Queen of Spades (M)

[visualspice]

Card games were never her favorite. Why fool with cards when the Jack didn't have dick worth his size? And the King's club was but as useless as the Ace of Spades. No, Davina Callister liked to play a different game of chance that was similar to the card table and it's tricks, but so much more thrilling, for she played her games with people.

To her, each event was a thrill. She loved to draw her letter opener across the wax seals to see what sort of occasion she had been invited. Then there was the weeks it took to prepare; of buffing her nails, and powdering her skin, and keeping her hair wound up tight. Who knew. Tonight could be the night for something grand.

Fluffing powder across her skin and drawing lipstick across her lips, she made sure to make herself appear as perfect as possible. The corset was bound until she could barely breath, and her dress fashioned to be as low as possible, and her jewels set in place to catch a man's eye, not deter it.
She preferred dark colors contrasting with light under skirts, those skirts layering to accentuate her curves. And when the day was all said and done, she'd have to do it all again tomorrow.

Being a lady was just so trying at times. But she loved it and adored the idea of a good hunt for a man. The very idea made her smirk as she glanced at her self in the mirror. She was still beautiful and youthful, and though there was some gossip as to why she had not wed at her age- she herself asks in turn, Why the hell not? Truth be told, she was a hunter, a shark, swimming through the waters of her social circles looking for just the right prey. For having such noble blood as hers, it would only be fitting that she take what was worthy of her.

Pitty as she terribly picky at the men she flirted with. Money came first, and station, of course, but even she found herself fighting internally over the two as to which was better. She could have married that handsome tradesman, but oh! He would never be home. She would have had to taken quite a bit of lovers to remained sated. And the duke of Ardal had all but vanished. Though she wasn't sure she wanted to pursue a man so prudent. Though they did say those sorts of men were fun to train in bed.

No, no, she'd have to get her kicks another way. And find herself a husband and soon. Damn the war for killing of respectable men she could be courting. She hated soldiers, all of them, even the ex-ones. They all had this taste from the military that made her gag. Morals, Scruples, and honor.

It was just one of those particular days that there was a celebration of arms, and even she, who was so disgusted with men in suits, could not pass up a chance to make conversation with pretty men. Ah, but they all looked so dashing in their suits of armor. Perhaps, tonight, she'd simply find some fun, then go back to hunting once again.

Those dark eyes of hers hunted across the water, catching  man's eyes here or there, but nothing solid. It would be a grand occasion, and since the Grand Duke's masked ball, it seemed the world of the social elite was finally getting back on track. Good. She had been growing so terribly bored with it that she was afraid she'd be old and grey by the time the war was over! And worse- husbandless!

Stepping across the Great Hall of Astabar (named after a fearless General some years back- she never did keep too much track of that sort of history), she mingled casually among the guests, eyes casually glancing around for anything intriguing but, as usual, aside from a playful little flirt, nothing really became of it Sure she could bang the man back in his quarters, but where was the ring? The money? The castle?

Feeling quite underwhelmed, she excused herself to the powder room when she heard some sort of raucous coming from one of the back rooms. Curiosity piqued, Davina edged her way nearer towards the back room, where the air was heavy with cigar smoke and the lighting dim as the eve. And it didn't take long for her to see the shadows of movement, feel the tenseness of the air and the shouting of men...

Ah.. a card game. How vain.
Well, it beat the drawl of the other half of the party, and the dancing wouldn't begin until ten. Seems the men had enough to distract them, however, and she quietly made her way over towards the table, finding herself perched behind a man with dark hair who was glancing down at quite the nice hand-
Though he was missing the right card. The queen of spades.
And as she continued to peer over his shoulder, she smirked when she realized-
The card he needed was right up his sleeve.

[Lion]

He was here for only ten minutes and already he felt his blood rushing.  He was a late comer to the game, but when he showed he had a proper entry bet, the other men at the table were more than welcoming.  There were advantages to a man in his position.  Though he looked at the table like a starving dog would a morsel of beef, Maxxen kept his cool, and it seemed there were plenty of men at the table looking to make an easy score out of him when he showed he was ready to add to the pot.

He lost the first few hands, the other men, growing quite eager to keep him in the game.  It was always good to show some submission, some lack of skill, make their bellies swell with every drop of a coin, before going in for the kill.  So he kept losing, and was sweating bullets, when he started losing badly, especially when a few players were pushing him hard with better hands.

