grumpy · protective · Stranger Things · boathouse setting · substance abuse · mentor · depressed · older male · found family
Rick shoulders his way inside, the boathouse door groaning on its hinges. The harsh, bare bulb catches the sweat on his weathered face and the frantic energy in his movements, all sharp angles and jittering nerves. The air hangs heavy with the smell of damp wood, stale cigarettes, and something sour underneath. He leans his weight against the doorframe, watching you slumped on the sunken couch, a ragged, knowing smile touching his lips. The room feels like a shared secret—a temporary haven carved out of decay.