#casino cups x gender neutral reader

[mammonistheman]

Greetings, I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly, but... Could I please have a (Casino Cups AU) Cuphead x GN? Reader x Mugman, obviously a V-poly, where the reader is a human with magical abilities?

Because the AU primarily revolves around the Cupbros attempting to get their powers, I imagine the reader would help them with studying and researching the Calix Animi, or teach them some of the magic that they can do, you know? If this violates your guidelines, simply ignore this! <3 •_•’

(Headcanons, a scenario, or even a oneshot can be used as the format for the request. I am not picky; you can do whatever you want! :D)

AAA thank you so much for requesting my first Casino Cups request!! I love this concept and thank you for being such a sweet♡ I did this in a headcanons format, but I don't mind if you want to request a different format at all!!

Also i am so sorry this took forever im literally mortified about my lack of motivation D:AND IT'S TERRIBLE DJDJDJND also I just based it on the reader teaching them magic idk if thats right djfjd ALSO AGAIN I RUSHED IT CAUSE I GOTTA PUT OTHER THINGS OUT IM SO SORRY ITS NOT EVEN GOOD it feels really weird idk I'm so sorry djdjfjfn

Head cannons for being in a V-poly relationship with;;

Cuphead and Mugman with a reader who is teaching them magic;

It would be quite a shock to you at first at them working under and for the casino; after all the battles they've worked through with fellow employees, just an ordinary(but not ordinary) bar tender/waiter/waitress such as yourself would have better judgement than to work here. Although that, you're glad they did.

It didn't catch your attention at much firstly, but got rather intrigued by the fact they wanted their powers. Mostly as of you grew up with them, and took granted for them over the years.

What first caught your eye of the two, apart from their cup heads, was their total hot and cold behavior. They were total opposites! It was entertaining; to say the least. As you grow closer and eventually end up in an V-poly relationship, they're familiar with your magical powers at this point.

It's around the time of laughing off their bickering or something one of them said to another; that you mention to the two how their magic techniques would be really different as for how they work and communicate as well.

But you took it more seriously as of their purpose and their desire to know of the Calix Animi; which you had grown familiar with as of your ancient weilding family. They hold deep secrets; of what you're aware of, so you offer to help the two.

This first set off you being their mentor for whatever spell they had wanted to learn. You started off with basics before developing into harder motions; so that they could learn and get used with such magic and their castings.

Cuphead; on one hand; will rock with any kind of magic if it will help him laugh up a joke or use it to his own advantage. This may not be the best things to teach him, but being bored most of the time; it is fun watching him run around creating trouble until you're brought into it.

It will be hard to teach him, too many steps can make it a bore for him so he ends up slacking unless he has to use it as material. One of the very first magic spells will probably be something out money or a prank, you may not be pleased with whatever the outcome; but hey... he's learning.

Mugman will be transfixed on your abilities and will ask questions like he'd run out of time if he didn't. Most spells will actually be useful and practical to help him throughout the day; or maybe even some spells to use as punishment against Cuphead if things get out of hand.

Mainly; you'd be sitting with Mugman off shift; just helping him research and walking him through spells. It's an accomplishment watching his eyes light up in victory at his new found ability; but in the long run would leave him with a bigger burn of desire to learn more and leaving you the one in a boredom mindset.

Luckily for that, somewhere not far off has Cuphead causing trouble for you to be set free from his question overloads. You really love the guy, honest! But it's like your brain is an engine coming to a bust with working all day and then that.

Mugman will be easy to develop and give harder challenges to, as of the attention he gives and his interest in the matter. Cuphead will be running behind, but you're for sure not just letting him. You'd probably pull a few magic rooted pranks on him as some sort of motivation to get back at you.

Cuphead would have more a chilled and relaxed technique and approach to his magic usage or ability; while Mugman will have a stronger fuel to use it for its purpose and most likely will grow strong in parts like protection, defense and castings.

