netherwork | text — un: harrington ;

[ It's the kind of network message that pops up in the quietest, darkest part of the night — when it's just a guy and his thoughts and anxieties in an all-too-silent house. He's surrounded by dumpster-quality furniture and a cat-emblemed pillow that veers on possessing suspicious origins, not that anyone can see any of his living quarters through text. ]

i don't want to panic anyone but it's pretty late and it's been a few days and i don't know, maybe i just need to calm down but

does anyone have an explanation for what happens when your soulmate kinda ... goes missing?

[ Steve really wishes there was a proper instructions manual or something. Not that he'd read through it because who has the time for that, but. It'd be something.

The line goes quiet for a moment, or maybe Steve's said what he's needed to say, before another message pops up from the same username. ]

Honestly, shit's going exactly the way I thought it would. Thought maybe Munson would stick around, thought maybe we were, you know, starting to become friends, and you'd think the soulbond thing would count for something but noooo, he just split. Found a way to get out of here, left his phone, went back to Hawkins and didn't have the decency to leave a goddamned note.

Even he couldn't stand the pathetic loser that Steve Harrington's become.

[ And just like that, the message is sent for all to see before the line really does cut off. Embarrassing. ]

[ ooc: in case it isn't clear, the last bit of text is courtesy of steve's very unpleasant shadow who has adopted an edgelord personality circa livejournal 2001. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

okay how do you make those little pictures anyway?

[ But also: NOT IMPORTANT, so — ]

wait so like a boyfriend or something? does he know you have this whole plan to haunt him?

and god no what the hell? he's this kid i know from home, he's kind of like the little shit kid brother i never had

[ Said affectionately, of course. ]

and my dad's an asshole i don't know what more there is to say about that

[ Papa Harrington downright sucks. ]

lmfao are you serious

you have that little smiley face by your keyboard don't you? or do u know what a keyboard is lol

[She assumes he was communicating by morse code prior to this]

HE'S MY TRUE SOULMATE!! MY FOREVER MAN!!! Though i don't think he believes in ghosts so no he doesn't know

but that'll just make it a sexy surprise

and oh whoops sorry you just seemed to be missing boys real bad, thought there was a trend there hahaha

what did your dad do? run out on you???? IS THAT WHY SWEET TEDDY'S DISAPPEARANCE DISTRESSES YOU????????

anyway parents are fucking useless who needs them

of course i know what a keyboard is come on

[ If a text message could be defiant as f ...

Anyway. He's guessing it's the pad with keys, because it's definitely like that on a piano. So. You know, logic. ]

i don't even know how to respond to any of your other messages

you're nuts

[ Seriously. There is tOO MUCH TO UNPACK. ]

but yeah if we can agree on anything it's that parents are fucking useless

how would I know that? maybe you were doing math on an abacus lol

oh man are they ever hahahaha

ALTHOUGH i didn't have to deal with them that much, they barely knew I was there

[Quite literally. Once wee Fukawa started acting up all they wanted was her out of their sight. And Syo, with all her things to do and places to be, was only happy to oblige.

She doubts they lasted long enough to find out the truth either. Neither Pops nor Mommy #1 or #2 crawled out of the woodwork after their release from Hope's Peak. Good riddance to bad rubbish, honestly.]

ARe they here? I'm shocked I can't find anyone!!! This place should be crawling with familiar faces and yet it's just me, all by my lonesome. Alas!! What a tragedy!!!!!

an abacus

what are you even talking about?

[ sQUINT ]

okay so please don't take this the wrong way but

are your friends back home anything like you too?

and no it's just me and eddie from back home

thank god honestly

they'd just freak out and do something stupid

"Friends"

That's pretty generous of you 😂😂😂

Maybe the one?? [A certain Psycho Supremo could out-crazy even the likes of her.] The rest were sweet, unsuspecting high schoolers, forced to play The Most Dangerous Game!

