The House Always Wins (Except You)
Synopsis: The Veeâs are away at an Overlord meeting. With nothing to do, Y/N takes a trip to the Magic Kat
TW: Y/N tries her hand at gambling, alcoholism/Y/N is an alcoholic, men not taking no for an answer, SA, vomit
A/N: This was just my excuse to write about Angel Dust in dragđ¤
TV, Sharks & Moths Masterlist
Pressing down on the perfume bottle, the sharp click echoed softly through the lavish bathroom before fine mist kissed her skin. The scent bloomed instantly, smelling like saltwater and sun warmed sand, like the ocean pretended it couldnât drag her under if it wanted to.
Y/N smiled at her reflection, tilting her head as she dabbed the perfume into her wrist, rubbing it in with care.
Tonight, she looked good and effortlessly intoxicating.
A silk, dark red button up draped over her frame that had the fabric catching the light every time she moved. The top few buttons were left undone, revealing just enough of her breasts to be distracting without trying too hard. Her black bell bottoms hugged her hips before dramatically flaring out at the ends, the hemlines frayed and torn from being stepped on one too many times. She could have asked Velvette to fix them, but it gave her âValentino-like outfitâ some much needed personality.
Her dark red boots clicked against the floor as she walked toward her jewelry cabinet and reached for a gold necklace and some rings to match. Perched atop her head was a pair of red framed sunglasses that she had no intention of taking off, even indoors.
âCute!â She decided out loud as she picked her cellphone off the table and snapped a few pictures before posting her favorites online.
Tonight, Y/N was headed to the casino.
It wasnât something she had planned. It was something she did more on impulse.
The Veeâs were busy at an Overlord meeting that Carmilla Carmine was hosting. Of course, Y/N hadnât been invited as usual, thus leaving the entirety of V Tower strangely empty. Sure, she could bother Voxâs trusty assistant, Ethan, or some other Voxtek employees. But where was the fun in that?
Besides, Vox (as an apology) left behind his credit card. Heâd want her to go out. Right?
After turning off all the lights and kissing her slumbering pet sea lion, Bubbles, good night, she headed out of V Tower and into a limousine.
The ride was quiet aside from the videos loudly playing through Y/Nâs speakers as she scrolled through social media. There were countless videos that were all curated to herâsea lion videos, clothing hauls, those strange bento making videos that were always strangely interesting to watch.
As the limousine left the flashy and brightly colored confines of the Entertainment District, the colors shifted to different shades of reds. Ah yes, the rest of Hell that wasnât owned by the Veeâs.
The rest of Hell always gave Y/N whiplash whenever she traveled outside of Vee territory. She had grown so accustomed to the bright lights and the blinding advertising promising sex and fame, that when she stepped outside of it, she felt strangely uncomfortable.
The limousine slowed to a stop with a soft lurch, the engine giving a low purr before falling silent. Y/N hadnât quite noticed the stopped car or the change in her surroundings, too obsessed with watching a girl pack a bloody lunch for her sweetheart. Only when the driver cleared his throat did Y/N look up and realize where she was.
She tucked her phone away into her back pocket, checking both her front ones for Voxâs card which she hadnât lost yet (thank god!). She then told the driver what time to pick her up as she stepped out and onto the sidewalk as the limousine pulled off.
The first thing Y/N noticed wasnât the bright lights of the casino. No, the first thing she noticed was the giant black cat head with yellow eyes and a Cheshire Cat smile. Only then did she notice the flickering signage that read âWELCOME BACK ADDICTSâ in red.
One of the greatest casinos across the Pentagram.
At one point it had been owned by an Overlordâwho? She wasnât sureâwho had fallen. But despite the absence of its owner, it was still a bustling spot in Hell.
Y/Nâs tail thumped happily against the sidewalk before she patted her front pockets one last timeâchecking for Voxâs card againâbefore making her way inside.
The inside of the Magic Kat was alive in a way that felt different than anything the Veeâs touched. Slot machines blinked and flashed, their lights sputtering like dying stars. Card tables were stretched across the floor in neat rows, each one crowded with sinners who leaned too far forward, gripping their chips like they might vanish. Laughter was heard through the constant chiming of machines and deals being made.
It took exactly three seconds before anyone noticed her.
