smiled nervously, looking away. “Nahhh, s'okay. I was prepared for the one yesterday, so bring it on.” he told me with the most confident smirk in the world, as he sit down on his desk chair. “Okay, so uhm…Yesterday I stood after class with Mrs. Green to create the test for you in a way that it would be structured the same as the final exam is, which is why I couldn’t come over. But…Here you go. You can write in your notebook and I will correct it afterwards, I have the point-grading right here. I’m asking again, Billy - Are you absolutely sure you’re up for it?” I asked him for the millionth time, putting the test in front of him. “Yes, babe, I am. I’m a man of my word. Responsibility and Respect.” he muttered, scanning the test paper. “That sounded a bit robotic…But I won’t ask you about it now. Good luck and focus. You have 2 hours from…Now.” I told him, getting on the bed and doing some improvements to the project.

Two hours passed by faster than the blink of an eye, making me get up and go to Billy, patting him on the shoulder and telling him that time was up. He looked at me since we were about the same height with him sitting down, and in his eyes I could see a certain…Restlessness. Like a fight of emotions was going on, but he didn’t know what to do. I blinked at him twice before cupping his face and frowning.

“Are you okay, sweety? You look upset. Did something happen?” I said in the most gentle voice I could managed. “It’s nothin’, babe, don’t worry for nothin’. Go check my test and tell me if I’m worthy of you or not.” he grumbled, puling away from me. “Billy…If you want, I won’t look and you can retake is on Sunday. It’s okay if you fail from time to time, it’s not the end of the world, you can always try again later.” I try to reach out to him, raking my fingers through his soft hair. “Nah, babe, failing isn’t manly, it’s for pussies. I can’t afford that.” he sneered, gripping his hands into tight fists. “That’s not true, who told you that? To fail is human and it can happen to everyone. It’s not a masculinity meter!…Billy, look at me, please…Billy. Please.” I pleaded again, putting my arms around his neck, but he only got up and went away. “That’s what he always said, okay? So what the hell else am I supposed to fucking DO?! If I don’t listen, I’m fucked! That’s how it’s ALWAYS fucking been! But you wouldn’t get it, would you?! Your parents probably bought you that house so you could stay alone and study at your leisure, their pretty little treasure, and you could fuck everyone you wanted there and nobody would say anything! Why the hell are you even here?! Huh?! It’s only 'cause of that teacher, ain’t it?! And 'cause I’ve always been the idiot to save your weak and pathetic ass! Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if you DID boast that you fucked me!” he raged around the room like an angry tiger in his cage, trapped. “Wh-What do you even know about my life…?” I managed to usher softly, as tears welled up in my eyes and I backed towards to wall opposite of him. “Well, fuck, Katrina, I don’t know, it seems like after today, I know absolutely NOTHING! Care to fucking enlighten me? Care to tell me why are you the high school’s fucking whore?!” he yelled, stomping towards me, which only made me glue myself to the wall, sobbing. “I-I’m not…I’m…Not…I…I…” I choke out, but since I couldn’t say anything coherent, Billy slammed his hands on either side of my face, trapping me, screaming “WHORE” in my face, which made cower and shield my face with my arms. “Don’t hurt me! Please, please, please, don’t hurt me! I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry, please don’t hurt me! I promise I’ll be good, please, don’t hurt me!” I barely managed to squeak out between my sobs, my legs shaking like mad and I could barely breathe.

My ears were ringing from the silence in the room, save for my pitiful sobs, flashbacks flooding my head so much that my throat and lungs were burning like a wild fire. After what felt like hours, he slowly guided me the bed, making me sit down, and by instinct, I let myself fall down and started unbuttoning my shirt, with trembling hands. I didn’t even dare look up to meet his face, but his hands gripped my wrists all of a sudden, which made me meekly raise my gaze a bit and see he was frowning, but somehow, confused.

