Aurora “Rory” Kahale wasn’t just a Dungeon Master.

They were a Dungeon Master.

The joke sucked, but Rory kept repeating it in the mirror before each of their sessions. It was the best way for them to hype themself up for the upcoming adventure, the next installment of the story they’d so carefully built with the characters the others created.

The original plan? Rory had wanted to make a new version of the Disabled Student Association they had at their old school when they moved to Lavender Hills a month or so ago. They knew there had to be more than just them in the district. And so came Amaya, then Emily and Jacob, then Kit dragged along by Emily and Jacob. Nobody else came to make it big enough to be a club.

So why not just run a Dungeons and Dragons campaign instead?

They were lucky that the others were so willing to just go with the flow. Rory was a seasoned storyteller themself, and combined with the chaos that was, well, everyone, they worked just as hard to come up with each new installment. Four sessions in, and it was like they were all completely familiar with each other.

Rory was already in their comfier DM chair at the head of the table, knowing the others would just let themselves in when they arrived. They were too comfortable to get back in their wheelchair to let them in, and their mom told the others they could just come in, anyway. Chances were, it’d be Amaya first, rolling in and getting herself situated while she and Rory chatted about classes and life, and then the other three would come crashing in just shy of late, blaming each other for whatever that night’s reason was. Jacob decided he wanted his crutches, Emily didn’t want to get off the floor, Kit’s band practice ran late. It was funny that they were so predictable in real life, but they wielded their characters in ways Rory never would’ve guessed for four new players.

Maybe it was all the sugar, they thought as they glanced over the various boxes and bags of cookies and candy. They’d been sure to provide everyone’s favorites.

They heard Amaya’s sweet voice outside as a car honked quickly; Amaya’s parents, saying goodbye before they picked her up later. Rory checked their watch. Right on time for her—fifteen minutes early. So they had another twenty or so until the others showed up.

Rory smiled to themself, slipping from their everyday personality into their Dungeon Master persona—them, but a bit more dramatic and sarcastic. It was like pulling on a familiar sweatshirt. Kind of like the one they were wearing, actually.

It was time for the next session to begin.