olivia “ollie” izenheart

stranger things oc // literate adv. roleplayer strictly for sterp / have a another blog for Ollie for crossovers @izenheart

[cynicalkilljoy]

Biological Information

Subject: Number 14 Name: Olivia “Ollie” Izenheart 

“Sorry my heart got dirty, being on my sleeve”

file opening… **loading** 100%

Age: Between 18-21 years old

Birthday: August 8th, 19?? Sex: Female/Non-binary Height: 5’0” Weight: 130 lbs Eye Color: Green/Hazel Hair Color: Original Color- Light Brown Sexuality: Pansexual Location: Hawkins, Indiana Residents: Unknown

Relationship: Single/Crushing 🖤

Family: Ruby Jackson/Izenheart (mother; alive), Gregg Izenheart (father; decreased presumably)

David Hill (step-father; alive) Abilities: Telekinesis, Telepathy, Major Empathy, Echo Sensitive

Diagnoses: Depressed, OCD, Anxiety, (C)PTSD, Stockholm Syndrome, BPD, Type 1 Bipolar, Slight Eating Disorder, DID Personality: Very Sweet, Loyal, Caring, Sensitive At Times, Get Flustered When Complimented, Has Internal Anger, Distant When Hurting Or Dealing With Something Traumatic, Emotionally Unavailable, Flirty At Times, Likes To Jokes From Her Trauma, Kind of Coldhearted Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Drawing, Singing, Skate Boarding, Crafting, Listen To Music, Hang Out With Friends, Gaming, Playing DND, Testing Her Powers and Its Limits, Graffiti Building and Structures, Pulling Small Pranks, Breaking Into Abandon Buildings, Ghost Hunting, Sneaking Into The Cemetery at Night

Backstory: Ollie was born to Gregg and Ruby Izenheart. At just a year old, she started displaying powers connected to telepathy—something doctors, or anyone else, couldn’t exactly explain. She was observed and tested, but no one could ever figure out what was wrong. When she cried, lights would flicker, and the room felt strange, as if all the sound in it had suddenly faded. At age five, she was almost hit by a car and used her powers to move it out of the way. The government took note of this and stole her from her home at age six to experiment on her with other kids like her. She was sent to Hawkins Lab, where she met a staff member named Henry Creel, also known as Subject Number One. They grew close, but someone else at the lab was abusing Ollie in ways no child should ever be abused. Ollie told Henry, and he said he wouldn’t let that person hurt her anymore. One night, the person abusing Ollie showed up in her room. Before anything could happen, Henry was waiting behind the door and attacked the man. He ran with Ollie to the basement of the lab and told her she had to change who she was so they wouldn’t find her, and that she should never go by her government name again. “I’ll come back for you, Olivia… I promise,” he said. Then he ushered her toward an escape route. As soon as she was outside, she ran for home. No one saw her as she made the long trip back. Running was all she knew, so she kept going. When she finally got home, her parents were overjoyed to see her. They lied to anyone who asked, saying Ollie had been staying with her grandparents and had only just returned. They dyed her hair black, and she kept it that way until she got older and began dyeing it herself. After coming back, she went to school and met Eddie Munson. They hit it off immediately as best friends and grew so close that no one could tear them apart. Even as they got older, they remained inseparable. When Ollie was fifteen, her mom had an affair, which led to Gregg leaving the house and never coming back, leaving Ollie behind. The town started talking. Some people assumed her dad got mixed up with drugs and killed himself. Others believed he simply left to start a new family. Some even theorized that maybe Ollie wasn’t really his kid. A year after her dad walked out, Ollie’s mom started dating the man she had the affair with. His name was David, and he emotionally and physically abused both Ollie and her mom. Despite that, David was scared of Ollie and her powers—and also scared of Eddie Munson and what he might do to him if no one else was around. As time went on, Ollie began to notice how much older Eddie seemed and developed a small crush on him. Around the same time, she also realized she was attracted to people regardless of gender. Meanwhile, her powers kept growing stronger as she got older and learned how to control them better.

Connections: 

@mikewheeler-ste @dustinoutofrange @rangerlucassinclairx @chosenbyechoes @kiingsteve @jo-nathanbyers The Party: They understand that Ollie is a lot like Eleven, powers and all. They all accepted her with open arms and are there for her whenever she needs it. They have nothing turned her away or looked at her differently. Besides Ollie was also there for them when they needed her, or needed advice about something. 

@eddiemunson-ste Eddie Munson: Ollie’s best friend, ride or die. Eddie has known Ollie since she was younger, after she got back from her “grandparents” house (from the lab) Eddie befriends her after a bully tried stealing something precious to Ollie. Ever since that day Eddie never left her side. As she got older she developed feelings for him. but those feelings were not reciprocated, after Eddie came back to life. as he was figuring things out and told her she deserved better. so with that they remained best friends even though the town has gone to chaos.

@avabyers-ste Ava Byers: One of Ollie's close best friend and potential love interest? Ollie and Ava have known each other  from at least a couple years after she met Eddie. Ava and her became best friends, always doing whatever they could together, sometimes even stealing Ava’s half brother Jonathan’s weed. Ollie has given Ava the name Madonna and Ava giving Ollie the name Salem. Both names reveal their close bond. One night at the quarry Ollie starts to have her feelings grow stronger for Ava. A spark was felt from both of them, even though they can’t seem to say it out loud.

@daphneharris Daphne Harris: A family friend of Ollie’s, Daphne’s dad was close friends with Gregg (Ollie’s dad). She is always there for Ollie all the time, always letting her hang out at her work and would give her free food, knowing that going home to an empty house won’t do. Her family tried to help Ollie mom but she felt too ashamed to accept the help. 

@harryharvelle Dr. Harry Harvelle: A young doctor that treated Ollie when was a child. He documented everything he could, tried helping her. But one day Ollie used her powers on one of the nurses for something she did or said. The government caught wind of this and kidnapped Ollie. Dr Harvelle blamed himself that he couldn’t save her from the government. until one day Ollie walks back into his office and their encounter is very bittersweet. 

@jhopper-ste Officer Jim Hopper: Local town officer/semi father figure for Ollie after she lost her dad. Hopper has known Ollie since she was a kid, seeing the way she grew up, until the day her mother had an affair which caused Gregg to walk out on his daughter and his wife. Ollie would get into trouble with Eddie, or by herself, pulling small pranks, graffitiing whatever building she could. During those times Hopper would catch her and scold her and say that he knew she could do better. Ollie respects Hopper and feels like he’s the only cop that doesn’t profile her as a bad person.

// more will be added later…

[harryharvelle]

location: quarry for: @cynicalkilljoy

harry kept his hands stuffed in his pockets as he walked along the cliff's edge. the scene of the quarry, with the water below, was calming, but more importantly, it was private. it would be easy to spot if anyone was headed towards them, but he was confident no one had followed them.

"how are you feeling?" he asked, breaking the peaceful silence.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie looked at him, but it was like she was small again, back to the last time she had seen him. This time, she was grown and carried scars—internal ones, the kind you couldn’t see with your eyes. She had dyed her hair countless times and no longer went by her government name after that day. Of course, she felt fine in the moment, but at the same time, seeing him again was a relief.

Ollie was ready for whatever he was about to say, knowing it might end up hurting her in the end. She didn’t care about that, not at all. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she really looked at him, then walked to the edge of the cliff while the wind blew her hair around her.

Ollie didn’t say anything for a long time. She just stood there. Then she finally spoke.

“Yeah, I think so… but I want to know more about what happened,” Ollie said softly, looking away from him and down at the water.

When she was younger, she had always thought about jumping, just to see what would happen. Just to see if the water would break her fall or if it would simply let her sink—whatever came first, it didn’t matter. But today, right now, she didn’t feel like jumping. She just couldn’t and wouldn’t let the little girl she used to be stare back at her.

[jo-nathanbyers]

Still an hour or so before the fireworks show began, Jonathan stood in the middle of the park, staring up at the night sky. People crowded around, tiny children running with sparklers in their hands, others taking a rest and chatting with friends. It was all very... American of Hawkins. Very normal of the town, despite nothing feeling very normal for weeks.

He took the camera out of his messenger bag and started practicing his stance for when the fireworks finally started, taking a few test shots, not realizing someone had walked over and stood in front of him until he pulled the camera away to adjust the settings.

"Oh," he jumped, dropping the camera. "Didn't see you. Uh, hi."

// @sterpstarters @sterpcommunity

[cynicalkilljoy]

“Oh, hey, don’t worry about it—wait. Jonathan?” Ollie said with a smile. It was a couple of months ago when she was paired with him for a class assignment. She remembered that day fondly because she and Jonathan became friends that day. She really got to know him through that assignment, and how she opened up about the pain of her dad walking out, the pain she still dealt with on a daily basis.

Today, Ollie was actually happy and cheerful. She never liked fireworks, but she didn’t mind showing up where most of her friends were. Ollie sat next to Jonathan in the grass, feeling it brush against her skin as she sat down.

Ollie’s outfit was much different from the dark-colored clothes she wore all the time. For once, Ollie was wearing a black tank top with ripped black jeans and her famous Converse. Her hair was dyed blonde with pink streaks, blowing around in the wind. Her green eyes looked at him as she smiled.

“Cool if I hang out with you?” A beat. “I don’t see the others here yet, so I figured we could hang out.”

She said, placing her hands in her lap as some kids passed them. Ollie looked at them. Something about being a kid again made her stomach twist, for good reason. She remembered having fun at Fourth of July parties, but then it just brought her back to the time the government took her away. Ollie shook the thought away before it could even start as she looked at Jonathan again.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝕮𝖔𝖒𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙 𝕮𝖗𝖔𝖜𝖉

(𝖈𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝖘𝖈𝖎𝖕𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊𝖘 𝖜/ @kiingsteve)

𐙚⸻ I just needed company now Yeah, I just needed someone around Yeah, I don't care what song that we play Or mess that we make Just company now

⸻

It was supposed to just be a day to get away from it, to just relax. Ollie sat in her living room with the person who she saw as a brother, Steve Harrington. She had known him for as long as she’d known Eddie, everyone else. Ollie was always the quiet kid, the one who only talked when spoken to. Back then, Ollie didn’t care about Steve or even look at him. She always thought he was an ass, always sleeping with any girl that he could, always thinking he owed the town. It was when the Upside Down was discovered, and how Ollie teamed up with the party and met Steve through a different perspective. It was like she met him for the first time that day, the day he didn’t look at her in a way that everyone else did. When he saw her there, he didn’t see a girl with mommy and daddy issues. He saw a girl fighting to survive based on what she went through. He never once bullied her or did anything to hurt her. How could he? Yeah, he was dumb, sorta, but he treated people with kindness. Ollie thought maybe the events with Henry/Vecna and the echoes changed him in some way. He walked different, his body language was different, everything that she thought she knew about him changed. Ever since then, they remained close, like a sibling relationship Ollie never had. Being an only child was lonely, and being left behind was another. She told Steve the truth about her dad and told him that the rumors of his whereabouts were lies. The town didn’t understand Ollie and what happened, not fully. But boy, did the town like to talk and make things up about something they knew nothing about. Steve was there in times when Ollie would think too much about the past, how she blamed herself for what happened to her in the lab. It was something she always went back to: the four brick walls, the boring gray floor that was cold to her bare feet. Steve was there to tell her that she wasn’t there, that those things couldn’t hurt her anymore.

