[ steve made it out, is what he did. and up until this exact moment, steve had been convinced that eddie did not. and that did not seem like a bargain to him, especially not when steve felt responsible for making sure dustin didn't go diving back through the portal just to make sure. it made steve feel like the bad guy, like the adult who had to take all the anger because where else would anyone put it? and now, now that he's apparently talking to eddie, it makes him feel like...honestly, a bit of a traitor.

but it's fine, this is all fine, because he's apparently having a conversation with eddie munson, who he thought was dead, who answers the weird inbetween i don't know when asked how. ]

You don't- what does that mean, man? You're talking to me! How do you not know how? Shit, shit- [ steve is still pacing, still circling the lantern, his hands gesturing out around them because there's no one here to tell him otherwise. logically, he knows it won't help get his point across. he knows that, but in a weird way it kind of makes him feel better.

almost like he's actually arguing with eddie, rather than. whatever this is. ]

No, okay, okay- [ he has to stop this, he has to think. the relief threatens to overwhelm him but he can't let it, not where there are more steps to this. not when they're not quite there. it's what, two am? three? he knows he should wait until tomorrow, probably. should tell henderson, robin, maybe even nancy? god, what is he doing, what is happening. ] We can do this. Munson? Dude- [ his voice keeps shifting back between talking to himself and trying to talk loud enough to get through to the other side. eddie will just have to figure out what is meant for him and what isn't. ] We have to get you out of there. I'm going to get you out of there. Are you- [ steve catches himself in repeating a question he's already asked. are you safe. ] Can you walk? Could you meet me at a gate?