Origin

[Nina]

Spoiler

Except for the first couple paragraphs this is a flashback thread telling the story of Sara, Sean, and Able.  Sorry Roach you were just a seven year old when this takes place.  If any sort of rolls are needed use the Base character I had you create at the beginning of the game. It isn't exact but its close enough

 

Sara took the opportunity of Rochelle’s interruption to step away. Away from Abel, away from Sean, and Away from Rochelle. She remembered Rochelle even though she had just been a little girl when Sara had last seen her.

 

She wandered off, her eyes scanning the vehicles listlessly until they landed on an old Ford Mustang that had seen better days. Memories of the past started flooding back as she remembered being behind the wheel of a similar model, the wind in her hair as she raced carefree down the highway. But those times were long gone now, replaced by the weight of responsibility and the burden of their newfound abilities.

 

Lost in thought, Sara didn't notice Sean's approach until he was standing right beside her. His presence brought her back to the present, and she offered him a small smile before turning her attention back to the vehicle.

 

"You okay?" Sean asked, his voice gentle.

 

Sara hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, just... reminiscing."

 

Sean followed her gaze to the Mustang and let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, memories, huh? I get it." He then leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

 

Sara's eyes flicked over to him, a swirl of emotions evident within them. He was close, but not the person she remembered. As she gazed at Sean, she couldn't see the same sweet and troubled boy from her past. Instead, with her heightened senses, she saw a seductive woman who stirred something inside her. "It's all so complicated, Sean. Sometimes I wish we could go back to how things were before... before everything changed." She gestured vaguely towards their surroundings, encompassing not just their current location, but also the transformations in their lives that had occurred.

 

Shelly Montana, Ten Years ago…

 

Seventeen year old Sara Hutchins was angry. Angry at herself, angry at her father, angry at the world. And most of all angry at that fucking weird little asshole Sean Cassidy.

 

Sara was queer, a truth she had known since she was old enough to distinguish between girls and boys. She didn't dislike boys, but she couldn't deny the strong pull towards girls, with their beauty and softness. Unfortunately, Shelly, the small town in northern Montana where she grew up, was located in the middle of conservative country. The term "queer" still held negative connotations back then, instead of being embraced as a source of empowerment.

 

She had always kept her feelings hidden, except for one time when she was fourteen and acted upon them with an older girl from the reservation whom she met at the bowling alley in Shelly. That experience turned out to be a disaster, but it did lead her down the path of selling weed and solidified her reputation as the towns tough lesbian bitch who should not be fucked with.

 

Sara and Sean Cassidy had been classmates since they were in kindergarten. In those early years, Sara was convinced that Sean was a girl. She even had a crush on him, mesmerized by his delicate features and small frame. But then she discovered that Sean was actually a boy with a medical condition that made him look more feminine. This realization confused Sara greatly, causing her to distance herself from him and ignore him for the rest of their lives.

 

Until the beginning of this year, that is.

 

On the first day of school, Sara perched on the step leading to the back entrance of the High School. The door opened onto a small field, fenced off from the nearby Truck Farm and Railroad that bordered the town. She had staked her claim to this spot last year when she became known as the Weed Queen of Shelly. No one dared to challenge her, not even the teachers or other students. Sara was tough and not afraid to throw punches; for a teenage girl, she had an impressive fighting ability learned at the feet of the former pro MMA fighter, Larry Kasmark, who taught boxing at the Shelly Youth Center. Of course, it didn’t hurt that her father was the sheriff.

 

Sara was smoking a cigarette when Sean cassidy burst out the door behind her, stumbled on the steps and sprawled on the ground in front of her followed closely by Chet Marsters, who didn’t stumble but looked like he was going to kill Sean.

 

Sean rolled over and looked up in horror at  Chet and then he saw Sara sitting on the step with a cigarette between her fingers. Chet saw Sara at the same time too and froze.

 

Sara took a drag on her cigarette and slowly blew the smoke out toward Chet. She didn’t move but Chet edged away from her anyway.

 

“You boys here to buy some weed?” She asked knowing that they weren’t.

 

 

[Shameless]

The first day of school.  It was going to be a better year, at least that was what Abel told himself.  He ran track for the school, and played baseball.  He was tall for his age, but not the tallest at school, nor was he the largest.   He'd always made friends easily, and knew at least some of the talk about him.   He hung out with Sean Cassidy, they'd been friends for a number of years, and while certainly there were times he had no real idea what Sean was talking about when he'd get excited and go off on a tangent, he'd nod along, happy his friend had something that excited him.   He was part of the little gaming group Sean ran, with various rpgs and sometimes video game nights on the weekend.  His Dad of course worried, because Abel enjoyed that more than having a more traditional Montana high school social life, but his mother was happy he wasn't out drinking or doing drugs.

Sean was his friend, but at the same time, Sean didn't like him intervening to help him out, unless things were just that out of hand.   

Of course, Abel had other friends, guys he ran track and played ball with, even a few he fished with.   That said, if asked which of his friends he'd enjoyed spending time with the most, he'd have answered Sean, because Sean was interesting, and different from himself.  it wasn't the medical condition, though that certainly made him stand out.   Sean's outlook, his intelligence, they were things that drew him in.  Of course, Sean being able to to tutor him in his weaker subjects, and being a good friend, he didn't mind doing so, especially since Abel was always open to giving him a ride somewhere, or binging pizza to their game nights.

 

The first day of school, and already Chet had gone after Sean.  He'd heard about it, and was making his way following in the path.   Michael Ross barred his path, or tried to, he was one of Chet's friends (it surprised Abel that someone who was as big an asshole as Chet was had any friends).   "Stay out of it, Cross."   "Mikey, get out of my way or I will stomp a mudhole in your ass in front of God and everyone."   The furious look in Abel's blue eyes promised he'd do exactly as he said.  While Michael was not a small guy, Cade was much stronger, and while not really a trained fighter, he'd won most of the scraps he'd been in.   

Michael backed out his way, realizing it was day one and Abel was already not in the best of moods.   Chet's antics had already spoiled his good mood.   Past him, one of the girls who was on the track team, Alicia Simmons, called out to him "Abel he chased him out the back of the school."   Abel nodded.  "Thanks. I'll remember it."   He head onward heading for the back of the school, hoping to make it in time.

[Asarasa]

Sean rolled over with a hiss at the pain in his tits from landing on them. On his back, he couldn't see his shoes over the thrust of his chest, nor the traitorous loose laces that had tripped him up. He could see Chet standing at the top of the short flight of stairs, his face red with anger. The tightness of his bras said Sean grown two or three cup sizes, but he wasn't the only one who had filled out over summer. Chet was as tall as Abel was, but his shoulders and arms looked massive, as big or bigger than most full grown men at only seventeen.

Dammit! Sean cursed himself as he struggled up to a sitting position. First day of school and I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

He had a plan. He just needed to finish his second video game, ReGenesis, and with two thousand sales, he'd have the capital to move out of Shelly and start out new in California. In rural, conservative Montana, the old folks made California sound like some progressive, alien hellscape. But for someone like Sean, it might be the only place he might fit in.

