justanotherowenconnersfan

[justanotherowenconnersfan]

Made something for a bookstore chain, and loved my cat's performance in it so much I thought I'd share it with everyone! (ignore my face being on fire, that was just poor lighting :)

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Family Game Night

James Riley Appreciation Week 2025

Day 1: Family and Siblings/Hobbies

Word Count: 1,249

Audience: Gen

Relationships:

Christian Sanderson/Catherine Sanderson, Bethany Sanderson & Orion Sanderson, Catherine Sanderson & Bethany Sanderson, Catherine Sanderson & Orion Sanderson, Christian Sanderson & Bethany Sanderson, Christian Sanderson & Orion Sanderson

Additional Tags:

Fluff, Monopoly, Board Games, Sanderson Family, Sanderson Family Fluff, Arguments, but they are jokes, jokes about Christian’s absence, Christian “Old Man” Sanderson, Orion is adopted

Christian walked over to the dining room table, announcing his arrival by dropping a small, rectangular box on the table. It smacked onto the table, clattering as the game pieces bounced around inside.

“Dad, how old is this game?” Bethany eyed the yellowed box, watching as specks of dust flew into the air.

“Technically, the game was patented in 1935, but it originally dates back to 1903 when a woman named Elizabeth Magie created a game called ‘The Landlord’s Game.’”

Orion’s eyes widened. He shook his head with a small smile. “Y’know, you’re not beating the old man allegations, Old Man.”

“Hah hah,” Christian teased, gently tousling Orion’s hair. “This specific game was mine when I was a kid. So it’s only about… thirty years old?”

Bethany just nodded, still suspiciously eyeing the decrepit box. “So… what’s the goal?”

Christian stared at her, one eyebrow raised. “What?”

“How do you play?”

At that moment, Catherine returned, balancing four bowls of popcorn.

“Honey, we’ve failed as parents.”

She distributed the popcorn. “Was that before or after you got stuck in a book for eight years of our daughter's life?”

Orion just snickered. “Hey, I turned out fine!”

“Lies.” Bethany stuck her tongue out at him.

Catherine giggled, gently swatting Bethany’s arm. “Care to explain how we failed as parents?” She turned back to her husband, smirking.

“Bethany has never played Monopoly!”

Catherine and Bethany looked at each other and both shrugged. Bethany took a handful of popcorn, barely raising a shoulder as she looked at her dad. “I was too busy sneaking behind her back every night for leisurely activities like game nights.”

“…Touché.” Christian clicked his tongue. He shook his head, drumming his fingers on the table. “All of that changes tonight! Because tonight, we are going to embark on a quest so dangerous, so treacherous, and so unpredictable that it will effectively change the course of your life! There will be twists, there will be turns, and there will be heartbreak. I’ll warn you now, you will begin to question who your allies are, and who your enemies pretend to be.”

Orion let him finish his monologue, staring at him with a flat expression. “Are we playing Monopoly or Dungeons and Dragons?”

“Oh,” Catherine laughed. “You haven’t seen your Dad playing Monopoly, he’s cutthroat!”

“Well, let’s stop wasting time and start playing!” Bethany tore the lid off, tossing it on the floor next to her.

“Gentle, Beth,” Orion warned, “that’s a piece of history.”

Christian just rolled his eyes, chuckling. “Get your laughs. I’ll be the one laughing in the end.”

Bethany eyed the silver game pieces. “Oh! Can I be the boot?”

“Sure!” Christian handed it to her.

Orion plucked the cannon from the box, admiring the detail.

Catherine took the thimble, and Christian took the top hat.

“Alright!” Christian clapped, getting his kids’ attention. “So, apparently we do have to go over the rules, so listen up.”

Both Orion and Bethany nodded along as their dad explained the rules. Finally, he finished.

Orion glanced at the box of money. “Can I be the banker?”

“Sure, why not.”

“What if I wanted to be the banker?” Bethany complained.

“Please!” Orion started dishing out the colorful money. “I’ve seen your math grades.”

Bethany, humbled to silence, just took the money her brother was handing her, tucking it halfway under the board for safe keeping.

The four Sandersons positioned their playing pieces on the GO! square.

“Let the game begin.”

