[chapter_33]

The moment the clock ticks over and the New Year starts, Bella feels a moment of being truly refreshed. She thinks about the last year, about all the slights and vendettas that have been resolved - not just for her, but for Alice and Masen, too. She thinks about the progress that has been made, her studies going well and a serious relationship nestling deep into her heart - and also about Leah's career already getting started, and Rose entertaining a serious relationship of her own, maybe, and of the way all of her other friends are growing up and moving into the world. On the New Year, it's not hard to feel optimistic about what the year will bring them all.

It's a feeling that lasts through the remainder of break, through the plane ride back to California, to the Lyft they take back to campus, to the mad-dash rush as she and Leah hurry to unpack and get set up for the new semester. It's a feeling that lasts through her first week of classes and her first Friday back at Midnight Sun, where she is informed that there has been enough interest in her character interface that Volturi is asking for her to specifically work on it, which will actually mean she'll be at Midnight Sun throughout the week, not just on Fridays. The feeling is especially bright and blinding when she can finally fall into Masen's embrace again, relearning his scent and his heat and the way his mouth tastes when he kisses her and kisses her and kisses her.

January goes by like that, a flash of blistering cold weather and hectic activity that has her constantly going and going - unless Masen is there, tethering her into place with a date night or a stolen moment of intimacy that leaves her mind spinning, loud in a different way. And if Masen minds being the stoic, steadfast one between them, then he doesn't say anything about it. If anything, he encourages Bella's jubilance in his own way, leaning over her shoulder to offer suggestions as she works, pressing a kiss to her neck so that she'll giggle before he walks away to take care of his own business.

In January, Bella feels just as hopeful and bright as the new year. In February, that feeling of dazzling promise has sizzled into a much more manageable feeling of enthusiasm for her classes and her work and her people - but the reality of her workload also begins to make itself known, her energy flagging as her classes pick up speed and her character interface starts requiring the kind of coding and expertise she doesn't quite have under her belt yet. She has a little less time for gaming, although she remains steadfast in her Twitch updates - she needs the money still, and anyway, she likes interacting with her followers. It's almost like a vacation in a way, no matter what Leah says about Bella eating, drinking, and breathing video games.

As if Leah - as if any of her dorm mates - can talk! Bella hasn't missed the way Rose has been logging more hours at Midnight Sun, or the way that Alice stays later in her design classes, or the uptick of the videos Leah makes and edits. In this new year, obsession is clearly in the air. They are all driven by their goals, by the change they want to make in their lives and in the world.

Bella wouldn't have it any other way.

But all the same, it does come as a surprise when, on the first Friday in February, Masen steps out of his office, catches Bella's eye, and beckons her over. Bella quickly saves her program, paranoid about losing anything, and stands to trot over to him. She can't say her curiosity isn't piqued. Everyone knows he's been on the phone with the Volturi game developers for the last hour - there is a special ring tone set by Peter, one that sounds like graveyard bells for reasons that truly only make sense to Peter. Bella can't imagine why Masen would want to talk to her immediately after a Volturi phone call - unless her last progress report hasn't been up to par, that is.

Gosh, she really hopes that's not the case.

Masen closes the door behind her and gestures for Bella to sit, leading her over to one of the not-quite-comfortable chairs in front of his desk, his hand lingering on the small of her back and grazing over the length of her spine as she sits. Then he comes around the chair to stand in front of the desk, leaning back on the edge with his arms crossed over his chest. There is a minute twitch in his face that tells her the news isn't bad, so she relaxes by a margin.

"Volturi wants to meet with you," Masen announces without ceremony.

Well. There goes her sense of ease.

"Me? Why me?" Bella asks, her eyes wide. "Is there a problem?"

Masen lifts his brows. "Do you think there's a problem?"

"What else am I supposed to think?" Bella asks, only a little rhetorically. "You call me here and you close the door and, Masen, I love you, but your face isn't very reassuring right now. So, is there a problem?"

"No problem," Masen says, seemingly ignoring the remark about his range of expressions. "They want to meet you."

"Me?" Bella asks again, this time in surprise rather than worry.

"Aro Volturi likes your character interface. He wants you to discuss it with their game development team," Masen answers.

