#it wasn't really meant to be a ronance post

[byler-alarmist]

Disclaimer: I am not anti-Vickie by any means. I think Vickie seems very sweet (although there may be something going on with her we don't know) and I will fully support her and Robin if the Duffers can prove to me in S5 why they work together.

That said, I am going to examine the one, glaring issue I have with Rovickie. If you're not put off by that, read on!

So, most of the criticism leveled against Vickie is that we don't know anything about her. That's true; we don't.

However, my main criticism is:

Does Robin know anything about her??

All we hear from Robin in S4 is that Vickie is the girl of her dreams, but we never hear why. In all her gushing/agonizing to Steve, Robin never tells us what about Vickie makes her so special.

Is she smart? Funny? Ambitious? Kind? Is she a pro at playing poker?

Even Tammy Thompson, whose role in S3 was purely offscreen, got a shout out of traits that Robin valued ("she has dreams!").

We can't say the same for Vickie. All we know is:

-she laughed at one of Robin's (Steve's) jokes

-she likes Fast Times

-she talks a lot when nervous

-she possibly likes boobies

And those last two were only figured out by Robin in the final episode of S4.

If Robin's feelings for Vickie are more than mere infatuation based on looks, wouldn't Robin have told us more than the most surface-level things about her?

And if your immediate response to this "well, she just hasn't spent enough one-on-one time with her to know!" .......that's exactly my point.

The writers have shown time and time again that the shallow relationships where tbe couple got into it without really talking or getting to know each other do not last .

I'm reminded of Lucas telling Mike "you're just blind because a girl isn't grossed out by you." 👀

All this in the same season where Robin is spending one-on-one time with Nancy, getting to know her and respect the things that make her "her". Rather than just looks, Robin gets to see Nancy's drive, intellect, leadership and bravery.

She calls her a "genius", says she is "full of surprises", and learns even more about her when Nancy opens up about her relationship inecurities. Robin sees her complexity.

I don't know about you, but to me, this is the core of why Rovickie is not as compelling as a ship. If they are meant to be endgame, why was Robin paired with Nancy all season?

Surely there could've been some plot device to bring Vickie into the fold, just like Max was brought into the Party back in S2.

Vickie could've been trapped with Robin and the older teens after some supernatural things happened at rhe pep rally or other school function and they got separated from the rest, or she could've been related to the Creels and the gang needed to ask her for help. It's a TV show; they can do whatever they want.

Either way, they decided not to involve her in the main plot of the show at all, preventing both Robin and the viewers from getting to know her fully. I believe this was intentional and will have consequences for their relationship in S5.

One final thought- in early S4, Robin tells Steve that she has found the girl of her dreams but can't get the courage to ask her out, whereas Steve goes on a ton of dates but has no idea what he wants.

I think it would be VERY interesting if their roles were actually swapped, i.e. by the end of S4, Robin is the one who doesn't really know what she wants, and Steve is the one who realizes he has found the (person) of his dreams.

#hope this made sense #it wasn't really meant to be a ronance post #but i felt i had to mention that part at the end #st analysis #robin buckley analysis #stranger things analysis #st thoughts #st brainrot #ronance #stranger things #anti rovickie #<-i'm not really but this is so i don't offend ppl who have these kind of takes blocked #robin buckley #vickie stranger things #st vickie #st4 rewatch #tammy thompson #wlw ship #st ships

[strangertheories]

Tempted to ask you all of the 'choose violence' options. Gonna stick for 13 and 14 so you have an easier time

14. That one thing I see in fic... Firstly, Robin saying dingus all the time. I read a lot of Ronance and sometimes it feels like every piece of dialogue by Robin is like "hello dingus, you're looking very dingus today. How dingus are you on a scale from 1-10?" and I am not a fan. I think it can be good in minimal usage and only with Steve. And secondly, in Byler fics I see a lot of Byler getting Murray'd and it can be good but I kind of hate when he's really harsh about it like he was to Jopper and Jancy because I feel like it's a different sitch and it also risks outing them so generally I prefer it when he Murrays them separately.

13. Worst blorboification is easily B*lly for me. Trigger warning for racism and abuse from here on out. I'm censoring so it doesn't appear on search, partially to be nice but also because the last time I said this I got called a bigot...against B*lly stans? Please don't send me asks, I get finding the writing interesting or finding Dacre hot but you can analyse his character without excusing racism and abuse.

