Surprise.

[ Honestly, Eddie never felt like he really got to know Max. They were neighbors for a time, sure, and she was part of the same friend group as Dustin. And he would never fail to mention the whole Vecna ordeal, but Max always felt a bit more distant than someone like Lucas, or even gloomy Mike Wheeler. He feels immediately protective of her, though. She believed he was innocent, and by this point, she’s nothing less than a comrade in arms. And honestly? He just glad she ended up in Solvunn, rather than half the world away in Thorne like Robin had. ]

Uh, well, I’ve been here about nine months, so no.

[ Honestly, you missed the worst of it, he considers saying, thinking about the abductions, but he doesn’t. The bleak mood from those two months still looms over Solvunn like a cloud, no matter how many decorations are hung or how much food is being offered. Eddie doesn’t need to add to it just yet. Instead, he joins Max beneath the tree, leaning back agains the trunk.

There’s probably a lot of questions to be had on both sides, but Eddie’s specialty is keeping things light. A well placed joke goes a long way, after all. So he doesn’t ask the last thing she remembers, or what happened with Vecna. She doesn’t need that right now. Steve is bound to ask her anyway. Instead, he smiles, and takes the conversation a whole different direction: ]

So, I’m gonna warn you now, there’s a giant shark man wandering around here. He’s pretty cool, though, honestly? Great taste in music.