Riana's Adventures By Aliyn Raven
Dec. 2nd, 2025 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aliyn_ravenShort sketches from the lives of a variety of people through the eyes of an ironic lady.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52497217
https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3370230/1/Riana-s-Adventures
Story-7. The Amoeba, the Old Lady, and the Perfect Life
Riana hired Ethan during the seasonal tourist boom, when there were more salesperson positions available than people willing to take on this not-the-most-pleasant job.
Ethan was knowledgeable about antiques and vintage items and knew many stories about their eras. However, conveying this information coherently and engagingly proved beyond his abilities—Ethan was rather bumbling and had trouble communicating with customers.
Much to Riana's annoyance, the tourist boom also meant an influx of garage sales and car boot sales, so she couldn't possibly man the counter by herself. Riana adored trips to flea markets of all kinds, spending almost all her time there. She bought the antique shop only so that her apartment wouldn't be filled with antiques, and she always had an excuse to buy more. Riana enjoyed the process of searching for and buying items, rather than storing and possessing them, so she sold her finds without regret. However, life demands income, and the shop always had a capable assistant. Ethan, alas, proved to be the exception to the rule.
And now Riana sat on the customer sofa, looking at her salesperson and wondering which would be less costly: missing the peak of buying activity or accepting the lack of sales at the peak of the trading wave.
Meanwhile, Ethan was nervously typing something on his phone almost every five minutes, becoming even less attentive to customers and messages on the store's website.
Riana usually didn't interfere with her employees' affairs, but now it was directly related to the store.
"Did something happen?" Riana asked Ethan.
"My grandmother. She broke her leg."
Riana was a little surprised. The event was sad, of course, but why so many messages? An elderly woman should be looked after by a sick nurse—either paid or from social services, but a professional is always needed: if the condition is serious, an untrained grandson is of no use, especially over the phone.
"Are you sure it makes sense to bother an elderly woman with messages? She needs more sleep if she's sick. Sleep is medicine at her age."
"If only she were sleeping!" Ethan sighed. "My grandmother, despite her advanced years, is a very active person. Before her leg accident, she spent almost every day volunteering. 'So that her brain doesn't dry out and I don't forget how to talk,' as she used to say."
"I understand," Riana nodded. "But your messages won't help her feel like an active part of big events. Teach her how to play MMORPGs instead."
"What?!" Ethan was dumbfounded. "She's eighty years old!"
"There are now hundreds of online games that support voice communication, and you can quickly find one that doesn't require the quick reflexes of an eSports athlete but offers plenty of puzzles and group quests for a minimal level of difficulty. Your grandmother doesn't need to break the records of hardcore gamers, but chatting with casual players and leisurely looting and crafting will bring joy to her instincts. In any RPG, you become, one way or another, an individual gatherer and a collective hunter. And if you have the opportunity to build a hut, that's a real feast. We're not that far removed from the proto-Homo era, when people would fill their bellies with the results of hunting and gathering before stubbornly trying to build a makeshift shelter from branches, stones, and grass that would last at least a day." Riana smiled. "Successful games take advantage of this genetic memory. And MMORPGs, unlike regular games, also allow you to communicate not only with characters but also with people."
"Grandma hates social media," Ethan shook his head. "She says it's for idiots."
"But MMORPGs aren't social media. People gather there to play with dolls. It's a legal and socially acceptable way to relive childhood. People invent extra biographical details and events for their characters and talk to them like dolls. It's not the worst way to unwind and relax. At least, it is for casual players. For them, communication, stories, and characters are more important than shooting, hacking, and running through obstacles."
Ethan started to hesitate. But he said, "MMORPG social circles are toxic."
Riana countered, "Owners of MMO-games have dramatically tightened user safety measures after the case where a female character was raped in an online video game, and the court ruled it equal to real-life rape, since a person takes on a character to get their emotions for themselves. Now you can set the approach distance for other players' characters and blacklist individual players and groups. You'll be in the same location as them, but you won't see each other. Besides, only fans of the game and hardcore gamers are truly toxic, and if they can't play due to work, they spend every traffic jam and every coffee break in the office browsing gaming news, streams, and chats. Of course, not all hardcore gamers are vicious and aggressive. There are plenty of nice people among them who don't impose their hobbies or rules on others and who can laugh at their extreme passion. There are also midcore gamers who value daily gaming and showing off their achievements, but at a moderate level. And midcore gamers are the majority. However, a newbie who can't yet identify an inadequate interlocutor within the first few minutes of interaction is better off hanging out with the casual crowd."
