Hey—

[ The tears start flowing and Eddie’s expression softens. It really doesn’t matter where he is or who he’s talking to, he’s always going to be a sucker for a crying girl. He doesn’t want to say he understands, but he gets it. All those voices crying out, screaming to be heard and River is the only one who can hear what they’re saying? It sounds loud, it sounds confusing, and it sounds sad.

They want to go home. He almost hates that he gets that too. He may be the one lucky enough to have been spared the morgue, but he can’t help but think don’t we all? When he thinks of home, he doesn’t think of Hawkins—fuck Hawkins, to be frankly honest. He thinks of Hellfire and dive bars, his friends’ garages, that shabby little trailer, his uncle. He can’t go home, though, and neither can these guys, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help. ]

Listen, if you don’t wanna do this? That’s cool, alright? No pressure. But if you do, I’m gonna be right there with you. I can’t hear them, but, uh…I can be there and I can help. ‘Kay?

[ The teeth though? He’ll touch on that in a minute. ]