Chapter 9: The One with the Blackout
Ross Geller was a man of routines. He woke up at the same time every day. He drank the same cup of coffee. He gave the same lecture about the evolution of the dinosaur. He was a creature of habit. So when a city-wide blackout plunged New York into a chaotic, primordial darkness, he was not prepared.
He was at Central Perk, trying to impress Rachel with a new dinosaur fact, when the lights went out. The coffee machine went silent. The music stopped. The city, a symphony of light and sound, was suddenly a silent, dark void.
Panic, a feeling he knew well, began to creep into his chest. He was a scientist, a man of logic, but a blackout was an anomaly he could not explain. He was a man of light, and the darkness was his enemy.
The group, however, was in a state of chaos. Joey was shouting about how he couldn't see his food. Chandler was trying to make a joke about the darkness. Monica, ever the mother hen, was trying to light candles and find food.
Adam, however, just smiled. He felt the familiar hum of the System. He saw an opportunity. A city-wide blackout was a classic sitcom trope. He could turn this into a fun, memorable event. He could use it to help Ross confess his love for Rachel, but not yet. The show had to be on a schedule.
He closed his eyes for a moment. System, I need a guide to a romantic evening during a city-wide blackout. Specifically, a guide to keep a friend from confessing his love for a girl too early in the plot.
[System request received. Request framed as 'Utilizing a chaotic event to demonstrate a charismatic, problem-solving persona, a key trait for a partner.' Request accepted. Generating 'Blackout Romance Protocol.']
The holographic interface in Adam's mind flickered to life. [Objective: Use the blackout to create a fun, memorable event. Step 1: Use a fake ghost story to distract the group. Step 2: Use the ghost story to keep Ross from confessing his love for Rachel. Step 3: Introduce a new love interest for Rachel to keep the romantic plot on track.]
Adam opened his eyes, a serene smile on his face. He walked over to Ross, who was about to say something to Rachel. "Ross, don't," he whispered.
Ross looked at him, his face a mask of confusion. "Don't what? I was about to tell her I love her! This is the perfect moment! It's dark! It's romantic!"
"No," Adam said, "It's too soon. The plot hasn't developed yet. You need to wait. And besides," he said, his voice a low, theatrical whisper, "I think there's a ghost in here."
The group, who had been listening, immediately stopped what they were doing. A ghost? In Monica's apartment?
Adam, with a dramatic flourish, began to tell a fake story about a ghost who lived in the building, a spirit who was said to be a frustrated chef who could never get a reservation. The group, caught up in the story, forgot about the blackout. They were all in a state of suspense.
Ross, however, was still a little bit skeptical. "Adam, this is ridiculous. There's no such thing as ghosts."
"Oh, really?" Adam said, with a sarcastic smile. "Then how do you explain the weird clicking sound you hear when the lights are off? Or the feeling that you're being watched?"
Ross, a man of science, had no answer. He was distracted. He was caught up in the game. Adam had saved the day, and the plot, once more.
The night wore on. The group played a game of Truth or Dare. Rachel, in a moment of panic, revealed she had a crush on a new guy, a handsome Italian man named Paolo. Ross, his heart broken, sat in silence, a defeated man. Adam, however, just smiled. The plot was on track. The progress bar in his mind ticked up once more.
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