Backstory
Verlin's fondest memories stem from her time growing up with her big sister, Arcat. She'd always looked up to her, respected her even if Verlin was the one gradually favored by their overbearing parents. Their mother and father expected their daughters to be straight A students, excellent without distractions. Verlin didn't notice it that much as a kid, seamlessly good at school that they were already pleased, but she had other priorities in her mind like her sister did. For Arcat it was singing, a wonderful hobby that she only engaged in when her parents weren't around, or simple humming in their shared bedroom that Verlin loved to sleep to. For Verlin, her father occasionally unwinded with games, thought oriented games like computer solitaire or even big scale jigsaw puzzles. Her love of solving difficult, rewarding tasks was born, and it only spiraled when her grade school friends sneaked in consoles during recess, spiraling Verlin into her fondness for video games themselves.
At some point during the start of middle school, Verlin's sister intended to leave home and pursue her passions. Verlin, who'd wear headphones late at night to play video games, who tended to drown out the unpleasant noise of her family disputing with Arcat, wasn't that surprised. She tried not to pay it any mind that there were holes in her family's dynamic, but for her dear sister to go away, she didn't want to be left behind. After all, she'd miss her voice most of all. Willingly tagging along, her last memory of her parents being a sarcasic "good luck" as they expected to see them crawl back, Verlin was unsure what would happen. There were doubts, guilt the first few weeks, but things slowly got better and better once they grasped how comfortable it was just with the two of them. Starting at a new school, Verlin didn't let her chance to openly play games overtake her need to do well in school, contuining to do her best if her sister would as well.
Now it's been a few years with Arcat, glad her big sister got a comfortable job even if it may be temporary once Arcat's singing journey continues. Verlin has managed to make friends, to meet some unusual people in her lifetime, occasionally people who can play games with her. It's nostalgic, cozy to share her hobbies with others, to connect that way. She wishes for those carefree days to continue with those most important to her, no longer using video games as a source of escapism and distraction, but to thoroughly enjoy them with others.