Domino is a game piece, similar to cards or dice, used for playing a variety of games. They can be stacked end to end in long lines, and when one is tipped, it triggers the next domino to tip, and so on. This sequence of events is commonly known as the “domino effect,” and it can lead to some very interesting shapes and patterns. It is also a great demonstration of the power of physics, as one domino can affect objects much larger than it is.
When writing fiction, many of the same concepts can be applied to create some interesting stories. Plotting a story often comes down to a single question: What will happen next? Considering how to use the domino effect in your writing will help you answer that question in a compelling way.
The word domino comes from the Latin dominus, meaning “master” or “first among equals.” It has been suggested that domino may be a cognate of the French dominique, a cape worn by priests over their surplices. The pieces themselves were originally made with ebony blacks and ivory faces, so the connection to the garment is plausible.
In the most basic Western games, players place one domino edge to edge against another in a row, identifying their adjacent numbers by their pips (a domino with no pips is called a naked domino). The number of pips on a domino determines its rank in the game. The most common standard set has a maximum of 22 pips on one end, though some sets contain more digits.
Some of the most interesting domino games involve arranging the pieces in creative shapes and patterns. They can be lined up in rows, tipped sideways or upside down, and even twisted and curved. Some of the most popular games include domino rummy, double-nine, and double-12, although there are many other variations.
During Operation: Zero Tolerance, Domino was captured by a Prime Sentinel named Ekaterina Gryaznova. She was possessed by a malevolent spirit called Aentaros, who intended to use her to kill Randall Shire. After she was rescued by the mutant Jesse Aaronson, who used his powers to disrupt machinery, Domino left X-Force, convinced that she could no longer be useful in her current state.
She later joined Cable in his search for the new Weapon X program at its secret Neverland base, and helped him find a missing mutant by matching an eye tattoo to a boy who was being held hostage. After she was blasted by Red Hulk, causing a building to collapse around them, Domino was saved from the destruction by a young boy who was also being held captive at the facility. He revealed himself as her half brother, Lazarus. Domino later reunited with her old team mates in Japan, but was separated from them again after a volatile run-in with the villain Blockade. She was eventually re-united with the reformed team and again aided them in their battles against mutant rights violations.