Thanks to a guest reviewer, darkpaladin89, and ZarduHasselfrau for their review of the last chapter. Since this fic seems to be going well, let's see what other shenanigans the Kingdom of Lucis will go through.
-miano53
Chapter 3: Game Night
October 13th, 768 M.E., The Citadel, King's Lounge…
"Alright! We have the snacks, the games, the drinks, the family…What else?" Prompto asked.
He set up the spacious lounge for the Lucis Caelum's family game night, the first time being held in fourteen years. The TV was set up, as a blitzball tournament was coming up. The black couches faced each other, with a table in the middle. On top of it were cards belonging to the infamous game of Unum, a game that many were willing to sacrifice everything to win.
A small bar and kitchenette were near the door and most of the snacks and drinks were there. On the left side of the wall were paintings with a portrait of Regis and Noctis when he was about 18 years old and another with Noct and Lunafreya's wedding portrait. The bare space indicated that more portraits were going to be commissioned soon and Prompto wondered if he'll finally use his photography talents after so long.
"Oh! You've gotten everything! Thank you!"
The familiar voice of Lunafreya had the man turn and bow to the Queen. She, dressed in her usual white, came in with Umbra and what looked like a box of something. The smell was very sweet and Prompto figured it was donuts.
She placed it on the table and said, "So, do you think Noctis will like this?"
"Yeah! The last time he had game night was when he was 18. He had Iggy, Gladio, and me over and we played King's Knight. But, since that game's long gone…I guess we're gonna play a 'man's game'," Prompto said, pointing at the stack of Unum cards.
Lunafreya eyed them and said, "And, pray tell, how is Unum a 'man's game', Prompto?"
Prompto's look became very somber and he said, "Playing Unum requires one to lose everything to gain. You gotta be willing to sacrifice friends, family, pets, good snacks…"
"And women are just as willing."
Iris and Aranea came in, apparently invited. Prompto was sure that only family was supposed to be there and Aranea wasn't family. As if reading his mind, Lunafreya told him, "Well, she is Gladiolus' fiancée. So, she's nearly family."
"And you're just the King's best friend, not family either," Iris said.
"Hey! We're practically brothers!" Prompto retorted.
Aranea rolled her eyes and asked, "So, where're the others?"
"Iggy's finishing up what we're having and Gladio's probably getting more drinks. Anyway, I'm sure Noct'll appreciate this," Prompto said.
Lunafreya agreed, stating that her husband was hard at work with the worldwide rebuild. Niflheim was doing well under the new republic and Lucis was still rebuilding towns that were thought to be lost forever, such as Keycatrich. Altissia was also doing well, and their sailors went around, delivering supplies and materials. Tenebrae was also doing better, especially under the rule of her brother, Ravus Nox Fleuret, who miraculously survived the fall of Gralea.
The door opened and a few servers, along with Ignis, appeared with the food. Prompto led them to the bar area and they set up the various foods that he figured they would eat. And if not, those in the citadel would have leftovers. Waste not, want not was Prompto's motto.
"And where's Gladio?" Ignis asked.
"He should be here soon. Speak of the Infernian," Iris said.
Gladio arrived, oddly holding…two boxes of wine: red and white. Not bottles, but boxes. Prompto stared, knowing where he got it from, the big box chain Wall Market. Ignis sighed after someone had made mention of it and he said, "You know we could've gone into the cellar for wine."
"Yeah, but I was out there. So, y'know…Where's Noct?" Gladio said.
He placed his boxes on the bar and the others stared, thinking that it was rather plebian. The door opened once again and an exhausted-looking Noctis entered, looking a bit surprised to see his friends. Lunafreya greeted him and said, "Hello. Are you still feeling up to it?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I guess. Just a long day today," Noctis told her.
The servers resumed setting up and everyone took their seats. Within moments, Noct stared at the deck of Unum cards and asked, "Who brought this?"
Prompto meekly raised his hand and the King muttered, "I can't believe you've done this…"
"What? This is the only game I could think of bringing that everyone could play. It's not that hard. And it only does when someone introduces a different region's rules. Like Niflheim's '0 to shuffle and 7 to switch hands' rule. And I got the cards with Braille on them, so Iggy can play too," Prompto told him.
