Chapter Text
The sun hung low in the San Diego sky as Team Red gathered in their warehouse for a break.
Carmen, with her red fedora tilted playfully, sat on a vintage armchair, engrossed in a well-worn book. Zack, the energetic redhead, sprawled on the floor, idly tossing a balled-up piece of paper into a makeshift basketball hoop. Ivy was sitting down on the coach scrolling through the channels and Shadowsan was currently in his room up stairs.
They had recently met up with Sonia again after another caper, and had invited her to stay with them for as long as she wanted, which is why she was now leaning on the couch watching ivy scroll through the channel and munching on chips. Unfortunately Zack suddenly had the great idea to play a board game.
What began as a friendly bout soon escalated into a battlefield of shattered friendships and disowned ‘family’ members. It was as if the stakes were higher than a game night should ever allow. Friendships? destroyed. Families? disowned. Hotel? Trivago.
The tension in the room could be cut with a blunt plastic hotel piece. Ivy, usually the calmer sibling, was now vehemently arguing over a coveted property. Shadowsan had come down to see what all the noise was, he observed the unfolding drama with his usual stoic demeanor, from the top of the staircase, before solemnly retreating, perhaps contemplating the deep philosophical meaning behind the game that could turn allies into enemies.
"I WILL NOT FUNNEL MY CURRENCY INTO THE HANDS OF A MISCREANT!" Ivy's voice echoed through the warehouse.
Zack, equally impassioned, bellowed in response, "THAT IS NOT THE MONOPOLY WAY, IVY!"
"Guys, can we just hit pause for a moment? I think we all know who the true perpetrator is here," Player interjected, attempting to restore order to the chaotic Monopoly universe.
Carmen, with her signature smirk, chimed in, "Oh, really, Player? Pray tell, who is this supposed criminal mastermind you speak of?"
"I'm referring to the grand larceny of my precious cards," Player declared, eyes narrowing at Carmen.
"YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE. And last time I checked, unfounded accusations can lead to defamation, which is illegal. So, you owe me even more now," Carmen shot back with a sly grin.
"That's not even remotely how the game operates," Sonia pointed out, trying to inject a semblance of logic into the escalating madness.
Carmen shrugged nonchalantly, retorting, "I don't care about the rules of this game; life's a bitch – deal with it."
"THIS GAME IS AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER!" Ivy exclaimed, summarizing the collective sentiment of the group as Monopoly continued its ruthless assault on friendships and sanity.
"Alright, everyone, let's take it down a notch. This is supposed to be a fun game to ward off our boredom. How about we all take a collective deep breath and just savor this game in peace, hmm?" Carmen suggested, her tone attempting to bring back a sense of tranquility.
Murmurs of relented agreement rippled through the room, and gradually, the atmosphere shifted to a more serene state.
Carmen sighed, relieved that her plea for calm seemed to be working.
***10 minutes later***
"What do you mean I can't steal it!?"
Player, with a raised eyebrow and an annoyed tone, responded, "You can't, it's not your turn!"
"But it's my street, and I'm a thief. I can do whatever I want with it," Carmen declared with a mischievous grin.
Sonia’s voice cut through the banter, "It doesn't work like that."
"Says who?" Carmen retorted, crossing her arms defiantly, the glint of rebellion in her eyes.
“Says the rules, now cut the arguing and get over it. We want to play.” said exasperated Ivy cutting short the argument between Carmen and Player while aggressively shaking the dices.
This was also Shadowsan’s idea in the end, something about bonding over board games in a conversation a couple of weeks ago. She supposed In the beginning it was going great actually, they spend some time arguing over what kind of snacks and drinks they want, then some more time fighting over which game are they going to play. Monopoly was not their first choice, let’s be honest, it’s never the first choice when you don’t want to ruin your family and friendships.
That one was on Zack.
