Love Addict’s RPG Vol. 2 Ch. 89

Whew, I really didn’t think I could force myself to finish it today. It took longer than expected again but I challenged myself to do it. As is, I’m mostly happy with it I think. I’ve been feeling a little paranoid about the quality of the new stuff but that will probably pass once my recovery is further along. Right now it’s just like yes I’m writing again but is it as good as it was before? Brain feels a lot better, but not all the way, so shaking the doubt is rough.

Still happy to at least put something out though. Will start on 90 tomorrow probably!

***

Oliver made a habit of forgoing fast travel whenever he had a girl in the car, and Zoe was no exception despite Quarter's Up being over on the northeast side of town. It was in an old shopping mall bordering Starry Heights, which was somewhere Oliver had never been anywhere close to. The place was more of a walled-off collection of mega-mansions than an actual part of Vista Venus, and it's not like he was interested in going on one of those stupid tours that told you which rich jackoff lived where.

As he drove, Oliver pondered all sorts of things. He was curious about Zoe's history with the arcade, why she stopped coming, if she used to live nearby, and more. The temptation to learn more about her was real, but these were all mysteries that would solve themselves, and none were worth breaking the comforting silence that settled between them.

Zoe's theme music filled his mind, though it was a variation he'd never heard until now. Her aggressive, glitchy techno beats softened into a lo-fi version of themselves that wouldn't sound out of place in a meditation playlist. Usually, this would made Oliver worried he was boring her.

She was the most talkative person he'd ever met- barring Rebecca on one of her lore dumps- yet an ounce of concern hadn't crossed his mind despite her shutting up to gaze at the rolling cityscape beyond her window.

He assumed probably needed some time to process things, and Oliver wouldn't take that from her. After all, they had been flirting pretty hard so far today. God only knows what might happen if he didn't cut her some slack before things heated up again.

He wasn't that far off the mark.

Zoe faded away as she replayed everything that led to this. It wasn't going so well. She couldn't even figure out why she wanted that photo so bad or why she got all meek for Oliver when he took it. All she knew was how happy it made her to have a pic with the idiot speedrunning his way into her heart.

Heading to Quarter's Up also factored into the silence. It'd been so long; things would definitely be awkward.

But so the fuck what? Olive wants to go there with me, and I already let the guy down once this weekend. I'll be damned if I do it again.

That's what it all boiled down to.

He was special to her, and like everyone else she cared about, she'd hurt him through her actions. Oliver could forgive her all he liked, but she wouldn't forgive herself. Not until she'd somehow made it up to him.

Still... four fuckin' days, huh? Zoe glanced over at Oliver, painfully aware of her racing heart.

Jesus Christ...

"Hey Mia, how come you like your boyfriend so much?"

"Oh, you know, he saved me from bullying back in high school, and I've had a thing for him ever since. Also, he makes me feel good about myself, and I'm really into the sad puppy dog thing he's got going on. Fact that he's got a nice ass and a big cock doesn't hurt, either. What about you, Perezosa? Why do you like my boyfriend so much?"

"I dunno? Dude came over a couple times, and aside from the sad puppy dog thing, which I'm also apparently a big fuckin' fan of, I guess we just kinda vibed???"

Ugh.

Fuck's sake, Zoe... you've gotta be the shallowest bitch in the whole fuckin' world.

"We're here," Oliver popped off his seatbelt and yanked out his keys, speaking for the first time in twenty minutes.

Zoe blinked back into reality. They were in a familiar parking lot, and the host of her old haunt loomed just over yonder. Cupid's Arrow Mall. It still looked exactly how she remembered it, and even worse, it was just as busy as ever.

"That we are."

"You good?"

"Close enough," Zoe shrugged and unbuckled. "Sorry for spacing out. Just so you know, that shit's on me. Got a lot on my mind."

"No big deal, I figured as much. Why do you think I kept quiet?"

