( ah, yes, the Hagan classic. tear people apart so you feel a little less small and miserable. Steve doesn't miss it, having to tune out and occasionally telling Tommy to stuff it if the routine went on too long. he's keeping odd company these days, but it is funny how a drug dealer is proving more companionable than the best friend he'd had since third grade.
if Steve notices the jitters in Eddie's hands, he assumes it's that he's tweaking rather than nerves. which is a rude assumption, but look. he's aware the guy sells more than grass. who knows how much of his own product he samples. Steve props his head in his hand, trying to focus on the smoky fuzz in his throat and in his head. the sooner it hits, the better he will feel. and he's felt like shit for awhile now, so, soon can't happen fast enough.
Eddie asking about what he'll do after he graduates isn't helping, either. Steve opens his eyes, like he's coming to or waking up and isn't sure he was ready. ) Who knows, ( he says, and truly, as much as he'd like a better answer he doesn't have one. any application letter he sent came back with red ink, working for his old man seems less and less likely and what else is he supposed to do with himself? wait around for more monsters to slink out of the woodwork? )
Maybe I'll follow your lead and take another year to think about it. ( okay so maybe Tommy wasn't the ONLY dick in that friendship. they're probably not close enough to rib each other like that. but it's too late!!! it's toothless, locker room jibe material, playful at best. paired with a tired smirk, like Steve is proud of himself for being a brat. surely nerds also poke and prod at each other for sport, right? Eddie will get it. )
( it's weird. before the arrival of Billy Hargrove, Eddie would have never laughed at Steve's gentle ribbing. he would have immediately jumped to the defensive. at least, he likes to think so, but if he were to be well and truly honest with himself, he would maybe admit that his ceaseless crush on the jock does tend to cloud his judgment. it's something Jeff has called him out on before, though nobody else in Hellfire knows the extent of his sexuality and the hypocrisy that is born out of such a crush.
but Steve has shown him to be a different person than he was when Eddie made his first attempt in his senior year. coupled with the relaxation that comes with being stoned, he does find himself laughing, pointing at Steve as if that were well and truly clever. )
Nice one. Word of advice, though, don't follow in my footsteps too much, or Mrs. O'Donnell might end up with a crush on you so bad she wants to keep you for another year. ( and if he adds a wink to that to cover what he truly thinks of all of this...well, he's only human, after all. )
( unlike some people ( cough cough BILLY HARGROVE cough cough ), Steve is not particularly inclined to ladies old enough to be his mother. while it is a fairly normal boy thing to crow about hot for teacher, Steve makes a face, unimpressed. ) Ugh, ( he says, smile creeping up at the corners of his mouth. but it's paired with a huff of a laugh too, because it's so much closer to normal he's felt in weeks. months maybe. stupid jokes about school. weed smoke clinging to the polyester of his windbreaker. someone his own goddamn age to hang out with. while all the circumstances are still far from ideal, somehow they're just a little bit better than they had been even 24 hours ago.
he's actually kinda grateful, though it's surely not something he can explain to Eddie Goddamn Munson. that he's so sore desperate for something normal that this moment feels like the old torn throw his grandma made that he keeps in the den so his mom will stop trying to toss it. comfortable, reassuring, maybe in a way that doesn't even make sense. it's just... nice. even if he barely knows the guy, the company makes him feel a little more human. the loneliness gets about as bad as the shadows turning sinister. and it turns out Eddie isn't half as bad as Steve expected, from his showboating on top of tables in the cafeteria, which is kinda a surprise too. )
Nah, I think I'm good. She's not my type. ( discussions of type are a bit bittersweet right about now, because what even IS his type? nothing like Nancy is a bit too broad of a spectrum, and honestly maybe he's not even ready to contemplate a new answer yet. what he is ready for, however, is the joint. he impatiently waggles his fingers, even gives Eddie a slight pout. if accused of it, he would deny it. ) C'mon, I thought we were sharing, here.