As they sat in her living room, Ollie on the couch and Steve sitting on the floor next to her reading some old comic Ollie had, the clock ticked by as Ollie read one of the comics that were spread across the floor. The two didn’t say anything, just reading amongst themselves. But something about the clock was acting strange. It kept ringing, and ringing nonstop. It wasn’t even on the hour yet. Nothing was making it do it. Ollie got up from the couch, going across the room as quickly as she could, trying to turn it off. It sometimes reminded her of Henry, of Vecna, the Upside Down, all of it.

“Shut up… god dammit… turn off…” Ollie said, panicking as she tried to switch it off. Her heart was racing faster, the ringing intensifying.

Then finally it stopped. Ollie took a step back, hands shaking, heart racing again. What in the world was happening? She didn’t even know. It always happened in times she felt fully safe. It was like the echoes were some sort of entity, some sort of thing that tormented Ollie. Still, she felt more curious and intrigued by it all, especially with how the dead and missing people were coming back. She knew she couldn’t be afraid of it, knowing it couldn’t cause her harm, but it was something she should be aware of and still be careful about. Lost in her stream of thoughts, Ollie looked at Steve.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝ⵑ

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/ @avabyers-ste)

‹𝟹

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝕯𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖆𝖘𝐤 𝖒𝖊 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝓦𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝐲𝖔𝖚 𝐤𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖊 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝕯𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝐲𝖔𝖚 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝕴 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝐲𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙

Downtown was where she was, and today was a big day for Ollie. She was planning her first date with Ava. Since spring began, the night at the quarry became everything to Ollie. It probably meant the same for Ava as well. How she felt Ava's hand in hers, intertwined for safety, intertwined with all the love she had to give. Her heart raced each time she thought of her girlfriend, the way she would say Ollie's name—her full name. It did something to her; it made her stomach have butterflies and her heart feel sparks. Something she hadn't felt in so long. She knew what love was and what it shouldn't be. Ollie knew that she would do anything for Ava and would go to the ends of the earth for her. The love she felt for her was something she couldn't explain. Just like their first kiss, it was wild, and sparks were everywhere. She also didn't care what some people thought or what anyone thought. She loved Ava out loud, and that would never change, not ever. Ollie was at a fancy diner wearing a cute black sundress with black tights and some boots to go with it—her signature look in the warmer days ahead—as she sat there waiting for her girlfriend to show up.

She had flowers waiting and was smiling, hoping Ava would like them, hoping she did a good job. I guess when the thing with her parents happened, she was scared she wouldn't be enough, but she knew better than that. Ollie knew that Ava loved being with her as much as she did. That made Ollie smile more and her face turn red; she let out a small giggle. A song started to play on the jukebox as other people paid attention to their own conversations and ate their food. Some smiled at Ollie in passing, and some knew her from school; others just liked seeing her happy and out of trouble for once. It had been months since the quarry and that kiss that changed things, and feelings that became love. What she knew was that Ava was her Madonna and Ollie her Salem, and that their love and relationship was something Ollie herself needed at the time and still did.

[avabyers-ste]

Ava spotted her before she even reached the door. Ollie in a black sundress, boots, tights, flowers on the table like she’d stepped out of some dream Ava didn’t know she was allowed to have. For a second, Ava just… stopped. The world blurred around the edges, the diner noise fading into something soft and far away. God, she was beautiful. Ava pushed the door open, the bell chiming overhead, and her breath caught when Ollie looked up, that smile, that blush, that spark she always saved just for her. “Hey!,” Ava said, voice warm and a little breathless as she crossed the room. She didn’t sit right away. Instead, she leaned down, hands cupping Ollie’s face gently, thumbs brushing the faint heat on her cheeks. “You look…” Her voice faltered, a rare thing. “…wow.” She pressed a gentle kiss to Ollie’s lips, slow, lingering, like she wanted to memorize the moment, before sliding into the seat across from her.

Then she saw the flowers. Ava’s expression softened into something almost shy, almost reverent. “Are those for me?” she asked, though she already knew. Her fingers brushed the petals, careful, like they were something precious. “Ollie… they’re perfect.” She looked back at her girlfriend, eyes bright, full of that quiet, fierce love she never quite knew how to say out loud. “You did good,” she murmured, reaching across the table to lace their fingers together. “You always do.” Her smile widened, warm and certain. Her thumb stroked over Ollie’s knuckles, slow and sure. “I’m really happy to be here with you. On our first real date. Just us.”

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie’s jaw dropped as she watched Ava walk into the café. It seemed the light had always found its way into Ollie’s darkness. It was as if everyone else was also looking at Ava. The way she was, was unmatched by anything Ollie had ever seen. As Ava got close to her, she felt all the air spill out of her, or at least it tried to. Ollie felt Ava’s hand on her cheeks, her warm skin always comforting against Ollie’s own. She loved how fireworks erupted whenever she felt her touch or her kiss. The girl leaned forward, feeling Ava’s lips against hers for a moment. Ollie’s hand tucked under Ava’s chin, bringing her closer to the kiss. Ollie could hear the breathless sound of Ava as she spoke, her voice faltering slightly. As they broke apart, Ava sat down, and Ollie nodded, also sitting down.

“Yes, the flowers are for you. I figured they would put a smile on your face.”

Ollie stopped as Ava spoke again, saying she did good and praising her. Ollie felt her heart race even faster, feeling Ava’s hand catch hers. Ava spoke softly to Ollie again, saying that she was happy to be there with her.

Something in Ollie felt like it was about to heal, something she never got as a child in the lab. She never got praised unless it was for using her powers. Something about Ava made all those things seem distant. Of course, Ava knew what Ollie had gone through at the hands of Dr. Brenner and his associates at the lab. She knew Ollie needed love and someone who stayed. Ava seemed to fit that perfectly. Ollie thought back to that time at the quarry when she first felt those feelings. It was the day she knew that something between her and Ava was meant to be. Ollie was used to love, but it always seemed to be a weapon used against her in the past. Ollie knew being with her was going to be complicated, since the Echoes were close by and always tormented her. But with Ava around and close, they never dared to bother her, though it didn’t stop completely.

Ollie still treated Ava like a queen, and even more than that, Ollie was dedicated to her. She would do anything so Vecna or the Echoes wouldn’t ever come near her. Of course, Ollie was stubborn when it came to taking risks that involved Ava.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie was in her room, writing and just hanging around. She never thought today would turn into a trip. Daphne had mentioned a small road trip, but never told her when it would be. That was when Ollie heard her voice from downstairs in the kitchen. Ollie ran to open her door and rushed down the stairs to greet one of her favorite people. By the time she reached the bottom step, Daphne was already there, ready to hug her. The two girls embraced tightly, and Ollie pulled away first. Ruby looked at her daughter before speaking. “Olivia, Daphne here is taking you on a road trip to help clear your mind. You’d better go get packed so you’re not making her wait. And Olivia, make sure you don’t use your powers or anything like that. I want you to be safe,” Ruby said with a smile. But all Ollie could do was sigh and head back up the stairs. She didn’t like when her mom acted sweet around others, pretending she cared, as if Ruby’s cheating hadn’t caused more pain than marrying the man she had cheated on Ollie’s dad with. As they went upstairs to Ollie’s room, she opened the door that was ajar and shut it behind her. “I know I’m not very nice to my mom. I love her, Daphne, but she makes it hard after what she did…” Ollie said, rummaging through her closet. She pulled out her suitcase and threw it onto the bed. She went back to the closet, grabbing shirts from hangers, then walked over to her white dresser and stuffed more clothes into the suitcase. “Also, good thing David isn’t here—he’d freak,” she added, taking a breath. “Wait… where are you taking me?” Ollie asked softly, not raising her voice.

Ollie thought about it for a moment and finally put all the pieces together. She wasn’t just going on a road trip—she was going to find her dad. In case her mom was listening, Ollie didn’t say anything and wouldn’t until they left the house. She moved around her room while her friend watched, packing things into her suitcase. After gathering everything she needed, she carefully closed it and grabbed her writing notebook before leaving the room, nodding at Daphne. The girls reached the bottom of the stairs and headed for the door. Ruby’s voice could be heard from the kitchen. “Have fun, girls. Be safe.” After a brief pause, she added, “Olivia, I love you.” Ollie turned around and, for once, smiled at her mom. “I love you too, Mom…” she managed, almost choking on the words. She felt her heart crack, knowing she couldn’t blame her mom forever. But the pain Ollie had endured at the lab—and her mom’s affair—had made her suffer. She blamed her mom for so many things, yet had never shown her an ounce of love. Ollie knew that was hurting her mother more than anything, and maybe it was time to forgive. Forgiveness was something foreign to her, something she had never been taught—but with Daphne, maybe she could learn. Still, the main question remained: could she forgive her dad for leaving her behind? Was she still angry with him? How would she act if she saw him? All these questions needed answers. Ollie walked to the car, placing her suitcase in the back seat before closing the door. Then she got into the passenger seat and settled in as Daphne climbed into the driver’s side. Ollie smiled at her before asking quietly, “Are you taking me to see my dad?” She glanced down at her notebook as she spoke.

