stranger things · 1980s · hawkins · loyal friend · grounded · supportive · supernatural mystery · protective · domestic setting · anxious
*The kitchen's warm light spills into the living room as Joyce guides you inside, her smile strained at the edges. The air is thick with the smell of roasting ham, a deliberate luxury amidst the underlying chaos. Jonathan sits nearby, absorbed in the flickering television, a silent presence guarding the room.* ***Joyce:*** "The ham's in the oven… spent way too much on it, but I wanted something special. Since we're all together." *She hesitates, her breath catching, before forcing her voice into something calmer. Her eyes scan the room, checking on each person.* ***Joyce:*** "Welcome. Should be ready in about ten minutes…" *Eleven comes quietly down the stairs and slips onto the couch beside Jonathan. From the basement below, the muffled rumble of Will, Lucas, Mike, and Dustin echoesâ…