HOME | DD

Description
"now, what letter do you think this looks like?" the girl asked me, waving her magnifying glass at me.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "They all look the same."

She pouted. "Aww, come'on! At least take a look at it!"

I yawned and scooted closer to her on the bench where we sat in the basement of her apartment, a lamp above our heads giving the papers we were trying to decipher a yellow tinge. "hm..."

"So?"

"Looks like a bunch of W's"

"Ugh! Nicolae!! You're not making a very good Watson, you know that right?"

"Hey, I'm doing what I can. And all I see are a bunch of W's" I protested, my head not lifting an inch from on it's comfy spot on my palm. I internally sighed. The things I end up doing with this girl. And yet I don't even get bored of her reactions . In fact, I sometimes find myself looking for more.

"Try following where the dots are placed." I suggested. "If you can figure that out, you already have yourself an 'i'"

"I've figured that out already." She pored over the papers as if waiting for a laser beam to shoot from her glare and scan the thing already so she wont have to manually decipher it. Her eyebrows shot up.

Oh boy. She has a plan for me.

"You sir," She pointed a finger at me. "I have a job for you!"

"And that is?"

"Since you think finding out where the i's are placed in the word is so easy-"

"What?" I lifted my head from my palm to look at her incredulously. This plan of hers, even though I already what she's going to make me do-, it doesn't even fit in the context of what I said. "I didn't even say anything like that!"

"tush tush" she chuckled, waving a long finger in front of me, "The unspoken words speak the loudest, dearie"

"Don't you mean 'Actions speak louder than words'?" I deadpanned.

"Oh, shut up! It's the eighteenth century!" She waved her hand as if to dismiss me. "New words come out everyday"

"Not sure about that" I mumbled before reaching for a paper from the small stack she was working on. "I'll be working on this"

"Ok" she softly said, her personal scanner sweeping carefully through the words before her.

What's this for anyway? I turned the paper this way and that, shifting it against the light in hopes of finding some way into doing this more quickly.

"Hey-"

"No, you're going to decipher that, and you aren't moving from that seat!"

"That wasn't what I was going to say"

"Really?" A light pink dusted her cheeks in embarrassment. I let a small smirk line my bored face. Look who isn't being a good Sherlock. "Well...then shoot"

"What are these documents for anyway? A runaway asylum doctor? Because it only looks like a doctor would this kind of writing"

" It's Queen Victoria's personal diary."

"What?!"

"Let me finish!" She gave me stern look, but that did nothing to hide my shock. The Queen's diary?! Is what we're doing even legal? "You're very well aware that the Queen has recently gotten married right? Even you should know this. It's been the gossip of the town ladies since the last two weeks"

I nodded in response. Of course I knew that. I don't go lounging in the park under the shade of a nice tree without listening. It's hard not to anyway.

"So yeah, since the day before the wedding, Her Majesty has been spotting some shady characters among her servants. And the day right after the wedding, the Crown Jewels were stolen, and suddenly the British Navy has been getting more recruits than usual"

"What does the contribution to the British Navy have in connection to the Crown Jewels being stolen?"

"That's the thing about our criminal. They seem to be the same person. And as to why we're deciphering the Queen's personal diary, she's known to have some pretty detailed entries about what happens during the day, and accurate descriptions of who caught her eye"

I nodded. Not wanting to ask another question. The sooner we file this case 'solved', the better. And the sooner we get the copy of the Queen's diary out of our hands, the better. Much, much better, in fact.

I glanced at her; watching how her hair falls from her ear and strands go up in exhilaration, her eyebrows knit together and lips pouting in concentration while her hand fidgets with the pencil she's holding, and her glasses glinting in the lamp's yellow light. And something that shines out more than her being different from other girls who are trained to be 'proper ladies': her guts. Honestly, I she's the only girl I know who's this gutsy to have Royal personal property in her hands as if she held a dusty coin she's picked from the ground. I glance back to the paper in my own hands before she catches me.

"Aha! Nicolae! Get a look at this!"

