"Hey," Julie said. "Thanks for meeting guys."
"No problem," Corinne replied.
"Is this going to take long?" Cliff asked. "I have a raid in half an hour. Kael'thas is going down."
"Who?" Julie asked.
"WoW raid boss."
"Oh, one of those."
Corinne ducked her head and Julie's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You're involved too?"
"Uh, yes," she admitted ruefully.
"She's a great healer," Cliff nodded.
"Well, we'll try to make this short then," Julie answered shaking her head.
"Hey you shouldn't knock WoW given we work int he same industry."
"I'm not! I'm just amused. Okay, now the first thing I have to say is thank you for taking care of things while I was... indisposed. I know I probably wasn't the easiest person to get along with and I slacked off."
There wasa general acceptance of her apology.
"Secondly, I have to ask, where did Luvstrella D'ahnimahl come from?"
Cliff laughed.
"Oh you did notice? We were wondering."
"Yeah... how long?"
"Only a couple of weeks ago. I kinda wish Zac had thought of it ealier actually."
"I might have known Zac was in on it."
Cliff grinned and Julie shook her head.
"I'm going to have to have words with him about that. Okay, thirdly: Annikia? What's going on with the shop front?"
Annika shrugged.
"Part shop, part internet cafe."
"Gaming competitions," Cliff nodded. "We so have to have gaming competitions."
"Facilities aren't large enough."
"Yet."
"Ahem. You were saying Annika?"
"Not really much to say. We have half a dozen computers - all have our games installed of course - we're selling the games, merch and subscriptions over the counter and I'm looking at stocking other computer games and gaming gear as well. The servers have been installed upstairs. Corinne helps me out in the shop. Not that we're getting a whole lot of business yet but these are early days."
Julie nodded slowly.
"A gaming competition could be good for business."
"This is what I'm saying!" Cliff said enthusiastically.
"As I said," Annika put in coolly. "Not enough room."
"We could rent somewhere."
"That wouldn't exactly bring people to the shop front."
"We could rent out one of the neighbouring buildings."
"Then there is the matter of prizes..."
"That's what sponsors are for."
Annika looked around the room, noting the expressions of interest and enthusiasim and sighed.
"I'll invistigate the possibilities."
"Yay!" Cliff cheered.
"Of course you realise that as part of the organising company you would not be eligable for competing."
"I'm a technokinetic and gaming is my life," Cliff replied dryly. "I wouldn't compete against humans if I was bored. Now there's a waste of time."
"Then why do you..."
"Beacuse gaming is awesome."
"Fifteen more minutes until the raid," Binar put in at that point.
"And I suppose you three all want to troop back upstairs and prepare?" Annika asked.
She got three nods in return (Corinne's was a little shamefaced).
"Well, does anyone have anything else to share?" Julie asked, looking around.
There was no answer.
"Nothing exciting going on personally I should know about?"
Silence.
"I'm pregnant again," Julie put in helpfully.
"Somehow that news does not surprise me," Annika said.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Congratulations," Corinne offered.
"Thank you. I think," Julie frowned.
"Don't want to be?"
"I've got six kids. I don't really need any more."
"Trying to catch up with Zac?" Cliff teased.
"Hardly. You pregnant yet Rin?"
"Nope. I'd say it was not for lack of trying but..."
"WoW beckons?"
"It is rather addictive..."
"Okay so if no one has anything elseto say," Cliff said standing up. "I call this meeting to a close."
"Hey, that's my line," Julie objected.
"Kael'thas waits for no lag! Or baby talk for that matter. Dun dun dun!"
And thus Cliff swooped out of the room. Binar followed at a more sedate pace.
"I'm sensing another reason for the lack of conception," Annika said dryly as her eyes followed Cliff out.
Corinne giggled.
"Oh go on," Julie said. "You know you want too."
Corinne smiled.
"Talk to you guys later, okay?"
"Sure. We'll let ourselves out."
"Okay. Sorry."
"It's okay. Go play. Try to get in bed with Cliff tonight. Babies won't make themselves y'know."
Corinne poked her tongue out at her and headed upstairs.