An uneventful class period, and meeting up with Chloe after.

Chapter 3 – Putting a Plan Together (continued)

Jason’s Monday evening class was economics. It wasn’t his favorite class by any stretch, but at least he didn’t find it too difficult.

Quickly checking his app for new profiles once he was out of class showed that his teacher, Mr. Ericson, and two of his classmates, Mary Walters and Robert Bell, had been added to the list, though none of them had any attitude values above single digits.

Then he texted Chloe.

:Jason: I’m out of class, where do you want to meet up?

:Chloe: I’m in the quad.

Jason shook his head, smiling for perhaps the first time since leaving his home earlier. It was a short walk from his classroom to the outdoor quad filled with stone benches and picnic tables. He found Chloe sitting on the steps into a small amphitheater-like recess with a large pizza box next to her, along with her backpack.

“Hey!” She called as he approached, “How was class?”

He moved and sat next to her, checking the pizza box to find an inoffensive blend of bacon and a mix of vegetables. He knew she didn’t like pepperoni, so he didn’t question its absence as he took a slice and a napkin and faced his best friend, now girlfriend. “How you holding up? Better than last night, I hope?”

She nodded, “Yeah, that was not a lot of fun, but it left me hopeful.” She told him, “Was a little scary waking up alone, not remembering falling asleep, or getting undressed. But Lynn was there, she explained things.” She looked a little embarrassed, and Jason could only imagine how awkward that conversation must have been.

“Did she tell you I gave her a foot massage last night?” He asked.

“No… she didn’t mention that tidbit.” She said, glancing slyly at him. “Were you hitting on my sister, Jason?”

He blinked, and blushed, and Chloe chuckled, “It’s fine, I gave you permission, afterall.”

He shrugged, “She knows we’re dating, and knows you want to keep it secret for now.”

She nodded, “Yeah, she mentioned that part. Speaking of which, you made any progress with anyone else today?”

“Straight to the point, eh?” He asked, smiling, but then suddenly his expression turned dour. “Actually, something did happen, but I don’t think it’s really progress.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“I kind of confronted Alex about… well how she feels. She freaked out a little, and while we both said we are okay with it, now she’s avoiding me, and she seems… actually, let me show you.”

He set his half-eaten slice of pizza down on the lid of the pizza box, though it was only a few bites shy of being just crust, and wiped his hand clean before retrieving his phone, and showing Chloe his sister’s profile.

Alexandra Kelly

Relationship: Brother, Confidant

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Affection 90, Friendship 71, Love 70, Playfulness 68, Loyalty 59, Protectiveness 49, Admiration 38, Trust 37, Worry 31, Lust 15, Submissiveness 13

Special Traits: Fantasy Crush, **** Kink, Taboo Kink

Hidden Traits: Secret Shame

Temporary Traits: Conflicted, Depressed, Lesser Protective Ward

Chloe gave Jason a sympathetic glance, “I see. That’s rough. What’s this lesser protective ward?” She asked, glancing at him, and he realize he’d forgotten to tell her about his successful experiment the previous night.

Jason filled her in on the details of how he’d gone back to his books to get the ritual perfect before drawing the conversation back to the issue at hand with Alex.

“I wish I could…” Jason paused, finding himself unable to enunciate his desire, and realizing the warding masque must be preventing him, so instead he pointed at the traits, both the temporary traits and the one he’d revealed. “I want to make this better, somehow, but I’m at a loss.”

Chloe worried her lower lip between her teeth for a moment looking at the other traits, then said, “Can’t you remove one of those with a perk?” Keeping her words vague, but still getting her point across.

“Actually, I could. But I promised I’d save up for yours first.”

“At least check the cost.” She suggested.

So Jason navigated to the perks section, and found the one labeled ‘Suppress Special Trait’. When he selected it, navigated to Alex’s profile, and tapped on secret shame, it told him the cost was 47 energy.

“You should do it.” Chloe insisted.

“No, I promised…”

“This is more immediate. I’ve been waiting years already, Alex needs this now. It won’t set you back too far. So go on.” When Jason hesitated, she glared at him, “Jason Kelly. This isn’t a request. If your sister is suffering like you said, then that takes priority over nothing I’ve already learned to live with.” She rolled her eyes at her own inability to articulate her issue.

