an offer I can refuse! - mug x dice - cuphead

MugDice?

Yes, indeed!

An Offer I Can Refuse!

Mugman ran around the house to clean up and get the day started. He looked over to a picture of himself with Cuphead and Elder Kettle while he poured morning tea into his elongated adult head. They had it so good back then, and Mug frowned with the reality of Kettle and Cup being gone now.

Mug went to the bathroom to do his morning grooming. Making sure his thin mustache and goatee were in place, his head was shiney, and put on his gold handle rings and lip rings. He went through some major upgrades on his outerwear, being very in fashion with what the young adults wear these days. Tight black tee shirt for those who have the muscles to fill it, something on the shoulders - for Mugman that was a tan jacket. Fitted blue jeans and comfortable sneakers. 

He arrived very fashionably at what was formally Mr. Porkrinds Potions and Hardware, now Mugman's ... He hadn't figured out a catchy name yet, so the overhead sign just says "Mugman". He turned on the lights and started setting up and people started coming in shortly after. It was mostly girls, gays, and theys coming in to look at Mugman's fat booty, but as long as they were buying something - whatever! 

On the other side of the chain of isles, sat a king of sorts. King Dice start3d up a new casino now that the devil had been run out and his contract had been burned along with the others. King Dice sat on the upper floors looking at the crowd of gamblers and entertainers behind the bulletproof plexiglass. "I deserve this," he thought with a big grin, as he does everyday. "Sir, today is the day, one of the chip headed staff reminded him. "Ah, yes! Let's pay that kid a visit!"

Just like anywhere else, King Dice and his card headed goons walked into Mugman's shop as if they own the place. Some would say it's force of habit, since a lot of the gambling addicts had given their deeds to the dice. Mugman glared at him. "Good to see you again," Mugman forced himself to say and didn't move from unpacking the supply boxes. King Dice and his lackeys looked around the shop and some of them started picking up items to look at them closely. "You seem to be self navigating, so if you have any questions let me know." "I-" "Questions other than the ones you keep asking. The answer is still no."

King Dice sighed, but he didn't look discouraged at all. "You know mug face, it would be a shame if something were to happen to-" "Get the fuck out of my store," the drinking utensil already had his finger done pointed at the dice head, and there wouldn't have been much as cards were able to do about a scatter shoot. "Now, now, Mugman. I just want to make a deal," King Dice offered kindly as he slowly approached the aimed Mug head.

He placed a white envelope with Mug's name on it on the counter and stepped away. "You don't own this place, and if you can't mind your manners in my shop you find your way to the other side of that door," Mug warned. "I'll look at it after work." There was a nervous pause, but King Dice wasn't available to make a scene if he wasn't sure he could play the part. "Very well! An expedient response would be appreciated," Dice requested. "Just shoot me an email, next time," Mug said annoyed. King smirked on his way out. "Fucker...," Mug growled and picked up the envelope as soon as Dice and his gang were out of sight.

He went ahead and opened and looked the paper over with an unimpressed look. "Is this some kinda joke?" "DEAR MUGMAN, YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE DICE HOUSE CASINO AND EVENT VENUE FOR THE 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! PLEASE RSVP BY RETURN INVITATION AND MAIL OR BY PHONE AT-" "FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF!" Mugman yelled, but even in his frustrations he didn't immediately throw the invitation away. In fact, he forgot about it before leaving the shop for the day. He was way more upset with King dice confronting him and agitating him than the invitation itself.

The next day, Mugman returned to the shop to see an unexpected friendly figure: Mr Porkrind! "Oh, hey! Good morning!" The pig turned around and smiled and nodded but held up the invitation. "What's this about?" "Nothing sir." "Are you going?" "No." "Why not?" Mugs was kind of taking a back by Porkrind asking why mugman didn't want to go to the celebration. He felt like it was kind of obvious, but maybe it wasn't. A lot of time had passed since then. "Do you think I should?" Mug asked thoughtfully. "We're one of the few places that dice dickhead doesn't own. Assert your dominance." "I feel like I've been doing that by not going in there." "Do you want me to go with you?" "No, if this is some sort of trap and something happens, you still legally own the place. I can take being a scapegoat." "You pack quite a wallop for that role. the average scapegoat wouldn't be able to give someone like dice a run for his money." "All right! You talked me into it! I'll go, if for no other reason the sheer pettiness," Mugman proclaimed hiding the nervousness behind his smile. "That's what I'm talking about! Elder Kettle would be proud!" Porkrind exclaimed with a big smile, but it kind of faded at the next subject. "Speaking of which, do you know when that ding-headed brother of yours will be back in town?" "Cuphead goes where the wind blows him, so is the life of an adventurer and treasure hunter," Mugman said with a solemn smile and started unpacking the day's inventory.

