The Wandering Gambler

"My life is a chip in your pile. Time to ante up." ♢ Roleplay Blog for Setzer Gabbiani of Final Fantasy VI

[worldonlyhavetwothings-deactiva]

“Opps.”

That didn’t go as well as it could have.

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“Don’t worry, it... doesn’t hurt... that much. It’s, uh... barely even bleeding.”

[artemisxbow]

“I knew I spotted a familiar face! Nice to see you around, Setzer. Not getting into any trouble, I hope?”

@blackjackfalcon

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“Not any more than usual. And what about you, Maria? Been wreaking any havoc lately that I should know about?”

[claireverie]

      Fetch him a drink – yes; this was the opportunity she was waiting for, after all. So then why did her heart stop when he asked it of her? When the moment of choice was presented to her, what would she choose to do?

       ❝Ah– sure. Be right back.❞

      Standing, she smoothed her skirt as she stood and made her way to his shelves of liquor. There was a bottle of wine, perhaps opened the night before, that she poured gingerly into two tall glasses.

      Should she do it? She didn’t know how the potion would affect him, or how long it would last, or how furious he would be with her for basically drugging him… Sighing, she pulled the bottle from her bag, uncorked it, and poured the contents into one glass.

      She would be here should anything go wrong. And if he was angry… well, she would just have to try to explain herself.

      Shaking her hair out, she picked up the glasses and made her way back toward him. ❝I saw you had some wine out, so…❞

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

Setzer had forgotten the bottle from last night - it had been a rare evening of moderation, and he’d limited himself to a mere two glasses with dinner. He didn’t often have a re-corked bottle sitting out and waiting, but thought it bright of Hikari to try and finish it off.

He took the glass she offered him with an appreciative nod. The cut crystal showed off the dark red color, and what he could have sworn was almost a shimmer, like oil spreading on water.

A long sip showed that it was lacking the slight chill that was needed to truly bring out its flavor, and the gambler knew that even a bit of oxidation could be unkind to a fine bottle, but there was something else there he couldn’t put his finger on. He took another drink, trying to place the taste. It wasn’t tannic - nor should it have been, he had the same wine last night - perhaps bitter? Bitter with a sweet aftertaste...? Another sip.

Gods, what is this...? It frustrated his epicurean need to place the distinctness of a pleasure, particularly when he was so practiced at it. He mulled over the wine in his mouth, tongue searching for some clue to place the ever-changing flavor. And then a horrifying thought occurred to him.

Setzer glared at Hikari under furrowed brows. Not arsenic. Not strychnine. Not ricin. Certainly not cyanide, I’d be dead already.

She couldn’t do such a monstrous thing, could she? They were friends, after all. His glare softened; no, he was being ridiculous. Hikari wouldn’t poison him, she was one of the few people he trusted. And besides, she was-

He choked on the thought, a dizziness swimming through his mind. His breath came suddenly in desperate rasps. He couldn’t get enough air, and the sensation fed a rising panic in him.

“Hikari...? Did you...?!” He didn’t want to finish the question; the words would be too terrible to say aloud. Maybe this was something else entirely, a sudden sickness or a sinister plague.

With a pained cry, he buried his face in his hands to try and stop the vertigo that spun his brain behind his eyes.

[spearofthemother-a]

“I will concede that fact, nobody beats you when it comes to drinking Rolanberry wine.

Speaking of which, I picked up a new bottle because oft he Rising celebration, I haven’t popped it open yet. Care to do the honors, good ser?”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“My dear lady, it would be my pleasure and delight.”

Corks, when one has sufficient experience and the wisdom to keep a screw for the purpose on hand, are a business rapidly dealt with. When Azee’s proffered bottle opened with a cheery popping sound, it filled the space between them with the distinctly sweet-tart scent of rolanberries. It was, at this point, a smell that Setzer inextricably associated with Azee.

“Glasses, if you would be so kind. And you’ll have to find something suitable for us to toast to.”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

-

This is definitely to my liking. But an expensive gift from Lulu feels like there must be an ulterior motive to it....

Not that it’s any problem of mine. I don’t make a habit of rejecting pretty things, particularly when they taste so damn good.

[claireverie]

      In a strange way, she found herself missing him. Sure, it was always a bit odd to be around him – here he was, after all, talking to her about pleasure with whiskey in one hand while he stroked her skin – but it was just so… him. So essentially Setzer that she simply couldn’t be upset or unnerved; all she could do was giggle gently behind her closed lips, quirking a brow and gazing up at him.

       ❝Thanks.❞ There was a clear trajectory to this conversation – yet she often thought so with him, and he, in his unpredictable way, would end up steering it toward somewhere else entirely. If anything, she was simply along for the ride. ❝I guess you’re right – that is what I was looking for, sort of. Maybe it just gets tiresome when you don’t end up finding it.❞

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“And sometimes you find it, and it doesn’t last.” His smile flickered with a tinge of sadness, then quickly returned to the comfortable realm of the self-indulgent smirk.

