Ensign S'Rorr - Getting a Read

[S'Rorr]

((Tea House, Maklau, Risa))

S'Rorr sat carefully at the low table in the Tea House with Shivara and V'Nille. The table was circular and so all three could sit equadistant from one another. He unpacked the cards from the game he'd bought and began to shuffle them around. There were also no chairs, at least not in the traditional sense. There were floor chairs that would provide back support, but S'Rorr was sitting with his legs folded beneath the table. It was an idylic place, full of old-fashioned charm and such a peaceful ambiance. One could feel like they had gone back in time, aside from the gentle whirr of a floor cleaning robot unobtrusively scurrying about its duty.

Shivara: What’s the name of the game, S’Rorr, and how is it played?

(The rules are made up and the points don't matter, but it functions similarly to the game Coup. Improvise the rules freely.)

S’Rorr: Well, this is called Vrin'Taak, or.. it translates to something like Fat Purse or Full Purse. We each play as merchants trying to amass the most amount of latinum. On your turn, you can choose to collect profit, where you add one coin to your purse, to strike a deal, where you add two coins and another player adds one.. but deals can be interfered with.

S'Rorr: You can interfere with any deals being made by playing Rules of Acquisition cards, but you don't have to actually have those cards. You can bluff. If you're called out on it though, you'll lose Face. Lose Face twice and you're out. Don't worry, the Rules cards will say what they do on them.

S'Rorr: The victor is the one with the biggest purse when the bank runs dry, or last Ferengi standing. Sound fun?

V'Nille: Response

Shivara: I don’t think I quite get it yet, but I am sure I will pick it up as we go along.

V'Nille: Response

S'Rorr: That's the spirit.

And with that, S’Rorr gave the cards one last shuffle and dealt them out.

S'Rorr: Let's see.. The one with the most latinum goes first. I don't think any of us have any money, but you're highest rank, Commander, so it's your turn.

V’Nille: Response

Shivara: Bold move, V’Nille. Are you sure?

V’Nille: Response

S’Rorr: In that case, I'll play 'It Never Hurts to Suck Up to the Boss' and take one of those coins for myself~. ::An evil laugh as he reaches to retrieve his reward::

V'Nille/Shivara: Response

S'Rorr placed the coin on the table before him as the foundation of his stack. The game was well made. The cards were durable paper-feel plastic and beautifully illustrated. The coins were made of real gold, dense and shiny. They would surely make a satisfying clink once he amassed enough to shake them in his hand.

He placed his now used up Rule of Acquisition card on the table and drew another one to replace it.

S'Rorr: This kind of game relies a lot on knowing other people and how they think. Whether they're good liars or bad, play it safe or take risks. What do you think, V'Nille? Have you got a read on us yet?

V'Nille: Response

V'Nille/Shivara: Responses

S'Rorr purred softly as he considered his options.

S'Rorr: I think I'll choose to strike a deal wiiiith.. Shivara. What d'you say?

He looked at her and put on a big, toothy Human-style smile. He had his cards face down on the table and placed his hands together, palm to palm, in a Caitian-style gesture of innocent pleading. He seemed to be having a good time already.

Shivara: Responses

While he played, he watched Shivara and V'Nille both, taking care to monitor the way their ears moved and how their whiskers lay. He was good at telling when people were lying, he had had training to that effect. His Counselor's powers. But people often acted out of character when playing bluffing games, doing things they wouldn't ordinarily. Still, the more details he could notice about their behaviors and tells, the better he'd be able to read them.

He also ordered a pot of hot Caitian tea for the table when the waiter came by to ask what they'd like to drink. S'Rorr noticed the faintest of twitches at the corner of the left eye as the man thought of having to prepare, carry, and serve Caitian tea, smelling it the entire time. Not that it was a strong smell, but it was definitely.. Uniquely Caitian-enticing.

Ensign S'Rorr

Ship's Counselor

USS Chin'toka

A240206S04