Poker Night

Posted on 17 Mar 2020 @ 7:35pm by Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Syvar MD

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Amelia Fox's quarters
Timeline: MD7 2100Hrs
2324 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Amelia had started running a poker night. So far It had been interesting. Around the table were Amelia, Syvar was sat to the right with who she kept stealing looks of a loving nature. Then there was Michale And then to round out the group there was Aidan.

Amelia was shuffling the cards was just finishing telling the rest of them a joke "So he looks at her and says 'Just try that in hyperspace..." before laughing at her own joke.

Michael laughed, he thought it funny. "That is a classic joke." watching Amelia expertly shuffling the cards. It wasn't lost on him, the looks of affection Amelia was sending to Syvar.

In a over stated western drawl he added, "Lady, you sure have a way of shuffling those cards. Were you a card shark in another lifetime?"

Amelia just raised an eyebrow "I've been around a few power tables in my time." She responded modestly as she dealt the hand like a seasoned veteran. Once she had dealt, she lifted the corner of her own cards to have a look. then her face betraying nothing, took a quick sip of her drink.

Michael noticed her perfect poker face, looked at his own it looked promising but he wasn't going to give a reaction in the positive, instead he did the opposite, he frowned slightly at his hand. Looking over at Aidan and Syvar he asked. "Have you two played poker with our dealer before this game?"

Both aliens shook their heads. "Not with this particular dealer," Aidan supplied, "though I have played before. I'm not very good at it though."

Syvar seemed to study his cards before responding. "I've not played poker before at all," he commented, "and I have absolutely no idea what to make of this."

"Some call it a game of chance, some call it a skill in knowing how to read a person's body language. "Michael responded, " It can be a social outlet where friends can gather together, and have some fun."

"Reading body language, I can do," Aidan chuckled, "I'm a linguist by trade. But isn't that considered cheating?"

Amelia raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and smiled. "Looking at other players cards is cheating. Reading another person's boy language and how they respond is how the game is played."

Amelia delt the flop (The three communal cards). She winced and drew a deep breath which she held for a moment. She then exhaled and her face became a blank mask once again. She looked at Aidan "That would be a tell. But was it involuntary or intentional? A bluff or a double bluff?

"I can't tell the difference between intentional or unintentional," Aidan supplied with a smile, before looking at the others.

Syvar folded his cards. "I'd rather observe for now," he announced, "I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing."

Amelia looked at him. "Come now Syvar, I'm sure you'll be able to pick it up. She began to explain the strength of each hand and the possible winning combinations. The first round went to Hawkins with a rather impressive pair of Kings. The second hand looked like it could follow suit.

Michael's hand looked promising, he discards two and waits for replacements. He glances over towards Amelia quirking up an eyebrow, seeing what her expression is before he looks at Syvar and Aidan. "Aidan, how are you doing there?" indicating his hand with a nod.

"Oh I'm good," Aidan replied dismissively as he discarded a single card.

Syvar just frowned as he peered at his cards. In the end, he discarded three in the hopes of having made a right move.

Amelia sighed "You guys are going to have to work on your poker faces. You might as well show me your cards." She added jokingly. "It's not just your expression, it's your body language, tone of voice..." She kept her original cards. She looked at Syvar "It's easiest of all for me to read you so you're going to have to try extra hard my dear." She placed her hand on Syvars and let it linger there a little longer than just a friendly gesture.

As the river card was dealt, Amelia threw some chips in, the corner of her right eye twitched ever so slightly. "No help there I'm afraid."

Michael noted the loving way Amelia caressed Syvar's hand, his eyes then going towards Amelia's then to his hand. Her comment brought his attention back to her, wondering, was that a tell? Or was it one of her elusive false tells. Deciding to take the gamble, Michael smiled, he probably will be caught up on this one, but hey, this is for fun. He laid out his hand with the attitude it was a winner. "Beat that, Amelia."

Syvar blushed at the caress, not quite sure just how public knowledge their relationship was at this point. Unconsciously, he turned his hand over so their palms were touching. Had anyone noticed he wasn't wearing his gloves tonight, he wondered idly as he stared at his cards. "Do I open my cards too?" he asked, not sure at all what was going on.

Amelia's eye twitched ever so slightly and she gave Michael a nod of respect "Nicely played. I'm afraid you haven't won this one my dear." she gave Syvar's hand a squeeze.

Over the next couple of hands, Amelia did fairly well. Michael also won his fair share. Aidan and Syvar won a few.

"Right then. A final hand I think." Amelia dealt out the cards and the flop, which was the King of hearts, the jack of hearts and the 5 of clubs.

Amelia glanced at her cards. She pursed her lips slightly and there was the twitch in her right eye. She tapped the table "Check."

Michael's eyes wandered over towards Syvar and Amelia once more, it finally clicking that, Syvar wasn't wearing his gloves! He quirked up one eyebrow at this, then turned his attention back to the cards. Then back to Amelia.

The lady certainly had a wonderful poker face, that twitch of her right eye, could be that tell, possibly. It had paid off earlier, but Michael knew that Amelia was highly intelligent.

Michael glanced at his own cards and then back to the flop. He bit his lower lip as if to seem him being nervous with a slight frown.

"I'll raise" Michael finally said pushing forward a stack of chips. "Fifty."

Aidan looked at his cards and then at the three cards at the center. His brows furrowed into a frown before folding his cards in front of him. "I'll fold," he said, pretty sure his was not a winning hand.

Syvar looked thoughtful as well, and though by now he had picked up some of the rules, he too was sure his wasn't winning hand. Yet, he was starting to relax and he smiled minutely as he looked up. "I'll see your fifty and I'll raise you fifty," he said, adding a handful of chips to the center pot.

