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kimarii-00 · 11 months ago

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Regrets and Punishments (2)

❥Summary: Armando knows he made a mistake. He knew when he decided that his mother was more important than his girlfriend. But he planned to return to her, he really did. He never could’ve anticipated being gone for as long as he was. Seeing her face again was like getting shot: You get that adrenaline rush, yet the pain ends up biting you in the ass later on. Especially when he discovers what, or dare I say, who he also left behind all that time ago.

❥Warnings: Slow burn, kidnapping, language, guns/shooting, blood, violence, suggestive scenes (?), eventual happy ending

❥Word Count: 4.8k (2k words more than the last one ;))

❥Part 2/2

PART 1

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AN: I did not expect all the support for the first part, thank you guys!! I hope this last part was worth all the hype! Enjoy!!

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“(Name),” Kelly begins, “I’m so sorry I–”

“What the hell do they even want with her? She’s a fucking child. Four! Four fucking years old,” As angry as you were right now, you couldn’t stop the tears from flowing, “I can’t… What if they hurt my baby?”

“They’re probably going to use her as some sort of backup in case their plan with Mike’s wife goes south…”

In all honesty, you think you had a hunch on why they took Demi. Because he’s her father… They must’ve done their research…

You’re surprised Armando hasn’t pressed you more by now about Demi. He must’ve had questions because last time he checked, you didn’t have a kid, so from his perspective, in the years he was gone you either must’ve hooked up with some guy and had his kid, or the passionate night you two shared before he left must’ve really paid off…

“(Name) I swear, we’re not going to let anything happen to Demi,” Kelly said in an attempt to sooth your motherly insticts. You felt nausious but you appreciated that you weren’t in this alone. Kelly had always been there for you, especially when the father of your child left and you found out you were pregnant with his kid a week later. She was there for you when nobody was. She had helped you through depressive episodes so you wouldn’t stress yourself and end up hurting the baby, she was there for you when you went into labor and had to be rushed to the hospital. She was there when the loud cries filled the room when the doctors popped Demi out of you.

Thinking of this only made you angrier, because it was wrong that you had to rely so much on your best friend instead of the man that was supposed to be Demi’s father, and now, because of his involvements with these people, your daughter has been taken. She has nothing to do with this.

You wipe your face, trying to get the tears to stop falling but they just wouldn’t. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch Armando looking at you with an expression that you can’t read but when he notices that you’ve seen his antics, he averts his attention elsewhere. You can’t help but think that he wants to say something to you, but you can’t bring yourself to care in this moment.

As much as you’d like to deny it, deep down you still have feelings for that man. But there are many reasons as to why you can’t just happily jump back into his arms and ask him to take you back.

Right now, you have more than yourself to worry about. You have Demi, and if you were going to get with a man, she deserves to have someone that will care and love her and right now, you aren’t sure that man could be Armando.

You aren’t paying much attention to the group as they talk about a plan to get the hostages back, you aren’t in your right mind and it seems everybody notices that. All you can think about is your little girl.

Mike looks at his son, and even though they don’t have the deepest relationship, he can tell that the boy is worried for you. He still isn’t entirely sure what you and him are to each other, but he can definitely tell that seeing you as broken as you are now is breaking something in Armando himself. He makes his way to Armando’s side and slightly nudges his side to get his attention.

“Go talk to her,” he says, gesturing to the grieving woman, “You two clearly have things to discuss, you better get it out of the way before we start making moves.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to me,” Armando grumbles, his eyes wandering to your person for what felt like the hundreth time in the last ten minutes.

“You never know until you try–”

“I did try, she told me to get the hell away from her.”

“Listen man, I don’t know what your relationship is with her, but what I do know is that if you don’t talk to her now, you might not get another chance to.”

Armando takes in his fathers words, contemplating his options and realizing that he really only has two: Not talk to you and then potentially die before he gets the chance to, or two, talk to you know and list the weight thats been on his chest ever since he saw you walk through that front door.

He decides that he would probably come to regret picking the latter, but his feet are gliding him toward where you sat with Kelly before he could find some excuse as to why he should wait until later to have this inevitable conversation.

You don’t seem to notice him until he’s standing before you, yet you don’t lift your head. Kelly does, however, and gives him a certain look that read, “If you hurt her more than she’s already hurting, I swear I’ll kill you”. He nodded to her, and she hesitantly nodded back. She rubbed your back in a comforting way one last time before standing up and walking toward the rest of the group. Armando took her place next to you.

He doesn’t say a word. Neither do you. It’s a mix of awkward and comfortable silence between you two before you break it by suddenly speaking up.

“She’s yours,” You say without warning. You decided that you’d rip the band-aid off and quell any thoughts about you hooking up with some other guy that he might’ve had, “Her name is Demi. She’s four… She’s yours.”

“...I had a feeling,” He starts, “I’m sorry.”

You don’t say anything and wait for him to expand. You wait for his to say anything to help you understand why he left you. Why he abandoned you and your unborn child. But he says nothing.

You sigh, “Why’d you do it?” You sounded tired. You didn’t want to argue. You just wanted him to help you understand his decision all those years ago.

“I got caught up in some shit. Fucked with the wrong people.”

“Yeah no shit,” You spit out.

Silence overtakes you both once again.

“You didn’t even leave a text,” You say quietly, “Y’know I waited for you. I waited, and waited, and waited, and then waited some more, yet you never came home. Never.”

Up until this point your head had been in your hands, trying to soothe your pounding headache, but now your gaze laid on his face, making direct eye contact. You let him see your stinging red eyes from all the crying you’ve been doing.

“I didn’t want to involve you in my shit. I didn’t want you to end up hurt because of me–” He begins, but you don’t take any of that bullshit.

“Yeah? Well I’m involved now, and guess who’s paying the fucking price? My– our child.”

This shuts him up. He doesn’t have anything to say to that, other than, “I’m sorry.”

You scoff. Is that all he can offer you? After all he’s put you through?

“Was it even real?” You ask on a whim.

“What?” He questions.

“Us. Was it real? Since you found it so easy to just up and leave some random day?”

“You think that shit was easy?” He snaps, “I loved you– I love you so much, so how the hell could you say that me leaving you was fuckin’ easy?”

You flinched at the correction from loved to love, “You sure as hell made it seem that way.”

He startled you by grabbing your shoulders tightly. He turned you so you looked at him fully, eye contact as intense as ever.

“I had to damn near fight myself to not turn back and run into your arms again after I left you. I thought about you every fuckin’ day that I wasn’t around you. If I could go back, I swear I would’ve told my mother to fuck off if it meant that I could stay with you… with our child. But at the time I was a fucking idiot and I thought–” He had to stop his rambling for a moment to take a breath. You stared at him with wide eyes, he was never one to go on tangents like this, and you made no effort to stop him. “I thought that leaving was the best decision for you, for us, at the time and I planned on coming back. I really did. But everytime I even thought it was okay to return more shit kept happening and I just– I didn’t want you involved.”

You let him trail on with his words as you found comfort in his somewhat desperate hold in your shoulders.

“I never meant to hurt you the way I did.” Armando concluded.

You avert your eyes down slightly, breaking the eye contact but he puts his finger under your chin to lift it back up. He doesn’t want you avoiding this conversation.

He isn’t sure what possessed him to lean down, shortening the distance between the two of you until there was nothing but a pocket of air seperating his lips from yours, but as he’s about to take the final step, you pull away slowly.

“I-I’m sorry, I just…” You begin, unsure of what excuse your about to pull, “I can’t.” You say, deciding not to beat around the bush.

He nods in understanding, yet you immediately recognize the hurt in his eyes.

You pull away from his hands on your shoulders and he makes no move to stop you. You take a deep breath in, like you want to say something else before you part ways, but ultimately decide against it.

You say nothing as you walk back to the group, leaving him standing motionless behind you.

“As far as they know, Lockwood is on his way with a plane to move the hostages to Cuba,” Mike spoke, going over the plan once more. Today was the day you took action to rescue the people that were kidnapped. Mike’s wife, the girl that was with her at the time– Callie, and…Demi. God… I swear if they did something to her… “The second they get close to the plane with the hostages, it’s quick kills. Neutralize all threats. These motherfuckers killed a lot of good cops. They have my wife, they have Callie, and they have (Name)’s daughter.” You lowered your eyes at the aknowledgement.

“They attacked our families. We not losing today.” He concludes, and everyone nods their head.

You were partnered with the tech team in the van, watching the situation from drone footage. You wanted to be on the front lines to get rid of every fucker who thought taking your daughter was a good idea, but you were stuck inside of the van until extra help was needed.

You hear the helicopter pilot through your comms device in your ear, “I got one looking out the front door, right side, I got one sniper on the roof of building two.”

“T those up,” Rita says, who ended up joining the cause after realizing the man she was dating was with the enemy. You quickly code in a few commands for the drone to follow and before long you have eyes on the two mentioned. “Everybody keep moving. What are those?”

She points to the objects presented in the live map of the area, and you answer, “Gaters.”

“I thought it was an abandoned theater park?”

“Abandoned by humans,” Kelly jumps in while loading her gun.

You manage to find the parks webpage from when it was open and discover that the main attraction was an albano aligator named “Duke”. It was sixteen feet long, and there are stories about him still being there to this day.

“Well fuck that…” You mutter.

You watch from the drone as the main team lands in the water as planned, getting into position.

“Armando’s at his QTH,” Dorn confirms, letting everyone know that he’s in position. You swallow the lump in your throat.

Lockwood steps out of the helicopter and walks on the dock, waiting for them to bring out the hostages. You hold your breath and watch closely.

“Hostages are coming out now,” Dorn says. Your eyes dart across the screen, looking for your daughter in particular before spotting her in the arms of a muscular man. They walked behind the other two that were kidnapped and you can barely contain yourself when you take in the terrified look on your four year olds’ face.

“Fuck…” You choke out under your breath. Kelly hears this and rubs circles into your back for comfort. You put your hands over your mouth in a prayer like position and keep watching through the drones.

“Everybody stay calm,” Rita says.

The plan was for Mike to take out their leader as soon as he had the chance to, which was why he was on the front lines, yet when you notice no movement from his end, you begin to become worried that something has gone wrong.

“Mike?” Rita blurts, “Mike do you have the shot?”

“Negative, I do not have a shot, I do not have a shot,” he says into the comms device. Your eyebrows furrow as you look from a perspective of a drone that flew near where the helicopter had landed, and you conclude that from where Mike was posted, he should’ve had a clear shot.

A moment goes by and the kidnappers walk with the hostages, but just a little ways before they reach Lockwood, they stop on the bridge.

“They stopped, why’d they stop?” Dorn hurridly says. The drone is able to catch the sight of something slowly moving through the water and you conclude that it’s what they are looking at as well, you watch as their leader follows whatever is moving and your heart sinks when you realize what the thing in the water is moving towards.

“Armando–” You start, but he seems to have noticed it as well.

“Shit.” He says.

One man signals for the soldiers around him to start a search, suddenly becoming suspicious of where the thing in the water was going, and who it may be targeting. “Armando they’re closing in on you.” Dorn states.

“Do they see him?” Rita asks.

“I don’t know.”

Rita takes the time that they are distracted to pressure Mike, surely he has a shot now, right? “Mike, now! Your chance is now, they can see him, they know we’re here!”

“I don’t have it, negative, negative.”

“You’ve got to take the fucking shot,” Armando mumbles out, keeping his eye on the thing slowly advancing toward him in the water, and the person that was getting dangerously close to his hiding spot above.

You watch as all hell breaks loose when Armando shoots the man who semed to have spotted him, and he falls into the water only to be finished off by the thing in the water, now identified to be the ledgendary sixteen foot long gator. You don’t think you’ve ever been as scared as you had been the moment you realize they know they’ve been set up, and they start taking the hostages back into the building. Your daughter begins to cry and it breaks your heart.

“Engage!” Rita shouts through the comms, “Kelly, get us there.”

You leave your chair and move to the front of the van along with Kelly as she steps on the gas. You take the time to reload your own gun, and slip a knife in your boot for emergencies.

By the time the four of you have arrived, the fight has moved inside. Rita orders you three to go inside and she states that she’ll go after Lockwood and you don’t have to be told twice before you’re rushing in there. You hear Kelly shouting your name behind you, trying to get you to slow down as you leave them in the dust, but all you can hear is the blood rushing in your ears, desperate to find your daughter. You arrive just in time to see the man who was holding onto your daughter walk up a flight of stairs and you waste no time following after, shooting whoever was in your way.

The path splits into three once you reach the top and you pick a random path, slowly walking into the room.

You make sure the room is clear, making sure there is no one in it before you turn around, only to be smacked in the face with the butt of a gun. You stumble and fall, and make eye contact with the man who took you by surprise. You see him aiming at you, but with no intention to die before you find your daughter, you regain your balance and sweep his leg and quickly make your way on top of him. You snatch the knife out of your boot and put it to his neck, “Where is the child?” You hiss out, “I swear I’ll fucking kill you, where is she?” You barked when he took too long to answer for your liking.

“I don’t know what your talking about–” You decide you don’t have time for this bullshit, and jab him in the stomach with the knife. He lets out a cry of pain and he finds the cool metal of the knife back on the skin of his neck with a noticable change of pressure this time around. He was sure it would cut into the skin at any moment, “Okay, okay! Last I heard she was on the top floor.”

“Fuck,” You say, realizing that there were more floors than you realized. You don’t say another word before puncturing the side of his neck, quickly ending him. You get up, ready to leave the room but you’re grabbed from behind and choked. You grip the arm that wraps around your neck and stab your already bloodied knife into it, releasing yourself from the headlock. Even though the man who’d attacked you had been stabbed he was relentless. He ran at you again, landing a punch into your stomach and you got a few hits in yourself. You smash his head against a wall which either kills or knocks him out, and you can’t bring yourself to care as you see more men rush into the room.

You dance around them, getting in hits and taking some as well and you whip out your gun. You wanted to preserve bullets but you were getting overwhelemed by the amount of people that were flowing into the room. You shoot a few with amazing accuracy.

You hear a grunt behind you and before you can turn around, you are hit in the head with the butt of another gun again. You groan, the pain of your injuries starting to show through the adrenaline and the man behind you grabs you by your hair and pulls you up before wraping his own arm around your neck. You close one eye in pain and watch as one man walks to you, aiming his gun.

Before he can shoot, there is another shot that interrupts their plan and it ends up hitting the man behind you. Now free from his hold, you make use of the distraction and kick the man in front of you in the gut, causing him to double over. You knee him in the face and snatch his gun, shooting him in the face.

