Page 12 of Dating and Dragons

“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.

“I’m stacking to get as many hit points as possible so I can save the rest of the party later when the others can’t.” I lean back and cross my arms. “Or are you going to tell me that this build won’t be a help to the rest of the party? Because if so, we’ll all know you’re just arguing because you don’t want me here.”

He stares me down, but then the corner of his mouth lifts slightly, like he’s fighting not to smile.

“And the build has one more bonus now that I knowyou’re playing an elf,” I continue. “Being a dwarf will give me an excuse to fight with you since our races don’t naturally get along well.”

“You want to fight with me?”

“No, but it seems likeyouwant to fight withme.This way the viewers will have some reasoning behind why we treat each other this way.”

I raise an eyebrow at him, although my heart is racing. I can’t believe I’m being so combative when I’m simultaneously so desperate to be included in this group, but what the hell is his problem? If he’s going to try to put me in my place, I have no issue doing the same to him. I don’t think being polite is going to get me far with this group.

He drops his gaze to the table and messes with the dice in front of him. “You know, group dynamics are important to us. Very important. If you can’t be a team player, then you shouldn’t be here.”

Sloane snorts. “What are you talking about? We fight all the time. That’s half the reason people watch us—so they can hear you all bickering about stupid things.”

“It wasn’t stupid. Just because someone rolls a Natural 20 on a skill check doesn’t mean they should automatically succeed at the skill—it depends on what the total is,” Sanjiv argues. “I’m right and the world needs to know.”

Kashvi rolls her eyes. “The epic Nat 20 debate. Will it never end?”

“We have rules,” Logan cuts in, and looks around the table at the rest of them. “And we’ve all agreed to abide by them. It’s what’s kept us together and successful for three years now.”

This sobers them up and they all nod, as if the mention of rules has brought them back to their senses. They all turn to study me.

Rather than being put off, the idea of rules actually appeals to me. I like the idea of being with people who care about the game and take it seriously.

“I’m fine with that,” I say. “What are the rules?”

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