It is about 60/b>/span/i15C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Carnation and Oakwood/span>Malin gives a wave to Teagan, saying, “Welcome. We’ve got pizza and cider.”

Matthew laughs at Malin and Dovie, and as Teagan arrives, he turns to smile and wave at her. “Hey Teagan, hope you’re ready for fun!”

Teagan hears cider and immediately throws out what’s left of the terrible coffee she was drinking on her way. In a trash bin, of course. “Thank god, good food.”

Both of Malin’s eyebrows raise as Teagan rids herself of coffee. “Was it bad?” she wonders of the drink that got discarded.

“Can’t go wrong with Vincenzo’s pizza,” Matthew reasons and then offers up, “which doesn’t pair that well with coffee, but cider–” he nods in Dovie’s direction, “especially Dovie’s, goes perfectly with pizza.”

Dovie waves to Teagan. “Hello! Chance is coming too.”

Matthew says “Oh good, he’s fun“

Malin nods in agreement with Matthew, telling Dovie, “I like Chance a lot. He’s a good guy.”

“If there are four players, then that is a perfect number,” Malin says of the group. “If any more showed up, I’d probably have to get out another two hundred cards… I’ll be the overseer and hand out the cards, and keep track of the points.”

Dovie nods in agreement with all. “He is!” Her eyes widen at Malin. “Another 200?!”

“I had stopped by the student union to chat with Hale,” Teagan explains to Malin. “Their coffee is atrocious but I needed the caffeine.” She slips out of her coat and makes her way over to join the others, dropping coat and bag wherever they won’t be too bad a trip hazard.

Dovie snaps a wave to Chance from the lounge seats.

“Malin made a special version of this game,” Matthew explains as people get comfortable, “so I’m really looking forward to see what the cards are.”

Chance waves to Dovie with a grin and wanders over to join the group. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Yes, the cards can go really quick, depending on the black card that is drawn,” Malin says in a soft tone to Dovie. “Because some of them require players to play two or three each.” Then a nod of understanding is given to Teagan. “Anything for caffeine,” she declares before waving to Chance. “Welcome, Chance. I’m glad you could make it.”

Dovie nods at Matthew, “Me too,” she agrees, reaching over to fish for some cider.

“I haven’t played this before, only heard about it,” Chance admits, “So I might need a little guidance once we get started.”

Matthew pours himself a cup of the ginger lemon cider and grabs a slice of pizza. He plops right into the couch, looking as more people arrive, “I don’t mind teaming up with someone if it helps,” he offers to Malin.

Matthew points to Chance, “We can be a team, make choices together, it’s about picking cards that will appeal to the crowd so I need all the help I can get.”

Better late than never, really, as Preston marches in shortly after the starting time of the event. Titling a head towards the games, he finds a spot to sit down and plops into it.

Malin says to Matthew, “As long as we don’t have ten people show up, it should be just fine, and even if there is, we can rotate.”

Matthew nods at Malin, “Alright.”

“Welcome, Preston, I’m going to explain how this will be played in just a moment,” Malin says to Preston.

Matthew upnods Preston, “Hey, good to see you, Preston.”

Dovie waves to Preston.

“What’re you playing?” Preston asks Malin, upnodding towards Matthew. “Sup, Matt?”

Once settled in, Teagan leans forward to check the labels on the growlers of cider. Ultimately, she goes for the chamomile apple blossom. “It’s a fun game,” she tells those new to it. “It encourages you to be a terrible person.” And after the cider, she grabs a slice of pizza. Which is waved, floppily, at Preston.

Chance grins over at Matthew and says, “Sure. If we need to do teams, I’ll help. Isn’t appealing to an audience supposed to be your thing?”

Malin explains to the group, “I’ll be handing you each ten cards. If you need to store anything, there’s a closet here for that,” is explained of the place to STASH stuff. “We can go in alphabetical order as to who is the one going to be drawing the black card. The person drawing the card is called the Card Czar. After the black card is read, then each of the other players will choose the card, or cards, from their hand. You can just put it on the floor here. The Card Czar will then choose their favourite answer, and then a point will be awarded, and it will be the next person’s turn, and I will hand you replacement cards.”

Because, Preston is Preston, he, too the best of his ability tries to discretely slip a knife on his person and deeper into a pocket without being seen.

“Okay, everyone should have ten cards, now. Let me know if you don’t,” Malin says, scrunching her nose some as she hands the black cards to the first Card Czar, who is Chance.

“I think I do?” Preston explains, looking at his cards.

Dovie gazes at Malin, giggling with a nod. “How many black cards for the winner?”

Chance uses a social game of questionable taste: Why can’t I sleep at night?

Malin goes, “Oh, oops, can you hand that box back, Preston?”

Nibbling on her pizza in one hand, Teagan spreads out her black cards in the other. Musician hands come in handy here as she manipulates them without needing a second hand. A couple do make her giggle as she waits for Chance to read out the first black card.

“Hmm,” Malin hums out that thought-filled noise. “How about six cards to win? And if you want to keep going, we can. Or if we want to quit, that’s fine, too!” she says to Dovie

Malin chuckles at the card Chance draws. “Okay, so Chance’s card is ‘Why can’t I sleep at night?’ You’ll have to look through your white cards, and then choose the one you think is the answer Chance would like the best. Put your chosen card down, and then once everyone has tossed one in, Chance will pick the winner.”

