Enter The Golden Slime.

Immediately, you're hit with bright lights, crowds, and the sound of people chatting and cheering. There are dozens of tables with different games, some involving cards others using dice. There's a bar all the way on the leftmost side with waitresses delivering drinks on trays to and from the many patrons. Each of them wear a bunny costume consisting of a black leotard cut low to shape around their breasts in a teasing manner--legs fully exposed, but squeezed into a pair of dark transparent stockings. They have a bowtie choker around their necks, white cuffs around their wrists, and they have black heels on their feet. Last but not least, cotton tails and bunny ears. The flooring is soft red carpet, and the walls are polished dark wood. There's music coming from a stage in the back right corner where a band is performing.

You also notice that some of the waitresses are in fact bunnyfolk, and don't even require half of their costume. It's a part of them! Either way, they're incredibly attractive, and you can see how effective it would be to sell more drinks to the patrons already allured by the thrill of gambling.

A girl with long black hair swings her hips as she steps right up. She bends forward slightly, definitely giving you something to look at completely on purpose, and she smiles wide. "Can I interest you in a drink, handsome?"

"Uhh. Thank you, but I'm actually looking for my friends."

"We get all sorts in here. I don't think I'll have a clue where anyone specific would be, but stick around, have a drink, and play some games. I'm sure you'll find them."

"Thanks. I'll take a look."

A second girl with short red hair approaches, but you notice her ears are genuine. It's not a bunny hood. Her chest is especially large, and she wraps her arms gently around your own before pressing herself firmly against you. They're like pillows straight from the heavens. "Did you find a cute boy without even telling me~?" she hums.

Note to self. Come back here when I'm not so busy. "Aha. I'm actually looking for--"

You watch her hand slide down her neck, and cup around her chest. Then her fingers slowly reach between her cleavage. After a moment, she pulls out a single gold coin. She runs it down the side of your body, then you shudder as she slips that hand into your pocket. Her fingers brush slightly over the side of your member. When her hand pulls back out, the coin is nowhere to be seen. You can feel it inside.

"The first game is on me," she leans over and whispers directly into your ear. "But only if you thank me later."

You know, we are here to waste some time... I know they're playing me, but I might as well have a bit of fun. "Thanks! I just might take you up on that offer."

The first girl giggles. "Make sure you come get some drinks or snacks too! Fun on an empty stomach is no fun at all."

You really take in how beautiful the place is once you start wandering through. There are fountains spraying water. enough magic lights to illuminate the room as if it were outside in the dead of summer, and everything appears so finely crafted. Of course they have the money to afford it, as it's a casino after all. Establishments such as these drain people's wallets faster than anything else.

The first table you approach is something you recognize. Apparently some card games transcend worlds, because despite different imagery on the cards, you can tell they're playing Blackjack. It's probably not the same name, but they're dealing and trying not to exceed twenty-one, so that seems easy enough. The dealer is a dwarven man with slicked back, well-groomed hair and a short braided beard.

Two others are playing. One is a green-skinned woman with short hair you recognize as a half-orc, though you've seen very few of them. The other is a human man. His hair is long and flowing. Both of them dress rather fancy--her in a dress, him in a suit. While only some people here are dressed up that well, it still makes you feel a little uncomfortable just wearing a tunic.

"I'm in on this one," you say, trying to sound nonchalant. You put down the coin given to you by the waitress.

The dwarf nods and tosses each player a card, and then another. You peek at yours--a three with dragon heads, and a ten with stars. Thirteen. You tap your hand and call for another.

"Bah. Bust already!" the half-orc shouts.

"I've got it, honey," the man says.

All right. The card is a six, again with dragon heads. That makes nineteen. Eh. I better hold there. "I stand," you say with a hand up in front.

"Hit me," says the man. But when he gets the card, his eyes widen and he suddenly throws the entire hand down onto the table. "Oh darn!"

The half-orc squints. "You lost again?"

"Sorry, honey."

She grabs him by his collar and yanks him back. "We're going to another table."

"Y-Yes, honey!"

You watch as they depart. Then you look back to the dwarf, and he shrugs before tossing you a few coins in return. _Nice! _Then you suddenly shiver. There's something tickling your neck. You turn around to see both waitresses from before standing incredibly close behind you.

"Are you winning~?" asks the one with red hair.

With a sigh, you admit defeat. "I get it. Give me a drink. Something fancy, but not worth more than what you gave me."

"Are you asking her or me?"

The girl with black hair nudges you slightly out of the way with her hip. "Me of course. Right, handsome?"

You're about to stand up when a suave man with short gelled hair and a fancy black suit swings in front the side and leans his arm against the table. With a flick of his fingers, he procures a few gold coins in his hand. His smile shimmers just as brightly as his wealth, and his eyes look straight over your head as if you're not even really there.

"I'll take your most expensive drink, the lobster mushroom caps, and that goes for both of you sweeties. Only if you walk me to the counter though," he says with a grin. Then just as quickly, he stands up and moves between them--wrapping his arms around their shoulders.

The redhead giggles. "Ooh. Big spender~!"

And just like that, they all depart, leaving you alone with nothing but Blackjack.

You turn slowly to the dwarf. "Uh... Another hand?" you ask.

He snorts. "Don't feel too bad, buddy. The only thing people care about in here is money. If you're looking for love, this ain't the place."

With how sweet all the people at Castle Phoenix generally have been to me, I almost forgot there are a lot of pricks out there. I remember how frustrated I was when I first arrived in this world. Nobody was being helpful. Mostly people were insulting. Then I recruited those girls... and they were also insulting, but we care about each other in the end.

"Damn it!" a familiar voice calls out through the crowd.

It's a girl, and one you recognize. You're all too familiar with people in your party shouting half of what they say.