[ He grins at the sight of her and she gets a one armed hug in turn, the arm staying around her shoulders as he turns to steer them back into the hotel. ]
So I also picked up some shit to bake cookies, but I've never baked anything that didn't have a little something special in it so this might turn into a disaster.
[She laughs, not really all that surprised. They get to the elevator and since his arms are both a little occupied she presses the buttons and handles getting them to their floor.]
It's your lucky day. You happen to be talking to an award winning baker.
[Okay, she only won a contest in Girl Scouts back when she was ten to try and earn a new badge. But he doesn't have to know that!]
[The elevator here always has a moment when it reaches its destination where it rumbles a little, causing the lights to just barely flicker. To anyone else, it would be unnoticeable. To someone like Chrissy, it makes her breath catch and nearly sends her into a panic. At least this time, Eddie's right there, his arm is around her, and nothing bad is going to happen.
She still hurries them out of the elevator and into their space, moving ahead to open the door and hold it open so he can slip inside first.]
I promise to share all of my cookie baking wisdom with you, padawan.
[oh my god, she's using a star wars reference. she's so proud of herself.]
[ his grin broadens at the reference. ] Leading me away from the dark side, are we?
[ he saunters through, plunking his heavy load down onto the counter and - miracle of miracles - starts to put things in their proper places. the man can be trained. ]
So... is this a conversation that needs food to fill awkward silences? Or did you just wanna shoot the shit?
[ god he hopes it's not awkward. he's had enough awkward conversations for a lifetime. he stands up straight, resting one hand on his hip and the other on the counter. ]
It's been hard being here sometimes. You guys are all so close. I know you all want me around, but I've been trying to figure out my place to fit. And —
[She pauses, exhaling slowly.]
I guess what I wanted to ask is, are you and Steve...together? Like more than just friends.
[ eddie freezes. the smile is momentarily plastered on, fake as can be. like he's expecting the floor to drop out from under him, or for the next words out chrissy's mouth to be... unkind, to say the least.
it takes a second to remind himself that's not who she is. or - who he thinks she is. but good people can believe shitty things, especially in small town indiana.
[She nods in understanding, hands now anxiously fidgeting together.]
Have you been afraid to tell me?
[She wants to be able to be a friend that he can talk to. Not someone that he's afraid to confide in because he thinks she'll judge him or something. But she knows that's on Eddie to decide his comfort level. Just because they had a trauma bonding moment together doesn't mean he's obligated to tell her anything.]
[She thinks of Jason. Her mother. The entire basketball team. And tries to imagine Steve and Eddie being able to be together in Hawkins. All she can do is frown at the reality of what would've happened.]
Yeah, I know.
[Her voice is soft, maybe a little too thoughtful.]
But I've seen the two of you together. Even when I think you were trying to hide things so I wouldn't see. You're happy here, Eddie. And I guessed that a lot of the reason why is because of him.
[She's smiling when she says it, hoping it's obvious that she doesn't think that's a bad thing at all.]
[Maybe another time, she'll tell him about her silly crush on him. This isn't that time. It's better to wait until they can both laugh about it. And right now, she isn't sure she can do that. So she leaves romance there, and instead focuses on the other thing he's said. There's not a chance she wants to risk wiping that smile off his face.]
You know, I've been so worried that if I didn't figure out what my place here with you guys was, I'd end up being left behind or kicked out or something. But you're right. The future's a gift. Even if I'm not sure what mine looks like yet.
[ he says it with conviction, giving his head a shake. wondering if maybe... maybe. this is something she needs to hear outloud. ]
Chrissy, your place with us - it's just being you. Being here with us. You're not intruding. We want you here, and we want you to feel comfortable being you - not whatever you think you gotta be for us.
[ his expression is soft. big brown eyes warm and fond. ]
We're basically that group from that movie that came out in Feburary... Shit. What was it called? The Detention Club?
[For someone that's always had their path defined for them, it's been hard trying to navigate making one for herself. Harder than she thought. To hear Eddie lay it out so simply feels like a weight's been taken off her shoulders, and she almost wants to cry.