“You monster!” Bethany shouted, throwing her money at Orion.

“I’m the monster?! You're trespassing on my property! Of course I’m going to make you pay the fine!”

“You act as if you haven’t been hoarding hotels this whole game!” Christian fired back.

“You’ve been evading your taxes! I’m the banker, I could get you thrown in jail!” Orion turned to him.

“Does your being the banker explain your hunger for money?!” Catherine asked Orion. “Don’t forget about when you robbed me blind!”

“Oh, I think you’re mistaken, that’s called bail money! Maybe don’t get yourself thrown in jail as often!”

“You think I wanted this?!” Catherine continued.

“It’s completely random!” Bethany re-joined the argument, turning to defend her mother now.

“And who shuffled that deck of cards?” Catherine fired back, clearly not wanting Bethany’s pity or defense.

“How was I supposed to know you have terrible luck?!”

“I say we don’t let Bethany shuffle the next time when she can barely maintain her hotel business.” Orion shrugged.

“Oh, just take your turn!” Bethany tossed him the dice.

“Thank you, I will!” Orion snatched the dice, only for them to be grabbed by Christian first.

“Not so fast, kid. My turn first!”

“Hang on!” Orion raised his hands in the air. “Since when?!”

“Since I go after Bethany! Have you not been paying attention?”

“Oh, I’ve been paying attention!” Orion crossed his arms. “And I know I go after Bethany!”

“Dad’s right, Ri.” Bethany cocked an eyebrow.

“In what world?! Jupiter City?!”

“In the world where we go clockwise and he’s on my left, genius.”

“You don-” Orion paused, looking at the table. He pressed his lips together tightly, nodding. “You might be right.”

“You lying buffoon!” Bethany threw her arms in the air. “You do not own that railroad!”

“Then tell me why I have the card and a hotel on that space?! Read it and weep, fool!” Orion leaned foward in his chair.

“Dad, why did you raise a liar?” Bethany turned to her father, deadpan.

“What do you mean? How could he have raised a liar, he didn’t exactly raise you.” Orion smirked.

Bethany turned to him, just as deadpan, but with narrowed eyes. “I’m going to rob the bank for all its worth, Orion Shen Sanderson.”

“Fitting, you’re already in jail.” Orion’s smug expression didn’t leave his face.

“Wait- huh?” Bethany snapped out of her intimidating façade, so stunned by Orion’s comment. “No I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are.” He reached across the board, lifting her piece and placing it in jail. “You rolled doubles three times in a row.”

“No I didn’t?”

“You did.” Catherine confirmed. “A double five, double two, and a double four just then.”

“Huh?! Dad?” Bethany turned to Christian.

“I haven’t entirely been paying as much attention to everyone’s rolls as your mother, but I believe her.”

“Read it… and weep,” Orion repeated, still grinning at her as she dished up her own bail money.

“Well…” Christian gazed at his family. “That was quite a game.”

“It was amazing!” Bethany grinned.

“I wonder why.” Orion leaned back in his chair, fidgeting with his game piece.

“I really thought I had Bethany at the end there!” Catherine chuckled.

“I vote…” Orion lifted his finger melodramatically. “That next time we play… Bethany doesn’t shuffle.”

“You still think I cheated?!”

“I think I saw you pull a Get Out of Jail Free card out from your sleeve earlier!”

“I did no such thing!” Bethany spoke innocently.

Christian worked on putting the game away. “I’m impressed, Beth! Is that really the first time you’ve played Monopoly?”

“Yeah! Just luck of the draw, I guess.”

“Or of the roll?” Catherine furrowed her eyebrows.

“Luck of the droll! No, that doesn’t sound right…” Bethany furrowed her eyebrows.

“I call it beginners luck! You’re no match for my Monopoly reign of terror, Bethany!” Orion sat up, staring her down.

“Well, it appears your reign of terror has ended, Orion!”

“I demand a rematch! Tomorrow night!”

“No!” Catherine and Christian spoke in unison.

