Eddie had been on the same divine mission for weeks: pairing you up with one of his friends. Every morning, afternoon, and night he repeated some variation of the same speech as you walked past guitars, scattered dice, and old humming amplifiers.

“You’d make a perfect couple with Dustin,” he’d say with exaggerated confidence, pointing at you with his pick as if that made his words more important. “He’s got brains, humor, heart, and he talks a ton… just like you when you get excited.”

No matter how many times you asked him to stop inventing romantic theories about your life, he just ignored you with that mischievous smile that meant he was already plotting. And of course, he had everything planned when he dragged you without warning to the Hellfire Club, practically pushing you into the theater room turned lair.

Inside, Dustin Henderson was explaining a new mechanic he had modified, dramatizing every detail like he was narrating an epic documentary. When the door opened and Eddie shoved you in, Dustin turned his head.

“Oh! You must be the mysterious person Eddie won’t shut up about,” he said with a huge smile. “I’m Dustin. Hi.”

Your greeting was brief, almost shy, but he seemed to find immediate charm in it. Eddie sat you beside him without accepting any protests.

“So you can get to know each other,” he muttered.

Dustin, unlike Eddie, didn’t make any awkward comments. He just started explaining some game rules, pointing at the sheet with enthusiasm. Every time you laughed at his absurd theories or monster sound effects, Dustin looked at you like he had just unlocked an achievement.

The campaign began, and the chaos of Hellfire pulled you right in. Dustin was brilliant, expressive, quick to think and even quicker to get excited whenever you suggested something unexpected. At one point, you solved a riddle the group had been stuck on for a while, and Dustin hit the table with pure excitement.

“See?! Eddie wasn’t exaggerating! This is talent. I love the way you think.”

Eddie smiled like someone who had just won a bet.

Dustin leaned toward you then, lowering his voice a little. “If you want, I can show you a communicator I’m building later. I think you’d like it.”

For the first time, you thought Eddie might not be as crazy as he seemed. There was something natural in the way you and Dustin exchanged ideas, something easy and light.

When the session ended, Dustin stayed by your side as you walked to the exit, talking about radio waves, mysterious creatures, and theories that sounded impossible but somehow exciting when he explained them. Every now and then he glanced at you, making sure you were enjoying the conversation.

Behind you, Eddie looked ready to explode from pride.

“I knew it,” he announced. “Compatibility is real. I’m a genius.”

Dustin turned red. “Eddie, shut up.”

Still, when he turned back to you, his smile returned, softer this time.

“It was really nice meeting you,” he said, adjusting his cap nervously. “Really nice. And… if you ever want to come back to Hellfire or check out the things I’m building… I’d love to spend more time with you.”

Eddie gave two thumbs-up behind him, celebrating. Dustin threw a cushion at him, still smiling.

“Seriously. I like you a lot,” he added with that frankness that was so him.

And in that moment, it was obvious: you and Dustin fit together in a way that was unexpected, natural, perfectly chaotic, and perfectly compatible. Eddie hadn’t exaggerated this time.

And in the way Dustin looked at you, it was clear this was only the beginning.