Happy Birthday Kas!
For those of you who know me on a more personal note, or remember my early Guardian chapter author notes, you know I have a slight obsession with the game World of WarCraft. I figured why not combine the two loves of mine into something glorious. For those of you who have never played the game...well, just try to keep up. For those of you who have? I nailed that dungeon group irritation for levels 58-62.
Blackrock Depths
:: (Established Iambic Prose)
"Danny you pick the worst dungeons." Danny huffed in annoyance as he crossed his arms, plate mail clinking together quietly while Andrew studied a map beside him, muttering under his breath every few seconds.
"Hey, it was either Blackrock Depths or Hellfire Citadel-" At the groan he received from everyone there he nodded his head, "That's what I thought. Besides, the place isn't that bad. Sure it's a little dark, and there's molten lava every so often, but there's also lots of mobs for us to rack in experience points."
"Why did I let you talk me into doing this," Jazz grumbled under her breath, arms crossed as she tried to keep hold of her staff. Danny only rolled his eyes, looking amused. "Stealing the new Fenton Reality Helmets to play video games...I don't think Mom and Dad would be happy with us right now."
"Hey, you three are using the reality helmets, me and Andrew are just using our natural ghost powers, speaking of, how's it coming with directions?" They all turned to look at Andrew, who's hand was slowly twitching towards his dagger. Seeing they were all looking towards him he clutched the map again.
"What? Oh. Fine. Great. Everything's perfect."
"I think at this rate I'd rather run Hellfire then go through BRD again," Tucker grumbled, walking uselessly around in a circle, Water Spirit trailing after his steps, before the teen yelped and tripped over his robes. "Why did I choose to play a mage again?" Tucker groaned, dazedly blinking his eyes as his Water Spirit helped him up.
"We tricked you," Sam smirked, Succubus demon laughing beside her. Danny couldn't help but shake his head at just how much his friend's character classes described them, especially Sam with her warlock.
"After examining this map more times than I care to count I have come to the conclusion that Blizzard is full of dicks," Andrew announced, rolling up the map and sticking it back into his bag. "Dicks and assholes."
"So we're lost," Jazz groaned, shaking her head. "Great. That's always something nice to hear."
"Incoming dark iron dwarf mob pack," Sam announced dully, Jazz sighing and casting a shield on Danny as he used one of his paladin's aggro attacks. In seconds the group had defeated them, Tucker now looking over his own map. "Let's just keep running around until we find the final boss."
At the general tone of agreement they set off, destroying every npc they came across. Eventually they reached a crossroads, all of them looking to Andrew. "Yes yes, I'm on it." In a second he was melting into the shadows, rogue abilities allowing him to sneak past the various mobs and scout the way ahead with little to no difficulty.
"You guys do know this is the largest dungeon in the game, right?" Sam asked, Danny only giving her a flat look. "Just letting you know." In a few moments Andrew came back, sheathing his knives.
"The Imperial Seat is this way-"
"Finally!" Tucker shouted, marching past, "Let's kill the Emperor and get this over with." Andrew shook his head as Tucker walked past, the older slipping back into the shadows. The remaining three shared a look, all of them sighing before they heard Tucker screaming and then a death shout from a dwarf.
"This is why you aren't dead yet!" Danny shouted, heading after the two with the girls following behind him. "Because Andrew actually keeps killing everything before it can get to you!" Tucker only whimpered, clutching onto his Water Spirit who looked as equally scared. "Freaking magi. You have some of the most powerful magic in the game and yet the lowest health ever."
"Says the overpowered pally," Sam snorted, Danny giving her a halfhearted glare. "You have to admit it's true. Last dungeon we all ended up getting Sleep cast on us and when we woke up you were in the middle of a goddamn massacre and laughing like you had lost your mind."
"Okay to be fair there was that reckless spell cast on me-"
"I removed it and you kept laughing," Jazz snickered, Danny huffing and throwing his shield at a mob group, getting their attention and anger. Rolling her eyes she quickly cast a shield, the others entering battle seamlessly. It was amazing what fighting in the real world could do to improve your game fighting.
