Making Robin's life easier

"Public unawareness, and recommended reward II, will at the very least allow me to give you good rewards without public consequences. So I will pick those."

Robin hugs me and whispers: "Thank you, you are my best friend."

"Could this combination not all but guarantee that your parents accept you?"

Robin opens his eyes in shock. "Maybe, yes, that seems likely. You might be onto something."

I leave for home.

When I get home, I wander into my apartment. I don't need to turn on the light. I just need to get undressed and get into my bed. I put my phone on the charger and try to fall asleep.

At 5 AM, I wake up due to an alarm. "You can give Robin a quest."

What should I get her to do? Oh yeah.

I open the QuestMaster app, and there is a warning.

Warning: Please, do not discuss the QuestMaster app with others. Should you discuss it with others again, you will be punished. Due to your friends' drunkenness, they will not remember the details from yesterday. You can inform targets once they meet requirements. The QuestMaster app will give notice.

Ohh well, this shouldn't matter too much for the quest, or will it? Wait a second, this will be horrendous. I can't talk to anyone about this app. Luckily, I know what Robin wants. I can try to get him to tell me what he wants if I am uncertain.

Warning: “Come out to your parents.” might be too complex for the target's current level; success isn’t guaranteed, but it will grant more XP. Continue? Yes / No

I select yes.

Select one of the following quest rewards:

• Your parents accept you for who you are, no matter what.
• Large relationship increase with your mom.
• Large relationship increase with your dad.

Reward: “Your parents accept you for who you are, no matter what.”

I set an alarm for 8 AM and try to fall asleep again.

My alarm goes off. I wake up to wander into my shower and make sure I am clean when I get to work.

After my shower, I eat breakfast whilst watching a YouTube cooking show. As I go to put the stuff in the dishwasher, my phone goes off. Well, it is probably that Robin talked to his parents. No, it is a message from Robin.

"Uhhm......
I have a question.
Would you be able to sit in with me and my parents when I try to come out to them?
It would help me greatly. You were so supportive yesterday.
Playing it off as a gamble after I came out to you really helped get my feet wet. "

I text back, "Don't worry, I will be there to support you. Do you need me to refer to you as a girl from now on?"

Almost instantly: "Please don't do it everywhere but in private, and in texts with me, it is fine. And if all goes well with my parents in front of them." She had underlined it in the text she was dead serious I shouldn't forget.

"Will do, girl, and do you think 9 PM works?"

"Yeah, my parents are back, and they will still be awake."

It is getting close to nine. I will head out to work to start the food prep for the afternoon and dinner catering.

Around 9:15, I arrive at my job. I still have plenty of time to get changed and clock in. I am ready way too early as my boss Jessica wanders in. "Pieter, you start at 10, right?"

"Yep, I was anxious and came early because I want to be on time. Dad always said, 'Be 15 minutes early or be late,' and I took it too far today."

"Next time, just cycle around the block; It is healthy for you, and you can take a shower here."

"I think I get what you mean. Thanks, but don't complain if I am showering here every morning."

"You won't."

"Bet."

"Bet." She smiles. I have worked with her for over a decade. I might keep it up for a week and then stop. It would be funny if I could keep it up.

"You are great. We have half an hour, can we pick up the thing about me buying into the BV (a proximate equivalent to INC)?"

"Sure, we have until ten."

We go to her office to review the financials, ongoing contracts, and other stuff. That way, I can make an informed decision in buying in.

Jessica smiles: "Hey, you buying in could get us more space and a few more contracts as a result, but I won't guarantee dividends."

"Will it guarantee that we are more secure?"

"I can't guarantee that nothing in this industry is certain."

"Okay. I will look for a good accountant to double-check, okay?"

"Let me know who, and I will forward everything."

I start my work and start the food prep for today with my colleagues.

After work, I grab a bite of the leftovers with colleagues. The ones who remained because they don't have a family to return to are:

My boss Jessica is a close to 50-year-old. I think I never asked. I always guess 10 years lower if a woman asks. She has always reacted super happy and flattered. That rule of thumb is great, never tell them about it. She has greying shoulder-length hair and lots of wrinkles. And each time I see her, I am worried she might be picked up by the wind and whisked away. She is nice and helped me get my certifications. And unlike most employers, she actually offered me a long-term contract from the start. And actually gave me a promotion after getting the proper certification. From what I can gather, she had a bad divorce after I gained my certification. I had a week or two extra days free as a result of overtime. That was nice during the summer and around Christmas.

Jan, a recent hire from what I remember, has a two-year contract. A lanky guy with little interests other than his AI Chatbot girlfriend, Alexandra. He gives me the creeps sometimes. Jessica does have a skill in finding the misfits. And I do include myself in that with my lack of emotional awareness. Jan just works the evening serving shift. We always need temp workers for that time, and students tend to pick up those shifts.

Maria told me she had ADHD, but I can put up a task list with small tasks she can switch between and that works. We have figured out what works for her. She is a long blonde with a bob-cut and definitely a large set of breasts. I have seen her contract... What was it? She is on her second and last two-year contract. Or should be if you don't do scummy things. She tried a few different forms of education before landing here. I hope she doesn't have to pay off huge debts.

As for what we are having: beef stew, mashed potato, pork tenderloin, salad, spinach a la crème, leftover bread from the afternoon, rice and vegetarian curry. I chose to go with tenderloin, bread and curry. Jessica went with stew, potato and a side of salad. Jan originally had just rice after some prodding from me and Jessica we got him to grab curry with it. Maria had everything a tiny bit. She says variety helps her eat. And to be fair it is good for variation.

Over diner we talk about our weekend. Jessica had a bad date with a guy called mark who and I quote: "Was a pig who when I asked what he would think about a woman who runs her own company said that he thinks it is cool for girls to have hobbies as long as they keep the house clean."

Jan said the usual. I contrast Maria said a laundry list of things. The thing that stood out to me was that apparently she helped her brother paint his new house in Arnhem. Him and his wife must have a good job or he a ridiculously good job.

After dinner I cycle home get changed and drive over to Robin's place.