#and dnd is the perfect nerdy game for them !!!!

[enchantedbreez]

HEAR ME OUT: the prudes gang play DnD.

Richie DMs. Pete DMed for them before but Richie wanted to try his hand at a campaign- its every anime or fantasy world and story hes every seen combined into one and its SO FUN.

Pete plays a Half Elven Wizard (Divination), Ruth plays a Theifling Bard (Glamour), and then they befriend Steph she joins as a Human Rogue (Soulknife). Richie makes his own mini-s and battlemaps and stuff.

Bonus for if Grace or Max ever join they play a Aasimar Cleric (Life) and a Goliath Barbarian (Beserker) respectively

[hairmetal666]

Never in a million years did Steve Harrington think he'd be standing in the drama club room in front of Eddie the Freak--who's sitting on a goddamn throne with his full lips pulled into a smug grin--asking to be taught how to play Dorks and Goblins. Yet, here he is, face a burning shade of crimson, as he explains for the sixth time what, exactly, he needs.

"Munson, it's not that hard. Henderson wants me to play in the--the game thingy they're doing when Will is home for a visit."

"Yeah, Harrington, and I stop listening every time you call it a game thingy. You obviously don't care about this at all, so why should I waste my time helping you?"

Steve rolls his eyes. "What if I pay you?"

Munson's face goes through a complicated series of changes before falling into a neutral mask, no smirk or teasing smile to be found. "You'll pay me to teach you dnd? Are you fucking kidding?"

"No?' Steve draws a hand through his hair, watches as Munson's dark eyes track the movement. "I thought you might help me out cause those kids never shut-up about you, but I'm willing to put money on it."

"Huh," Eddie says. He steeples his fingers under his chin. "Maybe I misjudged you, Harrington."

Steve lets himself smile at this. "I don't think you did. I don't give a shit about this game."

"Didn't take you for one to have a bunch of nerdy child friends."

"I'm their babysitter," he says, realizes immediately it was a mistake.

Eddie cackles until it turns into a full-bodied laugh, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. "You are something else, Harrington," he manages.

For his part, Steve hopes Munson hasn't noticed how bright red his face is. "Does that mean you'll help me?"

"I guess," he rolls his eyes. "But if you're just screwing around, I'm out."

"No, yeah, totally," Steve nods too hard, sends his hair cascading into his face. "Sounds good. How much?"

"Huh?" Eddie tilts his face up, giving Steve a perfect view of the smattering of faint freckles across the bridge of his nose.

"I said I'd pay you. What's the going rate for dnd lessons?"

"Oh, nah, free of charge, Harrington. Henderson would eat me alive if he knew I made you pay."

The smile they share is soft, tentative, and Steve doesn't notice the swathes of pink decorating Eddie's pale cheekbones.

---

They meet up in the drama room after the last bell. Eddie is waiting on the throne with his feet propped on the table, sipping a Mt. Dew. His eyes widen when Steve walks into the room.

"You're on time," he says.

Steve scoffs. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Eddie shrugs, sets his feet on the floor. "Just wasn't aware that the King put a lot of stock in punctuality."

"C'mon, man, I'm trying not to be that guy, and I'm definitely not king of anything. Unless maybe it's Family Video, but even then, that's Robin."

"You're kind of weird, Harrington, you know that?" Eddie's dimples bracket his smile. The sight does weird things in Steve's chest.

"I've been told, yeah." Steve smiles back. "Where do we start?"

They start with dice, with a character sheet.

"Chaotic-good human Paladin?" Eddie asks.

He shrugs. "That's what Dustin keeps screaming at me. I got no idea what any of it means."

"That's not entirely true," Eddie says. "You've kept up with me so far."

"Yeah, that's you. Dustin rambles and then accuses me of not listening when it's over my head. When he goes on long enough, I start to get a headache right here," Steve rubs the spot between his eyes.

"That kid," Eddie says with the right combination of affection and frustration. "I don't know, you seem to have picked up on some of the stuff he said. You have a solid idea on gameplay, at least. I'd say you're doing pretty good."

"Thanks," Steve laughs. "No migraine yet, so that's a point in your favor."

"Migraines?"

"Head trauma."

"Byers?"

"And Hargrove."

"That was Hargrove?" Eddie asks.

"Hit me in the head with a plate."

"What the fuck."

"He was pissed that Max was friends with Lucas. He came after them. I couldn't just let him--I think he would've killed Lucas."

Eddie nods, hands fiddling with a die. "No wonder those kids love you," he says.

"We've been through some shit together."

"Guess it makes more sense why you wanted to learn dnd."

"As much as it pains me to admit," Steve rolls his eyes. "I love to make those little shitheads happy."

"Well, based on the way they talk about you, you succeed."

"You too, you know?" Steve offers. "All I've heard about the last three months is 'Eddie's so cool,' 'Hellfire's so fun.'"

"Jealous?" Eddie laughs.

"Completely," Steve admits.

"Don't worry, Harrington, I'll make a nerd out of you yet."

---

They meetup after school every day they can over the next two weeks. At first, Steve is surprised that he doesn't really mind spending so much time with Munson, that he actually, kind of, has fun. And the more time they spend together, the more Eddie infiltrates his space. Leans into Steve's side as they sit next to each other, brushes their hands together, hovers over his shoulder, faces nearly touching, as he checks stuff on Steve's character sheet.

It makes Steve feel--well, it makes him think of what it would be like to run his fingers through the soft gloss of Eddie's curls; wonders what that plump mouth would be like pressed against his own; can't stop thinking about if Eddie is as vocal in bed as he is everywhere else. He knows he also likes guys, has for a while, but he's never in his life wanted someone this viscerally; so much he can feel the ache of it in his teeth.

It's the last day before the campaign for Will, and Steve is fucking sad. He thinks maybe Eddie is too. He's at least quieter than normal, explanations not at their usual fever pitch. An hour before they usually call it quits, he claps his hands together (too gently, too unlike himself), says, "That's it, Harrington. You're not going to be more ready than this."

"Right," Steve says. Can't help his eyes from darting over Eddie's face, aching to know what he's thinking. "You'll be there tomorrow?"

Eddie bends his head over his notebooks. "Nah, I don't need to intrude."

"But--"

"It's okay, Stevie. I get that it's family only." He looks like he really means it, but his eyes are sad, don't shine like they should.

Steve doesn't know what to say to that, just nods, and then there's nothing else. They stare at each other for a few very long, quiet seconds, before Eddie says, "I'll see you around, Harrington."

"Right, yeah. You too." And he walks out of the drama room with the heaviest heart he thinks he's ever had.

---

Steve thinks he won't miss Eddie. That if he doesn't dwell on those hours spent with Eddie, learning dnd, that the missing will go away.

It doesn't.

Which is how he finds himself back at the high school on Wednesday, standing in front of the drama room door, willing himself to go inside. Eddie's on the throne, the typical notebooks and binders and Mt. Dew cans clustered around him, but he's not engrossed in imagining up a new campaign for Hellfire. No, his head is in his hands, knees drawn up to his chest.

"Eddie?" Steve asks.

His head pops up, and even in the low light, Steve notices the silvery tracks of tears down his cheeks.

"Steve! What are you--" he hastily wipes at his face with his shirt sleeve. "What are you doing here?"

Steve's acting only on instinct, crossing the room and dropping to his knees, taking Eddie's jaw between his palms, thumbing away the wetness on his cheeks.

"Did someone hurt you?" he asks.

Eddie's laugh is wet. "Nah, Harrington. I only have myself to blame for this one."

"Can I do anything?"

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry?"

"You, Steve Harrington, kind and compassionate? Learn dnd to make your little nerd friends happy? Who are you?"

