[ there's a pause, like she needs to let the moment settle, maybe, sink in. ]
Okay. [ she releases a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in, hands linking together in front of her. she's fussing, a bit. still thinking. she's still got the thinky-face on. ] And- So I'm supposed to just ignore the way you kind of tense up anytime I say the word "bullshit". That's something I should get used to?
[ there isn't an ounce of sarcasm in her tone, and there's something like concern in her voice, but she's trying not to lay it on too thick or anything. she's pretty sure he'll just shut her down again if she's not too careful. ]
I don't- [ aah. just say it. just get it out. ] I don't want to hurt you. Anymore. And I don't know if I'm doing that because we never talk about it. So this is me trying to talk about it.
[ He says it almost immediately, without a second thought, and actually winces at his own words. With a sigh, Steve lifts a hand to scratch at the back of his neck again as he glances aside, taking a moment to consider his words. ]
. . . I mean, look. What's the point? What do— I don't know, what do either of us have to gain by rehashing this shit. We've both moved on. What's the point. Just, you know. Just leave it.
[ It's sweet, really, that she doesn't want to hurt him anymore, but everything Nancy Wheeler-related is like a gaping wound to Steve. It's hurt less over time, but it was a state of being, so. Whatever. He'd figured that over time, it would hurt less and less until it didn't hurt at all, and things would be fine. They had to be fine. ]
[ there's honestly no reason why "we've both moved on" should stick out in her mind like a headline in bold print, but for some reason it does. and it's not really anything like jealousy or entitlement that strikes her, it's the fact that it makes her actually- think about it. for a moment. and that's weird. he's stating a simple thing. a fact, actually. it's a fact.
he's right. of course he's right.
she wants to argue it, because when does nancy not want to argue? but she won't.
and there's another i'm sorry that she wants to voice, but she won't do that either ]
You're right. [ she doesn't actually sound like she's agreeing with him, but she's trying. ] So we'll... move on. [ like it's that easy. she takes a slow step forward again, continuing their walk ] And I think we should move onto the diner. I know it was just a joke, but now I want a milkshake. You can get whatever you want, my treat.
[ He's honestly surprised that she doesn't argue, so it throws him for a loop when she agrees. This was what he wanted, right? It's for the best, isn't it?
He starts walking again, matching her pace. ]
Your treat, huh? [ Steve raises an eyebrow briefly before he grins, continuing. ] Alright, alright, I'm sold.
[ They don't have to talk about it, so he just . . . won't. It's easier that way. Milkshakes are easier than letting the salt slip through again. ]
[ oh, it's there. it's simmering just under the surface. the "okay, but-". it's right there. but so is the desire to make sure things are okay, and maybe- maybe that's how things are going to go now. maybe that was part of the problem, you know, on her part? boundaries. and her.. lack of them. lack of respecting them! that's a thing she can learn to do. she's so focused on truth, and honesty, but maybe there's limits to that. she can handle that.
she can. ]
So... Do you have plans? For the rest of summer?
[ man she's really bad at hiding when she wants to be talking about something else. sooo bad. ]
[ He seems to relax almost instantly as the conversation shifts, his guard slowly beginning to lower. ]
Job hunting, eventually. Robin's got a few leads we're looking into, so that'll keep my father off my back. [ He shrugs at that. ] Apparently, the mall imploding on itself or whatever is a good enough excuse to get a couple weeks off before I have to hit the grind again.
[ Steve's relationship with his parents has always been . . . latchkey, to say the least. He wouldn't say that they didn't care, necessarily, because he knows deep down that it's no coincidence that the Harringtons are in town for an extended period of time after their son was involved in the "mall fire" or whatever excuse the government gave to cover it all up. Really, any complaints on his part about them seem petty in comparison to other "top-tier" parenting he's seen over the last few years — Dustin leaning over from the passenger seat to whisper to him about El's past (or, presumably, his interpretation of it), the way Will would get quiet whenever fathers would get brought up, the tightness in Jonathan's jaw at the same time, how Max would push, always push, and Billy Hargrove's whole sad existence.
The worst thing he had to say was "my dad made me get a job on my own and hid the key to the liquor cabinet like an ass." ]
Knowing my luck, I'll get roped into being Dustin's personal driver or something until then.
King Steve, the chauffeur. It sort of has a nice ring to it. Or- some kind of ring, anyway.
[ she couldn't help it, okay. it was an easy shot to take, and hopefully the soft tone of her voice and the smile on her face makes it obvious she didn't mean it in a cutting way. she chews her lip again, only hesitating for a moment before- ]
Do your parents know? I mean, do they know everything that's happened? Mine are in the dark, somehow. I mean, they know about the lab, but they don't know the details. They really don't know how involved with it we all were. I don't think I'd ever be allowed to leave the house again if they did.
[ He's not offended by it. If anything, it makes him smile a bit more. Sure, being a chauffeur was demeaning, but deep down he knows he'd do anything for those kids — especially Dustin. And it meant he'd know they were safe and not getting chased by some fleshy abomination on their bikes or something, so that was a bonus.
His smile fades as the subject shifts to his parents, and Steve shakes his head slowly. ]
Hell no. All they know is I was caught up in the cover-up story at Starcourt, which— [ at that, he gestures at his face. ] — they bought? Somehow? But that's it. They don't even know about the lab or anything.
That's probably a good thing. My mom actually indirectly convinced me to chase after this, to figure out what the hell was going on. She obviously had no idea people were being brainwashed to sacrifice themselves to this- giant- monster trying to take over the world, but she told me not to give up on it.I like to think maybe she'd be proud of me, if she knew the truth, but it wouldn't stop her from grounding me for the rest of my life. So it's definitely for the best.
