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Huntrix and the Saja Boys and getting together for another Demons and Dragons game.
Game night at the apartment had evolved into something far more theatrical than anyone had originally intended. What had started as a casual “Demons and Dragons” one-shot months ago had grown into a full-blown event, complete with themed snacks, questionable accents, and Jinu’s increasingly elaborate storytelling. Tonight, the living room had been rearranged to accommodate the chaos: the coffee table pushed to the side, a large folding table set up in the center and covered with character sheets, dice sets in every color imaginable, and little figurines that Jinu insisted made the game “immersive.” Candles flickered along the windowsill for atmosphere, and someone—definitely Zoey—had hung a banner that read: WELCOME, BRAVE FOOLS.
Jinu stood at the head of the table with quiet authority, adjusting his glasses as he organized his notes. He looked every bit the dramatic game master, his dark button-up sleeves rolled to his elbows, hair slightly tousled from Rumi having run her hands through it earlier. He cleared his throat.
“Welcome back,” he began, voice dropping into a deep, ominous tone. “To the cursed lands of Varethia—”
“I should co-host,” Zoey interrupted brightly, sliding into the chair beside him before he could protest.
Jinu paused mid-sentence and looked down at her. “Excuse me?”
“I have energy. I have commentary. I have opinions.”
“You don’t know the rules,” he said calmly.
“Neither does Rumi,” Zoey countered immediately.
Rumi, who was currently studying her character sheet upside down, blinked. “Hey.”
Jinu tried not to smile.
Zoey clasped her hands dramatically. “Please. I’ll be your mysterious and glamorous co-narrator.”
He sighed as if deeply burdened. “Fine.”
Zoey gasped in victory and scooted her chair even closer to his.
Rumi narrowed her eyes playfully at her husband. “You’re replacing me already?”
Jinu turned to her with mock seriousness. “You’re still my favorite player.”
“That’s not what you said last time,” she teased.
“That’s because you tried to seduce a dragon with a loaf of bread.”
“It was enchanted bread!”
The table erupted in laughter.
Mira leaned back in her chair, smirking. “To be fair, it almost worked.”
“It absolutely did not,” Jinu said firmly.
Rumi pouted dramatically. “You said it was ‘mildly confused.’”
“It was confused why you were holding carbs at it.”
Before Rumi could retaliate, the front door swung open with theatrical force.
Every head turned.
Abby stood in the doorway wearing a full pirate costume—boots, belt, dramatic white shirt with billowy sleeves, and a tricorn hat slightly tilted over his messy hair. He even had a plastic cutlass hanging at his side.
There was silence.
Mira stared at him.
“Hi,” Abby said casually.
“Why,” Mira began slowly, “are you dressed like you’re about to commandeer a ship?”
Abby glanced around. “Isn’t it Dress Like a Pirate Day?”
Zoey gasped. “That’s next week!”
Abby froze.
“…Next week?”
“Yes!” Zoey exclaimed, flipping through her overly color-coded planner. “I wrote it down!”
Abby looked at Mira, mortified.
Mira, however, was very clearly fighting a smile.
“You look ridiculous,” she said flatly.
Abby’s shoulders slumped.
“And,” she added softly, stepping closer to him, “I kind of love it.”
His face lit up immediately.
She reached up awkwardly and adjusted his hat, fingers brushing his hair. “You’re such a dork.”
“For you,” he replied gently.
Zoey clapped her hands. “Perfect! You can be an NPC pirate.”
Jinu nodded thoughtfully. “Actually… I can work with this.”
Abby looked relieved.
Mira slipped her hand into his, still a little flustered but undeniably smitten. He squeezed gently, then leaned down to press a quick kiss to her temple. She immediately turned red.
“Don’t,” she muttered, but she didn’t let go.
The game began in earnest shortly after, with Jinu setting the scene while Zoey leaned over his notes as if she understood any of it.
“And looming before you,” Jinu intoned dramatically, “is the Cavern of Eternal Whispers.”
“Ooo,” Zoey added ominously.
Mystery glanced at her. “What does that mean?”
“It means… it whispers eternally,” Zoey said confidently.
Jinu gave her a look.
