All in

The two of us were sitting at a park table, the ones retired white people play chess on all day. Only it's the dead of night and I'm playing cards against a faceless dealer. I shook my bottle, I know it's empty but maybe the universe decided to leave me one last gift. It didn't. 

"You know, I have nothing to gamble in the first place." 

"The human body is roughly worth 23,562$."

The dealers response was clear and emotionless, like a dealer should be. I'm gambling my life away, literally. I shouldn't be doing this, there's no way I'm winning anything. House rules, like all the times before they just bait you in with promises of being "this close to winning big time."

The dealer started to deal the cards. 

It's gonna be like all the other times, I will think I'm going just so good and then suddenly the dealer wins. Like all the other times. 

The dealer found himself a good target, reeking of alcohol, basically at rock bottom. What does someone like me have to live for?

"You didn't take one thing into count, Dealer. I have nothing to lose and everything to win."

"Those are two things."

"I don't care. There's also another thing you didn't count for."

"And that is?"

"We are alone."

Skull met glass as I bashed my bottle against the dealers head. He cocked back and fell back on the ground. I'm gambling, gambling to see which one of us can win in a fight. 

"House rules."

I got up from my seat and walked around the table.

"The streets are a hobos house."

I kicked him in the gut before he had a chance to collect himself. I wasn't a strong man but that doesn't mean shit while kicking someone that's on the ground. The dealer kicked out, kicking my legs, the legs I was standing on, which caught me off guard. I let out a grunt of pain as my back hit the ground and the air in my lungs was pushed out. I was breathless for a moment and the pain of a hand with sharp claw like fingers digging into my left side brought me back to reality.   

"House rules?"

The calm and polite dealer was gone, now there's only... something. Something unnatural.

The pain only lasted for a moment, probably the adrenaline kicking in, and was replaced by red rage. 

All I ever had I've lost, my family, my career, my house, even my god dam cat. Now this faceless bitch wants more? I'll give him more.

Glass met skull as I swung my bottle a second time. The bottle didn't survive this time, probably because there's now adrenaline in my veins. But I didn't relent, with my left arm I pushed myself off the ground. Not to get on my feet, but to lunge at that son of a bitch. I was met with a clawed hand to the chest, I didn't feel it. There was too much rage, too much adrenaline, for me to give two or a shit about pain. 

I stabbed the bastard with the broken bottle in a violent frenzy, I don't know how many times I stabbed him or how many times he stabbed me. All I know is that he isn't moving and I'm losing a lot of blood. I got off him and laid on the ground as I felt my strength leaving me.

This is it, the excuse of an actor Tristan Baker found dead in the city park with an unknown assailant who suffered the same fate. I can already imagine what picture of me they're gonna use. The famous pic from "Times actors were caught assaulting fans", very creative. Not like I ever had any fans. Or they'll go with "gambling addicted alcoholic found dry", yeah no they will go with the first. 

...

It's taking me kinda long to bleed out, am I doing something wrong? 

I looked down and saw I was dressed in a neat suit, the dealers suit. 

Oh, guess the universe did leave me one last gift. Though I will appreciate any more gifts, miss universe. 

"Hey there pal!"

"Oh great, now I'm hearing things."

"Look up ya bum!"

I looked up to see a bat hanging from a nearby tree. It's an albino with the symbols of each playing card on it's fur in their respective colors. On it's neck it has a black spot that looks like a neat bowtie. 

"And you are?"

"I'm ace!"

"I see, what are you?"

"I'm the peeking eyes that tell you what cards you dealt! Also since we're connected I know exactly how your powers work!"

"My powers? I have powers?"

"Yip! You're Pandoras actor!"

"Pandoras actor... that title feels taken."

"Then the Grand actor, I don't care! Your powers are connected to acting!"

"Do you have to yell?"

"Yes! Every day you gain one charge and you can use a charge to become a character."

"A Character?"

"Yes! A character! Each character has different strengths and weaknesses! The more you act like the character the stronger their powers get!"

"So each character has a different set of skills and powers?"

"Yes! And they get stronger the more you're in character!"

"I see. So can I only turn into a character once a day or how does this work?"

"Charges can stack!"

"... so how do I change?"

"You don't have a charge!"

"Then how did I become... the dealer?"

"You have an ability I like to call one man cast, anyone you kill is added to the list of characters you can become."