THE DORK KNIGHT

Just Keys is fine, thanks.

[king-keery-archive]

Joe Keery as STEVE HARRINGTON STRANGER THINGS 01x02 “Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street”

[keysandthankyou]

[keysandthankyou]

laracruzs​:

time: late-evening location: alcott dorm availability: closed for @keysandthankyou

She’d been searching for Parisa almost as soon as Ogden was consumed by this no-light, inky-black, anxiety-inducing veil, feeling out the darkness with Alethea moments prior. Fingers shifting along the barres within the dance studio before she met the outside world. The quad quick to swallow her in a deep abyss, Alcott no different. The hallways were filled with this silent, eeriness; obscure in all the ways the mind could fool you. A fridge would look like the Boogeyman, a coat like the Jersey Devil. This obscurity nursing a twisting, uneasy feeling which existed internally - like she’d been cast as the final girl to some budget horror movie. If only she possessed the assets which took you out in the first half.                Flicking on her phone torch, Lara pursues along the stretch of the corridor which harbours both her own dormitory and her friends. She could hide out in her own, of course. But Lara had never been much of a fan of the dark and something still perched on the tip of her tongue. Desperate to teeter off the edge and unveil her inner thoughts. What was seemingly so obvious, however, yet the brunette had unaccounted for, was how such an idea was equally shared among the student body. Individuals hiding out in their rooms, the occasional meandering past her with a cautious gait. And then she grew startled, the sound of another all too close for comfort; her free hand raising upwards to strike at the threat.              “What the fu-” words catch in her throat, the sight of a familiar quiff akin to a truce on a battlefield. Their last interaction plays out in her mind at the sight of him; the very sequence she’d sought Parisa out for. “Keys?”

.

The excitement had come and gone for Keys. He’d passed by a group of knuckle draggers on the quad throwing a party and grunting at each other in their own little made-up single-braincell language. They had been playing what looked like monkey in the middle with a much smaller student’s hat. It’d left a bitter taste in his mouth as he’d trudged back towards Alcott. He figured he’d stop by Nate’s room to see if he was around before he just gave up and holed himself up in his room with a (hopefully) charged Switch, his mood having taken a nosedive the last week or so and steadily dropping.

So, of course, that was when the universe or fate or whoever it was getting a kick out of using him for a big ole cosmic joke decided to put him directly in Lara’s path. He came to an abrupt stop, his drunken (but still all too clear) words repeating in his mind. It’d been the last time he’d seen her, though his neurotic brain had circled that particular drain every single moment since it’d happened. 

“Surprise,” he said, voice a little dry, though he cleared it as if it had been a product of the weather. “I’m just, uh...” he pointed over her shoulder in the direction of Nate’s room, his eyes finding purchase on the ground rather than her face. “You, uh— you looking for Zach? Pretty sure I saw him,” being a total tool, “out on the quad.”

[keysandthankyou]

laracruzs​:

-

“Okay, party animal. Just don’t try and hump any of the guests.” Her pink-lips stretch out with amusement. A laugh almost on the horizon and then it falls mute, Lara tilting her head away from him to survey the influx of fraternity bro’s. A mismatched group of seniors. One snags on the eye. “Although, actually-” her forefinger glides towards the group of howling sophomores, they’re encircled by empty plastic cups and their own t-shirts - “they might be into it.” She’s distracted by the crushing of a beer can, a student eager to mimic a slam-dunk as another cheers wildly - the arms-in-the-air kind of excitement - at the performance. As if the final buzzer had rung out between these four walls and his friend had just scored the victory. “Have you seen Rhia? I was hoping she’d introduce me to the jock over there. Unless…” She nudges him now, playfully, a flutter of eyelashes peering upwards. 

.

Like a pinhole in a balloon, Keys deflated little by little. His false bravado had been borrowed by the alcohol and it was retreating now, leaving him alone and defenseless as Lara’s eyes slid to some other guy and back, glittering in a way he already knew he’d be unable to deny. Even if the request might very well kill him. Because Keys didn’t know a whole lot of people, but because he was some sort of cosmic joke that existed only to keep the universe entertained, he actually did know the guy she’d just pointed out. “Oh. Uh.” Rocks had settled into the pit of his stomach, a leaden weight anchoring him to the spot. “Yeah, I know Zach. We can— we can,” he cleared his throat, “I can introduce you. If you want.”

