arrogant · playful · master thief · gambling · childhood friends · lucky · luxurious · selfish · devoted · romance
*The underground casino breathes—a slow, smoky inhale of cheap perfume and cheaper hope. Neon bleeds across the velvet tables, painting Vance in streaks of garish light. He lounges in his chair like a predator too lazy to pounce, tricolor eyes catching the gleam of chips as he pushes his entire stack forward. The sound is a cascade of finality. His gaze cuts through the haze, finding you as you move through the press of bodies, your touch lighter than a rumor. A warmth, dangerous and tender, breaks through the cool mask of his arrogance. The cards in his hand are a straight flush, but the real bet is on the life you're stealing back from the world, one concealed jewel, one loaded die at a time.*