My Moderator cannot be this Cute #666
"You sure you can't stay with me?"
Not this again.
"I can't, honey. It's a really important game."
Why can't she understand?
"I know, but what about this one? What about us?" she gently placed her palm on her belly.
"It's just one night. My opponent is in the US, the whole league is waiting for us to finish our game. It's the quarter finals, final 8! Please, I'll be back as soon as I finish..."
"You mean finish the match AND write your LP," she glares.
He shrugs in response, no dodging that one. She knows him best.
"Lund, I need this.
Please. I won't let you and her down. I promise," he gave her a pleading look.
"You thought up of a name yet?"
"...I uh.. Black Cat?"
She gave him a playful slap.
"Steve, you're a father soon. So I'm begging you, grow up. There are times you need to be."
"I know, I know. So...can I go?"
"Yes. But be there when we need you."
"I will," he quickly grabbed the Miami Heats shirt hanging by the chair and put it on over his plain black T-shirt.
"Steve, can you leave that shirt here?"
"..Oh. Sure. Just don't-"
"Get it dirty, alright? Cause it's your favorite. I know," she smiles.
It's his favorite not because he's a fan, but because it's comfortable.
"Yeah, I love you," he placed the shirt on her lap and gave her forehead a quick kiss before dashing out of the room, nearly knocking down an incoming nurse. A quick apology, and he's gone in a flash.
"Your husband is a professional athlete or something?" the nurse piped in.
"Just another stupid video gamer," she sighs in despair.
"I'm so sorry."
--------
"Let's get this match underway, bitch!" he typed on the steam chat window.
I can't lose.
"I will rape you," he added.
"lolwut?" came the reply.
FRAPS on.
Season 10. Knights of Codexia defied all odds and finished 4th in the qualifiers, drawing a hard Necromancer opponent, TV 2000.
No problem, I just got to hire Zara and stab all these fuckers to death.
Great, I won the coin toss. I'll be receiving.
KICK OFF!
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"I wonder if that idiot is winning yet...Ah!" there's that pain again.
"Oh no, I better ring up the doc."
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TURNOVER!
"WHAT THE FUCK!"
"Fucking pick up failure on turn 1 with no tackle zone?! The shit is this!?! Xenomorph!!!!"
That sound. Blitz?!
On who?!
CRACK!
Zara the Slayer is dead.
"FUCK!"
--------
"Ahhhh.... it hurts. Yes, it's getting worse, Doc. Tonight's the night? You're coming? Oh OK."
That was easy. Now for the hard part - should I call him or not?
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"Take THAT!"
Apo'ed that slut - got her up on next drive. I'm 1-0 down, but I'm still in the game. Turn 4!
Phone vibrated? SMS? Fuck that noise.
--------
"No reply. Figures. Hnnnghhh."
"Came here as soon as I could, where's your husband?"
"He'll be here soon,"
you better, Steve. Fuckkk.
She texted another SMS. Just to be sure.
--------
"C'mon... c'mon...
Azira YES! YOU GOT THE BALL! DIVING CATCH MOTHER FUCKER! STAN BUSH! GO FOR IT! YOU GOT THE TOUCH!"
One. Two... uh oh... Reroll?
The phone vibrates again.
Turn 8. Fuck that phone. REROLL!
TOUCHDOWN! 1-1 KNIGHT OF CODEXIA EQUALIZES!
I can't lose! I'm unbeatable. Bring on the second half, Necros!
-------
"AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhh!!! It hurts!!!"
"Hang in there, Lund. Deeeeep breaths.... Where's the husband?"
"He's not here yet."
"FUCK YOU STEEEEEVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
"Nurse, give him a call! Lund, stay with me. Is your husband overseas?"
"NO HE'S PLAYING A VIDYA GAMEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Seriously."
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Turn 14. 1-1
"Looks like you're 3 man down. It's now 8 vs 10, Necros. Time to lay in the pain."
Knights of Codexia sets up a chain push, Jaedar only gets a Pushed result from a 2D block.
But the resulting push puts the Necro werewolf two tiles away from the crowdsurf line.
Normally that would be safe...
"Whitewolf, frenzy that werewolf out of the game!"
First 2D block, Push-Skull.
Push!
Second 2D block- WHOOOAHHHHHHHH OH ITS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME WHOOOOOOOOOOAH OOH OH
"Fucking ring tone, who's calling me at this ungodly hour. Shit what's the 2D block dice?"
Skull and sku- Wait- oh shit!
TURN OVER.
"Niggling injury. I'm out of Apo. Fuck this caller. *grabs phone* HELLO, MOM?! IS THAT YOU? I'M FINE I'M MARRIED AND WE HAVE BABBY KTHX"
"Mr Steven? It's about your wife..."
