The apartment was the kind of messy that told a story—just not a good one.
Three empty water bottles formed a triangle around a half-finished bowl of cereal. A crumpled hoodie hung from the corner of a chair like it was trying to escape. The curtains were still drawn, but a narrow blade of sunlight sliced through the gap, illuminating the dust motes dancing lazily through the stale air.
A whiteboard on the wall—once hopeful—still had "Week One Goals" scribbled in dry erase marker:
~ Wake up before 10
~ Apply to 5 jobs
~ Gym 3x
~ No soda
Someone had added a sixth bullet point in faded red:
~ lol
The Xbox controller lay on the carpet like a fallen relic. The TV, still glowing faintly, was paused mid-cutscene. A fantasy warrior stood triumphant on a mountaintop, sword raised to the sky, shouting something about destiny.
A phone vibrated once, then died.
The comforter on the bed stirred. A mop of curly hair emerged, followed by a groggy groan.
Jordan sat up slowly, squinting against the brightness. He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and reached for his phone, only to remember it wasn't on the nightstand. He found it under the bed. Dead.
He blinked at the cheap digital clock he never bothered to set right.
11:43 AM.
"Before noon?" he mumbled.
Then, just above the clock, something flickered into view—a faint blue notification hovering mid-air.
🎉 +5 XP: Early Riser I – You woke up before noon.
Jordan blinked again.
The text stayed.
"...What."
He stared at the floating notification, half expecting it to vanish like a weird dream.
It didn't.
Jordan reached out to touch it. His hand passed through the glowing text like mist.
"Okay," he muttered. "Either I'm still asleep, or I finally snapped."
He rubbed his temples, blinked hard, then squinted at the message again.
+5 XP: Early Riser I – You woke up before noon.
'XP… like experience points?'
He didn't say it out loud. He just thought it.
The notification shimmered, then slid away to the upper-left corner of his vision like it was pinning itself to a HUD.
Jordan sat up straighter. "Okay. Okay. Not hallucinating. Or maybe I am, but at least it's a familiar kind of delusion."
He focused his thoughts.
Status Screen
A soft chime. A new panel faded into view:
JORDAN MILES | Class: ???Level: 1 (5 / 100 XP)
🧠 Mind: 3
💪 Body: 2
🫀 Health: 6/10
⚡ Energy: 4/10
📚 Knowledge: 1
🎯 Discipline: 0
🧍 Social: 2
—Perks:
Early Riser I: +1 Energy on waking before 12 PM
Quests Available:
[Beginner's Luck]: Do one productive thing today (Reward: +10 XP)
[Hydration Nation]: Drink a full glass of water (Reward: +2 XP)
"...Yooo."
Jordan couldn't help the grin that crept across his face.
He was a Level 1 NPC of a human being—but somehow, this made him feel seen. Quantified. Like maybe his life wasn't just slipping by; maybe it was… worthwhile.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's try this one."
He shuffled out of bed, tripping slightly on the edge of a hoodie. He made his way to the kitchen, grabbed the only clean-ish cup, and filled it with water from the sink.
He downed it in one go.
✅ Quest Complete: Hydration Nation+2 XP
The tiniest dopamine hit fired off in his brain.
"This is either the beginning of something great," he said aloud, "or the most elaborate mental breakdown of all time."
He paused.
"...Either way, I'm in."
He set the cup down next to the sink—on top of two others already there—and leaned against the counter.
The kitchen was somehow worse in daylight. Peeling laminate, a fridge humming like it was gasping for air, and a cabinet door that didn't close all the way unless you hit it with your palm. He opened it anyway, fishing out the last granola bar. The kind with more chocolate than nutrients.
He peeled the wrapper halfway and took a bite, chewing slowly.
⚠️ Warning: Nutritional Value – Low No XP gained
"Of course," he muttered, smirking.
Jordan wandered back into the living room and collapsed onto the couch. The faux leather hissed slightly under him. He stared at the paused game on the screen—his character, some overpowered swordmage, locked in permanent victory stance.
"You know," he muttered, "you've got like twenty hours in that save. I've got twenty years in mine and can't even get off the title screen."
That stung a little. But he didn't look away.
In the silence, his eyes flicked back to the corner of his vision. The Status screen still hovered there like a ghost—but it wasn't intrusive. More like a quiet nudge. A presence.
Quest Reminder: [Beginner's Luck] – Do one productive thing todayReward: +10 XP
He frowned.
"Define 'productive,'" he muttered, then remembered he didn't need to talk out loud.
He thought it instead.
[Productive: Any action that improves long-term value, well-being, or progress.]
"...Well damn."
His eyes landed on the laundry basket in the corner. Overflowing. He immediately looked away.
Then back.
Then at the status screen again.
"...That's dirty," he said. "You're using my own avoidance issues as content."
The screen did not respond.
"Okay. Okay. One thing. Just one."
Jordan stood up slowly, eyes flicking toward the laundry basket.
He turned left and walked past it.
Baby steps.