Dovie looks appraisingly at Chance, glancing at her cards with a giggle.

Finishing her slice of pizza and scrubbing greasy fingers clean on a napkin, Teagan pulls two cards out of her stack of ten. She squints at them and purses her lips, considering. She wobbles her head back and forth a couple of times, looks up at Chance like a poker player trying to read their opponent. Finally, with a shrug, she flicks one of the cards in his direction so he can read it when ready.

Malin glances around and says, “I trust we’re all adults enough to choose the best card, rather than try and vote for someone we especially want to win.”

Shifting a little, Preston looks through his own cards, reading them, and then looks over at Chance, eyes piercing him as if he’s trying to pull out the secrets that will make Preston a winner. With a snort, Preston lays his own card down.

Matthew considers Chance and then goes over his cards, trying to make a decision. Help comes from the cider and without a second thought, drops his card.

Malin nods to Chance. “All right, Card Czar. Why can’t you sleep at night?”

Matthew starts snickering as he reads the cards out on the table, unable to stop, “Okay, whoever put the defetive condom knows the recipe for a sleepless night.”

Preston nods in agreement with Matthew, before shifting where he sits to find one of the glasses, and a slice of pizza.

Matthew’s snicker becomes a full on laugh, his hand settling over face as he tries to maintain a poker face and not influence Chance, the card Czar’s decision.

Chance looks over the cards that are laid out before him and considers each one, chuckling as he thinks them over, “Depending on how loud it was playing, it could be Justin, and sadly my love live has been non-existant since getting here so that last one is just not keepin’ me up at night. Can’t say as I’ve ever fabricated any statistic so. I gotta go with teaching a Robot to love. Robots deserve love, too. And I feel like if I could teach it, it would sympathise with me.”

Listening intently to Chance relay his woes to the group, Malin solemnly nods, but when he picks the robot card, she applauds and asks, “Okay, who played the robot one?” and she’s handing the black cards to Dovie.

Hearing that Preston’s card has won, he grins, “Fuck yeah,” he exclaims. “That’d keep me up at night too, teaching a robot to love?” Eyebrows lift upwards, just a bit, “I don’t know if they dream of loving though…”

“I hear they dream of electric sheep,” Chance says to Preston.

Malin grins at Preston. “One point for Preston.”

Dovie uses a social game of questionable taste: What do old people smell like?

Dovie says “Ewwww! “

Malin gazes at Dovie. “You can sniff at me if need be.”

“Electr–” Matthew’s pointing a finger in Chance’s direction and grinning at Preston, “Nice one.” A moment after and he asks, “Okay who put down what Bieber?”

At Dovie’s reaction to the card, Preston just snorts, and plays a card, real quick-like.

Teagan makes a ‘really?’ face at the chosen card, but alas. “It’s a robot, just program it to love,” she mutters under her breath. Still, there is a gesture of ‘well played’ toward Preston as she sips at her drink. Hand goes up: “I played the Bieber card” to answer Matthew.

Matthew says “Who’s picking this one? “

Malin gets the next round of cards out since she’s behind.

Dovie raises her hand at Matthew. “Where do we get new cards?”

“Can’t just program a robot to love,” Preston throws over towards Teagan. “Love is..” There’s a fond sort of smile that plasters his features at something. “Would fucking suck if you just programmed something to love. It wouldn’t be real.”

Matthew considers for a good long while then drops his card down. He seems pretty confident about it.

Malin snickers at Preston’s knowledge of lifeless love mechanics.

Matthew look sat the played cards and snorts, amused by someone else’s card.

Teagan takes her new card and slots it into her hand. She considers for a moment among her collection, snickers briefly as she pulls one out. An aside to Preston “Reality is what you make it.” Her card is tossed to join the pile.

Malin looks over the cards and then to Dovie curiously.

Dovie hums and looks over the choices, “Everyone in?”

Dovie announces to the group, “I’m going to choose the Milk man. Because for some reason I keep thinking old people smell like milk…”

Malin snickers helplessly over Dovie’s response. “Who’s the milk man?” she asks, ready to tally the point.

“Nah,” Preston mentions to Teagan first, then answers Dovie, and exclaims. “Ha!” That’s another point for Preston, apparently, and he holds up two fingers. “Knew it. They drink a lot of milk.”

Malin gawks at Preston.

Dovie points at Preston. “The logic is not unsound.”

“Preston is a secret Cards Against Humanity shark,” Chance says. “Who knew?”

Matthew stares at Preston, “I would’a picked Milkman too. Preston’s already in the minds of everyone here!”

“Ugh! Foiled, again!” Teagan goes for a slice of pizza to drown her woes in. “Totally shoulda been viagra,” she mutters around a mouthful of cheese.

Matthew pulls up a card from the black deck, seeing what will come up. “I thought smallpox blankets for sure….”

Matthew uses a social game of questionable taste: Why do I hurt all over?

Dovie giggles at the new question.

Matthew reaches for his cider like the universe was mocking him, “This game would ask that.”

“I think I definitely would have picked Viagra,” Preston tells Teagan, but laughs at the new card.

