#i needed cute dad hopper and son billy

[fanatics4l]

three inch rule but make it hopper + harringrove:

billy had his boyfriend, steve, over for the evening. his older, adult boyfriend, steve. el was at a sleepover with max and hopper was sulking on his arm chair with a can of beer in his hands. the television was playing softly and his son's bedroom door could be seen from his line of vision. he'd made billy promise to always keep the door open three inches earlier on when he introduced steve as his boyfriend. although their chatter and laughter was quite loud, hopper didn't mind too much that steve harrington was over at their place so many times.

billy had been following this rare rule quite well, surprisingly. hopper expected more of a fight. still, he was grateful. but that didn't mean he wasn't pissed that billy even had a boy over in the first place. hopper didn't see what billy saw in that kid. first of all, steve was older. automatic no. second... well there was no second. hopper knew steve was a great kid. he babysat el and her friends, made sure he brought billy home in time for his curfew, and was very polite to hopper.

most importantly, he made billy very happy. when hopper first adopted billy, he was a damaged, broken little boy who flinched at every little movement and sound, constantly expected to be hit, and often cried. billy was a sensitive boy. his father had ruined him and beaten him down to nothing. it took a major support system through hopper, el, max, and joyce to get billy to ease up. he was healing every day. back then, billy never smiled. he only scowled and lashed out and screamed. but now, he was always smiling.

and as reluctant as he was, hopper knew he had steve to thank for that. which was why he wasn't making a huge deal to billy's face about his boyfriend being at their place all the time and only complained to joyce.

but then billy's bedroom door quietly closed. hopper waited, immediately tensing up, for billy to open the door again and for it to have just been the wind or something. he waited a few moments, beer can crushing in his grip.

next, he heard the noise. now hopper might not have been getting any action lately but he was aware enough to know a moan when he heard one.

he bolted out of his armchair, rushing to the closed bedroom door. "hey- HEY! I SAID THREE INCHES! WHAT DID I SAY-"

he slammed the door open, holding onto the door knob as he peered into the little bedroom. his eyes were wide and he was breathing hard because what the fuck? billy was underage. steve was not. there should be no sexual activities going on at all.

the words died on his tongue as he took in the sight of his son sitting up against his back rest and steve laying beside him with one arm behind his head. the two of them turn to hopper, looking at him with innocent expressions of confusion and concern.

"what's wrong, pops?" billy asked, eyes wide.

hopper's eyes narrowed at billy's messy hair and ruffled shirt. then, he glared at steve's even messier hair and lack of shirt.

"where's your fucking shirt, kid?" he deadpanned the eighteen year old.

steve cleared his throat, sitting up beside billy. there were blushes on both their cheeks. "i, uh. it got kinda hot in here, chief."

hopper merely raised a brow. bullshit. billy perked up, sending a sweet smile at him. hopper was weak for his kids' smiles, especially billy's rare ones. and billy knew this. he was using that info for his advantage.

"yeah, pops. it's the truth. and the wind blew the door closed, sorry about that."

hopper sighed tiredly. he was too old for this. he knew he couldn't stop his kids from fooling around but that didn't mean he had to outright accept it. he'd stay in denial all he wanted.

he clenched his jaw extra hard when steve shot a smug smile at him. stay calm, jim. stay calm. billy loves him and that's all that matters.

"i'm going off to shower. you better be out of the house by the time i'm back, kid."

"sure thing, chief," steve smirked. then, he fucking winked at billy, making him stifle a giggle. the fucking audacity. right in front of hopper's face.

hopper closed his eyes momentarily. he turned to leave the room but not before shouting, "THREE INCH RULE."

kids these days.

[ellewritesandrants]

I was inspired to write some Billy and Max wingmanning for each other because of this post from @11willgrahamseyes11 because why not?

Imagine it’s post S3 where Billy survived and Max just found out that Neil had left Hawkins. She heads to the hospital to tell her brother, because that’s what he was, that his dad had just skipped town to avoid paying medical bills he wasn’t even going to be charged for.

“Neil left?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry, Billy.”

“Figures he got sick of having a queer disabled freak for a son.” Billy scoffed.

Max slapped his shoulder, confident enough to do so after months of proper communication, bonding and actually getting to be siblings and not each other’s burdens to bear.

“Hey! Don’t talk about my brother that way, asshole. And anyway, Neil would have eventually realized he had two queer kids and he’d probably have run even faster.”

Billy eyes snapped to hers.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

A peaceful moment of silence passed before Billy broke it.

“Is it that psychic chick, the one that’s dating Wheeler?”

Max immediately bristled.

“How’d you know?”

“Let’s just say I know what it feels like to pine after someone who’s in love with a Wheeler.”

Max took a good minute to think before it finally clicked.

“Steve? You like Steve?”

“Don’t be so loud, Maxie! But, yeah, I like Steve. Anything wrong with that?”

“A lot. Steve’s a dumbass, Billy.”

“Hey! I think it’s cute. Anyway, that El girl isn’t the most talkative girl in the world.”

“But I like that about her.”

“Well, I guess we’re both saps for people who’ll never like us back.”

“I don’t know. I think I might have a chance if I can convince her to break up with her boyfriend.”

“Don’t you have a boyfriend?”

“Lucas? I broke up with him months ago after he didn’t even try to give you a chance to apologize. If he wanted to get me back, he knew what he should have done and if he doesn’t want to, then good riddance.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. After all, it’s me and you against the world, right, Kill Bill?”

“It’s me and you against the world, Mad Max.”

Since Billy wanted at least one of them to get their happy ending, he gets Max to ask El if she was willing to visit Billy so they could talk about the memories she’s seen and of course, El agrees.

Billy hasn't really had any visitors outside of Max ever since he was admitted into the hospital due to him being in the PICU for the first three months and only allowing a limited number of people inside to visit him. It's been another three months since he was moved to a regular room and the doctors had just cleared Billy to receive more visitors but to keep them to 2-4 people to avoid overcrowding.

None of his so-called friends actually visited but he had somewhat expected it. Tommy had promised to visit after sending a letter checking in but he and Carol were busy at the college their dads bought them into so it left the basketball team who stopped by after practice once to tell him how badly they were doing without him and how they couldn't wait to have him on the court again.

None of Max's friends have been by either but Billy heard from Max about a big fight they'd had regarding Billy and how the boys refused to think that Billy was anything but evil, forcing Max, El and Will to branch away because Will was hurt since he'd also been possessed and therefore, just as evil and El hated how they treated Billy as a monster when he was just as much a victim as she was.

Hopper doesn't really trust Billy but after he allows it on the condition that Max stays in the room which Billy doesn't fight. They have a nice chat about the memories, most of which Max wasn't aware of but it actually helps them since Billy's willing to trust Max enough to bare his soul to her willingly.

After they have an emotional talk about bad fathers who need to be kept out of their lives as well as absent mothers who tried, Billy shifts the conversation more to school because he's been helping Max keep on top of her classes so he offered the same to El.

Max quickly corrects Billy and tells him that El was homeschooled due to her not being allowed to study because of the lab. Billy has the bright idea of tutoring El during the day since he wasn't really doing anything and he was bored out of his mind and running out of books to read that Max would borrow from the library for him.

It would not only give him something to do but also a way to see if Max actually had a chance that didn't involve Max getting hurt. He could also help El who seemed like she really did need help, just like he did.

Of course, they ran it past Hopper who initially wanted nothing to do with Billy Hargrove until Max told him the truth about Neil. Hopper was eventually worn down by El who was tired of being stuck at the cabin with no one to talk to and he agreed under the condition that he'd be there during the first few sessions.

Once Hopper was there, he took the sessions as a chance to confirm what El said and when he really, truly looked at Billy, he saw a reflection of the kid he used to be, abused and alone and he realized why El had wanted to get to know Billy and to be his friend.

It also didn't hurt that Billy was an honors student who used to tutor in California during the weekdays for extra cash and he was used to being a tutor and helping students with their studies.

Hopper worked out a deal with Billy that El would come over three times a week when she was supposed to have school and he would help her for a daily rate.

She progressed in leaps and bounds under someone who was used to working around certain hang-ups and Billy was able to help El, whom he commonly called Jane or Janie to find a way of studying that worked for her that wasn't just reading books and answering worksheets.

Her progress astounded the newly together Joyce and Hopper, leading to her asking if Billy could do the same for Will since he wasn't really talking to the other boys.

Soon, Billy's hospital room became the trio's common hang-out spot after school, with Will and Max either biking, skating or walking together so that they could get help on their homework from Billy after he and El were done with their lessons for the day.

The entire time that Billy had been tutoring the kids, he'd been observing the interactions between El and Max and it really did seem like his little sister had a chance. Of course, there was still the tiny hang-up in the form of Mike Wheeler and Lucas Sinclair who apparently still didn't get the hint that their respective relationships were over.

Since El, Max and Will were all comfortable with Billy, once they were done with their homework and lessons, they usually talked about anything under the sun to help El be more familiar with popular culture and how the world worked so one day, Billy slyly got the conversation to head towards gender expression and sexuality.

He'd learned a lot in California that he couldn't really put into practice in Hawkins but he was reasonably sure that these three kids in particular would be able to accept him and would actually benefit from what he said.

Billy had ended up coming out of the closet to the kids who swore to keep it a secret and he answered any and all questions they had. El was surprised that women could be with other women and men could be with other men or with multiple people because all Hopper and Mike had ever told her was that boys went with girls and vice versa.

This led to Will and El to question their sexualities and to realize that maybe they weren't as straight as they assumed. Will was definitely getting a case of hero worship for the older teen and it showed when he got home, enough that Joyce was able to paint a clear picture of Billy's life which she didn't like.

She came to visit him once without El to confirm her assumptions and she made sure to tell him that he was always welcome at their house after everything he's done for them. Billy had teared up and he'd gotten his first hug from a mom in months since Susan had ended up falling into a pit of alcoholism again.

Joyce had reamed Hopper afterwards for not being able to help Billy beforehand and how Hopper would have to make things up to Billy after he was discharged. Joyce would keep visiting Billy, often bringing food to share and occasionally, bringing Hopper along with her to help the bigger man to see Billy as she saw him, a lonely kid in need of parental guidance.

Almost a whole school year passed with an increase in the tension between Max and El but no action on either side of the pair. Will was El's confidant and he was slowly going crazy about how El ranted and raved about how pretty and smart Max was without doing anything about it.

Billy, on the other hand, was tired about hearing all about how cute and adorable El was from his little sister and while he had partially caused this to happen, he also didn't want to keep hearing about it.

So, Billy made plans. He was getting discharged pretty soon and his physical therapy was going pretty well, enough that he was looking to be in shape and back to peak condition in a few months and that he was being allowed behind the wheel.

Truth be told, Billy had fully recovered by the time he started tutoring the kids but the doctors and scientists still couldn't understand why he was still alive and how he had survived. The past few months were heavily focused on physical and mental therapy to help him get over the ordeal and to be able to live a normal life.

Billy would be forced to take his senior year a year late but he didn't mind since it would allow him to be able to watch the kids for their first year in high school, enough to at least protect them from the worst of it after hearing how badly Will had been bullied before.

The first thing Billy did after getting out of the hospital was to get Hopper to take him to his fully repaired car so he could get over the mental block of being behind the wheel and actually being in control.

After going around town with Joyce in the front seat, cheering him on, he went to pick up the kids on their last day of middle school so they could celebrate.

The entirety of Hawkins was shocked to find Billy Hargrove driving his signature Camaro, thinner and more lithe than before but happier than they had ever seen him, picking up his little sister and spinning her in a hug and immediately pulling Will "the Fairy" Byers into an other hug after.

The rest of the party watched in awe and shock at the scene, not knowing that Will had even talked to Billy after everything. Steve was also equally in shock but it also felt like the first time he had ever seen Billy Hargrove.

After, Billy stopped by the new Byers-Hopper house to pick up El and he invited Jonathan to come with them for dinner at the diner where Joyce and Hopper would meet them. He and Jonathan had had a few conversations since he'd come to the hospital to pick up and drop off Will, El or both of the teens and they'd come to bond over shitty fathers and the small overlap of the musicians they liked.

Weirdly enough, it was the exact same diner that Steve had brought the other boys to celebrate their last day of school since it was beside the arcade. Billy had been half tempted to leave but having Max by his side made him brave enough to brave the stares that followed him.

He hadn't let their glares get in the way of his first real meal outside of the hospital and he enjoyed dinner for the first time in a long time surrounded by people who cared about him.

After he paid using some of the government’s compensation, Max managed to convince him to show El the ropes in the arcade because he had been the one who had taught her most of the tricks that she used to get the high score.

The boys and Steve couldn't help their curiosity once Billy and the rest of the kids entered the arcade and they watched from a distance as Billy blew all of the high scores on all of the machines out of the water without even breaking a sweat.

Max saw this as the perfect time to set her brother up with his crush so she tricked Steve into agreeing into a competition on the basketball shooting game with Billy. Having them play side-by-side ignited the adrenaline rush that Steve used to feel when he was playing against Billy but this time, he was happy and excited and not angry.

By the end of 5 rounds, Billy had trounced him completely but Steve took his defeat graciously, even offering a rematch in swimming in his heated pool.

While the boys were having their friendly competition, the rest of the party, namely Dustin, Lucas and Mike were apologizing to Will, Max and El about not believing them when it came to Billy. It was obvious to see that he had changed a lot from the person he used to be and they wanted their friends back.

Max and subsequently El refused to accept their apology until Billy accepted their apology but Will quickly forgave his childhood best friends. Will had missed playing D&D with his friends and being able to talk them and not just to his family, including his new sister and her crush.

As soon as the friendly competition between Billy and Steve was over, the boys apologized to Billy who decided to be the bigger person and accept it while also apologizing for how he used to be.

Billy's made leaps and bounds of progress in therapy as to why he was the way he was and he was well on his way to become the person he wanted to be which meant forgiveness and understanding on both sides of the party.

