| Lies of P | OST - Quixotic
In that room the thugs that worked for the gang that ran the place, shrouded in darkness except for a single hanging lantern above the table, they all finally came to a decision.
“Keep payin’ like this ‘n’ we won’t judge what wack ass outfit you wear.”
“Oh ho ho~ a jokester, I like you, may I decide the game then~?”
The thuggish trio looked among each other as the scrappy figure that they were previously locking in a corner leaned over to whisper toward her. Widening as he noticed a lack of ears on the side of her head but soon swallowing that. Deciding she had to warn her.
“These guys are with the gang running this place and they have taken everything from me!”
“Oh~ they must be quite good then~!”
He widened thinking that he’d run into a true blue idiot but looking into her eyes refused any notion of her not knowing she was into. She was… Excited? Something about her went far past unsettling into the downright terrifying.
But he knew that his winning break would happen so… He couldn’t leave now?
“Why are you gents taking so long, take a chance and you can win it all, high reward is all about taking a high risk ain’t it~?!”
Her sudden exclamation along with sudden movements quickly caused them to all be fully focused on her once again. Nobody could deny the charisma she held as they hung onto every word. The way she dressed and spoke were no doubt weird… Yet her words held undoubtable truths.
Throwing her arms out as she lay back into her chair as if they were currently within her gambling den.
“Just let me deal you into this game ‘n’ you’ll be able to win power that you could never comprehend let alone imagine; a game where the winner takes it all~!”
Those words are a lure that could entice even the greatest of kings into second guessing their wise decisions and send their kingdom into bankruptcy. Soon those thugs looked at eachother one more time before they nodded then nodded to her as well. The last one to not give affirmation was the one who warned her.
Something about his instincts told him this was a dumb choice and he rested his hands on the table as if pushing himself from this life at least.
Perhaps make something of himself.
“The stakes are high kid, I won’t lie, but won’t one last thrill feel amazing~?”
Lowering her arms in a lackadaisical shrug and a softened smile that brought a wave of calm to flood over him allowing him to “think more clearly” about it.
“If you quit the next hand will never be revealed; imagine what could be~!”
Clicking her tongue as she shook her head with a sigh.
“But one can’t blame you for a quitters mentality - only those who deal in right win.”
Aggravated as well as enticed.
There was no way he could quit now so tightened his grip on the table to pull himself in with his eyes set on the golden dice that had been placed in the middle again. Soon all eyes turned to their dealer cum money pig. All she did was smile at them as she pressed her hands together to lean on her elbows.
“So there we have it… Schrodinger; deal us in.”
It was a strange phrase but none of them cared about the eccentricities of the crazy rich girl nor noticed the eerie glimmer her metal claws gave as she spread them to allow her head to rest between.
“I’m a generous host so let me explain the details of this game to you all in a simple fashion - first I’ll explain how the betting will work. Things can get rather messy so I’ll simplify it. We’ll use a chip system where each item we possess gets a value decided upon what the house is willing to give.”
Without realising it those thugs had given in to her whiles and allowed her to become the house and there is a popular saying about the house of the card.
Those men all agreed to the idea as it was just a way to simplify the system.
“A simple system of comparison, what I give up for the value is then what becomes the standard of that point value moving forward, simple ri~ght? Well it only gets better! These chips are not merely some rudimentary digit on a page of paper but a very real item with more power than a Shogun.”
Moving one hand away where a single bright coloured “coin” with a coloured rim appeared between her fingers with a number 1 written upon it. She simply had it dance between her fingers. It drew all of their attention while she placed her other hand flat on the table.
“Although shiny we can agree that the dice isn’t really worth much by itself; the most expensive thing about it is just the material used in it!”
She said while letting out a laugh that seemed contagious as she placed the ship on the table with a firm click as it hit the wood. Practically flicking it down. Placing her hand over her palm completely hid it only for her to lift her palm and for a stack of colours to appear in its place.
Shock overcame the group as they looked at the magical trick, only the lamp from above offering real light for them, one of the thugs couldn’t help even giving her an applause. To which she jokingly bowed while giving her thanks. Within a mere few minutes she had managed to disarm them all into being friendly.
“For my beginning total I’ve decided on a modest triple nine.”
The raised hand that generated the column of coins suddenly slammed down on the table causing those chips to scatter into surprisingly clean groups. In addition, that caused the light above to shake. When it finally settled the men looked down to see a gathering of chips of their own.
