"We're so very sorry, darling," said the one in pink. "We were just so entranced by your—ahem. That is to say, we were checking out the neighborhood and couldn't help but notice the sights here are rather impressive. If you were programmed with a Scottish brogue, we're definitely going to have to buy a house here. This kind of event is too good to pass up."
"Sorry to disappoint," Hugh replied, his embarrassment washed away by amusement. "I'm not an NPC. I'm an American player and I don't have a brogue."
"Oh, my, that's even better." He started to reach out like he wanted to touch Hugh's bicep, but pulled back before he could cross that line. "Since you're running on the beach, can I assume you live around here and this will be a regular sight?"
"Probably not," Hugh replied with a wince as he rocked back on his heels and stood. As he dusted the sand from his legs, he added, "Running, yes, since I need to train, but the kilt isn't something I usually wear outside. I thought my Navigator and me were the only ones in this instance or I would have changed into sweats."
"Oh, darling, you simply must wear the kilt for your runs. I insist. And think—you'd be doing an important public service by giving Renaissance Row an actual Renaissance man. Why—oh my. Are you blushing? Don't tell me you're embarrassed? Sweetheart, you have absolutely nothing to feel ashamed about with those legs and thighs and big brawny—"
"Arlyle," the man's Navigator interrupted. "You don't even know if he's gay, so take a step back. I apologize for him. It seems my player has trouble understanding the concept of personal space."
"I didn't touch him!" Arlyle cried. "Maybe I'm hovering a bit, but I've been good. And of course he's gay. Why else would he choose the only beach instance where 'LGBT friendly' was written in bold and highlighted at the top of the features list? Besides, women do not deserve to have such a masculine specimen all to themselves. I reject the very notion."
Hugh laughed and offered his hand for a quick shake, taking care not to crush the much smaller man's hand. "I can tell you're going to be good for my ego. I'm Hugh and, yes, I'm gay. And also, yes, thank you for restraining yourself. Hovering isn't so bad, but I realized the first time I walked into a gay club I really don't like being fondled by strangers."
"See?" the Navigator growled at Arlyle. "I told you people don't like it."
"Did you see me touch him?" Arlyle asked indignantly. "No, you didn't. Now enough on the subject. Hugh, darling, you must tell me everything about yourself and I insist you point out which house is yours so we can be neighbors. Okay, never mind that. I think I creeped myself out with that one, but I do hope we can be friends. Please allow me to properly introduce myself. I'm Arlyle Conrade Junior and I work as a freelance photographer. This is my Navigator, Sanders. You said you were training? Are you some kind of athlete on one of the Arena teams? Can you believe they're already holding tryouts? Rumor is ninety percent of the San Merde Colony football team logged in together on Launch day as some kind of team bonding exercise. Even their coach is here. Isn't that funny when you consider nearly all of them decided to stay without talking to anyone else? It was like they were trying to escape and ended up being dragged right back in to football because they're still under contract."
"How did you find that out?" Hugh asked.
"Oh, I hear things," Arlyle replied with an absentminded wave of his hand. "But that's not what's important. I want to hear about you. What's a big man like you training for?"
Hugh grinned and happily informed him, "I'm a gamer. I'm trying to raise my stats so I can go exploring."
"A globetrotting adventurer!" Arlyle squealed in delight. "How exciting. Are you more of the studious archaeologist type or the rogue mercenary? I simply must know."
"A little of both, maybe," Hugh said. "Would you guys mind if we walked and talked at the same time? I don't mind talking with you, but I really should keep moving. The sand is supposed to help my Dexterity stat, which is really low right now."
"Of course, darling, lead on and we'll try to keep up." Arlyle and his Navigator followed easily when Hugh didn't try to outpace them and both smiled at his consideration for their shorter legs. "Now, I won't ask your reason for logging in. You said you're a gamer, so I suppose it was only natural for you. I, myself, logged in just to see what all the fuss was about and I stayed because, honestly, real life sucks sometimes. I knew right away I'd have more opportunities in Thrive than I was ever given in the real world. But enough about me. Here's a question for you—have you seen the luscious hunk of man running the counter at Jikie Unlimited in the clothing mall?"
Hugh had been holding his breath, worried about what the small man would ask, and let out a laugh in surprise at the inane question he came up with.
