Curate, connect, and discover
Ok so I was rewatching 4x09 and the one scene with the endgame couples came up and I noticed something.
Ok so if you look at each couple, they are very clearly divided despite the expected blocking of a scene with this gravity. I’ll break down the divided sections below. ⬇️
Section one: Jopper
So the section where they are is what I would call the clearest. The air and horizon look the least contaminated and the ground in front of them only has smaller cracks. So if you look in the background of the section you can barely make out a tower that resembles a radio tower, I’ll explain the significance of this in a bit. So I would venture to say their relationship is already established, has few problems, and is not heavily involved with the supernatural plot (similar to season one). Section two: Byler
Their section is sitting directly in the middle of the shot and the largest rift, has a red looking horizon, has a heart with lightning on top of them (as does Jopper and I will explain this later as well), the ground in front of them seems very affected by the rifts. Despite them being in the middle of the biggest rift it barely divides them. They also have a radio tower in the distance, very clearly in the middle of them (probably the clearest one in the shot). Overall they are very close and have the least interference in the shot. This signifies to me that they are very crucial to the story, are involved in the supernatural plot quite a bit, their arc focuses around their relationship, and figuring out where they belong.
Section three: El
So her section is directly in the middle of the biggest plume of smoke and there is no clear horizon in her shot at all. The largest rift is directly in front of her, no radio tower in sight. Instead on her horizon is a gap in the smoke surrounded by and emitting red light. She is very clearly alone except that mike is barely in her section and very far away and Johnathan and Nancy are further into the section and closer by a little. To me this means that in season five she is going to be the main character in the supernatural plot, she is going to be dating Mike but very briefly before they both end it, and then she is going to rely heavily on platonic relationships this season.
Section four: Jancy
Theirs is interesting, in the section with their heads (that’s what I’m counting as their section) there are multiple rifts and smoke plumes, the destruction looks bad, there is a helicopter in the sky, and there is a radio tower in the distance. They are close to El so I don’t think they will be off in their own story line like season one but they will have a slightly separated storyline. The helicopter is right in front of the radio tower symbolizing an obstacle or something in their way. Steve, the helicopter represents Steve. The helicopter played a big part in helping me understand the symbolism in this shot. So I would say that they are very crucial to El and the others and they are struggling with their relationship.
Ok onto the other things.
Heart clouds:
The heart clouds represent 2 things. One is a change in the relationship, this means for Jopper and Byler their relationships will change. Why these two and not Jancy? Well let’s start with Jopper. Jopper is an established relationship and they are adults and we are going to have a time skip so it is logical to assume there will be a wedding. Also maybe a more mature change in their relationship. For Byler they have been friends the entire show, and logically ( if you are able to see very obvious subtext) they will end up dating by the end of the show. The heart represents this change in relationship from friends to dating. Jancy might breakup and their relationship might be bumpy and need repairs but overall their relationship will not change. I at least think that they will end the series by them going off to some college together and very happy. They have not had a significant chance in relationship. That is why only Jopper and Byler have the hearts. Two is the hearts also represent charged scenes between the characters since they both have lightning coming out but that’s not as important as the change in relationship.
Radio towers:
The radio towers, these really tipped me off and made me want to do this analysis. Ok so the radio towers represent a future or destination of some sort. (If you all have any better ideas of what they represent feel free to share!) they are clearly placed in front of Jopper, Byler, and Jancy. Though Jancy has the helicopter in front. These represent happy endings for the characters since they are an end point on the horizon. Now El doesn’t have one and here’s what I think that means.
El’s lack of a radio tower and what I think that means:
So, El is very obviously positioned in the biggest smoke column, which is where the upside down is bleeding into Hawkins. She doesn’t have a radio tower or even a clear horizon. This to me means that, sadly, she is foreshadowed to either not survive or be stuck in the upside down somehow. Since the radio towers represent a future/ destination and she only has something from the upside down in her section, that’s why this foreshadows that. And also what Mille said about see El’s ending.
That’s it!! Wow that was a lot of typing. Let me know if anything is off or if I should change anything. If I get a little repetitive, sorry!! I have a problem with that. If I need to elaborate on anything I totally will js ask!!!
