Gregarious Simulation Systems Headquarters (December 2069)

[Hollywood Heidi]

Gregarious Simulation Systems Headquarters

Located in Columbus, Ohio, the GSS corporate headquarters is the main hub of OASIS based programming creations, maintenance, and technical support. Owned and run by Wade Watts and Samantha Cook, who keep offices in the higher levels and continue to work just as hard as their employees, the company provides a paid internship programs to help young adults earn experience in order to find their way to a successful job and life.

Some of the more notable areas include the private offices of the owners, the War Room, the Bull Pen, general work area and support, area for advanced programmers, and an infirmary with private wards.

Some of the employees include:
Wade Watts - Owner
Samantha Cook - Owner
Journey Watts - Intern Lead
Buchanan "Bucky" - Welcome Desk Security Guard
Patty - Cafeteria Baker

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WAR ROOM

Playfully named as such, this area is for employees who spend most of their day interacting in the OASIS, whether it be monitoring and sometimes participating in big gaming events as opponents that offer a more interactive experience than an NPC could provide and on the rare occasion of problems arising, they keep the peace by serving as a type of OASIS police force to tackle any chaos and problem users or groups, determine who is the cause, and make recordings and reports to submit to the higher-ups who will determine suspensions, banning of OASIS accounts, or if authorities need to be notified of potential real world threats.

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BULL PEN

A room of great programming minds who work best in a team environment to find and tackle any bugs or viruses that arise within the ginormous virtual program housing the countless and constantly increasing worlds of the OASIS.

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GENERAL WORKSTATION

An area for those not particularly skilled in programming.  The workstation is grouped with these stations where employees can monitor feedback and complaints or offer customer support.  Many interns end up starting here until their strengths either grow or are determined.

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ADVANCED PROGRAMMING SPECIALISTS

An area for the highly advanced programmers, the section is made up of a cluster of some of the most advanced pods, referred to as Scorpion Pods due to their look.  Programmers generally wear full body OASIS gear when working in these pods.  These pods have the capability of moving and shifting in a wide range of motion within their stationary positions and allow the programmers to switch between working on new worlds and events both inside and outside of the OASIS.

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PRIVATE OFFICES OF OWNERS

The private offices of the owners possess extreme security, both technologically and physically, with highly trained guards around the clock.  Each office has a built-in, fully interactive OASIS pod.  Only three in existence, each pod is personally programmed to and only operable by Wade Watts, Samantha Cook, and Journey Watts.  They boast technology far beyond anything provided to the public that is compatible with the full OASIS capabilities and access that only the accounts of the two owners and their daughter possess.

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CAFETERIA

A large cafeteria and seating area where all the food, drinks, and creatively themed desserts are free to all the employees.

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PRIVATE WARD

One of the private rooms in GSS's dedicated infirmary.  The infirmary is made up of a handful of private wards for the rare instances of injuries sustained in connection to the OASIS. It is employed and maintained by several of the best neuroscience specialists in the world who study and help to heal any patients brought in. GSS covers all costs.

[Hollywood Heidi]

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December 2069

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Journey distractedly had her face down whilst moving toward the fairly busy lobby, studying the short list of new recruits for the internship program. She followed her eyes down the list to find the name of the person that had been assigned to her. Exiting through the security barriers to the main entrance, she finally came to a stop near the welcome desk and security points, finally glancing up from her handheld glass computer device to scan the lobby. With only a name and no picture or details, it was hard to determine which of these people was the one she was looking for. Or if the person was even here yet.

"Yo, JoJo! You lost, princess?" came the familiar jovial voice of one of the security guys at the welcome desk over the buzzing chatter of the lobby.

Journey turned and narrowed her eyes at him, half playfully, have in warning as she moved toward him so that they could talk more privately without others overhearing. "What've I told you about calling me that, Buchanan" she poked back, knowing the guy with the 'Bucky' nametag didn't much care for his full given name. Much like Journey didn't care for people to know she was the daughter of the 'king and queen' of GSS, 'high rulers' of the OASIS. She wanted to make her own impression formed from scratch when meeting new people.


"Touché," he said on a laugh. "Won't happen again, JoJo," he said, though the smirk told her it would. And almost immediately at that. "How's a pri....errrrson," he quickly and purposefully corrected, "get lost in her own castle?"

Journey glared at him again, adding a low growl that set him into laughter. He just loved teasing her, but that was because she usually gave back as good as she got. She didn't mind it from him as he was one of the rarer type who didn't try buttering her up or asking for favors due to her connection. He merely flirted and teased, which she didn't mind, especially since they'd had some great geek convos in the past.
It didn't hurt that he was also kind of cute, though maybe a year or two older than what she should be pursuing at her newly-adult age.

She leaned closer, speaking in a mockingly threatening low voice. "I swear, Bucky, I'll have you scrubbing the royal chamber pots if you don't quit with the princess shit," she said, the fact she'd thrown in her own reference of royalty completely negating any notion of actual threat.

He was laughing again and Journey couldn't help but grin wide. She liked evoking laughter and joy from people. It fed her own joy. "Well, obviously it's not me you're looking for as you know I'm always right here," he said, feigning a forlorn expression, "So who is it I can help you find?"

Journey grinned. That little part of her mind that always wondered if a guy was just being playful or if he actually had any real interest gave her the feeling that a blush might be creeping in. "Um," she said, taking the opportunity to look down at her handheld device. She knew the name but took advantage of pretending to check in order to compose herself. "Has a Jewel O'Neal already checked in?" she asked, looking back up with her head back on straight again.


"Hmmm," he said as he clicked away on his computer. An image popped up. "Ah yes. She's here. Already photographed and badged. Right...." he craned his neck and glanced around, "there." Bucky pointed to a pretty girl who looked to be around her age, sitting all quiet and reserved around the liveliness of the other people.

