Fortune Dice

Celexa: A Plan

Being stuck at home isn't an experience that most enjoy. But besides the crippling guilt of pushing all her responsibility onto her undoubtedly people-pleasing roommate, Celexa does rather enjoy not having to step foot outside the door. And while on any other day, there would be some backlash against her skipping school, fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you see it, getting a seven this morning is plenty the excuse to laze around all day without consequences.

Yes, sure, the chance of her getting injured or dying becomes greater than usual, but as long as she doesn't step foot outside, it's still somewhat safe. The worst that had happened today was her hitting her feet harshly against the leg of a chair. Thankfully, the unfortunate fortune can't seem to affect the people around her, so she can safely keep Aileen close to her side still on such days.

Millions of thoughts are going through her roommate's mind. Celexa can almost hear the gears turn as the girl by her side furrows her brow in a way that's way too familiar. It's almost fascinating how her mind works – all the planning and scripting, all the while criticizing her previous thoughts. And as much as Celexa very much does not appreciate the nonconstructive criticisms, it is clear as day that it does create a more solid plan in the end if she ever decides to go through with it. That is, on the cause of her own sanity.

"Lexa," Aileen calls out and leans her entire weight against Celexa's side. "The dice. Shall we do something about it?" Aileen proposes, and Celexa smiles, knowing she really won't have much of a say in this matter now that she has made up her mind, "What's the plan?" Celexa asks, and a familiar smirk stretches Aileen's lips.

"I was wondering if you're familiar with the 'Number Gamble'?"

'Number Gamble,' the illegal game of life and death. She is indeed familiar. After all, it was once said to be the Tyche version of what they called 'Russian Roulette' in the past. For a while, after the 'game' became popular in the underground society, almost all casualties on live TV had been related to it in one way or another.

A few years back, someone who is now only known as 'A' found and exposed a bug within the dice's code to the world about the untold function, the 'Point System.' The post had been long deleted, and 'A' disappeared from the internet soon after, but many still have a screenshot of that surprising piece of information.

"To purposely lower the numbers you can get in order to collect the 'points' for a roll 18. In fact, it is the only known way of getting such a high number on the dice whose existence meant invincibility." Aileen's smirk widens in the way that only happens when she's planning something she knows will be a huge risk, "Many casualties followed its discovery. Most people treated it merely as another game of gambles. But in the face of committing a far more serious crime than playing an illegal game for the thrills, don't you think this is the perfect way of achieving it, my partner?"

Partners, that's what they are. Because neither of them is truly innocent, but the only ones who know about it are each other. This is fine, Celexa will be more worried if she isn't involved in all her schemes anyway. But to gamble on a gamble about a game of gambling, Celexa has her doubts.

"Don't worry. Of course, I won't make you do it." Once again, Aileen picks up on her unease but in the wrong way. Celexa had long come to the realization that her partner selectively ignored all signs of concern directed at herself. "You're in a better mood now," Celexa says instead, unwilling to send Aileen down a spiral by expressing her worries. In return, she gets a smile as her partner hops off the couch.

"We should start with Fortune 8," Aileen proposes as she turns her head to face her, "A little higher than what you got today, but still in danger zone. In that case, it'll be a four-month operation, and if we plan it well, we can get the dice deactivated right before winter break ends."

"Promise to be careful, and I'm in."

"Great!" Aileen is always more excited when she is plotting for something. And as much as she is worried, Celexa also can't help but smile as Aileen grabs her dice off the counter. True excitement radiates from her form, nothing forced, nothing fake, nothing like the façade that she wears outside this apartment room. Celexa supposes this is the part of the girl that had attracted her to Aileen in the first place.

"In the four months, we also need to find out how to break into City Centre." Aileen mumbles, mostly to herself, as she fumbles with the die in her hand, "Considering we haven't heard of anyone breaking into it, I think it's fair to assume that everyone that did end up dead."

"That's why you wanted to gamble with the system?" Laying her head on the headrest, Celexa brushes her hair out of her face and blinks. "To have a better chance of coming out alive?"

"Well, we do have a promise, don't we?" the dice is placed back onto the table, "That we'll both try to live as long as we can."

"I guess we do." Celexa closes her eyes. She had not forgotten. How could she of such a promise? But it is rather assuring to hear that the other also hadn't forgotten and is actively acting on it. 

A small warning bell rings in the very back of her mind, but she ignores it. It'll be fine. Worst case scenario, at least they can die together in there. Celexa would be satisfied with that outcome as well.

"Ai," Celexa calls out, and Aileen looks back. She's glowing, Celexa notes, as Aileen smiles at her with an unmistakable glow in her eyes that would never appear merely a few years ago. Closing her eyes, Celexa smiles to herself as she pushes herself to her feet, "You have fun then. I'll go make dinner."

"Wait, isn't it my turn?"

"It's fine! It's fine! You're busy!" Celexa snickers to herself and walks into the kitchen before Aileen can attempt to convince her otherwise. 'She worries too much.'

Ah, Celexa never wants this to end. 

This home, she'll do anything to protect it.