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Ben was rummaging through his bedroom, throwing whatever he felt was important into his suitcase
-"Easy there, Tennyson"-Kevin said, just watching the brown-haired boy's bag grow fatter with stuff-"You're only going away for some days, not a year"
Gwen stepped closer to analyze his baggage-"You know, I'm always up to being extra careful, but you're taking it a little bit too far"
-"It is? Oops"-Ben chuckled, scratching the back of his head, yet still choosing carefully what shirt to take (even if most of them were the same)-"I mean, it's my first time going on a trip by myself! ...well, one that doesn't involve saving the world OR the universe"
-"And what a trip it is"-Julie commented as she stepped beside him, picking a shirt and handing it to her boyfriend-"Las Vegas! Such a beautiful place! I've always wanted to visit it"
-"And I would have loved to take you there, but unfortunately, It's a one-man trip"-Ben pointed out, expressing a sad sigh, as he added the selected shirt into the suitcase
-"Say, Ben"-Kevin started, letting himself lay on Tennyson's bed-"Don't you feel a little...ashamed of doing this?"
-"I know I said I would never sell myself to a sponsorship...but the damage I cause doesn't go easy on my parent's money, even if most of the time it's not even my fault to begin with"
Levin looked up at the hole in Ben's room, caused by an enemy that bursted through the roof one day. He then looked at the crashed window, caused by that same enemy when they threw Ben outside
-"...It does let a nice breeze in, at least"
After throwing some more pieces of clothes into the bag, Ben gave a victorious smile as he went to zip it close-"And there! Everything is good to go!"
-"Actually Ben"-Gwen interrupted, giving him a serious look-"There's one more thing we would like to say before you leave"
-"...Uhhh sure? I'm all ears"
-"Ben, do you know where you're going?"-Gwendolyn asked, seriously, crossing her arms
-"Las Vegas, why?"
-"And you know why you're going there?"
-"To promote a new hotel that is opening? ...What is with the questioning?"
-"...Ben, we're just...worried"-Julie spoke up, a hint of concern in her voice-"That place can be a bit much for someone...like you"
-"What?!"-Ben exclaimed, looking in disbelief at everyone in the room-"Honestly, I'm not a kid! I'm 21! I can make my own decisions!"
-"And you're still living with your parents"-Kevin commented, nonchalantly
-"...The economy is harsh"
-"Ben, it's not that we don't trust you being by yourself"-Gwen added
-"We just don't want you making a decision that you might regret bitterly"-Yamamoto completed, proceeding to hug Tennyson-"It's just, I already get very concerned and lonely when I see you leave for your crazy alien adventures. But somehow, Vegas concerns me more about your well-being than any alien attack"
Hearing that made Ben give a weak smile while returning the hug, gently patting his girlfriend's head-"I get what you guys mean. I promise I'll be careful there"
-"I'm very happy to hear that"
-"Hell of a bullet you're dodging, Ben"-Kevin voiced-"Those casinos are made to leech off the money of any unfortunate sucker that thinks they can make it big there. The saying "the house always wins" didn't come from nothing, you know?"
-"Kevin...can you do me the favor of getting your shoes off my bed?"-Ben frowned at the black-haired man-"And while you're at it, let's go to the car already"
-"Geez, Tennyson. No need to be so bossy"-Levin said as he got up, with the rest following him to his car
After the group got inside the vehicle and headed to the airport, Ben couldn't help but feel a twist in his stomach as they approached their destination, an anxious concern filling his thoughts, making Tennyson unable to fully listen to Kevin babbling about how he would take care of the city alongside the plumbers, and how Gwen kept pestering him if he got everything that was necessary
All he could do was look outside to his beloved Bellwood...which he would be leaving behind soon enough, to a place that was mostly associated with a lot of bad things
Until Ben noticed a comforting touch on his hand. Turning to the side, he saw Julie looking back at him with worry, as if she knew exactly what was bothering the green-eyed boy
-"Is everything alright, Ben?"
-"Uhh yeah, it's fine"-Tennyson responded, feeling somewhat better upon seeing her beautiful brown eyes-"Just...a little anxious, that's all"
Yamamoto gave a reassuring smile, scooting closer to her boyfriend-"I understand how you feel, but I'm confident that everything is going to be alright, so make sure to have fun as well"
Upon hearing those words, Ben began to feel even more confident. He smiled back-"Thanks, Julie. You know, I'm feeling great. It's like if your words were magical. Do you happen to be magical?"
Julie giggled-"And what If I am?"
They both laughed, before looking fondly at each other, and then connecting their lips sweetly
-"Guys, c'mon. I just cleaned my car"-Kevin jokingly said with a smug grin, ruining the moment
-"Kevin!"-Gwen smacked his arm
Upon arriving at the airport, Ben dispatched his suitcase and headed for the checkpoint. Before Tennyson could cross the passage that would separate them for good, his friends stopped him
-"Text us once you arrive there"-Julie said, hugging her boyfriend one last time
-"And stay away from those casinos"-Gwen warned, gently placing her hand on Ben's shoulder
-"And make sure to go to bed before 10 pm"-Kevin commented with a funny voice while slapping Tennyson's back-"And eat your vegetables as well"
-"You guys are killing me here"-Ben chuckled. He turned to Julie, who was still holding on to him-"I love you, Julie. I'm going to miss you"
-"Me too, Benny"
They kissed, holding on as long as they could, before Ben eventually had to break it, with Julie giving a sad whimper once he did. As much as Tennyson's legs felt weaker as he distanced himself from his friends and girlfriend, he was also determined to secure the money
After all the formalities and waiting, Ben boarded his plane and sat by the window. He had to wait a little more until the plane finally took off to take him to his destination
The flight itself didn't last long, but Tennyson made sure to enjoy a movie and some snacks while in the air. After a while, Ben was out of the airport, now arriving in Las Vegas
First thing that Tennyson noticed as he stepped outside was how hot Vegas was, to degrees that he never expected (it didn't help he was wearing his favorite black shirt)
Second thing that the green-eyed boy noticed was a tall hulking driver holding a small plate with his full name written on it. That man could easily pass as the muscular henchman for an evil criminal mastermind, especially with the way he was constantly frowning
-"Are you mister Tennyson?"-The driver asked, making no effort to hide the fact that he wasn't in the best of moods
-"The only!"-Ben cockily joked, but that made no effect on the driver's humor. Clearing his throat, he continued-"So, you're the one that is going to take me to the hotel?"
-"Precisely, sir. Just load your bag into the trunk and we'll be off"
And so, after following the orders, Ben was now on the road. Tennyson was very impressed with the buildings they passed by, especially the casinos. Say what you will about their reputation, but Ben had to admit, casino owners sure know how to present their houses
-"It's the boss"-The driver grumbled as he extended his arm to the boy while holding a phone on call, not taking his eye off the road
-"Uhhh, hello?"-Tennyson voiced upon taking the phone
-"Benjamin?"-A muffled voice said on the other line-"It's so good to hear from you, my boy"
-"Yes, Mister Goodman, I'm...are you okay?"
