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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 10:48:13 GMT -5
"Of course you didn't drink that much wine," B'ren teased. "You were too busy staring at me." It didn't help he was vain, but the one thing you learned while growing up as a Trader was that you used your charisma to your advantage. Many people had often been taken in by his innocent boyhood looks when he was younger, and even to this day he still relied on his endearing charm to fool the unwitting. So far, it seemed to be working on Tanly. He'd never admit it, but he actually liked the pretty Green Rider and thought about making her his weyrmate a time or two. B'ren hated the thought of being alone, which was why he had his Chiath...but his dragon couldn't quite help him get over that minor detail when it came to members of the opposite gender, such as Tanly.
On the other hand, he was so afraid of saying something to offend a woman or pull some stunt he'd regret later and therefore destroying a relationship...he was afraid of commitment. B'ren would put long odds on himself that a woman would actually be willing to put up with him but still love him for who he was, keeping any sort of relationship alive.
Tanly had asked him if she could change into something dry. Glancing over at her, the scoundrel in him just couldn't resist looking at the woman's lovely form, her damp clothes still clinging to her. He gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure, I guess. Though if you want to borrow my tunic, you're welcome to it."
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 11:10:38 GMT -5
"Oh, I just made you think that's what I was doing," she innocently. Although she had been caught red handed. She had been staring at him a couple times when she should have been paying attention to the game. She couldn't help herself. She thought he was handsome even if he was a rogue and had probably bedded three quarters of the females at the Weyr already.
Although the green rider tried to stay on her toes around him. She wasn't sure if she was ready to get caught up in his ways. She feared once she gave in, she'd be hooked and she didn't want to be left high and dry while he moved onto someone else.
Tanly narrowed her stormy eyes. "And now who's getting distracted?" she teased. "Maybe I should take you up on the offer of your tunic. I bet I could distract you while playing and win back my marks," she taunted him, very very tempted to take him up on the offer of his tunic.
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 11:59:39 GMT -5
B'ren merely shook his head but couldn't help but shoot Tanly a knowing look. He knew she had been staring at him during their last match, but she'd never openly admit it to him. Granted, he nearly gave in to her womanly charms, but tried to play it cool. But when she commented about possibly borrowing his tunic, then distract him while winning back her marks, well...
The Brown Rider led the way into one of the lower storage rooms where the wine was kept. Taking a bottle, B'ren then headed up to the kitchen to grab two goblets before making way to Tanly's weyr. He waited for her to go in first before he followed. "I hope you remembered to bring the cards with you along with some marks," he challenged. Setting the goblets down on the table, he uncorked the bottle and poured some wine into each one, then handed a goblet to Tanly before taking the other and toasted her. "May the profits be as sweet as the betting, and may the company be even sweeter." Tossing back his drink, B'ren set his goblet down and refilled his goblet, then waited for his fellow Rider to be seated before taking the seat opposite of her.
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 12:14:42 GMT -5
Tanly figured it was best not to comment on their last match anymore. It would only get in trouble and she had a feeling that B'ren had already seen through her story. Although she planned on not getting that distracted again. She'd prove that she could beat him at Dragon Poker just like she had claimed.
The green rider followed him to the storerooms. She shook her head with a chuckle. She could see it was going to be a long night. At least she didn't have drills in teh morning. "Oh, I have the cards," she assured him. "But did you bring your marks?" She was determined to win back some of what she had lost to the handsome rider before. Tanly stepped into her weyr, debating on changing. She soon decided against it and just unbraided her hair to allow it dry quicker. "And to winning my marks back," she grinned as she slid into a chair and took a drink of wine.
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 14:01:02 GMT -5
"Oh, I have the marks," B'ren patted the pouch attached to his belt, then watched as Tanly let her hair down. A playful grin came to the scoundrel's face, then as the pretty Rider set her goblet down he refilled it for her. Taking the seat opposite from her, B'ren untied the pouch from his belt, then put it on the table, spilling its contents. Stacking them in neat piles of one hundred, he slid one column of them into the middle.
"Ante up," he said, the laugh lines in his face fading, ridding itself of all emotion. "Your turn to deal."
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 14:16:36 GMT -5
Tanly rolled her eyes. "You'd think you planned this from the beginning," she smiled, getting up to get her own pouch. She had already bought what she had needed, so she didn't have to worry if she did lose. She chuckled as she sat back down with her own pouch and pushed the required amount to the middle of the table.
"Alright then," she said, picking up the deck. She shuffled the cards before passing out the appropriate number, making sure to put on her best poker face. Which at times wasn't real good, but she was going to try hard tonight.
