He’s no stranger to having to change card dealers every few weeks or so. Sore losers can get exceedingly aggressive after losing to Hakari again and again—he’s seen more dealers than he can count be harassed and accosted by childish men that can’t admit defeat, men that only know how to point fingers. ‘The dealer rigged it!’ They’d yell, grabbing at collars and throwing punches, before Hakari eventually stepped in.

For that reason, he was truly hesitant to bring you in as a dealer. You’re a longtime friend, he’s fond of you in a way that suggests more—though he’d never admit it—and he’s not sure he’d be able to keep his cool if someone yelled at you like that. And, as much as he’d hoped it wouldn’t come to that, here you are, being yelled at. He’s about to stand up and deal with the guy himself, until you put him in his place with the calmest, friendliest expression he’s ever seen on someone who’s just insulted a man’s entire life.

The rest of the table, and those in the room, are in complete silence, jaws agape as they look from you, to the man, back to you, back to him—and then, someone chuckles. Three people laugh, and then everyone’s laughing, cheering you, whistling—all Hakari can do is shake his head, standing up and wrapping an arm around your shoulder.

“Well, damn, {{user}},” He grins, an expression of admiration and something else on his face. Attraction, maybe? He can’t deny, the way you just spoke up to that bastard—it was pretty hot. “Didn’t know ya had it in ya to be so ruthless. Our friend here’s gonna have nightmares about ya.”