LEAVE ALL YOUR LOVE AND YOUR LOVING BEHIND ⸻

“That is not what I meant,” he says. “Look, I’m not going to take away any privileges or anything, you just - can’t tell people to fuck off in the store.” He has to remember to keep his temper always with her, and with Jane. He’d rather not have more exploding windows or fires to put out. “Just take a deep breath, alright? What I’m saying is, these people are assholes. And they’re immature, I know that. But being rude back gets you nowhere. I know they should know better, but I can’t make them learn. You, at least, I can try to help so you don’t grow up to be like that. Alright? Let’s not light anything on fire.”

Hopper furrowed his brows slightly at the girl. The way she asked what gruesome meant, reminded him of Jane. How she had trouble with some of the easiest words. That was because of how isolated she was her whole life. “Uh… gruesome, it means like nasty. Bloody and gross. Something out of a horror movie.” It was hard explaining words that you just know. That you generally don’t have to explain to people. It’s why Jane had her dictionary. It helped him to explain things to her better. He didn’t have that with him though.

“You don’t have a home?” He asks, just barely starting to piece things together. He didn’t necessarily give her over to an orphanage or foster home. Something told him she wouldn’t stay there, and he had the feeling this wouldn’t be the last time she would wonder onto this property. “I have a nice house out in the words. You could always stay there if you want. If you don’t like people.” She was much too young to be off on her own. “For now, I just want to get you out of here. The specifics don’t really matter.”

She’s quiet for a long moment after that. ‘Not anymore,’ floats just beneath the surface, though she doesn’t say it, thinking about how the lab had ruined her family made her sick to her stomach. The second closest thing she could think of associating with the concept was the lab itself, which was even worse. Hawkins Laboratory was closed, now, there was no need to feel so strongly on the subject. 

What was with this kid? What was so goddamn important about what happened to an abandoned lab. Hopper huffed, looking to the side in frustration for a moment. This kid really wasn’t going to give it, was she? “People died, alright?” He replied, looking back at her. “And not peaceful, meaningful deaths. Deadly, gruesome ones.” He didn’t want to get into detail. Didn’t want to relive what had happened within the last two years. Yet he prepared to run after her if she planned to bolt. He wasn’t about to let her run into the lab if he could stop her.

“What’s if even matter to you? It’s just an abandoned building with a history. There are tons of stuff like that everywhere. It’s honestly not that special.” He was somewhat trying to draw her attention away from what had happened. The less he talked about it, the better. “I can show you a bunch of other abandoned buildings with just as interesting histories. Ones that are less dangerous too.”

Good. They deserved the worst fates she could imagine, maybe worse, though they had given her the worst ideas she could think of. Her earlier smile returns, something much more satisfied, something much more genuine in her anger. “Alright, I’ll bite.” Cracking her knuckles, eyes train on the front entrance for a long moment. “Gruesome. What does that mean? It sounds.. bad.” Glancing back to him, she takes a breath. 

Headcanon Meme / Accepting

reese loves physical affection but often gets worried about giving it. she’s always too hot and worries if she gives hugs she’ll overheat whoever she’s being affectionate with, esp if that person isn’t normally used to her being so open. 

                                @sbjct010 // somewhere in hawkins idk

                “hey, are you lost?” he asks, looking at the girl that seems to be confused. “i can help ya, if ya need it. i don’t bite.”

Hopper felt a little better as he watched her stand and brush herself off. Though, her giggle wasn’t sitting well with him. He wondered if she knew more than she let on. He didn’t want to find out, though. Choosing to leave it for another time, and a different conversation. That is, if he ever saw the girl again. It was a small town, and chances were, that he would. Especially with how rambunctious she seemed to be.

“Dark, and dangerous stuff.” That was all he wanted to say about it. “Stuff I would rather not explain. I just don’t know what’s all left in there, and I would rather not take the chance of finding out.” He just hoped there wasn’t anything residual in there, and it stayed that way. The government didn’t need to re-open it. “So just let me at least drive you to the arcade, or school, or something. Just so that I know you’re safe, and away from here. Deal?”

“No.” Her answer is strict, fingers moving to trace the number on her arm. While the smile only falters a bit, her tone doesn’t reflect the playfulness she held before. The other had answers, and she would do anything to get the knowledge she needed. All fun and games until insinuating he knew more, or that she would be any safer in somewhere loud and with lots of people. 

This obviously wouldn’t be as easy as he had hoped. Sighing, he took a few steps closer to the girl. “Listen, kid. I don’t know how you got in here, but you’re not supposed to be here. This lab is dangerous. It was shut down for a reason, and you could get hurt.” Shut down because everyone who operated it died, but he wasn’t about to say that. “You don’t have to tell me who you are, or where you live. Just let me make sure you get off the property safely.”

The last thing Hopper needed was a kid getting hurt. Especially at the lab. People rarely payed attention to it. Even when it was in operation, but if a kid got hurt here, people would seriously start asking questions. Especially if the kid went home and told their parents what they say inside of it. He didn’t need the added risk of the girl being there, and he didn’t know what else was lingering inside the lab.

It’s hard not to outright start laughing at the concept, but she supposes this guy didn’t know any better, very few people did. Taking in police uniform and attitude, she supposes the other doesn’t mean harm, which means maybe a short giggle wouldn’t get her in too much trouble. “If it’s shut down, what’s gonna hurt me? The rats?” A short laugh bubbles just beneath the surface, releasing as she speaks. “Ooo the spooky tunnels, gonna snatch me up and eat me!” 

@sbjct010 liked (X) for a starter

Hopper was doing his patrol around town when he found himself at the gate to the Hawkin’s Lab. The same lab that was decimated earlier that year. Getting out of his truck, he walked up to the gate. He only came around the lab to make sure that things were staying calm, but he never actually stepped inside the premises. He didn’t want anyone else picking up where it was left off.

Scanning the area as he usually did, his eyes noticed a patch of red among the green grass. Focusing in on it, he realized it was a person. Unlocking and stepping through the gate, he called out to the kid.“Hey! You’re not supposed to be here! Let’s get you out of here and back home, alright? I won’t even tell your parents, but you gotta come with me.”

Being back at the lab was a mistake, but there was no way she could have known it was abandoned now. Leaving meant facing that now she really was alone, there really was nothing to go back to, on the other end this filled her with relief. No more experiments. No more subjects. Instead of leaving after doing a bit of poking around herself, she took a few minutes to contemplate what she was supposed to do now.