Bella sits back, releasing a breath. Wow. Aro Volturi, arguably one of the greatest game developers in history and with a golden track for developing no less than six successful MMORPG in the last decade, likes her character interface. This is, she thinks, the biggest compliment she's ever received in her life, and Masen must think so too since he seems content to wait her out and let ehr process the information.

"Well," Bella says with a gusty sigh, tucking her hair behind her ear. "When do they want to talk to me?"

"Monday," Masen says.

"On Zoom?"

"At their headquarters," he corrects.

Bella's eyes widen again. "I'm going to get to actually be in the Volturi building?"

Masen's lips twitch. She has the distinct sense that he's amused by her, maybe even thinks her reaction is a little young or childish. But she can't help it. Unlike a lot of gamers, she didn't get serious about gaming until later in her adolescence, and the first game she ever got serious about was developed by Volturi. Masen has basically just told her she gets to meet her heroes in the place where the magic happens - she doesn't think it's even possible to suppress her excitement into something more mature.

"I'll drive you," Masen tells her, smirking now. "The meeting is at eleven."

"It's a good thing I don't have any classes on Monday," Bella says.

"Mm."

Bella blinks at Masen's knowing tone and immediately decides that he probably selected the meeting time for that specific reason. He's so thoughtful. She lets him know how much she appreciates it by standing up, bouncing on her toes to buss a kiss or two to his cheeks - and then she doesn't resist when he catches her hips and holds her close for a moment, deepening their kiss briefly before releasing her.

If Bella is nearly dancing her way back to her desk, renewed in her passion for her interface, then she figures that's her own business. For the first time, she doesn't even mind the gaudy swan paraphernalia littering her desk, even going to far as to happily pull a stuffed swan into her lap while she works.

Life is good. Life is really, really good.


Jane
Hey hey hey
I heard a thing
Can you confirm if its true?

Bella
If its gossip then it probably isnt true

Jane
It's not technically gossip
Well
It's watercooler talk
Does that count as gossip

Bella
Most definitely!

Jane
Oh whatever
Confirm my gossip

Bella
Fine
What is it

Jane
I heard that a certain graphic designer with
a "million dollar idea" is going to be in
the office monday
I also heard that it was a graphic designer
who just-so-happened to win a video contest t
hat impressed the story developers in the GD dep
So
Is it true?

Bella
Wow
The gossip was actually accurate
That never happens

Jane
So you will be around on Monday!
That's great!
We can have lunch!

Bella
I guess we could
Do you mind if Masen comes?

Jane
If he wants
He'll probably be stuck in a meeting though
My dad was talking about catering a lunch for efficiency

Bella
Oh
Well, if that's the case, then I will be free for lunch

Jane
Great
You can meet my brother
He's genuinely awful!

Bella
Are you...proud of that?

Jane
:)

Bella
Alrighty then


True to form, Jane ends up being right about the arrangements on Monday. While Bella's - dazzling, exciting, life-altering, truly informative - meeting with the game developers working on refining her interface is over in just under two hours, Masen's own meeting with the higher-ups is one that crosses well into the lunch hour. So, while Masen eats the catered lunch set up by Aro Volturi, Bella lets Jane drag her to a little bistro down the block for lunch and to ostensibly hang around until Masen's meeting is over.

"You eat red meat, right?" Jane checks as they sit down, part of her attention on her phone where she is furiously texting with someone. She makes a face at the screen, then locks the screen, already rolling her eyes as she says, "My brother is on a ridiculous vegan trip, so as a good sister, I have to make sure to consume as many cows as I can in his presence. It's your duty as my friend to play along."

Bella, knowing something about brothers, tries not to laugh too loudly. "I eat red meat," she confirms. She lets Jane order them both blue cheese roast beef sandwiches on potato bread with cauliflower and yam fries, while she orders her brother an artichoke spinach mozzarella panini. After the waitress walks away, Bella lifts her brows. "I thought you said your brother was vegan?"

"He is," Jane says drolly.

"Vegans don't eat cheese," Bella points out.

Jane rolls her eyes. "He's not a good vegan, okay?"

Bella laughs again, and they chat about other things, mostly their grueling spring semesters. Bella is, technically, ahead of Jane in school because of her summer courses, but the fact that Bella is also going for a minor degree means that the amount of credits she needs to graduate is much higher, something that Jane makes fun of her for mercilessly. Bella is in the middle of defending her educational choices when someone sits down at their table with a gusty sigh and a clink of metal.

