Morbid

Bokuboy

Not surprisingly, Arnold completed the spell quest with the fastest time. Ever. Each package only took thirty seconds to deliver, thanks to the magic nag and her flying ability. After fifteen minutes, all thirty packages were delivered and Arnold dropped off the very happy messenger in front of the still stunned quest giver.

“Oh, Arnold.” Kelly had laughed so hard that she was crying. “That was so awesome to see!”

Arnold gave her a little smile and climbed off the nag. He looked a bit ridiculous with a large purple witch's hat on his head; but, Kelly didn't laugh at it, because she knew he had earned it.

' Quest complete. Record time: 15 minutes '

' Accelerate spell earned: Top Tier '

The quest giver didn't say anything and handed Arnold a little book. He usually had a long speech to give, about the adventurer doing their best and that they had earned a specific tier of the spell... and he couldn't say that this time. No one had ever taken it upon themselves to carry the messenger before while he carried the packages.

Arnold took the book and the temporary Accelerate spell disappeared from his Hotkey list and was replaced with a gold color Accelerate spell and it only needed a single button to cast. He stared at it for a moment and the information about the spell popped up.

' Accelerate (Top Tier: Gold Version) - Causes the target (an object or person) to increase their speed by 50%. Lasts for ten minutes. Stackable - Can be cast multiple times on the same target without limit, as long as MP (Magic Points) are available.

MP cost: 10 '

“Oh, wow.” Kelly said as Arnold shared his view with her and she looked at his Magic Points. “Arnold, I... I think you just broke the game.”

“No. It will only work for specific timed quests or quests that require extensive movements across a large distance.” Arnold responded.

Kelly shook her head. “That's not what I meant.” She said and chose the 'grip shoulder' personal option. “With the Magic Points you have and only a single button to push to cast the spell, you can cast it on yourself dozens of times and increase your speed beyond what the game can register. Each fifty percent speed boost stacks.” She had to hold in her laugh. “I doubt the game can track your movements if you did it.”

Arnold gave her a look that said he didn't believe her.

“Let's go back to the inn and break for lunch. We can take a look for more spells to quest for, too.” Kelly said and Arnold nodded, helped her up onto the nag and climbed on himself.

“The Harbor Inn.” Arnold said and the nag grew the butterfly wings and took off.

The quest giver stood there, still in shock, and the messenger beside him had a huge grin on his face.

Arnold and Kelly got a room at the inn and paid extra for the nag to get the best treatment at the stable, then the both of them logged out.

“Oh! I forgot to factor in your training boots of speed.” Kelly said as she took off her VR helmet. “Good lord, your speed would be phenomenal with just a couple of castings of the spell, let alone dozens.”

“Yours, too.” Arnold said and put his equipment down. “Ten percent boosts stack, too.”

Kelly chuckled and walked over to him. “I've got a thirty second cool-down time between castings and you don't.” She said and put her arms around him. “I could get three castings and then the first will lapse when I try a fourth.”

“Your spell only lasts two minutes?” Arnold asked as he put his arms around her, and she nodded.

“I owe you a kiss.” Kelly said and gave him one. She thought she could entice him a little with it and tried to go past their normal limit, and he broke the kiss after four seconds.

“I thought you had one of the best times?” Arnold asked.

“I did.” Kelly said and didn't let her disappointment show as she let him go. “I let the messenger carry the packages to the addresses himself, though.”

“You didn't think to cast Accelerate on yourself to speed up your casting and cool-down times?” Arnold asked. “They stack. If you keep casting it, you can get ten, maybe twelve stacked before the first spell expires. By then, you can cast maybe seven or so more before the second ends and you won't have a cool-down timer anymore.”

Kelly stood there and stared at him with her mouth slightly open. “G-g-good lord.” She whispered. “I never thought to spam myself with it.”

“Even the lowest tier spell can be done the same way, as long as the effect time is more than the cool-down time.” Arnold said. “It'll take longer to get the same effect; but, it will work, as long as you have the Magic Points. Since they regenerate on their own...”

“...you can perpetuate the spell for as long as you want.” Kelly said and didn't say anything for a minute. “Wow.”

