she doesn't come here for the games; she comes here for the games.[break][break]

the mind games, to be exact. all night she's been more occupied with currying favour of the people around her, using the alluring perfume she's made by detoxifying her salazzle's aphrodisiac venom. she didn't have to move much; just had to cling to a man's arm, distract and whisper sweet nothings long enough for the dealer to perform their sleight of hand. it was easy money. shameful money, but easy. [break][break]

her heels click below her, and she shrugs her shoulders. "mmn.. no~" her eyelids open, revealing the artificial eyes that instinctively glare in the direction of a man's voice. she hums "don't think i'd be winning much of anything, honestly~"

Inigo del Rosario [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

He stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry. ”Ah, fine, whatever. You’re no fun, anyways.” A sigh followed the words after they’d been spoken aloud, and as he lifted the glass he’d taken up to his lips again, he gave a quick, higher hum of acknowledgment as he sipped and nodded towards one of the tables afar as he made eye contact with the dealer (a coworker) some ways off and exchanged nods. ”There’s our game, though~,” he added, glancing towards the silver haired woman from the corner of his eye as he nudged her. ”C’mon~.”[break][break]

And with that, he lifted a hand and planted it onto her shoulder after a couple of taps, gently pushing her along towards the aforementioned table. Though she likely hadn’t seen it for herself, both he and the croupier shared another, smaller nod and exchange as the other players gathered themselves. He sat down with a hum, subtly slipping his hands into the pockets of his jacket briefly.[break][break]

”Are ya sure you don’t wanna give it a couple of tries, though~?” he asked again, his voice raising once more in inquiry.[break][break]

I hope you know a second player would help with not getting sussed out.

ARIADNE MAUCH [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

of course he wouldn't take no as an answer. [break][break]

though their time meeting was short, first impressions last, and she's slightly exasperated at all his energy. instead, she sighs and accepts her fate at the hands of this casino dealer. "alright, you win" she shrugs, going along with his movements until she's seated down. glass, pink eyes glare towards the table, then towards where she assumed the other dealer.[break][break]

in a swift motion, she crosses one leg over the other, and she leans forwards and towards the table with an elbow on her knee, and resting her cheek against the palm of her hand. the smile tugs at her lips, as she glances downwards to the table. "one or two games, no more. then i have to get back to my job~" her tone is nonchalant when she moves her other hand to flip her ponytail behind her shoulders. [break][break]

"what game are we playing?"

Inigo del Rosario [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

]”Hahaha, you say that like we’re not both here on business, right now~!” he said back with what (for the most part) had been a jokingly sarcastic tone, but to the trained ear, there would’ve been a small bite to his words despite the grin he wore. Nevertheless, he leaned back into his seat, watching as the dealer began shuffling the cards to and fro. He reached into the innermost pockets of his jacket for a moment before picking out what seemed to be smaller fold of bills, putting them on the table. ”I respect the grind, but I’m just sayin’— it’s kiiiinda selfish and detrimental to other tasks if all you’re thinkin’ about is fucking off~.”[break][break]

He watched as the dealer took the bills and slid the according amounts and types of chips towards them.[break][break]

”...Blackjack, though. I’m sure ya at least know how to play it, right~?”

ARIADNE MAUCH [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

her eyes are kept shut, and she. wears a smile to her lips whilst humming at his tone. though trying to read facial expression was a no go, and she still couldn't tell exactly if her partner really wanted to play a game for the sport, or to swindle. well.. either way, she'll indulge. with an open, artificially coloured glass eye, she smiles and leans over to rest her hands against his shoulders, although mainly to keep herself stable (and so she doesn't accidentally get lost). [break][break]

though she leans down, slightly, to where she thinks his ear is to say "sorry, sorry, don't be mad~" she pats his shoulder, though softly and in more of a playful manner. then she tilts her head, looking down to where she'd think the table is, before humming quietly, and smiling a tad more. "mhm, i know how to play" she starts, leaning forward (like she can see it) "closest to twenty-one wins, right?~"

Inigo del Rosario [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

”Uh huuuh, that’s on the money~.”[break][break]

Taking a quick glance around the table as other players gathered, he quirked his lip in thought and observation before turning his head towards the side, leaning very faintly closer to her while lowering his voice a bit more. ”All things considered, it doesn’t matter if ya win or lose— but if you do win a big round or two, that’s just all the better for us~.”[break][break]

He leaned his jaw upon a hand propped above the table, all while the remaining nudged one of her hands softly from below. ”Here’s the deal, though— you take my hand, and I’ll eye your cards whenever I can when you make it look like you’re eying ‘em. Keep track of how many taps you feel. The first taps mean the number in the tens place; the second taps after the pause mean the ones place. You don’t feel any taps over the first few seconds of a round, just assume I wasn’t able to see you cards without looking sus and wing it.” His gaze briefly shifted between other nearing people before he went on.[break][break]

He tapped a finger once against her knuckles, and after a brief pause, tapped five more times in rapid succession.[break][break]

”Now, just as a test, what number did I just give you?”

ARIADNE MAUCH [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

well, she can't say no to a good amount of pocket money. even if it's a little unethical. [break][break]

ethics weren't exactly high in her priorities, anyways. [break][break]

so she sits herself down next to him, heterochromic eyes (one dulled from a blue, now white only barely crackling as the other, brightly coloured eye gazes at the table) fixated on the table before them. she's never played blackjack, though she's hard of how to play it, and the rules are simple enough. she'd be more worried if this were poker. [break][break]

then she hums softly as her knuckles are tapped, shortly after committing the instructions to memory. thankfully she's good at being attentive at that much. "fifteen." she speaks softly, her other hand and fingers resting upon the table. to the untrained eye, she's just tapping her fingers whilst waiting. for her, she's gauging it so she has an idea of the space. [break][break]

".. this seem simple enough~" she hums, then leaning closer to where he sits, her voice still lowered "just nudge at my hand in the direction of the cards when they're dealt, though."

Inigo del Rosario [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

Though the goal of the test had been simple, the answer bestowed upon his ears brought a coy, creasing smirk to his lips as he remained turned and leaned towards her. ”That’s my girl~,” he chuckled, nodding and giving her hand a small pat before leaning back once more. ”I’ll leave it up to your judgment as to when or when not to add another card. Just double tap on the table if you do.”[break][break]

He made another moment’s worth of eye contact with the dealer before them, exchanging a subtle smirk with him before leaning into his other hand a bit more, idly tapping his fingers against the bone of his cheek. ”And just so ya know, the dealer’s on our side~. Coworker of mine,” he hummed lowly, closing his eyes briefly. ”We’ll both spot you when we can.”[break][break]

His eyes opened again at the sound and feeling of others beginning to take the remaining seats by them.[break][break]

”...Aside from that, though? Let’s get this show on the road~.”

ARIADNE MAUCH [break]
mission: rigged gacha rolls

☉

oh, ew, praise. from him, no less. she'd gag, but this isn't exactly the right time to do it. [break][break]

so instead, her response is the soft chuckle and smirk of her lips. she already has the dealer on her side, along with someone who already knows this game like the back of his hand. though there aren't many stakes if they lose, anyways, her pride probably will stop her from accepting a loss. tis the predatory nature of gambling, and games that rely on chance. [break][break]

"mhm, this should be fun~" she chimes, tapping the table to signal to the dealer that she's ready. even if she can't gamble (usually) due to her lack of sight, it's something she's always wanted to try at least once. [break][break]

and who is she to turn down some money?[break][break]

pU|sxOjd

end

☉