“Oh fuck,” Teagan says as the new card is revealed, looking at her hand. Her pizza is balanced on her lap as she starts to reach for one card. Then another. Then she stares for a while at one, looks at Matthew, looks at a card, and finally throws it down.

It’s taken Preston a moment to decide apparently, he’s got two cards in his hand, eying each of them curiously. And then, he decides, placing a card down.

Matthew can’t help but laugh as each card is laid out, but one has had him going from the start, “Listen, all of these are true at some point in my life, but today, I’m going to have to go with…..” his finger travels aimlessly over all the cards before tapping at RELATIONSHIP status.

“Who put that one down? Great card,” Dovie compliments.

This time, Preston doesn’t pipe up. It’s not his card. So, he too, looks around for the winner, eyebrows up.

“YES!” Teagan was failing at stifling her giggles as Matthew went over the cards. “That one’s mine. It was too perfect for Matthew.” This time, she’s nomming her slice of pizza in victory, not woe.

Malin doesn’t look at all surprised by Matthew’s choice of cards. “Those were all great,” she expresses. “Teagan gets a point, threatening Preston’s lead,” is said to Teagan and Preston.

Chance takes a sip from the pumpkin spice cider, but seems to be going easy today on the booze, sipping and nursing it rather than downing it.

Preston uses a social game of questionable taste: _____ ain’t nothin’ to fuck with.

“I think Preston got two and I didn’t get one,” Chance mentions.

Malin scowls at herself. “Okay, hold on.”

“Thanks, Malin,” Chance grins.

Counting his cards, Preston looks towards Malin. “I have ten.”

Teagan finishes her second (and likely last) slice of pizza, cleaning her hands off again with the napkin before taking up her cards. She considers the black card, chewing at her lower lip. She looks over her cards, offers: “I also have ten.” Just in case. Then it’s back to THINKING.

Chance looks puzzled and then says, “Odd. Maybe I miscounted. Sorry!”

Dovie says “I have nine but that checks since I just put a card down.“

Matthew tips his head and considers Preston for a really long time, his head bobs a few times then he puts a card down.

“Well, that’s good,” Malin says to Preston as she considers it all for a moment. “I’m not sure what I did there, but… maybe Chance likes an extra chance, or something, within a chance. Chance inception.”

Teagan puts a card down but seems less confident than she has in previous rounds. She gives Preston a bit of side-eye as she does. Maybe still trying to figure him out!

“Was it..” Preston gestures towards the card he laid down. “The black card, maybe, that you saw, Chance?” Preston wonders, “Since.. it was my turn.”

“Probably,” Chance admits. “Because now I have eleven… ten now. SHould I put the last one I got back somewhere?”

“Oh, just keep the other one, Chance,” Malin nods in agreement with Teagan.

Chance says “Tegan Oh, yeah, that.. would make sense, too. Heh.“

“Sorry, was a long night last night. I’m not entirely all there today,” Chance apologizes.

Preston leans forward, steepling his hands together – like he’s really thinking. The man is turning into the Thinker, gotta really go through the cards. “Darn,” he breathes out, laughing to himself. “This is a really hard choice.. These are all.. like perfect.” The Thinker thinks for a bit longer, and then, eventually, he has to make a decision.

“Nuns. I wouldn’t fuck with a nun.”

Dovie snorts a laugh.

“Oh, believe me, Chance, it’s fine,” Malin assures Chance. “Remember when I skipped Landon during story time?” she asks with a faint blush, waving a hand dismissively. When Preston chooses the nun, she grins broadly. “Who had the nun?”

Matthew bares his teeth, nodding at Preston in agreement, “Yeah, I wouldn’t either!”

Matthew lifts his hand at Malin, “I did,” brows bouncing.

Malin nods to Matthew. “One point to Matthew.”

Matthew says “I’m on the board and I’m comin for ya, Preston! “

“That is a tricky one,” Teagan agrees as she takes a drink of her cider.

Teagan uses a social game of questionable taste: I live my life according to the teachings of _____.

Chance chuckles at Malin and nods, “Yeah, I remember. I also remember you apologizing profusely as well.”

Teagan glances at her new card before setting them aside so that she can draw the black card. Once it’s read out, she leans back, sips at her cider, and waits. Or just stares off and daydreams until it’s time for her to pick a winning card.

“That I did,” Malin confesses honestly to Chance. “Now I will forever be careful to like… make sure I know whose name is what when we’re playing in alphabetical order…”

As soon as a card is played by Teagan, Preston leans forward, he plays a card. “Never!” He declares to Matthew, sitting back to sip from one of the glasses.

Malin asks Matthew, “Did you put down a card?”

Matthew considers his options for a long time, head tipping from one side to the other before he finally lays his card down.

Dovie says “These are all excellent choices.“

Matthew nods in agreement to Dovie, “Yeah, really good choices here, hard to pick just one.” He look them all over, “I know what I’d pick,” he decides.

Once all four cards are down, Teagan leans forward to consider them at length. “Hmmm. I feel like living my life according to Judge Judy would get boring. Lot of giving people money. And Nicholas Cage would be exhausting unless I was like, on a constant feed of coke.” Which brings it to two. “Gandalf knows how to party and be fashionably late, but I gotta admit if Morgan Freeman were narrating my life I’d probably do whatever he said.” She gestures to the Morgan Freeman card as she finishes her cup of cider. “Morgan Freeman has it,” she declares as she leans to refill it.