Mugman didn't do much to get ready to attend the casinos event. He went with cuphead for the grand opening, but he didn't remember them receiving an invitation for the first year anniversary. He didn't know if that mattered. The point is it seemed like an invitation was kind of dubious. He sent back the RSVP to the mail and didn't care to be on time. He groomed his head area normally making sure his facial hair was in line and his piercings were in place. He did straighten It up to more of a business casual wear instead of what he usually wears to work. Blue long sleeve dress shirt with a green tie, black pants and black dress shoes. No need for cologne given the casino already has plenty of other smells.

Things seemed normal when mugman arrived and entered into the dice designed Gates into the game room, but the vibe seem to be different as soon as he hit the floor. Of course, he played a few games, and the people running the tables always encouraged him to do more, but he was just there for fun and he wasn't even cutting any losses. Things seem to be more and more strange as look man perused the floor. It felt like he was being watched. Meanwhile, he could overhear people talking about the opening ceremony. Apparently, King dice put on quite a show, and even hosted something of a little game show that had just ended. It sounds like a concept so wildly unorthodox Mugman couldn't help but engross himself in trying to overhear the conversation and the criticisms. The people talking actually liked it, but they admitted that for King Dice it was really weird. Maybe he was more standoffish back in the day because of the devil.

"Excuse me, mister," a short and nasally voice called up to him. Look man look down to see what may have been a short chip headed staff member. "Are you Mr. Mugman?" "For all intensive purposes, sure. What do you need?" "Mr. King Dice would like to have a word with you. He noticed you've been very lucky on the tables so he would like to offer you a private game with you," the chip offered in a snooty voice. "Tell him I said 'bitch, no'," Mug replied with a sharp tooth grin. "I'm afraid that is an unacceptable response, Mr. Mugman," the Chip said, And they were suddenly surrounded by card-headed security staff members. Mugsy put his hands up, and laughed nervously, but didn't try to make any excuses about how he was just kidding because that would have been a lie. He went quietly with the card guards so not to make a scene, as they were led by the chip staff member into the elevator.

The elevator ride seemed to last longer than it should have which made mugman impatient. He acknowledged that he would have been less nervous if cup had been there with him. One of the staff members pulled out a key to unlock a different elevator floor as they continue to ascend. The elevator door is finally opened to a lavish luxury suite that was comfortable and a lot warmer than the casino floor. Away from all the noise, with soft piano music playing by a VIP staff member. King dice had just come out of the kitchenette with a martini in hand and look over to his guest and the staff. "Welcome! I'm so glad you made it! I was starting to think I would have to send a car to pick you up," King greeted with his trademark big grin. "Well, here I am. What game do you want to play?" "Always straight to the point. That's what I like about you!" "You like me?" "Right this way!" King Dice grab the young man by the hip and let him to a table with the card guards following closely behind. "Sit! Sit! Make yourself comfortable! Would you like anything to drink?"

Mugman-eyed the casino owners martini and said "I would like a screwdriver, please." One of the guards went to go make the drink. "Care for a game of cards?" Why was King dice's tone so sly? "Sure..." He replied cocking an eyebrow. King dice started dealing the cards, and commented "kinda bold of you to put holes in your face, by the way." "That better be your way of telling me I look nice." "...It is." "Nice suit, by the way. I see you stuck with your classic color and added some gold embroidery. Nice touch. A bit more subtle than what I would expect from you." "Well, aren't you the fashionista?" "Kinda have to be. What's really telling is your shoes. You spared no expense. Dressy on the outside practically walking on air on the inside." King dice couldn't help but pause it that one. He wasn't expecting Mugman to know that much! Older, dominant Mugman hit different. 

