Shou blinked up at the younger man with the dark, straight hair that emanated the airs of both classy and charming, with a slight, hardly noticeable, expression of surprise. Warmth in a casino was the last thing he expected, especially on a day as cold as that December eve. That isn't to say Shou was ever greeted coldly at the casino. On a good day for him, or a bad day for him, he had become a regular to the point of most dealers knowing him by face at least, if not name.
He let his mind linger briefly on an old friend.
Junichi.But he was nowhere to be seen. Possibly having left in the three months, slipped away from the casino wordlessly.
Junichi always loved music, though. Shou was hardly surprised.
"I..." he began, voice drifting off and him losing himself into the swift motions made by this dealer, apt at his task without a doubt. Keen, if tired, brown eyes followed his hands.
"I-I do suppose so, yes."
Here, the waitress returned, the drink glistening on the tray and much more befitting of the casino than the man to whom it belonged. He lifted it the second it was put down and brought it to his lips, taking a long drag of the tropical flavour.
Just enough of a taste to have him more openly talkative, that's for sure.
The blackjack table they sat at was relatively empty, so Shou was happy to engage in some conversation with the man.
It was not ridiculously commonplace to chitchat with the dealers, anyhow.
"I'm a professor. At the academy." he said with a little more gusto, sitting back in his chair with a slightly embarrassed expression. He looked away from the youth with a little clearing of his throat. His eyes wanted to avoid the anticipating gold ones they would be met by. Though the tone the man used was friendly, Shou was never quite comfortable with the idea that he was a man of values, teaching his students more than just biology, should they require it, and on top of that, he would gamble his money away, ever hoping for that rush that you'd feel when you'd win. The adrenaline when you were so close.
And of course, the winnings weren't bad either.
"I'm here...often." the words were still forced, but came more naturally as the conversation between the two men developed. And he finally managed to look the dealer in the eyes. "I'm more of a roulettes man, actually. Thought I would try something a little different tonight, hah."
He let out a nervous laugh, running slender, careful fingers through his silver mess of hair. "To be honest, I don't quite know the rules to blackjack just yet. Would you be so kind as to explain them to me? I'd be quite grateful..."
He was about to continue to ask the man his name, when a beautiful woman sauntered by, with a devilishly bewitching stride (and the hint of a smile that Shou caught, glancing out from the corner of his eye). She almost glided by him, yellow and black scarf streaming behind her, and the professor absently reached out to let the silky fabric's ends pass gently through his fingers. It was so subtle, she might not even have noticed it. He thought to himself how it contrasted with her demeanour so greatly, her sitting herself down and smirking at the dealer, dressed in black and white and exuding an air of absolute
femme fatale.
It almost matched the feline manner in which the dealer himself moved and spoke. He could have compared the Raven haired pair to a couple of sleek black cats, and himself to a startled silver buck, the mischief of the earlier bestowed title 'fox' lost to his gambling addiction.
Maybe it wasn't all bad.
He took another sip of the drink. The vodka really gave it that kick. A summery drink in the middle of winter was always enough to lift his spirits, anyhow.
"Ah, hello, miss." he began as to not be rude, but bashfully turned his attention away from her, evidently a little caught off guard by her presence itself. Something about her personality seemed dominating and overwhelming, and she must have been the type to have men drool at her feet.
Shou was afraid he would be no exception. On his knees, blinking up at her with lovestruck, hypnotised eyes and murmuring anything and everything she'd ask of him.
Especially at how
suddenly close the stools at the table now seemed.
Ah, when was the last time...
Snap out of it, Shou Matsuoka.As much as he'd like to deny it, the professor was, after all, just a man. With wants and needs and susceptible to both lust and alcohol, the latter of which seemed to be the lesser problem.
@Takashi@Delta44