If you do not know how to play Seven Card Stud or ------ please look towards the bottom before you read the story.
A soft knock upon her door awoke her from the light slumber that she had fallen into once she had laid upon the bed in an attempt to sort through the jumbled mess her thoughts were in.
"Prezioso, are you all right?" Elena asked through the door.
Pulling herself form her bed she padded over and opened the door. Yawning slightly she gently patted the once fashionable hair style.
"Yes, I'm fine Elena, I was just a bit…tired when I arrived back here from the Lodging House and wanted to take a brief nap before the big poker game."
Elena's catty hues unnerved her in their searching gaze.
"If you say so prezioso..."Elena trailed off before offering a soft smile. "Would you like me to fix your peli? You can't go down there looking like a donna selvaggia do you?"
Ravenna smiled in return before turning around and letting Elena reapply order to her hair.
"There you go, now shall we head downstairs? The game is about to start."
Halfway down the stairs Ravenna's ears were assaulted with all of the noise that encompasses a bunch of boys planning on partaking in some good old fashioned fun: gambling, drinking, and the smoking of stogies.
"Four tables with eight players per table, that should be enough shouldn't it Jacky-boy?" Race asked as he tried to put some organization into the bedlam in the Dancing Bear.
"Yeah, that should be enough. You know not all the boys like to play or have the money to play with, and we didn't invite anyone else to this game so we should be good."
"All right then. Hey all, listen up!" The room quickly grew quiet allowing Race to make his announcement.
"Eight to a table you decide whose the dealer. Follow the Witch will be played at Bumlets' table, Texas hold 'em at Skittery's, Seven card stud at mine, and Five card draw at Pie Eater's table. Those people don't have to stay there but those are the tables where those games are played. Dealer can decide to change the game if he wants, but for the time being those are the games being played there. Dealer also gets to make rules as to wilds. Any questions? Good, now let's play some poker."
Sticking the cigar that he had taken out for the announcements back into his mouth, Race sat down and began to shuffle the cards in his hand. Never having played poker in her life Ravenna just sat in the seat closest to her which happened to be to the right of Race.
"So, you want to play Seven card stud 'eh?"
Looking over her shoulder at Elena as she began to wonder what she had gotten herself into, her friend gave a reassuring wink before heading off to find the table that her boyfriend had decided to join, which happened to be Bumlets'.
"Um, actually I've never played poker."
Race's eyes grew wide at the admission.
"Never played poker? You poor deprived child. Well, we will fix that soon wont we?" A grin slowly spread upon his face which quickly set Ravenna at unease.
"I don't suppose you've ever drank either have you?"
"Drank what?"
"Drank what?" Race laughed. "Oh dearie we have much to teach you tonight don't we?"
Ravenna prickled at the comment. She hated it when people made her feel ignorant.
"I don't know what you mean."
This caused Race to laugh even harder. "Don't worry, you're in good hands."
Ravenna merely arched an eyebrow before focusing on the cards that he was shuffling.
"Hadn't we better get to the business of you teaching me how to play poker?"
Race smirked. "You're right, we need to get down to business. Now, I'm assuming that you've played cards before and know the different suits and the rank of each card."
"Of course I've played with cards before you nit wit. I'm not a complete imbecile. I've played bridge many times at dinner parties."
"All right all right. Don't get your petticoats in a twist. I simply need to know what I'm working with. Now, in poker you are trying to get a hand that beats everyone else's. Two pairs the lowest, then two of a kind, next three pair. Then comes a straight, which is five cards in a row such as eight, nine, ten, jack, queen. A flush beats a straight which is five cards of the same suit regardless of the sequence, then a full house or boat, which is three of a kind plus a two of a kind. Four of a kind is next, followed by a straight flush, which is a combination of a straight and a flush, then a royal flush, which is a straight flush that contains a ten and then face cards. That is the hardest hand to get, and I've never had one in my entire time I've played poker. Which is saying something."
Ravenna nodded her head trying to keep the hands straight. OK, so how do I get these hands?"
"I'm glad you asked. That question leads us to the rules of seven card stud. I am going to deal you two cards face down and no one else can see them but you. However the next card I deal will be face up."
