Queen Dice opened the door ajar, looking out to her partner, patiently waiting for her to invite her in.
"It's just... It's a stupid thought." Queen Dice sighed, her gaze drifting to the floor.
"It's not stupid," Luci frowned. "What's bothering you? You can tell me."
Dice hesitated. What were the odds that her Boss would understand? That she wouldn't lash out and get defensive about her past. She wasn't exactly one to be good at admitting her wrongdoings.
Even so, Dice was aware that ever since the 'good for nothing lackey' incident, the Devil had been treating her very differently. Respectfully. She took her and her emotions seriously.
Maybe, just maybe, she'd understand.
"Why don't you come in?" Queen Dice opened the door further, without a word, Luci nodded and did as she was told.
They sat at the edge of her bed, Lucifer gently taking her hand, patiently waiting for her to explain everything.
"I've just been thinking recently... The whole reason I started working for you was from a life or death situation... I had no choice but to sign your contract..." Dice started, taking notice of the demon's ears drooping ever so slightly.
She looked like a puppy almost, ashamed of causing a mess and getting yelled at for it. Even so, she didn't say anything. Not so much as a peep. Stll, she kept quiet and listened to what Dice had to say.
"That's how it was for years... I was just an employee under a contract. The first few years I worked for you, you hardly spoke to me unless it was to yell at me; when I was successful, you only gave me one chance before knocking me down again... And that was the cycle for a long time..."
"I know I've been a real pain in the ass in the past..." The Devil finally spoke.
"Just when I think things are going my way, something or someone blows it, and I lose all the respect I had from you... It's disheartening... I guess..." She stopped. "I— I want to know that you're going to take this relationship seriously. That if I mess up, you won't cut me off like you did before."
"I won't. I promise." The Devil reassured her.
"So this relationship... What we have... Is it just built on a contract?" Dice continued.
"I wouldn't have met you if I didn't make a deal with you." The demon replied. "But I mean... Yes, in the past..."
Queen Dice began getting tense, the waterworks threatening to burst as her Boss continued.
"I know I've made far too many mistakes in the past... I called you names, I treated you badly... I was awful to you... Truthfully, I have no idea why someone like you would go out with someone like me... But despite all my faults and mistakes... You gave me the one in a million chance... I don't want to mess it up."
Luci paused, her gaze going unfocused as she got lost in thought. Turning her attention back to Dice, she opened her mouth, hesitant to ask;
"Do you... Do you still want to work for me?"
"What?"
"Your contract. I can— I— I can go and rip up your contract right now, you'd be free. Would that make you happy? Would it make up for everything I've done?"
That single question cleared the air for Dice. She understood perfectly now that things had changed. She wasn't just an easily replaceable pawn in the Devil's game. Luci cared about her now, she wanted her to be happy, even if it meant sacrificing her best worker and potentially losing her girlfriend.
Queen Dice couldn't help but smile, touching Luci's face before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Of course not, I love working for you. I wouldn't want things any other way. Just knowing that you're willing to change for me is all I needed." She said, making the demon smile. "Besides, someone's gotta keep this place up and running."
The Devil immediately frowned, her ears shooting back slightly as she glared at the other.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding."
"Good."
♠️ ♠️ ♠️
Midday, the sisters had found themselves wanting to go on yet another adventure. This time with their new companion, Lucas, they went upstairs, running through the Casino to the front doors. As came with every game they played, they weren't paying attention to their surroundings. They certainly didn't expect to run into someone while heading to the front door.
"Hey!" Cuphead snapped after they'd been knocked down with the collision. "Watch where you're... Going..."
"Me?! You were the ones..." Ms. Wheezy angrily brushed off her clothes before her attention went to the girls. "Wait... Wait— I know you two. You're the little punks that raided the Casino a few years ago."
"We didn't raid the Casino, we just... Beat you guys up... And stole contracts..."
Ms. Wheezy raised an eyebrow.
"It's... It's completely different."
It wasn't a moment later, another familiar face entered the Casino. Stopping short at seeing the sisters, Chips Bettigan blinked as she stared, as if her mind couldn't connect the dots.
"Man, I think I drank too much... I'm starting to get hallucinations." She furrowed her eyebrows.