Stranger Things As Songs From Speak Now (Taylor's Version)
This is my magnum opus. Should I do 1989?
Castles Crumbling - Steve Harrington
"Once, I had an empire in a golden age I was held up so high, I used to be great They used to cheer when they saw my face Now, I fear I have fallen from grace
And I feel like my castle's crumbling down And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground And you don't want to know me I will just let you down You don't wanna know me now"
The first time I heard Castles Crumbling I immediately thought of “King Steve” and Steve’s quiet identity crisis. Steve has undergone this simultaneously tragic and liberating fall from grace. He constantly wants to show people that he’s good and valuable despite him not claiming the title he once had. He’s burned bridges with Tommy and Carol and everyone from the part of his life he’s no longer proud of. While personally he may be fulfilled with his new life he is aware that he is perceived as a failure. He had the entire world gift wrapped for him and still found a way to tear it all down.
Nancy Wheeler & Jonathan Byers - Mine
"Do you remember, we were sittin' there by the water? You put your arm around me for the first time You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter You are the best thing that's ever been mine
Flash forward, and we're takin' on the world together And there's a drawer of my things at your place You learn my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes"
Mine is their song! It’s Nancy and Jonathan at their best. Especially in the early seasons both of them are very emotionally guarded but learn to open up to each other. In season 1 they both talk about not wanting to become their parents, wanting to stop the cycle of resentment and conventionality. Their relationship is almost defined by hardship, growing more intimate and personal the more they take on together. In their relationship it's them against the world especially because they are an unconventional pairing. They both have insecurities and baggage but ultimately they are there for each other and are better people for it (You can pry Jancy out my cold, dead hands).
Max Mayfield & Lucas Sinclair - Last Kiss
"I still remember the look on your face Lit through the darkness at 1:58 The words that you whispered for just us to know You told me you loved me So why did you go away?"
"Because I love your handshake, meeting my father I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets How you'd kiss me when I was in the middle of saying something There's not a day I don't miss those rude interruptions
And I'll go Sit on the floor wearing your clothes All that I know is I don't know How to be something you miss
I never thought we'd have a last kiss I never imagined we'd end like this Your name, forever the name on my lips
So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe And I'll keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are Hope it's nice where you are"
This song can be read as two sided but I primarily see it from Lucas’ perspective, particularly in the time of his and Max’s breakup. This song is about being crushed by the sudden end of relationship while still having allegiance to the person that left. Lucas is very compassionate and still worried about Max ever after their breakup. He didn’t care if she ever was with him again, only that she was safe and happy again. On Max’s side it crushes her to keep the distance between them and she’s haunted by the memories of their love and the sheer fact that Lucas is a good person who still loves her. They both wonder how much of the others life they missed and if things could’ve been different.
Nancy Wheeler & Steve Harrington - Back to December
"So this is me swallowin' my pride Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that night And I go back to December all the time It turns out freedom ain't nothin' but missin' you Wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine I'd go back to December, turn around and make it alright I go back to December all the time"
"And then the cold came, the dark days When fear crept into my mind You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye."
While I am not a fan of the weird Stancy revival plot in season 4, this song really captures Steve's feelings towards Nancy. He deeply regrets the person he was when they were together and tells her that he didn't know what he had when he had it. She fundamentally changed him (which is why we should ALL be thanking Nancy for creating the Steve we know and love), and Steve wishes he could redo their relationship. The last line could also reflect Nancy's potential guilt about the way their relationship ended and her inability to reciprocate Steve's love because of her trauma and Barb's death. Also "I'm sorry for that night" is the night of the Halloween party. I don't make the rules. (Also Also Steve and Nancy dated for A YEAR that is so unfathomable to me :I)
El Hopper & Mike Wheeler & Will Byers - Superman
"I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him I hang on every word that you say And you smile and say, "How are you?" I'll say, "Just fine" I always forget to tell you I love you, I love you forever"
"I watch superman fly away You've got a busy day today Go save the world, I'll be around And I watch superman fly away Come back, I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down"
Superman can be interpreted from three different perspectives. Mike to El, El to Mike, and Will to Mike. In season 4 Mike reaffirms his love for El by saying that she is his superhero. Her strength is the thing that he admires most about her and he is constantly in awe at her power. The line “I’ve loved you from the very first day” parallels Mike saying that he loved her from the moment he saw her. He even voices his insecurities about her leaving him behind once she realizes that he’s not anything special.