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe I was worried you got all mopey thinking you did something wrong?"

"Feeling really called out right now. Did Mia give you my manual while I wasn't looking?"

"Like I'd need that shit," Zoe snorted as they got out of the car. "Appreciate you letting me drift off for a bit, though. It helped. Not sure how much, but it did."

"Yeah? That's great." Oliver came around the corner to be by her side. He extended his hand and looked her in the eyes. "Guess that means you won't need any more help centering yourself?"

"Don't you try and pull a fuckin' reverse psychology on me, jackass."

"I would never."

"Uh-huh, sure. Y'know what? Fuck it." Zoe took a deep breath, then sidled up close to him. She was done letting him get the best of her- it was time to call his bluff. Her arm looped around his own. "We're doing this proper gentleman style, just like you wanted."

It was a good move.  Oliver could feel Zoe's chest pressing against his upper arm even through her jacket. That'd distract any guy, let alone his horny ass, but he knew she was just trying to push his buttons.

"Why stop here? You could drape your arms around my back, and I'll carry you around like a sloth."

"Pft. You're one greedy son of a bitch, Olive. Is one titty pressing up against you not enough?"

"Hey, I'll take what I can get," he shrugged in a way that purposefully made her chest jiggle. "You know every single person that sees us like this'll think we're a couple, though, right?"

Zoe glanced around the parking lot. It was a Sunday afternoon, so the place was packed with people shuffling in and out of their cars coming to and from the mall. Most minded their own business. A few looked their way. Not for long, a couple of seconds at best, but it felt like an eternity to Zoe every time she caught someone in the act.

A smirk formed beneath her mask as the more nuanced version of her BGM faded out, and the familiar version returned with a triumphant bang.

"Yeah, well, so what? People can think whatever they want. No skin off my back if they think I'm your girlfriend or some shit. Christ, could you imagine? Heh..."

[Zoe has gained +1 Affection!]

I certainly can, and apparently, I'm not the only one, Oliver thought, trying with all his might not to laugh. This fucking girl.

Oliver's notifications provided valuable insights left and right, but none of the conclusions he'd drawn from them thus far had been as funny as this. Zoe, who insisted on keeping a low profile, liked the thought of being seen with him. If he got really daring with his assumptions, it seemed like being his girlfriend didn't sound so bad, either.

Zoe was such an adorable powder keg of contradictions and conflicting emotions that Oliver started to fear what might happen when she finally blew. The constant teasing was fun and all, but the situation called for self-control. He felt it best to slow down, show Zoe a good time, and allow her to reach her own conclusions.

"For your sake, let's say that I can't."

"Fuck's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we should get a move on," Oliver marched, dragging the sloth along for the ride. "Come on- I'm dying to see this place if it's really that special to you!"

"H-Hey, slow down for a sec, jackass! This is more physical activity than I've had in months!" 

Despite her complaints, Zoe caught up in no time. The two entered Cupid's Arrow Mall with great excitement on Oliver's side and a cocktail of nervousness and cautious optimism on Zoe's. His excitement only swelled when the notification he'd been waiting for finally arrived.

[Zoe's first Heart Event is now underway!]

Dopamine exploded inside Oliver's brain like the most illegal, backwater, redneck fireworks display of all time. He was already hyped for this but wasn't expecting it to hit this hard. The sensation left him reeling, and it wasn't just from getting one step closer to winning Zoe's heart.

This was a guy who'd lived his whole life without a shred of self-worth to his name. A guy who struggled since childhood to make connections. Who'd crashed and burned the only time he tried putting his best foot forward.

What made him so emotional was knowing he'd caught not only Mia's eye but Zoe's as well. These were two of the most extraordinary, unique, and beautiful girls he'd ever met, and he had their attention. He didn't understand what it was- and maybe he never would- but there was something about him that more than one person found worthy of love.

He never would've believed it if the evidence wasn't right there beside him, hugging his arm to her boob, and yet...

