#like they don't get along well but he still wouldn't want nancy to be treated like THAT

[soniclion92]

I bet Mike was so happy when Nancy finally dumped Steve tbh

[starkstruck27]

Tag game: Stranger Things Edition!!

I was tagged by my bestie @oopsiedaisiesbaby. Love you!!💚💚

1. Ride or die ship (your otp): Harringrove

2. Most annoying ship: Mileven

3. Second favorite ship: probably mungrove (bonus points if I get the best of both worlds and it ends up as harringroveson)

4. Favorite platonic relationship: Either stobin or elmax. They're both amazing <3

5. Underrated ship: gonna go with elmax again for this one. Or Keg Boys. I feel like they don't get as much love as they deserve.

6. Overrated ship: normally I would say steddie, but I also love them, too, so I'm gonna say ronance. I can see it, but at the same time... meh?

7. One thing I would change in canon: a lot of the random, unneeded deaths. Bob, Billy, Alexei, Benny, Barb, Chrissy? I feel like none of those needed to happen for the plot to move along, and even if they did, like they didn't have to make them like an "Oh well, they're dead :/" thing. Like, they didn't deserve that. And even if they didn't do that, the way the other characters reacted to the deaths was kinda shallow, too. Like Nancy losing Barb would broken my heart a lot more if they didn't use her mourning as a plot device to make her lose Steve and hook up with Jonathan.

8. Something canon did right: the character dynamics. The way they had the kids fighting over petty shit while bad things were happening, how Dustin didn't have a dad so he latched onto Steve as an older brother type positive influence, the way Hopper had to get used to being a dad again and ask Joyce for help? All of that was just beautifully done.

9. A thing I'm proud of creating for the Fandom PLEASE BRAG ABOUT YOURSELF I WANT TO SEE/READ YOUR ART: All of my works on Ao3, but probably my favorite (at the moment) is my fic So Give Him Inches and Feed Him Well or my six fic series Cool To Hate.

10. A character who is perfect to me (wouldn't change a thing): Max, Lucas, Dustin and Will. They're all so sweet and funny and I love them.

11. The character I relate to the most and why: normally I would say Billy, but lately it's been more Max. She's stuck in a house with a jerk of an older brother who goes off like a volcano over the littlest things, though most of the time he's dormant unless he wants to annoy her, and she has to witness him and the only father figure she has fighting all the time. Getting into screaming matches, sometimes getting physical, and while in my situation it's more the son causing problems for the father, it's still bad. The only reprieve I get is when I'm out with my friends, and even though I still care about both of them, I'm starting to lose that love for one of them (in her case Neil, in my case my brother) because of how they treat everyone else and acts like everything is normal afterwards.

12. The character I hate the most and why: Karen Fucking Wheeler. How she can go from being a concerned, doting mother in season one to pretty much a sexual predator in the span of a few seasons, I'll never know. I could understand if she cheated on Ted and went after someone her own age, but the fact that she went after a boy no older than her daughter just makes me sick. And yes, Billy flirted with her, too, but come on. He's a misguided 17-18 year old abused kid looking for any kind of affection wherever he can get it. And Karen is the adult. She should fucking know better.

13. Something I've learned from the fandom: How to politely disagree with people and kill them with kindness. That's why I have an anti's ask pinned to the top of my blog, because I want people to know that I don't care who or what they like, so I'll respect them, but if they come onto my blog actively trying to start shit, I will not fucking stand for it :)

14. Three tags I seek out on Ao3: hurt/comfort, Fluff and Angst, and enemies to lovers.

15. A song I strongly associate with my otp/favorite characters: I made a whole playlist dedicated to Billy, so.... but if I had to pick -

For harringrove: In The Woods Somewhere by Hozier or Don't You Dare (Make Me Fall In Love With You) by Kaden MacKay

For Billy: Far Too Young To Die by Panic! At The Disco, Beautiful Girls by Van Halen, Bella by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Cherry Pie by Warrant. Also pretty much Guns N Roses' entire discography.

So, everyone I usually tag for these has already done it (I think), but on the off chance you didn't, I'll tag @thissortofsorcery and @half-oz-eddie , as well as anyone else who wants to participate!

