Furina's eyes widen as she misses the button, the character on the screen can't dodge fast enough and seconds later the game over screen appears in front of her after taking fatal damage.
Scratching the back of her head with a peck on her lips, Furina stares at the camera in front of her with the same look as a child who has just been denied a chocolate - according to her friends, of course, Furina would bravely disagree and say it was just a normal grimace. -
“Chat, this isn't going to work.”
Furina declared as she dropped the controller onto the table, her fingers tapping against the wooden desk as she leaned over to read the hundreds of quick messages scrolling down the screen.
<: We need a plan!
<: She should level up the character and try again.
<: We should play something else...
<: Nooo, we want to finish this one first.
<: Fufu, have you had dinner today?
<: I'd like a pizza.
Furina laughed as she tried to keep up with the different messages from the various people on the live stream.
“Well, maybe we should put it off until tomorrow? How about that?” Clapping her hands together, Furina slumped against the chair behind her, checking the time she had been live, almost four hours. “Oh, don't worry! I'm not closing now, I think I can do another half hour before I leave.”
The excitement in the chat and the drama in her messages when she mentions leaving keep her so entertained that she doesn't notice the bedroom door opening.
The sound of someone clearing their throat makes her take her eyes off the screen with surprise on her face. Wasn't Furina supposed to be home alone until seven?
At the entrance to the room, a figure peers through the door, one eyebrow raised so that Furina knows exactly what question is on his mind.
The shorter one shook her head in denial, she was still live, even if it was about to end.
Furina let her eyes wander to the screen next to her for just a few seconds.
<: Ah, the mysterious person again...
<: Can we see her hands again?
<: That time doesn't count! She was wearing gloves!
<: And how do you know it's her?
<: @pequenolobo some things are obvious
<: Wake up, we're talking about our Furina
Furina rolls her eyes with an amused snort as the chat begins to discuss her personal life. Some moments could be too much, but she had fun with her jokes as long as they were healthy and friendly.
Quickly switching off the microphone, she turns her attention back to the woman at the door.
“I'll be down in a few minutes, darling. I'm just finishing up.” Furina says as she rests her head against the hand resting on the table.
She also signals about the microphone being switched off even though she knows that the figure standing in the doorway wouldn't risk a word in live.
God, Furina remembered when her chat had sworn she had heard a hoarse, female voice on one of her live streams. That day was a real mess, and Furina had to send out a note about not going overboard with theories and not going around looking through their photos, old videos or the accounts of their personal friends. She knew that most of it was curiosity, but even so, if she hadn't revealed it to them yet, it was because it wasn't time yet.
And well, Furina had been planning something about this for a while.
The other woman merely nods in agreement before turning to leave. Furina frowns, ah surely this wasn't how things would turn out. Forcing a cough to attract attention, Furina leans against the table, almost out of frame.
“Ahem, aren't you forgetting something?”
The taller figure turned, crossing her arms as she stared at her thoughtfully, her normally hard gaze relaxing as she knew she was being drawn into yet another of Furina's antics.
Furina snorted at the audacity of such an act, which made the other woman laugh. Even if the situation didn't allow for a warm welcome, there must be something Furina could get to quench a little of the longing she was beginning to feel for the other woman after a whole day apart, right?
“You know, I can forgive this very serious transgression if I get something... something simple and innocent that I'm sure you have a hunch as to what it is.” Blinking her eyes with her best innocent face, Furina waves her hands in her direction in an encouraging act.
The other woman rolls her eyes but seems to give in completely to her whims. Slowly bringing her hand up to her own lips, Furina knew that the other woman was teasing her, but that didn't stop her from almost falling off her chair in anticipation.
Having completed his journey, there are a few seconds of silence before the sound of a kiss against the palm of a hand is the only thing to fill the room. That is, before Furina falls dramatically back against the chair in excitement at the sight of him being thrown towards her. A happy squeal escapes her lips as she brings a hand to her chest.
The other woman looked amused watching the scene, the always calm and distinguished figure waving her hand as if she were closing a magic show before closing the door. For a second, Furina swears she saw the other woman's face flush, but because she was still euphoric over the act of kissing, this was brushed aside.
It takes everything in her not to get up and follow the other woman downstairs like a puppy looking for attention, she could almost end the live right now and... oh, wait a second...
God, the live!
As if a bubble burst around her, bringing her back to reality, Furina remembers what she was doing, her cheeks inflate and she feels a burning sensation on her face as she notices the increase in chat messages.
<: The lip reading I did told me crazy things.
