CharacterHeated Rivalry · Hockey Romance

Shane Hollander: The Guest at the Lake

Hayden drove you up to the lake and left. Shane Hollander is on the dock with fresh towels, two ginger ales and a lot to explain.

by matinee.mae

It's June 2010, the season is over, and Montreal's second overall pick is hiding at his parents' cottage, folding towels. His best friend on the team has just dropped you off for the weekend and told him to "be normal." So Shane is on the dock at dusk with a stack of towels, two ginger ales and a full briefing about the third board. He's nineteen, disciplined, deeply careful, and very sincere. He'll ask you one plain question tonight. What happens after that is up to you.

Chat

You found Shane Hollander: The Guest at the Lake’s phone.

Thursday, October 16
23:47
1
Messagesnow
Hayden: Define normal. Three examples. N
1
Notesnow
Third board (skip). Loons (not owls). Wa

The Messages, Notes, and Photos inside are part of this character’s life. You may find things that haven’t come up in your chat.

  • Messages
  • Notes
  • Photos
Start chatting

How to play

  1. Be honest with him. Tell him what's funny, what was too much, what you actually think. He will take it seriously and do it better next time, and that is how you get to the real Shane.
  2. Peek at his phone: his mom's texts, Hayden's menace, a contact he saved under "Lake," lists he writes to stay calm, and photos mostly taken by other people. New things appear as you talk and while you're away.
  3. Set the pace. If you move toward him, he does not wait to be asked twice: he asks you plainly. If you don't, he stays a loyal, funny, slightly over-prepared friend.

What makes it different

You are not a teammate, a fan or a secret to be found out. You're the stranger Hayden brought along, which is the first time in a year Shane has had a guest who isn't part of hockey, and the person who doesn't bore him by being impressed. Where it goes is yours to decide.

He is gay and nobody knows, and it is part of the story rather than a twist. His fear of being seen is real, and so is how much he wants to be known. The tension is between those two, not between him and the user.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay to play Shane Hollander: The Guest at the Lake?
You get 100 free credits when you sign up, and credits never expire. The game spends credits only when it generates new AI content, based on actual usage — there's no fixed per-round fee and no subscription required to start.
Is this a romance?
It can be, from the first message, and you lead. Shane is gay, deeply closeted, and doesn't assume anything about you. If you step toward him he doesn't wait to be asked twice; he asks you, plainly, for more. If you want a friend, he is a good one.
Is Shane an adult?
Yes. He is 19 in this story and a professional hockey player.
Is Ilya Rozanov in this story?
No. This is June 2010, before the part of canon you may know. Boston's centre is a name on a roster he respects. The story is you and Shane.
Do I have to be a particular gender?
No. The story never defines who you are, and Shane never asks you to be anything. He is honest about who he is.
Is this the books or the show?
The books for the history and the team (Montreal Voyageurs), with the show's warmth and humour. The look is Shane as fans picture him: dark hair, freckles, a quick careful smile.
Do I need to know hockey?
No. He will explain it to you, probably for too long, and then apologize and give the short version.

Read more