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Fandom It Can Get Stranger
- Thread starter christy
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christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
“Hopper? Could you see if there’s another box of kitchen stuff in the car?”
Currently, Joyce was in the kitchen of her new home, and it was, for the moment, completely bare. Two boxes sat in one corner, piled upon one another, while another sat open on the table that Joyce had already moved into the kitchen space. She was rifling through it, trying to find the plates, and so far it was in none of the three boxes that were in the kitchen.
Joyce could have sworn that there were four boxes though, so she was assuming that one was still left out. They’d had to stuff as much as they could in her car since Jonathan had taken Hopper’s truck to take Will and El to the mall that had recently opened up. Joyce herself had yet to actually go there since it had been a while since they opened, but she was busy trying to find a new house, and after actually getting one that was further away from her old house and all the memories of the place, it was now time to do the harder task of moving all the stuff inside.
Normally, Joyce would have had Jonathon and Will to help, but considering it was Summer, she knew that both of them would want to head out and do pretty much anything other than packing and unpacking. After getting them to promise in helping with unpacking in the evening, she let them go, turning to her other trusted confidante to help her instead: Hopper.
While the kids were having the times of their lives, enjoying summer and recovering after a pretty hectic time, Joyce and Hopper were sticking to mundane tasks which was honestly a relief after the past two years.
Besides, Joyce didn’t mind getting to spend some alone time with Hopper. If anyone asked, of course she would simply say they were old friends, which was not completely untrue. She just was holding back from revealing that friendship wasn’t the only thing on her mind.
But, considering there was already so much on her mind, she was keeping things on the back burner. For now.
“Hopper? Could you see if there’s another box of kitchen stuff in the car?”
Currently, Joyce was in the kitchen of her new home, and it was, for the moment, completely bare. Two boxes sat in one corner, piled upon one another, while another sat open on the table that Joyce had already moved into the kitchen space. She was rifling through it, trying to find the plates, and so far it was in none of the three boxes that were in the kitchen.
Joyce could have sworn that there were four boxes though, so she was assuming that one was still left out. They’d had to stuff as much as they could in her car since Jonathan had taken Hopper’s truck to take Will and El to the mall that had recently opened up. Joyce herself had yet to actually go there since it had been a while since they opened, but she was busy trying to find a new house, and after actually getting one that was further away from her old house and all the memories of the place, it was now time to do the harder task of moving all the stuff inside.
Normally, Joyce would have had Jonathon and Will to help, but considering it was Summer, she knew that both of them would want to head out and do pretty much anything other than packing and unpacking. After getting them to promise in helping with unpacking in the evening, she let them go, turning to her other trusted confidante to help her instead: Hopper.
While the kids were having the times of their lives, enjoying summer and recovering after a pretty hectic time, Joyce and Hopper were sticking to mundane tasks which was honestly a relief after the past two years.
Besides, Joyce didn’t mind getting to spend some alone time with Hopper. If anyone asked, of course she would simply say they were old friends, which was not completely untrue. She just was holding back from revealing that friendship wasn’t the only thing on her mind.
But, considering there was already so much on her mind, she was keeping things on the back burner. For now.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
Chris glanced away from the window she’d been looking out of to turn to her other side, where her adoptive father Paul sat. He may have officially taken Chris into the family with his wife, and they may have been the best people to her since she was found by them, but Chris still hadn’t gotten used to referring to them as ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. Which was why they insisted that she call them by their names till she felt comfortable, which Chris was grateful for.
“It’s just a mall,” Chris said with a small smile, gauging the slightly worried expression on Paul’s face.
“I know it was Marie’s excellent idea to help you meet your future classmates but if you don’t feel comfortable, we can just turn around and go get ice cream somewhere else,” he added with a small chuckle.
While she was grateful for his concern, Chris was also pretty curious about what was actually in a mall. Besides, she wanted to explore a bit on her own. She had already set up her room back home and most of the unpacking was done so Marie, her adoptive mother, had insisted that she try and get out there and get acquainted with the town. It was a small one after all.
Chris, since arriving, couldn’t help but feel like she knew this town. There was some sense of familiarity, but she pushed it to the back of her mind in favour of something new and unfamiliar — the mall.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured Paul, unbuckling her seatbelt. “See you in a few hours,” she told him with a grin. They’d decided that he’d pick her up in a bit, and after giving her some money and telling her to treat herself to something nice, Chris hopped out of the car. She waved goodbye before walking inside and she was blessed with cooler air as soon as the mall’s walls surrounded her.
There were already so many people walking around, and she didn’t know where to go first. She felt completely out of place there but she forced herself to just walk with purpose — purpose. Since Paul mentioned ice cream, she figured that was a good place to start. Especially since the first place she spotted was an outlet called Scoops Ahoy on the second floor, so she made her way up and then inside, to get her day at the mall started.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
Chris glanced away from the window she’d been looking out of to turn to her other side, where her adoptive father Paul sat. He may have officially taken Chris into the family with his wife, and they may have been the best people to her since she was found by them, but Chris still hadn’t gotten used to referring to them as ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. Which was why they insisted that she call them by their names till she felt comfortable, which Chris was grateful for.
“It’s just a mall,” Chris said with a small smile, gauging the slightly worried expression on Paul’s face.
“I know it was Marie’s excellent idea to help you meet your future classmates but if you don’t feel comfortable, we can just turn around and go get ice cream somewhere else,” he added with a small chuckle.
While she was grateful for his concern, Chris was also pretty curious about what was actually in a mall. Besides, she wanted to explore a bit on her own. She had already set up her room back home and most of the unpacking was done so Marie, her adoptive mother, had insisted that she try and get out there and get acquainted with the town. It was a small one after all.
Chris, since arriving, couldn’t help but feel like she knew this town. There was some sense of familiarity, but she pushed it to the back of her mind in favour of something new and unfamiliar — the mall.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured Paul, unbuckling her seatbelt. “See you in a few hours,” she told him with a grin. They’d decided that he’d pick her up in a bit, and after giving her some money and telling her to treat herself to something nice, Chris hopped out of the car. She waved goodbye before walking inside and she was blessed with cooler air as soon as the mall’s walls surrounded her.
There were already so many people walking around, and she didn’t know where to go first. She felt completely out of place there but she forced herself to just walk with purpose — purpose. Since Paul mentioned ice cream, she figured that was a good place to start. Especially since the first place she spotted was an outlet called Scoops Ahoy on the second floor, so she made her way up and then inside, to get her day at the mall started.
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Old habits definitely did die hard. Proof of this was Mike sneaking into Nancy’s room to try and find some spare change. Only this time, it wasn’t for the arcade. Who even knew what it could be spent on? At the mall there were so many options, and Mike wanted to be prepared for anything, even a good, cold treat from Scoops Ahoy. Nothing like some ice cream to help cool off during the summer.
And Mike felt more confident this time around since his dad was snoring away in front of the TV, Nancy was out, and his mom was at the local pool with his younger sister.
Already, through digging around in the seat cushions of the sofa, and gathering whatever he could find in his room, Mike had collected quite a bit, so even if he found nothing in Nancy’s room, it wasn’t like he had nothing. In any case, lately the spending wasn’t for himself. In an effort to try and impress El, he tried to offer to pay for stuff. That was what guys did when they were interested in someone, right?
Mike was still very new to it all, and he didn’t even know what to call them, but he certainly made a face whenever Nancy teased him about his puppy love. Whatever it was, it wasn’t that. It was more than that. Mike felt confident about that.
Finding nothing in Nancy’s room — she probably learned from her mistakes and decided to hide her money better after the last incident — Mike gave up on searching, instead heading outside the house, not bothering to call out a goodbye to his asleep father. He mounted his bike, and then he was off.
It was hot to be out biking in the sun, but it would all feel better once they were inside the mall, so Mike wasn’t worried. He was just excited, about the mall, and about meeting El, which he could do without any problems now that the bad men were gone. Thank God for that.
Mike caught up with Dustin and Caleb along the way, as usual. “Where's Will?” Mike asked, slowing his pace to look over at the other two.
Dustin nodded. “Jonathon’s giving him a ride. El too.” That made Mike’s heart race a little but he did his best not to let it show in his face.
“Max?”
“She’ll meet us there,” Caleb offered, to which Mike looked ahead with a knowing smile. He didn’t comment on Caleb and Max because doing so would cause the same for him and El, so he instead remained quiet, continuing along the journey to the mall. And all the while, Mike remained thoroughly excited.
Old habits definitely did die hard. Proof of this was Mike sneaking into Nancy’s room to try and find some spare change. Only this time, it wasn’t for the arcade. Who even knew what it could be spent on? At the mall there were so many options, and Mike wanted to be prepared for anything, even a good, cold treat from Scoops Ahoy. Nothing like some ice cream to help cool off during the summer.
And Mike felt more confident this time around since his dad was snoring away in front of the TV, Nancy was out, and his mom was at the local pool with his younger sister.
Already, through digging around in the seat cushions of the sofa, and gathering whatever he could find in his room, Mike had collected quite a bit, so even if he found nothing in Nancy’s room, it wasn’t like he had nothing. In any case, lately the spending wasn’t for himself. In an effort to try and impress El, he tried to offer to pay for stuff. That was what guys did when they were interested in someone, right?
Mike was still very new to it all, and he didn’t even know what to call them, but he certainly made a face whenever Nancy teased him about his puppy love. Whatever it was, it wasn’t that. It was more than that. Mike felt confident about that.
Finding nothing in Nancy’s room — she probably learned from her mistakes and decided to hide her money better after the last incident — Mike gave up on searching, instead heading outside the house, not bothering to call out a goodbye to his asleep father. He mounted his bike, and then he was off.
It was hot to be out biking in the sun, but it would all feel better once they were inside the mall, so Mike wasn’t worried. He was just excited, about the mall, and about meeting El, which he could do without any problems now that the bad men were gone. Thank God for that.
Mike caught up with Dustin and Caleb along the way, as usual. “Where's Will?” Mike asked, slowing his pace to look over at the other two.
Dustin nodded. “Jonathon’s giving him a ride. El too.” That made Mike’s heart race a little but he did his best not to let it show in his face.
“Max?”
“She’ll meet us there,” Caleb offered, to which Mike looked ahead with a knowing smile. He didn’t comment on Caleb and Max because doing so would cause the same for him and El, so he instead remained quiet, continuing along the journey to the mall. And all the while, Mike remained thoroughly excited.
AvianJen
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AvianJen
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Hopper
El's eyes widened when the police chief handed her a crisp $100 bill to spend at the mall that particular day, not expecting it in the slightest. She looked up at him uncertainly, and Hopper just laughed. "Buy some clothes," he clarified. "Some things you actually like. Alright?" Now that she was going to be going out in public, he figured it was about time she wore something other than baggy t-shirts and sweatpants. It had been Joyce's idea to give her the money, and his adopted daughter beamed at the gesture.
"Thank you," she said.
"Yeah, well, you're welcome. Now get out of here." El nodded and spun around, following Will and Jonathan outside to the truck.
"Don't worry," Jonathan said with a little smile, sensing Hopper's concern. "They'll be fine."
"Yeah, I know," Hopper sighed. It was hard to loosen his grip on her. There were still rules, and she did a crappy job of following most of them, but for the most part it seemed like Hawkins was safe again, at least from the dangers of the Upside Down. Now, El would have to face something that was much scarier: being a teenager. He remembered all he'd gotten up to when he was just a year or two older than she was and the thought made him cringe. He watched them drive away and then, at the sound of Joyce's voice, he turned around to face the new house.
It was similar to the Byers' old home, maybe a tiny bit smaller. The other one had needed so many repairs that it had been hard to sell it for a good price, but if it made her feel safer Hopper was happy she'd been able to afford this place. At the very least there were three bedrooms, one for her and each of her boys, and it was a little closer to town. That way if anything happened, there might actually be some witnesses. Hopper's thought was that if something happened, he'd be able to be there twice as fast once he and El moved back into his trailer home later that summer. He liked the idea of keeping the cabin more or less a secret, for emergencies only.
Obediently, he returned to the car and dug through the remaining boxes, locating the two that had the word "kitchen" messily scrawled on them. He picked them both up and hauled them inside, setting the boxes down next to Joyce. "You can barely read it, that's why you couldn't find it," he commented. "Jonathan?" Kneeling down, he reached for a pocketknife and quickly opened the two cardboard boxes, one of which contained all the dishes. He took out a stack and handed them to Joyce, unsure where she wanted them.
"I think that worked," he said, referencing her idea to give El money for new clothes. God knew she needed them; all she had now were old clothes he'd found or bought at Goodwill when he'd just taken her in and was guessing at her size. It was all brown and gray and too big, and Hopper knew his girl had a little more personality than that. But he hated shopping, so letting her go with her friends while he helped Joyce out was a good compromise. "You been over to Starcourt yet?" he asked her curiously. "El raves about it. And I heard the movie theater is pretty cool." He wondered if he could ever convince Joyce to go see a movie with him, but it seemed almost insensitive to ask. Not because she'd say no, but...well, he wasn't sure. He didn't want to make her feel any more overwhelmed than she already was, and he knew she was still getting over Bob. He couldn't blame her for that.
Eleven
El stared at the $100 bill the entire way to the mall; she'd never seen so much money in her life. And although she'd been over to the mall before, she'd never had more than five bucks with which to buy anything. Will was excited for her, too.
"What do you think you're going to get?" he asked curiously.
"Clothes..." she replied, thinking. She knew she wanted something a little more colorful than what she was used to wearing. "Not sure what kind yet," she shrugged. El wanted some of those cute high-waisted shorts she saw a lot of girls wearing, and she wanted a nice dress or two like some of the ones Nancy had. The possibilities were endless.
"I'm sure you'll find something," Will said encouragingly. "Dustin wants to visit Steve, but other than that we're just going to be looking around." El smiled and nodded, her heart pattering with excitement. The mall was so exciting, but also on her mind was seeing Mike. She hated being away from him for too long; it made her anxious. After spending a year visiting him in the void, where he dissolved into thin air every time she tried to reach out and touch him, she always felt afraid that when they separated she might never see him again. It always felt like they were hanging by a thread, and one wrong move would result in them losing each other again. None of it made any sense; El was dangerous and powerful but without her sweet, nerdy boy she struggled to feel safe in Hawkins. Color rose to her cheeks as she thought about it, and Will smiled next to her.
"Mike's excited to see you, too," he said kindly, reading her mind. Everyone knew they were essentially a couple, everyone. And they were almost fifteen, so it wasn't even that weird. El's blush deepened and she folded up the money Hopper had given her, shoving it into the pocket of her jeans and tucking her hair back as they rolled up to the mall.
"Alright, you guys have fun. I'll be back in two hours," Jonathan told them. Will looked over in surprise.
"You're not coming with us?"
"As long as you promise not to be stupid," Jonathan smiled. He and his mom had been extra watchful over will after the traumatizing fall, but it was summer and things were looking up. The Byers were starting over, and that meant a fresh start for Will too. "And call if anything happens."
"Yeah. Thanks, Jonathan." Will and El jumped out of the car, waved goodbye to Jonathan and ran into the mall. Dustin, Lucas and Mike weren't hard to find and the two caught up to them over by the movie theater, the designated meeting spot.
"Hey, guys!" Will exclaimed, smiling cheerfully. Moments later Max appeared from the other direction, skateboard in tow.
"Hey, what'd I miss?" she asked.
"Nothing, we just got here," Lucas replied. "Where to first?"
"Scoops Ahoy, then the comic book store?" Dustin suggested.
"Chief gave El some money for things she needs, so maybe we go see Steve and then do that?"
"Fine, fine, fine," Dustin agreed. "Scoops Ahoy, the comic book store, and then the girls' stores."
"Dustin, you don't need any more comic books," Lucas argued as the teenagers started heading in the direction of the ice cream shop.
"Are you kidding me right now, Lucas? You always need more comic books, always." As the boys began to bicker with Max as a sassy mediator, El fell to the back of the group with Mike. She reached for his hand as she often did, holding it tight just to make sure he was real. There was something strange in the mall; she could feel it like a sixth sense. It didn't feel bad, exactly, but something was up and the girl took a conscious survey of her surroundings.
Steve
Steve hated his job. Why had he applied here again? There were literally so many stores in this stupid mall and he could have worked at any of them, but he'd picked an ice cream parlor with a stupid uniform. It was, frankly, embarrassing. He'd been trying to preach to himself that there was dignity in every job and he knew that was true, but it felt like Scoops Ahoy was out to get him. Plus, the hat messed up his hair and not even Farrah Fawcett could save it.
At least there was traffic. Most of the stores were packed, but the little ice cream shop was especially popular given the temperatures outside. Most people bought something at the mall, but everyone bought ice cream. So Steve was always busy, and at least it was a distraction. After ringing out the last customer, he turned to the next person in line. It was somewhat rare that he saw someone in Hawkins that he didn't recognize (which made his job even more of a delight) but...nope, he did not recognize this girl. She was pretty. Very pretty actually, and normally he might have tried to flirt but he reminded himself that girls didn't flirt with guys in sailor costumes. So he cleared his throat.
"Ahoy matey, what can I scoop for you today?" he recited. God, he used to be cool. Once upon a time he'd have had a date scheduled in two minutes without taking no for an answer, but he was a changed man. It was a good thing, he supposed, but sometimes it sure didn't feel like it. He squinted slightly, really trying to remember if he'd ever seen her before. "Are you new to Hawkins?" he asked. No one ever moved to Hawkins, most people were looking to get out. But that was part of the point of this mall, to change that.
Only a few spots behind the girl, he caught sight of all the kids. They cheered him up when they came to visit and he cracked a smile, leaning over to wave at them. Dustin waved back enthusiastically, grinning his stupid grin that always made Steve laugh. Lucas was talking animatedly to Max and Will and in the back Mike towered over the other kids, El standing close to him and murmuring about something.
"Ahoy!" Dustin called. Steve raised an eyebrow at the kid and rolled his eyes, shaking his head good-naturedly as he turned back to the girl.
"Uhm. Sorry. What can I get for you?"
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
Joyce looked up when Hopper entered the kitchen, two boxes in his arms. Now that she looked, she could vaguely make out the word 'kitchen' scrawled onto them, and she chuckled a little before nodding at Hopper's suggestion. "Jonathon," she confirmed, waiting for him to open up the box before she took the stack of plates that he handed to her. She walked over to the nearest overhead cabinet and pushed them onto the lower rack before walking back to Hopper to collect some more. "Will's my artist so his handwriting is probably the neatest of all of us," she added with a fond smile. She needed to remember to tack up his drawings on the fridge. She knew they were in some box, she just had to figure out which one.
Taking the next stack of dishes, she moved around the kitchen, slowly arranging things as Hopper spoke. It brought a smile to her face, hearing him talk about Eleven. The way the two of them had gotten close over the past year was heartwarming, and Joyce was just happy that Hopper was happy. El had a home and Hopper had a daughter. After going what he went through, and helping Joyce avoid that devastation by finding Will, he deserved happiness, and he deserved El. It would take some adjusting, of course, for both of them, but Joyce was more than happy to help. And in any case, she had two sons, so it was nice being like a mother figure to El for a change.
"Yeah, of course it worked," Joyce assured him, putting the cutlery in a drawer. "She has Max. They can spend some time trying out stuff so she can see what she really likes to wear." Joyce knew that a lot of kids her age loved doing that -- going to stores and trying out clothes that they liked. And it would definitely be a change from the baggy clothes El wore otherwise. It would be a good change.
Upon being asked if she'd been to Starcourt yet, Joyce shook her head. "Never found the time," she explained, moving to put a set of mugs in another cabinet. This one was a little higher and she didn't seem to be able to reach so she signalled for Hopper to help and instead leaned against the counter while he put the mugs up one by one. "With house hunting and packing, I hardly thought about it," Joyce continued, watching Hopper absently.
