faderift | he said, "son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces" [open]

WHO: The Iron Bull and YOU (open)
WHAT: Wicked Grace
WHEN: Afternoon and Evening of Firstfall 19
WHERE: Skyhold, in The Herald's Rest
NOTES: The practice rounds in the afternoon are one-on-one. The game in the evening for veterans will be party style, and we'll keep it to five total to make it manageable. If more than that want to play, we can start a second thread. Questions? PM me or ping me on plurk.

Afternoon

Well. Turned out more than a few of the Rifts were game to try their hand at the latest proposed form of distraction. And hey, Bull wasn't so bad of a teacher. Kind of fell in line with his nature, in a way. So all those newcomers who wanted to learn the ins and outs of Wicked Grace without gambling away what little they'd brought with them? Had access to a private training ground of sorts. A couple of tables set up near the back of the tavern, and a few of the Chargers who'd volunteered to help -- the more sociable of his merry band, anyway -- and anyone asking could easily be directed back to where Bull was shuffling up the cards, and nodding in welcome to those who approached.

"Hey. Glad you could make it. Pull up a chair, and we'll get started."

Evening

Playtime was over.

As the sky darkened and the fires in the tavern burned brighter, the booze started to circulate. Coins rattled in purses, and those who knew the game well enough were invited to come play for real stakes. No more taking it easy. Bull fully expected the best game out of those who came, or at least an entertaining one.

Maybe someone would drag a few of their stiffer companions along for a round or two. Cullen, for example. Man could use a break like no one could. But chances of that were admittedly slim, and they'd make it work, no matter who showed up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Truthfully, Kirk was confident enough in his skills to try at betting coin - but perhaps not against Bull. He had learned the ins and outs of the game beneath Korrin's tutelage, enough that he could spend nights in taverns against common patrons, tossing a few bits here and there and traded labors, but nothing serious. It was still a twisted game to learn and he felt more comfortable coming for the earlier session with less to lose, especially with the expense of a horse looming.

He remembered the large Qunari from the Fade, though he had not spoken to him since then. He smiled at him and took his seat.

"Hopefully I don't prove a boring partner for you."

"No such thing," he replies, eyebrow arching over his eyepatch. "Though it's interesting. Most people today seem to figure taking me on head-to-head's their safest bet. I look like an easy mark?"

One hand lifts, scratching the underside of his chin, though the faint smirk poised on his lips says he knows the truth.

"No, not easy, but it's always the ones that look the least dangerous that end up with all the coins at the end of the night, right?" Kirk laughed, letting his own lips curl into a smirk. Bull was, by far, one of the least strange things he had seen in his life, and being used to Korrin Qunari were not anything to blink twice at anymore. Even if Bull's horns were of an impressive width.

"I'm Kirk, by the way. Jim Kirk. I don't remember if I introduced myself to you before." He did not say where, not wanting to speak the place's name aloud and create a somber mood, and even if Bull did not remember he didn't mind. Better that people forgot that place.

"Korrin's taught me a bit," he nodded to the cards. "But I admit my head has always been one for board games, not cards."

"Korrin, huh?" Bull took note of that without seeming to, just a vague eyebrow arch of curiosity before he started moving the deck around. "Well good to meet you, Jim. You want to shuffle the deck or should I?"

Yeah. Less spoken about the Fade, the better. That was one outing he was in no hurry to revisit, lest he feel the need to go get hit with a heavy stick again.

"Do you know her?" he asked, thinking that Bull's tone suggested he did, but not wanting to assume. In answer to Bull's question, he pulled the deck towards himself, cutting and shuffling. It wasn't anything fancy, perfectly standard, but there was an air of swarthy confidence to it - unconsciously beginning to play the bluffing game.

"If you like, after this, I could teach you poker," he suggested. "To repay you for the lessons in Wicked Grace."

he said, "son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces" [open]

afternoon;

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