A New User

“You’re joking.” Brooke flatly replies after she hears the news regarding Courtney’s profile on the app.

You and Brooke, along with Viv and Becca are all having a light breakfast, while the others are all still resting after last night. Chad and Courtney have already left the suite; and, as per Courtney’s wishes, you went back to the room you and Becca stayed in last night so Courtney didn’t have to see you when they left.

Well, it was probably for the best that you didn’t anyway. You’re still not sure how to unpack this entirely new thing that’s popped up with Courtney’s profile. If you understood it correctly, and there really is only one explanation to what the app said when you checked it, then it’s not just you not having access to her profile that’s the problem.

‘Profile no longer available’
—
‘The Affection Multiplier has no effect on other Users.’

That wasn’t the only breaking news that took you by surprise. Becca was on a phone call when you came back, and you pieced together from her end of the conversation that she apparently resigned her post from Hoffman’s. You were surprised at first, especially after how hard she fought for her post; but when she explained why, it made a lot more sense to you. Her relationship with her father is already fractured enough, and she presumes the resulting hostile work environment will only exacerbate that fracture. She told you she has her own things, that she built herself, that she could focus on. Like she told you, ‘I’m going to start eating pizza my own way’.

Once Brooke informed you that Courtney and Chad had left, you and Becca went to the dining area to have breakfast and update each other about Courtney. Viv, who just woke up, joined the three of you right before Edmund served breakfast and left the suite again.

Becca didn’t seem to want to update the others about her news yet, so Brooke updated them about the aftermath of Courtney’s night here at the suite and how she suddenly can’t be around you due to her nightmare. Brooke implies that she knows what caused Courtney’s nightmare and sudden panic, but said that she wanted to respect Courtney’s privacy and not share it with everyone. She just assured the four of you it was a valid one.

Afterwards, Brooke asked if you’ve already checked the app to see if there’s any trait recommendations that would help with Courtney. Brooke admitted that that was her reason for sending Chad to look for you while she talked to Courtney. It was after this question from Brooke that you informed them what you learned from the app about Courtney.

Which brings you back to…

“Please tell me you’re joking.” Brooke now pleads, as she realizes the look on your face is serious. You give her an awkward smile that you actually are serious, and her heart drops as she realizes that Courtney might have the powers of the app now too.

“WHAT-THE…!? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?” Brooke reacts, slamming her hands down the table in reaction as she does. You instinctively try to shush her, as you don’t want to wake up the others; before realizing that, with how big the presidential suite is, it probably wouldn’t be a problem.

“I obviously don’t know how it’s possible. Heck, I don’t even know how it’s possible that there’s an app like this in existence, let alone me having it; but the app is calling her a ‘User’ now, so we can’t deny the possibility of it anymore.” You answer Brooke.

“You mentioned when you first explained it to us that the app just appeared on your phone, correct?” Becca clarifies with you.

“Yeah. Why?” You answer.

“You mentioned it told you it was a gift, correct?” Becca continues to ask leading questions.

“Just get to the point, Becca.” Viv tells her.

“I am suggesting Jay may have gifted her the app unintentionally.” Becca gets to the point as Viv suggested.

“That actually sounds possible. You said so yourself, you’re not sure how you got it in the first place. Maybe that’s how you got the app too?” Viv suggests.

“What do you mean by ‘how’ he got the app?” Brooke asks Viv.

“Well, off the top of my head, maybe it’s like a lottery system. You fuck someone with the app, and you have a chance of getting it too. Kind of like an STD.” Viv shares her idea, chuckling at her own joke at the end.

“So you’re saying it’s random chance.” Brooke summarizes Viv’s suggestion.

“And your dismissive tone is saying anything is possible except Viv’s suggestion.” Viv sarcastically replies, getting Brooke to immediately apologize, but Viv seems to only have been fishing for the apology as it immediately puts a smile on her face.

“Sorry. It just seems far-fetched.” Brooke explains.

“Like real actual magic isn’t ‘far-fetched’?” Viv points out.

“Sorry, V. I don’t think it’s that either.” You chime in, getting Viv to just sigh in defeat. “Before I got the app, I…” You try to argue, stopping yourself from continuing the thought, as a sudden hit of embarrassment comes over you, after realizing a fact about yourself.

“You’ve only been with one woman your entire adult life?” Viv completes the thought for you, and realizes why you paused out of embarrassment after she says the thought.

“Yes.” You confirm, still embarrassed.

“I don’t know why you would be ashamed of that.” Brooke comments, giving you a reassuring smile that says you have nothing to be ashamed of by being loyal to… your previous relationship.

“I don’t think what Viv is suggesting is the case either.” Becca replies.

“Oh yeah! Let’s pile on how shitty Viv’s idea is.” Viv comments playfully.

“I do not mean any offense.” Becca tells her, and Viv’s demeanor immediately changes.

“Oh, I’m just playing. I know my idea’s shitty.” Viv admits to Becca. “I just needed you guys to say it’s shitty too. Sometimes a great place to start isn’t good ideas. Sometimes it’s just poking holes at obviously bad ideas, so you can suggest better ones that don’t have the flaws of the bad ones.” Viv explains.

