New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live



Waking up to his alarm clock, Alex spun over to shut it off, before grumbling himself awake. He still wasn't much of a morning person and still wished he could stay in bed till noon.

But he at least had the discipline in himself to not fall prey to these thoughts.

Getting up to go take a leak, he shook his head awake, planning his day. He didn't have to go to the gym that day, since he went the day before, but he still would be busy.

After flushing, he left the room without making noise, not wanting to wake up Kary just yet. Alex tiptoed his way downstairs, heading to the kitchen.

He started a pot of coffee, while he made some crepe batter. Looking inside the fridge, he also noticed there were some strawberries left, and some heavy cream.

"Hmm. Might as well go all in."

He pulled out the cream, dumping it in a bowl with some sugar and a bit of vanilla extract, before violently whisking the shit out of it. He didn't want to use the electric mixer, since it made such a ruckus.

After whisking for five minutes, he finally reached the desired consistency, and shoved the bowl into the fridge, to let it set and cool, as he cut the strawberries into slices.

Once the fruit was ready, he tossed it back into the fridge as well, before starting up the stove. It was crepe time.

It didn't take him very long to make a few golden brown crepes, which he garnished with the strawberries and the whipped cream, before walking his way back upstairs. He made his way to the bed, two plates in hand, and leaned in to kiss Kary.

"Good morning, beautiful. Can I interest you in some sweet breakfast? There is coffee downstairs as well, for after, if you'd wish."

Kary yawned herself awake, cracking her eyes open, before smiling widely.

"How were you still single? Any woman would have snatched you right up had they known how affectionate you are."

Alex shrugged in response. He never had been looking for a girlfriend, really.

One just fell on his lap. Or should he say Astaroth's lap?

In any case, he was glad he wasn't already taken when he met her. She might not be perfect, with her mighty bossiness, but she was fine for him.

As Kary sat up in bed, taking one plate, which already had utensils in it, she cut herself a piece of the crepe, forking it up with a nice little strawberry slice, and a bit of whipped cream.

When she put the bite into her mouth, she let out a small moan of pleasure.

"This is heavenly. Did you make the whipped cream yourself? I don't remember you having any."

Alex nodded, as he stuffed a bit inside his mouth as well.

'Mmm. It IS good. I outdid myself.'

They ate their breakfast, being careful not to drop any in the bed, since strawberry juice stained badly and whipped cream would be a mess to clean as well. Once they were done, Alex took the plates and went back downstairs to clean up, while his girlfriend washed her face in the bathroom.

She came back down just as he finished pouring the two cups of coffee, hugging him from behind before grabbing hers and taking a slow sip of the hot beverage.

She let out a content sigh after her sip, her eyes closed in delight.

"I could wake up like this every morning, you know?" she told him.

Alex chuckled. He would love to, but he knew full well his body wouldn't be as lenient every day.

"I could try, but no promises. I never was an early riser."

Kary giggled before heading over to the living room, where she sat in front of the huge TV. She opened up the television, wanting to check the morning news.

As the television opened up, a weird news report was on. As the woman was trying to give the weather predictions of the day, standing on a not-too-busy corner downtown, a homeless-looking man ran up behind her, yelling his lungs out.

"I saw them! Giants rats! Eyes as red as blood, shining in the darkness! They were monsters! Monsters, I'm telling you!"

The camera cut back to the studio as some men were trying to get the homeless-looking man away from the woman.

The anchorman tried playing it off.

"Well, it seems Caroline picked the wrong corner for her weather report this morning. We'll be back to her once the situation has calmed down again. For now, let us go to sports. You're up, Phil!"

As the screen shifted once more to the sports guy, Kary muted the news, turning around to look at Alex. Her face scrunched up in worry.

"Do you think…"

Alex also paled.

"It's not impossible. But I think David would have already called me. There is no way he wouldn't have found out by—"

As he was speaking those words, his phone suddenly rang on the kitchen counter.

Alexander took it in hand, looking at the screen, and his face became grave. On the screen, the caller ID appeared.

It said Private ID, but Alex knew only one person who hid their caller ID. And that was David.

Answering the call, Alex put it on speaker.

"Yes, David?"

From the other side, David's tired voice sounded.

"You saw it too, didn't you? On the news?"

Sighing loudly, Alex responded.

"Yes. We just saw it. Is it a case of hallucination, or is it a case for our attention?"

"Would I be calling you for a hallucination, Alex?"

Alexander sighed again.

"No. I doubt you would. When and where?"

Alex already knew David had called him so they could go take care of it. So there was no use turning around the pot.

"Give me half an hour, and I'll be at your place. This shouldn't be too far from your building. I know a way down there without catching attention, as well."

"Okay. See you in thirty minutes, then."

David hung up, and Alex looked annoyed.

Just when he thought he could enjoy a pleasant morning, with an excellent coffee, a super breakfast, and a calm environment, life threw a wrench into his plans.

"Did you want to come?" he asked, turning around.

But Kary was already up from the sofa, downing her coffee like it was a glass of water. Putting the cup on the counter and drying her lips with a napkin, she smiled at him.

"Of course, love. I wouldn't let you go hunt alone. Drink your coffee and let's get ready."

Alexander nodded his head, copying her earlier move and chugging his coffee.

What a hell of a day would this be.