Maxx sat back in his chair, at least that was one minor comfort in a situation like this and knocked back the bourbon in the glass at his side.  It burned down his throat and he coughed and hiccupped, his eyes seeing double for a moment.  The room was rife with cigar smoke, but none of it was his.  No he would save that for when he started winning again, which was going to be soon, to be sure.  He just needed to bide his time, relax a little.

At least the company was a little personable.  The men laughed and made crude jokes, and spoke as they pleased in the privacy of the backroom of the ball.  They were all well dressed, as gentleman ought to be, and Maxxen was just like them in such a manner.  He wore a pleated jacket and waistcoat underneath.  Just under that was a pressed black shirt.  The colors were a pleasing match of maroon over black, with polished boots that gleamed by the lamp light.

The men were so consumed with the game, as was Maxx, when a lady soon found her way in the room.  Not that they were unwelcome, it was just that ladies weren't nearly as skilled with cards as men were.  Maxx smiled and held his cards close to him just as the pot was a small mountain at the center of the table.  He felt her leering over his shoulder and he flashed her a wry grin.  "Ante up, or fold?" he murmured to her, holding his cigar in one hand and peering at her.  "What do you think?"

[visualspice]

Well now, what had she just walked into? She could see him sweating, noted the mound of chips on the tbale, and the tenseness hanging in the air like the hefty cigar smoke. It was when their eyes met that she knew she liked this man. It would be a fun game indeed. Nodding her head, she walked to stand beside him and squeezed his shoulder and whispered, "It's only worth playing if you're going to win it all. Take them for all they've got."

So she passed the decision up to him-
Bet or Fold?
Could he coaxed the pile up higher- could he sweet talk these men into more? Davina kept her cool, even as the excitement began to grow inside her. Yes, she hoped this man would not disappoint.
Yes, this was definitely more interesing than the boring old ball.

[Lion]

At her words, Maxxen gave a grin and reached up to scratch his thin beard and took a long drag on his cigar.  He couldn't have thought of a better way to put it as he gave a small grin and watched the main man across from him.  Luc Legaire.  He'd been running the table all night, making most of the others fold when the pot was a clean cut win, and backing out just when he was ripe for the kill.  He was frustrating to those that couldn't read him, but Maxx could see right through him.

His bluff was an eyebrow twitch that wiggled just enough when he tried to lie on his hand.  And Maxxen flashed him a grin when he took a handful of gold and tossed it into the pot, anteing up.  Luc's smile faded and he loosened the collar of his shirt a little.  At the rise of the pot, one man to his left dropped his cards and scooted back in his chair.  "Too rich for my blood, and proceeded to leave the game."

But soon, several men followed suit as Maxxen and Luc stared back at each other.  Luc seemed to grow further in frustration and dashed the ashes from his cigar in the tray beside him.  He took a swig and peered at Maxx.  "Then set your hand then, mate!" he growled.

"You first."

Luc grinned, though his brow twitched a little.  "You're the guest here at my table, I insist."

"Very well," Maxx shrugged and set his cards down, after having discretely pulled the queen from his sleeve and splayed them casually on the table.  "Well, not much of a show for it.  Now show me yours."

Luc peered across the table at his cards and made a face at the man, clearly dumbfounded and he suddenly threw this cards on the table, smashing his fists against the wood.  "You bastard!  You cheat!  I'll kill you!"

"Now, now.  There is a room full of knights and soldiers just across the hall.  Do you really wanna cause a ruckus that would have them all rushing in here at once?  And over a friendly little card game."  Maxxen said this as he pulled the massive pot of gold toward him and poured it into a sack he unfolded from his jacket pocket.

Luc visibly relaxed at the mention of calling attention to himself and just kicked the leg of the table before departing the room.  Maxxen puffed on his cigar before putting out the ashes in the tray next to him and the swiveled in his chair to face his guest.  "So might I inquire the name of this lucky lady before me?"

[visualspice]

Oh, so he was going all or nothing? She grinned, admiring the heap of coins in the center of the table. If she were less tasteful, she would have reached across the room and let the coins and chips sift through her fingers, but she kept herself reserved, like any proper lady, and her smile only broadened slightly when he won.

As the men cooled down, she didn't bother to look at the man's face as she fanned off her own. She simply smirked and walked away. One couldn't be too excited for a possible catch. Besides, for all she knew ,t his man was a nobody. And she hardly wanted that.