[lilyfeicosta]

who: @keysandthankyou​ where: the arts building when: october 1st, blackout mini event

this was the last time lily ever did anyone a favor. especially one that’d been partway based in vanity. she supposed it was karma, in that way—the world throwing it back in her face that she hadn’t done something out of utter altruism. then again, she was never one to believe in things like karma and fate. the world was twisted in its own incomprehensible way, even getting in the way of her offering to be a figure model for an art student. an art student that had been running late, mind you. but the universe scarcely cared for details.

at least she knew her way around the building, playing both sides in the war between STEM and the arts. lily held her old model iphone—flashlight on—out in front of her as she traced the hallway towards the exit. sure, the schoolwide safety text had urged students to stay in place, but what harm could going back to her dorm room do? her mind was made up. that is, until she turned a corner, bright light suddenly coming upon another figure. “jesus christ—” lily hissed, jerking herself backwards. she’d never considered herself easy to scare, but apparently, a mop of curly brown hair and a few inches on her height-wise did the trick. to be fair, anyone cornering a young woman such as herself alone in a dark building was terrifying. “if this is the end,” she added in a deflated tone, throwing her hands up in defeat, “at least make it quick.”

[keysandthankyou]

It wasn’t unusual for Keys to find himself alone in the arts building. He had an open invitation from his professor (or that’s what he’d claim if ever anyone asked) to raid the art supplies cabinet to his hearts’ content. And considering the bruised state of said heart, that contentment meant getting elbow deep in some oil paints. 

And, then, of course, right when he’d begun to really find a groove, the world was thrown into darkness. A buzzing sort of silence filled the room as a dripping paintbrush hovered in the space between hand and canvas, a blink as he waited for it to return. The text that came in a few minutes later urging students to remain indoors told him all he needed to know about that. Sighing, he dipped the paintbrush in his little cup of water until the bristles ran clean and began to pack up by the light of his phone.

Arms full of supplies, he turned a corner and nearly ran right into someone else. He had no free hand to block out the bright light of the phone’s flashlight and he couldn’t see who was speaking to him through the light burns in his eyes and the, you know, whole power outage thing, but he still blinked and tried to pick out any discernible features in the dark. Instead, an unsteady sort of chuckle left him. “I mean, all I’ve really got is a paintbrush, so if you don’t mind waiting while I whittle it into a shiv, then you’ve got yourself a deal.” A beat of silence ate up the space between them and Keys shifted his feet a little anxiously. “Any idea what happened?”

[keysandthankyou]

parisadavani​:

Parisa chuckled at the description they gave of their actual current state. “Could’ve fooled me. Do you play out here often?” she began asking, cut off by her phone buzzing with Lara’s caller ID showing up. Giving the other student an apologetic look, the brunette answered. “Hey Lara, yeah?” Parisa spoke into the phone. “You’re right, I totally forgot about that - I’ll be there in fifteen, so sorry!” And when she hung up the phone, she turned back to the musician. “I’m sorry, I gotta go - my best friend just called me. I forgot I had something to handle with her. But, uh, keep playing. Don’t let anyone kill your vibe, okay?”

.

“Not really,” he replied with a shrug. Normally, he could be found locked up in his room like a cave dweller playing video games or spending three solid weeks on a painting without making contact with the outside world. He fell silent as her phone rang, pressing his lips together as he shifted his gaze forward, feeling uncomfortably like he was eavesdropping on a private moment even though he’d been here first. His fingers plucked quietly, delicately on the strings, a nonsensical tune to let her know that he was giving her privacy. But Lara’s name went off like a siren in his mind and his head swung back to her. He watched her pocket her phone and make her excuses and he could only nod, tongue-tied as though the object of his affection was standing before him rather than the ghost of her name that hung in the air. “Tell her I said hi,” he said, shooting for casual and almost definitely landing somewhere among desperate.

