bestfeature | open rp post.

Wait. Wait, you had a flashlight on you?

[ Oh yeah, didn't he say something like that before? About not needing it until— ]

Dude. Come on.

I needed both hands for the camera.

[ This should be obvious. Also, obvious that the photos would be his priority. He makes another experimental stretch of his ankle. ]

Dude.

[ He sounds so disappointed. ]

You need, like, light and stuff to see and use the damn camera.

It's-- the light would ruin the pictures I was trying to get. Of the stars.

[ He immediately feels a little stupid saying that, all of it. He's not wrong, but like, admitting he was out wandering the woods just to take pictures of that is pretty lame.

Not that this is an unusual feeling for him, though. ]

[ Not that long ago, he absolutely would have made fun of him for that. But then again, not that long ago, he didn't care about Jonathan Byers at all. Now, though, he— well, he doesn't get it, not really, but what he does get is that it's important to him, and isn't that enough? Like the kids and their dumb games. Or him and his "stupid" sports, thanks Mike.

So instead, he sighs deeply, rubbing at his forehead. ]

Jesus. Take someone next time, then? Or, I don't know, use the light, stop, turn off the light, and then take the picture? Common sense, man.

No one's going to go with me.

[ Something he's used to, and fine with, really. He dares to crack half a smile. He does appreciate what Steve's saying even if he's stubborn about it. ]

And if they did, you'd get pissed off at them and probably ditch them. Or you'd take 'em to a dump.

[ He gives him a smirk at that. It's been a few days; he can laugh about it now. Because really, the junkyard? Jesus, Byers. Take your friends somewhere that doesn't stink at least. ]

That's why I said common sense with a flashlight.

I'll make a deal with you. Daylight hours only. For a while at least.

[ the attempt at a joke isn't lost on him, and even Jonathan's voice carries a hint of humor to it. ]

I won't rule out the dump, though.

[ He seems a bit surprised by that — mostly at the "make a deal" part, though. ]

You don't— [ There's a pause and he runs a hand through his hair. "You don't have to make a deal with me or whatever" he wants to say, but. What's the point, really? He sighs. ] At least until you master the whole camera and flashlight handling thing. Fine.

[ There's another long pause as he lowers his hands, contemplating something. He knows what he'll probably open himself up to with this, but— that's fine, isn't it? If Jonathan Byers could do it, then Steve could stop being a damn hypocrite himself. ]

Hey, how'd those pictures turn out?

[ He doesn't need to "make a deal" and the phrase just comes out naturally. But, you know, since they're... whatever the hell they are, friends, friendly, more than mere acquaintances thanks to the Upside Down - chances are they'll keep running into each other. Dealing with each other. And to be honest, Jonathan needs some sort of obligation sometimes, just not to go out and do his own thing. His family is what usually grounds him. But when it comes to photography, he doesn't have it.

Anyway ]

Sure.

[ And he takes a sip of water. ]

I didn't develop all of them, but the ones I did came out pretty nice.

[ The negatives were enough when it came to the scratch marks he'd seen, and he'd already known enough about them by that point. He falls silent after that because, what, is he supposed to offer to show them to Steve? Not that they're here, in any case, but... ]

Yeah? Guess those demodogs or whatever didn't mess the place up too badly. [ He gestures vaguely. ] I mean, junkyard, but still. Assholes.

[ Maybe it's easier being open about it all because they're not right there, or maybe it's because it's less awkward than what they'd been touching on before. And if he can keep Jonathan sitting and icing his stupid ankle, well. bonus. ]

[ It was never about the mess or whatever, but the intrinsic - you know, he's not going to argue with Steve about it, Jonathan closing his eyes and taking another mouthful of water to mask the sigh. ]

Definitely assholes. Ones that I never want to see again.

[ Unlike other assholes? Who knows. ]

[ Wow he is TRYING to share things with you, Jonathan Byers. With the key word there being "trying" and he's not doing a very good job of it, either. Which he seems to realize, rubbing at his hands as he nods in agreement with Jonathan's statement. ]

. . . Yeah. We, uh. We lured them there. I mean, it was only supposed to be one — the one that, you know, ate Dustin's cat, but.

