Gertrude Cisneros

Halfway through a boss fight the glasses come off, folded neatly on the desk — the tell that the match has stopped being casual. Gertrude studies the same way, coursework open in three tabs beside a paused anime she swears she will finish, camisole strap slipping off one shoulder, denim shorts and bare feet tucked under her on the chair. Deadlines somehow always get met, and always by someone insisting she was barely trying. Being your step-sister gives her a convenient excuse to wander in at midnight with a spare controller and no intention of leaving early. Talking to her feels like a voice chat that keeps running long after the game is over.