"I'm just me, man," Steve blushes. "But, uh, I came to thank you." He's still holding Eddie's face in his hands, can't help but notice the way he flushes, how his dark eyes dart away from Steve's.

"I really liked hanging out with you," Steve says. This close to Eddie, his mind doesn't quite feel like his own. All he can think of is big eyes, soft curls, full lips.

"Yo--you did?"

"So much," Steve whispers. He doesn't quite remember moving, but now their foreheads are pressed together, warm breath mingling, lips almost, almost touching.

"I liked it too," Eddie breathes. After a few seconds, he laughs. "Knew I'd make a nerd out of you, Harrington."

"Shut-up," Steve laughs.

"Make me," Eddie says, and it's just that easy. Steve crosses the space still separating them, presses his mouth against Eddie's.

The kiss is slow, exploratory, the gentle discovery of how they fit together, the promise of all the things they can do in the future, all the pleasure they can bring.

"I'm not a nerd," Steve says when they part.

"No, you're right. You're like a nerd by marriage. Nerd-in-law," Eddie giggles. His eyes are bright, face pink, the most beautiful thing Steve has ever seen.

"Shut-up," Steve giggles right back.

Eddie raises an eyebrow, the dare obvious, and Steve doesn't hesitate to kiss him again.

"You wanna get out of here?" Steve asks when they part, significantly more breathless, jeans significantly tighter, than when he arrived.

"You're gonna have to role persuasion for that, Stevie," Eddie smirks.

[theshippirate22]

listen st4 ROBBED us of so so so much, but really I think the the biggest travesty is the fact that we never got platonic Harringham. Like, of course, platonic Stobin is so perfect in every way- i worship it really- and i don’t mean to minimize that AT ALL but like.

Steve and Chrissy absolutely LOSING THEIR SHIT at a football game.

Steve and Chrissy having a crush on the same baseball player and arguing over which pants his ass looks better in.

Steve and Chrissy giving each other the same ??? look when Robin or Eddie say something nerdy.

Steve and Chrissy going to the gym together and losing track of whose basketball shorts are whose.

Steve and Chrissy bonding over the fact that their mothers hate them.

Steve teaching Chrissy to cook and slowly helping her get over her eating disorder.

Steve and Chrissy sharing tips for sore muscles and collapsing on the couch together with bags of frozen peas and corn after going a little too hard.

Steve and Chrissy going for runs at dawn together and getting back long before Robin or Eddie would ever dream of being awake.

Steve and Chrissy throwing the biggest super bowl party ever and screaming and grabbing each other’s arms every time there’s a touchdown.

Steve, who’s been having migraines since his first concussion, helping Chrissy out, who’s started getting headaches since Vecna fucked with her head.

Chrissy offering to drive Lucas to and from basketball because she’s going to the school for cheer anyway, and it’s one less thing he has to worry about.

Steve and Chrissy sitting in on a DnD game, getting bored a few hours in and going out to the driveway to play Horse (Chrissy has never won- she wants the challenge so she never lets Steve go easy on her and he respects her enough not to)

Steve and Chrissy side-eyeing each other when someone has the AUDACITY to say they like the Colts, knowing full well that they’re going to have to dish on the person the second they get in the car (They know the Colts are Indiana’s team. The Steelers are just… better.)

Steve protecting Chrissy from creepy ex-boyfriends who just want to take advantage of her, and Chrissy protecting Steve from creepy ex-girlfriends who just want to take advantage of him.

Chrissy convincing Steve to get back into swim, and him agreeing as long as she gets back into dance.

Chrissy wearing her whole cheer uniform to his meets and sitting on the edge of the bleachers every time he’s in the pool, palms sweating as he flies through the water- Robin and Eddie went to go get McDonald’s an hour ago- eyes darting from his silhouette to the clock and back again, muttering under her breathe, “Come on, Steve, come on!”

Chrissy screaming when he wins, running to the edge of the pool to grab him, even though he’s soaking wet and she spent so long on her hair and “Holy shit, you did amazing!”

Steve making his own sort of cheer uniform to wear to her competitions, always driving her to them so he can hype her up in the car on the way. Calling “You’re a god, you can crush ‘em with your thighs!” as they split up so she can go to the dressing rooms backstage.

Steve leaping to his feet in the audience to clap the second she’s finished, whether it’s a team dance or a solo, or a duo-She’s the only one worth watching- whistling and cheering for her so loud, it would be a phenomenon if she didn’t hear him.

idk

just let Steve have another bisexual jock bestie who won’t make fun of his interests. Who knows how much he wants this, who knows how hard it is.

idk.

[bookishjules]

I can only imagine how sizzy will be like as parents any thoughts on that?

so, so many thoughts.

i am so adamant that simon and isabelle would be some of the best parents. the way they both show their love in their actions, and how together they'd have the protective and self-sacrificing nature of parenting down pat.. the way they have experience with kids from years of babysitting their nephews, and for izzy.. from being there as max grew up.. the way they would both harbor just enough trepidation when approaching parenthood that it would make them just that much better at being parents, if that makes sense..

the way i see it, izzy didn't have the best examples for parents. they love(d) her, yes. but they also weren't all that good at being the adults, and their problems always seemed to come before those of their children. she took on the strength of her parents, but i think as much as izzy had to learn that romantic love isn't necessarily a weakness, she'd have to do similarly with parenthood. because god this child in her arms could break down every brick of the fortress she's built around herself. there's just such an innate and all-consuming love there. and it will obviously scare her, but by the time she and simon have kids, she's learned that there is strength in giving your entire heart up, too. she's learned that the barriers her parents may have put around their love are exactly what she doesn't want to pass on, even though it scares her.

meanwhile, simon.. simon knows exactly what it feels like for unconditional love to be tested and come up wanting. and i believe he will fight tooth and nail to never have his kids feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable at home. i do think that simon would have a decent amount of doubt during izzy's first pregnancy and the early months of that child's life, though, due to the early loss of his own dad. on the one hand, you have the lack of a father to refer back to, both in memory and as a means of advice--thankfully, luke exists, and has existed as a father in simon's life for a long, long time. but on the other hand, simon is all too aware of what it feels like to lose a father too soon, and with the heightened mortality rate among shadowhunters... instead of letting that fear of being forced to leave his child(ren) behind control him, though, he decides to just be that much more intentional with the time he is given with them.

this idea of intentionality is absolutely something izzy would present to simon, as it's one of her greatest regrets when thinking back to max's childhood, despite her being a child all that time as well. it was was a resolution that would have a concluded a conversation i think she had with herself years before she and simon even got married, as she considered whether or not she wanted kids at all. i think she would have gone through something of a "what's the point?" phase before that she doesn't want simon to endure after all he himself had gone through.

and so they're intentional. they have family reading time every night they are able to. simon dm's kids dnd games. they eat meals together. they have game nights and movie nights. izzy sings to them when they cry at night, like her mother used to. they host sleepovers with the cousins. izzy lets them try on her heels for fashion shows. they encourage their kids' interests outside of shadowhunting; this one likes to sing and that one's learning to sew. they take them trick-or-treating in the best nerdy constumes. they don't shelter them from the world, but rather show them the lives and the people they'll be protecting one day. i love you's are abundant, as are hugs and kisses and tickles and teasing.

in my mind their household is the perfect mix of cool and warm. cool like adamas and the truth and the spring. and warm like fire and dark eyes and fresh baked cookies. and maybe it smells like cookies too, like whatever secret recipe they finally got right and refuse to stray from bc they just know they'll mess it up.

[cinnamontails-ff]

For the BG3 Fic Writers Ask Game!

☁️Do you prefer writing canon x canon or canon x OC? Why?

💧Is there a ship you wouldn’t write yourself, but love reading?

🌤️How do you interpret the game mechanics in your fic?

