No Possibility of Redress [Criminal Minds]

i

Four Years Later

Evie normally doesn't like playing with strangers. It's always a hit or miss - the humor is off, there's someone trying to be the main character, someone trying to "help" her despite the fact that she'd been playing for years now. Still, she's a little desperate for some semblance of normalcy and maybe meeting new people will do her good. Having recently moved from California to DC is pretty daunting. Everyone had warned her about the weather, the differences in culture. No one said anything about the crushing loneliness of living alone in an entirely new place. Some nights feel as though the chill creeps beneath her skin, settling in her bones, and rendering her immobile.

So she joins because she has nothing to lose and everything to gain, messaging the provided email to express her interest. The venue is a public place - a game store somewhere around Dupont Circle, lessening her worries of the invitation being something sketchy. Vincent used to make fun of her for playing - it's a nerd's game, he'd said - but he's gone now. Dead. The idea still gives her chills, all these years later.

On the day of their first meeting, she arrives at the game store early, the first one there, and she can't help but feel quite pathetic as she walks over to their reserved table. Back of the room, right beside a whiteboard. She ignores the curious glances from the cashier and sits down.

Bringing out her tablet, Evie busies herself by reading through her character sheet and spells when a man walks into the gaming area. He's far too overdressed for a game of Dungeons and Dragons, Evie thinks, glancing up and eyeing his well pressed button down and the neat tie. It is a complete juxtaposition to the messy hair and the hint of stubble on his face. He catches her eye and she smiles sheepishly, realizing that she'd been openly staring at him.

"Hi, I'm Evie," She stands, holding out her hand, "Are you one of the players too?"

He holds her gaze for a moment, brows knitting into a straight line over his hazel eyes, and Evie wonders if she'd said something wrong. She couldn't have, all she did was introduce herself. But then, she'd always had a difficult time navigating through social interactions anyway. Always shifting, relative to each individual. As usual, her instinct is to back down and apologize.

"Uh, sorry." She sits again, cheeks flushing.

"No, no, it's - hi! Yes, I'm here for the game, I'm actually your Dungeon Master." He says, moving over to their table in three long strides. Evie watches as he sets his bag down on the table, a worn leather satchel straining with materials. It makes the smile return on her face. She thinks back to all the emails, glad to finally match a face to the names. He's so much more... refined than she expected. Fine boned and elegant, with earnest eyes that seem to see right through her.

"You must be Spencer, then." Evie says, not bothering another attempt to shake his hand since he doesn't offer anyway. Build rapport, she thinks, give him a compliment, "Nice bag. Really fits the adventurer vibe - matter of fact, nice outfit, too."

"Thanks, I just came from my classes." He replies with a smile, sounding slightly breathless, "And yes, I'm Spencer. Nice to meet you - Evie, you said? You were the one asking about multiclassing rules, yes?"

Evie flushes again. He remembers her. She nods, glad that there's no other player yet to witness just how much she's been thinking about this game and her character. The amount of time she spent reading up on class synergies is embarrassing, something she would never, ever admit to. It had become a point of fixation, since she had nothing else going for her the past several days. "Uh, yeah. I didn't want to impose, some DMs don't allow it."

"I'll allow it as long as it works for your character narratively." His voice is soft, patient, and Evie finds herself relaxing. "Have you played before? Most beginners barely understand the class rules, so I'm a little surprised to hear you wanted to potentially multiclass. Not that I'm judging, it really is quite a pedantic game and there's so much source material to read through. It can get quite overwhelming to play even one class, let alone two even though some classes tend to synergize well enough to - but, er, have you?"