Wouldn't It Be Nice ~ The Beach Boys

[playingtough]

WHO: Billy Hargrove and OPEN
WHERE: Beach
WHAT: Surfin' USA
WHEN: Daylight hours
WARNINGS: N/A



It should be a crime that he hasn't really used his board here in Temba until now. The pretty white board with green coloring around the edge really popped against his figure and the waves as Billy Hargrove rode them. It was clear there was skill, as he did well in the waves more often than not, with only a few wipe-outs. His board shorts are soaked through, along with his tank top - both gifts from his birthday ordeal Tommy gifted him with back on the spaceport.

If you know Hargrove, and how angry and prickly he is, this seems like a completely different side of him. One that Hawkins doesn't get to see because there's no surf. There's no sand, no sun, nothing that he has in his beloved California back home. And the aliens seemed to understand that giving him the board for the New Tick.

He goes out again, riding through the curl of a wave before he wipes out, coming back to the surface with a laugh before finally swimming back to shore and walking back up the purple sand with it under his arm with the free hand combing through wet curls to brush them out of his face.

Comments

[stoicandsarcastic]

Someone new has wandered down to the beach, looking for some relief from the heat. Alec's managed to get himself settled into the hotel with the help of a few people who took the time to explain life in Temba to him. But there's still very little relief from the summer weather. And he's still got a wardrobe suited more to cooler weather.

At least he left the leather jacket back at the hotel. But black jeans and a black tee aren't the best for staying cool under the hot sun. That brings him to the water, figuring maybe there would at least be a breeze or something. Maybe he could roll his jeans legs up and get his feet wet to cool down.

Or maybe he could just fall down in the sand and die right on the spot, once he catches sight of the guy out in the surf. He's gorgeous, graceful in the way he paddles into the wave, pops his feet under him and rides the board on the water. Wet clothes cling to his form but that's not all Alec's appreciating. There's something in his movements, a kind of confidence that borders on beauty. Alec doesn't think he'd be able to properly put words to it, but it's there.

Maybe that's what really had Alec settling down in the sand — he'll regret it later when it's everywhere in his clothes — and just watching. That's okay, right? He can just watch for a little bit while enjoying the cooler temperatures by the water. No big deal. It doesn't mean anything.

He doesn't have to feel guilty.

[playingtough]

That is a thing with Billy - he is all confidence with surfing. He knows exactly what he's doing, and doesn't get so cocky he disrespects the water. Even on an alien planet, the water was still a force to reckon with.

The wipeout that has him finally coming back happens, and he tucks the board under his scarred left arm and heads back up the beach. It's when he notices finally a stranger and stops. Looks him over a little, then continues at a slower pace.

"New face. Checking out the sights?" Not that Billy was insinuating he was one of the sights. Oh no, not at all.

...He wouldn't deny it, though.

[stoicandsarcastic]

The surfer is absolutely one of the sights. Absolutely without a doubt he's beautiful, moving through the water. Even the last fall, the one that Alec supposes brings him to shore. It's no hardship at all to watch him.

Alec should probably feel guilty about it, truth be told. He shouldn't be ogling the guy; he's clearly out here just to enjoy his sport, not to be eye candy.

Except, you know, that the guy is actually coming to shore and Alec hasn't made his escape. He can't just up and leave now, not with the guy walking right at him. He's stuck, sitting in the sand and trying to look like he meant to be here the whole time.

"Hey," Alec answers, looking away so maybe the guy won't notice the color in Alec's cheeks. "Yeah just... figured it'd be cooler near the water."

[playingtough]

Water drips and sluices down his skin, carving paths for the new to guy to look over as Billy kicks his way through the sand up towards the guy. Interesting look, this guy. Faded looking tattoos that look like weird tribal signs or some shit.

"Cooler near the water and yet you're in pants. Long pants. Seems like you're not really dressed to get cooled down, newbie." He pauses a few feet away from him and works at getting his surfboard in the sand upright. Takes a minute, then he steps away to turn his attention back to the latest addition to the city population.

A snort. "Must be too hot. Your cheeks got color in 'em. Go take a dunk to cool off, Broody." It's the dark hair against the paler complexion that gives Billy this vibe that the guy liked to go haunt dark corners and brood about the darkness of the world around him.

[stoicandsarcastic]

"I don't have anything else," Alec replies though he doesn't know why he owes the guy an explanation. He's probably still just a little shell shocked because the guy is even more gorgeous up close. He's all wet and tanned and just.

Stop, Alec. Just stop.

"I'm fine." What's he supposed to do, strip down? That's definitely a bad idea. "Jeans take a year and a day to dry anyway."

