#we’ll always have pennhurst
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mrspeacockwasaman · 1 year ago
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What if they went to prom together i dunno
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latenightsimping · 2 years ago
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THE EDGE
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“...There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who’ve gone over.” - Hunter S. Thompson, Hell’s Angels
Summary: A part of the deal to freedom included a stay at Pennhurst. It’ll take everything to keep the hope that one day the locked doors will open, the windows will no longer have bars that block the view, and that one day, the name Eddie Munson will be synonymous with the word ‘innocent’. The hope, he never realised, would also come to be synonymous with your name.
Chapter: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Pairing: Eddie Munson x reader
Word count: 3.1k
Warnings: angst, heavy themes of inpatient treatment/hospitalisation, heavy themes of mental health, institutional deprivation of liberties, body injuries, mentions of suicidal ideation, themes of institutional abuse, can be a dark read (continue with that in mind, look after yourselves), canon divergence, Eddie survives the demobat attack, post-S4 timeline, slow burn romance, eventual smut, 18+, eventual fluff
AN: This was an idea that I’ve had for a little while, and finally getting around to writing it. There will be multiple chapters, and we’ll get to meet the reader in chapter 2. I’m pulling on many references, some of it being my own experiences of being in an inpatient facility a couple of times in my teenage years. Write what you know, and get some catharsis through angst relating to it, innit. I will say though, look after yourselves, and seek help if you need it. Inpatient sucked, but it’s what I needed to keep myself healthy and alive. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, I promise. And if you think it needs extra tags, please lemme know. I can see replies but cannot answer due to this being a sideblog, so keep that in mind. Anyway. Hope you enjoy.
Taglist: (lemme know if you wanna be added): @edsforehead​
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Eleven vertical steel bars, five horizontal. eighty-seven bricks on the wall just past them. Sixty-four pinstripes on the pillowcase. One hundred and twenty one days since the last breath of fresh air. 
There’s only so much counting to be done, before you go as insane as they report you to be. 
Eddie had prided himself in independence, before everything went to shit. He could get up when he wanted, go to bed at a time of his choosing. Choose what clothes to wear, when he wanted to shower, what food he ate. But that had all been stripped away. A uniform of white was given to him on arrival. White undershirt, white button down and pants, white vans, white socks. A colour that he typically hated, now forced upon him with no room for argument. The food was shit, the attitude of the staff even worse. Bed so uncomfortable that what little sleep he could manage with the screams and yelps of the damned ringing in his ears, he would always wake up with a soreness that could never be taken away. 
He thought he’d witnessed hell. Skies of red and thunder, twisted vines and flapping of wings and razor sharp teeth. But this? 
This was worse.
He had woken up bathed in bright light, and for a second he wondered if this was Heaven. Only took a couple of seconds to realise that it was likely that the promised paradise wouldn’t smell of disinfectant and have incessant beepings of heart monitors. A couple of times in his life, he had been in handcuffs. Drug related charges that Hopper had conveniently lost the paperwork for, letting him go with a stern talking to and a slap on the wrist. But this time? This time, the steel that connected him to the bedframe of the hospital bed felt permanent. He was lucky to be alive, according to the doctors, who told him with disgust evident in their features. It should have been you who died, was clear to translate from furrowed brows and the thin press of their lips. Eddie couldn’t help but agree with them sometimes. Nurses would often ‘forget’ to give him the pain medication prescribed, leaving him in a near constant state of agony. 
The demobats had really done a number on him; lacerations and chunks of flesh torn from the left hand side of his body, trailing up his neck and ending on his jawline and cheek. More on the right pectoral muscles, the backs of his hands, forearms and upper bicep. If he wasn’t facing the barrel of the death penalty, he would have cracked a joke about losing his nipple. Each and every wound was a constant ache, his jaw near permanently set to grinding his teeth to bear with it. Only when Wayne was finally allowed to visit, hollering his lungs out about how much pain his boy was in, was he finally given those syringes of relief that he so desperately craved for. Not for long, only until they decided to neglect him again. But those moments were the reprieve that were sorely needed.
It had been Hopper’s idea to turn himself in and feign insanity, when he had visited his bedside. Something about a plan, and that he would just need to hang tight for someone high in the food chain to be contacted to fix the mess. He was promised that the chief of police would make sure he wouldn’t go to jail. Just to have trust, have faith, and repeat the words told to him to plead insanity. He couldn’t remember anything past the point of letting Chrissy into the trailer. He couldn’t remember killing Fred Benson or Patrick McKinney. Couldn’t remember attacking Max Mayfield, putting her in the hospital. Couldn’t remember how he got hurt. Deny, deny, deny. It had been easy to convince the cops that he’d lost his mind; easy enough that it was borderline insulting. The last of Vecna’s victims had wounded him to find out about, and had nearly caused him to lose face. He didn’t know Red well, but he’d seen her around the trailer park, looking as lost and broken as he did at that age. Got to know her better over the time they spent together, and had admired the strength and tenacity that was in her, too much of those qualities for a fifteen year-old to carry. He just prayed to a God that he didn’t believe in that she’d pull through. 
Many years ago, he had made a promise to himself not to ever turn out like his father. That waste of space that chose drugs over his own flesh and blood. But getting processed in what remained of Hawkins police station, ink still damp on his fingertips as he clutched the name board while his picture was taken, that’s exactly how it felt. The hospital booted him as soon as he was medically stable, no doubt not wanting to harbour a serial killer in the halls that were meant for healing. At least he could be thankful that the station was only a detour, a short stop to what would be his home for God knows how long. 
Pennhurst Mental Hospital. 
In four months, life had blurred into a monotony that was barely endurable, with no end in sight. He was afforded no luxuries; the cell he was kept in made up of nothing more than necessities. Bed, sink and toilet, desk and a chair. No windows, and the only view past his bars being a dirty grey brick wall.He’d counted the cracks in it the first week in. Counted the ones on the ceilings in the second week. The rest of the time had been spent packing back and forth, like that tiger he’d once seen at some shit zoo. The lack of fresh air had suffocated him long ago. He could swear that he hadn’t taken a deep breath since Chrissy’s body flung itself to the ceiling.
It was the boredom that was the thing that was slowly poisoning him the fastest. The unending, unyielding, mind numbing boredom. Where all he had was his thoughts, and no possible escape from them. Thoughts of the past and the future threatening to pull him under, to drown him in regrets and missed opportunities. He was going to finally graduate from high school. Corroded coffin could have gone somewhere. He was going to start a new campaign for Hellfire. He was planning to finally move out of the trailer, and into a place of his own. Back and forth, the rumination so intense it made his head spin. Made him pace even harder, until he was near the point of over exertion. The only outlet for a man that barely ever stood still in his life.
 A nurse that must have had a shred of humanity left passed a book through his bars the first couple of weeks in, evidently having enough sense to realise there was no possible way for him to do damage to himself or others with it, and most likely sick of the sound of rubber soles against cement. The Count of Monte Christo was a book that he vaguely remembered from school, no doubt an essay that he didn’t hand in considering he’d never read it in his life. But by this point? He could have recited it in his fucking sleep. 
It was during another countless repeat of reading it that his attention was caught by the calling of his last name, a loud bang of a fist hitting metal that snapped him out of whatever dissociation he found himself lost in. Snapping his head towards the sound, he was met with the unkind face of one of the orderlies, one that seemed to have it in for him since getting here. Eddie had heard him be called Bradford before. He must have caught the confusion on Eddie’s face, considering he followed it up with an eye roll. 
“Get your ass over here,” was the gruff response he got, the jingling of keys audible as the one to his cell drove home into the cylinder. “Must be your lucky day.” 
Though there were multiple questions ruminating in Eddie’s mind, he knew better to push his luck. Gift horse in the mouth, and all that. The steps he took towards the door were methodical; slow and steady, as if it was all one sick prank, getting him into trouble and thrown into the solitary confinement cells that he’d been borderline threatened with multiple times. 
A firm hand planted to his chest stopped him in his tracks, the contact to the still healing scars making him wince and take a sharp breath. It was instinct to lower his eye contact upward, though it quickly dropped to the floor as the man loomed over him. “Any trouble, so much as one foot out of step, and I’ll make it my fucking mission to put you back in here. Do I make myself clear?” the man warned under his breath. The smell of stale coffee and cigarettes hitting him square in the face, making his stomach churn. 
Swallow down the disgust and agony, as much as it hurts, the reasonable voice inside him whispered. Don’t do anything stupid. In another life, he would have given this figure of authority hell. A sarcastic quip heavy on his tongue, a middle finger to those who wanted him under their boot. 
But this wasn’t that life. And he needed to play it smart. 
“Crystal, sir,” he mumbled, fight well and truly snuffed out from the system that wanted him locked up and the key thrown away. 
