#fuck you vecna
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look if i was vecna i’d simply get my shit together and stop being a bitch.. that’s just me tho
#stranger things 4 spoilers#eddie munson#stranger things#netflix#st4 vol2#stranger things volume 2#duffer brothers#vecna#fuck you vecna#max mayfield#stranger things 4#stranger things x reader#joe quinn#joseph quinn
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BRO WHAT
#my boy a freak#jamie campbell bower#jamie campbell x reader#stranger things#stranger things 4#001#st vecna#vecna stranger things#fuck you vecna#henry creel#henry creel x reader
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honestly I’d never survive vecna, I coudlnt tell you my favourite song even with the threat of my life
#lol#I can never pick my favourite song#im just bad at picking faveourites#faves#your fave#songs#vecna/henry/one#fuck you vecna#vecna daddy#stranger things#eddie my beloved#ao3#fanfic#fandom#steve harrington#steddie
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Something really sad that I haven’t seen mentioned yet is that Max has most likely sacrificed her happiest memory in the attempt to kill Vecna.
One of the ways that therapists help victims of PTSD is by having them remember the traumatic event and essentially “rewriting” the memory, to make it less traumatic. The traumatic memory is accessed from long-term storage, and is then modified using different techniques - EMDR, visualizing a different outcome - there are different ways. But the end result is that the memory can be changed, or the associations with the memory can be changed.
Max is essentially doing this in reverse. She’s in her happiest memory - the Snow Ball - and a monster has come and turned it into something dark. The balloons pop and explode blood, the Upside Down invades the sky, and the music changes from the song she had her first kiss to into a distorted version of the song that was playing when the monster killed his own family. She’s accessed the memory from long term storage and it’s been modified. She’ll never be able to think of the Snow Ball, or her first kiss, without remembering the terror of being trapped in there with a monster.
If Max survives, her happiest memory is now one of her worst nightmares.
#it’s just really sad#max mayfield#stranger things#stranger things 4 spoilers#stranger things 4#st4 vol2#vecna stranger things#st vecna#fuck you vecna#max mayfield supremacy#lumax#lumax s4#lucas stranger things#lucas x max#lucas sinclair
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Chrissy Ran Away - 3/3 - Fic
Chapter 3: On the wharf, I was caught in a tailspin
Eddie wasn’t being so friendly to her now. He’d barely spoken to her since she turned up covered in mud and leaves with a fucked up knee. He seemed to be doing his best to avoid her completely.
What if Chrissy ran from Eddie after her vision?
What if it pushed them apart? They share a joint and it gets much much worse. My take on 'Chrissy lives'.
Word Count: 10,188 (Oh god, I'm sorry)
Chapter: 3/3
Warning: some non-con touching about halfway through.
Also on Archive of Our Own.
Previous Chapter 1/3 here.
Previous Chapter 2/3 here.
(see end for notes)
------
Chrissy knew she was pretty. Knew she had a nice symmetrical face (according to a magazine quiz it was a ’heart-shape’) and people always remarked on her smile. Ever since middle school people had taken it upon themselves to comment on her looks as if she should be eternally grateful for their compliments and praise. She always pictured her mom’s screwed up face when she heard the word ugly - always saw the sewing machine she would bring out when she thought Chrissy looked heavy. The way she uttered the word ugly made it sound like the most awful thing that could ever happen. Forget about disease or poverty or mental illness. No no, being considered ugly was a sin in the Cunningham homestead.
So Chrissy knew her appearance meant a lot. It held weight. It was the only real source of currency she owned and could trade off (you know - apart from actual currency). She had learned by the tender age of twelve (when her body started changing in funny new embarrassing ways) the impact her looks had on others and that other people felt good and treated her nice when she smiled and giggled and tried.
Her mom would repeat over and over that appearance was everything. It didn’t matter how shitty you felt inside as long as you kept it to yourself. Chrissy’s mom was not a brilliant example of a good mom. Chrissy knew this. Her counsellor Ms Kelley knew this. Her father probably knew this though he would never lift a finger to help. Chrissy worried about turning into her mom one day but maybe the real worry was taking after her dad instead. Turning the cheek and ignoring what was right in front of you to keep up the facade of normal. Her parent’s greatest fear was to be abnormal and (God forbid) it tarnish their carefully curated reputation of a perfect upper-middle class wholesome family. Reagan’s wet dream, honestly.
So even though Chrissy woke up the next morning feeling embarrassed and broken and totally called out, she could at least try not to look it.
It was like when Jason asked about her headaches (which was weird in itself as he rarely noticed little things like that) and her automatic response had been to give him a pretty smile and lie and say they were probably due to her ‘monthly troubles’ instead. Jason had chuckled at that and rolled his eyes, appropriately (because society said it was okay) abashed. “Well take it easy, babe,” he’d said, pressing a distracted kiss to her cheek, his thoughts already turning to the big championship game coming up. “Have some candy or something.”
Because that’s what boyfriends did when you were unwell right? They’d buy flowers or chocolates or teddy bears with creepy stitched up mouths.
Chrissy hadn’t really thought about Jason much over the last few days but instead of feeling guilty or worried she felt sort of…fine? In the films and TV shows she liked to watch, girls in trouble always went to their boyfriends first for comfort, but the idea of calling Jason now was just something she didn’t want to do. Was that unfair? Nancy’s boyfriend Jonathon (who she vaguely remembered from photography class) knew everything that was going on with Vecna and the upside-down world. She even caught the cute little looks Lucas and Max exchanged when they thought no one was watching, and Nancy’s brother Mike Wheeler was linked to this superhero El. They all seemed fine and even bolstered by sharing this madness with one another.
She tried picturing Jason’s face if she told him about Vecna and nearly dying. Would he offer to come here and help Steve build up the defences? Show the freshmen how to shoot straight? Buy her candy? No, he’d probably get more angry at Eddie and the fact she was in his trailer, than her coming so close to having all her bones snapped and her eyes gouged out. He seemed so far removed from all this that she couldn’t fathom him beside her in this world of magic and hellfire.
Eddie’s reproachful words from last night kept ringing in her ears… ‘did you hear what he did to that kid two weeks ago? Their parents had to pick them up’.
She was so ashamed. That poor kid. She was ashamed too that Eddie knew she had no idea about it. Like he assumed Jason would hide it from her and she would just go on with her little (sparkly pink bubble) life. ‘You just don’t know’.
Well she knew now, and she would not be like her father and ignore it. She was resolved to try and make things right at school even if it brought on Jason’s ire. The idea of him picking on Dustin or Mike Wheeler or any of them made her chest feel tight.
Beep beep beep.
Chrissy managed to get maybe two hours of sleep when the alarm on Steve’s watch went off and she groaned at the sudden rude awakening. She pushed her face deeper into the pillow, away from the sunshine beaming in through a blind. She tried to ignore that the pillow smelled like the eucalyptus shampoo Eddie used. There was also the unmistakable smell of cigarettes and weed but instead of being turned off she found it unexpectedly comforting.
She felt Steve roll over and then there was a delicate pause.
“Uh…Hi… Chrissy?”
“Hi Steve,” she mumbled.
“Uh…there a reason you’re here and not Eddie? Not that I’m complaining, just a bit of a surprise first thing in the morning, is all.”
Steve was peering over his pillow at her, bleary eyed and yawning. His hair was sticking up in all different directions and the sleepy hand he ran through it only made it worse. He still seemed half asleep. Chrissy might have giggled if she didn’t feel like total crap.
“Couldn’t sleep so I took over the watch from Robin. Then Eddie came down and…well… he took over. Told me to come up here.”
“Alright.”
“Steve?”
“Mhmm?”
“I heard the ticking noise again last night. Nothing floaty happened, but I thought you should know just in case. I think Nancy’s right. I think…I think it happens when I’m feeling really sad about something.”
“Damn.” She heard him swallow. “So I guess we’ve got to keep you and Max happy then. Happy thoughts an’ all. What got you so down?”
“I…I had a chat with Eddie and we kind of argued. We both said some really shitty things.”
That was putting it mildly.
She sighed and it seemed to reverberate down to her toes. She felt like the mattress might swallow her up whole. She eyed Eddie’s bag in the corner of the bedroom and the Hellfire Club T-shirt he so treasured screwed up beside it. His heavy belt was there too and the chains he clipped to the side of his jeans when he was trying to lean into the scary freaky look.
“I think he hates me now.”
She wasn’t sure how to feel about someone hating her. It was a new. Everyone at school seemed to like her a lot and she never got into arguments or drama. Maybe some of the other cheerleaders were a bit put off when she beat them for the captain spot but they didn’t say anything mean. Her parents didn’t exactly treat her nice but that wasn’t out of hate. They said it was out of love.
Steve’s voice noticeably softened. “Nah. He doesn’t hate you, Chrissy. Far from it. The guy’s just…I don’t know…”
“Hanging on by a thread?”
“Exactly, yeah. He’s got a lot going on in that fucked up head of his…and he was a nutcase before all of this too, you know? We’re all trying our best but…it’s hard. He likes you though. Trust me.”
Steve wouldn’t say that if he’d heard the way Eddie spoke to her last night…or this morning? Ugh. Or the way she spoke back to him. She tried not to linger on the awful expression on his face when she threw the words ‘hypocrite’ and ‘jealous’ at him like sharp darts. She’d meant every word - but she still felt bad. She wasn’t the kind of person to enjoy inflicting pain on others just because she was losing her mind, or punching down on someone who was already sinking.
