Smoke hung heavy in the small bar tucked away at the back of a used bookshop. The sort of place you could only get into with a knowing nod and a magic word to make the shelves swing open to reveal a haven for sinners and their sins. In a few bells' time the place would be full of laughter, the clinking of glasses and half-hushed chatter about the next job. Yet for the moment there was only this card game. Two miqo'te sat at either ends of the round table littered with the debris accumulated throughout the length of their game. Masks set aside so they could both drink from glasses of dark liquor already near-drained with accompanying bottles. An ashtray where the remains of a fragrant cigar burned idly. Maps and notes for the upcoming job. Then on top of it all was the bets...
Mismatched rings, unmarked vials of reagents, bits of string, a packet of aldgoat jerky, one harlequin-patterned sock that had been missing for a sennight, an Ishgardian teacup, candies one would find at the bottom of an old woman's purse and the crowning glory was slightly dog-eared triple triad card. That final bet was flicked onto the pile with a graceful turn of Charlatan's wrist. "Call." They declared smugly.
Knave flashed a dagger-toothed grin over the top edge of his hand. "Real shame 'bout that." He apologized sarcastically as he laid out his hand onto the table. "Full house." He declared proudly as he displayed a hand with a few too many cards that matched suits.
"You're right. It's a real damned shame, indeed." Charlatan agreed as they laid out their own hand with a flourish. "Royal flush." They declared, proudly displaying an impressive array of mismatched cards that even included a Lady and a Lord amongst the usual Kings, Queens and Jacks.
"You dirty cheat, you stole that Queen that from me!" Knave exclaimed with a cackle as he rose to his feet, slamming his hands down on the table hard enough to rattle the bet pile.
"You stole it from me first, so I stole it back! All is fair~" Charlatan yowled smugly in return. "I'm just the better thief. Pay up!"
"I'll bet you pilfered my pocket aces too! Lemme check!" Knave laughed as he dove across the table towards the smaller miqo'te in a flash of black and red. Scattering the bet pile and the remaining cards in a flutter of paper.
Charlatan screeched in mock-horror though the sound quickly dissolved into laughter as the miqo'te tussled, rolling off of well-padded bench seats onto the floor. "I played them two hands ago and you didn't even notice!!" They howled. The play-fighting and pocket-checking dragged on for some time until the contents of both of their waistcoats, sleeves and so on were littered across the hardwood floors with the two panting miqo'te in a tangle at the epicenter of the mess.
Knave flopped over onto Charlatan with a sigh, signaling the end of the post-game brawl and the other miqo'te responded by swatting the taller thief in the face with their tail. Leaving a smudge of white dust on one cheek. "Alright, you win this time." The red-and-black cad allowed with a noise akin to a chainsaw attempting to start, and failing miserably. "Someday we're gonna write the rules down proper-like then your days are numbered-" He threatened.
"I always win." The Charlatan countered, curling lazily around the other. "Can't write the rules down if we change 'em every game. Where's the fun in that?" They teased, ears perking at the sound of footsteps in the bookstore beyond. They groaned and started to disentangle themselves from the pile. "Alright, mask up. Now for the real games..."
Birthday Gift by the incredibly talented @guttergodsknife of our trashy crime cattes. They're here to sell you a used chocobo and a lifetime supply of snake oil.
