57 Mundane

The next day they had finished the first season of Sparkling Gate. Paroppe and Ayanni were both jumping around the apartment. Lera wanted to join them, but her mind was still trying to understand it all and the implications it had for the characters going forward.

"They knew each other, but they never interacted with each other?" Lera tried to wrap her head around it.

"Good question. Bakaryi had spent his time roaming a while before Poilu found him. He pretended to be a stuffed animal for the most part."

"Little Poilu Ayanni." Paroppe corrected.

"Little Poilu, anyway those flashes of memory in Miraintle's dreams hint at their connection, although I still don't understand it all." He at least tried to help Lera.

"I guess that makes sense. Since they focused on the other characters, those two will probably be more prominent in the future seasons. They do seem important."

"Probably why they were so popular. Ayanni and I were hounded at Nerd-Con, asking us to do different poses. Considering one of them was the last scene where they hugged… Seriously! Can we stop talking already and watch season two?" Like the others, she was excited.

"Let's at least make something to eat. I'm starving." Ayanni proposed that he make something for everyone and snacks for the next session. Sure researching different aspects of this world was an amazing opportunity, but Sparkling Gate was just too amazing.

"I found a recipe I want to try. I'm going to go buy some more ingredients at the store." Paroppe plopped on her boots and ran out before anyone could stop her.

Lera just shrugged as Ayanni covered his face with his hands.

"Still don't want to eat anything with us?" He grabbed a few chips all at once and started chewing on them all at once. More to show the importance of how amazing food tastes.

"I'm fine with the small bits from your left overs. Since you both need to pay for your food, and you don't really have a way to make money, I don't want you two to waste money on me."

"We're not wasting our money on you. Plus you gave us most of this money in the first place. I know if it wasn't for Paroppe getting you to eat, you wouldn't do it. Why don't you just accept it and join us?" Ayanni was trying his best to be reassuring, but he might have come off a little too forceful for his liking. He watched Lera's eyes dart back and forth.

"I don't know…" Lera wasn't sure. If she did it, then a lot of things could happen. Those things held her back from saying yes and no. If she outright said no, then she would stay like a ghost forever.

""Paroppe and I will be here for you." He walked over and pat her on the shoulder then went back to making some snacks.

Ayanni saw a few messages from his parents asking about how he was doing. He replied he was fine and showed the dip he made with a picture and sent it to them. There was another message from Jev asking if he and Paroppe were doing ok. A similar message followed, but more detailed. He was messaging his best friend this time, so he made sure that Jev knew exactly what was going on. The next message was from Thrann.

[What have you been up to today?]

Ayanni replied with a picture of season one cover for Sparkling Gate. [Just finished season one, going to start season two shortly.] Before he added the next part he looked at Lera. [Want to come join us? We have food!]

[Let me ask my mom, be right back.] In his earlier texts with Thrann, he was using shorthand for words that Ayanni didn't even know about. After working through that, Thrann was typing back to him in complete sentences. [I'll be right there.]

"Thrann is coming over Lera."

She didn't say anything. It stunned her. She could watch with them invisible, but if she stayed that way, then it could ruin the excitement of talking with each other after each episode. Staying the way she was would ruin the mood. She didn't want that… She made herself visible

Just like the void room, there was a couch and table with a tv in front of them. They could control it with their tech pads to play their purchased copies of Sparkling Gate. The couch could comfortably fit three people, so Lera moved from the middle to the side, closest to the window. She pulled down the beanie, winter like headwear, that Ayanni had given Paroppe. While Paroppe liked it, apparently she liked seeing it on Lera more. At least until she got another so they could wear the same thing.

For Ayanni, he didn't know why Lera was trying to hide herself. From him or was she just timid about Thrann from coming over. At that moment Ayanni heard a knock at the door. He went over and opened it up.

"Hello Thrann."

"Nice to see you Ayanni. I didn't have much homework today, so I'm glad you invited me over. Sparkling Gate is a good show to get into."

"It really is."

Upon entering Thrann noticed Lera. When Ayanni had mentioned she was a friend, he thought she was their age, but looking at the woman, she was around twenty years old. He didn't want to be rude, so he introduced himself.

"I'm Thrann, it's nice to meet you ma'am."

Ayanni looked at Lera wave to him, but his mouth almost dropped to the floor. He didn't expect her to actually give in to his plan. She stayed invisible last night when Thrann was over helping them with their characters. The quick mention earlier and now, somehow changed her mind. His mouth quickly formed into a smile.

"That's Lera, she's just shy. Don't hold it against her."