Malin listens as Teagan gives her reasoning behind the chosen card, and waits to see who played it and won this round.

“That was mine,” Chance says with a grin. “On the board!”

There’s a snorted laugh from Preston at that, “Good choice!” He declares, and then realizes. “Oh, that’s not my card though,” glancing towards Teagan. “Have you ever seen The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent?”

Malin claps for Chance.

“Ayyyyyyyy!” Matthew claps for Chance, “Nice, we’re tied now for second place!” He looks over towards Preston, “but we’re comin for that number one spot.”

Chance uses a social game of questionable taste: The Himalayas are filled with many perils, such as _____.

Matthew looks at his cards then Chance then back to his cards and plops one down.

Chance draws the card and sets it out. “The Himalayas are filled with many perils, such as….” and then he sits back to wait and see what folks come up with.

Teagan doesn’t even need to think about this one. She pulls out a card and tosses it down.

Malin is already laughing over the played cards.

Matthew then looks over to Teagan, “Yeah, we in the second place club, the three of us, not a bad place to be.”

It took Preston a second or so to figure out what card to play, but soon, he’s playing a card down. Glancing back towards pizza, and drinks.

Teagan looks over the played cards and one makes her go “Shit, that’s good” under her breath as she refills her cup. This time the classic cider, for a change of pace.

Dovie says “Comeonnnn, lucky day for Dovie!“

Teagan says “I support Dovie joining team second place.“

Dovie grins at Teagan, “Thanks.”

Matthew starts rubbing his hands together, “I gotta root for me,” he says apologetically to Dovie, “but if not me. DOOOOVIE!”

Chance takes a look over the cards and starts to laugh. “Hmm, tough choice there, because there’s a lot of potential there… but of all those potential dangers, including frostbite to the bum.. I’m in deepest fear of the potentially unintentional icepick lobotomy.”

Dovie says “Nooooo! “

“Poor Dovie,” Preston adds, looking at her as she exclaims her absolute defeat.

Malin produces the faintest of snorts as Chance weighs reality and decides on the icepick lobotomy card.

Chance winces, “Sorry, Dovie.”

It takes Teagan a moment because she entirely expected another card to win and she’s in the middle of drinking some cider. “Oh shit! The icepick lobotomy is mine!” She points at Preston, “I’m gonna take your lead! But seriously, whoever played Asians who aren’t good at math? Mad props.”

“WHAT?!” Matthew exclaims at Chance, “Excuse me but derriere frost bite is worse,” he attempts to argue on behalf of assless chaps.

Dovie uses a social game of questionable taste: _____ is good to the last drop.

“Yeah, but to be fair, I wouldn’t mind helping keep them warm if they’re on the right ass, so it’s not a net loss. Icepick to the brain is definitely a net loss all around,” Chance says to Matthew with a grin.

Matthew considers and can’t stop laughing when he look at his cards and just drops it without thining.

“Oh my god,” Preston breathes out, trying his best to not burst into laughter. He’s restraining himself, as much as possible and seeing the card revealed, and the cards in his hand. Placing a card down though, he settles back into his seat.

Satisfied with her move up to (tied) first place, Teagan accepts her new card. She considers the new black card, looks at her cards. There’s some snickering to be had. She wriggles a bit to turn to study Dovie. “Hmmmmm.” Two cards are held up as if she were color matching the woman. Finally, she decides on one and drops it with the others being laid down.

Dovie looks at the options and laughs, “I have to go with Sausage fest.’

Dovie says “Whose was that?“

Matthew is still snickering in his twelve year old humor, which grows to a cackle, “Mine!”

When Dovie makes her chance Preston nods at her. “I think I’m going to lose my lead soon,” he complains, glaring over at Teagan.

Malin grins at Dovie’s choice, and then she nods to Matthew as he makes the claim.

Chance chuckles and says, “Yeah, that was definitely the play.”

“They were some good options. Except the kidney stone one.” Teagan winces just thinking about it as she looks at her new card and waits for the new black card.

“Everyone ready?” Matthew asks the group, having all the fun now that he has joined the group tied for first place.

Matthew uses a social game of questionable taste: I love the smell of _____ in the morning.

Dovie says “Sausage fest would be good for this too.“

“I love the smell of BLANK in the morning,” Matthew reads it out for the entire group and then sits back, snickering at Dovie’s words, “Yeah, Sausage fest good for this one, too.”

“I Have the perfect card for this too,” Matthew says and because he can’t help himself, he flashes it to Malin.

“Hmmmmm.” Teagan stares at her cards. “Hmmmmmm,” she says again, staring at them harder. Seems the redhead has hit a struggle card! She looks to the black card, looks to her hand, looks to the black card. A small huff and she pulls one out and tosses it down, not looking especially confident.

Malin laughs helplessly in response to Matthew’s revealed card.

Reading the revealed card, Preston looks back to his own cards, realizing everyone else has played, “Sorry,” he mentions, and then lays something down.

Chance grabs a slice of pizza while decisions are being made, settling back into his seat.

