Mia looked at me and prepared to ask, but I simply nodded and passed the interface I was seeing to her. I realized last night and tested it in the morning, but everything that she can show me through hacking the system (like it was in the case of the World Tree seed), I can return the favor by showing her what I can see using Identify.
Her eyebrows rose slightly when reading the lines and she returned to eating afterwards as if nothing happened. Everyone enjoyed the food saying that the Chaos God gave his blessing to them and rewarded Andrea for her hard work, so the festivities kept on going.
After dinner ended, everyone began talking about the attribute points received. I realized at that point that it was slightly different for everyone and that it was not a specific system through which the assignment happened. As for myself, I got only one notification after the desert was finished (fruits salad with honey… surprisingly good):
+5 Strength points received! +2 Dexterity points received! +4 Wisdom points received! +2 Charm points received!
While I gained 13 extra attribute points after such a feast, I realized that I was the most unlucky one. Alexandra got a total of 32 and in average, even the unluckiest elf got at least 25…
Seeing that I was about to cry, Mia reminded me that there’s a difference between a body altered by divinity and one altered by mana, therefore why the elves were more susceptible to the increase than I was. I decided to accept it as that and decided to acquire the Exploration social reform as soon as possible, in order to fuck with the happy elves in their dreams! They should be as unfortunate and unhappy as I am…
Everyone soon prepared for sleep in their new homes, except for a few guards left to keep an eye on the camp. I was feeling guilty about the whole night-watch thing and especially because most of them were girls, but there’s nothing we could do about it, given that we still don’t have a wall. When the Wall is built, we can decrease the number to the absolute minimum and have them work in shifts…
While thinking about the future (now that the elven huts were fully built) I headed towards the dungeon diving unit that was still waiting for instructions close to the housing district.
“Alright you lot! That was our first day and it’s only the first out of many! From now on, your daily life would look like that. Any complaints?”
[[[No sir!]]]
“Good! You have done well and like I promised the prize has been given already during meal, but it was for everybody to enjoy. However, that will happen only once! From tomorrow onwards, we will keep switching the people in the teams. Do not forget that the whole purpose of the exercises is to get you to know each other better and work better as a whole! Understood?”
[[[Yes sir!]]]
“Good! In addition, while this will be the first time for some of you sleeping on the same bed try to exercise restraint. I do not have a problem with having a relationship with the other elves you live with, but make sure that you get sufficient sleep! That is all! Good night!”
I promptly made a swift retreat after dropping that bomb on them, since I did not want to see if there would be awkwardness or any other reaction on their faces. After all, a little inception didn’t hurt anyone in particular either.
Not only that, but sex is a good stress reliever, a good workout and a healthy habit overall. There was no reason for me not to promote it.
“Plus that, once they get a taste of it, there’s no doubt on my mind that both sexes would ‘grind and repeat’. I wonder if this counts as 'fucking with their minds', instead of their dreams.”
Following my own advice, I got in the bed and stood perfectly still as Mia and Alexandra both snuggled next to me. After some thought however, I simply extended my arms and grabbed the two girls (AI and… well, Elf I guess) close to my chest.
Seeing how they did not fight it, I was happy for a second, only to fall from heaven to hell the next…
“How did both of them fell asleep so quickly!?”
I shook my head and smiled bitterly seeing how fast asleep they were. Do they believe I am so weak-willed as to not make a move, or do they trust me so much to be a gentleman that they became so naïve?
Irrelevant of the answer, I found myself matching my breathing with theirs; in the entire silent room, only that and the sound of three synchronized heartbeats could be heard. With nothing much to do except creepily watch them sleep I closed my eyes as well, enjoying the calmness of the night…
I am finally back home after a very long day at work (also highly boring for that matter)...
“Who the hell thought overtime is a good thing to invent?” – I grumpily complained
I throw my jacket on the floor of my narrow hallway, right next to the smelly-just-worn-shoes...
“It's going to catch a bad smell and I really don't want to wash it afterwards...”- I thought
So I lift my jacket, throw it on the hanger, feeling like I’ve just wasted unwanted energy in the process...