[ she's giving steve yet another look, a fond sort of thing hidden beneath the.. something. ]
To be fair, you do have a penchant for getting in trouble. Including the face-hurting kind. Maybe they just think you got into another fight.
[ As she relays the story about her mother to him, Steve actually smiles a little bit, chuckling softly. ]
Yeah, seriously. Your mom is one hell of a multitasker sometimes, so she'd do both while reaming Mike a new one.
[ He lifts a hand to scrub at his face lightly. The bruising had finally faded, and his face wasn't nearly as sensitive as it had been before, all the residual puffiness gone. It had looked worse than it was, honestly, but he'd seen the concern on everyone's faces — including his parents, in their own way. The fact that they were still in town for weeks on end was a signal on its own. ]
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no subject
Okay. [ she releases a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in, hands linking together in front of her. she's fussing, a bit. still thinking. she's still got the thinky-face on. ] And- So I'm supposed to just ignore the way you kind of tense up anytime I say the word "bullshit". That's something I should get used to?
[ there isn't an ounce of sarcasm in her tone, and there's something like concern in her voice, but she's trying not to lay it on too thick or anything. she's pretty sure he'll just shut her down again if she's not too careful. ]
I don't- [ aah. just say it. just get it out. ] I don't want to hurt you. Anymore. And I don't know if I'm doing that because we never talk about it. So this is me trying to talk about it.
no subject
[ He says it almost immediately, without a second thought, and actually winces at his own words. With a sigh, Steve lifts a hand to scratch at the back of his neck again as he glances aside, taking a moment to consider his words. ]
. . . I mean, look. What's the point? What do— I don't know, what do either of us have to gain by rehashing this shit. We've both moved on. What's the point. Just, you know. Just leave it.
[ It's sweet, really, that she doesn't want to hurt him anymore, but everything Nancy Wheeler-related is like a gaping wound to Steve. It's hurt less over time, but it was a state of being, so. Whatever. He'd figured that over time, it would hurt less and less until it didn't hurt at all, and things would be fine. They had to be fine. ]
no subject
he's right. of course he's right.
she wants to argue it, because when does nancy not want to argue? but she won't.
and there's another i'm sorry that she wants to voice, but she won't do that either ]
You're right. [ she doesn't actually sound like she's agreeing with him, but she's trying. ] So we'll... move on. [ like it's that easy. she takes a slow step forward again, continuing their walk ] And I think we should move onto the diner. I know it was just a joke, but now I want a milkshake. You can get whatever you want, my treat.
no subject
He starts walking again, matching her pace. ]
Your treat, huh? [ Steve raises an eyebrow briefly before he grins, continuing. ] Alright, alright, I'm sold.
[ They don't have to talk about it, so he just . . . won't. It's easier that way. Milkshakes are easier than letting the salt slip through again. ]
no subject
she can. ]
So... Do you have plans? For the rest of summer?
[ man she's really bad at hiding when she wants to be talking about something else. sooo bad. ]
no subject
Job hunting, eventually. Robin's got a few leads we're looking into, so that'll keep my father off my back. [ He shrugs at that. ] Apparently, the mall imploding on itself or whatever is a good enough excuse to get a couple weeks off before I have to hit the grind again.
[ Steve's relationship with his parents has always been . . . latchkey, to say the least. He wouldn't say that they didn't care, necessarily, because he knows deep down that it's no coincidence that the Harringtons are in town for an extended period of time after their son was involved in the "mall fire" or whatever excuse the government gave to cover it all up. Really, any complaints on his part about them seem petty in comparison to other "top-tier" parenting he's seen over the last few years — Dustin leaning over from the passenger seat to whisper to him about El's past (or, presumably, his interpretation of it), the way Will would get quiet whenever fathers would get brought up, the tightness in Jonathan's jaw at the same time, how Max would push, always push, and Billy Hargrove's whole sad existence.
The worst thing he had to say was "my dad made me get a job on my own and hid the key to the liquor cabinet like an ass." ]
Knowing my luck, I'll get roped into being Dustin's personal driver or something until then.
no subject
[ she couldn't help it, okay. it was an easy shot to take, and hopefully the soft tone of her voice and the smile on her face makes it obvious she didn't mean it in a cutting way. she chews her lip again, only hesitating for a moment before- ]
Do your parents know? I mean, do they know everything that's happened? Mine are in the dark, somehow. I mean, they know about the lab, but they don't know the details. They really don't know how involved with it we all were. I don't think I'd ever be allowed to leave the house again if they did.
no subject
His smile fades as the subject shifts to his parents, and Steve shakes his head slowly. ]
Hell no. All they know is I was caught up in the cover-up story at Starcourt, which— [ at that, he gestures at his face. ] — they bought? Somehow? But that's it. They don't even know about the lab or anything.
no subject
[ she's giving steve yet another look, a fond sort of thing hidden beneath the.. something. ]
To be fair, you do have a penchant for getting in trouble. Including the face-hurting kind. Maybe they just think you got into another fight.
no subject
Yeah, seriously. Your mom is one hell of a multitasker sometimes, so she'd do both while reaming Mike a new one.
[ He lifts a hand to scrub at his face lightly. The bruising had finally faded, and his face wasn't nearly as sensitive as it had been before, all the residual puffiness gone. It had looked worse than it was, honestly, but he'd seen the concern on everyone's faces — including his parents, in their own way. The fact that they were still in town for weeks on end was a signal on its own. ]
Only when I hang out with you guys.