open rp post/continuations

[slr]

hit me up for continuations or new stuff!

prompt ideas: insomnia meme | rain meme

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love me mr trust issues

[bestfeature]

[ It's not awkward.

It's totally not awkward with him, Nancy, and Jonathan and everything that's happened in the last— shit, has it been a month now? Winter break's coming up soon which means it has to have been. It feels like only yesterday that he was guarding those shitheads at the junkyard with only a bat in hand and sending Nancy off with Jonathan, knowing it was the period at the end of their sentence.

But it's not awkward. They're cool. He's fine. They even talked after and he's . . . fine. Fine.

Billy Hargrove is staying away, which is a plus. So aside from the occasional low effort jeer from Tommy H — which, who cares, get better material, man — school's kind of okay. Kind of. It's not like he's been actively avoiding Nancy and Jonathan, two of the only people in this hell hole of a high school that he feels like he can talk to, he's just been— busy. With college applications and stuff. Basketball. Things.

So when the final bell rings and students shuffle off to their lockers, Steve lingers around, lurking near where Jonathan's locker is. Somehow, it's slightly less awkward to start with him. Not that it's awkward or anything, because it isn't. Totally. ]

if it was that easy trust issues wouldn't be my name

[slr]

[ It's totally not awkward.

For all the shit that had gone on, one of the few things Jonathan can't believe is that he's dating Nancy. That she chose him over anyone else, let alone... well. It's weird. This is the real Upside Down. Avoiding Steve hadn't been the plan but it wasn't hard, since it seems like they were being avoided too. And even if things were fine, or "fine," he didn't want anyone to feel like he was rubbing this stuff in Steve's face. Jonathan knew first hand what it was like, and whatever the relationship between him and Steve was? The guy didn't deserve it.

Anyway, Nancy's off to the library to work on some homework; Jonathan's debating using the photography club's dark room or going out to take some photos. Mom works late tonight, and Will is supposed to be going to Mike's house for dinner. The hallway to his locker is starting to empty by the time Jonathan gets there... he's not expecting to see Steve nearby, but he chooses not to say anything as he pops the door open. He glances at him, but ultimately keeps his head down and grabs a couple of books from inside. ]

[bestfeature]

[ He knew it would be left up to him to at least start the conversation and probably carry it for a bit, but it was honestly better than the awkward dance that it would have been with Nancy. Not that that would have been awkward, because this isn't awkward at all.

He runs a hand through his hair and steps over, putting on a pleasant face. He'd had many years of practice keeping a carefree grin on. ]

Hey, man. What, I don't even get a "hi" now?

[slr]

[ Okay then. ]

Hey.

[ There you go, Steve. But seriously, Jonathan closes his locker and shoves his book inside his bag, careful not to mess around with the camera he's also carrying. ]

Didn't think you were looking for me.

[ Jonathan knows a lurk when he sees one. ]

[bestfeature]

Why not?

[ He knows damn well "why not," but that's how he rolls — shrugging his shoulders, keeping things cool. ]

Sorry, man. I've been busy with— [ He waves a hand idly. ] Applications and carting Henderson around and stuff.

[slr]

Busy, yeah, That's why. Your car's getting a lot of mileage these days.

[ He knows that's not quite it but Everything is Fine so he doesn't push it. Jonathan knows. He also manages to keep eye contact with Steve even if he feels awkward in this totally not awkward situation. ]

So... what's up?

[bestfeature]

Not much, you know.

[ He rocks back and forth on his feet for a moment. It's not awkward, it's not awkward.

It's awkward. ]

Look, I wanted to— see how you were doing. I guess?

[ It's awkward, but he's powering through it. ]

[slr]

I'm doing okay.

[ No matter how their last conversation had gone it's still a little awkward, but he'll try. He'll keep trying. He's a bit hesitant when he answers though. Habit. A long standing one. ]

What about you?

[ Small talk is so bad. He pauses and then quickly adds: ]

Any plans for the night?

[ Cause that's the stuff you ask people, right? Your "friends." ]

[bestfeature]

[ Plans. He used to have plans all the time, though they mostly involved doing stupid shit around town before coming back and getting drunk by the pool with whatever he could find in his father's "secret" liquor cabinet. The truth is, he hasn't touched it in months. But he also hasn't thrown any of his infamous parties in ages either. Plans lately have been whatever Dustin strongarms him into — or rather, whatever he lets Dustin strongarm him into.

