Also, long chapter to give me more time from Nightodie from KAST
Poker Face by Lady Gaga
"Introducing the White Lotus representative and her bodyguards, the mysterious and enticing Fox!" The announcer called out to the private floor of the casino. Many of the participants looked up to see who the representative of the prestigious organization was. The Blood Pack, Blue Suns, and Eclipse were easily spotted in the room due to the groups' guards wearing their signature armor.
Shepard kept her face perfectly neutral as she descended the stairs. Her hair was up in an elegant twist with a few tendrils hanging down in her face. She was wearing a satin cornflower blue bustier that showed a generous amount of her cleavage, while pushing it up. It was Victorian style with underwire cups and thin shoulder straps. It laced up the front with a contrasting dark blue scalloped lace. There were a few ruffles on the end as well as a small bow in the front where the lace connects at her cleavage. A thin white band was around her neck with a chain leading down to a sapphire fleur-de-lis charm hanging just over her pushed up breasts. She wore a tan skirt that reached down a few inches above her ankles with slits on both sides. The splits climbed up her legs giving everyone a view of the matching thigh highs and the suspenders from her garter belt to them. Shepard had chosen to wear white ankle boots that were a loose at the opening and had two inch high heels that were thick enough to make sure she didn't fall. Around her waist was a loose silver chain, hanging on her waist with a white gem on the end of it. A small leather pouch was on her right leg, visible to the crowd signaling some kind of weapon on her person. To finish it off was a short tan leather jacket that ended just about mid-stomach above her hips.
Behind Shepard was Garrus, he was in turian armor with new guns in their magnetic places. After a long talk with Shepard, he agreed to have new armor identical to his old one. Brian found it hilarious that they were arguing over armor, but let it go. Next to Garrus was Tali, who along with a new shotgun had a new upgrade to her omni-tool to allow it to hack systems quicker than before by bypassing the simple firewalls and codes that are known everywhere. She was also wearing the scarves and wrap that Brian had hand picked for her, it was a dark red cloth that held an old Italian floral pattern in black. She was flustered when he gave it to her, but agreed to wear it after he persuaded her. Miranda wore a black catsuit similar to her white one but with gold accents. She only had accepted the new machine pistol that Brian gave her. Jack had changed from her straps into a black sleeveless leather shirt and black pants with a black leather choker. She stood by a finely dressed Joker as they descended the stairs. The pilot was dressed in a button up white dress shirt and a part of slacks with a blue vest. Instead of the SR-2 hat, he wore a fedora with a blue band and feather coming out of it. He was assisted by a stylish cane that Brian gave him
"We got three knowns Fox, the rest I can't make out." Garrus murmured to her as they all got down from the stairs. Shepard nodded discretely as she made her to the table and area that was reserved for the White Lotus party. According to Brian, everyone was the wait in this floor until all the representatives were on board, meaning no one got to the actually floor where the tournament was taking place.
"I wonder when the last ones will show," Tali said as she sat down. Shepard sat down also, knowing many of the men's eyes were on her as she crossed her legs letting the slit of her skirt fall open. It showed the curve of her thigh reaching up before the skirt hid her ass. Garrus stayed standing as Miranda and Jack also sat down.
"I think we are the last ones," Joker said as he sat down beside Shepard. He raised an eyebrow at the silence. "Damn, you could hear a pin drop. Do you always make an entrance like this?"
"Wolf loves his theatrics and intimidation during his entrance." Shepard answered with a sultry smile. "A little flesh flashing was my way of announcing my presence."
"A little?" Joker questioned. "This is more than a little flesh."
The Commander leaned over to her pilot her eyes twinkling. "Really? I hadn't noticed. Do you want me to go change?" She asked. Before they were guided into this room, a courier was to lead Shepard and her team to the three rooms that were set aside for them. Jack, Tali and Miranda picked one, leaving Garrus and Joker with the other. Shepard was in the biggest room of the three set especially aside for the players of the tournament. She left her luggage still in the bag on the couch in the living room before going out to make sure the rest of her team was ready.
"If you want to I have no objections," Joker said with a bit of caution. Shepard was a different woman when she was acting as the second-in-command for Wolf. "Will this change, involve the lavender thong I saw being tossed around by you and Wolf?"
"Maybe, do you want a private show?" As he began to sputter she spoke again, "Easy Joker," She smiled and sat up. "We just have to through everyone off guard; it's a bit easier to do that while being dressed like this."