A dealer hesitated mid shuffle, the cards slipping slightly out of alignment. A sinner at one of the slot machines froze when they caught her reflection passing from behind. Someone at a blackjack table leaned in to whisper something to the person beside them, their eyes flickering to her before quickly looking away.
Y/N wasnât just some Overlord who decided to try her luckâŚshe was an Overlord who associated with the Veeâs.
As realization settled across the casino, some sinners found themselves interested in their games again, as if pretending she wasnât there somehow made it better. Others subtly pushed their winnings closer with a protective arm. A few stared for too long while others smiled as they spotted an opportunity.
Blissfully unaware of the tension in the casino, Y/N found herself at one of the slot machines, her eyes locked onto one of the images on the other side of the glass.
No one stopped her because no one dared to.
Behind her, at a nearby poker table, a sinner leaned close to another.
âThatâs her, right? The ditzy shark one?â
âYeah. She runs with the Veeâs.â
Across the room, the casinoâs manager adjusted their tie, eyes tracking their every movement. They werenât going to stop herâfuck noâbut they were going to make sure she didnât cause any problems. Because if she did, it wasnât like the casino had a stable Overlord watching over it anymore. Besides, no one wanted to know what it would be like to have someone with her reputation fill that vacancy.
Around her, the tension never quite faded, but it did adjust. People kept their distance from her as they pretended like they werenât watching her because at a place like the Magic Kat, luck could turn on a dime. And tonight, it had just walked in wearing red silk and a bubbly smile.
Y/N hopped up onto the stool with ease.
Up close, the slot machine wasâŚconfusing.
There were three reels lined up behind the glass, each one packed with different symbolsâa seven, cherries, a horseshoe, bells, just to name a few. Lights blinked around it on a constant loop as the digital screen above her flashed numbers that meant absolutely nothing to her.
âOkay,â she murmured, âhow do youâŚstart this thing?â
She tilted her head as she looked for any indication of where to begin, but when she saw a slit as thin as a card, she knew what she had to do.
Pulling out Voxâs credit card, she slid into the slot, causing the machine to come alive almost immediately afterwards.
She pulled the lever as the reels whirled to life.
Y/N gasped in response as the symbols blurred together before slowing down to reveal three different symbols, causing the number on the screen to drop.
She continued to pull the lever, with each result ending in nothing but the number going down.
âSheâs losing fast.â
âDoes sheâŚeven know what sheâs doing?â
âWhose money is she using?â
As sinners whispered behind her, Y/N squinted her eyes at the machine, as if intimidation alone would make the number increase.
âAlright. I donât know what your problem is with me, but I donât appreciate it.â
She pulled the lever againâŚjust for nothing.
âOkay, now youâre just being rude.â
After letting out a huff of annoyed air, she used both hands on the lever, as if that was going to make her luck any better. And surprisingly, it did.
The machine exploded with noise as a cheerful jingle rang out from the machine, the lights flared up to match.
âI won?!â Y/N exclaimed, shooting up from her seat.
Digital coins filled the screen as the number (finally) began to climb.
Y/N clapped her hands together cheerfully as her shark tail thumped excitedly behind her.
âI knew it liked me!â She then latched onto the sinner who was just beside her slot machine, grasping their arm excitedly. âDid you see that?! I did that! That was all me, baby!â
âUhâŚy-yeah. Congrats.â
Trying her luck again, she continued to play until she grew boredâŚor until she got tired of seeing the number increase.
Taking her digital earnings, she strolled over to the bar, hopping up on one of the stools as she hummed a tune. She kicked her legs as she waited for the bartender to make their way down to her, pulling her phone out to snap a picture of herself.
The bartender didnât make her wait very long. They came over with a polite but strained smile, one that communicated that they knew exactly who was sitting at their bar.
âWhat can I get you?â
âSomething fun.â Y/N replied, âand really really strong. But also something thatâs pretty.â
The bartender turned away without another word, already reaching for a few bottles that lined the shelves. Y/Nâs eyes followed the bartender, animatedly talking about how if a drink was prettier, it tasted better.
Moments later, a drink was placed down in front of her. It shimmered under the casinoâs dim lights as Y/N gasped, talking about how gorgeous it was before taking a long sip of her drink.
âOhâ! Wowâ!â She choked out, lightly gagging at the taste. âThat isâŚthat is strong..!â But just because it was strong, it didnât persuade her enough to stop drinking it, so one drink turned into three, then fiveâŚand then she lost count.
