Alex entered the break room of his father’s company, taking in the programmers playing magic at a nearby table and the sales people gossiping about something from the lounge area across the room. A young red-haired woman in jeans and a shirt saying “I’m not right? Prove it!” sat on a couch with some guys watching her as she plays some game on the large tv across from her. “Hey, Little Red, father back from his meeting yet?” she responds as a high score screen comes into view and some of the guys watching her groan in disappointment.
“No dear brother he hasn’t come back to tell you what a great job you did yet. What amazing project did you work on this time?” she asks with a tinge of annoyance. “That's the thing he hasn’t given me anything to work on recently, and none of my pet projects have borne any fruit yet." Seeing a chance to check on his sister Alex proceeds to ask her. "Sure he didn’t call us in to congratulate you on your fascinating performance in something?” the two stare at each other with a barely contained challenge in their eyes violet irises staring down at his rival’s emerald.
“No? I haven’t done anything all that important recently. Was focused on wrapping up some old game stuff in preparation for Raestta Online.” The two go from challenging to questioning in a moment as they realize that whatever this meeting is about, wasn’t due to either of them. “Thank the old man found himself a girlfriend or something?” The woman asks with excitement apparent from her expression as Amelia entered the room. “Good afternoon Alex, Vivian. Your father will see you now.”
Entering their father’s office the siblings look around. Vivian searches in hopes of seeing some woman and Alex in hopes of gaining some insight into the purpose of the meeting. He notices that the desk has two tablets on it and Amelia seems slightly irritated. “Shame, father don’t tell me you finally fell for Amelia’s charms,” Vivian says while flopping into a nearby chair, laughing as Amelia gives her a half-hearted glare. Zavier looks up at his children with their contrasting shades of wine and rose one wearing well-tailored business casual the other looking like a common teenager. “Please don’t encourage her, though seeing as neither of you seems to care I may very well humor her tonight."
Amelia's look of surprise and mild happiness concealed as she starts messing with her ever-present tablet. The reflection of her glasses shows a quick google search for good restaurants with open reservations.
Alex proceeds to take a seat across from his father, “So what did you want to see us about today father? I assume it has something to do with new tech. Though why you would call Red in for that, I’m a bit lost on.” Vivian kicks her brother’s leg. “Maybe he has a cool concert or something for me, and you are my assistant? Please, father let that be why we are here. I’d love to boss around this good for nothing elder brother of mine.” Zavier and Amelia chuckle at the antics of the two young adults who always seem to bicker like children.
“No I have something planned, Alex you have been a great help with the company; however you have one glaring weakness. I as both your father and your mentor cannot allow such an issue to continue. As such I’ve come up with a bit of a gamble.” Alex looks a bit shaken as he hears this while Vivian looks on with obvious amusement. “I … what do you mean father? I have an excellent eye for numbers, a great intuition on how things will turn out and talent for innovative ideas. You have often said there was nothing you could teach me about the world of business these days.” Vivian giggles as she opens a bag of skittles from her inside purse.
“He’s talking about your terrible ability to interact with humans that aren’t in this room oh great lonely one.”
“I have no issues with people sister, and I am not lonely you matchmaking brat.”
“How did that cute blonde from last week turn out again?”
“ … What blonde? I thought your last attempt was an Asian woman like two weeks ago.”
“Uh huh, and the dinner that ended in a milkshake being tossed on you, due to ignoring her for an hour was definitely not your fault.”
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“She was talking about a party she went to for half of that how was I supposed to know she would start asking me questions?”
“Excusing your lack of female interaction son, I am more concerned with your lack of friends or allies. You have no one that can be relied on without paying them and quite a few people who would rather turn to your competition due to poor first impressions on your part.”
“Alright fine father, what do you want me to do? Meet up with someone at my university? Strike up some conversations with people at your next Ball? What's the angle you have planned?”
Zavier hands the tablet to his son. “No, I have something much different planned. On that, you will find every bit of information we could dig up on Raestta Online and an account for your use. I want you to join this game and be in the top 20 rankings for guilds before you graduate.” Alex looks at his father questioningly, “I’m not sure how this pertains to your previous point father? I have done that in other games before and doing so requires minimal effort. In truth, it doesn’t require all that much interaction with people either. A simple merchant alliance with a bit of planning will be in the top 5 of any game with a well-designed economy and DE knows how to create such a thing as shown by their work in Council.”
Vivian looks at the tablet with apparent longing in her eyes. “Papa, what do I need to do? More importantly, how did you get anything, my best sources, which sadly include this heartless brother of mine didn’t have much of anything on the game.” Zavier laughs as he tosses the other tablet as his daughter.
“It pays to be friends with DE’s game directors; they were willing to give me a bit more info after I explained the game I plan on playing with your brother. As to your question Alex, the answer is simple. I am forbidding you from creating a guild with more than ten members, your guild cannot have any direct affiliates, and you are required to participate in the major events of the world as often as you can. I will also be enjoying some free time playing this, and if your guild cannot contest my own by the time you graduate, I will not be handing the company over to you."
Vivian looks up from the tablet she hasn't dared to turn on yet. "Wait, father, you know what free time is? I thought you lost the meaning of that phrase. Also, can I look at this?" she asks pointing at the tablet. "Yes, Vivian I can take time off. Amelia has banned me from working as often after we close this AR deal. So I will be able to relax for a few hours every day."
Zavier looked at his son with a mixture of pride and sorrow as he continued his speech. "I know you have the talent to turn a group that size into a skilled party and I have no doubts that you can become a powerful force in the world of Raestta Online. You have the business skill to take over this company but I want to see if you have the interpersonal skill to work with people for extended time frames towards multiple objectives against a similarly skilled opponent.”
Alex looks at his father in contemplation as he considers the nature of this challenge. “Father, are you also limiting yourself to 10 members and requiring your guild to participate in major events? Without similar requirements the contest is not fair, additionally what kind of IRL interaction are we allowed to have in regards to the game world.” Zavier looks at his son with a slight smile. “Excellent questions, I will indeed be doing the same and as to IRL, neither of us are allowed to inform our guild of our identity nor use any real-world resources in a way that affects the game world. No paying your members or others for help, purchasing items for cash that you do not get from the reverse. Information gathering, however, is acceptable.”
Alex considers the situation for a moment thinking of any loopholes that could be abused. “Are we allowed to amend this agreement in the future should we deem it needed?” “Of course, though I will inform you now that I will be using Amelia in my group as I cannot be online as often as you and will need to have access to her reliably. She has, of course, agreed before this meeting happened.”
Vivian starts laughing and partially choking at the comment from her father. “Of course she would, the chance to spend after work hours with you, in a situation that literally requires her to treat you like a normal person rather than her boss. She must be excited beyond all measure. I bet she was the one who proposed the idea.” “Of course I did, not like this workaholic would turn down such a plan, and I fully intend to take advantage of it,” Amelia said as she glared daggers at Zavier.
“Ok this is all great and cool, but Papa you still haven’t told me my purpose here?” Vivian looks at her father pleadingly holding the still turned off tablet. “I need this information!”
Zavier looks at her with amusement. “Oh, I just thought it would be unfair of me to not share since I and your brother would be using it anyway. I have no requirement for you.” Vivian looks at her father and proceeds to jump at him hitting him while hugging him. “You stupid, wonderful, teasing father. I hate you, Thanks! Now no one disturbs me unless they wish to die!” she says as she rushes off somewhere.