The Others
“I am not scared. Not scared at all. Nope, I am okay. I am okay and we’re doing this. I’ve got the camera ready and… I’m cool. Totally and completely cool.”
Molly knew Fjord was actually talking to himself and not trying to reassure anyone else. Not that anyone, aside from Caleb who had never witnessed the brave and mighty Fjord play a horror game, would believe him.
The high notes he hits would give Mariah Carey a run for her not inconsiderable amount of money. He had one of his ear pods is and could hear the standard overlap of information from the rest of the group. Caleb’s breathy accent. Beau’s deeper and harsh tone. The bright tone of Jester and her own sharp accent that contrasted the others. It was not uncommon that when it’s a four-player game, others hop onto the voice chat muted to hear the shenanigans. In fact, he knew Nott did it constantly when closing up at work. Tonight was Phasmophobia, and it was going pretty well.
“I think I saw- (“was that a door”) is someone on cameras?”
“Guys, activity is picking up (“I’m waiting. I got the-)”
Then screaming as hands grabbed around Fjord’s view in game. Screaming from Caleb, who was in the room when it happened. Screaming from Beau, who was watching it on camera. Jester, who seemed to be screaming because they startled her into screaming. A chorus, or cacophony, of “Oh god!” “Run, run, run!” “Where did it go?!” shrieked through the headset intermingled with the nervous and giddy giggles of the four playing.
Molly was crying.
“DON’T LEAVE ME,” Jester was wailing as she apparently ran out of the room while Caleb ran back to grab the camera and the notebook for ghost writing, promising to avenge his death.
More screaming ensued as the door was locked and Caleb and Jester were trapped inside. Fjord was laughing, now, begging them to join him in the afterlife. Beau was yelling to get back with the evidence when Molly took out the headphones to make something to eat and go to the bathroom. Jester had stepped away as activity was slow in the game to get some water when Molly returned to the call, but Fjord was cackling and apparently chasing Beau around the map with Caleb.
“Smooches, Beau,” he heard Fjord tell her while she swore at him to go away. “Give your bro some smooches.”
Caleb ran in circled around her so she couldn’t escape. They were in the middle of harassing each other, except for Jester that had gone off with the spirit box when Caleb sucked in a breath.
“Why is Jester so quiet.”
“… Guys we just hand an EMF spike.”
“My flashlight is flickeriaAAAAAA-“ And then the screaming happened again as something materialized in the dark corner of the video game’s room.
Molly was laughing again until a knock came at the door. He groaned and knew what it was before he even got up. Not bothering with a shirt, he walked to the door and pulled it open, glaring up at one of their neighbors. He was one of the athletes like Fjord, maybe on lacrosse or something equally as lame. The man hated Molly and made it no secret. At parties he was the most likely to harass him while also slinging gay slurs any chance he got. And whenever they were a bit loud, despite the man playing his shitty music and playing action movies at 3am too loud, he stormed over and knocked on the door. Molly just watched as Fjord continued to holler in the background as if Satan himself was now the one asking for smooches.
“Is it really necessary to scream,” the guy asked in a flat tone.
“He seems to think so,” Molly replied patiently. Beautifully punctuated by the background shriek of ”NO SATAN BAD TOUCH” from Fjord.
“You’re disturbing the dorms,” the guy pressed.
Molly made a show of leaning onto the hall and noting that the two or three who walked by were snickering at the noise coming from within.
“See, I don’t believe you. I think you’re just jealous that I’m the one with someone having a good time in my dorm unlike anyone who sees your walls.” Molly was going to get his ass kicked one of these days. And this was probably that day.
As the guy’s face crumpled with anger, he heard the soft throat clearing of Fjord and looked over his shoulder. Molly was tall, but lithe. He was all long muscles and limbs. He was not weak by any means, but the man paled in comparison to his roommate. Fjord was towering, broad and built. He carried himself tall and proud and often with a scowl when their shitty neighbors swung by. Right now, his amber eyes were glaring, and his dark arms were crossed over his chest.
“I have an idea. Let’s be adults about this as intelligence is out of the question, and maybe we can come to a logical conclusion. If you don’t want me telling the RA about the weed you’ve been smoking out your window every night, I think it’s time you stop being a fucking nuisance.” There was not an ounce of kindness or attempt at being passive in his voice, yet there was something to the tone that made people want to yield.
Molly’s father always called it the Irish Diplomacy: the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to the journey.
After a few more moments of staring each other down, Enzo turned and headed back to his room and the wall shook as he slammed the door.
”Fjord,” Caleb’s voice came over the headset drooped around Fjord’s neck. “Is everything alright?”