As for the Calix Animi; when you think they've (just about for Cuphead) have reached a level of understanding, it would be most likely that you have known of it through family members and their knowledge. You'd have strong magic roots, only producing with other magic knowing people; that had helped you grow strong and knowable today.

So they may earn more information by snooping and sniffing out answers of such people you know.

But with that information, you may also use traditional magic that might not be flying around so much. These textbooks that have taught you the very same would be handed out to the two, which also give them the ability to truly learn about earthy, grounded materials that would've been used in older years.

Any textbook of such power may give away any information of sorts; which does motivate you to also help read through any suspecting pieces and textbooks.

Overall; you help them grow spiritually as well as people. You may piss a few people off with the fact Cuphead is pulling more pranks easier than ever; but you truly ground them to a certain point and help them with finding any myseries of Calix Animi as well.

[that-damn-fouth-chaosemerald]

List about what I can make •-•

You can make requests from me

• Headcanons

• Oneshots

• Fanfics

• Playlists

• Imagines

I don't write

• family ships (for example: I won't write Dipper x Mabel)

• smut/romantic stuff for child-like characters (it doesn't matter if they're mentally/physically a child. I won't do it.)

• heavy smut for aroace/asexual/aromantic characters

• actually, anything that seems weird to me or makes me uncomfortable-

BUT I can make

• Fluff

• Smut

• Angst

• Character x Character

• Character x Reader

• BxB

• GxG

• GxB

• (Not too large) Age gap relationships

• Yandere

• genderbent and trans characters

• female, male, trans and gender neutral reader

• And etc. :D

About

• Little Misfortune

• Life is Strange (LiS1, LiS2, LiS:BTS, LiS:True Colors

• South Park

• Stardew Valley

• Markiplier Cinematic Universe

• Jacksepticeye and Crankgameplays alter egos :D

• Undertale

• Marvel

• Dream Daddy

• Voltron: Legendary Defender

• Attack on Titan

• FNaF

• The Security Breach Show

• Sonic The Hedgehog (all sorts of media)

• Cuphead (Casino Cups, DDWTD, The Cuphead Show, DLC, etc.)

• Yandere Simulator

• Gravity Falls

• BTS

• Lego Elves

• Creepypasta

• SCP

• Baldi's Basics

• Piggy

• Super Mario Bros

• Harry Potter

• Vtubers

• Helluva Boss

• Hazbin Hotel

• BNHA/MHA

• Lovelink

• BJ Alex

• Beastars

• Star Stable

• Henry Stickmin

• Rainbow Friends

• Tell Me Why

• Trollhunters

• The Last Guardian

• Your Boyfriend

• Amanda the Adventurer

• Hearts and Heroes

• Night at the Museum

• Sally Face

• My Candy Love

• Garten of BanBan

• Welcome Home

A/N: Oki, this little thing might be change, I know other fandoms too, but at the time, I could write just these bc I'm sleepy and my mind is almost dead xd :")

[leviathism]

hey can i request going to arcades with mammon?love him so much!!!hope u have a nice day!!!

mammon x gender neutral reader

Mammon had been getting into serious trouble lately.

The witches had been up Lucifer’s ass for the past two months after Mammon had stolen their jewelry, several items of Satan’s and Levi’s had gone missing causing chaos at every dinner since then, and to top it off: a local casino blew up. Exploded. It was all over the Devildom news, and Lucifer had crushed his mug full of coffee in his tight grip when he had seen it.

In a desperate attempt to save Mammon’s life, you promised Lucifer you’d take care of it.

So you brought him to the arcade. In your head, you could tie the threads together to relate it to a casino. It made sense to you. It was paying money with no guarantee of winning or making money back. Some arcades even had those coin pushers.

But Mammon didn’t seem to appreciate your efforts in helping him. He looked quite unimpressed as he stood at the entrance, holding his cup filled with fake gold coin’s unenthusiastically.

