#relay race

[billyharringson]

My contribution to the @harringrove-relay-race is some cute Christmasy fluff. Thank you @greyghoulclub for the introduction.

Christmas had never been all that special to Billy, even as a child. The only Christmas that he could remember with any fondness had been when he’s been eight and his parents had brought him his first surfboard, and even that was marred by the memory of Neil’s drunken rage later in the evening, the fact that he couldn’t use his present for two weeks after he got it and not because the weather was bad.

Then his mother left and any pretence at Christmas or being a ‘happy family’ disappeared. Christmas was just another day, another day where the people around him rejoiced and Billy just tried to survive. Even after Susan and Max arrived things didn’t really change, now Billy just had to watch as Max opened gifts. Any longing for presents of his own had died long ago and Max’s lingering, guilty glances did nothing but drive home that this holiday, just like everything else in his life, was not for him.

He wasn’t sure why Max seemed surprised, she’d been there for his birthday, she should already know that he wasn’t getting anything.

They moved to Hawkins and other than the weather Billy anticipated a Christmas like all the others, at least this time he had his car, he could escape before the fists started flying, before the thin veneer of the ‘perfect American family’ disappeared as it always did.

He just never factored Steve Harrington into his vision.

Billy had been smitten with the doe-eyed, floppy haired boy since day one, and had done everything in his power to dispel everyone else of the notion that he had a crush. Somehow, despite his posturing, his insults, and his generally prickly nature Steve had decided that Billy was his friend. And despite knowing that fraternising with people he genuinely liked only increased the chances of Neil finding out and turning his ire on the poor, undeserving teenager, Billy accepted his friendship.

He accepted the invitations to smoke at the quarry, to drink by the lake. The apparently constant and unspoken invitation to hang out at Steve’s place, that large empty house that just seemed to exist as the physical embodiment of Steve’s loneliness.

It was at Steve’s house where Billy’s view on Christmas changed.

They were lounging in Steve’s bedroom, still high from their last joint when Steve asked. “So, what are you doing for Christmas this year Billy?”  

Billy shrugged from his spot on the floor, continuing to stare up at the popcorn ceiling. “Same as last year I guess, watch Max open her gifts and then hide in my room until Neil passes out.” Billy had been surprised initially when Steve had guessed, within one week of knowing him, just what Billy’s home life was like. But Billy quickly learnt that while Steve may not be smart in an academic sense the way that Billy was, he was very smart in an emotional one.

So, whilst Billy continued to hide behind the veneer of loud, bad boy in public, when he was with Steve, he was more honest, more himself.

“What are you doing?” He asked, anticipating an answer filled with opulence, of going to a second home in the mountains, skiing, all that stuff that rich people did.

“Same as normal as well, I guess. “Steve replied, his head turned towards the bedroom wall so that Billy had to strain to hear. “Watch whatever’s on TV and drink until I pass out.”

Billy frowned, propping himself up on his elbows. “What? You mean you’ll be here…alone?”

Billy knew that they both drank more than was good for them, that they drank for very similar reasons, just as he knew that Steve only drank to excess when he was left alone, when the echoes of his empty house got too loud.

“Yeah, mom and dad have already gone to Colorado, they’ve got a lodge there.” Steve finally looked at him, a faint blush on his cheeks that caused butterflies to explode in Billy’s stomach. “Do you…what if you came here for Christmas?” Steve asked shyly. “I can’t promise you a full Christmas dinner, but we can have a feast, the freezer is well stocked.”

“You serious?” Billy was sat up properly now, staring at his friend.

“Yeah, you think your dad would let you?”

“He wouldn’t even notice I was gone.” Billy replied, which was as good as a yes and Steve clearly understood that because his face lit up with a smile.

“In that case, you wanna come over Christmas eve then? We can put up the decorations and then we’ll have the whole of Christmas day together.”