"What?" Arlyle asked innocently. "I can't touch, but I'm still allowed to look. Right? That man is fiiine."
The entire way back to Hugh's house, both men stuck to topics perfectly suited to feel him out as a potential friend without prying into his life or making him uncomfortable with unwanted advances. That wasn't to say they didn't flirt. They made it very clear they found he was attractive, but he sensed it was something they did with everyone and they weren't actually hoping for a love connection. It was a habit rather than a full-force pursuit.
"Oh, wow," Arlyle said as they walked closer to Hugh's home and he noticed the lights shining in the dimming sunlight. "Look at that place. Someone has certainly been busy. How on earth did they manage to get it built up so fast? And look at all the stuff they have. I've been here since Launch day and I don't have nearly as much."
Hugh proudly answered, "The Housing page has a build menu if you don't want to wait to hire human construction workers. All the stuff is from my gaming Vault. They're Legendary items I brought into Thrive from other games."
"That's your place?" Sanders asked in awe. "You must be a very serious gamer to have such a large collection. We met with one of Arlyle's friends who claimed to be a gamer, but he didn't have nearly as many items saved in his Vault. And these are just your housing items. Would it be rude to ask about your vehicle Vault?"
Hugh grinned. "Are you asking about cars, animal mounts, or exotics? Either way, let's just say I have something for everyone."
"Oh my," Arlyle gasped, fanning himself with his hand. "We've found ourselves a real big shot, Sanders."
"A tycoon with a treasure trove," Sanders agreed. "Isn't it amazing to think most people would have called all these things worthless a mere week ago?"
"I'd call it shocking, actually. No collection should ever be called worthless. I don't care if it's river rocks or snow globes—every collection becomes a collection because someone cared enough about it to put it together. I'd call a collection like this impressive, even if it was still pixels on a VR screen. This must have taken years to put together."
"Almost twenty," Hugh said shyly. "I started gaming really young and I've been a member of GameNet since they launched. I actually have a lot more, but my Navigator has been putting stuff back to cut down on the clutter."
"Oh, is that a peacock?" Arlyle cooed when he noticed the fountain in the side yard. "Ohh, and there's a rainbow. Sanders, look, a rainbow and a peacock!"
Before Sanders could reply, Arlyle spun and gently placed a hand on Hugh's wrist to ask him to stop walking. He pulled back immediately when Hugh paused.
"I know I said it before, but I actually mean it this time. Would it bother you to have Sanders and me as neighbors? I find you absolutely fascinating and I promise I won't use our friendship to try to get free stuff. I know that has to be a concern after seeing your home. I also swear not to try to get under your kilt, which is absolutely killing me to promise, but I'm not looking for a relationship right now and I'm sensing you're not the type to hook up. I think we could be good friends, though, and—"
Hugh interrupted his plea-filled rant to say, "If you won't mind seeing me training with swords and other weapons down the road, that would be great. I was worried I'd get a neighbor who'd find it disturbing to see me do weird things. Take tonight for example. Once the moon comes up, I'm going to summon the ghost. I don't know what it's going to do, so it could get disturbing."
"A ghost?" Arlyle repeated with wide eyes. "Incredible. And no—I wouldn't mind at all. You do you, darling. Just don't be surprised if I come out with a drink and watch, especially if you keep that sumptuous kilt on."
Hugh looked down at it and winced at how his shirt-less state exposed his soft belly. It wasn't as big as a beer gut, but it was obviously untrained. He instinctively tried to cover it with his arm, which only made Arlyle and Sanders notice it even faster.
Arylye's expression softened in understanding. "You're such a big sweet bear, aren't you? You don't need to feel self-conscious, darling. A man doesn't need a six-pack of abs to be attractive and you literally have everything else going for you. I rather think a little softness makes you more approachable and far more huggable than guys who try to make every muscle look like stone." He shivered dramatically and smiled. "Have you ever tried to hug a body builder? No give at all. Fucking them can be even worse if you pick the wrong ones. You might as well stick with a glass dildo—they have the same firmness and they won't cheat on you."
Hugh choked at the outrageous comment, but Arlyle acted like it was nothing special. For him, it probably wasn't.
"But that's my experience," he continued blithely. "You might have a different one, but my point still stands."
"You mean you actually had a point?" Sanders retorted. "It sounded like bragging to me."