Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival!?: Prompt 2 and 3

Prompt 2 - The Compromise:

Random Starting point, counting from lower left: Use Google to generate a random number - 4

Card: 2 Hearts [Red] (How appropriate, though probably early) Gain 2 potential.

Prompt: The two of you have a shared goal, for once. What’s challenging both of you enough that you can form a temporary truce? How do you overcome it? How well can the two of you work together when you have to?

* * *

The rest of the morning was a blur. I simply couldn't concentrate. I just kept thinking about the conversation between Gwen and Art.  Art wasn't really considering Gwen game suggestion, was he?  And why didn't he and Elaine tell me they were inviting her? I am a member of this Board.  I should have a say! And … and … well, I just didn't want to think about it anymore.  I wanted to play. 

However, that didn't go very well either. I lost every match and I was twenty minutes into a game of (ready for this?) Wyvern's Retreat, the Devil's (and read that “Gwen’s”) Kool-Aid before I knew what I was doing. It was no surprise. I couldn't help but keep looking over to where Elaine and Art were having their meeting with Gwen.

I really wanted to know what they were talking about. Were they still talking about the Holiday Bowl? Or were they now discussing her joining the Board, and if so, shouldn't I be a part of that? And why did Art … I mean, the two of them need to talk to her for so long.

It was almost noon, and it was obvious that I was finding no enjoyment today. I was ready to head home, but as I headed for the door I saw Gwen several steps ahead of me leaving as well.  In a snap decision, I decided I wanted to try and fix this situation now, instead of stewing over it all week. I didn't want to know about the Board, that was a horror I preferred not to think about as long as possible.

“Gwen!”

“Hey, Lance. What’s up?” My heart skipped a beat when Gwen turned around.  She didn’t exactly smile, but her eyes were curiously kind.

Okay, I think I better explain something before you get the wrong idea.  The way I described our relationship earlier, I suspect you think Gwen and I were the definition of antagonism, every meeting a battle for dominance.  That’s not exactly true.  Gwen was confident, determined, and competitive, but she wasn’t evil! Truth be told, I was the one who was rude, obnoxious, and dismissive.  In fact, right now, Gwen was probably wondering what was so important that I would even want to talk with her.

“I heard you talking with Art this morning about the Holiday Bash.  I thought we might be able to work together to choose the best game.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“As I’m sure you know, this is my first year on the Game Board. I’ve worked really hard for this, helping out when I can, running errands.  I even got a job here and am able to do a little during the week, when Elaine and Art can’t.  What I’m trying to say is, I’ve been wanting to be as useful on the Board as I could so that I might have a say in what the year’s final tournament would be.  So . . . maybe you could not push your game anymore and let me have it this year?  Then you can talk up Wyvern’s Retreat as much as you want for next year.”

This time Gwen did smile . . . a wide “You can’t fool me” smile.

“That doesn’t sound like working together,” she said.  “That sounds like you getting your way.  Let me guess, you want a trading card game?”

“Andromeda Factions,” I admitted.

“C’mon, Lance.  You know a trading card game isn’t a great choice for the Bowl.”

“Whattdya mean?”

“Not only can each individual title be niche, no one is starting off on an even playing field.  Depending on how much you play, and let’s face it, how much money you are willing to spend, or even have for that matter, one player may have a strong deck with all sorts of advanced cards while others decks may have weaker base cards and whatever trades its owner was able to make. It doesn’t seem fair.”

“We could make it sealed deck, where everyone gets random boosters and have to make their deck from that?”

“Still, it makes for a better, more inviting tournament, if all the players have access to the same items as everyone else.  That’s why self-contained games are best. Besides, that's not how this works.  Anyone can offer suggestions to the Board, and since I’m friends with Art . . .”

My heart suddenly skipped another beat.

“. . . I thought he might give it more than just a passing thought.” Then her eyes narrowed, and her tone became very matter-of-fact. “Nice try, Lance, but I don’t really know what you are worried about.  Like you said, you’re on the Board.  I’m sure you’ll do all you can to sabotage me.”

Ouch!

“I wouldn’t do that!”

“Sure,” Gwen responded, not sounding convinced. “See you next week, Lance,” she said, turned, and walked away.

===============

Prompt 3 - The Olive Branch:

Not sure which way I want to move, so I’ll roll for it: 2 (east)

Card: 6 Clubs [Black], Lose 1 potential

In a moment of feeling especially cordial toward your Rival, you make a small gesture of friendship toward them. (Example: Sending them a holiday card, or inviting them to a meal with you and your friends.) Your Rival seems to ignore your overture completely. How do you feel?

