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Part 7 - Equilibrium (cont.)

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"Everyone bottlenecked at the end of the line to halt the devastating cargo...a weapon bound for its final destination. We couldn't let it get through. I boosted everyone. I held the enemy off by sneaking through a corridor. But there were so many of them and they just kept coming. One after another, my friends fell. The strong, the fleet, and the other protectors. It was just me, all alone. But I had a chance to do what I do best: heal."

She gestured all around the table and spoke firmly above the game being played. She complemented it while it provided the background mood. Even the current match evoked the one she was recounting for me. 

"With a wave of my hand, I restored my allies, my friends. My light spread across the map from a hallway of darkness. But we were still out-matched and besieged. We pushed, again and again, to keep the weapon safe from their hands. My life and light was for others, to give them strength, to give them hope that this was not the end. We only needed to hold on. Just a little time to persevere in the darkness with the candle of hope. But the enemy was a gale. I had to hold my light close, near my heart, pushing past safety. I fought with everything I had inside. I had to live. I had to survive for the others. They may fall but they will rise again. What is lost is never lost forever. It is remembered. It is loved. It endures no matter what challenges, no matter what hopelessness. Always fight on. Never surrender to a dark fate. Fight on with certainty of victory!"

She took a careful breath and finished, "And so the seconds ticked off. Though the dangers held us to the ledge, we did not fall. Though the challenges were many, we did not waver. Though the tears were ready, we cried them in joy. We held the line and we won!"

This, her third recounting of a match, was easily the most triumphant so far. She was really getting into it. I pumped my fists and cheered as she took a breather. I sipped between my Blue Lagoon, a cup of coffee, and the wretched remains of my beer as I mused aloud, "Have you ever read for the kids at the library? I think you'd be good at it. Very dramatic."

Eyebrows raised, she adjusted her golden hairpin, fanned the collar of her top, and worked on tying her windbreaker around her waist. "I was asked. Once or twice, when the normal readers had strep and a thrashed throat. I had the opportunity. But I said I was too busy updating something. So, they found someone else. I wonder...if I had stepped out of my own little quiet darkness, would more of my life feel like this past week has felt? I dunno, but I intend to keep going."

Fuck me. It hurt to know. Almost as much as it hurt to say. An accidental Lina with a fleeting existence. Why did you have to be so amazing? No, don't dwell on the darkness. She still held onto the light for however many minutes she had left.

My nightmares of what came next were inconsequential. Greg was amazing too. I just hoped he didn't cry when he awoke on the day this was over. He loved Lina so much. But we'll be able to lavish the perfect sort of joy on the unsuspecting first one. 

Not that I was giving up on this Lina yet. The coffee was working. Wooo! I had at least three more hours and a marathon in me!

"Babs? You're snuggling the table again. But I get to play another game!"

Jerk up and look around. Seize that adrenaline! "Hell yea! You are! Go, girl! Go, Lina! Hooot hooot! Owl for the win!"

She smiled and giggled as she made her way across the room. Oh wow, they finally set up the kiosk things and it was only...crap, it was that late? Well, my phone was a known source of evil and a liar, but it felt that late. Oof, my shoulders. But I could loosen them by raising them for Lina and cheering!

I could do this. I cheered for longer stretches than this in high school! I was also...nearly a third younger. But that didn't matter. What mattered was Lina was playing. One-on-one with a controller and a screen, like we played the other night. It looked a little like the fighter she put on my phone. Prettier but about the same.

Lina's opponent was the gray-haired guy. He still had his head down. Nothing personal but I hope she beats your ass to bloody piles! No wait, that was gross. Beats you dizzy with cuckoos and crying for your pillow! 

She approached him with an extended handshake. He didn't take it but bowed his head and gestured towards the game. Odd fellow. Maybe he was a germaphobe? We sometimes had patients who desperately wanted to make sure every last thing was sanitized. Well, your body is forever swarming with germs and exposing yourself a little helps.

The other kiosks nearby were distracting but at least the overhead display of her fight was easy to see. Sips between all my stuff. Let's go Lina, let's go! Time to play hard and put on a show! Lina!...doesn't rhyme with bite but let's keep up the fight!

He was mashing down her bar. She seemed to be able to dodge but not fast enough. Already down to half. Turn him into some platinum blond lady! Nah, I wasn't the right sort of drunk to get into that again. 

First round against Lina. She chatted briefly with the guy as she flashed a smile. The second round, she held the bar from dropping for a good bit and launched a really cool-looking attack with whirlwinds. Ultimately, my cheers just led to a loss. 

With a little clap for her competitor, Lina said some quick words. Before she turned to leave though, the man offered his hand for a shake. She gingerly took it and he even gave her a smile. 

As she headed back, I clapped for Lina. "You'll get the next one!"

She smiled and shrugged. "No worries. It was fun. He plays that game every single day. I never stood a chance. He holds a couple of different records and has even done some streams for autism charities. Cool guy."

Lina eroded half her Sandy Shore in one gulp before realizing it. She held her mouth open like she'd swallowed a hot pepper and squinted with one eye like a pirate. After a sip from my water, she managed, "My gosh, the back of my throat almost feelth snum." She cleared it and shook her face.

I set her drink off to the side and asked if she wanted a regular pop. Still flexing her mouth, she sniffled and said, "Just some water. I have energy drinks in my bag but, at this hour, they'd just keep me up way too long into the morning."

It was the beginning of Thursday and I was definitely feeling it in my body. It was saying, "Hey? You know that thing we do where we sleep? I really think we should do that now." And I was still telling it, "FUCK OFF! Suck on this coffee and alcohol! My girl needs cheers through the rest of this!"

