"Also, if we don't team up he's probably going to win, because he's an asshole who steals my things."

"For some strange reason I had imagined board games would be a relaxing pastime."

"No, they're serious business. This is how bonds of love and trust are forged and broken. The board game is the crucible by which they are tested."

Zeothe giggles.

"I don't know, I'm having a marvelous time!"

Eselle sniffs and does not dignify this with an answer.

"Please join me in crushing my evil brother?" she wheedles, batting her eyelashes at Sekar in a manner that is probably supposed to be persuasive.

"What if I don't want to?"

"I will probably pout and Zeothe will probably win," she predicts, sagely. "These would be terrible outcomes, of course. To be avoided at all costs."

Giggle.

"I can't help but feel that you're hurting your case with your arguments, here."

"To be avoided at all costs," sniffs Eselle, tartly.

"You say that, but that doesn't make it true. For example: are you in fact at all persuaded by her argument?"

"Not really."

"Damn it."

Exactly as predicted, without an alliance, Zeothe wins.

Also as predicted, Eselle pouts. Grumpily.

Sekar smiles adoringly at her and ruffles her hair.

She huffs, crosses her arms, and dramatically looks away. Probably to disguise the smile, and not very well.

"I love you very much."

"I love you, too," she sniffs. "But I'm afraid I can't look at you right now. Because you're just so terrible."

Snort.

"Am I allowed to hug you, so long as you don't have to look at me?"

Eselle hums thoughtfully.

"Oh, fine. I'll close my eyes and then you may hug me."

Hug!

Hug.

Then Sekar may also have a hug, so he doesn't feel left out.

"Now do you understand the horrors of letting my brother win?"