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ONLY FOR NOW: A Crankshaft Rafflesian One Shot Side Story.
![[Image: IvdEkru.jpg]](https://homebrewdeviants.com/static/imgur_mirrors/IvdEkru.jpg)
You're Lex, age 19. Your college is closed for the day so you decided to take advantage and go on a tiny outing to the local arcade. Your best friend is working so you can't really hang out but you don't mind a little alone time.
You're settled in on a arcade cabinet for your current favorite fighting game. You got abut 10 bucks of quarters to make for a nice afternoon.
You're approached by your old bud from high school.
Kurt: Hey!
Lex: Yo! I haven't seen you in awhile!
Kurt: I've been busy with school!
Lex: Same! You take classes in the morning?
Kurt: Nah, evening. Probably why we don't meet up much.
Lex: Yeah...
Kurt: You playing right now?
Lex: Yeah!
Kurt: Nice. Let me scoot in for a quick round.
Kurt slots in the quarter in the middle of your round. The screen flairs and flaunts that a challenger has approached.
You both pick your characters and colors quick, you've done this a million times.
Kurt: Kid Wizard?
Lex: Course, like always. You okay?
Kurt: Just not used to seeing them, they're not too good in the newest build so nobody plays them much.
Lex: Yeah but.. I think I can still get something out of them. They're my favorite you know? I wanna make them work.
Kurt: Character loyalty is cute but it doesn't get that far you know?
Lex: Yeah but.. there's a bit of glory in taking it past what people thought you could.
Kurt: Low tier hero?
Lex: Champion of the meek.
Kurt: Strong in its own way. Underdog picks like that make for a good crowd pleaser. People just wanna see more of you even if you're probably not gonna get first place.
Lex: I want that I think.
Kurt: Course.. you think you'd be remembered long after?
Lex: If it's a good enough story yeah.
Kurt: It'd be hard. You're actually pretty good though.
Lex: Think so? I'd play a event if I had the time.
Kurt: Yeah. You play like you got nothing to worry about.
Lex: God, I wish. Course are rough right now...
Kurt: Whatcha been majoring?
Lex: Dueling.
Kurt: Nice. No trouble at all with your arm?
Lex: No, why?
Kurt: I mean.. you've broken it a couple of times by now.
Lex: You only need one good arm to fight you know.
Kurt: You're right handed.
Lex: I can re-learn with my left if it becomes a problem.
Kurt: Bold. Missed talking to you honestly.
Lex: Same. You're a little different.
Kurt: You haven't changed much.
You lose your first game closely.
Lex: Aw shoot.
Kurt: We gotta do the set proper.
Lex: Yeah, don't continue without me.
You shuffle through your bag for a pair of quarters and slot them in.
Kurt: Nice. Staying the same character?
Lex: Yep! So what's up with you?
Kurt: Moving off island soon. Joined the expedition team.
Lex: Oh... you're being deployed?
Kurt: Yeah, it'll cover education and I'll get to see a bit of the world.
Lex: When are you going?
Kurt: Winter... you alright?
Lex: Guess its just been awhile you know? Thought I'd keep in contact with everyone but.. I don't know.
Kurt: Don't see too much of anyone old either. All either went to follow art or music or acting or something. Plenty went expedtion too.
Lex: Yep.
Kurt: Figure I may as well too.
Lex: You're not worried? Oceans are rough.
Kurt: I got offered a tech job, not gonna deal with fighting monsters. You're worried I won't be safe.
You go silent. You manage to close off the game with a tight win. Kurt slides in two quarters.
Kurt: Round three. Can't believe anyone thought you were cool.
Lex: Same.
Kurt: With the right look, people mistake shy and quiet for calm and collected.
Lex: Didn't stop you from hanging out with me.
Kurt: I mean you weren't cool but you were fun.
Lex: Can I be real for a sec?
Kurt: What's up?
Lex: I kinda wish I did more back then. I feel like everyone knew each other so much better than I got to know anyone.
Kurt: It was high school, it's just the start you know? Like, personally I got no issue getting off this rock for awhile. Nothing much happens and I wanna do plenty before I actually gotta slow down.
You want to say something.
Kurt: I gotta get strong before I can't anymore you know? I wanna live a lot even if I don't live long.
Lex: You wanna prove that all the tiny cats and bees are some sort of conspiracy yeah?
Kurt: Just a little bit? Aw shoot, Dang. Your main is hell annoying.
You lock in the match and take the set win.
Kurt: You know you got a lot better. Made me munch quarters but glad I got to play a bit.
Lex: You wanna go another set?
Kurt: Nah.. I mean I do but I got places to go you know? Bus comes soon and I gotta get home to prepare for work. You should be almost done with school by now, yeah?
Lex: Yeah...
Kurt: Degrees help.. personally though not sure if I wanna deal or not. Might just take a trade school of some kind. Maybe a artisan apprenticeship deal. You get lots of those after you serve.