☔️Do you care about wider DnD lore in your fics?

No pressure, just answer whichever questions interest you 🙂

Thank you - you're an angel for submitting these ❤

☁️Do you prefer writing canon x canon or canon x OC? Why?

OC all the way! It comes from writing novels, I think. Whenever I think of a fic, I think of the perfect protagonist to go with it, and my ideas are way too specific to fit 2 canon characters.

💧Is there a ship you wouldn’t write yourself, but love reading?

Answered here!

🌤️How do you interpret the game mechanics in your fic?

I think game mechanics are inherently more relevant to more "adventure" type stories than mine. When I write a fight scene (which isn't often because my fics are nerdy af), I don't really think about what level my characters would be or how many spellslots they would have. I give them attacks that make sense within canon, but my focus will always be on the quality of the scene - Is it tense enough? Do the stakes feel high? Does it flow naturally from beat to beat?

If I were to reference a game mechanic, I'd probably crack a joke about Astarion and / or Gale getting stuck in front of a little crack they were too scared to jump :D

☔️Do you care about wider DnD lore in your fics?

Absolutely 100% not. I write AUs because I want to stick my favorite characters into new circumstances, clap my hands and see what happens. The most I did in terms of lore research was probably when I looked up who would be a decent stand-in for the Einstein vs. Newton debate.

[noonaishere]

I have Baldur’s Gate 3 brainrot (but don’t worry, I’m editing my fic!) so here are which member I think would be which of the romance options (that I am aware of, there’s probably more but I still haven’t finished act one):

Minthara - Efficient. Practical. A go-getter. In charge. This is Hongjoong. (Minus the evilness. She’s Character Not Appearing In My Game because she was rude to me - among other things - and I snuffed her. I dyed her armor Indigo and put it on Astarion, it looks so good on him. Sorry, Joong.)

Gale - A colossal nerd. Gargantuan nerd. So nerdy that he learned all the magic there was to learn. So much of a nerd about magic that he landed the goddess of magic? This is Seonghwa.

 Karlach - The bouncy retriever energy? The Just Happy To Be Here attitude and doing little dances when she’s bored? She’s also a giant? Hi Yunho, what are you doing in my game? Yunho, 100%. 

Shadowheart - Perfect hair? Doesn’t remember shit? Definitely has a skincare regimen? WAY too pretty to be doing this adventuring shit? Slightly scathing? Hi Yeosang.

Wyll - Just a good, wholesome man who wants to hero around for a while and then settle down. A romantic. His dad is pretty famous. Whoops, he has a Dark Secret (because this is dnd and everyone does in dnd). This is San. (San's Dark Secret is that he's a fucking weirdo when the cameras aren't on him.)

Halsin - Mingi. Mingi’s constant body waves translate to Halsin’s DTF nature (in nature) in my mind. Also: he’s a giant. 

Astarion - Surprising exactly no one: Wooyoung. It's the theatricality for me. It’s the flirtatiousness for me. He’s babygirling left, right, and all over the place… and so is Astarion. (Calling people “darling”? Jagiya, please.)

Lae’zel - Jongho. She has Boss Baby energy, and if he doesn’t encompass that, I don’t know anything. (I'm kind of getting "Jongho complaining that he has no chemistry with the other members and then the other members saying he refuses to do anything with them" energy from her).

[exandrianpunk]

oh no this has given me an *idea*

Veth as dm is perfection. i bet Luc learned about the game and started playing with friends at school, so she's doing her best to follow the rules she's gleaned from what he has told her.

and it frees Matt up to be Essek playing with the Nein!

he seems so hesitant to play with them, but gives in eventually. everyone just assumes it's his usual brand of hot boi shadowhand stuffiness. but you know what?

i bet Verin used to be into DnD when they were little. Essek would never admit it in a million years, but he used to love playing it with him and his friends.

and of course he still remembers the rules.

he'll try to play it off and hide this nerdy side for as long as he can, but he can only handle so much of Veth messing up mechanics before he has to say something.

cue so much teasing (/lovingly) from the rest of the Nein.

I can't recall if I posted this before but I would love to have a "the M9 play DnD" oneshot like they did for C1, with Veth DMing like Grog did

[riddlerosehearts]

not knowing what kind of connection ralsei may or may not have to asriel is constantly driving me nuts because it’s something that could potentially throw my entire characterization of deltarune asriel out the window, but. all i know is that in my personal opinion, if asriel came back and got a soul again after undertale the trauma of everything that happened to him would result in him being very depressed and trying to convince everyone including himself that he’s fine and everything is the same as before he died, while at the same time still having some of flowey’s weird gallows humor. so i want deltarune asriel to be the same but way like, not because of any weird magical stuff involving him dying and turning into a flower and losing his soul, but simply because he’s the town golden boy who tries too hard to please everyone by pretending to be perfect and never showing his full self to most people, who still has complicated feelings about his parents’ divorce, and who gets to college and is extremely lost and burned out and no longer has his sibling to make weird jokes with.

[sharedtrauma]

So, what do you imagine Lucas and Max in the future?

Oohh good question !!!

Something I’m desperate to talk about and think up ideas for is how the ST characters would be in modern day. Max and Lucas currently would be 50/51. I think they’d be married by now. Lucas I feel like would probably be a science professor, like at a university level or maybe he’d be a writer. Either a non fiction writer or sci-fi writer. Max I’m a bit more unsure about. I could see her having a simple job like working at super market or shop or something since I honestly feel like she seems like the type to prefer doing what she’s passionate about as hobbies instead since it would be more freeing and just treating a job as just a way to make a living. I could see her possibly running a video game or comic shop or maybe even being a radio show host since I think music would become a very big part of her life after the Vecna incident. I really can’t see her working any sort of corporate job, I think she’d get too pissed off at her boss, the way all that fucking “trickle down economics” shit works & overall sheer boringness of it. She and Lucas strike me as the type to not “grow out of” their nerdy interests and would probably just kind of evolve with them. I can see Max (and Lucas) still being into video games and Lucas still liking DnD but in a more adult way if that makes sense. Like they’d be one of those cool older nerds in town that like the some of the same stuff as the kids around do as well as being around for the big boom in nerd culture which the younger people would find super cool and interesting as apposed to like, those nerds that never grew up and try to still act young when they clearly aren’t. Also this is really random but for some reason I’ve had this headcanon that they’d both be into Gorillaz for ages. Idk why exactly but it just makes perfect sense to me lol.

[stevesbipanic]

5, 13, 26, 50 for the st questions ✨️

5. Favourite Adult?

Murray Bauman the man is hilarious and his reactions to everything is perfect, him with the flamethrower this season? Iconic.

13. Have you ever played DnD before?

Yes! I've played a few campaigns as a player but I'm mainly a DM like Eddie and Will haha. It does mean I get a lil nerdy when they don't play it quite right but I love that it's based on a game I love.

27. favourite movie/tv show that stranger things was inspired by?

Nightmare on Elm Street which Vecna was inspired by, I love that movie and I loved that the original actor for Freddy Krueger played Victor Creel.

50. top five absolute fav things about stranger things in general?

No particular order:

Steve's character arc from Asshole to Mama Bear which is why I really hope they don't rewind that bringing back Stancy.

Dustin with both Steve and Eddie I love their brotherly relationships and how he really cares and looks up to them.

Stobin, my favourite platonic soulmates they are my ride or die favs forever and they can never separate.

Argyle just Argyle in general he was so good for Jonathan and exactly what he needed this season.

Hopper being a dad to Eleven, Will and Jonathan, they all deserve a great dad in their lives.

[universallywriting]

On the subject of things that Connie is in to. Connie and Steven are nerds who play a lot of dnd? Now there is an interesting head canon! Do tell us more?