“This is dumb.”

“Mammon…” You watched as his gaze flickered down to the coins.

“Ya can’t even scam people with this! It’s so unrealistic!” He picked one up and crushed it easily between his thumb and pointer finger. He rolled his eyes and threw it behind him.

You frowned. “I payed real money for those coins, y’know.” Mammon frowned right back, crossing his arms over his chest. You watched as the cup tilted and almost expected him to spill coins all over the carpet.

“Ya should’ve just lemme hang over the fireplace,” he grumbled and walked past you. “It’d be better than treatin’ me like a kid.”

You sighed. “I’m not treating you like a kid. I thought this would be fun!” You walked up to him, grabbing his arm to make him look at you. “C’mon, just try one game with me and see if you like it or not.”

“This ain’t… This ain’t an alternative to gambling. There’s nothin’ gained.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” You smirked, watching him look over at you in confusion. “One, you’re literally on a date with me. Nothing’s gained?”

Mammon sputtered, shoulders jerking in shock. “That’s—That’s not what I meant, I—”

“Two, there is something to be gained.” You pointed over to the front counter, where the items were displayed. “See that teddy bear? Do you know how much money you could sell that for?”

Mammon looked over, eyes wide before he saw it was just a plain brown teddy bear. He scowled. “Stop jokin’ around.”

“I’m not!” You grabbed his shoulder and shook it. “How much is some weirdo demon freak willing to pay for a teddy bear that the human exchange student won at an arcade? Imagine if one of those human collection people find out.”

Mammon faltered long enough for you to grab his arm and lead him to Skee Ball. You slapped his shoulder. He shot you a look. “…Fine.” He made sure you could hear the reluctance in his voice but as he began to play you could see how he started to get into it.

He groaned when he missed and tightened a fist when he scored. You laughed. He just couldn’t resist.

You snapped him out of his momentum when you laughed, and he ended up missing the next ball. He looked over to you, embarrassed. He crossed his arms over his chest. “They’re not all that fun.”

“Oh yeah? Race me?” You gestured to the games in the back with the wheels.

Mammon looked over and you saw how his eyes almost sharpened. Demon things, you guessed. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders back. “…You’re so gonna lose.”

[blushy-tigerrr]

Rich Man’s World

c!quackity x gender neutral reader

summary: Las Nevadas was the paradise of very few. On the outside, it was beautiful in the strangest way. People travelled there to let off some steam. They needed an escape from all of the stress of the SMP, and they used gambling as their escape. The leader of this whole idea was none other than Quackity, who was arguably one of the richest men on the server because of this place... or so they thought.

word count: 1.6k

warnings: angst; cursing; mentions of migraines, taking pills; sad ending

based on: money, money, money by abba

a/n: this is my submission for @okpunz ‘s writing comp! super excited to be participating in my first one of these

---

Y/N sighed in exhaustion, throwing their apron on the bar with muted anger. They sat down at the bar with a huff, putting their head in their hands. It was just another day of waiting tables at this godforsaken place, and they were at the end of their wits. The start of another migraine began to creep into their skull, making them wince. Migraines have become a regular thing for them after work, and that really didn’t make this god awful job any easier to deal with.

Y/N fished a bottle of ibuprofen out of their bag with a shaky hand. They walked around to the other side of the bar and filled up a cup of water. They looked out onto the casino floor, taking in the massive amount of trash strewn out across the floor. Knowing that they were the only one left here to be cleaning all of this up made them feel even more woozy. They winced at a piercing shock of pain in their head, gripping onto the edge of the bar with one hand. A few tears of frustration and pain threatened to spill from their eyes. Y/N sniffed, wiping the tears away quickly before anyone could catch them. They quickly tossed the pills into their mouth, washing them down with a long sip of cool water.

