Tristan Yamada had a map template laid out on the living room coffee table and a stack of D&D guide books, campaigns, many many die and little figures. He handed around character sheets to fill in “Ok boys, as we have a new party member we’re starting fresh for this one. And no Mason, you cannot play a nonverbal troll again. Grunting and farting is only so funny dude. OK well it can be pretty funny but not for every campaign.” He looks at Tony and smiles “We can start in the tavern. Maybe we’ll roll to see if that barmaid sits on your lap like a certain someone did.” Then he looks at Rene “Welcome to the party Rene….if you haven’t played much we’ll guide you through, a lot of it is asking me if you can do stuff since I’m the DM. Then we roll and see if your character stats and the dice say go for it or die trying.” He smirks and hands out pencils and die.
The table has a few different bowls of chips, corn and potato and a collection of various canned drinks, colas, grape and orange sodas, a few lime fizzy waters. Tristan had them out when the guys arrived and said to help themselves. He had a lime water in front of him. Tristan was in a plain grey t-shirt and black track style shorts with red stripes down each side. His feet were bare.
Stephanie Yamada was home but after greeting her son’s friends was giving them space to do their thing. If they stuck around through the supper hour she’d feed them but for now she was actually at the small desk she had set up at one end of she and Mike’s bedroom and doing some accounting work for one of the local restaurants on her laptop.
Mason sighs in exasperation. “Um … ok … I … don’t know then. Um … human.” he announces as if this is the height of creativity. “Do I get to keep my level at least?” he asks as he begins to fill out the sheet. He’s in cargo shorts and a tshirt with a computer on it.
Tony snorts. “I was being a gentleman, that’s all.” he protests, rolling his eyes. Then he sighs. “Ok, I still want a bard then. Um Tonah Hallpen. Um … human too …” he begins to fill the sheet out. “Beat people with my mandolin or whatever its called.” He’s dressed all in black today. Black jeans, black sweat shirt. Bare feet.
Rene arrived dressed in grey cargo shirts and a zombie tshirt. The zombie looked like it had once been an elf but it was now all blackened.. He now sat and pulled a sheet out of one of his leg pockets. “Can I use him?” he asks handing it to Tristan. “I mean I’ll start him back at zero level if you want, but he is one of my favourites…” The sheet is for one Nadnar Freval whose a Drow Rogue currently at the 12th level. His background was Charlatain and his Alignment Neutral/True Neutral. Rene has clearly played D&D before now.
Tristan smirks at Mason “Yeah you can keep your level if you can keep their toots in their pants...breeches? Maybe it’s breeches really?” He snickers and then looks at Tony “Of course you were and of course you are. If you ever choose anything but a bard...well I don’t know man….the world might implode. Mandolin huh...how about a lute carved from an enchanted tree or something?” Tristan looks curiously at Rene and takes the offered sheet. He reads it looking both scrutinizing and impressed “Hmm...cool. Neutral huh? That’s always interesting. Keep the level and Welcome Nandar Freval.” Tristan waits for Tony and Mason to write and chats with Rene “So how’s your summer here so far?”
Mason smiles and nods. "Fine. It stays in his pants." he grabs a grape soda and opens it. "I guess it can be breeches. What's the difference?' Then he looks at Tony. "You were a total gentleman, man." he rolls his eyes. "Summer has been awesome!" he takes a good long drink. "My parents aren't bugging me to get out as much, which gives me more time to be on my computer and ..." he glances back in the direction of Tristan's parents room. "Study."
Tony rolls his eyes at Mason and snorts at Tristan. "I play what I know ... I suck enough at this game without trying to leave my lane man." he takes a chip. "Enchanted tree .... Yea I can do that. Maybe I'll actually learn to play the guitar."
Rene listens to the other two and takes a cola. "Neutral gives me the freedom to play both sides, you know. Good or evil. Or it is totally wishy washy, depending on how you want to look at it." he shrugs and drinks.
Tristan listens to each of the responses with interest. He chuckles “Study hard Mason...all the extra math right?” He nods at Tony “Well it could come in handy. And I wrote some of this mission for your skill set, good bard.” Then he looks intrigued by Rene “Fair enough.” He takes in the character sheet and looks them over and then sets them aside and picks up a multi page stapled document “Ok since I’ve had a lot of free time to myself lately…” He says this with just an edge of bitterness “I decided to try my hand at writing our own campaign. Bear with me, it’s my first.” Tony and Mason would know by now that the lots of free time to himself is because his long distance online boyfriend in Australia has not been returning his texts. Rene has not been made aware of this. Tristan takes a breath and goes on “Ok so this is called Strormborn’s Mine, and we do start in the tavern. There are two people who might give you the map and you have to figure out how to get them to share it with you. I’ll tell you who they are and you guys can see who’s convincing today. The bartender and owner of the tavern and his sister the barmaid are both children of the famous Bardul Stormborn. He was born of a dwarf and a druide on the full moon during a thunderstorm. His son Aradon and his daughter Hildegad have kept his map secret since the years of his mysterious disappearance. The mine it leads to has rumoured but untold treasure guarded by a one eyed dragon.” He tells the tale dramatically and looks around.
Mason grins. "Don't hate me cause I can add." The truth is he hacks, and is good at it. He looks knowingly at Tristan, and then takes in a deep breath. "I'm going to go over to the bar and order a beer or .. um ... ale, right? Yea ... that."
Tony arches his brow. "You did? Seriously? Thanks." he bites his lip and keeps his mouth shut about the online boyfriend. Rene is new to them, so they didn’t know ho he ould react to it and Tristan was kind of private about stuff like that. “Well, I will go over to the barmaid and play something to her to … enchant her, but it’ll be about the map.”
Rene considers, the reference to all of Tristan’s free time completely lost on him. “OK … bear with me. I mostly play online. I’ll walk casually over .. not with Toneh. Trying to look like I’m not part of the group. Moving behind the barmaid and just hanging there looking at a menu…” he nods, happy with that beginning move.
Tristan smirks at Mason and then rolls a multi sided die “Ok...yout get an ale….but you’ll need to do more than that for a map. Compliment the bar? “ He grins at Tony and rolls “She likes the song but she’s not giving up the map immediately. Maybe tell her she’s pretty? I shouldn’t be giving you guys hints.” Then he looks curiously at Rene and rolls for him “Ok you move. You’re a long game kind of player. I should have written twice the detail..” He laughs a bit and prompts them to go on.
Mason nods. “OK … so … I say ‘nice place you got here’ and “ he glances around. “And ask if he’s got any maps.” he nods again but looks at Rene. “You can play D&D on a computer?” he looks fascinated. “Online or a program?”
Tony grins. “I SING to her that she’s pretty. Beautiful, really. I flash her a charming smile. I have a charming smile, right? I mean I know I do .. does Toneh?” he looks exasperated at Mason. “Dude, you can not spend your lie in the house. Jesus.”
Rene nods at Mason. “Yea. Dungeons and Dragons Online. I’ve been on there for a year now.” he glances at Tristan and Tony. “But this is actually more fun. I’ve met people online and .. I don’t know … it’s different in real life.” he smiles at Tristan. “Always the long game. I put a lot of work into my characters, so .. may as well play them as detailed as I can… you know?” he considers. “While Toneh is working his charms, I will try and pickpocket the barmaid. She might not have the map, but she might have something to make it worth my while.”