“Why do I have so few…”
Just one look was enough to see that he had a fraction of anyone else's - their supposedly generous host had the most by far. The others didn’t even seem to breach fifty while he didn’t get ten despite being willing to put the most in. She just shook her head, though.
“That represents everything you have brought to me, I can’t give more than that, unless someone speaks up I can’t take nor can I add to the chips. Those are the rules that the house is bound to. If you wish to offer more I am more than willing to increase your collection… Doesn’t seem likely.”
He lowered his head while those men snickered.
“Now I iterate… Everything can be added to the pool even if I am being generous with what each one of those chips represent; does anyone wish to take back from the default wager? You cannot do so once the game starts propper as that would be bo~ring.”
Her actions got a chuckle from some but the other half of the table seemed a little anxious about what her words actually meant. Though in the end that was all. They could only lose what was currently there by her own admission; so unless they willingly gave up more there was nothing else they’d lose.
In that aspect… Was the clothes on the losers back even worth the five of those golden dice despite that being the number he had been given?
“Now for the game itself, can't you lads carelessly throw your lives away on a gamble you don’t even actually understand, now can we~?”
Once again she got a laugh which she was more than willing to join in on; those men no longer seemed to remember the fear that her joy once caused. Too lost in the atmosphere. Getting used to the chaos due to the benefits it could bring them for little effort and an equally little bit of luck.
This time it was the hand flat on the table that moved as she slid it across the table where a set of cards appeared in a neat 9 by 6 grid that she blew on to carry to the centre of the table. That dice gone without anyone realising. Despite it also being the item that they were most focused on other than her.
Each card had a crimson back with the depiction of a black cat right in the centre; though that cat had clearly seen better days as crimson ribbon forced his mouth into a smile. A sight that got everyone to look toward their host. In return she lifted her hands up in another shrug.
“Gotta stay on bran~d while I take this whole “free” “dom” thing for a joyride.”
None of them seemed convinced yet it was certainly amusing if not somewhat unnerving.
“This is based on a fan favourite version of what may be the 3rd most popular card game in certain parts of the world in the future; the Abyss Poker game!”
They were significantly less convinced now. Still that didn’t stop them from not paying attention as there was certainly some fun to be found in a game they had never seen before. An excitement that she didn’t intend to let down.
“The way it works is each card has a value attached to them as well as having a suit clearly emblazoned upon them. Each suit also has a colour. To simplify it I’ve generated a handy chart that you can consult at any time you so desire!”
Clicking her fingers as the light from the lamp abruptly vanished only to once again shine upon their table to let them see. Just behind the crazy cat lover was a chart. They couldn’t even see what was keeping it in the air as suddenly the light didn’t go that far.
What they did notice… The cat theme oddly didn’t carry over as the pictures depicted on the jacks, queens, kings, aces and jokers all differed completely. While the ace of hearts was a weird blue phoenix dragon thing the ace of clubs was strangely some weird looking salamander with gigantic exterior gil’s.
One suit did have cats, though, being the black clubs. The jack was a golden lion; the rest of the cards above all contained a series of black cats. First was the queen that was a cat with a coat seemingly made from the night sky, the king that was horribly maimed and the ace which was… The same but old.
Then the last suit was just filled with monsters through the ace of diamonds was strangely a chibi-fied wingless western dragon with beautiful pearl-like scales.
Without a doubt the ace of diamonds was the cutest card in the pack to the point it stook out while the ace of hearts almost seemed like smut with how it was drawn. Making that majestic winged creature, it would have completely looked like a female knight with its thick scales if not far from the bird parts, appearing oddly seductive in a dominant fashion.
“You’ll notice two of the aces have a slightly different artstyle; that is because those two are my favourites so I’ll give them an unfair advantage in this game of ours. Revealing either of them at any time will allow you to win the pot. I’ll explain how that works with them all face down in a moment.”
Suddenly her eyes got serious even if her eyes couldn’t vanish.
“Then there are the jokers.”
Red joker was an undead wolf in a jester's outfit while the black joker was a cat with a familiar set of eyes and smile forced upon it by red strings. In other words it was the very cat on the back of the cards. It was also wearing a very familiar outfit though nobody brought it up due to her scary eyes.
