Atticus logged out. The subcore he received from Mistress Rey was potentially powerful so long as he could keep leveling up. But holy shit could they not turn down the pain sensitivity. He still felt phantom twinges of pain in his everywhere from his trainer’s ‘tender ministrations’ and he was pretty sure he needed to talk about filtering some of the gore out of the game. Seeing his flesh rent and his organs was not something he felt was viable for mass market if they intended to sell more than just token copies of the game. Still, he was looking forward to getting leveled up and actually fighting enemies instead of training, but according to his trainer if he wanted to maximize himself he needed to get just a little more training to unlock the traits associated with his new Sadomasochism subcore. He found the name a little off putting, but it described the function pretty well so he wouldn’t complain. The elevator was empty as he rode down to his apartment. His beard was a bit scruffier than he remembered it being before he logged in so he wanted to shave. He pointedly didn’t look at his watch he didn’t want to be reminded he had been in the game for close to sixteen hours straight and as such a shower was on his agenda as well, but his stomach reminded him that food should be a first priority. He had bought some steaks to cook up on the gas grill. It was no charcoal, but at least it would be much faster.
The door to the common area unlocked with his employee badge and he could smell lingering traces of food having been cooked. His stomach rumbled again so he went to the kitchen and lit the grill part of the stove. He didn’t notice the meat juices that were already in the basin. He washed his hands and went to the refrigerator to grab one of his steaks. He closed the door and opened it again. He opened the drawers, maybe someone rearranged and that was why he couldn’t find his steaks. Nope, not in the drawers. Maybe he accidentally put them in the freezer? He was a bit careless sometimes and his mind was otherwise occupied. But they weren’t there either. Then he looked back at the grill and noticed the stains on the grill. He began to get angry.
“Hey, who the fuck ate my steaks?”
When no one answered he began banging on doors. The only door to open was answered by a petite slip of a girl in a camisole and baggy anime pajama bottoms. She had several piercings in each ear, an eyebrow and a lip ring in. “What the fuck are you banging on my door at three in the goddamned morning for you maniac?”
“Did you eat the steaks that were in the fridge?”
“Hmm, oh yeah. They were delicious I put ketchup on them and everything.”
“Who the fuck gave you permission to eat my goddamed food you muchnkin. And did you just say you put ketchup on them? What kind of monster are you?”
“Well if you didn’t want me to eat them you shouldn’t have left them in the fridge, and why wouldn’t I put ketchup on them? It is divine.”
“Where the hell else am I supposed to put my food if not the fridge you inconsiderate pipsqueak? It’s common fucking courtesy to not eat other people’s food. We’re getting paid to live here so the only thing you have to spend money on is food. But, if you come with me to the store and buy me steaks right now to replace the ones you ate, I’ll call us square. Put on some clothes, let’s go.”
“Who do you think you are, ordering me around like this?”
“I’m the guy who’s going to make your life miserable if you don’t listen to me right now thief.”
“Oh the big scruffy man thinks he so scary. Fuck off,” she slammed the door in his face.
Atticus continued to pound on the door, but music began blasting from the room at an incredibly loud volume. He sighed, but he wouldn’t give up. This little wisp of a girl slighted him and he was hangry. Still, there was no other food in the fridge so he decided to shower quickly, let his scruffy beard be and drive to the nearest fast food restaurant still open this late.
Unsatisfied with his tiny burger, one that he was pretty sure had been sitting under a heat lamp for at least three hours, Atticus drove back to the Allied Realms Incorporated building. The night security guard, whom he had a pleasant conversation with was gone and his surly partner was still manning the desk. Atticus waved cheerfully and hopped on the elevator down to his bed it was time to crash.
The next morning artificial sunlight filtered in through his fake window and woke Atticus up. He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow trying to recapture the last vestiges of the dream he was having. It was a pleasant dream where he was choking the girl who ate his steaks, very satisfying. But he knew it was just a dream. The smell of bacon and eggs cooking helped provide motivation for him to get out of bed.
“Good morning, I’m Phen. Care for some breakfast?”
“Sure thing, thanks. Be careful not to leave food you don’t want other to eat in the fridge. The girl in that room,” Atticus pointed to the door of the girl he met last night, “ate my steaks that I was going to eat and didn’t even apologize or seem remorseful that she ate them. Oh, and I’m Atticus by the way.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, and thanks for the heads up. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Did you happen to catch her name?”
“Nope, but she’s a grade a pain in the ass who owes me two steaks, and she needs to clean the grill since that is her mess.”
