“Goblins & Guillotines recap! We’re about a third through the original storyline, and our heroes are, shall we say, creatively shaping the fate of Eloria!” Boss E grinned as he spoke, his voice brimming with energy. Though he didn’t have to serve as emcee, he insisted on it—it kept him close to the players and gave him a chance to show off a bit for the company. This was his stage to be someone else.

In the office, Owen’s formidable presence—his towering 6'3" frame, furrowed brow, sharp jaw, and thin lips—often cowed staff into submission. His original username, BossEldritch, only added to the intimidating aura. By contrast, “Boss E” felt like a lighter, friendlier persona, one that let him channel his inner nerd. When he stepped into Boss E’s shoes, he could laugh, joke, high-five, and wink without hesitation. It was his break from rigid office protocol, where deadlines and stern expressions reigned. Most people saw an imposing alpha, the kind of towering presence that turned heads.

The Goblins & Guillotines game was at the two-hour mark, with players making their way through the event campaign.

“We’ll reveal the limited edition merch in about 35 minutes! You don’t want to miss the first release in our exclusive Goblins and Guillotines miniature line! Which character will it be?” Boss E’s voice echoed with enthusiasm as he tapped the watch on his wrist. A countdown timer flashed at the bottom of the tournament displays, triggering an excited ripple through the crowd.

Owen stepped away for a brief stretch, leaning back between two chairs behind the stage. Outside the event hall, the screen showcasing the gameplay had attracted so many onlookers that the convention center staff scrambled to bring in more chairs. It was only the first day of the con, and space for everyone was at a premium after a few hours.

•♥•♥•♥•

Designer Nettie and storyteller Bryn stood by at the table of Easy Breezy Beautiful Braaaaains, or EBBBs for short. Nettie, a tall alpha with red curls and hazel eyes, wore royal blue form-fitting pants layered with a full length black vest with the gold detailing. A split in the back of the vest allowed pleated white chiffon fabric to billow out the back and delicate long white chiffon sleeves gathered down at the wrists with gold and blue ribbons, softening the look. She enjoyed the conventions, which allowed her to act how she wanted without the expectation of being in business mode.

Bryn, part of the storytelling team, was seeing red as she hurriedly tried to finish her costume embellishments. During breaks she demanded Nettie help her weave ribbons into her vest. It was Bryn's fault for waiting until the night before to fix her outfit, but such is the tradition of con-goers. Her short black bob and glasses gave her a stern look, an expectation Bryn enjoyed living up to. The Goblins & Guillotines team knew Bryn better though. Her mischievousness unparalleled among staff, Bryn often targeted Nettie despite their closeness.

First AlpacaAnnie and then TigerTiddies_xxx abandoned the game to help weave ribbons. Guide master IEatHands was left at the table with an irate SnakeEyes and a sleepy looking LeapingLizard. 

"Guys, it was your turn?! I'll let you get eaten by slimes again!" SnakeEyes called out.

The taunt briefly caused LeapingLizard to jerk his eyes open and his head back up.

SnakeEyes shifted his gaze and nudged the guide master, "LeapingLizard needs a breather. Since Annie and Tids ran off, let's take a break too before I decide to feast upon the flesh of my comrades."

“Too in character,” IEatHands sighed, shaking his head. “LeapingLizard, take a break and walk around.”

The young man didn’t respond, eyes half-lidded and gaze unfocused.

“LeapingLizard. LeapingLizard! CAYDEN!” IEatHands snapped.

The sudden bark of his real name jolted him upright.

“Huh?” He blinked rapidly, his brain catching up to the noise. Hearing his name felt like someone dragging him to the surface after a deep dive.

“Break. Walk around. Got it?” SnakeEyes interjected, his tone sharp but not unkind. IEatHands nodded in agreement, arms crossed but eyes watching carefully.