Race then proceeded to explain the rules of Seven card stud to Ravenna and play a few open faced hands before she felt confident enough to play with real money on the line.
"So, are you ready to try a real hand?"
Looking into the Italian's friendly brown hues she smiled. "Yeah, I am. But who do I ask around here in order to a drink?"
Race smiled. "You leave that to me."
A quizzical expression fleetingly crossed her face before she nodded her head in agreement.
"All right," and with that answer Race called over Anthony, Elena's brother, and requested a drink for Ravenna. When Anthony returned with rather clear liquid that contained many bubbles, Ravenna asked Race what it was.
"Oh, it's raspberry cider." Nodding her head she sipped it and nearly spit it out. While the drink was not necessarily unpleasant, it clearly contained alcohol.
"This has alcohol in it Race!"
The Italian tried to bite back his laugh.
"What did you expect?"
This statement caused Ravenna to pause for a minuet before she answered. What had she expected? She knew that there would be alcohol here, she just hadn't planned on participating in the consumption of it. As she looked up she saw a somewhat challenging gleam in Race's eye and she steeled her determination. She would experience this night to the full even if it killed her. And with that decision she was thrown into the world of poker night.
Taking a sip of the second drink she was nursing, Ravenna let out a silent sigh. For the last half an hour Ravenna had been hesitant to act upon any of the cards she received. If she did not have at least a pair of Jacks she would not stay in for more than the anti. Which while that was very wise in the ways of poker, was not very exciting to say the least. Oh sure, she was entertained the first few hands that she folded and got to watch the battle between the people who stayed in, but one could only take so much inactivity without beginning to get antsy.
Finally she received a pair of queens, which caused her to smile inwardly, because every time she had shown any expression upon her face Race had sent her a murderous frown. She was going to be able to stay in and be a part of the action this hand, and she was excited about it.
The next card that was dealt to her was king of Spades, which matched the queen she had in her hand, and her heart began to pound a slight bit faster. She was on her way to getting a straight flush, and that would be an exceptional hand to have.
"King is high. Your bet Nettle." Race the dealer told her.
She wasn't exactly sure what she should bet, but decided that she would stick with what the last guy had led, which was two pennies. She pushed the money out there, announced her bet, and let her eyes take in who was staying. A few folded but most decided to pay for their next card.
Her heart began to beat more rapidly as she was dealt an ace of Spades, making the hand she was hoping for more obtainable.
"Ooh, Ace, King, Queen, possible straight. Ace is high, your bet again Nettle."
Race's eyes carefully watched Ravenna as she took a swig of her drink before announcing the amount it would take to pay to stay.
"Three pennies."
Everyone stayed in, causing her to become a bit nervous until she saw her next card. She paid the three pennies to stay in since someone had a pair of tens showing which beat her ace, and her palms began to become sweaty when Race said "All right, down and dirty."
She could barely keep the elation out of her face when she saw her final card. She had managed to get a straight flush and she was going to win this pot, which had grown rather significantly. She could see the other boys eyeing it greedily as Race announced that the Boots was to start the bets.
Four pennies was the opening, and when it had reached her it had been raised to six. With a calmness that surprised even herself, she placed thirteen cents out in the middle of the table causing the jaws of the boys to fall.
"I see your six and raise you five."
"Are you sure about that Nettle?" Race eyed her suspiciously as she awaited the next boy, Swifty's response.
"I never say something I don't mean Race." With that she downed the rest of the drink and Race immediately had Anthony fill it. This time it was her turn to give Race a suspicious look while she took the drink.
"This is the last one Race. Too much of a good thing has a habit of turning bad."
"Oh don't worry, you'll be fine. This stuff is harmless."
The words "I see your thirteen and raise you seven." shook her from her conversation with Race. Before this Newsie, Spades, everyone still in had merely met Ravenna's bet. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the short stocky Newsie in front of her. She was not going to allow anyone to take this pot away from her.
Boots was the next person to put in money to stay in since his bet earlier was fourteen cents short of what the bet was now, folded.
"This is too rich for my blood. I'm out."
