Winfrey

I think that should be everything.

My life for the past 4 years is in these boxes. And the trash bags too, for the stuff I can't afford to take with me or never found a reason to throw out until now.

I'm not about to get poignant over worldly possessions I'm not actually losing, and to be completely honest, I will not miss this tiny fucking apartment and my guitarist neighbour whose sleep and practice schedule seems custom-designed to piss me off. Asshole.

I am going to miss all the friends I've made, though. Oh, I'll keep in contact for sure, and I'll still be able to meet up with them after a fashion thanks to the wonders of virtual reality gaming, but it's not quite the same thing. Funny how in this day and technological age, I find myself saying that I'd rather be able to see my friends in true reality over virtual.

I guess that's my Sociology minor talking, though.

Slowly lowering myself to the floor, I sit amongst the delivery boxes like some kind of box gremlin. On the bright side, all of them are gathering up to see me off tonight. Haven't seen a few of the attendees in a while either, so it'll be nice to catch up over a glass of lemonade, because I really can't afford to get wasted and miss my flight at just past 4am. I'm already on thin ice with Uncle Eric finance-wise choosing to study at Sorbonne instead of a local university, but I just needed to get away from it all.

Not that it was too bad back at home, really. It just felt like I needed to do something real out there if I was supposed to make any fucking sense of my life and what I wanted to do with it. Sitting here, gremlinning out, I don't feel much closer to getting it after all of it. It's been a blast, but pretty low on life-changing revelations and experiences. Thought my ex, Jake, might be someone I stuck around with, up until he dumped me and went back to Germany with some guy I never met before.

This whole thing with Alex and Astral Reckoning, I don't know. Maybe it'll change that.

Not looking forward to begging Uncle Eric for the renewal fee for my private capsule licence. I can already feel his judging stare, giving me god damn goosebumps. He thinks I'm wasting too much of his money, and admittedly, he's right to be annoyed. Even if he can afford to do it for another five people and not even feel the pinch.

My phone starts ringing with the default ringtone from somewhere in the pile. Default means it's either a telemarketer robot or Alex.

Reaching back between a couple boxes, I dig out and check my phone, then answer it.

"Hey, Alex. What's up?"

"Checking in. And saying a belated farewell since you're apparently leaving Paris tomorrow," his dry voice comes over clearly.

"That's nice of you," A little unexpected, actually, "Thanks."

A light chuckle, "No problem. Has Sherry passed on what I told her at all?"

I tilt my head, thinking about the question, "Was there something specific?"

Alex lets out a mildly irritated sigh, "I suspected as much. I asked her to - perhaps not with exact words - pass on a pitch of mine concerning the creation of an Official Guild."

I frown, eyebrows knitting closer together. God damn it Sherry, why are you acting like such a bratty bitch around him?

"Sorry about her. Sherry's not normally like this."

"It's not down to you to apologise, so don't waste your breath on it," his irritation is plain, but directed at Sherry rather than me, so I let his curtness slide, "If you would humour me, then, I'll repeat roughly what I told Sherry."

"Sure, go ahead," I agree easily, more than a little miffed with Sherry myself.

"Alright, please save your questions for after, but it goes like this..."

He launches into a rather uncharacteristically impassioned pitch about his ambitions for a Guild within Astral Reckoning that is 'at the very top of pile'. Subconsciously I find myself getting a little sucked into it by the end before snapping out of it.

"You really are going all-in on Astral Reckoning, aren't you?" I observe, a little disbelieving, "Why bother, really?".

"I'm betting on the future. As for my reasoning and motivation, that's not something I'm willing to explain at this point in time, but I'll be vindicated regardless," Alex replies with an unshakeable certainty that I honestly find myself envious of, "Sorry."

"That 'unimpeachable source' of yours, is it?" I cock an eyebrow, even though he can't see me.

"More or less," I can practically hear the mental shrug, "As I told Sherry; I can and will take on most to all of the groundwork for the Guild's formation by myself, but it is at the end of the day a Guild, which requires more than a single person - and for people joining at the start, I fully intend to form a core of reliable officers from them. With each passing interaction, my evaluation for Sherry's suitability does diminish admittedly - at least for a position of responsibility - but thus far I have no such issues with you."

With how she's been acting, I'm surprised to hear he's keeping the offer open to her, "You're still willing to recruit Sherry?"

He murmurs agreement, "I weigh her potential as higher and more valuable than any personal grievances she appears to have against me. So long as she meets that potential and performs whatever duties the Guild requires of her, I don't see why I shouldn't give her a chance - Though if I must say, from what little I've seen so far, it'd be more likely for her to behave herself with you around."

That cold pragmatism is part of what puts her off, I recall, "Perhaps. Let's say I did join your Guild. What exactly are you offering?"

"My full and uninhibited support. I realise that sounds...arrogant and somewhat lacking, but my knowledge of Merrow is second to few and the only true asset I have to my name at this point in time. Our excursion to Farmer's Folly was a small fraction of it. Additionally, belonging to a Guild comes with certain benefits that unaffiliated players do not possess, from access to Guild-specific content, to a larger support network which, as a prospective officer, you would have better access to than most," Alex takes another deep breath, "Regardless of your decision, I will endeavour to match sincerity with sincerity. But in future, I will in all likelihood attach a fee to my knowledge, if I agree to its sale at all."

In essence, no discrimination for a valued employee, "What's to stop me from taking the benefits and running?"

"I will, naturally, require a minimum of time spent working for the benefit of the Guild, plus a severance fee, as enforced by a system-witnessed contract. A second contract will enforce confidentiality - within the game at least. I don't have any way of getting you to sign a proper NDA, but even so, I doubt it would be necessary" he admits candidly.