It seemed to have appeased the orderly, for now. The man took sure steps towards the exit, Eddie following his heels at a close yet respectable distance. Head lowered, frizzy curls now wild and unruly falling like a curtain in front of his face. It was near laughable to him that the ability to walk in a straight line further than ten feet was now a luxury. Could finally properly stretch his legs, though the destination was still a mystery. 
The shift from dim lighting to sunshine with the ascension of a set of stairs that he’d only travelled down once made his eyes screw near closed on instinct, turning his head away from the windows that let it in. Once upon a time, he enjoyed sunny days. Like the feeling of sun on his skin, and the wind in his hair. Nowadays he didn’t even know what season it was. 
Being led through winding corridors, for the first time he saw other patients, all eyeing him with paranoid looks. He couldn’t blame them. But he could feel the tendrils of fear beginning to grip at his gut. Would he end up like these people eventually? How long would it take? A couple of months? Years? A subtle shake of his head as he tried to dislodge the thoughts. He couldn’t think like that. Hopper promised he’d be out of here soon. He just had to have hope. 
The orderly came to a stop in front of a door, deep green and paint chipping off with age. The nameplate on the front gave him pause, when he finally spared a glance at it. DR. EDITH MILLER, etched onto the brass. He’d had meetings with Dr. Miller since he got here. Once a week, the nosey bitch would try and get information that didn’t even seem relevant. He’d managed to evade some of the questions, embellished the truth on others. But if he was being summoned to her office? This couldn’t be good. 
The orderly’s knuckles rapped on the door three times, a call of “enter,” being audible seconds later. Eddie was ushered inside, the homely looking woman with already greying hair barely looking up at him from her paperwork as she motioned with the pen in her hand towards the chair nearest to them. At least in his cell, he was somewhere that he knew back to front. This was completely different, completely new, and his nerves were already on edge as he shuffled inside. 
“Need me to stay?” Bradford asked, hand still grasping the door handle as his eyes flickered around the room. No doubt his mind was already thinking of possibilities of what could happen with a suspected murderer left alone in a room with a defenceless woman. The thought of people thinking that he was capable of atrocities weren’t new, but it still made Eddie sick to the core. 
“That won’t be necessary,” she replied, hazel eyes finally shifting upwards to look at the two men. Her monotone voice gave nothing away, face devoid of any emotion either. Bradford faltered for only a second, before Eddie finally heard the door close behind him. Only then was he given the barest hint of a polite smile as she motioned her hand towards the chair again, to which he obliged out of the need to be polite. “How are you feeling this week, Eddie?” she asked, head slightly tilted. 
She was the only one to call him the name he preferred. Everyone else just called him Munson. He wasn’t stupid; he knew it was a ploy to get him to trust her. Make him comfortable with small signs of respect, though it was likely she didn’t in the slightest. His hands settled on his lap as he fidgeted with his fingers, eyes glued to the worn tiles of the linoleum and absentmindedly counting the cracks. “Fine,” he replied, the word devoid of any emotion or energy. 
The truth would be sharing too much; the fear of being honest bringing the risk of even more restrictions under the guise of safety. There wasn’t a delicate way of saying “I want to close my eyes and never wake up some days.” 
He heard scrawls of the pen, no doubt more notes that would dig him a grave of pills and cell bars. A pregnant pause before she spoke again, and an intake of breath. “And how are you feeling with the medication changes? Is your mood still low?”
He had to bite his tongue, to stop his lips turning up into an incredulous smile. The truth again being evaded in the answer. “Fine,” he repeated, this time with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “The pills make me feel sick every hour of the day, make me into more of a ghost than I already am.” 
Another scratch of ink on paper. “Your case was brought forward to the panel this morning. We’ve decided that we should ease your restrictions, given that there’s been no record of violent tendencies to yourself or others since the time you’ve been with us.” 
That made his ears perk up, the sparks of hope threatening to ignite in his chest. Head snapping up to finally make eye contact with the good doctor, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What does that mean?” 
Her eyes studied his face for a few heartbeats, a small smile gracing her features, one that seemed to be an attempt at easing anxieties. “It means we’ve decided to move you to a medium security wing. It comes with certain privileges, but also with expectations, Eddie.” 
The words coming out of her mouth seemed to blur together, becoming a background noise to his rapidly beating heart. He was finally getting out of the damnation he had been trapped in, perhaps finally allowed into the light. To be able to breathe lungfuls of outside air from a crack in a window, to not have to sleep just to evade the hollow boredom. It was relief; as if the hand of an angel had reached into the pits of hell, to bring him to salvation. And if that hand was one of the likes of Miller, he’d clasp it with both hands and not let go until the end was in sight.
“-we’ll still need to see improvement to give you certain privileges, but we can play it by ear. How does that sound?” Her voice finally tuned back in, a little hazy at the edges, tears of joy and relief threatening to fall from his eyes. 
“When can I go? When do I move?” he blurted, the only question that mattered. Fuck, if she’d asked him to crawl through broken glass right now, he’d do it with a fucking smile on his face. 
Her eyes flickered downwards as her wrist came up, a brief glance to her wristwatch as she pulled herself to a stand. “You’re just in time for recreation, and there’s no time like the present.” She rounded the desk, taking sure steps to the door and looking back. “Shall we?”
It was instinct to move as fast as his legs could take him, quickly snuffed out with the realisation of where he was. Slow, sure movements, make yourself as least threatening as possible. Keep hands visible at all times, open and by his sides. Three steps away from the doctor, passing many twists and turns of the corridor and being led through multiple sets of steel doors, until one was finally opened for him that he was expected to step through alone. 
It wasn’t until the door slammed behind him that he finally looked up to take in his surroundings. Chipped and scuffed beige linoleum tiles, walls in just as sorry a state. Large windows that bathed the room in natural sunlight, though the bars on the windows were a reminder of where he truly was. A couple of tables and chairs dotted around the room, most occupied with other patients. Who seemed to be in various stages of lucidity. A couple of benches, some more chairs crowded around an ancient TV. 
In any other situation, he would call this place what it was; an abject shithole. Somewhere he wouldn’t be if you paid him. But recent events had changed his mindset, had lowered his expectations until the bar was practically on the floor. This was a damn palace, compared to his last recent address. It had the lack of staleness in the air, albeit now replaced with bleach and something he couldn’t place. It had space, and light. 
It had hope. 
But with the luxury of choice, came the immobilising aspect to it. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Where was he going to sit, or do? Strike up conversation and hope that the person didn’t know about what had put him here in the first place? 
He was still making his choice when he heard a voice. A woman, tone bored yet slight amusement playing on the words. 
“Are you just going to stand there? You’re making the place look untidy.”
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sie-werden-nie-vergessen · 1 year ago
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after mill valley
A little snippet of Ephraim and Ethel post Mill Valley. Ethel works as the head nurse in a small children's ward, and Ephraim has positioned himself as a psychiatrist in the same institution. Slice of life with a reference to Emma Fultz my beloved. Author's note: Yes, I finally figured out how to save Emma from a life of perpetual torture and loneliness in Pennhurst. This plot hole has been bugging me for over a year, so I'm happy to finally begin to wrap it up. Ephraim and Ethel might adopt her, honestly.
- Boston, MA, mid 1899 -
“Ephraim, have you seen my hairbrush?” Ephraim pokes his head out of the bathroom door and peers across the hallway at Ethel. She’s still wearing her dressing gown, and she frantically searches through the clutter on her vanity in search of the hairbrush. He smiles to himself and sets down his comb, placing his hands on her shoulders as he peers down at the vanity. 
Ethel huffs in frustration, having found nothing in the drawers. Ephraim gazes at her in the mirror, smiling as he watches her.
“You know, I could just buy a new one.”
Ethel turns around to look at him, her hair falling into her face. “No,” she says, brushing the stray hair aside. “I’ll find it, eventually. It’s alright.”
She smirks, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. “But I might borrow your comb in the meantime.” “You wouldn’t dare.” Ephraim’s voice is serious, but Ethel knows he’s joking. She smiles, raising an eyebrow as she looks at him. “Oh yes I would, Dr. Bellows. I might even steal your pomade too.” “And what are you going to do with that?” She shrugs. “I’ll hold it hostage, naturally.”
Ephraim rolls his eyes lovingly, turning towards the bed to grab his vest and jacket. “What do you think we’ll have to deal with today?”
Ethel arranges her hair into a bun, pinning it into place as she speaks. “I don’t know. Maybe a stubbed toe or spilled juice?” She smiles, happy to finally be dealing with simple problems, for once. Working in a children’s ward had its challenges, of course, but most days were simple and quiet, due in no small part to the fact that the ward currently held only 3 inhabitants, a fact that she was endlessly grateful for. 
She had seen enough children suffering to last a lifetime. Spilled juice and stubbed toes were a happy respite. 
