How The Turntables Have Turned (Open/FT)

Fairy Tail. It was the only guild in Fiore that Louie had come to recognize the name of, and were the only ones that were privileged enough to have him don their emblem. In the center of his slim, refined back was a crimson marking with a thick gold outline, a common location for a guild marking, but Louie didn't put it there out of pride. It made it easier to conceal underneath shirts and sweaters, so it made the most sense to hide it there. It was benevolent enough to even wear such a symbol, but he wasn't so gracious that he'd flaunt it to others!

In any case, a lot had happened since Louie had last visited this guild. The last time he saw any of them was when he sought out to join them, and it had been a few weeks since that event. In the time in between, the blonde has successfully sought out the mysterious Lady Twilight, who awakened the mana dormant deep within his body, allowing him to wield dangerous and brilliant fire magic. With his flames, he had broken out of the Magnolia Prison under wrongful accusations and slaughtered all of the guards who tried to thwart his escape, abducted approximately one-hundred of his customers from his stores and prompted them to kill each other so he could harvest their souls, and made business deals with some of Fiore's more undesirable people. Needless to say, Louie was beginning to do really well for himself in this trashy country. The lemons he was given were small and mediocre, but he was beginning to make fantastic, high-quality lemonade from them. But it was only to be expected! He was Louie Calvin Klein! He could do anything!

After all that had transpired, it was time to pay Fairy Tail another visit. He didn't want to be there and wasn't intending on ever returning if he could help it, since he didn't need to physically interact with germs like themselves to get what he wanted from them, but he felt inclined to at least speak to Arcadia for being so fruitful. It was because of her that he was in such high spirits these days, so at the very least, Louie could permit her to converse with him.

Stepping into the front doors was the golden-blonde himself, dressed expensively in clothes with sophisticated designs. Hanging over his shoulders was a denim blue blazer with a blue brooch attached to one side and slacks of the same color, a stone-grey dress shirt with subtle designs covering it, and his wrists and ears adorned with golden bracelets and earrings. Between his unblemished skin, beautiful face, silky hair, and his outfit, he looked like some expensive item given human form. In fact, his body looked as if he were crafted from a Goddess of Beauty herself, carefully sculpted to perfection. No, that's how it was, really! Compared to everyone else, Louie truly was supreme in all things except, perhaps, barbaric brawn.

The last time this guild had spoken or seen Louie, he was a magicless man, without the power of their caliber. Now, abruptly, he gave off the aura and power levels of an A-rank mage, although he was unaware of the ability to sense these things off of people. In fact, there were many things that Louie had possessed now since making the contract with Lady Twilight, and it was only a matter of finding out what they were. He had become more successful in his business and personal ventures as well, and he was certain that this day, too, would go just as planned.

"Hello, mes amis!" Louie said audibly, smiling into the room at no one in particular. His face was soft, but there was blood in his eyes. Of course, as far as this guild was concerned, there was not a bad bone in his body. There was no reason to be convinced he had any, after all. As far as Fairy Tail was concerned, Louie Calvin Klein was a Napedian foreigner who was as lost in this new land as he was curious of it. He appeared equal parts charming and soft. Charismatic and considerate. Thoughtful and having a good sense of humor. What could they suspect?

---

The guild was just about as lively as he remembered. Like a pigpen, there was never a silent hour with them. The visage of the building was still as atrocious as before, but Louie had learned to brace himself for its stuffy air and terrible wallpapers from his last visit. However, the appearance of the guild hall was strangely fitting for a guild like Fairy Tail. Like its wallpapers and paint-jobs, the wizards of Fairy Tail were mediocre at best in both character and beauty. If not for the dull-witted Nessa's features, Louie had no doubt that he would have left that recruitment like he was leaving a freak show.