“Oh. Okay.” Cayden, or LeapingLizard as he was known here, moved sluggishly, like he was underwater. His strawberry-blond curls slipped down to obscure his brows, nearly brushing the top of his glasses. He pushed himself to his feet, stretching until the hem of his shirt rose slightly, exposing his tummy for a brief moment. Flushing, he quickly tugged the fabric back down in hopes no one saw, glancing around for a clear path—one that wouldn’t force him to weave through too many people. He needed space, air, and the brief hope that he could shake off the fatigue clinging to him.

•♥•♥•♥•

"Where is EBBBs?" Boss E furrowed his brow, scanning the tournament floor. They were the only table without a single achievement, even three hours in. His gaze landed on their team usernames, and he made a mental note to speak with the developers about filtering questionable names during online registration. "TigerTiddies… seriously? Tiddies are… well…" He stopped himself as he glanced down at his own chest and coughed. "Regardless, they’re not at their table. And where are Nettie and Bryn?"

Meanwhile, LeapingLizard—known outside the game as Cayden McMathan—leaned against a wall in the corridor outside the G&G room. In the sea of fantasy and sci-fi geeks, he blended in, for better or worse. Today, he’d opted for a plaid button-down over his team shirt and khaki pants—an outfit he jokingly called the nerd uniform. His wavy hair partially hid his glasses, and he hunched instinctively, trying to take up less space. He wasn’t tall, not like the towering Goblins and Guillotines staffers he’d seen that day, but every glance and brush past him left him feeling too big, too noticeable.

The weight he shed over the past few years hadn’t lifted the burden of seeing himself at his heaviest, and he maneuvered through the crowd with a mix of flinches and sidesteps. His fingers tightened over the silver bracelet at his wrist, the red medical insignia a familiar presence beneath his palm. He remembered when his health deteriorated, needing something to alert help, he received the bracelet as a gift with the words "Narcolepsy with cataplexy. Duloxetine, Modafinil, Methylphenidate."

He squeezed himself through the crowds and tables, peeling himself from the wall as he avoided others. He navigated this way to the vending machine and grabbed an energy drink.

On the way back to the game room, he stopped at the merchandise tables, drawn to a new poster featuring Boss E in full cosplay. For a moment, his hand hovered before he selected a few pins and a tote. At the last second, he asked for the Boss E poster, his cheeks pinkening as he returned to his seat with a small, private grin.

•♥•♥•♥•

EBBBs finally returned to their seats, with Nettie and Bryn in tow. The two Goblins and Guillotines employees covered in ribbons and glue gave their boss a thumbs up as he escorted them away from the players. Owen returned a few minutes later for a quick, amused exchange with IEatHands. With ten teams in attendance, Goblins & Guillotines had their hands full managing the schedule.

Boss E was mid-broadcast when his assistant approached, urgency etched into their expression. “We’ve got a problem with EBBBs. One of the players passed out at the table. Medical is with them now.”

Owen signaled to cut his feed and switch to another segment. “Passed out? Who? When?”

He quickly followed the assistant, weaving through a crowd of guests, chairs, and tangled cords.

“A couple minutes ago. LeapingLizard—uh, Cayden McMathan.” The assistant checked the attendee list to make sure they had the name right.

The table was crowded. Other gamers kept stopping to see the commotion, but SnakeEyes asked them to move along politely. The convention's medical team huddled around the chair where Cayden sat. They had a blood pressure cuff on his arm, oxygen meter on his finger. He was awake but his eyes indicated he was not truly aware of what was going on. The exhaustion on his face was clear, still barely keeping himself awake.

IEatHands was on the phone, his tone clipped but calm. “Yes, ma’am. This is Carl. No issues... Oh, you have a map of the venue already? Good. Yes, see you soon.” He hung up, exhaling heavily.

Owen gestured his chin toward Cayden. “Carl, his mom? Is he... a minor?” He couldn't believe that. While Cayden looked younger than him, the dark sleep circles hinted at years of abused sleep patterns.

“Nah,” Carl replied, shaking his head. “He’s 33... ish? His health makes things tricky, though. And his mom’s... clingy.” Carl gave Owen a knowing nod before adding, “I’ll be back—bio break.”

Owen watched Carl’s stocky frame turn the corner, then turned his attention to Cayden.