…Dee always needs a minute to process everything...and Chili too…
…and probably you…
“...umm…I roll the Field Dice!” Dee takes the six-sided dice and rolls it. It lands on a 1. “I move this card forward!” Dee moves a playing card up ahead one hexagon tile. Silence, then preparation. Here it comes! “Ok…I’m ready for a Royal Rank Ranged Attack!”
Faith sneers. “Ya sure about that? I will be ready to counter whatever you can dish out, COMMONER CHUMP~!”
Did you notice the bow in her hair? That’s her favorite red ribbon! Game time means bow time~❤️
“…commoner…chump?” Dee’s eyes well up. He gets made fun of during these “playtesting” sessions too often.
“Ohhh, shoooot, don’t choo start with that.” Faith checks her nails. “An expertly crafted game like mine requires the highest mental fortitude~❤️ Yew should be more tough…like the Prince of JungleCLUBS.” Faith’s nose bleeds automatically. She must have been thinking of the Prince’s dripping wet muscles again~❤️ Oh yeah, definitely~❤️
*squeak* *squeak* Cherry checks her paw but then gets instantly worried when she sees Faith’s jet-bleeding nose. *SQUUUUEEEEAAAAK*
Dee huffs and puffs. “I’m tougher than that bozo dream boyfriend of yours!”
Chili squeaks in agreement!
“Ahhhhhh~❤️ Dreamy dream boyfrieeeeeeeeend~❤️” Faith is totally disconnected from reality, and her nose bleeds harder.
“Ms. Halloshade was right…” Dee never knows what to make of his sister whenever her nose does this. It’s very concerning for both medical and psychological reasons. He focuses on studying the cards in his hand. “I’ll make the ‘princess’ regret calling me a commoner chump!” Dee smirks.
Chili squeaks with determination!
This catches Faith’s attention and brings her back to reality. “Oh? HA! Bring it on.” She dramatically fans herself with her cards and strikes a kung-fu-like pose.
Cherry performs mousey kung-fu with perfect execution.
“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere it comes!” Dee rises up! A cyclone of ferocious flames (but not really) swirls around him. “RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Chili hops in the air! *SQUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAK*
…
A moment passes.
…
Several more, actually.
…
A few more.
…
…this is taking a while…what is going on?...
…
Dee asks, “What’s a King card worth again?”
Faith gently replies, “…thirteen…”
Dee remembers now. “Ooooooooooooohhhhh….”
*YAWN* Faith clicks her nails on the table.
Dee asks, “What’s ten plus three?”
Faith gently replies, “…thirteen…”
Dee remembers now. “Ooooooooooooohhhhh….”
*YAWN* Faith pets Cherry.
“I’M READY!” Another fiery cyclone (but not really) charges around Dee.
Faith replicates her fanning and kung-fu-like pose! Finally! She thought the questions would never end!
Dee places two cards down on the table. “I give up a 10 and a 3 card from my hand to call a King’s Attack! THE KING OF-”
“Don’t spoil it!” Faith giggles.
Dee snatches the ten-sided dice and rolls it. “Fine! The time is now! GO RANGE DICE!” He charges himself with power. Dee puts every fiber of his being into this roll! His very soul burns bright like a flame!
The die is cast across the table with a *tap* *tap* *tap*
It stops…
THE RANGE DICE ANSWERED THE CALL OF DEE’S SPIRIT WITH? IT LANDED ON…………………………………………a ZERO!
“OF COURSE! A ZERO!” Dee snaps his fingers. Pausing. “…Faith…what does a Zero mean again?”
“IT MEANS YOU ARE A COMMONER CHUMP! AND YOU’RE DUMB AS BRICKS! AND THE RANGE ATTACK FAILED! SHOULD I WRITE THAT DOWN IN THE RULEBOOK TOO!?!?!?!?” Faith explodes with a storm that fizzles out Dee’s moral flames to toast. “MY TURN! YOU’RE DONE!” She rattles the dice in her hand. “It seems Ms. Halloshade is good at filling yer mind with how to be bad to yer sweet sister but not with numbers to count with, HMPH!” Faith pouts.
Cherry lets out several scolding squeaks at Dee and Chili, but mainly at Chili.
“Maybe I should quit for today…” Dee looks down.
Chili looks down too.
Dee’s eyes are so big and sad, like a little kitty. Dee cannot help it if he is not the best with numbers or forgets the various ins and outs of the game rules…
“Sorry…I’m just on edge lately…” Faith twiddles her fingers. “It’s not easy being a beautiful artistic genius.”
Cherry squeaks and twiddles her paws.
