#I’ll roll with it (a d20) when I get home fuck it if I get an 18-20 I’ll finish it and post it

[nathsolkyoako]

Tgeres two ways to react to a fanfic you wrote while half sleep and partially suicidal

1damn this is actually rlly good I think I just have to edit it what the hell

2

3 literally just the word “Balls”

[s-che]

reporting from the Dream Library: Apocalypse World

After however many years of games pointing its direction, I finally played Apocalypse Worlds as the first leg of a long series of one- and two-shots I’m running over in the Dream Library, my weekly drop-in-game-and-design-chat discord. We’re starting a unit talking through some of the highs, lows, landmarks, and cul-de-sacs in the now fourteen-year long history of PBTA design — it’s looking something like an actual play book club. 

It’s an interesting journey to be embarking on — and I’ll talk a little bit more about where we’re going next at the end of this post — but, hey, first:

I fucking loved Apocalypse World.

Part 1: Big Thoughts & Caveats

Apocalypse World rules. That isn’t a particularly hot take, and it isn’t a set up for me to tear into the game later. I’m not being polite here. The game fucking rules. Every time I opened the book (I’ve got both a physical copy and a pdf of the second edition), I was confronted by some absolute sick nasty shit that slapped and fucked and went supremely hard. The game is good good good in a way that, tbh, makes me a little disappointed in a whole bunch of PBTA games that come after it and totally miss, imo, where all the cool shit in Apocalypse World came from. 

There’s a way in which, speaking as a mostly casual observer who was mostly not around during the big years of the PBTA boom (for those keeping score at home, I listened to Friends at the Table on and off from about 2016 on and played a handful of Dungeon World and Sprawl sessions as a result, but didn’t start actively participating in the blood machine we call design discourse until after I graduated college in 2021), what seems to get fossilized as the core of PBTA design, especially in the public pitch for various systems, is mostly the simplicity of the dice and resolution systems — make a move, roll 2d6+stat, partial successes, isn’t this so much easier than d20 rollover?

And, sure, those form a part of the marketability of PBTA, especially to a mainline RPG audience. But there’s more than just that in this book — a lot more — in a way which makes me upset that this wasn’t the shit I was hearing about at 17. Meguey & Vincent Baker have skill for designing with what you might call elegant maximalism in mind, a philosophy where you are constantly confronted — especially when handling the physical object — by a book which is impressive both in its length and in its density. 

Apocalypse World (like Under Hollow Hills, which we’ll be playing at the very end of our PBTA unit in the Dream Library) is remarkable both for the number of moving pieces and for the fluidity with which those pieces fit together. I understand why that kind of game, coupled with how easy it is to hack moves into something entirely new, leads to a design moment which emphasizes rules-light play, but — agh! There’s just so much more game in Apocalypse World than in so many of the games which build on it. The text calls for the MC to “barf forth apocalyptica” — and it feels like Vincent and Meguey have done something similar, here, cramming everything which makes the game interesting right into the text.

All that being said, I butchered this game in order to run it as a one-shot. Apocalypse World should not be run as a one-shot. There are lots of very funny forum conversations to be found, if you start looking online for advice on running Apocalypse World as a one-shot, where people tell each other not to run Apocalypse World as a one-shot. In several of them, especially on the old lumpley forums, Vincent chimes in and suggest not running it as a one-shot.

Unfortunately, the limits of trying to run a series of games in conversation with each other, in a reasonable period of time, with a rotating set of players means that I can’t play Apocalypse World the way you’re supposed to. I’m going to host it again later this month, and I may try to run that session as a a little more of an as-written Session 0 (or follow Vince’s advice on playing it con-style to the letter), but that’s getting a little close to what-comes-next talk, which I said I’d save for the end. 

All-in-all, I’m not terribly unhappy with the way my cobbled together one-shot went, but — as I talk through some of the points of friction in a moment — I’m going to try to keep in mind (and I’d like y’all to keep in mind too) that much of this is my fault, for breaking the game before we every played.

That being said...

Part 2: The Session

I had four players, who made characters ahead of time — except for Hx, which we did at the top of the session. None of them, as far as I know, had played Apocalypse World before. We got an angel, a battlebabe, a brainer, a hardholder out of it. 

There were strengths and weaknesses to prepping characters ahead — while it did save time and let us play harder and faster than we would have otherwise, I struggled at times with what felt like an almost immediate divide between player characters: the hardholder and the brainer on one side, the angel and battlebabe on the other. There wasn’t player tension or conflict — just folks interests going in different directions, which is 1. totally fine, and in fact can be fun to play with over a longer time and 2. probably my fault for giving players the full list of playbooks. Hardholder is good shit, but it’s also big and requires more prep than basically any of the others, and then grounds you in a world I wish we’d had time to explore longer. 

I prepped a holding, with the help of our hardholder Mother Superior: the Red Priory, an underground market in the tunnels beneath the ruins of a city-which-was, located on the remains of an interstate highway in the slow process of sinking into the burned and blackened mudflats left behind when the wetlands dried up. I prepped some threats: a gas supplier to the west and a gang called the Crow-Eaters who were picking off caravans to the east. And then we jumped into play, opening in media res. Mother Superior was stranded, hunted by the Crow-Eaters as he tried to make it back to the safety of the Priory, while our other players (Charmer the Brainer, Kerrbox the Angel, and Rapture the Battlebabe) set out looking for their boss. Again, a breach of how the game is supposed to run, but opening with something high-octane felt important when we only had a couple of hours to dick around in the world.

We had a brief encounter at a blockaded highway, some good chats about the safety and feasibility of offroading on a dried up swamp (don’t), and an absolutely miserable (in a good way) knock-down, drag-out shootout between Mother Superior and his pursuers, which ended when an escaping Crow-Eater rode headfirst into our other players’ search party and wound up getting dragged behind a bike some five hundred feet down the road, psychically interrogated, and imprisoned in the Red Priory. Having made it safe — but badly injured — back to the holding, we capped off the session — and our story — with an attack by the full Crow-Eater gang riding a souped up bulldozer and a fleet of bikes which Kerrbox and Rapture road out to deal with while Mother Superior drifted semi-conscious in a hospital bed, dreaming with Charmer about the Crow-Eater’s boss, Lady Magpie — who, at that moment, was dueling Rapture guitar-ax-on-chains on top of the bulldozer. Every step in the process was sick as shit. The combat felt great, the social dynamics felt great, the shifting scales of threat and tension as things amped up felt great — and even with a couple of players with pretty limited RPG experience, the game felt like it had an interesting answer (or a way to find an interesting answer) to every question we hit. As always when playing online, I did wish we were in person (flipping through a book around a table just feels better than flipping through a book on a discord call) and we ran into the usual hiccups with to do the move, do it type games: cases where players had an interesting image of what they wanted to try which the moves didn’t quite cover and cases where players knew what move they were angling for but I had to push them to frame it narratively — but both of those things are solved by familiarity, and would have been smoothed out if we’d gotten to play for longer. 

There’s a slightly paradoxical way in which a one-shot of a GM’d game tends to rely more heavily on the GM than long term play does, especially when the non-GM players haven’t spent a lot of time with the game beforehand. Even if you aren’t expected to have prepped as thoroughly as you might for a campaign, the labor of hosting and facilitating has a tendency to balloon in a first session, and there were a number of times when my players looked to me for answers when, in a longer game, I’d like to think they would have felt comfortable answering the questions themselves. Some of this is just players getting warmed up to the space and to playing with each other, but there’s another edge as well: I think some players have a tricky time feeling like they can claim authorial power in a one-shot. A one-shot is perceived as a kind of bespoke experience, something hosted by me for you — a perception which, I admit, I play into when I end a Dream Library session by thanking my players for joining me. I don’t know why I do that — I certainly don’t feel that need when I GM an ongoing campaign — but I do.

Apocalypse World is a great game for breaking this habit. Even as I over-prepped for the first session, limiting myself to developing threats (and the basic setting details worked out with the hardholder) meant there were moments when not only did my players ask me questions I didn’t have an answer to, but questions which I did not feel I was the right person to answer at all, and I passed authorship off — either back to them or to another player. Breaking up the authorial duties by making it extremely clear what the MC is and is not is a huge part of what makes the Bakers work tick — and something I’ve seen them do in other, even more asymmetrical games (like the excellent Wizards Grimoire zines which are on sale right now). 

On top of that, though, Apocalypse World gives you Agendas, and most importantly the command to “Barf forth apocalyptica” which I mentioned once already. In a one-shot, having a textual instruction to answer questions with the most grotesque, evocative, and apocalyptic answer we could find was an incredible mandate which changed the world in the process of play. The mudflats got muddier as we went, the Red Priory seedier. By the time we met her, Lady Magpie had discarded her original fit for a massive cloak strung with bits of broken metal and glass which clattered and flickered with her every movement. 

Apocalypse World enshrines the call to lean into the obvious answer into its text, reminding us that it is, in fact, fun to play in genre. It is fun to play in the trope. It is fun to make things strange and beautiful and frightening purely for the purpose of being strange and beautiful and frightening. It fucking rules.

I wish, again, that I’d gotten to play it longer, and watched the world get even weirder and more apocalyptic.

Part 3: What Comes Next

I’ve got another session of Apocalypse World that I’ll be recruiting for in the Dream Library basically as soon as this post goes up — then next month we’re moving on to Night Witches and Sagas of the Icelanders to talk a little about historical fiction and genre. The schedule beyond that has been laid out, but only tentatively (at one stage, I had games planned to run until next April, which is absurd, but I’m trying to keep things flexible and let the unit lead us where it does). If you’d like to get in on the action, shoot me a message! I’m not posting the link to the Dream Library anywhere publicly at the moment, but genuinely — if you want in, you should come on in. If you don’t want to play, you don’t have to play — we’ve got a little text-based book club talking through the games simultaneously to our unit, for folks who can’t make it but still want to talk games.

On the other hand, if you want to run a game you should for sure let me know. I’ve already got a few guest hosts lined up, and I can’t wait to see what they do. Is there a game you think is secretly the key to understanding PBTA? Something you’ve been itching to try, but never found a group for? A game you hate, but feel obligated to talk about anyway?

Come and join. We’d love to have you.

We’ve got fourteen years of design to talk shit about, after all.

[emmebearpaw]

Every time I see a discussion on if DND 5e is a good system and when it’s a good system vs when it isn’t I always wish I had more to comment. Especially as someone who has played DnD in the past and wants to do table top roleplay again but isn’t necessarily excited about the prospect of trying to find a group to play any other games I’m more interested in. And then I remember how atypical my complaints about DnD are and I wonder how much my experience was colored by a bad DM.

Authors note: one of these points has a pretty major content warning. For in game rape. If that makes you uncomfortable it’s at the end after the cut.

My number one complaint about DnD is the feeling that doing anything hinges on having a good die roll. This definitely goes back also to my first table top rpg experience which unfortunately for me was Model UN in a social studies class. I get weird about doing things for grades. Asking me to roleplay running a country and then having to roll to see if the idea worked made me so stressed. Because it doesn’t actually matter if you come up with a good solution. The piece of plastic can say “nope everyone dies”.

Back in highschool I played with two different GMs but they both had very similar styles. By the books. Little tolerance for deviation from it. Combat focused. Basically, very DND. I wasn’t the biggest fan but I sort of… jumped in late and to be fair probably wasn’t super wanted at one of those tables anyways. So I didn’t complain. I made my very first character, a cleric (which was probably a bad idea as it meant I had a lot of spells to learn so I was overwhelmed in combat but that was on me) and showed up the next week for the one-two hour session where you do a combat encounter and then go home. Because it was after school and that’s how long people could stay. Anyways I kept showing up to those sessions, hoping to learn anything about the story or why we were fighting. I don’t think there was one. But there is one encounter I’ll probably always remember. We were fighting a giant spider and I got caught in its web after being flung into it! Oh no! To get out I had to roll like, a 13 or 14 strength check. So the next time my turn came up I rolled my d20, added my modifier and don’t make the check. Oh darn. Turns went around again after a few minutes and I asked for the d20 again and rolled again and I don’t make the check.

I basically didnt play again for the rest of the day. I think I got one more turn before I had to go home. Meaning I maybe had 3 turns in combat in 2 hours. After a while I just laid down on the concrete benches we played on and would sit up to roll the die and lay back down. I’m unlucky with checks like this. I’ve had this happen to me in one of my best friends favorite board games. I fail the check over and over and over and never play the game again. Personally, I think a good GM would avoid this problem. You know. Maybe lower the skill check after a couple turns? Give a player who can’t do anything… something to do besides scroll tumblr? I would have helped play the enemy in the combat! I just think it’s very easy to get stuck in skill check hell. And not fun. Which doesn’t help the anxiety I feel over the dice fucking me over I have to overcome to go roleplay!!!

Basically, a good GM, I think, should be willing to bend the rules a bit in the interest of players actually having fun. Even if they want to play very by the books, they presumably want people to… play??

Number 2: A sense of progression.

Maybe it’s just because it’s been years but like. I barely ever really getting to go to town to go shopping. It was just “walk a bit. 5 goblins jump out at you guys while you make camp. Ok they are dead. You rest for a bit and eat some food. You are walking again. 4 guys jump out at you to rob you” so on and so forth.

I’m sure for some people that butters their toast but like. Can we get to a town? Can we talk to people? Why are we even traveling? Where are we going again? Why are we going there besides “to save the world?” Can I level up? Do you have a good way for me to keep all these spell cards I made safe so I can maybe have a chance to remember my long ass list of cleric spells?

Number 3: Lack of… concern for the players (Content warning. Rape of a player character by an NPC.)

Ok. This is the DM complaint I… don’t know where to talk about? Bringing it up with anyone literally shuts down any conversation I’ve ever tried to have and there isn’t a good response to it. So I’m shoving what happened under a read more besides the content warning. I know it isn’t a normal problem in specific but I do feel like the problem of “What does everyone at the table want out of this roleplay experience?” Is a thing a lot of players and GMs a like can miss. Obviously that’s what those safety tool things are for but the newest players who probably need them the most are the ones who aren’t going to know to use them. And so things that seem obvious to not include to one player end up getting casually tossed in and it ends up being a mess. This wouldn’t have happened if I had a discussion with my GM but… how was I supposed to know to ask the GM to not do that?

Specifics below cut. The ultimate culmination of my complaints about DnD. Yes this is where the content warning begins.

So. We were down most of the party because I played with theatre kids and like 3/5 of the party were in a production and it was tech week (week before the show!) so they were gone. It was me, one other player and the GM so we decide to take it easy and do some world building. He was going to introduce us to who I could only presume was a minor antagonist. Which excited me as we hadn’t had much plot! We meet this guy and he’s here to collect the taxes for the town but he is asking for an exorbitant amount. Me and my party member go to confront him, and the DM has him and one of his goons grab and restrain my character, saying that if my character. A woman was so eager to help the town not owe so much, then I could help. With my body. Ok so combat is starting. That’s unfortunate. Oh I’m grappled. Ok can I get ungrappled? Oh ok I just need to make a strength check and I can break free, but they get a turn and they manage to drag me into a horse drawn carriage and our Druid tries to help me escape but fails. So now I’m in a cart being pulled by horse down the road and our Druid starts running after.

The villain then pins my character down in the cart and forces himself on my character. As I roll and fail every strength check. The Druid has wild shaped into a bird and is giving chase to the cart. But a horse drawn cart got a good lead before he transformed, so it’s going to take several turns for him to dash and catch up.

As my character is just getting raped.

we beat the guy up but.

Well. My character wasn’t much of a character. It was sort of just me as a cleric, we didn’t have much time for roleplay or characterization.

I suddenly became very aware I was the only person assigned female at birth at that table. Even when everyone was there.

The DM said the whole encounter didn’t really matter since the whole party wasn’t there and we would be continuing with the main plot in two weeks once the show was over. There wasn’t going to be anything the next week because he was going to go see the show.

I didn’t go back. It turns out it isn’t fun to not be able to do anything because the dice keep fucking you over when the thing you are trying to avoid is not just, being stuck but what very much feels like a threat of violence the DM is taunting you with. I mean. It was just him, one other guy and me in a secluded corner of the school two hours after it let out.

Like I said I… sort of don’t know what to do with this complaint. It’s not like I ever brought it up to him. I never played DnD again after that except for a single one shot me and my best friends at the time did after that we only got an hour into before we abandoned it to goof around instead. Besides, I had to go to school with my GM. He was my GM because he was a friend of a friend. And bringing it up now does nothing but make everyone uncomfortable. There shouldn’t be much of a lesson in it either. So it’s not like there is anything for you to do with this info and you probably shouldn’t have received it.

im sorry. This isn’t much a criticism or defense of any particular system. It’s just me having shitty luck and new, freshman in high school (I was also a freshman) DMs. It’s not like I’m asking for perfection. I just think that whatever system you play. It should be fun for everyone at the table and also everyone should get to play it.

[wenchofthescullery]

COVID-19, the fucked-up post

*

You guys. This is what we all were worried about when “flatten the curve” first became a phrase. It’s a wildfire. I suspect this will be covered on the weekend, but it is happening now.

I think whatever is left after Omicron, medically speaking, will be easier to deal with as a system. I don’t want that to be misread as thinking this is good. This is what it looks like when your healthcare system crashes in rolling slo-mo after 2 years of stress.

I don’t know what the healthcare providers will look like after this. 

1. Reddit Nurses comment thread, now limited to "flaired medical professional” posters (verified), with most posts looking to be in the last 6 hours: https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/rxwctu/they_are_coding_people_in_the_hallways/

2. HHS data for hospital capacity tracking:  https://alexanderjxchen.github.io/circuitbreaker/

3. Another tracker: https://www.hospitalbed.space/

4. Another tracker: https://protect-public.hhs.gov/pages/hospital-utilization

-----

I’m okay. I was out for some gastrointestinal bug (COVID-negative x rapid and PCR) that was probably the local (apparent) Norovirus outbreak: fever, shaking chills, profuse diarrhea. Stayed home, stayed out of ED, was covered by my fabulous colleagues. I’m still not steady on my feet, so not going back until next week.

***Don’t do takeout right now if you can help it. If you do, try to do hot cooked food that you can microwave, not leafy green veg and fresh fruit. Prepare things at home.***

If you are fully vaxxed and boosted and get it, you may not have many symptoms at all, or you may feel really sick, or anything in between, but you likely won’t need hospitalization.

If you aren’t, depending on your level of prior exposure, your potential range is much wider. This is so contagious that we are all rolling the dice at this point. Some of us have a smaller range and are rolling levels 1-4, and some of us are rolling D20s. I wish you all well.

I think it’s T-cell immunity that kicks in and clears it before it gets really bad. T-cells aren’t measured by antibody response -- that’s B-cells. I think the research is showing that COVID-19 vaccines are better than the illness in producing T-cell response. This is from the NIH Director’s Blog: https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2021/06/22/how-immunity-generated-from-covid-19-vaccines-differs-from-an-infection/

God bless us, everyone. Every one. I’m really pretty scared. I hope and trust I’ll be here after, too.

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

A Little Bit Like Home

You moving to school has been tougher than Calum would like to admit but there are some moments that make it easier to bear, there are small moments where it’s not so bad. 

A continuation of these two blurbs (Blurb 1 and Blurb 2) Again it’s hella self indulgent. Inspired what really happened to me in my DnD campaign, see this post.  

**Contains spoilers for the Waterdeep Heist from Dungeons & Dragons if you are currently playing that module!!!**

Enjoy my masterlist!

Support me on Ko-fi

___________

“Can I make a perception check on the walls? See if there’s anything else funky in this room?” you ask, clicking over in your browser tab to the dice roller. The DM allows you to make that call and you click on the d20. 

“Your the only one rolling well on those things tonight,” one member of your party, playing an Orc sent out to learn magic and getting packed in with your ragtag group, notes after their failed attempt to pick the lock. You managed to pick that that too, but you chalk it up to you being a Drow Rogue and lock picking being one of your skills. 

“18,” you call out, looking back at your character sheet to make sure you’ve done the math correctly. 

“18?” The DM asks, just to be sure. You nod. “Okay, so you look around the room and there’s not really anything worth noting besides some dirt and blood. But no traps, no buttons in this room.”

“This room,” the entire party echoes laughing. The six of you have just survived barely a lightning trap. Which you still refuse to admit to setting up, but it was definitely you since as the marching order had you in front. 

“We’re going to have to go back to that mimic room,” the paladin of your group declares. Your party was warned that the room at the start of your adventure in this hell of a magic maze could be a trap and a mimic could be in the depths of it. But there was a chest still yet to be opened. However, you took the advice of your Orc and backed out of that room to avoid a fight just yet. 

Your previous encounters in other rooms leaving some of your party is better shape than others. This early in your adventure together the five of you didn’t really want to risk loosing anyone just yet. Lightening and your pirates love of ale seemed to be your only foe at the moment. 

“We should maybe just see what’s in here first,” Calum, playing as a Druid, counters. “Though it seems like if we find yet another key to a door that’s already been picked, it’s might be useless.” 

You know the tease is directed at you. “Hey, look here buddy, I will not hesitate to shoot a quiver into your ass. I see a lock I’m going to pick it,” you defend. 

“Besides,” your party’s pirate starts, “we’ve ducked a lot of rooms afraid of getting into another fight. If they pick a lock or two and we find the key later, at least we can add to the Bard’s collection.”

“Thank you,” you laugh. 

Soon your party’s able to direct their attention back on the adventure and magic maze you’ve found yourself in. You and Calum end up smashing mirrors in a room to avoid any sort of magic in them that would cause your party to fight your soul doubles. This leads to a five minute debate of how to leave said room that didn’t involve shoving the unicorn that your party was tasked with finding up someone’s ass due to a riddle unveiled, Everything you see is mine.

“Wait,” you say, laughing at the argument about who can fit the unicorn into their mouth. It was deemed to be more dignified. Your pirate waits outside the room, still naked thanks to the magic that rips all the clothes, weapons, and armor off of anyone that attempts to leave the room. “Everything you see is mine. If the mirrors are smashed, then nothing can be seen right?��

“No, shards can be face up, so technically things can be seen,” the party’s Bard counters. 

“No, no, you’re onto to something,” the pirate starts. 

“Oh my god, we’re so fucking dumb,” the orc hollers. “Someone cover their eyes. You means us. Anything we can see can’t leave the room.”

Thankfully, you’re still dressed having only attempted to leave the room and letting others continue with their naked escapades. “Holy shit,” you shriek as you direct to your DM how you cover your face with your hood and hold it tight around your eyes so you can’t see anything and step through the door. You’re able to cross completely clothed, swords, crossbow, and pack still in tact. 

“We’re so fucking STUPID,” you laugh. 

Calum’s giggle cuts through the speakers of your laptop. “How were we so prepared to just be fucking naked through the rest of this maze?” He directs to the DM that he redresses, having also attempted several times to brute force the magic door with no success. 

“We never speak of that,” the orc demands through their own laughter. “Never.”

The party comes to a stopping point about another hour later, saying goodbyes before leaving the Zoom meeting. Not even thirty seconds later after ending that call, an incoming FaceTime call comes from Calum. You answer it, wiping at the corner of your eyes. He’s grinning as the call finally connects. The weekend that Calum came up to visit, a friend in the cohort asked you if you’d be willing to going a beginner’s campaign. You had wanted to give the game a whirl but you knew it would be a time suck and asked if it was okay to bring someone else along too. 