“We bought coffee, right?” Steve yawned again as he sat up and stretched, wisely changing the subject. “I can’t function without at least two cups in the morning. And Henderson has really been dialling up his attitude recently. The little shit.”
Chrissy sat up too and only then fully appreciated what an awkward situation they were both in. She’d deliberately not slipped under the sheets when she came to bed so they weren’t exactly side by side but it was still weird. She got out from under her borrowed blanket and wobbled to her feet. Christ, her head was reeling from the lack of sleep and food. And weed, probably, even though she barely had half.
“I’m going to shower and I’ll make some. I think I spotted a coffee maker stashed in one of the cupboards.”
Steve hummed happily as Chrissy padded out the room barefoot. They had all agreed to keep the bedroom doors ajar last night so the person on guard duty could do their checks. Chrissy spotted a note tacked on their wood with what looked like gum.
Gone to get milk - E.
The idea of Eddie coming up here while she was asleep and seeing her side by side with Steve made her feel odd, even if he’d been the one to suggest it. Another thought to push way down and ignore.
She jumped in the shower before anyone else was up and washed and scrubbed her body thoroughly (who cared if her skin was pink and sore as a result?). She then scrubbed at her face and brushed her teeth. She applied her make up so well that you would never suspect she’d been awake all night crying over ticking and spiders and Eddie Munson telling her she was a sheep. She tossed her head side to side and smiled when the reflection met her approval. Once finished she towelled herself off and got dressed.
She hadn’t been able to stuff much into her cheer bag but dug out an (admittedly wrinkled) flowery summer dress that would still look okay if she smoothed it down with her fingers. The thin straps showed off her slim shoulders but the skirts hid her knees. She decided to leave her hair down to dry as she hadn’t brought a hairdryer (though Steve probably had an emergency one stashed beside his hairspray). She very rarely wore her hair down because Jason said he preferred in a ponytail or in plaits. It felt different. New. She used her fingers to fluff out her bangs.
Downstairs Dustin and Lucas were already awake and poking around the kitchen cupboards hopefully. Chrissy asked them to start up the coffee machine and found some breakfast stuff. By the time Robin and Steve came downstairs she was whisking pancake batter in one of Rick’s bowls. Robin said Max was still in the shower and Nancy was keeping an ear out.
“You’re an angel, Chrissy,” Robin added gratefully, plonking herself down at the table. Her wet hair was still wrapped up in a towel. “Do we have syrup?”
“No way. Chocolate chips are the way to go,” Dustin corrected, still in his pyjamas. He reminded Chrissy of her little brother when he was still nice and occasionally an ally against their parents.
Chrissy served up the pancakes as they debated the perfect pancake toppings. She never actually ate pancakes herself (far too many calories) but her grandma showed her how to do it when she was little and she could even do the perfect flip (naturally). While the others tucked into their food with thanks, she buttered some toast and nibbled it while leaning against the counter.
She suddenly thought about those creepy lifeless women on the covers of Good Housekeeping. All made up with stiff fake smiles and with hair that looked totally pristine. She probably looked like one of them now.
But no matter how pretty and composed she looked or how attentively she listened to Robin debate the virtues of pancakes versus crepes, Chrissy felt herself tense all over again when she heard the front door open. She turned at once to make herself a cup of coffee even though she hated it black. It would give her an excuse to do something with her hands besides wringing them together like a one dimensional damsel-in-distress character in their Dungeons and Dragons game (though Dustin, Lucas, and Eddie all seemed keen to them).
“Daddy’s back safe and sound, kids, despite the looming threat of annihilation and bogus wizards that make even Saruman the White look like a pansy. Miss me?”
“You get milk?” Steve asked bluntly.
“Yes dear. Got some more snacks too seeing as Lucas’ gone through like three bags of chips already.”
“Thanks man,” Lucas said, relieved.
“I grabbed some gas too if you guys still want to hit up the War Zone?” Eddie added. “There’s plenty of room in the back of the van for guns, grenades, nunchucks…Could probably smuggle in some rocket launchers too.”
“Flame throwers,” Nancy corrected him, walking into the kitchen.
Chrissy didn’t need to look over her shoulder to know everyone was glancing at Nancy with a fair amount of respect (maybe a smidge of fear too).
Hands wearing heavy silver rings placed shopping bags down onto the countertop beside her. A carton of milk appeared by the coffee pot but she ignored it stubbornly as she filled her mug to the brim. It took all her resolve not to shudder when the bitter liquid touched her tongue. Ew.
“Can I grab a cup, ‘Rissy?” Nancy asked.
‘Rissy? She liked that. “Sure, Nance.”
Chrissy turned to see Nancy (followed by a clean and dressed Max) joining the others at the table. Eddie remained standing though as he slowly unpacked food into the cupboards.
Like her, he looked completely composed. He was wearing his usual ripped jeans but instead of a rock shirt he’d pulled on the black and red flannel that usually adorned his waist. Other than that though, the same Eddie; creepy rings that no store in Hawkins would surely sell, guitar pick around the neck, the now-familiar bat tattoo on his elbow (his sweet ol’ tatties, she remembered him saying). The only subtle tells that something may be amiss were the faint purple circles beneath his otherwise warm brown eyes and the fact he needed a shave (but saying that so did Steve).
Eddie was putting away chips and soda and laughing at something Robin said. He even responded with a joke of his own in that flirty tone he seemed so comfortable using. Totally at ease. Totally in control. But it can’t be real, Chrissy thought, not after what he said this morning. He must be running on fumes.
Which meant he had an excellent poker face. It almost rivalled her own. The others would observe them going out for milk, making breakfast, helping. Both of them seemingly fine. Christ, they could be her parents.
Chrissy forced her shoulders to relax and flashed a blinding smile. When she spoke she made sure her voice was peppy and cheerful like she was getting ready for a cheer rally. Looking at her now you’d think she was running for the 1986 Miss America title and not miserable and sad and so fucking tired. Aren’t you proud of me, mom?
“Want some pancakes too, Nance? Max?” she asked. “And you? How do you take your coffee, Munson?”
He almost - almost - cracked at that but caught himself just in time. She was nearly impressed.
“I can make it myself thanks,” he was all he said.
–
They were indeed still going to the War Zone today. It was Nancy’s idea originally after spotting an advert in the paper but Eddie seemed to know about it too. It was about a two hour drive away and sounded like a Republican paradise. It would definitely have all the weapons and tools they needed until El and the others got there and they could regroup. Steve offered to drive but Eddie shut him down real quick. Only he drove his van, he explained. It wouldn’t run for anyone else.
“Some of us should stay to guard this place,” Robin pointed out. “I don’t mind. I’m still sleepy from last night.”
Max and Lucas were quick to bow out too. Nancy was going to stay as well as she wanted to phone Jonathon again and check on his progress. Chrissy noticed her fingers twitching when she said this but didn’t make a deal of it. Nancy rarely spoke about Jonathon so maybe there was something not quite right there (though who was she to talk? Jason who?). She felt herself getting closer to Nancy every day but she still wasn’t sure they were in the boy-chat territory. Guns? End of the world? Sure. Heartbreak though? She felt herself growing closer to Robin too but there was something…different…about Robin she couldn’t quite place. It was like she belonged in a different era - one in the future maybe where they used flying cars and everyone was cool like her. She’d assumed at first she was Steve’s girlfriend but after only a millisecond it became abundantly clear they were just best of friends.
Maybe one day after saving the world (they could do it) she and Nancy and Robin could crack out some wine coolers and discuss all the wonderful highs and tragic lows of being a teenage girl. Maybe even Max could join in. She’d like that a lot.
So it was Eddie, Dustin, and Steve who got ready for the War Zone and then to everyone’s surprise Chrissy said she wanted to go too. She hurriedly retrieved her purse and opened it wide so they could see the large amount of cash wedged inside.
“Woah!”
“Did you rob a bank?” Max said, eyeing her curiously, and Chrissy laughed.
“It’s just my savings and what I could find in my dad’s office. Don’t worry, he’ll never notice it missing. He’s always leaving cash around the house. I brought some of my gold jewellery too in case we need to pawn it…though someone will have to help me. I’m not exactly sure how to pawn things,” she admitted. The words sounded unbelievably odd on her tongue. “I never wear any of it so I don’t mind. I only wear this one…” She gently flicked a nail against the ‘86’ at her neck.
“We can’t accept your savings, Chrissy! You’ll need it for college, right?” Nancy pointed out.
“Don’t worry, I have a separate college fund which is under lock and key. My dad won’t let me touch it until after I graduate. It’s his guarantee that…well, that I don’t drop out and do something to embarrass the family,” she said. “Please. I know you guys have all chipped in here and there and I wanna help too. Use this money to buy the…weapons…and food and things.”
“That’s really generous honestly but really we can manage if we stretch our money together. I think we’ll be okay if we’re careful.”
“But I don’t want you guys to be just okay. You’re so brave by doing all this - the least I can do is make sure money isn’t an issue, you know? This is something I can actually contribute to the group. Please just use it.”
She looked imploringly at Steve then. Steve came from a similar background to her own and must surely get it. Chrissy didn’t need this money and likely never would whereas she knew some of the others came from humble backgrounds and it just wasn’t fair. She found speaking about all of this uncomfortable - Jason and her other friends were just as privileged as her and her mom would rather die than discuss something as tacky as money - but Chrissy held fast because this gesture would alleviate some of the pressure from the others. It was her way of pulling her weight.
