Noah leaned back against his apartment door, heart still buzzing from earlier that morning. Elise had accepted the gift. She hadn't smiled for long, but it was there. She'd looked at him—not through him. And even though she'd kept her walls up, he'd felt it:
Something shifted.
And now he had points.
He closed his eyes and summoned the interface.
That familiar, quiet flicker behind his vision.
___
[Noah Everett – SYSTEM INTERFACE]
Spending Potential: Unlimited (Target-specific only)
Point Balance (TP): 2
— STATS —
✦ Luck: 2
✦ Confidence: 2
✦ Charisma: 1
✦ Financial Sense: 0
___
They pulsed softly in the dark of his mind. One upgrade wouldn't make him a god. But it was a start.
He hovered over Charisma.
___
[Level 1] (1 TP)
Slight enhancement to voice tone, natural charm, and eye contact.
[Level 2] (1 TP)
Triggers subtle psychological engagement in casual conversation. Slight presence boost.
___
He locked in both.
The change wasn't visual. No dramatic transformation. But he felt it.
Like his words suddenly mattered more. Like people might actually want to listen.
He opened his eyes.
"Let's see how far this takes me…"
The next morning came early. Noah waited near his door again, but Elise didn't appear at her usual time.
He was about to turn back when he heard her coming from the stairwell—light footsteps, steady, familiar.
She stepped out a moment later, dressed for the gym. Leggings clung to her like a second skin. Sports bra under a hoodie. Hair pulled back. Water bottle in hand—the one he gave her.
Their eyes met.
He nodded. "Still using it?"
"It's growing on me," she said, not quite smiling.
"I figured you'd appreciate the design."
She raised an eyebrow, pausing. "You make a habit of giving women things to 'figure them out'?"
"Only when they're intimidating enough to deserve the investment."
She snorted softly, glancing at the bottle in her hand. "You don't seem intimidated."
"Maybe I'm learning to carry it better."
There was a pause. Then she walked past him, toward the elevator.
He followed her.
They stood inside, close—but not too close. She smelled like subtle citrus and effort, not perfume. Her presence was sharp, grounded.
"What's the catch?" she asked without looking at him.
"There isn't one."
"You're not angling for a date?"
"I said I wanted to know you better. Didn't say I had a timeline."
She glanced at him then—longer this time.
"You're different today," she said. "More… composed."
"Bad different?"
She shrugged. "Haven't decided yet."
The elevator opened.
She walked off.
Noah lingered behind, watching her go, the sway of her hips hypnotic beneath tight black fabric. She didn't look back.
But she hadn't shut him down either.
Back in his apartment, Noah opened the system again.
___
[Remaining TP: 0]
[Charisma: 2]
Active Effects:
✦ Improved vocal presence
✦ Low-level interest trigger (passive)
Next milestone: New Contact Required or Deeper Relationship Development
___
He stared at the list of stats.
Luck. Confidence. Financial Sense. All untouched.
But for the first time in a long time?
Noah couldn't sleep.
He'd laid on his bed for hours, staring at the ceiling fan slowly chopping the air, his mind looping the same thought: Elise said I was different.
And it wasn't just her. Something inside him had shifted. The gift, the eye contact, the tension between them—it had felt real.
And now?
He was hungry for more.
That's when the system flickered to life again.
Noah couldn't sleep.
He'd laid on his bed for hours, staring at the ceiling fan slowly chopping the air, his mind looping the same thought: Elise said I was different.
And it wasn't just her. Something inside him had shifted. The gift, the eye contact, the tension between them—it had felt real.
And now?
He was hungry for more.
That's when the system flickered to life again.
___
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Optional Mission Available
— OBJECTIVE: Chat with a mature woman (35+) on a real-world online platform.
— GOAL: Engage in conversation. Prompt her toward flirtation or subtle intimacy within 15 minutes.
— Points: +1 TP
— Bonus: +1 TP if she initiates any suggestive line.
Target platform: VelvetChat — known for mature, private connections.
___
Accept?
[YES] [IGNORE]
___
Noah stood in his dark apartment, phone in hand, lit only by the glow of the prompt.
He said nothing. Just tapped YES.
——
The VelvetChat app had a mature feel, nothing like Tinder or the endless swiping noise of cheap hook-up sites. Deep wine-red tones. Smooth interface. Questions that didn't feel automated. And the women?