She crossed her arms over her chest and waited, deep in thought for a moment, before she looked up to Hopper again. "Maybe once packing is done we could be the ones to take a break for a change," Joyce suggested with a small smile. "We could check out the mall and catch a movie?" Joyce still wasn't entirely sure where she stood with her feelings for Hopper, but he was still her best friend in this town, and there was nothing wrong with going for a movie, right?
Joyce looked up when Hopper entered the kitchen, two boxes in his arms. Now that she looked, she could vaguely make out the word 'kitchen' scrawled onto them, and she chuckled a little before nodding at Hopper's suggestion. "Jonathon," she confirmed, waiting for him to open up the box before she took the stack of plates that he handed to her. She walked over to the nearest overhead cabinet and pushed them onto the lower rack before walking back to Hopper to collect some more. "Will's my artist so his handwriting is probably the neatest of all of us," she added with a fond smile. She needed to remember to tack up his drawings on the fridge. She knew they were in some box, she just had to figure out which one.
Taking the next stack of dishes, she moved around the kitchen, slowly arranging things as Hopper spoke. It brought a smile to her face, hearing him talk about Eleven. The way the two of them had gotten close over the past year was heartwarming, and Joyce was just happy that Hopper was happy. El had a home and Hopper had a daughter. After going what he went through, and helping Joyce avoid that devastation by finding Will, he deserved happiness, and he deserved El. It would take some adjusting, of course, for both of them, but Joyce was more than happy to help. And in any case, she had two sons, so it was nice being like a mother figure to El for a change.
"Yeah, of course it worked," Joyce assured him, putting the cutlery in a drawer. "She has Max. They can spend some time trying out stuff so she can see what she really likes to wear." Joyce knew that a lot of kids her age loved doing that -- going to stores and trying out clothes that they liked. And it would definitely be a change from the baggy clothes El wore otherwise. It would be a good change.
Upon being asked if she'd been to Starcourt yet, Joyce shook her head. "Never found the time," she explained, moving to put a set of mugs in another cabinet. This one was a little higher and she didn't seem to be able to reach so she signalled for Hopper to help and instead leaned against the counter while he put the mugs up one by one. "With house hunting and packing, I hardly thought about it," Joyce continued, watching Hopper absently.
She crossed her arms over her chest and waited, deep in thought for a moment, before she looked up to Hopper again. "Maybe once packing is done we could be the ones to take a break for a change," Joyce suggested with a small smile. "We could check out the mall and catch a movie?" Joyce still wasn't entirely sure where she stood with her feelings for Hopper, but he was still her best friend in this town, and there was nothing wrong with going for a movie, right?
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
The line for ice cream was unsurprisingly long. It was hot outside so it made sense that everyone was lining up for something cool to feel the heat dissipate. That was one of the reasons Chris had the idea to get ice cream as well -- aside from being reminded about it from Paul when he mentioned it not too long ago. As she stood in line, Chris allowed herself to get a proper look around. The ice cream shop was quaint, and seemed to have a sailor theme. Even the servers were donning a themed costume, and she got a better look at it when she got to the front of the line and came face to face with an attractive guy, who looked to be about her age, maybe a little older.
Since Chris hadn't been to any kind of school yet, she hadn't exactly experienced interacting with other people her age. Nor had she experienced things that were deemed 'teen things', like friends, or boyfriends, or secrets.
Well, she did have a big secret, but that didn't exactly qualify.
She was peering into the glass to decide what flavour ice cream she wanted when the boy asked her where she was from. She lifted her head and briefly read his name tag: Steve. "Yeah," she nodded, giving him a friendly smile. "My dad just got a job here. We moved in two days ago. I'll be in my senior class after summer," she explained, wondering if he was in that class too. If he was, that would be a plus point because at least that way she'd start school knowing someone.
Chris was about to say something else when a younger voice piped up from behind her and she turned to see a group of kids. Normally, this wouldn't have caught her attention much. She would have turned back, ordered her ice cream, and maybe chatted with Steve some more. But right now, even as Steve asked her what she wanted, Chris had her gaze set on the group of kids. Mainly one of them.
It may have been years ago, and she may have been much younger then, but there was no doubt in her mind that this was her. Her sister. One of them, at least. She had longer hair, and she was taller, but that face... she looked like that kid that Chris remembered from all those years ago. The kid that Chris had assumed had been killed, or worse, and yet here she was.
Chris was frozen for a moment, unable to speak or do anything really, till finally, she forced herself to say something.
"Eleven?"
The line for ice cream was unsurprisingly long. It was hot outside so it made sense that everyone was lining up for something cool to feel the heat dissipate. That was one of the reasons Chris had the idea to get ice cream as well -- aside from being reminded about it from Paul when he mentioned it not too long ago. As she stood in line, Chris allowed herself to get a proper look around. The ice cream shop was quaint, and seemed to have a sailor theme. Even the servers were donning a themed costume, and she got a better look at it when she got to the front of the line and came face to face with an attractive guy, who looked to be about her age, maybe a little older.
Since Chris hadn't been to any kind of school yet, she hadn't exactly experienced interacting with other people her age. Nor had she experienced things that were deemed 'teen things', like friends, or boyfriends, or secrets.
Well, she did have a big secret, but that didn't exactly qualify.
She was peering into the glass to decide what flavour ice cream she wanted when the boy asked her where she was from. She lifted her head and briefly read his name tag: Steve. "Yeah," she nodded, giving him a friendly smile. "My dad just got a job here. We moved in two days ago. I'll be in my senior class after summer," she explained, wondering if he was in that class too. If he was, that would be a plus point because at least that way she'd start school knowing someone.
Chris was about to say something else when a younger voice piped up from behind her and she turned to see a group of kids. Normally, this wouldn't have caught her attention much. She would have turned back, ordered her ice cream, and maybe chatted with Steve some more. But right now, even as Steve asked her what she wanted, Chris had her gaze set on the group of kids. Mainly one of them.
It may have been years ago, and she may have been much younger then, but there was no doubt in her mind that this was her. Her sister. One of them, at least. She had longer hair, and she was taller, but that face... she looked like that kid that Chris remembered from all those years ago. The kid that Chris had assumed had been killed, or worse, and yet here she was.
Chris was frozen for a moment, unable to speak or do anything really, till finally, she forced herself to say something.
"Eleven?"
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike waited with Lucas and Dustin by the movie theatre as one by one, the rest of their party arrived. Will and Eleven came first, making Mike automatically perk up and stand upright. A smile lit up his face as the two of them got closer, and they were soon joined by Max too. He nodded to the redhead in greeting but his eyes quickly made their way back to Eleven, who came to stand beside him as their group moved forward to Scoops Ahoy.
When El reached for his hand, he happily allowed his fingers to lace together with hers, feeling some comfort in the gesture too. Ever since he lost her for a year only to realise that she was never gone, Mike was very worried that something like that might happen again, and that was the last thing he wanted, and something he would try extremely hard to prevent. Holding her hand whenever they were together was something that kept him grounded, and less worried.
"Hey," he greeted, a sheepish smile on his face as he walked with her.
Mike was about to say something else when he bumped into Lucas, who barely missed a beat in whatever he was talking to Max and Will about. Mike had been so focused on El that he hadn't exactly seen where he was going, but now he looked up to see Dustin greeting Steve, who was busy with a customer that Mike didn't recognise. It wasn't often you saw an unfamiliar face in Hawkins, but Mike didn't think to pay it too much attention till he felt Eleven shift closer to him.
He could hear her murmuring something, but he didn't catch it over Lucas's loud talking. "Is everything okay?" He asked, looking at El with furrowed eyebrows. He wasn't sure he liked the expression on her face. There was something familiar about it that Mike didn't want to be familiar. It reminded him of all the horrors they'd been through, and if that was her expression right now, then...
Mike looked up, to the stranger that was now facing them. Mike was sure he didn't recognise her -- yet she recognised El. She said Eleven. That meant that she knew what El was, what she was capable of. Immediately, Mike assumed the worst. He shifted his position a little so he was half standing in front of El protectively, while looking at the other girl with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "You two know each other?"
Mike waited with Lucas and Dustin by the movie theatre as one by one, the rest of their party arrived. Will and Eleven came first, making Mike automatically perk up and stand upright. A smile lit up his face as the two of them got closer, and they were soon joined by Max too. He nodded to the redhead in greeting but his eyes quickly made their way back to Eleven, who came to stand beside him as their group moved forward to Scoops Ahoy.
When El reached for his hand, he happily allowed his fingers to lace together with hers, feeling some comfort in the gesture too. Ever since he lost her for a year only to realise that she was never gone, Mike was very worried that something like that might happen again, and that was the last thing he wanted, and something he would try extremely hard to prevent. Holding her hand whenever they were together was something that kept him grounded, and less worried.
"Hey," he greeted, a sheepish smile on his face as he walked with her.
Mike was about to say something else when he bumped into Lucas, who barely missed a beat in whatever he was talking to Max and Will about. Mike had been so focused on El that he hadn't exactly seen where he was going, but now he looked up to see Dustin greeting Steve, who was busy with a customer that Mike didn't recognise. It wasn't often you saw an unfamiliar face in Hawkins, but Mike didn't think to pay it too much attention till he felt Eleven shift closer to him.
He could hear her murmuring something, but he didn't catch it over Lucas's loud talking. "Is everything okay?" He asked, looking at El with furrowed eyebrows. He wasn't sure he liked the expression on her face. There was something familiar about it that Mike didn't want to be familiar. It reminded him of all the horrors they'd been through, and if that was her expression right now, then...
Mike looked up, to the stranger that was now facing them. Mike was sure he didn't recognise her -- yet she recognised El. She said Eleven. That meant that she knew what El was, what she was capable of. Immediately, Mike assumed the worst. He shifted his position a little so he was half standing in front of El protectively, while looking at the other girl with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "You two know each other?"
AvianJen
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AvianJen
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Hopper
Jim nodded, thinking about it. He didn't know Max very well, but he knew that she was the only girlfriend that El had at the moment so he hoped she'd be up for showing her the ropes of shopping. Hopper really didn't want to do it, but he hoped that El would be able to find some nice things that she liked. "As long as she doesn't show up looking like some punk rocker again," he joked dryly, referring to El's getup last fall. He hadn't hated it; she was pretty badass so the look fit, but he didn't believe that was really what she wanted. As tough as she was, El was a girly girl at heart. She loved romances and pretty things.
"You know, she never told me where she got those clothes," he informed Joyce, moving to help her with the mugs. "I've asked her probably a thousand times and she won't say. I know she went to visit Terry but I know her aunt didn't put that look together." It bothered Hopper that he would probably never know, but he had to learn how to pick his battles with his adopted daughter. She'd come home safe, so wherever she'd gone there was no harm done. As long as she didn't try it again. "What about Will, how's he doing?" the man asked. As far as he knew Will hadn't had any other episodes, but that didn't mean the poor kid wasn't still traumatized.
He wasn't entirely surprised that Joyce hadn't found her way over to the mall yet- leisurely shopping didn't seem like her kind of thing. He mentally kicked himself for even entertaining the thought that she might be interested in checking it out when out of nowhere, she asked him to the movies. He turned to look at her almost suspiciously as if he was concerned she'd read his mind, but then he nodded.
"Yeah," he agreed, cracking the tiniest of smiles. "A break might be nice. El's curfew is seven, anytime before that." Hopper was trying hard to make sure that he was there for his girl in the evening and he was sure that Joyce didn't like to make a habit of staying out late. He turned back and finished stacking the mugs in the cabinet before digging into another random box. He cut it open with his knife and pulled out a tangled ball of Christmas lights, which he held out to Joyce. "You kept these things?"
Steve
Honestly, Steve didn't usually make conversation with the customers but he was curious where on earth this girl had come from, especially since she looked like she was about his age. It was one thing to see a new adult or a little kid, but Steve knew everyone. He was popular, or, used to be. But she explained the situation pretty simply and he raised his eyebrows, nodding. "Oh, nice. I just graduated, but I know a couple seniors. It's a cool group." He was mostly thinking about Jonathan and Nancy. It was too soon to judge, but she seemed like the type of girl that Nancy would like. Pretty, not a complete jerk.
Thirty seconds later, everything changed. When he waved to Dustin she turned around too and then her eyes caught on El. The younger girl looked at her and visibly tightened her grip on Mike, big brown eyes wide in disbelief. Then the new girl said it: "Eleven."
"Holy shit," Dustin breathed. Mike spoke up next, moving protectively in front of the girl. Steve pressed his lips into a thin line as his heart began to race- and not because the girl was pretty. Somehow, this new girl knew El, and that was scary. What else did she know? One wrong word and Eleven's secrets could be revealed to the entire town. Then what? She was locked up like a lab rat again and Hawkins went under investigation; just when El was finally getting her shot at a normal life. All Steve knew was that right now, they couldn't make a scene.
"You know her?" he whispered. He looked back towards the kids. "Alright, team meeting," he declared. Then to his coworker, "Robin, I'm going on break!" Steve tore off his hat and circled around, coming out from behind the counter and gesturing to the new girl to join them. The boys and Max had more or less circled around Eleven, who couldn't seem to either let go of Mike's hand or take her eyes off of the girl.
El
It all happened so fast. One second she was in line for ice cream with her friends trying to decide if she wanted rocky road or something new when the next second, she noticed the girl talking to Steve. The strange-ness she'd been feeling earlier intensified and when she turned around El's heart stopped. She might not have recognized the girl if she hadn't said her name, but then it all came rushing back. Her sister. Mike moved in front of her but she put her hand on his shoulder, gently nudging him out of the way. "Mike, it's okay," she whispered. "I think she's-"
She didn't have time to finish before Steve abandoned his post and gathered them all together a short distance away from Scoops Ahoy. He looked at the girl suspiciously.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked sharply. "If you think you can just come in here and-"
"Steve," El spoke up, silencing him. It almost hurt to let go of Mike but she managed, pushing through her friends until she was face to face with Chris. At first she hadn't been sure, but when she met the girl's eyes she was positive. Without a word, she grabbed Chris's right arm and turned it around, revealing her tattoo that read 007.
"Oh my god," Max murmured behind them. El took off the bracelet she'd been wearing to cover up her tattoo in public and put her arm next to Chris's.
"Sister," she said finally. El had been looking for her brothers and sisters but hadn't had any luck apart from Kali. Now, one of them showed up when she least expected it. She'd been separated from Seven and Eight when she was young and never seen them again, not until Kali last year. "How? How did you escape?"
Before Chris could answer, tears formed in El's eyes and she threw her arms around her. Steve, meanwhile, looked perplexed.
"Will someone please explain to me what the hell is happening, here?" he asked.
"I think they were in the lab together," Will deduced, glancing at Mike. "Right? She's Eleven, there have to be others." He couldn't believe no one had ever thought of that before. "Has she ever said anything?" he asked Mike.
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christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
Joyce remembered seeing El arriving at their doorstep, right when things looked like they were getting worse. She remembered the relief in seeing her again, in realising she wasn't lost to them but in fact alive. Then she remembered feeling perplexed about her clothing choice. Her hair had grown too, which looked nice on her but at the time all Joyce felt was happiness that she was alive and okay and could offer them some help, so she didn't pay much attention to what she was wearing, or where she had been, till much later.
"Maybe she just saw some kids wearing it on the way to her aunt's house?" Joyce offered a solution, though even she knew that was far fetched. El didn't seem the type to sport the grunge, gothic look like the one she had come home in, so if she wore it, it was because someone else told her to, and Hopper was right. Her aunt wouldn't come up with that kind of look, which meant that El must have come across someone else and wasn't telling them. Figuring it was so Hopper wouldn't freak out, Joyce decided not to bring to light her assumptions.
Instead, she continued into what Hopper asked her about. "Will's doing good," she nodded. "All things considered, I mean." He went through so much last year that of course, Joyce felt the need to be a bit more of a smother than a mother, because she was just so terrified of something like that happening again. Even if they knew that the gate had been closed and all of it was said and done with, she could never be too sure. "But he's got his friends and I think he's adjusted to it all much faster than I have," Joyce chuckled softly. Will may get over it and start to have fun quick, but Joyce would still worry every time he went out of the house without her.
When Hopper agreed to the movie, she smiled a little and nodded. She didn't know why she'd been so anxious about his response. It was just Hopper after all and yet when she posed that question she felt like they were suddenly teenagers again.
Her mind was taken off of it when Hopper moved to the next box and she crouched beside him to help, only to rub the back of her neck when he brought out the Christmas lights. "I couldn't bring myself to throw them away," she admitted. They helped her communicate with Will. It was a time when she was truly desperate, and she knew that at least if anything crazy happened again, the lights were a good sign. Taking the balled up lights, she stowed them away in a storage cupboard before moving back to the box and taking out a few wrapped up picture frames.
"So how are things going for you, outside work?" Joyce asked curiously, turning her back on him to hang up one picture in the kitchen, before moving into the living room to put up the rest. She posed the question in regards to his social life, rather than his things with El because she knew how that was. And maybe part of her was trying to find certain things out.
Joyce remembered seeing El arriving at their doorstep, right when things looked like they were getting worse. She remembered the relief in seeing her again, in realising she wasn't lost to them but in fact alive. Then she remembered feeling perplexed about her clothing choice. Her hair had grown too, which looked nice on her but at the time all Joyce felt was happiness that she was alive and okay and could offer them some help, so she didn't pay much attention to what she was wearing, or where she had been, till much later.
"Maybe she just saw some kids wearing it on the way to her aunt's house?" Joyce offered a solution, though even she knew that was far fetched. El didn't seem the type to sport the grunge, gothic look like the one she had come home in, so if she wore it, it was because someone else told her to, and Hopper was right. Her aunt wouldn't come up with that kind of look, which meant that El must have come across someone else and wasn't telling them. Figuring it was so Hopper wouldn't freak out, Joyce decided not to bring to light her assumptions.
Instead, she continued into what Hopper asked her about. "Will's doing good," she nodded. "All things considered, I mean." He went through so much last year that of course, Joyce felt the need to be a bit more of a smother than a mother, because she was just so terrified of something like that happening again. Even if they knew that the gate had been closed and all of it was said and done with, she could never be too sure. "But he's got his friends and I think he's adjusted to it all much faster than I have," Joyce chuckled softly. Will may get over it and start to have fun quick, but Joyce would still worry every time he went out of the house without her.
When Hopper agreed to the movie, she smiled a little and nodded. She didn't know why she'd been so anxious about his response. It was just Hopper after all and yet when she posed that question she felt like they were suddenly teenagers again.
Her mind was taken off of it when Hopper moved to the next box and she crouched beside him to help, only to rub the back of her neck when he brought out the Christmas lights. "I couldn't bring myself to throw them away," she admitted. They helped her communicate with Will. It was a time when she was truly desperate, and she knew that at least if anything crazy happened again, the lights were a good sign. Taking the balled up lights, she stowed them away in a storage cupboard before moving back to the box and taking out a few wrapped up picture frames.
"So how are things going for you, outside work?" Joyce asked curiously, turning her back on him to hang up one picture in the kitchen, before moving into the living room to put up the rest. She posed the question in regards to his social life, rather than his things with El because she knew how that was. And maybe part of her was trying to find certain things out.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris had said what she said in a spur of a moment thing because she had just been so surprised to see someone she had considered her sister, someone she had thought to be dead, now standing there, well and alive and older. Christ probably looked different to her too, but she knew that Eleven recognised her. She also suddenly knew that she's said eleven in front of a bunch of other people, but instead of looking at her with confusion, they all seemed shocked. They all knew.