"Alright, final boss," Sam called, flipping through her spellbook and holding out her hand. "Allow me to Fear Moria into the new plot line they made for her."
"I have to admit that was rather good writing on their part," Andrew hummed, twirling his daggers as if the motion was second nature. "And very unexpected, although the books brought everything together seamlessly."
"This game has books?" Tucker questioned, Andrew shaking his head sadly as Danny laughed before launching into battle with the Emperor. In seconds they were fighting in perfect sync, Jazz casting Psychic Scream on a Moria who was trying to heal her husband. Danny cursed as seconds later the Emperor's health went back to 75%.
"Can someone please keep Moria off him?!"
"Still on cool down," Jazz responded, throwing another bubble shield around Danny and Andrew, who were the only two fighting close range. "Should be Sam's turn."
"Little busy taking care of this pack of mobs Moria brought back with her!" Sam yelled, her and her demon destroying each of the npcs that tried to attack her, Tucker helping once he noticed.
"Well figure something out! Tucker, can't you use your polymorph spell?!" Hearing nothing he blinked, turning to see that Tucker's Water Spirit's bracers were on the ground, Tucker laying beside them with lifeless eyes. "Goddammit Tucker this is why I tell you not to attract aggro!"
"He has terrible health," Jazz mumbled, throwing up another shield. "You think he would get pieces with a bit more stamina- Oops..."
"There seems to be a lot of talking during this battle," Andrew muttered, using one of his more powerful moves on the Emperor before vanishing and intercepting the npcs that tried to attack Danny.
"I seem to have run out of mana," Jazz nervously laughed, screaming before going silent. Danny looked back, unnerved at seeing the dead form of his sister's character before shaking it off and casting his own healing spell on him, Andrew, and Sam.
"See, that's what happens when you go all for intellect instead of spirit!" Danny shouted, looking unamused and using his shield to block an attack. "I swear if we wipe I am blaming it all on you two!" Hearing a choked-off scream Danny sighed, shoulders dropping. "Three. Blaming it on you three."
"I suppose it's up to us, mon cher," Andrew snickered, finishing off the last npc with a quick thrust into the neck. "May I suggest actually killing Moria?"
"Aw, but that would destroy the story for the Council of Three Hammers," Danny whined, hearing a small laugh from his boyfriend. "Alright, you're going to have to do it though, I'm sort of busy trying to heal us while not dying from this jerk's attacks- God this is the last time we do this dungeon."
Not hearing a sarcastic or snarky remark Danny blinked, glancing back. "Andrew? This is the moment where you say this was all my idea and all my fault and all that." Hearing nothing yet again he suddenly grew worried, casting his holy shield and sighing in relief at the break. Looking around he saw the dead bodies of his friends, Sam's expression looking pissed even in death.
He wasn't even finished laughing when he saw Andrew's lifeless eyes.
Now logically he knew they were inside a virtual video game, and Andrew was safe and sound outside by his computer and Danny, cursing up a storm at letting himself die. He knew that everyone was safe and somewhat angry that they had practically wiped on the last boss. Logically he knew all this. Emotionally however, seeing his mate dead, it made his world feel as if it was ending all over again.
Hearing the two bosses say something his eyes narrowed and flashed a bright green, white rings wrapping around his character and turning him into a ghostly paladin. "You want a fight? Well you got one." Launching into battle with a yell it was a blur of attacks and light before he was barely on his feet, senses coming back to him as he gasped for breath. Shaking off his slight dizziness he saw the bosses were dead and the dungeon was defeated.
His growing grin quickly vanished as he remembered why no one else was celebrating. Dropping his hammer and shield he rushed to his boyfriend's side, rolling him onto his back and trying to keep calm. The room was devoid of all sound but his ragged breathing and clattering shield that slowly came to a stop. Seeing Andrew's lifeless expression up close he shook his head, quickly casting a healing spell, knowing it was already useless.