Tristan rolls for Mason “Hmmmm...close. He thinks about telling you about the map. Keep him talking Mason.” He chuckles “Yeah I’ve done that too online but in person is always the best. Old school…” He smiles between Mason and Tony and Rene “With humans in a room.” Now he rolls for Tony “Did you put your smile in your stats Tony?” He jokes and then looks at the die “Alright you’re charming, she likes you and is ready to talk more. As her about the map. Let’s see who gets it first, you or Mason.” He laughs about the pickpocketing and rolls “Score. But not a map. Her coin purse and a set of keys Rene.” He looks up at Rene as if one of those is very useful and gives a little eyebrow wiggle.
Mason rolls his eyes. "I ... um .. compliment the beer .. ale ..whatever it is." he smiles. "We all know each other." he seems to be encouraging. "We could all just play online .. and more often." he looks at Tony. "Yea .. work your .. magic..." he twiddles his gingers. "The man with the silver tongue."
Tony grins and opens his mouth to reply to Tristan when Mason speaks. He lowers his voice. "Fuck you, Mason." he nearly whispers. Then he speaks normally. "I think it should be, yes. I'll add it now." he looks at Mason. "And my silver tongue." he licks his lips. "I keep rapping her about her beauty and all that and ask her about the map." he looks at Rene and grins.
Rene nods. "Ok, I'll casually look over at the bar. Is the male bartender here I an get to him or is he behind the bar?" he wonders. He looks at Mason and then at Tony and Tristan. “He loved the quarantine, right?”
Tristan gives Mason a bit of a look and laughs but then rolls for his complimenting the beer. “I’m not sure that really advanced the conversation Mason but he’s happy you like the beer.” He snickers “Dude, do we smell or something?” Tristan cracks up at Tony and then rolls and then smiles “Flattery will get you everywhere. She agrees to tell you about the map.” Tristan looks like he’s seeking clarification from Rene “Like how many steps to the bartender? He is behind the bar but you could speak to him if you’re loud enough or walk up? “ Tristan nods with a grin at Mason and then Rene “Yeah life online suits Mason well.”
Mason sighs. "No just ... I'm not a guy that likes to get out like you guys do is all." he shrugs and sighs. "Yes, it does. Life online is like complete freedom." he glances in the direction of Tristan's parents’ room. "And we have less chance of being spied on."
Tony grins at the results of his roll. "And ..." he looks curious. "What's she have to say?"
Rene nods slowly. "I get that. I really do. I miss some of my online friends..." then he shakes his head at Tristan. "Like if he's behind the bar, I can't just walk behind there and pick his pocket without looking suspicious, you know. But if the barmaid is telling Toneh it might not matter .. not that it would stop me." he smirks then looks at mason. "That depends on if you're doing something worth being spied on AND use voice of any kind. Be safe and type." he advises.
Tristan shrugs at Mason and then looks down the hall “I doubt she cares what we’re doing in here Mason. Are you just freaked out because my dad is a cop?” He teases. “A detective now technically. But yeah they’re both relatively cool about respecting my space.” He looks at Tony and rolls and then reads his notes “OK she says she has a map that you might be interested in. She just has to go fetch it. She digs in her apron pocket and gasps…..her keys are gone and her coin purse!” Now he sighs at Tony and grins at Rene “Seems we have a light fingered thief.” He rolls again “You pick the barkeep’s pocket successfully. He has a large number of loose coins, a small knife and a gold ring. You and Tony may have to coordinate Rene.” He raises a brow and then nods “Always safer to type, but then it can be used against you later too. People save shit and screenshot troll. “
Mason shrugs. "I know .. I mean back in Cedar Point the school was always threatening me with the cops." he looks at the closed bedroom door.
Tony looks at Mason. "Maybe they won't care as long as you don't actually change your grades at school?" he smiles and then blinks and then looks at Rene. "Terrific. So the key goes to the door where the map is. Now what are we gonna do?" he blows out a breath. “I keep the charm turned on and suggest she maybe dropped them someplace?”
Rene grins back and then bites his lip. “Oops. A little too good at my job.” he rubs at his chin, thinking. “Alright … “ he nods at Tony. “I head back in that direction and drop the keys. Then stop and bend down and pick them up and ask out loud if anyone dropped their keys.” he nods slowly. “That might just work, Tony.” he shrugs at Tristan. “Well … I can also try going incognito on the computer, but frankly I’m not sure some random hacker finding out shit I don’t want them to know is worse than my Mom .. well .. her side of the family. I mean .. it might be OK … But why risk it, right?.” he chuckles.
Tristan snorts at Mason “You live on the edge buddy, always have. Between the copthreat and the fire truck getting called Mabel…..” He laughs “I’m waiting for Robbie to be some kind of totally boring kid who just does regular stuff.” He looks at Tony “Rolling to see if she buys your charms and calms down…” He rolls “Yeah that’s high enough.” Now he points betweenTony and Rene “Will she believe the thief?” He rolls again “Score! She leans in and tells Tony she has to get the map from a safe and goes to fetch it but she’s still upset about her coin purse.” He looks curious about Rene’s last statements “Strict parents...or extended family? Honestly my Gran can barely use a computer so I’m not worried about her understanding anything I do on mine.”
Mason leans back in the chair he claimed as his own. "I'm not doing anything illegal ... and I'm a minor." he defends himself. "And Mabel ..." he just rolls his eyes. "Oh and I'm just talking to the bartender about how great this place is."
Tony looks a little anxious until both his and Rene's rolls are successful. Then he backs, claps and offers Rene a high five. "I tell her I'll look for her coin purse while she gets the map." He bounces on the couch with Tristan, more excited about the game than he’s been in a while now.
Rene high fives Tony. "That was close. You go look for the purse over there someplace." he motions to the kitchen, leaning back against the house wall and front window." he looks at Tristan and shrugs. "We're Catholi so ... everything is a sin. My aunt MC is Jesus's personal pit bull. Plus when we were in St Pierre, my school was full of Catholics. Bullying Catholics. I guess since the Bible doesn't out and out say 'Thou shalt not bully people' that means it isn't a sin." he rolls his eyes. "My brother had a gay friend .. super cool guy .. he got bullied and had to move away. But my parents were cool about it. Turns out I had a gay unle ... a long time ago."
Tristan gives Mason a wry smile “Ok so 5 years grace on that I guess. You keep chatting up the barkeep...Rene has all his loot anyway.” He laughs and then gives both Rene and Tony a thumbs up “OK guys good work. She comes back with the map and she gives it to you Tony. But she tells you when you get to the entrance to the mine it leads to you will need to answer a riddle. Keep your wits about you. Are you going to try Rene’s line about the coin purse? Did you toss it Rene are are you bullshitting them?” He gives him a sideways grin and then listens to the whole story of his family, his school, his brother’s friend and his uncle. “Fuck….well I guess I’m pretty lucky to live here. And Cedar Point. I had an uncle who died in the quake. He had a male partner….but he’d been with women before that. And my dad….well the reverse. He’s with my mom now. I can’t believe your brother’s friend had to move...assholes! I uh….have….I dunno maybe had a boyfriend. It might be over….he’s ghosting me..” He goes quiet and looks down at the dice in his hand and rolls them around as his jaw clenches a bit “Anyhow, nothing I can do about it right now so let’s play…”
Mason grins. "By then, I might even be making money in cybersecurity. I just ... have to get better." he blows out a breath. It looks like he might say more, but stops when Rene speaks. "Oh, man that totally sucks!" he hears Tristan let Rene in on it and sighs.
Tony looks quite pleased with himself. "That charm and smile will do it every time." He listens as Tristan lets Rene in on the Australian boyfriend.
