Merely fifteem mintes afyer THE_MAN responded to David, her excitement over the top, but he knew he had to come clean about the ARG aspect before moving forward.
He leaned forward and typed carefully, knowing this could make or break her involvement.
> David Plays stuff : So, before we go further, I should clarify something. The paranormal stuff? It's part of an ARG. All of it was staged.
Her response was almost immediate, and she seemed genuinely taken aback.
> THE_MAN: Wait, WHAT?! You mean… it was all fake??
> David Plays stuff: Well, not fake, but part of the ARG narrative. It's like a live-action horror story for the audience, and they don't know they're part of it. That's what makes it so immersive.
The reply took longer this time, and David could sense the shift in tone.
> THE_MAN: Dude, I literally thought you were haunted! Like, no joke. I was so creeped out… I even showed my brother, and we were both convinced something was up. You're telling me it was all an act?!
David couldn't help but chuckle to himself, but he kept his response tactful.
> David Plays stuff: Yeah, that's kind of the point. The fact that you believed it means it's working! That's why this ARG has so much potential. People love a good mystery. If we do this right, your audience will feel the same way. They'll be hooked before they even realize it's a game.
> THE_MAN: I can't believe I fell for it... But honestly, that's pretty genius. I mean, I'm kind of mad, but also impressed, lol. So, you want me in on this?
David knew she was coming around. This was the moment to reel her in.
> David Plays stuff: Exactly. That's why I think you'd be perfect for it. If we team up, we can take it to the next level. You've got the right personality, and your reactions are genuine—people will eat that up. You'd add a whole new dimension to the game.
> THE_MAN: Hmm… okay, okay, I'm starting to see the appeal. But how would I even be part of it? Like, what's the plan?
Now came the part where David needed to pitch the logistics.
> David Plays stuff : We'll start by integrating your content into the ARG slowly. I'll help set up the narrative on your end. But for that, I'll need to be there in person to make sure everything looks legit. We'll do some real-life setups that'll make people question what's real and what's not.
There was a long pause again. THE_MAN was clearly processing everything. David knew this was a lot to throw at someone, especially after she had been convinced it was real.
> THE_MAN: In person? I dunno… Like, I barely know you, and having someone come over for this? It's kinda risky.
David had expected this, so he didn't push too hard but kept the focus on the potential.
> David Plays stuff: Totally understandable. We can start small, maybe a meet-up in a public place first. Once you see how the setup works, you'll see I'm serious about making this professional. I'm not asking you to jump in blind. But once we start, you'll realize how huge this can be for your career. We'll plan it carefully.
> THE_MAN : You make it sound really tempting, and I gotta admit, the thought of pulling off something that big sounds awesome. But it's still kinda weird to meet up with a stranger for this. I'll need more details, like you said, before we go all in.
> David Plays stuff: Of course. I'll send you everything we need to get started. Let's plan to meet in a few days. Tomorrow's packed for me, but we can start setting things up the day after.
> THE_MAN: Sounds like a plan. Let's make it epic! .
David smiled, satisfied. He had successfully convinced THE_MAN to join him in his ARG, and now it was just a matter of getting everything into place. The groundwork had been laid.
"Wait I forgot ask her name !"
He could only sigh seeing she was now offline now.
He went to bed deciding to deal with that later.
---
Kaede woke up the next morning with her head pounding like a drum.
The intense hangover hit her the moment she opened her eyes, but worse than that was the flood of memories from the previous night.
The more she remembered, the more her stomach churned, and it wasn't just the alcohol making her feel sick.
She lay there, staring at the ceiling, replaying what had happened—her drunken, reckless behavior with David.
Her nephew.
She had thrown herself at him, tried to unbutton his shirt, and even kissed him.
The weight of it made her heart ache with guilt and shame.
Tears began to well up in her eyes. What the hell is wrong with me? she thought, clenching the bed sheets in her fists.
She could barely hold back the sobs threatening to escape.
"God… he probably hates me now," she muttered to herself, her voice shaky.
The tears started flowing freely now as she curled up, hugging her knees to her chest.
Kaede felt pathetic, like she'd crossed a line that couldn't be undone.
She couldn't even imagine looking David in the eyes after what she'd done.
He had been nothing but kind, and she had repaid that kindness by assaulting him in her drunken stupor.
What kind of person does that? The thought only deepened her self-loathing.
She hated herself in that moment more than she had in a long time.
It felt like her world was falling apart, and the one person she'd wanted to rely on probably saw her as nothing but a disgrace.
Kaede wiped at her tears, but they wouldn't stop coming.
The shame was suffocating, and the weight of her actions felt unbearable.
Kaede's heart skipped a beat when the door to her room opened.
In her panicked state, she yelped and immediately pulled the blanket over her face, hiding herself in embarrassment amd fear.
She could feel her face burning with shame as she heard the familiar footsteps of David entering the room.
Her thoughts were spinning, and all she wanted was to disappear.
David, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of coffee and a bowl of miso soup, stopped at the edge of the bed.
He looked at her curled-up figure, clearly overwhelmed with guilt. Sighing softly, he placed the tray on the nearby nightstand.
"Kaede," he said gently, "you need to eat something. It'll help with the hangover."
From under the blanket, she mumbled, "Just... just leave it there."
David sighed again, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Look, if it makes you feel any better," he began, his voice carrying a mixture of sincerity and light-heartedness, "I enjoyed the kisses, okay? I just didn't want to take advantage of you."
There was a pause, and the room fell silent.
Kaede, still hiding beneath the blanket, felt her breath catch in her throat.
Slowly, she peeked out from under the covers, her eyes red from tears, but the guilt still visible on her face.
"You... you what?" she whispered, surprised by his words.
David shrugged, offering a small smile. "Yeah. I mean, you're not bad at it. But I'm not that pathetic, Kaede. You were drunk, and I didn't want to take advantage of you. You're family, and more than that, I respect you."
Kaede stared at him for a moment, processing what he'd just said.
Clearly weirded out by the casual response to her Assault.
"That doesn't make it right," she muttered, wiping at her eyes again.
David shook his head. "No, it doesn't. But I don't hate you, Kaede. We all make mistakes, and trust me, this isn't going to change anything between us."
His words, kind and understanding, hit her like a wave.
The tears started falling again.
Slowly, she sat up, looking at him with a mix of gratitude and remorse.
"I... I'm sorry, David,I should've never even touched alcohol" she whispered.
David smiled, offering her the bowl of miso soup. "I know you are. Now, eat up. You'll feel better after some food."
Kaede took the bowl, her hands still trembling slightly.
She glanced at David, who watched her with nothing but concern and care.
Somehow, his words had made things a little easier to bear.
She took a small sip of the soup, feeling a bit of warmth return to her.
=========================
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