Somewhat annoyed, I change into my slippers and take my time in unbuttoning the shirt, as I walk inside the kitchen so I can prepare some coffee. First jar...empty!
“Figures...”
I slowly open the second one (slightly pissed), pour some water into the small dirty kettle on my stove and all of a sudden, it smells like relaxation, calm, tranquility.
“No sugar, no milk, no extra effort...” – I declare loudly
The clouds seem to shift and taken aback by them, I open the door to my balcony; the view is almost surreal. Even more, smoke (or rather vapors) left behind by a passing airplane seem to be cutting the skies, dividing them into two sides: a blue cloudless one, showing nothing but emptiness, while the other half is filled with violent colors of a blueish-red, hiding a retreating sun. Immersed in this almost-apocalyptic view, for a second I forget where I am, trapped within my mind and surrounded by my thoughts...
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Shit! I forgot the coffee!”
Of course, it spilled and I have to clean it up... but not right now and not today! I wasted enough energy for 24 hours only on secondary actions, caused by my lack of self-awareness. Therefore, I just grab the kettle barehanded – “Burns like hell!” - and pour some coffee into my mug. Now I can finally go to my room, waste some time on my phone, drink my coffee, smoke a cigarette and then sleep until tomorrow. The problem is that, now prepared to leave the kitchen holding the mug in my left hand and the right holding the knob of the door prepared to follow my pre-sleep routine, I realize that I left the balcony door open while I rushed to get the coffee earlier.
“What's wrong with me today?”
I wonder about that, while deciding to just leave it as it is...it's summer after all!
Somewhat rattled with the events today, I head towards my bedroom from the kitchen and on my way there I almost trip over the shoes left there earlier when I came home. I want to scream and curse so badly and so loud right now, but I am satisfied with just kicking them away... after all, I did not spill any coffee. Not this time at least...
Then finally, my bedroom! Moving through this house, while having a bad day is like going on a dangerous adventure and only taking a flimsy stick with you for protection. However, all is good now!
Four empty walls, a drawer next to the bed, a table with a sole chair next to it, right near the curtain-less window... Yes! That's the soulless room that I stare at, backed on my door, glued to it, just like reality chased me all the way here and I’m trying to make sure I wasn't followed, nor that she can enter.
Oversimplified, my room, I know... but that is how I like it. It helps me keep my imagination intact and always ready to use.
“Crap! What time is it?”
I wonder, scared I might have entered the room faster than the schedule, but it is ok! Relax me; we are on time, just like always. Therefore, let's get things started!
Since it's only 8:35PM, obviously it's too early for sleep, so like always using plan B.
“Wi-Fi is turned on so, let's get some browsing done”
Like preparing for exercises, I leave the coffee on the floor next to my bed and stretch a bit. Then I grab the huge pile of clothes from my bed and move it onto the chair. I remind myself know that I still have my work clothing on and with great efforts I change into more comfortable pants. Of course, I leave the unbuttoned shirt on me, because I look cool in it and I do not have any more energy to spend on extra actions.
I let myself slip into my sheets, into the coziness of my bed and I suddenly feel more relaxed.
“Right! My phone...” – I think and I reach under my pillow
I stare at it and I get pissed off again... it's cracked! And of course it is. It has been cracked yesterday too, one week ago also, even 6 months ago after I’ve bought it.
“What were you expecting? For it to magically get fixed under your pillow?” – I scold myself
Something feels off today...and reality brings out the worse in me. So let us get things started! Facebook first...
“Let's see: kittens, dogs, stupid people getting their asses handed to them by Darwin's law - and here I thought I was having a bad day - aaaand selfies! Many selfies... of course. Look at those superb duckfaces and those overly smart quotes under the photo with a 15years old pumpkin girl wearing 10kg of makeup. I bet Kant or Einstein would turn in their grave if they could see what their words of wisdom have been reduced to just a quote on a high school kid’s Facebook wall, with no real connections to the freaking photo. I have way too many kids on my friend list...unfriend this one because of the game requests - who plays this thing? - unfriend this one ... cuz’ I have no idea who you are, this one for the picture with the smart quote, you for reposting and you? Well you I’ll unfriend because you seem to genuinely have a very good day! I hope you burn in the lowest circles of Hell!