 

At not yet seventeen, he was ostensibly a boy, but had the most impressive bust in Shelly High. By his sisters' admissions, he had a prettier face than most of the girls in school. He'd always had very fine features, inherited from his mother, but his parents had assured him he'd grow out of it with puberty. Puberty had instead decided to make a mockery of those assurances, instead revealing that Sean had a pair of genetic syndromes that insisted on making him look more girl than boy.

He wasn't interested in guys, and if guys were interested in him, it was just for the idea of being able to see or touch a pair of epic boobs attached to someone who should 'get it' and let them. Most girls thought him a freak, not a few were jealous of his looks to Sean's terminal embarrassment. A certain number thought he'd make the perfect gay best friend, but he wasn't gay, and hardly shared their interests.

 

There had been one girl who had shared his interests, Sophia. A redhead like him, also well-endowed for her age, and she was into video games and RPGs like him. They had shared a lot and he had thought she liked liked him. One night, cleaning up after gaming the summer before last, he worked up the nerved and kissed her. She had pushed him away and shot him down, hard. She had liked him, but not like that, and now didn't even like him at all.

 

Sean had felt about an inch tall and so very alone. Not helped when his older sister Teagan had moved out of Shelly to join the Airforce. It had been the first year of high school and his athletic sister wasn't around to protect him. His younger sister Laurie might have already been taller than him, but was skinny as a pole. His bullies had taken advantage of his vulnerability.

He had only survived due to luck. The shame of his reaction to the torment still wracked him. But it had also given him a drive to survive and get out of Shelly. They wouldn't win. He had his plan. He had pursued emancipation, under the pretext of making it simpler with his own video game development company. He wasn't sure his parents believed him. This summer, he'd gotten his own vehicle, a forest green Grand Cherokee. He was pretty sure it had been a drug runner's vehicle, but he loved it anyway.

 

Escape was so close. A year. Two tops. He didn't even care about graduation.

 

He just had to survive it. Just keep his head down and ignore the comments. That was easier said than done. Chet had laid into him the first day, his on-again-off-again bitch girlfriend Courtney Adams smirking from the other side of the class room. Already irritated with needing to replace his bras, Sean had snapped back without thinking. Chet was off again with Courtney and Sean had said 'Just because Courtney won't let you play with her small tits, doesn't mean I'll let you play with my big ones!'

 

Sean knew it was a mistake as soon as he said it. The class had 'oohed'. Courtney shouted. And Chet's face had gone red as his hands balled into fists that looked as big as Sean's head. He had bolted, the desks between him and Chet barely slowing down the big teenager. 

 

And that had ended up with him on his back about to be pounded into paste.

Except Chet... hesitated. Sean looked over to where the plume of smoke had come from and noticed Sara lounging on the step. They had been friends once, in elementary, but like most, she had drifted away when his hormonal abnormalities became obvious. At least she hadn't turned on him like many other had. She'd gotten a tough girl reputation, and was supposedly a lesbian, but she wasn't that big. Teagan was way bigger. Her father was the sheriff, though.

 

Most importantly, she was making Chet hesitate.

 

Sean scrambled to his feet, unconsciously rubbing his throat before balling his hands into small fists inside the long sleeves of over-sized green Triforce hoodie. The baggy hoodie and cargo pants made Sean look overweight, but when he'd been on his back, the way the hoodie had draped him revealed to Sara and Chet he was anything but. Sean locked eyes with Chet, baring his teeth in a false grin as he sidled closer to Sara.

"Sure. I mean, yes. I am. Buying weed that is," Sean lied, obvious to everyone.

[Nina]

With a flick of her cigarette, Sara crushed it under her combat boot and stood up. Chet was bigger and taller than her by at least six inches, but he took another step back. He had heard stories about Sara running with indians from the rez - he wasn't about to mess with that. "I'm fine," he muttered before giving Sean a final glare and heading back into the school.

 

Sara smirked at Sean's quick thinking. She couldn't help but feel a small amount of satisfaction at seeing Chet's defeat. "Smart move," she said, her voice low and gravelly. "Always knew you had more up your sleeve than just your...endowments."

 

Sean couldn't help but blush at her comment, his cheeks flushing a deep red. He had always been more comfortable with Sara, even if they hadn't been close for a few years. "Thanks, I guess. But I never thought it would come to this."

 

She shrugged, lighting another cigarette. "Have you ever even smoked a joint?”

[Shameless]

Abel had just reached the door out the back of the school when Chet, his face in a scowl, came back inside.   He saw Abel and sneered.  "Relax, Trackstar, your girlfriend's fine.   You better keep her in line.  Accidents can happen."   Abel moved faster than someone his size was expected to, and pinned Chet to the wall, even though the football player was slightly bulkier than him.   

"Threaten him like that again Chet, and I'll take the suspension thrashing your ass in public would probably get me."   Chet made to move, but to his surprise, Abel held him fast.   "I mean it."  His blue eyes seemed to flash, and Chet understood just how mad Abel already was.  He seemed to stop resisting, enough that Abel released him, and he straightened his collar.  "Goddamn Abel, all this for some freak of nature, aren't the girls here better?"

Abel looked at him, and frowned.  "Sean is my friend, Chet."

"Well tell your friend to watch what they say."  With that Chet left, and Abel watched for a moment to make sure he wasn't just going to come back with his clique, before heading out the doors.

It was there he found Sean, and Sara, of all people.  Of course he'd heard that this was where she dealt, and he looked to her, then to Sean.   "Everything good out here?"

[Asarasa]

On 10/6/2024 at 10:31 PM, Nina said:

"Have you ever even smoked a joint?”

"Um, well, no, not as such... " Sean admitted, the red in his cheeks spreading up to his hairline. He folded his arms, then stopped at the awkwardness, and instead stuffed his hands into the front pockets of hoodie. "If you're gonna hold me to it, I figured I could just take the stuff and bake it into brownies or cookies or something."

I'll have to make it in the middle of the night so mom doesn't find out... Also, will have to look online to find recipes and see if you have to do anything special when cooking with weed.

"You bake?" Sara commented with a hint of bemusement as she tilted her head up and exhaled a plume of smoke.

Sean scrunched his nose up in a faint scowl. "Yeah, I bake. It's pretty much just a practical application of chemistry. Follow the formula correctly, and you get a predicable - and delicious - result." Sean skulked over and took a seat on the opposite side of the steps from Sara. "We game each week. If I don't make snacks, someone usually brings something. Sometimes we do dinner, just grilling stuff up or ordering pizza, depending on when we start."

Just then, the door burst open. Sean gave a start, looking up and over his shoulder, only to see Abel at the top of the steps.

"Everything good out here?"

"Oh! Uh, yeah, s'all good, Abe," Sean claimed, ignoring the fading sting in his hands and breasts from his stumble. "Sara here chased Chet off. I was just telling her about gaming." His large, turquoise eyes turned towards Sara, his slim shoulders hunched at he looked at her from under dark red, lowered brows. "You could come. To gaming I mean. To see what it's like, if you want. We're starting a new game this week." His lips quirked up at the end. "If nothing else, there's snacks."

