[ What a stupid, lousy thing to say. Steve's "what" feels like a nail in a coffin. Billy's surprised him, but not in any way he wants to. Who gives a shit if Hagan is off Billy's leash? He doesn't. Not really. Except of course he does, because having control over Tommy lets Billy have some control over HHS. What a stupid lousy thing to say.
The slap on his shoulder is a second, echoing nail, and it doesn't bode well with Billy's hissed out, "Keep him, that stupid son of a bitch." Because Tommy's gotten way too familiar if he thinks he can wrap his sweaty fingers around Billy's keys when he's drunk and high to hell. ]
You want me to thank you? You're going to be thanking me if you make it out of here alive.
[ And for a wild moment, he believes it. Really believes he's going to rip Steve Harrington to shreds. He almost makes it, steps the final step into Steve's space, hand on his shoulder and ready to press him backwards, hard against the car, bend him backward until his spine snaps and Billy can wring his neck in peace, in front of Mrs. Cross and the mailman and God, but —
The front door opens and the hand on Steve's shoulder twitches before both arms drop like cut marionette strings. Neil Hargrove and his son are of a similar height. That's where most of the similarities end. Dark haired and eyed, Billy's father strolls out of his home like he owns the place, which he does. The Harrington's might own Hawkins in a spiritual, generational sort of way, but Neil Hargrove is master of his domain.
He looks at Billy, looks at Steve, looks at the pretty blue Camaro. And when he approaches, Billy is quiet for a beat too long.
“Well? Introduce me to your friend.”
Friend. Friend. Like Steve Harrington’s his friend. Billy’s mouth parts, maybe to say he’d rather gut himself than say they’re friendly, but his mouth shuts with a tiny click. Self preservation is a bitch — and Billy woke up at home with no car. Now there’s a car. Weird isn’t it? ]
Yes. [ An uncomfortable beat when Neil looks at him, not Steve. ] …Sir. This is Steve Harrington. We’re [ not friends. ] on the basketball team. Together.
[ “Harrington.” Neil recognizes the name, but his expression remains cool. That — is rather like Billy isn’t it? Cold, expressionless, until he’s tipped into flirtation or icy, cruel fury. Neil sticks out his hand to shake, and he hasn’t looked at Billy since he prompted the ‘sir.’
( if there's a more awkward way to meet the dad of a guy who nearly beat your face in, Steve doesn't know it. 2 seconds away from tasting his own teeth wasn't exactly how he would have wanted it to go. it is impossible to know if it is obvious to an outsider that they were about to scrap like feral cats, though the energy of Billy's dad showing up really does suck the air out of the room. and they're standing outside, so, that's saying something.
Steve straightens, evaluating the situation he's found himself in. on one hand, parents love him. even Barb's parents goddamn loved him. which sort of felt bad, all things considered. on the other, Billy's dad presents like he's never liked anyone ever, so maybe being parent catnip isn't going to work out for him for once.
and all of this is. weird. Steve actually relates to an old man that talks around him like he's not fucking there. feels a little crooked and uncomfortable, to be the one that's intentionally seen for once. he takes the handshake because is it an option not to? but it's a brusk, hit the brief sort of maneuver. ) Nice to meet you, Mr. Hargrove. ( is he supposed to be following the 'sir' thing? hopefully not. Steve doesn't even call his own father sir.
it's a really good question, why he has the Camaro. and Billy has provided exactly no backup on the situation. Steve stalls, glancing to stare at it like he just remembered it was there. ) It was a favor. Girls aren't impressed by a classic, anymore. Thought I'd see if I liked something flashier, but I'm still not sure.
( it's not anything Billy hasn't figured out about Steve, really, but he's a fucking solid liar. he can lie straight to someone's face, complete and utter bullshit. most of the time it lands because he's just so convincing about it. he's a bullshit artist. bullshit is his second language! he's fucking fluent, even though he's not particularly proud of the fact. and that's what it all is, bullshit. Billy can meet him in the middle, agree that he meant it. or he can cough up that he was too wasted to do anything about somebody stealing his keys. it's not like there's not risk for both parties. it's some kind of illegal to take a joyride in somebody else's car, even if Steve isn't the one that personally stole the keys. Billy could call him out if he wanted to, just not without shooting himself in the foot to do it. )
[ Steve's a fucking liar. Billy wasn't unaware that he's a shitass, grade-A liar. No one can rise to the top of the shark tank that is high school without being the one who can spin a lie to their parents, who can sweet talk adults into looking the other way. It's not a surprise that Steve's lying, it's that — Steve is lying for him. Sure, it might be for himself too, but it's also for Billy, isn't it? But Billy can lie too. Steve has to know that Billy's all smoke and mirrors curling around a pair of fists and snarling teeth. But —
Billy's not really good at lying to his old man. He's not sure why, he's just dog shit at it. Maybe because half the time it doesn't really matter to Neil whether he's telling the truth or not. Those sorts of things don't really tend to matter to Neil. It's not that Billy would have gone belly up and confessed, but he would have evaded. Little white lies, little basic ones, it's hard to keep the big ones going for Neil. Usually, Billy just takes the punishment if it's doled out.
