Chapter 13: Rhapsodys First Victory (1/2)
The weather of the typical Friday evening had turned sour. What was meant to be a summer's bliss had quickly faded into obscurity as a thick layer of fog and rain took control of the small city of Rhinefield. For many people their plans were ruined, for others like the streamers, this too meant less activity especially in the manner of IRL streams. Some were more determined to keep a track record going seeing the opportunity to reach high numbers. In contrast, others took the weather to have a needed break. Zinnia had hoped to celebrate their victory against Pokiero with a barbeque down the local park. It was cheap and an easy, simple way to celebrate, of course, this sort of stuff never really works in their favour. With her hopes crushed and Alton refusing to spend another night in the karaoke bar. The three streamers soon had to compromise on somewhere to crash and party which was cheap and secluded. With neither Zinnia nor Gale drawing any real suggestions, it was left to Alton to take the fall and suggest his apartment. The only thing left for the occasion was the food.
”A hot pot?” Zinnia questioned not sound too enthusiastic by the rather bland name. She was more hoping for a pizza or nachos, a hot pot to her sounded rather uninspiring.
”Yeah, a hot pot. Cheap, delicious and easy to make. A real crowd-pleaser. Trust me, you'll love it.” Alton argued, sticking to his guns on this one as Zinnia looked over the layer of food. She kneeled, looking at holding a box of nachos drawing a blank. ”Put those away, trust me, you'll love it. My treat.”
”Oh, well if you're buying…” She quickly put the nacho mix back never one to turn down free grub. ”What do you need for a hot pot?”
”Zin, it's a hot pot. It isn't complicated. The hardest choice is what meat we use.”
”I vote beef. That works best with the texture of the sauce and vegetables.” Gale puts forward holding two large bottles of fizzy drinks.
”What are those for?” Alton asked, concerned.
”I thought we could use refreshments. These were half off and thought we could enjoy a cola with our hot pot.”
”I have drinks at home put those back before we need to take out a second loan.”
Gale sighs placing the bottles in the pasta section walking back. ”Shouldn't we had made money last night? With the number of viewers, we had we should have at least got some donations.”
”No one was watching our stream. People were broadcasting it. In all retrospect, we didn't make any money.”
”Well, that sucks… at least we did a good thing and took down a crooked streamer.”
”Yeah, I suppose. We did gain some followers, though. We are now at 92 followers.”
”Is that it? I was kind of expecting more…” Zinnia admitted pouting. ”Is this what they call a one-hit-wonder?”
”It's how it is, unfortunately. We had a lucky break thanks to Iris and her sister, but it won't be enough to get us out of the clear. We'll just have to keep working hard. I'm sure we got some people talking. We were the eighth most-streamed channel yesterday.”
”Vanguard still at number one?”
”Yeah, he's a handful. Don't think we could ever best him.”
Zinnia clicked her fingers, looking smug. ”Maybe we should just expose him and rid him of his title!”
Alton retaliated by smacking her with a bag of carrots. ”Don't be such a dolt, he's done nothing wrong.”
”Then we find something to expose him with.”
”Can we just focus on this victory?” Gale sighed, shaking his head. ”I've done enough exposing for the rest of the week.”
Zinnia rubbed her cheek mumbling. ”I was only kidding. But seriously, how does someone like him get so many people watching? What's his secret?”
”Luck and time. Heard he's been streaming for years. Got a lucky break out after getting a shoutout and collaboration from the former number one streamer, the rest is history.”
”The way you say it, you make it sound easy.”
”Oh, believe me, I kept it very basic.” Alton laughs, throwing a small pack of potatoes into the basket. ”I think that's everything.”
”Great I'm starving!”
”I suppose I'm feeling rather hungry too.”
Alton begins scanning the food at the self-checkout, giving up his last bit of cash gritting his teeth. He wasn't expecting to be making any sort of money anytime soon. Still, the ordeal with Pokiero had left him crippled. He began packing the food away as the drizzle of the rain pattered against the window. ”We're in for a treat my friends. Trust me, I used to have this all the time with my school friends. It's great.”
”If you say so…” Alton grabbed his run-down umbrella as the two streamers followed. ”It's not far from here. Five-minute walk.”
”For a guy who can manipulate the atoms of water and stuff, why do you get an umbrella while we don't.” Zinnia stabbed, wagging her finger being drenched.
”I can't stop the rain Zin, that would be overkill. Besides what do you want me to do control all of the rain droplets around and concentrate them into a single large focused ball of water to stop you getting wet?”
”No… that's the point of an umbrella. But that would make an awesome attack!”
”That's all you think about, isn't it… here.” Alton passed the umbrella to Zinnia and Gale as he sighs, pulling his hood up. ”Come on before it gets too late.”
Zinnia cups the umbrella as Gale stands next to her unable to make eye contact acting all flustered. ”See, that wasn't so hard.”
****
The three had finally made it to Alton's apartment. The building they entered was a run-down place with graffiti and rubbish lying everywhere. Although not ideal in the least it was at a reasonable price which Alton had leverage over for the next few months. As he unlocked the door, he stopped leaning his head against the side thinking. ”My place is like a huge mess, just give me a moment.” Alton opened the door quickly closing off Zinnia and Gale.
Both of them looked at each other strangely as they began hearing items being moved around and stuff being taken off the walls. ”I didn't see much, but his place didn't look messy.”
”No…”
”He's hiding something.”
”Yes…”
Before the two could peak in Alton swung the door open panting faintly. ”Right, come on in!” The two were met with a relatively clean and empty apartment with no clear sign that it was ever a mess. There was a simple sofa which looked like it had seen better days, a small stove and microwave and a poorly made bed in the corner which was also a sofa. Alton turned around, shrugging his shoulders. ”Welcome to paradise! Ha, ha. Go ahead, laugh. Its shit isn't it.” He complains. ”Oh, mind yourself, the floor is chipped.”
”This wasn't what I was expecting… but it's nice.” Zinnia says, trying her best to think of a festive look. ”It's a bit empty. You don't even have a TV?”
”I have a phone.”
”Right…”
”Well enough standing around make yourself at home. We'll make the hot pot now as I don't have a fridge to keep them cold.”
”You don't even have a fridge? You said you had drinks.” Gale complained.
Alton pulled open some cupboards as one of them fell off. Alton stepped back sighing. ”That always happens.” He pulls out a half-drunk bottle of cola as he brings out plastic cups and bowls. ”We'll use these.”
”You don't even have cups?”
”I don't have a dishwasher. Saves money. The pot is in the bottom draw. If you want ice, I have a bag of ice in the freezer.”
Gale kneels opening the freezer seeing the bag of ice followed by about a dozen frozen microwave dinners. ”Jesus.”
”Hey, don't judge! I don't even have time to cook usually. I only use this place to sleep and eat. Most of the time, I'm out doing shifts and other jobs.” Alton snapped getting all defensive. ”Just grab the ice, please.”
”Hey, where's the bathroom?”
”You're joking me, right? There's only one other room.”