“So then I told him, I says, ‘well if it’s a living cube where’s the kitchen!’” Laughter filled basement of the home of Corbec Grovine as the ‘mon himself told a story. Corbec was a portly Ivysaur who often faced the mocking calls of his peers due to his round shape as well as the fact he was allergic to himself half the time. The depths of how he persued his interests often left him on the blunt end of several jabs that were made at his expense. The teasing was worth it when he was able to take control of the interest of his group of friends and prove his awesomeness whenever he was the dungeon master of his Role-playing group. When he commanded their attention and respect the haunting jeers of his teammates were far from his ears.

“That was a pretty good one, Corbec,” Maggie Dopplepopolis, the Ivysaur’s new girlfriend and fellow RPer, told him as she adjusted her glasses after a snorted laugh knocked them off her nose slightly.

“Yeah, just needed a couch and you’d be set!” Benjamin “Blister” Snales, the group’s rogue, added as he leaned back in his chair and grinned at the silly story. The gathered group glanced over towards Andrew Plio, their large Mamoswine compatriot, as he snorted and squealed out a response as well. Ever since his evolution people had trouble understanding him so it took a few sessions with the group for them to be able to understand him again. Once they did he’d proved to be a laugh riot as the parties Bard. Everyone presented busted up laughing after they heard what he said and nodded in agreement.

“Hey, where’s Confetti?” Corbec finally asked as he looked around, “She’s running kinda late and I’d hate to delay the unveiling of my newest leg of my metaplot!” They could almost hear the dramatic music that should’ve accompanied the statement as they looked toward the DM.

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Maggie said as she grinned, excited to see where things would go. When they’d last left off they’d been just about to assault the goblin stronghold behind the Gates of Elzabub. They could only imagine what they were going to face once they got past the gates and into the heart of the goblin empire.

“Corbec, darling!” Suddenly the voice of the Ivysaur’s mother sprung up, “Your friends are here!”

“Send them down, mom! Gosh!” Corbec quickly shouted back. Andrew blinked suddenly and said something to the others in his own way. Gary Elmond, the groups Ranger, looked to Corbec in surprise as well.

“What’d she mean by friends?” the Electrode asked, “I thought we were just missing Confetti,” The answer came as their Togekiss companion Confetti Akaina came down the stairs into Corbec’s basement. She wasn’t alone as a rather stately looking Milotic boy followed her and barely contained his disgust. The others fell silent as Corbec stood and looked at Confetti in confusion.

“Umm, hey Tim,” the Ivysaur greeted Confetti’s boyfriend Tim Rape, “I didn’t expect to see you here,”

“I didn’t expect to be here,” Tim said in response as he glanced around the less than kept nature of the bottom room of the house. Corbec and the others could see the look on his face and they knew that the Milotic was having a hard time being there. The Ivysaur stood up and motioned for Confetti to follow him as he walked off to one side. The others in the group tried their best to smile and be friendly towards Tim as he stared at them. Andrew started it by saying hello to Tim, since he’d met him before, and did his best to make him feel at ease. Tim just glanced at him and tried not to look utterly confused and lost.

“What’s he doing here?” Corbec whispered harshly at the Togekiss. She put her fingers together nervously as she glanced between Tim and Corbec.

“Well, we’re short a person,” She started to explain, “And we need a warrior…and, umm, Tim could be that!” The two looked over once again towards the Milotic.

“It’s, uhh, nice to see you again…Balthasar,” Tim responded to Andrew after the Mamoswine attempted his greeting. The others around the table looked a little confused that he used Andy’s character name instead of his real one. Corbec face palmed even as Confetti looked hopeful.

“See!” she whispered excitedly towards the DM, “He even remembered Andrew’s character!”

“I think it’s because he doesn’t know his real name!” the Ivysaur countered. Confetti suddenly gave Corbec a pleading look.

“Please give him a chance, Corbec!” She did her best to keep her voice low. The others around the table looked towards the pair as they waited to see what happened even as Tim picked up a small figurine and looked it over.

“I dunno,” Corbec said reluctantly as he rubbed the back of his head, “I don’t think he’s very interested…and he might screw things up,”

“What’s this?” Tim asked suddenly as he looked over the figurine more.

“I promise he’ll behave!” Confetti begged more, “Look? He’s already curious about the game,”

“It’s a druid,” Maggie answered the Milotic.

“What’s a druid?” Tim asked a bit confused. Confetti suddenly looked back to Corbec with a little less confidence.

“Eh heh heh…” the Togekiss wasn’t sure what else to say. Corbec looked between her and Tim hard for a long moment before he just sighed.

“I’m gonna regret this…” the Ivysaur conceded before he finally agreed to let Tim in. Confetti gave a small squeal of happiness as she hugged the DM in thanks.

