Riven- LOL I'm glad yur still enjoying!
G.R.T.- Emotions make us all stupid at times LOL
Exxcal- LMAO Some how I doubt it. I mean I guess I could add in some extra but I can't see it in my story... You will get about 75k though :)
Souring-(33) Ahh yeh AU sometimes isn't my cup of tea. Btw... ROFLMFAO! You dork! But it was supposed to be implied that she was writing the clips of the story down to ask on later... I guess I didn't portray that well enough
Souring-(34) Like I said it was implied -_- LOL But it got gathered up when she picked up the story papers... And BBAAAAAA on my spelling! I must have flown through and just clicked the wrong one for that LOL My bad...
rena- ^-^
Groves- Yeh you and a few others I notice following mine have been slacking! I've got like 60 I'm following and went from at least one updating a day to like maybe ever 5 -_- HINT HINT PPL!
sandz-(15) So you'll prolly never read this since you seemed to give up on this story at chap 15... All I can say is that if you ever paid attention to the characters their reactions to things are fairly correct... Yes they are 18ish however Lucy was raised in a recluse environment. I'm sorry this wasn't to your liking.
Celt-LMFAO Trust me I know! I swear my daughter LOVES to make noises in her sleep just when I'm about to... well yeh I know!
leo-*smiles innocently* I have no idea what you mean
rxp- Have fun! if nothing else you have five chapters to look forward to maybe... maybe... The rest of the story!
Now it's time for today's chapter!
The guild was in good spirits which meant noise and ruckus. Lucy laughed with her friends as they all sat around eating, drinking and just enjoying each other's company. When she had arrived with Natsu and Happy they had gotten their normal happy welcome and that was all. The women backed off for now for some reason and she was grateful. Finding a spot at a table with Erza and Grey they all ordered something from Mira and started swapping stories of their recent missions.
"Hell those bandits never saw it coming." Grey boasted.
Not one to be outdone Natsu jumped on the table, "Yeh but bandits are easy! Me and Luce took down a wyvern! Check out the scare that prick left me." He ranted pulling up his pant leg and pointing.
Lucy, Erza, and Happy laughed while Grey rolled his eyes. "Sit down before you hurt yourself." He sneered.
"You're the only one who's going to get hurt." Natsu growled.
"You two wouldn't be starting a fight during our lovely meal would you?" Erza asked in an icy tone.
Natsu paled and jumped down reseating himself next to Lucy as Grey plastered on a smile that spoke of fear. "No E-erza! J-just a friendly c-com-comparison in missions." He sputtered.
Erza was only able to nod before Mira made an appearance that the team's table. Setting a clipboard down in front of Lucy she said, "This is sign-up for the poker tournament we're going to start at 8PM sharp! It's even got a cash prize." she winked.
Lucy's eyes widened as her face reddened. Glancing over to Natsu and Happy she saw them with full smiles in place. So this is what they had meant by a surprise. Smiling a bit she picked up the pen and signed her name. "What's the prize?" she asked while passing it to Erza.
Clapping her hands together excitedly Mira exclaimed, "I'm so glad you asked! Master said we could have a first, second, and third place! First gets 100,000J, second 50,000J, and third 25,000J." continuing to smile she kept going as the board made it's rounds on the table, "I need at least thirty people and Elfman, Lissiana, and Freed agreed to be our dealers!"
"Sounds like fun!" Lucy chirped.
"Indeed it will be a nice bonding experience for us all." Erza added.
"YOOSH! I'm all fired up!" Natsu cheered once again jumping on the table.
"AYE SIR!"
"Tch. You won't be too happy when I beat you flame fucker."
Natsu smiled smugly down at Grey, "Oh yeh frosty the naked ass? I doubt you'll stand a chance."
Raising a brow to the insult Grey looked down and face palmed, "Damn it not again!" he cursed while looking around for his discarded clothing.
Everyone laughed and went back to lighter conversation as Mira picked up the clipboard and went to the next table. Happy made his way to Lucy and perched himself on her head as Natsu looked to him, "It's up to you to put in our bets buddy!"
"AYE!"
Lucy looked quizzically at the man next to her, "Bets?"
He smiled draping an arm over her shoulder, "Sure! For the people that don't play Mira will have a betting pool!" Leaning in closer he whispered, "And you're going to win it for us."
Lucy blushed once more, "That's some faith you have." She mumbled knowing he'd hear her.
Giving her a tight side hug before letting her go he only offered her a smile in return. Finishing the last of his food he looked to Erza and asked her about her and Wendy's mission over in the mountains letting the subject of the upcoming game drop.
A little over an hour later left Lucy sitting at a poker table in the game room. There were ten to a table and three tables. After a winner took all at each table they would then play to see who took which of the three places. Her dealer was Elfman. Glancing around she noticed that Natsu was at Freed's table and she had to laugh that he chose to not play her table having all his faith that she was going to sweep the floor with everyone. Sure she had Happy place a bet on herself as well but still that was only for the first round. Looking to her own table she realized she only had one person for real competition. Seated with her were Grey, Juvia, Vajeer, Alzeck, Wakaba, Evergreen, Nab, Reedus, and Levi.
Levi was posing the biggest threat and she had to figure that her book loving counterpart had read on techniques and such of the game. Eventually it came down to herself, Juvia, and Levi. There's was the last table everyone was waiting on so they had drawn quite the crowd.
"Damn who knew these three were card sharks?" Grey asked Erza standing behind Juvia's area while taking off his shirt.
