#Mike POV for most of it

[sp0o0kylights]

There were a lot of things Mike hated in life.

The demogorgon, and how it had essentially destroyed his life.

 Brenner, and the madhouse laboratory El had survived. 

How each and every one of his friends now did something weird--were weird, because flashing lights or fireworks or some stupid tune a toy horse played dragged up memories that made their eyes flat and faces hollow. 

Most of all though, Mike hated how much they relied on Steve.

There was no reason he should be the person to call when it started pouring and no one wanted to bike home from AV. 

Steve wasn’t Nancy, or Jonathan, or a parent--he wasn’t even dating anyone related to any of the Party anymore so what excuse did he have to keep hanging around? 

(Even if Jonathan was always working, and Nancy was always busy with some club or homework, and everyone’s parents all seemed to be in a race of who could get back to normal the fastest…) 

They should at least try to get a hold of other people, instead of constantly going to Steve first.

“Why?” Dusitn had scoffed at him the last time this had happened, feeding quarters into a phone and staring at Mike like he was the one being unreasonable. “I’m not gonna waste money just to hear your sister tell us no again when we all know Steve will do it.” 

Which was perhaps the most infuriating part of it all.

That Steve would do it. 

Show up and help them, even if he bitched the whole time. 

Hell, Steve Harrington knew more about Mike’s life offhand than Nancy did, and that made him want to punch a wall more days than it didn’t. Why the hell was Steve so involved? 

It was stupid. 

Weird, even! They weren’t friends, (even if Dustin and Max and El of all people said the opposite) he wasn’t being paid to babysit, (Mike had double checked; going round to ask Ma Henderson and Mrs. Sinclair, only to get an earful of how wonderful Steve was from both.) he had no reason to hang around! 

It didn’t make sense that Steve could be harassed into picking them up from school. 

Would take them to get ice cream, or hand over extra quarters for the arcade. He even gave out advice like some kind of--brother that Mike had never wanted. 

Above all?

Mike hated that when he needed someone, the number he punched in on automatic was Steve’s.

“I need you to come get me.” He said into the receiver, mad at himself and the world, but mostly mad that beyond the normal amount of squawking Steve did, he shut up and came. 

Drove up in his rich boy car, stepping out and herding Mike into it like the rain hadn’t already seeped into his bones. 

“You wanna tell me why you snuck into a bar two towns over?” Steve asked, long after Mike had slung himself into the passenger seat, arms crossed defensively over his chest.

“No.” 

One of Steve’s hands went right to his hair, running through it before adjusting the mess he’d just made. 

It was a nervous habit, and Mike hated that he knew that too. 

“Okay, well.” Steve’s hand fell back to the steering wheel, clenching tight around it. “Next time you want to do something dumb could you at least come talk to me about it beforehand?”

“What the hell would that do?” Mike bitched, staring firmly out of the window. 

“Not waste my gas for starters.” Steve bitched right back. “But I dunno man, we could have taken some bats and gone and wailed on cars in the junkyard and talked or some shit, not--whatever this all was.”

‘This all’ was accompanied by a wave of his hand, indicating not just the bar Mike had been standing in front of, but his general sopping wet state. 

“You’d actually go to the junkyard with me?” Mike challenged, doubtful. 

Steve made a face. “Did you lose your hearing in there? I just said--.” 

“Why?” Mike interrupted. “Why the fuck would you come out with me?”

Matching his entire aggressive tone, Steve said; “Because it’s better than trying to sneak into the one local gay bar when you’re barely fourteen, Michael.” 

And that? 

Steve being oddly aware of shit he really shouldn’t have?

Mike hated that too. 

“You knew what the bar was?” He asked, his voice coming out much smaller than he intended. 

“Everyone knows what that bar is, except it’s more of a biker bar than a gay bar.” Steve shot back--which did actually explain about ten different questions Mike had about the place. “Also, language you little shit.” 

Under his breath, Steve continued in a muttered; “I swear I’m going to start carrying around soap.”

“You cuss more than we do.” Mike responded, and if his own voice was a little strangled as he fought back the sudden swell of tears, then that was between him and God. 

He was not crying in front of Steve Harrington, he outright refused. 

“The point I’m making is that there are way better bars to sneak into. That one’s not nearly as welcoming as people make it out to be, probably because they’re sick of all the rumors.” 

Steve seemed to realize what he was implying because he quickly added; “Not that you should be sneaking into any bars at all!” 

“You’re not my mom.” Mike’s voice turned wet as he lost his battle with his throat, voice cracking as he failed to choke the tears back.  

“No shit Wheeler.”  Steve said, and at least he was good enough not to call attention to Mike’s crying. 

If he had, Mike was pretty sure he’d just up and die of embarrassment, right there. 

“I don’t get why you care.” He muttered, angrily swiping at his eyes. 

“I didn’t keep you alive this long just so you could die of something stupid.” Steve countered easily.

Which was kinda fair, if you thought about it.

Mike very much did not want to think about it. 

Any of it.

Ever. 

“Are you gonna tell my parents?” He asked after a painfully long moment. 

Long enough that Steve had begun fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station as they drove back that wasn’t wailing country or gospel music. 

“I’m not a narc, so no.”  

“Not about the bar.”  

Now Steve just looked confused. 

Probably because he was, because he was without a doubt the stupidest almost adult Mike knew. 

(Not that he could say that out loud--last time he had, Max had made one of her pissy faces and then El got mad because Max was, which led to a break up, which led to Mike having to beg his way back into his girlfriend’s good graces while explaining that he hadn’t meant it like that.