“And…” she added brightly, smiling. “It would really annoy my mom if she ever knew and that thought makes me seriously happy. That’s got to be worth it, right?”
Steve laughed and she knew she’d won. “Alright, thanks Chriss. We’ll use the money today. Keep your jewellery though…we’ll only pawn that as a last resort, kay?”
Chrissy thought she saw a flash of relief cross both Steve and Nancy’s faces (they must have been worrying about this too) before they turned away and that made up for any embarrassment.
Thankfully Dustin called shotgun in the van and the conversation shifted to a debate about what radio station to listen to. Chrissy collected her things - she borrowed a pair of Rick’s aviator sunglasses too as it was sunny (she hoped he wouldn’t mind) - and made to follow the others outside.
But a touch to her elbow made her hesitate and Max was there looking awkward. “…I know we haven’t really spoken much before but I just wanted to say… that you do contribute to the group. Maybe you don’t feel that way, but it’s…nice…having you here.” Every nice word seemed to pain her but she held herself steady. She had a kind of intensity in her eyes which would surely make grown men tremble.
She could be a governor or a DA, Chrissy thought, speechless. She finally choked out, “Thanks for saying that Max.”
“Yeah whatever. Bring me back some peanut butter, ok? Smooth. I like that best on my pancakes.”
Evidently dismissed, Chrissy jumped up onto the passenger seat beside Steve and Eddie started the engine. Eddie was the one to pick the music (“my van - my rules, Henderson”) and fiddled with the radio until some loud rock blasted out from the speakers. A few minutes later they were driving along the lake towards town.
End of passion play, crumbling away
I'm your source of self-destruction
Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear
Leading on your death's construction
Chrissy folded down the skirt of her summer dress so it lay neat against her thigh and settled back on the leather seat, doing her very best not to look ahead at the driver. She tried to ignore Dustin babbling about making improvised weapons, or Steve complaining about the volume, or the thought of a certain pair of eyes watching her in the mirror. Instead she slipped on the too-big sunglasses, pulled out a shitty Capitalist magazine from her bag, and unfurled it resolutely. She would read it word to word like it was a textbook for class. No matter what anyone else thought.
“Woah, what happened to your hand?” Dustin was saying. That did draw her attention.
“Girls dig bruised knuckles, man, what can I say? They love that dangerous vigilante look. I caught it in the van door earlier, Henderson, I’m alright. It’s no biggie.”
Did she imagine it or did Steve glance her way? She looked back at her magazine pointedly.
Taste me, you will see
More is all you need
Dedicated to
How I'm killing you
“This music is killing me,” Steve grumbled.
“It’s not so bad.” It wasn’t Chrissy’s style of music either but she liked the lyrics. “I think the band’s called metal something.”
“Metallica,” Eddie corrected without looking round.
She thought about the other time she’d taken a ride in Eddie’s van before her vision of Vecna. She’d met him in the car park after the championship game (ears still ringing from the cheers) so he could drive her back to his trailer for something stronger. He’d surprised her by holding the passenger door open like a gentleman from those old black and white movies. He’d even offered to let her pick the music though now it was his van, his rules. She’d been too nervous to suggest anything though. She remembered that whole journey being very very aware of just how bare her legs looked in her short cheerleading skirt.
It was getting hot so she tried unrolling the window but the handle seemed to be busted. Eddie must have noticed because his window was suddenly down and a burst of cool air snaked around her shoulders and made her sigh.
The War Zone was exactly as Nancy and Eddie described. Everything was made from lumber and it smelled strongly of polish and pine and oil. Testosterone in a bottle. There were rows and rows of clothing displays - hunting jackets, cargo pants, heavy work boots - as well as all the hunting and fishing equipment you could ever need. Behind the (again wooden) counters the guns and knives were locked away side by side in glass cabinets, and she thought they looked intimidating and scary.
They let Steve take the lead inside. He seemed in his element and casually reeled off all the things they would need. He asked her and Dustin to go pick out some of the heavy duty coats and boots so Chrissy found herself ambling down the aisles with a heavily laden basket. She picked out a few things she thought might be helpful. She almost kissed Dustin on the cheek when he spotted a padded jacket he thought she might like (“There’s no pink, but it’s got little dots like your dress?”). It was so unbelievably cute that she thanked him and put it straight into the basket. They actually started having some fun picking bits out together (Dustin was going full Rambo with his own choices) - and inevitably their laughter started to draw stares.
Not at Dustin though. At her.
There were a few men openly staring at her now and she tried to ignore it like she always did when she drew unwanted attention. “Thank the heavens for that summer dress,” a man nearby drawled. He looked about the same age as her father. Maybe even older. “What’s a sweet girl like you doing here?”
She could hear Robin’s voice in her mind saying ‘buying a deadly weapon, dipshit, what’s it look like?’
Chrissy remained silent though. She knew that if she responded it would encourage them. It was a lesson that had been drummed into her ever since middle school. Don’t respond. Don’t be a tease. Don’t lead them on. Another voice behind her piped up. “Want a date, honey? Ditch the kid and come back to my van, eh? We can have ourselves a little party.”
Dustin looked angry but was clearly out of his element and unsure how to best handle this sort of thing. “Let’s go back to Steve and Eddie, Chrissy. We’ve got enough stuff,” he said instead. His trust in the older guys seemed unshakeable.
“Sure thing, Dustin. Everything’s cool, okay? Just ignore them.”
They walked back over to the counter and waited. Steve was signing some paperwork and had four guns lined up on the counter in front of them. Chrissy stood as close to Steve’s side as she could and hoped that maybe those men would assume he was her boyfriend and leave her alone. They certainly looked like they could be a couple with their preppy clothes and looks.
She saw Dustin whispering something into Eddie’s ear just as someone said loudly, “Want to come hold my gun, babe? I’ll let you polish it. Might even go off.” His friends seemed to think this was real funny because they began cracking up.
Steve and Eddie heard that. She felt herself blush. “Sorry about this. Don’t worry, they’ll wind down in a little bit. Let’s just finish up and go…”
“You can polish both our guns at the same time!”
“Shit,” Steve muttered. He was flushed too and she felt awful. “Sorry, Chriss. Just paying now. Won’t be long…Hey, can we speed this up please?”
She pressed closer to his side. Chrissy had this trick during times like this where she would try and physically make herself very small as a way of trying to hide. Her shoulders were already turning inwards and she crossed her arms over her chest. She tried to focus on what Steve was saying to the cashier but it was drowned out by a roaring noise in her ears. She wished Dustin would stop whispering to Eddie. She wished they would stop looking at her.
But then someone brushed up close against her back. She felt a lingering hand on her hip. Her ass. She couldn’t stop herself from squeezing her eyes shut and grimacing.
Here would be the part where someone should step in or where Chrissy finally told this jerk to get the fuck away from her (maybe even a tall body shielding her with his own, a gentle hand guiding her away) but this was 80’s Indiana and that shit didn’t happen just yet. The ideas of what to do when your customer or friend was being fucking manhandled in public just weren’t invented yet - and she could see her friends were pissed off but they hung back because they didn’t have the fucking right to get involved, you know? They weren’t her boyfriends or father or brother, they weren’t her. If she asked them to punch this guy's lights out they would in a heartbeat (and Eddie and Steve looked like they were gunning for it) but she didn’t. Chrissy just clenched her jaw and took it.
They paid and left, and as soon as she slid onto the backseat she pushed on Rick’s sunglasses and stared out the window. She could feel the guys glancing at her (worried, angry, guilty) but they were following her lead and giving her some space. They made it a few miles before Steve reached out and turned the heavy rock music back on.
“Did that asshole hurt you, Chrissy?” Dustin said at last and because it was Dustin she answered honestly.
“No. He just touched my leg and my…” She shuddered at the memory and seemed to shrink even further back into the seat. “I’m sorry you had to see it. I swear I didn’t say a word to any of them or smile or even look at them. I didn’t…”
“You don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She could have told him about the lecture she got at church when one of the pastors touched her leg because she wore a dress that was one inch too short, but Dustin didn’t need to know about any of that crap. He was just a kid. “I should have just stayed in the car,” she sighed.
“It’s just not…fair. You can’t just not exist, you know? I don’t know…it’s messed up.”
“Yeah, it is.”
He paused for such a long time that Chrissy thought he was done, but then he turned around properly and peered through the seats at her. “Chrissy? I’m sorry I didn’t…you know, defend you when that first creep said something. I didn’t know what to do and kind of freaked. Next time I’ll be better, though, I promise. I’ll look after you.”
So this time Chrissy did lean forwards and press a kiss to his cheek. Dustin turned an alarming shade of red but he smiled. “You were perfect, Dustin. I promise. Never change, little guy, okay?”
She felt tears spring to her eyes so once again turned her head to the window.
She didn’t notice Eddie pat Dustin on the shoulder. Or Steve messing up his hair.
**
When they got back to Rick’s it was way past lunchtime but Nancy had left them some cheese sandwiches in the fridge. Chrissy took hers outside to eat in the back garden, along with a book she borrowed from Dustin. “Keep the door open though, yeah?” Steve had called. She promised she would.
