hargrove

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ Blue eyes followed the blonde as she walked around the room. Billy couldn't help but feel entirely vulnerable as Chrissy gazed at everything. It was as though he were laid bare for her to see. Which of course was odd because he didn't know how much one could garner from a bunch of concert posters and pictures of babes in bikinis. And yet, he knew that Chrissy was more observant than most.

"Most of 'em, yeah," he answered, looking proud about that fact. "Sunset Drive was only a few hours from where I lived in California. There was always a show going on there." Pulling an old cigar box from his shelves, he set it on his desk and opened it to reveal a mess of torn ticket stubs. There were worn, stained, smelled of beer and cigarettes, but were housed in the little box with a type of reverence. He fished one out and held it up. A lip stick stain was smeared over the words 'Mötley Crüe'. "These guys," he told her. "Still the best yet I've seen. What about you?"

*/ Plotted Starter for @hargrove

---☁︎｡⋆｡ “So have you been to all these concerts?” Chrissy asked, aimlessly walking past the posters and cassettes in Billy’s room. It was clear as she looked that music was a huge part of his life- He certainly listened to it loud enough.

[hargrove]

mutuals only rp account | documented by JT 𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚊 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚏𝚏 of marvel's 𝙴𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑-𝟼𝟷𝟼 + 𝙼𝙲𝚄 ✘ carrd

. ➶ photograph templates by @grandsiliato

[hargrove]

billy harove & star

@hargrove gets something because i felt like it

[hargrove]

dacre + baseball caps

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ The loud protest earned Max a heavy eye roll from Billy. If she wasn't sick, there was definitely something still wrong. He remembered the stories of what it was like when Vecna had been creeping in to take her over. He hadn't been there to protect her and it was something that haunted him every day. "What are you saying, I'm lonely and pathetic?" he shot back, more amusement than anger in his expression. Even so, he picked up on the hint and settled a little deeper in the couch cushions. "What's going on then?" His gaze was on the TV, his expression seemingly nonchalant, hiding any actual worry that was creeping in.

As much as she tried, she couldn't stop herself from finally looking his way. Glaring, if looks could kill, he'd be dead. "I am not sick!" She protested almost too loudly, but maybe it would get him off of seeing how tired she was. Fingers moving her walkman, turning the volume down slightly. "Knight Rider is fine.." Really she just wanted his company, nudging him softly, before her eyes moved back to the television. Looking through it, rather than watching it. "I just thought you'd like some company, i promise I won't get you sick." That was her way of asking him to stick around.

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ It was Adrian's last comment that pulled a sarcastic snort from Billy. "Oh I have lost it. Couple of times," he replied before throwing the other an amused look. It was the mention of "weird shit" that had Billy curious, though. Unlike Max, a member of the party who seemed to know the ins and outs of the Hawkins situation, Billy had no idea who actually knew about it and who didn't. Chief Hopper had talked to him when he returned, telling him to keep it under wraps while also providing a source if the former delinquent needed anything. Other than that, Billy operated as though everyone around him was clueless.

"What kind of weird shit?" he asked, clearly not one to follow the rules. The idea that he'd have someone to talk to about it, someone that wasn't the chief of police or his stepsister, was too tantalizing to ignore. He kept his expression casual as he took another puff from his cigarette, but on the inside, his heart was racing to hear Adrian's answer.

He would have been lying if he said that his insomnia had been recent, although it had certainly been worse, especially since the Starcourt Mall incident. It had been so bad lately that he had started to get headaches, something that had been a rare occurrence until sometime last week. Despite the nagging sensation in the pit of his stomach, he wasn't going to ask Billy where he had really been; he knew something else must have been going on. Will Byers had gone through the same thing, disappearing and being pronounced dead, only to show up God only knows how long after. One strange disappearance might have been a coincidence, but four times — including Barbara Holland and, more recently, Chrissy Cunningham — was plenty proof enough for Adrian.

"Can't sleep, either," came his quiet admittance, an edge of something else not quite defined underlying his words. Taking another slow drag as he peered around the eerie area, he leaned against the table a bit further, arms half-crossed along the rough wooden surface. "I just... keep coming out here by myself, like weird shit isn't happening around Hawkins. And..." he trailed off, shaking his head subtly, deciding against telling his present company about the figures he had been seeing. "I don't know, maybe I'm losing it."