Leaning over, I lift a brow as I try to see what she has discovered. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"Don't you see?" She said, excitement bubbling out of her as if she were a stew about to burn. "This is probably the best mystery ever!"

"How so?"

"The plan of our man, is ingenius! It says here, let me read the passage-" She replaced the page in her hand for another with her own penmanship -which is almost equally as undecipherable- and cleared her throat, preparing to read. " 'This thief, whoever he is, I have to hand it to him, his plan was brilliant. It went so smoothly that I didn't notice the resemblance. The way everything was prepared for the act, the way everyone was acting, the way how everything in the palace shone with an overpowering suspicious glow, it was just like something from a book I had laid my eyes on not very long ago. I hadn't bought it since the title said everything the story would tell, and it's obvious that a novice had written it. But the only problem is, I can't seem to remember the specific title of that book. Nor the name of the author since he isn't very famous in the literary world. Yet, I have a feeling he might just make it big. A novice preparing to strike the world with probably one of the greatest mysteries ever written in the fictional world...'"

"Astonishing" was all I could say. For once, I have to agree with the lady.

"Right?!" she said, her eyes glittering in jumpy excitement. "And it just so happens that I came across the very same book just yesterday and is sitting right here in my bag right now!"

"And the title is?" I prompted.

"the title is-" --------

Light shone through my eyelids, burning the insides and making me see a dull red. I groaned, opening my eyes halfway.

Crocs on steroids, for once I was actually enjoying my dream, but it just had to end in a cliff-hanger! But it made me feel weird that the setting was in Middle Ages England. Maybe it's just that aspect of dreams that you're not really supposed to understand. I mean, how can you understand how you're having steady conversation with a fuckin' cockroach?

I sighed before pulling my phone from my nightstand to repeat my daily email routine. After replying the same thing to Emil and my other brainless co-workers, my eye caught a message from someone which I don't get much often. I opened the message and began to read.

Mr. Ragvaard,

I would like to inform you to come straight to my office this morning to have a little chat with me. I haven't been able to check up on how things were doing with one of my hand-picked head employees because of all the meetings I had with other companies and whatnot. I do hope you will give a full honest report on how things are doing from emails to the full on assembly of the project.

-Masashi, Chairman.

I smirked. This was my chance. Finally, I can get shit out of my hair.

And out of nowhere, my mind drifted off to the girl in my dream.

It's the same girl. And this time, she was more lively than she was in my last dream. More gutsy and daring. Honestly, the Queen Victoria's diary? How could anyone get their hands on that? But I was attracted by the plot. Who knew dreams could have good story lines?
I shook my head to rid myself of the dream. I wont be needing any distractions while working. And also, so that I wont forget anything while reporting.
___________________--------------_______________-------------------________-------

I entered the elevator and instead of pressing my usual floor, I went for the shiny yellow button at the very top of the panel. Tyrone, who was beside me, looked at me as if I had gone mad.

"Dude, you sure you didn't go drinking without me last night? Cause you might be going to wrong floor. Here, let me press the right one for you" He deactivated the command to bring us up to the top floor, and pressed the fourth floor where our office was located. I pressed the shiny yellow button again.

"I'm not crazy Tyrone." I deadpanned. "I just have to take a short opportune stop before working."

Once we reached the fourth floor, he straightened his shirt -thank god, he wasn't wearing a suit today. "Dude, I don't know what in fuck's name you did, but I wish you luck" and he exited the contraption.

"Chill," I as the doors started to close. " 'cause I wont be the one needing it".

When the doors opened again, I stepped out and made my way to the door that had the label Chairman printed in bold writing.

I pushed open the doors and closed it behind me before standing in front of the man who sat behind the posh mahogany desk with a Rubik's Cube, the company's logo model and the shiny, golden trimmed, black nameplate sitting proudly on top.

"Ah, Nicolae, I'm glad to see that you came" he smiled, his chin casually resting on interlaced fingers.

I shrugged. "Orders from above"

"Let's skip with the pleasantries. How are things going?"

