The marketing team for Mass Effect 3 sit in their take-out littered conference room, faces all deep in thought. They’ve been there since noon, and it is now three in the morning.
“I don’t understand what more they want for us,” Steve sighs, his index finger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose. “We’ve done everything possible for this campaign. Facebook games, TV commercials, a space launch for god’s sake! And they want more from us?”
George peeks out from behind the pile of pizza boxes that he’s been sleeping behind. “I’m telling you, Steve, we just need to get some strippers, paint them blue and–”
“For the last time George!” Steve snaps, cutting the short and perspiring man off mid suggestion. “We aren’t getting strippers! We’re marketing Mass Effect, not Duke Nukem Forever!” Steve watches the man as he visibly shrinks, and soon relaxes himself. The night has taken it’s toll on everyone. Samantha has been reduced to nothing but giggling, while Frank had tied his tie around his head earlier in the night, claiming Rambo’s spirit will ‘make him more creative.’
“I-I have an idea, S-Steve,” stutters a voice from the corner. Lewis is the man with the most reason to go home tonight. He has a newborn son waiting for him — a reason to go on. “Maybe… maybe we could make another trailer, but with real people.”
“I’m not following,” George replies, running his hands over the last of his hair.
“You know, with real people in it. Like a real movie, or a TV show, but about Mass Effect. Like they used to do for games back in the 80’s,” he begins to explain, his eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and low blood sugar. “It wouldn’t even have to have to do with anything that happens in the game. We could even get that Volpin props dude to make the guns.”
The room falls silent, even Samantha managing to stifle her giggles. All eyes fall on Steve, who is frozen in contemplation. The tension is enough to send Frank into an unbridled rage if not for his fear of what Steve is capable of when deprived of sleep and Two and a Half Men.
Steve finally raises his gaze to Lewis, who has become severely flushed and anxious.
“We've done it.”