[daphneharris]

Daphne stood in the center of Ollie’s bedroom, watching her friend move with a frantic, focused energy. The house felt heavy with the kind of unspoken resentment that Daphne knew all too well from her own dinner table. When Ollie spoke about her mother’s affair and the bitterness she carried, she stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Ollie’s shoulder. "I know," Daphne whispered, her eyes full of quiet empathy. "It’s hard to love someone when you can’t look at them without seeing the mess they made." Once the suitcase was latched, Daphne helped Ollie carry her things downstairs. In the kitchen, Ruby stood waiting, her expression a fragile mask of maternal concern. Daphne stepped toward her, offering a bright smile, infused with genuine intent. "We’re all set, Ruby," she said. "Don't you worry about a thing. I’ve got the map, plenty of supplies, and I promise to take absolute, perfect care of her. I’ll make sure she eats something other than candy, eventually." She reached out and squeezed Ruby’s hand briefly, a silent bridge between the mother’s guilt and the daughter’s pain. "Thank you for trusting me with her. We'll call when we settle in for the night."

As they walked out to the driveway, the spring air felt a little lighter. Once in the car, Daphne gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles slightly white as she pulled the car away from the curb. She didn't answer Ollie's question, she waited until they had turned the corner and her house was a shrinking shape in the rearview mirror. Only then did she let out a long breath, her shoulders finally dropping an inch. "Yeah, Ollie," she said softly, her voice gentle but sure, the way it always got when she was trying to hold the world still for her friend. "I’m taking you to see your dad. I didn’t want to say anything inside in case your mom was listening at the door." Daphne’s fingers flexed on the steering wheel, knuckles pale for a second before she forced them to relax. "I got his location from my mom. She finally told me everything a few nights ago after I… well, after I kinda cornered her about it. He’s staying in a little cabin up near Lake Michigan, about four hours from here. Not too far. My mom gave me the address and everything. She said he’s been asking about you every single call. He never stopped."

Daphne’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror again, checking the backseat where she’d loaded everything up earlier. "Oh and before you start spiraling," she added with a warm smile, nodding toward the back, "I packed us a whole road-trip spread back there. Classic stuff, nothing fancy. I got all your favorite snacks and drinks. There’s a thermos of hot chocolate too, if it gets chilly. Figured we’d need fuel for the drive… and for whatever happens when we get there. I’ve got your back the whole way, okay? You don’t have to do any of this alone.” She let the silence settle for a second, before glancing sideways at Ollie again, the way she always did when the weight got too heavy. "You can be as mad as you need to be when we find him. Or sad. Or… whatever you feel. I’ll be right there. And if it gets too much, we turn around. No questions. This is for you, not for anyone else." Daphne’s hand found Ollie’s, giving it a long squeeze, thumb brushing over her knuckles like she could press safety straight into her skin. "We’ve got time and snacks. So… breathe, sweetheart. We’re doing this together."

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie looked at her as the car was moving down the road, her mouth hanging open from the shock. She was seeing her dad after her mom’s affair. The pain she felt inside, how she felt abandoned. She didn’t know whether she should be mad or happy after all this time. Those times when the phone rang at age 16, that was her dad trying to reach out. But it was always left with a ringing dial tone. Ollie’s mom would let the phone ring and never answer it. When her mom met David, the abuse started to happen, and Ollie thanked Eddie for always being there, even when David was being an asshole. But now that most people knew Ollie had powers like Eleven and Will, and those people knew that Ollie and El were in hiding throughout the time they escaped. She heard Daphne say how you can still love someone even if the mess they made has hurt you.

“So he was in hiding the whole time? Why couldn’t he just see me? Why did he leave me here with her?” Ollie said, almost broken, as if she couldn’t say the words out loud. Ollie felt the way she felt since she was 16, but now she was 19, and the anger that was there was swallowed down like a pill. A pill she couldn’t force down her throat no matter how much she tried. The car kept moving as each bump felt like each part of her was breaking, but she remained strong like always. She would always be that way no matter what. She would always shove her feelings down rather than deal with them, the thing was she didn’t know how. It was when Daphne told her to take a breath and relax, and that questions would come later. Ollie sat back in the passenger seat as her back hit the backrest, taking a deep breath before exhaling out. She felt Daphne’s hand on hers, rubbing her knuckles, and that made Ollie relax a little. She placed her hand over Daphne’s as a way to say thank you in her own little way. Daphne’s eyes were focused on the road as well as Ollie. It was amazing what she could do and how she got things done. Their hands let go of each other as Ollie looked for the thermos filled with hot chocolate, finally grabbing it and placing it in her lap, carefully opening it. Ollie took a small sip as the warmth ran down her body.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie nodded as she walked inside. The place felt the same as many other times. She didn’t know much about Wayne, just that he worked with David at the plant. He was mostly never there when Ollie was around during the day after school or whenever she stopped by. She wiped her tears away with her sleeve as she walked into the living room, the light shining slightly in her eyes, which remained glossy from crying earlier. Ollie looked around the room, trying to focus her eyes on something other than what had happened. She found a place on the couch and sat down, placing her bag on the other side of her.

The Munson trailer wasn’t fancy, but it was a nice place to hang out. Ollie hated living in a big house—a house no one was in when she got home. It felt lonely, so she did what she could to fill the time while her mom, Ruby, was working at the hospital and her stepdad worked at the plant. They never really seemed to have time for Ollie, though she never wanted David’s time. She hated that man. Hated him for ruining her life. Hated him because he took her mom away from her when Ollie needed her most. That was something she could never forgive. As she sat on the couch, her eyes dropped for a moment before she looked up at Wayne, catching his gaze.

[waynemunsonste]

Wayne was familiar with kids who had that look in their eyes. A look that meant they had already or were in the middle of enduring things that were far too much for anyone, let alone someone so young. He recognized that look the first time he met Ollie even if it was only in passing.

"Hungry? We got leftover Chinese, frozen burritos, and probably some ice cream if Eddie hasn't eaten it all." He liked to think food could fix almost anything, but he doubted that would be the case here. "Or water's always on the menu," he tried to joke, but it fell flat when the girl finally caught his gaze.

"You can stay as long as ya need," he finally offered, willing to do for her what he would do for Eddie since she had always been a good friend to his nephew.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, looking around the room for a bit. Her eyes went back to Wayne; he seemed to be concerned for her, and Ollie didn’t want people to feel that way. She knew she could do most things herself.

Ollie had originally come here to tell Eddie about a fight she had with David and that she had almost used her powers on him. But a question from deep in her mind came back: did Wayne know what really happened to his nephew, and why he had suddenly come back to life? And now something called the Echoes was everywhere, the reason why Eddie was alive at all. She couldn’t ask that—she would sound crazy if she even began to explain it.

Weird things had been happening, so maybe—just maybe—he had some idea that someone didn’t just magically come back from the dead. It just wasn’t possible; no science or anything could ever explain it.

As she sat on the couch, she started to speak. “Thank you, sir, but I’m good...” Ollie said, pausing a little as the light above flickered slightly before stopping. She spoke again. “Did anyone tell you exactly how Eddie came back to the world of the living?” Ollie said softly, gathering her words, hoping she didn’t sound crazy. Her eyes scanned the room again before stopping to look back at Wayne.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie’s eyes lingered on the page for a moment, studying the dialogue that Nicky was pointing at. As she did, Ollie read the lines, each word seeming to fill her mind. This kind of writing amazed her, and she felt both intrigued and eager to help the girl out. Ollie didn’t have much experience with other people or critiquing their writing. She believed that if you could form a complete sentence, then writing would come naturally—that it didn’t matter if your grammar or spelling was off, as long as it made sense to the reader.

“Hmm, maybe describe more of what the character is doing… and don’t be afraid to add more dialogue as well…” There was a brief pause as the ceiling fan stirred, gently moving Ollie’s hair. “That’s really all I’ve got for right now… but other than that, it sounds good, and I really like it. Hopefully I can read more,” she said, catching Nicky’s gaze for a moment.

Ollie stood back up from where she had been leaning over the typewriter and reached for her notebook, which lay just inches away. Now holding it in her hands, she returned to Nicky. “I’ve also been writing a little something too. It’s not as good as yours—you know, since it’s on paper,” Ollie said with a small, shy laugh as she awaited Nicky’s response.

[nickyygomez]

Nicky nodded along with her words, contemplating how they applied to her work. She did agree that her writing could be too straightforward, similar to her own personality, but she was doing her best to write a character that was completely unlike herself. A character more like the cousin she remembered.

"I appreciate your critiques. I wouldn't be opposed to you reading more when I've finished my rough draft," she confirmed, eyes following Ollie's movements.

Her gaze traveled down to the worn, but well loved notebook. "The medium doesn't detract from the quality. Are you offering for me to read it?" She asked, unsure about the other girl's intentions. Not everyone was as literal or direct as her, so she had made the mistake of misinterpreting people one too many times already.

[cynicalkilljoy]

"Only if you want to read it. I won't force you to," Ollie said, looking at the girl, then glancing around the room. The lights weren't flickering around her, so Ollie was safe from the Echoes—for now, at least. But she didn't let her fear show; it was what she was good at.

The people around them chatted in hushed voices, each caught up in their own conversations. It made Ollie slightly nervous. She always thought the whispers were about her, and lately, they were. She rolled her eyes and looked at the people whispering about her, wanting to say something, but she didn't and instead turned back to Nicky. Ollie knew that if she said something, people would just talk even more, so it was best not to say anything at all.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/: @jo-nathanbyers)

I was sitting in class, tapping my pencil against the paper. I watched as other students started talking among themselves. I mostly kept to myself, and I kind of liked it that way. People liked to judge me for liking a fantasy game, being goth, and being best friends with Eddie Munson and his Hellfire Club bandmates. We were judged by almost everyone because of how we dressed and how we looked.

The teacher walked in as students returned to their seats and quieted down. She looked around the room and began the lesson.

“Alright, listen up. Today, for the class assignment, you will be partnered up. You will spend the week—every day—with your partner, getting to know them. This is part of your assignment as well. You’ll both have to write a research essay on each other, so get to know your partner very well. I’ll explain the rest of the lesson after the week is over,” she said as she walked down the aisles and placed her hand on my desk.

“Olivia, since you’re creative, you’ll be paired with Jonathan. I think two creative minds could make something great. You might even gain a friend,” the teacher said with a smile.

I took in a deep sigh. She was the only one allowed to call me Olivia besides my mother. Sometimes it annoyed me when people teased me by using my full name. Ollie was short, sweet, and perfect—for me.

I stopped tapping my pencil and looked across the aisle. I waved politely at Jonathan as I got up and grabbed an empty chair from the desk next to me, then sat beside him. I stayed quiet for a moment, not saying anything. I usually didn’t talk unless spoken to, so I waited to see who would crack first. Would it be me, or would it be him?

I couldn’t stand the silence. I tapped my foot against the floor, sighed, and extended my hand.