After getting a yes from the DM you know you had to convince Calum to join in. It took less effort than you thought for him to join in and the two of you spent a couple hours the night before picking out your characters before you emailed the information back to the DM. Now every Saturday night you and Calum spend about three hours in a Zoom getting into all sorts of trouble. He settled easily on the Druid but spent forever trying to find an artist rendering of his character, Okolian, that felt right. Long black hair with streaks of white was a must along with a single braid as well, which he stole from your character’s look though your hair is all white. 

Slowly, it was decided that Okolian would have blue skin muscular, but not overly buff and refused to wear sleeves in order to wear leather arm bands around his biceps which could easily be mistaken for tattoos or markings of his people. Okolian prefers his staff but is also armed with a sickle and mace. The Calum touch of course was to add ferns rather than feathers. 

“I can’t believe you were going to let me be the one to have to figure out the unicorn,” Calum teases. 

“Hey, it was only six inches. Not that bad.”

He sputters his laughter. “Is that payback for calling you out for picking all the locks?”

“I would never do such a thing but maybe.” 

“Anything else on the agenda for tonight?”

“No not really. Whatever work there is out in the world, I’ll get to it tomorrow. What about you? The night’s still young.”  

Calum shrugs. “A friend was supposed to get back to me about drinks tonight,  but I haven’t heard anything yet. If he gets back within the hour or so, I’ll probably tag along but if not, it’s not a big deal. But you never did tell me about last night. How’d that go?”

You cover your face for a second, remember how many drinks were consumed the night previously. Calum laughs at the slightly panicked look that crosses your face. “There was two drinks too many past my usual limit and I felt it. Big time,” you answer. 

He’s glad to hear you getting out more. It’s in turned made him feel a bit better about getting back to his normal routine, getting dinner more with the guys or other friends. Missing you doesn’t hurt so bad anymore for Calum. He feels most often right before he’s going to bed, when he’d normally curl up into your side and open his arms wide for you to curl up into him. But it hurts less during the day. 

Getting used to the cohort and getting out a couple Friday’s in the month has helped you as well. You don’t feel so chained to your phone, don’t feel so beholden to being there for every text right away. It’s still hard when you start to cook dinner and almost reach out for a second plate still by habit. And in the morning when you’re fixing your cup of coffee your brain still wants to pull down a second cup. Sometimes you do. Sometimes you just give in because you need it. Need to let yourself sit with those feelings. 

“I’ll be sticking with cider after last night,” you tease. “Wine makes me myself too much. Never doing that again.”

Calum’s been privileged to see you wine drunk a couple of times and he can already imagine the type of trouble you nearly got yourself in. “Is your picture on the wall at the bar?”

“Not that bad, but close,” you giggle. 

“What am I going to do with you?” 

It’s just a joke but for a moment it makes you pause--what’s going to happen when you go back for break? Are things going to be different? Most of your clothes and things are still there though slowly more and more has been shipped to you. Is Duke going to remember you? Miss you too?

“Promise me the house isn’t too different?”

Calum furrows his brows, head titling just a little to the side. “What do you mean, baby?”

“Like without me, is it all going to be different when I come back?”

“It’s all pretty much the same here. Duke’s the king of the castle. Still have plenty of hoodies for you to steal and your side of the bed still misses you. I still miss you.”

“No, I--I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like I don’t want you to find ways to cope but I don’t know. What if it never feels right? Like so much has been missed that I just won’t ever fit in again?”

Calum shakes his head. “Babe, no. You still belong. Your shoes still have space in the closet. Your mugs still sit in the cabinets. There is so much of you still here--it’s how I get through the days.”

Maybe that’s what’s rough for you. There’s not much of Calum at your place. There’s none of his dirty laundry that’s halfway hanging of laundry baskets and there’s no bass rumbling and there’s snoring next to you at night. It’s all you, which is nice. But you wish you had a little bit of Calum too. 

“There’s none of you here,” you say softly. 

“I can fix that.” It’s a steady confidence, a nod of his head at statement. “Don’t you worry.”

You two steer the conversation to something lighter before you call it a night. And it’s harder to get up the next morning, to peel yourself out of the sheets. But you do it, you push up with a grunt and get your day started. Coffee, a quick bowl of cereal and fruit. You call Calum right before lunch to check in and then get back to work. 

As the days pass, the conversation the ache gets buried in some stress. However, you get a text about a package to get from the lockers at the front of your complex so shuffle down the path thinking it’s the new mattress pad you ordered. It shipped late last week but you hadn’t expected it to arrive this soon. 

As the door swings open to the locker you spy Calum’s handwritten on the label of the package. What the hell had be gone and done? You pick up the box and kick the door close with your foot before taking it back up to your apartment. Setting the box down on the kitchen counter, you find the scissors and cut into it. Right on top is a small envelope with your name scribbled across it. 

You said you didn’t have anything of me. So I knew I had to correct that. I hope they help. And a little thing from the old man, well not from him. But you’ll understand when you get to that. 

Love you. 

Digging into the box, you notice a few guitar pics, a couple extra t-shirt and then a long thin box. You pick it up, noticing it looks like a necklace. But with Calum you never can be sure. As you crack it open, you laugh, finding a gold chain staring up at you, attach to it is a tiny locket that as a paw print on it. You crack it open though and find a tiny picture of Calum and you inside of it and your eyes well with tears. It’s from your last vacation before you left for school, just two of you reclined on the beach and Calum kissing your temple. 

You draft a text to Calum. Tell Duke it feels like home now. 

[cottontonic]

WHO WANTS TO SEE MY GROWING DICE COLLECTION

My friends and family have indulged my current fixation on dice for D&D this year, so I now have so many dice that my dice bag just barely holds them all (I’m planning on making myself a larger dice bag soon, like a surplus one to keep all my extras that I’m not currently using). 

I’ll put the pictures under a read more so that you don’t get this long ass post on your dash of random dice

I’ve been trying to only buy dice I’d use for the characters I’m currently playing as but I’ve been getting ones that are just plain pretty/cool

My first set ever! I got these at least a year and a half ago. I don’t use them as much anymore but I love them still so much.

Look, I’m a simple bisexual. I see rainbow colored dice and I immediately need it. Also they work with any character I play since they all are some flavor of queer. 

Impulse buy after the second set and session of a home game I played with some friends. Kinda regret buying them but they’re good if a friend ever needs a set to use.

I still actually really like these guys, even if aesthetically they don’t go with any of the characters I play. 

My Twinnie (a very good friend of mine) got these for me! I wanted to kill him and hug him at the same time. They were for my character, Juhlanna, in the home game I was playing, but we haven’t played since long before Covid hit.

Got this set at Wondercon! I can’t remember which Wondercon tho tbh. If I use them, I always make sure to get them glowy before a session. They seem to roll better when they glow. c:

Got these at my local game store! I used to reserve the red guy for when I rolled with advantage/disadvantage or if the character was particularly fueled by their emotions. The black one I used to use for Death Saves only (I have other dice for that now.). Currently, I use the two together for when I have to roll with advantage/disadvantage. 

These were a freebie set I got from an online order! Haven’t used them yet.

The first set I got for Nicholas! It matches his color scheme and I’m a sucker for clear dice. 

My pop actually got these for me! He liked that they looked like bones and said that it fit the theme for my characters haha

I specifically got this set for my girl Pepper. I fucking love this set and have switched to only using them for her unless I need to grab more dice for a damage roll or something. I often take the D20 out though just to look at it in the sunlight.

Aaaaaah yes. The cursed rubber ducky dice. One of my best friends got me this set for the holidays this year. First time I used them they kept rolling very badly and almost killed Nicholas. I have now dubbed them as cursed and have promised myself to stick to using them for death saves/very important rolls, just to shake things up a bit in the game

My parents got me my first gemstone set for the holidays this year!! They’re my fav gemstone, Tiger’s Eye, and I’m just ASYLAFTKFGCKDGVHA I LOVE THEM. I think I’ll use them for Nicholas mostly. These will be Nicholas’ special dice.

EDIT: I can’t believe I forgot to include this set. Also a holiday gift! I think I’m gonna use these guys as a second Pepper set tbh. 

[kittyotakunoir666]

Felinette Month Day 1: Matchmaking

Felinette Month Day 1: Matchmaking

Based on @miraculouschatpuns Coffee Shop au

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a month after Lila returned back to school and started causing a rift between Mari and the class, Lila started whispering things to the rest of the class about how Marinette was bullying her, how Marinette was trying to drive Adrien away from being her friend, and that Lila didn’t know why Marinette hated her, which causes the class to start distancing themselves from her. They went so far as to start avoiding Marinette by doing stuff with Lila that they normally would do with Marinette such as picnics, movies, parties, sleepovers and hidden those events from her.

Marinette eventually found out because one day she was walking around for inspiration when she saw them leaving the movie theater after they had told her they were too busy to go together. She had felt her heart sink as she realized that Lila had made due to her promise and had taken her friends from her. Marinette was getting teary and began to run away because she didn’t want them to see her. Except Lila did see her and that put a smirk on her face.

While Marinette was running she really wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings but when she finally did stop running she saw that she ended up in a quiet street in a fairly nice area. The area was circular with small shops were everywhere, there was a small park in the center, and along at the opening at the other side of the circle was a small coffee shop. She was making her way to the coffee shop but was also taking a look at the other shops.

 Once she got to the coffee shop she couldn’t help but welcome the smell of coffee inside so she enters. When she enters she takes note that all the seats and booths there had bookshelves or small stacks of books, she decides to stay. She quickly orders a medium-sized mocha and looks for a place to sit, she finds a little nook that has two armchairs and a little table between them, she does notice there is a half-empty cup of coffee and a small stack of books sitting on the table but she thinks that maybe they still needed to clean it so she ignored it and sat down.

Marinette grabs a book and curls up, trying to forget about the betrayal she feels. She started getting really sucked into the book that she doesn’t notice the boy approaching her. The boy had stopped and stared at Marinette before taking his seat across from her. 

Marinette finally realized that he was there and mentioned that it was nice that the coffee shop provided books. Though the boy did agree, he had said that the books were actually his and that he had brought them with him since he didn’t know if the shop provided his favorite books.

Embarrassed, Marinette starts apologizing for practically stealing his book and starts to leave but he tells her that it’s fine and she can keep reading it if she wants. She wasn’t hurting anything and his parents had been telling him he needed more friends, which he thought wasn’t needed considering how many friends he did have, and if she liked his book choices she obviously has good taste. So they continued reading in silence for hours.

Before they both knew it, it was getting late and they would have to leave. As they were walking out they realized that they never introduced themselves. The boy introduced himself as Felix Culpa and mentions that he comes to the shop almost every afternoon since he likes the calming aura it provides. As Marinette introduced herself she also mentioned that she wondered about this area on accident and would have to find her way back. 

Felix helps her find her way back and they both realize that she wasn’t too far away from her house and would actually be able to return to the shop whenever she wanted and also be able to see Felix again. They quickly exchanged numbers and said goodbye. Felix really didn’t live far but it was a trip away from the coffee shop but he didn’t mind.

Eventually, it became routine for Marinette to visit the coffee shop whenever Felix texted her that he would be at the shop. They would just go to the coffee shop and spent time together in the nice silence that was between them. Marinette was able to get inspiration from the coffee shop itself alongside Felix himself. Felix was just happy to make another friend who knew what a pleasure the quiet could provide.

They eventually get comfortable enough that they started talking about their lives and opening up more. Marinette eventually shows him her designs inspired by the coffee shop and Felix himself. Felix blushed at the designs inspired by him but he loves it because it shows how passionate Marinette is for her designing. Felix, on the other hand, provides info on why he has walls up and keeps to himself, Marinette understands and doesn’t judge.

Meanwhile, with her class, she had decided to keep quiet about seeing everyone at the movies and started declining their invites, saying that she was busy since they obviously didn’t want her around. Why else would they lie to her, besides she really prefers Felix’s company to their company anyways. Felix didn’t lie to her, Felix didn’t call her names, Felix didn’t abandon her for a psychological liar. 

So while her friendship with her class went down the drain she was happy about being friends with Felix. Eventually, she did meet Felix’s other friends and they adored her. They liked that this person, this small, kind, generous person had so much love to give. So they invited her everywhere with them and she was glad that she had friends who cared for her.

Back at school, Lila was upset because, despite Marinette being left out and knowing it, she doesn’t seem sad or upset, she actually seems happier. But who cares about what she thought Marinette was happy.

~0~

Which brings us four months later with Marinette having feelings for Felix and Felix having feelings for Marinette and them not doing anything about other than telling their shared friends.

The shared friends were just so done.

Some of them created a plan, one of them was against it. 

“Guy, you forget I can tell the future with my cards and they all say they get together on their own,” Nyx told the group, The group of friends minus Marinette and Felix were gathered at Allegra’s house in her room. They all were scattered in the room, Nyx was standing and leaning against the wall near the door, Ruby, Terra, and Allegra were all on Allegra’s bed, Claude was sitting in one of the armchairs near the balcony door along with Allan in the other armchair, Sébastian was sitting on the floor leaning on Allan’s legs. Jake was sitting on the floor leaning on the wall brushing Rosemarie’s hair in front of him, Kagami was sitting on-top of Allegra’s desk and Luka was sitting in the chair next to the desk strumming his guitar quietly, “Not to mention your plan is ridiculous and foolish”

“Ok, first off, Fuck you, this plan is perfect, second of all, you probably didn’t take into account us when telling the future” Ruby pointed out from where she was sitting in Allegra’s room.

“Actually I did, many times, I thought of every possibility and they don’t get together because of you, they get together on their own. And when this whole thing blows up in your faces I’ll be there to tell you I told you so” Nyx exclaimed crossing her arms.

“Okay, Nyx has voiced her opinion, who agrees with her” Sèbastian said calming the storm before it could begin.

No one spoke up, Nyx shook her head and stopped leaning on the wall and started walking out the door, she stopped she spoke to the group, “Since you plan on going through with this plan to make sure that if you get caught, you apologize afterward or Marinette and Felix will avoid y’all for at least a month and so will I, now I’ll see you after the disaster” 

At that Nyx left through the door, leaving behind the group in silence when a phone alarm went off. They looked at Kagami since it was her phone. Kagami took a look and saw that it was time for her fencing lesson, rolling her eyes she told the group she had to leave. The remaining friends decided to go home so that the next day they could put their plan in action. They all bid Allegra goodbye and made their way home. 

~0~

The next day they put in action, the only people who couldn’t make it was Kagami, Luka, and Terra, and Rosemarie. The plan went like this, they would meet up like normal than they would go to the ice skating rink, where they would “accidentally” push them together, then they would go to the Fair that was in the city visiting where they would split and “accidentally” separate themselves from them and then they would trap them together in the Ferris Wheel were they would have no choice but to confess as it is known that couples would confess to each other in Ferris wheels.

So they put their plan in action when they gathered together in the park. It was Ruby’s job to commence the plan, “ Hey, how about today we go to the ice rink?”

“Yeah, we haven’t been there in a while, why not” Sѐbastian inputted

“I’m ok with going there, how about you Felix” Marinette agreed

Felix looked at her and gave a small smile when he saw that she was excited to go to the ice rink so he responded with, “Sure I’ll go”

So they made their way to the ice rink, the thing is the group isn’t great at keeping secrets so Marinette and Felix were suspicious, Nyx was just thinking why her friends were idiots. 

When they arrived they all got rental shoes except for Nyx who was already ongoing to the ice rink. As they were skating Felix and Marinette were, of course, skating together in silence but enjoying each other’s company. Ruby was just about to “accidentally” push into them when the announcement told people to leave the ice rink because they were about to put a show on for people to see so everyone began to leave. Felix carefully took Marinette out of the rink and Ruby followed right after knowing that if she did push them it would not look like an accident.

The group stayed for the show, it was a group dancing on the ice, three guys and three girls. The girls got into place in the center of the rink and you could see they were the angels and the guys were on one of the sides and they were the demons in the show. The lights shut off and a spotlight was put on the girls while red fog surrounded the guys and the music began, it was Bring Me To Life by Evanescence (here). Nyx had a smug smile at the turn of events.

After the show, the group decided that that was enough ice skating and that they should do something else. Just as Claude was about to suggest the Fair, Marinette beat him to it, “How about we go to the fair, it’s in the city right now and it only cost $12 for entry since we aren't adults yet.”

“I was just about to suggest that Marinette,” Claude said enthusiastically, Nyx facepalmed. Her friends really were idiots.

So they made their way to where the Carnival Fair was being held. Once there they did stick together before they slowly started separating. Claude and Allegra went to check out the different booths, Allan and Sѐbastian went to check out the couple activities, Ruby went to check out what competitions they had, Jake went off on his own to who knows where, which left Nyx, Felix, and Marinette. 

The three were looking around and going to different booths trying out the different booths. Eventually, their prize pile got too big since it was Marinette and Nyx playing the games that they were winning six prizes at every booth that they started giving out their prizes to the children walking around. All of a sudden though Nyx got a bad feeling, she started looking everywhere but she couldn’t find where the bad feeling was coming from. 

It put a pit in her stomach.

“Azucar?” Nyx whispered to Felix as Marinette was distracted at a ring toss booth. She was winning.

“What?” Felix asks, whispering back. They were both standing looking at Marinette destroy the game. 

“I got a bad feeling out of nowhere, I’m going to investigate and also to get churros but I won’t be too far, I’ll keep both of you in my eye view but Felix,” Nyx said in a fearful tone that made Felix finally look at her, “The bad feeling was directed to Marinette”

This made Felix’s eyes widen and he whipped his head to look at Marinette smiling and having fun. His face immediately relaxed and he turned back to Nyx, they both came to an agreement. Nyx left to look around but was still at a safe distance but was hidden from Marinette and Felix’s viewpoint. 

“Hey, Where did Nyx go?” Marinette asked Felix after winning yet another six prizes. Felix took three of the prices putting the one that looked like a black cat with green eyes in his bag that he brought. 

“She went to get some Churros but she’ll meet back up with us don’t worry,” Felix said explained trying to reassure her as he grabbed her hand automatically, they both were giving the five prizes away to the children they randomly passed with the parents thanking them for it. 

They began walking around just looking around and sometimes stopping and looking at what the booths are selling, what activities they had, basically basking in the silence they like to share. Felix then realized their situation, they were alone, holding hands, and really close to each other. He wasn’t the only one who noticed if the tightening grip on his hand and the blush that was creeping on to Marinette was anything to go by. They both had small smiles on their faces and crept even closer together. 

“Felix,” Marinette started, the blush on her face grew brighter, “um... Do... do you…”

She was then cut off by a voice that she used to love to hear as it was her best friend’s coming from behind her, “Well, well, well, what do we have here. If it isn’t “Miss. Ditching my friends for strangers”

Marinette turned around and there was Alya front and center with Lila and the rest of the class, minus a few noticeable classmates, not liking that they ran into Marinette. Lila had a smug look to her face but was hidden behind her sweet and innocent act. Alya was glaring at Marinette while the rest of the class also glaring with the exception of Nathaniel, Jeluka, and Rose who looked uncomfortable being there. 

“Hi Alya,” Marinette said in a deadpan tone, it’s been months since she actually felt sad about losing her “best friend”, “How are you?”

“Cut the carp Marinette is this the reason you stopped hanging out with us,” Alya accused while pointing to Felix, “Or are you trying to use him to make Adrien jealous because girl that’s going too far, you need to get over this jealousy of yo..”

“Is that really all you think of me, a girl who’s driven by her jealousy, a girl who’s so boy crazy she’d go so far as to use someone to get what she wants?” Marinette hissed out cutting Alya. This made a few classmates flinch as they’ve never seen Marinette so mad, Alya and Lila were both also taken aback by this. But before Alya could open her mouth again Marinette stopped her, “No, I’ve had enough, You accuse me of ditching you guys when in reality it was you guys who were doing the ditching. You guys were the ones who were going out as a group without me, it was you who said you didn’t have time to hang out.”

“That’s n..” Alya started but Marinette cut her off again.

“I saw you guys leaving the movies many times” Marinette stated. This made all but Lila flinch, they thought Marinette wouldn’t find out about those times. “So don’t you dare say I was the one who ditched you guys.”

With that Marinette turned around and headed for the carnival’s exist. Felix saw her head towards the exit before turning to Marinette’s class about to say something when a hand shut out to stop him from doing so. He turned to see it was Nyx, she gave him a smile and nodded her head to go and follow Marinette. Felix nodded and ran to go follow Marinette, Nyx will take care of the class.

Felix ran to catch up with Marinette, when he couldn’t find her he started heading to where he knew Marinette would go to.

Their coffee shop.

When Felix entered, the employee at the register pointed with his head where Marinette would be. Felix gave him a thank you nod and made his way to where Marinette was sitting in their seats with her head down. When she felt Felix staring at her she lifted her head up and tried to give Felix a small smile but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Felix then sat down with her and held her hand that was on top of the table and gave it a tight squeeze. Marinette let out a single tear before speaking, “I thought I was able to move on from them, I thought I was stronger,  I…” 

“Marinette you are stronger, You were able to look Alya and the rest of them in the eye and tell them that they were the once who did you wrong and that you were able to move on from them,” Felix assured her, “You’ve grown stronger than from the girl who decided to enter this coffee shop because she ran away from her so-called “friends ``''

“But I also ran right now” Marinette groaned

“No, you left a situation that if you didn’t it would have gotten worst” Felix explained

“But…” Marinette started

“No” Felix cut her off, “You need to not beat yourself up, You did well, you got out of a troubling situation, So we will move on from that and return to what you were going to say before we were so rudely interrupted.”

Marinette blushed as she remembered that before they were interrupted she was going to confess, “Oh...um...nothing...You don’t have to worry about it”

“Marinette,” Felix said with a smirk as he got the hint on what she was going to do.

Before Marinette could make excuses the employee at the register let out a yelp. Felix and Marinette turned to look at what he yelped at. There standing was Nyx and she had a bit of dried blood on her jacket and her hair messy. 

“Nyx, What the fuck” The employee exclaimed.

“Oh, don’t worry Adam, the blood’s not mine,” Nyx stated calmly. Felix and Marinette were staring at her wide-eyed. 

“That isn’t reassuring Nyx, do I need to call someone or what do I need to do” Adam exclaimed holding his phone at the ready to dial.

“No, Adam, just calm down, all I did was get in a small fight with a bitch and her dog,” Nyx said calmly finally making her way to Felix and Marinette, “Noone died but we did get kicked out for today and we can go back tomorrow.” 

“Well do I need to call your guardian or?” Adam asked still holding on to his phone

“Nah it’s fine just continue as you were,” Nyx told him giving him a small smile before directing her attention to Felix and Marinette, She took a notion of them holding hands but said nothing of it, “Marinette you won’t have to worry about Lila or Alya for a while and because you went through something like this today I have to warn you both that our friends created a plan to match-make you guys.”

“Oh we knew about that” Felix said 

“Nyx, thank you for what you did but I am mad that you fought them,” Marinette said giving Nyx her ‘I’m disappointed in you’ look. 

