[ As the rest of Karteria sleeps, the Black Dove is a sea of sin. Under the dome of a jade-green lamp, the stacking of chips and the shuffling of cards on worn baize felt. The clattering rain of a payout. Cigarette smoke wafts across the room, the heat a thick blanket pressing against the crowd. Among them, two Augmented dressed to the nines regroup after their first victory.
tl;dr Rinne wins his first game of poker with Malkuth and pulls her to the side. ]
How the hell are you doing that?
[ Like, maybe it's the smoking hot dress, but he's not about to assume anything. ]
[ smoking hot dress in question, with a red ribbon tied into a bow around her neck to complete the look. it's been such an exciting time, even stepping into the place -- it feels like somewhere she shouldn't be, doesn't belong, and that's thrilling. her soul still doesn't like being so close to the shifted carnivora but, well, it will deal.
especially with such a heartpounding, burning victory behind them! malkuth still wants to turn around and tell those guys off for trying to cheat them out of a win (it wasn't cheating), but... she came to understand that's how the game is played. ]
Lying is a part of human nature, especially when it comes to protecting oneself or those one cares for, so it's not like I don't understand or have a rod jammed up my backside about it, but... I guess my soul feels differently. Very strongly differently.
[ malkuth only really cares if she's being lied to by someone she trusts, actually. like... takasugi. or rafayel? oh, okay, she understands the first, it's one of those "saving face" bits, but rafayel? he really did just want to spend time with her, huh. that's going into her mental safe. ]
That said, my foxish friend, stealing is definitely wrong, and we can't allow them to continue. We're just taking their ill-gotten earnings to be put for more honest work!
[Oh? That earns Malkuth a smirk from Rinne. If there's anything he's noticed about their new manager, it's the way she knows how to have fun despite everything else about her.
...Yeah. She and the group will work just fine.]
Kyaha! I like the way you think, Bambi. Your soul might be a stick in the mud, and maybe we'll never see eye to eye, but that doesn't mean we oughta let things slide when we're wronged. When I think about it... for me, it's kinda personal. A fox ain't gonna let himself be outfoxed!
Sounds like you've got a plan. [He encourages her with a curl of his finger.] Well, don't be shy now. Let's hear it!
[ it pays to be a little bit of a liar herself, if only for the sake of her friends. all she has to do is come to a compromise with her soul about which ones are filled with good intentions and which aren't -- because there is a difference, even if the ruminantia staunchly disagrees.
malkuth straightens a bit, peering briefly at the various tables, before she lowers her voice. ]
We'll keep winning until we've drained every pocket in here -- but I need you to teach me how to play. They'll get suspicious if it's just you winning hand after hand, and I look like an easy enough target that I'm bound to drag the most vile of the bunch to the surface. So when they inevitably ask for your "little lady on the side" to try her luck, I want to be ready to sweep the floor with their smirks.
[ and she's certain they will; there's plenty already eyeing her now, and one thing she can't stand being is underestimated. ]
You'll be handling the main force and drawing in every prideful fool that thinks they'll fair any better against Lady Luck's favorite gambler. I'm the dagger under your sleeve. Put me in when you think it'll be the most devastating to their winnings, and I'll follow every whisper in my ear. [ her grin turns a little mischievous, pushing down her discomfort enough to pat rinne's chest. ] That way, we'll leave with enough money in our metaphorical pockets to sweep away every debt, IOU, and cobweb in 3kon's account!
[ will they be stopped before they drain the coffers? sure. but they'll definitely get that much, anyway. ]
[When Rinne leans in, he does so intently, pressing his hand against the pillar behind his companion. There's not a word of this he wants to miss. After all, Niki and Takasugi seem so busy that it's been a while since he's had some fun with a committed partner-in-crime. The sparkle in Rinne's eyes grows and grows, especially at the mention of Lady Luck and, more importantly, the possibility of clearing all their debts. Doing it properly and honestly like isn't a bad way to do it, but isn't making a miracle in one night even funner? When he imagines wiping the smirks off all those people who looked down on them before, he licks a sharp fang.]
Mm, all this scheming is getting me hot.
[he means "fired up" or whatever. he just wanted to say it like that. sorry.]
All this time, I've been heading into battle with nothing but my wits. But two heads are better than one, yeah? And choosing a partner's half the gamble.