Dovie says “Dovie“

Matthew pulls each card up, “I love the smell of sweet, sweet vengeance in the morning is exactly the sort of thing a cool guy would say,” he admits with a small nod, “but I’m ore of a lover than a figher so…” he has to let it go. “I love the smell of Exactly what you’d expect in the morning….” his head sways side to side, iffy, “Maybe… but I love the smell of Thermo nuclear detonation in the morning, now that’s got a ring to it, but again, more of a lover than a hater…” and then he plucks up the last one, “I love the smell of becoming what you hate….” he sighs, “This one will have to be the one.”

Matthew says “Who placed that one down? “

Dovie screams, “Me!!!”

Dovie jumps up fist pumping, “I’m on the board!!!”

“Ugh,” Teagan says as she sees the other cards. “Shoulda used a throwaway on this one. They’re all so much better than mine.” She does clap for Dovie, however, as she gets a point on the board!

Malin applauds as Dovie screams out her claim to winning a round.

“Woooooo!” Preston applauds for Dovie’s screams, and her fist pumping.

Matthew points a finger at Dovie, “DOVIE WELCOME TO SECOND PLACE CLUB!” He cheers and starts clapping, “I kept a seat warm just for you!”

Dovie giggles and sits back down.

Preston uses a social game of questionable taste: I met my current significant other at _____.

Dovie says “Dovie“

Once Preston has been handed the box, he quickly flips up a card to reveal it, glancing at it, and then laughing.

Chance laughs and applauds Dovie joining the board. “Way to go!”

Matthew considers the options, and then tosses a card out. He doesn’t seem overly excited about the choice.

Chewing on her thumbnail, Teagan looks at her cards and mutters something about it being too specific a choice. Finally, she shrugs and tosses a card down.

Matthew suddenly laughs at one of the cards, thoroughly amused.

There’s a fond smile on Preston’s face at something in particular, perhaps the concept of his current significant other, but he really has to decide on a card now. Looking them over. “Well,” he explains, “Two of these aren’t really places, though..” the chainmail bikini has him curious for a moment. “And as much as I-” he stops himself. “The laundry one.”

Malin starts to laugh helplessly as Preston makes his choice.

Matthew claps a hand together, “Ayyy, that’s how you get ’em,” he says, nodding at Preston.

Malin laughs even more. “Whose was that?”

“Gross,” Teagan says simply to Preston. “But honestly, I had like, nothing that’d work as a location in my hand. The cards! They failed me!” Clearly it was not her card.

Chance blinks at Dovie and says, “Wait what? That wasn’t even my turn!”

Matthew lifts a hand, “That’d be me,” he says, and then points at Preston, “Hey, I think I dropped something over by where you’re sitting, you see that key chain, can you give it to me?”

“What’s gross?” Preston asks of Teagan, bending over a little bit when Matthew address him, eyes searching the floor. “Yeah, sec,” scooping it up, he looks to Matthew, and then just Kobe’s it towards him. “KOBE!” He yells, watching the keychain sail his way.

Matthew snatches the keychain in the air, “Nice shot!”

Teagan uses a social game of questionable taste: I sleep like a baby after bathing in a tub full of _____.

And back to her. Teagan looks at her new white card, makes a squinty face, and sets it aside. She takes a moment to read a text that’s come in and… opts to leave it be for a moment. “Okay, let’s see what we’ve got…” And she reads the card out for everyone! Before going back to her phone.

Matthew tips his head from side to side, but he starts snickering to himself before dropping his card.

“Powerful thighs are amazing,” Preston points out, to nobody in particular before placing his card down, maybe not entirely enthused about his choice.

“Ooooh, these are some good ones,” Matthew coos down at the cards, “I know what I’d pick, too.”

“Okay, what have we got…” Teagan leans forward, drumming her fingers on the back of her phone case as she reviews the cards. “Opposable thumbs, nope.” She reaches out, pushes that one aside. “Guys who don’t call? Nah, they don’t get to live rent free in my head or my tub.” Also pushed aside! The last two are considered before she reeeeeeaches and grabs one: “But, y’know, nothing says not giving a crap about the third world like taking an hours long hot bubble bath and sleeping soundly in your climate controlled home.”

Dovie cheers, “Two!!”

Malin whistles for Dovie.

Matthew starts snickering, hands clapping, “That’s what I’d pick, too!” He winks at Dovie, “Nice.”

Chance applauds Dovie and grins. “Makin’ a run for the lead.”

Dovie looks around, “Who’s in the lead and how many?”

Matthew looks at Malin, “I dunno, is everyone tied for first, still?”

Teagan turns to Dovie and extends a fist for an appropriately congratulatory fistbump. “Good choice.”

Dovie gives Teagan a fist bump

Malin points at Matthew. “Matthew is in the lead, Chance is in last place, and the rest are tied.”

Chance throws up a fist, “First one to last place!”

Malin balls a hand up to raise it in solidarity with Chance.

Preston nods once Malin calculates the score, rubbing at his face. “Damn.. I’ve lost my magic touch..”

Chance uses a social game of questionable taste: The new version of Dungeons and Dragons makes _____ a playable race.

Dovie smirks.

