#rafflesia;

[ringleaderising]

[Rafflesia, Gambler, Wager, Vespidae]

"Don't get me wrong, darling- you were always destined to lose- the house has a... deal. Now, what was it you wagered? 'My left wing if I don't win this hand?'"

Mother's Embrace almost sounds like someone made it up to fuck with you. A sprawling, massive casino built in the twinned skulls of what certainly appear to be Aberration heads propped against one another in the heart of Plague territory, It is a glittering, bone-white jewel among the sprawling, living flesh of the land it rests in. Welcoming and grand, Mother's Embrace offers leisure to those weary from travel and everyday life in Plague- games of chance run by capable, charming dealers- and state-of-the-art 'digital tables' imported from Lightning, you'll find anything and everything you need for a night of relaxation- or debauchery- within its walls.

Owned by a nocturne woman called only by her former dancer name, 'Rafflesia'- and staffed by many capable hands (though young Wager and his friend Vespidae who now serve the roulette tables and blackjack respectively are certainly the most ostentatious) Mother's Embrace appeared not long after a Collapse many years ago, thanks to opportunistic investors, and Rafflesia's odd knack for simply having things happen to her benefit.

The mortal lover of Gambler, it's no surprise she's inescapably lucky- their blessing has always been one of opportunity and odds after all, and it is within their skulls the casino now lies- and for the sake of their resurrection that Rafflesia now operates a den of sin intended to strip visitors of anything they might be fool enough to bet at a table.

Plague through and through, Mother's Embrace draws no lines for what you can offer up on a wager, be it your money, your belongings- or even magic siphoned from one's body, or a whole limb for just one more spin- the Matron of the Twin Skulls will gladly let you offer whatever comes to mind- just be prepared to pay up, when you inevitably lose.

It takes a lot of meat to raise a God after all.

[ringleaderising]

🐻Share two dragons who would argue endlessly about the Berenstein Bears vs Berenstain Bears Mandela effect

🐷Share three dragons whose relationship would've been saved by polyamory, but that's not what happens

:))

Share two dragons who would argue endlessly about the Berenstein Bears vs Berenstain Bears Mandela effect.

Wager and Vespidae, no question. They spend a lot of time together since their tables in Mother's Embrace are next to one another, and their rooms in the attached hotel where Staff lives are like, just across the hall, which means they hang out more than maybe even they want to as friends? Like you know that person you'd kill and/or die for but after too long in their presence you need a like, remote cabin vacation? That's these two. They also have a noted tendency, in lulls at their respective tables to talk about stuff that really doesn't matter, and thus, probably mandela effects like the E or A in Berenstain.

Wager swears that the twin spirals that are on all the promotional material for the 'attached theater' that closed long before they even worked there were always on the left and right side, but Vespidae insists it's the top and bottom, like they are now.

This argument has come to blows at least once, when the alcohol got to flowing.

Share three dragons whose relationship would've been saved by polyamory, but that's not what happens.

Bet you expected Pig/Sow/Magda huh? WRONG. VICTORIAN TOWN WHORE BIRD BEEF.

I don't talk about Mercy, Laelette, or Rafflesia a lot- and Raff's new position as matron of the Casino will hopefully change that- But in all truth, Raff would probably be far less antagonistic if Mercy had just... not been a two-timing cow of a man who was open about his interest in both her and his now wife. He's a smooth-talker, a half-imperial who looks the part with massive dark antlers and thick hair mixed in with his feathers- traits that, apparently, made him irresistible to women way, way better than him?

He had a brief love affair with Rafflesia when she first arrived in Vaudemire Way, and were betrothed to be wed, until, of course, Laelette came to town. She was only supposed to be staying for a short time, studying to become a seamstress beneath her predecessor, she wound up befriending the local smithy- and then, regrettably, falling in love with his horrible, insufferable son. Mercy broke it off with Rafflesia pretty suddenly, his interest pivoting from the nocturne practically overnight, and severing her partnerships with the Sideshow he owns on the outskirts of town, his snake-oil wagon, and their future marriage.

Ironically, Raff and Laelette have a noted fondness for one another as well, and the three of them likely could have worked something out, but now there's mostly animosity to be found- and catty, underhanded insults from Rafflesia whenever she makes the trip to Vaudemire Way to purchase more goods she can't import to Mother's Embrace.