"What's the difference?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
"Casual gamers log into the game for half an hour in the evening, and not every day. They play while dinner is heating up and their favourite TV show hasn't started yet. Casualers also sometimes go on in-game raids, but not to win a super prize and admire their super rating afterwards, but simply to hang out in good company against the backdrop of new locations, take screenshots, and not care if they forget to kill a monster. Casual players aren't obsessed with breaking records, so they're friendly and easy to talk to, and the game is simply an excuse to chat, a way to combat the notorious loneliness epidemic. It's perfect for comforting a grandmother who has lost her ability to walk. Most importantly, choose an MMO-game that falls under the 'Player versus Content' category, not 'Player versus Player', so there are fewer reasons for conflict between players."
"Player versus Environment," Ethan clarified. He added, "Yes, that's the most relaxed option from the gaming community's perspective. But still, an MMO-game for an old lady..." Ethan was still hesitant.
"For an energetic old lady," Riana reminded him. "Who, at twenty years old, was partying wildly with hippies, and at thirty years old, was fighting for the rights of career women and protecting housewives from domestic violence and financial pressure. Real grandmothers are very different from the image that still lingers in movies and books."
"You're right," Ethan nodded. "But is it possible to find a game that won't look silly or juvenile to a mature woman?"
"These high-profile failures of expensive video games are all caused by companies targeting teenagers and hardcore gamers who cling to their teenage memories of the early 1990s. A successful gaming company always has a sales analytics department. They know that, these days, the main consumer group for any product more complex than a frozen pizza is women over forty-five years old who are university-educated and unmarried. They have divorced or never wanted to get married. These women mostly have one child who lives their own life, so their lives are not so different from those of ones who chose not to have children. These women enjoy short entertainment sessions, but they expect meaningful and emotional depth."
Ethan was slightly taken aback by what he had heard. Riana continued, "Think of any successful AAA or indie game from recent years, and you'll realise that the developers were targeting women over forty-five and only adding elements to their content for teenagers and older, hardcore gamers."
"Hmm... I never thought of video games that way, but... You might be right about single-player games, but MMO-games are a different world."
"MMO-games are more sensitive to the market," said Rianna, "since they can't compensate for their failure with other products. The newer ones, who still need to find their place in the sun, are especially savvy. Just tell your grandma not to buy anything in a MMO-game. You can play without all those legendary swords, super blasters, extra character collections, and other nonsense that MMO-game insistently advertise."
"Well, I don't know... It's impossible without investment!" Ethan said incredulously.
"Giving money for an MMO-game would be reasonable only if you personally want to donate to the one because this product is creating a good mood for you. Or you have a strong desire to collect a bunch of pictures that are essentially useless but personally enjoyable," Rianna chuckled. "The reason is more than valid, so why not? The main thing is to know your limits and not buy more than your bank account allows for on-the-spot sweet nothings. I mean, exactly 'three seconds here and now'; you can't take seriously a bunch of pixels that could disappear at any minute if the MMO-game closes."
Ethan shrugged. And Riana said, "It's also important to find Grandma not just one game, but two or three. MMO-games often shut down, but there are plenty of new ones to replace them. It's important for a newbie not to get too attached to one thing and to understand how easily everything can be replaced."
"Ouch," Ethan said, stunned, "I never would have thought of that! You're right, it's not right for an old lady to stress out like a stupid teenager just because her favourite MMO-project shut down when there are plenty of others just as good, if not better."
It was obvious Ethan had been through a similar experience himself, and his growth hadn't come easy. However, he had grown stronger, so Ethan wasn't hopeless. Not that it mattered to Riana, but she felt sorry for the unknown old woman. And she said,
"Start with the MMO-games you play, and then we'll see whether to look for new ones or not."
