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[babysitters]

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[micronap]

( from here )

I'll point some useful looting spots next time we end up in a trial together.
[ Like where Quentin finds soap or where Steve can get a decent enough snack. Hopefully Steve has a knack for finding something too and they can all benefit. While other people might have their spots they keep a secret so they have things to trade around (where in the world does Jake find his tools?), basically a currency around here, - Quentin just spills it out to people he likes. And Steve is well liked. It's not like he has to worry he'll be lacking in trading material at any point anyway if Steve points it out to others, even if he did care about that sort of thing. Nobody else magically spawns medical supplies. ]

Awesome. [ Colorful bandages to be sarcastic with sounds the best. He wasn't expecting much else after but Steve's divulging some history. Huh. ]

They probably thought it would help. Kids think a band-aid fixes everything. I used to cover myself in them all the time. [ ... oh. He remembers that now. There's a sort delay before he adds on: ] They must really care about you. These kids sound great but I have to ask why they were on some death wish.

[babysitters]

Yeah? Okay. I'm good for shit like that, if you show me I won't forget.

( Steve isn't smart, or... good at gens, or even particularly strategic. but he does think he's got decent spatial awareness. he could find Skull Rock without a map or a compass, he can surely find Quentin's favorite little stashes when he's in a trial without him. maybe it'll slow him down on getting tunneled out of a match for the sake of benevolence, even! )

It's, uh... those pills that don't do anything, right? Kids and bandaids are like that. ( Nancy must have explained placebos to him a dozen times. Steve doesn't recall the fancy word, but the concept, sure. ) They wanted to be the distraction. Go directly into the obvious danger levels of distraction. It was like when you pinch yourself so your face hurts less? Only it was setting a tunnel full of evil faceless dogs on fire.

[micronap]

Cool. Deal then. It'll come in handy.

[ Hopefully this will help Steve. It's for the best to share with him. Quentin himself isn't the best at spatial awareness (if he's not getting picked off a gen at least once every trial, is Quentin really in the match?) mostly due to how damn tired he is and how distracted he can get in general outside of that. But he knows where to look when he ends up near landmarks, at least. He keeps track of those things. Steve knowing where to run to for a quick heal will save them both. ]

Placebos? Yeah. Like that. [ Distraction running directly into the danger... ] Oh so they take after you. Why is there a tunnel of dogs?

[babysitters]

Uh, no no no. I was not the "let's run directly into the demo dog tunnels, maybe we can handle that better than the psychic child" guy. That was all Mike, and when I was out cold they decided to overrule me on the "absolutely not no we aren't doing that".

( no comment on how he's taken that role in the fog. 😇 )

The upside down shit was tunneling under farmland? I don't know, I think there was a reason why, I just don't remember.

[micronap]

I didn't say you encouraged them to do it, especially because you're pretty careful about looking out for people. But it's very Steve-like behavior to go right in there as a distraction, isn't it?

[ Quentin will comment on it for the both of them. ]

Probably because of the concussion if you were out cold.

[babysitters]

It's different here. Somebody is going to be in hot water, might as well be me. Not everyone around here is used to taking the heat.

( frankly he's adopted that attitude pretty well back home, too, but... shh )

Or it was over my head, man. I barely get the Upside Down stuff, even before a plate to the face.

[micronap]

It doesn't always have to be you. You could let me do it once in a while instead of shoving ahead.

A plate? [ Steve what. ] I mean demon creatures from another dimension or whatever would obviously be over anyone's head there but I do worry about you passing out from having a plate smashed into your face and being bandaged by children. You got to a hospital after, right?

[babysitters]

Yeah? You're think you can keep up a good chase? ( perhaps he is beholden to ask, though Steve is not of the opinion Quentin is particularly good at kiting a killer. which isn't an insult, all right? the guy is good at plenty of things Steve isn't.

...Quentin would probably be good at looping if he slept every once and awhile. )

Yeah, a plate. Things were going okay, he was laughing with bloody teeth, and then he hit me in the face with a plate. Like, broke it and everything. The guy was off his rocker. ( Steve doesn't. love. thinking about Billy Hargrove, and how he'd ended up. but facts are facts, he was totally unhinged, that's at least inarguable. )

That time I went in, yeah. ( which is horrible phrasing, like, there are other times when he didn't!!! )

[micronap]

Sometimes. I’ve been at this a while so I’m not incompetent.