Anyways, with all that out of the way, I hate how people have turned him into some babygirl who's just a bit sad and forgetting the whole racism and abuse of it all. I think people massively miss the point of his character by excusing his actions because in my opinion, he was clearly meant to represent the cycle of abuse and how he'd become what he was scared of.

The end wasn't a redemption, it was him realising that he's become what he's scared of and trying to end the cycle once and for all, hence the whole vision with El beforehand. Not a redemption, not an excuse, just an explanation. You can have abusive parents and not abuse. You can have racist parents and not violently attack a black child because he hung out with your white sister. Not a babygirl or a misunderstood boy, he's an abusive bigot who was so horrible his child sister prayed for him to die and felt relieved when he did.

Thanks for the ask (in reference to this post)

#robin buckley #ronance #byler #anti billy hargrove #cw racism #tw racism #cw abuse #tw abuse

[will80sbyers]

hello will80sbyers!! first of all, I love all of your posts and theories.. truly the best of the best byler content this hellsite has to offer. anyway, I have a question for you..

what are your thoughts on stancy? after season 4 specifically. I’m rewatching it rn and I just can’t figure out how I feel about them.. I obviously love both nancy and steve dearly, for different reasons, and I want them both to be happy whatever that means. I just don’t understand why their interactions were framed the way they were in s4.. bc I feel like they aren’t meant for each other. steve deserves someone who loves and respects him for exactly who he is and didn’t need him to change, and nancy deserves someone who sees who she has become and loves her for that- not for what she used to be. (also, as a lesbian, I obviously wish for ronance, but knowing that won’t happen, maybe solo nancy is the best)

of course there’s also jonathan but they purposely didn’t give us any jancy interactions so idk what to think there!! plz help me understand.. or at least lmk what you think. thank youuuu :))

Hi! Thank you so much, you're too kind!! 😭

I think Steve and Nancy are not the right people for each other, sometimes life it's just like that, you do like/love someone but that person is not the right one for you in the long run...

in the first seasons Steve had a problem understanding Nancy's grief because he never experienced it himself and just wished to be a normal teen again and leave all the scary supernatural stuff behind, Nancy needed something different because she was experiencing deep grief, she needed someone, even if it was just a friend, like Jonathan that had experienced grief (when he thought Will was dead) and truly understood her...and also someone that wanted to support her in bringing down the labs and somehow have revenge for what they did!

Steve is not wrong for being scared of the government and wanting to be a normal teen, but this made it so that Nancy started to understand that she was not in love with him... she wanted to fight and he didn't at that point, he wanted to keep the status quo and go on with their lives because he didn't thought he could actually make a change in the world!

I think Steve didn't/doesn't feel that much important even if he's always been popular... he feels like he's a fraud somehow because he can't succeed in the things his dad wants him to succeed at (school)

he is amazing and kind and caring and has natural charisma with people but he values intelligence (one of the reasons he is in love with Nancy and he thinks really highly of Dustin and Robin) and he feels like he doesn't have that, he feels like he's not smart enough to be really worth something...

why would he be surprised that Dustin said that about him? because he thinks Dustin is such a smart kid and he values that a lot... same thing, Robin is so smart, knows many languages etc etc... he feels like the only good thing he can do for them is trying to protect them with his brute force but that's not something he personally values about himself!

I also think that Nancy liked Jonathan from the first season because she felt like she could be completely herself with him but she had to change for Steve and be less of a nerd in s1 (Steve didn't want to make her feel like that but he did)

also Nancy and Jonathan have the same fears of being like their parents and they have the same vision of life and love and that's why they are great together, they based their relationship on a deep understanding of each other... and Nancy just fell in love with Jonathan... it just happened

I think Steve has grown up a lot and deserve all the praise but he still doesn't really understand Nancy, he is idealizing a life with her because she's the one that got away and he is used to have all the girls be into him all his life but she just wasn't that much into him in the end... and he does love her but I think he doesn't get her

and if he has to have a relationship, Steve deserves someone that truly sees his value from the start and makes him feel that he is perfect just how he is already, someone that actually is in love with him....

but, you know, maybe the real thing he needs to understand is that he doesn't really need a relationship at all, he is already valuable without that, and he has so many people that love him and think he is amazing like Robin and Dustin and the rest of the kids too

I would love to have Ronance on the show but I don't think they will make Jancy break up, I think jancy is either endgame or Jonathan will die and Nancy will stay single... or (more likely) Steve will die to protect Jonathan or Nancy? something like that... 🤔

the return of stancy this season is a red herring or just a way to make it more sad for when they kill Steve in s5...

