I wrote a few paragraphs of this then they ended up getting deleted bc I’m a dumbass. Anyway heres a drabble.
The thing a about groups is that they tend to evolve. Inside jokes change over time. The social media preferences change over time. The way they communicate can also change.
They went from meeting up on Saturday nights on RuneScape to messaging each other on steam daily and playing Overwatch. They went from steam to Skype. And they went from Skype to Discord.
Messaging slowly became voice chats. Roman and Patton were the ones who started that. Logan soon joined in; agreeing that talking during dungeons was more efficient.
Virgil didn’t care for the idea. Speaking wasn’t his forte. He joined and listened but was always self muted.
He got locked up when spoken to without having the ability to think about what he’d say. He didn’t know how to make his voice more pleasing than the quiet rasp and mild studder. He didn’t want to lock up mid sentence in a dungeon, let alone an average conversation.
He tried to lie to get out of it.
He said he didn’t have a mic. Logan sent him one - and a damn good one. He said he lost his voice. Patton gave him soup recipes and checked in on him hourly. He said he had family issues. Roman offered to kill the ailments.
Eventually, they caught on. He just didn’t like talking.
P: did I do something wrong did i say something to make you not like talking?
V: No, Patton. I just don’t like talking.
The group chat’s notification popped up. He switched away from the personal chat.
L: Virgil are you free enough to join the voice call?
P: Cmon son lets play stardew!!!
R: stardew doesnt have multiplayer just duo patton
He sighed into his comforter, standing up with it wrapped around his shoulders as he walked to his computers. He fussed with the blanket until he had free reign over his arms and his legs could be propped on the computer tower.
Rather than fight the idea, he put on his headset and hit mute on the side. He joined the voice chat.
“Patton heal me you overgrown rat!”
“I’m not a rat, I’m a koala!!”
“Roman you’d die less if you knew how to, how do I say this NOT button mash.”
“Hey! Hot topics in. Muted as always, my friend?” Roman chimed, followed by loud key sounds and -
“Yeah. He did. And we lost right after,” Patton said. Logan russled around, quietly apolgozing for hitting his microphone. Roman mumbled about hackers.
“Hey Virgil, you know we love you right?” Patton asked.
“You never talk. We know you’re not a squeaker and even if you were we wouldn’t care.”
“Roman you have a fantastic lack of tact when it comes to this.”
“What we’re trying to say kiddo is that you don’t have to be muted.”
Roman slammed his desk softly and started to whisper chant. “Unmute unmute unmute unmute.”
Logan told him to shut it before Virgil could type it.
“You’re under no obligation to unmute, however we do want to hear your voice. It would make campaigns easier and frankly we’re curious.”
“Unmute kiddo, you don’t have to be afraid!”
Patton joined in with the chant for a moment. He paused after a about six seconds to ask “What do you think he sounds like?”
Logan answered with “I imagine he sounds like a human being, Patton. Judging by where he told us he lived I’d guess he’d have a similar accent to any other California resident. Judging by his personality, quiet. By his age, a bit deep. By his anxiety, a small stutter.”
“Like a dark edgy prince, of course. That’s what he is and whatever he sounds like will sound like him!”
“Huh I thought he’d sound like Ryan Reynolds.”
Roman started chanting quietly again. Patton, once again, joined him.
V: are you sure? I’m not exactly a voice actor guys.
They replied chanting louder. Logan tried to offer logical words of comfort, however they were pretty much a mouse inside a convention hall: silenced.
Virgil softly tapped the button on his headset. His heart set up shop in his throat and scratched at the back of his eyes.
The mute symbol disappeared from the chat box. A deafening silence rolled over the crowd.
Patton and Roman started cheering. Patton was giggling. Logan chuckled softly and replied with his own “greetings.”
“HOLY FUCK HE SOUNDS SO CUTE!!”
“PATTON DID YOU HEAR HIS LITTLE GRAVEL AND THAT TINY LILT TO HIS VOICE HOLY FUCK I’M IN LOVE.”
Virgil laughed. The chat went silent again. He covered his mouth.
“VIRGIL YOU BETTER SHOW UP TO OUR WEDDING.”
I saw in the notes there were some People who’d wanna be tagged? So here’s the list. Ahem.
@shy-write-and-gets-real @smile-falters @madly-handsome @changeling-ash @insert3username3here @vir-gull
Good morning all & enjoy your day.
I post often and crave validation follow me.
jbbartram-illu
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