El has the complete opposite perspective, seeing herself as the unworthy one. Because Mike is the first person who ever extended kindness to El, she believes that he is the best person alive and is incredibly lucky to have him. El and Mike see the other as their Superman.
From Will’s perspective Mike is his Superman. He is the leader, the heart, the paladin, and the great hero. He idolizes Mike in way which is why is rejection hurts so much. He wishes the cards were from Mike. That Mike knew how much Will reveres him. In his case, “I’ve loved you from the very first day” could be about the first day he and Mike met in kindergarten.
Will Byers & Mike Wheeler - Foolish One
"Foolish one Stop checkin' your mailbox for confessions of love That ain't never gonna come You will take the long way, you will take the long way down Foolish one Stop checkin' your mailbox for confessions of love That ain't never gonna come You will learn the hard way instead of just walkin' out
Now I'm slidin' down the wall with my head in my hands Sayin', "How could I not see the signs?" Oh, you haven't written me or called But goodbye screamin' in the silence And the voices in my head are tellin' me why"
The accuracy of this one hurts. I think the lyrics are self explanatory but the song reflects the anguish Will feels over Mike’s friendship and love slipping away.
Joyce Byers & Jim Hopper - Timeless
"I would've read your love letters every single night And prayed to God you'd be comin' home all right And you would've been fine We would have been timeless 'Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine We would've been timeless"
"In a crowded room a few short years ago And sometimes there's no proof, you just know You're always gonna be mine We're gonna be I'm gonna love you when our hair is turnin' gray We'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we've madeAnd you'll say, 'Oh my, we really were timeless'"
Timeless is an affirmation that no matter how many times they are separated and torn apart, Joyce and Hopper will find each other. It's also about them wanting to stop dealing with interdimensional threats to their families and have a normal life together and live to see the other get old.
✨ little teamwork moments ✨
How I lowkey be feeling after my parents say they ship stancy and called Jonathan useless
old doodles (except the angela and jennifer one, that was just today) that have been rotting
(the cowboy doodles r from @motherthroat 's cowboy au!!)
I told myself I would stop with the Steve is a mom joke for a while, but this popped into my head, but I do feel like Steve might overcompensate in s5:
Jonathan: Does Dustin know you're not his father?
Steve: *scoffs* Of course he does.
Nancy: Then why are you fixing him chocolate milk and cutting the crusts off his grilled cheese?
Steve: Because they're his favorite, and he doesn't like the crusts.
Jonathan: Well, you know, you don't have to do it.
Steve: And just leave the crusts on? Hasn't he been through enough? Dustin, come get your food!
Dustin: Thanks, Mo - I mean, Steve. By the way, uh, mom can't take me my doctor's appointment, can you?
Steve: Sure. *Dustin walks out.* See, he knows I'm not his dad.
Nancy: *narrows eyes* He almost called you mom.
Jonathan: Why are we dating him again?
Nancy: Because we both agreed that we loved him.
Steve: Hilarious.
Because it's been living rent free in my head lately:
Greek Mythology Harringrove AU
Gather 'round my children, for I have hadeth another brain fart... And this is what I woke up with!! Yes, I changed their names because ancient greek, man! Max is okay. Steve, eh gets difficult. Lucas- okay... But Dustin?? Or Nancy?? Anyway!- Steve is a hero, Billy is Eros and they find each others presents strangely comforting.
Of course the others will all also be there, definitely. And they each have their own backgrounds and stories and reasons to do... Uh... Stuff!
I got the idea randomly whilst listening to I won't say I'm in love from Disney's Hercules sooo...
Headcanon that Jonathan doesn't like to be called Jon or Jonnie because it's too close to Lonnie. It's either Jonathan or nothing. . .he didn't realize there was another option until Steve called him Nate.
"Why?" Jonathan would blurt out.
"Yeah, it would be cute, don't you think? Nate and Nancy?" Steve said and smiled a crooked smile.
Steve stared at him with his wide, very expressive eyes, and Jonathan stared back for a moment. He turned on his heel and walked back to Nancy.
