A trip together
Essek (6:48pm): Are you also getting drunk texts?
Caleb (6:50pm): Ja. Though his are usually less obnoxious than Molly’s.
Essek (6:51pm): I’m dating a weeb.
Caleb (6:52pm): join the club. According to my last text wall, they are watching the show they bonded over. Which is both cute and lame.
Essek (6:54pm): You became Astrid’s friend because you asked if she liked Lord of the Rings and she nearly pounced on you from what Wulf told me. You’re not much better.
Caleb (6:55pm): touché.
Caleb (7:05pm): are you joining the stream tonight?
Essek (7:09pm): I feel like it will be a disaster no matter what I chose.
Essek (7:15pm): That was a yes, by the way.
Caleb (7:17pm): Danke. Beau was wondering if it would be worth listening to our joint annoyance at them.
Essek (7:23pm): Of course she wants to laugh at our suffering.
Essek (7:24pm): Wait, why are you asking here and not the group chat? Isn’t Astrid getting begged for as well?
Caleb (7:30pm): Ah. Well…
Essek (7:32pm): She’s at the bookstore because of the sale, Isn’t she.
Essek (7:38pm): Your lack of answer is an answer in itself. You gave her your employee discount didn’t you?
Essek (7:40pm): I hate you all.
GAME HOES
MT_Bottle WHO IS UP?!?!?!!?
NottListening Everyone
NottListening Literally
GreenTea Wulf is taking a nap.
NottListening What an old man
HeySailor naps r fuckn great
HeySailor dont hate naos
HeySailor naps*
MT_Bottle PAY ATTENTION TO ME
Mt_Bottle I REQUIRE LOVE
DarkAngel What happened to your romantic date night with Fjord?
MT_Bottle HE ABANDONED ME
FjordTough I went to take a piss for christs sake
MT_Bottle ABANDONED
FjordTough ffs
NottListening How drunk is he
FjordTough not at all! He’s had one drink!
FjordTough even Im not that much of a lightweight
DarkAngel Well…
HeySailor …
ItsYaBoi Oooft. Baby.
FjordTough fuck yall
MrPalomares2 That is my job. Excuse you.
MrPalomares2 Also off work, finally.
FjordTough can I get a rain check
FjordTough on the fucking not the you being home from work
DarkAngel Are you sure you’re not drunk, Fjord?
FjordTough …
FjordTough I have a gorgeous boyferied and why would I not be into him
SleevesRBS jesus fuck this is going to be a long sess and I am so down for it
SassyWitch Caleb is bright red rn guys
SassyWitch [Image Sent]
BigBadSoftie Your hair is getting long af
HeySailor ya boi u getting it cut soon
FjordTough please no
MrPalomares2 Well, I was going to but…
MissJester uwu
SassyWitch I’ll say it. He likes it when fjord begs
MrPalomares2 ASTRID
SassyWitch ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
MissJester Is that true? OMF C A L E B WEHF WBFFFBANCUH B D
FjordTough I’m not ashamed of it
FjordTough sober me will be embarrassed kater
FjordTough later
NottListening Where tf did molls go?
MT_Bottle im fuckn crying rn because fjord is saying this as he types it
MT_Bottle by the open window and someone yelled in “get fucked good big boy”
MT_Bottle and I cant fucking breathe omfg
NottListening stranger outside said gay rights
ItsYaBoi ah you liberal bitches and your high society and gay ways
HeySailor u kno u cant have a snowflake joke without reani
ItsYaBoi Fuck. You’re right. I’ll do it again later.
DragonQueen sneaking on to say she appreciates you both <3!!!!
MissJester Cali <3!
DragonQueen Jessy <3!
MissJester ILU QUEEN
DragonQueen ILU2 ANGEL BUT NOW I NEED TO WORK BEFORE I GET CAUGHT
MT_Bottle so gay. I love
MT_Bottle I love my babes
MT_Bottle I love Yasha too where is Yasha
SleevesRBS getting me beer like a queen
FjordTough molly wouldn’t let us have beer becas he sucks
HeySailor im sur essek dopesn mind
SassyWitch heh
Dynamis Please don’t drag me into this.
FjordTough too late
FjordTough yuoure hadting my bestie
FjordTough my bffl
ItsYaBoi Ah. Drunk Fjord. I love when he’s allowed to keep his phone.
HeySailor I thought I was ur bffl
FjordTough no you’re my brother. You’ve saved my life.
FjordTough we sang party in the usa for karaoke together
MissJester what?!
NottListening WHAT
HeySailor and call me maybe
FjordTough we should do karaoke together next time you’re up
MissJester YES
DarkAngel Oh no…
ItsYaBoi It’s always worth it. I promise.