[nowadayz]

STEVE HARRINGTON Stranger Things, 2.02

[keysandthankyou]

jacqui-velazquez​:

-

“Bond, James Bond,” Jacqui drawled in response as they stretched out, the picture of ease in their position, their own work forgotten as they curiously watched him. He set the alarm, quickly turning a page before meeting Jacqui’s gaze, a smile spreading across their lips. “I gathered the five minutes thing, from the alarm,” she said, a small giggle leaving her lips before she lapsed into silence, waiting with curiosity evident on their face to see what he was getting up to. 

While they were waiting, Jacqui tipped their head back slightly, turning their face towards the bright fall sun with their eyes shut, basking in the perfect autumn day until they heard the sound of the alarm go off, instantly opening their eyes as their face turned back towards Keys. “So?” they asked, rather impatiently. 

.

Objectively, Jacqui was attractive. This was not a fact of which Keys was unaware. But there was something in the way they snapped back, seemingly always ready with a witty quip that Keys found undeniably cute. It made it both easier and more difficult to look up, to trace their features as his pencil roved over the paper quickly, making delicate but deliberate marks. 

He felt suddenly shy as his alarm went off and Jacqui demanded payment for her patience. He pulled the sketchbook close to his chest for a moment before letting out one single breath. This hadn’t gone well for him in the past, had left him with a complex that tasted a whole lot like shame. But he did finally turn it towards them, fingers pressed into the corners as he held it out in offering. 

The sketch was rough, maybe even rudimentary in some places, but it was Jacqui sitting across from him, eyes closed, face stretched towards the sun. He studied them closely, trying to gauge the reaction like at any moment he was prepared to cut and run. “It’s no Brown Eyed Girl, but...” he shrugged, mouth curling in a half-smile. “Sometimes God gives with both hands.”

[keysandthankyou]

n8-shaw​:

-

“Not offering to share was rude,” he said, a hint of a snarl in his words, though he didn’t imbue any real animosity into it - he never would with Keys. Nate lifted one hand up, his thumb and index finger each rubbing at one of his eyes, sliding to pinch the bridge of his nose before he let out a heavy sigh. “Nah,” he said, like the answer was casual, easily thrown out there in response and then moved on from. He paused, not looking at Keys, looking down at the arm of the couch he was sprawled on, fingers pulling at a loose thread. He knew he relied on Keys’ father for too much, had gone to him one too many times after getting himself in trouble - it was how their entire friendship started, after all. But this time, with the cops asking him back in for a second interview, which he was sure was only thanks to Jesse unable to keep his fucking mouth shut…. he couldn’t have a repeat of the shit that went down his senior year. “I think I might need to call your dad, mate,” he finally said, the words quiet as he admitted them, as if merely saying them, acknowledging that his friend’s father might be able to help - if necessary - would make things worse. 

.

Keys, having just shoved several Cheetos into his mouth, chewed noisily as Nate spoke. A jeer in and of itself. He was used to these foul moods, had masterfully crafted a skill for chipping away at it until he earned a grunt that Keys decided was a laugh and called it a win. But there was a sort of tension in the air, expanding in the room like a rubber band pulled too taut. Like at any moment it might snap. So the mention of his father had him stopped mid-chew, swallowing down the lump of processed cardboard in a single gulp. “My dad?” he repeated dumbly. “Shit, man. Is it serious serious? How did it go? What did they say?”

[keysandthankyou]

maevedjae​:

.

Maeve hands shot out a little to her sides when the music stopped the moment they seemed to realize whose presence he was in. Cat got your tongue? danced on her palate but was never said because he finally spoke and her brows raised a little. “Watch your tone,” she said, words honey sweet but not lacking what resembled a threat. It was fair to say that her reputation was polarized but she didn’t come by this reaction that often. “We’re hardly in the woods, and… You’re in a public space, not your dorm. It sounded like an invitation to me.”  

.

Keys blinked, taken very suddenly aback by just how carelessly the sharpened edges of her words were hidden between a too-bright smile. So, clearly she was not a fan of dry humor. Most people weren’t, they’d come to find. But now he just felt... awkward. And trapped. “Oh wow,” he said, eyes widening and eyebrows raising. “You’re really good at the whole pretend sweet but actually terrifying thing. Do you practice that in the mirror?”

