TV Multiverse 97 (Patreon)

The dive bar he found was terrible in every objective metric. It was old, it was rundown, with a significant minority of its clientele having done hard time; mixed with some very obvious gang members.

Which meant it was perfect for their situation. Olivia entered the bar with the biggest smile the bar had ever seen from someone that wasn’t drugged to the gills. It was the enthusiasm of a tourist.

She was fascinated by the low ceiling, the flickering light, even the crackling jukebox that was playing rock music from the eighties. He could see that others were looking at the two of them, so he grabbed the nearest chair, and made a point of squeezing until the back cracked.

They got the message. Intimidation Aura was very useful.

Olivia noticed that as well, her eyes wide. “What was that?” she whispered.

“That was me reminding them that we might look like easy marks, but we’re not,” he said.

“Really?” she said, more excited than afraid. It was understandable, as danger wouldn’t feel real to her. It was also why sometimes rich girls fell for drug-dealing bikers and other assorted low-lives. The aesthetic was attractive enough to cover the danger.

“Really,” he said. “Just promise me you wouldn’t visit here without me, or at least two bodyguards.”

She nodded enthusiastically. They took an empty booth and ordered two beers. “Should we order food?” she asked. He laughed. “What?” she said.

“Let’s just say I won’t recommend anything that comes from this place’s kitchen,” he said.

She nodded, but then her gaze danced up and down. “Tell me about yourself,” she said. “I know very little about you. And I’m not the only one,” she said.

“I see you asked around,” he said, and winked. “It looks like my grand seduction plan is working wonderfully.”

“Maybe,” she said, trying to keep her tone light, as if she was playing their ‘inside joke’, but her blush suggested differently.

He had to admit; it was fun in a whole different way.

“No one would recognize me here, right?” she said. “Is my disguise that good?”

“Not necessarily. If we were in Manhattan, people would have recognized you, because when you see a face that looks like a movie star, chances are that you’re correct. Here, you just write it off as similarity, maybe ask which strip club she’s working at.”

Her blush grew thicker. “How rude,” she said.

He gestured. “Here, it counts as a compliment,” he teased.

“Point,” she admitted. “It feels good, not worrying about people recognizing me. I understand why you don’t want to get more involved with the entertainment business. It’s fun, but it can be really exhausting.” She sighed. “God, do I sound as spoiled as I fear I do?”

“You’re only human,” he said. “It’s tough to go through college while people react like a zoo exhibit.”

“Tell me about it. I’m already invited to a bar opening at the Empire Hotel.”

He would have teased her about her ‘ordinary’ boyfriend getting an invitation, but it was not the right time. Instead, they chatted a bit.

“How about if we play some pool?” she offered. “We can even have a bet.”

“What kind of bet?” he asked.

“The loser buys dinner, and the winner selects the place.”

“Fair,” he said. “I’m sure your movie star wallet could afford to pay.”

She shrugged with deliberate casualness. “I mean, I’m sure you’ll win. I’m not that good, but it’s a fun way to spend some time. Actually, it’s good that we’re playing for low-stakes.”

He smiled at her attempt to hustle him.

Admittedly, it would have tricked a lot of men, inclined to believe their superiority, especially when that was told by a pretty blonde. There was a certain irony that he believed it as well, but not everyone had his set of advantages.

He didn’t have a skill for playing pool, but after one point, that wasn’t needed, not unless he was trying to make a name through the professional snooker circuit.

“We can add something else as well,” he said. “The winner can ask the loser to entertain during dinner, in a way that would be acceptable in the context of the dinner.”

“Deal,” she said, then smirked mischievously as they arrived at the empty pool table, and she grabbed the cue, her grip amateurish. Excessively so. “It’s only fair that the lady opens, right?”

“Sure. We can alternate. Best of five, or best of three?” he said.

She smiled victoriously. “Best of three is fine. After all, I’m really bad at it,” she said smugly as she leaned forward, her back arching a bit too much, which stretched her jeans perfectly.

She was chewing the scenery. Even if he hadn’t realized what was going on before, he would have caught on. “I’m holding it correctly, right?” she asked.

“Mostly,” he replied.

“Good,” she said, and her arms moved smoothly, and she broke pretty well. “Lucky, right?”

“Yes, lucky,” he said with a chuckle, watching as she hit the first ball with pretty decent spin. “You really love chewing the scenery, right?”

She stood up, blushing a little. “That’s obvious,” she asked.

“It was good until you took the cue, but the way you held was like you never played it before. No one that bad is enthusiastic about making a bet. Do you have a table at home?”

“No,” she said. “It was for a role a year ago. I was supposed to play a hustler, but the budget blew up, and the movie never got made. All I had was three months of training.”

“You’re good,” he said. “Of course, that leaning move would have been far more spectacular if you were wearing a miniskirt.”

She blushed. “That was what I was supposed to wear in the movie.”

“Good call,” he said, not hiding his gaze as he checked her toned thighs. “Maybe I’ll ask you to wear one when I win.”

She blushed, but his challenge gave her something else to focus on. “When you win?” she said, quick to jump into the challenge. “Don’t forget I have the advantage,” she said, and sank three more, took the black, and won the first game cleanly.

