“Oragoun’s Chalice is an enchanted relic. What would you like to know?”
The priest swayed in front of his character while he waited for Oscar to pick an option.
What are its powers?
“If you use the chalice to consume a potion, it will double its powers and its longevity.” The priest swayed again. “What would you like to know?”
Goodbye.
“Goodbye, Fair Rogue. May your travels lead you to greatness.”
Oscar walked through the back door of the church, enjoying the sound of boots scuffing against tile. He was glad he wouldn’t have to go through that again.
“Maybe he should have given me a cloak,” the character said snarkily as she stepped out to the rain. “I’ll have to find a merchant.”
Oscar would take the character to market later, equip her with any new armor he’d unlocked and get her better gear for the weather. The chalice was quite a cool prize, he had to admit. He’d put that in his feedback.
For now, another reward awaited.
Spikey: Guess who just turned a fleshy one-eyed bitch into mashed potatoes and earned an enchanted chalice.
CowBoy0705: I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s probably you.
The rain raged on in the background, his character shuddering repeatedly as she got soaked, standing a step outside the doorway, but Oscar was owed a reward, too, and somehow it felt like he’d already received it. How many days had he waitedfor Aaron to finally text him? Weeks. Oscar had just about given up on ever hearing from him. He’d hoped to run into him at the follow-up appointments, but there’d been no such luck. A part of Oscar had been relieved, because how awkward would it have been to come face to face with someone who hadignoredan agreement to get in touch? The greater part of him, though, had felt even more let down not to have had a chance to see those eyes again, that freckled face.
But now those three dots were bouncing again on the chat and Aaron’s avatar was beaming up at him in those round glasses, eyes as bright as Oscar remembered.
CowBoy0705: This calls for another one of those cookies.
“There isa lotyou have to learn about me, Cowboy,” Oscar said, chuckling to himself.
Spikey: Gotta be fast in this place. Those cookies were gone before either one of us went to sleep last night.
CowBoy0705: Aww :( I really wanted a taste of them.
Oscar’s throat tightened. Ataste. In order for Aaron to taste his cookies, he’d have to be here. Oscar couldn’t help his widening smile, his heart jackhammering against his ribs. In a moment of true unadulterated frenzy, Oscar stamped his feet repeatedly on the floor, something like a giggle escaping him.
Spikey: I’ll be sure to make another batch ;) I hope you weren’t cheap enough to be hoping that was going to be my reward. I collect my dues, Cowboy.
Oscar leaned back into the soft fake leather of his couch,curling his legs in. The screen glitched a black box into existence. Oscar’s core heated at the thought that Aaron might have sent him a picture, heart lumping in his throat as his imagination drove him wild, the anticipation choking him with want. Even a glimpse of his face, at this point, would be more than enough for Oscar to?—
Aaron hadn’t sent a picture of himself, but the image was beautiful still. Oscar studied what looked like a knit blanket displaying the trans flag with a heart pattern in its center. It tugged on the corners of his lips, and of course he should have expected as much. Aaron wasn’t the type to send private pictures to people he’d only just started talking to. He was sweetness and sugar. Aaron was coffee with cream, marshmallows floating on top of hot chocolate. He was the sweet dessert that came after the savory warmth Oscar had been starved of ever since Papa had died of that heart attack.
CowBoy0705: My recovery project :)
Spikey: Wait…you made that? :O
CowBoy0705: From scratch!
Oscar wished he had something to send back, but he hadn’t come up with any interesting projects for his recovery. Mostly, he’d focused on trying very hard to lift his arms a little earlier than expected, to be able to shower a little sooner, to start lifting things the moment the doctor cleared him. In the end, no matter how many years passed, he would always be that same kid who wanted to be independent, and Sandra had reminded him too much of his mother, despite not being an awful hag of a transphobe.
Failing to find anything meaningful to pass along, Oscar glanced at Luigi, who paused in the middle of licking his paw,as though he understood he was about to become a flirting device.
“Thanks, bud,” Oscar said, snapping a quick photo.
Spikey: Luigi approves!
CowBoy0705: Cat!!!!!!!!!! I must meet him.
