Snippet Saturday

Snippet Saturday

from Kingdom of Bumalia

"...you and I share a different relationship. You have given me a job that… I want to fulfill as best as I can; however, that entails working closely with you and being sure anything you do doesn’t affect what I have to do.” She paused. “Think of it this way, it’s true people my age don’t view you as a major authority, we see you as someone we can relate to and with that comes a level of dismissal.”

Leigh looked off. “So my words will never hold against you? That seems to be true for everyone around me; if not this, then it’s my age and if not my age, it’s my standing.”

Cassie’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to be rude, but can I say something?”

“Go ahead.”

“You keep up such a bright smile, but have feelings like this. I think it’s completely fine that you’re sometimes upset or hurt by the words of others. I feel you should embrace those feelings and grow from them, because that hurt you’re feeling is a part of who you are.”

He looked back at her. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard tales of you being bested in battle or screamed at for an inability to work and yet in those moments your smile never wavered. This shows those problems don’t phase you, but these do. Working to remedy these problems should be at the forefront. Above all else, you should think, how am I going to make myself feel better?”

Leigh’s eyes watched her face intently, so much so that Cassie had to avoid his gaze. She reached to adjust her book below her and when she looked back up Leigh was sitting upright again.

“How do you have such wise words?”

“Because I have lived my life instilled with fear from an early age. My nature dictates I am very fearful of anything that comes my way and instead of allowing it to control me, I found a way to cope with it. Writing, reading, drawing and painting; anything expressive has helped me to mitigate my feelings and develop a fondness for what I do now.”

Leigh then looked to the top of her head. “I always forget what you are because you hide your bunny ears. However, maybe that bias should be avoided and I should learn this look of yours.”

Some of my favorite words and phrases to describe a character in pain

coiling (up in a ball, in on themselves, against something, etc)

panting (there’s a slew of adjectives you can put after this, my favorites are shakily, weakly, etc)

keeling over (synonyms are words like collapsing, which is equally as good but overused in media)

trembling/shivering (additional adjectives could be violently, uncontrollably, etc)

sobbing (weeping is a synonym but i’ve never liked that word. also love using sob by itself, as a noun, like “he let out a quiet sob”)

whimpering (love hitting the wips with this word when a character is weak, especially when the pain is subsiding. also love using it for nightmares/attacks and things like that)

clinging (to someone or something, maybe even to themselves or their own clothes)

writhing/thrashing (maybe someone’s holding them down, or maybe they’re in bed alone)

crying (not actual tears. cry as in a shrill, sudden shout)

dazed (usually after the pain has subsided, or when adrenaline is still flowing)

wincing (probably overused but i love this word. synonym could be grimacing)

doubling-over (kinda close to keeling over but they don’t actually hit the ground, just kinda fold in on themselves)

heaving (i like to use it for describing the way someone’s breathing, ex. “heaving breaths” but can also be used for the nasty stuff like dry heaving or vomiting)

gasping/sucking/drawing in a breath (or any other words and phrases that mean a sharp intake of breath, that shite is gold)

murmuring/muttering/whispering (or other quiet forms of speaking after enduring intense pain)

hiccuping/spluttering/sniffling (words that generally imply crying without saying crying. the word crying is used so much it kinda loses its appeal, that’s why i like to mix other words like these in)

stuttering (or other general terms that show an impaired ability to speak — when someone’s in intense pain, it gets hard to talk)

staggering/stumbling (there is a difference between pain that makes you not want to stand, and pain that makes it impossible to stand. explore that!)

recoiling/shrinking away (from either the threat or someone trying to help)

pleading/begging (again, to the threat, someone trying to help, or just begging the pain to stop)

Feel free to add your favorites or most used in the comments/reblogs!

Okay, now onward to little things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. I also finally figured out the genre of game this would be and that's a social game.

