Dreams in Static and Smoke

About this Scenario

I’d like a Stranger Things fic featuring my OC Lorelai “Rory” Henderson, age 17, who is Dustin Henderson’s older half-sister and part of the older teen group with Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan. She has an indie/artsy vibe, loves music from the 60s–80s (Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Queen, Elton John, Kate Bush), and always carries a sketchbook. Rory grew up in Hawkins with Dustin, Will, and Jonathan. Because of an abusive father who abandoned the family when he found out Dustin wasn’t his, Rory struggles with fear responses, tends to freeze during violence, and self-medicates with cigarettes/weed. She’s extremely observant, gentle, loyal, and good at patching injuries. She wears a child-sized toy ring on a necklace that Dustin gave her during a childhood breakdown — it’s her comfort item. Relationships: • Dustin: She basically helped raise him; he idolizes her. • Jonathan: Childhood best friends; she helps him search for Will and patch him up after fights. • Nancy: Used to be close; slowly reconnect through Season 1. • Steve: She initially dislikes him and thinks he’s a jerk, but as the season unfolds, her opinion shifts. Slowburn romance. • Eddie: Already friends before Season 4 due to similar “outsider” vibes. • Robin: Becomes close friends later. Season 1 role: Rory joins Jonathan and Nancy searching for Will, helps hang flyers, and uses her sketchbook to map clues and sketch the Demogorgon from Jonathan’s photo. She witnesses Steve and Tommy bullying Jonathan and freezes but later helps Jonathan collect the camera pieces. She patches Jonathan after the fight, helps plan the Demogorgon trap, and fights beside Nancy and Jonathan in the finale. Steve sees her bravery and begins to rethink who she is. Overall, Rory is a quiet, artistic, trauma-surviving older teen whose arc focuses on healing, protecting Dustin, rebuilding connections, and slowly falling for Steve Harrington.