Okay, okay.

Enough sucking your own dick, Oliver. Remember that you're here for Zoe and Mia's sake- anything else is just a bonus. You'll lose everything you've got the second things get to your head, so stay humble and make sure these girls only see you as you are.

That's the way they like you.

After allowing the excitement to pass, Oliver took in his new surroundings.

It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before, being just a mall. They'd stepped into the food court where a shoddy-looking fountain with a statue of Botticelli's Venus sat dead center, surrounded by rows and rows of tables. Some were empty, and others were filled with teenagers, couples, or families grabbing a cheap meal.

Oliver counted at least three crying toddlers, which was anything but a surprise. It wouldn't have been a proper mall without at least that many.

"Christ, this place is fuckin' busy..." Zoe grumbled, clutching his arm even tighter.

"So you're saying you don't want lunch?"

"Now hold the fuck up, Olive. You know damn well I said no such thing."

"Despite how it's only been a few hours since I brought you breakfast?"

"Like you even gotta ask," Zoe fished a debit card from her pocket and thrust it his way. "But would you do me a favor and take care of the standing in line and ordering part? I want four bacon-loaded jalapeno pretzels with extra bloody tears dipping sauce from Pretzelvania, and I'll take the biggest size of whatever caffeinated lemon lime sludge they've got to wash it down. You can go ahead and get yourself whatever from wherever. It's on me."

"You got it," Oliver took the card as a small laugh escaped him.

"The fuck're you laughing at, chucklenuts?"

"Well, now I'm laughing at you for unironically throwing out the word 'chucklenuts'-"

"God forbid a girl have a colorful vocabulary," she rolled her eyes. "And before that?"

"Nothing you need to worry about. I'll be right back with lunch, so go grab us a seat."

Zoe's hunger outweighed her suspicions. She dropped the subject, and the two split up, Oliver heading for Pretzelvania and Zoe for the most isolated table she could find.

Oliver laughed again after getting in line. He found it funny to compare Zoe delegating this off to him to how Rebecca stubbornly insisted on ordering for herself. One was perfectly capable of social interaction yet avoided it at all costs, and the other struggled while trying her hardest.

God, did this man love the fairer sex. They were all so cute in so many different ways that his heart just ached from thinking about it.

How did that one song go again? Ah, yes. Pretty women-

"Velcome to Pretzelvania, vere ve strive to serve," said quite possibly the most unenthused teenage clerk Oliver had ever met. "Vhat can ve vhip up for you...?"

It was for the best that Oliver's internal monologue was cut short before he went full Sondheim. He always felt so awkward after sobering up from getting love drunk, though he'd wager this kid had it worse regarding embarrassment.

Aside from Zoe's excessive feast, Oliver ordered himself a salted pretzel and a water bottle. There weren't enough bacon-loaded jalapeno pretzels ready, so he looked back at the vast array of tables while they 'vhipped' up the rest. It turned out Zoe was watching him this whole time from the comfort of their new seat, as it's not like she had much better to do without her phone.

She lazily waved at him now that the jig was up, so Oliver smiled and did it back. It was a silly little interaction, but it brightened Zoe's mood all the same. It just sadly wasn't enough that she didn't still look more uncomfortable than anything else.

If only Zoe knew how much better she's doing than I did way back when. The car ride to my first appointment made me sweat like a sauna, and I'll never that creepy ass waiting room for as long as I live. I swear, it was almost a fucking liminal space, and I couldn't stop thinking everyone was staring at me, either.

The memory made Oliver shiver, then granted him clarity. When he first left the house again, it was to go to therapy. By comparison, Zoe just wanted to make him happy. You could argue there was more to it than that, and there was, but he ultimately couldn't ignore how big a factor he was in her decision-making.

Just thinking about it forced Oliver's soul to roar with blazing determination. He was already hell-bent on giving Zoe his best, and now he set his sights even further. Come hell or high water, this would be the best not-a-date Oliver could give her.