I'll start with:

Cosmetics/Character customization

So, I'll start first with general cosmetics. I have a very strong itch to play a game where I can customize both my character and the house/room/plot of land they reside in without the game being either farm based, purely fashion based, typical gacha "wait 30 years or watch an ad", or just "anime" style with no other designs. Because of this, one of the first things I thought of was creating a separate mode where the players could customize a character to their liking, with their pronouns, and more than just "generic anime" hairstyles. There would obviously be generic anime hair styles, but there'd also be afro styles and other poc styles (I'd have to do some research on any other group outside of African though).

In the main mode, you wouldn't be able to chance the MC outside of her name. Her appearance would be locked kind of like Link or the Persona protags. Once you've played through a story and completed it with the MC, you'd be able to replay it as your customized character in the freeplay mode.

There would also be a place for the players to design their own apartment/house/plot of land (depending on what makes the most sense) and through the game's various mini-games, you'd be able to unlock items. Some items would be harder to get and would require playing a mini-game or going through some sequence properly to unlock something. We're going for replayability＼(＾▽＾)／

Since I was thinking for this game to be FtP, I had to come up with something to still make money, but make it accessible for everyone to get everything in the game. So, it made sense to have the paid options be simply to speed things up or get extra of something in case someone is lazy as hell and doesn't want to replay something. However, the option to play it normally isn't a slog either, it's just like playing any game normally vs. cheesing the the area.

Also, I wanted to add this little note but I didn't know where, but I also really wanted this game to be interesting for gaymers as well. I do have family who happen to fall under that category so I have a little--just a tiny bit--of knowledge when it comes to that.

In this case, the game wouldn't be to catered to physical things at all. Obey Me! does a pretty good job keeping the MC gender neutral, but it has its limits and I'm going to push them as hard as I can! (pause) Being who I am, I don't really fit into any category very well as I don't like most traditionally girl things and I'm uninterested in most guy things, so almost all the time my characters interact romantically in a way that you could use any pronoun and it would work. I don't like the term handsome and most certainly do not think the words "pretty" "cute" or "beautiful" only describe women. Usually, my descriptors are general and describe the way someone's appearance makes you feel (ex. if someone has pretty eyes I'll usually just say their eyes are captivating or they're easy to get lost in.)

Events

I wasn't exactly sure what this would be considering I don't want to become an Obey Me! with bi-weekly events that drain your resources, but I also didn't want to make events that had items locked behind their event period and once they were gone, they were gone. I also know apart of the fun with events is working really hard to get something special, so if it's available all the time it wouldn't be very much fun. So, my fix for this was to dog tag a page from Obey Me!

They have it where after six months(?) events come back and the players have free access to participate again for four days so long as they have a consumable. I still don't want it to be exactly like that, so the easiest solution is just to have events rollback when their original date passes (ex. if there's an event during April, then April the next year, the events returns for the same amount of time). Simple and effective.

As for the events themselves. I actually tend to write a holiday special for the bois every year so the usual New Year's, Christmas, Valentine's, Halloween, and Thanksgiving would be celebrated, but I've always wanted to incorporate many celebrations from various places. Things like Mardi Gras which is a celebration that's pretty centralized in one place. Obviously, that would mean some research, but I already have most of the characters having different backgrounds (Brayleigh is French, Jessica is half Japanese/French, Ankara has Pacific Islander in him, Terumichi is Korean, Amai is half Black/Japanese, and Shugi is whatever I need him to be lol) so it'd be pretty easy to use their backgrounds and try and incorporate some festivals, holidays, and other special occasions in here!

And of course, the events would have special outfits for the boys to be dressed in, don't worry. You have no idea that a kimono Aki, demon Akuma, beach Koto, and casual Ankara live rent free in my head.

CGs/character art

I say this a lot, but I'll say it again, I can't draw; however, if I ever did find someone to work with, I'd have a lot of character CGs and just so things can stay as inclusive as possible, their character art would be anywhere between just solo art of the character in question or art with a character insert (maybe like a hand or something)

side note: the only reason I'm not too into having a character insert is because it feels generic and like it's almost impossible to account of every position with a certain hair style or skin tone. I know some games have done it, but they more or less prove my point. In this case, I think less is more.