"It's not a hallucination, it's the two brats that kicked our asses."
"Well... I— I wasn't really tryin y'know... If I was, I woulda whipped both their asses in no time flat."
"What are you two doing here anyways?" Ms. Wheezy ignored what Chips had to say. "If the Devil catches sight of you, she'd have you for breakfast. And who knows what Dice would do after that. Christ, she was wasn't just upset about the contracts; we had to endure her loudly complaining about that chipped tooth you gave her." She rolled her eyes.
"How'd she even fix her chipped tooth?" Cuphead asked.
"One of life's greatest mysteries..." Chips replied.
"That still doesn't answer my question." Wheezy said.
"Well... It's a funny story, really..." Mugma'am chuckled. "Not funny haha but... We're staying here at the Casino for a bit..."
"Really?" Ms. Wheezy raised an eyebrow.
"God, they're so scared they're starting to get delusional." Chips frowned.
"It's true!" Cuphead snapped.
"Why should we believe you?!" Ms. Wheezy just snapped right back.
"You can go ask them yourself." Cuphead sassed her, Wheezy only rolling her eyes again.
"Yeah right. Right after they're finished making out in the Boss' office." Ms. Wheezy scoffed, walking past the girls.
"You walked in on them kissing once, Smokey." Chips followed close behind.
Cuphead and Mugma'am looked at each other, the latter shaking her head as the former smirked. Following the two ladies, they sat up on barstools as Chips and Wheezy prepared for their shift.
"So, what exactly do you guys do for fun around here?"
"You're underaged, you can't sit at the bar." Wheezy immediately said. "You shouldn't even be in the Casino in the first place. What are you like... Twelve?"
"17." The sisters said in unison.
"That would've made you..." Chips counted on her fingers. "You two were 13 when you gambled your souls?!"
"When Cuphead gambled our souls." Mugma'am corrected her, glaring at her sister.
"Why did Queen Dice even let you play?!" Chips asked.
"Well... I guess I did call her old when she greeted us at the door." Cuphead thought back.
"Yep, that'll do it." Wheezy's expression went deadpan. "Now go on, shoo!"
"But you didn't answer our question! What do you guys do for fun at the Casino?" Cuphead asked again.
"Well... There isn't much to do besides work..." Chips thought. "Personally, I like to play little pranks on the other workers."
"Nuh-uh! No way! I already have to deal with the likes of you! I am not letting you create two more menaces in this damned Casino!"
Chips rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, frowning. Ms. Wheezy shook her head turning to the last dirty dishes presumably from the night before and began cleaning them.
"So... If you don't mind me asking..." Mugma'am said. "How'd you two start working at the Casino in the first place?"
"I was in debt." Chips sat in a chair behind the counter and leaned back and relaxed. "I used the last bit of my money trying to gamble some big bucks and I was so close to winning that the Devil got jealous and took my soul."
Ms. Wheezy filled a glass full of water and splashed it over Chips. Immediately sitting up, she coughed and sputtered, shaking off her now soaked clothing.
"You mean you lost everything within just a few minutes and had no choice but to hand your soul over to the Devil."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I know I woulda won, Devil just doesn't like to lose and Dice cheats at every game she can weasel her lying ass into." Chips glared at the other, wringing out her blue hair.
"Now that's true."
Chips went back to relaxing in her chair, Wheezy throwing a rag straight at her face.
"Go make yourself useful and wipe down those tables."
"gO mAke YoUrSelF uSeFuLL aNd wiPe dOwN tHoSe TAblEs." Chips mocked her under her breath, Wheezy simply shaking her head.
"What about you, Ms. Wheezy? How'd you end up in the Casino?" Mugma'am asked.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh, come on, Wheezy, you told me! Get this, girls, her brother— "
Ms. Wheezy whipped around to face Chips, scorning her with the sharpest glare either of them had seen from anyone. Chips cowered slightly, going back to wiping down the tables.
"When we're on friend terms, I'll tell you, until then, keep your nose in your own business." Ms. Wheezy snapped at the girls.
"Wait, so... Does this mean you consider me a friend?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't deny it either~"
Ms. Wheezy groaned, shaking her head again.
"Wheezy and I are friends~" Chips teased in a sing-song voice.
