[ He just stands there for another few seconds, trying to sort this through in his head. He's still a little "what the hell" about this, but whatever. Think of the benefits, Byers. Easier to look for that perfect shot instead of driving somewhere and hoping you get it?
He glances to his own car before sighing and following Steve, jogging for a second to catch up, or almost, still a few steps behind. ]
I mean, you know, you don't have to do this either.
[ He's not the brightest, sure, but he'd picked up on Jonathan's skepticism. And for all Steve's willingness to barrel through the awkwardness and press on, he'd be remiss to not give Jonathan an out of some kind.
He plays it cool, shrugging his shoulders as he puts his keys in the ignition. ]
[ And he slides into the car without another word or a second thought. Well, scratch that. Maybe one second thought but he ignores it, settling his bag at his feet and his camera in his lap.
He hates how nice Steve's car is, by the way. Or maybe envies is a better word. ]
[ Oh boy. He hadn't been back there since fending off several demodogs, which means he hadn't seen it since the adrenaline from that night was coursing through him. Did Jonathan know they'd been there?
. . . well, if he didn't, he wasn't going to say anything. Besides, it's a junkyard; surely the remnants of the scuffle, barricaded bus and all, were obstructed by other junk. That's how it worked, right? ]
Junkyard? Yeah, okay. Sure.
[ He pulls out, starting off as he flips the radio on. ]
[ He doesn't know Steve was there. Probably for the best. in that case, he'd steer clear tonight. But he's also happy that Steve doesn't question why, because he doesn't really want or have the energy to go into how the setting sun playing against the shapes of the abandoned cars and junk makes shadows that he's never seen anywhere else in Hawkins.
But he does give the radio a dubious look, glancing at Steve before looking at the road in front of them. Please play something good. ]
[ Jonathan's just "that guy" when it comes to music. It's playing Kenny Loggins or some Duran Duran, or whatever, and that's totally not his style. But this isn't his car, either, so he won't bitch about it (out loud). ]
[ Steve seems indifferent about it at best, to the point where he doesn't even notice it. After a moment, he shrugs, looking back at the road. ]
Feel free to move the seat or something.
[ The kids liked to clambor all over his seats which, yeah, was a pain in the ass but in hindsight, not as bad as some of the shit Tommy H and Carol used to do. That didn't stop him from yelling at Dustin to stop fiddling with it.
Shockingly (or not), Steve Harrington is actually a decent driver, only occasionally letting out muttered curses at other drivers as they head off to the junkyard. ]
[ That said, he doesn't bother to move the seat, just settling back in it as he looks out in front of them, eyes squinting into the sun. He's actually kind of surprised at the speed Steve's going - not too fast. Probably blame that on the kids too, huh, Steve? But it's not a bad thing.
Fortunately the junkyard isn't too far away, so they won't be sitting in awkward silence too long... ]
[ The junkyard is the same as always — which is fine, really. It's not like they'd made a huge mess there back when the demodogs were a problem. Sure, there are telltale signs here and there of their presence — claw marks raking down junked car doors, the imprint on a hood when he'd slid across it or when monsters came slamming down, chasing after the four of them. And then, of course, there's the old bus and what's left of its fortifications.
It's one small part of the junkyard, at least. So when they arrive and Steve catches sight of the familiar scenery, he only flinches briefly before rolling his shoulder, looking off down another part of the area. ]
[ He's out of the car as soon as he can, slinging his bag over his shoulder and putting the camera strap around his neck. How do you explain that it's more about the abstract? So he doesn't, his eyes roaming around the scenery. He sees the scratches on the car, the dents on the bus, and he frowns. He doesn't catch Steve's flinch, fortunately or unfortunately.
But what he does do is take a shot of the bus, as the sun's slowly setting rays shine through the window, the shadow making a strange shape that he kind of likes. ]
In rougher shape than it was the last time I was here.
[ He glances over at Steve as he replies, and he decides to take a shot of the scratches on that car nearby, after taking another shot or two of the bus. His camera shutter clicks a couple of times on his walk toward the vehicle, closer to Steve. Jonathan gets closer to the hood of the car than he needs to be to take a picture, his fingers touching the gashes and the dog-sized dent on the hood - and the next picture he takes feels more like someone taking a crime scene photo than trying to capture art. ]
Junkyards get messed up. It's, like, their purpose or something.
