Ups and Downs
GAME HOES
SleevesRBS @WhatsurPoison where you at
WhatsurPoison I was looking for parking
WhatsurPoison I had to park up the damn street
MT oh right there are still classes and stuff right now
WhatsurPoison which lecture hall?
MT Room 637b
MT Look for a jock making out with his ginger
SleevesRBS is that where they went off to
SleevesRBS gross
WhatsurPoison almost asked why that would be a good landmark for me then saw fjord and remembered he’s a freaking giant
WhatsurPoison hold our seats
FjordTough y’all suck you know that
FjordTough we we’re not missing anything just yet
MT what if you guys missed yasha’s talk because of playing tonsil hockey
DarkAngel Honestly, I’d be okay with that.
MT no comments, caycay
WhatsurPoison he is playing a pokemon rom on his phone pretending to ignore the chat
FjordTough in his defense one of my buddies saw us and reminded me the lgbt talk was this weekend not today
WhatsurPoison @MissJester @NottListening I an ready to call whenever for you
NottListening Thank you
MissJester !!!!
SleevesRBS my gf is so hot when she is all in professional mode
FjordTough for the love of god
SassyWitch No, no. Let her continue. Let the gayness breathe
FjordTough I hate you
SleevesRBS I may have a kink for that authority voice ngl
MT I’d high five you, but Caleb and I are in the middle of a raid
MT The lecture hall is a gym
MissJester YOU BETTER HAVE WAITED UNTIL IT WAS OVER!
MT It’s been over for like 4 minutes chill. Fjord will be heading up shortly
MissJester Good.
NottListening Who plays pokemon go still?
MrPalomares2 Look. It is a way that ensures I leave my house for more than necessity.
SassyWitch look
SleevesRBS l o o k
NottListeningl O o K
MT ah so sweet to see it on the other side
SleevesRBS Why is no one else going to talk about the fact that Cay was literally panty dropped that whole hour
MrPalomares2 Because I have never denied that I have had a kink for his voice and accent.
MT well then
MT we now know why he joined the group after all
MrPalomares2 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
DM: SassyWitch and SleevesRBS
SleevesRBS I AM GOING TO FUCKING CUNT PUNT MOLLY’S MANAGER INTO OBLIVION
SassyWitch …
SassyWitch what happened now
DM: FjordTough and TeaLeaf
FjordTough Molls. If you’re going to your parents want me to bring your books there
TeaLeaf please
Caleb blinked and looked at his phone as it lit up with a text from Essek, who was not big on texting. The question if he was working was quickly replied with the fact that he was, but it was slow as no one generally needed the bookstore after 4pm. A moment later, the elegant gait of the man was seen through the slightly opaque frosting on the exterior glass proceeded the soft chime of the door opening. The man had visited him here and there when it was still a potential relationship between the pair, but they had since taken to more planned time together. Even at his most distraught or unsure, Caleb had never seen him look so out of sorts. The man had always come across composed. Now, he looked not frantic, but as though the iron grip he had on exterior perception was slipping.
Worse, he was mad.
“What is wrong,” he asked immediately and closed the book in his hand.
“Molly requested Valentine’s Day off,” the man said without preamble. His long arms crossed in front of him as he took up position. “And his boss decided that as he was a cheater and immoral, Molly is now working a double on Valentine’s Day with a warning on if he attempts to call out.”
“Was,” Caleb hissed and took out his phone again to check for notices from anyone else. “Is he okay, Are you okay?”
“Aside from the strange desire to go animalistic on a person, I am fine. I just was aware that Molly had some pretty high hopes for what we could do.”
Caleb leveled him with a look and Essek grinned sharply.
“Not like that,” the man offered. “Though potentially later.”
“Please not while Fjord and I are in the apartment. It is not very soundproof.”
“So, I heard,” Essek offered, then chuckled at the way Caleb blushed. “I just am not entirely sure where to go from there.”
“As in…”
“Caleb,” A voice called from the door. Both Essek and Caleb jumped as Astrid’s head poked around the corner. “Oh, this is where you ran off to, Ess. I take it you already know, then.”
He had seen Astrid look the range of emotions normal for anyone who was only moderately liked in high school with a high level of self-discipline and high expectations. And he hated the look of sheer frustration that had etched itself into her soft features. He nodded as she joined Essek at the counter and dropped her head onto his arm.
“Caleb, what the fuck.”
“I know.” He paused and sighed.
Then an idea came to him and he took out his phone. As he did, he walked around to the front of the counter and hopped up next to the pair as he sent a message to Yasha, as he figured Beau would be on a rampage and Yasha would be more accessible. He looked up and found Astrid’s eyes watching him closely. Right, he should explain what he was doing.
“If he cannot leave for the day, I figure why not all of us go to him. And if we are paying customers, there is no reason to make us leave.”
They stared at him.
“And as he will be sober, he can drive both of you to either your places up here or get dibs on the apartment.”
“Caleb,” Astrid started and smiled.
“That is actually a workable idea,” Essek agreed. “By all you mean…”
“I mean if Beau and Yasha are willing,” he started and hummed. “I am sure no matter what, Fjord would like to stop by and keep him company as he always does for long shifts.”
“I swear those two will leave us and get married,” Astrid murmured and shifted to rest her head on Caleb’s hip bone. His hand instinctively went to play with her hair.