-"Oh, just a moment"-Even after distancing the phone, Ben could still hear the man on the phone gulping down whatever he was eating, alongside some sweeping noises-"Sorry about that. Guess we could say that I'm NUTS for peaNUTS"-Goodman gave a loud roaring laughter, while Tennyson just awkwardly chuckled at it-"Anywho, I hope you had a good flight. Me and my staff were waiting for your arrival with grand excitement"
Ben glanced at the driver, and how he still had the same pessimistic look painted on his face, before looking out the window again-"I...can tell"
-"I can't even begin to explain how great it is to work with a superhero! Your face will certainly skyrocket my hotel's reputation to the stars!!"
-"I'm happy to help and all, but remember our deal"
-"Right, right. Record the commercial and take some pictures, and then send the payment to you and your dear mother. I got it"-Goodman couldn't help but sneak some peanuts into his mouth-"The recordings begin tomorrow at 10 am, on point! So don't be late, or else your paycheck is going to bleed. These cameramen are not cheap, ya know?"
-"Considering that I'm going to be staying at your hotel, and the recordings are going to take place in front of it, I can safely say that it's going to be hard to miss it"-Ben replied confidently, adjusting himself so that his legs were resting on the other side of his seat. It was only after the brown-haired boy noticed the driver staring straight at him through the rearview mirror that he corrected his posture with an apologetic smile
-"Well, I suppose you're correct, good sir. That is all I wanted to say before I left"-The man said-"Oh, and one more thing:
Las Vegas welcomes you with open arms"
With that, Goodman hung up the call, leaving Tennyson with the grumpy driver
-"Say, how much longer until we reach the hotel?"
The driver took a sharp turn that sent Ben flying to the opposite side of his seat, and then stopped the vehicle with a loud tire screech
-"We're here"-The driver announced, pulling the handbrake, and then turning to check on the hero who was currently on the floor of the vehicle
In all the times Ben was thrown around by his enemies during their fights, none of them compared to the force of this moment.
After getting out of the car with his stuff (and his organs still in their respective places), Tennyson looked in awe at the cylindrical hotel. It was massive, like its top could easily reach the skies. The building was mostly white, with some golden details painted on the sides. As Ben got closer to the entrance, he saw the name of the hotel on a big mat displayed in front of the doors
"Heaven's Door"
Ben went inside, and was stunned by how chilly the interior was, but that could be due to the fact that he was just getting used to Las Vegas' temperature
-"Hi there"-Tennyson voiced after he approached the receptionist-"I'm Ben Tennyson. Is mister Goodman here?"
-"Mister Goodman? He left a while ago, but he did tell us about your arrival"-The receptionist commented, taking a quick glance at the boy before resuming her work-"I was expecting someone...taller"
-"Alright...I guess?"
The lady typed some more on the computer before turning toward Tennyson-"Your room is the number 776 on the 17th floor. A staff member shall bring your suitcase to your room, so you can leave it right here"
-"Oh that's nifty, thanks!"-Ben noted-"Say, is there someone else present at this hotel?"
-"Aside from our staff, you are our only guest here"-The receptionist explained. She then gave a notepad to the green-eyed boy-"Mister Goodman also wished to see your feedback on "Heaven's Door" "
-"I could do that"-Tennyson said as he took the notepad-"First impression is that Goodman really seems that he's compensating for something!"-He joked with a big dumb grin
-"...You're supposed to leave your comments on the notepad"-The woman said nonchalantly
-"...Y-Yeah, I know that. I-I was just making...eh, forget it"-Ben sighed, defeated. As he was about to leave, he turned to the receptionist one last time-"Say, what's the wifi password?"
-"It is: 7-7-7"
One long elevator ride later (be it by a combination of both the elevator being somewhat slow, and the green-eyed boy staying on such a high floor), Ben finally reached his guest room. Just like the rest of the hotel, it was very chic, with a lot of white and golden. There was a small kitchen space with one table and four chairs. A couch parked against one of the walls. There were two king-size beds with one bedside table in the middle of them, and for last, the bathroom was far away from the other parts of the room
Ben dropped onto the bed like a bomb, as he felt tired from all the flying and driving. Taking a deep breath to relax his body and mind better, Tennyson took out his phone and wasted no time calling Julie
It didn't take long for her to answer-"Benny? Is that you, dear?"-She answered with a happy squeal
-"Hi babe, it's me. Just wanted to let you know that I've made it, and also see how you're doing"
-"Aww, that's nice of you"-Julie voiced-"I'm doing well, especially now that I'm hearing from you. Say, how does it feel being sent to the past?"
-"I...what?"-Ben couldn't help but make a very confused face, wondering if he traveled through time...again
-"Nothing. It's just a dumb joke Kevin wanted me to tell you, since you're 2 hours behind from Illinois"
-"Oooohhh, I get it! Yeah, that was pretty dumb"
-"I know, right? That's Kevin"
The two of them laughed
-"So, what are you going to do now that you're there?"-Yamamoto asked-"There are some interesting places to visit, like the pawn store from that reality TV show that I love watching! Oh man, I'm so jealous that you have the chance to visit it!"
-"Eh, at the moment I don't know what I'm going to do. I am feeling a bit fatigued from all the traveling I did"-Tennyson responded, scratching his chin-"Mister Goodman did ask me to check his hotel and leave my opinion about it"
-"That sounds..."Meh". You're traveling! You need to enjoy every moment of it"
-"It's just, I can't think of many things that I can do here that don't involve...the casinos"
-"Now you're just thinking small, Ben. There's plenty to do in Vegas...I think. I never stepped there, but I'm sure there's some fun just waiting for you out there. I can look it up for you, if you want"
-"Nah, It's okay, I can do it myself"-Ben said as he sat up in his bed-"But thanks for the talk. Love ya"
-"I love you too, silly"
With that, they both ended the call, but before Ben placed his phone down, he checked the time and saw it was still 7 pm. Even with his girlfriend's words of encouragement, he couldn't help but let out a disappointed sigh as the green-eyed boy couldn't think of any fun activities that he could do right now (and he was feeling somewhat too lazy to check any tourist guides). As he glanced toward the windows, Tennyson noticed a piece of paper resting on top of the other bed
When Ben got up to check it, it became very apparent who left it there, as there was a small package of peanuts on the side
"Ben Tennyson, my boy
I apologize for not greeting you at the entrance. I had to leave for an important meeting with my investors, and I'll only be able to see you tomorrow at the commercial recordings
But fret not, as I'm certain you can still have a swell time by yourself in my fabulous hotel
As a sign of my gratitude for working with such a famous hero, here are some peanuts, and also make sure to check the bedside table
-Signed, Goodman"
Check the bedside table?
Upon doing that, Ben opened the table and was shocked by what he saw
...another package of peanuts
...and 1000 dollars, with a small note written on top of the cash. It said "A small upfront payment of your part (just for you)", with a small G on the lower right
Ben could barely contain his excitement
If he added it to the money he already had, Tennyson would end with 1.750 dollars! And it was all for himself!
An exciting rush filled his body, making him feel shaky and giggly, but it came to a crashing halt when Tennyson remembered what his main objective was
Get the money for the sake of his parents' house repairs
If he happened to get more, then it was just a "bonus" for his parents. Ben's mom was always saying how she wanted a new coffee maker
...Get more for his parents...
