i’m not the same i have no shame

[penelopebyrne]

this is a side blog for an ORIGINAL CHARACTER for the netflix series STRANGER THINGS. PENELOPE BYRNE is an important character to the canon divergent story of CHRISSY CUNNINGHAM. due to this being a character of my own, i have the right to redact, add, or start completely over if need be. basically, this is another barbie in a barbie world and the main rule is to have fun!

Penelope Ann Byrne is the daughter of Aiko and Charles Byrne, born in Hawkins, Indiana on November 6, 1967. Her mother is a teacher at Hawkins Elementary, while her father is a dental practioner. Coming from a well-educated and diverse background, Penelope remained a straight A student. She’s fluent in three languages, from her mother’s native tongue of Japanese, English, and through classes in school Spanish. In the early 80’s while attending Hawkins Middle School, she befriended Chrissy Cunningham, which led to the beginning of a popular duo that poured right into high school. Since her friendship with who later became one of the most popular girls from the actual cheer squad, Penny fell right into the same group of the popular crowd right off the beginning of their Freshman year of High School.

During the year of Jonathan Byer’s little brother went missing, it had everyone’s parents on edge when the days ticked away, including Penny’s. This led to their daughter taking on a rebellious path, by defying their rules to be home before the streetlights were on. It also led to a brief fall out between her and Chrissy Cunningham, who took a few steps back from the in-crowd. Their friendship was repaired not long after, when Chrissy showed up with a horribly beaten down Steve Harrington after a fight he got into with Jonathan Byers, and a new crowd had formed that night, unbeknownst to them at the time.

Strange(r) Things continued to happen even after Will Byer’s retur. It wasn’t until after the Starcourt Mall fire in the summer of ‘85 when Penelope was affected by the supposed death of Chrissy Cunningham. Each death since Barbara Holland, Heather Holloway, and Billy Hargrove — Penny refused to believe that the mangled body of her best friend was actually real. Nor did she believe that such a gruesome act was done by Eddie Munson. Penny believed she knew Chrissy better than anyone and knew there was one other who would believe and help her in the search of Chrissy, their friend Steve Harrington. It was in the Spring of ‘86 when Penelope Byrne was no longer seeing the world as she painted it, and began to wish she didn’t waste her time in carrying how the world really perceived her, which was the girl who lost her way and self with following what was socially acceptable for a teenager trying to fit in.

[penelopebyrne]

so you changed your mind about it?

Penelope did a double take when she heard Steve's voice come up right behind her until he was walking by her side through the fairgrounds. "Aren't you supposed to be at your booth, sailor?" Not a hint of annoyance could be detected, and she slowed her pace to look at him with the question. Sure, he asked her a question first, but it wouldn't be Penny to dodge it with one of her own.

Steve mentioned a few days ago that he would be working the first opening weekend behind the Scoops Ahoy booth at the Fun Fair. "Chrissy wanted to check it out." Part lie. Chrissy was nowhere to be found as she was off with Jason and his group of friends while Penny had her best dressy, yet casual summer outfit on. Hair and make up all done like she was there for a date, because she knew Steve would be there when he mentioned it to her.

Though, her gaze moved up to the hat for his work uniform, plucking it off to place on her own head with a dazzling smile. "And if I told you that I did change my mind... will there be anyone I need to fight off tonight?" Her way of checking in to see if he managed to get an actual date after work.

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FOR PRE ESTABLISHED CONNECTIONS AND CREATING HISTORY BETWEEN CHARACTERS *  assorted dialogue for giving your characters a history and giving them past things or events to talk about, adjust as necessary

do you remember what i told you last time?

have you been doing well since i saw you?

that's not what you told me back then.

when was the last time i saw you?

you were shorter then.

i'm picking the restaurant this time.

we've known each other since we were children.

always knew i could count on you.

that time was different. this is worse.

you're not going to let me live that down, are you?

i seem to remember a conversation we had back then.

so you changed your mind about it?

do you remember our encounter in paris?

you should know me by now.

am i the only one that knows the truth?

we had a lot of help back then.

your mom told me to look out for you.

you just love bringing that back up to annoy me.

maybe don't mention my past indescretions?

this was never going to work out between us.

i told you not to get attached.

i know more about you than you think.

i was there, remember?

i'm not about to forget all the shit you put me through.

you told me you were going to try and make this work.

remember what i said to you?

the last time i saw you, things were good between us.

you never mentioned this before.

that was the longest flight of my life, and you made it worse.

can i still trust you after all that?

at least we tried to make something work.

we never discussed what happened between us.

okay, but i'm driving the car this time.

i haven't forgotten what you said last week.

i'm still thinking about your comment.

i didn't realize it was you when i first saw you.

you seem to make a lot of enemies around here.

there's not much for us to talk about.

we worked it out last time.

i know you far better than you know yourself.

we have a long history.

is that the shirt you were wearing last time?

what don't i know about you?

i haven't told them about us.

you were the only person i could go to.

you know me.

this is bigger than both of us.

i can't stand your driving.

are you taking me to the place we had dinner last time?

that's not at all what you said.

didn't we agree on that?

i thought i made it very clear where i stand.

are these the same people that came after you last time?

are you still going on about it?

can we talk about it?

staying silent about it won't help.

you're the only person who knows the real me.

this is a bad time to talk about your problems.

