#discord thread

James Darmody Jimmy found the idea hilarious. He had been observing the entertainement for a bit now and decided to give a try. Why he went to Beth ? Probably because he felt like she too needed hugs even though she was running that booth with the two others. " Well hello there Betty boop , didn't know you would take that nick name to heart" he laughed.

Beth Young He always got laughs from Beth, it seemed. She gave him a brief model pose, her best attempt at coquette. "What can I say? You inspired me, Jimmy.Planning to deliver nicknames and joy to Fleet and Val, too?"

James Darmody "Eeeeeh depends how busy they get with the arrival of people and how much work I have. Some people do work you know? "

Beth Young A hand to her heart and Beth gasped. "What are we implying, sir?" Although it did remind her. "Thank you again, for the cart. I may put a real request in for you soon."

James Darmody "Implying, I cannot just hold my hands out and hug everyone , but everyone is free to jump on me for hugs, I 'm very huggable, you should try. "

Beth Young Her teeth flashed in a grin, and Beth happily came around from behind the booth, standing akimbo. "The trick is the approach, see? Do you recommend a running jump or will a start from standing suffice?"

James Darmody "Do yourself a favor and do it the way you would like it …I'm going to uno reverse this and just take it. " he stated and just prepared himself for impact. "Run and Jump like in dirty Dancing, have the time of your life Betsy " 6 mars 2024

Beth Young Absolutely delighted, Beth did as encouraged. "I am warning you now, James Darmody - I am not a dancer." From several steps back, Beth quickly pulled her hair back. "You're going to have to do most of the lifting." At a run, committed to the silliness, Beth indeed did her best Baby impression.

James Darmody The man couldn't help but hum the song while she was coming at him. He put his hands on her hips and lifted her up, it was not really graceful because even though it looked easy, it took a lot of muscle work to keep it clean. After a few seconds he swung her around to then catch her koala style in his arms. "Never doubt my ability of lifting, that's how Nicki mastered planking , but shhh"

Beth Young She tried so hard to hold the pose, but was grateful she he dropped her into a swing so she could laugh freely. "Lips firmly sealed." [16:32] The deal was a hug, so Beth wound around him and clung. Her dad had called her a limpit when she was little, and it seemed she still had that instinct. Easy enough with a sturdy form like Jimmy's. "I'll be sure not to doubt you in future."

James Darmody "Good good. " He put the woman back down. " Now I need a favor , or more a deal sealed with a kiss, cause that's what kissing booths are for. " he stated. " You know who you matched me with, I need you to keep this person busy and out of side of - " he pointed a part of town so if someone was listening, that someone being Val, she would not hear it. "there. Do you agree to this mission , Miss Young? "

Beth Young Her eyes narrowed, and Beth stood akimbo. Her drawl thickened while she mocked offense. "Mister Darmody, was all this to butter me up for a favor?" Beth crossed her arms, looking in the direction he indicated. "I am… inclined to help in the spirit of the event." Beth held her stern look a moment longer, and then softened. "Next time maybe just ask without the pretense."

James Darmody Jimmy was the one to gasp now. "I would NEVER. The hug had nothing to do with this, but I figured I would just put a word to hide the surprise from her so she gets the surprise. " He narrowed his eyes and bent forward. "Unless you don't want to kiss me."

Beth Young She remained still several moments longer, holding the tension. When her shoulders relaxed, Beth smiled. "Honey, the Kissing Booth is about what you want. If that's a kiss, I'm not about to get bristly. They'd kick me directly off the Leprechaun Committee." Looking him over, Beth hesitated again. She knew about his lost family, the rings he still wore. It'd be better to let him choose. "You just tell me where, Jimmy."

James Darmody He thought about it for a second , then knelt a bit to be smaller than her. "Bless me with a kiss on the forehead, that's something I do, but that I rarely receive. "

Beth Young Oh, it twisted at her heart to hear that, to see him try to be smaller for her. Beth refused to show anything but a smile, however. "As you wish."Her hands cupped his face gently, respectfully, to deliver on the request. Directly centered on his forehead, Beth pressed a kiss, held for several heartbeats before withdrawing. "There we are, sir. Now, the sordid matter of when I'm meant to be distracting your target?" 8 mars 2024

James Darmody Jimmy smiled and closed his eyes at the kiss. He felt at peace for a moment and let memories flood him for the duration of his request. He stood up and looked up , hands on his hips. " Let's see… Probably saturday."