I have an idea of what to offer, but I’ll make a couple of rolls on RPGSolo’s Complex Questions for inspiration:  Aggressively / Enormous  Innocently / Nondescript 

Okay, that couldn’t have been two more opposite descriptions, but the enormous and innocent confirm some of my original idea, so I’ll go with it.

RPGSolo’s Oracle: How did Gwen respond to the discussion about the Board?  Was she interested in joining?  (Unlikely, because she just returned home and the invite is out of the blue.  Not something she was expecting and unsure what her future plans are.)  No.

*  *  *

“I'm sorry I didn't get back to you on Saturday. What did you want to talk to me about?”

It was Art. He was calling to apologize for not talking to me on Saturday.  I accepted the apology, even though I was the one avoiding Art after hearing his conversation with Gwen. I gave him my Andromeda Faction pitch over the phone, though it was admittedly less enthusiastic than I had planned. He brought up some of the same points Gwen did, but started brainstorming about ways to make it work without any prompting from me.

“One more thing,” I asked, daring to broach Gwen’s invitation. “Were you going to talk to me about Gwen joining the Game Board?”

“Oh. That. The thought only came to me last Friday night. I called Elaine to get her opinion, and she wanted to wait till the morning and talk to Gwen before considering an official invite. I probably shouldn't have said anything to Gwen until Elaine and I were able to speak with her together.”

“Shouldn’t I have been included in that conversation?”

“You’re right.  I’m sorry,” Art apologized.  “The last invite was you, and of course the only one I had to discuss it with was Elaine.  I still think of Elaine as the head of the Board and she’s the one to give any final blessings.  Besides, I didn’t think you would mind if we asked Gwen.

I was hurt that he didn’t think of me as an important member of our trio, but I couldn't really fault him. I thought of Elaine the same way, and Art and I had different friends when I was in high school, so he wouldn't have known about Gwen’s and my rivalry.

“As it turns out,” he continued, “it's not going to happen. Gwen's not interested.  She just got back to town and is not sure about her plans for the next several months. To her credit, she also thought it would be unfair to others who have been here a while.  I can’t lie, I was disappointed. Hopefully, she’ll reconsider in the future.”

Because you think she'll be good at it, or because you want to spend more time with her?

I'm not sure why I thought that, but I brushed it away.  I had one quick, final thought, one that required me to ask Art another question.

“Do you know if Gwen drinks coffee? I don't remember if I've seen her with one?”

“Hmm, I think I've seen her come in with a cup from JavaBeans, but I'm not positive.”

Despite Gwen’s and my conversation last Saturday, I wasn’t ready to give up on changing her mind.  More importantly, however, she thought I was a saboteur and I had to do something about that.  And third, I hadn’t been as friendly toward her as I should have been.  Maybe I could take care of all three with one big gesture.

*  *  *

I can’t say I’ve ever been to JavaBeans myself.  Why pay over five bucks for something that can just as easily brew in a pot at home yourself?  But everyone seemed to rave about their coffee and this was a special circumstance.  I could have just picked up a plain coffee, but I really wanted to make an impression, so I asked the kid at the drive-through to recommend a really fancy drink.  The vanilla latte sounded nice, and I had it topped with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles. 

The coffee shop was across the street from the “Dice & Deck”, and as I was paying, I saw Gwen walking across its parking lot.  What perfect timing!

As I walked into the store, I noticed Gwen wasn’t holding a coffee cup.  I didn’t think about it until then, but I could have looked really stupid, offering her a coffee when she already had one. Lucky break there, until I thought, What if she doesn’t have a coffee because Art was wrong and she doesn’t like coffee? Before I started second-guessing myself too much, I approached her and extended my olive branch.

“Good morning, Gwen.  I was in the drive-through of JavaBeans when I saw you walking in the store.  I thought I do something nice and pick this up for you.”

Inwardly, I chastised myself.  When I was stopped at JavaBeans? I didn’t have a coffee of my own.  What if she noticed? 

“What’s that?” she asked instead, wrinkling her nose.

“A vanilla latte with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles.  I wanted to get you something good.”

“Ugh,” She looked disgusted.  “I can’t have all that!”

“I’m sorry . . . I didn’t . . . I didn’t know you were . . . “ As I stammered, I couldn’t help but drop my eyes to look at her body.

“Please!” Gwen rolled her eyes.  “I’m not watching my weight.  I’m a diabetic. That’s too much sugar for me.  You can have it.” She glanced around. “Or give it to Wayne.  I think he likes that stuff.”

She didn’t even say goodbye as she walked away to join Morgan and Daniel, who were setting up a game at a table in the back.

I stood there dumbfounded, holding the latte, whipped cream beginning to melt down the side.

Shit!