Rene grins. "Totally bullshitting. I don't know where her purse went. I am but an innocent young lad with a thirst for adventure." he makes a halo with his hands over his head, then drops them as Tristan tells him about his own family and relationship. He looks at Tristan and nods. "Ghosting sucks." he murmurs. "I'm really sorry, man." he nods. "Yea ... lets go in that cave so Toneh can sing all of the trolls into pacifism." he smirks.
Tristan smiles tiredly at the support but his eyes reflect a lot of hurt “Yeah thanks. It does.” He looks at Mason “You’re already good, you’ll get there.” He chuckles at Tony “Charm the trolls that’s some mad skills. But you can’t smile at a riddle.”I hope you at least kept the coins Rene. Mine, but yes….now you three approach the mine’s entrance thanks to the map. The entrance looks boarded up and overgrown with vines. An hunched over old beggar man is slumped in front of it. He puts out his hand seeking coins and then asks you all the following riddle” This thing all things devour. Birds, beasts. trees and flowers. Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones into meal. Slays kings, ruins towns and beats high mountains down.”
Mason nods about the ghosting but also sighs. "I better. Cause some bitch hacked me. I am NOT amused. I thought my security as perfect." he grumbles. Then he shakes it off a little. "OK, a mine. And the homeless." he rolls his eyes.
Tony nods and arches his eyes at the beggar, then to Rene. "He's all yours man...".
Rene looks mildly insulted. "But of course I kept them." he winks. He looks at Tony when he says the beggar is all him. "Maybe if he was a century younger." he snorts, offhandedly. "I give the old man three gold coins and tell him the answer is Time." he looks at Tristan and changes his voice to a more Gollumesque one. "It that right, my preciouseseses?"
Tristan looks a little shocked “Someone hacked YOU? That’s some mad level genius Mason.” He smiles and nods at Tony and then looks at Rene. Then Tristan has a look of pleasant surprise at Rene’s joke. Grew up surrounded by homophobes but at least he can kid and be comfortable if nothing else. Then he laughs at the gollum voice “Yeah it’s time.” He doesn’t even have to roll since it’s correct. “The old beggar takes your coins and smiles sagely at you and then stands up to his full height and transforms into a kick ass younger hotter sorcerer and does a Dr. Strange like swishy hand thing at the boarded up overgrown door and it blasts itself open. Then he just waves you all towards the mine “My work here is done. Safe paths travellers.” And he snaps his fingers and vanishes.” Tristan snaps his fingers for dramatic emphasis. “Inside the mine about 50 steps in you get attacked by a horde or orcs. There are 9 of them.”
Mason nods and then snorts. "Yea. She's badass .. if she's even a she. Either way ..." he listens as they are granted access to the old mine. "Alright ... action ... I'm going to go for my sword and attack them right back." he nods.
Tony looks surprised too and then laughs. "Would it even matter if she was a guy?" Mason had no seuality as far as Tony ever noticed. He inhales deeply. "Let's rock and roll!" he almost cheers. "I'm taking my sword and charging in, too."
Rene looks interested in Mason being hacked. Then he snorts. "Dude .. I mean thanks but ... we could always use some help.'' Then he bites his lip and is silent, thinking. Finally, he says, thoughtfully. "I'm going to try and come around behind them, and stab one in the back with my dagger. I wish I had poison." He sounds a bit disappointed in himself.
Tristan rolls for Mason’s attack as he asks “How do you know it’s a girl or a guy from a hack? K Mason you took out two of them on your side but one’s still coming at you.” He rolls again “Oh and you took some damage. But tell me your next attack and I’ll let you know….” Tristan had nodded in agreement with Tony and then rolls for him “Ok Tony you take out….shit man...only one….you’re outnumbered.” He rolls again “But not too much damage so far. Tell me your next.” He laughs and then rolls for Rene “You stab one in the back but the other two are flanking you.” He rolls again “No damage yet. Tell me your next. Poison would be useful, I agree.”
Mason looks at Tony and shrugs. "Sort of .. I mean I'm straight. But if it's a guy he's still a badass." he looks at Tristan and shrugs. "Because the name on the taunt she sent was signed Queen Yotta. After the Yottabyte. I suppose he could be gay? I don't know how any of that works. All I know is .. wow." he grins. "Anyway ... did I miss all of the damn trolls?" he sounds incredulous.
Tony is nodding and sitting on the edge of the couch. "OK .. one down .. I go for another."
Rene is sitting straight up. "Flanked. shit. I take another dagger so I have one in both hands and try and slit the throat of one and if I can, stab the other. Well, if I get poison I'm going to make use of it in the future."
Tristan laughs “Queen Yotta? I dunno could be anyone but yeah a female sounding name. And fuck man you just missed the orc coming at you Mason. Do you want to try and fight it or should i just roll for your damage?” He moves onto Tony and rolls “Ok you incapacitate but take a serious hit. You’re still fighting but the last one on your side is winning right now. Keep trying but you’re going to need a healing potion soon.” He rolls for Rene “Double deuce action….brutal and effective. You take them both out. Maybe see if you can help Tony before that orc cuts out his silver tongue?” He chuckles.
Mason nods, then starts, as he'd forgotten all about the orcs. "Um ... yea ... I,'ll fight some more." he slides out of the chair and sits cross legged on the floor.
Tony looks a little alarmed. "Keep fighting." he nearly shouts. "And hos is nine against three fair. If I lose my tongue Tristan, me and you gonna fight!" but he's laughing.
Rene blows out a breath. "I'll try and save Toneh because I've already seen how the girls follow him. The true French Romantic." he chuckles.
Tristan nods at Mason and rolls and then winces “Oh shit Mason…..that’s a lot of damage. You’re down and the orc who beat your ass is now headed for Tony and Rene.” He looks at Tony and then Rene, laughing “French romantic neutral, playing both sides? I’m gonna roll for you first to see if we can give Tony a chance to do better than Mason in this fight.” He rolls “Ok, you save Tony and take out that orc, now both of you, there’s one more coming. Mason is out cold.” He rolls for Tony “You’re ok….bit of damage still but you can drag your sorry ass and silver tongue up off the ground and move. K I’ll give you guys a little salvation. With the right song and a snap of your fingers, you can get that sorcerer back to heal Mason. But you need to take out that last orc first.”
Mason gapes and then throws himself back onto the couch. "Well I'll just lay here and bleed out. See ..." he grabs another soda. "This is why you should neer leave the house."
Tony winces and then looks relieved. "Thanks ... um ... OK ... um ... I'll sing .. um ..." he bites his lip then snaps his fingers and sings a song older than he and his friends. "Whoda thought they'd lead ya. Who'd a thought they'd lead ya. Back here where we need ya. Back here where we need ya." he snaps his fingers and keeps on humming the theme to Welcome Back Kotter.
Rene grins and looks at Tristan. "From what I've heard, that's more me than Tony." he winks in good humor and then considers his next move. He nods. "OK .... me and my two daggers go for the last orc." he hears Tony singing and grins. "Did you just make that up?"
Tristan snorts “Well thankfully it’s fictional blood Mason...like a video game with better dialogue?” He teases. Tony starts singing something he’s never heard in his life and he has to agree with Rene. “Yeah that’s not a real song. Clever though…” He rolls for the song and the snap “And the sorcerer returns and goes to Mason and wraps him in a sort of cocoon of magical light and shit, spinning him like he’s on a rotisserie. Ding! Mason is cooked and ready to serve up sarcasm like a cheeky Christmas turkey. The sorcerer hovers in the air with his hands like this…” Tristan puts his hands together in a prayer like position “Maybe he’s meditating. Maybe he’s just a creepy weirdo. The ways of magic are complex.” He nods and grins and then head juts at Rene “I did actually mean you by the way.” He says off handedly and then rolls for Rene’s attack on the last orc “And boom, orcs are down. You all walk forward once Mason finds his feet again. You come to a pool of water you can’t go around in the next section of the mine. There’s a small wooden boat and one of those stick paddle push things like for canal boats. Under the water something is lurking. There are noises, ripples, you feel like you’re being watched.”