“What about you?” She asks, standing from the vanity to put on her corset. “How has it been? I haven’t had a chance to ask.” Ephraim adjusts his collar, staring at his reflection in the dresser mirror. “It’s been usual. I sent a letter to Alan three weeks ago, so hopefully he can send the transfer papers soon.” “Oh, I hope so!” Ethel smiles, her eyes gleaming with hope. “After everything she’s been through…..”
Ephraim nods, thinking of the poor girl left to rot in Pennhurst.
This is your fault! You did this to her! You did this-
SHUT UP!
He shakes his head, willing the thoughts away. They’ve lessened considerably since he left Mill Valley, but occasionally they still cling to him, refusing to leave.
“I just hope that she’s alright. Well….as well as she can be, considering.” Ethel nods. “I hope so too. She took it so hard, after Sarah-” She stops herself nearly instantly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.”
Ephraim shakes his head, walking closer to Ethel. “No, it’s alright. You shouldn’t have to censor yourself for my sake.” “I don’t want to upset you.” “Don’t worry, I manage that just fine on my own.” The air hangs thick between the two of them, until Ephraim pats his pockets and continues on with his day, as if he hadn’t just been stricken with images of the horrors he had inflicted, the nightmares that he had only just escaped.
Ethel swallows, watching him closely. She steps forward, taking his hand into her own, mirroring the night Sarah had been found. “I’m always here.” She says gently.
Ephraim nods, his eyes closed, his mind whirring. “I know.” He opens his eyes, smiling stiffly, forcing his demons away. “You’re too kind to me, you know?”
Ethel shakes her head, smiling fondly. “I’m not kind enough.” She counters, breathing deeply.
“You aren’t a bad man, Ephraim. You have a good heart. Don’t forget that.” Ephraim would beg to differ, considering everything that he had done, but she seemed so sincere, so certain, that he didn’t dare defy her.
After a moment of silence, he settles for a simple “If you say so.”
She squeezes his hand before releasing it. “I do.”
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yikesharringrove · 2 years ago
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“Seriously, just bring me along!”
“Steve, we don’t have time for this,” Nancy snapped, holding another ruffled shirt out to Robin, who winced.
“I swear I’ll get us right in, and right out. We won’t even have to have fake identities!”
“No offense, Dingus, but we have a plan. A good plan, even. And we need you to stay here. Watch out for the kids. Watch out for Max.”
Steve was staring at Robin, his eyes huge as he tried to plead with her.
“I can help. Please, you guys. I’m always so useless when the shit hits the fan, but I can do this. I can take care of it.”
Robin looked at Nancy, her resolve buckling under the pressure of Steve Harrington’s puppy dog eyes.
Nancy sighed, rolling her eyes.
“Fine. You’re driving, then.”
Steve grinned and gave a little cheer.
-
Steve was all smiles and swagger as they strode into Pennhurst, Robin and Nancy exchanging looks as he greeted several of the staff members by name, a string of bright smiles and hey, Steve!s following behind them.
He leads them directly to Warden Hatch’s office.
He knocked briefly on the door, grinning at the two girls when the muffled response called him to enter.
“Steve! It’s so good to see you, son. I didn’t know you would be visiting today.”
Nancy gaped as Hatch stood up from his desk, coming around to hug Steve.
“We’ll, I thought I’d come by and surprise her. She does so much better in Spring, you know.”
Robin had never seen Steve like this.
It wasn’t like his King Steve persona, the arrogant confidence that made up all that douche-baggery. It wasn’t even his usual goofiness.
He didn’t seem tense at all, and he didn’t seem like he was bullshitting, either.
And then Hatch noticed the two women behind him, and he smiled at them brightly.
“And who might you be?”
“Well, this is Robin, and this is Nancy. They’re my friends.” He winked at them behind Hatch’s back. “I’ve been telling them about how often I visit and volunteer, and they wanted to come check the place out. Maybe volunteer for a bit today.”
Hatch shook both their hands, turning back to Steve.
“Steve, you know the rules. All volunteers must consent to a background check, it takes two weeks, at least.”
Steve clapped Hatch on the shoulder, and Nancy remembered just what Steve Harrington’s charm really looks like.
“Oh, come on. I’ve known these two for years. They’re seniors at the high school. Robin’s in band and Nancy it taking five advanced placement classes.”
And Hatch’s shoulders deflated as he sighed.
“Alright. Alright, Steve. Let me get you some volunteer badges.”
And within ten minutes, the three of them were walking down a beige corridor, volunteer badges pinned to their jackets.
“Jesus, Steve. How did you do that?” Robin asked under her breath.
“Please. I told you I could get you in.” He peered into one of the activity rooms. “Once I find her, you two can head downstairs to Creel.”
Steve was looking into each activity room they passed, shaking his head and frowning, peering at each patient in turn.
The corridor led them to a large room, some patients gathered around a small record player, a few painting at tables.
Steve beamed, nearly breaking out into a run towards a woman sitting in the corner.
She was thin, her hair graying and whispy, reaching the bottoms of her shoulder blades.
Nancy and Robin hurried to catch up with Steve as he was helping the woman slowly stand up.
“Hi, Mama.” His voice was soft, and the girls stopped in their tracks.
The woman was in profile to them, clearly staring intently at Steve.
“Anthony?”
“No, it’s me. It’s Steve.”
The woman furrowed her brows.
“My Steve is only a baby.” She still looked confused, even as she reached up to brush a thumb over Steve’s cheek. He smiled at her, a big huge grin that made him look so much fucking younger than Robin or Nancy had ever seen him. She visibly relaxed, and patted Steve’s cheek twice. “It’s good to see you, baby. I was wondering when you’d visit me again.”
“I was going to wait until Thursday, but it’s so nice out, I think we should go on a walk.”
And then everything made fucking sense.
It all clicked to Robin. The way she could never get a hold of Steve on Thursdays. The way he almost never mentioned his mom.
It was all my dad is coming home tonight or my dad told me to reapply to tech.
This was why he clammed up whenever she asked why he never applied to any out of state schools.
Robin tugged Nancy’s arm, nodding her head in the direction of the stairwell at the opposite end of the room.
“Steve, meet back here in ten.”
Steve nodded once to her, and his mother turned to look.
She was very striking. Her eyes were the exact image of Steve’s, even her eyebrows and the little bags underneath were identical to her son’s.
Robin hurried away with Nancy, suppressing a laugh when she heard Steve’s mom ask if that was his girlfriend.
“No, Mama, that’s Robin. I told you about her. My best friend.”
Steve linked his left arm with her right, leading her slowly towards the door that led outside to the gardens.
She loved walking them in spring, when the flowers were beginning to bloom and the air smelled of rain.
She was doing well today. He was delighted when it only took a moment for her to recognize him. There are some days when it takes a few hours, some days when she doesn’t know him at all.
“How is school going, Baby? Have you asked your chemistry professor about extra credit?”
It was warm outside, and Steve was glad he didn’t need to fetch his mom a sweater. Sometimes being in her room here made him anxious.
“I graduated, Mama. Last year. I brought you pictures, and my friend Jonathan filmed it, so you and I could watch it together.” He led her down the worn stone path, passing by a large hydrangea bush, the blue flower buds beginning to poke out from the green leaves.
“Yes. I remember. You brought me your diploma.”
Steve felt like a fucking balloon was inflating inside of him.
She was having an exceptional day.
Her left hand was stowed deeply in the pocket of her sweat pants.
He knew it was curled and useless, her arm atrophied and weak.
They watched a large honeybee bumble over the early flowering lilac flowers on a hedge near the path.
She looked up at him, and his heart sank as she smiled vacantly.
“I’m sorry, remind me your name?”
“It’s me, Mama. It’s Steve.”
“Steve,” her smile turned real. “I was wondering when you would come and visit again.”
He always let his hopes get up too high.
“Today’s such a lovely day, I thought I’d come even though it’s not Thursday, yet.”
“How is school? Have you spoken with your chemistry teacher about getting some extra credit?”
Steve tried not to let his face fall. He didn’t want her to see his frustration with the circular conversations.
Especially when he let himself think that everything was back to how it was before.
He checked his watch, only about five minutes left before Nancy and Robin were due back.
He led them further down the little stone path.
“Have you been panting much?” He asked.
Her therapist had recommended art therapy over a year ago, and it had done a lot for her fine motor skills. 
Steve had several of her paintings tucked in a large envelope in his closet, keeping them safe until he had his own home to frame them in.
“I did one of the garden last week.”
Steve knew that painting. She had one favorite spot in the garden to paint, and he had three of her nearly-identical works of the view from that spot.
“I’d love to see it.”
She smiled at him brightly, the left side of her face slightly less responsive.
They walked back to the recreation room, and Steve deposited her in one of the large armchairs by the window, kneeling down to face her.
“I love you, Mama. I’ll be back on Thursday, okay?”
