Better than Reality

"The human mind has a greater need of the ideal even than of the real. It is by the real that we exist; it is by the ideal that we live."
Victor Hugo, "William Shakespeare" (1864)

xxxxx

A Study in Character Creation, or: The First Session is Always Awkward

Prologue

xxxxx

Beta'd by gretchen4321 and percygranger

Britpicked by hms_wellington

xxxxx

"Seriously, David, you're playing a detective inspector? You've played the same character the last three campaigns." Tom ran a hand absently through his messy dishwater blond mop. His words lacked any bite, so David was unconcerned.

"I'm the dungeon master's boyfriend. I can do whatever the hell I want. Now shut it and create your character."

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, where's Arthur? I thought he was supposed to be here by now."

"Well, with his job..." David grinned.

Right on cue, there was a frantic knocking at the front door.

"Come in, it's open!" David called out.

Arthur popped his head round the door. "Sorry I'm late, everyone! You know how it is with traffic. I think I must be cursed, or something."

Tom smiled at the sight of Arthur. The silly man was still wearing his pilot's uniform. He looked slightly less awkward than in his typical jeans and t-shirts.

He'd left his cap at home, apparently, and his frizzy ginger hair was sticking out at weird angles.

"Did you come straight from the airport?" Tom asked, only half interested in the answer, as Arthur shrugged out of his jacket and hung it up carefully in the hall closet.

"Yes," Arthur said, patting his head absently. "Sam wanted a photo with my hat yesterday, so I let him borrow it. I had to show up at work today without it." He frowned.

"I'm sure no one noticed," David said, emitting a long-suffering sigh, and twisting his mechanical pencil between two long fingers. "Have you picked out your character yet?"

"It's D20 modern this time, right? So I can play anything modern-day?"

"No aeroplane pilots," Tom and David chorused.

"Aww, why can't I play a pilot?" Arthur protested, pulling out the free chair next to Tom at the dining table.

"Because otherwise you'd never shut up about it?" Tom proffered, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smirk. "I thought you joined this group so you'd have a hobby other than flying."

"Fine," Arthur muttered, settling against the wooden chair back.

"Pasta's done, dear." Laurie bounced through the kitchen doorway and kissed David on the cheek.

Tom grinned cheerfully at the couple. He'd always had a bit of a thing for Laurie. Not that he'd ever admit as much. "So what's the setting, Laurie?"

"It's modern day London! I've worked it out with David. I think it'll be so much fun."

"Let me guess, you're playing the villain?" Tom asked.

Laurie giggled. "How did you know? Since, well, I'm the DM and I get to play allthe characters." She looked at David in mock disappointment. "David, did you say something?"

David sighed. "No, my lips are sealed. Go get me some pasta, would you?"

"I never play evil characters, normally! I'm looking forward to DMing. It means I get to play a deranged mastermind."

Laurie giggled again when David smacked her lightly on the arse.

"Where's my dinner? Off with you!" Laurie scampered back into the kitchen, smiling.

"I've no idea what I'm going to play," Arthur groaned.

Tom poked him in the side. "Why don't you play someone completely different from you, then? You know – someone intelligent, confident, sexy..." he teased.

"Oh, thanks for that." Arthur blushed and turned away from Tom.

Tom grinned. "You know I was only joking. Besides, I'm playing someone totally unlike me – he's an army doctor, who was shot and sent home from the war. He's looking for excitement!"

"And he's a ladies' man, and doesn't live with his parents, or hate his job," David added.

Tom glared. "That's only because he's unemployed. And what are you trying to imply about my love life?"

"Aren't you still pining over that co-worker of yours?" David raised an eyebrow. "The one with the boyfriend?"

"I am not pining!"

"Quit picking on Tom," Laurie said as she popped out of the kitchen with a large bowl of penne and a jar of marinara. "At least he told her how he felt." She glanced guiltily at Arthur, who turned a particularly entertaining shade of scarlet.

David just sighed.

Laurie leaned over the table to set down the pasta. "The setting is London, and there have been a series of murders. Why don't you play a detective or something, Arthur? You could work with David's character."

Arthur's lip pushed out rather adorably as he mulled it over. "I suppose that wouldn't be too bad. I could be a private detective, except I sometimes consult with the police force. A consulting detective! I'll be one of those brilliant people who observes everything and then comes up with clever explanations. Like Poirot! But sexy."

Arthur looked rather pleased with himself. Tom snorted.

"What?" Arthur asked, his lower lip jutting outward in a pout.

"Nothing. I'm looking forward to seeing you come up with these clever explanations."

Arthur looked worried, but then his expression cleared. "That's what the dice are for!"

David laughed. "We are actually here to role play, Arthur, not just roll dice."

"I know that! I just..." Arthur flailed a bit, hands gesticulating wildly. He stilled when David shot him an incredulous look. "Never mind, hand me the book," Arthur deflected. "I need to look up skills."

Tom smiled and turned back to his character sheet. He was looking forward to next week's session. Creating John Watson had been fun, but getting to play him would be even better.