"Thanks, Bucky," she said, fist bumping his offered fist in a friendly 'see ya later'. He winked at her, putting another grin on her face and boosting her already happy mood as she headed over. People the same age tended to share the same common interests and same level of life experiences, which always boosted Journey's enthusiasm when getting to meet that new person.

With her warm and welcome friendly grin in place, Journey came to a stop in front of the quiet girl and greeted her in her usual bubbly, outgoing way. "Hi, Jewel? I'm Journey. I've been assigned as your mentor. I'll be showing you around and helping you get started on your quest to discovering the career that is meant for you." Arms out with a sweeping gesture and with a dramatic flair, she added, "Think of me as the Merlin to your Arthur." With a chuckle of self amusement, she finished with a swirling of her hand as if holding an invisible wand.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel sat aloof from everyone else, obviously waiting for somebody to come for them as well. She had, at least, seen visitor badges been handed out to them. She didn't like the feeling of being looked at, which mostly happened when people would mistaken her to be reserved or even arrogant. The first was probably appropriate, at least in the beginning, yet not the second. To her relief, though, nobody at this place was actually looking at her like that. In fact, everyone seemed to be just minding their own businesses, different from how she experienced it around highschool. Some of her fellow newcomers even seemed to be quite nervous as well. And yet, Jewel dared to claim that nobody here was as nervous as she was. She had been playing this day in a loop over and over again in her head. Why? Because she was doing another step out of her comfort zone, and that even on purpose. Anytime, she just wanted to duck out again, as well only in her head, Jewel kept reminding herself why she was doing all this. She had to dig deeper into the little information she had found by herself, and she knew that this was the right and maybe even only place where she could. It was important. And she was doing it, first and foremost, not for herself but for her dad.

While Jewel had a look around the entrance hall, her nervousness changed bit by bit into amazement over the many odds and ends, all of them neatly displayed in cases out of glass. A smile started to form on her lips whilst allowing her mind to wander for a bit, to a place far off this, yet maybe not as far off as she would think. On her first day in the OASIS or at least the first day there all on her own, Jewel had known absolutely nothing about these things, made a fool of herself in front of Peter. Oh god, what a day, she thought with an inner chuckle. But now, she was, at least, able to guess the function and origin of some of these things around her. Yet still, Jewel felt like learning anew. But then again, being totally honest with herself, that even might be another reason for her to be here. Up until recently, she would have had not the slightest idea of what her plan for the future was, but now Jewel could actually see her fascination with Otherland - how she liked to call the OASIS herself - become that path. Well, in case she managed to make no fool of herself, that was.

"Hi, Jewel? I'm Journey. I've been assigned as your mentor." , suddenly a female voice interrupted her thoughts.

Even though Jewel's eyes had been directed ahead, it was obvious that her mind hadn't. Her mouth opened to say something in return, but there would come no words out before the friendly-looking girl went on already.

"I'll be showing you around and helping you get started on your quest to discovering the career that is meant for you."

As much as she didn't like to appear disrespectful, as much was she actually appreciating the girl's attitude to just go on with talking, especially since she seemed to not take it amiss on her that Jewel wasn't as talkative as she was herself.

"Think of me as the Merlin to your Arthur.", the girl added with neat gesturing as if swirling an invisible wand in her hand.

Jewel had to genuinely smile at that, which was rather unusual for her when meeting someone in a first contact because usually she would be too occupied with her inner stress. But this girl was different, and that light bubble energy of hers even contagious. She was funny in a way that matched Jewel's own interests.

Then this is Wart, willing to learn from you, was what she wanted to answer, referring to the Disney version of the story - because whenever there was one, she would go with that. However, what she actually said was... nothing. Because, as much as she wanted, the answers that might be ready on her mind didn't make it to her tongue. Not with somebody who wasn't her dad or Peter, at least, because she thought that nobody but them would appreciate her true self anyway. Granted, this girl seemed to be really cool, which was why Jewel blamed herself for her shy behavior, even more, this time.

While thinking about what she could say instead, especially after the girl had already called her by her name, the moment seemed to be gone already. Another thing that Jewel originally had stopped to blame herself for at some point, yet when had she ever come across somebody greeting her with a Merlin joke? Ah damn, the girl must be thinking that Jewel was just like one of these girls that wouldn't get a nerdy reference and instead just smiled out of courtesy.

[Hollywood Heidi]

The new girl didn't say anything and for a moment, Journey wondered if perhaps she couldn't hear or possibly didn't speak English. But then she had caught Jewel smiling at her Merlin joke and she was still watching intently, looking more like she was at a loss for words rather than confused.

"Oh gosh, sorry, I know I can be so totally overwhelming, especially when you first meet me," she said with a smile and roll of her eyes, looking still her happy, joyful self which said that her apology was only for how some might feel in her presence but definitely not at all apologizing for who she was. Journey was quite happy with her personality and the person she was. "You must be the quiet, shy type, which there is absolutely nothing wrong with," she said, hand placed out flat as a double reassurance. "You just say something when you feel like saying something. I have enough outgoingness--that's a word, right?--anyway," she waved her hands to shoo away that sidetrack question, "I have enough of that for the both of us and I talk enough for at least ten people." Journey gave a happy giggle at her own expense.

"So, are you ready for the grand tour? Just a nod will do, if you'd like." Journey beamed a smile at the pretty, friendly looking girl. She always strived to be a good, kind and warmhearted person and she hoped that if the girl could see that, that she'd warm up to her a bit and feel comfortable enough to talk to her. Making new friends and being social had always been one of Journey's favorite things.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Oh gosh, sorry, I know I can be so totally overwhelming, especially when you first meet me,"

No, it's totally me, cause I conditioned myself to not talk..., Jewel thought with upcoming stress, but then, as she saw that the girl kept her happy and joyful face, she eased a bit. This girl didn't seem to blame her or, what also happened at times, took it personally. Jewel tried to keep her smile as well.

