Has he ever even taken a break?

I wake up quickly, make a text to Jessica saying I am unable to come in due to the new injuries, as well as basically having been unable to fix the apartment over the last week and that we are still missing crucial things like laundry machines and other basic electronics. Her response: 'No worries, you have weeks worth of spare hours, Pieter. Remember to breathe. You use work as an escape, and I won't complain, but if you need time to get your life in order, take it. You have the paid hours off, no worries.' I glare at the message, somehow feeling insulted by it, as if I am not needed there. But that isn't the case. She is worried that I am stretching myself too thin. I am, I definitely am. But for so long, this has been my mode of escape, the way I felt wanted. Honestly, a horrible way... Not knowing when I am not doing enough. I, however, know I am not the worst, but... I could do better in terms of work-life balance.

I head to the kitchen Anne is sitting there in the dress she wore yesterday. "Here, let me take out my measuring tape. I will see if I can make you a custom outfit." I say, suddenly realising she needs to get to work. "Have you called your boss?" She shakes her head. "Give me your phone." I find the contact called work. "Hello, Pieter Visser here. Anne Molenaar lost consciousness multiple times yesterday, as well as her memories. I don't think it is smart for her to come into work, let alone if she is useful. I don't know if programming is one of those skills that people remember after losing their memories, like language, riding a bike, etc." The person on the other side tells me to send an email with any reports related to an HR email, suspecting it might be a long time before she can start again. Hoping Anne gets well soon. Wishing her the best and hanging up.

I still do the measurements for her. She looks at me with intrigue. "Why do you do that? What is work?"

"Work is what people do to get money to pay for things. I am measuring you so that I know how your body looks in three dimensions, so that when I start to make clothing for you, it fits. I don't know whether I would call sewing a hobby of mine or cooking, for that matter. I have no idea. I have free time on Saturday and Sunday, but I usually spend Saturday prepping for the next week... Sunday, I hang out with my Friends who have nothing better to do... So now my harem and Bart... We did not inform him yesterday, did we?"

"Not that I am aware of. How about we do stuff together for my hobby project?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I thought I might get you to decide for me."

"I am going to cut some of the chicken wire and shape it into a top and bottom for the beak and make a dummy for how I want it to look and function," I say, heading into the crafts room/storage. I crudely prototype the shape using chicken wire and use a piece of cardboard and a spring to see if I can make the mechanics work. They do, to my surprise. The shape looks fine. Sadly, I have no good plastic to form over it, no glue for papier-mache, nothing to make the outside shell... I can get that later.

"Why do that?"

"This is easy to shape, meaning I can make changes to make it fit my face properly, and adapt quickly. It also doesn't weigh a lot, it might not be the cheapest, but it is easy to reënforce once you have the materials for it. I think I will add an outside apolstry to it." I note as I hold a dark leather over top. "Then again, having the papier-mache look might be better. I think that would look better, especially if I use black paper as the final layer and then put on a glossy black paint over it. Might create nice depth by accident."

"Why does the look matter?" Anne asks, leaning her head to one side.

"Robin's job or hobby is streaming. I have yet to figure out how much of it is actually job, how much hobby, but more importantly, it is a way of performing for a live audience, like videos you might watch on YouTube or TV. How it looks is important. But the look of an outfit when worn is always important. A function of an outfit is to present yourself to the world in a specific way. Sleepwear less, but if you take the dress, you are wearing it is made to apeal to potential partners, look elegant, and emphasise posture over shape. Robin's dress that I made was made to emphasise their figure whilst being modest, casual and can be worn anywhere. A man in a suit," I say, pulling up a picture of an example, "is meant to emphasise posture, can emphasise shape if made well, but most ready-made stuff won't for most people; it is also used culturally to signify standing and professionalism. Which is why it has bled over to women's clothing. Depending on the way it is presented, it can also be more subservient. But yeah, things are complicated, nuanced and basically their own language."

"Do you understand it? That language?"

"I try to, but there is no official vocabulary you can learn, and as I said, so much is dependent on the social context. Upbringing of the person receiving the message, or sending it, for that matter. It is a clusterfuck. I know what works for me, not for everyone else. But you can tell a lot based on how their clothing looks." I wander to my room, and Robin is still asleep. "I will show you my and Robin's clothing later to explain." I look at the time before realising Estera needs to wake up soon, likely not that I know her start time. I knock on the door to hear a grumble. "Estera, what time do you need to be at work?"

"She already left Pieter, but my bed is warm if you want to join me."

"Madelon, take a shower and get your ass out of bed; you also have work in an hour or two."

"Why is Robin allowed to sleep in?"

"They work late in the evening."

"They gave me a quest for which I need to do stuff with them. Can you wake them up?" That is a good reason.

"Hey, go talk to Madelon about the quest you gave her."

"How does she know I gave it?"