The young pretzel pusher handed over their food and drinks right as Oliver's motivation peaked, so he returned to Zoe.

"Fuckin' finally," Zoe pulled down her facemask and sighed contentedly.

"That hungry, huh? Or are you just that happy to see-"

"Can it, Olive. Flirty banter will NOT be tolerated at this table- at least not until these four bad boys have been crammed as gracelessly down my throat as possible."

"I can respect that," Oliver laughed, taking out his phone while resisting the urge to comment on Zoe's phrasing. "But what would you say to sending Mia an update before digging in?"

"I'd say you better make it quick. That, and-"

"Make sure I send it to you?"

"Y-Yeah, you know. Might as well." Zoe grumbled, though her brattiness was easy to dismiss when her screwy smirk said it all.

Oliver was careful not to get absorbed in Zoe's predictable cuteness as he set up the picture and leaned across the table so that they were both in the frame. Noticing she was getting awkwardly meek again, he pushed the envelope by proposing a silly pose. Zoe went along with it without so much as a peep of resistance. They raised their pretzels and clinked them together like a pair of beer mugs, and then- snap.

He looked at the picture before sending it to make sure it turned out alright, only for him to realize the pose was even more embarrassing than he'd thought. Oliver frowned and contemplated asking for a do-over.

"What's up? Did the pic blur or some shit?" Zoe sat up to sneak a peek. "Cause we can always take another if it turned out like-" her peek was successful snuck. "Oh. Fuckin' yeesh, that's... yeah. Christ. We look like a couple of-"

"Normies..." Oliver spat out the word with a shiver.

"Yup, and I ain't just talking about run-of-the-mill normies, either. That's a pair of goddamn turbo-normies right there if I ever saw 'em."

"So what you're saying is I should upload this pic on p/LazySlothGaming for all the simps to see?"

Zoe dropped her pretzel. Her jaw fell along with it while her face reddened and worked up a layer of sweat. She stayed frozen solid like this for a few seconds, embarrassed, shocked, and mentally blank. Righteous fury possessed the sloth the second she regained her senses.

"D-Don't even fuckin' joke about that! Things would be bad enough if any of those greasy perma-virgins suspected I had a boyfriend, but if they saw me looking this cringe? My career wouldn't just be over. There'd be a goddamn witch hunt!"

[Zoe has lost -1 Affection!]

Oliver's main takeaway from this measly affection drop was that, as usual, Zoe wasn't as mad as she seemed. It amused him enough to halfway tempt him into pushing things further. He let it go for now, thinking it'd be better to flip it around and be coy about it.

"Eh, you're probably right. It's too bad. I would've loved to show you off and-"

"Didn't I just warn you about flirty banter?" Zoe snapped, pointing her pretzel toward him in accusation. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Oliver chuckled and apologized before checking if she still wanted to keep the pic. Zoe nodded while rolling her eyes with a slight blush, so off it went. His phone buzzed a few seconds later, and yet again, it came with a matching notification.

[Mia has gained +1 Affection!]

Didn't Mia say she hardly ever checks her phone when visiting her family? If I didn't know any better, I'd wager she's on the edge of her seat.

Understanding Mia's taste for consensual cuckoldry would be forever beyond Oliver's jealous ass, which suited him just fine. He didn't need to understand her proclivity to indulge her, and besides, it's not like his kinky kitten didn't have another thousand fetishes whose appeal he most definitely understood.

It's incredible how much a quick peek at an artist's sketchbook can tell you about that person, Oliver thought, smirking like a dope and laughing softly as he read his girlfriend's text.

Zoe took one look at his stupidly cute face- or maybe it was just stupid, fuck if she knew whenever it came to this dude- and stopped attacking her food long enough to spark her curiosity. "Flirty banter with an outside party, huh? Look at you, Olive. Now you're the one finding loopholes."