"You must be the quiet, shy type, which there is absolutely nothing wrong with,"

Jewel actually wanted to say something after all, even though her head was still blank, but then Journey already kept on talking, which was fine as well.

"You just say something when you feel like saying something. I have enough outgoingness--that's a word, right?--anyway,"

Jewel's smile widened for a moment. This girl was funny. And cool. And friendly. Gosh, Jewel, say something, just anything. She probably won't blame you even if it's something stupid. As for the stupid part, the chances were high though, like... naturally.

"I have enough of that for the both of us and I talk enough for at least ten people.""So, are you ready for the grand tour? Just a nod will do, if you'd like."

For a second, Jewel was going to just nod as suggested, but then she made an effort, after all.

"No, uh-- I mean, yes. Thank you. I'm just... nervous, I guess," she said hesitantly, yet with a smile as to laugh about her own silly behavior. Surprisingly though, with each of her words, it became easier for her to open up. Still, Jewel finished with a nod, after all, letting Journey decide when they would start the tour. Even though she was here for reasons that hadn't much to do with a career, Jewel couldn't help but feel excited over this whole place, surely visible on her features while she got up from her seat, allowing her eyes to wander around before the girl would lead the way.

[Hollywood Heidi]

'She speaks!' Journey thought excitedly, though she did not say it out loud, thinking it might make Jewel uncomfortable or self conscious. Instead, Journey kept her encouraging smile in place.

"Totally understandable! It's probably the most awkward first step into adulthood. With starting college, you're taking that step amongst your peers. But first time you walk into a workplace for a job or internship, it's like practically everyone's older than you and all, like, responsible and mature and serious. It was the first time I ever questioned how I should act; if I should be all quiet and serious.

"But you get to know the people at this workplace, and you see that everyone's happy and fun and really supportive. They love what they do here that when they're at their desk, they only seem really serious 'cause they get so absorbed in their ideas and creativity. They're 'in the zone'," she said, momentarily holding her hands up on either side of her face. "We're all big time geeks here, laughing, joking, quoting our favorite geekdoms between in-the-zone times. This is a place where you can do the adulting but still be yourself. So don't ever be afraid to be yourself, Jewel, especially not with me."

Journey gave her another big grin before turning to face the security panel. "Let's get your handprint into the system and attached to your badge." Journey slid her own card then placed her own hand on the panel. When the light turned green, she accessed the programming, punching through all the set-up menus and questions in quick, practiced succession. "Alllllrighty," she drew out as she knew she was reaching the last couple of touchscreen options. Journey stepped aside to allow Jewel to center herself at the panel. "Now go ahead and slide your ID badge and when you see the light turn yellow, it'll prompt you to place your hand on the panel just like I did. Be sure to hold it there til the light turns green."

[DarkSideCookie]

Although slightly overwhelmed by Journey's bubbling energy, yet only because she wasn't used to it, Jewel appreciated that the girl didn't seem to feel discouraged by her taciturnity. So she tried to overlay her nervosity with a maintaining smile all throughout the explication. The smile was genuine, even though a bit forced, as well. That might sound contradictory, yet the difficulty she had with it wasn't caused by insincerity but by anxiety to wholeheartedly allow others to see her emotions; Not like a rational thing, at least not anymore at this point. However, Jewel had learned that she could still overcome it and not excuse her demons with a saying like 'it is how it is' or even 'one has to accept their fate'. Whenever she had been close to thinking that way, her dad would have been there, telling her that fate was nothing but a poor excuse for people who didn't even try to change their life but instead threw a pity party for themselves; Maybe he had said that with other words, but the message was always on her mind. After all, she had been able to overcome it with Peter.

"Let's get your handprint into the system and attached to your badge."

Jewel tried to make a mental note of all the steps on the set-up menus to not make a fool of herself already on this easy task. Unfortunately, with her concentration, it was like with a lake. Usually, it was all clear and standing, but with a storm coming up, it could become erratic and moving. The nervosity was her storm.

"Alllllrighty,""Now go ahead and slide your ID badge and when you see the light turn yellow, it'll prompt you to place your hand on the panel just like I did. Be sure to hold it there til the light turns green."

"Uhm, okay," Jewel replied with a nod, then did as she was told. Once there was the green light, she - assuming that she was supposed to remember the procedure all by herself - already went on with the first steps. Despite her difficulty remembering stuff when being nervous, Jewel was still a lot more driven than others might; Probably, though, first primarily, to not embarrass herself or disappoint expectations.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Journey split her attention between the computer panel where she'd accessed the administrative set-up menus and Jewel's progress. ID badge scanned, yellow light, prompt for hand print, and finally, the little green light went on at the same time the administrative panel gave notification that Jewel's handprint had been input into the system accompanying her ID batch for future accessibility to the building.

"Boom, done! That was easy," she said encouragingly as she swiftly punched buttons that saved and uploaded the information into the computer database, then logged out of the administrative portal. The screen returned to the normal welcome panel and Journey took the couple steps back to return to Jewel's side. "Now, let's have you enter the main area for the first time as an official intern!" she said excitedly. "Slide ID, then handprint," she helpfully reminded just in case the obvious nerves of the girl so opposite in personality from herself was blocking her mind from concentration.

Journey smiled brightly and remained calm, exuding no sense of rush or urgency as if they had all the time in the world. It was a huge deal to work at GSS; a dream of so many people. She'd accompanied many interns on their first step into their job, watching the nervousness overcome them, though this one was more nervous than most. Based off what she'd witnessed so far, Journey was expecting that. The world was more difficult and worse on the nerves for introverts.

