SUP!
So umm today we have… Gertrude to introduce us!
But first a note on Black Jack or 21. Basically you are dealt tow cards one faced up and the other faced down, then you get a card 'or hit' or you pass a round so 'pass'. For my version you get two tries before you have to show, so revel all of your cards. Jokers are wild cards so they bring you directly up to 21 no matter what.
I imagine for the dragons that they sit down and spend time in their mother tongue, and because we have nations which are heavily based on music, as it is a major part of their culture I made it culture sharing time. So they sit around sing dance and play music. Somehow…. It's really cozy down there, I guess.
"Are you done?"
Sorry Gertrude so continue.
"Louise- Monaco"
Not much for words are you, ( intense stare) huh… sorry.
"Hidekaz Himaruya owns Hetalia."
Yeah, so enjoy-
"Read and enjoy."
… have fun…
"Read."
Black Jack!
Two cards slid to Roderick one card up that showed a 2, the other card faced down. The girl received that same except her card facing up showed a 9.
So far so bad Roderick thought frowning as he peeked under his card to see a King, since it was worth 13 he had 15 in total.
"Hit or pass?" The girl asked smiling twiddling her light blond locks absentmindedly; the skeleton cocked its head towards her, "I'll pass, Earl."
"Hit" Roderick said as the skeleton passed over a card, peaking at the card he saw that he had a 4.
So 19, close to 21 but too close for another card.
"Do you wish for another hit or show?"
"Show" Roderick said as the two of them reveled their cards, the girl had a 9 and 10, the same number as Roderick. He narrowed his eyes glaring sharply up at the girl.
"We match; so you get a question and I get a question." She smiled
Roderick nodded scrambling through his mind, "What is your name?"
"The body is called Louise, but I'm a sprite that have taking over Louise, I have no name." Louise answered.
Roderick's eyes widened, "You're a Possessor!"
"That is that name the dragons call me." Louise or rather the hag in control of Jeannette's darling sister crackled, "And you good sir, what is your name?"
"Roderick Edelstein"
Louise cocked her head staring up with her thick lashes blankly, "This body seems to know that name, interesting. Well Roderick shall we go again?"
Looking down Roderick saw a new set of cards with a quick glance at Earl who was sitting as still as stone staring evenly with his empty sockets ; the deck placed neatly beside his bony hands.
This time Roderick had 3 faced up, peeking under the card his hidden card was a Queen so he had 15.
"Oh dear, bust." Louise said frowning as she fixed her glasses, "This round you win."
"I want a companion back." Roderick said immediately as Louise nodded turning the black velvet curtain. Two skeletons walked out dragging a limp figure with their thin yellow arms. Blonde hair fell messily around that man head; he had a long beige coat with a blue and white scarf trailing from his neck. Out of the corner of his eyes; Roderick stood noticing Earl slipping his cards back and shuffling.
"What did you do to Abel?" Roderick demanded grabbing the large man heaving him up into an empty chair beside Roderick.
"He's fine; he's just under the same spell as the rest of the casino is." Louise said blankly but a hint of disgust betrayed her flat tone.
Roderick raise a thin eyebrow staring down with his bright purple eyes, smoothing his hair he seated himself noticing new cards in front of him.
Again he had a 3 faced up and under his hidden card a Queen. Louise had a 5 face up.
"Hit" Louise said as a card slide towards her.
"Hit" Roderick said grabbing the card that came towards him. Peeking at it he saw that he had an 8.
Damn it, Roderick frowned, "Bust"
Louise smiled happily, "Well what should I do; should I take back your handsome friend or should I be sweet and only ask for a question?"
Roderick stiffed sliding a hand under the table to grab onto Abel's coat, he had finally gotten a familiar face in this frankly frightening situation where he had no idea what was going on, he certainly didn't want to lose this comfort.
"What are you searching for?" Louise asked smiling gently but her eyes remained cold and blank. Roderick looked up his sullen thoughts broken and tumbling around loosely in his mind
"What do you mean?"