“Hmm… Well, I’ll clean it this time since I’m already going to be cleaning the rest of the stove. Are you playing in the Allied Realms,” Phen asked
“Yeah, I am. What about you?”
“I am. I guess all of us living here will be playing the game. What do you think of it so far?”
“Well, my trainer is extremely sadistic, but I’m pretty sure the training I’m getting is worth it. I’ve already unlocked a few subcore options and their traits. I think I’m going to be in a good position once I get leveled since what I got scales to my level.”
“Interesting, I’ve only recently begun training and didn’t want to stay too late into the game, but I did watch a petite black leather clad woman carrying a near-dead wolf person into the inn where I am training. That was a bit exciting.
“Maybe for you. I’m pretty sure that wolfkin you saw was me. Are you a healer?”
“I can do healing, though I also want to learn a few offensive spells because I want to be able to explore on my own as well.”
“Cool, I’m a tank. We should meet up in game and add each other in case you need a meat shield. I know I will probably need a healer at some point,” Atticus said.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The door Atticus had pointed to previously opened and a wild shock of hair poked itself out of the doorway, “Do I smell breakfast?”
“Kid, you already ate my food. Stop trying to mooch,” Atticus said.
Phen, however, replied, “It sure is, you’re welcome to some if you promise to apologize for eating Atticus’s food and pay him back. Also, you have to promise never to eat someone else’s food without permission if you want some breakfast.”
“Nah, I’m good. Nevermind, it probably won’t be that good anyway,” the girl replied, shutting her door.
“Told you she’s gonna be trouble,” Atticus said.
Phen ran a hand through their short cropped hair and sighed, “So much for roommate cohesion.”
“I’m sure we can get her moved to a different unit if she continues to be a problem. We have to be professional after all. By the way, Phen, I’m digging the David Bowie vibes you’ve got going on with the hair and outfit. You’re like an ‘80s rock icon, but it does present an issue for me. I have zero clue as to your gender. I don’t want to misgender you, my sister transitioned and so I’ve learned to ask when I don’t know because it is the first step in not being an asshole.”
“Ah, sorry. I usually included it as part of introducing myself. I am genderless, I prefer they/them pronouns. Though if you have trouble and slip up I will forgive you so long as you don’t make a habit out of it.”
“No need to apologize. I will do my best. That being said, this breakfast, mmm, delicious. I can’t stop shoveling the bacon into my mouth and what kind of sausage are these?”
“Those are just regular sausages from the grocery store. I just cooked them in the bacon grease.”
“Well, they are divine. Aside from gaming, what are your hobbies, what are you interested in?”
“As you can taste, I enjoy cooking. I also enjoy reading and running marathons.”
“Time consuming hobbies, no doubt. I recently got my scuba license and I love to travel, but I haven’t had the money to get out of the country yet. I’m hoping after I earn some vacation days here I can go see the world. Although this game is realistic enough I might not need to.”
“Have you encountered many issues traveling, the way your voice changed when you spoke of traveling made me think you have had bad experiences,” Phen asked.
“Yeah, my skin color is just the right shade of brown to get me frequently pulled for ‘random’ inspections. I’m half Indonesian and half South American. I was adopted by a white couple who did their best to care for me, but I was never going to fit in anywhere. I’m too dark to be seen as handsome. I just slipped through the cracks in society.”
Phen came around the counter and put an arm around his shoulder, “I know the struggles of being an outcast. It isn’t something I would wish on anyone. If you need to talk. I’m here.”
“Thanks, Phen. I greatly appreciate it.”
The door to the girl’s room had been opened a crack and she heard the end of their conversation. It closed on its own and neither Phen nor Atticus noticed.
Later that morning, after Atticus did the dishes and passed out on the couch. The door to the girl’s room opened and she came out. This time her hair was brushed and covered one eye, though she was still wearing her pajamas. Phen had gone to get more time in the game, trying to unlock more subcores to find the perfect build for their character.
The girl looked down upon the dozing Atticus and debated whether or not she should wake him up. She felt kinda bad for eating his food, but on the other hand the steaks were delicious. Still, if she were going to be sharing a common space with the man it wouldn’t hurt to make peace with him. “Hey, dude. Wake up.”
Atticus sat up groggily and wiped the little bit of drool pooling at the corner of his mouth, “Huh?”
“Hey, just wanted to say sorry for eating your food last night it was kinda a dick move. Tell you what, let me take you out for lunch somewhere. But not somewhere super expensive because I don’t have a lot saved up just yet.”
“Okay, there’s a couple of burger joints on San Fernando closer to downtown. But I’m still digesting Phen’s amazing breakfast so I might need a rain check. You should join us next time, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better breakfast.”