Alec and Jane are certainly twins, both sharing the same bright blond hair and fair skin, their eyes the same shape and shade. The main difference, Bella thinks, is the snooty way Alec seems to regard the world. For the first 30 seconds he is at the table, he spends it muttering under his breath about the smell of this bistro, Jane and look at the fingerprints on this glass, Jane and I know you're wearing my necklace, Jane, and I want it back. Jane, of course, mocks him back, nitpicking the way he takes a wet wipe pulled from a mysterious pocket to the table.

"Can you stop being a germaphobe for a second and say hello to my friend?"

Alec makes a face but turns to greet Bella dutifully. And then, when he finally seems to register her presence, his eyes widen and he drops his wet wipe right in his water. "Swanning!" he exclaims, loudly.

Bella blinks at him, cutting a side-eye to Jane, who is sitting back in her seat as smug as the cat who ate the canary. Ah. So this is what she was planning. Typical.

Bella offers Alec a smile. "I go by Bella in the real world," she tells him. "What's your handle?"

"Ultrontron," Alec answers faintly. And then, "Oh my fucking God. You're real."

Bella, admittedly, doesn't know all of her followers. Not all of them are present during a live stream, and not all of them leave comments or interact with Swanning on Twitter. But she does vaguely recognize Alec's handle as one of the participants in the chat stream, even seldom as he is. "It's nice to meet you," she says and watches as Alec returns the sentiment, only to round on his sister in an instant.

"You little harpy," he hisses. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What would be the fun in that for me?" Jane wonders.

"I would have worn something else," Alec tells her, turning back to Bella. "I would have worn Gucci if I knew I was meeting you."

"That's...okay," Bella manages, a little lost but amused all the same. "What you're wearing now is good."

Alec doesn't look like he exactly agrees, as he apparently would much rather be wearing something other than the absurdly expensive clothes he already has on, but he doesn't disagree. This is, she thinks, very much unlike meeting Alistair, who hadn't been half as starry-eyed by her presence even if he is one of Swanning's self-proclaimed biggest fans. Alec spends the entire lunch switching between peppering her with questions and then being struck by shy silence as she answers. Jane watches it all and steals Bella's vegetable not-fries. It's not a bad way to spend lunch, but she's relieved when Alec starts making noises about being late for his next class and, seemingly reluctant, says goodbye after Jane strongarms him into paying for their meal.

When he leaves, Bella takes one look at Jane's all-too-satisfied face and says, "You're really mean."

Jane tosses her head, proud. "It's good for him. If I'm not mean to him, his ego will get too big and then he'll end up like Uncle Caius. Which is to say, he'll be a huge asshole and nobody will want him around for the family reunion," Jane adds for Bella's benefit.

"Well, I guess if it's your sisterly duty…" Bella trails off, shaking her head.

"You get it!" Jane winks.

Bella smiles, acknowledges that she and Leah tease Seth for almost the same reason (nobody wants another Paul, loved though he may be), and follows her friend back to the Volturi building, arm-in-arm as they mosey at a leisurely pace. By the time they get back, Masen is double-parked and leaning against the side of the company car, staring up at the sky with an impassive, almost thoughtful expression. Jane passes Bella off to Masen, demands that they have another lunch date soon, and sends them on their way.

She and Masen get settled into their seats and he pulls away from the curb.

"Good lunch?" he asks.

"Interesting," Bella answers. "I met Jane's twin. He's a Swanning fan, apparently. Jane didn't tell either of us."

"Sounds like Jane," Masen muses.

It really does.

"Was the meeting good?" Bella wonders, turning to him in her seat so she can better read his expression.

"Mm."

"Productive?"

"Mm," he agrees. And then he says, "How do you feel about a raise?"

Bella stares at him. "A raise?"

Masen nods at the leather folio that has been tucked between their seats. "Aro proposed a proprietary patent on your character interface, but that would take ownership out of your hands. We compromised by essentially renting the interface to DOW2 for the number highlighted on page three."

Bella dutifully flips the page, her eye snagging on the brilliant neon yellow halfway down the page. And then she promptly starts coughing, choking on her own air as she sees the number.