Beth Young "Saturday," she mused. "I'll be working in the morning, but I'll can get you an hour or two in the afternoon." She paused, watching Jimmy with an appraising eye. "This better not get me in her bad books, Jimmy." She didn't really think he'd do anything alarming, but Beth so rarely got to tease the man, she had to seize the chance

Cole Reznik

-he was getting bored. naturally. being stuck in a jail cell with nothing to do could that do. now cole knew and understood what it was like for the inmates to the prisons he worked at. tapping his fingers against the wall his back was leaned against to the beat of a song stuck in his head, he heard the precinct door open- I hope that's you, Renee. Anyway you can fetch me a book or art supplies to pass the dying time? -once the person came to view, he realized it wasn't renee- Oh, hey Jack.

Jake Hawk

"Hey Mole," Jake replied back with a smile. "Sorry, I haven't got a book or anything. Just lunch." He held up the paper bag he had brought with him from the Community Centre. He put the bag into the tray in the cell door for Cole to take whenever he was ready. "Dumb question but how're you doing?"

Cole Reznik

-cole smirked at his new name - might as well. he then shrugged to answer jake's question- Living the dream, Jack. Living the dream. -he moved toward the door, happily taking the bag- This wouldn't by chance be a medium rare prime rib with loaded fries? I used to think about what my last meal would be and I think that would be it.

Jake Hawk

"Unfortunately, no. No prime rib or fries. It's boar steak and root veggies. I would say close your eyes and imagine it's the same but it's really not. Sorry."

Cole Reznik

It's whatever. Thanks anyway. -cole dropped the bag to the bench before facing jake- Whaddya doing here?

Jake Hawk

He leaned against the cell bars, his arms loosely crossed. "Came to say thank you for doing what you did with Renee. Wish it didn't cost you as much as it has done though."

Cole Reznik

Oh, come on, man. -cole chuckled, shaking his head as he took a seat- I'm the same fucker who planned on making a move on your girl if that damned biter hadn't come out of nowhere. There's no need to thank me. I'm not a fucking hero. Thanks for the food but, you ain't gotta be here.

Jake Hawk

Jake wasn't so much a fan of Coke hitting on Renee and guessed that was what caused the slap he saw. But he wasn't going to dwell on that now. "No, I don't have to be here but I am anyway."

Cole Reznik

-he folded his arms across his chest, letting out a sigh- Listen, I got Lord knows how many more hours left of this shit, and I don't wanna spend it playing ring around the rosie so - just say your thank yous and get shit out.

Jake Hawk

Jake narrowed his eyes slightly, weighing up his options here. "Alright. Thank you for saving the woman I love. I know there's no way I can repay what you did, even if you were being a slimy piece of shit beforehand. So yeah, thank you."

Cole Reznik

-cole let out a loud bellow of laughter, putting a hand on his stomach- Slimy piece of shit. That's a new one. Bravo. And you're welcome. Just make sure you fight for her. Life's too short not to do or say the things you want.

Jake Hawk

Jake cracked a grin as Cole let out a burst of loud laughter. There was no way for Jake to repay Cole for what he did but at least he made him laugh before... Yeah, before. "Oh I plan on fighting for her," he said. "She knows this already but I'm in it for the long haul. Even if the long haul ain't that long because-" he motioned in the air to indicate the near endless reasons of why life was not guaranteed to last all that long "-reasons!"

Cole Reznik

Good. Take it easy, Jake. Hold 'em close a little longer even if they fight you. -of course he meant the children jake had taken in, since cole wasn't able to do it himself with his own son- Now get outta here. No good spending your time here.

Jake Hawk

Nodding as Jake got to his feet, he was suddenly aware that this would likely be the last time he'd see Cole alive. And yet he was at a loss of what else to say to the doomed man. Anything his brain tried to cobble together didn't feel big enough for this moment. Instead, Jake gave Cole a salute before walking away.

Jake left the precinct and went back to his house. It was tempting to seek out Renee but he knew how busy she was with a new influx of patients so he went home instead.

"Hey Pops," Cody said as Jake let himself in. "You ok? You look kinda pale?"