But they obviously didn't know her. Eleven mustn't have told them about having siblings. Or maybe she didn't remember enough about them to? Chris had so many questions. Right now though, all she wanted to do was hug the girl, but before she could do anything, from behind the counter, Steve hopped out, gathering them all in a corner so nobody would overhear them. That was a good move. If anybody heard them they'd just get shipped back to the labs, or worse. Leaving the labs like that must have some kind of consequence. Chris didn't want to find out.
Before she could say anything else, Steve spoke, and his sudden mood change surprised Chris, causing her to get a little defensive because she wasn't the bad guy here. She had been surrounded by bad men all her life. She wanted to say something back but before she could do so, El walked over to her and turned her hand over, revealing the 007 tattoo. It wasn't as dark as it had once been, but it was still there, and still easily legible.
Upon seeing that, everyone else seemed to understand a bit more. So they knew more of the story than she thought.
"Sister," she nodded in agreement, a small smile forming on her face before she easily embraced the younger girl who threw her arms around her. She must be just getting into her teenage years and she was already as tall as Chris. Then again, Chris had never been a very tall person to begin with.
"When they took you, we tried to escape. Me and Eight. Do you remember?" She asked, wondering if she recalled her other sibling. They'd been in the same room together for a while, before El had been taken. "We tried to find you but we couldn't, and so we thought..." She didn't finish because even saying it hurt her, but that didn't matter now because El was alive and well and they were reunited once more.
Chris had said what she said in a spur of a moment thing because she had just been so surprised to see someone she had considered her sister, someone she had thought to be dead, now standing there, well and alive and older. Christ probably looked different to her too, but she knew that Eleven recognised her. She also suddenly knew that she's said eleven in front of a bunch of other people, but instead of looking at her with confusion, they all seemed shocked. They all knew.
But they obviously didn't know her. Eleven mustn't have told them about having siblings. Or maybe she didn't remember enough about them to? Chris had so many questions. Right now though, all she wanted to do was hug the girl, but before she could do anything, from behind the counter, Steve hopped out, gathering them all in a corner so nobody would overhear them. That was a good move. If anybody heard them they'd just get shipped back to the labs, or worse. Leaving the labs like that must have some kind of consequence. Chris didn't want to find out.
Before she could say anything else, Steve spoke, and his sudden mood change surprised Chris, causing her to get a little defensive because she wasn't the bad guy here. She had been surrounded by bad men all her life. She wanted to say something back but before she could do so, El walked over to her and turned her hand over, revealing the 007 tattoo. It wasn't as dark as it had once been, but it was still there, and still easily legible.
Upon seeing that, everyone else seemed to understand a bit more. So they knew more of the story than she thought.
"Sister," she nodded in agreement, a small smile forming on her face before she easily embraced the younger girl who threw her arms around her. She must be just getting into her teenage years and she was already as tall as Chris. Then again, Chris had never been a very tall person to begin with.
"When they took you, we tried to escape. Me and Eight. Do you remember?" She asked, wondering if she recalled her other sibling. They'd been in the same room together for a while, before El had been taken. "We tried to find you but we couldn't, and so we thought..." She didn't finish because even saying it hurt her, but that didn't matter now because El was alive and well and they were reunited once more.
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike didn't want El to let go of him. He wasn't letting her near danger again. The last time she did that was with the demogorgon, to take it down, and she had ended up being lost in the process. Mike couldn't risk that again but before he could even realise what was happening, El was gone, pushing through the others that had slowly formed a kind of wall around her protectively, to go stand in front of this new girl.
When he saw the tattoo though, it all began to make sense a little more, and Will practically read his mind. Instead of answering his friend, he had more questions to ask. "How are you here, now?" He asked her, still a little on edge by this whole reunion. El seemed to know her, and trust her if she went over to hug her the way she did, but Mike was still a little wary. How had El been in the labs and not her?
Once El and the girl pulled away from the embrace, she looked to Mike and answered him. "I used the abilities they gave me to escape. I was in the foster system for a while before a couple adopted me and now... now I'm here." What were the chances that she would find her way back to Hawkins, where it all began?
"Wait, do your parents call you Seven?" Dustin was the one asking the questions now, even though what she was called was the least important question Mike could think of asking.
At that, she managed a small smile. "No, they call me Chris. Short for Christine. I figured out my name before leaving. While we searched for El, we also found the room where they kept files on us."
"And there are more like you?" Max lifted her eyebrows.
Chris nodded slowly. "Some of the first few weren't strong enough for the trials. They didn't make it. I don't know where the others are, and I always thought Eleven was dead."
Mike was so confused. This was a lot of information to take in, and he thought Summer was just going to be fun, and away from all of the Upside Down stuff. She didn't look sinister, but she was from El's past so he had to be suspicious. "So what does this mean now?"
Mike didn't want El to let go of him. He wasn't letting her near danger again. The last time she did that was with the demogorgon, to take it down, and she had ended up being lost in the process. Mike couldn't risk that again but before he could even realise what was happening, El was gone, pushing through the others that had slowly formed a kind of wall around her protectively, to go stand in front of this new girl.
When he saw the tattoo though, it all began to make sense a little more, and Will practically read his mind. Instead of answering his friend, he had more questions to ask. "How are you here, now?" He asked her, still a little on edge by this whole reunion. El seemed to know her, and trust her if she went over to hug her the way she did, but Mike was still a little wary. How had El been in the labs and not her?
Once El and the girl pulled away from the embrace, she looked to Mike and answered him. "I used the abilities they gave me to escape. I was in the foster system for a while before a couple adopted me and now... now I'm here." What were the chances that she would find her way back to Hawkins, where it all began?
"Wait, do your parents call you Seven?" Dustin was the one asking the questions now, even though what she was called was the least important question Mike could think of asking.
At that, she managed a small smile. "No, they call me Chris. Short for Christine. I figured out my name before leaving. While we searched for El, we also found the room where they kept files on us."
"And there are more like you?" Max lifted her eyebrows.
Chris nodded slowly. "Some of the first few weren't strong enough for the trials. They didn't make it. I don't know where the others are, and I always thought Eleven was dead."
Mike was so confused. This was a lot of information to take in, and he thought Summer was just going to be fun, and away from all of the Upside Down stuff. She didn't look sinister, but she was from El's past so he had to be suspicious. "So what does this mean now?"
AvianJen
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AvianJen
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Hopper
Hopper shot Joyce a look. "Really, Joyce?" he asked with a small amount of amusement in his voice. "She was on the verge of tears when she couldn't get her makeup right for the Snow Ball, trust me, she's not capable of...what is it called? A black eye?" Smokey eye was the term he was looking for, but he'd never cared to learn makeup terminology. It concerned him from time to time, what El was capable of getting up to when he was gone. That was why in a way, it almost felt safer to send her out with her friends. He still needed to give Mike Wheeler the "dad talk" if he planned on taking things any farther with his girl, but the boy was fiercely protective over her after all that had happened. The other kids could hold their own too and there was strength in numbers. He didn't want her getting out on her own again, though.
"That's good. He's a strong kid," Jim replied in regards to Will. He really meant that; there were few people who could have endured what Will had endured in the past two years and it was a miracle he'd come out of it alive, let alone still able to do well in school and have fun with friends. "I think the move will make things easier," he tried to encourage Joyce. "It's still Hawkins, it's still home. But it's different. Maybe try not to destroy this one with an axe," he suggested with a smirk.
Hopper was surprised at how quickly the movie conversation ended, but he was glad she'd asked. Then she asked about his life out of work and Jim nearly bowed his head in shame- he was supposed to have a life outside of work?"Well..." he hesitated. "Apart from work and the kid there's not much. Been trying to stop drinking, you know, to be a good example?" But he still smoked, and he didn't see himself stopping that anytime soon. His social life had been more or less eradicated by El as well, not that that was a bad thing. He couldn't exactly have one night stands anymore with a kid around, and besides, when it started getting out that she was his daughter people were going to have questions. "Social life is looking pretty bleak," he decided. "You've been holding up?" He avoided explicitly talking about Bob, but he knew she still thought about him. It was one of the things that held him back from pursuing anything more- that, and he just didn't know how they'd fit into each other's lives as anything more than friends. But Hopper desperately wanted this move to work for Joyce and maybe then, if their kids continue to all get along...
Well, they were going to the movies.
Eleven
El sniffled when Chris hugged her, squeezing the older girl tightly as she began to explain. She nodded as she pulled away from the hug, managing a smile. "Yes," she confirmed. "Kali."
"Who's Kali?" Lucas asked, his eyebrows knitting together.
"Another sister. Eight," El explained briefly, glancing back at him before returning her attention to Chris again. "I remember." Many of El's memories were fuzzy, but she remembered being taken away from her sisters. She'd been so young and they had always protected her from the bad men the best way they could, even when they themselves were being hurt.
As her friends began to interrogate the girl, El hung on every word of her story. So she was adopted too, and her real name was Christine. El supposed her real name was Jane, but she'd chosen to go by the nickname that Mike had given her instead. At Mike's question of what it meant now, she looked back at him. His concern was obvious and wanting to make him feel less anxious El reached for his hand once more. "It means...sisters," she clumsily tried to explain. "Family." She didn't know what that would look like, but it seemed to El like the first thing to do was introduce her sister to all of her friends.
"These are my friends. Steve," she started with, pointing at the older teenager in the sailor uniform. "Dustin, Lucas, Max, Will...and Mike." She tugged the boy a little closer and moved her hand, choosing to wrap her arms around one of his instead. Their friendship was a long story but El summarized it by saying, "They saved me from the bad men." She was proud to introduce them all, but especially Mike. It was evident in her body language that he was very important to her.
"She saved me," Will disagreed. "I'd be dead without her. Actually, we all would."
"Yeah, it's been a dramatic couple of years," Dustin said with a smirk. "We've got lots to tell you."
"No! We've got nothing to tell her!" Lucas disagreed. "How do we know she has El's best interests in mind?"
"Lucas are you blind? They hugged it out! Hey, do you have superpowers too?"
Steve
"Shut it!" the older boy finally exclaimed, crossing his arms over his chest. "First things first, I think we've got to tell the Chief."
"No," El quickly disagreed, causing him even more frustration. The way Steve saw it, Hopper needed to know that his daughter had a new sister and that it was about to seriously impact their summer.
"Why not?"
"He'll worry," came El's response. She looked up at Mike nervously, then at the rest of her friends. "If he thinks..."
"If Hopper thinks there's something dangerous going on, he might make El stay home and not let her go to school," Will helped her. He and Eleven had talked about it many times and he knew how fearful she was of that happening.
"I wasn't asking you," Steve replied to Will. He looked at the girls. "The Hawkins Chief of Police adopted El last fall," he explained. "I think he deserves to know."
"No," El insisted. "We decide." She looked at Chris and Steve grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Fair enough," he relented. He looked at Chris. "So...do you have a take on all this?" Everyone was overwhelmed with information; this was far from an average day at the mall and half the words being spoken flew over Steve's head. Still, he was the only sort-of adult present who knew the Hawkins side of the story, so he felt like he had a right to be in the conversation.
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
"Just, don't worry about it too much," she said with a small chuckle. "Teenagers are always hiding things, and it's just clothes. El's back home and okay now and she's not leaving." Joyce knew there was no way Hopper would buy it, and Joyce also knew that there was no way El did it on her own, but as long as she wasn't going out alone anymore and hitching rides from truck drivers, then Joyce was okay being in denial for the time being. They'd been through so much, and Joyce was doing her best to try and move past all the bad stuff, and losing Bob because of all of that stuff.
Joyce moved to sit down on the couch once she hung up the pictures. The house was still nowhere near done, but she was just taking a short break to continue her conversation with Hopper. She picked up a cushion and hugged it while he talked, suggesting she shouldn't attack this house with an axe, and it made her laugh softly. "I'll do my best but I can't make any promises," she told him in response, looking around at the place. It was nice. Not too big, but perfect for her and the boys, and it was a great way to try and start fresh, and away from the horrors of their past. It was home.
She listened to Hopper as he spoke about his life outside work and nodded, taking his words in. Nothing about seeing anyone, which made Joyce maybe a little happier than she should be, even though she knew that deep inside she was still a little conflicted about all of this with Hopper. She knew she felt something, she just wasn't sure how to act on it, or even if she should. They both had so much going on. Was it the right time?
"I'm holding up okay," she answered, looking down at her hands that began to fiddle with the edge of her t-shirt. "It's been hard. But it's better now than it was before, and I feel like it'll get even better, y'know?" She looked back up at him with a smile. He had a daughter now, and they were all adjusting to normal lives again. And she and Hopper were going to the movies. Surely it would get even better after that, right?
"Just, don't worry about it too much," she said with a small chuckle. "Teenagers are always hiding things, and it's just clothes. El's back home and okay now and she's not leaving." Joyce knew there was no way Hopper would buy it, and Joyce also knew that there was no way El did it on her own, but as long as she wasn't going out alone anymore and hitching rides from truck drivers, then Joyce was okay being in denial for the time being. They'd been through so much, and Joyce was doing her best to try and move past all the bad stuff, and losing Bob because of all of that stuff.
Joyce moved to sit down on the couch once she hung up the pictures. The house was still nowhere near done, but she was just taking a short break to continue her conversation with Hopper. She picked up a cushion and hugged it while he talked, suggesting she shouldn't attack this house with an axe, and it made her laugh softly. "I'll do my best but I can't make any promises," she told him in response, looking around at the place. It was nice. Not too big, but perfect for her and the boys, and it was a great way to try and start fresh, and away from the horrors of their past. It was home.
She listened to Hopper as he spoke about his life outside work and nodded, taking his words in. Nothing about seeing anyone, which made Joyce maybe a little happier than she should be, even though she knew that deep inside she was still a little conflicted about all of this with Hopper. She knew she felt something, she just wasn't sure how to act on it, or even if she should. They both had so much going on. Was it the right time?
"I'm holding up okay," she answered, looking down at her hands that began to fiddle with the edge of her t-shirt. "It's been hard. But it's better now than it was before, and I feel like it'll get even better, y'know?" She looked back up at him with a smile. He had a daughter now, and they were all adjusting to normal lives again. And she and Hopper were going to the movies. Surely it would get even better after that, right?
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris was introduced to El's friends one by one, and she did her best to remember the names but it wasn't too hard. Even if there were a few of them. "Well, you're doing a lot better than I am, that's for sure," she told Eleven with a small smile. She had friends, a family, and by the way she was holding that one boy's hand -- Mike, she remembered his name -- it looked like she had something else too, which was nice. Chris was happy that she was getting to experience a normal life outside of the labs.
A lot of what they were talking about seemed a little confusing to her, and she vaguely wondered what El had been through since she got out of the labs, but if she was okay now, then they got through it and it was all fine now, and that was what mattered to Chris.
Chris was about to answer Dustin and say that, yes, she did have superpowers too, but before she could, Steve interjected. She didn't know who the chief was, but it became clearer when Steve explained that he was the one who adopted El. He was her family. Now, Chris' own parents didn't know about her abilities or where she came from, so she would always strongly be against telling any parents. But this chief knew who El was and what she was capable of so the story was different.
Still, El seemed very against telling her father, so Chris figured it was something they could discuss and decide together later. When Steve pointed a question, Chris took a moment to think about her answer. This was all so overwhelming, and she had a lot of questions as well as things to tell El, but they were also at a mall, a very public space, and people were starting to look at them all huddled up in a corner, engaged in conversation. Two high school kids with six younger kids wasn't exactly a normal group to see hanging around the mall.
"It's all... a lot to process," she said with a small chuckle and looked to El. "I'm just glad you're okay. And you're here in Hawkins which means we have plenty of time to catch up."
Chris was introduced to El's friends one by one, and she did her best to remember the names but it wasn't too hard. Even if there were a few of them. "Well, you're doing a lot better than I am, that's for sure," she told Eleven with a small smile. She had friends, a family, and by the way she was holding that one boy's hand -- Mike, she remembered his name -- it looked like she had something else too, which was nice. Chris was happy that she was getting to experience a normal life outside of the labs.
A lot of what they were talking about seemed a little confusing to her, and she vaguely wondered what El had been through since she got out of the labs, but if she was okay now, then they got through it and it was all fine now, and that was what mattered to Chris.
Chris was about to answer Dustin and say that, yes, she did have superpowers too, but before she could, Steve interjected. She didn't know who the chief was, but it became clearer when Steve explained that he was the one who adopted El. He was her family. Now, Chris' own parents didn't know about her abilities or where she came from, so she would always strongly be against telling any parents. But this chief knew who El was and what she was capable of so the story was different.
Still, El seemed very against telling her father, so Chris figured it was something they could discuss and decide together later. When Steve pointed a question, Chris took a moment to think about her answer. This was all so overwhelming, and she had a lot of questions as well as things to tell El, but they were also at a mall, a very public space, and people were starting to look at them all huddled up in a corner, engaged in conversation. Two high school kids with six younger kids wasn't exactly a normal group to see hanging around the mall.
"It's all... a lot to process," she said with a small chuckle and looked to El. "I'm just glad you're okay. And you're here in Hawkins which means we have plenty of time to catch up."
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike was still very confused. When El stated the name of Eight, Mike knew that El must know her. She didn't know Chris's name and yet she knew Kali, and she never brought up knowing that she had other siblings, other people besides her that had been in the labs. He didn't understand why she wouldn't tell him because he thought she told him everything. Keeping it from Hopper was one thing, but from him? He was confused, and he would be lying if he said he didn't feel a little betrayed too.
He still had his hand in El's though, because it made him feel comfortable, and assured him that even with this new arrival, things were slightly okay, but he was still confused by a lot and he wanted some answers. This time from El, rather that Chris, since she already gave them most of the story.
For the time being, he didn't comment about whether they should tell Hopper or not, but when Chris made it clear that they had time to catch up, Mike clung to that sentence. "Yeah, we've got all summer," he said with a nod, but looked at El. "And we should probably get your shopping done before it's too late or Hopper's going to start asking questions." Mike made it clear that he intended on going with her because he wanted to talk to her, ask her why she never told him about Kali. And what else was he hiding from her?
"What about the comic book store?" Dustin asked. Clearly he had his priorities straight, but comic books were the last thing on Mike's mind.
"Alright then, we'll split up or something." While Chris may not seem like a bad person, Mike still didn't feel so comfortable just leaving El alone with her. Maybe if he learned more from El he'd feel better about it.
Mike was still very confused. When El stated the name of Eight, Mike knew that El must know her. She didn't know Chris's name and yet she knew Kali, and she never brought up knowing that she had other siblings, other people besides her that had been in the labs. He didn't understand why she wouldn't tell him because he thought she told him everything. Keeping it from Hopper was one thing, but from him? He was confused, and he would be lying if he said he didn't feel a little betrayed too.
He still had his hand in El's though, because it made him feel comfortable, and assured him that even with this new arrival, things were slightly okay, but he was still confused by a lot and he wanted some answers. This time from El, rather that Chris, since she already gave them most of the story.
For the time being, he didn't comment about whether they should tell Hopper or not, but when Chris made it clear that they had time to catch up, Mike clung to that sentence. "Yeah, we've got all summer," he said with a nod, but looked at El. "And we should probably get your shopping done before it's too late or Hopper's going to start asking questions." Mike made it clear that he intended on going with her because he wanted to talk to her, ask her why she never told him about Kali. And what else was he hiding from her?
"What about the comic book store?" Dustin asked. Clearly he had his priorities straight, but comic books were the last thing on Mike's mind.
"Alright then, we'll split up or something." While Chris may not seem like a bad person, Mike still didn't feel so comfortable just leaving El alone with her. Maybe if he learned more from El he'd feel better about it.