#byler #ask #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #steve harrington #tagging byler because this is the same thing that El needs to realize lmao #it's the same situation between Mike and El and Will #jancy

[ronance4everbrainrot]

If you haven't seen the post from @corgiplays then you should go see it, this one, and read it now!

It got everything and the time line is right (I misunderstood their comment and thought the timeline was 3 months)

So I just wanted to talk about the Ronance part and how S4 will go

So basically I also think it will go as canon.

Since Nancy just lost a friend and all, she would definitely be frustrated and just wants answers (or idk, but like how she acted in the library) and since her relationship with Robin has been strained, she acts the same with Robin as she does in the show, but more in the sense that she doesn't like how Robin makes her feel because it distracts her from the task and thinks it's a negative emotion (jealousy or dislike idk).

And I think S4 should be the same.

so I googled for the last post (to make the timing more accurate) when the day was the Byers moved and it says it was in October (but that doesn't really matter ig). And well it's a AU so we can change the timelines, but I just wanted to ask real quick if you (Corgi) meant to make S4 in April? Because it's in March actually.

But eitherway I don't care, just wanted to make sure you actually wanted to write that.

So what I actually wanted to talk about is Max.

Mostly because her and Robin got closer.

In S4 she distances herself from the party.

When would it happen?

If you want S4 to be in April she can distance herself in March, since it's Billy's birthday month. Idk how emotions work, so idk how she'd react (I'm also not good in character studies).

I have two ideas

Either she distances herself and goes to Billy's grave and just gets hit with depression and all that, so she closes herself off completely for like a period of time. (idk)

Or the wholesome version where she asked Robin if she can come with her to visit Billy and she wants to close herself off but Robin gives her support and safety (or idk), but she still feels guilt and all that (like in the show) and doesn't talk to Robin about it because she doesn't want to bother her.

Finding out Max is going to get Venca'd, makes Robin very anxious and protective, she threatens Steve to keep her safe, while Nancy and her go to Viktor, which Robin was very determined but anxious about (she acts like she does in the show but feels anxious because she doesn't want Max to die) and when it feels like they aren't gonna get to talk to Viktor she spoke that beautiful/powerful speech of hers and well ye..just like in the show..but with her bond with max now involved.

Nancy definitely let's her gay show in the library. She honestly forgot that Robin cracked a Russian code and that she's a genius, so when Robin finds the stuff about Viktor something clicked in her brain, she fell in love right then and there, but doesn't know it 😪 or represses it.

Anyway let's get to Murray and Robin.

I feel like when Robin was in the apartment Murray got her after finding out about Vecna, she tried to call him (Either to tell him about Vecna or to lie and try to keep him from coming to Hawkins so that he's safe) but well since he's going to help Joyce in California is didn't pick up the phone. And Robin kinda got worried (she called again but well he's not there) but just pushed it down when Max was a target. So when they reunite, Robin was so relieved and happy and hugs him tightly (with Murray having no idea what is going on in Hawkins, he's confused but happy nonetheless). Idk when (probably after the two day skip) idk where (I'd want it to be at Hopper's cabin with the other reunions)

Also little bonus: Murray wanted to visit Robin in Hawkins (in like 2-3 days, which is also why Robin would have said not to come to Hawkins ) so when Joyce calls he didn't want to go at first but when he heard it's about Hopper he ofc went. So he tried to call Robin but she was out looking for Eddie or smth (idk when what was) so she wasn't home and he just left with sending her a letter or smth?? (which she never noticed tho).

