revivalproject | Private Eyes ~ Daryl Hall & John Oates

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Private Eyes ~ Daryl Hall & John Oates

WHO: Hargrove & Open
WHERE: Around Temba
WHAT: Memory time!
WHEN: During the Energy Storm even
WARNINGS: Abuse, homophobia, violence marked in their section

He's got a bag packed, with all of the essentials he needs. Billy's got some plans to head back out to the beach. It's warm enough again, and Max seems okay here in the city again. Tommy can get to him any time he wants (or so he thinks because of the speed), so going back to the coast is fine. It's totally fine. Blanket tied together like a knapsack to hold his few belongings (the surfboard already waiting down at the beach shack), Billy makes sure the Walkman is secure between clothes and pillow before heading out.

The storms are brewing, and Billy knows they have to get going.

So he goes.

But he doesn't go fast enough as the storm settles in around him.

_{[ooc: your character can intervene at any point in the memory if they want!]}

It's a Sin ~ Pet Shop Boys

› › CW/TW: Abuse homophobic language/slurs, violence ‹ ‹
The memory seems like it's at night. It's a bedroom lit by a bedside lamp and it seems dark outside of the window. The time is confirmed by the digital clock showing it's a little after eleven. Billy stops short at the sight that takes his focus away from where he was and who was there instead.

It's him, younger than he is now. A younger Billy Hargove where the Susan Mayfield isn't married into the Hargroves yet. On his bed, still completely clothed, but making out with someone. A someone that was a guy. A guy with shorts cut probably just a little too short, and wearing a some sort of shirt that Billy knows is some sort of tourist shirt from the Mission Beach boardwalk. It feels like Billy's intruding on the memory but he has to move. If he can stop it——

The thud of a distant door halts the two and Billy falls into his memory, his role. He can't save himself, it's already written——

The bedroom door opens, revealing a man that makes the memory feel ice cold. It's the dread that plummets through the younger teen as the two jump apart like they've been burned. It's not enough. His unknown partner fades in the memory as Neil becomes the focus.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Neil was out on a business trip, he was supposed to be gone another day or two, he was back early——

"You little faggot! Didn't I raise you better than that?!" Neil shouts, grabbing his son by his right arm to hoist him up. There's the bang of the door behind Neil as the teen rushes out, leaving Billy along with his dad. He squirms, trying to pull himself free, but that hand just locks down harder. "You know what happens to little pussies that don't learn their lessons?!"

A cracking noise. A scream. Both come from Billy as his arm is twisted and breaks.

Neil shoves him to the floor and stands over his son. "If I... ever catch you being like one of them, I'll make you regret it." But Neil never did after that. Because Billy regretted it already.

He's still curled up as the memory fades in a hard gust of storm wind, cradling an arm that wasn't broken again, protecting it from a man that wasn't there.

Kickstart My Heart ~ Mötley Crüe

Now it's daytime. It's warm and bright, even if it's artificial. It seems like the space station they were on a few months ago, even if they're actually at the beach. The difference between this memory and the other was night and day and Billy tries to hold onto it.

He breaks out into a run as the memory tracks with him like a rolling camera. And he's not alone in this one either. He's running from Tommy, laughing as he flings wet sand at him. "Come to the water with me!" he finds himself yelling, letting himself relive the memory. Where there was a cold dread that iced his veins with Neil, the sunshine of this is like liquid gold in his body.

"Excuse you it's white," Tommy corrects even as he dodges then runs after the blond. "We really doing this, Sunshine?" Billy doesn't get far as he's knocked down into the surf with a laugh and a splash. There's a flurry of bubbles and water as the two wrestle with the waves sliding over them. It's when Billy pins Tommy under him that the memory...

...feels strange. Like the floor rocks underneath and flips over. The memory falls nearly all the way away until it's just Billy and Tommy. It's almost like it's a picture as Billy just seems to stare at Tommy, then sits up to give the speedster space. The memory blends back out to bring the beach back and the world feels right again.