AvianJen
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AvianJen
Member
Hopper
Hopper grumbled. He knew that teenagers had their secrets, but that didn't mean he had to like it. And El's secrets were more dangerous than most. "You act like you're okay when Will keeps secrets," he pointed out. They both knew that Joyce was protective, as she should be with everything that had happened. When Will had secrets there was always the fear that it might be related to the Upside Down, and the same was true of Eleven. There were horrors in her past that Hopper couldn't even fathom, and he wished that he could do a better job of helping her cope with all that. But maybe her friends were enough. All in all, his kid was pretty lucky.
He was happy to hear her sounding somewhat hopeful, even though it wasn't all perfect. "It's like I said, every day does get a little easier," he said gently. He finished unpacking the box he was working on before standing, clapping his hands together and letting out a sigh.
"So, how about that movie? Jonathan took my truck so, you up to drive?"
Eleven
El offered a small smile, not sure what Chris meant by "she was doing better" because it seemed like her sister was pretty well off- she had nice clothes, pretty hair, two parents and, El assumed, a house. She seemed pretty normal too, just like Kali had. El was still trying to figure out how to appear normal; to most, she was still odd. She didn't speak quite right, and her cover story was going to be a hard sell. But for an escaped kid from the lab, anything that wasn't a hospital gown, injections or scientists in white coats was a huge step up. She nodded in agreement when Chris said they had a lot of time to catch up. El didn't want to wait and would have told Chris everything right then and there until Mike spoke up, and he was right. If El didn't spend her $100, that would be very suspicious.
"Yes," she agreed, nodding at Mike. He looked concerned, so she squeezed his hand to let him know everything was okay before turning back to Chris. "I have to buy clothes," she explained, looking down and tugging on the black and white striped t-shirt she wore now. It was soft, but El had a suspicion that it had belonged to Hopper when he was younger. "Nice ones," she clarified. "Will you come?" Similar to how she didn't like saying goodbye to Mike because she was always afraid he'd disappear, she didn't want to let her sister out of her sight so soon.
Will, however, had been observing everyone and jumped in to act as the mediator once again. Mike was his best friend and he could tell when he was upset, and he felt certain that this wasn't just a one-time meeting. "Chris probably has her own errands to do," he suggested. "We still have almost two hours until Jonathan comes and picks us up, so how about we meet in the food court in an hour?"
"Or you could come with us," Dustin offered with a toothy grin. "What kind of superpowers do you have? Do you like comic books?" El actually wouldn't have minded going to the store too- she liked reading even though she was slow and she'd read some of Mike's books. It was fun, reading about people who had powers like hers, but her money wasn't for books and there wasn't time for everything.
Steve
Steve looked back and forth between all the kids. This was a very weird interaction, but...weirder things had happened in Hawkins. He didn't feel like he should really be surprised by now. He looked at his watch and sighed. "I've got to get back to work. I'm off in an hour," he announced. He wished he could stay and supervise everything- Chris seemed like a nice girl, but these kids had a reputation for being reckless and stupid and he didn't want anything to happen. Work was calling, though, and he'd get in trouble if he stayed over here for too much longer.
"Um, go wherever you want," he suggested to Chris. If something bad happened El was pretty capable of putting a stop to it, and if she went with Max and the boys they'd keep her too busy with questions for anything to happen. What could go wrong in an hour? "l'll meet you all in the food court, by the clock at five thirty," he decided.
"Five-three-zero," El said carefully with a nod. Steve nodded, always finding it strange how she did that. But he wasn't raised in a lab, so who was he to judge?
"Sure, kid." He looked towards Chris again. "They're weirdos, but gotta love 'em," he shrugged. "Food court, five thirty. Nobody do anything stupid while I'm gone, deal?" With that, Steve put his hat back on and returned to Scoops Ahoy, confident that the last hour of his shift would fly by.
"Okay, divide and conquer," Dustin declared. He began to lead Max, Lucas, and Will in the direction of the comic book store.
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
Joyce looked up to Hopper and offered him a small smile. "I'm never going to be okay with Will or even Jonathan keeping secrets. It's natural to want to know everything because parents worry," she explained to him, still hugging the cushion in her arms, her hands now fiddling with a stray thread from the cushion cover instead of the hem of her t-shirt now. "And when it's necessary, we'll poke them till we get an answer, but El's done a lot more dangerous things than showing up wearing eyeliner and dark clothing so I think on that, at least, you can relax a little," she tried to ease his concerns.
Joyce knew it wasn't easy, she always worried when it came to both of her boys, but the best she could do was try to explain that to Hopper and hope that it would help, even in the slightest, to ease whatever concerns he might have, or at least think less of them.
One more box was done, thanks to Hopper, and though there were a couple more, especially the bedrooms, Joyce didn't consider those a priority because most of the stuff were the boys' and they'd organise that when they got home for the day, so when Hopper brought up the mall, Joyce grinned and nodded. "Of course. And popcorn's on me," she told him, tossing the cushion aside and rising to her feet before grabbing her car keys off the coffee table. "It's the least I can do for you coming here to help me with all of this," she gestured around the entire house.
Leading Hopper out to the car, she made sure to lock up before getting in and starting the engine. "Do we even know what's playing?" Joyce asked as she buckled in and began the drive. Joyce didn't mind what they went to watch, though horror these days wasn't something she was too fond of. Not when she'd experienced enough horrors in her life.
Joyce looked up to Hopper and offered him a small smile. "I'm never going to be okay with Will or even Jonathan keeping secrets. It's natural to want to know everything because parents worry," she explained to him, still hugging the cushion in her arms, her hands now fiddling with a stray thread from the cushion cover instead of the hem of her t-shirt now. "And when it's necessary, we'll poke them till we get an answer, but El's done a lot more dangerous things than showing up wearing eyeliner and dark clothing so I think on that, at least, you can relax a little," she tried to ease his concerns.
Joyce knew it wasn't easy, she always worried when it came to both of her boys, but the best she could do was try to explain that to Hopper and hope that it would help, even in the slightest, to ease whatever concerns he might have, or at least think less of them.
One more box was done, thanks to Hopper, and though there were a couple more, especially the bedrooms, Joyce didn't consider those a priority because most of the stuff were the boys' and they'd organise that when they got home for the day, so when Hopper brought up the mall, Joyce grinned and nodded. "Of course. And popcorn's on me," she told him, tossing the cushion aside and rising to her feet before grabbing her car keys off the coffee table. "It's the least I can do for you coming here to help me with all of this," she gestured around the entire house.
Leading Hopper out to the car, she made sure to lock up before getting in and starting the engine. "Do we even know what's playing?" Joyce asked as she buckled in and began the drive. Joyce didn't mind what they went to watch, though horror these days wasn't something she was too fond of. Not when she'd experienced enough horrors in her life.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris would have jumped at the chance to hang out with El more and learn all about what she had been going through and what things were like for her now but one look at Mike told her that he wanted to talk to her about things himself, and Chris didn't want to butt into that. And like she said, they had all the time in the world now that they were all living in the same town. She was just so relieved that she had found her. And by the sound of it, El had met Kali too, which was something she wanted to learn more about as well. But she could put that on hold for the time being.
She nodded to Chris when he explained that he had to get back to work -- that reminded her about wanting to get ice cream. Maybe talking to someone her age would have helped since he was the only one her age who knew what was going on and Chris always longed for someone to talk to this about. So far the only one who seemed welcoming toward her was Dustin and while she was grateful, he seemed to have a lot of questions. Christ didn't mind answering, and she was a patient person, but she also had moved to Hawkins for a fresh start and to try and be a normal teenager.
So, when everyone began to split up and go in their own paths, for a few moments, Chris stood idly, just deciding where to go. Eventually, she made a split second decision. She gave El an encouraging look to go with Mike and then turned to Dustin. "I'll catch up," she promised, knowing he had questions. For a while, she needed to get her mind straight a little though, so she decided to go get that ice cream after all.
Chris would have jumped at the chance to hang out with El more and learn all about what she had been going through and what things were like for her now but one look at Mike told her that he wanted to talk to her about things himself, and Chris didn't want to butt into that. And like she said, they had all the time in the world now that they were all living in the same town. She was just so relieved that she had found her. And by the sound of it, El had met Kali too, which was something she wanted to learn more about as well. But she could put that on hold for the time being.
She nodded to Chris when he explained that he had to get back to work -- that reminded her about wanting to get ice cream. Maybe talking to someone her age would have helped since he was the only one her age who knew what was going on and Chris always longed for someone to talk to this about. So far the only one who seemed welcoming toward her was Dustin and while she was grateful, he seemed to have a lot of questions. Christ didn't mind answering, and she was a patient person, but she also had moved to Hawkins for a fresh start and to try and be a normal teenager.
So, when everyone began to split up and go in their own paths, for a few moments, Chris stood idly, just deciding where to go. Eventually, she made a split second decision. She gave El an encouraging look to go with Mike and then turned to Dustin. "I'll catch up," she promised, knowing he had questions. For a while, she needed to get her mind straight a little though, so she decided to go get that ice cream after all.
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike watched as everyone parted ways. Max, Lucas, Will and Dustin went one way, Steve went another, with Chris soon tailing behind, and that left Mike and El alone. She had a hundred dollars to spend which meant they should probably get going if they wanted to be done in an hour. He didn't want to keep El from her sister but he also had questions that he wanted answers to so once everyone was gone, he gave her hand a gentle tug so she would follow him.
Mike had no idea where girls shopped so he just walked into the first one he saw that looked like it had decent looking clothes. El should be able to find something she liked there. But it was barely a minute of silent browsing around before Mike interrupted. "How come you never told me about meeting your sister, Kali?" He got straight to the point, because he just wanted an answer, really. Did she feel like something was wrong and she was trying to protect him from the truth? While he would insist that was unnecessary, he knew that would be a plausible explanation, coming from her.
"Did you know all along?" he continued to prod, being careful to use a gentler tone than the one he adopted when he was interrogating one of his friends. "Did you know that you had other siblings? Others like you?" He was of course referring to before she had gone to meet Kali -- he wanted to know more about that too. How did she go all alone? it didn't seem like her to her sister was in this same town. Was she even in the same state? Whatever it was, it was dangerous for El to travel so far like that, and made Mike feel a little unsettled, knowing that she had gone all that way and come back, alone.
Mike watched as everyone parted ways. Max, Lucas, Will and Dustin went one way, Steve went another, with Chris soon tailing behind, and that left Mike and El alone. She had a hundred dollars to spend which meant they should probably get going if they wanted to be done in an hour. He didn't want to keep El from her sister but he also had questions that he wanted answers to so once everyone was gone, he gave her hand a gentle tug so she would follow him.
Mike had no idea where girls shopped so he just walked into the first one he saw that looked like it had decent looking clothes. El should be able to find something she liked there. But it was barely a minute of silent browsing around before Mike interrupted. "How come you never told me about meeting your sister, Kali?" He got straight to the point, because he just wanted an answer, really. Did she feel like something was wrong and she was trying to protect him from the truth? While he would insist that was unnecessary, he knew that would be a plausible explanation, coming from her.
"Did you know all along?" he continued to prod, being careful to use a gentler tone than the one he adopted when he was interrogating one of his friends. "Did you know that you had other siblings? Others like you?" He was of course referring to before she had gone to meet Kali -- he wanted to know more about that too. How did she go all alone? it didn't seem like her to her sister was in this same town. Was she even in the same state? Whatever it was, it was dangerous for El to travel so far like that, and made Mike feel a little unsettled, knowing that she had gone all that way and come back, alone.
AvianJen
Member
Hopper
Hopper chuckled. "That's my point. If I don't know the easy stuff, imagine what else I might not know. She's quiet, just like Will." The thought scared him more than he cared to admit. He knew that he was probably too hard on the girl and that she deserved to have a little more freedom, but she was dipping her toes in the water now. He hoped that he wouldn't regret it- she'd been living with him for almost two years now, and he was terrified of losing her.
He nodded in agreement when Joyce declared the popcorn was her treat. "Alright then, tickets on me," he decided. It was weird getting into the car with her, driving to the movies. It almost felt like a juvenile thing to do. For just a moment, he felt like he was back in high school. They weren't exchanging cigarettes under the bleachers in gym, but they were...well, going to the movies. It made the man a little happier than he cared to admit, because Joyce wasn't like the other women he'd been with in the past couple of years. She was special, she meant something to him. After all they'd been through together she was the closest friend that he had, the only person he could talk to about his parenting struggles, and, well...he kind of liked the way she'd started styling her hair.
He let out a real laugh when she asked if they knew what was playing and shook his head. "Nah. We'll have to be spontaneous." What a concept. "One of the guys at the station mentioned something called "The Goonies," but I've got no clue what it's about." They weren't going to know what anything was about, so they'd just have to pick whichever title sounded the most interesting.
Eleven
When Chris returned to the ice cream line El was a little bit sad, but she hadn't realized that Mike wanted to speak with her alone. She didn't want to leave and right now talking to her sister sounded more exciting than shopping, but they needed to get the shopping done anyways. She followed Mike into the first store and wandered through the racks, running her fingers over the pretty material. She wasn't sure where exactly to start but she did see a cute pair of shorts that looked like the ones Max had, so after mulling over her size she picked out a pair just as Mike asked her about Kali.
She'd never heard him use that tone before, at least not directed at her. It wasn't unnecessarily harsh, but it was obviously something that had been bothering him, not just a casual question. She spun to look at him with wide eyes. Oh no, was he angry?
"I..." she couldn't think of a good answer. "It was hard to explain," she excused herself lamely. "There were more important things." Things like Will being possessed by the Mind Flayer and closing the gate, and just...seeing Mike again. Plus, she hadn't wanted to talk about Kali. It was hard for her to explain what she'd felt when she met her sister, and even more difficult to put what El had done with her to words. How they'd broken into a man's house, a man who told them that Papa was still alive...how hell bent Kali was on revenge. She didn't want to be stuck in the past like Kali was or live on the fringe of society. She wanted to go to school, be with her friends, and look forward to her future.
He continued questioning her and El reached for a button down top covered in colorful patterns, dropping Mike's hand so that she could pick it up, along with a pack of colorful scrunchies. It made her nervous to talk about it, but she nodded. "Yes," she told him. "I don't know how many. I was alone in the lab." If there were other children there after she was taken away from Chris and Kali, she'd never seen them. Absently, she picked up a sundress and another colorful top before spinning around to meet his eyes.
"Are you mad?" she questioned. She didn't want him to be mad. He'd only been mad at her once before and it had absolutely crushed her. "That I didn't tell you?"
Steve
Steve returned to work, but he had a lot on his mind and if possible, he appeared even more bored than before as the hour ticked by. When Chris appeared at the front of the line again, he raised his eyebrows. "You didn't go with Mike and El?" he asked in surprise. "You must really like ice cream. Well what can I get for ya, matey?" he asked. He wished he could talk to her more, he really did, but he still had to work for a few more minutes. He wasn't going to talk to her about this top secret stuff while he was still at work when anyone could overhear, but he'd be out soon.
"Hey, if you come back at the end of my shift I can walk you to the food court," he offered. "I can try to fill you in on some things...I'm guessing you have a ton of questions, just like we do."
Steve knew he definitely would have questions if he was in her shoes, and he'd had all those same questions once. He'd had no idea who Eleven was when she saved them from the demodogs and marched through the front door of the Byers' house, and he'd needed a lot of filling in. But now he understood and he'd run into El a few times since then.
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
"Spontaneous," Joyce echoed before laughing a little at the name of the movie Hopper had given her. "I can't even predict what that's going to be like. What even is 'The Goonies'?" And while she was not actually wondering what exactly the movie was about, Joyce thought about how nice it was to be in the car with Hopper, laughing about some movie they were going to see spontaneously, instead of worrying about their lives being in danger or what mess their kids were getting into.
It was the closest thing they'd been to normal in a long time, and Joyce craved that feeling. She felt it most when she was with Hopper, her closest friend and... and something else. She just had to figure stuff out before actually putting some kind of label to it. But for now this was nice, and she got the feeling that Hopper was enjoying himself too with the way things were turning out in their lives so Joyce was content.
She put on the radio for a bit but the drive to Starcourt wasn't very long now that Joyce's new home was closer to the central part of town, rather than far away like the old place. The parking lot was close to full, but she found a spot, even if it was far from the entrance. A few minutes under the sun was a small price to pay in order to get inside, where it would be cooler.
"I never realised how big it was," Joyce muttered under her breath as she unbuckled her seatbelt and hopped out of the car to move to Hopper's side, falling into step beside him. "Maybe we'll see the kids, busy with their shopping." Part of her wondered if she should check in on Will, just to make sure all was okay, though she did promise to stop smothering him -- or smothering him less at least.
"Spontaneous," Joyce echoed before laughing a little at the name of the movie Hopper had given her. "I can't even predict what that's going to be like. What even is 'The Goonies'?" And while she was not actually wondering what exactly the movie was about, Joyce thought about how nice it was to be in the car with Hopper, laughing about some movie they were going to see spontaneously, instead of worrying about their lives being in danger or what mess their kids were getting into.
It was the closest thing they'd been to normal in a long time, and Joyce craved that feeling. She felt it most when she was with Hopper, her closest friend and... and something else. She just had to figure stuff out before actually putting some kind of label to it. But for now this was nice, and she got the feeling that Hopper was enjoying himself too with the way things were turning out in their lives so Joyce was content.
She put on the radio for a bit but the drive to Starcourt wasn't very long now that Joyce's new home was closer to the central part of town, rather than far away like the old place. The parking lot was close to full, but she found a spot, even if it was far from the entrance. A few minutes under the sun was a small price to pay in order to get inside, where it would be cooler.
"I never realised how big it was," Joyce muttered under her breath as she unbuckled her seatbelt and hopped out of the car to move to Hopper's side, falling into step beside him. "Maybe we'll see the kids, busy with their shopping." Part of her wondered if she should check in on Will, just to make sure all was okay, though she did promise to stop smothering him -- or smothering him less at least.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris chuckled softly when she heard the surprise in Steve's voice. She thought she was going to go with El too, or pretty much wherever she went because she didn't want to let her out of her sight after having found her after so long, especially when she thought she was dead this whole time, but she had changed her mind after getting a feel of Mike's feelings. Chris's ability did not make her a mind reader, but over the years, she'd gotten pretty good at reading body language.
"I was going to, but it seemed like Mike and El had stuff they needed to talk about," she explained, peeking into the glass once again, since she didn't get the chance to look properly before, and then placing her order. "I'll have a scoop of chocolate." After paying him, and then thanking him, she was about to leave when he offered walking her to the food court. That sounded like a good idea, plus at least maybe he could fill her in on a few things.
"Yeah, sure," she nodded, giving him a smile. "I've got to think through some things so I'll probably just hang around," she told him. She needed to pen down her thoughts before they escaped her and she forgot what she wanted to say so, looking to the counter, she picked up the pen that was left there for feedback forms, and a few napkins, before walking to a nearby booth to sit down. While she ate, she also wrote, figuring that she could sit there till an hour was up.
Chris chuckled softly when she heard the surprise in Steve's voice. She thought she was going to go with El too, or pretty much wherever she went because she didn't want to let her out of her sight after having found her after so long, especially when she thought she was dead this whole time, but she had changed her mind after getting a feel of Mike's feelings. Chris's ability did not make her a mind reader, but over the years, she'd gotten pretty good at reading body language.
"I was going to, but it seemed like Mike and El had stuff they needed to talk about," she explained, peeking into the glass once again, since she didn't get the chance to look properly before, and then placing her order. "I'll have a scoop of chocolate." After paying him, and then thanking him, she was about to leave when he offered walking her to the food court. That sounded like a good idea, plus at least maybe he could fill her in on a few things.