The light turned green, signifying that Jewel had properly checked into the system. The tiny clicking sound of the lock mechanism opening further signified success. "It's official!" Journey said excitedly, grabbing hold of the door to open it for Jewel. "You're one of us now!"

This next part was her favorite. If the props displayed to the public in the lobby area were impressive to a person, the ones beyond the locked doors for the enjoyment of employees only would blow their minds. Especially the first thing that drew the eye. Right there, just several steps in, was a DeLorean. Not just any DeLorean. The DeLorean. Well preserved, well maintained, and looking just as it did in the first Back to the Future movie. There were no ropes warding people off, for anyone who wanted to work here wouldn't dare harm or damage such a treasure. It sat there, in the corner, for all to look at and lovingly touch.

[DarkSideCookie]

"It's official!""You're one of us now!"

Jewel exhaled the breath she'd been holding for a felt eternity. She did it. She hadn't made a fool of herself. Well, not yet, at least. No no, Jewel, be positive, she reminded herself, knowing that her father would have told her something similar if she had let him into this life decision, that was. Jewel hated to lie to him, but she knew it was better that way, keeping these things to herself.

Once Journey opened the door for her, leading them both to the actual workplace, Jewel's nervosity was, suddenly, like swept away. The awe for breathtaking places and things always had been able to overlay this anxiety of hers, even if only for a little moment. It had been the same back at the day she'd met Peter inside the Oasis. This fact gave her hope that, one day, she would be able to overcome it completely.

"I remember this from a movie I've been watching with my parents," she suddenly said, more in a whispered way yet still loud enough that the girl next to her could hear it. It might sound like Jewel was suddenly willingly giving information about herself to somebody, a personal piece of her past even, while, in truth, she was rather talking to herself, forgetting the world around. Memories always did that with her, especially the good. In some way, however, she was talking to someone in her mind. To someone she trusted. Like Peter. Of course, he wasn't here. But neither was she, not really. Not while she walked closer to the DeLorean, stopping her steps right in front of it, allowing her mind to go back to days where they would be just a family watching movies together, no thoughts and worries about it could be the last time. "Dad would freak out...," Jewel added with a soft chuckle. Not only because her dad loved old movies, especially this trilogy she remembered as something of the sci-fi genre, but also because he was a lot into cars in general.

[Hollywood Heidi]

A geeky giggle of excitement bubbled up from Journey. It never failed to whenever standing so close to the DeLorean next to someone who seemed to also be a fan. There was no greater ice breaker than stumbling across a shared geek appreciation for something. It even managed to get a few words out of her new shy recruit.

Journey wandered close to the car, loving placing an arm up on its roof and tried to start bonding with her new recruit by bringing up her father and his same reaction toward this car. "My dad's seen it a million times and I can still see the geek in him light up with giddiness whenever he looks at it." 'And even though he totally owns it.' But not wanting people to put her as an individual second to being 'the daughter of the people who own the whole OASIS', she did not say that part out loud.

She placed her other hand on the car door and momentarily rested her head on her arm draped across the hood as if attempting to give the massive hunk of metal a hug. Leaning down a bit, Journey pulled the handle and lifted the door that raised upward. She patted the side of the driver's seat. "Do you wanna sit inside?" she asked in a comedically dramatic whisper whilst tapping her fingertips together like a bad, old timey mustache twirling villain offering a temptation that he was sure the hero couldn't resist.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel realized that she wasn't talking to only herself when the girl next to her, Journey, spoke up again as well. Usually, that realization would have made her freak out because she always was in fear of having said something stupid whenever awakening from this kind of state where she would blank out the rest of the world, but, to her surprise, it didn't make her this time. Jewel still felt kind of relaxed around her and this whole place, especially when Journey went on without pointing out the fact that she had finally started talking but instead just added something personal to what she had said before herself.

"My dad's seen it a million times and I can still see the geek in him light up with giddiness whenever he looks at it."

When Jewel saw her placing her hands on the car, on the door handle even, Jewel couldn't suppress a slight gasp of excitement. Would they actually be allowed to...

"Do you wanna sit inside?"

At the funny image Journey created while she was tapping her fingertips together along with a facial expression like some villain movie character, a smile of amusement appeared on Jewel's lips, yet before she could allow herself to take that offer, she had to make sure that they weren't doing something illegal although it seemed that Journey had some kind of special post around this place; Or that was, at least, what Jewel guessed judging by the fact how famous she seemed to be. Still, she couldn't risk getting fired or something before her first day had even started just because she assumed it would be alright to do the same things this girl did.

"But are, uh... are we allowed to do that? I mean... am I?" Jewel hoped it was not unkind to ask this since such a question implied that there was the possibility Journey was either doing something illegal herself or didn't bother about getting somebody else into trouble by telling them to follow suit. It surely wasn't Jewel's intention to imply such behavior, especially since this girl, even though they didn't know each other yet, didn't seem like somebody who would act that way. However, it was already hard enough dealing with her natural anxiety, so she couldn't afford to add even more to that.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Journey saw that same weariness in Jewel's eyes that everyone had when posing that question after Journey offered them the chance to sit in the legendary vehicle. But she also saw the hint of something else. A sort of uncomfortableness as if the girl felt bad for even asking the question. Judging by her mannerisms thus far, Journey could only guess that Jewel was worried that her question might offend, though Journey didn't have the foggiest idea of why anyone would find offense in it.

Their personalities were certainly polar opposite. While Journey was a very vocal extrovert who pulled everyone around her into conversation and gabbed on about anything and everything, Jewel appeared to be extremely introverted. To the point that was harmful to herself. She couldn't imagine what it was like to torture yourself like that, so overly worrying about what others might think or how your own words or actions might affect them.

