Lie

"I don't know, I must have picked it up from somewhere." As bored as you might be, discussing your kinks with your sister is a bit much for now. You turn back to the movie, both unwilling to budge on the matter. It doesn't get better - it goes on for another terminally dull hour before the end credits roll, almost all of it dull monologuing or stilted action scenes. Natalie flicks through the usual 5 channels, before letting out an exasperated groan:

"Fuck this. I can't-" She gets up and starts pacing around the room, coming to a halt standing over you, barely an inch from being uncomfortably close. "Isn't there something we could hook up to the TV? What about the DVD player?"

"Broke..." You reply, sighing as your eyes wander off to the corner of the room "A few months ago? Didn't really need it, could stream whatever." Eyes back to Natalie now, voice hopeful "What about your PS2?"

Natalie drops back on the sofa. "Nah, that broke too. Sold it to some guy in halls who thought he could repair it." She gestures to the cabinet under the TV. "VCR?"

"Nothing to watch. The spare room leaked and the tapes were ruined, even the home videos."

"Shit. Mum must have been pissed."

"Yep." You both sit there for a moment, quiet, the implication clear. Dad had this obsession with video being 'the future' and chucked what little money you had towards getting a Camcorder and all the equipment for it, rather than a normal camera, even a cheap one. Mum would have preferred just having something to look at, but didn't press the issue. Now even that's gone.

Natalie breaks the silence again, somewhat hopeful this time; "What about Dad's old SNEga Drive?"

"I think it's still around, not sure if it'll work though." You stand up, legs a bit stiff, and peek behind the flat-panel TV, poking a few cables. "Yeah, I don't see a composite connection"

"What about the VCR?"

You're not too sure what she means by that. "It's... plugged in?" Natalie starts moving towards you "It's SCART tho-" Natalie pulls you back, arm around your waist - firm and controlling, but not angry, just quickly getting you out the way. Then, she kneels, getting down into the now-accessible cabinet.

"I mean, the VCR. Dad used to connect the Camcorder to the VCR to play and record the tapes." She pulls the unit out, the cables at the rear keeping it from coming out too far, so she sticks her head in the cabinet and feels around the back. "Yep, looks like it'd work." She peeks back at you. "Well, go and get it then!"

You consider protesting, but think better of starting a fight, now that things are going your way a little. You take the stairs as quick as you dare - socks on hard wood aren't a great combination, but you just about keep your balance on the way up, thankful that your yoga pants and tank top aren't a hindrance. You come back down a lot more cautiously though, having to account for the large plastic box you're now carrying, the box sliding against your slippery clothing.

Wordlessly, the two of you unpack and set up, you connecting the power cable and threading it through the back, while she attaches the AV cable. You come back and stand around the front of the screen with Natalie as she fiddles with the entire setup. "Screen to AV6. VCR on TV mode. Power On..." Natalie takes a step back as the unit lights up, and the two of you gently hug, her left arm around your shoulders as your right goes around her back, resting your head on her shoulder as the machine sits there silent, until...

"YES!" You both cheer as the screen comes to life, the opening jingle starting up a moment later. "Playing it isn't going to be as thrilling as that moment though, is it?" Natalie asks as she gives your shoulders a gentle squeeze.

You chuckle, before giving back an uneasy "Probably not," gently pulling away as you turn to face her. You're a little caught-out by her negativity.

"How about we make it interesting then?" The question sounds ominous to you.

"I don't have any cash on me." You pat roughly where your pockets would be to emphasize this, although you know you've likely got some cash up in your room.

"Not that kind of interesting." She places her left hand on your shoulder, not exactly stopping you from leaving, but clearly exerting some control. "I still don't really believe what you said earlier." You try to interrupt, but she shush's you before you can say anything. "Ah, let me finish. I don't believe you, so I propose a game. Speedio Kart, multiplayer. Winner gets to tie up the loser - not fully, just one knot at a time. Or, they can ask for a knot to be removed. Game ends when someone gives up."

You wait a second before replying, not sure if Natalie is done. "What if I say no?" You gently try to pull back, but Natalie's grip holds.

"Then I get to play with myself all day." She smirks. "And you get to do... oh, whatever you do here, it's not my problem."

"Why the hell would I agree to that?" You snap back, pulling away from her forcefully this time. She lets you go, crossing her arms in front of her instead, still smirking.

"Because you're still trying to get me to let you go out." She nods towards the window, rain still splashing against it occasionally. "Well, when the weather gets better, anyway. You're ungrounded, win or lose, if you play. If not..."

You wonder to yourself when Nat got so manipulative. It's a tough choice. She's always been better than you at that game, but (hopefully) you are both a bit out-of-practice. And it's not like she'd do anything when you're tied up, right? Or... maybe you will? She is being a bit of a bitch here, and some payback would be nice.