She dragged one of the wooden chairs from the circle towards the dock in what she considered was a perfect spot by the lake edge. Here she would be able to enjoy the last of the day’s sunshine and hear the gentle flow of the river in peace. She’d even borrowed one of Rick’s floppy fishing hats so the sun wouldn’t burn her nose again (poor Rick - she might as well try on his boots next). She’d thought about sitting in this spot last night - this morning - when she was out here sharing that joint with Eddie and thought it would be such a sweet place to relax and unwind. It was so quiet here.
It was quiet back in the house too. Nancy and Robin were spending the afternoon researching the Creel family in the library archives and had taken Steve’s car. The others seemed happy enough to admire their new cache of weapons and gear and Steve was trying to get the TV to work so he could watch a sports game.
There wasn’t much for Chrissy to do this afternoon except to stay quiet and not draw any more trouble.
She could still feel those prickling eyes on her face and body and hear those vile comments at the War Zone. The laughter. They’d found it funny to make her uncomfortable and humiliate her. Like it was a game. And why hadn’t she spoken up? Why not answer like Robin or Max or Nancy might have? No, she’d just tried to ignore it and wait it out like a storm. Hadn’t she already made the decision not to end up like her parents? To challenge Jason? To stand up, to say something, to shout and make some fucking noise. She was off to a crap start.
Christ, she was so weak. She couldn’t even go to a store with her friends without stirring up some kind of mess. She thought about Dustin’s helplessness when it first started to happen and Steve’s sympathetic (pitying, her dad’s voice corrected) smiles in the car after. She’d upset Eddie again. She should have just stayed in the damn car.
She couldn’t focus on the book in her hands or even the sunshine. Everything suddenly felt so cold and dark. She hurled her sandwich into the lake.
She made a noise that sounded like a whimper. Fuck fuck fuck.
And just as she fell to her lowest - it happened.
It started with a dark shape emerging beneath the surface of the lake. It was big - maybe the same size as a person - and way too big to be an eel or a fish. Maybe it was a body? Chrissy was suddenly standing and she peered over the edge and saw it was starting to move towards her. She stepped back (not noticing that the chair was no longer behind her). She began rubbing her eyes. She’d heard about people cracking up from stress and exhaustion. Maybe it was finally her time?
But then the ticking started and it filled her belly with an icy cold horror. Tick. Tick. Tick.
She suddenly knew that whatever that thing in the water was, it was not something good and it was going to hurt her. She did not want that thing to come any closer!
But it did. The top of its head broke the surface and she saw grey slimy flesh…
“No…” she moaned. “You’re not real. This isn’t real.”
Like a nightmare, Vecna’s face emerged inch by inch as he drew closer. His black lifeless eyes were staring at her and when she flinched back, he smiled. His teeth (black and sharp like fangs) twisted into a terrifying grin. “Chrissy…” he seemed to sing her name like it was a verse or a melody. “It’s time Chrissy.”
Chrissy shook her head as she took another step away from the water’s edge. She turned to run back to the house (to her friends and safety) but it was no longer daytime. Dark smoke caged her senses and the grass beneath her bare feet turned now to ash and soot. The smoke flooded her nose and mouth and she gagged on it. The sickening taste of death clawed at her throat making her eyes water.
“You’ve been so clever trying to run away from me, Chrissy, but you knew I’d come back to claim you. You always knew, didn’t you? In the back of your mind. You knew that we needed each other. Poor Chrissy. You’re so tired, aren’t you? So exhausted. Let me help you…”
She couldn’t see the house or the dock or anything. Everything was so dark.
“You don’t want to help me,” she cried. “You want to murder me.”
“No. I want to help you become something bigger than yourself. Something incredible and exciting. Chrissy…come to me. You’re so good at doing exactly what you’re told. Come to me now.”
He was rising out of the water and then - as sudden as a blink - he was standing before her, tall and threatening. She stumbled back against something hard and knew she could not run away. She felt her legs buckle beneath her and she fell to her knees.
She was crying. She was terrified. “I don’t want to die. Please. I don’t want to die.”
“Can you really call your miserable little existence living?” he asked cruelly. He bowed and curled one of his long fingers beneath her chin and forced her to look up at him. “You who are utterly without love. Not even for yourself. It is kinder to put you out of this misery, Chrissy. Believe me, you know that there’s nothing in this world for you. It won’t make the slightest bit of difference if you are alive or dead.”
His words seemed to pierce her heart like ice. Was he right?
“You have a weapon - a gun - hidden upstairs. You’ve kept it so secret and safe but why do you have it, really? You and I both know why. You know that there will come a day when you finally snap and you want it all to end..”
“Oh god…”
She couldn’t look away from his piercing eyes. He was cradling her face now and scratched his claws down her cheeks, tearing at her flesh. She felt no pain though. She was completely in his thrall.
“Come with me….”
“I…”
Chrissy!
Someone was screaming her name, but no that was impossible. It was just her and Vecna and Vecna was going to murder her.
But then there was music. Such loud ringing music that it seemed to shake the foundations of the world around her and flood it with a bright gold light. Its sparks gathered by the red vines twisted around her limbs (when had that happened) and seemed to rip them away.
We are young
Heartache to heartache
We stand
No promises, no demands
Love is a battlefield
She remembered the first time she heard this song. One of her friends played it during cheer drills and they laughed themselves silly dancing along to it. She’d bought a tape herself and listened to it secretly at home using her headphones.
We are strong
No one can tell us we're wrong
Searching our hearts for so long
And then she saw a swirling white light just behind Vecna. At the edge of the lake. Just like when Eddie saved her last time.
Chrissy! That was Eddie’s voice calling her name. That sounded better than any cheering crowd, any morning birdsong, any fucking power ballad.
She knew what she needed to do if she wanted to fight this but she didn’t know if she had the strength. Then she thought about Max telling her she belonged in the group. She thought about Nancy who was brilliant and badass and kept guns under her bed, and Lucas who was an athlete but also a total nerd. She thought about Steve who was a fucking hero and Robin who might be a timetraveller and who she wanted drink wine coolers with. She thought about Dustin who promised he’d fight for her even when he was scared. She thought about Eddie and the way he made her laugh in the woods and how he was hanging on by a fucking thread now because of Vecna. She owed it to Eddie to fight this.
Vecna suddenly became those rednecks back at the War Zone with their creepy entitled eyes. He became her mom. Her dad. He became Jason and the way he and the team bullied the freshmen kids. He was a fucking asshole.
She got to her feet with a whimper.
Both of us knowing
Love is a battlefield
Chrissy!
“LEAVE ME ALONE!”
She screamed and kicked Vecna right in the chest. All those years of cheerleading drills had made the muscles in her legs strong and the strength of that kick was just enough to surprise Vecna and give her a split second advantage. She ran towards the white light.
She jumped.
–
And then she was underwater. She was being pulled down to the bottom of the lake and her lungs were empty and she was screaming but she had no voice.
She couldn’t believe that this might be the end after all. Not when she’d jumped into that bright white light wanting to live and come home.
But then hands were grasping hold of her and pulling her away from the darkness and up towards the surface. More hands dragged her out of the water and she sank, shivering and cold, onto the grass of the riverbank. She felt warm lips against her mouth and then she was choking and then she tasted gloriously sweet air. She gulped it down greedily and let it fill her lungs. The world seemed to clear and settle around her.
It took a moment for her senses to catch up but when they finally did she could feel everything. She could hear someone crying and people shouting in hurried frantic voices. She could feel the way her lungs ached as her chest rose and fell. She could smell the coppery tang of blood.
Her dress was clinging to her body like a second skin and she felt so achingly cold but she was alive. That was all that mattered.
She opened her eyes and Eddie’s face was all she saw. He was kneeling in front of her, his hands still gripping her wrists, and he had tears running down his cheeks. He was soaking wet too. Chrissy raised a thumb and wiped at his cheek gently.
“Are you here, Chrissy?” he was asking over and over. “Are you back with me?”
“I’m here. Eddie, I’m here.”
He crushed her to his chest and she let him. Burying her face into the crook of his neck, she let her own tears come and she wept and wept. She let out every single tear and drop of fear into Eddie’s strong shoulder. His arms were tight around her back but she wanted the weight. It made her feel held.
She might have cried for hours (it wouldn’t have mattered).
“Eddie? I need to look at her cheeks, man.”
Her cheek? She felt Eddie release her slowly and then Steve (also wet and shivering) was there inspecting her face. He was trying hard to keep calm so he could focus on whatever it was he was doing, but when she caught his eye he broke into a proud grin. “Hi Chrissy. Welcome back to Earth.”
“I can smell blood. Is it mine?” It was easier to breathe now. The smoke and ash and water were no longer in her lungs and throat.
“You were floating in the air above the water,” it was Max speaking now. Chrissy’s gaze came to rest over Eddie’s shoulder and she saw Max and Lucas watching her closely. Max’s face was as white as a ghost. Dustin was kneeling at their side beaming though. All of these wonderful human beings who she had heard in her vision. Who brought her back. “And then your cheeks just slashed open. Like you were scratched either side by invisible claws. Was it Vecna?”
“Yeah. I think so. I remember…he came out of the lake,” she murmured. She glanced back at the lake now and saw that it was still and calm. It looked beautiful again. “I knew I was having a vision but couldn’t stop it.”
Steve cleaned her up while she told them everything that happened.
“...Then I heard my name…and I heard music…my favourite song. It made a bright light appear. As soon as I saw that I knew it was my way home.”