EDDIE: oh, eddie munson had fucking had it with this day. wondering why he'd even gone to nancy's asshole boyfriend's keg party at fucking skull rock, anyway. not that eddie particularly had anything better to do that night. but still. he'd expected his time back in hawkins to be a bit more.... well, chill. well, it was hawkins after all, so as chill as it could be, with the ever present threat of the supernatural looming. chill.... socially, too. he'd planned to hang out with max a lot, craft his epic new hellfire reunion campaign, play a couple gigs with corroded coffin, maybe. get high with his friends, coincidentally the people he'd narrowly avoided death with spring break of '86. just.... have a good time.  then nancy had invited him along to commit arson, they'd stumbled across human sized eggs, all that upside down shit he'd spent two years trying to forget was slowly creeping back into their lives and to top it all off, he'd made out with steve harrington and steve harrington, seemingly thinking that this was all one big joke or some experiment, had rejected him in the worst way possible. and he couldn't leave now, either, no one could leave that god forsaken town and eddie had fucking had it.  exchanging a few angry and hurt glances with steve, he couldn't stand the sight of him anymore had quickly gotten up from his spot next to chrissy - oh yeah, fucking chrissy cunningham had come back from the dead, too - and excused himself to go have a smoke. he'd walked for a bit until he was sure to be out of sight and earshot of the group now arguing with thad, had pulled out his smokes but before he'd gotten a chance to light it, the telltale snapping of a twig and rustling of some leaves had alerted him to the fact that he wasn't alone.  eddie, still visibly upset had whipped around and groaned when he'd seen the familiar figure come into view. "what do you want, harrington? im not in the mood for your mockery. go.... i don't know, hit on chrissy or something."

STEVE: showing up at this party hadn't been as fun as steve thought it would be. sure, he didn't expect to meet eddie there, but it wasn't like he was ignoring him either. but the way he was treating him and not even letting him explain what he was feeling made steve... well, sort of an asshole. even if he wouldn't admit it out loud, it was inevitable. the last words he had told to him weren't necessarily nice, but as he sat down next to cole, tapping his food as he looked at eddie occasionally. he watched him stand up and walk away.  don't follow him, he heard his thoughts in his head, but steve had never been the type to listen to his own thoughts. he looked over at cole for a few moments before standing up and going after eddie, following him into the woods. at least the two would be alone and they could talk. steve didn't care what other people would say about him chasing eddie at that moment.  stepping on a twig as he moved the leaves away, steve stopped in his tracks once he heard eddie's response to seeing him. "i want to talk." he said as he took another step towards eddie. "wh- hit on chrissy? you're shitting me, right? you're the one who gets... all nervous and nosebleeds when you see her!" he said, waving his hands in front of him as he looked at eddie. he didn't want to fight with him, but the two seemed to be pretty annoyed about this whole thing.  "can we just... talk? like, actually talk. i don't think we'll get... you know, interrupted here by anyone. we don't have talkies. we're alone." he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "so, let's just... talk!" he said, not sure what else to say. he was hoping that eddie would take the lead, although steve should have been the one to justify himself.

MURRAY: Another unsuccessful stakeout at the border under his belt, Murray tucked his flask of vodka in his back right jean pocket and rested his rifle on his shoulder, across his chest. At least tonight, Murray had allowed himself the small luxury of music while watched the woods for... well, anything. Murray was in high spirits, despite the uneventful night, because he knew he had lemon glazed chicken waiting for him at home. He swayed through the woods, singing 'We'll Meet Again' softly to himself, until he came upon two familiar voices. Murray fully intended to pass by, give a polite wave, and keep going-- for the lemon glazed chicken. and the side of roasted asparagus. He was a pretty damn good housewife. But, Steve Harrington's pleading tone was enough to intrigue Murray, and he paused, careful not to make any sound. If it turned out to be just some silly jock conversation, he would surely leave well enough alone. But if it wasn't, perhaps he could be of assitance. Or at the very least, perhaps he would have something to mull over at dinner.

EDDIE: he flicked his lighter a couple of times, groaning in annoyance when it wouldn't produce a flame, he resisted the urge to fling it onto the ground and stomp it into the dirt. he should've filled up the damn lighter fluid. one hand coming up to rub between his brows, he shoved the useless lighter back into his pocket, discarded the cigarette too. "god, you're giving me a headache, harrington.", eddie grumbled and exhaled deeply. brows pulling together into a frown at steve's words he felt himself become more enraged, if that was even possible. all the pent up emotions he'd bottled up since their encounter in the cabin now bubbling up to the surface. "jesus h christ, I'm not getting a nosebleed because im....hot for chrissy. ew, no." he grimaced and shivered at the thought. not that chrissy wasn't a charming and attractive young woman. a great catch, really. just not in the pond he was fishing at. "im getting nosebleeds cause she fucking die-" he stopped himself, but down on his lip. steve wouldn't remember her death, he figured, probably wouldn't believe him, either. "forget it. and you've got no right to be jealous anyway."  he began pacing nervously, finding it unbearable to simply.... stand there. hitting the tree behind him lightly with his fists, swinging his arms around, anything to ease the tension. "well then fucking talk, harrington!" his voice was louder now, shaky, eddie could feel his hands begin to tremble. "i mean do you really have to rub it in further, man? i get it. i was like.... and experiment or a nice pair of lips to pass the time with. a joke with your friends, even. i get it, steve." he looked away, took a shaky breath. "i don't care man, ok? let's just put it past us. i won't come onto you anymore, you can go back to having a new girlfriend every other week."