Dee looks up and smiles. “Well, hey, if I were smart enough to make a game like this, I would feel the pressure of being an underappreciated artist (or whatever it was you call yourself) too.”
“Am I really smart?” Faith’s eyes sparkle. “How underappreciated am I~? You can tell me anything~❤️ And did you notice my new perfume~?”
Cherry’s eyes sparkle too.
“VERY smart and VERY underappreciated!” Dee nods.
Pops taught him that sometimes it’s best to just go along with whatever a lady says whenever a lady is upset, especially with a pouty lady like Faith.
“Ah, yes, yes. How could I not notice your…wonderful…aroma filling the room and gracing my nostrils?” Dee clasps his hands. “Such a lovely scent.”
Faith blushes and giggles. “Oh yeeeeeewwwwww, I haven’t even opened the bottle yet~❤️” She holds up the still sealed and heart-shaped perfume bottle. “Ain’t it cuuuute? The clerk said it’s perfect for lil’ ol’ may~❤️”
“I think I know why the clerk said that…pee-ew.” Dee discreetly coughs and gags.
His sister smells HORRENDOUS right now, and Dee took a bold risk by “trying to be nice.” Faith’s constant sweating and nose bleeding during her story narration wasn’t helping matters either…
Chili takes a sniff of the air and passes out…
“If yew wanna compliment a maiden like may so badly, can we play just a little bit longer? Pretty please~?” This question includes Faith’s own variation of sad kitty eyes. She is the master of this look!
Cherry adds in her sad mousey eyes.
“...Oh Jesus…” Dee finishes his discreet gagging and then gallantly puts a hand over his heart. “Of course! We will see this through! TOGETHER! I can play all night if needed.”
“Such a sweet lil’ gentleman, look at yew, you’re learning fast how to treat a princess~❤️” Faith rests her cheeks on her palms. “Y’know, come to think of it, how long have we been…” Faith looks again at the clock in the room.
…it is 11:59 pm…they “officially” started playing at 8:00 pm.
Oh dear…apparently, Dee’s various game mechanic questions ate up a lot more time than expected…
…
…
“…I wonder how fast I can ‘teach’ Dee to respect a maiden’s time and escape in my Pumpkin Carriage before the stroke of midnight~?” Faith cracks her knuckles. “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Booooooooooooo…”
*squeak* *squeak* Cherry cracks her mousey knuckles.
Dee senses the evil in the atmosphere. It’s enough to bring Chili back to consciousness.
Dee leans over. “Ah, my back! A hard day’s work with Pops! Chopping that wood all day! I need a warm bath and to lie down…ahhh…”
Chili squeaks and fakes mousey back pain.
“I thought yew already had a bath.” Faith twists her head like an owl. “And why do yew keep volunteering to help Father with his work?” *twist* “I thought yew hated the smell of wood…” *TWIST*
“Sure, but only your game has that effect on me-” Dee is nearly crushed by the enhanced extra evil emanating from Faith.
…Faith and Cherry are cloaked in shadow…
“Thatbathwon’twarmitselfup!Nighty-night!” Dee had already bolted out of the room, and those were the final scurrying words left behind.
Chili’s leftover squeaks disappeared with Dee.
…
Faith sighs and cleans up the table. Cherry sighs and helps Faith by picking up and putting away tiles with her teeth.
“...well…even when Dee struggles to learn, struggles to count, struggles to play, and struggles to be a gentleman…” Faith rolls her eyes. “...he still tries his best anyway~❤️” She smiles and pats Cherry.
Cherry nestles lovingly against Faith’s palm.
Faith picks up and stares at a Queen of Hearts poker card. “...but every day, I wish I could play with her-” She stops, silent.
Cherry looks up at Faith.
Faith holds another moment to herself, then puts the card away, closes the game box, and picks up Cherry. “Let’s get yew a treat and get us to bed~❤️”
Cherry loves the sound of that~❤️
Faith sniffs around, then catches a whiff of herself. “...after I give lil’ ol’ may the full spa treatment first…” She blows out the last candle on the table. “Dee better not use up all the hot water~❤️”
The attic goes dark as Faith closes the door behind her…
…
…
…a chilling night wind blows around a newspaper on the town streets below…it gets caught on a lamppost…
…one particular page contains an excerpt…
…the entirety of it is hard to make out, but the most important part is as clear as the moon in the sky…
…Annual Preview! Game Theatre 18XX…
-CHAPTER END-
The challenge of a lifetime is just around the corner.
Where nothing less than a burning HEART of passion is the cost of entry, but will it be enough to win?
-OPEN THE GAME-
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