The CGs more looked like just beautiful art of the character from a scene or of them in a stylized outfit. Being able to have a gallery full of each one would be a dream~

Other/Misc.

There's not a lot more I wanted to add, but some small things would be to have a challenge mode for each of the mini-games and achievements for random things.

This is just a off the cuff thought, but it'd be cute to have the overworld city somehow have online multiplayer where people could chat with other people in the city or play solo (since I am more of a solo player anyways).

Competitions kind of rub me the wrong way, but it'd be nice to have some rankings for the mini-games

I guess I'll add this part to the first reblog: I didn't want the game to have bad endings because they usually just making the player feel like shit for having an opinion, so it made more sense to have it like Phoenix Wright where you're playing the story as the MC and to have a separate freeplay mode where character's choice would matter. It might be too ambitious, but having the freeplay mode have different endings sounds interesting.

A small ex. would be in one of the short stories, Cassie is sick and Akihiko comes over to take care of her. The players would then have the option to reject him and see a different route play out, almost like a what-if scenario.

But, for now, that's all the ideas I feel I can share. If I come up with anything else I'll add it, but like always...

Thanks for reading multiple

🍂

Here again after my usual hiatus this time though it was because of real world shit, aka setting appointments to get my teeth removed yay but I wanted to post something.

So, just today (or yesterday it's 2am for me) I finished a page on my website about an idea I got about a game idea. This is pretty common for me, but I wanted to share it here in case anyone was interested :D

Anyways, here's a little preview and you can read the full thing here if you want.

I was also considering making proofs of concepts about some of the mini-games I talked about and other collectables, but who know if I'll get around to that with all the other ideas I have in my head.

Either way, that's the post~

🍂

I tried to ignore my urge but... Fuck it, I saw this and my writer brain was like

So, here it is...

Peaking out from the foliage, the young boy saw what he knew as a predator. His perception of the world that was shaped entire by the tales of his parents led him to assume the midnight feathered man was someone to fear, yet his stomach told him something else.

Yes, his stomach let out sounds of hunger and that pervaded his mind more than any perception of the man before him. The sounds must have been loud as the crow looked up and just managed to catch the mouse trying to hide himself.

Now worried, the mouse hoped he wasn't seen. He thought to move and escape from his range, but he didn't know if that was smart. He wasn't as skilled as his parents in escaping death, so he instead remained hoping that their gaze meeting was just a coincidence.

That's when the boy looked out again and saw the crow crouched near where he hid. The food he was eating was in his hand and the sent of whatever it was found its way to his nose.

The crow had left food for him.

This was something he didn't understand. Weren't birds vicious predators that attacked and even killed their kind?

It seemed even his thoughts could be heard, because the second he thought that, the crow spoke up.

"You can eat that, it's not a trap. I have no need to eat creatures of your kind."

The mouse was still frozen in fear, so the crow went on.

"We don't usually eat your kind you know? That is saved for those barbaric hawks or those listless vultures."

That did line up with what he knew and it was only then the mouse realized he wasn't anything his family had even spoken poorly of. In fact, he hadn't heard anything bad about the collected bird before him. Was this because crows were actually kind?

That didn't line up with what he understood about other birds but...

Once again, his stomach growled.

Unwilling to think more on it, he reached his tiny hand out and dropped to retrieve the food. He looked back at the crow finding him enjoying his own lunch without a concern in the world for him.

The mouse stared for a bit and the crow smiled. As much as he wanted to thank him, he didn't know if he should. So, he instead took the food and ran off leaving the crow in amusement.

Hours and hours into the night

“Did I really have to come out with you just to do this?”

Ami, sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, let out a chuckle at his associate as she sat in the passenger’s seat with her body curled up with something on her phone.

“Of course you did. Aren’t you the one who’s always telling us about getting witnesses?”

Cassie let out a small laugh. “To what? A crime you guys are committing? That’s an issue since I won’t lie about whatever I saw here.”

“You also won’t snitch, but that’s not what I was talking about. We’re not committing a crime, someone’s trying to frame my guys—as usual—and I told them lay low for a while. So, they’re helping out one of the churches with a food drive.”

