Disclaimer: Bleach and all affiliated characters and settings are the creative property of Kubo Tite and all companies holding title to its distribution. Used for non-profit entertainment purposes.

Warnings: Alcohol, plenty of strong language, crack, potential OOC-ness. (Ack!)

Nii-sama: lit., "honorable older brother" (how Rukia addresses Byakuya)
Hoppy Happy really is a type of Japanese beer; it's got 2 parts sake in it.
Texas Style Hold'em is the type of poker I used; not sure if that's very clear. Oops!

July 10 Prompt: Domination

Beginner's Luck

The cards blurred before Ichigo's eyes, and he squinted as he tried to make them out. He was pretty sure he had two kings, but all the face cards looked alike at this point. Frowning, he brought the cards closer to his face to verify.

"Damn, Ichigo, you're slower than Rukia," Renji noted offhandedly.

Bastard. Ichigo scowled in his direction with a derisive snort before he tossed four of his plastic chips at the growing pile. Rukia giggled when he missed.

"I raise you two," Ichigo snapped, pointedly ignoring Rukia.

"The bet was three, Ichigo, or did you lose count?"

"Fuck you, Renji. Read 'em and weep." Ichigo threw his cards on the floor with a smirk, nearly knocking over his fourth can of Hoppy Happy. He swore Rukia had to have picked out the sake-beer blend just because of the name; most girls he knew tended to favor the low-alcohol Asahi fruit blends.

"... That's junk, Ichigo."

"What the fuck you talking about? 'S three kings!"

"No, that's an off-suit queen and two jacks, which won't beat Rukia's straight flush."

"I win again!" Rukia squealed, scooping the chips and nearly knocking down her six – or was that seven now? – cans of Hoppy.

Ichigo squinted again, and saw that Renji was right. "Fuck!"

"Man, you suck at pocky."

"It's poker, you dumbass."

"Whatever. Point is, you're losing to a couple of beginners. You suck."

"It's fucking beginner's luck, that's what it is!" Ichigo snapped. Then he took a long swig to finish off the last of his drink and made a face as the alcohol heavily hit his stomach. "How the hell are you drinking so much of this shit, Rukia?"

"It's good!" she protested, reaching for another can.

"Oh hell no." Ichigo reached to grab her hand to stop her, but the movement sent his vision spiraling uncomfortably out of control, and his stomach lurched. He clamped a hand over his mouth on instinct.

"Ichigo...? Are you okay?" Rukia, forgetting her quest for another Hoppy, reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. "You're looking a little green–"

"Mmfph!" Ichigo brushed her hand away and stood, stumbling away as quickly as he could to find a bathroom. Rukia and Renji exchanged blank looks.

"You think he's trying to get out of losing?" Renji asked, shuffling the cards.

"I think he had a little too much to drink." Rukia shrugged, opening another can. "I'm surprised he couldn't handle more than a couple beers. Nii-sama could outdrink him, and Nii-sama's a lightweight."

Renji smirked. "Your brother is a lightweight, isn't he?"

"I'll bet Nii-sama would like this Hoppy Happy stuff, though," Rukia said thoughtfully, holding up her can for better inspection. "It's got a little old school flavor to it."

"That'd be the sake."

"Oh." A pause. "There's sake in this stuff? I thought it was beer!"

Renji chuckled, shaking his head. They sat quietly as Renji continued shuffling the cards.

"I think I'm going to go check on Ichigo," Rukia said a moment later.

"You do that."

Renji watched as Rukia stood and easily walked down the hall, as if she hadn't had a drop of alcohol. One thing Ichigo had to learn was to never challenge Kuchiki Rukia to a drinking contest. She'd been raised on prime sake; she would drink him under the table in nothing flat.

"Fuuuuuck." Ichigo's moan echoed down the hall.

"I think I like this game," Renji said to himself with a wicked grin as he gave the cards one last shuffle.