Chapter 12: Non-Cooperative Games, by John Forbes Nash Jr. – Part 1

The key to making good, authentic Mexican food is fresh, high-quality ingredients, an abundance of spices, and a fistful of lime. A proper Mexican meal isn’t supposed to be expensive – it’s supposed to be tasty, nourishing, and affordable because the cuisine arose from the people, for the people, but after the Spanish Conquest. It’s also supposed to be really sexist but that’s pretty much true of cuisine in general, whether it’s the pervasive belief that a woman belongs in a kitchen or alternatively, kept outside of one. Seriously. Women in the US weren’t allowed to become chefs until the 1970’s, or handle sushi in Japan. It is a very confusing dimorphism.

Anyway, the trio were still sitting outside of Double Tap, marinating in their fear and uncertainty when they were approached by a tall, busty, and beautiful woman by the name of Beatrice #1265. She was also a B-ranked gunner, blonde, and trans but that last part doesn’t matter nearly as much as the fact that she enjoys pineapple pizza. PINEAPPLE. PIZZA. She was a sick fuck and her existence was an abomination against nature.

“...Lee? Lee! Is that you?” Beatrice hollered as she made her way across the street and towards Riley.

Up until that moment, Riley had been absentmindedly resting her head against the side of a nearby lamppost. She had been distracted by her worries about the future and as a result, was staring vacuously into the street, watching people she barely registered come and go. Then, she heard a familiar voice call out to her and she instinctively muttered, “Hmm?” before looking up and staring straight into the face of her friend. Jolting up in shock, Riley quickly spluttered, “Whoa! Bee! What are you doing here!?”

“Shopping. Or trying to anyway,” Beatrice replied. “Why are you sitting out here?”

“Reasons,” Riley replied. “How much time do you have?”

At that, Beatrice crouched down, warmly embraced Riley and uttered, “Oof! That bad, huh?”

Beatrice was a few years older than Riley and a well-respected senpai at their dance troupe, Rhythm Anthem. To Riley though, Beatrice was more than just a mentor – she was the closest thing she had to a flesh and blood sister. There’s a reason why Riley became a gunner and Beatrice was it.

“Hey Bee,” said Aaron.

“Hey,” said Lucius.

“Hey guys,” Beatrice said in return. Then, she turned back to Riley and asked, “Why haven’t you been returning any of my messages?”

“Hmm?” Riley muttered in confusion. Then, she had a eureka moment and exclaimed, “Ah! I forgot! I turned my settings to busy.”

“Good job, stupid,” Beatrice said teasingly.

“I’m sorry. Was it important?” Riley asked.

“Uh, yeah. Kind of,” Beatrice replied sarcastically. “I mean, it’s only important if you want to live.”

With her curiosity piqued, Riley turned her head sideways like an owl and inquired, “Really? What do you mean?”

In response, Beatrice shook her head and in a quieter tone, said, “Not here. Follow me.”

Without hassle or complaint, the trio did as they were bid and followed Beatrice all the way back to her home.

Beatrice lived in District 7, a residential district inspired by the Dutch architecture of historical Amsterdam. With elements of the Italian Renaissance, the Baroque, and Classicism inter-spliced with Modern, Postmodern, and Pre-Fall architecture, it was anachronistic to say the least but the combination of colors, shapes, and themes were all blended together in a warm and aesthetically pleasing way. District 7 was designed as a walking city and filled with things like artisan bakeries, coffee shops, parks, and other communal spaces all easily accessible by foot. Although the City of New Haven was best-known for its primary industry as a manufacturer of personal equipment, it’s economy was large enough to support thriving secondary industries such as hospitality and tourism. As a result, a sizable portion of New Haven’s population made a living doing things like slinging sandwiches or serving ramen instead of hunting monsters or crafting swords. District 7 housed a large number of these alternative players, who in addition to earning a wage as service workers, often pursued their passions by moonlighting as artists, writers, thespians, and even dancers like Beatrice. These creative types are the people who beautify the city and make them comfortable.

Eventually, Beatrice led the trio outside of a coffee shop named Purgatorio – a quaint and unimposing 2-story shop made of red and sepia brick, installations of full-length glass windows, and a light wooden door painted teal. Immediately outside of the coffee shop was a patio area which was clearly outlined by an orange picket fence. Numerous sets of wooden chairs and tables of polished oak were provided for use within the enclosure although none of them were currently occupied. Overhead, a retractable green tarp was currently deployed and periodically flapping with the wind.

“Tada! This is my home! Come on in,” Beatrice said proudly before swinging the teal door open.

A bell rung with Bee’s arrival and the smell of roasted coffee beans permeated through the air.

“Hey babe, I’m back~!” Beatrice happily trilled as the party made their way in to the shop.

From behind the service counter, a short and friendly-looking man dressed in a white button-down shirt and black dress pants beamed at Bee. His name was Dante #1265 and he was a C-ranked bard who just so happened to be Beatrice’s husband.

“Hey babe,” Dante returned before the couple shared a kiss. “Welcome back.”

“I brought Lee and her friends,” said Beatrice. “Can you get us some coffee?”

“Sure,” Dante replied before setting off to locate and percolate the shit out of some roasted beans.

Beatrice led the trio to an unoccupied table and bid everyone to take a seat. After everyone was seated, she said, “All right. Now that I’m sure no one else can hear us, I’m going to explain why I brought you all here. Lee – your current placement means you’re going to be culled, right?”

“Yeah. Him and me both,” Riley replied while indicating to Lucius by tilting her head.

“Thought so. Dante’s in the same boat, or at least he was until I boosted him today,” said Beatrice.

There was a moment of quietude as the trio gave each other strange looks and tried to digest what they’d just been told.

“...What?” Lucius deadpanned.

“It’s true,” said Dante as he walked over with a serving tray with 5 mugs of hot coffee which he had just run through a French press. “At the start of the day, I was level 270. Now I’m level 282.”

For reference, Aaron was level 314, Bee was level 298, Riley was level 266, and Lucius was level 264.

“Holy moly; it’s true!” Riley exclaimed upon going through her friend’s list and checking Dante’s stats.

Aaron shook his head in confusion and said, “I don’t understand. How?”

Beatrice didn’t need to look around the room to know that all eyes were on her. Why? Because Beatrice was a star and stars can’t help but light up a room anymore than a fish can swim. It’s what stars do – it’s who she is, what she is, and right now, it was her time to shine.