[ Quentin’s exhaustion levels play into it. Steve isn’t wrong to assume he’s not pulling a masterful loop. If he slept, it’d all be a different story but right now he’s not running terribly far or for very long. Unless it’s with Krueger.

But he’s good at mind gaming, quick on his feet (metaphorically speaking). Trappers been in his own traps with him enough times that the miner tries to just pick him off a gen before setting up (lots of killers try to just pick him off a gen. They usually succeed). He gets killers to fall into holes in the floor and a pallet is rarely wasted. He’s good… if he doesn’t have to tire himself out. A good distraction just long enough for someone else to get away. ]

I think you and your kids should stop drinking the Hawkins’ water. Everyone around you sounds nuts. [ Steve???? ] That time only? Yours was still safe, right?

[babysitters]

I don't think you're incompetent, man, okay? ( Steve would rather have Quentin in a trial than Meg or Dwight, and they're members of the old guard. it's just that Quentin is a better field medic or for getting people off of hooks and out of danger, than he is at keeping up a chase. he can, he's smart, he can pull shit that Steve would never think to even try. just ... he's a candle burnt at both ends. there's not left of him left, is all. adrenaline can only get you so far. )

Look, if you want to take point sometimes, thats... fine. Yeah. ( in execution, will it be as easy as that? maybe not. HE WILL TRY, THOUGH, OK?? it's not like he doesn't trust Nancy or Jonathan, he just. doesn't like it! is all! )

It isn't Hawkins, more the portals to demonic hellscape that keep opening every time you sneeze. ...and look, my face getting fucked up happens on an annual basis, and it freaks my mom out when she gets a call from the hospital.

[micronap]

I know. [ Except he doesn't. He knows how he must look. People have been very patient with him but someone like Nea makes a point of slapping him across the face if they start together to wake his ass up and he's been told to "pay attention" with enough frequency he can practically time when it's coming. ]

Is it? You trust me, right? [ Pushing himself further is a great thing to do in his state. He's got this. He thinks he got this. ]

What? It should freak her out. Nobody's face is made for that??? The fact you're so handsome is kind of blowing my mind. Is it all reconstructed?

[babysitters]

Good, because I don't think that shit at all. ( Steve worries about Quentin, wants him to take a goddamn nap for sure. but that doesn't make him useless. Steve knows well enough what it's like to have people think you aren't good for anything, he's not gonna put that on someone else. )

Yeah, I trust you. And you better trust me to tag in if you need it, got it? ( split heat, trade hook states, they've got this!! (no)

the fact that you're so handsome... 😳 Quentin!!! Steve has only ever had another guy remark on his looks sarcastically or ironically, and granted this is paired with "did the doctors rebuild ur putty face to make u pretty" but still! a little embarrassing. maybe not a bad embarrassing. but embarrassing. his brain went brrr a little on that one, so the response is delayed. ) No! Jesus. It was never that bad. Just bruises, it healed up eventually. Did you tell your parents all the shit you couldn't explain? It wasn't worth getting her worked up.

[micronap]

I think the others do sometimes. [ See him as some kind of liability. He wouldn't put someone else down like that. He believes Steve. ]

Got it. If I need it. [ Steve won't be so tunneled out if he can take the heat for him every so often. (They will both die until there's more practice)

Quentin, just being completely genuine here with the thought, is an odd one perhaps. He never had any qualms about complimenting anyone. Guy, girl, whatever. Doesn't matter to him. He used to compliment Jesse all the time. His response back is delayed for a different reason. ] Yeah. I told my parent everything. Didn't believe me, of course. I guess it might not have been worth it. You have a point.

[babysitters]

They're just worried about you, man. ( which Steve can relate to, because Quentin UR LIFESTYLE IS VERY WORRYING!!! )

Good. You show up with a murderer and I'll know what that means.

