Big Hug: Season Two Edit

they should make a stranger things spin-off called normal things where we get to see the characters going about their day to day lives. i Will watch a full 2 hours of those little fruits sitting in silence doing absolutely nothing with occasional commentary and i will enjoy Every second of it.

What a loving family

Are nonbinary ppl who are attracted to women lesbians? If not, is there a term for it?

What if Dick could cycle through identities.

Dick Grayson has more identities than there are colors in the rainbow.

There’s Dickie Grayson - school favorite, basketball star, and mathlete. Best friend of the Titans and beloved love of many. Also a wonderful brother, devoted son, and dear grandson.

There’s Richie Grayson - darling of high society. Women swoon over him, men appreciate him (ie Roy’s “pretty bird”), and as a gothamite aptly put it, “who wouldn’t recognize Gotham’s very own Paris Hilton”.

There’s Ric Grayson - cold, night thrill seeking civilian with more trust issues than money in a trust fund.

There’s Nightwing - according to Supes, “your words are worth their weight in gold”. According to Bruce, “sometimes I feel he’s the only thing I did right”. According to Hawkman, “the one person the entire superhero community trusts after Superman”. And so much more. Strong enough to defeat Ra’s Al Ghul in a sword fight and be given the name “Detective”. Beloved hero and the pride and joy of the superhero community

There’s Agent 37 - An international, multilingual super spy who broke his partner’s hardened interior while rigorously maintaining his morals in the face of adversity. So handsome that while a psychotic murderer was chasing him and his partner, he reached up, switched off the spiral, and was so beautiful that the stunned woman went, “woof”, lost control of her bike and crashed.

There’s Renegade - Deathstroke’s apprentice who was carefully trained by him until he tricked the man and freed himself. Taught Deathstroke’s daughter Rose to be a hero and was punished by his nemesis through the Chemo bombing of Bludhaven. Yet Deathstroke still hugs him and says “Nice to see you again, kid. You look well” and leaves messages on his fogged bathroom mirror, “message received”, and waits in Dick’s bedroom while he’s dressing to let him know why he’s in the city.

There’s dick Grayson - mob enforcer for Black Mask and took down his crime syndicate from the inside out.

There’s Talon - His grandfather’s legacy of being an undead assassin for the court. The Gray Son of Gotham.

Finally there’s Robin - the 8-18yr old who went on joy rides with Superman, said “Holy ___ Batman!”, the one who was astounded when He asked if he would join the Justice league and Batman said, “no, you’ll be leading them”. The one who was driving batmobiles at 8 and singing songs to comfort victims that still remember him and his warmth 20 years later. The acrobatic prodigy that left the country in wonder. The first sidekick and role model for many young heroes that came after him.

He has many more identities I couldn’t name but - imagine if Dick could change these personalities in a heartbeat. One second he’s peppy and overjoyed Robin and the next he’s flippant and dismissive Ric Grayson. Oh the possibilities

I don’t remember where this quote’s from but: the man has a temper that could start wars. And a smile that could end them.

Will Byers Could Be Vecna's Weakness

Since S1, Will has proven he's the most mentally stable out of his Party and the older teens/adults. He knew to grab a gun when he was being stalked, he self-soothed by singing while stuck in the UD, he communicated using Xmas lights, used Morse code while possessed, loves Mike but isn't afraid to humble him (she dumped your ass, Lucas didn't agree to be Winston for Halloween, you're mad I didn't talk to you, Vecna still alive etc), and can sense the UD happenings.

We see Hopper take pills and alcohol in S1 cuz of his regrets and finally open up in S4. Joyce is a bit of a scatterbrain and almost fell for Lonnie's 'I care for our son' BS in S1 when they thought Will was dead. The older teens barely escaped the UD alive in S4 without the younger kids' help.

Will not only knows how the UD works, telling Mike Dart was a baby demodog, but he also has a strong mind. He won't be easy for Vecna because he's the one that got away TWICE. Yes, Will hid his feelings for Mike, but he understands why he does it, he's selfless. Joyce proved that when he gave up his toy to another kid. With Chrissy and the other victims, they hid who they were and assumingly had no support system. Max had her friends, but because she isolated from them she had no support system.

Will has his fam, his friends, and he's accepted himself as gay since he doesn't feel like a mistake due to Mike being in his life. Chrissy still thought she needed to be skinny to please her mom. Will was told by Jonathan to not care about Lonnie's opinions. If Vecna feeds off insecurities, Will is a challenge because he doesn't let his insecurities control him. Chrissy wanted drugs, Mike lashes out, but Will never looks to toxic outside sources for relief cuz he can just draw or talk about what's bothering him, or let out a stress relief cry.

There's got to be a reason he was taken 1st too.