Normally, Journey would give an enthusiastic reply of 'Of course!' but her heart really went out to this poor, sweet girl going through mental anguish over something Journey had pulled her into. She gave her a friendly smile and instead, explained the way of things around here in a calm, relaxing tone as if they were in no rush, and truly, they were not. They had a full work day and the first day was never really about the work. It was a full day of acclimating and getting to know the place.

"Every single person who comes through those doors asks me that," Journey confided reassuringly. She looked at the DeLorean again and lovingly let her fingertips run along the line of it as she stepped closer to Jewel. "But the fact that everyone asks with such reverence toward this and the other treasures you'll find around the building is exactly why we 'are' allowed to interact with them. There are no ropes or barriers around anything. You won't find any 'No Touchie' signs anywhere. The owners know that people who want to work here have the same love and respect for these pieces of geek history that they do. They know that things will be handled gently and lovingly and with the same reverence that they handle them." Journey kept moving toward the passenger's side of the car, leaving the driver's seat open for Jewel. "So instead of locking things up in glass cases where they'll never be experienced and enjoyed, they are kept out so that these things, that so personally touched our lives when we watched them on screens, can draw those feelings out again."

Journey pulled the passenger's side handle and lifted the door upward, carefully settling herself into the passenger's side seat. "And let me tell ya," she said, popping her head out of the opening, "the joy that these things made you feel when you saw them on the screen, it's just a shadow compared to what fills your entire being when you get to see and experience them in person."

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel was truly thankful for how the other girl explained everything to her in a very calm and relaxing way. It would have been alright if she just replied with an 'of course' as well, but that way, it probably would have taken her more time to ease some more. When Journey opened the passenger's door of the car, Jewel came up with an excited smile, still shy but a lot more openly than before. And when she took a seat there herself instead of indicating Jewel to, the smile grew even wider. She really hadn't expected to be allowed to sit in the driver's seat even.

"And let me tell ya,""the joy that these things made you feel when you saw them on the screen, it's just a shadow compared to what fills your entire being when you get to see and experience them in person."

With her smile staying in place, Jewel dared to pull the door handle to enter the car as well. Not just ANY car. THE car. From the movies, she had been watching with her family in the past. Jewel might not be familiar with all kinds of geek stuff, but she could appreciate the props from a classic movie she connected great memories with. Once inside, she turned her gaze at the amazing-looking time machine tech integrated into the paneling. If only her dad could see this. And if only she would be even able to tell him. Jewel tried to get rid of that thought and, instead, turned her full attention back to the very moment. "So, which point in time are we heading to?" Jewel asked with a quiet chuckle, forgetting her social awkwardness for the time being. Or maybe it was because the girl who was showing her around, sitting right next to her, was so not like the people Jewel usually was surrounded by.

[Hollywood Heidi]

"Ooooh, that is a good question!" Journey said enthusiastically. She loved when people had a great imagination that matched hers. She'd sat in this car so many times, imagining what it would be like to get this baby up to 88 mph and blast to anywhere in time. Seeing as she always was imagining, she had a readily available answer.

"There's two events I always imagine going to," she said excitedly. "The first one: I've always been in awe of James Halliday. I mean, he's like the 'Walt Disney' of online gaming. I'd love to travel back and watch him creating the OASIS. Well, not for the whole twelve years of it, but popping in at key moments. I'd probably spend the most time in December 9, 2012." Her geek level knowledge of the OASIS was shining through a little. "That was the day the OASIS launched." Journey let her head relax onto the headrest and closed her eyes, a dreamy smile on her face. "I'd love to walk around on that day, see Halliday seeing his dream come to life. Find some, like, old-timey internet gaming joint where people have gathered to wait and watch the countdown clock run down to launching time so they could try this super-software that GSS had stopped most of their other game developments for over a decade to work on. You know they almost went bankrupt?" she asked, turning her head toward Jewel and peeking her eyes open for a second before settling back into her imagination. "Their games had always been such a hit so naturally, everyone had their expectations way high for this ginormous project. Oh man, I'd love to see all their faces as their expectations were blown out of the water and their minds were just..." She opened her eyes again, doing a mind-blown gesture of her fisted hands opening up near her head as she made a blowing up sound.

"And where shall we visit after that?" Journey asked with a grin. "It's only fair we take turns picking where and when we're going," she said in mock seriousness as if this was a thing they were actually going to do.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Ooooh, that is a good question!""There's two events I always imagine going to,"

Journey's reaction, which was answering her rather silly - or that was, at least, what Jewel was used to be told whenever she had been saying anything like that in the past, one of the reasons why she had stopped talking like that, or talking in general, around anyone but her dad - question with a genius, in a geek way at least, suggestion.

"The first one: I've always been in awe of James Halliday. I mean, he's like the 'Walt Disney' of online gaming. I'd love to travel back and watch him creating the OASIS. Well, not for the whole twelve years of it, but popping in at key moments. I'd probably spend the most time in December 9, 2012."

Jewel loved that first one a lot already, bringing a wide smile to her face; Not only because of this matching her reason for being here in the first place, her little secret research nobody knew about, but also because of the mentioning of Walt Disney. Whenever Jewel heard anyone say 'Disney', she was beaming with joy immediately.

"That was the day the OASIS launched.""I'd love to walk around on that day, see Halliday seeing his dream come to life. Find some, like, old-timey internet gaming joint where people have gathered to wait and watch the countdown clock run down to launching time so they could try this super-software that GSS had stopped most of their other game developments for over a decade to work on. You know they almost went bankrupt?"

Jewel listened intently as Journey went on explaining everything so detailed. First, because she appreciated the background information more than the other would know, and, second, because she liked how the girl seemed to disappear to grounds, deep down an imaginative mind, just like herself, with the only difference that she was sharing it with others while Jewel only had done with one person so far. Not even her dad, but only Peter.

