Chapter Text
The cafeteria was always loud, there was never a day it wasn't, but today it seemed even louder if that was possible--whispers increasing in volume when you walked past, and eyes staring at you as you scanned over the room, looking for him. You weren't a fan of the spotlight, especially when rumors started floating around. Your usual table, clustered with cheerleaders and their basketball boyfriends didn't even bat an eyelash in your direction. They could care less. You were no longer one of them, popularity status truly disintegrated--melted away like the ice cream nudged into Scott's jacket yesterday. At least you could eat, instead of having to pick at your tray for half an hour. Not that you really wanted to eat, the food didn't look that appetizing today. The lunch ladies were serving a sad, limp slice of pizza accompanied by four measly undercooked tater tots, mushy green beans, and applesauce that looked expired.
Eddie was sitting with the Hellfire Club, at the head of the table. His hands were interlocked in front of him, his mouth moving as he spoke with the members, though judging by his eyes, he didn't seem too immersed in the conversation. When he noticed you approaching, he darted upwards, chair pushed back with a clamorous screech. You didn't have to take another step before Eddie noticed you, and in what felt like only a blink or two, or three, he was by your side. He must've scrambled from his seat, trying to reach you before someone could bother you--not that anyone was. Eddie guided you to the table, where you awkwardly stood as his three D&D campaign members and bandmates stared at you in awe. They must've been in utter disbelief that you, a cheerleader, ex-cheerleader now, was even bothering to stand in their vicinity.
"Everyone, meet our newest member. Temporarily. So be glad you get the honor of skipping my initiation process," Eddie said as he looked at you, "Game's not too hard though, I promise." He grimaced once he caught his friends' eyeroll, one of them slipping the other a ten-dollar bill.
"I'm not joining, I--" You were interrupted by Eddie snatching the money off the table.
He held the dollar in both hands, holding it up to the light that was pouring in from the windows--and testing its stretchiness, which was as durable as expected. "Are you kidding me? You made a bet?" Eddie shook his head, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "And only a ten too, boo. Could've slid the money over later, but noooo," he whined, "You just had to do it in front of our lovely guest. Well, it's mine now."
"Won't happen again," one of them grumbled under their breath. His shoulders slumped and he looked bummed to lose out on the ten dollars, he should've just waited.
"Sorry, princess. Did I interrupt you?" Eddie asked. You were taken by surprise that he was choosing to use the nickname in front of other people, but didn't have much time to question it further in your head. He ushered you to take a seat on the bench beside his chair--his throne at the head of the table.
"I told you I'd be an observer at band practice, I'm not joining the game,” you said. Everyone at the table averted Eddie’s gaze, and yours too, distracting themselves by staring at the trays of food in front of them. Some didn’t get the four undercooked tater tots in the corner of their tray, a lump of chocolate pudding in its place. They toyed with their food, spoons practically caressing the pudding as they waited for Eddie to say something.
Eddie feigned a gasp, clutching at his chest. "Why must you torment me so?"
"Hellfire Club and Corroded Coffin are kinda one in the same," one of his friends said.
"Yeah, it's a package deal," Eddie said, "Can't have one without the other. So, make your choice." He clicked the lock of his lunchbox, flipping it open and pulling out a small bag of chips. You could've sworn you saw a clump of weed in there, partially hidden underneath a sandwich, but Eddie shut the lid before you could get a closer look.
"I don't know how to play," you said.
"Weren't you listening? I said it wouldn't be that hard," he popped a chip in his mouth, talking in between bites, "Plus, your friendly neighborhood Dungeon Master, a.k.a. me, will be holding your hand the whole way through."
You wondered if he meant it literally.
"Hellfire Club meets every Wednesday, tomorrow--wow this week is starting to fly by--and also Fridays, but Eddie probably told you the schedule already."
You shook your head as you took a tiny bite of the pizza. It was very wet, which was the worst word to describe the texture, and yet it was true, like it'd been thrown into a vat of oil and then washed off in the sink immediately afterwards. "Eddie didn't tell me anything at all. Am I going to have to make a character, or do you have one pre-written for me?"
Eddie's clapped his hands together, rings clinking on his fingers. "I am so glad you asked that," he smiled, "You'll be making your own. I'm very excited to see what you’ll choose." He snapped his fingers at one of his friends, who then pulled out a copy of the players handbook. The book was thinner than you thought it'd be, maybe roughly only a hundred pages, give or take.
"Just pick whatever feels natural to you, okay?" Eddie said. He flipped through the pages for you, until he landed on the character race descriptions. "And begin."
You read through--skimmed the very detailed descriptions of each character race that was an option for you to possibly play as. There weren't as many options as you initially presumed, only seven for you to deliberate between until you finally came to a decision. You were about to let Eddie know your choice, but he held a hand up to stop you.
"Now pick a character class and alignment," he said, "It should say what alignment they're allowed to be depending on class, and what class you can be depending on race." He was very passionate about this, you could tell by the way he tried to hide the excitement in his voice. You started reading again, feeling Eddie's eyes on you as you traced down the page. He was sitting with his knuckles over his mouth, waiting in eager anticipation for you to make your final decision.
There was so much to read through, the material was incredibly dense for someone who's never played before--half the words you didn't understand, things about crit percentages and dice rolls, spells to memorize and weapons to decide on. It was very difficult, but with such a heavy amount of reading and math--and to be proficient as the Dungeon Master, there was no way Eddie should've been held back twice. There must be another reason for it, perhaps he wanted to stay behind for his club and friends, or because Class of '86 had a good ring to it.
"Okay, I've chosen," you said as you slid the book towards him. It remained flipped open to the class you decided on, so that Eddie could quickly scan through if need be. You made eye contact with Eddie as you spoke, "I will be a neutral good, half-elf ranger."
"Of course, that seems like a perfect fit for you," Eddie said, "That was my guess, before you said anything by the way."
"I'm sure it was," you laughed. You popped a tater tot in your mouth just as Eddie stole one from your tray, if you'd grabbed one a second earlier, your hands would've brushed together--not that you wanted to touch him. He tossed it into the air, seamlessly catching it in his mouth. Even he looked surprised, smiling as he chewed it.
"Welcome to Hellfire," he said.