"I meant you do realize what each of us gotta do. And I'm not giving up anything anytime soon," Noct said.
"Oh, no…I think you're saying that because you're scared," Aranea said, chiding the Lucian King.
The man glared and Gladio said, "Stop with the dramatics. It's not that bad. No one is gonna lose their soul or anything."
"You don't know that! This game's cursed! I know it!" Noct declared.
"Maybe you're saying that because you're really bad at it," Iris said.
Noct glared and Ignis told everyone, "Well, at least eat first before playing. Nothing good comes from decision-making on an empty stomach."
After grabbing their food items, drinks and returning to the table, the accursed game of Unum started. Prompto could've sworn he heard the old king, Regis', voice yell, "NO!"
He shrugged, thinking it was in his head and Gladio was the first to deal. He shuffled the deck, looking like a dealer at a poker game. With a smug grin, the burly Kingsglaive said, "Alrighty. Today, boys will game like men. And ladies! And ladies who dress like men! It's game time!"
Iris and Aranea stared, with Lunafreya asking, "What? Over a game of Unum? And who's dressed like a man?"
"Don't ask. Please don't. Keep your sanity, please," Noctis told her.
"Seriously, you sound like Giygas from Dead Fantasy V…" Prompto muttered, remembering the stupid line.
Gladio was about to deal when Aranea asked, "Wait! Which rules are we going by? Insomnia's? Tenebrae's? Gralea's?"
"International?" Ignis suggested.
"No, that's kinda boring. The point system isn't all that good," Iris told him.
"Ooh, what about…the 'Solheim's'? We've never played by those rules before," Prompto said, looking up rules on his phone.
Solheim's was rarely played as the deck seemed to gain sentience when the rules were spoken aloud. The rest was the rules based on International's, where the first person to rid themselves of cards was the winner, among using the other regions. Five cards were dealt to the players and the rules were to match the cards based on color, numbers, and directions. Due to the cards with directions, many players got involved in arguments, fights, and complete fallouts with family, friends, coworkers, etc. Thus, Noct's trepidation in playing as he didn't speak to his father for weeks after losing with International rules.
"Okay, Solheim it is," Lunafreya said.
Noctis' eyes widened and he yelled, "Are you crazy?!"
"What? We won't agree on rules from our regions as we're not proficient. At least with those rules, since the game came from ancient Solheim, we can follow better," Lunafreya explained.
"You sure?" Aranea asked.
"Never hurt to try," the Queen told her.
Noct glared as he received his five cards, muttering, "I can't believe you've done this…"
After everyone received their cards, including Ignis, the lights in the room suddenly went dark and one of the servers yelled, "What's going on?"
The lights returned, turning blue and giving the area a haunting feel. Blue light surrounded the deck of cards and flashed brightly seconds later. The lights went back to normal and Prompto asked, "What was that?"
"You just had to say it. You just had to," Noct told Lunafreya.
"What? What?" she said.
Gladio, who sat at the head of the table, in front of the TV, looked to Aranea, who sat on his left. He pulled from the deck and placed a blue 5 and said, "Your turn."
"Okay. I have a green to match ya. Iris?" she said.
Iris placed a red 5, saying, "Ooh, look! I got that too!"
"Oh, come on. Uh, I'll change up the color," Prompto said, putting down the black 'Wild' card.
It was a normal one, without the directions telling the person to draw four cards. He looked to Ignis and said, "Luckily, I got the cards that say what kind of color the cards are. So, Iggy, the color's red."
"Ah…And I see that I have a red 7," the mostly blind Ignis said, placing the card down.
It was Lunafreya's turn and she said, "Um…so, do I put this down…? Hmm…?"
Noct attempted to sneak a peek and she held the cards to her chest, saying, "Don't look, you cheat! Since you're trying to cheat, here you go!"
She placed a red Draw 2 card and he yelled, "What? No!"
The deck spat out two cards at him…and Noct glared at his wife. Muttering, he said, "Well, don't ask me to get anything for your birthday next year."
Gladio was next, putting down a red reverse card, meaning the order changed and Noct was able to go again. He laughed evilly, saying, "Well, then! It's my turn! And…Oh no."