"Er, no," Jewel quickly answered the question when, suddenly, Journey turned her head back towards her. She probably hadn't even expected an answer, but Jewel felt like she had to give one anyway; or maybe just to say anything at all, since she had caught herself staring at the other in awe, in awe about having met someone alike, in some way, at least. She smiled, waiting for the other girl to go on, serving with the information.

"Their games had always been such a hit so naturally, everyone had their expectations way high for this ginormous project. Oh man, I'd love to see all their faces as their expectations were blown out of the water and their minds were just..."

In her mind, Jewel already started gathering the information like in a spreadsheet within her mind: pretty much a mindmap. She let out a toneless chuckle at the vivid description of her seatmate. She was funny. Jewel liked that a lot. It was almost contagious. She kind of envied her for her outspokenness, not in a jealous, but rather in an idol way.

"And where shall we visit after that?""It's only fair we take turns picking where and when we're going,"

At that, Jewel's chuckling even became audible, quiet, yet an uptick. "I'd probably spend some time in the 40s. The 40s of our century," she added with a smile. Being a sucker for really old movies, she often thought of past centuries whenever someone used only the last couple of numbers when talking of a certain year. A lot of her favorite movies actually had been taking place in the 1940s. "Watching my dad exploring the OASIS for the first time before he made his mark," Jewel went on talking about where she would go. Only in thoughts, she was adding: Finding my mom, watching her making her mark there as well, as a Gunter... while dad never knew she had. For a moment, it seemed that Jewel had become lost in her own imagination before, suddenly, she was back; Back in time, back in 2069. "Er, so - uh - your turn," she said shyly chuckling, although aware that they might just stop here to get back to business, which was why Jewel was here, so she was, of course, cool with that, as much as she was enjoying this right now.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Journey stared wide-eyed at Jewel, mouth slightly agape in her usual over active-slash-over enthusiastic way. Jewel's shy response that it was her turn finally had her talking.

"No.... way!! That's on my list also! Actually, the one I was gonna mention next and my number one choice!" Journey was extra giddy now, hoping there was another aspect to it than just watching their parents as youngsters explore the OASIS and make their mark. They seemed to be around the same age so their parents would have been running around the same time. Still, there was another event in the 2040's, the biggest one in OASIS history, that Journey was a hardcore geek about. "Oh my gosh, please tell me you're talking specifically about 2045 and participating in Halliday's Easter Egg hunt."

Journey had scooted to the edge of her seat and had angled herself toward Jewel as she had excitedly spoken, practically bouncing in her seat with her excitement and hope over finding a kindred spirit. After all this time had passed, it was pretty rare to find a Wannabe-Gunter that hadn't actually lived through the greatest event ever. Most who hadn't lived through it only has a passing knowledge of it having existed, like a small line in a very large history book.

[DarkSideCookie]

"No.... way!! That's on my list also! Actually, the one I was gonna mention next and my number one choice!"

Jewel's smile grew wider immediately, above all because of the enthusiasm with which the other girl was uttering this. Journey was somehow easy to talk to; A lot easier than other people, at least.

"Oh my gosh, please tell me you're talking specifically about 2045 and participating in Halliday's Easter Egg hunt."

At that, hesitation was seen back on Jewel's features for a moment, easily could be mistaken as a backfall into her shyness, though. She had never talked about her mother to anyone but her dad; And about this, not even to him. Jewel kind of wanted to talk about it, especially since she was feeling proud about her having been a gunter as soon as she had found out about it, but she also couldn't. So, despite the excitement and almost looks of hope upon the other's face, Jewel decided to just go with her dad's story instead. "My dad was no gunter," she explained, at least giving away that she was enough informed to know about that phrase, "but he had been serving the participants with weapons and equipment that he created himself." It was clear that Jewel felt proud of her dad's backstory regarding the OASIS as well.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Journey saw the hesitation and figured that meant their reasons for why that time period wouldn't be the same, but that was alright. She eased up her excitement in a show that it did not bother her in the least as she listened to Jewel's explanation for choosing that time period.

"Well your dad sounds totally rad," Journey beamed, giggling a little at the unintended rhyming. "He's gotta have mad crazy programming skills to have made a career out of that, especially during those times. Gunters were hardcore geeks, very particular about authenticity and performance. The Egg Hunt was serious business," she said, pulling a serious face and giving a nod. She smiled again, giving a nod toward her door in an unspoken 'let's hop on out'. "If he ever wants a job..." she broke off, only half joking as she climbed out of the passenger's seat.

Journey pulled the door closed then walked around to the front of the car to meet Jewel. "So, what parts of the vast machine that keeps the OASIS running strikes your interest?" There were so very many jobs that made up said machine and most people didn't know a vast majority of them. They usually only knew they wanted to be part of the magic, so Journey broke it down into the two main categories. "Are you more for the artistic side of things--designing, storytelling, theming--or the technical aspects--programming, coding tech support...?"

[DarkSideCookie]

Although the other girl didn't seem disappointed, Jewel felt somehow sorry for building a wall between them again. It was not even because she wouldn't be ready to open up since Journey really made it easy for her for once, but rather because Jewel felt like she shouldn't talk about it; Especially not here, not in a place that she had to use for information. The closer Jewel felt toward this girl, the worse she felt for her plans of digging somewhere she shouldn't. Well, if she was able to, that was.

When Journey spoke up again, acknowledging her dad's skills, Jewel replied with only a shy smile and a slight nod. She wanted to yield to that job offer so badly; Telling her dad because she knew that would be a dream coming true for him, but she couldn't. Not without giving away her secret mission. He would ask questions about her having started this internship, and especially about the reason why she hadn't told him earlier. Well, maybe that was just an offer out of friendliness anyway. At least, Jewel said so to herself to not feel so bad. So, once again, Jewel replied with only a smile and a nod.