Ethan suddenly looked embarrassed. It seemed he wasn't exactly a great gamer either.
Riana smiled, "Not a bad reason to start over, refresh your memories, review, and purge your contacts of the less-than-pleasant people, is it?"
"Yeah, I guess it's time," Ethan mused. "And decide whether to stick with the boosted accounts or look for something new."
And at that moment, Riana found a solution for herself.
"You'll need a lot of time for your grandma. I can put you on a temporary contract for working three hours a day. You'll sit in the warehouse and sort through the inventory that's accumulated. Add it to the website catalogue—photos, descriptions, hashtags, and a short story about it. The pay will be lower, but at least you won't have to pay for grandma's antidepressants. We'll renew the contract monthly. I can't expand my staff because of the format of the establishment, but I need a merchandiser."
"Hmm..." Ethan thought again. "Could I have one full day a week? Commuting is really inconvenient for me; it takes up a lot of my time. I can even work longer than a standard workday, ten hours. On Sundays, for example... No, on Mondays, when there are no customers."
"Okay," Riana nodded. "Write your resignation from this position, and I'll draw up a contract. My laptop is to your left, on the shelf under the display case."
Riana quickly changed a few words in one of the contract templates she had for freelancers and fired Ethan, only to rehire him immediately. And the guy went to his grandmother.
Riana started looking for a salesperson in a place she wouldn't have thought of before: an MMO-game tavern.
Essentially, it's a chat with a corresponding design. And gamers' profiles can be used to find those who live in the same city as Riana. After all, you don't necessarily need to hire just one permanent salesperson! Two or three contract players during peak season will solve the problem. And the chat history can help her figure out who's not just looking for a part-time job but also who might be suitable for a position. Of course, not everyone fills out profiles, but Riana doesn't need a crowd.
She spent about three hours searching but found five candidates and sent out job offers.
Two of them were accepted. Riana sent her travel schedule to the future assistants so they could arrange their own work schedules. She also planned to work behind the counter occasionally—the shop couldn't be left entirely to the assistants.
One of those days when Riana was working at the shop, Ethan brought in another batch of completed inventory sheets for new products—global digitalisation was a fait accompli, but the Trade Commission and Tax Service still demanded paper reports.
"How's your grandmother?" Rianna asked.
"Great. She launched an online project to draw the developers' attention to the fact that many gamers are of retirement age, and they need appropriate amenities and stories for them. She's living an active life again and has forgotten that her leg is in a cast."
Despite the good news, Ethan's expression was gloomy. Riana noted this but didn't ask any questions; she was interested in other things.
"Is it really that there are many people over sixty-seven?" Riana asked, surprised. She added thoughtfully, "Perhaps the sales managers know this, given the sharp increase in RPGs with turn-based combat. They're essentially chess, not reaction time or finger dexterity on a keyboard or gamepad. Chess can be played by both an old man and a child. But MMO-games were never intended to be adapted for people aged sixty-seven and up. Your grandmother would give this world quite a surprise. Fashion shows, supermodels, and everything else for the retirement age group have been successfully in existence for the past fifteen years. It's time for gaming to shed its ageism."
"Turn-based MMO-games have been around for a long time, if that's what you're asking," Ethan said reluctantly, his expression darkening even more. "Very few, but they exist. But, generally speaking, you're right. Non-turn-based ones can also be adapted, creating a new, easier difficulty level and adding more opportunities for free communication. That's what grandma says. And she's gathering supporters."
"Your grandma is a true miracle and a star. She's created a new, active life for herself for many years to come. Although the fracture will heal, the years will still take their toll. And gaming will give her the opportunity for a rich life even from a wheelchair."
"Yes. It's all true," Ethan continued, his expression darkening.
"Something wrong?" Riana asked.
He shrugged in annoyance.
"You wouldn't understand... You have a shop, and it's profitable. My mother got a promotion. My father has a new project. Even my grandmother is pursuing a career. And I can never even find a normal job... Everything I don't do goes to... You know where. I can never achieve anything. Even at gaming, my grandmother is better than me! And me... I'm just a loser no one wants! No girlfriend, no career."