Mason rolls his eyes. "Cured and dizzy. Story of my fuckin life." he pauses. "OK ... water and ripples. We're badasses. We can get in the boat to cross and kill anything that tries to come up after us." he insists.
Tony looks at Mason. "Could we at least look in the water and see if there's something in there besides salmon?" he rolls his eyes and looks pleased he still has his tongue, but also protests. "I did NOT .. it's from this really old TV show my grandfather liked called Welcome Back Kotter. He then proceeds to sing the entire theme to his friends, complete with snapping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI
Rene blinks. "I was supposed to sing?" he shakes his head. "I would have killed the orcs doing that. I'm not the smooth chocolate singer here. More like Rocky Road." he laughs. "Ok, I'm going to check out the troll's bodies .. never know when they might have something they don't need anymore now they're dead. Then I came with and yea .. check out the water and the shore .. can we at least see the other side?"
Tristan listens to Mason “That’s a valid strategy.” He realizes all three of them need to agree on whatever choice they make. Being a DM was a little like being a referee he realized. He looks at Tony when he tosses out his idea “OK look before you leap...to the boat?” Then he has to laugh as Tony breaks into song, which is a common thing with him always. “Snazzy.” He comments after “I’ve never seen that. My Grandparents loved all the old police detective shows. Maybe that’s why my Uncle Ryan became a cop too. Yeah I’m surrounded by them.” He can’t help but smirk at Rene. He missed the comment about Tristan meaning him about playing both sides. Perhaps it was best not to dwell on it and bring it up again. “Ok so do you all want to look in the water as a group?” He was holding dice but not rolling yet, just conferring.
Mason blows out a breath. "You guys want to be careful? Fine, we can be careful." he protests.
Tony grins. "I know a lot of the old police show ones too ... I have a lot of old fashioned song in my head with the ones from this time." He looks at Mason. "Yea .. we want to be careful, but the next closed door with bad sounds behind it you can just go barge on it." he considers. "Ok ... Braveheart over there." he points to Mason. "Can look in the water and I'll look in the boat because we need our sharp eyes thief to make sure we don't get attacked by bats or something."
Rene nods. "Safest man in Alexandra, then?" he listens to the plans. "I will ... and do I see anything? Across the water, on the shore? Boats coming out to us? What do my sharp eyes see."
Tristan takes it all in and then breaks it down in his head and points “Mason, you look in the water and see merfolk, not the pretty disney kind. The murderous Harry Potter kind. They have nasty looking fish faces and teeth and claws. They look….hungry. What’s your move? Hey guys remember your sorcerer friend isn’t far off. You can ask him for help too.” He points at Tony “You look in the boat. It contains a large glass phial of disgusting looking puke green liquid. If you pick it up and examine it an eyeball floats to one side that looks decomposed. Potion or poison? What do you do?” He points to Rene but blindly as he also looks at his notes and ends up actually poking Rene in the chest “Shit, sorry.” He laughs “OK Across the water the mine continues. This area just got flooded at some point by an underground stream that changed paths. But if you look hard enough you see what could be minecart tracks and some unlit torches on the walls across. What’s your move Rene?”
Mason groans. "Ugh ... gross. And grosser." he says about the bottle. "Um ... I'm not drinking that." he announces and folds his arms.
Tony arches both of his brows. "I hope it's not a potion. Gross." he bites his lip. "Um ... maybe it's a poison?"
Rene acts on instinct when he is poked and grabs Tristan's hand. It is, of course, immediately pulled out of his grasp "No problem." he moves his attention to the game. "Um ... Alright guys we need to follow those tracks, I think. I'm going to take the potion and dip one of my daggers in it. If it's a poison we'll find out fast enough."
Tristan laughs evilly at the reactions of Mason and Tony to his hideous phial that he wrote. “Yeah it was meant to be gross.” He felt his cheeks go a little warm when Rene grabbed his hand even though it was just for a second. He clears his throat casually and goes on “OK so we’re just rolling for the poison check? The dagger is accurate. It’s poison. You were hoping for poison. What are you going to do with it fellas?”
Mason blows out his breath. "OK so ... no drinking it ellas." he licks his lips. "SHould we call the ol wizard gup back? I mean if we find treasure we'll have to split it with him."
Tony nods and at the poison. "That might help with the merfolk." he suggests. "And ... think we need that wizard?"
Rene smiles at the roll and nods. "OK .. poison. I'm going to coat both daggers now and then keep the phial." he blows out a breath. "Um ... well we could use a wizard if these merfolk get out of control. Call him back, Tony?"
Tony nods again and falls back on his rendition of the theme song, snapping at the end.
Tristan reads for Rene’s skills with poison daggers and tucks it in his brain and then rolls for Tony “Welcome back Wizard. You summon him with the song and he hangs out doing his creepy floaty meditation thing but he agrees to help your party.” Now he reads and then rolls again but fumbles the dice. One rolls under the couch and the other flies past Rene and lands somewhere behind him. Tristan sighs and heads for the one under the couch “Sorry….I’ll just read the number from this one...consider it luck and fate “ He takes it back and rolls again but carefully “4…...4 merpeople of indeterminate gender attack the boat just as you push off. They’re reaching in for you all making murderous fish faces at you.” He belatedly answers Mason’s concern “I don’t think the sorcerer wants treasure, His treasure is knowledge and enlightenment.”
Mason winces, but decides. "4 beats 9, thank goodness." he considers and says. "Ok, the one coming after me I stab with my sword."
Tony smiles, having successfully called the wizard back. "Yea .. I stab one coming at me." he looks at Rene. "You have two daggers so .. you'll be fine."
Rene ses the die land right at his butt. He moves over a little and takes it. "Lucky us." he hands it back between two fingers to Tristan. "Ok, fair enough. I try and stab two of them as they try and get in the boat. If the poison doesn't get them the blade will." he theorizes.
Tristan takes the die back from Rene, his fingers closing slightly over Rene’s to remove it from how he’s holding it. He hesitates briefly after and then rolls “Mason, you injure yours but don’t kill it. Now it’s pissed and still coming at you but not able to reach you as well.” He rolls again “Tony, instant death stab. You’re clear.” He rolls again twice, one for each of Rene’s merfolk “Ok dead as a doornail and….oh….grazed and it grabs onto you sinking in talons. You take damage but the poison catches up with the merperson and it drops overboard. The sorcerer drifts over to you and weaves a little whaling magic on your wounds. They heal.” He looks around the group now. “You make it across and just in time because as you get out of the boat, the rest of the merfolk emerge and take hold of it, sinking it to the bottom. This may be a one way trip boys, unless there’s a way out ahead.” He goes on. “You walk to the track and see a rickety ass mine cart. The way down is a steep dark plunge into a dark abyss. How do you proceed?”
Mason groans. "Story of my life ... can I invent gunpowder and just blow their heads off?" he seems to consider. "Hot damn A cart! Let's ride, boys!"
Tony pumps his fist. "Yes!" he rejoices in his kill. Then he looks at Mason. "You sure we should just blindly jump in the cart and go in the dark? You're always in such a hurry." he rolls his eyes.