“You won’t regret this!” She said excitedly.

“I already am,” Corbec responded, “He’s your responsibility though, and you gotta help him,”

“I will! I promise!” Confetti said as they walk over, “I already helped Tim roll up a character even!” Corbec looked over to Tim somewhat skeptically.

“Lemme see him,” Tim pulled out a sheet from the binder he had and handed it over towards the DM. Corbec took it and looked over it with more scrutiny than he did other players since he wasn’t sure what to expect from someone who’d never gamed before and seemed hostile to the idea. He supposed it was kinda cool that Tim was willing to do this for Confetti…but he still wasn’t convinced.

“Only mistake I see is ya named your character Tim,” the Ivysaur said as he handed the sheet back.

“I couldn’t think of anything I really liked so I went with my own name,” the Milotic answered.

“You gotta have a character name,” Blister spoke up, “I mean, Balthazar the Bard ain’t as cool as Andrew the Bard. No offense, Andrew,” Andrew held up a hand and shook his head to show he didn’t take any offense to it. Tim blinked a bit in surprise and some relief that the kid’s name wasn’t actually Balthazar.

“Well what’s wrong with a guy named Tim?” the Milotic asked indignantly, “It’s a good, gallant name!”

“There’s nothing wrong with Tim,” Confetti quickly interrupted, “Right?” She glared towards the Ivysaur who withered a bit under the gaze.

“N-nothing wrong at all,” He quickly retreated, “Why don’t we get started!” The others nodded in agreement as they settled in to start the game. Every now and again they glanced over towards Tim apprehensively as they waited to see how he’d react to the game and its rules and idiosyncrasies. Tim himself wasn’t sure how much fun he was going to have either but Confetti had been very convincing to get him to show up and he was going to at least see how it went, though he didn’t expect to have any fun.


“As you wander down the dank, poorly lit tunnel that leads in from the outside you notice what looks to be like claw marks on the walls. It’s hard for you to tell, though, if they’re made by animals…or by people trying to claw their way to freedom!” Corbec had brought his intrepid crew of adventurers deep into his adventure as he spun his tale of danger and woe. Most of the players sat around enthralled as the nasally voice of their DM described and the dangerous place their characters explored. Most of them that is, except for Tim.

“So why are we here again?” the Milotic asked. Whether it was in character or not was besides the question. The group turned their attention towards Tim in some confusion; except for Corbec who did so in annoyance. He’d reached the zone where his storytelling had hit a level of artistry that all dungeon masters aimed for. The fact it was interrupted by this interloper didn’t help.

“What do you mean?” Confetti quickly asked to try and head off any hostile responses that might be shot at her beau. The Milotic looked towards her and shrugged again.

“I mean why are our characters here?” He explained his question, “What drives them to risk life and limb when they could just get jobs doing stuff and not have to threaten their lives,”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Gary asked, “Game would be pretty dull if we just RPed out our characters being bakers and blacksmiths,” Andrew said something in agreement and added to the point of it all. It seemed to be rather poignant as the rest of the group nodded in agreement; though Tim still couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“I still don’t get why Tim would go and risk his life just to try and make a lot of money in one shot,” Tim did his best to refer to his character rather than himself for the sake of the discussion. Corbec looked like he was getting visibly upset at the interruption to his amazing campaign and gave an annoyed look at Confetti. The Togekiss gave a weak grin and looked towards her boyfriend to try and figure up a way to explain the whole scenario to him.

“Sometimes it’s best not to think to hard on it,” Maggie suddenly spoke up to explain, “the point of the game is to get into adventurers and see what happens, it’s not even always about making money for the characters,”

“It’s about the fun and the adventure!” Gary added in agreement. Once more Andrew added something poetic about the fun that can come from letting go and sliding into the game. For once, Tim thought he actually almost understood what the Mamoswine said, even if it was just part of the soliloquy.

“All right,” Tim finally conceded, “I’ll try not to think to much about motivation and slip into the game,” Confetti smiled widely as she gave her beau a tight hug in thanks. Tim smiled wanly as he returned the embrace lightly before everyone looked back to Corbec who still seemed annoyed.

“Can I continue?” the Ivysaur asked. Confetti pulled herself back and sat there as though an angel, even if she wasn’t going to fool the DM. Corbec cleared his throat and continued on the path of his story. Tim sat there and psyched himself up quietly for a bit before he turned his attention back to the tale being woven before them in hopes he could immerse himself into the story before him. If nothing else he’d do this for Confetti.


