#wager

But I have a question.

What was the wager that the Queen and Penelope made?

The Queen won. Benedict was married just as she thought he would.

The wager was mentioned throughout the season but there was no resolution.

Are we going to be seeing what happened next season (which I think it’s Francesca’s season for a few reasons but mostly there’s been no set up for Eloise)?

This is the only part of the season that’s bugging me.

*pfft* Yeah, okay. Like you know how any of this works, lol. Thanks for the laugh, but there is no way you don't end up just as big as the rest of 'em. You know what, you're kinda cute. I wouldn't mind seeing you in the Blueberry Storage later. All big, blue, and helpless. Why not? Let's make a bet. Let's really test that willpower of yours.

I'll give you this stick of gum and let you chew it, but you have to spit it out, not just when it hits the dessert, but after your entire body is blue. You do that and prove you are still perfectly normal (outside of the blue, of course), and I'll do everything in my power to reverse the blue and give you any amount of product from this factory you desire. You could even come back 5 years later and demand more, and it'll be yours.

If you fail to spit out the gum, or still turn into a big, immobile berry, however... Well, that won't happen, so why worry your pretty little head with what I'd do to you?

So, do we have a deal?

@jegulus-microfic July 25, Word count 942

Previous part First part

Barty and Evan were fast as cobras, slamming the cards down so quickly that half the time James couldn’t see what card had been put down before it was covered up. This resulted in Evan and Barty winning the first few rounds. James was just glad he’d eaten so much at dinner so there was something to soak up the alcohol, but looking at how these guys played he was going to get plastered. 

Regulus put a hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. 

“You can stay over if you like. I’m staying, and I think you’re about to get very drunk,” He snickered quietly at the last bit. 

“Are you sure you’re okay with that? I don’t want to impose.” James had already decided to call a taxi when the evening was over. He didn't want to drive and the walk was too long, especially when inebriated. 

“Yeah, go for it, it’s no problem,” Evan told him while he refilled the glasses. 

“We’re only going to sleep, James. Believe me, once I’ve finished wiping the floor with you all, you won’t be fit for much else.” Regulus smirked at him.

“Those are pretty big words for someone who’s not won a round yet,” Barty said, picking up the large stack of cards that he’d won and letting them drop slowly into his other hand. 

“Yeah, Reg. Your piles looking pretty slim,” Evan grinned at him and fanned himself with a stack that rivalled Barty’s. Regulus kept his face neutral. 

“Care to make a wager?” Regulus asked, buffing his nails against his shirt before blowing imaginary dust from them. Evan and Barty had a silent conversation before they nodded simultaneously. 

“Let’s hear it then,” Barty said, waiting for Regulus’s bet.

“If I win, James and I get your master suite.” James gulped. He hadn’t been expecting that. 

“And if one of us wins?” Evan questioned. 

“If either of you win I’ll finally agree to that threesome you’ve been pestering me about.” James’s eyes flew to Regulus. It wasn’t like they were seeing each other, and Regulus had every right to do as he wanted, with who he wanted and James had no say in that, but he thought he might be more discreet about it. 

“Deal,” Evan and Barty chorused, shaking Regulus’s hands. 

“And if I win, you’re all getting makeovers,” Pandora chirped in. 

“Deal,” All four of them agreed, making her smile widely. 

“Let the real game begin,” Barty grinned, setting the starter card on the floor in front of them. 

It was absolute chaos. Pandora was out pretty quickly, but she continued to take a shot at the end of each round. James followed soon after. He just wasn’t quick enough, the others had clearly played a lot to get this good. The piles each player held grew and shrunk as the rounds went on until Regulus’s pile was substantially larger. 

The next out was Evan, as he put down his last card and the next didn’t match. It was between Regulus and Barty now. The bottle of Vodka was nearly empty and James was struggling to keep up with the game. 

He’d nodded off, his head lolling back onto the sofa when a cheer rang out around the room and someone shouted. 

“Damn it!” James wrenched his eyes open and found Regulus squatting before him holding out a hand. 

“Come on, sunshine, the master bedroom awaits,” James helped him get him to his feet. 

“Night lads!” James said loudly, waving at them wildly. 

The bed was huge, with four tall posts and emerald curtains the entire way around. 

“The bathrooms over there,” Regulus said, pointing at the door to the en suite. “I’ll go get you a toothbrush if you wait a second.” Regulus left the room and James was alone. He quickly nipped into the bathroom and relieved himself. He was just drying his hands when Regulus returned with a new toothbrush. 

James was a bit unsteady, the vodka making itself better known now that he was standing. The toothbrush slipped from his mouth a few times, leaving foamy white trails around his lips. 

“Why so Sirius?” He joked at his reflection.

“Oh, Lord, did you really just say that?” Regulus groaned from the doorway. James squealed in fright, having forgotten that Regulus was even there. “Here,” Regulus said, once James had calmed down. He tossed a bundle of clothes at him. “They’re Barty’s, hopefully, they'll fit you. He’s never worn them. His mum insists on sending him pyjamas every Christmas.” He said as James unrolled the pyjama set and began stripping. “Merde,” Regulus gasped when James’s shirt fell to the floor. He disappeared before James could make a start on his belt buckle. 

James tried to get the pyjamas on but Barty, while around the same height, was of a much slimmer build and James couldn’t get the shirt to button or the pants to pull up past his thighs. 

Regulus came running in when he heard the loud bang. James had toppled over while trying to pull the pyjama pants back off. He’d landed quite heavily on his rump against the cold tiles. 

“I’m good,” He held his hand up. James wiggled out the pants and put his underwear back on. They’d have to do. He was too tired to do anything else. He shrugged off the shirt as well and hauled himself to his feet, leaving the discarded clothes on the floor and stumbling past Regulus towards the huge bed. He collapsed on it, falling asleep as his head hit the pillow. He didn’t even feel the bed dip as Regulus joined him.