The Gamer

Marcos was stressed. He had thought this trip would help mend his relationship with Beatriz but so far it was doing the opposite. The flight to Miami had been nice, but Bea wasn't as used to flying as he was. To calm her nerves she'd accepted a glass of wine for the air hostess, and then another, and another. She had started to enjoy the flight after all, but maybe a little too much, and Bea was a jealous drunk. Sure he had noticed how stunning their hostess was. And he had turned his head to watch a group of women in bikinis heading to the beach as they approached the pier, but what man wouldn't. It's not like he even talked to them, but now Bea wasn't talking to him. So he dragged their suitcases behind him as they walked in silence towards the towering cruise liner.

He had won this cruise in an StarCraft tournament a few weeks ago. He was happy for the win, even if he would have preferred some cash. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pulling out wins. E sports was dominated by much younger players. The games kept changing and it was taking too long for him to master them. He looked over at Bea, another reason he was worried about their relationship. As long as he was winning he was a somebody, and a somebody with money. When he retires and has to go work retail to pay the bills would she still want to be with him?

Marcos was pulled out of his revere by two women standing by the gangway. They were identical and dressed in a way that Marcos knew better than to comment on. He very intentionally stared into their eyes.

"Welcome," one of them said. "Drop your bags here and follow me." She turned and headed back up the gangway. The other woman effortlessly grabbed both suitcases from Marcos and waited for them to board.

Marcos thanked her and tried to grab Bea's hand. She ignored him and stomped on ahead. He sighed and followed her up the ramp. They came to a large set up double doors which their hostess opened and gestured for them to go inside.

Marcos and Bea entered and saw a huge hall with a stage at the far end. There were two people on the stage and three people sitting on chairs in front. He thought there would be more people on a cruise ship but shrugged and started towards the group.

"Welcome to Harem Hotel Cruise edition, I am your host Captain Isla! Please come have a seat and tell our audience a little about yourselves." The woman on the stage called out to them. Marcos was confused. He had won tickets to a cruise with a company called HH, did that stand for Harem Hotel? On no, Bea was going to kill him. She must think he set this up as some kind of sex thing. He turned to look at her but she seemed frozen. Looking around everyone was looking at him. The. He felt this pressure building up and before he knew it he was speaking.

"Hello I am Marcos Silva. I am 54 years old, and I am a professional e sport gamer. In fact I won the tickets for here in a game. I am worried that my career is reaching and end and have no other prospects. I've been dating Bea for a few years now, she is amazing but I don't really know why she puts up with an old man like me. I also don't really know what is going on now, why am I telling you this? This doesn't feel like a normal cruise. Who are you people?" Marcos looked around for anybody to tell him what was going on.

Isla gave a little laugh. "Don't tell me you didn't read the rules either? My goodness you are in for a surprise. Probably more than the rest of the contestants. I am getting tired of repeating myself so you are just going to have to wait until everyone is here for the full details. But in short you are going to be competing against these girls for a spot in the Master's harem, and this here," Putting her hand on Eric. "Is the master this season. You might not recognize his face, but you do know him. Go ahead Eric, tell him "

"Yes I'd recognize your voice anywhere. It's me, Dudelaw42!" Eric said.

"Oh my god. Dude." Marcos did recognize his voice. They had met years ago playing Halo and become friends. They still played together all the time. Marcos loved playing with him. He didn't have to be so serious or try to win, but could actually just enjoy playing with a friend. Lately they had been playing a cooperative game, one with no esport scene. He felt a bit guilty playing that since it had no income prospects, but it was so much fun he couldn't help himself.

They didn't just play the games, they talked too. He knew all about his girlfriend Stephanie and his job as a lawyer. He'd told Dude, or Eric he supposed, all about his issues with Bea. It was great meeting in person finally, they would have done it sooner if Lima to Toronto wasn't such a distance, but this was just wrong. He couldn't be in another man's harem, it just didn't make any sense. He knew he should be more panicked, but felt this weird pressure calming him and forcing him to sit beside some elderly lady.

He looked up at Bea, still standing. She seemed to unfreeze and then begin talking. "I am Beatriz Alvarez. I am 24 and I've been with Marcos for two years now. We met at the spa that I work at. I love a man that looks after himself that way, and I just thought Marcos was so dreamy. He looks like a real man, not like these littles boys that used to chase after me, or like that toothpick on stage. And yeah I recognize your voice too. You're that kid that keeps Marcos playing those odd games that don't make any money. And we are not doing this. Marcos is mine, he isn't allowed to compete for anyone else's attention." She stared down Isla who just smirked. It wasn't really fair to call Eric a toothpick, but Marcos was certainly the larger man. Marcos was only an inch taller, but probably had 60 lbs on Eric. Not all muscle, but with his broad shoulders and grizzled beard Marcos was definitely the more intimidating of the two.

"We will see about that my dear, but we are running out of time for this episode. You will take your seat now so we can introduce the next contestant."