Dice Deals The Cards

Marionette

 Flyers weren't out yet, but the Devil had certainly prepared Dice to be dignified in the eyes of society. His casual clothes were more neat, not to mention custom tailored suits. It was Dice's day 'off' at the casino. He still had other shit to do though. He was still a mortal and had to go grocery shopping and things such as. He wasn't high enough in rank to just live in the casino like his newfound... ally Wheezy, so Dice still lived in an apartment in the city. Alone, by himself now since his friends were gone.

He glanced in the dim lit room to a picture frame he tacked to the wall. Well, actually, it was obvious Joe did since it was so high up. Dice frowned, seeing it was dirty. He slowly stood up and used his sleeve to wipe the thin layer of newly formed dust off the glass. 'Reading' the picture, he couldn't help but smile at the memory.

Dice had just graduated highschool a year early, Tea just got her portable restaurant license, and Joe became head of his building team. It was a milestone for each of them that week.

The soon-to-be show host looked at his telephone mounted on the wall, then back at the picture, then back to the telephone again. He took a deep breath. He carefully rolled the dial and waited for the other line to pick up.

There was a long silence. Dice was about to just sigh and hook the phone back until he heard Tea's pleasant, "Hello?" on the other line.

"Tea?" Dice answered, smiling a little in excitement, but he couldn't get his hopes up yet. "I-it's Kingsly, I-"

There was a loud gasp from the other line as she exclaimed, "Dice??" Before Dice could answer, she continued with a relieved voice, "Dice! We were worried sick about you! Why haven't you been home or picked up the phone?"

There was a change in voices as Joe grabbed the phone with his own frantic worry. "Do you need help? Are you alright? Because I can-"

"No- nonono, It's- I'm alright, don't worry." Dice couldn't help but grin once more. They had been worrying about him. They did care, at least enough to worry. "I'm sorry for not getting back to you guys- I had no idea you had been stopping by or leaving calls." Dice excused, which was honestly true. He had been so caught up in work, he was rarely home.

"That's okay!" Tea's voice spoke up again. "We're just glad you're alright."

There was idle chatter between the three of them, and Dice was feeling... himself again. It was a rash decision he had made, but... but it was too late for him to go back on his deals. But they didn't have to know that those deals were with the Devil.

"Say. Um..." Dice trailed off. Could he even, under the Devil's contract? He decided to take his risks and say, "I'm feeling kinda' homesick... I had been thinking a few times that I wanted to visit, but I've been so caught up with my job that I-"

"Yes! Come over and visit for a night! Or day, whatever suits your current lifestyle more." Tea persuaded.

Joe confirmed in a much more calm, but obviously gleeful voice, "Yeah, we miss you, buddy. When did you plan on coming over?"

Dice was on the verge of silent tears, a mixture of happiness, sadness, and... and anger... Why had he believed they hated him? And- and now there was no going back on his deal. He royally screwed up.

Swallowing any tears he may have, he asked, "How does... Sunday sound?"

"Perfect!" the couple jinxed, and you could hear Joe yelp from the pinch. Dice rolled his eyes at their antics, but he still had a small grin.

"So... I'll see you then. Alright?" Dice said after a moment of more idle chatter.

"See you then! Love ya' Pippy." Tea cooed out, making Dice blush embarrassed as he tapped his foot. 

"Love you too, Tea." Dice whispered before hanging up. He hooked the telephone back and sat down on the old, creaky bed.

...

Dice felt like a marionette being torn in all different directions. He wanted to maintain a friendship with those two. He loved them deep down, and had realized that what he heard was a trick to make him sign, though what can you expect of the Devil- he'll get your signature no matter what it takes...

But Dice couldn't possibly evade the contract. He'd be dead if he did.

He held his arms in a hug to himself. How would he convince Devil to let him go that day?

(A/N: Joe and Tea are Cuphead and Mugman's parents.  They haven't had the boys yet, and Dice later on is too caught up in everything to even notice when the boys wander to the casino that they're their kids.)