Trash Studio

"Good evening sir. We just processed your order. Thank you for your purchase. As part of our VIP services, would you like to make any customizations to your helmets, prior to its delivery?" A calm and sweet voice spoke through the phone.

"Uh, yes, I'd like to have both helmets in black please?"

"Yes sir. A drone will deliver your helmets to the address you provided, tomorrow. Is 8:00 AM a good time?"

"Yes, that's fine."

Dave could not believe it, this crazy bast*rd had really bought two legendary packs at a go.

"OK, thank you. Please enjoy your game."

Pain ended the call and turned to face his new 'friend' who had yet to recover from the shock.

"What are you mulling for? come, follow me. I need to show you where we'll be working. Haha. This game really sounds interesting."

The rest of the evening was spent planning and buying all the equipments they needed. There was even a T-suit. It was made of polyester, for keeping the muscles relaxed during prolonged gaming sessions. A player could go on for days, with sufficient nutrition, without feeling any muscular cramps, or pain at all. It was a must-have for hard core gamers.

Time had flown by quickly, and soon, it was time for the neighbours to leave. John and Haley were waiting as Dave rushed towards them. However, the words he spoke next, floored them.

"Uh, Mum, dad, can I sleep over? We are having so much fun."

"Uh... Ok?" John looked towards Haley.

"Is it ok Edmund?" Haley asked.

"It's fine. Don't worry, we don't mind at all." Bell responded. He intended on spending the night in the laboratory anyway. It needed a lot of tweaking and fixing. He'd already ordered for some items to be delivered following day.

The trio escorted the John and Haley to the gate, as they waved them goodbye. It was a long day. The night had finally settled in, and the streets were almost empty.

"Haley, do you not find it strange Dave decided to sleep over? I mean, he's never wanted to sleep over at other people's houses. The other time, I had to drag him over to your sister's, because he did not want to stay over."

"Hmm... Indeed, I find it extremely strange, yet, it is exactly because he dislikes these kind of stuff that we should allow him to get more used to it. I wonder what it is that compelled him to stay though."

Dave's parents were in disbelief. For the first time since he was brought into this world, Dave actually, willingly wanted to sleep over at someone else's home. If they had known this was because of a game, they would have definitely gone mad and dragged his unfilial a*s back home.

The couple walked on in silence, as they suddeny felt an indescribable feeling coursing through their bodies. Was it shock? Happiness? Suspicion? They weren't even certain themselves. One thing was for sure though, it was a good thing Dave wanted to step out of his comfort zone, so just let him be.

Back at the mansion, Pain pushed a button embedded in the wall. The bed slowly arranged itself as he lay on it. He was extremly full. He had to compliment Haley's cooking skills. It was a very sumptuous meal.

Dave was in the shower, he did not bring any clothes or necessities to sleep over, since even he had not expected he would do so. But the House was already filled with such items. The wardrobe had a few signature clothes that came with the purchase. It was an additional perk the real estate agency had thrown in. They knew the rich lived fast lives, and would not necessarily have the time, or the patience to order for such items. Hence, they had gone out of their way to include them.

'My God, what a comfortable life, if I lived like this everyday, would I not grow even more handsome?' Dave wondered. These people really had it good.

Although he was a bit nervous, the excitement from getting to see, touch and own a legendary helmet tomorrow was enough to get him to sleep over for even a hundred years. One had to know, there were only a hundred of these and two of them would be in this house. Even the professional gaming studios like Blazing sun, Aurora and Forge; the top three studios in Sandan; would not have such financial power. They earned at most, a few million in endorsements.

Only the studio leaders would probably be able to obtain these helmets. Yet, their newly founded gaming studio - which they had decided to name 'Shadow' - already had two of these.

The top gaming studios would definitely die of envy, if they learnt such a 'trash' studio had these rare helmets. The leader had not even played games before! 'What a waste!' they would have surely thought.

The two boys could not stop talking about Gaia. They read all the information released by Frost entertainment concerning the game's mechanisms.

Pain, eventually found out Frost entertainment actually had the backing of Frost City. Owning over sixty percent of the company's shares, Frost City's financial department definitely called the shots. Even most of the gaming studios were contemplating establishing their headquarters over there.

Gaming had become an extremely lucrative business in these times. Players could earn tens of thousands of zen, from the sale of in-game items, and services. Even some of the extremely good players, could rake in close to a million zen in endorsements. It was the time for gamers.

Time flew by and the Gaia-crazed duo finally fell asleep.

Bell, after he'd served the kids the dinner Haley had made had rushed into the laboratory. He was satisfied with everything so far. It seemed the snotty brat was having fun, and to him, that was all that mattered. But he knew, no amount of care he gave him, would vindicate him from his past sins. It was a thorn in his flesh, and a cross he had to bear alone.