1 [voice]

[foundafamily]

Hey, listen up. I’ve got an idea.

[Evidently a very important one, judging by how soberly he’s speaking.]

Obviously we need things to do in between gettin’ set on fire and havin’ our heads messed with. So I was gonna set up a card table in the bar—could be poker, faro, anything if we can get enough players for it. If people like it, we could make it a regular thing.

If you don’t know how to play, I’ll teach you. And if anybody knows any other games, I’d like to see ‘em.

Comments

[tongueamok]

[There's a choked hnnnn on his end -- a noise of reluctance.]

I suppose it couldn't hurt. They're just card games, correct?

[foundafamily]

Yeah, they’re just card games. …What else would you think they were gonna be? Russian roulette?

[Don't give him ideas, Carlisle.]

[tongueamok]

I'm not familiar with that one.

[Spoiler: he does not want to be familiar with that one.]

I just wasn't sure what to expect. I'm sure the forms of entertainment vary from world to world.

[foundafamily]

It’s easy, you just put a bullet in one chamber of a revolver, spin it, and see if you get shot.

[Now that he’s said it, he realizes it pretty neatly addresses Carlisle’s second point as well.]

That’s not exactly a usual way we kill time, though. [Haha. No, Firo didn’t intend that.] There’s all sorts of things people do—cards are only the start.

[tongueamok]

... I would vastly prefer cards to that other pastime, I'll be honest.

[foundafamily]

Great, so you’re playin’ cards instead.

[It could be a question, but Firo doesn’t really say it like a question.]

Are you gonna need me to teach you? Did you ever play back home?

[tongueamok]

I did not, though if you would rather not teach me, I could just watch.

[Yes, he is still trying to get out of the actual playing part.]

[foundafamily]

No way, the best way to learn is to play. I don’t mind teachin’ when it’s stuff like this.

If you're worried about payment or anything, I'll settle for a favor down the line.

[Firo is a gracious man.]

[tongueamok]

[Owing Firo even more favors is not something Carlisle wants, given he already owes the man more than he knows. And yet Carlisle accepts his offer, as he sees that he's not getting out of this.]

Right. I... suppose that's fine. Learning. Can't be too difficult to grasp, this game. Surely.

[Surely.]

[foundafamily]

Sure it is. If you’ve got a head on your shoulders, you should have no problem at all with it.

Actually learnin’ to win it is another story.

[tongueamok]

How so?

[foundafamily]

It’s like any game worth playin’—it depends on a lot. It’s not enough just to know the rules. You’ll figure it out the more you play. When do you wanna start?

[tongueamok]

[Never.]

I... suppose when you have enough people gathered to play this game.

[foundafamily]

It’s more interesting with more people, but you don’t need a lot. Why don’t you come now?

[Pleeeaaase?]

[tongueamok]

[The sound that follows is him holding back a long-suffering sigh.]

Now it is. Shall I meet you at the bar, then?

[foundafamily]

Seriously? That was easier than I thought.

I'll see you there.

[voice] → [action]

[tongueamok]

[Wait, he could have argued more? WHY DID NO ONE TELL HIM THIS.]

Of course. I'll be there shortly.

[It's not exactly 'shortly,' as he takes his sweet time getting there and procrastinates further while doing it. It's not exactly his best display of manners, but he's been... somewhat avoiding too much conversation with Firo and Rey since his arrival. It's far easier to hide behind his communicator than it is to actually see them in person and be reminded of how much he owes them, and how much they remember of it.

Which is to say that they don't remember at all. He hasn't yet figured out just how he's going to atone when that is the case. He was hoping to just keep delaying the inevitable, in a way.

But he does finally show up at the bar. He'll try not to get too drunk this time.]

[action]

[foundafamily]

[By contrast, Firo planted himself at one of the tables as quickly as possible and has been waiting with the cards and a drink. It's not that he's super eager for Carlisle or anything--but, no, he really is.

Without even thinking it, Firo actually smiles a bit when he sees him.]

Hey! Took you long enough--did you get attacked on your way or something? I thought you were gonna bail on me.

[tongueamok]

Of course not.

[He just spent the entire walk thinking about the last time they spoke at any length which was... in this same bar. Where he got a little drunk. Or maybe a lot drunk. And given it takes a surprising amount to get him even tipsy, that says something. Not his best moment, but being spirited away into another world will do that to a person.

He slides into the seat opposite of Firo, eyeing the cards.]

I, um. [The words "apologize for kind of avoiding you and properly explaining neither the full details of how we met, nor of the atonement I owe you because I drank myself into a stupor" come to mind, but what comes out is:]

So. Cards. I am your student, here to learn.

[foundafamily]

[Firo leans forward on his elbows as he waits to hear what Carlisle has to say. And then straightens up in his chair when it turns out to just be getting down to business. He waves one hand as he picks up his deck with the other.]

You make it sound so formal.

All right, so we should start at the beginning, huh? Like how to bet, which hands are the best?

[He starts shuffling the deck, first normally, then faster. Just to show off a bit.]

What kinda place did you live in that you never played cards?

[What do you mean some people don't grow up steeped in vice?]

[tongueamok]

It's not that we didn't play cards, so much as I never took an interest in it.

[He watches as Firo shuffles, avoiding his eyes.]

What's more is that I'm not sure the cards of my world and the cards of yours have the same suits.

[foundafamily]

[Never took an interest? Firo shakes his head in dismay.]

Lucky for you, we don't have the cards of my world. Or, well, I recognize only some of these symbols. This deck has bullets--

[He jerks his wrist and a card with blue circles as the markings leaps out onto the table between them. It's soon followed by one with blue stars.]

--and stars. Those're normally only in special decks. I don't recognize the other ones.

[He tosses an example of each out anyway: a rectangle with indents in the top and bottom and a simple arch. Both yellow.]

What's yours have?

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle looks at his cards, his nose wrinkling.]

I've got a spiral, some stars, and what appears to be a knife through a heart. Grisly suits, these.

[foundafamily]

Huh. These people really got "creative", huh?

[He tries to catch Carlisle's eye for a knowing nod. They may be really different, but they can relate on the previous occupants of Hadriel being really weird.]

[tongueamok]

[As he glances Firo's way, their eyes do meet. They're off him a second later, a nervous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth -- it's his usual reaction.]

I suppose. Either that, or whatever so-called god that made these knows as much about them as they do about us.

[Which is to say 'not much at all.']