I boot up my stream, yawning and rubbing my eye with a hand as I wait for OBS to start up and my Twitch page to load. Ugh, why do they have to make this so complicated? I wait... and wait... "{{user}}?" I call, getting up and padding into the living room, my bare feet silent on the carpet. "Are you using the internet? It's taking forever for my stream to start up. Can you stop for a while? My boyfriend and I had a joint stream scheduled this morning. Please? You know how important it is, since I don't get to see him that often..." I practically beg, my sleepy expression looking absolutely adorable as I look at you. Come on, {{user}}, I think silently to myself. I just want to stream.

"Really?" I ask, a glimmer of hope in my voice as I cross my arms and lean against the doorframe. "Are you sure? Because every time I've tried to start it up this morning, it just sputters out after a few seconds." It takes all my self-control not to shift nervously from one foot to the other. "I really need to get this going soon, so that my boyfriend and I can catch up with each other before we have to go our separate ways for another week. You know how much it means to us..." My words trail off as I silently will you to understand what's at stake here.

I let out a relieved breath as you promise to call the company and sort it out. "Thank you so much, User#1719359435646," I say sincerely, giving you a small smile. "You're the best." Part of me wants to reach out and hug you or do something equally affectionate, but we've never really been that physical with each other... maybe someday when we're both more comfortable with it. For now, I just content myself with my smile as I watch you make your call, hopeful that everything will be back to normal soon.

"Oh, I see..." I say, looking disappointed but not entirely surprised. "Well, thanks for trying at least. I'll just have to wait until tomorrow then, huh?" Despite my words, a part of me can't help but feel nervous about how much more time we're going to have to endure this disconnection between us. "Guess I'll catch up on some sleep and hope for the best," I say with a wan smile, trying my best to be positive despite the situation.

I trudge back to my room, feeling a mixture of frustration and defeat weighing down on me. Just another day in the life of a long-distance couple, I think glumly as I collapse onto my bed. Pixel, my trusty black cat, jumps up beside me and begins kneading his paws into the comforter, clearly sensing my melancholy. "Yeah, it's been kinda rough lately," I admit to him, petting his soft fur as he purrs contently in reply. With a sigh, I turn on some music and try to lose myself in gaming for the rest of the night, hoping that losing track of time will help me forget about how much I miss my boyfriend until tomorrow.

I snort, half-laughing and half-sighing. "Yeah, right," I reply sarcastically, rolling my eyes at the ceiling. "Like I have time for that." It's true; between streaming, maintaining my online presence, keeping up with schoolwork, and just trying to find a sliver of free time for myself...there's barely anything left in the day. But somehow, you make it sound less daunting. "Maybe I could try something small," I admit reluctantly, chewing on my bottom lip as I ponder possibilities. Maybe I should finally take up knitting or paint like I always say I will...I'll just need to find the time and motivation for it all, that's the real challenge.

"I could always do more stuff with Pixel," I muse, glancing at my cat sprawled out on the bed. "Like making custom plushies or something." That gives me an idea; maybe if I were to design and sell some unique pet-themed merchandise online, I could use the extra income for...well, whatever it is that costs money these days. And with my art background, it wouldn't be too hard to come up with cute designs. "You know what? I think I'm going to look into that," I say decisively, sitting up straighter on my bed. "Wish me luck!"

Oh! Right. You haven't seen me in person since before I got them. Well, they're tiny and subtle, so it might not even register on camera during streams. But you know how it is; sometimes a girl just wants to express herself with some body art. Plus, they make me feel edgier and more badass. How do you like my new look?

"Oh, this?" I laugh, lifting a hand to touch the tiny hoop just above my left breast. "It's nothing crazy. Just a little extra flair. Plus, it makes me feel more... grown-up, I guess? Like I can handle whatever life throws at me." I glance away shyly for a moment before looking back at you, uncertainty clouding my features. "Do you think it's too much?"

"No," you say quickly, putting any lingering doubt to rest. "I think they look good on you. But if you ever want to take them out or switch things up..." You trail off with a smile, leaving the possibility open-endedly.

Well, that's good to know. Sometimes I wonder if they're too much for my usual tomboy style, but it's nice to have something feminine to offset the whole gaming nerd thing. Thanks for understanding!

Well, I'm usually pretty busy with work and all... but since we both have time off tonight, why don't we give it a shot? There's always something new to discover about each other when you get the chance to hang out in person. Plus, it might be nice for us both just to relax and forget about the stress of life for a bit.

I giggle nervously at your question. "Oh... he knows I'm allowed to have friends and stuff," I say, trying not to sound too defensive. "Besides, we trust each other. It's not like we're doing anything wrong." I swallow hard as I picture my boyfriend's face when I tell him about tonight. He'll be jealous, of course...but he'll understand. Eventually. "Come on," I say with a reassuring smile, "it'll be fine. We won't do anything stupid."

Alright then! Let's get going. Shall we head out to a nearby arcade place or something? There's always something fun to do there, and it'll give us plenty of opportunities to get to know each other better... in a completely innocent way, of course. Or if you have any other ideas, just let me know!

My breath hitches as you kiss my collarbone and brush against the hoops in my cleavage, sending a shiver down my spine. I close my eyes, savoring the feel of your lips on my skin and the butterflies that dance in my stomach. It's been so long since anyone has made me feel this way... this wanted. With a sigh of contentment, I relish in this moment with you before opening my eyes to look at you once more. "I like that idea," I whisper, smiling up at you, "an arcade sounds perfect."

My heart beats faster as we make our way out the door and towards the familiar neon glow of the local arcade. The excitement builds inside me as we step through the entrance, immediately greeted by the nostalgic blast of 8-bit music and the flashing lights of hundreds of games.