The next couple of days are busy, at least for me. Even outside game play, I mostly stay in my place in the penthouse to catch up on all the interactions I've had, so far. For a shy girl, I have to admit that I've been interacting a lot with several people. Heck, it seems that my shyness is gradually fading away, as I'm becoming more open about my thoughts and feelings with others. In fact, when I meet up with Arfle in Fix-it-Felix Jr. again, I even ask whether she'd like to visit other characters with me.
"Sure. You mean my game?" she asks.
"Actually, I meant us visiting other characters here and in other games." I write.
"Oh! Sorry, got confused." she replies.
"It's okay. So, does that sound good?" I write.
"Sounds good!" Arfle nods.
"Awesome" I write.
I start leading Arfle down the hallways of the apartment. On the way, we see a familiar-looking Nicelander in purplish clothes.
"Hello!" Arfle waves at the Nicelander, as we walk past.
I look down towards the Nicelander, but she appears unresponsive to us. Because of this, I decide that we should try greeting her again later and move onto another resident of the apartment.
"Alright", Arfle nods, following me, "Who do you think we should visit?"
Before I can answer her question, Arfle suddenly tells me she has to go somewhere. I understand and patiently look forward to her return. As I wait, I bob my head to music, watching Felix pass by in the hallways of the apartment.
"Oh, hi, Irene!" he greets, waving at me and smiling.
I wave at him, as I adjust my pendant belt again.
"Glad to see that you're doing fine!" he smiles.
"Yeah. Do you feel like visiting anyone right now?" I write.
"Well, if you want..." he smiles.
I walk with Felix in the hallways and suddenly spot a door left ajar. As the curious girl I am, I take a look inside. Felix stares at me, raising an eyebrow. I see Gene in some sort of a meeting, but then look away. A bit of chatter comes from the room, along with some quiet clapping.
"Ooh, it looks like Gene's too busy to have company, right now." I write.
"Hmm...Gene is usually busy...I guess.." he replies, staring at the room.
"Why? You want to talk with him? You can always go and ask if he's busy or not." he smiles.
"I just wanted to see how he's doing, but I guess that's already been answered, for now." I write.
"Heh, it's okay." he smiles at me, "Go and say hi to him"
I open the door a bit more and proceed to greet Gene.
"Err, hello there. This...this isn't what it looks like." he says.
I ask whether it's another magic spell, watching curiously, as he seems off.
"Shwould have to be..." he mutters, before dissolving into a laughing fit.
"Well, that's unexpected, isn't it?" I write towards Felix.
"...Er-probably, he's under another magic spell...or maybe he really passed himself of drinks...heh.." he smiles nervously, "Better stay away while he's in that state..."
"I guess so." I write.
Still standing in his doorway, I look to see if Arfle's back yet. She walks back, smiling a bit. Felix smiles and waves at her.
"Who's this Nicelander?" she asks, pointing at the apartment.
"Hey Arfle. That's Gene, and he's apparently drunk now." I write, looking strangely at the mustached Nicelander.
"Gene, go to bed. You're drunk." she says, as she looks down at him.
"Hi again, Mr. Felix" Arfle smiles up the handyman, returning the wave.
"Hello, how have you been?" he asks, smiling.
"Pretty good" Arfle nods, "Slow progress back in Sburb, but it's all good. And you?"
"All good, I guess...sometimes I'm a bit bored, but...all nice...as usual...doing my job and all, heh..." Felix responds.
She smiles and says "That's good to hear. Stopped by to visit, also heard that Gene was getting a bit tipsy...?"
"So, would you like to visit anyone else today?" I write.
"Not sure, I don't know many people around here." she replies.
"Okay. Well, I guess I'll see you later." I write.
"Alright. See ya, Irene!" she says, leaving again.

A bit later on, I ask Felix whether he's still free to hang out tonight.
"Sure I am!" he smiles at me.
"Awesome! Let's go to Sugar Rush." I write.
"Um, alright, let's go!" he nods.
I walk with Felix out of the apartment, with Ralph also following us. Once we reach Game Central Station, I see the Surge and invite him along, as well.
"Whoah, didn't know we would have some company!" he smiles, waving at Ralph and the Surge.
This time, though, the Surge declines, explaining that he'll be staying in Game Central Station to protect it during a coming storm. He says that we'll go again some other time.
"Sure thing." I write. I'll see you later." I write, smiling.
"Have fun." he says.

The next morning, I pass by the same female Nicelander, but this time, without Arfle. The Nicelander almost doesn't see me, but waves when she does.
"Hello dear! How are you?" she asks.
I turn around and write "Hi. I'm fine." in reply.
She is a bit surprised at the notebook, but takes it in stride.
"That's good, dear." she says, smiling, "I'd offer you some pie, but I seem to be locked out of my apartment at the moment..."
"Thanks. I'm one of your new neighbors. Really? That's too bad. I hope you'll manage to find your way in again." I write.
"I hope so too, dear." she smiles, "But you're a new neighbor? That's wonderful, dear! You're always welcome to visit me anytime you feel like it, all right?"
"Yeah, I've moved in a couple months ago, and thank you." I write, smiling.
"No problem, dear! Now, I think I'll go try that key...thanks again for finding it!" she exclaims.

The next day, I hang out for it a bit in Game Central Station. I look into the entrance of Pacman, as if I'm about to enter. Eventually, a familiar floating creature comes out and stares at me. I bend over backwards and flap my arms slightly, as I see what looks like a floating orange head sticking out of a frilly dress. I adjust my glasses and squint my eyes, thinking the creature looks familiar. Unfortunately, though, he bites his lip and tries to hide himself behind something, apparently hating the dress and not wanting to be seen.
"Hmm, that must be a shy new game character." I think.
He whimpers and peeks out. I wave bashfully at the floating orange head, but suddenly, an orange gryphon takes its place. He looks over his new form and hides again.
"Hmm, it must be a shapeshifter." I think, surprised by the sudden transformation.
He hides under his wings, and I leave, confused.

On my way back to Fix-it-Felix Jr., I bump into another small, familiar orange creature. With the tube-shaped nose, round body, and small legs, it's most likely Q-bert, whom I've heard also lives in the game now. Q-bert's pupils spin around dizzily, as he topples over and lies there for a moment. He groans, but gets back up on his feet after a good facial shake. He makes those strange, indecipherable sounds to speak to me. I feel awkward, not saying much more than a hello. I then stop by at Felix's door to ask him a question.
"It's true that Q-bert lives in this game too, right?" I write.
"Yes, he does; he lives in front of us...next to Ralph.." he explains.
"Cools! So, I've heard right! Coincidentally, I think I bumped into him earlier today." I write.
"Oh, I see...Q-bert is really nice.." he smiles.
"Awesome. So, he just stays inside the house during game play, just as the Nicelanders do, right?" I write.
"Not really...he joins us when there's an extra bonus level." he explains.
Knowing this, I begin to assume that Q-bert has become part of the game and, therefore, would be able to regenerate here. On our way to Sugar Rush, I approach and greet my favorite blue security guard.
"Why, hello there! How are you this evening?" he greets.
"Hey there. I'm fine." I write, taking notes for my interaction catching-up.
"That's good!" he smiles.
"And how are you today?" I write.
"I'm good. I'm very good." he happily replies.