Description: Kerian's playing a high-stakes game when Roland slides on in with his cheating deck of cards! A friendly game turns bloody quite quickly when Roland tries to make off with the pot - but will the conman escape the Brit-shonen's wrath?
The Shanghai Sports Bar. A wretched hive of...erm...well, not really -wretched-. In fact, since the last fight held inside it, it's been cleaned up quite nicely, and people are sitting comfortably in the seats sipping drinks, playing pool, or watching the hardcore poker game currently going on at the back.
And hardcore it is. The pot's up a significant amount, and the senior players are all watching the man leaning against the wall nervously as he fingers his cards.
He's a pretty-looking boy - no other word for it - with his white hair falling down around his back and his sharp blue eyes watching his cards carefully from his slender face. Equally slender, delicate fingers reach forward to toss another few ten-dollar chips into the pot.
"I'll see you and raise fifty," he confirms, a lilting English accent lazily rolling along his speech like a ball of yarn knocked about by a kitten. Somebody groans.
"I fold," one of his opponents answers, "Too rich for my blood."
The young man laughs as the other players consider their cards. "If you say so," he cheerily replies. He reaches up to run those delicate fingers through his hair and smiles behind his cards.
Lurking like a vulture has been another person, as the card game continues. He's done nothing to draw attention to himself, beyond drinking likely enough to kill someone twice his weight. Of course, he's simply nursing watered down scotch, munching on pretzels with his free hand. A silver coin rolls about on his fingers, flicking up and then catching. Roland waits, until the present hand concludes, then with a screech of shifting seat. Hiking up his pants, he meanders into the fringe of the card game. ...Dragging a chair. "Well, looks like you need someone with a bit more confidence." is offered to Kerian, slumping down and rolling his shoulders. His hat is tipped to everyone present, who are in rather... mixed reactions about some stranger more or less implanting into the card game. "Name's Roland. Cards are a hobby of mine, so to speak." The silver coin is still flicked and caught in smooth motions, without seeming to look at it. Wriggling down into a comfortable slouch, he taps insistantly on the table. "Deal, deal!"
Kerian smirks and deals Roland in, three cards quick over to the man. "Always happy to deal in a new player," the young Brit replies. "Pleasure to meet you."
The other players frown after a moment, one of them setting his cards down and walking away. Kerian takes his own cards and flips the next of the center ones. "Current minimum is one-thirty." He notes, leaning back into a similarly comfortable slouch and examining the cards with his free hand. Not a bad draw, not a great draw - nothing of too much worth yet.
"So what brings you here, anyhow? Just looking for a spot of fun?"
Roland draws up his cards and begins to lazily rub them between his fingers, scarcely glancing at them. He then makes a show of grunting while dragging himself forward, dipping his hand beneath the edge of the table for just a moment. Then he places them both face down, resuming the flipping of his coin. A toothpick seems almost to manifest, working at disturbingly pristine white teeth. Relaxed and inattentive, to a suspicious level! He's obviously a seasoned hand at gambling. "Looking for a spot of cash." is admitted, unabashed grin offered towards Kerian. "I'll raise twenty." Seeming to realize he's not got any cash out yet, he begins to pile up a large mound of wadded bills. Mostly twenties and tens, smearing them somewhat flat before flicking in both the ante and his raise. ...okay.
Kerian's smirk shifts into a genuine grin. "Ahhh, a real player...now -that's- exciting. Name's Kerian." He holds out his free hand, leaning across the table to Roland. School uniform be damned - the guy's obviously graduated (although maybe by less than a year), and judging by the same relaxation he's distributing, he's obviously no fool when it comes to the cards.
If Roland's paid attention to the underground tournies, he might recognize the name and hair as the signatures of a player termed 'the White Wolf' by poker players who'd been cleaned out by the pretty young man.
Another player glances at the mound of bills and the huge pot. Sure, it was a heavy pot, but...it was too rich for his blood. "I'll call," the unnamed man says, setting in the ante.
Kerian flicks his eyes at the pot, his grin widening just a bit. "Alright then," he answers, "I'll raise thirty." Eighteen chips into the pot. Goodness gracious. The sharp blue eyes flick back to Roland, now waiting for his bid, as well.