"Your fault for not specifying I couldn't,"

"Yeah, yeah. Throwing my own words back at me- top-notch stuff. Very clever, but it's still flirty banter." Zoe dipped her pretzel in scarlet sauce, nearly finishing it  before pointing the remaining nub at him. "Watch it, dude. The ice you skate is getting pretty thin."

"...Was that a fucking All-Star reference? I thought you didn't listen to music."

"C'mon, Olive. You don't really think someone can partake of the internet on a daily fuckin' basis without exposure to some degree of Smash Mouth, do you?"

"Now that you mention it, no, probably not. The band is practically a memetic cognitohazard."

"I'm not even gonna pretend I understand whatever kinda nerd shit you're yapping on about."

"No? Looks like you're not quite as internet-pilled as you claim, then."

"A real fuckin' tragedy, to be sure, but I'll survive. Anyways, what did Mia have to say about our cringefest?"

"Oh, you know," he looked back at his girlfriend's message with a smile. "Nothing special, just Mia being Mia. That sort of thing."

Oliver's vagueness didn't bode well to Zoe, who narrowed her eyes and demanded, "Show me."

"You sure? You might get a little worked up about it."

"For fuck's sake, Mia. Seriously...?" Zoe groaned as she sank her forehead against her palm. "Is it really that bad?"

"Well, no. I personally thought it was more funny and cute than anything else. It's just that I think your mileage may vary."

Oliver extended his phone toward Zoe, and by God, he wished he was recording this. Her face reddened faster than if she'd dunked her head in a barrel full of ketchup. He knew it was a given that Mia's response would rattle Zoe's cage, but he'd severely underestimated how visceral that rattling would be.

His more shameless and sadistic side ate up her embarrassment with glee to the point where Oliver just had to throw out a prayer of thanks to his patron saint.

Thank you, Lady Mia, for this bountiful gift of flustered gamer girls with which you saw fit to bestow me.

Amen.

"She... she wouldn't actually do that, would... oh, who the fuck am I kidding?! Of course she would!!" Zoe slumped over the table. "Why is she like this? Seriously, why?! Her phone's background should be a pic of you and HER being an obnoxious pair of turbo-normies, not you and ME!! Ugh. Swear to God, when I get my hands on that stupid little cuck, I'm gonna-"

"There's nothing you can do to her that she won't get off on," Oliver helpfully reminded.

"Damn you for being right, Olive. Damn you, and damn her!"

"If it really bothers you so much, I can tell her not to," he laughed under his breath, feeling a little guilty now that his initial enjoyment had died down. "She'll listen to me."

"I'm not bothered, I'm just embarrassed... embarrassed, and... I don't know, confused?"

"About?"

"You know what about, dumbass," Zoe dredged her eyes up to look at him. "The fact that she's totally getting off seeing us like this!"

"Oh, um, y-yeah," Oliver was too embarrassed to admit he'd momentarily forgotten none of this was normal. A normal person would probably be very put off by indulging their best friend's fetish, wouldn't they? Then again, "I thought that didn't bother you, though? I mean, we put on a show for her the other day after you yourself suggested it."

"Yeah, but sex stuff was like whatever to me the other day! Things are different now!"

His heart beat like crazy just hearing that, causing him to lean in excitedly. "Different how?"

A bunch of answers popped into Zoe's head all the same time, none of which she could remotely even think about saying out loud. Everything was way too embarrassing for that. There had to be something there, though, so Zoe grappled with the tangled web of her mind until something usable shook loose.

"I don't fuckin' know, man. I guess I'm just somewhat more conscious about that kinda stuff than I used to be...?"

It was the tiniest, most casual admission Zoe could've possibly made, and yet Oliver was so thrilled to hear it you'd think she'd just agreed to marry him. Still, he knew better than to dwell on it. What Zoe needed was to figure out her feelings, not be teased for having them.

