Chapter 7 #3
The room came back into focus around me. A chill had settled as the sun went down during the fight, and my room had dropped in temperature. Ironic, really. I reached for a blanket on my bed and tossed it around my shoulders.
After a short celebration and the dividing of loot equally, both ShadowImp and VerdantArcher cried off, leaving us.
I missed the moment to leave with them because I was equipping the amulet and jotting down ideas for a boss fight in my idea book.
I was already learning a lot from the Shadows of Forgotten Lords quest. And the loot would sell for a decent dollar amount.
I was about to make my own excuses when IvoryKnight DMed me.
IvoryKnight: Come with me to the overlook?
It was fast becoming my favorite place in the game. My stomach growled, but the opportunity to talk one-on-one with IK was more appealing. He seemed to understand me. Somehow, he was down to earth and real while at the same time being Mr. Sunshine.
IvoryKnight: Whats wrong?
How did he always know when I was emotional? It wasn’t like my avatar could give away my thoughts and feelings with facial expressions.
ScarlettSaber: I just feel a little overwhelmed by life sometimes, you know?
IvoryKnight: Do you want to talk about it?
Our avatars stood next to each other under the willow blowing in the breeze.
There always seemed to be wind up here. Sunlight glinted off the small wave peaks like a lake full of diamonds.
It felt peaceful...and a little romantic being here, quiet like this.
Just me and IK. I shook my head as if to dislodge the feeling along with my headphones.
ScarlettSaber: Yeah. Yeah, I do. Why cant we just read peoples minds?
IvoryKnight: That could get a bit awkward. I mean, my thoughts arent always the purest. And havent you ever said something that you didnt mean or regretted the moment it left your mouth? Sometimes we need the time to filter through and say what we mean.
ScarlettSaber: Youre right. Maybe I just wish that we could understand what people mean. What they are trying to say or what they really need when they say something.
I thought back to my escape from the theater without saying goodbye to either of my friends. Or congratulating Charisse. She’d known I’d been there to support her, but would Lin tell her I left immediately after? I just hadn’t been able to stand another moment trapped next to Ni. Was it genetics?
IvoryKnight: Just ask them.
ScarlettSaber: What?
IvoryKnight: If you dont understand, are confused, or feel hurt just ask what they meant. Tell them how it made you feel.
I picked up my can and tilted it only to find it empty.
ScarlettSaber: If they really cared about me, they would know.
IvoryKnight: Why do you play Champions of the Shattered Age?
I tilted my head, pulling the blanket tighter around me. What did that have to do with anything?
ScarlettSaber: Um, because its fun.
IvoryKnight: They don’t tell you right away what strengths and weaknesses each monster has.
Instead, you have to figure out the puzzle from clues from the things they do and how their health bar reacts to attacks.
People are just like that. Thats what makes them interesting.
And everyone has their secrets. They are never just what they appear to be.
They are complex riddles with multiple layers.
ScarlettSaber: Like onions? Now youre sounding like an animated talking donkey.
IvoryKnight: Sorry. I have a little sister.
I thought about that. I had gotten so caught up that I’d forgotten. IK could be anyone: an eighty-year-old woman, a ten-year-old boy. I didn’t actually know him, just what he told me. But I felt like I knew him. And he seemed too mature to be ten.
ScarlettSaber: You sound like a psychologist.
IvoryKnight: Thanks. I think its interesting, but I dont want to be one. Actually, I want to use psych to figure out why people play games, so I can be a dev when I graduate.
ScarlettSaber: Really, me too. Are you in college?
IvoryKnight: High school.
He could still be younger than me. Truly, I didn’t know anything about him. In fact—
ScarlettSaber: Are you a bio guy or girl IRL?
IvoryKnight: Guy. You?
Should I tell him and lose the anonymity? He was a guy, and I’d learned the hard way that gaming guys could be weird about gaming girls. But I had never felt this kind of connection with anyone online or in person before.
ScarlettSaber: Girl.
There. The word was out.
I shouldn’t have said anything. Why had I even asked that question?
But he’d already added me to his team. Would he take it back now? Or act all icky like RogueStriker and ask to meet in person? It had been a mistake to tell him. Should I say that I’d just been kidding to get a rise out of him? I found myself sliding my hands under my armpits for warmth.
IvoryKnight: Do you have any siblings?
That hadn’t been the response I’d expected. Maybe he didn’t believe me. Or maybe he just didn’t care.
ScarlettSaber: No.
IvoryKnight: But you watch the cartoon movies anyway?
ScarlettSaber: Thats an old one. You wont catch me out with that.
I watched the “...” move up and down in a wave as IK typed. It was dinnertime, and Mom would be home any minute. But the promise of more words kept me glued to my chair.
IvoryKnight: Dont give up on people just because things are hard.
It was starting to feel awkward. I wasn’t ready to get any more personal right now. But we clicked, and I wondered if it could be something more.
My heart jumped in my chest as Mom slammed into the room. Her face was a storm cloud. Was she mad that I hadn’t made dinner, or had she been talking to Dad again?
ScarlettSaber: Ive got to go.
I logged off before he could respond.
“He hung up. Your dad. One call from the little woman and he hung up on me. Can you believe it?”
I really could. It was a timely reminder that relationships weren’t permanent. Education was something that no one could take away from me.
“We didn’t finish finalizing your Christmas with him. Never trust a man to keep his promises.” Mom shook her head and wrapped me in a big side hug—warm, strong arms and a gentle cloud of lavender.
The chill receded. “Let’s go heat up some enchilada casserole.”
“And decorate for Christmas. I can’t believe there’s less than a week left. Help me with these things I bought for the apartment,” Mom said.