"Sorry, didn't mean to trap you under all of my amazingness like that. Don't let yourself get washed away before we clean up and get that ice cream cake."

But the world still feels unsteady.

The memory fades, as does Tommy, but Bill stays where he is, seated on the beach that fades into the energy storm around them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It helps that Billy puts his weight to the door as she hits it. He falls in as it slams open, but it gets them out of the storm. Then Robin is reaching down and pulling him the rest of the way. Down on the floor, he uses his foot to push the door shut behind him before collapsing against the dirty floor. Water drips everywhere from him, and makes his curls cling to his head, but they're out of the storm at least.

"Shit. This is like... that stupid fucking memory thing. Fuck." He breathes hard and is thankful his face is already wet. "You... you saw all of that memory, didn't you?"

Sorry about the fall, but it was needed. Robin goes to sit on a fallen book shelf, breathing heavily to catch her breath.

"Memory thing? What memory thing? And yeah, I... I saw it. I'm going to forget it, though. It wasn't mine to see."

A few weeks ago the fall would've hurt. For now, it's just an another ache he can live through. He lays there, staring up at the ceiling. Somewhere further in he thinks he hears water dripping.

"Don't worry about it. Others have seen worse." Steve saw where Billy learned how to throw a plate. Also saw the aftermath of his mother leaving him. Munson got to see a bitty Billy so happy on the beach. People got to see what made Billy Hargrove himself, but only one person amongst all of them understood any of it.

"There was a memory thing. Last year, right after I got here, before you showed up. Aliens led us down to this stupid underground bunker for a month or some shit. Lots of sleeping and sharing memories, but there were more memories to choose from. This time no bunker, no sleeping. Just everything on display this time."

He finally cranes his head to somewhat look over at her. "You saw the good memory. The other is... was... I told you about that one. When you found me after I stomped off when Steve kissed Eddie."

"Having seen worse doesn't make it less icky to have invaded your privacy," she points out. It's just not cool.

Not by any measure.

But she listens, carefully, thoughtfully. Memories shared. People trapped with no options because they were sleeping. And now it was happening when it rained. That was miserable. What was more miserable was what he was implying they had outrun.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. This is just... really hard, I know."

With a groan, Billy slowly sits up. He feels almost like he got dropped out of the sky again. The left hand flexes, but he makes sure not to look at that arm before scooting to face Robin better.

"It's fine." His voice is quiet, and that's usually when Billy's dangerous, but he's not moving from his spot on the floor. "I... I don't mind that you saw it. It was just... the moment I realized I liked Tommy." No one had sat in his corner so defiantly and believed in him really like Tommy did after that night in Calibrations.

Blue eyes lift to lock onto her darker ones. "I don't want you to see that other memory. No one has. No one should be able to. I'd put the one with Tommy on repeat if that meant you didn't have to see the other." At least they had shelter in here.

No, it's not fine. But she won't argue. Just listen. The guy could use a friendly ear she suspects. Since she doesn't know he already has a few.

"Alright. Then we'll stay where it hopefully can't find us. And if we head out, we'll hope it's something embarrassing of mine I guess."

Which would be quite the list.

One hand reaches up to shimmy through his wet curls. Water droplets rain around him onto the floor, dampening the dust that's settled. This place is a dump. Did anyone brought into the city even live here? Or maybe this was just the aftermath of the volcano.

"You could always tell me an embarrassing story. You said you had some from that ice cream place with Harrington I think." His boots scrape against the ground while he picks himself up, and goes over to sit on the bookcase next to her.

This place had a formerly lived in look. No, this was a wreck no one had salvaged.

"That's definitely embarrassing for Steve. The guy had ZERO game when it came to the ladies. I don't know how he ever got dates in school."

This made his beach house look like a cozy mansion at this point. Dust sworls around them when he sits next to her, but he keeps at least some space between them so she's not...threatened or something. Billy likes to think that Chrissy and Robin aren't really scared of him.