“Oh, umm… yeah okay. What’s your name by the way? I’m Zari.”
“Did you say your name is Zari? Do you play a vampire elf?”
“Yeah, why?”
Atticus chuckled, “I’m the filthy werewolf, Atticus.”
Zari turned a bright glowing red. “Sorry, I was just really into the game. I get too caught up into roleplaying that I tend to look down on everyone else. I had sort of a shitty childhood and I take it out on others.”
“You know what they say, admitting you have a problem is the first step in overcoming it. I won’t let you walk all over me, but I’m willing to cut you a little slack. Besides, if I’m being honest? You nailed your character’s RP.”
“Thanks, you weren’t too bad with the RP yourself. You seemed to get into Mr. Son-of-a-Chieftan.”
“Haha, thanks. I kinda forgot that I said that. What kind of character are you playing?”
“I’m playing a spy type character. I can deal extra damage from behind or distracted opponents, but my main purpose is to get into places I shouldn’t be and to avoid being detected while I’m there. Being a Blood Noble helps because it opens a lot of doors, but it also gives me a wicked boost to moving quietly and blending into the shadows. What kind of character is your wolfkin?”
“I’m playing a tank melee hybrid. I plan on being able to soak damage and turn it into powerful attacks. I’d love to play with you, but only if we can RP like we detest each other. I think we could have some fun.”
“Let’s not get too hasty, I’ve yet to find an encounter where I need a tank.”
“Well, if you change your mind find me in game. I think it would be fun to be unwilling allies. And Zari, thanks for apologizing. I have a feeling that things could get out of hand if we don’t resolve them sooner. I’m not saying we won’t get on each other’s nerves. I’ve had plenty of roommates so I know that there will be friction, but I appreciate you not making harder on the rest of us.”
“Yeah, yeah. Stuff it. I just felt guilty, that’s all.”
“Whatever you say kiddo.”
“Don’t call me kiddo.”
Atticus chuckled, “Sure.”
The door to the apartment opened up and Emily stepped in escorting a wide-eyed young man in an ill-fitting suit. This is the apartment where you’ll be staying. Here are two of your roommates, Atticus and Zari.”
The young man’s eyes locked onto Zari and he said, “Oh man, I think I’m in love.”
Zari stood up and said, “On that note, I’m going to get changed and head to my office. I’ll consider your offer Atticus. And new kid? Don’t get any funny ideas you don’t know me and if you keep talking like that you’re going to regret knowing me.”
Emily looked at the new kid with a flat stare, “James, this is a professional environment. If you can’t behave professionally your employment will be terminated. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
“Sorry Emily. She’s just my-,”
“Dude, if you say she’s your type I’m gonna have to put my fist through your teeth on principle. You don’t know her and you’re being fucking obnoxious. I don’t even like her that much, but I’ll be damned if I let some creep live with us without teaching him a lesson in how not to be a creep,” Atticus said.
“Um, sorry bro. Sorry Emily. I will try to be better.”
“Seems like a common theme of the day. Your room is going to be that one,” Atticus pointed to the room on the other side of his door from Zari, “You make any problems and you’ll have me to deal with. Emily, do you mind showing him to his office I need to cool down and if he stays here I’m gonna get more angry.”
“Sure thing Atticus, you were up rather late and it is still early. I’m sure you’re just grumpy for the intense training you did yesterday.”
“You have no idea, but thanks for being accommodating. It was brutal, also, is there an option to reduce the sensory inputs? It really felt like I got my arm hacked off.”
“Nope, sorry not in the version you all are playing. It’s something we are working on, but the engineers are having a hard time figuring it out.”
“Let me know as soon as they get it taken care of please?”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Emily said.
“Thanks. It was nice to meet you James. Try not to be such a tool the next time we meet.”
James stalked out of the door, “What a load of bullshit. ‘Try not to be a tool next time blah, blah, blah.”
“He’s right you know. You need to get it together. You’re treading on thin ice. You might think you’re slick shit because your step-dad is a lawyer, but we have enough money we can crush him in court if you try to throw his weight around. You’ve already earned one strike this morning. You should learn from it. You only get one more before we let you go. We are going to be keeping an eye on you. You’re not as slick as you think either, James. So shape up,” Emily scolded.
Atticus laughed, damn she could be one stone cold killer if she needed. Hopefully the new kid took it to heart. He didn’t want another problem child to deal with. Zari was already a handful enough. Still, he knew Zari could take care of herself but she shouldn’t have to deal with an asshole living with her. He had seen too many creeps like the new kid to trust him. He flipped on the television and put on a sci-fi movie to cool off.