A shower and Cotton

(Rita’s POV)

I shake my head, but that doesn’t stop my ringing alarm. I wait, but that doesn’t stop my ringing alarm either.

“Rita! Turn it off!” I hear a muffled yell from behind the wall.

I finally give up and get out of bed searching for my phone, I turn it off, and now awake I grab my glasses.
Just one more day, one more day and it’s the weekend. Just last one more day.
I always thought it was kinda sad how we spent the week waiting for the week-end, and we spend the week-end praying for it to last longer.
Anyway, don’t have that much time for monologue, my first class is at 8 and I need to clean up and shower. And put on some makeup. It feels like my morning became busier recently.
I leave my room in a hurry, bee-lining for the bathroom, and start a hot shower.

My roommate hates when I take long showers, but It doesn’t feel like a choice. When hot water warms me up, it’s like my mind goes somewhere else, and it takes time to bring it back.

What will I do this week-end? I’d like to visit John at the library, but there’s only an old man there on the weekends. Maybe I can pass before it closes today? If I can’t see John, I might at least see Miss Maria… I don’t really know why I didn’t like her at first, did I fear she could steal John from me? Hah, what a weird thought, she’s like a mom, she wouldn’t be into him like that.
I think about how she asked for my help, and I really gave her the advice she needed, I’m happy I could be useful to her. She must be busy after all, and I’m glad I could help.
I start thinking about my mom, she too was a busy woman, having to handle four kids will do that. That’s why as the oldest, it was my duty to help whenever I could. I liked those moments where she would praise me once my sisters and brother were in bed. If only she could hug me again.

I notice I’m standing there, hugging myself under the hot water, I shake myself out of it and grab my shampoo.

But my mom is hours away, and I’m too busy with school to visit her. Maybe that’s why I’m latching on Miss Maria’s words. She’s the kind older woman I see often, I could never do that with my teachers, as soon as class is over, they’re gone. I actually never had a real conversation with one of them.
I’m noticing that the library might have become my peaceful place, where the people I like gather, even if it stresses me out to think about talking to John.
I have sent him a picture of myself for a quest, and he didn’t seem to react negatively, but it’s hard to read tone through text.
I let out a laugh, as if I could read someone’s tone in a conversation anyway.
But I really want to talk to John soon, I do have a new perk I’ve been too afraid to try out on anyone else. Would he like flirty Rita, or would he find her cringe? God I don’t want him to think I’m cringe.

“Rita please hurry up! Class starts in 30!” June says as she knocks on the bathroom door.

Okay, right, I’m still in the shower. I rinse, and start washing my body.
I hate this part because it makes me aware of how my body actually looks, not only do I have a big belly, but I also have small breasts and fat arms, I hate it. I should shave too, I did once but it was months ago, what if I end up naked with John.
Okay Rita, you don’t have the time to feel bad about yourself, clean up and get out.

As I open the bathroom door, June is standing there, her arms crossed. She’s taller than me and intimidating, but I know she’s kind and tolerates me.

“Finally out huh? Now move, I have a skin care routine, see you in a few.” She says, I nod, and she enters the bathroom.

I chose what clothes to wear. At first I want to take a big sweater, but it’s not that cold yet. A vest will do, and it doesn’t hide my body as much. I put on some random pants after making sure the color goes well with my top.
Once my clothes are on, I check myself in the mirror. Still ugly, but my modelling perk gets to work and my vest that was slightly loose tightens itself perfectly framing my big body.
I look at my phone, and yep there’s a new quest.

“Post a picture of you in cosplay.”

Reward : Lose 10 kg.

Of course the quest is escalating! I’m not dumb, obviously I knew that I’d have to put on the cosplay I bought yesterday, but I wasn’t expecting it to be that soon.
Sure the reward is great, but I’d want to lose even more, I hate my body.
In any case, the quest will have to wait until tonight, there’s no way I have the time to do that now, I have to hurry and put my makeup on before I leave.

That’s going to be a long day, at least there’s only one day until the week-end.

(John’s POV)

“Sure, we can have a call on sunday morning then, see you.” I say as the line cuts.

This weekend will be so busy, now I also have to review the chapters I rewrote with my ex-teach.

