#what is going on. and also. Nancy's specific drive with the upside-down has NOT been activated because Barb is alive. So she didn't do\

[carolperkinsexgirlfriend]

Steddie Upside-Down AU Part 87

Part 1 Part 86

Mom’s hovering in front of the door, a knife in her hand, trying to get the rest of them to get away from the window. It’s not working. If anything, Max’s nose only presses more firmly to the glass with every request she makes.

Will’s hovering just behind her, desperate to keep Steve and Eddie in his line of sight. He can just barely see the wisp of a curl through the side window of the van, bouncing as Eddie moves around inside.

He squints, trying to keep the hair in sight as the movement becomes more erratic.

Will hears glass breaking just as he loses sight of Eddie entirely, wisps and all.

He rushes past his Mom, using the weight of his body to open the door, even as she stands in the way. It’s almost involuntary, a compulsion to follow the thread that Eddie’d pulled him by.

“Will, don’t!” she cries, but it’s too late. He’s out, and through.

Mike calls after him, too, and there’s the sound of tennis shoes stampeding out of the house behind him. Will only hopes he’s not leading them all to their impending doom.

Bodies slump into the driveway, none of them human. They’re like if the Demogorgon had followed a different evolutionary chain. Dustin would find it fascinating. Will just wants Eddie and Steve back.

Wayne’s still standing sentry, looking out across the street, waiting for more monsters to creep in from the darkness, Barbara by his side.

Shielding the entrance to the van, is El.

“El!” It’s Mike, because it always is. He sounds so genuinely elated that something curdles and dies in his throat. He swallows it down, hopes it decomposes in his stomach, so he never has to look directly at it. “You came!”

El smiles, happily at Mike, then around to all of them. “Of course.” She looks over at Max, and she’s frowning now, that way she does when she doesn’t understand something. It used to happen all the time. Now, it’s rare.

Will doesn’t care, can’t when Eddie’s too quiet in the van somewhere Will can’t see. He pushes past her, too.

There’s a misshapen, monstrous foot sticking out of the broken window. He stares at it for a second before swinging the door open. It wrenches the foot strangely, makes it crack and tear with the resistance of the door before it breaks free, black blood flowing like the thing’s still alive. 

It stays still. 

Will looks past it, and finds Eddie’s pale face.  

There’s glass in his hair, and his palms are bleeding where they’re held in front of him, but he’s breathing. Alive. And he’s looking up at El like she’s answered all his prayers. Will and Eddie have been sharing the same prayers from the same broken pews for so long that for a second, Will thinks Steve is back. 

He scrambles over the dead thing blocking his entrance. It’s cold against his palms, flesh barely giving as he crawls hand over feet atop it. But, Steve’s still just sitting there, blinking, Carol huddled into his side like he can protect her, even like this.

“Steve needs your help,” Eddie says, plaintive. Begging with both voice and unblinking eyes, gaze locked on El’s own until she breaks it to look at where Steve still sits, unbothered.

Her brow furrows, eyes squinting like she’s peeling off layers of skin and meat to get to whatever’s underneath. “He’s lost?” she asks.

Carol is squinting at El like the words aren’t clicking for her. She looks back to Steve, then back to El, brow furrowing with anger.

Eddie nods. Will clears his throat. “Not like last time,” he clarifies. “He’s here, but his mind isn’t.”

El nods, decisive. “I will help.”

“What the hell are you all talking about!” Carol demands, even as people scatter around her, setting up for El’s latest rescue mission. “He’s right there!”

She’s not looking at Will, though. She’s looking at Eddie like it’s all his fault. Still, when Steve doesn’t say anything, her lip wobbles as she turns and asks, “right Steve?”

He doesn’t answer, even as she calls again. Will looks away when she bites her lips, eyes wide.

It’s easier this time. They don’t have to break into the school, don’t have to find a pool. El just sits cross-legged in front of Steve on the carpet, careful to stay away from the broken glass and the dead thing. Mike covers her eyes with Wayne’s flannel while the man himself switches the radio dial until he finds one with enough white noise to satisfy.

He can’t quite tune out the murmured conversation between Eddie and Carol, though, no matter how hard he tries. Eddie explains, in clipped, emotionless words, that something, one of the monsters from the other place she’d just gotten a taste of, has taken over Steve. 

“But we’re getting him back?” she asks, voice shrill and breaking, contrasting with Eddie’s own even tone. A veteran to the newbie in the warzone. 

Will, suddenly, feels terribly old. 

“Quiet now,” El demands. 

Eddie looks away from Carol without answering. There is no answer to that question when they’re all subsisting off hope, and not much else.

“Tell him we’re coming, okay?” Eddie asks. He’s looking down at his own bloody palms now, like he can’t bear to look at their last bastion of hope and wait for it to flame and go out. 

“Ask ‘im how to stop the thing taking ‘im over,” Wayne interjects. 

Eddie’s lip wobbles. Will knows how he feels. He doesn’t want Steve to know, if he’s in there at all, that they don’t know what to do. Neither does Will. He wants to save Steve. He always wants to save Steve.

But, Eddie finally looks up, meeting Will’s eyes before nodding. The movement knocks a tear free, but his voice sounds clear when he says, “Ask him how we kill the fucker.”

El nods, shoulders settling as she reaches out to take Steve’s hand. The white noise blankets them all. Will settles down to wait. 

That’s what they always do, when Steve is dying: they wait. This time is no different. 

Part 88

Taglist: @deany-baby @estrellami-1 @altocumulustranslucidus @evillittleguy @carlprocastinator1000 @hallucinatedjosten @goodolefashionedloverboi @newtstabber @lunabyrd @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @manda-panda-monium @disrespectedgoatman @finntheehumaneater @ive-been-bamboozled @harringrieve @grimmfitzz @is-emily-real @dontstealmycake @angeldreamsoffanfic @a-couchpotato @5ammi90 @mac-attack19 @genderless-spoon @kas-eddie-munson @louismeds @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @pansexuality-activated @ellietheasexylibrarian @nebulainajar @mightbeasleep @neonfruitbowl @beth--b @silenzioperso @best-selling-show @v3lv3tf0x @bookworm0690 @paintsplatteredandimperfect @wonderland-girl143-blog @nerdsconquerall @sharingisntkaren @canmargesimpson @bananahoneycomb

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie upsidedown au #will byers #my fic #Jonthan and Nancy aren't here for Multiple Reasons. 1. I think it would be funny if they were just at Nancy's house hanging out with no ide #what is going on. and also. Nancy's specific drive with the upside-down has NOT been activated because Barb is alive. So she didn't do\ #the whole Muarry expose the lab plot. and Jon is SLIGHTLY chiller because there are more people looking out for Will so he doesn't feel lik #every single thing has something to do with him. This would also make the season 3 plot smacking them hard and fast sooo much worse #this isn't plot relavant really. it will Not come up i don't think. I just think it's funy. #Also 2. that is just too many characters. I had to put a few back in the box. I have difficulty with any more than like 5? this scene #WITHOUT those two has what. 11??????? And it Shows I think. So no more

[ilovetwig]

I've always had a really hard time being convinced that j*nathan even loves Nancy because he's always chosen his family over her or honestly really only showed up for her when things involved his family. It's never actually specifically for Nancy. The show has really tried to push that couple to the audience, but I've never been sold on them because they just never made sense to me and just made me feel grossed out to see as a couple (Natalia has even spoken about how the way the characters got together in season 2 is "crunchy" and I agree).

This got me to thinking about how every time they show Steve showing up for Nancy it's always for her vs. the way that j*nathan shows up only when it's convenient for him because it involves Will.

Season 1

j*nathan is helping Nancy look for Barb because he is also looking for Will. They share this similar goal of finding the important people in their lives who have gone missing.

Steve saves Nancy and j*nathan from getting killed by the demogorgon in the Byers' house simply because he really does have feelings for Nancy. He honestly could have just left and stayed safe, but he chose to do this for her and save her.

Season 2

j*nathan agrees to get revenge on the Hawkins lab with Nancy because he also very much wants to get revenge for the people that hurt Will. Again, their interests aligned with this revenge and he wasn't just doing this because he cared about her. There was also something in it for him.

Steve agrees to stay back at the Byers' house and promised Nancy that he would protect the kids, while telling Nancy to go with j*nathan to exorcise the mind flayer out of Will. After the fight with Billy goes down and the kids are going through with their plan to set the tunnels on fire, Steve refuses to help, but Dustin points out that he has to keep his promise to Nancy and keep them safe. And that's exactly what he does.

Season 3

j*nathan doesn't believe Nancy has a compelling story about the rats and refuses to take her seriously until she tells him that it has to do with the upside down and it could affect Will. Only then does he actually want to get involved.

Steve goes back to Starcourt mall after driving Scoops Troop to Dustin's radio, Cerebro, because he realizes people (spcifically Nancy) are still trapped at the mall while Billy and the mind flayer are there. He shows up on time to crash into Billy's car just as he's about to crash into Nancy.

Like I don't understand how people don't realize the love that Steve has for Nancy is real and true, meanwhile the actual love that j*nathan has for Will gets confused as "love" for Nancy. He has mostly only done things for Will, and they have happened to conveniently involve Nancy. But at the end of the day, it's never truly for her. His acts are for his love for Will.

UPDATE: when Jonathan and Steve get into a fight, Jonathan is fighting because Steve mentioned the Byers' family and said something hurtful about them. He's not fighting to defend Nancy for the spray painted sign. The lady at the police station that says he was fighting for love doesn't know anything about these teens and assumes he got into a fight over Nancy, but Jonathan is really fighting because he loves Will and his mom, and wanted to defend them.

#stancy #steve harrington #stranger things #nancy wheeler #anti jancy #steve and nancy #steve x nancy

[eddieexcellence]

SOUR CANDY

Part iii: code red

E. Munson x fem!reader

Synopsis: back in Hawkins for spring break, the reader is back from college. She gets sucked into the madness again for the fourth time with her best friend and younger friends. Plus an unexpected and unwelcome face.

Type: fixit fic, angst/comfort, enemies to lovers trope

Words: 3.6k

Warnings: cursing, pining, lil sis!max, bsf!steve, backstory backstory backstory

A/n: I told y’all it was going to be a long part!! the support from everyone has been amazing and I’m so glad you all like it! I’m sorry the actual reader x Eddie is slow but it’s about to get gooood! I swear bear w me, I also just love involving the platonic bits too!!! Let me know if you’d like to be added to the taglist 🥹

“Y/n? Code red! Do you copy? Code red! Y/n!” A frantic Dustin kept repeating on the other line of the walkie. You hadn’t realized you dozed off reading the boys campaign book, waiting for something to involve you. It was late in the evening, and your room is dark now.

You grabbed your walkie with your eyes still closed and laid flat on your bed. Lazily clicking the button to speak.

“What’s going on?” You asked sleepily.

“Aw Dusty you awoke the Princess.” Eddie chimed in from where he was with his walkie.

You scowled, opening your eyes and sitting up. “Look whoever’s wise idea was to let Munson have a walkie, I hate you.” You snapped. Though you didn’t mean to nap, you weren’t happy to be woken up, even if it’s for a code red. The unpleasant snark of Eddie not welcomed either.

“C’mon Y/n that’s all you care about when we have a code red?” Steve practically whined from the speaker. “Just get to Nancy’s please. Bring a bag too.”

“Fine, fine,” you groaned as you got up.

“Yeah Y/n a code red,” Eddie snickered, mimicking Steve.

“Munson, I will restrict walkie privileges!” Steve told him sternly through the channel.

Packing your Upside Down survival box as you called it, along with everything you took from Nancy’s house earlier plus some clothes too in a bookbag.

Walking down the stairs into the kitchen, your house lights off still, telling you your parents weren’t home yet. So you left a haphazardly note for your parents whenever they came in from wherever.

‘Got home early, know what’s going on, spending the night at the Wheelers so I’m not by myself. Love you xoxo Y/n’ that would suffice. At least they knew where you’re supposed to be. You never knew where you'd end up once you got to the destination you’re supposed to be at.

You lived right down the street from the Wheelers so the drive was quick and easy, and you were grateful that it seemed Nancy’s parents were already in bed with most of the lights off in the house besides the kitchen.

Dustin greeted you at the front door tapping a foot impatiently.

“You are horrible at responding to code reds.” He scolded.

“Okay Dad, but when has any one of us been good with code reds?” You stood there for a moment as he had to genuinely think about it. You smiled, taking a hold of the brim of his hat and shoving it down further on his head covering his eyes. “Exactly, Henderson.” Your smile turned into a smirk as you waltzed past him.

“I’m gonna blacklist you as a babysitter in this town when this is all done and over with, damnit Y/n!” He adjusted his hat as he followed you to the basement.

Sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows were everywhere in the basement as everyone sat at a designated bedding area. Max patted the empty spot by her on the couch. She had a pair of headphones over her ears and a Walkman in her lap.

“What’s all this about?” You asked.

Max paused her music, and slid her headphones off. Nancy handed you her notebook, you looked down reading as she started to talk. “We found a way to prolong Vecna’s curse.” She stated.

“Music, more specifically the victim’s favorite song.” Robin added.

You looked over to the teenage girl beside you, your eyes soft feeling a pang in your heart. What did you miss today? Maybe you did need to respond better to code reds. “Is that why you have your Walkman?”

The redhead nodded, her lower lip trembled slightly. “He almost got me, I was able to out run him though with the help of Kate Bush.” You stopped mid skim through the notes Nance was able to get while at the asylum. That was an interesting pick for the young teenager. You peered over at her and noticed her cheeks slightly rosy and her bouncing her knee anxiously.

Max could tell you wanted to talk more about it so she mouthed ‘later’ to you, you nodded in return looking back at the notes.

“I can’t believe you actually got to talk to Victor Creel.” You visibly shuddered at the thought, handing the notes back to Nancy.

“I-it was something else.” Robin said breathlessly as Steve and Lucas came down with snacks and drinks and took their spots.

Nancy and Robin hadn’t filled everyone in until you got there, telling everything that happened passing the notes around. They were cryptic and eerie even if it was written in Nancy’s perfect handwriting.

Everyone had felt a bit more hopeful with the idea there was a way to keep Max safe. At least until you could actually defeat him.

“I think we should take turns on Max watch, just because we have a temporary solution that’s all it is—temporary. We don’t know how full proof it is yet.” You suggested, and everyone agreed.

“Yeah, every two hours we can switch.” Nancy added. “Y/n you mind going first?” She asked, you shook your head.

“Not at all,” you were about to get off to give Max more room, but she grabbed your wrist.

“You can stay, please?” She looked at you, her mouth twitching nervously.

“Are you telling or asking?” You teased gently moving over to give her more room to lay comfortably.

“Sorry,” her voice mousy. You just smiled and put a blanket from the back of the couch around her.

“Goodnight everyone but Y/n!” Dustin called out from his spot by the console. Chorus of good nights came from everyone as you flipped Dustin off telling everyone goodnight. Even if you truly didn’t mind, he just had to be a smart ass.

Max had put her headphones back on, resuming her song and closing her eyes while resting on the other side of the couch.

You just sat there staring at the wall, replaying the past several hours. Max was in danger, and other than what you declared as Saint Kate Bush could help her with, there was still no solid idea to save her. That smidge of hope is barely a sliver now.

The chain reaction of events all started with someone you used to admire, had a crush on even, now someone you bitterly despise with every bone in your body. You honestly wondered what emotions Eddie was feeling. It had to have been scary not knowing what you witnessed, and that you couldn’t tell anyone. When you first witnessed something from the Upside Down you first went to Steve, and he looked at you like you had three heads not realizing anything yet.

It also had to been frustrating having to hide because you’re wanted for murder when you know you’re innocent. You thought if he might’ve needed clean clothes or food. He definitely had to need a hair brush. That dark mop of curls was probably so tangled. Or hell he probably needed some company. Eddie practically survived off social interaction, even if it was just to argue and bicker with you. You know you found your days much quieter at college when there wasn’t an Eddie Munson approaching you in the cafeteria to make fun of your outfit you had on or to brag about snagging the last Metallica vinyl or Iron Maiden cassette at the music shop with that mischievous twinkle in his big brown doe eyes aimed only at you to strike a nerve.

You could feel yourself get anxious over your racing thoughts. You reached for your bag grabbing the box of sour patch kids you had. You opened the box to start snacking on them.

“Why do you like those so much?” Max asked quietly, sitting up sliding her headphones off. Everyone else had fallen asleep leaving you two awake.

“Did I wake you?” You asked.

“No, it’s hard to sleep when there’s a synthesizer in your ear.” She smirked slightly, holding her hand out. You smiled plopping a few candies in her hand. “Now why do you like Sour Patch Kids so much?”

You bit your lip and shrugged, “I don’t know I tried them in middle school, kind of became my favorite. The sourness can distract me if I’m anxious or if I’m nervous. Odd habit to take the edge off I know.” You said looking down at the box laughing to yourself.

“Do you remember when you specifically first tried them?” She asked curiously. Of course you did more than you cared to admit.

It had been a particularly bad day for you in the 6th grade. Your mom was nagging at you because you had received a bad grade on a test and you didn't do a chore properly. You had just finished your homework at the dining room table, your parents were upstairs arguing about something again. Hearing the shouting from upstairs, you snuck a $5 bill out of your moms purse that was on the counter before shoving some pencils, your sketch pad, and your Walkman in your bookbag taking off on your bike to the gas station. Then to the park to sit at the picnic tables to draw for however long it would take before you dad would come find you. You listened to one of your dads Black Sabbath cassettes he most likely forgot he owned, humming along mindlessly sketching whatever came to your mind.

“Hey you’re in my art class!” A boy, a couple years older than you, approached the picnic table. You looked up taking your headphones off. He took this as an offer to sit across from you. He had a quite grown out buzz cut, the ends slightly curling making his hair resemble a hedgehog almost. His eyes, a deep chocolate color matching his hair, and a toothy dimpled crooked smile. “I’m Eddie if you didn’t know.” He was chewing on some candy as he spoke.

You smiled back, “Y/n.” You politely stuck out your hand for him to shake.

“Oh you want some?” He asked oblivious to your handshake, offering some of his candy. “Fair warning they are sour.” He had to chew a new one and make a face to demonstrate. This caused you to giggle, letting him give you some.

“This isn't poisoned?” Your lashes fluttered up at him inquisitively.

“Do you think I’d be kicking still if they were poisoned?” He asked dramatically standing on the picnic bench and stepping on to the table, careful to not ruin your things while scuffing his beat up Nikes against the wooden table. “That would be metal though! But I swear on my Uncle Wayne they’re not!”

You grinned widely at his antics, trusting the candy and trying some. You made a face at how sour it was, but they were so good.

That was also the day you learned you liked a lot of the same music. You two had even swapped cassettes, your Black Sabbath for his Iron Maiden, and you two promised to give them back in art class. That’s when you started to sit next to each other, scribbling each other notes when the teacher wasn’t looking. You’d even help him with his art assignments when the teacher snack was turned to help him get a better grade.

You popped another candy into your mouth, “Eddie showed me them when I was in 6th grade.”