"Uh, yeah, you don't have to worry about choosing one of us, I think I'm in love with Steve, too," Jonathan said.
"What?!" Nancy asked.
"Also, I will accept Nate as a nickname," Jonathan said.
Jonathan was walking ahead of Nancy and Steve, trying to make their way back to Steve’s car in the heavy fog. Steve couldn't help but smile as he watched Jonathan walk. He had such a specific walk that Steve now knew he found cute. His eyes landed on his backside. Yeah, that was also very cute. Steve was quickly taking it all in stride now that he knew that it wasn't just Nancy he was mad for. He felt curious eyes on him, and he looked at Nancy, who was smiling at him in amusement.
"What?" Steve asked.
"Nothing," Nancy smiled.
"No, it's something," Steve said.
"It just looked like you were checking out my boyfriend's ass," Nancy said.
"Maybe I was. It's cute," Steve shrugged. "Never noticed how cute it was before."
"It is cute," Nancy agreed.
Jonathan spun around so fast that he would have fallen if Steve hadn't caught him. Steve grinned.
"Hey, looks like you've fallen for me," Steve said.
"Get off," Jonathan scoffed, but Steve noticed he was smiling. "I would never."
"You'd be lucky, I'm an excellent cook, so whenever you don't want to cook, I'm your man," Steve winked. "Can't say the same about Nancy."
"Oh, God, she tried to cook for you, too?" Jonathan asked.
"I'm not that bad," Nancy laughed.
"Yes, you are," Jonathan and Steve said before grinning at each other.
"It's the thought that counts, Nance," Steve said.
"I have to agree with Steve on this one," Jonathan said. "You can't be good at everything."
"I can try," Nancy said.
"I also happen to give a mean foot rub," Steve said.
"I can attest to that," Nancy said.
"Are you trying to convince me that it's a great idea to fall for you or remind Nancy why she fell for you?" Jonathan asked with a scowl.
"Who says it can't be both?" Steve asked.
"What?" Jonathan asked in surprise.
"Hey, I found my car! Come on, It'd be a terrible idea to drive in this, but we can wait it out inside my car," Steve said.
Jonathan and Nancy slid into the backseat after putting the bags in the trunk while Steve took the driver's seat. Jonathan leaned forward.
"Both of us?" Jonathan asked.
Steve turned sideways in his seat to look at Jonathan.
"I assume that Nancy told you about my little dream with the RV," Steve said.
"Yeah, she did," Jonathan said.
"Well, a few weeks ago, I had another little dream. It's pretty much the same thing with Nancy there, and we're all loaded in the RV ready to go on an adventure, but there was another added detail that I just didn't want to admit has always been there. It's just as important as Nancy being there. . .you were there, too, Jonathan," Steve said.
"Me?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah, I think you were there for a long time. When Nancy and I were together, I wanted you there, too. I thought it was just me doing it for Nancy, you know, that I wanted you to be my friend so badly that I even tried to invite you to go on dates with us," Steve said.
"I thought you were just messing with me," Jonathan said.
"Yeah, I thought I was, too," Steve said and paused. "I just don't think that I'm ever that lucky to have both Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler fall for me. . .just do me a favor and at least give it some thought before you reject me."
"Uh. . .yeah," Jonathan said softly, sitting back.
There was a long stretch of silence, and then Steve could hear Nancy whispering to Jonathan in the back.
"Well, this is awkward," Steve said as he tapped his fingers on the wheel. "Maybe I should have waited for the fog to lift to say anything."
Jonathan moved forward again.
"So, when Nancy gave you a back rub, did it also always turn into sex?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes! Sometimes a guy just wants a back rub, you know!" Steve exclaimed.
"Excuse me!" Nancy yelled, laughing.
"I know," Jonathan laughed. "What's wrong, Nance? I thought you wanted us to get along."
"Not at my expense, Jonathan!" Nancy said and hit him playfully.
"I just wanted to make it less awkward," he said and Steve laughed.
"Well, it's awkward for me now!" She said.
Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve fell into an easy, playful conversation. Jonathan and Steve continued to team up against Nancy to tease her while she pretended like she wasn't loving it. Eventually, the fog lifted and managed to drive them back to the radio station. They walked into the station with grocery bags in hand and set them on the table by the couch. Joyce and the others spilled into the room.
