Hicvember 2025: Day 1-Video/Voice Call
Tried to make it look more autumny, but there's no yellow, *ahem*
Hello, howdy, come one come all to the first prompt of the month! Fun fact, you guys will probably see a few older stories alongside some new ones! Hehe, time to see how much my writing style has changed, hehe
Oh look, it's these guys again! We've got Keenan, TeIemachus, Riddy, and Orfeo today! I should really get back into the lore of these guys someday🤔
CW: hiccups from fright, fast hiccups, bad descriptions of a made up horror game, slight teasing
Obligatory tagging: @hiccuping-daydreams
And without further ado, I give you...
Keenan's Streaming Hiccups! Enjoy!
Fandom: EPIC, Modern AU
Second Year, Summer Break, Week 4
[TeIemarketing has invited you to play]
Keenan smiled and placed the headset on his head and joined in the game. His newfound group of friends were playing some type of shooter game. Keenan had to admit, he wasn't the best with third-person shooter games, but it was always fun to play with his old group back home.
He suddenly heard ringing in his headset, a clear indication that someone was trying to add him to the call. With a smile, he answered with a cheerful, “hey guys!”
“Keenan!”
“Sup man!?”
“You made it!”
A chorus of voices shouted all at once. He'd recognized TeIemachus’ voice, and of course Orfeo and Riddy's too.
Keenan smiled, feeling his heart swell, “heh, you guys are sweet.”
“So are you, cupcake,” Keenan could hear the smirk in Riddy's voice.
He blushed slightly, too flustered to respond, so Orfeo chuckled, “Rids, I think you broke him…”
“N-no, I'm good,” Keenan squeaked before clearing his throat, “I was just…drinking my water.”
“Right,” TeIemachus smiled, knowing of Keenan's huge crush on Riddy and Orfeo.
“Anyway, would you guys be comfortable with me streaming our game?” Keenan switched the subject.
“Aww, hell yeah!” Orfeo cheered, “I'll stream too!”
“I'll pass on streaming, but I'm good with you guys doing it,” Riddy shrugged. “I mean, considering I'm automatically gonna be in Orfeo's stream.”
“Considering I have no idea how to even do any of that, same,” TeIemachus agreed sheepishly.
“It's not that hard,” Keenan shrugged, “I can show you how if you're interested.”
“Appreciate the offer, but I'm good. I don't have the charisma for that,” TeIemachus shrugged.
“Fair enough,” Keenan nodded as he started setting up the stream, “I was the same way before I started streaming. But I got used to talking in front of the camera, reading chat, playing games whilst entertaining…it's not bad at all and it's fun and I earn money doing it, so…it's a win-win.”
“And streaming with friends is also rewarding,” Orfeo added, “cuz when one of us ends the stream, we send them to whoever else is streaming like a raid.”
Keenan smiled and turned on his face cam, winking at himself, causing Orfeo to snort and then promptly choke on his blunt.
“Babe, you good?” Riddy patted his back in an attempt to help.
“Y-yeah,” Orfeo said after he'd caught his breath, “almost died though…”
“Don't be so dramatic,” Riddy rolled her eyes fondly.
Keenan shook his head amusedly before starting his stream with his intro. He introduced his friends in the stream and the game they were all playing before the group actually started a round.
The four of them played for a while before Orfeo suggested they switch to a multiplayer horror game he'd been meaning to play. Everyone was down to play.
Except for Keenan. See, Keenan was scared of everything horror-related. Horror movies, games, books, all of it. He was an easy scare and ever since he was a kid, getting scared gave him the hiccups. As he grew older, he realized any heightened sense of emotion had a chance of giving him hiccups. Fear was the most reliable, however. He'd use this to his advantage whenever he was alone and in the mood.
But now was not the right time. Not in front of his friends and not in front of the 100 fans watching him.
“M-maybe not,” Keenan voiced his opinion.
“Awww, why?” Orfeo pouted in confusion.
“I'm…not a fan of horror games,” he bit his lip.
“Ahh, I see, so you're just chicken,” Riddy smirked slightly.
Keenan squeaked and sat up, “chicken?! Am not!”
“Yeah? Then why not play this with us?” Orfeo tilted his head.
“Because…” he couldn't think of an answer quickly enough and he now noticed his chat begging him to play the horror game. He winced before sighing, “fine…peer pressure.”
“I'm not pressuring you,” TeIemachus added, “I'm honestly on your side…I don't like scary things either.”
“Then it just gives you a reason to snuggle up with Dorian~” Riddy smiled and wiggled her eyebrows as Orfeo drew from his joint.
