Page 134 of Gratification in Gluttony

Since Zef’s expression hardly ever changed in general, they quickly took the lead. Liel was too competitive, so he gave himself away more often than not, and Gem tended to giggle every time he tried to lie. Oliver’s neck would flush red when he cheated, and though Toni was normally very good at these types of games, Jude somehow knew every fucking time.

“Three eights,” Toni said casually, sending Jude a wink.

His human arched an eyebrow and stared him down. Toni didn’t look away, keeping his expression neutral. Jude’s brow furrowed, then he grinned.

“Bullshit,” he said confidently.

“Fuck!” Toni cried as he raked the cards in. “I don’t know how you’re doing it. As a player in this game, I am very unhappy with you. As your boyfriend, I’m proud and a little turned on.”

“Inside thoughts, Toni,” Oliver whined.

“I don’t know why you’re complaining,” Gem pouted as he held his cards in numerous hands. “I’m literally holding half the deck.”

“It’s because you literally laugh every time you lie,” Rusty said.

“I do not! Two nines,” Gem said, slapping the cards in the center of the table as he released a choked giggle. “Damn it!”

“Three tens,” Rusty said with a chuckle at Gem’s expense.

“Bullshit,” Gem accused, and Rusty flipped over the cards revealing three tens. “Fuck me!”

“Hard pass,” Rusty said.

Jude knocked Oliver’s elbow. “The lady be dothing, again.”

“The ladydobe dothing,” Oliver agreed.

“Seriously, what the fuck are you talking about?” Toni demanded.

“Nothing,” the humans said simultaneously.

“Nine twelves,” Tad said, and Liel crowed in triumph.

“Bull-fucking-shit, Tad!”

“Read ’em and weep, bitch,” she said, revealing nine twelves.

Liel bared his sharp teeth. “First off, you’re supposed to be laying elevens. Secondly, there’s only eight twelves in the deck.”

“But she did not lie,” Zef said.

“She’s adding cards! That’s still cheating,” Liel insisted.

“Prove it,” Tad hissed.

“I mean, technically, she still laid the number of cards she claimed,” Oliver said unhelpfully, and Toni could tell by his shit-eating grin that he was only agreeing with Zef and Tad to annoy Liel.

Liel shook his head. “I am not taking those cards.”

“It’s just a game, babe. Stop being so intense.” Oliver poked Liel’s side, making the Gymnot snarl a warning. “Have you noticed that you’re losing? I noticed. You’re losing by, like, a lot.”

With a dangerous smile, Liel patted Oliver’s cheek sharply. “And you’ll be losing later, when I don’t fuck you for a week.”

Turning to the group, Oliver placed his hands on the table and said somberly, “Listen, guys, I don’t think Liel should have to take those cards. Tad’s clearly cheating.”

“Ha, whipped,” Toni said, pantomiming cracking a whip.

“Anyway,” Oliver drawled reproachfully as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through it. “Toni, Bryce texted me.”

---