Page 51 of Lucky Shot
The flight isn’t bad. Less than four hours of a straight flight. And then an hour later, I’m sitting in my room. The hours after Demi had to sign off for work and when I had to leave for the airport were very, very long. I contemplated going to the airport early, but then what? Sit in a busy terminal surrounded by smelly people and wait for my flight?
I ended up signing back into the game and wandering around for a while. I half heartedly tried to find the elusive skunk pelt that Demi’s been looking for with no real purpose. And now that I’m sitting in my room with nothing to do? I sign into the game again.
While I try not to be pathetic and look for Demi’s name on my friends list, I do. And see that he hasn’t been online in almost eight hours. Not since he signed off with me. While part of me is pleased with that since it means I haven’t missed him, I’m also disappointed that he’s not on. Even though I knew he wouldn’t be.
Thankfully, I planned this trip so I don’t have to spend a lot of time in NYC. The gala is in a couple hours, and my flight home is tomorrow afternoon. Then hopefully I’ll be able to chat with Demi for the next couple weeks without interruption.
Is it pathetic that I plan to spend every waking moment that Demi is available on my tablet? Locked up in my room chatting with a man who could be anywhere and anyone but is parading around as a druid in the game we both play?
I almost don’t even care.
Once again, I spend the next couple hours walking the forests of the game and looking for a skunk pelt. Or a skunk, I’m willing to skin the damn thing myself. When it’s finally time for me to get ready, I check one last time to see if Demi had signed on and I missed it. He hasn’t.
On a whim, I send him a message that he won’t receive until he next logs in.
PrettyInLace:Miss you, Demi god.
Then I sign off before I can overthink it.
I pass through the shower and style my hair so it falls softly around my face. The paint that Azure had covered my body in has finally completely faded except for a random black line here and there. I don’t hate the lines. They make me smile when I see them because they are from a good, happy, fun memory. I absently wonder if he’ll be at the gala tonight.
I add just a little eyeliner so my brown eyes look more radiant, then spray myself with some spicy shit that I really love. It’s woodsy and… I don’t know. Masculine. For some reason, it reminds me of Second World. If the game had a smell, this would be it. All kinds of forest and magic. When I close my eyes, I can see into the game as if it’s all around me.
And maybe I’ve sprayed too much and I’m hallucinating.
With Demi in mind, I slip into a pair of lacy underwear and then secure a string of pearls around my neck. For a moment, I have the desire to take a picture and send it to him. He’d find it when he logs in next. Sitting in his inbox.
My cock twitches at the thought.
No. I shove the whole idea aside and climb into my suit. Sometimes putting on suits feels like a wrestling match to get all the pieces to fall just right without ending up in a wrinkly mess by the time you’re finished. When I’m finished, I stand back to look at myself. What would Demi think of this as opposed to my lacy underwear and pearls? Do I look better in a suit than naked?
Taking a breath, I stuff my phone and wallet into my pocket and head for the door. I really appreciate having an electronic key on my phone for the hotel room door; it’s one less thing to worry about. If it wasn’t for my ID, I’d not even take my wallet and just use the stored cards on my phone.
“Noah.”
I turn at the familiar voice and smile when Link Jördik approaches. There’s no mistaking his very distinct Austrian accent. He claps me on the shoulder.
“Hey,” I say in return. “I thought Marlon was signed up for this.”
“Apparently something came up.” He rolls his eyes. “Likely, he wanted out and found an excuse.”
I shrug. “You’re better company.”
Link winks and grins. “I ordered a car. Want to join me?”
“Yeah, sure.” Probably should have thought of a car before coming downstairs but meh. It worked out. Hopefully this means I’ll have someone to kind of stick around so I’m not swarmed.
It’s funny. While I’d like to say that I have a magnetic personality, I really think there’s something almost pheromonal about my face that draws people in. Guys, girls, dogs, pterodactyls. Somehow, people are just always there, wanting a piece of me. It doesn’t matter to women if I’m gay. It doesn’t matter to straight guys that I’m a guy. They’re just… there.
When I can pretend to be with someone, the nights go by smoother.
We spend the wait and the car ride talking about what we’ve been doing since the end of the season. When we arrive, it’s as crowded and dirty outside as it always is in the city, but inside is like stepping into a different world. It’s lavish with sparkling crystal light fixtures and polished marble floors. There are statues and framed works of art and plush velvet curtains hanging all over the place.
It doesn’t take long for Link to get distracted with someone else, which I’m not at all surprised about. He’s got the true magnetic personality. He’s charming, exotic, and sweet. The perfect trifecta of appeal to any lady.
I try to keep my head down as I step inside the main space, hoping to get lost in the crowd. There are already hors d'oeuvres being served and alcohol flowing. There are affluent people in expensive attire everywhere, their diamonds and jewels glittering in the light as much as the crystals hanging from the bulbs.
For about an hour, I manage to keep my head down and wander through the crowds. Not garnering any attention. I head into the silent auction and place my name on a couple baskets, and then buy an arm’s length of tickets for the bucket auctions.