So um.. I forgot if I wanted to say anything else. But um. I'm too lazy to write anymore stuff so ye

Lots of love ✨♥️🤗✨

Also tiny fun fact: Billy and I share a birthday 🤓

#long post #Murray adopting Robin #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ronance #stranger things #murray bauman #max mayfield

[theladyismyshepard]

Heyo you guys, I’m back with a new story that I’ve just randomly been inspired for outside of my old content (I'm sorry to my followers waiting for me to get back to other things :( ). I’ve fallen down the Ronance hole of Stranger Things and started a multi chapter fanfic dedicated to Robin and Nancy. I've already posted it on AO3, but I kinda wanna share it here too... What if Barb was friends with Robin in band before she knew Nancy? What if even after drifting apart, Robin can't let Barb's disappearance go? What if that meant teaming up with the person who took Barb away: Nancy? Robin believes in strange things, I could see her easily believing in the upside down if she was introduced in season one. In this, Robin basically takes over the Jonathan/Nancy storyline.

I do like feedback lol good or bad

Stranger Things Than This

Chapter One: The Introduction of Robin Buckley

1979

Robin Buckley could do a great deal of things if she was bored enough. Growing up as a single child meant there was a lack of company to keep her wandering mind entertained. If you were to ask her parents or her elementary school teachers, they would be sure to tell you of how gifted the girl was. Whether it be the quick way she caught on to things, the constant need to know more facts through reading, or the several skills and hobbies she breezed through throughout her early childhood, Robin couldn’t tell you. She wasn’t the one to paint herself in that light, she would hardly call herself a genius. Anyone can speak four different languages right? It wasn’t that hard or impressive… If she could master Russian, then that would be cool. However, that was a passion that burned bright once, and then died out to make room for the next interest: soccer. What use would she have for Russian anyways?

Soccer turned out to be even more fun than she originally thought. It put her around people, it had her coming out of her shell, she even saw parts of her teammate that she medically wasn’t supposed to see! It was overall a great experience if you asked Robin, but just as the rest of her past interests, it came and it went. But that’s okay, once middle school was in full swing, it wasn’t hard for her mind to wander to other things, like the fact that no matter how bored she was, she just couldn’t seem to make eye contact with people. (Though this was a rude tick she couldn’t seem to shake if you asked her mother.)

Robin tightened her grip on the handle of her instrument case, her eyes downcast and watching the tips of her shoes with every step she took. Uno. Due. Trois. Ourfay. She wasn't sure what to do with her other hand so she just stuffed it into her pocket, hoping she was maintaining some level of invisibility as she made her way to Band. Class didn't start for another ten minutes, so there was no rush, but Robin didn't exactly have anywhere else to be, so there was no point in lurking through the halls full of chatting students. Robin allowed her feet to guide her down the familiar path, and didn't even bother to glance up when she stepped through the open door. She continued counting her footsteps in different languages and came to an abrupt halt when another pair of shoes entered her line of sight. She was sure she was the only one who had nothing better to do than to show up to class ten minutes early, but sure enough, when Robin blinked and glanced up, there was fiery red hair and amused eyes shining behind a pair of glasses.

"Hello?" came a polite, if not bemused response from the redhead, and it had Robin physically shaking her head to dispel her back into reality.

"Uh, hi!" exclaimed Robin, suddenly really unsure what to do with her hands, so they both gripped the handle of her instrument case nervously. "I-I didn't know that anyone would be here... well obviously you're allowed to be here, it is a public class after all, but I didn't think anyone would be here so early... Not that there's anything wrong with that! It is a free country after all, you can be here whenever you want... actually I don't know about after hours, I wouldn't recommend that but-"

Robin cut herself off at the amused chuckle she received from the other girl, and felt the blush coloring her cheeks and rising from underneath her collar. She was used to the lost look that would glaze over people's eyes when she rambled on for too long. She was used to the bored sighs, the uninterested "uh huh's", the condescending smiles that had her trailing off until she no longer felt the urge to speak another word so long as she lived. Even her own mother claimed she had no filter in the irritated tone that Robin was quick to pick up on. With Robin, it was all about tones, and she knew instantly the moment people were tired of her. So with bated breath, she waited for the next rejection.

"Well, I could ask the same question," the girl quipped, one brow raised almost challengingly, but the smile on her lips proved otherwise.

"I'm usually always early to class," shrugged Robin, feeling out of her element amidst the exchange, and unable to look her in the eye for more than a couple seconds at a time. "I don't really have anywhere else to be."