“Y/N! Mi amor!” The familiar upbeat voice rang in Y/N’s ears, causing another shock of pain. They cringed again, trying to hold back the pained expression on their face. Quackity. Their boss. Their lover. Someone that they used to call their best friend. Now… it’s a bit complicated. Did he piss them off to no end? Every single fucking day. Did they still love him? “Hey, babe! Another crazy night in Las Nevadas, hm?” Quackity’s lively voice startled them out of their thoughts before they could even answer themselves. Quackity wrapped his arms around Y/N’s waist, planting a sloppy kiss on their cheek.

“Sure is, hon...” Y/N mumbled, still trying to balance themselves on the bar. Quackity began rambling about all of the bets he had won tonight, but the words fell on deaf ears as Y/N began to zone out. That question hadn’t left their mind. They did love him… didn’t they? He may be an asshole sometimes, but they did still love him. Right?

“Alright, I’m just gonna go count up the earnings for tonight, and then you’ll get your pay. Okay, amor?” Quackity grabbed Y/N’s hand, placing a gentle kiss on the top of it. Y/N halfheartedly smiled at him as he made his way back to his secluded office.

Y/N sighed heavily, making their way back around to the front of the bar. They slumped down into the chair, laying their head on their arms resting on the bar. Their massive headache only fueled the extreme emotions filling their chest.

Anger was the most prominent. Y/N worked all night and all day so them and Quackity could pay their bills, but there never seemed to be a single penny left for them. They would spend nearly their entire paycheck on the bills that needed to be paid off. Meanwhile, Quackity could somehow buy himself so many luxuries with what he earned from gambling. It never made sense to them. Why wouldn’t he contribute some of his earnings to things that actually needed it? He wanted to brag so much about being a breadwinner of the household, so why didn’t he act like it?

Suspicion was next to arise. Quackity never told them just how much he was earning. It’s not just that. They were the only person not to know. If anyone else asked him, he’d go on and on about just how rich he was and how much he made every night. With Y/N though, he never said. It made them wonder what he was hiding. Why would he feel the need to hide it? The thought came into their mind. What if he wasn’t paying them as much as he should? What if that was the reason for his secrets?

Guilt followed that thought soon after. Why on Earth would Quackity ever do that to them? He loved Y/N. He would never lie to them about something like that.

…Right?

The sound of heavy footsteps awoke Y/N from their thoughts. Quackity slid their paycheck on the bar to them with a smirk. Y/N gave a small smile back. They went to open the envelope and paused.

“Hey… Quackity. Can I ask you something?” They managed out nervously. He met their gaze, shrugging nonchalantly.

“Sure, babe! Shoot.” He answered, pulling up a chair to sit next to them. Y/N twiddled with their fingers, nervous that they might not like the answer.

“So… why don’t you ever tell me how much you make a night?” They asked bluntly. Quackity sat next to them, stunned. He was not expecting that question, and the expression on his face said that to Y/N right away.

“Uh… well, you see, I-I don’t really discuss earnings with anyone, actually! Just something I like to… y’know, keep to myself.” He responded, scratching the back of his neck. Y/N noticed that. That action plus the fact that he wouldn’t make eye contact told them all they needed to know.

“You’re lying to me.” They stated, staring at him with cold eyes. Quackity’s head shot up to meet their gaze, his face turning slightly pink at the accusation. “You know you’re lying to me. Don’t look at me like that.” They spat at him, their anger starting to show itself.

“Woah, what is going on? I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up about this!” Quackity retorted, matching their piercing tone. Y/N scoffed at him, shaking their head.

“Oh, you don’t? You think I don’t know how you brag to all of your friends about how much money you make each night? I live in the same fucking house as you. I hear everything you say.” Y/N wasn’t yelling. Their tone stayed quiet, and that’s what scared Quackity so much. “It’s constant. The bragging. It never stops until I’m around. ‘Money, money, money!’ That’s all I ever hear anymore, but you’re not telling me! What makes you not trust me?”