[ He's talking out of his ass, he knows, but it's what he does when he's nervous. Not that he's nervous, just like this hasn't been awkward or anything. Steve turns and gives the junker a light kick before walking past it, as if to demonstrate how junkyards "get messed up." ]
[ He takes another picture of the wrecked car, turning the viewfinder on Steve. Nature happens, things wear, bleached by the sun or eroded by the wind. But people do this shit to objects. Or, well, something did - but his question still stands. Who even comes here? ]
[ Before dark. Before the junkies show up. He's still got his camera trained on Steve, snapping a picture where he's half in silhouette and he thinks can see something in his face that he doesn't like. Jonathan frowns behind the camera lens. ]
[ Steve uncrosses his arms to scratch at the back of his neck, dipping his head slightly. ]
Hey, I'm only here because you wanted to come here.
[ Which isn't a great excuse, especially when he knew exactly where to park. Of course he did — he hadn't driven over here then, but he'd made sure to get a lay of the land before, when Dustin had laid out his plan to him. ]
[ Jonathan's seen enough body language to read something of what Steve's putting out. He brings the camera down, letting it hang from the strap around his neck. He's not expecting an explanation but he falls silent anyway, to see if Steve decides to say anything about that. ]
[ He can't argue with that, he knows. And Jonathan has this way of just saying some things so plainly, like it's a fact, that Steve doesn't want to try to counter it. So instead, he shrugs, lowering his hands and sliding them into his jacket pockets. ]
[ Jonathan spends another second looking at Steve before turning, and lifting his camera again. No argument from Steve Harrington, wow. ]
You can go, if you want.
[ He can walk home and hitch a ride from his mom to pick up his car. He moves back toward the bus to get another few shots out toward the field beyond. ]
Or just give me another couple minutes. Up to you.
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winterfish
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Date: 2019-07-24 08:47 am (UTC)He glances to his own car before sighing and following Steve, jogging for a second to catch up, or almost, still a few steps behind. ]
You don't have to do this.
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Date: 2019-07-24 02:37 pm (UTC)Yeah, Byers. I know.
[ He doesn't, sure. But it's better than going back to an empty house. ]
Are you coming or not?
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Date: 2019-07-24 07:14 pm (UTC)Fine. Sure.
[ Just don't complain when he makes you stop often, Steve. ]
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Date: 2019-07-24 07:18 pm (UTC)[ He's not the brightest, sure, but he'd picked up on Jonathan's skepticism. And for all Steve's willingness to barrel through the awkwardness and press on, he'd be remiss to not give Jonathan an out of some kind.
He plays it cool, shrugging his shoulders as he puts his keys in the ignition. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 07:33 pm (UTC)[ And he slides into the car without another word or a second thought. Well, scratch that. Maybe one second thought but he ignores it, settling his bag at his feet and his camera in his lap.
He hates how nice Steve's car is, by the way. Or maybe envies is a better word. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 07:47 pm (UTC)Seatbelts.
[ — and then immediately winces. Damn, he really has been carting those little dickheads around too much in the last month. ]
— sorry, force of habit.
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Date: 2019-07-24 08:09 pm (UTC)I... was thinking about the junkyard.
[ cause he knows Steve is gonna ask where to. ]
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Date: 2019-07-24 08:14 pm (UTC). . . well, if he didn't, he wasn't going to say anything. Besides, it's a junkyard; surely the remnants of the scuffle, barricaded bus and all, were obstructed by other junk. That's how it worked, right? ]
Junkyard? Yeah, okay. Sure.
[ He pulls out, starting off as he flips the radio on. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 09:46 pm (UTC)[ He doesn't know Steve was there. Probably for the best. in that case, he'd steer clear tonight. But he's also happy that Steve doesn't question why, because he doesn't really want or have the energy to go into how the setting sun playing against the shapes of the abandoned cars and junk makes shadows that he's never seen anywhere else in Hawkins.