She laughed loudly, leaning on a table as she watched Ms. Wheezy's anger build.
Ms. Wheezy whipped around to tell the other off before the Devil beat her to it;
"Bettigan, you'd better not be slacking again." She snapped and she strutted through the Casino.
"Of course not, ma'am." Chips stood up straight, going back to wiping down tables.
"And you two, away from the bar, you're underaged for Hellfire's sake!" She turned to the girls. "And get that mutt before it rips my curtains!"
They immediately got down from the bar stools, their attention turning to Lucas gnawing and tugging on the crimson curtains by the windows.
"Where are you going?" Cuphead asked as the demon stopped short in the Casino's doorway.
"Places. Don't follow me." Lucifer was short with her as she walked out the door.
Looking at one another, the sisters smirked at each other before they went to follow her.
"I wouldn't do that." Wheezy caught their attention once more. "'Places' usually means she's going off to make a transaction. And usually they get pretty ugly."
"Did you know she once took down a five person gang?!" Chips chirped in.
"The point is, wherever the Devil is, trouble isn't far behind. Personally, I'd stay clear of her."
"Do you even know the Devil?" Cuphead crossed her arms.
Ms. Wheezy turned to face her, Mugma'am immediately pushing her sister to the Hellevator before things could escalate.
"God, she's still a bitch." Cuphead muttered under her breath as they rode the Hellevator down.
"I mean... She's gotta point..." Mugma'am sighed. "She is the Devil. She has no reason to care for us..."
Cuphead's gaze lowered to the ground. This was painfully true. No matter how much they wished it to happen, this would never be home. After this month was up, they'd surely be kicked right out of the Casino and left to fend for themselves.
The Devil didn't want them around and no one could blame her.
Sorry I haven’t done any Halloween drawings or anything, I’ve been super busy renovating my room and taking care of a lil puppy on top of work and my hand still kinda hurting 😅
I finally got a night off though, so here’s a couple drawings. I meant to do a lot more with the Cup Sisters and Everette, but I took too much time working on Luci’s drawing and ran out of time lmao
(Dice’s outfit is inspired by my mom’s Halloween costume this year; a Victorian Witch as she calls it lol)
Late into the night, Queen Dice found herself wide awake. She didn't understand, her relationship between herself and her Boss seemed to have been been better than before. After that talk they had, they had a mutual understanding of one another. Yet something didn't feel right, something was wrong... Terribly wrong. She racked her brain, finding it impossible to pinpoint exactly what was eating at her.
Dice adjusted her position slightly, receiving a tired groan from the Devil currently cuddling up right against her. She certainly couldn't think with Luci's body heat overwhelming her so much.
Maybe a snack or a drink would help her clear her mind.
Moving to get up, Lucifer held onto her by her arm, cuddling closer for warmth. When Dice attempted to move once more, she got a warning from her Boss as her sharp nails sank into Dice's arm;
"Nooooo..." The demon whined.
"I just need a drink." Queen Dice whispered.
Grumbling, the Devil cuddled even closer, wrapping her arms around Dice's waist and burying her face in the crook of her neck.
"Noooooooooo..."
"Devil, let go, I'll be right back." Queen Dice assured her.
There was a log moment of silence, Dice half thinking that her Boss had fallen back to sleep.
"Promise...?"
"Yes, I promise."
Finally letting her go, the Devil rolled over, cuddling up against her pillow, waiting patiently for Dice to return.
Quietly exiting their bedroom, Queen Dice still pondered what could possibly be bothering her this much, especially this late into the night. Crossing the throne room, she stopped short at the sound of talking. Knowing exactly where it was coming from, she turned her head to look in the direction of the sisters' room.
Making her way down the hall, she was careful not to attract any attention to herself. Standing next to the door, she listened closely, though could only make out indistinguishable murmers. Furrowing her eyebrows, she silently shuffled closer to the door, her ear up against it now.
"We really should get some sleep..." Mugma'am whispered.
"I can't sleep with all that screaming." Cuphead was a little less cautious with the volume of her voice.
The souls of the damned. Working with the Devil for a little over a decade, Queen Dice had grown accustomed to hearing the chilling screams of souls being tortured just a few floors below. Though, of course, it had taken her years to get used to it, of course the girls would be having trouble adjusting.
