Chapter 377

“I said I was sorry.” James said, once again, exasperated as he looked helplessly at Rue.

“Toast, Glyax?” She shook her head. “You put toast before me?” Apparently, she had been watching his house, expectantly, for his return. Apparently, at her request, Fel had left a few camera feeds running inside of his house and given Rue sole access to them. And so, apparently, Rue had been stalking him.

Okay, that last bit was harsh. Maybe not stalking… She had been waiting for his return, so she could greet him upon arrival. However, his little toast escapade, which she had been watching in slow motion from immersion, had rubbed her the wrong way.

“You know what happens if I enter immersion hungry.” He grumbled, eyeing the pixie. He’d done it once before, and it had sucked. Now, he could at least eat in immersion, but it wouldn’t take care of the hunger pangs. Biological triggers, while able to be ‘suspended’ while immersed, could still make their way to the body and mind in immersion. And living for a whole week while hungry, sucked.

“The least you could have done, was send me a message.” She replied darkly. “I would have understood if you’d messaged me. But you’ve been ignoring your messages, and then just sat there, having a piece of toast, while I waited for you.” She narrowed her eyes. “It felt like I was watching you eat toast for an entire hour.”

“Sorry,” James replied sheepishly. Time dilation was a double-edged sword. Worked great if you were trying to make the most of hours in the real world. But monitoring real world events, while immersed…was a bit of a drag.

“Besides,” he continued, “didn’t you notice my glasses were missing? I wasn’t ignoring you. My AR glasses are gone.”

Understanding crossed Rue’s eyes in an instant, though her body language stayed in one of fake anger for a moment longer. “You always did have a habit of losing things that weren’t attached to you.”

He looked at her, and she smirked. A moment later, they were both smiling as the tension left the area. Rue rushed towards him, wrapping her arms tightly around him, her warmth flowing into him. He returned the embrace with longing, and for a moment, everything was perfect. He never wanted that moment to end.

“I can come back later?” Steve’s voice pulled James from his moment with Rue, and James opened his eyes. He wasn’t sure how long the developer had been there, nor how long he’d been embracing Rue. Honestly, he’d just gotten back into immersion. There was so much he needed to catch up game wise. He didn’t really have time for any more interruptions.

“What’s going on Steve?” James asked? Rue twisted around in his grasp, so that she was facing Steve as well, while letting James keep her wrapped up in an embrace. Steve still looked haggard, and James wondered if the developer had been in immersion this entire time. It was obvious, from what had been going on, that BLANK and Steve were able to get around the government’s strict immersion hours restrictions. Which…didn’t surprise James. After all, those with power, or those who knew people with power, could always skirt the rules.

“First, I wanted to say how glad I am to see you back in the game, safe and sound.” Steve said, and his tone, and eyes, both spoke more than his words ever could. “I was worried for you buddy.”

“Thanks.” James said. “It was your old friend Xander, that put me in danger in the first place.” He added without thinking about it. He was a little bitter about that still.

A pained expression crossed Steve’s face. One that seemed to go a little deeper than just the history between Steve and Xander. “He…won’t cause anyone trouble, ever again.” Steve said. The words, and the way he said them, made James think back to Matt and Rachel. Their mood, when talking about their father, had been subdued and grim as well. The…solutions James could imagine the government had put into place regarding the lead developer of DCO, weren’t good. But James’s own wounds were still too raw for him to feel any sympathy for the man.

That thought…made James immediately feel sympathy for the man. He’d been through hell. And Xander had been a huge part of it. But…James wouldn’t wish the government’s ire on the man. Inhumane was too simple a word for what the government was capable of.

“That aside,” Steve said, clearing the air, “isn’t the only reason I’m here.” Steve took his towel off and walked into the hot spring waters, sinking deep into their embrace. James and Rue, currently, were standing on the edge of it, having not yet gotten in themselves.

“Have you seen the announcements?”

James looked at Steve and shook his head. He’d literally just gotten back into the game. Steve should know that. Besides, he’d had more pressing matters than checking his messages immediately. Mainly, Rue, and hopefully, a meeting with Rue’s lips, for at least a few damned minutes. All work and no play would make James a dull boy.

But, at the very least, this gave James a prime opportunity. “No, my AR glasses were lost during this whole hacker incident.” He said as he nudged Rue towards the water. She squirmed playfully, but her clothes instantly disappeared into just her bikini. “Figured I would ask you for a replacement. Considering everything that’s gone on.”

Steve looked at him and shook his head. “You’re definitely your parent’s child.” He said with a grin. “I’m guessing you want them by the morning, yeah?”

“If, it’s in your powers to do so.” James returned Steve’s knowing smile.

“Consider it done buddy. It’s the least I can do, I suppose.” Steve laughed and made a few quick motions, indicating he was pulling up screens and sending messages. James used the time to get into the water with Rue, letting the warm steam comfort him. This fifth floor of his, was a literal godsend. From it, he could live, quite literally, the life of luxury. Hell, a hot spring of this quality within the Zone, even considering James’s financial situation, would normally drain someone’s account quite quickly. Meaning, of course, it had the added benefit of being a huge draw for his players. Another reason, he figured, for them to keep playing DCO within his dungeon. And a key tourist trap for players from other dungeons.

“Thanks.” James said as a Painguin server brought him over a drink. He’d ordered it mentally as he’d made his way into the hot spring. The adorable tuxedo wearing server had a tray with three drinks on it, and after it served James his cooled, liquor infused hot chocolate, it gave drinks to both Rue and Steve.

Now that he was comfortably settled, drink in hand, James turned his full focus back to Steve.

“So, before I pull up my Hud.” He started. “Is there anything I should be prepared for?”

“Well,” Steve looked from Rue to James, “I figure you’ll want to read them all, rather quickly. After all, you’re running out of time.”

James didn’t like that. He didn’t like that at all. And so, after a quick, sweet drink, he pulled open his Hud. As he selected his messages, he couldn’t help but feel his heart rate increase. Seriously?