“What are you doing?” he asked in a low, somehow dead-pan voice. “It’s what you want, isn’t it? Rather than doing it by force, just do it with no violence. I told you I won’t bother struggling, it’s meaningless anyways.” I whispered softly, biting my lip. “Did I say I wanted to fuck you right now?” he sat down on the bed as I cringed at his question, only shaking my head slightly. “Then why did you do this?” he asked, but since he saw I wasn’t answering, he continued. “I’m not mad, I’m not going to hurt you, ever, so just answer.” “I’m sorry I upset you…I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to.” I whispered as he lifted me into a sitting position. “You’re the only one who puts up with me, and if you got angry at me, I deserve it. I’m sorry, so please, don’t get angry at me and leave.” I continued, closing my eyes. “Kat, come here.” he patted his thighs, motioning me to sit on his lap, which I did, but I still wouldn’t look at him. “Kat, look at me.” he said softly, putting his hands on my face, as I previously did to him. “Who hurt you so much, Kat? Tell me. I’m not angry at you and I won’t leave you, either.” he uttered, trying to calm me down. “I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you or said those things to you. I know they were lies, but I got frustrated. I should apologise, not you.” he confessed, making me look at him with glistening eyes, shaking my head briefly. “Kat, tell me. Please.” he whispered in my ear, making me start to cry again and throw my arms around his torso, crying in his chest, still trembling slightly. “I don’t know, Billy, I don’t know! It’s always been this way! I don’t get it, what did I do wrong? Why does everyone hate me? Do I look that weird? Is my personality that garbage? I-I don’t understand!” I began, feeling him rub soothing circles on my back. “I never had a family, Billy! I’m a runaway freak! I ran from an experimental base 5 years ago! I didn’t even have a name, I was just a number for them! And…And I ran here, and a policeman found me and put me in an orphanage under a name that I made up! Katrina Black, not Three anymore! And…And when I got with my new family, it was no difference than in the orphanage! Always the same thing! Nobody wanted me, I was just a waste of time and I did nothing good to contribute to my family!” I managed to say, clutching his shirt tightly. “Shhh, it’s okay now, Kitten, I’m here.” he whispered in my ear kissing my head. “Don’t be afraid.” “I worked a lot for 4 years, and with the policeman’s help, I managed to get my own little house and a motorbike. Not the perfect family anymore, huh?” I tried to laugh, but it came out more as a choke. “And…And…I…I just…I just wanted my Happily Ever After, Billy…I…I didn’t want to be alone anymore…They faked it…They faked everything just to fool around with me…They pretended to love and care about me…They pretended that they were good and protective boyfriends…But by the time I realised that what was happening wasn’t normal, it was too late and the damage had already been done. And I can’t erase it no matter how hard I try…” I put my hands in my hair, pulling at it in desperation. “I just want to forget all the disgusting things that happened, all the lies I heard, all those hands on my skin…I told you so many times before, no matter how much you struggle, it doesn’t do any good. Well, now you know the story behind it.” as I said that, he gently pulled away my hands and made me raise my head up again, and I could see anger and sadness in his eyes…He, too, seemed to want to cry, but tried very hard to stop it. “Tell me who did this to you and I’ll kill them. I’ll get revenge on them for you. If you couldn’t get out, neither will they.” he growled, looking me in the eyes, but I only shook my head and hugged his neck. “Don’t…Don’t go…Don’t leave…Don’t bother…What’s done is done. Yeah, of course, he only fucked me once, did other super gross things, whatever and now I’m somehow the biggest whore of the high school, whatever. Hey, really, I somehow magically fucked you in your sleep, or something, hell if I know. And if that wasn’t enough, after that first guy, two more came by. 'Know what happened?” I looked at him with a self-deprecating laugh, making him motion for me to continue talking. “The first one made me realise what happened wasn’t okay. Thing is, I told him I wasn’t interested in any fucks. What he did? The next day he started asking me about what positions I liked and stuff. And the next thing I know, he realised that I’m not a virgin, but he is, and says something along the lines of…How did he say it, now…Ah, yes. 'Why do the bad guys always get the good stuff?’. Yeah, like, thanks mate, very smart.” I rolled my eyes, every word completely dripping with sarcasm. “I kinda like it when you finally talk from your heart and you’re not scared of everything around you.” Billy said with a small smirk. “Well, then maybe you should love me by now. The third guy was very sympathetic with me and supposedly very protective of me. Turned out he was high-key flirting with my then-friend, making out/fucking her, all whilst continuing to insult me, but never letting me break up with him. He was a notorious liar. The biggest liar in the world, I kid you not.” I snorted bitterly. “Did they beat you?” he asked in a very low voice. “No…But…They would get overly possessive and jealous and would argue with me big time. It’s not like I have many friends, y'know? Just the kids. And Jonathan Byers, kinda. They would yell at me a lot and get super moody and mean. Hell, even on my birthday. Really…Fuck off.” I scoffed slightly, pouting as I leaned back a bit. “Did you calm down, Kitten? Feeling any better after letting your feelings out?” he caressed my cheek softly, which made me look down and snort a bit, trying to stifle my giggle. “What’s goin’ on, Kitten? Why you laughing?” he asked with a soft smile. “I…Well…It might sound super weird, okay, but…But I can’t stop laughing thinking about it. Just…He…He always boasts around how much of a mess I was because of him, but, like…I literally didn’t even realise when he got inside me and when he finished, like, what the hell!” I started laughing loudly, wiping my tears with my wrists, which made Billy start laughing as well, not having expected me to say something like that. “So my little Kitten can have a sense of humour when she wants to, huh? I never expected you to say any of the words you said the whole day, I swear, you’re surprising me with each day.” he put his arms around me, hugging me tight as I put my arms around his neck and calmed down. “I know I’m a mess, and as I said a million times, I’m sorry that you have to put up with me. But, Billy, if it were after me, I’d have already given you a chance by now, but really, I’m just scared that the whole chaos is going to happen again. And I’m just so tired of everything that I don’t think I could handle another betrayal.” I confessed softly, putting my forehead to his. “I said I was gonna prove you that you’re not wasting your time, and I’m not backing up from that promise. If it’s time you need, we have all the time in the world. I won’t be a shithead again like today. I lost control and it was my fault, I’m sorry.” he promised, looking me in the eyes as he put a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s okay, Billy. I know you have it rough too. I don’t know the details, but I can sense what’s going on. You don’t have to tell me, but I know your father is a…A douchebag. I’m sorry for using that word. But, really, it’s one more year and you’ll be free of him! You’ll have a scholarship and you’ll be studying at a cool University whatever you wish to study and…And…I…Well…Maybe…Maybe we can…Y'know…We may be able to study in a place close to each other. Maybe even the same city. Hawkins Scholarships are usually more or less addressed to certain Unis in certain states.” I said with a shy smile, which in return, made his features soften up like never before. “Sounds good to me, babe.” he said, before burying his face in my neck, holding me tight as I played with his hair, calming him. “Billy.” I called out after a few minutes, when I felt his heartbeat calm down a bit. “Would it be okay with you if I corrected your test now? Don’t worry about the result, it just means that I will have to explain some stuff better, so it’s no problem. It’s as you said, we have enough time for everything. I don’t want to hold you off for too long since tomorrow’s your match and you should sleep well.” I say gently, making him sigh and nod.

