Page 65 of Looking for Group
“Seeing who?”
“You know…Solace, the imaginary elf girl.”
“You mean,” asked Sanee, a delighted gleam creeping into his eyes, “the imaginary elf girl who’s really a dude?”
Drew grit his teeth. “Yes, that imaginary elf girl.”
“Lol. All of the lols.” And then, in response to Drew’s look, “So what are you doing?”
This was getting worse by the second. “We’re playingHoL. We’ve rolled some new characters, we’re playing the low levels together, and so far I’ve really enjoyed it. So please shut up.”
“Come on, I’m only having a laugh.”
“Yeah, at me.”
“But it is a bit funny.”1
Drew couldn’t tell if he was in a bad mood because of watergate or if Sanee had genuinely crossed a threshold of dickishness. Of course, Sanee could be kind of a dick, especially when he got an idea into his head, but it felt different this time. Maybe because it seemed to be directly about Drew instead of about…things. Like people who playedCall of Duty. It didn’t help that Drew wasn’t used to having these sorts of conversations. Especially not with Sanee.
“I think,” he said slowly, trying to wrap his head round it, “that what’s bothering me is that I don’t think you’d be taking the piss half as much if you just knew I was gay.”
Sanee’s eyes widened. “Of course I wouldn’t. I’m not a homophobe. The thing is, you’re, like…you.”
“So, it’s not funny that some guys like other guys in general. It’s funny that I might like another guy in particular?”
“Well”—Sanee thought about it for a moment—“yeah. Also, the fact you met him inHoLmakes it about a million times more hilarious. What are you going to tell your adopted grandkids?”
“That when I was at university I met exactly one bloke who wasn’t a complete tosser.” Drew got up jerkily, and started stuffing his things into his bag. “And now I’m going to get ready for my clearly ridiculous online not-a-date thing that Iwasactually really looking forward to.”
Sanee pushed off against the table and sent his wheelie chaircareening backwards into Drew’s path. “Drew, I’m sorry, okay? If you’re— No matter what you are, I’m in your corner. I might be laughing, but I’m definitely in it.”
Not counting the Steff Fight Crying Incident They Did Not Talk About, this was the closest to a heartfelt conversation he and Sanee’d ever had. So while Drew was still a bit ticked off, he couldn’t quite bring himself to storm out. But at the same time, this wasn’t the sort of thing he talked about with Sanee, so it was probably best for both of them if he got it over with quickly.
“Thanks, mate, it’s just I’m still a bit mixed-up about this. So if you could, y’know, lay off on the gay jokes and the internet-dating jokes, that would really help me out.”
Sanee held out his fist for bumping purposes. “You got it.”
Drew was heading out the door, all jumbled up with this swirly mess of relief and excruciating embarrassment, when Sanee called after him.
“Genuinely not making a joke but I am a bit worried. You haven’t even seen this guy in real life yet. It’d be different if you met him on Tinder or Gay Tinder or whatever.”2
Drew turned reluctantly. “Why?”
“Rule number one: games aren’t real life.”
He didn’t have an answer for that, so he shrugged and left.
The whole awkward interaction with Sanee had bummed him out and made him later than he’d hoped to be, so he was in a bit of a panic as he got himself settled and logged intoHoL.
He’d left Efthalia parked in the city of Minea, which was supposed to be this ruined shadow of its former glory, but was actually far cooler and more impressive than the generically medieval human capital of Whitepeak. It had thisClash of the Titansvibe: all gold and marble and hanging gardens. And an honest-to-God snake-headed colossus standing astride the entrance.
[Aconite] whispers: I was beginning to think you weren’t coming
To [Aconite]: omg no
To [Aconite]: just got held up
Aconite has invited you to join a group: y/n
