Borrowed Time

"Fancy meeting you here."

Coyly brushing a finger past her ear, Yulia tried to enamor the succubus with a coquettish smile.

To which, Magna only returned with one borne from courtesy as she waited for the satyr to finish mixing her drink.

"Likewise."

Succubuses. Charming by design, creatures made to tempt. And practically, Yulia was already ensnared. It was all too apparent that Gabral took it as his cue to leave.

The orc put his empty glass on the counter and bid adieu to her friend, "I'll be up at my office if you need me. See ya around, Yulia."

"See ya, Gaby." As she watched his old friend depart, Yulia gaze came back once more to the succubus who caught her eye. "Are you just going to stand there all night, gorgeous? The seat right next to me is empty, you know."

Magna's courteous smile morphed into one of genuine amusement. The tiefling was really trying her best to woo her. That pretty face of hers and her candid tongue might have worked on all the women she's bedded before, but she's going to have to try harder when it comes to the succubus.

Still, it wasn't like she hated Yulia with a burning passion, Magna was only peeved at the magnitude of colors surrounding the tiefling. Each of them is different in hue, pertaining to different personalities she laid with. Yet no matter how many they are, they all seemed ephemeral, a sign of how brief her affairs were.

Basically, Yulia was shining with more colors than a god-damn rainbow. It reminded Magna of herself whenever she would gaze upon a mirror. Why the hell would a non-succubus accumulate that many partners?

But now is not the time to worry about others' lustful habits. Especially since it was her day-off, and she'll be damned if she doesn't enjoy it to the fullest. Magna decided to stick around and occupy the seat that Gabral vacated. She may have no plans of sleeping with the tiefling, Magna reckoned that Yulia might have a lot more to offer than just skinship.

"I was planning on heading for a poker table, but since it looks like you've been dying to have a chat with me. I figured, why not."

Was Magna equally as interested? She had to be or she wouldn't have taken Yulia's offer to take the seat next to her. Although, Magna was giving off a vibe that she was just leading her on. The tiefling had a hard time guessing. Strangely, instead of getting demotivated, it made her want to pine for the succubus more.

"Wait a minute, you know taromancy, don't you? Isn't that like cheating?" Yulia added a light giggle at the end of her question. The last thing that she wanted to be perceived by the succubus, was an accusatory prude.

"Divination requires shit tons of mana, honey. I'm not going to do it and empty my reserve just to win at poker. I am simply here to bet on my luck, like you."

Honey. Hearing that word from part from Magna's lips made a delightful shiver run down Yulia's spine.

"Well, considering that you're right next to me. There's no need for me to even gamble anymore, I think I've already hit the jackpot."

"You're lucky you're cute. Or else, lines like that would miss their mark."

"Ah, but did they?"

It had been amusing leading Yulia on, but It was time to stop giving the tiefling false hopes. She's an expert in playing with the body of others, but she considered the heart to be off-limits.

"The fact that you had to even ask your target says it all. Ease up on the flirting, I'm here to have fun, I'm not looking to end up on anyone's bed tonight."

To Magna's surprise, shutting down the tiefling's advances didn't dim her mood one bit.

In truth, Yulia was a bit bummed. But she didn't dare show it. Because to Yulia, having a good time with someone isn't defined by the fact that you're going to end up sleeping together when the night is over.

"Just an evening of gambling and each other's company then, I can get behind that." Yulia said.

Then, the satyr bartender had finished mixing Magna's drink.

The succubus raised her glass.

"A toast, for our new friendship and to a wonderful evening ahead of us."

With smiles on their faces, their glasses cordially clanged.

And that smile remained as soon as the two of them began hitting the table games. On to the roulette, to craps, to dice. They would always bet side by side. Sometimes the other would win, sometimes the other would lose, but what's important is that they're having a blast together.

As the evening deepened, Magna's distaste for the tiefling had disappeared completely. Replaced only with curiosity. She wanted to know why. What's the reason for Yulia sleeping around like that?

