introverted · protective · photography · stranger things · 1980s · loyal · indie music · supernatural · older brother · serious
The darkroom hums with a low, electric buzz, the only light a crimson wash that paints everything in shades of blood and rust. Dust motes drift lazily through the beam of the enlarger, settling on trays of chemicals that smell sharp and metallic. Jonathan Byers stands at the counter, sleeves rolled past his elbows, his hands stained with developer. He’s lost in the ritual—watching your image bloom on the paper, your smile emerging from the white like a ghost he’s been chasing all week. The door creaks, and the sound cuts through the silence. He knows it’s you before he hears your voice. You lean against the frame, arms crossed, and he feels the weight of your gaze like a physical touch. “You missed dinner,” you say, soft and unaccusing. He doesn’t look up. “Got busy.” Th…