Ahhh! Now I feel better. Let's see the people from work now... It should be entertaining! Let's see...”
Work… a stupidly competitive environment, created for the enjoyment of the higher ups, while the plebs suffer for the said entertainment. But there’s bills to pay and rent… so…
“ ‘Best team ever!' HA! Dream on pal... Again with the productivity posts? Nobody has time to read those! Selfies again, more group selfies. Oh! This one... I had sex with this one last week... advantages of no strings attached? When you see a lame, sad, depressing status, you do not have to do anything about it! I think I can get this chick, but I need to take her out at least twice, I need to take her home with the cab on the first night, going after the second night at her place with the cab also... way too many expenses just for sex. Let us just text her!”
[Hey, love! Got any plans for tomorrow?]
And now we wait. It is simpler like this, but it's also a gamble. It can go both ways really...
“Not even two minutes and a reply?”
[Nothing... I’m free!]
Well she's either desperate or bored, both of which work in my favor. Roll the dice young padawan!
[Want to come over for a coffee at my place tomorrow? Say, about 9?]
Not eight, because that will give her an escape timeframe and not at ten because that is like asking her to come over for sex. Nine is the comfort zone where they can cling to - sort off - which in their overly complicated brains, does not make them feel immoral.
And we have a winner! She replied with [Sounds good!].
Now it's my turn: [Ok love! I will see you tomorrow night then. Going to sleep now because I'm tired as fuck!]. Not 'hell', but 'fuck'. A bit of inception never hurt anyone... well... except in the movie. Since that would be the last message she will receive from me until seven or eight tomorrow, she is guaranteed to check it at least three times, while the last word she will remember from it is 'fuck'. In addition, it is 100% guaranteed that if she does not cancel by 3PM tomorrow she would come set up on having sex. If not, better, expecting it!
“Now back to scrolling! Again, selfies with half-undressed girls and some inspirational quotes... and this dude was supposed to be on medical leave! He is in fucking Spain!? Moreover, you post it on Facebook you moron? The nerve on some of these fuckers... or maybe the sheer stupidity? More selfies... cannot wait for the dislike button! Oh, this one is at it again: a picture of a girl pulling a guy over her by the tie over a bed, with the description... damn! 'Huge fan of inappropriate behavior! HUGE!' God, I love my workplace! Moreover, I could do or say some things, but I have some appearances to uphold. Still...the future looks very promising... very promising indeed! Somehow we are back to selfies... this is plainly annoying! Enough Facebook for one day.”
I needed some laughs and 9gag usually does the trick.
“Let's see, let's see... 'He's not the father!' bet he is not happy about that, 'cuteness of baby animals'... well I’m not a monster and they are cute indeed...upvote! 'Creepy posts'... yeah... moving on! 'Epic fails’, okay, here we go!”
This was what I was looking for and was not disappointed. Like a moronic girl I’ve met and said, 'as long as they're fat and they fail miserably, it is politically right to make fun of them', don’t know why, but it does make sense... after all, it is funny!
“Anyway, let's see next... 'Dinosaur dancing pole'....damn! So not into it today! Seems boring for some reason! Moreover, I have finished my coffee in between the 'cat-killer' post and 'batman for president' one. I guess it's time for sleep.”
It is 10PM and I have 10% battery left. One finally effort to put the mug on the table and charge the phone. I am so tired that I yawn violently while taking of the unbuttoned shirt. I need a new one...
“This one I can't sleep with, this one doesn't smell right, this one is too clean (I should keep it for tomorrow) and I’ll just go with this one. DONE! There! Finally, I can sleep...”
You see...I’m excited this much because, the beauty of sleeping consists in the fact that, if you follow a specific routine without straying from it (something that helps you realize you're dreaming when you're dreaming and awakes you at full awareness in the dream), then reality becomes forever boring!