Rising Shards

The trivia competition was surprisingly fierce. Obviously, our main enemy was Valda at this event, but the other tables had some really obnoxious folks who I wanted to beat, like a guy who kept trying to get his dumb jokes in when the host said anything, or an older woman who kept dinging a fork on her glass after every point her team got.

Stella didn’t get as tanked as we did at the speakeasy, which was good because we needed her mind at least decently sharp, and I wasn’t sure how Zeta was comfortable with her sister drinking. She didn’t seem to react too much, mainly getting antsy that there hadn’t been much trivia in her wheelhouse so far. That changed when the last section popped up, entirely focused on Tower of Hate and Love. Both Faleur sisters lit up, eyes practically sparkling. Zeta just about let a demonic, guttural scream when the first question was about Raina Starlight. She commandeered the answer tablet and didn’t even need to consult us when answering what the episode title was for Raina’s debut as Arlit.

“Look,” Stella said, pointing to Valda as she snapped and angrily pointed at her teammates. “She has no idea what Tower is. Ha!”

“Pitiful,” Zeta said. “How can she says she’s all great at trivia and not know the best show?”

“The best show!” Stella agreed.

“This is making me want to rewatch all of it,” I said. “I haven’t done a rewatch in a while, but the way you two get so hyped for it is pretty infectious.”

“Well, it’s the best show!” Stella said.

We had more fun talking about Tower of Hate and Love than we did struggling through trivia questions about mat ball players from twenty years ago. It was a nice outing even with a rival there. While it was partially indigestion from the not very great food served at the Den of Gamers, I had some warm and fuzzy feelings in my gut, still not used to being treated like part of the family.

That warm and fuzzy feeling didn’t translate to points, however, as we lost pretty handily outside of the Tower section. Valda did laps around every table to celebrate her win, as did her teammates. I was very tempted to trip them, but that would probably be setting a bad example for Zeta.

“And that makes week fifteen of Team Ingram winning,” the host said. “Or maybe fourteen. Or sixteen, whatever. Sure wish these coupons and five-dollar gift cards to go to families that actually use them…but hey! Give it up for Team Ingram, and we hope to see you again sometime at the one, the only, Den of Gamers!”

Valda did an extra lap around our table before stopping to wave her coupons in our faces.

“I still won,” Valda said.

“Yeah, but you were a complete chump during the Tower section,” Stella said.

“It’s an awful show,” Valda said.

Zeta gasped.

“It’s actually a great show,” I said.

“The best show!” Zeta said, nodding.

“It’s our favorite show,” Stella said. “So if you wanna stand there and diss our family favorite, be ready for us to be really obnoxious until you go away.”

Valda awkwardly tried to swipe one of our leftover breadsticks (Did she have some kind of breadstick obsession? I’ll never know) but fumbled picking it up, the stale chunk of bread falling limply back into its plastic basket.

“Very well,” Valda said. “Until next time, ‘Fuller.’”

The Tower loving trio opted not to stay much longer, taking a quick look around the arcade side of the building to see if any games jumped out at us.

“That was…kinda fun.” Zeta said as we drove home. “Kinda more fun than I thought it’d be, but also kinda less? If that makes sense.”

“I get you completely,” Stella said. She was still a bit buzzed, looking precious in her winter coat as she leaned against the shotgun side window.

“Bummer we didn’t win,” I said.

“Yeah,” Stella said. “But I think we did really well. We really came together as a family for this one, thank you.”

I got the fluttery feelings again hearing Stella say ‘family.’ I wasn’t sure how long it’d take to feel normal, but I was fine with the flutters until then.

“I’d be down to try it again,” I said. “But maybe at a different place without Valda.”

“Absolutely a different place.” Stella said.

“Yep.” Zeta said.

“Most definitely.” Stella said.

“Most…uh, what’s another good word here?” Zeta asked.

“Indubitably!” I suggested.

“Indub…indubitab…” Zeta tried her best. “Blech, that’s a tongue twister. Hold on, I can so get it.”  

Stella tried as well, but the Tropical Sunburst Surprises she had made it much more difficult to enunciate. Even if they couldn’t say ‘indubitably,’ I felt incredibly grateful that the Faleur sisters were a part of my life.

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