You can't help but feel like you're being left behind here.
Kurt: You got the time?
Lex: Yeah, 4:15.
Kurt: Shoot, leaving in a couple of minutes.
Lex: We're gonna do this more before you leave for adventure though, yeah?
Kurt: Of course. Time's weird though... like You know Jane and Russel? Got married.
Lex: Already?! What the fuck?!
Anytime you hear about old friends, so much has gone on for them. Nothing exciting really has happened with you. You haven't done shit and yet you feel like you've seen all you can.
Kurt: Yeah.. starting to see plenty of weddings. Soaking those in you know? Don't know how long til you see less white dresses and more funerals.
Lex: Mm.
He was never this serious in high school.
Kurt: Gotta start running for real though, don't want to miss my ride.
Lex: Lets do this again yeah?
Kurt: Yeah, sounds good. I'll call you if a get together happens, sure you wanna see everyone else too right?
Lex: You still do those?
Kurt: Not really but.. I can talk and see how it goes. I mean it though, gotta rush now. No more chatting.
Lex: Yeah, take care alright? See you soon.
Kurt: Yeah, you too. Missed it. This sort of goofy shit.
Lex: Same, good luck with work!
You wonder if your friends ever think about you anymore.
You can't help but feel like you miss them more than they miss you to be honest.
You're not even sure you were that close.
You don't really feel like playing anymore.
You sulk around the nearby shopping center for awhile trying to get your mind off of it.
Honestly all this is clinging to you like moss with teeth.
Why is this a big issue for you anyway?
Nobody else feels like this right?
Is it selfish that you want someone to go "I hope she's doing good."?
Probably.
"Lex!"
Your friend spots you, you're at your usual spot where you wait for her.
"Dotty!"
You try to play it cool.
"I'm off shift, you wanna go out and eat?"
"Yeah, please."
"You brought cash?"
"Yep. You okay?"
"Just tired you know?"
"Feel it though. Fall is fucking like that. Makes you wanna sleep."
"For real."
"Might crash after we're done.
"Same."
You're worried what you have now is just gonna be another intrusive feeling down the line, wondering how everyone is doing.
"Hey Dotty, you mind walking home with me after? It's a little out of the way but..."
"Don't sweat it too hard, I gotcha. Something wrong?"
"I'll explain over dinner. That okay?"
You look forward at least to get a few last hoorahs with your old friend before he leaves town.
"Mm."
For now you'll enjoy the evening with who have now.
You pray to god that it's not another situation like this in the making.
"Thanks."
He never tried to contact you.
Nobody from back then did.
You're Lex, age 19. Your college is closed for the day so you decided to take advantage and go on a tiny outing to the local arcade. Your best friend is working so you can't really hang out but you don't mind a little alone time.
You're settled in on a arcade cabinet for your current favorite fighting game. You got abut 10 bucks of quarters to make for a nice afternoon.
You're approached by your old bud from high school.
Kurt: Hey!
Lex: Yo! I haven't seen you in awhile!
Kurt: I've been busy with school!
Lex: Same! You take classes in the morning?
Kurt: Nah, evening. Probably why we don't meet up much.
Lex: Yeah...
Kurt: You playing right now?
Lex: Yeah!
Kurt: Nice. Let me scoot in for a quick round.
Kurt slots in the quarter in the middle of your round. The screen flairs and flaunts that a challenger has approached.
You both pick your characters and colors quick, you've done this a million times.
Kurt: Kid Wizard?
Lex: Course, like always. You okay?
Kurt: Just not used to seeing them, they're not too good in the newest build so nobody plays them much.
Lex: Yeah but.. I think I can still get something out of them. They're my favorite you know? I wanna make them work.
Kurt: Character loyalty is cute but it doesn't get that far you know?
Lex: Yeah but.. there's a bit of glory in taking it past what people thought you could.
Kurt: Low tier hero?
Lex: Champion of the meek.
Kurt: Strong in its own way. Underdog picks like that make for a good crowd pleaser. People just wanna see more of you even if you're probably not gonna get first place.
Lex: I want that I think.
Kurt: Course.. you think you'd be remembered long after?
Lex: If it's a good enough story yeah.
Kurt: It'd be hard. You're actually pretty good though.
Lex: Think so? I'd play a event if I had the time.
Kurt: Yeah. You play like you got nothing to worry about.
Lex: God, I wish. Course are rough right now...
Kurt: Whatcha been majoring?
Lex: Dueling.
Kurt: Nice. No trouble at all with your arm?
Lex: No, why?
Kurt: I mean.. you've broken it a couple of times by now.
Lex: You only need one good arm to fight you know.
Kurt: You're right handed.
Lex: I can re-learn with my left if it becomes a problem.
Kurt: Bold. Missed talking to you honestly.
Lex: Same. You're a little different.
Kurt: You haven't changed much.
You lose your first game closely.
Lex: Aw shoot.