"A group of nobles wandering around must be looking for something; I want to know what you're looking for."
"We are looking for the missing Nobel's; we think they are related to the dragons."
Louise nodded, "They are. Well shall we play?"
Roderick nodded surprised at the abruptness of Louise's response. Looking at the cards floating towards him he glanced at the cards placing his hands back onto the top of the table he had a 5 faced up and a 3 faced down.
"Hit" Roderick said glancing to see she had an 8 faced up.
"Hit" Louise said.
They received their cards Roderick saw that he had a 2, crap still too low only 10.
"Hit" Roderick said again receiving another card, this time a 10.
"Hit" Louise said as she received her card, "show."
Roderick looked quickly adding up Louise cards, 18 another happy smiles crawled onto Roderick's face, he won again.
"A companion please." Roderick said as Louise scowled looking very much like she had eaten something fowl.
The tow skeleton's which had disappeared brought out Feliks this time. Roderick, once again, stood up to grab the young boy seating his beside the unconscious Abel. Sitting down he looked down to see a new set of cards in front of his seat.
Damn that is creepy how Earl, or whatever his name is, keeps replacing the cards without a sound.
This time he had a 5 up and a Queen faced down Louise had an 8 faced up.
"Hit" Louise said
"Pass" Roderick said
They waited a second before showing their cards, tied again. Roderick inwardly swore glancing quickly around the room notice the door they had entered through seemingly disappeared.
Unless we came through that freakish curtain Roderick thought as he returned his eyes back to Louise.
Louise frowned "Why do you care so much for a dragon? They are not important to you nor do they affect you in anyway."
"They do actually I have lost two dear childhood friends because they have disappeared." Roderick said sighing, "Why did you knock out everyone in the casino?"
"Because I can" Louise frowned narrowing her glazed eyes she crossed her arms, "No one can tell me not to, plus this casino belongs to this body, and this body will be mine so everything in this casino belongs to me, including your friends."
Roderick stared shocked at the bitterness that Louise had said her words. Nervously gulping he glanced over at his sleeping companions just to be sure they were truly there.
Line break!
The dragons all gathered around in a circle eating there meal which consisted of basically a sandwich with cooked ham and lots of vegetables and cabbage for some reason. Gilberta rearranged her sandwich chomping down the meal eagerly as Lizzy laughed at Gilberta beastly approach to eating.
"Gil slow down you'll only choke!" Lizzy managed through laughs
"How can I slow down who knows when I'll eat again?" Gilberta said as she wiped her face quickly licking the bit of meat that clung to her face.
Allistor snorted laughing merrily nudging Mathew with his elbow, "Eat up laddy! Ye coold use some good food tae fatten ye up!"
Lizzy rolled her eyes opening her moth to speak but was cut off by Vash.
"What alcohol have you been in this time?" Vash frowned
"Speaking of awesome alcohol, do we ever get any beer?"
"Ale?" Allistor said, "Unfortunately only oan special occasions, I ken I'm dyin' for a devvy me self."
"VHY IN THE AWESOME NAME OF FRIZ DOES THIS PLACE NOT HAVE BEER?!" Gilberta roared as her voice echoed boldly through the chamber.
"You've certainly have a pair of lungs on you" Vash growled earning a snort from Lizzy and frowns from the rest of the group.
"Why do you have to be so loud?" Lien snapped as she took a swing of her water that came with the meal in a tight container of sorts.
"What's wrong with loud?" Vladimir asked fixing his little hat slightly.
"See?" Gilberta grinned cheekily high fiving the Romanian, "He is awesome enough to understand the awesome that comes with being loud!"
"That does not make sense Gilberta –san" Kiku informed
"It's just that awesome."
"Seriously Gil if you say AWESOME one more time I just might have to kill you." Elizabeta threatened
"Like you'd kill the awe-."
Emil sighed loudly from beside the quiet Norwegian and Swedish woman interrupting Gilberta, "Isn't it time?"