“How did you mean it then?” Max demanded, and Mike wasn’t sure how he managed to dodge that entire conversation but he had, on grounds that untangling his own emotions regarding stupid Steve made him want to pull his hair out and scream.) 

“What about then?” 

 “You know. Don’t make me say it.” Mike absolutely didn’t plead, even if it did sort of, kind of, sound like pleading. 

Steve flicked his eyes away from the road to give one long, weird look at Mike. The same one he gave Dustin when he went off on a rant about Cerebro or Lucas when he started discussing the stats of different D&D weapons. 

Unlike those times, Steve’s face cleared. 

“Oh.” He said, blinking, and Mike could practically see the light bulb flash above his head.

Then; 

“Nah.” 

Mike waited.

And waited.

And kept waiting as Steve went back to searching through radio channels, as if that was the end of the conversation.

It couldn't be the end of this conversation.

Not when this was the part that was eating Mike alive.

He didn’t know if this was Steve repressing it on purpose or if this was what he had to look forward to for the rest of his life if he kept trying to figure his own head out, but either way, he knew he had a choice to make. 

To let the unspoken part of today die quietly. Go unsaid, and remain unsaid, for all eternity--or he could let it out. 

Shove the “gay” part of “gay bar” in Steve’s stupid, jock face. 

Make him acknowledge it, even if it got Mike kicked out of the car, and who cared if it did? 

Steve wasn’t the person who should have picked him up anyway. 

The anger climbed higher and higher in his chest, tears and rage combining until Mike spat it all out, furious. 

“You’re not going to ask if I’m gay?”  

Steve didn’t turn to face him, but Mike saw his eyebrow cocking anyway, given how he was currently glaring a hole in the side of the older teen’s head. 

“Do you want me to?” 

“No.” Mike bit out automatically. “Yes. I don’t know!” 

Steve’s hand found its way back into his hair. 

“Okay then.” Steve paused, clearly fishing for something to say. 

Gleefully, Mike watched him struggle. 

“Do you like guys?” He managed finally, looking like he was navigating a minefield more than just talking.

“I don’t know.” Mike stressed, sinking lower in his seat. “Why do you think I was at the bar? I was trying to figure it out!” 

“Honestly I assumed this was some sort of stupid dare--but!” Steve held up a finger, before Mike could interrupt, “But let’s--shit, hold on, I had a speech for this but I kinda wasn’t expecting to use it this soon. Um.”

“You have a speech for me being gay?”

“Not for you.” Steve rolled his eyes. “For--in general! It was an in general, just in case speech!” 

He rounded on Mike, for longer than the younger was comfortable with given Steve took his eyes off the road to do it. “Okay--you can like boobies, you can like, uh--not boobies, and that’s fine! It’s all totally fine!” 

“You are not making it sound like it’s fine.” Mike said, feeling like he’d been taken out by hearing Steve say the word “boobies.” 

Gross, gross, gross. 

“Well it is.” Steve said, in a tone that felt like he was two seconds from adding in a smarmy ‘so there!’ at the end. 

“But I’m dating El.” Mike whined, which really, was both the heart of the matter and the eye of the storm that had been growing in his head for months now. “I can’t be gay if I like her.” 

“Don’t you guys break up and get together like four times a week?”

“No, that's Max and Lucas, El and I are stable.” Mike scoffed. “Or we--we were stable.” 

Before he started to have thoughts about people that weren't his girlfriend. 

Or women.

“Stable for being in middle school, sure.” Steve snorted. “You don’t just have to like one or the other you know. You can like dudes and chicks at the same time.”

Which Mike did not know, on account of being fourteen. 

He did his absolute damndest not to show that realization, instead adding that to the list of reasons why he hated Steve Harrington too.

Steve shouldn't be the one teaching him about who you could like!

“The point is that who you end up loving isn’t a problem.” Steve finally looked back to the road. “Other people might be an issue, and those people we can punch in the face so long as the cops aren’t looking, which isn’t part of the speech so let’s not tell people I said that part, but whatever you do choose, there’s nothing wrong with you.” 

Steve’s voice went firm, as he apparently recalled his speech or something close enough to it because his next words sounded a little rehearsed. “You have people who are here for you, no matter what. Okay?” 

Oh God, Mike was crying again. 

He wanted to punch Steve in his stupid face.

Wanted to hold onto the fury he'd built inside himself. Thrash around, throw himself out of the car, get away from the emotions that felt too big for his chest to contain. 

Instead he felt it all break on Steve's acceptance. On word's he didn't know he needed to hear until they'd been spoken, and sniffed out a quiet; “Okay.” 

Steve of course had to take it too far by reaching over and patting his knee, which they both regretted judging by how quickly Steve took his hand back and the face Mike made at his hand--but it…

It was appreciated, even amongst all Mike's rage.

Steve was appreciated. 

Not that Mike would ever, on pain of death, tell him that. 

Neither said a word for a while, Steve finally landing on a radio that was playing some Top 40 hit, Tears for Fears singing about ruling the world while Mike found himself trying to rebuild his own once again, tired of it having shattered so many times over. 

At least he finally felt better, even if he refused to admit Steve was the reason for it. 

He wasn’t quite done though.

 There was a piece Steve had skipped over, that Mike felt was critically important, if only because it was partly the reason he was having thoughts about being gay in the first place. 

He had to know if Steve saw it too. 

That it wasn’t just him and his stupid head, making up things that weren’t there. 

“Hey Steve?” 

“Yeah?”

“Who was the speech for?” 

Steve sighed. 

“Rule one of the whole queer thing Wheeler, you don’t out other people.” 

Like there were written rules or something.

