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[the_freak]

[Eddie would have preferred the theatrics of the drama room, but he did his best to set up an imposing angle for his message. ]

I’m thinking a lot of us could use a chance to blow off some steam, hmm? Lots of work to do around here, and weird ass monsters to fight, but not a whole lot in the way of recreation.

Back home I ran a group called Hellfire Club. Led us in some of the most epic D&D campaigns Hawkins Indiana ever saw. And I was thinking…I could offer my services as Dungeon Master here if people were interested.

Beggars can’t be choosers and I know we have a lot of people who’ve never played, so- lucky you- I’ve decided to open up admission to first timers. Little bonus- anyone who joins gets a Hellfire Mk2 shirt of their very own.

[He shifts to show off the new design he’s printed, a proud smirk on his face.]

I’ll be at the diner this week for people to sell me on their characters. If it’s your first go, I’ll have sheets prepared and can help you fill them out.

Comments

[ziedrich_bearer]

What's 'D&D'? Never known anyone to master any dungeons I ran through.

[the_freak]

[Eddie considers a bit of hyperbole, but knowing how that seems to go over some people's heads here he gives a more serious-]

Dungeons & Dragons - it's a game. The Dungeon Master uh...you know, narrates the story and guides the players through the adventure.

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Gladio looks intrigued by this. It's not that his world doesn't have an equivalent, it's that he never really knew much about it. He didn't have time as a kid.]

What sort of adventure?

[the_freak]

Can be anything technically, but uh...traditionally- you and your party are fighting monsters and completing quests as you search for the big bad. Exploring dungeons. Fighting dragons. Fantasy stuff.

[ziedrich_bearer]

Sounds like a day ending in Y when I was younger.

[the_freak]

[Eddie sighs dramatically.]

God, don't tell me you have fucking dragons and shit too? Did I grow up in the only universe without them??

[ziedrich_bearer]

Not many, but they were a thing. Including the Astral, Bahamut. But fuck him in particular.

Can't help if your world didn't have them.

At the diner

[in_extremis]

The character sheet felt like a little time capsule sitting between them, something from a different life that Tony was confessing to, and he restlessly turned and folded a corner of it without much regard for the wear on the paper. It already had a much more efficient digital record already, it wasn't like Tony was going to keep this outdated media. He left it behind even as he pushed out of the seat, taking his mug with him, and raising the other hand inquisitively to ask if he should be taking Eddie's as well. Before Eddie thought that meant Tony was quite done with him, though, he did say, "We can't keep ignore this, we have to address this," with a nod and wiggle of his fingers toward the proudly made shirt Eddie wore, and the appropriated name of a very different club.

[the_freak]

Eddie had scribbled down his own notes based off the sheet, all ready forming ideas, and it took him a moment to notice Tony's offered hand. He nodded quickly, handing over his mug.

"Mmm," Eddie looked down at his shirt like he'd been expecting this question, "It's from a comic, it's not actually some kind of satanic thing," he explained, with the longer suffering voice that said he'd had to justify this more than once.

[in_extremis]

They were not going to return to the argument, the argument was supposed to be over, so Tony had to close his eyes for a deep breath at this revelation. It was not enough to stop him from demanding, "Is anything real where you come from? That's got to be an easier list." Never mind cleaning up, Tony was just going to need more coffee to get through this, so he snatched up the cup to refill and was still talking as he stalked toward the kitchen, making it sound like he was arguing passionately with the voices in his head, "It's kind of satanic, you know--or, demonic, I don't know if Satan, specifically--I thought it was ironic, ha ha, just playing some games with lives that don't even matter."

[the_freak]

"..." No. There was no way. "Is everything real where you come from??" First dragons, and now Hellfire Club? And Satan????

"Are you fucking with me?" Eddie called after him, pushing out of the booth and scrambling after him, peering round the corner and into the kitchen. "Satan Satan? Like the actual devil? He's real too? Shit, man, I guess I should've been going to church all this time..."

[in_extremis]

That sounded like an impossible question to answer, because it seemed fairly obvious to Tony that most things were real, yes, and he didn't learn about mechanical engineering from comic books, so he squinted wearily ahead and made hungrily toward the hopefully not entirely empty carafe of coffee. "This one time, I can promise you, I am not," he could answer loftily, turning to lean on the counter one his mug was appropriate freshened and he could keep it reassuringly close to his heart.

"There are devils, like--demons, but--I don't know how many people any church has protected from them. That's magic stuff, you ask a wizard about it, or just hear them out, I don't know, I've been on weirder dates. You probably know some already."

[the_freak]

Yeah, they were definitely going to wind up circling back to their argument, and Eddie tried to reign himself in. Their worlds had a strange amount in common for having such crazy differences.

