Prompt: The Rouges gallery of the show tries to play DnD together

This was fun to write. 3

(736 words total. Half points, though, since we're both on Team Ghost.)

Roll the Dice
—

The sound of a D20 clattered across the table.

A long pause.

"…Does a 9 hit?" Skulker asked warily.

Danny, entrenched behind his trifold dungeon master's map, chuckled. "Not even close," he said, amused. He pointed to the board. "Your ranger's arrow flies wide, and hits the beam at the far end of the colluseum…"

Skulker's metal fist hit the table, making the little figurines on it jump. "That's absurd, I would never miss such a close shot!" he protested. "I am Skulker, Ghost Zone's greatest hunter—!"

"Yes you are." Danny calmly pointed to his figurine, a leather-armored human. "And that is Skull, a level 5 human ranger. You have been honing your skills for ages. He's been at this 4 sessions. Do you really expect him to be as good as you are now?"

Skulker drummed his fingers on the table. "I suppose not," he said at last.

"Good." Danny said, pleased. "Ember? You're up."

Skulker's girlfriend gleefully snatched up her blue and white D20. "C'mon, baby, mama needs a new pair of axes—"

"WHILE SHE IS ROLLING, I, TECHNUS, SNEAK—"

"Wait your turn, Technus."

"Aww…"

Ember rolled the die. "—YES! 19! Take that, you ugly—"

Danny scaned the board. "Nice. Now, roll for—actually, I'm not gonna have you roll for damage. He's nearly dead anyway." Danny knocked the enemy figurine over. "In one fell blow of your axe, your Tiefling beheads the enemy Gladiator."

"For my bonus action, I pose," Ember cut in.

A grin curled Danny's lips. "The Colosseum goes wild. A cheer ripples through the crowd. They start chanting your character's name. Amber—Amber—Amber!"

Ember closed her eyes and leaned back, basking in the imaginary praise.

Danny paused for a moment, then turned to Technus. "Alright. Thank you for waiting. Go ahead."

"Very well. I, TECHNUS—"

"Isn't your character's name Nicholas?"

"I, NICHOLAS—" he corrected quickly, "SNEAK OVER TO THE NEXT SUPPORT PILLAR OF THE COLOSSEUM."

Danny nodded. "Roll for stealth."

A clatter. "Um. 13?"

"Good enough. The Guards don't notice you slip past."

"AND I PROCEED TO STRAP MY MAKESHIFT EXPLOSIVES TO THE BRICK."

"Roll for Dexterity."

As Technus rolled, Danny sat back and looked at the little round table. This was going so much better than expected.

Jazz had been the one to suggest it. A distraction - a diversion. 'Sometimes your enemies seem to be vying for your attention more than anything,' She'd pointed out. 'Like a bunch of cats who attack your feet if you don't play with them. You know? Maybe instead of fighting, you can direct their negative impulses into something more… constructive.'

Tucker, as it was, had been the one to suggest D&D.

Sam had gone out and bought him the books and everything.

Danny had been skeptical at first, especially since D&D seemed to require so much math, but this was the fourth session so far, and—

"SUCCESS!" Technus crowed. "16! MY PROWESS KNOWS NO BOUNDS—"

—and it seemed to be a useful way for the ghosts to bleed off some of that pent up megalomaniac energy, so Danny wasn't going to complain.

"Congrats, your Tinker Gnome successfully straps the explosives to the support beam." He nodded as Technus continued to gloat, then turned to Skulker.

"Alright, your turn again," Danny said. There were only three players so far - maybe they could invite another ghost or two… Maybe Amorpho? "There's one Gladiator still up. What would you like to do?"

Skulker eyed the board. "I'll take another shot at his head," Skulker said, starting to shake the die in his hand.

"WHILE HE IS ROLLING—"

"Not your turn, Technus."

"Aww." Technus pouted.

Danny had to cover a smile with his hand. Since they started playing this three weeks ago, Ember, Skulker, and Technus had become—easier, it seemed, to get along with. And they were too busy studying up on the game's rules in their off time to orchestrate attacks on Amity.

If allotting a few hours to D&D a week meant Danny could finish his homework and get a good night's sleep, then, well, Danny could easily let this become a routine.

"What do you MEAN I rolled a FOUR?!" Skulker demanded.

Danny smirked.

Plus - and he would never admit it aloud, but - it was nice to take the fight to his enemies for a change.

—