"Not for us guys," He murmured causing Tali to silently laugh at him.
Jack smirked at the pilot before turning to scan the crowd. "There are a lot of groups here." She said seeing the different tables.
"How do they keep everyone under control?" Miranda asked.
Shepard shrugged. "Brian didn't explain and I really don't care. I just want to get this show on the road."
Garrus shifted his long gingers twitching. "Four o'clock," He said watching the tuxedo dressed man walk to the bottom stair. All the occupants turned to the man, awaiting him to speak. "Looks like he's the ring leader."
"Or the decoy," Jack stated.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen," He announced with lavish arm gestures. "I hoped all of you enjoy your rooms, because that is your permanent residents while here. Supplies and food will be taken to your ships, but no one is allowed on or off of them. Radio contact will be allowed to check on your crews, but that is all."
"Thank god I got out," Joker said causing Miranda to glare at him.
"All of your organizations have already given us the first buy-in amounts. These will be converted into chips for you to play with. We have taken the liberty of setting each of you up in assigned tables within the poker pit." The man explained. "You are allowed a minimum of two guards in the pit with you. The rest of your detail can play at the casino with our complementary chits of two million per organization after that, you must draw money from your own accounts."
"Sweet," Jack grinned. The Commander shook her head at the convict's enthusiasm.
"Each one of you is playing to win the Prize Artifact along with it, the money you receive from your winnings." The man looked to each of the guests. "The rules are simple. No cheating, that means no biotic or tech skills are allowed. We will be playing the Human version of Texas Hold'em, If you do not like or know this kind of poker, I suggest you leave now or switch your players."
"He's not the leader," Shepard said as she saw the man periodic looking up. Her eyes followed his line of sight to a camera. "The head honcho hasn't reared his ugly head."
"Figures," Garrus replied. "I guess they are not that stupid."
"There will be half hour breaks during the tournament. In that time you may check up on your guard detail or enjoy another part of the casino. Whatever you do during that time is up to you." The man said. "Now, directions to the casino floor will be pinged to the players' omni-tool. The tournament begins in two hours, good luck!" The man turned and disappeared up the stairs.
Around the rooms multiple alerts from the omni-tools went off signaling the message being received. Shepard watched at everyone looked at it but didn't make a move to get up. Glancing at Garrus, who gave her a small nod, she stood up drawing everyone's attention. Ignoring the other groups, she began to move. Though the directions had called for her to go up the stairs, Shepard was smarter. She was scoping out the room while they were getting their introduction. There were hidden elevators in the back.
Joker and the others caught up with her. Jack was sneering at the people who were watching them. Tali, Miranda and Garrus were looking around warily watching in case someone went for their weapons.
"Center of attention," Joker chimed causing Shepard to give a smirk.
"What about you Joker?" She glanced at him, eyeing his outfit and cane as she weaved her way through the crowded tables. "I think you are enjoying the pimp cane that Wolf gave you too much."
"The better to smack some ass with my dear," The pilot replied with a lecherous grin.
"Smack my ass and I'll break your wrists." Shepard answered back with a sweet smile. Joker laughed as they got the back wall.
Miranda tilted her head and examined the wall. It was just a normal wall. "What are we going here?"
"Looks can be deceiving," Shepard said as she passed the holo-chip with the invitation over the sensor on the wall. "Rorthang's owner is testing us." The section of the wall in front of Shepard split open to reveal the hidden elevator. "This elevator will most likely be closed as soon as we use it."
"Suckers will have to find their own shortcut," Jack laughed as they entered the elevator. Once everyone was in, Shepard passed the invite over the sensor again. The holo-chip activated with a message.
'Congratulations on finding the hidden elevator that leads straight to the casino floor. For a bonus, an extra five hundred thousand credits will be added to your courtesy amount.'
"This is awfully generous of them," Tali said.
"No, this is the beginnings of a trap," Shepard just smirked as the elevator doors closed.
Shepard sat at her designated table and seat glancing at the men surrounding her. She had assigned Garrus and Miranda to be the two guards she was allowed to have in the pit. Joker and Jack were overjoyed to be able to play, Tali learning from Joker on how to play roulette and blackjack. She was also making sure the two didn't get in too much trouble. Miranda and Garrus had done a quick scout of the pit before the other players had gotten up there and they each took a side of the pit. It was a good plan considering the other players had their guard details take one side that was in view of them. Smirking, she knew that her team was in the optimal position should they need a way out or to kill someone.