[hargrove]

@zoomingupthathill whistled: She couldn’t help but plop down beside him. Her limbs feeling like dead weight as she fought yet another day of sleep. “What are you watching?” Max asked, as her eyes glued themselves to the TV. Making sure to avoid him at all costs. She didn’t want or need a lecture, not that it was guaranteed that she would get one. It seemed to depend on his mood, whether or not he commented on something.

✘♚✘ Billy had been so zoned out that he didn't even notice Max until she addressed him. It was another evening in the cramped trailer while Susan was out on her night shift. "Knight Rider," he answered with a little shrug. "I'm not really paying attention, though. You can change it." He turned to offer the redhead the remote, and that's when he noticed the circles under her eyes and pale complexion of her skin. "Jesus, Max, are you sick? I swear to God, if you get me sick-"

[hargrove]

「 ugh, I don't know why the gifs in my banners stopped working. nothing changed. I even re-exported one fresh from photoshop (and yes, forever looping is checked on) and they're still like that. I'm guessing it's gonna be an afternoon's worth of work to fix, so for now, I'm just gonna say that gifs that loop only once are the new chic trend 💅 」

[hargrove]

rules: without naming them, post a gif from ten of your favourite films and then tag ten people to do the same.

tagged by: @omniterrortagging: @nancewheelr @zoomingupthathill @fierceathlete @ash-muses @alwaysxinxtrouble @nightmarishwritings @havvkinsqueen @thebabysittertm @entangledmuses @sophiaharrington

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ Although the original intent for getting out of the trailer was to clear his head and be alone, Billy found that there was some comfort in having a companion to talk to. Someone who found Hawkins just as tedious as he did. He took a drag from his cigarette as Adrian answered. The reply earned the brunette an arched eyebrow in return.

Turning away to look at the trees again, he gave a small shrug. "Can't sleep." The public reason for Billy's eight month disappearance (including a funeral and obituary) was that he had run away to San Diego. Now he's back. Fortunately for him, with the state of Hawkins, not many people are questioning it. Being the neighborhood delinquent had its perks. "So what makes you an idiot?"

His gaze trailed after him, continuing to fidget with his ring as the blond closed the distance. "I think that makes it worse for most people, actually," he remarked with equal sarcasm and a sliver of amusement, finding a bit of solace in the banter. Then, he did a subtle double-take when Billy offered him a smoke, studying him for a moment. He slipped one from the container with a faint nod of thanks, fishing a lighter from his hoodie pocket.

"Tell me about it," he sighed, pausing to light the cigarette before offering up the Zippo. Even Oregon had been more lively, and that was coming from a place made of mountains and woodlands. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he took a long drag, then exhaled. He had a point — Adrian was out here, too. "Yeah, well, I'm an idiot. What's your excuse?"

[hargrove]

@nancewheelr whistled: "Have you lost your mind?!"

✘♚✘ "Well, yeah, but that's beside the point." Billy gave Nancy a playful wink from where he was perched on the top of the chain link fence. Then he jumped down on the other side before looking around to make sure the coast was still clear. Of all the places he'd be breaking into, the police station was low on the list. Nancy said that the info she needed was in there, though, and he owed her one. There was also a good part of it that had to do with Billy's penchant for showing off.

"Hold on, let me get something so you don't hurt yourself," he said as he turned away from the fence to look for a blanket or something to throw over the top of the chain link. He still saw Nancy Wheeler as the delicate shy girl, not knowing exactly the hell she'd been through over the years.

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ There was no sun in the Upside Down, which meant there was no way to tell how much time had passed since Billy was first dragged to the alternate dimension. By some miracle, though, the former bad boy of Hawkins had adapted and learned to survive in the hell hole. He'd turned a storm shelter into a bunker and scavenged anything he'd need. Eventually he began to look the part after he raided the local army surplus: heavy boots, baggy camo pants, knee pads, black thermal, black leather jacket, and a red headband tied around his forehead.

Though his will to survive had got him through the worst of it, his will to escape was even stronger. Billy was certain there had to be a way out. It took a while before he caught onto the fact that he could manipulate electricity from his end into the real world. A routine developed as he'd move carefully to different places in Hawkins, doing his best to send out his version of an SOS.