The woman nodded, "Indeed, whichever one wins will be a tough opponent." Erza said sagely. She had won her own table knocking out poor Natsu who didn't seem too concerned over it when he left to go watch Lucy immediately. Erza couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Natsu cheering Lucy on standing directly behind her chair.
"Gihee," Gajeel's voice cut in across the table. "You got this Shorty!" he said patting Levi on the head causing the woman to puff out her cheeks in annoyance and embarrassment.
"GO LEVI!" Jet and Droy cheered together from a spot behind Gajeel.
"Juvia is not out yet! All in! She will not lose to Love Rival!"
Lucy sweat dropped to that. "Honestly Juvia I'm not your rival!" sighing as the woman continued to glare Lucy looked to her cards once more. Juvia was great at bluffing but Lucy picked up on her give early on and that was what kept her a step ahead of the water mage the whole time. Discreetly looking the woman over she spotted the twitch in her pinky giving her away. Looking over to Levi she saw her own twitch in her eye meaning she was having a hard time with the idea of calling herself. "Raise, I'm all in also." Being the table leader in chips meant if Levi called this was the end of the game.
"Gihee, you got no chance Bunny Girl." Gajeel taunted. Levy was sitting on a flush. This was almost a sure thing.
Natsu sneered across the table, "Shove it tin can Lucy's got this!"
"You trying to start something Salamander?"
"Pft you wouldn't even be worth my time."
"GUYS!" Levi shouted. "I'm trying to concentrate here!" effectively shutting both men up. Sighing frustrated she looked to her cards and started mentally counting and working out the probabilities. She was sitting on a flush her odds were good. Juvia had been caught every time by Lucy in her bluffs so chances were she'd have her but Lucy was another story. The woman carried on normally and she couldn't find a tell at all. Not that she needed that but she had yet to win a hand against Lucy but the fact that it was a one in a million she could beat her possessed her to ignore her prior losses. "Call."
"Now you're being real men!" Elfman cheered.
All three women rolled their eyes and yelled, "WE'RE WOMEN!"
Elfman ignored them as well as the hit he received from a fan and told them to roll their hands. Juvia was first with two pair Kings and Nines. Levi smirked revealing her own cards, "I got you this time Lu-chan!" she called as she showed her Queen high flush in diamonds. Just as she reached for the chips Lucy stopped her.
"Sorry Levi-chan and Juvia." Was all she said with her own smirk in place as she showed a full house Aces over Fives. "I think those chips are mine." She said standing while the guild filled with a mix of cheers and groans.
Levi pouted but looked up in surprise when she felt a hand on her shoulder, "I'll get her next round Shorty don't worry. If I can take out that lighting fucker I can take on Bunny Girl no problem." She smiled while blushing at Gajeel's words and just nodded.
"Well played Lu-chan! You two Juvia!" Levi smiled to her friends.
"Juvia thinks it was a good game as well Levi-san. Love Rival, congratulations, you have won at cards but I will never surrender Grey-sama's heart!" she said causing Grey to pale and Lucy to sweat and shake her head.
"LCUY!" Happy cried as he landed embracing her chest, "You won!"
"She sure did buddy," Natsu added slinging his arm over her and smiling.
"AYE! We won a ton too!"
"Hell yeh we did! Put it all on Lucy for the last round too! I'm all fired up!" Natsu told Happy while thrusting the fist not on Lucy into the air.
"Guys stop! You're embarrassing me!" Lucy gushed. However she was quite proud of herself and the extra money she had made by betting on herself. Still blushing she looked at Happy, "Put mine on me to win too." She mumbled embarrassed.
Mira's voice rang out above the crowd, "Erza, Gajeel and Lucy to Freed's table for the last round. Taking bets for the finalist!"
Happy took that as his cue and flew off while Natsu dragged Lucy to the table. Noticing that Lucy seemed to have tears welled in her eyes he frantically asked, "Luce you ok?"
Lucy chuckled a bit and swiped at the tear that fell. Smiling sadly she looked at Natsu, "Yeh just remembering some good times."
Natsu gave her one of his wide smiles, "I'd bet those geezers would be impressed they taught you so well!"
Lucy's smile shifted to one of happiness, "You're right." Reaching over she hugged Natsu quickly saying, "Thanks," before taking her seat never noticing the slight blush or grin Natsu sported while he took his spot behind her once more.
So while I did play around with the idea of an official date type thing it just didn't seem right. This is Natsu and his knowledge would come from the guild... Given Loke is a play boy and would have had a slight influence everyone hangs out at the guild all day. I feel like his actual knowledge of a date itself would be limited on what to do other than the basics. Carry stuff, pay for food, that sort.
While I find him a passionate character I don't see him as a romantic type. If told what to do I feel like he would give it 1010% but without being told exactly what he needs to do... yeh. But I loved the idea that he would do something nice as well as fucking with everyone at the same time. Because seriously who would guess Lucy to be a card demon?
Anyway... I had fun with this and the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoy reading it and laugh with me on it. Just wait there is some insanity to come!
BTW I have decided to do an actual lemon. Full on no holds bar. HOWEVER, I'm going to give it it's own chapter so that those that don't care for that sort can easily pass it over and ignore it. I know I have a decent following that doesn't care for that and because of that I want to give those readers a chance to not have to skim and find where they can read again. :)
I love you guys that much LOL! That will also be a double chappy day so that there is some content other than lovin LOL.
So keep sending me happy thoughts! But most of all keep enjoying!
~Gemi