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*Chapter 58*
With blue eyes that eased past the same, vivid blue strands of hair that gently draped past her forehead, Berri gently fiddled with the gape of Turbo's hoodie sleeves. With the zipper zipped nearly all the way up, and the collar near her nose, she relished in his strong, intoxicating scent; she knew that if she ever told anyone just how crazy she was about Turbo's lovely, masculine scent, she'd likely be done for. Although her mind so badly wanted to wander to the safety of Turbo's loft, the promise she had texted him that she'd be over as soon as she was back from the meeting she was attending, simply a shadow with her mother and her aunt, Berri still did everything she could to stay tuned to Tessa's, Penny's and Mr. Kelta's conversing. Although Berri was simply just a shadow, she knew that eventually she'd get roped into the informative conversation she was intently listening to.
"We've narrowed it down to a few options," Mr. Kelta eased in tenderness, he sat at his big, intimidating desk, and although Tessa was stood next to him and was peering down onto his desk in a show of wanting to help get to the bottom of this deletion problem, it was still clear that Mr. Kelta was in charge of everything. Berri and Penny sat in big, cozy office seats just across from Mr. Kelta's desk, as he continued on, "It's, fortunately, why Academy has been untouched... Why ALL Academies have been untouched. Really, gamers are safest either in their home game, or inside Academy. Which is good for us, cause that means, well... The Academies stay afloat."
"It's because of the power-muter, on the way in, huh," Tessa mumbled with a nod, and it was here did Berri furrow her eyebrows and remember that her glitching and wrecking powers were useless whilst at Academy. She glanced down to her fingers, and in a nervous push, she felt her heart surge in wariness as she tried, and failed, to cue her glitching abilities. Berri stabbed her eyes to her mother in a gentle fit of girly terror, though she still remained still. She wondered how she could ever forget said notion, though with the nearly three weeks she had been away from Academy, and the world of changes that had happened to her life, in that span of time, she almost reeled at how weird it was to even be here. Tessa's gentle voice carried on, "So, whatever is deleting faux-codes, CAN'T come into Academy... Because their powers are stripped."
"We assume as such... We're beginning to think this is potentially an internet anti-virus just gone rogue," Mr. Kelta stated in nervousness, he sifted through a few papers and heaved a raspy sigh as his deep voice continued on, "It's either that, or... A massive, intricate web of gamers that are just... Mindlessly going around deleting faux-codes."
"But... HOW? They're invisible, and typically, if someone is killed, pixels fall to the ground, the body lingers a bit, there's some sort of blood or evidence, the whole nine-yards," Tessa explained, as if this was something she had endured, and it was here did Berri furrow her eyebrows and peer her continuously nervous gaze to her mother; Penny side-eyed Berri, upon seeing her young nieces' reaction, and crossed her arms amidst her own cute, yellow coat, "Certainly, if it's a group of people, they have technology beyond anything Arcade has seen, at least Litwak's..."
"It's the internet, so many different beings come and go, from all around the world," Mr. Kelta sighed, he shook his head and only barely lofted his gaze to Penny and Berri, "Typically, the security on Litwak's router would be able to deny access to rogue baddies looking to cause just heaps of trouble for an innocent Arcade, but... I mean, Mr. Litwak could've very easily gotten a router that maybe isn't up to standard, maybe isn't up to par with the scary things lurking all over the internet."
"What do we do, then?" Tessa eased, and although she had a few ideas, she furrowed her eyebrows and now nervously glanced to her young daughter. She was well aware Berri was extremely sharp, though she was also aware that Berri didn't know the extent of Tessa's whole past, the detrimental things that had previously gone down, she knew Berri would learn about everything in due time, though Tessa felt brave and pushed on, with her notions, anyhow, "M-My... My husband has a lightdisc, from Tron..."
"... He DOES?" Mr. Kelta exclaimed in shock, he reeled and peered up to Tessa, who now grit her teeth and huffed a gentle giggle.
"Yeahhh... Don't mean to dump a load of information on you, all at once, but... Zed and I left the Arcade, a few years ago, through Tron," Tessa rushed through the grit of her teeth; Penny now sagged her face into her little hand and blurt an incredulous laugh, the sheer look of terror on Mr. Kelta's face was priceless.
"Don't tell him about Ace, that might be too much to handle, right now," Penny muttered to Tessa as she cocked an eyebrow and peered to her Queen; as Tessa's right hand woman, she knew when to step in and at least try to help Tessa dodge bullets.