Max's eyes lit up, “no way!” She gasped quietly. You just nodded, kind of embarrassed. She wanted to ask so many questions, but knew from what Steve had told her it was a touchy subject for you.

Luckily, you didn’t want to be reminded by another pleasant memory of your former friendship with Munson, and you already thought of soft enough thoughts prior about him.

So you deflected, “so Kate Bush? What song?”

Max blushed slightly, “I don’t know if you remember. It was a couple days before you went to college, and El and the Byers just moved. You tried to take me mini golfing and to get ice cream to get my mind off things.” You already had a fond smile on your face knowing what day she was talking about.

“Running up That Hill came on, you were dancing to it trying to get me to laugh, even compared the little keyboard notes to dogs barking and barking along to it.” She laughed when she mentioned it, though when it happened she still had watery eyes and a frown on her face looking straight at the road. It was still one of her favorite memories since she moved to Hawkins.

There were a couple of memories that went through her mind when she thought Vecna really had her, a couple others including you. As soon as the song played in the graveyard that was the happy memory that willed her to break free and start running.

“I-I never got to thank you before you left for college.” Her voice cracked and you can see in the dim light from the desk lamp at the other side of the basement her eyes had filled with tears. “Not just for that day, but everything you’ve done for me. A-and saving me the night B-Billy died, and trying to hide me from seeing the mind flayer destroy,”

Before she could finish you pulled her in your arms, shushing her. She got the hint and was grateful you didn’t want her to finish her sentence. You hated that memory as equally as she did, you were half alive but used your last bit of energy to throw yourself on her so she couldn’t see as well when Billy jumped in front of El. It was one of the worst nights of your life.

Max furiously wiped at her eyes, hating the fact she seemed to only cry nowadays. You yourself were tearing up and you tried to bid them away. “Anyway, I know you didn’t watch me like you did with the boys growing up, but I appreciate you still cared for me like you did with them. A-and thank you for showing me my favorite song.” She then reached for something out her pocket handing it to you. An envelope with your name on it. You went to open it, but she stopped you holding your hand. “It’s a fail-safe if y’know.”

You shook your head disapprovingly, “no.” You put the envelope on the other side of you. “No fail-safes, we’re saving you, we’re saving Hawkins, and we’re going to clear Eddie’s name.” Max pulled you into a hug one last time before she slipped her headphones back on. Before clicking play to the song she paused.

“Y/n?”

You looked at her sniffling trying to hide your emotions with a small smile. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry for what happened between you and Eddie.”

Your smile dropped, “what do you mean?”

“If things didn’t end up the way they did, maybe you two would’ve been really good for each other?” She yawned, clicking play to her music laying back down. What was that supposed to mean? ‘The way they did’ What did she know? You never told the kids what happened between you and Eddie.

You waited until Max could be heard softly snoring before you scanned the room. Your eyes fell on the person that would know and has been around the kids most other than you. You walked over to where Steve was sleeping, and flicked his temple. He groaned lightly.

“Harrington get up.”

“It’s been two hours already?” He asked you.

“Nope we need to talk.” You grabbed his arm, dragging him up.

“Y/n! What the hell!” He whisper shouted at you as you dragged him to the far corner of the basement away from everyone else. “What is going on?”

“Did you tell the kids about freshman year?” You demanded your hands on your hips.

“W-what no, noo.” He mirrored your stature, laughing nervously. “What would make you ever say that?”

“Hm I don’t know, maybe Max full on momming me and giving a pardon of what happened between Eddie and I!” You were freaking out. “Two of those three kids idolize Eddie! That story isn’t meant for their ears!” You persisted. Not only that, you didn’t want the embarrassment and wounds of you actually thinking you could’ve had a shot with Eddie in a past life to be brought to light. The goody two shoes liking president of the Hellfire Club, what a cliche. “They’re gonna think everything so differently! The story sounds so misconstrued!”

“You know what Y/n?” Steve looked at you before looking towards Dustin, Max, and Lucas sleeping. “Maybe two of those three kids idolize Eddie, but three of three idolize you more! They care about you, they think you’re cooler than me!” He then pulled your elbow slightly to look directly at Lucas.

“Lucas was one step closer to becoming you after Eddie destroyed your ego. He was hanging with Jason Carver and all of them idiots. He didn’t want to be bullied anymore. But he turned his back on them, because he cared about Max and Eddie more. You know what could’ve helped avoid those assholes in the first place?” He asked you rhetorically.

“Maybe your badass stories of how you never gave a fuck what people what they thought about you. You were always your own person. You didn’t care what the upperclassmen thought of you when you wanted to ask him to the dance. Even though he misunderstood and rejected you, if Lucas maybe heard the story sooner he wouldn’t have been so afraid to be himself. You’re the goody two shoes babysitter that loves metal and has the mouth of a sailor and your mind in the gutter. You spit on Billy Hargrove’s shoe within knowing Max for a couple days.”

“And you know what, I care about you, you’re my annoying best friend. I don't understand why you tried to hide your stories from the kids. They’re not going to think of you any differently or Eddie any differently.” He looked into your eyes, holding your shoulders gently. “Stop bottling it in for once, and feel something other than salt in your wounds?” You nodded dumbly as he pulled you into his arms.

“Steve?” You wrapped your arms around him, the first time you two had hugged since you’ve been home. It was a nice feeling you couldn’t lie. The last time you hugged like this was when he had picked up from the hospital after Starcourt.

“Hm?”

“When did you get a big brain and put your big boy pants on?” You sniffled, breaking the serious tension between you two.

“When your common sense went out the window in college.”

You pulled away grinning, “it did not!”

“Oh I’m sorry, summer before sophomore year.” He corrected and you gasped. “Kidding, kidding!” He blocked his arm as you went to slap him. “I’ll take Max watch so you can have my spot to sleep.”

“Wheeler!”

“Dustin!”

“Anyone?” Eddie’s voice clicked on and off through the walkie.

You sat up straighter from the chair you were slumped in, wincing as your back cracked. You looked around, and Steve was still sleeping along with Lucas. Dustin, Max, and Nancy were gone.

“Hellooo, code orange? At least an eta of when I can get a food delivery?” Eddie asked.

You bit your lip contemplating before you hesitantly picked up the walkie from the coffee table.

“What are you on about Munson?” You asked.

“Ah the knight in shining princess!” He chirped. “I asked Wheeler for a food delivery and a six pack, but she rushed off before she could really say much more.”

“Do you now expect me to deliver that to you?” You inquired almost bemused.

“I mean if you want me to compromise the plan, I could totally go out and get it myself.” He jeered back.

You rolled your eyes, “let’s not do that. You still like honeycombs?”

“Yes, and Pabst blue ribbon for choice of beer as well.” He chimed in.

Your thoughts went back to what you were thinking about last night, and before you could stop yourself you had asked, “did you need any clothes or a hair brush?”

“Oh trying to spoil me? That would be a bonus if you can get past the crime scene tape of my trailer.” You now wish you didn’t say that.

You scoffed, “I’ll see what I can do. Be there as soon as possible.”

“You’re a lifesaver, sweetheart.” There was no malice in the way he called you sweetheart or in the whole sentence at all. In fact there was only gratitude and relief.

You couldn’t help to feel a skip in your heart and a rush flutter in your stomach, the last time you felt that by Eddie was freshman year. He had complimented your outfit, and even noticed how you had your hair pinned back. He had called you sweetheart then too. It was weird associating butterflies with Eddie, he still made your heart skip a beat. When you waited for a comeback from him or you saw him in the halls ready to walk past him so you would tug a piece of his curly locks to annoy him. The butterflies were different.

You grabbed your bag, and shook Steve slightly.

“Steve, I just need to run an errand, I’ll be back soon.” You told him and he just grumbled turning slightly in his chair.

You were going to regret this, you just know it.

taglist: @sunfairyy @eddiemunson4ever @babygirlwilly @creme-delacreme @ultracolorfulnerdcollection @flicksturz

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson headcanons #eddie munson #eddie my beloved #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson smut #stranger things imagine #steve harrington x bsf!reader #bsf!steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x reader #sour candy fic

[hitchell-mope]

Some modern au headcanons

Mike played Ted and Karen against each other one Christmas and got two iPhones. Purely so he could give one of them to Jane.

Jane loves the spy kids and shrek franchises. Most for Antonio Banderas.

Dustin roped Steve and Max into watching supernatural with him. Dustin watches it for the lore. Steve watched it for the car and the ladies. Max watches it for Jared Padalecki. None of them like the roadkill in the trench coat though

Lucas in the only on in the party who can cook competently if he has to. Max can work a water tap. Dustin can shake down a vending machine. Mike can make waffles. Jane can eat the waffles. Will can burn toast

Will’s most watched film on Netflix and Disneyplus is the Peanuts movie. He sees Charlie Brown as a kindred spirit.

Jim’s a fan of classics. Colombo. MacGyver. Hawaii 5-0. Not the remakes though. Just the originals. He’s also a big fan of the law and order franchise

Joyce is a big fan of old sitcoms like the golden girls and Mary Tyler Moore.

Nancys favourite Disney film is sleeping beauty. And yes. Her and Jonathan have gone as Aurora and Phillip for Halloween. Twice.

Robin and Steve play wingman for each other when they go out and meet girls.

Max is trying to teach Lucas skate boarding. In return. He’s trying to teach her how to cook. Neither endeavour has been very successful. Yet

Will and Jonathan shared a room after Jim and Jane moved in before Jonathan moved in with Nancy. Now Will shares with Max.

It’s an open secret that Karen and Ted are far from just the social drinkers they claim to be.

Erica’s role models growing up were DW Read and Angelica Pickles. But are any of you really surprised?

Max’s dark secret is she has a bureau full of minions merchandise

The Hargrove’s doesn’t exist. Max is a Hopper just like Jane.

It’s an unspoken agreement between Nancy, Mike and Lucas that if both Ted and Karen die before Mike’s 18th then the Sinclair’s can adopt Mike if they so choose.

Dustin in the only one with tumblr. He’s got a enough blocked tags to fill Notre Dame up to Emanuel.

Steve’s a driving instructor. Dustin’s his only successful student.

Joyce and Jim are married with their four kids. Jonathan, Will, Jane and Max.

Mike makes it no secret that his favourite out of Nancy’s peer group is Jonathan. Jane’s is Argyle. Will’s is Robin. Dustin’s is Steve. Lucas and Max’s is Nancy.

Dustin and Will the only two who actively enjoy the muppets. Mike like the Simpsons. Jane likes Futurama. Lucas likes Friends. And Max likes new girl

Lucas is a whovian (the Clara era specifically). Max only watches Star Wars for Finn. Jane got Mike interested in Star Trek. Dustin and Will are Harry Potter fans. They’re both hinny and romione shippers so there’s very little arguments.

The Byers have a dog. The Henderson’s have several cats. The Wheelers have a hamster. The Sinclair’s have a horse.

Jane and Mike are speed dial number one on each other’s phone’s.

There’s no upside down and no Brenner. But Jane still has telekinesis. Except without the nosebleed’s.

Robin’s a big musical fan. But the only way she got Steve to watch them with her is by telling him about what the women look like.

Nancy found herself uncomfortably attracted to Skimbleshanks when she watched Cats 2019

Jane convinced Mike to watch once upon a time. Mike likes Emma. Jane likes Killian. They both hate Regina. And they both think Henry should’ve had more magic than he did.

Jonathan and Nancy are only living together. But Mike still calls Jonathan his brother in law. Half because it makes Ted go puce. Half because he’s already planning their wedding. He’s even gotten Holly in on it.

And last but not least. Lonnie’s dead. Car crash. No-one misses him. Joyce only went to the funeral out of respect for his mother. Jim proposed at the wake.

#stranger things #mike wheeler #jane hopper #mileven #dustin henderson #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #lumax #will byers #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #jancy #argyle #jim hopper #joyce hopper #jopper #robin buckley #steve harrington #holly wheeler

[discoscoob]

I've seen st*ddies complain repeatedly why there weren't scenes of Steve (and Robin and Nancy, but I feel they usually throw the girls in there as afterthoughts) mourning Eddie. I've seen them comfort themselves now saying Steve mourning Eddie will play out in S5.

Aside from being yet another thing they're very likely setting themselves up for disappointment they only have themselves to blame for, I realized the only characters Eddie's death would really effect are the Hellfire members, specifically Dustin since he was close to Eddie and was there when Eddie died, but also very potentially Nancy.  It was largely Nancy's battle plan set into motion and she was the one given the Vecna future vision, adding to her drive to try to prevent that future happening.  As we see at the end of S4, the Vecna vision is already starting to happen.  We didn't really get a chance to see how Nancy was dealing with how things went down in S4 and that only made me think we were most likely going to see that play out in season 5.

It's hard for seasoned COs to lose soldiers under their command and they've had training & experience dealing with losses like that, but Nancy - though dealing with the Upside Down horrors since S1 and her guilt over Barb's death - is a high school girl basically thrust into a wartime leadership position fighting monsters.  Eddie died, Max is in terrible condition and Hawkins is burning/being slowly devoured by the Upside Down. Even if I certainly don't blame the Nancy character for things going down like they did and with Nancy's continued guilt over Barb's death? It's too easy to see her blaming herself for what happened at the end of S4 and the battle plan not going over like they all hoped it would.

All that said, I realized that there's a greater likelihood - if Steve addresses Eddie's death at all - it'll be either trying to comfort Dustin and potentially comfort Nancy, both of whom are leaders of the group in their own ways and will likely continue to be so in season 5.  Nancy that will probably be more driven than ever to fighting & defeating Vecna to save her mom, her baby sister and Mike and everyone else she loves (or avenge those that continue to die at Vecna's hands).  More determined to not repeat the 'mistakes' she perceives herself having made in season 4.  Nancy harder on herself than ever.  

I've got no strong feelings about the Jancy vs. Stancy thing if she survives season 5.  I'm ultimately fine with whichever way the story takes us (or Nancy ends up with someone else or ends up single).  I admit though, I do lean towards Jancy.  However, it's just this idea that some of these st*ddies are so damn certain (though I have NO IDEA as to why) Steve will be sobbing over Eddie in season 5 and yet there's far, FAR better chances of Steve probably only bringing up Eddie as part of his comforting and supporting Nancy instead.  That Eddie's death, same with Max's coma and Hawkins burning wasn't her fault.  Steve comforting & supporting the woman he's still canonically in love with and has been so all series.  Steve, along with Jonathan and her other loves ones, convincing her not to be too hard on herself and they're there for her to lean on.  St*ddies delusionally thinking they'll get these sobby melodramatic moments, but instead they'll probaby just get more Stancy.  I laughed about it when I realized. >;)

I have pretty much nothing to add to this, I think it’s a good and interesting observation. I don’t think we’ll really see Steve mourning Eddie since he didn’t really get attached to him but I think he will definitely be comforting Dustin and possibly Nancy in season 5.

[pop-punklouis]

here to talk about stranger things

i'm a sucker for cinematography and some shots were really well done. specifically the one where the kids are biking and it takes you to the upside down where the adults are biking too!

i'm so glad they're focusing on eleven's traumas because phew she has been through a lot. my mind's absolutely blown because of the parallels between how manipulative dr brenner is as a guardian figure vs how joyce (and hopper) emit this kindness and consent. i've talked about it a bit here.

i'm so mad because they did will SO dirty like my poor boy didn't go through so much shit for him to be brushed aside like that, especially when he's like head canonically queer.

also absolutely hate how one dimensional they've made jonathan.

also, eleven deserves someone better than mike. free her from him pls.

i really don't want the nancy/steve thing to happen again. if anything, in honour of pride month let nancy/robin be a thing instead

also wtf is up with suzie's family oh my god??

as always, steve gets 💋💋 one of the best character developments i've seen tbh

in relation to you talking about how will+jonathon+mike got so little screen time, i feel like the new characters, like the baseball captain dude the one who was dating chrissy got more screen time than the trio 😂

anyways this got long im sorry 🙈

SONIIII please hello. yes! there are always certain scenes when a new ST season drops that cause me drool with how much I love its cinematography. I was kinda let down by the CGI this season though. It was *yawn* how much of it they used instead of utilizing the hybrid of physical/digital effects. Like some scenes had great CGI while just five minutes later it is horrid. so weird to me because it takes me out of the immersion rip

i do like how they actually gave eleven a proper backstory! i found those scenes to be more interesting this season as the pacing felt off to me, and it dragged a bit in parts. so getting a more developed background was refreshing for her. and oooo i haven't had time to properly analyze parallels, but that was a great catch regarding the difference between Brenner and Joyce/Hop as guardian figures to El 👀

they've continuously pushed Will to the backburner since season 3 and I'm! sick of! it! i want to see more of him and he deserves better tbh (much better than mike but i digress lmao) pretty homophobic if you ask me 🔪😵‍💫

did jonathan even.... exist this season. he was so unmemorable it is hard to tell. what even was the point of will+mike+jonathan's C plot besides the duffer brothers having absolutely nothing going for their storyline so just. didn't really do anything with it lmao and YEAH?? honestly fuck mike he annoys me. both el and will deserve better 💅🏼

the hamfisted nancy/steve rekindling drives me NUTS. it is such lazy writing and is only building to steve getting his hopes up and having them crushed again when jonathan tumbles back into the actual plot and "gets the girl" again its so boring and expected. please give steve something else to focus on. give him MORE than being the mopey ex boyfriend. let him be happy please. nancy/robin??? i'd LOVE to see it actually 💕

Suzie's family is mormon!! that like. explains practically everything about that household's dynamics lol they just amplified the Mormon stereotype but its hilarious djrjrktk

steve continues to be one of the only characters to carry this show on his back for another season like thank you king as always 🌹💋

(and don’t be sorry!! i could ramble about stranger things all day 🫣)

#stranger things spoilers

[blackjack-15]

Hunting For Some Buried Story — Thoughts on: Ransom of the Seven Ships (RAN)

Previous Metas: SCK/SCK2, STFD, MHM, TRT, FIN, SSH, DOG, CAR, DDI, SHA, CUR, CLK, TRN, DAN, CRE, ICE, CRY, VEN, HAU

Hello and welcome to a Nancy Drew meta series! 30 metas, 30 Nancy Drew Games that I’m comfortable with doing meta about. Hot takes, cold takes, and just Takes will abound, but one thing’s for sure: they’ll all be longer than I mean them to be.

Each meta will have different distinct sections: an Introduction, an exploration of the Title, an explanation of the Mystery, a run-through of the Suspects. Then, I’ll tackle some of my favorite and least favorite things about the game, and finish it off with ideas on how to improve it. Like with all of the Odd Games, there will be a section between The Intro and The Title called The Weird Stuff, where I go into what makes this game stand out as a little strange.

If any game requires an extra section or two, they’ll be listed in the paragraph above, along with links to previous metas.

These metas are not spoiler free, though I’ll list any games/media that they might spoil here: RAN; STFD; mention of FIN; GTH; mention of SPY.

The Intro:

We’re two-thirds of the way through the meta series officially (yay for meta #20!), and what a way to cap off that marker: with the last of the Odd Games.

