THE MOMENT
"No hard feelings at all...," Paulie shrugged with his most polite smile. The coffee date was over, unless it wasn't. Victoria, the woman he met, had only been in his company for about 15 minutes before she made an excuse to leave. But, it wasn't the first time one of his dates tried to cut out early and by now he knew exactly what to say. "I've got a dungeon I should be working on anyway...," he said. "My creation is a little behind schedule as it is."
"Hold on...," Victoria tilted her head at him and lingered at the table. She'd already stood; but, she seemed to be debating whether to sit down again. It never failed. "...what do you mean your job is 'creating dungeons'?"
"What?" Paulie asked. "Do you really think they just appear on their own out of nowhere?"
"Yes," Victoria nodded with a sincere, friendly smile. It was the first time since they'd met that she showed any warmth. And, if that wasn't enough of a hint she also took the time to sit down again across from him. "You're saying they don't? Tell me all about your job," she said.
"I've probably said too much already...," he shook his head. "Sorry, the powers that be don't like me giving away too much about how it works." It was a simple tactic, add more questions before she got too fussed about any one answer. "I'm sure you know how clandestine organizations operate...," he shrugged.
"That's it? Nothing to share then?" Victoria asked.
"Well it's not a glamorous job," Paulie shrugged. "It's pretty basic architecture, except I have to plan monster encounters and rewards."
"Where do the rewards come from?" Victoria asked and Paulie winked back at her full of pride and confidence. She was buying every line.
"It's kind of hard to explain...," he said. "... there's eldritch magic involved. It's a whole thing; but, if you want to come back to my place I can show you how it works."
"Oh...," Victoria sighed and shook her head. "I guess I didn't need to sit down again; I thought you'd be creative enough to drag it out longer," she stood up once more. "Good luck, and have a nice evening," she gave him a polite nod, then turned to leave. That wasn't how it was supposed to happen at all.
"Wait, where are you going?" Paulie got to his feet to ask the question.
"This meeting is over, and where I go next doesn't concern you," she replied with a cool, stern tone.
"I thought you were interested in my work...," he said. Victoria shook her head.
"You told six lies before I decided to leave the first time," she said. "However, I was curious enough to see what fiction you created about your dungeon job... and it turns out you haven't. Your fibs lack imagination, only giving the barest answer and trying to redirect the conversation instead; it's rather boring." No one knew where the dungeons came from. That meant she didn't know either, and it was easy to stick to his story.
"As if you know anything about the reality of it," Paulie shook his head with extra disdain. He would get the last word and she would forever wonder if maybe he actually did have something to do with the mysterious dungeons that appeared across the world every now and then. "I'll see you around, I guess...," he added. But, Victoria shook her head.
"You won't," she said. "But, it really bugs me to leave you like this. You know you're lying, and I know you're lying; but, if I don't prove that I know it, you'll just keep on thinking you got away with it somehow." That made him smile. He knew what he knew, and he was also sure it could never be proven; the dungeons were magical in nature.
"Go ahead, if you can," he smiled.
"I can, pretty easily...," Victoria took a glance around the coffee shop, then she pulled out an advanced smartphone sleeker than any Paulie had seen. She tapped at the screen a few times, then Paulie became aware of the white walls surrounding them. He didn't see where they came from; but, in moments the two of them were alone in a white room with no windows, and only a single exit. An opening revealed an upward-bound staircase.
"Welcome to a brand new dungeon," Victoria smiled. "It's kind of funny that you tried to lie about having a job to someone who can actually do that job," she said. "As far as people on your Earth are concerned, the dungeons do just appear on their own out of nowhere. But, on the back end, you'll find the fine employees of Sharp Development deploying and maintaining the dungeons." Paulie had always been quick to find an angle that favored him, even in situations he hadn't fully grasped yet.
"Maybe you could make an honest man outta me!" He asked. "I'd love to know more about this dungeon, and Sharp Development, and you," he smiled.
"I'm sure you'll learn plenty about the dungeon," Victoria winked at him as a tall black portal opened next to her. She stepped into it and it started to close immediately, without Paulie. "And, like you said, there're no hard feelings between us," she reassured him. "We can have another meeting if you ever find your way out," she added as the hole closed and disappeared.