is it still transfemme if ur futch??

in a somewhat "something wicked this way comes" esc scenario, vecna traps children via a traveling circus. trapped children become acts in the circus and do not retain their memories outside of their roles in the circus. when they do remember, they are still trapped (i'm picturing a similar situation to holly in s5)

vecna is the ringleader operating under the alias "mr. whatsit"

this would operate in a completely separate universe from canon. so everyone's first brush with the upside down is this circus. robin is at the circus with the odd squad and doesn't know anyone yet. stancy is broken up and steve's in his aggressively flirting/trying to get her back stage

nancy's the first one to figure it out because holly goes missing early on and she's looking for her before she gets trapped in the circus. i think the moment nancy sees holly in the circus all her memories come back and she becomes hyperfocused on trying to escape

stobin get trapped as literal conjoined twins. which is so unfortunate for robin because she hates that guy fr (but by the time they end the circus they are aggressively codependent, obviously)

the first person nancy breaks out of the trance is robin, and the two of them (plus steve as an unwilling tagalong) work together to end vecna's curse

Accidentally falling asleep on Robin’s roof

Spraying each other with the garden hose when they’re supposed to be watering the flowers

Arguing over whether vanilla bean ice cream is a valid ice cream flavor (it’s Nancy’s favorite) (“Here’s your milk flavored milk. I asked them for extra tasteless flecks. Enjoy.” “Thank you, Robin, you’re so kind”)

Nancy finding out that Robin has taken kitchen scissors to another one of her old shirts (she’s not complaining)

Midnight drives with the windows down and Bowie on the radio

Nancy’s constant sunburns

The dark freckles that start to appear on Robin’s nose

Scraped knees

Coconut sunscreen

Box fans in window frames (carrying in the scent of hot asphalt and unmowed grass)

Hanging upside down from tree branches

Trying on the stupidest sunglasses

Apple flavored beer

Totally uncool jean shorts

Piggy-back rides

Damp hair ends and the smell of drying chlorine on skin

Frilly socks and dirty white Keds

Reading the same book side by side

Nancy smiles and admits maybe a little. Then Nancy flips it asks if Robin’s seeing anyone. Robin shakes her head, then blurts out that she was seeing Vicki. She immediately panics “Shit, I mean—” and starts stuttering. Nancy cuts in gently“Robin, it’s okay. Really, breathe.” Robin’s flustered “I don’t know why I said that. I’m drunk.” But Nancy reassures her It’s fine. But Vicki’s nice?” Robin nods “She’s nice, yeah. But notl what I’m looking for.”

Nancy smirks and asks Looking. Who are you looking for?” Her eyes drop to Robin’s lips. Robin notices, gaze locked on Nancy’s lips too. Before either can say more Will’s voice calls out for Robin from the bonfire.

So cute!! I could totally see this as the beginning to a story where Nancy and Robin know the feelings are requited but they just keep on getting interrupted before they can do anything about them. Will, Steve, Mike, Vickie, Max and Jane, even Hopper at one point for some comedic relief, catch them in increasingly compromising (in a humorous way) circumstances, accidentally interrupting before they actually do anything (but all of them assuming they were interrupting something much worse, yknow?)