He gives a half hearted smirk that doesn't reach his eyes. "Yeah? No wonder it was so easy for me to get all of the chicks in school," followed by a better grin as he nudges her. "I guess not all of them though."

Billy remembers. He hasn't told anyone though.

Yeah, maybe it does. That's actually sort of sad, Hargrove. Maybe you should get back to work on the beach place or whatever. Get the speedy boyfriend to help or something.

What is true is that Robin actually isn't scared of him. She's more scared of the weather outside. So she starts kicking her feet, not concerned over Billy being close in the slightest.

"Definitely not all of them," she agrees. "Just me sitting there in the silver ring club, definitely unavailable. Not that you would have noticed me. Which is a fucking relief, by the way. I think the way I would have cringed if you'd hit on me would have destroyed your reputation and absolutely outed me."

Shut up, he was going back there but the storms had a different idea. Stupid fucking aliens.

"Honestly? You're right. I wouldn't have noticed you. Dorky band geek girls aren't my thing. You guys seriously have no extra time to be getting with a hot guy like me. Also you could never destroy my reputation. Even Harrington couldn't do it. But... I wouldn't try to out you."

Apparently that was a really, really shitty thing to do and even Billy Hargrove has some standards. Standards that apply to him that he was still coming to terms with, too.

"I'm guessing you haven't uh. Haven't told anyone about me then, have you? Wait, does Steve know? In all that time you worked at the ice cream place?"

"I had plenty of extra time," she protests. And then cringes, because it's occurring to her that he's actually right. Nope. No time. She was an overworked gal.

"You underestimate how cutting I could be if I wanted to. I have a talent. I just don't have a lot of reason to use it right now. But thanks for, you know, not being the sort to do that to a girl."

Nice people like that aren't really that easy to find. Telling someone things like that isn't okay. And she, of course, rolls her eyes at the very idea that she would have told someone about what Billy was.

"I don't know if Steve knows anything. If he does, I didn't tell him. We're in each others' pockets but not like that. Oh, wait, do you mean about me?"

Oh god, that's a story.

"Band geeks don't. I've seen them out practicing on the field and stuff when basketball practice was done," or Billy just left late from school or something.

He leans back against the wall and trusts that it's not so damaged it can't hold him up. "I wouldn't do that. Not to someone that didn't do it to me. Harrington and Eddie know. Max does too."

He reaches up to scrub a hand over his face. "Yeah, sorry. Should've clarified asking if Steve knew about you, not me. Does he try to wingman for you at work back home?"

"I wasn't just a band geek. I was a great student too. And working. And teaching myself multiple languages. So yeah, I was pretty busy before I got caught up in everything."

And it really was a lot of everything.

Still, she's shocked to learn that Steve and Eddie both know about Billy now. At least she probably knew it first. But she doesn't have to worry as much about it slipping and that's good. She can gossip now.

"Not at work, but he's trying to get me to make a movie on Vickie, red haired girl in the band? I don't know if you know her. She was playing basketball with one of the seniors from your year. But yeah, Steve knows. Sorta came up because of the whole Russian truth serum thing."

"I guess someone's gotta keep the graduate percentages high in a small town." What was Billy talking about - he graduated, too. There would've been absolute hell at home if he hadn't. He sort of wishes he got a letterman jacket for basketball, but Neil hadn't wanted to pay up for it. Money that would've been wasted a couple months later anyways.

He sighs and runs his hands through his wet curls. Steve had figured it out so Billy had told him. He doesn't remember how it went with Eddie entirely, but he had asked for some guidance in what to do about his Tommy situation after his birthday.

"You're the only one I know from band. So no, don't know her. You should make a move on her if you like her thought. Throw some feelers out there to see how she reacts, but not a lot at once. Might be suspicious or some shit. If I was around, I'd totally be a wingman for you. Steve could learn a thing or two about how to do it from me."

"Most people in Hawkins actually graduate. Eddie is an outlier and should not be counted. Though, yeah, you get some people that just go into factory work. That's a whole other thing."

Still, maybe he should tell his boyfriend he wants a letterman jacket. Maybe the guy will work with someone to get it done.

