Chapter One #3
But the latter possibility makes my jaw tighten.
I open my mouth to warn Mona, but when I turn, she’s already disappearing around the shelf.
I follow in her wake as she sashays up to the counter and pins her most dazzling smile on the nervous employee.
“I’m here to sign up for Blood of the Tyrant,” she announces.
He blinks once, twice, and I can almost picture all of his thoughts broadcast in a text bubble floating above his head.
Thoughts about her sunny smile, braided pigtails, fuzzy pink sweater.
“Are you sure?” he says slowly. “The Dungeon Master for that one, Warlock—his games are known for being especially brutal. And you’re… ” He trails off pathetically.
Who the fuck is out here calling himself Warlock? Does this DM want anyone to play his game or not? I glance at the employee’s plastic name tag, half expecting him to sport the ridiculous name himself, but it simply reads Colin.
I look sidelong to Mona, wondering if this mystery edgelord has scared her off, but she just seems amused. I turn back to Colin.
“She’s what?” I ask. My tone could freeze the ocean. I swear, if he’s about to bring up some awful outdated stereotype…
Colin pales and audibly swallows. “…new. She’s new,” he finishes lamely.
My eyes narrow.
When he speaks again, his voice sounds slightly hoarse. “We also, uh. We start at level five.” His gray eyes bounce between us, as if wondering whether we’re capable of that.
“We?” Mona asks curiously.
He gives a shallow nod. “I’m playing in this campaign, too.”
Fucking hell.
I thread my elbow through Mona’s arm and draw her a few steps away until I can talk without Colin overhearing, despite the temptation to give him a piece of my mind.
Sure, most D&D games start with the players’ characters at level 1, to give players time to learn the game as they level up. But starting at level 5 is perfectly doable, especially for advanced players like us. Mona and I have played all the way up to the max level of 20, and more than once.
I hunch down slightly as I bend toward her ear.
“Are you really sure about this? I could help you and Shay find another game, Mona. One that’s not so…
gatekeep-y and elitist? Tyrannical?” I shake my head.
“Or maybe I could—” But the words dissolve in my mouth, and suddenly, I can’t speak past the lump in my throat.
I want to offer to run a new game for her myself, but I’m just not ready.
Mona lays her palm on my arm. “It’s fine, Rea. These are Shay’s friends. She’s played with them before.” She darts a glance toward Colin and smiles. “He’s a little awkward, but that’s okay. I want to play.”
My lips twist. “But have you met any of the others? Do you know who they are?”
“No, but I trust her. It’ll be fine.” She turns back toward Colin and raises her voice. “Maybe Shay mentioned I was coming to sign up? I’m Mona, her girlfriend.”
“Oh.” Realization dawns on Colin’s face, and then his cheeks and neck turn red as his spirit practically vacates his body.
I assume he’s beginning to understand how much of an ass he’s made of himself over the past five minutes.
“Shit. I’m so sorry. No, yeah, uh, I made sure to save a spot for you.
I’ve been trying to scare people away from signing up, to make sure there was still space.
That’s why—god. I swear I’m not always like that. ”
I’m not entirely convinced, but Colin’s tone—which had my hackles raised this whole time—doesn’t even seem to touch Mona. She smiles cheerily. “Great! No worries, I get it. I only hope you give the boys trying to join the same spiel.”
“I do,” he says earnestly.
I keep Colin pinned under my gaze. “How many spots are left?”
“After her?” He clears his throat. “Just one.”
Before I can overthink it, I say, “Put both of our names down.” Despite Mona’s and Colin’s assurances, I still have reservations. I’m not about to let her play with this Warlock alone.
Colin looks just about ready to wither away, but Mona’s eyebrows bounce high on her forehead. “Really? But you never play, Rea.” She sounds delighted, and it’s true—I haven’t been in the player role since Dad’s games when we were kids.
“I do now.” It sounds like a threat. And to be fair—it is.
Colin ducks under the counter to shuffle around in its drawers.
When he emerges again, he hands us each blank character sheets and character backstory questionnaires.
He gives us a rushed rundown on how the game will work.
“Starting this week, we’ll meet Thursday nights at six until the holidays at the end of the year.
You’ll only have to pay toward the fee we charge for booking a room downstairs.
Just fill out those sheets and bring them with you to the first game, and you should be all set.
” Suddenly eager to be of help, he asks, “Any questions?”
Mona and I bend our heads together over the sheets. A smile curls at my lips.
“No,” I say, failing to hide the edge of anticipation in my voice. “I think we’re all set.”
“Well, then! We’ll see you here on Thursday.”