“It was Eddie’s idea!” Dustin said proudly. “He saw you from the window and grabbed Max’s walkman. He managed to cram the headphones over your ears just before you started floating up…but I guess it’s in the lake now though.”
“I’m just glad I had Pat Bentar on there,” Max mumbled.
Chrissy didn’t want to think about ‘what if’s’ right now. Instead she looked back at Eddie. His hands were still holding her waist. “How did you know that was my favourite? You’ve never asked.”
“Didn’t need to. You humm it sometimes.”
Chrissy smiled. She began to cry.
She let Steve finish cleaning her wounds while Lucas grabbed them all warm blankets. Steve told her she had two large jagged scratches on either side of her face, running from the tips of her lips all the way to her eyes. “They aren’t deep enough to need stitches but I’ll get you something for the pain. I don’t think they’ll scar…”
Chrissy found she didn’t care. She might’ve once. She was just thankful Vecna missed her eyes.
“I can't believe you kicked Vecna,” Dustin was saying. “That’s so fucking cool.”
“Very metal,” Eddie agreed quietly.
Eddie was still watching her closely. It was like he didn’t quite believe it was over and she wouldn’t start floating away again. She watched as two faint red patches started forming on his cheeks. It was like he was just now realising how close they were.
“I need to sit down. Can I…?”
Steve immediately suggested she go upstairs to lay down on the bed but instead she asked them to help her back into the wooden chair she’d positioned so carefully before her vision. She wanted to stay outside and sit in the last remnants of the day’s sunshine. The sun would be starting to set soon and she wanted most of all in the world to sit out here on Rick’s dock and watch it. Like he did. She didn’t want to give Vecna the satisfaction of sending her to bed and having her miss out on something she damn wanted. “Can I have some alone time?” she asked. “I just want to…sit here.”
“I don’t think you should be left alone…” Max started but Eddie spoke up.
“I’ll stay,” he said quietly.
The others went back inside (though Steve brought her out the much-appreciated pain medication). Her hands were trembling too badly to take it alone so he helped her. She thanked him gratefully.
“You’re one of the team now,” he said. “We look after our own. Eddie, bring her in if she starts turning blue, okay? Doc’s orders.”
Chrissy sighed and she lay back in the chair. Her mind was swimming with Vecna and his soft velvety voice. He’d said he wanted her purposefully because she needed him to end her long drawn-out suffering. The most tragic and clever thing, she realised, was that his words had been sprinkled with seeds of truth. She was everything he’d said. He’d looked into her heart and only held up the cracked mirror.
Chrissy was sad. She’d been sad for a long time. But did she really not want to be here anymore? Chrissy looked out towards the lake. The blue sky was gradually fading into pink.
“Eddie?” she said softly.
“I’m here.”
“Will you sit with me?”
She heard the sound of scraping wood as Eddie pulled over one of the chairs next to hers on the dock. He even readjusted the blanket around her shoulders before sitting down even though she was capable of doing it alone. It was just her face (and heart) that ached.
They stared at one another, sizing each other up almost. She noticed for the first time that his eyes weren’t entirely brown. They had little flecks of gold in them too. She’d never thought of Eddie as pretty before but she did now.
“So you jumped in the lake for me?”
“Didn’t even hesitate,” Eddie chuckled. “You can thank Steve for the lip service though. He just loves to be the hero and save the girl.”
Chrissy was so tired but she didn’t dare close her eyes in case she fell asleep. She was happy sitting here on the dock with Eddie. She lifted her feet and curled them up beneath the blanket.
“I thought I was a goner. Again. I almost gave up,” she said. “I know that’s such a pathetic thing to admit but when Vecna told me about wanting to put me out of my misery, a tiny part of me wanted to believe him. He knew about me being unhappy and sad all the time. Knew that I was shutting down inside, you know? He told me it wouldn’t make any difference to the world if I was alive or dead and I let myself believe him. Does that make me stupid?”
She saw Eddie swallow. “Look, I’m not gunna’ sit here and pretend to know what your life is like because I was dead wrong before. I know now it’s been… tough… and that asshole Vecna used that to try and manipulate you. But, Chrissy, it didn’t work. You chose to come back and you kicked him like some cheerleader warrior. It probably won’t mean much, but I’m fucking proud of you, kid.”
Chrissy smiled despite herself. “As I live and breathe, scary Eddie Munson acknowledging cheerleaders might not just be some dumb stereotype. You’ve dropped Cunningham too. It sounds nice.”
“No turning back now. It felt like such a trip when you called me Munson during breakfast. Even if I totally deserved it.”
“You didn’t.”
“No, I did. I was a complete asshole. Chrissy, look, I know you’ve been through a lot today and the kindest thing would be to leave you alone, but can you stay awake just a little longer to hear my shitty apology? After that I’ll give you some space or carry you up to bed or…whatever you want.”
“You don’t need to -”
“I do. Please. I need to apologise for everything. For the way I’ve been avoiding you and for every fucking crappy thing I said to you this morning. I would take it all back in a heartbeat because every word was total bullshit, Chrissy. I didn’t mean any of it. I was so angry and scared and worried and pathetic… and you were right when you called me out on it because I was taking it out on you.”
“But why me? Because I ran away?”
“No, Chrissy, please listen…” He moved his chair so close that his leg brushed against her knee. “It wasn’t anything you did or didn’t do, okay? You’ve been so fucking spectacular. The way you’ve been caring for everyone and helping out. It’s just…in my fucked up brain…every time I look at you I think of that Fred kid - but I see you like that and it just breaks me. Every time you flinch at the name Vecna or touch your jaw I die a little bit inside. I feel so guilty and scared that it could have so easily have been you. I still can’t believe tonight…seeing you floating like that above the water and seeing the blood when that fucker cut into your face…God, if Max hadn't had that stupid song on her walkman... Chrissy, I can’t deal with the thought of…you dying.”
Eddie had closed his eyes but when Chrissy lightly touched the back of his hand they flew open.
“Eddie, I’m right here. I’m alright. Look at my neck. My wrists. My jaw. I’m not broken. Look at my eyes. I’m here.”
She shrugged down her warm blanket and held out her arms, bared her neck, lifted her chin. She let him trace his fingers along her skin, reassuring himself that yes she was smooth. She was whole. His eyes searched her greedily. She might have found the idea of letting Eddie Munson do this to her odd once but now it only made her feel safe.
Then his eyes came to rest on her face, on the deep scratches. “Steve’s done a good job and I don’t think they’ll leave any punk scars. We’ll have to think of an excuse for your folks though…and Jason. If I’d only put that music on sooner…”
“The important thing is you did. It was quick thinking.”
She let him trace his fingers over her face too. She could see it helped clear away some of the tightness on his face.
“When I looked out the window and saw you go still…I’ve never felt so fucking scared, Chriss. And the last time in my trailer? I was so freaked out I nearly ran out of there myself. I thought I was used to horror and gore and monsters, but that was all pretend before. I don’t know jack shit about any of this or how I can help, and maybe I’m a coward but I think that just added to whatever sizable chip I’ve got growing on my shoulder right now. When I saw you again at the Wheeler’s you thanked me, Chrissy, and kept looking at me like I was some hero like Steve and I knew I wasn’t. You’re still looking at me like it even now…it’s like, what the fuck can I do?”
“But Eddie, don’t you remember that Twain quote in English class? About courage being resistance to fear? We had a test about him.”
“You know I’m failing English, Chrissy.”
“Well that’s what he said. The fact is you’ve saved me three times now. Twice from Vecna and once from drowning, and you’ve been scared the whole time. I think that’s pretty courageous,” she added with a small smile. “So I do get to call you a hero. That’s my prerogative as the crappy damsel.”
Eddie’s lips twitched into a smile and it looked like he was blushing.
“Well maybe I’m okay when Vecna comes calling… but I was too much of a coward to face you though. To give you what you wanted. What you needed…”
“What do you mean?”
They were both still soaking wet although the blankets and sun were doing their damn best to dry them off. But when Eddie reached out and took her hand she felt like it was a summer day in July. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
“By my count, we’ve shared two fucking terrifying moments together but instead of…I don’t know, bonding over it? Helping each other out?...I’ve been pushing you away like an asshole. I don’t know a damn about psychology or trauma or whatever…but what I do know is talking to you about it now feels really good. Like some of my damage has mended and I can breathe a little easier. That’s got to be a good thing, right?” he said. “So let me finally step up and be here for you. I want to. I want to hear everything that’s going on with you. No frills. No bullshit... Lay it on me, Chrissy. Please.”
Chrissy met his eyes and saw such honest sincerity and warmth there she thought she might start crying again. He was putting down his shield and offering her his friendship and she wanted to take it so badly.
This wasn’t an olive branch or a sledgehammer - this was a flamethrower - and they would burn the metaphoric wall down to the ground. Together.
So Chrissy told him everything. She told him about her life before her visions - about cheerleading and her shitty parents and her miserable anxieties about food. She told him about Jason and how she was pretty sure she was going to break up with him because she hated bullies and didn’t want babies and a house and to be ignored for the rest of her life. She even told him about the incident at church and how it made her hate her body but at the same time she wanted to buy fucking silk pajamas too because she knew they would feel nice. She told him about college and how she wanted to take a year off and see some of the world. She was sure she’d love California and Rome and maybe even England so she could visit some real life castles.