She thought Jane was kidding about million-dollar ideas. She thought that was just a thing people said - a hyperbolic thing people said. And yet!

Masen huffs a laugh at her expense, and she can't even be mad at him about it because. Wow. That is a lot of money - her tuition and Leah's many times over, actually, and just for a little idea she had.

Later, she will stagger into the dorm room and march right up to Rose and flop the folder open to page three on her lap. She will say, "Is this a fair number?", and Rose will clear her throat delicately and say, "Yes. Very...fair. Very fair." And then they will stare at each other for a very long time before Rose tells her that Bella will be paying for all the dorm takeout for the rest of the year.

Bella will agree without hesitation. She'll be able to afford it. Easily.


L Clearwater ʘClearlyFlimingThis
Is this how the other side lives? Endless hot wings forever?

Jakey Wakey ʘjbisnowhere
Are you vague posting right now?

L Clearwater ʘClearlyFlimingThis
Your face is vague


Bella has never celebrated Valentine's Day - not seriously, at least. Not with a partner. She thinks celebrating a day for lovers with her actual lover is a bit different than handing out cards and heart-shaped lollies during elementary school or spending the day roasting rom-coms with Leah as she got older. Frankly, Bella hasn't ever seen the appeal of what she considers to be the epitome of a greeting card holiday. If she's honest, all the red and pink of Cupids are garish, and the only saving grace in the so-called holiday is the fact that her favorite dark chocolate is on sale. The most Bella ever looks forward to on the day is placing an Amazon order to treat herself.

But this year is different.

Bella isn't expecting Masen to pull out any romantic plans. He can certainly be romantic in his own way and has thoroughly swept her off her feet, but he doesn't strike her as the type of man who pins all of his romantic energy on a single day - Masen shows that he cares every day in all the little things he does, all the little touches and looks he bestows. He doesn't need the reminder or the excuse of capitalistic gain. But all the same, Masen does plan a day for them.

This year, the 14th falls on a Sunday, which is the height of convenient timing. Bella is invited to Masen's loft where he has placed an order to all of their favorite take-out places and queued up both seasons of The Mandalorian. They eat during the first episode and then Bella spends the next three cuddled against his chest, trying not too coo too loudly every time Baby Yoda shows up on the screen. Masen is as riveted as ever on the dialogue on screen, his wide palm tracing the curve of her waist while he holds her other hand against his chest. It's quiet and peaceful and her ideal way to spend a day - just to be lazy with Masen, to not have to think about either of their hectic schedules, is a blessing.

"We're like an old agoraphobic couple," Bella muses while credits are rolling.

Masen makes a noise of amusement. "Did you want to go out?"

"Oh, God no. It's cold out there," she says, wrinkling her nose. She presses her head down more firmly against his chest, pulling their blanket up higher, tucking the edge around his shoulder. "I'm perfectly happy where I am. This was very thoughtful of you."

"Mm."

The next episode loads and Bella gnaws on her lip a little. Before she left, something Rose said had stuck in her brain and, even with as comfortable and content as Bella is right now, she feels a tiny needle of unease. Masen had arranged this at-home date, something curated to both of their interests, but is this all he wants?

"Have fun tonight," Rose had said. "Remember to use a condom!"

When Bella had expressed a bit of confusion - after sniping about Rose even thinking to comment on Bella's sex life, of course - her friend had looked at her in disbelief.

"Babe, look. I know you're still holding on to your cherry and everything, but if you're going to lose it ever, today is the day. You love him, right? What's more romantic than sleeping with him today? Plus," Rose had added, just as knowingly as she ever says everything. "It's probably what he's expecting."

Alice and Leah didn't seem to disagree with the assessment either, even if Leah had made a face and muttered something about how she didn't want to know about any of this, thanks. Rose's utter certainty and the lack of opposing opinions had struck Bella almost dumb.

Bella hadn't been thinking about sex, at least not beyond any of the moments she and Masen share. The desire is there if the flames are stoked, but it isn't as if she spends her time whiling away the hours wondering about how she can get into her boyfriend's pants. Sexual activity is part of their relationship and it's certainly passionate when it happens, but it isn't constantly on either of their minds, she doesn't think. At most, what Bella craves is his kisses and innocent tactile comfort, like this cuddling - but the desire to take it beyond that is, for her, not that important.