[two-sides-samecoin]

I watched the elevator scene where they apologize to each other and Nancy says "The things I said yesterday, I didn’t mean them. I don’t think you’re like those assholes. At all. I never have. I was just-" and that's mostly fine on it's own, but Nancy doesn't acknowledge that she belittled Jonathan's class issues. Fine. And then Jonathan acknowledges that Nancy was angry and he doesn't understand it, but he admits that he was wrong. And then he says "Don't let that go to your head." and Nancy's reply is " I won't" and if the interaction ended here, I would have been fine. I would have been upset that we never got Jonathan's point of view of the fight and that Nancy never apologized for her classist statements but it's fine.

But then Nancy says, "I just look forward to you never doubting me" AND THAT'S WHAT RUINS IT FOR ME. I personally think Nancy's apology is mediocre and doesn't acknowledge the initial conflict of Nancy getting them fired and not realizing what that job meant for Jonathan. But that one line. That one line. Ruins it. Because both Nancy and Jonathan were in the wrong in the fight, but that line gives Nancy the upper hand, if that makes sense. They don't leave that fight on equal ground. We see Nancy come out of the fight as though she was right all along even though she was wrong as well.

Also it bugs me when people look at this scene and say that Steve would not have done this, he wouldn't have! Because his family is financially well off! They act if as though Steve and Jonathan have the same background but Steve likes Nancy more so he wouldn't have done that! I guarantee if Steve had been cut off by his parents and reliant on his own income, he would be equally mad that Nancy got them fired!

i’m so happy that is this making you go back and rewatch stuff.

honestly i high key agree with you that in the elevator that it seems fine. like there’s still some moments that it’s like ‘okay i’m still annoyed that they didn’t have some acknowledgement about some aspects of the fight but it seems fine.’ but then nancy’s line of ‘i just look forward to you never doubting me again’ line just pisses me the fuck off and it ruins EVERYTHING! nancy just admitted what she thinks of jonathan but suddenly it’s like ‘okay but never doubt me’ which is like just so yikes!

yes i also agree that nancy’s apology didn’t actually address the problems that they actually had - instead she kind of just skirts around the issues honestly. also it shows to me that she herself doesn’t fully understand the problem at hand! because she only acknowledges the way she was treated by the bosses saying that she doesn’t think jonathan is like them - which i’m sorry but what kind of apology is this? but anywayyy

yes i totally get what you mean about nancy having the upper hand!!! because this one line shows how nancy needs someone to trust her whole heartedly and for no one to ever question her. she also words it in a way where there’s going to be in the future because the way it comes out and worded: nancy genuinely doesn’t want anyone specifically jonathan to question her. she needs someone to just blindly follow her which i think we can also see that appear in a lot of the other seasons. anyway lol yeah like nancy comes out of it all right when she was also in the wrong. especailly considering that we once never see how jonathan is reacting to all of this. and there’s a heavy bias to leave jonathan’s perspective out of the situation which heavily shows when nancy gets to talk with her mom about everything going on with the job and jonathan but jonathan doesn’t have one scene where he talks to his mom or will about the fight with nancy and the problems happening at work. it’s just this honestly: the writers created a conflict between two characters where both were wrong but only focused on one perspective and didn’t do their own damn job of seeing how BOTH characters are affected and wrong. which also isn’t the first time they’ve done this sooo yeahhh

i also hate the steve thing because like you said people act as if jonathan and steve are the same person when they’re not at all!!! also i hate this argument even more because like why would steve even find a job at the newspaper? idk it just doesn’t fit with his personality and his hobbies to work at a newspaper place so i’m so confused whenever people bring this up because it’s so hard for me to see him willingly work there

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Good Girl, Bad Boy (Pt.13 of 15)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 1.9 K

Summary: You're the extreme opposite of Billy Hargrove. The good girl, with perfect grades, the child every mother wants to have. And you don't want to have nothing to do with his kind. Ignoring Billy – and his constant, lingering stare – became an habit. But after you're put together for a special school program, you'll have no choice but to get along with him. And soon enough you'll find out that Billy is so much more than just Hawkins' bad boy.

<-Previous part (12)

Next part (14) ->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

{Dacre Montgomery Masterlist}

×

Monster

“Billy has improved. A lot.” Seated on Mrs. Martinez's office, you go over why Billy deserves a good recommendation letter. Half the teachers already agreed, much more because of you than because of him, but that's not the point. “He doesn't get a C since he started, he wants to be a Marine Biologist and he gets straight As on Biology and honestly, he's actually helping me on Chemistry.”

“I've been tracking his progress and I've been impressed with your work. Billy Hargrove is by far the best in the program.” She read some files, putting them down before looking up at you. “I also noticed that you two became very close.”