(Maybe there were, it wasn't like Mike knew.)

“Was it Will?” Mike asked, and pretended like he didn’t desperately want the answer to be yes. 

 Steve didn’t say a thing, but the fact he nearly took the car off the road was a pretty solid answer in itself. 

“We’re not playing guessing games about other people’s sexualites!” He yelped, hands gripping the steering wheel as Mike felt a wave of relief crash through him. 

Will was--maybe, possibly, also--queer too. 

Which didn’t make this any better but it--wasn’t the not preferred outcome, either. 

(It wasn’t just Mike struggling alone, trying to figure out if his best friend wanted to be more than that, if El was breaking up with him and more and more because she wanted to be less than a girlfriend, if things were changing and he would have no one--) 

“I’m not out here picking Will up from a gay bar dipshit, I’m picking you up, and this is your reminder that next time, you should just come talk to me!” Steve ranted. 

Mike snorted.

He absolutely hated Steve Harrington, but--

“Fine.” He said, talking so low he could barely be heard. “I will.”

--maybe Mike did have someone in his corner after all. 

Even if it was just Steve. 

xXx

Bonus: 

“Between you and me, that kid is gayer than a two dollar bill.” 

“Wow Robin,” Steve teased, “Isn’t that like, a slur or whatever?” 

He snickered when she rolled her eyes and threw a roll of stickers his way. 

“I’m just saying. Did you see the way he was looking at you when you were showing off your stupid biceps?” Robin said, nudging her shoulder into Steve’s. “Will’s gonna have a rude awakening later if he hasn’t already.” 

Steve nudged her back, but kept his gaze on the Party as they trooped their way from Family Video to the arcade next door, the realization that they now had connections for free rentals making them downright gleeful. 

Will was the last one in, and Steve watched him hurry so as to not be left behind. 

He didn’t like to worry about the dipshits, but Robin was just putting voice to a thought Steve knew he wasn’t the first person to have.

And if he noticed it, then it didn't exactly bode well as being kept a secret. 

“Should we like…talk to him about that?” He asked after a long moment, turning to face Robin.

“Us?” She pointed at herself, before turning her finger on Steve. “Why us?” 

“Well you’re into girls.” He gave her a pointed look, glad that the store was empty of everyone but them so he could actually voice all this. “And I’m fine with it.”

“Yeah I’m sure he wants to know you’re fine with it.” Robin taunted, but she had her thinking face on, eyes out to the middle distance. “I barely know him. You barely know him--he’s the quietest out of all your kids.”

“They’re not my kids.” Steve argued automatically. “They're like a weird cross between shitty siblings and that kid in your class who never leaves you alone.” 

A fact Steve no longer took for granted, even if he made it sound like the worst thing ever.

“I just think it’d be nice if he knew that he had people in his corner, you know? Who supported him and shit.” 

“Steve, you compared my crush to a muppet, that wasn’t supportive.” Robin countered, but it too was on automatic. 

Softer she admitted; “You’re right though. If I had known other queer people, if I had known people would accept me...it would have made things a lot easier.”

A very long pause, in which both of them stewed for a moment, before Robin abruptly slapped her hand down on the table.

“Okay, you got me. We're doing it, and I'm making us a speech.”

“A speech?” 

“Yes dingus, a speech. I know you, you’re terrible when you’re put on the spot with this kinda thing, and trust me with things like this the moment will be spontaneous.”

“It’s Will, how spontaneous can it be?” Steve challenged back. “Getting a dinner order out of him is a chore.” 

“Stop whining and hand me that notepad. Im telling you its gonna happen when you least expect it and then you're gonna thank me later.”

“It better not happen without you.”  Steve sighed, but passed the notepad over.

God the things he did for those stupid kids. 

Bonus x2

Steve would later go on to use the speech on himself, in a gas station bathroom mirror, eyes wide and freaked out after Eddie Munson called him Big Boy in a van they stole, while Robin snickered behind him. 

He would turn on her, snapping that she; “Help me with this dammit!” 

In return she’d remind him that Tammy might sing like a muppet but Eddie  was the guy who stepped on lunches while giving speeches at lunch and sticking his tongue out, and “Really Steve, I think I won best gay awakening, here.” 

Which would promptly start an argument regarding how it wasn’t a competition, which would continue for another fifteen or so odd years before finding its way as a reference into both of their speeches as each other’s best man. 

Nancy and Eddie wouldn’t get it at either wedding, but Mike would.

#Mike POV for most of it #Mike is one of Steve's kids #and they both hate that lmao #pre steddie (its at the end) #this has both #mentions of #el/mike #and #byler #Mike's going through a sexuality crisis anyway #period appropriate language #Ronance mention #lumax mention #mike sneaks into a gay bar #that isnt a gay bar lol #let see what else #coming out #acceptance #a lot of sass #Title is Up and Down that Road #I love writing Steve like hes that older teen in the goonies #just suddenly saddled with kids while trying to flirt lol

[starbylers]

Karen is there. Mike, Will, Robin and Karen. It just keeps getting better lmao please someone tell me what connects these characters other than Byler.

Will who loves Mike, Robin who’s the only other confirmed gay character, Mike who is extremely suspicious, and Mike’s literal mother who he hasn’t had a one-on-one talk with since that s1 ‘I don’t want you to feel like you have to hide anything’ coded conversation…..

#byler #is that not the most random selection of names? #it makes no sense from any other angle #I mean I guess there’s always a possibility someone else is there too? but we’ve seen multiple povs atp and nothing #Mike coming out to Karen. real.

[chirpsythismorning]

Byler doubt? When this scene exists?????