Embarrassingly, she kind of does, but she's wearing a broad smile so it's the good kind of tears at least.]
Do you mean The Breakfast Club, Eddie?
[Her nose scrunches up as she laughs and says it, and before she has time to talk herself out of it, she's stepping in to tightly hug him.]
[ he wraps an arm around her, giving a tight squeeze. natural and easy as breathing. ]
Steve's the athlete. Buckley's the brain. You are obviously the Princess... and Billy, love him as I do, is absolutely the Basket Case. And yours truly is the criminal, bringing it allllll home and tellin' it just like it is.
[She seems much more at ease now, without the pressure that she put upon herself put on her shoulders. It's right then that there's a knock at the door, and Chrissy pulls away to go retrieve the pizza.
It's brought back and set on the counter, the box lightly shoved his way so he can dig in.]
What if I said I didn't want to be the princess anymore, though?
[She reaches over for a slice herself, and takes a small bite.]
But I know that if Jason shows up here one day, I don't want him to think he can still own me or anything. You know, because everyone expects the King of Hawkins High to have a princess or a queen. Whatever everyone liked to call me. I'm over it.
[She rolls her eyes, before taking a larger bite from her piece.]
Maybe you could take me to get a tattoo?
[Yes, that's asked with her mouth full of food. Someone's bad habits are rubbing off on her.]
[She wipes at her mouth with the back of her hand before grinning.]
I really want to get the scars from my surgeries covered up on my arms and my legs.
[And she knows he understands what the desire to try and cover scars with something prettier feels like. So she feels comfortable telling him about that insecurity.]
We could go tomorrow, if you're not busy. And you can tell me about every badass princess you know so I don't whine about the tattoo hurting.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
OKAY NOW THAT THE BF THING HAS BEEN SORTED
Date: 2022-09-05 05:06 am (UTC)So I also picked up some shit to bake cookies, but I've never baked anything that didn't have a little something special in it so this might turn into a disaster.
♥
Date: 2022-09-05 05:10 am (UTC)[She laughs, not really all that surprised. They get to the elevator and since his arms are both a little occupied she presses the buttons and handles getting them to their floor.]
It's your lucky day. You happen to be talking to an award winning baker.
[Okay, she only won a contest in Girl Scouts back when she was ten to try and earn a new badge. But he doesn't have to know that!]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:31 am (UTC)[ he can't say he'll miss needing to ride an elevator up to their space when billy finds them a proper house. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:39 am (UTC)She still hurries them out of the elevator and into their space, moving ahead to open the door and hold it open so he can slip inside first.]
I promise to share all of my cookie baking wisdom with you, padawan.
[oh my god, she's using a star wars reference. she's so proud of herself.]
At least until the pizza gets here.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:43 am (UTC)[ he saunters through, plunking his heavy load down onto the counter and - miracle of miracles - starts to put things in their proper places. the man can be trained. ]
So... is this a conversation that needs food to fill awkward silences? Or did you just wanna shoot the shit?
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:45 am (UTC)I mean, I have something I want to ask you. But it doesn't have to be awkward.
[she's still holding onto hope that it won't be entirely awkward, at least.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:46 am (UTC)[ god he hopes it's not awkward. he's had enough awkward conversations for a lifetime. he stands up straight, resting one hand on his hip and the other on the counter. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:54 am (UTC)We... we're friends, right? I know I'm not your best friend or anything, but we're still friends, aren't we?
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 05:56 am (UTC)Yeah, Chrissy. Of course.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:06 am (UTC)It's been hard being here sometimes. You guys are all so close. I know you all want me around, but I've been trying to figure out my place to fit. And —
[She pauses, exhaling slowly.]
I guess what I wanted to ask is, are you and Steve...together? Like more than just friends.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:08 am (UTC)it takes a second to remind himself that's not who she is. or - who he thinks she is. but good people can believe shitty things, especially in small town indiana.
he takes a deep breath and nods. ]
... Yeah. Yeah. We're... we're together. Boyfriends.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:13 am (UTC)Have you been afraid to tell me?
