Search Results
6/29/2025, 2:01:56 PM
"Not at the moment. Though, if you don't join me... you're of course welcome too, Charlotte, Gil. It really is nice to see you." He pauses. "It doesn't have to be for stakes."
"No stakes! Well, then, raw meat, c'mon." She puts your hand on your and Gil's shoulders. "Let's get grindered together."
Which is how you wind up playing poker. After being informed it involved fighting cards against each other (sort of), you were excited about the switch; after being informed it also involved lying, you tried to back out, but by then it was too late. At least Gil is similarly reticent: he used to be okay at it, he says, but he hasn't played since before he got beetled. He's not sure if they'll let him help you or not.
«I can.»
Richard can. Enthusiastically, or as enthusiastically as he can as a slightly deadened voice. Is poker knowledge something he was "born" with? Was it downloaded on a micro-stick? Or is he downloading it now on your behalf? You decide you don't want to know. In any case, you're told which cards to play, which helps you not look like an idiot in front of Monty, Madrigal, Gil, Pat ("Been a while, Charlotte"), Eloise ("Hey! Look who it is!"), Guppy (she's still here? she doesn't say anything), two people you dimly recognize from camp but have never spoken to, one regular of the Better Than Nothing you've never spoken to, and one Court recuit, judging by the feathers.
You had no earthly idea so many could play. You also had no earthly idea poker was so complicated— Richard tells you cards, but then other people have their own cards, but they could be lying about their cards, and you're supposed to decide whether they're lying— and you have to try to lie yourself— and decide how much to bet— and it all falls apart for you. The whole thing is so stressful that you decide to ignore the lying part, play the cards Richard tells you every time, and bet big no matter what, because you're thinking positive. This doesn't work, but it does make people chuckle. Not meanly. You hope.
In any case, you don't win. Not even close. You lose quick and hover awkwardly around the table, avoiding eye contact with the Courtier (who lost before you, thank God). Richard tells you that Gil is doing well for himself, and you want to cheer him on, even if you don't know when exactly to cheer.
At length Madrigal stands, grinds her knuckles into Monty's scalp (he pats her arm), and comes around to you. The table is now Monty, Pat, Gil, Eloise, and the guy from the Better Than Nothing. "Still here?"
"Gil's winning," you say.
"Dunno about that, but he's putting up a fight, that's for sure. Between you and me, I thought he'd be out first, given the..." She mimes her hands shaking. "...you know. But he's cool as ice. Freaky."
Gil? Cool as ice? Maybe it's the goo. You shouldn't tell Madrigal about the goo, or she might think it's cheating. "You didn't think I'd be out first?"
(4/5)
"No stakes! Well, then, raw meat, c'mon." She puts your hand on your and Gil's shoulders. "Let's get grindered together."
Which is how you wind up playing poker. After being informed it involved fighting cards against each other (sort of), you were excited about the switch; after being informed it also involved lying, you tried to back out, but by then it was too late. At least Gil is similarly reticent: he used to be okay at it, he says, but he hasn't played since before he got beetled. He's not sure if they'll let him help you or not.
«I can.»
Richard can. Enthusiastically, or as enthusiastically as he can as a slightly deadened voice. Is poker knowledge something he was "born" with? Was it downloaded on a micro-stick? Or is he downloading it now on your behalf? You decide you don't want to know. In any case, you're told which cards to play, which helps you not look like an idiot in front of Monty, Madrigal, Gil, Pat ("Been a while, Charlotte"), Eloise ("Hey! Look who it is!"), Guppy (she's still here? she doesn't say anything), two people you dimly recognize from camp but have never spoken to, one regular of the Better Than Nothing you've never spoken to, and one Court recuit, judging by the feathers.
You had no earthly idea so many could play. You also had no earthly idea poker was so complicated— Richard tells you cards, but then other people have their own cards, but they could be lying about their cards, and you're supposed to decide whether they're lying— and you have to try to lie yourself— and decide how much to bet— and it all falls apart for you. The whole thing is so stressful that you decide to ignore the lying part, play the cards Richard tells you every time, and bet big no matter what, because you're thinking positive. This doesn't work, but it does make people chuckle. Not meanly. You hope.
In any case, you don't win. Not even close. You lose quick and hover awkwardly around the table, avoiding eye contact with the Courtier (who lost before you, thank God). Richard tells you that Gil is doing well for himself, and you want to cheer him on, even if you don't know when exactly to cheer.
At length Madrigal stands, grinds her knuckles into Monty's scalp (he pats her arm), and comes around to you. The table is now Monty, Pat, Gil, Eloise, and the guy from the Better Than Nothing. "Still here?"
"Gil's winning," you say.
"Dunno about that, but he's putting up a fight, that's for sure. Between you and me, I thought he'd be out first, given the..." She mimes her hands shaking. "...you know. But he's cool as ice. Freaky."
Gil? Cool as ice? Maybe it's the goo. You shouldn't tell Madrigal about the goo, or she might think it's cheating. "You didn't think I'd be out first?"
(4/5)
Page 1