Kurt: We gotta do the set proper.
Lex: Yeah, don't continue without me.
You shuffle through your bag for a pair of quarters and slot them in.
Kurt: Nice. Staying the same character?
Lex: Yep! So what's up with you?
Kurt: Moving off island soon. Joined the expedition team.
Lex: Oh... you're being deployed?
Kurt: Yeah, it'll cover education and I'll get to see a bit of the world.
Lex: When are you going?
Kurt: Winter... you alright?
Lex: Guess its just been awhile you know? Thought I'd keep in contact with everyone but.. I don't know.
Kurt: Don't see too much of anyone old either. All either went to follow art or music or acting or something. Plenty went expedtion too.
Lex: Yep.
Kurt: Figure I may as well too.
Lex: You're not worried? Oceans are rough.
Kurt: I got offered a tech job, not gonna deal with fighting monsters. You're worried I won't be safe.
You go silent. You manage to close off the game with a tight win. Kurt slides in two quarters.
Kurt: Round three. Can't believe anyone thought you were cool.
Lex: Same.
Kurt: With the right look, people mistake shy and quiet for calm and collected.
Lex: Didn't stop you from hanging out with me.
Kurt: I mean you weren't cool but you were fun.
Lex: Can I be real for a sec?
Kurt: What's up?
Lex: I kinda wish I did more back then. I feel like everyone knew each other so much better than I got to know anyone.
Kurt: It was high school, it's just the start you know? Like, personally I got no issue getting off this rock for awhile. Nothing much happens and I wanna do plenty before I actually gotta slow down.
You want to say something.
Kurt: I gotta get strong before I can't anymore you know? I wanna live a lot even if I don't live long.
Lex: You wanna prove that all the tiny cats and bees are some sort of conspiracy yeah?
Kurt: Just a little bit? Aw shoot, Dang. Your main is hell annoying.
You lock in the match and take the set win.
Kurt: You know you got a lot better. Made me munch quarters but glad I got to play a bit.
Lex: You wanna go another set?
Kurt: Nah.. I mean I do but I got places to go you know? Bus comes soon and I gotta get home to prepare for work. You should be almost done with school by now, yeah?
Lex: Yeah...
Kurt: Degrees help.. personally though not sure if I wanna deal or not. Might just take a trade school of some kind. Maybe a artisan apprenticeship deal. You get lots of those after you serve.
You can't help but feel like you're being left behind here.
Kurt: You got the time?
Lex: Yeah, 4:15.
Kurt: Shoot, leaving in a couple of minutes.
Lex: We're gonna do this more before you leave for adventure though, yeah?
Kurt: Of course. Time's weird though... like You know Jane and Russel? Got married.
Lex: Already?! What the fuck?!
Anytime you hear about old friends, so much has gone on for them. Nothing exciting really has happened with you. You haven't done shit and yet you feel like you've seen all you can.
Kurt: Yeah.. starting to see plenty of weddings. Soaking those in you know? Don't know how long til you see less white dresses and more funerals.
Lex: Mm.
He was never this serious in high school.
Kurt: Gotta start running for real though, don't want to miss my ride.
Lex: Lets do this again yeah?
Kurt: Yeah, sounds good. I'll call you if a get together happens, sure you wanna see everyone else too right?
Lex: You still do those?
Kurt: Not really but.. I can talk and see how it goes. I mean it though, gotta rush now. No more chatting.
Lex: Yeah, take care alright? See you soon.
Kurt: Yeah, you too. Missed it. This sort of goofy shit.
Lex: Same, good luck with work!
You wonder if your friends ever think about you anymore.
You can't help but feel like you miss them more than they miss you to be honest.
You're not even sure you were that close.
You don't really feel like playing anymore.
You sulk around the nearby shopping center for awhile trying to get your mind off of it.
Honestly all this is clinging to you like moss with teeth.
Why is this a big issue for you anyway?
Nobody else feels like this right?
Is it selfish that you want someone to go "I hope she's doing good."?
Probably.
"Lex!"
Your friend spots you, you're at your usual spot where you wait for her.
"Dotty!"
You try to play it cool.
"I'm off shift, you wanna go out and eat?"
"Yeah, please."
"You brought cash?"
"Yep. You okay?"
"Just tired you know?"
"Feel it though. Fall is fucking like that. Makes you wanna sleep."
"For real."
"Might crash after we're done.
"Same."
You're worried what you have now is just gonna be another intrusive feeling down the line, wondering how everyone is doing.
"Hey Dotty, you mind walking home with me after? It's a little out of the way but..."
"Don't sweat it too hard, I gotcha. Something wrong?"
"I'll explain over dinner. That okay?"
You look forward at least to get a few last hoorahs with your old friend before he leaves town.
"Mm."
For now you'll enjoy the evening with who have now.
You pray to god that it's not another situation like this in the making.
"Thanks."
He never tried to contact you.
Nobody from back then did.
