The Ludicrous Escapade

It's Not Cheating if You Don't Get Caught

The gambler's words earned a gasp from the French man and he continued with his spiel. "That is indeed what you just wagered. Your soul! I am a Stand user that steals souls! Gambling makes it easier for the human soul to leave its vessel. It is my Stand's power to steel it at that moment!" Then a green Stand showed up and ripped a ghostly version of Polnareff out of his body. You all turned to look at the gambler, ready to lob his head off. "Hold it! Don't kill me. It's too late! If I die, Polnareff's soul, which is in my Stand's grasp, will also die."

Avdol caught the French man's body before it fell to the ground. "H-He has no pulse. He's dead! Polnareff is dead!" His souls was kneaded like dough before being smashed into a poker chip.

The gambler picked the chip up, "This is Polnareff's soul. This means I've already gotten rid of one of the people trying to get in Lord Dio's way. Even if he was just a fool. It's a little overdue, but allow me to introduce myself. My name is D'Arby. D-A-R-B-Y. There's an apostrophe after the D." The cat from before then leaped onto D'Arby's lap. "By the way, this is my cat."

Avdol grabbed the gambler by the collar, fist ready for striking and scaring the cat away from its owner and into your arms, "Y-You bastard! Don't screw with us! A bet? It was just a scam!"

D'Arby rose an eyebrow, "A scam? Listen. If you've been scammed, the one who failed to see through it is the loser. I believe gambling is just like relationships. It's all about fooling the other. The one who cries loses. Are you gonna kill me with your bare hands? Very well. Do it." He lifted the chip up reminding Avdol that this was indeed a hostage situation, "If you want this soul to die as well."

"Listen up." Avdol did his best to maintain a threatening tone, "You will not walk away from this in one piece."

The Gambler responded with an oddly specific question, "Do you remember what you were doing on the night of September 22nd, 1984 at 11:15 PM?"

"What are you talking about?"

He pushed Avdol aside and adjusted his collar and tie, "I remember. Around that time in California, I was gambling with an American man named Stephen Moor, and he said the same thing you just did." He pulled out a book filled with coins that had names written beneath them. He pointed to one of them. "This is him. The one below is Moor's father, and his wife is right next to him. If you want to get Polnareff's soul back, you have no choice but to continue gambling with me. What will you do? If you're scared, you can go home... and leave Polnareff behind." Joseph sat the French man's lifeless body up in a chair. "Well, have a drink and think about it long and hard. How about some chocolate?" He pulled out an already partially unwrapped bar of the sweet treat.

You pulled out the chair in front of you, taking a seat at D'Arby's table. The cat curled up in your lap and made itself comfortable. "Alright, Mr. D'Arby. I'll take a piece."

His eyes widened a bit, apparently not expecting someone to actually accept the offer. He shrugged and tossed the bar over to you. He eyed his cat disapprovingly, "My cat seems more comfortable with you than it does with me. It was really lucky for me that you didn't partake in that little gamble. But, are you sure you'd like to go next?"

"No, she wouldn't." Interrupted Joseph as he shoved off the table's contents to replace it with an empty cup and a bottle of an alcoholic beverage. He crouched down next to your ear and whispered, "(Y/N), I'll handle this, so please move." The cat leapt onto your shoulder as you stood up. He started pouring the bottle's contents into the glass, stopping right before the spilling point.

"M-Mr. Joestar, what are you doing?" Asked Avdol.

Joseph took the now empty seat, "Have you ever heard of surface tension, Barbie?" Caesar repressed a chuckle.