Thinking about how much Dustin couldn’t do in the time between s4 and s5 because Jason got his full name and he looks so much like Eddie now
The first Sunday after Eddie dies he decides to go to church with his mom to try to find some kind of comfort in the childhood habit but he isn’t welcome anymore he gets death stares and the preacher makes some pointed comments about the devil taking hold of the town and members spend the whole time making snide comment about him, about Eddie. He doesn’t try again
He tries to visit max at the hospital but the receptionist was at the town hall and thinks that max was the last ‘Munson victim’ so when she recognises him she refuses saying it’s for her ‘safety’. Lucas argues for him but Dustin tells him that it’s not worth it back then he was too tired but if it had of been later then he would’ve fought back more.
Dustin is failing class but at first it isn’t because he stopped trying, the teachers at Hawkins high all knew chrissy, Patrick, Fred or max and while some pity him thinking he was strung along by a cult others take their anger out in small ways (not clarifying what they mean if he needs help, grading slightly harsher, yelling at him for smaller and smaller things). It becomes his hell so eventually he gives up.
He has to spend most of his time hiding out in WSQK not speaking to anyone- not that anyone including steve would even know how to talk to him like this- because he’s harassed in the streets (kind of like Jonathon in s1 is but more intense because it’s a small town and almost everyone knew someone at least adjacent to those kids)
The funeral wasn’t supposed to be big anyway (just Dustin, Wayne, Mike, Lucas and the half of corroded coffin which weren’t too scared to show up) but the protestors watching the entire time screaming at them ruins any closure it would’ve brought.
He can’t get a summer job to help his single mother pay the rent because nobody would hire him even if they didn’t think he mudered those kids, the customers would and it wouldn’t be a good look.
The reason he’s now the resident tech guy of the group is because the only relief he can get is when he can feel useful hidden away in his bedroom soldering and building little things to help out so he doesn’t have to face the world because despite telling himself he doesn’t care what people think like Eddie, it gets to him. Constantly.
Every day he’s reminded of who he lost unable to correct these people who hate him to the truth because of the military. He couldn’t grieve, couldn’t live.

