"Do you really want a career?" Riana asked with a warm smile. "Or do you really need success? Are you really just dying to get a girlfriend?"
She held out her hands in a graceful gesture, emphasising that Ethan wasn't interested in any of that. Then she said, "You have enough income to buy food, a roof over your head, electricity, and free time to play free video games. You probably even have a streaming channel with TV series from the newest to the oldest. And no one's stopping you from doing all of that. You have everything you need to enjoy life."
"That's the life of an amoeba!" Ethan protested.
"What's so bad about amoebas?" Riana asked, surprised. "They've been thriving for seven hundred and fifty million years, safely surviving all the meteorite impacts, volcanic eruptions, and civilisational transitions. And they'll survive a nuclear war, if one ever comes. They've never cared what the Universe does, or what anyone thinks of them. Amoebas, these unrivalled individualists, simply enjoy their own lives, each on its own."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Grandma says I'll get better with time. But she won't say when. She also understands that I'm a useless loser. But at least she doesn't blame me for it."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Grandma says I'll get better with time. But she won't say when. She also understands that I'm a useless loser. But at least she doesn't blame me for it."
"Do you know what an amoeba does when it feels uncomfortable?" Riana smiled. "It swims away. And that's what made it a champion survivor."
Ethan paused.
"I don't want to fight with my relatives."
"Why fight?" Riana asked, surprised. "Just swim away. When they realise they love you for who you are, you'll swim back."
"But what if they don't realise it?" Ethan asked bitterly.
"That'll be their problem. Nothing will change for your happy life."
Ethan shrugged.
Riana smiled.
"Think about it. Just think about it."
And she went about her business.
Ethan renewed his contract when it expired. But he warned he wouldn't renew it for a third term.
"Grandma and I are moving to a village in the mountains. A revival programme is in place, and the Sheriff's Office provides a modest living allowance. I'll be working remotely part-time and doing heavy housework. Grandma will be streaming videos about the village and playing video games. Not to become a video hosting star, but for her three friends, who find this video hosting platform more convenient than others. I'm helping with the filming. We are like two tiny amoebas in their own tiny swamp; the rest of the world doesn't care about us."
"Good luck," Riana nodded.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/52497217
https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3370230/1/Riana-s-Adventures
Story-7. The Amoeba, the Old Lady, and the Perfect Life
Riana hired Ethan during the seasonal tourist boom, when there were more salesperson positions available than people willing to take on this not-the-most-pleasant job.
Ethan was knowledgeable about antiques and vintage items and knew many stories about their eras. However, conveying this information coherently and engagingly proved beyond his abilities—Ethan was rather bumbling and had trouble communicating with customers.
Much to Riana's annoyance, the tourist boom also meant an influx of garage sales and car boot sales, so she couldn't possibly man the counter by herself. Riana adored trips to flea markets of all kinds, spending almost all her time there. She bought the antique shop only so that her apartment wouldn't be filled with antiques, and she always had an excuse to buy more. Riana enjoyed the process of searching for and buying items, rather than storing and possessing them, so she sold her finds without regret. However, life demands income, and the shop always had a capable assistant. Ethan, alas, proved to be the exception to the rule.
And now Riana sat on the customer sofa, looking at her salesperson and wondering which would be less costly: missing the peak of buying activity or accepting the lack of sales at the peak of the trading wave.
Meanwhile, Ethan was nervously typing something on his phone almost every five minutes, becoming even less attentive to customers and messages on the store's website.
Riana usually didn't interfere with her employees' affairs, but now it was directly related to the store.
"Did something happen?" Riana asked Ethan.
"My grandmother. She broke her leg."
Riana was a little surprised. The event was sad, of course, but why so many messages? An elderly woman should be looked after by a sick nurse—either paid or from social services, but a professional is always needed: if the condition is serious, an untrained grandson is of no use, especially over the phone.
"Are you sure it makes sense to bother an elderly woman with messages? She needs more sleep if she's sick. Sleep is medicine at her age."
"If only she were sleeping!" Ethan sighed. "My grandmother, despite her advanced years, is a very active person. Before her leg accident, she spent almost every day volunteering. 'So that her brain doesn't dry out and I don't forget how to talk,' as she used to say."
