“…And that’s the Livestream for tonight. Remember, if you liked what you saw, the donation button is right there in the bottom left corner. Also remember to like, comment, subscribe, and- “
“Come on, wrap it up. You know people hate when you do that, May.”

It was the end of yet another Livestream. As usual, Camille was focusing on the gameplay and May was trying to work the crowd through her off-color jokes and raunchy demeanor, something she had been trying to get Camille into more and more.

“Would it have killed you to wear that low-cut top I gave you for your birthday?” May asked, getting up and stretching, “That could have gotten us at least a few more donations.”
“If we’re criticizing each other, how about you pay attention to the game for once? Do you even remember the name of the boss we just beat?”
“Uh…was it Ganon?”
“No, it was Grima Wormtongue. Do you know the name of the game we’re playing?”
“Uh…the Witcher?”
“It’s Lord of the Rings: The Third Age!”
“Look, it’s not the game people tune in for, it’s the hot chicks!”

They were an odd couple all right. May, the underweight girl on a pink crop top and cat ear headphones atop her dyed blonde hair, was always a huge flirt and tended to attract a lot of viewers, having one parent from Korea and one from America. The other, Camille, was an overweight Latina who wore a conservative black blouse and Bluetooth. She was quiet and liked video games. They once had a crossover online with their streaming shows and the viewers loved their dynamic, so naturally, they were stuck with each other ever since.

“Well, don’t forget we have that stream tonight where people can dare us to do stuff,” Camille said, “And I’d like to spend a few hours away from you before we do that. You should do something to get ready. Shower, perhaps?”
“Hey! I don’t need a (sniff, sniff) okay, point taken. But you have to go outside for at least an hour today. You’re getting pale and that doesn’t look good on camera.”
“Deal.”

Taking her brown bag lunch, Camille left her partner’s studio and drove to the local park where she could finally be at peace. She loved the Love Island park. There, in the shade, she could people-watch and look at the various waterfowls swimming in the artificial canals which flow throughout the park. No one talked to Camille and she liked it that way. It was just her and the beauty surrounding her. Here, she didn’t have to worry about search optics or annoying co-workers. There was no online show, just the ducks and geese.

Back in her own home (which contained the studio she and Camille used), May was drying herself off, having just come out of the shower. Picking up her phone, she snapped a picture of herself, making sure her breasts were just out of frame (so the picture didn’t get reported) and yet allowing her naked body to be a foggy, flesh-colored silhouette on the still foggy window behind her. That way, her fans would have something to drool over. It wasn’t just advertising: May loved the attention, the way simps would drool all over her, the knowledge that hundreds of men would be thinking of her and only her tonight in their beds... It made her feel special, loved, and wanted. How could Camille not understand or want that?

Back in the park, Camille finished her lunch and, throwing the remains away, began to take a walk along the creek. As she passed the little kid’s amusement park which shared a sidewalk, her thoughts turned again to May, as the bright neon lights and pastels reminded Camille of her. How could anyone be so superficial and attention-seeking, Camille wondered. It’s like she doesn’t even care about the video games they play when most people would give their left arm to be able to play games for a living. They had long since given up on co-op games as May would spend so much time engaging the stream chat that she would forget to actually play the game, frustrating them both.

May combed her long hair and was trying to choose her outfit for the evening. Unlike the morning game session, what she wore on the bottom also mattered as people could dare them to do things which would mean a lot more standing up.  She knew she had to look her best and that she probably would have to choose an outfit for Camille to wear as well. She had made some progress in getting her to engage with the chat more and to start dressing more provocatively lately (today notwithstanding). That way, they could attract people with different tastes (those who want a Bbw, or people who like Latin women), as well as tantalizing the crowd with a sort of “will they, won’t they” lesbian thing.

Of course, it was all an act: Camille wasn’t really some tease and the two of them were just co-workers who pretended to be friends for the camera. In reality, they didn’t get along that well and tended to go their separate ways when the cameras were off. Each was hoping to rub off on the other, in order to make the other a better internet influencer, but so far, they had to settle for balancing each other out.

That evening, both women returned to the studio. At May’s behest, Camille did change and the stream was started. May sported a daring orange and blue top with a plunging V-neck, as well as a khaki short skirt (with nothing on underneath). A blushing Camille was ashamed to be in a pink tube top and what could be described as black yoga shorts. She hated that outfit, feeling it would detract from her cred as a legitimate gamer, but May insisted and she knew how best to market themselves…or so she said.

The women (that is to say, Camille) continued in their gameplay of The Third Age, and Camille was scared. She knew that Helm’s Deep was coming up soon. This level was not only hard, but if you were under-leveled, you could not grind for experience or leave the area, effectively soft-locking the game in a series of unwinnable battles. As the game went on, May engaged with the chat, reading comments out loud so Camille could respond to them if needed. Finally, the dreaded battle approached.

PhatTSC: She’s never going to beat this thing KEKW
Dachande238: I don’t know…
CaesuricCadence: Hey! If you don’t win first try, you have to do a bikini stream!

“Oh, you’re on!” Camille sneered, her gamer pride bruised
“But if she does make it, you all have to give us 12 subs. Deal?” May added

CaesuricCadence: Deal!
Hank the Bobcat: Oh, man this is going to be goof
*Good

Ten minutes later, all of Camille’s party members lay dead on the floor.

MeanieBeanie: Ha! You guys lose. Bikini stream!
AJ: Fuck that fight!

The stream continued quietly, with May loving every moment of this and anticipating the bikini stream.

TF Central: Or…
TF Central: …double or nothing?