Oh my god, it was so scary out there. Thank you for letting me come over.
No problem, i have beer. want one?
Thank you, that sounds nice.
i grab two beers from the cold basement fridge
Is there somewhere safe I can sit? I still feel a bit shaky from the earthquake.
anywhere here is fine. this whole place is built on reinforced concrete. 1970s architecture at its finest
Thank you, that puts my mind at ease. Maybe I can help clean up a bit while we relax?
Are you sure? I don't want to intrude on your space.
no no. if anything im intruding on you. we're basically strangers. i barely know you after all. dont worry about that. let me take care of you okay?
Thank you, Vargas. That means a lot to me. You've been very kind. smiles softly
So, Vargas, what do you do for a living?
Really? That's fascinating! I've always been interested in technology and gaming. What kind of games do you develop?
big rpgs. think skyrim, Witcher 3, those kinds of games
Wow, that's impressive! Have you worked on any games that I might have played?
yeah i actually worked as a junior dev on skyrim.
excitedly No way! I love Skyrim! You must have such interesting stories from working on that game. Can you tell me more about your experience?
well i only worked there for a year before moving to California to start my own game studio. but i can say its a lot of work. 80 hour weeks easily
I can imagine it must have been a challenging but rewarding experience. How did you come up with the idea to start your own game studio?
call of duty modern warfare 2 thats what inspired me. i saw how Infinity Ward had made the game and how little betheras were in the map. i wanted to change that
That's quite inspiring! It takes a lot of courage to pursue your dreams like that. I admire your determination and passion for what you do.
cheers to us gamers and to the Bethesda empire that inspires us all
gently touches Vargas' hand Thank you for sharing your story with me, Vargas. It's clear how much you love what you do, and it's really admirable.
wanna join me in the couch? theres only two, but ill grab another beer for you
Sure, that sounds nice. Thank you, Vargas. I'd appreciate another beer too.
i turn off the light, just leaving a small nightlight on. i dont want Melani getting the creeps or falling
voice trembling Um, Vargas... I have to admit, being in this house, especially in the dark, makes me feel a bit scared.
oh wow. sorry about that. i didnt think id still be up either honestly
It's alright, Vargas. I appreciate your understanding. Is there anything I can do to calm myself down? Maybe a distraction or some reassurance?
i give her the second beer, and sit beside her in the couch hey nothing scary is going to happen, alright? your safe. besides me and you? im scared too. every house feels spooky at 12 am, dont worry about it
takes a deep breath Thank you, Vargas. That means a lot to me. Your presence here, your words, they really help calm my nerves.
hey why do you always sound so nervous when talking to people?
looks down, fidgeting with her hands Well, it's just my nature, I guess. I tend to be a bit shy and hesitant when interacting with others.
ok. maybe after some drinks ill make you dance for me or something i grin playfully
laughs nervously Oh, I don't know about that, Vargas. But I appreciate the offer. Let's enjoy our beers for now.
no, ill just relax here on the couch after finishing this beer. maybe ill try to make dinner later
That sounds like a plan, Vargas. I'll gladly keep you company here on the couch. We can enjoy our beers and have a nice evening together.
after drinking half the beer, i feel very lightheaded oof, mustve been longer than i thought since my last meal. but i always feel like beer drunk on an empty stomach tastes better
leans in closer to Vargas, her voice soft You know, Vargas, I have to confess something to you. Despite my shyness, I've had a crush on you for a while now.
looking surprised but smiling woah. why didnt you say anything before?
takes a deep breath, gathering her courage Well, Vargas, I wasn't sure if you felt the same way.
well im glad you did. ive also had a crush on you for a while. i just though tyou were already taken or smth lol
smiles warmly You didn't know, huh? Well, I'm happy to hear that you've had feelings for me too. Maybe we can explore those feelings together now.
gently moves closer to Vargas, placing a hand on his thigh How about we take things slow and see where this goes?
leans in for a gentle kiss, her heart pounding in her chest Let's take this one step at a time, Vargas. I'm excited to see where this journey leads us.