The next weekend, Billy got permission from Joyce and Hopper to take El and Max to the mall in the next town over so he could finally get them to go on a date. Of course, Max hijacked his plans by subtly inviting Will to get the boys to watch a movie and of course, have Steve drive them.

While the boys were watching a movie, Steve was wandering aimlessly just as Billy was and in a small mall in Indiana, they were bound to cross paths. Steve couldn't help but want to get to know this new Billy so they ate a snack together at the food court and they passed a few hours getting to know each other.

The mall trip was a success on both ends because Max was finally brave enough to ask El to be her girlfriend while Steve was brave enough to set a date on the swimming rematch they planned to have.

It took a few months of summer loving before Steve finally worked the courage to kiss Billy and ask him to be his boyfriend but he eventually got there even if he had needed the intervention of the party because they were tired of his pining.

The Mayfield-Hargrove siblings were good wingmen to each other and they had a 100% success rate in stealing partners from the Wheelers.

[siouxiesiouxtryhard]

I’m up thinking so here’s something I jus thought of that I might write someday. I got wayyyy to into it and it’s kinda lame but whatever

In another world Will never went missing and Mike and his friends never had to go to Murkwood to find that scared little girl with a number on her arm. Jonathan never got to know Nancy or get just tipsy enough at Murray’s house that he slept with her. Joyce never cried over her missing son because he came right back home on Monday after school. Her fiancée Bob is starting to fit right in with Jonathan now that they can talk about cameras together. Hopper never had a chance to fix his problems because he never got the people he really needed in his life so he is still a drunk chief just trying to survive with a shitty cabin in the woods no one but a fugitive child with superpowers stays in with no one else but her knowing. Steve never got that summer job at Scoops Ahoy and Robin did indeed end up slinging ice cream with another schmuck from the basketball team who bullied her relentlessly until she ends up working at Family Video on her own to escape. Billy ran away to California after one too many slaps from his father. Max is still coming to terms with the crush she has on the cute boy on the basketball team she befriended eighth grade Halloween. Nancy and Barb are trying to plan their college dorm decorations while Steve has started interning under his dad. He loves his girlfriend by the way. Even if she got a little too drunk at a Halloween party and tried to dance on a table. And then there’s Eddie. Eddie Munson. You know him right? Yeah everyone does he’s the one that ditched Hawkins once he graduated to become a rockstar. He’s trying I promise! He just has to get out of the Guitar Center he works at first… And the shitty apartment him, Jeff, and Gareth share. There are no Demogorgons, there is no Mind Flayer, no Vecna, because it’s all just a silly campaign that high school senior Will Byers came up with for his last Hellfire campaign before he graduates. Before his best friend and huge crush Mike goes away to college. And before Dustin and Will decide which dorm hall they want to stay in. And before Lucas goes off on his own scholarship. He does feel however, that the story he writes for his last big campaign feels a little too real. And just a bit too close to home.

[femmeharringrove]

when steve goes into labor early, he finds himself craving his mother's presence in a way he never has before.

he's always loved her, even if she never really loved him. growing up, she always just sort of avoided him - his eyes were so big and open and honest as he toddled about proclaiming his own love for just about everything under the sun - his nonna, the roses growing, and his mama. and she knew she should have loved him. hell, she wanted to love him, but she just couldn't. and since she couldn't love this little being who seemed entirely made up of love, she distanced herself.

and maybe as a child he didn't know, he was gullible enough to believe that she was just busy, just couldn't come play or couldn't help him plant a new flower, but he grew up and he saw everyone else's mother do so much better. and it stung. it did worse than sting, it ached in a way he just couldn't explain. and when he was fourteen he finally broke down and asked her why she didn't love him, and he'd hoped that she'd tell him otherwise but she was drunk and all she could do was break down and cry and ask for his forgiveness. she didn't remember it the next morning but steve's been haunted by the memory ever since, the knowledge that his mother doesn't love him.

of course he always knew his father despised him, there was no question of that. and now that he's having a baby of his own his aversion to the elder Harrington has only worsened. john harrington is a cruel being, he never should have been allowed near ant child, and steve was determined to keep him away from this one no matter what. he's already told the man he won't be allowed in the hospital, but his mother is supposed to be there. but it's the dead of night and the baby is coming early and as much as he cries for her there's no possible way to get her there in time.

still, billy's heart tugs at the way steve whimpers and says "i - i need her." but the thing is, billy knows the infamous misses harrington. and she doesn't deserve to be there when steve gives birth. but he knows exactly who does.

he does feel a little guilty about calling at such a ridiculous hour, but he isn't surprised when joyce answers, soft and groggy.

"hello?"

and billy pauses, because he doesn't know how to word this. he doesn't know how to tell her that steve's hours away from being a father instead of week, that he's crying for someone who doesn't love him, that billy himself is a little terrified. but in the end it just comes out on its own.

"he needs his mom."

and so joyce shows up at four in the morning and steve sobs against her because he's only ever been ready for the theoreticals. this isn't him reading a book on pregnancy, this isn't one of the kind mothers of hawkins sharing their delivery stories. this is steve, his stomach contracting miserably, his back and hips screaming, his heart racing because he's about to be in possession of a tiny little human being who's going to need him for everything. and this is also steve, barely in the third decade of his life, no real plan for his own future, staying up most nights because he's scared of monsters - monsters he'll now have to protect his baby from. and he doesn't know how to put those fears into words so all he can do is cry, and joyce, she gets it, she always does, and so she strokes his hair and soothes his fears as best she can.

and then there's claudia of course, who's been there since steve's first ultrasound, and she never leaves his room for long, not if she can help it. she holds his hand and wipes his tears and steve feels safe. claudia's always called him the older son she never had, and he feels more like steve henderson than steve harrington in those moments.

the kids won't leave either, because of course they won't. eleven and will overheard joyce on the phone the night before and when hopper tries to get them to school they outright beg to stay home because focusing is impossible knowing their honorary neice or nephew could be born at any second. and hop wants to make them go, but ultimately he can't. and once they get the all-clear, they call the others, and the next thing steve knows he's surrounded by a gang of not-quite teenagers looking him over for any problems and loudly expressing their excitement. and it's endearing, because it reminds steve that this kid has a plethora of babysitters at the ready - even if mike tries to act like he doesn't care, which is decidedly false judging from the panic that crosses his face when steve's hit with a nasty contraction.

dustin refuses to go home even as night falls, and max tells susan she's spending the night with eleven - which is true, but they're both staying at the hospital as well, hopper watching them while joyce stays firmly by steve's side.

on his right, as has been the case for the entirety of his pregnancy, is billy. holding his hand, pushing his hair out of his face, comforting and praising him through steve's low whines and pained groans. he doesn't know how many hours he spends pushing but it hurts like nothing else, like his body is being torn from the inside, and he wants it to stop but he needs to keep going. so he does, he grits his teeth and he pushes through everything, and in the end he's rewarded with the first wail of a human being.

and he doesn't cry right away.

not that he can, his body is catching up with that the hell just happened, his breath is still coming in quick, shaky gasps, and he feels like he's only hearing joyce, not listening. nothing feels right until he's given the solid six-pound weight of his baby on his chest. she's so pink, and her cries are subsiding slowly, but steve runs a trembling hand over the top of her head and realizes she's got the same dark fuzz from all of his baby pictures and then it smacks him in the gut.

this baby is his.

and he holds her close and cries because the amount of love in his chest is too much, he hurts with the intensity of it.

nikita rosaline harrington is her name, and billy tears up a little bit because of it. she's a pretty little thing, her nose is tiny and scrunches up whenever billy runs a fingertip down the tiny bridge of it. she's got her father's eyes too, big and brown and curious, billy's never seen anything more precious - or he thinks so, until he watches steve stare at her with the same eyes and nearly has a heart attack at how sweet the two of them are. and he doesn't need to complicate things right now, not when steve's finally catching his breath after months of hardship, but he knows in his heart this is his family. that's his baby, that's his - well, his steve. and he kisses them both on the forehead and promises he'll take care of them. he's not the dick responsible for knocking steve up, but it's an honor to do this, to step in.

to prove he's not like neil. he can be a dad, and a damn good one at that.

and steve, who doesn't even like letting nancy drive the party to the arcade without him being there, he trusts billy wholeheartedly to raise this baby with him. billy doesn't take that lightly.

joyce and claudia spend a good hour fawning over nikita, they've gotten her so many gifts and she ends up in the little cap claudia made and the outfit joyce got. max and eleven are just as thrilled, max kisses her chubby little cheeks and eleven stares at steve in awe for literally creating a life. will talks to her quietly and holds her like he never wants to let go, even though he does in order to let hopper hold niki for a bit.

there's never been a question about who her grandfather is. neil and john are simply unfit, and hopper's been a pseudo-dad to billy and steve, he's the only one who gets the grandfather status. there's a whole mix of emotion on his face as he bounces the cooing baby, telling her how nice it is to finally meet her and how he's gonna enjoy spoiling her rotten. when he finally gives her back to steve, the man has tears in his eyes.

"you did good, kid," he tells steve, runs a heavy hand over his hair before patting billy on the shoulder.

dustin holds her the longest, of course. he quickly comes to adore the fit of his finger in her curled palm, and he tells her about all the things he's going to teach her as she grows up. steve's fondly amused at how easily dustin takes to carrying nikita, in the same way steve got used to dragging dustin around. every time the curly-haired kid remembers to look up at the other people in the room, he gives steve the brightest grin, eyes crinkled with merriment.

"you have the coolest dad ever, niki," he informs her proudly, and steve's finally beyond the need for cool points but it's touching nonetheless.

mike and lucas meet her in the morning, and lucas immediately charms the baby with a little song as he rocks her back and forth. he declares himself the fun uncle, which dustin protests, but steve and billy know lucas is correct. mike is the only one who just knows how to hold a baby, thanks to a baby sister, so he takes nikita from lucas like it's nothing and stares at her little face for a long time. the emotion there isn't something steve can read, but he sees the way mike draws her closer after a moment and smiles.

mike's a protector, even if he likes to act like he doesn't care sometimes. and steve, who's just as protective, knows that niki is beyond safe with him.

when robin meets the baby she nearly screams. but then she remembers how new those little ears are and settles for the biggest grin as she swipes niki from billy and walks about, cooing all sorts of nonsense to her little neice. "she's too cute," she gushes, planting a kiss to the baby's forehead. "i'm taking her home. sorry, dingus." and steve protests, but they both know she isn't about to walk out of there with a baby. robin loves kids, but she doesn't think motherhood is for her.

it's certainly not for everyone. and that thought doesn't occur to steve until his mother shows up, nearly a day after niki is born.

he watches her go to pick nikita up and his heart twists and he wants to reach over and take her back. his hands stay clenched under the blanket as the woman smiles at the baby, then at steve himself.

"you made a cute one, i'm not surprised," she muses, and then she says, "don't you just love her?"

and steve, he can't really respond to that.

billy's his saving grace, picks up on the shift and ends up gently convincing misses harrington to come back another time. when he turns back to steve, the brunette has tears already streaming down his face.

"why couldn't she -?" he tries, but billy doesn't need him to finish that sentence. he moves closer and wraps steve up in his arms and for the first time decides that he hates both harringtons, not just john.

because steve's easily the most loveable soul he's ever stumbled across. he looks at nikita and all he can see is a little steve, and he hates the boy's parents for refusing to love the vulnerable little soul they brought into the world.

[willel]

On this day, I’d like to talk about my feelings on Season 3.

I know I know. You roll your eyes. You’ve seen me talk about it before. But actually you haven’t. Not totally. If anything, you’ve just seen my inquisitional frustration now and then on how they decided to write it.

Make no mistake, I think Stranger Things 3 is the worst of the 3 seasons. Is it the worst tv ever? Nah.... though this is someone who doesn’t really watch tv other than Stranger Things (more of a reader myself). I usually watch youtubers rip tv shows apart instead.

So based on that, do I think Stranger Things 3 is worse that 13 Reasons Why, Riverdale, or uh.... hm.... oh! the last seasons of Game of Thrones? Well, no.

So how do I truly feel? Weirdly enough, I feel the same as I did when I finished watching it the whole time. I felt like... I was waiting for the ball to drop, episode to episode. I can’t pinpoint exactly what I was waiting for, but whatever it was didn’t come.

I didn’t.... FEEL as much as I did the first 2 seasons? And I felt like that was by design. They didn’t bring in the heartfelt stuff until literally the VERY end and by then, it was too late for me to feel invested in all these characters I genuinely like.

I never truly felt like anyone was in danger, especially not the Scoop Troop. Even as Steve was being tortured and had his daylights knocked out... it was just a *shrug* like moment for me.

Even when Hopper supposedly died.... I was kinda feeling like “meh. I doubt it.”

And I’m not trying to say someone HAS to die for me to feel something. No one died in Season 2 (except Bob) and I was still on the edge of my seat while they were interrogating Will or when they started panicking cause the Mind Flayer found their location. I was concerned that maybe El wouldn’t be able to close that humongous gate and Hopper would get eaten by demodogs before they even made it there. I was worried possessed Will would get loose before they managed to exercise the Mind Flayer and maybeeee he’d die or suffer more or something.

So for months, I guess more than a year now, I’ve just been debating my feelings on things. I’ve come to this conclusion.

Even though I didn’t really like the season overall, there were too many things in the season I did like to make me actually hate it.

Will’s arc that lasted about 3 episodes was off to a great start. I was really looking forward to it until it disappeared.

Murray’s friendship with Joyce... I dunno. I actually really loved that. They’re kinda similarly paranoid investigative people who bother Hopper in their own little way. It’s cute, like they’re long lost siblings.

Even if they laid it on a little thick, El and Max’s friendship was much needed and I’m glad that even though El was still trying to copy Max a little too much, Max was also doing her best to remind El now and then to find herself and no one else.

