Opportunity detected: Bridge between Jay and Mitchell
Liam looked at Jay. "My grandfather used to say common sense is the least common of all senses."
Jay stared at him, then an almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. "Your grandfather was a wise man."
"He was a sailor. He said that at sea, you either have common sense or you drown."
Mitchell looked confused. "Why are you talking like an old sailor?"
Liam realized his mistake: he was blending Liam's memories with Leo's. "It's just... something he used to say."
Dinner continued, with Cameron serving the half-raw chicken. Everyone pushed the food around their plates except Manny, who cut small pieces with surgical precision.
"This chicken has an interesting texture," Manny commented. "As if it died twice: once on the farm, and once in the oven."
Skill "Connecting with Manny" activated: Detects literary criticism disguised as a culinary comment.
"Like the Dickens character who resurrects only to suffer more," Liam responded without thinking.
Manny lit up. "Exactly! Like Sydney Carton in 'A Tale of Two Cities'!"
+1,200 points - Shared literary reference
Manny Delgado: Connection level increased by 40%
Gloria looked at Liam with renewed interest. "You read Dickens at seventeen?"
"A little. More like my... English teacher is a fan."
The conversation splintered into multiple directions: Claire interrogated Mitchell about the adoption details, Phil tried to entertain Lily with failed magic tricks, Jay and Cameron subtly argued about decor.
Liam observed, earning small points for appropriate reactions:
+50 pts - Understanding smile when Mitchell mentions stress
+100 pts - Helps Phil pick up a fallen napkin
+150 pts - Intercepts Alex before she makes a comment about parental failure probabilities
But then came the moment Liam remembered from the episode: the dramatic presentation of Lily.
Cameron disappeared and the lights dimmed. Epic music began to play ("Circle of Life," of course). Mitchell paled.
"Cam, no..." he whispered.
But it was too late. Cameron entered with Lily in his arms, illuminated by a spotlight Liam hadn't noticed before.
"Family!" Cameron announced. "I officially present to you Lily Tucker-Pritchett!"
Everyone clapped politely except Jay, who watched the spectacle with an expression of physical pain.
Mitchell covered his face. "The music, Cam..."
"It's who I am!" Cameron declared.
At that moment, the system showed a unique opportunity:
Critical Event: "The Dramatic Reveal"
Options:
A) Join the drama - 5,000 immediate points, risk of looking ridiculous
B) Redirect attention - 8,000 points if successful, risk of offending Cameron
C) Create comedic contrast - 10,000-15,000 points, high risk of failure
Liam chose C. He took a breath and stood up.
"You know," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "this reminds me of something."
Everyone looked at him, including Cameron, who seemed intrigued.
"When I was a kid," Liam continued, "my uncle adopted a dog from the shelter. And when he introduced it to us, he did something similar: dimmed lights, music... 'Who Let the Dogs Out.'"
A pause. Then Phil let out a laugh. Claire hit him softly.
"But then," Liam continued, walking toward Cameron, "my grandmother said something I've always remembered: 'It doesn't matter how someone comes to the family. Only that they come.'"
Cameron got emotional, his eyes filling with tears. "That's beautiful!"
Liam extended his arms. "Can I hold her during the... official presentation?"
Cameron, moved, passed Lily to him. Liam held her, gently turning so everyone could see, but without excessive drama.
"Dunphy-Pritchett-Tucker family," Liam said, "I present to you Lily. May she be welcomed."
It was simple. Direct. And it worked. The tension dissipated. Mitchell gave Liam a look of genuine gratitude.
CRITICAL! +12,000 points - Successful resolution of dramatic moment
Mitchell Pritchett: Approval level increased by 60%
Cameron Tucker: Approval level increased by 40%
The rest of the night was more relaxed. Jay even held Lily briefly, making a grimace that could be interpreted as a smile. Manny recited a poem he'd written for the occasion. Phil attempted another magic trick and accidentally made his own watch disappear.
At the end of the night, when Phil was driving Liam home, Claire turned to him in the car.
"You were incredible tonight, Liam. Seriously."
"Thank you, Claire. I just tried to help."
Phil nodded. "You didn't just help. You changed the... emotional Feng Shui of the event. It's a real thing, I Googled it."
Arriving home, Liam checked his earnings:
Mission "Family Drama" COMPLETED
Points earned: 32,750
Total points now: 82,023 (49,273 + 32,750)
But more valuable than the points were the relationship notifications:
Relationships established:
- Phil Dunphy: Level 2 (Casual Ally)
- Claire Dunphy: Level 1 (Initial Approval)
- Hayley Dunphy: Level 1 (Developing Friendship)
- Alex Dunphy: Level 1 (Intellectual Interest)
- Manny Delgado: Level 2 (Intellectual Connection)
- Mitchell Pritchett: Level 2 (Earned Respect)
- Cameron Tucker: Level 1 (Dramatic Appreciation)
- Jay Pritchett: Level 1 (Recognition)
- Gloria Pritchett: Level 1 (Maternal Curiosity)
He had entered the family dynamic. But as he prepared for bed, a disquiet began to grow within him. He had been manipulating situations, using his metaphysical knowledge to earn points. These people... were they just characters for his entertainment, or were they real? And what did it say about him that he treated them as means to an end?
The system showed a new notification:
Achievement unlocked: "Family Integration"
Reward: 5,000 additional points
New mission available tomorrow: "Liam's Life"
But that night, for the first time, Liam didn't feel excited about the points. He felt... guilty.