“Nothing to worry about,” he promised as he slid the headphones back on. “Just the fucking piece of shit neighbor again.”
A part of Molly liked how protective Fjord got over his best friend far too much sometimes. He knew he was damn lucky.
DM: SleevesRBS and TeaLeaf
SleevesRBS enzo?
TeaLeaf who else would it be
TeaLeaf such a fucking prick
TeaLeaf its gotten to the point where im like 90% sure hes waiting to fuck us up in the parking lot if we so much as sneeze at him
SleevesRBS wtf did you do to piss him off so bad
TeaLeaf usually I know but right now I have no fucking clue
TeaLeaf pretty sure he just hates gays and can tell Fjord is though bitch aint really out yet
SleevesRBS I fucking can’t wait for fjord and darrow to knock him out
SleevesRBS only I get to bully your useless ass
TeaLeaf <3
SleevesRBS <3
GAME HOES
MissJester CALEB~!!
SoullessWonder Yes, meine Liebe.
MissJester UwU what does that mean?!
SoullessWonder It is a term of endearment for a friend.
MissJester Aw! And I was about to say happy monthiversary!
SoullessWonder Oh?
MissJester You have been with us for a whole month!!! And we haven’t scared you off!!!
SoullessWonder Has it been that long already?
SoullessWonder Wow.
MissJester Is that a good wow?
SoullessWonder Of course it is. I just had not realized how much time had passed.
SoullessWonder Maybe it is strange to say, but it has felt like this is not that new either.
MissJester <3! I am so, so glad you joined us! You fit in so well =3
MissJester Maybe we can all do a voice chat someday. Like when Darrow is back in country~! He’ll be with Fjord and Molly, so it will be, like, super easy to get them on a call.
MissJester They won’t be sober, but they’re funny drunk. Molly is so rowdy. Fjord is just so sweet.
MissJester He seems like a cuddly drunk.
DarkAngel He is.
MissJester !!!!
DarkAngel He has fallen asleep on all three of us because he won’t stop hugging us when drunk off his ass. Which you'd think takes a lot because he is a tank…
MissJester Do you drink?
SoullessWonder Not much, but more because I don’t have time and prefer to spend my money elsewhere.
DarkAngel Same.
MissJester That is so smart! I don’t drink, but I also grew up around bars and would always, like, see people get super drunk and gross. And don’t want to be like that, so I just stay the DD~
SoullessWonder Grew up around bars?
MissJester OH! Wow, that sounded, like soooooo bad. My parents didn’t take me to the bar or anything. They just owned one and lived next to it. So, like. I was always there and always saw the drunks stumbling around. Getting into fights and arguing. Throwing up in our front lawn.
SleevesRBS gross
MissJester Oh, totally! So, I decided when I was little, I would never be like that. And people have been like, super pressuring but I haven’t cracked yet!
SleevesRBS helps now that Nott is sober, and Cad also doesn’t drink
MissJester Exactly! Ugh, Cad has been like, super helpful in guiding me through politely being like “noooo, nooo, I don’t want to drink.” But, like, not so passively.
MissJester But it’s hard in New York. People are mean :(
MissJester But!!! You can totally drunk text me, Caleb. You are probably so much fun to talk to like that~!
SoullessWonder If I ever get drunk, I will attempt to remember to annoy you with my foolishness.
SleevesRBS literally anything would be better than what is happening right now
MissJester Where are you all?
SleevesRBS trying to get groceries but the disasters are being fucking stupid
SleevesRBS having a married couple argument in the next isle over
SleevesRBS Yasha and I left them because it was getting embarrassing
DarkAngel Normally, I defend them but it was ridiculous.
SoullessWonder Dare I ask?
SleevesRBS UUUUUUUUUUUUGH
DarkAngel It’s over ply count on toilet paper.
SoullessWonder …
SleevesRBS I wish this was not normal but this is a thing
SleevesRBS last time it was over the weight amounts against price on what was a better deal
SleevesRBS or how cleaning products cant be off brand because they suck but food can be except certain foods
MissJester omg lol
SleevesRBS or the fact that Molly hates the squeak of the cart’s wheel
DarkAngel It’s constant. The room isn’t much better. But they’ve been living together for almost 3 years in a matchbox of a space. I guess it is expected.
SleevesRBS its fucking annoying
SleevesRBS I love them both but some days I want to slam dunk them into the nearest trash bin
MT awe, I love you too <3
DM: FjordTough and TeaLeaf
TeaLeaf sulky kitty meow meow
FjordTough I’m not sulking
FjordTough STOP PLAYING HOOKED ON A FEELING
DM: DarkAngel and SleevesRBS
SleevesRBS if you love me, promise to kill me if I start acting like Romeo over there
DarkAngel I’ll even pinky promise.
