After finals, the world fell into a sort of lull around the gargoyle-- university gave her life structure. Without it, she only had her commissions, and routine visits to the Bookman house. She didn't want to be too much of a fixture there, though, you know? It wasn't like she was paying rent or anything like that... and Nessa was a working woman. So Gina's visits were subject to the whims of her scheduling.

Not that she needed to get away Honeycomb. Perhaps her most challenging roommate, Astrid, had altogether pulled a vanishing act. One day, her personal effects just... weren't there. And the tension in the apartment dropped. With so few commitments, and so few things driving her away from the apartment, Gina was more subject to her own, domestic whims. For example, making cute picnic lunches. She didn't have the time during the school year to make cute picnic lunches, and now she did.

While Gina was making herself a cute picnic lunch, the thought occurred to her, Wouldn't it be cute if she made two picnic lunches, and took one to Nessa.

Yes, yes, it'd be super cute, and that made it a great idea.

So, Gina made two picnic lunches, packed them securely into a crossbody bag, and made her liesurely way across town towards the building where Nessa worked. She'd been there once or twice, to see Nessa off, but had politely declined going inside. The excuses had varied, but mostly boiled down to a humored, "There are cameras in there, please don't make me."

Today she was on a mission, though, and that changed everything. Gina strode towards the building, pushing through a glass door. She stopped by the front desk, speaking with the pretty, blonde receptionist for a brief moment.

"Umm, I'm Vanessa's girlfriend, she's with... the Block Party... and I made her lunch? Can I go take it to her? Do you know where she's at?"

Were there more people than just Nessa's group here? The effervescent receptionist eagerly pointed Gina in the right direction, rattling off the route to where the Party was. Gina said her thanks, and stepped lighthly down the hall. After a short walk, she stood at the door to their room, upon which hung a sign that declared it as the POW Block Party's room. Gina's wings fluttered uncertainly. What if they were filming? Should she wait here? Just go in? Knock?

She knocked twice, lightly, and then pushed open the door, poking her head in through the opening. The room was impressively warm, perhaps from the shear number of computers present. Her gaze flickered over a few unfamiliar heads of hair and faces. She was quiet for a spell, listening to see if maybe they were recording, or if it was safe to speak-up. The gargoyle slipped through the door, pressing it shut again with her tail.

"Um... excuse me?" she asked, "Is... Nessa here?"

There were drawbacks to being a public figure on the internet, from the lack of privacy to the stream of hate from anonymous critics. It was an undeniable fact that there were plenty of challenges and problems that came from a life in entertainment, particularly on such a fickle platform as the internet. All that being said, when part of her work day involved four hours of Giuseppe Festivities.

Okay, to be fair, that had its own drawbacks. The minigame-heavy video game was always a blast with a group of friends, and Vanessa firmly believed she worked with friends. The fifty turn setting, however, was akin to a mental and emotional marathon of betrayal and competitiveness.

Since much of the office was off for the day, the remaining members of The POW Block Party Let’s Play team had moved a couch to one of the monitors, set up a camera, and decided to knock out the most time consuming of their planned videos. Nessa, David, Vince, and Dori were all sitting on the extra-large couch the team purchased for games like this, and on Turn Forty-Six, they were all showing signs of losing their minds.

“Wha? Vince, no, no—”

“Vince, YES!”

Collective groans and shouts.

”Not me, not me, hit Dave, he sucks!”

“Wha—Nessa!”

Anticipatory silence.

Collective shouting and David’s voice reaching a new octave as he yells, “SOD OFF, YOU F***NUGGET!”

”Suck it, Limey!”

On the other end of the office, away from the shouting, Johnny removed his headset at Gina’s entrance. He was trying against all odds to get some editing done despite the insanity. Johnny recognized Gina based on Nessa’s descriptions and nodded, shouting toward the other side of the room, “Nessa! Your girl’s here!”

”Huh?” Vanessa looked back over the couch and spotted a familiar face, her eyes immediately lighting up. ”Gina!” With enthusiasm, Nessa hopped over the back of the couch and ran over to her girlfriend.

“Ah! Nessa, hit A first!”

”F*** you, you can wait!”

Vince grumbled to himself, remarking that, “It’s not like we’re three and a half hours into this thing…”

Nessa ignored the comment, knowing he was playing it up for the camera, and still not caring. Gina was there! Their relationship was still one of the most satisfying aspects of her life, and she was sure one of the boys would hit A on her controller so they could continue until the next minigame.

Wrapping her girlfriend up in a tight hug, Nessa planted a kiss square on those full grey lips. ”I didn’t know you were planning on dropping by! Not a complaint, by the way. What’s up? Just down in the village?”