She told him about her first vision and why she’d come to him for drugs and about how crap she still felt about running away from him. She told him about this vision. About how Vecna made her feel so worthless and weak. She told him about the gun she had upstairs (this was the only time he interrupted her to say gently they would get it later and store it with the other weapons so it was safe). She told him about how much she liked her new friends and how thinking about them helped her find the strength to get away from Vecna.
Eddie listened to it all and seemed to be drinking it in. With every word she felt a coil inside her begin to unwind a little. It was just like he said before about feeling mended. Like he was switching her up.
“...And I thought about you,” Chrissy admitted at long last. “How I owed it to you to come back and be here for you. I didn’t want to leave you alone again.”
Eddie had tears in his eyes and so did she.
“You weren’t totally wrong about me this morning. I have been ignoring some of the crap that goes on at school,” she admitted. He looked like he wanted to interrupt but she kept going. “I didn’t know how rough things were for you guys, but that’s no excuse now. I promise I’ll help from now on. No one should be treated that way.”
“Chrissy Cunningham, defender of the downtrodden misfits and freaks. Atta’ girl,” Eddie smiled. “But you don’t deserve to be treated that way either, you know? Not to be a dick again, I swear, but you kind of let people walk over you sometimes and you seriously don’t deserve it. You’re so cool and smart and really talented. You…you’re the real deal. You should own it.”
“…I’ll try.”
Loving oneselves was not easy and Chrissy had spent years putting herself down, but she knew Eddie was right and she should exercise more self-love like Ms Kelley said. She should try, at least. Baby steps.
Behind them the sun was setting behind the trees and the sky was a colour palette of pink, yellow, and orange hues. She lay back against her chair and she let her eyes flutter close for just a minute. She could almost purr she felt so content right now.
“The next day at the hour of sunset Aragorn walked alone in the woods, and his heart was high within him; and he sang, for he was full of hope and the world was fair…”
“Is that from…?” Chrissy clumsily scooped up Dustin’s book from where she must have dropped it before her vision. On seeing the cover, Eddie grinned and she found herself grinning back just as wide, though she didn’t know why they were both so happy. Eddie took it from her gently, seeing that she was at risk of dropping it again in her tiredness.
“Same author but different book. If you like The Hobbit you can borrow my copy of Rings after. I promise you’ll love it. That’s a Munson guarantee.”
“I’d really like that, Eddie.”
“And I’ll try and read Little Women…are they actually tiny women or…?”
Chrissy found herself giggling softly. “Maybe we can talk about them together? Start our own private ‘End of the World’ book club. I’d like to hear more about D&D too and what it all means. Maybe even watch a game sometime…if that’s okay?”
“It’s a deal.”
Chrissy found her eyes once again closing and she yawned. She thought she could sleep for a thousand years. She snuggled down further into her blanket.
“Sleep Chrissy. We’ll be here when you wake up.”
She liked the sound of that. Her friends. Nancy and Robin would be home soon too.
“Eddie?” she mumbled sleepily.
“Mm?”
“So you really don’t hate me?”
“No way. Not possible.”
“Can we…can we be friends? I’d really like to be your friend.”
There was a little pause and she just about heard him clear his throat.
“Best of friends, Chriss. Best buddies.”
And her heart sang.
---------------
A/N:
Annnnnnd we're done folks. Chrissy and Eddie can now look to the future and kick some Vecna butt as team mates (the best team mates). A few notes:
- Firstly, thank you so much for reading this crazy mess. I promise to go back at some point and edit and cut that word count down - but I'm already up to my eyeballs with others ideas for the two (maybe taking place in the same series as this one?)
- I wanted to leave it as them friends but it's pretty clear they are going to be something more, you know? Plenty of hints scattered in that Eddie is crazy about Chrissy and she's starting to notice him too.
- Eddie IS crazy about Chrissy throughout this fic though he might not feel like he can show it (she has Jason remember and as far as Eddie knows they're a couple couple until she admits it at the end). He's not treading on any toes.
- Lyrics are from 'Master of Puppets' and 'Love Is a Battlefield'. I saw an interview where Chrissy's actor mentions this would be the song to pull Chrissy out.
- Yeah the men at the War Zone suck balls, but it's something we read about every day right? I'd like to say things are better but fuck that. Make noise, people. I actually wrote Eddie stepping in and guiding her out initially (with Chrissy under his arm naturally) but it just didn't feel right. You can bet that both he and Steve wanted to kick ass though and Eddie was gritting his fucking teeth.
- I love Dustin and Chrissy moments. I also love Steve and Chrissy moments.
- Yeah sorry Steve gave her mouth to mouth because he actually knows what he's doing - being a lifeguard and all - but Eddie was first in the water. Steve helped pull her out.
- The Rings quote Eddie says '...The next day at the hour of sunset Aragorn walked alone in the woods, and his heart was high within him; and he sang, for he was full of hope and the world was fair…” is about a sunset, yes, but also before Aragon meets the love of his fucking life and thinks he's stumbled into a dream. Nice work, Eddie, lay those seeds.
Love to you all - Hellcheer forever.
#chrissy x eddie#hellcheer#eddie munson#edssy#eddie x chrissy#eddissy#hellcheer fanfic#hellcheer headcanons#chrissy cunningham x eddie munson#chrissy cunningham#chrissy deserved better#ymaohoh#chrissy and eddie#fuck you vecna
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#stranger things#max mayfield#strangerthingsedit#*myedits#stranger things s4#tvstrangerthings#st4#steddie#stranger things fanart#stranger things 4#eddie my beloved#eddie munson fanart#fuck you vecna#vecna smut#st4 byler#st4 spoilers#st5 speculation#tw: epileptic content#epilepsy warning
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Why do I feel like no one has considered Eddie Munson as The Crow/Eric Draven…
I’ll let the other creators have fun with this idea.
#stranger things#steddie#steveddie#steve harrington#steve stranger things#eddie munson#eddie stranger things#joe keery#joseph quinn#the crow 1994#eric draven#the crow#master of puppets#vecna stranger things#fuck you vecna
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THE squad, i’ve been thinking of tiny scenarios of the vecna’ed surviving, and either helping the squad or facing their trauma <:) very fun to draw
#stranger things#stranger things season 4#stranger things v2#stranger things volume 2#stranger things chrissy#chrissy cunningham#chrissy deserved better#stranger things patrick#stranger things fred benson#stranger things fanart#my art <3#stranger things angst#stranger things au#fuck you vecna
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Ok but like I don't get the hype of steddie
#stranger things#ross duffer#steve harrington#joe keery#joseph quinn#eddie munson#stranger things season four#volume one#volume two#the upside down#fuck you vecna#steddie
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el’s arc & why mileven ruins it
when we take a proper look at the overall arcs of each of the main characters, the current relationship between mike/el impedes the possibility of these arcs actually being completed.
i feel like it’s been shown in st and been spoken about time and time again, but el isn’t meant to end up with a guy. her arc specifically revolves around her lack of free will and her struggle with identity, both of which she’s deprived of because of the men/boys in her life. even if we see people with good intentions like hopper have a degree of control over el, she doesn’t actually know how to define herself outside of the expectations of her father, or her (super closeted) boyfriend, which max helps her understand.
not to mention the way s4 literally parallels mike and brenner. like they want u to see the similarity in the way mike instils the same insecurities into el that brenner did. an example would be after el hits angela with the roller-skate and mike asks “what did you do?”, it flashes to brenner asking little el “what have you done?”. what i find interesting about these scenes in particular, is that in both of these situations, el was provoked to act out the way she did. it doesn’t justify literally assaulting someone, but both are highly stressful situations wherein el felt personally victimised by her aggressors. the fact that the blame for both of these incidences are placed on el, as opposed to distributing that blame to her aggressors as well, reinforces her feelings of being a monster. it seems to her that no matter what she does, she will always be considered the perpetrator, the bad guy, when she’s really the victim.
and because these feelings of being a monster originate from brenner and are fortified by mike, el’s character development would essentially fall flat if mileven were to be endgame. this is mainly because of the fact mike has demonstrated his unchanging perception of eleven, time and time again. whether with good intentions or not, he actively reduces her to her powers. the source of some of her innermost insecurities, he continues to trample all over it because he doesn’t know how to see past it; he doesn’t know how to see her as jane, but only as his “superhero”.
i personally think el deserves much better than that. and i think el knows that too, because in that bullshit-pizza-shop-confession-scene it is the sight of max that actually propels eleven back into action. and as its been said time and time again, it just makes sense. el would find the courage to continue to fight, solely because she looked at the person who taught her how to be herself. the person who offered her a sense of free will, offered her the opportunity to explore her identity on her own terms.
i think by el looking at max in that moment, its a direct subversion of mike’s sentiments in the monologue. by looking at max, el is making the choice to be herself and therefore, rejecting mike’s reduction of her to a “superhero”. because i mean, if we understand that mike is paralleled to brenner in el’s mind (and therefore, represents restriction, entrapment, and conformity (which is symbolised through the vines literally tightening around her neck when mike gives his speech)), max represents freedom to el.
and freedom is the one thing eleven has consistently fought for for the entirety of the show. her arc is not fully complete unless she is granted that.
#eleven#jane hopper#max mayfield#stranger things#mike wheeler#hopper stranger things#doctor brenner#fuck you vecna#byler#anti mileven
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Your Vecna Song is Out of the Woods:
Took forever to finish but here is what my Vecna song would be as a person who is too emotionally attached to Miss Swift.