"All in," The man two seats over said pushing in all his chips. He and Shepard were the only two still in for this round. It was round five and many of the lesser organizations had dropped out like flies. The man challenging her bluff was from the Terra Firma party, the secret part of it known as the Firma Federals. This part of the organization dealt with the dirty work TF needed to be done.
Raising an eyebrow, she nodded to her dealer pushing in the corresponding chips. She was currently the chip leader at her table. There was three out of the other nine players left at her table. Leaning back, she watched as the man stood up while watching for the River. The pot in the middle of the table was up to one-point-three million. The flop ended up being the Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades, and a seven of diamonds. The turn was a Queen of clubs. She watched with a small smirk as the river turned out to be a Jack.
"Yes!" The man laughed quickly flipping his cards over to reveal a pair sevens of different suits. "I've got three of a kind!"
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "You must feel proud that is the best hand you've had all game."
The man sneered at her. "Then do better bitch."
"With pleasure," She purred. Slowly she reached out and flipped one of her cards to reveal the Ace of Clubs. Picking up the next card, she quickly allowed a flick of her wrist to send it spinning on top of the pot. The Queen of Hearts stood out proudly on the black chips. "Full House, Aces and Queens high. Sorry, but I win." She watched as the man's face fell.
"That's impossible!" The man said. "I can't lose to a bitch like you!" He tried to jump at her.
In a flash she had one of her push knives in her hand, her hand was around the man's throat while the knife was pressed again his groin. She had managed to stand up and force the man flat on the poker table as he tried to fly over the two players between them, who backed away allowing her room to maneuver the man. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Garrus and Miranda immediately aim their guns at the man's guards who tried to move forward.
"I suggest you take your crew and leave before you lose something more important than money," She pressed down on his pants letting the sharpened edge slice into the fabric of his pants. "Let the big boys continue without you little cockbites in the way." Seeing the casino security coming over, she released the man and put her knife back into it holster on her leg. As he was pulled from the table, she sighed. Sitting back down, she watched and made sure that Garrus and Miranda didn't cause trouble before turning her attention to the table.
The dealer had stacked her chips up already for her. Smiling gently, she took the three hundred thousand from the last win and pushed it over to the dealer. "For you," She said briefly as the announcer called out a break time.
"Thank you ma'am," The dealer said taking his tip. The other two players at her table nodded to her before standing up and moving away. The dealer himself took his money and the deck of cards and left the table too.
Shepard allowed herself time to set up her chips before getting up and going to Garrus and Miranda. The two met her and followed her through the casino in search of Joker and Tali or Jack.
"You have one hell of a bluff call," Garrus murmured.
"In our line of business Garrus, it's mandatory to know how to bluff properly." She said as she went to the three-card poker pit to see Joker and Tali at one of the tables. Walking over to them she watched as Joker lost to a Straight Flush.
"Shit," Joker murmured as he and Tali gathered the chips. They turned to see Shepard. "Hey! How's the tournament going Foxy-mama?"
Garrus and Tali chuckled as Miranda rolled her eyes.
"Great, knocked all but two out of my table." Shepard put her hands on her hips. "You?"
Tali showed Shepard the two stacks of gray chips she had. "We pulled about fifty thousand from the courtesy account. Jack took about the same."
"She probably blew it," Miranda snorted.
Shepard shook her head and helped Tali and Joker with their stacks as they headed to the cashier to convert some of it back to credits. "Well, it looks like you guys tripled your money."
"Seriously," Joker said as he used his cane to walk. He put his chips up as he spoke. "Tali has a knack for roulette!"
"Calculating the odds?" Garrus questioned the quarian as she put her chips up on the counter with Joker, keeping one stack and putting it in a pocket.
"Something like that," Tali sounded smug at being able to be good at a human game.
"Well I'm glad," Shepard smiled at them. "If you guys would, do me a favor and find Jack, I don't want her," She paused as she saw the convict playing craps. The bald woman was currently grinning like the mad woman she was. "Nevermind," She shook her head.
"It looks like she's enjoying herself," Joker said.
"Yea," Shepard agreed. "Look, I have to get back to the table. Take it easy and be careful."