I couldn't tell her everything, she didn't know about the stuff with the lab or the Upside Down. ( his parents had been incredibly ruffled by the idea of him having to sign NDAs but hadn't questioned it, besides the same disappointed sighs of him getting into trouble. ) I'm not sure my mom would believe me, even if I did tell her. I guess in their defense, it's pretty unbelievable. Dream demons and monsters from a different universe. Would you believe it, if it hadn't happened to you?

[micronap]

It's nice that they care. Really. But I'm fine. [ Sure, he is. ]

You always complain when someone else leads the killer right to us. That's going to make me look so bad.

Because of the big conspiracy thing, right? I remember. It's pretty out there... [ He thinks about it carefully. Would he? He kept denying it up until he got drowned in a pool. ] No. [ That's why he'd never blame him. He can't be mad at his father for not buying it. Not for that. He had no proof. It just looked like there was a violent killer on the lose, case left open, and he lost his damn mind from the stress of it all. ] I would've dealt with it differently. Kinder. Maybe... seek out a therapist or something. Ha ha. But no. I wouldn't believe us.

[babysitters]

You're not fine, at all. But letting you fall asleep where that creep can mess with you is worse. ( truly a MISERABLE situation, btw, the mom friend in him hates there's no solution but Quentin constantly being a tweaked out mess. but Freddy isn't repelled by Kate Bush, so, what can they do? nothing. a big fat nothing. it blows. )

I complain when they do it on accident. You'd be doing it on purpose, it's different.

Yeah. She knew I got in trouble with the feds and it freaked her out. My dad wouldn't shut up about them having the power to make sure I couldn't get into school if I didn't follow the terms of the NDA. Jokes on him, I didn't get in anywhere even without the feds vetoing my applications.

I didn't believe it, either. Nance was worried about this faceless monster and I was worried my dad would get pissed I gave my friends his beer. We figured it out when we had to, though. Silver goddamn lining, or whatever.

[micronap]

Lose/lose. At least I got people watching my back now. [ Like some quality friends here that understand sleep is the worse option. Some of them think because everyone gets nightmares he should just suck it up for a few hours but they don't... get it. What's going on in there. Freddy would make a nasty joke about Kate's last name and probably jam out to the song. Musically themed nightmare. ]

If you're sure. I'll tag team you in.

NDA with threats attached, no doubt. That's such horseshit. That means you'll always have someone's eyes on you. There's no protection there it's just a shut up order. The government sucks. You didn't get in anywhere though? None of your extracurriculars made up for anything? Essays about sports are almost a surefire. I just had to ramble about swimming championships for three pages and have Dad fix my grammar.

I figured it out too late. If I'd known sooner maybe...
I'm glad you had that silver lining, at least. Sorry about the government shit-show and your injured face though.

[babysitters]

I'm sure. You better do it, or else. ( or else he'll jump in whether Quentin wants it or not. tbh he might do that even if Quentin does show up with the Wraith on his tail. )

No protection, and always wondering if somebody was listening. I was a dumbass senior year, really thought that Uncle Sam wanted us to stay quiet to keep people safe. Not that they were just covering their ass. ( it's a little shameful to talk about his lack of higher education options, even here in the Fog, where it's such a nonissue it barely matters. still stings more than he'd like to admit, though. ) Guess I wasn't good enough at anything to excuse shit grades. I wrote a paper, sure, but it was bad too. I'm just not cut out for that stuff.

( sorry about your face is at least worth a huff of a laugh, and Steve needs one after the college talk. ) Yeah, thanks. You should have seen me before all the fights. Like Felix's long lost twin or something.

[micronap]

I will, I will. [ He'll try not to for as long as possible and maybe intentionally lead the killer so far across the map he can't possibly do it before going down but if Steve's right there he'll try to. Maybe. ]

That's too much paranoia for me. I mean, things were more hidden then too, I think. I wouldn't call you a dumbass about wanting to believe they had your back. [ Ah... maybe he shouldn't have asked about that. It's the Principal's Son thing speaking. Now he feels bad for maybe implying something he hadn't meant to by that. He doesn't think Steve is stupid or anything. ] Sorry, I just thought it was
The government writing NDAs to hide anyone dying on your teams probably had something to do with it, I think. None of that is important anyway.

