Robin pipes up, "It is called "Dark Mansions" and is one of the best
multi player on-matrix games on the market today."
Elaine laughs, "I might surprise you two. I was playing MMOs a long
time ago. At least I was learning. A couple of friends had a hook up
for something called............."Zombie Apocalypse 55", or at least I
think that is what it was called. My parents came home to find us
playing one day and my father blew a gasket. The girls were sent home
immediately and their parents were told their daughters were never
welcome in the house again. I was crushed. And humiliated at school.
I think that was the last time I had anyone over for anything. My
parents tried to make it up to me by having a big party for my
birthday, but no one came. Not one person. That was even more
humiliating. I was very lonely for my entire last three years of high
school. Lonely and confused, because I did not understand why the
other kids would call me names and throw things at me when I had not
done anything. It was like everyone was taking something out against
my parents but I was the target. Maybe that had something to do with
why I agreed so quickly to the deal with Howard. It was only later
that I realized that there really is something worse than what I had
been put through as a teenager."
"But that is all sad drek and I want to be happy. I would love to try
the game. We have a huge trid screen, but I do not have any of the
controllers, if that is what they still call them. I could have some
bought and sent up. Maybe we could set something up tomorrow.
Hmmmmm. Perhaps I should take you two on the big tour of the house so
you know where everything is?"
-----
Trying to keep things upbeat, Rose replies, "Oh, you used to play? I
wasn't able to really get into it until recently. Robin got me in to
it, so I blame her," she grins. "We should definitely get some
controllers for here then. Can see how rusty you are! Let's start the
tour with the trid screen?" she suggests with forced excitement.
-----
If Elaine can tell that you are faking the interest, she does not let
on. She takes you into the huge living room and plops down on the
couch that is facing a blank wall. Lifting an arm rest, she pulls out
a hand help console remote and presses a button. The wall moves a bit
in and then slides down to reveal an immense trid screen. She clicks
it on and surfs through some channels. The definition is amazing.
Robin does not have to pretend that she is interested. "What is that,
hundred and twenty?"
"Forty. It was here when I moved in. I guess the previous wife liked
to sit here for hours and watch fashion shows and dog shows. I
confess it tantalized me, too, for a bit, but I was watching porn on
it. You can really see..........um, well, yes. Anyway, I have not
sat here to watch much on it for a while now. But I think it ought to
work for the game, don't you?"
"Fragging right, it will. Sorry, I was just getting excited thinking
of how it will look to see those vampires get it on this screen."
Elaine laughs, too. "Oh, and say. I should tell you about the man
cave." She points to the section of the wall that you have identified
as having the hidden door. "There is a door there, but it is very
well concealed. Howard calls it the gateway to heaven, or in man
speak, his special den. That is where he works when he is home and he
keeps lots of other things there as well. He showed it to me once
when I showed an interest in some old Chinese pottery pieces he used
to keep up here. There are some stairs down to a real nice room.
Sort of like this, but the walls have all this artwork and more of the
pottery pieces like I had seen, only these are all in glass cabinets
and fancy shelves. The paintings are all lit up nice and covered in
glass boxes. He told me that the room was worth over a quarter
billion, and that was years ago, so it is probably more now. He is
prone to exaggerating so I am pretty sure he was not telling the
truth. I do know that he has some serious security down there and he
keeps updating it when something new comes out."
"I have not been down there in years. I think he keeps videos of his
mistresses down there and watches them from time to time. I know that
at least one of his women has been there because I saw him bringing
her up. Twice a year he has his client and some of the client's
associates over and they always end up going down there to discuss
business."
Robin sends you a message. >>Bingo maybe?<<
---
Rose is amused at Robin's obvious interest in the vid screen, "She always has been big on the latest technology. Least this seems to have gotten Elaine off her past..." After Elaine reveals what she used to use the TV for, Rose asks, "So you just stick to the porn on here? No sim or anything like that? Just curious, you seem to have a bit more experience with all this than the two of us..." With the existence of the man cave confirmed, she messages Robin, <<Yeah, but 'serious security' doesn't sound promising, especially if he really is storing valuables down there. If you get a chance, see if you can scope out the security measures? I'll see if we can get the tour to go down there.>> "The gateway to heaven? That room doesn't really sound like my idea of heaven," she jokes. "What's so special about the pottery pieces?"