"Zoe, the last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable. Say the word, and we'll stop sending Mia pics."

Zoe looked him in the eyes, her mind still flooded with buzzing nonsense she couldn't make heads or tails of, and she was starting to feel a slight caffeine crash coming on. Luckily, she had her soda to help stave that off, and for everything else, she had Oliver's comforting words.

She took a deep breath and dared to smile as her gaze drifted off to the side.

"Nah. It's cool."

"Really?"

"What can I say? I like making that little freak's day." Zoe shrugged. "And taking stupid pics with you is kinda fun, too, so... might as well just keep doing the whole two birds, one stone thing, y'know?"

"I suppose. I just don't want to make you-"

"Dude, you literally just said that. Stop repeating yourself."

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I... I'm just making sure it's really what you want you want?"

Zoe looked into his eyes for a few seconds in a way that filled Oliver with dread. Her eyebrow twitched, and she looked... annoyed, maybe? That, and something else he couldn't put his finger on. His first instinct was to apologize, though he didn't get the chance.

"Bruh. If you've learned anything about me these last few days, it should've been that I've got no idea what I want. I'm figuring all this shit out as we go along, and you know as well as I do that the road ahead is gonna be a rocky one. That said, I..." Zoe sucked in a deep breath only to find it didn't make what she wanted to say any easier. "I trust you, Olive, but that has to go both ways. I promise I'll straight up tell you if I'm ever uncomfortable, so stop babying me, and stop worrying yourself sick. I want you to walk me down that rocky road, not fuckin' carry me."

Oliver sat there for an eternity,  taking everything Zoe said and absorbing it over. He wanted to smile from ear to ear upon hearing her open up to such a degree. This was a serious moment, however. He refused to ruin it by swooning over her.

She had a point about him feeling overly cautious. His every other thought was about how he should or shouldn't tease her, what would or wouldn't be too far. Zoe didn't want that from him. Didn't deserve it, either. What she deserved was something a little more confident- maybe even shameless.

Imagine that.

"I'm going to assume that holding your hand doesn't count as babying you?"

"Nah, it totally does," Zoe brightened up and flashed him an awkward smirk. "But it's different when I ask for it."

"Figures," he clicked his tongue. "Either way, thanks for trusting me so much. I promise I'll do my best to give you the full Oliver Chase experience. Warts, endless waves of compulsive flirty banter, and all."

"Heh. You fuckin' better."

[Zoe has gained +5 Affection! +3 Smooth Talker]

"So long as you save it until we're done with lunch," Zoe raised her second pretzel towards him, to which he smiled and toasted with his own.

The cringy pair of turbo-normies shared a laugh as Oliver feeling's mood skyrocketed. Her admission of trust just now felt so meaningful to him that he half expected a pop-up to tell him Zoe's Heart Event was completed, though no such notification appeared. Fine by him, it only meant his day was just getting started.

There was just one little problem.

He was so eager to tease that he wasn't confident he could make it through his pretzel without another jab. Something about Zoe that spoke to Oliver's sadistic side in a way that Mia didn't. His kitten was submissive and would probably be open to anything he was brave enough to ask for. Zoe was another story. She was awkward, confused, and yet fiercely stubborn at the same time, getting all cute and huffy whenever he teased her.

Oliver lived for that shit, and his excitement got the better of him. There was one last thing that needed doing before he could finally settle down for lunch, so he texted his silly idea to Mia, who was unsurprisingly down to clown.

[Mia has gained +5 Affection!]

[Mia: she's gonna be so pissed lmao

Oliver: Is that a no?

Mia: oh I'll do it lol can't wait to see the look on her face

Oliver: You and me both, kitten. You and me both.]

***

Stat Changes

Mia Rosas | Status: Girlfriend | 104/300 | ❤❤❤♡♡

Zoe Myers | Status: Friend(?) | 124/100 | ♡♡♡♡♡