And my land, how Odd it is. And that’s ignoring that in August of 2020, this game was very quietly discontinued — speculated to be because of the…well, pseudo-brownface in the game.

Oh yeah, we’re starting with that little bomb.

Before we truly begin, however, let me state one fact: the controversies over this game do not make it any more interesting, unfortunately. I don’t know how a game can be both this objectively bad and this objectively boring as a mystery, but RAN is an example of many, many impossible feats in the video game industry (boring yet bad, controversial yet uninteresting, finicky yet sluggish in controls, so it might as well begin as it means to go on.

I’m also stating here for the record that I’m not really going to focus on the social aspect of this game; it’s always been out of the scope of these metas to focus on current events or social issues, and race is such a hot button issue that no matter what anyone says, someone gets mad. Besides that, it’s really not an interesting tack to take with this meta, not when there’s so many things to talk about regarding RAN as a game and/or as a mystery. If you came into this meta expecting a breakdown as it relates to any social issues, this might not be the meta for you.

If you came for a beat-down on RAN, however, you’re in the right place. Get comfy.

Ransom of the Seven Ships had all the pieces in place to make it a great game; we’ve got Bess and George in the (weird, plasticky) flesh, a fascinating and beautiful location, a historical background based in Spanish exploration, the Age of Piracy, and treasure hunting…all of these are great, honestly, and it’s part of what makes RAN so offensively bad — it could have been really great.

Instead of a wonderful game based around pirate treasure, however, Nancy plays games with monkeys, drives on the world’s slowest golf cart, and trusts the only other person on the entire freaking island when he says he didn’t kidnap her friend. Even though he is the ONLY OTHER PERSON ON THE FREAKING ISLAND.

This game is based off of a Nancy Drew mystery entitled “The Broken Anchor”, which actually is fairly close to the plot of the game — the girls win a contest (though in this case it’s one they didn’t even enter) to go to the Bahamas, Nancy arrives (with Carson) and can’t contact Bess or George, there’s a mysterious treasure, etc. etc. In part, I think, RAN’s problems come from following the book too closely, as there’s really very little to the plot of the book. Game plots necessarily have to have a little more meat to them, as you can’t spend the whole time with Nancy pontificating on the scenery or food (as she is wont to do), and RAN is missing a lot of meat.

Specifically, the meat that it’s missing is any suspects at all. Like I said, there’s only one other person (other than Nancy, Bess, and George) on the island, and it’s ‘Johnny Rolle’ — a self-professed fisherman and loner who’s boat has been wrecked by the monkeys.

There are way too many effing monkeys in this game, side note. How I wish the monkeys were a side note.

Nancy, despite her normal M.O when a kidnapping of a friend has taken place, just kinda rolls with his story and accepts it, digging pointless holes in the sand while he definitely has Bess trapped. And then there’s the weirdness with the monkeys trying to kill her as she scales a sheer cliff wall.

Honestly, if I go any more into it, I’m just going to end up tearing it apart piece by piece, and that’s for the Fix section. So let’s move on to the specific things that make this game truly the capstone of the Odd Games.

The Weird Stuff:

This game is, first and foremost, a story about personal revenge — or, at least, that’s the big takeaway, no matter what HER actually intended for it to be about. After being busted by Nancy (and Lillian, and Ralph, but he apparently doesn’t care about them), Dwayne sat in prison stewing over his ignominious defeat at the hands of a teenaged sleuth until he heard about the supposed treasure on Dread Isle. His greed for the treasure combined with his hatred of Nancy began to fester together, culminating in a slightly complex but ultimately stupid plan to get both money and revenge.

This is a motivation unlike any we’ve encountered. Sure, a handful of Nancy Drew villains have sworn their revenge on Nancy (most notably at this point in the series Helena from VEN), but no one has actually done it — until Dwayne.

This should have made the whole game feel intensely personal — and indeed, bringing back tokens and things from Nancy’s past cases and locations should have built to that. However, the game never really comes to a fever pitch of a feeling of someone is watching Nancy and actively hates her, even though it makes a few attempts. More than any other game, Nancy should have been scared here — and it’s odd that she isn’t.

The second odd thing here is the returning villain. I don’t think this is a bad thing at all — I love the idea of a returning villain — but I do think it was a mistake to pick Dwayne Powers. At this point in the series, STFD was hardly a well-known game, and was generally unplayable due to technological advances.

Yes, later STFD would get a bit of a sprucing up and become playable again (and this game, funnily enough, would be relegated to the ‘unplayable’ pile — Dwayne never can win, I guess), but that didn’t matter at the time that RAN was coming out.

There were several better choices — VEN’s Helena, SHA’s Shorty, DOG’s Emily (who had already received a mention recently in DAN) — so why go with Dwayne? Did they pick him on purpose because no one would suspect (or rather, remember) him? Was he the most obscure villain they could think of? Mitch Dillon (who never appeared really) from SCK would have been an equally obscure but somehow more frightening choice. I’m really at a loss to figure out why they chose Dwayne, of all people.

The third thing that makes this game odd is the lack of suspects. Sure, they give a hat-tip to the Gibsons perhaps being hidden on the island (which, let’s just say, they shouldn’t have — never use as a red herring something that would have made the game so much better), but Dwayne/Johnny really is the only suspect.

I have no idea if they were rushed, if they thought that his different identities counted as extra suspects, or if they just wanted to try something different with this game, but it in no way worked. It’s so mind-bogglingly simple to figure out who kidnapped Bess that it makes Nancy look like she’s quite a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

The last Odd thing that I’ll hang on is how incredibly out-of-character Nancy is in this game. We’ve only seen Nancy work kidnapping (or supposed kidnapping) cases a few times in the series as a whole — FIN’s Maya, RAN’s Bess, and GTH’s Jessalyn — but in both FIN and GTH Nancy takes them very seriously, being harsher and more impatient with less time for people’s lies and stories than she usually is, and really feeling the pressure of the clock.

It makes sense; even discounting the Missing Mom trauma that sits deep within Nancy, the first 48 hours of a kidnapping are basically the only window that she has, statistically speaking, to find the victim still alive and okay. She nearly flies off the handle at the suspects in FIN, and digs uncomfortably deep even at very touchy subjects in GTH.

It then stands to reason that, with FIN in the past and GTH in the future, that Nancy would react similarly in this case. Bess is one of Nancy’s best friends, and the friend that we’re shown most often (think of the flashback in SPY; Bess is the one who comes over after Kate and Carson’s fight) around Nancy, like in CRY.

You’d think that, in the face of Bess’ unambiguous kidnapping, that Nancy would be raising hell — contacting anyone she could, taking no prisoners, ripping Dwayne’s tarp down, turning the island upside down, etc. — but instead, she’s calm, almost relaxed, spending time playing games with monkeys and driving aimlessly around the island.

It honestly makes no sense that she’s like this. This is one of a small handful of games where Nancy is deeply, personally invested, where she has a quick running clock, and where the stakes are deadly yet somewhat unknown.

Nancy comes into this with no background, no contacts, no ability to really look things up, and no help — George’s meager efforts do not count — and yet she acts like there are really no stakes. It doesn’t make me dislike her, it doesn’t make me fold that into her characterization — it just makes me say “wow, the writing is really bad here, huh”.

The Title:

Ransom of the Seven Ships is an amazing title; there’s really no getting around this fact. And for the bare bones of the game, it’s more than a suitable title. You’ve got the word ‘ransom’ doing double duty — meaning both treasure and the price to return someone who’s been kidnapped — you’ve got the ships indicating pirate treasure, and that also tells us we’re probably on an island.

Honestly, this is a far better title than this game really deserved (which is half the reason for this meta: turning the game into something that deserves its title). It’s certainly far better than “The Broken Anchor”, its source material, while keeping a pirate-y nature about it. While it’s a little different than most Nancy Drew games’ titles have been up to this point — as they’re usually “The (Adjective) Noun of Location” or “The Adjective Noun”, that’s not a bad thing at all.

This title really does make me sad with how wonderful it is. It deserved so much better. Same with Ship of Shadows, which is also boss.

The Mystery:

Having won an all-expense paid vacation to Dread Isle in the Bahamas (which should have been their first clue that something hinky was afoot), Bess invites Nancy and George along with her. Nancy arrives the day after the cousins, having stayed for a later flight because of a prior engagement with Carson, and is greeted by a frantic George who tells her that Bess has been kidnapped, that the owners of the resort – the Gibsons — aren’t there, and that she’s been worried sick.

  Nancy, naturally, senses something Amiss, and sets off to explore the islands, beginning from the pink sand beach where Bess’ water powered golf cart (yes, I know) is still sitting. She discovers Bess’ shoe next to the only other person on the island — a fisherman named Johnny Rolle from Jamaica — and sets off to explore the rest of the island.

Along the way she finds notes from Bess’ kidnappers, instructions on digging for treasure, twisting island paths, and monkeys. So many friggin monkeys. All of whom Nancy must appease in order to progress in her hunt for one of her oldest friends.

Yeah.

As a mystery…well, what is there really to say about the mystery? It should have been over the second Nancy found Bess’ shoe right outside Dwayne’s camp where a Suspicious Tarp Just Big Enough To Hide the Body of a Young Adult was hanging. An intelligent way to draw it out would be to have Nancy discover Bess there, but for Dwayne to pull a fast one on her and trap her below…but this isn’t the fix section, so let’s just move on past that.

If you weren’t going to add in any new characters or suspects, it might be best to have this game flip from a whodunnit to a howdunnit/howcatchem after the first third; as it is (aka since I’m going to add far more characters in The Fix section), we’ll move right along to the suspect in question himself.

The Suspects:

Yes, I know that this part should just be “The Suspect”.

Believe me, I know.

Wearing a whole cornucopia of masks, Johnny Rolle — aka John E. Poole — is an Australian accountant, hiding from ‘bad clients’ by painting himself brown and adopting a horrible (and horribly stereotypical) Jamaican accent. Nancy discovers his ‘true’ identity by finding an ID with his name on it while he’s still in the ‘Johnny’ disguise. Of course, this ‘true identity’ isn’t his true identity as all…

Dwayne Powers —aka Owen W. Spayder — is sitting underneath the bad wig, bandana, brownface, and horrible accents, and is voiced in this go-around by HER’s chameleon of many voices, good ol’ JVS. After hearing about Dread Isle’s rumors of treasure and their monkey research lab shutting down from a volunteer at his prison (yes, we’re already way too complicated for this game), Dwayne started planning to get the treasure and get revenge on Nancy at the same time.

As the culprit…man is Dwayne horrible. He’s so stupid that it really kills me that Nancy actually falls for his act, because it makes her even stupider. It’s not a good plan, it’s not well thought out, it’s not even a complete plan — it relies on too many unknowables. What if Nancy and George had just stormed his camp and found Bess? What if Nancy figured out it was him? Like, I know Dwayne is an egotist, but this is just dumb.

Before I eviscerate any more, let’s just move on to the few good things in this game.

The Favorite:

The best thing about RAN (other than its music, which as always is super good) is honestly its location. Dread Isle is beautifully and uniquely rendered, and doesn’t look like any other game with the pink-sand beaches, beautiful horizon line, and foliage all befitting a Bahamian resort.

I also like the idea of a returning culprit; while it wasn’t handled well here, I do think it’s a great idea as quite a few culprits have promised revenge on Nancy at the end of their games. Do I think it would have been better if it was Helena, who promised revenge only 2 games ago, rather than going back 18 games to a game that most hadn’t played due to lack of availability? Of course; but the idea behind it was sound.

I don’t have a favorite puzzle or favorite moment; even Dwayne’s dramatic reveal is ruined by the fact that Nancy is at all surprised that he was wearing a disguise and, once again, that the only other person on the island was responsible for kidnapping her friend.

The Un-Favorite:

As far as this section goes…there’s a lot that I don’t like, but there are a few things that stand out more than the rest as truly un-favorite.

My least favorite thing about this game, as you might be able to guess, is that it makes Nancy seem so stupid. We’ve had 19 games of Nancy (mostly; this meta series does go over the exceptions) figuring out clues, chasing bad guys, and solving puzzles without breaking a sweat, and then for this game she’s fooled by some makeup, a wig, and a bad accent? At least in STFD Dwayne put some effort into his work; this is just sad, and it’s even sadder that Nancy falls for it.

My least favorite moment in the game is probably the first conversation with ‘Johnny’. Nancy finds Bess’ shoe, gets strung up in a trap, and then believes that the guy sitting a few feet away is innocent and telling the truth? It’s a moment that truly sets up what a crap shoot this game is about to become, and that alone is enough to make it my least favorite.

My least favorite puzzle is anything to do with the monkeys; playing games with them, scaling the cliff, talking to them, talking about them — literally anything. I don’t like monkeys on a good day, but to have so many puzzles in the game revolve around playing their stupid little games with them? Not a good thing at all. Especially since getting around the island (and, of course, the monkeys live quite far away from anything else on the island) is so aggravatingly slow and clunky — it makes everything feel like a total slog.

The Fix:

So how would I fix Ransom of the Seven Ships?

My gosh, just remake the game.

More seriously, there are quite a few things that I would do in order to make playing through RAN a little more enjoyable and a lot more story-driven (and in line with Nancy and George’s characters). As always, I’m trying to keep this as close to the actual game as possible with few or no huge changes, so Dwayne will still be our culprit, Bess will still have won his giveaway, and Dread Isle will still be the spot of El Toro’s treasure.

The first thing I would do is get rid of Dwayne’s brownface/first disguise, and have him be the Australian accountant named John E. Poole, running from Bad News clients who he didn’t allow to cheat come tax day. That sets him up as a good guy to begin with (if a little foolish to cross such powerful clients), and gives a reason why he’s not staying at the resort (he’s trying to hide and not leave a paper/money trail at the same time). He should be staying in a little homemade hut, not with a Suspicious Tarp Obviously Hiding Bess, as he would have had to been on the island for a while to perfect his disguise (and seem trustworthy to the people at the resort).

I would also have the game take place on Nancy’s 19th birthday; if we assume she was barely 18 at the time of STFD, that makes it about a year that he would have been plotting and escaping and setting up this contest and such. It also makes sense as to why Nancy would have a banquet-thing with Carson and why Bess invited her and George — it’s a fabulous birthday party trip, even for the well-off Nancy Drew. That would also add to her anger — this was a great present that Bess (and George) gave her, and Dwayne has just straight-up ruined it.

Another change that would help the atmosphere is to have at least half the game take place at night. I would have the game take place over roughly two days — it ends the night of the second day — so that you can see the island at night. A lot of the demands made by ‘the kidnappers’ should be done at night — treasure digging, in particular — so as to not be more disruptive to the island than a missing persons case would already be.

Of course, one of the biggest things to do would be to add more suspects.

The Gibsons — both of them — should definitely be there at the resort. I’d have one half of the couple be in the resort during the day, and the other at night, so Nancy can interact with them both differently and have different tasks/discussions with them. Perhaps Mrs. Gibson is an expert on the island’s ‘lore’ — El Toro’s treasure and stuff — while Mr. Gibson is more up on island life and is the law enforcement liaison for the island (who can effectively deputize Nancy to help with the search for Bess).

I would also add one other guest who was supposed to check out right before the first note from the kidnappers came in, and is now stuck on the island until the case is solved. What I’d probably do is make them a Secret Australian (to contrast with Dwayne’s fake Australian accent) — sporting an English accent due to a posh upbringing and studying in England for most of their school life, living in England somewhere (maybe near Blackmoor Manor for a cool Easter egg) — who is Very Grumpy about this and thinks Bess ran off to explore and just got lost. I’d probably make them unhelpful to the last — even when Bess is found and had definitely been kidnapped, to just shrug it off and to board the plane to get home as quickly as possible.

The last person I’d add in is someone working the desk — specifically, an older teenager who is very cagey about themselves and how they know what they know, but who seems to know a lot more than they let on. This person would, of course, end up being a member of ATAC, and once Nancy figures it out, would be able to connect you with help from the Hardy Boys. This ATAC member would be scoping out the Gibsons for evidence of getting guests under false pretenses, but would ultimately change their suspicions to Dwayne and help Nancy and George catch him. Through this ATAC teen, the Hardy Boys could use outside information to give Nancy information about monkeys, the island, treasure, El Toro, and anything else that she encounters, as well as spread their feelers out about the Gibsons, the other guest, and John E. Poole.

I would of course want to improve the tone, which would be helped by having more people on the island — Nancy should feel scared that Bess disappeared with this many people around, and it should feel personal. As the game goes on, even with the added help, the walls should feel like they’re closing in. I would include way more second chances, traps, threatening notes, maybe even recordings of Bess screaming or scared or in pain — something that might push the rating to E+ because, quite frankly, the situation calls for it.

Mechanically, I would put way less focus on the monkeys; they really shouldn’t control everything on the island. Keeping them for a minigame and location is cool, but they definitely shouldn’t have their place of prominence in the game.

I would also remove the fact that you can control George. Out of all the games where I think controlling people other than Nancy would be great, this is not one of them. As worried as Nancy should be, this is George’s cousin — practically her sister, from how close their families are and how much time they spend together — and George would probably be in a State. Sure, she can help with some of the tech stuff, but the player definitely shouldn’t be playing as her in this game. It just feels forced, and it’s not necessary.

Would these changes make RAN a fantastic, award-winning game? No, honestly, they wouldn’t. In order to do that, you’d probably have to scrap the game entirely and start over with even barer bones. But I do think it would help to make it at least better and more playable, and I think that’s a win. Let RAN be remembered for its returning villain and its kidnapping plot, not for being the game that everyone skips during a replay of the series.

#nancy drew #clue crew #nancy drew games #ransom of the seven ships #nancy drew meta #RAN #video games #long post #my meta

[marypsue]

Having an extraordinarily real one lately for no apparent reason, so here’s a more-than-usually self-indulgent ficlet. Enjoy. Or don’t, I’m not the boss of you.

...

The next thing he remembers, somebody’s giving him a sharp poke in the shoulder. “Hey. Are you alive?”

He tries to roll over and go back to sleep, but the prodding continues. And every inch of him’s screaming in protest, so lying here and taking it suddenly seems like the better part of valour. “No. ‘m dead. G’way.”

The weirdly familiar voice – a woman, one he knows, but can’t place – sounds amused at that, for some reason. Like it’s funny that he’s dead. He’s pretty sure it’s not. Sad, sure. Tragic. Bittersweet, a little. Ironic, even. But funny? That’s just rude. “All right, dead guy. Well, while you’re still talking, feel like telling me who you are and how you ended up in a secret Russian lab?”

Now that rings a bell. He bothers to crack an eye, and immediately squeezes it shut again. Neon and flashing emergency lights are a bad combination in an already-pounding head.

“Wh- happened?” he manages. He should ask about the kid, too, Joyce, the others, make sure they’re safe, but those are a lot of thoughts to form into words. And this feels like a good place to start.

