Black Jack
Since I have no idea how to do author comments, I'll add in my two bit here. I wanted to try another gambler story while revealing more of Levi's backstory. Nothing else to say really.
The casino had a swinging vibe that night. On stage A trumpet an alto sax duo played their jazz beat with soul. Levi couldn't help but smirk at how hard the club tried to appear 'retro' with its 1930 theme. Regardless the feline's white furred fingers mindlessly shuffled the deck over and over again. Tonight he was going to be visited by a very rich man, and that rich man was going to be losing a large chuck of his money before he left. And as if on cue the house cat looked up from his shuffling fingers to see the very man he had waited or.
Every part of the man screamed power. His clothes were made of the finest clothes, most likely lined in gold just to show off his money. Although the man had no walking trouble, he carried a cane made of some sort of crystal, which Levi guessed was not the most fun to hold. In every way the man looked like a crime boss from mafia movies, which was such a fitting attire for the male who was about to be robbed. A doe walked up to the male, though his features where hidden very well so his species were impossible to tell from Levi's distance. The doe suggested persistently the blackjack table Levi was at, which was empty. The feline's ear was perked elsewhere though, for the sax player, a tall otter with a great fashion sense and pulled off dull brown as f it was a royal color, was getting off the stage to let the trumpet player have some time to shine on her own.
His thoughts were revoked as the man from before sat at his table. The man removed his hat, revealing an interesting shade of details. The man was not one breed but two breeds. The man's eyes glared at him with golden hue only wolves possessed and his fur was a grey no other mammal could reach. However his skinny hands had no fur and were as pink as strawberry ice cream. 'This will indeed be an interesting night' The tomcat thought to himself. The ratwolf grunted as he placed down a handful of chips, his first bet of many for the night.
Expertise of card tricks showed from Levi as he shifted the deck from each hand in fancy motions, one which was holding the entire deck as if it were a fan, before placing the first card down. Afterwards each card went down without a single joke or trick. The ratman had a jack and a nine, and from the expression that crossed the other's male's face he had thought he had the advantage even though the feline had a queen on the table. "I hold" The ratwolf said, his voice was rough and thick, as if his throat was lined with smog.
"Is this your final choice?" Levi asked, politely, this was his one warning. The ratwolf did not appreciate this warning however harping back with,
"Of course this is my final choice. Don't try to pull those BS mind games on me." The white fingers softly turned over the hidden card that the dealer possessed. An ace stared back at the ratwolf.
"Black Jack." Levi said calmly smiling as he pooled the chips closer to him. The older man growled before huffing in dismissal. It was as if the loss of a few hundred dollars had no meaning to him. Once more the man tossed in chips, which Levi claimed with even more ease.
"Damn Kid, you've got some luck. " The ratwolf snarled. "Can you do it again?" This time he placed down a fifty, which Levi eyed. This was recent money and it smelled of the wickedness the owner was a part of. Levi dramatically shuffled the deck in midair, a long practiced skill of his. With measured movements, the hands placed down four cards gracefully. Levi had an eight, and the ratwolf had another nine and a four.
"Hit"
The white fingers moved in a blur as the card was placed face up. King of Spades, Bust. The ratwolf growled at this, his annoyance almost ready to turn to rage. However instead of leaving the table in defeat, the wicked man grinned, his decaying fangs flash rows of yellow tinted fangs. Levi did not flinch, having seen many a player grin at him with malice in their eyes as the black pools of his opponent held now. Shuffling the cards quietly, Levi did not notice the man reaching into a bag next to him. From the bag he poured handfuls of chips onto the table. The tomcat could not help but draw an eyebrow in confusion for this man's gall. To add even more weight into the bet, a single one hundred dollar bill was placed onto the pile of chips. In many ways the sight before Levi was a gambler's cake with the hundred dollar bill a form of icing.
"One last round, all or nothing." The ratwolf said gleefully, which caused Levi to glance a wary gaze over the other male. But he could not turn down a challenge, those where the rules after all. Just as he was about to shuffle the deck once more, those skinny fleshy fingers grabbed his wrist.
"No need for that..." The hand clenched harder, and though Levi's face read nothing, the ratwolf's gave every emotion away in detail. The black's of the male's eyes turned into a murderous scarlet as he shouted.
"You cheating Git!" The ratwolf bellowed, his hand gripping tightly, the card in the feline's sleeve pressed roughly against his fur. Levi gasped as his air was restricted, the other fleshy hand clamped firmly around his throat. The cat's now captor licked his decaying fangs, tenser his grip got, less the feline could breathe. In the corner of his eye, Levi caught sight of bouncers moving and a few men cheering on the ratwolf.
"Any last words you cheating ass?" The man taunted.
"Just this... The table isn't bolted down." The pure white tomcat smiled, Confusion crossed the gambler's face, the words slowly sinking into his mind.
"Wha?" Before he could finish his sentence Levi grabbed the table's edge, shoving it into the ratwolf's ribs. The feline's captor was flung away from him, hands removed from his neck, permitted the feline to breathe once more. The white tomcat glanced at the ground, his ruby eyes spotted the fifty next to his shoed foot. After retrieving it, his ears perked at a deadly sound. A gun cocked behind him. Levi stepped to the side just as the bullet raced past him, fur and flesh heated from the close proximity of the bullet. The ends of his fur on his left check and a single whisker were singed, which out of instinct the male licked his fingers and washed the burnt fur. The ratwolf cocked the gun once more, but his arms were grabbed by massive hands. A Bear in a suit that looked taller than anyone could be held the much smaller ratwolf. The wicked man tried to resist as best he could, going so far as to twist his head and bite into the bear's flesh. In response the grizzly bear snapped the ratwolf's arm, crippling it for life.
Levi turned away again, though a desire to taunt built up in him, he resisted as the ratwolf was forced out of the casino. No need to extend a finish confrontation. The white tomcat took a seat at the bar, slamming the fifty onto the oak wood counter.
"Drake! Bring me your best drink. I wanna celebrate living."