Looking out the window, Tennyson saw the casinos that stood out with huge lights and giant decorations...and got an idea
But that idea barely had any chance to walk before his friend's warnings began echoing inside his mind
But as Ben continued to look outside, all he could see was...an opportunity
It sounded stupid! But stupid is something he did plenty of times, and most of the time, the green-eyed boy would come on top
If luck is the most important aspect one needs to play in a casino, then Tennyson could safely say that he was beyond lucky due to all the crazy shit he managed to survive
Besides. He WAS instructed to find his fun
Confident in his decision, Ben put the money in his pocket, left the hotel, and began walking on the streets of Las Vegas in search of a good casino
Ben wandered the streets, getting more and more impressed by how presentable the night establishments made themselves, with their bright neon lights showing promising fortunes, but none of the casinos had enough "flair" to attract the brown-haired boy
That was, until he saw a very peculiar casino that really stood out among the rest
Instead of a big building with cool flashy decorations, it was just a "cave" surrounded by green water, with a bridge connecting the entrance to the street
The only decoration it had was a neon sign that presented its name: "Limbus Casino"
But even with its somewhat simple design, it sure attracted a lot of people inside, which just piqued Ben's curiosity even more
Tennyson was now certain that was going to be the casino where hes going to make bank
After crossing the bridge and heading inside, he was met by a slowly, but continuously moving line, with a really tall muscular security, one that made the driver from earlier seem like he was made out of sticks, standing beside the only entrance. But that bouncer was simply allowing anybody to go inside, not bothering to stop someone even once (Was that bouncer lacking, or was the casino THAT open for people?). As Ben approached the entrance, he saw that there was actually a long flight of stairs that headed underground (Well, that explains how such a small establishment could store a lot of people)
As Ben went deeper and deeper, the cold of the night faded away, making way for the warmth of whatever was down there. Upon passing through a black curtain that hid the true nature of this casino, Tennyson's green eyes almost went blind with the explosion of lights, but after adapting to the illumination, Ben couldn't help but feel flabbergasted by the sight
It was WAY bigger than he could have imagined ever being possible. Slot machines, digital horse races, Tables for Roulette, BlackJack, Baccarat, Craps and, of course, Poker games spreaded across this seemingly infinite establishment. The casino was decorated very nonsensical, like it was designed by a mad Dutch artist (and if Ben were to guess, from 1575) who was a big fan of the color red and golden; even the staff dressed weirdly, both male and female waiters wearing black sensual bunny suits, but glowing yellow eyes were spreaded across the appeal (there were even eyes present in the ears). A massive bar was present right in the middle of the casino, which was operated by a lot of bartenders. The place was very hot and stuffy, like it was Vegas at noon in a room, and yet, that didn't bother Ben as much as he expected. Hell
That didn't seem to bother the other customers present, who were chatting and laughing, consuming the food, and gambling without a care in the world
Ben grew suspicious of this place, but then again, he had never been to a casino before (only seeing such places in exaggerated ways in movies), so perhaps that's the norm here in Las Vegas, even if this establishment was...super weird
Speaking of movies, Tennyson knew that in order to play the games, he would need to sacrifice parts of his cash in exchange for some chips. Luckily (wordplay intended), a bright sign indicated where the exchange cashier was
Heading there, Ben opened his wallet and evaluated how much he actually wanted to start with. He slapped a 50$ bill onto the counter
The cashier took the money and then gave two green metal chips back-"Starting small, eh?"
Ben didn't bother to respond to that jab, as he just turned around and went deeper into the casino
Looking around, the green-eyed boy wasn't certain what game he wanted to try first. The answer only came when he passed by a slot machine that caught his attention
It was rather simplistic in its design, sporting a mixture of black and red, and a "lucky monster" text in golden on the bottom of the device. Monsters were cool, so Tennyson decided to give it a try
He "fed" the machine one of his green chips and pulled down the lever, watching the reels spin, before the slot machine showed a "BAR", the number 7, and a lemon
...Ben pondered how someone could lose a lot of money to slot machines, because right now he just wanted to turn into Humungousaur and kick this thing into orbit
Leaving that darn machine behind, Tennyson then headed for the digital horse race. Horses were cool, and seeing how there were only 4 options to bet on, Ben felt confident in his odds
"Feeding" it his last chip, Ben pressed the start button and watched the virtual race
...His horse came dead last
...Horses weren't that cool anyway
Ben groaned. He should have known better that machines and digital games would be the most rigged in the casino. He needed something more..."human"...and also more chips, as he was dry on them
After going back to the cashier and spending 100$ this time, Tennyson directed himself to the table games where there were other people present, finding a Roulette game the most fitting place to start. As he approached the table, the brown-haired boy was greeted with a smile by a blond woman
-"Why hello there, mister"-She greeted, a Swiss accent present in her voice-"Would you like to leave a bet?"
Ben was feeling pretty swell by the nice welcome. Doing a cool spin trick with his black chip, Tennyson placed it on top of the number 10-"Nothing like betting on your favorite number, am I right?"-He commented to the other patrons present, who were now paying attention to his game
The croupier spun the wheel and then added the marble ball. After a while, the ball landed on the number 30
-"Aww, quite the misfortune"-The employee said while offering a sympathetic grin-"Would you like to try again?"
-"...That...was my only chip"-Ben voiced while smiling awkwardly
-"Then beat it, kid!"-The croupier responded harshly with a smile still present on her mouth
And thus, Tennyson left the table in total humiliation
He...needed a drink
Arriving at the bar, Ben sat on a stool and dropped his head on the counter. Noticing the menu right beside him, Tennyson sloppily moved his arm to get it, and started to analyze the options
-"Not feeling well, hun?"-A feminine voice asked in front of him
-"Just lost some games pretty badly, that's all"-He responded groggily, before raising his head to stare back at whom he was speaking. The green-eyed boy was spooked upon seeing the creepily designed bunny suit, unsure if it was because of the eyes or the big bust of the woman with long green hair
-"Relax! They're not real"-The bartender chuckled, poking one of the eyes-"As much as I love the uniform, they sure scare our patrons frequently"-But as she took a better look at the young man in front of her, she gasped in surprise-"Hold the rum! Y-You're Ben Tennyson!"
-"You're the first person who seems to care ever since I first stepped here"-He laughed awkwardly
-"I simply cannot believe it! Ben Tennyson is actually in front of me, and I'm actually talking with him! Mind If I take a picture?"
Before any word could even escape Ben's throat, the bartender pulled Tennyson closer with her arm as she used the other to raise her phone to take a selfie. After a blinding flash, the woman looked at the picture with great amusement
-"My friends are going to be so jealous about this"
-"L-Lady!"-Ben gasped, slapping the arm that was still wrapped around his neck-"I-I can't...b-breath!!"
-"Oops, sorry. I tend to exaggerate when I'm very happy"-She apologized, letting go of the brown-haired boy. He bounced back on his stool, almost falling from it, coughing and breathing rapidly-"But say, what are you doing in a place like this?"