"Yeah, sure," she nodded, giving him a smile. "I've got to think through some things so I'll probably just hang around," she told him. She needed to pen down her thoughts before they escaped her and she forgot what she wanted to say so, looking to the counter, she picked up the pen that was left there for feedback forms, and a few napkins, before walking to a nearby booth to sit down. While she ate, she also wrote, figuring that she could sit there till an hour was up.
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike listened to El attentively, and he understood what she meant. There were important things to deal with like Will, closing the gate to the Upside Down. They dealt with all of that though, and El had plenty of time after that to tell him. It wasn't the kind of info you just forget about. Eleven having a sister was big news, and actually having gone to meet that sister? That was huge. Mike couldn't imagine it, really, after all El had been through. He figured that was something worth saying.
He watched her as she picked up stuff and he remained quiet till she finally faced him, asking him a question that was hard to answer. He remembered the last time that he'd been mad at El. How he yelled at her and she had run away as a result, leaving him and Dustin to go in search for her. Even after yelling at her, she had come to his aid and saved him from pretty much being killed. But Mike remembered feeling so worried after she ran away. He knew she wouldn't do that now because she had somewhere to go, unlike before, but he still didn't like being angry with her.
"Yes," he said, instinctively, before thinking on it and then shaking his head. "No. I don't know." he bit down on his lower lip and let his hand graze a few shirts hung up on a rack before he looked at her again. "I guess I was just upset that you didn't feel like you could tell me about it," he said with a small shrug. "Having a sister, someone who's special, like you, that's a big thing to hold on to." What if some of her other siblings weren't as nice as Kali or Chris? What if they came across her and did something bad? Mike didn't even want to think about it, but he had a better chance of trying to protect her if she kept him in the loop.
Mike listened to El attentively, and he understood what she meant. There were important things to deal with like Will, closing the gate to the Upside Down. They dealt with all of that though, and El had plenty of time after that to tell him. It wasn't the kind of info you just forget about. Eleven having a sister was big news, and actually having gone to meet that sister? That was huge. Mike couldn't imagine it, really, after all El had been through. He figured that was something worth saying.
He watched her as she picked up stuff and he remained quiet till she finally faced him, asking him a question that was hard to answer. He remembered the last time that he'd been mad at El. How he yelled at her and she had run away as a result, leaving him and Dustin to go in search for her. Even after yelling at her, she had come to his aid and saved him from pretty much being killed. But Mike remembered feeling so worried after she ran away. He knew she wouldn't do that now because she had somewhere to go, unlike before, but he still didn't like being angry with her.
"Yes," he said, instinctively, before thinking on it and then shaking his head. "No. I don't know." he bit down on his lower lip and let his hand graze a few shirts hung up on a rack before he looked at her again. "I guess I was just upset that you didn't feel like you could tell me about it," he said with a small shrug. "Having a sister, someone who's special, like you, that's a big thing to hold on to." What if some of her other siblings weren't as nice as Kali or Chris? What if they came across her and did something bad? Mike didn't even want to think about it, but he had a better chance of trying to protect her if she kept him in the loop.
AvianJen
Member
Hopper
Jim shrugged. "I have no idea," he admitted with a grin. "It'll be a surprise." They'd look at the posters to make sure they didn't go to a horror movie or anything like that, but it didn't sound very scary to him. He leaned back in his seat, watching the town fly by as he sat in the car. It wasn't a long drive; he hadn't noticed how much closer to town they were now, but it was nice. Their old house was far off the beaten path, and being in an actual neighborhood would provide a sense of security. If there were monsters lurking around, at least there would be more witnesses and Joyce didn't have to be reduced to the town crazy lady. Admittedly, at first Hopper had thought she was losing it too way back when, but that was one of the things he'd come to admire most about her. Even in the face of adversity, when everyone thought she was losing her mind, she stood her ground because she knew she was right.
The mall was packed this evening, probably with shoppers and movie-goers and people going out to eat. It was the place to hang out these days, and Hopper hoped they'd still be able to get seats. It occurred to him that they didn't actually know the times of the movies playing this evening either, but he was sure they'd find something. It was more about the break and less about the movie.
They got out of the car and headed towards the mall. "Yeah, it's big," he agreed. "You know how many shoplifting calls I've gotten already? They need better security." He doubted they'd run into the kids, but the thought made him smile. They were in there somewhere, running around and annoying sales associates no doubt. "No, the theater's down the hall from the main stores," he explained. "I we'll see them." He was tempted to check up on them too, but resisted the urge. He had to give El some freedom, just like Joyce was trying to give to Will.
They got inside and stepped in line for the box office, surveying the posters. "The Goonies" didn't look like horror, which was a good sign. "Anything look interesting?" he asked.
Eleven
El inhaled sharply when he said he was mad, blinking in rapid succession as she tried to process his answer. The word felt like a punch to the gut, and even when he uncertainly corrected himself she was still stunned. How did she tell him that she didn't really have a good reason, she just hadn't wanted to? The timing was never right, it never came up, and it was painful to talk about her experiences in the lab, not to mention difficult with her still somewhat limited vocabulary. She was trying to leave that part of her life in the past and just be a normal teenager, at least on the outside. Yes, she was attempting to try and find out if she had any other siblings who were still alive, but she didn't know what that could entail and she didn't want Mike endangering himself by helping her. She hoped there were others like her who'd escaped, and she was glad to have met Kali and now to have Chris back. They'd endured horrific experimentation and abuse together and that kind of bond didn't just disappear, it made them family, but Mike didn't understand.
When she'd decided to leave Chicago, she'd left her sister behind to save him and their friends. When she was lonely in Hopper's cabin, she visited him through the void. And even now, he was the person she was most afraid of losing. "Mike," she said plaintively, wishing that he could read her mind and she didn't have to use words. But since he couldn't read her mind, she closed the gap between them and kissed him, just long enough to get her point across. "You are what I hold on to." She looked into his eyes, trying to decipher what he was feeling. "I know I can tell you. I just needed time, I didn't know how. I still don't."
Time to process, she supposed; and yes, it had been last fall that she'd visited Kali and she should have told him by now, but that meant telling him about other things, like how Kali and her friends were dangerous and she'd come face to face with the man who had all but killed her mother. How she'd almost killed him in return, how he'd told her that Papa was still alive. El used her powers to search for many people, but she hadn't been able to use them to search for Papa. Scariest of all, telling Mike the whole truth meant explaining that with one little push, she was capable of becoming just like one of the monsters who'd hurt her. Her friends thought of her as a hero, but what if they changed their minds?
"Please don't be mad," she requested. "I'll tell you everything, promise. Just not yet." She wanted to tell Chris first, see how she took it.
Steve
"Oh." Steve had noticed Mike looked a little confused, but he was much less skilled at reading people. Now that she mentioned it though, it made sense. Steve had no clue if Mike and El were calling themselves boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but if it was his girlfriend he'd probably be more than a little freaked out. It didn't seem like Chris meant any harm and El could take care of herself, but that didn't mean that they shouldn't be suspicious. He reached for the ice cream scoop and went for the chocolate.
"Mike's a good kid," he commented as he did so. "I used to date his older sister actually-" Steve stopped himself there. Why was he telling her that? She probably didn't care, but Nancy was how he'd gotten involved in this whole mess. If he hadn't been with her, Steve never would have known about the Upside Down or Eleven. It was all pretty messed up but, he was glad he knew.
"You know they shut down the lab last year," he added, swiping her card and handing her the ice cream. He didn't feel weird talking about that; it was pretty common knowledge. It was on the national news, actually. "So you don't need to worry about that." The lab incident put Hawkins on the map, and Steve was pretty sure that was why they'd gotten this mall. Small little towns that nobody cared about didn't get giant malls. "I'll be over soon," he said, watching her walk away before greeting the next person in line.
Steve made sure to leave on time today, and about fifty minutes later he came out from behind the counter wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He found Chris scribbling something on a napkin but didn't try to read it, not wanting to invade her privacy. "Hey," he said to get her attention. "How about we track those suckers down?" They began walking towards the food court and Steve shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing at the stores as they passed. "Soo...any burning questions you want to get out of the way?" he asked. Steve knew this had to be overwhelming, possibly even more for her than it was for Eleven and the others because not only had she found her little sister, she was brand new to Hawkins. Speaking of which...
"You and El aren't like, biological sisters right?" he wondered, ending up asking the first question. "It's just an expression? Because you don't look much alike."
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
Joyce chuckled a little when Hopper brought up the shoplifting calls. "Well, they're not going to get anyone as good as you, that's for sure," she told him with a mildly teasing tone as she walked with him toward the theater part of the mall. Hopper had been the cop to question everything weird that was going on, and he devoted his time and effort into finding Will when he went missing two years ago. He believed her when nobody else did and he helped her bring her son back from the upside down. There was nobody she believed in more than him.
As they got in line for the tickets, Joyce looked at the poster too, as soon as Hopper posed a question. The Goonies was up there, just like Hopper said. She still couldn't predict what it was about so she went on to the next poster.
"How about 'The Breakfast Club'?" She suggested, reading out the title to another poster. She couldn't really predict the genre of that either but with a name like that, she assumed it was light-hearted, maybe a funny movie. The perfect summer-time movie. That was, considering Hopper was even into those kinds of movies.
"Or are you more of an action packed kind of man?" she asked, arching an eyebrow as they moved a step further in line. Joyce actually didn't mind what they watched. Jsst being out with Hopper was a relief, because it had been a while since she truly relaxed. Even though she had the distant urge to check in on Will, she was allowing herself to kick back a little, and just make some time for herself and her interests.
"I'll honestly watch anything that isn't horror or has a dog dying at the end," she explained to him further as they continued to move in line. They were next to buy tickets so they needed to decide on something soon.
Joyce chuckled a little when Hopper brought up the shoplifting calls. "Well, they're not going to get anyone as good as you, that's for sure," she told him with a mildly teasing tone as she walked with him toward the theater part of the mall. Hopper had been the cop to question everything weird that was going on, and he devoted his time and effort into finding Will when he went missing two years ago. He believed her when nobody else did and he helped her bring her son back from the upside down. There was nobody she believed in more than him.
As they got in line for the tickets, Joyce looked at the poster too, as soon as Hopper posed a question. The Goonies was up there, just like Hopper said. She still couldn't predict what it was about so she went on to the next poster.
"How about 'The Breakfast Club'?" She suggested, reading out the title to another poster. She couldn't really predict the genre of that either but with a name like that, she assumed it was light-hearted, maybe a funny movie. The perfect summer-time movie. That was, considering Hopper was even into those kinds of movies.
"Or are you more of an action packed kind of man?" she asked, arching an eyebrow as they moved a step further in line. Joyce actually didn't mind what they watched. Jsst being out with Hopper was a relief, because it had been a while since she truly relaxed. Even though she had the distant urge to check in on Will, she was allowing herself to kick back a little, and just make some time for herself and her interests.
"I'll honestly watch anything that isn't horror or has a dog dying at the end," she explained to him further as they continued to move in line. They were next to buy tickets so they needed to decide on something soon.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris thought it a little odd for Steve to mention his dating life, and it made her smile a little. Maybe it was just odd for her because she had never really discussed anything like that with anyone before. Whatever the case, Steve didn't continue on that topic, which made Chris think that maybe it had something to do with the fact that he said 'used to date'. Which meant that they weren't together anymore, for whatever reason, and he probably didn't want to venture into that.
Chris wouldn't pry though because it was none of her business. Still, it was nice to know the labs had shut down or she and El would be at risk again just by being out in Hawkins. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that there were people still out there, bad people. She had no clue what came of Dr. Brenner but Chris knew if she saw him again she wouldn't let him get away, that was for sure. Not for all the things he did to her and El.
As she sat there, she made sure to jot his name down as well, so she remembered to ask El when was the last she saw of him. If he was skulking around, then Chris might find it better to tradk him down before he had the chance to find them on his own.
She was lost in her thoughts so she didn't hear when Steve came over a while later. Her ice cream was long gone -- and quite delicious too -- and she looked up when he spoke to get her attention. "Hmm? Oh, yeah," she nodded, folding her napkin and shoving it into the back pocket of her jean shorts before falling into step beside Steve.
"Burning questions... I wouldn't even know where to begin. How did you guys even meet El?" She asked him curiously. She noticed that she had to lift her head a bit to look up at him. He was tall. But then again, for Chris, most people she encountered were quite tall.
When he questioned how related she and El were, Chris shook her head. "No, none of us were biologically related. I've never even met my mother. We only had each other in those labs, till we all got split up. All I know about my actual life is that my mom was Cuban." That explained her coloured skin, at least. "She died during childbirth."
Chris realised that the tone of conversation was shifting, and she didn't want to dwell on the past, so she asked some other questions she wanted answers to. "So what's high school like?"
Chris thought it a little odd for Steve to mention his dating life, and it made her smile a little. Maybe it was just odd for her because she had never really discussed anything like that with anyone before. Whatever the case, Steve didn't continue on that topic, which made Chris think that maybe it had something to do with the fact that he said 'used to date'. Which meant that they weren't together anymore, for whatever reason, and he probably didn't want to venture into that.
Chris wouldn't pry though because it was none of her business. Still, it was nice to know the labs had shut down or she and El would be at risk again just by being out in Hawkins. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that there were people still out there, bad people. She had no clue what came of Dr. Brenner but Chris knew if she saw him again she wouldn't let him get away, that was for sure. Not for all the things he did to her and El.
As she sat there, she made sure to jot his name down as well, so she remembered to ask El when was the last she saw of him. If he was skulking around, then Chris might find it better to tradk him down before he had the chance to find them on his own.
She was lost in her thoughts so she didn't hear when Steve came over a while later. Her ice cream was long gone -- and quite delicious too -- and she looked up when he spoke to get her attention. "Hmm? Oh, yeah," she nodded, folding her napkin and shoving it into the back pocket of her jean shorts before falling into step beside Steve.
"Burning questions... I wouldn't even know where to begin. How did you guys even meet El?" She asked him curiously. She noticed that she had to lift her head a bit to look up at him. He was tall. But then again, for Chris, most people she encountered were quite tall.
When he questioned how related she and El were, Chris shook her head. "No, none of us were biologically related. I've never even met my mother. We only had each other in those labs, till we all got split up. All I know about my actual life is that my mom was Cuban." That explained her coloured skin, at least. "She died during childbirth."
Chris realised that the tone of conversation was shifting, and she didn't want to dwell on the past, so she asked some other questions she wanted answers to. "So what's high school like?"
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike didn't know what he expected El to say. He was pretty much thinking that no matter what it was, he was going to still feel betrayed, or at least a little hurt that she didn't feel like she could be open to him about everything, if not her past then at least what she had been up to in the year that he thought that she was dead. Aside from knowing she'd been hidden out in Hopper's cabin and kept away from them, Mike didn't know anything else, and now here he was finding out that she spent time with another sister of hers.
Well, not sister exactly, but that was the relationship that they had, just like what she had with Chris, apparently. If Chris had never shown up, would El had ever told him?
Whatever he expected though, he didn't expect her to kiss him. After that he was pretty much silenced, so she could speak without him interfering. Not that he would anyway, but any time they kissed he felt that little spark go through him, rendering him almost useless for a few seconds once it was over. But he listened to her though, and that just made him more frozen, if that were even possible.
Mike slowly nodded when she finished speaking. How could he stay mad at her? He knew she had her reasons. And this was... well, seeing her sister again after who knew how long was a big thing too, and at least he was there for that, and able to keep her safe, should anything go wrong. El seemed to trust Chris, which was enough for Mike, but he would still prefer to be cautious in any case.
"Okay," he said softly, reaching out to hold her hand again. "I'm not mad," he added, as if to reassure her that it was okay between them now. "I just... I worry about you. That's all." He still felt a little upset but he pushed that away for the time being, telling himself internally to be patient. She would talk when she was ready to.
"Come on. Let's finish buying your clothes so we can meet up with the others."
Mike didn't know what he expected El to say. He was pretty much thinking that no matter what it was, he was going to still feel betrayed, or at least a little hurt that she didn't feel like she could be open to him about everything, if not her past then at least what she had been up to in the year that he thought that she was dead. Aside from knowing she'd been hidden out in Hopper's cabin and kept away from them, Mike didn't know anything else, and now here he was finding out that she spent time with another sister of hers.
Well, not sister exactly, but that was the relationship that they had, just like what she had with Chris, apparently. If Chris had never shown up, would El had ever told him?
Whatever he expected though, he didn't expect her to kiss him. After that he was pretty much silenced, so she could speak without him interfering. Not that he would anyway, but any time they kissed he felt that little spark go through him, rendering him almost useless for a few seconds once it was over. But he listened to her though, and that just made him more frozen, if that were even possible.
Mike slowly nodded when she finished speaking. How could he stay mad at her? He knew she had her reasons. And this was... well, seeing her sister again after who knew how long was a big thing too, and at least he was there for that, and able to keep her safe, should anything go wrong. El seemed to trust Chris, which was enough for Mike, but he would still prefer to be cautious in any case.
"Okay," he said softly, reaching out to hold her hand again. "I'm not mad," he added, as if to reassure her that it was okay between them now. "I just... I worry about you. That's all." He still felt a little upset but he pushed that away for the time being, telling himself internally to be patient. She would talk when she was ready to.
"Come on. Let's finish buying your clothes so we can meet up with the others."
AvianJen
Member
Hopper
"Hm." Hopper looked at the posters as they stood in line. "The Breakfast Club" looked a little boring to him, but he wasn't a big movie buff. "Nah, I wouldn't say action. I like the occasional mystery but I just watch what El watches, so...Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Oh, she likes those weird Alfred Hitchcock movies." But none of those were out, and most of them fell into the slightly creepy category.
He laughed at her requirement; no dogs dying. "Well that's the thing about seeing a new movie, Joyce, you don't know how it's going to end," he pointed out. Glancing back at the posters, he made a decision. "Breakfast Club it is," he said, handing a few bucks to the man at the box office. They entered the theater and found their seats without much trouble, but the theater was pretty packed. He settled in pretty comfortably with the popcorn and passed some to Joyce. It was almost giving him anxiety how close he was to her, especially when the lights went out, but the movies were just about the most casual first date idea ever.
Wait, was this a first date? Hopper felt like a fifteen year old mulling it over stupidly. No, of course it wasn't. He'd just helped her move in, their kids were close friends, they were close friends, and now they were ending the day with a movie. It didn't need to be more than it was.
Eleven
El's face relaxed into a smile when Mike said that he wasn't mad. Thank goodness. "I know, but you shouldn't worry," she told him gently, picking up a pair of jeans as he took her hand. "Thank you for...understanding." She worried about him too, and that was why she was hesitant to intentionally include him in the darker parts of her life. It was one thing when he was sucked into it, but she didn't want him put in any unnecessary danger. Chris wasn't dangerous, but El wanted to talk to her more before she filled Mike in on all of her secrets. Chris might know some things that El didn't, and vice versa.
El wasn't the fastest shopper, but she picked up a ton of things from the first store and tried them on, keeping the shorts, the colorful tops and the scrunchies. In the next store she bought a pair of flip flops, and in the next she bought some striped pants and a variety of simple t-shirts, some with patterns and some without, that she thought would look cute tucked into the shorts. In the last store she finally found a pretty dress she liked, a purple one covered in little white flowers that came with a belt. Exactly $98 later, she had four big shopping bags and they were on their way to the food court, where they met up with Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max.
"Get some good stuff?" Max asked curiously, looking at El's bags. The brunette nodded enthusiastically and set the bags down on the ground, looking for Chris and Steve.
"They aren't here yet," Lucas informed her, checking his watch. "Steve's shift just ended."