“Yeah well,” Nyx shrugged off the look mostly unfazed by it., “Anyway I actually only came to tell you about that and to warn you about the group but I gotta leave now cause I have a thing to do, so adìos mis preciosos”

With that, she left leaving Marinette and Felix alone again. They both looked at each other and smiled. They got up and left the shop thanking Adam for his service and apologizing for staying after closing hours, he assured them that it was no problem. They walked to Marinette’s home in silence never once letting go of each other's hand.

[mothmanismyuncle]

LETS BE LOVELY AND POSITIVE

everybody who feels like it!! tell me your favourite moments in a dnd campaign or your favourite character or a funny line somebody said in a session!!

i’ll tell you mine:

we’re playing curse of strahd right now with a group of people one of my friends is friends with from their college. we’ll refer to all of them by their player names/pronouns to keep it simple and to not expose my friends on my blog

we have bixby, a mousefolk grave cleric

nikoom, a loxodon bloodhunter/barbarian

raisa, a human fighter

tanis, a half-elf druid

and me, fenrir, a human beastmaster ranger

((strahd spoilers below))

we find baba lysaga’s hut, right? fenrir, throughout everything, has demonstrated that he’s horribly terrified of the General World At Large due to the fact that he was actually raised by wolves and he’s not left his pack beyond simple things into the nearest town. he’s suspicious of everything and would sooner never interact with anything ever, but due to getting kidnapped and plopped in barovia, he doesn’t have a choice.

our party is sneaking in. fenrir had just cast pass without a trace and the party fuckin ROCKED their stealth rolls, with fenrir and his wolf, tyr, topping out at a 31. even the loxodon rolled stupid high, and the plus ten from pass without a trace pushed him clear into the twenties.

this witch had no bloody idea we were there.

we’re surveying the scene. fenrir is waiting on bixby and raisa to check the area for traps, tanis was looking at the local wildlife to see if anything was amiss, and nikoom was readying his attacks in case anything came a-knockin’.

that’s when the most curious sensation washed over fenrir.

dm had just described the goat pen, and fenrir himself knew that he did not want to fuck with that. dm said that there were skulls atop all the fence posts, and that they looked human. fenrir was aghast and really hoping that he could go home very, very soon, but suddenly, there was a disturbance.

“i shoot it.” fenrir felt his mouth moving, but he didn’t want to shoot it? why was he doing this?

the dm had spluttered. the entire table had gone silent in utter terror as the sound of a d20 hitting a tray echoed in the kitchen.

“that’s a 26 to hit?”

fenrir had been possessed by a wrathful, idiot spirit named oliver, and this spirit was not lettin go until that skull had an arrow shaft sticking out of its eyeball.

“yeah, you... you really hit.” dm said. “the second you do, they all open their mouths and begin to scream. roll initiative.”

a chill had shot down fenrir’s spine at the words.

somewhere, in a different reality, oliver was being menaced by the rest of the party. i had never seen such anger in a group of people’s eyes, and it was only in retrospect that i saw that it was clearly a trap.

“FENRIR IS SCARED OF EVERYTHING, AND HE GOES AND SHOOTS A FUCKIN SKULL AT A WITCH HUT?!” nikoom’s player had hollered. i couldn’t help but agree,,, but,,,, arrow stickin out of eye socket, man? GOTTA COMMIT TO THE RANGER AESTHETIC.

as it turned out, messing with the goat pen was the only way to make all of the scarecrows, the witch, and the living hut become active at once.

bixby saved the day when she cast banishment on the hut, and tanis saved the rest of the day when he cast blight on the witch, and nikoom saved the day when he used his flame rite on all of the scarecrows to keep them away from the party, and raisa saved the day by doing almost 100 points of damage a round at level 7 to the hut until that fucker was brought down.

wanna know what fenrir did?

he tried to climb a nearby ruin. rolled well on the athletics check to get onto the roof. then rolled a natural one on the acrobatics check to stay on the roof while shooting. HE FELL FACE FIRST INTO THAT BLOODY GOAT PEN.

i still haven’t lived that down and it was almost a year ago now. god bless fenrir, my idiot son who i have done so dirty.

[royalbloodedbastards]

chatzy // rooftop rager

DATE: Saturday, April 4, 2020 CHARACTERS: Akira, Malia, Parker, Kieran, Jack, Alec, Ime, Blue, Casey, Rosie, Miranda, Graves, Jacob ABOUT: A birthday bash on Rat Cage rooftop turns into a series of scuffles and romantic rendezvous. TW: blood, mild violence

SATURDAY AFTERNOON 

 "Darling Gregory!" Akira clapped their hands together as they approached the manager of the warehouse above the Rat Cage. "Don't call me darling, Akira." "Sure thing, cutie. So," Akira leaned against a pallet of wood, "I was just wondering if the roof was structurally sound enough to support a small party of, say, thirty people?" "I don't want to answer that question." Gregory sighed. "Sounds like a fearful yes." Akira grinned wickedly.  

SATURDAY NIGHT 

"Welcome to the Rat Cage!" Akira held his hands out, at the first guests scaling the ladder to the roof of the Rat Cage. Akira had strung up a long rope of fairy lights that he had stolen from the rec room closet. Scattered on the floor and taped to the ducts were photocopied fliers that read:

AKIRA WAZ BORN: party at dark, rat cage. BYOB—BRING UR OWN BO(Y/I) TOY

Similar fliers were plastered all over the windows and doors of every building on the main promenade downtown. "Glad to see you got my message."(edited)

Parker stood at the bottom of the ladder and looked at his siblings and Jack. He bobbed his head from side to side respectfully despite not recognizing the loud music and smiled. To him, nothing wrong had ever happened at the rat cage and all he had there was a good time, so he was somewhat looking forward to this party. "Oh crap, do you think we were supposed to bring a present?" @spexile @ellis(edited)

“We are the present,” Malia replied with a shrug. She moved toward the ladder and made a face. “We have to climb this?” @caitlin @spexile(edited)

"Seems like it," Kieran responded. "This doesn't seem fire safety compliant." "Yeah, this is, like... Sketchy." Jack craned his neck looking up at the roof of the warehouse. "How did he even carry the speakers up there?" @caitlin @ellis

Parker didn't see too much of a problem until everyone else pointed it out. "Um, maybe it's a power or something? Or he strapped them to his back?" He shook his head, realizing that it was probably a rhetorical question. He watched their expressions. "Did you... not want to go up?" @spexile @ellis

Alec came to a stop behind the gathering of Aphrodite kids. "What's wrong? Oh, there's a ladder? Awesome!" They turned to Ime and gestured towards it. "S'just like home, eh? Knew all that practice would come in handy one day!" @caitlin

Ime grinned widely as they looked at the setup, tilting their head back to look up at the roof. They patted Alec on the back. "Oh, awesome, roof party. Let's scamper on up there. Unless this is a waiting line. You think they weren't on the list?" @brynnith

“Who are they a child of anyway?” Malia wondered out loud. She sighed. “No, lets go up. Let me go in front so one of you can catch me if I fall.” @caitlin @spexile

"Uh, can I go after?" Jack asked Parker. "Since my depth perception is... You know. In case I fall." @caitlin@ellis(edited)

Parker smiled and nodded, not looking behind him despite hearing more voices. "Yep! I can go after that. Catch you guys if you fall." He looked at Kieran. "Unless you're also doubting your climbing skills." @spexile @ellis

Kieran shook his head with a slight smirk, glancing back at Alec. "Alas, this is not my first roof climb." @caitlin @ellis @brynnith

Alec laughed at the ridiculous idea the Aphrodite kids weren't on any list. "Looks like a line, we'll have to wait our turn. I haven't been to a roof party in ages." They grinned at Kieran and gave him two thumbs up. "You're a master! Perfect technique!" @spexile @caitlin

Malia thought Kieran’s comment was cute and worth investigating later on. She put a pin on that thought, though, to focus on climbing. Carefully, she made her way up, hating every second of it. When she emerged on the roof, she wiped off her hands and found the guest of honor. “I see the devil is keeping us on our toes, huh?” @caitlin @spexile @brynnith

Ime wiggled their fingers in greeting to Kieran and sighed at Alec. "That's such a shame. I guess we know that we came here while the party's bumpin, though." @spexile @brynnith

"What's life without a little adventure?" Akira smiled as Malia crested over the edge of the roof. "Glad you could make it." Akira peered down to see who else was coming up. "No friends this time?" @ellis

Jack started ascending the ladder next. "Okay, if I fall off this ladder, please make sure they get me away from this warehouse before I die. I swear to god if I have to haunt this place..." Jack trailed off as he reached the top. @caitlin

"Oh, everyone is my friend," Malia replied, moving out of the way of the ladder. "I guess I'm just the most adventurous of them. Who knew?" @spexile

Parker exhaled a laugh at Kieran's comment, giving Alec a little nod of acknowledgement finally. He laughed at Jack and stood at the bottom as he began to climb. "I won't let you die." He waited until he was most of the way up the ladder and looked back at the rest of the group. "I think they're a bit dramatic about climbing a ladder." He shook his head before following Jack once he was fully on the roof. @spexile @brynnith

"I'm very impressed," Akira dipped his head. "Welcome," he added as Jack reached the roof. "Hi." Jack stepped forward a few paces to give some clearance to everyone climbing the ladder. Jack looked around at the measly decor. "Nice place." "Nice face." Jack grimaced. @ellis

Alec waited for the ladder to be free and then quickly scampered up. They waited at the top for Ime, gazing around at the new view. @caitlin

Malia's mouth opened in shock, and she covered her mouth so Jack wouldn't see her start to laugh. "Hey now, let's play nice on that one topic specifically." @spexile

Parker stood on the roof and looked around. "Uh, happy birthday." He smiled at Akira politely and then stood near Jack. "Hey, you managed to get up in one piece." @spexile

"Uh, yeah," Jack replied to Parker, turning away from Akira. "Let's hope it stays that way." As Kieran, Alec, and Ime stepped onto the roof, Akira welcomed the full group. "Make yourselves at home, everyone! It's an open floor plan, but if anyone's feeling particularly frisky, the air ducts toward the north side are a bit of a labyrinth." They winked. "I'm sure you'll get creative." @caitlin @ellis @brynnith

Ime managed to climb onto the roof rather quickly for someone in heels and smiled wickedly at Akira before nudging Alec's side. "Are you feeling creative? Want to figure out some air ducts?" They stretched their arms over and behind their head. @brynnith

Parker smirked and shoved his hands into his pockets as he looked around. "Some place," he said to nobody in particular.

Alec wiggled their fingers at Ime. "I gotta figure out my mood tonight first! Are you feeling creative?" They turned towards Akira and produced a root beer Dum Dum from the inside of their jacket. "Hey, happy birthday! You probably have a million of these already but I'm broke and know you like them and figured, thought that counts?" They offered it to them. @spexile @caitlin

Malia hooked her arm through Parker's. "I think it's.... versatile?" she offered, trying to not sound too judgemental. @caitlin

Parker nodded and exhaled. "Very different from the last rooftop we were on." He shrugged. "It's a nice idea for a birthday." @ellis

Ime flashed a smile. "I'm always feeling creative." They looked at Kieran, Parker, and Malia. "I like that you all match. Was that planned?" @brynnith @spexile @ellis

Akira pressed a hand to his heart as he took the lollipop. "The thought does, but this is also incredibly thoughtful," Akira winked. They pulled the wrapper off the Dum Dum and popped it in their mouth. Akira reached into their pocket and produced two more for Alec and Ime. "Care to join?" @caitlin @brynnith

Malia sighed. "They can't all be that nice," she said sadly. When Ime complimented them, Malia flashed a grin. "We're just naturally fabulous." @caitlin @spexile @brynnith​

Alec beamed when their gift was accepted. "I would love to! You're a right good host, eh? Party snacks." @spexile

Ime took the Dum Dum graciously, a hand over their heart. "Why thank you." They rummaged around their jacket pocket and produced a D20, and held it out in the center of their palm to Akira. "For you." @spexile

"Well now," Akira sang. "What is this?" They picked the D20 up off Ime's palm and held it up in the light. "Incredible. How does one use this?" @caitlin @brynnith

Blue wandered over to the famous rat cage, holding her phone out with the flashlight on to guide their way. "This is sketchy as fuck, I love it so much." She grinned back at Casey. "Did you talk to them about the fight club?" @spexile

Alec scoffed when Ime produced the die and nudged their shoulder. "That was mine." They didn't actually look offended and looked back at Akira. "You roll it and there's twenty different options! Great for making decisions." @spexile @caitlin

Ime winked at Alec. "Oh, well, I guess it was, then. It also was at my apartment, so I just assumed." They shrugged without finishing the sentence and looked back at Akira. "Yeah, more style than flipping a coin. If you have less than twenty options you can make it in intervals of fives, fours, tens, the like." @brynnith @spexile

Also Ime responded to Malia totally on time with a wink. @ellis​

Parker looked down at himself and then at Kieran and Malia. "I guess we do match." He looked at Jack again so he could be included in their conversation again. "Did you want any wine? Or are you afraid of not being able to climb down again?" @spexile @ellis

"Um, I'll be afraid whether or not I have wine." Jack snorted. "So wine would be great." Akira smiled at the little token. "Most of my decisions number far less than 20, so that's great information. Thank you," they smiled at Ime then looked to Alec. "And thank you again, indirectly." @caitlin @brynnith

"Ew, I didn't even think about climbing down," Malia groaned. "Oh my gods, wait, I meant to say it earlier but did you know that someone legit got like, punched at the last party here? I didn't even see it happen." She shook her head. "Um, also, I want more wine, too." @caitlin @spexile

"I heard that it happened, yes. I think I even noticed the fight developing, but I try my best to avoid fisticuffs in public settings, so I turned a blind eye," Kieran shrugged. Jack narrowed his eyes. "What... Why do you talk like that." @caitlin @ellis(edited)

Alec ran their fingers through their hair to mess it up. "No problem! Happy to be of assistance." They unwrapped the Dum Dum to start on it. "I love your roof. Something about being up high sparks joy, I feel like a cat sitting on the top of the wardrobe." @spexile @caitlin

Malia waved her hand. "Don't question it, Jack." @spexile @caitlin

Parker unhooked the reusable water bottle keychain from where it hung on his belt loop from when he was climbing up the ladder. He held the bottle out to Jack and frowned at Malia. "Really? I hadn't even noticed. Who was fighting?" He snorted a laugh at Jack. "I think it makes sentences more interesting." @ellis @spexile

"Oh my gods, it gets so much sketchier, you don't even fucking know, Blue!" Casey was almost galloping forward in excitement. "And yes! Oh my fucking gods—" He stopped in his track and grabbed Blue by the hands. "I went this morning. And one, Akira is actually really intense. Like, you'll notice it at this party probably, but holy shit—one on one? I thought I was gonna die and I have never been more turned on. Which brings me to number two—the fight club is on, baby." @ellis

Akira laughed. "Happy to provide you with a vantage point. I thought I'd shake up the elevation this go around, since the last party seemed to inspire... Chaos." @brynnith @caitlin

Blue whooped. "Fuck yes, Casey! I cannot wait to kick ass! Okay, you and I gotta fight, too. I swear one day I'm going to actually hit you." They were alternating pulling each other along to the warehouse. She looked at the ladder in confusion. "Up?" she asked, but already started climbing before getting an answer. @spexile​

Rosie spread her arms to present the ladder to her siblings. "Bueno, time to make like monkeys. I fucking knew I wore pants for a reason," she announced, as though she ever wears anything but pants. @a general chris @electriclightparade

Ime unwrapped the lollypop. "Of course. What kind of birthday would it be if I hadn't gotten you a present?" They winked at Alec and nodded at Akira. "I heard that quite a lot that happened last time, so I showed up today so as not to miss out again." @brynnith @spexile

Alec looked around as they heard more people start to arrive. "Ime was devastated to have missed the chaos! They'll never miss a party here again." @caitlin @spexile

Casey shrugged. "The flier said rooftop." He waited until she was all the way up before climbing up to the roof himself. @ellis

Malia sighed. "I think it was Ben? But also, he had it coming because he cheated on his girlfriend so..." She looked at Jack. "Pass that to me when you're done." @caitlin @spexile

"You're in luck. I've been working on a little something and I think you can expect to see a lot more happening here in the near future," Akira teased. @brynnith @caitlin

Miranda looked up at the ladder, then down at her white pants, then shrugged.  "Fuck it.  Not like I paid for these anyway."  She glanced between her two siblings, and when Rosie gestured to the ladder, she moved to climb up first.  "No need to fight children, I'll go first." @brynnith @electriclightparade

Jack took a big swig from Parker's wine bottle just as Kieran took a swig of his flask of whiskey. For a brief moment, their eyes connected and neither of them liked it. "Here," Jack offered, passing Malia the bottle. @ellis @caitlin

"That's so vague and exciting! Wow." Alec looked between the two of them, then spun around to head over to the main other group. They pointed to Kieran's flask. "Whatcha got there?" @spexile @ellis @caitlin

Blue scanned the crowd on the roof, immediately saw Parker and his company, and frowned. She felt a little flush of anger and unscrewed her flask. "Who's the birthday boy?" she asked loudly. @spexile

Ime raised their eyebrows. "Is it a secret little something?" @spexile

Graves glanced at the ladder and whistled. "Starting the night off right, oh-kay!" He patted his pockets, checking for his flask(s), then watched as Miranda started up the ladder. "Watch your step Mont- no promises I'll catch you if you fall!" he called to her. He nodded at Rosie, "You're up next, hermana." @brynnith @a general chris

"It might be—" Akira was interrupted by a loud question. Akira raised their hand and Casey quickly grabbed Blue's arm to bring her over to where Akira and Ime stood. Akira smiled as they approached. "You're looking for me?" @ellis @caitlin

Rosie snickered and bumped Graves' shoulder as she skipped over to the ladder. "Going last 'cause you're scared, tumbitas? You better catch me if I fall, I'll be aiming for you anyway." She started to scale the ladder after Miranda. @electriclightparade @a general chris

Jack flinched at the sound of Blue's voice, but he quickly caught himself and took a deep breath. "Whiskey." Kieran held the flask toward Alec. "If you'd like to try it." @brynnith @ellis @caitlin

"Yeah I am, I've heard a lot about you from the president of your fanclub," she replied, baring her teeth in a grin. She regarded Ime with a head nod. "What's up?" @spexile @caitlin @brynnith(edited)

Parker nodded. "I guess so." He frowned, wondering how he missed that. He heard Blue and felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "Um, pass that to me when you're done?" He asked Malia. @ellis(edited)

Ime was rapt by the suspense. They nodded at Blue and took the lollypop out of their mouth so they could speak. "Not much, learning about chaos." @ellis @spexile

"Sure, thanks." Alec took it and took a sip before passing it back. They only made a slight face at the taste. "That's pretty good! Is whiskey your favourite drink?" @spexile

Malia regarded both Jack and Parker with interest, and then Kieran and Alec, and wondered how in the world she became the fifth wheel. She took a large gulp of wine. "Here you go. I think I need to make out with someone. Sorry, is that weird to talk about with you? Do you think the guest of honor would be down?" @caitlin @spexile @brynnith

Casey turned his back toward Akira and muttered quickly to Blue, "Wow, I can't believe you just exposed me like that, not cool." Akira didn't seem to notice. "Well, I'm throwing this party, in case you missed it." They smiled. "Feel free to dance, make love, wreak havoc. Maybe even all at once if you can manage." @ellis @caitlin

Miranda paused to flip Graves off halfway up the ladder.  "Pendejo." She stepped off the ladder when she reached the top, she leaned her arm against the side of the ledge of the roof, acting like she had been waiting a century for the other two to finish climbing.  "You're so fucking slow!  Hurry up, I wanna drink." @brynnith @electriclightparade

Parker blinked at Malia and looked at Akira. "Um, kind of? I think they're talking to someone." He looked away so Blue wouldn't see him looking in her direction and sipped his wine. @ellis

"Um, robe guy?" Jack looked back at Akira. "I mean—their hands are literally on their hips holding open their robe. Like, that is definitely not accidental." Jack turned back toward Malia with a shrug. "I feel like your odds are pretty good." @ellis @caitlin

"It is," Kieran chuckled. "I suppose it's not one of yours?" Kieran took back the flask, screwing the lid on tight before pocketing it. @brynnith(edited)

Ime grinned. "I didn't know that you could separate the three." @spexile @ellis

Akira tapped his nose then pointed to Ime. "I love the way you think." @caitlin @ellis

Malia shrugged. "My odds are always good. I'll give it a few minutes." She glanced between Jack and Parker again and smiled, flipping into a more teasing tone. "Or do you want me to leave you two alone?" @spexile @caitlin

"Maybe I should've gone first so you could catch me," he laughed, pretending to rub his shoulder like it hurt. Once Rosie was climging the ladder, Graves unscrewed the flask he was holding and took a sip. He waved to Miranda, then flipped her off with a crooked grin, before screwing the top of his flask back on. Graves tried to stuff his flask in his already full pockets but quickly gave up. He held the flask between his teeth like a heathen as he started up the ladder. @a general chris @brynnith

Alec laughed. "It is one of my favourites! After wine. I just don't drink much." They gestured to themself. "Strictly 'no bring, only mooch'. Wow, that makes me sound like a terrible person to hang out with at parties." @spexile

Kieran laughed. "It does." @brynnith

Parker rubbed his cheek and shook his head. “Um, I don’t think it’s that easy to be alone here.” He took another sip of his drink before holding it out to both Malia and Jack @ellis @spexile

Rosie flipped Miranda off with one hand as she retrieved a small bottle of tequila from one of her many pants pockets with the other. "You could've started without us!" @electriclightparade @a general chris

Alec grinned at him. "Will you still hang out with me? @spexile

Jack took Parker's drink once again. "Yeah, you don't have to ditch us every time." He took a drink of the wine and held it out to Malia. "Unless you secretly hate us, then I guess go for it." @ellis @caitlin

Ime gave a small salute so they could do something cool back. “Fools hardly differ.” @spexile

Kieran smiled and shrugged. "I suppose we'll just be two terrible people to hang out with at parties." @brynnith

Miranda rolled her eyes, pushing off the ledge.  "I could've, last time I try to be at least somewhat gracious."  She opened her trusty bag of alcohol, pulling out a bottle of rum, already twisting off the cap as Graves reached the top of the ladder.  "I mean, I'm all up for the change of scenery, but I'm actually annoying I can't show you the fucking human sacrifice lair in the basement.  We barely got out alive last time."  She said dramatically, before taking a drink from her bottle. @electriclightparade @brynnith(edited)

Malia rolled her eyes. "It's very easy to be alone on an open floor plan! Just go to the corner and radiate big 'don't bother me' vibes. And I'm not ditching you, just, giving you some space." She sighed. "I guess I'll stay while there's wine." She moved so she was at Jack's other side. @spexile @caitlin

Graves laughed as he brushed some dirt off his jeans. He blinked for a second, taking in the scope of the rooftop party. It wasn't until Miranda said human sacrifice lair that he tuned back in. "I'm sorry, I didn't know we were here to witness a sacrifice. Who's the volunteer?" He snaked an arm around Miranda, swiping the rum from her grasp, "gracias sis." Graves took a big swig. "Let's get this par-tay started! Woo!" @a general chris @brynnith

Miranda rolled her eyes when Graves stole her bottle, in turn reaching into one of his pockets and stealing one of his flasks.  She scanned the roof, observing who else was there already.  "Hm, that depends.  Do you think we need a virgin sacrifice.  If yes? Nos chingamos."  @electriclightparade @brynnith

"Thank gods, I'm safe," he smiled another crooked smile and followed his sister's gaze. "See anyone fun? Who- uh who's hosting this anyway?" He traded her bottle for his flask, sniffing it to see which one she'd taken. "Fireball, sick - cheers!" He tapped the bottle with the edge of his flask, smiling when it clinked, and then took another sip. He wasn't pacing himself well, but hey, it was a party.