[laracruzs]

time: 22:40 location: the party availability: closed for @keysandthankyou

Lara’s interlaced between the fused bodies on a make-shift dancefloor, music swallowing up the words of a jock who’s boasting into her eardrums. Something, something, the team would be nothing without me, something, something. She has half a mind to yawn, to roll her large, doe eyes just enough that he’ll get the picture, but a friend drags him up onto a coffee table by the bicep and they begin to chant encouragement for the next beer-keg victim. It’s a frat-boy ritual. Drink to the point of oblivion and then piece together the fragments in the following morning. The brunette lifts her own cup to her lips at the thought and only then does she notice it’s empty; a final shove to disband from this inner circle, the kitchen harbouring her refill.            “Where is the vodka, where is the vodka, where is the vodka?” Her tone is an utterance to herself alone, it’s barely audible, repeated over and over as she plucks out numerous containers grouped together on the countertop. Wine, rum, lemonade. All of which are anything but what her heart desires. “Why is there no vodka?” She pouts in response, angling her gaze towards the furthest corner of the kitchen. A remaining collection of half-drank liquor bottles reside there, one appearing particularly promising, as they lure her from one side of the room to the other. “Can I just get to-” a pause, Lara stepping backwards to survey them entirely. “It’s you.” She sounds surprised. Half-expecting Keys to have left far earlier. “I didn’t know if you’d still be here.” Lara waggles the empty drinks cup in the air as she speaks. “I’m just after a refill.”

[keysandthankyou]

At some point during the night, Keys hit a wall. He was largely out of his element in... pretty much any situation that required human interaction. But especially in the middle of a party. He’d lost Nate, he’d lost Rhia, and after a bit more than a couple drinks, he’d lost the ability to care about any of it. 

He was about ninety percent certain he’d just spent a better part of half an hour talking the ear off another junior who he’d seen wearing a shirt with the Flash symbol on it. And if the raging disappointment that fluttered around in his chest was anything to go by, she likely hadn’t know what the fuck he was talking about. A shimmy walk to the kitchen to grab another drink and he’d forgotten the whole thing.

But he couldn’t forget her voice, some intrinsic part of him sitting up and paying attention as he heard it and turned, looking right into chocolate brown eyes. “Lara! Hey!” He laughed, a little startled— and for some reason, that was endlessly funny to him. The humor stuttered in surprise at her words. She didn’t know if he’d still be here. Did that mean, at some point during the night, she’d wondered if he was still around? Holy shit, he needed to be cool. “Pfft. Lara, please. Of course I’m here. I am a party animal. Just... absolutely feral,” he said, scrunching his nose as he flexed his fingers into claws and raked them through the air as if to prove his point.

There. Cool. Totally cool.

[acecroft]

Steve Harrington in STRANGER THINGS 4.06

[djoslider-deactivated20230802]

steve harrington outfit rankings (as voted by my followers) ↴

10. “Coke Ad” Season 3 - 178 votes

[keysandthankyou]

montyrichler​:

“Oh, dude.” The word sounded almost pained as it came from Monty, like he was preparing to share in some unnamable misery despite the tired smile that was still stretching across his lips. “I thought you were gonna say you only play Brown Eyed Girl for the meme of it all or something. For the lulz.” For a second there, Keys really did have him going, the same repetitive chords echoing eerily around the Quad with no discernable source in sight. If they hadn’t piped up, it was likely that Monty would’ve wandered right along and convinced himself he was entering a math-induced psychotic break. “I definitely recommend Tiptoe Through the Tulips first if you’re expanding your repertoire,” he said while nodding. “Kinda perfect to set the mood in dusty, secluded corners.”

.

“Well, if I had known I’d have company, I would’ve done something impressive. But yeah, sure, it’s absolutely for the meme of it all. Totally on purpose, my lack of hand eye coordination and inability to learn any other chords in any other order.” He glanced down at the strings, plucked one for good measure. “But check back with me in...” They glanced down at their wrist though there was no watch there, “three years or so to check on my progress.” 