You look at your savior, and your eyes widen as you realize who it was. Armando…

“You good?” He asks. You nod, and he joins you at your side to finish off the remaining of the enemy, but before any of you can make a move, a helicopter comes smashing through the window, instantly killing two of the guys. You’re right in the path of the helicopter, and you see out of the corner of your eye Armando running towards you. He grabs onto you and you both fly out of the way. He manuvers both of your bodies until he’s the one to take most of the impact once you land.

Once all the chaos settles, you both stand up. You look at him, his hands still embracing you protectively, “Are you okay?”

You don’t answer him and continue to stare into his eyes. Those eyes you’ve known for so long. You don’t know what could’ve possessed you to do this, but you feel as if it’s the only thing you could do in the moment. With haste, you push your lips against his.

You can feel his surprise in your sudden action. You bring your hands up and grip his vest for stability and you feel the moment where he begins to reciprocate. Your mouths move together in a practiced motion and you wonder how he’s still such a good kisser after all these years.

The kiss quickly becomes heated, hurried. He slips his tongue into your mouth and you let him, moving the muscles together, competing for dominance. You groan into his mouth.

He then begins to walk forward, and you walk backwards slowly until your back makes contact with the wall behind you and he cages you in, his lips never leaving yours. Tongue never unlocking with your own. One hand is connected to the wall and the other to your hip as he brings you impossibly closer. You bask in the moment.

You break the kiss first, needing air, and his lips search for yours again instantly when you do. Your mind begins to cloud, but you remember why you’re here in the first place. You need to find your daughter. Even knowing this, you find it hard to pull away from the sensation that is his lips against your own, but somehow you find it in you to put your hands on his chest and gently push him away. He looks down at you in question.

“Can…can we continue… after I find my daughter?” You breathe heavily, still breathless from the passionate moment you shared.

“Yeah… okay. I’m coming with you.” Your eyes shot up at him at the statement. You nod at him and he hesitantly releases you from his hold. Desperate to rid yourself of the tension left in your lower area due to the kiss, you walk away, recalling what the man said about another floor.

Armando follows closely behind you.

You eventually find the staircase that would lead you to the top floor, and of course, awaiting you were more of the enemy. With Armando by your side, you make quick work of them and once all that were left were bodies, you begin to search the room. It was the only room on the top floor, so unless that guy was lying to you, Demi must be here.

So where the hell is she?

There is no sign of her being here. You check behind boxes, inside cabinets, everywhere. Your breathing quickly grows rapid as you realize that your daughter is nowhere in sight. If she’s not here, then where the hell could she be? The rest of your team was in the lower areas on the building, and if one of them found her, surely they would’ve announced it over the comms, right? So where the hell is your daughter?

You feel a hand on your back, “Hey, hey, you’re fine. We’ll find her, okay?” Armando says.

You realize you can’t waste time, so you nod and recollect yourself. But that doesn’t change the fact that you have no clue where she could be if not here.

“Look,” Armando states once your breathing had slowed, he points to the left where there seemed to be a door to a balcony of sorts.

You take a deep breath and follow him, as he already started making his way toward it.

He kicks open the door, gun aimed at the figure that stood at the edge of the balcony and your heart dropped. In front of you stood your little girl, and a man that took his place on the ledge of what had to be a long ass drop. You feared the worst and your gun shoot in your hands.

“Put the guns down!” The man demanded, “Right now or I promise you I’ll jump, and take her ass with me!” He says. He emphasizes his words by gripping your daughter tighter and holding his gun to her head, then back at the two of you.

Your daughter is bawling her eyes out. You aren’t even sure if he noticed that you were there for her. She was scared out of your mind. “Demi–”

“Shut up, and put your fucking guns down!” The man demanded. You listen this time, which prompted Armando to do the same. You cursed to yourself, realizing what little power you have in this situation. “I want you two to slowly walk back out that door.”

“We can’t do that,” Armando states, his hands rising in the air after he dropped his gun to show he’s not a threat.

“Fucking do it!” The man boasted. You aren’t sure what your options are, if there were any. You look to Armando, and he seems to sense your eyes on the back of his head.

He then looks at you a certain way, and mouths to you, “Trust me.”

Your eyes widen and you let out a yelp in surprise when Armando takes off running toward the man and your daughter. This takes the man by surprise too, before he makes no effort to pull the trigger and only seems to panick at the incoming threat. He doesn’t get a chance to retaliate before Armando uses his shoulder and back to swiftly steal your daughter from the mans grip, all the while using force to push him off of the balcony.

You watch as Armando sinks to his knees with your daughter, gently combing her hair with his fingers and whispering in her ear words of comfort. She grips onto him tightly and cries into his police vest. It takes you a moment to realize that she is safe. Something about Armando holding your daughter in his arms and caring for her makes you realize and think about some things that you haven’t thought to think about before, but you put that all of the back burner in favor of finally holding Demi in your arms again.

“Baby…” You whisper, almost in disbelief that she really is safe and sound. Demi registers your voice in her little head and whips it around to face you.

“Mama!!” She cries, she leaves Armando’s hold and you drop to your knees to give her the biggest, tightest hug you can. You sniffle and pull her head into your neck.

“Are you okay Mimi? Let me look at you…” You say, pulling away from her to check her from any kind of injury. She shakes her head, you take in the sight of her red eyes from all the crying she’s been doing.

“Mama is hurt…” She mumbles. You move your hand to the various areas that Demi points at and notice that you are indeed hurt in many areas, but you don’t care. Not right now.

“I am… But it’s okay, mama’s strong, just like you baby. God, I love you so much,” You say, planting a long, wet kiss on her forehead and hug her again tightly.

“I love you too, mama,” Demi says into your neck. You look at Armando as you hug Demi, and you mouth a quick “Thank you.” He nods to you, watching the interaction.

The moment is interrupted by Mike on the comms, “Armando, come in Armando.”

“What’s up?” Armando replies.

“You need to get out of here, Judy’s here and is looking for you. Take the boat and get the hell out of here.”

Armando hesitates, looking at you and your daughter… his daughter. Whatever he’s contemplating seems like he’s making a hard decision in his mind, but luckily for him, you’ve already made up yours.

“We’ll come with you.” You state.

“What? No–”

“It wasn’t a question.”

Silence overtakes you, but you don’t let it linger for too long, “Don’t push us away again.”

This looks to have convinced him, as he takes a deep breath and nods. “Okay.”

You don’t know how the future will go for you three. You dread the predestined talk with your daughter that you’re going to have to have with her to tell her that this man is really her father, but all you know is that as your walking through that building, your daughter being carried by him and her hooked onto her neck for safety and comfort, you feel as if you have good things coming.

And so you let yourself crack a genuine smile, one that you felt hasn’t shown itself since the night that he left you.

And he reciprocates the same one. One you haven’t seen in years, and one you’re sure to see in many more to come.

TAGLIST: (if you didn’t get tagged, it’s probably due to settings!)

@dasaniswrlddd @thedarkworldofhananerea @taylormcguire282 @timebomb1101 @5arlan7 @desiiiisworld @babygurl030 @lovelyme22 @Leavemealing @lewispool @yeahnohoneybye @velocitynyoom @maybepersuasivetom @deadpool15

#armando aretas x reader #armando aretas #armando aretas x you #bad boys #bad boys ride or die #kimarii-00

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mitchipedia · 1 month ago

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The Republican wrecking ball is already battering San Diego

Trump and his Republican cronies are already inflicting pain on San Diego County, damaging veterans, education, public health, business, the homeless, migrants and more.

I recently started bookmarking articles chronicling the damage that Trump and his Republican lackeys are doing to us and our neighbors here in the county. Not hypothetical damage, or harm done elsewhere in the U.S. — I was looking for concrete financial, physical and emotional damage that Trump and his Republican supporters are doing here and now.

I had no trouble finding examples. Very soon, I found myself with 50 open tabs, and my browser crashed.

This article compiles all the information I’ve been able to find. It is a looooooooong article. I’ve broken everything up into sections for easier reading. Even as long as this article is, I’m sure I missed a lot.

I originally planned to headline this article “The Trump wrecking ball…. " But this isn’t just about Trump. The entire Republican party is complicit in the damage being done to the U.S. Sadly, that includes your nice Republican city council candidate who comes to all the PTA meetings. The Republican Party has demonstrated universal obedience to Trump. Local Republicans may have been able to resist quietly, for now, in some matters, but if Trump is allowed to continue, local Republicans will soon be brought to heel.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego veterans

Local veterans, healthcare providers, and Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Mike Levin (Democrats) are speaking out against proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nurses from the VA Medical Center in La Jolla, along with veterans, patients and other union members, rallied in April to protest cuts.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

“Every position is mission critical,” Andrea Johnson, a nurse there, told the crowd. “Eliminating housekeeping, dietary, transportation, respiratory therapists and lab technicians will lead to delays in admissions and delays in care, which can and will result in negative patient outcomes.”

Republicans plan to cut about 80,000 jobs, or about 15% of the VA workforce. The VA serves 15.8 million veterans, nearly 200,000 of whom are in San Diego.

San Diego veterans are afraid the cuts will hurt their care. “I didn’t think Trump would brutalize the government like he is. His efforts have surpassed my darkest images,” said David Cochran, who suffers from emphysema and traumatic brain injury resulting from his U.S. Army service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the former Army major’s sole health provider.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/2…

“It really seems like all of the things I was promised as a citizen of this fine country are very quickly either evaporating or intentionally being dismantled and taken apart,” said Ian Mooney, the president of the San Diego chapter of Veterans for Peace.

Republicans are singling out transgender veterans for punishment, which will lead to higher rates of depression and suicide. Levin said the move fits with the party’s attacks on transgender people.

“Anybody who puts on the uniform, who serves our nation voluntarily, who puts their lives at stake in order to defend our freedom and our institutions and our country — we should take care of them,” Levin told the U-T.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego education

Students, parents and educators are raising the alarm over funding cuts to schools and research. As of mid-April, about 40 grant awards have been impacted by disruption notices, including stop work orders, terminations and funding freezes, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The total value of these grants is $59 million.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

The cuts are already leading students to consider leaving research, and even leaving the U.S. “In the past couple of months, I have absolutely considered moving out of academia and looking for other options, even in other countries,” said Sutanay Bhattacharya, who is pursuing a PhD in mathematics. “This has been a devastating time for me.”

UCSD can’t guarantee the first-year grad students will get full stipends and tuition, leading to job insecurity.

Cuts will especially hurt special education and disadvantaged students, starving public schools that provide a leadership role supporting many students with disabilities. San Diego Unified schools have seen Title I funding, which supports high-poverty schools, delayed by over a month. Republicans are holding those funds hostage as part of their fight against diversity, equity and inclusion.

“[San Diego Unified School Board President Cody Petterson] said that because California residents and businesses pay far more in federal taxes than they get in federal spending, Title I funding is California taxpayers’ money returning home,” the U-T reported.

UCSD is bracing for possible $500 million in annual cuts and shelving some building plans.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

Republican cuts are hitting research into HIV, domestic violence, and homicide against pregnant women and more. Research into an HIV vaccine has stopped, along with support for transgender people and autism research. The National Institutes of Health justifies the cuts with handwaving about equity.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/3…

As of mid-April, the Republican-led federal government had revoked visas for 35 international students at UC San Diego and one student at the University of San Diego. Faculty members at UCSD are concerned that international students could be discouraged from attending. The school has nearly 7,200 international students, many crucial to UCSD research, particularly in health, medicine and engineering. International students pay more than $40,000 annually in tuition and fees, about double the rate for California residents.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

Republican budget cuts threaten funding for San Diego museums, libraries and zoos.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

San Diego college faculty and students fear the Republican plan to investigate UC San Diego and other universities, deporting student activists and asserting control over academic programs.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/1…

“This is what fascist regimes do, and it’s kind of a code red for our universities,” said Adam Aron, a psychology professor at UC San Diego who is Jewish. “This is maybe the beginning if we don’t stand up and oppose this.”

Jewish faculty and students around the country, including in San Diego, Republicans are using antisemitism as a pretext to deport people for exercising their rights and crack down on academic freedom.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego’s public health

A nationwide clawback of federal public health funds is leading to the shutdown of the county’s wastewater testing system at the San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health program (SEARCH), jointly run by UCSD, Scripps Research Institute and the genomics program at Rady Children’s Hospital. The program started testing COVID-19 and expanded to include MPOX. Research is underway to detect influenza, hepatitis, measles and other pathogens.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

The cuts will make it harder to detect infectious diseases and jeopardize all of our health.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego businesses

San Diego and Baja California business leaders and elected officials went on a lobbying mission to Washington, D.C., this month to attempt to mitigate damage to the cross-border economy caused by tariffs. San Diego’s economy is closely linked to Mexico’s, and tariffs will hit us particularly hard.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

In one example, a San Diego small business owner is suing the Republican White House administration over a new financial reporting requirement that the administration claims is cracking down on money laundering by Mexican cartels. Esperanza Gomez Escobar, the owner and manager of Novedades y Servicios Plus, a money services business in San Diego’s Southcrest neighborhood, says the law will financially ruin businesses like hers, violate the Fourth Amendment, and do nothing to combat money laundering.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

These businesses provide check cashing, money transmitting, and foreign currency exchanges, and are already required to report transactions of $10,000 or more. The new rule requires those businesses in 30 targeted California and Texas ZIP codes, including seven in San Diego County, to report all transactions of $200 and over.

Business owners say that would essentially mean submitting costly reports for every transaction and requiring customers to turn over sensitive information such as their names and Social Security numbers, raising concerns that Republicans could use that information in their immigration crackdown.

And criminals will just go to another ZIP code.

“This is a family business … and we’ll have to close if this (order is enacted),” Gomez said.

Additionally, federal agents raided a family-owned business in unincorporated El Cajon, the San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings company, on allegations that the company knowingly employs undocumented immigrants. The company regularly contracts with the U.S. military.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/2…

How Republicans are hurting San Diego’s homeless

Father Joe’s Villages planned to break ground this year on affordable housing complexes downtown that would each hold more than 100 apartments, paid for in part by a multimillion-dollar federal grant. But now Father Joe’s is waiting until at least next year.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

As of late March, some $44 million in funding that local homeless service organizations had been promised had been frozen.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/3…

How Republicans are hurting migrants

As the border tightens, desperate migrants are turning to dangerous human smuggling by sea.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

Migrant shelters around the county and in Tijuana are shutting their doors, following the cutoff in federal funds and immigration crackdowns.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/3…

And it’s not just migrants — Lucas Sielaff, a German national visiting Mexico from Las Vegas, was handcuffed and shackled and spent 16 days in a crowded detention center before being allowed to fly home to Germany. His fiancée, Lennon Tyler, an American citizen, was chained to a bench. Another German tourist, Jessica Brösche, spent over six weeks locked up, including over a week in solitary confinement. The incidents are part of an unprecedented crackdown that includes visitors from Western Europe and Canada, longtime U.S. allies.

timesofsandiego.com/crime/202…

Anecdotally, I’m hearing from friends and business associates in Europe who are canceling trips to the U.S. One friend who lives in the U.K., has visited the U.S. several times but now says he does not expect to visit again in his lifetime (my friend is 60), even though much of his income comes from U.S. business.

