Now whenever Billy feels Neil’s knuckles bruise his skin, he no longer thinks of himself. It’s El, the girl he saved and who saved him in return, that’s suddenly at the forefront of his mind. Her little face, her perfect smile, an angel in the dark. That’s why he stays in this godforsaken town, to protect her should the monsters return. That’s why he just stands and takes it whenever Neil decides to take his anger out on him. For her.
But El has had enough. She’s tired of watching this soft, loving man be bloodied and broken just for her. And she’s going to do something about it.
billy and steve who find out theyre soulmates but they hate each other so much they just decide to ignore it and avoid each other at all costs except the universe has decided theyre a joke and keeps placing them in random scenarios together like no matter how hard they try, the other one is just always fucking there and it really pisses them off until one day one of them is in danger and who just so happens to show up last possible second to save their life.... which will also be annoying in two minutes when they get their bearings and get over the adrenaline of "omg i/they almost died"
and from there its still a refusal to admit theyre soulmates, to "ok how about we just try hanging out a couple of times to PROVE we are not in fact soulmates at all actually" to "oh fuck we really are soulmates arent we..."
This is one I almost skipped or thought about asking to have switched because I just made something with unfortunate ice-skating and no new spark would come to mind until it did.. (^_^)v
When Hargrove opens the fridge at the Byers' after their epic, having brought sweetness to his blood flow, fight with Harrington
Everyone around is yelling, the King of losers is stitching up his wounds, having put an icepack on his busted eye,
"Just shut the fuck up, Jesus, let me grab a beer and we're going home, Maxine! I'm not dealing with any more of Neil's bullshit tonight!"
And watches the demodog fall out of it —
He's unfazed.
Infinitely disappointed, probably.
"Fuuuucking shit. Had to relocate to this shithole of a town in the middle of no-fucking-where to face the same motherfucking insanity. God fuuuucking damn it .." Billy lets out a sigh of utter annoyance.
Bummer.
***
A harringrove au where Billy has already seen and fought demodogs a-la californian style, wearing shorts and a tank top. Nothing new, really, been there, done that. There's a crowbar, an axe and a 12 gauge 1887 Winchester shotgun (terminator2 !!) in his baby's trunk. Also, a Colt M1911 and a hammer in the glove compartment.
"Is there a chance you have a bazooka lying around somewhere?" A stunned Harrington is trying to make a joke, clutching his bat and studying the display of weapons.
This week, we're highlighting @ihni! All recs this week will be for her work, both fics and arts. @ihni writes and makes comics for Harringrove and Metalsandwich ships. We're highlighting Ihni for her hilarious dialogues and heartfelt moments. She also puts out adorable Harringrove comics.
You should check out her Pacific Rim MetalSandwich AU for some stellar enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Steve and Billy with Eddie's sincerity and openness gluing the two of them together. And she has books of her comics available here
original image here
She answered some questions about her work under the cut
Why Stranger Things?
It's all Billy's fault, really. I mean, I liked season 1 well enough, but in a more normal-person, casual-watcher way. Then season 2 showed up and ... to be honest I didn't like Billy much at first. But then that scene with his dad happened, which explained a lot about him, and I did a 180 and adopted him as my favorite on the spot. Looked for fanfics, found fanfics, and that was that. He's been my #1 since then.
What's your favorite ship (platonic or romantic) to create for?
Honestly, ships are less important to me than (my favorite) characters, and I usually like any situation where characters interact with each other, and I like seeing what happens. I will write and create works where Billy interacts with just about anyone, because it's interesting and fun. Romantically though? I'm a Harringrover at heart (ie Billy/Steve), but am also not opposed to Mungrove (Billy/Eddie) or Metalsandwich (Billy/Steve/Eddie). (When reading, I am not opposed to other Billy ships - as long as it's a gay ship - but I don't really create for it ... except that one Billy/Argyle fic I did, which I just remembered.) All that was a long way of saying: As long as Billy's there and somewhat of a focus (and it's not a het ship), I'm in.
What's your typical writing process like?
Lots of groaning, lots of staring at a screen, lots of checking tumblr and discord and youtube, lots of doing literally anything but writing (like sorting through the bathroom cabinet or making a piercing cradle for future bookbinding projects, etc). Sometimes, inspiration strikes and I can write a whole fic in a day or two, just to forget everything I've written immediately after posting and being surprised to re-read it a couple of weeks later. But often, it's somewhat of a struggle. Normally, I am a pretty slow writer (see abovementioned penchant for distractions), so it often takes me YEARS to finish a longer fic. But I normally don't post WIPs, so it doesn't matter that it takes me a while because no one is expecting anything from me. I recently posted my longest fic yet (first one to reach 100K, wohoo!), and that took over 6,5 years for me to finish.
What's your typical drawing process like?
Depends on what it is. If it's doodles, then a quick sketch, then lines, then erasing the sketch, and then colours (and if it's something else, well then it depends on what media it is; acrylics, pens, pencils, oils ... I like to try a bit of everything). I prefer watercolours for colouring doodles but I only have a TINY bit of black left in the watercolour set that I normally use to colour, so I'm gonna have to do something about that soon. Also I have done most of my doodles on the same kind of paper (I have like, 12 of the same kind of drawing ... pads? Book of blank papers! ... that I got at my old workplace, but I'm on my last one now so soon I'll have to switch to either a different kind of paper, or to drawing on the back of the doodles I have already done! I don't like that thought of that - I am a creature of habit that way.
Bonus: a picture of the doodles I have done that I still have (with some, I have sent them off to whoever inspired/asked for them)
Where do you get inspiration for your doodle faces?