At first player and Sonia weren’t very eager to play. The game seemed boring and as Sonia quoted “only lifeless boomers without imagination” played it. She chose the wrong moment to say it as she was met with strict look from Shadowsan who was right then passing by. Apparently he quite liked the idea of game that teaches you resourcefulness and money management.
Carmen decided that eventually they could give it a shot. It was boring at the beginning and Player made a point of voicing his disapproval for the game every time it was his turn to roll a dice. Nonetheless the longer they played the more invested they became. Cutting remarks changed into short quarrels and short quarrels changed into heated arguments over almost every move and trade they made.
“You’re just jealous ‘cause you don’t have Tennessee.” grumbled Carmen, throwing him an offended look. “Still, it wouldn’t help you. I’m gonna destroy you all.”
“Yeah, yeah, in your dreams red.” said Player as he bought another property. He had quite a lot of streets but no money. He claimed that it was an investment as he wanted to have control over every colour on the board. It didn’t go as planned but he was still content with controlling almost half of it.
“You sure you’re gonna be able to beat us boss.” teased Zack who was busy counting dollars that he needed to pay Player for trespassing one of his streets. Currently him, Player and Sonia had some unofficial alliance formed. So he wasn’t worrying over one small payment. All this money would go back to him as soon as someone steps on his Atlantic Avenue hotel. It was inevitable.
“Yeah, we’re so gonna make you go broke.” Sonia declared happy to have the thief beat on something.
“When we met I was but a learner. Now I am the master.” Player chimed in with a very pleased look on his face. He just bought his first house in Baltic Avenue. It was one of the cheapest properties but he argued that it would be just like a small X-wing destroying a big Death Star. And that the Force was surely with him so he must win. They started watching the star wars trilogy for their movie nights and Player was getting way too invested.
“Geez, Player. One more Star Wars reference and I’m selling all your spaceship sets.” threatened carmen
“What?! You can’t do that!” argued the young hacker while worriedly eyeing his Millenium Falcon sitting on the shelf. “You touch my millennium falcon and i'm tossing those russian dolls in the ocean red.” he threatened back
“Touch them and I'm tossing you off Niagara falls buddy.”
“You wouldn't dare, you love me too much” he replied
“Oh but I can. That or you can sell me Park Place.” smirked Carmen. Her strategy was to possess all the most expensive streets and finish everyone with horrendous taxes. To do that she only needed one property from Player who didn’t want to sell it at any cost. That’s why she decided some extortion is needed. She knew exactly how much those legos meant for player.
“So you’re black mailing me?!”
“"Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer extortion. The "x" makes it sound cool." she smirked
“And commit suicide? Tempting but not this time.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” asked the suddenly very worried thief.
“Oh you know, it’s probably this millennials shit.” guessed calmly Ivy who was now happily moving her pawn to the Free Parking. She shrugged and grabbed some popcorn.
“That’s not reassuring. But seriously Player, sell me the Park Place.” she deadpanned
“You know I can’t! I will be the first one to step there when you build a hotel!” cried the hacker with a skeptical look on his face. He knew very well how this game worked, one mistake and you’re going down with tons of mortgages.
“Player, don’t you trust me? Me?? Your best friend, your partner in crime, your…”
“nope” player happily interrupted while sipping on his drink.
“ugh… I just… Back to the point. Park Place. What do you want for it?” huffed carmen.
“Ughh fine just give me Vermont...” He decided “But I want a discount when I inevitably step foot in your hotel!.”
“Wait! Player, are you out of your mind?” shouted Zack wildly gesturing to carmens already bought properties “Don’t sell yourself so cheap! Ask her for two streets! Like Vermont and Tennessee! We are in this together, remember? Team boys the cooler, smarter team against Team girls.”
“Uhh hello?? I'm on your team as well.” Said Sonia eyeing Zack and then turning back to younger boy “can you just hurry up, i’ve got bills to pay”
“Vermont and Tennessee?” asked Player hopefully after a moment of consideration. Zack had a point, why have one X-wing when you can have two. It’s one closer to the whole squadron.