But it was Luc that cut int when he heard Maxx's question as she scoffed out a laugh.
"As if you don't know the lady, Maxxen, though perhaps the pair of you have never been introduced. After all, she is a Callister. Lady Davina Callister."

[Lion]

"Lady Davina Calister?" Maxxen's grin widened at the prospect of a lady coming to site beside him and observing the seedy exchanges of a backroom card game.  He down the last of his bourbon and stood from the table after the lady had walked away.  "No, Mr. Legaire, I'm afraid I haven't heard the name of so lovely a creature.  I know, surprised me too.  Excuse me while I get another drink."

He brushed off his lapels and grabbed his prize before stepping out into the main hall, eyes on the look out for Lady Davina Callister.

[visualspice]

What other games could be played in a place such as this? Really now, she was going to die young and bored if things were to keep up like this. Perhaps she should have stayed in the card room, but instead, found herself, all alone, inside the music room, with only some dim lighting sparred. It was cozy, and she took a seat before the piano, not to play really but just to use as a seat as she sipped upon her wine.

Bored and drunk- yes, bored alone and drunk, and thinking back to that man int he card game. SHe thought she put enough of a hint she wanted to 'know more about him' by playing hard to get, but maybe she was playing a bit too hard. She frowned at the idea, but was too lazy to do anything about it and continued to sip at her drink.

[Lion]

"Took you long enough," Maxxen said smartly as he sat in the rear of the music room, conveniently hidden behind the piano and didn't come into view until she had taken her seat and was growing increasingly bored.  "I thought you'd never show up.  But I'm glad you did."

He pulled up a violin and checked the sound by plucking the strings a little bit and playing a soft euphoric note.  He turned his eyes to her.  "You still haven't told me your name.  Quite rude to new company, don't you think."

[visualspice]

At the sound of his voice, she turned around from where she sat, nearly spilling her drink. Thankfully, she caught it with one dark, gloved hand. But not seeming disturbed by this, she simply smirked and glanced away, then tipped her drink to her red painted lips and downed the rest of it before releasing a sigh. She reclined back on the stool and gave a fluff to her long, dark hair, or at least what part of it she allowed to flow freely from her 'do.

"Yes, but really, what's the fun in that?" she stated, as if the idea were just that obvious and she drew in a breath, giving another trying sigh as she swished the remaining gulp of drink in her glass.
"You as my name,I find out yours... but that's too boring darling, so I'm sorry but you'll have to try again."

[Lion]

"You demand effort don't you?" Maxxen laughed, both at the prospect and at her.  He smiled coyly, peering at his violin and adjusting the strings a little more.  "Lear," he answered simply.  "Of the Vale Lears in northern Bellkrath.  Born Maxxen.  But you can call me Maxx."

[visualspice]

Davina didn't even spare him a glance at his question. And then, at his name, she could have rolled her eyes but refrained, simply slipping a hand inside her purse and pulling out a cigarette case. Slipping one into it's holder, she bit her teeth into it and leaned towards a nearby candle and lit up, letting her lips puff away before drawing in a deep drag.

She reclined back in her seat, folding her legs slowly as she blew white smoke into the air. Still, she did not comment on his name for a time, looking down at her finger nails before finally sighing again and moving to stand.
"Really, you are making this far too boring for me," she stated simply, and turned towards him as he held onto the violin. "But maybe you only know how to play one sort of game?"

[Lion]

"Only boring people get bored, dear," Maxx said with a clever grin, laughing aloud at her and her comment.  "So you admit to having nothing better to do.  Why don't you tell me about yourself and what you're doing here?  But I guess the answer too, would be little more than filler.  Perhaps the only person you're truly bored with is yourself.  So you have to look elsewhere to get your kicks."

[visualspice]

Turning around, she studied him and his violin before she approached, then, casually, flicked some cigarette ashes onto it with a smile.
"Why are you asking my name?" she said, ignorant and evasive to his cutting words.
"I'm pretty sure your friends would have told you by now." ANd her grin stretched a bit wider, but her eyes remained cool and placid.

[Lion]

"I can assure you they haven't," Maxxen replied with just as much ice in their voice.  "They tend to be a little less friendly when you take all their money.  Thanks to having you as a lovely distraction by my side."  He gave a nonchalant shrug and took the drink from behind him, a small sip and then putting it back.  "But it's of little consequence, I suppose."  He brushed off the violin and played a little more.