"Oh, we got back before you did," Joyce said and hugged Jonathan.
"Yeah, your mom was about to send out a search party," Hopper said.
"Oh, we got caught in the fog," Jonathan said.
"That's what I told her," Hopper said. "She kept coming up with awful scenarios."
"Where's Robin?" Steve asked Dustin.
"Bathroom," Dustin said. "How awkward was it - Steve?"
He ignored Dustin, clapping him on his shoulder, and went down the back hallway. He could feel Nancy and Jonathan's eyes on him as he disappeared into the back. Steve followed the hallway all the way to the end and knocked on the bathroom with the special knock he had with Robin.
"Entrevue!" Robin said, and then there was a giggle.
"Doesn't that mean interview?" He heard Vickie ask.
"It does, but it sounds like enter," Robin said.
Steve rolled his eyes affectionately and entered the bathroom. Vickie was sitting on the counter with Robin in between her legs as she braided Robin's hair. Judging by their very pink mouths, they had just been making out. Steve winced.
"I can come back," Steve said.
"We stopped right before you knocked," Robin said. "I know that look, you need to spill your guts. What happened with you, Jonathan, and Nancy? I knew it was going to be awkward. I should have fought harder to go with you. Vickie, my love, you're a beautiful distraction but a distraction none the less."
"You're blaming this on me?" Vickie asked with a giggle.
"Yes, absolutely," Robin said. "It's nice to have someone to blame things on. Let me have it."
"Well," Steve said, closing the door behind him and leaning against the wall. "I told Jonathan that I was just as in love with him as I am with Nancy."
"What?! Why the hell would you do that?! To make it even more uncomfortable than it already is?!" Robin asked, with a shriek.
"I wanted to be honest with him," he explained to her.
"Honest?! Honest with him?! Are you telling me that you're in love with Jonathan Byers?" Robin asked.
"Oh, I see what this is. Are you getting me back for the Tammy Thompson thing?" he asked.
"Tammy Thompson?" Vickie asked, and Robin waved her hand at her dismissively.
"No, this is me asking if you, Steve Harrington, are in love with a man?" she asked.
"Why are you so surprised?" Steve asked. "I told you about my feelings for Jonathan after I had that dream."
"What dream?!" she shrieked.
"Robin, babe, blood pressure," Vickie said and kissed her throat.
"She cares about my health," Robin said as she took a break from her freak out. "She wants to keep me alive."
"Why are you acting so surprised about the dream I had about Jonathan being in the RV with me and Nancy?" Steve asked and then frowned. "I think I might have dreamed about telling you."
Robin ran a hand through her hair, messing up the braids Vickie put in. She took a deep breath as Vickie rubbed her shoulders.
"Alright, so you love Jonathan and Nancy?" Robin asked. "Okay, your poor taste in men aside. . .what did they say?"
"Well, they seemed surprised, but they didn't seem to hate me for the revelation. I just asked them to give it some thought before making any final decisions. So, I have no clue what they think about me wanting to be with both of them," Steve said, looking down at his feet.
"Hey, this could turn out to be a really good thing, you know," Robin said, softly.
"I'm trying not to get my hopes up," Steve replied with a shrug. "But there was this moment, in the car, when we were waiting for the fog to go away, and it was just the three of us. . . It was just really nice and they were both laughing because of me. . .so, even if nothing romantic comes from me being honest with them, I think something good already did. Jonathan certainly doesn't look at me the way he used to, which is good. . ."
"That's a really great way to look at it," Vickie said, beaming. "And welcome to the club."
"Is it a nice club?" Steve asked.
"Oh, yeah, we like to meet twice a month," Vickie said. "And we like to bake. At least, I do!"
"Me, too," Steve grinned.
Vickie hopped off the counter and hugged Steve. Robin let them have their moment before squealing and joining in on the hug. They jumped at the loud banging on the door.
"I don't know what the hell is going on in there, but I've got to piss!" Dustin yelled. "Hello?!"