Steve
He probably should have expected it, but the first question she asked was a big one. "Um." He faltered uncertainly. "Well, Max, Will and I met El last year, around Halloween. She marched into Will's house and saved us from a demodog." Shit, Steve mentally cursed himself. She didn't know what demodogs were, and they hadn't even discussed if they were going to tell Chris about the Upside Down. He kept going, hoping she'd forget or hadn't noticed. "Mike, Lucas and Dustin met her a year before that, they found her in the woods when she escaped the lab and she stayed with Mike. Will was missing and she helped find him. Then she disappeared until the Chief found her wandering in the woods again...I think," he added. He hadn't been there, so all he knew was what Dustin had relayed to him. "He was hiding her from the people at the lab and the kids all thought she was dead until she saved us from the...dog. I don't know, it's all screwed up. Dustin tells it better, Mike probably tells it best," he shrugged. He knew the kid was a natural storyteller from Dustin, who raved about the campaigns he created for Dungeons & Dragons.
Steve listened, genuinely interested in her story. "Geez," he commented, letting out a low whistle. "I'm sorry about your mom." He paused for a moment before asking, "Did you escape from the lab here in Hawkins, or a different one?" He had a theory that there was more than one of those insane labs in the country, and he wouldn't be surprised if Chris and some of the others ended up at different ones. "Do you know if there were more of you? Like, after Eleven?" he asked curiously.
He didn't mind the tone of the conversation, but when she asked about high school he just laughed. "Depends on who you are," he finally replied. For him? High school was probably his glory days. But he would be lying if he said he wasn't concerned about the kids, who would be freshmen in the coming fall. They were all bullied, and in high school the bullies just got bigger and meaner. "I suppose it's just like any other school." He paused, realizing that Chris might not know what any other school was like. "I mean, um, you just go to class, do your homework, make some friends. It's fine, but it's not that exciting. They'll all be starting at the high school in the fall though. And, Mike's sister and Will's brother are going to be seniors. They're cool, and they know about everything. You'd like 'em." Chris did seem like the kind of girl Nancy would get along with, and Jonathan? He didn't get along with much of anybody, so it couldn't hurt.
Finally they reached the food court, where all the kids were standing in a circle chatting as El tried to tie her hair up in scrunchie. She eventually gave up and let Max do it, but she beamed when she saw Chris and Steve approaching.
"Alright." Steve put his hands on his hips. "Should we find somewhere to sit down?"
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
JOYCE BYERS
Joyce laughed a little because he was right, there was no way to tell how the film ended, but the Breakfast Club seemed like the only movie that would be even mildly interesting to her, and at least along normal lines, rather than creepy or weird. She didn't know how long it would be before she could watch a horror or even a science fiction movie without cringing or feeling like she couldn't breathe, simply because she thought all the science fiction stayed within the movies. Obviously, that was not true.
After entering, Joyce bought the popcorn and a drink for the both of them before walking into the theater with Hopper. It wasn't too crowded, which Joyce didn't know how to interpret. Either the Breakfast Club wasn't that great of a movie, or it was just a slow day, but in any case, that wasn't what she was thinking about. All she could think was how this was so much like a date. She didn't want to say anything about it because there were good chances that Hopper didn't see it that way. It had just been a while since she hung out with him like this specifically, so there was definitely a lot of confusion.
Eating her popcorn, Joyce tried to get her mind clear so she could focus on the movie. "I hope it's a good one," she murmured to Hopper before the screen came on. Then she lowered her voice for what she said next since she didn't want any theater goers to complain about the noise and kick them out. "If it's bad then I apologise. My movie choices were never that great," she chuckled softly.
Joyce laughed a little because he was right, there was no way to tell how the film ended, but the Breakfast Club seemed like the only movie that would be even mildly interesting to her, and at least along normal lines, rather than creepy or weird. She didn't know how long it would be before she could watch a horror or even a science fiction movie without cringing or feeling like she couldn't breathe, simply because she thought all the science fiction stayed within the movies. Obviously, that was not true.
After entering, Joyce bought the popcorn and a drink for the both of them before walking into the theater with Hopper. It wasn't too crowded, which Joyce didn't know how to interpret. Either the Breakfast Club wasn't that great of a movie, or it was just a slow day, but in any case, that wasn't what she was thinking about. All she could think was how this was so much like a date. She didn't want to say anything about it because there were good chances that Hopper didn't see it that way. It had just been a while since she hung out with him like this specifically, so there was definitely a lot of confusion.
Eating her popcorn, Joyce tried to get her mind clear so she could focus on the movie. "I hope it's a good one," she murmured to Hopper before the screen came on. Then she lowered her voice for what she said next since she didn't want any theater goers to complain about the noise and kick them out. "If it's bad then I apologise. My movie choices were never that great," she chuckled softly.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris listened to Steve as he tried to summarise how they'd come to meet Eleven. It sounded like she had been through a lot, which she couldn't imagine really, but at the end of the day she was okay, which was what mattered, ultimately. Some things he said, Chris didn't understand, like 'demodogs'. Whatever that was. She supposed she could just ask El to elaborate on it later since this was a brief version. Making note of his suggestion, Chris decided she would also ask Mike about it. In any case, he seemed to be the most wary of her. Maybe she could get to know him better since he was, after all, someone Eleven was very close to.
"I'm pretty sure I was here in Hawkins," she said with a nod as she walked alongside him. "This place felt familiar ever since I arrived. Now I know why," Chris explained to him, crossing her arms as though she suddenly felt cold. This place just had bad memories, but maybe, with El back in her life again, she could start focusing on creating new, good memories.
When Steve said school was like any other school, she continued to look at him curiously because she didn't exactly know what any other school was like. This wasn't just her first time in high school, it was her first time in school ever. Steve elaborated though, and though he said it wasn't that exciting, Chris knew that it would be for her because it was an entirely new experience. She just didn't always understand social cues and she could be a little unintentionally blunt sometimes, so she was worried about making friends.
So far she was doing okay though, so she figured it might be fine. She'd just have to wait and see. Chris wanted to ask Steve what he was up to if he wasn't in school, but they'd reached the food court by then, and she saw El looking at her, which made the questions for Steve move to the back of her mind.
"Glad you found stuff that you like," she said, nodding to the large shopping bags with a smile.
Chris listened to Steve as he tried to summarise how they'd come to meet Eleven. It sounded like she had been through a lot, which she couldn't imagine really, but at the end of the day she was okay, which was what mattered, ultimately. Some things he said, Chris didn't understand, like 'demodogs'. Whatever that was. She supposed she could just ask El to elaborate on it later since this was a brief version. Making note of his suggestion, Chris decided she would also ask Mike about it. In any case, he seemed to be the most wary of her. Maybe she could get to know him better since he was, after all, someone Eleven was very close to.
"I'm pretty sure I was here in Hawkins," she said with a nod as she walked alongside him. "This place felt familiar ever since I arrived. Now I know why," Chris explained to him, crossing her arms as though she suddenly felt cold. This place just had bad memories, but maybe, with El back in her life again, she could start focusing on creating new, good memories.
When Steve said school was like any other school, she continued to look at him curiously because she didn't exactly know what any other school was like. This wasn't just her first time in high school, it was her first time in school ever. Steve elaborated though, and though he said it wasn't that exciting, Chris knew that it would be for her because it was an entirely new experience. She just didn't always understand social cues and she could be a little unintentionally blunt sometimes, so she was worried about making friends.
So far she was doing okay though, so she figured it might be fine. She'd just have to wait and see. Chris wanted to ask Steve what he was up to if he wasn't in school, but they'd reached the food court by then, and she saw El looking at her, which made the questions for Steve move to the back of her mind.
"Glad you found stuff that you like," she said, nodding to the large shopping bags with a smile.
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
"Let's grab a big table," Lucas suggested, causing them all to glance around before Dustin gestured to an empty one nearby. The group shuffled toward it and sat down. Mike was on one end, right next to El, because he didn't want to sit away from her. Even though they'd talked and they'd shopped, he couldn't get certain thoughts out of his head, and the fact that El had kept something big from him, but he was going to keep that to himself for the time being because he also understood her reasoning.
Mike wasn't sure what he wanted right now. He wanted answers, but he wasn't even sure what questions to ask. He knew that as soon as they sat down, Dustin would come up with tons of questions that may or may not be relevant, and the others would have followup questions, so Mike would just try to pipe in whenever he could. Was the mall even the right place to be doing this? Well they couldn't go to their homes. Bringing a stranger over would raise some questions that mike didn't need answers to.
"So what are your powers?" Dustin asked straight away, as expected. "El has telekinesis. But there are literally so many possible powers if you think about it. Pyrokinesis, ESP, technopathy, electrokinesis--"
"I don't know what any of those are," Chris interrupted him with a polite smile.
"You could just show us," Lucas added with a small shrug.
Chris seemed unsure. "Here? There's people around."
So that meant that it was a power that could be seen by others. Mike didn't know what Kali was capable of but now he was curious about that too.
Chris turned to El during the silence that ensued shortly after she more or less stated that she couldn't exhibit her powers there in the mall. "Brenner," she said, bringing up a name that made Mike's blood boil. "What happened to him?"
"Let's grab a big table," Lucas suggested, causing them all to glance around before Dustin gestured to an empty one nearby. The group shuffled toward it and sat down. Mike was on one end, right next to El, because he didn't want to sit away from her. Even though they'd talked and they'd shopped, he couldn't get certain thoughts out of his head, and the fact that El had kept something big from him, but he was going to keep that to himself for the time being because he also understood her reasoning.
Mike wasn't sure what he wanted right now. He wanted answers, but he wasn't even sure what questions to ask. He knew that as soon as they sat down, Dustin would come up with tons of questions that may or may not be relevant, and the others would have followup questions, so Mike would just try to pipe in whenever he could. Was the mall even the right place to be doing this? Well they couldn't go to their homes. Bringing a stranger over would raise some questions that mike didn't need answers to.
"So what are your powers?" Dustin asked straight away, as expected. "El has telekinesis. But there are literally so many possible powers if you think about it. Pyrokinesis, ESP, technopathy, electrokinesis--"
"I don't know what any of those are," Chris interrupted him with a polite smile.
"You could just show us," Lucas added with a small shrug.
Chris seemed unsure. "Here? There's people around."
So that meant that it was a power that could be seen by others. Mike didn't know what Kali was capable of but now he was curious about that too.
Chris turned to El during the silence that ensued shortly after she more or less stated that she couldn't exhibit her powers there in the mall. "Brenner," she said, bringing up a name that made Mike's blood boil. "What happened to him?"
AvianJen
Member
Eleven
El offered a small smile, nodding as they followed Lucas's suggestion and found a big table to gather around. Of course, the first thing Dustin wanted to know about was her powers. She smiled again at the memories it brought back, recalling how fascinated the boys had been with her powers when she first revealed them. Well, all except for Mike. She was sure he thought they were cool, but he'd always been more concerned about her apart from her powers.
Dustin started spewing out all these nonsensical words and El was just as lost as Chris was. She knew what telekinesis was because the boys had described it to her many times, but the rest? Forget it. She looked towards Chris, realizing that she didn't remember what she could do. But she hadn't known what Kali was able to do either. El's powers had developed quickly; that was why she was taken away first.
"Hey, what she can do isn't important," Steve reminded Dustin. "We should probably answer her questions first." She was the one who was in a new place, even if she'd actually grown up in that stupid lab. And truthfully, even though they were all sitting around the table this conversation was about Chris and Eleven, the latter of which paled when she heard Brenner's name.
"Papa?" she clarified carefully. She reached for Mike's hand under the table, closing her eyes for a moment to calm down. He had been such a complicated figure in her life. Like a father, but really not one at all. El had desperately wanted to please him but he tortured her, over and over. He manipulated her and made it seem like he was taking care of her when the opposite couldn't have been more true. For a young girl who'd never known anything else, she'd been incapable of identifying the relationship as toxic and even now...
"Wait a sec," Steve cut in, holding up a finger and interrupting despite what he'd just said. "Nobody told me this part. Who's Brenner, your dad?"
"No, he's the psychotic maniac who kept her locked up. He was in charge of the lab but he's dead now, the Demogorgon got him," Lucas explained.
"Oh, gotcha," Steve understood, leaning back. "Continue." He looked at El, who was looking at Chris. She seemed to be struggling to form her thoughts into words.
"Not sure," she said finally, her voice even smaller than usual. "Not sure he's gone."
"Wait, what?" Dustin exclaimed. "That son of a bitch is so dead."
"El, what are you talking about? We saw the monster get him," Lucas added.
"Kali," El tried to explain, looking at Chris and knowing that only she would understand. "Someone told us he lived. So...not sure." She looked towards Mike, the full extent of all she hadn't told him dawning on her. Kali, Papa...she hadn't even told him what happened to her mother. She hadn't known how to explain it, but there was a pained look on her face as she looked at him, hoping he wouldn't be mad. "I'm sorry," she breathed.
"Are you serious? So this guy might still be out there?" Steve clarified. El nodded shamefully, as if it was her fault.
"Well...have you tried looking for him? In the void, like how you found me?" Will asked. "If you can't find him we know he's dead." El shook her head.
"I can't."
"Can't or won't?" Lucas challenged. "Have you actually tried?" El looked away, unwilling to answer.
Steve
Steve watched the conversation unfold, pretty lost but not as lost as he would have been without the quick explanation. If he understood correctly, this Brenner character was the mastermind behind all of Chris and El's torture, and he was supposed to be dead. But El thought he might not be and she hadn't told anyone?
"Woah, take it easy," he said to Lucas. "Does the Chief know about this? That he might still be out there?" he asked. El shook her head no, but she was still unwilling to look at anyone. Steve nodded and ran his hand through his hair. "Okay, okay. So that needs to be dealt with. How about we circle back around to this one, guys?"
"No, this is a big deal," Will argued gently.
"Wait. So if he's still out there...what if he comes back for you? And Chris?" Max suggested, finally speaking up and voicing everyone's worst fears.
"Well obviously that can't happen, but we don't even know if it's true. Let's not jump to conclusions. Who was this guy, who told you?" Lucas questioned.
"He worked at the lab," she replied. "He...he hurt Mama. We were in the rainbow room," El said, looking back at Chris.
This was the part where Steve began to become incredibly confused. Now the orphaned girl Hopper had adopted suddenly had a mother, she knew who she was, there was some girl named Kali that didn't make any sense and a random man who worked in the lab. It was a lot of missing pieces without a lot of answers, and he was sure that Chris was beginning to feel just as overwhelmed by the teenagers' bantering as he was. There was too much going on. Chris didn't know what a Demogorgon was, and apparently El hadn't told anyone anything important since last fall. As the adult in the room, he felt it was his responsibility to delegate.
"Okay, this isn't working," he declared. "Y'all talk too much and not enough at the same time. What we need to do is fill each other in and then ask questions after. Mike, you wanna fill Chris in on like, the Upside Down shit?" Dustin looked slightly affronted that he hadn't been selected to tell the story, but he let it slide for now.
"Then El's gotta tell us when all this extra stuff happened," he added with a nod.
"What? No," the girl disagreed. She didn't know how to explain it all, and even if she did she didn't know that she wanted to.
"Let's just start at the beginning," Steve suggested. "And Chris, if you feel like sharing I know we'd all love to hear your story too." He would have been concerned about the public setting, but it was a crowded mall food court at dinner time and no one could hear them anyways.
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris could tell that El had not been totally honest with her friends. She had her reasons though, and Chris couldn't even begin to imagine what she had been through at such a young age. Chris herself sort of went through the same thing, and wandering around the city alone as a kid was dangerous. It helped, having powers like they did, but it was still a cruel world out there. She was just glad that El was okay, though she was still curious why she wasn't totally honest about Kali with her friends. Maybe she was afraid it would change their perception of her, which Chris could understand. She just got friends, and a family. She was scared of losing them.
"Someone?" she echoed, wondering who this person was. She didn't have to ask further though because Lucas did that for her and they got an answer. Someone from the labs. Those labs might be closed down now, but there were probably others like it. Maybe Brenner was there, if he was still alive. And she knew there were plenty of other scientists and guards happily keeping him hidden because he was some mastermind.
Instinctively, Chris reached out to give El's hand a squeeze, mainly for reassurance that it was okay now, that whatever had happened in the labs wasn't going to happen again, because Chris wouldn't let it. "If he's out there, he's not coming near you again," she insisted. Chris would make sure of it. She wanted Brenner dead more than anyone, and she would not hesitate to ensure that he was permanently dealt with.
Not wanting to ask further till she knew the whole story, Chris decided to stay quiet for now, eyes trained on Mike, just like everyone else, so she could listen to the entire story.
Chris could tell that El had not been totally honest with her friends. She had her reasons though, and Chris couldn't even begin to imagine what she had been through at such a young age. Chris herself sort of went through the same thing, and wandering around the city alone as a kid was dangerous. It helped, having powers like they did, but it was still a cruel world out there. She was just glad that El was okay, though she was still curious why she wasn't totally honest about Kali with her friends. Maybe she was afraid it would change their perception of her, which Chris could understand. She just got friends, and a family. She was scared of losing them.
"Someone?" she echoed, wondering who this person was. She didn't have to ask further though because Lucas did that for her and they got an answer. Someone from the labs. Those labs might be closed down now, but there were probably others like it. Maybe Brenner was there, if he was still alive. And she knew there were plenty of other scientists and guards happily keeping him hidden because he was some mastermind.
Instinctively, Chris reached out to give El's hand a squeeze, mainly for reassurance that it was okay now, that whatever had happened in the labs wasn't going to happen again, because Chris wouldn't let it. "If he's out there, he's not coming near you again," she insisted. Chris would make sure of it. She wanted Brenner dead more than anyone, and she would not hesitate to ensure that he was permanently dealt with.
Not wanting to ask further till she knew the whole story, Chris decided to stay quiet for now, eyes trained on Mike, just like everyone else, so she could listen to the entire story.
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike hated knowing that there was more that El had kept from him even after he had confronted her, and what was worse was the feeling that it wasn't over. Not just her keeping stuff from him, but the whole thing. The Upside Down. The labs. Brenner. It wasn't completely over with, if El felt like he might still be alive out there somewhere, which meant that the Upside Down wasn't completely gone either.
Instead of dwelling on that and his anger, for once he did what he was told. He recounted the entire thing to Chris, from Will's disappearance, to finding El, to figuring out how to get Will back, including mentioning how El had made a school bully pee his pants. He left out no detail, and when he was done, he almost felt breathless because at certain points, he got a little enthusiastic, and the others -- the boys, mainly, since they'd experienced it with him -- chimed in with an 'Oh yeah!' or 'I almost forgot about that!' every now and then.
"We've been free of any kind of weird thing for almost a year now," Mike concluded, leaning back in his seat. His hand was still in El's mainly for his own comfort than anything else. "Well, till today, at least. And now we find out that Brenner may not be dead after all and we have no idea when he could strike." He was worried for El. He wasn't going to let Brenner come near her but he didn't really have much in the way of superpowers.
"I could probably find him, if he's alive," Chris muttered. Her voice was so soft, Mike almost thought she meant to say it to herself, or think it to herself, but Mike definitely heard it. He knew El could probably try to find him too, if she wanted to, but quite frankly, he didn't want her to, and in any case, it sounded like Chris wanted to do this just so El wouldn't have to.
"You can do that too? Track people?" Dustin asked, raising his eyebrows. He had heard it too.
Chris looked up and glanced at various people at the table. She had a lot to take in, and Mike could practically see the gears turning in her head. "Kind of. Not the same way El can, I think. I need to go somewhere they've been or hold something of theirs and I can sometimes get flashes of things. Pasts, presents and futures." Her voice seemed a little uncertain though.