It's almost sad. Almost. ]

Yeah, well, I haven't really decided yet. I've got a lot going on.

[ A whole lot of nothing, but hey. ]

[slr]

Then what are you doing here talking to me?

[ The words are a little harsh but he doesn't say them that way. Doesn't mean them that way, either. A curious, honest question, asked with a touch of humor. One that he wouldn't have had to ask before everything went down, because Jonathan would know what's coming. Things are a bit more complicated now than they ever were before. ]

[bestfeature]

Uh, maybe I like talking with you. Duh.

[ It's a bit on the nose, but he's already tired of the awkward dance. ]

[slr]

I'm such a great conversationalist.

[ He takes a step past Steve, turning around so he can look at him as he takes a step backward down the hall. ]

But if you wanna talk that badly, can we do it outside? I have some stuff I need to do while its still light out.

[bestfeature]

You make it sound like I'm desperate or something.

[ Which, okay, a little over a year ago, he would have said as much. But that was then and this was now.

He raises an eyebrow but moves to follow along. ]

Stuff? Like what. What stuff.

[ what does jonathan even DO. it's a mystery. ]

will dw give you this notification. let's find out.

[bestfeature]

[ It's not that Steve's concerned about Jonathan per se. But, you know, their small team of monster hunters (which is what they are, okay) is, well. Small. And the fact that his ankle looked bad hadn't escaped Steve's notice. That, and there was something he just couldn't let lie.

It's not your help that I have a problem with.

Were they friends? He didn't know; he couldn't tell and, anyway, it wasn't like he knew how he felt either. But on the other hand, it's not like he gave much of a shit before when it was someone like Tommy or Franky R, before Carol had declared him persona non grata. Shit, his old "friends" really were assholes and so was he. It was different now though, and it bothered him to think that Jonathan Byers was off by himself in his house, hopefully laid up and letting his stupid ankle rest instead of being a total stubborn jackhole.

Which is why he shows up at the Byers home the next afternoon with a bag of elastic bandages, an ice pack, and a bottle of Advil as well as a couple of VHS tapes from the nearby rental place tucked under his arm. Steve rocks back and forth on his feet for a moment before knocking at the door. ]

I am here finally!! sorry!!

[slr]

[ Sunday afternoon, and Jonathan had spent way too long in bed, feeling guilty that he couldn't get up to make breakfast for Mom and Will. But they're out now, and Jonathan is stuck inside for the time being... Well, there were worse ways to spend the weekend. Mom hadn't lectured him, at least, but he wasn't supposed to go out. Keep his foot up. She'd check on it tonight, and they'd see about school tomorrow. The worst part about this was that he probably wasn't going to be able to develop the star pictures he'd taken last night.

Priorities.

He'd slowly migrated from the bedroom to the living room by the time the afternoon had rolled around, because at least the TV was there, and it was something different to look at. He's got a book next to him, but he's spent most of the time just being pretty bored, flipping through the channels.

And then the door happens and Jonathan starts at the sound, glancing down at his ankle propped up on the other end of the couch, foot sockless and still looking, well, not great. At least the swelling had gone down a little. ]

It's open?

[ He calls out, hoping whoever's there can hear him. Mom didn't want him getting up to answer the door, but he will if he needs to. ]

no worries!!

[bestfeature]

[ Well, that's good enough for him. Steve shrugs his shoulders and opens the door, stepping in. He briefly glances around the house, chuckling a bit to himself. How many times had they had to clean up this house now? It was amazing how everything seemed to be back in order, like they hadn't lit a demogorgon on fire down that hallway or witnessed a demodog get launched through the window to his right. But then again, that was a testament to Mrs. Byers's tenacity. Well, that and a general group effort to bring back some sense of normalcy.

He spots Jonathan on the couch and gives him a wave with his free hand as he pushes the door shut behind him with his foot. ]

Wow. I'm actually surprised to see you taking it easy there.

[ . . . that's as good as a "hey how's it going" from him, really. ]

[slr]

[ The house will never be quite the same from everything it's gone through but it's still home. Everyone had pitched in to get things back together, at least, so it hadn't been rough for too long. (Admittedly, he still feels a little guilty about the burn marks in the hallway that hadn't quite faded from the floor.)

