Work Text:
"Yuu, I'm begging on my hands and knees-"
"Funny, it looks like you're standing in front of me."
Ace breathed a sigh through his nose as Yuu smirked behind her smoothie. The other first years were behind him while the prefect stood in the doorway of Ramshackle.
"Yuu, you're not seriously gonna ask me to actually be on my hands and knees."
"What you're asking must not be that important then."
"Son of a…" With a grumble, Ace reluctantly got on his hands and knees.
Yuu snickered along with the others. "Now what was it you needed?"
"….We want Fellow's help with this shitty math homework." The heart soldier's eye twitched.
"The homework? It can't be that bad."
"It kind of is." Jack rubbed the back of his head. "I'm pretty stumped on a few problems."
"I got through a majority of it!" Sebek boasted before his chest fell slightly. "Although some seem to be causing me problems…"
"I spent 2 hours on it." Epel said in frustration. "I'm about to tear out my hair."
"I made it to the tenth problem and I've been stuck there for an hour and a half." Deuce gave his best kicked puppy look.
Yuu hummed and looked at Ortho. "And you?"
"I finished it, but was unable to explain how the problem worked to the others."
"Gotcha, gotcha. Last time you guys did this, you caused Fellow to be late for a date. He's in the middle of something right now. If he tutors you, you guys would have to pay him for his time."
"How much?" Ace got up from the floor.
"That's up to him."
"Great…. so where is he?"
Yuu took a sip of her smoothie and left the doorway. "Follow me."
The first years followed her inside with Deuce shutting the door behind them. They climbed up the stairs and ventured further into the dorm. The once dusty looking rotting doors were replaced by nicely polished new doors with bronze etched name plaque on them. Yuu paused outside of one of the doors labeled "Game Parlor" and knocked on the door.
"Fellow, Swing, it's me."
The lock clicked a few seconds after her announcement and she opened the door. The first years eyes widened as they looked inside the room. The room was lined in beautiful dark wood, which was only illuminated by the brass downlight chandelier that hung above a blue poker table. A large TV was placed above a dark wood bar as multiple bottles of alcohol and liquor lined the walls. On the other side of the room sat two window that were cracked opened to allow the cigarette smoke to filter outside.
"Yuu, how the hell…" Ace looked around in awe.
"Swing and Fellow." She answered and looked at the two men at the table. " ….Why did you two swap clothes?"
Her question caused the first years to look at ancient fae and fox beastman. Fellow was swimming in Swing's clothes as he put out his cigarette and leaned back in his chair.
"It was bet." He reached over to take a sip from his whiskey glass.
Swing, on the other hand, looked like Fellow's clothes were fighting for their life on him. The man smirked and put a few chips on the table before reaching for his beer can.
"You didn't have to say yes, Foxy."
"Should've known better than to take a bet from you." He huffed as Swing laughed. "Did ya need something, Beastmaster?"
She jabbed a thumb behind her. "They need your help and you two better not be playing with real money."
"We're not." They answered simultaneously as they glanced at each other and then the young woman.
Yuu narrowed her green eyes. "Uh-huh. Fellow, you sober?"
"I've had two drinks." His tail flicked as he finished his glass. "Three drinks, but I can assure you, I can answer anything you ask of me. So…." He got up and summoned his cane with a twirl and a smile to boot. "What can Fellow Honest do for you today?"
Ace answered for her. "We need help with math homework. Yuu said we had to pay you for it, so how much do you want?"
"Hmmm." Fellow placed his hand on his chin as his eyes shifted off to the side. "Depends on how difficult the problem is and how many there are. Since there's six of you-"
"Five." Ortho interrupted. "I finished my work."
"I could offer a discount as you all are such good friends to Beastmaster. A hundred fifty madol."
"Each?!"
"I thought you said it was discounted!"
"Fellow." Yuu said sharply, causing Fellow's tail to shoot up. "Fifty."
"One twenty five." He bartered.
"Seventy-five."
"A hundred."
"Ninety."
"Ninety-five."
"…Fine."
Fellow smirked and held out his hand. "My payment and let's see what these so called problems are."
The first years looked at Yuu, who shrugged as if her hands were tied, and grumbled as they reached into the pockets to pay Fellow. He quickly counted the bills before pocketing them and clapping his hands.
"Who has the work sheet?"
Deuce handed the paper to him and the beastman looked it over with a hum.
"So first, three of these problems are wrong." Deuce gave a groan of agony. "Second… this worksheet is not for your grade level."
The first years stared at him dumb founded. "What?"
"This is a second year worksheet. I've seen it before." Fellow looked at the boys and raised an eyebrow. "Your professor messed up."
"So we could've just called him out on his mistake?" Epel growled. "Gadamnit! I want my time back!"
"I want my money back!" Ace shouted. "If this isn't for us, I want a refund!"
"One, I don't do refunds. Two, think about it, gentlemen." Fellow's tail swished behind him as he put on his patent smile. "This is second year homework, so think of the extra credit you'd get from completing it." He spun his cane around and he circled the first years. "Think of the praise you'd receive from your dorm leaders as well. For taking on such a task that was well beyond your skill level and doing it successfully." He made his way back to the poker table and sat in the chair. "I believe that weight is worth more than just a measly ninety-five madols." Fellow finished with a smile and smacked Swing's hand with his cane when he tried to inch closer to his face down cards.
"…I mean… we could use this to get out of flamingo duty."
"Riddle would be praising us for this..."
"Leona-senpai wouldn't care, but still…"
"I could get Vil-san off my back for a little while."
"Waka-sama's praise!"
Fellow crossed his legs. "Well? Is it a deal?"
"Deal." They all said simultaneously.
"Perfect! Now-" The sound of a button popping off and flying past cut off the conman. "…"
Yuu looked over at Swing, who snickered and scratched at the current patch of skin now visible.
"Oops~"
"You! I have to sew that back on now!"
Yuu pinched the bridge of her nose. "You two were the ones who swapped clothes. That's your fault, Fellow."
Fellow grabbed Swing's shirt. "Take it off now."
"Buy me dinner first."
"Swing."
Yuu ushered the boys out of the room. "Nope, nope. We'll be downstairs once you guys get this handled." She closed the door behind her. "I'll make some-"
"How much to get in on their game?"
She looked at Ace and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I say this because I love you, but they will take everything you own if you try."
"I can handle myself."
"No, not around them. You will be sent back to Heartslabyul in your underwear and I am not joking about that. I've seen a sober, no drinks, Fellow easily take at least 2k from anyone playing against him. And do not get me started on Swing, he took so much money from Lilia-"
"Lilia-sama was here?! He played against that fiend?!"
"Wait… Yuu." Jack spoke. "…Others have been here? In the room?"
"Yep. They have a poker night on the weekends."
"…That explains why I heard Leona-senpai grumbling about 'Cheating Omnivore'."
The sound of a door slamming caught their attention and they turned to see Fellow, dressed in his usual outfit and missing a few buttons in the process.
"Now, shall we begin?"