sweeten the pot

Credit card debt was no joke. The loan-sharks of burrowgatory were hounding Cheri's voicemail incessantly, and he simply didn't have the Carats to pay them back. He thought ghosting them might do the trick, but they somehow had his address. Then came the letters. And the threatening people at his door. And when all that didn't work, they settled for breaking some of his more precious objects. The entire Dazzling Diamond collection of personal body care effects he held. 

That wouldn't do.

While he had very few marketable skills, he was cute and ditzy (self-prescribed).  He had just enough money to get into the Casino; maybe if he was really lucky, he could earn enough to pay back his debts. Or, at least, replace the missing collection that was ruined. That seemed far more likely. 

 The Casino was a place he knew quite well, always trying to catch a glimpse of that pretty, and more importantly, wealthy owner. He mostly got drinks, though, he wasn't much of a player. Except today.

Blackjack couldn't be hard right? 

...

Right? 

Five hands later and they had won a bunch and lost even more. Way more than they came here with. They weren't even sure how that was possible, but math wasn't their strong suit. Never was. Shit, shit, shit. 
"Hon, we have a rule here. Always pay your debts."

A gentle hand tapped on his shoulder, and he looked up at the source. His eyes widened. Miss Angora. 

"O-Oh gosh, Madam Angora; you must understand, I...I need just a little extra time to get the money--" Their words were shut short by a cigarette holder ,tapping them on the lips.

They could understand the assignment, though, and they shut their mouth. They did try to give her a cute look, though.

"...Cute. You're cute, sugar. Normally I'd kick sorry saps out for not paying their tab, but...I think we could put someone like you to use." 

This woman spoke Cheri's language. 

"And how can I help?" They bat their eyelashes, the glitter in their mascara catching in the light.

Running around and flaunting himself seemed a good a task as any for Cheri. Getting to dress in a cute, skimpy outfit, and flirt with the customers of the casino? Sign them up. All they had to do was encourage people to spend more, drink more, and indulge more... and they were more than happy to do it.

They would've been happier if they could have worked off their debt in other ways, but they couldn't complain. It was better than those pesky debt collectors. Maybe if they were really good, they could arrange something longterm with Miss Angora...

That was getting ahead of themself, though. 

Another perk of the job; getting to spend time with Miss Hops. Another bun, working off their debt with Angora. She was adorable, Cheri loved her pink horns, and Cheri found a tidy rhythm in teaming up with Hops to flirt with customers and tank the amount of Carats in their wallet. 

There were only two downsides to this 'job'; getting dirty, and the jealousy.

Angora was beautiful and wealthy. Any bun would be lucky to be curled in her lap or earn her attention. However, whenever Hops was around, that attention seemed solely focused upon the pretty pink rabbit. When they were called to her poker table, it was Hops who got to sit in her lap, while Cheri was on drink and smoke duty. They hated smoke, in general; outside of smoking it themselves. It stunk and dripped into every inch of their being, making them feel filthy beyond belief.

That was the other thing they didn't like; getting dirty. Spilled drinks sent Cheri into a fit, one that they needed hours to recover from. So many baths at home, so many bounced shifts the debt rising higher as a result. 

What they really needed was a dedicated benefactor, one they didn't have to share. But... that was far from now. For now, they're serving drinks and looks, and only getting mildly bitchy to customers who spill drinks on them. As long as they're not violent, that is.... 

While they started this job, eager to work, they certainly end it grateful to leave.