Dogs Playing Poker

"They're dogs! And they're playing poker!"

I look at the madman beside me. The yellow, bald, overweight madman who was screaming a few seconds ago, and now laughing like…well, a madman. Which is strange, considering that the yellow spikey-haired sociopath beside him had warned him not to gaze at the painting, lest he risk madness, but…actually, maybe that's not so strange. So with that said, I continue listening to my earpiece, as I tour the Hall of Strife – a series of artworks commemorating the heroes of the Army of Light that threw back the Dharkwave. Or so the legend goes.

"I'm Bandit.0," the voice in my ear says. "Luckiest gaming droid in all the planes. I won't cash out until I'm at the top of the heap."

Looking at the artwork, with those poker-playing dogs looking on in dismay as the droid does his thing…well, looks like he was at the top. And despite tales to the contrary, I know the truth – the war against the Dharkwave were won because the droid I see before me challenged them to a poker match and won. Something about a royal casino. I could swear there was a female droid involved at some point, but the museum's been mute on the issue.

"I'm calling your bluff."

I frown. No-one said the droid was someone who had humility. I suppose I only have myself to blame.

It matters not. Least I've managed to watch dogs playing poker without going mad.

Now I just need to summon up enough courage to enter the Burns Exhibit.

Vampires are always scary.

A/N

So I said the artwork for Bandit.0 recently, the one that shows...well, dogs playing poker. Not only is Vorbis a stranger plane than I thought, but it reminded me of the eponymous scene from one of The Simpsons' early Halloween specials. Least unlike Homer I managed to look at the artwork and avoid madness.

Far as you know at least...