Gina smiled at the guy, who nodded vaguely in Gina's direction. Gina nodded back, then he called-out to another part of the room, summoning Vanessa. Nessa peered over the back of a couch where she'd been nestled, and Gina's timid smile became an all-out grin. Oh, good, this was the right place. Nessa vaulted over the back of the couch, running towards Gina. The gargoyle, likewise, skipped closer, wings flitting with excitement. Gina wrapped her arms around Nessa, relishing their brief kiss.

>> "I didn't know you were planning on dropping by! Not a complaint, by the way."

"Sorry..." Gina said, partially to Nessa and partially to the guys. She peered up at Nessa, her eyes pinching. The addendum, -not sorry, drifted through her mind with a warm humor as she exchanged a glance with Nessa. Honestly, who could be sorry about surprising their girlfriend? "The lady... the secretary... she let me in."

>> "What's up? Just down in the village?"

"Kinda, yeah," Gina admonished, her tail curling. Her brain, as if to sabotage her, murmured, -not really, "I mean, uh... I was doing domestic things around the house this morning, and made cute lunches. I wanted to know if you wanted a cute lunch, or if you already ate?"

I probably coulda texted that, Gina realized, smiling faintly at Nessa. Okay, so maybe she was a little bored with such an open schedule, and maybe this was all a ploy to both get out of the house and see her girlfriend. Gina rubbed the back of her neck, feeling just a little bit silly in a room full of people she didn't know, saying sappy stuff to Nessa. She wasn't ashamed, just... mindful about discussing couple-stuff in a room full of essential strangers. Sure, she knew their faces from Nessa's video, but names were foggy and here she was, talking about making Nessa a lunch, and...

"Probably should've texted you about your schedule, at least," Gina laughed.

It was refreshing for Nessa to have her biggest secret out in the open for Gina. She sometimes felt like a woman made of secrets: she was trans, she was a mutant, she was a telepath. Having that last tidbit on the table was not just a relief, it allowed for a more open relationship. It also let the two girlfriends enjoy secret communication, even if it could only go one way. Gina was polite, but she was also not too sorry that she appeared to surprise her girlfriend with a romantic lunch. Her silent addendum made Nessa grin from ear to ear and earned Gina another kiss.

”The girl at the door’s actually our intern, Carey. She’s covering the desk today. Interns were so darn handy. Gina explained why she was at the studio and Nessa felt a swell of mushy, warm love in her chest followed by a hungry pang in her stomach. ”I absolutely have not eaten yet because we’ve been playing this ****ING GAME FOR HOW LONG?” Her volume escalated at the end to call back to the couch.

“Over three bloody hours!” David replied.

”Three hours, she repeated at a normal volume, though she was sure the mic still picked her up. ”We’re almost done, and I would love to have cute lunch time with you.”

“Hey Nessa, quit being gay and get back to the game!”

”Absolutely impossible!” she replied jovially to Vince. Nessa looked back to Gina and kissed her cheek. ”You’re fine, babe. You’re welcome to crash my office whenever. In fact… There was a mischievous glint in her eye and she tugged on her girlfriends hands, taking a step back toward the couch. ”We’re in the last turns anyway. Hop on the cam with us!” It was not unheard of for significant others to make video cameos; heck, Becca came on for a collab or two, not that Nessa watched those videos. ”Pleeeeease?”[/font][/font]

The sense of bashfulness that washed over the gargoyle couldn't be helped. She wasn't part of Nessa's professional social circle, so it felt a little awkward just waltzing on in to the room that was positively bursting with technology and, despite the desparate attempt of a multiplicity of well-place fans, decently stuffy.

Gina grinned at her girlfriend when she confirmed that she had not eaten and would be down for cute lunchtime together. A deligted curl found its way into her tail. Both the smile and the tail-curl remained as Nessa hollered back at one of her coworkers. Gina was putty to Nessa's will, especially after the kiss and the mischevious tug at her hands. It took her brain a few half-seconds to realize what Nessa was suggesting-- wait, wait, on the cam? Like, the camera? The gargoyle dug her heels in, shaking her head of curls. While Gina was outgoing, the camera dredged up some camera-shyness.

>> ”Pleeeeease?”

Except, of course, when Nessa asked like that. Gina straightened her mouth at Nessa, the sentiment of Not fair, flashing through her eyes. Nessa knew Gina's will was weak, especially when she said please like that. No hard feelings, though. The unamused expression was quickly replaced by a smile.

"As long as you don't make me play," the gargoyle agreed, chuckling. They both knew that Gina wasn't much of a gamer, though she was always down to try.

Gina allowed herself to be led towards the couches, giving a brief wave towards the people already sitted there. David... Vince... she knew their faces from Nessa's videos, but seeing them in-person was different. More real.

"H-hey," Gina greeted, trying to sound casual. It was very un-casual. She glanced at Nessa, a nervous flutter running through her wings. In whispered tones, she asked, "Where should I sit?"

