Board Thread:Times Past/@comment-24930445-20140518205322

“Jack! She’s cheating again!”

Sighing heavily, Jack looked up from the data he was compiling on the newest run for the Midnight Raiders. He pinned the young girl with his stare and in a voice dripping with boredom asked. “Are you cheating lass?”

She did not flinch. She simply shook her head and with the innocence of the young, replied. “No, sir.  He dinnae need tha’ kinda help losin his money.”

Everyone blinked, and then all hell broke loose. Those who had been a part of the poker game almost literally fell out of their chairs in hysterics. Even Joke, the target of the girl’s comment was laughing uncontrollably. Though he found himself caught up in the laughter himself, Jack kept a close eye on the girl. Through it all, she sat very still and very quiet, her expression completely blank.

Still chuckling, Jack pushed himself away from the desk and stood. He made his way to the table and to the girl. “Get up, lass.”  When she stood, he took her seat then pulled her into his lap before picking up her cards. “Let’s see what you did here.”

The girl was tiny. He had guessed she was about ten years old or so, but he couldn’t confirm it. The Raiders had taken her in with no questions asked and, in the few months she had been with them, she had flourished physically. Mentally, she was still a child of the streets, though.

Her little body was stiff as she sat in his lap, unsure if she was to be reprimanded or, worse, punished. “I dinnae do anathin, sir.  Th’ cards were jist right!”

“Easy girl. You played it well. Joke, when are you going to learn you suck at poker?”  Jack relaxed, hoping his body language and teasing of Joke would ease the girl.

“He’s got ‘tells’, sir”. Her voice was soft as if still waiting for the blow to land. Land it did. At her comment, the rest of the table began shushing her, frantically waving her off while Joke gasped in shock.

“I do not have a tell! I’m a damn fine poker player!”

She bit her lip in worry, then decided if she was in trouble, might as well make the most of it. “I dinnae say *A* tell. He hae several.”

Those trying to wave her off collectively face-palmed themselves, knowing that their long time winning streak over their mate was soon to be over. Jack laughed. “Tell us, Kat, what are Joke’s tells?”

Several groans around the table nearly sent the girl running, but she stood her ground. “Well, sir… ifin he be bluffin, he scratches his right temple. Ifin his hand b’good, he hae a little twitch in his left eye. He’s unsure a lot, so he taps his cards wi’ his pinky.”

Joke roared. “I do NOT!”  Several people around the table sighed followed by several “yeah, you do”s.

“I’m sorry sir. I dinnae mean ta cause trouble.”  Kat’s little fists were clenched in her lap, her voice soft. Collectively, the group finally saw what Jack had noticed the entire time. The girl was terrified but standing her ground. Again, the table came alive, this time, the wrath was directed at Joke.

“Joke, damnit! You scared the girl!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“What the hell were you thinking?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Poor Kat. Joke, you’re such an ass!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Through their body connections, Jack could feel the shock in the girl as the Raiders turned on their own in her defense. Gently, Jack wrapped his arms around her, hugging her, and whispered in her ear. “You’re alright, Kat. No one’s mad at you. This is all in good fun, lass. Relax.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Little by little, he felt the girl relax and she even smile a little as the rest of the Raiders ganged up on Joke. He knew it would take time to get her to trust, but time was running out. <ac_metadata title="Telling Joke"> </ac_metadata>