STEVE: hearing eddie say that steve was giving him an headache made him purse his lips, fighting the urge to roll his eyes as he looked at the other. he didn't get how this had been the eddie who he had made out all those days before, but it didn't seem like him. he was angry at steve and steve didn't have the chance to explain himself for what was happening with him. he didn't understand the feelings he had for eddie, but he knew he had them. "then why are you getting like that whenever she's around? i've noticed how you look at her, you don't look like that with just... anyone!" steve said as he kept his hands on his own hips as eddie started pacing back and forward. hearing that he had no right to be jealous made him angry - mostly because he was jealous. but that didn't matter apparently.  "do you really think that i did all of that because it was a joke? do you think i didn't want to kiss you?" he asked, his own tone raising as he got angrier at the thought of eddie thinking that. if eddie still thought that he was the same asshole from all of those years before, then he really didn't know him. "what friends, eddie? dustin? max? are those the friends who you think would be part of this joke? do you really think this is a fucking joke?" he asked, shaking his head as he looked at eddie. he shouldn't get this angry, but he couldn't help it. "now you don't care?" he asked, frowning.

MURRAY: Murray had seen this film before. Many times, and one time too many within the confines of Hawkins, Indiana. Small town be damned, was no one in touch with their sexuality? It was 1988 for fuck's sake! Murray remembered his own sexual awakening clearly: eighth grade, he caught Marianne Weber and Tom Erickson hooking up under the bleachers and he couldn't decide who he wanted to kiss more. But, as was often the case, not everyone was gifted with Murray's investigative skill. Least of all, it seemed, Eddie Munson and Steve Harrington. Clearing his throat so as not to startle anyone, Murray stepped into the clearing. "Good evening, boys," he said, his voice taking on a sing-song tone. "If you don't mind, some of us are enjoying an evening stroll... preferably sans years of pent-up sexual frustration. Hm?" he hinted, looking from Eddie to Steve with a raised brow and the hand not holding the rifle planted on his hip.

EDDIE: he scoffed, bit down on his lip hard. pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth as he felt a telltale hit prickle in his eyes, unsure whether they were tears if sadness or frustration. eddie mindlessly kicked at some stones laying knt he ground, sendung them flying into the woods. "believe what you will, steve. what's it to you? jealous cause you want her all to yourself or what?" he didn't even know why he was entertaining steve's idea of him being into chrissy. well, no, he knew. eddie was upset and disgruntled and extremely petty.  feeling his lips quiver he quickly looked away, hands flexing, fingernails painfully digging into his palms. he opened his mouth about to defend himself, when he was interrupted my someone clearing their throat. so much for not getting interrupted again. it was comical, almost.  eddie whipped around. ".... murray?" he narrowed his eyes. gaze dropping to the rifle in his hand. and to think that wasn't the weirdest thing he'd seen this week. "what the fuck?"

STEVE: "i don't want chrissy. i want..." he started saying, before he got interrupted by someone clearing their throat. soon after that, steve looked around until his eyes landed on murray. now that was something that he didn't expect. he took quick notice of the rifle. "what the hell?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at eddie for a couple of moments and then at murray. as the other started talking, steve's mind couldn't help but to wander on why murray was there. was he hunting? no, that didn't make sense.  as he heard the words sexual tension, steve felt himself blush. it was stupid, really. he had had sex before, but he hadn't tried anything with eddie yet. just simply making out. he was lucky that it was dark where they were or else he would have been more embarrassed by what murray was talking. "what do you want, murray? we were talking..." he said, looking at eddie again and giving him a nod, before turning to the older man.

MURRAY: "Yeah, good to see you, too," Murray deadpanned, knowing he looked insane to them, but not caring. There were more pressing issues at hand. "What do I want? You should be asking for help here, son. Because if this is your idea of communication..." he heaved a sigh. He'd heard enough to make some educated guesses about the situation at hand. "How long ago did you two hook up and what happened?" Then, with a tsk sound, he held up a finger. "One at a time."

