kenoslogs | Closed: Wheel of Fortune II

[ Were it someone else, Yuri would think this was an act. It's a detrimental degree of honesty. While Byleth wasn't entirely without guile if sufficiently motivated, the look on his face doesn't seem like a performance to Yuri. And for better or worse, Byleth's pouting (as he calls it) does have some sway with him. ]

You remember that story you told me about your old man busting up those thieves that were fool enough to mess with him? Sounded like he had a pretty damn good strategy.

[ It's the best hint Yuri can give without outright giving guidance he'd be called out on. If Byleth can remember that particular tale, he could use the same approach Jeralt had — just with cards instead of lowlives. ]

[Not being nearly as familiar with Byleth as Yuri is, Gavial is almost convinced this is some sort of ploy to let him be underestimated. But that look he gives and the follow up Yuri responds with has her second-guessing herself on that front. Unless they’re in on this a joint strategy, in which case…

Man, she’s over thinking things here.]

We’ll chalk that one up as a learning hand, then.

[There’s an easy grin from her as the cards from the last hand are collected and another round is dealt. Does she make a big show of upping the ante on this next bet while simultaneously trying to slip an old card up her sleeve? Perhaps.

Go big or go home?]

[Byleth caught the message, but he wasn't quite sure he'd be able to apply it here. Still, he appreciated the effort, and gave Yuri a nod of understanding as he surrendered his hand (it was completely worthless) and recieved a new one (equally worthless).

He did glimpse Gavial slipping a card up her sleeve, but made no comment. He was pretty certain Yuri had nothing but cards up his sleeve, and if Byleth was a bit more sly with his hand, he would've done the same. But alas, his vambraces make card-sleeve tactics a little difficult.]

That's a very bold bet, Gavial. Are you that confident in your hand?

[He will, however, remark on her upping the ante that much. Bluff? Or confidence?]

[Bold indeed, because she’s not exactly the type to be known for sleight of hand. But she does know the power of unfaltering confidence, and leans on that as she tries to play into the risk of it.]

I’m always confident.

[An easy smile as she taps one finger against the stacked chips of her bet.]

No one’s gonna chicken out, right?

[Her gaze sweeps around the table, daring (provoking?) each gathered player to go along with the higher stakes.]

[ Though Yuri makes his attention less overtly intent, he does observe the others at the table. One seems to be fired up by the challenge, another furtively considers. In the end, they all slide their chips into the pot. ]

Well now, this will be interesting.

[ He only hopes Byleth manages to find his footing. After this, maybe they really ought to spare some time for learning how to turn a game in one's favor. Who knows, some Oracle might require deceit. If only he'd known sooner what sort of games Coalbrand favored...

But time will tell as to how they all fare. Gavial's got the spirit, and that's a start. ]

[Well, since everyone else was upping their bets...

Byleth picked up a few chips - and visibly paused for a moment, his gaze flitting down to the cards in his hand. His expression gave nothing away, but it was clear in that fraction of a second, that the gears in Byleth's head revved up into a fast spin, concocting an idea, encouraged by Yuri's advice and Gavial's boldness.

He set down his chips........ only to scoop up almost all of them, leaving only a scant few as 'insurance', and put them in the pot.

Go big or go home indeed.]

Is that confident enough for you?

[Gavial watches with easy amusement as everyone sets out their chips one by one, eventually letting her gaze settle back on Byleth as he takes that extra moment. …And then blinks in surprise when he raises the stakes even further, before settling on a bit of laughter.]

Must have some darn good prospects with those cards of yours.

[Which of course prompts her to give her own cards another peek, humming a little overly thoughtfully as her attention then slides to the pile of chips before her. Oh, she’s going to have to be really bold to make this work, huh?]

Well, I’m never one to back down from a challenge! [Grinning, she pushes more of own chips into the stakes to match.]

Fortune favors the bold, yeah?

[ Yuri eyes the chips, his companions, the cards... Then slides more of his own over to match. One person at their table folds at the sight of it, while another eagerly follows suit in upping the ante.

With the stakes effiectively ratcheted up, Yuri discards a card and taps the table for another. When he picks it up, he does so carefully, seeing as one of their competitors is practically at his elbow trying to glean any little advantage. ]

Bit crowded over here, friend.

[ The reminder has the fellow leaning away with a huff. ]

[Meanwhile, Byleth is focusing all of his efforts to look like he is entirely confident in his hand, discarding one card and accepting another, and making a quiet humming noise like 'aw yeah, this is all coming together' (it is not coming together).]

Well, I think that's all I need.

[Yup. He's about to win. Guys, he's about to win, says his expression, as he tries to send telepathic commands to those in the game to fold and let him win from sheer audacious bluffs alone.]

[Well, here goes nothing. Gavial decides to take advantage of the way many of the eyes at the table shift to the man Yuri lightly chides and seizes the moment as an opening to go ahead and make a play at swapping one of her cards with the one she’d palmed at the end of the last hand.

Cheating was the spirit of the game they got conscripted into, right? It would be fine.

But Gavial’s never been anything resembling smooth or subtle in her life, and the flatly confident proclamation from Byleth grabs her attention in the midst of the act—slowing her down just enough that another player catches wind of her antics. There’s an accusatory Hey— issued, prompting her to slam her hand down over her cards and immediately glare at them. See? As smooth as a rocky shore.]

‘Hey’ what? You got something to say?

[ Ah yes, they're all doing wonderfully.

In all honesty, Yuri could see this turning into a brawl if no one interferes. While he'd frankly love to spectate that, Gavial being such an enthusiastic combatant, that might not end favorably for them here. So instead he angles his attention toward Gavial's accuser, who is evidently startled by being confronted.

