The Politics of Being Eddie Munson

Chapter Three: Who Says A Jock Can't Slay A Dragon?

This chapter touches on topics of abuse, so please read at your own discretion.

"I don't know what to tell you, Henderson, but that campaign was lame." Gareth sighed as the Hellfire Club came to a close on their Friday night game.

Eddie looked over to the kid and saw him slump. Dustin had worked super hard to try and come up with an excellent storyline for the club. He'd never been a Dungeon Master before and turned to Eddie for lots of advice, which the metalhead thought helped dramatically with the kid's plan. Sure it was a little tame compared to Eddie's campaigns, but again, this was Dustin's first time leading.

"I think he did well." Eddie shrugged as he gathered up all of the game's pieces. He gave a quick glance to Dustin and saw the kid smile. The kid always looked up to him and his opinions. Obviously, the metalhead would not trash his first-ever game as Dungeon Master.

"I think you did good." Mike agreed.

"It was a little weird in spots, but you can always work on that," Lucas added, patting Dustin on the back.

"I really tried, guys. Ask Eddie." Dustin sighed as he brought a hand up to his neck to scratch at it.

"We can tell." Jeff nodded. "You've just got to get used to leading is all. Don't focus on being embarrassed when doing other characters' voices. Just got for it- like Eddie."

"I don't hold back," Eddie spoke, folding up his Dungeon Master guide. "You know I put my all into a game when leading. I use voices, I show off fake wounds, and I even play fight some of the battles as I describe them. It just takes time, though, to get comfortable."

"I think you need to sit down and give me lessons." Dustin sighed as he slid his elbows onto the table and placed his chin in his hands. "I think then I can finally be a good Dungeon Master."

"You're already good." Eddie smiled as he leaned over and roughed up Dustin's curls. "But if you want to practice, I'll help you out sometime."

"Thanks, Eddie."

The metalhead nodded as he returned to pick up his game pieces. He waved goodbye as he did so to Jeff, Gareth, and a few other members. Soon, Lucas and Erica left with their mom. Not long after that, Mike and Dustin went so they could ride their bikes together. Now, Eddie was alone to clean up the mess. He didn't mind that everyone left him to pick up after them; it just gave him an excuse to not go home.

He didn't have a troubling home life- at least not anymore- but he wanted to stay as far from the trailer as possible. He could only see the aftermath of this past year whenever he was there. Seeing Wayne's grumpy, tired face, angry at Eddie for selling and using drugs. Seeing the plastered-over hole in the ceiling from where Vecna came down and killed Chrissy. The most horrific thing, though, was his room. It was a place full of lonely nights sat on his bed, cleaning his wounds from the bat fight in the Upside Down, looking over at his guitar, feeling empty- not being able to pick up and play, and his bed- not having someone else in it with him.

Eddie stopped cleaning then and sighed. He could feel his bottom lip quivering. He held it between his teeth to try and keep himself together. He felt stupid for crying when his life could be so much worse... it used to be so much worse...

"Eddie- get your lazy fucking ass off the couch and help me move the goddamn TV!" Eddie's mother shouted as she held a cigarette between her lips, smoke filling the living room.

"Mom, I'm trying to study!" Eddie yelled back, trying desperately to figure out his 7th-grade fractions- squinting through the smoke. His eyes watered and turned red as the smoke wrapped around his head. He didn't cough, though. His lungs were used to it.