Rumi raised her hand timidly. “Are the whispers friendly?”
Romance groaned. “Why would they be friendly?”
“Maybe they’re lonely,” Rumi offered earnestly.
Baby rubbed his temples. “Can we just proceed peacefully for once?”
The dice rolled.
Within twenty minutes, chaos had taken over.
Romance’s character had already died twice.
“I don’t understand!” he exclaimed dramatically. “How is Rumi still alive?”
All eyes turned to Rumi, who was staring at her dice like they had personally blessed her.
“I rolled… a twenty?” she said uncertainly.
Jinu leaned back, trying to look impartial. “That is, unfortunately for you, Romance, a critical success.”
Romance pointed accusingly. “She doesn’t even know what she’s doing!”
Rumi looked genuinely apologetic. “I’m just pressing buttons.”
“There are no buttons!” Baby snapped.
Zoey leaned over Jinu’s shoulder and whispered loudly, “Maybe it’s fate.”
Mystery watched her with quiet amusement. “Do you even know what’s happening?”
“Absolutely,” Zoey replied without hesitation. “We’re navigating complex emotional arcs.”
Jinu choked back laughter.
Rumi leaned toward him. “Am I doing okay?”
He met her gaze and softened instantly. “You’re doing amazing.”
“Even though I tried to adopt a cursed bat?”
“Especially because of that.”
She beamed.
Across the table, Mira was trying to focus, but Abby kept leaning in to whisper pirate-themed commentary.
“Arrr, ye should loot the chest,” he murmured.
She elbowed him lightly. “Stop.”
“You love it.”
She did not deny it.
At one point, Rumi attempted to negotiate with a demon instead of fighting it.
“Why are you like this?” Romance demanded as his third character perished.
“Maybe he just needs a friend,” Rumi insisted.
Jinu leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “The demon pauses… intrigued.”
Romance stared at him in disbelief. “You’re encouraging her!”
“I reward creativity,” Jinu replied smoothly.
Rumi leaned over and kissed his cheek suddenly. “Best game master ever.”
He smiled softly and turned his head just enough to steal a quick kiss from her lips.
Zoey fanned herself dramatically. “Romance at the table!”
“Can we focus?” Baby pleaded.
But the energy only grew wilder. Zoey kept interjecting dramatic commentary to impress Mystery, using phrases like “narrative tension” and “symbolic alignment” without understanding any of it. Mystery nodded thoughtfully anyway.
At one point, Abby dramatically “betrayed” the party in character, prompting Mira to gasp and swat his arm.
“How could you?” she demanded, half-laughing.
“For the treasure,” he declared.
“You’re sleeping on the couch.”
“Worth it.”
Romance eventually threw his hands up. “I’ve died four times. Rumi has befriended two enemies and accidentally discovered treasure.”
Rumi blinked. “Did I?”
“Yes!” everyone shouted.
She looked at Jinu. “Is that good?”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice just for her. “It’s incredible.”
She smiled shyly.
Baby sighed. “I just wanted one peaceful campaign.”
Instead, they got dramatic speeches, accidental heroics, pirate accents, flirty distractions, and at least one argument about whether enchanted bread counted as a weapon.
By the time the session ended, everyone was laughing too hard to care about points.
“Well,” Jinu concluded, closing his binder. “Against all odds… Rumi has the highest score.”
Romance slumped in defeat. “I quit.”
Zoey leapt up triumphantly. “Co-host victory!”
“You didn’t do anything,” Baby muttered.
“I added vibes.”
Abby removed his pirate hat and bowed dramatically. Mira clapped despite herself, then quickly hid her smile when he winked at her.
As everyone began cleaning up, Rumi wrapped her arms around Jinu from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.
“That was fun,” she murmured.
He turned in her arms and kissed her softly. “You make it fun.”
Across the room, Mira leaned into Abby’s side, still pretending she wasn’t completely charmed by his costume mishap.
Zoey was animatedly explaining “strategic character arcs” to Mystery.
Romance was planning his revenge.
Baby just wanted water.
And somehow, in the middle of the chaos, affection, and complete nonsense, it had been the perfect game night.