--

Billy wasn’t sure what he expected when he turned up on Steve’s doorstep on Christmas eve, his overnight bag slung over his shoulder, but it wasn’t the sight of Steve opening the door in a full festive getup. He had a hideous red and green sweater on that appeared to have had a fight with a tinsel factory and lost, a floppy red Santa hat perched atop his precious hair, and honest to God sunglasses in the shape of Christmas trees covering his eyes.

“Billy.” Steve crowed, having to shout slightly over the Christmas music blaring through the house. “Merry Christmas.”

“It’s not Christmas yet, pretty boy.” Billy replied with a snort, shucking his jacket and accepting the glass of sherry that Steve handed to him. “You really do go all out when you’re expecting guests.” He continued, gesturing to Steve’s getup.

Steve laughed, removing the glasses and placing them on the table. “Nah, I just wanted to see your expression when I opened the door.” He replied, tossing the hat onto the sofa and combing his fingers through his hair. “I’m keeping the jumper on though.”

“Shame.” Billy hummed before he could stop himself, flushing to the roots of his hair when he realised what he’d said. “You said we were decorating.” He said in a desperate attempt to change the subject, gesturing to the bare Christmas tree stood in the corner of the room.

“And we are.” Steve replied chipperly. “The decorations are in the garage.”

Billy grumbled but helped Steve carry the three large boxes from the garage to the living room.

“We used to have a lot more, enough for the whole house but with my parents always away for Christmas it was too much effort so it’s just the living room stuff now.” Steve explained as he opened one of the boxes and pulled out a long garland. “That one has the tree decorations in it.” He gestured to the box that Billy had just put down with his chin. “Why don’t you focus on the tree, and I’ll do the other bits?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Billy said.

They decorated to the soothing sounds of Bing Crosby, the room seeming to grow warmer and cosier as more ornaments were set out. Billy felt both giddy and completely relaxed at the same time and wondered if this was what Christmas was supposed to feel like.

If it was, he wondered if he would be able to have it every year.

He placed the golden star on the top of the tree with a contented smile, stepping down off the stool that Steve had provided for him. “There, what do…Steve?” Billy turned towards the door where Steve was hanging what was unmistakably mistletoe, and Billy felt himself flushing again.

Why had Steve brought mistletoe if it was only going to be the two of them?

He felt a brief flicker of hope in his chest that he tried desperately to suffocate. This was probably just a tradition that Steve hadn’t thought much about, either that or he’d organised a surprise Christmas eve party or something.

“What are you doing?” He asked, that little flicker growing stronger when Steve blushed.

“Putting up mistletoe?” Steve replied quietly, bashfully.

“Why?” Billy pushed, swallowing loudly when Steve held out his hand towards him, like he wanted Billy to take it. Trying not to second guess this too much Billy slipped his hand into Steve’s, allowing him to tug him into the doorway, directly beneath the mistletoe.

“Why else would people put up mistletoe?” Billy followed Steve’s gaze upwards to the little green and white plant. “To have an excuse to kiss the boy I love.”

“Steve.” Billy breathed, feeling tears pricking at the backs of his eyes.

“Merry Christmas, Billy.” Steve said quietly before leaning forward and pressing a sweet, chaste kiss to Billy’s lips.

If this was what Christmas was supposed to feel like, then Billy could finally see the appeal.

“Merry Christmas, Steve.” He whispered, returning Steve’s kiss with one of his own.

(I'll post this on AO3 at some point as well)

And introducing @racketti who is next up on the list :)

#billy hargrove #stranger things #fanfic #steve harrington #harringrove #relay race #harringrove relay race

[zilabee]

Alf Bicknell on the relay race at Cliveden:

“One day, during this particular shoot, I remember one of the film crew made a comment about the fitness of the Fab Four to George,” says Alf. “It was a sort of jokey remark but very much a come-on to the boys, suggesting they were out of shape. These jibes and come-ons continued, and over lunch it was suggested we have a relay race. So it was all set up. We were on a huge great lawn in front of Cliveden House - 150 yards long, or thereabouts, with a privet hedge round it.

