week three | dates

[marriagebroker]

Here we go again.

You all better kiss.

Comments

[gamboler]

[ Hm... interesting. Taking a peek at his own cards, Aventurine grins, before declaring: ]

I'll call.

[ In goes his chip! ]

I'd say so, since I've never truly lost. I'm always chasing that high of possible defeat.

[ That earns him a derisive snicker from the table. ]

[ordimame]

[the other players either call or fold in turn. Edamura keeps his gaze trained on Aventurine the entire time]

What will you do when you experience your first real loss?

[gamboler]

Mm, like I said before: die a horrible, fiery death, probably.

[ Said so very breezily, gaze flickering around the table, before: ]

I'll raise.

[ Two more chips added in now. ]

[ordimame]

[oh my god. I forgot he already asked that. a small snort]

Nah. I don't think that's true.

[still watching Aventurine, and only Aventurine, as the rest of the players at the table call his bet]

Your type isn't that easily kept down.

["your type," Edamura??]

[gamboler]

[ Yeah, excuse?? ]

My "type"?

[ordimame]

[he repeats, not a single ounce of uncertainty in his voice]

Your type.

[the men around the table lay down their cards, with the highest hand being a simple three of a kind. what do you have, Aventurine??]

[gamboler]

You sound quite sure of yourself for someone who folded immediately.

[ He flips over his hand, a pair of eights. A light shrug. ]

What a shame! But the game doesn't end until we walk away from the table.

[ordimame]

[the other men at the table fistpump to their success as they collect their chips. Edamura laughs]

That's the spirit.

[the dealer hands out a new set of cards, and just as before, the poor dramatic lets out a sharp, disappointed sigh as he discards three for three more]

Brave enough to call even when your hand is low. . . that takes a lot of guts.

[gamboler]

Well, what fun is a gamble if you wait to get played the hand you want?

[ He keeps all his cards, and once again, will call. ]

[ordimame]

I don't think there's much fun in losing everything you've got, either. . .

[three more cards. . . Edamura wrinkles his nose in distaste, before glancing back at Aventurine, then the men who still sit across the table]

[. . .]

Okay. . .! I'll call.

[he tosses a few chips into the pile as the experienced poker guys roll their eyes, as if seeing through his obvious bluff]

[gamboler]

[ Look at him go...a few of the players decide to fold, but when it comes back to Aventurine, once again: ]

I'll raise.

1/2

[ordimame]

[-- gck]

[ordimame]

[. . . DEEP BREATH, BEAN!!!]

I'll. . . call.

[tosses a few more chips onto the pile, before pulling back to drum his fingers against the table]

[gamboler]

[ Much to Aventurine's surprise, before it comes back around to him again, another player raises again — and this time, it's his turn to let out a sigh. ]

Mm...I fold.

[ Up to you, bean boy. ]

[ordimame]

[UP TO BEAN BOY. . . who seems to be sweatin' something fierce when the choice comes back to him, with a few others folding in between. he shifts a bit in his seat, before taking another deep breath and tossing a few more chips in to the pile]

[. . .]

[the man who raised before smiles, before pushing his ENTIRE PILE OF CHIPS to the center table. all in.]

[Edamura freezes, and shoots an uncertain glance towards Aventurine]

[gamboler]

[ Oh, this is getting interesting. Aventurine's features are bright, intense - even if he isn't the one on the cusp of winning or losing it all, this is the moment he loves the most. ]

Well? Will you back down now? It's all or nothing, my friend.

[ Whether it's a soaring victory or crushing defeat, he's eager to find out. ]

1/2

[ordimame]

[aaaaaaaaaaaaaah]

[Edamura is ALL NERVES as he nods at his companion, chin lifted, foot tapping energetically against the ground. with all of the confidence that Aventurine has given him. . . he pushes his own chips towards the center]

I'll c-call. . .!

[the man across from him smiles wickedly, before flipping over his cards to reveal a full house]

[for a moment, Edamura looks stricken]

[ordimame]

[. . . and then the nerves vanish in the blink of an eye. a small smile makes its way onto his features, perfectly smug. especially when he flips over his own cards, fingers tapping each face in order: straight flush]

[the man across from him opens his mouth to gawk, then snaps it shut with a click as he bangs his hands against the table. You little--!]

Haha! Sorry about that. It was just a little more fun when you all thought I was just a beginner.

[was that a hustle]

[gamboler]

[ That was a hustle, and quite the show the show indeed. Aventurine claps his hands together in applause, utterly delighted not only that Edamura has won so handily, but also that his instincts were right on the money, as usual. ]

Well played! I believe that's well over double our buy-in. Some even might say you've won the jackpot with that hand.

[ A straight flush...remarkable. Whether that's thanks to his own luck rubbing off on Edamura, or something else Edamura may have pulled, who can say?

The men across the table only start to shout as they get more and more riled up, and Aventurine outright ignores them, tipping his hat towards Edamura. ]

What will you do with your winnings, I wonder?

[ordimame]

[also ignoring how indignant the other players seem to be as he collects his chips, counting them one by one. his answer is simple]

Capsule toys.

[?! FOR REAL??]

[(no, not for real. he jokes)]

[gamboler]

[ Whether he's for real or not: ]

And I'll be getting my cut too, right? Of the capsule toys.

[ Is he for real?? ]

[ordimame]

Well, yeah. Do you think I have enough shelves for that many toys?

[his reply is, of course, laced with a laugh]

[gamboler]

I'm going to need a bigger desk in my office, in that case.

[ One with room for all his useless little trinkets! ]

[ordimame]

If you can win a hand yourself, you'd have more than enough to afford one.

[a little cheeky]

[. . . a little challenging. . .]

[gamboler]

I don't know, I might've just used up all my luck in proximity to you...

[ He's not getting up just yet, though, gaze flickering to the players shuffling around the table. The man who lost all his chips to Edamura has left in a huff, but most of the others are still there. May as well give them a good show. ]

...But sure. Why not? One more hand.