#byler #stranger things #‘i never really unpacked’ #im sorry… what? #also the fact that will is turned away most of this conversation at first… #Mike pov is giving: I am looking respectfully when you can’t catch me 🤫🫠 #and the fact that this scene is directly after argyle driving towards the Byers… with a rainbow in the forefront guiding him… #🤭

[bylertruther]

do you ever think about how will probably wishes he was braver?

that he could tell mike the truth about himself without having to speak in code. that he could stick to his guns when he's been wronged and stand up for himself rather than tucking tail and turning the other cheek. that he could be less shy, less sensitive, less cowardly, and maybe then his loved ones wouldn't forget about him as often as they do.

maybe then they would pick him first, rather than leaving him for last. maybe then they would want to hang out with him and hear what he has to say. maybe then they would treat him like they used to, like he can still take care of himself just like they can, instead of like a fragile little thing that they pick up only when they need him. maybe then they would care about him as much as he cares about them. maybe then he wouldn't doubt that it could all come crashing down once they know who he really is, and always has been, because the rest of him would've been enough.

like, maybe he wishes he didn't freeze or run away so much. maybe he wishes he wasn't so afraid all the time, of every little thing. that he could be brave like mike, el, or his mom. i mean, el's been through so much, too. why can't he be more like her? why does he have to hide behind her? he hides behind her when the monsters come crawling back, and he hides behind her when he can't bring himself to say what he really means—even after getting on her case about it.

he spent so much time on that painting. he didn't let anyone see it—it was that special to him. why couldn't he own up to that? there's no monster in the van with him; it's just him and mike and this painting of the party, nothing inherently incriminating or romantic, and still—he can't help himself. he retreats back into the shadow, shrinks into himself, and tells lie after lie to the person that he never lies to, that he knows doesn't fucking deserve that, just because he's too scared.

of course he'd feel like a mistake sometimes. of course he'd hate who he is (if That script is to be believed), when he can't even talk to the one person that would understand without lying straight to his face, over and over again, like a fucking hypocrite. of course he'd feel so lost without the person that tells him it's okay to be this way and shows him that there is indeed strength in it. of course he'd hate who he is when he's encouraging someone to be true and speaking about their courage, all while being incapable of taking his own advice, and giving the credit for all of his love and efforts and emotions to someone else.

so many people died to bring him back, so many people died just because he didn't stay dead when maybe he should have, and for what? so that he can continue to hide rather than live his life? so that he can turn into a "worse" version of himself? so that he can live in fear? so that he can continue to ache for a past that he can never return to, while everyone else moves forward and berates him for not doing the same? time stopped in the upside down when will went missing, and he's been stuck there ever since, too. too much has happened for him to move on from. too much has changed—he's changed. he's too different now, in every way, and the older he gets the more clear it becomes.

of course he'd feel like a mistake. of course he'd hate who he is. he's the common denominator here: in his loneliness and in this war. the boy who came back to life when others didn't. the boy that got possessed and couldn't fight it. the boy that turned into a liar and a coward and must learn to live with it, even if it's at his own expense. the boy that can't let go of the past and whom the past won't let go of either, because even after everything, he's still connected to this great evil that won't let him go. they got it out of him, and yet the tether remains, because of-fucking-course it would.

just—why? why him? why can't anything ever go right with him? why is he always the outlier? i think that overwhelming amount of fear, shame, grief, guilt, exhaustion, and loneliness would wear anyone down, let alone a teenager that never asked for any of it and has experiences so unfathomably unique that the only other people that could have possibly understood are literally dead.

#will byers #byler #mine #long post #will #anyway. this is how i always interpreted the i hate WHO i am line especially in conjunction with the word ''mistake'' + being different #within the context of EVERYTHING that's happened to will and continues to happen to him and how unique it is to him in this narrative #bc rly. if you were will.... wouldn't you feel like a mistake? even outside of that outside of the supernatural i'm speaking to my #friends that have ''Something Wrong'' with them. when something happens to you and you're not the same after and you're surrounded #by people who are able to move on and be normal—don't you ever have those moments where you feel like a mistake? when you're #growing up and still interested in your same old interests but your friends start moving on and then you see that they went back to #those interests in your absence—don't you feel like you were the problem then? when people are able to be brave and you can't #find it within yourself to overcome your fear—don't you hate that feeling? don't you feel that negativity towards yourself when you #know that you SHOULD do something but you can't bring yourself to and it works against yourself? like. everything that has happened #to will E V E R Y T H I N G !!!!!!!!!!!!! can easily make anyone no matter what part of him you relate to the most understand that #u kno wht i mean? anyway. i jus wanted to bring this up bc his life is a fucking tragedy even without the gay stuff n his current pov on th #and the way that That conversation always centers on fear and bravery it's like. obviously being gay is not easy in that era but i don't #think that line is ''i hate being gay'' with no factoring in of the great many things that have happened to him which alienate him further #as well as with how he does want mike to know and his alan turing poster and his talk with jonathan etc etc #his conflict has always centered around how other people treat him and his issue with that bc that's what makes him feel bad #that just because he's different that doesn't mean that he's Different and must be treated as such #he's different and has people that make him feel BETTER for it like look at s2 for example all of those talks abt using what he perceives #as a weakness abt himself as a strength that no one else can bring to the table. and in s3 when he still believed in being a nerd #and never getting girlfriends etc but when it came from mike thts when he called himself stupid n started down this path bc now #there's that sprinkle of doubt. n tht doubt is the scariest thing in the world—understandably so #also. he literally has an evil monster in his brain like bdkfjhsbkdjhfbskj IT'S JUST A LOT. #he is different for many reasons and has even more reasons to hate Who he is the kind of person that he is #jus my take 😁👍

[alexcharmsyou]

Daily Drabble //nov-15//

An Average Night at the Afton's

Rating: T Word Count: 696

“I’ll be back before 11, uh, order pizza or something.”