I like that El is now living with the Byers and that they’re moving away. It makes TOTAL sense that Joyce would pack up and leave Hawkins. Too much shit has gone down there, she needed to go for her and her kids sake + El.

Even though I wish the resolution had been different, Jonathan and Nancy clashing due to their backgrounds (being a woman vs being poor) was very interesting to me. I would’ve loved to have more of it. Not more arguing, just more talking about it other than the apology.

I love love love, first of all, Lucas reaching out to Will multiple times after the huge blow up trying to make amends. Some of it is in the background. And that CUTE HUG AT THE END. I love Will and Lucas. <3 Lucas is such a good friend even with a few screw ups there and there.

Jonathan for at least a second taking the big brother role for El and trying to cut that thing out of her leg. Trying to reassure her it’s gonna hurt but it’s gotta be done. So sweet even if gross

And then there’s the things I didn’t like that just... brought down my mood. Here’s a few.

Hopper was just... look. I don’t hate his character. I see this solely as a writing issue, not necessarily a character issue. I feel we could’ve ended up with the exact same plot if we cut out about 50% of Hopper’s snark. I get being overprotective of El and the old “Dad hates the boyfriend jokes”. Whatever. Would’ve been better if Mike ACTUALLY screwed up all by himself and Hopper was just enjoying the moment rather than Hopper being the cause of it.

And I get the whole Hopper really wanting to date Joyce stuff, but... I just can’t see how we go from season 1 and season 2 Hopper who was ready to throw hands with his deputies for implying Joyce was crazy. And the Hopper that really truly completely understood what Joyce was going through (anxiety,depression, and loss). How did that guy turn into someone trying to rush Joyce’s mourning along (after he mourned for his daughter for like, 6 years) and him being the one implying she’s crazy? It’s just weird. I can’t deal. It’s WEIRD.

No Jonathan and Will scenes. They’re finally on the adventure together and there’s still NOTHING. In the mall, Will is damn near having a panic attack hardly able to keep quiet and JONATHAN DOESN’T EVEN GLANCE IN HIS DIRECTION

No Jonathan and Joyce scenes. Mother and son who?

No Nancy and Mike scenes. They didn’t do it for season 2. Surely they won’t forget this time and give the siblings some screen time??? Nope. Bet 75% of the fandom forgot they’re even related.

No Max and Billy scenes. Not a fan of Billy, but Billy is her step brother. Why the hell wouldn’t the writing put a little more focus on that? Surely Max would be more suspicious of Billy acting weird or even nice to her? Surely they’d give her more moments of showing... something over the fact that her step brother is the big bad?

No Will and El scenes. Obviously I’d be annoyed at this. But you’d think the monster radar and the psychic girl would be butting their heads together a bit more to figure out what’s going on? This ties into Will’s evil senses only working 5 minutes too late. How did he sense the Mind Flayer smoke from 10 miles away, but now he can’t sense the huge flesh monster until it’s a couple meters above him?? No logical sense.

Complete erasure of Kali. I didn’t miss the fact that when El was having flashbacks of her mom, they pretty much cut out any mention or thought of Kali. Surely after that heartfelt goodbye, El would at least think of Kali for a moment and get distracted. She decidedly hid the fact that Kali exists from everyone else, wouldn’t it be nice if we saw her character still thinking about that secret from time to time??

And the final point that I feel like typing out tonight, too much focus on El. And I don’t mean it in the way you’re probably thinking. I mean that basically NO ONE is able to save El. EVER. She has to do everything up until the final moment. Mike and the gang isn’t allowed to save El from Billy choking her out. She ends up having to save them. No one can save El from the flesh eating vagina monster. She has to defend herself completely. Jonathan isn’t allowed to get the worm thing out of her leg, she has to pull it out herself. Mike and Max can’t do anything to protect her from Billy again. They all fail and she yet again has to save herself.

Ok, that’s all I wanted to say.

ST3 is like a..... 45 / 55 scale for me, and the 55 is the bad part.

[sinfulserpents]

another hopper! reader hc or fic babe?maybe continue the one you already wrote because that was super cute! like interactions between hopper and billy would be hilarious

based on this headcanon

aight lets imagine that hopper was able to take max and billy away from their shitty home life

and because he’s a huge softie at heart

papa bear hopper comes out and he lets them stay at your house 

it would take them both so long to get used to their new settings

but after about a month max would join in on el’s excitement to be living with her best friend

my babies

billy would take much longer to sort of get used to it

like every slam of a door would still make him jump

or when your dad would come home drunk after a night out with his work mates billy would be sent into a panic attack

and while hop set up the spare room for him and max to sleep in

billy would often find himself sneaking into your room in the middle of the night because

“i sleep better when i’m next to you - somehow you stop the nightmares.”

max would also sneak into el’s room too while they gossiped about mike and lucas

but billy would creep back into his respective room when the sun rose not wanting to piss off your dad

however, one time billy would finally be getting a proper nights rest

like baby boy was full snoring

he hadn’t been able to sleep properly like that for a long time

so that’s how your dad would find you when he walked into your room to wake you up for breakfast

billy’s head on your chest

your legs intertwined

he’d clear his throat to try to wake you both

but when he realised that wasn’t going to work he’d roll his eyes and let out a ‘wake up!”

Billy would jump up like a flash of lightening 

immediately spluttering out apologies and excuses like

“im so sorry sir”

“i didn’t want to be disrespectful - it’s just that your daughter has a good chest to lay on… wait! no! shit! i didn’t mean like her, you know? boobs. I mean’t like her chest.”

all while you sat there and looked between the pair

your dad would shake his head and chuckle under his breath

because the hargrove kid was actually a huge dork

and raise his palm so billy would stop rambling

“i was just coming to wake you both for breakfast. I know you’ve been sneaking in here for the last couple of weeks Billy, you’re not light on your feet… also don’t talk about my daughters chest to me again.”

with that he’d leave your room

and billy would let out a sigh of relief before crawling back on top of you

burying his face in your neck and letting out a string of “thank gods”

billy would 100% take y’all to school in the morning and drive you home at night

hopper would be reluctant at first

you know that he had to give our boy a couple of speeding tickets

and he would probably make billy go to a safe driving course just to be safe lmfao

but your dad would eventually get used to it 

always telling billy to “drive safe hargrove or your body wont be found”

once y’all got home from school you and billy would be studying on the kitchen table while the girls studied in the living room

and you’d have this huge biology exam the next day

so you told everyone not to distract you

putting on your headphones and listening to your songs through your walkman

but then el would walk over to your table not understanding a word

like the lil angel asked max what it meant and not even our firecracker knew

so she’d go to tap you on the shoulder but billy would stop her

gesturing to the seat next to him

so she’d shuffle over to the chair and sit down 

pushing her book in front of him before pointing to the word

and billy would chuckle and be like 

“you don’t know what catastrophic means?”

and el would shake her head while trying to say the word out loud after billy gave her the definition

billy wouldn’t say it but the girl that was weirdly named after a number was starting to weave her way into his heart

as was max who had joined the three of you at the table, tossing billy her math homework

billy would raise his eyebrows and be like “what do you need maxine?”

the girl would roll her eyes and sigh

she doesn’t like to ask for help

so billy would scan over the blue sheet of paper with circles that were cut into half and quarters

“let me guess, you don’t know how to write these pie diagrams as fractions, huh?”

max would bite her lip and shake her head while billy grabbed a pencil and turned the paper to face her

beginning to explain the concepts to his lil sister

from then on this kind of became a routine

billy would help the girls with the homework first before doing his own

and you’d always comment about how he’d make a good middle school teacher

which he’d groan about and tell you to “bugger off”

we stan a king who is trying to not swear as much around kids

because there was no way that he was going to become a teacher

but when the time came for y’all to put in college applications 

don’t try to tell me that he wouldn’t ask you to help him write a application for middle school teaching

he’d so get accepted pls don’t kill my dreams

after a while billy would probably get tired of his mullet

the only reason he grew his hair was to spite his dad who said long hair was for “pussies” and “belonged on girls”

so he’d tell you that he’d meet you at dustins house where everyone was hanging out after because he had to do something first

you wouldn’t pry but would give him an “okay, see you then” kissing him goodbye and driving off

billy would stare at himself for a really long time in the mirror with a pair of scissors in his hand

he kept going to cut it but then stopping himself

until he heard the familiar sound of hoppers voice followed by a womans that he recognised as joyce byers

so he’d walk out of the bathroom 

ultimately halting their conversation

and hopper would glance between the nervous boy and the scissors in his hand

and just let out a “what are you doing, son?”

billy would try not to smile at the fact that HOPPER just referred to him as son

but would nonchalantly raise the scissors and look between the pair of adults

“i-uh, was thinking of cutting my hair.”

joyce would smile before gesturing him over to the kitchen table offering to do it for him

when billy finally arrived at dustins he’d knock before letting himself in once he heard the kids yell an “it’s open!”

and all conversation would come to a stop

the party would stare at him in shock

while you’d stand up from your position on the couch next to harrington who had his mouth opened in an ‘o’

you’d walk over while raising a questioning eyebrow 

“you cut your hair?”

billy would shrug and nervously look down at his shoes 

“thought it was time for a change. do you not like it?”

your hands would run through his short locks and billy would shut his eyes 

he loved when you played with his hair okay

and you’d kiss his cheek, telling him that you loved it

while leaning up on your tip-toes to whisper in his ear

“i can still pull on it while you go down on me.”

billy would b l u s h 

and cough to stop himself from being turned on then and there

max would smile at him and give him a thumbs up before returning to the D&D game

el would just give him a loud “badass” before also joining back in the game

billy wouldn’t admit it but having yours and the girls approval meant the world to him

it wouldn’t stop him from telling steve to “bag your face harrington” when steve started talking to him though

don’t even talk to me about how much billy would love ‘family dinners’

his blood related family never had dinner together

so when your dad brought home beer and pizza every friday night

while you all sat in the living room just lounging around eating and talking

he fucking loved it

domestic! billy has me soft™️

he. deserved. better.

we’re gonna pretend the final ep of s3 didn’t happen okay? cool

I WENT CRAZY ON THIS TERRIBLE HC IM SORRY

[yikesharringrove]

You've given us DadHopper taking care of Billy and learning how to deal with his issues with the help of Steve, buy what about Hopper and maybe Joyce (because Steve's parents always seen like a double dose of bad that feeds off each other) accidentally triggering a panic attack in Steve? Maybe that being when they realize how important they are to Steve with a bit of Billy and/or some of the kids yelling at them to really drive it home?

Under the cut. There’s some mentions of Steve’s terrible parents and Steve having a panic attack. This is based on a lot of my own personal head canons for this tiny boy that I include in most of my works.

Read on ao3

Steve can take being made fun of.

Seriously, look at who is best friends are, his boyfriend. The kids poke at him, Robin is always cracking jokes, and Billy loves teasing him just to get him all riled up.

But they always know what to avoid, how certain deliveries can cut him.

He’s sitting at dinner with Hopper and Joyce and Billy. He was over, just watching a movie with Billy when Joyce arrived, toting a big lasagna and a few side dishes.

Hop had invited her over while El was having dinner with the Wheelers’. (He thought Billy and Steve were going out, but apparently Billy just couldn’t be fucked to leave the house tonight). So now he was kind of on a double date with his son.

Dinner was nice. Steve helped Joyce in the kitchen while Hop and Billy set the table, crashing onto the couch after. Billy grinned and winked at Steve, starting cracking jokes about look at our cute little wifies makin’ us dinner. Get yourself a GOOD woman. Steve threw a piece of garlic bread at him.

Everyone was having a good time, crowded around the small table Hopper had bought after realizing they all needed a lot more space than just he and El did. Joyce asked the boys about school, how Steve’s new job at the ice cream place in the mall was.

But then Hopper turned to Steve, asked him what his plans for after graduation were.

“I was thinking about taking some time off. Working for a little while so I can figure out what I want to do.” Steve was pushing a chunk of tomato around on his plate.

“So you’re big plans are working at the mall?” Steve’s ears were tinged red. He was staring at his plate, the piece of tomato.

“Why does he have to know right now? He doesn’t.” Billy was always quick to defend Steve, but he could tell where this was going, could smell it a mile away. He knew Hop didn’t mean anything by it, was just being the chiding dad wanting to look out for his son, but this was a touchy subject. Steve often got yelled at for not having future plans, for throwing his future away.

“I thought Jonathan told me you were going to work for your dad.” Steve starting taking practiced breaths, glancing up to smile at Joyce before looking back down.

“Uh, that was the, the plan but that’s, it’s not anymore.”

“What do you mean? That would be a better job to tide you over than the mall.” Billy kicked Hop under the table, shaking his head just a little, eyes wide.

“Uh, yes. Yes it would be, but um, since I  don’t, won’t have a, a degree, the offer has been rescinded.” Billy closed his eyes. Figured rescinded was the exact word Mr. Piece-of-Shit Harrington had used after calling his son his idiot for an hour. Billy hadn’t gotten the whole story, Steve didn’t tend to speak clearly when he was sobbing into Billy’s neck.

“Wait, what do you mean you won’t have a degree?”

“Dad-”

“I didn’t get into college. Any college. Not even Tech,” He placed his fork down, blinking rapidly. “Thank you so much for dinner, but I really have to be going.” He gave a weak smile at Billy who stood up with him, following Steve out of the cabin, throwing a glare over his shoulder at Hop.

Joyce began picking up plates.

“I don’t feel good about that, Hop.” She put the plates on the kitchen counter, standing on her toes to look out the window. “Oh no.”

Hop joined her, got a clear view of Billy sitting on the porch steps, Steve draped over him, completely in his lap. He had his face buried in Billy’s shoulder, and they could see the way his back was heaving, shaking as Billy rubbed gently up and down it, one hand playing with Steve’s hair.

“That, uh, that doesn’t look good.” Joyce turned to Hopper.