You got yourself a deal, Bambi. [He offers his hand.] C'mon, let's find us some suckers to play with. No better way to learn than getting your feet wet. With my skills and your senses, we're gonna be milking this joint for all it's worth!
everything at some point, the closeness and how her newfound friends put things, but for now malkuth exhales evenly and takes his hand, beaming as brightly as a student told she's done well and not like someone about to pull the rug from under every foot here besides her companion's. there's still... part of her that's doing this because she wants to prove she can be a hugely valuable asset, but it's most because she wants to now, too.
and it'll be so fun to make a bunch of jerks cry. ]
Niki and Takasugi'll be so impressed, they'll be praising us 'til the sun comes up!
[ probably. anyway, it really isn't so hard to find an open table to be invited to with their smoking hot looks and the chance to cheat an augmented out of a win, and it's only a matter of time before the pair become the ones to beat for a real jackpot with their winnings on hand...
malkuth is an attentive learner, so it's really not hard to pick up -- the most challenging part is learning how to have a poker face herself, though her trust in rinne helps to steady the nerves that'd usually give her away. ]
[And whenever he senses those nerves, Rinne remembers the effect his touch has had on others and presses against her back, placing a hand on her shoulder, his voice like smoke unfurling against her ear. This has calmed Niki and Takasugi many times before. Surely, it will work again. It's not like he's tricking her or anything. He's just... making things go a little more smoothly.]
Relax, Bambi. Keep your eyes on the prize. No one's gonna eat ya, yeah?
[As much as his fangs say otherwise. He soothes her bare shoulder, careful not to let his claws scratch her skin.]
[ it makes her other soul terribly uneasy on principle, but rinne is warm against her -- and more importantly, very much there at her back as a friend and partner in crime both, comforting and confident. malkuth does know their game. it doesn't stop her ears from burning of course, or the shiver that runs through her thanks to the voice against them, but
it helps, a little. in some sense. it definitely feels nice to be soothed like that, something she didn't realize until this moment, but the card game's a good enough distraction from her touch starvation that she can put a pin in it. later. later, like a hand taking hers, like a similar enveloping warmth. ]
You could at least buy me dinner first.
[ just a soft mumble, more of a tease than a complaint, as she rests her head back against his shoulder with all the confidence of someone with a winning hand -- whether she has it or not, game after game.
her sharp "eye" for bluffs paired with easygoing smiles turns cocky gamblers into gradually frustrated players, hesitant to be humiliated when called out but wanting to win their earnings back. the nerves settle, the confidence becomes real, hecklers removed when they get too rowdy and the attention drawing a new sheep to the slaughter.
small fry, for now. the bigger fish are keeping an eye on their stack of chips. they're easy to pick out for rinne... she'll tag him in so he won't miss out on all the fun, but malkuth's definitely enjoying this more than she thought she would actually. ]
[ The high of a winning streak is a familiar, heady buzz, and as far as fleecing their marks is concerned, Malkuth is playing her part beautifully. He watches her from his own seat, a fanged grin splitting his face as she cleanly takes another pot from a sputtering man in a too-tight suit. Attagirl.
While that's happening, the real action slithers over to their table. A smarmy man in a full fist of gold rings and a silk shirt that probably costs more than Niki's monthly food budget takes a seat. Two hulking, silent types flank him. Rinne leans back, cocking his head to the side. ]
Well, well! Looks like the main event's finally arrived. Ready to lose, old man?
[ Their game begins and it's brutal, a rapid-fire exchange of bluffs and calls. Rinne is in his element. He's about to lay down a winning hand when the man speaks.
"Nice trick you got there," he says, not looking at his cards but directly at Rinne. "The tasty little doe right next to you. You two ain't lost a single hand. What's she tellin' you, huh? Nothing bad, I hope. You're one of 'em Augmented, yeah? Real nice guys. And since they're real nice, it would break my heart if you guys repaid this establishment's hospitality with some unscrupulous act.”
The words shock the fiery thrill in him like ice. Shit.
"Do you know what that is? An unscrupulous act." ]
... Sounds like the kinda shit your men get up to around here. I don't see why we gotta talk about the rules, big guy. Ain't like they made you king of the damn place!
[ it'd be too obvious to lose a hand right now, she figures -- it'd be proving the man right, the bid's too high, and rinne's confidence is true. he's got a good one. malkuth stares down the man with a playful smile, resting against her partner in crime.
ugh. she doesn't like the way he talks about her. it gives her goosebumps. ]
What my friend means is that the best way to repay our host is to play the best we can, without holding back or hesitating. And that's exactly what we're doing. If you think it's unscrupulous, then fold and find a less moral table to take your business. There's no shortage of high rollers tonight.