-"It's a long story, but let's just say that I was trying to get some money to repair my parent's house"
-"How noble of you! They don't call you a hero for nothing"-The bartender praised-"But if you don't mind me saying, after seeing your reaction right now, I have a hunch that you're not being very successful on your mission"
-"What gave it away? Was it my facial expression or my voice?"-Ben joked with a sad smile, dropping his chin to the counter-"I already lost 150 bucks in these games, and now I was about to lose even more just to get something to comfort my humiliation"
-"Ah, that's pocket change compared to the thousands people tend to spend"-The woman chuckled-"But if you want advice, then I suggest trying a game you're most familiar with. Maybe something you played with your friends or something"
-"...Something I'm familiar with?"-Ben then started to navigate through his mind, reminiscing about that one time Tennyson watched a spy movie with a casino scene (although he mainly remembered the action parts), or when Kevin would invite him to a card game "just for fun" (sometimes Argit would play too when present, even if the rat complained that they weren't betting money, and how it "didn't hit quite like the actual game")
After some more though, the actual name of the game sparked into his brain
-"Poker!"
-"Atta boy!"-The bartender cheered-"I also recommend buying multiple chips as well, even if it can be somewhat expensive"
-"Are you sure about that? I don't think that's a good idea, miss..."-Ben argued, fiddling his fingers in a snapping manner
-"Oh right! How could I forget? My name is Victoria"-The bartender told her name while rolling the R-"But think about it: Now that you know what you're good at, you can score big! You can bring great fortune to your family and friends if you put your skills to it. I'm certain they'll be beyond thrilled about it"
When Victoria put it like that, it sure made sense. It sounded amazing, fabulous, genius even!
-"Well, I suppose I could that"-Tennyson replied, making a thinking gesture, even though his mind was already sold on it
-"That's the spirit!"-Victoria then started pouring a small shot drink, complete with an orange peel and a small umbrella-"Here, to boost your confidence. On the house"
-"Hey, thanks"-Ben happily took the drink, raising it for both the bartender's help and the great riches that awaited him
But before he could drink it, Victoria interrupted him-"But Ben, I must warn you...about the purple devil"
-"...Purple devil?"-Tennyson asked, lowering the glass
-"It's a woman that dresses in purple that stalks this casino without anyone actually knowing where she is. But one thing is certain: She targets those who possess a lot of chips, and drains them of their fortunes without any mercy. Some even say that she's working alongside the owner of the Limbus casino, my boss, in order to break anybody that attempts to score big"
-"Interesting"-Ben responded, very invested in who this "purple devil" might be-"Anything you can tell me about her?"
Victoria looked to the sides and then hunched closer-"Her favorite drink...is piña colada"
-"...That...doesn't tell much"
The bartender winked, before stepping back-"Well, it was a lovely talk, and I'm rooting for you, but I gotta go now"
Ben watched Victoria leave, his mind now juggling between his next course of action and this casino's version of the boogeyman, but he then glanced back to the drink that was still in his hand. Tennyson grinned and drank it all in one gulp...before cringing while sticking his tongue out. Whatever this "confidence boost" was, it tasted very strong, dry, and bitter
Leaving the bar and going straight for the cashier, the green-eyed boy pondered if he should actually take Victoria's advice to heart. After all, she works here. Swindling people to spend money is part of her job. And yet, the way Victoria softly smiled and talked with her comforting voice convinced Ben that she might not have ill intentions
He placed 700$ worth of cash on the counter
Huffing, the cashier then gave 300 white, 40 red, and 8 green chips
With plenty of chips in hand, Ben made his way to the Poker tables, glancing at the different rounds and the players, until he found one where two fine-dressing gentlemen were about to start a game
-"Room for one more?"-Tennyson asked as he sat down at one end of the table
-"The more the merrier"-One of the players (a man in a black suit) said snobily
-"Very well, let us begin the game"-The dealer announced
Round one:
The Big blind button is on Ben's part of the table, forcing him to bet 50$. The white-suited man had the Small blinds button, making him bet $25. The dealer then hands out two cards to each player. Ben, with a pair of Twos in his hand, grows confident and decides to raise the bets to $75. The other two men decide to call and put their chips in to match the 75$ bet.
The dealer puts a card to the side, and then places 3 cards face up on the table: A Black Ace of Spades, a Red 3 of Hearts, and a Red 10 of Diamonds.
The white-suited man raises the bet to 100 dollars, which makes the black suit fold his cards.
Ben calls and tosses the necessary amount of chips to match the bet. After his call, the two remaining players for the round decide to check by tapping their knuckles on the table.
The dealer, seeing no extra actions, discards the first card in the card deck before putting the next card he draws face up: A Red King of Hearts.
The two men decide to check, which makes the dealer discard the top card, then put the 5th card face up on the table: A Black King of Spades
Ben decides to call and keep the bet at a proper 100$, with the white-suited man following suit.
They finally reveal the cards, which crushes Ben's winning dreams. Ben only had a two pair (His pair of Twos and the pair of kings on the table). His opponent had a three-of-a-kind, his one king in hand and the other two kings on the table giving him the win.
Round two:
Ben, now with the small blinds button, bets 25 dollars. The black suit now has the big blind, making him bet the mandatory $50 bet.
Ben has a 2 of Spades and 3 of Hearts. He feels confident in getting a Straight so he decides to call and puts another $25 chips to match the $50 bet.
Everyone else checks and the dealer moves on. Discard one card, put three down in the middle face up. A 4 of Diamonds, 5 of Clubs, and 6 of Diamonds? Someone got his Straight, now poker face time?
The turns go around fairly normally until the River (the 5th card on the table)
The black-suited man raises the bet to 200 dollars. The white suit, obviously not confident, folds. Ben, on the other hand, decides to call and puts his chips in to match. With $450 in the pot, the cards are revealed. Ben won with a straight and the man in the black suit only had a two pair.
Ben drags his winning chips towards himself, celebrating his win.
Ben could not believe the amount of money he just won, as he just stared dumbfounded at the newly acquired chips in his palm euphorically. Tennyson felt like he was on cloud nine, an adrenaline-like rush from winning such a game, and getting greatly rewarded. Victoria was right! If he played his cards right, the brown-haired boy could score really big!!
Turning back to glance at the other poker games, Ben smirked confidently, as all he could see were more chances to become richer, all of them right for the taking
-"So, who's down to lose money?"-Tennyson cockily asked as he sat down on another table
The three other gamblers looked at each other before snickering between themselves
-"This newbie"-One patron muttered to the other
-"This should be fun"
-"Ben Tennyson?! In this casino?!"-One of the patrons asked the other, equally as surprised
As she was simply enjoying another glass of piña colada, her ears quickly picked up on the familiar name
-"T-That's right! He IS here!"-The gambler who told the news repeated-"Not only that, but he's quite the poker player! I went against him and almost lost all my chips!"
-"Now that's something I gotta see with my eyes!"-With that said, both gamblers left the space they were on to catch up with the young adult that was causing quite the commotion
After finishing her drink, she placed the empty glass on the counter and let an amusing chuckle escape her mouth with purple lipstick-"Tennyson, eh? Things are about to get...interesting"
Back to our hero who was on a great winning streak, Tennyson ended another match with a big smile plastered on his face, and that smile only grew more as the massive pile of chips was pushed toward him by the dealer, to which he hastily stuffed it all onto his pockets
-"Congratulations on your victory, sir"-The employee nonchalantly said, holding back from showing his begrudge
-"And I thank you all for the amazing game"-Ben cockily commented as he turned to the other players he had bursted, who looked back at him with massive hatred-"Now if everybody excuses me, I'm gonna grab a drink from the bar, but fret not, because I'm nowhere close to done!"