Y/N wasnât a light weight. She never had been. Alcohol didnât hit her fast, knock her off her feet or blur her vision in the way it might have for others. Instead, it loosened her thoughts and softened her already questionable decision making.
By the time she was tipsy, she was already being flirted with by an older man.
âWell, arenât you a pretty thing?â He began, his eyes dragging slowly over Y/Nâs frame in a way that made her shiver.
The man smelled like if cheap cologne and body odor had a baby. He reeked of alcohol, no doubt he was incredibly intoxicated and probably not even aware of who he was flirting with.
Y/N laughed lightly. âAw, thank you.â She sweetly said. âYou're too sweet.â
The sinner leaned closer to her, his arm resting on the bartop as he tried to subtly hold her hand. âI havenât seen you around here before. You new? You know, I could show you a few things.â
Y/N continued to politely smile, although she drew her hand away from him in clear discomfort. âThatâs very kind of you, but Iâm alright. Iâve already won a few times.â
âOh, yeah?â He purred, âwith your money?â
Y/N may have been intoxicated andâŚnot all there, but she wasnât entirely oblivious to what was happening. How could she be when she had been flirted with like this when she was alive by older men such as himself?
âNo, itâs my boyfriendâs.â
The man raised a brow and gave a quick once over the casino before looking back at her. âI donât see your man here. What? Is he some sugar daddy or something?â
Y/N cringed at the word âsugar daddy,â suddenly remembering all the men who tried to turn her into a sugar baby while she was alive. Some of her friends had done it and always talked about how amazing it was, but Y/N was never that person.
âHe actually owns his own company.â She corrected, grabbing her drink and taking a sip from it. âBoth of them do actually.â
The man watched her carefully, almost like he was studying her.
âBoth of them?â He asked, âwas one dick not enough that you had to whore yourself out for two?â
Y/Nâs nails dug into the glass she held. It wasnât enough to shatter the glass, but it was enough for a few cracks to appear.
Y/N set the glass down, inwardly frowning at the thing many sinners had said to her since going public about her relationship with Vox and Valentino. It seemed like no matter how many people knew of their polyamorous relationship, there would still be plenty of sinners out there who thought Y/N was just their fuck toy.
She continued to politely smile. âNo, sir.â She replied, âthey very muchâ.â
The man interrupted her. âYou know, I would give you more than they ever could. Plus, my dick is bigger.â He said, almost like the second half of his âconvincing argumentâ was an afterthought.
âThatâs very nice, sir. But like I said, I haveâ.â
The man suddenly grabbed Y/Nâs wrist and yanked her in his direction. Caught off guard, Y/N didnât have time to catch herself before falling into the manâs arms. Before she could pull away, the man placed his lips onto hers with a searing kiss. His lips were slimy and warm, and he tasted like alcohol.
Y/N pushed him off, wiping her mouth with her sleeve as she stared at the man, seething.
The man was laughing, as if he hadnât just kissed an Overlord who was taken by two of the Veeâs. Perhaps the man didnât know, but Y/N was going with the latter that he was just stupid.
âWhatâs with that look for, babe? It was just a kiss. Relaxâ!â
Suddenly, Y/Nâs form grew more demonic. Her pupils widened with something feral just behind them, her teeth sharpened into something that could rip through flesh if she wanted to, and her nails sharpened.
âHow about I tear a hole in your stomach and string your organs up around the casino like cheap looking streamers?â
The shift was instant with laughter dying around her and with conversations being cut off mid sentence.
The manâs grin faltered, and for the first time since approaching her, he didnât just see a pretty looking girl. He saw teeth.
His grip on her wrist loosened as his voice came out softer. âH-Hey nowâŚno need to get allâ.â
Y/N tilted her head, her smile widening just enough to show a bit more teeth than what was necessary. âOh, no. I think there is. You seem like the kinda guy who needs more of aâŚhands on explanation.â
Y/Nâs nails lightly pressed into his own arm, which was enough to startle the guy and make him yank his arm free. Whatever drunk confidence he had been carrying with him was long gone, now replaced by something more instinctive.
âCrazy bitch,â he cursed as he hurried away and disappeared into the casino.