“The team was the four boys, plus Neil and I. The six of us. I was to be on the last leg of this relay race against the cream of the film crew. I guess we each had 70 or 80 yards to race against the electricians, the photographer, transport and so on. Four or five teams. There was a baton - a small truncheon. The first racer would run, pass it on and the next would sprint off and so on.

“Remember, I'm 35 years of age. I looked at the guy I was racing against and he looked very confident. I remember I was running barefoot, whereas he had a smart pair of sports shoes on. That didn't help my confidence.”

The constant touring had obviously had a positive effect on the band physically, who proved to be superfit. The four group members were to run before Alf and Neil, and they certainly gave their employees an incredible advantage over the opposition. John, Paul, George and Ringo trounced the other teams during their leg of the race, leaving their opponents breathless in their wake.

“Neil was to pass the baton to me. To be fair, the five of them had given me a tremendous start. The Beatles team were WAY out in front. Towards the end of my sprint, the last part of the race, as I reached a sort of steep banking slope at the end of the lawn, I could hear this guy behind me - he'd made up all this lead the boys had given me!”

But the chauffeur was determined not to let the band down. He threw himself over the last few metres and stumbled over the finishing line, seconds before the other racer.

“We'd won! The band were soon all round me basking in their victory. It was only then that I thought of what would have happened if I'd lost after all this space they'd given me. I'd never have heard the end of it.”

Ticket to Ride, by Alasdair Ferguson and Alf Bicknell

#the beatles #cliveden house #relay race #alf bicknell #beatles books #I kind of love that the crew #were okay enough with the beatles #to wind them up #and make jibes

[sweetbandfan]

I’m starting a mini relay race, your favorite photos of your favorite group, reblog and post your favorite sweet photos, the relay is voluntary, I’ll start

#sweet are everywhere #sweet band #the sweet #brian connolly #steve priest #andy scott #mick tucker #relay race #positivity #70s rock #sweet

[airbrickwall]

#relay #climate change #arms race #pharma #pharma arms race #covid lies #censorship #scientism #bill gates #climate crisis #relay race

[freesiakylian]

thanks to natalia we went from 7th place to 1st. during mixed relay race. this woman!!❤️‍🩹🇵🇱

#Natalia Kaczmarek #Maks Szwed #Anna Kiełbasińska #Igor Bogaczyński #4x400 #relay #relay race #athletics #european games #european games 2023 #silesia 2023 #poland #polska #lekkoatletyka

[noolysfriends]

#CDChallenge #character design challenge #color #art #bunny #animal olympics #relay race

[bumblebeeappletree]

Meet Abe Lim, the activist who just completed the longest continuous relay race ever, all in the name of climate education

This video was created in collaboration with Nature's Newsroom.

#Earth #Environment #ClimateCrisis #NowThis

#now this earth #solarpunk #now this #Abe Lim #activism #climate activism #activist #climate activst #longest continuous relay race #relay race #climate education #egypt #cop27 #Youtube

[fotoflingscotland]

The Bare Footed Relay Runner by FotoFling Scotland Via Flickr: Blair Atholl Gathering 2016

#Highland Games #athlete #bare footed #blair atholl #blair atholl gathering #blair castle #kilt #kilted #men in kilts #perthshire #relay race #runner #FotoFling Scotland #Bare foot #flickr

[daveinediting]

In the last few years I'm finding myself using the brakes a lot where I simply would've simply hit the gas once upon a time.

There are a number of reasons for this but the biggest has to do with multitasking. Especially during productions where I'm editor, composer, and motion graphics guy... I wanna be each of those people to the fullest extent possible. One hundred percent of each rather than some portion of each.

To do that, though, I have to shed each role as I move to the next. In a way, purge the editor's character as I take on the composer's.

It's not a traumatic or dramatic experience. They are, after all, disciplines that exist in my brain that can and do use every last bit of bandwidth I have.

If I let them.

