Theodore decided the most dangerous activity should come first: getting Alcina behind the wheel.
They used the Hub's localized access point to materialize on a large, deserted airport runway outside of town.
"Okay, Alcina, this is the basics,"
Theodore instructed, sitting in the passenger seat of an old, automatic sedan he'd acquired.
"The right pedal is the 'Go,' the left pedal is the 'Stop.' Remember, no super-speed, no crushing the metal. Just gentle movements."
Alcina gripped the steering wheel with intense focus. Her centuries of commanding a castle did not translate well to controlling a two-ton vehicle.
"I understand the mechanism, Theodore,"
She said imperiously.
"However, the lack of proper spatial warning is distracting."
She pressed the 'Go' pedal, but instead of a gentle acceleration, she slammed it. The car screeched forward, throwing Theodore back into his seat.
"Woah! Not all at once! Gentle!"
Theodore yelled, bracing himself.
Alcina found the concept of gradual slowing illogical.
When told to stop, she slammed the brake pedal. The car instantly went from seventy miles per hour to a dead stop, causing everything inside to lurch violently.
"See? Perfect cessation of motion!"
Alcina announced, utterly pleased with the extreme stop.
"You gave us whiplash, Alcina! You can't do that at a stoplight!"
Theodore rubbed his neck.
"Marika, intervention, please!"
Marika, observing from the backseat, offered calm counsel.
"Lady Dimitrescu, in this realm, all actions require subtlety and anticipation. Think of it as steering a massive, slow-moving spell. You must guide the energy, not command it instantly."
After an hour of white-knuckle driving, Alcina finally mastered the art of acceleration and braking without causing mass casualty, though she still viewed traffic laws as personal suggestions.
Next, Theodore and Alcina attended a job interview to secure Alcina's cover as a high-end gallery owner/interior designer.
They chose a prestigious, slightly eccentric gallery owner named Mr. Sterling.
Theodore prepped Alcina in the car.
"Okay, remember: you're 'Alcina Dimitrescu,' a wealthy socialite. You don't need the job, you want the status. Use the terms I taught you: 'curation,' 'eclectic,' and 'artisanal fusion.'"
Alcina, dressed impeccably in a modern, dark power suit, maintained an air of chilling authority as they entered Mr. Sterling's office.
Mr. Sterling, a small, nervous man, started the interview, clearly intimidated by her height and gaze.
"Ms. Dimitrescu, your portfolio, though sparse, suggests a fascinating... aesthetic. Why do you wish to open a gallery here?"
Alcina leaned forward slightly, causing Mr. Sterling to visibly gulp. She didn't use the prepared lines; she channeled her actual experience as a castle owner.
"Mr. Sterling,"
Alcina said, her voice rich and commanding.
"I have curated and maintained a collection of the grotesque and the beautiful for over a century. I understand the value of lasting, impactful design that subjugates the viewer through sheer presence. Your gallery is adequate, but it lacks terror. I will remedy this. I will bring true, unnerving beauty to your city. I require a business license and full creative control."
Theodore winced, expecting the interview to fail.
However, Mr. Sterling was utterly captivated by her terrifying confidence.
"Terror... unnerving beauty... I... I love it!"
Mr. Sterling stammered, his eyes shining.
"It's revolutionary! It's exactly what the local scene needs! We can sign the papers immediately, Ms. Dimitrescu!"
Theodore face-palmed silently. Of course, her pure, unadulterated 'Lord' confidence is the ultimate business strategy.
Back in the quiet serenity of the Hub, Theodore dismissed Marika and the Dimitrescu sisters to practice driving simulation games on a nearby terminal.
He pulled up his personal interface to select his next adventure.
==={Status}===
Name—Theodore Mayer
Level 12
Job Gamer
STR 1
VIT 1
AGI 1
DEX 1
INT 1
LUK 1
Free Stats 24
==={}===
Theodore scrolled through the available game worlds, his finger hovering over a massive, desolate world icon.
"Okay, Resident Evil was a good chaotic run, but I need something with serious action, great lore, and preferably a tragic, beautiful female lead. Perfect palette cleanser,"
Theodore muttered to himself.
He selected the next world: Nier: Automata.
[System Query: Select Next World?]
[Target World: Nier: Automata (Post-Apocalyptic, High-Action RPG)]
The system interface, which possessed a distinct, judgmental artificial intelligence, responded with a critical tone:
[System Comment: Subject Theodore, the selection of World 48 is noted. However, your consistent preference for worlds featuring highly competent, highly attractive, yet tragically vulnerable female protagonists is, frankly, disturbing.
[Analysis: World 48 (Nier: Automata) features the character 2B, an android explicitly designed for combat. Your motivation appears to be less about 'gameplay' and more about fulfilling a 'rescue fantasy,' often resulting in emotional attachment and disruption of established narrative tragedy.
[Judgment: Pervert.]
Theodore rolled his eyes, ignoring the robotic moralizing.
"Oh, shut up. It's got awesome swordplay and killer music. And who cares if 2B needs a little help from a cross-dimensional wizard? It's called being the hero, not a pervert."
[System Rebuttal: Your use of the fly swatter on Ms. Alcina Dimitrescu's buttocks suggest an unhealthy obsession with aesthetics derived from questionable sources. Furthermore, your current attachment to Ms. Dimitrescu's daughters is highly suspect.]
"Just load the damn world, System! I'm ready to roll! Give me the mission parameters!"
Theodore demanded, ignoring the blush creeping onto his face.
[System Acknowledgment: Parameters Loading. Attempting to bypass moral assessment. Next Mission: Infiltration of the Machine Lifeform Network. Good luck, Subject Theodore. Try not to break the androids' hearts this time.]
The light in the Hub intensified, ready to pull Theodore into the world of desolate ruins and robotic warfare.
Little spoiler: 2B
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