“I didn’t think we were, were hard on him, I mean maybe you could’ve gone in on him less-”

“I just spent a lot of years dealing with that kid being a brat. I want to make sure he’s good enough for my son. Billy has all of his eggs in that kid’s basket and he’s working at a mall for the foreseeable future.”

“Yeah but Hop, that’s not your call to make. He’s a good kid, he’s good with the kids, and he’s good to Billy, good for him to. Billy can make his own decisions about who’s in his life.”

“But I’m just worried about Steve being dead weight. Billy’s smart I’ve seen his report cards. He could go anywhere, do anything, but he’s gonna end up sitting in Hawkins working minimum wage because he doesn't wanna leave Steve.”

The front door slammed shut.

Billy was standing in the threshold, shoulders drawn tight, fists clenched.

“Jesus Hop, tell me how you really fuckin’ feel.” Hopper sighed.

“Look, you know I like the kid, you’ve just got a brighter future than-”

“You know he told me he sees you guys as his parents. You know why? Because his parents fucking suck.” He came to stand on the other side of the L shaped counter, looking sternly at Hop and Joyce. “Do you remember when he came over because he wanted to tell me he got a B on the essay I helped him write, and you patted him on the back and said good job, kid.” He gave a gruff imitation of Hopper. “You probably don’t, because it was such a nothing moment, but he talked about that for weeks. If he had brought home a B to his own parents, his dad would’ve yelled that he can do better and his mom would’ve taken her Vicodin and went to bed. Because that’s what his house is like. A B is the best grade he’s ever gotten.”

“Well, not for nothing, but there is a grade higher than-” Billy cut Hopper off with what sounded like a fucking growl.

“When Steve was five his teacher wanted to test him for dyslexia and ADHD and all this other shit that, mind you, he obviously fucking has, but his dad wouldn’t let him get tested. He said Steve just needs to work harder and calls Steve a retard and all this shit like every day. School is really fucking hard for him because he can barely fucking read on a good day and no one has ever helped him. He got a B on that paper because I read the book out loud to him, and he could actually understand the meaning of everything because he wasn’t trying to decipher all these letters moving around. And when he didn’t get into college, his dad went off on him, and told him he’s a disappointment, and told him he has one year to work and re-apply and get into college or he’s cut off. And don’t even get me started on his mom.”

Joyce looked like she was about to cry. Hopper felt like shit, felt like there was cold water running down his spine.

“You know she tells Steve she doesn’t love him? Seriously, she did it in front of me one night, like got drunk and starting talking about how she feels literally no emotions towards him, and never has.

He took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the counter so tightly his knuckles were white.

“So then tonight, you start in on him, saying a lot of the same shit his dad has been saying to him, except this time, he actually really cares what you think, thinks of you as more a father than his own dad, and you just shattered his fucking world. He’s out on the front porch right now, probably calling himself stupid and trying to pull chunks of his fucking hair out, because that’s his panic attack M.O.” Billy snatched up his and Steve’s jackets, Steve’s keys. “I’m going to take him home and stay the night with him to make sure he doesn’t fucking hurt himself because of this.” He stomped towards the door, turning back one last time. “And I expect and apology.”

It was silent after he left. They could hear him gently coercing Steve into the car, lots of hushed it’s okay Baby and hey, quit pullin’ your hair. They could hear Steve’s car start and pull out of the drive.

“Joyce, I feel like shit.” Her eyes were sympathetic.

“Me too, Hop. I had no idea. Can you imagine having a child and being that cruel?” Hop sat down on the couch, burying his head in his hands.

“And I can’t even fucking adopt him because he’s eighteen.” Joyce was quiet.

“Is that how you solve problems now? Adopting kids?” He looked at her.

“Worked for the other two, didn’t it?” She gave him a Look.

“I’m so embarrassed.” She sat down next to him, tucking herself under his arm. “That poor boy. That actually explains so much.”

“It really does. God, he’s just been crying out for fucking attention this whole time. Why didn’t I see it?” He groaned. “And I called him fucking dead weight, Joyce I’m a terrible person. I fucking remember that essay, because his face fucking lit up, and I thought it was kinda, kinda weird, but I don’t know if he’s ever heard good job before.”

Over the next few weeks, every time Steve was over Hopper tried to be kinder, softer. He had apologized to Steve, told him he didn’t need to figure himself out right now, and told him about how it took Hop three years of wasting away at University to realize he wanted to joint the police force.

The next time he came in with B paper that Billy helped him with, Hopper put it on the fridge, next to El’s list of daily vocab words, a few pictures Jonathan has taken, three of Will’s drawings, and Billy’s quarterly report cards (straight A’s, 4.0 GPA because his son is fucking smart).

“So, I pulled a few strings, got you in here with pretty short notice.” Hop was standing with Steve outside of a plain building. He had taken him into the city, said he needed help with something for Billy.

“What, what do you mean?”

“You’re gonna be tested for dyslexia. The test takes about 6 hours, but afterwards they’re going to know exactly how to help you.”Steve was looking at him with big eyes. Hopper awkwardly handed him a brown paper sack. “Joyce packed you some snacks and a lunch. You’ll get breaks and stuff. And don’t stress yourself out. There’s no right answers, this is just to find the best ways to help.” Hopper led Steve into the building, checking him in at the front desk. Steve was quiet behind him, had been blinking a lot as he looked around the testing center.

“I’m going to stay in the city in case you finish early.” He gave Steve a small smile, squeezing his shoulder. “Good luck.” He went to turn around, but was tackled into a tight hug, Steve squeezing Hopper probably as much as he could. He squeezed the kid back, gently patting his back. When Steve pulled away, he looked Hop int he eye.

“Thank you.”

[conundrum-esoterica]

highlights of stranger things season 3 (SPOILERS!!)

Mileven being uh... teenagers? Hooking up? What the fuck, they were like ten years old three minutes ago

‘‘THREE INCHES AT LEAST!’’

Hop scaring the shit out of Mike 

‘‘My Nana might... die?’‘ 

‘‘Gross...’‘/‘‘I will never fall in love...’‘ SAME WILL SAME 

I don’t know if Max and Lucas are officially a couple, but I love their dynamic anyway

‘’AHOY!’‘

Oh my god Robin is my new favourite character

‘‘How many children are you friends with?’‘

Erica constantly asking for ice cream samples. (me.) 

I feel like the mayor is a kind of a way to mock Trump??? And that’s a very good job.

Nancy standning up for herself! I missed her POWER. 

‘‘NO GIRLS!’‘ 

I DUMP YOUR ASS

Mike and Lucas being disgusting and laughing and Will being like ‘’ugh heteros’’

Will’s costume, I love my son so much 

‘‘It’s not my problem you don’t like girls!’‘ fUck you Mike, but also thanks for confirming that WIll is actually gay

WILL IS GAY

‘‘YEAH,, SHITHEADS!’‘ Good parenting Karen

Max and El being the ULTIMATE DUO!

‘‘Who are you going to call? The police?’‘

‘‘Magnets’‘ ‘‘Magnits!’‘ ‘‘YEA YEA MAGNITS!!!’‘

That Alexey guy lol 

I kind of shipped Murray and Alexey, sue me 

‘‘...the machines in the farm where we kiddnaped you...?’‘

Alexey watching Looney Tunes

‘‘NO SHIT HARRINGTON!’‘

When Billy was choking El i almost had a heart attack

Last season El closed the gate with just her mind, and the Russians need an entire laser gun thing to open it again? ugh HER POWER

El openning doors and beating the shit out of them, like the good old times

ELMAX CUTE SLEEPOVERS READING WONDERWOMAN TOGETHER... MY HEART...

‘‘What is your problem?!’‘ Is it just me, or Winona was 100% Veronica there?

SCOOPS TROOP CARRIED THE ENTIRE SEASON ON THEIR BACKS

Like really, Steve, Robin, Erica and Dustin were a FUCKING POWERFUL SQUAD, they made the season 10000 times better

‘‘Yeah like... Scott Clark...’‘

‘‘Detective Byers’‘ 

Robin’s knee patch 

‘‘I’m sorry is there anything you want to share with the class?’‘

Long ass shots with trembling lights and dead bodies on the floor, that’s peak stranger things 

‘‘Marco?’‘ ‘‘POLO!”‘ 

‘‘Well he did ask for cherry’‘

‘‘No cherry no deal’‘

FAT RAMBO 

‘‘i WONT FORGET YOU!’‘ ‘‘MOOOOOOOOOOVE!’‘

Is none looking for their god damn kids in this town

‘‘He said he’s going to kill all of you’‘ ‘‘oh well, that’s nice’‘

Robin and Steve acting dead drunk, and Dustin and Erica acting like their parents, that’s peak comedy

‘‘How many times dad? I don’t do drugs.. Only marijuanna’‘

‘‘It’s official, I’m never having kids’‘

Dustin and Erica really had the braincell in this season.

Joyce beating the SHIT out of the mayor, for no reason. that’s my girl

The kids getting locked in a house, holding weapons, that’s peak stranger things too 

the toilet scene!!!!!

Scoops Troop should addopt Will because he’s having INCREDIBLY SMALL SCREEN TIME UGH

I was like ‘’ugh more boring romance between Robin and Steeve’’ but then... ROBIN IS wlw!!!! AND THAT’S WAY WAY WAY WAY BETTER THAN ANOTHER ONE BORING ROMANCE 

We have two canonically lgbt characters, st said gay rights

And also Max is lowkey in love with EL???

‘‘..HER WHOLE KNEE CAME OUT, IT WAS SIX INCHEES IT WAS INSANE’‘ ‘‘You are not helping.’‘

DUSTIN AND SUZIE HAVING AN ENTIRE MUSICAL NUMBER WHILE THE WORLD WAS ENDING,,,

The last episode leaved me traumatised. 

Like really traumatised. 

I’m kind of glad El lost her powers and she can be a normal girl. 

Also i’m SO sad and traumatised that i almost felt happy when i saw the good old demogorgon in the end of the last episode.

I never liked Billy like NEVER but i felt sorry for him.

Hopper... Hop...........................................why.....w....h............y...

Hopper was like the spirit of stranger things, everything is going to be so different without him

Joyce is so broken, she can’t handle it and neither i can 

WHY THEY MOVE OUT WHY WHY WHY I WANNA KNOW 

Can you imagine how Mike felt, he spend the entire s1 looking for Will then s2 looking for El, and then he LOST THEM BOTH AGAIN

Everyone is crying and so i am 

WILL AND EL ARE NOW SIBLINGS ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MY HEART UWU

El lost her powers, Hop is gone, the Byers move out, i can’t even imagine how s4 is going to be 

i m....................... crying

[steebharringt0n]

snapshots of our lives | b.h x you

fears and worries disappear as you and billy hold your baby boy for the first time.

warnings: like one curse word? IT’S JUST PURE FLUFF GUYS.

words: 4k

a/n: ya gurl is baaaack with some extra fluff for the holidays. a certain drawing inspired this one ;) enjoy!

--- The low humming of the heart rate monitor machine quietly echoed in the small hospital room. It was 4 in the morning, three occupants currently sleeping as dawn began to break on the California coast. One was sleeping in a tiny bassinet, wrapped up tightly in a hospital blanket and a small blue cap on his head. 

The other person was resting blissfully on the large hospital bed, their body tired and achy from the past couple of hours, and the final person was curled up on the couch, his blonde curls splayed messily as dark stubble decorated his face. He was aching to sleep in a bed, the couch was too hard for his body, but yet with all the commotion happening within the last couple of hours, sleep was just an afterthought.

Until he finally passed out from exhaustion.

He had been too excited to sleep, too nervous. His life had just done a 180 on him about several hours ago and he didn’t want to miss a single moment of his newborn son’s life.

The epidural had already kicked in, your body was numb from the waist down. Your eyes were anxiously attached to the clock, waiting, counting down the hours till baby boy Hargrove would arrive.

“You’re doing it again” his voice brought you out of the reverie you were in.

You turned your head to face him, a slight smile on his lips as his eyes met yours. He was currently sprawled out on the couch, his legs outstretched. Your hand went to rub your swollen belly, it felt as if it was going to burst if you were pregnant any longer.

“Hmm, I have no idea what you’re talking about” you played it coy, but Billy could read your face from miles away. The perks of being together for almost 4 years.

“You’re watching the clock again”

“Can you blame me? I’m almost 10 centimeters and he’s been moving around like crazy” you grunted as you shifted around in the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. You heard Billy move around on the couch, you then watched as he grabbed the chair in the corner and pulled it over to your bedside.

He rubbed his large hand over his face, he’d been awake for almost 24 hours, those long shifts at the auto shop were starting to get to him. Your water had broken just as you two were settling down for breakfast, Billy was about ready to head off to work when you felt warm liquid trickle down your legs. 

Your body instantly froze. You dropped your fork on the table, then proceeded to clutch your stomach, your eyes shut in pain as a contraction hit you.

Billy jumped out of the chair, racing over to your side. As soon as he saw the wet stains on your dress he instantly knew.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit. I thought he wasn’t supposed to come till next week?!” he shouted as he ran across the apartment, grabbing your overnight bag and the car seat which had yet to be properly placed in the Camaro.

You breathed heavily through your nose as you waited for another contraction to hit, “He’s a baby Billy not a package! He comes when he - fuck!”

You clenched your teeth together, your nails digging imprints on your palm as a contraction sharply hit you. Billy stopped his movements and jumped over to you, crouching down and taking your hands into his.

“Hey, hey, remember what the doc said, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth”

You swallowed thickly, nodding your head at his instructions and giving him a watery smile in return. You felt like crying, the overwhelming feeling of the situation suddenly made you feel breathless. There were no instructions when it came to babies, and after today you and Billy were on your own with this tiny person.

You inhaled sharply, you could feel your hands trembling and before you knew it there were tears streaming down your face. Billy reached up, letting go of your hands and gently cupping your face, his thumbs wiping away the tears that were staining your cheeks.

“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay” he gently consoled. If truth be told, he was just as terrified as you were, but he had to be the strong one in this situation, hell you’re about to have a baby and all he did was cum inside of you.