Jonathan pushes himself into a sitting position when Steve comes inside. Okay, so he's not sure who he expected but it hadn't really been Steve. Still though? Appreciated. It had been getting mind-numbing in here by himself. And, he doesn't mind Steve's company... As strange as that is to really wrap his head around still.

Jonathan still can't decide what they are. And it's still weird. ]

Mom would kill me if I didn't.

[ For various definitions of kill, anyway. ]

I wasn't really expecting guests though.

[bestfeature]

Are you ever?

[ He snorts lightly at that, walking over and setting the bag and the VHS tapes down nearby. ]

Figured you could use some of this crap. [ At that, he gestures at the bag as he tugs a chair over. With a shrug, Steve opens it and starts pulling out the contents. ] Didn't know if you had any of the ACE shit on hand but I went with "no" because it's you. Another ice pack because jesus, Byers, you did a real number on your ankle there. And my personal favorite, of course — Advil.

[ And a couple movies from Family Video — The Last Starfighter and This Is Spinal Tap — but he doesn't mention those. But then again, it's not like he actually picked out the movies himself exactly, so. ]

[slr]

[ This is extremely thoughtful of Steve? And maybe Jonathan isn't completely surprised given the help he'd gotten last night, no matter how grudging it had kind of sounded at the time. But he can be gracious, and thankful, because like, of course they didn't have ACE bandages. Not that he wants to wrap his ankle right now.

And no, he's not ever expecting (or prepared for) guests. ]

I'm pretty sure we have ice. [ even if he doesn't have any on it right now, oops ] And it doesn't really hurt as much as it did.

[ Well, it just hurts differently? Aching more than anything else... ]

You really didn't have to do this.

[bestfeature]

Yeah, I know. But see, this is the shit that friends do for each other.

[ At least, that's how it should be in theory. If he'd tried doing anything like this for Tommy H back in the day, he would've been teased endlessly for it. He already got ribbed a bunch when he'd gone to check in on Nancy after Barb's disappearance. ]

Also, it was either I do this or I tell Dustin and let the rugrats handle it, and I figured you'd probably prefer low-key. Though I really should've let them at you, Mr. I'm-Too-Good-For-A-Flashlight.

[slr]

[ What friends do for each other. He's not wrong. It's kind of... nice? To hear something like that. It's not really even about Steve saying it, though hearing him say it? Wants to make the idea cement in his own mind. Friends. Jonathan presses his lips together in the faint image of a smile as he ducks his head and Steve continues on - ]

Uh, no thanks. My ankle would probably hurt more. But I get it. I'll take a flashlight next time. If there is a next time. Mom's gonna be the one giving me a hard time whenever you're not.

[bestfeature]

You know? If anyone else put me in the same boat as their mom, I'd be offended. Fortunately for you, your mom's pretty badass.

[ If there was one thing he'd learned in the past year and some change, it's that Joyce Byers was hardcore and not a woman to be trifled with. He smirks at that as he leans back into his chair. ]

And good, you deserve it.

[slr]

[ He has to return the smirk with his own smile again, because it's true - Joyce Byers is pretty badass. He always believed in his mom but, admittedly, there had been times when he wasn't quite so sure. After all, she was his mom. Moms aren't supposed to be cool, right? ]

I can't deny that.

[ Both, either. Looking at Steve reminds him that, sometimes it's easy to misjudge a book by its cover. Hell, he's victim to that most of the time too, though he kind of welcomes it at this point, because it's just easier, and he doesn't like people anyway.

Steve deserved the judging at first, but now? ]

You might be in the same boat as mom, but at least you can't ground me.

[ Steve probably would, where his mom is a little less severe about that. ]

[bestfeature]

No, but I can give you shit all goddamn day.

[ Which would imply that he's spending an extended amount of time here, and that wasn't necessarily what he means, but still. And in a way, that's like a grounding, isn't it? Sort of? ]

[slr]

That's a lot of shit.

[ And yeah, that would imply that, but that's not what Jonathan really gets, either. Just that he gives enough of a damn to shit on him about it. In a friendly way? Because... that's what friends do, right? ]

It's a toss up as to which is worse.