[Gift] Bets, Booze and Booty

Wonderland Casino. A place of happiness, sadness, joy, despair, and alcohol. 

Gambling was a greed bun’s best friend. It was the pièce de résistance of their entire greedy lives. 

For some, they lost all their winnings and ended up on Angora’s short leash. But for others, they went home with bags of moolah. Happy, content, and hooked on the game of chance that now controlled their lives. 

Of course.

There are the rare few, that know how these games work. They know what to do to sate their hunger without overindulging in the vice they’ve grown to live with. 

“Are you sure this is okay?” Hutch asked as he awkwardly twirled his leash. He looked around the gambling hall, unimpressed. He much preferred the outdoors. Nature. His imps! Why had Morgan dragged him to this place?!

“Hey, you owe me one for catching that furdin for you, plus we’re only here to have a little fun and make some money,” Morgan told him, and Hutch swore for a brief moment that he saw carats reflecting in Morgan’s eyes. 

“It’s just, I’m not very good at gambling,” Hutch argued and felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, your pretty little head partner, Django, will look after you,” Django told him with a bright grin. What cowboy didn’t love a bit of blackjack?

“Ummm, okay, if you’re sure,” Hutch replied and followed the cowboy succubun to a table to play a round of roulette. 

“Have fun you two,” Morgan called as they were taken to the table. He could see Hutch panicking as Django bet his money on red 13 and rolled with it. Only to swear moments later as he lost it all.

Morgan chuckled and went to the blackjack table. He waited to be dealt in before beginning to play. He was smart - when it came to cards. He knew how to play, how to bluff, and how to get lucky.

And lucky he did get. 

He lost a couple of rounds, whether it was on purpose or not - nobody would know. But as the rounds piled up, he began to win round after round. The sensation of winning made his body run hot with excitement as he played hand after hand. 

The thrill of gambling and succeeding made his blood boil with adrenaline and his head feel light with ecstasy and excitement. 

“You’re quite the player,” a voice said and Morgan looked around to see Angora herself, wandering up to the blackjack table. Shit. 

His blood, once piping, had simmered to a slow boil, cooling rapidly as the luxurious and intimidating Angora took a seat next to him and smiled over at him.

“Deal us in,” she said to the dealer, her voice was like an icy tempest, chilling the pirate to his bones as he stared upon the wrath of such a beautiful and illusive woman.

“Let's play a game, shall we?” she asked him and all Morgan could do was nod. As he looked back at the table, his hands were shaking, and when he glanced at the dealer, he could see him shaking too. Sweat slowly beaded down his forehead as he shakily dealt the cards. 

Every other patron had disbanded from the table, leaving Morgan at the skillful hands of Angora. 

Was this it? 

He’d either lose all his money or be caught for counting cards. 

The pair played on. Morgan decided to rely on his luck. Letting the dealer deal the cards. He purposely through away a hand, giving Angora the win. All the time, she smirked at him. Draining his funds quicker than a vampire in a butcher’s shop. 

“Come now, is that all you have to offer?” she asked him and Morgan bit his tongue. They played the next hand, and Morgan won. By chance.

He smiled and collected his winnings. Would this be enough the fight off the suspicion of Angora. 

Just when he thought she was about to speak there was a loud shout from a few tables over that got everybody’s attention.

“Awww no no, I can’t do that, Django let me go,” Hutch complained as he dragged the cowboy along the floor.

“Please Hutch, just one more round, I can win this time,” Django pleaded only for the small, yet quite powerful, succubun headed to the door.

“Nope, I’m done, I’m going home, I’ve had enough of this all I’ve learned from you is how to lose,” Hutch chittered.

Angora couldn’t help but laugh at the antics but when she looked back the mysterious pirate bun was missing. He’d packed it in and run while he still had profit. She sighed and shook her head. 

Oh well. You can’t win them all. 

“Hops,” she called and the bartender appeared immediately beside her. “Make me a drink will you dear, I need to relax.”

“Right away, Angora, madam!” Hops replied and ran back to the bar, tripping briefly on the carpet before getting inside to mix Angora one hell of a drink. 

“Who were they?” Hops asked as Angora walked in after them.

“Oh, that pirate, he’s a regular, a very talented card counter…but to be fair to him, he doesn’t drain us dry, and always brings such colourful friends,” she laughed and sipped on the drink.

Outside Morgan laughed as he grabbed his friends, one under each arm. 

“That was almost better than last time,” he said with another laugh.

“Last time I at least broke even,” Django grumbled.

“Oh come now Django, it’s all about the thrill, come on, Hutch I’ll treat you both to dinner as a thank you,” Morgan told them as they walked toward the selection of eateries and restaurants open at whatever unholy hour it was.

“I don’t get it Morgan, why didn’t you just go by yourself?” Hutch asked, pushing his glasses up on his face. 

“Nothing is fun if you do it alone, not even gambling,” he replied. “Besides, a pirate needs a crew to share the spoils with, wouldn’t you agree?”

Hutch laughed with him and nodded.

“I suppose that makes sense, you sure are a strange one Morgan,” Hutch replied as the group headed to the nearest food joint.