[Shameless]

Abel nodded, "Yeah, and if you have a preference for what you want on Pizza, let me know.  Normally we stick to plain cheese, pepperoni, and meatlovers, but if we need to change one we can."   Abel wasn't dumb, but it was Sean's house, his game, and he'd invited Sarah.   If Sean wanted to smoke weed, that was on him.  He'd just ask that they not do it around him, because they did drug tests for various athletics.   

He looked at Sarah.  "Thanks for running that asshole off."  he turned his gaze to Sean.  "I still think Chet's got some sort of thing for you Sean.   Now why would he be telling me to tell you to watch what you say?   Did you say something about Bitchney Adams in front of him?"

[Nina]

When Sean invited Sara to come to their game she just stared at him with her cigarette dangling from her lips her head scrambling for a sarcastic come back that just wasn’t there, Then Abel burst out the door. Sara slowly took the cigarette from her lips and dropped it then smashed it under her boot.

 

"You bake? Gaming? Pizza?" Sara chuckled, a smirk playing on her lips. "Alright, why not? I could use some entertainment for a change. And who knows, maybe I'll even bring my famous mac and cheese." She shot Sean a mischievous grin before turning to Abel. "Thanks, big guy, but I think I can handle myself just fine. Chet won't be bothering you guys again anytime soon."

 

Abel watched Sara with a raised eyebrow, impressed by her confidence. He nodded approvingly before turning to Sean with a knowing look. "Looks like you've got yourself a new recruit for game night, Sean. Better start stocking up on those snacks." With a friendly pat on Sean's shoulder, Abel headed back into the school, leaving Sean and Sara alone on the steps.

 

 

Sean couldn't help but grin at Sara's comment about bringing her famous mac and cheese. "Well, now I'm definitely looking forward to game night even more," he teased. He watched as Abel headed back into the school before turning his attention back to Sara.

 

"So, baking and gaming, huh? Sounds like my kind of evening." Sara brushed her hair back from her face, revealing a small scar just above her eyebrow. Sean noticed it for the first time and wondered how she had gotten it.

 

"Yeah, it's pretty chill," he said with a shrug. "We mostly just hang out, eat junk food, and play games. Nothing too exciting." Sara gave him a curious look and Sean started to feel self-conscious under her gaze. He shifted on the steps uncomfortably before speaking up again.

 

"But if you're interested in joining us, I can give you more details later," he offered. "We play at my house. I have the barn all set up as my, I don’t know, guess you would call it an apartment."

 

Sara nodded, her eyes still lingering on his face for a moment longer before she snapped out of it. "Yeah, that sounds good," she said with a smile.

 

Before Sean could respond, the bell rang signaling the the beginning of the school day. Sara quickly gathered up her things and stood up from the steps.

 

"Well, I should probably get going," she said apologetically. "I have English first period, Mrs Davis. That sucks"

 

Sean nodded understandingly as they both made their way back into the school building together. As they walked in silence down the hallway towards their separate classes, Sean couldn't help but think that maybe game night was going to be more interesting than usual this week.

 

Spoiler

This is intended to be an event oriented thread not a minute by minute day by day thing. I would suggest picking the next scene either  a couple of days later still in school or on game day. in either case One of you should set the scene.

 

 

[Asarasa]

Sean flittered from the Barn to the main house and back, trying to make sure everything was organized and perfect before his gamers showed up. They played almost every week, so normally it wasn't a big deal. But he had a new player this week, and Sara would be the only girl in the group since Sophia left. Being a girl shouldn't have been a difference, but it was.

The only real challenge with baking the pot brownies had been preventing Laurie getting her hands on any of them. He was glad he had had the foresight to make a small pan of non-laced brownies just for her, and his parents, he supposed, but he didn't expect Laurie would leave any for them. His eyes still felt a bit grainy, since he'd gotten up super early to make them so he had time to clean up before anyone woke up, but he was proud of the results. He had tried a bite, and the peanut butter-chocolate brownie tasted just like a Reese's Piece, he couldn't really notice difference from the weed. The plate of brownies was in the Barn, out of reach of his sister.

It wasn't like he lived in a pig sty or anything, but there was a certain level of organized chaos in the Barn. He had done a bit of tidying up, made sure he didn't have any dirty clothes or underwear laying about. The gaming table he and his dad had made was cleaned off, modeled terrain and painted miniatures already covering the surface. Sean had wanted to inset a monitor into the table top, but he hadn't been able to afford it. Goals for later, they had designed the table so that a monitor could be added later.

He didn't really need to do anything about the stalls in the back half of the Barn. They acted as workrooms for his projects. A painting area. An area for assembling computers and other machines. A small sewing area, mostly for halloween costumes, and his attempts at making clothing alterations - with inconsistent results so far. He had even tidied up his loft bedroom, though he didn't know why, it wasn't like anyone was going to go up there. If anyone wanted to stay the night if gaming ran late, the couch was a pullout and he had an air mattress.

Sean had helped Sara with making her character during the week, and he had sent her an app he had made to that tracked all the stats and calculated modifiers on any rolls she needed to make. And it let him send secret notes or add the treasure his players found directly to their sheets. They wouldn't need to take time with making Sara a new character, just how her character connected with the characters of his other players will they made theirs.

Sean sauntered back to the main house, rolling up the sleeves of his open flannel shirt. The sun was shining bright and it was a warm day for September. He even considered taking off the flannel and just going with the Mythbusters shirt with the slogan 'I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own', even if it was tighter than he was usually comfortable showing. It was an older shirt.

They had plenty of hotdogs and hamburgers for dinner, especially with whatever his players brought. Sara had said she'd bring her mac and cheese.  He had already prepared garnishes. Sean was checking on the charcoal in the built-in BBQ at the back of the house his dad had made when his phone rang.

"Hey! What's up? Are - oh! We can - um. Well, I mean, that sucks. We're starting a new game today, so I was hoping you'd be here. But if you can't, you can't. Next week then... Hmm. Right. Okay. Later then."

Sean stared at the phone in his hand, a slight frown on his face. Yeah, sometimes he and his players couldn't game for a week, for any number of reasons. But this was the first the time it felt like someone was begging off for a fake reason.

"What's wrong, hon?" his mother asked, poking her head out the back door.

"Oh! Nothing, not really. It's just going to be Abel and Sara today, it seems. Garret had... something else he needed to do," Sean said, unable to completely hide his disappointment.

 

Yeah, he had DMed with just two players before, but three had felt like the goldilocks zone for him. And he had hoped that with three, it would help ease Sara into it. Guess she's getting tossed into the deep end today...

 

"There's going to be lots of extra for dinner today, if you and dad want."

"Thanks, Sean. We hadn't made any plans yet, other than staying out of your guys way." The enigmatic grin playing on his mother's lips gave Sean an iota of suspicion. "I'll see when you father gets back from taking a run out to the Barkdales' place."

"Okay," Sean said with a shrug.

He puttered back to the Barn and removed a figure from the table, then started glancing through his gaming notes, seeing what he had to adjust for having two players today instead of three.

