Strategy Session with Gina

“I prepared a list for you,” you say. You pull open the notes you made and show the list of names to Gina.

She scans the list, eyes flicking across the names and numbers. A minute later, she looks up at you, passing the phone back. There is, incredibly, a grudging look of respect on her face.

“You’re better at this than I thought,” she says. “Your scores would have been right yesterday night. But events today have changed things.”

You give Gina an incredulous look. “Thanks, but how would you know what the ‘right’ scores are supposed to be?”

“I pay close attention to my family,” she says. “Your reputation is my reputation.”

You nod, accepting the answer. Gina has a way of knowing these things. It’s what you’re banking on to help you beat Jack. In the back of your mind, you’re thankful that you decided to omit your sisters from this list. What would Gina think? Is she at a {Gina}? And would she think that Lisa’s at {Lisa}?

“Okay, let’s walk through this list together then,” you say. “Who am I off on? Who should I focus my attention on?”

“Let’s start with the good news,” she says. “The campus sluts are going to be all over both you and Jack once they hear the news. Add 30 points to both Elsie and Annalise. Don’t miss the easy shots.”

“Got it,” you say, updating their scores. “{if FuckElsie == 1} {if FuckAnnalise == 1}I’ve done both of them, so they’re out of the picture. {else} I’ve done Elsie but not Annalise. Annalise has been all over me since my first day on campus though, so she should be easy to finish. {endif} {else} {if FuckAnnalise == 1} I’ve done Annalise but not Elsie. But I’m pretty sure I could knock on her door in five minutes and have the job done, so… consider it done.{else} I haven’t gotten to either of them yet. But Annalise has been all over me since my first day on campus though, so she should be easy to finish. As for Elsie, I’m pretty sure I could knock on her door in five minutes and have the job done, so… consider it done.{endif}{endif}”

Gina nods, agreeing with your assessment. “Next, the Insta-whores. You’re going to be the hot thing on campus for the next little bit. They’ll want to capitalize on that. That makes you valuable. Add 15 points to Katie, Khloe, and Ruby.”

“Wait what, Ruby?” you say, frowning. “She’s nice! She’s in my math class and—”

“Have you seen her fitness page?”

“Um… yeah! Those gym shots are… artfully taken,” you say. “And half of it is food, too, and—”

“Add the fifteen points,” Gina says, and you do.

{if FuckRuby == 1} “I’ve already gotten with her, though,” you say. {else} {if Ruby > 80} “I think I’m close to getting to her,” you say. {else} “It’ll take some work, but I think I can get her,” you say. {endif}{endif} “The twins… they might be tougher to crack.”

“You don’t have to report your love life to me after each girl. We both know where you stand, so don’t waste my time,” Gina says. “Now, Imogen and Sarah are clout chasers. They’re just as bad as the Insta girls, even if they express it in a different way. Add 15 to both of them.”

“Same goes with Jeanne?” you ask, starting to get a feel for this.

“She’s a bit… different,” your sister says, choosing her words carefully. “15 points is right. But be sure to handle her… correctly.” You nod, and she continues. “Then there are the girls who’ll find these developments fun and exciting. You know the type. I see you’ve already added 10 to Mallory. Same goes with Nora and Valentine. Oh, and we musn’t forget about Janet, that homewrecker. Yeah, she’ll be all over you.”

You dutifully update your scores. There’s no point in wondering how she knows all of this. She just does.

“The sorority girls next. They’re a complicated bunch. Most of them will see this as a chance to hop on an ascending star and get a good story out of it. Add 10 to Imogen, Laura, Hana, and Avril.”

“But that’s not all the sorority girls,” you say. “This is the bad news?”

“Part of it,” Gina nods. “Michelle, Adriana, and Shruti, they play this game a little differently. Take 5 off each of them.”

So you do.

“More bad news,” Gina says. “There are girls who don’t like players. Unfortunately for you, that’s your reputation now, whether you like it or not. Take 10 off Daphne, Mars, Dani, Charmaine, and Brooke. You’ll get a chance to repair your relationship with them as time goes on, but…”

“They’re not the focus for now,” you say, completing the thought.

“You can focus on whoever you like,” she laughs. “So long as you score enough by the end of Burn Night, I don’t care how you get there. Go get ‘em.”

With that, she gets up, heading back towards campus. You hurriedly chase after her.

“Wait, but what if… what if it’s not enough?” you ask. “What if I fail and…”

You let the unspeakable hang in the air. Gina turns around and laughs, a melancholy thing that seems to echo in the air.

“Then you are weak, and I will have deserved my fate,” she says. She beckons for you to come closer, and you do. She reaches up and cradles your face between her hands, and you realize with a start just how close she is to you. “It’s time to grow up, little brother. Make me proud. Show them how a Knight plays the game.”

She gets up on her tiptoes, and before you can react, you feel her lips brushing against yours. It’s a brief kiss—one that many would describe as entirely chaste—but it’s the first that she’s ever done it, and you feel your world rocked from top to bottom, and you stumble. By the time you come back to your senses, Gina’s already turned a corner, gone from sight, leaving you alone in the graveyard.

It’s time to hunt.

Elsie +30
Annalise +30
Katie +15
Khloe +15
Ruby +15
Imogen +15
Sarah +15
Jeanne +15
Mallory +10
Nora +10
Valentine +10
Janet +10
Imogen +10
Laura +10
Hana +10
Avril +10
Michelle -5
Adriana -5
Shruti -5
Daphne -10
Mars -10
Dani -10
Charmaine -10
Brooke -10