"I understand," Riana nodded. "But your messages won't help her feel like an active part of big events. Teach her how to play MMORPGs instead."
"What?!" Ethan was dumbfounded. "She's eighty years old!"
"There are now hundreds of online games that support voice communication, and you can quickly find one that doesn't require the quick reflexes of an eSports athlete but offers plenty of puzzles and group quests for a minimal level of difficulty. Your grandmother doesn't need to break the records of hardcore gamers, but chatting with casual players and leisurely looting and crafting will bring joy to her instincts. In any RPG, you become, one way or another, an individual gatherer and a collective hunter. And if you have the opportunity to build a hut, that's a real feast. We're not that far removed from the proto-Homo era, when people would fill their bellies with the results of hunting and gathering before stubbornly trying to build a makeshift shelter from branches, stones, and grass that would last at least a day." Riana smiled. "Successful games take advantage of this genetic memory. And MMORPGs, unlike regular games, also allow you to communicate not only with characters but also with people."
"Grandma hates social media," Ethan shook his head. "She says it's for idiots."
"But MMORPGs aren't social media. People gather there to play with dolls. It's a legal and socially acceptable way to relive childhood. People invent extra biographical details and events for their characters and talk to them like dolls. It's not the worst way to unwind and relax. At least, it is for casual players. For them, communication, stories, and characters are more important than shooting, hacking, and running through obstacles."
Ethan started to hesitate. But he said, "MMORPG social circles are toxic."
Riana countered, "Owners of MMO-games have dramatically tightened user safety measures after the case where a female character was raped in an online video game, and the court ruled it equal to real-life rape, since a person takes on a character to get their emotions for themselves. Now you can set the approach distance for other players' characters and blacklist individual players and groups. You'll be in the same location as them, but you won't see each other. Besides, only fans of the game and hardcore gamers are truly toxic, and if they can't play due to work, they spend every traffic jam and every coffee break in the office browsing gaming news, streams, and chats. Of course, not all hardcore gamers are vicious and aggressive. There are plenty of nice people among them who don't impose their hobbies or rules on others and who can laugh at their extreme passion. There are also midcore gamers who value daily gaming and showing off their achievements, but at a moderate level. And midcore gamers are the majority. However, a newbie who can't yet identify an inadequate interlocutor within the first few minutes of interaction is better off hanging out with the casual crowd."
"What's the difference?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
"Casual gamers log into the game for half an hour in the evening, and not every day. They play while dinner is heating up and their favourite TV show hasn't started yet. Casualers also sometimes go on in-game raids, but not to win a super prize and admire their super rating afterwards, but simply to hang out in good company against the backdrop of new locations, take screenshots, and not care if they forget to kill a monster. Casual players aren't obsessed with breaking records, so they're friendly and easy to talk to, and the game is simply an excuse to chat, a way to combat the notorious loneliness epidemic. It's perfect for comforting a grandmother who has lost her ability to walk. Most importantly, choose an MMO-game that falls under the 'Player versus Content' category, not 'Player versus Player', so there are fewer reasons for conflict between players."
"Player versus Environment," Ethan clarified. He added, "Yes, that's the most relaxed option from the gaming community's perspective. But still, an MMO-game for an old lady..." Ethan was still hesitant.
"For an energetic old lady," Riana reminded him. "Who, at twenty years old, was partying wildly with hippies, and at thirty years old, was fighting for the rights of career women and protecting housewives from domestic violence and financial pressure. Real grandmothers are very different from the image that still lingers in movies and books."
"You're right," Ethan nodded. "But is it possible to find a game that won't look silly or juvenile to a mature woman?"
"These high-profile failures of expensive video games are all caused by companies targeting teenagers and hardcore gamers who cling to their teenage memories of the early 1990s. A successful gaming company always has a sales analytics department. They know that, these days, the main consumer group for any product more complex than a frozen pizza is women over forty-five years old who are university-educated and unmarried. They have divorced or never wanted to get married. These women mostly have one child who lives their own life, so their lives are not so different from those of ones who chose not to have children. These women enjoy short entertainment sessions, but they expect meaningful and emotional depth."