 

 

Edited October 20, 2024 by Asarasa

[Shameless]

Abel was already on his way to Sean's.  He had just picked up the pizzas, and three two liters of coke, sprite, and dr. pepper, the tried and true choices for the group.   It wasn't to say that Sean's parents didn't ensure they always had plenty to eat, more that Abel felt it was right for him to contribute something too, beyond just coming over to play with his friends.

When he arrived at Sean's place, he could smell the telltale smells of a Barbecue.   He knocked on the door to be met by Sean's mother.  "Oh, Abel, Sean's out back in the barn." 

"Thanks Mrs. Cassidy."   Even though he'd been told he didn't need to let them know he was there like that, he still did.  His Dad had told him it was the polite thing to do.   


Once he'd greeted her, she went back inside, and Abel grabbed his backpack from his truck.   It had some math homework Abel wanted to ask Sean about, among other things.  Sean was better at explaining things to Abel in a way he could grasp easier, so it made more sense.   it also had his binder for the various characters in Sean's games, and of course a modest collection of dice.  He put his pack on and then picked up the drinks and pizza, heading back to the barn and knocking on the door, knowing if he was home, Sean was likely there.

"Hey Sean, it's Abel."   It seemed silly to announce himself like that, but at the same time, he always had.   

[Asarasa]

At Abel's voice, Sean's head snapped up from going over the music playlist for the night's game, giving a little huff. Abel always announced himself, even if he had an open invitation to come on in. "Come on in Abe-" Sean shouted, then sighed and got up. Abel's hands might be full. "Just a sec! I'll get the door!"

Abel heard Sean moving about inside the Barn and moment later, the door was sliding open with a muted rattle in its tracks. Sean looked up at his much bigger friend and the offerings in his hands. "Aw man! We're gonna have so much extra food. Garret begged out, so it's just you and Sara today. Come in, come in."

Sean waved Abel into the Barn then moved over to the fridge to make space for the bottles of soda. The Barn had a tiny bathroom with a shower stall the Cassidys had installed the year before last, but no kitchen yet, just a fridge, a small freezer, and a microwave and toaster-oven on a sideboard. There were plans to make a full kitchen later this year or early next year.

"That sucks, Sean," Abel commiserated, handing Sean the two litre bottles.

"It is what it is." Sean tried to sound nonchalant as he sat the bottles on the door of the fridge, but Abel thought he caught some annoyance in his high voice. "You and Sara while just have to more time to shine up your characters and the story we're telling today." Sean pursed his lips as he considered the pizzas, then jerked his head towards the door. "C'mon. Don't know if you guys want to eat before gaming or game a bit before. We'll put the pizzas on the warming rack by the grill." 

"Sure," Abel agreed with a nod. Handling the pizzas in one hand, his slid his backpack off his shoulder and plopped it down into his usual seat on the left side of the gaming table as he followed his short and shapely friend out of the Barn. He left the door open, they'd be right back and the bugs weren't bad this time of year.

With his longer strides, Abel easily caught up to Sean before he made it halfway across the gravel lot to the main house, Abel's Wrangler parked next to Sean's Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. He followed Sean around the back of the house and was tall enough to set the pizzas on the warming rack from behind the grill while Sean pattered up the few steps to the deck off the veranda.

"There's pizza too!" Sean shouted through cupped hands.

There was a rapping from the other side the kitchen window. "No need to shout, Sean, I'm right here," Carolyn said. "And I saw. And yes, your father and I will help you lot with all this food. And God knows Laurie is eating nearly as much as Teagan was are your ages. I've just finished mixing up a pitcher of pink lemonade too, if you want to collect it."

"Okay," Sean said, sauntering towards the back door. "Sara said she was bringing something too."

"Four teenagers in the house for the night. I'm sure the food won't go to waste," Carolyn commented wryly, grey eyes twinkling with bemusement.

[Nina]

Sean glanced at the time again, they should have started ten minutes ago, but there was still no Sara. He glanced over at Abel who was reading a comic book. “Should I text her?”

 

Able closed the comic keeping his thumb inside to hold his place, “Well, if it was one of us you would have texted ten minutes before we were supposed to start, not ten minutes after. I don’t know why you really thought she was going to show up anyway.”

 

At that moment they both heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle. They went outside, it was the last moments of twilight and the old motorcycle was just coming around the main house toward the barn. It was Sera, leather jacket, no helmet, combat boots and faded patched jeans. Sean glanced at the house and saw his mother looking out the kitchen window.

 

Sara parked the bike in front of the two boys and stepped off. “Sorry I’m late had to stop for gas.” She turned back to the bike and opened the saddle bags and took out two medium grocery bags and a large glass bowl. “You got running water in there or do i have to get it from the house? Oh and a microwave?” She handed the bowl to Abel, the bags to Sean, and turned back to the bike and the other saddlebag from which she took out some utensils and a large metal colander. “Well?”

 

[Shameless]

"There's no real kitchen out here, no."  Abel answered Sarah, "Though there is a microwave and a toaster oven."  He set the bowl down in what passed for the "kitchen area" and nodded.  "How much water do you need, I can go get it."

He was surprised she'd shown up, but also happy.  Sean had been looking forward to this, and it was obvious, even to Abel.  That she'd come ready to make something, as she'd said, well, he figured he could try it, as long as it was normal.  Sean knew Abel had a thing regarding any sort of drugs.  He didn't mind them, but didn't want to partake.  It wasn't a moral thing, he didn't care about that really.  He didn't smoke weed because it could get him kicked off the team, and if he was being honest about it, he couldn't lie very well.
 

[Asarasa]

Sean juggled the grocery bags for a moment before getting them in a position to carry them comfortably. He let out a silent breath of relief he hadn't known he'd been holding. It wasn't that he had doubted Sara would show up, just... he was glad that she had.  He nodded towards the Barn before heading in.

"There's a sink in the bathroom, just use that for water," Sean said, his eyes cutting towards the door under the stairs to his loft bedroom. "There's a cup, if the bowl doesn't fit under the tap." With a soft grunt, he heaved the bags onto the sideboard, then ran a hand through his vibrant red hair. "There! So, we have pizza, hamburgers, and hotdogs. Plenty to drink. And, um..." A faint pinkness rose in his fair cheeks as he waved to a plate covered with plastic wrap sitting on top of the microwave. "... special peanut butter chocolate brownies.

"Fill that, about an inch from the top," Sara commanded, giving Abel a slight shove towards the bathroom before joining Sean at the sideboard. Sean pulled out a towel from the sideboard and laid it out to catch any mess. "Thanks." She nodded at the plate as she put down the colander and utensils. "And sweet."

"Ain't no big thing," Sean said, trying to sound casual, but he stood straighter and threw back his shoulders, even as the colour in cheeks deepened. "Grill is ready if you need anything cooked or heated up. Just tell me when to start the burgers and dogs." He glanced towards the front door. "Nice bike." His turquoise eyes twinkled. "Ten speed, or twelve?"

[Nina]

The look Sara cast Sean’s way would have wilted a cactus.

 

"It's a 1978 Kawasaki Z1300 and has 5 gears and a kickstand. I've always been partial to a little kick, seems more...authentic somehow," she said with a smirk, slyly leaning her hip against the sideboard as she assessed the spread Sean had prepared.

