Greetings, welcome to our great establishment. If you've read one of my other stories, you will have heard this name, or if you listen to something particular... I'm looking at you, TheLaughingStalk. Anyway, we'll soon see the special talents available to this girl and what exactly is happening to those people... Anyway, let's go!
Super hero time!
Shuujin: We're going full force; if it isn't a royal flush, we're not going to win!
Issei: Time to do some investigations! search for the lost power!
Shuujin: Something tells me it won't be too hard to do that.
Issei: And It's time to test my luck!
S + I: Break the chains! Phone up the future!
"I welcome you sincerely to club= Majesty. Do not fret, I can tell your… special requirements and they shall be met should you so desire. Please, enjoy your stay at our fine establishment."
It was a lavish building of golds and red, all elegantly fused to provide only the most luxurious experience available to them. Fortunately, Issei was able to just make the barrier of the club's already lowered age rating, though Ophis had been a bit of a surprise.
"I still can't believe that you can change your looks Ophis. I still feel like you really shouldn't be here though…" Issei remarked, the brunette turning to his black wearing companion. It was a terror trying to pull away from her voluptuous chest, straining the fabric of her same gothic dress (if a few sizes larger, naturally) leading to a much more mature figure, a far contrast to her usual childish appearance and under the club's dimmed lighting, she almost seemed angelic.
"It, is an appearance suitable for our purpose, father." She claimed when the child had disappeared from her position initially. "They, will allow me in. They, have no reason not to." She didn't immediately get an answer as Issei had found himself simply gaping at her far 'better' looks.
"Well, the target is said to go through multiple games with skill, but her preference is card games." Issei stated, looking to the small segment dedicated to the art, its own small floor. Lit overhead by the lamps, various clienteles draped in red and black placed their bets, the odd cheers and groans thrown about like light hearted banter. Just as frequently, death threats were mixed in by occasional disgruntled men and women alike, life wages lost in seconds. "We should just pick a random table and ask about; looks like she isn't here right now."
With a spin of the central handle, Cash let the people placed their chips down, a short chuckle escaping the man's lips as he flipped back blonde hair. He would often receive various statements about how he seemed too young for this sort of place, appearing not much older than a teenager, but they usually returned to silence once half of their savings were in his pocket. If his eyes were telling him anything, then the money was all heading towards the casino.
"Um, excuse me? Is it too late to join in?" eyes of gold flickered to the young voice; clearly bad at lying, innocent, perhaps his first time at a casino? Worst choice to start with.
"Don't worry, we're still spinning strong." The man declared, brushing off his black waistcoat. "You should have a few good seconds to place down." Issei wasn't exactly well versed in the art of gambling, but the rules of roulette were fairly simple, weren't they? Place your bet upon the right number and colour to win your money and everyone else's. if he were to be asked at that moment, he wouldn't have an answer as to what convinced him to make one of the worst mistakes you could do in the game, any of them in fact.
He placed them all upon a single number.
"Twenty nine… you must really love your meat." Cash remarked as his eyes followed the silver ball on its path, a small laugh coming from the student even as the condescending eyes from all of the other players came down on Issei.
"What can I say? It's just a gut feeling I'm working on." A frown came from Issei when his response brought on a harsh laugh from the club staff member, Cash turning to the boy with a small tut.
"This is club=Majesty, where even the führer and Jesus may play. You're going to need more than just a gut feeling if you're going to survive this sort of place." The blonde man remarked, leaning on his pushing pole as the roulette wheel began to slow down, eager eyes wishing for their reward. Precious seconds remained, the ball skipping over the numbers as the small mutterings of 'stop!' and 'one more number!' began to fill the air. Zero, twenty seven, ten… twenty five…
"Well, looks like your luck's working with you tonight sir." Cash declared, the collective groans of the others making for Issei's winning bell as the blonde pushed the collective chips towards Issei. Though the brunette didn't know of it, the group gathered around this table had been playing for a small while now, their choices gradually growing wilder with the increased number of drinks. "I do believe with that bet, you just near quadrupled your chips. I didn't expect to see such small amounts tonight; saving up for something?"
"Um, I actually don't have too much." Issei answered, handing the chips to Ophis, the gir- woman, placing them into the small purple bag she had summoned from somewhere. "That had actually been a good chunk of my savings." A double take forced its way from Cash, the devious smile that so clearly wished to escape hidden behind the stone wall of professionalism.
"I see…" the dealer mused. "Well how about I introduce you to a special game then? I think they've been looking for some new blood and perhaps you've got the luck for it."
It was obviously a set up; why would they praise his abilities after just one game of pure luck? But perhaps this could go in their favour. Passing a glance to his companion, Ophis giving a small nod, though from the way that she seemed more interested by whatever the bartender seemed to be concocting, maybe it was just an instinctual gesture, Issei looked Cash directly in the eye.