First off, Chekov made an SU DND comic and it's literally perfect. So, like, basically that. If I think f the cast playing DND, I immediately think of that comic. Every single character is perfect.

Aside from that, I've been in this fandom since Jailbreak so most of my idea of the characters comes from the original series rather than the movie or Future. Both the movie and Future were more plot focused and really didn't have that much time, so there wasn't exactly time to be like "Connie and Steven watch the Unfamiliar Familiar TV movie and rage about the inaccuracy".

But one of the things that drew me to the characters so completely was that they both felt like very realistic depictions of what growing up as a nerdy child was like. The interests they had, the way they talked about them, it all really stuck with me. So when I think of these characters, it's pretty impossible for me to divorce them from the idea that Steven has Sailor Moon on his nightstand and loves bad ninja movies, and Connie goes out of her way to break her mother's rules so she can watch a medically inaccurate drama, and that the two of them walked into a holodeck and immediately started cosplaying.

So whenever I think of them, I imagine them as the kind of teens/adults who play DND with vigor. I imagine them as going to midnight releases of their favorite franchises, and crying over video games, and making fanfics and fan comics.

I feel like Connie would be a very meticulous DM, creating elaborate worlds and stories. I feel like Steven would adore throwing himself fully into characters and trying to talk his way out of every situation. I honestly feel like the two of them would go LARPing, and dominate the whole game because of their actual combat experience. They'd go to paintball and get way too into it.

I really can't see them not doing those things. The show spends so much time showing that these two are absolutely adorable dorks - and even in Future we see that Steven still adores doing fandom stuff with Peridot. To me, it's not even a headcanon really. I think it's just what logically follows. They're nerds. They're never gonna stop being nerds. And I love that.

[crushzone]

Nin! I’ve been seeing this around recently, but I would love to see you ship your moots if it is ok! ♥️

Hahaha hey there, sure thing! It’s so difficult to be bias free because I know my moots’ crushes, but I shall do my best! I’ll mostly likely pair you guys with someone outside of your crush, just to introduce some new potential partner to your life ;). If I had left anyone out by accident, I am SO sorry!!

✨ Shipping my Moots ✨

@scorpiosanssexy

Sugawara Koshi - Lil sis, I am so sorry it is not Kei. I think Suga is absolutely hilarious and a sweetheart, I’m sure he loves it when you roast him here and there because he’d do the same right back at you. He’s also such a sassy man, so if sassiness is something you enjoy (*cough* like Kei’s, except he’s not a meanie 😠), he’s got it! If you do not know how to cook, neither does he, but you will get to suffer together. He’s also a teacher (which I know is also your thing), so let’s pretend he had to read so many books that he has to eventually get glasses! Will 100% dance real silly with you when you’re both tipsy, but please try to calm him down when he keeps getting ID’ed whenever he tries to buy booze, he’s got that forever cute baby face.

Look, I photoshopped him in glasses for u. ☝🏼

@ceo-of-daichi

Takeru Nakashima - Tbh, it was really difficult not to go with Daichi for this one. I know Takeru may not suit your appearance preferences, but I think you guys would be a very adorable pair! He is very family oriented, had grown up with a bunch of siblings, is a team captain (i know u like captains 😉), and seems like a sweet guy in general. So he will 100% be a fun pal to joke around with, but he’s also really responsible and will take care of u on your night outs. I can see you with his little family cheer squad, they are all just in love with you and consider you a part of their family. 10/10 husband material with that A+ domestic lifestyle.

@honey-makki

Saeko Tanaka - I shall pair you, my queen, with my other queen, Saeko. 👑 Together, you are unstoppable, and just the sight of you both hanging out together would make me run away because I tend to do that whenever I am near anyone attractive. Imagine Saeko picking you up on her motorbike just to go grab some dinner downtown together. All the jokes you’d share, how loudly you would laugh with each other, regardless if whether you are in a public or private place!! She’d probably help you proof read your fics and brainstorm any spicy scenarios with you too! Bet she loveees having you lay on her chest as she strokes your hair, alternatively, she also loves being your big spoon. 🥺

@heauxzenji

Kuroo Tetsuro - My other queen, I shall offer you my nerdy king, Kuroo. 👑 Idk man, appearance-wise alone, I already think you’d both be such a beautiful pair. You two are definitely the type of couples on Tik Tok (or whichever apps people use now a days LOL 👵🏻) with a bunch of “relationship goals” in the comments. He’d be a lot of fun to joke around with, will take great care of you, loves to smack your booty (respectfully) because he knows you are absolutely beautiful, and will call you the cutest nicknames. He also secretly reads your spicy fics without telling you, and will maybe try out a new thing or two from it the next time u guys baaaaang. 💥Spiciness aside, he cherishes all your quiet moments, just sitting next to each other as you sip on some tea, your books in hand as you lean shoulder to shoulder against one another.

@tedwardos

Azumane Asahi - idk, I think you both would be incredibly adorable! He is basically kind of like Yams but with a whee bit more softness. He absolutely loves to cuddle, play video games with you (but please go easy on him, he’s a little scared of certain games), and learn new things (e.g. playing DnD for the first time). Tbh, I think he would be great at DnD because he enjoys the imagination and character design aspect, bet his characters are always the best dressed one. Will help style your hair, cook you breakfast, give you shoulder massages, and just spoiling you in general, as long as you hold him close and tell him you love him every now and then to keep him well assured. You’ll never get cold during winter, he’s basically a human furnace who always make sure your feet are covered by the blanket when you cuddle on the couch.

@nonexistent-social-life-mainacct

Akaashi Keiji - I genuinely think this would be a wonderful match. Firstly, he is a wonderful listener, so he’s there for you to come home to after a tough day at work. If it is not something he can actually help you with, he will do his best to cheer you back up after you had gotten everything off your chest. Secondly, look at this 👇🏼

Girl, he will PROTECT you from all those mysterious bruises that tend to appear on your legs haha. Lastly, I know that when he loves someone, he will do all these adorably thoughtful things for you: like massaging your feet, leaving you cute post-it notes before he leaves for work and buying you flowers randomly. I just, I just want the best for u and I KNOW Akaashi will not disappoint at all.

@mer92

Tadashi Yamaguchi - ok hear me out! Baby boy had been crushing on you from a distance for the longest time, he just absolutely admires how you are so hardworking and passionate towards your dream job. He sees how much you care for your friends and he’d always wished he could be a part of your group too. Eventually, when you are both together, he is a wonderful listener, will go out of his ways to spoil you just to see you smile again. He will give you shoulder massages when you are being too tense, and if anyone gets in the way of achieving your goals, he will step up and defend you. Will also buy extra onigiris from Onigiri Miya and bring them to u for lunch, just to make sure that you don’t accidentally skip any meals because you’re too laser focused on your studies! Speaking of studying, he loves studying with you, and is actually a wonderful work buddy. (Always sneaks a glance at your adorable concentrated face)

@danibby

Kotaro Bokuto - Bokuto ADORES you with all his heart omg. When he catches you dancing or choreographing, he will straight up sway or beg you to teach him some moves, before proceeding to absolutely crush it. If he sees you trying out or applying some makeup/skincare products, he will ask you if he could watch or play with it too. Basically, he loves you so much, he just wants to understand and be a part of what you are doing, while he’ll also do the same where he’d teach you the little things he loves to do (will probably try to get you to play volleyball with him ahah). Is fantastic at cheering you up when you are not feeling too good about yourself, and will tickle fight you until you smile for him. Speaking of tickle fights, initiate it at your risk, because he is hella strong, he’ll pin you down or pick you up really easily to his advantage. BIGGEST HYPE MAN, you can walk out, wearing a trash bag and he would still be 😻😻😻.

