[Writing WIP] The Main Course

Hellooooo all! As usual, this break has really refreshed my creative spirit & I have had plenty of ideas! (I should stop calling them breaks & start calling them unscheduled/no pressure content periods or something lol)

Anyway, have a WIP of a reality warp story (I've been wanting to write some reality warp stuff for a looooooong-ass time) where the teacher of a company skill share day's main course slowly turns into a very different, delicious kind of course.

(Bea the CEO is going to be involved in this somehow too.~)

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“So, you’re giving the main course today man?”

Harley turned around, straightening his tie in order to look his best for the newcomer. To his surprise, though, it’s not a newcomer at all—but his boss, Jeremy. Well, that’s certainly someone he’s been looking to impress!

He clears his throat, trying to get rid of a sudden tinge of nervousness. “Yep, I sure am!” he replies cheerfully. “I’m honored to be part of the company’s skill share day! It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since starting here.” His gives Jeremy a cocky grin. “Maybe I’ll even teach you something new; who knows?”

His boss’ smile in return is strained. “Maybe! What’s your course about?”

“I’ll be teaching all of you about machine learning!” he answers eagerly. “There’s so many new advances in the field that I’m sure the company can—“

“Fantastic stuff!” Jeremy interrupts. “But unfortunately I do need to go. Head into the lobby; there’s a whole spread out. Grab a bagel or something; have fun!”

With that, the executive walks away without another word.

Harley snorts in annoyance. He’s practically giving a keynote lecture to the entire company & this man can’t even pretend to be interested! The nerve!

Sighing, he walks into the lobby, hoping a bite to eat will help his mood. He could do with a bit of sugar before giving his course…

Thankfully, sugar seems to be in abundance. There are tables covered in foods, each table proclaiming “Welcome to Skill Share Day!” on a large sign sitting at the center of the table. Surrounding the sign were treats free for grazing—bagels, donuts, breakfast pastries, & more. Though Harley isn’t paying attention to the “more”, instead opting to approach a table crowded in many varieties of donuts.

He picks up a chocolate donut, taking a bit. The delicious sugar immediately improves his mood. He’s not even mad anymore about his boss treating his accomplishments with so little regard! Well, not that mad, anyway…

As he takes another bite, he glances at the sign. Underneath the welcome is the name of each speaker for skill share day. And of course, the first bit of text reads “Harley McNell: 1st Course - The Beauty of Machine Learning”

With a self-satisfied smirk, he takes another donut, stuffing both treats into his mouth at once.

[ ]

Now when he looks at the sign, it seems to read something different. “Harley McNell: 1st Course - Please Fatten Up This Beauty”.

He lets out a startled cry as another donut is forced into his mouth, & then another, and another. Between the forced feedings he glances at the sign again, sure he must be reading it wrong. But he’s not sure—reading it wrong how? Isn’t that what it always had read?

Why did he think it had said something else…? Is he missing something…?

The confusion is startling to make his head hurt, even as his belly begins to swell out further from all this stuffing.