Ace of Spades

You know I'm going to lose, And gambling's for fools. But that's the way I like it baby, No-one wants to live forever. And don't forget the Joker!

Motorhead, Ace of Spades

The eight figures sat around the circular table, its surface covered with green felt.

'So are we all here?' said a feminine voice laced with authority.

There was a number of affirmatives from the others.

'And so to business. anyone?' the first voice asked.

'What are we going to do about Squall?' said a masculine voice.

'Yeah he has all our good cards!' chimed two feminine voices together.

Quistis sighed 'Well he did beat us all and the Queen of Cards so what do you expect!?' she said testily.

'So does that mean he's Card King now?' Jack said sarcastically.

'No because actually I have all his GF and character cards.' Quistis said smugly.

'Really? In that case could I have Selphie's?' Xu asked whispering.

Quistis sighed theatrically and handed the card over.

'Any other new business? Any up and coming card players?' Quistis demanded.

Club blushed 'Um well some stranged girl beat me the other day.' He admitted.

'Yeah but was that because she was good or you were distracted?' Spade cackled. Club elbowed Spade almost knocking him off his chair.

'For God's sake, you're a pair of children!' Jack said.

'We miss Squall.' the two girls that made the Diamond Duo said spontaneously.

'What are you bitches babbling about?' Jack said testily. 'Say Superior bitches!' one of them retorted.

Jack muttered under his breath.

'Okay we done here?' Quistis said trying to bring some order to the meeting.

'Club needs demoting.' Xu said matter-of-factly looking at a list.

'What!?' Club exploded glaring at her.

'You've lost your last ten matches.' Xu replied.

'So? None of them were against Jack!' Club snarled.

'No, but they were against my little sister.' Jack said grinning.

'Fuck! You're kidding me! I got to go back to being lower than this git?' Club said pointing emphatically at Jack.

'Afraid so Club.' Xu said trying to hide her grin.

'Okay any new cards to declare?' Quistis said glancing round the table.

A hand gently slipped a card onto the table and covered it tightly. A figure that had been silent throughout opened his mouth.

'One triple A.' Joker said simply.

'Bullshit!' Spade yelled.

'Omega Weapon.' Joker said and raised his hand slowly revealing an artist's impression of Omega Weapon and three white letter A's and a number 7 arranged in a cross in the top left hand corner whilst in the top right was a small circle of elemental symbols.

The others gasped in awe. 'Where did you get that?' Xu breathed.

'I snuck into Ultimecia's castle while Squall, Quistis and the others were fighting. I came across this in the Chapel hidded in the pages of sheet music on the organ.' Joker told them.

'I guess we'd better add it to the list although what category are we going to put it in?' Xu said pulling out a booklet filled with a list of card names.

'Level Eleven, Extreme cards.' Quistis replied.

'That explains why Joker's had a winning streak!' Diamond quipped.

'You'd think I'd use this card in games? You're kidding right? I don't want to lose it!' Joker replied and took the card away.

'Well I guess that's all for this week. Same time again next week?' Quistis said standing up.

'Sure if Xu's not too busy.' Muttered Diamond.

'And what's that to mean?' Xu snapped.

'Well we hear things.' One of them said.

'Yeah since the walls are so thin.' The other said smirking.

Xu gaped silently, blushing madly.

'Okay, enough just get out of her!' Quistis ordered and watched the others leave the room wondering why she continued to put up with this.