"You know me," The crippled man grinned.
"That's why I'm glad Tali's with you," The Commander said as she turned to go back to the table. Garrus and Miranda were behind her smirking at each other.
Brian was lying on top of one of the metal crates in the cargo bay staring up at the ceiling. He could feel his sister near the top of the station. Smirking, he couldn't believe what outfits she took with her to the casino. It was a good strategy considering. Distract most of the men with a show of skin. Brian sat up as he felt a gentle brush of warmth against his biotics.
"I didn't take you for one to relax in enemy territory," Samara said as she silently walked up to the crate he was on. He turned to look down at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Silent even in heels," Brian said as he jumped down from the crate. "Madonna Justicar," He bowed. "How are you this evening?"
"I am well," She said as she looked at the human. "For one so worried, you seem so relaxed."
"My sister knows how to handle herself Madonna," He explained.
"Yes, I would like to talk to you about the White Lotus." Samara said. She watched with cool eyes as the man's stance tensed up.
"What would you like to know?"
"You are a gang," She kept a sharp eye on him. "One that has hidden in the shadows of the Terminus. I want to know why."
Brian studied the Justicar. He was trying to find out her reasoning behind the question. "What we do is not black or white justicar, it is grayed."
"Grayed?" Samara raised an eyebrow.
"Sometimes in order to do what is right, we have to do what others consider wrong," Brian explained.
"You corrupt justice."
"No," He looked at the asari sternly. "We evade the rules of justice. My people do not harm the innocent."
Samara shook her head. "You say that, but your anger to the Alliance leads me to believe differently."
"My anger is justified!" Brian narrowed his eyes. "The things they have done to Shepard and me," He took a breath before turning his head away from the asari woman. "They will never be able to repay for the damage they have done to us Madonna Samara. Our pain cannot be forgotten or reversed."
The blue woman moved closer to him and put a hand on his cheek. "Pain never fades," She murmured. "But life goes on."
His eyes alighted with his biotics as he reached up and took a hold of the asari's hand. "Not like this," He moved her hand to his heart and pressed it flat against his chest. "Use your biotics Samara," He whispered intimately to her. He stepped closer to her so her body was mere centimeters from being pressed against his. "Feel what they did to me."
The justicar hesitated, but she wasn't sure why though. Staring deeply into Brian's eyes, she let out a long breath before allowing her biotics to ignite around her. Samara's hand instantly tried to jerk back, but the human had a surprising strong grip and held it to his heart. The feeling of his power was unlike anything she has ever felt.
Agony.
That's what Samara felt flood her sense. The fight between his emotions was so intense, even for a thousand year old asari justicar. She gasped as her consciousness began to leave her as Brian let her in deeper into him and that's when she felt it.
The unbridled rage of a god.
Shepard stood in front of the railing of the observation desk. Last night had been a good night. The last two gentlemen were good poker players, and nice too! They gave her their extranet emails so she could contact them if she was ever in the mood to play again. After ensuring her chips would be handled, she went off with Garrus and Miranda to find some food. They had found out that Tali and Joker went back to their rooms after eating. But Jack it seemed was having too much fun at the bar. Shepard had to have Garrus physically drag the woman away.
Today, they were during surveillance rounds. Garrus was sticking with Shepard while the other pretended to enjoy the casino while marking off the security measures.
"Fox," Garrus called from the door. Shepard turned to see the turian nod to her. It was time to go back for their meeting before the poker tournament resumed. The two quickly made their way back to Joker's and Garrus's room. Garrus quickly went around the room and destroyed the bugs the casino had installed and nodded.
Shepard sat down on the bed with Joker and looked at her team. "So, what's going on?"
"They have a very complex computer system," Tali said. "Heat sensors, cameras, and the turrets are all linked to it. I haven't tried to hack it because I fear I blow our cover."
"If it is like anything Wolf told us, then it would back-hack your omni-tool and give security a location." Shepard nodded to Tali.
"The security is tight here." Jack said as she kicked her boots up onto the table. "There is never a guard by himself and it seemed they stay within hearing distance of their partners."
"I haven't been able to find blind spots for the cameras either." Miranda added. "Who ever is running this, knows what they are doing."
"We knew this wasn't going to be easy," Shepard said.
"Yea, but no one said anything about impossible either." Joker added.
Garrus looked at Shepard as she leaned back on her palms beside Joker. "I think impossible is Shepard's forte."
