Heh, Squid Game [Sketch]

Heh, Squid game [Sketch]

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Accept My Character

Summary: After Steve and Robin's first time playing DnD, Steve seems both enthusiastic and nervous about playing again. When Eddie offers a safer way to be herself around Hellfire without completely coming out, Steve takes it.

Author's Note: I never named Steve and Robin's DnD characters before because I wasn't sure what I wanted them to do. For their original names this time, I looked up scientific names for rabbits and just made names from that, the more normal for Steve. For the next one, I looked up playboy playmates and used a surname of one from the sixties. It seemed fitting.

Sequel to How I'll Play and Come Play with Us

Eddie was thrilled with how the campaign using Sylvanian families toys as figurines had gone. Everyone had enjoyed it and Steve was already talking about joining another, but he looked uncertain about it sometimes.

“I think she wants to tell the rest of Hellfire about who she is, but he’s not sure if they’d accept it.” Robin said when it came up between them one evening. Steve had left to drop the kids at home so they had a rare chance to talk privately about her. “How would she even explain it, feeling more like a girl some days and others okay with being called male?”

“Just like that.” Eddie pointed out, “But I get what you mean. Why doesn’t he use his character first? Bring her back female for a second campaign, maybe with a name change or even not immediately recognisable to them at first? Then explain.”

“That needs discussing with him,” She decided, holding up her hands.

A throat clearing behind them startled the pair, both turning to see said person leaning against the door with an eyebrow raised, “What does?” She asked, having changed into a more fitted blouse before coming back to them.

Eddie jumped up, smiling nervously at him, “Whether you’d be happier playing another campaign if we put more of you into your character.”

“What?”

“Eddie was wondering why you’re delaying letting him plan or arrange it, and I wondered if it’s because you were wanting to be out to everyone in Hellfire.” Robin blurted out.

Eddie clicked at her, “And I suggested starting with your character if your nervous about how they’ll react to you. We know the kids will stick up for you already and I doubt the CC boys would react badly but that gives you a safer way to check.”

“Can she have a different name? Like Winchell? Or swap between them, like Steve and Eve?” Eve asked, moving further into the room now, looking at Eddie hopefully.

“Anything you want. You could even swap the outfit your character is wearing to show which name and pronouns they’re using as long as there’s narratively time to do so.” Eddie promised, getting a playful pout directed back.

Eve whined a little too, “Are you sure I can’t pause a battle just to change clothes?”

He nodded, “Yes, cause you’d keep using that to also get advantage in other ways, by moving or accidentally throwing something as you change.”

“I could do that regardless.” She nodded, glancing at Robin who was definitely ready to plan more ways they could make Eddie’s life as DM more difficult.

“We’re heading back to Sylvan for our next campaign. Reacquaint yourselves with your characters for it, and prepare for confusion with a dash of chaos.” Eddie declared after celebrations for the one they’d been working on wound down.

“You got Steve to play another campaign?” Jeff asked, looking thrilled at the idea. “I’m going to keep a tally of how many times he messes up your plans.”

Gareth laughed with him, “Or just get popcorn as the breaktime snack. Either to watch Eddie frantically rework the route or to watch their debates.”

“Glad you’re all excited for it. I’ll let everyone know the dates if Steve doesn’t.” Eddie accepted the teasing easily.

Around the table everyone could see their figurines from before, and Dustin was aghast to notice a couple noticeably missing. “Where are Oryctol and Leopold? I thought we were starting the campaign together this time.”

Robin and Steve shrugged as their characters were mentioned, pretending to be as confused as the party over Eddie’s antics even if they’d agreed to them. It helped with the storytelling if none of the players knew anything and after their first campaign they were more than willing to play along with that.

“As you’ll recall your last campaign ended with a farewell to the Harengley siblings as they returned to their families for a time. You, Broc, sent a letter requesting their companionship on this new journey but have yet to hear from them.” Eddie jumped straight into narration to answer the question, pausing at the end of that introduction to note who had asked and pull the letter out of his folder. “Here’s the letter sent, please pass it to Oryctol for safe keeping. As there’s been no reply you are hoping they’ll join up with the party on the way.”

There were a few questioning looks exchanged as Robin’s character was the one specified, but nothing more was said as play began.

“An arrow flies from the trees for Broc, too unexpected to be dodged or deflected by him or anyone in the active party, but, Oryctol, do you want to try?” Eddie turned to Robin abruptly, where she and Steve had remained observers for the first half hour of gameplay.

“YES!” She hurried to grab her dice, rambling about various ways she might be able to bock it as she rolled, before moaning at the low number, turning to Steve. “In my desire to save a friend who asked for help I drop the things I wanted to use, and instead call still hidden by the trees, ‘Winchell, can you stop it from hitting him?’”

Eddie frowned a moment at the actions but nodded to accept her role-playing without letting him describe the failed attempt.

“I throw my shield on it’s side, aimed just between Broc and the arrow flying as fast as I can.” Steve decided the action immediately before rolling. “And a side note that given it’s being thrown like a frisbee, it would arch away from Dustin and back into the tree line if it flew too far.” He muttered to Eddie, instead of calling out his roll. He knew that type of real world physics sometimes got ignored if Eddie decided to injure a character anyway.

Eddie leant over his guard and smiled, “Your attempt succeeds and the shield knocks the arrow off course before clanging into a tree, slightly dented.”

“Oryctol! You managed to make it.” Dustin exclaimed in character, “Thank you for saving me, Leo-” At that point he froze, looking at the figures now placed on the map just coming out of the woods, and realising the name called wasn’t the one he’d expected. “Winchell? Who are you? Was Leopold not able to come?”

“I’m him, Broc. But yes, my name’s Winchell currently. Come on, whoever fired that arrow must be close and we don’t want to stay where an unseen enemy wants to attack us.” Steve replied, gesturing to where the arrow had come from.

The rest of the party exchanged surprised looks for a moment, looking ready to ask more, but Robin stepped in, “My sister is right,” she said in character, “And I’d like to roll a perception check to confirm if I can locate the archer.”

“Me too,” Grant decided. “I get advantage as an Owlin, remember. And Winchell, Oryctol, it’s great to have you with us again.”

Steve nodded, moving his figure further through the map and replying, “Good to be here.”

With the rolls made, Eddie began narrating again, getting the party moved on from the area they’d met up in.

The beginning session ended with laughter and praise over how Steve’s character changes between campaigns. He felt even more comfortable being himself around the entire group than before. He wouldn’t have thought role-playing would help him so much.

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1 month ago

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