The neon lights buzzed above Charles Manson's head, casting a pale blue glow over the empty bar counter. Midnight shifts at Velvet, the upscale lounge in downtown Arkvale City, always ended the same way—silence, glassware, and tips too small to matter.
He ran a cloth across a lipstick-stained martini glass, the smell of citrus and faint perfume still lingering. The city outside was alive, but in here, it was like time itself had grown bored and moved on.
The only person left in the lounge sat at the far end of the counter. Legs crossed, back straight, drink untouched for the past ten minutes.
Olivia Grayson. Late thirties. Elegant, dangerous, and dressed like trouble wrapped in velvet. Her wine-red dress dipped low enough to raise questions, and the way her eyes followed Charles as he moved behind the bar? That raised answers.
She didn't belong here. Too refined, too composed. She had the poise of someone who ran boardrooms and ruined reputations.
But tonight, she was here. Watching him.
"You look like you'd rather be anywhere but here," she said, voice a velvet purr that brushed against his spine.
Charles offered a lazy smirk, keeping his hands busy with the glassware. "That obvious?"
She tilted her head. "Men who smile like that usually have more behind the eyes. Or nothing at all."
There was a spark in the air, heavy with implication. The way she held his gaze felt like a challenge, one he wasn't sure he wanted to back down from. He opened his mouth to say something—but the world suddenly—
Stopped.
The music halted mid-beat. The low hum of the overhead lights dimmed into silence. A droplet of spilled liquor hovered in the air, suspended just inches from the floor. The entire lounge froze like a paused movie.
Charles blinked, gripping the edge of the counter.
"What the hell—?"
Then it came.
A voice. Sultry. Confident. Feminine. It echoed inside his skull like silk dragged across bare skin:
> "System initializing... Welcome, Charles Manson. You have been chosen by Lust Sync."
A burst of red light flared before his eyes, forming lines of pulsing code that twisted into a glowing interface. Crimson circuitry spiraled around a beating heart icon, sharp and hypnotic.
> [Lust Sync Activated.]
Primary Trait: Dominant.
Sync Parameters: Emotional Bond, Physical Desire, Obsession.
Mission: Begin First Sync. Target: Olivia Grayson.
Reward: Command Word Unlock – 'Obey'.
"What the actual f—"
The lights snapped back on. Time resumed.
Clink.
The ice cube hit the bottom of a glass. Music drifted in from the speakers once more.
Olivia blinked, her eyes dazed, and let out a faint breath. Her chest rose and fell in sudden, shallow rhythm. She leaned forward slightly, pupils dilated, her lips parting as if on instinct.
Charles felt it. Something in the air had shifted. He could feel her attention like a physical weight now. It wasn't just attraction—it was need.
"You okay?" he asked, watching her carefully.
"I... I don't know." Her voice was breathy, confused. "It just got... warm. Do you feel that?"
Before he could respond, the interface pulsed in the corner of his vision:
> [Sync Initiated: Olivia Grayson]
Status: Desire Level Rising…
Hidden Trait Unlocked: Unfulfilled & Curious.
Was this real? A dream? A hallucination?
Charles tried to stay cool, but the adrenaline humming through his body said otherwise. He could feel the system—not like a machine, but like a living thing inside him, whispering temptations.
> [Active Prompt: Flirt + Confidence = Boosted Desire]
Fine. If this was a game, he'd play to win.
"Maybe I can help with the warmth," Charles said, resting his hands on the counter. His voice dropped, a shade darker, smoother. "You look like you need... a distraction."
Olivia's eyes locked onto his. The tension stretched between them like a rubber band ready to snap.
She smirked. "Is that right? You always flirt with older women at work?"
Charles leaned in, letting just a hint of heat enter his eyes. "Only the ones who make me want to break the rules."
A sharp breath escaped her lips. Her legs uncrossed—subtle, but telling.
> [Desire Surge: +10]
[Sync Progress: 23%]
[Secondary Task Unlocked: Get invited to her place.]
He could see it now—desire blooming behind her eyes, carefully guarded restraint starting to unravel. And all he'd done was lean in and speak a little lower.
Whatever Lust Sync was, it worked. It didn't brainwash. It didn't force.
It amplified.
And Charles? He wasn't going to waste that power.
---
Ten minutes later, they stood beneath a flickering streetlamp outside the lounge. The city buzzed around them, neon signs bleeding light onto the sidewalk.
"You're not just a bartender," Olivia said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "There's something else in you."
"Never said I was just anything," Charles replied, watching her reaction closely.
She hesitated, then pulled a small silver card from her clutch and pressed it into his hand. An address. A key.
"I'm alone tonight," she murmured. "Come by. Let's... continue the conversation."
> [Mission Update: Success.]
[Command Word: "Obey" Unlocked.]
[Skill Tree Branch Unlocked: Domination Tier I]
[Reward: +20 Charm, +5 Physical]
[Hidden Stat Revealed: Olivia – "Possessive Tendencies"]
Charles watched her walk away, her heels tapping against the pavement. Each step was deliberate, seductive—an invitation painted in motion.
He looked down at the key in his palm, and for the first time in a long time, he felt something dangerous rising inside him.
This wasn't just about sex. It was control. Power. Influence. And Lust Sync made all of it effortless.
Power wasn't just about force. It was chemistry. Timing. Sync.
---
Back in his apartment, Charles sat shirtless at the edge of his bed, breathing in silence as the interface returned—this time more complex, more alive.
---
[LUST SYNC SYSTEM: BASE INTERFACE]
Current Syncs: 1
Unlocked Command Words: [Obey]
Abilities Unlocked:
Sync Sense – Feel a woman's emotional and physical state when bonded
Desire Surge – Temporarily boost your Charm and Sexual Appeal
Bonded Trait: Olivia – "Obsession-Prone"
> Next Mission (Optional):
Spend the night at Olivia's home. Discover her hidden kink. Unlock deeper Sync Levels.
Warning: Emotional effects become permanent once Level 2 Sync is achieved.