Its the blasted mud that makes me feel most at home. That and the wind. It sets a chill into my bones that reminds me of home. I have been camped within sight of the ruins and by extension, the Stormgate for a good while now. Perhaps I could charge passed this place, inwards and upwards, or if I am very careful, employ a little stealth. I think that I shan’t though, and my reasons are twofold: regarding stealth, well, it’s not a surprise to anyone that subtitly fails to be my strongest point. I blame the armour, but in this place I daren’t go without it. Mayhap if I went in a storm, but that poses as much a hindrance to my perception as it would the guards.
My second reason is by and large the greater reason: I am here to test my mettle, and if it is so fragile as to be squashed here, then I am not fit to undertake this pilgrimage. I will not delude myself into thinking that every foe that I face I will be able to circle wide around. Some will descend upon me unawares, as that horrid thing which first greeted me in this land did, some will simply be inevitable. And if I have learned but a single lesson, then it is that there is merit in facing a fight which cannot be escaped, rather than trying to forestall it. There are some things which much must come to pass.
So I must challenge these guards who stand in my path. I must overcome them, or I am not fit to move on.
My new companion seems deeply unimpressed by this stubbornness, but perhaps I am simply projecting. The beast which was granted to me by the mysterious lady who also offered to be… a guide to me, in exchange for me to be an escort to her (seems odd that she should need one, given her ability to manifest out of thin air and give any poor soul a fright liable to petrify their own heart, but who am I to question the oddness of this place—sometimes I wonder that it is not some grand dream for it feels as disjointed and ethereal as one sometimes) is perfectly intelligent but cannot communicate with me—
(Here there is a smear of charcoal as the if the writer fumbled terribly, followed by a small, darkish red brown stain)
Blasted winged wretches! They’ll be the bane of me yet. The biggest bats I’ve ever seen, and they like to dive in and try to rip my head from my shoulders. Foul things, they’ll think twice when I take their heads off their shoulders.
But I must rest. I challenge a Knight of no middling skill tomorrow. I wonder that I do not see some exasperation in their stance now, when they see me stand in their path. I suppose I would feel much the same if I were to be incessantly pestered by one with such a propensity for weed-like behaviour. But in their ability with a weapon and their brutality they have much to teach me, and I will take every lesson that I am offered if it hones me into a sharper blade.
First
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Steve had this habit, a habit which most of the party were annoyed by. They understood it, God did they understand. But after everything was over and the Upside Down was gone for good, it kept happening. Months and months of daily calls. Just Steve checking in and asking them about their day.
Mike hadn't understood why he was on the list of names Steve would call, but if he didn't pick up the phone, there would be a knock on the door within the hour. And Steve, sometimes followed by Robin, would stop by like he was that important to them. Once, it had been on their way to work, and Steve had only locked eyes with him and raised an eyebrow. Mike just flipped him off and continued reading his comic.
Dustin had told him it was Steve's way of coping, and Lucas had turned the calls into workouts with the older teen. Will had just gone a little red and nodded along. El smiled and told Mike about the tips for hair care she got. Max just rolled her eyes and said that Steve had taken to stopping by with food most days.
Steve would be there. He was always there. It was annoying, but it was a constant. Maybe that's why Mike laid awake as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight. Normally, he could fall asleep within minutes, a habit he had inherited from his dad. But he could bring himself to sleep as his phone didn't ring. As the walkie stayed silent. As the door remained untouched, no knock to be heard.
And it was stupid. Because Mike didn't want Steve to call him every day just to ask him if he was okay. It made him feel like a kid. It reminded Mike of his mom, but even his mom wasn't that bad. No, no one really did that for Mike. No one checked in day after day even as he remained uncaring towards them. No one but Steve.
Until now...
Mike watched the clock as it passed midnight, and his stomach twisted into knots. Fear bubbled up, and he pictured Steve getting into a fight he couldn't walk away from. He pictured a car crash so great that Steve was unable to reach for the walkie he carried with him everywhere. He pictured the worst- the Upside Down still around. The demogorgon coming up and dragging Steve into that hellpit.
Mike was up and pulling on a warm sweatshirt before those images were fully formed. He crawled out his window and down the roof, not too unlike the way Steve had done to visit Nancy. It left him already out of breath by the time he climbed on his bike. But that didn't stop him. He pushed off the ground, biking as fast as he could towards Loch Nora.
The cold air hot his face, and the road seemed to go on forever, but Mike didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not until Steve's place was in view.
Mike tossed his bike uncarringly onto the pavement before slamming his fist into the Harrington's nice door. He didn't let up. He couldn't as an image of Steve dead in his own pool floated in his mind.
However, then the door was opening. Steve stood there, looking like he hadn't been asleep either. A smear of white powder on his cheek and a hollowness in his eyes. But still, something eased in Mike the same time Steve lost some of that weight in his shoulders as well. "You- you didn't-" Mike started, still out of breath. "Call. Why didn't you- call?" He gasped and Steve looked at him with a weird expression.
"You- What?" Steve questioned, sounding lost.
Mike crossed his arms, "I- you can't just stop!" He gasped out, and Steve's brow furrowed.
"But you don't like it when I do? I annoy you," he tries to point out, and Mike huffs.
"God, of course you annoy me! You track our days more intensly than my mom, and you always make dumb jokes, and I hate that I find them funny! You always call when I'm in the middle of something, and you make it easy to stay on the phone! You are always there like some weird older brother that I never asked for!" Mike shouts and Steve's eyes are wide.
