Sinner System

Chapter 596: Heroes’ Afterparty (Part 1)

"Make yourselves at home, guys, just relax and take it easy," I remarked, as I showed the others in.

It was a few hours later, around 6 PM. After the podcast ended, Aria and I invited the others over to our place to hang out. Sort of an afterparty for all of us.

We were a bit pleasantly surprised when all three of them accepted, particularly Ciel. Even though she’s making an effort to pick herself up, she’s still clearly in mourning, so I thought she might not be up for it.

But I think it’s a good thing, maybe we can help her take her mind off things for a few hours and just relax and have some fun.

We decided to host them at Aria’s place, since her living room is better suited for multiple people than mine is, my living room is a lot more bare than hers is.

"So, wait, you guys live separately? I guess I just assumed you’d be living together," Remarked Jaden, as he flopped onto the couch.

"I mean, we sort of are. I moved in here before we got into our relationship, and we usually alternate where we stay. Sometimes I stay over at Kai’s place, and sometimes he stays over here," Explained Aria wryly.

"Huh, that’s a bit of an unusual set-up. You guys both own your places, right? Why not break down the wall between them and combine them?" Suggested Ciel thoughtfully.

"We have thought about that, but it’d be hard to make that work with our current layout. Aria’s bedroom and guest room are on the other side of my training room," I informed them.

"Hm, yeah, that does make it tricky."

"I guess it is pretty unconventional, but I think we make it work," Responded Aria with a shrug.

"Yeah, it’s not like there’s anything wrong with it, it isn’t as though there’s a single correct way for couples to live, after all. Well, anyway, what have you guys got planned?" Jaden asked us.

"Nothing special, just thought we could hang out, play some games, along with some booze, weed and snacks. Feel free to make requests, I’ve literally got an unlimited supply," I replied with a grin.

"Cool, sounds like fun."

Aria and I then moved the couches around so that there were around her coffee table, before I took out a bunch of snacks and drinks, along with a case of beer and a stack of joints.

I dragged over a small table by the corner of the room that had a lamp on it, setting the lamp down and moving the table next to the coffee table.

Aria arranged everything around the middle of the smaller table, as I took out a bunch of games, including a few different card decks and a few board games, before stacking them on the floor beside the coffee table.

"We’ve got plenty of options, any suggestions on what to start with?" I inquired, as I glanced around at the others.

"Um, is it okay if we play games that don’t have too many rules? I find it hard to focus once I’m no longer sober," Responded Cleo sheepishly.

"Works for me," Nodded Ciel with a thumbs up.

"In that case, how about Snakes and Ladders to start off?" Suggested Aria, placing the board in the middle of the table.

"I’ve heard of it, but haven’t played before, how does it work?" Jaden asked her.

"It’s pretty simple. You roll a dice to move your piece. If you land on the bottom of a ladder, your piece moves up to the top of the ladder. And if you land on a snake’s head, you move back down to its tail. And if you roll a six or a one, you get to roll again in the same turn. That’s about it."

"It’s an easy game to get the hang of. I don’t think I’ve played it since I was a kid, but I still remember how to play it," Remarked Ciel, before adding, "Alright, who’s starting? Also, can I have the red piece?"

"Oh, then I’ll go with white," Decided Jaden, as he picked the small white disk.

Hm, or maybe it’s more accurate to call it a puck instead of a disk, since it isn’t flat? Eh, whatever, doesn’t really matter.

"I’ll pick black," I responded, as Aria went with green and Cleo picked blue.

"Kai, you should start. That way, Jaden will be last, which’ll give him more time to pick up on the game," Pointed out Aria thoughtfully.

"Sure, I’ll kick things off. Oh, nice, a five," I remarked, before moving my piece forward.

"Me next...hm, a two," Sighed Aria, moving her piece as I picked up a joint and lit it up, the earthy, sour smell wafting out as I took a puff and exhaled.

"My turn. Sweet, a six. Wait, do I have to move my piece before rolling again, or can I move it after?" Ciel asked us.

"Does it really make a difference?" Responded Cleo curiously.

"Yeah, it could. For example, if I’m in a spot where I’m one space away from a snake, and I roll a one, I’m screwed.

But with my second roll, if I roll a higher number, I’d be able to avoid the snake if I first move my piece the number of spaces of my second roll, and then use the one once I’m safe.

It works both ways...like, if I’m two spaces away from a ladder, and I roll a six, and then a two with my second roll, I can use the two first to get the ladder, and then the six to progress further after that," Explained Ciel, as she picked up the dice.

"Huh. Interesting...usually, when we roll sixes or ones, we move the piece, and then make our second roll. But this way sounds fun, it adds a bit more strategy to what’s otherwise very much a luck-based game," I replied, after taking a moment to mull it over.

"Mhm, no objections here, sounds like a good way to mix things up," Nodded Aria, before Ciel rolled her dice again.

"Nice, another six! Followed by...a five! Alright, that’s seventeen spaces, which moves me to-...uh-oh," Frowned Ciel, as she realized she was heading straight for a snake head.

"There aren’t any ladders you can land on with your rolls, which means...you have no choice but to land on the snake," Grinned Aria, as Ciel placed her piece on the snake with a sigh, before moving it back down to the third square, where the tail was.

"Okay, I think I’m getting it now," Nodded Jaden, an intrigued look on his face...