He patted his cheek, brushing her hand through her hair.
“You look just like my brother, Anthony.”
She confused Steve with her late brother nearly every time  he visited.
Nancy and Robin emerged from the stairwell at the opposite end of the room.
“I’ll see you on Thursday, Mama.”
She smiled at him.
“My Steve comes to visit me on Thursdays,” she muttered. “Do you know Steve? He’s my son.”
“Yeah, I know Steve.” He stood up, nodding at Nancy and Robin, clearly  not wanting to interrupt him. He leaned over to kiss his mother on the top of her head. “Bye, Mama. I’ll be back. I promise.”
And he would be.
He wouldn’t let the Upside Down shit take away his Thursday visits.
“I love you, Steve.” She smiled up at him, and his stomach did a flip inside of him.
“I love you.”
He caught up with Nancy and Robin in the hallway, leading them back to the car.
It was silent on the drive back to the Wheeler’s house.
Nancy was sitting in the passenger seat, and Steve could feel her eyes periodically trained onto him.
“She had a stroke,” he said softly. “Two years ago.”
Nancy gaped at him.
“But, we were still dating two years ago!”
Steve sighed.
“It was the day before Halloween. You and I weren’t in a good place, and then the shit hit the fan, and then we weren’t together anymore, and I just had to deal. I’m sorry I never said anything,” he swallowed thickly. “It’s hard. Some days, she doesn’t know who I am.”
He willed himself not to cry.
He knew Robin was trying to make eye contact with him in the rear view mirror, but if he met the reflection of her blue eyes, he wouldn’t be able to hold back his sobs anymore.
“I’m sorry, Steve,” Nancy mumbled.
“Look, it’s okay. It’s fucking sad, but she’s doing alright. And-and we’ve got this Vecna shit to worry about, okay?”
The girls exchanged a look in the rear view mirror, and Robin reached forward to pat Steve on his shoulder.
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ginger-grimm · 2 years ago
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Carmen's life so far has been anything but easy. Her parents have always kept her at arm's length, while somehow smothering her at the same time. They didn't let her be a normal child. But Carmen slowly begins to realize that she isn't normal, to begin with.
When her parents lock her in the basement after she displays powers, Carmen is found months later and eventually ends up in Indiana at Pennhurst Asylum.
On the night of her escape, she sees a little boy running through the woods of a town called Hawkins. The next day she meets his brother, who feels strangely compelled to protect her from whatever she is running.
For Carmen, it's out of the frying pan and into the fire, because suddenly, she is back to trying to figure out her powers and where she really comes from. The question is, where does she even start?
chapter one - the art of sneaking around
The rain fell heavily onto her head. Her clothes were already soaked and she could feel the future cold coming on. Still, she had no clue where to go. The previous night's events had her rattled. Hawkins was not the quaint little town that it seemed to be. All Carmen wanted to do was get on a bus and go out of town, out of state. Start somewhere fresh.
She shrieked as another bolt of thunder rang out. A shadow in the distance made her retreat behind a big tree. A big man in a police uniform came weaving around the trees, two men behind him trying to keep up on the slippery ground.
“Alright, let’s call it a night. We’ll never get anywhere like this.”
“It is pretty wet out, Chief.”
“You don’t say, Callahan.”
The men walked off in another direction. The Chief stayed put for a few seconds, looking around the area.
Carmen’s heart began to race as she clung to the tree for dear life. She knew they weren’t there for her. They were there for the boy. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t bring her in if they found her out in the woods in the middle of a rainstorm.
She held her breath for what seemed like forever until the Chief finally turned and walked after his Deputies. Only then did she breathe out a sigh of relief.
READ HERE: WATTPAD - AO3 - FF.NET
TAGGING: @waterloou @firsthorror @eddysocs @ocs-supporting-ocs @foxesandmagic @veetlegeuse @decennia @hiddenqveendom @arrthurpendragon @luucypevensie @richitozier @noratilney @jvstjewels @oneirataxia-girl @wordspin-shares @nejires-hado @endless-oc-creations
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hawkinslibrary · 4 years ago
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i love hearing what you have to say about season 4!! i promise it’s not too long lol, anyway i have a question for you: what do you think the next season holds for mike & el? i’m a little worried tbh
ahhh thank you !! same rules apply: spoilers ahead, so please read no further and blacklist/filter out the ‘s4′, ‘st4′, ‘spoilers’ tags if you don’t want to see anything !! 
i’m going to talk about them both as individuals and as a pair but first, i have to say that i don’t personally feel like you have to worry about them breaking up or anything again this season. i think s4 is really going to establish romantic jopper and once that happens, i don’t see them, mileven, or jancy not being endgame unless someone actually dies. which -- i’m not going to think about the possibility of anyone dying until i’m forced to confront it, so. this is fiction and it’s already unrealistic and i’m gonna take my ‘everyone survives, happiness all around, time to relax’ endings and go. anyway, i would love to add lumax to this list but i honestly think it could go either way depending on what happens in s4. that’s a different essay, though.
i tend to think that the most important dynamic on the show is the one between the whole group and i just don’t really see them spending much more time trying to develop romantic relationships outside of the ones set up since s1/2. maybe steve, robin, and will get love interests, maybe they decide to develop dustin and suzie more, maybe suzie is never even mentioned again, idk. but these will probably all be secondary -- as in less screen time, not less important than the main romances, but probably still less developed. unless it happens to be a new person added to the main cast. which, as of now, the only new mains are brett and priah who has gone from recurring to regular. so.  
i think s3 showed how messy and complicated romantic relationships (or, really just relationships in general) can be. everyone was arguing, there was miscommunication all around, everyone thought they knew what was best, no one was seeing eye to eye. but when it comes down to it, they would do anything for each other. they understand each other better than anyone else ever could. i can’t see them spending another season on breakups and romance drama after the ending of s3.  
mike and el have already been separated once before. this time, mike knows for sure that she’s alive and that’s she’s with the byers. this time, el won’t be kept completely isolated away from everyone else. they’ve made plans to meet for the holidays. they can still call and talk to each other as much as they want. i’m hoping they handle being separated this time better than they did in s2. i don’t want mike to be moping and i don’t want el to spend a lot of the season thinking about how much she misses him. in fact, i think in their case that some distance could be good for them. the same for jancy and jopper, too, honestly. it’ll be nice to see them existing outside of these relationships while still acknowledging how important they are.   
as far as i know, the byers and el stuff has not started filming yet so all there is to speculate on are rumors, the audition tapes, and logical guesses about where the story goes after s3. el obviously moves away with the byers. we still don’t know where. she’ll still be mourning hopper and trying to figure out life without her powers. and, of course, she’ll be in a long distance relationship with mike. i think she’ll be having a hard time and she’ll wish that mike was around, but she’ll realize she’s got a pretty good support system around her now with the byers, too. i’m very, very excited for more joyce and el content particularly, but there’s gotta be some great scenes with her and will and jonathan as well. 
there’s only one audition tape that i can confidently tie into the byers + el plot(s?) and it’s the queen bee/mean girl character ‘angela’. if we’re running with the whole ‘there may be some truth to the audition vids’ thing, then this one teases that el will be going to school and that angela will be bullying her. this is something she would probably want to talk about with mike (b i g troy s1 vibes) but i don’t know if she actually would ? so this is probably more a thing that el and will could bond over or that she could talk about with joyce or maybe jonathan. i do think there will be at least a few calls between the two of them before the action really hits and the whole group is (hopefully...) reunited.
so, el -- at least in the beginning of s4 -- will be going to school where ‘angela’ bullies her, forming a bond with joyce + will + jonathan and becoming part of the family, mourning hopper (+ hopefully having conversations about him + his past with joyce), missing her friends back in hawkins, continuing to learn how to navigate life without her powers, and trying to maintain a long distance relationship with mike. 
mike... i’ve been seeing some wild theories about him today but they aren’t really that far-fetched i think. first, going back to the audition tapes, the ‘eddie’ audition i saw makes it seem like mike is going to be part of the hellfire club with dustin. i’ve recently learned that there’s another version of the scene where ‘eddie’ is only talking to dustin and mike might not be a part of the club after all. if he isn’t part of the club, then the basketball v. hellfire, jocks v. nerds thing turns into lucas v. dustin and mike’s probably there just caught in the middle while max is off distancing herself from everyone.
at this point, i really want mike and max to become good friends. i think the end of s3 gave them the perfect opportunity. s4 max has s2 mike vibes. it’s not the same situation at all, but he knows kinda what she’s feeling and they could connect through that + the fact that they’ll both be missing el. i also just really want... some wheeler siblings content. i’m hopeful that s4 gives us good nancy and mike scenes bc there’s no reason not to give us good nancy and mike scenes (+holly!). however...
