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  I was drinking, eyeing my opponents one by one; I peaked at my cards to see what I was dealt, hoping to see something better. Wow this hand is shiza, but I think I can bluff them. I made it this far; I just needed to commit from here. We sat in tense silence, looking each other down with all eyes on the pile. Keep it together, I’ve got this. I needed to make sure my face was level, unresponsive to the garbage in front of me. The tension was palpable as we all prepared for the next set of mental games that we were about to battle it out with. Now was not a time for cowardice, it was a time for decisive action. I have to commit, sound arrogant, and make them think I am about to cook them with this hand. This was the last round, so I needed to look confident.

  “I will raise 30 .” What’s his face stated. 30? To push to try and bluff them is going to be most my spending money.

  “I will call and raise twenty more.” I replied with little hesitation, making a fake smile stretch across my face.

  “Fold.” One of them backed out. Good, good.

  “Fold.” Another followed. Fantastic.

  “Call.” The one at the end of the table said casually, pushing more into the center of the table. Forl.

  “Fold.” The one who initially raised spat bitterly.

  Me and the one at the end of the table stared at each other, neither of us budging. Chances his hand is better than mine? Almost guaranteed. I fought the urge to sigh as we both revealed our hands. As expected, my hand was worse than his. Crap, there goes my spending money. I sighed, shrugging as I got up to leave the table. This was a bust. I grabbed the bottle of booze I had been drinking as I staggered out of the tavern. Just great. I wanted to make some money off some easy gambling but that was ruined. What was I going to do for food now? Maybe gambling my food money was not the wisest decision. I think I need to find a sugar daddy for the month. Oh, the horror.

  Maybe I needed to go back to the tavern and put out a bit. It is kind of late in the night to try and find someone. I sighed, swigging the bottle a bit; I couldn’t let the bottle go to waste after spending on it. As I kept staggering around, I accidentally bumped into someone. I nearly dropped my bottle, looking away from who I bumped into. I absolutely couldn't afford to waste such precious booze given it was likely the only fun I was going to have until I got money again. Whew, not a drop spilled. The person I bumped into let out a disgusted sigh which snapped my head to them.

  Oh, my my my. He was devilishly handsome, possessing hand-carved features that made my heart flutter. The being had bright ruby eyes, shining like gems on his face as they glowed in the soft street lights. The stare he had while looking down at me sent shivers down my spine; maybe I was going to get lucky today. The man had this regal aura, this unspoken dignity about him. His feathers were a pleasant black but showed years of experience. I am lucky tonight after all. I looked at him a bit better, seeing he looked vaguely familiar. I would think I would remember talking to someone like this; I must have seen him in passing. Now I had the courage to talk to him.

  “Heeeelloooo there.” I purred, seeing the chiseled monument of perfection in front of me.

  “Forl off.” He snarled back. Soooo craaaanky. He was getting better.

  “Aaaaahhhh, don’t beeee like that.” I cooed, batting my eyes at him while moving closer. I felt his for the briefest moment as he fought the urge to explode at me. Woooow. He’s strong.

  “I am in no mood for dealing with you.” The man snapped back, rubbing his face a little while a few of his eyes bored into my soul. Stop staring at me like that if you want me to leave.

  “Do you want to take a load off?” I inquired while seeing this curmudgeonly sugar-daddy-to-be look frustrated.

  “Today is not the day to test my patience.” The man threatened me, towering over me. He’s tall too.

  “Ooooh. Tower over me moooore.” I begged, leaning back a little so he could lean over me further. The man let out an annoyed sigh as he began walking away. What a dignified profile.

  “I am done with this.” The man growled as he walked away from me. Making me work for i~t.

  “Please reconsider!” I pleaded as I ran after him. This would be easier if I was sober.

  “What do you want?!” He roared at me, his ruby eyes giving me the greatest stare.

  “You, handsome.” I told him. His expression was adorable, trying to hide how flustered he was.

  “I am done with this.” The man sighed as I felt his rapidly form a spell.

  I quickly entered , wrapping around the grizzled masterpiece in front of me as he brought us both to the Wastes. Ahhh, the Wastes. Did he think I would flee just because he went somewhere most people got scared? The Wastes was a valiant attempt, but I wasn’t going to let such a perfect man worm away from me. At least until he agrees to meet me lat~er. His confusion was so adorable as he realized I tagged along to his to the Wastes. The immaculate being in front of me moved his eyes from his face to around me, looking at me from several angles. Ahhhh, he wants to see more of meeee. How swe~et.

  “You can look at me as much as you want.” I informed him, enjoying his multi-angle view.

  “How did you follow me here?!” the man demanded, seeming perplexed I managed to follow him.

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  “I saw you were about to cast a spell, so I tagged along, taking me to such an isolated place. That’s fine by me. We just have to be quick about it.” I explained while taking a step closer to him. He stepped back as his irritation boiled over him in waves.

  “I. Am. Not. Interested. I am trying to think, and you are interrupting me.” He growled in irritation.

  “Not interested now, or not ever?” I checked, trying to figure out how to keep this handsome being near me.

  “Ever.” He tried. Hmmmmmm, that answer was not great for what I wanted.

  “That is not great for me. Maybe I can help you think over what’s troubling you, so you’ll have more free time.” I offered because I wanted to make sure that he stayed near me.

  “One of my friends died, the partner of my other friend died, there is a mystery I need to figure out, and I was asked to find someone willing to help on a major gamble. I do not have time for dealing with you and whatever you’re after. Leave before I get violent.” He spat at me, his ruby eyes glowing dangerously.

  “That’s awful. I am sorry you are going through that.” I told him softly, summoning some comfy beanbags for us to sit on. He looked completely baffled by the action.