Miranda laughed, lifting her bottle to clink against his, taking a drink as she once again scanned the crowd.  "Fun? Sorry, there doesn't seem to be any mirrors here right now, so that's an overwhelming no.  As for host," She pointed out Akira from the crowd. "Them."  @electriclightparade

Alec laughed. "Hey, I don't think you're terrible to hang out with at parties! But I don't think that about myself either. Did my loft give you a good warmup for the ladder tonight?" @spexile

Parker turned so that he, his siblings, Jack, and Alec made a big circle, making it harder for people  Blue to jump in. "That's true, I guess." He smirked. "I knew you only liked my for my alcohol." @ellis @spexile

Rosie grinned at her siblings then held up her tequila. "Shots? I have enough to go around!" @electriclightparade @a general chris

"It did," Kieran nodded. "You know, as treacherous as a single construction ladder propped up against the side of a warehouse might seem, it's still an easier climb than maneuvering out of a window." @brynnithApril 5, 2020

Graves looked to the person Miranda pointed at and tilted his head, taking in the sight. "Now that is an outfit," he said to his sister. "YO! THAT'S A SWEET ROBE!" he shouted, waving an arm in Akira's direction. At Rosie's mention of shots, he nodded vigorously. "Fuck yeah, shots! Always shots! Monty, you ready? Shots city!" @brynnith @a general chris @spexile

Alec waved a hand. "So humble! I've never seen such roof-climbing talent!" They laughed. "And now it's becoming a habit." @spexile

Blue grinned at Ime, swatting Casey away. "I like you, too," she said. "Oh shit, name's Blue, by the way, shirtless guy. Happy birthday and all that." @caitlin @brynnith

Akira laughed at Graves's boisterous greeting. They gave a wave back before stepping away to some shadowy vantage point. @electriclightparade

"No, no," Kieran protested. "Twice is a coincidence. The next time I'm on your roof, you can call it a habit." @brynnith

Malia rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic. I also like you for your spice cabinet." @caitlin @spexile

Miranda let out a laugh as Graves screamed across the roof, being jostled around slightly due to his arm around her.  She looked back at Rosie when she mentioned shots, and grinned.  "Do you know me at all?  I'm so in." @brynnith @electriclightparade

Jack snorted. In a laughing sense not the other way. @caitlin @ellis

"So you're going to go on my roof again?" Alec sounded incredibly pleased by that. "Or are you going to never go again so it doesn't become a habit?" @spexile

Ime smiled. "Amazing. I love the lewk. Classic egirl aesthetic." @ellis

Parker flipped Malia off and held his hand out for his bottle. "Go make out with robe guy somewhere I can't see." @spexile @ellis

Malia laughed. "Give me the wine one more time and I'll stop embarrassing you." @caitlin @spexile

Rosie passed the mini tequila bottle to Miranda and immediately produced another one from a different pocket. "To having a fucking blast tonight!" @a general chris @electriclightparade

"No. I'm not embarrassed. You're just mean and maybe I want to save my wine for me and Jack," he joked. @ellis

Blue did a little bow, her arms out dramatically to either side. "You look hot, too, and I love the shirt." She couldn't help but notice Parker again on her way up, then took another gulp from her flask. "Casey," she said, holding out the flask for him. @spexile @caitlin

"Blue," Casey accepted the flask and took a big gulp. "So is someone gonna fight at this one or what?" @caitlin @ellis

"Thanks. It's actually impossible for me to have FOMO because the party only happens when I'm there, but, y'know." Ime shrugged and smirked at Casey. "I hope so. I missed the last one." @ellis @spexile

Malia narrowed her eyes. She thought of a joke but knew Parker would have a stroke if she said it. So she just rolled her eyes again. "Fine, but only because I like Jack." @caitlin @spexile

Miranda gladly took the bottle Rosie offered up, twisting off the cap as she looked over at her brother.  "Do one of those have tequila in it? Or do you need a bottle from your amazing, wonderful, sisters?" She held her bottle out to Rosie.  "May we stumble home and not remember shit." @electriclightparade @brynnith

"I think I could make it happen," Blue said with a dark chuckle. "If you really want. People might cry, though, because it's me. Should we get Akira to watch?" @spexile @caitlin

"I'm so glad," Jack grinned. @ellis @caitlin

"Watch? They'd probably participate." Casey looked around for Akira, but they were nowhere to be found. "Or... Not. Uh," Casey turned to point at the Hermes kids, "I bet Graves would be down." @ellis @caitlin

Parker stuck his tongue out at her but held his bottle out to her anyway. "One more sip." @ellis @spexile

Ime raised their eyebrows and exhaled a laugh. "That'd be a great birthday present, I think." @ellis @spexile

Blue followed Casey's finger and saw her girlfriend standing next to Graves. "Hold that thought," she said, taking back her flask. "BRB." @spexile @caitlin

"To getting fuckin' blasted tonight!!" Graves grins and takes his tequila flask out of his pocket in response. "I brought my own to save more alcohol for my amazing, wonderful sisters." He raised his flask to their tiny bottles, laughing as Miranda spoke. "I know I climbed up that ladder, but the more we drink, the less likely it is that I'm getting back down. I'll audible it. Bottoms up bay-bee!" He winks at Rosie and drinks. @brynnith @a general chris

Blue walked over to the Hermes kids, sliding in next to Rosie and draping an arm over her shoulders. "Hi babe and babe's brother and sister," she chirped. "What's up?" @brynnith @a general chris @electriclightparade

"To blacking out and falling off this roof!" Rosie finished with a laugh and took her shot. She pressed a kiss to Blue's cheek when she put her arm around her. "We're taking shots! Y'want?" @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

Malia grinned and took the bottle back. She took more than a sip. "Kay, see y'all later!" She walked off in search of the host. @spexile @caitlin

Miranda took her shot, throwing the now empty mini-bottle in a random dark corner of the roof.  "Are we dooming ourselves to spending the night on this roof?  I mean, I'm down." She watched Blue walk over, and grinned in greeting.  "Hello, manita's babe." @ellis @brynnith @electriclightparade

Malia didn't see where Akira went, but she weaved her way around people until she made it back by the air ducts. They weren't kidding, it was a maze back here, especially in the dark, but she made her way through it and heard a faint muttering. "Are we doing a ritual back here? Should I turn back and pretend I didn't see anything?" @spexile

Parker gave Malia a little wave and stood a bit closer to Jack. He looked between him and Kieran and Alec. "So... Watch any good movies lately?" He cringed and took a sip of his wine. "I haven't watched much in French since I was uninvited to our family movie nights." @brynnith @spexile

"Hey!!! Blue!!!" Graves beamed when his sister's girlfriend joined their little group. "Those pants are sick. Want a drink? I have five flasks, pick a number." He raised an eyebrow at Blue, then looked at Miranda. "Roof would probably be as comfortable as the floor so....I'm in."  @ellis @brynnith @a general chris

"We'll just see," Kieran shrugged at Alec's question, way back when it was still timely. He turned to face Parker and Jack after Malia left. "Alec and I watched Cléo de 5 à 7 the other week, which I thought was pretty excellent." "Wait," Jack interjected. "Do you all speak French?" @caitlin @brynnith

"Aw, we'll make it." Rosie took another swig of her bottle. "Even if we gotta lower us by rope." @a general chris @ellis @electriclightparade

Blue gave Miranda a hang-ten sign from the hand draped over Rosie. "Three," she said automatically to Graves, tucking her own flask in her pocket and holding her now free hand out for Graves' offer. "Thanks, kiddo. Hey babe, I have two questions. Well, I guess one, now, since your brother just gave me more alcohol." @brynnith @a general chris @electriclightparade

Alec turned in towards the group as well. "It's one of my favourites!" They tilted their head at Jack. "I do 'cause my step-mom's from Québec." @spexile @caitlin

"Oh," Jack nodded. "My mom's from Milwaukee, so..." @brynnith @caitlin

Rosie wrapped an arm around Blue's waist. "Shoot." @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

"Cool!" Alec grinned at Jack. "Where's that?" @spexile @caitlin

"Good choice," he passed her the flask without comment. "Gotta guess what it is." @ellis @a general chris @brynnith

Blue held the flask out for Graves. "Unscrew, please!" She turned her attention back to Rosie. "Would you encourage or discourage me from talking to Parker right now?" @electriclightparade @a general chris @brynnith

Parker shrugged and motioned and himself and Kieran. "Well, our mom's the goddess of resent and pettiness, so we get to speak French." @spexile @brynnith

"Hm, let's see." Rosie tapped her chin. "Are you pissed at him? In a serious way?" @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

Kieran snorted. "That's not inaccurate." "That... Checks out," Jack snorted. He turned back to Alec. "Um, Milwaukee's in Wisconsin. I never lived there though, it's just where my mom grew up." @brynnith @caitlin​

Miranda took another sip from her bottle, her eyes bouncing from person to person as they spoke.  "Oh, is there drama incoming?" @brynnith @ellis @electriclightparade

"Oop, I gotcha." Graved unscrewed it quickly, sneaking an amused look at Miranda. Once Blue was set, he took another drink for himself from a different flask, listening to the gossip. @ellis @a general chris @brynnith

Alec nodded their head along. "Wisconsin," they repeated, trying and failing to visualize where that was. "They have... cheese?" @spexile @caitlin

Akira emerged from behind a duct to approach Malia when they heard her calling. "No, no, not interrupting. I was just readying a little surprise for later." Akira stepped closer to the light so Malia could see him more clearly. "How are you enjoying yourself?" @ellis

Blue shrugged. "I might be a little annoyed, but I'm not planning on melting flesh, if that's your concern." She lifted the flask to her nose. "Smells like metal," she said, then took a sip. "Raspberry vodka?" @electriclightparade @a general chris @brynnith

"Nah, no concerns." Rosie waited for her to finish tasting the drink. "If you're just a bit annoyed, sure, why not?" @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

Malia's brows lifted in interest, but she figured they'd want to keep the surprise a surprise. "So far it's been pretty dull for me, I won't lie," she said with a shrug. "But I have faith you can make it more interesting." @spexile

"I guess? I don't know, I've never been there," Jack repeated. "But they probably get cheese?" @brynnith @caitlin

Parker smirked at Alec, wanting to make fun of them but also not really sure what else they had in Wisconsin. "Cheese... like Colby Jack." He sucked his cheeks in. "Um, but that movie sounds cool. What was it about?" @brynnith @spexile(edited)

Unlike him, Miranda didn't bother to hide the amused look on her face.  She reached into her bag, and pulled out two more mini bottles of vodka. She reached up to rest her elbow on Graves' shoulder, looking only slighter ridiculous due to their height difference, and dangled them in front of his face.  "Wanna take another shot?  I'm bored." @electriclightparade @brynnith @ellis

"Probably," Alec agreed. Their eyebrows drew together for a moment as they tried to figure out what Parker was talking about, and then they realized the movie he was asking about was the film they had watched with Kieran, not one called 'Colby Jack'. "Oh! It's about a vain woman believing she has cancer and coming to terms with beauty being temporary."

"Well, he has a friend with him," she muttered before taking another shot from the flask. She eyed the crowd she was with. "Would you guys like to interrupt a conversation for me?" @brynnith @electriclightparade @a general chris

Jack shut his eyes and pressed his fingers to his temple. He wasn't sure if he was meant to laugh or cry. Kieran, hoping to pretend like the moment hadn't occurred, added onto Alec's description. "It's also a nice study on existentialism." @brynnith @caitlin

Parker wondered briefly if he should jump off the roof. "That sounds like your kind of movie." He laughed and took another sip of his drink before holding it out to Jack again. @spexile @brynnith

Akira grinned. "There are always ways to make things more interesting. How dangerously would you like to live?"

Alec understands the joke belatedly when wondering why everything became weird. "Oh! Colby Jack." They laughed. "I get it now." @spexile @caitlin

Parker covered his eyes with his hand and sighed. @spexile @brynnith

Jack clapped a hand over his face. "Oh my gods." Kieran just pressed his lips together and nodded. "Dairy humor." @brynnith @caitlin

"Bingo!" Graves answered Blue on time. He laughed when Miranda reached up to lean on his shoulder, and crouched a little to help her out. "A shot would be excellent," he elongated the word, for dramatic effect. "You are carrying me home tonight, right Monty?" @ellis @a general chris @brynnith

Malia tilted her head, appraising Akira. "Why don't you set the pace and I'll tell you if I want you to go further?" @spexile

Miranda laughed, shoving him off of her at his question.  "Oh definitely.  Look at all this muscle."  She flexed, and while she had some definition, she definitely wasn't gunning for 'brawniest camper' anytime soon.  "I'll get us down this roof in no time, Gravy."  She turned when she heard Blue, intrigued.  "I'm listening.  What do you need?" @ellis @electriclightparade @brynnith(edited)

Alec laughed again at what Kieran said, shaking their head. "You guys are hilarious." @spexile @caitlin

Blue glanced over her shoulder then leaned a little closer. "I wanna talk to Parker without the white-haired boy having a meltdown." @brynnith @a general chris @electriclightparade

Akira turned his head toward the light to get a glimpse of the crowd before stepping in toward Malia. "Just say the word." Akira brought a hand up to the back of her neck, tracing a finger down her shoulder blade, across the back of her arm, and down past her wrist until he found her hand. With a soft tug, he stepped back toward the darkness behind the ducts, urging her to follow. @ellis

Ime glanced at Casey after rebooting and raised their eyebrows at him. "Do you think anyone's gonna start a fight? Or should we spill some oil on the roof and make everything just slightly more exciting?" @spexile

Rosie looked over to Parker and Jack and made a face once she understood. "Y'wanna get Parker off to the side, or the guy away from the group?" @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

Miranda pointed at Rosie when she asked her question.  "You beat me to it.  And I'm guessing just...sending a text is a no-go?" @brynnith @ellis @electriclightparade(edited)

Blue drank again. "Mmm, I think I'm finishing this," she informed Graves. "Parker aside." @a general chris @electriclightparade @brynnith

Jack snorted. "I mean... I like cheese." He shook his head quickly. "Nope. Sorry, shouldn't have—let's just move on. New topic." Kieran smirked and took another sip of whiskey. @brynnith @caitlin

"I could just go over and ask Parker to walk away with me," Rosie offered. "At this point nothing I do can come as a surprise, he's used to it!" @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

Malia thought that was simultaneously so strange and so hot and absolutely followed Akira into the darkness. @spexile

"Ugh, babe, you're so smart." Blue kissed Rosie on the cheek. @brynnith @a general chris @electriclightparade

Graves stood beside his sisters, listening to their conversation with Blue. He made a face as she finished his flask, but he just pulled another out of his pocket in response and winked at her. "Happy to be of service," he smirked, then drank. He wondered who else was here, but hadn't gotten a very good look at the group before doing shots with his sisters. @ellis @a general chris @brynnith(edited)

Parker didn't really know how to bounce back from this. He ran his hand down his face and groaned. "When's everyone's birthday?" He already knew Alec and Kieran's birthdays. @brynnith @spexile

Alec mouthed 'wow' silently, in awe, and was about to spring into action towards a new topic when Parker spoke. They gave him an odd look, but answered nonethless. "October third. Like, the Mean Girls day." @caitlin @spexile

Rosie kissed Blue before she leaned too far away. "Cool cool, now?" @ellis @electriclightparade @a general chris

"Fuck it, might as well." @brynnith @electriclightparade @a general chris

"That's definitely the easiest option. Go for it, Manita." She then handed the mini bottle to Graves, before unscrewing her own and taking the shot.  @ellis

Akira led Mal through the darkness, the ducts buzzing deeply around them. They walked slowly, taking an almost grid-like route, each turn perpendicular, almost counted out. Then, without notice, Akira stopped and guided Mal slowly against the wall of a towering, silent duct before closing the distance between them. @ellis

Parker frowned at Alec's look. "Mean Girls day," he whispered after Alec, not really knowing what that meant. @spexile @brynnith

Alec squinted at Parker. "Why do you always repeat what I say under your breath?" @spexile @caitlin

Jack and Kieran pressed their lips together. They looked at each other in silence, once again sharing a moment of awkward solidarity. Kieran suppressed a small grin at the thought. "My birthday is the 18th of January," Kieran piped up. "In case you were wondering." @caitlin @brynnith

Rosie patted Blue's back then detangled herself from her girlfriend and headed over to Parker's little group. "'Scuse me girls and gays, I gotta grab Parker for a sec," she addressed to all of them. @spexile @caitlin

Graves grimaced as he unscrewed the mini bottle that was presented to him. "Okay, I- last one before I take a little breather." He quickly downed the shot and pocketed the bottle. "Sis, how do you feel about roaming the roof?" Graves moved to take a step forward and felt himself sway a bit. He laughed at his own drunkenness, his nose crinkling, then turned to look at Miranda, "Lead the way." @a general chris(edited)

Parker flushed and opened his mouth to respond, but then jumped on Rosie's opportunity to leave. "Oh, yeah. S'why I was asking, for the birthdays... Anyway yeah, bye." @brynnith @spexile

Casey has been drinking from a small water bottle of pure tequila that he brought and talking up some townies.

"Uh, bye." Jack was almost grinning in disbelief. "Wow." "When is your birthday, Jack?" Kieran asked. "Uh, it's August 11. '99." Kieran nodded. "Warm." "Uh-huh." @brynnith(edited)

Rosie laughed. "The fuck did I walk in on, Parks? C'mon." She lead him away from the group. "Heads up, I'm leading you to your doom. Yo, babe, I got him!" @caitlin @ellis

Parker followed along with Rosie and felt the sense of dread appear as his anxiety about his last situation faded. "Oh. Um, hey." He looked over Blue's shoulder so he could seem like he was looking her in the eye.@brynnith @ellis

"A Leo," Alec commented to themself. "Awesome. So Jack! I know like, nothing about you. Sick eye patch, you're like an intriguing pirate. Not drinking tonight?" @spexile

Miranda laughed as she watched her brother sway. He had beaten her on pre-game shots and it was definitely starting to show. “Okay, you drunk idiot. Let’s go.” She dropped her arm, from his shoulder and started walking in a random direction. “Anyone in particular you’re itching to talk to?” @electriclightparade

Blue turned around when Rosie hauled Parker over to her. She bared her teeth in a grin and then turned to Rosie, kissing her quickly. "Thank you, babe. I'll come find you." She took Parker's arm. "Lets go for a walk, Valentine." @brynnith @caitlin

Ime scampered up and rested their elbow on Alec's shoulder. "Hey, this shoulder still hurt?" They nodded at Kieran and Jack. "I like the 'fits." @brynnith @spexile

"Ugh." Jack folded an arm across his chest and pressed his fingers against his eyepatch. "I was—I mean, I was having a bit of Parker's wine. I don't—I'm not 21 yet soo I can't buy myself alcohol for these things." "Here." Kieran held out his flask. "It's whiskey." "Uh... Thanks." Jack took the flask hesitantly. He took a sniff, didn't like the smell, and took a sip anyway. He tried not to make a face. "Thanks. Um," Jack handed the flask back to Kieran. "Sorry, I think we've talked, like, twice. Remind me your name?" As Ime walked up to join them, Jack appended, "Thanks." @brynnith @caitlin

Rosie wiggled her fingers in a wave goodbye to her girlfriend and then headed back to Graves and Miranda. @a general chris @electriclightparade

Parker let Blue take his arm and followed along after Blue, tense. "sure thing, Byrne." He tried not to sound suspicious. @ellis

Alec laughed and wrapped an arm around Ime's shoulders. "A bit!" They gave Jack a sympathetic nod. "Not being legal here sucks." @spexile @caitlin

Graves leaned into Miranda just as she dropped her arm from his shoulder and almost tripped. He took a moment to steady himself and began to laugh. "I'm not drunk Mont- just a tiny bit tipsy." He held his fingers close together to demonstrate how much, still laughing. "I dunno, maybe Casey? I saw him talking to some randos. I gotta ask him about a uhhh about a thing." Graves steered them in Casey's general direction. @a general chris @spexile(edited)

"It's Bluebryn, you asshole," she said, but she said it casually so it was unclear if she was really angry about this. "Want some raspberry vodka? I also have tequila in my pocket." @caitlin

"Well, I turn 21 this summer, so..." Jack shrugged. "I'll get trashed, I guess." Kieran snorted. "Good to have goals." He turned to Ime. "Hi. I believe I neglected to shake your hand at some point." @caitlin @brynnith(edited)

“Right, cause that doesn’t sound sketchy as shit.” Regardless, she scanned the crowd, changing their direction when she stopped Casey in the crowd. Her attention was torn away for a second when Rosie appeared and grinned at her. “Welcome back. I think our brother is about to try and join a cult or some shit.” @electriclightparade @brynnith @spexile(edited)

Casey was in the middle of regaling some townies about the wonders of spicy noodles when he noticed a much more interesting group of people walking towards him. "If you'd just excuse me—" Pushing the strangers aside as if parting the sea, Casey made a beeline towards the Hermes kids. "Oh my gods, please save me from these white people. One of them just pronounced La Croix like a French word." @a general chris @brynnith @electriclightparade

Ime nodded sympathetically. "I legally helped with an autopsy before I could legally drink." They smiled at Kieran and held a up an. "Yes, I remember that, as I always will, like an elephant." @spexile @brynnith

Rosie slung an arm around Miranda's shoulders. "Sweet! Can't wait to witness that." She grinned at Casey. "Yo, my guy. When am I gonna get to try and hit you again?" @spexile @a general chris @electriclightparade

Alec shook their head. "Twenty-one. That's some old drinking age." They looked between Ime and Kieran with a wide smile. @spexile @caitlin

Parker laughed. "Yeah." He looked at her and then at her pocket and shook his head. "I have wine." @ellis

"Cool, fine, I guess we'll just get straight to the point." Blue dragged Parker to a relatively empty part of the roof while she drained her flask, and then spun to face him. "So are you just going to fucking ignore me forever?" @caitlin

Miranda let out a laugh as Casey came running over. “Fucking idiots, all of them.” Her head tilted when she heard Rosie’s reply. “Whose fighting who? Now I’m interested in this conversation.” @brynnith @spexile @electriclightparade

Parker rubbed his forehead and shook his head, giving her a small smile. "I'm not ignoring you." @ellis

Kieran chortled. "I've always wanted a pachyderm for a nemesis. Thank you for realizing a lifelong dream." Jack gave himself a tight squeeze and idly scanned the room, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. In the dim lighting, he couldn't see where Parker went. Jack exhaled and looked back toward the group. "Sorry, wait—did you tell me your name?" @brynnith @caitlin

