[ WP ] The fate of the universe shall be decided in a game of rock , paper , scissors

The victory condition is seven wins. 
 
 > 0-0 
 
 The Devil grins at me. He knows what's at stake and he's confident. He's a trickster, after all. 
 `` I call paper,'' I say. His grin widens. There is no doubt in my mind that he knows what I intend to play. He has an advantage. But I'm looking to level the playing field. 
 `` I call rock.'' His voice rumbles as he readies his hand. He'll play scissors. He sees right through me. 
 *'' Rock, paper, scissors! `` * 
 
 I play paper. He plays rock. 
 > 1-0 
 
 Did I misjudge him? Why would he give me the first win like that? Is it just to mess with my expectations? No, I ca n't let this derail my strategy or train of thought. I called paper, so he needed to play scissors, so I needed to play rock. If I'd have played rock, we would have tied. Had he expected me to pick scissors? Had his call been a challenge to me? 
 `` I... I call paper!'' 
 That's right. Let's see how you respond to me calling the same thing twice! 
 `` I call rock,'' the Devil proclaims. 
 Ouch. Right back at me. Well, I'm sticking to my guns. 
 
 Paper, Rock. 
 > 2-0 
 
 He still seems confident. I lead by two points now, but I silently scold myself for picking seven. Should have picked five! 
 `` I call rock.'' There, now him calling rock as well would be meaningless. 
 No, I should n't be doubting myself. I picked seven because it'd buy me time to figure him out. I knew full well what I was getting into with this deal. 
 `` I call paper.'' 
 I still have every intention of playing paper. But if I call rock, he should be avoiding scissors. That's the obvious way to play. So he should play paper himself. If I play rock that's a win, but if I do n't, it's only a draw. 
 
 Paper, Paper. 
 > 2-0 
 
 As expected. But he has some guts keeping true to his calls like that. If he keeps that up, he wo n't be able to win. But if I let it slide for even a moment, I wo n't be able to predict him any more, so I have to be careful. I need to punish him hard. On the other hand, I want to play paper a fourth time, to see how long I can stick to it, for exactly the same reason. 
 `` I call paper.'' 
 I've only been untruthful once. It's a gamble, but it's one I need to take. 
 `` I call scissors.'' 
 *Great. * Well, I did expect it, even if my gamble is now worthless. Time to shut down his playing it straight act. 
 
 Rock, Scissors. 
 > 3-0 
 
 I really could have gone for five games. But, this *is* the Devil himself. He's giving me some leeway in order to upset me. I ca n't let that succeed. If this was five games, I would n't have this lead. 
 `` I call scissors.'' 
 I'm not sure why, but scissors seems like the right path to take. After last round, anything goes. And if I can trick him into believing I have an affinity for calling what he called last round, I might have an edge. 
 `` I call rock.'' 
 Rock? *Really? * I almost feel angry. But he needs to quit playing what he calls now if he wants to defeat me. He knows that. So scissors is safe. 
 
 Scissors, Rock. 
 > 3-1 
 
 Shit. Shit shit shit. The Devil is crazy. I knew his game. He knew I knew. I knew he knew I knew. I ca n't let this trip me up now. I should have punished him an additional turn. In fact, I should have kept punishing him until he quit. 
 `` I call scissors.'' 
 I ca n't call rock right now. That would make my pattern seem deliberate. 
 `` I call rock.'' 
 Same as last round. But this time around I wo n't lose. 
 
 Paper, Rock. 
 > 4-1 
 
 Something bugs me. I feel like this is too easy and my opponent is just observing me. He has lost none of his gall... Right. In that case, I wo n't play to win. I'll play to tie. 
 `` I call rock.'' 
 I continue with my ruse. 
 `` I call paper.'' 
 
 Paper, Paper. 
 > 4-1 
 
 I ca n't let him see through me now. My calls do n't really matter until he stops making honest calls anyway. Let's break the pattern. 
 `` I call scissors.'' 
 His grin widens for a moment every time I call. It's annoying. I ca n't tell if he has me figured out or not. 
 `` I call paper.'' 
 
