Better than Madelon expected.

(Madelon's POV)

We arrive back at work, and there I spot Pieter and another person. The other person, whom I can only guess is Robin, I could best describe as a man with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a baggy coat. Their jeans are airy and not restrictive. They are doing everything to hide what their actual gender is. I get changed inside. Maria waives me away. She might be fun to include in Pieter's harem, same for Jessica. But right now, I don't have the tools, or better put, the referrals to push them in that direction.

I walk out, checking my messages for what feels like the 20th time since lunch. Still no messages. Each time, I had responses with curses. The QuestMaster was a sadist who liked torturing me. Whoever they are, I can still refuse the quest, but the reward makes whatever I say, as long as it is honest and acceptable. The risk is zero, but in turn the reward is also zero. But he implies that waiting will make things worse.... He might be right. Why don't I want to do this? Let's first go to dinner.

I greet both of them and introduce myself to Robin, who is kind but looking me over carefully. The QuestMaster is right, they are on to me. Both of them know already to some extent. Telling them is better than letting them be wary and it coming to bite me in the ass later on. Pieter drives us to Mierlo Hout, where the apartment is located. Nearby, he parks the car, and we walk towards the Greek restaurant. We got seated I checked my messages again as if it had become a nervous tic.

Pieter asks: "Waiting for a message from someone?" I shake my head. "Be calm, Robin won't bite, Madelon won't either." He said, looking between the two of us. I glance at my phone again. He grabs it out of my hand in frustration. "Why are you so focused on this?" He looks over the messages. "You know your 'friend' won't answer if you are being mean to him. I don't know where they live, but they might be at work or asleep. Don't expect immediate responses to messages. That is not what written messages are for. They aren't going to suddenly respond because you complain. I will hand your phone when I think it is worth it." He had seen the messages and to whom they were, but had made it clear he wasn't going to tell Robin.

"Okay, Dad," I say with a sigh.

"Yeah, yeah, I know I am the dad friend, but that often happens if the actual dad is shit. You are lucky I am on sick leave. Had I seen you send all those messages at work, I would have reprimanded you. Learn when you can use your phone and when you can't will you. Social situations with friends and family I don't appreciate, but are sometimes needed. But checking twice within less than a minute is excessive."

I groan. My mouth widened. He cares about me and how I interact with the world. "Okay, Pieter, I understand, but I want to check my quest progress."

"You can do what you think will satisfy it, or you can tell me your password, and I can have a look at it." He pseudo-demanded. The waiter arrived before I could reply. "Just give us a platter with enough for three." He replied to the question of what we wanted to eat. We each order drinks. Pieter's order to Robin's surprise is apple cider, and Robin and I decide to join him.

We start talking about our day, about how Robin and Pieter had decided to stream with Pieter in a plague doctor mask on a regular basis on Fridays. Robin, who chose not to stream, is here to be with her and Pieter. Robin, who will be, and I quote, 'Living with you as your live-in maid with hardly any income.' Pieter shrugged, understanding the situation, knowing his income would be enough if only just. I finally dared to say in a single breath, or better said, without a break. "IaminlovewithPieterandwanttobeinaharemwithRobinandmorePeople!"

"Can you repeat that? Whilst taking breaks to articulate the words so that we can properly understand them." Pieter said.

"I am in love with Pieter and want to be in a harem with Robin and more people. To be clear, I want to live with both of you as more than your sister and potentially with more partners." Instead of scolding me, Pieter patted my head. Robin rolled their eyes.

"That was more than I expected you felt. That is more than I expected you to want. But there is some sense in it." He said calmly.

Robin responds less positively but is still accepting. "At least it is out in the open now. I don't think I will go along with it immediatly but, but we can have more conversations about it later. When we are not out in public." Pieter looks between the two of us with a small smile. As we eat.

We finish up as Pieter gets a call. In shock, he gets up, pays for our table and says, "I have to leave my old rented apartment, which is on fire. Robin, you have keys to the new place. I will head there now." Leaving after placing my phone on the table. An awkward silence between Robin and me.

We head to the bare bones apartment. Left bare bones in the hope of moving the stuff that was now burning. Pieter will have to rebuild most of his things. Any notebook he had gone, his old bed gone, and any electronics he had likely gone. I suddenly received a message on my phone. 'The firemen are putting out the fire. They told me that they are almost done. But they believe it might not be an accident, especially after I told them I left this morning and have not returned since. Sincerely yours, Pieter.' A quick follow-up message arrives not long enough afterwards for me to process everything. 'We will talk about me being the QuestMaster when I get back, okay? Sorry for not telling you. Don't tell Robin the app has warned me not to.' Pieter is the QuestMaster! He must have known all along! He knew about my perk! How can I explain this to myself? I lie in bed waiting for Pieter to return in a nightie picked by Pieter. The WiFi has yet to be set up.

I look over the other Subjects to see if I can give them a quest. Tim has a quest available, but no XP? Did he refuse the quest? All of these questions are running through my head.