MrPalomares2 Darrow. As your ex husband, I beg of you.
HeySailor I guess if u ask nicely
BigBadWolf I still question why I am friends with everyone.
MT_Bottle STOP CHANGING YOUR NAME
NottListening Are we actually playing tonight?
FjordTough Ya we can set up soon
HeySailor this is gonna b a disaster
SleevesRBS oh yeah
SleevesRBS and we love to see it
“Is everyone is,” Beau asked. A chorus of replies in the affirmative came through. “Alright, cool. How are we playing this?”
“Proximity,” Fjord replied quickly before anyone could say otherwise. “I want to meme.”
“You want to flirt with Caleb you mean,” Bryce replied with a smirk.
“That, too.” Fjord smiled slowly. In his chat, the viewers went mental teasing him over it.
He had warned them about the fact that this was a drunk stream. That he and Molly had been drinking all day as a chance to just be two best friends. He then introduced everyone who would be playing with them: Bryce, Darrow, Jester, Molly, Essek, Fjord, Caleb, Nott, Astrid, and Wulf. Yasha would be watching the games from the same room as Beau, but not playing. The woman was not really in the mood to play after the test she had to take. He watched the comments slide by and chuckled.
“Cay, darling, my chat wants to know how we’re doing.”
“We’re doing just fine,” Caleb replied with a smile.
“STOP FLRTING AND SET UP THE SERVER,” Molly yelled loud enough while muted on his own stream to be heard by Fjord. The man sighed and looked at the camera.
The little space men slowly popped up into the lobby. They went through picking their colors and decorations with casual bickering and teasing. Each spoke to their chat as they did so on and off. Fjord had Caleb’s stream up on his phone but muted so he would watch. In his tipsy state, he would admit that he really just wanted to see his face and how he reacted. When the game started, he locked his phone so it would not be cheating. He could open it later when they were back in the lobby or when he was dead. As Astrid seemed to just like killing him in streams.
“Molly!”
Jester yelled after the purple space man as she ran down the hall. They were both doing their tasks together as was decided in the middle of the lobby chat.
“I am in lights. I think I found an oopsie.”
“Found or did?”
“Found. I think someone vented.”
“What did you find?”
Jester went into lights and shrieked, then giggled, as Molly killed her the moment she was out of sight for anyone in the hall.
“Your death.” Molly’s voice was gleeful as he hopped into the vent.
“Molly,” she whined as a ghost. She trailed after him and laughed. “Guys I think I am the first who died. I… Oh! Fjord.”
“Hey.”
“Is it Astrid?”
“Yeah.” She giggled at his response. “Let’s see how… Oh never mind.”
Jester’s body was reported and immediately Astrid was blamed for Fjord’s death. Even with her air-tight alibi, she was sent out the air lock.
“Seriously,” Fjord asked with a smirk.
“Look.” Astrid teased. “I have to do it once or your fans would be mad.”
A few sessions in and they were all getting giddy. Caleb followed him into specimen room and Fjord immediately assumed he was about to be killed in one of the usually impressive plays his boyfriend was known for. Instead, Caleb laughed a bit.
“I wanted to make out with you in the corner over here,” Caleb teased. Fjord could not help the slow smirk that spread across his face.
“Well, in that case. How can I refuse.” They sat and listened from the corner as people in the other rooms ran by, talking. “You look cute today. I saw your new post on Insta.”
“Flatterer.” Caleb flushed though. Even if he did not see it, Fjord knew. He always blushed when he was complimented.
“Oh!” Beau gasped when she ran into the room and spotted them. “The fuck are you two doing in here.”
“Making out. Go away.” Caleb snickered at the response.
“Can’t you two just be imposters and make out in the vents instead?”
“Nein, but I think Essek is around here somewhere around here. I saw his little feet.”
“Are you sure one of you is not waiting to kill the other?”
“Are you sure you were not hoping one of us was alone to kill someone?”
“… Yes,” Beau replied slowly. Her eyes saw that Caleb’s name was also red and was not sure if this was a long con or if he was protecting the boyfriend this round. “Well. Have fun you two.”
“Caleb,” Fjord asked when Beau left. “You’re not waiting to kill me, are you?”
“Nein.” Caleb responded quickly. “Wouldn’t be very romantic of me on this date.”
“So, you’re not the imposter.”
“Well.” Caleb paused. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Darling.”
“Yes.”
“Please don’t kill me.”
“He does like it when you beg Fjord,” Jester’s voice rang out playfully. His chat exploded at that. He could hardly complain.