William sighed, picked up his bags, and left. Not minding the impact of the door slamming behind him.

Michael hadn’t really heard him, nothing he hasn’t adjusted to by now- order pizza, back before 11 (sometimes), and a douche of a door slam. His father was rarely ever home and admittedly for the better, gave Mike time to cool off and let his defensive mask down.

“Shit.” Mike mumbled under his breath, firmly placed his hands on the table and let his head hang.

“Mikey?”

He quickly turned to see Elizabeth standing in the hallway. Her Eyes told Michael everything. She was worried.

“Oh, Lizzy. Hey, are you doing okay?”

He felt so guilty for letting her see him this way. He wanted her to just have a happy childhood, not be broken down in her own home, like he was. Lizzy hesitated.

“I took a nap. Evan’s still sleeping. Did Daddy leave? He said he would say bye first.” The words were so soft, eyes locked to the floor.

Mike couldn’t get the words out. He walked over to Liz, kneeling down to give her a big hug before gently wiping the tears from her cheeks.

I'm sorry was all his brain repeated but he just looked into her eyes, heartbroken eyes.

Asshole. Forget your children again?

“Mikey, w-why doesn’t Daddy love us?

There was so many things Michael wanted to say but this was not the right time. Right now he just needed to comfort his sister as best he could until they could both just forget about everything. At least that’s what he wanted to do. Mike liked to think they could do just fine without William.

Mike took a deep breath and pulled his finger away from Lizzy’s delicate damp cheek. He walked over where the housephone was, grabbing the couple dollars left on the table as he went.

“Hey, yes it’s Mike again, same as usual.” He made eye contact with Liz. “Oh actually if you could add some of those cinnamon bites that’d be dope. Okay, thanks man. Later.” He smirked as Lizzy’s eyes lit up in what made her look like a glowing star.

She laughed and ran into Michaels arms. He shared a chuckle with her lifting her above the ground and spinning around the kitchen floor.

“I have to go tell Evan!” She squealed and ran off to Evan’s bedroom.

Michael smiled as she left. This was exactly what he hoped, the house would have a good night. Mike waited till she was out of sight to slide into his room and empty his very miniscule savings jar. William only ever left just enough for them to get one pan, the treat would cost Mike about half his coins.

Eventually, his dad would have to start paying him for his work at the Diner, and that age was coming soon. Until then it didn’t really matter, he just used the money he did manage to collect to buy new records and boards anyway.

On the thought of records, Mike decided to play his freshly bought Led Zep record. William hated when he played it, too bad he wasn’t ever around to hear it.

The hammer of the gods

Will drive our ships to new lands

Mike plopped on the bed and chewed on a lolipop, bopping his head to the beat. Zoning out to a daydream.

His door slowly swung open to show Evan and Elizabeth’s excited faces.

“Pizzaman’s here! Pizzaman’s here!” Lizzy squealed.

Yawning, Michael covertly slid the coins in his shorts pocket and hopped out off the bed and into the hallway.

“Guys’ excited?” Mike asked his siblings, affectionately.

“YEAHH” Lizzy bounced down the hall and down the staircase.

Mike glanced over at Evan while he slid his jacket over. He looked tired, clutching his Fredbear plush closely.

Michael nudged him gently, “Hey, how about we watch that new Star Wars film? Or Jaws, but i dunno if you and Liz could handle it.”

Evan smirked, “I like Starwars.”

“Alrighty that settles it. you, me, and Char will go see it next showtime."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

#michael afton #evan afton #elizabeth afton #william afton #afton family #afton siblings #michael afton needs a hug #a good little taste test of my Mike pov wip;) #I wrote most of this in the dark backstage of a play inbetween my parts hdikjnclxkjsdm #lex's teeny writings #fnaf

[wibble-wobbegong]

michael is my absolute favorite character in the entire show. if he has a million fans im one of them. if he has ten fans im one of them. if he has one fan it’s me. if he has no fans, i’ve been shot dead and had my soul put in a meat grinder. if the world is against mike, i am against the world.

#yes he is my special little tiepsny but he’s also one of the most interesting characters to analyze and his story predicts so many things #also he’s one of the most complex characters that never actually toes the line between good and evil #he’s so clearly good but the way he’s been framed as unlikable so the reveal in s5 of his pov hits harder is gonna be insane #he is not kind but by god is he loyal and full of love #he’s such a spiteful bitch but it really does come from a place of love #like he really does love lucas and that’s part of why he was so pissy about him trying to be popular but you see him try to be a little #understanding when he and dustin confront him about the game #obviously he was a huge dick for not actually going to the game but from his pov lucas was abandoning them for ‘balls in laundry baskets’ bc #eddie skewed his perspective about the whole thing in his rants about nonconformity #honestly the way lucas and eddie have directly contrasting roles in mike’s life is something i can’t wait to talk about in the big analysis #mike wheeler #byler

[muzzleroars]