"I mean, worst comes to worst, we can, well... See about leaving," Tessa shrugged, though Mr. Kelta looked still completely rocked from the face of the planet. Tessa blurt a small laugh and stood up straighter, though Berri beamed a curious smile and sat up in riled, impending excitement, "Zed and I met Mr. Litwak, once upon a time... We could try and see what we could do, to unplug the internet, or... I don't know... Run security checks. We live here too, dammit."
"Go mom," Berri encouraged in a quip of cuteness, though Mr. Kelta waved his hand in whole agitation and shook his head.
"Y-You mean to tell me... You were HUMANS?" Mr. Kelta nearly almost stood up out of his chair in surprise.
"We were, Mr. Kelta, I-I know it's hard to believe, but... Tron exists, we've been there," Tessa encouraged, she breathed a small giggle as Penny was still entirely lost in laughter; Berri eagerly readjusted herself in her seat.
"So, you mean to tell me, in order to solve this whole self-programmed deletion problem, you're just gunna... LEAVE the Arcade," Mr. Kelta barked with a hard chuckle, as if to be in entire disbelief, and although all three women, in the office, were trying their damndest to keep Ace's identity under wraps, Berri cleared her throat and wondered if she could potentially steer the touchy conversation away.
"I... Well... Have an idea," Berri prod, and as everyone in the room fell silent, Berri tenderly inhaled a deep breath and so slowly stood out of her seat, as if to hopefully garner the confidence upon fully standing. Like she thought would happen, said confidence was entirely obtained the second her height was now over all three beings in the room, with both Penny and Mr. Kelta sat down, and Tessa hunched over Mr. Kelta's desk, Berri skillfully took off Turbo's loose zip-up, lofted it on her chair and put her hands on her hips. She wore her favorite, dark grey skinny jeans and a cute, yellow tank top. Her vivid blue eyes gently pierced into her mother's, as well as Mr. Kelta's, in a spike of authority, she wondered if she could try her royalty on for size, "Much like Academy and our home games are safe... Is there any way we can put such a technology over the entire station? The entire power strip? Surely it's possible..."
Tessa raised her eyebrows and peered to her daughter in humbled surprise. Although Berri was Sugar Rush's princess, and was the one to be next in line for the Queen's crown, due to Ace and Libby respectfully declining such duties, Tessa felt somehow surprised by Berri's authoritative stance. Although Tessa was certain Berri likely wouldn't be interested in shadowing Tessa for Queenly duties and affairs, anytime soon, due to starting up Academy and being a fresh, budding youngling in life, she was almost floored to find that Berri had that look in her eye, one of being a go-getter, a look of promising leader. Tessa warmly smiled, and in the same movement, both Tessa and Mr. Kelta slowly averted their gazes to each other, and although Mr. Kelta's look was of near dumb-founded surprise, Tessa only gave him a knowing smirk and bobbed a proud nod.
"She's my successor," Tessa eased with continued pride, everyone lofted their gentle, kind gazes to Berri and smiled, "I didn't even think of that, Bear... Really good idea."
"I mean, if it's shared technology everywhere, then that gets rid of the problem right at the root," Berri shrugged, she cautiously pressed closer to Mr. Kelta's desk; she knew, full well, that she only had a shred of authority here, and any amount all three higher-ups were affording her were strictly so that Berri could state her peace, "Turbo even suggested that we itemize said power... What if each and every single faux-code was able to wear said power, like a shield? Then we can go anywhere and be safe."
"I-I forgot all about the fact that you know Turbo," Mr. Kelta staggered in horrific remembrance, though Tessa bobbed him a nod and gave him a sneaky smile.
"Turbo Black oversees a very decent sized chunk of Sugar Rush's code room... We'd be wise to listen to his ideas, as well, due to just how long he's been inside this Arcade," Tessa pressed in warm confidence, she bobbed Berri a nod a smiled, "Him and my daughter are very good friends. I can see, here, that Berri has been asking him all the right questions."
"Well, is there any way we can, maybe... Erm... Get Mr. Black in here for a proper meeting, then?" Mr. Kelta stated in wavering sureness, though it was here did all of Berri's confidence sag to tender uncertainty.