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty rich bet. You must be sitting on something special." She added her chips to the pile. " I'm in." She looked at Michael "Are you in?"

Michael grinned, " I'll see your 50, and raise it another 50." tossing in the chips, and grinning ear to ear. This was getting really interesting and he was loving it.

Amelia's eye twitched slightly, but she showed no other reaction as she placed the required amount in the center. "OK. I'll see that. Syvar?"

Syvar purposefully hesitated, then added the required amount to the pot. "And I will raise that by another twenty," he said, adding another chip to the pile. He smirked at the others, though whether it was one of mischief or amusement, one couldn't tell.

Ameila looked at him amused, a strange little smile on her lips. But she put in another 20 chips. "Ok, I'll see that. Michael?"

Michael looked at both Amelia and Syvar with a bemused expression. He was thinking that there was another game being played besides the current poker game at hand.It almost seemed like Syvar and Amelia were teaming up against him. Then again maybe not, maybe they didn't realize what was going on.

"I'll raise another 20" Michael stated, with a half smile.

Amelia hesitated this time slightly, wondering if it was getting a bit too rich.. She shuffled some chips in her hand for a moment before adding them. "I'm in. Syvar?"

"I'm in," Syvar answered, tossing the required amount on the pile. The sparkle in his eyes betrayed his enjoyment as he toyed with the cards in his hand.

With all bets in, Amelia dealt the next card, called The Turn. It was the 2 of clubs. Her face betraying nothing, Amelia tapped the table. "Check."

Michael looked at both Amelia and Syvar, mused for a moment then tapped the table. "Check"

Aidan watched the three of them, studying them closely without saying a word.

Syvar smiled, pushing several of his chips forward. "I bet fifty," he said confidently.

Amelia took another look at her cards and looked back at Syvar. She studied his face for a moment then gave him a knowing smile. "If I didn't know better, I'd say we were being hustled. I'm not buying this innocent Vulcan routine. I'll see that 50." She pushed her own chips into the pile which was growing steadily.

"I'll see that 50 and raise it by 50." Michael adding his chips as he spoke. This was looking to be quite the game.

Syvar just smiled as he had done before, shoving his entire pile forward. "All in," he said smartly.

Her face betrayed nothing but she knew her chance of a winning hand was slim at best. Putting her best poker face on. “Suits me. All in. Shall we make this interesting? As well as the chips how about we throw in tomorrow's duty schedule? Whoever wins this last hand gets the morning off.”

Michael grinned, "That makes the pot even sweeter. I'm all in as well." pushing in the rest of his chips. This was going to be anyone's game from what he surmised. Boy were the stakes high.

"What now?" Syvar asked as he looked at the remaining players.

Amelia took a deep breath. “There’s has one more card then we see who comes out on top.” She dealt the last card, also know as ‘The river’ card. It was the ace of hearts. Her outward expression did not change however she let out a tiny gasp and her pulse accelerated. “The moment of truth gentlemen. Let’s see your cards. Syvar?”

Syvar turned his head ever so slightly as his keen hearing picked up on her gasp. He grinned like a little boy as he turned his cards face up in front of him. "I do believe I have three of a kind?" he asked, pointing at the three fives.

She smiled at him and squeezed his hand gently. “Yes you do. Well played my dear.” She looked to Michael “Your turn.”

Michael placed his cards down, giving a cautious smile, he may be winning the pot and maybe not. His heart was pounding, he looked over towards Syvar and Amelia. "I do know that there seems to be some winners tonight."

Amelia let out a whistle of respect. "Trip aces. Nicely played. That's a really good hand. A tough one to beat, but..."

She turned her cards over slowly, one by one for dramatic effect. The 10 of hearts followed by the Queen of hearts.

Michael's eyes widened, his jaw dropping as each card was revealed. A Royal Flush! He was stunned, impressed he looked up at Amelia. "Well played, Amelia, well played indeed."A smile going from ear to ear, then he chuckled. " A big hand for a little lady er no offense Amelia. Its a title of a movie and I've been wanting to use that line for quite some time." applauding.

"Nice," Aidan commented, "well played. Sorry Syvar looks like you lost it all there."

The Vulcan smirked back at him. "Not at all... I still have the queen, she's all mine."

Amelia smiled at Syvar lovingly. "You are such a smooth talker sometimes," She said as she gathered up all the chips. "Gentlemen it's been a very entertaining evening, not to mention profitable. I shall have to give Michael a chance to win some of his chips back but it's getting rather late now."

Michael chuckled,"Yes, Syvar you definitely have the queen." His gaze turned to Amelia. "I would definitely love to get some of my chips back. And looks like you get to have a day off."

"And not just him," Aidan chuckled, "I want a chance to win some of mine too.

Softly shaking his head, Syvar started to leave, reasoning that he had the biggest win of them all. He stopped, when he felt a hand on his arm.

Amelia stopped Syvar before he could go through the door. "And where do you think you're going?" She asked with mock sternness as she slipped her hands around his waist.

"Home," Syvar answered, "with you." He sidestepped slightly to let the science chief pass, watching him leave in somewhat of a hurry.

Amelia kissed him before linking her arm with his. "Sound's perfect. I'm all yours."

Michael gave a brief bow towards Amelia and Syvar, it was definitely time for him to leave and so he did, whistling a happy tune. Which if one was familiar with old earth tunes. "Love is in the air"

OFF

●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda


● Ensign Michael Hawkins
Chief Operations Officer
USS Andromeda

●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer/2nd Officer
USS Andromeda

Ensign Syvar
Acting CMO
pnpc Aidan