Out of curiosity, we know a lot about how the arch angels felt about Lucifer after his fall but what about before? We have a buch of info on Michael but not the others, im particularly curious about Uriel and Raphael since we have the least Info about their relationship and what it was like

this is such good timing bc i've been thinking a lot about uriel and raphael and just how i want them to be developed. lucifer worked closely with the archangels as a unit, as they were meant to be a guiding force for heaven as well as the major interface between humanity and god - where lucifer was to conduct the host as a whole, rule over the seraph choir, and serve as the head priest of god's temple, the archangels would each look after a couple specific choirs under them, as well as eventually interact directly with humans. like i've said, michael was the closest to him due to being the head archangel (meaning he had more responsibility to be taught and a job that aligned closely with lucifer's), but all of the archangels knew lucifer very well and were subject to his mentorship.

lucifer actually had a very particular fascination with uriel's role, holding that uriel may be the most specialized angel in the whole host of heaven for the task he must perform. on uriel's end, he was always reserved with other angels but his infinite questions found a place in lucifer, who had an inquiring mind that many of the others didn't. he assisted uriel in developing his shorthand system (and supplied many, many aides on uriel's behalf that would serve as the book's interpreters as they are unreadable to those who don't study under uriel) and gave him plenty of art lessons, which he regularly uses to illuminate his manuscripts. ultimately the two admired about one another what they themselves did not have - uriel felt the breadth of lucifer's presence and the ability to spread himself so far was as close to god's omnipotence that one could achieve, while lucifer was almost baffled by uriel's ability to remain so laser focused on his singular work that once he began it, he never fell behind in his chronicles (yet he could still speak and even fight if necessary). i do think uriel was probably the first to go off on his own (for lack of a better term), but lucifer kept an eye on him as there was a lot of wrinkles to iron out before he produced his books as seamlessly as he eventually did.

raphael had a personality type that meshed well with much about lucifer's, both of them enraptured by god's creation and wanting to spread that joy to those around them. so raphael greatly looked up to lucifer, but for entirely different reasons than those that michael did - all the seraphim burn with the fire of god, but lucifer's poured out of him in barely controlled exuberances, and raphael found it aspirational. he often attended seraphim lessons and gatherings, which lucifer allowed at first as a curiosity and then as an understanding of raphael's gifts, realizing that even as a cherub raphael had a much gentler spirit. he did not blaze with the passion the seraphim did but he connected to their love of creation, so lucifer taught him all about the natural world god was creating and they spoke endlessly on its wonders (raphael can talk for a LONG time). lucifer was a bit concerned about how raphael would fit in with his fellow cherubim, built largely for combat, but he turned out to be highly durable and took very well to healing which suited him perfectly (and so strengthened both of their beliefs that god can make no mistakes). lucifer was very proud of the angel raphael became, and knew he would be a great mediating force to his siblings with his resilience.

the archangels worked very closely in concert, almost as an individual split into four parts, so they were always very close. before lucifer's fall, their responsibilities were definitely much lesser (no humanity yet and mike's lower position) and they had more time to each other, but that closeness really didn't change until god's death and heaven's fracturing. i know i've talked about gabriel and michael, but i actually think michael was closest with uriel while gabriel was closest with raphael given their personality types - michael is quite introverted and uriel feels very safe with him, while gabe and raph are just SUPER gregarious and outgoing. regardless, they cared deeply for one another and in fact may have become tighter knit after the loss of lucifer, given that they were now sensitive to the concept of loss itself. it was possible, they learned, to have someone taken from you. so michael protected his siblings, gabriel buoyed their morale, raphael tended to any emotional distress, and uriel shared whatever wisdom he could, all to keep each other close. this delicate balance was finally collapsed under the loss of god, tearing apart the archangels to leave them all relatively unstable. i've got a couple simple comics in the works about this from raphael's pov, who really gets left behind and has the most time to really contemplate what's become of them, so i hope i can get the feelings across there since this was a devastating split for each of them.

#hi. im crying over doomed siblings once more #raphael is seriously such an important pov character for this #bc he gets out the most unscathed and really has to deal with it the most emotionally #and it's high time i show all the scenes i've thought of!!! #i really REALLY want to start fleshing them all out for everyone bc i know i give a lot of attention to mike and luci #but i have plenty in my head about uri and raph too #cake answers #uriel #raphael #lucifer #rise and fall au

[rotisseries]

I am the number one mike gets vecna'd truther. I have damn near 100% confidence that mike gets vecna'd. there is no version of s5 that I can imagine where mike doesn't get vecna'd. he will be shown horrendous visions and he will scream and cry and veccy boy will get his homophobic dog moment and mike is gonna be shaken up and refusing to tell anyone what he saw and it will be the most important, impactful, and jaw dropping vecna scene of the season, and I will be pulling up the cristiano ronaldo gif

#stranger things #byler #mike wheeler #he is just like. the perfect target. how would he NOT get vecna'd? #bc like. I'm a firm believer that more people will get vecna'd next season #like yeah sure he doesn't NEED to torment and kill more people but he'll do it for fun #no way the duffers introduced a villain who can see people's inner fears and guilts and then they use it twice and never again right? #so obvs people will get vecna'd next season. and mike is a PRIME target #a. vecna's main targets are el and will. both of whom love mike and are really close with him #two birds one stone‚ if vecna wants to consider himself a good villain‚ that right there is reason enough to get Mike #b. while again‚ I do think multiple characters will get vecna'd and therefore we'll see a lot of different headspaces #we mostly already know what a lot of the characters fear and feel guilty about. whereas mike is still supposed to be a mystery to us #we're not being shown his pov‚ so when we finally ARE‚ it will have the most impact of any possible vecna vision any of the characters get #''why do you say it'd be most impactful rori?'' #bc listen. they're gonna want another impactful vecna scene. a running up that hill part two. but you can't beat max's scene. it's too good #the impact in max's scene comes from her escape‚ from her choosing to live‚ for her loved ones #which means if you want another emotionally impactful vecna scene‚ it can't be about the escape‚ that can't be where the impact is #or it will just feel like a cheaper rendition of max's scene #so the impact MUST come from finding out what haunts the character #and I FULLY believe there will be nothing quite as jaw dropping as vecna visions revealing mike's sexuality and how he feels about it #the only things that would probably come close would be el or will getting shown more aspects of the supernatural plot #but I'm pretty sure we're at a point in the story where we have most of the information #and we won't be getting anything super insane on that front

[badboysteve]

Steve giving the party The Talk is out.