 

Abel jumped in before things could get overly uncomfortable, hoping to defuse any potential tension. "So, what are we making with the bowl and all?" he asked, changing the subject.

 

"I brought the ingredients for my Mac & Cheese," Sara replied, shifting her focus from Sean to the task at hand. She took items out of the bags and placed them on the counter: a large bag of Bow Tie Pasta, a block of Mexican velveeta, three bags of shredded cheese, a can of cream, and several small bottles of spices.

 

Sean let out a silent sigh of relief as the tension in the room dissipated, grateful for Abel's timely interruption.

 

 

Sara turned around, her leather jacket with a bold Motorhead emblem emblazoned across the back clinging tightly to her frame. The material was well-worn and cracked in some places, evidence of the countless adventures it had been on. Her jacket remained unzipped, revealing a faded Cradle of Filth t-shirt, the black fabric adorned with intricate designs and lyrics that spoke of darkness and defiance. It was also clear that she wasn't wearing a bra, as the outline of her breasts could be seen through the fabric, adding a touch of sensuality to her already striking appearance. She leaned against the countertop with an air of confidence and nonchalance, like a rockstar taking a break from a wild concert performance.

 

"It only takes about 15-20 minutes in the microwave. Do you want me to make it now or later?" she asked, stretching her arms back against the counter.

 

"Let's get that Mac & Cheese cookin' now," Sean replied, his eyes lingering on Sara's form for a moment before he quickly busied himself with setting up the microwave. He poured water into the bowl as instructed, leaving just the right amount of space at the top, then placed it inside.

 

Sara stood back up, her black combat boots clicking lightly against the floor as she moved to stand beside Sean. She watched intently as he set the time and started the microwave, a small smirk playing on her lips.

 

"Thanks for bringing all this stuff," Abel said sincerely, glancing over at the array of ingredients spread out on the counter. "I'm excited to try your Mac & Cheese."

 

Sara flashed him a smile, her green eyes sparkling with a mixture of mischief and warmth. "No problem. Just wait until you taste it; it's gonna blow your minds."

 

As they waited for the creamy Mac & Cheese to cook, Sean couldn't help but steal glances at Sara's every move. The way she stood with confidence and grace, her dark hair cascading in loose waves around her face. Her laughter was like a sweet symphony, filling the air and making his heart skip a beat. Even the simple act of sipping her Dr Pepper was mesmerizing - the way she tilted her head back, revealing the delicate curve of her neck and a glimpse of her chest. It all seemed to add to her allure, making it impossible for Sean to take his eyes off of her.

 

Abel, trying to prolong the conversation, interjected with a question. "Do you use your bike as your main mode of transportation, Sara?" His voice sounded strained, as if he were also finding it difficult to keep his attention on anything besides Sara's captivating presence.

 

"Most of the time," Sara replied as she crumbled some cooked bacon, adding it to the mix. "I just love the freedom of it. Oh, and I usually go for a ride whenever I need to clear my head."

 

She finished stirring all the ingredients together and looked at Sean. “Are the Bow Ties ready?”

 

Sean checked the microwave; the bowl was steaming and bubbling away. "Yep, looks like it's ready," he said, carefully removing the hot bowl from the microwave using oven mitts. After draining it in the colander he poured the cooked pasta into the mixing bowl, which Sara deliberated over for a moment before throwing in some seasoning. The smell that emanated from the mixture was tantalizing, a perfect blend of savory and comfort.

 

Abel couldn't resist interjecting with his opinion. "That mix smells incredible!" His eyes widened at the sight of the bubbling mass of cheesy goodness.

 

"Hold your horses, big fella," Sara said with a mischievous grin, diving into a refrigerator for something cold. "We need to cool this down a bit." She fetched out a tray of ice and delicately set it on top of the mixing bowl, covering it like a blanket of frost.

 

Sean watched in awe as Sara deftly handled the hot bowl with ease; he knew he could never possess such skill. He couldn't help but feel proud watching her work - she was an artist, a master of her craft.

 

"So, Sean," Abel interjected, "how bout them this-and-thats? You managing to stay out of trouble?"

 

The mention of trouble brought Sean's mind back from its reverie, where he was lost in the enigmatic allure of Sara. He smirked, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously before answering, "Just keepin' my head down and focusin' on the game."

 

Sara chuckled softly at Sean's response, a warm smile playing on her lips that seemed to light up the room. She then turned to Abel, leaning against the counter with one hand while the other held a wooden spoon. "Well, seems like we have everything set then. Shall we dig in?"

 

Sean and Abel nodded eagerly, their anticipation palpable. They both looked at Sara with eager eyes, as if she were about to lead a parade of deliciousness. She winked playfully at them before offering each a bowl filled to the brim with her famous Mac & Cheese.

 

"Bon appétit!" she said, lifting her own bowl in a mock toast. Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she took a big bite, savoring the taste that only she knew how to create.

 

Sean and Abel followed suit, their eyes widening in delight as they tasted the exquisite blend of flavors that filled their mouths. They exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of gratitude towards Sara for this culinary masterpiece. It seemed like all tension and unease had melted away in the warmth of the meal and the comfort of each other's company. As they savored every bite, the room filled with the sound of contented sighs and the occasional hum of approval.

 

Sara watched them with a satisfied grin, her heart feeling light and full in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time. She had always found solace in her cooking, a way to focus and relax when life go too stressful. And in this moment, as Sean and Abel enjoyed her Mac & Cheese, she felt a sense of belonging that she hadn't realized was missing.

 

Sean caught her eye and gave her a grateful smile, his turquoise eyes soft with appreciation. "This is amazing, Sara. Thank you for sharing this with us."

 

Abel nodded emphatically between bites, his mouth too full to speak but his eyes speaking volumes. It was a simple gesture, sharing a meal together, but it felt like so much more.

 

 

[Shameless]

Once they were done eating, Abel got to the point of tonight.  "Alright, so I know we've got characters done, so what sort of adventure do you have for us tonight?"   Abel hadn't made his usual Paladin for this game, Instead he'd gone with a straight fighter, as he knew Garret was out, so there wouldn't be a cleric this time, which could be rough.  It was going to call for him to play abit more conservatively than normal, unless by some strange chance Sara had made one.  

 

 

[Asarasa]

"The adventure I have you guys starts in media res," Sean said enthusiastically, rubbing his hands together, his grin visible over the edge of his DM's screen.

He slid a thin binder towards Sara with the character he had made for her at her request, modifiers all tallied up with descriptions of various powers and abilities so she wouldn't need to leaf through the books looking for them. All she needed to do was fill in personal details for the winged tiefling rogue. He had considered making a Warlock for her, but a Rogue was simpler to start, and she could always multiclass later. He had added all of to the gaming app he'd developed too, but some of players, like Abel, preferred pen and paper and he wanted to give her the option.

"We'll do flashbacks to figure out how you guys got to where you are... and where you are is on an airship to the great frontier city of Maranos, a city of opportunity and adventure! You are about a day from arrival when there is a commotion above deck. Through the thick hull, you both can hear rising shouts of the crew and the shrieks of some sort of reptilian or possibly avian creatures. What do you do?"

