This is a belated sequel to Games We Play. (If you haven't read it, you might want to do so first) A few quick notes on the the game played: a Set is three or four cards of the same number, a Run is three or more cards of the same suit in sequence. Sets and Runs are both types of Melds. Deadwood is any card not part of a meld. (For those interested, Wikipedia lists basic rules for several versions of the game.)
C & C is welcome!
Standard disclaimer: I don't own a thing! (Wouldn't mind that deck of cards though...)
Raising the Stakes - Part 1
"Isn't this a bit late?"
Xelloss looked up at the sudden comment, closing his book. If he was surprised that Lina would actually visit him late at night, he didn't show it.
"I'm afraid work kept me from delivering it sooner."
Rather than inquiring, Lina leaned against the open doorframe, casually throwing a dark purple envelope on his bed.
"Rather fancy for a simple invitation. Then again, we both know how deceptive appearances can be."
He picked up the envelope then, flashing her a knowing smirk even as he withdrew the invitation in question.
"Says the beautiful sorceress to the charming Mazoku; or is that the destructive glutton to the treacherous monster?"
Pushing off the doorframe, Lina took a few steps into the room, leaving just enough clearance to close the door behind her.
"You know I should hurt you for that, right?"
Flashing a lascivious grin, he leaned forward a bit. "Why don't you?"
Grinning a bit despite herself, she decided to meet his challenge. "Three reasons. First off, I know you'd only enjoy it, which really defeats the purpose, don't you think? Second, I know you're speaking about outside perception, not your own."
"And third?"
Making her way to a lone chair on one side of the room, she took a seat before answering.
"Third, the dead don't generally make good opponents…at least not intelligent and challenging ones."
Despite his casual pose, Lina didn't miss the spark of interest in his eyes. Clearly she wasn't the old, unsure Lina anymore…and from the look on his face, he obviously liked the change.
"So then you agree to-"
"I haven't agreed to anything…yet."
Xelloss only looked at her, a dark smile of triumph flitting across his face.
Getting to her feet, Lina crossed the room, eventually snatching the invitation from his hands.
Smile all you want, Xelloss; this year we'll be playing onmy terms.
Glancing down, her eyes traced the gold scrollwork decorating the invitation's border. Similarly gold letters covered the center, handwritten in an elegant script, the letters standing out sharply against the black background.
Trust Xelloss to make certain even his invitations are elegant. Then again, everything he does has a certain style to it…especially his plans.
"You are invited to partake in a an anniversary celebration. Food and drink will be provided, along with excellent company. Games will be held, an appropriate tribute to the day of romance." Looking past the invitation, she caught Xelloss' eye.
"Certainly you remember our innocent game of chess…" He started, his tone full of implications.
Blushing a bit, Lina quickly smothered the reflexive action. Things would be different this time; one year could change a person…and she certainly wasn't about to let Xelloss win twice in a row.
"Innocent game of chess, my ass!" She snapped, hoping he wouldn't notice how nervous she really was. "Rarely can anything associated with you be considered innocent, Xelloss."
Gently, as if trying to bend the wildest of fires to his will - which perhaps he was - Xelloss reached out to grasp Lina's hand.
"A fact I take considerable pride in, let me assure you."
When she didn't immediately react in a violent manner, he pressed his advantage. "Wasn't our game…exhilarating?"
Blushing wildly, Lina didn't respond. Instead she looked down, as if suddenly fascinated with the sight of her feet. He could sense her annoyance at the instinctive response, but he had the grace not to show it. For all that he loved teasing her, too much anger would spoil his plans for the evening.
"I was thinking we might play another game this year…"
Though she only twitched slightly, he could almost taste the excitement she wouldn't show.
Interested, are you? How shocked would your little gang be, seeing this wildly dark side of you, hmm? Ah…but then I know you even better than you know yourself, Lina. Certainly better than your so-called 'friends' do. Let them buy the image you project, the base impressions you hide behind. Far harder to bluff one that deals with emotion. Not that I would ever dream of using such a thing to my advantage.