"I'm also having trouble sleepin because..." Cuphead hesitated. "I've been thinkin a lot... You're right... They hate us..."
"We won't have to stay much longer..."
"They could be using us, Mugma'am, try could be planning on stealing our souls since we got here... I don't want to sleep..."
"I know, but what other choice do we have? You said it yourself, we have nowhere else to go."
"I know... It's just scary to know that they are literally down the hall from us..."
Guilt began to eat its way through Queen Dice, she'd never felt bad about stealing— Or even attempting to steal— Anyone's soul before. Every sinner that stepped foot in the Casino was the same in her eyes. Long ago had she felt guilty about stealing souls, it was just a part of working for the Devil.
Obviously it didn't mean it was impossible for her to feel guilty for it. At least for these girls. Despite her endless struggle to keep that hatred she felt toward them years before, she found it harder, and harder to do it when they so easily snuck their way into her heart.
She leaned her head along with her body weight against the door, making it creak slightly. Quickly scrambling back, she cursed herself for being so stupid. And it was obvious that it hadn't gone unnoticed. The girls remained quiet for a moment, Queen Dice desperately trying not to panic.
"What was that?" Cuphead asked, perhaps a bit too loudly as Mugma'am hushed her.
"Girls?" Queen Dice called as quietly as she could, deciding she'd rather not freak them out.
"Queen Dice?" The girls said in unison.
"Is... Is everything ok...? May I come in?"
There was quiet murmuring behind the door, before silence and finally the door opened. Smiling to mask her internal panic, Queen Dice looked between the two of them.
"What are you two doing up so late?"
"Were you listening to our conversation?" Mugma'am asked.
"And what are you doing up?" Cuphead asked.
"I only heard a little." Queen Dice lied. "And I got up for a snack and I heard you two talking. Is everything ok?"
"Everything is fine." Cuphead snapped, turning back into the bedroom.
"Cuphead." Dice started sternly, deciding that wasn't the way to go and turning to a softer tone. "Girls... I'm sure that it's a lot of stress having to sleep under the same roof as Luci and me, but I assure you... We're not going to hurt you... Again..."
The sisters were unsure, only glancing at one another and their gaze falling to the ground.
"If we were going to steal your souls, we would've done it by now... I can promise you that we won't. The Devil... Don't tell her I said this... But she's grown a soft spot for you girls. And when she cares for someone— Whether she shows it or not— She doesn't want to hurt them."
They were still unsure, keeping their eyes locked to the ground.
"I know you have no reason to, but just trust me, girls... She— Or... We— Will not hurt you. We're not going to take your souls. We're not going to use you for our own advantage. You're safe here, I assure you." Queen Dice went on, only getting a few glances in return. "Now, why don't you two get some sleep?"
Nodding, the sisters climbed into their respective beds, Queen Dice standing in the doorway if they needed anything. Once settled, she offered a smile.
"Good night you two."
"Good night Miss Dice." They said in unison.
Beginning to close the door, Queen Dice paused, looking back inside.
"Girls?"
""Yes?""
"I... I know it doesn't make up for everything... But I'm sorry... I'm... I'm so very sorry."
With no answer, Queen Dice clicked the door shut. Heading back to her and Luci's room, she opened the door, grumbling as she turned to the bed only to see her girlfriend sprawled across it.
"Devil, hun, wake up." She said quietly, hoping to get her attention, though she got no answer.
"Lucifer, c'mon, up." She shook the demon, still sound asleep.
"BOSS!"
Finally jumping awake, the Devil looked around, panicked before her eyes landed on Dice.
"Oh, hello, dear." She adjusted her postition to make room for her girlfriend.
Getting into bed and immediately getting the demon's arms wrapped around her waist as she cuddled close, Queen Dice didn't find herself any more tired than she was before.
"Luci...? Are you asleep?"
"Huh, what...?" The demon snorted, clearly barely awake.
"Do you..." Queen Dice hesitanted, she knew she didn't have long before her Boss would fall asleep again, but she needed some closer rather than non.
"Do you think I'm a bad person?"
"You work for me, dear." The Devil yawned.