~~+~~+~~+~~+~~+~~+~~+~~

While not as excellent as Sara's Mac & Cheese, Sean had been comfortable behind the grill, cooking up hamburgers and hotdogs with aplomb. His parents had indeed joined them, as had his younger sister, Laurie. Abel had been over many times before, but Jack and Carolyn Cassidy had treated Sara as if she had been too, without the awkwardness of a new arrival. Jack had asked her about her motorcycle, and shared his own experiences riding a Triumph Bonneville before he had kids. 

Laurie and Sean bantered and bickered like any other pair of siblings, even if the fourteen year-old girl was nearly half a foot taller than her older brother, and the sixteen year-old boy was prettier and far more well-endowed than his sister. Gangly and skinny as a rail, Laurie ate nearly as much as Abel did.

This was the Sean Abel knew, and he was glad to see it. School wasn't kind to the feminine boy, and he put up a wall, a mask around others, for his own protection, and it had been getting thicker, harder, over the years. It was too bad, because while, yes, he was... unusual, he was a better person than even he knew. He had asked Sean to help him with math since middle school.

Sean had been unsure at first, believing he wouldn't be a good tutor since math came so easily to him that he barely had to think about it. But it had turned out he had way to explaining things for Abel that just clicked for him, made the concepts and formulas clear and obvious. Sean had started working on notes for a gaming campaign when they had been finishing a tutoring session and curious, Abel had asked him about it.

And since then, despite being vastly different boys, Abel had been one of Sean's gaming buddies.

~~+~~+~~+~~+~~+~~+~~+~~

During the gaming session, Sara saw a side of Sean she never saw at school. There, he was insular and sullen, bitter in just trying to get by. But at the head of the gaming table, his was animated, engaging, and as confident as he was talking about computers and math. It was like he put on filter in public, and only took it off when around friends. Instead of hunching his shoulders slightly, he sat straight and proud, unselfconscious about his pronounced, hourglass proportions.

Sara realized at school, Sean unconsciously made his voice slightly lower, gruffer. But his natural soprano was sweet and clear and melodious, and surprisingly rich, like honey. It wasn't a girlish voice, but a woman's, and amazingly versatile and entrancing. Sean was good with voices and accents, able to convincingly portray a sultry noblewoman, a weaselly merchant, a gruff ship captain, or a sagacious loremaster.

She had thought Dungeons & Dragons was just a silly, nerdy game were you rolled funny shaped dice. And it was. But Sean made it so much more than that. It wasn't like playing a video game or watching a movie. It was like being in the video game or movie. The music and sound effects he played from a second laptop added to the ambiance. Sean manipulated the pacing and action with subtle deftness, such that her heart hammered with the excitement of what was going to happen next, that what happened next partly depended on her and what she was going to.

Though there was a stack of gaming books on the corner of the gaming table, Sean never looked through them, knowing the rules by heart. He had stolen rules and mechanics he liked from other systems to add them to his own game. More, he knew when bend or break them for the sake of the story and the sake of sheer fun, never letting any concern about rules bog down the game.

Sean was in the zone, he could feel it, the game going excellently, the words flowing from his lips like poetry and music, painting scenes like a renaissance artist. He was on his second laced brownie, and if this was being high felt like, he certainly approved. His felt a momentary pang that Abel couldn't partake, being an athlete on several school teams and was routinely tested, but Abel didn't seem to mind and appeared engrossed in the game. Cool, more brownies for me!

More, Sara seemed to be totally into the game too. He had thought she'd just been humouring him - them, and would be sarcastic and only marginally engaged. And while she'd been reserved and unsure at first, she seemed to be enjoying herself now. She had passed over using the app, instead relenting to the tactile sensation of rolling dice for herself.

Sara couldn't help but think it unfair for someone claiming to be a boy to have such gorgeous eyes. They were large and canted, with naturally thick and dark lashes, a bright, rare turquoise  set off by the colour rising in his fair cheeks that pulled her into the story he - they were telling. It was a game, but not just a game to Sean. 

It was art.

"... the miasma of the fetid swamp is thick and cloying, an unnatural fog amplifying the heat, making sweat bead on your flesh, the incessant buzzing of insects never leaving your ears. Finally, you make it through a screen of leafless trees, black bark peeling away from crooked trunks to reveal dead pale heartwood. There, on rise breaching the bog, is what you were looking for, relief that it is there surging through you. The edifice is foreboding, stone crumbling from the merlons, the gate a gaping maw, the raise portcullis threatening rusted teeth, thick moss and vines wreathing it all like leprosy. A forgotten keep, but what forgotten treasures has it kept?"

Sean tapped a key on his laptop, and the music cut of with an ominous sting. He grinned and stood up, stretching with his hands pressing against the small of his back.

"Find out next week on Campaigning with Cassidy!"

[Shameless]

Abel couldn't have counted how many times he'd eaten with the Cassidys, or even just Sean and the other guys.  Yes this was the first time Sara was there, but Abel didn't treat her any different than he would anyone else.   The food was great, and he wasn't surprised that he ate the most, followed by Laurie, that wasn't particularly new either.  

As for the actual gaming, he had to admit it was a different kind of fun.  The other guys knew Sean was amazing, but as they played, he could tell that Sara was seeing this too.  This was the real Sean Cassidy, the one he'd gotten to know so well.   Yeah he was different, but weren't they all when you got down to it?   He'd gamed with Sean for years at this point, and he couldn't recall a bad session.   It amazed him even now how much fun they'd had together tonight, and the hours had flown by far too quickly.

"I swear one day we're gonna set it up so we can just game all night and into the morning Sean.   Maybe then it wouldn't be a cliffhanger."   It was a light tease, even Abel knew the adage "Always leave them wanting more."  and Sean was a master of it.  Still he stretched and rolled his shoulders, looking away from Sean for a moment.  Abel knew Sean was a guy, but dammit sometimes when he did certain things and moved certain ways it was easy to forget that.

He admit, knowing Sean had gotten him to read more, his parents happily buying books when he asked for them, If Sean was unable to lend it to him himself.  Some he'd even liked enough that he got his own copy after reading a lent one.  

He looked over to Sara, and smiled.  "Coming back next time?"  

[Nina]

Sara smiled back at Abel, feeling a warmth in her chest at being included in their gaming group. She had never expected to enjoy herself this much, but there was something captivating about the way Sean led the game, transporting them into a world of his creation. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before, and she found herself eagerly nodding at Abel's question.

 

"Definitely," she replied with enthusiasm, her eyes shining with excitement. "I can't wait to see what happens next in the adventure."

 

 

Despite their busy school schedules, they managed to meet up on weekends for their gaming sessions. Sean successfully avoided Chet for the most part, with only occasional small interactions in class or at lunch when Abel was present as well (since he had several classes with them).

 

Sara, on the other hand, didn't have any classes with either of them and usually skipped lunch altogether. In fact, she often skipped out on most of the school day, only attending her required shop classes and a few others needed for graduation.

 

However, they still saw each other during the week. The game group, now back to its original quartet since Garrett's return, would gather at Bunnee's Burger Joint mid-week to discuss the game and make any necessary adjustments. But after a couple of weeks, Garrett started making excuses to skip these meetings and eventually stopped showing up to the games entirely. After about a month and a half, Sean realized it was just him, Abel, and Sara left playing together.