Ravenna took another sip of her drink and wiped her sweaty palms against the folds of her dress. Loosening her collar slightly because of the sudden wave of heat she was feeling that she thought must be from the packed room, she met Spade's beady black eyes with her golden ones.
"I see your seven and raise you five."
Swifty folded after her, as did the only other remaining player yet to have enough in the pot, Snitch.
"I see your five and I raise you five."
Race leaned over and whispered into Ravenna's ear, "If you want to stop the bids say 'I see your five and I call you.' That means that you want him to show you his cards to see who wins."
Ravenna nodded and repeated Race's words.
"I see your five and I call you."
Spade laid down his cards with a crooked smile.
"A boat. Beat that Nettle."
Ravenna could not keep her grin off of her face as she laid her straight flush onto the table.
"Queen, king, ace, two three of spade. A straight flush. I believe that beats a boat any day Spades."
She began to pull the money towards herself as the group of boys burst out laughing. The fact that the boys were laughing and she did not have any idea why, only the slightest hint that they were laughing at her, did not make Ravenna too happy.
"What are you all laughing at? I got a straight flush, it's right there."
Race, who had managed to get his cigar back into his mouth shook his head from side to side.
"You can't turn the corner Nettle."
Ravenna furrowed her brows as she took another drink. Turn the corner, what did he mean by that? He said a straight was five cards in a row and that's what she had. Blinking slightly she put a palm to her temple; had better not drink any more of that cider, it was beginning to make her a bit lightheaded.
"What do you mean turn the corner Race?"
"I mean you can't use an ace as both a high card and a low card. It has to be either or."
Ravenna barely kept her mouth from dropping.
"You mean to say that I just spent nearly fifty cents on a pair of queens?"
The boys could barely contain their laughter as Ravenna in took the new information. Race's attempt to refrain from laughing caused his cigar to fall from his mouth into his lap. He jumped out of the chair in an attempt to avoid being burned and all boys let loose their pinned up laughter, even Ravenna joined in. It was hard to stay mad when a short Italian nearly jumped to the ceiling while trying to make sure he would be able to father children one day. She took another sip of her third drink as the laughter began to die down. Even though she had lost a rather large amount in the previous pot, she was enjoying herself.
The cards were dealt again, only this time the atmosphere was not as strict, but more relaxed; it seemed as if Ravenna's blunder had reminded the guys that this was supposed to be a night of fun. After a few more hands that Ravenna had participated in winning, she began to realize that the Newsies were actually a rather fun group to be with. This cider wasn't half bad either. Ravenna smiled at that thought as she finished her drink. Race noticed this and immediately had Anthony fill it up again.
"No Race, I've already had three, I really can't have another one." She giggled slightly as Race pushed the mug into her hands. "Well, maybe one more, but that's it. Four is my limit."
She giggled again. She didn't really know why she was refusing to drink the stuff. It was tasty and she was eighteen, an adult, a spinster almost if she choose to think about her age long enough, but tonight was not a night for such worries. Tonight was a night of fun. Just as she thought that she saw Elena give Jack a kiss on the cheek. Tossing in five pennies for the next card Ravenna began to snicker.
"What's so funny Nettle?"
Waving her hand she shook her head in an attempt to dissuade his further inquiry.
"Nothing." She answered Race as she began to giggle again.
"Come on. You can't laugh and not tell us what you're laughing about."
"Oh I was just reminded that Mush had to 'say goodnight' to Jack a few nights ago. I was laughing at the mental image."
With that the rest of the boys began to chuckles as Race's smile grew; for some reason she felt it was for more than one reason, yet at the moment she could not cares less what the other reason was. Taking another sip of her drink she grinned.
"I bet that was quite a sight."
Race nodded his head.
"Oh it was, it certainly was. So, you almost finished with that drink Nettle?"
Ravenna giggled again.
"No silly, you just gave this one to me, don't you remember?"