Rene feels the fingers and a flutter in his heart. Even he knew ... this as a crush. He plays it cool. "Ouch! Talons. OK .... Thanks sorcerer dude." He looks between Tony and Mason. "I think we might want to walk. I want to examine the cart and see what's in it, then I think we can push it ahead of us to run over anything that gets in its way ... including a cliff."
Tristan laughs at Mason “Never change Mason….do or die with you.” He looks between Tony and Rene as cooler heads voice hesitation and sound reasoning. He sits back on the floor as they’ve all migrated a bit and leans on his hands, crossing his feet with his legs outstretched “Well you guys decide. I’ll just hang with the wizard for a while and try to see what he recommends for a summoning spotify mix for future stories.” He smirks.
Mason rolls his eyes in exasperation. "Fine .. exercise caution. See if I care." he laughs.
Tony laughs. He's sitting with his legs crossed facing Mason more than anyone. He rolls his eyes. "Nale the subject and I'm ready for you." and he sings a few bars of 'Rescue Me' and drinks more of his soda. "Ok, we should to it like Rene wants. I just wanted to walk, but he's got the better iea. I admit it."
Rene's legs were under the table and now Tristan's were as well. He can feel Tristan's bare feet against the leg of his jeans. "OK ... I want to check out the cart and then if we can, all three of us should push it. See if it moves along on its own or if we have to keep shoving it."
Tristan moves a foot and feels it connect with the denim fabric and pulls his legs back “Oh sorry Rene, I’m crowding you.” He laughs and blushes a bit and then gets back into the game “OK so you guys are going to push the cart and walk behind it? So it’s dark. If any of you has magic or maybe you just adjust? If you walk long enough it might change. You push the cart for about 7 minutes and then it hits something solid and you can’t keep pushing. You can’t see what it is. Options?”
Mason purses his lips. "OK, I'm not a wizard so no wand waving for me. Um ... if I have matches I can ... oh wait no torch ... um ... fuck ... No flashlight no nothin." for as talented as he was for solving ... and causing ... electronic problems, D&D taxed his imagination.
Tony blows out a breath. "Um ... was there a torch in the art? as there ANYTHING in the cart?"
Rene lifts his eyes to Tristan as he feels his feet move. "C'est bon (it's OK)." he then listens to the options. "Oui .. what is in the cart? Anything? If not ... I hope I have matches on me."
Tristan gestures to Mason “There are torches on the wall. But you need something to light them…” He looks at Tony “Good good….look in the cart?” He smiles a bit at Rene and gives a little nod “OK two of you want to look in the cart so I’m just going to tell you what’s in it.” He laughs “More torches….” He cracks up a bit “Sorry and some fire starting little pumice stone thingies. And somewhere in the bottom, a bitey little rat so watch your fingers.”
Mason looks relieved. "OK, I take a torch and light it." He looks eager. "Is it a treasure chest?"
Tony laughs. "Fuckin smart ass." he leans back on the ouch again. "OK ... I'm gonna light a torch too using the pumice."
Rene returns the smile and then laughs. "Oui ... OK ... being careful of the rat, I get a torch as well ... let's light em up, boys."
Tristan chuckles “Ok you have fire. But your way is still obstructed by an object in front of the cart. Mason are you going to go look to see if it’s a treasure chest? One of you has to walk to the front. You have a torch. Tony and Rene are lighting them up…..I hope you guys still mean torches.” He jokes. “This is an all ages adventure.” He gives them a dramatic pause “It’s a barrel but old and heavy. You can roll it away and keep going. I’m going to assume you do that because it’s logical. As you move on there’s writing on the wall, since you’re lighting torches you can read it Danger Go Back Don’t Go on You will die etc. Do you keep going? You can now see the tunnel’s end and the path ahead. The way is clear and the space the tunnel ends has some light as well.”
Stephanie emerges from working in her room “Hey you guys, it’s almost 7. Are you hungry? Tony, Mason, Rene, do you want to stay for supper? I was going to make sushi bowls and we have enough to share.”
Tristan lights up “Sushi bowls! You guys totally want to stay for that!”
Steph smiles “Text your parents. I don’t want anyone pissing off the parentals with dinner waiting for you.”
Masin jumps back up into the hair and bounces. "Yes! God, do I have to tell you every little thing I do? Yes, I readjust my dick to the left and move to the front to look." he dramatically rolls his eyes. "Oh hell YES we move on!" he looks at Tony and Rene. "But we walk, don't run ... happy? Those signs are probably like those beware of dog signs people buy who don't even have a dog." he sees Mrs Reinhardt walk by, and beams. "Yes PLEASE Mrs R." he pulls out his phone and sends a text. Then another one. Then a third. Fourth and fifth. Finally he beams. "I can stay!" he cheers. "For some stupid reason Mabel wanted to come over for dinner, Mom ssays." he rolls his eyes.
Tony laughs at Mason. "Yea .. may as well .. we can't go back anyway." he arches his brows. "Why does Mabel want to come over." he texts his father and in a second he nods. "Dad says I can stay, so it's cool."
Mason rolls his eyes. "I don't know, she grabbed mom's phone and asked if Rene was here. I said yes and she wanted to come over." he rolls his eyes.
Rene also laughs at Mason, but before he can reply Tristan's mother comes through. "I would love to. Let me ask Dr Page." he sends a text and waits, even though he didn't text his parents. A moment later he nods. "I can stay." he is about to put his phone away when he gets another text, which he reads, smiling. "I have to spend the night at Dr Page's." he grins at his phone. "Dieu merci (Thank God).” he bites his lip. “Hold on … S'il vous plaît.” He spends almost two minutes sending texts back and forth with someone and when he is done looks happy and relieved. “Sorry about that guys…” he got distracted from the fact that Mabel wants to have dinner with them.
Tristan had been listening to Mason with a cheeky grin but didn’t get a chance to retort before his mother was in range. As his mother turns towards the kitchen he pulls the dice into his palm and flips Mason the bird, still grinning. The game is naturally paused and he looks a bit confused about Mabel and then hears she’s asking about Rene being there and can’t help but look at Rene . Mabel was being goofy on Canada Day. Rene was cute, really cute. He had noticed and so had Mabel Stanley. He bites his lip and looks back to Tony and Mason and then gives them each a smile when they say they can stay “Cool. Do you guys want Mabel to come?” He looks a little hesitant and feels a pang of something in his gut about it. He tunes into Rene’s texting and talking now “Is everything ok? We should have planned ahead, you could have crashed here.”
Stephanie puts on rice and then overhears the words Mabel wants to come. She walks back over to the boys “Ok how many of you am I feeding so I chop enough veg….Mason is your sister joining us? She trying to run away from a meatloaf night or something at home?” She laughs lightly.
Mason was a bit busy rolling his eyes to notice anything else. "No!" he answers immediately. "I shared a womb with her and a million dinners with her. This is guys night ... present company excepted, Mrs. Reinhardt."
Tony watches Rene with a bit of concern and laughs at Mason. He doesn't realize that Mabel might have a crush on Rene .. but he notices very little sometimes.
Rene starts a bit at Mason's viehemance that Mabel not come for dinner. "I don't really care." he admits. Mabel was very pretty ... but ... Tristan was ... different. He nods and smiles at Tristan. "Yea .. my parents ... they've had a hard time ... and are ... making up." his eyes widen with Tristan's offer. "I wish I'd known." he looks at Tristan’s Mom. "Would it be OK, Mrs. Reinhardt? I mean ... if not I will be spending the night with three girls, one of whom I hear makes guys fight to the death."
