.

The King and the Mermaid

Cala Maria

She supposed she'd had this coming. She'd always had a problem with getting hooked on things she shouldn't. Being caught on his line? It shouldn't have been a shock, but it was. Next thing she knew she was being reeled in by a man who had no business reeling her in. He dropped a line, dropped a few in fact, and put on the charm. She'd flirted right back. He'd tossed in the bait, mentioned where he worked. Hinted she should look him up some time there and try her hand at the tables. She'd never even really gambled until that night, and it only took that night for her problem to start.

He was a bad addiction, and she found herself going back again and again. She never had much luck and didn't gamble more than she was willing to lose with only rare exceptions. Instead she took every opportunity to interact with him. She flirted hot and heavy. He flirted right on back, dancing his fingers up her arms and luring her in with that gravelly deep voice of his. She was his main squeeze. He called her his greatest catch. They just went together, walking arm in arm through the casino as he showed her the games and the ropes, encouraged her to try them out, encouraged her to take bigger and bigger risks.

She'd brought this on herself. She'd known what he was, who he worked for, and what his job was. She'd let herself think she might be an exception, but she knew better. One night she was on this real hot streak, see, and he was hovering over her so close she could feel his breath against her ear, murmuring encouragement and cheering her on. She felt brave with him there, started taking bigger risks. He was her good luck charm, she guessed she'd figured. Then of course out came his boss and struck her a deal she couldn't resist. He didn't offer her treasures or riches. She offered her his second. Offered her King Dice himself.

She'd felt him start behind her, shocked and taken aback by his boss's offer. She'd leapt on it, thrown those dice without thinking even as he'd reached out to catch her arm, and lost. She'd known her mistake immediately when her beau's boss began to cackle and produced that dreaded piece of parchment with her name written on it big and bright. She'd begged for a reprieve, told him to ask her anything and she'd do it. He propositioned her right in front of King Dice. King Dice did nothing. She was less surprised than she would have thought she'd be, that this had been Dice's plan all along. She didn't entertain the thought, just turned and fled and didn't look back. Her beau's boss had tried to pursue her, but her beau had stopped him, telling him it was only a matter of time before he got to collect on her debt, and she'd fled into the ocean and just cried.

She didn't go back to him again…

King Dice

She'd been an easy mark; vain, flirty, interested. Drawn to the wrong side of the tracks. Didn't take much convincing to get her to agree to let him row them to land and take her there. He hadn't expected her self-restraint, it was a bit of a problem getting her to be careless at the tables, but persistence paid off. It always did. It didn't take long before she was starting to slip up, get a little careless, loosen a little more. She came there for him, he knew she did, so he played on that too. Got her close, kept her close. Didn't hurt to have her hanging off his arm anyway. A stunner if ever there was one. Got to thinking he might even keep her around for the bragging rights. Girl wasn't unpleasant company and wasn't hard on the eyes either. He of course ultimately decided against it. He had a job to do, after all.

He hadn't expected that job to take so long. He hadn't expected starting to feel a little more inclined to keeping her around after all. Pleasant company that girl, but the boss wanted a new soul and she was ripe for the picking. He hadn't expected the deal the boss made to be for him…

He'd been blindsided by it, and it was that single moment that showed him how truly deep in this she was. It was that single moment that for a little while had him shaken to the core. He hadn't expected to reach out and try to grab her arm to stop her from throwing. He hadn't expected the pang of regret and unease that went through him when he was too late. He hadn't expected the jealousy, anger, and outrage that sprang to his eyes and tore through him when the boss propositioned her in exchange for her freedom. He hadn't expected the relief he felt when she fled, or the subtle inkling of disappointment and hurt when she didn't come back…

Devil

He'd seen from the start the girl was head over heels for his right-hand man. The minute Dice waltzed on in with her hanging off his arm, looking up at him with stars in her eyes, he knew. He knew King Dice was plotting to turn it in their favor too. Applauded his henchman. The girl posed a problem, though. Knew her limit, played within it. She wasn't here for the tables, she was here for Dice, and as time went on he started seeing little changes in Dice too that told him maybe his right-hand was losing focus on his job. Fool didn't even realize it himself, but it was there. Started leaning in more to her, started keeping her nearer and not pressuring her so much, started driving suitors away, started to genuinely laugh with her and not just play it up… He knew he had to act.