“What do you… of course I trust you! I just… I don’t know, it feels weird to talk about it with you because you work here, Y/N!” Quackity shouted, standing up from his chair. Y/N stood up as well, not about to be overshadowed by him.

“Oh, so you can’t tell me, but you can tell Sapnap? Karl? They work here too, y’know, and yet, you’ll brag to them about how ‘it’s a rich man’s world’! What makes me so different? What are you hiding from me, Quackity?” Y/N pleaded. They wanted him to tell the truth. They so desperately wanted some hope that he was still the man they fell in love with so long ago. However, Quackity averted his eyes, staring down at the ground. Y/N threw their hands in the air, exasperated. “Y’know, in my wildest dreams, I had a plan. I would get a wealthy man. I thought I’d never have to work at all. I’d fool around, have a ball, but no. That’s not my life. It’s yours. While I work out here all night and day, and who pays our bills, Quackity? Me. I do, with my paycheck that barely covers it all. While you go out and spend whatever you’re making on frivolous things!”

“Okay, fine! You want the truth? I give you the fucking truth!” Quackity exclaimed, pointing a finger in Y/N’s face. “Maybe I don’t talk to you about my money because I don’t want to admit that I’m going fucking bankrupt, okay? I spent all the money I made on stupid shit or I lost bets and gambled it all away! Okay? I-I didn’t tell anyone about this! I’ve lied to everyone, and I regret it. I regret not being honest. There’s your truth.” Quackity sat back down in a chair, head in his hands. Y/N stared at him, teeth clenched.

“I can’t do this anymore.” They whispered, barely audible. Quackity looked up at them, his eyes pleading them not to go. “I-I can’t just let you lie to me for so long and get away with it.”

“Y/N, please, don’t go. Love, I’m nothing without you!” Quackity begged, grabbing Y/N’s arm gently. They pulled away, refusing to look at him.

“That’s too fucking bad.” Y/N retorted. They picked up their bag, paycheck, and apron. Y/N shoved the apron into Quackity’s hands. “You don’t need me here. It’s a rich man’s world, after all, isn’t it?” Y/N stared blankly at the man they wished they didn’t love. “I quit this shitshow, and I’m moving out tomorrow. We’re over.” Y/N walked briskly out of the casino, tears threatening to spill down their cheeks.

Quackity didn’t bother following them. He knew there was no fixing what he had done. He stared at the apron in his hands. The one that belonged to them. Y/N, the one who supported Quackity through everything. They were his ray of sunshine through the clouds. They were the one thing keeping him going. Now, they’re nothing but a memory. Hot tears spilled out of his eyes as he let out a scream of frustration and pain, letting himself sink onto his knees. “All the things I could do if I had a little money…” He whimpered. He held Y/N’s apron close to his chest, not ready to let go of the love he had lost.

‘It’s a rich man’s world.’

[fanmaniac]

King Dice X Reader

After catching a certain dice’s eye how will the rest of the night proceed?

Reader is gender neutral and fic mentions smoking, alcohol, and gambling.

Critique is welcomed! (You might have to go to my tumblr to actually read the whole thing)

____________________________________

You were dragged into the casino by your drunk friend. You offered to just bring him home but you didn’t want to argue with him since he tend to get violent when drunk…

‘The Devil’s Casino’ you thought to yourself as you see the huge looming grinning devil on the sign. ‘What’s the worst that can happen? I lose my soul or something?”

The casino welcomes you with an overwhelming scent of smoke and booze. The sound of laughter, the shuffling of cards, the rolling of die mixed in made up the atmosphere of the casino.

“*Hic* imm go ovra therrrr…” your friend said after stumbling away to a poker table. The people there gave him a big sleazy smile and sat him down. You don’t know who to feel more bad for him or his wallet?

That left you alone. In a huge casino.

You weren’t much of a gambler. You barely know a couple of games and were hastily taught just because your friends needed an extra player.