“Mmm, yeah... W-we're dating.” You stutter, clearing your throat. “But it doesn't change the fact that he's doing great. I mean, Billy does want to go to college and–”

“Don't worry about it. A student's love life isn't my business. I just mentioned it because it was impossible not to notice.” She smiles and you blush even more. “Well, I'll be happy to write him a good recommendation letter. But for the principal, it'll be good if you get some of Billy's friends to make some reports. But we can arrange it immediately if you want. The Principal is in a meeting but I can let you know as soon as he's available if you manage to get some people right now.”

You stand up, smiling. “I can. Thank you so much.” Mrs. Martinez got that urgency of the matter, and you're more than eager to keep that up. “I'll gather some people and whenever you're ready I'll be at the parking lot.”

“Sounds good.”

“Alright.” With another ‘thank you’, you rush outside, walking fast to the parking lot. Billy is leaning against his car, and Nancy and the others are near Steve's car, a couple of feet away.

“Princess of Hawkins number two. Are we going or not?” Steve asks, making Billy notice your presence. “I'm dying for some ice cream.”

“Actually, I need a huge favor from the three of you.” Keeping your voice soft, you walk over to Billy, standing next to him. The stick on his mouth gets your attention, and you raise an eyebrow at him. “Is that my lollipop? That I was saving up?”

“...No.” He mutters, with a half-smile as he takes the candy off his mouth. “Maybe. But we can share.” Billy gives you the lollipop and you roll your eyes, biting back a smile before putting it into your mouth. And for some reason, Billy has that stupid smirk on his face

“That's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen,” Steve speaks up, getting your attention.

Looking at him, you shrug your shoulders. “What? I kiss that mouth, you know that, right?”

“And you do a great job doing it,” Billy whispers on your year before taking the candy once again.

“Alright. You, drop it.” With a finger on Billy's face, you take the lollipop from his mouth again. “I have something important to say.” Turning at your friends, you take a deep breath. “Mrs. Martinez agreed on writing a good recommendation letter for Billy. But to convince the Principal to do the same, she needs a couple of students to... Give some reports, you know. As witnesses that my handsome boyfriend is now an amazing student too.”

Steve bursts into laughter, covering his mouth with one hand as you stare at him. Arms crossed, an eyebrow raised. It takes long seconds until he stops. “What?” He stutters. “You can't possibly think I'll...” As he speaks, Steve looks at the others, and not Nancy or Jonathan seems to find it funny. “Oh, c'mon. I agreed on standing Billy, but I never agreed on giving good reports.”

“Steve, this is important.”

“(Y/N), c'mon. Billy isn't–”

“Billy has good grades now and that's what I'm talking about. You don't have to like him.” Walking over Steve, you touch his shoulder. “You don't have to do it if you don't want to, but we're trying to build our future. And if you find it in your heart to do this for me, I'll be very thankful.”

“God, you're so damn good.” Billy mutters, and you roll your eyes.

“Well...” Stepping back, you smile. “I could also kill Steve. Would you help me hide the body, B?”

“Ridiculous,” Steve mumbles, making you giggle. “Fine, (Y/N). Just because somehow you made a good boyfriend out of this scumbag.”

“I'd take that back if I were you,” Billy says, raising his voice a bit.

“Woah, back down.” It's not the first time the two have incidents like this, and you always have to calm them down. “You guys have to–”

“(Y/N).” Mrs. Martinez calls and you look to your left. She walks fast, smiling. “The Principal will see the students now. But you can't be inside the office for that. They'll be interviewed separately.”

“Alright.” Breathing out, you give Steve a look. “Don't say anything driven by your personal–”

“I won't.” Steve rolls his eyes.

Mrs. Martinez guides the three of them inside the school again, and you follow them, holding hands with Billy. “It'll work.” You tell him.

“It will.” He agrees, with the smile that belongs to you alone.

“Billy boy!” Someone yells and you soon recognize Tommy, with an arm around Carol's shoulders. “Forgot to tell you, buddy. Awesome party tonight at my place.” Tommy smiles and nods at you, and Carol does the same. “My parents aren't home so we'll go hard, all night long and I count on you to set the tone as we like it.” As he speaks, he gives you a weird look. “You don't have to come if you don't want, (Y/N). I know you don't really like it.”

“I'm not going without (Y/N), you know that,” Billy says, and Tommy rolls his eyes.

“C'mon, pal. I planned everything. Wild and dirty, as you like it. I'm sure (Y/N) won't mind you going by yourself, right (Y/N)?”

