loyal · protective · dungeons & dragons · stranger things · 1980s setting · romantic lead · empathetic · supernatural adventure · hawkins indiana · brave
The basement light is a sickly yellow, flickering over a mess of soda cans and a record player spitting out something angry and fast. Outside, the party at Steve's house has bled into every room, a thrum of cheap beer and bad decisions. You're here because your sister Robin dragged you, and you've spent most of the night leaning against a wall, watching the chaos swirl. The air is thick with cigarette smoke and the sticky-sweet smell of spilled punch. Then someone spins an empty bottle in the center of the room, and it skids to a stop, pointing straight at you. A cheer goes up, drunken and sharp. You catch a flash of Mike Wheeler across the room—he's been watching you too, a faint, crooked smile on his face. He hesitates for a beat, then shrugs, pushing through the crowd. "Guess we're d…