“Good show,” he said, then he leaned forward and ran the table as well. His Intelligence, Perception, and Agility allowed him to make a short work. Ultimately, 9-Ball was an easy version.

She hummed. “Good call. Too bad I’ll win,” she said.

“You do have the advantage,” he admitted. “Assuming, of course, you don’t get shot by the nerves,” he said, and decided to play dirty.

In a fun way.

When she was pushing the cue for her last ball before the black, he stretched, giving her a show of his six-pack, at the same time, catching her gaze. It bounced off the edge. Her eyes widened. “Cheating,” she said.

“Really, how?” he smirked. “Don’t tell me miss movie star can’t handle a bit of skin flash,” he teased.

“Fine, you want to play it like that. Wait for me,” she said and went to the bathroom, scowling. He could see that it was a complicated scowl, a mix of annoyance, competitiveness, and just a bit of lust.

Or, maybe more than a bit, he corrected when she returned, her bra gone, and three of her buttons open, creating a devastating cleavage. She leaned on the edge, enhancing the show even more. “Let’s see how you play?” she said, her voice playful and throaty.

[Achievement complete. Tempt Olivia to escalate an innocent game.

Challenge: Medium]

[+5 Attractiveness

1 Random Silver Skill

1 Random Silver Reward]

The lack of netori bonus was no surprise. It usually didn’t trigger for lighter events. He smiled and picked the stat, even though he was feeling a bit annoyed.

[Attractiveness: 497] [Graceful Movement] [Luminous Eyes]

Just three more points until five hundred, and to see if he would trigger another perk.

He leaned down, giving her his best smile, and started playing. He could have finished it in less than thirty seconds, but why should he when Olivia was doing her best to distract him. When he sank the first ball, she leaned forward, enhancing her cleavage.

The second ball made her walk closer.

The third one, she was playfully caressing his arm. He noticed her fingers lingering on his muscles a bit too long, climbing to his shoulder. It wasn’t a surprise. Dan had some nice qualities, but muscle mass was not one of them.

Olivia was clearly partial to some nice shoulders.

He was amused by her move, but not enough to throw the game. He sank the fourth ball, leaving only the black ball. “Any other tricks,” he teased her, even as he put his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

She was pretty happy to lean against him, her hands wandering along his body, dangerously low. She seemed to be very determined to win the game. Just as he moved, her hands dipped, caressing his erection.

He still made the shot.

“Damn, I lost,” she said as she pulled back, trying to look like it hadn’t affected her.

[Achievement complete. Seduce Olivia Burke.

Challenge: Hard]

[+10 Attractiveness

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

[Bonus achievement complete. Netori effect in play]

[+10 Intelligence

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

He picked the stats.

[Attractiveness - Mortal Limit Reached!]

[Attractiveness Third Perk unlocked]

[Choose One!]

[Wardrobe Transcendence: Clothing responds to your body with almost-supernatural cooperation, defying common sense. Anything you wear achieves its ideal expression; wrinkles don't form; colors don't fade; fabric drapes with impossible perfection.]

[Media Magnetism: Cameras, microphones, and other recording methods respond to you very favorably, allowing you to look exactly how you want with minimal effort.]

[Controlled Dimming: You have a knack for manipulating your own looks, allowing you to undersell your physical gifts in a convincing manner, allowing you to blend into the background if needed.]

He hummed, acting like he was giving Olivia a second to recover as a gentleman while he was considering the rewards. The declaration of hitting the mortal limit was interesting, especially since a quick check showed his Attractiveness was a flat five hundred, the extra seven points gone.

He didn’t know if that limit was permanent or temporary, but he probably would have a chance to unlock it.

He then turned his attention to the perks. All three were useful, and if he had been planning to play his Attractiveness in the most common way and tried to become famous, he would have picked either the first one or the second one, depending on whether he wanted to be a model or an actor.

Instead, he picked the third one. Controlled Dimming. It felt a much better option, especially if he ever wanted a change of pace.

Or found himself in a tricky spy situation that required him to blend into the crowd to avoid attackers, just like how he had to when he helped Carina with her mission.

He was about to answer, but he noticed three people walking toward them, trying to look intimidating. “How about if you play a game with us, beautiful,” said their leader, leering at Olivia’s cleavage.

Not that he wanted to defend a creepy asshole, but he could understand. Olivia had amazing cleavage. He might have tried to deescalate the situation, but he saw one of the three pulling a knife.

“I’m sure we can come to an agreement, buddy—” he said as he took a step forward, but he didn’t waste any time. He just slammed his fist into his diaphragm, backhanded the second one, then he turned the one with the knife. He grabbed his wrist when he swung the blade, squeezing hard enough to bruise the bone.

Naturally, whenever a fight started between locals and newcomers, the locals would try to defend each other.

He decided to make a point. He swung the knife he had taken, and it sank into the dartboard on the other side of the bar with a very loud thunk. “I think we’ll have the check,” he said with a calm tone as he grabbed Olivia’s waist and walked out.

He even dropped a hundred dollars on the bar as he left, nodded to the bartender with a smirk, and dragged Olivia out.