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 14:33:38 GMT -5
B'ren lifted the edge of his hole cards and studied them carefully. Typically, in a traditional match of dragon poker, you'd place your bet after the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth card was dealt to you, and one more after your final card was dealt. But since it was just the two of them, there wasn't any need for the additional rounds of betting. Also, your best six cards from the nine were presented as your hand.
What was showing on his side of the table were five face-up cards; a four, two sixes, a ten, and a dragon. Not wanting to give anything away or any indication of what his hole cards were, he calmly pushed another stack of marks into the middle. "Raise you a hundred marks," B'ren said.
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 14:38:50 GMT -5
Tanly studied her cards, not wanting to give them away. They weren't bad, but they weren't the best hand she had ever had. But oh well, it was only the first round. Besides, she didn't know what B'ren held, so her cards may turn out to be just fine.
She looked at B'ren's hand her own. She had a pair of fours, a two, a nine, and dragon. She thought for a minute before pushing a stack toward him. "I'll take that raise," she said. "And add 25." No sense in going too big too fast. First hands could break you if you weren't careful.
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 14:47:29 GMT -5
He arched an eyebrow at Tanly as she raised him another twenty-five marks, then looked down at her cards. It was possible, however unlikely, that she had another dragon in her hole cards, or any other cards that could give her a decent winning hand. B'ren let his eyebrow rest, then slid another twenty-five marks into the middle. "I don't think you have a winning hand, Tanly. In fact, I'd be willing to bet my boots on it." Setting his hole cards face-down, he reached under the table and tugged his boots off his feet, then placed them into the middle where the marks were. B'ren then took another sip of his wine, then poured himself and Tanly some more.
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 14:53:46 GMT -5
The green rider kept a straight face. She knew it was a slim chance that she could pull off a win, but then again, his cards could be bad too. "Oh, wouldn't you like to know," she purred. "You just never know what I may have hiding under my cards." Tanly actually burst out laughing at this offer. "And what would I do with a pair of men's boots?" she asked with a grin. "And you don't seriously expect me to bet mine. I just got them back."
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 15:02:55 GMT -5
"I've never known you to back down, Tanly," the Brown Rider said coolly. "As for what you would do with a pair of men's boots, well...that's up for you to decide, isn't it?" B'ren casually tossed his tunic into the middle of the table as well, then wriggled in his chair and tossed his breeches in the middle as well. "I really don't think you have the cards, sweetheart. Though if you were to beat me I do have the marks to win my clothes back."
He took another sip of his wine, and waited.
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 15:08:11 GMT -5
Tanly narrowed her eyes. "I never said I was going to back down," she shot back. The green rider shook her head. "I guess I could find some use for them," she agreed impishly. She watched in surprise as he added his shirt and pants to the mix. "Let me guess, to stay in the game I have to match your bet," she said, reaching down to pull her boots off. She just hoped to Faranth that her cards were good enough.
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 15:21:57 GMT -5
B'ren simply grinned when Tanly was irritated at the thought of her backing down from a challenge, but decided she could find a use for his boots. What she wasn't expecting was an even bolder challenge; B'ren betting his clothes just to prove his point. To see just how far Tanly was willing to go just to win.
He simply swirled the last bit of wine in his goblet, then looked at the Green Rider. "You haven't touched your wine, my dear," he said softly. B'ren didn't have to say anything about Tanly matching his bet. She'd either fold or she'd match his bet, then call his bluff.
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Post by sorra on Jul 30, 2010 15:26:46 GMT -5
Tanly tried to keep a frown off her face. She hadn't expected to go this far with their game. At least not on the first hand. Not when neither one of them were even close to drunk. She had only drank about half a glass. Although she wasn't about to back down from the challenge. Especially when it was B'ren's.
"Does that bother you?" she asked innocently as she finished her glass. The green rider soon tossed her boots on the table before slowly adding her still wet shirt and shorts, leaving her in wet underclothes. Her long hair fall over her shoulders. "Alright, call," she said.
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Post by Kendrall on Jul 30, 2010 15:35:55 GMT -5
B'ren watched as Tanly added her boots, her cut-offs and tunic, leaving her clad in her undergarments. He had to give her some admiration for her courage and tenacity, but the way her hair spilled past her shoulders and the way her minimal clothing still clung to her body was nothing short of breathtaking. Still, the scoundrel in him had to stay focused.
He poured her another glass of wine as she called his bluff. Taking each of his hole cards, one at a time, he flipped them over, then took his best six and slid them forward, discarding the three lowest ones.
Three sixes and three dragons. A "Full Belly". Knowing it was highly unlikely Tanly had anything that could beat his hand, B'ren started to reach for the marks and the clothing in the middle. "You do realize if you keep this up, you'll have nothing to bet with except for your remaining clothing," he teased.
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