[keysandthankyou]

callowayfox​:

          Cal wasn’t even sure what they were looking for right now, but it hadn’t been Keys. “Who said I was disappointed? Obviously you’re not a superstar. That would be me.” Hardly. Callow was only ever popular with one group of people and even then they didn’t have the best reputation. There was a reason that they were here rather than back in New York. “I was hoping for… I don’t know actually. Something, I guess.” 

          He didn’t know what he was supposed to do now since this was awkward now. “I know how to play a ton of songs. I learned back in high school when I was bored.” They liked playing, but singing felt more natural. “Well then nevermind. I don’t have patience. I can play something else though. If you’re tired of the same song.” 

.

Keys let out a laugh, the truth of the words lost on him. If it wasn’t alt rock from the early 2000s or before, it was likely Keys knew very little. But awkward moments were sort of where he flourished, straightening as he tilted his chin higher. “Well, I guess you are in luck, because, at the very least, I am something.”

His lips turned down with interest as he looked his new company up and down. He’d picked up the ukulele as a reason to pass the time when invites to birthday parties never made their way to him in school; it’d never been meant for anything serious, so he handed it over easily. “It deserves someone who knows what they’re doing.” Once the instrument had passed hands, Keys dug around in his bag for his real talent, producing the sketchbook that went with him everywhere. “Mind if I...” he gestured down to the blank sheet of paper he’d flipped to.

[keysandthankyou]

laraersoy​:

.

“It’s a crime, Keys,” her tone couldn’t stress the matter enough, Lara’s expression teetering towards bewilderment. Surely this was common knowledge - like how you shouldn’t stare at the sun because it could make you go blind. “Please tell me you’ve seen Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the 2001 American Music Awards?” The question remained hopeful, hanging on his response. She deems him the type to have seen a meme or two. “It’s only one of the most iconic moments of that year. Alongside me being born, obviously.”

.

“Oh, no.” Keys intoned, his voice full of false panic. “Does this mean I’ll have to tell my dad his son is a criminal? He’s gonna be so disappointed.” And it was probably clear by the look on his face as she mentioned Britney and Justin that this was a subject in which he was not educated. “You know, I think I missed that one, must have coincided with Rugrats. I was very serious about Rugrats.” His lips pulled up in a half smile that he hoped looked easy, no window into the panicking soul beneath at keeping up this interaction without, like, throwing up on himself or something. 

“Obviously.” Was he staring? He blinked, dropping his gaze. “So what iconic moment did I miss from the AMAs while Tommy Pickles tried to teach me how to be a rebel?”

[keysandthankyou]

jacqui-velazquez​:

-

“Didn’t sound too terrible to me,” Jacqui said, shrugging up their shoulders as they took a few steps closer, unable to prevent the wide smile that spread across their face as he started playing again, perhaps easily amused but appreciating it all the same. Sure, music had technically good and technically bad, but Jacqui was far more likely to lean into the subjectiveness of it, and how people got enjoyment out of it. And the silly song definitely provided some enjoyment. “Excellent improvisation,” they said through a giggle as they went more into the quiet, cleared area where he was sitting, lowering themselves to a seat beside him. “I truly don’t mind if you continue playing. Ambiance counts as quiet. Though I am intrigued enough about these silent hobbies that I may take you up on that spying offer.” 

.

Keys sat up a little straighter beneath the praise, even if his ears burned a little with the attention. He hadn’t picked up the ukulele because he was under any kind of impression that one day the name Keys McKey might be synonymous with rock star. And having any sort of audience left him feeling immense pressure to perform. So when they took a seat and offered him an out, he was all too happy to take it. “Just call yourself James Bond,” he said, setting aside the ukulele and reaching into his backpack to pull out a sketch book, its pages curling at the edges, well loved and long since broken in. “Hey Siri, set an alarm for five minutes from now.” 

His phone’s screen came to life. “I’ve set your alarm for—”

He cut Siri off there, flipping open to an empty page before his eyes flicked up to meet theirs, feeling much more confident in his art than he had his music. “Just give me five minutes and I’ll blow your mind.”