Race grinned. "That's right."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Why are you so interested in my drinking? You aren't trying to get me drunk now are you?" Her face was a picture of mock sternness before she burst into giggles.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you ladies don't get drunk? They become flustered." At that her giggles began again and Race's grin widened only to lessen the slightest bit when Elena glanced over with a puzzled look upon her face at Ravenna's odd behavior. Elena's eyes narrowed slightly before Jack distracted her by giving her a kiss on the cheek and whispering something into her ear which in turn caused her to giggle.
The hand was played out, and much to Ravenna's pleasure, she was the winner with a flush. After the next hand in which she ended up folding during the first round of betting, Jack and Elena disappeared outside, unnoticed by all but Race.
"So, Ravenna, I believe that your mug has become empty."
Holding her cup rather close to her eyes for inspection, a grin was upon her lips when she raised her face to Race and clapped him on the shoulder.
"So it is old chap. And what are you going to do about it?"
"Oh I wasn't thinking of doing anything about it, but I did have an idea of a game you might be interested in, it's called 'Guess the Coin.' "
"What does guessing about a coin have anything to do with my empty mug?"
Race chuckled softly to himself.
"Well, all you have to do is guess in what hand I have this penny, and if you are right I have to take a shot. If I'm wrong you have to take a shot."
Ravenna's face took on a rather confused expression.
"Shot, what's a shot?"
"A shot is a small drink."
"Oh, what are we drinking? Not something alcoholic." Ravenna leaned forward and motioned Race to do so as well, then in a semi hushed voice she said, "I don't think it would be a good idea for me to have any more drinks." She giggled. "I think I've reached my limit." With that said she patted him on the arm and smiled.
"Oh don't worry; we'll be taking water shots. But we've put in a bitter herb so it doesn't taste good when you drink it, kind of as a way of discouraging loosing."
"In that case let the games begin." Ravenna smiled as giggled again.
The game of "Guess the coin" lasted for about twenty minuets, with Ravenna taking four shots and Race two. It was at this moment when Ravenna began to feel that the world was not exactly standing still.
"Race" Ravenna snickered "Why do I see two of you?"
"Armondo Beniamino Racetrack Higgins! Che cosa nel mondo erano voi che pensate ottenendo Ravenna bevuta?" Elena's catty hues had turned to those of green fire, which seemed to sing the words that she spoke.
Race's eyes grew a bit wide when he heard Elena and a sheepish grin crossed his lips.
"Elena, what do you mean? All I was doing was showing her how to play a simple game."
Confused as to why Elena was mad at her new pal Race, Ravenna decided to step up and defend her buddy. Moving towards Elena she placed a hand upon her friend's arm.
"Yeah Elena, all he was doing was showing me this game where if you don't guess which hand the penny is in you take a shot of bitter water."
"Bitter water 'eh?"
Elena sniffed the glass that was awaiting the next loser of the game.
"You call vodka bitter water Race?"
"Oh, how did that get in there? I swear it…"
"Don't even say another word Race. I know all about your little initiation of new Newsies into the group." She threw a glare in Jack's direction, who suddenly seemed to have disappeared again now that Elena was not in the best of moods. "I also know that I am going to be the one who has to take care of this bambino povero when she is suffering tomorrow morning because of your little games. Well I have news for you Armondo, you are going to be the one to help her."
"What? I have papes to sell tomorrow."
"Well you should have thought of that before you got her drunk shouldn't you."
Ravenna began to giggle at this comment.
"You know Elena, a lady never gets drunk, she gets flustered." With that comment her eyes began to flutter and she collapsed onto Elena.
A/N:
Elena, farete prego i miei peli = Elena will you do my hair?
Ma naturalmente prezioso = But naturally precious
donna selvaggia = wild woman
Che cosa nel mondo erano voi che pensate ottenendo Ravenna bevuta? = What in the world were you thinking getting Ravenna drunk?
bambino povero = poor baby
Rules to Seven Card Stud: Person is dealt two cards down and one card up, the person with the high card starts the bets and when the pot is ripe (everyone who wants to stay in has paid) the next card is dealt face up again. This goes on until there are two cards down and four cards up (If someone has a pair showing, this beats high card for the person who starts the bets). After the pot is ripe (there is a round of betting before the next card is given) the next card dealt is face down. Another round of betting goes on and finally one person either folds or calls (asks to have their cards shown) and the person with the best hand wins. Sorry if this is a bit rushed, but e-mail me if you want a better explination….