"Oh my god, you sound like Steve. Except you're not saying Boobies."

Maybe he will tell Tommy he wants a jacket. Or maybe the aliens will magically know for next year and he'll find one wrapped up neatly for him.

"That's because I say tits, like the classy fucker I am," to which he gives her a little elbow to the side with his shit-eating grin. "Seriously, I can wingman for you. Since I've already got someone I like, you won't have to worry about the person you like going after me. It's an all-around win for you."

Who knew what aliens wanted or might find, right? Mostly, though, Robin rolls her eyes. Because of course she doesn't think tits is more classy.

"There... There isn't anyone to wingman for me for. Not here. That new Cheryl chick has a girlfriend back home, Chrissy's, well, Chrissy. Max is a kid. And there aren't a lot of other ladies here. So yeah, it's not on the table to even offer."

"Yeah, you're not allowed to date my sister. Don't be fucking weird, Buckley. What about that Tae b— lady? And you should try with Chrissy. Or I can put a feeler out with her, see if she's interested. Just because she's 'Chrissy' doesn't mean shit. Band nerds and cheerleaders can get along just fine if someone like Harrington and Munson can get together."

He gives her a pointed look like it was an irrefutable fact or something. That if the former King Steve who has no flirt game can still get someone, then Robin can find someone too.

"The doctor is scary as hell," Robin dismisses quite readily. As for Chrissy, well, Robin rolls her eyes.

"Chrissy and I are friends. But could you think of two people more different than me and Jason Carver? Which is even ignoring the her being straight thing."

Robin does have a point, because Tae can be pretty fucking scary if you get on the wrong side of her. Billy would know from his own, multiple experiences. Maybe that's what really started his change to being better. So Tae would stop matching that energy.

"Who said I was comparing you to Jason? Don't bring that puffed up wannabe into this. And do you know she's straight? All of you from Hawkins thought I was too." Until he accidentally dropped enough hints that Robin figured it out first.

Could Tae even match Billy's scariness? Robin's never met her but she's seen those shoes so yes, she bets the woman can.

"She's from Hawkins, is head cheerleader, is the queen of the school, and she dates Jason Carver. She's straight."

There's no way her Vecna destructive secret was being into girls. That just wasn't possible. Otherwise Vecna could have gone after Robin.

"And you're different. You're Californian. And my Uncle says there are a LOT of macho guys out there that posture like you do who are queer."

"If you ever see the shit I went through, you'd know exactly why I had to hide everything. So everyone in the school thought I was straight. Including Carver. You think a self-righteous asshole like that was going to rally the school around someone that wasn't? Hawkins is a backwater hick town filled with people that dig their heels in against change. She could be hiding just like I did. Just like you are," which he uses present lingo for Robin because unlike himself and Chrissy, Robin gets to keep going when she gets home.

"Don't be jealous because people can be who they want better in California than dreary Puritan Indiana. And don't call me that word. I hate it." Even if it was true. It wasn't a term used nicely in the Hargrove house.

Okay, yeah, but Carver is a fucking idiot. He probably only even pegged Eddie for it because he’s an idiot who thinks one set of stereotypes is another because, again, idiot. Who tried to kill people.

“Trust me, I wish I was in California. I still don’t get why my parents moved to Hawkins while mom was pregnant with me. And… and yeah. I’m sorry. I was just… trying to do the whole ‘we’re a family together even if no one wants us’ thing.”

Carver is an idiot. That's why he's the most popular guy at school. Billy had been the best looking guy to garner all the attention of the girls, but not so much he was the idiot popular boy.

"Because parents are stupid and make decisions that negatively effect everyone in the family," which is how Billy viewed the decision to move to Indiana. He leans his head back against the wall and stares up towards the ceiling. "Are you saying that about us? Being a family together tho no one wants us thing? Didn't think you'd wanna call someone like me family, but I guess I'm okay with that. Don't know how Princess will react to that."

Private Eyes ~ Daryl Hall & John Oates

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