Sober Fjord will have to deal with that clip shared in the community. Drunk Fjord simply replied, “I don’t see the issue with that.”
“Caleb,” Jester spoke playfully. “Did you just admit that you’re the imposter.”
Caleb was silent. A moment later, Jester killed him as the sheriff and Fjord reported the body.
“Jester killed my lover!”
“I’m the sheriff! Caleb literally said admitted to being the imposter!”
“He wasn’t going to kill me! He loved me, Jester.”
“I can hear Molly laughing through your headphones, Fjord.”
“Someone from outside apparently commented on my distress.” Fjord sighed. “Why don’t you just kill me and end my suffering.”
“But that would be nice of us.”
“Please.”
“Skip?” Essek’s voice was so dispassionate that anyone who did not know him well enough would have missed the way his smirk pulled at his lips.
“Skip,” they all agreed.
“I know you can hear me, Caleb.” Fjord spoke while snickering. “I knew you’d never kill me.”
The chat never got overhearing the proclamation of love.
GAME HOE
MT_Bottle sorry I vanished
MT_Bottle I wanted taco bell
FjordTough dpont worry we walked
SleevesRBS that doesn’t make me feel any better considering where we live
DarkAngel Speaking of, we heard back from that apartment complex finally. We were approved for the three-bed location.
MissJester !!!!!
FjordTough omg
MT_Bottles Y E S S S S S SSSSS
SassyWitch That’s so exciting!
SleevesRBS WAIT WHY AM I FINDING OUT AT THE SAME TIME AS EVERYONE ELSE
DarkAngel If you had known sooner, you would have lorded it over everyone else.
SleevesRBS lawl. yeah
MissJester HOUSE WARMING?!?!?!?!
DarkAngel We will not all fit.
MT_Bottle not with that attitude
NottListening I will give proper excitement tomorrow, but I have to sleep now or the museum with Luc will be a nightmare.
MrPalomares2 Night, Nott.
NottListening Night everyone
GreenTea Before you leave, I will be able to meet you at the station after all. If you still wanted to take the train.
NottListening Perfect thanks
SleevesRBS Wulfie still going down?
MrPalomares2 I am driving down with him, ja.
MrPalomares2 We need to make sure I leave at a reasonable hour. I switched shifts to make it down.
SleevesRBS the things you do for nott
MrPalomares2 It’s true.
BigBadWolf Caleb, are you going to ever change your name back? I thought it used to be ginger something
FjordTough I hope it’s a permutant change
MrPalomares2 Not likely.
MT_Bottles what
FjordTough what?
BigBadWolf You know what? I have two hours in a car with you. I’ll grill you then.
MrPalomres2 Oh dear…
Two hours and forty-seven minutes to be exact. There had not been much grilling all things considered. His best friend was simply curious about the level of attachment that had formed. He had been watching on the sidelines for some time and noted that Caleb was more attached to Fjord than he ever seemed to be with Astrid. Something that Caleb readily agreed to and explained. When he had been with Astrid, he was younger, and it was as much the passion of the long-term friendship growing into something more as it had been the excitement of a first love. He had cared for Astrid deeply, but their relationship was a progression that seemed natural at the time. Astrid had been something of a fantasy he had—someone he never thought of as attainable. The girl was pretty and smart. Everything that he had liked in a girl with both a stylish and fashionable look and a sense of toughness.
She was everything. But it had all been a fantasy. As much as he had been to her. The boy who seemed like he needed saving. The best friend who was attracted to her as every OTP in children’s shows were. Caleb had been sad and devoted to her, yes, but it was never toxic. It simply was a young love they broke off when it came in the way of other things. The other thing being the friendship with Wulf. Many thought they were some polycule, outwardly ignoring that Wulf was aromantic. The shift in that friend dynamic had upset everything else. And it was only now healing thanks to outside sources forcing them all to talk everything out.
Fjord was something else altogether. He was not what Caleb usually liked in a man. Essek had always been his type. There had been a fast connection between them. An easy flow of conversation. An understanding that had formed even within their first night of playing together. There was something in the anonymous friendship that let the walls Caleb normally had up crumble. Yes, he had seemed unattainable to Caleb, that did not change that the man was still enamored. It was not a goal that had been accomplished in this case. And as for the name? Well, as silly as it sounded, Caleb felt so long as that name was what he used in group chat, it was a good way to remind himself that the man had really chosen him. And that Caleb had done the same.
Wulf had been quiet. He normally was, but in this case, it was pensive and reflective rather than detached or patient. After a while, he looked over at his friend and offered a soft smile.