"So, what parts of the vast machine that keeps the OASIS running strikes your interest?" Journey asked as they met outside the car again. "Are you more for the artistic side of things--designing, storytelling, theming--or the technical aspects--programming, coding tech support...?"

Her first impulse was to go for the storytelling, for that would be a dream coming true to herself, but Jewel knew that would lead her nowhere regarding her investigations. She was, not at all, good with computers, but assumed that the second mentioned category would give her a better chance to sniff around in the database. So, instead of going with her first impulse, she said: "I think I'm more interested in the programming part." In fear of disappointing any expectations, Jewel quickly added with her hands waved in front of her: "But, eh, might not be good at that."

[Hollywood Heidi]

"Well, that's not a problem at all," Journey said, looking over with a reassuring smile. "Finding oneself interested or intrigued by something is easy, however, having the means to learn it or try it for yourself can sometimes be hard. But once you do have the means, sometimes you'll find that you're good at it and sometimes, you might not be." She shrugged, indicating that that was perfectly okay. "The point is, you don't know until you try."

Journey grinned again as they moved into the main hub of the place. It was a sea of pods with employees in full action. Journey momentarily ventured off their topic to explain. "This is the War Room. All these employees spend their work day in the OASIS monitoring the goings-on, participating in big gaming events as points of contact to the players to help advance them in the storyline or provide clues or rewards. They also keep an eye on things inside. Sorta like the 'OASIS Police Force'," she said with air quotes.

Aside finished, Journey went back to their previous topic. "So, we can start you off in programming, but we encourage all new interns to spend their first few weeks giving all the departments a try. Sometimes people find their passion in something they never considered before or never even knew was a thing. I mean," Journey did a turn as she walked, gesturing to probably her favorite job as they were leaving the War Room floor and approaching a set of stairs, "who ever thought you could get paid for playing in the OASIS?"

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel nodded, thankful to have such understanding people around her here. Still, she hoped that she would not disappoint expectations even if they might not be too high. Computers just were not exactly her best friends.

"This is the War Room. All these employees spend their work day in the OASIS monitoring the goings-on, participating in big gaming events as points of contact to the players to help advance them in the storyline or provide clues or rewards. They also keep an eye on things inside. Sorta like the 'OASIS Police Force',"

Jewel listened attentively while looking around the hall in awe. Everyone seemed so passionate about their task, enjoying what they were doing. A realization that brought a big smile to Jewel's face without even noticing so herself.

"So, we can start you off in programming, but we encourage all new interns to spend their first few weeks giving all the departments a try. Sometimes people find their passion in something they never considered before or never even knew was a thing. I mean,""who ever thought you could get paid for playing in the OASIS?"

"Oh, of course! That's totally fine!" Jewel answered immediately. She was actually glad to hear that. It was not that she was pressed for time when it came to her plan, so trying out stuff she would like to do much better was awesome. "What's the department you're part of?" Jewel suddenly asked. She hoped that they could spend more time together. Not only was she not good at being social, so getting into closer contact with anyone else might be a challenge, but Journey was really nice to talk to, seemed to share some of her interests even.

[Hollywood Heidi]

"This, actually," she said, gesturing between herself and Jewel with a smile. "The Internship Program is really important to GSS, so they have a few employees dedicated to the department. I'm one of those people." Actually, she was in charge of it, but did not like to divulge that because it led to curiosities of how someone so young had gotten such a high ranking position, which might lead to wonderment of certain connections to the owners. Those assumptions led to the wrong conclusions. Journey had always worked hard and had earned her place as head of the Internship Program. It had been her idea to start it, giving young people a chance to get their foot into the door of a promising career, and she'd been the one to organize it and set it up.

She was also suited for the job as one of the few people who'd put in a lot of equal hours into all departments and also, she was a people person. "I started out like any intern, trying my hand at the different departments. The War Room is probably my favorite, though I really enjoy them all, but the thing I found most enjoyable was helping others find their joy, ya know?" Journey asked rhetorically. "Plus, I love meeting and getting to know new people, in case you haven't noticed," she added with a lean-in stage whisper as if it was the worst kept secret about herself.

Approaching a vacant general work station, Journey made a sweeping gesture with her arms like a game show host showing off the big prize as she spoke. "This will be your station for today."

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel was silently listening with a smile on her face when Journey explained all that to her. She was glad that the girl would remain her contact person then. It took her a lot more at ease since they had already started getting to know each other a little better; Well, by Jewel's standards, at least. A light chuckle left her when Journey made a joke about her social skills as if that was a secret. Jewel truly envied her for that, not jealously, but only in an idolizing way.

"This will be your station for today."

Once more, Jewel was in awe of their surroundings. So, this would become her first station; Her very first adventure outside of her bubble. She had been on school trips because she had to - none of them to her liking, though -, but this was the first time Jewel did something just because she wanted to, even organized all by herself. It felt good, as daunting as it still might be for her.

"Great," Jewel stated with another smile, still shy yet much more at ease than she had been when they introduced to each other. "I promise that I'll do my level best." Still, she hoped that Journey would accompany her for the rest of her first workday.

[Hollywood Heidi]

"And I totally believe you will!" Journey replied confidently with a bright smile. "Now the next part is sometimes kinda fun, sometimes kinda boring. We start everyone out with an aptitude program. Basically, the program will take you through all the different aspects of GSS to get a general idea of what your existing strengths are and what may be a potential strength with a bit of training and practice. It'll also give you a small idea," she held her thumb and pointer finger close together, "of what it might be like to do the work in the different departments, but we still encourage everyone to give the actual experience a try."