"What can you tell me about this game then?" he asked, placing a far smaller part of his chips upon a random number, a small smirk appearing on delicately cared for lips as the blonde threw his ball and twisted the wheel. "After all, in a place like this, I don't think it's too safe to go in without any information."
"Looks like that head of yours is doing some work." The man praised before the stoic seriousness returned. "Here at club=Majesty, we can accommodate for anything if you're willing to pay the price. That doesn't mean we're going to sacrifice the safety of our clients though just for the sake of some money. This game will be fair, conducted by one of our best players, but fair. It will be the same fare as is available to our usual floors, though in a much more intimate area with grander prizes upon the table. Should you be unable to match any of the bets initially, the club shall fill them in as if it were your own money, not a loan."
'One of their best players? That has to be our target…' Issei mused, a hand to his chin that made Cash's eyebrow rise. 'I really didn't want to face her in an actual game, but if that's the easiest way to converse with her…'
"I take your offer, though my companion will not be playing. Is that okay?" the boy asked, Ophis still focused upon the far more intriguing cocktails as the blonde dealer nodded.
"Naturally, we wouldn't wish for you to be removed from your… companion." The man drawled, a small drop of sweat falling down from Issei's face.
'If he knew what our actual relationship is right now, maybe he wouldn't be so quick to say things like that…'
"Now come; I already have a replacement." Cash stated, noting Issei's confusion as they began to ascend the steps. "Those who have been deemed worthy enough to enter our prestigious game are granted a personal dealer to act as a sort of reassurance; our purpose is to ensure that no cheating occurs and if any negative outcomes were to come about, then we will tend to them. Enter, please."
"Oh, I do not remember your face from the floors. Tell me, are you… new to our games?"
"Yes. I apologise if I'm not able to give you the challenge you desire."
The metal claw ran across the edge of a tea cup, English in its design and contents, as the black haired girl looked towards her new victim. Pushing the lengths over her shoulder, she placed on the kindest smile she could, Issei near rearing away from the poisoned sugar.
"It must truly speak of your luck if you're able to meet with me upon your first game." She remarked, a sweet song that almost tried to hypnotise. "Surely you'll give me a game that will surprise."
'Black gothic dress, multiple layers. Pale skin, red eyes… matched the description perfectly.' Issei mentally affirmed, taking the chair opposite to his new opponent. Even with the serene smile plastered on, there was no sign of any true emotion, most likely hidden behind a wall of lies and trickery.
"Might I get a name?" He asked. "I'm afraid that my dealer…"
"Cash, an honour."
"Cash, wasn't too willing to give me a name." at the girl's raised eyebrow, Cash gave a small bow, the hat quickly drawn off of the top of his hair and to his chest.
"I apologise, but I did take note of your tendencies." He said, a small sigh escaping the pale girl as her eyes returned to Issei.
"I see… Well then, you may use the title granted to me by those who lay defeated at my feet; Onihime." The girl stated, a curled finger beckoning forth a man who held the deck, quick flicks having the two to each person, the deck firmly placed upon dark oak. "I do believe that today, we shall be participating in a game of Texas hold 'em. Is your lovely partner to play?"
"Unfortunately, no." Issei answered, though his mind was saying something completely different.
'Because if she was, she wouldn't care to learn the rules and that would be embarrassing.'
"Ah, I see. Then let me begin with this." Onihime declared, tapping the tip of one of her metal claws against the door behind her, another man diligently bringing in her unspoken request. Delicately tracing the rim of one of the glasses, she let the serene smile grow larger, crimson eyes never leaving brown. "Call it a true test of luck, only pure luck. Both glasses contain some of the finest wine to grace the earth. Tell me first, what do you know of flowers?"
"Very little." Issei answered. There had been a brief talk about various kinds of flowers during class, but he would only rarely listen to those in favour of looking at far more interesting beauties. Unseen, Onihime licked her lips, the small girl gently placing her hands upon her lap after pushing the two glasses towards Issei.
"Well, there is a certain breed known as Gardenia Somniferum, often referred to as the silent shadow. It is dissolvable in fluids, remaining untraceable, tasteless and odourless while retaining all of its poisonous properties. One of these has had several silent shadows dissolved into them; which will you pick? I promise that I will drink the other one without hesitation and as you can see, there is no trick to distinguish them, as well as the fact that I'm not choosing."
Though he was never one to drink at his age, it would seem that there was no other option. True to the gothic girl's words, there was nought that could make either glass any more tempting or suspicious, the white wine within looking like any other of its kind. Issei couldn't stop his hand flickering back and forth under two watchful gazes, a deep breath being followed by a grip around one of the glasses. There were no words shared as Onihime took the second into her hand, the view far different than the innocent tone she spoke with.
"Well then, let us toast to our luck." Before the brunette could even answer with a toast of his own (most likely to his death), the wine was flowing down her throat, a brief moment of peace making Issei's heart stop.