“Flip them and they add your entire networth to the pot without troubling the rest of us; permanently cutting you out of the game unless you manage to get it in your hand. In which case you have a chance to get rid of it by getting a flush of the opposite colour… Dangerous for sure.”
They all nodded nervously as the light heartedness returned back to her eyes again.
“Game itself? Sim~ples! All you need to do is pick up two cards from those on the table to put into your hand then betting starts, we add to the pot in a clockwise position that starts according to who grabbed their pair of friends first, then decide if we drop out. First come first served.”
Leaning forward with her hands rested on the side as the quad also did the same to match her without realising what they were even doing.
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“Then the real fun begins as we go round by round, each flipping one card with the one deciding the pot going first, each time we flip one card till a total of five are flipped on the table. Only on that fifth reveal do things get real frisky as that is the make or break. Winner takes it all as hands get revealed!”
The hunger in the eyes of the men couldn’t be mistaken for anything else; their desire reached a fever pitch as she had kept them waiting for long enough. Compared to them she leaned back with fire in her eyes but a relaxed posture. Her fingers even interlocking as she watched with glee.
“Sh~all we beg~in?”
Once again they nodded as the festivities finally ramped up with her motioning for them casually and they answered by rushing to grab their cards. It was obvious that the thugs had the advantage with their arms just naturally being longer and their muscles more trained. Quickly grabbing their cards.
They even argued among each other when they reached for the same target yet they did nothing more once a certain girl cleared her voice.
She herself didn’t even seem very invested in the first round as she practically waited until they were finished before she leisurely grabbed her own cards. It was the fourth choice where things got interesting for her. Seeing that trepidation face turn once he grabbed his first card.
He didn’t even seem to look at the second card he drew.
Such a sight got her to happily tap on her table with those long metal claws. The first turned to the previous loser with smugness. He didn’t even speak as he threw a full ten inside the .
That bowl was then passed around as no one raised leading to a beginning pot that totaled to 45.
Next that first thug leaned forward to flip a seven of hearts which got a few groans along with a hearty chuckle but both the house & loser remained silent as they watched on. Once more the pot came along yet they only added a total of 4. That loser already forced to risk it all.
This repeated for a two, jack, king and a five - the suits not even mattering as they were too splattered to make any flushes.
“Seems like we’re out a man already!”
“Heh that was rather mean.”
“Boring more like… Though guess I’m the one earning it!”
Smugly throwing down two sevens in order to earn himself a three of a kind - elicited an angry table slam from the first thug who thought his deuce of jacks was enough. Though he was at least comforted by the fact that they at least got someone out. Turning to look towards the man who they were fleecing.
At least until the fun really started.
“How unfortunate for you, though.”
His own smile grew until he noticed the excitement on the face of the man that only grew as he flipped his own cards over. Once more his anger grew as a dragoenix was revealed for all to see. That cat lover chuckled as she rested her chin on her palm without bothering to show off her own hand.
“The fabled queen, of what nobody is quite sure, a figure who brings fear to those who harbour malcontent but also a bringer of justice… It seems you were given a su~re victory this time!”
Throwing that back into the pile of cards, although not everyone was as laid back. The first thug was practically red while the third who thought he won angrily stood up. Slamming the table with full force yet all the gambler did was tilt her head with that same smile across her face,
“This isn’t fair; he didn’t reveal he had it in his hand for the entire fucking game!”
He was about to give some choice words to the newly minted winner however the mad cackle from their host quickly broke through any anger he had.
“It is true that the early bird gets the wor~m…”
Her head reeled back as her body fell completely backwards in the simple chair she had been sitting on all this time; looking more decrepit than any. Abruptly she lunged forward so her claws scraped against the table with a terrifying scraping noise. A truly manic look on her face.
“It is only the hawk that gets to see the morning after!”
Each of them could hear their hearts beating in their chest while the trio felt weak as the pot ended up sending the winner into second place.
“Now, I assume you want to cash out; don’t actually have any cash from this era so if y-”
“Are you kidding me?!”
“O~h?”
She didn’t get angry despite being interrupted, merely tilting her head, looking toward him with a brow rose to see what he was getting at.
“I’ve finally turned my luck around so there is no way I’m quitting now!”
“Oh~ho~, I se~e… HowSad~.”
That last word was spoken so quickly that he didn’t understand; they were about to ask how the shuffling of the cards was going to occur… Except all the cards were somehow already face down again. Once again she just waited for them to draw with the vigour behind the loser beating everyone else.