“Do you remember when we met,” Wulf asked at length. Caleb just nodded and kept his eyes on the road. “I could have sworn you hated me. But I think you thought the same. We’re a long way from those two kids trying to figure life out. I’m glad you didn’t listen to me and went for Fjord instead. He’s good for you, Caleb. And you for him.”
Caleb’s hand gripped the wheel tighter as he swallowed.
“You know you don’t have to keep doing these things to make up for anything, right,” Caleb asked. His voice was soft to take off any unintended bite in the statement. He saw Wulf smirk out of the corner of his eye as they took the exit into the city. “I know.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” Wulf replied frankly. He looked out the window at the skyline in the distance. “We’ve drifted in the past year. I have from a lot of my old friends. I almost lost you as well.”
There was a weak shrug. Caleb swallowed again. He knew what Wulf had meant in that simple gesture—he wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again. They had stopped talking for a while after that. The moment hung between them. It was a chance to reflect on how much the issues between them and Wulf’s jealousy made what had been an important part of Caleb’s life for so long crumble in on itself. And how a part of Caleb’s own excitement for something new made him loose sight of things that were important to his past. As much as he hated the amount of conflict that came of it, he felt this was all something they needed to go through.
There was no maturing and growing without conflict. And unlike other friendships, theirs had stood the test of both time and differences. While Wulf was not completely part of the group and very much had his own friends in Amherst with Essek, he fit himself in. And Caleb did the same for that group with Astrid. Now they sat in the car after two and a half hours on the way to both spend time together. It was nice. It almost felt like the old days when Caleb originally got the car.
The Brenattos all fit in the back seat of the car with ease as he was small to begin with. It was a still a long drive with the traffic in the city. Plenty of time for Luc to explain, at length, the different adventures a young sir could have in kindergarten. His hands moved emphatically with the flow of his often-repetitive story, seemingly excited to have another, newer person to talk at. Wulf, for his part, stayed quiet and nodded. There was not much room for anyone to get the work in edgewise. Caleb smirked slightly whenever the soft hum in the affirmative at the breath pauses. The comfort of a man with a number of nieces, nephews, and younger cousin was obvious, especially each time his passive eyes caught those of Veth and Yeza.
The museum was busy, but that was to be expected. The weather was warmer and the humidity mild. Caleb parked in one of the structures littered throughout the city and smirked as Luc tried to wriggle out of his mom’s grasp as she forced a light sweatshirt on him. The moment he was freed, the boy scurried by Wulf’s side and took his hand. The man looked down, confused for a moment. A bright smile looked back up at him from the figure who was positively dwarfed by his own build.
“How do you know Uncle Caleb?”
“We go to school together.”
“Oh. Why were you not there last time I came up?”
“I had work.”
“Oh. I heard we’re going to Dave and Busters. Are you coming with us?”
“I think so,” Wulf looked over at Caleb who nodded. “Yes.”
“Want to play some of the games with me?”
“Sure.”
The conversation continued as they wandered the street. Luc’s little legs working double time to keep up with Wulf’s long strides. A few paces behind them were Yeza, Caleb, and Veth. The two men were in small talk and basic conversation to fill the air. Caleb had sworn to take the time with getting to know Yeza better as the last time had been a near attack on his ability to breathe. His friend had smirked rather than argued that it was not necessary. They both knew it wasn’t, but Caleb belatedly realized that he had expected the same from Astrid and Wulf without doing the same.
Yeza was quiet and polite at first, but he was clever. There was a sharpness that Caleb knew to be the draw for Veth back when she was younger. Her natural curiosity seemed both peaked and satisfied by who he was at heart. And Caleb found he appreciated many of those same elements. It was a personality trait that was shared with Cad—something he noticed when the taller man joined them.
Within the first hour of the museum, Luc managed to gain the privilege of a piggyback ride. His feet limply flopped as Wulf walked with his small arms were stretched to their max with one hand clamped over the other wrist to hold on. Caleb was in charge of the boy’s backpack now. The bright blue affair was gripped loosely in the redhead’s hand. The boy’s happy voice continued on about the museum, the last time they were there, the museums at home, and anything else that came to mind. Wulf continued his patient humming with each pause. Cad offered support by asking questions and keeping the flow of the stories from collapsing inward as they had in the car. The young boy thrived with the new audience.
“Luc, stop talking his ears off,” Veth sighed while they were upstairs.
“It’s fine,” Wulf replied softly. “It’s good for a kid to be curious.”