Cassie then took her eyes off her phone for the first time since the car parked and looked out the tinted windows just to see that exact sight.

Several boys around her age were helping to carry boxes or set out food and other items while a small line of people started at the tables.

“What kind of food do they have at these things anyways?” Cassie asked.

“Easy to transport stuff. So bread, soup they can just take from cans donated, and other easily heated foods. One time, I decided to donate something so they could have a hot breakfast.”

“Oh, what was it?”

“Toaster strudels.”

Cassie touched her stomach. “Man that sounds good right now.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, it’s still school hours and I haven’t gone home yet for lunch.”

“Well, I could have something delivered to us.”

“Nah, you don’t have to do that…” She paused. “Well, if you do, then at least let me pay for it.”

Ami chuckled. “I’m supposed to be getting you something for helping me out.”

“And you should know I don’t like owing people.”

“Why is that? You like to help people, but you don’t want to owe them anything?”

“Yeah. I mean, I don’t hold stuff like this over people’s heads. Like we’ll go home and weeks from now I won’t even care that you’re making me be out here. On the other hand, I’ve dealt with too many people who use their help as a means to get a favor out of me.” She shook her head. “Since I was a little kid, I had to deal with that, so I learned early not to put up with it.”

“You always sound like you’ve lived a hundred lives.”

“Feels like that sometimes.” She let out a sigh before finally returning her attention to her phone.

“Well, what do you want to eat then?”

She hummed and for a moment, Ami assumed she hadn’t heard him. He looked over and saw her intently focused on her phone. He was about to speak up when she finally spoke again.

“You think you could find a good sandwich place? I’m really craving one for some reason.”

“Oh, for sure. So, can I guess no vegetables?”

“Unless they have cherry peppers. Otherwise, no vegetables.”

“So specific. As long as I’ve known you, I’ve learned there are some people in this world who care for nothing at all and some who care about every little thing.”

“Me being the latter?”

“You know it.”

“I think that’s a good thing. Being picky shows you know what you want. Anything else and you’re indecisive and vague.”

“I feel you there, I guess people just mainly see it as being stuck up.” Ami paused. “Speaking of that, has anyone ever thought you were stuck up?”

“Dude, who are you even talking to? Yes.”

“Okay, okay. I just figured with how shy you were originally that people just figured you to be that, not stuck up.”

“Can I ask why you thought I was shy? I mean, when we first met, you ran up on me asking about some guy I hadn’t seen in a while.”

Ami chuckled. “Well, I didn’t really think you were shy, it was everyone else who made it seem that way. Some of my girls knew about you and they told me you were pretty quiet and didn’t talk in class. I assumed you were shy then.”

“What girls? I don’t remember anyone always being in my classes.”

“That’s because they were really never there. The girls in question were friends and would alternate who’s in class and who wasn’t, but they both barely showed up to school.”

“Oh, that makes sense then. Well, I guess that is how a lot of people saw me. Everyone except Bushi for some reason.”

“How’d he see you?”

“Like normal, if anything he never even noticed I didn’t talk to anyone.”

“Maybe it’s because he’s blinded by-”

“By nothing.” She shook her head. “I think that’s why me and him get along so well. He doesn’t really see me as anything but his friend and I don’t see him as anything but that as well.”

“Friends with-”

“Will you shut up already?”

Ami laughed while finally placing the order and handing the phone over to Cassie for her to put in the payment option. She huffed while doing so, but quickly typed everything in before returning the phone to him and getting back on her own phone.

“Okay, I have to ask this. What are you doing on your phone? You’ve been on it since I picked you up.”

Cassie grinned. “Distracted are we? Simple man distracted by phone.” Cassie giggled.

“More like you’re so intense it’s hard not to look at whatever you’re making that face over.”

“Well… if you must know-” she leaned over presenting her screen to him, “-I’m playing a game. It’s a farm sim and right now, I’m working every day to get everything in the game. The hundred percent is a draining task I have yet to complete.”