"Cay-sey! Dude!" Graves punctuated each syllable with a finger gun because he's more drunk than he thinks. "We're fighting," he said, in response to Miranda. He gestured between himself and Casey, and then around the whole roof. "It's gonna be WILD." @spexile @brynnith @a general chris

"You literally pretend to not see me every time you see me, but okay." She angrily shoved the now empty flask into her other pocket and took her phone out so it would fit. Because she was drunk, and impulsive, and angry, actually, she turned her flashlight back on and shone it in Parker's face. "Please try that response again." @caitlin(edited)

Alec leaned against Ime as they laughed at Kieran's joke, despite having no clue what a pachyderm was. An elephant? It didn't matter. "That's Ime! My sibling, and best person on this earth." @spexile @caitlin

Casey cackled. "Oh my gods, you guys don't even know! Listen to this—" Casey held his hands out, as if to pause the conversation. "I talked to Akira... I think we're starting an actual fight club." @brynnith @electriclightparade @a general chris

"Fight CLUB!!" Graves yelled and punched the air. @spexile(edited)

Ime pressed a hand to their chest, not really understanding the word. "I'm known to make dreams come true." They flashed a smile and pointed at Alec. "And this is Alec. We're like those statues where one tells only lies and one only truths and you have to guess who is who." @spexile @brynnith Parker hadn't felt especially anxious until the light was shone in his face. He shook his head. "I wasn't, like, ignoring you. You just didn't come over to me." @ellis(edited)

Miranda almost face palmed when Graves spoke. “Holy shit, you’re so dumb and even more drunk.” She looked over at Rosie and Casey to roll her eyes but didn’t when she heard about the fight club. “Wait,” she turned to face Rosie. “Didn’t Akira mention that in the murder basement?” She now faced Casey again. “That shits actually happening?” @electriclightparade @spexile @brynnith

"No fucking way! I'm fucking impressed at that commitment. Here's to following through and shit." Rosie took another shot. "I'm so in." @spexile @a general chris @electriclightparade

"Because you always come over to me!" she snapped. "Or because now, when I'd come over to you, you're with," Blue lowered the light from his face so she could shove Parker, hard, surprising herself with how angry she actually was, "that fucking guy! You know, the one who almost killed my brother!" @caitlin

Jack snorted. "That's reassuring." Kieran stepped in towards Jack so the four of them were forming more of a circle. "Interesting dynamic. So who's the liar, then?" @brynnith @caitlin

Parker crossed his arms and frowned. Because he had drank a lot of his bottle very quickly due to being so awkward he felt somewhat more impulsive. "I'm sorry that I have to be the one to come over to you when I'm hanging out with the guy you maimed." @ellis

Casey looked around, but couldn't spot Akira. "You guys should fight me," he proposed to the Hermes trio. "You should all fight me right now and the first person who hits me, I'll take you out to hangover brunch tomorrow." @a general chris @brynnith @electriclightparade

Alec grinned. "Ime, of course! Except they aren't. My name is Alec." They blinked at Jack as realization dawned. "Holy mackerel, were you asking me for my name the whole time? I'm sorry! I thought you were talking to Kieran for some reason!" @spexile @caitlin

"Uh, no," Jack shook his head. "We know each other." "We do. Jack is—" Kieran quickly caught his tongue as he remembered the present company. "Jack is a friend." Jack looked at Kieran then quickly down at the ground. @brynnith @caitlin

Ime raised their eyebrows. "Quite obvious that Alec is the liar, they can't stop talking in circles." Ime raised their eyebrows and looked between Kieran and Jack. "Are you lovers?" @brynnith @spexile

Alec threw back their head and laughed. "Ime! Oh my god." They recovered and tilted their head at Kieran and Jack. "Do you know each other through Parker?" @spexile @caitlinracheljones

"Ew." Kieran rolled his eyes. "Absolutely not." "Just ew. No offense," Jack turned to Kieran, who was already shaking his head dismissively. "Yeah, we know each other through Parker." @brynnith @caitlin​

Ime flashed their teeth in a smile. "Ah, okay. They were acting like Parker with you." They laughed a bit and then hummed at Jack and Kieran. "What were you talking about before I rudely interrupted?" @brynnith @spexile(edited)

Jack tipped his head. "Um... What?" Kieran clapped a hand over his mouth. @caitlin @brynnith

Alec tipped their head back to look at the sky. "Oh my god," they repeated, under their breath as they shook their head. "Ime." @caitlin @spexile

Miranda assumed her previous position of resting her elbow on Graves’ shoulder. Partly because she had no desire to punch Casey, and also to force her brother to have to bend slightly and not do anything more stupid while fucking hammered. Last thing she needed was to explain to Chiron how her brother fell off a roof. “See, a hangover brunch implies we actually get a hangover. Which of course.” She gestures to herself and her siblings, though not as long at Graves. “We’re pros so that’s not a huge concern for us.” @spexile @brynnith @electriclightparade(edited)

Blue's face flushed as she ignited with instant rage. She wanted to hit him, and she grabbed his bottle in an impulsive urge to use it against him. But instead, she held herself back and shoved him again. "Fuck you." @caitlin

Rosie nodded along for an appropriate amount of time to what Miranda was saying, and then lunged towards Casey to try and hit him. @spexile @electriclightparade @a general chris

Ime tilted their head. "Were you just introducing yourselves, was I not interrupting?" They linked their hands behind their back. "Is somebody going to fight tonight? Or am I at the wrong party?" @brynnith @spexile(edited)

"Honestly," Graves said, trying to shrug off Miranda's arm, "brunch sounds delicious." He took another, long drink from his flask of tequila, just as Rosie lunged at Casey. Graves hooted in amusement. "Rosie YES! Get that brunch!!" He bounced on the balls of his feet, getting hyped up and taking one more drink before pocketing his flask. @spexile @brynnith @a general chris

Miranda knew she’d never be able to contain Rosie, so she didn’t even attempt to stop her. “If you hit him, I want French toast in the morning.” She looked at Graves. “This is why you don’t get drunk at the pregame. If you didn’t, I would let you punch him.”  @brynnith @spexile @electriclightparade

Parker held his hands up and took a step back. "Blue, are you kidding me right now? Leave me alone." @ellis

Jack pressed his hands to his face, exhaling deeply. "Okay... Why do I always end up feeling like there's a big joke in the room that only I'm not a part of? Is it me? Am I the joke?" Kieran stayed silent, his lips pressed together. @caitlin @brynnith(edited)

Casey's vision blurred as suddenly he entered hyper-speed. Except this time, he had already been hit. "Fuck!" What felt like a minute later, Casey caught his balance from the impact and turned around. He touched his fingers to his lip and found blood. "Oh my fucking gods. You hit me." He looked up at Rosie, smiling ear to ear. "You fucking hit me!" @brynnith @a general chris @electriclightparade

"No, no, not at all!" Alec shook their head immediately, concerned now. They launched into an explanation. "Ime meant 'cause Parker's always really weird with me about being friends even though we hang out sometimes. 'Cause I annoy him. And you guys just had a weird, like, 'dot dot dot friends?' moment. So they were saying it was awkward?" @spexile @caitlin

"No, fuck you Parker. I'm allowed to be pissed about it! If you hadn't just avoided me like a fucking coward we wouldn't be having this conversation!" Blue shouted back, her voice getting steadily louder. "Dude, I don't even— I just— Ugh, fuck! So you get some good dick and now you think I meant to do that?"

Ime tilted their head at Jack, actually unsure about what he meant, for once. "I wasn't making a joke. I wanted to know if people were..." They spun as they heard a scuffle happening. "Fighting," they whispered. @brynnith @spexile

Rosie jumped up and down in excitement and fist pumped. "Fuck yes!" She held out her hand for fist bump from Casey. "You owe me brunch!" @spexile @a general chris @electriclightparade

Miranda couldn’t help but laugh when Rosie made contact. “Wow, I don’t think that could’ve backfired any harder for you.” She dropped her arm and released Graves, now crossing her arms over her chest. She liked to think that she provided a great distraction. @brynnith @spexile @electriclightparade

Parker balled his fists. "Fuck off, Blue, I haven't even fucking..." He took a quick breath. "Whatever. I haven't been ignoring you. Sorry that I didn't come over to you so you could make fun of me while I sit there like a clueless asshole." @ellis

"Oh shiiiet! Rosie, damn hermana!" Graves' face broke into a huge grin when his sister's fist made contact with Caseys' face. "Damn Case," he laughed. His vision swam for a sec and the world turned a little off kilter, but he shook his head and it cleared. He didn't realize he was so drunk, but he definitely felt more impulsive. "Case, Casey, man. My man. My turn. Hit me, " Graves gave Casey a super bro-y sup nod, and raised his hands. "I'm ready." @spexile @brynnith @a general chris

Jack shut his eyes, and pressed his fingers against his temples. Kieran, at a loss for words, gave Alec a look and nodded toward Jack with a shrug. @brynnith

Blue unscrewed the cap of Parker's bottle and threw the contents into Parker's face. Wine soaked his head and shirt. "You're an asshole, Parker. You and that freak are perfect for each other." She turned, and then turned right back. "Oh, by the way! I've been telling you to buy ugly clothes so you'd look ridiculous." @caitlin

Casey cackled. "Backfired?! That's exactly what I've wanted! Oh my gods—" Casey stepped in to fist bump Rosie. "Fuck it, brunch and mimosas, god damn!" He turned to Graves. "Wait—what? I'm not gonna hit you!" Casey laughed. "The point is that it's a fair fight, I don't wanna just hit you to hit you." @a general chris @brynnith @electriclightparade

Alec gave Ime a distressed look. "Are you okay?" they asked Jack, running a hand through their hair. "It was just a bad joke. Us Tyche kids are known for those." @spexile @caitlin

Miranda was distracted from Graves being an idiot again by Blue screaming. She looked over just in time to see her dump wine on Parker, and covered her mouth to hit a quick laugh that bubbled out of her. She glanced over at Rosie to see if she noticed what was going on, slapping her brother to get his attention. “Oh, shit. There’s the drama.”  @electriclightparade @spexile @brynnith(edited)

Akira led Malia back to the point where they met. "You can find your friends, I'll hang back." Akira squinted towards the crowd. "Though it looks like... There's fighting happening." Akira was caught somewhere between a grimace and a smirk. "Figures, right?" @ellis

Rosie threw her hands up in the air. "Fuck yes. Score." She laughed at Graves, but turned her head in time to see Blue cover Parker in wine. "Fuck." Her smile faded. "Shit. Fuck." She immediately started towards where Blue was headed. @a general chris @ellis @electriclightparade

Parker didn't process anything that happened until Blue had turned for the second time. He took a step forward. "If I'm an asshole then we're the perfect friends!" He was yelling now. He pushed his hair back. "You know what, fuck you for that. I look like a fucking jerk to my siblings who make me feel like a fucking idiot and I thought it was funny but you know what, it isn't! You're fucking mean, Blue." @ellis

Jack just shook his head, trying to ignore Alec's inquiry, but the sound of Blue and Parker's screaming had cut through the noise of the party. Or maybe it was that the noise had subsided to give them way. "What the fuck—" Jack stepped in their direction to get a better view. Kieran sighed, seeing what was happening in the distance. @brynnith @caitlin

After 20 minutes with Akria, Malia decided her hair was a lost cause. She was mid-tying it up into a ponytail as she glanced over her shoulder, following their stare. "Oh, shit," she muttered. "That's my brother." @spexile

Ime turned back when they realized that Alec was actually upset. "Oh. Yes, I did make a bad joke." They frowned, confused. "Did you want to hear a good joke?" They looked over when Parker started yelling and pulled out their phone. "I'm not on my game, missing everything." @spexile @brynnith(edited)

"Go," Akira suggested. "Before she spits on him." @ellis

Alec pressed their hands to their cheeks and turned towards Blue and Parker as well. "Oh my." @spexile @caitlin

"Better mean than a clueless douchebag and a terrible friend, you fucking prick." She spit at his feet, then spun on her heel to march away. She remembered that she still had his bottle in her hands. She turned back once again and threw first the bottle, and then the cap at him as hard as she could. @caitlin

Graves' grin only broadened at Casey's response. He nodded, trying to be solemn, "T'was a test. Y'passed. A fair and generous oppo-" He broke off in the middle of his sentence when he heard a scream. Seeing Rosie walk away, he put the pieces together, then looked at Miranda. "Should we uh, 'elp her?" He looked in Casey's direction, eyeing his face, to see what damage Rosie had done. His glance lingered a second too long over Casey's split lip, before he focused on the other fight brewing. @spexile @brynnith @a general chris(edited)

Rosie winced when Blue threw the bottle at Parker. "Fucking christ." She stopped a couple feet away from her girlfriend. "Y'wanna go?" @ellis

"Doesn't everyone want me to go?" she asked Rosie sharply. She headed toward the ladder. @brynnith

"Um..." As his attention shifted to the other fight, Casey stepped in toward Graves and Miranda. "Maybe we should let this one play out." @electriclightparade @a general chris

Rosie hurried after her. "I'll go with you." @ellis

Parker stepped out of the way of the bottle and spun to avoid the cap. His eyes stung. He wiped more wine off his face and pressed his palms into his eyes. "Fuck!" He sighed and tried not to notice anyone looking at him.

Miranda watched Rosie approach Blue, but didn’t immediately follow her. “Hang on a second.” She took a few steps forward, so she was closer just in case, but paused when Blue headed towards the ladder with her sister not far behind. “That’s a no.” She let out a sigh, first Macey, now Rosie. Thank god she wasn’t dating. “I’ll check up on her later, give Blue some time to cool off.” @spexile @electriclightparade

As soon as Blue stepped away, Jack made his way quickly to Parker. "What the fuck was that? Are you okay?" Jack spoke softly but quickly, trying not to sound harried. His eyes scanned over Parker's body for any cuts or bleeding. "I'll be right back," Kieran muttered to Alec before slowly heading over to his brother. @caitlin @brynnith

It was too late to stop him being spit at, and from blocking the things being thrown at him, but Malia hurried over anyway. She took her brother's hand and glanced at Jack, and Kieran approaching. @caitlin @spexile

Alec nodded at Kieran and looked back at Ime, eyebrows drawn together. @caitlin @spexile

"Um..." Casey looked between them. "Group decompression brunch?" Casey half-joked. @a general chris @electriclightparade

Blue shook her head without looking back at Rosie. She paused at the top of the ladder to blink away tears that were blurring her vision. "You shouldn't have to stop your night because of me." @brynnith

Ime kept recording and whispered to Alec. "Should I stop recording? Or should I get a tearful end?" @brynnith

Akira waited until Malia reached her brother before returning to the shadowy location where they had retreated to. He turned on his phone flashlight and swept the area, revealing several wooden crates packed full with small explosives. He sighed disappointedly before clicking the light off and starting back toward the main area.

Parker flicked wine from his hand and shook his head, grabbing his bottle. He crouched and occupied himself with looking for the cap. "Yeah, I'm fine." @spexile @ellis

Graves stopped mid-step when Miranda called for pause, like an obedient puppy. He looked over her shoulder at their sister, a worried look on his face. When it seemed like the fight was dissipating, he relaxed and turned to Casey. "Brunch! Even though I didn't punch you? I'd kill for some eggs and hash browns, honestly," he winked and raised his eyebrows at him. @spexile @a general chris

Rosie hesitated then touched Blue's back. "Duh, but I'm gonna anyway. Let's go smash some bottles or shit like that." @ellis

Alec frowned at Ime. "Stop recording. You should delete that." @caitlin

Malia quickly scanned the outfits of the two boys surrounding her, then glanced back to the party, then back to Parker. "Give me two minutes," she said to them. She gave Jack a look that he hoped he would understand to mean to keep him there. She then ran over to Alec. "Hey. Can I take your flannel? I'll buy you a new one." @brynnith @spexile @caitlin

Alec started pulling their flannel off as soon as Malia mentioned it. "Yeah, yeah! Don't worry about it." They handed it to her. @ellis @caitlin

Miranda wasn’t as quick to turn back to Casey as Graves was. She kept Rosie in her  peripheral vision, and her smile was wiped from her face. “I was serious when I said I wanted French toast.” She butted in, but not fully paying attention to the conversation.  @spexile @electriclightparade

Ime sighed and turned off their camera but didn't delete it. "I wish I got her throwing wine at him." @brynnith

"Aw, I'll take you out for brunch any time, baby, you don't have to kill for me," Casey winked back at Graves. "So group brunch it is, then!" Casey nodded at Miranda. @electriclightparade@a general chris(edited)

Jack wasn't entirely sure what Malia meant with her look, but he stepped in toward Parker after she left. "Are you hurt?" Kieran hovered right behind Jack, shooting dirty glances at anybody who came too close. @caitlin

Malia took the flannel and gave them a grateful look as she immediately rushed back to her brother's side. "There are air ducts over there, no one will see you, if you want to change. We can use the bottom of that shirt to dry your hair. Kieran or Jack, can one of you try to find some water to get this out of his face?" @spexile @caitlin

Blue pressed two fingers under her eyes, then shrugged. She smiled at Rosie a little. "Sounds fun." @brynnith

"Um, yeah, I can—" "Here." Kieran unzipped the small bag at his side and pulled out his hydroflask. "This is water, I swear." He handed it to Malia. @ellis @caitlin

"No." Parker said gruffly and frowned, but softened his expression when he remembered he was talking to Jack. "No, I'm fine. I'm okay." He sighed at Malia and shook his head. "It's not a big deal. I don't care, I'm just trying to find the bottle cap." @ellis @spexile

Rosie smiled back at her tightly. "Let's go. Your place or mine? Or somewhere else, I have glass bottles on me." @ellis

Graves' eyes widened for a second, before his face broke into a lopsided grin. He felt his cheeks warm as he replied, "Deal. No to the killing, yes to the brunch. You tell me when." He gave Casey a little salute, tapping two fingers to his temple. "Monty, I need...water, and sleep. Time to go home?" Graves started towards the ladder. Over his shoulder, he called to Casey. "You have my number." @spexile @a general chris

Malia took the hyroflask and cradled it along with the flannel. "You'll find it better when you get that out of your eyes." @caitlin @spexile

Miranda watched Graves make his way over to the ladder and low-key wanted to scream. “He’s gonna fucking fall off that thing, isn’t he?” She looked over at Casey. “But yeah, we’ll figure brunch out, especially since mimosas were mentioned earlier.  We’ll talk later.” She then went after her brother to start attempting to get him down safely, Macey’s speed dial ready to go if it got to that point. @electriclightparade @spexile

"I'll help—" Casey decided the drama had subsided and ran over to help steady the ladder as they both went down. @a general chris @electriclightparade

Blue shook her head again. "Wherever you wanna go. Somewhere else, I guess." @brynnith

Rosie nodded and hung back as she watched her siblings go down the ladder. "Looks like my cabin's gonna be full tonight. Wanna swing by, grab some empty bottles, start a campfire by the woods and break shit?" @ellis

Parker felt strangely like he might cry. "Ugh. It doesn't matter, I found it." He sighed and stood up as he held the cap in his hands. "I might just leave. He wiped his face. @ellis @spexile

Once Parker stood up again and seemed like he wasn't physically injured, the sting of hurt from Ime's joke returned to the surface and Jack took a step back. "The apartment?" Kieran asked, taking Jack's place beside Parker. @caitlin @ellis(edited)

Alec shook their head at Ime. "You don't need that." @caitlin

Akira hovered at the corner of the lit area, watching carefully to see if anybody looked physically injured, but otherwise said nothing.

Malia recognized her brother's expression and didn't try to push, lest he get more upset and then even more upset for getting so upset. She silently made him switch his empty bottle for the hydroflask. "I'm done here, too." @caitlin @spexile

Ime hummed and shrugged. "You're right. This was not the fight I came for. You seem stressed." @brynnith

Alec pressed a hand to their forehead and shook their head again. "I feel bad." They made a face before speaking. "I think I need to stop sleeping with Parker?" @caitlin

Parker opened the hydroflask and took a sip from it. He held it out to Jack, Kieran, and Malia. "Does anyone else want water? I know I just finished that bottle, but I feel fine." He exhaled a shaky laugh. @ellis @spexile

Ime frowned and tilted their head. "Do you? That's upsetting. Are you sure?" @brynnith

Kieran took the bottle from Parker and took a sip before passing it to Jack. Jack brought the hydroflask up to take a sip, but stopped short. "Why does it smell like—" "It's my kombucha bottle." Jack lowered the bottle and slowly passed it back to Kieran, grimacing. @caitlin @ellis

"It is, isn't it?" Alec pressed a hand to their forehead. "I dunno. Isn't it kinda weird? If Jack likes Parker? I don't wanna upset him." @caitlin

Malia smiled at her brother's joke. "I think I'm okay." She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Blue was gone. "Want to head back?" @spexile @caitlin

Ime shrugged. "Aren't you sleeping with Parker's sister?" @brynnith

Parker sighed and shrugged. "Yeah, I don't care." He looked at Jack. "Will you come with us?" @ellis @spexile

Jack looked up at Parker, a little stunned at the request. "Uh... Yeah." He glanced at Kieran, who was very decidedly looking away. "I'll come." @ellis @caitlin

"Well, yeah, but less often." Alec watched the scene with Aphrodite kids and Jack over Ime's shoulder. "But it's not the same," they sighed. "Who's gonna rail me now?" They shook their head once again after speaking and looked sheepish. "That's not what's important. I hope he's okay."@caitlin

Ime shrugged. "Just ask him to rail you some other time. I won't bring it up again. Or go out with a bang." @brynnith

Alec shrugged and looked back at Ime. "Eh, it'll work out." @caitlinNEW

Malia smiled to herself and lead the group to the exit. @caitlin @spexile

Parker lifted his lips in a bit of a smile and then shrugged again. "You don't have to. I just don't want you getting, you know, shanked by a raccoon or something on the way home." He followed after Malia. @ellis @spexile

Ime poked Alec's cheek. "I'm sure it will. You always get lucky, no?" @brynnith

The smile on Jack's face didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks." Jack let Parker and Malia start ahead. Kieran locked eyes with Jack for just a moment, but still didn't know what to say, so he gave a small nod and followed after his brother. Once they were a few paces ahead, Jack followed too. @caitlin @ellis

Alec brightened up at Ime's words. "You're right!" They glanced around and noticed Akira standing by the edge of the lit area. "I gotta try to expand, eh? See you later!" They patted Ime's shoulder and headed over to Akira. "Heya, guest of honour? How's lurking going?" @spexile @caitlin

Akira was smiling, but their brows were furrowed. "Swimmingly. Lots to observe." They leaned back against a duct to face Alec fully. "Something about this place just really gets people going, huh?" @brynnith

Ime nodded at Alec and then sighed when they saw them walk over to Akira. They moved to follow the Aphrodite kids out and took out their phone to text Jacob.