"You mean to tell me that you can't keep conversation with the imbeciles out there?" the other girl joked. Robin shifted from foot to foot.

"Uh, I guess I can't, no," she mumbled almost incoherently, and if her mother were there, she'd surely scold her for her low volume and how rude it is to have to repeat yourself over and over again.

"It was a joke," the other girl said, smiling apologetically before thrusting her hand out into the space between them. "My name's Barbara, but I prefer Barb. I can't make friends with those imbeciles either."

"You can't?" Robin rushed out almost desperately, before she caught herself. " Uh, I mean... My name's Robin... Robin Buckley. I haven't seen you around here before."

"I'm not much of a familiar face," shrugged Barb, continuing on as if what she said didn't bother her. "I only just got into Band this year."

There were no assigned seats, not really, but Robin had a seat she was comfortable with, one she had worn in over the years of being in the class. If you looked close, you could actually see where Robin carved her name into the chair so she could prove it was hers to anyone who dared ask if it had her name on it. But with the easy flow of conversation and the prospect of making a friend, Robin subconsciously started easing herself into the chair right next to Barb.

"Well, I meant in general," pressed Robin, eyes wide and leaning closer into the other girl's space.

“My family also just moved to Hawkins this year,” Barb replied in stride, and much to her credit, she didn’t visually seem fazed by Robin’s lack of social cues. “Plus, you aren’t the only one with nowhere to be… I can’t really connect with any of them out there either.”

"Oh," said Robin simply, leaning back and turning away as she processed the several thoughts running through her mind in response.

Just as she opened her mouth, the sound of an approaching crowd of people could be heard before students with instrument cases started filing in. Some just had the look of "band geek" and yet here they were arriving just on time because apparently they had friends, unlike Ro-

Barb.

Robin snapped her gaze back over to Barb, eyes wide and searching to make sure her mind didn't materialize the girl from thin air, and felt all the tension in her shoulders ease when red flashed across her vision. The door slammed a little louder than necessary behind Mr. Farney, who quickly smiled apologetically when eyes cast towards him. Barb caught Robin's gaze and rolled her eyes good-naturedly, prompting a full-blown grin to instantly brighten Robin's face. She ducked her head, feeling a bit flustered and unable to break her smile as the rest of the classroom began settling in and opening up their cases. Except for the tall, lanky boy awkwardly hovering beside Robin. He furrowed his brow, already pointing to the empty chair with the name " Robin " etched into it.

“Take it, ” breathed Robin through gritted teeth, unwilling to make a scene, but also unwilling to move.

She released a breath she didn't know she was holding once her classmate shuffled around to take his new seat. She glanced over at Barb when she heard quiet chuckling from her direction, and felt her cheeks warm with a blush when she realized she was laughing at her- No. Barb was smiling, and Robin could see it actually reaching her eyes before the pressure of maintaining eye contact became too much, forcing Robin to look away, and maybe pay attention to Mr. Farney... or not... honestly, who needs to pay attention in Band anyways?

***

The prospect of establishing a close friendship had Robin floating on cloud nine as she practically bounced to her locker. She was trying and failing to ignore the slight embarrassment that followed her awkward little finger wave when she and Barb parted ways, agreeing to meet up at lunch. It wasn't bursting her bubble however, nor was it breaking her smile as she approached her locker, combination ready to go, and as she rounded all the way back to land on the number fourteen for the last time, the locker right beside hers on the left side was recklessly ripped open and clattered against the closed locker on the other side. Robin nearly jumped out of her skin, and exhaled sharply as she just missed the fourteen. Her eyes reflexively sought out the source of the noise, expecting to see anger, but instead saw wild and unruly hair nearly hiding the look of determination on one Eddie Munson's face.

Robin had seen him more than once, given she occupied the locker right next to his since the year before when she began sixth grade, and she had yet to speak a word to him. Given the fact that he either dragged himself to his locker just a tad too late to miss Robin just as she was closing hers or was there the moment the bell rang, digging through at a near frantic pace as he was doing so at the moment, she never had much of an opportunity to spark up conversation. All she could ever offer was a frown and the furrow of her brow before ducking away, giving him his space.