GAME HOES
ItsYaBoi Happy Halloween, everyone.
MissJester ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING FUNNN~!
ItsYaBoi Studying.
MissJester :(
MissJester We are having a party! I am being a kitty =^.^=
MT wicked cute Jessy
MT Fjord is being lame as fuck and wont dress up
MissJester Why not?! That’s literally the point of Halloween!
MT he hates dress up
FjordTough no I don’t. Just don’t feel like busting out a costume for a half-assed frat party because you want to get laid.
MissJester But Fjorrrrrrrrrd!!!! I wanted to exchange pictures this year! :(
FjordTough you still can. We both know if I dressed up you wouldn’t see my face anyway
MT which I swear is why someone is against it this year
NottListening ?
SleevesRBS no mask rule or at least not all the time so people cant do anything fucked up and not be identified
MissJester Well that makes sense but wow…
SleevesRBS eh its fucked no matter what
SleevesRBS and fjord doesn’t want makeup and shit so he said no but is going as body guard for one of the cheerleaders who uses him like an anxiety anchor
NottListening That worked?
DarkAngel Her boyfriend is one of the main guys in the frat, so I’m sure anything she says goes.
NottListening Touché. Jester, I can send you pictures of Luc to make up for it
MissJester !!!!!!!!!!
MissJester OMG YES PLZ THAT WOULD BE THE BEST
MissJester Fjord, you’re still lame. :(
FjordTough at least I don’t look like an idiot like Molly.
DM: Fjord Tough and SleevesRBS
SleevesRBS ooooh so is that why you don’t want to dress up ( ಸ‿ಸ)
FjordTough …
SleevesRBS would be a shame if someone in chat saw you looking embarrassing before you let yourself be seen looking good
FjordTough I have no idea what you’re talking about
GAME HOES
NottListening You have a dd yes?
MT yes mom Cad is coming along
MT he doesn’t trust me to not drown in my own vomit
GreenTea I said I did not like the idea of you being around that much alcohol considering your last adventure has not stopped your inability to not accept a challenge.
GreenTea There is a difference.
MT I don’t see it youre being lame and overprotective
GreenTea Well. At least you don’t have to pay of an Uber.
MT Caduceus is the best big brother ever and Gus can suck it
GreenTea :) I will be there in an hour.
Caleb was watching his friends consume drinks at an alarming rate while he held his beer that was long warm, and the condensation had melted away. He was not one for parties, but he had made a promise to one of the guys in his class who had felt a spark for. The man was beautiful to say the very least with slight features, delicate bone structure, and eyes that pierced. However, it seemed as though there was a strange disconnect between them even with their compatible personalities and interests. On top of that, he had been rather distracted with the group chat friends and preparing for midterms. He had never realized that he could be so desperate to hear from people in his life outside of his family. However, he found himself checking the chat the moment he was out of classes or off shift. A thrill shit through him when he saw DMs from them, as well. That he was not just part of the group and therefore tolerable there.
That he was wanted and cared about.
But the chat was understandably quiet right now. It was Halloween weekend, and they all had parties or personal things to attend to. Or, rather, two different parties, then Bryce and Nott doing their own things.
He watched as Astrid and Eodwulf mingled and chatted from his perch against the wall. He did not have an issue, really. No one knew who he had dressed up as, which was expected and fine by him, and it was not extravagant enough for people to ask him. And he was not known. So, he watched and waited for the moment when it was clear his presence could be excused. It was almost midnight and he was bored. There were couples making out, people laughing and drinking. There was probably a beer pong game somewhere downstairs. Thankfully, this was not a dancing sort of party like he had assumed parties in college were like. It was loud but relaxed enough. His eyes scanned the room and fell on Essek before he dug the phone from his back pocket and looked without hope for a message from the crew. To his delight, there were some.
To his great humor, they were all drunk messages from Beau, Molly, and Fjord.
DM: TeaLeaf and Widogast
TeaLeaf CALEB MY DUDE MY GUY
TeaLeaf Fjord wants to know if you dressed up because he didn’t
TeaLeaf LIE TO HIMMMMMMMMMMMMM
DM: SleevesRBS and Widogast
SleevesRBS [Video Sent]
SleevesRBS ever seen a person look so bored getting a lap dance
SleevesRBS [Video Sent]
SleevesRBS HE THREW MOLLY INTO A TRASH BIN IM FUCKING DECEASED
DM: FjordTough and Widogast
FjordTough can I return Molly as a friend?