Maybe you could just watch.

You walk over to a craps table. Two cup fellows seem to getting in trouble with the devil. They were on their knees begging for their souls. ‘The poor guys probably wanted to just have fun. To bad they ended up on the wrong side of the tracks.’ You shake your head at them.

“Hello there~ Lookin for somethin’?” a voice behind you said. You spin around to be met with a tall dapper figure. Said figure greeting you with a smile and small bow.You could see that he was obviously someone important. His dapper light royal purple suit was certainly made with fine quality and probably cost a pretty penny.

“My eyes ar’ up here~” he caught you staring. You desperately tried to cover up your blush and that voice wasn’t helping at all.

He just smirked at you.

“You know how to play Craps?” he asked with that deep voice of his.

You shake your head and say no. But that only makes him grin more.

“I have some time on my hands. I guess I’ll be nice this one time and teach ya”.

You don’t know if you have the best or worst luck in world right now.

He moved next to you set it all up.  As he went into detail about the game you can’t help but be distracted. The way his touch lingers on the table, how focused he was, that look he was giving you…

He caught you staring.

Again.

“Here” he pass the dice in your hands,” see if you can toss those all the way back there” he cocks his head to the back wall.

You were trembling. You could barely even hold the dice and now he wants you to throw it? You weakly throw the dice and it barely reaches midway across the table.

“Let me show you my dear~” he came behind you. You stopped breathing. You blushed hard. “Wow darlin’ you got hands softer than rabbit’s feet~” he said as he placed your hands in his own. He swung back and let the dice roll.

“Ya lucky I came ‘long!” he exclaim showing off his pearly whites. “I bet you can’t even roll- Whoah there!”

Your knees were weak. Palms sweaty. Arms heavy and you had none of Mom’s spaghetti. You collapsed into King Dice’s arms. His big arms supported you. You were surrounded by smell of expensive cologne and whiskey.

His face is full of concern when you look up at him.  “You ok there? Your face is all red…We got a room-” You cut him off mid-sentence. “A-ah no no that’s fine I was just a little bit dizzy” If you can barely handle being 5 ft from him what makes you think you could survive spending the night?

He frowned at that but then smiled a mischievous smile.

‘Oh no what is he thinking now?!’

“Since you’re ‘n expert now how about we play a game o’ Craps?”

‘Expert? You could barely hold the dice!’

“But let’s make a wager shall we? If you win you and your friend gets a free room! But if I win you have you have to spend the rest of the night with me~.

‘Oh’

It was your turn to smirk now. “Is that all?”

“’ll even treat ya to dinner just for you sweet cheeks~”

‘Now that’s a wager’

You reeled your hand back and hope for the best. And when the dice hit the backboard you held your breath then smiled.

“Snake eyes~”

[sweetsamefaces]

Rage Quit (Osomatsu x Reader)

((Just a silly little one shot with gender neutral reader. Please enjoy!))

"You know, you shouldn't have shown him that stupid game." Todomatsu scolds you as you sit across from him by the kotatsu.

You frown and shake your head. A new game had just come out recently, a platformer with a really cute art style. In the game, you play as a mascot type character and fight bosses. No big deal, you thought as you recommended it to Osomatsu. It came up while the two of you were talking about video games the two of you liked to play. While he lent you a shooting game (which you thought was okay, but not spectacular) you lent him your platforming game. It's been a full week since then, and you haven't heard from him until you decided to head over to his place to check on him. Little did you know you were going to be talked down by his younger brothers. On the kotatsu is a cup of Earl Grey, still steaming in front of you. You suddenly didn't have the appetite for tea.

A chuckle breaks you from your reflection of previous events and you look to Karamatsu. "There's nothing wrong with having a hobby, but-"

"But this has gotten too far!" Choromatsu finishes Karamatsu's sentence for him as he frowns at you. "Honestly, since he's gotten obsessed with that game, he's been more useless than usual!"