[elivanto]

LOOK AT HER. (@reinahardesty on instagram)

[penelopebyrne]

S3 CHAPTER ONE: SUZIE, DO YOU COPY?

[penelopebyrne]

why can’t we just talk about this ?

This. This being them. Their entire relationship which had become more serious than what was originally planned. Maybe Steve was noticing the shift. The way she started looking at him, her feelings and care for him more obvious, when usually she preferred to keep it under lock and key. Even so, she was still thinking as she usually did with her mind rather than her heart. His parents would never accept her - his dad, in particular.

“We have talked about this, Steve. Talking won’t change anything. Nothing is going to change.” A tremble could be heard in her voice, because it wasn’t as though she didn’t want to be accepted by his parents; she did. Something she spoke to her mother about, who really couldn’t offer any advice, just to not give up on her dreams over what others expect of her.

She took a moment to watch the glow the sun was casting over the horizon on what had been a beautiful spring day, with more daylight in the early evening hours. “Come on.” She let a beat pass, trying to get a grip on herself. Though, he can see from her face and hear in her words how she really didn’t feel the way her next words were going to sound. “It’s not like we were ever meant to be much more.”

[penelopebyrne]

are you coming or not ?

Penny could barely get a hold of her scrambled thoughts when the group had finally found Eddie at Skull Rock, who they now all had to hide because of the authorities and the town believed he killed Patrick just like he killed Chrissy — her best and really only true friend in all of high school. She’s hesitating. Not because she suddenly believes the word on the street; no. They had evidence from Nick telling her that he heard his sister’s voice in the walls of their house one time and the lights were flickering like crazy. Penny believed Nick and even knew that Chrissy was still alive somewhere.

“I can talk to Jason.” It sounds bad coming from her mouth, but Jason was her friend, too. As well as Patrick, who she now had to process the loss of him. “He needs someone.” He needs Chrissy. “Maybe I can make him aware of what is really going on here? He’ll believe me.” He has to believe her. Sure, it goes against what they were taught in church, but she was already coming up with ways to open his mind and point out that the Bible has missing pages. Something that Chrissy taught them during Bible Study. Those pages may contain the world that the others refer to as the Upside Down. “Someone has to try, right? Chrissy - she would want us to work together, not against. ” Penny says, looking hopeful at Steve.

[robin-buckely]

STEVE HARRINGTON in STRANGER THINGS 5.02 | Chapter Two: The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler

[psychecreations]

I Am Whole (2022) Directed by Bianca Poletti

[penelopebyrne]

you're more than enough.

Penelope imagined this was exactly how it felt to get into an actual physical altercation and yet, what happened at dinner with the Harrington's was far worse. A verbal lashing that Penny was still reeling from. "That's not even remotely close to what I overheard your father say!"

Steve had warned her and did his best to prepare her, but nothing could predict how humiliating it ended up becoming for both of them. "Can you please take me home? Please. I - I want to go home."

Penny rarely showed emotion as she had shown that early evening, pulling on the seat belt while she sunk herself low in the passenger seat to rest her head against the door's surface. The cold interior lessening the pain of a headache which formed from Mr. Harrington's insults and being unable to have a bite of any dinner.

She didn't want Steve to think she was directly upset with him due to his father's ways, so despite of it all, she moved her head back to rest on the seat and reached over to take his hand in her own. Her grip was trying to convey reassurance, and though her gaze on him was sad, it didn't change nor hide the love she really had for him.

"You can stay with us." Her, and her parents, who were keen on him since the first day she brought him home.

[penelopebyrne]

* continuation // @outsidermunson.

It was bound to boil over with her at some point, Penelope just didn’t really expect it to be so soon and over another female. Something which was so uncharacteristic when she was in high school, a time when she didn’t do emotions, nor did she allow herself to reveal them if it was becoming an issue. Usually, it was always the other way around. She would and could get anyone’s attention at the Hideout, would soak it all up until it drove the one she really wanted into a red hot downward spiral over her. So, to be in this position she left so many others in, well it honestly sucked.