“So, yeah, you know me. I’m in your class, but we don’t really talk, and now that we’re partnered up, I’m stuck trying to make friends—which I’m really bad at. I like your camera. It’s amazing and beautiful. I bet you take great pictures,” I said, smiling at him, hoping my words wouldn’t push him away like they had with so many others.

But he felt different. He wasn’t mean or rude—he was just himself.

a/n: very happy how things going to go down, i’m excited to see their friendship bloom!! thank you for giving me this opportunity to write with you!!!!

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan was barely paying attention to the class, his mind wandering wildly away from him with pictures of perfect scenery and far, far away lands. He held up a camera, snapping and snapping, filling up the film with thousands of photos. Three matching smiles, carefree and safe, were front and center for most of them. A Byers family trip, whenever they could scrape up enough money to leave Hawkins for good. It was a daydream he often had, especially when the world seemed to want to turn...

Upside down.

Jonathan stopped himself from laughing at his own joke. It would look especially odd if he burst out in the middle of class, everyone else completely unaware of his train of thought. And then he started when, his eyes wandering around the classroom as the daydream faded away into reality, one of the students waved at him. He felt even more surprised when Ollie pulled up next to him, silent as a dead bird.

He waited for her to start, completely unaware of the group project and task set for them. And when she finally spoke, he listened intently.

"Oh—oh, uh, thanks," Jonathan replied sheepishly, shaking her outstretched hand at her introduction. He wasn't exactly a person who loved receiving compliments—or knew what to do with them when he did. "Sorry, uh, partnered up? Do we have a new project? I wasn't exactly, well, paying attention."

He stopped himself for a moment and glanced away from her. "I'm not very good at making friends either. We make quite the pair, don't we?"

[cynicalkilljoy]

I watched him slowly as he took my hand in his, and I shook it. His hands felt cold, but somehow his vibe and energy felt warm. I always knew Jonathan as a loner like me—someone who kinda keeps to himself and can’t make many friends. I couldn’t make many friends either, because I was besties with the town freak and listened to “devil music,” smoked the devil’s lettuce too. So I understood where he came from. We could also bond over the fact that we both had mommy and daddy issues.

Maybe not the last part, I thought to myself.

There was a time when his brother Will went missing and died, but then came back to life. It didn’t sit right with me—it never had. But I bet it was so much worse for Jonathan to have to deal with something like that. Having people question you about your brother and using you as a scapegoat for someone to blame. I felt sick thinking about it, knowing more than what anyone had let on. I wondered if he knew about the Upside Down—knew about the strange things that had been happening in Hawkins. I shook away my thoughts as I looked at him.

“You’re welcome. And yes, the assignment is to get to know each other for a week and write an essay about each other. Simple things. The writing is easy; the getting to know someone is kinda scary to me,” I said, sighing and placing my hand on the side of my head. “It’s okay—I space out too sometimes in class when I’m bored. For the record though, yeah, I think we do make a great pair. Probably even really good friends.”

I gave him a small smile to let him know that his company was welcome.

(if something about this reply doesn’t make sense let me know. i kinda wrote it with a tired mind. and will fix it if it need to be fixed)

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan nodded along to Ollie's words, getting ready to psych himself up for a week of socializing. But Ollie didn't seem so bad—at least he wasn't stuck with one of their other classmates, forced to mindlessly listen to their entire life story, unable to get a word in, and in the end, needing to write both their reports himself. And it wouldn't be so bad to make a friend... Will was always making fun of him for not having any, and Jonathan wanted to be a cool older brother for him.

"I'm sure you know more about me than I do you, with my brother coming back from the dead and all that. So, tell me about yourself. More than I already know, of course—which is, uh, your name, that you're in Hellfire, you're friends with Eddie, and..." he trailed off, a small grin lighting his face, "I think that's about it, to be honest."

// it's okay, dw, it makes sense

[cynicalkilljoy]

I looked at him with a small smile, mostly just relieved that he wasn’t annoying or too much. For once, he was a guy who wasn’t trying to flirt with me or get in my pants, which was… honestly kind of refreshing. Nice, even. He somehow seemed to know a lot about me just from watching, which should’ve been weird, but it wasn’t.

Making friends wasn’t easy for me—especially with my powers. That was something I could only tell a handful of people, and even then it was complicated. The government had stopped looking for me, so I was safe… or at least as safe as I could be. I couldn’t tell him any of that, obviously. But his brother—Will, he’d said. I’d seen him once, after they found him and brought him back from the hospital. Back then, I didn’t think the Upside Down had anything to do with it.

Yeah. Turns out I was very wrong.

“Well, yeah—all of that,” I said quickly, words tumbling out before I could stop them, “but I’m also madly in love with Eddie and way too scared to tell him, so there’s that. Oh my god. I just said that out loud.” I froze. “To a stranger. Like—an actual human stranger.”

I laughed, a little too loud, rubbing the back of my neck as I glanced at Jonathan, silently begging him not to think I was completely unhinged. “Wow, okay. That wasn’t supposed to happen. You’re probably thinking I’m weird now. Or dramatic. Or both.”

He still seemed calm, though, which somehow made me ramble more. Jonathan was… easy. Chill. And it hit me that I’d probably passed him in the halls a hundred times without ever trying to talk to him. Which felt kind of stupid now. Maybe this was a new start. For me. For him.

I knew he had a thing with Nancy Wheeler—or had had a thing. It was confusing. Steve Harrington seemed to be orbiting her constantly, and I definitely wasn’t going to touch that situation with a ten-foot pole. Not my business. Nope.

“So—uh—what do you want to know?” I said, words speeding up again. “I can start from the beginning, like way back, or I can give you the SparkNotes version. Which is still probably long. I don’t really do short explanations. Obviously.”

I tried to act calm, but inside I was screaming. Talking to people was hard. Talking without overthinking every word was even harder.

But you had to start somewhere.

Right?

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan tried not to laugh at her outburst, but it was hard not to. Especially as she kept spiraling about it. He didn't mind, though, and it was a nice distraction from what was going on in his own life. Breaking up with Nancy was hard enough, the two of them growing too far apart while he was in Lenora, but now that he was back in Hawkins, the awkwardness between them had almost been too much. And it didn't help that he currently lived at her house, either.

"Eddie's nice," Jonathan followed along with her, his expression calm and understanding. "Well, I do have to write a paper on you, so maybe just the short-ish version. And that's alright, I listen more than I talk, so you can have at it."

He gestured for her to continue, smiling softly, taking out a pencil and paper to write down notes for later. Not that he would use them—Jonathan had a pretty good memory. And while he was usually alone most of the time, he could read and memorize people pretty easily.

[cynicalkilljoy]

“Eddie’s nice?” I asked, like it was a question I already knew the answer to.

“He’s more than just nice… he’s just so—” I cut myself off, clamping my mouth shut before my brain could embarrass me any further.

Jonathan smiled at me, that soft, knowing kind of smile, and let out a quiet laugh at my failed attempt to be normal about it.

But the truth was, Eddie wasn’t just my best friend. He was my world, my whole damn everything. I’d do anything for him. I’d go to the dark side with him, no hesitation… as long as he was right there beside me, making it feel less scary and more like an adventure.

There were things I wanted to ask Jonathan, though. Questions about him. About Nancy. About stuff that wasn’t really my business but still sat in my brain like an unsent letter.

I had enough sense not to bring it up.

So I didn’t.

Instead, I flipped my notebook open to a blank page, the paper crinkling under my fingers. I wrote a title at the top… then his name underneath it, like this was some kind of interview and not just me avoiding my own curiosity.

I wasn’t going to ask him questions.

He asked me first.

So, fair was fair.

I looked back up at him and started talking, the words spilling out before I could organize them.

“Well, I’m Ollie Izenheart. Senior at Hawkins High,” I said, tapping my pen against the page. “I’m a badass goth who doesn’t really believe in conformity. School’s boring, but I try… most of the time. I’ve got some friends. I’m in the Hellfire Club here, which automatically makes me a giant nerd, but like a cool nerd.”

I paused, then kept going because stopping felt worse.

“I love writing. Like, a lot. Probably an unhealthy amount. Annnnnnd… my dad left when I was eight. Caught my mom cheating. People said he probably overdosed or something, but he didn’t. He just… disappeared.”

I shrugged, like that made it casual. Like that didn’t still sit heavy in my chest.

“I miss him,” I added more quietly. “Anyway, my mom married the wrong guy, and now I’m here oversharing to a near stranger with a notebook like this is therapy or something.”

I glanced up at him from under my lashes, pen still hovering over the page.

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan just listened to her, feeling familiarity and kinship wash over him as Ollie spoke. He'd felt the same way about Nancy. Still did, honestly. And how could he not? She was and is his best friend. And she always would be. It didn't matter if they were romantic or not.

He noted down the important events in her life avidly—badass goth, Hellfire Club enthusiast, cool nerd. He briefly wondered how their teacher would like an essay written as bluntly as Ollie seemed to talk. Loves writing (unhealthy), mom cheating = dad leaving, step-dad wrong. This would be an extremely interesting paper.

"Well, it sounds like you need it," he joked. "I suppose it's my turn, huh?"

He blew out a puff of air and started to recount his own life, "Jonathan Byers. Hawkins local. I love photography and have been known as a 'freak' for most of my life, much like your Eddie," he took a pause to laugh at Ollie's expression, "and I have a younger brother, Will, who died but not really a few years ago. My dad was abusive and split when I was younger—I don't even think I know where he's at right now. Uh..."

What else was there to know? Jonathan was nearly about to have an identity crisis. "Since you told me about Eddie—I dated Nancy Wheeler all throughout junior year and most of senior year. Then we broke up. But she's still my friend, and I currently live at her house... so, that's kind of weird."

[cynicalkilljoy]

“Yeah, it’s the therapy I always needed but can’t afford. But you don’t see me weirdly,” Ollie said, looking at Jonathan as she leaned back in her chair, tapping her foot. Ollie had nervous ticks when talking about herself, something she never liked doing. Ollie was a badass who was deeply insecure, but she hid that with subtle jokes and fake laughter. The whole assignment was, in fact, to get to know your peers better, and Ollie was trying her best to be serious about it all. Deep down, thinking about her dad hurt her way more than her mom cheating. She blamed her mom for her dad walking out, because her mom chose to cheat. All she wanted to know was why her dad never came back for her like he promised.