Ethan was slightly taken aback by what he had heard. Riana continued, "Think of any successful AAA or indie game from recent years, and you'll realise that the developers were targeting women over forty-five and only adding elements to their content for teenagers and older, hardcore gamers."
"Hmm... I never thought of video games that way, but... You might be right about single-player games, but MMO-games are a different world."
"MMO-games are more sensitive to the market," said Rianna, "since they can't compensate for their failure with other products. The newer ones, who still need to find their place in the sun, are especially savvy. Just tell your grandma not to buy anything in a MMO-game. You can play without all those legendary swords, super blasters, extra character collections, and other nonsense that MMO-game insistently advertise."
"Well, I don't know... It's impossible without investment!" Ethan said incredulously.
"Giving money for an MMO-game would be reasonable only if you personally want to donate to the one because this product is creating a good mood for you. Or you have a strong desire to collect a bunch of pictures that are essentially useless but personally enjoyable," Rianna chuckled. "The reason is more than valid, so why not? The main thing is to know your limits and not buy more than your bank account allows for on-the-spot sweet nothings. I mean, exactly 'three seconds here and now'; you can't take seriously a bunch of pixels that could disappear at any minute if the MMO-game closes."
Ethan shrugged. And Riana said, "It's also important to find Grandma not just one game, but two or three. MMO-games often shut down, but there are plenty of new ones to replace them. It's important for a newbie not to get too attached to one thing and to understand how easily everything can be replaced."
"Ouch," Ethan said, stunned, "I never would have thought of that! You're right, it's not right for an old lady to stress out like a stupid teenager just because her favourite MMO-project shut down when there are plenty of others just as good, if not better."
It was obvious Ethan had been through a similar experience himself, and his growth hadn't come easy. However, he had grown stronger, so Ethan wasn't hopeless. Not that it mattered to Riana, but she felt sorry for the unknown old woman. And she said,
"Start with the MMO-games you play, and then we'll see whether to look for new ones or not."
Ethan suddenly looked embarrassed. It seemed he wasn't exactly a great gamer either.
Riana smiled, "Not a bad reason to start over, refresh your memories, review, and purge your contacts of the less-than-pleasant people, is it?"
"Yeah, I guess it's time," Ethan mused. "And decide whether to stick with the boosted accounts or look for something new."
And at that moment, Riana found a solution for herself.
"You'll need a lot of time for your grandma. I can put you on a temporary contract for working three hours a day. You'll sit in the warehouse and sort through the inventory that's accumulated. Add it to the website catalogue—photos, descriptions, hashtags, and a short story about it. The pay will be lower, but at least you won't have to pay for grandma's antidepressants. We'll renew the contract monthly. I can't expand my staff because of the format of the establishment, but I need a merchandiser."
"Hmm..." Ethan thought again. "Could I have one full day a week? Commuting is really inconvenient for me; it takes up a lot of my time. I can even work longer than a standard workday, ten hours. On Sundays, for example... No, on Mondays, when there are no customers."
"Okay," Riana nodded. "Write your resignation from this position, and I'll draw up a contract. My laptop is to your left, on the shelf under the display case."
Riana quickly changed a few words in one of the contract templates she had for freelancers and fired Ethan, only to rehire him immediately. And the guy went to his grandmother.
Riana started looking for a salesperson in a place she wouldn't have thought of before: an MMO-game tavern.
Essentially, it's a chat with a corresponding design. And gamers' profiles can be used to find those who live in the same city as Riana. After all, you don't necessarily need to hire just one permanent salesperson! Two or three contract players during peak season will solve the problem. And the chat history can help her figure out who's not just looking for a part-time job but also who might be suitable for a position. Of course, not everyone fills out profiles, but Riana doesn't need a crowd.
She spent about three hours searching but found five candidates and sent out job offers.
Two of them were accepted. Riana sent her travel schedule to the future assistants so they could arrange their own work schedules. She also planned to work behind the counter occasionally—the shop couldn't be left entirely to the assistants.
One of those days when Riana was working at the shop, Ethan brought in another batch of completed inventory sheets for new products—global digitalisation was a fait accompli, but the Trade Commission and Tax Service still demanded paper reports.
