Lt. Robin Hopper: Poker Face
Robin Hopper
((OOC – This sim takes place after New Years & everyone has returned from the Alpha Quadrant))
((Amity Outpost))
Robin felt as though she was still recovering from New Years. A couple days of relative inactivity – moving from lying in bed to lying on the sofa to lying by the fire – had given her sufficient time to finish reading a pair of old novels she’d been meaning to complete for some time: Jack Vance’s “The Blue World” and Doris Lessing’s “Shikasta”. Both had been started on the journey to Amity and had been sitting, unfinished, on her kitchen counter since.
Now, however, her body was beginning to protest resting. A cruel irony. She felt antsy – and an unexpected invitation for a get-together at Bec Iko’s had been quite welcome. On her way to the Marrakech district, Robin swung by the poolside “Punch Monkey” bar by the Talaxi Palms Hotel and picked up a refreshing lunch smoothie and briefly mused to herself that perhaps the reason Rivi craved the blended beverages so much was that she was constantly battling a hangover. Chuckling at the ridiculous notion, Robin accepted her sweet pink mush with gratitude.
((Iko and Paarus' apartment, Marrakech district))
Iko: ::cheerfully:: Hey, we were just setting up, come take a seat.
Barberra: Hey.
Wong: Nice of you to have us! It ah good to get together!
As she approached the specified place, at the specified time, Robin caught sight of Ikaia being let in and tried jogging to catch up – but her body protested this as well. After slowing down to catch her breath, she made it to the door just as it was about to close.
Hopper: ::Leaning against the doorframe, panting slightly:: Hey! I made it! ::Peeking inside:: Hi everyone! Thanks for the… ::puffing:: invitation!
Within, she could see that Crewman Barberra had made herself comfortable, evidently arriving a little ahead of the rest of the group.
Richards/Any: response
Hopper: Thanks for the invite, Bec. ::Bumping Ikaia in the ribs with her elbow:: Welcome back to the Quad!
Robin looked about, wondering if she should remove her footwear, and opted to just do it anyways – especially since she had walked most of the way. She slipped her flats in a nook next to the door and looked around, sipping her smoothie while she took in the apartment.
oO Hmm, you know, I don’t think I’ve ever met Iko’s roommate… Is it Barberra? Huh. Oo
Barberra: Hello, Lieutenant.
Wong: Aloha, Crewman.
Iko: Would you guys like anything to drink?
Barberra: Bottoms up!
Barberra took a dramatic sip from her drink – whatever it was.
Barberra: ::Low, menacing tone:: It’s real blood.
Oh.
Robin squinted – not entirely sure if the crewman was joking. After seeing S’Raga’s K’larr, she wouldn’t put it past the replicators to spit out of a cup of blood if that’s what was asked for.
Wong: Ah yes. The real blood of a tomato. Most would call that tomato juice.
Hopper: Mmm. Oh, that’s what I should be having! ::Holding her smoothie up:: I’m set for now, but honestly, that sounds pretty good for my next drink.
Robin smiled at Annamae, recalling the mixed reactions she’d gotten from the crewman during their holodeck training simulation. It had been a disorienting experience for everyone, but as they’d walked away from it, she honestly hadn’t been sure what to make of the enlisted officer’s attitude. Was she just ‘odd’ or genuinely creepy? Did she like Robin or hate her guts? It was hard to tell.
oO Maybe a little ‘all of the above’... Oo
She entered the apartment properly and found her way to a seat at the table.
Richards/Any: response
Bec nodded and made her way to the table as well, joining them. Robin looked around the table, sipping her smoothie and trying to figure out the dynamics between everyone in this casual setting.
Iko: Now, ::side-eyeing Barberra:: I don't have bingo, but I did think of another option we all might enjoy.
Wong: Hm? What's that, Iko?
Hopper: ::Murmuring in agreement, mouth full of smoothie:: Mmm…
Richards/Any: response
Barberra: I know! What about…. Bingo!
Already with the deck of cards being shuffled in her hand, Bec spoke.
Iko: Go fish anyone?
Wong: Hm! A classic! I was going to suggest Texas Hold Em or Egyptian Ratscrew.
Robin gasped, mockingly, and slapped Ikaia’s arm.
Hopper: ::Teasing:: Ew! Don’t be nasty… ::Mischievous sideways glance::
Richards/Any: response
Barberra: ::Looking at cards, deadpan:: Oh. What about…. Card bingo?
Wong: I'm not even sure how to play that one. How about we stick to the old Starfleet classic - poker? We can keep it a friendly game!
