Manipulation's in the Cards

Michiyo Ichimaru

"I guess I'm out of tricks..."

Poker is an extremely tricky game... it requires you to see through the mask your opponent makes. Strip poker is a tacky way to put on the pressure and make it harder to hide behind a facade.

Only the best can fool their opponents when they've been exposed.

It started out as a challenge, from Zak to Valent, on who was the better poker player. The two of them were always competing with each other to see who was the best. Thalassa found it rather cute, but she didn't like being left out and the game of poker wasn't very challenging, but...

"How about we all play. I bet I can best you both..." She smiled sweetly and added, "...at strip poker."

So it had evolved from a simple challenge to a competition. Both of them were fighting to win. Now, not only for the sake of winning, but for their pride and dignity. Hence why neither would back down when she suggested it. Thalassa had thought as much.

But after she lost the first two hands, she knew they were starting to develop a new reason for wanting to win... and that was to make her lose.

It was funny has well she percieved the change. Valant started adjusting the fancy collar around his neck like it was too hot in the room and Zak was sweating bullets. His voice was also a little strained as he said, "Shoot." Revealing a rather bad hand, and at the same time, begging someone else to show him something worse.

Thalassa was happy to oblige. "Guess I'm just no good at this." she laughed, unclasping her cape slowly and letting it fall behind her, over her boots and gloves.

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Valant said, smiling sheepishly as he dealt the next hand. "It's a game that takes a lot of practice and developed skill. I'm sure you'd pick it up just fine if you played more often."

Zak grunted in agreement, looking a little too flustered to say anything.

When she lost the next round too, they were astounded. Partially by her bad luck and skill, but mostly because they knew what was coming off next. Thalassa laughed inwardly. It was a simple trick, really, and they hadn't caught on at all. The magicians hadn't noticed her manipulative magic in the cards at all...

She giggled, taking off her dress and throwing it at Zak's head.

"If you teach me poker, maybe I'll teach you a little bit about magic."