Hand of Cards
Luxord was looking at Kingdom Hearts, watching the hearts sail skyward toward the moon.
Ah, that would be Roxas.
Roxas was the key to their plan, that is, one of them. Turning back to the other members in the "lounge" Luxord said,
"Now, Axel, if you would be interested in that card game I'm ready to begin."
Axel looked bored, but got to his feet and sat across the table from him. Larxene came over, peering down at them as Luxord set up the card game.
"What's that?"
"A game Axel and I play every other day. We're quite the experts at it, all though…" Luxord smiled slightly. "The score is eighteen to nine, my favor."
Larxene sneered at Axel, "Trying to beat Luxord at card games is hopeless."
"Of course, but I've managed to do it nine times. I swear he cheats." Axel replied.
As Luxord laid the cards down on the table, the rhythm familiar, he was thrown back in time.
Ulrod was a man that enjoyed gambling, one of his many human flaws. The bright casino lights shed down on him as he expertly shuffled the cards.
"Yo, Luxord, you ready?" Axel said, knocking Luxord from his daydream. Luckily the motions of the cards were so familiar Luxord had still been shuffling the cards (in a rather show offy manner). Smiling again, Luxord spread the cards out.
"Just making sure they're shuffled well."
"Course you are." Axel muttered.
Unfortunately an audience had gathered to watch the usual card game. Roxas came over, pushing Larxene aside, to stand beside Axel. Xion even hung near the back of the group. The only members not present were Saix, Zexion, Xaldin, and Xemnas. The group seemed to be sure how to play the game too.
"Your move, Axel."
Axel stared at the cards for a moment, and then flipped one over. It was an ace. Axel looked almost smug. Roxas just stared blankly, and Luxord was aware that even though he was here he really wasn't.
Luxord smiled again, flipping over another card, revealing a two. Two meant you could flip another card over, and if it was a two, then you could keep flipping.
The game continued, the crowd giving out pointers on how to win. Vexen seemed to take it upon himself to dictate whether or not the game was rigged. So far the game was about even, with six cards left.
Axel remained expressionless but his eyes flashed. He flipped over three cards in quick succession. "A joker."
No one knew the deck better than Luxord, and, well, he was pretty sure those two cards were the remaining aces. He smirked, flipping over the last joker and flipping over the aces.
"I win again! One more time?"
Axel groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"I want to try."
Everyone stared in "surprise" at Roxas, who Luxord had been sure wasn't paying attention. Roxas's blue eyes were intent and focused on the deck.
"Sure, why not?'
Collecting the cards and reshuffling them Luxord listened to Axel trying to talk Roxas out of it, and giving pointers at the same time. The crowd did the same.
"You can't beat Luxord, Roxas! You haven't even played the game yet!" Axel said.
"If you think you know where a joker is, save it." Larxene said.
"What? And wait for Luxord to pick it?" snorted Vexen.
"Sometimes it's better to hold the cards." Lexaeus growled.
"Sometimes it's better to play them!" retorted Demyx.
The crowd argued but Luxord carefully laid the cards out. This had been his favorite game when he was just Ulrod, and he found it "amusing" that the Organization members seemed to find it "entertaining". Maybe because the castle days were so "boring" with no missions.
"Your move, Roxas."
Roxas thought hard, and to Luxord's "surprise" flipped over nine cards in a row, racking up some good points.
"Bravo, Roxas." Luxord said, flipping over some more cards.
The game continued, with Roxas and Luxord neck in neck. Soon there were only two cards left, one would win the game.
"Left one Roxas!"
"Right one!"
Luxord idly thought how no one was giving him advice, was that a compliment? It was Roxas's turn.
Roxas flipped over the right one. The ace. His face split into a grin, which was really rare.
Luxord stared in "shock", flipping over the three for good measure.
"Bravo, Roxas! Bravo! Best two out of three?"