As they played, King Dice was starting to suspect that Mugman wasn't really watching how many drinks he was downing, and they didn't pour lightly even though he could hold his liquor. They played three rounds before Mugman finally got bored and was ready to walk around. As King Dice started to shuffle the cards again Mugman got up and said "I'm ready to take a break. If you don't mind if I look out the window do you? It's really nice up here." "Of course not! Go ahead," Dice said with a big grin and put the cards down.

Mug playfully swaggered his way over to the window to the tune of the piano music still going on in the background. "Whoa..." He looked down and saw so many people. There were some familiar faces, but a lot of the people clearly weren't from the isles. Tourism... Well, as long as they stay here, it's fine. "I'm building an empire, Mugman," the greedy dice said not only suddenly behind him but also with his hand on his shoulder. "Of course, you are. That's why I don't like you in my shop," Mugman replied with obvious spite in his tone. "Now it's time for my real offer. Join me!" Mugman slowly lifted his head to King Dice in disbelief. "Why would I ever join you? Why do you even want my help?" "You play yourself too short, Mugsy," King Dice replied confidently. "We're both the right combination of brains and bronze." "This is a weird roundabout way for you to try to get porkrind shop out of me..." "Forget that rotting heap of sawdust! I'm talking about multiple chain casinos all over the world, mugman! Being world-renowned!" Dice proclaimed in excitement. "And why would I want all that when I have my friends and family in our safe town? The town that I help keep safe," Mugman asked crossing his arms. "I wasn't expecting to impress you that easily. You actually make me work," Dice said in a hungry tone. "Speaking of work, it's less work to help keep everyone safe around here than it is to run an international company," Mugman pointed out. "Why should I accept so much responsibility and work from someone I don't even trust?"

The casino owner smirked and put his hand on the glass. Mugman looked out with him, silently. "As I started to say before, it would be a shame of Porkrind couldn't afford his heart medicine." Mugman's eyes widened as he bit his bottom lip. The dice head continued. "Even though the island has a decent healthcare system, that medicine is from a different country and it's very expensive to get over here. You wouldn't make enough fast enough on your own. There are a lot of other people in need here, too, Mugman. Don't you want to help them? Don't you want to protect them?" There was a pause as Mugman's facial expression changed from being cynical and untrusting to being thoughtful and sad. True enough, these few clumps of land that were sitting on has a notable healthcare system, but when it comes to more serious conditions they're barely keeping their heads above water. This little island always has to fly someone in or out to... A pause. He checked the younger man's facial expressions to make sure he was getting the point. King dice put his hand on his own chest in a boostering fashion. "It's not like I have a say in what you do with the money after you get it. And they'll be plenty for you to figure out what to do with!" He got behind Mugman and put it both his hands on his shoulders with a big grin. "So what do you say kid?" he hides in his "ear". "I feel like I'm about to make a huge mistake..." On cue, a contract was practically shoved into Mugman's face! "Hey, I'm not signing anything! I have to think about it! And I'm going to talk to p6orkrind first!" Mugsy yelled pushing the papers away. "All right, all right!" King Dice conceited and put the contract away.

Mugman sort of slumped on the couch and looked at cream colored ceiling. King die set next to him and put his hand on the side of his face. Mugman looked at him confused at first but didn't pull away. King Dice went in for a kiss and surprising to both of them that the young store owner followed suit. Mugman took the make out session as a battle for dominance, and King dice wasn't just going to let him win. When they finally pulled away from each other king dice tried to sneak his hand up Mugman's shirt, but ol' boi wasn't having it. He grabbed King dice's hand and pulled away. "Excuse you! I don't give it up on a first date! What kind of girl do you think I am?" Mugman straightened up his clothes and chuckled at himself. King dice was disappointed, but he was way more surprised that Mugman didn't seem the least bit upset. He cocked an eyebrow and pulled away as Mugman got up to leave. "I'm going to see what other people think about this, too. Not just Porkrind. I'm not one for get rich quick schemes like Cuphead." King dice didn't reply. "Sorry if I caught you while you were too busy thinking about a different head, right now," he commented with a knowing smirk. "I'm ready to leave", Mugman called over to the guards and they let him go. "A different head...," King Dice repeated while he rubbed his half-chub. Golly, did he have plans for the handsome angel. Mugman only has to say "yes".

The end.