The woman grinned at her alien companion. "Isn't that the truth," She said with a joyful smile. "For tonight, I just want Garrus in the poker pit with me." Raising a hand she stopped incoming protests from the three women. "You guys can use Joker as a cover to get closer to the guards or cameras to check things out."
"Oh, so now I'm their play thing?" Joker raised an eyebrow at Shepard.
"Don't talk like you won't enjoy it," Shepard threw back. The pilot just smirked at her and nodded. "We need to find holes just in case things get bad."
"If you think so Shepard," Tali acquiesced. "Since I was with Joker last night, I think it will keep our cover to escort him down tonight."
Shepard nodded. "Let me get ready," She said as she stood up. "It's almost time for the poker tournament to start tonight. I'll see you guys in a few." Not looking back, she left them to go get ready.
Once inside her room, Shepard made her way to the bathroom. Quickly washing up, she came out into her bedroom and rummaged through her closet. She would go for elegance tonight. Elegance that exuded want and confidence.
Aha! This would do nicely.
Now to find some shoes.
Instead of being behind Shepard on her way across the casino, Garrus was escorting her. His left arm was intertwined with her right, leaving his gun arm free. He smirked as all the men, and some women, in the room turned their heads to her. Now he knew why she wanted him to escort her. She was as sly as her White Lotus name.
Shepard didn't have to look around to know that all the testosterone driven men were staring at her as she walked through the casino. She had chosen to go for a simple kind of elegance that still permeated the feelings she wanted them to. A bronze, plunge-halter neck dress is what she decided on. The plunge just an inch below her pushed up breast, hiding the specially made bustier she had under it. Further down, the dress opened up a few inches below her groin, all the way down. Everyone could see the leather holster from the day before on her leg. As it showed off her legs, it also showed off her black heels that strapped up her leg to her lower calf. There were no designs on the dress. She wore an intricate ornate necklace with black diamonds. It held a three inch Italian cross that sat below her collar. The real show of the dress was the back of it. The back plunged down low enough for all of her tattoo to be shown, but not the other scars from the Lazarus Project. It stopped just below her shoulder blades. Her white hair was up in two chopsticks, letting her tattoo show proudly.
Walking into the Poker Pit, Shepard let go of Garrus. The turian bowed slightly and took his position up in the far corner so he could see everyone. Shepard made her way through the tables to the one that was assigned to her. As soon as they had hit the casino floor, her newly assigned poker table was pinged to her. Making her way to that table, she sat down in chair across from the dealer, where her chips were stacked. Her face remained blank as she looked around the-now-full table.
"Well gentlemen, are we going to play poker or are you going gawk at me like young boys who haven't grown balls yet?" She raised an eyebrow to them. The men around her grumbled as the dealer, the same young man from yesterday, smiled briefly before dealing out the cards.
Garrus's mandibles flared in amusement as Shepard reprimanded her poker companions. She never was one to take well to staring men. "Just like old times."
As the game proceeded, Garrus was getting reports from the rest of the crew. Every once in a while he would see Shepard look at him from the corner of her eye while the cards were being dealt. He gave her a quick shorthand sign that they had made up, signaling everything was alright and that there was nothing new. Shepard would then turn back to the game without acknowledging him. The turian watched as she would reach up and play with her necklace. He pressed his cheek plates firmly against his face as the other poker players immediately zeroed in on the action. She was distracting the men so she could win. During the breaks, she would ask for a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri, which she explained was a fruity drink. Shepard was using the whip cream on top of the drink to lure eyes her way. A battle of wills, she had said to the turian during the second break. Lure them with sexual gestures and she wins the pot.
"Having fun?" Garrus asked as the third break started. Shepard grinned and took a bite out of the celery stick from the Bloody Mary that one of the poker players ordered for her after she beat him.
"Five down, four to go."
"A lot of people are getting knocked out this round." He said.
She took a sip of her drink through the straw. "I would assume this is considered the semi-finals. Ten tables left, meaning ten people for the final table." Looking around the room, not really seeing, she lowered her voice. "How's the hunt for that blind spot?"
Garrus shifted. "Ongoing," He said. "This casino is run tighter than anything I've ever seen."
"They'd have to be with a prize like a Prothean artifact." Shepard replied.
"How do you think they got it?"
