I’m laughing despite myself. “Do you all just make up elaborate lies for new players?”
“It’s tradition,” Dex says, and I notice how his eyes light up when I laugh. “Character building.”
“Torture,” Brody corrects. “But entertaining torture.”
“Speaking of entertaining,” Elliot says with a casual tone that immediately puts me on alert, “Golda was just telling me about her audiobook work. Romance novels, specifically.”
Dex goes very still beside me. “Oh. That’s... interesting.”
“Isn’t it?” Elliot’s smile is absolutely innocent. “I was just thinking how you’ve developed such an appreciation for literature lately. Always asking about books and... what was it you called it? ‘Quality voice work’?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dex says quickly, but there’s a slight flush creeping up his neck.
“Really? Because just yesterday you were telling Brody about audiobooks. Something about how they help with insomnia?”
Brody shoots Elliot a look that clearly says ‘what are you doing?’ but she’s on a roll now.
“What’s the most challenging part of narrating romance novels?” she asks me, completely ignoring Dex’s obvious discomfort. “All those... intimate scenes must be interesting to perform professionally.”
“It’s just about maintaining consistency,” I say, though I notice Dex has suddenly become very interested in his water glass. “Staying in character regardless of content.”
“Fascinating,” Elliot muses. “Dex, didn’t you just mention how much you appreciate that kind of professional skill? Voice actors who can make any material sound... compelling?”
“Did I?” Dex’s voice cracks slightly.
“You absolutely did. In fact, I think your exact words were something about how a good narrator can make even the most ridiculous story seem believable.”
I’m starting to feel like I’m missing something important. “Do you listen to audiobooks, Dex?”
“Sometimes,” he says carefully. “For... relaxation.”
“What genre do you prefer?” I ask, genuinely curious now.
The silence stretches just a beat too long. Brody is now actively trying not to laugh, while Elliot looks like a kid in a candy store.
“Oh, you know,” Dex says finally. “Various... genres.”
“Historical fiction is popular,” Elliot supplies helpfully. “Lots of demand for that. And romance, obviously. Dex was just saying how romance has become quite the trend lately. Weren’t you, Dex?”
“Was I?”
“You absolutely were. Very enthusiastic about it, actually.”
I look between them. “Is this some kind of inside joke?”
“Not at all,” Elliot says with wide-eyed innocence. “Just making conversation about shared interests.”
“Shared interests?” I repeat.
“Well, you narrate audiobooks, and Dex here has recently developed quite the... appreciation for them. It’s like fate.”
Dex looks like he wants to crawl under the table. Brody has given up trying to intervene and is just watching whatever disaster this is unfold with morbid fascination.
“What kind of audiobooks do you listen to?” I ask Dex directly, because something about this conversation feels deliberately weird.
“Just... you know. Stories. With good... narration.”
“Stories about what?”
