The morning after the birthday did come... and Alexander had a lot to talk about with his grandfather in the old man's study.
As expected, he was given some stern advice on the importance of sleep and dialing down on being a workaholic.
Then again, they both had a lot of other things to talk about... and correcting bad habits is just a tiny part of it.
A lot of business matters couldn't be properly disclosed via long-form communications so both Creeds used this chance to convene and discuss.
The old Creed was especially keen on this since the young Creed had a lot to explain.
----
At some point, those long talks did end, however, Alexander still had to be a good host to his house guests.
"Must be tough for Alex to get the scolding." Courteney discussed with little Milla whilst they were by the living room.
"Alex really doesn't get scolded a lot." Milla agreed. "The only thing I know was when he made Watchmen and I think he had to do voice acting work. That was something he did not like at all."
"There's also the fact that he had to go on vacation." This was one of the oddest form of discipline that Courteney had come across, so how could she forget? "I think that was because he was doing too much work."
Voice acting is not that bad, Courteney herself can attest to that. Also, to her, being forced into vacation is actually a great thing.
For them, Alex just has a weird way of going about enjoying life. "I wonder what enviable thing he'll have to do this time?"
"Hate to break it to you guys... but all I got was a lesson about how being a great businessman is about being able to manage and balance both work life and home life effectively." The neglected Alexander interjected.
"Just that?" Courteney felt there was more to it.
"Just that." Alexander affirmed. Not disclosing the fact that he had just been talked into going to this year's Acadamy Awards by Old Sullivan.
They didn't have to know that because if these Hollywood-loving girls knew that he actually loathed the prospect of going to THE Oscars... they'd probably flip.
They would also have something to add to the list of weird "Alex punishments" that they just discussed about.
Anyways, Alexander moved on. "Thanks for taking the time to come to my birthday by the way."
"It's nothing. I'm actually just genuinely curious about how you celebrate your birthday. Sure enough, it was odd... I really can't name another person who sleeps for most of his birthday." Courteney joked but she was somewhat serious as well. "Also, it's the least I could do with what you gave me for my birthday... and uhm... the Charlie role."
"I thought you held a grudge because of you're new hairstyle." Alexander wouldn't discount that he was written off from that.
"It's not that bad." She said as she playfully bounced her now blonde hair with her hand. "My agent even found a lot of roles that are good for me. I never really expected that there are actually many more female lead roles available when you're blonde and in your twenties."
"If you take into account that I could also go back to my dark hair, the roles I could audition for has more than doubled." Courteney saw paths opening up for her.
Maybe if she went full-on with being a hair chameleon, the roles would keep coming. It's a joking thought but who knew?
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Alexander never really knew much about hair color statistics in 80s cinema, so he'll take her word for it. He surmised that it was just one of those nuances that American film production had.
"What about you two?" Courteney inquired. "A lot has clearly happened ever since the three of us got together."
Alexander had his answer. "Milla here happens to be busy with vocalizing, harmonizing, and memorizing the song that will be used for you and Tom Cruise's romantic scenes in Top Gun."
On the topic of romance, Milla jumped on since she was quite intrigued. "Hey, big sis Courteney, are you and Maverick dating?"
"No! I'm still single!" Courteney denied it with haste. "Believe it or not, that man is secretly dating Cher, from Sonny and Cher."
Tom Cruise and Cher? Did that actually happen? Alexander wasn't sure. Maybe it was just one of those gossip news that he didn't bother knowing.
It's just one of those factoids that he didn't care about. Even as Milla and Cocky Cox were discussing the exposed secret relationship with fervor... he was disinterested to the point of tuning it out.
However, their girly romance gossiping did pivot back to him with Courteney shifting the conversation. "By the way, Alex, I heard that you're a game developer now."
"Yeah... you could say so." Frankly, Alexander was still musing about this turn of events. His prior interest in video games was actually in tinkering with the codes that make them up.
From the rise of the NES to the rise of PC and mobile gaming, Alexander's amusement with their offerings was not just playing the games themselves... but also by virtue of methodically deconstructing what was codically developed.
At an unexpected turn of events, he would actually be the one developing them now. The role shift was still disconcerting, to say the least.
As his change was disconcerting to him, it was much more so for Miss Courteney Cox. "I remember that it was less than a year ago that you asked me about my thoughts on the video game industry. To think that you've already taken a big step toward it now."
Considering the timeline from then and the present, this development was abnormally fast and improbable if you think about it.
Then again, Alex has done so many impressive things that she wouldn't discount him really being able to do it.
While he was busy with voice acting, music animation, comic book and comic strip making, toy management, and all that... he might already have been working on a video game structure by the side.
The boy is an excellent multi-business manager by all accounts and she wouldn't let his sleep-deprived countenance from yesterday fool her.
"I wanted to try out your Tetris game to know what the fuss is all about... but I never really got to do it. My busyness aside, the Tetris arcade machines are always full." Courteney complained. "It's not my place to tell you how you do your business, Alex... but shouldn't you be distributing more Tetris machines?"
It wasn't just her that thought this way.
Although Tetris is fairly new, it is also incredibly popular and sought after.
A lot of arcade goers and players were disappointed at the little play time they had to share with plenty others. Meanwhile, arcade owners and even the comic book store owners were hoping to order an extra couple of cabinets for more.
Suffice to say, this brewing sentiment was building up and Courteney couldn't help but advise. "Wouldn't it be bad for your new business if customer dissatisfaction ferments for long?"
"Not really. As a matter of fact, I was always aiming for Tetris' market reception to be the way it is." Alexander smiled as he muttered. "The more they ask for it, the better. By the time the next part of my game plan comes along, it will be too late."
With the demand exceeding the supply, Courteney sort of knew what Alex was going for because this was a normal business strategy, however, the fact that a boy is spearheading this market-level manipulation is what's scary about the whole thing.
Even that rare smile seemed strangely villainous now. It also made Courteney intrigued by what scheme was at play. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly is the next part of your game plan about?"
Alexander's ploy was quite simple. "I'm just going to use the chance to sell these nifty little box sets that I call Chaos units."
"Chaos units?" It's the first that Courteney has heard of it. Even Milla still hasn't been clued in about what it truly is. How she wished that Alex wouldn't beat around the bush again.
Fortunately, Alexander saw no point in withholding details any further so he just spilled. "It's actually something among the likes of the Magnavox, the Fairchild, the Atari 2600, and the newly rising Nintendo Entertainment System."
"Wait! Aren't those game consoles?!" Courteney knew her stuff... but this was also why she was incredibly shaken!
She was out of the loop on most things but when exactly did Alex even start working on something like that?
"Yep. The Chaos units are game consoles." Alexander confirmed her suspicion. "Streamlined and economic home video game consoles that I would introduce to the world as the Creed Chaos System."
Creed Entertainment System would have been good, however, in lieu of potential conflicts with the NES, he had to settle with something else.
So... Creed Chaos System it is.
Besides, the name seemed more apt with the transcendental oddity that they would house inside.