After that, Steve waited patiently for a response from Jonathan and Nancy. It was too important to rush, he knew, and they both deserved to give it the proper consideration. Meanwhile, they talked, and they didn't stop him from flirting with them. He even thought that they might have been flirting back. It made him absolutely giggle when they both smiled at him at the same time, Nancy's blue eyes twinkling and Jonathan flashing his dimples, dimples that he just wanted to press his thumb into. . . Yeah, okay, he was definitely a freak. Would Jonathan let him do that?
"Jonathan!" Steve yelled.
The three of them had gotten partnered a lot more frequently. Steve wasn't sure if it was random circumstances or if someone was trying to throw them together on purpose. Steve wasn't complaining, especially when they were all three looking after Dustin, who was now possibly starting to pick up on the way Steve looked at the both of them. That's why they were here now, running away from a demogorgon. It always seems like the three of them were running away from those creatures. The woods offered little to no protection, but the demogorgon had cut them off from Steve's car. Now, the thing had separated Jonathan from Steve and Nancy. Steve and Nancy scrambled around the dark for their weapons, but they couldn't wait because the demogorgon had Jonathan trapped underneath him. Steve stood up and ran at the demogorgon, throwing his entire body on top of it, knocking it off Jonathan.
"Steve!" Jonathan yelled.
Steve used everything he had to pin the demogorgon to the ground, but the monster was stronger than he was. Its claws dug into Steve's forearm, and the other one dug into his side. Scraping was the more accurate term. It was still pretty painful. He heard the click of the lighter that Nancy had managed to find, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blaze of fire. As the demogorgon flipped him on his back and opened his face, Nancy jammed the flaming bat into its mouth. The demogorgon screamed, jumping off of Steve, and tried to pull the bat out, but its nails had sunk into its flesh very deep. It ran off, running into the trees as it tried to pull it out.
"Steve!" Nancy and Jonathan screamed.
"Our bat!" Steve yelled.
"I'll make us a new one," Jonathan asked as he wrapped an arm around him, pulling him up.
"What else can you do with your hands?" Steve mumbled.
"Let's get you to the station, and you'll find out," Nancy said and wrapped her arm around his other side.
"Why is it always me?" Steve asked and snorted. "I'm lucky, I guess."
Jonathan and Nancy got Steve into the backseat of his car. They quickly put temporary bandages on his wounds before digging into his pants' pockets to fish out his keys. Just as Nancy slipped in the driver's seat while Jonathan held onto Steve, they heard the sound of the soldiers off in the distance, taking out the demogorgon. Nancy quickly drove off towards the radio station. When they got there, no one else had arrived yet. Steve guessed they were still at the hospital. With their help, Steve pulled off his backpack, jacket, and shirt. They yanked him down onto the couch, grabbing the first aid kit.
"Jesus," Jonathan said.
"Oh, this isn't that bad. You should have seen the bat bites and road rashes during spring break. I don't think I'm going to need stitches," Steve said. "Just stop the bleeding and clean the wound, then wrap it."
"Are you sure?" Nancy asked.
"Uh, yeah," Steve said and then he frowned. "Did Robin and I not tell you that we're studying to become paramedics?"
"No," Nancy and Jonathan said.
"Uh, yeah, I figured that since I was getting hurt a lot and we both wanted to find a way to help people," he said. "I'm not even sure that I'm going to get it."
"You're going to do great, man," Jonathan said.
Nancy wrapped Steve's torn shirt around his arm while Jonathan pressed a piece of cloth to his side.
"I can't believe you tackled a demogorgon," Nancy said.
"It was nothing," Steve said.
"Are you seriously being modest about full body tackling a nine foot tall demogorgon? It was impressive, and you know it, asshole," Jonathan said. "I couldn't believe you did that either."
"Couldn't let you die," Steve said.
Jonathan blushed and focused on fixing up his wounds.
"Thank you," Jonathan whispered.
Steve used his free hand to brush Jonathan's hair out of his eyes. He watched as Jonathan's expressions changed as they finished wrapping him up. He looked angry.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked.
Jonathan jumped up and began to pace. Finally, he turned on Steve, his hands on his hips.
"That was completely stupid of you to do that! It was a fucking demogorgon and you went after it like you were playing football! Did you even think about Robin or Dustin or the other kids? You know they care about you?!" Jonathan yelled.
"Like mother, like son, right?" Steve asked Nancy and she snorted.