Nessa was not the subtlest of people, and she was transparent when it came to arguing or compelling, but that worked with Gina. Honesty was the hallmark of their relationship, so if Nessa wanted Gina to do something, the best move was to be honest about how much she wanted her to do it. And then to whine and be adorable.

Inevitably, she won and Gina let her know how unfair she was in her thoughts. Nessa kissed her cheek closer to the top of her jawline so she could whisper in her ear, ”Oh, I know.” She took Gina’s hand and led her to the couch.

Nessa’s return was met with a chorus of “Finally!” from her friends, which she met with a single well-chosen finger. Gina was met with a much nicer chorus of greetings. Dori was especially nice, being the mutant member of the team and all around cinnamon roll of a person.

Taking her seat at the end of the couch, Nessa patted her lap. ”Right here works. These guys could use a handicap because I’m just too good at this mostly-luck based game.” Vince naturally called that bulls**t but Nessa ignored him. Since she was at the end of the couch, Gina could sit on her lap at an angle, letting her wings out off the couch so they were not in the way. Nessa had gotten better at accounting for her girlfriend’s mutation with little aspects of life.

Taking her controller back (and finally taking her turn,) Nessa spoke into the camera as her character hit a dice block on screen. ”For those of you who haven’t heard me getting all sappy and gushing about my girlfriend, this is Gina. She makes amazing clothes and she makes me happy because she’s basically the best thing ever.”

“Then what’s she doing with you?” Vince retorted.

”She’s with me because I’m charming as s***, d***face,” she said smugly. She placed a hand on Gina’s knee, hoping she was not too anxious about being on camera. ”She even brought a cute little picnic for when this is over. It’s all very adorable and gay.”

“Everything about you is very gay,” David pointed out.

”Yeah, but Gina brings the adorable. She’s a vital part of it all.”

“So Gina, do you play games?” Dori asked inquisitively. “It’ll do my heart good to know you’re kicking her ass when she’s off camera.”

A small shiver ran through the gargoyle, and she smirked at Nessa. Before Gina could give her girlfriend grief, she had been led over to the smattering of couches and Let’s Play-er’s. Nessa gave her coworkers a single-finger salute, Gina smiled and tugged at the hem of her cut-offs. If she’d known she was making an appearance in the video, she wouldn’t have worn her ratty jean shorts and neon tie-dye tank top. Nessa took her seat, then patted her lap.

>> ”Right here works. These guys could use a handicap because I’m just too good at this mostly-luck based game.”

More bantering.The gargoyle chuckled, and carefully took her seat on Nessa’s lap. It was a process-- Gina steadied herself with a hand, fanning her wings slightly so that they were free of the couch. Her tail was draped to one side, parallel to Nessa’s leg. After some adjusting, Nessa had her controller in-hand, and addressed the unseen audience. Gina followed her gaze, finally spotting the camera. (How hadn’t she seen that before?)

>> ”For those of you who haven’t heard me getting all sappy and gushing about my girlfriend, this is Gina. She makes amazing clothes and she makes me happy because she’s basically the best thing ever.”

Absently, the gargoyle wove an arm around Nessa’s shoulder while she spoke, the tip of her tail twitching idly. She squeezed her shoulder lightly, then addressed the camera. (It felt like that was the right thing to do.)

“Hello~” Gina greeted, waving her free hand, “Nice to meet you… in a way?”

More bantering between Vince and Nessa, with a brief interjection from David. Gina, for the most part, stayed quiet. She didn’t have anything to add, and she didn’t want to throw their dynamic off. Thankfully, Dori seemed acutely aware of the gargoyle and roped her back in to the conversation.

>> “So Gina, do you play games? It’ll do my heart good to know you’re kicking her ass when she’s off camera.”

“Oh, I mean, Nessa’s introduced me to some stuff,” Gina admonished, “But I, uh, hadn’t really gamed much before meeting her, so I’m not much good… yet.”

Of course, if she wasn’t operating on panic-brain, she could have given some concrete examples-- like Tiny-Robot, or Megan, or The Stanford Parable, among others. Gina couldn’t even think of ways she kicked Nessa’s ass in other things. So she looked to Nessa for back-up on that.

Nessa had to remember that Gina was not accustomed to showing up in internet videos for crowds of people she would never meet. Easing Gina into things would be best for her, so she did not feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, there were enough people on camera that she did not have to endure all of the attention. The guys would help.

All that said, it was adorable for Gina to address the audience, clearly unfamiliar with the protocol of speaking to someone she could not see.

Dori was a sweetheart, and he might have had a soft-spot for Gina as a fellow mutant, so he redirected an easy question to her. She smiled in his direction and he reciprocated, his hair absentmindedly changing from blue to green.


>> “Oh, I mean, Nessa’s introduced me to some stuff, but I, uh, hadn’t really gamed much before meeting her, so I’m not much good… yet.”