For a moment, the casino held its breath, almost like it was scared of what she might do next. But then, it exhaled as people continued with what they were doing. Cards went back to being shuffled, slot machines went back to playing their cheerful jingles and conversations picked up again.
Of course, a few eyes lingered on the Overlord. But when she blinked, her teeth dulled, her nails softened and any strange distortion her body had was gone.
âOh!â She glanced down at her drink, like she had only just now remembered that it existed. She then picked it up, turning the glass slightly to watch how the liquid caught the dim lights of the casino. âI think I cracked it.â She murmured as she noticed the faint spiderweb cracks that weaved through the glass.
The bartenderâwho had purposely not intervenedâwas already sliding a fresh drink in her direction.
âAw, thank you so much!â She beamed, immediately abandoning the damaged glass in favor of the new one. âThis oneâs even prettier.â
When she took a sip, Y/N winced at the strongness, but continued to drink it anyway.
âTold you. Sheâs not just some airhead.â
âWhy are Overlords so fucking terrifying?â
Blissfully unaware of the drama she had created, Y/Nâs legs continued to swing under the bartop. Her tail thumped on the floor just beside her as she snapped a new picture of her drink and herself before posting it online.
It didnât take very long for a few women to join her at the bar, each one drinking away to their hearts content. A few girls touched Y/Nâs arm and even flirted with her, and she flirted back with ease.
Why was it so much easier to be with women than men?
As Y/N drank, the lights in the casino grew dimmer until the place was almost completely dark. Y/N blinked in the (almost) darkness before the stage lit up. It seemed like tonight there was going to be a performance. For a brief moment, Y/N thought it was going to be a few of the employeesâthe Huskettesâperforming, as she had caught word they often did. But tonightâŚ
âOh my god!â Y/N loudly exclaimed as she aggressively pointed toward the stage, âthatâs my friend!â
A few heads turned toward her. While most sinners around the stage didnât care, a couple looked very concerned.
Angel Dust stood under the spotlight like he belonged there, draped in a shimmering fabric that caught every flicker of the stage light. His makeup was flawless, dramatic with a wig that was styled perfectly in a way that bounced with every step.
Just as he started to perform, Y/N was right back to shrieking at the top of her lungs as she scrambled to stand up. âThatâs my Angel right there!â
The girl beside her flinched.
âOh my god guys. Heâs literally so talented!â She exclaimed, âand I know him personally. Watch, Iâm gonna make him notice me.â
Just as Angel Dust spun around, his eyes glanced over the crowd and he noticed her.
âAngel!â Y/N shouted, cupping her hands on the sides of mouth. âYou look so pretty!â
The girl on the other side of Y/N tried to pull her back down into her chair.
âHey, maybe you shouldnâtâ.â
âItâs fiiiine,â Y/N assured as she waved her off.
On stage, Angel Dust didnât miss a beat. After so many decades of being contracted to an Overlord, he had learned how to keep things professional. But even as he smiled, there was something strained behind it now.
Angel Dust tried to ignore Y/N, but itâs hard to ignore someone when they just keep getting louder and louder.
âYouâre so fucking pretty, Angel!â
The audienceâs attention seemed to shift from the stage to her as they tried to figure out if she was part of the act.
âYouâre literally glooowwwing!â
Angel Dust tried to play it off by distracting himself with just having fun with what he was doing, but every time he glanced out at the casinoâthere she was.
âThatâs my friend up there! We hang out sometimes!â
â...Pretty sure heâd disagree with thatâŚâ
As the final notes of the song ended, Angel Dust looked unbothered by what had happened. But on the inside he was panicking. It wasnât like Y/N was just some drunk sinner in the crowd who was way too passionate about drag. No, she was an Overlord and one of his bossâs romantic partners. And she was watching him perform somewhere he absolutely shouldnât be.
Quickly, Angel Dust made his way off stage and disappeared behind the velvet curtains.
Just as he stepped off stage, the casinoâs lights came back on and life in the casino returned to its usual chaos.
Y/N was left being the only one clapping and shouting, even long after her supposed âfriendâ had walked off stage.
âWasnât he amazing?â She asked one of the girls. âIâm gonna go say âhiâ to him.â
Turning on her heel, she made her way backstage. And honestly, who was going to stop her?
A few workers froze when they saw Y/N backstage. One sinner nearly dropped something, another quickly turned their head and busied themselves with something.