"Probably not my style," I respond to my grumbling partner, and Anne joins us in the room. I start laying out my outfits by category and explaining their purposes, and that, because I am a man, I have the privilege of not needing many different ones. Formal and work often overlap unless you have a job in uniform. Casual is acceptable for a larger range of things, and what is considered casual is generally broader. Sexy outfits are non-existent in my wardrobe. Not that there was anything before the fire, but especially now, there is nothing.

We leave the room after my lecture about male clothing. Not the most useful, but she might at some point have to pick out an outfit for me if I am in a hurry, so it should help. We spot Robin and Madelon talking to each other. I leave them be for now as I prep a big pan of oatmeal with a bunch of fruits and yoghurt to top it with if they want it creamier. Anne eats it and seems to enjoy it with more fruit than oatmeal; at least she is getting her vitamins. Robin more oatmeal, a bit of yoghurt, and a splash of fruit; also perfectly fine, but I will need to make sure she eats more fruit later today. Madelon mimics me. Before asking, "Do I need to pick up when I return from work?" I shake my head. "We do need a better balance of chores rather than you doing everything, Pieter." She insists.

"How about this, Robin does shopping, you general cleaning together with Estera and Anne, I just cook and sew if I feel like it."

"Seems actually quite balanced," Robin responds. Madelon nods along, and Anne sticks a thumb up. And so, without asking Estera, it was decided. Madelon left for work, and Robin asked to meet alone without Anne for a moment.

As we head to our room, I text Madelon, Please try to get Estera "Submissiveness I." I suspect it will prevent her from getting domination; having multiple people in the house with it might be dangerous.'

Robin enters in front of me. "What was that text about?"

"Making sure we don't have conflicting Perks in the household in the future. I have a Domination perk, which conflicts with other people who have the same. I want Madelon to prevent Estera from developing it. However, Submissiveness is complementary and will not conflict with itself. I also suspect Submissiveness is mutually exclusive with Domination."

"Here, have the key to my chastity cage." They said before kissing my feet and started grinding on a pillow, and they cum. They look at their phone. "Can you tell me how I got Wealthy III? Do you have any suggestions for other improvements?"

"Thank you for your gift. Wealthy III is the result of me getting a free upgrade for a perk of yours. I would like you to have a higher Submissiveness, but I don't know what options you have." They open the app to show me the perk tree. "Personally, as someone who is copying your perks, Golden Touch[S] might be interesting, but it costs 20. For you, I would pick a Femininity, Body Confidence, or Modelling upgrade, all of which will likely improve your confidence and the way you carry yourself." I hover my finger over Domination, and it is refused. "Submissiveness, I have only seen the lowest level of, but that might not be the smartest to grab. 'Perfect Partner I' only costs 2 for something like that, it feels super cheap if you want it."

"What does it do?" I read the perk.

Perfect Partner I: Intuitive sense of what arouses your partner. Hidden: You feel your partner’s arousal as if it were your own.

"Makes you aware of what arouses me the most and I would have it as well," I say with a shrug.

"You perv." They say punching me."Anything else you would suggest?"

"Streaming perk is also an option or Sweet Voice. Oooh, expensive but interesting for 7 Domestic Dominance I. I don't know, but it lets me select it to buy it, so it doesn't conflict with Submissiveness."

"Let's buy it."

Domestic Dominance I: In your home, be respected as the authority when performing domestic duties. Hidden: You receive equal pleasure from doing things for others and enforcing your domestic preferences. Only one person in a household can hold this perk. If someone with this perk moves in, the one with the lowest Submissiveness perk or the highest Domination perk is the one who gets to decide. However, deference is given by a conflicting owner. If they later enforce their opinion, that will be used.

"To be clear, you are the one running this house. I help you where you need me."

"You saw something that made you say that, right?"

"Yep, but the app won't let me tell you."

"Hidden effects," she asks. I nod. "Okay. Let's ignore that. I will get dressed, and then we will go to Anne's place and pick up her stuff so she can live here."

"Okay, I will get dressed, and do you want me to take you along or me to have some more hobby time?"

"You mean making your costume and or a dress?"

"Yeah. But we can go with two cars if you want, we can carry more that way. But we need to keep it to a room, though."

"We definitely don't need you to come along. You just need to relax a bit. Not that I expect you to actually do anything like that."

"Thanks," I say, leaning in for a kiss.

They left me, and I started making the hood with the hat. The hood was composed of four parts: the outer part in black cloth, the front with glasses in a front piece and a hole for the beak, a rainbow liner, and a mesh between them. I also finished a top hat with a rainbow liner. All in all, it will look cool. I realise I want that echoing effect. And add a frame on the bottom jaw where I can add red colour.

Robin and Anne return around 14:00. I grab some of the stuff from the car to help Anne set up. But before I go up, Robin taps my shoulder. "She will be sleeping in our room from now on. I think we would be happier if all three of us slept in the same room. I am willing to share our bed with her, especially the new one coming. Her computer setup can be installed in my stream room."