She didn’t personally know Eddie though, seeing as he was over a year older than she was and was in the grade above her, so they never had a chance to speak. That didn’t stop her from hearing the creative names and rumors that spread down the halls quicker than any wildfire or disease though, so her heart did go out to the poor guy. Robin hoped the sympathy and secondhand heartache wasn’t visible on her face as she occasionally shot secretive glances over at Eddie, her fingers working at another attempt at her combination. Her eyes briefly caught sight of a Dungeons and Dragons rulebook peeking out of his locker, and something seemed to click. Ah… He’s a nerd.

A crease formed between Robin’s brow at the thought. Unfortunately, this was not a world meant for nerds (or anything outside of “normal”), and this was not a school where they propsered. Bullies came out on top, and she was keen to believe that’s how it was since the beginning of time. It was very easy to be seen as a loser, and unfortunately Robin knew that all too well through firsthand knowledge. She grimaced as she thought of the imperfect mixture of rambling awkwardness and band geek that was her contribution to society.

According to her parents, Robin couldn’t be found without a book when she was younger, absorbing every bit of knowledge she could get her hands on, whether it be “useful” (as her mother put it) like learning languages or “could be done without” (also as her mother put it) like learning about Mothman and what its interests were. Every fact she learned, she was sure to share with those around her. Robin quickly became aware of the exact moment it stopped being cute and the rambling became tiring; When the sparkle in her parents’ eye every time she opened her mouth had dimmed, when the enthusiastic responses she received became a halfhearted “oh?”, when she had been shushed… that was when Robin really knew that she could be kind of annoying.

But the thing was, once she opened her mouth, she found it nearly impossible to stop the rush of words that came tumbling out, finding no perfect place to bite her tongue to just shut up . Once she started, she couldn’t stop, it was like her mouth and brain were halfway connected with almost two minds of their own… Maybe that was why she found herself stumbling and stuttering over her words more often than not. This didn’t exactly make her popular amongst her peers to begin with, believe it or not. So to tell people that she was also in band… Well, that was actually to be expected. What could she say though? Playing the trumpet in band class managed to be the one pastime time that she hadn’t parted ways with throughout her childhood.

Not to mention…

Robin’s eyes fluttered shut of their own accord and unbeknownst to her, she was wearing a grimace so deep that it couldn't help but to attract the attention of her locker neighbor. Eddie's gaze flicked over to her from the corner of his eye, a contemplative look on his face. He was damn near tempted to let it go and continue rustling through his locker as if she wasn't even there, but some nagging feeling had him turning fully towards Robin, and cocking his head to the side, the clear question written all over his face and posture. And for good measure, just in case she was terrible at taking hints, Eddie cleared his throat.

"And here I thought it was just me who desperately did not wanna be here," he joked, a small smirk in place as he sagged heavily against the lockers.

"What makes you say that?" Robin deflected, trying to prep herself up enough to give a lopsided grin as she finally opened her locker to switch out her music sheet with her history textbook. "Can't you see I'm having a good time?"

"Interesting," drawled Eddie, looking her up and down. "History belongs in the past if you ask me, ancient news."

"How could we learn from our mistakes if we just forgot about them?" Robin questioned, a challenging tilt to her brow.

Eddie's own eyebrows nearly shot up into his hairline at the counter before he gave her an impressed look, nodding his head as he sized her up again. He chuckled before offering his hand in greeting.

"I'm Eddie Munson, designated school freak," he said, and Robin was catching onto the trend of self-deprecation today.

"Robin Buckley... I don't have a cool title or anything like you do though," she grinned, reaching out and clasping his hand and Eddie laughed.

"You just haven't made all the right enemies yet."

Robin was pleasantly surprised by the chuckle that bubbled up in her chest, and shook her head in amusement. That just goes to show that no one should ever be judged based on rumors. Looking at him now as he relaxed against the lockers, Robin could see a misunderstood guy hiding behind the nonchalant attitude and sarcastic smirks. Maybe he was just a regular kid with regular dreams who wanted to live out his regular life in Hawkins... How could embracing nerdy tendencies be something to ostracize a person over? They had already released hands and there was a brief pause in the conversation, and yet Robin felt it was too unfinished to leave there.

"As shocking as this might seem, I don't have many friends here either," she whispered in a faux sense of secrecy while leaning close.

"No," drawled Eddie, his grin widening the longer he drew it out. "It's because you don't wanna be, right?"

