nancy wheeler (screwthat) wrote in valloic, @ 2022-12-01 22:09:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !: action/thread/log, stranger things: nancy wheeler, ₴ inactive: robin buckley |
log: nancy and robin
Now, Nancy’s thoughts were back on what the heck was going on at home with Will and Jonathan and if everything was okay, and if there would ever be a way to bring them back. (After all, the time-traveling housemates seemed to have confirmed they all eventually do… with the exception of Jonathan.) And not that it was that late in the evening, but Nancy was sure that with those thoughts will come the inability to go to sleep right away.
So, she dropped the notebook in her hands onto her bed and let her feet carry her over to Robin’s door. “Hey, you busy?” Nancy asked right after she knocked.
In other news, Robin had no trouble falling asleep. She was struggling to remember things she 'knew' as the older version of herself, dealing with the idea that there had been Little Harringtons running around (but no Little Anyone Elses), getting turned into Batman for Halloween (which might've been for the best when the decorations attacked, she might've been useless otherwise), being called CUTE by someone (twice!), and running a video store. In short, she was tired. So when Nancy's knock came, she was asleep. And drooling.
She bolted upright, wiped her mouth with her sleeve with an annoyed look on her face, and ran her fingers through her hair before getting up to answer the door. At which point she leaned coolly against the door frame. "Heya Nancy. Not busy here, what's up?"
Nancy gave her a smile when she opened up the door, though it faltered just slightly because it looked like she had just woken the girl up. Oops. “Uh, nothing, just… I couldn’t sleep.” She winced slightly. “Apparently you can though. I’m sorry.”
But she was already there and Robin was already awake and the right thing was probably to bid her goodnight and go back to her room to let Robin sleep. But Nancy also wanted to be selfish and stay in her company. Because Nancy liked her company. Immensely enjoyed it even. Probably more recently than she did before. “Should I leave?” She hoped the answer to that was no.
"Naw, no, no, it's okay, come on in. Mi casa su casa. Or mi sala, su sala, if I want to be more accurate. I can always sleep another time, friends come first." She stifled a yawn to drive home her point and pushed the door open to allow Nancy to enter the room. Thankfully, it was mostly clean, though extremely minimalist. Robin actually preferred to be elsewhere and use her room only for sleeping, but there were a handful of movie posters up on the walls.
Robin herself backed up and nonchalantly moved to kick a magazine under her bed, then gave Nancy a bright smile before sitting primly on the bed. "So tell me what's bothering you at this hour of… wow, nine o'clock at night?"
Nancy wasn’t fooled but she smiled appreciatively anyway. In comparison to Robin’s room, hers was strewn with stuff everywhere. Not exactly a mess but organized chaos, wanting to fit in as much of the space she had with shelves, clothes, trinkets, etc. It was obviously less full than her room back in Hawkins, but she was slowly accumulating literally anything in this world.
She made her way over to Robin’s bed and sat at the foot of it, tucking one leg underneath her. Nine was… definitely a little early, but that could be on Nancy deciding she wanted to take a few seven A.M. courses like a lunatic. “Not really one thing in particular? I guess it’s just a whole lot of stuff on my mind. Things that happened this past week and a half, Will going back, wondering what else is happening. The usual, I guess.”
Robin nodded and put on an empathetic face. "Yeah, the hits keep coming, don't they? Maybe tomorrow Eddie will turn into a giant carrot." And Steve a rabbit? Ha, I make myself laugh. It was a brief struggle to keep herself from smiling, Deadpan Robin jokes were a thing, after all. Okay, a little half-smile was okay, right?
"But you need to try not to control the uncontrollable, Nancy. It's just going to give you stress and early wrinkles."
“I’m not… necessarily trying to control it so much as understand it.” And then afterwards, she would try to control it. If there was a way they could figure out how to open portals manually, maybe she would have a bunch of super powered individuals here make their way to Hawkins to defeat the evil. But that seemed like a dream right now.
“Also? Supposedly, you’ve seen me with wrinkles in the future, and it seems like you still wanted to hang around me, so that doesn’t sound like an entirely bad thing!”
"I don't know, you tell me," answered Robin, poking Nancy in the arm. "I barely have any fuzzy memories and even those are fading. Maybe I'm just as wrinkly and it's because we're still keeping Steve and Eddie from getting into too much trouble." Something told her those two would always keep people on their toes, but she did like the idea of Steve being a dad. It suited his personality and he was great with Dustin and the others. It suddenly struck her that there needed to be a collective name for the group.
"What do you think about Die Wilde Kinder?" she asked, ADHD brain already running off on some new tangent.
“I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do to keep them out of trouble,” Nancy said with a laugh, brushing her hand over the spot Robin had poked. “We probably just have to get them out of it all the time. And if what I saw of you was considered wrinkly, then I think we both did a really good job with aging.”
“I… don’t know?” Nancy blinked at the sudden topic change. This wasn’t anything new though. She’s been around Robin since they showed up in this place this summer. The topic changes tended to be a common thing. “What is that?”