But he does give the radio a dubious look, glancing at Steve before looking at the road in front of them. Please play something good. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 09:49 pm (UTC)What?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 09:59 pm (UTC)[ Jonathan's just "that guy" when it comes to music. It's playing Kenny Loggins or some Duran Duran, or whatever, and that's totally not his style. But this isn't his car, either, so he won't bitch about it (out loud). ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:03 pm (UTC)Feel free to move the seat or something.
[ The kids liked to clambor all over his seats which, yeah, was a pain in the ass but in hindsight, not as bad as some of the shit Tommy H and Carol used to do. That didn't stop him from yelling at Dustin to stop fiddling with it.
Shockingly (or not), Steve Harrington is actually a decent driver, only occasionally letting out muttered curses at other drivers as they head off to the junkyard. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:11 pm (UTC)[ That said, he doesn't bother to move the seat, just settling back in it as he looks out in front of them, eyes squinting into the sun. He's actually kind of surprised at the speed Steve's going - not too fast. Probably blame that on the kids too, huh, Steve? But it's not a bad thing.
Fortunately the junkyard isn't too far away, so they won't be sitting in awkward silence too long... ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:24 pm (UTC)It's one small part of the junkyard, at least. So when they arrive and Steve catches sight of the familiar scenery, he only flinches briefly before rolling his shoulder, looking off down another part of the area. ]
You looking for anything here?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:45 pm (UTC)[ He's out of the car as soon as he can, slinging his bag over his shoulder and putting the camera strap around his neck. How do you explain that it's more about the abstract? So he doesn't, his eyes roaming around the scenery. He sees the scratches on the car, the dents on the bus, and he frowns. He doesn't catch Steve's flinch, fortunately or unfortunately.
But what he does do is take a shot of the bus, as the sun's slowly setting rays shine through the window, the shadow making a strange shape that he kind of likes. ]
In rougher shape than it was the last time I was here.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:47 pm (UTC)So? It's a junkyard.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:55 pm (UTC)[ He glances over at Steve as he replies, and he decides to take a shot of the scratches on that car nearby, after taking another shot or two of the bus. His camera shutter clicks a couple of times on his walk toward the vehicle, closer to Steve. Jonathan gets closer to the hood of the car than he needs to be to take a picture, his fingers touching the gashes and the dog-sized dent on the hood - and the next picture he takes feels more like someone taking a crime scene photo than trying to capture art. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 10:59 pm (UTC)[ He's talking out of his ass, he knows, but it's what he does when he's nervous. Not that he's nervous, just like this hasn't been awkward or anything. Steve turns and gives the junker a light kick before walking past it, as if to demonstrate how junkyards "get messed up." ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 11:07 pm (UTC)[ He takes another picture of the wrecked car, turning the viewfinder on Steve. Nature happens, things wear, bleached by the sun or eroded by the wind. But people do this shit to objects. Or, well, something did - but his question still stands. Who even comes here? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 11:10 pm (UTC)[ It's a lame excuse, but he could go without ever seeing that goddamn bus in his life ever again, thanks. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 11:14 pm (UTC)[ Before dark. Before the junkies show up. He's still got his camera trained on Steve, snapping a picture where he's half in silhouette and he thinks can see something in his face that he doesn't like. Jonathan frowns behind the camera lens. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 11:16 pm (UTC)Hey, I'm only here because you wanted to come here.
[ Which isn't a great excuse, especially when he knew exactly where to park. Of course he did — he hadn't driven over here then, but he'd made sure to get a lay of the land before, when Dustin had laid out his plan to him. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-24 11:25 pm (UTC)[ Jonathan's seen enough body language to read something of what Steve's putting out. He brings the camera down, letting it hang from the strap around his neck. He's not expecting an explanation but he falls silent anyway, to see if Steve decides to say anything about that. ]
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Date: 2019-07-24 11:27 pm (UTC)Guess not.
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Date: 2019-07-24 11:51 pm (UTC)You can go, if you want.
[ He can walk home and hitch a ride from his mom to pick up his car. He moves back toward the bus to get another few shots out toward the field beyond. ]
Or just give me another couple minutes. Up to you.
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