Thrann just nodded and spoke in a softer tone.

"Need help making the food?" He gestured to the tools and raw materials that were laid about on the counter top.

"We'll have to see. Paroppe is coming back from the store with some stuff. She wants to try out a new recipe she found."

"Oh, alright. Did you check out that link I sent you last night?"

While those two talked Lera, just sat there quietly thinking. She felt that if she moved she would break, so staying still was in her best interest. It felt nice not being invisible, but what if she used her powers again… Just thinking about that made her feel like she was just going to keep repeating the same thing to herself over and over again.

"Why did you call her ma'am?" Ayanni asked Thrann. While age was something that was relative to Lera, he understood why Thrann did. Her body was twenty years old, she had said her age before was thirty-five, but sometimes she acts like a child. This question was more for his amusement than anything else.

"My mother taught me to be respectful when meeting new people." Thrann put on a nervous smile.

"But she's the same age as us?"

"She is?!" Thrann spoke louder than he wanted to. Looked back at Lera, who didn't even move, and back at the laughing Ayanni. He calmed himself quickly to try and explain.

"It's a complicated situation. Just treat her like she's the same age as us. It will be easier that way."

Thrann didn't say much, but the quick switch from laughing to serious, helped him to understand the situation was indeed complicated. He took Ayanni's advice to keep in mind.

The door opened to Paroppe walking in.

"There were so many people that it took… Thrann, what are you doing here?" She was in the middle of pulling out a plastic bag out of her pocket dimension. The only saving grace she had was that it looked like it could barely fit, although carrying a bag in another bag didn't look right.

Ayanni quickly spoke up to distract Thrann from thinking about it further. "I invited Thrann over to watch season two with us and join us for dinner. Even Lera is joining us!" It was forced, but he tried to sound happy at that moment that Lera was going to join

"Really?" Paroppe was surprised by that, until she noticed what he was really saying. "Oh… oh!"

Ayanni grabbed the bag and started placing the items in the fridge for now. Thrann just sat there staring at her bag. Paroppe noticed that and threw it in her room on her bed for now.

"You're making dinner Ayanni." That was more of a threat than anything. At least it was going to be. Since he didn't warn her that Thrann was over and Lera was out of hiding, there was a lot to unpack. For now she wanted to talk with Lera.

"Looks like I'll need your help after all." He said that to Thrann, but before Paroppe sat down next to Lera, he made sure to ask what he was supposed to make.

Paroppe quickly tapped a few things and sent him a message with the link to the recipe.

---

So while Thrann and Ayanni made dinner, Paroppe and Lera had a talk.

"I'm so proud of you Lera." She hugged her sister.

"It was so sudden that I gave in. I don't know if I can do this." Lera didn't turn or move in Paroppe's grasp.

"It'll be fine. It's not like Thrann's just some random person." While they were trying to be quiet, Thrann did hear his name.

"I know, but… I'm afraid." There was panic in her voice and she was trembling.

"Don't think about it. Just think about the food and what we are about to watch. Focus on right now." Paroppe grabbed Lera's hand and dragged her over to the counter where Thrann and Ayanni were making dinner.

"Lera said hello to Thrann and Thrann said hello to my little sister."

"Little sister?"

"You can do it Lera!" Paroppe once again encouraged Lera.

"Hi…" Lera didn't look at Thrann in the slightest.

---

Awkward conversations later, they ate dinner. After that, they only got about halfway through the second season before Thrann had to leave. Lera was sitting on the floor with the couch behind her and between Paroppe's legs. Thrann was sitting opposite, with Ayanni in the middle. Ayanni said his good night to Thrann as he left.

"How are you feeling Lera?" Paroppe rubbed her hand on the pink-bear beanie that Lera was wearing.

"Fine…" Honestly, Lera had no idea how she felt. During the whole time, she was repeating her mantra. 'Focus on right now.' Simple and easy that she found that during the second episode they had watched she forgot all about it and the world around her. In a way not doing that earlier made her feel very silly.

"Get some sleep tonight Lera. Don't let me find you staring out that window again."

That did hurt Lera. She was watching the stars like she always did. Of course sometimes she couldn't stay awake, but if it was night out she would look at the stars. Well it wasn't easy with the light from the city, but she still liked the sight. Though in the end she just nodded.

---

"Lera…" Paroppe had come out of her room to go to the bathroom. She was in a set of pajamas that she had bought. Lera was standing at the window looking at the stars once again. Lera didn't say anything so she walked over to her. Laid her hand on her shoulder. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not now…"

There were dried tear streaks. Paroppe gave her a hug and took care of business and went back to bed.