“Okay.”
“And the discount?”
“jeez okay Player, two streets and the discount it is, but I’m robbing myself.”
“But that’s against the rules! You can’t get a discount!” argued Sonia.
“Hey, it’s my transaction and I set the rules.”
“Why do you even want Park Place?! It’s trash!” yelled an outraged Sonia.
“Because I’m a thief and I want all the most expensive things I can get. I have a reputation to uphold.” Exclaimed the thief proudly rearranging her cards. Oh yeah, now she could crush them.
She did not crush them.
After some luxury taxes she had to pay (“Hey, you wanted rich streets and luxuries now to pay for it”), two visits in Water Works and Ivy’s estates ( “Why would you even build anything out there?!”) she was pretty much broke. She had to mortgage almost all her properties apart from the most expensive ones and had zero money and prospects to keep them. That was until she went to the jail and Player decided to step onto one of her two remaining streets. The Broadwalk with four houses.
“Well, I wish I could pay you but you’re in jail.” he tried to divert innocently
“I don’t see the connection.” scoffed confused Carmen.
“You can’t collect money while sitting in jail, it's not how the world works. It’s supposed to be a penalty, not a happy vacation time.”
“What kind of shi- i mean crap rule is that?!”
“It’s in the instructions!” “
No it’s not. I’ve read the instructions!” argued the super thief aggressively waving battered game rules.
“In my version of monopoly it is. And I play only my version so it’s set.”
“Well then in my version, it’d be more realistic, i wouldn't even be in jail in the first place, or i would have at least broken out ages ago”
“You can't do that!” he yelled
“And you can't set the rules of the game!”
One would think that after 5 years of friendship they would be friendliest with each other but nope 5 years of friendship down the drain as soon as monopoly came up.
“Of course I can, my name is on it!” shouted Player pointing on black-and-white logo in the corner of the board.
“Oh come on Player, I could steal this sorry excuse of a board game any second and change its name to “Player, Zack and Sonia are little bitches” and it won’t entitle any of yall to anything!”
“Language.” huffed Sonia trying very hard to look deeply offended. “You just can't get over your impending bankruptcy.”
“You just can't run your finances and any amount of money won't change it” chimed in at the same time Player.
“They have a point,” added amused Ivy.
“What?! I can run my finances very well. Thank you, I’m a thief. You're just jealous cause you sold me those streets and now I’m building my own criminal empire thanks to that.” Carmen shouted. She ignored Sonia snorting “That's some empire you’re building.” and she turned to her orange haired friend “help me out ives, we're supposed to be on the same team here.”
“of course she can’t run her finances, why do you think she made me in charge of the teams money.” said Shadowsan who unnoticed entered the living room and were looking through large stack of papers at the coach pillow beside him.
“Because you’re the only capable adult in this team?” answered Player happily.
“Because you're scary as shit?” added helpfully Sonia.
“Both fair points.“ agreed Shadowsan at the same time as Carmen shouted “Language” and after a moment of contemplation he added “But also the finances.”
“Traitors the lot of you. I’m disowning you both, you're both fired from my team.”
“Ohh cant handle the mutiny boss?” taunted more and more amused Zack. It was definitely a good decision to play monopoly today, he hasn't seen Carmen this riled up since their racin caper in dubai.
“Fight me.” was all she said in response
Shadowsan grunted “play nice, the adult has some work to do. Carmen, don't cheat. I can see that 100 dollars in your sleeve” not looking up from his documents.
“Et tu dad?” asked Carmen with a betrayed look on her face.
“I knew you were cheating!” screamed Sonia on top of her lungs.
“No, I wasn’t!” replied the thief equally loud “And quit that innocent act, I know that you both have been messing with me since the beginning of this game!”
“You have no proof!” Sonia shouted back with an expression that was everything but innocent.