Like before, one of the first faces Louie had been greeted with was the big-footed Mura Ken-something, as hard on the eyes as ever. Around him were what Louie could only describe as apparitions, but he had grown so used to the people of this country having weird pets that he virtually paid them no mind. In fact, he had taken interest in acquiring some of his own. They seemed to be in great supply in a land so full of magic as this, so it was only natural that he should have the best of beasts himself as well.

Before he could respond to Mura's invitation, apparently two others had taken it upon themselves to join in as well. One of these people was an unbelievably tall, butch man with fuzz for a beard and mustache, and the other was a much more appropriately sized man with snow-white hair and blue, transparent eyes. Both of them were incredibly unattractive for very different reasons. The large, butch man was closer to being bigfoot than Mura himself, and he generally looked quite freakish. He looked like the type who wouldn't think twice of mugging someone as wealthy-looking as Louie if they were alone together, and maybe he had the gall to do it now if his lackeys and friends were anything like him. The other one, however...

Louie paused and smiled at the group, approaching them with his arms tucked away into the concealment of his loosely hanging blazer. "I was actually just looking for Arcadia. I had to speak to her about something..." he looked at the table and the spread across it. Louie was an incredibly competitive person, and since it was their final round, he wouldn't mind killing some time with these fools. Even he enjoyed games if they were the competitive kind. "I don't see why not!" Louie laughed with a feigned kindness, smiling softly as he approached the table.

Also approaching the table was the man from before—Aven Alveron, and Louie knew why he didn't like him. Aven's eyes had a brightness and kindness in them that he hated to see, and the effervescence in his voice was obnoxious. It was one of those instances where Louie had already begun to dislike someone despite them not having wronged him yet, and Aven had made the cut. His choice in clothing was repulsive, and his face was annoying to look at. What was with that look? What sort of life did he lead to be looking so atrocious? The butch man, however, was just plain hideous.

Louie took a seat and looked at Aven, gingerly placing a hand over his chest in greeting. "Aha... a senior, are you? Louie Calvin Klein, but feel free to call me Louie. I really hope we get along, Aven." The blonde spoke sheepishly, then turning to look at Mura, "How do you play this game?"

---

Out of all of the men that sat at this table, Louie disliked Aven the most. It wasn't just his eyes, but that obnoxious mouth of his, too.

What a disgusting piece of filth. Why is he smiling like that? Is he looking down on me? thought Louie. If his face wasn't enough, his words solidified Aven's place in Louie's totem pole. If he wasn't trying to keep face, the blonde was certain that the conversation would have gone differently.

After Aven had completed his turn, Louie stared at his cup with an uncertain gaze. As competitive as he was, even Louie could acknowledge that Lady Luck's loyalty was fleeting. It wasn't always on his side. She came and went, and much of his success was from his efforts alone. In his early youth, the blonde had made efforts to be the best at everything there was to succeed in; chess, athletics, academics, and culture. Meyer shouldn't be any different, and if it meant using deception to win, then so be it.

When Louie checked the cup, the die showed fifty-four, which was higher than the brute's fifty-two. It was quite close, still. If those were Louie's die, he bet he would feel uneasy. But there was no point mulling over someone else's circumstances. Smiling, the blonde man was ready to start his turn.

"I suppose it's my turn now, oui?" Louie rolled his die and looked to see what combination he got.

---

Thirty-three. Mot quite fifty-four, and that was for sure. Just his luck, wasn't it? "Encore." he chuckled. He felt like this roll would surely flirt with Lady Luck! Most certainly! If his skill was, God forbid, not enough to coast his way to a victory, then things like luck and other circumstances were usually in his favor. In fact, it had been that way most of his life. While he had achieved everything he had through his hard work alone (minus some of his wealth), there are times where skill simply wasn't enough, but luck always had his back. And when neither of them could carry him to victory, Lady Lucky was an easy scapegoat for blame. So, should any of these beasts for men and actual beasts win, Louie was comforted in knowing it wasn't his fault.

Despite heavily disliking the men surrounding him, the blonde fell into the rush of competition. The young millionaire was eager to see his results. "A pair of threes." he smiled.

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