San Diego’s tourism economy is at risk if the U.S. comes to be perceived as a dangerous place for non-Americans to visit.

Local Japanese-Americans warn that the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which Republicans are using to persecute migrants today, is the same law used to justify the U.S.’s shameful internment of Japanese-Americans — about two-thirds of whom were American citizens — during World War II.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

Kay Ochi, president of the Japanese-American Historical Society of San Diego, notes that her parents, then 21 and 22, were born in San Diego. They were forced to leave the county and taken to an incarceration camp in the desert of Poston, Arizona.

“That was three years of pure hell,” she said.

About 2,000 people of Japanese descent lived in San Diego County at the time, and San Diego authorities applauded the incarceration, with measures approved by the City Council, County Board of Supervisors, and Chamber of Commerce. The city council, led by then-Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, a Democrat, formally apologized in 2022 and revoked the resolution. Elo-Rivera is still a council member.

What can we do?

A lot. We can demonstrate, we can support Democrats locally and around the country, we can donate and volunteer to our favorite causes and build community ties.

Supervisor Terra-Lawson Remer, a Democrat, laid out an ambitious plan in her recent State of the County Address to bolster services for vulnerable residents and shield the county from looming federal cuts.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

The county is scrambling to address a $40 million hit to public health programs. Funding for Medicaid — which helps the county expand its behavioral health and substance-use treatment services — is also at risk after Congressional Republicans proposed cutting $880 billion over the next 10 years.

Lawson-Remer proposes a local tax ballot measure to offset federal cuts and boost services.

“We can raise the money ourselves, right here at home,” she said, “not by waiting, or begging for D.C. to do its job, but by taking the wheel of our own destiny and steering our own San Diego County ship through this storm.”

But we won’t be able to cushion Republican blows against San Diego if Republicans win a majority of the county Board of Supervisors — and that’s a distinct possibility. The board is now split evenly, 2-2, between Republicans and Democrats, with one vacant seat, in District 1. A special election to fill that seat is scheduled for July 1, pitting a popular Republican against Democrat and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. If you live in District 1, please vote for Paloma to help build a firewall against Republican damage, and regardless of where you live, please support her candidacy and get the word out to your friends and family in District 1 to vote.

www.paloma-aguirre.com

Ongoing Republican-led policies are causing tangible harm to San Diego across multiple critical sectors — from veterans’ healthcare and education to public health, local businesses, homelessness, and migrant communities. These cuts and crackdowns are not abstract or distant issues; they actively undermine the well-being and stability of San Diego’s residents and institutions. By supporting local leadership committed to protecting vulnerable populations and advocating for equitable funding and humane policies, San Diegans can work to mitigate these damages and steer the community toward a more just and sustainable future. The stakes are high, but so is the potential for meaningful change if the community unites and acts decisively.

Mitch Wagner is a member at large of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club Board. He lives in La Mesa, a short walk from Lake Murray, with his wife, dog and cats. Contact Mitch at [email protected] and find his social media links at mitchwagner.com.

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ladykailitha · 8 days ago

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Forever Young Part 4

Hey guys! We are back with this amazing fic! Since it's been a bit I'd recommend reading the last chapter: here or the from the beginning: here.

Pt 1 Pt 2 Pt 3

A bit of a longer chapter with lots of twists and turns and a brief cameo of Joyce and Hopper.

Will and Dustin looked at each other and sighed heavily.

“I forgot that there is a distinct messy side to science,” Dustin said, putting his hands on his hips and looking at the bags and bags of garbage out by the garage.

“Let’s see if we can’t find gardening gloves or whatever to protect us...” he waved at the piles with a grimace, “from all of that.”

“Good idea,” Dustin agreed. “There is bound to be broken bottles in there and I really don’t have the desire to call Wayne about needing a ride to the hospital, thanks.”

They found gloves and got to work. They sorted out the bags that were clearly from earlier in the week and focused on the two bags that were the most likely culprits for being from last night.

“So I’m just seeing beer and joint butts,” Will said about twenty minutes later. “How about you?”

Dustin sighed and pushed his bag away. “A whole lot of nothing. Like chip bags and other junk food detritus, no real heavy alcohol or anything that might mix badly with the weed.”

Will nodded. “It just seems like their every day party with out us underaged teenagers. Different kinds of soda and other drinks but nothing that screams body altering drugs.”

He got to his feet and dusted off his knees. “This was a complete bust.”

Dustin got up too. “I don’t think so. Yeah, we didn’t find anything, but that means that it wasn’t drug or alcohol related. That’s something we cross off the list.”

“I suppose,” Will sighed as he pulled off his gloves. “Let’s go tell everyone we didn’t find anything.”

“Let’s hope Dr. Owens has some ideas,” Dustin agreed, pulling off his gloves too. “But I’m plumb out.”

The other four kids were sitting on the sofa, talking among themselves.

“Sorry, guys,” Dustin said flopping on the arm chair, while Will sat cross-legged on the floor. “That was a bust. All they had last night was the usual stuff to get high and drunk.”

“Ours was unfruitful as well,” El said with a sigh. “Dr. Owens said that they had never encountered physical regression before. But he’ll look into it further and call back. I worry he may want to take blood tests.”

“He can fuck off back to whatever hole he crawled out of,” Mike growled. “I’m not letting them do to Nancy what they did to El. I don’t care.”

Lucas put his hand on Mike’s arm. “And we won’t let them either. Especially with Wayne knowing what’s going on. I have a feeling that if they tried to take Eddie, he’d storm the lab with nothing but a shotgun and enough ammo take on a third world country.”

Mike straightened and blinked for a moment. “Oh, yeah. He’d go all Rambo on their ass. Huh. That does make me feel better. Thanks!”

“No problem,” Lucas said with a smile. “Plus if we add El and Erica to the mix, the lab would be razed the ground in seconds.”

El just batted her eyelashes at them sweetly.

“So we’ve got absolutely nothing,” Dustin said with a heavy sigh. “The lab was no help, the garbage was no help. They can’t tell us what went wrong. We’re pretty much stuck until something else happens.”

“Pretty much!” Mike huffed, throwing his head back against the couch cushion. “This sucks. I’ve looked up to Nancy my whole life and after the monsters I’ve admired what a badass she was. But that little girl isn’t the Nancy I grew up with. Like she knows she’s going to be a big sister, but she doesn’t understand what that means right now. For her it’s diaper changes and bottle feeding. Not being a reporter and shotguns.”

There was a creak on the stairs leading down to the basement and everyone looked over expecting Steve as he had slept earlier, but no it was Little Jonathan.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” he whispered shyly, sucking on his thumb.

Will was on his feet in an instant. One of the things that Lonnie liked to yell about either of his sons was that they were too soft. That they needed toughening up. The fact that Little Jonathan was still sucking his thumb at this age was sure sign that Lonnie was an ass and that there was no doubt he had hit his son for trying to get comfort somewhere in this big, wide world.

“Come with me,” he said gently. “I’ll take you to the one up here and then show you where the one downstairs is so you if you spend the night you know where it is, okay?”

Little Jonathan nodded, taking Will’s hand. Will led the way and as he was about to close the door behind the toddler, Little Jonathan looked up him and cocked his head.

“Will the Wise,” he said solemnly. “You’ll find someone who loves you for you some day.” Then he toddled into the bathroom and closed the door, leaving a very stunned Will staring at the wooden surface.

When Little Jonathan came out he didn’t seem to remember what he said before going into the bathroom. So Will just led him back to the living room where the teens were gathered.

“Hey there, buddy,” Lucas said with a soft smile. “Did you want to try to go back to sleep or did you want to color until everyone else woke up?”

“M’mm awake...” came the slurred voice of Little Eddie from the floor. “Just restin’ my eyes.” He sat up sort of cross-legged and rubbed his eyes.

Max giggled. “Sure are, big guy. All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”

Then Little Robin came in, hair a mess and drool all over her face. “I’m thirsty, can I get some water?”

“Sure!” Will said, his voice cracking. “El won’t you take them to the kitchen, I’m sure Eddie and Jonathan are thirsty too.”

El looked at him curiously, head cocked to the side. Then she nodded. “Come on, everyone hold hands like they did for lunch.”

The kids did as they were told and El took Little Robin’s hand to lead them into the kitchen.

The kids ooh’ed and awed when El used her powers to get the glasses down from the cupboard because it was too high for her to get.

“Cups are easy,” Little Robin said with a giggle. “She can throw cars with her mind, too!”

El froze and the cup headed for Little Eddie stopped too.

“Supergirl!” Little Eddie agreed, clapping his hands and reaching out for the cup. It took everything El had to let go of the cup so that Eddie could take it.

“You should see her fly a helicopter!” Little Jonathan crowed. “It’s so cool!”

She watched them in wide-eyed amazement as they didn’t seem to understand what it was they just said. They just happily drank the water given to them and then handed the cups back to her. She put them in the sink and then led them back out to the living room.

There was Little Nancy and Little Steve sitting on the floor with their heads together, playing tic-tac-toe as they waited for the other kids to come back.

“I think they’re getting some of them memories back,” El said bluntly. “But only in spurts.”

“I agree,” Dustin said putting his hands on his hips. “But when it does happen, it doesn’t stick around for long. Just a memory and then it’s gone.”

Max narrowed her eyes and then cocked her head back and forth. “Well you want to know what I think? I think we should just let them be kids for awhile.”

“What?” Lucas cried, springing to his feet. “We need them as adults!”

“And that’s the problem!” Max snapped back, getting to her feet, too. “We rely on them too much. When do they get to be kids? Especially Jonathan, Steve, and Nancy. They were our age when they first met the Upside Down, when do they get to shirk their duties and have fun?”

Mike grabbed both Lucas and Max and started pushing them toward the hall, but before he could even get them turned around, Little Jonathan and Little Robin burst into tears. Mike closed his eyes.

“I was trying to avoid that,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Please take this argument elsewhere. Dustin and El, too. They don’t need to hear this.”

There was a lot of shouting and protesting as even more of the kids started to cry.

Suddenly there was a piercing whistle from the doorway to the hall. All the teens stopped arguing even though the kids kept crying. They turned to the door and there was Joyce and Hopper standing there. Hopper had his fingers to his lips, pointing to him as the cause of the whistle.

The teenagers stared at them in shock and maybe a little bit of fear too. They were so busted.

“Where did you lot get a bunch of children?” Hopper groused. “I don’t think I’d let any of ya babysit for love or money.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Joyce smacked his chest. “Jim!” she cried in amusement.

Suddenly Little Jonathan broke from the crowd of children and dashed straight for Joyce’s legs.

“Mommy!”

Joyce scooped him up out of habit and then froze. “All my babies are grown up, little one.”

Will and El shared a grimace.

Little Jonathan traced a scar on her chin. “Daddy did that. I’m sorry, Mommy.”

Joyce and Jim both went wide-eyed.

Joyce moved Little Jonathan to her hip to get a better look at the little boy in her arms. “Jonathan?”

The little boy nodded.

Of course the other kids were still screaming so Mike and Lucas each grabbed one of the girls to calm down first. Mike took Nancy and began cooing a lullaby. She hiccuped softly, her sobs slackening until they stopped all together.

Hopper waded in and picked up the two boys, bouncing each on his hip. El immediately stood up and grabbed Little Steve from him so he could focus on getting the one quiet. El reading Little Steve’s mind to find a song that would calm him and started humming that.

Once everyone had stopped screaming and Joyce was over her shock, she sat down on the sofa, her son in her arms.

“Will, what’s going on?” she asked her other child.

“We don’t know,” Will huffed. “We know it’s not Upside Down related. El and I checked, but they just woke up like that.”

“They?” Hopper said, looking closer at the child in his arms. “Holy shiiiiivvva,” he said changing the last word at the last second.

“What’s a Shiva?” the little boy asked, cocking his head to the side and looking up at him with chocolate button eyes.

“Shiva is an Indian god,” Hopper huffed. “With too many arms and lots of rage issues.”

“So holy Shiva makes sense,” Little Eddie said solemnly, nodding. “Uncle Wayne said not to swear because they’re big people words. Can I say holy Shiva instead of cussing?”

“Sure, kid,” Hopper said with a huff of laughter.

“Oh no,” Joyce said softly. “If that’s Eddie, and this is Jonathan are those...?”

Will sighed putting his head in his hands.

“I’m afraid so Mrs. Byers,” Dustin said, putting his hands on his hips. “Steve was the first one found like this, then Nancy and Jonathan. We assumed, rightly unfortunately, that Robin and Eddie were affected, too.”

“Does Wayne know about his nephew’s cute-ifaction?” Hopper asked.

Max chewed on her thumbnail. “I think he was the first to know, but didn’t reach out to the rest of us because he didn’t know it had happen to the others, too.”

Hopper set Little Eddie down. “Sounds like you’ve got a bit of a mess. Especially since the reason Joyce and I stopped by is that we’ve got to head out of town for a bit. We were hoping to make sure Steve was aware he had to keep an eye out for you lot.”

“I’m not sure we can leave knowing the older teens are kids now,” Joyce said, holding Jonathan to her chest.

Hopper just shook his head. “I’d agree with you, but Murray was pretty insistent we both be there.”

“Is it Upside Down related?” El asked, cocking her head to the side.

Joyce sighed and then looked over at Hopper.

“We don’t know yet,” Hopper explained calmly. “We know that the Russians tried to open a gate before and if they’ve got someone like Henry Creel, they might try to insert them into the Upside Down to get control of it for their own ends.”

El nodded. “I’ve been keeping an ear out for any stirrings, but there haven’t been so far.”

He kissed her forehead. “That’s good to know.”

“How long will you be gone?” Will asked nervously. He remembered the last time his mom left and really didn’t want to repeat that experience.

Joyce looked up at Hopper and then back at him. “I don’t know love. I know things went bad last time, but that was because a general went crazy and tried to kill El. That won’t happen this time, I promise.”