“Right~” Brooke replies teasingly, getting Viv to smile guiltily and admit she was bullshitting with that excuse.

“I do agree with Viv on that, actually.” Becca says in support. “Her hypothesis that it’s caused by coupling with someone with the app is now debunked because Jay couldn’t have gotten the app from his previous relationship.” Becca explains.

“Are we sure about that? Have you ever checked your ex-wife’s profile, Jay? What if it says the same thing Courtney’s does now?” Brooke plays devil’s advocate.

“I… I have looked for it, yeah.” You awkwardly admit. “But the app only shows profiles of people I’ve interacted with since I got the app and not before. So I haven't seen her profile yet.” You continue. “But I agree with Becca, she can’t possibly have the app.” You then add.

“Why not?” Brooke asks.

“Stella.” You and Becca both answer at the same time, making you look at each other with playful smiles.

“Would you like me to explain our answer or should you?” Becca asks you politely.

“By all means.” You reply.

“No need. I get it.” Brooke stops Becca from having to explain. “If her mom had the app since the start of their relationship, Stella’s relationship with her should be high enough that her perception of their divorce isn’t so~... one-sided.” Brooke shares her understanding, and you and Becca nod in agreement.

“Okay. A tiny wrinkle in that idea. Jay’s only been with Courtney once and she got it right off the bat. Maybe Jay’s ex-wife got it late from… uh~… is that still a sensitive topic?” Viv pauses her suggestion, realizing what she’s actually suggesting.

“You’re suggesting she got it from the guy she cheated on me with?” You finish her suggestion for her, like she did for you earlier. You’re a lot more comfortable talking about this than your sexual history since a bit of anger still overshadows any other feeling of embarrassment or shame you might be feeling for talking about your previous relationship with your new girlfriends.

“Well… yeah.” Viv answers with some hesitation, obviously noticing how you’re a bit uneasy talking about the topic.

“Then it would contradict your idea that it’s passed on by fucking.” You answer. “She couldn’t have passed it onto me after she cheated since we didn’t sleep together for months before she told me and asked for a divorce. If it’s triggered by that, then I should have had it before she divorced me.” You point out.

“I concede and apologize for bringing it up.” Viv immediately replies, and you assure her that it’s a non-issue.

“Why are we bothering with how Courtney got it again? Shouldn’t we be more concerned that she actually has it now, and will definitely find out that Jay has it too?” Brooke raises another concern to change the topic away from having to deal with your previous relationship.

“Hey, don’t look at me. You’re the one who asked him how it was possible that Courtney got it.” Viv points out to Brooke, who realizes that that’s actually true, and apologizes for insinuating that somebody else caused your possible discomfort.

“If you concern yourself with Courtney learning that Jay has the app as well, it may be of some relief to you that Jay’s secret may still be intact with Courtney.” Becca chimes in. “Since last night, Jay and Courtney haven’t interacted as per Courtney’s request, yes? That would mean she couldn’t have checked the app since then and, therefore, would not have Jay’s profile stored if the mechanics are exactly the same.” Becca explains.

“That’s… that’s a good point.” Brooke says in reaction. “Honestly, I’m sorry for stressing out so quickly. I just didn’t want to get in the middle of two people with magical powers.” Brooke admits what caused her initial reaction. “But with how she’s feeling about you currently, we can at least keep it a secret from her for longer.” Brooke tells you.

“Would that be smart?” You ask her. “I mean, she’s already afraid of me and thinks I’m dangerous. Wouldn’t it exacerbate her fear towards me more if she found out the next time we meet that I’ve had the app since we first met?” You ask back.

“Trying to address her now would do the same thing, wouldn’t it? Especially if you can’t buy her traits to be more open to a dialogue with you.” Brooke points out. “Courtney genuinely wants distance from you right now, and I promised her as much.” Brooke then reminds you.

“Add the fact that we aren’t able to buy her traits or even know a possible way to start addressing her issue with the app’s recommendations. This doesn’t look like something we can try and fix in a couple of days, guys.” Viv chimes in, and Brooke and Becca give her nods of approval.

“Agreed, and it would be better if we don’t try to.” Becca says in support. “More than that, with how we rushed to address the looming threat of my father, and with Brooke assuring you we don’t need to address this immediately, I personally think you deserve a break from having to fix everyone’s problems, Jay.” Becca assures you.

“Hear hear.” Viv says in support.

“Brooke, like you said, you’ll be the one put in the middle no matter what we do. It’s really up to you to decide what we should do.” You tell her.

“Yeah. I think with the news that Courtney possibly has the app definitely removes this from one of those Mr. Hoffman situations. I agree that just giving her time would probably be the best course of action. Let her discover the app for herself.” Brooke replies, before placing her hand on your wrist to assure you it’s fine to take it slow with Courtney, and you place a hand over hers and give a nod that you understand.

“Let’s just hope she’ll use it the way you do.”