[YOTB] Mochi Borrowing - Exquisite Taste

    The mission to help Shibani and Dan make the best dango for Mochi Moon was upon him; Bronx in his ever brilliant wisdom had decided to help, when during one of his ever growing visits to Shibani the smaller Succubun had nearly begged for his help. Shibani told him how he’d gone to Wonderland Casino, a place of sin and luxury owned by the wealthiest woman in the city, and the only way to get the expensive matcha was to win a bet, the bet? To win any game of the players choosing. 

  Shibani begged Bronx because the man was a card shark, able to count cards in nearly any game presented to him; be it blackjack, poker, Texas hold ‘em, Rummy, etc. In theory, Bronx knew very well how to count cards but upon hearing he had to win against not just the house of the casino but the owner herself? That nearly sent him running for the hills but for some reason the Succubun found himself saying.

  “Yeah, I can help no problem, I’m fully recovered from helping Hops so why not?” 

  Shibani had thanked him profusely with a nice long calming cuddling session. 

  —

  The plan was in place and now all Bronx had to do was execute it with prime precision or pure dumb luck, knowing him though it would probably be the latter. Unfortunately though he only had one chance to get this right and gods be damned he would not fail Shibani. 

  The Succubun made his way to Wonderland Casino dressed to impress in his finest tailored suit, he’d commissioned it for a wedding some time back and was finally able to wear it for something else instead of letting it rot in the back of his enormous closet. Stepping into the Casino he let a smug smile curve his lips, his gloss catching in the low light; the sights and sounds nearly overwhelmed him but he kept his composure, letting his stride slide into a swagger, one scarred fist loosely dangling in his slacks pocket. 

  “Well hello there.” A seductive voice cooed at him from the bar he’d been ready to walk past and wouldn’t you know it was the woman of the hour herself, Miss Angora. 

  “Hello to you too, Miss Angora.” He took her proffered hand and kissed the back of it with a devilish smirk and wink– she tittered into her free hand.”

  “Let me guess, you’re Bronx?” She arched a perfectly manicured brow.

  “I indeed am.” He chuckled lightly. “Here in the flesh for that bet I was told so much about.”

  Angora tittered again and grabbed on to the elbow he offered to her when she moved closer to his side. As they walked she began to explain the bet in further detail, and Bronx was glad she did because Shibani had left a few important details out.

  “Well, dearie, the rules are quite simple..” she paused before continuing. “First rule, you may choose any game in the casino that requires two players.”

  Bronx nodded.

  “Second rule is, I am your opponent and no one else, this is a game of wits my dear.” Angora took a breath as she brushed one of her ears back. “Lastly, if you win you will receive a bag of the finest matcha but if you lose you will be working at my Mochi Moon party and won’t have any free time!” 

  Her grin was almost vicious, Bronx let out a strained smile and started to sweat.

  “Do we have a deal, Bronx?” She purred.

  Bronx sealed his fate with a determined nod, standing straighter and giving out a fake confident smirk. “May the best person win, Angora.”

–

  Bronx had chosen the tried and true method of playing black Jack, his favorite card game– and he almost immediately regretted it. Angora had made it the best 3 out of five, all he had to do was win three whole hands and he’d secure that bag of matcha but he lost the first two hands, he was sweating under his pristine white shirt.

  Another hand down but he got lucky and won that one with a twenty, Angora had nineteen. The fourth hand they played was tense but Bronx had managed to pull that win out of his ass too because he secured an ace and a king, twenty one baby. 

  Down to the final hand they both stared at each other, Bronx was counting cards and odds in his head, his brain was spinning one hundred miles an hour and to be honest his odds weren’t the best; he had three cards totalling eighteen, Angora had three as well and it made him nervous. Finally he called another hit and gods be damned he had twenty one sitting in his hands. Angora arched her brow, drew a card, then her mouth popped open in surprise, then they narrowed in almost anger before she smiled to cover it up.

  “It seems, Bronx, congratulations are in order, I busted.” She laid her cards down and showed she had twenty two. 

  Bronx smirked and laid down his own and flashed the twenty one, laughing in sheer relief. 

  “Thank you for the wonderful bet, Angora, I look forward to using that matcha in some Mochi.”