"I LUV U TOO MOM BYE THANKS."
Seriously. The nerve of that woman.
I'm trying to salvage this game, goddamit...
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"Is he- is he here yet?"
"I'm sorry, he isn't."
"Ahhhhhh.. Steve.."
"Hang in there, Lund. Just stay strong. I'm sure he's thinking of you right now and trying his best-"
----------
"I tried my best," came the opponent's reply as he failed a pick up on the ball. It's still 1-1 turn 16.
"YOUR "BEST"?! LOSERS ALWAYS WHINE ABOUT THEIR BEST. WINNERS GO HOME AND FUCK THE PROM QUEEN!"
Two markers on the ball. I got some players free. I'm not gonna waste a blitz on a stab, but I can't risk a Loner on double skull derping on Team Reroll. I just need to remove one marker before I go for a sure hand pick up.
Zara goes forward first- and then- WHOOOOOAAHHH OOOOHHH ITS ALWAYS-
"Not this again," I rejected the call. Not important. They can wait 2 minutes. Its my last turn goddamit.
Sending in Brother None for Guard Assist...
Then,
Jaedar ... blitz! POW - PUSH. Yeah, one marker. Here we go....
Xenomorph..... WHOOOAHHHH OOOH OOOOHHHH ITS ALWA- Shut up SHUT UPPPPPPP
SURE HANDS! YES! GOT THE BALL! Oh fuck. I made a mistake.
I could've moved Azira to the TD zone before picking up the ball. If I pass the ball now, he's got a chance to intercept the ball.
Shit shit. Fuck Fuck.
What do I do?!
Should I dodge out before making the pass... should I.....WHOOOOOOOOOOAHHH OOHHH OHHH ITS ALWAYS A GUD-
Oh for Crying oUt Loud...~
"WHAT IS IT"
*clicks on Xenomorph, dodge....out?*
"Sir, it's your wife... there's been complication during her childbirth-"
*dodge successful*
"YES! YESSSS! DOGE! WOW! SO POWERFUL! MUCH TOUGHNESS!"
"Sir! It's your wife! It's your baby! Why are you celebrating?!"
"Middle of the game, hang on... I can handover instead... to STABBY! Here we......THERE IT IS! YES
stabby! THREE TILES GO FOR IT! SPRINNNNT!"
Handover successful! Alt Tab -'Stan bush - The Touch'
"YOU GOT THE TOUCH!"
"Mr. STEVEN. SHE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH TIME IF YOU DON'T"
2 TILES TO GO FOR IT
"YOU GOT THE POWAH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
ONE TILE TO GO FOR IT
"MR STEVEN, LUND IS GOING TO DIE"
"What."
TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Knights of Codexia 2 - 1!
IT'S OVER! Your opponents is waiting for your opponent to skip the cinematics....
"Wait-what-did you say?"
"There's been complications. We need your HERE. RIGHT. NOW."
"Grats, RK" came the message on steam chat.
He didn't bother to shut down.
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*BLAM* the door to the hospital lobby burst open.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
"Mr. Steven, this is a hospital."
"aRE YOU INDOCTRINATED? Take me to my wife, Doc."
"Steve, she doesn't have much time left."
"Give her more time then. Kal Lor. In Vas Mani."
"You need to be strong for her."
"Just... take me to her, Reaper scum... Before I collar grab you."
"Okay, okay. This way."
There she is. She looks... so weak. Her eyes are closed. In her arms lies a pile of bloodied shirt. His favorite.
"Lund.." he calls out softly, not daring to hope.
"S-steve?" came the weak reply, the blue eyes opened just for him.
"I'm here, I'm so sorry," tears flowed.
"Idiot," her dried eyes became wet once more.
"I am an idiot."
"I know. You need to apologize to someone else, too," she brings up a bloodied bundle in her arms to let him take a better look.
"She's beautiful. What's her name?" he gently strokes her cheek.
"Alice," she whispers as she closes her eyes, succumbing to the exhaustion.
"Hi, Alice. It's me, your dad. I just won a Blood Bowl game. It's quarter finals. I can't wait to show you off to the Codex. Mom's a moderator in there and flies a helicopter and... Lund.. she's falling asleep. Am I boring her? Heheh, Lund? Lund? Say something to Alice, tell her about us."
A hand on his shoulder broke his trance.
"She's gone, Steve."
"..........can I load game?"
"No. I'm afraid not."
It's final.
He slumped to her lifeless lap.
Hot tears flowing ever freely on his bloodied favorite shirt.
Knights of Codexia never played ever again since that day.
FIN