“No offense, ma’am,” Lucas huffed. “But I really don’t think that’s a promise you can make. I get that it might be Upside Down related, but I don’t know about anyone else, I’m getting tired of grown ups leaving us behind to take on problems well beyond our capacity.”

“You watch your tone, young man,” Joyce said sternly. “It’s not your place to tell adults what they can or cannot do.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’ve still got PTO coming to me then, isn’t it?” Wayne growled from behind them.

“Wayne!” Lucas breathed in relief.

“Went out bought somethings for youngsters,” he said holding up his loot. “You two can go do what you want. I’ll handle this.”

Joyce chewed on her lip and then set Little Jonathan down gently. “I’m going away for a couple of days, but Mr. Munson is going to watch you and your new friends. You’ll be safe, I promise.”

Lucas rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut.

“I’ll take care of it,” Wayne repeated more sternly.

Joyce pressed her lips tightly and then nodded. She pulled money out her purse and handed it to Wayne. “To help cover any food they might need.”

Wayne set down some of the bags he had and took the money. “Thank you.”

“We’ll be in contact,” Hopper said squeezing his shoulder. “Keep the walkie nearby.”

They all nodded.

“Who wants to help me make dinner?” Wayne said with a grin, turning back to the other kids.

A cheer went up.

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @itsall-taken @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs

2- @gregre369 @a-little-unsteddie @irregular-child @cryptid-system @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006

5- @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon @fearieshadow @thesecondfate

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @steddieislife @stripey82 @tony-2012 @stedestielfrattficlover @micheledawn1975

10- @moonshadows-13 @bridget-malfoy-stilinski-hale @morallyundefined @best-thing-at-this-party @ollieolive

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #kid fic

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whosscruffylooking · 6 months ago

Text

Heart of Glass (Open Arms One Shot)

steve harrington x fem!reader Open Arms Masterlist ~Flashback~ a/n: this is a flashback that takes place shortly after the events of season 1 & before Chapter One. steve and nancy are together and y/n is finally trying to move on from that fateful night with steve. word count 2.6k

~1983~

───⋆｡°✩🕰️✩°｡⋆───

It was a quiet night in Hawkins when the knock came at your bedroom window. You were sitting cross-legged on your bed, Blondie’s vinyl echoing through the room, flipping through a magazine, when the sound startled you. You turned to see Steve Harrington perched outside your window, tapping lightly on the glass.

“Steve?” you whispered, heart skipping a beat. “What are you doing here?”

“Let me in,” he whispered back, his voice edged with impatience.

You hesitated but ultimately slid the window up, stepping aside so he could climb in. He stumbled slightly as his sneakers hit the carpet, but he quickly straightened up, his expression stormy.

“What’s wrong with you?” you asked.

“What’s wrong with me?” he repeated, his voice sharp. “What’s wrong with you? I had to hear from Mike—Mike Wheeler—that you’re dating him?”

You blinked, thrown off by his sudden appearance and the accusation in his tone. “You mean Jason? What does it matter to you?”

Steve scoffed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Jason Carver? Really? That guy’s a total jerk, and you know it.

You felt heat rise to your face, anger bubbling up. “He’s nice to me, Steve. And last I checked, you don’t get to decide who I date.”

“I’m just trying to look out for you!”

“Look out for me?” you snapped, stepping closer. “Or is this just about you not liking the idea of me with someone else? Because if that’s it, you don’t get to do this. You don’t get to act like you care when you’re off with Nancy Wheeler or whoever else you’re trying to impress this week!”

Steve froze, his jaw tightening. “That’s not fair.”

“No, what’s not fair is you coming here, barging into my room, and acting like you have a say in my life!”

“I care about you!” he shot back, his voice rising.

“We’re friends, Steve,” you said, your voice breaking slightly. “And that’s fine. But you don’t get to make me feel bad for trying to move on.”

The tension between you was electric. Before either of you could say anything else, the door to your room swung open.

“What is going on in here?”

Your mom’s voice cut through the moment like a knife. She stood in the doorway, her eyes darting between you and Steve, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration.

“Mom—”

“No,” she said firmly, crossing her arms. “Steve, you need to leave. Now.”

Steve looked at you, his face softening slightly, but when he saw your mom’s expression, he nodded. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, climbing back out the window.

Your mom turned to you as soon as he was gone. “What was that about?”

“Nothing,” you said, your voice shaking. “He was just being stupid.”

───⋆｡°✩🕰️✩°｡⋆───

The next day, you were still fuming when Steve showed up at your front door. You opened it reluctantly, arms crossed and a glare fixed on your face.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low and hesitant.

“For what?” you snapped, not ready to let him off the hook so easily.

“For acting like an idiot,” he admitted. “I shouldn’t have come to your room, and I shouldn’t have said all that stuff about Jason.”

You huffed, leaning against the doorframe. “Then why’d you do it, Steve? Why are you so worked up about who I’m dating? You’re the one chasing after Nancy like some lovesick puppy. Remember her? Your girlfriend?”

Steve flinched, his jaw tightening. “It’s not like that,” he said quietly, but the words only made your blood boil.

“Then what is it, Steve?” your voice trembling with frustration. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to barge into my room, yell at me about the guy I’m seeing—who, mind you, isn’t even my boyfriend yet—and then go running back to Nancy like none of this matters.”

He ran a hand through his hair, looking at the ground. “I didn’t mean to mess things up with you,” he said finally. “I just—I hate seeing you with him.”

“Why?” you snapped, your voice cracking under the weight of your frustration. “Because you don’t think he’s good enough for me? Or because you can’t stand the thought of me slipping away while you’re too busy playing house with someone else?”

His head shot up, his eyes locking on yours. For a moment, you thought he might deny it, might tell you that you were overreacting, but instead, he said something that knocked the breath out of you.

“That night,” he began softly, “when it was just us… I can’t stop thinking about it.”

You froze, his words hitting you like a punch to the gut. “Don’t,” you said, shaking your head as your throat tightened. “Don’t bring that up.”

“I can’t help it,” he continued, his voice thick with emotion. “It mattered to me, okay? More than I ever admitted, even to myself. I know you said we are better off as friends. But now it’s like—like I don’t know how to just go back to being us, but I can’t lose you either.”

Your anger flared again, covering the ache building in your chest. “So that’s it, huh? You’re with Nancy, but you’re here, standing on my porch, telling me you can’t stop thinking about that night. Do you even hear yourself, Steve? You’re being so cruel.”

“I know,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “I know it’s not fair, and I don’t know how to fix it. I just—I’m terrified of losing you. You’ve always been there, and now… now it feels like everything’s changing, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”

You stared at him, your heart pounding painfully in your chest. “You don’t get to do this,” you said, your voice trembling. “You don’t get to come here and confuse everything when you already have the perfect girl, Steve. You’re with Nancy, and she’s great, and she’s exactly who you’re supposed to be with. So don’t stand here and act like you’re torn between her and your friendship with me when you’ve already made your choice.”

Steve opened his mouth to respond, but the door behind you creaked open, and your mom stepped out, her eyes darting between the two of you. “Is everything okay out here?”

Steve cleared his throat, stepping back. “Yeah,” he said quickly. “I was just leaving.”

You didn’t look at him as he walked away. You couldn’t.

───⋆｡°✩🕰️✩°｡⋆───

The next day at school, you found a note in your locker written in Steve’s messy handwriting.

You stared at it for a long moment, the words biting at you in all the places you’d tried to numb.

You walked to the trash can without hesitation, letting the note flutter into it. You didn’t look back, didn’t linger. What you didn’t see was Steve, standing across the hallway, his heart sinking as he watched you throw it away.

Maybe this is what he needed. Maybe this was what you needed too.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Jason’s voice cut through your thoughts as he approached with his usual swagger.

You smiled, but it didn’t quite reach your eyes. “Hey, Jason.”

“We still on for tonight?” he asked, hopeful.

“I’m not sure I can make it. I’ve got a ton of homework,” you lied, your voice steady even as guilt flickered in your chest.

The disappointment in his face was unmistakable, but he nodded. “Yeah, sure. Another time.”

You turned away quickly, needing to escape before you said something you didn’t mean. It wasn’t Jason’s fault. He was kind, attentive, everything you probably should want. But none of it felt right—not because of Steve, not anymore—but because you were starting to realize you didn’t need anyone to fill the space you felt inside.

───⋆｡°✩🕰️✩°｡⋆───

Later that night, as your mom got ready for work, she called out from the kitchen, “No Steve in your room while I’m gone, got it?”

You rolled your eyes, the bitterness spilling out before you could stop it. “You don’t have to worry about Steve. Or any guy, for that matter.”

She appeared in your doorway, eyebrows raised in concern. “Why’s that?”

You shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “I just think it’s better this way. No dating, no drama.”

She stepped inside, sitting on the edge of your bed. “Give Jason a chance, honey. That boy’s been trying so hard to get a shot over Steve at your heart.”

You laughed bitterly, shaking your head. “Steve doesn’t have a chance at my heart. He never did. He never will.”

Her expression softened, and she reached out to brush your hair from your face. “Did something happen?”

Tears threatened to spill, but you blinked them back. “I’m just tired, Mom. Tired of being stuck in the middle of something I didn’t ask for. I thought I’d handled it, but I still feel like I’m just waiting for something that’ll never happen.”

She pulled you into a hug, her voice soft against your ear. “Everything that’s meant to be will find its way, sweetheart. Sometimes you just have to let go to see it clearly.”

When she left for work, her words lingered, but they didn’t feel comforting. They felt like a challenge.

An hour later, you picked up the phone book, flipping through the pages with a strange sense of determination. You dial Jason’s number and he answers on the second ring.

“Can I come over?” you asked.

“Of course,” he said without hesitation.

And so, you went. You spent the night covered in kisses, rolling in sheets that mask your past. Not to forget—because forgetting Steve wasn’t possible—but to prove to yourself that you could move forward, that you didn’t need to be defined by someone who could never be more than your friend.

When you left Jason’s house later that night, your mind felt clearer than it had in months. For so long, you felt as if you had a glass heart that was slowly being chipped away at by your friendship with Steve.

Now, Steve Harrington would have no power over you. You weren’t Y/N-and-Steve. You were just you. And you were done waiting for anyone to figure out your worth but yourself.

───⋆｡°✩🕰️✩°｡⋆───

The school dance is alive with music and laughter, the bass thrumming beneath your feet as you sway with Jason. His hands rest comfortably on your waist, and the two of you move as if the rest of the world doesn’t exist. Life has been calm lately—a welcome change after the chaos of your falling-out with Steve. It’s been months since that day on your doorstep, and though you’ve made peace with it, the ache of his absence still lingers in the background.

Across the room, Steve leans against the refreshment table, staring blankly into the crowd. Nancy notices his distant expression and loops her arm through his.

“You should talk to her,” she says softly.

“What? Who?” Steve blinks, startled, trying to play dumb.

Nancy gives him a knowing look. “Y/N. It’s been long enough, Steve. She’s probably moved past it by now. And honestly, parties like this are way less fun without your best friend to gossip with. Trust me… I get it. I always feel Barb’s absence at stuff like this.”

Steve sighs and shifts his weight uncomfortably. “I don’t even know what I’d say to her.”

Nancy smiles gently, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. “Start with something simple. Ask her how she’s doing. And if you get the chance, apologize again. She deserves that much, at least.”

Her words strike a chord, and Steve nods reluctantly. Straightening his jacket, he presses a quick kiss to Nancy’s forehead before making his way toward you.

As he approaches, Jason’s grip on your waist tightens, his protective instincts kicking in. Steve notices, his heart sinking as he watches Jason’s territorial display. It’s a foreign feeling—he’s spent his whole life being the one protecting you, not the one you’re being protected from.

“Harrington,” Jason says sharply, announcing Steve’s presence.

You turn, your gaze meeting Steve’s for the first time in months. The air between you is heavy, and for a moment, neither of you speaks.

“Steve,” you say finally, your tone cautious but steady.

“What do you want, Harrington?” Jason steps forward slightly, his posture radiating hostility.

Steve’s jaw tightens, but he swallows his pride. “I just wanted to see how you were doing,” he says, his voice calm but laced with something deeper.

“I’m fine,” you reply, your tone unreadable.

Steve hesitates before asking, “Do you mind walking with me to get some punch?”

Jason’s eyes narrow, but you don’t give him a chance to protest. “That’s fine,” you say, pressing a quick kiss to Jason’s cheek before stepping away.

“I’ll be right here,” Jason calls after you, his voice firm.

As you and Steve weave through the crowd, the silence between you is thick with unspoken tension.

“So… punch, huh?” you say, your voice carrying a hint of sarcasm.

Steve smirks faintly, leaning in slightly. “I’ve got something stronger. Don’t worry.”

You fight the smile tugging at your lips, but a tiny smirk escapes. Damn him—you missed this.

“It’s my peace offering,” he continues. “For being a complete asshole. I overstepped, and I know I hurt you. I was just… confused back then. About everything. About us. It’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth.”

You feel a lump rising in your throat as he speaks, the weight of his words hitting you harder than you expected.

“Truth is,” he goes on, his voice quieter now, “I’ve been miserable without you. My parents see it. Hell, Nancy sees it. I’ve been walking around like a shell of myself because I don’t know how to do this—any of it—without you. I miss you, Y/N. More than I can put into words.”

You blink back tears, your walls cracking just enough to let him in. “I don’t think either of us were ready for everything that happened… after, you know,” you say, carefully avoiding mention of that night. “But I miss you too, Steve. I really do.”

Relief floods his face, and for the first time in months, you see the softness in his eyes that always made you feel safe.

“I know we needed space,” he says, “but I’d rather be stupid with you than sensible without you.”

You chuckle lightly, shaking your head. “You’re such a dork.”

He grins, pulling a flask from his jacket and handing it to you. “Here. Stronger stuff, just like I promised.”

As Steve hands you the flask, his gaze drifts across the room, searching for Nancy. His eyes land on her, laughing with Jonathan, her hand lightly resting on Jonathan’s arm as they share a quiet joke. The sight hits Steve harder than he expected. There’s something there—something still lingering between them, unspoken but undeniable. His chest tightens, and for a moment, he feels a pang of jealousy.

Steve looks back at you, allowing himself to fully take in your presence. The tension from before melts away. If Nancy can still date him and be around Jonathan, then he can do the same with you. He can let himself have this—the one thing that makes him feel truly happy.

You take the flask, leaning in closer than you mean to. “To us,” you say, raising the flask before taking a quick swig.