TeIemachus blushed, “I don't even see him much during summers…”
“Well now’s your chance,” Orfeo cheered him on as he booted up the game and sent an invite link to everyone.
Keenan looked at the link with an anxious look before clicking on it. He could already feel a hiccup in his throat and the game hadn't even started yet. He grabbed his water and started drinking it as Orfeo explained the objective of the game.
Apparently, they were a group of four characters who got lost in the woods at night and there's a monster on the loose and their goal is to make it out to safety without getting caught. Though, everyone had different quirks like one could have a stamina bar that lowered the more they ran, making the player slow down when it's depleted. Or one player could have weapons to fight off the beast. Another player would only be able to hear sounds, not seeing anything. Or another could only see the visuals and not hear the sounds. It was randomized every round to spice it up.
Keenan didn't like the sound of any of it. But once everyone confirmed they understood how the game went, it began. Keenan had gotten the stamina quirk and he slumped. This wasn't ideal. He preferred to be able to run as fast as he could for as long as he could.
His screen showed that it was in first person mode and all he had to his name was a flashlight. Keenan felt his heart racing as he started walking in a random direction. He almost jumped out of his skin when Riddy cheered, “haha! I got the weapons! Come find me and I'll protect you!”
Keenan placed a hand on his chest, feeling a soft silent hiccup bounce up. He swallowed before stammering, “d-do you know where you are, Riddy?”
“No idea,” Riddy denied, “I'm surrounded by trees if that helps.”
“Guys, my screen is black,” TeIemachus frowned.
“Aw, poor Tel,” Orfeo frowned, “looks like you'll be surviving off your auditory skills. I, on the other hand, can't hear a thing, so guess I'm relying on sight.”
“Which must mean Keenan's stuck with the stamina bar,” Orfeo deduced.
“Oh, looks like you can be smart when you wanna be,” Riddy joked with a kiss on his cheek.
“Oh ha ha, very funny,” Orfeo stuck out his tongue at her before addressing Keenan, “Keenan, I think your best bet is to find Riddy and go with her to find the exit. I'll try to find Tel…”
“I'll try to find somewhere with a better landmark,” Riddy informed them and started walking.
“Kay,” Keenan squeaked as he continued walking around aimlessly.
He heard the crickets and the natural sounds of the forest and though he should find it calming, his character's footsteps across the grass sent chills down his spine. He looked around for any of the other characters when he jumped at the sound of an owl. He exhaled in relief that it wasn't the monster. Though, he released a quiet, “huck” into his mic accidentally.
“Keenan, you ok?” TeIemachus’ voice broke through, which startled him again.
“Mmhm, I'm–m good,” Keenan swallowed.
“The monster hasn't even made an appearance yet and you're this scared?” Orfeo raised an eyebrow.
“It's more about the atmosphere,” Keenan muttered.
He continued on his journey, silent as his friends were trying to navigate their way around. The hiccups still worked their way in every once in a while. He could tell that it wasn't a full case yet, but being caught by the monster was sure to do it.
So he kept moving no matter what, trying to avoid a run-in with the-
“Oh shoot…” Tel's voice quivered, “I-I think it's right behind me.”
“What?” Riddy gasped.
“I can hear something around me…”
“Run, Tel,” Orfeo advised.
“I can't tell which way to run!”
“Choose-”
Suddenly they all heard a scream in the game. TeIemachus’ character was caught. Keenan's heart pounded because that scream sounded very close to his own character.
Which meant the monster was close by.
Keenan made his character run away from where he'd heard the scream and didn't look back. He used up all of the stamina so now he was walking.
He thought he'd gotten away when he heard growling behind him. He froze in spot, his heart pounding so hard and loud, he thought everyone could hear it.
“G-g-g–guys?” Keenan stammered before a stronger silent hiccup jolted him. “M-mmm-monster…”
“Oh Keenan…you used up your stamina?” Orfeo questioned.
“Ye-hmk-yeah,” Keenan winced, feeling another silent hiccup make him jump.
“Damn, you're gonna have to wait for a recharge,” Orfeo continued, “if you're lucky-”
He was interrupted by the scream in the game as well as Keenan's scream at the jumpscare knocking him out of his seat.
“Holy shit, dude, you good?” Orfeo tried to hide the amusement in his voice.
Keenan couldn't answer, bombarded with quiet and silent hiccups wracking his entire body. He quickly set his mic to mute, not wanting anyone to hear him.
“Aw, I think you made him mad,” Riddy mentioned when she saw that Keenan had muted himself.
Keenan jumped in fright at a notification from his phone. He grabbed his phone as he sat back down in his chair. He saw it was from Tel and opened it, his head just continuously being pulled back.
