Cut The Bullshit

Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Stranger Things (2016-205)

still so in love with their whole futures ahead of them

This one has been sitting in my inbox FOREVER and I'm so sorry. I tried to start an answer a few times, but never managed to organize my thoughts. In short, how do I think it was in canon? I think immediately after the fight with Vecna/getting released by the military, Nancy's going to be incredibly focused on taking care of Mike and Holly given that their parents are in the hospital. Further, there will be a lot of time spent at Karen's/Ted's bedsides. Particularly at Karen's, not because everyone likes her way better than Ted, but because there's a LOT they need to talk about regarding everything that's happened since 1983. My headcanon which I think would honestly be truly canon as well, is that Jonathan is going to be fully embroiled in helping Nancy and living at the Wheeler house pretty much until the whole NYU thing happens. There's no way Nancy can handle all of that alone and while Mike is nearing adulthood, he's still immature and distraught over losing El. Further, the Wheeler kids are not used to domestic independence. Have they done a lot of badass shit? Absolutely. Do they know how to do laundry or cook more than a frozen pizza or deal with insurance and broken appliances? Absolutely fucking not. And broken up or not, Jonathan wouldn't just fuck off to the cabin and be like "good luck with that". Moreover, the cabin. Are he and/or Will really going to sleep on the couch in a one-bedroom cabin with their mom and her boyfriend (even if that boyfriend is Hop)? Be so fr. As much as I wish it were different, I think the Byers are going to splinter off a bit at that point. Joyce supporting and consoling Hopper at the cabin, and Will and Jonathan being the Emotional Support Byers to their respective Wheeler. I would HOPE they'd make it a point to still spend some time with Joyce (maybe a weekly dinner at the Wheeler's for all of them??) but in canon? Who fucking knows lol. Everyone else? Less my expertise, but I would assume all of this would bring everyone even closer. I like to think they'd all spend a lot of time together and that the Wheeler house would continue to be the central hangout for everyone, even the older teens. A place where, if anyone is having a hard time or doesn't want to be alone at home (i.e. Steve and Max, but others may apply), they crash at the Wheeler's. Even after Karen and Ted get home. Karen knows why - Ted can probably just assume that they all went through so much shit with the military occupation and what not that they're all struggling with trauma. Ted is an idiot, but I don't think he's totally devoid of empathy (or, I guess, that's what I like to believe if we're trying to consider these characters as actual multi-faceted people). I do think it's a really interesting time period and still kind of a limbo of sorts until at least the summer of '88. Per my fic(s), Jancy were basically carrying on business (and pleasure) as usual during that time without labeling anything or addressing it. To the point that most people have zero idea they're broken up as they did not call everyone into the room to announce it. No one would believe them anyways.

They really were like “nope these kids aren’t fucking.” Even though they should be fucking! They’re juniors in high school!

JANCY + little comforting acts of love

And I was none the wiser.

still so in love with their whole futures ahead of them

NANCY WHEELER | break ups + "love"

Happy "Don't touch her!" Tuesday!

Hope this helps!

STRANGER THINGS ▸ 2.02 chapter two: trick or treat, freak

STRANGER THINGS ▸ 2.02 chapter two: trick or treat, freak