Fitting into the role

It was a rainy afternoon, and the group of friends was gearing up for another grand RPG adventure. But this time, it would be different: a live action role-playing game (LARP) at one of their mansions. The setting? An old, mysterious house full of secrets to uncover. Everyone was excited to see how the story would unfold, as the game master, Mark, had chosen a suspense theme.

The week before, everyone received their character sheets, and there was a buzz of excitement about which roles they would play. Paul was the first to arrive, and he made quite the impression. He walked in dressed in a somewhat unusual outfit: a plaid flannel shirt, a hard hat, and sturdy work pants. He even had a tool belt strapped to his waist. "Hey, everyone! Ready to do some renovations? Who knows, maybe a wall will collapse in the middle of our adventure!" he joked, and the group laughed, already picturing his character as a worker in a big, mysterious mansion.

Jake followed closely behind, wearing the humble attire of a gardener: a short-sleeved shirt, faded jeans, and rubber boots. He had a watering can and a small shovel in hand, as if he’d just come from tending to roses. "If anyone needs a little greenery in this house, I’m your guy!" he said with a wink, playing into the simplicity of his character.

Alan was the penultimate to arrive, looking very much like he belonged in the mansion. He wore a classic butler’s outfit: black tuxedo, bow tie, and his hair neatly combed. He even had a clipboard in hand, ready to take control of any detail that needed to be addressed. "Ladies and gentlemen, the night of mystery is about to begin," he declared with a formal tone, and everyone admired his spot-on butler look.

Meanwhile, Mark, the game master, was busy setting up the scene, distributing character sheets, when he suddenly realized something was missing: Raymond’s sheet. Raymond, always a little late, had yet to arrive. Mark double-checked the sheets and, to his horror, realized he’d accidentally handed Raymond the wrong one. Instead of the butler’s sheet he had intended, Raymond had gotten the sheet for one of the NPCs—the maid, Emily.

Mark panicked for a moment, wondering how Raymond would react to getting such a small, unimportant character. But before he could dwell on it further, he heard the door creak open. And there, standing in the doorway, was Raymond.

What happened next was nothing short of breathtaking. Raymond had transformed. He was wearing a black dress, simple yet elegant, with a white apron over it. His hair was styled into a perfect black bob wig, and he wore white gloves that added a touch of refinement. The finishing touch? A small headpiece, like a little veil, perched delicately on his head. He looked... well, he looked like Emily, the maid. But he didn’t just look like her—he was her.

Mark, still a bit stunned, stammered, “Raymond... you... you got the wrong character sheet... I gave you the maid’s sheet by mistake!”

But Raymond wasn’t fazed. He stood up straight, gave a small smile, and said, “Ah, I see. So, this is the lesson, right? You were trying to teach me a lesson in humility? Show me that even a background character like Emily has value? Well, challenge accepted. I’ll give you the best Emily you’ve ever seen!”

The group stared in stunned silence for a moment, and then burst into laughter. They couldn’t believe how deeply Raymond had embraced the role. He wasn’t upset at all; in fact, he seemed to take it as a personal challenge to bring the character to life.

“No, no, Raymond!” Mark said, shaking his head, still laughing. “I didn’t mean for you to take it this seriously! I just made a mistake, that’s all!”

Raymond, with a twinkle in his eye, replied, “It’s alright, master. As a good maid, my job is to be discreet, isn’t it? But I will perform my duties with dignity, even if I’m just a small part of the mystery.”

The group was now fully amused and completely impressed. Raymond had taken an admittedly simple NPC and turned it into something unforgettable. Even though Emily wasn’t meant to have a major role in the story, Raymond had made her someone they couldn’t ignore.

“Raymond, you really did become Emily!” Paul said, still laughing. “This is going to be the funniest game ever!”

Jake, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, added, “Yeah, maybe Emily is actually the key to solving all the mysteries of the mansion. Plot twist!”

Mark, still in awe of Raymond’s commitment, finally managed to speak. “Well, who knows? Maybe Emily is more important than we thought.”

And so, the LARP began. The mansion was full of mysteries, but what no one could predict was that Raymond’s interpretation of Emily—the maid—would steal the show. It was a night full of suspense, humor, and unexpected twists, and everyone agreed: this was one adventure they’d never forget.