[Sometime during AU week]

[the_ex_in_xp]

[meanwhile at the dorms, a half-pirate and some girl who managed a +3 lockpicking skill in her bag of tricks are trying to break in to "their" room]

This lock is way more sophisticated than the others. You'd think they were worried about unsavory people trying to break in...

Comments

[the_ex_in_excessive]

That sounds fair. Can I get a practice round, though?

[the_ex_in_xp]

Sure.

[starts shuffling the cards with both hands, her voice not taking on the carnival barker's tone but kind of stage flirty in its teasing, as she flips each card over before sliding it back to its face down position and picking up speed]

Test your luck and find the lady. Find the lady, win a prize. And if you don't, at least you won't lose your shirt.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Well, gee, thanks for the assurance.

I think it's the one in the middle?

[the_ex_in_xp]

You wouldn't play if you lost your shirt.

[flips it over and it is indeed the Queen of Hearts]

We have a winner.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Oh, cool! I mean, not for real yet, though.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Do you want another practice run so you can work on your poker face?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

My poker face is fine, Ramona.

[no it isn't]

... well even if it isn't, this isn't poker so I'm okay.

[the_ex_in_xp]

If you insist.

[grins as she says it, flipping the Queen of Hearts back over and starting her shuffling again, still affecting that careless demeanor]

But if this was poker, you'd be in trouble. You don't smile when you gamble, it implies you're having fun.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Unless the smiling's all part of a clever ruse to make you think I'm not used to gambling and don't care if I win or not.

[the_ex_in_xp]

That's because our stakes are kind of lame.

But I already knew you weren't a gambler, considering how big you were on taking risks. The stuff you picked when you wanted us to try something new never blew up in our faces the way mine did.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

There was the poetry reading that one time. That didn't go so well.

And I dunno about the stakes. I definitely would sooner have bourbon if I'm gonna actually drink...

[picking a card, btw]

[the_ex_in_xp]

Hipster spoken word is a different level of bad than possibly set off an inter-departmental rivalry that involved a Revolutionary War reenactment bad.

[flips it over, it's the Three of Spades :(]

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[grinning teasingly]

Oh no, I really thought I had it that time.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[flips the card next to it over for the Queen]

So close. Best two out of three?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

I dunno, I do like the stage voice stuff but I'm just gonna lose again, so...

[the_ex_in_xp]

C'mon, what happened to that... [in a bad Roxanne impression where the bubbly earnestness is traded for a higher registry] "I could totally win" I heard from you earlier?

Or do you just want to skip ahead to finding booze?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Okay, my impression of you is way better than your impression of me. And you know I was kidding around...

[the_ex_in_xp]

I skipped impression stats in my charm classification, but at least I used words you would conceivably say, unlike some people.

Besides... [leaning over and reaching behind your neck, waiting for a second as if searching through your hair before withdrawing her hand which has the Queen of Hearts card between her fingers ...and three cards still face down before her] I needed this back from you.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[nooooooooooooo magic tricks are super-endearing and fun so she can't help but reflexively giggle and blush a little]

-- oh, so that's where it was.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[there's probably a brief second where she looks self-conscious about using her super cool card palming powers for something as dorky as a magic trick, but the giggling makes it worth it (and also worse)]

Yeah, way to sabotage my card game, Rox.

[flipping it so it's back in the deck with the rest of them] Although, I guess that means you technically found the card, so you win the bet...

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[laughing and shaking her head]

Let's call it a tie, okay?

[the_ex_in_xp]

Fine. If we raid their booze stores, we can both get our favorites.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Deal.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[getting up and stretching]

So if you were not exactly you, where would you hide your massive amount of alcohol?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Well, there's the kitchen, but then anyone could get to it...