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El “Jane” Hopper – Violetear Hummingbird – Hippolyta – Witch through technicality
El in this universe had to be a witch, like it just makes sense with all of the stuff that happened to her. I do believe that Hippolyta isn’t found until season 2 and is basically absent all of s1. Might write something about that dynamic and what happens to them in s1 and s2 because it is very interesting, and I do have many thoughts. So as is common with witches Hippolyta had to be a bird and I ended up choosing a hummingbird, specifically a violetear hummingbird. The reason I picked a hummingbird is because while they might look nice and pretty hummingbirds are actually fucking scary like they can do some damage if they really want to. Hummingbirds also have this kinda magical feel to them and occasionally because of how fast their wings look like they’re floating. I chose specifically the violetear hummingbird because of how fast it is and the coloration on it is very beautiful. Hippolyta is a same sex daemon and is named after the queen of the amazons in Greek mythos. Hopper’s daemon Jessie ended up choosing this name after El asked for her opinion on what her name should be. (Originally Hippolyta was also just called eleven) I choose Hippolyta because of how strong El is physically and mentally and because she is really a warrior and deserved to have a name that reflected that.
Will Byers - Panther Chameleon – David – extra-long bond length
David settled while Will and him were in the Upside-Down together, such a traumatic event taking such a huge toll on them and accidentally cementing who Will is for the rest of his life. I chose a chameleon because of its ability to camouflage itself and because it is a smaller creature. Both factors are things that would be useful in the Upside-Down and in their day-to-day life. I also chose a chameleon because of Will’s need to hide himself from other people in order to keep himself safe. Panther chameleons in particular are also extremely colorful naturally, with very interesting patterns. Something I think Will and David would both enjoy as artistic people. David is also a same-sex daemon and while this isn’t necessarily something that points to Will being gay, people sure thought so. David is a biblical name and while I don’t really see the Byers family as being bible people, I think it would have been a tradition in Joyce’s family to name daemons after biblical figures. I chose the name David because of the story of David and the Goliath and how I find that relates back to Will’s story. I also think that Will and David would have a really long bond length because of the upside-down and his possession but that they don’t really choose to showcase that often.
Mike Wheeler – Pronghorn Deer – Emily – Short bond length that can extend
Emily settles during my version of s4, something that actually changes a lot but that’s a story for later. They actually settle during the shootout in s4 but don’t really notice until they’re in the desert. I really wanted Mike to be a deer, he looks like a deer, so I wanted him to be a deer. So, when I found the pronghorn deer, I thought it was perfect. The pronghorn deer is an extremely fast animal, fast enough for Mike to run away from his problems and has short horns. I choose the name Emily because it is common name during the time period and worked well with the name Michael and Mike, which is what I think that the Wheelers would have taken into consideration when naming their children and daemons rather than naming after mythos. Their bond length is quite interesting because it entirely depends on how comfortable they feel with their surroundings and current situation. Emily and Mike hate holding each other back but also dislike being apart from one another, and this leads to fluctuations that aren’t outside of the norm but can raise eyebrows.
Lucas Sinclair – Harpy Eagle – Athena – surprisingly normal bond length
Athena settles in-between s2 and s3, around the end of the school year. It is a bit younger than most but average enough that it slips past his parents how weird it is. However, it does not cover up the fact that she settled as one of the most powerful birds. Lucas having a bird daemon in my eyes just makes a lot of sense, with his sharp eyes and ability to catch on to things people don’t. The harpy eagle in particular was a choice I made after reading about how powerful and strong they are. Something that I think showcases Lucas’s abilities. (The kid shot a toy slingshot at an extradimensional monster at what 12?) Athena also plays into Lucas’s role as the ranger of the group, with many rangers in d&d having animal companions, most of which are powerful birds. Athena actually took this form or forms similar to it earlier but didn’t properly settle into it until later. The Sinclair family has a tradition of naming daemons after gods, and Lucas is no exception. I chose Athena because of Lucas’s level-headedness and because the goddess of wisdom and war strategy seemed like a good fit. Their bond length is average for people with bird daemons, which is a little bit longer than people with land daemons, which is honestly surprising to them on occasion.
Dustin Henderson – Border Collie – Fortuna – Short bond length
Fortuna and Dustin were the ones that I went back and forth between a lot of things before landing on the border collie. They settle at the end of s4 when Eddie is injured, and they have to pull themselves together enough to save him and his daemon Kaz. Border collies are the most intelligent dog breed and are also herding dogs which ties into Steve’s daemon as we will see in a bit. Fortuna and Dustin take after a lot of the people around them and that is reflected in their settling. Border collies are also energetic and that is very much a reflection of Dustin’s personality. Fortuna is a roman goddess, and is the goddess of luck and fate, something I think Mrs. Henderson and her daemon would choose in an effort to pass luck on to her child. I chose Fortuna because Dustin really is lucky and has these moments of picking and choosing what fates the party will have. Dustin and Fortuna’s bond length is shorter than most peoples because of their experiences in s3 with crawling through the vents of the Russian base. The combined fear of getting caught and needing to save Robin, Steve, and their daemons making their bond shorter.
