Breaking the ice.

You have a lot to think about as you drive home. Daphne's arrival changes things, as well as this new trait that you've gotten. You figure that these traits have been put here for a reason, and you think you realize what you're supposed to do with them.

When you walk back into your apartment, you don't spot anyone by the couch. so you decide to walk into the kitchen. You see Fia over the kitchen sink and decide to take your shot. Low-risk, low reward. You pull her in for a surprise hug, and start talking, hoping to see if she'll go along with it.

"Thanks for being there for me. I know that Daphne was your friend, and I'm glad things between us didn't break apart just because me and Daphne did. I'm glad you support me so much."

Fia, for her part, doesn't question you being so touchy-feely. "Max, I thought we talked about this before? I said I'd talk to Clara. You don't have to kiss up to me so much." Okay, so that didn't work out exactly as you'd hoped, but you think you can make it work.

"That was about me being a lousy roommate, this is about me being a lousy friend." You walk Fia into the living room and sit on the couch. "You're loyal, kind, and — respectfully - smoking hot. I feel like I should tell you that more. You're a great friend." You hold her hand in your hand. If the trait works, she shouldn't think of this as too odd.

Fia blushes at you. "Max, I said it before, but you really want to change, don't you? I've never seen you so alive! I like this new you a lot. And as for Daphne? I never told you this, but she wanted me and Clara to completely cut ties with you after the breakup, and she's been ghosting us ever since because we said no."

This is news to you. What's especially surprising is Clara not jumping at the chance to get rid of me. I guess there's more of a heart to her than you thought. "Well she was ignoring me too, until today. She caught me outside of Scarlett's house and asked me for a necklace I gave her back!"

"That's it?"

"That's it." You say. "She still can't stand me enough to be civil. I told her I'd look for it, but I never said I'd fine it fast. Or at all.:

"Max, you're so bad! She's your ex, are you just going to lie to her face?" When you smirk at that, Fia breaks out into laughter, and so do you.

"I like to think my love life can move on from that, don't you?" You look straight into Fia's eyes, and when you do that, she kisses you on the lips for a second. You did not see that coming.

"Did you just...." Before you can get the question out, Fia flees, face bright red. You check the app for more info.

[Goodman, Fia - Affection Score: 50 (+20)]
[ Love Score: 15 (+10)]
[Lust Score: 15 (+15)]
AMA Points: 100

You could let this go here, but talking to her before she gets to Clara is important. You walk into her bedroom. Clara is not in it at the moment. "Do you want to talk about that?"

Fia can't look you in the eyes anymore. "I never thought I'd be a cheater. I love Clara, I really do. It just..."

You butt in here before she can go on a tangent. "It wasn't cheating."

"It wasn't?"

"It was a platonic peck on the lips. Between friends, who will always stay friends, right?" When you see Fia nod, you go on. "So don't sweat it. It's all about context." At this moment, you realize something about Fia's score. You know she's at fifty, which the app calls "good friend mode." You also know that at this point, she's nurturing nothing more than a minor crush, and you don't want to ruin her relationship with Clara before you two are friends. But you still figure you can squeeze some action out of this. You slap Fia's ass hard, causing her to yelp.

"Max! Why-"

"You see? Platonic, you're with your best friend." And that's all it takes to stop her objections. You love your new trait. "Now Fia, why don't we watch some TV and wait for Clara to show up?"