---

The rest of the week wasn't much.

The group of three were mostly together watching episodes of Sparkling Gate. They did reduce the amount they watched per day, but made an effort to keep watching it.

Ayanni gathered information from the library and internet. He was fascinated with physics and time travel. His interests gravitated towards those areas. A few times Thrann invited him out to hang out with Urenol, Carxs and Ophebo. They went to nearby fast food places and skate parks. Boards with wheels. Ayanni tried it out, but eventually found his balance. He got to play video games as well, though he wasn't as good at that as he had hoped.

Paroppe was doing her best to find something that she wanted to do. For the most part she was either with Ayanni or Lera. She looked around for something that she could do. She found a gym. It allowed her to work out and keep in shape. She met a few women there working out as well. So she worked out with them. Eventually, on Friday, one of the women, Yini, had offered to spar with her. There was a small arena square where they could fight. Yini was in her mid twenties, but far behind Paroppe in fighting. A ten year difference doesn't mean much when she had actual experience behind her.

Lera for the most part cleaned up after Ayanni and Paroppe at home. She took it upon herself to cook for them. It comforted her and got rid of a small bit of that strange feeling. She set reminders for the two. The only thing she didn't do was leave the apartment after that night. It was too difficult for her to leave. She did promise Paroppe that she would come with her to the game night on Sunday, but that was after she was pressured to say yes. She didn't feel like it was her decision. Just something she was forced to do. At least it was easier to think like that.

---

That led them to Sunday night at the store.

Everyone was in their similar spots from last time, but Lera was sitting next to Paroppe. Paroppe had introduced Lera to the others, but the most Lera did was a small wave. She tried her best to hide in her clothing away from them. From that moment on Ophebo was talking. Not much, but it was like after seeing Lera, he could speak up himself.

"As you were investigating those bandits, you found out their next targets. Two individuals. A red dragonborn and a human. You have their location, what do you do?" Thrann narrated.

"We start running to their location." The three friends had agreed beforehand. Considering that Ayanni and Paroppe were waiting to be introduced into the game, it made sense for them to want to get them in the game.

"Once you arrive you already see ten bandits surrounding the dragonborn and man standing next to him. The bandits are taunting them. The situation is looking dire."

"I try sneaking behind one of the bandits closest to me." Ophebo said mimicking holding his two daggers.

"Roll for stealth with disadvantage… Actually, the bandits are more focused on the two that are surrounded, so just a normal roll then."

He rolls the D20 and everyone watches it land on a four.

"Before you get too far, one of the bandits starts shouting, alerting everyone of your presence. Everyone roll for initiative."

The boys around the table rolled low numbers, but Paroppe rolled a natural twenty. In order it was her, all the bandits, Ophebo, Urenol, Ayanni and Carxs.

"I move to the closest person and try punching him right in the face." Paroppe described what she wanted to do. She had listened last week to the guys talking about what they wanted to do. Now, even though Thrann had shown her and Ayanni what to do, she rolled a D20, but didn't remember what she needed to add to it.

"You have a plus three, so a sixteen and that does hit. Roll your damage." Thrann helped out pointing out the numbers on her character sheet.

"Three damage and I can use this to attack again right?"

Paroppe got a nod from Thrann rolled to attack again and did seven damage.

"You swing your fist hitting him in the face. He stumbled back and then you grabbed his face bringing it down on your knee. He fell forward on the ground unmoving."

Cheers around the table made Paroppe feel good. The next turn was the bandits. The leader moved closer to Ayanni's character, while three of the other bandits tried to avenge their friend that Paroppe had knocked out. The rest prevented the three wizard, rogue, cleric from moving forward.

Unfortunately the bandits attacking Paroppe's character were doing well. A slash here, a bash there, a stab here. At the mention of the stab, she made her hands tremble, but Lera grabbed her hand to comfort her. Then as 'Jev' she did her best 'impression' of him.

"You brought this on yourselves!" She said it in a deep obnoxious voice. Carxs was amused by that and started laughing. The others joined in with a chuckle.

Ayanni's battle against the leader was a little tough with the back and forth. He mentioned his character looking back at Jev every moment he got.

The others weren't faring all that well either, but Urenol, the elven ranger, was able to get a natural twenty and get a critical hit killing one of the bandits in front of their group.

Lera just watched the scene play out in her head. Listening to some of the sounds everyone made. Everyone was having fun, including herself. Although she wasn't participating, it was a warm evening.