I told him to stay in bed and lean on the bed post before I got up, took the test and a red pen from my bag before hopping next to him, cuddling to his side. We corrected the test together, explaining to him each mistake he made and why it was wrong, how to address the question tasked and so on, and it seemed like he understood and he was aware of his mistakes and how to solve them. It’s true, he didn’t make it to 75%, but it wasn’t too far away from that mark. He was frustrated, but I managed to calm him down and tell him that he will definitely do better next time and that first tests are always so bad. By the time we were done, outside was pitch black and we realised it was already past 10pm, which made me bite my lip.

“It’s okay, I can walk home, it’s no big deal. Just stay here and sleep well, okay?” I smiled at him reassuringly, but he only shook his head. “Just sleep over, I’ll sleep on the floor no big deal.” he proposed, shrugging, making me gasp. “Are you insane?! You, sleep on the floor? It’s YOUR house! Damn it, Billy! I should take the floor! Well…I could sleep in Max’s room, actually.” I realised, but he shook his head. “No, no, no, I’d rather sleep outside than seeing you do either of those two. I said it before, didn’t I? She won’t have you all for herself.” he said, making me chuckle. “You could just say you wanted to sleep cuddled with me, y'know? You liked that hug more than you’d admit in your life.” I teased him with a soft smirk. “Fine, babe, y'got me. So, what band do ya want?” he asked, going to his wardrobe to look for a Tshirt for me to sleep in. “Woaw, always ready to give a girl your band Tees, huh?” I chuckled, hiding my mouth slightly. “Nah, not 'a’ girl. You. Anyone touching my band tees will get burnt.” he smirked, leaning on the door. “Flattering, Billy. D'you have AC/DC?” I asked softly. “Do I breathe air?” he asked very dramatically, throwing the Tshirt at my head, making me laugh. “Thank you. I love the design…Oh, Jesus, how much cologne and cigarettes did you have while wearing this?” I laughed, hugging it too my chest. “Too much, maybe.” he shrugged. “I’ll turn around so you can change. Don’t worry, I won’t peep. Yes, you can kill me if I do.” he chuckled as he turned around, stretching a bit, giving me enough time to change and remain into his Tshirt and lady boxers only, thanking every deity existing that he was much larger than me and the Tshirt went mid-thigh. “Okay, I’m ready. Thank you…And, uhm…This is really weird and embarrassing.” I sighed as I put my clothes neatly folded on the chair. “Ah, fuck, you’re so hot, I knew it.” he smirked, raking his fingers through his hair. “Okay, fine, my turn. But I don’t mind if you watch.” he winked at me, making me hmpf a bit as I got in bed, putting the blanket over my head. “All clear, I can’t see a thing!” I chuckled, giving him a thumbs up with my arm out of the blanket, making him sigh.

It took less than two minutes for him to snatch the blanket from my head and snatch me into his arms tightly to his chest, playing with my hair loosely. I smiled softly and snuggled to his side, feeling warm and safe in his arms and I completely ignored the fact that he was only wearing a pair of boxers. Godamn it, Billy.

With a kiss on my forehead, he muttered in a low, guttural voice a simple “Good night, Princess” before closing his eyes and going to sleep. In return, I could only smile and kiss his neck, being closest to me, and wished him “Good night, Billy” before I let sleep take over my senses.

Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

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