Fortunately, the fifth round of the first game was finally done. The setup for the second game seemed underway. It was the fast one, based on a popular series Lina mentioned. 

Home fries in cheese sounded nice but I had a stomach which wasn't ready to take more. I'd held my liquor though. I'd survived my liquor...was probably the better way of putting it.  

John hadn't managed that last week with Greg. Of course, Greg hadn't managed to resist a redhead. But we had one fun Friday night. This weekend would make up for it. No bet to cut short high-quality sex. 

Although, as I looked across the table at Lina adjusting her video game clothes and watching the area, I felt weird to think like that. My man. My girl. Salty, sexy dick. Sweet, gentle friend. A passionate, dedicated boss. A passionate, energetic upstart.

God, why did it all have to be so complicated? Why not just...I meet Lina and we realize we're meant to be friends and then she does all the same stuff. Only John gets off his ass and apologizes to her. And Greg and I never leave the bedroom all weekend. Why not that?

Oh well. A long sip of Blue Lagoon plus coffee would put it out of mind. 

Lina smirked. "Go easy. I don't wanna see you crash again." Her salad and stew were finally finished and taken away by a server.

With a wave, I assured her I was fine. Mostly.

The first call-ups for the second game started with K-E-C. To pass the time, I propped my chin up with my hand and asked, "Whatcha thinking?"

Lina bowed her head and smiled. "Hoping I haven't wrecked you for Thursday. I mean I've been up late before on a work night, but I can dose off in the library. What are you gonna do?"

"It's one night. I'll be fine. What about you? No sleeping in reception. And your scrubs are back at your place." 

Her expression tightened. "Oh. Well. It's one day. One thing Greg also taught me was a sufficiently-nice body spray can cover up clothes worn an extra day."

Aww, Greg didn't need to cover up any of that though.

With a deep breath, she brushed at her top and offered, "Or you could make Thursday casual and I could wear this for a little longer. Maybe we'll encounter more people than you and Candace who actually find it cool."

Well, I was the boss this week. I could do anything.

I could...I could...do uhh. Well, I could have Deb dress in a witch's outfit, but it was not stated in the contract-related dress-code. So, she could ignore me and file a formal complaint. But there was nothing against a short-term receptionist having a casual day.

I raised my highball glass. "Sure! Make it casual. Just for Thursday."

Lina added, "And things should go back to normal on Friday and I can finish off the week in scrubs."

I smothered my thoughts with a long but shallow sip.

Finally, Lina got called up. Second round. Much faster than the last game. Forget my drink! Cheer again! Stomp my feet. Shake my boobs! Gooo Lina!

Holy crap, I was getting achy all over though. Could be I hadn't used the gulls' all night. Could be nearly twenty hours conscious. Whatever it was, I refused to let my girl lose another match! Win win win! Fight fight fight! Do...whatever the heck the point to this game is!

Near as I could tell, it was a city with bubble weapons turning off gravity. Okay! You flip-off physics as hard as you can! 

Lina gave an easy grin. She moved fast. She clicked all over the place. I still had no idea what she was doing but her name was climbing out of the middle of the pack till, swiftly, she was the lone survivor!

I clapped so hard my palms stung but it was worth it. I went over to hug her when she got up. Her name in first with no Justin clinging to her ass!

Maybe it was the alcohol flooding my system, plus the stories she shared with me, but this moment felt huge. Like end-of-a-movie stuff where the crowd roars, emotional music plays, and everyone goes nuts. The victory is won! The bad guys are overcome!

However, I was pretty much the only person celebrating and Lina was just along for the ride. There were still three rounds left and the third game to finish. But, fuck that, she kicked butt!

I didn't mind the looks, but I took the party back to the table. Lina gave a slight blush but with a sense of joy and relief on her face. She said, her head dipped, "That map is sooo hard online. I got real lucky."

Holding her hands, I said, "That was incredible. I have no idea! You did great."

She chuckled with my reaction and downplayed, "I did good enough. I've seen people do better. Gravity well placements, distortion field strength, and where you get dropped. It's wild."

As I calmed down, she offered some background on the game. Spin-off, I knew. Based on a four-installment series with some shorter "episodes" in the middle. Alien superpowers with Earth caught in the middle. Time and gravity messed with. Rewriting history with unforeseen consequences.

Lina explained, "It had a lull between parts. If not for lost bets, who knows if it and other series by the game developer, Valve, would have ever been finished." 

Well, maybe there was some good to be found from bets. "Is that your favorite?"

Lina's eyes widened. "Favorite? Gosh, I can't pick one, game or series. My favorite is reserved for some future title probably. That said, I really love the one on my shirt. Portal 3. If I had to pick right now, then that's it. Easily the best game I can think of. It takes everything I loved from the ones before it and makes it bigger yet more intimate. I could gush about it all night."

And she kinda did. She told me snippets of the story, gesturing to the image on her shirt to help illustrate it. Open world, adventure, and puzzles. Blisteringly funny yet sharp melancholy. She added, "When I get the chance to stream it again, you should come over. I can show you my favorite parts."

I numbed myself a little with a smile and a long sip of my drink. "Sure thing!"

After we decided against the home fries, Lina leaned back and cracked her neck. Just a little while left till the last one: Mario Kart 8, some special edition. I cracked the sore parts of my bod, stretched my feet, and inquired, "So, that's your favorite. At least for right now. What was your first game?"

Lina held her eyes on me. She took a deep breath before offering, " It's...a...it's a long story and I dunno if I could tell it... except to say my first game made me fall in love with games ever after that." Her expression was tense and evasive. Shitty, drunk questions from Babs.