He knew the kind of secrets Lina fought so hard to hide; those hidden sides never meant for casual eyes. Like any good secret, he would keep them to himself. Who better to treasure such rare prizes?
"Rather than exhilarating, I was thinking of something a bit more…intoxicating this time." She commented softly, still looking downward.
"Pardon?"
"Gin."
Startled, Xelloss looked up just as Lina did. Rather than some confused mesh of emotion, open challenge sparked behind a crimson sheen.
Just when did a flustered heart bloom into fiery challenge? And how long have you been keeping this choice secret from me, Lina?
"This year we'll play Gin Rummy." She continued, oblivious to his thoughts. "I assume you have some sort of Mazoku cards, right?"
Rather than fight the idea, Xelloss got to his feet. "But of course."
A short time later, they had a table and chairs setup. They'd had to borrow the second chair from Lina's room, but it was easier than moving the table, which her room lacked. No one would say it, but she knew they always gave her the room with the least furniture. Fireballs and a wild temper could make for some nasty property damage...and steep repair bills.
Finally they both took their seats, Lina eager to get on with things before she changed her mind. It was one thing to decide on a course of action; actually going through with it was a different story.
Giving her one of his more charming smiles – the kind she knew was more flash than substance – Xelloss produced a deck from nowhere. Adding the appropriate flourish, he spread the cards out on the table between them.
"Will these do?"
Leaning in, Lina looked the deck over with a critical eye. Xelloss appreciated quality as much as she did, but she also knew better than to take anything he did – or owned – at face value.
The cards themselves were a rich purple bordered in black. A dizzying pattern of circles scrolled across the backs of the cards; for all that the symbols themselves were unfamiliar, Lina couldn't miss the unmistakable fool of magic rolling off them. Satisfied, she twirled a finger. Xelloss quickly obliged her request, flipping the entire deck like someone experienced with gambling.
And I bet he can guess any card I pick from the deck, too. Still, he's a good showman, I'll give him that.
"Thank you, Xelloss."
"My pleasure."
Rather than start another round of banter, Lina resumed her inspection. At first glance the deck seemed standard enough, but a second look at the face cards proved otherwise. Every card from the jack up had been replaced entirely; instead of Jack, Queen, King, Ace, the cards now went Knight, General, Priest, and Lord. Odder still, some of the new cards bore artistic depictions of familiar faces. Luna as the Knight was understandable enough; for all that they served opposing powers, that didn't mean you were limited to simple hatred. Lina herself knew that sometimes a friend could be a rival; one moment you could share a meal, the next you might fight to the death on opposing sides in a war. It was a simple truth...one she'd learned firsthand long ago.
Moving on, she stared at the next card in confusion. "Why am I the General, Xelloss? I can see why my sister is the Knight, but I'm no Mazoku, let alone a high-ranking one!"
From across the table, Xelloss shot her sly look. "This is my personal deck, Lina."
"So?"
"You must allow a man his dreams, my dear."
Blushing, Lina decided not to ask for further explanation. "...I see."
She didn't need to ask about the Priest; she knew Xelloss served two roles, but most preferred his trickster priest label. It probably didn't hurt that the Queen and King traditionally made a good pairing in several card games. Xelloss never turned down an opportunity to get close to her...even in card form, it seemed.
When she got to the Lord card, Lina paused. She didn't recognize the blond woman, but something about it told her she should.
"Who is this? I feel like I should know her."
Leaning forward, Xelloss separated the Ace – or rather, Lord – of Hearts from the rest of the deck.
"Ah...trust you to have a sharp eye, Lina. Well, I did say this was my deck; who better to play the Lord than my own Master?"
Snagging the card for herself, Lina studied the blond figure for a moment. "The highest position goes to the one with the power to keep it. Fair enough."