Steve doesn’t drink. He doesn’t need to. The way you look at him, the way your lips curve as you say those words—it’s intoxicating enough.

And once again, like always, he’s addicted.

#steve harrington #stranger things #steve harrington fanfic #steve x reader #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #stranger things fic #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington angst #open arms au #steve harrington x fem!reader

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davinashifts333 · 6 months ago

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THE SECRET AFFAIR (Jason DiLaurentis x Liar!Reader): ⚫️summary; one year after Alison’s disappearance everything in Rosewood went haywire. Y/n, Aria’s maternal cousin & now 1/5 of the remaining Liars, who had either an equal amount or possibly even more secrets than her childhood friends, had been dating her now presumed dead best friend’s brother. That’s right, since before the summer of Alison’s disappearance Y/n & Jason had secretly been hooking up & began officially dating due to her helping him sober up & help him through his toughest nights that now gloomed over his past. She was his main alibi for the night everything happened with Alison but, obviously couldn’t tell anyone why she was with him. So why now, that they’re finally putting Alison to rest does it all go to shit? Because the whole town believes one of the liars did it. ⚠️warnings; swearing, age gap relationship (Y/n is the same age as the girls but one of the oldest, so 5-6 years younger than Jason), adult themes, murder, gore-ish?, PLL shit dude, it’s crazy, 18+ ONLY!

•

Y/N’s POV (first day of Junior Year):

A banging on my door, or what I registered as banging woke me up as my alarm clock blared out loud.

“Y/n! Time to get up! You’ve got 20 before you and Aria have to go!” My aunt Ella announced as I sat up, groggy but somewhat at peace? It was weird ever since I saw Jason again, I felt like I could breathe again. Like everything was falling into place. I felt like myself.

“Getting ready now! Thanks Ella!” She never asked me to call her aunt, she hated the idea of forcing the title on me so, Ella it was. I put on a casual yet stylish outfit and headed to wash my face and do my morning hygiene. Bumping into Mike who just rolled his eyes half asleep.

I scoffed as I let his tween gestures roll off my back, he took it the hardest when I had to move in with them, he stated he already had one sister to hate, now he would be forced to have two? Aria and I met out by my old DeVille that I inherited from my mom, hopped in and drove to school. When we arrived I spotted a familiar car half a block away and Aria elbowed me.

“Go get him, i’ll wait for you inside.” She smirked as she slipped out of the car and was soon replaced by Jason sitting in her seat.

“Happy first day of Junior year, doll.”

He pulled a small box out of his jacket and handed it to me. Red, like the old streaks I used to have in my hair with a white bow wrapped around it. Inside was a silver locket, shaped like a heart with a rose on the front and our initials engraved on the back. I opened the heart to find a picture of us from the last time we saw each other.

“Jason! You didn’t have to do this! I love it, thank you.” I reached over the middle console and placed a small kiss to his cheek. He smiled as brightly as i’d ever seen and it brought a warmth to my heart.

“I missed that smile. Really, thank you for the gift.” He locked eyes with me while grabbing hold of the locket and gestured for me to turn, allowing him to place it on me. It was surreal, a year ago we had our entire lives uplifted because of Alison’s disappearance and Aria and I moved around the world. Now, it feels like everything was looking up. Until a sudden ding on my phone. I grab it quickly thinking it was Aria but was surprised to see a name I hadn’t since the summer before everything with Ali.

‘Isn’t Jason looking nice. Maybe this picture should be sent to everyone who would care. Maybe like the cops? -A’

The photo attached is he and I kissing the day I came back to Rosewood. My hand begins to shake and Jason takes notice. I lock my phone as he reaches for it and clear my throat.

“Just a text from my dad, haven’t heard from him in a while. Anyway, I have to get to class, Aria is waiting for me.” I smile and he kisses me tenderly.

“Alright, call me when you get out, maybe we can go for dinner or you can come over? Okay?” I nod and kiss him once more before we both exit the car. We never hid, only because of the age difference but recently this last week was perfect. We were more public but still a bit nervous of what everyone would think. I head into the school only for Aria to begin cheesing at me like crazy.

“Multiple kisses!?! The double exit from the car, the necklace!? God, you are so lucky!” She touches the necklace before linking our arms. She was always so supportive of Jason and I and I could not be more happy. Well, I could have.. Until the goddamn text.. How was I supposed to tell Aria? What if the others were getting them too? What if Jason was hurt? The day flew by fast and before I knew it, I was back in my car heading home with Aria blasting the radio. What am I going to do?

•

A/N: SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY BUT AFTER ALL OF THE POSITIVE RESPONSES TO THE FIRST PART I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE STORY!! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!! MORE TO COME!! 🩷

#davinashifts333 #pretty little liars #pretty little liars x reader #mona vanderwaal #emily fields #spencer hastings #alison dilaurentis #pll #hanna marin #aria montgomery #jason dilaurentis #jason dilaurentis x y/n #jason dilaurentis x reader #pll girls

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thranduel · 3 months ago

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"the entire show revolves around mike and el's relationship, mike and will’s relationship isn’t as important"

…

how did mike and el meet in the first place?

mike was looking for WILL, his best friend of many years, after el opened the gate that resulted in his disappearance.

why did mike let el stay with them?

despite originally planning to send her away (“we’ll send her back to pennhurst or wherever she comes from” - start of ep 2), after he found out the “bad men” were after her and she told him he can’t tell any adult, he didn’t really have a choice. then he eventually found out she had powers and thought that would be their best way to get WILL back because WILL was the main person on his mind during the entirety of season 1 (and 2).

so no, he didn’t let her stay with them because “he fell in love with her at first sight”.

we already knew the love at first sight trope was bullshit, and finn himself has recently confirmed it too.

“mike never gave up on finding el in season 2”

not sure how this is used as “romantic proof” for mike and el only when he literally did the same thing for will FIRST in season 1. he never gave up on finding will. he spent day and night PHYSICALLY going out of his way searching for him even though he was warned not to and he knew it was dangerous. he used a walkie talkie, a radio, and even el herself to do whatever he could to contact will and get him back. if you’re gonna act like his actions in season 2 were romantic just because el is a girl and they were forced into a “relationship” at the age of 12 after knowing each other for 6 days, don’t ignore what he did for will (his best friend that he’s known for years) in season 1 just because will is a boy. he did the same for both of them, and like i said, whatever he did for el, he did for will first anyways. the only difference is that the writers made him kiss el to make their relationship romantic. and i’m not saying his actions for will HAD to be romantic in the first season, but i’m just pointing out the hypocrisy. whenever it’s a boy and girl, it’s romantic and they’re in love, but when it’s a boy and boy (even if one of those boys canonically is in love with the other), it’s “just friendship” and their meaningful moments are easily dismissed because people don’t wanna acknowledge them.

how did mike end up apologising to el in season 3 after their fight?

that wasn't el, that was actually WILL that he apologised to after a fight. he didn't chase after el. he sat on his couch feeling sorry for himself and mocking girls for being “too emotional”. but when will was upset, he rode his bike across town during a thunderstorm and looked for him everywhere to say he was sorry, because he couldn’t bear the thought of will being sad, especially after seeing the hurt expression on his face after he blurted out “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls.”

how did mike suddenly gain strength to say he loves el?

oh, right, because WILL gave him the painting he worked so hard on for him and confessed his OWN feelings for him in the van, using el's name as a disguise. that's the only reason mike was suddenly able to say “i love you”, because mike and el are incapable of managing their own relationship issues on their own without outside help. el screamed and cried and basically begged mike to say those 3 words, but he didn’t. he could only do it after will gave him strength and made him feel loved. mike has ALWAYS felt insecure and inferior in his relationship with el (he said it himself), but the ONLY thing that gave him happiness, strength and comfort was what will said.

“either way, mike still had a long monologue for el.”

first of all, i’m gonna bring up the “whatever he did for el, he did for will first anyways” statement, because it’s true 🫣 they really love re-using mike and will’s meaningful moments lol.

mike’s first long, meaningful monologue was for will in season 2. he was actually telling the complete truth, and it ended up reaching him and giving him so much strength that he was able to communicate with them and help save the world.

in season 4, he desperately makes up lies and exaggerates things (that contradict what we literally saw in the show in season 1) because he’s trying to save el in the moment, but viewers that actually pay attention immediately knew most of it made no sense (i’m not saying he doesn’t love el as a person - HE DOES. but all the romantic exaggerations and “love at first sight” bullshit just sounded ridiculous in that moment). he had to essentially be guilt tripped and pressured into saying “i love you” in multiple ways. nothing about that scene was romantic. it was stressful and devastating (for multiple people) and it didn’t actually end up saving the world at all. look what happened to max and the entire town.

that monologue will always be associated with their failure, not their success, so how is that romantic? why would el ever want to remember that as the moment her boyfriend first said he loved her?

tell me again, how does the show revolve around mike and el’s relationship and how is mike and will’s relationship “not as important” when WILL is the only reason mike and el met and the only reason they’re still even together? it’s so obvious will and el were always supposed to be written as two sides of the same coin; twins basically, with so many parallels and similarities. people can list all the things they find romantic about mike and el, and i can list even MORE things in return that can be applied to mike and will.

the only reason mike and will’s moments aren’t seen as romantic by most people is because they’re two boys

and it’s absolutely ridiculous that forced heteronormativity blinds people so badly because mike and will’s relationship is genuinely more healthy and realistic, but they only accept mike and el as romantic because that’s “the norm” and what we’re expected to accept. even in the show, that’s all the characters see, because of forced heteronormativity.

i know we’ve all spoken about this so many times but i am just so insanely tired of people’s hypocrisy. we all know for a 100% FACT that all these general viewers around the world would not have blindly accepted mike and el’s relationship if they were both the same gender. and for the record, regardless of el being a boy or girl, i personally still think her romantic relationship with mike is bad and wouldn’t want them together because they just simply don’t work romantically.

but even when we point out all the valid reasons why, no one wants to admit it JUST because she’s a girl. but if she were a boy, not only would they admit it’s bad and see what we’re talking about, they’d be having meltdowns and would’ve tried cancelling the show immediately by screaming about how forced and inappropriate it is to “force a sexuality” (they always say this about anything related to being gay) onto this traumatised child who just escaped a lab and has no idea what romance is, but apparently it’s totally okay for them to force a romantic relationship onto her with a boy she’s only known for 6 days JUST because this relationship is straight and anything straight is acceptable even if it’s weird.

and then switch will’s gender. imagine if he was a girl instead of a boy. we have the very popular and well loved “childhood best friends” romance trope that everyone enjoys. mike and will have had years to develop a friendship and get to know each other, they have so much in common, they feel safe and comfortable around each other, they communicate and resolve their issues without outside help and they don’t lie to each other and can actually be THEMSELVES with each other. all traits of a very beautiful, genuine and healthy relationship. it sounds perfect, right? will seems like the obvious choice for mike. “she” (still pretend will is a girl for a moment) knew him before anyone else and “she’s” been at the centre of everything since the start (remember, mike and el wouldn’t have even MET if mike wasn’t searching for will, and they wouldn’t even still be together after that s4 monologue if will didn’t lie about the painting and confess “her” own feelings using el’s name as a disguise).

absolutely EVERYONE would be rooting for this and accepting this, because it IS the better romantic ship. but they just REFUSE to see it that way because will is a boy and it makes them uncomfortable. but yeah, like i said, it’s just crazy to me. swap el and will’s genders and then everyone will immediately switch sides on who they ship. it all comes down to homophobia. i can tell people lack basic common sense and media literacy and don’t understanding the shows they’re watching at all. it’s just what they deem as “acceptable” on the surface and it’s so painfully obvious.

#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #byler analysis #stranger things analysis

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lune-moon-nuit · 5 months ago

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Thoughts about Mike I had last week while watching the middle of season 4

While watching Season 4 last week (yes, I’m extremely late to the party), I’m truly astonished at how misunderstood Mike is by much of the fandom and the general audience. It’s clear that Mike from Seasons 3 and 4 often comes across as an awkward idiot who can hurt others with his words or actions—particularly Will and El. This starkly contrasts with how he behaved in Seasons 1 and 2. However, it seems people overlook an important factor: Mike is now a teenager. A teenager who already carries a significant amount of trauma yet isn’t in a position to complain, because he has always been the friend or boyfriend supporting the “main victim” of the story.

Mike was traumatized by Will’s disappearance, by the abnormal events and creatures that turned their lives and town upside down. He has witnessed countless deaths—just in the episode I recently finished in Season 4, he literally watched a government agent die right in front of him after barely surviving a shootout, and he even helped bury the body himself alongside Jonathan, Will and Argyle. Let’s not forget that Mike has also come close to death multiple times. The list of what he’s endured is long. Yet through all of it, he was just a child, then a teenager.

While it’s true he’s sometimes hurtful or clumsy in his behavior toward El—primarily out of awkwardness—people forget that this is his first romantic relationship. And not just any relationship: one forged under extraordinary circumstances. El herself couldn’t initially distinguish between familial love and romantic love, and Mike was subtly pushed into seeing El romantically, thanks to a heteronormative society and remarks like Lucas’s, which suggested a boy taking care of a girl must mean he “likes” her. After all, in such an environment, a boy and girl can’t just share a bond of care without romantic undertones.

Another critical detail the fandom seems to overlook relates to Will. In Season 1, at just 10 to 12 years old, Mike had suicidal thoughts. He literally jumped off a cliff, unaware that El would use her powers to save him. He had no idea. He made a deliberate choice to jump, hiding behind the bully’s threat toward Dustin. But let’s be honest—anyone with a natural survival instinct wouldn’t so easily choose to leap to their death, even under pressure. Mike knew he had no chance of surviving that fall. It was deliberate.

So we must ask: What drives a 12-year-old boy to feel so hopeless, despite having friends and a family who love him? By now, we know that Mike, alongside Will, was a target of relentless bullying, much of it homophobic. Even Mike’s father made homophobic remarks in Season 1, adding pressure that Mike likely didn’t fully comprehend. At the cliffside, hope for finding Will alive was nearly gone. Mike had lost all hope. I genuinely believe that for him to have reached that point, the weight of his struggles was far heavier than we realized.

Mike has suffered immensely. He was already dealing with significant psychological distress in Season 1, which continued to accumulate. In Season 1, his focus was on finding Will. In Season 2, it was on protecting and saving Will. In Season 3, he acted like a “normal” teenager, but he was still targeted—being threatened violently by an adult who lashed out simply because Mike was behaving like any other boyfriend with El. Instead of questioning the why behind his actions, people just blamed him. In Season 4, rather than asking why Mike struggles to express his love for El, the audience blames him for supposedly not loving her enough.