"You don't have to stay around or call, but you do! You do, and you actually care. Like when you call and ask me if I'm okay, it feels like you care, and I don't understand why! I don't get you! I didn't ask you to care about me, but even when you were dating Nancy, you cared! You took Holly and me to get ice cream even though Nancy had to study! You give me and my friends rides everywhere! You care!" Mike throws his hands up in the air.
He glares at the older teen, "You care so much that I stupidly care about you! I care enough to come and check on you because when you didn't call, all I could think was that you were like dead or something," Mike snaps and takes a step back. "But you're obviously fine so-" and he wants to run suddenly. To run from the way Steve's eyes are filled with tears or the stupid words he just told the older teen.
Steve runs a hand through his hair, tugging slightly. "Mike, I stopped because I didn't think you wanted me to. You always acted like I was your least favorite person in the world and I guess I just- I didn't feel like it was fair to force you to put up with me just because I can't handle not knowing if you were okay." Steve said, and it didn't sound like the normal Steve. He sounded tired and nervous. He sounded like someone had finally beaten him
Mike bites his lip and tastes salt like he had been crying. Or maybe he still was. He crosses his arms like he can shield himself from this conversation. "But now you don't care enough to keep calling?"
Steve rubbed his face, a sigh shaking his whole body as he did. "I still care, kid."
Mike scoffs, "You didn't call."
Steve drops his hands to his sides. "Just come inside. It's too late for you to bike home. I'll call your place and leave a message." Steve says, his voice sounding close to tears. Mike is stiff when he lets Steve pull him inside.
They are quiet as Steve guides him towards the kitchen. The kitchen that has music playing softly and smelling like a bake sale. He blinks as he steps into the room and spots cookies cooling on a rack and a pie stilling uncooked on the counter. The top crust is sitting on the counter next to it. There's a smell of something in the oven, and Mike states at all of it in confusion.
"I bake when I can't relax," Steve admits, and Mike glances over at him. "I still care, and I was trying to give you space. I was trying not to crowd you, so I just," and he waves his hand around the mess everywhere. The smear of white on his cheek now makes sense.
Mike hugged himself, "I don't- I don't mind the calls." He whispered, and it got a snort from Steve.
He looked over at Mike, "I kinda got that from your speech."
They stood there in silence for another moment before Steve moved to finish putting his pie together. "I know that we aren't close or anything. But I care, it's not just the Upside Down making me anxious, it's just that-" and Steve went quiet. "I went overboard, I get it. But now I just- I can't stop." He admits, and Mike hates how upset Steve sounds. How guilty he sounds.
"I fall asleep easier knowing that if someone wasn't okay, we'd know because of you. It's like you take all the stress from me just by being around." He says, and Steve's eyes are wide. "Maybe we just do a sound off every night so you don't have to play phone tag all day." He shrugs, and Steve wrinkles his nose.
"I don't really get how to use the walkie. Like Dustin tried to show me, but he got distracted and started talking about radio waves and well..." Steve mimed it going over his head.
Mike snorted to hide how much that terrified him. The thought of something bad happening and Steve not being able to respond. But he pushed it away as Steve looked at him as if waiting for Mike to tease him. "That's fair. We did modify them, so they worked better. It's not as simple as your average walkie. I can show you," he offered, and Steve's face split into a grin.
"Cool, want to help me finish this so I can put it in the fridge until tomorrow? Then you can teach me the ways," Steve says, going all dramatic, proving to Mike he'd been spending too much time with Eddie. Mike groaned but came over only for Steve to shove him to the sink to wash his hands.
Steve showed him what to do, and Mike was glad to have Steve around. Because sure Steve's habit was annoying, and sometimes it interfered with Mike's plans, but it was nice too. Steve was nice. And that was something Mike ever believed would happen. But as Steve joked that Mike should not become a baker, he was nice. Like the way Mike was nice to Holly or how Nancy was nice to him. He was part of the family, annoyingly nice habits and all.
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Vin you should compliment all your writing partner friends too, compliments for everybody!
Vin smiles faintly, “Well… it ain’t ever a bad time to speak well’a folks. I’ll list ‘em down below.”
@detectiverickitubbs I’m always real happy to see her around, with all her friends. She has a pack of ‘em, and they’re all interesting. I’ve mostly talked to Miss Ricki, and Mrs. Strong sometimes… and of course Samuel’s like my brother. But I love meeting any and all of them. When they show up, I know something different is about to happen, and I’ll probably enjoy it!
@starsallalight It’s always a pleasure when she’s in town, and brings folk along with her. So many of them are soft and kind—not something I see a lotta out here in this neck’a the woods, believe me. It’s real refreshing to meet people who aren’t always spoiling for a fight. That some folk still want some peace and quiet in this world… it’s a rare thing and I’m always glad to see it! Especially Miss Ella and Miss Elizabeth. They’re sweet young ladies, and a man can’t help but want to take care’a them and keep them safe.
@toodamnloyal She and her friends, particularly Zorro and Theo, are always bringing something new and thought-provoking to town! They don’t do anything like its business as usual, and that’s a good thing! Even living a life like I do, a feller can get in a rut, but not when they come around! As soon as I see they’ve dropped by for a spell, the next thing I know I’m up to my neck in adventures and some intrigue… but I’ve got a good partner along for the ride. A feller can’t ask for better!
@retrograderesemblance I admit I don’t know her too well, and I’ve only spoke to Miss Lynn a spell, but I quite like them. I like ladies with spunk, and who is willing to stand up when they hav too. I hope to see more of them again someday… we can always use a few more like them around.
@sharp-teeth-and-wide-grins I admit, she’s another I don’t know too well yet… though I have met Cassie, and Inez speaks highly of the girl too. I really like both of them, and I hope to be seeing a lot more of them around town! I think we could have some real interesting adventures together!
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