She didn’t want to tell this boy the hurt she felt, the betrayal of her father’s words ringing in her head. The girl shook her head and nodded, just trying to get out of her thoughts. She grabbed her notebook, placing it on her lap with a pencil in hand. She started writing things down as he talked to her about his life. She blushed slightly when he called Eddie hers. It made her cheeks turn red, and she covered her mouth, hoping he didn’t notice. Intrigued, she watched him talk and realized they had more in common than she expected. Though Ollie never had siblings, so she couldn’t relate to that part. But death… death seemed to follow her around no matter where she went. She lost her dad to death or something else entirely and that’s what happened to Will. The only difference was Will survived what he went through.

“Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t know where he is. Motherfuckers who abuse people deserve to rot,” I said, gripping my pencil tight like a vice, then forcing myself to relax. I looked at him as he talked about Nancy. That’s when I was really tuned in. “Aww, yeah, you two were undeniably cute. Shame it had to end. But you’re friends, and now you live with her?” I wrote it all down as neatly as I could. My handwriting was always noticeable to others. “Yeah, that’s kinda weird, but I don’t see anything wrong with it.” I looked at Jonathan, then turned my head toward the clock as it ticked on, each second passing by.

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan had almost been able to talk about Lonnie without actually feeling anything. Until Ollie had said something, and suddenly he was back at that house, just a kid, bruises all up his sides as he took the hits his dad had meant for Will. But then she continued, and Jonathan had to try extremely hard to push it all away again. He's not here anymore, he reminded himself. I'm older now. I can handle him. I've done it before.

Jonathan's head turned to the clock with Ollie's. "Well look at that, shared all our trauma in less than a class period. We're so productive."

He chuckled at himself and glanced down at his notes, barely a quarter of the page through. He didn't always do his assignments, and had been planning on not doing this one either, but he didn't want his lack of motivation to hurt Ollie's grade. If it had been anyone else—say, one of the jocks or a preppy cheerleader—he probably wouldn't have cared. But it was Ollie, a girl who was kind of like himself.

"Got anything like... I don't know, happy? I think one of my happiest memories was building a fort with my brother in the woods by our house. We would escape there to play games and listen to music, even spending the night there sometimes. If that helps you think at all." He shrugged, his penciled hand drawing random shapes and things all down the page as he spoke.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie looked down slightly when he asked if she had any good memories, but all her good ones were from before her dad left — when her mom hadn’t decided he wasn’t good enough and cheated on him. Ollie never knew it would lead to his fatal demise. She felt bad talking about her trauma to someone who probably went through similar pain, the same kind of broken home, the same hurt, just in different ways. Same world, different lives. She glanced over at his paper and saw half the page covered. He looked at hers — the same length, but more descriptive. Ollie had always been insecure about herself, hiding it behind lame sarcasm and dark jokes.

Her eyes lifted to him as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill. She forced them down “My best memory was when— was… the time my dad and my mom…” She stumbled over her words. This was hard to talk about, especially knowing how it all ended. She had to say something, anything without breaking down and looking weak. “The time when they actually loved each other… when things were happy and everything was okay…” Ollie managed to choke out, trying hard not to fall apart. “I– I’m sorry, Jonathan… this is really hard to talk about.”

The girl covered her mouth with her hands as tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Ollie had proven how strong she could be — until all she could do was fall apart. She wanted to get up and leave, but something told her to stay. Maybe, deep down, he would care… and maybe it didn’t even matter whether he did or didn’t. In that moment, Ollie felt the weight of everything, and it broke her. “This isn’t your fault… please don’t be sorry… I’m sorry… I…” She took a deep breath and wiped her tearful eyes with her sleeve.

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan's eyes widened and he just stared at Ollie, not really knowing what to do. He wasn't good at consoling people. He actually didn't really know what to do at all when people cried in front of him. When it was Will, Jonathan could help, he knew his little brother. But anyone else? He was just lost.

"Hey, uh—no, don't cry, it's fine—no I'm sorry, Ollie, uh—" Jonathan stuttered, one hand reaching out toward the girl but stopping halfway, nervous and unsure. "We don't have to talk about it, I'm sure we have enough to write about—uh..." He glanced around the room, hoping no one was looking at the pair, and narrowing his eyes at anyone who did. If he knew nothing else, he knew that when people were crying, they didn't want a thousand people watching and in their face.

"We can just, uh, write our papers now, if you want. Focus on that." He nodded helpfully, hoping that putting her mind on the assignment would encourage her mind to forget whatever else it was dwelling on. Because that's the thing to do—push down all your feelings and focus on work, work, work. Better to let all your emotions out when you're alone in a dark corner than around other people. Especially in a school. "How about it?"

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie wiped her tears with her sleeve as she looked at him. She heard him whisper that he was sorry and that it was okay. She heard his words, but it felt like tunnel vision to her; it was as if she could only focus on what had happened rather than the current moment. “No… no, it’s fine… really, I’m just emotional. It’s something I’m not entirely over…” A beat passed. “Sometimes pain has a funny way of making a comeback, you know?”

Ollie laughed lightly, making a joke out of her own pain—something she always did when things hit a little too close to home. She let out a sigh and sat up straight in her chair, looking down at her paper that only had a few sentences written on it. Her eyes lifted back up to Jonathan, listening as he suggested they just focus on writing their papers as if it would make everything go away. And for the remainder of the class, it did. “Yeah, I’m fine with just writing our papers… but thank you. I needed this…” she said, smiling—really smiling—as if what had happened moments ago was long gone.

Ollie looked away from him and back down at the paper again, as if it might write itself. She sat there for a moment before finally moving her pencil. She began writing more about him as if she were describing someone she knew everything about. She wrote down his hobbies, what he liked, and all the basics of getting to know someone. The one thing Ollie really liked was the photography; she found herself truly intrigued by it. There was something about capturing a moment in time—freezing it forever just for a glance. Something about that felt remarkably beautiful to her, and she wanted to know more.

After writing a bit more, she looked over at him and held up her notebook. “Here, I wrote this quickly, I know, but I think I got everything I needed. You can look it over and see if I’m missing anything.” Ollie placed the notebook gently on his desk while she held the pencil, fumbling with it in her fingers. She sniffled slightly, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes before crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. The clock ticked by as students around them chatted with their assigned partners for the project.

[jo-nathanbyers]

Jonathan winced at her joke, but he was no stranger to making fun of his own misery, so he made no comment. He nodded at her thanks, though he didn't really feel like he did anything—he'd brought up subjects that she wasn't exactly ready to go through, made her cry, and now she was... smiling at him. Yeah, Jonathan still found understanding other people to be difficult.

He took her notebook, skimming over her writing but not really looking to perfect anything. She was a good writer, he found, even in quick scribbles. He nodded slowly, "Yeah, that's great. Got all the trauma and everything." Now it was Jonathan's turn to make a joke about his pain. Not that it really pained him anymore—he didn't let it, pushing away all the things he felt about his past, leaving behind numbness. It probably wasn't the best coping mechanism, but then, what is?

He put her notebook back onto the desk in front of her, leaning back in his own chair, stretching a bit and cracking his neck. The class was loud. He couldn't wait to leave. But for the first time, he held back that feeling. It wouldn't be so bad for the class to last a bit longer, making him feel like he had a friend—the only one outside the people tied to the Upside Down and his brother.

"What, uh, are you doing... after school?" he asked slowly, hoping that it didn't sound creepy or weird or like he was trying to ask her out.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie let out a small giggle at what he said about getting everything that she could get on him. She kept writing as she finally wrote down a rough draft and put her pencil down on the table. She scooted the chair back a little as she looked at him. She watched as he took a stretch, hearing his neck crack slightly, and she winced just a bit—though not enough for him to notice. Ollie straightened up in her chair and took a sigh. Johnathan asked her what she was doing after school. She usually just went to the cafe, did homework, and ate some food. Ollie never ate food at school because of how bad it was, so she went to the diner after school—a place that was quiet, mostly. It was better than being in a place with bright lights.

As soon as Ollie was about to move her lips, the lights flickered. The echoes—they were stirring, approaching slowly, as they lay in wait. Ollie was its victim, a target because she was sensitive to it, probably way too much. Ollie choked back her fear as she smiled, pretending again. It was what she was best at anyway—a hidden talent.

"Did you feel that..?" Ollie said in a small, panicked voice, hoping he saw it too or felt it. Could she even explain it? Did he already know about it? She thought of his brother and all the events from the last year and the years before. The day Will went missing, Ollie knew it was Henry's doing, but at the time she couldn't tell anyone. She was hiding from the government then and was still processing what had happened to her there. She mostly remembered the way people acted and how his friends and family never gave up. Their mother, Joyce, was certain that her son wasn't dead or missing, but that he was elsewhere—somewhere that no ordinary person could just go.

Ollie got up slowly, pulling away from that memory of Will and those times at the lab and the Upside Down. But this time, the Echoes were much more sinister than the Upside Down.

[rheaalden-ste]

curiosity || ollie & rhea

Rhea hadn’t meant to linger outside the Byers’ place, but the noise inside was louder than she expected. Laughter, footsteps, someone dropping something heavy. She hesitated on the porch, hand hovering near the door, when a sudden burst of movement caught her eye.

A girl stepped out from around the side of the house, boots crunching on gravel, black hair catching the light like ink. Sharp edges softened by something restless. Something familiar.

Rhea straightened, pulse ticking up before she could explain why. The girl stopped when she noticed her, hazily green eyes bright, curious, a little wild. “Oh,” Rhea said, voice steadier than she felt. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to… be in your way.”

@cynicalkilljoy

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie walked around the house and saw Rhea standing there on the porch. Their eyes met. Ollie felt something—something like a vibe she couldn’t shake off. It wasn’t anything bad or negative, but something that might connect her to Rhea. She knew of her from Steve and the party, and that was it.

Today, Ollie wasn’t expecting to run into her, but of all days, maybe she needed to. The sun was high in the sky, the grass was starting to turn green again, and leaves were beginning to form on the trees. Ollie felt that the girl was somehow nervous, but she didn’t want to assume; it might just be the warmish weather. Ollie looked at her again and spoke.

“You’re okay. I’m sorry I got in your way. I just so happened to be in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by,” she said, smiling at Rhea as her black hair was softly lifted by the wind.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐨ⵑ

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/ @dustinoutofrange)

𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻.ᐣ 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻...