Real. Unapologetically real.
The signup process asked a lot.
"Why are you here?"
"What turns your head?"
"What kind of connection are you open to?"
"Describe your experience level—with life, love, and lust."
He paused at each one. Thought carefully. Answered honestly. For once, he didn't try to sound impressive—he tried to sound interested.
When it came time to upload a photo, he didn't show his face.
Instead, he snapped a new one.
He angled the shot from his collarbone to his waist—clean, toned, subtle definition under a dark hoodie, sleeves rolled up to the elbow. Warm kitchen light in the background. Intimate, not try-hard.
It looked like someone caught him standing there, mid-thought. He uploaded it.
Then he wrote his profile.
–––
Name: Nate
Age: 25
"I'm a young and passionate guy that is very much into mature woman."
–––
He read it back.
Didn't change a word.
Submitted.
He scrolled through profiles slowly. Some were fake. Some looked like selfies from another decade. But then one caught his eye—simple, warm, recent.
___
Profile: Mara_34
Age: 34
Location: Nearby
Bio:
"Single mom. Art teacher. Not looking to be impressed—just treated like a grown woman. If you're here to try lines, don't. I've heard them all."
___
Her photo wasn't sexy, but it was confident. Curled brown hair. Gold hoop earrings. A white tank top with a brushstroke of paint just under her collarbone. No filter. No coy smile.
Just her.
Noah clicked Message.
[SYSTEM TIMER: 15:00 begins]
He hesitated. Then typed:
[Nate]:
Hey Mara. I know the lines probably get old fast on here.
I'll start different.
You've got paint on your collarbone. That's the most honest thing I've seen all day.
She didn't answer right away.
The timer ticked down to 13:21.
Then:
[Mara_34]:
Wow. Not the intro I expected.
[Nate]:
Good "wow" or bad "wow"?
[Mara_34]:
Still deciding.
You just joined?
[Nate]:
Yeah. About an hour ago.
Not looking to play games. I said in my bio—I'm into mature women for a reason.
You seem… grounded. And kind of sharp, if I'm being honest.
[Mara_34]:
You say that like it's a good thing.
[Nate]:
It is.
I've met a lot of girls who talk fast and vanish faster.
I'm more interested in someone who knows how to sit still—and mean it.
Another pause. Longer this time.
[Mara_34]:
Okay, Nate.
I'll admit—you don't sound like the usual crowd.
[Nate]:
Is that your polite way of saying I don't sound like a creep?
[Mara_34]:
Not yet.
That made him grin.
She was guarded, but not closed off. Watching him from a safe distance.
The tension wasn't sexual—yet. But it was real. Human. There was something quietly electric about making her consider him for more than two seconds.
___
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Timer: 08:40 remaining
Emotional Status: Neutral–Curious
Target has not spoken suggestively.
Mission Status: In Progress
___
Noah read the update and ignored it. He wasn't here to rush this. He liked the pace.
[Nate]:
You said you're an art teacher?
[Mara_34]:
Yup. Middle school. Chaos and color. I love it.
[Nate]:
I bet your students& Co-workers have no idea how hot their teacher is.
There it was—a small risk.
Another long pause.
Then—
[Mara_34]:
Careful.
You're one sentence away from sounding like the others.
[Nate]:
Fair.
I just meant… you look like you know exactly who you are. That's rare. It's attractive.
And I won't pretend I didn't notice it.
She didn't reply.
Timer ticked down under 7 minutes.
Then:
[Mara_34]:
I've had too many younger guys on here try to make me feel sexy so they can feel clever.
But I appreciate the way you said that.
So… thanks.
He exhaled slowly.
No dirt. No flirtation.
Just a real woman with walls—watching to see if he meant what he said.
___
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Mission Incomplete
Status: Failed – Target did not engage in suggestive conversation
Suggested Action: Continue naturally. Trust builds slowly.
You still earned something.
+1 TP – First Contact Established (MILF Category – Verified)
___
Noah stared at the screen.
He didn't feel like he failed.
He felt like something started.
He locked his phone and laid back, staring at the ceiling again—but this time, with a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Mara wasn't Elise.
She wasn't Sarah.
She wasn't even interested… yet.
But for the first time, he felt like he wasn't playing a part.
He was just Noah.
And that? That felt good.