Max Mayfield – Rottweiler – Mars – Average bond length
This is probably the moment I bring up that I have read every other stranger things daemon AU and I see you Max’s daemon is some form of big cat or just normal cat people out there. And I get it and you are absolutely correct, and I did consider it. However, I am also right and I’m gonna prove it. Mars settles before Max even makes it to Hawkins, settled at a young age from Max’s independent behavior and the complex familial situation that she ends up going through. Rottweilers are big dogs with bad reputations as being aggressive dogs, and often targets of abuse alongside pittie breeds. Rottweilers are also big softies at heart. Mars settles as something that is intimidating to help him and Max be safe, while also not betraying themselves. Mars got his name from their mom’s daemon and while the family does not have a history of Roman names, she wanted her child to be strong. Maxine means the greatest after all and what is greater than the Roman god of war. Their bond is surprisingly average, this is mainly because of their need to pretend that everything is fine and that they’re perfectly normal. I do think that after the events of s4 that it would be a little longer but not enough to be noticeable.
Erica Sinclair – (unsettled) Poison Dart Frog – Iris – Short bond length
Erica and Iris surprisingly do not settle until a while after s4, not too long because this girl has been through a lot, but she’s still unsettled around the time period that marks the end of s4. Iris settles as a poison dart frog, Erica herself is immune to the poison produced by her specific daemon but also because of the nature of poison dart frogs and how they actually become poisonous Iris isn’t as poisonous as she would be naturally. I chose this frog because of the fact that it is super dangerous while also being extremely colorful, as well as it being a small creature that could easily be looked over. This all lines up extremely well with Erica and what her responses might be to the trauma she has. When she does settle the Sinclairs are extremely concerned because this is the second child of theirs that has settled into a highly dangerous creature. But that’s a story for another time. Iris is the Greek goddess of messages and rainbows something I think lines up very well with Erica, as well as matches up with the Sinclair family's tradition of naming their children’s daemons after gods. Erica and Iris’s bond is short for the same reason as Dustin and Fortuna’s and is in fact even shorter.
Nancy Wheeler – Red Fox – Xavier – Became even duller in color: bond length stayed the same
Xavier settles in the wake of Barbra Holland’s disappearance, the first sign of there being something a bit more to suburban daydream Nancy Wheeler. The red fox is known for being sneaky and a hunter, something I think lines up a lot with Nancy’s storyline. They also have fantastic hearing, something that helps out when searching for something or listening to stories. Xavier’s name has a similar backstory to Mary’s name but also has the added layer of being the name that Karen would have chosen for her child if she had a boy. Their bond length has always been a big longer than most, likely due to Nancy’s misunderstanding of herself as a person. The events of the upside-down bring them a little bit closer together but still make them able to move a bit more freely from each other. Over time and because of the events of the upside-down Xavier’s coat is a bit less shiny and less vibrant, but they pay no mind to this change.
Jonathan Byers – Burrowing Owl – Abigail – Pretty long bond length
Abigail is settled early on into s1 something that would have been celebrated had Will not been missing at the time. I chose a burrowing owl because Jonathan usually feels this need to hide from everyone around him who doesn’t understand him, and I feel like his soul would reflect that while still reflecting a lot of Jonathan’s other characteristics. Owls are hunting animals as well and have very sharp senses, something that would be helpful when looking for Will and David, in fact after the events of s1 Abigail is one of the only creatures able to spot David most of the time when he is trying to blend in. Abigail is also a biblical name, one that is connected to King David in the bible and one of the only named women in the bible. I also chose the name Abigail because it is also a name that can be shortened, Jonathan shortened to Johnny and Abigail shortened to Abby. Abigail and Jonathan can go pretty far from each other even for people with bird daemons, this is largely because of their childhood under Lonnie.
Steve Harrington – Rough Collie – Diana – After the Russians it changes often
I see all the Steve resettled after s1 and his daemon is actually a wolf, and I love that but also consider that herding dogs exist. Diana settles pre s1 at a normal time for Steve, him and Diana try out all manner of dog breads before landing on the rough collie. Collies are herding dogs, which point to Steve’s babysitting role later in his life but are also large dogs that can do a lot of damage if allowed. They also have incredibly long fur and are beautiful dogs, something that points to Steve’s thoughts on his appearance. Diana is the roman goddess of the hunt and is equated to being the Roman form of the goddess Artemis who is also a protector of children. I see the name Artemis for Steve’s daemon a lot, but I love the name Diana because I think it fits a lot more with the rich appearance of the Harrington family that we see a lot. Diana and Steve’s bond length was fairly normal at first but after their experience in the Russian base it changes, sometimes they can’t stand to stand more than a few feet apart and other times they can be in completely different rooms from one another.