“I won't. He can–”

“Sorry, guys, I gotta go,” Tommy speaks out, cutting you off. “A lot of things to do. See you there. Bye, my friends.” Waving, both he and Carol walk away.

Billy starts walking again, but you hold his hands, forcing him to stop. “B, I want to go.” You tell him, sighing. These parties aren't your thing, even though you've been to some with Billy. Mostly when it's someone's birthday. But other than that, you've been skipping them. He likes them though, and you don't want to be the one to hold him back. “Let's party and do whatever he meant by wild and dirty.”

Billy giggles, pulling you close. “You have no idea what he meant by that, pretty girl. And you don't have to go, it's alright.”

“No, B. I know you have fun on those things and I really...” You don't want to lie, not to him. So you sigh, running a hand through your hair. “Just go, alright? Have fun with your friends and... I just... I don't want to be the one to keep you from doing stuff you like. You know I'm not... I'm not like you in many, many aspects but–”

“(Y/N), listen.” Billy takes both your hands, looking down at you. “I love you.”

“B...”

“Shhh. I love when you call me that but listen.” Cupping your cheeks, he places a quick, soft kiss on your lips. “I love you just like that. Good girl, with perfect grades and so damn polite and friendly that sometimes almost kills me of jealously.” He smiles, kissing your nose. “But I wouldn't change a thing about you. Your... Goodness was exactly what made me fall for you. You're... Everything I'm not. And I'm still perplexed that you love me back.”

You're a blushing mess when he's done speaking, eyes locked on his. “A-are you sure?”

“I am.” He nods, smiling. “Why go to some stupid party when I can stay with you?”

“I'll invite you to dinner then... Let's say... Pizza?”

“Pizza.” He agrees.

“Mr. Hargrove.” The teacher calls, and you both look at her. “The Principal wants to talk to you.”

“Right away.” He says, winking at you.

When Billy enters the Principal office, you wait outside, leaning against the wall. To say you're nervous is an understatement. The Principal's letter is the most important, and you know he needs it very much.

“Sweet (Y/N).” A masculine voice calls, and you immediately look to your left, leaving your bag on the floor. It's Tyler, coming from around the corner. “What are you doing here all alone?”

“What are you doing here? Detention again?” Tyler is the only one of Billy's friends you can't stand. You soon figured out he's more like a parasite, sticking close even though people don't really like him. But still, you try not to treat him like the asshole he is. But it doesn't mean you have to answer his questions.

“No, no.” He smiles, a disgusting smile that sends shivers down your spine. Not the good kind of shivers. “I had to leave something on my locker but now... I'm actually happy I got you alone.” Tyler walks over you, standing a bit too close, making you step back. “Now tell me, (Y/N). What are you doing here? ...All alone?” He leans closer, his mouth close to your ear.

You immediately move away, violently pushing his chest. Tyler always gives you this sensation, as if he's trying to get to you somehow. And you hate it. It makes you feel like you're completely naked under his stare. “What do you think you're doing?” You ask, anger flowing out. “Stay the hell away from me, you jerk.”

Tyler laughs. Out loud, mocking you. You're about to curse again him when it happens.

Tyler moves too fast, an arm encircling your waist. His grip is too strong, and it makes you violently collapse against his chest. “I've trying to get you for far too long, sweetie.” He grunts as you start fighting, pushing him away and still trying to understand what the hell is going on. “If Billy can have you, so can I. Or do you think–” He stops suddenly when you succeed to hit him in the ribs.

“LET GO OF ME!” You manage to push out, as loud as you can, your mind yelling for Billy. But before you can say it, call for him, a hand comes to your mouth, and Tyler's free hand starts wandering through your body.

You feel violated, abused already, but it doesn't matter how hard you try, he's stronger than you.

“Sweet (Y/N), let's...” He starts pulling you, and you do try to resist as much as you can. “...Let's find ourselves some nice supply closet and get more... Comfortable? What do you think, huh? Gonna show you how a man–”

“LET GO OF HER!” The scream, the voice that sounds like thunder, makes your whole body relax at the same time Tyler's grip loosens.

The rest is pure chaos.

Billy grabs Tyler and throws him to the ground. Someone pulls you away from the fight, and you soon recognize Nancy. In her embrace, you hide your face in her hair, and she helps as you fix your clothes.

Your mind is mess, and you can't even process what's happening.

The only thing you know is that you're safe now, away from that monster. And Billy is beating him up into a bloody mess.

