09-02-2026, 01:10 AM
Sebastian gave Gath a small nod, then glanced at Luna. They both knew their roles, but there was one last detail to take care of before they separated from Mister Black.
They couldn't simply walk away from him as though they'd never met.
Sebastian stepped closer to Gath with an easy smile.
“Max Black,” he said warmly. “It's been a long time.”
Luna immediately caught on.
“Uncle Max!” she exclaimed, her expression brightening as she stepped forward and gave Gath a small kiss on the cheek. “I can't believe it's really you.”
Sebastian fought back a smile. The familiarity was exactly what they needed. Anyone watching would see nothing more suspicious than a young couple unexpectedly running into an old family friend.
“It's been years,” Sebastian added. “How have you been?”
Luna continued the charade naturally.
“You still haven't changed.”
Sebastian glanced at her.
“That's not necessarily a compliment.”
She ignored him.
“Mom would be thrilled to know we ran into you.”
“I'm sure she would,” Sebastian added, playing along.
They continued their casual conversation for another minute, discussing nothing particularly important. Luna laughed at something Gath said, while Sebastian occasionally nodded and added another harmless comment. To anyone watching, they were simply catching up with someone they had known for years.
Finally, Sebastian extended his hand toward Gath.
“It was good seeing you, Max.”
Luna smiled warmly.
“Maybe we'll see you again later.”
Sebastian gave Gath a friendly pat on the shoulder before he and Luna began walking away.
Once they were several steps into the crowd, Sebastian leaned toward Luna.
“Uncle Max?”
Luna smiled innocently.
“What? It sounded natural.”
“I'm just wondering when Uncle Max became part of my family.”
“You're welcome.”
Sebastian shook his head, fighting a grin.
“You know, for someone who's supposed to be a hostage, you're enjoying this entirely too much.”
Luna slipped her arm through his.
“You love me.”
Sebastian sighed.
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled.
“You really need to find a new word.”
“No.”
They made their way deeper into the casino, allowing themselves to blend naturally into the crowd. Soon they found an open blackjack table and took two seats.
A waitress approached, and Sebastian ordered a couple of drinks for himself and Luna. He deliberately chose something non-alcoholic. If things were going to go according to plan, he wanted his reflexes and judgment clear.
Luna looked at his drink, then at him.
“Non-alcoholic?”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
“We're in a casino.”
“I noticed.”
“People drink in casinos.”
“People also lose money in casinos. I'm trying to avoid both.”
Luna smiled sweetly.
“You're no fun.”
Sebastian gave her an exaggerated look of offense.
“I am plenty of fun.”
“Of course you are.”
The tone made it perfectly clear that she didn't believe him.
Sebastian sighed dramatically.
“You know, Luna, I'm beginning to think you don't respect me.”
“Oh, I respect you.”
“Thank you.”
“I just don't take you seriously.”
Sebastian stared at her for a moment, then shook his head.
“This is what I get for dating a woman who knows me too well.”
Luna leaned closer and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“You love me.”
Sebastian's mock irritation immediately softened.
“Unfortunately,” he replied, fighting back a smile.
Luna laughed.
“See? You can't even pretend to be annoyed.”
“I can absolutely pretend to be annoyed.”
“No, you can't.”
Sebastian looked toward the dealer, as though appealing to an impartial authority.
“Did you hear that? I'm being bullied at the blackjack table.”
The dealer simply smiled and began shuffling the cards.
Sebastian sighed.
“Even the dealer is against me.”
Their drinks arrived, and Sebastian thanked the waitress before settling back into his seat. Luna picked up her cards as the first hand was dealt.
Sebastian studied his own cards carefully.
“Okay,” he said. “This is where I demonstrate my considerable gambling expertise.”
Luna glanced at his hand.
“You have a twelve.”
“I know.”
“You're staring at it like you've never seen numbers before.”
“I am evaluating my options.”
“You're trying to figure out what twelve means.”
Sebastian slowly turned toward her.
“I know what twelve means.”
Luna smiled innocently.
“Of course you do.”
He gave her an exaggeratedly irritated look before turning back to his cards.
“I love you,” he muttered.
“I know.”
“And you're incredibly annoying.”
“I know that too.”
Sebastian couldn't help smiling.
For now, they were simply Sebastian and Luna, a young couple enjoying an evening at the casino, catching up with an old family friend and playing a little blackjack.
Exactly the way they needed to appear.