 

It was the middle of November and the Thanksgiving Weekend would be coming soon, Sean wanted to use the extra days off to run something epic and decided to get everyone’s input.

 

On Wednesday after school, they met at their go-to spot, Bunee's Burger Joint. As usual, they occupied the booth tucked in the back corner. Sara was the last to arrive and took her seat next to Sean across from Abel. They had fallen into this seating arrangement over time. Sean exchanged glances between Abel and Sara, his eyes filled with playful mischief.

 

"Alright guys, Thanksgiving Weekend is coming up, and I want to do something special for our game. Any ideas on what kind of adventure you'd like to embark on?" Sean asked, leaning forward eagerly.

 

Abel scratched his head thoughtfully, "How about a high-seas pirate adventure? We could plunder treasure, engage in thrilling ship battles, and explore uncharted islands."

 

Sara's eyes lit up at the suggestion, "That would be cool! I've always liked pirate tales and the idea of sailing the open seas. Count me in for that adventure!"

 

Sean grinned from ear to ear, pleased with their enthusiasm. "A pirate adventure it is then! I'll start crafting the storyline and challenges to make it an unforgettable experience. Get ready for some swashbuckling action and daring escapades on the high seas!"

 

Their orders were placed and their stomachs growled in anticipation as they dove into the details of creating Abel and Sara's characters. The conversation grew more and more animated, with ideas flying back and forth like a game of verbal ping pong. Sean couldn't help but notice that Sra's leg was pressed against his, her body leaning in close to peer at the screen of his phone where he had been typing out notes for their game. The warmth of her body against his sent shivers down his spine, adding a new layer of excitement to their already thrilling discussion.

 

As they delved deeper into the details of their characters and the upcoming pirate adventure, Sean couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness with Sara that was both exhilarating and terrifying. Her enthusiasm and creativity sparked a fire within him, igniting his own passion for storytelling and world-building. He found himself drawn to her in a way he hadn't experienced before, her presence filling him with a sense of warmth and comfort that he couldn't quite explain.

 

Abel, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the charged atmosphere between Sean and Sara that or he was making a valiant attempt to ignore it as much as possible, his attention seemed to be focused solely on fleshing out his character's backstory and motivations. Sean admired Abel's dedication to the game, his unwavering commitment to immersing himself fully in the fantasy world they were creating together.

 

As they finished up their meal and wrapped up the planning session, Sean felt a mix of excitement and trepidation about the upcoming adventure. The prospect of delving into uncharted waters both in the game and in his burgeoning feelings for Sara filled him with a heady rush of emotions. He knew that their dynamic was shifting, evolving into something beyond just friendship, but he was unsure of how to navigate these uncharted territories.

 

As they settled up the bill with their waitress a man approached their booth. “Sorry to interrupt, but could i have a minute of your time?”

 

The man appeared to be in his mid-forties, with a ruggedly handsome face and piercing blue eyes. He wore a worn leather jacket and a faded baseball cap that shadowed his eyes. He also had a very disarming smile.

 

The Man

Spoiler

 

[Shameless]

Abel  missed Garret playing with them, but he had his reasons, and in the end, he had decided to not get involved.  He was there to hang out and have fun, and he did.   He threw himself into making his characters and playing them within the worlds Sean crafted, and hopefully the others were enjoying things as much as him.   Now he wasn't completely oblivious to whatever "thing" was going on between Sean and Sarah, but he figured they'd work it out on their own.  He was just going to continue to silently cheer them on.  If Sean asked him, he'd offer his thoughts, but his own experiences weren't all that extensive either.  

As a strange man walked up to their booth, Abel instinctively sat up straighter.  He towered over a foot over Sean when standing, and even seated, Abel was physically imposing.  The man didn't outwardly seem like a threat, but Abel was going to be himself, and met his piercing blue gaze.  "Sure, take a seat."  Abel scooted over, allowing him to sit next to him.  That way they didn't draw any further attention.

[Asarasa]

The last several weeks were bewildering and exhilarating for Sean. Sara joining his tiny circle of friends was spurring on his creativity... and his hope. He didn't have many good friends, especially offline, and had even fewer after losing Garrett and Sophia. But with Sara, he found he was focusing more on what he gained than what he lost.

With Sophia, he had assumed, and it had cost him. In retrospect, he should have known, should have seen that. They had too much in common. Sean had thought that a bonus at the time, but it had turned out anything but. What girl wanted a boyfriend that could fill out her clothes at good as she could? Especially when one of the things they didn't have in common was romantic preferences.

Sean wasn't a total idiot. He was very aware of what he looked like. When he was out with his sisters, he got the majority of the attention and catcalls. He saw the way boys and men, girls and women looked at him. What he had thought was interest from Sophia had actually been comparison, but at least there hadn't been any jealousy or condescension. With boys and men, it was more complicated, and varied based on if they were aware of his genetic peculiarities. Ogling, lust, interest. Disgust, anger, embarrassment. Or more usually, a mix thereof. Even Abel did it sometimes, though he at least had the decency to be awkward about it and look away.

With Garrett, Garrett had assumed, and it still had cost Sean. Garrett wasn't much bigger than Sean was, he didn't get much attention from girls. Sean had noticed Garrett's eyes lingering on him the last year or two. He hadn't particularly liked it, but figured he understood why Garrett did it. He hadn't fully understood, until Garrett had confronted him about getting closer with Sara.

It didn't matter how much of a 'nice guy' Garrett claimed he was, Sean wasn't interested in guys. Garrett had accused him of being a tease and a whore. Sean had called him an incel. And then Garrett had pushed him. While not much bigger than Sean, he was still bigger and stronger, and Sean had landed on the floor of the Barn hard. And that one moment had ended a friendship of years.

Embarrassed and hurt, Sean didn't tell anybody. Abel would have pounded him. Laurie would have been more vicious in her retaliation. And Sara...

 

Everything with Sara felt... comfortable. Natural. He couldn't tell if she looked at him as a guy or a girl, but regardless, it didn't make him feel awkward or unpleasant. Quite the opposite. After Sophia and Garrett, and other interactions he had had, Sean was tentative about ever asking someone out again, but he was working up the courage to ask Sara, especially after he had turned seventeen.

His birthday was on Halloween, and he loved Halloween. Too old to go out trick or treating anymore, he still liked dressing up and handing out candy. Busy with coding and preparing RPG nights for Abel and Sara, he hadn't made as elaborate a costume this year. He had gone with The Man in Black from Westworld. Most people had just thought he was a cowboy, hardly unusual in Montana year round. Really, going as Dolores Abernathy would have been a better, or at least more noteworthy, costume.

Still, after the candy was gone, he, Sara, and Abel had got together to watch schlocky horror movies for the night, mostly old Hammer films, turning the night into their own Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Speaking of candy, the night was enlivened by Sara providing gummie edibles. Abel didn't partake of course, being an athlete, and also had to leave the night early for practice the next morning.