#stranger things#out of the woods#ootw#taylor swift#taylor’s version#swifties#swiftie#vecna stranger things#vecna max#fuck you vecna#sadie sink#max mayfield#stranger things max#stranger things 4#vecna song#my vecna song#what’s your vecna song#vecna song Taylor swift#Taylor swift vecna song#taylor swizzle#taylor swift 1989#1989 is coming#ts 1989#1989#imovie#made by me#i tried#vecna song out of the woods
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someone explain why the stranger things soundtrack is so inspiring fr. i feel inspired. it’s inspired me.
#not to write of course because my fucking brain won’t do it right even though i need it to#the first i love you#kids#fuck you vecna#stranger things#steve harrington#stranger things s4#eddie munson#nancy wheeler
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Stuck Underneath.
F’reader x Eddie Munson
🕯Chapter 1
Ch.2
🦇It Started With Paper and Smoke🦇
Working on the weekend wasn't your preferred way of spending your free time. Though, seeing your work buddies did bring some relief. So, working at the new Hawkins Music store wasn't too dull.
A soft bell shook you from your thoughts, and a customer walked in. It was a constant since the weekends were always busy, and parties were happening later that night. You would've gone to one, but you made plans with Gareth to smoke.
So begrudgingly, you tended to the customers and their questions. It was until the sun began to set, that you knew your shift was coming to an end. Quickly you swept the floors, cleaned the counter, and turned the open sign to close. You lazily put in your hours and rushed out the door, locking it behind you. Then hobbled tiredly to your car and pulled out of the parking lot.
The drive was short, and you could see Gareth sitting quietly on his porch. His hair bounced around his face when he turned to see who was pulling in. A soft smile stretched across his plush cheeks when he saw it was you. Gareth trotted down the patio and to your parked car, a soft blunt in between his fingers.
“You plan to drive home high (Y/N)?”
He teased, as he opened the door for you. You grumbled as you unbuckled and walked up the porch for comfort. Gareth just snickers and shuts the car door. He follows you up and sits down on one of the chairs.
“I might just spend the night here man, you said that your parents won't be home for two more days right?”
“Yeah, so you can stay the night if you're too high to drive safely. ”
“Sweet, so, why’d you suddenly ask if we could smoke today? Is everything okay?”
“I would say yes but, I’m gonna be honest I just need to get something off my back and I just wanted someone to listen.”
“Yeah, I get that man, what's up?
“Thanks, I appreciate it (Y/N).”
“Of course, you're always there for me. Even after I graduated.”
“Yea, I've just been so stressed lately. I'm a junior, and I'm a new Dungeon master. I have all the notes he took but I'm not a good storyteller, not as great as he was. Everyone is relying on me and…the two oldest players are graduating and leaving. I don't know what to do (Y/N.).”
Gareth paused his rant to take a hit of the joint, his shoulders relaxing his lip quivering less. You watched carefully, placing a gentle hand on his leg.
“It's okay, How…how did you become the Dungeon master?”
Gareth sighs and hands you the joint which you quickly took a hit of. His voice sounded vulnerable and his eyes faced the ground.
“My old dungeon master, he should've been your age…maybe just a year older. He took me in when I was a freshman, treated me like I was a person for the first time, and invited me to his club. It was great! I met Jeff and Freak. I made friends and joined a band, until one night he just vanished. Our gang searched every day and everywhere for him. Everything was just…left behind. His notes, his beloved guitar… just gone. Now I’m stuck here trying to get over his loss and I’m just looking through his notes for this campaign. I miss him.”
You rubbed his leg softly and you took a large huff on the joint. He sighs and takes the joint from your fingers pressing it between his lips. Your voice is quiet when you decide to speak up.
“Who…who are you talking about? It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. But he seems very important to you, so I’m curious.”
Gareth looks up at you and smiles grimly.
“He was, uh. Eddie Munson. He has pronounced dead a year ago. He was the original DM and creator of the HellFire club. He was bullied, though he never seemed to let that get him. Eddie was a smart ass.”
He stands with a thoughtful smile and holds out his hand. You grab it and he leads you inside. You rush over to his pantry and dig through his snacks. Gareth snickers as he rolls up another joint. You found a few snacks and happily skipped over to Gareth, who was sitting on the couch watching Tv. You handed him some of the chips you had in your hand and snatched the blunt from his lips.
“So…about Eddie. What did he like to do?”
Gareth turns to you, his eyes glazed over and droopy. He chuckles and looks back at the television.
“He loved being a dungeon master, wrote notes and everything. Carved and hand-painted little figures that I use now. He also read all of the Lord of the Rings. Would tell us stories about it and would go on long rants. Eddie also sold drugs, everyone knew, and they'd be sold at his favorite spot. In the woods just behind the school. He also played in the band, which is now separated. He was the lead guitarist, I was the drummer, Freak was the bassist, and Jeff was the other electric guitarist.”
You cooed, your body relaxing into the couch as Gareth happily told stories of him and his friend. You felt your eyes flutter, your body going limp, as sleep took over.
—
When you woke, Gareth was gone and an unknown name popped into your mind. You wrote a note for Gareth as you tiredly made your way to your car, leaving quickly. Throughout the day and at work the name seemed to come to mind. So after work, you decided to go to Hawkin's Post.
It was a crowded area, and many people were rushing around. Papers scattered around tables and when you walked in a short-haired lady around your age walked up to you.
“Hello, I’m Nancy wheeler. I'm the Editor of Hawkin schools magazines, what do you need.”
Nancy gave you a seemingly annoyed look and that caused you to get a bit anxious. You stuttered out a response.
“Hi- Nancy, uh. Do you have anything on…a missing person?”
“A missing person? Who do you want to know about? We have one of Will Byers, Samantha Williams, and many others in our older papers.”
You look at Nancy and scratch your head.
“Would you..possibly have any on. Eddie Mundon?”
“What? I mean, yes but why would you want to know about the missing slash pronounced dead town freak?”
She pursed her lips and raised a thin eyebrow. You huff, crossing your arms over your chest.
“Nancy…do you have it or not? I'm friends with one of Eddie’s close buddies and he is still mourning the loss. So is it so bad that I want to learn more about the guy?”
Nancy nodded and walked away. You stand awkwardly as you wait for her to come back. After a few minutes, Nancy does come back and has a few newspapers in her arms.
“Here is all I could find. Hope it can help.”
“Thank you so much, Nancy. I appreciate it.”
“Yup!”
You take the papers from her and pay the amount you owe for them. Quickly after being paid she scampers away to go back to work. You do the same and head to your car, driving back home, the papers sitting patiently on the passenger seat. Once reaching your home, you pull into the driveway and park. You step out of your car and grab the newspapers Nancy gave you. You walk up the stairs and see a rolled-up newspaper on your doorstep. You quirked your head to the side and picked it up, adding it to the pile in your hands.
“God damn…I have so many newspapers.”
You entered your home and set down all of the newspapers you had on the closest counter. You spread them out and find the sections that talk about Gareth’s friend. You read out loud, the titles of the articles making you furrow your brow.
“Eddie Munson was found deceased in Hawkins woods after being convicted of being the leader of the HellFire Cult. Was it a suicide?”
You read through the article; it explains that after being on the hunt for them, Police found his body laying in the forest. That the case was finally closed and the cult leader was no longer. Annoyed, you changed your gaze to another paper.
“Is Eddie Munson a murderous sacrificial cult leader? Are the Hawkins murders his fault?”
The article goes to explain how one of the Basketball players saw Eddie sneaking into the woods with multiple others in costumes. It explains what he saw was some sort of sacrificial ceremony. So the player ran and told the police. The report went on but you switched to a different newspaper. You grabbed the newspaper that was sitting on your stars and untied the rope around it. Your eyes widened as the title in bold letters said ‘A New Monster in Town. Beware of the blood-sucking beast.’ You continued reading, your eyes scanning feverishly over the paper. Cows were being sucked dry, civilians saw the beast in the woods. It was just like a vampire horror film, and you were not here for it. You set the papers down and set them off to the side.
The papers warned that people shouldn't be going out after dark, but you haven't heard of any murders. There wasn't a sign the creature; if it even existed, would attack a person. With your mind overloaded with the new information about Gareth's good friend and the news of the hoax monster, you left the house.
“Well, the monster thing is one way to scare a shit town like this.”
You looked at the woods that surrounded your house. The tree’s swayed with each other as the cold wind pushed them around. Soon enough, the wind began to push you around, almost eager for you to enter, calling you forward into the woods. You complied with its requests and slowly entered the woods.
The sun was slowly setting, and as you walked further in, the moon began to peak. You didn't know how long you'd been walking or what time it was. However, that wasn't on your mind. You scanned your surroundings and spotted a wooden picnic table. Slowly you walked up to it and saw scribbles and slight overgrowth. A name you knew was carved into it, Eddie Munson.
Your mind became crowded with questions. Was this his table? Is this where he died? What did he do here? The questions continued as you ran your hands over the carvings of his name.
The moon peaked over the trees, its light covering you in little speckles. The leaves glowed as well, deer can be heard dancing as the leaves crinkled under their hooves. At least, that's what you assumed.
You sit at the table, enjoying how it felt underneath your bottom. You laid your head down, the moss and leaves tickling your soft cheeks. The moon continued to light up the area, and your soft yawns filled the sky.
“I should be heading back…it's getting late.”