<: Everyone agrees, right?
<: She's done chatting
<: That kicked puppy look proves everything.
<: Gayrina?
Furina bites her lip, mentally cursing herself for forgetting she was live. At least she was mutated!
It's a good thing that in this case her ignorance could be a blessing, she'd pretend that nothing had happened and no one would comment on it - who is she kidding, she'll probably be in the trends like the time Navia let slip that she and her mysterious figure had been living together for years. -
Clearing her throat, she straightens up before turning the microphone back on. And off we go.
“So chat, what were we doing again?”
XXX
Furina comes down the stairs skipping every two steps, a habit - according to her girlfriend - that she used to do when she was very happy. She would always watch the affectionate smile that the other woman would discreetly try to give her while carefully bringing her arms together to keep Furina in place. A measure to prevent Furina from hurting herself, she imagined.
And speaking of the woman who hadn't left her thoughts for the last half an hour, Furina finally found her with her back to the kitchen counter, a smile quickly taking over her face as she noticed the slender form of her girlfriend standing there, Arlecchino had changed clothes, out of her typical business suit - the one she had been wearing minutes earlier - and into a simple dark red sweater with sweatpants that fit comfortably on her body.
Furina couldn't help but sigh when she realized that her girlfriend could look so beautiful and ethereal in anything she wore.
Before she can let out an eloquent comment - or a shameless slur, as Arlecchino would say - her girlfriend turns around and only then does Furina notice the cell phone in her hands.
She tilts her head slightly, the apologetic look she receives not doing much to improve her mood. Well, someone like Arlecchino would always have work to follow and even if Furina was mature enough to deal with it, she couldn't be judged for just wanting a quiet moment alone with her love, right?
But Furina could be patient! Yes, that's what she would do now. Passing through the rest of the kitchen, she walks to the nearest sofa as soon as she crosses the threshold into their living room. Throwing herself between the soft cushions in an inelegant manner, she played the waiting game.
“I said I'd read the contract this weekend, tell them they'll have your answer next working day as previously agreed.’’ A few seconds later, Arlecchino joins her in the living room. A mug with steam rising from the rim in one hand while the other held her cell phone. Furina couldn't help but notice the frown on her face. Uhm, it was definitely a bad conversation. “Childe, I've already told you to ignore them if they're on to you. I'll give you my answer by the deadline you've given me and that's that. Have a good night.’’
The sound of a click against his cell phone screen and a tired sigh from his girlfriend indicated that the call had ended.
“I'm going to leave this thing unloaded until monday morning.’’
Furina hears the other woman's mutter, smiling as she feels the space next to her sink when another body joins her. She finally looks up from the fireplace in front of her, stops feigning disinterest and turns to the addition beside her.
''You seem to be enjoying my agony, droplet.'' Arlecchino points, casting an indignant and dark look - both falsely - in her direction.
Furina rolls her eyes, mimicking the other woman's posture on the sofa before leaning over and taking the other woman's free hand. She lifts the taller woman's knuckles to her lips, where she seals their encounter with a chaste kiss against her lover's dark skin.
She felt Arlecchino's sharp gaze on her even though she didn't return it. Furina could almost feel the flame in the other woman's gaze, and she was sure that the other woman's heart was beating strongly in her chest. Smiling at both herself and the other woman, Furina took the silence as a sign to continue.
She leaves another kiss on the other woman's ring finger, and another down to her palm, and another and another, again and again. A trail of kisses pressed to her hand, wrist and a little of her forearm. Shamelessly she climbs up, now closer than ever to the other woman, Arlecchino's face inches from hers.
“Well, my lord. May I have a chance to redeem myself and offer you something to forget everything that troubles your lovely mind? '' Furina asks dramatically, turning on the sofa to face the other woman. ''Let me help you, Mon Cher''
Arlecchino suppressed her lips into a thin line. Furina knew exactly what effect using her incredible - and diverse - linguistic skills had on the other woman. Well, what could she say, she was exceptional.
With the tables turned on her, Furina even prepared to throw in a little provocation about it. Unfortunately, she didn't anticipate that her girlfriend would recover too quickly.
With a newly acquired attitude, Arlecchino closes the distance between her and the lower woman's throat. An audible, wet kiss leaves Furina quite bewildered. But Arlecchino wastes no time, abandoning the now cold mug on the table next to them and freeing her hands to slide against the fabric covering the other's body. Furina lets out a surprised but appreciated sigh as she feels warm hands snaking around her waist.