"And by minimum you mean..?"

"6 Real Months, from the day the contract is signed, not including any breaks for provable personal emergencies which I won't hold against you, even if I do expect the full duration."

I grimace, "That's pretty tough. You're basically asking for a whole year of virtual time, not to mention the burden on my real-life finances."

"Please don't misunderstand - this is the bare minimum to be considered a core member. If you wish to take a more passive role, the contracts will not be necessary," his voice is oddly calm, now.

"...How long would it take for the financial support for officers to come into effect?" This is perhaps the most important question.

"Dependant on development, but within a few weeks of the upcoming Update. The current market is too young and volatile to be able to provide a consistent revenue stream with in-game currency, let-alone real currency. My current priority is the amassing of in-game funds for the Guild's formation and development, and the influence it will have on reality will be limited during it's infancy."

I grit my teeth and think it over. Stripping it down to its roots, he's basically offering me a management position in a start-up company based on a product that he's predicting will greatly appreciate in value. The main sticking point is whether or not I can afford to commit to it that deeply under present conditions. I can maybe rely on my Uncle if I have something to show for it, so it'd be one thing if the Guild already existed with good prospects for future growth in both real and virtual spheres, but he doesn't even have that.

So, in the end, it all comes down to a question of whether or not I think I can trust him.

As I'm considering it, Alex speaks up, "I'm not looking for an immediate answer, so take some time to consider it. I won't wait forever, however - this is happening regardless of your answer or lack thereof, so there is something of a nebulous time limit if you wish to get the most out of it."

I shut my eyes and stretch my legs out. After some thought, I come to a decision, "Alright. Put me down as interested for the time being, but I'll need to convince my Uncle to support me through the beginning stages, or it won't be possible."

Alex sighs with what I can only imagine is relief, "That's...good to hear. Thank you. If necessary, I am available to talk to him should he require further convincing of my sincerity in this venture, but I understand if you'd rather not involve me in your private affairs."

"It's alright, thank you for the offer. I might need to cash in on it," I shake my head, "Speaking of private affairs, I need to take a nap before my farewell party tonight; I'm more or less going straight to the airport after. You wanna stop by at all?"

He hums, "I'll be doing some work in-game all day, but if it's not too far away I might consider dropping in just to wave goodbye at least. I don't want to overstay my welcome."

"That's plenty. Don't worry if you can't, though," I smile, "We're meeting at a bar about two blocks away from Sanctuary called 'Marché de la bière moderne'. Blech, mouthful."

"A rather blunt name. Yeah, I know it, if vaguely. Only been once, a long while back."

The way he says that sounds a little off, but I can't put my finger on why. It doesn't help that his inflection is even blander outside of the game when he's not talking about it. Regardless, it's really none of my business.

"I'll see you there, if you do show up, then."

"Alright then," He hangs up.

I yawn, then leave my phone on a box as I stand up. I don't think now's a good time - neither is tonight - but if I'm going to give this Guild thing a go I really need to get Sherry to calm her tits and stop being a brat. Somehow. Which is going to be like pulling teeth from a lion barehanded.

It's not like I don't get it on some level, but at this point, I just need something to do with myself. Maybe this harebrained scheme of his is the answer, maybe it isn't. But it's not any more extreme than what I've already tried, so who fucking cares.

I can feel the sleeping pills calling me to bed. Naptime.

---

 

Marché de la bière moderne, Paris

As if setting the mood for the evening, it's been raining since I hobbled out of Gaming Sanctuary, and come morning it'll most likely freeze into ice. It's just as well I have a cheap, collapsible umbrella in one of my backpack's side pockets, but it's pretty flimsy protection against the chill winds launching adjacent raindrops beneath its cover.

If it's setting the mood for anybody though, it'd probably be Winfrey. My own egress from Paris over the Channel wasn't nearly as dramatic - but then I can hardly say I have much in the way of a social life. Or had, more appropriately.

Stood under the open canopy, I vaguely see the silhouette of a small woman smoking a cigarette I think is probably Sherry. Mid-drag, she starts choking when she notices my approach from surprise.

"The fuck're you doing here?!" She splutters, coughing excess smoke from her lungs.

"Obviously, I was invited," I respond dryly, "I don't intend to stay long."

Not waiting for a response, I enter the bar. The quicker I get this done, the quicker I get to sleep.

In spite of the weather, or perhaps because of it, the bar is fairly packed - mostly with students - and alive with multilingual conversation I have no interest in eavesdropping on. Pushing through and past a few groups taking up space in the gaps between tables, I spot Winfrey at the back with close to a dozen people whom I either don't recognise or have only seen in passing at the internet cafe in the establishment's uniform.

Spotting me by the irritated sounds from the people obstructing my way, she raises a single hand in greeting. Sticking my hand in my pocket, I pull out a cheap data storage peripheral I bought on the way to the cafe which I've put a few documents on - detailing basic information about Astral Reckoning, a draft of the contracts and a rough outline of my expected schedule up until RotA based on what I've accomplished and observed so far.

Feeling the stares from her friends, I try to ignore the awkwardness of my presence here as I approach, "Good evening."

Winfrey nods, "Thought you'd skip out on it, honestly."

I hold up the peripheral, "I came to hand over this. It's a follow-up to this morning's conversation."

Edging around the table, I reach over and drop it in her outstretched palm with an appraising look.

"What for?" Winfrey looks up questioningly from her hand.

"Just a few documents. They're a little sensitive, so I thought it'd be best if I didn't send them directly. With that, safe travels, I'm going to go home before your friends' staring drills holes through me."

With a wave farewell, I turn and push back through the crowd, ignoring the hostile glare from Sherry as I leave into the rain.