The table creaked as you stood up, another yawn escaping your soft lips. The woods were silent, except for the occasional cricket chirps and branch breaking. You wandered the forest for what seemed like a long time. You seem to be getting anywhere and your skin crawled with the terrible feeling of being watched. It made you just a bit nervous. Finally, you found your house and sped walked onto the porch, the feeling of being stalked never wavering. You fought the urge to look back and failed. You turned your head to face the woods and there was nothing.
“Nothing?”
You felt confused but shrugged it off to you being nervous about the newspapers. So you took out your keys and entered your home. Since being out in the woods, you felt gross, so taking a shower was the best option to get clean and relaxed. You walked into the hallway and the bathroom. You stripped, taking off your matching undies and bra, flinging them to the side. Then, you started the water, making sure it was at the right temperature. Once it was ready, you stepped in letting out a soft moan as your muscles relaxed and the warmth hugged your body. You let yourself rest in the bathtub after cleaning your hair and body, until the water turned cold. Begrudgingly you left the tub, grabbing a towel to dry yourself off. Sleepily, you emptied the soapy water from the tub and trudged to your room. You set your alarm for work, and crawl into bed, not bothering to put on PJs.
For the next few days, after work or smoking with Gareth, you would go on your nightly walks. You’d end up at Eddie’s old table which you found to be near the school. So you’d sit there, playing with the cracks, and sometimes you'd bring a book or a newspaper. When reading the newspapers, there would be more claims about the monster. Telling that it attacked another flock of cows or another outside pet. So you continued your nightly routine.
This night was like the others, you got off work late, grabbed the newspaper off your doorstep, and headed to the old picnic table. Since it was later, it was already dark outside as you weaved yourself through the trees. So it was difficult to see, but you made it to the table perfectly fine. You sat and began to read your newest paper. You sighed when you saw the heading.
“Real Vampiric Monster sighting with a photo! How exciting… let's see how messed up the costume is.”
You read through the pages, and spot the image. And just like you assumed, it was terrible. The image only showed a fully black silhouette of this creature, and it looked massive. You stand with a grin, holding the paper up and reading it dramatically.
“The witness explains that they were just letting out their dog when suddenly a flash of brown larger than a grizzly bear ran across the yard. ‘I didn't know what to think!’ says the witness. ‘It looked so human- yet so monstrous. I couldn't believe it!’ the witness conveyed their concern for the people.”
You giggled at the silly voices you were making and set the paper down. You continued to walk around the table before going slightly into the tree line. Decided you wanted to see the picnic table from a different angle. When a loud rushing sound came from the trees. You quickly hid behind the tree and covered your mouth to stay silent. Then a loud crash came from near the table. A pained sigh and soft chirping came from the other side. You decided to let curiosity take control and carefully you poked your head around. You freeze at the sight, whispering to yourself.
“The monster is real…”
When watching the creature, you began to take in its features. Its midsection was constructed like that of an ordinary slender male and was tall. The creature seemed to have multiple features that resembled bats; its arms like wings, their large ears. The monster had what appeared to be blackened limbs and legs that gradually faded into a light white skin tone. The monster's legs were human, but its feet were dragon-like in length. You leaned forward from the tree and almost slipped, quickly catching yourself. Fearfully you hid behind the tree and heaved. Once you caught your breath and calmed down, you looked back to see the creature was gone. You breathed out a sigh and stepped out before hearing a soft clicking sound above you. You look up and you come face to face with a person's face.
“Oh, shit….”
The face seemed familiar but you didn’t want to stay. So you ran, you ran as fast as you could, the adrenaline slowed through your body. The sound of chirping followed closely following, along with the sound of heavy steps. You cursed as you weaved through the trees. Then you realized that you were taking it to your house, so with little confidence you turned around and ran towards the monster. You saw its eyes widen and its chasing falters, it let out a shocked screech, showing its large fangs.
Quickly you dash past the monster and towards the table. The closer you got to it you reached out grabbed your newspaper and continued towards the school. The monster, of course, followed you. You knew it could catch up easily yet it didn’t. You took advantage of that and saw the school, getting closer and closer. So you pushed yourself, even though your eyes watered, your legs cramped, your knees were losing strength, and you started to feel lightheaded. You looked back and threw your newspaper, trying to get the monster off your trail.
When suddenly you blacked out, your body collapsed against the hard ground. Your body went still, but your body still went up and down as you breathed roughly. The crunch of leaves stopped and the monster stood tall over your body, staring down at you…
The sun broke through your opened window, shining right into your eyes. You woke with a pained groan, your head pounding. The alarm then went off for work, and slowly you came to consciousness.
“WHAT THE FUCK?”
You let out a shriek as you scampered out of bed. Falling face first into the carpeted floor as your legs tangled in the blanket. Confused you felt and looked frantically around.
“I'm…home? Wait, I'm home?! Was that bullshit a nightmare?”
You pulled your legs down to the ground, your hip hitting the floor with a hearty thump. You hiss in pain, but you get up and get ready to change out of your pajamas. You get ready to lift your shirt but, the clothing weren't pajamas. They were the same clothes you wore last night, the night you went out to the woods and saw that beast. A cold sweat goes down your back as you changed into your work clothes.
At work you were out of it, and your coworker Robin noticed your internal dilemma.
“Hey, (Y/N) are you doing okay?”
“I'm…okay Robin. I just need to smoke later.”
“You know cigs will fuck up your breathing.”
“Not that type of smoking Robin.”
You replied softly, as you stacked a random shelf.
“Ah, well. What's wrong that's having you smoke that?”
“A nightmare…I think?”
“You think? What was in it.”
“The new Hawkins monster, it was so stupid!”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Robin walked up to you and rubbed your back softly. You give a grateful smile.
“Yea…that’d be nice. Thanks, Robs.”
“Of course, (Y/N).”
You and Robin go into the back and flop down onto the old coach Steve and her placed back there.
“So what's up, (Y/N)?”
“Well, I don't think my nightmare was a nightmare.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, when I woke up my window was wide open and I was still wearing the clothes I went out in.”
“Maybe you forgot?”
“I could but still…it felt so real.”
“I bet, well I hope you feel better (Y/N)”
You nodded and both Robin went back to work. For the rest of the day, your mind was clear and when the time came you clocked out. You drove home in silence when the monster’s mystery face came into mind. It was so familiar, like you knew who it was but couldn't put a name to it. You stopped your thoughts as you took a turn and then parked in your driveway. Inside, you stripped your work attire into something comfortable, no bra, a dark blue t-shirt, and a pair of dark pajama pants. Once comfortable, you walked your house, looking for your stashed joints.
After what seemed to be forever you found them, already rolled and ready to smoke. Gently you picked one up from the group and lit it. Putting the lighter away, and shutting the drawer, you put the joint up to your plump lips. Sucking in gently you let your mouth fill with smoke and let it out through your nose. You decided after a few minutes you didn't want your furniture to get smoke scented and wandered outside, carefully slipping on your shoes. You let yourself walk out from your porch and into the woods.
“Mmmh…This is a stupid idea…I could get lost.”
You mumbled quietly to yourself as you stepped through the woods. You blow the relaxing fumes out, letting your mind cloud. The trees waved and danced in your vision as you continued forward, until something hit your hip. You look down confused, and smile at the sight.
“Eddie….table.”
You sat with a thump and finished off your joint. Throwing it to the side, you let out a sigh. Maybe it all was a dream, maybe the paranoia of being ale so long has gotten to you. u. You needed to go home, and with a sigh, you stood tracing the carved name of ‘Eddie Munson’. Slowly you crept home, leaning into trees to keep your balance.
Behind you, you heard the crunching of leaves. You stopped, leaning onto an older-looking tree, its wood cracked inwards and death reeked from its caresses. You turned, very stupidly to see what the sound was and saw it. The creature from your so-called dream. From afar you could see it move, sniffing the air. You were too scared to move and too anxious to even notice the soaking of your t-shirt and the sound of something tearing.
As the sound of a skin-like material ripped behind you. You felt your body fall inward, letting out a scream that pierced the sky and caught the monster's attention for one last time.
Date: September/20/2022
By 🦇🕯 GothicCremes🕯🦇
Socials:
💗A03:
🌸Wattpad: @gothiccremes GB
🕯Instagram: GothicCremes
🐌Discord: GothicCremes#6533
🦇Twitter: @GothicCremes
🕷Spotify: GothicCremès
#eddie munson x y/n#eddie munson fluff#eddiemunsonfanart#eddie munson smut#eddiemunson#eddie stranger things#steve stranger things#nancy stranger things#stranger things 4#spoilers#fuck you vecna#steve harrington#nancy wheeler#strangerthingsinspired#stranger things#mom steve#steve and robin#x y/n#x reader#self insert#monster#creature#original post#fanfiction#first fanfic#eddie my beloved#stranger things 3#stranger things 2#upside down
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Vecna : *vecna sounds* maaxxx...
Max :
#max mayfield#max mayfield buckley wheeler#max stranger things#sadie sink#desi text posts#desi blr#desiblr#desi tumblr#desi tag#desi stranger things#vecna/henry/one#vecna stranger things#fuck you vecna#vecna#henry creel#stranger things 4#stranger things season 4 volume 2#stranger things volume 2#stranger things#incorrect stranger things quotes
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Chillin n Killin
#vecna's curse#vecna#vecna stranger things#vecna rp#songs that would save me from vecna#vecna/henry/one#fuck you vecna#vecna edit
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