 Paper, Scissors. 
 > 4-2 
 
 A string of ties helps neither of us. At least I've managed to break his pattern. But now I need to be careful again, because our calls start mattering. 
 `` I call paper.'' 
 Which means that ideally I'd play rock. 
 `` I call rock.'' 
 He ca n't be planning to play scissors. More likely, he'll actually play rock. He knows that my call was n't serious. Paper it is. 
 
 Paper, Scissors. 
 > 4-3 
 
 W-wait, no. His plan was to make me play paper all along. Trying to play scissors while I'm setting up for rock would upset anyone. 
 `` I call rock!'' 
 I'd ideally play scissors, of course. 
 `` I call scissors.'' 
 Same as last round once again. 
 
 Scissors, Paper. 
 > 5-3 
 
 As planned. 
 `` I call scissors.'' 
 I wait for his reply, but he keeps silent. This time it seems he's not making a call. That's fine. It gives me another chance to observe. 
 I'd ideally play paper here, but paper is a losing pick for my opponent, and so is rock. He needs to play scissors. 
 
 Scissors, Scissors. 
 > 5-3 
 
 That exchange was worthwhile, but somehow it feels like I've made a mistake. But what is it? I'm about ready to wipe that dirty smirk of his face. It irritates me. 
 `` I call rock.'' 
 I'm staking the souls of billions on this game and he's just sitting there, smiling like I'm some idiot. He refuses to call again. Fair enough. He just needs to play rock, so I'll intercept with paper. 
 
 Paper, Scissors. 
 > 5-4 
 
 I realise my mistake. I should have played rock to force a win on his scissors. By not doing that he knows I'm not the type to follow through. I play it safe. He was able to take advantage. How do I fix this? 
 `` I call scissors!'' 
 The Devil again refuses to call. He needs to play scissors, so I need to play rock. But he knows that, so he'll play paper. So I need to play scissors again. 
 
 Scissors, Rock. 
 > 5-5 
 
 No. This is going downhill fast. I need to do something. 
 `` Play rock.'' 
 That's different. It should change the flow of the game enough for a chance to open up. And this time, I'll follow through. I'll go for paper. 
 
 Paper, Rock. 
 > 6-5 
 
 I just need one more round. Then everyone will be safe. Forever. 
 Before I can say anything, the Devil speaks. 
 `` Play rock.'' 
 He's seen through me now. I can tell. I wo n't be able to use my trick of calling something he does n't expect this way. 
 I just need one more round. One more. 
 I'll go for rock. Anyone expecting the results to be the same as last round is crazy. 
 
 Rock, Paper. 
 > 6-6 
 
 I forgot. He *is* crazy. This is what it all comes down to now. 
 `` Play rock,'' he repeats. Same as last round. This time I wo n't be foolish. I wo n't play what he asks. I'll play scissors. 
 `` Rock!'' *is what he asked me. * 
 `` Paper!'' *is what he'll play. * 
 `` Scissors!'' *is what I need. * 
 
 In the last split second, time seems to freeze, as I suddenly realise that I'm about to lose. I've won all rounds that have had identical situations to the previous round. There is no way the Devil would be that incompetent. But it's too late to think. All I can do is prevent myself from making the scissors gesture. 
 
 Rock, Rock. 
 > 6-6 
 
 Is it my imagination or is his smirk slightly less wide now? This might be my chance. I do n't think we'll get another draw, so now is the time. 
 `` I call paper,'' I say before he can speak. My call is random, but that does n't really matter. My ideal play would be rock. But this time I'll play scissors. Now that I've realised what I've been lacking, it's obvious. 
 I'd play paper. He'd play scissors. I'd play rock. He'll play paper. I'll play scissors. 
 
 Paper, Rock. 
 > 7-6 
 
 I played paper. Why did I do that? 
 Actually, the answer is pretty simple. The Devil had been a step ahead of me every time. So why would this time be different? This was just the continuation of the cycle I ended by no longer calling. So I had to move one extra step. A crazy step. One that might as well have been random, but somehow I was able to accurately pick the gesture I needed. 
 
 The Devil's smirk has disappeared. I finally one-upped him in the end, but only through surprising even myself. 
 `` Leave all of us alone now,'' I say. `` You'll never take another soul.'' 
 His fingernails scrape on the table as his expression slowly shifts into a resentful scowl. That's the last thing I see of him. I have no more business here. I only hear a frustrated scream as I walk out of the building before all goes quiet. 
 Mankind has won.
