Le Chiffre's Poker Table

Basil’s eyes narrowed, just a bit, and the smile on his face slipped a notch. Watch your words, Mr. Graham.

Will sucked his bottom lip in thought, pretending to deliberate on the pros and cons of following this man. Hannibal was worth it all. Just one chance at catching or killing him could mean everything. 

The smile was back. “That would be an interesting fight.” He almost wanted it to happen, wanted to see how this strange man fought. If he could knock the knife away, how would Graham keep Basil from bearing down on him like a wolf over a lamb?

Eye Candy to Starboard|| For blindeyedmastermind

Basil turned, giving their new ‘neighbor,’ as far as ship life went, a look-over for security... And then another, for posterity.

He grinned. “I retired from Russian mafia. Blame that on the man I followed here.”

“Maybe he needs more people to beat him at poker once in a while. It’d get rid of that air of self-importance he infects the room with.” Will glanced at Le Chiffre. He knew lots of people with that air. At some points, Will had even felt the call of it. He simply had to remind himself that confidence and cockiness were two different beasts.

Basil’s eyes narrowed, just a bit, and the smile on his face slipped a notch. Watch your words, Mr. Graham.

Well, that comment was just rife with hints. A troubled past, bad treatment? But he would save his curiosity, wait until he could glean a clearer picture, see what hints came later.

Iolai was the one to pass the water. The moment Le Chiffre stood Iolai began to clean up, piling dishes expertly in her arms before taking them to the sink to clean them. She was used to simply dropping them off for others to take care of, but the Fae still knew how to perform the task. Made simpler by the second pair of hands to help dry them and put them away. Iolai didn’t leave a spot on anything and as Basil finished putting them away, Iolai turned her attention to cleaning the counters.

Basil shrugged. “I need to check your dress for tonight with Mr. Le Chiffre, but as you need, there will be room for wings. Maybe not like this shirt-” he gestured at her halter top- “But similar.” He’d already had a look through some of the fashion boutiques’ latest lines, just to check which were running the sort of things he needed. “We leave in half an hour. You will be in your room until then.”

Basil nodded. “I want to bring some on the boat. For cooking, and for the air. It is good to see plants. But we are gone for days sometimes, inland…” He trailed off, shook his head. “Maybe I buy him the plants that do not die. Eh… Succulent? But those cannot go in food.” He paused, forehead wrinkling. “Maybe. I will research.” Deep-fried succulent buds? Not quite parsley and thyme, but Basil had never turned up his nose at new food.

“I think some cacti are edible.. I wouldn’t take my word for it though, I’m afraid I don’t have green thumbs just yet. When I’m away I have someone water the herbs, anything else is beyond me.” Too absent. She’d never even kept a goldfish; though sometimes her abstract vision of the future involved a fruit tree and something warm curled up on her lap. An unlikely daydream. “Worth a try though, I think they’re cute.” She liked talking about these things with Basil, indulging a side of herself which most people didn’t care to see.

An evasive answer, and one that Le Chiffre didn’t miss. “I would have hoped you would sleep better in a bed than in the slave house, Iolai. Don’t tell me I fail to provide better accommodations than Thrash; my delicate feelings will be hurt. Sit.”

Well, that comment was just rife with hints. A troubled past, bad treatment? But he would save his curiosity, wait until he could glean a clearer picture, see what hints came later.

Will actually looked… Amused. He glanced between Le Chiffre over at the table, and Basil - standing before him.

He grinned. “I retired from Russian mafia. Blame that on the man I followed here.”

He watched her closely, but aside from a few comments about the way Le Chiffre liked his eggs and the amounts of seasonings to add to the oats, Basil didn’t have to direct her. It looked as if she knew how to cook well enough, but tonight would be the real test.

Iolai brought the food to the table and started setting it, finishing just before Le Chiffre took his seat. Once that was done with she stood and looked at Basil, waiting on his next order. Iolai looked down at Le Chiffre just as he looked up at her. How rude, she thought, not to address her, or at least use her name.

An evasive answer, and one that Le Chiffre didn’t miss. “I would have hoped you would sleep better in a bed than in the slave house, Iolai. Don’t tell me I fail to provide better accommodations than Thrash; my delicate feelings will be hurt. Sit.”

Le Chiffre stayed at the table. His ego had taken quite a beating; it would take a few hands to win that back, even if he didn’t manage to win from others the funds Will had taken from him.

Will didn’t have anything more to say to the man, honestly. If he didn’t know where Hannibal was, there was nothing they had in common.

