Tom Tom

As I left Alex's apartment and made my way down the hallway, I noticed a young man struggling with a large box just outside his door. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with tousled brown hair and glasses that seemed to perpetually slide down his nose. He was grumbling under his breath as he fumbled with the box, trying to balance it while opening his door.

Noticing his predicament, I decided to lend a hand. "Hey there, need some help with that?" I asked as I approached him.

The young man looked up, visibly relieved. "Oh, yes, please! I didn't realize this box would be so heavy when I ordered it," he replied with a sheepish grin.

Together, we managed to lift the box and maneuver it into his apartment. As we set it down on the living room floor, I couldn't help but notice the assortment of half-opened boxes and disheveled furniture around the room. It was clear that Tom was still in the process of settling in.

After placing the box down gently, he extended his hand. "I'm Tom, by the way. I just moved in last week. Thanks for the help."

I shook his hand warmly. "Nice to meet you, Tom. I'm {protagonist_name}. I live just down the hall. If you need anything, feel free to ask."

"Thanks, {protagonist_name}. I appreciate it," Tom said, his smile genuine. "You know, if you're not busy, I could use some help setting up a few things. I'll buy you a pizza or something as a thank you."

I hesitated for a moment, considering his offer. It would be an excellent opportunity to get to know Tom better and possibly test the ring's power in a new situation. "Sure, why not? I've got some time," I agreed.

Over the next couple of hours, we worked together to unpack and arrange the furniture in Tom's apartment. We chatted about various topics – work, hobbies, and our favorite movies. I discovered that Tom was a graphic designer, and he had moved to the city for a new job opportunity. He was passionate about art and had an impressive collection of vintage comic books.

As we worked, I contemplated using the ring to learn more about my new neighbor.

Finally, after we had made a significant dent in the chaos of Tom's apartment, he insisted on ordering pizza as promised.

As Tom shared his excitement about his girlfriend moving in with him in a week, I saw an opportunity to test the ring's power further. I decided to make a series of suggestions, trying to discern if there was a cooldown period between uses or a maximum number of uses.

"Wow, that's great news, Tom," I said, before carefully phrasing my first suggestion as a question. "Do you think you really shouldn't set up a surprise welcome party for her when she arrives?"

Tom's eyes lit up at the idea. "You know, that's not a bad idea! I think she would love that," he agreed enthusiastically.

Encouraged by the ring's immediate effect, I continued, "Do you really not want to have a special dinner planned for the two of you on her first night here?"

Tom nodded, clearly captivated by the idea. "Absolutely! I can make reservations at that new Italian restaurant downtown. She's always loved Italian food."

I proceeded with my next suggestion almost immediately, "Have you really not considered getting her a gift to celebrate her Master's degree and the start of your life together in St. Louis?"

Tom smiled and replied, "I haven't thought about it, but it's a great idea! Maybe I could get her a piece of art from a local gallery or a custom piece related to her field of study."

As Tom excitedly accepted each of my suggestions, it seemed that there was no cooldown period between uses. Feeling bolder, I decided to push my luck with one last question. "What about creating a photo album of your time apart? Do you really not want to show her how much you've missed her?"

Tom's face lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "That's a fantastic idea! I'm sure she would appreciate the sentiment. Thanks for all the suggestions, {protagonist_name}. You've been a great help today, and not just with the apartment."

It seemed that there was neither a cooldown period nor a maximum number of uses for the ring's power, at least in such a short timeframe.