“Ah, I’ve seen this game before. Is it really fun?”

She nodded and leaned back in her seat. “Fun for both the casual cozy player and also for the completionist min-maxer like me.”

“Min-max being?”

“Essentially someone who wants to play in the most efficient way possible.”

“That doesn’t sound like you though.”

“I know, I don’t really min-max because I often do things that I like and that are less efficient.”

“And you still complete the game that way?”

“Yeah, it’s actually really cool that I don’t have to follow guides or anything to play at a high level. I just have to find what I like and what works and go with that until I get to the end,” she said with a big smile.

“Man, you’re about to get me into another game.”

With a teasing smile, Cassie said, “maybe you should.”

“Come on, you already got me into that JRPG—which by the way my best girl is still better than your best boy—and actually took days out of my life.”

“Good, you’re living the life of a true gamer.” She paused. “And by the way, my best boy is the most superior character in the whole game by the way.”

Ami leaned back in his seat and shook his head. “Okay, you know what, I’ll try it out for a few days. If I get caught up for hours, I’m calling it that.”

“But this game’s totally casual, you can stop playing for days or even weeks and you’ll come back still able to play. I mean, the game’s core audience are casual gamers anyways, you know, people who are normal and don’t spend seven hours searching for a rare drop.”

The first real pause in the conversation came now and Ami thought on it for a bit longer. Eventually—and like Cassie assumed he would—he caved in and took out his phone.

“You can play it on mobile?”

“Yep.”

He sighed. “Fine, I’ll give it a shot, but you’re helping me learn all the good stuff.”

“Of course, I don’t want you to make some of the mistakes I did.”

“You? Making mistakes? I can’t believe I heard that out of your mouth.”

“I admit when I make mistakes, I just don’t make mistakes that really matter.”

Ami chuckled at her prideful comment and once the game was downloaded, he started to play it on his own for a second before Cassie leaned over to see his screen and their endless conversation went on through the afternoon.

A little bit of compassion leads to the first step to friendship

Cold as it was in the office space, nothing was colder than the stark gaze aimed directly at the new owner of OrangePerfect Inc. No words were spoken between the owner and the client, but there was a very real weight in the room as time went on.

With a slightly annoyed sigh, the client spoke. “Ms. Ann, are you sure you’re even up to this right now?”

“W-what makes you say that?”

His arms crossed. “Because we’ve been sitting here in dead silence for almost an hour. There’s no way you haven’t come to terms with the contract. Either make adjustments or stop wasting my time.”

His harsh words were nothing new in the entertainment industry, at least as Ms. Ann learned. In her few years dealing with various media giants she learned this was common place. However used to it she was, it was difficult to get her bearings whenever she heard things like this.

Fumbling around with the paper in her hands, she still said nothing.

“Besides, aren’t you the infamous owner who has such particular contracts that most refuse to work with you?”

Ms. Ann remained quiet for a second. “I guess so…”

“Then what is the problem? Is it something you wish to bring up with me?”

Ms. Ann knew what she wanted to say, but actually saying it was an entirely different story. She didn’t want to bring most of this up knowing how it would sound and right now, she wasn’t in the position to argue with anyone.

“Um, I guess I do have a little issue…” She eventually said.

“Wonderful. Now would you mind telling me what it is?”

Ms. Ann, once again, took a long pause. At this point, the client grew even more agitated. He sat up reaching and grabbing the contract out of her hands, forcing her to look at him.

“Listen, if you have an issue, feel free to bring it up. If not, then I'll say it again, stop. wasting. my. time.”

His intense gaze made her freeze up, but she took a small breath and tried to keep herself calm.

“Um, I guess I don’t… particularly like the idea of how long you’d be working with us.”

“Finally.” The client leaned back. “Is the time frame too long?”

“No, actually, it’s the opposite.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t… really wanna work with someone I can’t keep an eye on. Maybe if this project was smaller, I wouldn’t mind, but knowing the recording time is likely going to be several months, I don’t want this to be the only time we work together.”

“Oh. So, you’re saying because you know I’m talented you don’t want me just running off somewhere else?”