"Time for what?" Gilberta and Mathew asked
"Yep! I'll go first!" Lizzy smiled widely jumping up. The group silenced some closed their eyes small smiles growing on a few of the Dragon's faces. Elizabeta closed her eyes taking a deep breath.
Hej, halászok,halászok
Merremén a hajótok
Török kanizsa felé,
Viszi a víz le felé
Elizabeta began to sing her voice filling the air freely, dominating the space like a nightingale freezes time. Silver and gentle yet powerful not unlike the girl herself, she sang for the dragons around her.
Line break
Roderick looked down at his cards 6 faced up, peaking at his card hidden from view. His eyes widened. His breath hitched, he had a joker. Happiness bubbled within his chest as he forced his face to remain straight looking up at Louise who had missed his slip up. Louise had a King faced up, glancing up from the hidden card she raise a neat eyebrow
"Pass"
"Pass" Roderick said
Louise nodded as they flipped their cards over, Roderick let him smug smile revert onto his face, "I would like a companion please"
The skeletons returned holding Antonia, Roderick once again stood trying desperately to ignore the glare of animosity that was ever present on his back. He gently carried Antonia placing her onto a chair, her dark locks falling onto her shoulders her black scarf around her shoulders slipping causing Roderick to scoff slightly before remembering that she couldn't fix it; since she was unconscious.
He turned back to Louise feeling his blood run cold and his face to pale, from the look of pure contempt. Roderick sat down stiffly nodding pleasantly to the ghost, Louise blinked then smiled sweetly.
"You've got quiet the collection don't you?"
Roderick looked over to Abel, Feliks, and Antonia nodding slightly, "Not a collection but a few people back yes."
Apparently that was the wrong thing to say for as the cards flew back to Roderick and Louise the look of abomination returned onto her face.
Tearing his eyes away Roderick looked back down he had a King faced up, so far so good he thought. Lifting the corner of the red card his breath hitched.
Jack, he was bust.
"Bust" he said before Louise could say anything.
Louise smiled widely "Well then! I do think I'll have a companion too!"
Roderick bit his lip as the skeletons came over grabbing Antonia panic rose heating his blood he clenched his fists together as the flamboyant Spanish girl was dragged back through the curtain. He tried to clamp his thoughts down but he couldn't help it; the scene reminded his of the veil between life and death that the elders spoke about. And this time it didn't look as if Antonia was walking towards life.
He must have looked frightfully pale for Louise frowned reaching across the table her hand colder than snow, " She'll be fine Roderick."
Roderick nodded dumbly turning back to his cards his fear turning to determination. This time he had an Ace up Louise had a 6. Peaking under he saw that he had 7.
"Hit" Roderick said.
Louise looked up, "Calm Roderick a stern face like that is unbecoming for you, hit."
Two cards slide towards the pair. Roderick looked quickly doing the man with renewed vigor.
"Bust"
Roderick looked up at Louise's annoyed eyes, "A companion."
The skeletons walked in bringing Milan his brown hair falling limply, Roderick jumped up helping Milan into the seat where Antonia had been.
"Tell me about your lovers" Louise asked in a fare way voice as she stared at Roderick, "The girl I won, you seemed to care dearly for her. Friend or lover?"
"A dear friend of mine" Roderick responded after some thought sitting down to look at his cards he had a six faced up and a 4 down, "I've only ever loved one girl, hit"
"Pass, who was she?"
Roderick looked at his card a 7 so a decent chance he showed his cards , "Just a pauper girl."
Roderick frowned staring at Louise's cards she had a Joker , distress shot through Roderick as he looked at his companions.
"Who was she?" Louise repeated.
Roderick looked up shocked, "W-what? Are you not going to take another companion?"
"No answer my question"
"E-Elizabeta, she was pauper lived on a farm with her father close to the city of Hungary."
"Was she a dragon?"
"I don't know" Roderick replied honestly as new cards came in front of him, "Why do you ask?"