You shook your head, full on sobbing at this point, “No, no, it’s not okay. We’re barely 20 years old and we’re about to have a baby, and we have no idea what we’re doing and what if we suck at this? What if we're terrible parents and - “

Billy did what he does best to shut you up - he lifted his head up and pressed his lips against yours, kissing you with so much fervor that for a second you almost forgot that your water had just broke. When he pulled away, the look in his eyes was so intense that the fear of having this baby with him suddenly melted away.

“I love you Y/N, and this baby okay?”

He pressed his hand against your stomach, he could feel his son kicking around like crazy. He was more than ready to come out into the world.

“I’m fucking terrified too okay? Ever since the day you told me you were pregnant I - I keep thinking that I’m going to turn out like Neil, or that I’m going to fuck this kid up royally in some way or form.”

“Billy - “

“And I know what you’re going to say, that I’m not going to be like Neil. But when I have those thoughts, I - I just think about what an amazing mother you’re going to be, and how I know you’re going to help keep my ass in line. All my fears about being a dad disappear when I know you’re going to be by my side”

Billy’s emotional confession had you bawling, tears cascading down your face. Billy isn’t good with words, and his emotional outbursts were still a work in progress, but you needed him to be your lifeline right now as you were with him when he was struggling. He grabbed your hand and placed a soft kiss on your knuckles,

“We’re in this together okay?”

You sniffled, bobbing your head up and down, “Okay”

“And no matter what happens I’m going to be here okay?”

“Okay”

“And we need to get you to the hospital, like, now”

Another contraction knocked the wind out of you, your face twisted in agony as shock waves of pain coursed through your body. “Yeah, lets go”

9 hours later you were still sitting at 8 centimeters dilated. The nurses would come and go every 15 minutes to check up on you but with no change all you had to do at this point was play a waiting game. You had even gotten up and walked around the hospital hoping to speed things along, but your effort was fruitless.

Billy took your hand into his, he frowned at all the IVs attached to your wrist, but they were helping keep track of your vitals, and the baby’s. He gently laced his fingers with yours.

“Do you remember our first date?”

You giggled at the memory as your mind wandered back to junior year, “How could I forget? Your Camaro broke down on the way to Benny’s and we ended up making out in your car to Whitesnake’s ‘Is this Love’ until Hopper caught us and ended up towing your car. I’d say that’s a pretty unforgettable first date”

Billy laughed alongside you. Albeit at the time he was feeling embarrassed that he wasn’t able to treat out this cute girl who had been lending him pencils the whole year.

“Do you know what I realized that night?”

Your eyebrow quirked up, “What?”

“That whether I stayed in Hawkins, or moved back to California, that there was never going to be another girl like you”

You stayed quiet as he continued to speak. You could feel his palms get sweaty as he rubbed soft circles over your hand, “You are the only girl I know that could make light of out of my car breaking down. While I was getting angry, you were just laughing. You were happy.” he paused for a second, his blue eyes met yours, warm and inviting. “You didn’t care about fancy dinners or movies or my car breaking down, you just wanted to be with me”

You squeezed his hand, raising it up to your lips and pressing a soft kiss on his fingers. “And four years later, here we are” you smirked, gesturing to your pregnant belly.

A grin spread across his cheeks, “And here we are”

You continued to pepper kisses all over his hand as his eyes never left yours, “I love you Billy.”

He stood quiet as he tried to gather his thoughts. His emotions were at an all time high. You were his girl and you were about to give him the greatest gift he could ask for - a son. The love he felt for you at this moment was insurmountable. He clenched his jaw, trying his hardest not to cry in front of you, but as soon as he blinked, tears welded up. He inhaled shakily, a tiny smile on his face, “And I love you Y/N”

There was a sudden knock at your door. Billy quickly wiped away his tears, as your doctor walked into the room.

“Ms. Y/L/N, let’s hope this baby is ready to come out”

He reached down below to check how many centimeters you were coming along. 

“Is he ready doctor?” you questioned.

“Yep. I’d say you’re about fully effaced. This baby is ready to come out” 

You let out a sigh of relief, squeezing Billy’s hand. You could feel your heart hammering loudly in your chest. The both of you exchanged looks, Billy nodding at you as you held on tight to his hand.

“You may want to go easy on his hand, you may need that for later” The doctor added as he began to call in his nurses.

As soon as the nurses began to gather around your bed, everything started to move quickly.

“Alright Y/N, you’re going to feel a lot of pressure, but when I say push, I want you to push as hard as you can” The doctor ordered. You swallowed heavily, feeling scared and nervous all at once. 

You glanced up at Billy who was standing above you. Sensing all your nerves you placed a chaste kiss on your head, “You got this princess”

He gave your hand a gentle squeeze, and you began to push.

Everything in the world suddenly went mute, and all you could focus on was pushing this baby out of you. You clenched your eyes shut, your jaw locked in tight and you swore that you were bound to break Billy’s hand with how hard you were squeezing it. You let out a loud gasp as you stopped your pushing,

“Good job Y/N! His legs are out! Just one last giant push and you’ll finally be able to meet your baby boy” the doctor kept encouraging. 

Sweat began to drench your body, you looked absolutely exhausted, but to Billy you could have never looked any more beautiful. He leaned down into your ear, “You’re so close baby, he’s almost here”

“B-Billy, it hurts ... I’m so tired ... “ you whimpered to him.

“I know princess, but our baby is almost here. We finally get to meet him” he continued, pressing kisses on the side of your face. You nodded at his words of encouragement, feeling a newfound sense of energy. You clenched his hand once more and you pushed like you’ve never pushed before. You were wailing at the top of your lungs, Billy still chanting supportive words into your ear until you heard the most beautiful scream in the world.

“Here he is! Baby Hargrove!”

The doctor held him up to the light, his little arms flailing around, searching desperately for some warmth. You opened your eyes and a sob escaped your mouth as you watched the nurses quickly whisk him away to the weighing table behind them.

“Baby Hargrove is 7 pounds and 6 ounces. He has all 10 fingers and 10 toes!” the nurse happily exclaimed through his loud cries.

You released Billy’s hand, he leaned down towards you and slammed his lips onto yours - one that was filled with love and passion. As he pulled away, his eyes began to water with tears.

“You did so good, so so good, I’m so proud of you Y/N” he croaked, brushing away your hair from your face. You nodded at him, being unable to find any words to convey this moment.

The nurse then walked over with your baby boy, all bundled up in his blanket. She gently passed him over to you, “Congratulations, he’s a beautiful baby”

Your Y/E/C eyes were wide with wonderment as you stared down at this tiny person. Billy had an incredulous look on his face, he blinked back tears at the sight in front of him. The love of his life with his son. Your fingers gently wiped away his tiny blonde wisps of hair that you sure were going to match Billy’s curls.

“H-Hi little guy ... I’m your mom ...” you whispered to him. “this guy up here is your dad, he’s a little rough around the edges but he’s secretly a big softy” 

Billy choked out a laugh at your words, wiping away his tears as his gaze never left his son.

Your baby boy was still wailing when the nurse handed him over to you, but the instant he heard your voice, he began to settle down. His cries then turned into soft whimpers, you watched as he slowly opened his eyes, taking in his new surroundings. You let a soft chuckle,

“I was right” you commented out loud to Billy.

He raised an eyebrow, “About what?”

“His eyes. They’re just like yours”

You shifted soundlessly in your sleep, turning over so that you were facing the bassinet. With one eye cracked open, you propped yourself up on your arm, careening your neck towards the sleeping baby. You were desperate to hold him, to feel him in your arms. Feeling much more awake you reached in the bassinet and gently, carefully pulled him into your arms. For weighing about 7 pounds he was a heavy little baby. As you positioned him into your arms, you hissed quietly, forgetting that your body was still sore and tired.

Luckily by the time he was comfortably resting in your arms, he was still knocked out. You chuckled to yourself, a heavy sleeper like his father.

You stared at your son in complete awe, still not being able to believe that this little human was half you and half Billy. You had so much love for this tiny little being that you felt like your heart was going to explode.

Your finger traced the outline of his little face, starting with his wrinkly little forehead. Your finger then trailed down to his nose, which you weren’t sure if he had your nose or Billy’s, but one thing you knew for sure, is that he had Billy’s ocean blue eyes. 

Your finger finally stopped at his cheeks, which were adorably chubby and you wished for a second that he would stay this little forever. 

“Hey mama, you’re up”

You twisted your head to face a sleepy Billy, sitting up and stretching his arms. With a soft smile, you patted the empty space on the bed, “Come sit with us, daddy” You wiggled your eyebrows at the innuendo.

Billy laughed, “Ooh, that may need to stop”

He kicked off his shoes and climbed into the bed, wrapping his arm around you as you snuggled into his side. The morning was beginning to creep in, letting in sunlight into the hospital room. You glanced up and met Billy’s warm gaze, you swear in all of your years that the two of you had been together, you had never seen such a look of love, and adoration in his face. 

A soft coo suddenly broke your attention off of Billy. You glanced down into your arms and saw the baby shifting, his little face twisting into a frown.

“S-should we call a nurse?” Billy asked, there was hesitation laced in his tone.

“No, no, I got this”

You slipped down your hospital gown, just enough to expose your breast. Instinctively, the baby began to root towards you, his mouth found his way towards your nipple and he instantly latched. You winced in pain as you shifted around, resting your body onto Billy’s as the baby began to feed.

“Are you okay? I can go get a nurse” Billy quickly began to speak. Seeing you still in pain was concerning to him.

“No, Billy, I’m okay I promise. Everything is just really sore” you paused, brushing your finger down his cheek, “But look, he latched”

A warm smile spread onto Billy’s lips as he watched his son eagerly eat. “He has my appetite that’s for sure”

“We still need to give him a name” you remarked.

Billy studied his son, trying to think of a good name that would match him, “Jacob?” he offered.

You scrunched up your nose, “Nah. What about … Thomas?”

“No way, Tom Hargrove? Sounds like a used car salesman”

You laughed, “Fair enough”

The both of you then became quiet, gazes locked upon the hungry baby, your minds trying to come up with a good name. Then Billy quipped, “What about Adam?”

“Adam” you tried out the name for yourself, testing to see how it sounded like. “Adam William Hargrove?”

As soon as the name came out of your mouth, Adam pulled away from you, letting out a big yawn from his mouth, milk dribbling out of the corners of his mouth. His eyes carefully opened, curious blues shifting from you to Billy.

“I think he likes it” Billy quietly said.

“We’ll let the nurse know when she comes back in, she can add it to his birth certificate”

Billy hummed in agreement, his eyes still not leaving Adam’s as the fussy baby began to shift in your arms.

“Do you want to hold him? I think you may need to burp him” you noted, as you began to unwrap him from his blanket. He was dressed in a white onesie, his little legs and arms began to move around at the drastic temperature change. Billy gently took the crying baby from your arms,

“Shh, it’s okay Adam, dad’s got ya”

Billy carefully balanced Adam’s head in his one hand, and his small body with his other hand. Adam began to quiet down when he realized that he was in Billy’s arms.

With a wide smile on his lips, Billy looked over at you. His blue eyes shined with excitement, “Hey ... he stopped crying”

You rested your chin on Billy’s shoulder, watching as Billy cradled him close to his chest. “Hmm, he knows who his dad is. You did give that big speech to him on how Mötley Crüe is ten times better than Journey”

“And now he has superior music taste, just like his old man” he grinned, winking at you.

Throughout your pregnancy you encouraged Billy to speak to him. He at first thought it was stupid, speaking to a stomach sounded silly. But when you casually mentioned that the baby would start kicking whenever Billy’s voice was heard, he made it his mission to speak to him at least once a week. His head would rest on your belly, his hand splayed out, feeling the soft pitter-patters of his kicks against his palm. You would watch amusingly, brushing his long blonde curls out of his face as he spoke to his son.

You grabbed the white cloth from the small table, placing it on Billy’s shoulder. Billy then adjusted Adam, placing his head onto his shoulder,

“... Do I just pat his back?” he questioned.

You nodded, “Gently”

Billy’s large hand was about the size of Adam’s entire body, which intimated him. He felt so fragile in his arms, he was scared that a single pat on his back would hurt him. But as gentle as he could, his hand found a steady rhythm of pats against his back.

You grinned at Billy, “Look at you, you’re a natural”

The door to your hospital room swung open, and walked in Angela, the nurse who had helped you through your delivery. With a smirk on her face and her arms crossed, she watched as you and Billy figured out how to burp Adam.

“Well I see I’m not needed here much. Did he latch on okay?”

With a swift nod of the head you turned to face Angela, “He’s been doing great. We finally figured out on a name”

“Oh yeah?”

“Adam William Hargrove” you announced to her proudly.

Angela walked over to the white board where the nurses were keeping track of all your vitals. She took a dry erase marker and in large letters she wrote ‘WELCOME ADAM WILLIAM HARGROVE’

“There, now every one will know his name. I’ll be sure to add it to his birth certificate” she closed up the marker cap and walked out of your room.

You turned your attention back to Billy who was still gently patting Adam’s back. After a couple more pats, a small burp escaped out of Adam’s mouth who then proceeded to spit up milk all over the white washcloth. Billy stood frozen, waiting to feel his spit up dribble down his back but you swiftly grabbed the clean end of the washcloth and cleaned up the mess around his mouth,

“He puked didn’t he?” Billy asked uncertainly.  

You giggled, taking away the dirty washcloth from Billy’s shoulder and tossing it on the table. You watched as Adam then proceeded to snuggle onto Billy’s shoulder, nestling his tiny head in between the crook of his neck. Adam let out a whimper, followed by a soft coo as Billy rested his hand on his body. The warmth that radiated off of his hand helped keep Adam warm.

“He’s fine, he just had to show his big ol’ dad who’s running things round here”

You placed a kiss on Adam’s forehead as he settled in Billy’s arms. His little blue eyes started to slowly close as sleep started to take him back in.