[She wants to be able to be a friend that he can talk to. Not someone that he's afraid to confide in because he thinks she'll judge him or something. But she knows that's on Eddie to decide his comfort level. Just because they had a trauma bonding moment together doesn't mean he's obligated to tell her anything.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:15 am (UTC)It's not because of you, Chrissy. Don't think that for even a second.
[ .... ]
I didn't even wanna tell Steve at first. You know what people can be like back then... back there.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:24 am (UTC)Yeah, I know.
[Her voice is soft, maybe a little too thoughtful.]
But I've seen the two of you together. Even when I think you were trying to hide things so I wouldn't see. You're happy here, Eddie. And I guessed that a lot of the reason why is because of him.
[She's smiling when she says it, hoping it's obvious that she doesn't think that's a bad thing at all.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:26 am (UTC)... Yeah. It is. Not just him. Billy, and you, and Buckley. The future's a gift to people like us.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:36 am (UTC)You know, I've been so worried that if I didn't figure out what my place here with you guys was, I'd end up being left behind or kicked out or something. But you're right. The future's a gift. Even if I'm not sure what mine looks like yet.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:40 am (UTC)[ he says it with conviction, giving his head a shake. wondering if maybe... maybe. this is something she needs to hear outloud. ]
Chrissy, your place with us - it's just being you. Being here with us. You're not intruding. We want you here, and we want you to feel comfortable being you - not whatever you think you gotta be for us.
[ his expression is soft. big brown eyes warm and fond. ]
We're basically that group from that movie that came out in Feburary... Shit. What was it called? The Detention Club?
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:51 am (UTC)Embarrassingly, she kind of does, but she's wearing a broad smile so it's the good kind of tears at least.]
Do you mean The Breakfast Club, Eddie?
[Her nose scrunches up as she laughs and says it, and before she has time to talk herself out of it, she's stepping in to tightly hug him.]
I love that movie.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 06:56 am (UTC)[ he wraps an arm around her, giving a tight squeeze. natural and easy as breathing. ]
Steve's the athlete. Buckley's the brain. You are obviously the Princess... and Billy, love him as I do, is absolutely the Basket Case. And yours truly is the criminal, bringing it allllll home and tellin' it just like it is.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:06 am (UTC)[She seems much more at ease now, without the pressure that she put upon herself put on her shoulders. It's right then that there's a knock at the door, and Chrissy pulls away to go retrieve the pizza.
It's brought back and set on the counter, the box lightly shoved his way so he can dig in.]
What if I said I didn't want to be the princess anymore, though?
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:07 am (UTC)[ he's reaching out for a pizza slice, grinning broadly. ]
What do you wanna be?
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:17 am (UTC)[She reaches over for a slice herself, and takes a small bite.]
But I know that if Jason shows up here one day, I don't want him to think he can still own me or anything. You know, because everyone expects the King of Hawkins High to have a princess or a queen. Whatever everyone liked to call me. I'm over it.
[She rolls her eyes, before taking a larger bite from her piece.]
Maybe you could take me to get a tattoo?
[Yes, that's asked with her mouth full of food. Someone's bad habits are rubbing off on her.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:23 am (UTC)That's because nobody knows what a badass a princess can be. They just think Disney, not the daughters of steel and sword.
[ he makes a mental note to find some fantasy books she can fall in love with. ]
But fucking yes I can. I need to get some coverups myself.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:29 am (UTC)I really want to get the scars from my surgeries covered up on my arms and my legs.
[And she knows he understands what the desire to try and cover scars with something prettier feels like. So she feels comfortable telling him about that insecurity.]
We could go tomorrow, if you're not busy. And you can tell me about every badass princess you know so I don't whine about the tattoo hurting.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:31 am (UTC)[ and the grin tells her he'll absolutely regale her with his favorite stories of warrior princesses. ]
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