Having said that, Ben left the table and headed directly to the bar, bouncing onto one of the stools
-"Victoria?! Where are you?!"-Ben whimsically called for the barwoman-"I need another confidence shot to celebrate my streak of victories!"
But even after calling Victoria in such a loud way, she didn't appear, which made Tennyson pipe down his exaggerated excitement. The green-eyed boy used his alone time to count up some of the chips he had. He was amazed at how many green and purple chips he managed to score, and that is without mentioning the plethora of smaller value chips that weighed on his pockets
-"...What am I doing?"-Ben asked himself as he continued to stare at his riches. He didn't mean to go this far when stepping into this place
His friends were right! Las Vegas was too much for him. Pulling his phone out, Ben saw that it was 00:32! And his notification box was filled with messages from Gwen, his parents, Kevin...and a lot of missed calls from Julie
He...He should just cash out and leave, before anything else-
-"Fancy meeting you here, Tennyson"-A smooth voice suddenly spoke from behind Tennyson. A voice that was too familiar for comfort, especially because he knew exactly who it belonged to
The brown-haired boy quickly turned around and saw that his worries were correct
It was Charmcaster, the mad ruler of Legerdemain!
But even knowing who he was dealing with, Ben was taken aback by how differently she was looking. Instead of her usual choice of wear, Hope had a charming purple dress that really accentuated her curves (with small silver chains highlighting said curves), especially as the dress revealed a lot of her smooth skin. Charmcaster's white hair was long and loose, and on her face was a very noticeable purple lipstick that matched her penetrating violet eyes. Her sinister bag was also present, hanging on one side of her hip
-"Can't say I was expecting ever seeing you here"-Hope commented with a sly wink as she leaned on the counter, now waiting for someone to attend to her-"But surprises are what add to the fun"
-"I could say the same"-Ben said, trying very hard to keep his eyes on the girl in front of him and not on her provocative sexy parts, while still on his guard-"So, It's not farfetched of my part to assume you're the purple devil of this place, right?"
Hope laughed-"Oh that? It's just a silly nickname they decided to give me. I'm just here to have fun, which so happens to involve money and other people's misery. That's all"
Tennyson sharply exhales-"You're horrible. Taking the money from these people "just for fun" "
-"Oh? And you're in any position to say that?"-She said, amused, while gesturing to the volume on the green-eyed boy's pockets. A tall barman (who also wore a bunny suit with eyes) appeared. He didn't even have to say anything before Hope made her order-"Two piña coladas, please"
Ben clenched his fists, trying to come up with a comeback...and yet, nothing came, due to how she was right about him, to which Tennyson hated
When the barman returned with the drinks, Charmcaster slid one of the cups in front of Ben-"Oh relax! That's just culture, as no soul is truly pure"
While Hope didn't waste any time on her drink, Ben just stared down at the piña colada, uncertain if he should actually drink it, since it would be the same as admitting that Charmcaster was right
-"Why...are you here?"-Tennyson asked after building any strength to speak up
-"Like I said, I just want to have fun"-Hope responded after finishing her drink-"But also to live up to my reputation"
-"You mean taking all my money from me? You can try, but you'll just lose like the many other times when we fought"
-"You're thinking small, Ben. I don't need to resort to my magic to get what I want"
Ben raised an eyebrow at her words-"So what you're saying is that you're offering me a challenge, one that I can simply refuse and get out from?"
Hope affirmed what he said with a sensual blink
-"And what makes you so convinced that I'll take the bait?"
-"Oh, Benny"-Charmcaster laughed as she got up from the bar and began walking away-"I just know that you're too prideful to refuse a challenge"-Before she left, Hope turned back toward Tennyson one more time-"Besides. I am loaded with money"
And with that, Ben was alone yet again, but this time with quite a difficult choice. Tennyson took the piña colada that was in front of him, and gave a small sip. He was surprised by how sweet it was, even with the bitter hint of alcohol present. It didn't take him long to finish the drink, and after doing so, opted to order just one more (with a small shot of "confidence boost" on the side). As he finished the second round of drinks, Ben got up from his seat decided
And headed deeper into the casino
As he returned to the poker tables, Ben noticed how all eyes that were once on him were now staring at the table the purple devil was partaking in. Tennyson arrived right when the match was over, with all the players leaving absolutely bursted, and Hope being the only one remaining with one big sinister smile
-"...So?"-The violet-eyed lady raised an eyebrow upon noticing him
Ben, with a face full of confidence and determination, sat down at the Poker table on the opposite end of the silver-haired woman-"I'll do it! But with one condition: If I win. No! ...WHEN I win, you're never going to set foot on another casino ever again!"
-"Hmmmm...deal!"-Charmcaster responded, still sporting the same convinced smile-"But WHEN I win, then...well, I'll decide after, capiche?"
-"Would anybody else like to join?"-The dealer asked the public that surrounded them
Suddenly, a man with a cowboy hat loudly spoke up as he sat down-"Count me in!"
And then, a fat lady voiced, also joining them-"Hmpt, might as well"
-"Very well, then let the game begin!"-The dealer announced
Ben buys in with $50,000 worth of chips. Everyone else also has 50k chips. The dealer, seeing no one else joining, passes out two cards to each person. The Small Blinds($1,250 mandatory bet) Button is on Hope, with the Big Blinds($2,500 mandatory bet) on Ben
Round 1:
(During the middle of the Round, 4 cards are face up in the middle)
Ben notices the Fat Woman forfeit her current hand, which makes him even more confident in his opponent's…un-confidence(?)
Unbeknownst to Ben, Hope has an amazing hand; a Four of a Kind…and she manages to keep her confidence hidden with an amazing poker face with a smirk too
The current Chip Pool is 10,000 dollars to the lucky winner. Hope raises the bet to 5,000 dollars, which makes Mr. Cowboy Hat fold in frustration.
However, Ben stays in. He calls to match her bet. $15,000 chip pool now! They both decide to finally pass their turns by checking, tapping their knuckles on the table to tell the dealer.
The dealer puts the 5th card on the table; An Ace of Spades, An Ace of Clubs, A King of Hearts, A King of Diamonds, and A Queen of Clubs
The remaining two reveal their cards; Ben only had a King of Spades and a 2 of Clubs, giving him only a three of a kind. Hope had the other two Aces in the deck, giving the victory and a rare, four of a kind. With her victory, Hope drags the 15k chips towards her collection of poker chips which stands at 65k chips now.
Round 2, starting during the 5th card faceup:
Ben, still slightly discouraged about his loss last round, still wants to make it up. Previously, the minimum bet was raised by Hope to a whopping $10,000. Both Fat Lady and Cowboy Hat called, but ultimately folded during the 4th card phase.
Hope and Ben gave each other stares as they held their cards close to their hearts. With the cash pool at $40,000, they both decide to check. It's already good enough money, right?
Currently, the cards in the middle are: A 3 of Hearts, a 2 of Clubs, an Ace of Spades, a 9 of Hearts, and a King of Diamonds
Turns out, it looked bright for Ben. He had a Two Pair that rivaled Hope's two pair. Ben had a King of Hearts and an Ace of Spades; Hope had a 3 of Clubs and a 2 of Diamonds.
