Chapter 1: Start of the Day

          Eyes open to a semi dark bedroom, the only illumination coming from rays of sunlight poking through tiny puncture holes in thick blackout curtains. Rowan reaches for his phone to check the time through the bright flash of fan art of him and his partner's MMO characters in a bridal carry, he sees 1503.

Rowan raises his hand and starts counting fingers, 12, 1, 2, 3... He nods, Good enough and begins to rise.

With a creek from the bed or his knees, Rowan adjusts and reaches for his shirt that he wore the previous day and puts it on while walking to the bathroom. A flick of the light, hum from the ceiling fan as Rowan consults his group chat messages.

The Turnip pile - General chat
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Dragon Lord 12:12 PM
"Hey all! The Turnip Pile static is currently looking for a pure healer for the group. Raid times are-"

Scrolls.

Jacko 2:01 PM
"green mage at 99, i find it baffling how good the artifact armor looks. The felt looks so real"

Kobold 2:43 PM
"green mages armor this xpac is beautiful"

Thumbs the phone to another group chat, to check a series of posted memes from friends.

After 20 or so mins of mindless scrolling, Rowan finishes his business then goes to the sink to wash his hands and looks at the mirror. Rowan sees himself and his long brown hair, stubbly beard that seems to have a hard time growing in right so he just shaves it down to just stubble.

Rowan steps next to the sink to adjust the scale that has been tucked away in the corner with his feet, then steps on the scale. With a disappointed sigh Rowan mumbles the numbers and walks away scratching his head as he heads to the kitchen.

Witnessing a crowded kitchen filled with appliances and leftover dishes, Rowan reaches his fist slightly out and completes an invisible team huddle then walks to finish the job.

Empty the washer, load the washer, wash hands, pulls a clean bowl out and a box of chocolate round puff cereal his self proclaimed dog food to start the day.

Bowl at the ready Rowan props his phone and puts on an online video covering some news of the day.

Loonysoft Wants You to Delete Your Games!?! 31:09
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"Hello internet and this is your daily gaming news! Loonysoft is shutting down their old game's servers and they want you to delete their games so you can't play them!..."

Munching on cereal.

"Geronimo studio is shut down and dissolved after their game won game of the year last year..."

Sips the bowl till its empty of milk.

"Like, comment, and subscribe, but don't forg-"

Taps the phone closing the video then walks to the fridge to grab a cold bottle of water.

Rowan goes back to his bedroom and sits at his desk and turns on his computer and second monitor. After setting up a music playlist Rowan reaches for a box that has been sitting on a stack of model kit boxes.

Ding!

He checks his notification message, its from his partner Robin.

Textured Rice
"good morning"

Pathfinder
"Good morning", Rowan replied

Textured Rice
"are you ready for our model date tomorrow?"

Pathfinder
"Yeah just making sure I'm going to your place or are you meeting at mine?"

Textured Rice
"you got the air brush box so we were going to yours"

Pathfinder
"Faaaaaaaaaaair"

Textured Rice
"goose"

This is follow with a series animated images and memes all related to goose, with a shop link to a model kit of a goose mech.

Textured Rice
"gib goose"

Pathfinder
"Money has been really tight just paid rent but I got other kits set aside that I am working on for ya"

Textured Rice
"but goooooooose"

Another animated image of a goose this time chasing a small child.

Rowan replies with his own animated image from a scene in a old cult classic film "John's World" where the character John is denied from playing on an electric guitar.

Textured Rice
"fine"
"but as soon as you can you have to get me the goose so we can work on it together"
"speaking of working together I touched up the metallic coat where you cut the sprue!"
"look at him!"

A few close up images of a mech model kit with wings focusing on the seem lines.
Rowan smirks appreciating the work that was done on his favorite model.

Pathfinder
"That looks so good!"

Textured Rice
"thank you!"
"I will make sure to bring it with me when I come over"

Pathfinder
"With the new model do you still want me to cut the pieces out and sand them?"

Textured Rice
"ye"
"if its not the master grade ones"
"otherwise they are too small and hurt my hands"

Pathfinder
"Understandable"
"Thats why I am prepping one right now so you can airbrush this when you get here."

Textured Rice
"you gonna take it to work tonight?"

Pathfinder
"Nah boss man should be on site so I got to be looking like I'm working tonight."

Textured Rice
"ew"
"but y tho"

Pathfinder
"Someone was caught sleeping so I have to pull extra shifts for the graveyard but I am still free tomorrow!"

Textured Rice
"I hope you stay safe and awake so we can make goose next check?"

Another animated image of a goose this time tapping its feet happily.

Pathfinder
"Will do"
"I love you"

Textured Rice
"I love you too!"

After reading the reply Rowan then starts working on the goose model kit at his desk.

As time passes Rowan's phone lights up with a high pitch jingle which is silenced on reflex, its time to get ready for his night time job. Rowan sorts the part he was sanding into a labeled small plastic snack bag filled with similar colored parts. With a big stretch he rises from his station, walks to and reaches for his uniform hanging behind the bedroom door, and puts it on.

After collecting what he calls his metaphorical "Monkey suit" which is a blue polo shirt with the label security on the back and the company logo on the side of the arms. Rowan puts on his work badge lanyard with a 10 year company service pin on the lanyard.
Rowan looks at the time on his phone, 20:57, Sweet just enough time to pick up some Burrito Chime on the way, commented to himself with a excited pep in his step.
After patting himself taking inventory, phone check, wallet, keys check, bag with a few snacks and necessities
check.

Stepping outside Rowan unlocks a 4 door blue sedan and opens the rear driver side door to place his back behind the driver seat. Then gets in the car, loads up a music playlist from his phone, and begins to drive to work. "I hope there is no wreak on the bridge tonight" he mumbles to himself.
After many years in driving the same route Rowan's mind tends to drift to pass the time, sometimes thinking about the song that is currently playing, or about recent events going on in the world. "Now what was I last daydreaming about? Ah yeah how amazing it would be to just fly from one place to another."

The clicking sounds of the turn signal he merges on the highway.

Or even to just blink and I am there, no wait time, don't need to buy a plane ticket, just grab a bag and boom I'm in another country!

Sees that hes almost speeding and so adjusts how fast he is going.

I could even just meet up with friends, go to a bar, or hell bring them over and I could make them a drink!

Rowan passes a billboard that shows the jackpot lottery total.

With that much I can do so many things, after getting settled I could maybe open my own bar,
he amused the thought. Although I suck at names so I don't know where to go from there, but I do want to have an arcade!

The clicking sounds of the turn signal again as Rowan merges from one connecting highway to the next one.

Rowan sets the imaginary stage, Hey guys so crazy thing happened, I uhh won the jackpot check it out! A fancy bar with LED lighting and consoles from different generations of gaming are neatly arranged with a full bar of spirits and mixtures on tap.
Oh and by the way here's a 100k for helping me out during my rough years! I know I've been a pain in the ass but uhh... Rowan struggles to fill in the next part of the daydream.

Rowan starts approaching the long bridge that is built over the dividing river between one state to another.

I just love you guys, you all are the closest thing to a family I have, Rowan has a flash of Robin.
I love you Robin, I don't kno- he blinks and feels like he lost a second.

The pillars of the bridge are whizzing past and Rowan notices that he has lost all feeling in his hands and feet. Rowan silently begins to panic maintaining his posture as there is a sickening hollow feeling coming from his gut. Then as if he was in a roller coaster performing a sharp drop Rowans head goes light and slams into the steering wheel causing the car to drift.
With a sudden horn and tires squeaking Rowan starts to slump to the side almost falling into the passenger seat to a hard gilded tile floor.