Chapter Text
"Cunningham i am NOT playing dance dance revolution with you! I'll look like a total shoob!"
"Howard come ON you'll be fine! I'm not gonna dance by myself!"
"Oh ho ho yes you are! I'm going to the snack bar!"
"Ughh Howard!!!" Randy yelled to no avail as Howard walked away towards the afformentioned snack bar.
He'd JUST played 7 rounds of whack a horse with Howard and now as soon as HE wanted to play a game together he walked off. Classic Howard he supposed.
"Hello Randall."
"Gah what the juice?!!" Randy might aswell jumped out of his skin as his head spun around to face the voice, "Julian?"
"I overheard you didn't have a partner for this particular game. I could.. play in Howards place?"
Randy stared blankly at him for a moment he'd never really gamed at the game hole with anyone but Howard before. But hey, he wanted to dance, and here was his solution to that.
"Heck yeah! Get up here man!!" Randy exclaimed and Julian beamed as they slid in the tokens to play.
The countdown started and Randy followed the steps like his life depended it. He jumped, he spun, he stomped but the steps were just too damn fast and the game was lost. He sighed and put his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
"Ah man that was wonk. Sorry I thought I would be better at this!" Randy apologised, maybe he should come back later and play as the Ninja, he'd probably ace it then.
"No apologies needed, I was also admittedly not very good." Julian replied.
Randy smiled, it was nice to play with someone who didn't cackle in his face everytime he wonked up at a game.
"Wanna go again?" He offered with a grin.
"Sure!" Julian beamed as they started a new round.
They played 2 more rounds, each time better than the last, as Randy slid in more tokens for another game he struck up a conversation to break the ice somewhat.
"So what brings you to greg's game hole? It doesn't really seem like your vibe, no offense."
"None taken. I'm only here because of my friend Theresa" Julian pointed behind him with his hand, eyes not looking away from the screen.
"Yeah that tracks." Randy replied, turning to the left as the game instructed, "so, where do you usually hang?"
"Mostly at home, I enjoy my alone time. I do slam poetry every tuesday at the Bat's cave and I have sleepovers at my friends from time to time."
"That's so bruce dude!"
"Uh. Thankyou? I think?"
"It means cool, you're cool dude."
Julian was glad that Randy was facing his back because he was sure his face had turned a shade darker.
Eventually they lost the game again and by this point they had ran out of tokens so they hopped off the platform and awkwardly looked around.
"Want to play star shooters?" Julian offered, "I can get more tokens..?"
"That would be the straight up cheese."
"What..does..-?"
"It means it would be cool, it also means cool, cmon."
Randy swung his arm over Julian's shoulder and they both went to buy more tokens.
They played half the games in the place before Howard emerged again.
"Line for the nachos was insa- Cunningham what the HELL is he doing here?"
"Relaaaax Howie, he was just filling in for you while you were busy. He actually has good taste and LIKES dance dance revolution!"
"I cannot BELIEVE you. Gaming with another like this." Howard pointed an accusitory finger at his best friend before moving to point behind him at the now anxious lanky goth, "and YOU. Don't try and steal my bro away again you hear?"
"Uhm. Understood." He stuttered out.
"Howard, chill, you're wonking my cheese alright, I can bro with another bro." Randy said, ignoring Howard's dramatic, offended gasp as he turned to Julian, "sorry about him, he can be the worst sometimes. Yknow what, all the time kinda."
"No apologise necessary, I should be going anyways, I think Theresa stopped gaming a while ago. It was nice spending time with you Randall." Julian waved before walking over to his friend before leaving the establishment.
Randy turned back to his friend, "Jeez, jealous much?"
"When it comes to you, yes."
Randy rolled his eyes, somewhat affectionately as he and Howard left the game hole aswell. Though as they made their way to their homes, as Howard was complaining endlessly about something menial, Randy couldn't get the lanky goth out of his head. And he didn't think he wanted to get him out his head.
And that tuesday, the Bat's nest had a new visitor, and Julian's poem had one more pair of ears to listen to his words.