Post by oliviarose on Jun 25, 2011 19:17:09 GMT -6
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| [bg=#352322] don't be naive, even heroes have the right to bleed |
| [bg=#dbdbdb] Odantton was a cesspit of sin and The Harlot's Barrel profited from it. Money would always be tight but many could easily go without to put a piece or two on a bet and Elias Brier was no different. Gambling and booze had always been his vice and it showed on his face as he slumped against the bar eyes greedily taking in the wenches strutting around the tavern. With their plushy lips and over flowing corsets the old drunk's daughter stuck out more than ever as she sat not too far away from him hunched over a hand of cards. When the Queen retired for the night the staff were permitted to leave the grounds if they wished and while the blonde preferred to stay safe behind the fortress walls her father sloped off to the nearby town on the outside of the walls for flagons of cheap ale and shady card games with the many crooks and thieves the town had to offer. Most played fairly with the old man but tonight had been different. Placing a bet on a fixed game the more hands he lost the more money he put down on the table and by the time Olivia had trudged down in the darkness and into the pub her old man was in the middle of a bitter altercation over money he'd put down but couldn't cough up. Brown eyes flicked from the cards in her hand, to the old lush propped up at the bar, and back down again to pick up another card. The game was dirty and while Livia wasn't the type she'd adapted to the same strategy in an effort to keep food on the table next month. She nodded confidently but her nerves were shot to pieces still it really couldn't have got much worse, could it? Tipping the cards close to her chest she picked up the tankard to her left and sipped. She never drank but the foul tasting liquid would still her nerves and, hopefully, give off the impression she was anything put the timid wallflower most knew her to be. Eyes looked over each player bent over the scrubbed table all filled with the same curious suspicion as they wondered who had the better hand but for every bit they narrowed more coins were dropped into the pot at the center. Sat wedged between two brutes her legs jerked occasionally as weighty hands found themselves dropped on her knees. Perhaps it could get worse if she lost but she could bear thinking about it. She had to win there wasn't another option. For her father's sake she kept his indiscretions a secret; the gambling, ale and women were something born of being away from his family and Olivia didn't doubt for a second the love he had for his family but he was old and far too stuck in his ways to change them now after so long. Tossing her hair back she leaned forward to drop another brassy coin on the table and picked yet another card up; inwardly satisfied outwardly looking no different than she had when she'd originally sat down. While she couldn't lie worth a darn she could play a rather terrific poker face when she needed to. A hand of battered cards were thrown down on the table and a brute got to his feet with a shake of his head only to be greeted with a cheer from somewhere in the corner; the guards who had finished their shift were down hoping for a paid night of ale and curvaceous women to warm their hearts and beds. Another sip of ale was taken as her mouth ran dry and she gave another nod to signify she was still in. Surely they didn't still think she'd back out now? Plucking a card from her hand she flipped it over exposing the whiter side of her wrist a tell tale side she was a woman of distinction rather than those who'd spent the day swept up in hard labour"you're sweating, Gawain" she permitted herself to speak slowly avoiding the chance for her words to shake. An arched brow raised at him as she sat back holding her hand tightly. Chances are it wouldn't have gotten much better than what she had but the remaining two were arrogant and greedy as they goaded each other on with more coins and more waves for their mugs to be filled. Sin was the ultimate let down for all men and it was rare she could sit back, watch it unfold, and feel smug about it. Elias slumped against the bar, his nose hovering just above the wood, before face planting down onto it; spent from a days hard work and too much alcohol in his belly but it was nothing a good nights sleep and an early start couldn't fix in Liv's opinion but while the night was over for him it certainly wasn't for her at least not yet. Crossing her legs under the table she looked to the men and flashed a toothy smile; a doe eyed slip of a girl did nothing but flare up their egos as they grunted tossing more money down to which she followed grumbling under her breath. Her foot twitched impatiently still keeping the same cards and steely exterior "boys?" She spoke up again, placed her cards down showing her hand and then, after moments of silence, it kicked off. Brute one and two jumped to their feet hurling obscenities and she, with the swiftness of a buck hare, pulled the coins forward into the front pocket of her dress leaving a fair bit on the table and made her exit from the ruckus straight into someone else behind her. |
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