It was with a rush of relief ...and intense annoyance... that he finally seemed to break through to Steve. Of all the people in Hawkins to catch on, why did it have to be the one that pissed him off the most? Yet, salvation was salvation, and Billy would take it in any form.

Not longer after, Billy heard the other yelling for him in the mall. He cursed under his breath when he heard the growl of a demi-dog, clearly attracted to the sudden noise. Stepping into the main lobby by the food court, he saw Steve in the distance, clearly looking around for him. Not far from where the blonde stood, the creature stalked, readying itself to pounce.

Just as it lunged at Steve, Billy emerged from behind a large planter and swung the axe he always carried. Metal sliced the air just behind Steve's head, colliding with the open petal-like mouth of the demi-dog. It yelped and fell to the floor limp. There was hardly time to process before the sounds of more could be heard approaching from the far end of the mall. "Let's go, Harrington!" Billy ordered before he took off on a familiar route that led to the employee only hallways.

It had been a hunch. Something he just couldn’t get out of his mind. Even though his parents were away to some other corner of the world, the house didn’t feel as empty as it actually was. Lights flickered at what first he thought was random, mostly late at night when he was sitting around by himself and his thoughts were beginning to wander to darker places. A few times while he was in the pool swimming doing laps.

Each time, he swore he was seeing things. Maybe bad wiring? On the house his father had not fifteen years ago? Doubtful. Bad light bulbs? Changing them out did nothing. If anything, it happened more often just to spite him. Then with underhand comment about Billy, the flickering lights seemed to chase him through the house.

The idea was ultimately a long shot but hell if he wasn’t going to try.

Finding a gate was the hardest part, giving one last nervous look over shoulder to see if anyone had followed him – or say goodbye to the world he knew – and Steve stepped through with his trusty spiked bat in hand. Though once he was through the other side, the stark realization of that he had absolutely no idea what he was doing hit him hard. Going for a stroll in the Upside Down by himself?!

Steve pushed forward, despite his own reservations, and headed for the last place he actually saw Billy; Starcourt Mall. A sharp tightness in his chest at the memory of when he last stood inside the mall and somehow the building stood as if nothing had ever happened there. As if they hadn't used fireworks to fight off some massive shadow monster and a fire hadn't leveled it. As if Billy hadn't died there.

"Billy! Listen man, I'm sorry what happened to you but ugh...if you can hear me, how about you get your ass out here and we get back to Hawkins?"

@hargrove

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ The sudden voice caused Billy's head to whip around in surprise. He hadn't even heard the stranger approach. Yet when blue eyes found blue... eye... the surprise turned to sheer disbelief. "Y-You- You're-" There was no mistaking the action hero that stood before him. Billy had seen both movies too many times to count. None of it made sense, though and he let out a quick, sharp, manic laugh.

"...Snake motherfucking Plissken."

Billy ran a hand through the curls that lay across his forehead, pushing them back as he tried to process it all. "It happened. It finally happened," he mumbled to himself. "I cracked. That place finally got me. Mother goddamn Christ."

Focusing on the other again, Billy watched the way smoke encircled the gruff expression. "Are you..." Slowly, he reached out a finger and pressed it into Snake's shoulder. "...real?"

BLACK,  GLOVED  FINGERS  CAREFULLY  GRASP  THE  RED,  WHITE,  AND  BLUE  CIGARETTE  CARTON  WITHIN  HIS  GRASP.  'american  spirit',  the  voice  in  his  head  resonates  while  huffing  to  himself.  appreciably  ironic,  but  at  least  the  ash  on  his  tongue  was  the  same  as  any  other.

a  billow  of  smoke  rises  in  the  torrid  air  as  the  former  green  beret  pockets  his  lighter  after  a  few  habitual  flicks,  staring  up  briefly  into  the  cloudless  sky  and  taking  in  the  subverted  topography;  the  burnt  down  graphitic  barrels,  graffiti  covered  apartment  buildings,  and  offscouring  littering  the  once  hurrahed  streets  of  los  angeles-  now,  only  a  derelict  place  for  the  degenerate  and  the  damned.  land  of  the  free. 

seared,  narrow  cylinder  flicks  to  the  ground  and  recedes  to  residue  underneath  his  boot,  only  just  turning  his  head  before  he's  met  by  a  perplexed  stranger.  blue  eye  unhurriedly  scans  over  the  young  man  but  doesn't  flinch.