The weirdly familiar voice has a weirdly familiar laugh, too. “I was kind of hoping you could tell me that. You just came stumbling out of that crack in the wall, cold-cocked the thug who was trying to stick my head in that big spinning blender, and then passed out all over the walkway.” Her voice goes a little subdued as she goes on, “You…probably saved my life.”

He’s not sure how to respond to that, so he defaults to sarcasm. “ ‘s what I do.”

She snorts out another laugh.

“Listen,” she says, after a beat or two of weirdly companionable quiet. The sounds of distant yelling and helicopter blades fill the silence, but they sound pleasantly like somebody else’s problem. And – they’ve gotta have given him something for the pain, because it’s starting to recede pleasantly too, behind a thick, insulating layer of pink cotton fluff. “You showed up with no ID, in a Russian uniform, in a secret Russian lab. None of us know you. The government’s here to clean this all up and sweep it under the rug, and unless you can tell me something really convincing about why they shouldn’t, they’re gonna sweep you right under that rug too. I don’t want that to happen. You really came through for us back there, I don’t think you’re a Russian operative.”

“ ‘m not,” he manages, around a tongue that seems to be trying to fall asleep in his mouth.

She sounds entirely too chipper as she says, “Great! Now can you tell me who you are?”

He manages to force both eyes open a sliver, turning to face her as he enunciates, as clearly as he can, “Jim Hopper. Hawkins, Indiana chief of police.”

Her face is a blur at first, cast purple in the flashing red and blue lights. But it quickly resolves into wide, stunned blue eyes, a sharp chin and cheekbones, a few dark curls escaping a tight braid. A face that’s familiar. Or would be, if it didn’t look a handful of decades too old.

He squints, but her face doesn’t change any more than her stunned expression does. “Nancy Wheeler?”

Her big eyes get, if it’s possible, even bigger at that. The twist of smile that crosses that foxy face as she nods is entirely unamused.

It’s what she says next, though, that really throws him for a loop.

“Yeah. Nancy Wheeler.” Her smile gets wider and whiter but no less disbelieving as she says, “Hawkins, Indiana chief of police.”

 …

 The stranger doesn’t stay conscious for long after that, whatever painkillers the paramedics pumped him full of finally kicking in. Nancy leaves him in the back of the ambulance and goes looking for that doctor. He’s around here somewhere.

She finds him at the mall’s service entrance, watching with a frown as the military guys he’d brought with him empty boxes and boxes full of tubes of glowing green…stuff out of the hidden elevator. Nancy hopes, vaguely, that it isn’t radioactive. That would’ve been the first thing they’d have tested. Right?

The doctor looks up as she walks up beside him, and lets out a little aggrieved sigh when he sees who it is. Nancy decides she’s taking that as a compliment. “Any word from our mystery man?”

“According to him, he’s dead.”

The doctor huffs a laugh, not taking his eyes off the elevator.

Nancy examines her fingernails. There’s blood dried in the beds. She’s not sure when that happened. “Also, according to him, he’s Jim Hopper. Hawkins, Indiana chief of police.”

She feels the doctor’s eyes on her, looks up, and smiles. “And you want to know the really weird part? I believe him.”

The doctor’s expression is inscrutable. All he says is, “You do?”

Nancy glances down at herself again, at the ill-fitting Russian uniform she’s still wearing. She can’t wait to get out of this stupid thing. She can’t wait to go home and sleep for about a month. The absolute last thing she wants right now is more supernatural weirdness to deal with.

But –

“He recognised me,” she says, slowly, putting her thoughts together as she speaks. “He knew my name. He – if you told me he was related to our Hopper, I’d believe it, the resemblance is that strong. He doesn’t sound Russian. And that – Gate, the place it goes to – that’s an alternate dimension, right? The kids’ ‘Upside Down’. It’s like here…but not.”

The doctor’s kind of smiling at her. Nancy bulls determinedly forward. “That’s one other Hawkins out there that we know about for sure. Couldn’t there be more?”

The doctor’s still giving her that smile. Nancy catches his eye and stares him down, and he sort of chuckles and shakes his head. “Sounds like we’ll make a theoretical physicist of you yet.”

“I don’t want you packing him off to some – secret bunker or lab or whatever,” Nancy says, like there’s anything she could do to stop it if the doctor did. If it comes to that, she’ll figure it out. She’s already starting to work on a few plans. But for now, she’ll give the doctor the benefit of the doubt that he’s actually trying to help, and use her words. “If the uniform’s anything to go by, he’s just had the same night from hell that we all have. Whoever he left on the other side must be missing him.”

“You’re forgetting, Chief Wheeler,” the doctor says, still sounding just a little too amused. “You and your…small army blew that machine down there to smithereens. There’s no way back into the – uh – ‘Upside Down’.”

Nancy glares back into that too-knowing look. Maybe the doctor does know Terry Ives still has the power to rip open worlds. If he doesn’t, and this is a good bluff, then no way in hell is Nancy going to be the one to tell him and start the Ives’ nightmare all over again.

“Well, if he ended up here, maybe things didn’t go so smoothly on the other end,” is all she says. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”

The doctor’s smile gets a little wider. But all he says is, “I’m sure. You’re a resourceful woman, Nancy Wheeler.”

Nancy watches his face, carefully, for any sign that it’s meant to be an insult. She doesn’t find one.

She leaves him to poke through the Russians’ stuff and heads back around the front of the mall. Partly because she wants to see the others – and one specific other in particular – again, make sure they’re all all right. Partly because she doesn’t want that ambulance driving off with the stranger in the back and disappearing forever.

He saved her life. The least she can do is get him home.

Jonathan’s sitting with Steve and the kids, when Nancy picks her way back through the parking lot. He looks up through his bangs, and a slow smile dawns across his face at that sight of her. Nancy feels something in her chest constrict warmly, and realises she’s smiling, too. And for once, it’s entirely real.

Yeah. If the stranger’s night’s been anything like hers – they’ve got to get him home.

Mike’s sitting in the ambulance, on one side of El, holding her hand as a paramedic washes out the nasty wound in her leg. Will, standing on her other side, has her other hand. Based on the faces all three of them are making, she’s probably grinding the bones in the boys’ hands together, but neither of them looks like they’ll be letting go any time soon. 

Karen’s perched on the ambulance’s tailgate with Joyce, sharing a shock blanket. Maxine Mayfield’s got a blanket, too, even in the hot July night, and Lucas Sinclair’s arm around her. She’s got her head on his shoulder and her arm wrapped around his waist, but her other hand is loosely holding Dustin Henderson’s, like she’s forgotten it’s there. And, even though he barely seems to notice and has gotten into some kind of good-natured argument with the crowd of kids Karen hangs around with these days, Dustin doesn’t let go of her hand either.

Everybody seems to be slowly coming down off the night’s adrenaline, still a little giggly and punchy but starting to sober up. Especially Max and Dustin, who are literally starting to sober up from whatever the Russians shot them full of. Little Phil Callahan’s nodding off against Nancy’s old college friend Kali’s knee, and Kali’s even tolerating it, though Nancy knows the eyebrow she quirks in Nancy’s direction is a clear command to get the kid off her before she stops tolerating it. Jill Stephenson also seems to be nodding off, but since she’s doing it against Benny Hammond’s muscular arm, Nancy has a sneaking suspicion it’s a put-on.

And Jim Hopper – thirteen-going-on-fourteen Jim Hopper, somehow-now-Karen’s-other-best-friend Jim Hopper, definitely-not-Hawkins-Indiana-chief-of-police Jim Hopper, is sitting with his back against Joyce Byers’ knees, listening to Joyce and Karen’s animated conversation with a half-smile that, Nancy thinks, looks an awful lot like contentment.

Nancy must have been staring, trying to mentally compare the kid in front of her to the stranger in the back of the ambulance, because he twists to shoot a scowl in her direction. “What?”

“Did you find anything out?” Jonathan asks, and Nancy can’t help another smile in his direction. Good grief, she’s going soft. “About -” He bobs his head in the direction of the other ambulance. “Him.”

Nancy looks the assembled crowd over, and settles on the truth. “He says he’s you.”

It very obviously takes Hopper a second or two to work out that everybody’s looking at him. “Wh- me?”

Nancy nods. “Jim Hopper. Hawkins, Indiana chief of police.”

There’s a moment of silence while everybody processes this, before Dustin Henderson pipes up. “What – there’s another alternate dimension out there? Other than the Upside Down?”

“Like in The Magician’s Nephew,” Will says, unexpectedly. “The Upside Down’s the wood between the worlds.”

Nancy shoots him a blank look. Karen rolls her eyes. “Mom. Narnia?”

“I thought that was about a wardrobe?”

Apparently this question is just too stupid to dignify with an answer.

Dustin, thankfully, steps in, picking up Will’s train of thought. “So you can only get into the Upside Down from any version of Hawkins -”

“But you can get into any version of Hawkins from the Upside Down,” Will agrees, nodding. He catches El’s confused squint, and shrugs. “It’s a theory.”

“Worth testing,” Nancy agrees. She goes to settle her hands on her belt, and is once again forcibly reminded that she’s still wearing the stupid Russian uniform. “Ugh! That’s it. Screw the government, I’m going back in there and looting the Gap.”

She’s not sure if Jonathan’s joking, at first, when he catches her eye and says, “Oh, but I do so love a woman in uniform.”

Joyce rolls her eyes, and Mike makes an exaggerated gagging noise. Steve shuts his eyes, giving his head a tiny shake, but he’s kind of smiling. Nancy considers flipping them all off, but she quickly decides on something else. Something better.

She crosses the distance between her and where Jonathan’s sitting on the asphalt in two big strides, and bends down to catch Jonathan’s chin in one hand. He turns his face up towards hers without her guidance, though, and when she presses her lips against his, they part with no resistance.

Nancy only holds the kiss for a moment before pulling back, but when she does, Jonathan’s red from the tips of his ears to the collar of his shirt. She allows herself a little satisfaction at that. Still got it, Wheeler. “There. Now, if you hyenas are satisfied, I’m going to go make sure the government doesn’t make our new friend vanish before we get a chance to learn anything more than his name.”

With that said, she turns and walks pointedly across the parking lot toward the other ambulance, not looking back.

She deliberately ignores the hoots, her children’s noises of disgust, and Kali’s sigh of “Finally!”

#stranger things #this is mary's fic tag #i will cross all of my self-indulgent AUs over with canon and no one can stop me

[thinger-strang]

no one dies and everyone's gay au

Nancy finds Barb when she gets stuck in the Upside Down when she's in the forest with Jonathan (don't ask me about the logistics) and so Steve ends up finding Jonathan and Barb in Nancy's room? And he's confused because at first he'd just seen Jon and thought Nancy was cheating but then he saw Barb walk into the room? (traumatic sleepover time! except Jon stays on the ground and Barb and Nance cuddle on the bed bc they're best friends and BARB WAS MISSING FOR LIKE TWO DAYS I THINK? she deserves snugs)

But Tommy and Carol started talking about how Nancy was probably sleeping with both, everyone knew Barb was the biggest d*ke in Hawkins, Nancy probably got curious about the other side!

He doesn't necessarily agree but still doesn't stop Tommy from spray painting the theater (because Nancy still lied to him? Lying generally meant there was something? going on? idk Steve's just confused and a little hurt rn)

The rest of the season goes pretty much the same, Barb's just there trying to not die and trying to help the Gang™ find Will and fight this bitch ass demogorgon (I don't think she's really be part of the Nancy and Jonathan luring it to the house and fighting it, she'd help with set up and the plan but I think she'd fuck right off when it comes down to facing it, she's had enough monsters for one life time thx)

But she'd so wanna help get Will out so she's there with Joyce and everyone talking to El while she's in the bath finding Will and talking Hop and Joyce about the Upside Down

(and she's been to the hospital, she didn't get a face sucking monster thing so she recovered quicker? idk don't ask logistics again lmao)

But she and Will end up getting along and sometimes when she's hanging out with Nancy and the party comes over she'll say hi to Will and like ruffle his hair

(also I want a little scene after the big monster hunting trip scene where a) Nancy and Jonathan explain everything to Steve and b) where Steve sees Barb again and pulls her into the biggest hug and starts like apologizing for not paying attention that night and for letting her get taken and even though she assured him it wasn't his fault he still feels guilty about it, it was his house, he should have helped her bandage her hand or something? idk but this right here is the beginning of the Barb/Steve friendship and the start of the "fall of King Steve")

cue s2

and so the four get really close, Jonathan and Steve are actually friends (idk what s2 was pulling but they're friends) and Barb talks to Nancy about Steve and Jonathan and Nancy ends up breaking up with Steve way earlier (bc you know none of that drama would have happened if Barb was there so)

But they're all still good friends, Steve's cool about the break up, and Nancy and Jonathan get together but it's not like right after? so it's all chill and they all went through a dramatic experience together so they remain close knit yeah

and Barb eventually comes out to them (everyone's supportive obviously) and Steve's is ready to throw down with anyone for her

cue Billy

the four of them are sizing up the new guy, Nancy doesn't really care, Jonathan thinks his hair is a little ridiculous (which I mean, that first day? when he steps out of the Camaro? yeah it was a lil rough), Barb can see right through his macho bullshit, and Steve? has a little bi meltdown. bc this kid has definitely had boy crushes before and knows he likes both (kid listens to queen of course he knew he was bi lmao)

blah blah blah s2 happens, Barb, Steve, and Billy have the same English class and Billys generally quiet during school, kinda stand-off-ish, only really bugs people during gym/basketball, but he literally sits in the back and does absolutely nothing during class and still somehow has the highest grade

(FUCK him and Barb get paired for a project and she fucking calls him out? like she's just like you're gay I'm lesbian you can cut the crap around me and they become...not friends? but they have solidarity, they're cool)

and I'm a slut for this trope but BILLY FIGHTS DEMODOGS WITH THEM lmao he hears Max sneak out and follows her and finds her in the junkyard armouring up a bus with fucking Harrington and a couple of nerds? and like the sun is setting and he needs to get Max home so he's like "Maxine! I don't know what the fuck this is and I don't fucking care, we gotta go!" and the four are like yelling at him to either leave or get in the bus! and he's so confused, I'm not here to play games Max! and Steve's running out of the bus with a FUCKING NAIL BAT WHAT THE FUCK HARRINGTON? And Steve's like behind you! and swings at a demodog. Billy has a borderline panic attack before he finds like a fender or exhaust pipe or whatever and starts swinging too

the dogs run away and Billy rounds onto Steve like what the living shit was that? and Steve has to explain everything with Dustin and Lucas interrupting and Max shrugging and trying to understand too? it's a mess

s2 continues with Billy and with HOPPER NOT BEING ABLE TO STAND HIM bc he's caught him speeding and underage drinking and shit and Billy's nervous as hell around cops which makes him mouthy and ITS A MESS

they're all at Joyce's (Barb's there too bc Will's possessed and they need to check up on her too? and she's concerned for Will anyway yeah she's in this too) and El shows up and Steve and Billy are just like what? another one? who the fuck? like Steve heard about her but this isn't a tiny child without hair??? idk it's funny

BILLY WITH AN AXE IN THE TUNNELS

(obviously Steve isn't passed out and the kids don't drive the car, it's Billy's awful impulse control that leads to them going into the tunnels)

okay I couldn't decide where to put Barb here? so I left her with Steve and Billy to babysit and she ends up in the tunnels too? and she's def handling it better than the boys are fuck yeah

Steve has his bat and is in front and Billy found an axe in the pile of shit from the Byers' shed and he pulls up the end

it's awesome

yada yada Steve and Billy end up becoming weirdly good friends by the end and he's good with him and Barb, idk about Nance and Jon but eh

s3 now

Billy ends up getting two jobs; lifeguard and cook at Benny's (bc he's alive too, fight me bitches this is the ultimate fix it) and Barb ends up working as a waitress there too (and working together builds the weirdest bonds so they are besties now)

everything in s3 is pretty much the same but with diner scenes too? and like all the Hawkins moms swarm Benny's too and leave lipstick stains on their kitchen tips and "send my compliments to the chef *wink*"

Billy eats it up but Barb can tell he also kinda hates it bc he's barely 18 and not even remotely into women and it makes him super uncomfortable but publicly he "loves" it (he starts wearing tank tops to the pool and tries to hide out in the kitchen but it really doesn't work)

he still gets caught up with the mind flayer but it's not bc he's about to sleep with Karen bc ew, idk why he's driving out by the warehouse idk maybe he's out on a drive bc he can't sleep yeah

anyway he gets caught up but like he knows, or kind of knows, what this is and calls in sick to both jobs and talks to Hopper bc WHAT THE FUCK isn't the gate closed? I got face fucked my an interdimensional monster so unless you know where the fuck that came from?? and they deal with it earlier (most of the shit still happens but it's less...messy? like Hop and Joyce are more involved in the Billy shit and Steve knows about it?)

Steve still gets caught up with the Russians (I don't think he'd have a chance to tell anyone (specifically Hopper) bc he finds out about Billy then the elevator stuff happens like right after and yada yada)

so for most of the season it's them trying to actually help Billy! and they end up saving a lot of people? (specifically Heather bc she was really nice to Billy and I want he to live fight me it's my au)

but enough people get melted and shit that starcourt still get destroyed blah blah blah!

but Billy makes it and so does Hop and Alexie (no one dies au) and they all end up doing the thing in the mall like they did in the shed with Will? like breaking Billy out? Barb talks about working at the diner and their secret and Steve talks about them hanging out and playing basketball and the tunnels and Max talks about Billy buying her a new board and them scream-singing along to ACDC in the Camaro and the kids mention him giving them rides and shit and yeah! El talks about his mom and that's it! Joyce and Hop close the gate while Billy's holding the one arm (he doesn't get stabbed in the chest, as cool as that scar would be, no...but he gets some on his hands and upper arms and his sides?)

(also Billy's drinking like bleach rn so they try and reverse that as much as possible while he's possessed so that he has a better recovery later bc no! chlorine is not good for you! and Billy tries so hard to not drink it but sometimes he can't fucking stop? idk but he has a support system now!)

and Robin came out to Steve and Steve comes out to her too? like kinda? he alludes to it vaguely bc he's so not ready to be out to anyone FUCK

And Billy comes out to Steve (he was planning on doing it earlier that summer but shit happened)

and Robin becomes friends with everyone (ITS ROBIN X BARB HOURS BITCHES)

(OKAY small like side shit? Benny and Hopper have known each other for years and Benny's like one of the only registered foster parents on Hawkins so he ends up fostering a lot of wayward kids while Hop figures out legal stuff (he hasn't adopted anyone yet but him and his husband (yeah Benny's gay deal with it) really want to? they just haven't yet, all the kids they take care of end up in their care temporarily) BUT Hop finds out about Billy and Max's home life (I know a lot of people write that Neil wouldn't hit Max but...nah son not how that works? idk but he needs to get them out? and Neil's bad to Susan too (he's the worst to Billy but still bad to Max and Susan) anyway Hop helps Susan leave Neil (it takes a while and Billy and Max end up with Benny for a little bit while the divorce is going down and all the legal shit yeah it's safer out of the house rn) long story short Billy ends up staying with Benny after everything and ends up getting adopted (they're like we know you're 18 and you don't need a guardian but if you want we can be your dads? and Billys like yeah sure that'd be nice and yeah) Hop ends up being a weird like uncle figure? idk like I said him and Benny are close and they both adopted kids so yeah? and Billy ends up considering El his little sister and he still visits Max and Susan and yeah?)