"H-He, well... Turbo refuses to leave the security of Sugar Rush," Tessa grit her teeth in a grimace and, in the swooping look of regret she gave Mr. Kelta, she lofted Berri a frown, as well, "I was talking to his two brothers about it, the other day... The two come and go from Sugar Rush with ease, no one really pesters them, but... Turbo definitely is stubborn on the fact, he's absolutely certain that the second he steps out of Sugar Rush is the second an entire mob of angry gamers come at him with torches and pitchforks."
"Understandable," Mr. Kelta shrugged, though his tone was neutral. He eyed Berri with a twinkling look in his eye and narrowed his gaze, "There would be absolutely no way to get him out of the game and into the security of Academy? Surely it's just a bounce over, from Sugar Rush, into Academy's doors."
"I actually haven't even attempted, although... I've tried a few times to even so much as get him to come into the public of Orion City with us, and he absolutely refuses. Not even a 'maybe' or a thought of it," Berri shrugged and shook her head, and it was in this conversation did she begin to find Turbo's stubbornness of it all mildly frustrating; especially including the fact that Nox and Throttle were entirely left alone by society, upon exiting Sugar Rush, "I can definitely mention it to him, though I can almost promise you the answer would be no."
"You're always welcome to come into Sugar Rush and meet with Turbo," Tessa sighed, she gave Mr. Kelta an apologetic smile, "He'll go anywhere inside palace grounds. We can easily have the meeting in our code room or office."
"With the other heads of the council?" Mr. Kelta wondered towards Tessa in tenderness, a polite way of wondering just how many bodies were allowed into Tessa's royal domain.
"Certainly, there's enough room," Tessa shrugged.
Just as Berri opened her mouth to hopefully press the stretch of her wings, a future sight of potentially one day measuring up to Tessa's ability as Queen, everyone flinched as Academy's bell suddenly rang. Berri furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, she knew full well that the last bell had already rung about an hour ago, though she quickly remembered that this very prolonged bell, well after Academy was over, as simply an elective bell. Gamers could choose to have a longer day to squeeze in one last hour of a class, an elective of their choice, not something that a lot of gamers typically did. Just as Berri came to all this realization in her mind, she was reset from wanting to push her future-Queenly suggestions over the three, Tessa stood up straight and gently gestured to Berri, and then to her spare electric guitar, which was leaned up against the seat Berri was previously sitting in.
"Oh, Bear, you're going to go meet up with Wren and Theo in the music hall, yeah?" Tessa eased quietly, to which Berri bobbed a nod of renewed purpose and sagged out of the vicinity of Mr. Kelta's desk. She gently lofted Turbo's hoodie over the bend of her inner arm, eased her electric guitar's strap over her shoulder and across her body, and softly peered back to the three higher-ups, who hung in gentle, kind suspension.
"Nearly forgot," Berri breathed with a small giggle, to which Tessa wrinkled her a knowing smile and bobbed a nod.
"Great suggestions, Bear," Tessa encouraged in loving conclusion as Berri back-stepped towards Mr. Kelta's massive, closed office door, "You and I can discuss this topic further, later tonight, if you want."
"Yeah, I'd love that," Berri pressed with a show of girly excitement, and as she said her goodbyes to the three, she heaved a sigh of content and softly sagged Mr. Kelta's door shut behind her.
With a confident strut, Berri beamed a cheeky smile, eyed the long hallway she now was due to conquering and felt a new wave of feelings hit her. She knew, full well, she was next in line for Sugar Rush's crown, though the idea of it now being something tangible was something that made the blood in her veins become hot. Although the idea of being Queen was way off, and something she'd literally have to battle Tessa to the death for, she relished in the idea that it would eventually be her future. The challenge of leading an entire game, with a Kingly teammate, she wondered just how cool it'd all feel. With said segue into just who she would potentially pick as her King, she cocked an eyebrow and almost dared to allow her brain to stop right on the name of the very person she was previously discussing. As if to somehow force herself to believe that she had quickly dropped those thoughts, she shook her head in girly bashfulness and pulled her phone out of her pocket. As if her brain was now subconsciously telling her that said thoughts were, indeed, not segued away from, she immediately thumbed to the text conversation of said Kingly bachelor; Turbo Black.
Blue : Hey! So, the meeting I was shadowing is over. I'm just meeting up with Wren and Theo to drop my guitar off in the music hall. We should be back in Sugar Rush in the next half an hour or so. I'll text you once we're back at the palace. We're still cool to come over, yeah?
