33. Are we a match?

Sydänmaa in da house! Iiro announces he's arrived and Janne draws a long breath. 

-All good things end. He’s back. 

-Hmm, Venla frowns. 

-There's enough to stand even one Sydänmaa. Two of them, pure pain in your neck, Janne tells his opinion of the brothers. 

-Oh. Howcome? Venla is curious.

 -There's hardly any room for even one of those egos. 

-Btw, Venla, Susanna lowers her voice. – You should be warned. Iiro is a player beyond hope. 

-I know. I’ve met him before, Venla smirks. – Ended up slapping his smug face. 

– You can’t believe how happy that makes me! Janne is delighted. -Hey, bets how long it takes before he loses his shirt this time? He winks to Susanna. 

-Not even five minutes, Susanna laughs.

 -I’ll say ten! Who takes time? 

Venla gives time to think Janne's words. He looks how theatrically Iiro behaves, how he looks for a constant spotlight and attention. He's funny, kind of clown and it doesn't surprise her some people find that annoying. Ilari on the other hand is more quiet. He speaks only when he does have something to say and is quite reserved on company. Now he's middle of conversation with a dark haired man Venla doesn’t know and gives her time to really look at him. Venla thinks what Janne said about egos. She can believe it of Iiro, but Ilari has this strong presence naturally. He's so clearly leader of this group too, but doesn't make any fuss about it, boast or anything. He’s just himself; confident, collected and strong willed. Janne must somehow feel threatened by it. 

– Well hello dollface! Iiro bellows. Jesse looks Iiro holding his phone. 

– Are you in Tinder?

– Yep. look what I found! Iiro shows his screen. Jesse blinks. 

– Can it really be her? 

– Damn right it is!

- That was a hot pic, Antti, Ilari's friend from UN operation sits with them. -Wait. isn't that… 

- There she is, in flesh and blood, Iiro winks and gestures on to other side of room. 

– Let me see, Ilari says and takes phone from his brother. 

- I thought she was dating? Jesse wonders. 

- Apparently not anymore, Ilari replies and checks the pics.

-Venla, do you really play CS? Iiro throws casually when said blond girl walks by. Venla stiffens. 

-Howcome? 

– We are checking your Tinder profile here, Jesse grins. -You don’t seem like a typical gamer. Venla pinches base of her nose with her fingers. She didn't realize her new friends could actually find her on dating site and pick her about it. She let’s out a big sigh and straightens herself. Guys are waiting her reply in silence.

 -It's not for your eyes. But yes. I do play CS. She confesses. -I don't want to go into e-sport level cause I want to do other things as well, but I do play a lot. And since you are so interested, I could probably beat everyone of you in some strategy or shooting game. Men are suprisingly quiet. -So, is it working? 

– Um, what? Ilari asks. They all look little lost.

 -My profile? Venla throws a flirting smile.

 –Well. You should get tons of likes with this, Jesse replies.

– And here comes one like more! Iiro exclaimes and takes his phone back from his brothers hands. -Are we a match?

- What's wrong with them? Venla huffs and sits down. 

-Don't mind them, Susanna smiles. - Everytime someone new comes to the gang they end up doing so. Pushing, testing, teasing. Especially If you happen to be a female. 

-Oh Joy, Venla throws her hands into the air. 

- Don’t take it like that, Susanna shakes her head. -They are just trying to get to know you. It’s almost like some stupid initiation thing. They just need to see where's your limits humourwise. What you can take, when you react and how. Susanna explains what is going on. -They are really on your side, but end up sounding like group of teenagers when together and have had couple of beers. You just need figuratively slap their hands and then it's over and you are ”one of the guys”. 

-Sounds complex, Venla rubs her forehead. 

-No. It's really simple. You show them rules and then it's okay.

- What else do you play? Iiro sits next to Venla uninvited.

- I don't want to talk to you, Venla presses her lips together and crosses her arms to her chest and looks away.

– Nooo. Really. I'm intrigued, Iiro says and tries to catch an eye contact. - Come on. I'll promise to be Mr. Nice Guy. So, what else than CS? 

- Why? Are you a gamer? Venla is still on guard. 

– More or less, he replies. – CS was my favourite thing to waste my time, but Doom used to be the thing for me.

 - Doom is classic, Venla nods and her eyes lighten. – Tiberian sun was something back at the days too. 

- Tiberian Sun! Iiro seems overjoyed. – I loved that game! Venla relaxes, gives a small smile. 

– I drift between shooting and strategy. She tells. -Starcraft, Fortnite, COD, but sometimes I enjoy to nitpick and fritter with Civilization, Masters of The Orion and Afterlife. 

- Retrogames. Good retrogames. Iiro gives credit. 

- Though I'm never able to sustain Afterlife's heaven side. But my hell is flourishing. I don't know if it tells more about me than my skills, Venla chuckles and makes Iiro laugh. 

– You're something else, did you know. I need you to marry me! He gives Venla his most charming smile and offers her his bottle. Venla laughs freely and takes a drink. 

- As if! So, have you tried FFVII remake? She tries Iiro's gaming knowledge and his eyes widen. 

- Don’t get me started!