She isn't sure how to explain it. It isn't that she's shy, exactly. She likes the sex because it feels good and she thinks it makes Masen happy, but she doesn't need it to feel close to him the same way Rose seems to need sex to feel close to Emmett, or Peter to Garrett. She thinks there are probably different ways people express love and attraction and that while sex is perfectly valid for many couples, there are others who don't prioritize a physical relationship.

She's fine with things how they are. If Masen wanted to have sex, Bella would have sex with him. But if Masen isn't asking, then unless the right mood strikes her, Bella doesn't think she would instigate anything.

But does it make her selfish? Masen, she thinks, has a more active sex drive, or maybe he is more prone to sexual intimacy than she is. He's usually the one that pursues sex. Is that fair? Should Bella take a more active role so that Masen doesn't always need to be the instigator? She isn't sure and the thought of talking about it in explicit terms is a bit intimidating. But - she can't let these thoughts keep swirling around either, can she?

Because what if Masen is expecting sex - penetrative sex - today, like Rose says? If he is, should Bella be the one to take the first step?

Bella reaches for the remote and presses pause. She bites her lip. "Masen?"

"Hmm?"

Bella swallows, bracing herself. Best to just get it over with. "Were you wanting to have sex today?" she blurts out, rushing through the words.

The apartment is mortifyingly silent, Masen stilling beneath her for the beat of a few seconds. His hand resumes the slow stroking pattern over her back and he nudges her chin up until she is meeting his clear grey-green gaze, studying her closely. "Do you want to have sex?" he asks calmly after a moment.

"I want to if you want to," Bella answers.

Masen shakes his head. "That's not what I asked."

Bella frowns at him. "Yes, it is. You asked if I want to have sex, and I said yes."

Masen shakes his head again. "But do you want to have sex because you want to have sex, or because I want to?"

When he phrases it that way, so pointedly, Bella understands the distinction he's making. She bites her lip again. "I don't know," she says honestly. "I...like what we've been doing, with our mouths and hands, and I'm sure I'll like other sex, too…"

But it seems like different kinds of sex, in her head. It's all sex, but not sex, if that makes sense - which it doesn't, not really, except that it does. And beyond the basic desire to want to have any kind of sexual engagement at all, which she seldom seems to have the independent drive for, she isn't sure she's ready for more intimate types of sex.

And so she says so, ducking her head.

Masen presses a kiss to her forehead. "I didn't think so," he says quietly. "It's okay if you're not ready. We can wait until you are."

Bella feels so childish, being stuck on something like this. "But how will I know?"

"You'll know," he intones, his voice dropping. "And when you're ready, I'll be here."

Bella shivers at the promise in his voice. It answers the question about his libido, which seems far more healthy and normal than her own - if there even is a "normal" libido at all, that is.

"But isn't that unfair to you?" she whispers into his chest, still hiding from the heat riding high in her face.

Masen wraps his arms around her more tightly. "It's not about fairness. If all we ever do is what we've been doing, then I will be satisfied because I love you and I will take what you are willing to give."

Tears inexplicably burn behind her eyes. "I love you too," she manages, relaxing into his embrace even further.

It's all that needs to be said about it, she thinks.


The Happy People Squad (Group Chat)

Peter has added Emmett, Bella, and Alice to chat

Peter
Hello and welcome to the group

Bella
Happy People Squad?
Just us four?

Peter
Because we're the only happy people we know!
And we're a squad!

Alice
Cute concept!

Bella
I think the people we know are happy

Peter
Maybe like
Existentially
But in terms of personality?
Half our friends are scary af!

Alice
Is scary the right word?

Peter
You haven't seen Alistair when he hasn't slept
Or Masen in a snit

Alice
I guess Rose is a bit abrasive at times…

Bella
Leah would happily threaten murder
for little to no reason
Good call, Peter

Emmett
Hey hey
Can confirm that Masen is terrifying
Also, dumb group name

Peter
Your opinion is entitled to fuck off

Bella
Masen isnt scary

Peter
Ahahahahah and your opinion
about that doesn't count!

Bella
It does so!
And what about Garrett?

Peter
What about him?

Alice
He looks a little grumpy
He's been nice though!

Peter
He is nice!
He's a sweetheart!
My sweetheart!