With a shaky inhale and a smiling, fluttering heart, Berri sent Turbo said message. She bit her lip and now dared to type out a second, more secretive and boldly intimate message to Turbo, a fresh, daring new side she was now hoping to deploy, right within this single text message, though before she could even so much as type the first word of her next message, she reeled in whole surprise as she suddenly collided with something, or someone. In a fluster of a few steps back, she held her phone tight to her chest, raised her eyebrows in apologetic surprise and peered forward in stark, apologetic girliness, though as her eyes suddenly came right into view with the person she had bumped into, she felt every single last pixel in her coding practically delete itself in embarrassed horror. Like sat in a dream, an alternate reality, simply a fantasy her much younger self would've been caught thinking about, she was both horrified and floored to be face to face with her past celebrity crush; the very Gunner Ko.
"Oh, User, I'm so sorry," Gunner eased, his deep voice glossed over Berri like she was in Heaven, the sweetest honey that drowned her soul, the singing voice of a god right in her ear holes, she shook her head in unadulterated terror, blinked in rapid fire and huffed a shaky exhale of unmitigated terror.
"I-I... I-I... Am..." Berri staggered in whole entire embarrassment, the way Gunner's lovely, soft brown eyes so warmly peered into hers, his gentle hand held her lower arm for support, he stood unwavering and finally allowed a cheeky, cute smile to ease across his handsome face. His narrow eyes grew even tighter amidst a warm, toothy smile, Berri froze and was entirely certain this wasn't even real. She immediately kept her mouth shut, due to being totally sure that something stupid would come flying out of her mouth.
"Are you okay?" Gunner wondered softly, it was here did Berri wonder if she should likely say something, a response, a chill demeanor of nonchalance forced, she wondered if it was even possible here, a fire of girly, crushing fantasies immediately came rushing right back to her maturing heart, she felt like a giddy school girl all over again.
"I-I'm fine, m-my... I-I wasn't... Looking," Berri's voice pitched higher in whole terror, she heaved a shaky breath, bashfully tucked her vivid blue hair behind her ears and scrunched her shoulders amidst a cute, cheeky smile, "F-Forgive me, I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Gunner's voice pressed in a further show of inquisition, his lovely brown eyes hooked tighter to hers, his cute, toothy smile was still peaked in further curiosity, and although Berri was absolutely certain she'd do everything to hang in this moment, she bobbed a nod of departure and knew to get out while she was still standing.
"Excuse me," Berri mumbled as she looked down and quickly began to ease out of Gunner's presence, simply as if she wasn't even worthy of it, though as she pressed about five feet away from his tall, slender figure, she held her breath and bit her lip in a further press of girly terror with the whole fact that Gunner now jolted a few steps to catch up with her.
"Hey, hey, wait," Gunner urged kindly, though Berri raised her eyebrows in now terrified, girly surprise and peered back to Gunner in a show of whole uncertainty. Gunner chuckled, gestured to the beautiful guitar slung over her whole backside and furrowed his eyebrows in even further, boyish curiosity, "Y-You... You play?"
"Yeah, I do," Berri smiled, she still felt that wiggle of terror hold on tight to her coding, though she wondered how long she could afford to be in Gunner's presence without making obvious that she was a huge fan of his.
"That's awesome," Gunner eased, he put his hands on his hips gently, his chest broadened, he leaned on one leg a little bit more and, although he was in a stance of whole entire authority, he kindly kept his eyes to Berri's, as if to somehow insinuate that he, too, was a musician, though didn't want to be too cocky about the fact that he was a full blown celebrity. Before Berri could gently press on and include the fact that her, Wren and Theo were in a small garage band, Berri's gentle shlep of confidence immediately dwindled the second two much bigger security guys eased behind Gunner's presence. They looked mildly concerned, though they kept respectful distance, due to knowing full well that Gunner could handle himself in the presence of just one person, one potential fan. Gunner softly glanced to his two body-guard like security men and gave Berri a pressing, eager smile, "I-I... I was just about to take a small tour of Academy, really get a feel for this place. Any chance you'd like to tag along?"
"O-Oh, I... I really shouldn't, I..." Berri staggered on her words, she could swear her heart was in her throat, she knew not to intrude on Gunner's much higher presence, his whole reputation at stake, she shook her head and knew to keep every single ounce of fan girling to herself, she knew she'd likely never get any chance like this, ever again, in her whole life. She wondered just how long she could ride this train, how long Gunner was actually willing to be in her presence, she was entirely certain that ten seconds into this, he'd immediately scour for something better to do, someone better to talk to. Berri knew to see herself out as soon as possible, so to avoid causing a scene in Academy's back offices of winding hallways and glorious, open conference rooms, "I don't want to intrude on your tour. I was just headed to the music hall to meet up with my two cousins."