while there’s proof that gaten and sadie and natalia and priah have all been filming since production restarted, and while i have reason to believe that caleb has been filming a lot inside/at the studio recently... there’s no evidence that finn has been on set. there’s none for maya and joe, either, but people have said that finn isn’t even in atlanta right now. maybe he is and maybe he just hasn’t been seen and maybe he’ll pop back up tomorrow. or, maybe he already filmed whatever he needed to film for hawkins before production stopped.  
the wild theory that’s popped up today is that everything gets to be too much for him in hawkins and he just... hops on a train to go visit el + the byers. i don’t know if i buy it, but it is interesting to note that he was sitting with them at the table read. and since we can guess that steve and robin will still be working at the video store, robin and nancy will be investigating pennhurst together, lucas and max may have some angst, joyce and murray are probably teaming up for the finding/saving hopper plot, and el is going to bond with will and jonathan, it seems like the order might mean a little something. i’d even bet that dustin and erica have scenes with them bonding over d&d.    
now this theory pretty much only exists because no one’s seen finn on set and one of the paps posted some pics of some trains. there’s also always theories about how there will be issues at home with the wheeler fam and if that’s going to happen, what better time than in s4 when all of his friends are pulling away and el’s gone again. so if he is missing el (and will) that much, and if he has any reason to worry about her and how she’s doing, or if the party becoming distant and issues at home are weighing on him and he feels like he needs to get away, he’s absolutely the type to venture off on a train by himself. i don’t know how it would work since he’s definitely supposed to still be in school and his friends/nancy at least would notice he’s gone, but.. it’s fun to think about and we’ve got zero actual content to go off of right now.  
another way i could see mike’s plot going is that he’s the one trying to keep the party together this season. playing mediator with lucas and dustin, becoming better friends with max, being the connection between the hawkins plot and the byers plot (along with nancy). 
there was also talk of him joining the track team bc the track has been set up with hawkins high colors for filming. but mike ‘this isn’t a stupid sports game’ wheeler? i don’t think so... basically, no one knows at the moment what’s happening with mike wheeler in s4 lol.
s4 mike is just like s4 byers fam -- a complete mystery to me currently. i don’t personally think that he’ll be leaving school and hopping on a train to visit el. i think he’ll be a part of the hellfire club with dustin, or that he won’t and instead will be attempting to keep the party from completely disbanding. i hope that we get wheeler siblings scenes and that max and mike have a breakthrough and become better friends. i also feel like he’ll be having some complicated feelings about hopper, the last interaction they had, etc. and, again, the whole long distance thing with el. 
so... mike and el broke up in s3. it was messy. but then they reconciled. and then hopper “died”. s3 ended with them at this weird place where she’s heard him say that he loves her and she’s told him that she loves him back. things are a little awkward in the scene bc everything has changed at this point, but a kiss, an ‘i love you’, planning to meet up on the holidays, and promising to call frequently all sounds like they’re back together and going to try making the long distance thing work to me. 
i think they’ll be together when s4 starts. i think that we’ll probably only see them talking on the phone or their radios for the first few eps. maybe we’ll see flashbacks or something to them being together on the holidays. the distance might be hard and they’re definitely going to be missing each other. like... el doesn’t have mike or hopper with her now and i’m thinking the party is going to be drifting apart, plus they’re both probably going to have other personal issues that have nothing to do with each other or the party. maybe they’ll be experiencing some emotional distancing of their own while dealing with the aftermath of hopper’s “death”, the move, and whatever’s going on with them at home and at school. i think that once they reunite (probably not until the last half of the season), they’re likely to be stronger than ever. 
now, onto personal theories that have zero basis. for some reason, i can’t get it out of my head that this season might dive into psychological horror a little bit ? like a greatest fears type of thing ?? and i keep thinking about brenner popping back up and using the people el loves to get to her or something and 👀👀 
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insideoutstory · 5 years ago
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Inside Out → Chapter Six
summary: Christine is still hoping everything with Nancy and Steve will blow over. She couldn’t be more wrong. word count: 4.7k warnings: Teen Angst™ [ masterlist ]   [ FF.net ]
“And in Roane County, the search for Will Byers has developed into a full-fledged investigation. The twelve-year-old boy was reported missing by his family yesterday morning, and the Hawkins Police Force has been organizing search parties throughout the night. Police have yet to release an official statement of their findings, though one bystander told reporters they saw two officers exiting the woods with a child’s bike sometime late afternoon. For more on this story, we…” 
Christine turned off the television with more force than was necessary. It hadn’t truly processed until she’d woken up the next morning. A kid gone missing in a small town like Hawkins. A kid that she knew—knew well enough anyway. She’d watched Will play Dungeons and Dragons with his friends, raced him home with Dustin, snuck him extra candy when he went to the movies with his mom. The news ran stories about missing kids all the time, and sure it was sad, but it had never really affected her. Now just seeing Will’s picture, smiling without care or worry, made her stomach feel a bit queasy. 
She collected her school things earlier than usual, going to knock on the Henderson’s door. 
“Come in!” Mrs. Henderson was already bustling around the front room, her coat on and her car keys in hand. “Oh, there you are, Christine. Thank you so much for doing this.” 
“No problem, Claudia. Where’s Dustin?” 
“He should be out in a minute. Dusty! Christine is waiting for you! Let’s go!” 
“I KNOW! I’m MOVING!” 
“Heading into work early?” Christine asked, watching Mrs. Henderson slip on her shoes. 
“Yes. I’m hoping to sneak out a few minutes early and head down to the station to help with the search party. Now, Dustin’s going to the Wheelers’ after school—they were all so insistent on those radios—so you don’t have to worry about bringing him home. I do want you to be careful though. Maybe you could go with them and spend some time with Nancy?” 
“Uh, yeah, I’ll figure something out,” Christine said airily. “I might go down to the station myself. It feels kind of weird sitting at home with everything that’s going on.” 
“Oh, alright. Just be careful. Please!” 
Dustin came bursting out of the hallway, tripping over himself as he rushed for the door. 
“Come on, people! Let’s move it! I don’t wanna be late! Love you, Mom! See you later! Chop chop, Christine!”
Christine shared a dubious look with Mrs. Henderson, but followed Dustin out into the driveway. “What’s got you in such a tizzy?” 
“My education, Christine. Sorry for thinking school is important.” 
The statement was punctuated with a sneeze so powerful that Dustin nearly knocked himself over. Christine raised an eyebrow. 
“Bless you.” 
“Thanks.” 
They started off toward the middle school, moving faster than they normally would have. Dustin wasn’t looping around at the corners to wait for her anymore, and more than once he completely blew through a stop sign. She didn’t comment at first, but after he hydroplaned through a giant puddle and nearly lost control, she had to put the proverbial brakes on. 
“Alright, what the hell is going on with you?” she demanded, pulling up on his right. “You have got to slow down, Dust.” 
“No can do. Gotta get to school.” 
“What is so important that you can’t stop at a stop sign?” 
“Learning!” he insisted. Dustin sneezed again, his bike veering dangerously as he fought to recover. “And I’ve gotta talk to Mike and Lucas. Party meeting. Confidential.” 
“Uh-huh.” She narrowed her eyes at him, unimpressed. “You went out last night, didn’t you?” 
“What? No! That’s crazy! Why would you say something like that?” 
“Because you lie like your pants are in a permanent state of combustion.” 
Dustin turned to her with a wide grin. “That was a good one.” 
“Thank you. Did you sneak out last night?” 
“Yeah,” he said reluctantly, wiping his nose on his sleeve. “And it was raining. And now I’m sick.” 
“Not to be an asshole, but you kind of earned it.” 
“Are you gonna tell my mom?” 
“Depends,” said Christine with a steady glare. “Are you going out again tonight?” 
“I don’t know. Maybe.” 
“Then I don’t know. Maybe I will.” 
For a few blocks, they biked in silence. Dustin kept his eyes forward, pouting at the ground. Christine wanted to stand her ground, leave her disciplinary action to stand on its own. But it was always uncomfortable when Dustin went quiet. She didn’t like seeing him upset. 
“Did you find anything?” she prodded. “When you went investigating?” 
“Nothing that will help us find Will,” he said, defeated. 
“Anything interesting?” 
“Do you think there are really crazy people at Pennhurst?” 
“I—What?” Christine blinked. “Pennhurst?” 
“Yeah, the asylum in Kerley County. Lucas says there’s a lot of psychos there. Like, Michael Myers psychos.” 
She stared at him, trying to gauge whether or not he was serious. “You think Michael Myers took Will?” 
“Don’t be stupid, Christine,” he complained. “If Michael Myers got to Will, we would have found his body by now. This is a completely separate conversation.” 
“Okay, uh… Do I think there are crazy people in the mental facility in Kerley County? Yeah, I think there are probably a few.” 
“Nuts,” said Dustin, shaking his head. 