But Sean had indulged, and it had let him say out loud almost anything that came to his mind without embarrassment. Or at least, postponing the embarrassment to the next day. Watching Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Sean mentioned he should have dressed up as her for Halloween, boasting he had the figure for it. Sara had said she have liked to have seen that.

It had been one of the best nights of Sean's life. They had watched movies almost 'til the sun started rising, falling asleep on the couch in the Barn in front of the TV under a quilt.

Wanting to prove himself to Sara and impress her also served to inspire and energize him. Sean barely payed attention in class, just doing enough to get decent marks. He chaffed at the distraction of coursework and his fellow students, wanting to spend the time finishing and polishing ReGenesis and the Spectrum engine and working on the games for Abel and Sara, one giving him ideas for the other and vice versa.

Progress was flying and he was sure he'd have the game finished well before graduation.

But until then, there was this moment in time shared with his two friends. And maybe one becoming more than just a friend.

He was typing rapidly on his phone, making notes for the pirate adventure, basking in the closeness of Sara next to him. There was a game, 7th Sea, he had never gotten to play, and decided to pillage for ideas for the game. A fictionalize, fantasized version of the real world, with a dash of Lovecraftian Mythos and a pinch of alchemy and steampunk for seasoning.

They had finished the initial stages of making characters and making the world they would be playing in for now. Sean wanted to do some more research to add in some more real life touches to the game and was starting to practice accents and vocal inflections for NPCs, accepting Abel and Sara's bantering criticisms in good humour when the man approached them.

Sitting close to him, Sara could feel Sean tense up as he pulled on an unconscious, subtle mask. Having spent so much time with him the last several weeks, Sara could sense more than see the differences in how Sean presented himself in private, when it was just his family or with her and Abel, and when he was at school. When he was out and about in Shelly, and in Great Falls, when she had accompanied him to the gaming store and the computer store.

He became more... demure, his large, gorgeous turquoise eyes slightly downcast, his voice slightly softer rather than animated. He leaned back from the table, hands folded lightly in his lap. It was a faint change, and one he seemed unaware of, but it him seem more... feminine, hiding any hint of his intersexed nature.

"What can we do for you, sir?" Sean asked with neutral politeness.

[Nina]

The man smiled again and grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat at the end of the booth. Abel noticed Bunee giving the fellow a quizzical look from the server window to the kitchen.

 

“My name is Clay Tavers, I’m an anthropologist from the University of Montana. I am out here to do some digging over the holidays but I find myself with a bit of a problem. My land rover broke down and its a British version. The mechanic says he has to order the parts and that it could take a couple of weeks to get them in.” The waitress came up just then, “Can i Get you anything sir?” She asked him but she was looking at the kids.

 

“Just coffee please.” Tavers said with that smile just for her. “I’ll bring that right away.” And she turned back to the counter. Tavers watched her go then turned back to his hosts.

 

“I looked I getting a rental but there’s really nothing local available so My next step was a trip to Great Falls. but then I saw your Jeep.”

 

Abel and Sara exchanged a quick glance before turning their attention back to Clay Tavers. Sean, who had been quiet since Tavers arrived, finally spoke up, “You want to rent our Jeep?” he asked cautiously.

 

Tavers shook his head with a little chuckle, “No something better. I’d like to hire you kids as guides and assistants.”

[Asarasa]

The offer came as a complete surprise to Sean. It could have been more than a little suspect - and it wouldn't have been the first coming his way - but it didn't feel like. To be fair, it was mostly because the offer had included Abel rather than just him, and maybe Sara. And while he was busy with coding his video game and just getting through school until he was done ReGenesis, Sean had to admit a part of him was curious and interested.

 

He had pretty much stopped taking any commissions on freelance web development, so bringing in a little extra cash would certainly help. But he was more interested in what Clay Tavers was hoping to find. Sean had done some research of the area, since his video game took place mostly in the North West, but it was mainly in a topographical way, so he could add some real world details to his fictionalized versions of Washington, Montana, Oregon, and Idaho - the conceit for changes in the landscape was a terraforming meteor striking somewhere in the area, which instigates a series of events that establishes the post-apocalyptic setting. There was a random element to where it struck, to enhance replayability.

He was always interested in adding more easter eggs or a side quest that tied into something from the real world, even if few would ever see it or realize it. It was for those who did. Abel and Sara had a good deal more experience actually being out and around wilderness than he did, but he had some good drone footage.

Sean shared a look with Abel and Sara, a tilt of his head silently asking if they were interested in Tavers' offer.

"If you're serious about this, Mr. Tavers-" Sean began, before being cut off by a chuckle from Tavers, and a held up hand.

"Clay, please, let's not be held up on ceremony."

"Clay, then," Sean amended with a nod. "Right. I'm Sean, this is Sara, and he's Abel. What I was saying it that if you really are looking for something, or doing a dig or whatever, you're cutting it a bit close. Not sure how long you're staying in Shelly, but the snow could be coming any week, now." Sean leaned forward, elbows on the table as he steepled his fingers. "Don't know 'bout my friends, but before agreeing, can I ask what you're hoping to find, and how long you want to hire us for?" His lips twisted in a wry smile. "And for how much?" He pursed his lips in thought, then added, "You're from the University of Montana, yeah? Think you could clear your... whatever it is you're doing with our school, so we can earn some extra credit for our... contributions?"

[Shameless]

Trust in Sean to think about how agreeing to this could be made to benefit them all, beyond simply making abit of extra cash.   Abel smiled as Sean made his own requests.   "Mostly my own questions echo Sean's.  Also how much gear are you looking to bring if you're looking to hire all three of us?"  Of course, Sarah had her motorcycle, but it was Abel who would actually be doing the driving around and hauling.  Pending Clays answers, Abel was interested, though if it was anything illegal he'd back out, and advise Sean and Sarah to do the same.

The situation did strike him as odd.  A Stranger coming up asking the three of them, all high schoolers, for help, it just seemed off to him.

[Nina]

Clay Tavers chuckled at the barrage of questions and considerations from the three teenagers. He leaned back in his chair, studying each of them in turn with a thoughtful expression. "I appreciate your cautious approach, young sirs and madam," he began, his tone sincere. "I assure you, my intentions are purely academic."

 

He took a sip of his coffee before continuing, "I am indeed from the University of Montana, specializing in archaeology and anthropology. I am here on a research expedition to uncover some local history that has long been shrouded in mystery. As for the duration of our arrangement, I anticipate needing your assistance for about a week or so, depending on what we may discover."

 

Clay reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out several pieces of paper and an ID card. “Here are my credentials,” he handed them to Abel. “As for payment my original plan would have been to establish a camp them bring some students up from the university to assist, but having to repair my Landrover is going to eat a big chunk of my grant. So my proposal is to use you three as assistant in place of the students. We will do the work over the Thanksgiving holiday, I assume you all get a week off like everyone else, with the weekends that will give us about nine days. I’ll pay each of you forty dollars a day, and another fifty dollars a day for the use of your vehicles.”

 

He looks over at Sean, “As for school credit, I have forms with my gear that you can fill out and i will sign. Working a dig is worth one credit in either Anthropology or Archeology with the university and since i assume you are at least eleventh graders you are eligible.”