"C'mon, it's not intruding," Gunner started with a warm smile, he gently gestured to his chest, the look of tender humility in his eyes had Berri desperately trying to crawl further out of the denial she was in.
"I've already done enough by full-on running into you," Berri now blurt a giggle and continued to gently step away, though with each step, she very quickly understood that playing hard to get, here, was now visibly driving Gunner up a wall. She immediately felt a light bulb burn bright above her head, the sudden swirl of girly emotion, a fantasy that only every single fan of Archived Chaos could even begin to dream up, she wondered just how it could all be at her fingertips right here and right now. As the angel on her right shoulder now eagerly prod its harp into Berri's neck, begging her to snap out of it and stay out of the shallow end, Berri shook her head and knew this was no ordinary encounter. She bashfully shrugged her shoulders in a cute show of coy tease, she looked down and shook her head, "You don't want someone as clumsy as me showing you around."
"Please, hear me," Gunner's voice now faltered as Berri full on turned around and pressed away a few steps, though she slowed her roll with the twinge of defeat in Gunner's voice. Berri peered down the hallway in whole entire disbelief, every single last ounce of her girly, preteen fantasies now becoming fully realized and matured right before her, she slowly peered over her shoulder and long blinked in entire bewilderment, the whole reality that this situation was, indeed, real; the onlook of two body guards and what looked to be a band manager, all rolled into one tight, delightful situation of peculiar timing. Gunner shrugged his hands to his sides, looked off, shook his head and now almost bashfully gave Berri a mildly embarrassed frown, "It's... It's hard making friends here, you understand. If you could just maybe show me to the music hall, and I'll... Get out of your hair."
Berri frowned and peered to Gunner in gentle sorrow. She raised her eyebrows and held onto this glimmering moment. She knew somehow, somewhere, Penny was now probably twitching. She drew back to her aunt's words, just what Penny would likely be screaming at her to do, and that was most certainly taking Gunner up on his offer. She knew it wasn't just everyday a full blown celebrity was in a territory that made him feel way out of his element, the suspect of not knowing a single soul, of feeling lost and nervous to be trusting of anyone, Berri felt that tug on her heart. She could've sworn said sympathetic tug would've stopped right at Turbo, Arcade's most feared, hated bad guy, though the fact that it sailed right into the new realm of lonely, lost celebrity that had no friends, she crossed her arms and now wondered if she were becoming a cornerstone of support for lost and lonely souls. She relished in the idea of helping others, though she began to worry if this slope would very quickly become slippery. As good as her intentions were, she shoved away any consequence and felt her knees grow weak at the cute, honey-glossed glow of love Gunner's eyes were just easily sapped in, as if he had practiced it.
"It's... No issue, I-I can show you around," Berri finally agreed, and although, two months ago, she likely would've immediately agreed upon said notion, filled with happy, ugly crying, she wrinkled her nose and immediately discovered a very coy, flirtatious and hard to get side of her; she was well aware said act was something Turbo so successfully deployed on her, she wondered if she could easily turn this around so to have her cake and eat it too. Berri finally fully turned around and eased a step or two closer to Gunner, "I just don't want to cramp your style. I'm no celebrity chauffeur, it's not really something I'm, erm... Well versed in."
"I'm a gamer just like everyone, at the core of it," Gunner chuckled, he opened up once more, the light in his eyes returned, he looked hopeful as the two slowly filled the gap, as did his hovering security, "I'm Gunner... I-I... Well, start class next Monday."
"I do too, actually," Berri smiled, though she gently flinched in surprise as Gunner warmly held out his hand for a handshake. In a weird wiggle of proverbial confusion, Berri felt as if she was simply having an out-of-body experience. She inhaled a silent, shaky breath and went to fill the gap, their hands softly met in a tender grip, one that he kept solid but soft, and with such, Berri politely locked eyes with him in a forced show of girly confidence and bobbed a small nod, "I'm Berri."