They finished as she just lazily chose her own cards while acting as if she had all the time in the world.
Everyone wanted to tell her to hurry up, however none wanted to hurry the very person who had set up this entire thing. Technically they couldn’t play without her there. She was the one who provided them with everything so if she left so would their opportunity.
This time the loser was the one in control so he proudly looked around with his head held high - a smile on his lips as if he were a king looking down on his subjects. Taking in what everyone else was left with he stroked his chin in deep thought. Soon he let out a chuckle.
“I guess five is my lucky number.”
Pushing a five forward with a smile as everyone else just followed along begrudgingly… Except for the house who casually flicked a twenty forward with a smile. Everyone was confused since it was pointless to raise as the last person but she wasn’t in this to win in the first place.
“... Guess it’s my turn to reveal.”
The third looked at her strangely however still chose to ignore it in favour of flipping a card - though this time the flip ended more climactic than before.
“Shit…”
That reaction made the second thug's head snap away from the host to look at what his hand had turned over and in turn was met with the eyes of a red eyed cat. Its grin sent shivers up his spine. Sure enough it was the black joker looking back at him with a shadow that clearly didn’t match the little creature's shape.
“Oh dear~ it seems we have lost one already.”
Feigning sadness as she rubbed her hands beneath her eyes as if trying to rub tears away from her eyes.
“W-what n-”
His sudden yells caused everyone to turn away from the crazy only to see what seemed like countless hands made from…Nothingness. They reached out to hold onto his struggling body only to drag him into the abyss itself; dragging him into the inky shadows.
The last part seen was his desperately hand that never stopped desperately grasping - trying to find something to help drag himself out the darkness.
“WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!”
He screamed out at the top of his lungs as he stood up from the table while the other thug completely turned tail towards the door. Or where he thought the door would be. Charging into the darkness only to end up running back in front of his chair.
The loser merely froze up as he looked at the chair opposite of him with pure fear.
“I told y~o~u… Those chips represent everything you have~!”
This time her laughter reminded them of the uncertainty of when she first joined them at the table and they all wondered why they agreed to such a stupid game. The first thug finally lost all his self control as he charged towards her with his hands outstretched. What he planned to do nobody could guess.
No one could ask him either as she casually flicked her fingers towards him where a crimson thread became clear to them all. She simply snapped it. In return she fell forward like a doll who had their strings cut and that led to his head falling in her awaiting palm.
“And so there were three~!”
Suddenly a massive monstrous maw, seemingly made from ink, shot up out the ground to completely consume everything but an arm. That arm flying from the floor to send blood painting the last remaining thug who merely stood there shivering. His hands clutching his head as the limb landed on the table…
With a meaty thud.
That crazy girl didn’t even blink as the monster sank below; turning to look towards the loser.
“Now, since you went last time, I bel~ieve it’s my go and I'll go all~ in~!”
“W-why?!”
All of them knew what her going all in meant… Only one of them would be walking out - or at least the humans believed that to be the case. It was a sadistic choice that (in their mind) put even her on the chopping block.
“W~h~y~? Because it’s F U N.”
Letting out another cackle.
“N-no I want to cash out!”
The grown man fell to the feet of the five foot girl who merely looked down on him with that same curiously tilted head. Like a child watching curiously as bugs fought each other. Not malicious while finding amusement yet still far above the meagre troubles of a bunch of insects.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible mis~ter.Cho.”
Hearing her words caused him to quickly stumble away with a new level of terror coursing through him.
“H-how do you know my name?!”
“Why? Because you offered it to the hou~se!”
It took a while, since neither could move quickly due to the fear, they both found themselves stumbling through the rest of the game. Of course they had to match her. One after another the cards flipped with neither of the two looking too excited nevertheless they calmed down a little.
Three black spades, one heart, one club, two sixes, a king, a four and a two.
Seeing those sixes allowed them to calm down… Until she revealed her cards so that they remained right beside that menacing smile of hers.
“Looks like I got a little kitty flush; didn’t know they co~uld use the toilet yet.”
Her insane laughter echoed throughout the (should be) tiny room.
Both the queen & ace of spades sat beside her face - each of them smiling just like she was.
Those men could only look on in fear as they knew what came next as hands of void wrapped around their very being; deciding how to split it up as they were torn to pieces..