Looking at his hand and then the deck, he said, "Please don't. Don't!"
The deck started spitting cards at him and with every card, Noctis screamed a curse, quickly making the game go from 'Everyone' to 'Mature'. Seven cards later and he said, "Finally, a match! HERE!"
He slammed a green reverse, sending the order back Gladio's direction. The man, quickly becoming angry, yelled, "I can't believe it!"
"Dude, calm down. It's just a game," Prompto said as Gladio placed a green 3, ending up with three cards.
Aranea then placed a yellow 3, with Iris adding a yellow 6, both also with three left. Prompto looked around and said, "I'm sorry, Iggy, but you can take a break."
Placing a yellow 'Skip', Ignis' turn was passed, leaving Prompto with three cards as well. Iggy, not too happy, said, "What have I ever done to deserve such treatment, Prompto?"
"And my turn! Oh, um…so, I place this down?" Lunafreya said, placing a 'Wild Draw Four' card.
She picked blue and Noctis screamed, "NOPE!"
He countered with the same card, changing the color to red. But he didn't know that Gladio had one as well, the color being changed back to blue. Aranea couldn't counter and she screamed several curses and various names at Gladio as the sentient deck spat out 12 cards. Once it was over, her total being 15 cards, she muttered, "I hate you so much right now…"
"Hey, it's the name of the game," Gladio said, smug with his two remaining cards.
"You're only saying that because you're winning. But Aranea, you can take revenge," Iris said, putting down a blue reserve.
Aranea's face went into a sneer, a terrifying sight, and she placed a 7 down. Gladio's eyes widened, meaning that he had to trade cards with her. He refused, but the cards seemed to have a mind of their own, removing themselves from his hand and switching with Aranea's. The man stared at the 15 cards and muttered unintelligible things in his anger.
"You okay, Gladdy?" Iris asked.
He scowled and Noct said, "It's the name of the game, right? And my gift to you, Luna."
Noct put down a blue Draw 2, with Luna saying, "Don't think so."
She placed her green Draw 2, sent it to Ignis, and had two cards remaining. Iggy touched the card and said, "No. I'm pretty sure it's not my turn to fall into anger. Sorry, Prompto."
He put down a red Draw 2, making the total 6 cards to be drawn. Prompto looked at his hand, found nothing to counter, and sighed in defeat. The deck rapid fired the cards at him and he said, "I deserved that, huh?"
"Yes. Yes, you did," Ignis told him.
Iris looked at her hand, two cards remaining. But she couldn't do anything as she had nothing to match. So, the deck began the drawing. She looked pitiful as the deck gave her ten cards. Looking at her hand-turned-book, she said, "Aw…Well, someone's gonna have this, I guess."
She grinned and placed a red 7. The switch was with Ignis, who had three cards left. He sighed and told her, "Don't think I'll make your favorite: Kupoberry Cheesecake, ever again."
"Oh, come on! Don't do that! You can still win!" Iris told him.
Aranea groaned as the deck spat out two cards as she didn't have a red. When she finally did, it was a red 0 and everyone's cards switched. Noct yelled, getting Gladio's cards, "Are you serious!?"
Luna looked ready to cry. Ignis became smug. Prompto sighed in defeat.
After several turns, the group looked at each other with disdain, as everyone's amounts of cards varied. Gladio was winning with three cards remaining. Aranea had seven. Iris had four. Prompto was stuck with eight. Ignis had six. Lunafreya had five while poor Noctis was stuck with ten. He sighed in defeat and Gladio said, "That's the sound of someone who knows he lost."
"Shut up, Gladio," Noctis muttered, looking defeated.
The game continued with Aranea putting down a yellow Draw 2. Iris countered with a red. Prompto put down a green Draw 2 while Ignis put down a blue. Lunafreya looked at the amount and said, "Aw…"
The deck spat out another eight, making Lunafreya's total thirteen. Noctis looked at his hand, gave a small smile, and placed a blue Skip card, making Gladio lose his turn. Aranea put down a green Skip, causing Iris to glare. Prompto placed his card down, a green nine. Ignis matched the number with a red. Lunafreya stared and said, "Um, so I put this down."