😩 It's April first! 😩That means it's April fools 😝 and it's time to 😜 FOOL 🍆 around!!!!💦👅 April SHOWERS 💦���💦 bring May flowers!!!🌺🌸🌼🌷😩😈 TRICK bæ into 👉👌 and you'll have a wHOLE YEAR of 🙌🙌GOOD LUCK 🙌🙌 😵💦👅🍆 IGNORE THIS MESSAGE AND NO TRICKS 🍆💦👌👈 for 10 YEARS 😩😩😷 SEND to YOUR 10 😈😈 SLUTTIEST 😩😩friends and you'll 😵 SPRING into a SEASON of 😵💦😈👄Pleasure 🍆👌💦😩😈

Malia paused at the ladder. "You go down first, I'll make sure it stays steady. Are your eyes bothering you?" @caitlin @spexile

Parker went down the ladder easily. "I'm fine. I'm just upset that I washed my hair for this." @ellis @spexile

"I would agree but people seem down to fight anywhere." Alec smiled at Akira. "Not that your place doesn't get people going. This is awesome as fuck." @spexile

"Parker," Malia said, her voice falling back into a gently exasperated tone, "you should be washing your hair anyway. What kind of Virgo are you?" @caitlin @spexile​

Parker scoffed at Malia. "Of course I wash my hair anyway. I just meant that I washed it specifically before this, and now I have to wash it again. Stop calling me a Virgo." @ellis(edited)

"Glad you think so." There was a sparkle in Akira's eye as the smile on their face grew fuller. They stood up properly, taking a step toward Alec. "I take it you had a nice time then, despite the chaos?" @brynnith

She shook her head since it was too dark for him to see her rolling her eyes. "Hold the ladder steady," she said as she started to climb down. @caitlin

Jacob responds to the text once his ears recover.

Unsubscribe.

Alec grinned wider and lifted their chin. "I'm easy to impress." @spexile

Ime smiled at their phone.

No tricks for ten years 😩😩😷 so sad 4 u

Kieran did as he was told, holding the ladder and trying not to focus on the drop down. "Why always the roofs?" He muttered. @ellis Jack stayed a few feet back, waiting idly for his turn. He almost jumped when he noticed Ime standing nearby. Jack's immediate instinct was to look the other direction, but after a short moment, he turned back and walked in their direction. "So Alec and Parker are hooking up?" @caitlin

"Hmm." Akira furrowed a brow and crossed their arms, but a smirk still pulled at the corner of their lips. "I'm not sure how to take that. Are you saying I'm really not all that impressive?" @brynnith​

Ime raised their eyebrows at Jack and they tilted their head. Their lips curled as they acted as though this was the first time they were hearing this information. "Are they?" @spexile(edited)

Alec laughed and ran a hand through their hair. "Not in the slightest. I'm saying I'm still having a good time." They tipped their head to one side. "But it could always be better." @spexile

Parker held the ladder steady for both Malia and Kieran. @spexile @ellis

Jack scowled. "Don't fuck with me right now. I'm not gonna flip a shit, I'm just..." He sighed. "I just wanna be in on whatever this is." @caitlin

Ime shrugged. "I think so. My sibling doesn't kiss and tell. I was making a joke to my sibling. I think the awkward boy likes you." @spexile

Akira couldn't help but smirk. "Funny you say that. And your idea of a better time?" @brynnith

As Kieran descended the ladder, he noticed Jack talking to Ime, but had already committed to going down. "Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," he muttered to himself. @caitlin @ellis

Jacob texted back after a few minutes.

Trix are for kids.

Malia stood at the bottom of the ladder and waited for Kieran to follow, and then frowned at him while he descended. "What's wrong?" @spexile @caitlin

Alec rocked back and forth on their feet. "You live downstairs?" @spexile

"Ugh." Jack rolled his eyes. "No fucking duh, he likes me." He walked away from Ime without another word and started descending down the ladder, his heart sinking in his chest. @caitlin

Kieran glanced between Malia and Parker, then up at Jack as he descended the ladder. "Doesn't matter," Kieran lied. Jack's feet hit grass and he gave an awkward smile at the others, not really looking Parker in the eyes. "Ready?" @caitlin @ellis

Malia was frustrated with this weirdness but decided this was secondary to Parker right now. She nodded at Jack and settled back at Parker's side. "Let's go." @caitlin @spexile

"I live downstairs," Akira repeated. "But looks like almost nobody's left up here." They shrugged. "If you're into that."

Ime frowned a bit and shrugged.

Where do you live? Don't worry, I'm just trying to rob you.

They followed Jack down once he was the whole way down. @brynnith Parker frowned a bit and smiled at Jack. "Yeah. If you don't want to come back with us, I can just walk you back to yours." He looked down. @spexile @ellis

"Was I hoping you'd say that? Maybe." Alec raised their eyebrows at him. "In the shadows here, or you gonna lead the way?" @spexile

"Um." Trying hard to ignore Ime, coming down the ladder just behind him, Jack tried to make the best decision. He sighed. "Yeah. I'd appreciate that, if you'd be cool with it." Kieran was preoccupied with a moth fluttering by. @ellis @caitlin

Read 04/05/20

Jacob sent the message after he had to correct the speech-to-text multiple times, then added his address to the next text and sent it. @caitlin(edited)

Akira chuckled. "Not to overstep on a first encounter, but I set up some special birthday candles for the party." Akira shrugged. "Didn't really get the opportunity to light them, but I'd hate to see them go to waste. If you wouldn't mind a little ambience." @brynnith

Ime grinned, not really noticing Jack, and left, possibly going to Jacob's,,,,,, who could ever be sure.

Alec took a step forward to close most of the distance between them. "Special birthday candles? What does that even mean?" They laughed. "But yeah, ambience, let's go." @spexile

Parker smiled at Jack and dipped his head a bit before looking at Malia and Kieran, slightly flushed. "Um, we can walk home with you guys first, it's on the way." @spexile @ellis

Akira found Alec's hand and lead them back to where the bigger ducts were. Before stepping into the dark, Akira let go of Alec. "Wait here." They stepped into the dark for a few moments. Then suddenly, there was a loud hissing sound and a fountain of sparks started spewing from some point in the dark. Then another. Then another. Akira laid each sparkler down on the ground in a big triangle before returning to Alec and pulling them into the center. "Surprise." @brynnit

Malia assessed the situation then made eye contact with Kieran, unsure if he'd agree with her but doing it anyway. "Kieran and I can walk back together while you two go to Jack's place, it's no big deal." @caitlin @spexile

Kieran hopped onto Malia's instinct. "I'll be up when you get back." He nodded at Jack. "Take your time." Then, without waiting for Parker to respond, Kieran turned and gave Mal a look of let's go before walking away at a slightly brisker pace than usual. @caitlin @ellis

Alec followed and waited without issue. As soon as the sparks lit up, their eyes widened and they gazed around, pulled inside the lights easily. "Whoa," they breathed, grasping the front of Akira's robe. "Some birthday candles." They turned to kiss him but changed their mind at the last moment and returned to watching the sparklers so they didn't miss a moment of the light or effort of the display.  @spexile

Malia pressed the flannel into Parker's hands. "Call me tomorrow, okay?" she asked, then gave him and Jack a smile before turning and rushing to catch up with Kieran. @spexile @caitlin

Akira leaned in to kiss Alec before they turned away to watch the sparklers. Akira chuckled under their breath. "Don't worry about that. I've got a box of thirty." Akira wrapped a hand around Alec's lower back. "We can light them slow. One at a time."

[annakie]

-----------

We're back for part two!  Remember the last time how I said....

And after that game... I parted ways with my friends once again.  Because I had tickets... to Critical Role.

Well... not only that, but I was finally meeting @thievinghippo​ IRL to see it!

CRITICAL ROLE (aka Friday Night)

I took off right after the previous game had ended and headed for the show.  My one big frustration was that it took 30 minutes for my Lyft driver to arrive from AROUND THE BLOCK (ok, about a quarter of a mile, but still).  In retrospect, I think he was hoping I'd cancel so he could get a bigger fare or something.  I think he just fucked himself over because he could have done that route twice in the time it took him to come get me.  So I got there with just a few minutes to spare and no time to get in the merch line.  But hey, I found Hippo and met a few other people from Tumblr whose names I recognized!  

It was so great to finally meet her, but we had almost no time to talk beforehand (but when we did, it was all about how mad we still are about Jaime / Brienne and also I tried to catch her up to what's happening in CR since she's pretty far behind.)

The show was AWESOME.  It was so fun to see live!  It was particularly awesome when the entire audience sang along with the theme song (See this video if you haven't yet for those of you not there: https://twitter.com/PhoenixHeart815/status/1157446225223962624 ).  It reminded me a lot of singing along with the Sparks Nevada theme the last few TAH shows, I got a little misty-eyed.

The bad?  It was really really hot in the theater.  At intermission I bolted out to the bathroom and buy cold waters.  I was about to get in the merch line but the lights already started flashing.  SIGH.  I gave Hippo a water and before we could settle in much, the show started again.  I told her my plan for the end of the show, though.

I will admit, my lack of sleep from the previous two nights was starting to catch up with me, and I had no caffeine available to combat it with.  I almost ducked out of the show early because I felt myself nodding off with the heat in the theater masked with the dark of the theater and that the second half of the show was less exciting (but still fun!) than the first.  Seeing the show live was amazing!

Just as Matt said they were ending the show there, I hopped out of my chair (I was in an aisle) and went into the lobby.  I was dying to get a set of the metal dice... and they were sold out of EVERYTHING except the big blue d20 and some pins.  ARGHGHGHGHGH.  So I got the d20, and watched the rest of the show including Liam's very surprising win, on the monitors.  (I'd voted for Liam because I assumed Sam would win.  I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. :)  Though I love Sam to bits.)

Hippo joined me outside in the lobby early, and we left the theater just ahead of everyone else and she waited and we chatted while I called a Lyft.  She wanted to get out before traffic got too crazy, too, so she took off.  I am VERY MAD I didn't get a pic with the two of us at all.  Next year?!  

Then of course my Lyft driver didn't come to where I was exactly (literally at the Lyft pickup/dropoff designated location) and I had to walk around and look for him and by the time I found him, he'd gotten boxed in so we had to wait in traffic anyway.  Ah well.

At least the freeway was re-opened that night heading back to the airport, and thus, my hotel, for a shorter ride.  I ended up not falling asleep til close to 2.

I loved my evening and would do it all again but that Jeremy and Marcus told me that the Starfinder game they played in that night was AH-FUCKING-MAZING and was literally one of their favorite games of their entire lives, both of them.  It was a multi-table megagame that had a pass-fail condition and would shape the next season of the Society, and I'm sad I missed it while being really glad I did what I did.  Sometimes it's feast or feast, and you gotta pick which awesome meal you want.

I didn’t take many pics, just one as they were settling in after Sam came out in his costume, and one during intermission.  It’s all on Twitch, anyway!

SATURDAY

Oh man, for some really dumb reason we'd scheduled our Saturday morning for 8AM... but it was Starfinder!!  Uh, I will say I consumed more caffeine on that Saturday than maybe any other day of my life.  But it was needed.

What also helped keep me awake that it was FUCKING FREEZING IN THE ROOM.  The game itself was an absolute blast, though.  It was a brutal slog through a dead planet with hostile aliens everywhere and we had to stealth through, collect information and get out.  This was the game I felt the closest to death in all weekend, I'll say that for sure.  But we did it!

The very kind Felice(sp?) who was at the table decided she didn't want to carry her hoodie through the dealer hall, where she was going next, and her husband was working the main table at the Pathfinder room, so she told me to leave it there with him when I was done with it.  Since our next game was also in the Paizo room, I took her up on this offer and was warm and comfy the next few hours.

Our DM, an Operative, and Felice, plus the Hoodie of Warmth +2.

A very rare picture of me, on the internet, along with the guys.

And our next game was our first Pathfinder 2 game!  We were very excited to try out the system, and were put at a table with a father and son duo.  Jeremy and Marcus were excited because the DM was the same guy who'd DM'd their Starfinder game while I was at Critical Role.  

The only bad thing that happened here was that the El Paso Cielo Vista shooting news broke.  I grew up in El Paso, from when I was 12 to 22... it's Middle School through college for me.  Even though I've now lived in Dallas twice as long as I lived in El Paso and I haven't been there in like ten years, it's still... a little bit home.  So I left the table for a little bit to get on Facebook and make sure my friends there were all okay (they are), and text with my mom to make sure a family member who still lives there is okay (she is, though she took awhile to answer mom so we were worried.)  I have a lot of thoughts though, which belong in another post, and I'm still angry and upset about the shooting, even though it didn't affect me personally.  But for now, that's the end of talk of that terribleness.

At our table were a father and ~10 y/o son, who I'm cutting out of the pics because posting pics of minors without getting permission is not OK.  Also, the game was SHORT.  It turns out it was designed as an intro to Pathfinder 2 or maybe even RPGs in general so we knocked it out pretty quick, like 2.5 hours.

One very cool thing that Pazio was doing was that when you played in a game, you got a wooden token that you took up to the prize table, and rolled a d20 + d10.  No matter what you rolled, you got a prize, though most of them were cool little boons for your official characters.  However, if you critted, you got to pick a physical prize from the table.  Well, we played so much that Jeremy and Marcus both critted twice.  They ended up getting ALL THREE Token boxes (like cardboard minis, very nice quality) for Starfinder, plus the Starfinder Beginner's Box.  Pretty sure those four things together retailed for over $100.  Score!

So after the short game, with time to spare before our next game, the gang decided it was Dealer Hall time, literally the first time Jeremy or Marcus had time to go AT ALL.  I volunteered to be the stuff-holder.  After dropping off Felice's hoodie, I found a comfy seat near an outlet that was near the dealer hall and let everyone dump the stuff they didn't want to carry with me.  They came back and left stuff with me, and then after a couple of hours, also brought me dinner from the food trucks.  It was a fair trade.

I also asked Jeremy to stop by one particular booth and pick me up a set of dice I'd decided on, Blue Turquiose stone dice from Metallic Dice Games.  I took some pics of the dice below, though the next day I did have Jeremy swap out the d20 at the booth because I didn't like how some of the faces looked (by far the angle in the pic is the best side, there was too much solid color on the other sides of the die.)  These are going to be my official dice for my 4e character, who is a storm sorcerer reskinned as a druid.

LOVE THESE DICE, can’t wait to roll ‘em.

DM, Dad and blurred-out son.

A blurred-out boy and my guys.

Our final game of the day was the Cypher system, which is made by Monte Cook (one of the original D&D designers).  Cypher is a fairly simple system which mostly just uses a d20 and d6, and the DM never rolls dice.  The original system was made for a game called Numenera, which we'd played the beginner's box adventure for a few years ago but didn't feel like we got a good feel for the system, so we wanted to give it a go with a DM who knew the system well.

Overall, we enjoyed the game, it definitely wasn't "bad"!  But the problem was, we all agreed later, that the module that was being run was the kickoff module for a much longer campaign, there was a huge lore dump near the end and we also didn't really "get" everything that was going on.  

It also had the most memorable ending, though.  We ended the game by trying to escape from a base while being chased by some guys who greatly outmatched us.  My character was a pilot, and we needed to leave via a shuttlecraft.  One of the players who we didn't know was on the "get the door open and provide covering fire so everyone else can get to the shuttle" team.  And then he needed to make a roll in order to also GTFO and get to the shuttle.

He rolled.  Got a 5.  There's a mechanic where you can spend a card that you've collected in order to re-roll.  So he did that, got a 2.  Someone else gave him a card to re-roll.  He rolled a 3.  Someone else did.  He rolled a 5.  I was the last one with a card on the table, so I slapped it down.  He rolled a 4.

It was amazing.  Amazingly terrible rolling.

My pilot already had the craft powered up and was waiting for only him to get on.  I sighed, looked the player in the eye and said...

"I'm so sorry, but my character sheet says that I have a personality flaw.  I'm impulsive and impatient and have a setback to anything that requires patience, concentration or willpower.  I'm not waiting for you."  I looked at the DM and said "I decide that he's sacrificing himself to save us, and take off."

So I left him behind.  

The player was 100% cool with it, we had a laugh about it, and he agreed it was what my character would have done.  So it was kind of a tragic and funny way to end the game.  Also Brian needed to get some sleep that night so he hadn't come to that game, and Marcus left a little early to tend to the family, so just Jeremy and I closed out the night.

DM on the left, players I didn’t know in the center, and one on the right.  The guy in the bright blue shirt in the center?  I killed his character.  Sorry not sorry.

SUNDAY

The next morning, sadly, was the last day of GenCon.  We only had one game scheduled that morning, our second Pathfinder 2 game.  And EVERYONE was gonna be at the game!  

I hadn't even SEEN Gwen or Laura the entire con, and when they arrived at just about the same time Jeremy and I did, we joked that we hadn't believed the others were at the convention.  

We'd hoped that they'd let us put all 7 people at the table (Kirstyn had left late Saturday night to fly home and be at a concert she was playing in.)  They did not.  So we split up "Kids" and "Adults".

Sadly, this didn't work out super well for either table.  Gwen/Brian/Ally's table had a DM they did not enjoy and also a married couple who actually fought with each other uncomfortably at the table(!!).  

We had a good DM, but also an old guy who... I did not like.  At all.  He talked over the DM, even when the DM was explicitly trying to answer a question we'd asked him, things like rules questions on how game mechanics in PF2 had changed from PF1, since, you know, it was a system that had released THREE DAYS AGO.  Also, he was very... helpful... in telling me how skill checks worked and also questioning my decisions on how I was playing my character.  (YES, thanks I did consider carefully before casting Sanctuary on myself, and yes, it WAS THE RIGHT CALL.  I was the only healer in the party and had gargoyles flanking me, THANKS.)

I literally told the guy (as nicely as possible) "Sir, I've been playing RPGs for over twenty years, I'm well aware of how RPGs work, thank you" the second time he told me how skill checks worked as I was adding up my die roll with my skill modifier and took two seconds to do the math. And sure he'd probably been playing for thirty or more but um... I know how to roll a skill check.

After a short break, I told my friends I might need to leave the table.  Instead, Marcus and I switched seats so I wasn't sitting next to him anymore and the DM tried to refocus the game a bit.  It helped me at least.  I just did my best to ignore the guy.  I'm pretty sure he just didn't have the greatest social skills in the world but sometimes my tolerance for people like this can be... low.  His brother was also at the table and seemed okay, at least.  

The game itself was pretty good, ignoring everything having to do with that guy.  After the game the DM thanked me for sticking around and basically empathized that he was getting pretty annoyed, too.  

Not the greatest way to end gaming at the con, but hey, it also could have been worse.  I took pics of that game but decided not to put pics of someone I didn’t like on the internet.

Gwen, Brian and Ally's game ended like 45 minutes before ours (sadly, much to their relief) and they'd left to do one more run through the vendor hall and then left the con to start their drive home.  I had Gwen pick me up a set of dice that... I haven't even seen yet... and they were hella expensive.  I'm kinda feeling buyer's remorse about them right now, I didn't need to spend that much on dice this con but... well, we'll see how I feel when I see them in person.  If I hate 'em, I'll resell 'em.

All weekend long I'd been texting with my BFF from High School's husband, who is also my friend.  He was at the Con as well but doing his own thing and we'd been trying to arrange a meetup.  Well, we finally did it!  He came and saw me, and we hung out for about 45 minutes, just talking about the con, and old times and what we're doing now and the family etc. etc.  So that was great!  I was really glad to see him and catch up.

It’s Richard!

After he left because he had to go help tear down the booth he'd been working at, like the day before, I set up "basecamp" in the same place as before.  I had thought about going back to the vendor hall where Jeremy, Marcus and Laura were, but I'd already sent Jeremy off to ask him to pick me up the one last thing I wanted (the official GenCon dice tray.  I have a Wyrmwood Lacewood dice tray for home use, but wanted a nice travel dice tray.  I had a leather one for Kraken, but I'm real unhappy with Kraken Dice now and wanted something else.  I don’t plan on buying from them ever again in the future.  The official 2019 Gencon tray is very nice, and Jeremy had gotten one the day before, so he picked me up one as well.)

POST-CON

I only had to wait about an hour for the end of the con, and by that time the only ones from our group left were "the adults."  So once we were all gathered back up, the four of us headed out and walked a couple of blocks to a restaurant, which we couldn't get into, so we went to the restaurant next door, the Yard House.  

Wherein we had comically bad service, but they were very nice about it, and also WE were really nice about it, and ended up getting about half our meal comped.  Like our waiter had put in all the drink orders for all his tables to our table, so we had the wrong drinks delivered about five times.  We never got water refills.  Marcus had half a beer spilled on his leg (not even his beer, just another wrongly brought to our table), Laura's Appetizer-as-entree came out as an appetizer.  We asked for more chips for the chips and guac and queso we'd gotten as an app and never got it, etc.  Also while the manager was there assuring us we wouldn't have any more drinks brought to our table we didn't ask for... drinks were brought to our table we didn't ask for.  It was actually hilarious by that point.  

The waiter was brand new (his second day) so we got it.  It was just one of those things.  But they took care of us, we tipped well, it was all OK.

So that was the end of Gencon.  Back at my hotel, which Jeremy and I had long decided we wouldn't stay at again, I'd taken a shower very early Saturday morning after Critical Role.  Sunday morning when I showered again, the water still hadn't drained from the tub(!!) but I was in a hurry and just showered in gross cold water at my feet.  Then told the front desk.

They hadn't even been in my room all day to even clean up the room at all, much less do anything about the bathtub when I got back to my room Sunday night, so I switched rooms.  And then the room next to me had left the alarm clock on, and it went off at 9pm.  And my phone in that room didn't work, so I had to go downstairs a second time to get someone to go shut it off.  Also the AC in that room never turned off, the controls seemed to do nothing, so it was like 60 degrees in there the entire night.  It was actually a relief to leave the hotel the next day.  Next year... we'll pay a little more for a bit nicer hotel.

Annnd.. the next morning Jeremy and I got to the airport early enough, flight was full but not delayed, and had no problems getting home.  Spent most of the day from getting on the plane to going to sleep that night with a massive migraine so I spent the afternoon at home sleeping and drinking lots of water.. but yay... no con crud!

I miss the con, but being back in my own bed with my kitties is all worth it.  Still, I can't wait for Gencon again next year. :D

[jitterbugjive]

8') Don't tell me they killed the cute sheep-pon lawyer boy. Is he heir oc? Hasnt Spinel suffered enough?

It’s in an alternate universe where Randy and Spinel are older and because Spinel chose Vior over Randy, the sheepony left heartbroken. bit over 10 years later, Spinel finds Randy in a hospital because his liver’s bad from too much drinking, so the unicorn throws a bunch of money at the hospital to get him the best surgical equipment and a not so legally obtained new liver. Turns out Vior and Spinel had a fight 3 years prior and hadn’t been in contact since, and later it’s revealed they’d gotten married and never had a divorce or anything. Spinel more or less forced Randy to be back in his life because ‘you owe me your life’, his desperate attempt to find someone to give his life some kind of meaning (Spinel at that point is much like Bojak Horseman.) He’ll get on drugs, have wild parties, pass out in an alleyway, generally 0 self care and 0 shits given as he’s constantly borderline suicidal

Anyway over time he and Randy re-connect and start to form something special between them, but circumstances with his job and Randy getting pulled in to it causes Spinel so much distress that he feels the world would be better off without him, so he disappears one day with a vague, alarming note. Everyone starts searching for Spinel, and someone calls Vior to ask him to come back and take care of the mess Spinel had made. Spinel starts making calls to those he knows to say final goodbyes, clearly on drugs, but when he calls his business to talk to his secretary, Vior answers instead and it gives him a shock that throws him way off. He hangs up on Vior. He then calls Whistle, not knowing Randy was there with him, and Randy answering gives him another shock which encourages him to talk a bit more, and with Whistle’s advice on what to say, Randy’s able to calm him down enough to admit he needs help, and spinel agrees to call Vior to come get him since he has wings. Vior finds Spinel just on time, overdosed on multiple drugs, and has him taken care of.