“Is he back asleep?”

You hummed out a yes. Billy then carefully shifted his body, laying all the way down so that Adam was laying on his chest. He read that skin-to-skin contact is good for newborns, and he was lucky enough that his shirt was always half-way buttoned, so he took the opportunity to move him just to where his head was resting right above his heart.

You laid back down with your boys, watching them with pure affection. With Billy’s hand still placed on Adam’s back, you interlaced your fingers with Billy, so that the both of you had your hands on Adam’s back, feeling the steady beat of his chest rise and fall with each breath he took.

Within minutes both Billy and Adam were passed out. Your eyes were tired, your body was sore, and your mind was begging you to sleep, but you couldn’t tear your eyes off away from your two favorite boys. 

If heaven was a place on earth, you were sure that this was it. No other moment in your life could ever top this.

Any fears that you had about Adam were gone, had disappeared into thin air. You wanted to laugh at how nervous you were several hours ago at his arrival, but you knew that with Billy by your side that he wouldn’t let you face this alone.

It would be the three of you, now and forever, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

[whirlybirbs]

⋆    —–   CARHOP COOL, 3 and a 1/2.

summary: it’s time for a two day vacation to the beach, aka lake tippecanoe. pairing: steve harrington x reader, au!post season three word count: 1.8k, mostly world building a/n: have some good ol’ establishing-the-au fic! and billy! and steve’s mom! things are gonna get a little freaky up at the lake. here’s a filler chapter. 

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Steve’s driveway is crowded.

Tippecanoe, two hours North from Hawkins, was home to the Harrington family’s lakehouse. His mom had asked, earlier in the summer, if Steve would be willing to ride up and make sure everything was alright between rentals -- she’d cheerily added, “Go up for a day or two. Bring Dustin, Robin, whoever -- you kids need a vacation after everything that happened, y’know?”

(Janine Harrington had, in recent weeks, become infinitely closer with her son -- when men in suits had brought a bloodied Steve home that night in early July, priding him as a hero, a lot of things changed. He’d opened up about everything in the days following, spurring Janine to reach out to Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Byers and even Hopper, whom her husband couldn’t stand, with kind words and promises that their children were allowed over anytime -- they were bound together now, by Government NDA’s.

It was a nice change, though, between her and Steve -- there was a lot more trust now.)

His mom is chatting happily with Mrs. Byers by the mailbox as Will grabs his towel and cooler, loading the stuff into the Wheeler family hatchback. Nancy unlocks it for him between chatting with Jonathan. Mike helps, grin turning upwards as Dustin arrives with Lucas on his heels, bikes dropped by the mailbox as the boys laugh and launch into one another’s arm.

“Vacation, baby!”

Steve, carrying his own towel over his shoulder, laughs when Dustin finally calls out, sneakers pounding across the hot asphalt of the Harrington home’s driveway.

They both meet half-way.

“Steve!” he gets a toothless grin, “It’s vacay time!”

“Oh, you know --” the handshake is quick, calculated, and well-practiced, “We’re gonna get our tan on --”

The roar of a Camaro startles the group from their laughter.

Billy Hargrove rolls around the cul-de-sac, pulling up behind the Byer’s car and the mailbox before promptly cutting the engine and the Judas Priest track.

Max, with dueling, flaming red braids, hops from the front seat with a beaming smile.

The boys give a victorious cry.

“Zoomer!”

Billy’s slow to exit the car, aviators perched on his nose. The Def Leppard shirt’s sleeves has been chopped off, really hammering home the whole ‘suns out, guns out’ motto the lifeguard seems to be living by this summer. 

After the Battle of Starcourt, a lot of things changed. 

The biggest change, though, seemed to be in Billy Hargrove -- post Mind Flayer, he’d been exposed to the world the Upside Down created, the world his sister and everyone else had been living in for the last year; he’d come out of the haze, out of the flayed, and cried into Max and Eleven’s arms, nothing but apologies on his mouth in the wake of the destruction.

Steve remembers seeing him in the back of one of the ambulances, holding Max’s hand, talking. 

Not fighting, not screaming, not... being Billy.

Steve and Billy shared a look, then. Truce was what it meant. 

At first, Billy tried to pretend the whole ‘Mind Flayer’ thing never happened. 

But pretending didn’t get rid of the nightmares. And soon, Billy Hargrove was knocking on Will Byer’s door mid-D&D game looking for help, for someone to talk to.

The apology had come a few days later.

Billy had strolled up the Family Video, scaring the shit out of Steve, before offering his hand and a genuine apology. Robin watched on, a bit slack-jawed.

“I was a fucking asshole,” the blonde said slowly, “I’m sorry, man.”

Steve blinked at his hand.

After a moment, he shook it.

“It’s cool, dude,” Steve said before he could stop himself, “You didn’t know.”

“Doesn’t excuse the fact I was a dick, though.”

A look of surprise fleeted across Steve’s face. “Fair.”

Billy smiled, then, different from every other time he’d seen it. It wasn’t for show. It was... real. When Billy left, Robin had made a sound of pure shock before asking what the hell that was about.

“He beat the shit out of me,” Steve said, watching him drive away, “Tried to beat up Lucas, all while we were being hunted by Demogorgans... Just, y’know, was a genuine shit-bag.”

“Seems like he’s changed.”

“No kidding.”

“Trauma,” Robin chirps as she moves to sort the VHS’s, “is a hell of a thing.”

The malice that was there before the Fourth of July is gone. Instead, Billy smiles as he hauls Max’s cooler from the trunk of the navy sports car, offering Lucas a causal knuckle-touch before clapping Steve on the back.

“Hey man.”

“Hey Billy,” Steve chirps, “Nice outfit.”

“It’s hot out, alright,” he battles back, clearly amused, “I gotta work on my tan.”

“You coming with?” Steve asks, lips pulled into a smirk as he crosses his arms and shifts from foot to foot. His white converse are stark against the dark driveway, “We’ve got room.”

“Naw,” Billy breathes, crossing his arms, “I gotta shift at the pool -- thanks for the invite, though.”

“Yeah,” Steve shrugs, “It’s cool -- You’re one of the gang now.”

Billy’s lips quirk. Steve can tell that means something to him. Another clap on the back. Billy begins heading to his car, calling out to Max as he does. 

“See ya, kid -- be safe, alright?” he waves his finger across the group, “All a’ you.”

She gives her brother a grin. “’Kay, loser.”

“‘Kay, brat,” he snaps his gum, shoots her a smile, and falls into the driver’s seat.

As Billy leaves, the familiar rumble of Chief Hopper’s Blazer arrives to the drop-off point. Jim makes the small-talk quick, thank god, he’s terrifying, citing that he’s late for work and Mrs. Johnson has already called the station three times about her cat getting out, but makes a point to shake Steve’s hand as he leaves, telling him to look out for El.

Eleven has her dad’s pair of aviators on and an old baseball cap. She’s grinning.

“Vacation,” she says.

Steve’s got his hands on his hips, eyeing the growing party, when Dustin speaks.

“Hey,” he says slowly, looking around, “Where’s your girlfriend?”

Steve stammers. “She’s not --”

“Robin?” Mike asks, confused.

“No, not Robin --” Steve makes a face. “That’s gross.”

“Ohhhh,” says Lucas, pointing, “The one with the hair.”

Will makes a face of genuine frustration. “With the hair?”

“Real specific, Lucas,” jabs Max.

“Y’know,” he waves his hands, “Roll-o girl!”

The group exhales “oooohhhhh” at once. Steve’s face is in his hands. 

He’s just glad Nancy didn’t over the conversation -- she’s too busy with Jonathan, chatting with his mom and saying good-bye. 

(Though things were fine between them, it was still awkward -- the break-up was a one-sided-sort-of-rough, especially with the Jonathan being thrown into the mix. But, Nancy was happy and that was really all Steve cared about -- she was nice and smart and kind and she deserved to be happy especially after everything, and despite the wound it had created in Steve’s chest, he couldn’t hold the break-up against her. 

That was a weird time... things were weird. Things sometimes are still weird, but to her credit, she still treats him like a good friend and he tries to do the same. Just... sometimes it’a a lot. Especially when Jonathan is around.

Steve just opts to keep a polite distance, y’know?)

“Can I just say, one,” Steve raises a finger, “She is not my girlfriend --”

“But, you like her, right?” says Dustin, completely serious, “She’s cool, she’s cute, she can rollerblade, all great traits in a girlfriend --”

Steve narrows his eyes, finger still in the air. “I’m talking right now, Dustin, okay, I’m talking.”

“Right, sorry.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” he repeats, hissing, “And two --”

Steve doesn’t get to finish his sentence, because the blaring of Duran Duran’s Girls on Film fills the entire neighborhood as you pull into the cul-de-sac. Robin is in the passenger’s seat, sunglasses pulled down her nose as she dances and mouths the words into her suntan lotion. You’re driving, snorting at her moves as you park the car and pop the trunk, mimicking Robin as you get out of the car -- you can barely do it you’re laughing so hard.

The cabbage patch dance move has never looked worse. You don’t really care. 

Mostly because you see Steve and he’s grinning. You wave. He mirrors.

“She is cute,” says Max, leaning against Lucas and watching the exchange, “Your girlfriend’s cute, Harrington.”

“Shut up, Max.”

She mimics a zipping motion over her lips with her hand as Steve strides by. She tosses the imaginary key.

You move to cut the engine, spurring Robin to move up the driveway with a smile -- she’s quick to greet Steve’s mom with a hug. 

You’re quickly swept into a handshake by the older woman in question.

She looks like Steve -- they have the smile doe-eyes and dark hair, same nose and same excited demeanor -- and you can’t say you’re surprised when you give her your name and she sweeps you in a hug. 

“It’s so good to finally meet you,” she says warmly, “Steve’s told me so much about you!”

You’ve seen Janine Harrington around before at baseball games and after-school functions. Back then, though, you were dodging any interaction you could with her son. Now, you’re excited to him idle up beside his mom with a grin. He rocks back on his heels. 

“Ready?”

You nod. Robin pats your back, holding onto your arm before turning on her text-book parent charm. “Mrs. Harrington, is it alright if she drives, as well? We figured it might be better than all packing into Nancy’s car -- safer, too.”

“Of course,” she says with a smile, “Steve knows the way, he’s been going up there with us since he was a little baby --”

“Yep,” he chirps, cutting that off quick, “I’ll just, uh, I’ll ride with you -- Nancy can follow us.”

“Cool kid mobile, assemble,” Robin calls out, breaking from Steve, yourself and his mom, “We call Dustin!”

“Drive safe,” Mrs. Harrington offers as the group splits into the separate hatchbacks, “Call when you get there!”

“Alright, mom!”

“Bye, Mrs. Harrington!”

Robin shoves Steve into the passenger side of your car, winking, as you clamber into the driver’s seat. Robin happily sits between Dustin and Will, mirroring Steve as she drops her sunglasses down from her hair. 

The other car, quickly named The Couples Car, holds the rest of the party -- Lucas, Max, Mike, Eleven, Jonathan and Nancy.

It’s 10am by the time you all hit the road, ready for a night over at Tippecanoe.

Steve nudges your elbow.

You blink over at him.

“Radio?”

“Hit it, Harrington.”

GIRLS ON FILM!

[mother-shipper]

So this is another AU idea I’ve had and introduced in my discord group but I thought I’d bring it over here for Stranger Things day since I didn’t have time to make anything. No Upside Down AU. Hopper is retired from the force and instead, he and El [who still ended up together under circumstances to be figured out later] live out in the country and raise horses. El is close with Max and the Party and, when Neil dies in an accident or illness or something, Susan is too afraid of Billy to let him stay with her and Max. Max thinks that's total bullshit and begs Hop to let him stay with him and El. 

"He'll be eighteen in like a year and a half and he's like stupid strong! He can help with the horses and stuff!" 

Hop is reluctant at first but agrees. He knows how broken the system is and he knows that nothing good will come of it for a kid already beat up and now mourning. So Billy Hargrove comes to stay on his farm. The kid's certainly got a chip on his shoulder but he's a hard worker and he doesn't give Hop a hard time. Still, he doesn't like that the kid flinches any time he laughs to loud or tries to clap him on the shoulder for a job well done. He doesn't like what that tells him about what Billy's been through. He does whatever Hop asks without complaint, "yes, sir" "no, sir" "anything else, sir". He keeps his distance though. Emotionally and physically. Doesn't speak unless spoken to, finishes meals as fast as he can before rinsing his plate and disappearing into his room for the night. It's like El all over again except El was quiet for not knowing how to interact with others. Billy was quiet out of fear. A fear that had been beaten into him.

But the one thing that brings Billy around, without fail, is the horses. He can never hear just what he’s saying but Hop hears him talk to them. He sees the horses respond to Billy as well. Particularly the young filly he boards for the Harringtons. The filly they bought for their son who seems scared shitless of her.

Steve is there one day prepared to "show it who's boss" like his dad told him. And he comes up to her, pretending his voice isn't trembling as much as his hands.

"Now, I am gonna ride you and that's that!"

He grabs the reins like an overexcited toddler would. The horse screams. Which makes Steve scream. Which makes the horse rear up and paw the air. Billy comes out of nowhere and tackles him out of the way just before her hooves come down on him.

Immediately, Billy goes to soothe the horse, making sure she's calm and back in her stable before he fucking reels on Steve.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!"

"Me?!"

"Yeah you! That's not how you treat an animal!"

"What are you even talking about! I didn't do anything! It just hates me! Last time it kicked me!"

"She!"

"What?"

"She's not an it, she's a she and if she kicked you, you did something to deserve it!"

Billy has to explain to Steve that horses are prey animals and they spook easy. Yes, they're big and strong but they're also extremely fragile and sensitive animals. So he teaches Steve how to interact with them. To be gentle, speak softly, tread heavily so they always know where you are, touch their flank as you go if you move behind them. Steve works beside Billy over the summer because he wants to get over his fear. He wants to ride his horse and treat her well. Billy expects the rich kid to get bored and ghost on him by week's end.