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Story Thieves Fans - What to say when someone asks you to do something impossible:

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being in a fandom comprised of 12 people and a bag of corn chips is great because whenever anyone posts anything all 11 of your pals are like

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Once You’re Gone (Story Thieves) Chapter 1

It wasn’t a large cabin, but it was bigger than Owen had expected. It had two whole floors, which he wasn’t even considering before. That was fine, though. He was just thankful he didn’t have to sleep in a tent. Something about the cramped space of tents just made it impossible for him to get any rest at all.

“Here we are!” his mom exclaimed proudly. “Ready to make this the best vacation ever?” she asked as she ruffled his hair. He squirmed away, although he secretly didn’t mind it.

To be honest, Owen had been looking forward to this vacation. He’d never been camping before, and the place they were staying in looked cozy enough. His mom had assured him there weren’t any problems with bugs and such, at least not in the cabin. For that, Owen was thankful. He didn’t want to sleep in a mosquito net all night. Bug bites were awful.

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“he’s my comfort character!” then comfort him, he’s drowning in an indescribable emptiness right about now

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Normally by now we'd be asking for a first-sentence sneak peek, but I guess this time we don't have to! (Super excited for the new books!!)

Thanks, I hope you enjoy them! And while I think I’ve posted this before, how about a last sentence sneak peek? 

“Okay. Back up. Start from the beginning. Who’s this Jack guy, anyway?”

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first epilogue chapter of reality check is posted! Here’s the link if anyone’s down to read :D

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19450648/chapters/82775830

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story thieves + give me one good reason why I shouldn’t punch your face in

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Possibilities Chapter 5 (Story Thieves fanfic)

The school dance wasn’t crowded, but Owen still felt like there was an entire world staring at him as he walked in. Gwen held the door and waved the others inside, shutting the door after.

Charm grimaced. “If anyone expects me to dance, they’re going to be disappointed.”

“Come on, Charm!” Gwen said, grinning at the tall girl. “I’m sure you’re a great dancer!”

“We don’t do much dancing on Quanterium…”

“That’s a lie,” Kiel interrupted, smirking. “I’ve been there, remember?”

Charm’s cheeks tinged a bit red. “I forgot you saw that,” she mumbled.

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Possibilities Chapter 4 (Story Thieves fanfic)

“I’m so, so sorry,” Bethany told Owen, who laid on his bed, facedown. She had tried in vain to cheer him up, and she felt terrible for not being able to bring Kara back right. She knew it wasn’t really her fault, but she wanted, she needed to make it up to him for not being able to bring her back in the first place, and now she had screwed it up again.

Owen turned his head just enough to glance at her. “It’s not your fault, Bethany.”

She didn’t trust herself to speak without bursting into tears, so she just nodded, biting her lip. She didn’t know how Owen was holding it together on the surface so well. She would have been sobbing uncontrollably if Kiel had come back remembering everyone except her.

Or maybe Owen had no tears in his body left to cry.

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Possibilities Chapter 3 (Story Thieves fanfic)

“I’m worried about Owen,” Bethany confided to Kiel as they sat on a cliff overlooking the surface of Magisteria. “He’s been so quiet ever since we beat Nobody.”

“Yeah, I noticed that too,” Kiel mumbled. “He misses Kara.”

Bethany nodded. “What exactly happened? All I know is she got absorbed into the pure possibility.”

Kiel sighed and looked out over the dark, rocky landscape. “She was the first one we lost.”

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Possibilities Chapter 2 (Story Thieves fanfic)

Owen’s day began as usual, with his regular trip to the library in order to help out his mom. He was behind the counter, checking out books for people. That was where Bethany and Gwen found him when they showed up.

Owen wasn’t his usual cheerful self, instead looking down at the desk and his journal he was absently doodling in. In fact, he didn’t even realize anyone had approached him. He was paying such close attention to his sketch that he jumped a little when Bethany cleared her throat.

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[justanotherowenconnersfan]

Possibilities Chapter 1 (Story Thieves fanfic)

“NO!” Owen yelled as Kara tumbled backwards into the wall of pure possibility, the Outliner falling right behind her. Owen fell to his knees, staring into the abyss. Kiel put a hand on his shoulder, but Owen didn’t feel it. He didn’t feel anything. It was only when his vision was noticeably blurred that he realized he was crying.

“Come on,” Kiel said softly. “We have to keep moving.”

Owen nodded, standing shakily. They had to get to the castle.

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