But if Mike is confused—if he struggles to articulate his feelings—why is that? Mike has always been the devoted friend and boyfriend, but the series rarely highlights the immense psychological toll this has taken on him. His reactions, in truth, are quite logical and normal. Especially when you consider the more-than-plausible theory that Mike is either bisexual or homosexual. His internalized homophobia, combined with societal pressure in the 1980s, the fear of judgment, the fear of himself, and his confusion about his own feelings, all align perfectly with his behavior in Seasons 3 and 4. After all, adolescence is when most people begin to explore their sexual identity, desire, and emotions.

Take his words to Will, where he mentions their meeting in kindergarten as “the best thing that ever happened to him.”Mike’s connection to Will is profound. But being a gay teenager in the 1980s—while also not wanting to hurt El, whom he deeply cares for and feels responsible toward—would mean he’s carrying immense self-hatred, frustration, anger, fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, and the overwhelming sense of being “wrong” (a feeling Will also experiences).

All of this makes me believe that Season 5 could greatly benefit from focusing on Mike by making him Vecna’s target. Vecna would have plenty to exploit: Mike’s traumas, his unspoken suffering, and his struggles with his sexuality. It would be a perfect way to force Mike to confront who he is and what he feels for Will—while also allowing Will to learn the truth. Such a storyline would introduce rich internal conflict, both for Mike and for their relationship.

Considering how explicitly queer-coded Mike is in Season 4, it would be an enormous waste not to explore this as a central narrative thread in Season 5. Doing so would not only bring Will and Mike’s relationship to the forefront but would also give us a deeper look into Mike’s psyche—all the pain he has endured silently, all the while remaining loyal and supportive toward Will and El. Mike has worried for them, searched for them, protected them, and fought for them. It’s time the series recognizes that, even without powers, Mike is the heart of the group. Without him, everything falls apart.

#byler #mike wheeler #stranger things #stranger things analysis #stranger things theory #byler endgame #byler tumblr #mike wheeler analysis

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littybeech · 1 year ago

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Ten things the Twilight animated series can do better than the original movies (if they care enough to, please add all your own points to this as I will, too.) :

1. Include ALL of the book scenes, without having to change them to make them easier to film (for obvious reasons, since it’ll be animated they shouldn’t have much issue there.)

2. Their daughter, Remoulade can actually look like the book described her (or better or worse) and not the CGI monstrosity we got twelve years ago.

3. Make all the characters fit their book looks to complete accuracy. Alice was 4’10 and the movies made her 5’5. They let Edward have brown hair when he’s a ginger. Jacob and the wolf pack had better be above 6’5! I want 23 year old Carlisle and 26 year old Esme playing parents to like three legal adults and two 17 year olds.

4. The parentification of Bella Swan, by both of her parents, mustn’t be ignored. Bella was making sure the bills were getting paid by the time she was 10 cause her mom was ‘too flighty and distracted’ to do things like that consistently, she also learned to cook and clean early on too because her mom’s cooking was inedible and she’d improperly mix cleaning solutions dangerously. She got a job at 14 and took care of the groceries and any other issue necessary on top of being in AP classes in school. By the time she moved in with Charlie, she was basically more of a parent than he was. He did the bare minimum to ensure her car’s safety by installing snow chains on her tires without telling her and she cried because she wasn’t used to being taken care of.

5. How she cries when she’s angry is peak girlhood and I hate that they got rid of that in the movies. She stomped her feet bro, like c’mon she was so angry and anxious and annoyed all the time and they only focused on her angst.

6. Integrate aspects of Midnight Sun too, maybe incorporate them both so we can get a more full story. Twilight on its own was a bit of a snooze fest compared to Midnight Sun. We’re gonna pretend that Edward hunting and eating Esme’s abusive ex-husband isn’t hot af?

7. Add in more character’s back stories. Alice’s abusive father and stepmother, Emmett’s gambling and womanizing as a human in Tennessee, etc.

8. Unfortunately we need to make it clear that Charlie’s not winning any father of the year awards here either. He congratulated Jacob after forcing a kiss on her and joked about Jacob pressing assault charges on her after she breaks her hand punching him away.

9. Maybe ask why the Cullens…’need’ so desperately to come back to Forks every couple of years? Like they’re multi-billionaires, they’re immortal and there are plenty of gloomy, cloudy places they could live in semi-permanently. Why Forks when they know the Quileutte tribe knows what they are and they know it makes them so uncomfortable? It just seems unnecessary.

10. More of Edward reading Mike Newton’s inner-monologue. I know it would depend on whose perspective we get but I think the idea is hilarious.

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morganski-19 · 1 year ago

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Chills Right to the Marrow Part 13

part 1, prev part

There’s this feeling at the top of a roller coaster that is meant to excite, to look forward to. Where the exhilaration and adrenaline kicks in and everyone feels like the top of the world. Only for the calm to set in when the ride is over, and the line keeps growing to feel it all again.

If life were a rollercoaster, Dustin’s would be a fucked up one. Where just as the drop finishes, and everything seems to calm down, the machine starts to clink and bring you back up to the top again. Over. And Over. And Over again.

Dustin’s scared that this calm won’t be so calm tomorrow. Or in a year when life gets back to normal again, and the people in hospital are out and better, like it does. Just for it all to go to a burning pile of shitty hell. For Dustin to end up sitting in the hospital chairs again.

Never the bed.

It’s not that he’s upset that he’s healthy. It’s not that he’s upset that he’s never had to stay in the hospital for a night. It’s just the fact that while everyone else seems to get hurt, he stays perfectly fine. And he doesn’t know why.

He’s put himself in dangerous situations. Fights, tunnels, right in front of a fucking demogorgon. In all the scenarios, he should have gotten hurt. There wasn’t a book that he read where everyone walked away perfectly fine.

Frodo walked to Mordor and wasn’t fine. Neither was Samwise. Dustin’s not a Frodo or a Samwise, maybe he’s a Mary or Pippin. They didn’t walk away without a scratch either. His DnD character can’t even get out of a battle without dying.

Why is he so okay? Why have his dice always rolled so high?

And why does he seem to be more bothered that this than the people in the hospital beds?

Max is smiling and laughing right now. She’s almost like she was last summer. Making fun of them in a way that kinda stung sometimes but mostly was out of love. Not thinking about the fact that she might never ride a skateboard again. Not thinking about the fact that she won’t see the way their faces change as they grow. The way her own face will change as she grows.

Her life has changed in a way that can’t be changed back. How is she not having a bigger reaction to this?

“Hey,” Max calls out in Dustin’s direction. “Come here, I want to feel your face.”

“Huh?”

Mike groans from across the room. “She’s been doing it with everyone. It’s just an excuse to mess with you.”

Max rolls her clouded eyes. “The blind girl wants to make sure he friends are ok. There are no other ulterior motive here.”

“You’re just going to poke him in the eye or some shit.”

“My hands are my eyes now, Michael.”

Mike rolls his eyes, giving Dustin a look like “I warned you.”

Lucas gets up from the chair closest to Max to let Dustin get closer. He leans closer to the bed as Max reaches out her hands to find his face. She pokes around, finding the brim of his hat and pulls it down to his nose.

“Idiot,” Max snorts.

“Told you,” Mike says. Will smacks him in the arm.

Dustin makes a face while fixing his hat, switching seats with Lucas. And then again when El comes in. The room sounding anything like a hospital. Like Mike’s basement while they are watching movies or hanging out. Like the worst didn’t happen and just a week ago, where Max wasn’t just told she would be blind forever.

He walks out of the room and heads to Eddie’s. Eddie who’s awake, but not really. Who opens his eyes and it makes Dustin so happy. Just to see something that resembles him, but isn’t just quite it.

Happiness comes and goes so fast that Dustin almost misses it. Overshadowed by this feeling of knowing that nothing is going back to the way it was. He’ll never be the person he was before. None of them will.

That’s the worst part of this all. He’s seen the way that Will became quieter. Different in a way that none of them will really understand. Saw the way that Max shut down after Billy died. Overcome by her grief. How Steve pushes himself so hard he breaks, and Robin tries to forget it all even happened. Saw how pain can cause a person to die.

The doctors still don’t know what’s going to happen when Eddie finishes waking up. They won’t know how long he’ll still be here, or what damage is in his body. To his brain. His nerves. If he’ll be able to play guitar again. Dustin never even got to see him play a real concert. He wanted to see that.

Time keeps passing and Eddie’s missing it. Classes have restarted and he won’t catch up. Not when he’ll still be in recovery for months. He won’t be walking across that stage to get his diploma. He might not even get it at all.

Dustin takes his seat next to Wayne and just looks at Eddie. Can’t bring himself to take the book out of his bag and read. Wanting to find any sign that this was all worth it. That the painful hope that Dustin is clinging to isn’t dragging him to the bottom. That Eddie will continue to wake up tomorrow.

“You ok, Dustin?”

“Every day I come in here and wish he would say something. Anything.”

Wayne nods, as solemn as he always is. “Me too.”

“You’re back in school now, right? How’s that going?”

School is a completely different battle. The Hellfire shirt that he wore with pride is now an endless target. The insults that would already be slung his way amplified. Walking through the halls feels like shooting range. Another reminder that he knows a truth that none of them will.

“As good as you’d expect it to.”

Another nod. It’s nice to have someone listen to him without trying to fix it. Just let him talk at his own pace without trying to make it better. Make him feel any differently than he does. It brings a comfort to Dustin that he never really knew, or understands.

“Where’s that book of yours, I was starting to get invested.”

“I’m not sure I’m up for reading it today.”

Wayne shrugs. “Why don’t I then? I can’t do the voices like you or Ed do, but I can read.”

It’s like Wayne knows the real reason why Dustin’s reading the book. Makes him feel weirdly seen. Like for a moment, someone understood him more than he wanted them too.

Still, he takes the book out of his bag and hands it to Wayne. Watches as he turns to the page and messes up the character names. Take a breath each time one of the weirder ones comes up and sounds it out. Trying his best to get it all right, even though he’s still doing it a little wrong.

Next part

tag list, let me know if you want to be added or removed: @the-they-who-nerded, @insteviewetrust, @croatoan-like-its-hot, @jettestar,

@tinyplanet95, @steddie-as-they-go, @slv-333, @littlecelestialmoth, @thatonebadideapanda,

@fandomsanddeath, @marismorar, @wonderland-girl143-blog, @glass-bottle03, @gutterflower77,

@here4thetrama, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @jaytriesstuff, @cryptid-system, @manda-panda-monium,

@resident-gay-bitch, @anaibis, @xxsutherlandxx, @forevermineliv, @mugloversonly,

@gregre369, @n0-1-important, @different-tale-student, @spectrum-spectre, @tartarusknight,

@devondespresso, @swimmingbirdrunningrock, @cheertain, @anti-ozzie, @autumncrocusandladybug,

@greeniebean911, @cr0w-culture, @stillfullofshit, @connected-dots, @daisynotquake,

@morgannotlefay, @a-little-unsteddie, @dolphincliffs, @maskofmirrors, @me-and-my-sloth,

#chills right to the marrow fic #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #dustin henderson #dustin pov #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #mike wheeler #will byers #el hopper #wayne munson #everyone lives/nobody dies #eddie munson #less so in a coma #he's almost out i swear #hospitals

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chemical-ghoul · 4 months ago

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emily armstrong scientology thingo

That freak who wants Emily dead and thinks she’s married to Chester has me blocked so I can post whatever I want now thank the fucking lord 🙏

I've done tons of research on this topic and like… there is so much proof against Emily being in Scientology, people refuse to inform themselves outside of random articles or listen to people of the likes of Jamie Bennington, who is known for making up obvious vile lies about the band & who's own mother has a restraining order against him due to his crazy claims and stalkerish behaviour. Obviously we won't know anything until and unless Emily says something but I'm absolutely willing to bet she's either on her way out or has been out for a while.

If there’s anything wrong here please do feel free to correct me, I love learning about this topic.

For the things that still may qualify her being in the cult, other than her ~2013 & prior involvement from the gala (that brought awareness to this issue in the first place) the only CURRENT things I can think of are probably

1: her relationship with her mother--it doesn't necessarily mean she's in or out, but her mother is a higher up in the cult and therefore would probably want to provent her daughter leaving. Emily has discussed speaking to her mother as recently as September.

and 2: the other members of her band Dead Sara either are or have previously also been scientologists. again this doesn’t mean she hasn’t left, but it would explain why she wouldn’t speak out as it would make her into a suppressive person and have her immediately lose that connection if they are still inside of the cult.

As much as I wish she wouldn’t, I understand why she would still want to connect with her mother even if she isn’t in the cult anymore. And she can absolutely do that, but if she wants to speak out about it it’d mean leaving her mother and potentially her bandmates behind and becoming a suppressive person, which I doubt she would want to do. From what I can gather, she’s most likely left silently.

The only real proof of her ever being properly active in the cult at the time of me writing this, are from photos and other peoples retellings of her as a child (some of which explain just how uninterested she was IN actually being a scientologist), one completed task on her profile from 2007 & the latest being in 2013, when she went to a Scientology celebrity gala (probably the wrong name but i'm mind blanking) and there's been basically nothing since.

For the things against her being in the cult: For starters she has never promoted the cult. She's mentioned having a therapist in recent interviews and discusses mental health & anti religion SO much in her music. I don't think someone whose ideologies still line up with Scientology would have been as anti religion and pro mental health help as she is and has been. I believe a while after 2013, maybe roughly when 'Pleasure to Meet You' (Dead Sara’s 2nd full album) released?, is when her lyrics began getting more close to lyrics that a scientologist probably wouldn't write. Alongside this, since 2017, a few years after PTMY came out, fans have noticed changes in her attitude that make her seem a lot happier and less tired. I think this change is worth a mention, as the record that came out after 2017, Temporary Things Taking Up Space, is so lyrically against all of Scientology’s values it’s shocking a so called hardcore scientologist could even think to sing these songs.

Colin, Linkin Park’s drummer, has denied himself having any connections with the cult in a vague instagram comment, which isn't much but I do think if they want to stay quiet small instagram comments poking fun at people accusing them is a fine way to go about confirming anything. Mike spoke out about Scientology a year after he met her--which in most cases and discussions i've seen, would have a scientologist cut ties entirely with a person. She has associated with many people who have left the cult and spoken out about them, Mike being the most obvious example but Beck is a good one too. He left the cult many years ago and only spoke out about it years later due to fear of retaliation from the church. She’s also friends with Brian Bowen Smith who to my knowledge photographed Leah Remini for her book about Scientology.