He plopped back into the desk chair in the corner of the room—an old squeaky roller seat with cracked pleather and a stubborn left armrest. His laptop was still open from the night before. He tapped the spacebar.
It whirred back to life, sluggishly.
"Come on, old friend," he muttered. "Let's see what fresh regrets await in the inbox."
He opened his email and winced.
📬 142 unread✅ 1 new response: "RE: Job Application – Player Support Role"
His heart rate kicked up a notch.
He clicked it.
Subject: RE: Job Application – Player Support Role
Hi Jordan,
Thanks for reaching out and for your interest in the Player Support position with PixelFold Studios! We'd love to schedule a quick virtual chat to get to know you better and talk about the role.
Are you available this Friday at 2 PM EST?
Best,Renee, Community Manager
Jordan stared at it.
He remembered applying. Kind of. It had been 2 AM and he was halfway through a bag of chips, writing cover letters on autopilot. This one? He'd actually liked the company. An indie RPG studio he'd followed since college. He didn't think they'd respond.
❗ New Quest: "Ready Player One" – Prepare for a job interview
~ Respond to the email ✅
~ Freshen up your resume
~ Have clean clothes ready
~ Practice intro answers
Reward: +25 XP | +1 Confidence | Unlock: Side Quest Chain – Career Track I
"Okay," he said slowly. "Okay, yeah. That's... not nothing."
He typed a quick reply, trying not to overthink it.
Then he glanced over at the laundry.
"...I guess I do need pants that aren't covered in cat hair."
🎉 Quest Started: "Fabric Softener Saga"
~ Load 1 of 3
Reward: +8 XP | +1 Hygiene
Jordan hit send.
There. First task done. Interview set. Friday, 2 PM.
He leaned back and exhaled.
Then he looked around the room again—really looked this time.
Laundry in the corner. Empty bottles on the windowsill. A dust bunny the size of a housecat under the TV stand. A faint smell that may have once been fast food, but had since evolved.
He stood up.
Slowly.
Something in his chest clicked into place. Not quite joy. Not yet. But motion.
🧹 Quest Chain Unlocked: "Clean Sweep I" ~ Clear Living Room – 0/1 ~ Clear Kitchen – 0/1 ~ Do Laundry – 1/3 ~ Empty Trash – 0/2 ~ Wipe Down Surfaces – 0/4
Reward: +30 XP | Buff: Clear Mind I (Focus +10% for 3 hrs)
🎵 New Perk Unlocked: Momentum Rush Temporary Buff – Stack productivity gains for bonus XP. Duration: 90 mins
Jordan didn't even hesitate. He grabbed the overflowing trash bag, tied it shut, and tossed it by the door. Music went on—his "get it done" playlist. The one he hadn't touched in months.
He didn't stop there.
Socks into the basket.
Couch cushions flipped.
Dishes stacked in the sink.
Febreze sprayed like holy water.
Vacuum roared to life like a war engine.
Every item cleaned came with a little ding in the corner of his vision. XP totals racked up like combo points. His back ached, but he didn't stop. Not yet.
He wasn't just tidying up. He was clearing fog from his brain.
🎉 +10 XP – Surfaces Cleared🎉 +5 XP – Dishes Rinsed🎉 +3 XP – Decluttered Couch
Status Effect Applied: Minor Fatigue
Buff Active: Clear Mind I
For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel stuck. Locked into inaction by his own racing thoughts. He was moving.
The hum of the dryer rolled through the apartment like a white noise machine for progress.
Jordan stepped over to the door and carefully hung the button-up shirt he'd pulled from the clean laundry pile—crisp, still warm, light blue. One of the few pieces of clothing he owned that said, "I'm employable." Next to it, black slacks. Nothing fancy, but clean. Presentable.
He looked at the outfit like it was a mini-boss fight.
"Okay," he muttered. "That's one step."
The sun was starting to shift outside—he glanced at the clock on the microwave.
Tuesday. 3:12 PM.
Interview was Friday at 2. That gave him all of Wednesday and Thursday to prep—run practice questions, clean up his resume, maybe even research the company properly instead of just scrolling their About page like he did the first time.
It felt... do-able.
He leaned against the counter, took a breath, and smiled without meaning to.
🧠 Buff Expiring Soon: Clear Mind I🍽️ New Need Identified: Nutrition
Energy: Moderate
Hydration: Good
Hunger: Moderate
❗ New Quest Available: "Culinary Crusade" Objective: Eat something that's not chips or leftover fries Reward: +10 XP | Buff: Nourished I
He sighed dramatically. "Alright. Food time."
He grabbed his phone and opened his food delivery app. Hovered a thumb over "Order Again."
Paused.
Closed it.
"Not this time."
----------------------
New Level!Jordan Miles, Level 2
Reward for Level Up:
Level Up!New Unlock: Starter KitContents:
1 x Health Potion
1 x Energy Boost
1 x Boosted Social Skill (temporary)
1 x "Life Reset" Coupon