He reminded Dice of his job subtle-like so he wouldn't catch on. Dice got her to the tables, she started to get lucky, and he made the scene. Earlier than usual so he didn't lose her. He pitched her the deal. If she won, she got his manager. She'd been right on it. Dice, that snake, had tried to catch her arm and stop her, and there had been urgency and uncertainty in his eyes. He knew for certain, then, that the guy had slipped down the slope. Or had started to. Didn't matter, he was too late to stop her, and she threw. She lost and he got what he wanted. Then he made sure King Dice knew for certain there'd be no more hanky-panky with the girl. She was his now and he'd make sure she was his in more ways than one, just to drive it home to his manager she was off limits from then on out. He propositioned her with no real expectations she'd accept. He just wanted to rub it in. He saw the jealousy and outrage and fear that came to Dice's eyes. She refused, she ran, and he saw the relief in his right-hand's eyes too. He hadn't been happy, but Dice didn't go after her, she didn't come back, and things settled again. Until a little cup and a little mug showed up on his doorstep…

CH

The little mugs were doing a bang-up job at collecting the outstanding debts. King Dice looked totally unperturbed, but the boss saw through it. Saw that the closer the cups got, the more often Dice was spotted looking out the windows towards the ocean, and the more uptight he seemed to be. So, he did what he did best. Took him to the tables.

He disguised it as a friendly game between a couple old friends. Nice even matchup, no tricks no cheats. Told him it was to pass the time before the little mugs showed up. Got to chatting up his right-hand man, pushing him towards bigger and bigger stakes. Dice didn't bite, knew his tricks and kept it controlled. So, he decided to make a bet the King couldn't refuse. "Cala Maria's coming up on their list," he said to his enforcer.

Dice paused for the briefest of moments, but paused nonetheless. "That a fact?" he said. "There a reason you're bringin' her up specific like?"

"Just makin' conversation, Dice!" he replied. "Can't wait 'til I have her contract in hand."

"Got plans for her, boss?" Dice asked, smirking.

"Oh, I do," he answered, leaning forward with a wicked gleam in his eyes. Dice kept wearing the smirk, but it was a cold and bitter one. He disguised it well of course, Dice was good at that, but the Devil knew his manager better than the King knew himself. Anyone else might have fallen for the guise, but not him. "Gonna make that fish sing for me. Sing like she's never done before." Dice's fingers were drumming on the table. "You seem a little… tense, Dice. Problem?"

Quiet met his question. "Tense?" his right-hand finally replied.

"It wouldn't be a surprise. You and her were gettin' pretty tight there for a while," he pushed. Silence as a response again. "Not keen on sharing her I'll bet." Silence. "Dicey, you're takin' the fun outta this!" he complained.

Silence. Then…

"They won't get passed Cala Maria. Too good, too many skills. Don't get your hopes up," Dice finally said, cracking. It was hairline, barely visible, but it was a crack nonetheless and it was all he needed. A grin crossed his face. Dice knew he'd slipped up immediately, but he didn't back down.

"Willing to bet on it?" the Devil asked.

"The wager?" Dice asked.

"Cala Maria's contract," he answered. "Winner takes it. If you're so sure of her, what can it hurt? At best she ends up yours. At worst she's no better off than she is if you refuse." Dice might be, though.

Silence. A long, long silence. "I'll take that bet," Dice finally said, taking the bait knowing full well that was exactly what he was doing. The Devil grinned and shook his right-hand's, well, hand.

King Dice

She failed to stop them. Dice couldn't say he was shocked. He'd hoped, but he wasn't shocked. Now he was in a foul mood, though, bitter at the loss. Doubly so when the boss conjured up an image of her crying, mourning her freedom. "You lose," the boss said. What else was new, Dice inwardly retorted. "Care to go again? Her contract for your victory."

"Got a better deal, boss. How's about her contract in exchange for mine?" he answered. That, he knew, would be the last thing the Devil expected.

The boss stiffened and for a beat there was silence. "Meaning…?" he pushed, intrigued by the offer.

"I win you give me her contract sure, but if I lose, you tear up her contract, let her go, and take my soul in her place," Dice replied. The boss was quiet, thrown by this unexpected sacrifice. In fact, the boss was quiet a long, long, long time.

"You strike one hell of a deal, Dice," the Devil finally replied. "But you got yourself a bargain."

Another shake and the next thing he knew there he was, facing off with the little mugs himself. He didn't go into it expecting victory. He didn't go into it expecting a loss either. Best not to bet either way, he'd learned. Just go with it. He gave them a hell of a fight, he could pride himself on that at least, but in the end they'd come out on top. Didn't matter. Either way Cala Maria would be taken off the hook he'd put her on. Catch and release. He'd never been big on that game 'til he'd caught her on his line.

CH

He went to the sea to deliver the message, while the little mugs took on the boss. He didn't know what to make of 'em, whether they'd come out on top or not. Fact of the matter was either way he was gone. They hadn't collected his contract to burn… Figured Cala would end up free either way. Just his luck. Still, in case the little cups failed he might as well put to rest her terrified thoughts.