"Yes, I will," I say, heading inside, dropping Anne's clothes in our room. Making a few more trips with the stuff Robin found important to take home.

"Now let's see if the computer works and if we need to guess another password," I say as I boot up the computer, and I can open her profile. I can see everything, all programs, all emails, everything that this machine has ever done and wasn't deleted. I see some... journal entries for lack of a better term, not labelled as such, but still, I feel guilty reading the entries I found. The wishes the plans she had for us were detailed, wild, but detailed. Very much wants to do the live-in maid, **** thing, but might not have been something she admitted to herself. I wave Robin and Anne over. "Sorry, but I found this." For the first time, I see an emotional reaction from Anne.

Flustered, she says, "I.... I.... don't know what to say. This is... I don't know, but I know you were never supposed to see this. I.. I.."

I stop her and ask, "Even if you don't know this. It is fine, I accept you, I would have accepted this all of it. Do you want to do this with us? Be our live-in maid? I can make you a cute outfit later."

Blushing Anne responds, "Yes, I would like that very much. Based on what I am reading, I might have wanted a more submissive relationship with Pieter."

"If we are going to do that, you can call me master at home and Robin, and Madelon mistress at home."

"Okay, master." She says with a smile.

The rest of the afternoon, Robin and I spent looking at washing machines and other appliances for the home, followed by a laptop for me. The afternoon flies by as we try to evaluate the different appliances and whether or not we need them. The main new additions are a larger fridge, a large freezer, a washer, a dryer, and last but not least, a laptop for myself. We also pass by a few other stores to pick up wallpaper glue, and leftover paper, as well as large black and red craft paper.

Returning home around 18:00, we find Anne has cleaned all of the apartment. It is cleaner than when we moved in. Not that, that was hard with it being covered in dust. She also has something she wants to show Robin. They head over to the office/streaming room. I also take a look, it is a tech demo for a game, a platformer to be specific. I put the stuff we brought into the arts and crafts room. Instead of trying the game, I started cooking, mainly prep.

Estera enters and asks, "So when is Madelon coming home?"

"She should be done around 19:00, it's a ten-minute cycle from there. So 19:10."

"Don't prepare food for us tonight, we will be eating out. I have a quest for a date, and staying out late doesn't seem prudent based on last time. Thanks for letting me borrow the bike."

"No problem, you could also just take her to the movies. If you head there at eight, you will be back between nine thirty and ten thirty, depending on the movie. But if you want to go out to eat, by all means, have fun."

"Thanks for the tip. Maybe some other date." She replies. I nod, put the food prep away, and start a different dish for three.

I plate the meal as two of my partners haven't returned to the kitchen. I enter the place where they have holed up. "Here is your food. Madelon and Estera are eating elsewhere, claims Estera. How is the thing Anne made?"

Grabbing their plates, Robin says, "Anne has made a great game. If we add some cool visuals and audio, it might make a cool game to sell or just share. It is also a great tech demo of her making a functional, operating user-input-based application. That is to say, she has really good programming skills. I wouldn't be able to make something like this with the appropriate unit test as she has. Do you have a programming-related perk?"

"No, not yet," Anne responds. "Would you like me to?"

"First, let's see your quests," I ask.

She completed both her quests. Her unlock quest is more complicated than the ones I've seen until now.

• Become a subservient lover to another person. (Done)
• Become level 15.
• Evolve your Class.
• Fully accept your Class role.
• Make a product you are able to sell.

"Some of the things are reasonable, gaining level 15 is a question of time, and making a product to sell you are part of the way there. The class-related ones are harder. Acceptance... I have no idea how you will do that. The class evolution... that needs an S-rank perk, I have only seen one person with one." I speak out loud.

"Roos also has an S-rank perk condition. Are the unlock requests harder over time?" Robin asks.

"Maybe... maybe... I am not sure. It can also be because of awareness of the person of the app or the order of receiving it."

"Wait, then it would be easier for Chantal to unlock under these ideas."

"Anne, no matter what, get a perk to a maximum level as soon as you can. You also gained 'Programming I' at some point, which will help with programming things for obvious reasons. It reads:
Programming I: Your ease in programming mildly increases. The design of the overall architecture is apparent in your mind.
That increases your speed of design but not necessarily coding, I guess. What I also heard from Madelon is that S-rank perks often require multiple max-level perks or other unlock conditions." I say out loud.

"Would you then consider Coding I a better investment or increasing Programming? Or Something else?" Anne asks.

I look over her possible perks; some are cheaper than Robin's. "Robin, these perks have different prices," I say, pointing to some that are more expensive and others that are cheaper. "I would invest in Modelling, as well as other perks related to your Class; they can likely enhance your Class productively."

"Thank you for your guidance. That seems reasonable, and actually smart." She admits, before buying Modelling II.

Roos rings the doorbell around 7.