Page 82 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“I meant on the show,” he laughs.
Noah may be practical in his everyday life, but when it comes to Max Mercury’s dungeon, no expense has been spared. This is next level. High-end, velvet curtains and realistic-looking, fake stone walls add to the production value. Expensive video cameras line the walls, ready to capture the action from every angle.
The intricately carved, wooden table needs its own zip code. It already has its own Instagram account. There’s no other table like it. The base and sides are carved to look like the body and wings of a dragon. The tail snakes up and over the surface, holding an elaborate, crystal chandelier aloft. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a table with a tail before!
And finally, the dragon’s back is the playing surface. This is where the real action happens. It’s a glossy, polished surface, covered with dozens of tiny, painted men and elaborately crafted pieces of fake battle terrain.
Chills.
I feel shy just standing here. At least a dozen people are rushing around, prepping for the session. Noah has traded the trekking pole for a wooden wizard’s staff. He’s wearing his black, velvet robes, which are imprinted with iridescent dragon scales, but he hasn’t put on the dragon masque yet. He’s standing at the head of the table beside a Lucite throne that is much taller than it is wide, actively chastising a girl in blue body paint. She has pointy ears and brightly colored eye contacts that give her the illusion of heterochromia. And she’s inhaling cold-looking Pad Thai straight out of a Styrofoam container.
“I told you to eat before you came this time, Raven!”
“Not my fault—the delivery guy took forever!” she argues.
“You have sixty seconds to finish, and then it’s going in the trash,” Noah warns. I feel a thrill when he turns his head my way, noticing me. He waves and points me to a large, carved, wooden chair beside his throne before running off to have one last word with the techie.
I take my seat, shyly checking out the rest of the players, most of whom I recognize. Aside from Raven, the ravenous elf, there’s Ira, the healer, and Perenthius, the bureaucrat. That dude’s a total stickler for the rules. Rounding out the party, I spy Shagg, the horny bard. He keeps trying to get it on with tree nymphs, but rolling ones. This is a recurring theme every season. It never ends well for him.
“Kenna!” Noah’s eyes light up when he comes over to give me a hug.
“What do you think?” he asks.
“I think I can’t believe I’m here,” I grin.
“It’s almost time to start.” Noah reaches under the table for a large, black, velvet box. “Are you ready to do this?” He opens the box, and I catch my first glimpse of the dragon masque. I’m blown away by how highly detailed and perfect it is!
“I think I’m ready,” I nod.
“Buckle up!” he says, lowering the masque over his head. When he does this, everyone in the basement studio begins to clap.
When Noah turns toward me again, his catlike dragon eyes are flashing red at me. I can’t help myself. I reach up to feel his scales but he leans away, smoke shooting out of his nostrils.
“No touching without consent,” he warns loudly.
All the other players stare at me in shock.
“Did she just try to pet Max?” Raven asks Shagg.
“Yeah, I think she did,” Shagg nods.
“He must really be into her,” Raven says. “He never lets anyone drop in like this.”
“You know everyone can hear you. Including Max and the new girl,” says Ira. She reaches out to pat my hand.
Noah doesn’t say anything. He just stares the players down, red eyes blazing. That’s when I realize that Noah is not really Noah anymore.
I can feel the dragon’s red eyes on me as I retrieve my glass dice from the velvet, amulet pouch resting in my cleavage. A virgin set. I’ve had them for years, but I have been saving them for my first time. My hands are shaking.
“Now is the time. And this is the place,” Max growls at the players.
He passes me a character sheet describing my character’s strengths and weaknesses. My mouth falls open in disbelief.
“Don’t worry,” Max purrs when he sees my alarmed expression. “I promise I’ll be gentle with you today.”
kenna
Poppy goesover our list of “must do” experiences as we ride directly into the park in a private car in the monorail.