Arnold sat down at the computer and opened his email and messaged the game developers. Kelly stood there and watched him send off a message to ask why most of the boosts and bonuses were class related and couldn't be used. He didn't have to wait long when he received a response.

“Is he kidding?” Kelly asked as she read it. “The game isn't fun if you don't have a class?” She shook her head. “You're level 56 and we've had a few adventures now.”

Arnold responded and added that to his message. “He says I'm a Nature Witch and wants to know what I'm complaining about.”

“What an asshole.” Kelly said. “Tell him to stop being an idiot and to check his information properly. He should see that the class is still locked and you only have access to the skills. It's not your class.”

Arnold did so and they waited. And waited.

“I think he's not going to...” Kelly started to say and then a message popped up.

' Just pick a class and stop complaining. '

“Yeah, definitely an asshole.” Kelly said. “Give me a minute to find another email address for the developers.” She walked across the room and sat at her computer. “Okay, try this one and add the idiot's name and a copy of the messages. Maybe we'll actually get some real answers.” She said and told Arnold the address. He quickly typed up the message, added in the dev's name and his insulting correspondence, and the original inquiry.

“Let's get something to eat.” Arnold said and stood up.

“Are we going out or eating here?” Kelly asked.

“Out.” Arnold said and changed into more appropriate clothing, then the two of them left the dorm room. The girls in the hallway were subdued in their actions and their behavior as Arnold and Kelly passed by them. They rode the elevator down to the ground floor and stepped out to see that Doris was all alone.

“Hey, you two.” Doris said and walked over to them. “How did the gaming go?”

“Arnold figured out a way to break it.” Kelly said and Doris laughed.

“Of course he did.” Doris said and looked at him. “Do you want a hug now or later?”

Arnold looked down at her chest and then at her face. “You're wearing a bustier.”

“Ha!” Doris barked. “Later, then.” She said and he nodded.

“We're going out to eat.” Kelly said and looked at Arnold. “Where?”

“Chinese.” Arnold said. “It's only ten minutes away.”

“Would you be a dear and grab me an order of chicken balls and rice?” Doris asked and walked back over to her desk. She came back with a twenty dollar bill. “On your way back, of course.”

“Sure.” Kelly said and took the money. “We should be back in a little while.”

“Thank you.” Doris smiled and watched them leave the dorm.

*

“Do you think she's trying to get back with him?” One of the girls on Arnold's floor asked.

“No doubt.” Rachel said. “He's too nice of a catch to give up on, not without a fight.”

“I hope she doesn't fight too hard.” Rebecca said. “Like his momma said, he's too smart to fall for any tricks like that.”

The other girls looked at her and didn't point out that what she said also meant that they wouldn't succeed, either. Of course, nearly all of them fought their urge to turn and look at Janet's room. They all knew that both she and Pam had successfully slept with him and they all wondered how in the world they had managed to do that.

*

Arnold and Kelly were treated really well at the Chinese place by the man there and Kelly was a little surprised by that. She didn't say anything about it until they were about to leave.

“Arnold, why is he being so nice?” Kelly asked in a whisper after she ordered food for Doris to go.

“The last time I was here, I had eight girls with me.” Arnold said and Kelly stared at him with wide eyes. “I also tipped really well.”

Kelly almost laughed at the real answer, because she knew that nice tips always made people treat you better the next time. “Are you going to tip him well again?”

“Should I?”

“It depends on if you want to keep being treated nicely.” Kelly said, wisely.

Arnold thought about the check last time and how much he had tipped with nine people, so he cut the tip appropriately for only two people being present and gave the money to the man.

“Thank you, sir!” The man said and ran back to the counter and quickly did up another bag of fortune cookies. “I hope you hand them out again this time.”

Arnold opened the bag and counted the cookies inside. “There's enough, so I will.”

The man behind the counter nodded and handed Kelly the take-out order. Arnold and Kelly left the restaurant and walked back to Arnold's dorm building.

“Free advertising, maybe?” Kelly asked and took a fortune cookie from the bag. She broke it open and ate it as she read the fortune. Small opportunities can sometimes lead to great experiences. She couldn't help but look at Arnold's face in profile and her heart went pitter-patter.