"Oh, no, that's entirely their decision," corrected Robin, continuing on when Eddie burst out laughing, "But... Maybe the freaks should stick together."

Something flickered across Eddie's gaze, almost as if he were observing her with whole new eyes; Almost as if the impenetrable wall he cast around himself was allowed to come down, even if it were but a mere moment. Robin blinked and it was gone. He turned away from her and back to his locker, and she was left with the hollow feeling that she had messed something up somewhere along the way during their conversation... Was it the freak comment? He called himself that! Robin was so absorbed in chastising herself that she nearly missed him turning back to face her.

"Not sure if word gets 'round but uhhh," Eddie drawled out, flicking up the corner of his D&D rulebook just enough to show Robin some very illegal items before quickly setting it back down, "I'm just a locker away if you suddenly aren't having a good time."

"Oh! Um, thank you... not right now, but I'll let you know," said Robin, eyes wide and nodding wildly before slamming her locker a little louder than intended, gently touching the surface after for good measure. "I should get going, but... it was nice talking to you, Eddie... I'll see you around?"

"Well we do have lockers right beside each other sooo..." Eddie smiled before nodding, "But likewise, Robin Buckley,"

Robin nodded her head as the bell rang, signaling the end of small talk and the start of another class period. She tucked her textbook and journal under her arm, and couldn’t help but to offer Eddie the same awkward little wave, no matter how hard she cringed inwardly (and maybe a bit outwardly too). She smiled at his two-finger salute in response (god that was so much cooler) before turning away to history, still feeling like she was floating on cloud nine.

***

Time seemed to drag longer than it usually did, and it didn't help whatsoever when Robin repeatedly checked the clock only to see mere minutes had passed since she last looked. History left her feeling frozen in time in more ways than one, and by the time the bell rang, she was a coiled spring ready to bounce from her seat. She was sure she matched Eddie's previous near-frantic rush through his locker as she dumped her things in there before slamming it shut, the entire motion a giant blur. She didn't even have a chance to run into him, she was gone so fast. It was lunch after all, and while she never was too fond of struggling to find a seat, she was lured in with the plans of meeting up with Barb.

Robin stepped through the double doors of the cafeteria, her neck craning as she scanned the sea of faces for a flash of red. As the seconds ticked by, the furrow of her brow deepened. Where was Barb? Surely she was running late... She wouldn't bail... Would she? A hand seized her by the shoulder with lightning speed, causing her to jump out of her skin just a bit. She whipped her head around, and felt her muscles relax as relief coursed through her body at seeing Barb. Her eyes were as bright as her smile was as she chuckled in amusement.

"I didn't scare you too bad, did I?" Barb asked, almost apologetically, but not quite. 

Robin scoffed and shook her head. She couldn't believe that for a moment she thought this girl had bailed on her. She smirked and cocked her head towards the line.

"Not as much as I'll be afraid of not finding a seat if we don't hurry up,"

They whispered about the latest gossip heard through the halls ("Tommy H. and Carol are hooking up?!") as they moved up the line, mindlessly chatted about class as they grabbed their lunch plates, and by the time they found their seats, Robin jumped right into the questioning of where Barb moved from and why on earth to Hawkins of all places.

"My dad wanted to get out of the big city, said he wanted somewhere quiet and safer," Barb shrugged, and if she was pleased or bothered by that, Robin couldn't tell. "So here we are... I thought it would suck having to start over with new friends."

"I can see why," said Robin and before she knew it, her mind and her mouth were immediately against her, "I didn't mean that as in "Oh you must suck at making friends" kind of way, because I don't think so at all! In fact, I bet you're great at making friends! I mean, I don't know you personally, I don't know how-"

"Robin," Barb cut in, smiling gently as she saved the girl from drowning in her own words, "It's okay, I got what you meant... and just for the record? It wouldn't totally suck if I had you as my first real friend here."

Robin couldn't help the dopey grin that stretched across her mouth. She nodded her head before she had the intrusive thought that she had been nodding a lot more today than she usually did. She ducked her head, feeling a blush color her cheeks, and took a bite of her food, just to have something to do with her hands if nothing else. She tore her eyes away from her plate, and forced herself to maintain eye contact.