The offered hand is given a brief eye, before he grips it firmly and gives a very overbearing shake. "Nice to meet you." There's no sign of any recognition, at least that can be seen. But few people can read this man, even other con artists like Ayame! This person has definitely not been in any serious tournaments, underground or otherwise. Although he has the poise and composure of a long time veteran. Which is true; but in games like this, not for fame and large cash. No response to the raise. "Fifty." He mounds it higher, still flicking his coin and offering a rather rogueish grin at Kerian. Confidence that's a few steps past arrogance shines in his eyes. "Your move."
Kerian gives a low whistle, wind escaping from between his lips. The minimum was two-thirty now, and while it was getting heavy, that was okay by him. He hadn't played a game this high-stakes in ages.
People are starting to crowd around now - this really -was-, after all, the highest pot they'd seen since a tourney two years ago, and it was getting rather exciting. Kerian's eyes meet the other man's, not seeking, not reading, simply empty. He, too, was quite difficult to read - no tell whatsoever, no frown, no nothing.
Kerian flips another five in. Two-eighty.
"Fifty," he agrees.
Roland seemed almost prepared to up his further, and flicked more into the center. "Fifty!" he cheerily offers, leaning back after palming his coin and beginning to pat his stomach loudly, pleasant laugh ringing through the surroundings. "I'm going to eat well tonight! Drinks on the house for everyone after I win!" He gives a firm elbow to the nearest person, glancing around at those present. "Did I mention it was water? Well, it's the thought that counts..." Roland appears to no longer be paying proper attention to the game. If it's a bluff, he's overselling it. If it's not a bluff, well, he's giving it away!
Kerian chuckles at that. "Counting your chickens already, are you? Sixty up and let's get the next card over." He flips the next one, his face remaining quite neutral as he examines his cards and the ones on the table. Not bad - his luck seems to be changing.
Those long, slim fingers curl about his drink, and he raises it to his lips for a sip. It wasn't anything alcoholic - just some flavored water - but it was still a nice taste. He's still watching Roland carefully as the card is flipped. "Your bid."
He had money to spare - but he wasn't about to back down, not from this fellow. No, no. Now it had become a challenge of pride.
Yes, pride. The wolf's pride was at stake here - and that, to him, was worth far more than any simple cash in the pot. He had his inheritance - far more than this pot could ever truly dent - but this fellow was playing the same way he did. It was war now, on an even plane.
Roland lets out a grunt. "That's everything I have." He tossed in the rest before he glances down at the cards, resuming the flick of his coin into the air. Still beaming, as he gestures eagerly for Kerian to continue. "Call, call!" After all, he joined this game for a reason. He keeps many common use decks within his jacket, and happened to have a duplicate. During that harmless shift, when his cards dropped from sight to pull his chair forward, he replaced his hand. Although he hates Texas Hold'em... you can only cheat with the first three, and the next can ruin you. Maybe he should of waited... Oh well, in this case his only actual gamble worked.
"Show it."
He flicks his own over. A Heart flush! One of the people who folded lets out a low whistle, but the other leans forward to peer at Roland's cards. "Wait a second..."
Kerian flicks his eyes over at that. 'Wait a second' is always bad in cards. And that fellow's interest in the huge pot, not to mention the heavy incessance at 'call, call!'...immediately, the young man's suspicion is spiked. He sets his own cards down - a pair of Aces and a pair of Tens - and narrows his eyes.
"So," he notes, "Where, oh where, did that second ten of hearts come from?" He points from his own ten to the other man's, a smile on his face.
"And here I was all excited about this game."
Already, Roland has begun to scoop as much of the pot as he can over to his side, with perhaps a bit too much eagerness. He's ignoring the person who's giving a shred of doubt rather distinctly. When Kerian speaks however, he stops, standing up to bend over and peer downwards. "Well, how about that... I guess you--HUZZAH!" In one sudden movement he scoops up as much of the chips and money as he can, while kicking over the table. Cards and glasses go flying, one of the players flailing as his chair topples backwards. With a forward charge of his shoulder, he barrels through the crowd that a split second before had been mostly commenting on a good game, head low. He's leaving a trail behind himself, but doesn't seem to care too much -- any net profit is a net profit, after all! Some day, he has to wonder how his luck can be this bad. Maybe if he had more GENUINE flushes he wouldn't have to make his own...