EDDIE: eyes wide, brows furrowed, he blinked a couple of times, in both confusion and disbelief, before he gave another over-exaggerated, annoyed groan. this day really couldn't get any fucking worse, could it. between apparently giving steve the impression that he was straight and murray bauman showing up in the dead of night, in the middle of the woods with a rifle, apparently dead set on counseling them, eddie had truly fucking had it. he threw his hands up in the air, then dragged them down his face. resistance against murray was surely useless, anyway, or would be met with soul shattering sass and eddie really couldn't handle that right now. "christ, man. do you have a lighter, at least?" he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, shuffling awkwardly where he was standing. after a moment, he gave in. threw his hands up again. "ok, fine, fuck. whatever. we like...", he stuttered, glanced over at steve with flushed cheeks. "we, like, kissed.... i don't fucking know. two weeks ago? one and a half? i don't care." eddie did very much care. "it's... it's stupid anyway. it's bullshit. we can just forget it. stevie here is obviously embarrassed of what happened." he shot the other a glare. "or else he wouldn't have fucking jumped like ten feet away from me when the cabin door swung open. isn't that right, harrington."

STEVE: listening to murray talk made steve furrow his brows. how did he know all of that? but steve didn't fight it or he didn't argue about it. he could have walked away from that whole conversation but he decided that he wanted to keep talking to eddie. and if murray was there to watch this shit show, then so be it. "i think... i think two weeks ago, yeah..." he agreed with eddie, before rolling his eyes when he heard eddie say that it was stupid. it wasn't stupid. and he wasn't embarrassed. "i'm not embarrassed! i'm just not used to... being with... you know, dudes! it's... new to me!" he said, shaking his head. "and i was hoping that you out of all people, you know, would know how it feels like to be... different." he said, looking at eddie and then back at murray. "i'm not embarrassed. i... just don't know." he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

MURRAY: Setting the rifle on the forest floor, Murray dug into his pocket for a lighter. He didn’t smoke anymore, but you simply never knew when you’d run into an extra-terrestrial being that could only be affected by fire. He passed the lighter to Eddie and listened to the boys talk past each other. It was cute, in a way. They so clearly had feelings for each other. "In my forty-some years on earth, I've uncovered many truths-- about Chicago, global conflicts, and human nature. And one of those truths is that, broadly speaking, there are two types of gay men." Murray had one of those voices that always sounded sarcastic. But in this conversation, he was being as genuine as he’d been in a long while. "Men like myself and Eddie, who know pretty early on which way we swing," he nodded to Eddie. "And guys like you, Harrington, who are just now figuring it out-- and God knows, we always seem to attract the opposite of us," he chuckled, remembering his first boyfriend, Petey. Petey whose looks could kill if Murray looked at him a second too long when they were at the bar with their friends. "But you have to talk about it," he said, his voice stern and loud. "Eddie, what I'm hearing is that you're hurt by how Steve reacted. You feel rejected," he turned his gaze to the other. "Steve, I'm hearing that you're confused. You've never felt this way before, but you do like it." Murray waited for the two to respond and mentally patted himself on the back. It was Jonathan and Nancy, Joyce and Hopper all over again.

EDDIE: muttering a "thanks, man", he caught the lighter, nearly dropped it though due to how shaky his hands were, and lit his cigarette, then tossed the lighter back to murray. gaze landing on the rifle again for a second because what the fuck, but this was a question for another day. cigarette pinched between his pointer and middle finger, he rubebd the space between his brows with his thumb.  he listened to murray, chuckling a little at his words that sounded both serious and..... not? serious? 'myself and eddie' made him perk up and he nearly grinned because of course. figures. it made sense, murrays theory, opposites attract and all, and there was a guilty nausea beginning to spread in his stomach as he considered how he really hadnt even tried to see the whole thing from steves perspective. then again, eddie was pissed and he felt like he rather had every right to be. "well we're talking about it now, aren't we?", he shrugged and took another drag, shifting from one foot to the other. "like, I can see how harrington here is confused and all but not so sure about the liking it part. what's there to like, anyway?" he glanced down, suddenly found the spot on the ground between his feet to be vastly interesting. "anyway. it's clear what happened here kinda, isn't it? you wanted to try it out, experiment, whatever. figured i wouldn't talk. figured nobody would believe the weird, gay metalhead if he talked." another shrug eddie chewed nervously on his bottom lip. "you could've picked anyone to do that with, harrington. but I thought we were friends, man. that was... that was just mean."