ANYWAY everything kind of calms down, Hop and Joyce get together (I just realized I forgot about Bob so...idk I guess this isn't an everyone survives au? no no that's weird um idk him and Joyce end up breaking up idk why) but yeah Hop and Joyce get together and like it's kind of fast but they've been in love for a long time so it's kind of fine? like idk but yeah

Barb and Robin get together (ITS FUCKING CUTE they go to aquariums and have paint dates where they sit on some old sheets and paint while listening to Robin's records ITS CUTE!)

STEVE COMES OUT TO EVERYONE! he definitely cries bc fuck he was scared! bc he likes both and he wasn't sure if that was a thing or whatever for a while and Billy's like oh yeah, like David Bowie or Freddie Mercury? and that's when Steve's cries bc oh thank God you guys get it and you're cool with it oh fuck and YEAH

UM Max is bi too, Will comes out as gay (listen I know none of this is like 80's realistic but everyone's gay and alive and happy, fuck off)

Um it takes forever for Billy and Steve to get together, it's awful. like Barb and Robin have to deal with their pining and shit? and like Robin hears about it from Steve at work and Barb hears about it from Billy at the diner and they put their knowledge together and make a Plan ™

it's like elaborate and dramatic (shut up they're all like 18-19) and shit? BUT LMAO okay one day they're all hanging out at Steve's (bc I've also hopped aboard the neglectful parents train sorry) and idk Steve and Billy are there before Robin and Barb are so the girls walk in on them arguing over whatever and like Billy's talking really fast and Steve's talking with his hands and idk what it's about but Billy ends up yelling that he loves him BUT THEY KEEP ARGUING FOR LIKE A SOLID MINUTE AFTER THAT BEFORE IT HITS THEM and Steve gets all quiet and is just like you love me? and Billy doesn't fucking know what to do?? he's like bright red and frozen and Robin and Barb are by the door trying to not like break the spell (bc it's been months guys) and Billy's like of course I do asshole and Robin thinks Steve's about to have a panic attack but he like rushes forward and cups Billy's face and kisses him senseless and it's like the best thing Robin and Barb have ever seen

and they're resting their foreheads together, Steve's still holding Billy's face and Billy has his hands on Steve's chest it's really tender but Robin's like yeah congrats and shit but you guys ruined our Plan™! and she gives them a long ass rundown of their elaborate scheme and Steve and Billy are like still touching and bumping into each other as they listen and Barb interrupts and says that this was better and Robin rolls her eyes but agrees

and they're watching a movie or whatever, cuddling in their respective couples and Steve fucking jumps up randomly and rounds on Billy like hey woah fuck I love you too, I didn't say that earlier! and Billy's looking up at him like yeah I know that asshole and yeah

#okay this is s u p e r long sorry #but also not #harringrove #robin x barb #fix-it #stranger things #the ultimate fix-it #pls ask me stuff about this im so down to ramble about this? #pls #fic #my stuff #also idk how to do keep reading thungs so sorry 😬 #also i barely mention nancy jon the kids or the adults #this is about my gay quad #buckland #bobin #my writings

[willel]

Will’s Powers

Here I am again. I’ve been quite busy lately. Handling some fun commissions, writing the outline for my big fic, and still trying to dissect what we learned from season 3. I’m sure I will write another post like this in the future when I have thought about it more, but for now, I have a few things to discuss.

Most importantly, this season confirmed Will certainly has powers. 

Before season 3 arrived, I sat down a few times and tried to figure out what would realistically be presented in the show.

Will will never be anywhere near as powerful as El or Kali because he’s not an experiment

Will won’t have any physical powers like being able to directly manifest the elements or move things with his mind

Wills powers would focus on sensing, feeling, and seeing

Season 3 confirmed all three of my theories on this front. He’s not as powerful as El, he doesn’t have powers that are ‘visible’, and it has to do with sensing.

Despite this, Season 3 still didn’t go nearly as far as I thought it would. I feel they let plot contrivances get in the way of more logical and natural plot progression. 

Plot Contrivances

In season 3, they had two main goals.

Kill Hopper

Make El lose her powers so that she couldn’t just take out the Mind Flesher with her powers or check if Hopper is alive

Apparently, the only way the writers could make this happen was to have El doing absolutely everything. No other characters were allowed to save the day or come up with a new plan or believe a problem could be solved some other way (except for Mike because romance). 

Jonathan wasn’t allowed to take the monster out of her leg. 

Jonathan and Nancy weren’t allowed to protect the group in the cabin from the Mind Flesher.

Jonathan wasn’t allowed to save Nancy in the hospital.

All the kids can only stand helplessly and watch El being choked for what feels like forever (until Mike was inserted for one second).

No one is allowed to help her. No one is allowed to protect her. No one is allowed to succeed because El needs to overuse her powers so that she will lose them and be unable to find Hopper or stop the Mind Flesher.

I think they still could’ve kept this plotline, but not also rob other characters of their ability to affect the plot. I will go through each scenario. I promise, this relates to Will’s powers.

>>> Jonathan wasn’t allowed to take the monster out of her leg.

There was no reason to make Jonathan fail to get the creature out of her leg. If they still wanted El to use her powers during this scene, they could’ve had El make the creature stay still long enough for Jonathan to grab it. She’d still be screaming. She’d still break the window. But Jonathan would finally yank it out and throw it. Teamwork. El still overusing her powers. It all works out. 

>>> Jonathan and Nancy weren’t allowed to protect the group in the cabin from the Mind Flesher.

I feel Jonathan and Nancy should’ve been able to hold off the Mind Flesher much longer. Jonathan should’ve been allowed to chop off one of its limbs and protect his brother and friends before the axe gets taken from him. Nancy’s gunshots should’ve also taken it’s toll on the beast and killed its extended limbs. 

El should not have needed to do anything until it burst into the ceiling and went for her directly. At that point, El would need to use her powers after they free her from its grip and she splits its head in two. Teamwork. 

>>> Jonathan wasn’t allowed to save Nancy in the hospital.

I think this scene could’ve played out much the same with a bit of a tweak. It would’ve been nice to allow Jonathan to get into the room through the window (why else show him starting to break it only for nothing to happen). Upon entering the room, getting the thing to crawl off of Nancy, and attacking the thing, I think another fakeout could’ve happened.

By that, I mean what happened in season 1 during Lucas vs The Demogorgon. Lucas shot it with his wristrocket and it went flying. 

Jonathan would hit the creature with whatever is nearby and suddenly, the creature is flung into a wall. And then El breaks the door down and continues her powerful display of strength to send the creature out of the window. Teamwork.

>>> All the kids can only stand helplessly and watch El being choked for what feels like forever (until Mike was inserted for one second).

This one aggravates me the most, it makes the least sense. 

While El is being chocked, multiple things should be happening. Max should be rushing in to stop Billy. Maybe she doesn’t succeed and is thrown back. Ouch, but makes sense. 

Lucas just shot his wrist rocket moments ago to protect Max. Why would he be frozen like this? He’s been in much worse situations and is already ready to shoot that thing. Before and after Max tries to stop Billy, Lucas should act as the next distraction and fling rocks at him.

While that is going on, Mike should be sneaking up behind him and hitting him with a pipe. 

And to keep El from falling, Will should be there to kinda catch her and pull her out of immediate danger from Billy grabbing her again. 

THEN El should get up again and fling Billy into the wall.

Teamwork. 

Spreading the Responsibility

Now that we’re through with those examples, let’s get back to Will’s powers. In their effort to make sure El had as much responsibility placed on her as humanly possible, they wrote what power Will does have inconsistently. 

There’s a few situations where the writers left Will sitting around or reacting way too late when they could’ve written him to be much more proactive.

When the Mind Flayer first starts possessing people, Will should’ve been getting bad vibes all the time constantly for every new victim, all culminating to the Castle Byers scene where Will can’t deny anymore that he’s back.

When they first suspect Billy as being a host, Will should’ve been able to tell right away that he was, but they all want to confirm it and go through with the Sauna test

When Nancy and Jonathan show up in Mike’s basement, Will should be able to put two and two together and confirm there is definitely more than one host, not just assumptions

Before they even entered this hospital, Will should’ve gotten bad vibes that put them all on their guard before going inside.

WAY before his brother and Nancy are attacked only a few floors up, Will should’ve felt something was in the hospital with them. There’s no reason it took him that long to feel it. 

After the failure of the hospital plan, instead of relying on El searching through the darkness (again, with the obvious purpose of exhausting her powers and nothing else), Will should have suggested maybe he can ‘sniff’ out the source. 

Will should’ve known the huge Mind Flesher beast is coming from them WAY before it’s down the street from the cabin or right on top of the mall. 

Now we will go over these points in detail.

>>> When the Mind Flayer first starts possessing people, Will should’ve been getting bad vibes all the time constantly for every new victim, all culminating to the Castle Byers scene where Will can’t deny anymore that he’s back.

I think it would’ve made sense if we saw Will reacting to the Mind Flayer more than twice before the Castle Byers scene. Maybe he wakes up in a cold sweat the night they went to see the movies. Maybe we got a scene of Will telling himself he was just imagining things. Maybe again the following night, he feels even worse as that’s the night Billy became a host and it’s a little harder to ignore. He starts digging his feet even deeper into d&d to distract himself still trying to convince himself he was imagining things. After all, El closed the gate so everything’s fine.

By the time the Castle Byers scene comes around, his senses are so strong and direct and pointed in a specific direction that he knows now it’s definitely not his imagination. To really push this point, maybe he even sees a glimpse of the Upside Down again. Or he sees through Billy’s eyes for the briefest of moments. Something that really drives home, “He’s back and it’s time to start worrying.”

>>> When they first suspect Billy as being a host, Will should’ve been able to tell right away that he was, but they all want to confirm it and go through with the Sauna test

On day 1 and day 2 of the season, we see Will reacting to the Mind Flayer. The first time, the Mind Flayer is miles and miles away from where Will is currently sitting in the mall, but Will can still feel him.

This means Will should be able to feel the Mind Flayer pretty much the entire time if he’s within range. I do not know the distance between the mall and that abandoned factory, but based on the camera zoom, it was pretty far.

The second time we see Will reacting on screen to the Mind Flayer, it’s when they’re walking up the hill and rats happen to be crossing his path. This proves it doesn’t matter if the Mind Flayer has a vessel or activated or preparing to attack, Will is still able to sense his presence.

That means, it makes absolutely no sense that Will didn’t feel the Mind Flayer in Billy at all. Especially because I doubt that Mind Flayer has been trying to hide his presence from Will, he probably doesn’t even know Will can feel him. 

>>> When Nancy and Jonathan show up in Mike’s basement, Will should be able to put two and two together and confirm there is definitely more than one host, not just assumptions

Adding on to the very first point, if Will had been sensing the Mind Flayer doing things the entire time, this would be a great moment for Will to put two and two together and confirm with the rest of the group that there is definitely more than one host. If he tries, he could possibly even come up with a estimate of how many people or be able to tell them when the Mind Flayer has stopped collecting people or when all the Flayed have died and become whole. 

On the last point, it would be interesting if while El is stuck talking to Billy in the void, Will has his own breakdown of sorts feeling every single man, woman, and child melting and becoming something huge. 

>>> Before they even entered this hospital, Will should’ve gotten bad vibes that put them all on their guard before going inside.

This one was especially bad. 

First they write it so Will can sense the Mind Flayer from miles and miles away host or not.

Next, they write it so Will can only sense when the Mind Flayer host is active. 

Now, they write it so Will can’t sense two active Mind Flayer hosts only floors above him until the lights start flickering and they turn to goo. 

See the problem here? Will should’ve detected something bad in the hospital before they even stepped inside and then we could really have a horror hospital scenario going on where they go inside knowing something is up and ready for action.

>>> After the failure of the hospital plan, instead of relying on El searching through the darkness (again, with the obvious purpose of exhausting her powers and nothing else), Will should have suggested maybe he can ‘sniff’ out the source.

This one is quite tricky. I’ve mentioned it a few times now, but the end goal here was to make El overuse her powers. This also introduced the very half-assed dilemma between Max and Mike on how El should be using her powers and everyone taking Max’s side. They all acknowledge they needed El, but to me, it was a little weird that they all stood idly by (Nancy was calling people) relying on El to solve the puzzle. It would make more sense to me if they were all trying to come up with plan B’s to help El find the flayed. 

That’s where Will would come in. He puts forth the suggestion, “Maybe I should try?” He did it all last season. He mapped out the enemy tunnels, he found Hopper stuck in a tunnel. He was even used to trick and kill all those soldiers.

Why not use what the past seasons have already introduced and built upon it? Why shift all this responsibility to El, more like OVER shift. El has been using her powers a heck of a lot and she would still need to use her powers probably to pin point exactly where the source is after Will gives them a general area.

>>> Will should’ve known the huge Mind Flesher beast is coming from them WAY before it’s down the street from the cabin or right on top of the mall. 

The others have been bad, but this one must be the worse. They write Will to be the warning alarm for bad stuff coming, but then when it matters the most, they have him touch his neck 10 minutes too late to warn them of anything. 

Will’s Powers Moving Forward

Now that I’ve run through how they could’ve used Will’s powers in Season 3 in ways that appropriately fit the plot, I’d like to discuss what I think should happen moving forward. 

One thing I want to note is how El’s powers have progression. She started with crushing cans and ended with crushing cars and splitting monster faces. With each new challenge, El rose to the occasion and her power became stronger and stronger. Emotional and physical trauma made her power stronger. 

Based on the semi-canon novel Suspicious Minds, the same can be said about Kali.

Day in and day out, they were pushed beyond their mental and physical limits to awaken more power within them. This is how I think powers are meant to work in the Stranger Things world. 

While Will’s powers are written inconsistently and weak borderline useless right now, maybe they don’t have to stay that way.

No, I’m still not suggesting that Will can or will become as powerful as El and Kali. As I said at the very start of this essay, that is impossible to me. 

What can happen is:

They become more consistent with the writing. Will can sense the Mind Flayer period. No sudden rules that he can’t only sense it when activated. No weird being unable to sense it at all even though it’s literally right above him

Will can use his sensing on purpose. Instead of waiting for goosebumps to overtake him, he tries ‘sensing’ on purpose. Like how the spell Detect Evil is presented in the D&D manuals. The player uses the spell to sense the area around them for evil and can sense evil, how many evil creatures, where the evil is, and how powerful they are.

He will regain the ability to see into the Upside Down, if he even lost it. Prior to season 3, I did not know what use there would be for Will to be able to see into the Upside Down. But next season it could turn out to be mighty useful. 

Wishful Thinking and Conclusion

There’s been many a fanfiction I’ve read of Will with powers. Some of my favorites include where he’s able to detect others feelings and intentions. Or precognitive dreams. 

Much like with the rest of Will’s character, I feel they really dropped the ball on this one. The pieces were all there and the powers he does have could’ve been very useful for this season, but they just didn’t use him. They didn’t use anyone appropriately and overused El to make this specific plot happen.

And make no mistake, this is obviously not hating on El because she’s awesome. I just feel bad that her character has no one who can consistently back her up or protect her. She’s left to do everything alone at the end of the day. 

I feel very strongly about Will having powers not only because he already has them and it’s pretty nifty, but I want El to have someone by her side that somewhat gets it. We have Kali, but who knows if or when she’s coming back and last we left off, she and El weren’t exactly on the same page. 

I don’t really think there’s room to introduce another superpowered sibling from the lab, it’s probably best if they never do. 

So, we have one kid that definitely has powers. Why not expand on them a little bit and have someone else who can shoulder the burden of the supernatural so that El isn’t doing it alone? 

In season 1 and season 2, it was always Will and El sharing the worst of it. Why then does Will “get a break” (aka plot irrelevance) but El just gets more hardship? 

I hope season 4 moves back in the more balanced direction of season 1 and 2, but I don’t think it will. An overwhelming amount of people loved this season and saw almost no flaws in how it was written or how characters were portrayed. And, to each their own. 

This simply means the show will follow the desires of majority of the fanbase, which I am not in, so nothing I said here will matter in the end. 

#analysis #stranger things #will byers

[creativeashproductions]

Hospital Visit // Steve Harrington

Summary: Being pregnant during the time the Gate needs to be closed isn’t the most desired time especially when your boyfriend is Steve Harrington. In your senior year Steve and you were involved in the fight against the Demogorgon. You thought it was done until weird things happen during your return to Hawkins for break while pregnant.

Characters: Steve Harrington x pregnant!Reader, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Max Mayfrield, Eleven, Nancy Wheeler, Billy Hargrove, Jonathan Byers, Joyce Byers and Chief Jim Hopper.

Words: 3076

Disclaimer: I do not own Stranger Things or the characters involved. I also do not own any gifs or images that may appear. Our desktop theme automatically provides the owner for the gif. Image that does appear, I couldn’t fine the original poster on google images.I only own the reader and the plot.

Warnings: Swearing, fighting, angst, pregnancy, and fluff.

Author: Caitsy

A/N: Bumping Steve’s age up one year for this fic. Nancy and Jonathan are in senior year of high school while Steve and Reader have graduated.

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Prompt List

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You were hot, tired, annoyed and scared having been dragged into this because of your highly protective boyfriend. Steve was intensely protective of you while being freakishly loyal to the kids he had taken under his wing during your senior year when the shit show began.

In your senior year Steve was dragged into the Upside Down business when he was on his way to apologize to both you and Nancy. He didn’t have the balls to directly hurt you so he went the indirect way and used Nancy as the person for the Hawk billboard. You, Nancy and Jonathan had come across it and Steve with Tommy and Carol. You let Nancy deal with it while you just shook your head.

He crawled back to apologize to you with a beat in face as you and the other two tried to take the Demogorgon down. He jumped in and it’s probably the reason you didn’t entirely break up with him. Now on break from community college you were settled into Hopper’s house he was renting you guys after moving into the cabin in the woods with Jane.

“Yeah and we all die!” Steve shouted bringing you back into Byers mentally. You shook your head scanning the room to see the expressions on the kids and your boyfriend.

“What did I miss?” You asked rubbing your lower back.

“Nothing sweetheart.” Steve’s tone of voice changed as he helped you sit down on the couch, “How about you have a nap?”

You shot him a scathing look.

“I’m pregnant Steve, not a child.” You spat wincing as a pain shot through your lower back.

“That’s one point of view.” Dustin nodded ignoring the small spat you and Steve were having, “We need to do something Steve.”

“I’m guessing you all are suggesting a highly stupid plan that’s increasing Steve’s blood pressure?” You asked struggling to climb back on your feet. Sitting was hurting too much with the large belly.

“I got it!” Mike exclaimed making his way to a specific room that you didn’t have the energy to follow to. You get them find whatever they were doing while you stayed in the living room, “This is where the chief dug his hole. This our way into the tunnel. So…here right here. This is the hub.”