"You start Monday as well?" Gunner pressed, his whole entire being exuded friendliness, and it was here that Berri was actually shocked he hadn't already made friends here. They concluded their gentle handshake and now took one more step into a personal show of fresh camaraderie, one of crossed arms and gentle leans, a casual show of cute conversing, Berri was surprised at how easy this all was, as well as the surprising fact that her shell-shocked disposition very swiftly came and went.
"Yeah, I... I actually started two weeks ago but, well... Got suspended," Berri stated through the grit of her teeth, she immediately regret revealing such information, though she flinched the second Gunner cocked an eyebrow and beamed her an entirely curious smile, one of whole intrigue, as if it was nearly music to his ears.
"Ahhh, causing trouble first thing, eh?" Gunner's deep voice coat her ears, she could hear every single last one of his songs, that she had memorized, just gloss her whole brain like numbing gel. She fluttered her eyes and continued to run away with this hard-to-get bad-girl-esque front; she could tell he was fueled by it.
"I do what I can," Berri shrugged, and although she skillfully looked off and lifted her head, as if to simply pretend that Academy couldn't contain her, she began to immediately regret further revealing her suspension; she could practically hear the question buzzing around in Gunner's brain before he opened his mouth and let it out.
"What'd you get suspended for?" Gunner pressed, to which Berri immediately scoured her brain for an answer.
"Well..." Berri looked down in concern. She knew that lying about the reason of her suspension was bad news, due to the entirety of her last hour class knowing exactly which baddy she was defending. Berri was absolutely certain word got around the school, and instead of fumbling to cover a lie later down the road, she figured she should be honest, "I, well... My last hour teacher was talking crap about someone inside our hierarchy of my game, and I defended him."
"Oh, y-you... You're a part of a hierarchy?" Gunner wondered in patient learning, he shook his head softly and narrowed his eyes in continued curiosity, "Who were you defending?"
"Yeah, my mother is the Queen of Sugar Rush... I-I was defending Turbo," Berri stated in nervousness, she could practically see every single last being here, to protect Gunner, practically tense in agitation, the sheer sound of Turbo's name set people on edge. Gunner raised his eyebrows in whole entire surprise as Berri rushed to carry on, "H-He's a good guy, really, I promise... He's just misunderstood."
"Y-You know THE Turbo personally?" Gunner beamed a wider, now even more curious smile, and it was here did Berri understand that she should now start digging herself a hole of lies, so to protect Turbo, as well as their now very close friendship.
"N-No, no, not at all, I've never said a word to the guy," Berri eagerly fibbed, a skillful swoop of forced confidence that Gunner bought, "He's just very helpful to the game, but we don't ever see him. I just defended him cause he keeps our game running in tip-top condition."
"Wow... I thought that guy was dead," Gunner shook his head and furrowed his brow, though Berri was grateful he breezed past her lies, Gunner shrugged in smiling nonchalance, "Well, any friend of Berri's is a friend of mine. I'm sure he's a great guy."
"He's wonderful," Berri stated in a sigh, almost under her breath; she furrowed her eyebrows and now felt a really weird tug at two corners of her heart, the angel on her shoulder was now angrily strumming haphazard sounds of chaotic urgency in her ear, anything to get her attention.
"Welp... Why don't we head to the music hall, then," Gunner gently gestured down the hallway of offices, a gentlemanly show of his extended hand, as if to politely express the notion of 'ladies first', "We can chat along the way. Y-You said your mother is the Queen of Sugar Rush?"
"Yeah, I'm Sugar Rush's princess," Berri eased in an ironic show of nonchalance, though with her words, she was now starkly aware that said stature was practically leveled, if not over, Gunner's incredible celebrity status; something he eagerly cued to in the form of a teasing smile and a tender nudge to Berri's elbow.
"Wow... Your highness, may I have your autograph?" Gunner only lovingly played, though Berri shot him a nearly annoyed grin and was thrilled his gentle banter was as light and as sweet as could be, something she could easily relate to.
"Hey, I didn't ask you for YOUR autograph, did I?" Berri bit back, she was thrilled that Gunner beamed her a now confident, happy smile, one of escalating, coy cuteness, it was clear he was ready to volley the banter right back at her, though he bobbed a nod in defeat and let her have this one.
"No, ma'am," Gunner's voice lilted in surprise, simply as if he had yet to meet a woman who was not only a stranger and a brand new friend, though a woman who wasn't afraid to put someone of his stature right in his place; Berri was aware he was relishing in it, she was nervous this notion was something that was potentially due to let her emotions get way ahead of herself.