STEVE: steve watched as eddie lit his cigarette, wondering if he needed one to deal with all of this, but thinking it was probably for the best if he just didn't say anything for a while. he looked at murray as he talked, suddenly curious to know what murray had learned about chicago, but that was past the point. it didn't matter. what mattered right now was this talk... and the fact that they were having it in the middle of the woods wasn't idea, but it was the best they could get. "well, i've never been with a guy... before. and i did kiss cole before, but you know... with you it was different." he said, shaking his head. he had never been taught to talk about his feelings so openly, but it felt kind of good. hearing eddie still insisting that steve used him, steve let out a breath as he shook his head. "i didn't want to experiment, i kissed you because i... i wanted to kiss you." he said, as he ran a hand through his hair and looked at eddie. "i didn't want to kiss anyone else, eddie, i just... i wanted to kiss you. and i do... like you, you know. more than just friends. and i'm... sorry." he said, looking down at the ground now. "for the cabin stuff..." he said, a sigh escaping his lips.

MURRAY: It took everything in him to tone down the squeal of glee building up in his chest. But, with the strength of many generations of Baumans, he channeled it into a sort of pleased harumph. "Now we're talking!" he exclaimed, like he was at a basketball game and things just got lively. He looked at Eddie pointedly and mad a 'T' with his hands. "Time out, please. Edward... listen, I get it, I dated plenty of Steves in my day and it's easy to take the confusion as rejection, but..." he motioned to Steve, who was opening up beautifully, like a rose. "Listen to the man. He's doing the work here, he's being honest." Murray hesitated and angled himself to where he was only speaking to Eddie for a moment. "And, in the most respectful way possible, don't project the world onto Steve. Guys like you and I, we're used to rejection. For me, it was my dad, from day one. I wore that shit like a purple heart, kid, but it's not worth it. My advice? Give it up," he spoke. Then, opening himself back up to the two of them, Murray clasped his hands together in delight. "This was beautiful, kids, truly spectacular."

EDDIE: the cigarette hung nearly abandoned now pinched between his pointer and middle finger, his brows drew together in confusion, gears obviously turning as he tried to make sense of steve's words. "there wasn't anyone else around to kiss, either, was there.",he said and immediately wanted to slap himself for continuing to be this petty. it didn't make sense. for steve to like him, quite unquote 'more than friends'.  murray signaling for him to 'time out' quickly shut him up and eddie was glad, for he wasn't sure he might not have just continued his rampage of stupidity. listening to murray, he scratched his neck, pinched the skin there, glancing over at steve every now and again. meeting his eyes as murray shuffled closer, letting him in on his secrets.  eddie gulped. exhaled shakily, lips parted, his throat had gone incredibly dry all of a sudden. he nodded, signaling to murray that he'd understood his message. even though he hadn't payed exact attention to his words - but hey, holding eye contact with steve harrington did that to a guy. give it up - the resentment, the anger. against anyone and everyone. give it up - pursuing steve? eddie felt himself begin to spiral, he quickly took another drag.  "uh. apology accepted, I guess.",he shrugge, looked anywhere but steve. "listen, steve, i.... you don't have to do.... this. i can take it, man. im sorry for being, like, angry and shit. wasn't fair." another shrug, followed by a grimace. "you don't have to, like,.... pretend to like me to make me feel better, steve. im just.... im nobody, it doesn't make sense. guys like you don't.... they're not into guys like me. it's not - that doesn't happen." he'd started pacing a couple sentences ago, now deliberately not meeting either murray or steve's gaze.  " thanks murray, man, for.... whatever this was? im gonna - i think I'm gonna head home. "

STEVE: he looked at both eddie and murray, standing in the back as he thought about what the other could possibly be saying to eddie. he felt sick to his stomach all of the sudden. he had just admitted his feelings for eddie, or at least he thought he did and now he wasn't sure how the other would react. when he heard eddie accepting his apology, steve gave him a nod. at least had that gone well for him, even if the rest of what eddie was saying wasn't as positive. "i'm not pretending, eddie." he said simply, trying not get slightly annoyed at what eddie was saying. he had been pretty clear, or at least he thought he had. steve wouldn't do that to anyone, not anymore at least. who was to say that he hadn't done it back in his asshole times? but now, he had learned how to be genuine with his feelings - or as genuine as he could get. "but..." he said, not being able to say anything else. "but you're not nobody to me, eddie, you're... you're eddie! i don't know what else to say, but you're not nobody." he said with an assertive nod.