An hour since midnight had passed and they saved their preferred game for last. One that blends luck and skill. Instead of sitting next to each other, they instead opted to sit on the opposite side of the table from the other, all so they could judge who has the better poker face.

Three cards are currently on top of the table. 4 of hearts. Ace of clubs. 7 of hearts.

Magna deliberately grinned as she viewed the two cards she held. A bold display of confidence. Would it be enough to make the tiefling fold? If not, then she's gonna have to follow it up with some taunting.

"Yulia, honey, it's been fun. But I'm afraid I'm gonna have to leave soon. And it looks like you're going to pay for my carriage fare."

The tiefling laughed, if Magna thinks that's all it's going to take to rattle her, then she's got another thing coming.

"Truly? It just so happened that I'm also planning to retire for the evening…" Yulia pressed forward a bundle of chips. "...I'll raise. Let's see who's going to pay for whose."

The overconfidence inspired by the hand dealt to her surges, Magna gave another deliberate smile as she pressed forward half of her chips, "I'll raise."

Yulia took one last glance at both of her cards. She then pushed all of her chips forward before leaning with her hand resting under her chin, matching her companion's confident grin with her very own.

"I don't know what's better, that cute outfit or that gorgeous smile of yours. I'm all in."

The other remaining player, a silver human adventurer, asked, "You want to give me a count on that?"

"66 gold and 23 silver." Yulia declared while her gaze was glued on Magna.

"Yeah, fuck that shit. I fold." The silver adventurer caved in to the pressure.

Now, it's just the two horned ladies left.

"I see what you're after…" Magna pressed all of her own chips forward. "...You want thrills? I'll give it to you. Call."

The halfling-dealer who was standing on a stool then revealed the two remaining cards.

5 of hearts. Ace of diamonds.

Yulia revealed her cards. Ace of spades. Ace of hearts.

"Four of a kind."

"I can see why you're so confident." Magna flipped her cards over. 4 of hearts and 8 of hearts.

"Straight flush."

+++

The moon shines down with melancholy as the two ladies traversed the empty sidewalk side by side. And if that wasn't enough, the lamp posts powered by magical crystals illuminated the pathway with gloom at their supposed separation after such a lovely night.

"Tonight was fun."

With Magna's Admission, Yulia thought she could push her luck. Tonight was indeed fun, the tiefling wanted to extend it even further.

"You want to have a drink elsewhere? I know a tavern."

Magna smirked, "You really like drinking, don't you?"

"I like to drink, it helps me forget all my worries."

"Worries, huh. If you had to choose between drinking and fucking. Which one's better when you're trying to forget?"

It was a question that Yulia didn't have to think too hard to answer.

"Come now, you're a succubus, don't tell me you haven't tried both? I certainly have." Yulia might have sounded a bit braggadocious, but only because she wanted to impress.

"I don't get it. Where does all that fun get you? You should focus that time and energy on finding the right person."

Yulia's lips arced into a haughty smile, "If I find the right person, all a woman like me could offer is a good time. That's why I always seek company."

"So what, other women are just time-fillers to you?" Her tone raised a bit, Magna's annoyance towards the tiefling had resurfaced and she had no intention of hiding it.

"I wouldn't say that. They're free to borrow me for a good time too."

"And tonight, are you borrowing me, or am I borrowing you?"

"What difference does it make? Maybe you borrowed me earlier, and now, I want to borrow you."

Magna clicked her tongue, "Ridiculous. As I said before, I'm not sleeping with you this evening." As she said that, Magna angrily walked with haste, leaving Yulia behind.

Only to stop and turn around once she heard the tiefling called out.

"Magna, please don't misunderstand. I'm not just after your body. I want us to be drinking pals."

"I know how badly you want to bed me, would you truly be ok with just being drinking pals, as you say?"

Yulia nodded, her timbre indicated earnestness, "It will be hard. But there's no harm in trying."

The smile on Magna's lips returned.

"Well then, lead the way to this tavern that you know."