[faceguy]

It seems Hargrove isn’t the only one in the water.

After he wipes out, but before he can make it back to the beach, something under the water grabs his board.

Looks like it has a hold.

[playingtough]

He's kicking his feet, making his way back towards the shore, but something gets to him first. Well, to his board. With a grunt, Billy tries to wrench it out of whatever grip has it, but it doesn't come loose. He swings into the water to look, thinking maybe something snagged the leg-rope.

[faceguy]

Something has snagged the board, alright.

When Hargrove looks under the water, he may be surprised to see a green face grinning cheekily at him. Leo even gives a little wave. Hi!

[playingtough]

There's a spew of bubbles at the sight of another damn turtle hanging onto his board. Even waving at him! Was this the same one that tried to get into the cockpit of the ship?! Billy straightens up on the right side of the board, coughing out water and shaking his head free of excess water.

"What.... what the hell?!"

[faceguy]

Leo comes out of the water laughing, rolling onto his back into the surf.

“Oooh, that was funnier than I thought it would be!”

[target_audience]

This place was really starting to get to Stu. He was supposed to be famous by now, a miracle survivor, or at least getting brain-melted by little green men as a consolation prize. Instead, he had to do his own laundry, never knew what he was going to find in the woods, and he itched with boredom. He missed his mom, and his cat, and he didn't think he would miss Tatum so much if it didn't feel like such a waste. He missed Billy, sometimes, too, even when he was right there. And he missed the beach.

Woodsboro was far enough from the coast that getting there was something of a commitment, a road trip that meant waking up early to make the most of the waves before they had to make the drive back. A far cry from Stu's quiet, solitary trudging down the overgrown path, blindly whacking at leaves with a stick that he had picked up with a restless flail of his arm. And the sand in California, while often questionable, certainly wasn't purple. And the girls. Standing on the empty stretch of beach, shoulders drooping, not sure what he expected, Stu pouted out at the waves, then squinted and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glint off of the water. He wasn't completely alone. "Woah!" he called, bouncing down to the damp sand, stick trailing after him drawing a line down the beach, "Where'd you get that?" He hadn't seen a surfboard here before, and the magic box certainly couldn't make one.

[playingtough]

There's a shower of water droplets around Billy as he shakes it free from his curls, easily carrying his board up to the sand. After removing the leg-band, he plants it upright in the sand and looks at this new guy coming to take a look.

"They have this holiday here. Kind of combines Christmas and New Year, and they call it New Tick. I got this the last time they had the holiday. Made us go to another planet and everything." Billy doesn't mention how he got two gifts, or how one was a vase of shells set gently next to his bed in the beach shack.

Billy gives the guy a once-over. "You look new. Been here long?"

[target_audience]

That the aliens had holidays hadn't occurred to Stu, and that they were forced to celebrate them was hysterically sick. It took Stu a moment to work up to that conclusion, and when he did he started to laugh, watching the other guy as he did with his nose wrinkled, ready to be told it was a weird joke. "Thought this was an alien feature, not a cult one," he said, slouching closer to flick a finger off of the propped up surfboard, like he had to make sure it was actually solid.

His laugh was more nervous as he asked, "What gave me away? Never been the new kid in school, man, not sure I like it."

[playingtough]

It was kind of sick, wasn't it? Having to celebrate holidays that might have terrible things in them like fireworks and social gatherings. The surfboard is very real under the guy's flicking finger and Billy shoots the guy a glare. Hands off the board!

He softens it to be less aggressive and crosses his arms over his chest. "Been here over a year, so I've seen everyone already, just not you yet. You'll get used to being new because soon enough you won't be. Someone new will come along to that dumb fountain place and looking for help. I hope you're not looking to me for help because I got a price and it's paid in cigarettes."

[target_audience]

Stu met that glare with a questioning pout, then slouched back with rounded shoulders that made the way he mirrored the guy's crossed arms immediately less confident. With another awkward laugh, he agreed, "Yeah, it's pretty dumb..." though wasn't sure what about it exactly was the dumb part and couldn't continue. Asking for help, maybe. "Those things'll kill you, you know," he pointed out, and despite every other deferential signal, there was a quirk at the corner of his mouth that looked like a challenge.

[madginger]

Even knowing him in California, Billy had still been prickly, to Max, but she knows, yes, he was way worse in Hawkins. Things are better here on Temba, though, she won't deny that.

While she doesn't miss California nearly half as much as Billy, and she adjusted to Hawkins easier than he did, she still does miss the beach. That's why she went out there, to just enjoy the sand, the sound of waves, no matter the color of the sand or the reality of their location. It's still nice to just sit there and watch and listen.