[ they aren't doing anything wrong on paper, after all. they're playing quite honestly. it's just that they have a lie detector on the side, and she can't let them know that -- she can only imagine how sought after she might be if they knew, for the exact same play her and rinne have here. ]
Unless you're just not confident in your hand, mister? Don't pin your poor luck on others and maybe you'll win a round. ♪
[ "You're feisty. I like that." The man gestures with a ring-laden hand, and one of his silent brutes steps forward to push a massive stack of chips into the center of the table. To Rinne, he says, "Let's cut the chit chat. One final hand. You, me, and your lucky charm here. All in."
Rinne's grin can't falter now. He meets Malkuth's eyes for a fraction of a second before shoving their entire mountain of winnings forward with a reckless clatter. ]
You're on, gramps! Don't come cryin' to us when we kick your ass!
[ The cards are dealt. The air crackles. The man looks at his cards, expression indiscernible. ]
Kyaha! Nice poker face you got there. Scared you'll lose?
[ Rinne cackles. But though his eyes are on his opponent, his ears are waiting for Malkuth. ]
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sometime in august, evening
tl;dr Rinne wins his first game of poker with Malkuth and pulls her to the side. ]
How the hell are you doing that?
[ Like, maybe it's the smoking hot dress, but he's not about to assume anything. ]
no subject
especially with such a heartpounding, burning victory behind them! malkuth still wants to turn around and tell those guys off for trying to cheat them out of a win (it wasn't cheating), but... she came to understand that's how the game is played. ]
Doing what? Calling their bluff?
no subject
[ He smirks, his fangs gleaming in the light. Whatever Malkuth's doing, it isn't a bad thing. ]
Never seen ya do that before. And you were sooo cute when you fell for my tricks, too...
no subject
[ apparently!!! malkuth elbows him in small retaliation, pressing her lips together on how to explain it.
... ]
I just... know that they're all talk. Like-- Like a gut feeling. [ that's a good way to describe it. ] It makes me wanna smash their foot, honestly.
[ give them a real reason to look upset ]
no subject
Hey, now. Is lying so bad? They're just working hard at being double-faced bastards 'cause making a dishonest living hits different.
Buuuut, I do think stealing's wrong. They were gonna steal that win right under our noses, weren't they?
no subject
[ malkuth only really cares if she's being lied to by someone she trusts, actually. like... takasugi. or rafayel? oh, okay, she understands the first, it's one of those "saving face" bits, but rafayel? he really did just want to spend time with her, huh. that's going into her mental safe. ]
That said, my foxish friend, stealing is definitely wrong, and we can't allow them to continue. We're just taking their ill-gotten earnings to be put for more honest work!
no subject
...Yeah. She and the group will work just fine.]
Kyaha! I like the way you think, Bambi. Your soul might be a stick in the mud, and maybe we'll never see eye to eye, but that doesn't mean we oughta let things slide when we're wronged. When I think about it... for me, it's kinda personal. A fox ain't gonna let himself be outfoxed!
Sounds like you've got a plan. [He encourages her with a curl of his finger.] Well, don't be shy now. Let's hear it!
no subject
malkuth straightens a bit, peering briefly at the various tables, before she lowers her voice. ]
We'll keep winning until we've drained every pocket in here -- but I need you to teach me how to play. They'll get suspicious if it's just you winning hand after hand, and I look like an easy enough target that I'm bound to drag the most vile of the bunch to the surface. So when they inevitably ask for your "little lady on the side" to try her luck, I want to be ready to sweep the floor with their smirks.
[ and she's certain they will; there's plenty already eyeing her now, and one thing she can't stand being is underestimated. ]
You'll be handling the main force and drawing in every prideful fool that thinks they'll fair any better against Lady Luck's favorite gambler. I'm the dagger under your sleeve. Put me in when you think it'll be the most devastating to their winnings, and I'll follow every whisper in my ear. [ her grin turns a little mischievous, pushing down her discomfort enough to pat rinne's chest. ] That way, we'll leave with enough money in our metaphorical pockets to sweep away every debt, IOU, and cobweb in 3kon's account!
[ will they be stopped before they drain the coffers? sure. but they'll definitely get that much, anyway. ]
Well? Wanna go all in with me, Rinne?
no subject
Mm, all this scheming is getting me hot.
[he means "fired up" or whatever. he just wanted to say it like that. sorry.]
All this time, I've been heading into battle with nothing but my wits. But two heads are better than one, yeah? And choosing a partner's half the gamble.