And somewhere behind them, Mister Max Black was waiting for the next part of the game to begin.
== Tag Gath.==
They couldn't simply walk away from him as though they'd never met.
Sebastian stepped closer to Gath with an easy smile.
“Max Black,” he said warmly. “It's been a long time.”
Luna immediately caught on.
“Uncle Max!” she exclaimed, her expression brightening as she stepped forward and gave Gath a small kiss on the cheek. “I can't believe it's really you.”
Sebastian fought back a smile. The familiarity was exactly what they needed. Anyone watching would see nothing more suspicious than a young couple unexpectedly running into an old family friend.
“It's been years,” Sebastian added. “How have you been?”
Luna continued the charade naturally.
“You still haven't changed.”
Sebastian glanced at her.
“That's not necessarily a compliment.”
She ignored him.
“Mom would be thrilled to know we ran into you.”
“I'm sure she would,” Sebastian added, playing along.
They continued their casual conversation for another minute, discussing nothing particularly important. Luna laughed at something Gath said, while Sebastian occasionally nodded and added another harmless comment. To anyone watching, they were simply catching up with someone they had known for years.
Finally, Sebastian extended his hand toward Gath.
“It was good seeing you, Max.”
Luna smiled warmly.
“Maybe we'll see you again later.”
Sebastian gave Gath a friendly pat on the shoulder before he and Luna began walking away.
Once they were several steps into the crowd, Sebastian leaned toward Luna.
“Uncle Max?”
Luna smiled innocently.
“What? It sounded natural.”
“I'm just wondering when Uncle Max became part of my family.”
“You're welcome.”
Sebastian shook his head, fighting a grin.
“You know, for someone who's supposed to be a hostage, you're enjoying this entirely too much.”
Luna slipped her arm through his.
“You love me.”
Sebastian sighed.
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled.
“You really need to find a new word.”
“No.”
They made their way deeper into the casino, allowing themselves to blend naturally into the crowd. Soon they found an open blackjack table and took two seats.
A waitress approached, and Sebastian ordered a couple of drinks for himself and Luna. He deliberately chose something non-alcoholic. If things were going to go according to plan, he wanted his reflexes and judgment clear.
Luna looked at his drink, then at him.
“Non-alcoholic?”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
“We're in a casino.”
“I noticed.”
“People drink in casinos.”
“People also lose money in casinos. I'm trying to avoid both.”
Luna smiled sweetly.
“You're no fun.”
Sebastian gave her an exaggerated look of offense.
“I am plenty of fun.”
“Of course you are.”
The tone made it perfectly clear that she didn't believe him.
Sebastian sighed dramatically.
“You know, Luna, I'm beginning to think you don't respect me.”
“Oh, I respect you.”
“Thank you.”
“I just don't take you seriously.”
Sebastian stared at her for a moment, then shook his head.
“This is what I get for dating a woman who knows me too well.”
Luna leaned closer and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“You love me.”
Sebastian's mock irritation immediately softened.
“Unfortunately,” he replied, fighting back a smile.
Luna laughed.
“See? You can't even pretend to be annoyed.”
“I can absolutely pretend to be annoyed.”
“No, you can't.”
Sebastian looked toward the dealer, as though appealing to an impartial authority.
“Did you hear that? I'm being bullied at the blackjack table.”
The dealer simply smiled and began shuffling the cards.
Sebastian sighed.
“Even the dealer is against me.”
Their drinks arrived, and Sebastian thanked the waitress before settling back into his seat. Luna picked up her cards as the first hand was dealt.
Sebastian studied his own cards carefully.
“Okay,” he said. “This is where I demonstrate my considerable gambling expertise.”
Luna glanced at his hand.
“You have a twelve.”
“I know.”
“You're staring at it like you've never seen numbers before.”
“I am evaluating my options.”
“You're trying to figure out what twelve means.”
Sebastian slowly turned toward her.
“I know what twelve means.”
Luna smiled innocently.
“Of course you do.”
He gave her an exaggeratedly irritated look before turning back to his cards.
“I love you,” he muttered.
“I know.”
“And you're incredibly annoying.”
“I know that too.”
Sebastian couldn't help smiling.
For now, they were simply Sebastian and Luna, a young couple enjoying an evening at the casino, catching up with an old family friend and playing a little blackjack.
Exactly the way they needed to appear.
And somewhere behind them, Mister Max Black was waiting for the next part of the game to begin.
== Tag Gath.==