Then most of them lost and bit the big one

And oooh my turn!! NO OFFENSE but the rest of these friends

Are they all wee children like dearest Dustbin???

do i even wanna know what ... the most dangerous game is?

[ Does it involve guns? And a roulette wheel?

Anyway. It ... takes a sec for those next messages to not bring about some major deja vu, or simply remind him so much of his bestie back home. ]

no

obviously not

dustin's just the best of them

[ wHATEVER he doesn't have to defend his friend choices to some weirdo!! ]

isn't obvious? 😱 We all had to kill each other!!! DUH

THOUGH i assure you yours truly did not partake! How's that for a plot twist???? 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[squints at this]

So you just prefer hanging out with babies

i was kinda hoping it'd be some really intense game of poker or something

[ Yeah. He hates that he was in the wheelpark of correct on that one. ]

you know what i'm not even gonna respond to that

[ ... he says, responding to it. ]

HAHAHA WOW I BET THAT GAMBLER CHICK WOULD HAVE LOVED THAT

But nope! You had to kill a kid to leave, but you had to get away with it too. If you got caught, you got fried! If not, the jury got the noose!!! It was so very exciting, we all got a shot at every part of the criminal justice system! Straight from hapless victim to hard-boiled investigator, to lawyers and jury, and finally the sniveling perp getting dragged to the gallows.

Made for killer tv I'll tell you that much ❤️

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm WELL who am I to judge?!?!?! Live your truth my good man

And if that truth is playing Peter Pan with a pack of adoring lost boys then by all means! Fly fly fly away to Neverland, second star on the right!!!

that's not

[ oKAY FIRST OF ALL — that stuff about Peter Pan and the Lost Boys is so not him. Honestly, he's more like a glorified babysitter, something he will never utter aloud for fear that this crazy chick is going to grow too fond of the possibility for nicknames.

But also — ]

wait

wait hold on

is all of that stuff for real? you're not bullshitting me right now? you were really on a tv show where you all had to kill each other to survive?

that's beyond fucked up

but if you're here does that mean you lost?

listen i may be a deranged madwoman but even i have my limits!!! I couldn't lie about a thing like that!!!! goodness gracious

And HAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no i beat the final boss

well me and five other chumps

i died way later probably lmfao

who was the final boss?

was your uh byakuya person also there?

and what the hell is a lmfao?

[ He's seen her use that a couple times now, and he didn't notice it before on account of ... so much other stuff.

But now!!!

Will he regret all of these questions? Probably. ]

One of our totally beloved and sorely missed classmates! They set the whole shebang up, a true masterwork of maniacal villainy! Oh, the horror! The BETRAYAL!!!

Yes my beloved White Knight lead the charge so deliciously. You should have seen him on that stand. The style, the grace, the ass that won't quit! Just thinking about it gives me such shivers, don't even get me started!!!

and wow it's laugh-my-fucking-ass-off

OBVIOUSLY

you're so old, should i fetch you a cane and sweater? maybe a nice handful of butterscotch candies?

yeah he sounds like a real dreamboat

[ uNLIKE HER wow

Must she be this rude all the time? His life is forever suffering. ]

no not obviously okay

not obviously

look we're just from different points in time, all right, all this new mobile phone lmfao stuff is just new

also what the hell is wrong with butterscotch candy?

oh he is, if you were to behold his splendid visage your face would melt right off! 💀

Idk isn't the stuff only old people like???

You know like having bowls of senbai out

Or eating tsukemono after a meal

I'm trying to relate to you it's just really hard

text — un: harrington ;

god that icon

her love is all consuming okay

and requires several restraining orders mmhm

shhhhhhhhhhhhhh not so loud

clears throat, shouts to the mountain tops

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Snitches get Stitches Harrington!!!!

what the heck r u doing up rn

Ruining my life ig

mood tho

Dw i plan to expire shortly, reaches across Canada to hold your hand

jokes on u i passed out first 😌

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