"I once had a love a long time ago when I was not a Possessor but a living breathing girl. He died in the fire of Britannia."
Roderick nodded numbly looking down at his cards he had a 10 faced up , peaking at the hidden card he sighed in relief he had a 9 underneath.
"Oh dear bust" Louise frowned she looked up.
Roderick opened his mouth to ask for a companion but curiously betrayed him, "Fire of Britannia?"
Louise looked up shocked before smiling, "You shouldn't have done that Roderick."
Roderick nodded tensely, "What can you tell me about the Fire of Britannia, or dragons?"
Louise tittered, "One question dear, but you're lucky I'm a ghost. I was born in Britannia, one of the queen's sons was a dragon, or so it was said. News like that never reach anything more than rumors. Then there was a terrible fire and all of the Nobles died, everyone in the city was hunted down like dogs murdered for years. Kept the people who survived the fire quiet and those who lived for years afterwards quiet effectively too."
Roderick shivered "Why?"
"Power the Nobles, they were powerful, a strong family. No one knows who did it but the ones who did it worked very hard covering up everything up."
"Wasn't it recorded?"
"The people that could record anything where the first to die for that very reason. We should continue." Louise said glancing down at her cards, "Most of the illiterate people lived in the palace, Roderick; plus the children didn't go out much most of the towns people didn't ever see them."
Roderick nodded looking down he had a King faced up, glancing under the card he saw that he had a Jack.
"Bust" Roderick sighed
Louise frowned looking up, "That's no fun. Well I don't really have anything to ask so I'll just take a companion."
Roderick felt his blood freeze over as the yellow skeletons walked up grabbing Milan under the arms his face rolling back limply. He was pale his eyes closed looking like the image of death. The curtain swallowed up the gypsy leaving a cold feeling in the air. Glancing over at Louise he frowned deeper as her ecstatic grin.
He looked down at his cards as the slide slowly to a stop, he had a six faced up and a 2 faced down. Frustrated Roderick ran a hand through his hair notice pleasantly that Louise only had a 2 faced up.
"Hit" Louise said her face blank.
"Hit" Roderick echoed as the cards sailed up to the pair.
A Queen, well that defiantly was a stroke of luck 20, unless Louise had a 21 he would win.
"Show" Louise said as they flipped over the cards.
Cold blue eyes met Roderick, "A companion please"
The skeletons came back dragging this time carrying Tereza, the gypsy girl long white blonde locks fell in sweeping curtains over her shoulders. Jumping up Roderick picked the girl up easily this time pulling a chair on the opposite side to Abel and Feliks leaving that chair that both Antonia and Milan had sat in and been lost. She sat her down gently folding the girl's hands neatly on her laps as her head dropped long hair slowly sliding out in front of her like a rag doll.
Roderick quickly sat down looking at the cards purposely avoiding eye contact with Louise.
"Avoiding the chair that you've lost two of your companions in is very cute Roderick" Louise purred her voice trailing off into a low harsh chuckle even further emphasising the age of her voice.
"I'd rather not take chances of the supernatural, it is unpredictable." Roderick said his voice tight as he looked up meeting Louise void eyes he held her gaze defiantly.
Louise smiled laughing heartily, "You have a long way to go young one, I have a good feeling that you will come to find the supernatural not as unpredictable as you think."
The cards slide slowly to the tow who glared across the table from each other. Roderick looked down at his face up card which showed a little 5 with red hearts on the inside. Lifting the corner of his face down red he saw that he had a little black 10. Peering up across the table he spied that Louise had a 4 faced up.
"Hit" they said at the same time glaring across the table. The candles that lit the room flicker casting demonic flickers lengthen the shadows as a bell chimed from far away, two o'clock in the morning.
Roderick looked down as a 6 side up to him, his breath hitched, 5 faced up 10 faced down plus a 6 bonus. He struggled to keep his face straight as he peered up over his glasses, Louise wasn't staring at him or her cards, she was watching Earl. Then he understood.
He had won the game.