Bella
But he's not in the chat is he?

Peter
Point acknowledged

Emmett
Speaking of points
Was there a point to this?

Peter
Oh right!
So!
Winter is awful and I need it to end today
But since I cant control time or the weather,
I thought we could do something to bring
warmth into our lives!

Bella
You already have an idea dont you

Peter
Indeed I do
Why don't we have a game night!
Like an official one with board games!

Alice
Oh what a fun idea!
We can play Candyland!

Emmett
You got this idea from that movie

Peter
Okay that movie was hilarious
Admit it

Emmett
It was funny
Jason Batemen is legit hilarious

Bella
It sounds like a good idea
I guess you want to bring
the whole group together?

Peter
That's the idea!

Alice
Oh can I organize it?
I love organizing parties!

Peter
Thank you for volunteering!

Bella
We shouldn't limit it to board games
Card games are fun too

Peter
Another excellent addition
Em do you have anything?

Emmett
I'll order the pizza

Peter
Great!
Wonderful collaboration squad!

Emmett
Still a stupid name

Peter
:(


Game night goes about as well as anyone can expect. With Alice at the helm and with the Midnight Sun office space available, it all starts out very well. There are snacks and a variety of games to choose from and Alice has found some inoffensive instrumental music to play in the background. Their group obviously gets along pretty well at this point, now having been to various hang-outs over the last six or so months. It starts out really great.

But then the time for eating pizza straight from the box is over and the board games come out, and suddenly everyone is much more competitive than they ever have been before. It's funny how that works. Even Rose gets cutthroat about defending her territory in Monopoly, which they are playing in teams. While Bella watches on, her chin resting on Masen's shoulder, Rose's eyes gleam as she takes rent from the people unfortunate enough to land on one of her properties; Emmett appears moderately concerned as he rolls the dice, clearly hoping their racecar won't land in a place that will make Rose unhappy.

Monopoly might not have been the best game to start out with. Even playing it at home, the game can get ugly very quickly. The one saving grace is probably the fact that the Monopoly board is the Futurama limited edition and that Peter does a very good Fry impression. In the end, though, Masen and Bella end up winning, even if only by a hair and to Esme's startlingly vocal dismay.

"New rule!" Rose calls out.

"Did we have rules to start with?" Alice asks Peter.

Peter shrugs. "I guess we do now?"

Rose points at Bella and Masen. "These two aren't allowed to be on the same team. It's basically cheating."

Bella sits back as the room looks at them with clear appraisal. "Um." She casts a searching look at Masen, who stares back impassively. "That's okay with us?"

Rose looks entirely too satisfied, while Emmett chortles along with Jasper, who had been a last-minute invite. Everyone else looks a bit skeptical, or like they don't think this rule is going to make a difference. Bella, for her part, only really cares about the cheesy bread in the kitchen, which she makes a beeline for as soon as a new game is being set up.

If Monopoly was that wild, she shudders to think about what her friends are going to do with Uno. Never in the history of ever has any Uno game ended peacefully. She smiles just thinking about it.

Masen has trailed behind her to the kitchen, coming to stand behind her with his arms loosely around her waist. He looks as relaxed as she's ever seen him, a tiny curl creeping along his lips as he watches Alistair deal Uno cards with lackluster enthusiasm while Leah starts preemptively gloating and trash-talking.

"You aren't playing?" she asks.

He shakes his head. "Later, when you do."

Bella snorts. "I don't know if I will. It depends on what rules they're playing by."

She can almost feel Masen's smirk when he presses his face into her neck. "Not the official Uno rules," he mutters.

"There are no official rules," Bella says. "Everyone just makes up their own. If I play while Leah is playing, she'll put up a fuss about how many times you can place draw cards in a row."

"As many times possible," Masen asserts.

Bella giggles. He isn't wrong. One does have to be vicious in Uno. Actually, now that she thinks more about it, maybe she will play in the next round. Her competitive spirit stirs up again as she wonders what it will be like to play against Masen, too. Supremely fun, probably.

"What does your spring quarter look like?" Masen asks, breaking into her musing.

Bella hums thoughtfully. "Busy, but not unmanageable. I'm taking an extra class, though. Why?"

"Thinking about your spring break," he admits.

"Oh?"