❝.  .  .  westlake  is  a  deathtrap.❞   he  warns  in  a  deep,  stern  tone,  as  he  assumes  he's  only  around  because  he's  lost.

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ Leaning against the driver door of the Camaro, Billy sucked on his teeth as he cast a glance around. The proposition from little-miss-perfect was a wild one, but he couldn't help the intrigue he felt. Any chance to corrupt one of the "good girls" was something he couldn't turn down. Being that it was Sofia, that meant her pretty boy brother would be pissed, too. All pluses in Billy's book.

There was another reason why he finally accepted, though. He didn't know the details of her family life, but he understood a hard ass dad. In way, sticking it to Mr. Harrington felt like sticking it to his own asshole dad.

At her question, a wicked smirk blossomed over his lips and Billy let his eyes drag over the blonde's form, taking his time to let her imagination run wild. When his gaze met hers, he snorted in amusement. "You're in Mr. Barker's geometry class, right? You any good at it?" The truth was, Billy was dangerously close to not graduating and figured he could work this situation to his benefit.

@hargrove whispered: "I'll vouch for you, it's fine."

If there was one thing the Harrington and Hargrove families had in common, it was overbearing fathers with a taste for violence, especially when things didn't go their way. What that meant for each family was different, for Sophia, it meant sticking to the life plan her parents had set out for their only daughter. As her mother said, it was time to get serious- God forbid Sophia went to college or started a career outside of being a wife and mother. In a desperate attempt to finally shut her parents up, Sophia devised a plan, a fake boyfriend kept around just long enough to get out of her parent's grasp.

Going to Billy may not have been an obvious option, but Sophia knew he was the only one who would have some understanding of the situation, but that didn't mean he would be doing it out of the kindness in his heart. "Do I really want to know what you're asking for in return?"

[hargrove]

"BILLY!"

✘♚✘ Startled awake, Billy's body shook from where he lay sprawled out on his bed. "Fuck off, shitbird! It's Sunday," he called back, words half muffled through his pillow.

[hargrove]

✘♚✘ Despite the sudden emotions of surprise to annoyance from Adrian, Billy remained perfectly relaxed as he continued to the picnic table. He merely rolled his eyes and grunted a little at the rhetorical question. He moved to sit on the table, his feet resting on the bench as he inhaled another puff of cigarette smoke. "What? Can't a guy go for a midnight hike in the woods without the third degree?" he answered sarcastically, arching a brow at the other boy.

Reaching into his jean jacket pocket, Billy pulled out his box of Marlboro's and flicked the top open before offering one to his companion. "Back home there'd still be a bar open somewhere to get lost in. In this shit town? This is probably the liveliest nightlife its ever seen." He looked out into the woods, letting his eyes adjust as the shapes of trees came into clearer view. "Besides. You're out here, too."

Adrian knew he shouldn't have been out here at this time, not with the crazy shit that had been happening in Hawkins lately. He had been seeing more of those damned things in his peripherals, as if the veil were thinning the more time passed by; if he were honest, he felt like an idiot for even staying in this hell hole for this long, but he couldn't bring himself to leave — not yet. There had been a chill in the air lately, something otherworldly that kept Adrian alert, particularly when nighttime rolled around. What had once brought him peace was now a source of anxiety, and he found himself wishing that the night would greet him as it had before.

The sound of footsteps and a lighter brought Adrian back to the present, his head snapping toward the noise. For a moment, his adrenaline spiked up and his pulse quickened — but when he realized it was just Billy, he sighed in annoyance, his fear shifting to a flicker of anger before he quelled it. "Jesus," he breathed out in a huff, the next question rhetorical, "Don't you know better than to sneak up on people?" Shaking his head a little, he idly fidgeted with the ring he wore, eyes locked onto the silhouette and tiny, red-orange glow in the dark. There was a soft pause before his brows furrowed a little and he spoke again, a bit more at ease now, "What are you doing out here at this time of night, anyway?"

[hargrove]

@zoomingupthathill

i think they could've grown to love each other if s3 played out differently shrugggj who knows