Kerian spins out his gun immediately, leveling it at Roland's leg for a shot. The chi bullet rips out of the gun in a heartbeat, silvery chi gathered into a tiny little point prepared to strike Roland right in the foot. Similarly, he's scooping his pot back into his own wallet before standing.
The flash of chi from his feet heralds his own speed boost - he's -fast-, that's for sure. The kid takes off at a run, white hair trailing behind him, whether the shot hit Roland or not, and he skids in front of the door quite swiftly as it locks shut. The gun rises to meet Roland again.
"No no," he says idly as people head for cover, "I don't appreciate cheaters."
COMBATSYS: Kerian has started a fight here.
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Kerian 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Roland has joined the fight here.
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Roland 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kerian
COMBATSYS: Kerian successfully hits Roland with Magnum Blast.
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Roland 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Kerian
The shot cracks right into Roland's leg, who had not particularly expected the other man to have a weapon he would so brazenly fire in the midst of a crowd. Or at least, someone confident enough about his accuracy. He lets out a rather laughable cursing sound, and the door is shut and locked as he swandives upon the ground, limbs askew. Chips and money crashes everywhere, and he lets out a loud yelp of pain, grasping his leg and rolling first one way then the other. "Augh... agh... y,you fucking crippled me!!" he exclaims, voice wild and full of panic. People really don't know how to respond to this, so are mostly keeping a respectable distance. Before he suddenly bolts to his feet, erupting up in a disturbingly speedy attack. "Well, maybe not!!" He lashes out one hand, attempting to catch Kerian by the hair. To yank him forward, so his other can grasp the back of his shirt, and pull it up over his head. What would follow is a swift kick to the ass, trying to send him head first into the door. "And I consider it *CREATIVE WINNING!*"
COMBATSYS: Kerian dodges Roland's Las Vegas Strip.
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Roland 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Kerian
Kerian simply backflips away from the man's grasp. The pretty young man's feet impact against the door, and he flips forward towards Roland, raising his foot high in the air as he does so. The bottom - the heel - gleams with the same silvery chi as he falls, ready to discharge in an impact of extreme pain.
"I think of this as creatively winning, myself." He agrees.
Whether he hits Roland or not, he backsprings off whichever surface he lands on, resuming his casual stance. "And really quite satisfying."
COMBATSYS: Kerian successfully hits Roland with Light Kick.
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Roland 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Kerian
One arm attempts to lift up, but Kerian skims past the forearm and nails him right across the face while Roland was recovering from the rather awkward charge towards the other man. He spins once and crashes on the floor again, scrambling away to give himself time to fully rise. "Jeez, you didn't even blink! Heartless, aren't ya!" He's nursing a broken lip, but from the two hits delivered thus far it's obvious that Roland isn't some everyday con artist. He can take a licking, and keep on ticking! "Sawright, sawright... I've been lazy lately..." He assumes a completely useless and open stance. Really, Kerian might openly laugh at him. There's a dozen things wrong with it the most basic of novices could point out. He begins to edge forward, then lashes out one fist, throwing all his weight into a punch towards the chest. Before edging forward, and lashing upwards with the other arm, the speed actually dangerous. "Hnnngh!!"
COMBATSYS: Roland successfully hits Kerian with Quick Strike.
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Roland 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Kerian
Kerian is hit, right in the stomach. The gleam of chi, however, would probably be enough to let Roland know...the chi doesn't seem to be concentrated. No, Kerian's actually adjusting his own chi flow to reinforce whatever body part is appropriate...
And this time, it's the tip of his toe as he swings it upwards towards Roland's chin. The Axe Kick, whether it hits or misses, completes as the chi gleam swaps to his heel as it falls back to the ground.
"I don't like cheaters," he agrees, "Sullying a perfectly good game of cards for personal profit bothers me just a tad, mmm?"