@shhhlikeme

Aran Ojiro - I know I’m not being too original with this pairing because you actually crush on him to begin with, but you two are just perfect for each other tbh (was going to pick Toshi at first, but thought Aran would be a better fit)! Firstly, you are both absolutely S T U N N I N G ✨, I would be SO intimidated to come anywhere near this power couple. Secondly, you’re both so diligent, kind, and smart, everyone looks up to the two of you, wishing they could be you (Keep wishing, peeps 💅🏼) . Lastly, he seems like an absolute sweetheart, loveeeeees to spoil you with random hugs, kisses, and gifts, and will joke around with you a lot. He’ll find any way he could show you off to his friends, and they’d all be so jealous. It is nice to know that you can always lean on him if you ever have to, and he knows he could do the same with you. Bet your family absolutely LOVES him too, 100% the kind of guy you would want to bring home.

@bjbex​

Yu Nishinoya - Noya is IN LOVE with you, he thinks you are freaking beautiful, is a hottie, and basically his queen. He’d keep crushing on you until you finally give him a chance. When you are together, he’d do anything to please you, ultimately, he just wants to see you smile and happy all the time. He’ll crack some jokes and be a little goof just to cheer you up! Also wants you to freaking DOMINATE him hahahah, trusts you completely, please do as you would like, he’s all yours. Loves getting his lil booty smacked and pegged, but is also always down to pleasure you. Just grab him by his hair (loves getting his hair pulled) and put him in any position you want him.

Will pull some “accident” like this often, so please prepare yourself. Will travel the world with you and take a ton of photos, then proceed to set photos of you as his wallpaper/lock screen on every device.☝🏼

@dymphnasprose

Tendou Satori - Tendou ADORES YOU, for real, he freaking ADORES you (But I adore you more, so he can back down 🤚). He loves to be your little spoon (will literary purr if you give him head rubs), boasts about you to his friends all the time (especially to Toshi), likes to endearingly tease you a lot, and will cook you some nice food all the time (he probably went to culinary school, after all, to become a chocolatier). The first thing he does when he gets back home from work? Hunt you down and immediately cling on to you as he pepper kisses all over your face with that oWo face, if ya know what I mean. Also LOVES to get freaky, this man is flexible, he just loves being intimate with ya, so tell him what you want to do and he will most likely be down to at least give it a shot. ;) Also loves to randomly buy you some cute clothes or jewelry you had been eyeing, he doesn’t do it often, but he’ll spoil you with it here and there when he can. Loves to sing random songs for you, “Dymph-nuhhh, Dymph-nuhhh, my darlin, Dymph-nuhhh~~”

@pleasantanathema

Akiteru Tsukishima - Let me start off by saying that I am absolutely in love with Akiteru, and because I love him so much, I shall pair him with you! Lauren, I am in love with you from the very first moment you’ve hit me up, I feel like our vibes match and because I feel the same way with Akiteru, I believe he would really vibe with you too! He’s an absolute sweetheart who will go out of his ways just to make you happy, you’d both spend hours chit chatting about the most random things, just giggling constantly, and before you know it, it’s already really late at night. He LOVES taking photos of you, and his phone is filled with photos of the two of you. Kei doesn’t really care much about you, but Akiteru will keep bringing you up in conversations with him anyway because he’s just extremely grateful to have you in his life.

@afictionalwhore

Ittetsu Takeda - Listen, as much as I believe Keishin is the perfect man for us you, Takeda is another husband material, adorable man who would also be just as perfect.

LOOK AT HIM REALIZING THAT HE IS IN LOVE WITH U. Also Keishin looking like a snacc right next to him, but this post is not about him mmkay?

Takeda is so weak for you, he’ll spoil you rotten where he can, and his affection bank is unlimited, will constantly remind you that he loves you. He’s also really shy, so sometimes, he’ll try to be “sexy” and initiate something, only to stutter and blush terribly when he attempts to execute it, so please be kind HAHA (I think find that really endearing tbh). Fully understands how tiring it can be to work with children, he is also a teacher after all, so at the end of each day, you’ll both take warm baths together, cuddling as you laugh about all the silly things your kids had done today. Sometimes he will help substitute for you too, if you ever need to take a day off.

I’m very proud of this list, ngl, I stand by my ships 😉

[luz-is-a-dice-goblin]

Luz becomes a dice goblin

Alright, so let’s start things off with some headcanons concerning how Luz get’s into Pathfinder/DnD and Tabletop RPGs in general, and then summarily starts roping in everybody into playing with her in the Boiling Isles.

-Luz, being a young teenager firmly in the grasp of loving fantasy, and having just finished one of the Good Witch Azura books, immediately starts scouring the internet for all things fantasy, hoping to find something to hold her over until the next book comes out -This, crossed with her enjoyment of anime (looking at you FMA), is what leads her to discover, but what else, a lovely little show on the internet where a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors sit around, and play Dungeons and Dragons. Because of course -Now, she absolutely gets hooked, and spends many a night binging CR, but soon switches to listening to the podcast to be able to listen-in while doing other things  -This leads her to start looking into DnD, but since she was early on in the campaign when doing so, discovers Pathfinder at the same time -While she does get a bit turned off by the sheer amount of rules content Pathfinder 1E has, she does see that they’ve just released a brand new version of the game, in Pathfinder 2nd Edition. -(Yes, she pirates the PDFs, we’ve all done it, and she’s 14. She ain’t got the money for this habit. Also all of Pathfinder’s rules can be found online for free, on an official site no less.) -(She does still buy some sets of Chessex dice, because pretty click-clacks are addictive as all get-out) -So she gives it a bit more of a look, and starts looking into the adventures and the setting for Pathfinder, and finds herself diving deeper and deeper into just how much of the world is fleshed out. -Like seriously, we’re talking a full-on, multicultural world, that takes inspiration from cultures all over the world. (though I’ll fully admit, it’s definitely on the darker side of the spectrum) -As opposed to DnD and... the generic stretch of fantasy that is the Forgotten Realms. -All this to say, she loves the world, but doesn’t really get all that much of a chance to play before eventually getting whisked off to the Boiling Isles. -She does try a few times to play online with randos, but none of them are good experiences. (I speak from personal experience on this one, honestly) -Her first character is a Half-Elf Witch named Luzura, because of course it is.

-Once in the Boiling Isles, PF obviously takes a bit of a backseat, as Luz is now back on her GW Azura hyperfixation, having recently been able tog et her hands on Book 5, and has been able to geek out about that with Amity. -But eventually, one day, while everyone’s over at the Owl House, Gus asks after certain human games, and which leads Luz into the tangent of dice, which leads into her explaining the concept of TTRPGs to the curious witchlings. -Reactions are, obviously, mixed. -Gus is obviously fascinated by humans’ attempts to use math-based systems to be able to experience the wonders of magic themselves. -Willow thinks it’s a neat idea, but is a bit hit or miss on actually wanting to try it out. -Amity thinks it’s somewhat weird at first, but with how passionately Luz goes into it, and how it’s a perfect way of being able to live vicariously through the actions of a character, she starts to warm up to the idea. -Eda mocks the whole affair, and while King initially shares this opinion, he is easily turned around by the ability to lead grand armies against his enemies. -So Luz runs to her bag, grabs her dice and her phone, and starts introducing them to the wonderful world of Pathfinder.

[newsnerd-ooc]

Blogroll Summer 2020

Latilda Rommel @latilda-rommel

FC: Jodie Whittaker

One of my oldest characters in the WoWverse, Latilda Rommel is an enigma in her own right. Originally a journalist for her own paper, the fates drew her elsewhere to another adventure. Now she has found herself wrapped in the adventures of forces beyond our world, of Watchers and Fighters, of demons and darkness. As of June 2020, she will begin her biggest challenge yet, in facing what it means to be an Eternal Traveler. And yet she rarely loses her playful, friendly energy among the average man. If you are looking for adventure, look to her.