  “Why are you summoning beanbags?” the man inquired. Weird spot to have a sit-down talk, but he probably needed it.

  “So that we can talk. You clearly need someone to vent to.” I explained while sitting on a beanbag.

  “I have no clue who you are or what you want, but I want to be as clear as possible. Leave.” The man tried, pointing back towards Arelzka.

  “Currently to talk to you. You have so much stress that I can help you release.” I told him. I will need to work for this but look at him. It was so going to be worth it. Dark, and broody, and clearly experienced.

  “I warned you.” He stated plainly as his got offensive.

  “Are you going to spank me?” I asked excitedly, forming my for the incoming onslaught.

  That was met with him folding the space around us as he launched a barrage of at me. Lords above how skilled was this guy? I might have pushed my luck too far. I used my magic to sober myself in a moment which was such a waste of , but I had to if I wanted to survive his temper tantrum. Such a temperamental sugar-daddy-to-be. I turned into a soul, shifting around his to escape the folded space to a degree. I returned to my normal form, giving him a big hug from behind. Oh yes; he's amazing. His eyes locked onto me, giving me the most intense stare as I latched onto his arm. His body dissolved into fog, appearing on the other side of me, and wrapping his hand on my throat to grab me.

  I think I need to attack back if I want to get out of this. I simply turned back into a soul form, slipping out of his grasp, pivoting into a kick. My leg bent around as he contorted the space around him while he began casting what looked like a star in his hand. Who is he? Now that I was bit more sober, this absolute catch of a being looked more familiar, but I couldn't place them for the life of me. With my leg still in whatever was bending it, I rotated into another kick, realizing he curled all space near him to deflect away. The being rotated quickly, aiming the star at me as I felt some immense heat erupt from the ensuing blast. I dissolved my body, but even as a soul the immense amount of heat the star he generated made me sweat.

  “Can we talk this out?” I tried, not wanting to retaliate further against this handsome man. His ruby eyes were fantastic as they all looked at me.

  “I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!” the being snarled, forming several of the stars now as his enveloped the area more.

  He began launching a barrage of stars and at me, rotating where I was, the space around me, and pretty much everything in the vicinity to kneel before his desires. Come on, I would gladly do it. But noooo, he was insisting on the space for now. At this point, I threaded a with at him after dodging the onslaught for a few moments. Temporarily disorient him for a few moments. He staggered for a second as I shot forward, attempting to kick him again. Just fight back long enough for him to calm down. Despite the small gap, his defense was impenetrable. Even disoriented, whatever he was doing to distort the space remained perfectly intact. Lords above who am I fighting? His rage exploded, shaking the entire Wastes with his . Oh shiza, he was holding back. The entire sky turned a bright red while one of his eyes replaced the moon, getting ready to smite me with his full might. A being of light folded out, standing in front of him.

  “Krahinn! Enough!” she snapped at the infuriated Krahinn. THAT’S KING KRAHINN?! That’s why he looked familiar; he definitely would make a great sugar daddy. Definitely my type.

  “I. Will. Destroy. Them.” Krahinn snarled in frustration, his formed aggressively as his eyes were locked on me. That must be Ipnerslei then.

  “I know you are grieving, but do not take it out on others.” Ipnerslei lectured. She sounded like she was trying to be gentle but firm with him. Note the tone, I’ll try it later.

  “I gave them plenty of chances to leave!” Krahinn roared as the space distorted with his anger. Wow, he held back for me. Clearly he isn't entirely oppo~sed.

  “He did! Multiple times he tried shaking me!” I confirmed for him. Both looked confused that I was backing up his version of events.

  “See!” Krahinn exclaimed, gesturing towards me.

  “What?” Ipnerslei probed as she was not following.

  “I wanted to talk to him, and he was all cranky like that would deter me.” I explained for her. Ipnerslei had this air of confusion around her as she clearly was trying to find her next words.

  “And I told you to leave me be!” Krahinn snapped again. But, look at you.

  “Not until you either vent or tell me when I can see you again.” I demanded. Ipnerslei, despite being entirely made of light from what I could tell, looked between us trying to understand what I said.

  “No and never!” Krahinn replied with no hesitation. Sheesh, you could pretend to think about it; you really want me to work for it

  “Come oooooon! Pleeeeeease.” I begged, giving him my best stare.

  “You are hitting on him.” Ipnerslei realized with a tone of bafflement.

  “What?! I’m like, over twice their age.” Krahinn spat, seeming caught off guard.

  “The cranky, murderous, ill-tempered, older than you by a few centuries, Krahinn? The Great Blasphemer, Krahinn?” Ipnerslei verified in a voice like she couldn’t believe it.

  “No need for the hard sell, I already want him.” I assured her. The look both of them gave me were varying levels of befuddled.

  “You literally bumped into me in the streets and have been pestering me since!” Krahinn yelled at me.

  “Look at you! How can I resist?! Now when are we having our first date?” I tried. Ipnerslei looked between us before she clearly began fighting the urge to laugh.

  “I am not interested.” Krahinn insisted, thinking for some reason that would sway me.

  “I hear you, so we can start as friends.” I suggested. Ipnerslei looked like she was internally dying.

  “Get them to understand, I am not interested.” Krahinn demanded of Ipnerslei. Ipnerslei clearly told him something mentally.

  “Absolutely not.” Krahinn retorted to whatever she told him.

  “I did try to be a listening ear for you. My offer to talk about it on beanbags is still good.” I pointed out, shimmying closer to Krahinn.

  “I’m leaving.” Krahinn announced, opening a

  . I’m not one to give up this easily.

  “Good luck, both of you.” Ipnerslei chuckled as she left by folding herself into light. Krahinn left through his

  , not realizing I used the trick to follow him to some swanky castle. Where were we now?