FjordTough keeps getting me shit drinks
FjordTough now he’s giving me a lap dance
FjordTough help
FjordTough shit you’re at your own party
FjordTough I hope you’r having fun
FjordTough wis you werr here instead
Caleb paused before replying. He noticed that Essek had noticed him and was headed over, so he swallowed and exhaled.
Widogast I doubt I would be much entertainment.
FjordTough whaaaaat no! your amazing caleb!
FjordTough I relly like talking to u
Widogast I’m boring. I doubt I’ll even finish my one beer of the night before I can escape this.
FjordTough you don’t have to drink if you hung out here :(((
FjordTough I jus have to drink what Molly gives me or he does n then he gets sick and throws up on our floor
Widogast Either you have rescued a lot of drinks from him or drinking like a sailor does not apply to you.
FjordTough lol I’m a light weight
FjordTough its really bad
FjordTough don’t tell anyone
Widogast I don’t have many to tell other than Astrid and Wulf. And they’re busy flirting with people in the other room.
FjordTough they left you? Rude. I wouldn’t leave you.
FjordTough you seem like youre shy and hate parties. Id keep you compny an make sure no one bug you
Widogast You could if you wanted to. I wouldn’t be upset if you got distracted. Especially if a pretty girl came to talk to you
FjordTough no your pretty too
FjordTough I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to say that
Widogast I was just shocked. Sorry for the delay. I just did not know what to say.
FjordTough but you’ve seen yourself! No one tells you.
FjordTough I’ll stop before I embarrass myself more. This is why Yasha takes my phone
Widogast Do you want me to stop texting you?
FjordTough NO
FjordTough caps. No don’t I like your company
FjordTough wish you lived here because then you could not be alone and I could be talking to you here
Widogast Fjord, can you please do something for me?
FjordTough anything
Widogast Drink water, please.
FjordTough that’s all?
Widogast That is all. I do not want you feeling poorly tomorrow morning.
Widogast I also truly enjoy speaking with you, Fjord. And not just because you are a rather entertaining drunk.
FjordTough :) have water. Cad says thanks for making me have some
Caleb looked up when he heard a soft cough and noticed Essek smiling at him. Something clenched in his chest. The flutter of attraction that always lingered there. And maybe guilt for knowing he was slightly flirting with Fjord at the moment because the man was too drunk to take it all seriously. There was no harm in it now except for seeing the person he had hoped to pursue something more with there. Caleb assumed he was some specific character, though the man was painfully ignorant in pop culture himself. Essek never did anything by halves and he was always superb in his execution. It was that competency that had drawn Caleb’s attention at first. Then it blossomed into something more. But with his phone warm from use in the hot room burned Caleb’s hand as it was holding the soul connection to someone who had wormed himself in deeper and faster than even Essek had. Someone he barely knew outside of his Texan accent and gently teasing, playful tone.
“Caleb, I had not expected you here.”
“I am ever at the whims of the other two,” Caleb replied lightly. The painful twinge of truth behind that stabbed at him. He thought of Fjord saying how he would not have wandered off.
“Childhood friends can be like that,” Essek responded easily. He smiled.
Caleb only hummed in response. He wondered if the rest of chat would drag him places he did not want to go and leave him there. Not Beau or Molly. Cad would simply not drag him at all, no doubt, but refuse to go and let the others head off. His companion seemed to notice his mind wandering.
“You seem distracted today, not a fan of everything?” There was always a sweetness to Essek’s tone. It made Caleb blush slightly and grip his phone tighter.
“A friend is drunk texting me. I am making sure he is alri-"
The pair looked down at his phone as it started ringing. A discord call was coming through from Molly. Caleb squinted at it and excused himself. When he answered, he was greeted with the loudness of the party and Caleb’s name being yelled by Beau. Who had let her phone die because she forgot to charge it (“We both know I am a fucking gay disaster, Cay!”). And who was looking for Fjord, who had apparently disappeared from the place they had left him a few minutes before when Cad brought him water. He got Fjord to tell him, though not directly or entirely coherently, where he had wandered off to for the others to corral him and Molly to Cad’s car and back to the dorms. By the time he was finished, he had a warm smile on his face. Essek, however, seemed put off by the temporary dismissal and made no effort to keep him longer when Caleb deemed it late enough to leave. He also made no attempt to join Caleb as the redhead used to hope for with these chance meetings.
He waited for the disappointment of not having the guy he had been crazy over for months not even blink at the drawn-out way he had mentioned leaving soon.
It never came.
What did come, however, was a message from Fjord late in the morning that following day.
DM: FjordTough and Widogast
FjordTough I crave death