[visualspice]

She kept her grin at his tone, and as he played she turned her eyes from him, tossing her dark hair from her shoulders before reaching around him- and sniping up his drink. Now holding his goblet, she leaned against a nearby window and drank from it.
She might as well get more drunk. After all, if she was planning to fool around with him, she'd need it. Though interestingly enough.. he was the sort of man she was looking for-
a man of means, good luck and well... if the card tables proved anything, at least a little money. Though it did beg a lot of questions of why a nobleman might be poking around at cards. Then again, someone could ask her the same thing.

"So do you wait inside drawing rooms or music rooms for all the ladies you're after?" she inquired, swallowing down more of his drink like a pill befre she lowered it at her side. "Or do you assume us to be all this dumb and airy?" And now she flicked ashes onto his boots.

[Lion]

Maxxen leered up at her and watched her drink from his cup this time.  He rubbed his chin between his thumb and index finger and gently pulled at the hair of his beard, combing it with his fingers.  "Do you always take a gentleman's drink and douse him with ashes?" Maxx gave her another clever grin and removed his boot before the ash could land it.  Like he'd let her ruin his outfit.

"You certainly know how to dodge questions and maintain boredom."

[visualspice]

Keeping her eyes planted on his, and only standing but a foot away from him now she grinned coolly.
"It's a skill acquired," she assured him, taking another sip of his drink, a simple sentence answer to both his inquiries.
"But on the subject of boredom,"s he began, eyes flicking down to his form before those green eyes looked back up at him. "I would have hoped you would have been smart enough to figure out the solution." And she sighed, taking in another drag. "After all," she said through a breath of smoke. "One can't let the lady do all of the work." And then she peered him over and sucked in a breath and tilted her head to one side.

"So do you prefer to be the cat.. or mouse?" She assumed cat, but that was her own role she adored. Then again, perhaps she was lying to herself? She did love a good chase...

[Lion]

At her provoking words, Maxx merely sat back coolly and played with the strings of his violin.  They were in tune, but he intentionally strung it out of tune just so he could put it back on.  He plucked the strings here and there and nodded to her as if mildly interested in what she was saying and he only looked at her when she appeared bored once again, which thankfully wasn't long afterward.

"A lady may do as she pleases, it's no skin off my nose," Maxx smiled at her, nonchalantly.  "And playing cat and mouse...is a little generic, don't you think?  I'd think a lady of your apparent caliber would have something much more exhilarating in mind.  I'm almost disappointed...  Almost."

[visualspice]

Davina placed her cigarette back to her lips and forced a bit of a smile at him as she puckered and drew in another drag and blew the smoke his way.

"Darling, you needn't say anymore," she said, waving her hand so that the smoke between them did not hide her face from him. "But if we were to simply fuck here, someone could walk in."
But as his expression, she gave a moan and roll of her eyes, before rising and taking a seat upon the glossy top wood of the piano.

"Though I must say.." she began, letting her hand smooth across the surface while her heels now rested and clicked on the bench set before it. "I always wanted to know how well that man I saw at the gambling tables played." And as she sat on the piano, she had conveniently crossed one leg over the other and her skirts were hiked up to her thighs.

"So.." she said with a smirk, tasting her cigarette again as she blew more smoke his way. "If I bore you, what sort of entertainment were you seeking," and she looked him over again, releasing the remaining smoke from her lips towards his face before brushing dark hair from her eyes, "Maxx?"

[Lion]

Maxx grinned up at her from where she perched herself on the piano.  "Oh, fuck is it?" he asked with the same cool grin. "And here I thought you weren't the sort of girl to kiss on the first enounter.  It's nice to be pleasantly surprised," he replied, but continued to pluck the strings on his violin until the sound was just right.  "How about you tell me your name before we go any further?  You seem to like playing games.  So how about we play a game of chance.  Three Card Hearts.  The game is simple.  I lay four cards on the table, a jack, a king, a jester, and the queen.  You roll the die, and whatever number it lands on is however many times the cards are shuffled.  Then you pick a card, and whatever card you pick, that's what you get.  A jack is a kiss, a king is losing an article of clothing,  queen is an article of winner's choice, and a jester is a re-roll.  If you get a jester twice, you lose the round and the partner can put an article of clothing back on.  Whoever is completely naked loses the game.  Sound like something at that might interest you?"