Chance pulls out the next black card and reads it aloud to the group. “The new version of Dungeons and Dragons makes…. a playable race.” He then watches the chaos that unfolds.

Quick-like, Preston places his card, snickering to himself.

Matthew tips his head side to side, considering his options and then drops one down.”

Teagan shouts out “OH MY GOD” at the black card as Chance reads it out and is quick to grab and slap a card down. Someone is confident. Probably too confident, but hey. That’s the game.

Matthew snickers as he starts to read the options, clearly amused by every single option, “These are all so good,” is said as he takes another drink.

Chance considers the cards on the table and laughs, maybe at all of them, and it takes him a little longer than usual to mull over this particular set. “I’m gonna go with BITCHES but it’s gotta be like.. Yo BITCHEZZZZZ with the ZZZZeee. Just out on the battlefield like oh shit, here come the BITCHEZZZZ!”

Dovie lets out a whoop, “Shooting star baby!”

“Bitches for the win,” Malin declares as Chance chooses it and then grins widely at Dovie.

Matthew claps his hands, “That was such a good choice, too,” he’s nodding over and over, “BITCHEZ STRIKE FIRST!”

“That yours?” Matthew asks Dovie, unsure who played what.

And that confidence deflates as Teagan drops back in her seat. “Damnit. I was just imagining people roleplaying as like, amputees named Bob fighting dragons.” But then she’s giggling to herself anew over it, so. No real loss.

Dovie uses a social game of questionable taste: _____ is a time-saving godsend for busy housewives.

Dovie gasps.

Matthew look sat someone Dovie, looks at the group then drops his card.

Matthew looks at someone Dovie, looks at the group then drops his card, a smirk in his features.

Matthew looks at Dovie, looks at the group then drops his card, a smirk in his features.

Teagan looks at the card Dovie has revealed, looks at her hand, looks at the card. She’s already giggling as she puts her card down.

Dovie says “This one will be funny.“

Dovie says “I think we’re waiting for one more right?“

Malin points to Preston.

Teagan nods, looking expectantly at Preston.

“C’mon Preston. Pressure’s on. Gotta reclaim that lead,” Chance says. No pressure!

“Everyone stare at him,” Teagan says in a stage whisper as she sips at her cider and, indeed, stares at Preston.

Preston blinks at everyone, “oh, I’m so sorry!” He exclaims, coming out of some thought. “I got distracted.”

Matthew grins at Preston, “What saves house wives time?”

Dovie looks over the choices with a hum.

Malin is laughing as she reads over all of the options.

Dovie says “I’m going to have to give it to the passionate Latino lover.“

Matthew considers and then nods a few times, “I’d have gone with bing rich,” he agrees, “But I hear a Latino lover will take you places.”

“Wouldn’t we all,” Teagan says solemnly to Dovie before adding, proudly: “That was my card. Behold, my entry into first place!”

Matthew claps, “Whose card was that?”

Preston looks at everyone, and then looks at his watch for a second, “Feel free to skip my turns!” He declares, pulling his phone out. “I.. need to take a call, real quick.” And he’s standing, walking off for a moment.

Malin applauds Teagan and then nods to Preston.

Matthew uses a social game of questionable taste: I want to go to school to study.

“I went to school to study…. blank,” Matthew reads the card, looking over the remaining three players.

Teagan giggle-snorts at the new white card she’s been given. “Oh, god, I hope I get to use this one.” She takes a drink of cider and leans forward to hear the new card. “Hmmm.” Another hmmmmm as she looks at her hand. Then a nod and she drops a card.

Chance lifts a hand to wave to Preston as he heads out and then turns his attention back to the game. He glances at Matthew and then at his cards and tosses one down with an amused smile.

Matthew claps his hands together, considering all the options, “WEll…” he taps his fingers to lips, “I don’t do passive aggressive post it notes, so not that… it really is between the stereotypes and the shirt…. but I’m going with Stereotypes, that’s what I studied in college!”

Malin wiggles around the STEREOTYPES card to see who will claim the win.

“Stereotypes is mine!” Teagan announces, raising her cup (and thankfully the volume is low enough none splashes) to punctuate the claiming of the point. “Preston chose a terrible time to leave.”

Dovie says “Congratulations. “

Chance applauds Teagan with a grin and says, “Nice.”

Malin declares of Teagan, “Teagan is in the win, with only two points needed to secure the title of winner.”

“Ayyyyyyy, Teagan now in the lead, untied,” Matthew says, clapping his hands, “nice.”

“Teagan is in the lead, too,” Malin says, rolling her eyes at herself.

Teagan uses a social game of questionable taste: The next ice cream flavor from Ben & Jerry’s.

Dovie smiles.

Matthew grins as he considers his options and then drops one of the cards.

Teagan looks surprised as she’s handed the game box, but then remembers oh right. The person directly before her stepped out. She clears her throat: “The next ice cream flavor from Ben & Jerry’s…” As she sits back to wait, she taps at her phone.

Matthew can’t help but giggle to himself.

“Okay, announcing… the next flavor from Ben & Jerry’s is…” Teagan pauses for an imaginary drumroll. Or similar form of anticipatory leadup to an announcement. “Obesity!”

Chance chuckles, “That was mine.”

Dovie laughs, “Okay that’s a good one.”