"Absolutely wonderful" I said with obvious sarcasm. He motioned for me to sit on the chair opposite. I obeyed, and rested my ankle on my knee, leaning back on the seat.

"How so? Ah wait, let's start with the emails. How are those beautiful wake up reading doing?"

"The exact opposite of what you said"

"What are the main issues?"

"Oh I don't know. Designing problems, storyline issues, you know, all the crappy shit that ain't even in my field."

"Hm...pretty brainless if you ask me"

I scoffed. "My point exactly"

"And the cinematics. How are those going?"

"Too long for their own good"

"The opening duration?"

"Close to almost ten minutes" And before he could ask, "Tyrone borrowed my hard drive to store the files since his went on a little trip to the dumpster"

"Ah, I see." I could see that he was trying to stifle a laugh and I think I heard him say something like, "That is so like Tyrone. SPED to the next level. Or to the highest level possible. Who just simply throws away their hard drive?"

He cleared his throat, the remnants of the laugh still visible on his lips. "But anyhow, we'll have to fix the cinematics issue. We don't want the company to have a bad sell only because of the duration of the cinematics-" he stopped himself before continuing, "Oh yes, speaking of durations, how long is the duration of each cut-scene?"

"about three to five minutes. And their complaining"

"Talk about dimwits. They're giving themselves a harder time"

I nodded. Such bliss. Having all these problems finally being faced with a solution. I never loved my job more.

"Ok. Cinematics aside. How is your section doing with you as their spontaneous head?"

"Not much difficulties actually. A few bugs here and there, but we should be able to get them fixed before the next part of the game is sent."

"Good. And when did they say will it be sent?"

I shrugged. "Nothing"

"Nothing?"

"Yes"

He rubbed his stubbled chin in thought, "Hm...Ok, we'll hold a meeting later in the day. Thank you for your report Nicolae. You can scram and go back to flying your fingers over your keyboard blindfolded"

"No problem. But I would have to decline your challenge" And with that, I stood and made my way to my respectful sector.

___________________-------------___________----------____________

Later on, the familiar voice from earlier spoke through the intercom, announcing a meeting with the entire staff.

Music to my ears.

"Nigga, what the hell did you get yourself into?" Tyrone whispered from beside me.

"Nothing."

"Then what did you do up there? Play chess and lose miserably?"

"What's up with you and the letter 'm' these days?"

"Nothing. It's the section I ended up in while singing the Alphabet song when I remembered that I had to get my suit from the laundry" He glanced at Genevieve who passed by before continuing. "So? did you play chess up there?"

"Hell naw. I did what I do best"

"Look through porn?"

"No!"

"then what?"

"Complain. Report, basically"

"Cheap bastard"

"Thank you"

And so, we stood to enter the meeting room. I took my seat near my sector, and Tyrone near his. And a short while later, Chairman Masashi, in all his chic, casual attire and dark Japanese waves glory stepped in, a smile on his face.

"So, I heard that some of the department are having a dumbly hard time at their job"

The respectful departments shrank in fear of losing their jobs. As the saying in this company goes, "Do it logically or lose it properly". And I could never agree more.

"But before we get to that," he eyed Emil for a second who shrank even further into his chair until he looked like a donut waiting to be fried. "Tyrone,"

"Yessir!"

"I would like to have a word with you tomorrow first thing in the morning. It's time for your very first report"

"Yessir!" he saluted despite the fact that his free hand was shaking.

"Ok, now, to more pressing matters." His eyes shifted to the department seated right next to me. "Emil"

"Y-Y-Yessir!" he stammered, sitting as straight as his potbelly would allow. And I stopped a snicker from escaping before it became evident because of the way his double chin furiously shook with the sudden action.

Masashi still had that kind, harmless smile on his face, but his green glasses glinted in the light. "What are the problems going on in the Cinematics department? If I recall correctly, I sent you a message a few days ago, of not, just the other day to get your petty problems fixed right away."

Man, this is going to be good. The advantages of being good acquaintances with the company's Chairman.