Looking for

Adventure! If you are wanting someone who can offer a small DMed adventure, Latilda is a reliable character for that. I have a few things I can toss at those wanting such a challenge.

Friends: something she and I need to do better is bother people. So we’ll be attempting to do better in coming weeks and months.

Rivals: Lat is chaotic good. So if you are looking for a challenge, she is happy to help.

Elyza Morrowbranch @morrowbranch

FC: Stephanie Beatriz

A Warden of the Kaldorei, Elyza Morrowbranch has lived and breathed war for nearly 10,000 years. It is who defines her. As a former operative of SI:7, Elyza has played human political games as well as those of her people, and does her best to offer a protective blade and shield to her kin, no matter the cost. She is looking for

Service: Elyza serves as a lead officer among the Wardens, both training and guiding those who need guidance. Whether you desire training or a blade at your side, she can be amended. Plus points for Kaldorei

Contacts: Elyza has mixed feeling about most races from the Eastern Kingdoms, seeing their actions as ignorant and stupid. She is willing to communicate with those who will listen. But it will be a tense moment

Horde opposition: Elyza despises the Horde, despite the opposition. She would prefer to see them burn. So if you want some conflict? Happy to oblige

Lethea Netherstrike @netherstrike

FC: Tessa Thompson

A former Warden herself, Lethea has served in the Outlands as a gun-for-hire since the fall of the Black Temple. A flirty fighter, she offers a light-handed approach to those who will listen. As of late, she has seemed off, in part due to the torture and modifications that came at the hand of another. She is seeking:

Contracts: need something hunted? She is your gal. Or perhaps you are the prey. We can arrange a reason for you to be hunted.

Contacts: we all need these.

Coping mechanisms: maybe you offer illicit substances, or ways to refixste on what matters in life. Alcohol. Drugs. You name it. She has an increased interest due to some recent changes in her body

More alts below: 

Dr. Iris Plaguebloom @iris-plaguebloom

FC: Ruth Negga/Jodie Comer

A reclusive Ren’dorei medical official in her own right, Iris once specialized in poison and plague for the Sin’dorei. When her work was found legally questionable, she departed and joined the void elves as a street surgeon and plague doctor for hire. She lives in the back streets of Duskwood, offering a blade of a needle for the right coin. She desires

Employment: having vagrants pay to have scars sewn up is little coin in the grand scheme. She needs real money. If you would appreciate a private surgeon, she is available.

Experiments: poisons need a warm body to be tested on, as do experimental techniques. Perhaps your abrasion is the perfect tool for such an expression?

Exploitation: Iris is designed explicitly to have zero magic badass powers. But I would love to see her magically corrupted or taught to use her Void abilities. Maybe by someone with less than pleasant intentions.

Anaanke @holy-anaanke

FC: Chloe Grace Moretz

Once a young Lightbound Draenei under Exarch Yrel, her actions found herself severed from her own timeline and placed in our own. A sister of battle in her own way, she offers a challenge and abrasive personality in a world tainted by the dark. She is looking for:

Guidance: how must a holy warrior act in a world where the shadow is allowed to coexist? This is what Anaanke must learn to cope with.

Greatness: the warrior wishes to make her name for herself; in the name of the Light. Will you ally with her? Or stand away.

Anaanka @fiery-anaanka

FC: Chloe Bennet

An MU Draenei driven from her home in Outland; the young Draenei summoned the elements to guide her and defend her home. She became a fiery personality, mixing the martial arts of the Pandarens with the fury of the elements. She now has to deal with the fact that her own self ended up coming to her, except as a light-infused crusader filled with zeal. (Anaanke and Anaanka are the same character, for the record. Just two contrasting timelines) she seeks:

Drinking buddies

Sparring buddies

Employers

The mun: @newsnerd-ooc

A 27 year old male writer, Nerd works consecutively in the field of sociology and journalism for their employment. Nerd is a huge fan of roleplay, whether in private stories, community DnD campaigns, or large public WoW-based roleplay. He drinks far too much Diet Coke, tends to be particularly isolationist, and has way too many nerdy interests to count. He is Roleplaying with the particular interests of:

Discord roleplay: this is a preferred format, in part due to the flexibility of the medium as well as time restraints. Post when you can, of course!

In-game roleplay: starting in August, Nerd will be far more free for roleplay in-game, whether it is guild shenanigans or other things. The writer will be around.

Fixating on Mains: Latilda and Elyza both have the most RP history and will get priority if offered. However, if any specific character will work for your story, do not hesitate to approach.

Long-term arcs; several of nerd’s characters will play a significant part in driving toward Shadowlands, and would love to discuss crossover interests or how to make fun stories. There is an overarching storyline that involves many of Nerd’s alts, but that does not mean other stories cannot be pursued.

Thanks for reading this far. Any questions? Nerd can be found here on this blog or at News Nerd#4200 on Discord.

[endlessdoom]

DBP20: Dungeons and Demons

9 Maps by the Doomer Boards Community

2020

https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/levels/doom2/Ports/d-f/dbp20_dnd

MAP01: Crypt by WalterC

A perfect introduction to a fascinating project. The scent is so nerdy that I love it. This is a small map that creates the perfect synergy between gameplay and visuals, while presenting us with a fascinating example-concept of what's to come. Entertaining, fascinating and with a style that is as unique as it is enjoyable. 4/5

MAP02: Cellar of the Stargazer by dmdr

We enter forbidden libraries through paths full of wizards, undead and a few demons. This is a modest visual marvel with an excellent flow and good layout. 4/5

MAP03: Rotten Initiative by Vertigo

A small mansion with a few books where instead of librarians, we will find a select group of cultists. A gore adventure and a lot of fantasy that elevates the gameplay to slaughter-party factors, i.e. many low-tier enemies that make for a satisfying final scene. 4/5

MAP04: With Many Ablutions by Scrangus McBrickdad/Jaxxoon R

A map that manages to create an almost completely linear layout and gives an exciting excitement and a constant flow, without stopping once under intense combat and accompanied by an excellent MIDI that does nothing but double the presentation and total enjoyment of this great map. 5/5

MAP05: Magenta Guildhall by SOSU

Fascinating little adventure that combines excellent interior and exterior design in a balanced, entertaining and well-inspired combat map. 4/5

MAP06: Guardian of the Mystic Keys by bigolbilly

A huge fortress with lots of secret rooms, hidden paths and monsters waiting for you. This is a fascinating adventure where we hunt for the 3 keys through different areas while fighting a variety of demons. The secrets are particularly cool, plus the fantastic visuals and easter-eggs make this a great, fun and frenetic map. 5/5

MAP07: Thou Sucketh A Wet Nurse by Xyzzy01

A power-fantasy in every sense. A good portion of this medium sized map is about annihilating as many enemies as we can, mostly cultists. Slaughter and fun await you, you better have good stats. 4/5

MAP08: Electric Kingdom by glenzinho

A bombshell ending. A huge open fortress with more than an army of demons, warlocks, cultists and all the monsters we could wish for in a campaign. With an understandable and simple layout, it shows an entertaining and challenging gameplay at all times. 4/5

MAP09: Last Roll of the Dice by glenzinho

A lovely, simple credits map, as usual. Love the small DnD details. 3/5.

End.