[ Steve gestures vaguely. ]

[ It's actually kind of startling how little Jonathan knew about everything else that had gone on those few days. He'd been so caught up with Nancy's plan and what they needed to do - for Barb - that he'd missed so, so much. And he's still mad at himself about it, honestly. Those kids were so lucky to have Steve around, even if... Well, it was clear that shit had gone bad.

Most of what Jonathan knew was second hand information through Will, who had heard it from Mike and the guys. The party kept each other in the loop, that was one of the rules.

He still winces when Steve mentions the cat, though, Because, holy shit. ]

Who could have known that there was more than just one? Seems like something people would have noticed.

[ Even if luring a monster like that anywhere was crazy - and this time, Jonathan doesn't exactly have room to talk. ]

Wish you had more help that night.

Yeah, well.

[ He pauses, considering. ]

Believe it or not, those kids had my back. I mean, Dustin, sure, the kid had harebrained schemes but it was also his idea to isolate it somewhere? And Lucas was good with his calls. Shit, when I was their age, I couldn't have done that. What the hell.

Those kids are pretty smart. Maybe too smart, sometimes.

[ It's not a bad thing. At least, sometimes. While he's glad Steve was there to take care of them, it's just as good knowing that they were doing the same for him. ]

Leaving someone hanging when they're in a tight spot just isn't their style, either. They could see what you were doing for them.

Have they always been like that?

[ He rolls his head back a bit to look up at Jonathan. ]

Figured you'd know better or something.

Yeah, definitely. They're nerds. Good nerds. No one gets left behind when it comes to their friends.

[ Of which Steve is clearly a part, even if he's "old." Jonathan isn't presumptuous enough to consider himself one but he's so glad that Will is part of that group. ]

I can't say I ever expected them to have to deal with a situation like... that, but I'm not surprised that they would make it through.

[ It's weird, considering kids about five years younger than him "friends." But, gun to his head, if he had to point at his best friend right now, it would probably be Dustin Henderson. Jesus. What is his life these days.

He lets out a snort, shaking his head. ]

Look, did you expect anyone to deal with a situation like this? Seriously, man. Monsters and a kid that can kill shit with her mind?

Before that, when Will disappeared. They didn't give up on him, even after they found his... the body. I don't really know how much they knew by then, but even if El wasn't there, I can't imagine it being any other way.

[ Hell, even he'd been ready to give up by that point. But those kids. God. ]

Yeah? No shit . . .

[ It's something, that's for sure. When Barb had disappeared — from his house, no less — and before he'd learned it involved monsters and all that, a pit had firmly settled in his stomach, carving it out bit by bit as it ate at him. When Nancy first came to him about it, he'd deflected out of fear; even when trying to make amends, he still cracked jokes, attempting to make it seem like everything was fine. If he'd been in Dustin and the others' shoes, even before the insanity, he probably would have grinned and forced himself to move on like a coward.

He rolls his head back a bit, looking up at the ceiling. ]

God, I hope they actually get to be kids for a little while.

[ He still doesn't know how Will had managed to stay alive in the Upside Down, and he's not exactly talking about it much. And the only reason why he had been able to hold it together was because of his fixation on family, and first, on finding Will, and then making that monster pay for taking him. Otherwise, he probably just would have given up. Mom, Will, and Nancy. That's what had kept him together. And then Steve, too. It would've all been over if it hadn't been for him coming back inside the house.

He glances down at Steve from the corner of his eye, letting his glass clunk slightly as he puts it down on the end table next to the couch. ]

Me too, they deserve that much. But I hate that they'll have to live with everything that happened at all.

Yeah. They're just kids . . . they should be off doing nerdy shit or whatever.

[ What had he been doing at age thirteen? Nothing good. ]

Right.

[ Instead of making new Ghostbusters costumes, they get to have nightmares about the Upside Down, and remembering the time that they were hunted by dogs from hell. ]

I think I said it before, but but it's good they have someone like you.

You don't need to pat my ego in my own house, Byers.

[ Steve pushes away from the couch, turning to face him. ]

How's that ankle of yours doing? Not swelling up too bad or anything, is it?

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