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.