Page 41 of Collin: Episodes 10-12
Ash frowned. “I’m not big into video games. Like, I play a few but not a lot.”
“Okay, sister it is. Thanks.”
Collin gathered himself and headed for Mr. Reevesworth’s office. After the workout he’d had last night, Damian had been all over him to drink water, and he was really feeling the effects.
His sister was only too happy to take his video call over his lunch break. Collin found an empty corner of an unused conference room and caught her between class and her job at the on-campus cafe.
“Games take years to build, bro,” Alice said as soon as Collin had told her his idea. “The only game I can think of that’s done anything like this is Minecraft. Someone rebuilt ancient Rome in there and a bunch of other stuff.”
“What if we made it a competition?”
Alice crinkled up her nose, her way of revving up her thinking engines. “Let me get this straight. You want to make a virtual environment where people can explore the possibility of changing an urban landscape so that other people can test the ideas out, talk about it, maybe even vote on their favorite parts. Like, down to what kind of stores are there and housing and transportation, all that.”
“I’m trying to find ways for people of all ages to think differently about cities they live in, mock up changes, and be able to share the experience with others. It’s really hard to change people’s minds when they can’t even imagine something. Why would they trust something they’ve never seen work?”
“Virtual reality with those headsets would be amazing for this.”
“That’s an idea.” Collin scribbled a note to himself on a pad of paper. “But I really do want to find a way to do this with environments that are being changed right now. You know how we can go to a science museum and do a moon experience or an underwater experience? I want to do that but for cities and make it exciting.”
“How much can I share with other people?”
“Leave out names and places, but ask about the concept. You can share the social aims but not company goals.”
“Okay. I’m going to talk to some people, and maybe somebody will know somebody.”
Collin finished his lunch and drank all of his grande latte. No sugar but a double shot of espresso. He knew he probably shouldn’t have ordered it, but his brain had been so tired. Now he was twice as jittery as before. His brain was going a mile a minute. He headed back to Mr. Reevesworth’s office, cup in hand.
Mr. Reevesworth was clearing his desk. He looked up and glanced between Collin’s face and the cup and then back at Collin’s face again. He waited until Collin shut the door, then said, “Do you have any more appointments?”
“Etiquette class, no, wait, that was yesterday. Eliza has a stack of things for me to work on.”
“Need the toilet?”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth reached for the key, motioning Collin close. “You need to take a break.”
“Not any more than you, sir.”
“I will be the judge of that, boy.”
“This is like half of what I used to do, sir. One job, no classes.”
“Mandarin, gym, and etiquette. Three classes.” He grabbed Collin by the belt and towed him into the restroom, shutting the door. “Not to mention you just had a trip, got assaulted, and are helping everyone.”
“It’s not that much.”
“It’s mental load, Collin. You need to learn to account for that.”
Collin blinked. He barely noticed as his master opened up his pants and pulled out his cock. “Mental load, sir?”
“It’s the strain that one has from keeping multiple projects, relationships, or new experiences moving forward. Like remembering to replace the toilet paper when it runs low. That’s a constant mental load that one carries even though you only occasionally buy toilet paper.”
“Oh.”
Mr. Reevesworth pointed Collin at the toilet.
“Your mental load includes keeping me informed about how your team is doing, all the many new tasks you have there, and learning the role, which is almost entirely new to you. You are also keeping track of how Veronica is handling the news cycle, how Ash is doing, where he’s sleeping, if he’s eating. Learning a new language, building a new relationship with Émeric. Our relationship. We haven’t reset our contract yet.”