Ok, sorry this took so long, but I made up for it by posting two chapters at once. Forgive me? The reason why it took so long to update is because I had to decide whether or not I wanted to skip the first day of Ravenna taking care of Mush or go straight into the poker night. I debated for a few days (ok was more like 2 weeks but you all love me so I know you will find it in your hearts to forgive me), and decided that I needed to write the nursing part first. Sorry that nursing is all you've been reading for a while, but I've needed it to allow Ravenna's heart to change. However, that is all moot considering that I ended up updating this all in one day and you ended up getting BOTH chapters. However that can be explained in a very simple fashion. Today, the 15th of May, is my dear friend Betsy's birthday. Yes, that's right; she is now 19, one year away from never being a teenager again. But I would consider that a thing to rejoice, but that's my personal opinion hehe. So while this story is dedicated to my near and dear friend JP, this poker chapter is my friend Betsy's B'Day gift 'cause se said that was what she wanted LoL.
So, with all that said I move onto the other subject I need to tackle. Ok, for some reason my brain has not wanted to keep this story in one month heh. If you look in the second chapter I believe it says that it is November, whereas around the eighth it is February and according to last chapter it is March. I don't have any clue as to why I am so scatter brained, I know not a good thing to have while writing, but I know you will forgive me and accept that it is the 2nd Friday in February, making it the 8th, now if that is historically accurate I don't know, I'm taking literary licensing hehe. However I have changed all of the confusing bits to be consistent…I hope. I am planning on sending the previous chapters to a friend who said she would beta them…well two friends, which means I get dual coverage *dances* so hopefully the previous and future chapters will be without mistakes. :o) And now that I've gotten all of that junk out of the way onto the SOs…sorry they are rather short, my fingers are cramping from all of the typing I did in one night. That's right this was all completed in a matter of a few hours…does that qualify me for the nut house?
*Hands out never ending gobstoppers as an apology for the REALLY late update.* (only for those who reviewed chapter 11 not 12. Those SOs will be included in the next chapter along with the SOs that will be given for those who review this chapter.)
Serina: Well it seems you got your wish, Rav and Mush hooked up…well…in a sense hehe. I'm glad you like the story and thank you for the compliment. It's always nice to hear that my story is great.
Spotted One: I bet Brutus breath is bad LoL. Sorry this wasn't soon, but you did get lots hehe. I cant wait to hear what you think of these chapters, you always have nice things to say.
Hottie5Star: I agree, Rav is a lucky girl I wouldn't mind being escorted by Newsies to my residence every night hehe. I'm glad you loved that chapter, and I hope you loved these two.
Marysueanon: I can't believe you reviewed all 11 of my chapters! That means so much to me! Thank you. I especially appreciated chapter 10's review hehe. I hope you enjoyed these 2 chapters like you did the other 11 :o)
Peachy: Sorry this wasn't soon, but I did update hehe. I'm glad you love the story, hope you enjoy these two newest installments.
Rumor: Woohoo! I have a closet HP reader…well one that came out of the closet LoL. Hehe. I'm glad you're enjoying this little bit of creativity. Here are the latest bits that the Muses decided to give to me. Sorry they didn't come sooner.
Mushlovr: Hehe you reviewed twice! I feel so special. Don't worry hun, I'm not going ANYWHERE. Even if I might take teeny tiny vacations in between updates I am not planning on just letting this gather cyber dust. I will complete this even if it takes me a while. But I warn you, there is a lot to go. Mush and Rav have a few things to go through before Im done with them.
Cookiechick02:Yep I used lackadaisical hehe. I'm a nerd. But that's ok. :o) I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, I hope you enjoy these two 'cause they are for you I mean hehe Happy B'Day!
Nina: I'm glad you liked it, sorry the update wasn't soon. I really hope to get the next one up sooner but I make no promises now hehe.
Pixiedust: I'm glad you've enjoyed my story. I hope you continue to enjoy all the other chapters that will be posted eventually hehe.