[ Let's graciously switch the conversation to the funny part. ] Felix? Really? Eh. He never does anything for me. Not that he's bad looking or anything. Post-Fight Steve is probably better.

[babysitters]

( it's ok, Quentin, Steve knows he's stupid enough for the both of you! )

Whatever, it's cool. I barely graduated, I would have flunked out whatever place was dumb enough to take me. ( and senior year was a bit of a sensitive time to get rejection after rejection, Steve didn't exactly chomp at the bit to try again after a summer at Scoops Ahoy. and now he's here, so! )

You probably can't look at the guy straight in the face because he's too pretty, that's why. ( totally normal thing to say about another guy, right? yeah! ) Glad my post-plate face didn't scare you off, man. I gotta win people over with personality these days.

( 100% full of shit alert, this is what Quentin gets for calling him pretty. full on fishing!! )

[micronap]

[ HE SAID NO CALLING YOURSELF STUPID. They struck this deal already! ]

No way. I think you would've been okay once you figured out your passion and stuff. That's okay though, you know. Not everyone needs a college degree. And for what it's worth, I don't have a highschool diploma so you're more educated than I am on paper. Yup. [ Is he helping him feel better or making Steve feel worse? He's trying. ]

No, he's not my type at ALL. I don't want to sound mean but he's got generic guy face? Like, I've already seen him before? He's just dude everyone says is handsome but you forget everything about him. Does that make sense? That's probably super mean. Felix is really nice but he looks like a Ken doll. [ Absolutely normal conversation right here. ] I think you don't need to but you're doing great with that. I think you're coming off very likeable with that personality.

[ Hook. Line. ]

[babysitters]

( he can think he's stupid to himself, Quentin, stop being the thought police!!! )

You'll get your diploma when we get out of here. And I'll figure my shit out when we get out of here, too, so stop feeling bad for me about it.

Ken is the dude Barbie, right? That was my whole point, almost crazy how good looking he is. ( Steve is frankly not sure what his type is. but objectively, Felix is a handsome guy! generic?!?? felix, sweetie, i'm so sorry

Steve probably didn't need to rib Quentin for compliments when the guy is nice to him all the time, but, Quentin is cute, so, he did. is it a crime? no i don't think it is. ) Very likable, is that how it is? Thanks. I'm trying. We can't all just wake up adorable weirdos.

[micronap]

Sorry. You're right. We'll be so skilled out of here. You'll be hired by anybody on the spot.

Yeah, the dude Barbie. I don't know. I don't really get it. He's fine, I guess. I think you're better looking. [ Poor Felix. He hopes this never leaves this conversation to reach his ears. The guy has enough problems and he doesn't need to be bothered with the information one of the kids here thinks his Ken Doll face is dull.

Quentin's perfectly fine giving a compliment when someone wants one, as long as they're not being massively irritating about it and he has one to give that's genuine. Especially when he just made the guy feel like crap a second ago. Steve's great. Steve's charming. ] I'm probably underselling it but I didn't want to sound like I was hardcore flirting. You're welcome. And ...thank you. I'll take it.

[babysitters]

How do you put "survived the fog" on a resume, man? No way, we'd be fucked, nobody would care how many times we dipped on Michael Myers before he killed anybody.

( well Steve isn't going to tell Felix that Quentin thinks he's prettier than he is, he's been raised just enough to know you don't do that. but is Steve the only one with a traumatic brain injury in this conversation?? and then Quentin used the word f l i r t... where is Steve's gay wife to help him traverse bisexuality, fuk )

I didn't think you were ... flirting. With me. It's cool. So, uh... good. You should take it. I like weirdos, it's a compliment.

[micronap]

We'd all be really good at repairing generators and can always become mechanics! We'll be car people. You don't need any sort of degree for that and we know what we're doing. They'd hire.

[ He just doesn't think Felix is all that and a bag of chips. What's the hype? ]

Oh, okay. Cool. I wouldn't unless you were into that. [ He should shut his mouth now before he makes Steve uncomfortable. ] You've made it known. I am taking the compliment in stride.