Tel: u ok?
Keenan smiled at the concern from his friend. He texted back.
Kee: yeah, just hiccups…
TeIemachus audibly gasped, drawing attention to himself.
“Tel? What happened?” Riddy asked worriedly.
“H-huh? Uh, no, nothing, everything's fine,” TeIemachus stumbled a bit as he texted Keenan back.
Tel: oh no…
TeIemachus didn't know that he and Keenan shared an appreciation for hiccups. Neither did Keenan, to be fair.
Tel: have u tried holding ur breath?
Keenan shook his head through more silent spasms before replying.
Kee: no. it only makes them worse, lol
Tel: what abt water?
Kee: I'm sure they'll go away in a bit
Kee: thx tho :)
He knew that wouldn't be true unless they stopped playing the game. Keenan leaned back in his chair, putting his hand on his stomach, feeling it bounce every couple of seconds. He pretty much zoned out, feeling the blood rush to places he hadn't wanted right now.
Speaking of, his chat was still blowing up, asking if he was alright. The support from his little fan base warmed his heart.
“Yo Keenan? You good, man?” Orfeo's voice broke through, sounding genuinely concerned for once.
Keenan gave a thumb up on his camera, chin tucking in twice at two deep hiccups.
“You do realize you're still muted, right?” Riddy asked.
Keenan nodded, taking a sip of his water as he turned the mic back on, “hey hmp!”
“Hey man, sorry about laughing at you,” Orfeo bit his lip, looking sheepish.
“Aww, n–no…it himpk! it's oka–ay,” Keenan struggled to stifle the hiccups, “it was pre–pretty fu-hup!-funny…”
“Aww, did that scare give you the hiccups?” Riddy cooed.
Busted.
“Uh…ye-hip!-yeah,” Keenan blushed and bounced his leg, “whenever-herk! I get scared humpk!, or re-heek!-really in any height–tened sense of emo–tion, I get the hick!-ups…”
“Oh. My. Gosh.” Riddy gasped, “that is soooo cute, the fuck?”
“No, it's hip! embarra–ssing,” Keenan blushed more.
“It really isn't though,” Orfeo shrugged, “everyone gets hiccups. You should see Riddy.”
“Yeah, mine can be pretty annoying,” Riddy rolled her eyes, “but yours are so cute! They sound like little mice.”
“Agreed,” Orfeo nodded, “mine are horrendous. I sound like a dying chicken!” He chuckled.
Riddy snorted, “babe, that's so accurate!”
Keenan covered his face, no longer able to function at his crushes' reassurances. TeIemachus smiled knowingly.
“Anyway,” Tel brought them back on track, “maybe we should change the game?”
“Yeah, that's fine,” Orfeo nodded, “don't want Keenan to explode.”
Riddy blinked confused, “I'm pretty sure he's not going to explode from hiccups.”
“I dunno, with how red he's gotten, I'd rather be safe than sorry,” Orfeo admitted.
“Oh, he's not red cuz of his hiccups…” Tel assured him.
Keenan glared at the camera, “TeIemachu–us…”
“Yes?” Tel replied.
“Then why is he red?” Orfeo tilted his head.
“Because-”
“TeIema-huck!-chus no!” Keenan panicked.
“-he's just hot from the light shining on him,” TeIemachus shrugged.
Keenan blinked in confusion, “oh…”
“Really?” Riddy raised an eyebrow.
“Wait…” Orfeo squinted his eyes as he was focused on thinking, “no, that can't be right. I've seen a bunch of Keenan's streams and he was never this red before.”
“Oh yeah, true,” Riddy agreed.
“Gu-huck!-guys, it's n–nothing hngk! to worry hip! about,” Keenan bit his lip, “it's ju–ust, uh…really ho-huck!‐hot in here an-nk!-and I ge-hip!-get really red when yo-mmm!-you’re hot.”
In his frazzled state, he hadn't registered the slip up until Riddy pointed it out, “when we're hot? But…we're in the A/C…and also, why would us being hot affect your face?”
Keenan's eyes widened, “I…hup! I s-sudden-nk!-ly remem-mmk!-ber that thing I had hip!-hup! to do t–today, uh hup!...see ya.”
“Wai-”
Keenan ended the call and the stream and cut off his camera before just staring at his desk. No way did that just happen.
He was dreaming…right? He didn't just call his crushes hot, live, on camera, to their faces.
He yelped at his phone notification. He was scared to see who it was. Grabbing his phone, he saw it was TeIemachus. This whole mess was his fault, wasn't it…
Tel: hey, u ok?