Subtly, he tosses a card beneath the table, right at the player's feet. The smallest measure of a wind spell is perfect for aim. (Thanks Byleth, for helping him nail moderating his spells...) With this preparation complete, he's ready.

Where'd he get that extra card from? Don't worry about it. ]

Looks like something slid out of your sleeve just now.

[ It's clear he's speaking to Gavial's accuser, so starts grumbling about what the hell he's even talking about, only to look down and blanch at the sight of a surplus ace right between their feet. ]

[Byleth keenly watched the minor chaos unfolding at the table: Gavial's blatant cheating, Yuri's attempt to divert focus to the accuser, the other players' side-glances and squinting, as if wondering if their neighbour has also been swiping cards or slipping them out of their sleeves (yes and yes).

This would be the perfect opportunity to slip some favourable cards into his hand....... if he had any. As it was, he had a useless hand and some chaos he couldn't even take advantage of. Well, he still needed everyone to fold somehow...]

It seems our table is rife with dishonest players. [despite his words, his tone is thoroughly flat and apathetic] Maybe for the next round, we should play with our sleeves rolled up, to ensure fairness?

[Beat.]

Or shirtless.

[Oh, all this chaos is fun, and Gavial’s getting riled up. Which is great and all, but it does mean she’s getting a little too into defending her cheater's honor (???) and rather this would turn into a little bit of a brawl. Y’know, for some spice.

Which in the end does mean she’s sneering at the one who accused her after Yuri’s little sleight of hand shifts the suspicion right their way. And while the appearance of that ace certainly catches them by surprise, the taunts from Gavial only start to stir up an argument between the two of them—eventually leading to her getting fed up and abruptly standing up to plant a knee on the felt-lined tabletop, beginning to clamber right over and turn this into a fight.

At least, until Byleth chimes in with his own solution. There’s a beat of silence dropping on the chaotic scene in the wake of it, one broken by a stunned laugh from Gavial, who turns her attention his way.]

You want to turn this into strip poker? Didn’t figure you for that kinda guy.

[ Yuri eyes Byleth curiously, then Gavial, then Byleth again. If nothing else, these two ensure that nothing about this venture is remotely dull. He yields little reaction to the proposal, internally debating just how that would work if it was even permitted, and not quite certain what Byleth's angle is.

It's possible he's hoping people will balk at the suggestion, and at least one person seems to be doing just that, but it would complicate things. ]

You think this place goes in for that kind of thing?

[ It's cue for him to make an exaggerated performance of looking around for anyone who might be playing a strip game, even if he knows full well there weren't any such tables coming in. ]

Yes.

[What's he saying 'yes' to? Gavial or Yuri? It doesn't matter! The fact is, Byleth seems to have decided to go all in on whatever bewildering scheme his mind had latched onto, and he actually started to... stand up?]

You see, it's something we did often, back in Jeralt's mercenary company. When you deal with a group of inebriated mercenaries who want to win at all costs, you need to take drastic measures to ensure honesty. As we're all arguing who's cheating, isn't this the perfect solution?

[He set his hand down, face down, on the table, and... hm.]

To show my earnestness, I'll go first.

[HE'S GONNA STRIP!?]

Unless... that's too much for everyone here?

[Oh, yeah. He's definitely trying to make people baulk and just straight up leave the table (him and Gavial are definitely going to get removed at this point...).]

[Gavial is now turning to sit more fully on the table to watch as Byleth gets into his antics, heedless of the way her tail upsets the pile of chips placed up for bet.]

Wow, guess you gotta show ‘em how it’s done—

[Oh, she is definitely here to egg him on, but she cuts herself off abruptly when she realizes that two of the people in charge of making sure no one gets up to trouble in here—well-dressed and stern-faced—have stepped up behind him.]

Hah, I guess the ones running this place aren’t too keen on the idea, Byleth.

[She nods her head towards those two… and a moment later realizes that one of them is giving her a pointed stare between the table she’s seated on and back up to her face.]

Wait, seriously? [She taps her palm against the tabletop.] C’mon, this is nothing. Standard fare for a card game where I’m from.

[Girl, this is a fancy place with rules…]

[ And just like that, their little circus is getting its tent taken down before there's a show to be seen. Yuri can't say he's especially surprised. The three of them are mercenaries, accustomed to dealing with rough customers on a regular basis and any gambling is done with the same. He doubts a one of them has ever even been in a place like this.

Even in his tenure as a living accessory to Adrestian nobles, Yuri could safely say he'd not been trotted around this particular sort of establishment. ]

Hey now, no one's trying to start any trouble—

[ He begins, putting on a disarming smile, but the suits inform them there's a zero-tolerance policy on disruptive behavior. And on cheating, which heralds the arrival of another well-dressed figure behind the player Yuri had planted a card on. It would seem their game is left with only two players, one of which is him.

Yuri heaves a sigh, supposing it falls to him to win this. Fortunately, he is actually good at counting cards, and he suspects he knows how their hands compare already. ]

What a shame, I'd have liked to see how spicing it up worked out for us all. But I guess we'd best call it, hm?

[ His remaining competition agrees, and their hands go down... Revealing that Yuri had indeed put together a winning one. He puffs out a relieved sigh, then promptly turns to talk the suits out of doing anything too extreme about his friends just being used to different ways of play.

That's one win for the team. ]

Closed: Wheel of Fortune II

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dramatic re-enactment of this thread (gavial and byleth are sharing the jail cell)