Nothing more was said of the subject. 
Christine dropped Dustin off at the front doors to the middle school, staying to watch him park his bike and double check his backpack for his books. She grabbed him by the arm before he headed inside, forcing him to face her. 
“Listen. I know you want to find Will. But you can’t just go running around after dark when nobody knows where you are. That’s exactly how Will got lost in the first place.” 
“I know,” he said sheepishly. “But the party can’t abandon him. What if he needs us?” 
“Then you should probably be taking care of yourself, shouldn’t you?” She ruffled his curls, and sighed. “I know you’re probably not gonna listen to me. But seriously, Dust. If you guys decide to go out looking for Will, tell me, okay? I don’t want you out there alone.” 
Dustin finally looked up at her, a small smile showing the gap at his gums. “You’ll come with us?” 
“We’ll see. But you have to be honest with me.” 
“Okay. Promise.” 
“Good. Now get going.” 
She shoved his shoulder lightly, pushing him toward the building. He waved as he hopped up the steps, but Christine waited until he was safely inside before turning around and heading for the high school. 
In retrospect, she probably should have left earlier. The high school parking lot was almost empty when she got there—full of cars, but devoid of people. The warning bell rang inside, and Christine cursed under her breath. She was late. 
She stashed her bike, fumbling with her backpack as she sifted through the contents. She wouldn’t have time to stop at her locker, but she had most of her morning assignments with her. Some of the textbooks she might be able to share, and she could always write notes in a different notebook and just transfer...
“Ouch!” 
A collision knocked Christine off her feet, and she just barely avoided toppling to the pavement. A hand grabbed her arm to steady her, then released her almost immediately. 
“Sorry! Sorry, I didn’t mean—…” 
“Jonathan, hey.” Christine gripped the bike rack, rolling her ankle around until she was sure she could put weight on it. “Sorry, that was my fault. I’m late so…shit.” 
Christine looked at the ground, where thirty or forty flyers were scattered around. Will’s face stared up at her, the same picture they were using on the news. 
“Shit, I’m sorry.” She bent down to help him, grabbing franticly at everything in her reach before the wind could pick up. “Sorry, uh, here…” 
“Not, it’s cool, uh…thanks.” 
He stood up, not meeting her eye as he straightened the pile of flyers in his arms. Christine straightened the books in her backpack, and shuffled her feet. They stood there until the final bell rang inside, jolting them both. 
“Sorry I made you late,” he offered. 
“Oh no, not you. I took Dustin all the way to school this morning, so I was already doomed.” 
Jonathan nodded. “Yeah, that’s—that was probably a good idea.” 
“You skipping again today?” 
“Yeah. My mom kinda needs me at home and the police still have a bunch of questions and stuff, so…” 
“Hey, do…do you wanna give me some of the flyers?” she asked, gesturing at the stack. “I could put some up around school, maybe go down to the shops later. If you wanted some help.” 
“That’d be great, actually, yeah.” He nodded, peeling off a few and handing them to her. “Thanks, Christine.” 
“Yeah, you got it.” Christine nodded, fiddling with the strap of her bag. “If there’s anything else I can do, let me know. I know all the boys are…well, Dustin’s freaked. But Will’s probably the smartest of all of them. So, if you need anything…or your mom or something…” 
“Thanks,” he said again. “Yeah, I—I will.” 
“Cool.” She nodded again, backing away toward the school. “I’ll see you around. Uh…hang in there.” 
She quickly ducked through the double doors, speed-walking toward homeroom. She scrunched up her face, wiggling her nose in an effort to shake the awkwardness that was clinging to her like a cobweb. She’d always kind of known Jonathan Byers, but they were a far cry from friends. And she felt for him, she did. But her morning definitely could have gone without that painful interaction. 
“Miss Walcott,” Ms. Snider greeted, pausing in her announcements as Christine slunk into the room. “Glad you finally decided to arrive.” 
“Sorry, Ms. Snider. Just trying to pitch in.” 
She held up the stack of flyers, and the woman’s face immediately softened. “Alright, well try and keep it between classes next time.” 
“Yes, ma’am.” 
She hurried to her seat, waving off Barb and Nancy’s concerned glances. 
“Pitching in?” Barb echoed once they were all safely in the hallway. 
“It worked, didn’t it?” Christine picked out a poster, taking it up on a corkboard as they passed. “Free hall pass.” 
“Real classy,” said Nancy dryly. 
“Hey, I’m worried about Will. We all are. Besides, makes me feel better about my whole stinted conversation with Byers.” 
“Is that why you were late?” asked Barb. 
“Nah. Ferrying Dustin to school, just making sure he got in okay.” 
“I still don’t get why you don’t just make it official and actually babysit him,” she said, shaking her head. “I mean, with the amount of time you spend over there, you could make serious bank on that kid.” 
“Well maybe I just like pitching in,” Christine replied with a grin. She dodged as Barb attempted to bump her into the lockers. 
“Well do you have to pitch in tonight?” asked Nancy. 
“I don’t know yet. The boys are supposed to end up at your place.” 
“Do you wanna come with them? We could just hang out for a while, watch a movie.” 
“You sure?” Christine asked. “You don’t have more…I don’t know. Studying to do?” 
“No,” Nancy said quickly. “I mean, Kamisky’s test is today, so. And I—I actually did a lot of studying last night so…I’m totally good to go. Any movie. Your pick.” 
Christine didn’t miss the insinuation, but no one seemed ready to acknowledge it plainly. Nancy’s face remained hopeful, and Barb was suddenly extremely interested in the various flyers on the message board. Even when Christine cleared her throat, she refused to look at either of them. 
“Uh, maybe,” said Christine carefully. “Like I said, I’m kind of on Dustin duty. So it depends on the party.” 
“The party, right. I get it. Just let me know, okay?” 
Christine nodded, peeling off toward her own class. The awkward cobweb feeling was itching at her again, but she pushed it aside. Things with Nancy would go back to normal eventually. 
The rest of the day was relatively normal, until it was time for physics. She wasn’t dreading it as much as yesterday. She hadn’t been as firm with Steve as she’d intended to be, but she was certain she’d sent a clear message not to talk to her. If only to save her the pain of humiliation. They could go back to being minimally friendly lab partners, and that would be the end of it. 
Mr. Austin already had lab supplies out when class began. Christine picked up a lab sheet and headed to her table, scanning through the assignment and collecting the materials they’d need. She decided to get started on her own, since Steve was busy at the next table over talking to one of his basketball teammates. 
Lab periods were ideal because they were the only times you could actually have a conversation in class. With everyone talking at once, it was nearly impossible to tell who was talking about science and who was gossiping about the next big game. So long as the work got done, it didn’t really matter. Most people loved that benefit. It didn’t really matter to Christine, who rarely had anyone to talk to, and usually did most of the work. 
“So, what are we doing today?” Steve asked when he finally joined her at the table. 
“Magnetic lab. Compasses work based on the natural field of…” 
“Psh, not the lab,” he interrupted, propping his elbows on the desk. “I’m talking about you. What are you doing tonight?” 
Christine paused, eyeing him. “…Why?” 
“Well you’re not the only one whose parents go away.” 
“No, Steve.” 
“Come on,” he groaned, pulling the meter stick out of her hands. He twirled it lamely like a baton. “I know the last party you went to wasn’t exactly phenomenal, but this is totally different.” 
“No, it’s not.” She tried to swipe the meter stick back, but he twirled it out of her reach. Christine huffed. “How is this any different?” 
“Well, for one, it’s me. And it’s not gonna be a hundred people. Just four or five of us, chilling at my place. Tell me you’re in.” 
“I’m out.” She made another grab, but missed. “Steve, I’m serious. I’m not interested.” 
“Why not? It’s gonna be fun.” 
“Why should I?” she demanded. “Hm? We don’t talk, Steve. Why are you suddenly so interested in inviting me over to your place?” 
“I told you,” he said, looking slightly taken aback. “I think you need to loosen up.” 
“Thanks. I’ll take it under advisement.” 
Christine leaned around him, seizing the measuring stick and slamming it back on the table. She turned back to the lab report and tried to find where she’d left off in the instructions. The words didn’t make much sense when she was reading them so quickly, but anything was better than looking at that stupid, smug face. 
Steve sidled around beside her. He shifted the various magnets on the desk aimlessly, then ducked his head closer to hers. 
“Alright, you wanna know the real reason I’m inviting you?” he asked lowly. “But you gotta be cool. This is just between us.” 
Christine glared at him out of the corner of her eye. 
“I’m serious, Christine. You cannot say anything.” 
“Fine. Why?” 
“Nancy asked me to invite you.” 
“Nancy?” Christine looked up from the paper, finally turning to him. “You already asked her?” 