Robin Buckley – Sugar Glider – Pan – Short bond length
Pan settles at a perfectly normal age for both him and Robin, two years before they get hired at scoops ahoy and their life gets thrown into chaos. I went back and forth on this a lot, originally, I was gonna go for a fennec fox but then I went back and forth between a sugar glider and a flying squirrel. I ended up landing on the sugar glider because of its proclivity for sweet foods and its shy nature. Sugar gliders are also very loving and occasionally affectionate animals, they are also a type of possum which just screams Robin to me. I don’t know if this is actually cannon to the show or if it’s just a fandom thought but I do love the idea that Robin’s parents are kinda hippie-ish people, so the name Pan was perfect. Pan is the Greek god of the wild, as well as being the god of shepherds and flocks, plus a few other things of course. This points to Robin’s rebel nature as well as her relationship with Steve. (Herding dogs, shepherds and flocks? You get the point.) Robin and Pan’s bond length gets much shorter after their experiences in s3 but they are working on trying to expand it again.
Eddie Munson – Black Cat – Kaz – Short to begin with.
Kaz settles while Eddie is in high school during the first few weeks of Hellfire’s existence. I loved the idea of Eddie’s daemon being a black cat, something representative of the rotten luck that Eddie seems to have following him like a cloud. But also, a cat just seemed to fit with Eddie who has this prickly exterior in order to protect himself but is actually a huge softie. Kaz didn’t get his name from Eddie’s parents or even Uncle Wayne’s daemon, Eddie actually named Kaz. I think they had a different name before they settled but that they both hated it and decided to change it, and that the name Kaz from the lore of Vecna in the d&d space was just cool enough for them. Wayne and Reba didn’t really know how to feel about this but yknow what are you gonna do, punk sons are gonna rebel. Because of a lot of their experiences with harassment, the line of work that they chose, and their childhood Eddie and Kaz’s bond length has been short. After their experiences in s4, (where they live because fuck it why not) the length does expand a little bit but doesn’t get close enough to the average.
Argyle Ortega – 3 toed sloth – Lily – Average
I tried to give Argyle something, but we just do not know enough about him, so a lot of this is just gonna be making up shit. Lily settles at an average time as a three toed sloth. With Argyle’s chill and slow-moving manner, I thought the sloth would be perfect. As for the name Lily, I thought it paired well with the name Argyle and that the name would fit in with maybe a family tradition of naming daemons after nature. Everything about them is average, even after the events of s4.
Billy Hargrove – Puma – Ophelia – Long
Ophelia settles early on into Billy’s childhood, a big animal that can protect itself from Neil and his daemon. The puma is also a very showy animal, known for being secretive animals that are most active at night and are also very territorial. Things that line up with Billy and his behavior. Ophelia was a name chosen by Neil and his daemon, a name that largely known from a helpless girl in the novel Hamlet. A power play before he even needed to play it. Their bond is long from repeated trauma in their childhood.
Joyce Byers – European Badger – Daniel – Short after Lonnie but goes kinda back to normal after learning her strength
Daniel settles when Joyce is in high school, after an incident protecting another student where she ended up punching someone to protect someone else. The European badger is an extremely stubborn animal, while also being an extremely social animal. Much like Joyce herself. These badgers also groom as a social tool and have complex denning patterns. Daniel is also a biblical name, but it specifically comes from a prophet in the bible. Something that ties into Joyce’s ability to sense and see things coming. Joyce and Daniel’s bond has varied a lot across their lifetime but as of the events of s4 their bond is strong and gotten back to an average length standard.
Jim Hopper – Wolverine – Jessie – Long
Jessie is a late bloomer and unfortunately, they didn’t get to settle until they were in the midst of the war. Surprising Jim, Jessie ended up being a smaller creature in a Wolverine. Wolverines are scavengers as well as being incredible hunters, they are mostly solitary animals and have adapted to feeding the way that they do due to food scarcity. This all lines up with what we learn about Hopper over time. I believe in the beginning and around the time of Sara’s unfortunate death that Jim and Jessie’s relationship would be strained but over the course of the time that we see them. I got the name Jessie from the general country vibes that Hopper gives off and the idea that Jim and Jessie as names go well together. Their bond length got long in the war and because of continuous stress has just kept the way it was.
Murray Bauman – Raven – Benjamin- Average
Once again this is a character, we know next to nothing about, so this is mostly based off vibes. Benjamin settles early in Murray’s life, as a man who seems like he’s known himself for a long time. Ravens are highly intelligent birds who have a unique talent of mimicry, something that I think Murray would find useful in his career. I chose the name Benjamin from pure vibes and the way it fits with the name Murray. I also think their bond is average for someone with a bird daemon, mainly because anything traumatizing, they’ve experienced is something that I feel they at least somewhat prepared for mentally.