This of course leads to conflict as Randy thinks once again Spinel would have Vior over him, but he’s so down on himself that he things it’s better than way and he should just leave. But, Spinel meanwhile, AND Vior both express they want Randy back in their lives and that they are in an open relationship of sorts, they both want to make up the harm they’d done to him in the past. But Randy’s having none of it, insisting it’s wrong and that they’re both better off without him.

Vior then attempts to help Spinel with Polished Dreams by confronting a rather dangerous pony who’s more or less sponsoring his business. Vior made the mistake of making a legal threat to someone VERY powerful in the underground, and they had Vior shot down from the sky as he was flying home.

(Holy shit I’m trying to summarize as best I can and it’s still not remotely the whole story at all, this is also the universe where Blank exists and was manipulating Spinel for a time, and later murdered a Jewel)

Anyway, Spinel is of course alarmed with Vior doesn’t come home, and asks Randy to help him search for him.They eventually find him in the forest near the mountain, missing an entire wing with the other so severely damaged it couldn’t be saved. So Vior wakes up in the hospital no longer having wings any more, and Spinel and Randy stay by his side. But Randy, see, he’s been starting to feel and act sickly, weak, shaking, in pain. Spinel becomes incredibly paranoid, knowing something is wrong but not what because Randy won’t tell him, and he has this sense of dread that he could lose him or Vior at any moment. He tries to talk to Randy again, admitting things with Vior don’t feel the same any more and probably never will, and how much he wanted Randy to be a part of his life, wanted them to be together, but Randy rejects him VERY harshly, slipping out that he’s not worth it because ‘he’s dying’.

JitterbugJive-Today at 2:34 AM

Spinel sniffled, his hooves shaking. "I fucking love him, I swear I do, I'm relieved he's back but at the same time I just-- it was too long and too soon all at once and I still hate him for leaving and we-- you and I-" He looked at Randy with fear in his eyes, ".... there was something there, wasn't there? Is it all gone now...? Is it over...?"

SirDoodTheo-Today at 2:36 AM

Randy looked.. really scared. He held Spinel's hooves tightly, before looking down at the floor. "..... I.. Spinel w- we.. we can't... I c- can't-.." His breath caught in his throat, and he felt like he was practically shaking. "..... i- it's.. t- too late... isn't i- it?"

JitterbugJive-Today at 2:39 AM

His ears pinned back again, Randy's words making his chest tighten in agony. "I don't feel any different...." Spinel said in a voice that was so soft it was almost a whisper. "And I don't want to..."

SirDoodTheo-Today at 2:41 AM

"Sp- Spinel n- no!" He stood up, his forelegs hugging himself as he looked over at Vior's room, and then at the unicorn. "Th- This.. this is wr- wrong! W- We.... we had our ch- chance... a- and it d- didn't work! Y- You're.. you're with him now a- and it's... this isn't right......" He looked completely devastated.. as if he couldn't believe his own words coming out of his mouth. He rubbed his own shoulders, his body still practically trembling as he turned to look away. ".... I'm... n- not going to be around f- for long anyways..... y- you don't w- want this.."

JitterbugJive-Today at 2:49 AM

Spinel started breathing heavier, with an expression that melted in to something Randy had never seen on him before. Utter heartbreak and horror, and that was only at when the ram said 'we had our chance'. It only grew heavier from there, and he was about to protest with everything he had that it wasn't wrong, that it didn't matter but before he could.... Now confusion was added on top of the heartbreak and horror, and he felt his mouth go dry. ".... wh....what....?"

Two huge shocks in a row for Spinel, who’s now both heartbroken and terrified. He asks Randy what he means and Randy explains that he feels off, very sick, that he can tell whatever it is, he’s dying. Spinel asks him why he hasn’t gone to a doctor and the ram rejects the notion because he felt there’s no point and he’s just better off gone. And as Spinel is panicking (he breaks a bathroom mirror) Randy suddenly collapses and starts having trouble breathing.

Spinel of course rushes him to hospital staff, who reveal Randy’s body is rejecting the implanted liver because it’s not a hybrid liver. Randy would need a hybrid of the same blood type, and considering he’s a genetic impossibility the chances of finding someone is near non-existent.

Now see, how we RP is that sometimes we’ll roll on certain factors. And Theo, that asshole, WAS BASICALLY ROLLING ON RANDY’S LIFE, PIECE BY PIECE. And he got a 3 out of 20 when it came to the initial roll to see how bad off he was. Then he rolled on shit like if there’s a donor, and I’m just over here screaming my head off because I had so much planned for this Randy and I don’t want him to die and I feel super connected to Spinel so I wind up feeling a lot of what he’s feeling as its happening.

Just

Just look how awful this bastard is:

JitterbugJive-Today at 3:57 AM

i'm over here like "plz live so i can throw thing at you"

SirDoodTheo-Today at 3:57 AM

ahaha

!roll d20

RPBotBOT-Today at 3:58 AM

@SirDoodTheo rolled 3.

SirDoodTheo-Today at 3:58 AM

PFFT

JitterbugJive-Today at 3:58 AM

SCREAMS

SirDoodTheo-Today at 3:58 AM

XD

oh man

JitterbugJive-Today at 4:00 AM

IF HE DIES I SWEAR TO GOD THERE WILL BE A FUCKING QUEST TO TARTARUS

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:00 AM

Guess we're gonna hafta find ouuuut

it's not gonna be good whatever it is

JitterbugJive-Today at 4:01 AM

-SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH-

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:01 AM

Man I was just gonna be like

"Oh well if it's fine"

"I'll just say he had like.. a panic attack"

-rolls a 3-......"WELP OKAY THEN"

JitterbugJive-Today at 4:02 AM

if it's a shit liver spinel's gonna murder bluebelle

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:48 AM

!roll d20

RPBotBOT-Today at 4:48 AM

@SirDoodTheo rolled 17.

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:49 AM

Hey there we go some good news!

JitterbugJive-Today at 4:50 AM

good news is: There's a hybrid out there that matches

bad news: they still alive and kickin'

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:52 AM

lmao ohno I was just rolling on if Randy would survive the surgery to remove the liver inside him right now

I haven't rolled on the donor yet:3

JitterbugJive-Today at 4:52 AM

you'd need a hell of a roll for that fuuuck

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:52 AM

!roll d20

RPBotBOT-Today at 4:52 AM

@SirDoodTheo rolled 17.

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:52 AM

Okay dokie soooooo

Matching liver

SirDoodTheo-Today at 4:53 AM

but the pony who has it is alive but they're close to death themselves

just a matter of convincing them to give up their own liver

JitterbugJive-Today at 4:53 AM

shrieeek

Aaaand since this post is fucking long enough anyway, have some art from Worst Universe (yeah we call it that for a reason)

Oh did I mention this is the universe where Spinel’s drug use triggers a disease in his horn that causes him to constantly expel magic unless medicated, without his magic energy replenishing, so ultimately if it keeps going it’ll cause horn necrosis and eventually make him lose all his magic and magical antibodies.

This image here is what he would have looked like if it got to its worst state (Which it hasn’t, thus far it’s been kept on top of and rolls have been good... now it’s all about convincing the head researcher of the disease to go back to researching it and giving the funding needed for it)

THIS UNIVERSE SUCKS OKAY?

[bemorecronch]

You Should Ask Him Out (Jared Kleinman X Gender Neutral Reader)

WARNINGS: Fluffy fluff. Swearing, Jared being awkward and weird. INCLUDING: Michael Mell from Be More Chill An anon asked for one where you worked in a nerdy store and he comes in to see you, so here it is! Every day at Hitchhiker’s Comic Books was the same. You thought it would be awesome working where you loved to shop, but all you got were parents who didn't know what they were looking for; kids who tried to steal shit; or neckbeards who thought they knew more than you. You didn't hate it, you got to read comics in your spare time and the people who you worked with were sweet. “just this.” You looked up. He was chubby with glasses and a nervous grin. In his hands was the new Saga. You smile back, “sure!” You take it from him. He looked shy and actually a little cute. You glance at the comic and notice some rips, “ah, crap. It's tore. Some kids that come in here are assholes- I'll get you a different one.” He nodded, “oh yeah, uh, OK.” You turn and step up the small ladder to reach for the spare comics. You can feel Michael; your co-worker, watching and smirking. You find what you're looking for and hand it to him, “$2.99.” You smile and he scrapes around his pocket for the money, giving it to you with a shaking hand, “here. Thanks.” He was blushing as he left the store, and you glanced over at Michael who was chuckling. “What?” You ask, he shakes his head and smiles, “he was kinda cute.” He moved closer and you rolled your eyes, “I guess.” He wriggled his eyebrows, “he was staring at your ass on that ladder.” He laughed in a sing-song voice. You smacked his shoulder, “no he wasn't!” Michael raised his hands up in surrender, “whatever. But you couldn't see him. I thought his eyes were going to bust out of his head.” You throw one of the d20’s at him and he bats it away. -- A week had past before you saw him again. He was buying a Rick and Morty issued comic. He looked up and smiled, “hi, just this one please.” He wasn't making eye contact with you and you scanned it, “it's a good one. This issue, I mean.” You comment, he nods “yeah- they're sort of getting me through the hiatus.” You smile at each other and hand him the comic. He stares at you for a second longer before someone in the queue coughed. He looked panicked, “alright, later.” He left the store and you served the next person. After the rush died down and you and Michael were alone you could here him chuckling. “You're so into that nerdy kid who comes in here.” “We work in a comic book shop Mell; you're gonna have to be more specific.” But you can feel yourself turning pink. He mimics your posture, batting his eyes, “it's a really good one. The issue, I mean.” His is voice is really high and he suddenly snaps back to himself, “that's you. That's what you sounded like.” Your eyes are wide, “no I don't!” He leans against the bench, “you should ask him out.” You scoff, maybe a little too theatrically, “I don’t even know his name.” Michael shrugged, “so ask.” - You were stocking up Pop! Figures when you see the guy walk through the door. He browsed the ones you were stocking and you look over at him, “oh, hi.” You smile. He smiles back, “these are so lame.” He commented. You glance at him, “I know. I have some at home.” You laugh. There's alarm in his eyes, “oh- no I mean- like they're cool! Whatever.” He coughed and you shook your head, “oh I'm super aware how dumb they are, don't worry.” “You were right. The Rick and Morty issue was really good.” He wasn't looking at you, but he seemed really nervous, “I know right? It's airing on Netflix in a week and I'm so ready.” God he really is cute. Nerdy and a little awkward. Your eyes drift to Michael; who's holding up a piece of paper with the words “GET SOME.” Written in sharpie. You're whole face heads up and you look away. “You ok? You look like you saw a ghost.” Jared turns behind him and Michael slams the paper on the desk before he can read it, “no! That's just my face, that's my- that's what I look like.” You babble and he cocks an eyebrow, “OK.” “So- uh, are you looking for something?” You try to change the subject and he looks away, “no I- I'm just looking.” He stumbles. You finish stocking and nod, “OK, come get me if you need me.” You go to walk back to the counter to smack Michael for the sign. “JARED!” You turn, “what?” The guy was blushing, “I said Jared. That's my name, so I… So I said it.” He stumbles out his words and you nod, “I'm (Y/N).” When he leaves without buying anything you feel yourself grinning. When Michael gives you a quizzical look you shrug, “his names Jared.” He rolled his eyes, “just know I'm not covering shifts so you can fuck in the stock room.” - The third time you saw him he buying the second issue of Saga, but you weren't serving him. You were looking for an issue of Monstress for a parent. Michael was serving him. He took one look at Jared, “you want me to go get her/him?” “What? No. Who? What?” He stammered, leaning against the counter and instantly losing his balance, trying to steady himself. Michael chuckled, “Jesus you're perfect for each other.” “What?” “Nothing.” He shakes his head and scans the comic, “but like… Is (Y/N)… Seeing anyone? Like…” “Totally single. Completely single.” Michael cut Jared off and they watch you stock up shelves, Jared glanced at him, “and you're not…” Michael shook his head, “my boyfriend might have an issue with it, so no.” Jared nodded, “not that I'm interested.” He backed away grabbing his comic, “oh sure.” Michael nodded. Jared left, blushing and smiling a little. After stocking you move back to the counter as Michael leans against the counter, “why do you look so smug?” You ask. He shrugged, “your boyfriend was asking about you.” You spin to look at him, “what? No. Who? What?” He's grinning and you have no idea why, “asking if you were single.” You browse nonchalantly through the pokèmon cards, “what did you say?” “I told him we were dating.” “WHAT?” “I'm kidding! I told him you were totally completely single.” Your eyes widen, “really dude? I sound desperate.” You place your head in your hands, “yeah well, you are. He's nice and interested. Ask him out.” You bit your lip, “yeah. Yeah. I will.” - Jared walked into the shop, greeted by Michael shouting his name to obviously let you know he was there. You slammed into the manga section in a panic and heard Michael laugh in the distance. You walk up, adjusting yourself, “hey Jared.” He smiled at you and you tried to buck up the courage. Michael took it as his queue to grab his phone and go to the back of the store. You feel your phone buzz with an alert: Text from Michael: GET SOME!!! You close your phone and look up, “I uh- and this isn't like an obligation. I don't know. I was just wondering if you wanted to go for a coffee?” You're trying so hard to sound casual, and his eyes are wide. You can feel heat rising to your face and your brain goes into over drive. He looks worried, “I uh… I can't.” He whispered, leaving and shutting the door. You want to die. You want the ground to swallow you up. You want every villain in every comic to jump off the pages and beat the shit out of you because it would be less painful. Goddamn it. Goddamn it! You put your head in your hands. Michael looked out from behind the comic stand, “shit. I… Fuck I'm so sorry. I thought…” You lean against the desk, “no it's, it's fine. I thought so too.” You looked up, “like- shit. I really… Really thought he liked me… Am I stupid?” You ask, Michael shakes his head and squeezes your arm. - Three sulky days had passed as you were over-corrected by guys in duster jackets and yellow sunglasses. Michael had cheered you up as much as he could, but you couldn't help but feel cheated. “Hi.” You look up at who had addressed you to see Jared. He doesn't have anything in his hands and he's not making eye contact. You lean back in your heels, “hi.” There's a moment of silence and you watched him take in a deep breath, “look,” he started and you held up a hand to interrupt, “it's fine. Don't- don't speak. You don't have to make it awkward. I thought there was some sort of thing between us and I was wrong. It's ok, no hard…” You were cut off when he kissed you. Leaning over the counter to get closer. His lips were a little chapped but he smelt amazing. You pulled away, “I'm so confused.” He looked down, “I am a wreck. I can't communicate and I substitute actual emotional progress for sarcasm.” He rambled off, “the only reason I can even say this is because I've been standing outside that door for 40 minutes trying to psych myself up. Nobody hot ever really looks at me… Saying no was a panic move and… And I'm sorry.” “Oh.” He looked around, “sorry for kissing you.” You smile lightly, “it's ok… So, coffee?” You ask. He's turned pink, “even after that neurotic breakdown?” You nod, “no ones perfect. Plus I can't just go around kissing customers. I think you owe me a coffee now.” You smiled and he rested on his elbows, “cool. Good. Ok. Whatever. Sure.” You lean forward, “you're being neurotic again.” “Sorry.” “I won't tell anyone. I finish at 5 if you want?” You ask, he stands up straight, “yeah. 5 sounds good.” He walked directly into a stack of comics, adjusted his glasses and walked out. After a second Michael scooted next to you, “you like a boy.” You feel like your cheeks are on fire, “shut up.” You chuckle and he nudges you, “you kissed a boy too.” You hit his shoulder, “stop.” He starts laughing, “you want to fuck the b…” “MICHAEL.” - Bonus: Michael was right, you did end up in the stock room. Michael was scarred for life.

[crisontumblr]

Okay. Crisis averted.

I have never come so close to losing my shit on a Grownup Phone Call as I did earlier, but by God, I still managed to rein it in long enough to land this gently.

So most of you guys know I use portable oxygen tanks when I’m out and about. I get these things like six at a time; when I run out, I just call the supply company and they send out a technician with a fresh batch. It’s covered under Medicare, so I never pay a dime. Great.

Last week I called for refills and the girl I spoke to (whom we’ll call F) said they couldn’t send anyone out until I was seen by my physician1 (or, in this case, my pulmonary specialist) for a renewed evaluation and prescription. It was basically, “Make an appointment, call us back when you make one, and we’ll send them paperwork so they can get started.” This kind of thing is actually pretty routine...

...except the earliest appointment I could make is in about mid-May2. Not so great.

Still, I had one tank left on me3 and it’s not like I was planning to be out and about the town during April--I mostly use a continuous machine at home, and the house is small enough that I can manage without hooking up to the portable for most things--so I mean, I figured I could probably make it stretch.

And then somehow between the Highland Games on Saturday, Ghost in the Shell on Sunday, and walking Delta yesterday, I...used up all the oxygen in my last tank? Definitely not so great.

So I called the supply company, because I’d somehow forgotten to let them know I made the appointment anyway (because I’m not that great at Adulting), and spoke with S. I explained to her what F explained to me, and she put me on hold while pulling up my case. Then S gets back on the line.

“We’re unable to send a technician out with tanks because it says here that you own the (continuous oxygen) machine, and Medicare caps you after five years.”

*Hamilton voice* I’m sorry, what?

*Lucio voice* That’s not right.

You know that nervous laughter people sometimes have when they hear some shit that’s just so left field? I have never done that on a Grownup Phone Call before today. I was that rattled.

I explain to S (while trying to keep calm) that I’ve only had this current machine and receiving portable tanks through their supply company for three years. She brings up that the records say I’ve had a machine since 2010, which means service should have capped in 2015, even though I last got tanks in 2016. It’s my understanding that Medicare caps paying for stuff after five years, unless you’re reevaluated or some shit? I don’t know. The point is, something is fucked up somewhere, and I don’t know where--but I have to remind myself that this is not poor S’s fault. She is actually doing her best to help, I swear she was. She even offered to send some tanks, although I would have to pay out of pocket for them.

“How much are we talking?”

$189 and some change. For six tanks. I could practically feel her wincing as she said it. I literally checked my bank account to see if I could afford it. (I could have, but I mean...)

Then she brings up the name “Lincare” and mentally I lurch, because Lincare was a medical company I dealt with seven years ago concerning a much older, bigger, uglier oxygen machine. The last pulmonary specialist I saw before aging out of Tricare (aka, Military Health Insurance) prescribed it for me, and that was the last thing I thought I needed (because I was still in the thick of dealing with depression). I was able to get them to take it back, but I spent I can’t even remember how many months paying it off out of pocket because Medicare was like, “Well, it’s yours now, so...”

But it seems to me that somehow, somehow, somewhere in the paperwork they’re trying to say that the previous machine and this new machine are the same? Or part of the same like...replacement...situation? I don’t fucking know. All I’m sure of is that something somewhere is fucked, and I’m pretty sure S realized it too, because she puts me on hold to get her manager for help.

Then she takes me off hold and says, “Listen, I’m going to call you back. My manager is here and we’re going to look through your case to figure out what’s going on.”

I think it’s maybe twenty or thirty minutes before my phone goes of. It’s S. There is an exchange of pleasantries. Then--

“How many tanks do you need?”

"I, um, six?”

“And have you seen your physician in the last twelve months?”

“YES. I saw him in October!”

"What is his name?”

“Dr. Pulmonary Specialist over at the--”

“Oh, Dr. Specialist? Fantastic. I’m gonna go ahead and get in touch with him and see if we can get you started on this as soon as possible, and then I’ll have a technician bring you tanks on Thursday.”

I don’t have to pay a goddamn thing.

I get off the phone, feeling like any natural d20′s I might have rolled for the next several weeks’ worth of Pathfinder nights went towards achieving this result, and decide it’s totally worth it.

1. Actually, I have to call and schedule an appointment to get a NEW general physician because the one I’ve been seeing for years--who has been nothing short of AWESOME--is moving to Florida. Fuck.

2. I probably could have called my specialist directly, as he gave me his cell phone and assured me I could, to try and get an earlier appointment; but I feel weird about such things. I dunno. It would have been a perfectly valid excuse! And yet...

3. Thankfully, it seems I have an extra tank in the garage, left over from PAX South. In addition to always attending conventions on a full portable tank, I always take an extra just in case.