"..." He blinked, physically restraining himself from asking the obvious 'wizards?', because of course wizards were fucking real in his world. Kind of in his now that he thought about it. But probably not the same.

"I was born on the wrong Earth, this isn't fair."

[farrahfawcetts]

[ Steve shows up to the diner in the new yellow sweater he replicated with the last one he had for this month. He is way more excited about that than he is about the game and it shows as he spreads out his arms wide to show it off. ]

Eh? Looks the same as the one from home, right? Next month I am gonna see what else I can get for clothes. Maybe my polo...

[ Okay. Down to business. ]

Alright. What, I fill out an application or something? What do I do?

[the_freak]

[Eddie rolls his eyes, but can't help but smile.]

It's as flattering as the old one was, Harrington. [He can't resist teasing him a bit, but it's nice to see Steve pleased about something.

His posture shifts a bit, and he arches a brow.]

Mm, I like that. Like a job interview. Sell yourself to me, Steve. Tell me what you bring to the table.

[farrahfawcetts]

[ A very, very blank look. That is what he brings to the table. ]

Uh. Do you want like some drinks or something? I can get you some food from the diner? Or. Uh.

[ He frowns, not sure what else there is here. The idea of relating this to the game at all doesn't even cross his mind. ]

Dude, I don't know. A blanket?

[the_freak]

[It takes Eddie a moment to catch up with the miscommunication, and he laughs, waving it off rather than correcting him, shaking his head with amusement.]

Never mind, sit.

So you've never played before, let me uh- here. [He shuffles through his papers to find a blank hand lettered character sheet.] I'll help you make your character.

[He slides the book he was gifted across as well, opened up to the different races.] First you're gonna want to decide what race your character is.

[farrahfawcetts]

[ Steve looks at the sheet of paper and then sits down. ] Shouldn't I just stick with being white? I don't think it's cool to just pick something el- Oh. Oh, these are magic things.

[ He looks through the races carefully and feels himself getting lost in the options almost immediately. He frowns and looks up at Eddie a second before deciding.]

Uh. Human is fine.

[the_freak]

[He definitely expected that one, and snickers softly as Steve figures it out.]

White Human. [Eddie teasingly reads allowed as he writes it in.]

Sex?

[mrsklover]

[ Richie is beaming as he strides in with a little notebook covered in scribbles. He pulls up a chair opposite Eddie and pushes it between them. ]

Alright, coolest person here. I fucking loved DnD when I was a kid. I could only get the losers to play like a handful of times but it was great. So! Characters...

[ He flips through pages with little stick figures ]

I am thinking a Bard. But! Get this, he is recently blind from a really unfortunate event involving a pair of eyeglasses that were actually a Mimic. So he is high level but who knows if he will actually help the right people.

[the_freak]

[Oh, he loves this guy. Eddie's silent as he shifts to look at Richie's pages, listening with an increasing wide grin.]

...Fuck, man, where were you when I needed you, hmm?? This is awesome! I can work with this. We can do some epic shit. You are going to be a pain in my ass aren't you? [Some of the best players were, and Eddie looks eager to experience the unexpected twists the story will take with someone like Richie playing.]

[mrsklover]

[ Richie loves this guy right back. Where was he for all this time? They could have been getting up to all sorts of trouble. He needs to bring York into their little group ASAP. It would be mayhem. ]

Oh, the worst, dude. I once got kicked from a game because I rolled a Nat20 on seducing a dragon. The DM was so pissed off. It was awesome.

[the_freak]

[Seriously, he could kiss him. Eddie gives a wicked grin, mind running through a million and one ways he might have run with that roll and cursing the DM that hadn't had fun with it.]

Oh, did he think think he was playing a serious game about fucking dragons? [Not that Eddie doesn't take this shit very seriously, but it's a game for a reason. What kind of DM couldn't weave something fun around that?]

[mrsklover]

I think 'fucking dragons' was the problem, there.

[ Richie waggles his eyebrows before breaking out into laughter. God, it's really nice to have someone on the same wavelength again. Like talking to his younger self. For the first time since Eddie left, Richie doesn't feel every inch of his 40+ years. ]

Alright, alright. The guy's gonna be human. Boring, I know, but how much can we give the dude? His name's Rolfor Nichtiv.

[ Richie smiles, innocently. ]

[the_freak]

[Eddie joins him in his laughter. This guys all right. Kind of reminds him of Rick. An adult that doesn't feel so...adulty, just a guy he can chill out with and have fun.

And poor Eddie, he doesn't catch the name, though he does note the too innocent smile, eying him suspiciously.]

That works. Sounds kind of Russian.