She threw the card down, watching it slide lightly across the table. When it finally reached the rest of the deck, Xelloss gathered all the cards in a single gesture and set about shuffling them.
"If power goes to the strong, how does she feel about a game where the aces can only be played in a low set?"
Slapping the cards on the table, he smirked.
"Even Lords must occasionally lead directly. Rather than a low position, think of it as simply standing in the forefront." He said. Then he was all smiles again. "Would you mind cutting the cards?"
"Of course."
The game began easily enough after that. As with their game of chess, they passed the time talking about all manner of things. As the first hand progressed, Lina couldn't help noticing how similar the two games really were. Each required a certain amount of strategy; you crafted your moves toward a specific outcome, dancing around your opponents movements even as you made your own. Instead of capturing pieces and evading a similar fate, you carefully constructed melds, be they sets or runs. Every bit of deadwood you discarded could prove the key to victory for your opponent…and so another dance began, trying to predict just who needed what, along with how many potential uses each card held.
Once I would've said I was reading too much into a simple game. Now, after getting so close to Xelloss, I'm starting to see just how many games there really are in life…and the various levels of complexity attached to each one.
Discarding a two of clubs, Lina suddenly realized that the shift in attitude didn't bother her as much as it should have. A year ago - during their chess game, perhaps - she would've shuddered at the thought. Just how much had Xelloss corrupted her by simple association?
He would call it enlightenment; one person simply educating another about the real state of the world. Is opening ones eyes to other possibilities really so wrong? Just because I can see more options now, it doesn't mean I'll act on them.
"Gin."
Lina was startled from her thoughts. Glancing down, she made a face at the neat victory laid out on the table. His first meld was a nice 3-4-5 run of hearts…of which she'd needed the five to complete a run of her own. Without it, she had two random fives taking up space in her hand. Beside the run he displayed another group of four cards; as if the set of twos wasn't bad enough, he'd also used her last discard to complete the meld. Last came another set, the second one formed from three ten cards…one of which she'd been hoping to use herself to finish a 9-10-Knight run.
Fanning her own cards on the table with a sigh, Lina shot Xelloss a dark look. Every useless card means another piece of deadwood and another batch of points for Xelloss. Joy.
"Looks like we needed some of the same cards…only you got there first." She snapped. "And because you went Gin, I can't even lay off my deadwood!"
"Perhaps I simply love points like you love treasure, Lina."
"Keep it up Xelloss; then you'll get to see how much I love setting you on fire!"
Knowing when to push and when to stay silent, he changed the subject.
"Ah, a diamond majority. Well, that should set the scene for you." He remarked. "It should compliment my spade majority nicely though."
"Scene? What are you-" She started, only to stop abruptly as she remembered their previous game.
I remember…of course I remember. Wasn't that part of the reason I decided to play again?
It was so easy to forget one thing in the wake of another…especially when Xelloss was involved. He had a talent for misdirection, a skill she'd witnessed firsthand more than once over the years.
For one brief moment, she wondered if her plan had already been undone.
No, I can still regain control. This is only the first move in our little dance, one hand of many to come. And it couldn't hurt to let Xelloss think he has the upper hand again.
Regaining her composer, she hid her thoughts behind a fiery smile. "Ah, of course. I hope this time will prove just as interesting."
This time I plan to earn a real victory, too. No bets or deals to give you the outcome you want, no game played with the victor already decided.
She knew that sometimes you had to accept a small loss to attain a greater victory. Now it was time to remind Xelloss of such things.
Unaware of her thoughts, Xelloss gave her a mock bow. "I aim to please."
As if those words were some sort of cue, the magic chose that moment to flare to life.
Familiar mists wasted no time in claiming her, their touch somehow delicate and formal, as if they recognized her. The room around her faded out after that, swallowed by grey shadows that sprang up from nowhere. Distantly she caught sight of Xelloss waving, before the real world disappeared in a haze of darkness and powerful magic.