"A-Andrew? Come on Andrew you're too resilient to die from a stupid spoiled princess who ran away from home." Lightly patting the rogue's cheeks he saw there was no sign of movement, no small smile, no light laugh, no steady breath. Just him and a room full of death. "Come on, you can't do this! You're not allowed to die on me! You're a freaking ghost for god's sake!"
Casting useless healing spell after useless healing spell he blinked away clouded vision, confused before he felt tears start to roll down his cheeks. Shaking his head in denial he bit his lip, eyes tightly clenched shut. This couldn't be real. It couldn't. Because Andrew being gone...that couldn't be his life. His reality. It just-
"Wake up!" Danny screamed, burying his head into his boyfriend's chest, hands clenching tightly into the leather fabric and not letting go. Crying freely now he clutched even tighter, voice breaking. "Please...please Andrew...you can't be dead. Y-You- You can't leave me here all alone...not- Not when I... Not when I've finally realized how much I care about you..." Getting his crying under control he squeezed his eyes shut, body shaking with silent sobs. "I know I've never told you before now- And I should have! I should have- But- But Andrew...
"I love you."
"Oh my god Danny you fucking idiot he's fine!" Danny jerked up, shock filling him as he saw Sam staring at him in disbelief, expression so full of confusion and worry it was almost funny. "Jesus fucking Christ Danny it's a fucking game." Danny blinked, confused and hopeful expression on his face.
"Sammy? How are you-"
"I'm a fucking warlock you idiot I was soulstoned but JESUS Danny really?!" At the screaming Danny slowly came to his senses, dawning look of horror on his face as Sam continued with her screaming and ranting. "You have a fucking resurrection spell why the fuck are you acting like the love of your life just- Oh my god is that the first time you told him you loved him!? You know he can hear everything, don't you?! Jesus this is why we don't let you play video games anymore with your ghost powers!"
Danny was quiet for a few seconds before he stood up, looking at Sam with a neutral expression. "...Sam...I want you to take your staff and knock me into unconsciousness," he ordered, looking serious as his face slowly grew redder and redder. "Make it to where I forget this ever happened."
"No. No you- You are suffering for this," Sam shook her head, looking annoyed and worried all at once. "Jesus this is why we worry about you. You keep forgetting it's a game and then get pissed off and depressed and, apparently, dramatic! Just- Just use your stupid rezz spell already." Danny, still blushing, did as told, resurrecting Jazz, who immediately had to press her hands to her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Danny blushed an even brighter red before he retreated to a corner, curling up and putting his face to the wall as he listened to Jazz make odd little squeaks as she brought Tucker back to life, who didn't even try to hide his laughter that had him unable to move it was so strong. Danny groaned at the sound, hiding his face in his hands as he felt someone soon move to sit beside him, back to the wall. "Please take your dagger and end my life."
"I'm rather fond of your life so I don't think I will," Andrew chuckled, gently putting a hand to Danny's cheek and tilting his head towards him. Danny had time to give him a confused expression before he was pulled into a sweet and lingering kiss that had him forgetting even his own name for a few moments. When they finally broke apart he was an even deeper shade of red, Andrew giving him a content and gentle smile, "I love you as well, mon cher."
"Yeah, great, woo, happily ever after," Sam spoke up, summoning another demon to her side. "That's great and all but can we agree to never do this dungeon again? It's too fucking stressful." She looked between a blushing Danny, a gleeful Andrew, a snickering Jazz, and a still laughing Tucker. "Never. Again."
"I think we can all agree with that," Jazz giggled, looking at her still blushing baby brother. "Although I think it's sweet Danny finally confessed his love, even if it was, um, in a rather unique way." Danny grumbled something rude under his breath, pulling out his spellbook and flipping through to the menus, making them cue for Hellfire Citadel. As soon as the five were teleported to the start of the dungeon that all players hated they looked at Danny, Tucker and Sam glaring.
"Revenge."
Do you know how much I laughed when writing Sam screaming at Danny? So. Very. Much.