That statement only encouraged the already growing story to double down in earnest. A tired smile crossed Veth’s face as Luc was hiked up a bit further on Wulf’s back. A soft smile crossed Cad’s face as he guided them to the room where the animals were brought in from the rehabilitation sites in the area. Luc had explained already, multiple times, how excited he was going to pet an owl just like Beau had. Just not the icky snake.
GAME HOES
NottListening [Image Sent]
NottListening [Image Sent]
NottListening [Image Sent]
SassyWitch Ah yes, Uncle Wulf in his natural environment. Observe how he carries the young and frail through the dangers of the urban environment. His longer strides ensuring the pack is moved through the world at the best pace.
ItsYaBoi All who wish to have Astrid David Attenborough your life say aye?
MissJester aye <3
DragonQueen aye!
Dynamic Nay. She does it in person enough, thank-you.
NottListening Update (this is Yeza)
SassyWitch Why doiies she get one and I don’t?! Explain @BigBadWolf
FjordTough Don’t underestimate the power of Nott
SassyWitch That is why I kill you in every game of among us
Dynamis Is this a bad time to say that he gave me one to win a bet that got us free beer from the microbrewery last week?
SassyWitch MOLLY. DID YOU KNOW HE BETRAYED ME
MT_Bottle left on read because hungover
SassyWitch Still?
FjordTough [Image Sent]
SleevesRBS jesus fuck guy what did you two do after we hung up
FjordTough … notrhing?
DarkAngel mhm
FjordTough We may have also stopped at a package store and got their weird party shooters that looked terrible and played a drinking game watching the last airbender
SleevesRBS why are you not dying
FjordTough I threw up like 4 times last night and just sat in the shower drinking powerade
HeySailor thats wat u get 4 not havin a bag of fluids
FjordTough the good ol’ days
NottListening Nott would like to make sure Molly is actually okay
FjordTough he is being dramatic
MissJester OH~ I am almost at the bar Caliiiiiii~<3
WhatsurPoison I just got here so I’ll see you soon! You can sit at the bar because I know you don’t drink
MissJester thankies =D!
DragonQueen I’ll be there soon, too. I got held up by the roomie =[
DragonQueen Poor thing had a rough night
MissJester Is she okay?
DragonQueen She will be <3 the bf is over so
DragonQueen how long, team museum
NottListening Caleb said about thirty minutes or so
NottListening ttyl, Luc is crying because Cad isn’t going with us to see reani
“Caleb!”
Jester’s singsong voice echoed seconds before the young girl slammed into the redhead with a hug. She smiled and squeezed the man with strength that still made him feel a bit self-conscious. He patted her back as Cali came over with a mall wave. Her hair was tied back this time, unlike any other time she had appeared on camera before to them. Her fringe still fell in away that hid her face slightly, but not to the same extent. He waved back and tried to pull out of her grasp.
The hugs continued to the excitement of Veth and Luc and to the polite awkwardness of Wulf. Cali and Jester brought Veth to see Reani and Luc dragged Wulf off to use their points on the card. Yeza and Caleb looked at each other, both holding all of the bags in their hands and shrugged at each other. They took up a booth and the menus. They’d order for everyone as the rest were seemingly distracted. The two men sat in comfortable silence while the phones buzzed and blinked.
“You’re exactly what I expected,” was all Yeza had said at one point. It was a soft confession. Nothing about it seemed obtrusive or cruel. Just a statement as easy as noticing they had happy hour specials during the week. Caleb blinked owlishly and felt his face heat up. “Not bad. Just… I have heard a lot about you over time. And it’s nice to see that she has someone like you.”
“Oh.” Caleb paused and looked down. “Did she ever…”
“When I met her, she mentioned you a few times. She was scared to try and find you after she messed up again. Her therapist told her to find you. That maybe the closure would help.”
Caleb swallowed and nodded. “But she had no idea how?”
“She thought it would be bad for you to see how she failed to recover on her own. I’m glad she found you again. It’s been good for her. And for you.”
“Oh. Ah. That’s… thank-you.”
“Mhm.”
GAME HOES
MrPalomares2 Luc and Wulf are the masters of the arcade.
MrPalomares2 [Image Sent]
MissJester They were so cute <3333 I love
WhatsurPoison Only kid I would willingly make blended drinks for
DragonQueen that is a compliment lol
SleevesRBS Are you still there?!
SleevesRBS I’m on my way!
NottListening for about an hour yeah. It’s a long way home and IU work tomorrow
SleevesRBS sweet I’ll see you soon
FjordTough I hate you my break was spent visiting the roommate rather than the boyfriend
SassyWitch You worked that hungover?!
SassyWitch fucking RIP
BigBadWolf We can stop by before we leave for home.