She’s a kind old woman that took a liking to me during university, and one day while talking after class I told her about the book I was hoping to publish, and she agreed to read it and help me edit it for publishing. I know she published a trilogy fantasy story that was mildly popular 10 years ago, and her advice has been a great help. Sure my book was already finished for a while, but rewriting some of it was a huge improvement.
And if I publish it and it gets popular, I could finally pivot completely to writing books.

Actually now that I think about it, with this app, I could certainly add my apartment owner to my targets, and make him skip my rent. But I don’t think that’s the best use of the app, and I always have this anxious thought that the app might just disappear one day.
So many things could happen, would I still get access to it if I broke my phone?
This thought stopped me from becoming reliant on the app, I try to avoid doing things that would put me in trouble if the app stopped working.
I gave a new quest to Rita already, but I got interrupted by the call before I could write quests for the other two.

In Matt’s case, it’s pretty simple, I don’t want to cook tonight.

Matt will receive the following quest : “Cook someone a meal”

Select a reward from the three choices:

• Quest will become permanent
• Increase affection of meal recipient
• Full fridge refill

There’s no perk this time, but I see that this quest could become permanent, which makes me think about Maria, she’s been cooking for me every day, and she only got xp the first time. If I don’t want to waste her work I should give her the quest again.

Reward: Quest will become permanent

Maria will receive the following quest : “Cook someone a meal”

Repeat quest detected, reward is lessened and xp is halfed.

Select a reward from the three choices:

• Quest will become permanent
• Slightly increase affection of meal recipient
• Small fridge refill

Reward: Quest will become permanent

I guess that’s okay, I noticed the rewards getting smaller, that’s not great, but I guess that’s what permanent quests are for, gaining xp every time, while still being able to add more quests on top.
I feel a little bad about not optimising Maria’s quest earlier, but I guess I shouldn’t cry about spilled milk, she’ll get her xp from now on.
That makes me think that I should also repeat a quest for Rita, if posting photos could get her xp once in a while we would both level up faster.

I put my phone in my pocket, and grab my keys, I’ve spent enough time playing with the app.

“Yes Mr.Newman.” I nod, as he gives me tasks I have to finish today.

“Ah, I forgot, Cotton will visit later today, I expect you to be a gentleman and show her around if she wants to.” He says while looking at my confused face.

“My daughter… I guess she didn’t come here since I hired you… I have something to do today, call me if there’s any issue with her.”

“Yes Mr.Newman.” I answer diligently, he nods and leaves.

I guess I’m going to meet his daughter today, I don’t really know what to expect. According to Maria she’s a pest, but maybe she just had a bad experience with her.
Cotton… That’s a weird name, but I can picture a kind bubbly woman.
When Maria arrives, I tell her the news but she doesn’t take it well.

“Fuck… Well, you’ll see what I mean, personally I think I’ll spend a lot of time counting the inventory. You kids have fun.”

“You’re only two years older than me!” I protest.

“When did I tell you my age? I guess it must have slipped the night we drank.” She answers herself.

Right, she drank, because compared to her I was very sober that night. Anyway, the day passes pretty quickly, nothing happens all morning, apart from having to tell a woman that she had to go outside to take her phone call.

“You know, I’ve been cooking for you for a few days now, so I hope you’ll at least repay me by actually coming to the gym with me tomorrow.” Maria says as I open the box filled with the food she cooked for me.

Okay, I know I really don’t want to go the gym, but can you blame me, they’re always full, smelly, and loud. Not only am I torturing myself, but to do so in a terrible place is even worse.
I’ve only been to a gym once, but it was a very bad experience.
Sandra, Alex’s sister convinced me to come with her for a free trial, but I spent the few hours there suffering, she laughed at my form and I decided I would never come back.
Look at me now, another woman asked me and I feel **** to go with her, I’m just too easy to manipulate.

I bite the tasty steak Maria prepared for me. Okay, maybe it’s normal to repay people when they do things for you. And I’ve been economising a lot of money by avoiding paying for my meals and with his permanent quest, Matt has been the one buying groceries for the last week as well. Maybe I shouldn’t complain too much about going to the gym once, I’ll tell Maria I didn’t like it, and I’ll just stop there.