Overall:

» DBP20: Dungeons and Demons (2020) By the Doomer Boards Community

Have you ever played DnD? I'm sure you've at least heard of it. Dugeons & Dragons is a pen-and-paper style RPG board game, where a group of players venture into fantasy worlds while pretending to be characters as outlandish as they are powerful, or ridiculous. It's a blast. DnD has been, for most of its existence, a cultural landmark that can now be easily referenced in pop-media, but one of the curious things is that, despite its extreme popularity, we've never had a truly DnD game in the FPS genre... until now. Introducing project number 20 of the Doomer Boards Projects; Dungeons and Demons. The perfect amalgamation of everything I love about Doom plus my nerdy side combined in an exotic phase of magical dimensions and visual wonders.

Dungeons and Dragons is a WAD of 9 total maps designed based on nothing more and nothing less than the visual style and narrative of Dungeons & Dragons, the famous and beautiful RPG board game. As expected, the visuals of this mapset are totally amazing and deliver with fantastic results a graphical theme as great as entertaining. The main color here is purple, being denoted by the skybox and many of the items, but all the textures have received a tweak to look more fantasy-like, almost Heretic style, and the monsters have been, in part, revamped to create that fantasy atmosphere that I love so much. It's not only the fantasy visuals, but also the new weapons that go perfectly with the whole set. This WAD makes Doom as Heretic as possible without necessarily being Heretic, and I must say that I absolutely love it and would be more than happy to play a full megawad in this style, as every single map is a marvel in every aspect. The visuals alone are more than worthy of receiving a hug of congratulations from me. They deserve it.

Starting things off, or should I say, summoning? We have @Waltec C with MAP01, a crypt-like map with some fantastical magical effects that work extremely well to set the mood. MAP02 by @dmdr transports us into a black library of star-like fun. MAP03 by @xvertigox, the one leader of this awesome project, is a beautiful adventure that cranks up the challenge into a fun magic-fest. MAP04 by @Jaxxoon R is what happens when you have a perfect idea and execute it in a very simple, linear way, that works fantastically well to create a lovely gameplay flow. MAP05 by @SOSU is a great combination of interiors with exteriors that showcases some awesome combat. The one and only @Big Ol Billy brings the big guns with the first fantastically hard map. MAP06 Is a giant fortress of black magic and some spidermasterminds, full of keys and some really awesome secret/easter-eggs. MAP07 by @Xyzzy01 is the literal manifestation of power-fantasy, a lovely square adventure full of blood. @glenzinho closes this mapset with the great MAP08, a huge kingdom filled with magic and cults of the underworld. Things quickly turn into a full-on battleground of magical proportions that will leave us with a big smile once we achieve victory. And, of course, this is a DBP, you can’t miss the credit MAP09, a lovely little room where the table is set for us to throw the dice.

Dungeons and Demons is a fantastic adventure that takes us to places we have never been before. Few WADs in the history of Doom decide to approach Heretic's fantasy style, much less a unique fantasy style with different tints than usual. DBP20 fulfills the fantasy of many fans of, uh, fantasy, to enter a world full of violence, surrealism and D20 adventures, where if you get 1, you're worth a damn, but if you get 20, welcome to the BFG. As expected, this mapset brings with it a solid balance of difficulty designed to entertain those hardcore gamers looking for something fun, fast but with a good flavor that will leave them yearning for more. Each map is an adventure and each one is one to remember. It may not take months like a DnD campaign, but the time it takes to finish this great set will be one that we will remember with charisma and smiles for a long time to come. Above all, can I ask for a sequel? Thank you.

[emmettspeakz]

Gotta Love DnD, Victor

Love Victor fanfic

Summary: It’s a week after Victor has come out to his family and a few friends, but they haven’t really acknowledged it one way or another. Desperate to help get his friend’s mind off of his family’s reaction (or lack of a reaction) to his coming out, Felix designs a DnD campaign that Victor, Bram, and Simon can play, with Felix as the DM. Fun and crazy stuff ensues. 

Hope y’all enjoy <3

“So how do we do this? All I got are dice.” Bram asks through Felix’s computer screen, holding lime-green crystal dice up to the camera. He and Simon are sitting on the couch in the middle of their apartment, with no space between them. Victor couldn’t help but feel like they were the perfect couple, and hoped that one day Benji and him could be the same way.

It was the weekend after Victor had come out to his family and they had started acting like he hadn’t said anything at all. Victor felt like right now that was for the best, as he didn’t really wanna talk about it anymore either. Things were weird with Mia and Lake, because although she had declared her love for Felix, Lake wasn’t talking to Victor at all, in solidarity and die-hard friendship fashion for Mia. Benji had sent him sweet text messages this week like “hang in there” or “hair looks great today bud” and that would help a bit, but also Victor couldn’t shake the feelings of regret and pain away. That’s how this weekend had happened. Felix had insisted they play DnD to get his mind off things. But because Victor and Felix couldn’t afford to go back to New York, they were somehow trying to do DnD through Skype. It wasn’t working all that well, but god damn it if Felix wasn’t gonna let Victor mope around his house anymore.

“It’s not that difficult now that you guys told me what classes you wanted to be. I think you all should give your characters names though. It’s not creative if you’re just Victor and Bram and Simon.”

Simon gave Felix a look through the webcam, raising his eyebrows.

“No offense.” Felix replied, awkwardly. Felix had moved all the newspapers his mother had collected into the supply closet to make room on the coffee table for DnD, but the closet had reached capacity and Victor worried it would comically burst open like their lives were a part of a cartoon.

“Nice to meet you two by the way. You guys...are—”

While Felix was talking, the couple maintained eye contact with him as Simon rested his head on Bram’s shoulder.

“Right, okay.”

“Felix! You know they’re boyfriends!” Victor called out, sounding more like his teasing self than he has all week.

“I still can’t believe that you never told me you went to New York! The Big Apple? Times Square? You know how much I love Broadway!”

“Well you guys will just have to come visit us again sometime.” Bram suggested, putting his arm around his boyfriend affectionately.

“Alright so let’s start.” Victor said, not wanting to be reminded of the trip that made him lie to his then-girlfriend.

“Okay, so Bram you’re a paladin—” Felix began before he was cut off.

“Paladin? I’m definitely not just brawns!” Bram protested.

“You picked your character!” Victor laughed.

“I know but I think I’m a bit more of a—”

“No, no, no, no. I sent you a character sheet, you filled it out and sent it back to me and then I added the modifiers and all the technical stuff and sent it back to you, so it’s finalized!” Felix said, all his words jumbled together in a long string, sounding hyperactive as usual. “Now,” Felix continued, grabbing a D20 die from on top of his brown coffee table. “Let’s do this.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don’t know much about DnD, but I do know that the DM can’t play too.” Victor said, grabbing Felix’s hand tightly.

“Oh c’mon, let me play Victor! I need this! I haven’t seen Lake in—”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t remind me. Just roll dice when you’re supposed to, DM Felix.”

“Fine, fine, fine, fine,” Felix said, moving a hand through his hair. “Let’s start with this.”

He had four plastic figures, three of them representing Bram, Simon, Victor, and then one representing a figure that Felix started to describe as the Demigorgon before Victor told him to pick something else ‘cause that was “too Stranger Things”.

“Wait, wait, wait. Which character am I again?” Simon interjected before playing had even begun.

“You’re the warlock, the one with a staff, represented by the purple figure on the table.” Felix explained briskly so they could move onto actual gameplay. Simon nodded in understanding and sat back on the couch, letting Felix do his thing.

“Anyway, this big—” Felix met Victor’s gaze “—monster straight out of the movie Alien—”

Victor couldn’t help but laugh, not about Felix’s uncreativeness or lack of forethought about monsters, but the fact that he was the only straight boy in this group and he happened to somehow be the nerdiest one of all four of them.

“You mean gay out of the movie alien?” Simon asked, thinking the same thing Victor was. Victor, Bram, and Simon burst into laughter and all Felix could do was bite his lip awkwardly at the joke.

