Game Night

Game Night

…

Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by IhaxlikeNoob

…

Victory was yours, but at what cost? Money rains all around you, whilst you are praised to the very heights of heaven, and you are the undisputed ruler of the lands.

However, the cost is too much.

Miyakuro has been incarcerated, his jailors mock him, look down upon him, and prod him to make them food for their pleasure. Gungnir laughs as his expense. Freischutz looks upon him through his jail cell’s bars with a gleeful expression. Ioseva promises him an early release for baked good. He looks as though he wants to die, while you can only hope that he stays strong within his confines.

Creighton is aloof, her place in second meaning nothing, as your conquest on the road to victory has resulted in her losing all she owned. Her arms are crossed, she is pouting, and not meeting your gaze. The silence hurts. What has become of your friendship? The relations you wish to have with her.

Finally, Hyoudou is dead on the floor, with Ulrich and Gremory trying to resuscitate him.

If you had known that circumstances would’ve led to these terrible series of events, you would have burned this game “Monopoly” to cinders before it wrought terrible havoc upon you all.

You curse the game, but curse yourself more.

If only you had to foresight to see this outcome an hour ago!

But, for now, you must play the part of the victor, pick up the money being heaped upon you, and lavish yourself in it.

It’s very dark indoors with sunglasses on, but the darkness suits you, as you like your victory more than you’d care to admit…

It had started off so innocently, too...

…

“Monopoly, huh? You know there’s easier ways to break friendships, right?” Miyakuro had warned you at the start. You remember his words with ease. What, with them being said in his usual dismissive, tsundere manner, as though he didn’t care. “But, you know what, if you want me to beat you, Creighton, and Hyoudou in a board game, why not?”

“Oi, I’ll have you know that I’m good at Monopoly! I know all the tricks, probabilities, and everything! This game decides a lot online, you know!?” Hyoudou… he had been so young, so pure, and so kind. You can’t believe that he’s dead and gone. He was first to be defeated, and in five rounds no less, even though Miyakuro spent 90% of the match in jail… “I might not be good at real life… but in games I’m above average, because I try really hard!”

“Of course, you’d be proud of something as innane as that. Your standards are low, as always, Hyoudou.” Someway, somehow, Creighton had joined to make your group of three into four. Your heart had thundered in her presence, only to die a little, as she continued to walk into hotel after hotel. Everytime she passed money towards you, from exploiting all she could, you felt yourself die a little inside as she barely managed to hold back from crying out in agony and hatred. “A game is a game, Hyoudou. Being good at entertaining yourself is pitiful at best.”

You were all so young.

“Oi, who are you? Why do you have a personality? And, why are you taking my personality? Let go of it. I barely have any as it is, bitch!”

So, innocent.

“Hah, you say those things because you know you’re going to lose, Creighton! I’ve done my research! You haven’t played Monopoly at all, haha!”

Lacking the knowledge of what was ahead, you all lacked any evil in your hearts.

“Hmph, fine. I’ll let my win do the talking for me. The two of you can enjoy being losers.”

You… you just wanted to have fun!

It had gone wrong so quickly, then an audience gathered, so none of you could simply quit!

…

“Masamune, Masamune! Is Li winning? Tell me!” Occisor had hung to your right, while Masamune sat to your left. Allsbane, Clarent, and Tomoe looked over your shoulder. They blocked any route you had for escape. Masamune did so with a smile, whilst the others simply walled you in out of curiosity into the tragedy that was before you. “Ooh, Issei landed in one of Li’s properties again, right before the Go!”

“H-hey, it’s not so bad. You still have money. The next round’s in your favor, Ise!” Hyoudou was only alive by the skin of his teeth. Both physically and mentally, he was being beaten into a pulp. Kuroka looked on in pity in the shadows, knowing that her presence would only hurt him more, while Rias was silent, as Ulrich did her best to keep him alive. However, despite her efforts, he is just shy of slumping in defeat onto the table, with his arms barely holding him up by acting as pillars upon his knees.  “Don’t die, okay?”

“Ah, it’s your turn again, prisoner. Unlatch the hatch, Guard!”

“...”

“Undoing the restraint on the prisoner. What is his mission in the Gulag today?”

“...”

“Hard labor and food only if his work is of sufficient quality! Historian, your Warden demands you make note of this! No one shall forget!”

