Luck of the draw
It was another night, just like any other. Bobby Drake, a mutant with ice abilities, is working his typical shift. He worked at the casino as a black jack dealer. He was used to working here. The sounds of slot machines, the shouts of wins and losses, the linger scent of alcohol and smoke, people gambling away their lives. He enjoyed working here, despite what it may seem. He was always ecstatic when he had regulars at his table, and he was usually tipped well by them. Aside from the occasional comment here or there, claiming it’s rigged or something, he loved working here.
Tonight, he had no regulars. This wasn’t abnormal, and he recognized most of those at his table, having seen them around before. He began to deal out the cards, making sure he got everyone who was playing, and then one last face joined in. He’d seen the face around a few times, and heard about him in the wind of the place, but only ever had him at his table a handful of times.
“Deal me in, will ya’, beau?” The man asked, his cajun accent strong.
Bobby watched as the man then lit a cigarette with the tip of his finger. He usually paid no mind to the names that his players gave him, however something about this one made the tips of his ears go red.
“Of course, sugar!” He responds, dealing him his cards, scanning him for any sort of reaction.
Of course, the man had no reaction. He had a good poker face. He looked around, making sure everyone was settles. “Alright. Everyone good? Place your bets, folks!”
He watches everyone place their bets. Most didn’t go too extreme, playing it safe, except for the man. He had wagered a 50 chip, which was insanely cocky. Normally he wasn’t shocked by anything, and he wasn’t really, except he also was. He’d heard of his cockiness and was pretty used to it, but it still caught him off guard.
He made his rounds around the table before reaching the man. He knew the man would more than likely make a bold move, but he couldn’t read the man very well. “Hit or stand?”
The man took a drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke out and through his nose. “Hit.”
Bobby tried not to express anything but he was still caught off guard a little. He deals him another card with a nod. He goes back around the table, doing his rounds. Most people felt pretty confident about their hands, including the man at the end of the table.
“How we feelin’?” He asks the man, smiling gently.
“Feelin’ good, homme. I’ll stand.”
Bobby chuckled lightly and then nodded. Seeing as everyone was now comfortable with their hand, he now looked at the card unflipped in his spot. He gives everyone one last look, a way to give them some suspense. He flips the card over and immediately there were breaths of defeat, except for one. The man at the end. In a way, this hadn’t shocked Bobby one bit. He gathered up the chips and pushed them towards the man. “Congrats, darlin’. You played a good hand,” he winks, playfully.
The man chuckles and gratefully accepts the chips. He then slips a $50 under the table, towards Bobby. “‘S not for a bribe. It’s for when I take ya out for a drink later.” He whispers and grins like an idiot.
Bobby blushed and huffed. “Hey now. Who said ‘m goin anywhere with ya?” He said, grinning. “But I’ll fold, I’m down to gettin’ drinks with ya.”
The man grinned and then walked away, leaving Bobby at the table, who has very red ears. He shook his head and then got back to his work. He finished up his last few games and then went to clock out. He couldn’t stop thinking for the rest of his shift. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was serious or not, but he decided to give it a shot anyways. He clocked out and then walked out of the building.
The man was there, standing against the wall. He was smoking and scrolling aimlessly on his phone, waiting for Bobby. Bobby saw him and walked over to him with a smile. “Was worried ya weren’t serious ‘bout this, but guess I had nothin’ to worry ‘bout.” He says when he is in front of the man.
The man smiled at bobby, and then put out his cigarette on the sole of his shoe. “I wouldn’t ask jus’ anyone out for drinks.” He says, grinning, and then offering a cigarette to Bobby.
Bobby blushed, and gently rejected the cigarette. “I don’t smoke, but I do appreciate the offer. I prefer… other things.” He replies, pulling out his pen with a grin. He takes a hit from the pen, inhaling and then exhaling through his nose. He offers the pen to the man in front of him. The man gratefully accepts, taking a hit. He blows the smoke downwards and then hands the pen back to the shorter man.
“Ya’ have a place ‘round here thatcha like?” The man asks Bobby.
“I don’t go out very often, so not really,” he replies, slipping the pen back into his pocket, “so why don’t we go to your favorite place?” He grins, looking up at the taller man, who smelled of bourbon and smoke.
“Well then I gotta ask, which way do ya’ swing? It’ll help me choose,” He replies with a wink.
Bobby blushes furiously, averting eye contact. “Well ‘m surprise it wasn’t painfully obvious, seein’ as ya flirted with me,” he jokes, “but ‘m all for dudes.”
The man nods and offers Bobby his hand. “Then I know jus’ the place, mon ami.” He says in a sultry tone, to which Bobby blushes.
Bobby takes his hand and the man leads him. He is led down the street, taking a left at the corner. As they walk, Bobby is even more flustered, and anxious with the anticipation of the place they were going. He didn’t even know the mans name and yet here he was, going out for drinks with him. After a short walk of 5 minutes, give or take, they had arrived at their destination.
“After you, beau.”