The day was enjoyable, as Ollie took Dustin to the arcade to blow off some steam. It had been days since Ollie stood in Dustin’s home, crying and trying not to fall apart because of everything that was happening—the things with Eddie and Billy, the echoes, and all that came with it. Plus, the Upside Down seemed to lurk in every shadow. Her powers were getting stronger each day she used them. It had gotten to a point where her nose didn’t bleed and she didn’t pass out. It was like Ollie was becoming immune to it all, like nothing was going to slow her down—not one bit. As they made their way to the arcade, Ollie opened the door for Dustin. When they stepped inside, she immediately felt that something was off. They were the only ones there. The only sounds were the games and the music softly playing in the background. But for some reason, she kept hearing the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance. Henry—Vecna. He was trying to reach her. If not in the real world, then in her mind. He had a way of getting into her head, of making her want to obey his every word. Ollie shook her head and looked at Dustin, forcing a smile, pretending everything was okay. But the look on his face told her he didn’t believe her—that he knew things weren’t fine. The neon lights illuminated her features as they stood there. Ollie’s vision began to shift—her present surroundings blending with memories of the lab. A bad memory surfaced, tangled with Vecna’s torment and fixation on her. There had been a time when Henry loved Ollie, and Ollie loved Henry. But when she left him at the lab, everything changed. Ollie felt like Henry had become just like her dad—someone who left when things got hard, who never came back for her, even though he said he would go to the ends of the earth for her.

Guess he was too busy playing the villain to care how she felt. She knew he wasn’t the same person anymore. He was completely different from the boy she had once known. That’s when the lights started to flicker. Her heart began to race. She closed her eyes for a moment—and everything went black. She was in the void. Henry was there, taking control. Ollie felt her body jerk forward as she fell to her knees. Her vision flickered between the void and the arcade, between Henry and Dustin. Why was he here, of all places? Was Henry finally coming back for her? It seemed he was a little too late. Ollie had stopped waiting a long time ago. Her vision went black again, completely consumed by the void. She didn’t know if the echoes were playing tricks on her, but deep down, she knew this was real. Everything inside her screamed at her to run, to find a way out—but she knew it wouldn’t help.

In the real world, her body collapsed to the floor in front of Dustin with a thud. She began convulsing as she lay there. But in the void, she stood still in the darkness. It felt like it was calling to her—almost like a friend. Then she saw him. Henry was walking toward her slowly. Her heart raced faster with each step he took. The sound of that damn clock echoed louder and louder in her mind, ticking endlessly. “Olivia…!” Henry called out as he stopped in front of her. But he wasn’t the same. He looked like himself—but wasn’t, if that made any sense. Ollie froze, unsure of what to do. Should she run into his arms… or scream at him? All she could do was stand there. Stand there as he moved closer, until he finally reached her, extending his hand as if offering it to her—as if she would take it. And Ollie… She let the void take her. She let the darkness consume every part of her. And this time, she didn’t fight it.

[dustinoutofrange]

“ollie? ollie, hey—cut it out, you're freaking me out. this isn't funny!”

dustin had been mid-sentence, rambling about the high score he was going to reclaim on dig dug, when the air in the arcade turned thick and cold. the neon glow of the cabinets suddenly felt sickly, pulsating like a failing heart. one second ollie was there, and the next, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she hit the linoleum with a sound that made dustin’s stomach do a sickening somersault.

“ollie!”

he scrambled to the floor, his knees barking against the hard tile. it wasn't like her usual power usage—there was no nosebleed, no familiar strain. this was different. her body was rigid, convulsing in a way that looked like she was being pulled by invisible wires.

dustin screamed, his voice cracking into a desperate, jagged sob. he looked around wildly. the arcade was empty, the machines whirring and chirping as if nothing was wrong, but the lights were flickering in a rhythmic, menacing pattern.

tick. tick. tick.

“ollie, look at me! stay here, okay? stay in the arcade!” he reached out, his hands hovering over her, afraid to touch her but unable to pull away. he grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently at first, then with more urgency. “don't go into the dark! whatever you see, it's not real! it’s a trick, ollie! It’s a projection!”

he could see her eyes moving rapidly under her lids—she was seeing something else. somewhere else. dustin’s mind raced through every bit of lore they had gathered on vecna, on the mind flayer, on the lab. He knew that trance look. he knew the signs of someone being hunted.

“i'm right here!” he yelled, his face inches from hers, hot tears blurring his vision. “you aren't alone! whatever he's telling you, he's a liar! he’s just a—a multidimensional parasite, ollie! don't listen to him!”

the flickering lights grew more intense, a bulb overhead shattering and raining glass down a few feet away. dustin didn't flinch. he gripped her hands, his knuckles white.

“ollie, please! come back! don't let him take you!”

but as her body went limp and the convulsing stopped, replaced by a terrifying, hollow stillness, dustin felt a cold dread sink into his bones. she felt miles away, even though he was holding her.

“ollie?” he whispered, his voice trembling. “ollie, talk to me...”

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie could hear Dustin yelling at her to wake up; hearing his pleas and cries for help pained her. Her eyes met Henry's as he held out his hand, like he was the darkness wanting to dance with her. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing; it wasn't the same look he gave her back then. This look was much different—something alien, something she couldn't explain.

"No..." Ollie said softly under her breath as she started to shake. She backed away. "You're not him anymore... yo-you're not the person I loved..." Ollie said as tears fell from her eyes, and she turned around and ran further and further into the darkness than she could go.

Yes, she and Henry had something while she was in the lab, and he became her hero, her savior—the one who promised to come back for her. But he was too consumed by power to even come looking for her. She knew he wasn't a good person, knew that he ruined and killed people—how could she still love him? The very sight of him made her ill, made her heart break even more.

As she ran until she couldn't run anymore, she stopped, breathing heavily. That's when she started to hear Dustin still screaming at her to wake up. She looked around, not knowing how to get back. Music. She needed him to play that certain song by Daryl Hall & John Oates—it was her song, probably the only thing that tied her to the real world and not the void she was in.

"Dustin!" Ollie screamed as loudly as she could, but there was no answer. "Dammit..." she said as she cursed. She walked around the dark void she was in, calling Dustin's name over and over again—still nothing.

That's when a song started to play—the one she had in her head, the one that would save her. She turned around and saw Henry walking toward her, but he seemed to be moving slower. The song continued as Ollie turned back around in front of her and saw what looked like Dustin trying to wake her up. The radio played as the chorus started:

"You're out of touch, I'm out of time (Time). But I'm out of my head when you're not around..."

Without realizing it, Ollie started to walk toward the sight, as if it was a way out—and it was, probably the only way and the best way for her. Her feet started to move faster and faster until she was fully running toward the light. She felt Henry touch her shoulder, and as he did, she ran straight ahead.

As soon as she did, Ollie woke up in the real world. She started to breathe heavily.

"We're soul alone, and soul really matters to me. Too much..." the song played as Ollie looked at Dustin, her eyes widening as she softly said his name.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝ⵑ

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/ @avabyers-ste)

‹𝟹

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝕯𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖆𝖘𝐤 𝖒𝖊 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝓦𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝐲𝖔𝖚 𝐤𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖊 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝕯𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝐲𝖔𝖚 ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝕴 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝐲𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙

Downtown was where she was, and today was a big day for Ollie. She was planning her first date with Ava. Since spring began, the night at the quarry became everything to Ollie. It probably meant the same for Ava as well. How she felt Ava's hand in hers, intertwined for safety, intertwined with all the love she had to give. Her heart raced each time she thought of her girlfriend, the way she would say Ollie's name—her full name. It did something to her; it made her stomach have butterflies and her heart feel sparks. Something she hadn't felt in so long. She knew what love was and what it shouldn't be. Ollie knew that she would do anything for Ava and would go to the ends of the earth for her. The love she felt for her was something she couldn't explain. Just like their first kiss, it was wild, and sparks were everywhere. She also didn't care what some people thought or what anyone thought. She loved Ava out loud, and that would never change, not ever. Ollie was at a fancy diner wearing a cute black sundress with black tights and some boots to go with it—her signature look in the warmer days ahead—as she sat there waiting for her girlfriend to show up.

She had flowers waiting and was smiling, hoping Ava would like them, hoping she did a good job. I guess when the thing with her parents happened, she was scared she wouldn't be enough, but she knew better than that. Ollie knew that Ava loved being with her as much as she did. That made Ollie smile more and her face turn red; she let out a small giggle. A song started to play on the jukebox as other people paid attention to their own conversations and ate their food. Some smiled at Ollie in passing, and some knew her from school; others just liked seeing her happy and out of trouble for once. It had been months since the quarry and that kiss that changed things, and feelings that became love. What she knew was that Ava was her Madonna and Ollie her Salem, and that their love and relationship was something Ollie herself needed at the time and still did.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/ @jamiedoylex )

~♡ 𝓨𝖔𝖚 𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖑𝖆𝖉𝖊, 𝐲𝖔𝖚 𝖒𝖆𝐤𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝓨𝖔𝖚 𝖗𝖊-𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝖒𝖊 '𝖙𝖎𝖑 𝕴'𝖒 𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖊 𝓨𝖔𝖚 𝖑𝖔𝖈𝐤 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖜 𝖆𝖜𝖆𝐲 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝐤𝖊𝐲 𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊'𝖘 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖎𝖓 𝖒𝐲 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖉 𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝖎𝖙'𝖘 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝖒𝖊. 𝓐𝖓𝖉 𝖎𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖑𝖔𝖚𝖉 𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖓 𝐲𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝓨𝖔𝖚 𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖓𝖔 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖊𝖒𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗

Ollie got dropped off at Daphne's to rest before they went on the journey to finally see her dad. Daphne was going to meet up with someone for something. Ollie didn't question it, not at all, and not when she drove away. She held the key in her hands as she got to the door and finally went inside, but something was off—the door was already unlocked. Ollie thought nothing of it and just figured Daphne might have accidentally left it that way. Getting inside, she took her boots off, placing them on a rug by the door as intended. She was in her black socks with grey cats on the sides as her clothed feet hit the nice wood floor with a thump. She went to the fridge and looked inside, seeing one Mountain Dew can already cold just for her—Daphne's doing, she supposed. She did say make yourself at home, and that’s what she did. She went to the living room and sat down on the couch with a bag of chips, finding the remote and flipping through channels until she stopped on M*A*S*H and set the remote down. It was a show her dad would always watch for some laughs and enjoyment, and Ollie would happen to be there with him. This thought made her smile, and yet other parts of her were screaming, telling her that this wasn't going to last. She shook her head, pushing away thoughts of bad memories or anything negative from entering her happy yet calm mind. Still, something felt off. She couldn't name it—was someone else here? The thought wrapped around her mind until paranoia threatened to kick in. Again, Ollie pushed it aside, because for once she wanted a day where nothing could go wrong. She wanted things to go the way she wanted them to, and it was okay if.