He offered her a grateful smile, and tapped the screen to buy the perk. “Alright, it’s done.”

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Good boy.”

He chuckled, and waved her off. “God, I hope this helps.” He said, feeling better, but also still generally stressed.

Chloe wrapped both her arms around his chest under his arms and laid her head on his shoulder. “You’re not uncomfortable, are you?” He asked her.

“No, this is fine. Feels nice actually. I’m not usually very touchy-feely, but I could get used to this. So, how are things with Heather and Kate?” She leaned her head back a little to look at his face when he sighed, “That bad?”

“Well, things aren’t really getting better with Heather. But I did go to the gym with Kate, and we made a bet on a race. She won, and my penalty was to kiss her feet or her ass in front of Alex and Heather. But Heather made a big stink about it, calling me the usual names, and Alex seemed too caught up in her own issues to try to play peacemaker. When I left for class Heather and Kate were fighting over it, and I never did pay the penalty.”

“Ouch.” Chloe laid her head on his shoulder again. Jason reached around her to pick back up his pizza slice and finish it off. “Maybe you need to take things up a notch with Heather. Maybe there’s something you could buy that would smooth things over, or change her attitude. Lower that hostility a bit, perhaps?”

He knew what she was suggesting, and it was certainly a tempting idea. “I’m not sure there’s enough urgency for that before other things.” He told her, picking out a second slice of pizza and starting on it.

“If it’s not too big a setback, I won’t mind waiting.” Chloe assured him.

“I’ll think about it.” He promised. He’d begun to notice one or two people passing through the quad who seemed to be paying more attention to the two of them than he was maybe comfortable with. “Nothing against this, but you sure you’re okay with this level of affection in public?” He asked his girlfriend.

“I don’t care what they think. It’s not like we’re being indecent.”

“You did still want to keep it secret.” He reminded her.

She sighed, “I know. But even if I wasn’t your girlfriend, I could still hug you, right?”

“I guess. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I don’t want to do this. Or that I don’t enjoy this.” He wrapped his free arm gently around Chloe’s back, careful not to touch anywhere too intimate, and held her as he finished his second slice of pizza. “Any more specific thoughts on tactics I could use with the Dubois twins?” He asked after a moment.

Chloe nodded, “Well, we talked a little about using… whichever one likes you more to try and get her to do something. You need to try to split them up on cam. Get one of them alone and pay very very close attention to small details that might not match on both of them, that way you can call them out once you’ve found proof.”

“That sounds easier said than done, but it's a plan of action, I guess.” He agreed, smiling at her. “Do you want to get out of here? These steps aren’t the most comfortable place to sit.”

“Just a little longer. I promised Lynn I’d be home before ten. So we don’t have time to go anywhere really. I don’t want to give her more reason to worry.”

Jason nodded, “Well in that case, why don’t we walk to wherever you’re parked, then we can enjoy each other’s company until the last minute.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” She said, giving a final squeeze before releasing him at last, and gathering up her backpack, while Jason picked back up his own book bag. He also grabbed the pizza box, along with a third slice, which he ate while they walked.

She led him to the north parking lot, and down one of the lanes a little ways to where her bright green bike waited. She set her bag down on the seat, and turned back to him, taking the pizza box from him and deposited it on a concrete trash receptacle a few feet away. “Now, where were we?” She asked, stepping up to him and wrapping her arms around his waist and under his backpack. She was now pressed hip to hip with him, her head leaned back to watch his face, and her hands settled right on the back of his slacks waistband. “I kinda want to kiss you again. But if I do, I’m sure I’ll leave a wet spot on my jeans before I get home.”

Jason blushed, and shook his head. His own arms had wrapped around her, with his hands on her lower back, several inches away from where he knew the strap of her bra was likely to be under her denim jacket, as well as the waistband of her jeans. He wanted her to feel as safe as possible with him. “Well I’d love to kiss you too, especially since there are a lot less people around here. But I’m sure we’ll find better times and better places to indulge, so long as you’re okay with it.”

She sighed, her shoulders shrugging with the motion, and pulled him a little closer so she could rest her cheek against his chest. “You deserve so much better than me.” She mumbled.