“P-pretty much.” She got out.

“I understand that much. I have no issue with that, to be honest. I feel the same way that I wouldn’t want your company to turn into a shit hole that drags my name through the mud years after the fact.”

“N-nothing like that would happen.”

“You mean, nothing you all would promote?”

Ms. Ann looked off. “Yes… we would never allow anyone to do something abhorrent and just let it slide.”

“Good to know. Then let me ask you something?” He paused. “If, say for example, someone from my company were to be caught doing something. What would you do?”

Ms. Ann looked at him and found herself in a strange position. Not only did she want to ask him why he was asking this hypothetical question, but she also wanted to know what exactly he was mentioning. She stared at him and found his eyes never losing their lock on her.

“Well, without knowing what you’re talking about, I wouldn’t drop you. Unless, it was you specifically, I’m not going to assume you knew anything about it.”

He then smiled. “I was hoping you’d be a little more scrutinizing.”

She took a small breath. “I wanted to ask what this hypothetical situation would even be about.”

“Given the work we do, take a wild guess.”

All the news pertaining to media companies, movie directors, and other obscenities, Cassie made an assumption and gave him and knowing look.

“Is this particular issue with someone you can easily report?”

“No. In fact, I’m sure what you’re thinking is the exact person I’m talking about.”

Cassie didn’t like the sound of that, but she understood how serious this must be if he couldn’t even fully mention it to her. She shifted in her seat and finally looked at the client with a less stressed look.

“Kit? I promise you, if we work together, I’ll never allow for something like that to go unchecked. I won’t throw you or anyone else affected under the bus either.”

Kit didn’t seem fully impressed by her words, evidenced by the dazed look he gave her. “Am I too assume your words are enough?”

“Most likely not. How would I prove it to you?”

Kit remained quiet for the longest time since they begun talking. He spoke up after a moment. “Maybe I’ll believe you if you stop acting so damn scared by everything.”

“What?”

“We both know it’s true. You’re frightened at the idea of making any mistake so you try and fix problems before they’ve even happened. When all it makes you look like is a scared little girl.”

Cassie tried to keep her resolve. “I am fairly new at this, I would imagine anyone in my position would be a bit on the cautious side.”

“Well, that’s the thing; you’re not cautious. You’re fearful. That’s why I can’t fully believe in your words that if something were to come out I would rely on you to hold up your end. Not fold to any stack of cash or the will of a man’s finger.”

“You should talk to my boyfriend- sorry, husband then. I don’t think he would agree with you.”

“Is that so? Well, maybe I could better understand what you’re talking about if you explained why you’re hiding the fact that you’re pregnant.”

Cassie froze at his words and saw the smirk on his face grow. Trying not to move, she remained in her chair exactly how she was as to not give him any better of a view of her body.

“W-why are you saying that?”

“Come on, most of my close friends are women, you think I can’t tell when a woman’s pregnant?”

“M-maybe, but why would that have anything to do with this?”

“Because if you’re hiding something so normal as a pregnancy, what would be the case if something more serious were to happen?”

Cassie dropped her head understanding what he meant by that. Slowly, her hand came to her stomach and rubbed the small bump hidden underneath the large jacket she wore.

“I get why you feel that way, but imagine being in my position. Everyone coming at you with all the normal nonsense of the day and then I have to deal with having a baby?" She sighed. "I should take some time off but…”

“I bet you don’t trust anyone else with your job.”

With a downcast gaze, she nodded. “Not only that, but I didn’t think I’d be so stressed out. I got in my head somehow and now I’m worried about this baby and… even my own life.”

“As wealthy as you are, you can’t hide some more doctors to put you at ease?”

“You don’t know me that well. There’s not a single thing anyone else could tell me, I have to come to terms on my own before I start feeling better.”

“Humph, I guess that makes sense.”

“But you know what, I never thought about what you just said.”

“Hm?”

“If I’m so worried about everything that I end up even hiding something like this, then what would I do is something that’s an actual issue were to pop up?”