"Accident, stole it, random trade...there's many ways to gain something like that. The question is what does it do?"
The turian frowned and looked seriously at Shepard. "You mean will it affect you like the beacons did?"
"I told you how it feels to have something like that in your head Garrus," Shepard's face became grim. The turian turned his eyes away from his Commander to look out to the casino. He remembered vividly how Shepard and he would stay up late when they couldn't sleep. One night, he had made the mistake of asking her about the beacons. "Though I prefer not to have anything to do with this artifact, but I can't let it get in Cerberus hands by mistake."
"You think they are here?" He looked down at her.
"Bet your ass I do," She sipped at her drink. "If they are, this is just causes more problems we have to deal with." Shepard shook her head and sighed. "I have to get back to the table. Stay alert."
"Always," He said as he straightened to resume his watch as Shepard walked back to her table as the break ended.
Hours went by before it had ended up with Shepard's table being one of the last few still open. The woman leaned onto her hand looking at her comrade. The turian player was taking an awfully long time to make a decision on whether to check or raise the stakes. He looked up and gulped as Shepard narrowed her eyes at him. He quickly put the rest of his pot in before turning to the dealer. Shepard called and nodded to the man. As the flop was being turned she began to curse, so far she had nothing and she could see that the man had something. But as the turn and the river were shown, Shepard's eyes widened a bit. There was no way.
"Straight Flush!" The turian cheered. "There is no way you could beat me."
Shepard slid her cards to the dealer silently staring at the River card. There was no way her luck was that good.
As the dealer flipped her cards over, he smiled. "I'm sorry sir. The Lady Fox has beaten you with a Royal Flush of Hearts." The other poker player groaned and begrudgingly congratulated Shepard before walking way. "Madam."
She blinked and looked at the dealer. "Oh yes," She gave him a five hundred thousand dollar chip. "Thank you again."
"No problem ma'am," The dealer began to leave when Shepard stopped him to ask if he was taking the cards. "No ma'am, the finals are played with a special set. We are to leave these cards to ensure they weren't tampered with by us or the players."
Picking up the River card, Shepard didn't notice as he left. She stared at the card. In all her years of playing poker, she never got a Royal Flush, ever. Her luck just wasn't that good. She stared at the card that ensured her success.
The King of Hearts.
As Shepard lowered the card back to the table, her eyes caught movement at the table straight across from her. She stared at the man who was revealed as the dealer left the table. Her chest tightened. No, he couldn't be here. There was no way. There was absolutely no way that Brian's spies would have missed his absences and not report it. The man looked up after stacking his chips, his whiskey eyes boring into Shepard's lavender eyes.
"Shepard," He whispered, Shepard reading his lips.
Just as she was about to whisper his own name, a voice called out to him. A feminine voice.
"Kaidan!" A body pressed itself against Kaidan's side drawing his eyes away from Shepard. The Normandy Commander's eyes moved to his companion, her breath freezing up in her lungs. The tightening in her chest became painful as she watched Lieutenant Jessica Chavis hug Alenko. She was dressed in a short dark pink dress. The dress showed a lot of skin. It was open back, only having enough fabric to cover her ass. It was a halter neck dress that only covered the bare essentials. She wore large white gem earrings studs along with a white choker that also had a large white stone on it. "You're in the finals!" She said with a grin.
Then she did something that made Shepard's breath rush out of her like she was punched hard enough to be knocked out.
Chavis pulled Kaidan into a passionate kiss.
Watching the kiss, Shepard felt her world fall apart. She had known. Brian had told her. But she didn't want to believe it. She had fervently hoped that it was just a fling that came about because of her death. She wouldn't have faulted that. No, this cemented it. There was no way that someone would kiss a fling like that. Shepard tried to move to stand, but her body was frozen. Her strength had left her by seeing that one simple act. Her mind tried to fight her shattered heart, trying to keep the already fragile pieces together. It tried to tell the organ to let her slip on her Vixen mask, hell her Commander attitude would be more preferable to just watching them.
Her breath came back as a sharp inhale when she felt her left hand being raised. Shepard quickly forced her eyes to the table staring at uncompleted Royal Flush, realizing the King was still in her left hand. Collecting herself quickly, ignoring the pain in her chest, she turned to look at the card as a pair of lips kissed the back of her hand. Immediately her eyes went from the card to the man at her hand.
"Hello Beautiful."