Hopper watched the back-and-forth with interest. It seemed that Ikaia and Annamae didn’t necessarily see eye-to-eye. She wondered what their history was like. Bec seemed pretty warm with both of them. For her part, Robin was pretty content to sit back and watch – her eyes ping-ponging from one to the next as they spoke.
Iko: ::to Barberra:: What the hell is "card bingo"?
Richards/Any: response?
Barberra: Poker Texas hold ‘em?
Wong: Pretty much Texas Hold Em.
Iko: Does anyone have any house rules?
Hopper: None that would be appropriate to play with here or now. ::A pause, feeling questioning eyes on her:: What? ::Shrugging:: You asked.
Richards/Any: Response
Barberra: Poker Texas hold ‘em Bingo?
Wong: Barberra, that's starting to sound less like a game and more like keywords you'd search for in LCARS.
Back-and-forth was fun. Around and around in circles was something different.
Hopper: Alright, alright, we can sit around here all day playing “What are we going to play” or we can just agree to compromise.
Richards/Any: response
Iko: So, what are we thinking?
Ikaia finally took a seat on the sofa.
Wong: Let's keep it simple and stick to a Starfleet classic - poker. It's easy enough to play and there's no bingo.
oO Does Ikaia not know how Bingo works? Oo
Hopper: ::Pointing to Ikaia:: Poker this time? ::To Barberra:: Bingo next time? ::To Bec:: Tomato juice?
She sipped once more, finishing off the trail end of her smoothie with a smile and patted the spot next to her, inviting Ikaia to settle.
Barberra/Richards/Any: response
Iko: ::to Barberra:: I promise we can do Bingo another night.
Wong: We can keep it a friendly game. I don't think any of us wants to slap down latium or bets we know we can't handle.
Robin chuckled. Sometimes Ikaia could be such a stick-in-the-mud… Mostly when he was uncomfortable with a situation. But when he got that way it was so hard not to keep poking him. There was something about the generally-good-natured that made them so fun to irritate – herself included.
Hopper: Oh, I dunno… After you’ve played Seven-Card Stud during the Risian Moon Festival, there aren’t that many bets that seem ‘off the table’... ::Feeling eyes on her again:: What?
She grinned cheekily as she stood from the sofa and made her way towards the replicator to recycle her smoothie cup and get a new drink.
Barberra/Richards/Any: response
Hopper: ::To the replicator:: Virgin Mary. One celery, one pickle. ::Turning to others:: Anyone else?
Wong: Iko, would it be possible for us to replicate some sunglasses for everyone here? It'll put everyone on more or less the same playing field.
Iko: I have… never played like that before. If you guys want I can just dim the lights or somethi… ::looking to Wong:: Except that might not work as well.
Hopper: ::Taking her drink from the replicator:: I think the idea is that we’re all supposed to see just fine – but our eyes are concealed. Feels like cheating, but it’s how all the ‘elite’ players do it. ::Considering:: I’ll skip the shades.
She returned to her seat, taking a sip of her tomato-juice drink happily.
Hopper: Come on, let’s play!
Wong/Barberra/Richards/Any: response
Bec placed the cards on the table.
Iko: Someone else can deal and set up.
Barberra: Response
Iko: Not you.
Hopper: Here, let me.
Robin took the offered deck of cards and, in a series of swift and smooth motions, cut the deck and tossed the cards into each other, giving them an initial overhand shuffle. She cut once again then, using only her hands, riffled the two halves together before bridging them with a satisfying rustle.
Iko/Wong/Barberra/Richards/Any: response
Hopper: ::Single shoulder-shrug:: The local bar, back home. I grew up surrounded by farmers and miners. You pick up a few things.
Next, she dealt two cards to each player, face down, then looked at the two people to her left.
Hopper: Okay, small blind, big blind, you’re up. Let’s hear your bets… By the way, what are we betting with?
As they considered their options, Robin checked her own cards, her expression remaining chipper as always – though her hand was garbage. A two of hearts and a nine of clubs.
Iko/Wong/Barberra/Richards/Any: response
Hopper: Alright, if that’s agreed, place your bets…
Iko/Wong/Barberra/Richards/Any: response
After ensuring there were no ‘folded’ cards in the center of the table, she placed her own bet. Modest, but not out.
Hopper: Call. ::Smiling around the table:: Okay, let’s see what we’re working with.
First, she removed the top card, ‘burning’ it by placing it face-down on the table to be discarded. Next, she revealed three cards, flipping them over and placing them down in the center of the table for everyone to see.
Iko/Wong/Barberra/Richards/Any: response
TBC
