Fiona woke up at four o'clock in the morning, feeling jittery while she rolled back and forth on the bed. She didn't even want to know what they were all saying on the internet. Especially since one of her assistants (holy shhh- she has assistants!!!) had said that a few reporters in the crowd were actually from a news stations. Small-time stations but they actually have TV time, unlike the reporters from websites and wow, it was so exciting!
It felt like a dream.
She got up and started her day with a thirty minute hot shower, singing along terribly.
°•°
She had a camera set up for each group and a group of tech guys on standby for anything. She sat on a chair with a giant screen in front of her. Popcorn popped, pop poured and a bag of candy, she was ready for the show.
Behind her, a group was ready to watch for anything that could wrong. There was programs and systems that could help but she didn't trust them like the others. Humans were more reliable in her mind.
"Hey, guys! Are you pumped? I am!" She waved at the screen, a foolish grin on her face. "Remember, no pushing, no fighting or yelling at people. Please, be kind to our fellow humans! This is supposed to be a fun event. Any disrespectful or rude behavior will disqualify you from the game."
"Alrighty then, start the count down!" She pointed at a random person, who may have been the drink person. She looked at the screen, eagerly waiting for it to start. In the background, a count down was starting in the whole building. "Good luck to y'all!"
°•°
Juliette had planned out the course this morning, starting off with anything she can take in the hotel. The first thing was a blue bird, she knew that there was a painting with blue birds in her room. The second was a golden shoe, a lady who was from the third floor had a pair of golden heels on when they got a list. Juliette paid her fifty to get a photo.
She was able to get over twenty items in the hotel alone, with 187 to left over. Most of the list was random everyday items with only 20 oddly specific items. Like getting a photo of the Kite Statue's left hand's middle finger's scar that came from a moving accident thirty years ago. Or getting a picture of the street light on 27th Ave and Making Street when it is red and the walking one is white.
Other than that, she can get everything when she is walking. Which she can do for this challenge since the farthest thing is the Statue. So she decided against the car and took a plain bicycle and helmet. (She didn't have a license for electric bikes, she only got as far as the car and mech testing, barely passing the mech.)
It took her over three hours of pedaling for her to get all the photos. She had thought that she had lost. Until her borrowed Star 14 bracelet let out fake fireworks and music.
[Congratulations 🎉🎊👏
Juliette Frebern!! First Place!!]
{Ding! 1,000 Star Coins are added to your bank account!}
Doing quick math, she nearly choked on the air in her lungs. She got a whole year of work salary, just for winning the first challenge. She looked up at the sky, the rich and poor live in different worlds.
This Fiona must be eating with a diamond spoon and a golden fork right now!
Fiona, sitting in a dark room and eating with her fingers, sneezed loudly. "Uck! All over my buffalo chicken wing! Aww, man."
°•°
Juliette walked into the hotel, tired and exhausted. Not only did she go all over town, but she had stayed up all night, going over the list. Planning out the course and sorting out the list. She was ready to go to sleep now.
Instead she got stopped at the door by a robot. "You are being summoned to the grand hall, where you will be eating lunch." She dismissed it and started to walk towards the grand hall.
The moment she walked into the hall, all eyes landed on her. She nodded at them, ignoring her urge to bow her head in submission. A tall Alpha walked forward, a bright grin on her face, "congratulations! Did your prize go through? The other players are starting to finish up too."
Juliette tensed up, the Alpha smelled of burning wood and something she couldn't name, a almost familiar smell. The seemingly innocent Alpha walked forward, she stopped a couple feet away from her, relaxed and happy. "My name is Fiona, the hostess!"
"I know, you are the new spokesperson," Juliette smiled awkwardly. She was a casual gamer, mostly playing PC and bracelet games. VR games were too expensive for her price limits, ignoring the ancient VR gaming systems as they were lacking compared to the newer ones. Even she followed the new game, Days Ago, the graphics were amazing and not to mention that you could build a whole town.
Fiona lead her to a table, a happy grin on her face as she talked about the game and how fun it is. Juliette relaxed, enjoying how her enthusiasm for the game. It was cute to see her eyes bright, even if it was a bit awkward to use it for a Alpha like her size.
°•°
Fiona rubbed her slightly sweaty hands on her pants, while she continued her nervous babbling. Was she talking too loud? Aah! Stop talking about the game! (No matter how fun it is, people don't like her staying on a topic too long. She repeats herself far too much.) She smelled like chocolate, like the good kind that was all smooth and tasty.
"You have to be careful about what you do to NCP when there are other NCPs around, it affects your gaming. It doesn't really matter about other players, actually, you can loot if they had been playing that day." She told Juliette, watching the other people who were sat down by waiters. The chefs sent out some of the food, those things you eat before dinners started.
Snacks? Refreshments, nonono, it starts with a...
"Appetizers!" Fiona yelled out, proud that she find the word.
"What?" Juliette asked, a confused look shot her way. She coughed lightly, before waving a waiter over.
"Do you want appetizers? You are probably hungry! All that running around, dinner won't be served for a little more time." Smooth, Fiona, give herself a pat on the back. Thumbs up to you.