duel 7. ( video. )

[puzzlingly]

「Atem hasn't made a network post ever since he was still wearing that strange golden eye, which, is long gone by now, so, there he is, with an important question, for him, at least.」

Ever since I got here I've heard people asking, what do people do here for fun? I was one of those people too, and honestly, the answers were lacking, they still are. Maybe we should change that.

As some of you know there is a casino on the second floor of the Speakeasy, and while gambling can pretty fun, it might not be for everyone. I wish to add all sort of games that everyone can enjoy. So, please, tell me about the games you know, the ones from your homes, what did you use to play for fun? Henry, I'm sorry, we cannot fit a jousting competition in there, 「Sorry dude, 」 but I will try my best to bring something else.

I know there are more pressing matters at hand, but there always are, there always will be something else, and this is what some of us might need right now, a different let-out that's not just fighting, maybe just for relaxation, for fun, for the excitement of the competition, or even to make new friends over a game you enjoy. There is no better feeling than it.

「Kaiba, he's looking at you, not every damn game has to end on someone dying.」

Ah-- there used to be poker nights too, we might as well bring back that tradition, 「Hats off to you, Firo, wherever you are.」 and, if you can beat me at it, you might get a prize. Actually... 「He smirks, smugly.」 if any of you can beat me at a game of your choosing, you may get a little something.

「You are not getting a damn thing, he's the bloody King of Games, bitches.」

Don't forget the Welcome Dance Night at the Speakeasy, we are eager to see you there.

「He adds with a warm smile, and the feed ends.」

Comments

[puzzlingly]

「He often wonders what happens when one dies here. Some don't seem to care as much, but, he had been attacked once too, didn't die by mere luck. It broke him, broke his trust and made him a little more than bitter for a good while, he still hasn't healed completely, it left a crack and surely there was one in Margaery too.

He follows her and waits for her in the living room. He takes the glass once she's back but he only has his eyes on her.」

I'm sorry I didn't... I'm sorry I wasn't there.

「It had hit too close to home for comfort.」

[roseofthetyrells]

[what happened to Margaery was exactly the same thing that happened to her in Westeros before she arrived here. nothingness. emptiness. an endless void. she could scream and none would hear her. she could cry and no one would dry her tears. it was agony]

Please, be seated. [she gestures towards the couch where she sits]

And I--I understand. Such things are. . . difficult to manage.

[and she does understand. she knows he had his own problems]

[puzzlingly]

I have no excuse, I should have done something.

「But what could he have done, he's but a powerless child.

He does as told and sits next to her, still holding the glass of water.

He still remembers how it had been for him when he woke at the clinic after the attack, the nightmares of Yukari coming after him to kill him, the reminder of the pain he went through, he still had the scars, since Hope didn't have to go through the process of reviving him, but, surely it wouldn't be different from what she felt and was still feeling. He spent months in fear, unable to give his trust to anyone, hating himself for wanting revenge.」

... Do you want to talk about that?

「He didn't, he just wanted to hurt Yukari for what he had done to him, but Margaery is not him.」

[roseofthetyrells]

You're doing something now by being here.

[and she understands that not everyone here can be fearsome warriors.

she smiles at him when he sits.

even during the worst of the Null invasion where the creatures were actively seeking her out to kill her, she didn't feel unsafe. now she does. she worries that the demon will try to finish what it started. she's ashamed that her death led to the release of other demons throughout the city. she's embarrassed that she was so easily overcome. she's not going to be her usual self for a long while, if ever]

...I wouldn't know where to begin.

[she wants to hurt the demon badly, but she knows that she's no match for such a being]

[puzzlingly]

「That should be enough, but it doesn't feel like it. He won't say that, however.」

You don't have to.

「He drinks half of his glass and leaves it on the coffee table, then he brings out a deck French playing cards.」

Let's just play.

[roseofthetyrells]

[eventually, she'll mend. his friendship will be a big part of it. but in the meantime, she feels more fragile than she has in her entire life]

All right.

[she eyes the cards curiously. she's never seen anything like them before]

Indeed. How do we start?

this player doesnt know how to play poker orz

[puzzlingly]

I'll explain first.

