Fool House | Joestars x Reader (Casino AU)

9| The Other Gambling House

Terence was a good dad, not a good father.

Jonathan still couldn't puzzle out how (Y/n) managed to become as kindly as they were despite their fathers personality and questionable morals. He sits before the two as the manager of their fine casino, with both of them staring right back into his soul as his bosses.

"My brother wired over some money from his own casino to help out with funds. His manager is pissed over it, so see to it that it doesn't go to waste." He said, checking his watch. "It's nearly noon. Where is everyone?"

Terence liked to often visit the casino he long retired from, sometimes just to see how it was running, maybe enjoy himself as a patron instead of a boss. Typically, (Y/n) would warn their employees of his visits, given he gets exclusive care as the ex-boss. It would seem this time they were caught just as off guard as the rest of the crew.

"I'm actually not sure." Jonathan would admit, half-heartedly turning to look at the door behind him as if he expected someone to come through. The slight jingle of a flipped coin made him all the more unsettled. 

"Would you care to fetch them?" (Y/n) asked, looking at their palm with a sort of intensity he couldn't place.

"Of course. Please forgive this mishap, Mister D'arby, I'm sure you understand this doesn't normally happen."

The man didn't bother to even look at him, shooing him with a thrown hand as he kept his interest in the coin. 

He decided, ultimately, whatever perplexed them so was not even the slightest bit his business. He left soon thereafter, descending down the stairs with a growing worry as thoughts of his family surged.

It was odd, though, as the moment his face met the crowd, Jonathans eyes immediately fell upon an unusual guest. 

It was a moment that could've nearly been described as 'Speak of the devil', for there was no one else standing in that spot, clutching his family by their collars, that could've invoked such a deep emotion of dread from within him.

"Jonathan." They greeted with a sneer. "Why is it I'm herding your family out of my establishment like dogs, right after I helped you all with your predicament? Have you no class?"

It was Daniel's manager. They stood tall with tasteful poise, their purple suit towering over his family who's faces dripped with regret. He never much liked how closely they resembled his boss.

"They made a mess." They continued. "I can't even begin to tell you of the disrepair my casino is in. Lucky for you, their chaos brought in some new workers, so I'll let it go. I expect that as their manager, you should take this as a lesson and start holding them on a tighter leash."

Jonathan stiffened under their piercing glare, watching the subtle flexing of their hand as they gripped Josephs collar, perhaps considering choking him. 

"Forgive them, please, I'll see that they're disciplined properly."

"For your sake, I hope you do."

They left soon thereafter, and the room was plunged into awkward silence that no one seemed able to break. Not a single person bothered to meet Jonathans disapproving gaze.

(Y/n) was a kind soul who spoke gently. They grew every lovely flower and cared for gardens that made existence seem a little easier. They had a pet mouse they played dress-up with. Everyone is treated like family.

Daniels manager was a wicked soul who fed off of misery. They prided themselves in orchestrated chaos, and pulled their employees along by their strings. It was rumored that they fed off of joy like an ever-hungering bottomless pit.

In short, (Y/n) was forgiving, and Daniel's manager was not. He knew if his family were to cause trouble again, they would not be let off so easily.

After this, both the conversation with his boss and the run-in with Daniel's manager, he wasn't sure he could even muster the energy to ask them what happened. No doubt, though, that half of them started it.

All he could let out was a sigh, "Get to work. See me after your shifts."

Jonathan prayed (Y/n) didn't know what went on mere moments ago, but he could already hear the tell-tale flipping of their coin through his office wall that told him it was too late. It wasn't long before they appeared in his room.

Their white suit was same as ever, only difference was how they wore it. Their presence was leaking an anger that he'd never witnessed, an anger barely contained behind the cool wall they steadily kept.

Sitting forward in their chair, hands clasped between their knees, they remained silent. The only thing that proved they were even alive was the steady, yet somewhat shaken breathing they let out, otherwise their unmoving form could've convinced him of their passing.

"Jonathan." They mumbled, teeth gritting. "Why did I make you my manager?"

That was a question he asked himself many times. He still didn't know the answer, despite how long he'd worked there, so he made one up, "Because I'm the one meant to keep my family under control."

"No. Your family should respect authority regardless." They replied. "You were appointed my manager because you are trustworthy, because you carry yourself in a way people respect. What just happened has brought me trouble you would not begin to understand."

"My most sincere apologies, Mx. (Y/n), I should have-"

"I don't want your apologies. I don't want you to say you need to tame your family." Finally, their head lifted, and it was not anger he saw on their face like he'd thought. "You need to grasp that you all cannot mess with Mister Daniel's casino, nor anyone inside it. Do not even go in it."

It was fear. Worry. Wide eyes spelled a dreaded anticipation, and their clasped hands trembled slightly. "My uncle is a good man, but he is no good person. The same goes for everyone under him. Create trouble somewhere else, I beg, anywhere else. If you do something there, I can't save you."

It was upsetting seeing how shaken they were, the way they were reduced to a cowering child awaiting a punishment, glossy-eyed and barely holding together. It was enough to convince him to follow their advice.

"I understand." He replied. "No one will go there again."