( it has the intended effect, and Eddie has an easy smile on his face in response. although it's slim pickings for someone of Eddie's, well, preferences, he can safely assure you that none of the teachers at Hawkins High fit that bill. it really does feel like hell on earth sometimes, with the occasional breath of fresh air to remind Eddie that once he's out of this hellhole, there's a world worth living in.
but damn if Principal Higgins doesn't make it incredibly difficult to get to the finish line.
and while Eddie has his friends, has the nerds that Harrington's former cronies would regularly shove into lockers while Harrington disapproved, he has to admit that this is pleasant. it's pleasant in a way that surprises him, that makes this town feel just a little less suffocating. though he expects this friendliness might not last once Steve leaves his trailer, Eddie can pretend that when he walks into the doors of Hawkins High next time, he might be well on his way to making a new friend.
it's a pipe dream, but he's clinging to it.
he laughs at Steve's antics and takes another hit before passing the joint over, ignoring the jolts of something charged that bounce up his arm when their fingers touch. )
There you go, big boy. You can finish it off.
( yeah, this might be the only night he gets this, but at least he gets to have this at all. )
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no subject
Date: 2023-10-24 05:35 pm (UTC)if Steve notices the jitters in Eddie's hands, he assumes it's that he's tweaking rather than nerves. which is a rude assumption, but look. he's aware the guy sells more than grass. who knows how much of his own product he samples. Steve props his head in his hand, trying to focus on the smoky fuzz in his throat and in his head. the sooner it hits, the better he will feel. and he's felt like shit for awhile now, so, soon can't happen fast enough.
Eddie asking about what he'll do after he graduates isn't helping, either. Steve opens his eyes, like he's coming to or waking up and isn't sure he was ready. ) Who knows, ( he says, and truly, as much as he'd like a better answer he doesn't have one. any application letter he sent came back with red ink, working for his old man seems less and less likely and what else is he supposed to do with himself? wait around for more monsters to slink out of the woodwork? )
Maybe I'll follow your lead and take another year to think about it. ( okay so maybe Tommy wasn't the ONLY dick in that friendship. they're probably not close enough to rib each other like that. but it's too late!!! it's toothless, locker room jibe material, playful at best. paired with a tired smirk, like Steve is proud of himself for being a brat. surely nerds also poke and prod at each other for sport, right? Eddie will get it. )
no subject
Date: 2023-10-29 12:59 am (UTC)but Steve has shown him to be a different person than he was when Eddie made his first attempt in his senior year. coupled with the relaxation that comes with being stoned, he does find himself laughing, pointing at Steve as if that were well and truly clever. )
Nice one. Word of advice, though, don't follow in my footsteps too much, or Mrs. O'Donnell might end up with a crush on you so bad she wants to keep you for another year. ( and if he adds a wink to that to cover what he truly thinks of all of this...well, he's only human, after all. )
wrap on yours? 🎀
Date: 2023-11-11 06:51 am (UTC)he's actually kinda grateful, though it's surely not something he can explain to Eddie Goddamn Munson. that he's so sore desperate for something normal that this moment feels like the old torn throw his grandma made that he keeps in the den so his mom will stop trying to toss it. comfortable, reassuring, maybe in a way that doesn't even make sense. it's just... nice. even if he barely knows the guy, the company makes him feel a little more human. the loneliness gets about as bad as the shadows turning sinister. and it turns out Eddie isn't half as bad as Steve expected, from his showboating on top of tables in the cafeteria, which is kinda a surprise too. )
Nah, I think I'm good. She's not my type. ( discussions of type are a bit bittersweet right about now, because what even IS his type? nothing like Nancy is a bit too broad of a spectrum, and honestly maybe he's not even ready to contemplate a new answer yet. what he is ready for, however, is the joint. he impatiently waggles his fingers, even gives Eddie a slight pout. if accused of it, he would deny it. ) C'mon, I thought we were sharing, here.
✅
Date: 2023-11-13 02:18 pm (UTC)but damn if Principal Higgins doesn't make it incredibly difficult to get to the finish line.
and while Eddie has his friends, has the nerds that Harrington's former cronies would regularly shove into lockers while Harrington disapproved, he has to admit that this is pleasant. it's pleasant in a way that surprises him, that makes this town feel just a little less suffocating. though he expects this friendliness might not last once Steve leaves his trailer, Eddie can pretend that when he walks into the doors of Hawkins High next time, he might be well on his way to making a new friend.
it's a pipe dream, but he's clinging to it.
he laughs at Steve's antics and takes another hit before passing the joint over, ignoring the jolts of something charged that bounce up his arm when their fingers touch. )
There you go, big boy. You can finish it off.
( yeah, this might be the only night he gets this, but at least he gets to have this at all. )