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[camarod]

psycho man

bhargrove#1969

---

ABOUT ME

fuck off.

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code lucavi

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[heatmetal]

[ buddy, he's in your head. you feel like a hornet's nest of emotions. but he's not gonna pry, he's gonna get food first. ]

He told me you remembered the code.

[camarod]

[a beat. ]

Yeah. I mean - it was mostly because he was acting more like you before here. I figured something was up.

[heatmetal]

I didn't realize you'd paid enough attention to me back then to notice the difference.

[ he takes a gulp of soda, brow furrowed a little. ]

[camarod]

[a beat. he lifts a brow. ]

You don't scream as much here, dude, first of all - and he was screaming.

[heatmetal]

[ . . . yeah.

in retrospect, he wonders if it's partly due to trauma. the bats being attracted to sound. shouting being what got him killed. ]

I don't feel like I gotta put on a performance here.

[camarod]

Well, it was just. Obvious.

[he shrugs. ] But yeah. I get that.

[heatmetal]

Yeah, but you noticed... and you remembered.

[ which...

honestly, means something to him. no slight against steve on that. ]

[camarod]

[his brow is furrowing, like the acknowledgement is uncomfortable. maybe it is. ]

Of course I remembered.

[heatmetal]

I'll let you in on a secret, B. I talk with the full expectation that nobody in the room is listening. They usually aren't.

[ he will ruin this tender moment by immediately shoving a whole taco in his mouth ]

So... means a lot when someone does.

[camarod]

No offence, E, but you are so fucking loud how can anyone not listen?

[heatmetal]

The sound goes in. But it's translated as: "punch me in the face, please punch me in the face, I am begging you to come over here and threaten my person, you insecure little fuck".

[camarod]

You calling me an insecure little fuck?

[give him one of those taco's jesus christ - ]

[heatmetal]

Not now. But back home? If I strolled up to you and started talking alllll about Lord of the Rings, would you have indulged me or socked me for making you look bad in public?

[camarod]

I would've asked why you were doing molly during lunch.

[a beat. ] Tommy might've shoved you in a locker, though.

[heatmetal]

That dude [ he munches a taco, swallowing it down before he speaks ] is gonna come out in his fifties, swear to God.

[camarod]

Eddie. [okay he may have lied. about dudes in Hawkins. a little. ]

[heatmetal]

[ !!!!!!

banging both hands down onto the table. probably startling the poor waitress. ]

No.

[camarod]

[SNORTING. ]

Shut up. Two times. We were wasted.

[heatmetal]

I fucking knew it.

[ he looks so goddamn gleeful. ]

[camarod]

You know he's obsessed with Steve, right?

[dude. ]

[heatmetal]

Obviously. You didn't grow up with them.

[camarod]

I'm surprised he wasn't obsessed with you. He's so fucking into being led around like a dog, dude.

[heatmetal]

Oh. He's scared shitless of me, man. He called me a queer in middle school I beat the shit out of him for it.

[ he takes another swig of soda, smiling gratefully at the refill. ]

Bruised his ego more than anything else.

[camarod]

No, see, that is exactly what I'm talking about.

[he is pointing his taco, like, listen. ] He's into, I'm telling you.

[heatmetal]

He likes being humilated?