Ben snickers a little as he drags his winnings towards himself.
Round 3, starting in the 4th card phase:
Ben folded to keep his money safe that round his cards were poor, anyway.
Hope notices the Fat Lady has folded, leaving her with Cowboy Hat. Hope wants to make this dude broke, so she makes a worried face and goes all in to bait him. The cowboy takes the bait, and puts the rest of his 37.5k chips left. Hope has put her 55k in. The cash pool is now at $97.5K.
With no turns left to do, the dealer immediately goes through the card phases until the 5th is put down. Hope had a Flush; her 2 of Diamonds, 5 of Diamonds and the cards on the table having 3 other “Of Diamonds” there. Cowboy only had a Straight. His loss has made him bust, making him leave the table in anger
-"Fucking bitch!"-Cowboy Hat mumbles under his breath as he left
-"I've been called worse"-The white-haired girl commented to Ben and Fat Lady
Now, only three people sit at the table! Hope looks at her 97.5K dollars worth of Poker Chips and smirks happily.
Round 4, 5th card phase(The River):
During the 4th phase (The Turn), Hope folded after a gut feeling telling her to stay safe.
Ben and the Fat Lady face off. Ben has a three of kind, nothing too special but pretty good. He tries to analyze the Fat Lady's face but her deadpan face is almost impossible to get any information from.
However, the compliments Ben received earlier about his winning streak inspire him to go ALL IN! He wants to take this lady out to keep this competition a two person duel with Hope, the opponent that he sees as unique.
The Fat Lady chuckles as she also goes all in, challenging Ben. The dealer, able to see that no further turns are taking place besides checking, asks for the two to reveal their cards.
The community table of cards include a 3 of Spades, an Ace of Clubs, a 2 of Hearts, a Queen of Diamonds, and a Jester of Clubs.
Ben's hand is a 3 of Hearts and a 3 of Diamonds.
The Fat Lady's bluff was unsuccessful, with her only carrying a 3 of Clubs and a 2 of Spades.
Ben's Three of Kind outshadows the Fat Woman's, allowing him to take $115k to his side.
The Final Round, during the 3rd Phase(The Flop):
Ben has a King of Spades and a King of Hearts. He has 115k worth of chips while Hope only has 95k.
The current community cards are a 10 of Diamonds, a King of Diamonds, and a Queen of Diamonds.
The final two contenders, Hope and Ben, stared at each other occasionally. Their eyes constantly flicker between the other and the cards in their hand. All Ben has to do is keep a good Poker Face. He already has good cards and, with the Kings on the table, a three-of-a-kind. If Lady Luck favors him today, maybe the potential four-of-a-kind could save his ass
Sweat drips down Ben's face. He can win it big by busting Hope broke, but the risk is also high. He fights monsters, bad people, and saves the universe pretty much every day and he's still alive, meaning that Tennyson must have some sort of luck…right?
Ben notices Hope raise the bet to $50,000. Is she bluffing? Maybe. He monitors his opponent's face; to him, there's no real sign of confidence. And hey, he's lucky enough to be alive, right? Ben's ambition to win it all makes him go with an unexpected move.
Ben slams his palms on the table, shouts “ALL IN!”, and pushes his colossal pile of chips into the middle. The crowd of bystanders gasp in surprise at this unexpected move.
The dealer is absolutely loving the action of the game and wants to add suspense. As he puts the 4th card now, he slowly inspects it himself, shows the crowd the card before slowly placing it in the middle of the table. It's a King of Clubs.
Ben laughs at his now-Four of a Kind. In his mind, the victory was in the bag.
Finally, the River(The 5th card in the middle) is placed. It's an Ace of Spades.
The dealer says, “Mister and Missus, please…reveal your cards to the audience!”
Ben places his cards face up to show his Four of a Kind and immediately jumps in joy from his “victory”
-"Ah-HA! Suck on that!"-Tennyson began scrubbing in Hope's face-"You can say bye-bye to your chips now!"
The crowd muttered among themselves, not believing that someone managed to beat the infamous purple devil. Some of the patrons even approached the brown-haired boy to congratulate him
But everything died down...as Charmcaster smiled, showing no sign of bitterness from losing
-"Tsk, tsk, tsk...Ben, Ben, Ben"-She started-"I must admit, that was pretty lucky. I guess I shouldn't have expected less from THE Ben Tennyson..."
Her flattery only made Ben suspicious, to the point a sweat crept down his neck
-"...But not even THE Ben Tennyson can beat...this"
Everybody present gasps in surprise as Charmcaster presented her Royal Flush, and Ben goes wide-eyed
It took a moment for the dealer to snap back from the shock from such finale-"The game is over! Miss Hope wins!"
As Hope grinned at her victory of 200,000 dollars, Ben could only hear his heart banging like a drum. He tried reaching his hand to the piles of chips, but they all disappeared in a purple light when Charmcaster snapped her fingers (storing the gains inside her bag)
-"Well, this sure was fun"-Charmcaster chuckled-"But I think I've had enough for today...I'm going to get a drink"
After Charmcaster left the table, the crowd began dissipating, each patron going their merry way, leaving Tennyson all by himself. To his own self-torturing thoughts and soul-crushing defeat
…What will his family think? His friends? ...What would Julie think?!
The mere idea of having to look in their eyes and confess that not only had he stepped somewhere he promised not to go, but that the brown-haired boy had lost all of his money
And for what? In the name of a mirage of good intentions that hid his actual greed?
Shame filled Tennyson's body and soul as he realized that maybe, cashing out when he had the chance, when he didn't feel for Hope's bait, would've been just fine. Now...he just felt like an idiot.
But a bitter part of Ben was screaming back at him. Shouting that Charmcaster had cheated! Luck be damned! That girl would do anything to not lose, and Tennyson knew it!
Getting up from his seat, he marched toward the bar and quickly found Hope sitting by herself, with one empty glass in front of her, and another glass of piña colada in her hand
-"Ah, Tennyson! I was just thinking about you"-Hope turned to face the green-eyed boy-"Our game was really fun. I don't recall being on the edge of my seat like that for a long while"
-"Cut the bull crap, Hope!"-Ben rudely interrupted her-"Don't go yapping so sweetly on me. I know that you cheated!"
Hearing that made Charm's sly facial expression turn serious-"You're accusing me of cheating, instead of coming to terms that you lost horribly, based on what?"
-"I...uhm...magic?"-He tried to argue, but his lack of knowledge about the bigger picture of poker game strategies, and how they're operated in casinos, made his reasoning lacking-"W-whatever! It wouldn't be the first time you tricked me into getting what you want"
After hearing his empty accusations, Hope...smirked, presenting relaxed eyes as she trailed her fingers up Ben's chest-"Has anyone ever told you how cute you get when annoyed?"
