“There are magic spells in this book, and the Emperor has FORBIDDEN anyone from learning magic, because it’s WAY too dangerous! If you try one of the spells, any number of terrible things might happen (or so the Emperor says).
“Don’t be like Ciara, a twelve-year-old girl living in the tiny village of Skael. When she used a spell from within this book, she ended up summoning a dragon. A DRAGON! Those things breathe fire! FROM THEIR MOUTHS! She’s obviously doomed.”
"Look at these shoddily made walls," Charm said, pointing at the city walls between them and the castle with distaste.
Owen glanced over and made a face. The walls looked like someone had just sketched them in with a pencil. "That was probably my fault for not describing them enough," he said.
"But at least it should make getting past them easier."
Story Theives: World’s apart • James Riley
IF YOU’RE A WRITER GO READ “STORY THIEVES” IT WILL CRACK YOU UP
Christian Sanderson/Catherine Sanderson, Bethany Sanderson & Orion Sanderson, Catherine Sanderson & Bethany Sanderson, Catherine Sanderson & Orion Sanderson, Christian Sanderson & Bethany Sanderson, Christian Sanderson & Orion Sanderson
Additional Tags:
Fluff, Monopoly, Board Games, Sanderson Family, Sanderson Family Fluff, Arguments, but they are jokes, jokes about Christian’s absence, Christian “Old Man” Sanderson, Orion is adopted
Christian walked over to the dining room table, announcing his arrival by dropping a small, rectangular box on the table. It smacked onto the table, clattering as the game pieces bounced around inside.
“Dad, how old is this game?” Bethany eyed the yellowed box, watching as specks of dust flew into the air.
“Technically, the game was patented in 1935, but it originally dates back to 1903 when a woman named Elizabeth Magie created a game called ‘The Landlord’s Game.’”
Orion’s eyes widened. He shook his head with a small smile. “Y’know, you’re not beating the old man allegations, Old Man.”
“Hah hah,” Christian teased, gently tousling Orion’s hair. “This specific game was mine when I was a kid. So it’s only about… thirty years old?”
Bethany just nodded, still suspiciously eyeing the decrepit box. “So… what’s the goal?”
Christian stared at her, one eyebrow raised. “What?”
“How do you play?”
At that moment, Catherine returned, balancing four bowls of popcorn.
“Honey, we’ve failed as parents.”
She distributed the popcorn. “Was that before or after you got stuck in a book for eight years of our daughter's life?”
Orion just snickered. “Hey, I turned out fine!”
“Lies.” Bethany stuck her tongue out at him.
Catherine giggled, gently swatting Bethany’s arm. “Care to explain how we failed as parents?” She turned back to her husband, smirking.
“Bethany has never played Monopoly!”
Catherine and Bethany looked at each other and both shrugged. Bethany took a handful of popcorn, barely raising a shoulder as she looked at her dad. “I was too busy sneaking behind her back every night for leisurely activities like game nights.”
“…Touché.” Christian clicked his tongue. He shook his head, drumming his fingers on the table. “All of that changes tonight! Because tonight, we are going to embark on a quest so dangerous, so treacherous, and so unpredictable that it will effectively change the course of your life! There will be twists, there will be turns, and there will be heartbreak. I’ll warn you now, you will begin to question who your allies are, and who your enemies pretend to be.”
Orion let him finish his monologue, staring at him with a flat expression. “Are we playing Monopoly or Dungeons and Dragons?”
“Oh,” Catherine laughed. “You haven’t seen your Dad playing Monopoly, he’s cutthroat!”
“Well, let’s stop wasting time and start playing!” Bethany tore the lid off, tossing it on the floor next to her.
“Gentle, Beth,” Orion warned, “that’s a piece of history.”
Christian just rolled his eyes, chuckling. “Get your laughs. I’ll be the one laughing in the end.”
Bethany eyed the silver game pieces. “Oh! Can I be the boot?”
“Sure!” Christian handed it to her.
Orion plucked the cannon from the box, admiring the detail.
Catherine took the thimble, and Christian took the top hat.
“Alright!” Christian clapped, getting his kids’ attention. “So, apparently we do have to go over the rules, so listen up.”
Both Orion and Bethany nodded along as their dad explained the rules. Finally, he finished.
Orion glanced at the box of money. “Can I be the banker?”
