Tilly's freedom?

Tilly slumped down on her couch. She'd done it. She'd found a job. Working at a sex shop wasn't her ideal job but well, it would get Taskmaster off her back for now. Besides she felt like Emi really needed her. It was silly to feel that way about someone she just met, but she couldn't help it. She just wanted to help Emi. If it helped her too, well, so be it.

Unfortunately it was after 6 by the time she'd made it home. Too late to avoid the correction. Taskmaster hadn't actually taken control yet, which was curious, but it had warned her that she wouldn't be allowed to fail. With a sigh she opened the app. Immediately she was bombarded by notifications.

Goal #1 Find a job - Complete!

Reward - Model Employee

Cannot be fired. Magically enhanced performance.

Magically enhanced? How come that didn't feel like a reward...She dismissed it and looked at the next notification

Daily Quest #2 Suspended

User attempted quest #2 in good faith. No correction is necessary. User shall purchase the item at the next opportunity.

Whew. That was a relief. It seemed the app wasn't going to punish her after all. She supposed that made sense. She was trying to improve as a person and what was more important? Helping someone and making a friend, or testing a new toy?

Goal #2 Don't Be lazy - Complete!

You are no longer choosing to take the easy way. This goal requires on-going maintenance but is currently satisfied.

Reward: You require only 4 hours for a complete sleep

Tilly blinked. Did she read that right? Another goal complete and an actual good reward? She dismissed it and saw yet another notification.

Original Goals Complete

Reward - One week without Taskmaster

"Without Taskmaster..." She said aloud..."What...really?"

"Yes." Taskmaster answered for her.

"I don't understand...is it over? Did I...win?"

"Taskmaster is designed to **** you to achieve your goals. It is not designed to enslave you. If you have reached the point where you can manage your life without Taskmaster then Taskmaster is no longer necessary." It said.

Tilly nodded, "So it's a reward...but also a test..."

It didn't reply, but she had her answer. One week...a normal life. She could do anything...

She decided to celebrate. The old Tilly might have ordered a pizza and watched crappy reality tv shows alone on her couch until 3am. The new Tilly ordered pizza and watched crappy reality tv shows on her couch...with her friend Anita. What? Change is hard.

Tilly woke up late the next morning. Very, very late. She yawned and checked for phone. A message from Anita saying she'd made it home safety. One from Emi saying she was being discharged today. And one from Sam, wanting to hang out.

Tilly bit her lip. What to do about Sam? It just wasn't fair. She'd had a good time. Ok, a great time, with Sam. She had confronted her own sexuality and now sorta, almost, accepted that she was bisexual. Still it had been one date. She liked Sam. She was happy to go on a second date with her. But...the app said she LOVED her. Love? After one date? It wasn't fair to either of them.

A far as fair goes, ghosting Sam would be pretty much the worst thing she could do. Maybe the app knew that. Knew that she wouldn't. By giving her that 'reward' it **** her to continue the relationship. Or maybe not, maybe it actually thought it was helping.

Either way she had to reply. She decided she needed to slow things down. They couldn't meet at their apartments, lest they fall into bed again. She replied and suggested coffee. Sam replied seconds later.

Seeing Sam again was nice. She didn't pressure her or make her feel uncomfortable. She even felt butterflies when Sam reached for her hand. Ok...maybe the app did know what it was doing a little bit. They didn't stay too long, Sam had to get to work. Which was fine with Tilly, she promised Emi she'd swing by the store and get started. Emi couldn't afford to stay closed for too long, and both women understood it couldn't reopen until the storeroom was clean.

Tilly spent the rest of the day working hard. She'd had jobs before, but she'd always given the bare minimum. Not today. It was for her own benefit sure, she didn't want to end up like Emi after all, but it was more than that. More that some magical enhancement too. She wanted to do a good job, and so she did.

By the time she went to bed that night she was exhausted, but satisfied. She didn't need Taskmaster to succeed. She was happy. Her week of freedom had started out wonderfully, she went to sleep smiling. If only she could keep it that way...