He doesn't really know what to make of it. Part of him wants to scream. A big part of him is angry, angry that Steve thinks he can come here and lie and then probably ask Billy for some sort of favor afterwards, after the absolute bullshit he and Tommy pulled. Honestly, lending his car out for such a stupid reason in Neil's eyes might mean he gets cuffed anyway, so maybe none of this matters. Billy's expression is still stoic, but his eyes are cold. He's pissed, it's probably obvious to Steve. To Neil — well, when have they ever understood one another? So what's all this matter? When it's his turn to speak, to confirm it, he nearly starts to shout. Maybe he'll just spit it out: I got trashed on whiskey, took some sort of pill. All of me feels trashed, and this fucker stole my car. But all that's still my fault, sir.
He doesn't say that. ]
He drives a beemer. 733i.
[ What does Neil Hargrove think of Steve Harrington cruising for pussy in his son's car? Billy can't tell. It depends on the day and Neil's mood whether his son's a 'hot blooded American man' or if he's trash, rolling around with a gaggle of whores. At least for now, Neil seems hotblooded. He nods. Says to Steve: "If you're not going to buy American, at least you're buying German." And then he makes small talk. About cars. With Steven Harrington. And Billy watches, seething. ]
Edited (oops, subject line) Date: 2023-01-29 01:00 am (UTC)
( oh, trust Steve is aware Billy is pissed. he was there when the guy was this close to taking a second crack at making his face minced meat. it's plenty obvious. he's sure as hell not helping sell anything. it's one man show out here. it's goddamn uncomfortable. like Steve got caught in the middle of something somehow, and doesn't that just keep happening to him lately? he really should have left the Camaro by the side of the road.
while Billy never bothers to back him up, he doesn't call him out either. Steve doesn't particularly want to talk about cars with Neil Hargrove, especially with Billy standing just to the side like a livewire ready to electrocute somebody to death if they make the mistake of getting too close. Billy is not a part of the conversation. Steve can't decide if that's because he's too busy thinking up novel ways to murder him and it's too difficult to chat at the same time, or if it's something else.
Steve wanted to get out of here about as soon as Neil showed up, if not around when Billy was making active threats of violence. still, he slogs through as much of an excruciating conversation as he can stand before he makes a point of checking his watch, and sighing. ) Shit. Sorry, Mr. Hargrove. I gotta go, I'm supposed to babysit tonight. ( also bullshit, but that's probably a good enough of an excuse to beat it. he could go through his prolonged midwest goodbye and be walking to Roccos in less than five minutes, Billy chained to his own driveway to be a problem later.
he's not really sure why he does it. if it's a life line, or curiosity, or if he has a death with. whatever inspires it, Steve looks at Billy intently and prompts, ) You gonna give me a ride or what, asshole? ( hopefully that hit something resembling friendly banter, because calling Billy an asshole is the most genuine he's been in the past give minutes. )
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jfc this is long, sry
Date: 2022-12-29 04:44 am (UTC)The slap on his shoulder is a second, echoing nail, and it doesn't bode well with Billy's hissed out, "Keep him, that stupid son of a bitch." Because Tommy's gotten way too familiar if he thinks he can wrap his sweaty fingers around Billy's keys when he's drunk and high to hell. ]
You want me to thank you? You're going to be thanking me if you make it out of here alive.
[ And for a wild moment, he believes it. Really believes he's going to rip Steve Harrington to shreds. He almost makes it, steps the final step into Steve's space, hand on his shoulder and ready to press him backwards, hard against the car, bend him backward until his spine snaps and Billy can wring his neck in peace, in front of Mrs. Cross and the mailman and God, but —
The front door opens and the hand on Steve's shoulder twitches before both arms drop like cut marionette strings. Neil Hargrove and his son are of a similar height. That's where most of the similarities end. Dark haired and eyed, Billy's father strolls out of his home like he owns the place, which he does. The Harrington's might own Hawkins in a spiritual, generational sort of way, but Neil Hargrove is master of his domain.
He looks at Billy, looks at Steve, looks at the pretty blue Camaro. And when he approaches, Billy is quiet for a beat too long.
“Well? Introduce me to your friend.”
Friend. Friend. Like Steve Harrington’s his friend. Billy’s mouth parts, maybe to say he’d rather gut himself than say they’re friendly, but his mouth shuts with a tiny click. Self preservation is a bitch — and Billy woke up at home with no car. Now there’s a car. Weird isn’t it? ]
Yes. [ An uncomfortable beat when Neil looks at him, not Steve. ] …Sir. This is Steve Harrington. We’re [ not friends. ] on the basketball team. Together.