Tristan laughs and Mason, secretly relieved at his brotherly rejection. “We’ll be having sushi bowls with a side of testosterone.” He jokes to Mason and smiles at Tony and Rene. When Rene says he doesn’t care he feels a sudden lift. Then he listens to him about his parents “Well that’s good news. I hope they work it out.” Tristan looks between Rene and his mom now “Rene could die mom…..no one wants that.”
Stephanie laughs at Mason and then looks at her son and then Rene “We won’t let you die. Yes you can stay. Should I be talking to Dr. Page so he knows we’re not ax murderers? And shoot we need more breakfast cereal for the morning then. I’ll text Mike….” She pulls out her phone and types a quick request for a grocery stop on his way home. “You know Rene, I should actually get one of your parents numbers too. We have a bit of a network here so we can find you all. Of course it’s still better if you kids communicate with us directly.”
Tristan beams “I’ll take the air mattress Rene. You can have my bed. Let me go toss on clean sheets even. I’ll use the ones I’ve been sleeping on on the mattress on the floor.” Thanks Mom…” Then she talks about the parent text group network and he rolls his eyes and looks at Mason “See they’re spying on us all the time.”
Stephanie catches Tristan’s eye as he walks by and points two fingers at her eyes and then at him “All the time.” She deadpans back.
Mason is just glad his twin isn't invited to dinner. Then Stephanie mentions a parenting network, but no one asked for HIS parents numbers, so he remains innocently silent.
Tony smiles. He hops up on the couch again and tucks his legs under himself.
Rene smiles. "Oui. Merci." he pulls out his phone. "This is Dr Page's number." he hands the phone to Tony, who hands it to Stephanie. "And my parents are in the contacts. My mother is Maman and Papa is Papa, if you want them both." he hears Tristan tell him that he can sleep in his bed and nods, managing not to blush at all.
Stephanie takes Rene’s phone “Cool thanks. I swear this was the best idea the Stanleys ever had…” She wanders off a bit with the phone and taps the info into hers.
Tristan goes to his closet and gets fresh sheets, his spare clean comforter and pillowcases as well as the air mattress he uses when a friend sleeps over. For some reason he feels a little shy about Rene staying. He’s denying the reasons in his head but he’s also really making everything perfect. His bed has never been so nicely made. He’s a pretty tidy person but he does a bit of extra straightening up as the automatic pump fills the air mattress. He straightens a picture on his wall even. Then he puts his old sheets and comforter on the air mattress and takes one pillow off his bed. He’s about to walk back when he gets a text chime and glances at his phone.
Banjo Bundan: We need to talk.
Tristan sighs at it and sits on his bed texting back:
Well ok. So talk.
It’s been a god damned month since they did in any form.
Tristan, I’m sorry. This isn’t working out. I really care about you. But I just need space.
Tristan looks at his phone and wants to throw it across the room:
You mean fucking ghosting me for the last month isn’t enough space for you? By all means, take some more!
Tristan feels hot angry tears stinging in his eyes and then Banjo types back.
Fine if you’re going to be a dick about it, we’re through.
Tristan does throw his phone now and lets out an emotional yell.
Stephanie looks up from her inputting and goes down the hall “Tris?” She leans in the door “Hey…”
At this point Tristan is slumped on his perfectly made bed with his face down in the pillow quietly crying.
Mason here's his parent's name and looks up sharply. "The Stanleys. Oh for fucks sake." he grumbles.
Tony laughs softly hearing the name Stanleys and points to Mason.
Rene looks curiously at mason. "This network was your parents' idea?"
Tony answers for Mason. "The Stanley Twins are legend on this island." he smirks. "Climbing buildings, hacking computers. Having to be rescued. Never a dull moment with those two."
Rene arches his eyebrows. "Mon Dieu." but he is chuckling and in an incredible mood. Then he hears a sound from the other room. He watches Tristan's mother head for the door and his smile fades.
Stephanie sits down on the edge of Tristans’s bed and rubs his back “Do you want to talk about it?”
After a minute Tristan lifts his head and wipes his eyes “Banjo broke up with me...finally. He hasn’t talked to me in a month. Maybe I should just be relieved.”
Stephanie hugs him “Oh sweetie. Is this a good night for friends over?”
Tristan hugs her back “Yeah it is. I don’t want to just sit here and feel like shit. I’m going back to them. I need my friends. Thanks though...I love you.”
Stephanie lets him go a bit “I love you too….and I’m glad you have the guys over then. Dad won’t be long either.”
Tristan nods and gets up, wiping his eyes more thoroughly and composing himself. He walks back into the room but isn’t going to just dump it all on everyone. He tries to jump back into the conversation “Ok so everyone’s here for supper right?” His eyes are still red.
Mason has been defending himself. "Mostly it's Mabel. You never see ME climbing the Community Center or the school." When Tristan walks back in, he nods. "Yea ... I'm in." he shakes his head.
Tony chuckles. "Yea, but it wasn't Mabel who started a fire with a soldering iron either." Tristan returns and he sees the red eyes but says nothing. "Yup ... Then I gotta get home."
Rene just shakes his head. "You're scary, Mason." he admits. "Really scary. But I think your sister might be scarier." Then Tristan walks back in and he sees his eyes. "I .. don't know yet .. well .. dinner .. yes. The rest ... I don't know yet."
Michael Reinhardt walks up to his front door and unlocks it. He walks in and looks around as he toes off his shoes. As big as he is he makes the rooms of his house look that much more crowded ... or cosy .. depending on how one looks at it. He is in his uniform and carrying a plastic bag with a box of cereal in it. "Hey guys." he calls to them all, moving towards the kitchen and setting the bag on the table. He hasn’t taken much more than a glance at Tristan and so misses his eyes.
Stephanie follows Tristan out and casts a few concerned looks in his direction but tries not to hover. She finishes with her phone stuff and she’s about to call Greyson Page when the door open and Michael walks in. She looks both happy to see him and relieved he’s there. She kisses him lightly hello as he ends up next to her in the kitchen and then leans into him and whispers “Don’t react loudly. Banjo just broke up with Tristan. He hasn’t told his friends.” She pulls back and looks awkward and sad. This was a new one with their teenager. She picks up the cereal from the bag and then speaks at a normal volume “Oh cinnamon…..nice…” She puts it in the cupboard and stashes the bag and then continues prepping veggies.
Tristan sees his friends seem to notice his state and gives them a little smile “Cool. Glad to hang out longer.” His Dad walks in before he can say more “Hi Dad.” He offers and then he doesn’t seem to know what to do. He looks back at the D&D notes like he’s trying to get back into them but his concentration is off. Finally he just sighs and pulls out his phone and opens it to the texts with Banjo and puts it on the table so they can see them with a shrug.
Mason leans over and reads the phone. "Ugh .... man ... ugh..." he is a bit uncomfortable, but he wants to support him and reaches over to pat his shoulder.
Tony reads the words. "Fuucckkkkkk." he breathes and pats Tristan on the shoulder. I'm sorry man. I really am."
Rene sees the phone. "Merde..." he reads a bit more. "Putain..." he lifts his eyes to Tristan and they are full of compassion. He is across the table from Tristan and so he can only look at him, but he is compassionate. "Enfoiré"
Tony smirks. "Well you know merde is shit ... and putain is goddamn ... and enfoiré is fucker." he translates. "What Rene said."