"I mean in general, hon." Queen Dice reworded her question.
Queen Dice impatiently waited for her answer, still being mindful that Luci wasn't exactly awake at the moment. Though it wasn't soon after she finished her sentence that she heard the demon beginning to snore in her ear.
"Lucifer!"
"Huh?" The Devil snorted as she was jolted awake, sitting up slightly. "What's that?"
"Just... Forget it..."
♠️ ♠️ ♠️
The next morning dragged along, the Devil yawned, baring her white fangs and stretching. Rolling around to face her girlfriend, she was surprised to not see her.
It was odd, almost concerning, Queen Dice never woke up before her. Dice loved to get her full nights sleep, something about 'mortals need so much sleep per night'. Demons, however, didn't. The Devil really only slept as a hobby, thus why she went to bed late and woke up early. But Dice? She was mortal! She needed sleep.
It was all too concerning for the demon. Getting up out of bed, she didn't even bother changing out of her pajamas as she went off to find Dice. Heading straight to the kitchen, she found her girlfriend with her back to the door.
Quietly approaching from behind her, she wrapped her arms around her waist, leaning her head on her shoulder.
"Good morning, love."
"G'morning." Dice didn't sound too enthused.
"You're up early." Luci kissed Dice's neck and shoulder.
"I didn't sleep much last night." Dice answered rather bitterly.
"Wh— Why not?" The demon sat up. "Did I take up too much room on the bed again?"
"No," The woman sighed. "I mean, sometimes you can smother me a bit when you cuddle...— "
"Sorry..."
"But... It wasn't you..."
"Then what's wrong?"
"It's... It's the girls..."
"What about them?"
"Luci, Honey," Dice was getting serious at this point. "They really think we hate them. They hate living down here. I can't make them live like this."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to talk to them. Or show them that we care. More importantly that you care." Queen Dice explained.
"I... I dunno how to do that..." The Devil loosened her hug around Dice's waist.
"Well... We could start by putting them somewhere comfortable? Maybe giving them each their own rooms? In the surface world?" Queen Dice suggested. "It wouldn't hurt to try."
"What am I supposed to do? Add a house onto my Casino?"
Dice's face lit up, a smile appearing on her face.
"Dice... Whatever you're thinking..."
"I would love that! No offense to you, dear, but I personally would like to move out of Hell."
"Dice— "
"Oooo! We could have our own room too, and a family room, and our own personal kitchen where I can keep my coffee without worry of your body imps getting in it!"
"Dice— "
"That would be perfect! I could get to work much easier! You're so smart— Or well, I suppose I gave you the idea, didn't I? So, you're welcome."
"Dice, listen to what's coming out of your mouth, it's insane— "
The Devil was interrupted by Queen Dice giving her a kiss on the cheek before walking out the door.
"Ugh, why'd I have to open my big mouth...?" The Devil grumbled, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter.
What was Dice thinking? They had a home here in Hell! Luci had lived there her whole life, sure it wasn't hard to live in first, but she got used to it. It was only a matter of time before Dice and the girls would. Dice had been living there for years, and she was fine! The Devil didn't see the big deal.
"Duh... Mornin' Boss." Henchwoman opened the door to the kitchen. "Dice just said you was thinkin of adding onto the Casino?"
"Ugh! Dice wants to live in the surface world. Her and the girls both do. I just don't get the point! We have a home down here in Hell! I've lived here my whole life..."
"Boss..." Henchwoman frowned. "They can't stay in the underworld..."
"Why not?! Queen Dice has lived down here for years and she's fine."
"Boss, she's not down here all the time either... The girls are."
"Yeah?"
"Boss, y'know what happens to mortals when they're in Hell for too long, right...?"
Luci stopped to think. Of course, she knew, but it had slipped her mind. With Dice working in the Casino most of her time, it hadn't effected her— Not that the Devil had noticed anyway. But Cuphead and Mugma'am spent most of their time down in Hell. The Devil wasn't sure if she could live with herself knowing that they lost their minds, and she let it happen.
"Henchwoman, I want you to get a message to Stickler; we need to start construction on the additions to the Casino right away. Actually, scratch that, tell her I need to have a meeting about a very important matter."