“Actually Sonia I can provide suitable proof of your cheating as well.” unexpectedly interjected Shaowsan.
“Ha! At least someone is still loyal to me!” exclaimed triumphantly Carmen ignoring the very pointed looks from shadowsan “teach, please give me the proof of cheating.”
“You mean the time she hid the money under her thigh? Or that time she very purposefully miscounted so you won’t step on player’s hotel? Or that time when…”
“I knew it! How could you rob me like this?” player said, looking devastated at his unofficial teammate's betrayal.
(P.S. No one is ever loyal when it comes to monopoly. People are savages ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
“Okay, we can all agree that we cheated, I didn’t pay you then, you don’t wanna pay me now so we’re kinda even. Let’s move on to the next round.” answered the thief after a long moment of silence.
“I’m almost certain this also isn’t how this game works.” mused Ivy “In fact, as I am the only honest person here I think we can all agree that I’m the winner.”
“What?! I didn’t cheat either!” argued Player.
“No, you were just making up new rules that suited you. That’s cheating short stack.” carmen teased
“No it’s not. And don’t call me that.” the offended hacker refuted.
"Uh, okay. From this moment on, no cheating. We stick to the rules. Cahmm, give back the stolen money," announced Zack as he snatched the few hundred bucks from a grumbling criminal. "All of it," he added after counting and deciding that she would've stolen more.
More hundreds were reluctantly handed over.
“So now Player pays Carmen and we can move on.” Ivy summed up and looked expectantly at Player.
“Why do I have to pay and she suddenly gets away with getting around my hotel?” whined Player helplessly counting his remaining money. He didn’t have enough and would have to sell most of his properties.
“Because I'm cruel and corrupted and there is still hope for you. And law doesn’t work backwards. Pay up player.” she said mercilessly
“But... but what about our agreement?” he tried one last time.
“I revoked it because of your treachery.”
“And how is that fair?!”
“You’ve brought it on yourself dude.” she rebutted
Spongebob meme ***One eternity later***
Carmen, undeterred by the mutiny, declared her intent to fight back. Shadowsan, seemingly uninterested in the Monopoly drama, continued to sift through his paperwork, occasionally grunting in response to the escalating turmoil.
As the game progressed, Carmen found herself teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Again. The once formidable criminal empire reduced to a few scattered properties and a dwindling pile of cash. She attempted to rally her forces, seeking redemption and vengeance in the unpredictable twists of the Monopoly board.
Zack, who had been content counting his Monopoly money and enjoying the spectacle, suggested a ceasefire. Monopoly, he argued, was meant to be a fun game for bored friends, not a battlefield for bitter rivalries. Ivy, just wanting this to end, nodded in agreement, proposing a return to the initial spirit of the game.
Sonia, having observed the chaos with a mix of amusement and bewilderment, chimed in, "Can we all agree to play by the actual rules now? No more house rules, no more alliances, just a fair game of Monopoly."
The suggestion hung in the air, casting a momentary hush over the group. Shadowsan finally looked up from his paperwork, his gaze moving between the contending parties. In a rare display of approval, he nodded in agreement. The Monopoly battlefield seemed to calm, the storm of chaos settling into a tentative peace.
Carmen, begrudgingly accepting the proposed truce, sighed. "Fine, no more cheating, no more backstabbing. Let's play by the rules and see who emerges victorious in this stupid world of Monopoly."
The group, having weathered the storm of Monopoly mayhem, resumed their seats around the board. The dice rolled, properties were traded, and the familiar sounds of the Monopoly game continued, this time with a renewed sense of camaraderie.
And so, Team Red navigated the challenges of Monopoly, discovering that even in the midst of chaos, the bonds of friendship prevailed. As the night unfolded, with laughter and banter echoing in the San Diego warehouse, they learned that Monopoly, for all its pitfalls and perils, had the power to bring them together in unexpected ways. And if they can live through a game of monopoly then this team can truly get through anything.
THE END