Description
"now, what letter do you think this looks like?" the girl asked me, waving her magnifying glass at me.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "They all look the same."

She pouted. "Aww, come'on! At least take a look at it!"

I yawned and scooted closer to her on the bench where we sat in the basement of her apartment, a lamp above our heads giving the papers we were trying to decipher a yellow tinge. "hm..."

"So?"

"Looks like a bunch of W's"

"Ugh! Nicolae!! You're not making a very good Watson, you know that right?"

"Hey, I'm doing what I can. And all I see are a bunch of W's" I protested, my head not lifting an inch from on it's comfy spot on my palm. I internally sighed. The things I end up doing with this girl. And yet I don't even get bored of her reactions . In fact, I sometimes find myself looking for more.

"Try following where the dots are placed." I suggested. "If you can figure that out, you already have yourself an 'i'"

"I've figured that out already." She pored over the papers as if waiting for a laser beam to shoot from her glare and scan the thing already so she wont have to manually decipher it. Her eyebrows shot up.

Oh boy. She has a plan for me.

"You sir," She pointed a finger at me. "I have a job for you!"

"And that is?"

"Since you think finding out where the i's are placed in the word is so easy-"

"What?" I lifted my head from my palm to look at her incredulously. This plan of hers, even though I already what she's going to make me do-, it doesn't even fit in the context of what I said. "I didn't even say anything like that!"

"tush tush" she chuckled, waving a long finger in front of me, "The unspoken words speak the loudest, dearie"

"Don't you mean 'Actions speak louder than words'?" I deadpanned.

"Oh, shut up! It's the eighteenth century!" She waved her hand as if to dismiss me. "New words come out everyday"

"Not sure about that" I mumbled before reaching for a paper from the small stack she was working on. "I'll be working on this"

"Ok" she softly said, her personal scanner sweeping carefully through the words before her.

What's this for anyway? I turned the paper this way and that, shifting it against the light in hopes of finding some way into doing this more quickly.

"Hey-"

"No, you're going to decipher that, and you aren't moving from that seat!"

"That wasn't what I was going to say"

"Really?" A light pink dusted her cheeks in embarrassment. I let a small smirk line my bored face. Look who isn't being a good Sherlock. "Well...then shoot"

"What are these documents for anyway? A runaway asylum doctor? Because it only looks like a doctor would this kind of writing"

" It's Queen Victoria's personal diary."

"What?!"

"Let me finish!" She gave me stern look, but that did nothing to hide my shock. The Queen's diary?! Is what we're doing even legal? "You're very well aware that the Queen has recently gotten married right? Even you should know this. It's been the gossip of the town ladies since the last two weeks"

I nodded in response. Of course I knew that. I don't go lounging in the park under the shade of a nice tree without listening. It's hard not to anyway.

"So yeah, since the day before the wedding, Her Majesty has been spotting some shady characters among her servants. And the day right after the wedding, the Crown Jewels were stolen, and suddenly the British Navy has been getting more recruits than usual"

"What does the contribution to the British Navy have in connection to the Crown Jewels being stolen?"

"That's the thing about our criminal. They seem to be the same person. And as to why we're deciphering the Queen's personal diary, she's known to have some pretty detailed entries about what happens during the day, and accurate descriptions of who caught her eye"

I nodded. Not wanting to ask another question. The sooner we file this case 'solved', the better. And the sooner we get the copy of the Queen's diary out of our hands, the better. Much, much better, in fact.

I glanced at her; watching how her hair falls from her ear and strands go up in exhilaration, her eyebrows knit together and lips pouting in concentration while her hand fidgets with the pencil she's holding, and her glasses glinting in the lamp's yellow light. And something that shines out more than her being different from other girls who are trained to be 'proper ladies': her guts. Honestly, I she's the only girl I know who's this gutsy to have Royal personal property in her hands as if she held a dusty coin she's picked from the ground. I glance back to the paper in my own hands before she catches me.

"Aha! Nicolae! Get a look at this!"