"I don't have a choice then…" Ophis would be disappointed, but unless she was willing to deal with the bouncer, then he had to. The smart choice would be to simply refuse to drink it, but that would risk getting attacked and at that moment, he wasn't really looking forward to that idea; they never spoke of what Onihime's abilities were. The liquid was at his lips, final farewells over a goodbye drin-
A splash of red stopped him, the glass calmly placed upon the table as a hand reached over to the stain upon his cheek. Yes, that was definitely…
"Blood…"
"My apologies… I simply didn't feel the effects for a short time…" now that the girl was vomiting blood, the final remains upon her lips, she didn't seem that threatening all of a sudden. It was almost making her vulnerable, but one single look to the bloodstained dress made the boy turn away; actually, maybe that much made her seem a bit more intimidating. "It appears that you have been blessed with luck of the better kind. Shall we begin and see how far that luck can take you?"
"I must admit, you do have some skill for having never played the game before." Oh, how it boiled her blood, to see those cards upon the table. She had two tens, which would've given her a three of a kind with the king, queen, ten, two and seven dealt, but when Issei let his cards fall to the table, her claw collided with wood.
"Well to be fair, I still don't even know exactly what you're talking about." Issei remarked in return, scratching the back of his neck at the silent bristling of Onihime. "I mean, I didn't get any pairs, so you win, right?"
"A ten of hearts, a jack of hearts, a queen of hearts, a king of hearts and an ace of hearts…" Onihime listed, the serene smile twitching with held back violence. "With your ace and jack, you managed to get a royal flush…"
"To be honest, I've heard of the hand, but never actually knew what made it up." The boy explained, looking to the table where her fingers dug into the surface.
Onihime's tactics were fairly simple. Gifted with a great ability to observe and analyse every single detail of a person, it was easy to tell when her opponents were bluffing, when they just received bad or good cards and with enough time, potentially even tell what they were going to bet with enough time. The sheer depression on Issei's face as the cards were dealt, as well as the way he continued to bet low, had tempted the girl to give higher and higher bets in an attempt to draw more out of him and while it did its purpose, she hadn't expected it to be because he didn't bloody know what a royal flush was!
That was near half of her money and after the last few, won purely through good luck on his part and cards she could do very little with, her funds were running low. Despite all of the odds, this boy, a newcomer with little experience and in fact, had only played two casino games in his life to this point… was winning.
"It seems that your luck is truly of the best kind." Onihime praised, her prior distain melting into respect. "Very few have the innate luck to challenge a seasoned player, much less appear to be in an advantageous situation due to it."
"Well, you know how it is. Perhaps today is my lucky day." Issei replied, bringing out a chuckle from Onihime as she brushed her claws through the black locks that fell behind her, gently removing the metal covers and placing them upon the table.
"It is not that simple." She replied, the face of seriousness. "Luck does not simply just choose its next gift bearer by the day. It is a part of us, whether it be good or bad. There can be no in between when it is weaved into our very beings. You'd be astounded by the number of people who blame their losses upon temporarily bad luck, only to learn that their luck is of the worst kind."
"And what happens to them?" this was the moment that they were waiting for, Ophis slightly perking up from her relaxed slouch upon the sofas placed at the side. With the way that he had tilted his hat upon his face, Cash gave the impression that he was sleeping, but Issei knew that his ears were just as active. One wrong move and he would be kicked out in a second, maybe even facing a dangerous situation. With a glowing smile, she held out a hand palm down, sliding the claws onto her fingers once more before she abruptly stood, though no less elegant even with her stained dress.
"Well, would you like to see? They are sent into their own private games, where they can try to win their way out of debt." she suggested. "After all, I'm sure that with the special skills you show, you will never end up there of your own volition. If they fail... well, I'm sure you can understand."
"Sure, as long as my companion may come once more." This time however, he was met by a soft shake of the head, Onihime turning to the door with quiet steps.
"I'm afraid that if too many of your calibur enter, then those who wish to earn their way out will attempt to do some terrible things." She stated. "However, you possess the luck to most likely escape without any issue. Do not fret however, she will be safe with Cash in here; as a dealer personally selected by me, he will serve his purpose well."
"Understood. I shall have it spread that tonight's chance has been a victory like us-" He was blocked by a hand held up, Onihime tilting her head as she corrected him.
"You need not spare my feelings. Let it be known that their mighty player was defeated by a complete newcomer. Maybe they will be foolish enough to challenge me more; I need to recover from tonight's losses."
Let's hold it right there. What horrors await? I was kind of going with two ideas, the Super high School Level Gambler combined with kakeguri, compulsive gambler. You'll see what i mean eventually, please wait patiently for the next chapter. As for Cash's odd statement,
You must really like your meat.
That's twenty nine, 2-9, ni-kyu. Niku means meat.