MURRAY: Murray's elation was short-lived. In a singular moment, he knew exactly how the Egyptians felt when the library of Alexandria burned. It took everything in him not to pick up his rifle and wave it around like a banshee. Instead, curses spilled off of his lips in the first language he could grasp: "Allah yakhthek." He groaned, rubbing his temples with his fingers and shooting Eddie a withering glance. "For a musician, your listening skills are pretty shit, kid," he sighed. He would rather interrogate Russian operatives than argue with the younger version of himself. The self-hatred, the unwavering belief that one was unlovable, was painfully familiar; talking to Eddie was like putting on an old sweater, one that didn't really fit anymore but was always around. "He just said he's not pretending," Murray was yelling now, pointing at Steve. Then, his finger prodded directly into Eddie's chest. "He may not understand what's going on, poor thing, but he's being honest. And if you want to hear that and continue to deny it, run from it, that's your right." Murray stepped back from the two of them, allowing his blood pressure to stabilize. Lemon glazed chicken. His voice was lower now, calm even. "But it would be very disappointing," he said, his eyes not leaving Eddie's.

EDDIE: he was frustrated more than anything now and, muttering curses under his breath, eddie tossed the cigarette to the ground, putting it out with his foot. god damn it. he'd hoped for a clean, minimally confusing break, not.... whatever this hell this was. fight turned couples counseling session, appearantly.  "ugh, you're not making any sense! both of you!", he exclaimed, resumed his pacing, giving the tree behind him the occasional bump. murray was right, though, although eddie hated to admit it. his listening skills were pretty shit. especially when the version of things he'd laid out for himself in his head didn't match with reality.  in a way, it would be less confusing if steve didn't like him like that. if he was straight, if this had been just an experiment. they would eventually move past the stage of being awkward around each other and continue to be friends. but like this? a step neither of them could take back. and eddie was terrified.

especially now that murray was outright shouting at him, eddie jumped, confused, when his fingers made contact with his chest. instinctively, he raised his hands in surrender. "ok! okay, alright, fine! i get it, man, just - geez." shoulders slumping, he slowly lowered his hands when murray stepped back. there was something unreadable in eddie's expression now - murray had struck a nerve, obviously. deny it. run from it. that had always been eddie's forte, hadn't it? taking the easy way out when things got tough. 'outside of dnd i am no here'. eddie nervously chewed on the inside of his cheek. glanced over to meet steve's eyes.  'look at us, we're not heroes'. a familiar nauseating weight settled on eddie's chest as he thought back to what could've very well been their last goodbye in the upside down, those two years ago. one hand came up almost instinctively to ghost over his scars. he swallowed, brows pulling up into an almost sad frown. as he remembered how steve had turned around and he'd called him back, they'd shared a look. many things had passed between them in that instant, all left unspoken when, overwhelmed with the pressure of potentially his last words, eddie had once again chosen the cowards way out. settling for 'make him pay'. running from what he'd actually been dying and longing to tell steve.  he cleared his throat, voice low and weak almost. "okay, so.. I like you." obvious. "and.... I guess you like me. for whatever reason." eddie shrugged, looked up at steve expectantly. "what.... does this mean, then? like.... and now? what do we do now?"

STEVE: steve had to admit that he was sort of glad that murray had showed up out of the woods to help them. sure, the premise of an older man creeping in the woods wasn't the greatest, but this had been sort of a blessing. at least steve had finally been able to admit his feelings towards eddie, even if it hadn't been necessarily easy to do so. he had to work on that and he needed to work on being more open with eddie. he kept his eyes locked on eddie and murray as the two spoke and steve wondered why murray hadn't talked to him one on one like had done with eddie, but maybe it just meant that he was doing better than the other was. didn't matter.  steve stood there for a couple of moments, shoving his head in his pockets as he heard finally eddie talk. he looked up, a glint in his eyes as he watched him, pursing his lips together. hearing that eddie liked him, even if he should have known it way before, made steve blush slightly.   he approached the other and took his hand, his thumb caressing it as he let out a sigh. "i mean... i want..." he said, looking at murray for a bit and then back at eddie. "i want to try this with you... and only you. i like you, eddie. but you have to help me with... everything, pretty much. because the times i've been with you, i've really been happy and i don't remember being like that in... years. or ever." he said, wondering if all the times he had been with girls had just been a lie in his mind, but that didn't matter. "and...i really want to kiss you, but it would be weird if murray was just... watching." he said with a small chuckle, but moved towards the other to press a kiss on eddie's cheek, feeling himself turn red again. "just... be patient with me?" he asked.