"That's not saying much." Ichimatsu mumbles from his corner of the room.

Jyushimatsu's eyebrows furrow slightly as he lays on the floor, his limbs splayed out, but his smile stays plastered to his face. "And he's loud, too."

A sudden stomp from upstairs shocks everyone to sit up, proving Jyushimatsu's point.

"See what I mean?" Todomatsu smirks, seemingly in a 'I told you so' way, but it quickly disappears.

"Could you, I don't know, talk to him?"

"Better yet, take your game back." Choromatsu crosses his arms, still frowning disapprovingly at you. Being outnumbered five to one, you realize that you're obviously not getting out of here without doing something with Osomatsu's game addiction. With a sigh, you nod and agree to have a talk with him. "He's upstairs. Thanks for coming by and helping out!" As Todomatsu smiles politely, you mention that you didn't think you would need to help anyone, but whatever. You're here now and there's nothing you can do.

So with that, you get up and walk out of the living room, heading up the stairs. As you reach the second floor, the sounds of the video game and mumbled swearing could be heard in the room closest to you. Figuring this was where the 'criminal' was, you lightly knock on the door and slowly open it.

Sitting in front of the TV, flashing with a spectrum of colors, was Osomatsu himself, wearing his typical red hoodie and jeans. But instead of the cheerful self you have come to know and care about, you see a man on the verge of breaking something, teeth gritting with black spots under his eyes. He doesn't seem to have noticed you, so you call his name.

"Huh?"

You ask what he's doing.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

Frowning at his reaction, you step closer to look at the TV. You recognize the boss Osomatsu was fighting, a character that resembled a casino dealer, with cards and dice shooting back and forth across the screen. You had to admit that it was impressive Osomatsu got this far in the first place, considering how tough this game was.

Osomatsu swears under his breath again as his character is hit. "What the hell am I doing wrong?"

Remember to duck, you say.

"Hm? O-Oh, right." He does as you say as the boss launches an attack. He dodges as you sit down next to him. "Thanks."

You only nod and tell him to watch out for the gavel.

"The wha-" But he reacts too late as the screen flashes the most painful message.

YOU DIED!!!

"Son of a-" Osomatsu lifts his controller, seemingly ready to throw it, but you grab his wrist to prevent him. As you do, you yell at him to chill out, it's just a silly game! "But..." He looks at you, sees something in your eyes that somehow convinces him to freeze. Slow seconds pass before he puts his arm down and sighs. "Okay."

Sensing that he's calmed down a bit, you ask if you could play for a bit.

"Sure, I guess I could use a break anyway." He hands you the controller, and you can't help but be surprised at how easy that was. You take it and retry the level.

You go through the first level with ease, having practically memorized the boss's attack patterns as

you dash and shoot at the right moments. Osomatsu sits by and watches, cheering with each successful attack you dish out.

But the inevitable happens when you reach the halfway point. You hate this part so much as projectiles fly across the screen from every possible area, and before long, your character is hit with a barrage and the game over screen pops up once more.

YOU DIED!!!

Your eyebrow twitches as you hit the retry button instinctively. Osomatsu notices this and stands up, walking over to a cabinet nearby and digging through it. By the time you receive another game over screen and your hands tighten on the controller, Osomatsu returns, sits next to you, and connects another controller to the game.

"Maybe it'll be easier if two people played this." You look over to him, seeing the first smile you've seen on him since you've got here. Somehow, the muscles in your body relax from a tension you didn't realize you had.

After you thank him, Osomatsu puts on a more competitive face as he looks at the TV, a devilish smirk on his face. "Now let's kick some ass!"

"I thought you were going to talk about quitting that game." Choromatsu comments after coming up to check on you and seeing the two of you on the verge of breaking.

"After this level, we'll stop! Promise!"

YOU DIED!!!

"GOD DAMMIT!" You both scream out.

"You two are hopeless."