Malin snickers, exhaling out an amused sigh. Then when Teagan makes her decision, she looks to see who has won this round. “Bravo, Chance.”

Matthew starts clapping his hands, “Obesity, niice, Chance, welcome to tied for second place,” he says, gesturing between himself and Dovie.

Malin gestures to Chance as she asks Teagan, “Can you pass the game to Chance next, please?”

“Woo, not dead last!” Chance laughs.

Chance uses a social game of questionable taste: _____ is best enjoyed on the first date.

“It was a difficult choice between that and dorito breath,” Teagan admits, “but I feel like Ben & Jerry’s would actually release obesity as a special edition.” And then she’s reminded of the game box and goes ‘oops,’ sheepishly handing it over to Chance.

Matthew considers the options and then drops one of the cards, “Okay… this is a hard one, don’t have the best ones in my deck but… this could easily be a first date activity for me.”

Chance takes the game box with a grin and chooses another card, “…. is best enjoyed on the first date.” He chuckles a little, waiting to see what cards surface for this one, and hands the box back to Malin.

“Tight pants, hands down,” Chance says without even thinking about it.

Dovie cheers, “Whoop!”

“And if you’re lucky, hands down tight pants,” Chance adds.

“The assless chaps would’ve been good here,” Teagan murmurs as she sips at her cider. When the tight pants is chosen as the win, she looks only mildly disappointed. It is a good card! “Nice one, Dovie.”

Malin widens her eyes a bit as she looks at the cards that Dovie, Teagan, and Matthew have chosen to use, but then laughs as Chance picks out the pants. Then she laughs even more over what he says next. “That was you, Dovie?”

Matthew claps his hands, “Nice Dovie!”

Chance nods sagely to Teagan and says, “Also applicable in this scenario.”

Matthew snags another slice of pizza, munching it down.

Dovie uses a social game of questionable taste: I was into _____ before it was cool.

Dovie says “Dovie“

Teagan is back to going ‘Hmmmmm’ at her cards, weighing her choices. She finally picks one, tossing it down with the rest.

Dovie says “I’m going with Cockfights.“

Matthew huffs out some laughs as he look at the options, head bobbing like he spies a winner. “Those are good options, you guys are fierce competition this round.”

Dovie says “Purely for the innuendo.“

Malin chuckles at Dovie.

Chance laughs, “Nice.”

Dovie giggles. “Whose was it?”

Teagan giggles, “Why thank you. I was going for the innuendo with that one.”

“Teagan only needs one more point to win,” Malin announces to the group.

Eventually, Preston strolls back in after his conversation on the phone, and re-joins the lounge seating, “You don’t need to deal me back in,” Preston mentions to Malin, “Sorry to interrupt with my call!”

Matthew informs Preston, “It’s close, Teagan’s one point away from winning, Dovie’s in second, and Chance and I are tied for last place.”

Matthew uses a social game of questionable taste: I work out so that I can look good when I’m _____.

“Welcome back,” Malin says warmly to Preston. “And no problem.”

“You left so I had to take the lead,” Teagan tells Preston solemnly. And then she’s dialed in, looking at her cards, looking at Matthew. She squints at him. Finally, reaching for a card in her hand… she stops and switches to a different card, setting it down instead.

There’s a snorted laugh from Preston in regards to Teagan, “Well, someone had to take the lead.” A little grin, as he watches the cards being played, happy to sit and watch now, taking a sip of something else.

Chance gives Preston a little up-nod of greeting as he returns. “Welcome back.”

“I work out so I can look good when I’m….. riding off into the sunset,” Matthew reads off the winning card, nodding, clapping his hands, “But all of these were good and it was hard to decide.”

Dovie says “Dovie“

Malin nods in agreement with Matthew, and when Dovie says her own name, she’s asking, “Was that your card — the riding off into the sunset?”

Malin smacks her lips together, or at least tries to. The filler makes it just kind of like pillowed duck lips that press and release briefly. “Dovie and Teagan are at five points.”

Matthew glances at Chance, “What you think, gonna sneak in and steal that W?”

“Curses, I was hoping that was my win,” Teagan admits, but has to give Dovie the nod of respect for a good opponent. She accepts her new card, snickering at it.

“Oh, right!” Teagan sets aside her hand and fishes out a black card.

Teagan uses a social game of questionable taste: The power of love is useless against _____.

Chance shakes his head and chuckles at Matthew, “Not a ….. Chance.”

Matthew grins at Chance, “I dunnno….”

Malin chuckles at Chance’s pun.

Preston lifts his eyebrows at Chance and snorts.

“Listen, I get to make them, too,” Chance grins.

“My humps, my humps my humps my humps…” Matthew can’t help but start singing when he sees the song, amused. “That was a good song!”

“That was terrible,” Teagan tells Chance, but she’s tipsy enough to giggle anyway as she reviews the cards offers. “The power of love is useless against…” She tsks to herself as she thinks it over. “Gotta go with flesh-eating bacteria. I don’t think love can stand up to that in any which way.”

Dovie claps for whoever that is.

“My lovely lady lumps…” Matthew keeps on but then lifts his hand, “That’d be me.. SHES GOT ME SPENDING….”