Both her words, her expression, and the way Charmcaster touched him made Ben jump back and almost trip down (both figuratively and literally). That was not how he expected this conversation to go
-"Look, Tennyson. I didn't cheat"-Charm approached the brown-haired boy again, wrapping both arms around his lower torso, which forced them to get really close-"But I could show you some...tricks...back in my room"
Normally, Ben would have pushed the white-haired girl far away without a second thought, and yet, something bitter in his system made Tennyson freeze in place, submissive to her touches
-"So, what do you say?"-Hope tilted her head slightly while giving a deceivingly innocent smile
-"I-I can't"-Ben, feeling a new wave of shame and guilt wash over his body, turned his head to the side in an attempt to resist-"...J-Julie"
-"Is this "Julie" a girlfriend of yours?"-Charmcaster cut Tennyson mid-sentence, planting one hand on his right cheek and gently making him look back at her-"She doesn't have to know"
Hope's eyes seemed so hypnotic by how beautiful they were, especially with the bedroom eyes she was giving, and the way she bit her lower lip did not make things easier. The green-eyed boy knew he had to reject, that was what his brain was thinking, yet his bitter body betrayed his intentions
-"...I"
Ben didn't even know what happened next. One second Charmcaster and Tennyson were at the Limbus casino, the other they were going down a long continuous dark red corridor from the hotel where Hope was staying in, while holding hands, with the numbers on each door that passed by increasing, until they stopped at the door labeled "667"
-"Ready to see where the magic happens?"-Hope asked, turning around to face the boy who had quite a horrible face-"...Is everything okay?"
-"...I'm drunk"-Tennyson blurted out as he realized his current situation. He was too drunk to fully control his actions, but sober enough to be very aware of his actions (and feel horrible about them)
Hope simply grinned and approached Ben, pecking him on the right cheek, leaving a purple kiss mark-"If it helps, I'm also somewhat tipsy. Normally I would have tried to kill you two times by now...but I do really like you"
Tennyson wasn't certain if that actually helped, but he didn't have much time to ponder before Charm opened the door to her room and dragged him inside
Her room was smaller when compared to his back at "Heavens Door", especially considering that it didn't even have a kitchen space, only having the bathroom (with the sink outside of the room), two queen size beds with a tiny fridge in one of the corners, and a small "living room" space
Ben barely had any time to find his place before Hope jumped on him, locking lips with the brown-haired boy. Tennyson's eyes went wide, but they eventually closed down, because as much as he hated doing this, Ben couldn't deny that the white-haired girl's mouth felt amazing, especially the flavor. It tasted like the sweet part of a Piña Colada, albeit her saliva was what held the bitter taste of the alcohol. It was like Hope was trying to poison him with a good-tasting poison through his mouth
Tennyson's hands, in their own control, began exploring Charmcaster's body, caressing and pressing the parts of her body that were exposed. Hope's hands, on the other hand, started working on undressing herself. The white-haired freed her body from the dress quite easily, which made Ben open his eyes to catch a glimpse of her semi-nude form, and doing so made him go even more aggressive with his kisses
-"Calm down, Tennyson"-Charm chuckled, glad that she got such a reaction from him-"I'm not going anywhere, as I'm all yours for tonight...and so are you to me"
They continued the wild kisses, until it was Benjamin's turn to get undressed, this time orchestrated by the violet-eyed lady. She pulled off his shirt and took off both his belt and pants. Charmcaster stepped back, amusing Ben's impressive form
-"Not bad"-She commented while licking her lips-"Not bad indeed! But let's not keep a girl waiting"
After saying that, Hope pushed Ben onto one of the beds, crawling to get on top of him right after. As she rested her plumb rear on his belly, Charmcaster explored Ben's face with her hand, fidgeting with his cheek that had the lipstick mark, before giving it one mean slap
-"O-Oww!"-Ben whined-"What was that for?!"
The white-haired girl laughed-"Sorry about that, Benny. I just like my love when it's...rough. It's more fun like that"
-"...You're insane"
-"And you'll love what I got"
Hope then lowered herself closer to Tennyson's chest. She got her tongue out and started slithering down his body, leaving a trace of saliva as Charm traveled lower, until she reached Ben's boxers
The white-haired girl was very pleased with the volume that hid within his piece of clothing. Biting it by the waistband, Hope slowly pulled it off while grinning kinkily.
-"My my. If you're so uncertain about this, then why are you so hard?"-Charmcaster questioned before wrapping her fingers around the member. Ben gasped as Hope tightly pressed his dick, even if the masturbation that came right after felt amazing. Using her free hand, the violet-eyed girl began drawing hearts with her index on Tennyson's thigh, which set Ben's nerves ablaze
Inpatient, Hope let go of Ben's cock, and got down to suck him off. Tennyson felt euphoric by how heavenly Charm's blowjob was., especially by how over the top she went at it right off the bat, engulfing most part of his meat rod inside her mouth with ease, leaving purple lipstick smear with each length that she reached. It came to the point that the white-haired girl was now deep-throating Ben
-"Are you enjoying the show, Benny?"-Charm asked in the short moment when she didn't have Ben's dick in her mouth.
He was so focused on the delicious sensation that Tennyson could barely respond, just groan and grunt
But right as the green-eyed boy was reaching his climax, he decided to take action, something to show Charmcaster he wasn't at her mercy (or, at least, not entirely). Grasping the violet-eyed girl by her white hair with both hands, Ben began fucking Hope's head like she was just a mere toy. Tennyson would also move his hips while holding her head still
Ben continued to thrust until he couldn't hold back anymore. Holding Charmcaster's head down to the base of his cock, he exploded, shooting ropes of cum down deep into her throat, only letting go after he was done
Hope jumped back, gasping for air, and panting heavily-"Fuck me, Benny. That was...amazing!"-She naughtily said while staring back at him with heart-shaped pupils
-"You did say that you liked it rough"-Ben awkwardly laughed, since that wasn't really his plan
-"Oh Ben, you really know how to rally up a girl-"Having said that, Charmcaster crawled back up again, this time her lingerie kissing Tennyson's still-erect member. From where Ben was lying, he could see how wet the violet-eyed girl was-"I hope you can still go on"
After moving her pantie to the side, Hope wasted no time in aligning their sex organs, before pushing her pussy down his cock, directly down to his base. They both moaned loudly at how great the other felt. Charm held still just a little more before she began pushing out, only to then push back in.
Tennyson could only hold on for his life as Charmcaster bounced aggressively onto his cock, because she would either go slow and hard, or fast and rabidly, with loud wet slaps echoing through the room as their pelvis collided, using her hands to hold the brown-haired boy's arms with a very strong grasp. At one point, Hope lowered herself to kiss Ben while continuing to fuck him like crazy. It was a lustful tongue kiss, one that expanded to her licking his lips, face, and then lower jaw, before she bit it
The craziest part was how her bite got stronger as her bounces became erratically faster, it got to the point that it was starting to hurt. Everything came to a halt once Hope gave one last thrust and squealed, shaking her hips as she came
It took a little while before Charm eventually got off Tennyson and rolled to be beside him, with them both panting and sweating
-"Well, I hope you're satisfied"-Ben voiced up
But that only got a chuckle from the sorceress-"I'm only going to be satisfied after I get every drop of cum you can give me"
Tennyson looked at her in disbelief that she still wanted to go on, but doing so made him notice how erotic her body was, especially when shimmering with sweat
-"Benny, I need you to RAVAGE me! Show me how much you hate me...or love me"
Hearing such a blunt request made the green-eyed boy waste no time crawling on top of Hope. Tennyson was the one who connected their members, and this time he was the one who did all the movements.