"Don't you dare! Don't!" Noctis yelled.
She placed a red nine and he sighed relief. Gladio smirked, asking, "Really wanna win, don't ya?"
"Well, yeah. I never win with Niff rules," the King told him.
"But we're playing the 'original recipe'," Aranea said.
Noctis placed a blue nine while Gladio placed a blue three. Everyone started paying attention as he was winning with only two cards left. Aranea put down a blue Reverse, giving Gladio another turn. Noct's jaw dropped and Prompto asked, "Why did you do that?"
"It was all I got!" Aranea yelled.
"Now, Gladdy's gonna win!" Iris yelled.
Gladio placed a Skip, drawing his King's ire. Lunafreya put down a reverse card and Noctis said, "How's your hand there, Gladio?"
"Uh…No. No, NO!" the man yelled.
Noctis placed down a blue seven, switching hands with the man. Noctis quickly screamed the word, "Unum! I won! I won!"
"You haven't won yet! And Gladio, you gotta draw two cards since you didn't say it," Aranea shouted.
Gladio grumbled, giving his fiancée a death glare as the sentient deck gave him two more cards on the pile. The dragoon then looked at Noctis, telling him, "Well, I hope you enjoyed the 'almost-taste-of-victory'."
She then placed a green seven, switching with Noctis and saying the word. The man looked ready to cry as he went from a single card to four. Iris, seizing her chance, said, "I'll take that!"
She placed a red seven, switching with Aranea and making sure to say the word before anyone caught her. It was Prompto's turn and he said, "Ooh! Let me take that off your hands, Iris!"
A yellow seven was placed, Prompto yelled "Unum" and Ignis said, "So, we're just playing 'hot potato' with Gladio's original hand?"
"Yep. And it's your turn," Iris told him.
Ignis, without emotion, placed a yellow zero and Prompto screamed, "NO!"
The hands were switched to the left and Ignis said, "Unum. I believe I'm on the verge of victory."
"Not if we change the order!" Lunafreya declared, placing a yellow reverse.
Ignis checked at his single card and said, "Oh for gods' sake…"
The deck began spitting cards out again, but it wasn't too bad as Ignis was only given one. That one matched and it was a yellow Draw Two, the cards getting sent Prompto's way as Ignis recited the word. The blonde glared and said, "Well, don't ask me to help out with cooking."
"When did I ever do that?" Ignis asked.
Iris placed her card down and it was a yellow Skip. Aranea muttered many curses, some in the Niflheim dialect and it was Gladio's turn again. He looked proud and said, "Let me take that from ya, Iggy!"
Another yellow seven was placed and the two switched hands as Gladio remembered to say Unum. Ignis was a bit peeved, muttering, "Well, don't ask me to cater your wedding, Gladio."
Noctis looked at Gladio and then at Lunafreya. The deck spat out a card as he didn't have any to match and it was another blue seven. He and Gladio switched cards, and the weary King screamed, "Unum again! I won! I won!"
"You didn't just yet! Reverse!" Lunafreya declared, annoyed as she put a blue Reverse down.
That proved to be a mistake and Noctis jumped to his feet, slammed the blue 5 on the table, and yelled, "UNUM EXITUS! YE-EE-ESS! I WON! I WON!"
He was far too loud for Lunafreya and she covered her ears. Gladio threw his cards on the table and Aranea looked defeated. Iris grumbled and Prompto said, "Dude, calm down!"
"I haven't won this game in years! So, I got a right to celebrate! The curse is broken! IT'S BROKEN!" Noctis screamed.
Ignis placed his cards calmly on the table, but the aura that came from him was quite…dark. He then said, "Well, it would've been fair…if we didn't follow…THE LUDICROUS RULES OF SOLHEIM!"
Scared as Ignis wasn't known to blow up over such things, the group fell silent and the man cleared his throat. Fixing his attire, he said, "Ahem! What I meant was 'good game'. Let's not see each other for a week."
"Yeah…g-go take a week off, Specs," Noctis told him, terrified.
Well…at least we know Ignis doesn't take too kindly to randomized rules in games …Er, review?
-miano53