The challenge of moving between the roles is primarily one of transition. Much like how one strategy of working from home is to simulate the morning commute with a walk, a jog, a bike ride... before returning home to work... there's a similar signalling that allows me to put away the editor's brain and replace it with the composer's brain or the writer's brain.

It's a kind of shell game that's made possible by transitions. By going through the motions of "ending" my work as a writer, for example, and "beginning" my work as a composer. Intentionally simulating beginnings and endings of particular endeavors, not simply jumping from one to the other. And also indulging palate cleansers in-between that can be all kinds of things. Like the other day that was filled with anxiety and heat... I reset the day with a shower, fresh clothes, and a huge shift in pace. Or even yesterday going down to the lake to allow that environment to do its thing. To help me focus differently. To relax more.

Feel the breeze.

Which is what I mean when I say using the brakes a lot more. Because my creative power resides in my mind not my fingertips. And my mind is its own environment I have to caretake in order to conjure the best from myself. That caretaking, by the way, is accomplished through a combination of physical care, changes in where I place myself in the world,  and what I choose to let flow through my senses.

It's too easy, you see, for me to rely on workstations and tools to create a semblance of creativity, which I've surely done in my career.

But as I grow even further into my different roles as a Creative, I'm learning how to drive this fast and powerful engine that is my conscious and subconscious brain.

And hooooooweeeeeeee!

It's amazing what that thing can do.

☺️

#creativity #creative process #creative #conscious #subconscious #mind #brain #diffuse thinking #focused thinking #multitasking #transitions #hand-offs #relay race #creative engine #roles #tasks #bandwidth

[eltristanexplicitcontent]

USA 4x400 gold medal hopes Doomed by Belgian anchor rally at Indoor Worl...

(good headline)

#🇧🇪 #track and field #doom #4x400 #relay race #Youtube

[marbleleague]

Today's the day of the 5 Metre Hurdles, one of the legendary Triple Crown series of events in the Marble League! In this team event, each marble has to perfect its hand-off in order to progress through the heats-semis-final system.

The Relay has historically been Savage Speeders territory. They've won every single Relay in the League so far- except in 2019, where the Green Ducks won. With the Green Ducks in the Showdown this year, are the Speeders set for another win and a big overtake on the currently-leading Bumblebees? Or will they be defeated in an upset?

It's time to find out in the Marble League 2023 Relay Race!

#marble league #ml23 #videos #jelle's marble runs #relay race #Youtube

[the-man-in-the-wind]

School Sports Day in The Loop

#ai image #xenomorphs #relay race #style #Simon Stålenhag

[thecurefordepression]

#Relay Race

[tenth-sentence]

The MAP kinase cascade owes its name to a series of protein kinases (signaling molecules) that phosphorylate each other in a specific sequence, much like runners passing a baton in a relay race.

"Plant Physiology and Development" int'l 6e - Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I.M., Murphy, A.

#book quote #plant physiology and development #nonfiction #textbook #map kinase #mitogen activated protein #kinase #phosphorylation #relay race #analogy

[sportu]

Squadron damper in Östersund | "Extremely bad" - biathlon star angry despite third place

The German biathletes got a podium finish in the last relay race of the season. However, they lost the discipline rating. Despite another podium place, the German biathletes missed out on the triumph in the Relay World Cup. The quartet with Janina Hettich-Walz, Hanna Kebinger, Vanessa Voigt and Denise Herrmann-Wick, who had been in the lead for a long time, finished third after 4 x 6 kilometers.…

View On WordPress

#Denise Herrmann-Wick #discipline rating #Hanna Kebinger #Janina Hettich-Walz #Östersund #Podiumsplatz #relay race #shooting range #T-Online #Vanessa Voigt

[pitsazawr]

brilexx whaaaaaaaaaaa

#this is some kind of relay race with alex #my fav is brim BUT #i love all the ships!! #i like to imagine what brilex were like before brian met tim #but after the relationship they remained best friends #marble hornets #mh #brian thomas #alex kralie #brilex #mh brilex #mh brian thomas #mh brian #mh alex kralie #mh alex #my art