[ “Harrington.” Neil recognizes the name, but his expression remains cool. That — is rather like Billy isn’t it? Cold, expressionless, until he’s tipped into flirtation or icy, cruel fury. Neil sticks out his hand to shake, and he hasn’t looked at Billy since he prompted the ‘sir.’
“Does my son lend out his car then?” ]
its ok i m sure i have done worse to u without apologies
Date: 2023-01-08 01:20 am (UTC)Steve straightens, evaluating the situation he's found himself in. on one hand, parents love him. even Barb's parents goddamn loved him. which sort of felt bad, all things considered. on the other, Billy's dad presents like he's never liked anyone ever, so maybe being parent catnip isn't going to work out for him for once.
and all of this is. weird. Steve actually relates to an old man that talks around him like he's not fucking there. feels a little crooked and uncomfortable, to be the one that's intentionally seen for once. he takes the handshake because is it an option not to? but it's a brusk, hit the brief sort of maneuver. ) Nice to meet you, Mr. Hargrove. ( is he supposed to be following the 'sir' thing? hopefully not. Steve doesn't even call his own father sir.
it's a really good question, why he has the Camaro. and Billy has provided exactly no backup on the situation. Steve stalls, glancing to stare at it like he just remembered it was there. ) It was a favor. Girls aren't impressed by a classic, anymore. Thought I'd see if I liked something flashier, but I'm still not sure.
( it's not anything Billy hasn't figured out about Steve, really, but he's a fucking solid liar. he can lie straight to someone's face, complete and utter bullshit. most of the time it lands because he's just so convincing about it. he's a bullshit artist. bullshit is his second language! he's fucking fluent, even though he's not particularly proud of the fact. and that's what it all is, bullshit. Billy can meet him in the middle, agree that he meant it. or he can cough up that he was too wasted to do anything about somebody stealing his keys. it's not like there's not risk for both parties. it's some kind of illegal to take a joyride in somebody else's car, even if Steve isn't the one that personally stole the keys. Billy could call him out if he wanted to, just not without shooting himself in the foot to do it. )
crawls out of a pit
Date: 2023-01-29 01:00 am (UTC)Billy's not really good at lying to his old man. He's not sure why, he's just dog shit at it. Maybe because half the time it doesn't really matter to Neil whether he's telling the truth or not. Those sorts of things don't really tend to matter to Neil. It's not that Billy would have gone belly up and confessed, but he would have evaded. Little white lies, little basic ones, it's hard to keep the big ones going for Neil. Usually, Billy just takes the punishment if it's doled out.
He doesn't really know what to make of it. Part of him wants to scream. A big part of him is angry, angry that Steve thinks he can come here and lie and then probably ask Billy for some sort of favor afterwards, after the absolute bullshit he and Tommy pulled. Honestly, lending his car out for such a stupid reason in Neil's eyes might mean he gets cuffed anyway, so maybe none of this matters. Billy's expression is still stoic, but his eyes are cold. He's pissed, it's probably obvious to Steve. To Neil — well, when have they ever understood one another? So what's all this matter? When it's his turn to speak, to confirm it, he nearly starts to shout. Maybe he'll just spit it out: I got trashed on whiskey, took some sort of pill. All of me feels trashed, and this fucker stole my car. But all that's still my fault, sir.
He doesn't say that. ]
He drives a beemer. 733i.
[ What does Neil Hargrove think of Steve Harrington cruising for pussy in his son's car? Billy can't tell. It depends on the day and Neil's mood whether his son's a 'hot blooded American man' or if he's trash, rolling around with a gaggle of whores. At least for now, Neil seems hotblooded. He nods. Says to Steve: "If you're not going to buy American, at least you're buying German." And then he makes small talk. About cars. With Steven Harrington. And Billy watches, seething. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-01-30 01:13 am (UTC)while Billy never bothers to back him up, he doesn't call him out either. Steve doesn't particularly want to talk about cars with Neil Hargrove, especially with Billy standing just to the side like a livewire ready to electrocute somebody to death if they make the mistake of getting too close. Billy is not a part of the conversation. Steve can't decide if that's because he's too busy thinking up novel ways to murder him and it's too difficult to chat at the same time, or if it's something else.
Steve wanted to get out of here about as soon as Neil showed up, if not around when Billy was making active threats of violence. still, he slogs through as much of an excruciating conversation as he can stand before he makes a point of checking his watch, and sighing. ) Shit. Sorry, Mr. Hargrove. I gotta go, I'm supposed to babysit tonight. ( also bullshit, but that's probably a good enough of an excuse to beat it. he could go through his prolonged midwest goodbye and be walking to Roccos in less than five minutes, Billy chained to his own driveway to be a problem later.
he's not really sure why he does it. if it's a life line, or curiosity, or if he has a death with. whatever inspires it, Steve looks at Billy intently and prompts, ) You gonna give me a ride or what, asshole? ( hopefully that hit something resembling friendly banter, because calling Billy an asshole is the most genuine he's been in the past give minutes. )