“It would be a lovely wedding. Molly already told me he is wearing a dress,” Caleb replied offendedly as he typed with his free hand.
“I have so many questions,” Astrid commented.
“I stopped asking,” Essek added.
“I got used to it. I’m even the best man.”
“That’s considerate.”
“For which side?”
“Molly’s. Cad to go against the wedding and Beau needs to be there to sleep with a bridesmaid.”
“This is oddly thought out.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t told you all this. It was practically part of my shovel talk.”
“What is Yasha saying,” Essek asked with a fond smirk.
“She is good with it.”
“Thanks, Caleb. I mean it,” Astrid squeezed him around the middle.
“Of course. You forget that he is one of my best friends and I don’t like the idea of him hurting.”
After Caleb said it, the man paused. It struck him then how truthful it was. All his life, he had figured only one or two people could hold that ranking title of best friend. That it was a tier above all that was reserved for only those two or so people that proved themselves worthy. Now, he realized that now alongside Astrid was Molly, Veth, Beau, and Yasha as his best friends. He hardly counted Fjord, as he was busy in two sections of how Caleb felt for him, but it was strange.
The man who was alone for so long now could not find it, even isolated, to feel as though no one was there for him. And now he knew how it felt, he did not want another to need someone again.
DM: DarkAngel and Widogast
Widogast Status report?
DarkAngel You know. Beau was dragged to the gym by Fjord. Molly is at his parents.
DarkAngel I’m at Cad’s and we are cooking to pass time.
Widogast I already heard from Essek and Astrid. They both showed up at my work.
Widogast I do have an idea but it is by no means a fix.
DarkAngel I am listening. Can I relay to Cad?
Widogast I figured that went without saying. How about we just occupy the bar. For as much of the shift as possible.
DarkAngel How so?
Widogast We all have our dates there. Including Essek and Astrid at the bar. We all just stay there with him. Then he gets pick of where their night leads. We all have parts of our dates happen. And we get to gather plenty of blackmail.
DarkAngel I wonder…
Widogast Ja?
DarkAngel Could we convince Nott and Yezza to come up? I know that her history and the bar may be iffy and they would need a babysitter, but that could make him smile.
Widogast Or, they come up early and he takes a lunch not knowing why.
DarkAngel Yes. I am down for this.
DarkAngel And thank-you. This will mean a lot to him.
Widogast Well, he means a lot to me.
“You are a sap,” Fjord said in lieu of a greeting.
He had finally been able to shower after the gym. Beau had decided she wanted to spar instead of weight train, which never ended well for him. He was not about to turn her down, however, as he was also in a terrible mood after the news. Beau was aggressive about it as always, and Fjord knew himself well enough to know this would be an excellent way to let him work out his own frustration in a healthy manner. One without bottling it up and holding it in until it bubbled over or caused other issues. So, he had wrapped his wrists and fists and let her beat him to hell. And beat him she did.
“I see the gossip reached your ears.”
“Yep, Beau was on the phone with Yasha while we drove home. I like it.”
In the car, Yasha had called about an idea Caleb had and Molly’s partners agreed to readily. At first, Beau did not see what the bene fit of it all. She had stated a few times that it was still not a date and may not be what they hoped for. It was only after Yasha explained they would all be there for some parts, but the pair would be there for most of the shift if possible that she understood it better. And decided their hot date of order-in pizza and Netflix in grubby pajamas could wait.
She also confirmed that, yes, they had agreed to that as their V-Day date.
It also made Fjord realize he still had no plan on what to do. He had never had a girlfriend on Valentine’s Day who did not make all the plans herself. And as he had two games that week, had his two talks and three games this week, and then work and school, Fjord realized juggling that and a relationship was exhausting. Hopefully, Caleb was not one to want much more than something simple. As he was not exactly the most affectionate and open person when it came to his relationships, it was a good sign that simple and clean would be the best bet. And if not, well…
Fjord coughed and blushed in his room.
“I’m going to talk to Nott tomorrow about it,” his boyfriend added. Fjord snorted.
“I feel like I should find a way to reward you.”
Fjord was shocked and pleased with himself that the comment had come out so smoothly and unbothered. In his head, it was a storm of questions and feeling unsure. He had never really been the tease of the pair. Whether by lack of confidence or the habit of overthinking what he was doing. But being a little reckless was worth it sometimes. He had found that out when he had decided to go to school in Boston. When he had asked a random guy to join his group of friends because he was good at Siege. When he decided to kiss while drunk in a club that night. Being reckless with Caleb simply felt like a leap of faith with the knowledge that there would a safety net for him. That someone would catch him, even if eventually.
He got a long hum in reply. It made his heart speed up and a smile cross his face.
“I would not say no.”
“Well, as you have said to me before. Behave and get your reward.”
Fjord was far too pleased with the groan he heard in response.
DM: DragonQueen and MissJester
MissJester Can… we maybe have like… a chat? Night?
DragonQueen Like we always do?
MissJester No I mean.. you know~
MissJester Next week…
DragonQueen oh?
DragonQueen OH
DragonQueen I think that would be really nice, actually.
MissJester :D!
DM: MissJester and NottListening
NottListening How’d it go…
MissJester OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG
NottListening I will take that as a yes
MissJester !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DM: GreenTea and TeaLeaf
TeaLeaf brother time please
GreenTea Always for you.