“Mm.” Let the past stay where it was. It did no good now.

“My grandfather wanted my father to go into banking, and he did for a while..” The acquisition of money had remained a primary goal throughout many generations of the Avery family. “I’m sure your talents would be appreciated by him.” But he wouldn’t like these visits she made. Conversation and moonlight; he’d find it distasteful.  

He watched her for a moment. They might appreciate his talents, but she didn’t seem to appreciate their appreciation of it. Perhaps she didn’t find it outright unpleasant, but she seemed to find no happiness in it. “Are you against the institution of banking, Miss Ophelia?”

“All of us, today. I usually eat with him. Not sure what he will want for you.” Thank goodness she knew how to cook. He’d obviously have to watch, make sure she knew how to make things how René liked, that she didn’t poison anything… Really great timing, René. Give me one more thing to look after all day, just when I’m going to be busy.

He watched her closely, but aside from a few comments about the way Le Chiffre liked his eggs and the amounts of seasonings to add to the oats, Basil didn’t have to direct her. It looked as if she knew how to cook well enough, but tonight would be the real test.

And the game commenced. Le Chiffre was a card-counter, too, but only so far as to predict the likelihood of a useful being drawn. He liked a little chance in his gambling, usually.

Will’s unwillingness to lose against Le Chiffre meant he’d made himself a millionaire in a few good wins. The chips piled up and he knew he’d have to leave with them soon. 

Le Chiffre stayed at the table. His ego had taken quite a beating; it would take a few hands to win that back, even if he didn’t manage to win from others the funds Will had taken from him.

He wasn’t sure what to say to that. Childhood dreams really weren’t his specialty. “I try not to remember when I was a child. Endless possibilities, however… That I understand.”

A sigh pushed the breath from her lungs. What if she were honest about her childhood? Her hope had been misguided, and gone too fast. For a moment she thought she might clarify, since Le Chiffre’s comment was rather telling. A childhood not worth remembering, or too terrible to consider.. Something they might have in common. But it was easier to say nothing, to let the truth rest for now. 

“Mm.” Let the past stay where it was. It did no good now.

“All of us, today. I usually eat with him. Not sure what he will want for you.” Thank goodness she knew how to cook. He’d obviously have to watch, make sure she knew how to make things how René liked, that she didn’t poison anything... Really great timing, René. Give me one more thing to look after all day, just when I’m going to be busy.

Basil knocked, and let himself in. “Good morning. It is time to make breakfast.” He was curt, quickly moving to unlock the cuffs. There would be no clothes in the dresser, Le Chiffre not having known Iolai’s size until yesterday afternoon. “Very busy day. Get ready. I will wait in the hall.” It would have been today René chose to bring someone new onto the ship, someone who needed everything from pants to basic instruction to place setting for a guest. Excellent timing, Boss. No, really, thank you.

Iolai hopped off the bed as soon as she was free and walked over to the dresser, trying to remember if there were any other clothes in there. Just as she found it empty, she heard Basil shut the door behind him. Her wings sulked a bit as she wondered what she was supposed to wear. After a moment she simply shrugged and began to change back into what she was wearing the day before, keeping mind to make her bed and lay her night gown at the end of it. After quickly washing her face and running her fingers through her hair, Iolai stepped out into the hall.

Le Chiffre had no qualms about looking Will in the face. He checked everyone around the table, noting their ‘natural state,’ as it were, checking for tics and tells. Will was either nervous, or angry. Well, Le Chiffre could deal with either of those.

Will felt the hairs on his skin stand on end whenever Le Chiffre looked over to him. it was like he was breathing down his neck, trying to read him. Was this what people felt when Will empathised with them? 

And the game commenced. Le Chiffre was a card-counter, too, but only so far as to predict the likelihood of a useful being drawn. He liked a little chance in his gambling, usually.

Iolai sat in the dark for a moment before slowly beginning to pull the blankets over herself. It was odd feeling the occasional tug on her ankle, but eventually she got used to it.

Basil knocked, and let himself in. “Good morning. It is time to make breakfast.” He was curt, quickly moving to unlock the cuffs. There would be no clothes in the dresser, Le Chiffre not having known Iolai’s size until yesterday afternoon. “Very busy day. Get ready. I will wait in the hall.” It would have been today René chose to bring someone new onto the ship, someone who needed everything from pants to basic instruction to place setting for a guest. Excellent timing, Boss. No, really, thank you.