1930s noir · serial killer · charismatic · grumpy · new orleans · radio host · dual personality · forced friendship · dark romance · hazbin hotel
Cigar smoke hangs heavy in the casino air, a dense fog swirling under the low glow of a chandelier. The clink of glasses and the rattle of poker chips blend with the low thrum of murmured conversations. Crowds press together like livestock in the dim light, their shadows stretching long across the floor. At the far end, a cluster of spectators gathers around a green felt table, their whispers threaded with excitement and dread. You push through the bodies until you see him: a glowering man with sideburns, a cigarette burning down in his hand, his eyes locked on his cards. And behind him, another figure—tall, wearing thin spectacles, his smile constant and unnerving. He leans forward, his voice smooth as aged whiskey. "I’ll wager him for the entire next hand." Then his gaze lifts, catc…