Temptation

Angora and Tsubaki were both staring each other down. They were playing a rematch of poker. Tsubaki was one of the only people who could keep up with Angora and pose a challenge to her when it came to gambling, so they often played together whenever Tsubaki decided to stop by the Wonderland Casino. It wasn’t often that she did, but that made their matches even sweeter the longer they both anticipated it.

Both of their poker faces were excellent, and they weren’t able to read each other easily. Typically, if they did catch any sort of emotion or tell, it was a bluff that the other was baiting them into.

“Tell me, Tsubaki,” Angora broke the silence as she exchanged some of her cards. “How would you like to join me in my bed chamber later?”

Tsubaki raised an eyebrow. Angora trying to proposition her was new. It wasn’t that she was unwilling per se, but Tsubaki wasn’t the type to sleep around on a whim. “I usually only sleep with people that pay me, and I’m picky about who those people are.” She exchanged one card.

“Are you saying that I’m not up to your standards?” Angora placed a hand to her chest in mock hurt. “Money is no object to me, surely you know that. Name your price.”

Tsubaki pursed her lips in thought. Normally she would agree without hesitation; not only was Angora beautiful, but she was rich and willing to give her a good price. However… “Sorry, I’ll have to decline.”

“May I ask why?” The dealer instructed them to reveal their hands. Angora placed hers down, revealing a pair of queens and a pair of kings. Two pairs; a strong hand.

Tsubaki chuckled. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Be honest with me; you only want to sleep with me to study me. To learn my reactions and my quirks. To gain an advantage during these games of ours, no?” Tsubaki revealed her hand. Three sevens and two fives. A full house. Tsubaki moved the chips from the pot over to her side.

“Clever girl,” Angora smirked. “This is why I like you.” Most people never caught on to her like that, but she should have known that if someone could see through her like that, it would be Tsubaki. “Though tell me, if you already knew that was my plan, why would you not agree and simply study me in return? I would not have suspected you to do the same had you not said anything. It could have given you the upper hand for next time.”

“Perhaps,” Tsubaki mulled over her thoughts and how best to word them. Finally, she grinned. “But where would be the fun in that? If either you or I had an advantage over the other, these games wouldn’t be nearly as fun as they are. Do you really want me to be someone you can crush as easily as everyone else?”

Angora chuckled. “No, I think not. I concede to your point.”

“One more round?” Tsubaki suggested, to which Angora responded by motioning the dealer to continue.