Malin shudders at the thought of the bacteria, and then looks to see who the winner is that Teagan has chosen. “Those lovely lady humps don’t stand a chance against flesh eating bacteria either.”

Matthew says “Okay, we’re allll tied, but Chance still might take it. I’m betting on him. “

“Wait, is everyone tied with one point left?” Preston asks, sitting up straighter now.

Matthew shakes his head, “No, Chance needs two points,” he says.

“Remember that poor life choices I played earlier?” Chance says, looking over at Matthew. “This is why.”

Chance uses a social game of questionable taste: I’d rather be _____.

Preston looks towards Dovie and snorts.

Teagan tries and fails to keep a straight face as she puts her card down… but she dissolves into giggles anyway.

Matthew sucks in a deep breath, he looks over the girls and then lays his card. “Chance, our fate is in your hands.”

Malin stares wide-eyed at the played cards.

“Oh damn… I wouldn’t pick my card,” Matthew informs the group, snickering like he’s tapped into a twelve year old’s humor.

Teagan has wriggled forward to be on the edge of her seat.

Chance leans over to take a look at the cards and grimaces a little bit and then says, “Man, is none of the above an option here?” But then he relents and says, “Quoting Monty Python, I guess. Gonna pass on the other two.”

“Ahhhh!!!” Dovie cries out in triumph!

Matthew starts clapping his hands, “Yay for….” he looks over until Dovie makes that triumphant yell, “DOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Malin cannot help but to snicker over Chance’s reaction, but when Dovie wins, she claps for her. “Congratulations. Good game, all.”

“Noooooooooo,” Teagan bemoans her failure, flopping back with her empty cup in hand. “After all this cider you wouldn’t rather be peeing? Just a little?” But she does lift her (still empty for the moment) to Dovie. “I concede to the victor.”

Malin says, “You can just put all your cards down and I’ll get them put away.”

“Wooooo!” Preston exclaims, clapping for Dovie as she wins. “Well done, Dovie!” And to everyone else, “You all played amazingly.” Then, to Teagan. “I think I would have picked the peeing one.”

Dovie tells Matthew, Teagan, Chance, and Preston. “That was a super close one, great game all! And thank you Malin!”

Matthew nods at Preston, “I’d also have picked the peeing one.”

“After all the cider you drank?” Chance laughs, “No, I don’t have to pee.” He only had one glass, after all. “But if you do, please go… not here.” He laughs.

“You’re welcome,” Malin replies to Dovie and Matthew. “It was my pleasure. Thank you all for playing.”

Matthew nods in agreement with Dovie, “Yeah, it would be fun if you could play next time, for sure.”

“Congratulations, Dovie,” Chance grins. To Malin he says, “This was a ton of fun and we definitely need to do it again sometime. Like the story thing. And I’m happy to do card duty next time if you want to play.”

Dovie nods in agreement with Chance.

“I’m glad you liked it. The other games I have don’t require all of these cards, so I should be able to join in just fine,” Malin assures Chance.

Dovie says “I should get going but you all should take the growlers. Whatever you want!“

“Absolutely a blast,” Preston tells Malin, “We do need more card games, and the like.” Standing up, Preston stretches a little bit, rolling his neck side to side.

Dovie waves to all.

“I am all for more game nights,” Teagan says with a nod as she gets to her feet, stretching. “I should go and rest up for a bit.” She declares. “Thank you, Malin. Very well done.”

“I’ve been working on several different game rooms over at my game shop, and I’ll have each room set up with a few so people can go play as a group whenever they want, or on a date,” Malin informs Preston before looking to Teagan. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it!”

“She has a whole game shop with more options,” Matthew boasts on Malin’s behalf, “it’s a shame about the mist swallowing it up today, but there will definitely be more chances.”

“Game shop..?” Preston blinks at Malin. “Which one’s that? I don’t think I’ve ever been.”

“Nice,” Chance says, “Looking forward to checking it out and seeing what sorts of games you’ve got. More than happy to check it out and play some games whenever folks want to get together again.”

“It got enveloped by the mist this morning, but it is simple called The Game Parlour. I haven’t had a chance to finish it up yet,” Malin says to Preston. “That was what I had planned on doing this morning, but alas.”

Malin nods to Chance. “Yeah, I’ll try to hold a game night every so often, too, on top of just having games available for whoever, whenever.”

“Game Parlour,” Preston repeats, locking the place into his brain. “I hope you have a grand opening when it’s all done!” Now that he’s stretched himself, finishing up his little neck rolling, he hops in place. “I should probably get heading, but,” smiling at Malin. “I’m looking forward to more games, and checking out the Game Parlour.”

Malin gives a friendly salute to Preston. “I look forward to playing more games with you all.”

Matthew g ives Preston a wave and then goes for yet another slice of pizza, what a fatty.

Chance pulls himself to his feet and stretches a little as well. “Great to see you guys as always. Thanks for hosting!” He then begins to head out, himself.

“Have a good night, the rest of you!” Preston calls out, waving to Matthew, Teagan and Chance, and marching out.

Malin waves after Chance. “You’re welcome, and drive safe.”

There is some consideration of the pizza from Teagan as well, but she decides against it and ends up making her way off toward the exit anyway after another wiggle of fingers. She pulls on her coat as she goes.