âAngel~?â Y/N called out as she wandered the backstage area, âAngeeeelllll Duuusssttt! Where are yooouuu?â
Y/N peaked her head into every door she came across until she stumbled upon the spider demon who was sitting at a vanity. His wig had been pulled off, already resting on a foam head while he wiped his makeup off with some remover.
âAngel!â Y/N beamed when she spotted him, already rushing inside without a care in the world. âYou were so amazing out there! And your dress? Ugh! Itâs so pretty! And your makeup was to die for!â She drunkenly rambled, throwing out compliments like she wasnât dating his abusive boss. âYou looked so ethereal. You know, I learned that word recently. It means like heavenly, which is ironic given where we are, right?â
Y/Nâs laughter rang out in the room as Angel Dust awkwardly joined her.
âHahaâŚy-yeah, I, uhâŚgot it.â
âAnyway, what are you doing here tonight?â She curiously asked, picking up a lip gloss tube off the vanity and dotting it on her lips.
âItâs my, uhâŚnight off.â
âReally?â She gasped, âmine too! Well, sorta. The Veeâs had a meeting with that Carmilla lady. I wasnât invited. Again.â
âOh thatâs a uhâŚshame.â
âI donât really know that it is.â Y/N replied, setting the gloss down after she inspected her shimmering lips. âI mean, yeah, Iâm an Overlord and I deserve to be there. But those meetings were always so boring! Better them than me, right? And besides, if I was there, I wouldnât have been here!â
Angel Dust only nodded as he quickly resumed wiping his makeup off, silently praying to God in Heaven that Y/N would leave.
Y/N looked normal. Drunk, but relatively normal. The gloss on her lips was slightly smeared and off centered, but there wasnât anything really threatening about her. But just because she wasnât being threatening didnât mean this situation was suddenly better. If this was some sort of testâif she had been sent here by Valentinoâthen she wouldâve looked exactly like this.
âSo, uh,â Angel Dust carefully began as he tossed the wipe aside and reached for a new one, âyou ainât gonna tell anyone I was here, are you?â
Y/N blinked at him. âTell who?â
âAnybody,â Angel Dust replied, but the implications of exactly who were there.
âOh! No, of course not!â Y/N said as she waved her hand dismissively. âWhy would I do that?â
Just because she meant what she said, didnât exactly mean anything. Y/N wasnât exactly known for thinking things through. She could forget or mention something to Valentino offhandledly, only to laugh about it later when she realized her slip up.
Angel Dust forced a smile. âRight. Silly me.â
Y/N innocently smiled with no care in her world. âHey, we should drink to celebrate your show.â She suggested, âIâll order us some drinks! Sound good?â
The drinks arrived faster than Angel Dust expected, but there was no surprise there considering exactly who Y/N was. Alone she wasnât necessarily a threat until pushed too far, but her reputation alone made her terrifying enough.
âYou, uh, really like to drink, huh?â
Y/N nodded, her vision blurry. âMhm! But IâŚI can keep going!â She exclaimed, reaching for another shot glass. âThatâs the funny thing about Hell, you know? Canât die from alcohol poisoning!â
Angel Dust watched her down another glass.
He wanted to stop her, but there was a fear inside him that prevented him from doing so.
Y/N was already blackout drunk at this point, but somehow, she was still going and drinking to her heart's content. It was almost unsettling.
Angel Dust watched her take another shot and down it with ease.
âDo you ever, uh, slow down with that stuff?â
Y/N blinked. âWith what..?â
âThe drinks,â he gestured.
Y/N giggled. âNot really. Why would I?â
What was he supposed to say? That she was drinking too much? Sure, he had seen Husk drink just as much, but even he would have stopped by now.
âYou know, Iâm really glad youâre here, Angel.â
âMhm.â She nodded, âyouâre likeâŚmy favorite person right now.â
âYouâre a really good friend, Angel.â
Y/N smiled drunkenly at the spider demon before it turned into a sour frown and she vomited on the floor, causing Angel Dust to jump back as to not get any on himself.
Y/N groaned and slumped back slightly afterwards.
âUgh, gross!â She groaned, âI havenât puked this much since I was in college.â
Angel Dust watched her stumble toward the vanity for a wipe. And once she wiped her face off, she went right back to drinking.
Alright, so, maybe Y/N had an alcohol addiction after all.
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