"Tell me about it," she said.
"Hey! I'm being serious here!" Jonathan yelled.
"I'm getting hints of Hopper now," Steve said.
"Like father, like son," Nancy teased.
"You threw yourself at a demogorgon like it meant nothing. . .like your life meant nothing, and you always do this! I mean, I thought you wanted a future!" Jonathan yelled.
"I do! That's what we're fighting for here," Steve said, bewildered.
"Then act like it! You want the RV, don't you?!" He asked.
"Yeah!"
"I want the RV, too! We want the RV, but we can't have the RV if you're dead!" Jonathan exclaimed.
"What?" Steve asked, looking at him softly.
"I want the RV!" Jonathan yelled, throwing up his hands. "Okay, I want the RV."
Steve and Jonathan stared at each other, Jonathan breathing heavily. Jonathan threw himself onto Steve, pressing him back against the couch. He cupped Steve’s face and crashed his lips to his. Steve responded to the kiss eagerly, running his hands up Jonathan's back and smiling when he felt Nancy's hand join his in tracing a path down Jonathan's spine. Steve broke the kiss, smiling.
"I just want to point out that we can't have the RV without you either," Steve said. "And we're all equally reckless, so I don't know why I'm the one getting yelled at. . ."
"Asshole," Jonathan laughed.
Nancy grabbed Steve’s chin and forced him to look at her.
"You do not have our permission to die, got it?" Nancy asked.
"Got it," Steve laughed.
Nancy kissed him, just as enthusiastically as Jonathan. God. He missed kissing her, and it seemed like she did, too. Their kiss didn't last long before they heard the front door to the radio station bang open loudly. The three of them sprang apart really quickly. The rest of their party all filtered in at once.
"Oh my god! Is that blood?!" Joyce yelled.
"It's not mine, it's Steve’s!" Jonathan said quickly.
"Steve! Why does this keep happening to you?!" Dustin exclaimed.
"He does this to himself," Jonathan said, smiling. "He wouldn't have to do it if it I hadn't needed saving."
"He's fine for someone who full body tackled a nine foot tall demogorgon," Nancy said.
"You tackled a demogorgon?!" Lucas, Mike, and Dustin yelled.
"Yeah, I did do that," Steve said.
"You dingus," Robin said.
"Totally worth it, though," Steve said. "And Jonathan already yelled at me for being reckless."
"Yeah, I thought I heard him yelling," Will grinned.
"Just like his mom," Hopper said. "What was that about an RV?"
"You heard that?" Steve asked.
"It's the only thing we heard. Why does Jonathan want an RV?" Will asked.
"Oh my god! He said he wants the RV?" Robin asked, and then he turned to Jonathan. "You said you wanted the RV?!"
"Yeah, I'm guessing you know what that means?" Jonathan asked with a laugh.
"Yeah, I know what that means!" Robin squealed, jumping up and down. "Vick, he he said he wanted the RV!"
"I heard!" Vickie squealed and started jumping with her girlfriend.
"We both want the RV," Nancy said in amusement.
"They both want the RV!" Robin and Vickie squealed.
"What the hell is this?" Hopper asked.
"Jonathan?" Joyce asked in amusement.
"Oh! I think I know what this is about," Dustin said.
"You do?" Steve asked. "Was I that obvious?"
"Jonathan was so jealous that we stole an RV that he wants to steal one himself," Dustin said, snapping his fingers.
"Jonathan, honey, why do you want to steal an RV?" Joyce asked.
"Yeah, I don't think that's what this is," Hopper said, squinting his eyes at Jonathan. "Son, something you want to tell us?"
"It's nothing bad. We'll tell you later," Jonathan said, blushing. "Let's just get Steve something to eat."
"Yeah, me and Vickie went shopping this time, so you're in luck, Stevie," Robin said.
"Okay, but while we eat, can we please cover up Steve’s tits? No one wants to see that!" Mike exclaimed.
Steve and Jonathan shared a smile with Nancy as Jonathan collapsed on the couch next to Steve. They curled up together as they ate, enjoying the moment of happiness during all this hell. Steve glanced at Jonathan, who was leaning against his arm as he told everyone about how Steve saved him. Oh, how far they've come.