She closes her eyes briefly as she feels other kisses being planted around her neck and jaw, some even falling not so harmlessly on the shoulder area left by her crumpled shirt. She whimpers as she feels teeth scrape against the base of her throat. A kiss in the form of a soft apology being left in the same place.
Well, she was at an obvious disadvantage, she would say, but in reality, her next move was just to make them both more comfortable together as her body was about to complain about not being supported by anything.
With calculated force - and the other woman's quick submission, of course - Furina managed to push them both backwards, so that their bodies were half lying on the sofa, both still clinging to each other.
And without wasting any time, Arlecchino pressed herself against Furina again. Eager hands traveled over the other woman's body, from the curls of her hair to the soft flesh at her waist. Arlecchino doesn't linger in this position, already lifting so that the taller woman is now on top.
The slight grumble that Furina might let out as she loses control again is interrupted as soon as Arlecchino moves up her kisses to finally devour the smaller girl's mouth.
Furina wastes no time in deepening the kiss, her two hands roaming to get a grip on Arlecchino's loose hair, she makes a point of gently scratching the back of the other's head, earning a sly, breathless murmur from the other against her lips.
A teasing smile immediately appears on her lips. Even when Arlecchino pulls away, Furina still maintains a victorious raised eyebrow. Not even the feigned expression of judgment takes her out of her state.
“I won.” She hums with her tongue clenched between her teeth before leaning in and planting a kiss against her girlfriend's nose.
“Hm. Were we playing a game?” Arlecchino shoots back in mock reproach, but Furina can read the amused glint in his eye.
“Aren't we always?” Furina teases just once more, earning an amused snort from the other. She laughs, her chest warm and immersed in the heat they've both created together.
Arlecchino only mutters something she doesn't understand in response, the other woman's nails snaking down her body again, but without all the flame of the last time. It was comfortable.
Arlecchino seemed to think the same, finally relaxing and letting her body fall comfortably against Furina's, her head finding shelter between the smaller woman's shoulder and neck. There were times when she would constantly ask if she wasn't unintentionally hurting the shorter girl with her weight, but Furina's answer was always the same.
In her usual mischievous voice, she would always say that if this was her way of leaving this world, Furina would happily accept her losing all the breath in her lungs like this. Obviously, she was just letting her dramatic side win out. Arlecchino didn't really hurt her, in fact, Furina found it deliciously intimate to be like this with the other woman.
It was as if it was indistinguishable where Furina began and Arlecchino ended. Yes, it was terribly cliché, but Furina loved moments like that.
She felt the other's soft breath on her neck and Furina couldn't help but feel at peace.
It had been a busy week for both of them, with Arlecchino sometimes leaving for work so early that Furina's sleeping body would never dream of waking up at such a time. And it didn't help that sometimes his girlfriend arrived so tired that she quickly fell asleep. And even when Furina wasn't live, the shorter woman still did freelance work, whether it was revising a script in hand for Neuvillette or writing her opinion on some academic application - she'd actually received several since she accidentally leaked her mailbox. - As a result, it was difficult to find time together during the week.
So their weekends were sacred. No work, no social media, nothing like that. Or at least, as you can see, they tried.
Sometimes, if Arlecchino brought some work into the house, they both agreed that a little time could be arranged for that on Saturday. Just as if Furina wanted some live time with her chat before dinner. A maximum time of two hours was stipulated, but it would hardly take Arlecchino all that time to finish some paperwork dumped in her lap, just as Furina would end the live as soon as her girlfriend's head appeared anxiously at the door waiting for her.
And all this brought her to the dilemma that Furina had been mulling over all week.
Her not-so-small hobby was about to turn one year old. A year that had turned her life upside down. After all, there were people out there who decided to spend their time talking to and watching a woman on camera. Something Furina started out of sheer boredom when her work became scarce and she had nothing to occupy herself when her girlfriend was away. A simple cheap horror game and a silly idea from one of her friends led her to create this small - if almost thirty thousand people watching it, and getting higher and higher, was small. - Community where she spent most of the year.
And Furina wanted to do something different, something more special perhaps.
The fright of having grown up in this environment in such a short space of time meant that she didn't reveal too much about her relationship with Arlecchino, after all, she didn't want to put the two of them in a big ball.
But now that she felt comfortable enough to show a little bit of herself to the world, Furina wondered whether this was an idea her girlfriend was willing to accept or not.