Steve being the one getting late night phone calls with out-of-context, but suspiciously specific and/or weird questions at 3am is in.

#steve harrington #the party #most of them probably got some version of the talk from their parents #Max and El absolutely talk about it #and the boys as well #but there's only so much peer-to-peer communication can cover here #and there's no Internet #POV: you just had sex with your girlfriend for the first time and now she's crying #who you gonna call? Your sister?! Your girlfriend's BROTHER?! #No! The guy whose opinion you don't care about but you know has fucked around and also probably found out! #For the record: El is just overwhelmed #but Mike panicked okay?

[helioleti]

I know there’s a lot of Byler proof out there but one thing that really sells Byler endgame to me is the fact that in s4 they split up all the characters into 4 groups; The Hawkins gang, the Russia gang, El’s gang at the lab and the Cali gang. And literally the only group that DOESN’T have a constant high stakes mission is the Cali gang. They’re mostly just getting from point A to point B, planning a bit, solving riddles, and it all leaves plenty of time for contemplation and heart-to-hearts between Byler.

Like you can’t tell me the plot DEMANDED this. El and Mike could’ve been written in a way that didn’t require them having this many relationship problems for Will to try and fix. Mike and Will could’ve had no falling out AT ALL and the road trip could’ve been them just being buddies bickering like Lucas and Dustin were on their missions. The government dudes could’ve been a way bigger factor on their road trip, constantly heightening the stakes by almost finding them and interrupting the rather peaceful atmosphere.

But no, Byler HAD to have 5 beautifully shot heart-to-hearts, El and Mike HAD to have a fight about the very substance of their relationship, the government dudes were no direct threat to them anymore after the one shootout in the house. S4 revolved around 4 different plots, and one of them was Mike and Will being romantic with each other while on a low-stakes search for El.

#byler #byler proof #also Mike’s monologue had zero buildup #if it had then they would’ve shown his pov more to make us understand the things he meant in the speech #the only buildup it has is every advice Will gave to him which just makes it look like he has no thoughts of his own #which is most certainly not true

[dinitride-art]

Accidentally clicked to hide a layer group instead of my single handwritten text layer (I’m adding actual text stuff rn for this page) and this looks… fascinating. Anyways I’m working on this comic (the miwi one- “Best Friends” aka the one with like 25 pages) again. I think I’m going to end up posting five pages next instead of ten because there is a point where I can split it up that’s mostly okay. So I’ve got like 1/5 pages done right now. These five pages are specifically the pages I’ve been avoiding because… they’re the ones I sketched out with the intention of “figuring it out later” and well. It’s later now. And they’re gonna get weird because that’s what I do when I get stuck and don’t want to do something. I make it weird and fun for me to make. That’s why the tiny wills are scattered over this page. Anyways, this page just looks really different without the panels and text boxes and I thought it was neat !

#miwi comic: 'best friends' #my art #the pages after this are fine #there’s only a few at the end that I’m like ‘oh it’ll be fine! I’ll figure it out when I get there!’ #but that’s in like. at least 15 pages so. #it’s fine #I think I honestly just got better as planning as I drew more pages/thumbnails/sketches #the early ones are the ones that are killing me #a lot of the middle ones are at the point where they just need colouring and text added #so basically- they’re almost done. #but these five in this group… I just need to get past them #I swear I haven’t abandoned this comic !!! #I’ve just been avoiding it because I couldn’t figure out what to do with these five pages #but I think I’m doing something now #also the text here… I don’t think it spoils anything major #like mikes pov next!! so that’s fun but. there’s not really anything plot wise- and there’s a plot. it’s a weird plot but it’s there #nothing plot wise is being said here #most of its visual stuff anyways at the moment

[theprotagonistisdead]

t.r.a.c.k.s really is one of the wildest episodes of aos

#also one of the best #the different pov's #the time thing and the disappearing train #mike's whole... everything #and most of all skye getting shot #agents of shield #agents of s.h.i.e.l.d. #skye #daisy johnson #quake #kaz watches aos #reporting live from circe's island

[a-majus]

i do not get the argyle hate like can you imagine how depressing the california crew would have been without him like they needed a comic relief character in their group like even if he was never helpful to the actual plot(which he was) his role of being the funny one would have been enough for me personally

#like jonathan will or mike could not have filled that role #they would be the most depressing pov #which would not make sense tonally #like hawkins was battling a demon that uses your trauma to kill you #and in russia hopper was being held prisoner #like they were on a road trip how could they have been having the most dreery time #argyle #stranger things

[chirpsythismorning]

I See the Light (Mike’s Version)