COMBATSYS: Roland endures Kerian's Axe Kick Combo.
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Roland 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Kerian
"Tch... Just because I like to win..." However, he spreads both of his arms, twisting his hands and clenching the fists. From within the sleeves of his jackets, with a springloaded rasp, long forearm blades pop forth. He is struck true, but had already begun to swirl with green fire of his own. Half blind, he still capitalizes on the gained opening to rush forward, arching back his arms before dropping them in tandem, to rake from shoulder to hip and form a neat, hopefully sizzling 'X' across the other man. He used some manner of speed boost himself; he certainly operated at a far higher level then was just shown, but it fades as quickly as the summoned energy does. "Just don't underestimate me ALL the time... I've more then a few tricks of my own!"
COMBATSYS: Kerian dodges Roland's Three Card Monte.
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Roland 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Kerian
Kerian just slides out of the way like a liquid warrior, the X slashing against the door quite harmlessly (although, the poor door must be feeling quite bad, with that burning X in it). The young Brit, in the same motion, swings his energy-charged gun around for a mighty hammer-blow against the back of Roland's head, a nasty blow with nastier consequences. Kerian slides back into his position to prevent Roland's escape, his gun rising back to the man's face.
"Winning by cheating takes all the thrill out of it. You wind up cheapening everything except the money."
He hated people like this. The pleasant, pretty face is dark and enraged - people who cared only for money had cost him his family, had cost him his childhood. It wasn't Roland's fault per se...but he reminded Kerian too strongly of the fake friends and fake allies who were ready to plant a knife in his parents' backs at the first opportunity. He wouldn't go easy on this man.
COMBATSYS: Roland fails to interrupt Medium Strike from Kerian with Cha-Ching.
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Roland 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Kerian
Again he summons a burst of green, this time dancing upon his blade. But he's in a piss poor position to retaliate, and is slammed heavily for his trouble. He drops to his knees, letting out a somewhat laughable squeak and grasping his head, eyes watering from the pain of being constantly struck there. Okay, so he's seemingly not going to be able to strongarm his way out of this. Not that he even has anything to escape with... all his hard earned stealings are scattered across the ground! "Yeesh... maybe I NEEDED the money!" he grumbles, pushing up and backing away. The man doesn't much like what he's seeing in the other person'
s face, and raises his hands in a placating gesture. "If it's any consilation, your hand would of won!"
Kerian swings his gun down to Roland's other leg as the man crouches. The coldness in those icey blue eyes is actually quite disturbing, and it's only at the last second that he swings the gun up again, firing off a quick burst of chi bullets. As the bullets rush towards Roland, Kerian spins his gun in his fingers, clenching it tight in his fist. His knuckles are almost white, and the coldness is replaced by a chilled, icey rage. Even despite his hate for Roland's kind, the man wasn't responsible for what had happened - he couldn't take it out on this poor man. Sure, he was a cheat, a con artist, and a bottom-dweller, but that wasn't the point - he wasn't responsible and it wasn't his fault.
The rage doesn't cool, though. He would channel that hate into his attacks, and he'd teach the fellow a lesson about trying to scam innocent people like that.
COMBATSYS: Roland dodges Kerian's Crippling Shot.
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Roland 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Kerian
Well, more then anything Roland's a survivor. Although he remains relatively sure that the man has no intent to kill him, there's at least one person out there that's deadlier, and with good cause. Another enemy on his long list won't affect things in the grand scheme. He falls backwards, planting his hand behind and swirling, shoulder hitting the ground hard as he rolls sideways. Bullets impact the floor adjacent, before he picks himself back up. "Tch..." is all he offers, seeming to be losing some of his humor. It's just a card game, and he didn't even get away with the money! A complete lack of empathy, in other words. His foot sizzles through the air... in an attempt to arc between Kerian's legs, and nail him where the nailing is good. Rather hard, but more intended to stagger him then anything else. No rules but the rules you make, after all!
COMBATSYS: Kerian dodges Roland's Light Kick.