"Will you be going home?"

Bella smiles as she finishes her cheesy bread. "I won't if you have something planned," she tells him.

Masen doesn't say anything, but he does press a brief kiss to her shoulder before he pulls away and they join the next Uno game. And when the round ends only after the deck has to be shuffled three times and she and Masen have eliminated everyone else from the game, she overhears Rose making noises about revoking her new rule.

"I take it back," Rose mutters. "This is somehow worse."

Leah claps Rose's back. "What can I say? They're both true gamers. And terrifyingly good at it."

Bella meets Masen's eyes over the table splayed with upturned cards, and she smiles as brightly as ever because Leah is right - and Bella wouldn't have it any other way, not when it means she can be grouped in with the man she loves.

Life is so good.


A/N: Ah, young love! I finally got to include The Mandalorian in the story and Futurama. The special editions of Monopoly look like a ton of fun, too. Browse the official website to check some of them out. Also, the movie being referenced is Game Night, which I thought was hilarious. Now, on to some notes.

So, game industry acquisitions usually price in the billions, not the millions. Microsoft recently acquired ZeniMaz Media, the parent company of Bethesda which produces Elder Scrolls, one of the most popular games in the world, for a cool 7.5 billion dollars. If a game company is doing well, you can easily imagine them in the millions. For a proprietary patent on a piece of software, those can also run in the millions. So, although unspecified, you can be sure Bella is looking at quite a big raise

On to human sexuality! So, Bella is an established demisexual, which addresses her romantic and sexual attraction. But! There are scales of sexual attraction just like there are scales for other aspects of human sexuality and gender orientation. Since demisexuals fall under the asexuality umbrella, it's actually very common for a demisexual person to have a "low libido". Everyone is different. Some people under the asexual umbrella aren't comfortable having sex at all, while others are very sexually active and interested, and others only have sex to make their partners happy, and others are only comfortable with certain types of sexual contact. Each preference is equally valid. It does, however, bring up the issue of consent when sexual activity is only performed for the sake of a partner, which is why a lot of self-reflection is necessary. All too often in fiction, I see characters just going at it like rabbits as if everyone shares the same libido and sexual comfort - but the fact of the matter is that sexual interest varies for everyone depending on preference, hormones, stress, and other factors. Some couples fight about having mismatching sexual libido, but that's why porn should be destigmatized for the sake of sexual health since it takes the pressure of the person in the relationship that might have a lower libido. Just know that whatever libido you have, it's perfectly healthy and normal as long as you don't feel like it's interfering with your ability to lead your life. If, however, you feel like your sexual health is suffering in some way, you may want to speak with a physician or therapist, or even a sexual heath group online.

RIP me writing a hopeful story in the middle of the clusterfuck that is 2020 and, it seems, 2021. Nobody ask me anything about anything - you probably already know my opinion about current events. The one thing I will say, however, is that terrorists need to be called terrorists and should be treated like terrorists when they participate in terrorist activity. Full stop.

There have been new strains of the virus since the last time I updated. We're working with the UK strain, the South African strain, and the South American strain, which was detected in Japan but does not originate from Japan. One super important thing to realize is this: the longer we go without global vaccinations, the more the virus will mutate. That's basic virology. The longer the virus gets to live its best life with nothing stopping the spread, the more likely it is to mutate and it may eventually mutate in a way that will not be protected by current vaccines. When the majority of people worldwide have the vaccine, the transmission will be harder and the virus will stop mutating. And another thing: the more the virus mutates, the more people will need the vaccine. This is more basic virology. When a virus is mutating in a way that makes it more easily transmissible, then more people need to develop an immunity, and the more strains we have, the more people need to be vaccinated to develop "herd" immunity. A few months ago, that number was estimated to be 60 to 70%. Right now, with three strains, it's more likely that we need 80% or more of people vaccinated to be done with this stuff.

Has it been hard? Yes. Are we suffering economically and in other ways? Yes. But bitching about lockdown and not wearing masks isn't making it better - it's making it worse and drawing out the process. My fellows, when the new restrictions are announced, do everything you can to follow them. The faster everyone cooperates for the same goal, the faster things will get better. That's just basic logic.

Anyway! Be honest! I can take it! You know the rest - stay safe, stay smart, and stay healthy!

~Rae