Michael waves to Tristan and notices his face. "Hey bud." he looks at his wife and hears her words. He doesn't appear to react at all. He nods to Stephanie. "Yea. Saw that coming." he murmurs low. Making his voice normal he shrugs. "Because cinnamon is fantastic. Clove is better, but they don't put that in cereal yet." He listens to the friends. “If you want, I can translate all that to German and Gaelic....” he offers, betraying that he knows what happened.
Stephanie nods at Michael and then smiles about clove “I don’t know if the world loves clove like you do Babe.” Then she overhears the friends. She doesn’t speak French well so when Tony translates she smiles a bit. Her kid had good pals at least. She leans her arm into Michael’s beside him “I’d offer in japanese but I suspect Tristan knows more cuss words than I do in it.”
Tristan takes the phone back and nods at Mason and Tony “Thanks.” Then he sees Rene’s compassion and is touched but frowns a bit trying to figure out the other words. Tony translates and he has to chuckle at both what they mean, the sentiment and Tony concurring. Then Michael chimes in offering Gaelic and German and his mother suggests Japanese. “Tawagoto (shit),Kami Kuso (god damn).Baka (fucker). So I should just text back a string of international curses?” He sniffs “You know it sucks but I’ve also been mourning this for a month too so I don’t even know what to feel now. Relieved a bit? Whatever. You’re all awesome. We still have treasure to find in a mine if you guys are up for it?”
Michael sighs. "I am a man ahead of my time." he puts his arm around her. "He does, baby. He .. definitely does." when Tristan proves his point he points at him. "See." he grins and then shrugs a bit. "Sounds to me like you've just been waiting for this." he hasn't actually seen the texts. "So .. absorb it. Learn from it. Move on.:" and then he smiles. "Yes .. finish your game, guys. Nothing to see in the kitchen. I will NOT eat your sushi bowls. You have my word as an Irishman." and he heads into the bedroom to get out of his uniform.
Mason snorts. "Cursing him out in four different languages is a start." he shrugs. "I don't know, man."
Tony considers. "Yea ... I can't think of anything. I've never had anything like this."
Rene laughs at all the potential translations. He looks at Tristan. "Time heals all wounds. Old saying, but I think it is true."
Stephanie looks relieved that her boy seems mostly ok, smiles at Michael “Word as an Irishman, aren’t they known for kissing that rock that makes you full of bullshit and charm?” She calls over. The rice timer goes off and she turns off the rice and stirs it and then remembers she’s supposed to call Greyson Page and does so, walking out to the porch for a moment so she’s not talking over the boys game.
Tristan grins at Mason “No I’m not going to text him back anything but that was funny.” He nods at Tony “Me neither. Maybe it’s good he lives in Australia.” He nods and smiles at Rene “Eyep.” He looks down at his notes “OK so, we were at the point where you can see the end of the tunnel, the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. Nothing is in your path but you’ve still got a ways to walk. I mean you could risk it and ride with the rat friend…..you decide.” He looks around to the three of them, feeling thankful for all of them and his parents.
Michael calls back on his way to the bedroom. "Leave my sacred Irish blarney stones out of this." he lets the innuendo go. These are teenagers. "And I know which YOU fell for." he teases and vanishes.
Mason grins at Tristan and then laughs at Michael. "Right. Lets ride?" he remembers they are playing.
Tony also laughs at Michael, then nods, looking between Mason, Rene and Tristan. "We ride together, we die together. Bad boys for life!"
Rene watches Tristan and then hears Michael and can't help but laugh about the stones. Then he nos at Tony. "Then we will ride, oh great Dungeon Master."
Tristan face palms a bit at his father’s innuendo and blushes “God…..ok” He shakes his head and rolls “You all live but the cart is toast. Smithereens. And….you have awoken something. You look a round a room piled with treasure….like a hoard. Coins, jewels, gold statues and bars, treasure chests, a feast for a pirate’s eyeballs. But there’s a rumbling from within it and things start to shift and from the center emerges a scaly green dragon. It’s nostrils exhale plumes of smoke and it stares you all down. It speaks “Dinner walks in to my lair…..tell me theives, why should I spare you? What can you offer me? Treasure that’s unique? A story, a song, a riddle that stumps me?” Now Tristan sits back looking curious for where his friends will take it “Let me know how you proceed.”
Stephanie comes back in holding her phone and then ferries Rene’s back to him “Thank you.” She says briefly and then walks to Micheal “Grayson Page, just met a new neighbour. The eye doctor. Delightful man. We should take him a bottle of wine and introduce ourselves properly another day.” She deals with the rice and seasons it and then makes a little self serve prep area with all the vegetable choices. The fish she’ll wait for until they actually serve it.
Mason chuckles at Tristan's facepalm. He and his sister might be menaces but his parents were boring. He hears about the hoard. "Jackpot!" he cheers, throwing himself back in his chair. Then he hears about the dragon and groans. "Fuck .. we're dead. I shit my pants."
Tony laughs at Tristan's facepalm. "Dude you should see my dad and Addy .... wait ... never mind ... no you shouldn't." he listens about the treasure and the dragon. He looks at Mason and shakes his head. "Well ... it's better than a fart ... I guess." hee licks his full lips. "I can offer a song .... " he muses.
Rene grins at Tristan. "Be happy. My father was sleeping in the garage and even before then he and Maman ... it is good when parents joke and play, oui?" Stephanie returns his phone and he replies to her with "De rien (You're welcome)." he looks at Mason and then Tony. "Mon Dieu .... um ... I think I will stand back and hope one of these two can make some progress. "
Michael comes out of the bedroom dressed in APD sweats and a Cedar Point Police Department tshirt. He listens to Stephanie and nods. "Sure. You just want to share your wine with the world. It's so generous. I get all weepy."
Tristan falls right over laughing at Mason’s reaction to the dragon. He lands half behind Tony and takes a minute to recover, sitting back up by pawing himself up by using his hands on the table “So new breeches later for Mason.” He raises a brow at Tony and then laughs again “A song is good.” Then Rene talks about how rough his parents have been with his dad sleeping in the garage and Tristan gives his own dad a smile briefly before nodding at Rene “Yeah it’s good. And he makes my mom really happy which took a long time in her life.” He’s sort of indicating that dad might be a stepdad in that statement without saying it outright. He nods and looks to Tony “What will you sing for this dragon?”
Stephanie giggles at her husband “Weepy? Clearly you need more wine.” She overhears the last question and blurts out “Puff the Magic Dragon! Oh you kids are probably too young to know it.” She pours wine for herself and shakes the bottle at Michael “Yes no?” she already has a glass out for him.
Mason nods. "If we get out of this alive, I can buy diamond studded pants."
Tony snorts at Mason. "Diamond studded ..." He shakes his head as Tristan falls into him laughing. Then he considers. "A song ....." and then he hears Stephanie and waves his arm to indicate his friends. "Then might be ... but I am an OLD soul ... music wise." he smiles and begins to sing Puff The Magic Dragon ... with his own touches, of course. It is now rather hippity hoppity.
Rene grins at the banter, glad to see Tristan able to laugh. Then he nods at Tristan, understanding what he means. "Well my sister says she saw them on the street earlier and they look happier than she's ever seen them ... so ... maybe it is time for a change, right?" He listens to Tony sing and enjoys his voice. His own is more for church .. and French.
Michael is listening and catches Tristan's smile. he inks back. "Yes, dear." he all but simpers and holds his glass out to be filled.