“Okay so Boris the Brave, Seamus the Strong, and Vladimir the Valiant—”

“Wait, those are our names?” Bram asked, chuckling.

“You guys didn’t pick your names so I made something up on the spot. Now stop interrupting!”

Simon and Bram put their hands up defensively, almost at the same time and Victor chuckled at that. Watching them over the call, Victor was just in awe by them. He guessed that when you were in a relationship for 2+ years, you started acting like the other person. It was weirdly sweet and Victor couldn’t get enough of it. This was what it was supposed to be like to love someone like he did. Maybe one day him and Benji would be that close, would be so love that they were in total sync. It sucked that he was jealous of them, but he was.

“So you guys are traveling through this cave and this big monster thing that looks like it’s from Alien jumps out and lunges at you. Bram, your action.”

“Uh, can I throw Simon at it?”

“Hey!”

“You can if you’d like.” Felix responds. But Bram is shaking his head.

“Can I sing to it?” Victor jokes, smiling brighter than he has in days, his cheeks burning. And when Felix glares at him he simply responds, “What? Isn’t that all that Bards can do in battle?”

“Y’know what, roll for that.”

“For what?”

“Performance! C’mon, you know this! I went over it with you every single day this week during lunch!”

Victor chuckles as Felix puts his blue die into his hand. Victor gives it a good shake before he throws it onto the table.

“10.”

Fellix then takes his own die and rolls his own number.

“I got 15, so that did not hit. The Alien is still awake, and none of its stats have been altered.”

“Nice try Victor!” Simon said encouragingly, before turning to his boyfriend. “Maybe this is a job for a paladin?”

“Okay, I’ll try. Um, I’m going to attack the Alien with my sword.”

“Okay, roll for strength, then add your modifier from your character sheet.” Felix said.

Bram ironically cracked his knuckles before taking his die and rolling, which both Victor and Simon found amusing.

“Uh, 14. Plus my strength modifier which is +2.”

“Okay, you definitely hit it. Now roll for damage given.”

Bram looked blankly at Felix.

“Just, roll the die again to see how much damage you deal on the Alien.”

“Oh, gotcha.”

Bram rolls again.

“Uh, 9. Is that with the modifier still or no?”

“Not this time, but you’ve dealt 9d sword damage to the Alien, which means you’ve been spotted and Simon’s character can’t use his stealth to get away anymore.”

“What? We could’ve snuck around it?” Bram grumbled, throwing his hands up in the air.

“It’s an open-world kind of game, man. You gotta think outside of the box.” Felix replied pointedly. Bram sighed and handed the die to Simon, who chose to roll for dexterity, to run away from the alien.

“Isn’t Bram the athlete?” Victor teases him.

“Yeah! But you’re just gonna run away from the alien and leave us to die from it?”

“No! If this works, I’m gonna go find the next village and see if there’s anyone who can help us.”

“Alright, roll for that.” Felix says.

Simon shakes the die like Bram did, but with a bit more vigor and then throws it down on his coffee table.

“Uh…it’s a nat 20!” Simon cheers, but he looks nervous.

“I’m trusting you here!” Felix reminds him. “I can’t actually see your die, but you better be honest with me!”

“It’s a one.” Bram informs his DM, looking scared at what outcome this will yield as he grabs Simon’s arm and squeezes it tightly toward his body.

“Bram!”

“Simon, they’re our friends! We can’t lie to them!”

“Fine,” Simon grumbles. “I just hope we’re not screwed now.”

“So Simon, since you got rolled a 1, you’re getting the energy to run away and then slip and fall and yell, ‘fuck!’ just as loudly as you can, so now the Alien has turned on you.”

“Oh shit!” Simon yells, almost proving Felix’s point.

It takes a little while before anyone knows what to do to stop the monster, and since it’s the afternoon and the boys haven’t eaten anything, they take a break for some pizza delivery before going back to the game.

“I’m gonna try to hit it again.” Bram says when they sit back down to it. It’s been hours since they started the game and all they’ve done is fight this one monster, but Victor doesn’t care. He hasn’t thought a bit about what going back to his house is gonna be like and frankly he doesn’t care. He’s enjoying this nerdy time with his friends and wish it could never stop.

“Roll for strength.”

Bram does.

“Ugh, 3!”

“Is that with or without the modifier?” Felix asks. Luckily it’s without.

“So 5? That does not hit. Now you’ve made the Alien all angry though.”

“Ugh, what now?”

“Victor, your turn again.” Felix tells him, handing him his blue die. “What’s your action?”

“I’m gonna see if maybe I can appeal to a nearby animal for help.” Victor says, sounding just like a bard. Felix can’t help but laugh, but it’s a sound strategy, as nothing else has worked out for them yet.

“Roll for performance.” Felix says.

Victor shakes the die and then drops it onto the table. It moves around and around like a spinning top. It’s moving so fast, but at one point it looks like it’s gonna be a nat 20 before it tips the opposite direction. Victor sighs in disappointment before he realizes it has landed on 18.

“What, no way!” Victor cries out, holding his hands up high towards the ceiling. “That’s a nat 20 right?”

“Well, it is a 20, but not a natural 20. You definitely got some animal’s attention. A wolf-bat hybrid creature comes out of its den in the cave and you ask it to help you and your friends get out of the cave. And it’s happy you asked it for help, so it starts leading you out of the cave and away from the alien. Just then—”

“What? Just then, nothing. I rolled a 20, you can’t have something happen to us now!” Victor cries out.

“It’s my game, I can do whatever I want.” Felix replies his voice light and teasing.

“There’s a sudden earthquake and huge rocks start falling down upon all of you. All of you roll for dexterity to get out of the way of the falling rocks and catch up with the wolf-bat hybrid to get to safety.”

Simon rolls, then Bram and Victor roll simultaneously. Simon rolls a 7, Bram a 13, and Victor gets an 11.

“Since Bram made it above 12, he has to help Simon out of the cave after he gets hit on the back of the head once with a rock. Victor leads the group to safety with the help of the wolf-bat hybrid and it’s on to the next village. End of game 1.”

“Wow! What an awesome game Felix!” Bram remarks.

“This was really fun you guys,” Simon agrees, speaking into the webcam as if he was meeting Felix and Victor’s gazes directly. “Hopefully we can do it again next time when we’re in Atlanta.”

“Wait, you mean, you guys are coming to visit US?” Victor asks, incredulous. He can’t believe his ears.

“Yeah, you came to visit us, it’s only fair we do the same thing. Besides, Bram wants to get some pointers from the coach about how to coach middle school kids.”

“Might wanna choose a different gym teacher to learn from,” Felix tells him, smiling.

“Whatever, we wanna see you guys, and introduce you to our friends Leah and Abby too. We’re all coming back for a homecoming type thing, even our friend Nick is gonna be there. It’s not for at least a month, but we’ll be up there soon, I promise. And as always, we’re here if you need anything, Victor.”

“Thanks you guys. I can’t wait to see you guys in person again.” Victor says, and he’s definitely gushing. They used to be strangers to him, but now he can’t imagine life without their support. They’re like his fairy gay fathers or something. Victor laughs at that prospect, but it’s an accurate name for them.

“Nice meeting you Felix! Great game! Talk to you guys soon!” Bram says, and the call goes out.

“They’re really great.” Felix says, almost absentmindedly.

“Yeah,” Victor says, fully registering how he feels towards all the new friends he’s made in the last few weeks, and a warm, welcoming feeling filling up his stomach, almost like the butterflies that welled up in his chest when he kissed Benji. Only this was different. This was purely platonic. Victor’s family life might not be what he’d like it to be right now, but his social life was better than it ever was in Texas. What’s more, he was finally living his true life, his gay self, and he felt better than he had in days.

“Yeah, they’re pretty great.”