You mean the faces on the doodles? I honestly don't know, I just want them to express some kind of emotion, and I try to convey that in the simplest forms possible. Sometimes, I succeed.
What's been your favorite project so far? Why?
Oh no, why would you ask me that? It's like asking me to choose between my children (I don't have children, but like, if I DID). I like a lot of what I've done, actually. I can't say that I've had a favorite, but if I go back and look at some old doodles or read an old fic of mine, I can feel very proud of myself and be happy that I did it that way. I also like having physical evidence that I've done something, so I have put my doodles into books and I've printed off my own fics and put them in my bookcase, and sometimes when I feel like I have done nothing with my life, I look at them and think "Actually, look at what I've done" and then I get to mentally pat myself on the shoulder and feel better.
What's been your hardest project so far? Why?
There have been some fics that have been difficult to write. Most often, it's one that is for another person, like for an exchange or something - then, I really want to make something for the recipient that they will like, but sometimes what they are asking for or their favorite things are things that don't come naturally for me to write. So then I'll have to struggle a bit. It's always harder with ideas that didn't pop up in my brain unannounced. I still try to do my best with them, though, because I want the recipient to be happy.
Is there a big source of inspiration for you? Books? Art? Games?
Well for doodles, I'd say tumblr. Many doodles have been inspired by or straight-up taken from tumblr posts. For writing, it can be anything; books, scenes from shows, movies ... I am very damaged by now, so when I watch a movie there is always a part of my brain that are going "How can we make this about Billy" or "How can we make this Harringrove". I have a long list of AUs that would 100% work for them, that will never get written by me.
Is there an upcoming project you're particularly excited about?
Not a particular one, I'd say. I have a couple of WIPs, and one fic that I'm kind of close to finishing, so I'm very much looking forward to finishing that one. I'm always excited about finishing fics and posting them, because then they are finally out of my brain - there's too much rattling in there anyway, on a good day, so anything that gets finished is cause for celebration! XD
Do you have a memorable comment or some other interaction with your work?
Many. I love comments, and I save every single one. I have a specific folder in my email inbox where I save all AO3 comments for rainy days, when I need a pick-me-up. Just in the last month or so I have been lucky enough to receive several comments that straight-up made me blush, I was so happy to read them. And while I love ALL comments (including single-sentence ones, keysmashes and emojis), I have two favorite kinds of comments:
The longer ones where someone takes the time to tell me what they liked, or theorize about the events/characters, or what something made them feel.
The ones left by someone I know; friends and people whose usernames I recognize. I don't know why, but it feels extra special when someone I know a little choose to read/look/reblog and leave a comment.
But that said, all are good. Fandom is a community, and I am 100% pro-feedback.
Is there anything we didn't ask that you'd like to add?
Just reiterating that I am pro-feedback. I try to always leave a comment or a tag on the things I see and like, because I know how happy it makes me, and there's nothing wrong with trying to spread a little happiness around in these times. If something I have made has made someone smile, then mission accomplished. We live in complicated times and some days it feels like we are bombarded by bad vibes from all sides, so fandom should be fun and simple and good vibes only. We all need a respite, sometimes. And for me, fandom is just that.
I sculpted my favorite guys in the Animal Crossing art style forever ago, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that this piece will never be “finished” in my eyes so I’m just gonna go ahead and share it as it stands now
Or so, Steve tells himself when he starts to chant the summoning spell.
They're really doing it. Summoning a demon to fight Vecna. Because Hawkins might as well be hell, the floor is lava isn't a game anymore.
The lights flicker. It smells like sulfur - and the like cigarette smoke and cologne. A familiar smell, Steve realizes.
"Shit," he says.
Billy Hargrove blinks back at him, standing in the middle of the pentagram. All denim, a cigarette behind his ear and his ear ring reflecting the candlelight a little. Everything's the same, except for two black horns on his head.
He grimaces. "Seriously."
"You're a demon," Steve says flatly. Or maybe the demon just looks like Billy?
"That's what my old man always called me." Billy shrugs. "Turned out he's right."
Steve sucks in a deep breath. "We need help. We gotta safe the city."
Billy snorts and stares out of the window, probably at the house across the street that has been split in two. "Nothing left to save, pretty boy."
"It's my home." Steve grits his teeth. "And I summoned you, so you have to obey."
"Bossy." Billy rolls his eyes.
"I need you to help us. We need someone who can get close to Vecna without getting hurt."
Billy stays silent for a while. He's not as tanned as he was before, but being dead probably does that.
"I got hurt," he says, his words heavy in the room's quiet.
Steve's chest tightens. He feels like a dick for reminding Billy of his death. He remembers Billy screaming, Billy bleeding, Billy standing up against a monster he didn't have any chance with.
"I'm sorry," he says. It's not enough. How can it be?
A red shine flares in Billy's eyes. He grins crookedly. "Second time's the charm. Now I can't get hurt."
DACRE M0NTG0MERY of 'Went Up the Hill' is photographed for Los Angeles Times on September 6, 2024 during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario.
#we all know and love werewolf!billy#but imagine#chrissy who’s soft and gentle and unassuming#turning into a giant hulking man-eating motherfucker every full moon#murdering jason on accident#showing up to billy’s all yellow-eyed and drenched in blood bc she thinks he’s also a werewolf#mostly bc of the way he talks about himself#(like ohh i’m bad i’m evil i’ve got secrets)#but he’s just gay#he’s cool with it tho#jokes abo her killing neil for him too
"I don't see how anyone can like stranger things after (insert thing from show)" baby I am in love with a version of stranger things that is so gay, so horny, and so far detached from canon that you wouldn't even be able to comprehend it.
Do Better, Billy Hargrove @dobetterbillyhargrove - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
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