"How's your grandmother?" Rianna asked.
"Great. She launched an online project to draw the developers' attention to the fact that many gamers are of retirement age, and they need appropriate amenities and stories for them. She's living an active life again and has forgotten that her leg is in a cast."
Despite the good news, Ethan's expression was gloomy. Riana noted this but didn't ask any questions; she was interested in other things.
"Is it really that there are many people over sixty-seven?" Riana asked, surprised. She added thoughtfully, "Perhaps the sales managers know this, given the sharp increase in RPGs with turn-based combat. They're essentially chess, not reaction time or finger dexterity on a keyboard or gamepad. Chess can be played by both an old man and a child. But MMO-games were never intended to be adapted for people aged sixty-seven and up. Your grandmother would give this world quite a surprise. Fashion shows, supermodels, and everything else for the retirement age group have been successfully in existence for the past fifteen years. It's time for gaming to shed its ageism."
"Turn-based MMO-games have been around for a long time, if that's what you're asking," Ethan said reluctantly, his expression darkening even more. "Very few, but they exist. But, generally speaking, you're right. Non-turn-based ones can also be adapted, creating a new, easier difficulty level and adding more opportunities for free communication. That's what grandma says. And she's gathering supporters."
"Your grandma is a true miracle and a star. She's created a new, active life for herself for many years to come. Although the fracture will heal, the years will still take their toll. And gaming will give her the opportunity for a rich life even from a wheelchair."
"Yes. It's all true," Ethan continued, his expression darkening.
"Something wrong?" Riana asked.
He shrugged in annoyance.
"You wouldn't understand... You have a shop, and it's profitable. My mother got a promotion. My father has a new project. Even my grandmother is pursuing a career. And I can never even find a normal job... Everything I don't do goes to... You know where. I can never achieve anything. Even at gaming, my grandmother is better than me! And me... I'm just a loser no one wants! No girlfriend, no career."
"Do you really want a career?" Riana asked with a warm smile. "Or do you really need success? Are you really just dying to get a girlfriend?"
She held out her hands in a graceful gesture, emphasising that Ethan wasn't interested in any of that. Then she said, "You have enough income to buy food, a roof over your head, electricity, and free time to play free video games. You probably even have a streaming channel with TV series from the newest to the oldest. And no one's stopping you from doing all of that. You have everything you need to enjoy life."
"That's the life of an amoeba!" Ethan protested.
"What's so bad about amoebas?" Riana asked, surprised. "They've been thriving for seven hundred and fifty million years, safely surviving all the meteorite impacts, volcanic eruptions, and civilisational transitions. And they'll survive a nuclear war, if one ever comes. They've never cared what the Universe does, or what anyone thinks of them. Amoebas, these unrivalled individualists, simply enjoy their own lives, each on its own."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Grandma says I'll get better with time. But she won't say when. She also understands that I'm a useless loser. But at least she doesn't blame me for it."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Grandma says I'll get better with time. But she won't say when. She also understands that I'm a useless loser. But at least she doesn't blame me for it."
"Do you know what an amoeba does when it feels uncomfortable?" Riana smiled. "It swims away. And that's what made it a champion survivor."
Ethan paused.
"I don't want to fight with my relatives."
"Why fight?" Riana asked, surprised. "Just swim away. When they realise they love you for who you are, you'll swim back."
"But what if they don't realise it?" Ethan asked bitterly.
"That'll be their problem. Nothing will change for your happy life."
Ethan shrugged.
Riana smiled.
"Think about it. Just think about it."
And she went about her business.
Ethan renewed his contract when it expired. But he warned he wouldn't renew it for a third term.
"Grandma and I are moving to a village in the mountains. A revival programme is in place, and the Sheriff's Office provides a modest living allowance. I'll be working remotely part-time and doing heavy housework. Grandma will be streaming videos about the village and playing video games. Not to become a video hosting star, but for her three friends, who find this video hosting platform more convenient than others. I'm helping with the filming. We are like two tiny amoebas in their own tiny swamp; the rest of the world doesn't care about us."
"Good luck," Riana nodded.