"That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me," she joked, and felt a rush when she got a laugh in response. "I'd be happy to take you under my wing... as you can see I'm kind of a big deal around here."

"Never doubted," Barb quipped.

The girls descended into a fit of giggles, and Robin felt a sense of contentment that she wasn't sure she had really felt before. Conversation hardly flowed as easily as it was coming out with Barb (for the most part). She was either a rush of jumbling words that seemed never-ending, even in her own ears, or had nothing but stunted, two-word replies. With Barb... things were seeming different, and Robin was more than okay with that. She was even happier to find out that they shared the last period, so she would surely see Barb again throughout the day.

Robin couldn't believe her luck. When she had started the day, she was expecting the same routine she found herself in throughout middle school: blur through the day with focusing on board after board, paper after paper, note after note until suddenly the last bell was ringing and it was her cue to cut it to her bike. Today, however, had brought Robin two surprises in the form of Barb and even Eddie. Maybe things were looking up for Robin Buckley? Maybe that was her year...

#stranger things #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ronance #robin x nancy #eddie munson #steve harrington #steve x eddie #steddie #what if robin was in season 1 #detective robin #robin and barb were friends #ao3 fanfic #fanfic #robin kinda takes over Jonathan's place #he's still in this as a good friend tho #nancy takes Barb away #multichapter #enemies to friends to lovers #slow burn #autistic robin buckley #season one robin #upside down #not resident evil #im so sorry #im just going with the creativity

[fandsart]

If you still write Ronance in your fic bc it's popular and you don't really want to do it despite tagging, I think it would be still a great opportunity to go through but make it realistically and not gloss over the fact that everyone would just be happy and supportive. I would rather read that than any other fics where all characters involved are just a shallow version of themselves to fit into a dynamic

I want to make it clear that I didn't decide to include it specifically to pull people in when I realized it was popular, but the fact that it was popular had me looking at all these artworks and gifs for it and posts talking about their similarities. The fanon interpretation is really cute, but that's not how I've come to realize it would play out in canon upon the rewatch. I understand my initial wording was simplistic.

And yes, that's exactly what I plan on doing. When I said it was annoying I had to add the arc I really just meant it's annoying that I have to figure out how to insert it into the timeline when I already have so much happening and how last minute these additions are, but I already have the character development all thought up and in order. Even before the rewatch I had a big issue with the idea of Robin getting together after Nancy cheated on Steve, so really early on (and before the rewatch that made me reconsider the ship) I put canon divergent stuff in place so that never happened.

I honestly kind of wish I kept it now that I'm giving her this whole character arc that could have been an addition to, but that chapter is already posted. Even if I wasn't giving her this arc specifically to make way for the ship it's probably good to give her the arc anyways, I just didn't realize I'd have to at the time.

But the changes I made really only took away from the opportunity to cheat, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't have done it. With all the starry eyes she gave Steve in season 4 I feel like she was willing to do it again, so I might be able to bring that up somehow. She's a very impulsive person, always working on her instincts, but that includes the instincts of her emotions, which I think is what lead to the cheating.

Although I gave Jonathan some development regarding having learned his lesson from taking those photos in season 1 and also his relationship with Steve, so I don't think Jonathan at that point in my story would have betrayed Steve by sleeping with Nancy, but I could have written her making moves on him and him telling Steve about it. Then we can have Nancy making moves on Steve in season 4 and then that be a part of the arc, but too late I guess.

I really want to rant about how I'm going about the character development, but I don't want to give spoilers :(

And yeah, when I first started looking into ronance and liking it, I saw a few fics where Robin started developing a crush on nancy and feeling guilty because she's Steve's ex, but then Steve being like 'no, I just want you to be happy' I thought it was all cute and really liked that trope, but now it's like... it's not about her being his ex. She hurt him and he would be super scared for Robin that the same would happen to her. Especially when we see how terribly her relationship with Jonathan is going right now. Nancy isn't good at emotional regulation, and we actually see a few times, characters (realizing it or not) walking on egg shells around her because she's worried they'll blow up at them. Wording things very carefully so it doesn't turn into an argument, or trying to settle down an already existing but unnecessary argument.

#I didn't realize how much I had to say on this topic #I honestly had way more to say but it would make this thing so long and deviate from the original ask #anon ask #answered asks #stranger things #20 chain links #fandsart