“Everyone seems to like them.” Arnold said and they entered the lobby.

“Ooo! I can smell you from here!” Doris said from behind her desk and that made Kelly laugh.

“I showered last night, thank you very much!” Kelly said with fake indignation.

“I meant my lunch, you silly girl.” Doris laughed. “I'm glad you didn't rush back with it.”

Kelly put her order on the desk and handed her the change. “We didn't order it until we were almost done eating, so it should still be piping hot.”

“Thank you.” Doris said and took out the large container, then she used a plastic spoon to scoop up some of the rice. “Mmm! It's almost as good as my home cooking.”

“We'll leave you to it.” Kelly said. “Enjoy.”

Arnold took out a fortune cookie and gave it to Doris, then walked with Kelly over to the elevator.

Doris watched them and hoped that Kelly wasn't going to hurt herself by trying too hard to get back with Arnold. The worst thing she can do is try to force things with him. She thought as the elevator doors closed.

Arnold and Kelly stepped out of the elevator and then Kelly was surprised when Arnold stopped at each door in the hallway and let all of the girls take a fortune cookie from the bag.

“Thanks.” Daisy said.

“Thankya, Ahrnold.” Rebecca said with her southern accent slipping through.

Arnold gave her a little smile and kept walking and handing out cookies.

“Arnold, you didn't have to do this.” Janet said and reluctantly took one. “Thank you very much.”

Arnold took another out and handed it to her. “For Pam.”

Janet nodded and put the second one on Pam's desk, then opened hers. All the efforts you are making will pay off. She read and didn't quite stifle her gasp.

“What does it say?” Kelly asked, curious about the reaction.

“Oh! Um... well... it's... never mind.” Janet said and closed her hand over it.

Arnold reached out and took her hand, then gently opened it. He read it and then held it out to Kelly. She read it and looked at Janet's red face, then handed it back without saying anything. Janet took it and didn't say anything, either.

Arnold moved off and delivered cookies to the rest of the girls and then he and Kelly went into his dorm room and closed the door.

*

“What does it say?” Rachel asked a little excitedly and started to walk over to Janet.

Janet shook her head and went back into her dorm and shut the door. It could mean so many things. She thought and looked at the simple phrase printed on the little piece of paper.

*

“There's one left.” Kelly said when Arnold put the bag on the counter. “Are you going to open it?”

Arnold didn't say anything and sat down at the computer to start looking for spells.

“It's just a bit of fun.” Kelly said. “Do you mind if I open it?”

“No.” Arnold said and kept searching for easy spell quests in Fortune's Favour.

Kelly opened it and read it out loud. “All things come to those that go after them.” She said and Arnold turned around and looked at her for a moment, then he pointed to the cupboard. She opened it and saw another fortune cookie there. She took it and opened it, then read it aloud as well. “Romance comes into your life in a very unusual way.”

Arnold stared at her for several moments and Kelly couldn't take her eyes off of it or dared to look at his face. She didn't want to admit that she wanted some of the fortunes to come true and others not to. It was a little unreasonable of her to think that, especially since she didn't normally lend any credence to these things... but, if they did come true... she definitely wanted her own to happen and not Janet's.

Kelly thought about everything Janet had said to her at the beach party last week and she did not want any of her efforts to pay off, not even a little bit. She didn't want to give Arnold up, because she loved him and he was the perfect man for her. She couldn't even imagine anyone replacing him, and yet, she knew that they couldn't have sex. She took a deep breath and let it out, then finally turned to look at Arnold to see the expression on his face.

Arnold had turned away already and was writing down the things to do to complete the quest for three different spells that would benefit him. He checked his email and there was no response from the developers, so he closed the program and read over the qualifications for the spell quests. Some of them he thought he could buy and would have to ask Kelly about. The others he would have to ask Helena for, if Kelly didn't know who else to talk to.

“Let's get back to playing.” Arnold said and stripped off his casual clothing and put on a t-shirt and shorts.

Kelly did the same and didn't ask him what he thought of his fortune cookies. “What spell are we going for first?”

“Resist Effect.” Arnold said and smiled.

“Oh, geez.” Kelly said with a shake of her head and then she laughed.