Leaning over, I lift a brow as I try to see what she has discovered. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"Don't you see?" She said, excitement bubbling out of her as if she were a stew about to burn. "This is probably the best mystery ever!"

"How so?"

"The plan of our man, is ingenius! It says here, let me read the passage-" She replaced the page in her hand for another with her own penmanship -which is almost equally as undecipherable- and cleared her throat, preparing to read. " 'This thief, whoever he is, I have to hand it to him, his plan was brilliant. It went so smoothly that I didn't notice the resemblance. The way everything was prepared for the act, the way everyone was acting, the way how everything in the palace shone with an overpowering suspicious glow, it was just like something from a book I had laid my eyes on not very long ago. I hadn't bought it since the title said everything the story would tell, and it's obvious that a novice had written it. But the only problem is, I can't seem to remember the specific title of that book. Nor the name of the author since he isn't very famous in the literary world. Yet, I have a feeling he might just make it big. A novice preparing to strike the world with probably one of the greatest mysteries ever written in the fictional world...'"

"Astonishing" was all I could say. For once, I have to agree with the lady.

"Right?!" she said, her eyes glittering in jumpy excitement. "And it just so happens that I came across the very same book just yesterday and is sitting right here in my bag right now!"

"And the title is?" I prompted.

"the title is-" --------

Light shone through my eyelids, burning the insides and making me see a dull red. I groaned, opening my eyes halfway.

Crocs on steroids, for once I was actually enjoying my dream, but it just had to end in a cliff-hanger! But it made me feel weird that the setting was in Middle Ages England. Maybe it's just that aspect of dreams that you're not really supposed to understand. I mean, how can you understand how you're having steady conversation with a fuckin' cockroach?

I sighed before pulling my phone from my nightstand to repeat my daily email routine. After replying the same thing to Emil and my other brainless co-workers, my eye caught a message from someone which I don't get much often. I opened the message and began to read.

Mr. Ragvaard,

I would like to inform you to come straight to my office this morning to have a little chat with me. I haven't been able to check up on how things were doing with one of my hand-picked head employees because of all the meetings I had with other companies and whatnot. I do hope you will give a full honest report on how things are doing from emails to the full on assembly of the project.

-Masashi, Chairman.

I smirked. This was my chance. Finally, I can get shit out of my hair.

And out of nowhere, my mind drifted off to the girl in my dream.

It's the same girl. And this time, she was more lively than she was in my last dream. More gutsy and daring. Honestly, the Queen Victoria's diary? How could anyone get their hands on that? But I was attracted by the plot. Who knew dreams could have good story lines?
I shook my head to rid myself of the dream. I wont be needing any distractions while working. And also, so that I wont forget anything while reporting.
___________________--------------_______________-------------------________-------

I entered the elevator and instead of pressing my usual floor, I went for the shiny yellow button at the very top of the panel. Tyrone, who was beside me, looked at me as if I had gone mad.

"Dude, you sure you didn't go drinking without me last night? Cause you might be going to wrong floor. Here, let me press the right one for you" He deactivated the command to bring us up to the top floor, and pressed the fourth floor where our office was located. I pressed the shiny yellow button again.

"I'm not crazy Tyrone." I deadpanned. "I just have to take a short opportune stop before working."

Once we reached the fourth floor, he straightened his shirt -thank god, he wasn't wearing a suit today. "Dude, I don't know what in fuck's name you did, but I wish you luck" and he exited the contraption.

"Chill," I as the doors started to close. " 'cause I wont be the one needing it".

When the doors opened again, I stepped out and made my way to the door that had the label Chairman printed in bold writing.

I pushed open the doors and closed it behind me before standing in front of the man who sat behind the posh mahogany desk with a Rubik's Cube, the company's logo model and the shiny, golden trimmed, black nameplate sitting proudly on top.

"Ah, Nicolae, I'm glad to see that you came" he smiled, his chin casually resting on interlaced fingers.

I shrugged. "Orders from above"

"Let's skip with the pleasantries. How are things going?"