She was trembling when they walked out. “That was…”

“A real seedy bar,” he said as he passed the helmet. “And, in seedy bars, sexy ladies brandishing their amazing breasts occasionally trigger fights.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked guilty. “It was my fault. I’m sorry,” she said.

“Not a problem, but I’ll always take a kiss as my just reward for saving a careless damsel,” he teased.

“Just one kiss,” she said, a little too quickly for her to be deciding after making the offer. He leaned down, captured her lips. Her tongue attacked with passion, their flirting culminated in something far more interesting.

[Achievement complete. Seduce Olivia into kissing you despite having a boyfriend.

Challenge: Hard]

[+5 Any Stat

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

[Bonus achievement complete. Netori effect in play]

[+10 Intelligence

1 Random Gold Skill

1 Random Gold Reward]

He hummed, enjoying the kiss more than the fact confirming he still got rewards, halved but targeting his stats. He put the free stats to Charisma, and picked Intelligence. Then, he pulled back, leaving Olivia gasping. “We need to stop,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “Of course. This is wrong—“ she muttered, remembering that she had a boyfriend.

“Not that. Usually, it’s not a good idea to stand in front of a bar filled with felons after winning a fight. It’s begging to be shot in the back,” he reminded her, and passed her the helmet.

She hugged him even tighter as he rode, the sharp turns he was taking adding some more adrenaline to their little game of seduction, her fingers slipping under his shirt to caress his six-pack. She seemed to be fascinated by his muscles.

“Ready for dinner?” he asked. She was dazed enough that she didn’t say anything when they took the elevator, just nodding, licking her lips while showing off her cleavage, using her body language to beg for a kiss.

She paused only when the elevator door opened, and they walked toward his door. “We’re not going to a restaurant, are we?” she asked.

“No, I’ll cook,” he said.

"You're going to cook?" she asked, skeptical. She was clearly more alarmed by that than the fact that he was bringing her to his house after a very intense kiss. But then, she had a point. Neither fighting nor filmmaking implied him to be any good at cooking.

“I have to, if I want to enjoy our second addendum,” he teased. “We accepted winner can ask loser to for entertainment, as long as it’s acceptable for the setting.”

“And, since it’s your home, there’s nothing unacceptable,” she said, her smile growing after his trick. But then she started it.

He opened the door. Olivia stepped in, taking in the view for a moment before stopping dead. Because, unlike what she expected, his penthouse was not empty. Blair was there, standing in front of a mannequin, carefully putting together a dress.

It was too refined for it to be spontaneous design, so he assumed it was one of her old designs that she had been working on, holding a fabric swatch.

“Good, you’re here,” Blair said without looking back. “Tell me what you think of the dress?”

She was not surprised by his arrival because he had already sent a message alerting her. Knowing Blair, she deliberately didn’t turn back to annoy Olivia.

“It’s something that the very skilled daughter of Eleanor Waldorf would design,” he said. Blair shifted happily. “I’d rather see something Blair would design,” he added.

That made her look back, her face thoughtful. “What do you think, Olivia?” she asked in a calm tone. A deliberate calmness, as there was no way Blair would miss Olivia’s messed-up lipstick, her lack of a bra, or her half-unbuttoned shirt.

“W-what do I think?” Olivia asked.

“Yes. You’re a minor celebrity. I expect you to have at least a passing understanding of fashion,” Blair said. He shook his head in amusement. He had to admit, it was a good way to mess with Olivia without being mean.

Well, not too mean. A certain degree of bitchiness was to be expected.

Olivia shuffled her feet. “That’s your question, and now why I’m here?”

“Since he’s already walking toward the kitchen, I’m assuming you’re here for dinner,” Blair said. “Now, your opinion.”

“Well, it’s an elegant dress, but a bit too classical,” she said. “I’m not familiar enough with Waldorf Brand to judge the other part.”

“Then come and check. It’ll take a while until dinner is ready,” Blair said. “You can climb him like a tree afterwards.”

That made Olivia pause. “I … I mean … you … really?”

Blair chuckled. “Yes. Come here. I don’t have any minions here, and I can use one—“

“Blair, what did we talk about?” he called.

“Fine, no calling people minions,” Blair said without shame. “I’m trying something new, and I appreciate some friendly assistance if you’re willing,” Blair corrected.

Olivia paused. “Really?”

Blair sighed. “I should have expected you to catch Humphrey’s dimness after hanging around him for a few days. Yes, really. I’m not surprised. I was at the party when he declared he wanted to seduce you, remember?”

Olivia shuffled. “I thought that was a joke,” she admitted.

Blair smirked, but her tone was impatient. “Clearly, and in return, your bra disappeared along with half of your buttons as a joke as well. Come, I don’t have all day.”

Olivia went next to Blair, looking slightly dazed even when Blair passed her a tablet and started showing her mother’s old designs, and they soon started talking about it. He listened to their talk for a bit, noticing it didn’t take long for Olivia to actually be drawn into fashion talk despite looking at him.

He let it stay, especially since it helped Olivia to calm down after the bar fight.

The dinner was going to be fun.