“Yeah, this morning,” he said with a shrug. “I told her I was having some people over, and she said that she didn’t want to come if it was just gonna be me and my friends. I told her she could bring you and the other girl, but she said I had to ask you myself. And then that I wasn’t allowed to tell you that she told me. Whatever that’s about.” 
It took a few seconds for her rage to sneak up on her. But once it did, it was difficult to hide her fuming. Both her hands clenched into fists, and if she was squeezing any tighter, she might have ripped her paper in half. Steve must have noticed the warning signs, because he quickly waved a hand. 
“Hey, that’s not to say I don’t want you to come. I wouldn’t invite you if I didn’t want you there. But Nancy was going on last night about how close you two are, and…” 
“Last night.” 
She’d already known. But just like her conversation with Barb, she hoped he would correct her. 
“Yeah,” he said plainly. “I was at her place to uh…help her study.” 
Christine nodded, grinning furiously at her lab. She forced a deep breath through her lungs, and grabbed for the compass on the table. Science. She needed to do science. 
But Steve grabbed her wrist and pried the instrument from her hands. 
“Look, is it a crime to wanna hang out with my lab partner?” he asked. “No ulterior motives, no weirdness. I just figured it’d be more fun that way. You know, your friends and my friends.” 
He sounded earnest. But it was a tone she was getting used to. And this time, it wouldn’t work. 
“I get it, Steve,” she assured him, her face composed in a sweet smile. “Seriously. I completely understand.” 
“Sweet. So you’re coming?” 
“Still no.” Steve groaned, and Christine smiled wider. “You can tell Nancy I was very flattered and distraught, but I’m babysitting tonight. I’m sure if you ask nicely she’ll still come.” 
“Babysitting?” He scoffed, tapping her on the nose with the compass. “Damn, Walcott. You really don’t know how to relax, do you? Anyone ever tell you you’re kinda a buzzkill?” 
“Nope. Usually I’m such a buzzkill no one wants to talk to me.” There was a beat of silence, and Christine eased the compass out of Steve’s hands. “That was a joke.” 
“Oh, shit.” He relaxed a bit, and Christine was amused to find a twinge of relief in his chuckle. “You had me going there for a second. I didn’t know you could joke.” 
“Can we get back to the lab now? Please?” 
Steve was reluctant, but eventually relented into doing the work. It was a pretty simple lab, a lot of repetitive work and recording numbers. Slide the magnet toward the compass, record. Slide the magnet toward the compass, record again. That was ideal for Steve, since it didn’t require a lot of complex theories. It was ideal for Christine because she wouldn’t be distracted from the fury that was brewing inside her chest. 
When class was over, Christine headed straight to the gymnasium. She hadn’t brought lunch today, but it didn’t matter. She’d gladly go hungry if it meant skipping the cafeteria. 
She leaned back on the tiger mural, turning her Walkman on like she had the day before. For a few songs, Billy Joel was loud enough to drown out the basketball game behind her. But there was nothing he could do to protect her from the nudge against her foot. 
Christine stopped humming abruptly, opening her eyes to see a recognizable pair of brown loafers. 
“Hey, Nance,” she greeted, pulling her headphones down around her neck. “What’s up?” 
“You tell me,” said Nancy. She peered down at Christine, her face not quite impartial. “You’re the one skipping lunch to brood by the gymnasium.” 
“I’m not brooding,” she defended. It was a weak argument at best. “How’d you find me anyway?” 
“Wasn’t hard. Figured I’d start in the last place you’d actually want to be, seeing as you’re avoiding me.” 
Christine didn’t bother arguing that point. She shrugged, stowing her Walkman away in her bag. “Just wanted some time to think.” 
“About?” 
“I don’t know, life? In case you haven’t noticed, things have been a little hectic lately.” 
“Yeah, I guess they have.” Nancy frowned. Her fingers wandered the strap of her messenger bag. “You know you can talk to me, though, right? If something’s bothering you?” 
Christine stared at her shoes—beaten, mud streaked tennis shoes next to Nancy’s shiny penny loafers. The cobwebs were back, inching over her cheeks and prickling at the back of her throat. And after two days of swallowing her feelings, she finally snapped. 
“When were you gonna tell me?” 
“Tell you what?” Nancy asked, innocence slathered over the words. 
“About the party. Tonight. Were you just gonna let me think that Steve invited me for real? We were just gonna go to your house and you’d pretend you were just tagging along again? Until Carol or Tommy said something stupid, and then I’d make a scene in front of everyone.” 
“Christine, it wasn’t like that,” Nancy said imploringly. “Really! I just thought, you know, since you’ve been so upset the last couple days…” 
“What? That asking your boyfriend to pretend to care about me was gonna make me feel better?” 
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she said quickly. “And he does care. He said it would be fine! The more the merrier.” 
“Of course that’s what he said to you.” 
Nancy leaned against the wall, and Christine could feel her looking down on her even though she didn’t lift her head. The loafer nudged her knee this time, pleading. 
“Then forget Steve. Do it for me. I really want you to come, Christine. You and Barb. I don’t want to get stuck talking to Tommy and Carol again all night. It’s gonna be so weird. I need you there. Please.” 
She wouldn’t respond. She wouldn’t look up. The loafer kicked her again. 
“Besides, it’s a party at Steve Harrington’s house,” Nancy added with a giggle. “That’s like your dream. You cannot turn that…” 
“Will you shut up?” 
Christine jumped to her feet, snatching up her bag and rounding on Nancy. She was still standing against the wall, shocked and floundering. It made derisive laughter bubble from Christine’s throat. 
“Don’t you get it? Things are not the same anymore! We’re not just gonna go back to normal!” 
“Chris, what are you talking about?” 
“You and Steve!” She carded both of her hands through her hair, gripping it at the scalp. “Are you even listening to yourself? We can’t fangirl over him together like there’s nothing going on. You can’t use him as bait for me when you’re already dating him!” 
“I am not!” 
“You’re not what?” 
“I don’t—both! I’m not baiting you, and I am not dating Steve.” 
“No,” Christine laughed. “So Steve didn’t sneak into your room to hook up with you last night?” 
Nancy flushed, clamping her mouth shut. But she did not argue. Christine sneered victoriously. 
“Yeah, I bet you aced Kaminsky’s test. For sure.” 
“He really did help me study,” Nancy insisted. “He’s not as shallow as you make him out to be.” 
“See, that’s what I thought too. You know, I really thought he gave a crap. That somewhere behind all his popular friends and his jock persona, there was actually a nice person. But it’s just a mask, Nancy. He’s just asking me over to his house to make sure you feel comfortable enough to come. Just like he asked me to Jenny’s party to get you there, or he visits me at work to make sure I do his physics labs. And now you’re doing the same exact thing. You’re just trying to play on my crush on him to get what you want. Looks like you and Steve have a lot more in common than I thought.” 
Nancy was staring at her, tight lipped. 
“Look,” she started, her words slow and controlled. “I know you’re upset about Jenny Fischer’s party. But you do not get to put that on me. You’re supposed to be my friend. Would it kill you to be happy for me for like two seconds?” 
“Oh my God!” Christine cackled again, spinning on the spot. She advanced on Nancy so rapidly that the other girl took a step back. “That is—That is rich. Because you know the best part? You don’t even care! You don’t care how he used me so long as you’re the one who gets to make out with him. How’s that for friendship?” 
“Oh, and you’re so much better?” Nancy snapped. “You’re not even mad at him!” 
“Didn’t you hear what I said? Yes, I…” 
“No, Chrissy, you’re not. Because if you really hated him, you wouldn’t be this upset with me. So what? I’m supposed to hate him for what he did to my friend, and you get to forgive him cause he did it to you? And then you’re the only one who gets to like him? Really convenient.” 
“It’s not a switch, Nancy,” Christine spat, glowering at her. “I can’t just stop liking Steve, or just stop being hurt, or just stop being upset that he doesn’t like me too. So I know you’re waiting for me to break out the bouquet and confetti for you, but it’s never gonna happen if you keep dangling your stupid boyfriend in front of my face.” 
“He’s not my boyfriend! And I’m not dangling him!” 
“Right, of course not. My mistake. What do you call tricking me into coming to another stupid house party so I can make an idiot of myself and you two can make out in front of me?” 
“I was just trying to be nice!” 
“Oh, like you were so nice at Jenny’s party?” 
“That was not my fault!” 
“You didn’t have to kiss him!” 
“And he didn’t have to kiss me!” Nancy finally took a step forward, lowering her voice to a near growl. “You’re just jealous, Christine. And it’s pathetic. You’re jealous, and whiny, and pissed, because even though you spend so much time following him around and desperately trying to get him to notice you, Steve likes me and not you.” 
It hit her like a slap. Christine was certain she’d actually stopped breathing. The momentary lapse of control must have been why her lip began to tremble, why her eyes began to fill with furious tears. She could not believe she was standing here, outside the gym, crying because of Nancy Wheeler of all people. What kind of idiot was she? 