Their mixed fluids made it very easy to pump in and out his cock. As Ben grunted and groaned, Charmcaster moaned and laughed alongside, and he wasn't certain if that annoyed him or pleased him
Hell, Tennyson wasn't certain if he really hated Hope, or if there was a small part of him that loved her, even with the fact he already had a girlfriend
...Julie...
Remembering his innocent girlfriend, who had no idea what he was doing behind her back, made the green-eyed boy's heart wreak with guilt. Their first time making love barely happened because of how unprepared and anxious Yamamoto felt, and as much as Ben didn't hate her for stopping midway through, he couldn't deny the frustration Tennyson felt
And now there he was, fucking one of his long-time enemies because he fell for Hope's charms
He truly was the worst of the worst
...So might as well go all in. Might as well just bet all of his dignity away
-"B-Benny! W-What's the matter?!"-Hope asked as she felt Ben become more aggressive with his thrusts, which amused her
-"Shut up, you bitch!"-Ben growled rudely, pinching the sides of her hips-"I'll give you what you fucking want! I'll give you what you fucking deserve!!"
The thrustings were so strong that Charmcaster had to hold onto his back for stability, which left a terrible clawing mark. It burned like hell, but Ben just focused on giving his all to fuck the sorceress
Tennyson continued to pump into Charm's pussy for a long while, until he eventually started to succumb again, but that didn't stop him from continuing to go at it strong and hard
-"My, Benny! Are you reaching your limit?"-Hope sinisterly giggled upon noticing his shift in gears-"I never told you what I wanted when I won against you in the poker game, so here it is! I want you to cum DEEP inside my pussy! Fill it to the brim with your FUCKING SEED!! BLOAT me with your white fluids!!!"
Ben was barely listening to what she was saying, only focusing on his thrusts. Tennyson sped up and up, until it all came crashing down when he eventually came after his final pump deep into Hope's sex organ. Even after having cumming before, a mighty torrent of cum shot from his shaft, granting Charmcaster's desires. The green-eyed boy continued to nut continuously until he was fully dry
Now he was completely exhausted. Ben's fatigued body couldn't keep any sort of balance as he simply fell on top of Hope
-"There, there"-Hope comforted Tennyson, gently caressing his brown hair as she allowed Ben to rest on her, using her boobs as meaty pillows-"You did so good. That has to be the best sex I've ever had"
The brown-haired boy could barely respond, just bumbling whatever sound escaped his mouth, as he was pretty much asleep
With one last innocent giggle, Hope pecked Ben on top of his head, and slept alongside him
Ben's eyes suddenly shot up as he woke up. The brown-haired boy jumped from the bed yelling as he felt every guilt and sin that he committed last night crashing down on him
...But, Tennyson was on his bed. He was at "Heavens Door"
Sure, he got very drunk last night, but Ben clearly recalls sleeping on another bed
...Sleeping with another woman
But if that's the case, then how could he be here? Could Charmcaster have dragged him here? But why?
Looking on the side, Ben noticed something very interesting
It was his money, but not only that, but it was the exact amount he had before his misadventure at the casino
...Was all of that just a bad dream? One that felt so despairful...yet pleasurable at the same time?
...Time...
AWW MAN!
Ben quickly pulled out his phone and saw that it was 10:20
OH GREAT HEAVENS! HE WAS SUPER LATE!!
Ben threw every concern he had out of the window to rush as fast as possible for the commercial
-"Boy! I say boy! What did I say about arriving early to the recording?!"-Goodman complained-"Your payment is gonna weep, I tell ya!!"
When it came to the day that Ben had to return to BellWood, Tennyson was more than happy to finally return home, and leave this forsaken casino-ridden place behind, especially that bad dream that he would take down to the grave
Arriving home, Ben was welcomed with open arms by his friends and his girlfriend
-"Benny! I missed you!!"-Julie voiced up, jumping to hug his boyfriend the moment she had the chance-"So, did you enjoy the trip?"
-"Yeah, it sure was something"-Tennyson responded with a big grin on his face-"So, any bad guy tried to destroy BellWood while I was away?"
-"Eh, just that clown Dr. Animo"-Kevin said-"...But it's Animo, so it wasn't that difficult"
-"Good to know that it wasn't anything too serious then"-Ben commented, and they all just laughed it off
That was what Ben missed the most while away, the laughs and the good times with the people he liked the most
[6 months later]
Ben was watching a movie with Julie in the living room of his house (which he was successful in repairing with the money he got). They were snuggled very closely in one blanket that they shared. Tennyson didn't pay much mind to the movie, as he was more content with the nice moment with his girlfriend
That was until he had to do one small bathroom break
But at the same time he got up, the doorbell rang
-"Say, Julie"-Ben voiced up-"Mind getting that for me? It might be the new toaster my mom ordered"
-"Sure, Ben"-Julie responded as she headed for the door
When Tennyson went inside the bathroom, Yamamoto opened the door to find...no one. She looked to the sides to make sure somebody was around, to no avail. She then looked down and noticed a envelope. Analyzing it, Julie saw that it said "For Ben"
But after Julie picked up the mysterious correspondence, her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the envelope
It just took one small glimpse of the contents inside to shatter Julie's heart
Ben was happily whistling as he left the bathroom and met up with Julie, who was still standing by the door
-"Uhh Julie? Is everything alright?"-Ben asked, concerned, to the point that he tried extending his hand
But Yamamoto quickly snapped toward him, and her furious expression made Tennyson feel cold
-"J-Julie? What's wrong?"-He tried asking again, but that only made her angrier
-"What's wrong?! WHAT'S WRONG?!?!"-Julie loudly yelled at him-"YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO PLAY LIKE A FOOL AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!?!"
-"Woah! Hey! I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
That was when Julie slammed the envelope to his chest, and then gave one powerful slap to Ben's cheek
-"I don't want to see your fucking face ever AGAIN!!"-Julie yelled one last time before leaving his house in tears
Confused about what happened, Ben turned to the envelope he was holding, and decided to check what was all that about"
He pulled out a picture, and that made his eyes go wide in an instant
It was a picture of Ben sleeping on top of Hope's naked body, with the sorceress naughtily looking at whatever camera she used to take the pic
And if things couldn't get worse, there was also a letter inside
To my dear Benny
I'm writing you this letter because I miss you so much. I might have taken all of your cash on that night at the Limbus casino, but you're the one who took my heart. I miss your touches, our bickering, and the way we had sex in ways I could never replicate with someone else
So please, return to me, let that affair be something more than just one-night stand of pure sin
I need you
We need you
-Love, Hope
P.S: Marrying in Vegas is so easy, so I shall await you at the altar as long as necessary
Ben was in a terrible mix of sweating cold bullets, while his internal body was hotter than the sun. Tennyson doesn't recall feeling this despairful, even considering the times he fought against the deadliest of enemies
And now, one of his deadliest enemies had ruined his life in such a way that not even Vilgax could come close to
...wait...did she say "we"?
Going back to the envelope, Tennyson noticed there was one more item inside. A more solid one
It was a pregnancy test
And it was marked as positive