[Ostara] The Card Tables

"Hey, thanks." Dan smiled and accepted the glass. He took a quick sip and set the glass in one of the removable steel cupholders lining the table. 

Taking a moment to appraise his handiwork, Dan nodded with some degree of confidence, "Yeah, I think so. Hua's going to make the announcement once he's all set, and then we just see where we go from there."

Though this was not Dan's first night behind the felt, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation at the coming event. By now, it was a familiar sensation - the same one that crept in every night before his shift, but now it was amplified as if everything was riding on it. He and Hua had been kicking the plan back and forth ever since Imbolc, but the dream really became a reality once Henley told them about the place and the opportunities it presented to them.

"Should be a good crowd, I think." Croupier added with a measure of optimism, "Otherwise I'm heading up and giving one of those pools a shot."

"Seems straightforward enough," Lotus said with a nod and a smile as Yuan laid out the evening before them.

"Do you prefer I give warnings to cheaters or I inform you first of cheaters before I ask them to leave on the spot?" It was a basic practice question.

When Henly joined She turned her attention from her co-workers of the evening and gave him a welcoming smile.

"A pleasure to finally meet you Mr Henley. You have quite the reputation forming" He had made quite a name for himself and outback of late and anyone paying attention had heard his name prior.

She leaned a little to present a hand to him as he was already seated, to give him a greeting handshake.

"Welcome to the table, may I do a quick safety check sir? I apologize, but given last time I want to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe." It was her job after all.

In fact the Riddle seeker was beyond professional. Striking a precarious balance between charming and welcoming, while also establishing her role. If Henly agreed, the check would be quick and efficient, doing a quick well-practiced pat of the jacket and legs to ensure no weapons, or cards were on his person.

"Do you play cards often?" She asked to break the ice of the search.

The flood of Emerald influence was intense as Yuan dragged over high rollers as the bets began to escalate. When Yuan speaks with Zhi and Chugunkin, the latter was inspired to call out to the Sunset Prince himself for a round between them. The Playmate hoped that a game might restore some public morale to see two of the biggest feuders in the Spring conflict put it aside for the Coronation, and it would appear that the pair were accepting of the idea. Buck was eventually dragged away from Kai Rose and Lancelot, who had formed a small group with the Knight of Scales and the Summer Queen. 

The Knight of Coin was making small talk with Lotus and Croupier, happily greeting Nate Henley and ordering bottle service and cigars for the Dawn Host. He was musing on Philicia establishing a pattern in the last couple of Coronations of asking greener members to guide the expectations of the event, before Buck's Mantle hit the table like a truck and Yuan offering a friendly wave over the Golden Hinde's shoulder. 

"Where are the proceeds going to this evening?" Chasseur asked Croupier innocently, dumping a horrendous amount of chips that rapidly isolated those who could participate in the round. Before Yuan could pipe in, the satyr's grin made it clear he was curious what the man would declare without the Playmate's help. A small retinue of middle nobility had also followed suit, putting down pots that were clearly meant to participate in the game of Face that was taking place lest they look cheap or worse, weak in their respective empires.

Before Yuan even had the time to formulate a coherent response, Buck was already grilling to newer members of the court. He stifled a giggle and kept a straight face as he watched Croupier come up with a reply.



He simply waited to see if he Golden Hind would address him at all, or if he would need to smooth things over. Keeping a weary eye on Chugunkin, the Beast moved closer to the table, ready to fire off the bets.

"You let the Sun's Tongue know that," the former Searce said, offering Miller an out, and levelling a calm eye at Chasseur as the Runnerswift flexed. Buck offered Yuan a wink as he seamlessly shifted the conversation to catch up with those who had gathered at the table. The Magpie chuckled and shrugged with Buck's questions, where the table was about to skip over him, before putting down an opalescent and silver enameled egg ornament made in the style of overlapping flower petals. Chugunkin blinked, before cracking up at the offering and promptly landing a swat on the reedy Beast's back. Whether the Magpie had flinched or stumbled wasn't clear, but he seemed to be partaking in some in-joke with the Knight of Coin. The pale and gaunt beauty sighed and moved to match Buck's bet as Croupier answered, before their nose wrinkled and they held. The ephemeral quality to her mien reminded one of Sir Icarus, and the Onyx bard Lucas Chevalier. Chugunkin spoke Russian in the same jovial tone to the other Spring, sounding like a question, to which her response was snippy, prompting further laughter.

When Hua Yuan heard the Magpie referred to as 'Ruben', his ears burned, with the name having been quietly dropped as the current main source of the Slaver rumors. He needed more time to gain more context on the lead, but for now there was fear and uncertainty around that particular Spring Narco.

Buck titled his head, golden antlers glittering in the evening light, "I'm sure we'll promise match our donations to yours," he chuckled, tipping the drink and evoking the Wyrd itself to the other Springs.