Nancy realized too late that she’d taken it a step too far. She muttered Christine’s name, took another step forward, but Christine held up a hand. 
“You’re right,” she managed, though the words were even shakier than her hands. “I am jealous, you’re right. And maybe I am pathetic. But you know what? You’re a bitch. Screw you, Nancy.” 
She turned and walked away. Nancy might have been calling her, but her pulse was so loud in her own ears that it was impossible to tell. She didn’t have the energy to run, didn’t have a destination in mind. She just walked away, praying Nancy wouldn’t come after her, and that this time, she might be allowed a few minutes to cry in peace.
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impalaimagining · 7 years ago
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Omg I pick Haunted Houses with Sam!
Why did you always choose to go to these things? As you waited in line to enter into the building, a man with makeup to give the illusion of an eyeball hanging from its socket walked up beside you silently. Sam giggled as you tucked yourself farther under his arm and into his jacket, burying your face.
“Y/N, it’s fine. You know it’s just makeup.” He squeezed his arm around your shoulders. 
“I know, but... ew.” You shuddered. “Plus it’s not even the makeup that gets to me, Sam. This place is... it’s eerie, don’t you think?” Looking around, you took in the ominous feeling that had hit you the second you stepped onto the property. “Something happened here.” You whispered.
“Y/N...” Sam sighed. 
“No, I’m serious. Sam, what - what did this place used to be?” Your fingers tightened around the fabric of his shirt you’d balled into your hand.
“Wait, you’ve never heard of Pennhurst?” Sam’s eyes widened as he looked down at you. You shook your head. “This was a hospital. It was actually a school too, I’m pretty sure. It was a good place when it started out, but it got... bad. They’d send people with mental disabilities here and basically just abandon them. They had no one but the nurses and doctors. They didn’t make friends. They went insane in here. There weren’t enough nurses for the number of patients. The treatments were... horrific. They had no idea how to diagnose things like that back then.”
“Oh my God. And now they turned it into a money pit...” You sunk into Sam’s side, your arms tight around his waist. His hand rubbed up and down your upper arm as the two of you walked through the maze of walls, looking into the old “rooms” that looked more like prison cells than a suitable room for someone. As you made your way past one room in particular, you felt tears well up in your eyes, your heart started to race, and it felt like the weight of your entire body had doubled and was sitting atop your shoulders. “Sam.” You choked out his name, unable to continue moving.
Your eyes stared into the empty room, focusing on everything and nothing al at once. The white brick wall was covered in scratch marks, and it took you a few minutes to realize that they weren’t mindless scrapes into the paint. They were words. 
HELP ME
I DIDN’T DO IT
“Sammy...” His name was lost in the air as it bounced off the walls, and it wasn’t until you reached for him that you realized he was in the same trance you seemed to be in. 
“I’ll call Dean. We’ll stick around until they close it down. Something happened here.” As he repeated your earlier words, you looked up at him and when his eyes met yours, he knew he’d have to do what he swore he never would. Sam had to tell you about his life.
Forever Tags: @jpadjackles @devilgirlsarah @capsofwinchesters @shotgunintheimpala @winchestersmut @fightmenegan @feelmyroarrrr @petrovadixon @percussiongirl2017 @angelsandwinchesters @maximumkillshot @plaid-lover-bay25 @sea040561 @growningupgeek @becominglionhearted @myplaceofthingsilove @riversong-sam @mizzzpink @smoothdogsgirl @nanie5 @mycuddlycorner @sofreddie @impala-dreamer @dustycelt @mamaredd123 @essie1876 @ayeeitsemry @be-amaziing @goldenolaf25 @atc74 @just-another-busy-fangirl @alexxadvencee @lizmalfoywayland @love-kittykat21 @lynnebla @emoryhemsworth @evyiione @ptxforlife0 @starswirlblitz @insanelylow @autopistaaningunaparte @extreme-supernatural-lover @wordstothewisereaders @27bmm @jarpadandjensenaremyheroes @hair-dresses @lenaabs @mogaruke @courtney-elizabeth-winchester @spontaneousam @sleepylunarwolf @freedomcraziness @thegreatficmaster @hexparker @alicat-life @wishedworld @highonpastries @yoursmilemakesmeloveyou @evansrogerskitten @spnbaby-67 @weasleywinchester @iwantthedean @destielsangels @alex-zeppelin @captainradicalpassion @pie-not-cake-you-assbutt @i-am-enough-always @sammysbeanie @super100012 @iammeeio @pillow223 @spn-fan-girl-173 @jinnythegreat @jimmynovqk @cobrakai1967 @hunterpuff @mottergirl99 @pureawesomeness001 
Sam Tags: @saxxxology @makaylahoran @violinmyhead @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @teamfw67 @writingthingsisdifficult @eccentricsammy @wildfirewinchester @bambinovak @jayankles @nothin-after-79 @bemyqueenofdarkness @winter-in-wakanda @mrsbatesmotel53 @cutelittlepurplesouls @flare-chan003 @linki-locks11 
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fatsakurafemboy · 5 years ago
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To Be A Friend
Summary - Ryan and Shane have been friends for a while. But what happens when that friendship is put to the test, by a new addition?
Pairings - none.
Warnings - ghost talk
A/N - My first chapter to the 'To be a friend' serise! I know this isn't that good, but it was my first fic, and I thought I'd put it on tumblr too!
♤♤♤
Trust is a foundation.
Chapter 1:
You might be wondering why there is currently two strange men running around an abandoned building and why they are shouting and yelling and taunting seemingly the air. Well, these men are Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara two ghost hunters that so far have found no evidence of ghosts.
Shane, a tall broad male with brown blonde hair and dark brown eyes is a relatively fearless man, the only thing he fears is the safety of his best bud Ryan. Ryan is the type of guy you would meet in a dark alley and not be afraid or wonder why he’s there, he is 5ft 9in and weighs 150 pounds, he has black hair, the kind of hair that you would find on the kid in school who plays the guitar, his eyes are also dark brown, but sometimes they lack the light they always have and this frightens Shane to the highest extent.
“Ryan why are we here?” asked shane
They had gone to the Pennhurst Asylum to investigate the horrors that had befallen the building. You may be thinking why are these two odd dudes voluntarily going into what many assume to be a haunted building? Well they host a youtube channel where they tell the history of the buildings and why they are considered haunted.
“Well, I thought that maybe this would be a place the people would want to see Shane, and maybe you would believe in ghosts if we came here!”
Shane was the one to not believe, he was supposed to think Ryan was crazy for thinking these types of things were real.
“Ryan,  listen, when I see a ghost for myself I’ll believe, but until then I still think you are talking to the air.”
The more Shane hung around Ryan, the more he started to doubt his previous beliefs, the way Ryan acted sometimes was anything but normal, just take the Old town Charleston Jail, the way he snapped in that video, well lets just say there was more to that than what was recorded.
“Haha, very funny, do you see that, do you see me laughing? No so stop making yourself look like a fool.” 
But hey, I guess they both have their own mysteries that they keep from each other.
“Alright alright, let’s just get to filming” Shane said “ The sun is already setting so we can start this in a few minutes”
“Don’t remind me” Said Ryan
The camera crew was still setting up the thermal cam and the static cam, and the spirit box was having some difficulty with the batteries, so they couldn’t go in just yet anyway. 
“What was that?!” yelled Chantel she had gone with the bois because she had always been interested in the supernatural, at first Ryan and Shane were hesitant to have her go with them, because as everyone knows a steakout watching dark hallways for hours on end is incredibly dangerous. But after a bit of consideration they decided to let her tag along.
“What? What happened?” asked one of the crew members
“I thought I saw a man in a t-shirt walk by the window” She said visibly shaken
“Maybe it was the janitor.” Another crew member said
“What did it look like?” Ryan asked, he thought for a moment that it might have been a ghost considering the fact that the tour guide had told them no one was supposed to be in the building while they were in there, but after quick consideration he shook his head and thought it away. I mean he has to keep a straight head to be able to go into this building.
“Okay, now that that’s over with,” Said the crewman coming out of the building walking towards Shane and Ryan “You guys are all set to go in!”
“Mmmmm” groaned Ryan
“Hey, it’ll be alright” said Shane “We’ll all be in there with you bud, if we see something then we’ll all be there to tackle it for you! And don’t worry I’m taller, they’ll probably attack me first!”
“Is that a tall joke?”
“Yup!”
“Okay, let’s just go in, I can’t handle one more minute of this”
So in they went, what stood waiting for them in the shadows of this building was to be determined thats what they were there for after all, to hunt ghosts, right?
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mrspeacockwasaman · 1 year ago
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Some accumulated ronance doodles 💖
other st fanart
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mrspeacockwasaman · 3 years ago
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Nancy did robin’s makeup :>
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