Episode: 4.7

--- Nico ---

“Can you believe that asshole?!” Maybell screamed.

“Yeah, I was there too.” Nico reminded her, while adjusting the earrings that had begun to pinch the bottom of her ears. “In fact, most of his insults and junk were directed at me if you recall.”

Maybell scowled. “I know! That’s what has me pissed, it’d be one thing if he’d just insulted me or dumped me, but he brought you into it. That’s just not right!”

(Eh, I’m used to it.)

“You know,” Blake sighed in resignation. “I really should’ve expected you two to bring this to the game table.”

“What?” Maybell turned her glare on Blake. “And you aren’t pissed Vince pulled this crap on us?”

“Just because I’m upset about something doesn’t mean I bring it to game night, speaking of…”

“Oh, right…” She shook her head, before going over her papers, “Um, well we technically finished the campaign already…”

“By making Vincent the, pardon my language here, ‘asshole boss, who ran away like a fucking punk ass bitch’ as you, oh so delicately put it.”

Maybell smiled at her. “Thanks for that by the way.”

“Uh huh, no problem.” Her friend needed a vent. Solidarity and all that. “Um, since we didn’t technically fight the boss should anyone get skill points for that?”

Maybell frowned. “Even as pissed as I am it doesn’t feel right.”

“It wouldn’t be very sporting, to be rewarded for nothing.” Blake agreed.

“Okay,” She nodded to her co-GMs. “no points for the boss then.”

“Blake, you cool with two, for the thing with the ship and managing the minions?” Maybell explained.

“Nah,” She cut off Blake’s response. “Give her three, I was pulling a lot of buffs from you two in my fights.”

Maybell nodded, before writing something down. “So, that gives me two points, right?”

“We could make it three, I mean you had that whole speech thing written out.” She offered, because it was a good speech. (The part I actually listened to anyway.)

“No, it was still part of my acting gambit.” Maybell argued, before frowning. “And you cut my speech off again!”

“You write too many speeches…” She whined childishly.

“I believe that’s habit in more political oriented families.” Blake cut in, as she picked up said speech. “Though I agree to an extra point, this is very well written, much better than the speech you gave at the conference earlier.”

“Yeah, but that’s because I know no one actually pays attention to that stuff. Whereas here, you at least bother to hear me out.” Maybell explained to Blake, before turning a glare back on Nico.

“Erm, so…” She glanced at the paper in front of her for a topic change. “Do I get a point for escaping the guard, or is that rolled in with my escaping the city?”

Blake rolled her eyes, before picking up a page. “Let’s see… Both of your entrances were grand enough to net you a point each. Then you have those fights you participated in, and while the enemies were weaker than you, between them all they should still total up to a point. That said while you did cause enough mayhem while escaping for another point, I think it might be best just roll the guard in with that one… Maybell?”

“Mm, yeah, four points sounds about right.”

“Yes!” She couldn’t help but grin at that. “Just enough to level up my Maddening Presence’s effect.”

“Which is useless against machines, the things that make up like half our campaigns.” Maybell pointed out.

“Yeah, but a few of our higher-level ones have dragons and stuff!” She pointed out, with a grin. “I don’t know about you, but I want to make a dragon piss itself at just the thought of fighting me.”

“That does explain all of the points you keep putting into Maddening Presence, and Villainous Visage…” Blake murmured, looking over her own character sheet. “They’re not uncommon skills in a ‘Madman’ build, but you’re still putting a lot more points into them than most.”

She couldn’t help but grin. “Yeah, it’s a loop trick my uncle taught me, it’s best in social situations but it still helps in the more combat campaigns since they cost zero SP to use and they still de-buff most enemy stats. The reason more people don’t use it is because you have to put so many points into expanding their individual radiuses, that it’s too expensive to balance with the effect.”

Blake blinked with a bit of awe. “But by chaining them together with your Fractured Personality trait, you can spread their effects without actually worrying about their range!”

“Right!”

“So, that’s how you keep winning all those rolls.” Maybell realized, with a touch of amazement. “I’ve always just thought Blake was letting you win for all of your over the top acting.”

“No, I wouldn’t…” Blake trailed off, noting something. “Wait, is that what you’ve been doing?”

“Yeah, I give her bonus points for her acting.” Maybell rolled her eyes at Blake’s glare. “And yes, I take off points for your lack of acting.”

“So, that’s why half my minions are dead! You cheating bitch!”

“Hey, it wasn’t really half your minions…” She tried to mediate, before giggling. “It was like one less than half.”

She and Maybell couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer dissatisfaction Blake’s look gave to that response.

“Nico, let’s trade for Maybell’s conflict rolls.”

“What? Nooo!” Maybell whined, pawing the air. “She’s going to make me lose all my rolls next game!”

“Unlike you,” Blake’s glare could kill a man. “I actually follow the rules of the game.”

(I feel like there’s an irony to the villain following the rules more than the hero…)

That thought made her giggle.

As the other girls continued to bicker about the rules, and how they were really more of guidelines than hard laws, her eyes drifted to a nearby clock before going wide at the time.

“Ah, crap, it’s almost time for dinner, Sol ‘s going to kill me!”

Blake rolled her eyes. “Please don’t be a drama queen, your father is a giant softie.”

Maybell nodded with a grin. “She’s right, he spoils you and your sisters. Hell, he spoils me and Blake just for being your friends.”

“Yeah, Sol ‘s…” She ran a hand through her hair, more than a little embarrassed. “He’s Sol. A-and I need to get moving, or I really will be late.”

“Alright, then I’ll have someone clean this mess up later.” Blake nodded as she and Maybell stood.

She began scratching the back of her head, as the other girls started following her. “Sorry, I’ve got to go, I know I’ve only really been here a few hours today.”

“It is no problem, after all familial obligations are important.” Blake assured her.

“Truth be told I’m just glad you two got me away from home for the weekend.” Maybell admitted, stretching her arms above her head.

Nico blinked. “It’s Thursday though…”

Maybell just rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“I do, I just like messing with you.”

“Clearly.” Blake nodded, before turning towards Maybell, “That reminds me, I’ve already had your guest bedroom made for you, but the staff said to inform you they still need to wash the clothes you leave here, dust and all that.”

Maybell threw an arm around Blake’s shoulders. “Thanks BB, you’re the best.”

“She really is.” Nico smiled as Blake broke free of Maybell’s clutches and still went to hold the door open for them, despite their teasing.

As they neared the exit of the entrance hall, (or is it an exit hall?) she stopped next to her friends and held her arms out. “Hugs?”

Maybell was the first to sweep her into a hug. “Seriously thanks for this.” Before stepping away and smiling. “See you tomorrow Nic.”

She nodded, before turning and making a ‘gimme’ motion towards Blake.

Blake rolled her eyes, before complying and returning her hug, sending a warm feeling throughout her chest.

(Blake gives the second-best hugs…)