#wiredclover

“Rules are rules.” Kalique rolled first, a five. Titus got nine, so she had to let him take one of her unused Assets (an Aegis peacemaker, completely useless for the Economic Empire he was trying – and failing, Balem had to add – to build).

“I sincerely hope I can sell him later.” Titus laughed, and turned to Balem. “It's your turn, Balem.”

He snorted, if only out of habit, and accepted the dice. It was made from white crystal, because of course that was the set that Kalique brought. He would have preferred his mother's, with dice made from polished Orouan wood, practically a relic as the human homeworld no longer could sustain trees. That board was one of a kind, cards and board illustrated by Seraphi's favourite artist lover, with vibrant colours and almost unbelievably detailed.

He was supposed to inherit this set, but it was never found after. He looked and interrogated, but it proved fruitless. The only thing that remained was memories of long afternoons spent with her and the game, learning how to manage the family empire through a board game even before his education properly started.

He had lost every game against Seraphi.

The dice rolled across the boards and stopped at thirteen. His piece landed at the Random Event field, one of many black spots on the board. He drew a card from the deck.

“Your informants report of a 4-class planet potentially suitable for seeding. However, you have to spend 5000 RX on seeding and acquisition,” he read and eyed his in-game currency count display. It was more than he should spend, especially on a 4-class planet – 5 was much more desirable, 6 ideal. Not to mention, they were too far into the midgame to waste time on seeding planets that won't see the harvest during the game. The card didn't mention anything else about the planet – it wasn't supposed to. You have to only pay attention to the important things, said Seraphi often during their games. You have to focus on how much use can this planet be for you, nothing more, she said, and then bought and loved 4-class Earth for its beauty.

“I acquire this planet,” he decided, stomach clenching as he watched the amount get subtracted from his RX count. It was lower than he would like it to at this point in the game, but he refused to think about it when he added a planet card to his properties.

“Oh, lovely,” said Kalique. “It's my turn now.”

She rolled eleven, and her piece landed on the blue field in Balem's area. These were the most potentially damaging – the cards of the Legal Feud deck frequently meant lost assets or RX, and were varied and unpredictable. Titus and Kalique hated them, but Seraphi loved the surprise.

He drew a card and gave it to Kalique.

“Your Primary Heir commits murder on the member of another influential family and is sentenced to prison. You lose this Asset until the end of the game, unless they are bought out of prison for a price of 9500 RX. Your planet was cheaper, brother.”

“It was.”

“Are you buying them out?” asked Titus, raising his brow. His RX count was close to Kalique's, and Balem knew he wanted an edge.

“Don't be ridiculous. If they get caught for not cleaning their messes well enough, they're no children of mine.” Kalique smiled and placed one of her Primary Heir cards on the prison field without any apparent remorse. Titus' Secondary Heir card was there already.

“You've taught them better, dear sister?”

“Of course. Your turn now.”

Titus' piece landed on a black field. He drew a card, but didn't read it right away, which got Balem's attention.

“What is it?” he demanded, a feeling of dread building inside him.

Titus looked at them solemnly.

“I get a Recurrence.”

The silence that fell was almost unbearable. Balem became distinctly aware of their surroundings – of the prison guards besides the door and the all-present surveillance cameras. Of the game with physical board and cards in a universe when most games were released on holographic displays. Because the prison didn't allow unauthorized devices, Kalique brought a traditional game when she came to visit him and Titus in the place they were locked in after Seraphi's Recurrence managed to destroy their lives.

The card itself only affected the player that drew it, as their empires had no founders per se. It took a lot of the player's resources and forced them to drastically change their strategy.

“It's a game, Balem.” Kalique's voice was quiet and calm. He looked up to see his siblings staring at him with unreadable expressions. “Remember what Mother said. Focus on what's important.”

“I am-” he started, but Titus cut him off.

“According to the card, I can use my Secondary Heir to try and marry the Recurrence. If I roll more than ten, it succeeds.”

Kalique sighed.

“Titus, think. Use your best Seducer to produce a child, it needs just more than four. You still have your Legal Corruption card that you haven't used, initiate a Legal Feud in the next turn and get control of the child. You remember this cards wins the Feud automatically?”

Titus just stared at her with open mouth. Balem looked at both of them, a question forming in the back of his head.

“Have you ever won with mother, sister?” he asked. Kalique laughed.

“Once. She didn't speak to me for a year after that.”

“I never won with her,” said Titus. “Never tried to, to be honest, but...”

“Maybe that was the problem,” said Balem, but didn't continue. Neither did they resume the game until a guard came in and told Kalique her time was up.

She did leave them the game. The prison allowed it, after thorough scanning, and you two need to spend some time together, now is the perfect opportunity. Balem knew this meant she wasn't planning to visit again.