[shadowrx]

Kendra - Lv 00, Ch 02 by ShadowRx

Kendra - Chapter 02 - Helga Hammerfist rides again! (c) 2017 by Shadowriter (that's right, I wrote something this year!) ShadowRx.DeviantArt.com www.patreon.com/ShadowRx CONTENT WARNING: I don't need to give you content warnings, if you're in my gallery and bookshelf you have a pretty good idea what to expect. --- LEVEL: 00 --- Kendra was almost skipping as she hurried back down to the main building, through the double doors and into a fairly small side room off the cafeteria; there was no door, just an open arch separated the club room/lounge from the lunch area. Tim was already here helping Mark setup the table as she walked in. Chuck was about a minute behind her; "hey, d'you guys see Thrones last night?", he excitedly asked as he crossed the arch. "No TV", Kendra replied with a sarcastic smirk. "Of course", Mark said, "I'm recording the series". "Wasn't it so-", Chuck started. "Hey, NO SPOILERS!", Tim whined. "Hope you guys are ready to face the dragon without Alvius", Mark sneered, looking forward to putting the party through another lethal encounter unprepared. "Our cleric bailed?!", Chuck stammered, trying to figure out how they were going take down a blue without lightning resistance. "Where's Chris?", Kendra asked. "I told you, he sprained his ankle getting out of bed this morning. If you can't remember that, how do you expect to solve the *Riddle of the Dungeon*? Oh wait, that's right, you don't do puzzles, you just punch things.", Tim replied with a level of arrogance only Voxlorne the Almighty, Wizard Extraordinaire, Savior of the Five Kingdoms, Master of the Ring of... well, he wasn't sure yet, but you'd better believe it was damned cool; he almost died getting that ring from the Kobold's treasure room. "I punch Voxlorne in the throat... with an 18.", Kendra snapped sarcastically. "Voxlorne, you are having trouble breathing, you cannot speak or cast spells with a verbal component", Mark smirks, happy the PK-ing has started already. "What the hell, Ken, now we have no Wizard AND no Cleric!", Chuck says throwing his hands up in frustration. "Stay in character", the DM prods. Chuck clears his throat, then Sigmund the Stealthful succinctly asks of his teammate, "... what the fuck!?", then smiles with mock politeness. "Mark, ", Kendra begins out of character, "we're about to have no Thief too." "In game, please", Mark scolds. "Gladly", Helga smiles as she begins popping her knuckles. "Whoa, whoa; no-no-no-no-no. We're good. You're the leader, its your plan", Sigmund backpedals with his hands in front trying to talk her down, "its a good plan... now maybe we can sneak in without Vox announcing himself to the entire dungeon.". "Helga continues walking up to Sigmund, then when close enough she grapples", Kendra announced confidently smiling across the table. "Roll." "Base 12, but with +14 Athletics that's a 26", Kendra decrees in her best dwarven accent. "Ha! 17... lets see, with +8 Acrobatics... aw dammit", Chuck says as his smile evaporates into despair. "You have Sigmund, what do you do with him?", the DM queries. "I put my arm around his neck and say, 'see, its like I said, all your problems can go away with one well placed punch', then I give him a playful nuggie and let him go.", Kendra says playfully. She wasn't actually going to hurt him, but it was fun to tease him for a moment. "That's why you're the boss", Sig says with a weak smile, just praying he lives through this adventure. "It's been long enough, you can speak again Voxlorne", Mark states. Tim looks as though he's going to lay into her, then swallows as he sees Helga working out the kinks in her knuckles again, "I'm good." A moment later he pulls out a piece of paper and begins scribbling a note, then pauses a moment before handing it toward the DM. Kendra's eyes narrowed, "you'd better hope I don't make the save." 'How did she know I was going to cast polymorph', Tim thought as he pulled his hand back and crumpled the page. "You hear a rumble in the distance, it seems all of your fighting has awoken the dragon...", Mark states, trying to get the game moving again. All three players roll their eyes, knowing full well they hadn't made that much noise. "So, Boss, how's punching going to take down a dragon", Sigmund asks, hoping she has a plan. "Well, that depends...", Kendra pauses, tapping her finger quickly on the table before turning to the DM and asking, "is it a boy dragon?" Her comrades wince at the thought while Mark stares horrified then shakes his head, "you wouldn't..." Kendra just grins then winks, "how many dungeons do you know that come equipped with a speed bag." "Actually", Tim corrects, adjusting his glasses, "as its a member of the lizard family, it wouldn't have any external genitalia." "Roll initiative", Mark said. "16", Helga states. "11 for Sigmund" , Chuck added. "Voxlorne the Almighty, Hero of the Land, Beloved by-", Tim started "Just out with it", Mark admonished. Clearing his throat Tim continued, "Beloved by Tavern Wenches Everywhere, Friend to Man and Beast..." The table groaned as he went on. "Rolled...", he boldly continued as he dramatically tossed the d20 across the board. "...a one.", he meekly concluded, all his bravado gone. Chuck couldn't help but laugh, "Karma, dude, shouldn't have overplayed it". "The dragon got a 15, Kendra, you go first", the Dungeon Master finished. "Who's Kendra?", Tim and Chuck said in unison, smirking. "Oh gawd dammit, you know what I meant. Helga, what do you do?", mark snipped. "I throw a schite covered dart at the dragon... 22. 'Hey, *dragon*, here's schite in yer eye! Ha ha.", Helga boasts. "Why would anybody-", Tim starts, then gives up. "Dude, she's a dwarf.", Chuck explains. Tim and Mark shrug accepting the explanation. "The dragon charges toward you and attacks", Mark retorts. "You guys should run.", Helga nods to her comrades. "It bites you for 17 piercing damage. Roll a strength save.", the DM grins. "18. If its trying to hold me in its mouth, that's a grapple, I should be allowed to contest it with athletics, right?", Kendra smirks. "Yeah, go ahead.", Mark concedes. "28 then." "Okay, you're out. Sig?" "I'm going to listen to Ken- er, Helga. She's right, the dragon is pissed, it might be best if I got some distance and took cover.", Chuck replied. "Okay, and after everybody else on Earth went, its finally Vox's turn.", Mark chuckles. "Voxlorne the Almighty, Blessed Bearer of the Forbidden Fruit, Examiner of the Lost Chalice, Inventor of-" "So you spend your whole turn crying your titles to the dragon?" "Talking is a free action", Tim objects. "Not the way you do it", Kendra replied, to which Mark and Chuck nodded in agreement. "Okay fine, 'nice knowing you guys', I cast Lesser Invisibility and sneak out.", Tim retorts. Kendra tries to signal Chuck with her eyes to do the same. It takes him a moment to catch on, but then he confirmed with a single nod. Mark was busy looking at his monster manual, thus didn't notice the scheme going into effect. "Helga, your turn." "I punch it. 19." "You hit... barely." Kendra smiled, "I spend a Ki point to stun it for a turn." Tim and Chuck shared a knowing smile as the DM said, "Fine. Its your turn again.", his irritation clear. "I spend a Ki point for Flurry of Blows and go to town on the support column. Oh, and I do DOUBLE damage to inanimate objects." "Motherf-", Mark catches himself. "Hey DM... 'Rocks fall... your fucking dragon dies'", Kendra high fives across the table to the others as they clear the campaign. "Oh yeah, and for my movement, I get the hell out of there before the whole place comes down." . . . "P'pa, I'm home!", Kendra shouted as she came through the door. "Oh, Kendra, we have a guest", her father announces coming out of the kitchen. Smiling, he hugs his daughter then guides her toward the table. "I'd like you to meet-", he stopped short as he saw the old the woman sitting at the table, looking nothing like the beauty he was just speaking to. 'What the fuck', he mouthed silently to her, making sure Kendra didn't see his reaction before he went back to smiling. "Mrs. Gatsbrinkle", the woman says, extending her hand and standing up. "Ah- from across the street... you remember her, don't you?", Samile tried to recover his composure and reassure his daughter he hasn't lost his mind. "Dad, how could I remember someone you're introducing to me for the first time?", Kendra questioned, a very puzzled and serious look on her face, as though to ask if he were alright. "I thought maybe you'd- seen her... while you were out walking." "Sami", the old woman started, a little too familiar as she put her hand on his shoulder and gave him what Kendra worried was lustful gaze, " *always* a pleasure. Don't forget to do that thing you promised." "Yes of course, it must have slipped my mind", he replied nervously as he covered it up with another swig of coffee. 'He was nervous, but he didn't recoil', Kendra pondered then blurted out, "Oh my God, are you guys *sleeping* together?!" Coffee went EVERYWHERE as Sami cough-sneezed the brown liquid onto the floor and cabinets. "Not in some time, dear. Its good to see you again though.", she says as she lightly pinches Kendra's cheek, then walks out the door. "I'll be in my room", Kendra says, completely creeped out. Samile tries to chase Mrs. Gats- out the door, but by the time he got there she had vanished. "That wasn't funny", he admonished the heavens. "Yes it was", he heard whispered in his left ear, which was then licked by an unseen force; followed by laughter then silence. "Are you trying to make me look crazy!?", he shouted loud enough to make his neighbors nervous. "Imagine what I could do if you don't give my daughter her birthright", she breathed into his other ear, before taping him playfully on the nose. He could see her now... well, sort of; she was nearly transparent like glass, except for how light refracted around the edges. She moved in sensually for a kiss, but instead bit his lower lip, none too gently, but careful enough not to cause injury. She then tugged back and held it there dominantly for several uncomfortable seconds before kissing him and adding, "be a good boy and I'll come visit you later." . . . Kendra stared into her computer, mortified, googling the phrase 'mid life crisis'. A few minutes later there was knock at her door. "Kendra, sweetheart, I know that was a little weird. Please come out and talk to me." "Did miss cat-sprinkle leave?", she retorted with an edge of sarcasm that she immediately regretted. Her father had always been there for her, he did not deserve this cruelty... whatever it was he was going through, she should try to be supportive. Of course, that nagging feeling of responsibility didn't make the whole thing any less cringeworthy. "Yes. Fine. Enter.", she said trying not to sound upset. He opened her bedroom door and they stared in awkward silence for almost two minutes, neither knowing what to say to the other. Sami was the first to recover, "let's go out to eat." "Why?", she replied, still a bit worried that her father wasn't playing with a full set of dice. "Its your birthday... I know that was... disturbing, but forget about that for a moment- let's go out for a curry." "Curry?", still her tone sounded unsure. "Papa, you hate curry." "I don't hate it... I just don't love it as much as my father did. I haven't had one since you were a bachcha", he said with his hands about a foot apart signaling what she assumed to mean baby. Kendra glanced back at her search for just a second catching the phrase, 'reversion to native tongue'. That seemed to confirm it, poor P'pa, "Okay, fine." Then a little more confidently, "I would love to go out with my father and learn something about my heritage." (A statement more true than she could possibly know.) . . . "What would you like, something spicy? Ever had a Vindaloo?", Samile says looking excitedly at the menu. "This doesn't seem right, father", Kendra said looking through the menu options, "why would they serve beef in an Indian restaurant? Isn't that a sin?" "Not everyone believes the same, honey. But yes, the dish was originally supposed to be served with pork; though the Goan chefs that made the dish didn't share the Hindi objection to harming greater lifeforms, they were perfectly willing to use beef if someone asked them to. Its what the British liked best about them. Anyway, it actually started as the Portuguese dish carne de vinha." "Interesting, But the menu doesn't even mention pork.", Kendra said, taking it all in. "Not surprising, most Indian restaurants are actually the British bastardization of the cuisine. For some reason, they don't like pork in their curry, but that's why its offered with lamb and mutton. I bet we could get them to make it the traditional way if we asked though." "Since we're trying something new, why don't we have it made with a mix, a little bit of each, that way we'll know which is our favorite next time", Kendra suggested; the phrase 'next time' made her father smile, perhaps he had not completely ruined this day after all. "Its your birthday, I'm sure we could arrange that if we tell them.", as he's speaking he secretly nods to the waiter hiding as a patron at the table behind her. "No, P'pa, what if they sing?", she whined a little embarrassed by the thought of all the extra attention. "Sing? Nonsense. If anything they'll make a full on dance of it", he teased. "Papa", she sighed, completely mortified. "Honestly, darling, you make it too easy sometimes. Do you really think there's a Bollywood flash mob sitting in this restaurant waiting for me to snap my fingers?", his statement wasn't very convincing... perhaps because he stared too long trying to judge her reaction. "You didn't!", she denied. "I might have", he said with a smirk, then snapped his fingers to signal the mob. "Oh my god", was all Kendra could say as most of the people in the restaurant joined in the craziest choreography she'd ever seen in person, all of them moving wildly but in perfect sync. Even her father got up and started dancing... though he was a little out of step with the professionals. The dance lasted for several minutes, then abruptly ended as their food arrived. "You rented out the whole restaurant?", Kendra asked exasperated. "Not the whole restaurant", he shrugged. "We can't afford this, Papa", she gently admonished. "The way you've been eating, sweetheart, I think we can this once", he smiled, proud that he was able to do this for his daughter. . . . The food was amazing, so many flavors she had never tasted before... or perhaps she had, but never in these combinations; she couldn't tell anymore, the line between familiar and new was completely erased by the chef's masterful work. Perhaps most surprising, to her, was that the spice didn't bother her. Come to think of it, she's never really tried spicy food, but she's seen how other people freak out about it and now she can't understand why they would make such a fuss over it; the warmth was actually pleasant, almost sensual. For the first time in years she finished her plate; though now she was thinking about it, she was sure she'd regret it in the morning. Her father almost commented about how pleased he was to see her actually eat something, but quickly thought better of it remembering how touchy the subject was; best to save that minefield for another day. "Honey", he said to get her to look up from the empty plate she'd been staring at for the past few minutes, "I have one more surprise for you." Sami pulled a small wrapped present from his jacket pocket and handed it to her; it was maybe three inches across by an inch high. "What is this?", she asked not surprised by the gift as much as the size of the package, what could be in such a small box? If the dimensions were an indication, it was likely expensive, "Papa, you shouldn't have spent so much on me. I'm just happy being able to spend some time with you." "Well, if you don't want it", he teased, "I'm sure I would look fabulous wearing it." Too late, curiosity already had its hold, she had to at least know what it was, "now let's not be hasty, I didn't say that, I just wish you didn't have to work so hard to provide for us. I miss you, papa." "I know, but the house is almost paid off, two or three more years then I can cut back to just one job." "I love you, papa", she said giving him a hug before opening the gift. Followed shortly by, "oh my God. P'pa, this cost more than your car!" "What can I say, its a cheap car", he deflected. "You know what I mean, its too much", she felt very self-conscious about accepting something that may have cost him another year before retirement. "Don't make such a fuss, it didn't cost as much as you think...", he said leaning in at the end to add, "I found it outside the warehouse." He couldn't tell her where it really came from, not yet anyway. "I don't know what to say... thank you, papa" "Say you'll wear it", he suggested, at least partly out of self-preservation. It was the most gaudy looking gold medallion, intricately etched with amazingly complex patterns, as though the whole surface were a labyrinth without beginning or end. Or, maybe, a circuit of some kind, she sat there studying it for several minutes before her father asked if she were ready to go home. He had to repeat himself... twice, as she was completely engrossed in the puzzling necklace. . . . It was late by the time they got home, her father had to get ready to work graveyard. He kissed her goodnight and said he would see her tomorrow night when he got back from the store. Kendra held and stared at the medallion for hours without realizing it. She could swear that as she ran her finger over it there was a little glow in the pathways. She looked up to see that it was almost 3AM, she had less than four hours to sleep before school tomorrow. Cursing the time, she set the talisman on her dresser and went to bed. . . . Her dreams that night were extremely vivid, but also chaotic. It felt like she had barely closed her eyes when the alarm went off. < BACK: CHAPTER 01 | NEXT: CHAPTER 03 >

[royalblurryfacedbastard]

Today was p okay-ish. I didn’t sleep last night so it was sorta hard for me mentally and also kinda physically. I’m obviously not feeling very well after a night of staying awake.

Coding class went p okay, we didn’t get much done as usual but I talked a lot w JJ and AS and also EL. We made a mascot for the game we’re gonna make and he’s just a Russian meerkat. Named Konstantin. Beautiful stuff.

Anyway, I gave Z a hug before English class and I actually wrote some things on my literature assignment during the class. I got kinda super tired after a while though and bleh. I sat w my face resting on my hand and was half-asleep for like 20 minutes before we got to go to lunch.

I was lucky enough to actually run into our social studies teacher right as English class ended and I talked to him and told him I was gonna go home early and not attend his class. He told me I’ll catch up (it was more in a way that meant I won’t fall behind for going home tho) and that really eased my anxiety about going home. Ever since I got my ADD diagnosis I’ve been near panicky anxious about missing out on school and classes and all that so it’s always been hard for me to actually go home when I’m feeling unwell. I didn’t feel that unwell today though but my anxiety got rly fucking bad when I realized I’d get home at 5:30 if I went to social studies. So that’s the reason I left. I think another reason it’s hard for me to stay home or leave school early is bc I’m seriously terrified of falling back into my old habits (as in never going to school and fall behind and all that, the way I was before my diagnosis and before I got help) and the way my brain works is if I stay home a day or two I’m back in my old habits. Even if I go to school after staying home. Even if it’s just one day my anxiety goes thru the roof bc in the back of my mind im thinking “I’ve failed, I’ve fallen back, I’ve relapsed”. Even if that’s not at all what’s happening. That’s how terrified I am of ‘relapsing’.

On a more positive note, I know the rules for the older Swedish D&D games pretty well now after my not-sleeping last night. That’s gonna be useful tomorrow since we’re most likely gonna continue the adventure we started yesterday then.

And I looked through some Pathfinder rulebook w AS today during coding class and we argued a bit about which race is the best and then we both got fuckin Amazed at these other races that you don’t see in D&D for example. The art was really amazing and both he and I thought this one character w antlers was super cool.

I’m also gonna order a D&D starter set and probably a Pathfinder starter set too tomorrow which I’m p excited about. I mean, I don’t mind reading rulebooks and whatnot online and finding adventures online to play w my friends, but I’m really hyped up about getting physical books w adventures and rules and all that fun stuff. And more dice ofc. I love dice. I got a lil starter kit w dice from dad’s friend yesterday and I love em. They’re cool and purple and smooth (the d20s I bought the other day are much more harsh in texture and although they have fuckin nice-ass colors they don’t roll very well) but I’m also super excited about getting More of Them. Pls don’t judge me rn okay I’m rly excited about my new interest. Even tho I’m having a rough time understanding some of the rules I’ve read about. I’ll learn tho. And then I’ll be thE GREATEST DM EVER. Or at least a decent one.

But yeah I went home. Took the 1 pm bus home. Waited in the town an hour from my hometown bc I promised ES to ride the bus w her and when I changed my mind bc I’m tired she got kinda mad and I felt bad so I waited. For an hour. Yes. I shouldn’t have promised to begin with bc I always regret stuff and change my mind back and forth and blah blah blah. But oh well.

It wasn’t that bad tbh, I mean I got to hang out w ES after all. What was bad tho was that my fuckin card stopped working so I couldn’t ride the bus, but luckily ES payed my ticket and all was well.

I’m home now and I’m p exhausted so I’m just gonna eat, watch some vids and then sleep.

[little-john1994]

1-85

1. Are looks important in a relationship?I would say looks are kinda important2. Are relationships ever worth it?Each relationship is a learning experience so yes, I'd say each relationship is worth something3. Are you a virgin?Hahahahahahahahaha.... nope!4. Are you in a relationship?Not anymore..5. Are you in love?Nope6. Are you single this year?Seems like it at the moment7. Can you commit to one person?Oh yeah I can!8. Describe your crushIn all honesty, I don't really have a crush on anyone at the moment surprisingly9. Describe your perfect mateSomeone who's nerdy and likes video games like me... wait, are we talking "mate" as in friend? Or "mate" as in partner?10. Do you believe in love at first sight?Sometimes I do.. it's rare I guess11. Do you ever want to get married?At some point maybe12. Do you forgive betrayal?Depends on the severity13. Do you get jealous easily?Sometimes I can bed14. Do you have a crush on anyone?Not really honestly15. Do you have any piercings?Nope16. Do you have any tattoos?Not yet!!!17. Do you like kissing in public?Full on, crazy make out sessions, no.Quick kisses on the cheek, forehead, lips, sure it's adorable!20. Do you shower every day?Yup!21. Do you think someone has feelings for you?Um maybe? If you do have feelings for me, let me know!!22. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?Probs not... maybe? 23. Do you think you can last in a relationship for 6 months and not cheat?Oh yeah!24. Do you think you’ll be married in 5 years?No clue honestly25. Do you want to be in a relationship this year?Kind of... I'm not really actively looking at the moment26. Has anyone told you they don’t want to ever lose you?Yup27. Has someone ever written a song or poem for you?Nope28. Have you ever been cheated on?Nope29. Have you ever cheated on someone?Nope30. Have you ever considered plastic surgery? If so, what would you change about your body?Not really but maybe my stomach(?) or my arms (got quite a few scars).31. Have you ever cried over a guy/girl?Yup32. Have you ever experienced unrequited love?Probably...?33. Have you ever had sex with a man?Orally, yes34. Have you ever had sex with a woman?Yup!35. Have you ever kissed someone older than you?Yup36. Have you ever liked one of your best friends?Oh yeah.. it didn't go anywhere though37. Have you ever liked someone who your friends hated?Ummm can't say I have yet38. Have you ever liked someone you didn’t expect to?Yeah, that's happened before39. Have you ever wanted someone you couldn’t have?Yeah, but hasn't everyone had this happened 40. Have you ever written a song or poem for someone?Nope.. my writing sucks41. Have you had sex so far this year?I wish!42. How long can you just kiss until your hands start to wander?Not that long 😉43. How long was your longest relationship?2-3 years44. How many boyfriends/girlfriends have you had?3 girlfriends45. How many people did you kiss in 2012/2013?No one unfortunately 46. How many times did you have sex last year?A few times here and there during the summer47. How old are you?23 years old48. If the person you like says they like someone else, what would you say?Good luck with your crush!!49. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, what is your favorite thing about him/her?N/A50. If your first true love knocked on your door with apology and presents, would you accept?Probs not...51. Is there a boy/girl who you would do absolutely everything for?Definitely!52. Is there anyone you’ve given up on? Why?Yeah I guess.. and various reasons53. Is there someone mad because you’re dating/talking to the person you are?Nooo?54. Is there someone you will never forget?Oh yeah55. Share a relationship story.Yeah girl I was dating during the school year took me ice skating and I was terrible at it haha!56. State 8 facts about your bodyI have blue eyes, I had knee surgery little over a year ago, I got long, blond hair, I look and sound a lot like my dad (counting that as two), I have a lot of scars from my childhood, I can grow a decent beard, I have a high pain tolerance 57. Things you want to say to an exHmmmm.. "fuck you, blood is not thicker than water. That is a bastardization of the full quote. Family is people you hold near and dear to you... and that doesn't have to be blood relatives"58. What are five ways to win your heart?Being nerdy and kind, like video games, artsy, like cooking, and last but not least: being able to deal with me :P59. What do you look like? (Post a picture!)Will do after posting this!60. What is the biggest age difference between you and any of your partners?Hmm probs 2-3 year difference (she was older)61. What is the first thing you notice in someone?Their kindness... generally I can see it in their eyes and how they treat others or just how it flows from them like a positive vibe62. What is the sexiest thing someone could ever do for/to you?Well.. how about you come off anon and I'll let you know 😉63. What is your definition of “having sex”?Two (or more.. depends on what you're into) CONSENTING people trying to/attempting/causing one/each other to orgasm.64. What is your definition of cheating?I mean pretty obvious.. if you are in a current relationship with someone but yet are seeing other people on the side without your partner's knowledge65. What is your favourite foreplay routine?Rolling that sweet D20 in DnD66. What is your favourite roleplay?In all honesty, I generally don't get into roleplay that much.. sorry67. What is your idea of the perfect date?Oooo.. tough. Either a nice dinner out and then out for a movie OR home cooked dinner and just chill at home68. What is your sexual orientation?Bisexual69. What turns you off?Well at the moment: White supremacists and nazis...70. What turns you on?People punching white supremacists and nazis71. What was your kinkiest wet dream?I was working at camp and a few counselors were swimming with no clothes on and told me to join. I jumped in the lake and got all wet 😋72. What words do you like to hear during sex?I dunno.. it's hard to hear with my head between someone's legs73. What’s something sweet you’d like someone to do for you?Pay off my entire student debt please!!!!!74. What’s the most superficial characteristic you look for?Hmmm... gotta be able to handle dark, twisted humor75. What’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for you?A friend of mine is buying me a gaming laptop when she has the money76. What’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for someone?Oh jeez... I dunno... I do a lot of sweet things just because it's who I am77. What’s your opinion on age differences in relationships?A few years isn't bad but when it's like an 18 year old and a 30+ year old, I find creepy78. What’s your dirtiest secret?Well today while working my pants split three times in the crotch... oh i did clean out a vacuum cleaner as well! That got pretty dirty!79. When was the last time you felt jealous? Why?I dunno a while ago? And probs because I saw pics of friends traveling and I'm stuck working80. When was the last time you told someone you loved them?A long time ago (not including parents)81. Who are five people you find attractive?Jason Momoa, a girl who works at a business I do cleaning for, one of the DJs at Pride's Glow Party this past Friday night (I was drunk so I don't remember a name.. just that he also could sing... mmm!), Ashe Maree, Idris Elba82. Who is the last person you hugged?My parents count?83. Who was your first kiss with?My high school ex84. Why did your last relationship fail?I guess short and sweet version is that personalities didn't work?85. Would you ever date someone off of the Internet?Are you asking cuz you're curious or offering anon?If I got to know the person well enough and they would be interested in making it work as well, then I'd give it a shot!