“Hey, don’t talk like that.” He said, tilting her face up with a finger under her chin. “Don’t put yourself down. Whatever happened, whatever trauma you’ve faced, it’s not your fault, and it does nothing to diminish your worth, you hear me?”

“It’s fine.” She said, automatically. “Nothing happened to me.” She started to frown, her eyes sparkling, and Jason decided that moment to kiss her.

She flinched, but didn’t freak out, leaning into the gentle kiss with a soft moan, but then breaking the kiss far sooner than Jason would have preferred. “Fuck, you’re making me so hot for you.” She murmured, smiling at him.

“I’m so….”

“Don’t you dare apologize for that!” She snapped, still smiling.

Jason shut his mouth, and nodded. He held her for several long minutes, and they kissed softly and briefly several more times, but he let her take the lead from then on. Until finally she withdrew from his arms, and checked her phone. “Oh damn. I’m gonna be late.” She observed, and quickly turned away, coiling her braid up so she could fit it into her helmet. “Keep the pizza. Give the leftovers to your roommates, and tell them I said hi.” She said, as she pulled her backpack into place.

Jason stepped forward, and made her stop for a moment so he could lean in and kiss her nose, unable to reach her lips through her open visor.

Chloe giggled, “Thanks for being so amazing, now go make up with Alex. I want all the juicy details next time we meet up.”

“Okay, and tell Lynn and Jenny I said hi, and Bree if you see her.”

“Will do.” She started the engine of her Ninja, and drove off, exiting the parking lot before getting up to speed.

Jason then made his way to the west parking lot where his Accord was parked, and checked the MRE app one more time once he was in the driver’s seat.

Chloe Yazzie

Relationship: Boyfriend, Co-Conspirator, Gaming Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Loyalty 90, Friendship 74, Affection 69 (+1), Lust 62 (+1), Trust 59, Playfulness 43, Protectiveness 42, Love 42 (+2)

Special Traits: Confidante, Partner in Crime

Hidden Traits*: Deeply Rooted Trauma, Self Loathing, Taboo Geass

Active Effects: Reveal hidden traits and details.

Nothing there was a big surprise, though it did make him smile. Then he checked his sister’s profile.

Alexandra Kelly

Relationship: Brother, Confidant

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Affection 91 (+1), Friendship 71, Love 71 (+1), Playfulness 68, Loyalty 59, Protectiveness 49, Admiration 38, Trust 37, Worry 31, Lust 15, Submissiveness 13

Special Traits: Fantasy Crush, **** Kink, Taboo Kink

Suppressed Traits: Secret Shame*

Temporary Traits: Depressed, Lesser Protective Ward

Active Effects: Suppress special trait (Secret Shame).

He was very glad to see that one of her two temporary traits had been ended, and was also surprised that her affection and love had increased a little. He definitely felt more hopeful now. He guessed he just needed to get home and hopefully reinforce this positivity now. And try very hard not to make a further mess of things.

Katherine O’Connell

Relationship: Best Friend’s Brother, Roommate

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Loyalty 54 (+1), Affection 33, Friendship 30, Protectiveness 22 (+1), Trust 20, Nostalgia 19, Worry 11 (+1), Admiration 1, Lust 0

Special Traits: Childhood Crush

Heather Chase

Relationship: Rival, Roommate

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Hostility 21 (-2), Affection 21, Resentment 19 (+1), Dominance 11, Loyalty 10, Lust 4*, Playfulness 3 (-1), Beholden 2 (+2, Awakened)

Special Traits: Cocktease, Drama Queen

Active Effects: Awaken Attitude (Lust)

Temporary Traits: Lesser Protective Ward

Jason wasn’t sure what to make of this. Kate and Heather’s encounter must have had some effect on both of them. This was the second time he’d seen the attitude of beholden show up on someone’s profile, and he guessed that meant Heather was feeling guilty over her treatment of him, which was a good thing for him, probably.

Before he left to drive home, he double checked his energy, finding that he now had 252 points. He didn’t know precisely how he was accumulating energy, but it did seem that he gained energy faster when big changes occurred with his relationships. Though he wasn’t certain exactly how he might use that insight to his advantage just yet.