Kee: as if u actually care…
Tel: i do…I'm sorry
Kee: u should be
After a moment of Tel not texting him back, he added.
Kee: just so u know, even though I'm upset, I don't hate you and we're still friends
Tel: really?
Kee: yes, really
Tel: k, sorry, I kinda panicked 😥
Kee: it's ok, I realized how that sounded and remembered I had to reassure u
He paused before taking a deep interrupted breath and texting again.
Kee: r Orfeo and Riddy…
Tel: oh, um…they might have some idea
As Keenan received the message, he'd gotten another from Riddy.
Rid: hey, u got a minute to call?
Keenan swallowed thickly, “oka-hmp!-ay, this is fi–ine, no–thing t–to wor-hrk'm!-ry abou–t. hup'k!-uh hip!-u-huck!-huck'm!-hick!-hip'm!”
As his nervousness grew, his hiccups intensified, getting faster and faster, interrupting each other. Personally, he loved when this happened, but now was not the time. He had to respond to Riddy. He shakily texted on his phone.
Kee: idk
Rid: plz Keenan, we don't wanna do this over text🥺🥺🥺
Kee: k…tho, my hiccups have made it impossible to talk😖
Apparently she didn't mind seeing as his phone started ringing with a video call from Riddy. Keenan promptly kept his lips shut as he accepted the call, waving to both of the people on his screen.
“Hey Keenan,” Riddy greeted, “thank you for accepting the call.”
“Hey man,” Orfeo smiled and waved.
“gmp!-h–he‐hmp!-hey‐hmp!mp!kmp!-uh himpk!” Keenan attempted, covering his mouth and blushing profusely.
“Man, you weren't kidding about those hiccups,” Riddy smiled sympathetically, “but um, I'll get straight to the gist…were you…calling us hot as in…attractive?”
Keenan's eyes widened and he looked away. Even though he was sure they knew his answer by just his reaction, he nodded his head, his hiccups worsening as his heart pounded out of his chest.
“Our chat was right,” Orfeo chuckled softly, looking a bit shy.
“Wow…” Riddy blushed, “so…do you like…have crushes on both of us?”
Keenan squeaked and nodded, covering his face. This was it. It was over.
“Awww, that's so cute,” Riddy cooed, blushing slightly.
“And sweet,” Orfeo added, “I've never had a dude crushing on me before…it's…wow, really endearing, not gonna lie.” He bit his lip.
Keenan winced. Unable to say anything, he sent them a text.
Kee: r u mad I didn't tell you?
Riddy and Orfeo both looked at the text and shook their heads.
“No, not at all, cupcake,” Riddy reassured him, “I mean, telling someone you have a crush on them is hella hard.”
“Heck, I've known Riddy since diapers and it was still hard to confess my feelings for her,” Orfeo scratched his head, “so trust me, we get it.”
Keenan exhaled softly in relief, quickly texting back.
Kee: im glad…I didn't wanna lose you. You both are really cool and it's been really nice getting to know you guys
Kee: do you…maybe wanna go out for ice cream or something?
“Why, Keenan…are you asking us out on a date?” Riddy smirked.
“If so, I'm totally down!” Orfeo cheered excitedly.
Keenan's eyes lit up and he gasped, “seri-heek!-hip!-serious-ick!-ly?”
Both Riddy and Orfeo giggled softly at the interruptions, making Keenan flush embarrassed.
“Aww, of course,” Riddy smiled into the phone.
“Yeah, it'll be fun,” Orfeo agreed. “Meet you at your place in…twenty minutes? Or will you still be hiccuping by then?”
Keenan flushed and glanced away, his hiccups worsening again. He went back to texting.
Kee: considering how nervous and excited I am, I'll probably be like this the rest of the night…
Kee: hope that won't ruin anything…
“Oh no, you're all good, sweetie,” Riddy reassured him once she read everything. “They're just hiccups. Cute ones at that.”
Keenan blushed and covered his face. She had to enjoy flustering him.
“Aww, nah, hiccups are not a deal-breaker, my guy,” Orfeo added. “They add onto your cuteness factor.”
Both of them enjoyed flustering him.
“G-hmgp!-guys-hip!” Keenan squeaked.
“Alright,” Riddy relented, “we'll pick you up in 20, kay?”
Keenan smiled and nodded, “se-heek!-ee y–you hulp!-hup'm! soo-hoop!-oon-hngk!”
They all waved before hopping off of the chat. Keenan leaned back in his chair, processing what just happened…
He had a date with both of the people he liked and a really bad case of hiccups. What was he to do?
Fin~