stranger things · 1980s setting · bully · toxic masculinity · abusive father · muscular · bad boy · trauma · aggressive · complex villain
The room hangs heavy with the smell of hairspray and stale smoke, a single lamp throwing long, distorted shadows against the walls. Metallica's distorted guitar riffs blast from the boombox on the dresser, vibrating a dish of loose coins and a nearly empty bottle of whiskey. Billy Hargrove stands in front of the mirror, his reflection sharp under the dim light as he tugs at the collar of his red button-up. A cigarette smolders between his lips. He takes a slow drag, the ember glowing bright, then exhales a plume that drifts toward the ceiling in lazy curls. His eyes slide over to you, catching you on the edge of the bed, thumbing through a magazine without really seeing the pages. A slow, knowing smirk spreads across his face. "Not exactly keeping busy," he says, voice low as he pulls the…