Recap / How I Met Your Mother (And How I Met Your Father) Bonding Arc Chapter Fourteen: Poker with the Ultimate Gambler! Junko Enoshima Crashes the Party?

Bonding Arc Chapter Fourteen: Poker with the Ultimate Gambler! Junko Enoshima Crashes the Party?

Original Release: April 20, 2020 (Fanfiction.net), April 21, 2020 (AO3)

Summary

After winning a game of Othello with Makoto, Kyoko finds herself challenged to a game of poker. Reluctantly agreeing after Celeste taunts her, Junko bursts in and demands to be part of the game too. What zany antics could possibly result from this three-way match?

Tropes

• Ignored Enemy: Kyoko and Junko mainly focus on each other while completely ignoring Celeste in their game of Poker, much to her irritation.
• Keeping the Enemy Close: The main reason that Kyoko decides to try to befriend Junko is mainly to keep an eye on her.
  Kyoko: (Thinking) I’m going to have to befriend [Junko] too…if only so I can protect myself from her…
• Nervous Tics: Junko notes how Kyoko tends to glance at Makoto whenever she's indecisive during their game.
• Rage Breaking Point: When Kyoko and Junko become more focused on each other in their three-way game of poker, Celeste gets more and more agitated with being ignored until she finally snaps.
  Celeste: (Thinking) This is insulting! I am the Ultimate Gambler; this game is my specialty! You should be watching my every move, not pretending I don’t even exist!
  [...]
  Celeste: (Thinking) This isn’t fair! I want [Junko] to play mind games with ME! Is being taken seriously as the Ultimate Gambler so much to ask?
  [...]
  Celeste: WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUT IT ALREADY! I AM CELESTIA LUDENBERG, THE ULTIMATE GAMBLER! WHEN I PLAY, I WANT A CHALLENGE! BRAGGING RIGHTS AREN’T WORTH A PENNY IF MY OPPONENTS DON’T EVEN TRY! QUIT TREATING ME LIKE I DON’T EVEN EXIST, GODDAMMIT!