The System In My Head
Leveling Solo
'I'm alone. I grind. Forever. My solo boss. I'm a solo soldier! I played the game myself!'
Ben was playing Dance Dance Revolution in his dorm room...
*Tap***Tap***Tap***Tap*
He brought a pad from home and connected it to his computer monitor. Before going out, he thought it was the perfect way to warm his body and brain...
***
There it was, a flashing red neon light: "Domina." It was once again a good night so Ben went back to the dungeon. He's waiting on the line now. Working the lines didn't seem like a good idea to him because everyone was in the group. He was not confident to ease the obstacles inside, let alone the quiet outside and less interference.
[Dungeon guards detected]
When Ben got to the front, he received the message. There are some big guards checking IDs, trustees who are given titles. As someone prepares to check on Benny BeVito, a voice emerges from his walkie talkie: "Shaggers! The shaggers! We got shaggers!"
Ben squinted his eyes. 'Does Austin Powers work here?'
The two guards exchanged glances and one of them ran inside while the other held back the line. A minute later, guards running in and other staff members escorted the couple in their 30s in disheveled clothes. Later, the guards check the ID and allow Ben to enter. As he entered, a man from inside passed by him and rushed to the head of the guard, asking, "Why did you expel my wife?"
...
'Definitely be an interesting party.' Ben thought. Walking in, the speakers sent waves of dance music all over her body, giving her deja vu from the last visit. He walks and gets a spot at the bar, ordering a ginger ale from a cute female bartender.
[Boss mini dungeon detected]
'...So all the staff came into play, ' Ben realized. He tries to hit her and the other cute bartenders, but they are too busy to give him much of a response. So he began to observe the guests, seeing a beautiful girl in two sets not far from him. He walked closer. "Hey, this—"
Before Ben could finish his opening, his overweight target friend cut him off. "Stop! Don't talk to us until you get taller, okay?"
After a moment of silence...Ben sneered at the obstacle, asking her, "Can you dance?"
He blinked. "Of course."
"Then how about you go dance there while I talk to your friend ..."
He doesn't know how to respond.
"And I'd like to offer you a counter-offer for your height request. You can consider it while there." Ben hooked his fingers in front of himself. He's watched Shark Tank in the gym before... He narrowed his eyes and stopped for a dramatic effect. After double-checking the numbers in his mind, he relayed his offer. "I'll get taller .. when you get thinner!"
...
The obstacle invaded. It's unfortunate for Ben that his cute friend followed him despite still giggling at third-degree burns ... Seeing the vacation target, he was not upset. 'He has a bias towards the skinny ...'
Ben returns to his place at the bar and searches for a new target. He knew tonight wouldn't be easy, because he still didn't have a good understanding to defuse the obstacles, and that was with the help of a wingman. Now, he has to do it himself, somehow keeping the obstacles busy while he works on his friend. It's a good thing he expects trouble in advance and makes some preparations. Now, it's time to see what works.
With most of the crowd dancing to cheerful music, Ben sees two girls standing alone near a wall. She went. The opener went well. After a short chat, he caught their attention. 'OK, now I have to keep that obstacle filled.'
Ben leaned against the obstacle and whispered into his ear, "Hey, I have a gift for you..."
His eyes turned shining with hope ...
He handed it to her with the best intentions: a magazine...
...
Later, Ben ignores her, letting Conde Nast Publishing do its job, while she starts chatting with her cute friend.
The barrier stared at the magazine for a long time with its face frozen in confusion ...
...
Half a minute later, Ben returns to the bar reviewing the flop. 'He doesn't like House & Garden .. but that's his disadvantage. Happy keeping husband without knowing how to maintain a good household...'
He sighed. 'I think magazines are a bad move ... These women do not want to read passively. Besides, this isn't a waiting room. I need to consider a more active approach ...' He already has some ideas. At that moment, two girls walk into the bar at the right time, and Ben opens it.
Like the last set, the opener jammed and he talked and laughed with them. Then, it was time to overcome those obstacles. 'Something more active ...' He reminded himself.
Ben told her, "Hey, you seem so smart to me ..."
His face was beaming at the compliment.
Ben returned a warm smile, then handed her something—her unfinished math house job last week...
...
"Enjoy..." Ben turned around and began to tease his sweet friend.