“...”

“Yes, Warden Freischutz. Guard Ioseva, may I have your insights?”

“...”

“Historian Gungnir, I report that the prisoner’s work is of insufficient quality. He will be jailed further.”

“Please… kill me…”

Meanwhile, Miyakuro had been in jail, in a box constructed by Freischutz with the assistance of Ioseva. Gungnir had watched initially, but participated in her staff form a moment thereafter, and carved out bars for him to see the board through… and a little slot for his hands to leave for him to try and roll doubles. Though he seemed strong and mighty within his cardboard prison, you knew him well enough that he was hanging onto sanity by a thread, had he a single complaint regarding his treatment, he wouldn’t have been able to survive the mockery and barrage of “squees” from his “supporters.”

However, what hurt you the most was the sight of Creighton.

“I need a six at least. My best roll will be eight. Probability is low, but decent.” Creighton is playing without support. She is fastidiously calculating every move, purchasing every property with the intent to win, and working towards the winning. You want her to win. Nothing more would make you happier, than to see her work rewarded. However… however… “3. I have landed on your Hotel, Li Song.”

The way she says your name hurts your heart. For a split second, between moments of determination, you see the depths of despair. At the start of the game, she was doing bookkeeping, carefully taking note of probable profits for the entire table. That book now lies untouched, as the gap widened to such an extent that it was demoralizing for the whole table to look upon.

You most of all, because it told a tale of your friends struggling until the bitter end, until you bleed them dry of all their possible wealth, and you stood as a titan of industry and property over them.

“Li-kun is doing rather well, Occisor. You should praise him more.” 

“Oh! Ah, as expected of Li!”

The other swords had nodded in affirmation. 

You’re sure Tomoe had been on the joke, but Clarent, Occisor, and Allsbane were all simply pleased with watching you win.

So, of course, the choice of losing on purpose was never on the table.

You were only able to hope that the dice ceased their shenanigans and became fair to everyone else.

It was a frail, pitiful hope that you should’ve never been fostered and cared for.

Coda was right all along.

…

By midgame, Hyoudou no longer existed as an individual. His spirit had left his body. Though the body remained, the spirit had gone on to a better place. One filled with love and kindness, which the body ought to follow in stride, yet stubbornly held on.

His spirit asked him why they should stay, when peace was so close and welcoming.

Because, Hyoudou’s body answered, my life is not only mine.

Thus, he stayed alive, despite the pain and torture he suffered, to the point where he lay prone and broken upon the floor, while Ulrich desperately, embarrassingly tried to keep him alive by complimenting him.

“Uh, uhm, it’s not that bad! You’re great at other things, Ise! I-it’s cool when you fight monsters with a smile, you know!?”

The German with dark silver hair was not doing a very good job, since mentioning defeating monsters with a smile was done by others better than him.

Hyoudou’s will to live, therefore, faltered upon hearing her words.

Gremory’s lap pillow was helping, but anything more than that was impossible. The red-haired Devil could only do so much. 

Maybe, if Kuroka had managed to be brave, Hyoudou wouldn’t be on the brink of death. However, she sought to save herself from the pain of seeing her loved one suffer. Some might decry her actions as selfish, but those who can watch their loved ones die slowly and painfully are few in number. 

Meanwhile, Miyakuro’s jailers have donned uniforms appropriate to their station. Clad in blues and holding truncheons, whilst clad in shorts and boots, the three revolve around Miyakuro’s cardboard prison.

The Reincarnation of Odin holds his face in one hand. His prosthetic lies on the table. His jailers are instructed to just use his prosthetic as a pseudo-dice roller. 

He was broken.

His smile and optimism may have died a long time ago, but when he rolled doubles once again, then had his bars shut once again, his pride was at its breaking point.

He was actively communicating with Ioseva on the sly to secure an early release.

“Prisoner, don’t think I can’t hear your codes! Guard, get a hold of yourself! This prisoner needs to learn a harsh lesson!”

That hope was dashed against the stones, just like all his chances of winning.

Creighton’s midgame, meanwhile, was the worst.

It gave her false hope.

You landed on her spaces, gave her funds, and she accumulated a respectable number of spaces upon which to shore up her defenses and mount a counterattack. 