It wasn't news that Arlecchino wasn't a big fan of technology; the taller woman had a cell phone basically for work or to talk to her children from afar - and to answer Furina's jokes during her workday, of course. But she wouldn't be caught dead admitting that. - And social media? No way, the last time Furina made an account for her, Arlecchino followed only her and her three children, refusing requests from her other friends and coworkers. If she was asked, Arlecchino would blink innocently and say she'd forgotten the password, but Furina had already seen the other commenting on her photos or on fishing videos out there.
The same goes for photos and videos. His girlfriend rarely appeared in photos and even more so if she wasn't by Furina's side. Which was funny, since Furina would sometimes catch her taking photos of a distracted Furina - Okay, that part isn't so funny since her girlfriend always seemed to catch her most distracted moments, which led to a little race around the house that ended with a happy Arlecchino with a new wallpaper photo on her phone and a sulking Furina for the rest of the day. -
Come to think of it, Furina had a good chance of disappearing with that photo forever, if only she...
“What's on your mind, droplet?’’
Arlecchino's voice snapped her out of her brief reverie. Furina blinked in confusion, opening the eyes she hadn't even realized she had closed.
“Nothing much. I was just planning how to get rid of that photo of me on your cell phone. ”
She hears the other woman's husky laugh close to her ear, and Furina tries to hide her slight trembling at it.
“You can try.” That's what she hears back, a hint of defiance that makes Furina roll her eyes. “But I can tell you there's more to it than that.”
The speech isn't loaded with any kind of accusation, Furina knew that her girlfriend was just giving her space to bring it up or not.
Almost as if she could read the change in Furina's breathing as soon as she murmured, Arlecchino pulled away slightly, resting both hands on the sofa as she hovered over the lower one.
Even so, she just stares at her, waiting, always waiting for Furina to be ready to share her thoughts or not.
“Well, I was thinking... “ Her speech is interrupted by a noise that practically makes Furina's cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“I see someone looks hungry.” Arlecchino hums above her, moving to sit on the other woman's thighs. “Let me make us something, hm?”
Although it was said in a suggestive tone, his girlfriend stood up, leaving the bubble of warmth in which the two had been enveloped for the last few minutes. In a way, Furina knew it was also an olive branch extended in case Furina didn't want to talk.
With a small smile, Furina nods in agreement, already preparing to follow her girlfriend into the kitchen.
XXX
It was a little after eight when the two went upstairs to the room they shared together.
Furina was buttoning up her pyjamas for the day - a beautiful print of sharks and other marine animals. - when Arlecchino spoke from her place on the bed behind her.
“So you want me to take part in this... live?”
“Well, yes! It's a live, nothing too big, where we'd answer some of their questions like, you know, a couple.”
Finishing her evening routine, Furina turns to climb into bed, commenting on a few more details of her plan to her girlfriend.
“I think I understand.” Arlecchino murmurs when she's finished, pulling the covers over them as they settle into a comfortable position for both of them.
“And if you're not comfortable, that's fine! I only commented, but we don't have to do this if you don't want to.” Furina offers, opening the hugs as she waits for her girlfriend to approach.
Arlecchino snorted in response, snuggling up with his head resting on Furina's chest.
“I wouldn't mind trying.”
And given Arlecchino's amused little laugh, the slight yelp of surprise and celebration that comes from her lips doesn't go unnoticed by the taller one.
Furina occupied her thoughts with how she would organize the space tomorrow for the celebratory live, her posts and the possible questions she would receive from her followers.
Ah, it would be a long night.
XXX
“Someone seems a little shy.’’
Furina heard the woman behind her say with a hint of amusement in her voice, she was totally being teased now.
By now, Furina had almost finished positioning the camera in the right frame, she just needed a bit of... and move it more to the left and... perfect!
'' You're exaggerating. '' She replied as soon as she was back in her chair, picking up her cell phone to check the time; it was five to six in the afternoon, almost the time she would start her broadcast.
“That's what you say.’’ Her girlfriend points out one last time. Furina felt like sticking her tongue out at her in response, but part of her was glad that Arlecchino seemed calm about everything that was happening.
She turns her focus back to the cell phone in her hands, making a quick post about the start of the live on her account. And speaking of her account, the post she had made last night informing her that she wouldn't be playing any games today but would be answering some of the comments her followers had made had practically exploded. All she did was say that she would have a special participant with her, and dozens and dozens of comments and shares made that post her most engaged.
“It's time!’’ Furina announced, practically shouting and almost falling off her chair as she put her cell phone away. “Arle, let's do the surprise element!’’