#byler #stranger things #mike wheeler #will byers #st4 dna board #visual parallel being the shot of ryder to the right while staring longingly at rapunzel as she talks looking off into the distance #then we have the very technical artificial lighting which is what I think drives this parallel home for me #in this scene in rapaunzel they’re singing about being in the dark for a long time and NOW ‘seeing the light’ #and so the choice to illuminate will with light in 87% of the shots from mike’s pov here… is quite the choice #you’ll notice mike is not lighten up at all to this extent from will’s pov #this is bc mike is not will’s light! he is his heart (duh he just gave a whole speech about it) #for mike tho. will is his light!! #and so the implications that come with this song and the lyrics you just heard from ryder’s pov specifically #the character mike is being paralleled to here #are quite staggering #bc this choice could have the potential to add even more layers to what we are seeing here #this scene started with mike looking pretty depressed and hopeless as he has been looking for most of the season #this scene then ends with mike looking mesmerized. in awe and maybe the happiest we’ve ever seen him after hearing will’s words #and so what does this all mean? #was mike in the dark but now he’s starting to see the light? #at the end when the light is shining on will in the cabin and mike ends the scene resting his hand on will’s shoulder #is that to signify that mike is now in the process of stepping into the light with him? #the duffers saying in their emmy consideration that the show will end with the characters coming out of the darkness and into the light… #was that just a coincidence? #not at all related whatsoever to the culmination of two main characters taking 5 seasons to confront their feelings for each other? #after a season that made a point of focusing on their dynamic with light… #or is it really just that simple bc tangled is written and crossed off the st4 dna board? #like this is literally just one of several scenes that connects byler to romantic pairings from movies on the st4 dna board #basically #byler endgame

[evil-ontheinside]

Why is writing Dustin literally the funniest thing? I don't know how it keeps happening but I wrote at least three different times from his pov and every time it has the best lines. Have some various snippets from my WIPs to prove my point:

"Why do you have to be so negative about this? You will not be the one in trouble should something go wrong, I will handle the consequences." He has his arms crossed in front of his chest and it might have been intimidating - especially with that dagger still in hand - but it's not because it's Michael. The Prince, sure, but also the person Dustin had seen sitting drenched in the fountain of the main plaza, looking like a wet cat and grumbling about it with the dignity of a small child. The cut-off curtains, draped over his shoulder like a makeshift cape, don’t command much respect either. ----

Dustin had been playing one of his favorite songs, approved of by all the important people at home, including the royal family. He knows it better than the back of his hand, could perform it in his sleep if he had to, had played it while being attacked by a ranger in the forest - yes Lucas, this story will be made into a song sooner or later, there is no escape. ----

Dustin knows nothing. Prince Michael, who? Wait, no, Dustin knows something. But nothing important. Yes, that sounds better. ----

“You won’t believe this.” Dustin almost chokes on his drink when he looks up and sees Hopper storm into the Byers’ kitchen. He did not just hear the chief of police Jim Hopper say You won’t believe this also known as the most stereotypical sitcom-drama sentence ever, right? “Try me,” is all Joyce answers, completely unphased, from the kitchen table where they all sit together and try to complete a 2000-piece jigsaw puzzle. It’s going worse than he anticipated. At the same time Dustin triumphantly fits a piece into the right place, does he realize that this must be a normal occurrence. Jim Hopper, taken right out of the afternoon’s soap opera.  He’ll need some time to process this later. -----

If anyone asks why he decided to spend one of the last days of summer vacation with Max underneath a lonely tree in the middle of an open field? They’re studying, obviously. Or having a romantic getaway that lasted for a few hours and will never happen ever again. They had planned to make this an extended Party event but, as usual, life just won’t go according to Dustin’s plan. He had it all planned out: camping for a night in a - of course completely randomly selected, no doubt about it - field in town, a DnD campaign crafted by Eddie himself to celebrate the last days of summer and far away from prying eyes to not disturb anyone. But no, the Byers and Hoppers - soon to be only Hoppers, Dustin is more than just a little excited for that wedding. He also had that fully planned out years ago but his planning was, as usual, not appropriately appreciated - had to make an impromptu family trip to god knows where, Steve, Eddie, and Robin - this betrayal maybe left the deepest wound - had suddenly all decided to take a road trip without telling anyone else beforehand, and the Sinclairs had all been jammed into their family car and carted off to visit a dying relative somewhere in Indianapolis. This left Max and Dustin all alone in Hawkins. At least Max was always down for a little espionage to search for possible gossip. Though Max had almost ditched him when he complained - totally justified by the way - about everyone leaving them behind when they should’ve been here with them, lying in waiting for the newest information. -----

Dustin doesn’t care. The others can hide their interest for all they want but he’s here to gather information and he’s not ashamed of it. His observations might as well be for science. His curiosity doors are wide open, he can’t risk only looking through a crack if he wants the full picture. -----

What the fuck do they need an old wooden chest for? Why doesn’t Dustin have an old wooden chest? He could totally pull off an old wooden chest in his room.  Maybe, and Dustin thinks this with reluctance of the highest order, the rumors aren't as ridiculous and farfetched as they sounded at first. This family might not be quite normal. [...] A few more boxes join the wooden chest - and Dustin is still not over that. This thing looks like it was taken straight out of a medieval fantasy story. The cheek, the gall to show off their cool wooden chest in front of Dustin without considering his feelings - neatly stacked on top of it before he simply gets behind the wheel and takes off without giving them an answer as if he hadn’t even heard them.

#I just love him #he is so fun to write #and yes most of this is Mike and Dustin bc most of my stuff is about Mike but their dynamic is just too good #I almost prefer Dustin's pov over Mike's tbh #but yeah that's my wip for today #dustin henderson #stranger things #Henler #Wheelderson #I'm just gonna use both of those tags. no idea which one is actually used #mike wheeler #the party #writing wip #stranger things royal au

[adenctm]

Phases by PRETTYMUCH is byler coded

#byler #mikes pov? #most probably #associate song to byler is my personal trait lol