“Yes!”  She had said, filled with joy and glee, as she landed on her own space. The miniscule victories granted to her were lies. They were all simply to prolong the inevitable, under the guise of a miraculous streak of luck. It was a long-con. A ruse of the most despicable sort. It made her happy, but planned to merely make it so that she fell from greater heights into the depths of despair. “Got it!”

Meanwhile, you wish you could forget your path towards the precipice of madness. 

“Lady Masamune, the maids have arrived with the materials thou have asked for.” Unceremoniously, sunglasses had been placed over your vision by Clarent. Masamune  had been  meticulously counting your funds, handing creased bills for Occisor and Allsbane to rid of creases, whilst Tomoe brews tea. “These shirts are quite comfortable. Of what material are they composed?”

The Swords requested merchandise, the maids agreed with glee, and now the cheering section had decided to garb themselves appropriately. 

You’re sure it was then did you completely lose the will to resist what was coming, simply consigning yourself to the results of the dice, as well as the tragedies they wished to bring about for their amusement.

Truly, RNG is a cruel and fickle mistress.

…

“We are never playing Monopoly again. That game is banned from this tower.” The present feels like a dream. The stream of fortune that befell you, whilst inflicting misfortune upon your friends, remains in the forefront of your mind. Physically, your eyes are clouded by the sunglasses imposed upon you, but mentally your mind feels as though a filter of unreality had been imposed upon it. You barely manage to listen to Creighton as the four of you sit around the dining room table, leaving the clean up to the observers. “In fact, I’m banning this moment forever. We will never talk about it, understood?”

“Y-yeah. Thanks, Creighton.” Hyoudou shivers, his blood having turned cold, and he warms himself up in a blanket. When you make any movement with your hands, as if to roll for dice or ask for rent, he goes still before forcing himself back to life. His will to live is still weak. You must be careful around your friend. “You… you’re not so bad, you know?”

“How about we all go get lobotomies? Everyone involved in it, in fact. I'll find a way to do it to Gungnir, which will probably work to the swords, too. I’ll can it. I swear.” Miyakuro speaks muffled, as his face is resolutely pressed against the tabletop. The sharp-eyed Reincarnation of Odin is filled with righteous anger and hatred. You don’t find it within yourself to counter his words. He is only doing it to make himself happier. He won’t actually do such a thing. You tell yourself that to convince yourself that he’s okay. “Why stop at just making it too embarrassing to talk about? Let’s actually just make sure it doesn’t exist, by getting rid of all the witnesses, including us!”

“It’s enough that we never talk about it, mention it, nor attempt to do it again.” Creighton asserts herself with a snarl, somewhat stoppering Miyakuro’s thought process.  You’re grateful for her her effort, but you just wish that she was happy. This person before you now is frightening. Not the girl you know. Also, she’s looking straight at you. She is intentionally, silently placing blame upon you. You want to apologize… but you know doing so will just make your friend angry. All you can do is nod. “No more Monopoly. Ever. Forever. Got it? Good.”

Hyoudou leaves sluggishly, but he is soon assisted by Ulrich and Gremory. His state is so poor that two actually work together to provide for him. A part of you wants to mention this to him, perhaps as a way to get the two to get along in the future, but you know that would break the unsaid promise that you’ve just made, so you cannot.

Miyakuro’s gaze lingers on the the balcony, but he shakes his head and mutters a few words, before slapping himself in the face. His strength is greater than he is willing to acknowledge, so he’ll confront the trio who made his life a living hell for the past hour. You’re not sure about Gungnir nor Freischutz, but you know Ioseva enjoys being teased in turn, so his vengeance will bear fruit one way or another.

Still, without a doubt, though you’ve won you’ve definitely lost. 

Why?

Because, the moment you’re alone, it takes only a minute for Creighton to return with a smile on her face.

“Oh, Song, I noticed that you were having trouble with regarding keeping track of probabilities during the game.” Her smile is filled with malice and ill intent, yet you can only smile and nod, while you scream inside. The old, dusty books she drops on the table, before taking a seat beside you, make the table creak beneath their weight. “We should fix that, shouldn’t we? You don’t want to be someone who can’t handle advanced probability, right?”

All you can do is smile, shakily remove your sunglasses, and agree.

You damn Monopoly to the deepest, darkest pits of Hell.