That was when she heard a noise coming from upstairs. As someone began coming down the stairs, Ollie crouched low, her hand extended just in case she needed to use her powers—and in this case, she might. Now she believed someone may have broken in, but who? Who would want anything from this house anyway? It wasn't hers to begin with. She slowly lifted herself off the couch and walked toward the stairs. As she did, a man reached the last step. Ollie used her power to slam him into a wall—not hard enough to hurt him, but enough that he’d probably need a moment to recover. His body hit the wall with a thud, and a grunt escaped him. Ollie walked over to the closet, finally finding a bat, then made her way back to the guy. “You have five minutes to tell me who you are and what you’re doing here,” Ollie said sternly, raising the bat in defense as her eyes locked on the man. Whoever he was, she didn’t like him. Something about him seemed off, but he looked kind of familiar, like Ollie must have seen him around. She just didn’t know his name very well, or probably not at all. “Also, you didn’t just see what I did just now. Keep that between us,” the girl added, swinging the bat slightly in a threatening way, but in a way that made her feel in charge and brave. She gave the guy some time to answer as she leaned down, using the bat for support. The clock ticked by as Ollie glared, then sighed, her jade eyes fixed on the man. “I swear, if you’re here to hurt Daphne, you’re far too late and too stupid to even try.” Ollie smirked, standing back up straight and then slowly setting the bat down beside her, just in case. She could never be too sure when she’d need it again or if she would have to use it.

[daphneharris]

Daphne pulled her mom’s car up to the curb outside Ollie’s house, the engine ticking softly as she turned it off. She sat there for a while, smoothing down her cardigan and checking her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her heart was beating fast, equal parts nerves and excitement. This road trip was going to be big for Ollie, and Daphne was determined to make sure it went as smoothly as possible. She reached into the passenger seat and picked up the small basket she’d prepared for Ollie's mother. A peace offering, and hopefully a distraction. Taking a deep breath, Daphne stepped out of the car, basket on her arm, and walked up to the front door. She knocked gently but firmly, then let herself in like she’d done hundreds of times before. "Ruby? It’s me, Daphne," she called out softly as she stepped into the living room, her voice warm and friendly. She spotted Ollie’s mom in the kitchen area and offered a bright, reassuring smile. "I brought you some things," she said, lifting the basket a little. "Fresh banana bread and those lemon cookies you like. I figured you might enjoy them with your coffee this week." Daphne set the basket down on the counter, then clasped her hands in front of her, trying to look casual even though her stomach was fluttering.

"Actually… I came by because Ollie and I have been talking about taking a little road trip together. Just a girls’ weekend, you know? We thought it’d be nice to get out of Hawkins for a couple of days... clear our heads, do some sightseeing, maybe stop at that big flea market up north that Ollie’s been wanting to check out." She tilted her head sweetly, keeping her tone light and innocent. "I know things have been a little tense around here lately, so I figured some time away might do her good. My mom said it was okay to borrow the car, and I promise I’ll drive safely." Daphne gave Ruby a gentle smile, her voice softening just a touch. She paused, waiting patiently, her expression open and sincere; the perfect picture of the responsible, trustworthy friend who just wanted to do something nice for Ollie. Inside, her heart was pounding, praying the lie would hold and that Ollie’s stepdad wouldn’t suddenly appear and start asking paranoid questions. All she wanted was to get Ollie out of this house and onto the open road, where they could finally start looking for the answers her friend desperately needed. /@cynicalkilljoy

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie was in her room, writing and just hanging around. She never thought today would turn into a trip. Daphne had mentioned a small road trip, but never told her when it would be. That was when Ollie heard her voice from downstairs in the kitchen. Ollie ran to open her door and rushed down the stairs to greet one of her favorite people. By the time she reached the bottom step, Daphne was already there, ready to hug her. The two girls embraced tightly, and Ollie pulled away first. Ruby looked at her daughter before speaking. “Olivia, Daphne here is taking you on a road trip to help clear your mind. You’d better go get packed so you’re not making her wait. And Olivia, make sure you don’t use your powers or anything like that. I want you to be safe,” Ruby said with a smile. But all Ollie could do was sigh and head back up the stairs. She didn’t like when her mom acted sweet around others, pretending she cared, as if Ruby’s cheating hadn’t caused more pain than marrying the man she had cheated on Ollie’s dad with. As they went upstairs to Ollie’s room, she opened the door that was ajar and shut it behind her. “I know I’m not very nice to my mom. I love her, Daphne, but she makes it hard after what she did…” Ollie said, rummaging through her closet. She pulled out her suitcase and threw it onto the bed. She went back to the closet, grabbing shirts from hangers, then walked over to her white dresser and stuffed more clothes into the suitcase. “Also, good thing David isn’t here—he’d freak,” she added, taking a breath. “Wait… where are you taking me?” Ollie asked softly, not raising her voice.

Ollie thought about it for a moment and finally put all the pieces together. She wasn’t just going on a road trip—she was going to find her dad. In case her mom was listening, Ollie didn’t say anything and wouldn’t until they left the house. She moved around her room while her friend watched, packing things into her suitcase. After gathering everything she needed, she carefully closed it and grabbed her writing notebook before leaving the room, nodding at Daphne. The girls reached the bottom of the stairs and headed for the door. Ruby’s voice could be heard from the kitchen. “Have fun, girls. Be safe.” After a brief pause, she added, “Olivia, I love you.” Ollie turned around and, for once, smiled at her mom. “I love you too, Mom…” she managed, almost choking on the words. She felt her heart crack, knowing she couldn’t blame her mom forever. But the pain Ollie had endured at the lab—and her mom’s affair—had made her suffer. She blamed her mom for so many things, yet had never shown her an ounce of love. Ollie knew that was hurting her mother more than anything, and maybe it was time to forgive. Forgiveness was something foreign to her, something she had never been taught—but with Daphne, maybe she could learn. Still, the main question remained: could she forgive her dad for leaving her behind? Was she still angry with him? How would she act if she saw him? All these questions needed answers. Ollie walked to the car, placing her suitcase in the back seat before closing the door. Then she got into the passenger seat and settled in as Daphne climbed into the driver’s side. Ollie smiled at her before asking quietly, “Are you taking me to see my dad?” She glanced down at her notebook as she spoke.

[cynicalkilljoy]

A Memory Stirred By Echoes (open roleplay) Location: Ollie's House / The Forest

It was just a gathering with her stepdad's family. It was supposed to be fine—maybe even enjoyable. For once, David didn’t act like a total asshole. For once in his life, he actually behaved. He had invited his sister and her four kids over. Three of them were around eight years old, and one was a boy around Ollie’s age named Drew. They would always sneak off and have a smoke session without anyone worrying about where they were. Ollie sat in a lawn chair outside, enjoying the breeze, as her three cousins hunted for eggs. She felt something off, as if she was remembering something. She shook it away and focused on her cousins, watching them pick up each egg they found. Lost. The word rang in her head, twisting itself to match her tormented mind. A day that was supposed to represent the resurrection of someone holy… but today it only made Ollie think of the lab. How Papa had planned an Easter egg hunt of his own. Whoever found the golden egg was offered one-on-one time for two hours in the Rainbow Room. Ollie hated that place with a burning passion. But there was one person she enjoyed being with—Henry. 001. He was always at her side, silent, like a quiet savior waiting for his chance to save her. Her mind drifted again. Her cousins’ laughter sounded distorted, and the conversations around her faded into something distant and warped. Her vision blurred as she tried to breathe properly, but found it difficult. The day the Easter egg hunt began in the lab… someone tried to hurt her. Someone did something that changed her—changed who she trusted. Someone who never should have done what they did. And now, they had paid the price. Her hands gripped the arms of the chair, her knuckles turning white. “Ollie!” Someone shouted, but she didn’t recognize the voice. She didn’t know if she was home or back in the lab. She jumped from her chair, and everything snapped back to normal—or so it seemed.

For now. She stood there for a moment until one of her cousins handed her an egg. She looked down. It was Drew. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked, holding another egg in his hand. “I stole it from Trevor—hope you don’t mind. Figured you could use it, considering—” He stopped himself. Unlike David and the rest of the family, Drew knew about her powers. He thought they were cool and kept it a secret from his mom and siblings. Ollie just stood there, unable to speak. Drew knew everything she had been through—the lab, the abuse, the abuse at home. All of it. He also knew that her best friend, Eddie Munson, had suddenly come back from the dead, and how much that terrified her. How she had started investigating the echoes and what they meant. Her mind snapped back again. All she could see was the man in the Rainbow Room, reaching out to her with that evil smile. Then—blood. Everywhere. Henry stood over him, fists clenched, striking him again and again. And then— Nothing. That was where it ended. Ollie stood frozen in the present. Slowly, softly, she tried to speak—but no words came out. She looked down at the egg in her hand, as if it could give her answers. As if it was something good she could cling to. She cracked it open. Blood. Ollie screamed and threw the egg to the ground. It shattered against the concrete— But when she looked again, there was no blood. Only a gold coin inside. She shook her head. Drew was at her side, but she raised her arms, signaling him not to come closer. He stopped a few feet away, giving her space. Her body trembled. The echoes were playing tricks on her again—making her see things that weren’t there, dragging suppressed memories back to the surface. She was in agony. The pain from the lab, the memory of watching Henry kill her abuser…Easter was never a good time for her. It was just pain—just a reminder of something terrible. A witness to a justified crime. The rest of the day only brought more fragments of memory, like the world itself had something against her. And when she finally got away from her family, she walked toward the woods. It was the only place where she could find peace. The only place where she could think clearly.

[gareth-on-the-skins]

gareth spotted her before he said anything.

not because she was trying to hide—ollie was too familiar for that—but because he knew the shape of her when she was upset. the way she held herself too still, like if she moved too fast something inside her might crack all the way open.

he slowed as he came up through the edge of the woods, boots crunching soft over old leaves, careful not to come at her too fast. “ollie.” just her name. low.

he stopped a few feet away, hands visible, shoulders easy. no sudden moves.

“i’m not gonna do the whole annoying ‘you okay?’ thing,” he saidd, voice quiet in the dusk. “you look like hell, so i’m gonna assume no.” the line was dry, but gentle. meant to ease everything a bit, not joke her out of it.

his eyes flicked over her face, then away again, not making her feel watched.

“eddie told me your stepdad’s people were doing some holiday circus thing today.” he shifted his weight, shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “figured if it went bad, there was a decent chance i’d find you out here.”