MURRAY: He'd begun walking backwards as the two spoke, clearly his role in this lover's quarrel was coming to an end. Murray let out a wistful sigh, hand to his heart, at the radical vulnerability. This was living! This was the elusive giddy-like-a-schoolgirl feeling. With a salute, Murray picked up his rifle and turned on his heel, always a little flourish in his movement. "Way ahead of you, you little freaks," he said, with the utmost tenderness in his voice. "If you find yourself needing my services again..." Don't was his customary response, but who was he to turn down a fellow gay in need? "I'm at the big cement bunker in the woods. Can't miss it. Ta-ta!" he waved. Murray strutted away with a growing sense of satisfaction, and quickly took up singing 'We'll Meet Again'. He could almost taste the lemon baked chicken.

EDDIE: suddenly steve appeared in his direct line of vision, stepping close, taking his hand, caressing his hand, and eddie's brain short-circuited. thankful for the darkness surrounding him, eddie felt his cheeks heat up. lips parted, a dazed look, glossed over eyes, he simply stood and stared at steve for a moment. until he found it within himself to move closer, too, giving his hand a light squeeze. "uh.... uh, yeah, okay.",he finally managed to get out, voice raspy. eddie nodded eagerly. "yeah, let's - yeah let's do that. try, I mean - like, uh, together. and yeah I'll be patient and.... whatever..." trailing off as he felt steve's lips on his cheek, he instinctively grabbed hold of steve's biceps, pulling him closer. right. murray. eddie peeked over steves shoulder to see the eccentric older man had already descended back into the woods and, chuckling, eddie mirrored his wave. he wondered if he shouldve thanked him, too. maybe he'd stop by one of these days. drop off a card and a bouquet or something.  as soon as eddie was sure that murray was completely out of his line of vision, he focused his attention back on steve, hesitating a second before he wrapped his arms around his neck. eddie cleared his throat, suddenly flustered again. "i, uh. im sorry. for being.... well, a pain in the ass.", he muttered and gave steve a sheepish smile. it quickly faded, replaced by a more serious expression as he suddenly blurted out : "i - i really like you, steve." and he felt like a middle schooler confessing his crush on someone at a homecoming dance. "can i - uh. can.... can you kiss me?"

STEVE: steve looked back at murray as he heard his voice fading away, letting out a small chuckle at the sight of the older man walking away. he definitely owed him one, he thought to himself, but he clearly forgot that when he turned his attention back to eddie. it was all that it mattered right now anyway. smiling when the other agreed on trying, he nodded his head slowly. "okay. good. thank you" he said, a little more relieved that their conversation had actually worked out. he wasn't sure what people's reactions would be, but for the first time, steve didn't care that much. but he did care about eddie.   "i'm sorry for... you know, that whole stuff at the cabin. i shouldn't have done that, it was very... asshole of me." he said with a sigh. he did regret letting go of eddie just like that, but it was in the past. and steve felt bad for it and he was sure that he would keep feeling bad for at least a while. feeling eddie's arms around his neck made him let out a sigh of relief, as he wrapped his arms around the other's waist. it felt good doing this again, pulling him close. "i really like you too, eddie." he said, nodding his head when the other asked him for a kiss, leaning forward and connecting their lips together, pulling eddie close for a kiss.

EDDIE: he snorted, a grin tugging at his lips, he wrapped his arms tighter around steve, relishing in the feeling of the other's hands on his waist. this was how it was supposed to be, eddie thought and nearly gagged at how cheesy that sounded. "yeah, it was pretty king steveof you.", eddie admitted with a pout, though mock serious expression soon broken by a teasing grin again. all dimples and teeth. he shrugged his shoulders. "but let's not.... let's forget that. i was an asshole, you were an asshole, the... assholery cancels it out, i think."  cheeks already stiff and sore from grinning, eddie sighed into the kiss, the content smile remained fixed on his features as their lips lazily moved against each other. clawing at the material of steve's shirt with one hand, he tangled his other into his hair, grabbing hold of it to stead y himself, convince himself that this was in fact real.  it should be illegal to be this happy, eddie thought as shivers ran down his spine. with ease he maneuvered them around until steve's back was pressed against a tree, their lips always connected.  when eddie pulled back, coming up for air more than anything, the aforementioned grin was still on his face as he took in the sight if steve, flushed cheeks and messy hair. laughter bubbled up in his chest, eddie softly shook his head in disbelief. "and you thought I was hitting on chrissy....", he trailed off, interrupted by another giggle.  quickly, as if afraid that steve might slip away at any moment, cupped his cheeks, pulled him in for another deep kiss. "let's get out of here, big boy."