Chapter 388: Thinking About RPGs I

Anyways... RPGs.

Role-playing games. Role-playing video games.

Either of which are stuff that Alexander had a lot to think about. Especially during development and even now... with the recent release of Mystic Quest.

The most beginner RPG that one can ever play.

With a simple goal of raising awareness... there's really not much going on for it.

It's supposed to not have many twists or huge reveals, and the entire plot is revealed in the first few seconds.

It was the sore thumb and so unlike the rest of Final Fantasy with truly amazing soundtracks, epic stories, the memorable characters.

Of course, that is old timeline news, Alexander changed some of that up to make it much more up to standard.

Then there's stuff he kept like the superior adventure elements. Like being able to use weapons to chop down trees, climbing walls, blowing doors open, and the flexibility of the Dragon Claw.

It just made dungeon exploration more interesting and helped prepare his GameDevs for another game that had such mechanics.

With a certain Peter Pan-looking guy involved.

As for the stuff he'd improved... there's the reworked overworld exploration parameters. Finding secrets and fumbling unto the next location would be far more appealing than just having everything locked in.

And yeah... there's the sprinkling of random battle encounters. Encountering a tad more challenging enemies. Necessitizing strategy that really involved weapons, characters, weakness, status effects, and all that.

Simplifications aside, that's just how RPGs are supposed to be.

Then again, when reworking that into pocket monsters, type synergy, and whatnot... you've got a very special RPG.

Which is something that Alexander had big plans for. He just had a lot of plans... he's even thinking of MMORPGs while he's at it.

But before that... there's still the transition of Mystic Quest into the main series.

And if Enix really isn't up for it... it can be a transition to Dragon Quest as well. Would Benjamin's Dragon Claw be enough for that?

Decisions, decisions. When it comes to RPGs, there's really a lot of that to be made.

It really gets one thinking...

Thinking about how the trashy Mystic Quest has actually become quite pivotal...

Thinking about the implications of having the renewed first true role-playing video game... for consoles, that is.

Thinking a whole lot that Milla can't help but shake him out of it.

"Alex, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He appeased. "Just got lost in thought."

"You always do that, you know." Milla pointed out.

"I suppose I do." It happens more and more lately. Maybe RPG deliberations just does that to people.

Gamers just get enamored with the campaign and story that they find themselves in the zone. Then again, that's either DnD hokum or gaming addiction.

Sometimes people just get sucked into the role that they can't exit themselves from it. Granted, that's "acting".

None of those apply to Alexander's plight. Being a workaholic or just general workaholism, probably?

It's not just RPG, after all.

There's Jeff-of-Kinny-esque writing, ratings stalking for every episode, October stuff, November stuff, December stuff...

1987 stuff, 1988 stuff, 1989 stuff... to infinity stuff.

With all this stuff, it's shaping up to be Stuffed September with Stuffed Hobbes all over again.

Maybe even worse as it's a whole lot of general stuff that anyone else would pretty much be buckled and be stuffed in.

Clearly, aside from RPG stuff, Alexander has a lot to think about.

What to do?

What not to do?

Why do so?

Why not do so?

How to do?

How not to do?

As Alexander inwardly asked himself those questions... it's just followed up with never-ending follow-up questions.

This must be the qualms of taking up the role of a decision-maker, little boss, and multi-faceted businessman.

Unlike any role in RPGs, Alexander was playing the real game of life and business.

Wrongly choosing between Option A and Option B would prove to have much serious consequences.

Consequences that he inadvertently can't help but think about.

Before he fell down that rabbit hole, Milica could only say. "Alex, you're doing it again."

"Oh right." Then again, that just made Alexander think once more.

About Chaos and his Mind Mansion this time around... had the pressure gauge really been overloaded?

Would all the repressed emotions, panic, stress, anxiety, doubts, and whatnot come blasting out like how it is with volcanos?

How would that even manifest? More importantly, how in the world could he take on all of that?

Mob Psychic rampage or just an unthinkable mental outburst...

Also, was he experiencing some early signs of that already? Probably.

After all, he was just thinking RPGs yet here he was.

Whilst his expression was still as dull as ever... a barely notable twinkle of annoyance is already there.

Most likely his annoyance at what's to come...

If the worst-case scenario ever does come, by then he might really be fuming at how much of an inconvenience it will be.

Wait a sec...

This pattern seems familiar...

Could it be...

There's a high chance that it is...

Yeah... it probably is...

Before Alexander could continue on with that thought though...

He felt something heavy settle on his waist.

It was a special pajama'd girl positioning herself in quite a special position. Well... with said pajamas dotted with cutesy cartoon-y cows... it's a special position, indeed.

If this girl were to don a hat from the Wild West, then that would be something.

Cowgirl can really mean a lot of things, doesn't it?

"Milla... what are you doing?" Alexander asked but just in case, he had his hands on the sides of her waist already.

Ehem... to stop her from doing something weird, of course.

It had long been night, in his room, in his bed, and with their relationship... weird stuff could really happen.

Not minding it too much, Milla explained with a bit of grievance on her face. "To get your attention before you get lost in your workaholic head again."

Fair enough. "But this is still a weird way to do it though."

She then added with a pout. "Before you go to sleep with business stuff, I just want to congratulate you... with a kiss."

"A kiss, huh." That got Alexander curious. "What even is there to congratulation for?"

"You know, your animation projects and your new game." She replied as a matter of fact. "Mom told me that it's what girlfriends do."

Alexander could only blink at Miss Galina's ways that are really way too out there...

Given what he knew of his ex-babysitter and extrapolating it with the old timeline of Milla's dating and marriage biography... yeah... it's not such a surprise.

Oh well... as they say... don't look a gift horse in the mouth...

Just kiss your girlfriend when she wants it...

He didn't really have much to think about when it came to this scenario.

All he needed was to be the boyfriend and simply set aside other matters for later.

For now... he slowly sat up... wrapped Milica in his embrace...

With eyes closed, all he need was lean his head forward for a bit... and a connection was made.

His lips touching hers.

It didn't align too perfectly but there's not much to worry about. They're in peculiar spots, after all.

Ehem... the wrapped lotus, as they say...

Puckering less and relaxing more... gently and firmly...

Alexander and Milla simply kissed...

It's not the first time and it won't be the last.

It's just the kind of plays you do when you take up roles as boyfriend and girlfriend.

It's no game but it's sort of RPG when you think about it.

Sigh...

Even whilst kissing, he's still sneakily thinking about RPGs, isn't he?