There was more to it than just the girl with the big tits, which she felt awful for the words she chose for a second until Eddie started to find it all amusing. “Well, I’m not stopping you. Whether it’s her, or whatever your type is…” Now a bit of high school Penelope was coming out, with the judgmental look and the ability to push anyone away. Especially when she knew why she was getting so worked up, because it was always the same thing. They would flirt over drinks, get a little too touchy, and then he would ruin it with drunk confessions that he never seemed to remember the very next morning.

Normally, she would give him a chance, because she knew who his type was but even sober, he couldn’t even seem to tell her. “Look, it’s — getting late.” Honestly, she had to stop herself from the cliche line of ‘it’s not you it’s me’ because like hell, she was going to throw herself under the bus. “Don’t drive yourself if you plan on having more than one drink, okay? Take a cab back home.” Not that she expected him to actually listen to her, which only further annoyed herself as she yanked her coat off the back of the bar stool to take with her after one final jab. “Or, have a vacation at Tits McGee Mansion for all I care!”

[penelopebyrne]

don't worry, i make a great pillow.

Wow. God. Eddie Munson really and truly was a nerd, at the end of the day. Penelope wasn’t sure if she should be amused, or completely mortified that she found it to be somewhat hot. She had working eyes and even she couldn’t find anything actually revolting about him. He was definitely different from the type she always chose to flirt and sleep with, and maybe it was the pull that kept her coming back for more.

“A review you received from past admirers?” Penelope asks, crawling onto his bed from the end with a smile. “Makes a great pillow.” She repeats with an allure, not at all giving him a moment to process that she was actually taking him up on the offer as she laid out beside him, allowing her head and a bit of her upper body to rest comfortably on top of his chest along with her arm. Honestly? He did feel good close like this, that she even used the arm resting on him to bring him in closer to her as though he were an actual pillow.

[penelopebyrne]

"stop looking at me like that. i’ll fall in love all over again."

It wasn’t the first time he mentioned those four little words, but she always brushed it off, believing it was simply Steve trying to charm her a little more. Win her over for another night in his arms rather than another date she cancelled on. She was strong to an extent, but even she couldn’t resist the feeling of how real it was starting to feel between them.

Take this date they were on for an example, where they weren’t really thinking about ending it to give in to their desires for each other. They were actually talking over dinner, factoring time to see each other while they adjusted to the new normal after Vecna. Even her hand was holding and caressing his while he spoke of a really serious future for himself that he decided on all on his own and was excited to share the details with her.

Maybe, just maybe he was realizing that there was a bit of fear in her eyes, at the thought of someone else getting it right with him from the very beginning. Penelope never really thought of herself as perfect girlfriend material, or even someone’s ideal wife. She wasn’t anywhere close to the perfect feminism like she thought her best friend Chrissy, carried herself with. Hell, she wouldn’t be surprised if Steve admitted to thinking of trying with Chrissy after a game of spin the bottle in middle school. After all, Chrissy had the power to even get a metal head wrapped tightly around her little finger.

Then, there was the Nancy Wheeler of it all. He may have finally moved on, but there was the what if for Nancy. What if she realized that she wanted him back? Out of everyone, Penny wasn’t entirely sure if Steve would be able to resist to not try again with Nancy if the opportunity presented itself. If, what Penny was and even had been feeling for Steve for some time was actually real, would it be worth the risk? The risk of maybe some day being completely heart broken by Steve Harrington?

“Well, you see, that’s mostly a problem for you.” Of course, in typical Penelope Byrne fashion, she tried to play the moment off as some flirtatious exchange rather than an actual serious confession. “Because you would have to already be in love with me first in order to fall in love with me again.”

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[penelopebyrne]

@crawlingforwardx // continued from here.

God, that would be her luck with Steve, when she felt her heart skip an actual beat when he called her beautiful while she’s going down on him. Not that she was any better, even known to call him handsome when he went down on her. It encourages her to settle more comfortably between his legs, hands roaming his inner thighs to increase stimulation as her mouth increased the pressure of her sucking on his dick, while her tongue didn’t miss an inch as she lapped and tasted every inch. She didn’t want him to cum too soon, even though she was eager to swallow every drop he had to offer.

Some of the crawls were stressful, and it looked to be a long day ahead of them if the crackle from the walkie was any sign. Hallowing her cheeks and relaxing her throat, she paid close attention to the pace of his breathing, the movements of his hips and the delicious moans that spurred her on every damn time. She had gotten better at deep throating him, while keeping a pace to the way her mouth moved on him, until she kept using it to her advantage by keeping a hold of his dick in the hot passage of her throat until he’s squirming and can’t resist bucking up into her mouth. From that position, she can’t keep her gaze on him, so she allows her hands to do the talking as one is busy gently massaging his balls and the other increases the pleasure by possessively touching his upper body.

[dinah-lance]

[spider-mann]

JOE KEERY photographed by Fabien Kruszelnicki for Hero Magazine — November 2025