Her being a lesbian also helps my case, but not by much because if anything it really depends on if she came out before she was in Dead Sara or not. They tend to allow famous people to be lgbtq without issue by the looks of things, but we aren't sure when she came out. Speaking of DS, they have performed at lots of events raising money and awareness for mental health including the charity Talinda Bennington (Chester's wife) set up after Chester passed away. Not really relevant but worth a mention, they’re also good friends with the band Badflower, who have songs that are very openly about mental health and abuse. I don’t see a scientologist being friends with someone like Josh Katz who can write and sing those words.

The people accusing her of being a hardcore scientologist (Cedric and his wife Chrissie? could be wrong about her name—also those shitty scientology youtubers who keep making videos on this subject that should really be dropped by now LMAO) are still yet to really show any proof she's still in other than claims which I don't think should be taken as 100% fact—none of this paragraph stuff should either but I think someone who’s been a LP fan for years and has always been very openly anti scientology may have a good outlook on the situation so this is my two cents.

#emily armstrong #scientology #emily armstrong is not in scientology #if she is somehow a scientologist she’s broke so many of their shitty rules it’s kind of funny LMAO #linkin park #dead sara #from zero #linkin park 2024 #linkin park comeback

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muontron · 6 months ago

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Alright, Rise April and Donnie mean SO much to me and it’s not even FUNNY. They’ve always been my top two favorites since watching, and my resolve on liking them really only got stronger after watching Donnie v. Witch town. (Objectively the best episode, by the way, but I digress—) this is the perfect segue to discuss how Donnie v. Witch Town was probably the BEST April/donnie centric episode in all of rise.

And although this is incredibly opinionated and biased, as this specific episode just so happens to be my FAVORITE episode, I still will put my cognitive bias aside and give you, the audience, solid evidence as to why this episode: Donnie V. Witch Town—is objectively the best episode in 1) explaining how and why Donnie acts the way he does, 2) demonstrating the strength of Donnie and Aprils friendship and Sibling-hood.

1) EXPLAINING WHY DONNIE IS THE WAY HE IS:

Okokok. So. Without a doubt, this is tumblr, and therefore, technically, I DONT need to explain Donnie’s autistic coding. But I still will because I for one am autistic and seeing such good rep makes me so happy that I just NEED to talk about it 24/7. If this is getting repetitive you can skip ahead. But if you don’t, this is some important foresight that changes the theme of Donnie V. Witch Town substantially, even though it may not seem like it. But I will make it quick so I can get to my main point: Donnie is Autistic. His coding is very prevalent and obvious, and saying he ISNT is autistic erasure. Donnie infodumps when he gets the chance to about his inventions, interests, or otherwise, and often gets hyperfixations very easily. (FAB spray, his dubbed “speech mode” from Leo, basically the entirety of Donnie’s gifts episode (which plays a lot heavily into Donnie v witch town just you wait), atomic lass, purple game). Donnie also has a so-called “monotonous” voice and has a limited tonal range. He isn’t very good with displaying or understanding emotions, especially when it comes to other peoples emotions, (like when Mikey was crying over Mike Tony’s pizzeria closing down, and Donnie saying “now that we’ve all moved on-“ mere seconds after explaining why he never liked Mike Tony’s. And then later saying “I WAS ONLY PRETENDING TO BE SAD WHEN IT HAPPENED TO MIKEY BUT NOW THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME, I HURT” when his favorite closes down too) despite this despite this (one off gag) however, Donnie isn't an emotional brick wall and understands negative emotions and feelings. But because of his low empathy coding Donnie simply just can’t FEEL that. Donnie also has a multitude of sensory issues that are sprinkled in across the whole series (such as, flavorless juice, prioritizing comfort, the battle shell and the whole deal with his soft shell, AND THE RISE MOVIE. Iykyk.)

Now that all of us have either had a good refresher of what happened OR, contrarily, educated on the matter, let’s all go back to the episode of Donnie’s gifts. This episode is an extremely important one in context with Donnie V. Witch town, and totally changes the perspective of that episode (in my not so humble opinion) when watching it from that lens. If you recall properly, Donnie’s gifts was basically about Donnie, well, making his brother, gifts. That end up being more harmful than good.

However, A lot of people miss the intention of that episode. Donnie wasn’t being a pretentious a-hole just because he could be a pretentious a-hole. He didn’t make these devices that basically hamper his brothers more and call out their every mistake JUST to pick on them and make them feel bad. Absolutely NOT. His INTENTION with MAKING those devices—(albeit concerning)—was in good faith. He made those devices because he GENUINELY thought, wholeheartedly, that they would help. And of course this isn’t really an EXCUSE for making your brother a shock collar that sends a 4000 watt jolt through his body every time he says a one off pun, but rather an explanation for Donnie’s behavior. Donnie made those devices, because he loves his brothers, and he wants to help them. And yeaaah it didn’t really, BUT HE GENUINELY THOUGHT IT WOULD. He says, before presenting the gifts: “(these gifts) are a whole lot more personal and if you don’t like them I will just be crushed!”

But why, you ask, why on earth would Donnie think that making THOSE THINGS even help his brothers, and why on earth would they like them? (Or maybe you’re not even asking that. Hell if I know, I’m just a ND teen ranting on the internet. Let me obsess over mutant turtles in peace!) I’m glad you asked. This is because I FIRMLY believe that Donnie uses his tech in the sense that he created that tech for his brothers, which is, helping or aiding him and his weaknesses when it comes to situations. We know that out of the bunch, Donnie is objectively the weakest (not very sports oriented, has a traditionally defensive weapon than offensive, ((but do not misconstrue my words this does not mean he is WEAK just in comparison to his brothers he’s on the lower end of the strength spectrum.))) and his tech highly heightens his skills. It helps him be more agile, attack with more vantage points—hell, his (soft)shell alone is a negative variable, and you know what fixed that!? HIS TECH THATS WHAT! Because of this reliance on his tech he assumed that his brothers would need or want that same reliance or help, even though they cope with their own issues in very different ways. And of course Donnie’s tech to help his own issues isn’t literally physically harmful, but I genuinely just think that Donnie’s Gifts was just made this way for the slapstick humor. (Sometimes there isn’t a deeper meaning to things and it’s just what it is. Guys I know we’re all big over-analyzers but this is still a Nickelodeon cartoon sometimes it’s just goofy for the goofs. :P) however Donnie’s gifts was such an important episode to me because it showed me the biggest way Donnie shows his love: Acts of service and Gift Giving.

Donnie LOVES doing stuff for people. He goes the goddamn EXTRA MILE to show off what he did for others, what he made for them; what he’ll DO for them, he’s not good with words or physical touch but my boy will LITERALLY fly you to the moon and back while reciting what happened on the Apollo missions and the space race with 100% accuracy. And there is so much proof of this SO MUCH. (When he made the hazmat suits, when he tried to fix albearto by making him “dazzle”, donniepods, etc…) his love for others and how he shows it is totally entirely transactional. This is how HE does it. And better yet,(?) he likes this. He LIKES being the tech guy, the fixer upper, he likes being called on for help and his prodigious skill because it makes him seem useful and more than that LOVED, and this is what he wants and desires sooo badly. To be USEFUL.

See where this is going? :)

Segue to Donnie V. Witch town. April, his best friend, is not seeking out HIS HELP for a school project, despite the fact that she almost always does. Instead, April is seeking out the HELP OF WITCHES, and Donnie simply has to tag along and help her get help. Donnie literally questions this and April states that it’s because when he helps school projects can uh, go a bit overboard.

See the parallels between Donnie’s gifts and Donnie v. Witch town?

Donnie tries to help, ends up not going so well, and he ends up not even helping at all in the first place. Double whammy.

And assuming we’ve all WATCHED Donnie V. Witch town, this same cycle repeats again. ESPECIALLY with the worms, and just when his pretentiousness and need to be right and PROVEN better gets in the way. His self righteousness is also his biggest fault. And everything goes wrong and he just wanted to help. And yeah, Donnie V. Which town is different because his broken ego is at play but WHY is he taking this so personally? BECAUSE APRIL DIDNT ASK HIM FOR HELP. It further strengthens his negative self talk of being useful and usefulness. Since, objectively speaking, he shows his love quantitively, when April has no desire for him to help her; what good is he even for anymore?! HOW WILL APRIL EVER LIKE HIM AGAIN IF HE ISNT HELPFUL!!!! HOW!?? He set this standards and he can’t even hit them? What is he if not useful? And with the context of Donnie’s gifts and how he really, truly, just wishes to help others, Donnie v. Which town is honestly saddening. I was honestly on Donnie’s side the whole time. Fuck those witches dude. And yes, what he did was bad. He should have been more open minded, and he shouldn’t have kinda messed up the entire witch tradition, and NO I am not making excuses here. But you must also remember that this is a teenager. He’s literally just a kid, and nevertheless from his perspective it’s honestly a betrayal. Again not an excuse but rather an explanation. Yes he fucked up but WHY? And the whole conversation with April really pushes it. “Because I’m the science guy—If mystic powers can do everything I can but better, then why would you guys even need me?”

Why would they *NEED* him.

Why, if mystic powers, can do it better—why would they NEED him.

It’s always a NEED for Donnie. He doesn’t quite seem to understand that mystic powers are a tool. And he is HE. He isn’t replaceable, but he thinks he is because there’s something more efficient than he is. He, essentially, sees himself like a tool, which is a mantra many autistic people have, including me. And although I joke about that line a lot it’s actually a really heartbreaking line. And if you guys see the scrapped storyboard..well.. why don’t I just show you…

“Solving problems with my tech is ALL IM GOOD FOR.”

“When you chose magic instead of me, I got scared, …”

Ouch.

This storyboard is infinitely more raw and personal and honestly I’m upset they didn’t go with it. If this doesn’t show you how deeply this matters to Donnie—how personal it is to him that people ask him to help them I DONT KNOW WHAT WILL.

Donnie is the way he is because it all builds up to his deepest insecurities, that people love him because he’s useful to them, and he goes and searches for validation and appreciation like a vulture looking for a carcass. He is so fucking desperate for a hint of being useful that he will throw everything he has to prove it. ((I’ll also do an analysis of relating this to the purple dragons episode because, albeit less angsty or obvious, these themes are very prevalent there too.))

Thus, this concludes my first point on how Donnie Vs. Witch town is the BEST episode to point out how Donnie’s insecurities truly affect him in every way shape and form, and how it really makes him who he is and why he acts the way he acts. It’s all out of the desire, the need to be needed. Next up: April’s response and how it shows their deep connection and how it’s just. So amazing. This half is more opinionated but I digress .

2) demonstrating the strength of Donnie and Aprils friendship and Sibling-hood!!!

Aprils response to this is equally as important. Aprils response is actually BEAUTIFUL.

“Donnie, how could you say that!? You’re not important to me because of your tech or science, you’re important to me because of YOU.”

That. Is by far. The best response you could POSSIBLY EVER GIVE. And her sentence is really self explanatory. Donnie doesn’t see her as a tool, or measures the extent of their friendship by what she brings to the table so why should she? Or, rather, why should Donnie measure that for himself?

She loves him because he’s HIM. Because he’s a nerdy loveable dork that’s passionate about what he loves. Because he loves HER. This is also the most vulnerable Donnie has ever been with somebody, and it’s with April.

“We do things better as a team,” AND APRILS RIGHT!!!! She’s his older sister. She’s his pal, Buddy, ride or die, and it’s—just—this whole Situation, their whole friendship, and this whole arc in Donnie v witch town means SO much to me. I really just realized how opinionated this second part is but let me be. And unfortunately I’ve reached the god forsaken image limit but Aprils further discussion in the storyboard of Donnie v. witch town also just further pushes how close and comfortable they are with each other. Basically, April says:

“Magic and science are just tools, it’s how you choose to use them that matters. And you choose to help people.”

MY FUCKING HEART DUDE. Agh. Shattered. “You chose to help people.”

I feel like it’s that line that really just pushes it for me. YOU CHOOSE TO HELP PEOPLE DONNIE DONT YOU SEE? ITS YOUR INTENT THAT MATTERS. And I’ll say this over and over and over again but intent means so much when it comes to things. April, using this line, doesn’t entirely dismiss what Donnie feels and says and does. But rather, puts a healthier perspective on his behaviors and needs to be “useful.” Shes basically saying: “you try to do what’s right, and that’s what matters.”

I love April. SO MUCH. She is such a good friend and sister and supporter, and honestly I wish I had someone like her growing up. Again I really wish they went with the storyboards because it’s so much more personal and touching than what happened. #aprilsweep.

Aprils support for Donnie (as well as his brothers) is unconditional. This is also observed in other Donnie and April centric episodes, especially the purple satin jackets episode, where April does call Donnie to check on her code which he does so with much valiance, before he gets roped into the purple dragons and stuff—and then at the end, when Donnie defeatedly talks about how he just couldn’t be a part of them , April replies with: “it’s okay, you’ll always be part of the April O’Neil dorky pals for life club.” I wish we got more of rise because I would KILL for more Donnie n April centric episodes.

Anywho, have a happy thanksgiving guys. Make sure to tell your autistic friend that it doesn’t matter if mystic powers are better than them or not. Watch tmnt and listen to stomu yamashta. Thank you and goodnight.

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the-most-humble-blog · 4 months ago

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Danny Glover’s

Mike Harrigan: The Sweaty Unsung Legend Who Took Down a F☰☰king Space Demon!

When a Pissed-Off, Jaded Cop, Bodied an Intergalactic Killing Machine

Let’s give Detective Mike Harrigan his damn flowers. Played by the legendary Danny Glover in Predator 2, Harrigan isn’t your typical action hero. He’s not ripped like Schwarzenegger, he doesn’t have a squad of muscle-bound warriors backing him up, and he’s not fighting in some remote jungle. No, he’s a sweaty, overworked, middle-aged, jaded LAPD detective, fighting an alien in the middle of his city while dodging bullets, politics, and a skyrocketing body count.

By the time the credits roll, Harrigan has done something no one expected: he not only survived but won. And not because he was lucky—because he was relentless.

Let’s unpack why Mike Harrigan deserves to be recognized as the biggest badass in Predator history.

1. The Reluctant Protagonist Who Didn’t Back Down

Harrigan wasn’t some gung-ho action star ready to save the world. He was a regular guy, just trying to do his job in a city tearing itself apart.

The Setup: The streets of LA are a war zone, with drug cartels and gangs battling it out. Harrigan’s job? Keep it together.