You got yourself a deal, Bambi. [He offers his hand.] C'mon, let's find us some suckers to play with. No better way to learn than getting your feet wet. With my skills and your senses, we're gonna be milking this joint for all it's worth!
no subject
everything at some point, the closeness and how her newfound friends put things, but for now malkuth exhales evenly and takes his hand, beaming as brightly as a student told she's done well and not like someone about to pull the rug from under every foot here besides her companion's. there's still... part of her that's doing this because she wants to prove she can be a hugely valuable asset, but it's most because she wants to now, too.
and it'll be so fun to make a bunch of jerks cry. ]
Niki and Takasugi'll be so impressed, they'll be praising us 'til the sun comes up!
[ probably. anyway, it really isn't so hard to find an open table to be invited to with their smoking hot looks and the chance to cheat an augmented out of a win, and it's only a matter of time before the pair become the ones to beat for a real jackpot with their winnings on hand...
malkuth is an attentive learner, so it's really not hard to pick up -- the most challenging part is learning how to have a poker face herself, though her trust in rinne helps to steady the nerves that'd usually give her away. ]
no subject
Relax, Bambi. Keep your eyes on the prize. No one's gonna eat ya, yeah?
[As much as his fangs say otherwise. He soothes her bare shoulder, careful not to let his claws scratch her skin.]
You know their game.
no subject
it helps, a little. in some sense. it definitely feels nice to be soothed like that, something she didn't realize until this moment, but the card game's a good enough distraction from her touch starvation that she can put a pin in it. later. later, like a hand taking hers, like a similar enveloping warmth. ]
You could at least buy me dinner first.
[ just a soft mumble, more of a tease than a complaint, as she rests her head back against his shoulder with all the confidence of someone with a winning hand -- whether she has it or not, game after game.
her sharp "eye" for bluffs paired with easygoing smiles turns cocky gamblers into gradually frustrated players, hesitant to be humiliated when called out but wanting to win their earnings back. the nerves settle, the confidence becomes real, hecklers removed when they get too rowdy and the attention drawing a new sheep to the slaughter.
small fry, for now. the bigger fish are keeping an eye on their stack of chips. they're easy to pick out for rinne... she'll tag him in so he won't miss out on all the fun, but malkuth's definitely enjoying this more than she thought she would actually. ]
no subject
While that's happening, the real action slithers over to their table. A smarmy man in a full fist of gold rings and a silk shirt that probably costs more than Niki's monthly food budget takes a seat. Two hulking, silent types flank him. Rinne leans back, cocking his head to the side. ]
Well, well! Looks like the main event's finally arrived. Ready to lose, old man?
[ Their game begins and it's brutal, a rapid-fire exchange of bluffs and calls. Rinne is in his element. He's about to lay down a winning hand when the man speaks.
"Nice trick you got there," he says, not looking at his cards but directly at Rinne. "The tasty little doe right next to you. You two ain't lost a single hand. What's she tellin' you, huh? Nothing bad, I hope. You're one of 'em Augmented, yeah? Real nice guys. And since they're real nice, it would break my heart if you guys repaid this establishment's hospitality with some unscrupulous act.”
The words shock the fiery thrill in him like ice. Shit.
"Do you know what that is? An unscrupulous act." ]
... Sounds like the kinda shit your men get up to around here. I don't see why we gotta talk about the rules, big guy. Ain't like they made you king of the damn place!
no subject
ugh. she doesn't like the way he talks about her. it gives her goosebumps. ]
What my friend means is that the best way to repay our host is to play the best we can, without holding back or hesitating. And that's exactly what we're doing. If you think it's unscrupulous, then fold and find a less moral table to take your business. There's no shortage of high rollers tonight.
[ they aren't doing anything wrong on paper, after all. they're playing quite honestly. it's just that they have a lie detector on the side, and she can't let them know that -- she can only imagine how sought after she might be if they knew, for the exact same play her and rinne have here. ]
Unless you're just not confident in your hand, mister? Don't pin your poor luck on others and maybe you'll win a round. ♪
no subject
Rinne's grin can't falter now. He meets Malkuth's eyes for a fraction of a second before shoving their entire mountain of winnings forward with a reckless clatter. ]
You're on, gramps! Don't come cryin' to us when we kick your ass!
[ The cards are dealt. The air crackles. The man looks at his cards, expression indiscernible. ]
Kyaha! Nice poker face you got there. Scared you'll lose?
[ Rinne cackles. But though his eyes are on his opponent, his ears are waiting for Malkuth. ]