“So she’s like David but pretty and with wings?”

“Oy!”

Nessa rolled her eyes at Vince and David, dismissing what was their typical teasing. ”Nah, because Gina’s actually getting better. Watching her play The Standford Parable and some of those story games is the first time I think I’ve enjoyed them, and she’s getting the hang of some platformers, too. Oh, and board games; the girl hands my ass to me in board games.”

“Good, we’ll teach her how to play Giuseppe Festivities and she can be our secret weapon against you.”

”No turning my girlfriend against me!” Nessa pouted and looked up at Gina. ”Promise not to use your many talents against me, no matter what David says?”

Gina smiled as Nessa expanded upon the gargoyle’s experience with games, nodding her head in confirmation. At some point in Nessa’s explanation, Gina became aware of her twitching tail, and quickly clasped it in her hands. The last thing she needed to do was accidentally bump a wire or knock a controller out of someone’s hands.

“Beginner’s luck,” Gina protested modestly, when Nessa suggested that Gina kicked her butt in board games. When David proposed using Gina as a secret weapon, it was Nessa’s turn to protest, with an added plea towards Gina not to use her powers against her. A mischievous looked crossed the gargoyle’s expression.

“No promises,” the gargoyle said wanly. As if any amount of practice could make-up for years, perhaps even decades, of experience. Realistically Gina knew she could never be honed into the “secret weapon” to take Nessa down, but bantering… bantering was fun. Of course, Nessa would be privy to all of this internal rationalizing, as Gina was gazing into her eyes. The gargoyle looked at Nessa through her lashes, challenging her, “Of course, I wouldn’t be a ‘secret’ weapon, if I told you about it.”

Her gaze flicked towards David, for approval.

“Right?”

Vanessa was, at her core, an introvert. It made her choice of profession a surprise to most people, but to her, it made sense. She worked with a group of people she was familiar with and comfortable with, making hanging out with them easier than most people. She had large exposure to other people, but she only interacted with the public “directly” when The POW Block Party attended conventions.

In contrast to the telepath, Gina was a perfect example of an extrovert, at least in Nessa’s eyes. She was open and friendly, and fit in easily with most conversations. With a mutation like hers, no one would have blamed her for being picky with the people she talked to or let in; people could be unfair to visible mutants. Even with all that, Gina was the kind of person people just naturally liked; a social butterfly who traded her butterfly wings for gargoyle wings.

The guys on the couch did not miss a beat with someone new around to interact with. They were integrating her into the video, and Nessa loved them for that. In many ways, it was like she had a surplus of big brothers, and knowing they liked her girlfriend was comforting. Gina played her role, claiming her not-so-secret weapon status, though Nessa could see she was just having fun with the banter. That made her happy.

“Fair point,” David agreed, nodding sagely. He was usually the one to come up with obscure philosophical questions about non-philosophical topics, so this argument seemed to please him. “Okay, I’m co-opting your girlfriend to train her in the ways of gaming.”

“How well can someone learn to play from the worst gamer we know?” Vince asked, prompting indignant and intelligible bird noises of disgust from David.

“Hey guys,” Dori sighed, “if you’re done, we’ve been on the minigame screen for half a minute.”

Nessa finally broke contact from her girlfriend’s gorgeous eyes to notice he hair-changing mutant was right. ”Oh, how about that. Oh damn, crack hands,” she groaned. It was a style of minigame popular with the series: rather than platforming or maze solving or anything like that, this was purely a game where you pressed A as many times as humanly possible in the time limit. Not Nessa’s most dominant kind of game, but no one on the couch today was an expert. ”Kiss for luck?” Nessa asked, looking back up to Gina to hopefully receive her kiss.

“Cheater.”

”Bite me, Vince.”

The members of the couch watched as the screen phased in to show a balloon attached to a pump. Each of the four characters got their own balloon and would have to pump it up faster than the others. The game chimed. “Ready? Go!”

And then the button mashing was on. The four players furiously hit the button, their faces clearly straining. As the balloons neared full status, all four had gone from humming to yelling as though they were in an anime trying to ascend to a new power level.

Pop!

The game ended and they all slumped back, relaxing, Nessa resting her head against Gina’s chest as Dori loudly proclaimed his success. The game gave him a coin lead, though Nessa still had one more star, so the game would come down to the bonus awards.

Nessa leaned up toward Gina’s ear, specifically the one not seen by the camera, so she could whisper, ”So sorry about the hold up, we’re almost done. Hope we’re not being boring at least.” And then, because she couldn’t help herself and the camera couldn’t see, Nessa nibbled lightly on Gina’s earlobe before pulling away. She really did miss her beautiful girlfriend.

“Oy, no canoodling on the couch.”

”Shove it, I do what I want.” Nessa boasted as the characters took the end of game stage for awards.