“Sure, why not.”
“What if I wanted to be the banker?” Bethany complained.
“Please!” Orion started dishing out the colorful money. “I’ve seen your math grades.”
Bethany, humbled to silence, just took the money her brother was handing her, tucking it halfway under the board for safe keeping.
The four Sandersons positioned their playing pieces on the GO! square.
“Let the game begin.”
“You monster!” Bethany shouted, throwing her money at Orion.
“I’m the monster?! You're trespassing on my property! Of course I’m going to make you pay the fine!”
“You act as if you haven’t been hoarding hotels this whole game!” Christian fired back.
“You’ve been evading your taxes! I’m the banker, I could get you thrown in jail!” Orion turned to him.
“Does your being the banker explain your hunger for money?!” Catherine asked Orion. “Don’t forget about when you robbed me blind!”
“Oh, I think you’re mistaken, that’s called bail money! Maybe don’t get yourself thrown in jail as often!”
“You think I wanted this?!” Catherine continued.
“It’s completely random!” Bethany re-joined the argument, turning to defend her mother now.
“And who shuffled that deck of cards?” Catherine fired back, clearly not wanting Bethany’s pity or defense.
“How was I supposed to know you have terrible luck?!”
“I say we don’t let Bethany shuffle the next time when she can barely maintain her hotel business.” Orion shrugged.
“Oh, just take your turn!” Bethany tossed him the dice.
“Thank you, I will!” Orion snatched the dice, only for them to be grabbed by Christian first.
“Not so fast, kid. My turn first!”
“Hang on!” Orion raised his hands in the air. “Since when?!”
“Since I go after Bethany! Have you not been paying attention?”
“Oh, I’ve been paying attention!” Orion crossed his arms. “And I know I go after Bethany!”
“Dad’s right, Ri.” Bethany cocked an eyebrow.
“In what world?! Jupiter City?!”
“In the world where we go clockwise and he’s on my left, genius.”
“You don-” Orion paused, looking at the table. He pressed his lips together tightly, nodding. “You might be right.”
“You lying buffoon!” Bethany threw her arms in the air. “You do not own that railroad!”
“Then tell me why I have the card and a hotel on that space?! Read it and weep, fool!” Orion leaned foward in his chair.
“Dad, why did you raise a liar?” Bethany turned to her father, deadpan.
“What do you mean? How could he have raised a liar, he didn’t exactly raise you.” Orion smirked.
Bethany turned to him, just as deadpan, but with narrowed eyes. “I’m going to rob the bank for all its worth, Orion Shen Sanderson.”
“Fitting, you’re already in jail.” Orion’s smug expression didn’t leave his face.
“Wait- huh?” Bethany snapped out of her intimidating façade, so stunned by Orion’s comment. “No I’m not.”
“Yeah, you are.” He reached across the board, lifting her piece and placing it in jail. “You rolled doubles three times in a row.”
“No I didn’t?”
“You did.” Catherine confirmed. “A double five, double two, and a double four just then.”
“Huh?! Dad?” Bethany turned to Christian.
“I haven’t entirely been paying as much attention to everyone’s rolls as your mother, but I believe her.”
“Read it… and weep,” Orion repeated, still grinning at her as she dished up her own bail money.
“Well…” Christian gazed at his family. “That was quite a game.”
“It was amazing!” Bethany grinned.
“I wonder why.” Orion leaned back in his chair, fidgeting with his game piece.
“I really thought I had Bethany at the end there!” Catherine chuckled.
“I vote…” Orion lifted his finger melodramatically. “That next time we play… Bethany doesn’t shuffle.”
“You still think I cheated?!”
“I think I saw you pull a Get Out of Jail Free card out from your sleeve earlier!”
“I did no such thing!” Bethany spoke innocently.
Christian worked on putting the game away. “I’m impressed, Beth! Is that really the first time you’ve played Monopoly?”
“Yeah! Just luck of the draw, I guess.”
“Or of the roll?” Catherine furrowed her eyebrows.
“Luck of the droll! No, that doesn’t sound right…” Bethany furrowed her eyebrows.
“I call it beginners luck! You’re no match for my Monopoly reign of terror, Bethany!” Orion sat up, staring her down.
“Well, it appears your reign of terror has ended, Orion!”