Before her girlfriend could utter the confused question that was stamped on her face, Furina pushed the chair with wheels that Arlecchino was sitting on out of the camera's view with her foot.
'' And silence!” Furina declares, thus silencing an indignant Arlecchino in the corner of the room.
One.
Furina checks the audio settings.
Two.
She enters the tab where she had started the live, a message that she had already entered was what appeared for everyone, all she had to do was click a button and...
Three!
'' Hello, my friends.’’ Furina charmingly hummed as she settled into her chair. “You've had a great day, I hope.’’
Tapping her fingers on the back of her chair, Furina waits, reading the chat messages.
<: “Hi, Fufu!’’
<: “Good evening, everyone and Lady Furina.”
<: “I've been lying around all day and what about you?’’
<: “My mom made me wash dishes all day.’’
<:''I had my final exams today, urgh...''
With an empathetic look, Furina says, ''I'm sure it'll all work out, ah, Princrina@10. Boy, you guys are going high with those names, huh?''
While laughing at the name read out, Furina casts a brief glance at her girlfriend. Arlecchino was staring at her, arms crossed, lips in a straight line, despite the softened look on her face, she seemed... amused?
''Anyway, you might want to know the reason for such a different live today, right? '' Turning her attention to the chat, Furina acts in a dramatic voice, trying to build suspense. A hand raised to her heart as if she were a narrator on stage. ''Oh, no Furilover, we're not going to steal the moon. Come to think of it, that's a very good idea, maybe I will...''
A cough from off-camera breaks her rambling. Furina smiles at the shock of the chat, she was betting that Arlecchino would have fun with them.
'' Oh, right, right, let's focus! As I was going to say, today I've brought a guest you've been waiting for.'' Humming, she brings up the topic of the evening with ease. '' It was actually very difficult to buy her diary, you know? Such a difficult person, I must say.''
She hears a ''Hm'' in retaliation for her speech and it only amuses her more.
''Well, enough of this. Come on, come here, darling.'' Gesticulating comically in her direction, Furina invites her girlfriend.
It takes everything in her not to burst into laughter when all Arlecchino does is propel herself up in the chair and slide back to where she was before.
“And just to be clear, I didn't agree to it.’’ It's the first thing his girlfriend says as she straightens up. Her arms still crossed as if to make her point.
''Ah, I bet you looked adorable. '' Furina teases, a giggle escaping her lips. ''Chat, meet Arlecchino, the one you always talk about when you hear any different noises on the live. Introduce yourself, Arle.’’
As if studying the camera, Arlecchino leaves them in silence for at least ten seconds until...
''Hello''
''Is that all?’’ Furina asks, rolling her eyes at what should be one of her girlfriend's ways of playing with her. She taps the other on the shoulder. “Say something interesting, something about yourself.’’
Arlecchino murmurs thoughtfully, but nods at her before turning her gaze to the camera.
'' I'm Furina's girlfriend.’’
Furina almost lets out a sigh. Urgh, the way her girlfriend had said that made her hot in ways she didn't know - or didn't want - to categorize yet.
''Well, that's... something.'' Stuttering slightly, a flushed-cheeked Furina turned to the chat only to find nothing better.
<: ''You mean all this time you've been hiding this ancient goddess from us?"
<: "Does anyone have the nerve to ask if it hurt when she fell? ‘’
<: "That basic chant around here? Nope. Furina, tell her I've got a better one.''
<: ''Fufu, is your girlfriend single?’’
<: ''Your girlfriend is a very exclusive term, let's use OUR girlfriend.''
Frowning, Furina felt her eyebrows go to the top of her head. She had certainly expected things like this, after all, Arlecchino was a very beautiful woman.
But a hidden little green bird - jealousy, some might say - made her frown slightly.
“Oh? My discretion doesn't please you, droplet?’’ Her girlfriend's question takes her out of the focus of the chat. A thin, long hand grasps her face and turns it towards the voice.
''Uh, it's not that, Arle, I...'' She stupidly stutters again. What the hell was wrong with her today? Clearing her throat, she tries to pull herself together. ''Actually, never mind. Right, let's officially start with the live.''
She takes Arlecchino's hand from her face, bringing it to her lap while intertwining their fingers, which seems to satisfy her girlfriend. With her free hand, Furina picks up her cell phone again.
''As agreed, I'm going to make a post now and I'm going to select the most interesting and cool questions I find there. So you know what to do, guys.’’
And so she began what was to be a long, long live, certainly hoping that her girlfriend wouldn't join in with her chat to tease her.