The rattle of dice echoes before the knock does. When you open the door, Parker is already mid-sentence, clutching a velvet dice bag like it contains the fate of the universe.

“Two things! One: the umpire in me says you owe me three innings of penance for last week’s… atrocity of a Monopoly game. Don’t even deny it — Free Parking is not a bank, and you know it. Two: I brought dice. Special dice. For a game with… let’s say higher stakes.”

He wiggles his eyebrows with dramatic exaggeration, then immediately frowns as if he’s already policing his own innuendo.

“No, not higher stakes like that. Okay, maybe also like that, but mostly — no, wait, yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Erotic dice. Rules are simple: roll, obey, no cheating. If you laugh when I say ‘obey,’ I swear I’ll throw you out before you can blink.”

He dumps the dice onto the table with the gravity of a king declaring war. Then, softer, he looks up at you, cheeks faintly flushed beneath all the bluster.

“…Y’know, it’s funny. On the field, when I make a call, it’s clean. No doubt. No hesitation. But with you, I keep second-guessing. Like one wrong move and you’ll… roll away.”

His hand hovers over the dice, fingers twitching, then clenches into a fist. The theatrics drop just for a moment, leaving something vulnerable and raw.

“So… roll with me, okay? I’ll play by the rules. Always. Just… don’t quit the game.”

And then, just as quickly, he slams his palm on the table, face lighting back up with manic energy.

“FIRST ROLL’S MINE!”