She was more speaking to herself in this moment, but Kit responded. “That’s what I would like to know. If you know me at all, you’d know I don’t like working with spineless individuals.”

Her eyes narrowed. “But you’re okay working with some loser who, hypothetically, is committing an actual crime?”

Kit grunted. “Hypothetically, I don’t have much choice here. Until I can effectively prove what’s going on is a punishable offense, I can’t just kick him in a grave myself.”

A small smile came to her face. “I get what you’re saying. If you swing and miss it’ll only worsen the situation.”

“Exactly. At least you’re smart enough to understand that.”

“That’s not exactly a complicated thing. You do know I happen to be trying to get into the true crime world. Romance is great and all, but I want to branch off into the world of crime dramas.”

“Humorously, that seems to suit you quite well.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I’ve heard people say you think of every little possible thing when agreeing to a contract. You seem not to like anything that doesn’t fall in line with your mindset perfectly.”

“I’ve actually heard that before. Me and my husband think it’s because thinking of everything that could possibly happen eases me. Like I know every outcome and can plan accordingly.”

“Then maybe that’s the answer.”

“To the hypothetical?” Her head shook. “If I did that, there are several ways this could turn out, especially if you’re somehow involved at any point.”

“Of course, but I don’t mean that. I mean for me to believe you. Maybe if you prove you’re unlearning that scared personality of yours, I’ll feel your words are much more truthful.”

Cassie took a small breath. “With everything you’ve said, I feel like my best bet would be to act how I want to. That includes getting this little secret off my chest…” She laughed a bit. “More like out of my belly.”

Kit rolled his eyes. “Is that really funny?”

“Of course not, but it made me giggle a little.” Cassie continued to look at her stomach and gave it some gentle rubs. “You know, if that what it takes then I think I can relax a bit.” She looked at Kit with a newfound vigor in her words. “How do reoccurring roles sound?”

“What?” Seemingly lost for a second, Kit responded with confusion.

“Well, I don’t like the idea of you participating in just one role. I’d want you back here as much as possible!”

“For what reason exactly?”

“Because, as a kid, I remember absolutely loving your character roles. It was a little bit of a dream of mine to work with someone I enjoyed listening to as a kid.”

“You do know the kinds of roles I had as a kid were… much more mature than I should have been in right?”

“Yes, I’m very aware of that. Here’s a little fun fact about me: I used to watch M and R rated stuff when I was just eight years old!”

Kit shook his head. “No wonder your ideas are so crazy, you must have something wrong with you.”

Cassie smiled. “You know, most likely.” She exhaled. “Wow, that feels really nice to let someone know.”

“How?”

“Because it’s hard keeping things like that bottled up. I’d love to tell people that the stuff I watched as a kid really screwed my brain up. I learned about things kids just shouldn’t have and now that I’m much older, I understand how that’s shaped even the world’s I create on paper.”

“You’re not all bad all things considered.”

“Trust me, I know, I know I could have been a lot worse than I am now.” She paused. “Speaking of which, maybe I should really give in and embrace that. I should try and reclaim the bit I lost as a kid now.”

“And how would you expect to do that?”

“With this office, of course. It’s so drab and business-like. I wanna create something little kid me would have loved to work in!”

Kit listened as she went on about what she was going to do. “Honestly, the day I see that is the day I’ll know you’re really being truthful with your words.”

“Really? Then I guess it’s settled. Leigh isn’t gonna be happy at the renovation cost though.”

“That doesn’t matter to me, all that does is you don’t go back on your word.” Kit then got up. “If so, then it’ll be a pleasure every time I’m asked to return here.”

“Oh, we didn’t agree to anything though!”

“I know, I’ll be back the next time you’re free and by then you should be staring those renovations right?”

Cassie smiled and gave an eager nod. “By then, you won’t be the only one who knows about my little secret.”

Kit, amused by her words, said nothing as he made his way out of the office.

“Oh, you must think he’s gonna be good too because you’re craving the good stuff!” Cassie reached for her phone and eagerly dialed her husband’s number to give him the good news and to get her and her baby fed.