"It's German for the wild kids, I don't know, I was trying to think of an easy way to refer to Dustin and Max and El and Mike and Will without saying Dustin and Max and El and Mike and Will every time." Robin shrugged and kind of put on a whattaya gonna do? expression.
"And about Steve and Eddie, I did say out of too much trouble, because yeah, no way anyone could keep them out of it entirely. I'm pretty sure they were born under a bad sign, and that bad sign was probably a damaged Yield with the word DON'T sprayed on it."
“Huh, I guess that’s a better term instead of just calling them ‘the younglings’. Which… I hadn’t actually said aloud before, it was just always in the back of my mind.” It was that or ‘Mike’s friends’ which she also never voiced to anyone who wasn’t Jonathan, her mom, or Steve. But it didn’t seem valid anymore considering Mike’s friends had eventually become her friends too.
Nancy pulled both of her legs onto Robin’s bed now, making herself even more comfortable. Why not, they’d already had a few sleepovers of their own. “Speaking of, what I know of the future because future you was trying not to spoil me too much, is that they get married, we attend their wedding, I punch Steve for a line and I guess you loved to see it. Oh, and I still got into trouble apparently.”
"Seems like future me still respects the rules, that's good," nodded Robin, happy to hear that she never really changes in whatever possible future they were just visited by. "Punching Steve at his own wedding sounds pretty ballsy, I already approve. Knowing him, he probably said he deserved it after, too."
“It’s possible,” Nancy said, with a tilt of her head. “I was also wearing a super hot dress at the wedding too. That’s about the extent of everything I was told.” Most everything else she had deduced from the future had more to do with the specific exclusions of names who she thought just never managed to show up here. Or something happened to them but she didn’t want to think of that. “You didn’t tell me much but hey, if the four of us are still here and still friends, I’m going to assume that we went to the wedding together.”
"Hell yeah we are, no way is this crew ever breaking up," chirped Robin, grinning across at Nancy. "That kind of sets expectations, though, right? Now you're committed to getting a super hot dress. If you don't, that could change the future. See, this is why future me was really against spoilers, I bet." She tapped her own knee for emphasis.
"Thanks, Future Steve."
Nancy shrugged and then gave her a sly smile. “Maybe I’ll just take you shopping with me so you can tell me exactly what I’d look good in. Then your subconscious might just kick in and find me something sexy and you won’t even know it was your future self somehow telling you that was the dress!” That’s how it worked, didn’t it? It had to. Predetermination or something like that. Nancy was Aspiring To Be A Valedictorian smart, not Knows Everything In The World smart.
For example, she did not know why she was so determined to write it into her future how close she and Robin were. Obviously they would be if they were now, but… something had changed. She couldn’t figure it out exactly, but the change brought on this sort of fear she might lose Robin. Ridiculous of course, but the fact that someone had called her cute had made her jaw clench in annoyance and she couldn’t figure out why.
"Hey, of course. You can count on me, I will always be happy to tell you when you look hot in something. Just don't ask me for dating advice, because that, I absolutely suck at," answered Robin, with an awkward laugh. After all, her current and best tactic was to just stare longingly from a distance. It was so much easier with girls like Nancy. Like, they could be super hot and she could just… talk to them. Hang out, tell stupid jokes, eat like a pig, and it'd be cool, because she didn't need to try and impress her. Straight girls made things easier.
“Please never stop,” Nancy said with a laugh. She didn’t want to pry. She probably shouldn’t pry. But she wouldn’t be Nancy Wheeler if she didn’t let her curiosity get the best of her every time it cropped up. “Sooo, does that mean you have dated or you usually just prefer not? Did you find anyone you connected with at the speed dating thing?”
Robin kind of did a little half-shrug and smile thing and kind of rubbed at her face for a second. This was still something that was hard to talk about, even in a place like Vallo where it was much more acceptable. "Uhh well, let's see. First the end, no I didn't really connect with anyone at the speed dating thing. I had fun, though? But yeah, I'm not really sure that's my jam. I did see Steve leave with a spicy brunette, though. I need to ask him about that."
She chewed her lip for a second, then continued. "Uh, but for the rest. I didn't really figure out my own sexuality until my sophomore year. And even then it's Hawkins so there were other things happening that were a distraction. And liking girls is kind of frowned on, as you know, so yeah, no dating experience, that's Robin. But also why I can't give you any advice."
Nancy shook her head. “No pressure then, I’ll try not to come to you for dating advice. Maybe to rant. Unless, it’s like… pop culture and movies sort of advice. I’ve realized you’re probably the best person to come for that.”
After a brief pause, she added. “Thanks, though, for trusting me with this. I know it seems like not that big of a deal here but it still is. Like, it’s fucking huge. Especially, yeah, Hawkins. Don’t think I ever got to say that to you before.”
Robin reflected for a moment before responding. "To be honest, I don't know if I would have been able to tell you back home. Or at least not yet, but there was also a lot going on that was more important. Bright side, you can trust me to never try and steal your boyfriend?" With a soft punch on the arm for emphasis, Robin wasn't sure how that joke would land.