"Absolutely wonderful" I said with obvious sarcasm. He motioned for me to sit on the chair opposite. I obeyed, and rested my ankle on my knee, leaning back on the seat.

"How so? Ah wait, let's start with the emails. How are those beautiful wake up reading doing?"

"The exact opposite of what you said"

"What are the main issues?"

"Oh I don't know. Designing problems, storyline issues, you know, all the crappy shit that ain't even in my field."

"Hm...pretty brainless if you ask me"

I scoffed. "My point exactly"

"And the cinematics. How are those going?"

"Too long for their own good"

"The opening duration?"

"Close to almost ten minutes" And before he could ask, "Tyrone borrowed my hard drive to store the files since his went on a little trip to the dumpster"

"Ah, I see." I could see that he was trying to stifle a laugh and I think I heard him say something like, "That is so like Tyrone. SPED to the next level. Or to the highest level possible. Who just simply throws away their hard drive?"

He cleared his throat, the remnants of the laugh still visible on his lips. "But anyhow, we'll have to fix the cinematics issue. We don't want the company to have a bad sell only because of the duration of the cinematics-" he stopped himself before continuing, "Oh yes, speaking of durations, how long is the duration of each cut-scene?"

"about three to five minutes. And their complaining"

"Talk about dimwits. They're giving themselves a harder time"

I nodded. Such bliss. Having all these problems finally being faced with a solution. I never loved my job more.

"Ok. Cinematics aside. How is your section doing with you as their spontaneous head?"

"Not much difficulties actually. A few bugs here and there, but we should be able to get them fixed before the next part of the game is sent."

"Good. And when did they say will it be sent?"

I shrugged. "Nothing"

"Nothing?"

"Yes"

He rubbed his stubbled chin in thought, "Hm...Ok, we'll hold a meeting later in the day. Thank you for your report Nicolae. You can scram and go back to flying your fingers over your keyboard blindfolded"

"No problem. But I would have to decline your challenge" And with that, I stood and made my way to my respectful sector.

___________________-------------___________----------____________

Later on, the familiar voice from earlier spoke through the intercom, announcing a meeting with the entire staff.

Music to my ears.

"Nigga, what the hell did you get yourself into?" Tyrone whispered from beside me.

"Nothing."

"Then what did you do up there? Play chess and lose miserably?"

"What's up with you and the letter 'm' these days?"

"Nothing. It's the section I ended up in while singing the Alphabet song when I remembered that I had to get my suit from the laundry" He glanced at Genevieve who passed by before continuing. "So? did you play chess up there?"

"Hell naw. I did what I do best"

"Look through porn?"

"No!"

"then what?"

"Complain. Report, basically"

"Cheap bastard"

"Thank you"

And so, we stood to enter the meeting room. I took my seat near my sector, and Tyrone near his. And a short while later, Chairman Masashi, in all his chic, casual attire and dark Japanese waves glory stepped in, a smile on his face.

"So, I heard that some of the department are having a dumbly hard time at their job"

The respectful departments shrank in fear of losing their jobs. As the saying in this company goes, "Do it logically or lose it properly". And I could never agree more.

"But before we get to that," he eyed Emil for a second who shrank even further into his chair until he looked like a donut waiting to be fried. "Tyrone,"

"Yessir!"

"I would like to have a word with you tomorrow first thing in the morning. It's time for your very first report"

"Yessir!" he saluted despite the fact that his free hand was shaking.

"Ok, now, to more pressing matters." His eyes shifted to the department seated right next to me. "Emil"

"Y-Y-Yessir!" he stammered, sitting as straight as his potbelly would allow. And I stopped a snicker from escaping before it became evident because of the way his double chin furiously shook with the sudden action.

Masashi still had that kind, harmless smile on his face, but his green glasses glinted in the light. "What are the problems going on in the Cinematics department? If I recall correctly, I sent you a message a few days ago, of not, just the other day to get your petty problems fixed right away."

Man, this is going to be good. The advantages of being good acquaintances with the company's Chairman.