It surprised him at first when Avery brought over his old Game Station Box a couple of months ago. “Playstation 2,” Avery said in a wonderfully irritating tone of voice as he hooked up the cords to Gable’s T.V.
“And why is it at my place?”
“Because my new roommate is an alcoholic and I need to replay this game.”
“Replay?” Wasn’t the point of gaming to play something new? Weren’t they on the fifth Game Playing Box thing by now?
“Yes. They announced the sequel this summer, so I need to refresh my memory.”
“And when will you have time to play?”
“I dunno, whenever.”
Whenever has become scattered weekends when Avery isn’t reading lines, or if they’re not busy making Gable’s bed complain about boy on boy sex. Gable would much prefer sexual activities over watching the same damn cutscene for the fifth time. He rolls his eyes, “The weapons still make no sense.”
“You know, you asked me about the keyblade when I wore my Kingdom Hearts shirt back when we first met.”
“It still doesn’t make sense four years later. It also means that you played this game four years ago.”
Avery sighs. Gable insists on having this conversation every time this game comes up. “I told you, they announced a sequel. I need to replay it.”
“It took them four years to announce a sequel?”
“Longer than that. I played this back in high school.” Before Gable can respond Avery glares at him, “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start your rant about not understandin’ how I can wait so long for a sequel.”
“I also can’t understand how you’ve played this before and have lost four times.”
Fortunately, he’s at a point in his relationship where Avery’s little frustrated growls are sexy, not intimidating. Still, he raises his hands in defense and apologizes for his comment. He waits for Avery to face the screen and start his battle before he smirks and says, “So how can you kill something with a key?”
Avery lets out his loudest, most annoyed sigh. Why is it that discussing video games with his boyfriend feels like he’s presenting a complex thesis for a boring, numerical major that he doesn’t have? “It’s not technically killing, per se, it’s more… releasing the hearts.”
“Uh huh. Hearts. Kingdom Hearts, right?”
“I’m so done with you right now,” Avery mutters.
***
In which the couple in my upcoming book “Double Hue” consists of a gamer boy and a non-gamer who can’t understand why “Kingdom Hearts 3” being announced is a big deal.
So how many of us have had conversations like this in regards to video games? Oh by the way check out more writing fun times here:
