The Chaotic House

Games

As they swam away from the castle and its glowing attractions, the group felt the weight of what had just happened slowly lift off their shoulders. Kai, swimming alongside Orcus, turned and flashed him a wide grin. "Thanks a million, Orcus. Seriously, we owe you big time," he said, relief washing over him.

Orcus gave a half-smile and saluted casually. "Anytime, Kai. Just, y'know, maybe don't visit when you're the most wanted folks in the ocean next time." He let out a deep chuckle, the sound echoing through the water.

Kai laughed along, feeling the tension easing a bit. But just as they were about to head out, he noticed the group huddled together, glancing around anxiously. "What's going on? We didn't lose the tablet again, did we?" Kai swam closer, eyebrows raised in concern.

Bunnicula swam up, biting his lip nervously. "It's not the tablet this time... We lost Ravi," he admitted, his voice laced with anxiety.

Orcus groaned, shaking his head. "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "I'll go look for him. You lot-stay here, and for the love of the deep, stay hidden," he ordered, lifting his hands in frustration before turning back and heading through the gates of the castle.

Meanwhile, inside one of the castle's dimly lit chambers, Ravi sat at a blackjack table, the cards spread before him. He leaned back with a cocky grin, tossing his cards on the table with a flourish. "Gotcha! That's another win for me," he declared, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

Across from him, Bascker chuckled, his cool gaze sweeping over the cards. His fingers expertly shuffled the deck again. "Still full of surprises, huh? I forgot how good you are at this," he mused, his voice smooth and unhurried. He dealt two cards to Ravi, sliding them across the table with practiced ease.

Ravi picked up his cards, glancing at them as he took a sip of the drink Bascker had just poured him. "You know," Ravi said, eyeing the cards thoughtfully, "what brings you down here? Didn't we meet up top? Like...on the surface?"

Bascker's smirk softened into a more reflective expression. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, we did," he nodded. "I come down here from time to time. The surface can get... intense. Sometimes it's easier to just slip away, enjoy the quiet." He let out a quiet chuckle, pouring more liquor into Ravi's glass.

Ravi nodded, taking another sip. "So, you just host games wherever you go? That's a pretty sweet gig. Must be something, traveling around like that," he mused, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You been to the other domes?"

Bascker chuckled again, his lips curling into a sly smile. "Oh, more than a few times," he said, leaning in slightly, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "Each one's got its own charm. The biomes are stunning-nothing like you'd ever see on the surface. Every dome's like a different world."

Ravi's eyes widened, his imagination running wild. "That sounds incredible! I'd kill to see the other biomes. Must feel like living in a dream, huh?" He snickered, excitement bubbling beneath his words.

Bascker's smirk grew as he dealt another round of cards. "It's not all fun and games, but yeah... it's got its perks. You ever feel like the surface world's got too many rules? Down here, it's different. You make your own path."

Just as Ravi was about to reply, the door behind him creaked open slightly, and Orcus slipped into the room, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Ravi still playing blackjack. "Ravi," Orcus said in a low, warning tone, "we need to go. Now."

Ravi barely glanced over his shoulder, still caught up in the game. "Just one more round," he muttered, his focus not wavering from the cards in front of him.

Orcus gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling to the surface. "We don't have time for this."

Before Ravi could respond, Bascker leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "Leaving so soon, Ravi?" he asked smoothly, his voice dripping with mock disappointment. "I thought we were just getting started."