“Hopper spends the majority of the fall of 1984 holed up in a cabin with a maturing young woman, desperately, fumblingly trying to care for her as her ever adapting evolving needs slip though his unsophisticated fingers, his rigid beliefs, his fear that the world isn’t ready. The world isn’t ready for the secret inherent power she has inside her. She’s feral. He her guardian. The cabin is safe, comforting, and it’s dangerous out there. And yet she leaves, and when reconnected with her sister, she is lit aflame. And she carries this fire, this light back to Hawkins, and reunites with Hopper.
She is the key to suturing the wound, resurrecting life, cleansing the infection, closing the rift. If it likes it cold, she brings heat. And so he grabs his shotgun to blast some smaller beasts, to give her time to confront the dark, monstrous shadow that bathes Hawkins in darkness, that grows like a mold under the entire town. And when all’s done, Hopper can offer her one thing: he can get her a birth certificate. He can offer inclusion. He can offer her freedom from exile. And he does. And it is my great honor to play him.”
- DAVID HARBOUR
#joyce owns his ass and he’s just too tired to fight it #so let her take over and boss his whole station around #he doesn’t care anymore
“Brings me back to old times.” || Joyce and Hop senior year
Things that we know are canon about Hopper’s relationship with El:
- He read her bedtime stories.
- They watched scary movies and tv together.
- They ate breakfast and dinner together almost every night.
- He bought her Eggos.
- He cares enough about her health that he made it a rule that Eggos are a dessert.
- They went outside and explored nature together.
- They studied and learned and read together.
- He checked up on Mike for El because he knew she was concerned.
- He knew she was visting him in the void and didn’t stop her.
- He lets her have her space when she wants it.
- Hopper is terrified of losing her.
stranger things month | day twelve
↳ season two: favourite quotehey, it’s, uh- it’s me. i know that i’ve been gone too long. it’s… i just, i want you to know it’s not about you, and it’s not about our fight. okay?
“Winona is a little bitty thing. She is so willing to throw down with me. Like, I’m a big guy and a big presence and I have a loud voice, and she will READ ME. She’d be like, “I’m going! If it was your son!” – David Harbour
I know that I’ve been gone too long and I just want you to know that it’s not about you and it’s not about our fight. Something came up and I’ll explain it all when I see you. I just… I want you to know that I’m not mad. I’m just sorry. About everything. I don’t want you to get hurt at all. And I don’t wanna lose you. Just make sure you heat up some real food. Not just Eggos. And I want you to eat all the peas, even if they’re mushy and gross. And… I will be home soon.
I know that I’ve been gone too long, and I just- I want you to know that it’s not about you and it’s not about our fight. Okay? Something came up, and I will explain it all when I see you. I just… I want you to know that I’m not mad. I’m just sorry. About everything. I don’t want you to get hurt at all. And I don’t wanna lose you.