“Oh? Yeah, that’s a no!” Steve exclaimed.

“The Mindflayer would call away his army.” Dustin inserted excitedly.

“They’d all come to stop us.” Lucas added gaining the same excitement as Dustin was.

“We circle back to the exit.” Mike said sharing a look with his fellow young friends while slightly still ignoring Max.

“Guys!” Steve exclaimed.

“By the time they realize we’re gone-“

“El would be at the gate.” Max joined in slowly thinking her way through the potential plan that would greatly help.

“Hey! Hey! HEY! This is not happening!” Steve shook his head with much more force than before, “No, no, no, no. No, buts! I promise I’d keep you shitheads safe and that’s exactly what I plan on. We’re staying here. On the bench and we’re waiting for the starting team to do their job. Does everyone understand?”

“This isn’t a stupid sports game!”

“He said does everybody understand that?!” You shouted from the living room severely annoyed by the stupid dangerous plan.

“I need a year.” Steve slowly calmed down but the revving of a car took the attention away. Your attention was dragged away when you felt your feet get excessively wet and you started to panic.

“Oh fuck!” You swore as a pain crawled around your belly.

“It’s my brother! He can’t know I’m here. He’ll kill me. He’ll kill us!” Max gasped leaning against the back of the couch to peer out the window to the very familiar car outside the Byer’s home.

You made your way into the kitchen to not draw attention to yourself once you had pushed a pillow onto the wet mark from your water breaking. You groaned lowly as you leaned down on your forearms on the kitchen counter.

“Y/N?” Steve shouted from the living room.

“Just getting some water!” You called out keeping the pain from your tone. You didn’t need to add to the tension.

You were completely wrapped up in your contraction when the door slammed open with such force it brought you out of your pain. You peaked to see that egotistical Billy Hargrove was standing in the doorway in his mullet wearing glory.

“Well well well.” Billy smirked slamming the door behind him, “Lucas Sinclair. What a surprise. I thought I told you to stay away from him Max.”

You were highly concerned at how close Max was to her older step brother but you can’t exactly help when you’re hours away from pushing a baby from your vagina. You were concerned also where Steve was because he was taking his sweet time from outside.

“Billy, go away.” Max said finally standing up for herself.

“You disobeyed me and you know what happened when you disobey me.”

“Billy-“

“I break things.” Billy finished before shoving Lucas back by the front of his shirt until he was tightly held against a cabinet.

“Get off me!” Lucas weakly exclaimed struggling under the older boys strength. The other kids screaming at the scene.

You made your way into the living room almost blinded by the sheer fury held neatly by the instincts flooding your system. You attributed it to the pregnancy. You carefully watched as Billy kept his mean grip on Lucas.

“Since Maxine won’t listen to me, maybe you will. You stay away from her.” Billy growled before he screamed in the face of the young minor, “STAY AWAY FROM HER. You hear me?”

Lucas was quiet for a moment before he did something he probably shouldn’t have done but you fucking lived for the moment.

“I said GET OFF ME!”

Next thing you know Billy is hunched over from a hard knee shoved into his STD invested, let’s be real here, genitals.

“You are SO dead Sinclair!” Billy seethed, “You’re dead.”

What Billy didn’t realize was that Steve was situated behind him in that state of fury that their calm. It was when Steve shoved Billy around to face him that he noticed exactly what was going to happen.

“No. You are.” Steve calmly spoke before winding his arm back and violently landed a good punch to Billy’s face. At the exact time his fist landed another contraction began and it fucking hurt but the evil laugh by Billy broke through the pain.

“Looks like you got some fire in you after all.” Billy said wiping his arm on his face leaving a streak of blood on his arm and face, “I’ve been waiting to meet this King Steve everybody’s even telling me about.”

You hissed hunching over inconspicuously to the group in the room. What you wanted was a fucking pain reliever and quiet room!

“Get out.” Steve stated giving Billy a single glance over. You leaned your body over ignoring the situation at hand before the pain passed and you saw that that Billy was landing on the table in the kitchen a few feet away from you.

Billy was punched once more sending him into the counter near the sink where the dishes Steve had done were sitting. Things seemed to be going good for Steve before Billy’s hand searched the counter until it came across a thick plate. Steve then was hit in the head with the plate to your horror and that’s when the game changed with Billy landing a punch on Steve.

“No one tells me what to do.” Billy swore before head butting Steve into the ground. You hated yourself when he was solidly punching Steve constantly.

You didn’t know if it was the desire for the fucking hospital or dealing with the pain that you quickly made your way to Billy. You moved faster than you had since your first trimester and bent down as far as you could before shoving a sharp knife into Billy’s thigh.

“Oh shit!” Dustin’s voice called out as Billy grunted in pain and looked down at the knife in his leg and at you with a blood splattered hand.

Billy stood up almost as if he couldn’t feel the pain and lunged at you before Max tripped him back and shoved a needle in his neck.

“Oh fuck!” You swore leaning over again sweat slowly crawling down your temple. You didn’t hear anything as the pain intensified until it slowly went away.

“What is that?” Dustin gasped seeing the spot on the carpet that was a nicely huge spot of wetness. The pillow had been kicked aside in the fight, “Oh my god.”

“She’s in labor!” Max exclaimed freaking out more holding the keys to Billy’s car.

“We don’t have time.” Mike exclaimed.

“It’s not like we or she has the ability to schedule when she gives birth!” Lucas exclaimed.

“Just go!” You screamed moving towards the door, “We don’t have time. I’ll stay in the car just get the job done!”

Max was driving with Lucas beside her giving directions while Dustin and Mike sat in the backseat shoved into the doors. Steve was out cold while you waiting with bated breathe for the next contraction. The in sync groaning from Steve and you flooded the small space in the car.

“Y/N?” Steve asked looking over at you. His head reached up to touch his face before Dustin grabbed it.

“No, don’t touch it.” Dustin soothed his older friend, “Hey buddy. it’s okay. You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a good fight. You’re okay.”

You grunted leaning over while Mike awkwardly rubbed your back as he had seen you do before.

“Okay, you’re gonna keep straight for a half a mile then make a left on Mount Sinai.” Lucas spoke up to Max.

“What’s going on?! Oh, my god!” Steve started furiously scrambling on his back as he noticed, quite blurry, Max driving and Lucas in the passenger seat.

“Just relax.” Dustin said, “She’s driven before.”

“Yeah, in a parking lot.” Mike sarcastically said stalling his soothing gestures to you to glare over at Dustin.

“That counts.” Lucas defended the red haired girl.

“Oh my god.” Steve gasped looking over at you resting at the painless point.

“They were gonna leave you behind-“ Dustin was cut off by an increasingly panicked Steve.

“Oh my god.”

“I promised that you’d be cool, okay?” Dustin urgently spoke holding the ice pack against Steve’s head.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!” Steve exclaimed, “What’s going on?!”

The car lurched faster on the road amid the car filled with young teens, a pain filled young girl and her beaten boyfriend. He didn’t need to know that you were going to be a parent within a day at most.

“Oh my god. No! Whoa, stop the car! Slow down.”

“I told you he’d freak out.” You muttered wincing at the speed the car was travelling. You didn’t like how dangerous and stupid this plan was but something needed to be done.

“Stop the car!”

“Everybody shut up! I’m trying to focus!” Max screamed frustrated by the boys and you if she was honest.

“Peace would be greatly appreciated.” You added sighing.

“Oh wait! That’s Mount Sinai. Make a left!” Lucas shouted pointing to the turn just a little up ahead.

“What?” Max demanded looking over.

“Make a left!” You screamed at the young girl bracing for the turn you had a feeling would either be success or send you in a roll over. You hit the mail box and went onto the grass as everyone started screeching and thrown around the car at the tight turn. You fucking swore the car went on two wheels.

“Ah hello!” Steve screamed at the car came to a sharp stop in front of the hole to hell otherwise known as the Upside Down tunnels.

“Whoa.” Dustin breathed.

“Incredible.” Mike spoke staring out the front of the car.

“I told you Zoomer.” Max said getting out of the car. Mike got out before helping you out also to get on the ground where you leant down on the hood breathing through another contraction as the group collected the items to go down into the tunnels.

“Guys. Oh no.” Steve spoke stumbling around on his feet seeing the kids suiting up in gloves, goggles, and clothes wrapped around mouths, “Guys. Hey, where do you think you’re going? What are you, deaf? Hello!”

“Calm down.” You spoke glancing up at him but Steve completely disregarded your words.

“We are not going down there right now. I made myself clear. Hey, there’s no chance we’re going to that hole, all right? This ends now!”

“Steve, you’re upset. I get it but the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance and it is our duty to provide that assistance. Now I know you promised everyone that you would keep us safe.” Dustin said grabbing another bag from the trunk, “So keep us safe.”

“Y/N stays here.” Steve said towards everyone.

“Should we tell him…?” Max whispered to Lucas as they handed a thick blanket to you sitting in the passenger seat.

“No.” Lucas shook his head.

“We don’t need him worse than he is right now. Besides it will be hours before she needs the hospital.” Mike said as he dropped the rope down into the hole as the other congregated at the hole.

“Let’s burn this shit.” Dustin spoke as they started down the hole.


“Be safe.” You called out to the group before settling back into the car that you locked once they all went down, “Okay baby let’s wait until everything’s over.”

You didn’t know how much time passed from the moment they dropped down in the hole before they scrambled out. You cracked the window when the lights of the car went out and then on.

“We should get to the hospital.” Dustin spoke up looking over at Steve, “Y/N’s been in labor for a while.”

“WHAT?!” Steve screamed at the kids looking over as you were once more outside the car leaning on the hood, “How long?”


“Since before you fought with Billy.” Max spoke up as Steve raced to the car helping you into the passenger seat again.    

“Get the hell in the car!” Steve shouted speeding when the doors were barely shut.

“I can’t do this!” You screamed looking at your patched up boyfriend. You had been pushing for so fucking long.

The night had bled into the early morning by the time you were in the delivery room in the same hospital Will was at. Separate rooms the party would take shifts outside each door freaking out for when Will would wake up and when the new member of the party would join.

“Come on sweetheart.” The nurse spoke from your one side, “You’re doing the hardest but most fulfilling job in the world.”

“You can do it.” Steve spoke, “After the weeks we’ve had?”

You followed the doctor’s steps bearing down hard for another half hour before a loud cry split the air amid your screaming. In a blur Steve cut the baby’s umbilical cord before the baby was placed on your chest for a few minutes.

“We’ll get her cleaned up and checked out.” The nurse said gently taking the baby from you, “We’ll be right back.”

She was right. Your sweet daughter was brought back to you and Steve cooing softly before Steve was given permission to take her to the care while you delivered the placenta.

Time passed as you gazed down at Ellie’s face as she rested in your arms in the private room with Steve wrapped around you. Soon enough the door gently opened revealing the kids, Nancy and the Byers in the doorway.

“Hey.” Nancy whispered making her way to your bedside, “Oh my gosh.”

“Is it a boy?” Dustin inquired.

The group came closer to see the little pink hat on the baby’s head as she yawned earning a collective aw. Joyce wrapped her arm around Will’s shoulders as he rested in the wheelchair.

“No, Dustin.” You gently smiled down at your daughter, “We want you to meet Eleanor Jane Harrington.”

Eleven gasped from the group as she came closer to the little girl in your arms.

“We decided to name her after a special girl that brought Y/N and I closer. Someone stronger than we have ever met with a kind soul despite the horror she faced.” Steve said looking at Eleven, “We’re hoping you would like to be her god mother.”

“God mother?” Eleven inquired before Joyce explained it easily, “Yes.”

“Welcome to the party.” Dustin spoke moving closer, “I’m going to kill anyone that hurts you. Uncle Dustin won’t ever let harm hurt you.”

You silently cried as Dustin moved closer to peer at the little girl before Steve lead him to the chair situated by the bed. Everyone held their breathe as Steve placed Ellie in Dustin’s arms and instructed him how to hold her.

“I was bullied because I’m different.” Dustin said peering down at the little girl, “I have a condition called cleidocranial dysplasia that makes me different. Your mom and dad are seriously cool and if you ever need a friend or your hurt because you’re different. I’m going to be right there silently planning a slow death.”

“Hey Jonathan?” Steve said looking up at his friend, “I know we weren’t the greatest friends…well I was a douche to you but I want you to know. You’re one of my best friends.”


“Thanks.” Jonathan spoke quietly from his brother’s side.

“That being said. Y/N and I want you to be Ellie’s godfather.” Steve said looking up at Jonathan. Jonathan wordlessly walked over and pulled Steve into a tight hug. Not one of the bro hugs but a serious hug.

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” Lucas piped up with a grin before Dustin, Mike, Will and even Hopper joined in.

“You see, Johnny, we feel that entertainment is going to be a-“

Ellie’s cry burst their movie portrayal scaring the living shit out of Dustin as he held her before Steve took her to bounce her to soothe his little girl.

“I’d be honoured.” Jonathan said leaning down to hug you.

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[stranger-lex]

All There Is (Billy Hargrove x Reader) (slow burn)

Oh so I saw your request for prompts or something in the billy tag so I hope they’re still open? Or feel free to ignore this. It doesn’t matter what fandom, I just hope it’s inspiring! - Smoke spilled past his lips as he brought the cigarette away. It dissipated into the night, and he turned with a final wave. “That’s all there is.” // heck yes let’s do it!! i'm making this a short series and it’s a slow burn so this is kinda setting it up but i hope you like the first part!! //

You were always one of the first people in class. You made sure of it, especially on the first day. With no seating charts, you wanted to be sure to get a good seat, somewhat close to the front of the room, but ideally also near a window. You were a good student, but sometimes you couldn’t help but daydream.

First day of junior year. Physiology. Your counselor had warned you it would be a difficult class, and you’d laughed. You wanted to be a doctor. There was nothing this class could throw at you that you weren’t expecting. Like always, you were the first one in class. You took a seat next to the window, fourth row from the front.

“Good morning, (Y/N),” Mrs. Anderson smiled at you from behind her desk.

“Good morning,” you returned the grin.

The two of you chatted until the classroom was full, other students joining in on the conversation as they came in and claimed their seats. Just before the final bell rang to say class was starting, the only empty seat was next to you. Familiar faces filled the room, all smiling, some laughing, asking how summer’s had been and if anyone else was nervous about the class. As the bell rang, someone else entered the class. Someone new. Mrs. Anderson smiled at him and he nodded, looking around the room before seeing the last empty seat and walking across the room to take it.

“Good morning, class,” Mrs. Anderson began. “I’m sure you were all warned about the difficulty of this class. I’d like to start off by saying I’m more than happy to hold any after school tutoring sessions. I will do everything I can to provide you with the tools you need to succeed. But I do ask that you study on your own, so any study groups we have outside of this class period are specific, not just the same lecture I gave in class. Does anyone have any questions?” No one did. “Alright, then. Let’s get started.”

The first two weeks of class came and went easily. When Mrs. Anderson announced the first quiz, you were ready. You knew the cells you had been studying, and the parts that made them. “It’s nothing to stress about,” she assured the class. “I just want you all to know where you’re at so when the test comes, you’ll know what to study. If it will make it easier, I won’t even grade them. But I do ask that you put in your best effort. That’s the only way to improve, right?”

The day of the quiz, you finished in five minutes. When you stood up to turn in your test, most people around you were halfway done. The new boy next to you had two things written on his paper: Billy Hargrove and on the third line, endothelial cell. You looked at my own third line: Golgi apparatus. You placed the quiz on Mrs. Anderson’s desk, returning to your seat when you was done. For a few minutes, you stared out the window, then decided to doodle. You snuck a peak at Billy’s quiz. He hadn’t written anything more. Another few minutes passed before he stood up and placed it on Mrs. Anderson’s desk, returning to his desk with a hard expression on his face. The lecture for the day was a review of the quiz you had just taken: she gave the correct answers and answered any questions the class had. You barely took any notes. Billy scribbled down everything he could. You watched his face fall when she gave the answer to number three: Golgi apparatus.

After that day, you began to watch Billy in class. He hadn’t said a word; he didn’t ask questions, he didn’t talk to any of the other students. He took as many notes as he could, everyday, scribbling down nearly everything the teacher said, even if she had said the same thing the past three days. The day of the test, you finished second. You did your best not to look at his test when you stood up to turn yours in, but you couldn’t help but notice it was nearly entirely blank. When you sat back down, you watched him. An earring dangled down from his left earlobe, barely noticeable with the way his long hair sat on his shoulders. He wore his jean jacket nearly everyday, the button-up shirts he wore only buttoned halfway. A necklace hung around his neck, adorning the exposed skin on his chest. When the bell rang, you left, and he stayed, staring at his paper, his frustration clear on his face.

The following week when you got your tests back, a red A decorated the top of your paper. Mrs. Anderson gave Billy his paper upside down, and he practically winced when he turned it around and saw the much smaller F at the top of his paper, with the note “Please see me after class” written underneath it. You looked away, tucking your test into your bag.

When the bell rang, you stood up, your stomach grumbling as you headed towards the cafeteria. From the classroom across from yours emerged your best friend, Amelia, who smiled at you eagerly.

“How’d you do on the test?”

“I got an A,” you smiled, and she laughed.

“No surprises there. Hey, have you seen Steve today? I guess Nancy talked to him yesterday during gym and it didn’t go very well. He’s pretty upset about it.”

You shook your head, adjusting the bag on your shoulder. “Haven’t seen him yet. I’m sure we’ll see him at at the table.”

“Yeah,” Amelia mumbled, concerned. Her and Steve had been good friends since seventh grade, and she knew how hard the breakup had been on Steve. The day after, she had invited him to sit with the two of you at lunch, and he had been sitting with you everyday since then. The two of you entered the cafeteria, bought your food, and sat down. A few minutes later, Steve joined the table, incoherent mumbling joining his annoyed expression.

“Fucking Hargrove,” he twisted his face up, his mumbling becoming noises for a moment before he said, “Plenty of bitches in the sea,” in a high-pitched tone. More mumbling, and then louder, to you and Amelia, “God, I hate him.”

“So I see befriending the bully is going well.” Amelia half-laughed.

“You know what he said to me yesterday?” Steve asked, his tone incredulous.

“I’m going to take a wild guess and say ‘plenty of bitches in the sea?’” You took a bite of a French fry.

“Yes! And I just ran into him outside and he reminded me of it! He keeps screwing with me and it’s driving me insane!”

Amelia rolled her eyes, biting into her veggie burger. “You’re being overdramatic.”

“No I’m not. I swear he’s trying to start a war with me during basketball. Keeps calling me ‘King Steve’ and shoving me around. One of these days, man, I’m going to snap.”

You laughed at the thought, remembering Steve’s beaten face after his fight with Jonathan Byers the year before. “Who is this kid?”

“Billy Hargrove,” Steve practically spat. “He’s a fucking--”

“He’s some new kid from California,” Amelia interrupted Steve. “I think he feels threatened by Steve. And I think Steve feels threatened by him.” She teased.