“you don’t have to tell me what happened.” his jaw tightened a little, just enough to show he already hated whoever or whatever had put that look in her eyes. “but you also don’t have to deal with it all by yourself.”

gareth glanced around at the trees, then back at her with that quiet steadiness he saved for people he loved like family. “i can sit here and shut up. i can walk with you. i can throw rocks at stuff and let you pretend that solves anything.” one corner of his mouth lifted faintly. “hell, i can even listen if you wanna talk. and you know i don’t spook easy.”

“eddie would kill me if he knew i found you like this and left you out here alone.”

now, more honest than teasing, “i’d feel like shit too.”

he looked at the ground for a moment, then back at her. “so i’m staying. you can be mad about it if you want.”

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie looked up and saw Gareth right there. He was generally worried about her, and always had been. Ollie was one of his close friends, along with Eddie and Jeff. The whole band—and Hellfire—knew of Ollie because of her ties with the party and with Eddie himself.

After Eddie and Billy came back, the whole town freaked out, wondering how it could have happened. But no one had any answers or anything to go off. There were only a few who knew what was really happening, and it took time to understand it all.

Ollie heard him say her name again, and she turned to look at him, not turning away this time. She stared at him, steadying herself as she stopped shaking, and finally stood up from where she had been huddled on the ground.

“Gareth…” she said softly. After a pause, she continued, “It’s just the past and everything that happened… Today was supposed to be a good day. But all I remember is the Easter egg hunt for a gold egg… then it happened…”

Ollie stopped herself before saying anything else. The look in her eyes was proof enough that she had been through hell. The air around her seemed to calm her down a bit, but it didn’t stop the darkness of the past from visiting her again.

The sun was starting to set on the horizon. The day was almost over, which meant a new beginning tomorrow. Still, whatever she had going on would remain—a reminder of what had been.

“A man was about to hurt me. Then Henry showed up, and all I saw was blood. I don’t remember everything that happened, but it was something I was meant to see. He told me to close my eyes…”

Ollie spoke as tears filled the brim of her jade eyes, her words seeming to hurt just to say out loud. It was like poison on her tongue, like the urge to peel your own skin off. She felt it all—and it was all she seemed to know.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐨ⵑ

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/ @dustinoutofrange)

𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻.ᐣ 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻...

The day was enjoyable, as Ollie took Dustin to the arcade to blow off some steam. It had been days since Ollie stood in Dustin’s home, crying and trying not to fall apart because of everything that was happening—the things with Eddie and Billy, the echoes, and all that came with it. Plus, the Upside Down seemed to lurk in every shadow. Her powers were getting stronger each day she used them. It had gotten to a point where her nose didn’t bleed and she didn’t pass out. It was like Ollie was becoming immune to it all, like nothing was going to slow her down—not one bit. As they made their way to the arcade, Ollie opened the door for Dustin. When they stepped inside, she immediately felt that something was off. They were the only ones there. The only sounds were the games and the music softly playing in the background. But for some reason, she kept hearing the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance. Henry—Vecna. He was trying to reach her. If not in the real world, then in her mind. He had a way of getting into her head, of making her want to obey his every word. Ollie shook her head and looked at Dustin, forcing a smile, pretending everything was okay. But the look on his face told her he didn’t believe her—that he knew things weren’t fine. The neon lights illuminated her features as they stood there. Ollie’s vision began to shift—her present surroundings blending with memories of the lab. A bad memory surfaced, tangled with Vecna’s torment and fixation on her. There had been a time when Henry loved Ollie, and Ollie loved Henry. But when she left him at the lab, everything changed. Ollie felt like Henry had become just like her dad—someone who left when things got hard, who never came back for her, even though he said he would go to the ends of the earth for her.

Guess he was too busy playing the villain to care how she felt. She knew he wasn’t the same person anymore. He was completely different from the boy she had once known. That’s when the lights started to flicker. Her heart began to race. She closed her eyes for a moment—and everything went black. She was in the void. Henry was there, taking control. Ollie felt her body jerk forward as she fell to her knees. Her vision flickered between the void and the arcade, between Henry and Dustin. Why was he here, of all places? Was Henry finally coming back for her? It seemed he was a little too late. Ollie had stopped waiting a long time ago. Her vision went black again, completely consumed by the void. She didn’t know if the echoes were playing tricks on her, but deep down, she knew this was real. Everything inside her screamed at her to run, to find a way out—but she knew it wouldn’t help.

In the real world, her body collapsed to the floor in front of Dustin with a thud. She began convulsing as she lay there. But in the void, she stood still in the darkness. It felt like it was calling to her—almost like a friend. Then she saw him. Henry was walking toward her slowly. Her heart raced faster with each step he took. The sound of that damn clock echoed louder and louder in her mind, ticking endlessly. “Olivia…!” Henry called out as he stopped in front of her. But he wasn’t the same. He looked like himself—but wasn’t, if that made any sense. Ollie froze, unsure of what to do. Should she run into his arms… or scream at him? All she could do was stand there. Stand there as he moved closer, until he finally reached her, extending his hand as if offering it to her—as if she would take it. And Ollie… She let the void take her. She let the darkness consume every part of her. And this time, she didn’t fight it.

[cynicalkilljoy]

𝐌𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐱 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤

(𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰/ @madxmayfield)

Ollie was in the music room all by herself, listening to records she had saved there. The music teacher let her keep her records in the room, along with her dad’s old music as well. On the stereo, Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” started to play—one of Ollie’s favorite guilty-pleasure songs, though she’d never admit it. The song helped her through tough times and reminded her how she wished she could take her dad’s place instead. But she knew better. That’s when the light flickered for a second. Sometimes it happened with Ollie’s emotions—when she was happy or upset, the lights would flicker. They stopped for a moment as Ollie took a deep breath, steadying herself so they wouldn’t flicker again. She started to sing along as the song reached the chorus. As she sang, she wasn’t paying attention to anyone or anything. Music was Ollie’s escape from the world and all the bad things. It was a way to reach her heart, a way to explain things without words. Her back was turned toward the door as she kept singing, flipping through more records. Outside, the halls were busy with students making their way to class or just hanging out before the bell rang. This song made Ollie feel powerful, like it expressed something her words couldn’t.

“I’d make a deal with God, and get him to swap our places…” Ollie sang again as the chorus hit once more. The clock ticked as the song ended, then started again. She didn’t even want to turn it off—it felt like the song was trying to tell her something, something she couldn’t quite name. She felt like someone was there, watching her, but she didn’t dare turn around—not even for a minute. Who would be in the music room this early anyway? Who would want to hear her sing? Ollie reached for her notebook and started to write. She always felt inspired like this, ideas storming through her head. She was trying to figure out how the echoes worked and what they meant. She only knew they were something fascinating, yet dangerous. Still, something about them made her want to dive deeper. Whatever she was about to discover, she knew she couldn’t do it alone. She wanted someone to help her understand it—her powers, the Upside Down, the echoes. Someone who had experienced it too. Someone she could relate to.

[madxmayfield]

Max huffed and pushed open the doors to the nearly empty school. It was early, but Max hadn't slept good and had been itching to not be in her house. So she figured she'd find some empty corner of the school to huddle up in like usual and wait until she had to saunter to her first class.

Her dreams were still weird. In fact, they'd only increased in strangeness since she'd woken from her coma, which she didn't think was possible. The slurry of her unconscious mind while she was comatose was bizarre and confusing, bombarding her with scenes and memories that felt familiar but we're objectively unrecognizable to her. Voices that felt real. Images of her step-brother dying and living a hundred different ways than it actually happened. It was all part of this echo bullshit that nobody could nail down, and it was beginning to frustrate her more and more each night.

Her converse squeaked against the linoleum floors, echoing out into the hallways as she turned to the music room. It was always a calm and empty enough place this time of morning. She made to turn the doorknob but stopped, seeing a figure through the rectangle of glass in the door. Shit. Not so empty, then.

Max almost turned around when a jolt of recognition struck her brain. She knew that girl. Ollie. She'd been hanging around the group lately, but Max knew next to nothing about her. Only that she was... odd. Not in a Dustin's-a-nerd and Lucas-is-adork kind of way. More in a way that tugs deeper, igniting Max's basal sense of curiosity.

Max opened the door slowly and walked in. She expected Ollie to look to see who was there, but she didn't. Then Max heard it– Ollie singing softly. An all too familiar song that nearly knocked the wind out of max: the song that had been her forcefield against Vecna.

She cleared her throat, "You like Kate Bush?" It was quick and a bit louder than she'd intended. She was caught off guard by the song, and had opened her mouth instantly, letting whatever words were there fall out awkwardly.

[cynicalkilljoy]

Ollie quickly dropped her notebook, turned around, and saw a girl with red hair looking at her with blue eyes, loudly asking if she liked the artist. Ollie got up quickly and turned the music down; the volume lowered, and the song continued to play softly in the background.

Ollie looked at Max and knew she had seen her before—she was always with the group and was really good friends with everyone Ollie knew. This was the girl that Vecna—Henry—went after. Max had escaped, but ended up in a coma for a long time, something Ollie blamed herself for. Even the resurrection of Max’s stepbrother weighed on her mind. That was a lot for a girl, and Ollie knew it firsthand with Eddie, and everything else.

Billy was alive now, and maybe Max and him had reconciled or something. Ollie didn’t know—she only knew from what people said and what she had witnessed herself: Billy had really bad anger issues, which was neither here nor there. Ollie could relate because of her stepdad and the things she went through at the lab. She related to Max and had always wanted to interact with her, but it seemed like they had nothing in common—when in reality, they had a lot.

If there was one thing they shared, it was that Vecna was never far from reaching them—but neither were the echoes. Ollie assumed Max might have experienced it, or maybe not yet. But if they worked together, just maybe they could find the reason why her stepbrother and Ollie’s best friend were back to life.

It clicked in Ollie’s head as she looked at Max, then back at her notebook on the floor.

“Yeah, I do like Kate Bush—just don’t tell anyone that, haha,” Ollie said with a small, nervous laugh as she bent down to grab her notebook. As she did, she looked at Max for a moment, as if trying to ask a question.

“Look, I know you just got in here, but you’re the person I need—no, wait—the person I’m destined to interact with, with answers I need about something you might know. You don’t know me, but I believe we can both help each other out.”

Ollie flipped to a page in her notebook as she waited for Max to respond, or say anything at all. The song stopped, then started again, the only sound filling the room. A beat passed as the clock on the wall ticked on, each second stretching into minutes.