The Twist: Then this thing—this invisible, dreadlocked nightmare—starts butchering people like it’s on a mission from hell.

The Reality: Most people would have thrown in the towel, but Harrigan wasn’t having it. He knew this wasn’t just a gang problem—it was personal.

Relatable Thought: How would you feel if an alien murdered your best friend and left you to clean up the mess? Exactly.

2. A Tightknit Team Brutally Torn Apart

Harrigan’s team wasn’t just coworkers; they were family. And one by one, they were wiped out by this intergalactic psychopath.

The Hotshot Rookie: Bill Paxton’s Jerry Lambert was new to the team, full of bad jokes and reckless charm. He didn’t last long, but damn it, he tried.

The Loyal Friend: Ruben Blades as Danny Archuleta, Harrigan’s partner and brother in arms. When Danny was killed, Harrigan’s grief turned into rage.

The Survivor: Maria Conchita Alonso’s Leona Cantrell made it out alive, but only because the Predator spared her after realizing she was pregnant.

Dark Truth: By the time the final act hits, Harrigan’s team is either dead or incapacitated, leaving him to face the Predator alone.

3. The Final Act: When Mike Harrigan Became a Legend

Let’s not gloss over what Harrigan did in the last 30 minutes of this movie. This wasn’t just some chase scene—this was a full-on war.

Through the Streets: Harrigan chased the Predator through the city, dodging gunfire, explosions, and chaos.

Through Apartments: He didn’t care about collateral damage or property lines. This was a hunt.

Into the Predator’s Ship: Yes, you read that right. He followed this thing into its own damn spaceship—a literal alien death machine—and still had the audacity to ask, “Who’s next?”

Dark Humor Thought: Arnold fought one Predator in the jungle. Harrigan fought one in its living room. Respect.

4. The Arm Incident: Peak Badassery

Let’s talk about the moment that solidified Harrigan as a legend:

He cut off the Predator’s arm, the one with the deadly wrist blade and self-destruct mechanism.

Then, armed with nothing but grit and a sheer hatred for this alien bastard, he shoved that arm where the sun doesn’t shine. Figuratively, of course, but you get the point.

Iconic Moment: After all that, Harrigan stood over the Predator like, “Your move, Mf''s...”

5. The Aftermath: Facing the Predator’s Crew

If you thought one Predator was scary, imagine an entire group of them watching as Harrigan killed their buddy.

The Moment of Silence: Instead of retaliating, the Predators honored him. Why? Because he earned their respect.

The Gift: They handed him a flintlock pistol as a trophy, a subtle way of saying, “You’re one of the greats.”

Translation: Even alien hunters recognize a Death Star-sized pair of balls when they see them.

6. Why Harrigan Matters

Harrigan wasn’t a superhero or a soldier. He wasn’t trained for this. He was just a man—a flawed, tired, middle-aged man—who refused to back down.

*Remember him the next time someone calls you old and washed-up. Sometimes daddy needs to step in to body a 7ft tall, Drake-supporting, Yautja.*

Why It’s Inspiring: Harrigan shows us that being a hero isn’t about muscles or catchphrases. It’s about grit, heart, and the will to keep fighting, no matter how impossible the odds.

Why It’s Terrifying: If an alien invasion happened tomorrow, we wouldn’t need a Superman. We’d need a Mike Harrigan.

A Balls-the-Size-of-the-Death-Star Legend

When you think about iconic action heroes, don’t forget Detective Mike Harrigan. He wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t invincible. But when it came down to it, he chased a Predator into its own ship, killed it, and walked out alive—because he had to.

So, next time someone talks about the ultimate movie badass, remember this sweaty, jaded, middle-aged black cop who saved his city from an alien nightmare. Mike Harrigan isn’t just a hero—he’s a goddamned legend.

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ladykailitha · 6 months ago

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The Caged Bird Still Sings Part 15

Hey guys this story is back! I feel like it's nearing the end, but we'll see. I'm hoping for another couple of chapters (than the two have backlogged anyway) at least, but I'm not sure. Steve and Eddie are already freewheeling toward each other and I have learned when that starts happening either one or both of them hit the gas and they go from zero to sixty faster than NASCAR on race day.

Steve tries to get a job, has a good cry about it, Robin is bestest and they try the mall.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

Steve sat at the desk, phone pressed to his ear, newspaper next to him, and paper and pen in hand.

“Hi, may I speak to the manager?” he asked in his best customer service voice. “Thank you.”

Once the manager was on the line, he began, “Hello, sir. I’m looking at your ad in the help want ads and was wondering if the position was still open?”

Steve shoulders slumped. “I see. No, of course. I’m sure your nephew will just be absolutely smashing at slinging those hamburgers. Thank you for your time.”

He set the phone down in its cradle and put his head in his hands. He had been on the phone for the last two hours calling up people for job interviews and he was utterly exhausted.

Everyone of them had turned him down. Not taking anymore applications at this time, the job has been filled, or in the cases he actually got far enough to tell them his name, they would straight up hang up on him.

He didn’t want to work in the mall, but it was looking less and less likely he’d get a job inside Hawkins.

Which meant that Joyce was going to be on his ass again. She had gotten so insistent in him finding a job, that he was forced to stop going over there, choosing to hang out with Will and Ellie at someone else’s house.

God, he got more peace at the Wheelers and Mike was openly hostile ninety percent of the time. So that was really something.

Steve picked up Eddie’s latest gift. It was a giant canary plushie. It was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever seen. He loved it. He hugged it close.

“I miss Eddie, Kenny,” he murmured into its beak. “I know he’ll be home in a couple of weeks, but I miss being able to have him tell me I’m enough. That my worth isn’t dependent on what other people think of me.”

Steve stood up and carried Kenny over to the bed, where he fell asleep, tears falling into the soft material of Kenny’s neck.

He woke up slowly to soft music being played. He opened his eyes and blearily looked around. There on the sofa reading a magazine was Robin. She was listening to Blondie on his boombox but it was at a respectful volume so it wouldn’t wake him.

He had long since given her permission to just come in when she had a gift from Eddie or if she just want to hang out. As long as he wasn’t getting a shower or getting dressed, he really couldn’t care less.

Steve sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes. Next to her on the sofa was a large box.

“Hey, dingus,” she said without looking up. “I took the opportunity to order us dinner.” She looked at her watch. “It should be here in about five minutes.”

Steve slid off the bed and padded over to the sofa where he flopped gracelessly next to her.

Robin set down the magazine and looked at him properly. “Still can’t find a job, huh?”

He shook his head and pulled his knees up to his chest. She gave him a big hug and just held him until the food arrived. She rolled the food cart over lifted the cloche with gusto.

“Tada!” she said triumphantly revealing the mountains of fries, mashed potatoes, pizza, onion rings. All of Steve’s favorite things. “I figured you’d want some pick me up food and I went all out.”

“If we weren’t both gayer than the day is long,” Steve sighed happily, “I’d marry you.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek pulling out a slice of cheese pizza. He munched, grinning around the slice.

“Gross,” Robin said grabbing a handful of fries. “I mean the pizza not the marrying thing, because I agree. No, your pizza tastes are abysmal. Plain cheese? No meat, not veggies, nothing?”

Steve swallowed and set the pizza down. “It’s all my mom would let me have. Even when I’d go to parties and shit, she’d insist on them having a cheese pizza for me.”

“Okay I take that back,” Robin said. “Eat your cheese pizza, dingus. It makes you happy. But if I ever see your mother, I might accidentally scratch her eyes out.”

Steve picked up the pizza again, but paused with it half way to his mouth. ‘How do you accidentally scratch someone’s eyes out?”

Robin batted her eyes prettily. “I wouldn’t know, officer, I blacked out. The next thing I knew I was washing the blood off my hands.”

Steve threw one of the throw pillows at her head. “Don’t quote musicals at me!”

“Ha!” Robin crowed in delight, clutching the pillow to her chest. “The fact that you recognize it makes you the chump, not me!”

Steve opened his mouth to protest but then his eyes went wide when he had no argument for that.

“I’d love to see proper theater, you know,” he said dreamily. “Like with a proper orchestra and not just a tinny tape that skips in places and actual actors instead of Old Mr. Abernathy trying to play Hamlet.”

Robin winced. “He couldn’t even remember ‘To be or not to be’ and that’s like the one line everyone knows.” She shoved more fries into her face.

“Maybe when I get out on my own,” he said, snagging one of her fries right off of her plate, “I’ll go see plays in Indy or Bloomington.”

“You’ve just got to take me with you,” she huffed, grabbing the half bitten fry right out of his mouth and shoving it in her face. “I’ve been saving up all the money I’ve been getting from this job so I can get driving lessons at school. I won’t be able to drive my parents’ care very much, but it would still be nice to say I have it.”

Steve opened his mouth to say something but she held up her hand. “I know what you’re going to say and the answer is no. No, you can’t pay for my drivers’ ed classes. Because I want to pay for that myself.”

Steve pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s the point of having all this money if I can’t treat my friends to a little thing like a new car or new bikes.”

The new bikes were still a point of contention between Joyce and Steve. He had bought all of them new bikes and gear with exception of Max where he bought her a new skateboard and gear. All in their favorite colors. But she refused to let Will take his. She said it wasn’t his to spend and therefore to take it back until he could buy it with his own hard earned money.

Will stopped talking to his mother for a couple of days after that.

And Steve hadn’t blamed him, so he told Will to leave it at Mike’s and ‘borrow’ it when ever they rode out places. Joyce couldn’t stop him from doing that.

“I’m not saying not buy me a new car,” Robin huffed a little laugh. “I’m just saying I want to pay for the lessons myself. It’s more of an accomplishment thing.”

Steve perked up and batted his eyelashes at her. “Really? I can buy you a car a gift for passing your test? You’ll really let me?”

Robin laughed and threw a fry at his head. “Yes, dingus, you can but me a car. I talked it over with my parents and I told them that Eddie wanted to get me a car for all my hard work and that you’d be the one helping me pick it out.”

He grabbed the fry and threw back at her, it landing in her hair. “Oh that’s smart. I bet they had all sorts of restrictions on it being sensible and shit.”

But Robin shook her head. “My parents were hippies, not stupid. They know that if they try and restrict me I will come home with the reddest, wildest hot rod they’ve every laid eyes on.”

Steve laughed. “God, can we introduce them to Joyce? Because it sounds like they could teach her a thing or two.”

“I know right?” Robin said rolling her eyes. “Eat your pizza, you heathen and the next time I come I’m bringing proper Domino’s pizza with all sorts of toppings and you can find you actually like. In the mean time, open this present that is digging into my side.”

Steve reached out for it with grabby hands. “Oooh, I really liked the plushie from yesterday. I named him Kenny. Kenny the Canary.”

“Because of course you did,” she said dryly, handing over the package to him.

He could tell it was clothes just from the shape of the box. There was just something about them that screamed ‘hey I’m clothes!’ Inside was the most beautiful yellow cardigan. It was soft and warm.

The note said, “It may be hotter than balls in Hawkins, but up here in Canada, the weather is pretty mild. Not quite sweater weather, but I saw this and just had to get it for you. Just ten more days, little Canary.”

Steve buried his face into the softness of the sweater and nearly squealed in delight. Eddie had sprayed it with his cologne. Oh this was exactly what he needed.

Robin took the card from him and smiled. “He seems to really like you. I know a lot of the people you hang out with give you shit about Eddie and the money running out on you, but Steve, the way he writes these notes sound like someone who genuinely likes you.”

Steve set down the sweater with a sigh. “I know. But it’s the imbalance I’m worried about. I’ve already been called a gold digger. I don’t want that.”

Robin frowned for a moment. “My mom is making me apply for jobs at the mall. She says I can still do this, but she wants me to know ‘what real work is’.” She put air quotes around the last part. “Which is bullshit, but I’ll do it so I can keep doing this.”

She scooted over to him and put her arm around him. “So come with me and maybe we can get a job together, shove it everyone else’s faces, yeah?”

Steve nodded and curled up into her side. She was the only one besides Hopper who knew who his benefactor was and could offer a different perspective than anyone else.

“But in the mean time,” Robin said softly, “maybe talk to Hopper about getting Joyce to knock it off.”

He shook his head. “He’s tried. She has straight up told him that until he tells her who it is who’s funding you, she won’t drop the job thing.”

Robin winced. “And if she finds out who it is, she going to be worse. I haven’t met someone who wasn’t an adult when he left other than Hopper who liked Eddie Munson. I mean the only reason my parents are letting me do this is that Uncle Justin vetted the job and that Corroded Coffin would be on tour, while I stayed here in Hawkins.”

Steve sighed and sat back up. “That’s not even the biggest problem with them knowing. It’s having to explain where I was that Eddie would have seen me to help me out.” He changed his voice so it was higher and clutched his hands to his chest. “Yes, Mrs. Byers I was underage drinking at a bar in the hopes of getting laid so I had a place to sleep!” He dropped back down to his normal tone. “Yeah, like that will go over well.”

“Ooh,” she said with a grimace, “yeah I could see how that might cause waves with the parents. Like tsunami level waves.”

“Pretty much!”

Steve flopped his head back on the back on the sofa. “God, what a fucking mess.”

“Maybe just tell them you were going to see your cousin, Monty,” she suggested, “and you were smoking outside when you met Eddie. See if that goes over better.”

He let out a shuddering sigh. “Maybe. I know Monty would back me up if that’s the case. But I would rather wait until Eddie got home and see what he says.”

Robin nodded sagely. “That’s fair.”

They had decided to let Robin get all the applications and bring them over to Steve in the food court. He had ordered them a couple of large Orange Juilus’s and two huge slices of pizza from Sbarros.

She handed him a pen and they got to work filling out all the applications, by the time they were done, Steve’s hand cramped and he worked his fingers open and closed to try to get the muscles to work again.

Robin rolled her eyes, but wisely said nothing as she gathered up their applications to return to their stores.

Robin got three call backs, but Steve only got one. Thankfully it was one that Robin had also got, but it was Scoops Ahoy, the ice cream shop with the little costumes and silly hats. They were both hired on the spot.

Sorry if you saw chapter sixteen on here, too. I'll post it later!

Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24

Tag List: SIX SLOTS REMAINING

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4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon

5- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

6- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

7- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @sticknpokelightningbolt

8- @scoops-aboy86 @kurofuckingshi16 @watermelonmite @eyehartart @dreamercec

9- @little-birch-boy @yearningagain @micheledawn1975 @sadisticaltarts

10- @fearieshadow @kultiras @thesecondfate

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #age difference #ten years between steve and eddie

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