"But?" Mike prodded.
Chris bit her lip. "I get flashes of pasts, presents and futures, but I can't always tell which is which." Which meant there was a good chance that even if she did get a glimpse of Brenner, somehow, that what she sees could be something from the past. But it could also be present or future. Those weren't terrible odds.
"Where are we even going to find something of his?" Lucas asked.
"The labs," Chris answered, almost immediately, as if the answer hit her like a ton of bricks.
Mike hated knowing that there was more that El had kept from him even after he had confronted her, and what was worse was the feeling that it wasn't over. Not just her keeping stuff from him, but the whole thing. The Upside Down. The labs. Brenner. It wasn't completely over with, if El felt like he might still be alive out there somewhere, which meant that the Upside Down wasn't completely gone either.
Instead of dwelling on that and his anger, for once he did what he was told. He recounted the entire thing to Chris, from Will's disappearance, to finding El, to figuring out how to get Will back, including mentioning how El had made a school bully pee his pants. He left out no detail, and when he was done, he almost felt breathless because at certain points, he got a little enthusiastic, and the others -- the boys, mainly, since they'd experienced it with him -- chimed in with an 'Oh yeah!' or 'I almost forgot about that!' every now and then.
"We've been free of any kind of weird thing for almost a year now," Mike concluded, leaning back in his seat. His hand was still in El's mainly for his own comfort than anything else. "Well, till today, at least. And now we find out that Brenner may not be dead after all and we have no idea when he could strike." He was worried for El. He wasn't going to let Brenner come near her but he didn't really have much in the way of superpowers.
"I could probably find him, if he's alive," Chris muttered. Her voice was so soft, Mike almost thought she meant to say it to herself, or think it to herself, but Mike definitely heard it. He knew El could probably try to find him too, if she wanted to, but quite frankly, he didn't want her to, and in any case, it sounded like Chris wanted to do this just so El wouldn't have to.
"You can do that too? Track people?" Dustin asked, raising his eyebrows. He had heard it too.
Chris looked up and glanced at various people at the table. She had a lot to take in, and Mike could practically see the gears turning in her head. "Kind of. Not the same way El can, I think. I need to go somewhere they've been or hold something of theirs and I can sometimes get flashes of things. Pasts, presents and futures." Her voice seemed a little uncertain though.
"But?" Mike prodded.
Chris bit her lip. "I get flashes of pasts, presents and futures, but I can't always tell which is which." Which meant there was a good chance that even if she did get a glimpse of Brenner, somehow, that what she sees could be something from the past. But it could also be present or future. Those weren't terrible odds.
"Where are we even going to find something of his?" Lucas asked.
"The labs," Chris answered, almost immediately, as if the answer hit her like a ton of bricks.
AvianJen
Member
Eleven
El couldn't quite explain why she'd decided to keep all of this to herself, but in the past year she'd just tried not to think about all of it. Surely if Papa was still out there he'd have come to get her by now, right? And they had seen the Demogorgon get him, but what if he had survived the attack? It wasn't a thought she'd allowed herself to entertain. It was too scary. And El wanted him dead just as much as anyone else, but she didn't think she could be the one to do it. Whenever she saw him, she froze and crumpled into submission. Maybe it would be different now, but Brenner was scarier than any monster she'd ever faced.
She was relieved, though, that Mike kept his hand in hers. She'd been afraid that he might be upset again, but hoped that he understood. And at the time, she hadn't believed the man that Brenner was alive. She still didn't completely, but if there was a chance they needed to rule out that possibility. But for now, Mike was going to fill Chris in. It was a long story and Mike told it wonderfully. She leaned her head on his shoulder for part of it and smiled, watching her friends react as they relived it all and adoring how excited they all got at their favorite parts. Especially Mike.
She felt bad that everyone was worried now, though. Maybe she shouldn't have even brought it up, because the next thing she knew they were talking about tracking him down. El's brown eyes slowly began to widen as the conversation led to the inevitable conclusion; Chris wanted to go back to the lab.
"No!" she finally spoke up, looking at all of them incredulously. How could they possibly think that was a good idea? "No. I can find him." She didn't want to, but she knew that nobody was going to let this go and she couldn't bear the thought of putting her friends in danger. She'd done that enough already, and she knew them well enough to know they wouldn't just sit on the sidelines while she, Chris and maybe Steve with his bat broke into the lab.
"El, this could work," Max tried to convince her. "And think of the odds. You find people in the present and that's awesome, but just think if we could see Brenner's future. We could maybe even see what his plans are, if he plans to come back."
"But we could see the past instead," Lucas pointed out. "It's less efficient."
"Yeah, but she doesn't want to. If there's another way and Chris wants to do it, I think we should go for that," Will added. He knew El would never admit it, but he could read her pretty well. She didn't want to find Brenner, she didn't even want to know the truth. If there was another way that might even provide more answers, it seemed preferable. El sunk down in her seat, embarrassed to be called out.
"It's okay. We know you're badass as hell," Dustin encouraged her. "It's not like you have anything to prove."
Steve
After listening to the whole story and learning a few details he hadn't known about previously, and considering Chris's proposal to break back into the labs, Steve was feeling pretty conflicted. He wanted to help, and he'd always felt like he needed to protect these kids. One thing was for sure, if they went and did this someone needed to be looking out for them.
"Okay, okay. Listen," he said, leaning forward. "If we do this, and I mean if, it's only me and Chris going in. I know about this plan so therefore I'm at fault if anything happens to you, and you're too young for criminal records."
"I need to go," El argued. "I can fight."
"Kid, there's not going to be any fighting," Steve asserted. "They cleaned that place out, Nancy told me all about it. It's empty, they..." he paused, and it was then that he realized the flaw in the plan. "They cleaned it out," he repeated. "There won't be anything that belonged to him there, it'll all have been confiscated as evidence, but he's still been there. Would that work?"
"Or we could break into the evidence room at the police station," Dustin suggested with a grin.
"And have the Chief arrest us all? No way," Steve disagreed. "The lab is safer. But they probably have cameras, we'd have to disable all of them. El, can you do that?" El shook her head; she couldn't really do anything that had to do with technology unless it was using a radio or static from a TV to find someone.
"Can I talk to you?" the girl asked suddenly, looking at Chris. "Just us?" Steve watched the two of them carefully; it was insane how close they already seemed, and he was glad for it. Steve didn't know El very well, but Chris seemed really cool. He didn't think that she was here to spy on them, she seemed too genuine for that. Steve cleared his throat and stood, gesturing to the kids.
"You guys never got your ice cream," he remembered. "Wanna head back real quick? On me," he offered.
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike was actually on board with the plan being created. Not only did it mean keeping El away from all the danger, but it also meant finding Brenner if he was alive and being able to at least keep an eye on him, if not finding a way to keep him from coming back to hurt El again, and Chris too. he was slowly warming up to the idea of her now that she seemed hell bent on ruining a man who had hurt El, along with herself, and in that way, they shared the same interests, so he saw no reason to argue.
It was admittedly dangerous. Even if the labs had been closed, who knew whatever lurked in there still? There might even be people keeping an eye on them there.
"El you've already done so much. You saved all your friends. You saved the town from the horrors that Brenner unleashed," Chris was saying when El insisted she wanted to fight. "This is just a way to make sure we don't have to fight anymore. For good."
Her tone made it clear that she was determined to put a stop to Brenner, no matter what, and part of Mike was a little uncertain as to how she was going to achieve that, but he didn't want to think of that right now. Instead, he was left a little wary again when El insisted she wanted to speak to Chris alone.
"Are you sure?" He asked her in a soft voice when everyone started to get up to follow Steve. He didn't see anything wrong with Chris but it was also just habit now, to make sure El was okay before doing anything. Even if he was mad at her from still keeping so much from him.
When she said it was fine though, he reluctantly got up, planted a quick kiss to her cheek, and then followed the others, occasionally glancing back till El and Chris were completely out of his line of sight.
Mike was actually on board with the plan being created. Not only did it mean keeping El away from all the danger, but it also meant finding Brenner if he was alive and being able to at least keep an eye on him, if not finding a way to keep him from coming back to hurt El again, and Chris too. he was slowly warming up to the idea of her now that she seemed hell bent on ruining a man who had hurt El, along with herself, and in that way, they shared the same interests, so he saw no reason to argue.
It was admittedly dangerous. Even if the labs had been closed, who knew whatever lurked in there still? There might even be people keeping an eye on them there.
"El you've already done so much. You saved all your friends. You saved the town from the horrors that Brenner unleashed," Chris was saying when El insisted she wanted to fight. "This is just a way to make sure we don't have to fight anymore. For good."
Her tone made it clear that she was determined to put a stop to Brenner, no matter what, and part of Mike was a little uncertain as to how she was going to achieve that, but he didn't want to think of that right now. Instead, he was left a little wary again when El insisted she wanted to speak to Chris alone.
"Are you sure?" He asked her in a soft voice when everyone started to get up to follow Steve. He didn't see anything wrong with Chris but it was also just habit now, to make sure El was okay before doing anything. Even if he was mad at her from still keeping so much from him.
When she said it was fine though, he reluctantly got up, planted a quick kiss to her cheek, and then followed the others, occasionally glancing back till El and Chris were completely out of his line of sight.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris wasn't sure what El wanted to talk about but she had made up her mind already. She didn't want El going back into those labs. She didn't need to deal with that after having already dealt with so much. Chris was more than happy -- in fact, eager -- to do it herself. She could find Brenner, maybe get a hit on where he was, and then take a quick trip before school began to make sure that there was no way he could come back. Or maybe she would just tip Kali off about it. She knew she wanted to get rid of Brenner just as much as her. Whatever she did though, she was not going to involve El in the dangers of it. She had a family and friends now. Chris didn't want to take that away from her, no matter what.
Nevertheless, she sat there as the others filed out. She was also unsure about going with Steve -- he was involved in this as much as the rest of them but it was dangerous and she didn't want him to put his life in danger like that, just to help them. It was his decision at the end of the day though, and she did need someone to drive her there. She could at least put her foot down when it came to the kids, which was what she was doing.
And the cameras could be dealt with too. She'd need to actually be seeing them to do anything about them, but after that her powers could act quick and squeeze the juice out of them. They'd just have to see where it went.
"What's wrong?" She asked El eventually, once there was nobody around them. The mall was still crowded, but if they got over now, she'd probably have to head home herself. Her father wouldn't show up till much later since he was busy with some work and she did tell him not to come until she called, so she wasn't expecting him to show up unless she contacted him first.
Chris wasn't sure what El wanted to talk about but she had made up her mind already. She didn't want El going back into those labs. She didn't need to deal with that after having already dealt with so much. Chris was more than happy -- in fact, eager -- to do it herself. She could find Brenner, maybe get a hit on where he was, and then take a quick trip before school began to make sure that there was no way he could come back. Or maybe she would just tip Kali off about it. She knew she wanted to get rid of Brenner just as much as her. Whatever she did though, she was not going to involve El in the dangers of it. She had a family and friends now. Chris didn't want to take that away from her, no matter what.
Nevertheless, she sat there as the others filed out. She was also unsure about going with Steve -- he was involved in this as much as the rest of them but it was dangerous and she didn't want him to put his life in danger like that, just to help them. It was his decision at the end of the day though, and she did need someone to drive her there. She could at least put her foot down when it came to the kids, which was what she was doing.
And the cameras could be dealt with too. She'd need to actually be seeing them to do anything about them, but after that her powers could act quick and squeeze the juice out of them. They'd just have to see where it went.
"What's wrong?" She asked El eventually, once there was nobody around them. The mall was still crowded, but if they got over now, she'd probably have to head home herself. Her father wouldn't show up till much later since he was busy with some work and she did tell him not to come until she called, so she wasn't expecting him to show up unless she contacted him first.
AvianJen
Member
Steve
Steve was a little bit torn about whether or not to let El come into the lab with them; on the one hand, she was still a kid. He was fully aware that the teenagers he kept calling "kids" were fourteen and fifteen years old and growing up fast, but they still seemed like kids to him. Steve wasn't about to put any of them in danger. But on the other hand, he had no idea what Chris could do and although they expected the lab to be empty, they could be wrong about that. They needed to be prepared for everything, and based on the fact El had saved their skins several times it didn't make much sense to leave possibly their biggest asset behind. Not if they wanted this endeavor to be successful.
But then again, maybe Chris was a million times more powerful than El was and they wouldn't really need her, anyways. Because if there was any way they could justify not letting El go back to the lab, that was what they were going to do.
El, however, seemed less pleased with Chris's decision. "No, I can help," she insisted, but Steve silenced her.
"El, we'll talk about it," he promised. "We'll need to make a plan, assess the situation. We just want to accomplish this with the least amount of manpower necessary, alright?" El looked pretty annoyed and Steve could tell her pride had been injured slightly by the suggestion that they might not need her help, but when she wanted to talk to her sister alone Steve was agreeable. It had been a shock at first, but no one felt suspicious of Chris anymore on account of how protective she seemed of El and how much she wanted to make sure that Brenner was dealt with. Mike looked a little wary still, but that was to be expected of the Wheeler kid.
The older teenager watched as Mike confirmed with El that it was okay, almost surprised that he didn't insist on staying. El looked up at him and nodded. "Trust me," she requested quietly. Mike kissed her cheek and joined Steve and the rest of the group as they returned to Scoops Ahoy to get some ice cream. On their way Steve nudged Mike playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
"Looks like you've got yourself a girlfriend, Wheeler," he teased lightly.
"Mike's been in love with El since like, day one," Dustin grinned. "He left that part out of the story."
"Yeah, but it's not official," Will added. "I mean, he hasn't asked her." Steve rolled his eyes as they got in line for ice cream.
"You don't ask. You just...invite her out to do things with just you without labeling it a date or sneak into her room a couple times until she gets the picture. Then once you've got her hooked, you introduce her to somebody as your girlfriend and bam, it's official. Works every time."
"That sounds like manipulation," Dustin argued playfully. "Wait..is that what you did with Nancy?" ...Oops.
"...No," Steve denied it quickly. "No way. Anyways, you can skip steps one and two 'cause it looks like she's already got the picture," he winked at Mike.
Eleven
Mike's little kiss left El slightly distracted when Max and the boys headed off, but she quickly refocused, not knowing how much time they had left before Jonathan showed up to take her and Will back to the Byers' place. When Chris asked her what was wrong she quickly shook her head, tucking her hair back behind her ears. It wasn't that anything was really wrong, sometimes her friends could just be a little bit loud and overwhelming. El wanted to talk to her sister, and even though they had all summer to catch up and Mike had already done most of the work, she just wanted a few moments. And there were a couple things that she wanted to bring up.
"Nothing," she told Chris. "I just..." she shrugged, not knowing how to explain it. She'd just wanted to talk about a few things, without being interrupted. Sometimes it was difficult for El to get a word in when she was surrounded by all her friends.
"How did you escape?" she asked finally, thinking it was her turn to be filled in. "With Kali? Have you seen her? Have you met the others?" El was full of questions she wanted answers to, and without much prodding she opened up on one last secret. "I've been trying to find them. The others," she revealed. "I found Mama, and Kali..." El chewed on her bottom lip, trying to think of how she wanted to explain it. "She wanted me to kill that man. I almost did," she said softly.
That was one of the reasons she was so scared to tell her friends. How did she tell her friends that she'd almost killed a man in cold blood, that she'd almost spent the rest of her life seeking revenge? Even El's escape story involved killing and she wondered if Chris and Kali's did, too. She hadn't been lying when she told Mike that he was what she held onto. When she was with Kali it had been him, her memories of him and the way he believed in her that kept her grounded. Mike and the Chief, now her father. As she got older, as she began to understand more and more all the terrible things she'd done, she began to fear that she didn't truly deserve them.
"Kali understood, but she was bad," El explained. Neither her friends nor her father would never understand what she'd been through, and Kali wasn't an option. Which was why she was so happy to find Chris, and why she wished she had more leads on how to find the others. They needed each other. "But you understand too," she concluded finally, offering a brief smile. That was encouraging, although she hoped that Chris's desire to kill Brenner didn't hint that she'd taken the same path as their other sister. She didn't think it did. "Do you think Papa is alive?"
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
MICHAEL 'MIKE' WHEELER
Mike looked to the floor as he walked, since he could no longer see El and Chris, though he definitely wondered what they were talking about. Steve's words, and his gentle nudge, was what jerked him back to reality and he looked up at the older male, blushing a little, before looking away. "Shut up." He sounded annoyed, but he wasn't, not really.
Dustin made that clear with what he said next, and suddenly they were talking about love lives. Including his sister's. Gross.
"So I just have to introduce her to someone as my girlfriend now?" He wasn't even sure why he was taking Steve's advice. Which prompted his next question. "Wait, why am I listening to you anyway?"
"Well because he's had more girlfriends than all of us combined," Dustin pointed out the obvious with an expression that said the same thing. "Although I will admit, it's weird not seeing you with someone for once. What's up with that?" He looked to Steve along with Mike and Will, Lucas was busy up front talking to Max, and since they were more or less in the same place as him and El, he wouldn't have really cared much for this conversation topic.
"Maybe he's just waiting for the right person to come along," Will offered, as always, being supportive.
"Really?" Mike arched an eyebrow. "Or are you running out of your charm now that there's a new player in town?" Mike was of course, referring to Max's older brother. A douche by every definition, but someone most girls found extremely attractive, apparently.
Mike looked to the floor as he walked, since he could no longer see El and Chris, though he definitely wondered what they were talking about. Steve's words, and his gentle nudge, was what jerked him back to reality and he looked up at the older male, blushing a little, before looking away. "Shut up." He sounded annoyed, but he wasn't, not really.
Dustin made that clear with what he said next, and suddenly they were talking about love lives. Including his sister's. Gross.
"So I just have to introduce her to someone as my girlfriend now?" He wasn't even sure why he was taking Steve's advice. Which prompted his next question. "Wait, why am I listening to you anyway?"
"Well because he's had more girlfriends than all of us combined," Dustin pointed out the obvious with an expression that said the same thing. "Although I will admit, it's weird not seeing you with someone for once. What's up with that?" He looked to Steve along with Mike and Will, Lucas was busy up front talking to Max, and since they were more or less in the same place as him and El, he wouldn't have really cared much for this conversation topic.
"Maybe he's just waiting for the right person to come along," Will offered, as always, being supportive.
"Really?" Mike arched an eyebrow. "Or are you running out of your charm now that there's a new player in town?" Mike was of course, referring to Max's older brother. A douche by every definition, but someone most girls found extremely attractive, apparently.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris listened to El and hearing her question, Chris was prepared to answer. She didn't have anything to hide from El, especially not her because she knew she would understand it more than anyone else that Chris could explain this to. "My powers," she told her. "And Kali's. She distracted the guards with an illusion. I got access guards. We dealt with anyone that came in our way." Well that was mostly her doing, really. Kali's powers were mental, they clouded people's visions, made them see something else. But Chris user her abilities to throw them far away or turn whatever guns they got out so they shot each other instead. Chris definitely had blood on her hands, but she hadn't gone revenge crazy like Kali. Killing wasn't something she wanted to do, even if they were bad men. Brenner was a whole different story. Chris just wanted to make sure he never returned. She just wasn't sure how to do that, exactly.
She knew though, that he was the one person she wouldn't mind breaking her rules for. He needed to stay gone.
She didn't share this tidbit of information with El though. Because after hearing what she said next, she knew that she wouldn't receive it well. She couldn't believe that Kali would make her do something like that because Kali was older than both of them, and she should have known better. El was just a kid. Chris would never make her do that, and would insist against it even if she had ideas of doing so, which was why she was determined not to let El anywhere near this.
