how my demons look?

He'd even lost a few games at first, though making safe bets and taking methodical chances. There were a few that took more skill than others, and it was in these games that he'd come to find his place. He's far from foolish enough to draw too much attention to himself-- yet, in the end, he's still managed to catch a few eyes and draw a bit of ire.

Ah... it's hard for Odysseus to walk into a room without making at least one enemy, after all.

As for this strange woman... well. She's a sly one. He wouldn't trust her as far as he could throw her, even if he were half his size and she were three times her own.

"If I told you, I might have to kill you," he smirks-- whether it's a joke or a threat isn't exactly clear, though it's more the former than the latter. "I guess my luck really is just that good."

She's playing games here, intentionally pitting him up against one of the dealers. One he thinks he remembers from a day or two ago, whenever he last visited-- probably looking for a rematch, to get back what he'd lost. Still... Odysseus isn't one to place himself as a pawn into someone else's game-- especially if he doesn't know what the game is.

He slips out a couple of chips, idly flicking them between calloused fingers.

"Oh... I don't know," he shrugs, his voice nonchalant, "I've made a good profit today, I was actually thinking of going to cash these out now."

˗ˏˋ 💜 」 —— nerve is a beautiful color , the strokes of a gall painted the demon's tongue to canines : please , don't tease me with a good time . for when humans dare threaten to match her energy , it feeds her desire to hunt -- to find someway to prove that even when she loses . . . she wins . because , humanity will always suffer from their own actions , and she'll always linger in the shadows where their hubris crumbles .

because it always will .

˗ˏˋ 💜 」 —— " . . . you're not very good at this , sweetheart . " some would say that there were no such thing as a stupid question . but that one , in evelynn's question , was a stupid question . spoon feeding a person like this was boring . the utter lack of response either way was bland .

— BUT DOES NOD ASSUREDLY . ( after a beat . )

[ lean ] sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder

[ shop ] sender and receiver go to the grocery store together

[ brush ] sender brushes receiver's hair

[ tie ] sender helps receiver with their tie, either by putting it on or adjusting it

[ necklace ] sender helps receiver with the clasp of their necklace from behind

[ zip up ] sender assists receiver with zipping up a piece of clothing

[ unzip ] sender assists receiver with unzipping a piece of clothing

[ shoelaces ] sender bends down to tie receiver's shoelaces

[ swipe ] sender notices a smudge of something on receiver's face and gently wipes it off

[ braid ] sender braids receiver's hair

[ jacket ] sender takes their jacket off and hangs it on receiver's shoulders

[ puddle ] sender hurries to stop receiver from stepping into a puddle

[ drinks ] sender brings receiver a drink from a bar/their kitchen

[ feed ] sender feeds receiver's pet/s for them

[ cook ] sender and receiver cook a meal together

[ feed ] sender allows receiver to try a bite of their dish, holding their fork out for receiver to taste

[ teach ] sender, an expert at something, takes time to teach receiver how it works and how they can get better at it, too

[ readjust ] sender comes up behind receiver and readjusts their stance (maybe holding a gun, holding a golf club, aiming for something, etc.) to help them

[ makeup ] sender fixes receiver's makeup for them

[ bathroom ] sender and receiver go to a public restroom together and have a normal conversation in between the stalls

[ aloud ] sender reads aloud to receiver

[ refill ] sender refills receiver's glass without asking

[ massage ] sender notices receiver looks tense, steps up behind them, and massages their shoulders

[ listen ] sender listens to receiver explain something they're passionate about

[ silence ] sender and receiver comfortably exist in silence together, both of them working or reading or focusing on something different

[ food ] sender brings food over to receiver's house

[ hum ] sender hums along to a song receiver is singing

[ see ] sender sees something that reminds them of receiver and texts them a picture of it

[ admire ] sender stares at receiver across a room, silently admiring and appreciating them from afar

[ win ] sender lets receiver beat them in a game

[ puzzle ] sender helps receiver solve/put together a puzzle

[ carry ] after receiver falls asleep in an inconvenient place, sender carries them to a bed and tucks them in

[ kneel ] sender finds receiver sick in the bathroom ("tossing their cookies"), and kneels beside them, holding their hair back and cleaning their face

[ clean ] sender helps bathe receiver

[ wash ] sender helps receiver wash their hair

He's not really one for gambling, precisely... it's more that he enjoys taking advantage of gamblers. Though he wasn't familiar with the games played at the queen of spades before entering through its doors, the rules weren't too difficult to learn, and the strategies practically revealed themselves after that.

As such, with a few missteps here and there-- in the end, he's only human-- he's already managed to amass a small fortune. At the very least, enough to be comfortable until he finds a way off this island and back home.

Thus far... there don't seem to be too many strings attached. That, if nothing else, is a blessing.

Still, in the end this is still just a distraction, a game to keep his wits about him and prevent his mind from collapsing into the depths below.

He'd managed to win his last game again, much to the chagrin of the opponent whose coins Odysseus had gladly pocketed. It's always useful to have a bit of wealth, after all.

He's not altogether surprised when the woman addresses him-- he'd noticed her lingering nearby, though the way she speaks is... well, it makes him feel a bit wary. Still, he's not letting that wariness show, and smiles that empty smile that's a mere shell of the one he'd so often worn in his youth.

˗ˏˋ 💜 」 —— newbie spunk . now that's a nice change of pace . and rather unexpected , for the cowardice that walked these streets made the demon yearn for a challenge . too many sheep and not enough lions .

" you don't waste any time in causing problems . i like that . "

people like that really shake things up . they grow cocky and bold . they get jumped when they think they're safe . or , perhaps that was wishful thinking .

" so your pockets are full : what are you doing , counting cards ?? " even if he were , only a downright idiot would speak a breath of it on the floor . " that's pretty hot , if you're ballsy enough to do it . these dealers aren't shit , though . a child could out play this one . "

evelynn looked past the bad-boy-to-be-determined and onto the dealer , who had quite obviously overheard her with a heavy warning in his eye .