It always got me how, right from the beginning, Will is depicted as doing exactly the right thing. The thing that you would usually be yelling at the screen for the characters to do when they're being stupid:

He's honest, he abandons his bike and runs, he locks the door and puts the chain on, he immediately yells for his mom and Jonathan, he phones 911, and when all else fails, at the age of fucking twelve, he grabs a gun to defend himself. And despite all that, he never stood a chance. We're supposed to root for him. It makes it that much more satisfying when he's saved in the end.

Similarly, in s4 Will is shown to do everything right to help his sister and his best friend. He supports El at school, he argues with her about being honest with her boyfriend, he fights to see her when she gets arrested, spends an entire season looking for her while acting as their relationship counsellor, and when all else fails, he gives his love confession that he'd been holding in for years as hers, because he cares more about seeing them happy than himself. Will resigns himself to suffering in silence for the sake of the people he loves, he thinks he never stood a chance because he feels like he's alone, he feels like a mistake and WE ARE MEANT TO ROOT FOR HIM.

All in all, I think this is just another beautiful way they've set up byler endgame. That mirrored catharsis of Will doing the right thing, only to go through so much undeserved pain, before he can finally live and get what he deserves, will be so very worth it and will make for a great main character arc :')

https://mamot.fr/@setthemfree/106014810050613790

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/03/google-testing-its-controversial-new-ad-targeting-tech-millions-browsers-heres

Long rambley byler headcanon ahead but I put a cut <3

Okay yes the Mike and Hopper hostility is very funny, and it's very funny to imagine Hopper thinking he got rid of Mike when he and El break up only to realize Mike is now dating his son.

However,

Imagine Mike suddenly becoming far more respectful to Hopper now that he's dating Will and Hopper being completely baffled by this.

Mike's finally in a relationship that he actually cares about maintaining. He knows he and Will are going to be together for the rest of their lives. Therefore he and Hopper are going to be in each other's lives forever. So they may as well get along, right?

And he knows that Will loves Hopper, and Will finally getting to have a loving and supportive father figure makes him so happy. How could he be a jerk to the man that is giving Will something he's always needed?

(Yes all of this applied to El too, but Mike was never very sensitive to El's feelings. And we know he is very sensitive to Will's.)

So Mike stops insulting Hopper. (For the most part.) He keeps the door open three inches. (When Hopper is home.) And he makes and effort to foster a positive relationship with Hopper.

Sure, he slips up sometimes. Maybe even frequently. Mike is a bitch (affectionate) so some bitchiness is inevitable. But Hopper can see that he's trying.

Also, we all know that Mike and Hopper’s canon relationship isn't just a rivalry. Hopper cares about Mike, a lot. And Hopper is probably more of a father figure to Mike than Ted ever was. So there's a basis of affection and mutual respect there.

(Cute GIF to make you cry)

So give me Mike calling Hopper 'Sir' and Hopper looking at him like he has three heads. Give me Mike clinging to Will constantly, but separating himself and keeping a respectful distance when Hopper enters the room, until Hopper rolls his eyes and says, 'It's okay, kid.' at which point Mike grins and resumes clinging to Will. Give me Mike awkwardly trying to make small talk with Hopper. Give me Mike getting Hopper a Christmas present. Give me Mike making sure he gets Will home by curfew unless Hopper is covering the night shift and won't be home anyway.

But yes, give me a dash of Hopper and Mike hostility too. Give me Mike holding Will's hand at the dinner table and Hopper asking, 'Wheeler, do you think you're physically able to go more that five seconds without touching Will?' And Mike responding, 'Wow, old man. I didn't know you hated gay people.' And Will has to stifle his laughter as Joyce lightly hits Hopper for teasing them.

Give me the one time Hopper comes home to the door not being open three inches, but in fact being locked. And give me Hopper pounding on the door threatening to take it off the hinges, until Mike opens the door, rolling his eyes and says, 'Relax, old man, we forgot.' And Hopper dubiously responding with 'You forgot you locked the door?' And Mike sheepishly shrugging.

Give me Hopper being so happy that Mike and El figured out what was best for both of them and that Will is finally happy. Will, the son of the woman he loves. Will, the kid he went through hell to find, the kid he never gave up looking for even after finding his body. Will, the kid he watched be possessed by the mindflayer and go through unimaginable pain, while also being there for Joyce as she went through it with him. And now, Will. His son.

Give me Hopper not being able to stay mad at Mike anymore anyway, because he sees just how much he and Will love each other. And he trusts Mike with Will. You don't hurt someone who you love that much. You protect them. He knows Mike will protect Will, just like he has.

Give me Hopper loving Will and Mike so much, but showing it in his own Hoppery way. Give me Mike and Will walking around Hawkins holding hands because if anyone bothers them, the Cheif of Police will be on their ass to cite them for harassment.

Just. Give my boys a father figure. A real one.

People forget Will doesn't just know how to load and hold a gun. He had it with him while he was stuck in the Upside Down for a week. I guarantee you little Will 100% shot the Demogorgon at least once.

and they were roommates