"I don't know," she admitted when El asked if she thought Brenner was alive. "But I'll find out," she reached out to give her hand a small squeeze. "I mean it El. You've done enough. I know you want to help, but it's okay. There's no need. Not right now. Not when I can handle it. I've loved being your older sister in the labs. I want to be able to do that again. You've got your friends and your new family, and Mike, who seems really fond of you," she gave her a teasing smile to lighten the mood a little. "Let me handle this quickly and it'll be over before it even begins and then we;'ll never have to worry again."
Chris listened to El and hearing her question, Chris was prepared to answer. She didn't have anything to hide from El, especially not her because she knew she would understand it more than anyone else that Chris could explain this to. "My powers," she told her. "And Kali's. She distracted the guards with an illusion. I got access guards. We dealt with anyone that came in our way." Well that was mostly her doing, really. Kali's powers were mental, they clouded people's visions, made them see something else. But Chris user her abilities to throw them far away or turn whatever guns they got out so they shot each other instead. Chris definitely had blood on her hands, but she hadn't gone revenge crazy like Kali. Killing wasn't something she wanted to do, even if they were bad men. Brenner was a whole different story. Chris just wanted to make sure he never returned. She just wasn't sure how to do that, exactly.
She knew though, that he was the one person she wouldn't mind breaking her rules for. He needed to stay gone.
She didn't share this tidbit of information with El though. Because after hearing what she said next, she knew that she wouldn't receive it well. She couldn't believe that Kali would make her do something like that because Kali was older than both of them, and she should have known better. El was just a kid. Chris would never make her do that, and would insist against it even if she had ideas of doing so, which was why she was determined not to let El anywhere near this.
"I don't know," she admitted when El asked if she thought Brenner was alive. "But I'll find out," she reached out to give her hand a small squeeze. "I mean it El. You've done enough. I know you want to help, but it's okay. There's no need. Not right now. Not when I can handle it. I've loved being your older sister in the labs. I want to be able to do that again. You've got your friends and your new family, and Mike, who seems really fond of you," she gave her a teasing smile to lighten the mood a little. "Let me handle this quickly and it'll be over before it even begins and then we;'ll never have to worry again."
AvianJen
Member
Steve
Steve nodded. "Well, I mean, it doesn't have to be an introduction," he clarified. "You just need to drop the g-word casually. It's easy. You buy her ice cream all the time, right?" He worked at the ice cream shop and knew that Mike always tried to pay for El's, even when Hopper gave her money. "So picture this. Next time you get her ice cream, she says thanks, and you say something like, 'Anything for my girlfriend.' Y'know, make it smooth, like it's no big deal. I mean, you can go the grand gesture route if you really want to, there's just a higher probability of embarrassment and rejection. It's all psychological."
"I think it's worth a shot, Mike. Steve knows what he's doing," Dustin approved. Sure, his advice hadn't worked out for Dustin that great at the Snow Ball, but Dustin was also sure that if it had been Steve asking, any girl would have wanted to dance with him. Dustin had a different reputation and he'd come to terms with that, but he was going to change it in high school. Soon, he was sure he'd have girls chasing after him.
When asked why he wasn't seeing anyone, though, Steve shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Watch it, Wheeler," he warned good-naturedly, shaking his head. "Nah, it's just a different world outside of school. And my job sucks," he added, gesturing towards the ice cream shop as if it was obvious. "Max, what's Billy doing again?"
"Um, I think he's a lifeguard at the pool," Max replied, turning back to look at the guys with a shrug. "Who cares?" Dustin laughed and clapped his hands.
"That's it. Steve, you should be a lifeguard!"
"Huh? No, no, no. I got plenty of charm on my own," Steve asserted. "Just waiting for the right girl sounds more like it."
"Chris seems nice," Will suggested, smiling.
"Yeah, she does. And we met her ten minutes ago," Steve reminded Will. "Enough about me. All I'm saying is, make your move, Wheeler." They approached the counter and Steve had them pick out their ice cream before handing his card over to Robin and shrugging when she questioned what he was doing buying ice cream for five kids. This was just his life now...but he hadn't lost all his charm, had he?
Eleven
El nodded, listening to the story. She was vague, but not so vague that she didn't understand what she was trying to say. "Me, too," she said softly, looking down at her hands. She'd dealt with them, alright.
She seemed to be insisting that El not help with the lab expedition, though, which was frustrating. El didn't want to do any fighting, but she wanted to be available if they needed help. She flushed, looking down again when Chris mentioned Mike, but it only distracted her for a moment. "Compromise," she proposed. "You and Steve go in. No one else," she emphasized. Her friends were not going to be involved in this, that was for sure, but El couldn't sit on the sidelines. "I stay outside..." she continued, thinking it all through, "...with a radio. If there's a code red, I come in and help." Just because she'd done "enough" there was no reason she couldn't do more if the situation called for it.
It was nice, though, that Chris wanted to really be her older sister. She squeezed Chris's hand in return, smiling at her. "I wish I remembered more," she said sadly. There were so many memories she had that were disjointed, and she'd been so young when they took her out of the rainbow room. "But I want to be sisters." El wasn't very good at being protected, she usually liked to be the one doing the protecting, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It would be nice to have a big sister who understood, who could support her and who she could support in return.
El reached across the table and hugged Chris tightly, closing her eyes. "I'm happy you're home," she said. When she pulled away she saw Steve and her friends returning with their ice cream and her smile widened.
"All good?" Steve asked, approaching. El looked at Chris and nodded. "Cool, so, uh, we should come up with a game plan..."
"Hey," Jonathan's voice interrupted him as he appeared from the other direction. He looked at Will and Eleven. "You guys ready to go?" His eyes landed on the new girl. "Uh, hi, I'm Jonathan," he said with an awkward wave.
Hopper
Jim and Joyce had just gotten out of the movie. He thought it was fine, probably the sort of thing that El would like, but it wasn't really his speed. What he did like was the chance to relax with Joyce, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't watch her expressions more than he actually watched the movie. He exited the theater with his hands in his pockets, heading out towards the car.
"So that was...fun," he said awkwardly. But it was fun. "We should do it again sometime. Or maybe do like...uh, dinner?" Wow. He never used to be this cringey. "I mean, there's supposed to be a nice new restaurant downtown everyone's raving about, I wouldn't mind checking it out."
He glanced behind his shoulder towards where the rest of the mall and the food court was, squinting when he thought he saw Steve Harrington's hair towering over a lot of kids. And was that...yep, that was Jonathan. "Hey, look," he said, the awkwardness melting away. "There's the kids."
christy
𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨
MICHAEL ‘MIKE’ WHEELER
Mike took Steve’s words into consideration. It sounded easy enough but honestly, Mike figured that in practise it was probably harder. Nevertheless, he kept it in mind, figuring that the next time they came to the mall, which would probably be pretty soon anyway, he could at least attempt it. Or when the time felt right. Mike may feel confident giving El the odd kiss every now and then, but saying things like ‘girlfriend’ still made him shy and flustered.
He didn’t listen much to what the rest of the guys were saying to Steve about his own charm since he was busy thinking it through but he did look up when Steve reminded him to keep it in mind, causing Mike to nod. So much had happened today, and part of him was still a little annoyed that El hadn’t been up fromt with him, but he decided to let it go for now.
When they returned, Mike had gotten El a scoop of chocolate ice cream as well, and he held it carefully in his hands as their group made it back to the food court to find El and Chris hugging. Mike would admit that it was nice to see that El had someone else who was like family after having had nobody, but he would also admit that he was a little jealous deep down. Chris had only just come into the pictre and she probably knew more than he did about what El had been through.
Not wanting to let that get to him, he walked over to El. “I got you a scoop too, in case you wanted on,” he told her with a small smile.
Mike took Steve’s words into consideration. It sounded easy enough but honestly, Mike figured that in practise it was probably harder. Nevertheless, he kept it in mind, figuring that the next time they came to the mall, which would probably be pretty soon anyway, he could at least attempt it. Or when the time felt right. Mike may feel confident giving El the odd kiss every now and then, but saying things like ‘girlfriend’ still made him shy and flustered.
He didn’t listen much to what the rest of the guys were saying to Steve about his own charm since he was busy thinking it through but he did look up when Steve reminded him to keep it in mind, causing Mike to nod. So much had happened today, and part of him was still a little annoyed that El hadn’t been up fromt with him, but he decided to let it go for now.
When they returned, Mike had gotten El a scoop of chocolate ice cream as well, and he held it carefully in his hands as their group made it back to the food court to find El and Chris hugging. Mike would admit that it was nice to see that El had someone else who was like family after having had nobody, but he would also admit that he was a little jealous deep down. Chris had only just come into the pictre and she probably knew more than he did about what El had been through.
Not wanting to let that get to him, he walked over to El. “I got you a scoop too, in case you wanted on,” he told her with a small smile.
CHRISTINE 'CHRIS' ORTIZ
Chris listened to El as she offered a compromise and she smiled a bit upon hearing her proposal before nodding. She didn’t want the kids anywhere near this whole thing, so she had no trouble agreeing with her that they stayed outside the lab. And having her as a backup plan while still not preferred, was a reasonable compromise. “Okay,” she said eventually with a nod, after thinking it over. “Deal.”
“Maybe it’s better you don’t remember more,” she said with a small smile. “That way we can forget what they did to us in those labs and we can start fresh here. As sisters.” Chris knew now that El had entered her life again she was going to do whatever she could to keep her around. And it seemed EL felt the same which made her feel even better.
Chris’s smile widened a little when El hugged her again, expressing her happiness for her being there, but before she could respond, Steve and the others had joined them. She nodded upon hearing the suggestion of making a game plan — they needed to figure out when they were going to carry this whole thing out, but before they got the chance, someone else had joined them, someone Chris did not recognise till he introduced himself.
Based on Mike’s story, she was able to recall that this was Will’s brother. Since she had no idea if they were going to be open about her existence as El’s sister from the labs, she said nothing in relation to that and immediately kept her mouth shut from what she had been about to say to Steve about the game plan. Instead, she introduced herself to Jonathon. “I’m Chris.”
It dawned on her that he was here to collect Will and El, which meant that they had to part for now, even though she had no desire to. But they could always meet again tomorrow, and the day after, or any day really since it was summer break. Besides, they still had something important to carry out.
For now though, she looked to Steve with a little uncertainty because if Jonathan asked how she knew any of them she had no idea what she was going to say and since Steve was the oldest among them...
Chris listened to El as she offered a compromise and she smiled a bit upon hearing her proposal before nodding. She didn’t want the kids anywhere near this whole thing, so she had no trouble agreeing with her that they stayed outside the lab. And having her as a backup plan while still not preferred, was a reasonable compromise. “Okay,” she said eventually with a nod, after thinking it over. “Deal.”
“Maybe it’s better you don’t remember more,” she said with a small smile. “That way we can forget what they did to us in those labs and we can start fresh here. As sisters.” Chris knew now that El had entered her life again she was going to do whatever she could to keep her around. And it seemed EL felt the same which made her feel even better.
Chris’s smile widened a little when El hugged her again, expressing her happiness for her being there, but before she could respond, Steve and the others had joined them. She nodded upon hearing the suggestion of making a game plan — they needed to figure out when they were going to carry this whole thing out, but before they got the chance, someone else had joined them, someone Chris did not recognise till he introduced himself.
Based on Mike’s story, she was able to recall that this was Will’s brother. Since she had no idea if they were going to be open about her existence as El’s sister from the labs, she said nothing in relation to that and immediately kept her mouth shut from what she had been about to say to Steve about the game plan. Instead, she introduced herself to Jonathon. “I’m Chris.”
It dawned on her that he was here to collect Will and El, which meant that they had to part for now, even though she had no desire to. But they could always meet again tomorrow, and the day after, or any day really since it was summer break. Besides, they still had something important to carry out.
For now though, she looked to Steve with a little uncertainty because if Jonathan asked how she knew any of them she had no idea what she was going to say and since Steve was the oldest among them...
JOYCE BYERS
The movie wasn‘t half bad, even if she couldn’t predict from his expressions whether Hopper truly enjoyed it or not but he seemed to be happy as they exited the theater so she took that as a good sign. She was also full from all the popcorn so he rearlier idea of suggesting they grab something from the food court went down the drain.
Dinner still seemed to be on Hopper’s mind though — just for another night instead of now.
“That was fun,” she agreed, looking over at him with a small smile. When he brought up dinner, she paused momentarily, thinking it over. She was a little conflicted, mainly because she was unsure of this was like, a date or not. She’d never really seen Hopper this way before which led her to believe that maybe, just maybe, they were on the same page?
It made Joyce smile a little more just thinking about it. She knew how she was beginning to feel, how she had probably felt for a while now, so a dinner fate sounded perfect. “I’d like that,” she nodded. “Been a while since I went... well, anywhere,” she chuckled.
She was about to discuss the specifics with him — where they’d meet, and when — when Hopper glanced back and mentioned the kids. She followed his gaze to see them as well but squinted a little when she saw a girl she didn’t recognise. “I wonder who that is,” she murmured, mainly just thinking out loud, beforr she looked back to Hopper. “Should we go see them?”
Part of her eanted to give Will his freedom and popping in on him at the mall wasn’t the way to do that, but, well, they were there, so why not? It was getting close to curfew anyway.
The movie wasn‘t half bad, even if she couldn’t predict from his expressions whether Hopper truly enjoyed it or not but he seemed to be happy as they exited the theater so she took that as a good sign. She was also full from all the popcorn so he rearlier idea of suggesting they grab something from the food court went down the drain.
Dinner still seemed to be on Hopper’s mind though — just for another night instead of now.
“That was fun,” she agreed, looking over at him with a small smile. When he brought up dinner, she paused momentarily, thinking it over. She was a little conflicted, mainly because she was unsure of this was like, a date or not. She’d never really seen Hopper this way before which led her to believe that maybe, just maybe, they were on the same page?
It made Joyce smile a little more just thinking about it. She knew how she was beginning to feel, how she had probably felt for a while now, so a dinner fate sounded perfect. “I’d like that,” she nodded. “Been a while since I went... well, anywhere,” she chuckled.
She was about to discuss the specifics with him — where they’d meet, and when — when Hopper glanced back and mentioned the kids. She followed his gaze to see them as well but squinted a little when she saw a girl she didn’t recognise. “I wonder who that is,” she murmured, mainly just thinking out loud, beforr she looked back to Hopper. “Should we go see them?”
Part of her eanted to give Will his freedom and popping in on him at the mall wasn’t the way to do that, but, well, they were there, so why not? It was getting close to curfew anyway.
AvianJen
Member
Hopper
God, Hopper hadn't asked anyone out on a date in years. He'd hooked up with a few women he'd picked up from bars, sure, and then been a complete jerk and never called them back, but a real date? The last real date he'd been on was...well, damn. It had been with his ex-wife. He was out of practice and it showed, but somehow he knew that Joyce wasn't about to judge him for his little blunders. It wasn't like she was the most put together woman in Hawkins either, and if she was Jim didn't think he'd like her nearly as much.
When she accepted his offer, he couldn't help but smile, a rare occurrence for the police chief. "Yeah?'" he asked, confirming. "Well, if Jonathan's free to watch El and Will I'm free any night." They were about to get into the details of it when he spotted the kids, and then Joyce noticed a girl that neither of them recognized.
"...I dunno," he murmured, squinting to try and get a better look at her. She didn't look familiar at all, and he was always suspicious of new people around his daughter. It was something he'd have to get over, eventually, but she'd only really been allowed out of the house for a week or two now and, well, if there were people waiting to track her down now would be the time to do it. "Yeah, let's go say hi," he decided. It would be efficient anyways- Jonathan had the keys to his truck, so he could go ahead and drive El home himself and Jonathan could do with his mom and Will.
The two walked up to the group of kids, El catching sight of them first and waving with her spoon. "Hey, kiddo," Hopper said, going around to El and pulling her into a side hug. "You spend that cash?" El nodded and gestured towards the shopping bags. "Was it hard?" he asked as a follow up. Giggling, El shook her head and he laughed, pulling her into another hug. "Yeah, I didn't think so."
At that point he turned his attention to the girl. "Jim Hopper," he introduced himself, extending his hand.
"Uh, this is Chris," Steve cut in, quickly introducing her before she had a chance to. "My date. We're going to see a movie, just stopped for ice cream and ran into these buggers."
"Oh, nice. Which one?" Hopper asked. "We just got out of The Breakfast Club." He gestured to Joyce.
"Wait, together?" Jonathan asked. Hopper studied Jonathan's face for a second before nodding.
"Yeah, together."
Eleven
El nodded, satisfied that her compromise had been accepted. She thought it was a good one, and she just didn't think she'd be able to sit at home while Chris and Steve put themselves in danger. She wasn't sure she'd be able to sit quietly outside either, but she needed to be there. At any rate, getting it over with and starting fresh sounded like exactly what she wanted.
When her friends came back and Mike handed her a little cup of chocolate ice cream, she beamed at him and leaned in, returning the his kiss on the cheek from earlier. El loved chocolate ice cream, and he always remembered her favorite. "Thank you," she said. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Steve giving Mike an odd signal, but when she turned her head towards the older teenager and narrowed her eyes he quickly stopped, pretending as if it hadn't happened. Shaking her head at his oddness, El dug her spoon into the ice cream, instinctively hovering near Mike until out of nowhere, Mrs. Byers and the Chief approached. She leaned in towards her dad, happy to see him, and looked a little surprised when he revealed that he'd just been to the movies with Will's mom; across the group she and Will exchanged a curious glance.
Even funnier was Steve saying that Chris was his date when that couldn't be farther from the truth, but they all went along with it anyways and Steve being the guy he was, it wasn't all that hard to believe.
Hopper looked at Jonathan. "If you've got the keys to my truck I'll just take El home from here," he suggested. Jonathan nodded, handing over the keys as El looked up at her father.
"Can I go watch a movie at Mike's?" she requested softly. Given what was happening, she figured it was time that she filled him in on what had happened...but just him. Not the others yet. She hadn't asked Mike, but she was sure he wouldn't mind. She had no idea that his parents were fighting practically 24/7; in her mind, his basement was the perfect isolated spot where no one would be checking or listening in.
"Kid, it's pretty late," Hopper shut her down. "Maybe tomorrow. It's supposed to be hot, we could check out that new pool?"
Steve
Steve didn't know why he blurted out that Chris was his date, it just seemed like the most reasonable explanation. He really didn't want to open the can of worms that Chris was El's long lost sister from the lab; Hopper deserved to know, yes, just not right this second. And probably not until they'd broken into the labs and done what they needed to do. He gave Chris an apologetic, but still pretty charming smile and came over to stand next to her as El tried to invite herself over to Mike's house. It didn't take a genius to know that wasn't going to happen.
"Hey, well, we're gonna miss our movie but you all have a good night," he said, nodding his head for Chris to follow him. El waved goodbye to Chris with that little smile of hers and Steve stopped just inside the movie theater.
"Sorry about that," he said, reaching for a napkin and digging through his pocket for a...well, he was hoping for a pen, but it was a broken pencil. He began to scribble down his phone number. "They'll be cool, probably, but I just don't think they should know who you are until we get this thing taken care of." He slid the napkin towards her.
"So I figure we can pick a day to look over the place and come up with a plan, then a second day to break in? I can see if I can find any sort of floor plans, in the library or something." It was kind of fun coming up with these sorts of plans, and though he usually advocated for staying out of it this seemed like something that needed to be done before El, Chris, or anyone could actually live in peace. Nancy and Jonathan had risked everything getting that lab shut down, and if the man behind all of it was still out there it was all for nothing. "So...did El tell you anything helpful?" he asked.
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