(me, halfway through writing this: oh shit how does poker work-)
(anyways, after a lot of thinking last night I finally figured out who would be the one that killed Crystal if you wanna hear it!)
-
A pile of chips is set in front of Felix. White, red and blue, the basic colors. Felix huffs through his nose. He had been hoping for at least something a little more spectacular than basic chips. The woman on the end throws in two white chips, the man next to Felix does the same. Blake and Dane. The value for the white chip is a mystery to Felix, but what better way to find out than playing? Knowing his opponents, there's no doubt the singular white chip is more than half a year's worth of rent. Regardless, Felix also throws in two chips and the initial buy in carries down the table to Mister Harima.
The dealer slides everyone their cards and Felix steals a glimpse at his own. Two red kings, a spade queen, a diamond seven and a diamond four. Not the greatest hand Felix has been dealt, but certainly not the worst. It's workable. Blake slides in three red chips. Felix has to marvel at her nerve. Of course, he doesn't show it in his expression, but rather an internalized widening of his eyes and pursed lips. Dane raises the stakes another red chip. Felix slides in his own four red chips and then Rivers does the same. Clyde folds. Harima puts in five red chips.
And the game continues as such. There's hardly any talking and Felix isn't about to put a target on his back for breaking that unsaid rule of silence. There's only brief statements, such as "fold" or "hit". The game ends with a showdown between Felix and Rivers, Felix now having three Kings and two sevens. A full house. Rivers, however, has four sixes.
"Damn," Felix whistles, watching as Rivers takes the large pot with a shark-like grin.
There's another three deals. Harima wins two of them and Dane wins the last. The dealer then dismisses them with a joyless wave and annoyed eye roll. Four deals every week. The usual here at Harima's Elite Poker Club. Felix loosens his tie slightly, the lack of circulation in the dark room not helping his slight irritation. Of course, Felix hadn't planned on winning today, even through he knew well that Harima had a straight flush that would trump Clyde and Blake's four-of-a-kind and full house. These new opponents were certainly much more difficult to read, but nothing Felix couldn't decipher.
He's just about to exit through the doors when somebody catches his arm. It's Rivers. "Mister Herrera," they purr, blonde eyebrows furrowing over their teal eyes. "I would like to welcome you to the club." Their blonde hair is slightly falling loose from the half-ponytail on the back of their head. Felix notes that they have to be around his age, maybe a little younger.
Felix smiles, one equally as sharp as Rivers's. "Happy to be here, doll."
"Please, call me Helsie," they reply. "And if anything, you're much more fun to have here than that old bat." They lean in close to Felix's face. Felix doesn't shy away. "If anything, I'm glad she was wacked over the head. We needed some new blood in here."
"Oh, really?" Felix eggs on, tilting their nose down. Their noses are practically touching.
"Trust me, I'd much rather have you here than Valentine, Mister Herrera." Helsie's eyes darken. "Is there anything you'd rather me call you."
Felix's smile grows malicious, their golden brown eyes glinting in the low light. "That's information for next time, doll." And then he's out of the room, pushing through the bar and dance floor and dodging swinging arms. He doesn't miss how the bartender sends a glare his way.