The room seems small and cramped but still manages to have a warmth to it. A single figure sits in a high backed chair with an oversized book on his lap. He looks up and smiles as you approach.
"Good afternoon." He says. "Welcome to my reading room."
Standing he turns in place and sets the book down on the chair. Glittering gold script shines in the halo of the lamp on the table. ’How to tie plot points into a story arc.’
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Robert Hunter and I am... well... I’d LIKE to be an author. I’ve had ideas kicking about in this noggin of mine for decades. "I’m trying to put it together in a cohesive project.
"The idea came to me after spending a weekend watching the Jason Bourne movies." Waving for you to join him Robert removes a stack of doodles and sketches from a companion chair he waits for you to sit.
"I always thought to myself that it would be fun to be a spy, a James Bond sort of thing, but without the technology you would almost need to be super-human."
" ’Like a mutant?’ I had thought to myself initially." Nodding to himself and pantomiming deep thought he raises his finger inspired:
"Like a wizard or psychic!" Robert proclaimed. "From there it was easy to imagine what I would do, or feel, if confronted with the opportunity to be a spy. Out of place, in over my head and probably a damsel in distress too!" You watch him as he smiles joyously. He looks up at you again and leans forward on his chair.
"Here is how you might be able to help me out: Ideas for people. Real people. Not the 6’4" blond adonis who speaks 3 languages and can’t help but always have a breeze caressing his hair. The ’Joe Q Average who works the diner on the corner’ or ’Suzie Resident the TA from the college who just lost out on her grant proposal’ sort of thing." Leaning back in his chair he continues conversationally.
"We see each other day after day but never really ’notice’ anyone. The playing field is so even only those who stand out are remembered. I hope you can help me keep regular people in my story. Taking equal billing with the heroes and miscreants I create."
"What do you say? Willing to help?"