“Earth to John do you receive me? Always stuck in your head…” She giggles as I look at her. I wonder what she sees when she looks at me. Since the hug, she seems to be happier to see me, but also to treat me more like a kid. Maybe her perks are affecting her more than I thought they would.

A young woman enters the library. She looks like the stereotype of the mean rich girl you see in teen dramas. She’s blonde with a streak of pink hair, wears big sunglasses that hides her eyes, and a revealing top that lets her bra peak out.
She’s wearing a skirt, and black heeled shoes with straps that don’t actually cover her feet.
She has a big fancy bag strapped to her shoulders and as she walks, she rolls her hips like she’s modelling designer clothes in front of a public.
I’ve never seen someone this out of place in a library, she feels more suited for a night at the club.
She comes closer so I decide to greet her.

“Can I help you with something Miss?” I ask as I see Maria disappearing in the storage room.

The woman doesn’t answer at first, lowering her sunglass to establish eye contact, I can see her bright but blasé blue eyes as she looks me up and down.

“I guess you’re the new guy, I'm Cotton. Daddy told me you’d do what you’re told.”

Okay, I don’t think there’s any mystery here, this girl is the Cotton I heard about. She doesn’t seem to like me just standing there.

“Hey, what’s your name?” She asks ignoring the name tag on my shirt.

“I’m John.” I answer but she doesn’t seem to be satisfied with that.

“John Moore. I’m 25 and I started working here a few months ago.” I continue.

“I didn’t ask for your life story. But I guess you’re not that bad looking. You could exercise but you’ll do.” She’s rude, but my low self esteem can’t refuse that small compliment.

“What can I do for you miss?” I don’t like her attitude, so the sooner I do what she wants, the better.

“Bring me a coffee.” She says as she goes toward a free table, the few people around here look at her as she sits down.

I don’t think I’m supposed to serve coffee in the library, but she is the boss’s daughter.
As I go to the coffee machine, I meet Maria, waiting in the break room.

“So you met the little demon, what does she want?” Maria asks, a book in hand.

“Coffee? I’m not sure I’m supposed to give it to her.”

“You have to. Don’t want her to throw a tantrum again.” She says, but I must look anxious because she notices.

“Don’t worry John, she usually stays a few minutes, I think it’s a power trip thing, I’m guessing she has a shitty life and that’s a way for her to unravel her stress.”

That reassures me somewhat, she’ll take her coffee, talk down to me and leave like she was never there in the first place.

I bring her her coffee, but she looks at me as I put it down.

“Sit.” Is the only thing she says.

I take a chair in front of her and wait as she grabs her cup.

“John, tell me, why the hell do you work here?” She asks.

“Is that an interview?” I try to relax the tension.

“I guess it is. Answer me.” With her sunglasses on it’s hard to read her mood.

“I was studying at the university down the street, and I had to find work to pay rent once I finished school.” That’s the simple answer, I work while finishing my book when I’ve got free time.

“What were you studying?” I’m not sure she’s actually interested or if she just wants someone to be next to her as she takes a sip from her cup.

“Litterature.” She grins when she hears my answer.

“Great, a useless degree. Don’t you think you’re wasting your time?”
I though I did, but that changed recently. The app added just the spice I needed to actually want to go to work, just to see the people around me changing.

“I don’t think I am, I’m enjoying my time here.” I answer honestly.

She seems surprised, her grin disappears. She seems lost in thought for a little while. She finishes her cup and stands up.

“I don’t know why losers are content with staying losers. Anyway, you’re not too bad to look at, I’ll come back.” She leaves, her cup still on the table.

I don’t think I like her, I’d prefer it if she stayed away, but she seems to have other plans.
I check my phone and notice Maria completed her quest, gaining me 6 xp points and being just enough for my level up.
I end up with 4 perk points again, I should spend some of them now.
I look at the perk tree.

My options are to buy the two perk sharing perks for 4 perks.

Buy an additional slot for 1 perk.

Upgrade the Character Editor for 2 perks.

Upgrade my quest designer perk to make quests with steps.

Or I guess I could scroll through the perk tree searching for other perks I could buy instead.

Author's Note : Suggest the perks you'd like, you can always suggest new ones as well. Thanks for reading.
Following suggestions, I also added a chapter at the very beginning of the branch where you can read all the perks I have already written.