Chapter Text
El likes Canada. The parts she’s seen of it anyway.
She saw a few waterfalls on her way up here. It’s not quite what she expected, the crashing roar of relentless motion, the mist tickling her face, the light dancing over the water, sometimes mesmerizing and sometimes blinding. She’s not sure if this is the peace Mike was talking about, but it’s worth exploring at least. It’s the best she has right now.
El isn’t sure where she is exactly, what the name of the town is, maybe it’s better that way. Off the grid. She’s up North, she knows. The farther North she’s gone the fewer people there seem to be.
Marjorie’s has the best waffles so far. The waffles in Canada are not as good as home, but the syrup is better.
“Three waffles, please, and a coke.”
“You sure honey?” says the man behind the counter. He is new. “They’re pretty big. Most people don’t finish one.”
“She knows what she’s about,” Marjorie cuts in. “I’ll get those out to you, Jane. No milkshake today?”
“It’s possible they might be what is hurting my stomach,” El says. “I am… testing the theory.”
The man who is new laughs. “You don’t sound too happy about that.”
“I am hoping the theory fails.”
“Here’s hoping,” Marj clinks her coffee mug against the coke bottle she places in front of El.
“Cheers,” El says. She still does not know what it means but it makes Marjorie wink at her over the rim of her mug.
“Who is he?” she asks quietly when the new man finally disappears into the kitchen.
It has only been a few months since El left Hawkins. She’s still looking over her shoulder, suspicious of everyone she meets.
Marjorie is nice. She laughs a lot with the people who sit at the counter, and she pats the shoulder of the boy who hunches in the corner booth, like she is comforting him. Her eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles, even more than Joyce's. El has spied on her a little and she really is just a diner owner, not a secret government agent luring El into a false sense of security. El is pretty sure. She hopes someday she’ll be able to know that about someone and believe it.
"That's my husband, Rich."
"Husband?" El frowns.
"He pops in sometimes, helps out in the kitchen," Marj says. "He does a lot of traveling so I like to keep him close by when he's home."
"She likes to have me reach the high shelves without the stepladder," Rich says, poking his head through the kitchen window. Marjorie swats at him and he ducks out reach.
“Why does he leave so much?”
“Well this year he’s off filming a nature documentary over in Alaska. I don’t know how he can stand freezing his balls off all day just waiting for one little critter to poke out of it’s den, but he loves his photography.”
"Photography," El perks up. "My brother does that."
She thinks for a moment maybe she shouldn't have said that. She's not supposed to say anything about her identity. But on the other hand, she thinks they're only looking for 011. 011 doesn't have any brothers left, only El does. And Jane.
“You should bring him in sometime! Those two can nerd out about it.”
“He is far away,” El says. “I am... also traveling.”
“By yourself?”
El nods. Marjorie contemplates her for a moment.
“That’s a lot to take on at your age.”
She has no idea. “I can handle it.”
“Oh I have no doubt,” Marjorie’s smile returns but it’s a little different. El doesn’t know if it’s bad different. “And I’m sure your brother is holding down the fort for you.”
“Holding down the fort?” El repeats carefully.
“You know, keeping the place warm for you, leaving the porch light on for when you come home.”
“That sounds nice. I cannot go home, though. It’s not safe.”
She definitely shouldn’t have said that. It’s hard, the rules now are so different from what they were with her friends and with Hopper. She is supposed to lie all the time now.
But it’s been so long since she was a real person, she likes to pretend here. Pretend that Jane is real, that Jane could be her.
“You got somewhere safe to stay right now?” Marj asks.
“Yes. I’m fine. Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Oh, nothing you could do about that,” Marjorie waves away the apology. “I worry about all my friends.”
El furrows her brow.
“That includes you,” Marj clarifies.
“I’m not supposed to have friends, it’s too dangerous.”
“Well that’s a load of horseshit.” Marjorie seems angry now, but it fades a little when she meets El’s eyes. “A body can’t live without friends.”
“I’ve been fine so far,” El shrugs. “It is worth it.”
Marjorie hums noncommittally. “So where are you staying then, if you don’t mind my asking?”
El considers for a moment. She needs to stay hidden, but she likes Marj, and she doesn’t want her to worry.
“Hotel.” That’s vague enough right? But still reassuring. Marjorie doesn’t need to know that El is technically breaking into the hotel and sleeping in vacant rooms. El is very good at stealth infiltration, no matter what Hop says. Or said.
Marjorie’s eyes flick to El’s backpack. She takes it with her everywhere, including to this diner every day for the past two weeks. El knows she’s been here too long, she’s let someone notice her patterns, notice her.
But Marjorie’s has really good waffles.
“Well,” Marj says. “If you ever need somewhere else safe to go, you can come to me, alright?”
“Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”
“That may be, but I’m here for you all the same, Jane. I mean it."
Marj pats the counter in front of El and walks away before she can refuse the offer again. It reminds her of Hopper’s stubborn compassion. El really should leave whatever town this is, she’s getting too comfortable.