But Steve sticks it out. He's getting his hands dirty for the first time in his life. Every day sees him heading home more filthy and exhausted and fulfilled than he can ever remember feeling before. Hop starts inviting him to stay for dinner.

"If you're gonna pull some weight around here, the least I can do is feed you."

Steve leaves for the night and Billy's headed to his room when he almost smacks into El. Jesus. They need to put a bell on that kid.

"He likes you too."

"What?"

"Steve. He likes you too."

And Billy feels his cheeks get hot. What is she even saying?

"Uh... Yeah. I guess we're friends."

"He watches you when you're not looking. And he smiles a lot. And when you smile his heart goes really fast. Like Jim and Joyce."

Billy snorts at that. Because there's no way. No way in hell that rich kid Steve Harrington is into guys at all, let alone someone like Billy. "Yeah, okay kid. Whatever you say."

It's absurd. Completely irrational. They're not compatible in the slightest. I mean yeah, the guy's cute and all and he'd probably be a decent fuck with those pillowy, pink lips and legs as long as a summer day. And those lips were probably a dream to kiss. He wonders if Steve would sigh the way he does when he gets his feet in the pond after a long day's work or if he'd give one of those soft little laughs he does when the filly lips at his hair or shirt. He's gotten so much closer to her. The smile on his face when she let him ride her around the paddock for the first time was blinding. He was so happy. Come to think of it, with Summer ending soon, he should really take Steve on the trails, show him how to get around. There was a nice, open field he knew where the horses could graze and they could relax, maybe bring a lunch with them and- OH FUCK! WHEN THE FUCK DID THAT HAPPEN!

When did Steve Harrington get under his skin like this? When did he get into his heart like this?

[jordanrosenburg]

Stranger Things 3

Okay, many spoilers ahead, but honestly if you haven’t binged the season yet???? That’s a you problem. 

I wasn’t sure what I wanted out of this season, well actually there was one thing I wanted and that was for Steve to find love, and I guess he found it...he has a beautiful new friendship with Robin, who was the perfect female addition to the season. It was refreshing to have the kids on summer break, and not have another thing happen during the school year. I love this show and I want it to go on and on, but at the same time, how much more can these kids go through? 

The thing about Stranger Things, is that we are now used to its formula, a formula that works great. We have usually have three different stories happening, the adults, the teens, and the kids. They each are going through their version of a scary movie, and when they all finally come together, they get the job done. This season had a real slasher film vibe to it. Way more guts and gore, and honestly a little too much CGI? It was like watching Teen Wold amirite?

It was kind of cool finally seeing this monster come to life, and not just an image in Will’s head. And it was cool seeing the kids sort of start to become teenagers themselves, and the teens cross slowly into adulthood. I can’t tell what vibe I like more with the pacing of this show. Last season felt really slow, and this season almost felt rushed? We really just dove right in. I’m not a big fan of time skips, I really like knowing how characters get to certain places in their lives. Was Steve so distraught over Nancy that he couldn’t get his grades up? Thus not getting into college? Will he go to community college? I JUST WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR MY SON!

Billy...I just...I feel like I’m still grieving. We knew the season was about him, but I feel like his screen time wasn’t enough, I wanted more. Why was the monster able to possess more so than Will? We got barely an episode in before he was taken over. I thought it would have been a couple episodes in. Dacre did an incredible job, his acting was incredible. The only thing that creeped me out were all of the moms gawking at him at the pool. He is a teenage boy, I don’t care how attractive he is. If the roles were reversed, if that had been a bunch of dads looking at a teenage girl like that, there would have been hell to pay. Billy wanted Mrs. Wheeler, and he is suave, but she should not have even entertained the idea. 

A truly crushing moment was when El saw Billy’s memories of his mother. I think what happened to him happens all too often. A victim of abuse is finally able to escape, but leaves the child behind. She knew what kind of monster Billy would be left with, and it clearly seems like she never did anything to try to get him out of that toxic environment. And in spite of all of this, she was STILL his happiest memories! RIP MY HEART OUT WHY DONTCHA! The other thing that really fucked me up is that Max and Billy must have mended whatever tension or issues they may have had between season 2 and 3. She didn’t seem afraid of him anymore, and she really grieved for him. That shot of her sitting in his room killed me. And I wonder how his fucking shit ass father dealt with it??? 

El and Mike were so adorable the entire time. I truly love a young love. It is so innocent and sweet. I feel like for that moment they got to just be normal tweens without a care in the world. I was surprised to see Lucas and Max still together, but there must be something good there if they keep making it work. Dustin and Suzie were so cute, HOWEVER HAD SHE NOT MADE HIM SING BILLY AND HOPPER WOULD HAVE SURVIVED, OR YOU KNOW IF JOYCE HADN’T HESITATED!!!! I’m just really not a fan of character death until it means something. I feel like these deaths were purely shock value. Hopper went down a hero sure, but HIM AND JOYCE WERE FINALLY GOING TO GET DINNER! And after everything Billy went through? They could have tried harder to save him. Nancy was ready to fucking shoot him. 

Nancy, as usual, just really pissed me off. She is one of the most inconsiderate people I’ve ever seen. I get it, it’s the 80′s, she’s trying to be an equal, that I can respect! What I don’t respect is how impulsive she is. She never thinks about the consequences of her actions. From little things like ruining Jonathan’s pictures, to immediately trying to kill Billy. I get it, you’re all sick of the bullshit, but he was still a person. They didn’t immediately try to kill Will. 

AND POOR WILL JUST WANTED TO PLAY DND! I think it can be so hard at that age. Some people grow up at different rates than others, and he felt out. I also think he knew he was going to be moving, and just wanted to complete one more campaign with his friends before he broke the news. It also made me sad that we didn’t get much time with all four boys together. It was great to see how close Dustin and Steve had gotten, but they should have learned by now that they all work better when they’re together, not separated. 

How about Steve coming in clutch with the car to save Nancy and the kids??? NOT EVEN A THANK YOU FROM HER! Okay, maybe there wasn’t time for a thank you, but their interactions just felt awkward, and there’s not need for it. I will say I was happy there was no love triangle. My heart did get sad when Robin asked Steve if he still loved Nancy, and when he said no it was basically because he found this love for Robin. My poor baby was still hurt! And when he said that she really wasn’t a priss. There had to have been a conversation about her hooking up with Jonathan at some point that had to have solidified that they were over. I still don’t care for the way she treated Steven, could ya tell???

A theory I have about El: are her powers starting wear off because the effects of what she went through at the lab wearing off? Think about it, she hasn’t been contained and tested on for over a year. Maybe her body is finally regulating. This does mean that if this thing comes back, which it seems like it will since there is one in Russia being used for testing, she herself will be defenseless. Luckily the other kids are good at protecting her. 

At the end we see the subtitles, “No, not the America”. Does this mean Hopper somehow survived? I don’t know how possible this is since everyone else in the lab fucking melted, but he could have been on high enough ground to escape, but may not have escaped fast enough for the American troops to come in. The Russians may have captured him as one final fuck you. I think I started tearing up when he gave one last smile to Joyce. He annoyed me at the beginning of the season with him being overprotective with El, but his letter, which made me sob, helped drive his point home. Also, him shooting off the machine gun while screaming EVERYONE OUT was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. 

The kids all saying goodbye made me cry as well. I wonder how far away Joyce will take them. Something tells me their troubles will follow. I hope we don’t have to wait three years to figure out what happens next. My prediction is that season 4 will be the final season because again, how much can these kids go through. 

One final thing, the soundtrack, yet again, was killer. Moving in Stereo is the song I have on repeat. Season 1 it was Sunglasses at Night and some of the original synth music. Hearing Hero again at the end of this season also made me cry. It really felt like a lot was wrapping up. 

Alright, I’m done rambling for now. 

[stellarbisexual]

STS3E1

Welp, here we are.  I’ve watched the recap, I’ve gotten emo over Mom Steeb, I’ve relived Bob’s death against my will. Let’s do this.

Some Evil Science Shit is going down. Oh those dickwads be opening the gate??? And remember: it’s never a scifi without insanely vaginal imagery. 

LMAO of course they’re Russian. 

OH BRO THAT THEME SONG GOT ME FEELING THINGS

So proud of Priah Ferguson tho for getting bumped up to a regular. #bless

Oh shit Mileven be makin’ out. OK lmfao Mike is officially in Teen Tool Mode. hahahaha. 

I could not love Hop more than I do now. <3333333 That vintage Tostitos bag. 

LUCAS ILU “I wish we could make out forever and never hang out with any of our friends” HE KEEPS IT SO REAL

“ISN’T IT TIME YOU DIED?” hahahahahahhahahahhahahahahah 

I feel like the writers saw IT and incorporated Richie Tozier qualities into Mike’s character for S3 TBH. 

okay sooooooooooooooooo hear me out

but are lumax and byeler officially on a double date?

ps finn is eleventy million feet tall

my lumax heart is F U L L they are the best otp

o god my poor gay son :( :( :( ptsd comin’ for ya

oh jUESUS CHRISTAOSN DJSG DLASFNKL THE BYELER IS DFSBAASGODAFBNSLJG the intimacy of that “hey, you ok?” and will looking at mike like a giant hearteyes emoji come to life

THANKS FOR PLAYING IT LIKE YOU’RE TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH MIKE, NOAH SCHNAPP. THANKS FOR MAKING MY LIFE

oooooh jancy are in full effect; nancy that perm tho

“i’m not gonna fall in love” holy shit guys i can’t handle will byers OKAY

oh hell yeah get that 80s workplace sexism kickin’

HI DUSTERS MAH BOI and so glad his mama’s back

Uhhhh y’all have been through some supernatural shit and this is the prank you choose to play on your poor boy Dusty?? Liek? kids are so dumb lmao

mrs. wheeler and company: y’all are nasty

THO I DO APPRECIATE THE THROWBACK TO THOSE OLD DIET COKE COMMERCIALS

ugh w/e billy, go and die already. for reals. 

OOF THIS IS IT. THIS IS WHAT I’M HERE FOR. THAT JOPPER GOODNESS.

“I NEED FOR THEM TO BREAK UP.” LMFAO HOP YOU FIVE YEAR OLD.

haahahahahhahahhahaa david harbour’s delivery: “it is COOOONSTANT”

“maybe you could do it for me?” HAHAHAHAHAHA. i can’t stop laughing.

omg they’re not even together and they’re already coparenting, i can’t.

lumaaaaxxxxxxx <33333333333 “is that a new zit??” LMAO they are such relationship goals

suzie!!! dusty has a gf!

mike: *skeptical face* “is she cute?” mike you fucking tool

STEEB <3 poor boi feels like he’s being left behind

holy shit maya hawke sounds JUST like her mom, it’s freaky

i would watch five thousand episodes of joyce teaching hop how to be a person

I HAVE NEVER SQUEALED SO HARD INN MY LIFE GUYS. HIS FACE WHEN SHE HELD HIS HAND. HIM ASKING HER OUT AWKWARDLY ALSFJNSGLFKSAMFSGLAFNL MY HEART

fuck i want jopper flashbacks to high school give it to meeeee

“it’s GROSS” way to sound gay af will

speaking of gross, exploding rats? for real?

what’s even more gross is this billy/mrs wheeler content. i did not sign up for this. guh-ross. 

HAHAHAHHAA lucas you haven’t learned how to be a good boyfriend. 

aww joyce coming home to an empty house. it’s like she needs the discipline of hopper. it’s almost like they should be together or something. 

HOPPER CLUTCHING A PILLOW WHILST CHAIN SMOKINNG WHILE HIS DAUGHTER MAKES OUT IN THE NEXT ROOM. WHAT A MOOD HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

hahahahah i love protective crazy dad hop more than pretty much anything

ugh too many coming of age feels

ooh yes billy crashed his car. 

oh no he’s still alive.

me while billy gets dragged to his death:

[likedovesinthewnd]

Stranger Things Season 3

*SPOILERS* I tagged it but just in case. Enter at your own risk. You’ve been warned.

So... I uh... have lots of feelings I’m still processing about this season and where better to rant about them than on this hellsite we call home. I’ve been waiting to log on here only bc it’s still so fresh and I’m STILL reeling from the emotionally intense episode 8.

Here goes nothing.

Ok, so first off, I loved this season so much. As a fan from day one, I felt like this was an amazing season— well worth the long ass wait. I loved the character development we had with the kids and having it set in summer was a nice change of pace. I’m admittedly not a Jopper shipper but I really enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom and by the end of it I was ok with them being together. Max and Lucas are by far my favorite couple although Mike and Eleven are just too precious for this world. The young summer love vibes were so nostalgic. Can we take a moment to talk about Dustin and Suzie singing The Neverending Story?? My whole dead ass heart bursted at the seams. Will destroying Castle Byers was so hard to watch. Just seeing the kids navigate through the process of growing up and leaving childhood was bittersweet.

Now on to the ladies. Karen Wheeler has to be one of my favorites. She’s just such a damn good mother and the fact that she did the right thing instead of cheat on Ted speaks volumes about her character. Karen’s love and loyalty for her family runs deep and you can’t tell me otherwise. I loved her talk with Nancy the most and how pivotal it was to Nancy’s storyline in this season. I can’t tell you how angry I got at my tv every time I saw all that gross ass toxic workplace misogyny go down. But Nancy said fuck that and went with her gut and she was right. So another thing, probably my favorite thing, this season was Max and Eleven’s friendship! Give me all the healthy supportive female friendships you got, Duffers. The mall montage was everything and more. Just seeing El come into her own, not as Hopper’s daughter or Mike’s gf, but as her own individual was beautiful. Joyce tho! She was fresh out of fucks this season and I was loving it. She kicked so much ass and I’m really glad we got the strong and assertive depiction we deserved. Also umm Robin! See, when the Russo’s said we’d get an lgbtq character in Marvel, I had envisioned this— take note boys, this is what inclusion looks like. They didn’t overly sexualize her identity and most importantly Steve continued to treat her the same because guess what? It’s normal.