「He shuffles the deck with great skill — going for a hindi shuffle rather than a shotgun one, it doesn't damage the cards in that way, not that she might be able to tell, but it's important how one treats their cards. Then he starts going by the rules, some example of the hand she could get to win, when to raise or when to hold, and over all, how she could be incredibly good at bluffing.」

Believe me, you already have the game in your pocket by that alone. Making your opponents fall for your bluffs and knowing how to read them is one of the most important parts in this game, there is a popular phrase where I come from about being able to pull a poker face, being unreadable, concealing your emotions. That's why I thought you'd be good at it.

「Hopefully that comes up more like a compliment than an insult. After all, Margaery seemed to have been struggling with that part of herself for a while now, but if she could just forget about how others saw her and make use of that oustanding skill in something recreative... well, maybe she'd enjoy it.」

neither does this one! \o/

[roseofthetyrells]

[she watches and listens with curiosity as he shuffles the cards and explains the rules of the game. she listens especially closely when it comes to bluffing. she's used to bluffing her way through the days, at least she was in King's Landing. though, lately she's had to employ this skill here, too, hoping to make people think she's doing better than she's actually doing. Margaery Tyrell does not collapse and she does not cry. she can't afford to]

Yes, I think I could become skilled at bluffing. It's not so different than what I did in King's Landing all the time.

[she likely won't ever let go of worrying over how she's perceived. especially after her recent ordeal]

[puzzlingly]

That's what I guessed.

「He shuffles the cards again, and this time he deals them between them two.」

It's better when there are more people at this but between us, maybe we can play Blackjack, you just gotta aim to as close to twenty-one without going over. And since we are not betting anything maybe... what if we say a little fact about ourselves to whoever wins?

「Sounds harmless enough...」

[roseofthetyrells]

That sounds pleasant. What are the rules for Blackjack?

[what could go wrong?]

[puzzlingly]

Hmm... Let's see.

「And here goes a very easy explanation about it.」

Are you ready?

「He's sorry, he's gonna kick her ass.
Gently...

Also, he's not sorry.」

[roseofthetyrells]

[she nods after the explanation]

I'm ready.

[awww, can't she win one little game?

just one?

she's had a rough few weeks]

feel free to just assume things and skip game mech because what are those even?

[puzzlingly]

「How dare! Okay, okay, more than one!」

I stay and you?

they're confusing, that what those are.

[roseofthetyrells]

[thank you~~]

I'll take a hit.

sorry about the wait :c

[puzzlingly]

「He waits for her to take the cards, seeing her face as she does, trying to guess how she's doing at the game by her expression.」

It's okay! <3

[roseofthetyrells]

[Margaery learned to school her expressions from the Queen of Thorns herself. she's not giving anything away]

[puzzlingly]

「She's good, but Atem wasn't given the title of King of Games for nothing, he might not be the best at bluffing but the game itself... well. He waits for her and when she's ready, he turns his cards.」

Blackjack.

「King and Ace. Top that Margie! Well, no, that'd mean losing. Now please share something with the class.」

[roseofthetyrells]

[darn]

I see. Well done.

[she turns over her cards, a nine, a nine, and a two]

[puzzlingly]

「Ahhhh, look at that!」

You nearly got me. Maybe next time.

「This is not Duel Monsters, he's lucky but he's gonna lose some!」

So... anything you wanna share?

[roseofthetyrells]

Perhaps? There will be a next time.

[and she's had her fair share of luck in her time]

I. . . suppose. I went to the Shop yesterday and scrubbed it from floor to ceiling.

[puzzlingly]

「Oh... that's not what he was expecting.」

... Why?

「He's already shuffling the reset of the deck, and deals.」

[roseofthetyrells]

[she looks away for a moment]

I couldn't let it stay as it was when I was murdered there.

[puzzlingly]

「Ouch... He should have known.」

I'm sorry.

「He puts away his cards.」

Maybe this is not the game we should be playing right now...

[roseofthetyrells]

[it did create quite the stir]

It's--it's not all right. But I must get on with my life.

I suppose. I'll just have to beat you next time. [she tries for a smile]

[puzzlingly]

「He should have known better.」

Okay... 「He tries to smile at her too. He takes a another card, it's not like he'd ever give the win to anyone just like that, but he's wishing she wins now. Once she's ready, he turns his cards.」

Hmm... Twenty... seven? Or seven. 「A little shrug. Aces are weirdos.」