Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2) (11)

“Kashvi and I were talking earlier and we’ve decided”—Sanjiv takes a huge bite of pizza—“I’m a half orc.”

“I’m a half elf,” Kashvi adds. “And we’re half siblings—we share one parent. Our father.”

“Ha, I love it,” Sloane says.

“It’s cool that you two are role-playing like that,” I say. “I can’t imagine doing this with my brother.” Andrew and I can barely sit next to each other at the dinner table in peace, let alone actively choose to hang out together.

“We’re not siblings—we’re twins,” Sanjiv says. “It’s different. We may not be identical, but Kashvi is still my other half.”

“They come as a package deal,” Sloane adds. “We’ve tried getting them to role-play other characters, but one way or another, they always end up working together.”

“It’s more fun that way,” Kashvi argues, a little sheepish. “Unless you have a real problem with it?”

Sanjiv looks ready to bean people in the forehead with dice if they complain, but no one does. “You’re our power couple. I’m not breaking you up,” Logan replies. “And I do mean that literally—are you two bringing the power again?”

“Absolutely. I’m going with druid for my class, but just because I’ll be communing with the natural world instead of swinging a sword doesn’t mean I won’t bring the power,” Sanjiv says.

“And I’m the fighter this time,” Kashvi says. “Don’t worry, we’ll be able to take on whatever Sloane throws at us.”

“Do you create your own home brew campaigns, or do you use something preexisting?” I ask Sloane.

“Home brew. It’s so fun coming up with the whole thing myself, even if it feels like an extra part-time job.”

My mind is spinning from all this info. They already have a rogue, druid, and fighter. There are plenty of other options—honestly, there’s an overwhelming number of classes, races, and specialties to choose from. This is one of the best parts of a new campaign, but it’s also intimidating because if you don’t choose correctly, then you’re stuck with a boring or useless character to role-play for the rest of the game. And this group seems serious enough that they won’t just kill me off and let me start a new character if my first build doesn’t pan out.

But before I can make more progress, Mark distracts me. “I’ve got it! Rolo is a halfling fighter and he thinks he’s related to your characters.”

“Like another half brother?” Sanjiv asks.

“Exactly. He’s not going to be the smartest Rolo in the package.”

“We should play along,” Kashvi says, glancing at Sanjiv. “Take pity on him.”

“Have you got anything, Quinn?” Sloane asks me. Their voice is soft, like they’re scared to pressure me.

“Um, maybe.” I flip another page in the Player’s Handbook. “I’m still thinking.”

“Do you know how to build a character?” Logan asks.

My head snaps up. “Yes, I know how to build a character. This isn’t my first time.”

“Okay, fine, but it’s your first time playing with us. If you’re going to be part of this group, then your character needs to work with the party. We need a balanced group of—”

I turn to Kashvi. “Is he always like this?”

“You get used to it.”

“Doubtful.”

“Like what?” he asks, looking to the others.

“This classic mansplaining you’re doing. You think I don’t know how characters work? Or parties? I don’t need everything explained to me.”

“I think you need a few things explained to you,” he mutters, and I want to flick him with my dice. He puts his hands out. “I was only trying to help but, please, go ahead. If we allow you to join our group, what are you planning to bring to the table?”

I smirk. “You want a balanced party? Okay, how about a ranger?” I put my chin on my fist and wait for the response I know I’ll get.

He lets out an exasperated sigh just like I predicted. “Do you know how redundant that would be when we already have two fighters and a rogue? What if we come across an enemy we can’t swing a sword at?”

“Why do you think I suggested it?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

Kashvi lets out a snort laugh.

Sloane interrupts to ask Mark about his character and it gives me a few minutes to decide in peace. An idea comes to me, and I jot some notes down so I don’t forget anything. When there’s a lull in the conversation, I jump in. “I want to be a hill dwarf sorcerer.”

Sanjiv and Kashvi glance at each other and nod. “Sounds good to me,” Kashvi says. “We need a magic user.”

“Sorcerers don’t have a lot of hit points,” Logan adds.

I pin him with a glare. “Exactly, which is why I’m building mine to have dwarven toughness, a bonus to Constitution for a hit point bonus, plus a third hit point bonus as a sorcerer.”

I know I should look around the rest of the table to gauge their feelings about these choices, but I can’t pull my attention from Logan. He’s being so infuriatingly obnoxious that all I can think about is shutting him up. When he hears my character build, his expression changes from skeptical to surprised to impressed, the shift as obvious as it is intoxicating.