Journey stepped to the side of the chair and picked up the VR visor, always the latest and greatest available to the employees, and held it out to Jewel whilst gesturing to the chair with her free hand. "Hop on and I'll fire up the program."

[DarkSideCookie]

Attentively, Jewel listened to the explanations, nodding every now and then. While this was all part of a higher plan that was not so much about herself, she enjoyed every minute of it. It was exciting to her, a whole new world; Like it had been when she entered the OASIS for the first time. Well, for the first time by herself.

Jewel received the VR visor, being, at least, familiar with this kind of equipment. A while ago, she probably would have been looking stupid already now, not knowing how to use it. She smiled with excitement while waiting for Journey to start that mentioned program. To her, this sounded like fun, not boring at all.

[Hollywood Heidi]

***Several hours later***

After Journey had started up the Aptitude Program on Jewel's station, she'd settled herself into a nearby station to go through her correspondences. She was just wrapping up her second virtual meet-up in a private room when her visor notified her that Jewel had completed the program.

The smiling avatar of the user she'd assisted brightened her own smile which reflected on her avatar, a more generic looking work avatar that resembled her real-life self rather than a pop culture icon, just with a couple tweaks in appearance that wouldn't make it so obvious it was her, should someone bump into her in real life. The changes of that were slip as the world was so large and filled with so very many people, but it was something GSS required for the safety and anonymity of their employees.

The little clock in the corner of her visor told her it was lunch time and the rumble in her tummy confirmed it. Removing her GSS visor, Journey placed it back on the station as she hopped out of the seat and headed over to Jewel. "How'd it go?" she asked, taking the visor from Jewel and replacing it to the station with her usual grin in place.

[DarkSideCookie]

Jewel was glad when she had made it through the program without any difficulties. She'd become so much better with computer stuff ever since she started playing with her dad's OASIS equipment and went on adventures with Peter inside that world. With a satisfied and even slightly proud smile, Jewel removed the visor from her head. That smile widened some more even when she saw Journey coming over.

"How'd it go?"

"It was fun!" she replied immediately. This girl just had something that made it easy for Jewel to be her enthusiastic self, maybe not as energetic as that girl was herself, but easy to excite indeed. "I think I did fine even," Jewel added with one look back at the monitor. She'd always been a modest person, underestimating herself, maybe because she also could be a complete goof at times.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Jewel seemed to be getting more comfortable around her, which made Journey's smile beam all the more. She liked people to be happy, especially around her. Journey was always herself, unapologetically so considering the enthusiasm and zest for life and all things pop culture, and she liked people to be comfortable and be able to be themselves around her.

"I'm sure you did amazing!" Journey said in all confidence. "Nobody is perfect," she reassured, "but that doesn't mean we can't work to improve what we might not excel in. But only if it's something we wanna be better at. Though we encourage everyone to try everything, there's no point in practicing and getting better at something your heart's not into, not when we could be spending that time doing and improving on the things we like to do," she said, giving her usual coaching to the interns. But it wasn't just coaching to her. It was her conviction to enjoy life as much as possible and she tried to instill that means to happiness in everyone around her.

GSS ran the biggest and most popular means of entertainment to the world and she, like her parents, wanted the enjoyment of it to also be felt on the working side of things. People here weren't expected to do a job they did not enjoy.

"It's lunchtime," her stomach interrupted her with another growl and Journey put her hand over her stomach and chuckled. "Ah, see? My stomach agrees," she said with an amused smile. "I'll show ya to the cafeteria." She nodded her head in the general direction and started off, waiting for Jewel to be beside her and struck up a conversation to try to get to know her better. "So, you going to school right now?" she asked, always curious if someone went to, or had gone to, the same place, depending on the age difference. Commonality was an easy way to strengthen bonds and make people more comfortable in your presence and Journey recognized that Jewel was one such person who needed more patience and care in that area.

[DarkSideCookie]

Maybe it was the fact that Journey's smile was just contagious, or it was this feeling of being appreciated, but as soon as hers grew wider, Jewel's did the same, although still a lot shier.

When Journey went on coaching her, she nodded in silent agreement. And while, in the beginning, she had thought that this might become something her heart wouldn't be in indeed, just as mentioned, Jewel felt like it was more already now. Maybe it was because she'd brought an interest in the OASIS in general.

"It's lunchtime," the other girl broke into her sudden daydreaming, which made Jewel nod and also slightly grin at the audible stomach growling. She herself could easily forget to eat when feeling excited about something. Sometimes even when she was just doing something that she enjoyed, like reading or writing.

"Ah, see? My stomach agrees,""I'll show ya to the cafeteria."

"Thanks," Jewel nodded as she followed her steps.

"So, you going to school right now?"

"Yes," she nodded again before adding: "I'm a last-year at Ogden high school. I wanted to orientate myself before the regular internship period would force me to go just anywhere." While Jewel spoke, her head turned around the halls they were passing every now and then. She had to memorize the ways to fight her natural disorientation. Also, she was still excited about her surroundings.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Journey gasped excitedly in recognition of the name. "I just graduated from Ogden High this year! My bestie and I are taking a gap year. You know, enjoy life a little bit after having been going to school for basically our entire lives!" she said with exaggerated dramatics. "We're gonna start at Halliday University next year."

Turning to glance at Jewel, Journey thoughtfully tapped her lips as she wracked her brain. They hadn't been the same grade so it was unlikely they had any classes together, but they did potentially have three overlapping years, that is, if Jewel hadn't transferred from another school. "I wonder if we ever passed each other on campus," she wondered aloud. It was hard to know for sure, seeing as how there were a massive amount of students attending the very large high school. She waited for Jewel's input to see if perhaps she could recollect any such passings and added an additional question while they mulled it over. "Are you planning on going to college after you graduate?"