Ruby was starting to regret her choice of tonight's game.

It's not like Pyrrha gave me much of a choice! She keeps cheating when it's a video game or something fast pace!

Of course, Ruby wasn't altogether that unappreciative of the cheating, especially when it took the form of surprise kisses. But that didn't change the principle of the matter, Pyrrha keeps getting cheating to be the big spoon!

To end that particular easy-win streak that Pyrrha had enjoyed for so long, Ruby had devised a plan. A plan so diabolical and ingenious, that it was one hundred percent foolproof. There was no possibility for Pyrrha to clinch an easy win in it by distracting Ruby with kisses. No possible way. Something that'd take a long time to finish, long enough that no one particular distraction could ruin the game.

Which led to one, singular, completely reasonable and unbiased game that would assure fair play; a game that never went too fast.

Naturally, Ruby dug out her old copy of Monopoly: Atlas Edition.

"Are you sure about this?" Pyrrha had asked, with more than a little uncertainty. "Doesn't this game take a while to finish?"

"What, afraid you are going to lose?" Ruby retorted with more than a bit of bravado in the face of her girlfriend's waning determination.

"…You're on."

For all intents and purposes, Ruby's plan was working; Pyrrha wasn't able to distract her at all, and the game was going smoothly.

…for the last three hours.

I maaay have picked a really long game. Ruby could concede that particular fact. Since it was just the two of them, as opposed to the usual four or five players, the game was progressing at a snail's pace, even more so.

With no weaker players to pick off, there were no alliances or any cooperation of the kind, which meant the pace was agonizingly slow. So slow, in fact, that Ruby was considering throwing in the towel, so she actually got some sleep for the next day. Yet…

I picked the game so Pyrrha couldn't distract me... If I give up now, then all of this will be for nothing! Ruby shook her head, trying to dispel the grips of sleep tugging at her as she rolled the dice. I gotta win!

Silver eyes groggily blinked as Ruby slid her marker down the board before stopping on a square and handing the dice back to Pyrrha. "Uh, Ruby?"

There was just a hint of smugness in Pyrrha's voice, one that made Ruby suspicious. "Huh?"

"You might want to look where you landed…" Ruby glanced down at the board.

"Jail, again?" The younger redhead grumbled as she moved her piece across the board and into the corner marked 'Jail'.

Pyrrha rolled the dice and moved her token before groaning and handing over rent to Ruby. "Do you think we're actually going to finish tonight?"

"Maybe? …are you thinking of giving up?"

"No, but if this keeps going, I think the winner should get to be the big spoon for the next night." Pyrrha gestured towards a wall clock. "After all, whoever wins tonight won't get much chance to be the big spoon before class starts."

Ruby shrugged. "Makes sens-"

"It's two in the morning, go to sleep already!" Weiss' shrill voice startled them.

"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha and Ruby said in unison before looking at each other. "We'll try and keep it dow-"

"No." The light thud of Weiss getting out of bed sounded loud in the rather silent night – punctuated only by Yang's snores – as she stormed over to them. "We have class tomorrow, go to bed. Now."

"But-"

"No, you can figure out who wins tomorrow, I don't care, just go to sleep!"

"We can't until we figure out who won," Ruby weakly protested as Weiss looked like she was just about to kick the board game through the wall.

"Fine." Weiss let out a deep sigh. "Monopoly, right? Just figure out who has more money, and they win."

"I-" Ruby's protest died as Weiss stared at her with an intensity that made her question whether or not the white-haired huntress was trying to light them on fire with her mind. "…actually that makes sense, right Pyrrha?" The tall redhead nodded in mute agreement.

A half of minute counting later, both had tallied up their scores. "Finished?" Weiss asked in perhaps the most exasperated tone Ruby had ever heard as they both nodded. "And…?"

"9,005"

"9,005"

If Ruby wasn't sure that Weiss could murder them with her mind, she'd only be slightly more afraid as her partner pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why do I even bother?"

"That's why we need to keep playi-"

Weiss' pillow slammed into the game board, knocking the pieces in every which way. "Bed. Now."

"B-b-but we need to f-figure out who's going to be the big spo-"

"That sounds distinctly like not my problem."

"But-"

"One more word and I'm kicking you out and jamming the door."

The discussion ended there.

"This isn't right." Pyrrha murmured. "That was a tie."

The two of them were lying in Ruby's bed, facing a quandary: who gets to be the big spoon from a tie?

"I'll… I'll be the little spoon." Ruby offered in between yawns. "It's my fault that I picked such a long game."

"No, no, no." Pyrrha protested. "I agreed to it, so we're both at fault."

"…we could just sleep without cuddling?" The younger redhead suggested after a moment. "That way no one loses."

"I think we'd all lose from that," Pyrrha pointed out. "Unless you are saying you don't want to cuddle with me?" A certain kind of sadness leaking into her voice that tugged at Ruby's heartstrings.

"No, I don't mean that at all Pyrrha!" Ruby shook her head. "I just thought it'd be fair-"

The scream of frustration was the only clue for what was to come as Ruby felt the collar of her shirt being yanked, as she found herself, along with Pyrrha being pulled out of the bed and thrown out the door. By the time Ruby had gotten her bearings, a pair of very icy and angry eyes were staring at her before slamming the door close.

"…rock, paper, scissors?"

AU: It occurred to me; What if no one actually won?

Naturally Monopoly was the thought that prompted this, though, I was thinking about using Twilight Imperium… except I imagine most people would be unfamiliar with that particular game.

…actually, I could do a chapter of that, if anyone wants it?

Anywho, onto more serious topics.

I've been slacking in Dilation as of late because my schedule has changed drastically as well as being stumped on Acceptance for the moment. Progress is happening for it, but it's deathly slow. I'll try and get a Dilation chapter out at some point!

Also I've been feeling just horribly sick as of late. That's another thing.

Thank you for reading, I hope everyone has a wonderful day! :D

Omake: Twilight Imperium Edition

"I win!" Ruby did a triumphant fist pump as Pyrrha finally conceded the match.

"…I guess you did, I'm going to be the little spoon tonigh-… why is it light outside?"

"The better question is why did you keep playing for the past two days." Weiss deadpanned.