×

@multific @tina1938 @graciehams @moatsnow @all-the-stars-on-your-skin @captain039 @rebelemilu @theodore-likes-frogs @prettyinpunk85 @taisab02 @pascal-rascal424 @aleksanderblack @gruffle1 @boomhauer

[ub-sessed]

Character arcs in Stranger Things

I just finished rewatching season 2 of Stranger Things, and I'm still frustrated with how Billy doesn't get an arc. But is he the only one?

Mike Wheeler: Starts out pining for El, acts like a jerk for most of the season because of it, ends up in El's arms at the end. But does he really change? He never stops treating Max like shit. He is, as ever, a true and loyal friends to Will, so no change there. I'm not really setting an arc. ❌

Dustin Henderson: Probably gets the most screen time of the four boys. Starts out enthusiastic, confident, fun-loving, smart... hits a few bumps along the way with Dart and romantic rejection, but ends up pretty much where he left off. Seems to serve mostly to provide character development for Steve. And to just generally be a joy to watch. But does he really change? I don't think so. ❌

Lucas Sinclair: Starts out earnest, a bit shy, but determined. All the way through he manages to overcome his shyness, so that's not really a change. Stands up to Billy at the end, but that's not really a change because he didn't have an opportunity to before. Gets the girl in the end, but I wouldn't say he has an arc. ❌

Will Byers: Starts out trying to live a normal life despite being an anxious wreck. Ends up trying to live a normal life despite being an anxious wreck. In between, does a lot of screaming, goes through hell, manages to tell his friends how to save the world. Resilient fuckin' kid, but not much of an arc. ❌

El: Starts out Eleven, ends up Jane Hopper. Goes on an epic physical and mental journey to find out who she is and what and who really matter to her. Ends up realizing there's no place like home. Starts out feeling trapped, ends up feeling loved. I'd say that's an arc. ✔️

Max Mayfield: Starts out angry, doesn't take shit from anyone except Billy, who is the only foe she's ever encountered that she hasn't defeated. Ends up defeating Billy, and happy in the arms of a boy. I'm not sure defeating Billy really counts as change, because kicking ass and taking names is basically what this girl does. Letting her guard down enough to snuggle up to Lucas (and earlier in the season, tell him a little bit about her family), probably dots count as change. So yeah, I'd say that counts as an arc. ✔️

Steve Harrington: Starts out with the girl, trying to pretend everything is fine. Ends up heartbroken and alone, but with a new friend and new confidence in abilities he hadn't known he had. I'd say that counts as an arc. ✔️

Nancy Wheeler: Starts out trying to pretend everything is fine, decides she's done pretending, dumps the bullshit boyfriend, hooks up with the weirdo she actually wants to be with, blows the lid off the government conspiracy, and is an all around badass along the way. Definitely a transformation from the beginning of the season, but ... it's kind of the arc she had the previous season as well, before she ran back to the safety of Steve and pretending everything is fine. So... arc, but... ✔️

Jonathan Byers: This guy knows what his values are and he has no problem with them being different from everybody else's. Does finally manage to work up the courage to hook up with Nancy, but other than that, not much of an arc. ✔️

Billy Hargrove: Starts out an angry psychotic bully, obsessed with Steve. Ends up alone, cowed by both his father and Max, who only managed to tame him using the same bullying tactics he uses on others, so I doubt he learned anything at all. No arc that I have been able to discern. ❌

Jim Hopper: Starts out hyper-overprotective of El, obsessive about the lab and the Upside Down, ends up realizing he needs to give El more freedom and be there for her more. Officially becomes a dad again. Most obvious character arc of the season. ✔️

Joyce Byers: Starts out worried about her son, ends up traumatized and worried about her son, but maybe giving him a bit more space? Along the way is the same badass mama bear we met the previous season. I don't see much of an arc. ❌

Dr. Sam Owens: Starts out doing his best to manage the conflict between his employers' goals and his own values. Ends up realizing he's much better off living by his own values. This one gets an arc. ✔️

Murray Bauman: Starts off being rejected as a crackpot who is milking Barb's parents dry chasing wild geese. Ends up playing matchmaker and being vindicated. ✔️

I don't think Tommy, Mrs. Wheeler or Mr. Clarke get enough screen time to be worth assessing. And El's family pretty much appear only in that one episode. One could argue that Becky gets a bit of an arc because she realizes her sister was right all along. Barb's parents get an arc. Who did I miss?