Page 99 of Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

“What does it say?” Georgia asks. She’s paused the weird Netflix Christmas movie we were watching with one actress playing six characters.

“Hey, that was getting good!” Andre says, waving at the screen.

Mom shakes her head. “Baby, how do they all look the same? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“It doesn’t have to,” Andre replies. “Suspension of disbelief! It’s the holiday magic!”

“Well?” Georgia leans in, trying to look at my screen, but the smug grin on her face makes me think she may already know more than she’s letting on.

Yes,I text back, and seconds later, he sends me a link to an episode ofRole With It.

I press play.

Role With ItPodcast, Season 12, Episode 7: Transcript

Darren Lumb: Welcome, welcome, to a special episode ofRole With It,and listeners, buckle up! Because this episode is going to be a wild ride. We’re taking a break from our regular campaign to give a devoted listener a chance to bare his heart and make a grand gesture—even grander than when Berkum Hollowbraid sacrificed his immortality for his love, Gwawen, in season ten.

Yobani: That season was epic!

Darren Lumb: [chuckles] Thanks. Now, you’ll probably recognize this listener. He’s made quite the name for himself writing necessary critiques of Dungeons & Dragons. I know I’ve found his writing incredibly helpful. Please welcome toRole With Itfor the first time, Keepin’ It d100.

Reggie: Actually, I’m gonna go by my real name. Reggie. Um, Reggie Hubbard.

Darren Lumb: All right, sweet. Okay, well,Reggie, I’m a big fan, so I’m so glad to have you here. And from what I understand, you’re going to tell us a story.

Reggie: Yep. [takes an audible breath] I am.

Darren Lumb: And you’ve got some friends here with you to help you out.

Yobani: Yes, me! Yobani Alvarez. But you can also call me Trickery.

[faint grumbling in background]

Darren Lumb: [laughs] Okay, and you are?

Greg: Greg Hesse. I’m so honored to meet you, Darren, sir—

Yobani: For the record, Greg is here as more of an assistant host to my main hosting job, and I [rustling]... I am going to stop now. So, Darren, if it’s okay with you, we’re just going to get into it.

Darren Lumb: Take it away!

Yobani: Okay, today we are going to tell you the story of—

Greg: Gather round, adventurers, and we shall tell you the tale of the great Regeldan Hubbendra. An elven wizard, revered throughout the realm for both his noble heart and his extraordinary spell-casting abilities, the only of their kind—

Yobani: Yeah, I still can’t get down with that name.

Greg: It is in line with elven naming conventions.

Reggie: You guys!

Yobani: Right, so this...Regeldan—he was a good dude, people liked him, but he always felt like a piece was missing, and he thought the one way to fix that was to find love.

Greg: And he set his sights on the beautiful Delia Lonesong—

Yobani: See, that’s a better name.

Greg: Delia was a bard, admired and celebrated by all for the magical songs she played on her enchanted lyre.