“Come on, Balthazar! I need you to sing so I can get the bonus to hit so we can take out the Goblin King and claim his treasure!” Hours had past; at least two beyond what would normally be the time that the group called it a night. Of all people it had been Tim who now pushed them to continue on so they could finish the adventure at a proper place instead of on a silly cliffhanger. Most of the gaming group slumped in their chairs as they tried to stay coherent as it went on. Some of them had made some calls home to let their parents know they were coming home late or were thankful they were still in the dorms and that the curfew had recently been eased. If nothing else the basement had a few couches they could crash on.

Andrew grunted and slurred out a response to Tim that even those in the group most capable of translating his accent had trouble picking out. The Milotic seemed to understand him though and scowled in response.

“It’s not my fault that we’re so close!” he quickly retorted, “If we’d had a better stopping point we could’ve by now!” Corbec’s bleary eyes quickly focused in annoyance at the proclamation before he stood up.

“You saying this is my fault?” the Ivysaur asked pointedly. Tim turned to him and matched his gaze.

“You’re in charge aren’t you?” the Milotic shot back, “So yeah, it is your fault!”

“Guys?” Confetti started to stand in order to try and prevent a blow up from happening.

“Well maybe if you’d taken the cue two hours ago when everyone else said it was a place to stop then we would’ve!” Corbec quickly shot back.

“Guys…” Confetti tried to interject again.

“Not my fault you can’t pace the story better!” Tim fired back just as hotly.

“Guys!” Confetti’s voice finally caught their attention as they both turned to look towards the now seething girl. The Togekiss had never looked as scary as she did now; which caused the boys to shrink before her burning gaze. Confetti took in a few deep breaths in order to calm down before she looked between them.

“Now,” her voice was soon as calm and collected as it ever was, “Tim, we’re all tired right now. Maybe you should let us call it here,” the Milotic started to object but a single glare from the girl stopped him in his tracks. She turned towards Corbec and put on the sweetest smile she could muster; which put more fear into the Ivysaur when he saw it.

“And Corbec, it’d be really sweet of you to let Tim come back next week so he can help us take down the Goblin King, right?” He couldn’t even begin to protest against the doom he knew he’d be threatened with if he objected. Instead he just gave a slow nod of agreement.

“Good,” She said as she smoothed down her blouse, “Now, I’m going to go use the restroom then Tim and I are going to go,” He looked towards the two boys again, “And you two are going to come to an understanding. Got it?” Flames seemed to erupt around her as she issued the order. Corbec and Tim shrank back from her and nodded meekly in agreement. The Togekiss smiled and turned to head for the restroom. The others in the group waited until she’d left before they all quickly gathered up their stuff and dashed for the door after they said some hasty good-byes. By the time it was over only Tim, Corbec and Maggie were left in the basement.

“So uhhh,” Corbec tried to start, “I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Tim rubbed the back of his head as he tried not to look at the Ivysaur just yet.

“Yeah,” Tim followed up after a moment, “I…have been having fun,” He forced out the admittance, “And…I’d like to continue playing. If nothing else for Confetti’s sake,”

“I’m sure we can, umm, find a way to get along,” the Ivysaur agreed, “For Confetti,” the two boys looked at each other and nodded. Neither really felt like shaking hands so they passed on the opportunity. Instead they stood there in awkward silence, which caused Maggie to giggle a bit, before Confetti returned from powdering her nose.

“Ready to go, Tim?” She asked as she gathered her things. The Milotic took the opportunity and jumped at the chance to get his stuff as well.

“Yeah, let’s get you home before I get in trouble with your parents,” he said with some relief. Confetti just smiled and waved to Corbec and Maggie on their way out.

“See you two next week!” With that the couple disappeared up the stairs and out the door. Corbec stood there as he watched them go really not sure what to say. Maggie pulled him out of his stupor with a kiss on the cheek before she got her stuff together.

“I’d better get going too,” she said before she started for the stairs, “Talk to you tomorrow, Corbec!” The Ivysaur watched her leave as his cheeks colored to a bright red. Through it all, the fight he had tonight over things with Tim, the struggle to get him to understand as well as to keep the other players happy, there was one thought on his mind. A single idea that dominated his thoughts and shot through his brain above all others; a culmination of the entire night that stood out to him and that reminded him of a wonderful fact.

“I love it when she does that!”

Awesome!

I'm rather fond of this story my own self.

And as I said about the WIP I love what you did here.

I think Confetti came out very well.

Is it an ironic coincidence I was reading an issue of "Knights of the Dinner Table" when I saw this...? I leave the question to the Bards...

Awesome work! ^w^

Oh such great inspiration.

Hilarious, awesome, epic (*cracks up at that*) need I go on?

In other words a really great read! ^w^

Glad you enjoyed it! That's why I write these things, to entertain others.

Role-playing game characters playing role-playing games?

It's all so very existential isn't it?

I sometimes wonder if we're taking this too far...

Not unless we get together in person and RP our characters RPing while we RP.