"I feel like our definitions of 'extremely important' are very different, Jesse."
Genji Shimada sat, arms crossed, at a table in the recreation room in Watchpoint Gibraltar. He was, after a few years working with him, used to his coworker's juvenile and inane pursuits, but never before had he seen the Strike Commander's second-in-command take part.
"Shimmy, this is important. It's a tactical combat simulation meant to bolster your improvisational thinking, and improve teamwork. Soldiers been using it for decades, and seein' how excited Miss Amari and the big guy are, i'd say they agree with me."
"It's a board game. For children."
Lieutenant Wilhelm Reinhardt, a few feet too big for the rec room's simple plastic chairs (as well as his simple black t-shirt, an all-too common occurrence), chose this moment to stand, knocking his chair over. His voice booming through the relatively small room and head almost colliding with the ceiling, he announced:
"Dungeons and Dragons is not a simple board game my young friend! It is an ancient game of wits, of courage and cowardice, heroism and villainy! Legends are forged in battle and friendships are carved in the blood of war!"
The Lieutenant held a triumphant pose, hands firmly placed at his hips, gazing towards an invisible horizon. Captain Ana Amari, whose own seat had come dangerously close to being pushed down by Reinhardt's excessive mass, rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Bingo. Ain't just a board game, it's a whole new world of intrigue and adventure!" Jesse continued, adding emphasis with the help of a series of hand gestures that could only be described as "magician-like". "I know it's not really your thing what with that whole 'Aw jeez I hate my brother and my entire family for trying to have me killed and getting me turned into a crime against nature' thing you've got going on, but I figure maybe it'll help you relax a little. Plus, with the old man outta town we needed a fifth."
Genji scowled, although it wasn't visible from beneath the metal mask that covered most of his face. "I doubt being around you is going to relax me in any way, Jesse." Genji stood from his seat and turned to leave. "I'm going to train. Don't bother me."
The door to the rec room slid open like a curtain, revealing a blonde clad in a blindingly white coat.
"Oh! Genji! I didn't think I would see you here. Did I miss anything?" She asked, hurriedly shuffling to the table's only empty seat.
Jesse leaned back, crossing his legs and resting them on the table. "Nothin' much, Doc. Genji here was just telling us about how excited he is about game night. Ain't that right Shim-Sham?"
Genji glared at Jesse, who wore a shit-eating grin rivaling that of Reyes' when the Strike Commander threw up after eating a bad batch of beef on Overwatch's first (and only) Taco Tuesday. He contemplated stabbing Jesse, but eventually found himself sitting back down.
"I hate you so much," Genji muttered.
"Alright, I know you three got some new characters for tonight and I'm sure you're achin' to show 'em off, so why don't ya'll start introducing yourselves. Genji, you're new so I won't bother you with the rules too much, just try to make somethin' up."
Reinhardt was the first, producing a sheet of paper that was comically small in his oversized hands.
"My name is Armina. I worked in a quiet town for many years as an alchemist, until the undead hordes appeared, seemingly out of nowhere." Reinhardt's voice echoed throughout the room, making him even larger than he already appeared. "With no home, I now roam the land searching for a way to banish the undead and bring justice in the name of those lost souls I was unable to save."
Reinhardt once again finished his statement with a dramatic gaze into the distance, which Genji had a hard time seeing as anything other than absurd. Ana was next, and sounded like a mouse compared to Reinhardt.
"I am Jabez, a soldier from a bygone era. I have seen war after war, and the only one that has accompanied me throughout it all is death. After the last great war, however, there has been peace, and the world became shrouded in unknowns. I searched for a purpose, for meaning. Eventually, it found me. The undead arrived and the shroud was lifted - my purpose is clear. This is a war, and I do not intend to make it the first that I lose."
Doctor Angela Ziegler (Ph.D.) began her character's description in a poorly-done "American" accent, causing Jesse to raise an eyebrow, Reinhardt to giggle (which, due to his size, was still closer to a guffaw), and Genji to genuinely smile beneath his mask (a rarity, ever since his brother attempted to murder him).
"Mah name is James Macready, and I reckon I'm the quick-drawinest gunslingin' vampire hunter round these parts ya'll've ever seen. I ain't had a family even since ah was a babe, but damned if I don't know how ta' kill things what cain't be killed. Only thing I love more then' slammin a long, silver bullet into a well-greased chamber's the feel of a hot sausage on mah tongue, and a shot o' warm whiskey down mah gullet."
Jesse frowned. "Well, hey now. I don't sound like that." Angela, busy making finger guns and "pew, pew" sounds at the other players, largely ignored Jesse's dissatisfaction.
Angela pointed a finger gun at Genji, and asked: "How 'bout yew pard-en-er? How's I gonna call ya?"
Genji glanced around the room as the others looked at him expectantly.
"Uh…"
"Just do somethin' you know, Slim," Jesse suggested.
Genji thought for a moment.
"My, uh, name. My name is Jiro. I am… an archer. From another land."
Genji paused again.
"Once, I was a great warrior. But, I was forced into exile because of my actions. Now, I must redeem myself and bring honor to my kin. Perhaps… perhaps I will one day return to my home, a better man."
"Jackpot! That's what I'm talkin' about, Grape Juice!" Jesse's shouting pulled Genji from a deep thought he hadn't realised he had entered. "Wasn't so hard, was it? Now that ya'll are introduced, I think it's high time we get started!"
Jesse rolled a parchment-colored sheet across the table, spreading a grid of squares from end to end. Leaning towards the seated players, he began to speak:
"Your journey begins on the slithering path through Adlersbrunn…"