“That’s bullshit,” Steve’s tone was harsh. “He’s this asshole prick who thinks he’s better than everyone because he’s tall and tan and blah blah blah. I hate him. He’s probably the worst person I’ve ever met.”

“You were friends with Tommy and Carol for a long time.”

“I know.”

You laughed for a moment, then shook your head. “I think you have it all wrong, Harrington. He’s in my physio class. He never talks. I can’t see him being the jerk you say he is.”

“(Y/N)! He’s the worst!”

“Come on, that’s not fair. Maybe he’s lonely? Maybe he’s jealous that you’re so popular.”

“Are you really making excuses for him right now? He’s awful.”

“Everyone has some good in them.” You insisted.

Steve rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t.”

You shook your head, taking the last bite of your burger. “Okay, I’ll find time to prove you wrong later. Right now, I gotta run. I need to go to my locker before class.”

“See you later,” Amelia grinned. You smiled back, collecting your things. You could hear Steve start his rant again once you were away from the table.

The halls were mostly empty, with the exception of a few small groups of people walking to their lockers and couples making out. You checked your watch as you walked, mindlessly twisting the dial of your lock once you reached the locker.

“(Y/N), right?” A voice came from behind your opened locker door. You jumped slightly, taking a step back to look at the speaker. Billy Hargrove.

“Yes?”

“I’m Billy,” he offered a small smile. “Listen, I, um, I’m going to need to ask you for a favor.”

“I’m not making any promises, but okay.” You moved your locker door slightly, half closing it so you could look at him as you leaned against the locker next to yours, smiling back at Billy.

“I need you to tutor me.”

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x reader #dacre montgomery #stranger things #stranger things imagine #stranger things au #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove au

[stephenmccull]

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

The Friday Breeze

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes, who reads everything on health care to compile our daily Morning Briefing, offers the best and most provocative stories for the weekend.

Happy Friday! A quick editor’s note before we dive in: This will be the last edition of The Breeze from yours truly. Never fear, though, it will be in great hands going forward and you’ll continue to get your weekly updates on all things coronavirus (and other health news, if that’s ever a thing again). Thank you for reading these past two years. It’s been an honor and a privilege and I’ve loved hearing from so many of you. You make it all worth it.

Now, enough of that! On to the news.

Nothing drives home the grim U.S. COVID death toll — almost at 86,000 as I write this — like a national shortage of body bags. Funeral directors across the country say they are struggling to give the deceased dignity in death as bodies pile up and morgues are overwhelmed. Sometimes body bags are being used two or three times, and when one is not available, bodies are wrapped in sheets with a mask on their faces.

In the early days of the pandemic, popular models being used to project the expected death toll varied wildly. But they are starting to narrow in on a consensus. That was before states really started lifting their restrictions, though.

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week chosen by KHN Newsletter Editor Brianna Labuskes? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Two big hearings on Capitol Hill took center stage this week. In the first, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top health officials testified — virtually! — in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Fauci painted a fairly grim picture of a nation not ready to reopen yet, and warned that moving too quickly to lift restrictions could trigger a bigger surge that would lead to more suffering and death and set the country back even further. Meanwhile, all the lawmakers there wanted to know about reopening the schools. Again, Fauci preached caution, an answer that President Donald Trump later took issue with.

And the irony of the hearing being called “Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School” while the witnesses and the chairman were all self-quarantining and tuning in virtually was certainly noted by a few people.

The second buzzy hearing of the week was Dr. Rick Bright’s testimony in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s health subcommittee. Bright has become a minor celebrity in the coronavirus world for his claims that he was ousted from his HHS position as retaliation for his objections to the widespread distribution of malaria drugs. Bright said “lives were lost” because the administration didn’t heed early warnings about the outbreak. He also testified that there still isn’t a comprehensive plan and that he foresees “the darkest winter in modern history” ahead if officials don’t get their act together.

HHS struck back and struck back hard. “This is like someone who was in choir trying to say he was a soloist back then,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said. “His allegations do not hold water.” The agency also questioned why Bright, who has been on medical leave with hypertension since his removal, “has not yet shown up for work” and is “using his taxpayer-funded medical leave to work with partisan attorneys.”

In related news: Politico: Colleagues Paint A Mixed Picture Of Ousted Vaccine Chief

During a trip to Pennsylvania this week, Trump lamented that more testing means the U.S. has a higher case count — logic that was both obvious and baffling to many. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden seized on the comments, saying they showed Trump cares more about numbers than safeguarding lives. There’s also been chatter that Trump has been quietly questioning whether the high death toll is due to overcounting, a pernicious myth that has been disproved by data on year-over-year deaths.

Testing has been a big topic at the White House this week: The West Wing was sent scrambling to contain the spread of the virus within its own walls after two advisers became infected. But those efforts were hampered by a preliminary study that found Abbott’s rapid tests — the ones that have been touted as a game changer and used for the White House staff — could potentially miss about 48% of cases.

Trump also touted the fact that the U.S. has ramped up its testing efforts so much that the country is outpacing South Korea, which has been widely praised for its testing efforts. The boast ignores the context behind the numbers, though. South Korea no longer has too test as much because it reined in its outbreak in the early days of the crisis. Its death toll stands at 260.

Facing sagging approval ratings, Trump returned to a tried-and-true strategy this week: attacking his enemies, and more specifically former President Barack Obama.

An emerging trend from the administration’s virus response is contracts awarded to firms that have no experience with the products or tasks. FEMA had to cancel a $55.5 million mask order this week after the company failed to deliver any masks. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has awarded multimillion-dollar contracts to organizations to coordinate farmers and food banks. But the roster features companies like an event planning firm that is known for throwing weddings and putting on high-end conferences.

The White House has often held up its “Project Airbridge,” which delivered personal protective gear across the country, as a success story, but a deep dive by The Washington Post shows that the positive messaging has been built on exaggerations. For example, records show that the project helped deliver 2.2 million masks a day. But in April Vice President Mike Pence put that number at 22 million.

At the project’s core are partnerships with private companies. The deal between them and the government means taxpayers have ended up subsidizing the distribution of private resources.

Another great investigation by the Post reveals that government officials turned down an offer from a medical supply company in Texas that had the ability to make millions of masks a month — even as officials and state leaders scrambled to make above- and below-board deals with overseas manufacturers.

In related news: The Associated Press: Trump Says He’ll Replenish Stockpile For Future Pandemics

It’s little surprise that, in a politically divided country, the debate over reopening is fiercest in three battleground states crucial to the 2020 presidential election. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin went for Trump in 2016, but they swing in that ever-narrowing purple section of the political spectrum — and all three have Democratic governors. The battle came to a head in Wisconsin this week when the state’s high court threw out Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order, ruling that his emergency powers are real but certainly not indefinite. The problem was that the decision has created chaos and confusion, with bars, restaurants and other businesses unsure what’s legal now.

On that note, how much do stay-at-home orders really matter in Americans’ decision to leave their houses? People are venturing out by the millions, and they aren’t always following their leaders’ guidance.

In related news: CNN: 5 Common Arguments For Reopening The Economy — And Why Experts Say They Are Flawed

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swung for the fences with her latest relief bill — probably in a sign that she never expected bipartisan negotiations to be smooth. The $3 trillion package builds on the $2.2 trillion CARES Act and contains billions for health care providers, the creation of nursing home strike teams, hazard pay for heroes on the front lines, and money for testing. The ambitious legislation (which is expected to pass the House any hour now) is dead on arrival in the Senate.

In a startling development, the FBI seized Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) cellphone as part of an investigation into his sale of stocks right before the market was walloped by the coronavirus. Burr has temporarily stepped down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

And the first hearing of the special coronavirus committee devolved quickly — and not surprisingly — into partisan bickering with little accomplished. As Politico reports: “The parties started the day miles apart and ended it even further away.”

Before the pandemic, hospitals had been following a dependable playbook for turning a profit that relied on procedures for patients with private insurers instead of ones with Medicaid or Medicare. When the outbreak turned the world upside down, it upended that model. (See also reporter Sarah Kliff’s Twitter thread for an addendum to the story.)

Meanwhile, a lot of the talk around ICU bed and equipment shortages sometimes made it seem like we have one national hospital system that’s going to be overwhelmed. In reality, the hospitals operate like miniature fiefdoms unto themselves, completely siloed from rivals that are sometimes only blocks away. The vulnerabilities of that model were laid bare in the differences between New York City hospitals during the pandemic.

Everyone knows hospitals are losing billions a month now on procedures that have been put off because of the outbreak. But it’s not a given that they’re rushing to reopen, either. That’s because many are nervous they’ll face a barrage of malpractice lawsuits without protections from Congress.

In a number that only continues to grow more staggering, 36 million Americans have now sought unemployment aid since the virus struck. Economists say there aren’t signs that the market has bottomed out, either, so prepare for that total to keep ticking up.

And while the economic devastation created by the shutdown measures has been the main argument behind conservatives’ drive to reopen, some economists say a second wave would be worse in the long run than staying closed.

Threaded throughout all these conversations is the need to put a dollar value on human life. While the idea seems callous, it’s actually common practice within the government when it comes to drafting regulations. From a New York Times piece: “One of the earliest values of life used in regulation came from a 1978 calculation by the Canisius College economics professor Warren Prunella. He estimated the value of a life saved by proposed furniture fabric flammability standards at $1 million.”

World leaders are already worried that Trump’s “America First” mentality will mean other countries will be left out in the cold when it comes to a vaccine. The fear prompted more than 140 world leaders to sign an open letter to all governments demanding that COVID-19 vaccines be considered a “global good” to be shared equitably. And experts warned that any attempt by the U.S. to hoard a vaccine could lead to other countries refusing to share materials needed to distribute it. (Considering we’re months, if not years, away from a vaccine, this seems like it’s going to get messy.)

Deliberately injecting trial participants with the virus seems like an idea out of a bygone era in which scientists played fast and loose with ethics. But it could also greatly speed up the development time. Should it be done? Would you volunteer for the duty?

In related news: NPR: Trump Names Leaders Of ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Vaccine Effort

Nationally, conservatives are staunchly against mail-in voting. But state officials, reading the room, are quietly ignoring that stance. In Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and West Virginia, GOP officials are expanding vote by mail. One Kentucky official even lamented his previous role in stoking fears about voter fraud. “It’s partly on me because I talked about it in my campaign,” said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who says he’s now frustrated by the myth that absentee voting is not secure.

Worried about eating alone in this era of social distancing? Don’t worry — some places have you covered. In D.C. you can dine with mannequins so as not to feel lonely; in Thailand, stuffed pandas will keep you company.

And in other stories to read during this (hopefully) gorgeous weekend:

→ The New York Times: Buried in N.Y. Budget: Legal Shield for Nursing Homes Rife With Coronavirus

→ Politico: ‘Conspiracy Bingo’: Trans-Atlantic Extremists Seize on the Pandemic

→ The Washington Post: Coronavirus Has Been Devastating to the Navajo Nation, and Help for Complex Fight Has Been Slow

→ Stat: With Little Data, Doctors Struggle to Decide Which Covid-19 Patients Should Get Remdesivir

And that is officially it from me! I’m off to write some books, and if you like psychological thrillers — or just want to stay in touch — you can find me on Twitter and Instagram at @brilabuskes.

Be safe, be happy, be kind to yourselves and others in these trying times, wash your hands, watch out for superbugs, and don’t forget to look at cute pictures of doggos if the news gets you down.

Yours truly,

Bri

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

[dinafbrownil]

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

The Friday Breeze

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes, who reads everything on health care to compile our daily Morning Briefing, offers the best and most provocative stories for the weekend.

Happy Friday! A quick editor’s note before we dive in: This will be the last edition of The Breeze from yours truly. Never fear, though, it will be in great hands going forward and you’ll continue to get your weekly updates on all things coronavirus (and other health news, if that’s ever a thing again). Thank you for reading these past two years. It’s been an honor and a privilege and I’ve loved hearing from so many of you. You make it all worth it.

Now, enough of that! Onto the news.

Nothing drives home the grim U.S. death toll—almost at 86,000 as I write this—like a national shortage of body bags. Funeral directors across the country say they are struggling to give the deceased dignity in death as bodies pile up and morgues are overwhelmed. Sometimes body bags are having to be used two or three times, and when there’s not one available, bodies are wrapped in sheets with a mask placed on their faces.

In the early days of the pandemic, popular models being used to project the expected death toll varied wildly. But they are starting to narrow in on a consensus. That was before states really started lifting their restrictions, though.

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week chosen by KHN Newsletter Editor Brianna Labuskes? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Two big hearings on Capitol Hill took center stage this week. In the first, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top health officials testified—virtually!—in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Fauci painted a fairly grim picture of a nation not ready to reopen yet, and warned that moving too quickly to lift restrictions could trigger a bigger surge that would lead to more suffering and death and set the country back even further. Meanwhile, all the lawmakers there wanted to know about reopening the schools. Again, Fauci preached caution, an answer that President Donald Trump later took issue with.

And the irony of the hearing being called “Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School” while the witnesses and the chairman were all self-quarantining and tuning in virtually was certainly noted by a few people.

The second buzzy hearing of the week was Dr. Rick Bright’s testimony in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s health subcommittee. Bright has become a minor celebrity in the coronavirus world for his claims that he was ousted from his HHS position as retaliation for his objections to the widespread distribution of malaria drugs. Bright said that “lives were lost” because the administration didn’t heed early warnings about the outbreak. He also testified that there still isn’t a comprehensive plan, and that he foresees “the darkest winter in modern history” ahead if officials don’t get their act together.

HHS struck back and struck back hard. “This is like someone who was in choir trying to say he was a soloist back then,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said: “His allegations do not hold water.” The agency also questioned why Bright, who has been on medical leave with hypertension since his removal, “has not yet shown up for work” and is “using his taxpayer-funded medical leave to work with partisan attorneys.”

In related news: Politico: Colleagues Paint A Mixed Picture Of Ousted Vaccine Chief

During a trip to Pennsylvania this week, Trump lamented the fact that more testing means that the U.S. has a higher case count—logic that was both obvious and baffling to many. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden seized on the comments, saying they showed Trump cares more about numbers than safeguarding lives. There’s also been chatter that Trump has been quietly questioning if the high death toll is due to overcounting, a pernicious myth that has been disproven by data on year-over-year deaths.

Testing has been a big topic at the White House this week: the West Wing was sent scrambling to contain the spread of the virus within its own walls after two advisers became infected. But those efforts were hampered by a preliminary study that found Abbott’s rapid tests—the ones that have been touted as a game-changer and used for the White House staff—could potentially miss about 48% of cases.

Trump also touted the fact that the U.S. has ramped up its testing efforts so much that the country is outpacing South Korea, which has been widely praised for its testing efforts. The boast ignores the context behind the numbers, though. South Korea no longer has too test as much because it reined in its outbreak in the early days of the crisis. Its death toll stands at 260.

Facing sagging approval ratings, Trump returned to a tried-and-true strategy this week: attacking his enemies and more specifically former President Barack Obama.

An emerging trend from the administration’s virus response is contracts that have been awarded to firms that have no prior experience with the products or tasks. FEMA had to cancel a $55.5 million mask order this week after the company failed to deliver any masks. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has awarded multi-million dollar contracts to organizations to coordinate farmers and food banks. But the roster features companies like an event planning firm that is known for throwing weddings and putting on high-end conferences.

The White House has often held up its “Project Airbridge,” which delivered personal protective gear across the country, as a success story, but a deep dive by The Washington Post shows that the positive messaging has been built on exaggerations. For example, records show that the project helped deliver 2.2 million masks a day. But in April Vice President Mike Pence put that number at 22 million.

At the project’s core are partnerships with private companies. The deal between them and the government means that taxpayers have ended up subsidizing the distribution of private resources.

Another great investigation by the Post reveals that government officials turned down an offer from a medical supply company in Texas that had the ability to make millions of masks a month—even as officials and state leaders scrambled to make above- and below-board deals with overseas manufacturers.

In related news: The Associated Press: Trump Says He’ll Replenish Stockpile For Future Pandemics

It’s little surprise that in a politically divided country, the debate over reopening is fiercest in three battleground states crucial to the 2020 presidential election. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin went for Trump in 2016, but they swing in that ever-narrowing purple section of the political spectrum—and all three have democratic governors. The battle came to a head in Wisconsin this week when the state’s high court threw out Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order, ruling that his emergency powers are real but certainly not indefinite. The problem was that the decision has created chaos and confusion, with bars, restaurants and other businesses unsure what’s legal now.

On that note, how much do stay-at-home orders really matter in Americans’ decision to leave their houses? People are venturing out by the millions and they aren’t always following their leaders’ guidance.

In related news: CNN: 5 Common Arguments For Reopening The Economy — And Why Experts Say They Are Flawed

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) swung for the fences with her latest relief bill—probably in a sign that she never expected bipartisan negotiations to be smooth. The $3 trillion package builds on the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, and contains billions for health care providers, the creation of nursing home strike teams, hazard pay for heroes on front lines, and money for testing. The ambitious legislation (which is expected to pass the House any hour now) is dead on arrival in the Senate.

In a startling development, the FBI seized the Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) cellphone as part of an investigation into his sale of stocks right before the market was walloped by the coronavirus. Burr has temporarily stepped down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

And the first hearing of the special coronavirus committee devolved quickly—and not surprisingly—into partisan bickering with little accomplished. As Politico reports: “The parties started the day miles apart and ended it even further away.”

Before the pandemic, hospitals had been following a dependable playbook for turning a profit that relied on procedures for patients with private insurers instead of ones with Medicaid or Medicare. When the outbreak turned the world upside down, it upended that model. (See also reporter Sarah Kliff’s Twitter thread for an addendum to the story).

Meanwhile, a lot of the talk around ICU bed and equipment shortages sometimes made it seem like we have one national hospital system that’s going to be overwhelmed. In reality, the hospitals operate like miniature fiefdoms unto themselves, completely silo-ed from rivals that are sometimes only blocks away. The vulnerabilities of that model were laid bare in the differences between New York City hospitals during the pandemic.

Everyone knows that hospitals are losing billions a month now on procedures that have been put off because of the outbreak. But it’s not a given that they’re rushing to reopen, either. That’s because many are nervous that they’ll face a barrage of malpractice lawsuits without protections from Congress.

In a number that only continues to grow more staggering, 36 million Americans have now sought unemployment aid since the virus struck. Economists say there aren’t signs that the market has bottomed out, either, so prepare for that total to keep ticking up.

And while the economic devastation created by the shut-down measures have been the main argument behind conservatives’ drive to reopen, some economists say that a second wave would be worse in the long run than staying closed.

Threaded throughout all these conversations in the need to put a dollar value on human life. While the idea seems callous, it’s actually common practice within the government when it comes to drafting regulations. From the NYT piece: “One of the earliest values of life used in regulation came from a 1978 calculation by the Canisius College economics professor Warren Prunella. He estimated the value of a life saved by proposed furniture fabric flammability standards at $1 million.”