Tristan shifts side to side “Mason that sounds incredibly uncomfortable. Like pants made of lego but really expensive.” He listens to the song and smiles and then immediately rolls and raises his hands in the air and then tries to grab Tony in a semi hug semi headlock “You saved the party Tony...you all get to live and take some treasure. One treasure chest full for each of you. There might even be enough diamonds for Mason’s pants.” He smiles hopefully at Rene “That’s really good. A good change.” Then he looks at all thre friends “Now you just have to carry your treasure back all the way to the fucking mine entrance..” He lets them think that’s the end and then pauses “But wait….the dragon has something else to tell you…” He gestures at nothing to the side of him “The dragon transforms into none other than your friend the sorcerer. And seeing you complete your quest he does the fancy hands and you all end up outside the mine again. He’s once again the old beggar and the mine is boarded up and overgrown. Thank you all for playing the adventure Stormborn’s Mine.” He takes a little half bow.
Stephanie fills her husband’s glass, listens to the end of the game and then claps “Yay….ok dinner…..it’s self serve so Tristan come show the guys what we do here...oh wait fish…” She pops the fridge open “Sorry it’s canned.” She looks up at a picture on the wall of her father and brother who have both passed away “You guys didn’t see me do this.”
Mason stands and cheers. "new clean pants! And then the REAL shopping!" he blinks at the transformation. "Nice." Then he realizes its dinner time and nearly vaults over Tony and Tristan on the couch, straightening and ready.
Tony grabs Tristans arm, smiling. "Whew! That's almost as good as winning an award." he okes. At the transformation he beams. "That was hella cool, Tris." he ducks as Mason takes off and rolls his eyes. He stands and just walks.
Rene breathes out a breath. "Dieu merci. (thank god)." he slumps a little in relief. When he realizes that it was over, he grins. "Thank you for having me. That was incredible." he doesn't move when dinner is announced, waiting on the others.
Michael sips his wine and listens to the end of the game. He toasts Tristan with his glass and watches Mason launch himself into the kitchen. "Hungry much, Mason?" he asks, amused. He looks at his wife looking at the picture. "Nothing but fresh fish for three years and NOW she goes for the cans." he murmurs, but winks at her.
Tristan slowly gets up “Mason hang on let me show you guys…” He laughs “Congrats players. Thanks.” He walks over to the little assembly line “OK. gather round..you all have had sushi rolls? This is like that but without rolling it. He takes a bowl from the pile and demonstrates “It’s like making a taco...but it’s sushi. Take a big scoop of rice like so...and then I dunno a bit of all this stuff.” He takes chopped cucumber, shredded carrot, avocado pieces, green onions and then he gets to the fish “There’s tuna and crabmeat….sorry Grandpa, Sorry Uncle Garrett.” He looks up at the photo “They were sushi chefs…..for anyone who didn’t know us back in Cedar Point.” He moves on “Then we just rip up a sheet of nori into pieces on top….like so.” He does so. “Then soy sauce and wasabi as you like and you’re good to eat.” He steps out of the way so others can copy what he did. There are both forks and chopsticks out at the end Tristan takes chopsticks.
Stephanie laughs at Mason and then swats Micheal “It was what I had stockpiled from the big Covid shop we did.” She hangs back and drinks wine while the teens get in there and grab their bowls. “We’re not formal so eat wherever guys.”
Mason laughs. "In other words, everyone but your parents and me." he is the only one from Cedar Point too, and his family was new to it. He follows the instructions and does not make a pig out of himself. That was strictly for home. Then he moves back to his chair in the living room and sits. he has chosen a fork, because messes were also strictly for home.
Tony grins and does as instructed. He takes chopsticks and moves to the living room, sitting here Rene had been sitting, under the window on the floor.
Rene looks interested and fixes his as he's told to do. He looks at the chopsticks, but takes a fork. moving into the living room and seeing that Tony has taken his seat, so he takes Tony's old place on the couch. He sets his bol in his lap and bows his head for a few seconds before crossing himself. "Someday i would like to learn to use chopsticks." he says as if the last thirty seconds hadn't happened.
Michael chuckles. "Yea, yea, yea." he drinks his wine as he watches the boys. He watches Rene and arches his brows. "Ahhh .. good Catholic boy." he murmurs and toasts him silently, but Rene isn't likely to see it.
Tristan had moved back to his spot on the floor and was sitting cross legend and eating as the others joined. He gives Mason a nod “Cedar Point survivors, even if you weren’t born there Mason.” He gives Mason and then both of his parents a sort of melancholy look. But then he glances at Tony. Even through all their family’s losses, moving here, the fog, connecting with Mike as his Dad now, their extended family the Reinhardts and all their chaos, Tony, Mason, the goofy girls like Mabel and Daphne, and now Rene, Alexandra was the best place he’d ever been. He looks over at Rene and then self consciously stops eating. Was he….praying? He crosses himself and Tristan tries not to stare. He’d seen Vicnent do that move once or twice as well as his Dad. Mind you with his Dad there was often an overtone of bitterness or sarcasm. He smiles awkwardly about the chopsticks “Yeah….uh well I can show you the easy way….” Then he hears his Dad confirm he’d also seen the prayer. Grace was the correct word really. Tristan wasn’t offended, more fascinated. He respected all faiths but his family hadn’t really practiced one. Religion was a curious thing to him.
Stephanie exchanges the look with Tristan after the words Cedar Point survivors. She was still in her own process, even three years later with the grief of losing her father and brother and so many friends and colleagues. Alexandra was home though and after all they’d been through here she felt rooted and connected to this community as deeply as she had to Cedar Point. She goes to fix up her own sushi bowl and overhears Mike say good Catholic boy. She looks behind her. The Stanleys weren’t religious and she knew Tony’s dad was Christian but not Catholic. So that could only mean Rene. Stephanie shrugged and kept filling her bowl. She nudged Mike to do his and then head jutted to their bedroom so the boys could have the main room to eat and hang out without spies, as had already been joked about.
The four boys ate and joked and talked about future D&D plans. It was exactly the night Tristan needed after getting dumped by text. Even though it felt like things had been over with Banjo for a while, the words still cemented it and hurt a bit. He had taken everyone’s bowls and rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. Now he walked back to the group and looked at Tony and Mason one of whom at least had hinted that they had to go. Maybe both. “Hey do you guys want a movie or something or do you have to get home?” He was pretty sure Rene was still planning to sleep over since he’d been given permission by Dr. Page but he asked for confirmation there too “And Rene, are you still crashing here?”
Mason had a fantastic time at the Reinhardts. He always did. “Yea … I better get home. I didn’t exactly clean my room before I left and if my mom finds out…” he shrugs. “I’ll catch you guys online.” he promises and heads out.
Tony nods. “Dad and Addy will be expecting me home, and I have rehearsal in the morning, so I better be gone too. See you guys around!” and he hurries to catch up with Mason.
Rene says goodbye to the other boys and looks at Tristan. “If that’s still ok with you, I’d like to stay.” he replies, softly. He knows Tristan’s had bad news with the breakup, so he doesn’t want to stay if he has to mourn. But it’s also good to have a friend and, while he really thought Tristan was cute, the friendship meant more.
Tristan smiles and waves as they go “See ya guys.” Then he listens to and answers Rene “I totally want you to stay. Besides I already fixed up the beds.” He grins “Movies? Popcorn? Being total lazy asses?” Tristan is clearly looking forward to the idea. “Because that would totally make my night a thousand times better.”
Rene laughs. “A good point. I have to sleep someplace, right?” and then he hears the tentative plans. “Oui, yes and hai!” he laughs, agreeing to all of it. “Now we just have to decide which of our lazy asses gets up to make popcorn…”
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