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Roland 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Kerian
Kerian leaps straight up. It's an impressive leap - most humans can't go straight up about 8 feet from rest, and the two small craters of discharged chi are a testament to that. He raises his gun, falling as his hair spreads into wide, gossamer wings not by design, but simply by the sheer size and motion of them.
The gun swings down for the man's head - that seemed to be his weak point, and Kerian was determined to take full advantage of that. He wasn't deadly, but he was angry, and the man's underhanded motions and fighting left much to be desired.
Not that there were any real rules in a fight. Only idiots called 'cheating' in combat.
COMBATSYS: Roland fails to interrupt Fierce Strike from Kerian with House Rules.
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Roland 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Kerian
Well, Roland would think he never gives up, but he already has. Such might be an odd thing for someone so confident, but his heart has left this battle. It's something more then an escape he's aware, but the demoralizing losses at the onset have taken toll. Yet that doesn't mean he's going to roll over! Kerian is moving quite slowly, and there's a chance. Not good, or bad, a flip of the coin to bridge the gap. Gritting his teeth, he slips both hands within his jacket, but no good. Slow for Kerian isn't slow for the rest of the world, and that damnable speed pre-empts whatever he had prepared. Crack. Roland's head is actually a lot thicker then most, he has come to understand, especially with his oddly armored hat. But it still hurts; the latter is knocked straight off his head, and he goes down. Hard enough that the ground cracks beneath, and he's completely askew. But still conscious, if rising too slowly to do much. "Hhhgh... y,you done yet?" is croaked, blood pouring from nose and the side of his mouth now. He seems to have finally thrown in the proverbial towel and prepared himself for a whipping! That he deserves, but god's is he going to admit that to HIM. Karma is no safer from his revenge then anyone else...
Kerian raises his gun to Roland's face quite calmly, then swings it down to his arm. He takes a final shot at the man, but not meant to hurt him - no, it's meant to shoot the deck of fake cards hidden in his sleeve, a point to he'd decided to make - quit cheating.
Once the shot has gone off, he swings his gun around and rests it against his shoulder. "Get out," he says coldly, digging into his pocket and flicking a ten-dollar bill at the man. "And buy yourself a bloody meal if you need it so badly."
What really pissed him off - what pissed off the prettyboy almost more than the actual cheating, the money-grubbing, the personality - was that he'd actually looked forward to a good high-stakes game, and here this fellow could've provided it...and instead he'd just been another con artist.
COMBATSYS: Roland blocks Kerian's Magnum Blast.
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Roland 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Kerian
The conman hefts up his forearms, and catches the shot. It clangs off steel reinforcement, denying the attempt to slough away his cheating cards. But he is at least pleased to find he won't be unconscious this time around, wobbling in a crouch and pulling his hat to his hand by a glimmering wire to plop back atop his blood matted hair. "..." He does snatch up the ten, and then gets fully upright. "Well, you woulda won the hand." he manages, rubbing the stream of blood from his face with the back of a hand. "So keep the pot." He gestures at the spread out bills, and then wobblingly heads to the door, unlocking it and ambling out unless he's otherwise cold cocked from behind. Ouch. So he's down a couple hundred, but up ten... He could be worse off! His teeth are all in his head, after all.
COMBATSYS: Roland takes no action.
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Roland 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Kerian
Kerian snorts as the man leaves, kneeling to take the pot and leave it on the bar. It would pay for damages - that was enough.
Slowly, the fighter opens the door for the other man. As soon as the conman is out of the bar, he slams the door behind him and stalks back over to the toppled table, kneeling to pick it up and right it angrily.
It was Roland's good fortune, perhaps, that the young man wasn't angry enough to pursue him. Otherwise, the con man might've found those teeth he so prided knocked out - and furthermore, he wouldn't've left that ten in his hand.
Kerian slowly sinks back down into the chair, spinning the gun idly around his finger. "So then," he says after calmly inhaling, "Who's up for another round?"
COMBATSYS: Kerian takes no action.
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Roland 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Kerian
COMBATSYS: Roland has left the fight here.
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Kerian 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Kerian has ended the fight here.
Log created on 18:36:49 11/11/2008 by Kerian, and last modified on 21:30:35 11/11/2008.