World leaders are already worried that Trump’s “America First” mentality will mean other countries will be left out in the cold when it comes to a vaccine. The fear prompted more than 140 world leaders to sign an open letter to all governments demanding that Covid-19 vaccines be considered a “global good” to be shared equitably. And experts warned that any attempt by the U.S. to hoard a vaccine could lead to other countries refusing to share materials needed to distribute it. (Considering we’re months if not years away from a vaccine, this seems like it’s going to get messy.)

Deliberately injecting trial participants with the virus seems like an idea out of a by-gone era where scientists played fast and loose with ethics. But it could also greatly speed up the development time. Should it be done? Would you volunteer for the duty?

In related news: NPR: Trump Names Leaders Of ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Vaccine Effort

Nationally, conservatives are staunchly against mail-in voting. But state officials, reading the room, are quietly ignoring that stance. In Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and West Virginia, GOP officials are expanding vote by mail. One Kentucky official even lamented his previous role in stoking fears about voter fraud. “It’s partly on me because I talked about it in my campaign,” said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who says he’s now frustrated by the myth that absentee voting is not secure.

Worried about eating alone in this era of social distancing? Don’t worry, some places have you covered. In D.C. you can dine with mannequins so as not to feel lonely; in Thailand, stuffed pandas will keep you company.

And in other stories to read during this (hopefully) gorgeous weekend:

→ The New York Times: Buried In N.Y. Budget: Legal Shield For Nursing Homes Rife With Coronavirus

→ Politico: ‘Conspiracy Bingo’: Trans-Atlantic Extremists Seize On The Pandemic

→ The Washington Post: Coronavirus Has Been Devastating To The Navajo Nation, And Help For Complex Fight Has Been Slow

→ Stat: With Little Data, Doctors Struggle To Decide Which Covid-19 Patients Should Get Remdesivir

And that is officially it from me! I’m off to write some books, and if you like psychological thrillers—or just want to stay in touch—you can find me on Twitter and Instagram at @brilabuskes.

Be safe, be happy, be kind to yourselves and others in these trying times, wash your hands, watch out for superbugs, and don’t forget to look at cute pictures of doggos if the news gets you down.

Yours truly,

Bri

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/friday-breeze-health-care-policy-must-reads-of-the-week-from-brianna-labuskes-may-15-2020/

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

The Friday Breeze

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes, who reads everything on health care to compile our daily Morning Briefing, offers the best and most provocative stories for the weekend.

Happy Friday! A quick editor’s note before we dive in: This will be the last edition of The Breeze from yours truly. Never fear, though, it will be in great hands going forward and you’ll continue to get your weekly updates on all things coronavirus (and other health news, if that’s ever a thing again). Thank you for reading these past two years. It’s been an honor and a privilege and I’ve loved hearing from so many of you. You make it all worth it.

Now, enough of that! Onto the news.

Nothing drives home the grim U.S. death toll—almost at 86,000 as I write this—like a national shortage of body bags. Funeral directors across the country say they are struggling to give the deceased dignity in death as bodies pile up and morgues are overwhelmed. Sometimes body bags are having to be used two or three times, and when there’s not one available, bodies are wrapped in sheets with a mask placed on their faces.

In the early days of the pandemic, popular models being used to project the expected death toll varied wildly. But they are starting to narrow in on a consensus. That was before states really started lifting their restrictions, though.

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Two big hearings on Capitol Hill took center stage this week. In the first, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top health officials testified—virtually!—in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Fauci painted a fairly grim picture of a nation not ready to reopen yet, and warned that moving too quickly to lift restrictions could trigger a bigger surge that would lead to more suffering and death and set the country back even further. Meanwhile, all the lawmakers there wanted to know about reopening the schools. Again, Fauci preached caution, an answer that President Donald Trump later took issue with.

And the irony of the hearing being called “Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School” while the witnesses and the chairman were all self-quarantining and tuning in virtually was certainly noted by a few people.

The second buzzy hearing of the week was Dr. Rick Bright’s testimony in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s health subcommittee. Bright has become a minor celebrity in the coronavirus world for his claims that he was ousted from his HHS position as retaliation for his objections to the widespread distribution of malaria drugs. Bright said that “lives were lost” because the administration didn’t heed early warnings about the outbreak. He also testified that there still isn’t a comprehensive plan, and that he foresees “the darkest winter in modern history” ahead if officials don’t get their act together.

HHS struck back and struck back hard. “This is like someone who was in choir trying to say he was a soloist back then,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said: “His allegations do not hold water.” The agency also questioned why Bright, who has been on medical leave with hypertension since his removal, “has not yet shown up for work” and is “using his taxpayer-funded medical leave to work with partisan attorneys.”

In related news: Politico: Colleagues Paint A Mixed Picture Of Ousted Vaccine Chief

During a trip to Pennsylvania this week, Trump lamented the fact that more testing means that the U.S. has a higher case count—logic that was both obvious and baffling to many. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden seized on the comments, saying they showed Trump cares more about numbers than safeguarding lives. There’s also been chatter that Trump has been quietly questioning if the high death toll is due to overcounting, a pernicious myth that has been disproven by data on year-over-year deaths.

Testing has been a big topic at the White House this week: the West Wing was sent scrambling to contain the spread of the virus within its own walls after two advisers became infected. But those efforts were hampered by a preliminary study that found Abbott’s rapid tests—the ones that have been touted as a game-changer and used for the White House staff—could potentially miss about 48% of cases.

Trump also touted the fact that the U.S. has ramped up its testing efforts so much that the country is outpacing South Korea, which has been widely praised for its testing efforts. The boast ignores the context behind the numbers, though. South Korea no longer has too test as much because it reined in its outbreak in the early days of the crisis. Its death toll stands at 260.

Facing sagging approval ratings, Trump returned to a tried-and-true strategy this week: attacking his enemies and more specifically former President Barack Obama.

An emerging trend from the administration’s virus response is contracts that have been awarded to firms that have no prior experience with the products or tasks. FEMA had to cancel a $55.5 million mask order this week after the company failed to deliver any masks. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has awarded multi-million dollar contracts to organizations to coordinate farmers and food banks. But the roster features companies like an event planning firm that is known for throwing weddings and putting on high-end conferences.

The White House has often held up its “Project Airbridge,” which delivered personal protective gear across the country, as a success story, but a deep dive by The Washington Post shows that the positive messaging has been built on exaggerations. For example, records show that the project helped deliver 2.2 million masks a day. But in April Vice President Mike Pence put that number at 22 million.

At the project’s core are partnerships with private companies. The deal between them and the government means that taxpayers have ended up subsidizing the distribution of private resources.

Another great investigation by the Post reveals that government officials turned down an offer from a medical supply company in Texas that had the ability to make millions of masks a month—even as officials and state leaders scrambled to make above- and below-board deals with overseas manufacturers.

In related news: The Associated Press: Trump Says He’ll Replenish Stockpile For Future Pandemics

It’s little surprise that in a politically divided country, the debate over reopening is fiercest in three battleground states crucial to the 2020 presidential election. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin went for Trump in 2016, but they swing in that ever-narrowing purple section of the political spectrum—and all three have democratic governors. The battle came to a head in Wisconsin this week when the state’s high court threw out Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order, ruling that his emergency powers are real but certainly not indefinite. The problem was that the decision has created chaos and confusion, with bars, restaurants and other businesses unsure what’s legal now.

On that note, how much do stay-at-home orders really matter in Americans’ decision to leave their houses? People are venturing out by the millions and they aren’t always following their leaders’ guidance.

In related news: CNN: 5 Common Arguments For Reopening The Economy — And Why Experts Say They Are Flawed

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) swung for the fences with her latest relief bill—probably in a sign that she never expected bipartisan negotiations to be smooth. The $3 trillion package builds on the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, and contains billions for health care providers, the creation of nursing home strike teams, hazard pay for heroes on front lines, and money for testing. The ambitious legislation (which is expected to pass the House any hour now) is dead on arrival in the Senate.

In a startling development, the FBI seized the Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) cellphone as part of an investigation into his sale of stocks right before the market was walloped by the coronavirus. Burr has temporarily stepped down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

And the first hearing of the special coronavirus committee devolved quickly—and not surprisingly—into partisan bickering with little accomplished. As Politico reports: “The parties started the day miles apart and ended it even further away.”

Before the pandemic, hospitals had been following a dependable playbook for turning a profit that relied on procedures for patients with private insurers instead of ones with Medicaid or Medicare. When the outbreak turned the world upside down, it upended that model. (See also reporter Sarah Kliff’s Twitter thread for an addendum to the story).

Meanwhile, a lot of the talk around ICU bed and equipment shortages sometimes made it seem like we have one national hospital system that’s going to be overwhelmed. In reality, the hospitals operate like miniature fiefdoms unto themselves, completely silo-ed from rivals that are sometimes only blocks away. The vulnerabilities of that model were laid bare in the differences between New York City hospitals during the pandemic.

Everyone knows that hospitals are losing billions a month now on procedures that have been put off because of the outbreak. But it’s not a given that they’re rushing to reopen, either. That’s because many are nervous that they’ll face a barrage of malpractice lawsuits without protections from Congress.

In a number that only continues to grow more staggering, 36 million Americans have now sought unemployment aid since the virus struck. Economists say there aren’t signs that the market has bottomed out, either, so prepare for that total to keep ticking up.

And while the economic devastation created by the shut-down measures have been the main argument behind conservatives’ drive to reopen, some economists say that a second wave would be worse in the long run than staying closed.

Threaded throughout all these conversations in the need to put a dollar value on human life. While the idea seems callous, it’s actually common practice within the government when it comes to drafting regulations. From the NYT piece: “One of the earliest values of life used in regulation came from a 1978 calculation by the Canisius College economics professor Warren Prunella. He estimated the value of a life saved by proposed furniture fabric flammability standards at $1 million.”

World leaders are already worried that Trump’s “America First” mentality will mean other countries will be left out in the cold when it comes to a vaccine. The fear prompted more than 140 world leaders to sign an open letter to all governments demanding that Covid-19 vaccines be considered a “global good” to be shared equitably. And experts warned that any attempt by the U.S. to hoard a vaccine could lead to other countries refusing to share materials needed to distribute it. (Considering we’re months if not years away from a vaccine, this seems like it’s going to get messy.)

Deliberately injecting trial participants with the virus seems like an idea out of a by-gone era where scientists played fast and loose with ethics. But it could also greatly speed up the development time. Should it be done? Would you volunteer for the duty?

In related news: NPR: Trump Names Leaders Of ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Vaccine Effort

Nationally, conservatives are staunchly against mail-in voting. But state officials, reading the room, are quietly ignoring that stance. In Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and West Virginia, GOP officials are expanding vote by mail. One Kentucky official even lamented his previous role in stoking fears about voter fraud. “It’s partly on me because I talked about it in my campaign,” said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who says he’s now frustrated by the myth that absentee voting is not secure.

Worried about eating alone in this era of social distancing? Don’t worry, some places have you covered. In D.C. you can dine with mannequins so as not to feel lonely; in Thailand, stuffed pandas will keep you company.

And in other stories to read during this (hopefully) gorgeous weekend:

→ The New York Times: Buried In N.Y. Budget: Legal Shield For Nursing Homes Rife With Coronavirus

→ Politico: ‘Conspiracy Bingo’: Trans-Atlantic Extremists Seize On The Pandemic

→ The Washington Post: Coronavirus Has Been Devastating To The Navajo Nation, And Help For Complex Fight Has Been Slow

→ Stat: With Little Data, Doctors Struggle To Decide Which Covid-19 Patients Should Get Remdesivir

And that is officially it from me! I’m off to write some books, and if you like psychological thrillers—or just want to stay in touch—you can find me on Twitter and Instagram at @brilabuskes.

Be safe, be happy, be kind to yourselves and others in these trying times, wash your hands, watch out for superbugs, and don’t forget to look at cute pictures of doggos if the news gets you down.

Yours truly,

Bri

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

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This theory was originally meant to be included in the discord breakdown of the season 2 trailer. This changed when speculation got out of control and we decided it was too long to include. Therefore we've decided to post it separately.There's a lot of speculation as a result of the lack of details regarding Eleven in s2 but I hope this can give our general idea of what may happen.With all that said, let's begin:At the end of the trailer, we finally get to witness the moment we’ve all been anticipating: Eleven’s reemergence. Yet, this is much more than solely something to be excited over; it clues us about her whereabouts in the time gap between the two seasons, and provides a bit of insight into the paths her, Hopper’s, and Mike’s characters may follow in Season 2. Let’s dive in, shall we?First, we hear Mike calling out to her: “If you’re out there, just please, give me a sign.” (We will return to this quote later so just keep it in the back of your head for now)Then, we get the same shot of her eyes shooting open with fresh blood still under her nose as we did in the Superbowl teaser. This, presumably, is the moment she snaps awake after the massive energy drain it took to kill S1’s Demogorgon. If we can trust the Superbowl teaser audio, it was almost immediately after she disappeared, as we hear Mike shouting “Eleven!”.Back to the new trailer. The image cuts to her in a dilapidated state -- nose and ear bleeding, filthy clothes -- standing in the Upside-Down version of the science classroom in which she disappeared, warily looking around. We then see her, still with blood on her nose and ears, cautiously making her way down the USD Hawkins Middle hallway. Her eyes are attentive, focused, concentrating on something ahead of her.Now we arrive at the most interesting part. From the hallway layout and the design on the wall, we can tell that she has found the portal that the Demogorgon made last season to get into the school and attack the agents. Eleven stands with her back against the wall, carefully peering into the portal that is emitting red and blue lights.Lastly, we see her reaching through the portal, her hand finally bursting out, back into our world.Now, these clips give us quite a bit of information.Eleven wakes up very, very soon, and ventures out into the hallways immediately following. We know this not only from her buzz and the fresh blood, but also from the Demogorgon’s portal. It has yet to close, which means that not much time has passed. In Season 1, the portals that Nancy used to get in and out of the USD sealed themselves up quickly, as did that in the wall in which Will and Joyce made physical contact. So say the Demogorgon’s portal is stronger, it’s taking a bit more time for it close. That means Eleven awakens and probably finds this portal within at most 20-30 min after she disappears.Now, onto the portal itself; specifically, at the lights. Take a look at this gif. When Eleven’s looking at the portal, it’s flashing blue and red lights. Firstly, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for the Duffers to make the portal emit shimmering lights just for the aesthetics. So what in real life do we know might be the source of these lights? What comes to mind then, is a siren. So very possibly, this scene shows Eleven looking at this portal during one of the last scenes of S1, when all the police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks are at the school after the attack. So she obviously cannot leave right then and there, in risk of getting caught. So she waits for them to leave. By the time she actually reaches out of the portal here and here, the colored flashing lights are no longer there, leaving only the dim, red throb that was also shown in S1. So when she physically escapes the USD, the corridor is clear.What, then, exactly happens with Eleven after she goes through the portal? Considering that all of the characters save Hopper believe she is gone, it's safe to assume that Hopper is responsible for keeping Eleven hidden, specifically, from the DOE. Our main theory regarding Eleven’s storyline is that Hopper finds Eleven some time after she escapes the upside-down. We see him enter a car with DOE agents immediately following the hospital scene at the end of episode 8. We believe Hopper was taken back to the school in order to begin the cleanup for the massacre that occurred there earlier that night. Whilst there, Hopper finds Eleven in a secluded area, away from the attention of HNL. During the time skip after Will is saved, it’s likely that Hopper takes it upon himself to hide Eleven from the DOE until a possible deal can be met regarding her future when the time is right.We see Hopper leave Eggos out for Eleven after the timeskip, implying he provides her with food and other utilities whilst she hides away on her own. Where is she hiding you may ask? Where else but the cabin teased in both the teaser and trailer, as well as in the working title, “The Secret Cabin”.We have firm reason to believe that Eleven has been hiding in this cabin for almost a full year prior to season 2. This is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, Hopper leaves stuff in a box in the forest, considering Eleven would have to go out in order to get what has been left, she must not travel far, implying she is hidden nearby. This alludes to the location of the cabin itself; with it being “secret”, it's very likely that it's located somewhere in the woods.Another piece of evidence is the appearance of the wooden wall in two shots of the super bowl teaser and the trailer. Take a look at the wall in this particular shot of the trailer (http://bit.ly/2wr9V9n)Now, compare it to this shot of Eleven in the teaser (http://bit.ly/2iPzpbt).The wooden wall panels in both images look remarkably similar, making it more plausible to believe that Eleven is indeed hiding there. The scene in which the cabin is shown to be in a state of destruction could also be linked to her. In the context of our theory, it may be a flashback (possibly at a point where Hopper admits to giving away the position of Eleven and the boys to Brenner). This would support the possibility of a scenario in which Eleven uses her powers to cause havoc in the room in a clear outburst of anger; however, this fit of anger could always be caused by some unknown occurrence, possibly even in the present day, so stating the exact reason as a certainty wouldn't be wise.If this theory were true, Eleven’s storyline could involve flashbacks of her time alone in the cabin over the course of just under a year. These flashbacks could give insight to her experiences outside the lab, but also away from the people she has grown to care about. She'll be coping with uncertainty as she has yet to possess full control over her own abilities, and she'll be suffering from being alone for the majority of the time, as Hopper will not be able to frequent the cabin, as a precaution to prevent drawing attention to her location.There is also the possibility of El expanding her lexicon over the course of the year. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that Hopper wouldn't just give her food and drink as supplies. There is the possibility that he may provide her with things she can use for entertainment whilst on her own, such as books - not learning to read or speak over the course of a year could be seen as a wasted opportunity for El to learn to be more verbally adept than she was previously. However, if this were true, that does not mean she'll be talking more in general, as little to no real social interaction renders her unable to communicate properly with others, despite knowing more complex language. Hence, she'll be too socially inept and reserved to say more than short sentences at best.Moving away from the cabin, another question is how she fits into the rest of the plot of Season 2. There is no denying that she will have to leave to cabin at some point in the season, either due to her cover being blown or the spread of the USD forcing her to act. Or perhaps both. Another intriguing matter is how quickly she'll be reunited with Mike and the rest of the characters. Finn Wolfhard stated in an interview that Mike would be in a state of depression for the first half of the season, before reverting back into his role as the leader of the group in later episodes. One of the main theories to expand on this fact is that El may make an attempt to contact Mike, now with her cover blown and nothing to lose if she does. This possible realization that she may be alive would give Mike the drive he needs to revert back to his old self. Keep in mind that it's possible that El is in fact discreetly making contact with Mike without making it obvious she's alive, hence why he says that he feels like he still "sees her".The question to make note of here is that, if this is the case, how would El make contact given her distance away from civilization? The most plausible idea for this is that she has access to her own walkie talkie as it heightens her capabilities of telepathy to a degree where she can find Will in the upside down. A bigger radio or even a deprivation tank would be impossible to use given the rarity and price of stronger radios and the absurd requirements for a homemade sensory deprivation tank. How she acquires one, with or without Hopper's knowledge, remains to be seen if this theory is true.Aside from this, there is no way of knowing what else may be in store for El this season. Time will only tell once season 2 is released. via /r/StrangerThings

#stranger things