Assorted Character Oneshots

Atlantis - Eddie Munson

Summary: YN moved out of Hawkins after the death of their lover, Eddie Munson. They started playing with a new band and booking new gigs with the songs they wrote. Their old band comes in to see them, like they do once a month, but this time they're accompanied by an unexpected face. 

Triggers: Sad song, mentions of death, mentions of bile, swearing, 

This one shot is inspired by the song Atlantis by Seafret, but we're going to pretend you wrote it. 

Word Count: 1,856

The young ___ sighed as they released the weight of the amplifier, setting it on the small stage as their other band mates continued to set up their individual instruments. They checked that the microphone was in place before grabbing each person a bottle of water. Their gig would start soon, so they moved into the back room that the speakeasy provided for the bands they hosted, warming up their voice in the mirror. They hardly recognized themself, not that they had changed much since they had left Hawkins, not appearance wise anyhow. 

There was an unfamiliar emptiness to their eyes, void of any feeling at any given time. They shook away the intrusive thoughts that had begun to creep up the base of their skull, sending a chill down their spine as their lead guitarist peeked his head in and told them it was time. They nodded back at him before standing straight, taking a deep breath, and walking out onto the stage. A small crowd had already gathered, most seated at the tables around the stage or at the bar. One familiar group caught their eyes, noticing the smiling faces of Gareth, Jeff, and Kenny. Their old band mates and friends. ___ had completely forgotten what day it was, the group had decided to come see them once every month since they started getting regular gigs. 

A small smile played on their lips, the strum of guitar strings sounding the beginning of their first song. They ran through almost their whole set, nearing the last song with a finishing hum from the lead singer themself. "Now our last song is new, you're the first to hear it." A round of applause paused their speech. "And with that, I'd like to say that this song is very near and dear to my heart, and it's a bit sad, so," They nodded at the others and they started with the first chords, ___ grabbing the microphone and closing their eyes.

"The birds have left their trees
The light pours onto me
I can feel you lying there all on your own
All those words that we exchange
Is it any wonder things get broke?" 

Their eyes fluttered open, trying to keep them forward as they sang. It was hard, singing such an emotionally raw song in front of so many people. Though, it wasn't just that. It was hard to sing it in front of their friends. These other people, these strangers, they'd go home and they'd never have to talk to them about how sad the song is or how bad they feel now that they're alone again. But with their friends, there was no escaping the painful discussion they knew was bound to come from this.

"Cause in my heart and in my head
I'll never take back the things I said
So high above, I feel it coming down
She said, in my heart and in my head
Tell me why this has to end
Oh, no, oh, no"

They couldn't help as their eyes wandered back to the table, seeing a fourth figure appear between Gareth and Kenny. It was too dark out among the crowd and the lights on the stage blinded them slightly, making it difficult to figure out who it was. It was familiar to them, but too vague to make any real details out.

"I can't save us, my Atlantis, we fall
We built this town on shaky ground
I can't save us, my Atlantis, oh, no
We built it up to pull it down"

___'s eyes closed at this lyric, the vision of the memory coming back to them as their voice rang out.