She was hunched down on a reef, crying into her hands and sniffling, afraid of what was to come. "Debt's cancelled. You're a free woman," he said, approaching and stopping a way's back, smirk on his face. "Boss has no use for you anymore. Someone made him a deal he couldn't refuse.

She gasped, looking back at him, and was still. For a long time, she didn't answer. "One of the little cups?" she finally questioned.

His smirk widened. "A bigger fish than that," he said.

"But-but who would do that for me?" she asked, looking hopeful but also unsure if she should totally trust or believe him, which suited King Dice just fine.

He chuckled, shaking his head at her. "You really don't know," he said, amused. "Guess you can't be blamed for that. Probably figured my interest in you was superficial. Get you to the tables, make sure you gambled away your soul. In fact, even I figured my interest in you was just that. Then it wasn't… I didn't take kindly to you belongin' to the boss, becomin' his to do what he wanted with. Would have much rather you belonged to me, but that bet was lost. Twice. Price the second time? My soul for yours. You're off the hook, little fish, no matter what happens up there. Now the fisherman's squarely on it instead, whether them little mugs come out on top or not." She gaped at him like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. He gave her a one-finger salute and turned to leave.

"W-wait, wait! King, what have you done?!" she exclaimed, quickly trying to go after him and wishing the legs her tail became when on land would sprout a little faster. They finally did, and she ran after him. "Dice, wait!" she insisted. "What… why?! Why would you do that for me?!"

"Told you, little fish. Turns out my interest in you weren't so professional after all," he answered. "Couldn't stomach the thought of you as his play thing, so I gave him me instead. Not like it'll be much different than it already is anyway. Little less freedom, maybe."

"But-but how could you do that to yourself?!" she demanded.

"Better me than you," he answered simply. "Go back to the ocean, Cala baby. Ain't no more reason for you to stick around ole' King Dice. Or be afraid of what's comin'. Go back to your watery kingdom. Live your life up, sweetheart. Catch ya on the flipside." He left her standing there in shock, gawking after him and trying to wrap her head around what had just happened.

CH

Cuphead and Mugman came out victorious. Beat down the boss, burned the contracts each one. Except his. While the rest of the island celebrated, he was watching his very ticked boss put the finishing touches on his contract, then watching him seal it. His smile twitched a bit and he slightly winced as it was finished up. Could all but hear the cell bars clanging shut behind him. "You did it for nothing, Dice," the boss said. "You'd have both been free if you'd just kept your trap shut."

"Wasn't a risk I was inclined to take," Dice replied. Not for her.

"And look where it got you. Now you're more my slave than you ever were," the boss answered. "Hope you enjoy eternal imprisonment. Casino's out of business. Not much more use I have for your ugly mug anymore except as a decoration and trophy." He felt chains materializing on his wrists and began to regret this, shifting a little uneasily but otherwise seeming unperturbed at the disconcerting feel of shackles encasing his wrists and ankles. "I'll see you in…"

"Wait!" a voice called out. Both King Dice and his boss turned fast and started on seeing who'd come. There stood Cala Maria, looking desperate and scared!

"Maria!" Kind Dice exclaimed in shock, eyes wide.

The boss blinked in surprise then grinned wickedly, instantly intrigued. "Well what have we here? The jilted lover coming back for her no good, deadbeat boyfriend?" he said.

"Yeah, I came back for my no good, deadbeat boyfriend," she retorted, eyes narrowed. "And I'm not leaving without him."

"Unless you wanna play for his soul, or pay the price he wanted to spare you from, you aren't getting him," the boss said.

"I'll play for his soul," she said, a cold smirk crossing her lips.

The boss was quiet, eyes narrowed. "You lose, I keep you both," he finally said. "You win and his contract's yours."

"Deal," she answered before King Dice could tell her not to. "Let's begin, shall we?"

CH

She won. Dice was still in shock over it, though not half as much as his sobbing and cursing boss was. She trotted triumphantly out of that place with him as her trophy, her arm linked through his as she brought him away. "You know I'm goin' back, right?" he said.

"Well now you'll be free when you do," she replied, tossing the contract into a flame nearby. "This way he won't keep us apart anymore."

"You still think we're goin' strong, do ya?" he said. She frowned stubbornly up at him with a pout. "Well I think I can live with that," he continued, smirking at her. She started then smirked wickedly back at him, pulling him closer. "Now how's about you and I have a little fun?" he suggested with a waggle of his eyebrows.

"Oh, we'll be having so much fun you won't be able to handle it," she flirted. He grinned wickedly down at her.