"Oh, and yeah, absolutely. Whatever you need on pop culture, I've got you."
Nancy sighed dramatically and shook her head. “Even if there’s no boyfriend in existence here for you to steal. Don’t worry, I would never expect you to steal anything of mine. Not even my clothes.” The two of them had tastes as different as night and day, practically.
“But, yeah. It’s fair. I mean, not only did you just meet me, we were also dealing with the apocalypse. But still, we get to have another chance at life here. Maybe… maybe give the dating thing a go for some of us. See if it works out.”
Robin had given an astonished look at the idea of stealing clothes, but moved along with the conversation as well. "Giving up on Mr. Byers, then? I mean, he'd probably understand, this is even longer distance than California. And I guess he still has a copy of you back home, however that works. But come on, give us some credit. It'd been like a year? Or so? Before we showed up here? That makes us practically besties. Don't tell Steve."
Nancy wrinkled her nose slightly at the copy of herself. It was still a weird concept but it wasn’t entirely far-fetched especially when she had gotten the memories of whatever she – or other Nancy? – had missed out on since she had landed in Vallo. Maybe they do have their own happy ending back in Hawkins. If Hawkins didn’t burn to the ground with everyone with them.
“Okay, but why wouldn’t I tell Steve and lord that over him?” she joked. “Act like we have many secrets and he knows none of it!”
Recognizing it was a joke, Robin still shrugged. "I prefer antagonizing him more directly, like telling him he sucks when he fails at something. Giving him anxiety isn't my kind of fun." She frowned, briefly. Nancy seemed to enjoy that kind of prodding and poking; gods knows Steve deserved his fair share of trolling.
Maybe that was another thing that set her apart from the rest of her gender. Was she just coded wrong from the very beginning? At this point, she didn't have any questions about her sexuality, and that was an important step. But she hadn't really had many girl friends since 10th grade, either. "Not very girly of me, is it?"
Now it was Nancy’s turn to frown. “That’s not… well. It’s not not girly. I mean, I don’t think there’s anything restricted for gender as far as antagonizing goes. Everyone is different. But… you never came across the type of person to care about what’s girly and what isn’t!”
"Oh yeah, I know," answered Robin, forcing herself to brighten back up. "I just meant, hey here's another thing that's different about me, add it to the list." It was true, though, that she didn't care what was girly or not, but she did care about being treated as an Other. The Hawkins crew had done a remarkable job of making her feel included, though, despite her magnificent powers of sarcasm.
Nancy nodded and watched Robin for half a second before going, “Well… it’s good that you’re different. I like that you’re different. I mean, I like you in general.”
All of a sudden she felt her face warm up. She was unsure why, it was true that she liked Robin, of course. After all, she wouldn’t be sitting there and talking to her if that wasn’t the case. “I mean… of course I do! Since you started babbling at me in the library!” She gave a short laugh hoping it didn’t sound too nervous.
"Clearly you have good taste!" answered Robin, oblivious to -anything- Nancy was doing or not doing. "You got your first sample of Robin Babble pretty quickly, it's a miracle you're still around, sane, and - oh wait, no, I think Hawkins as a whole tends to make you pretty good at handling chaos."
Robin chuckled and readjusted herself on the bed, resting her elbows on her knees. Nancy seemed to be less bothered than she seemed to be when she first showed up. More relaxed. That was good, right? She was getting better at this having friends thing.
Nancy could breathe a sigh of relief that Robin didn’t seem to be noticing much of her reaction. Or maybe she was imagining her own face getting red when it probably wasn’t. Still, she went ahead and adjusted herself as well to mirror Robin’s pose. It might have brought her slightly closer in distance to the girl. “Hawkins made dealing with this place an easier walk in the park, basically. And since most of us are here and I’m sure there are other people’s babbles that are worse than yours, I think I’ll stick around you for a lot longer!”
Quirking an eyebrow, Robin joked. "You're saying I have competition? No way. I can't lose this one."
She was right, though. Most of their friends were here, sans Lucas and now Will, but she'd hold out hope that they'd get their butts here sooner rather than later. And there were so many people here that she'd fit in here better than she ever had at home. She did at least finally notice that Nancy had gotten a little closer, but at the same time the bed was only so big, so maybe she didn't really have a choice. Robin cleared her throat and glanced at the door. "You, ah, want me to grab you a Coke or something?"
“Don’t worry, your babbles are more endearing than anyone else’s,” Nancy started, intending to say more but she blinked once before straightening herself up as casually as possible. She’d been close. Very close.
“Uh,” she cleared her throat as well. “Why don’t we just go downstairs and grab a pre-midnight snack along with the Coke or something?”
Robin almost laugh-snorted. Endearing was something she'd never heard her babbling be called before. Blank stares, sure. Excuses to exit the room, oh yeah. Confused acceptance, most definitely. She kind of awkwardly patted Nancy on the knee in what she thought was kind of a friendly 'oh, you' fashion, then glanced at the clock.
"More like a pre-10 PM snack, but I'm game."