She wasn't expecting the additional show. She smiles, watching him ride, and even cheers for him to make it through, not sure if he can hear her. When he wipes out, Max laughs and shakes her head.

"You were doing great until you wiped out," she tells him as Billy approaches, still shaking her head.

[playingtough]

So much worse in Hawkins. Torn from the very state he loved to be put in some backalley nothing town in east jesus fucking nowhere. Here he's gotten better with attitude and temper, easier to deal with than he was in their own world - for as long as that lasted.

Billy hears her, and maybe it's that which makes him wipe out when he turns his head to find her in the distance. He shakes the water from his curls in a shower of water droplets and reaches over to push her head with some force. "What're you doing out here, shitbird? I've been social, so I hope you're not out here trying to get me to move again. Winter's a few months away still."

[madginger]

She'll take easier, she'll take healing but has a long way to go, she'll take all of it, as long as she finally has the big brother she wanted. Obnoxiousness and all.

Max tries to avoid the push, but she doesn't try that hard, and mostly rolls her eyes at Billy.

"You're not the only one who misses the beach. Not everything's about you," she tells him. Then, a slither more seriously, "I did say I would visit once in a while, didn't I?"

[playingtough]

Emphasis on the obnoxiousness. He grins at her eye roll, but doesn't try to push her again though it's tempting. It's fun to upset her sometimes. "You sure it's not? Really feels like everything's about me and you just haven't caught that memo yet."

Billy uses his foot to dig out a spot in the sand for a moment, then shoves the surfboard into it so that it stands upright without his support. "You did, but it took you long enough to get your ass out here. I haven't seen you since you marched into the diner while I was eating pancakes."

He's in such a good mood. He's been getting all sorts of boyfriend cuddles and he's surfing again. Billy feels free and all of Temba is better for it, in his opinion. "Been getting up to mischief on that stupid skateboard of yours?"

[madginger]

Max has to roll her eyes again as she tells Billy, "Oh, I got that memo. Then burned it." At least, that's what she's going with, now.

"I've been out here since then, you just happen to not be out here at the time. And I was gone for another one of those personal missions. You didn't even notice, this time!" Max points out to him.

But, beat, she looks away, then back to Billy as she grins. "Yes. Having plenty of fun with my gift, too."

I DID IT!

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve is just out for a walk when he happens upon Billy. Which...is it Billy? Steve watches him for a second, sort of surprised by how loose and relaxed he seemed. The laugh he has when he surfaces after the wipe-out is almost weird. No edge to it. No malice. Steve wasn't aware he had a laugh that could sound like that.

He has his shoes in one hand and the other plants on his hip as he walks a bit closer. He keeps his face light and amused.

"The hair makes more sense, now, Cali-boy."

:}

[playingtough]

It is a rare sight to see him so relaxed, isn't it? Rarely did he let his guard down like this, especially around the other Hawkins people. Take the sight in while he doesn't know you're there, Harrington. You might not see it again.

On his way back up to the shore, he notes Steve there with shoes in hand and that other hand on his hip. Billy starts to brace himself for a fight that...

...doesn't come.

No, Steve opens with some semi-witty banter about his hair, and the blond grins. "Now you know why my hair is better than yours," he fires back with, heading up to him, then shaking his hair to spray water at Steve.

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve flinches back from the water but in a prissy way, not really all that concerned with getting damp. "Yeah, you wish, Hargrove. I'll give you the curls are nice, but that's it."

He smiles and runs his hand through his own mane to primp it back up.

"So you have the surfboard and Max has the skateboard. Ever think of swapping?"

[playingtough]

You're gonna flinch? Have some more sprayed at you. Don't come down to the beach if you're scared of getting wet. "The curls are the best. And natural, I don't have to buy out Sally's Beauty Supply just to make my hair look decent."

Did you wanna play this game, Harrington?

Billy uses his foot to kick some water up at him before heading all the way back up into the sand. "Nah. Skateboards don't work out for me. I'll teach her how to surf any day she asks. Ask me nicely and I might think about teaching you. Maybe the aliens'll get me a baby boogie board for you."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve rolls his eyes. He knows the truth. No need to get into a pissing contest about hair.

He glances out to the water and thinks about it. He's not scared of water even though at this point he has every reason to be. He'll swim or slip his feet in with no issue. But surfing takes someone out into the deeper parts. The places where bigger things could lurk underneath, as they've already seen.

"Nah," he says, attempting to keep it light. "I don't think surfing would be my thing. I suck at planting my feet, right?" He means it as a tease, this time. A joke.