“Or it’s not what you hoped for. Really, any number of things can go wrong in life, or not turn out the way we planned. We’re all just playing the odds.” Raising his flask in silent toast, he punctuated the thought with a draught that drained the last of his ready booze, then regarded the empty flask with a scowl. Hadn’t he filled it this morning?

“Hikari, be a darling and get me something decent to drink, will you? Even red wine would be fine, doesn’t make me sick after scotch.” He was long past needing childish rhymes about the right order in which to choose his drinks, and it was all going to the same damn place anyway.

[burmecias-protector-deactivated]

-flicks a poker chip at you-

“What on–

          Setzer?! Where on Gaia have you been, you lout!” Taking the poker chip perched on her nose, she raises a brow both amused and annoyed. “I still need to play you at a game.”

“This wouldn’t be an invitation, would it?”

@blackjackfalcon

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

Setzer smiled smugly, pleased at the familiar snap in Freya’s voice. Her stalwart hate for him was something almost like affection, and it was close enough to be endearing.

“This was less an invitation and more ‘target practice’, but I never say no to a game. Blackjack? Rummy? Strip poker? What’ll it be, my lovely Rat?”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

"What do craps dealers eat for dessert? Dice pudding!"

“....”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

h-h—-omigosh– ///////!!

“Well, don’t you look pleased to see me. The feeling is mutual, Leah.”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

persuadedbyboko said: Choke on all of my love <333 

...The party has fallen

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

Hangs onto from behind.

“Little Brother, please.”

“Little Brother, you’re choking me with your love.”

[claireverie]

       ❝A quiet life, huh?❞

      She had thought much the same thing on multiple occasions – even found herself wishing for it with a nearly startling fervor. And yet there she went, traveling the time space in search of that ‘something more’ that always seemed to elude her.

      What exactly was she so hungry for? What was it that was so absent from her life, that she just couldn’t place?

       ❝Who knows? It certainly won’t happen if I keep hanging out with you.❞

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

Setzer chuckled, a low rumble that almost seemed to mock her. “It won’t?” he confirmed with false incredulity, then gave her a teasing wink.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. Quiet spaces leave too much time to think. It’s more enjoyable to live in a whirlwind. My entire world is nothing but freedom and pleasure, and I think anyone who says they don’t want that is lying to themselves.”

He traced his fingernail down Hikari’s cheek and chuckled again. “You’re much too smart to lie to yourself, my Little Flower.”

[spearofthemother-a]

“I’m always scowling though! Also you probably hit your head during that apocalypse because your reading of me is way off.

The only nightmare here is the fact you thought I suffered terribly. I’ll admit though, if only to placate that imagination of yours, that I had wondered where you ran of to.”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“Of course I hit my head. I hit my most of me. Do you know how many bones I broke? Have you ever fallen off a fucking airship, sweetheart? At least I didn’t ruin my pretty face.”

“And you wondered where I ran off to because you care when I run off. You enjoy my company. Face facts, Azee: no one can match you for every drink of rolanberry wine like I can.”

[noxsicarius-a]

       〝 I’m supposed to be a loyal bodyguard? Wasn’t I was just a pretty face to distract             potential thieves? Well, clearly you don’t need a guard, ‘cause I haven’t done a             thing except babysit since I got the room. 〞

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“Pretty face, part-time engine room assistant, potential bed warmer... I’d say you do plenty around here. Much more complicated business than simply ‘babysitting’. Though you could stand to put in a bit more effort on that last role I mentioned.”

[nymphatragicae-archives]

@blackjackfalcon

“Seems our local casanova has returned. At least for the time being.”

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

“You sound almost as if you’re blaming me when you say it that way. I can’t help what other people find attractive. Like any good businessman, all I do is satisfy a need.”

[nymphatragicae-archives]

(( Of course I got pictures <3 There was also an incredible Terra at the photoshoot so I’ll send that your way too

 OMFG REALLY??? AAAHHH THAT’S AMAZING YOU HAVE TO COME BY THE FF/KH SHOOT I am hopefully gonna be Aqua next year, if not I have Aerith to fall back on ))

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

// Yes pleeeeease send me pics! <3333

I definitely will go to the shoot! I’m planning on going with Mr. G and we wanna do Rydia and Edge, so I’m not sure if I’d do the shoot as Rydia or Setz. DECISIONS. Eeeee I would love to see your Aqua next year! I’m sure you’ll be fantastic, and omg Aeris is so cute too. I love meeting rp friends IRL!

Will definitely bring Setzer to Colossalcon in Ohio this year bc I’ll be able to crossplay again (yaaaay!), and seriously considering doing a sexy genderbent swimsuit version for the pool party XD

[nymphatragicae-archives]

(( > Goes to Dragon Con

> Runs into a Setzer cosplayer

> A week later

> @blackjackfalcon comes online

> HOLY SHIT ))

[blackjackfalcon-blog]

// PLS TELL ME YOU GOT PICS hnnnngh i need to love all my fellow Setzers

also you prolly gonna see another setzer at dragoncon next year

bc it’s gonna be me ;) 

don’t worry bby I’ll let you touch the coat. It’s velvet and satin and it feels like dreams.