Speaking of Steve, he continues to be a devoted mother of 6. We love Steve lol. Jonathan kinda lost me for a minute when he blew up on Nancy after they were fired. Miss me with that “you’re rich and I’m poor” sob story. Y’all are adults now and you’re still far more privileged than her and it shows. To be fair they were both right and wrong but I got a little heated when he threw that in her face. I still love emo Jonathan. I know a lot of people hate Billy but I still felt for him. The flashbacks to his childhood broke my heart and his death was as tragic and redeeming as they get. Honorable mentions to Alexei and Murray for making me laugh so hard this season.

Ok now that I ranted to absolutely no one about how I feel bc I don’t know what else to do about all these feelings, I’m going to talk Hopper.

Deep breath.

Ok. So I have always maintained that Hop is a son of a bitch, a total bastard piece of shit mess of a man. It’s why I love him so much. I mean what’s more relatable than that scene of him stress eating chips and salsa lol! The thing is, we’ve never seen him in the wild without some mission involved. He was really rough around the edges this season, at times deranged and almost always a complete asshole. I really feel like he was trying his best to parent a teen El. Parenthood in general is brutal, the learning curve is unforgiving and you almost always feel like you’re failing. Mix all that in with a man who is terrible at expressing his feelings and you get Dad Hopper. What I love most about him is how imperfect he is, how incredibly flawed and damaged he is. But underneath all that he’s has the biggest heart of all and if you’re lucky enough to get his love it’s forever and it’s unconditional. The feelings speech he wrote broke me, I was full on trembling ugly crying on the couch in 90 degree weather. It wasn’t cute. But my feelings for these characters are real. It’s funny how a show, movie, or story can do that too you.

Point is, I’m hella emotionally wrecked, it’s hot as balls outside and it’s cancer season. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that the Duffers need to hurry tf up and give us season 4 bc I just KNOW “the American” is my favorite piece of shit, fat ass Indiana cop.

Chime in in the comments and get this discourse going lol

[getyourvitamin-bri]

Okay so I did one of these last season and I once again felt the urge to rant about how much I love each and every character on this show. 

*SPOILERS BELOW*

Eleven // El // Jane who continues to be my personal favorite character on this show. God this season she reached new levels of being a badass. Can we take a moment to just appreciate how strong and brave she is, she just keeps going even when she is scared. And those fight scenes were just phenomenal, they didn’t make her seem invincible which I love cause its her tenacity that really makes her so strong and interesting. I loved the story line where she basically is becoming a normal kid discovering new “rules”, her own style, her personality, we get to see the type of person she’s becoming on screen and its done so well. 

Mike Wheeler Okay I’ll be honest I always liked mike but it was always more aww he and El are so cute together not mike individually. But I felt this season fleshed out his character a little more. We get to see him just being a normal dumb teenager. That opening scene where he starts singing and being a dork really made me love his character, also him and Lucas ranting about girls was hilarious. Most of all though you could see how much he cares about El is taken into account in all his actions even when they were wrong. Overall I though he was really adorable and compared to my younger cousins a realistic teenage boy. 

Lucas Sinclair Lucas always gives some of the best dialogue in my opinion (must run in his family) and I think it kinda gets overlooked sometimes. This season his whole thing about teaching mike about girls was hilarious and something I totally picture a young teenage boy thinking. He’s really quick witted and stubborn and I love him, his and max’s dynamic I think just fits well somehow. 

Dustin Henderson God he is such an adorable marshmallow I want to protect. He just always makes me smile, he’s honestly the perfect mix of smart and adorable. This season once again shows how committed he is to science and finding the truth of things, he’s so determined once he starts a mission and I’m so happy he found a girl to appreciate him. That song they sang together melted me in to a puddle. 

Will Byers I honestly felt we didn’t get enough of will this season I mean I get it, theirs a lot of characters not enough time but we’ve steadily been getting to know him more and I fine myself with more questions about him. He’s so sweet and different than a lot of teenage boys portrayed on television and its this uniqueness that makes me want to get to know him more. I just really feel for him and how he wanted to go back to how things were before. 

Max Hargrove Max is quickly rising in the ranks for me in becoming another favorite character. She is just so stubborn and witty and blunt I love it. Most of all this season I love her and El’s friendship. I though they were gonna hate each other from what happened last season but thank god the writers took it in this direction cause I need more shopping trips and sleepovers. I myself am more of a tom boy and seeing a girl who skates and says whats on her mind just makes me really happy. 

Jonathon Byers I don’t have much new to say about Jonathan this season, I still love him and how much he cares about will, that scene where he and Nancy fight in the car, wow by the end I’ll be honest I felt for both of them cause I could understand both their points.

Nancy Wheeler She continues to be super tenacious and definitely a fighter. Her tenacity can lead to good and bad things but its a constant and I love that about her. She dealt with such sexism and never let it stop her from thinking of big dreams. She's an icon honestly and I love how brave she is, she has the traits of a great reporter.

Steve Harrington I admit I didn’t dig Steve in season 1 but he is now my second favorite character because how can he not be. His whole parent dynamic with the kids, its fucking adorable. His hair is gorgeous. He may not know everything in the world but he’s just unabashedly himself. Adorable, confident and above all caring. You could see how much he just cares about all the other characters, he respects dustin and the other kids and he’s friends with them because he doesn’t just see them as kids he see them as friends. I’m excited to see more of his character as he learns to prioritize things that are actually important not things society tells you are important.

Jim Hopper *SOBS* I always loved hopper but I loved dad hopper the most. Him and El had this unique dynamic that I just wanted more of. He’s wasn’t perfect by any means (anger issues lol) but he cared so fucking much about everyone and he just didn’t know how to express it. I sobbed when El read his speech but it felt like such a good ending though, you finally get to hear what was behind all that frustration about El and mike, he just missed her. I miss him. 

Joyce Byers She fucking mom of the year. I love her so much. You just know she would do anything for those kids. This season continued to showcase how much of a badass she is, she took no shits from people and she did what she had to do to make sure nothing happened to her son. Also this who Joyce and Jim dynamic was beautiful cause they just pushed each other up and if they had the chance I feel like they would have been a awesome team keeping those kids out of trouble.

Billy Hargrove I think seeing into his mind, seeing what makes billy do the things he does, what makes him into who he was, was just done so well. It shows how people and their actions always have reasons. We are made up of our experiences in life and no character shows this more than billy, he was handed an unlucky hard life and under all that attitude he was just a boy who loved his mom. I’m sad we did get to see him grow and learn and I loved how well the actor did this season it was phenomenal.

Murray Bauman He was a more important player this season and I loved his and Alexei’s dynamic. He’s brings some humor into any scenes he is in, seeing him pretend to be a communist was hilarious just all around no complaints, he’s a great character and he like all the characters has compassion for people, he wants to help save people and has flaws that make him well rounded.

new*

Erica Sinclair just give this child a round of applause. Every single word from her mouth made me laugh my ass off and appreciate her. She is the queen of sass on this show. She is confident. She is hella brave. She is so smart. She is a fucking icon and I look forward to seeing everything she said made in to gifs cause I love her with all my soul and look forward to her having an even bigger roll in the next season.

Robin Another newbie, she like max is not the like most teenage girls portrayed on tv, she's the real thing, she’s unique and really funny and true to herself. With every scene I just find myself wanting to know more about her and her past. Her whole “you suck” board was hilarious, she's just incredibly likable you can’t help but root for her.

Dr. Alexei By far the most surprising character for me to like, you first see him and you do not expect to get attached to him, just like barb and bob. Stranger things just gives us these character we never expect to come to love so much and leave us heart broken cause we don’t get enough of them. He just wanted a cherry slushie and its these small things that just bring him down to our level. Like yes Alexei there is a difference between cherry and other flavors, yes it is funny that hopper and Joyce haven’t banged, yes. He’s just adorable and I didn’t expect to be so sad when he died. 

Sorry for the grammar & if I forgot someone I wrote this hella late. Heres link to my thoughts on last season. You might not agree with everything I say and thats totally cool just please don’t be rude. 

stanger things 2

[tonyajace-182]

WHERE IS MY SEASON FOUR!? [Contains Spoilers]

Overall Conclusion:

I don’t feel satisfied, like at all.

So much happened and I loved every single bit of it, but it felt too much like a build-up. It actually felt a lot like a season 1 than it did a season 3 (if that makes sense).

I don’t care about Nancy and Jonathan. Their story line bored me from S1. Don’t get me wrong I’m happy they lived and have such a strong relationship between them; but their story line is of no interest for me. They are definite side characters to me that would rank like in the way way lows on my ‘characters of importance list’.

I’m actually really really proud of Karen Wheeler. She said no to temptation and that is admirable. I feel like I owe her an apology because I literally expected the absolute worst of her. As in, I was mentally and inwardly hating on her before I even watched ep1. I feel bad, especially after she had the heart to heart with Nancy.

SO…..

Sorry Mrs Wheeler.

Unexpectedly…. I think I might have a new ship or bromance. Murray and Alexei were just so cute to me. The child like marvel Alexei had was endearing, plus Murray’s attentive enlightening was cool to see. They may have been minor but when they got screen time they really brought the sweet fluff vibes.

I noticed that everyone was split into small groups (probably because they are too big to properly develop altogether as one big group). What stood out to me a lot was the dynamic’s always tended to take on a rather family vibe. Two characters would play the parents roles and the others would act the role of children. For example, Jopper were the parents, Alexei and Murray the children. Steve and Robin were the parents, Erica and Dustin the children etc. Between that, they would also switch it up with a bit of Teenage dramatude (Drama plus attitude). Jopper bickering and Murray calling them out. Jancy having real adult talk about life. Steve and Robin talking about that hard knock life. The teens being actual teens.

Real talk though, I’m proud of the kids.

I felt Lucas had a lot more to offer this season. Although, at times he really did seem a bit clueless, I don’t know. He definitely came off as a bit of a dick sometimes (both him and Mike) towards Will. Glad he chilled out later, said his apologies and stuff. I love the Mileven scenes, but Lucas and Max deserve a tonne of credit for this season.

But Max deserved the most.

I loved Max the second she was introduced, I thought she was awesome. This season I seriously name her the ultimate Wifey/best friend a guy and girl could have. She sticks to her guns, you know. Dating a boy doesn’t change her. She knows who she is and what she wants and fights to get it. She was a GREAT influence and pal to Eleven, exactly what El needed, in my opinion. My heart broke for her when she faced Billy. For whatever reason, I got the impression that she and Billy had bonded or something since Season 2. Either way, it hurt to see Sadie/Max slapped out of the way like that. Then when she cries over Billy- It broke me.

I’m glad Will kind of got a break this season. A little disappointed he didn’t really get to do much, other than be an informant. I spent a lot of the time expecting him to reveal he was actually still infected by the Mind flayer the whole time. Also, no one is going to convince me that Will is not gay or bi. The way he stares after Mike and El every time they run off together says so much. I just- after everything he’s been through, both physical and emotional intimacy is something I think he’d crave a lot of. It’s the gender I think he wouldn’t care about. Regardless, Will needs love and gods someone better give him some next season. Also, did no one else keep thinking he was like Spiderman with his mind flaying senses?

Mike was the real Nerd or Geek boy representative this season. I enjoyed seeing how gangling and similar to S1 he was. It was nice not seeing emo Mike. However, the constant doubt and questioning slowly became a bit much. Frankly, I was relieved when he and Max had that argument. I don’t like Mike when he’s in doubt or unsure on stuff. He was okay, but not really an interest for me this season. As I said, I thought he and Lucas were assholes for their treatment of Will. The car ride he has with Hopper will forever be my favorite scene of Mike’s this season.

I really felt for El this season. She’s been put through so much and-…… It’s still too raw and fresh. I can’t talk about it without getting upset. But to summarize: I’M SO FUCKING PROUD OF HER!!

Dustin. Any chance I get to hear Gaten sing is a blessing to my ears and food for my soul. I love his voice and he is so talented. He’s been my fave since the first episode okay. When no one believed him about Suzie, honest to god I wished I could be there to tell him I believed him or some shit. Beyond that, I laughed when he basically said he won’t tell the others about the Russian message because they didn’t believe him about Suzie. That was so petty but I loved it. The bonding between him and Erica was also great. Regardless… out of all the kids Dustin made me the most proud and is still my favorite.

I live for Erica’s sass, but at some points she did test me a bit.

Or maybe I just wanted her to ease up on the feisty attitude towards my baby Dustin.

Steve and Robin had me fucking scared! When they got captured I was shitting my pants imagining all the worst ways they were going to get tortured. I knew since the promo pics that I would love Robin- because I loved the expression on Maya’s face that promised so much attitude and sarcasm. She wasn’t too much of a nag, and while I had mentally labelled her a lesbian queen in my head. When she confesses to Steve I lost my shit. I fucking lost my shit and had to take a break and everything. Then Steve was perfect with his response. I don’t care Steve Harrington will be revealed as BISEXUAL before this fucking show is over!! He just has to!! He is both a MOM and a DAD!! Let’s just say I need more Steve and Robin scenes in the future. Jancy can get like cut or less scenes ok! I need Steve and Robin!!

Joyce….. I can’t talk about her without-….. I just can’t.

Hopper…. Fuck…… I can’t.

Billy.

Fuck.

Overall.

Stranger things season 3 was so good but just not enough. It was too short- too brief and left me with so much to process!!

SO FUCKING GIVE ME SEASON FOUR YOU SON OF A BITCHES!!!!!!!!

Oh.

And P.S: FUCK YOU RUSSIAN WANNABE ARNOLD!! IT’S ALL YOU’RE FUCKING FAULT!! I’M GLAD YOU GOT SPUN AND WHIPPED!!! REST IN HELL YOU FUCKING SHIT!!