#slap jack

You hiccuped. “Sounds fair.”

The game snapped to life. Cards slapped down, one by one. The crowd roared every time you missed, howling when you lunged too late and smacked the table instead. Xebec’s hand was a hammer, fast and merciless. He snarled with every slap, convinced the next card would be his victory.

Then it happened. A jack hit the table.

You slammed your palm down like you were swatting a fly. The impact rattled the mugs, sent rum sloshing over the edge, and flattened the card before Xebec’s hand could even twitch. The room froze.

You lifted your palm slowly, wobbling in your chair, and grinned. “That’s my jack.”

The crew erupted. Laughter shook the walls, pirates howled into their mugs, and one actually fell backward off his stool. Xebec stared at your hand, then at the card, then at you, a vein throbbing in his temple

Another jack came. You slammed again, nearly face planting into the table, but you got it. And then another. And another. The pile grew under your hand. You were sloshed, off-balance, and somehow still unbeatable.

Near the end of the round, the mountain of cards on your side of the table looked like a throne. You leaned back, swaying, arms spread wide. “Guess that means the ship is almost mine.”

Xebec was silent, seething, the disbelief painted plain across his face. For the first time in his life, Rocks D. Xebec could not understand how the hell he was losing.

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“A card game?” Blanc was more than willing to try anything to bring the two armies together, but that was absolutely absurd.

Jonah raised an eyebrow, he loved his Alice dearly, but what on earth was she planning with a proposing of a card game?

“The rules of slap jack are simple.” MC began explaining. Every eyebrow in the Central Quarter raised at the name of the game.

“Slap jack? Who would name a card game that?” Lancelot asked with a scoff in his voice.

MC ignored the question and shuffled the cards, passing seven out to each of the fourteen men playing. All extra cards being set into the middle of the table, flipping over the first card, ace of spades. “Each of you will have a turn where you lay down a single card. Regardless of if it’s your turn or not, if anyone lays down a jack, you slap the card.”

Luka looked away, “I’m not a fan of the idea. Could we not slap the queen instead?”

There was a nod of agreement from the jack of hearts, “That would be best, would it not?”

smack

Edgar’s face only read an expression of shock. All eyes turned to Fenrir, “I’m sorry. We haven’t started playing yet have we?” There was a thin smirk on the ace’s face as Edgar shot him a glare.

“What happens when we, er, slap the jack, MC?” Ray questioned moving between the pair so there wouldn’t be another incident.

MC gave a gentle smile to the men, “That’s simple. Whoever made the first contact gets all the cards in the formed pile.”

There was a huff from the shortest of the bunch. “A competitive game that involves a form of violence, this would cause no problems, goofball.”

Silence over took the men as MC’s lip quivered, “I’m sorry, I was only trying to help.”

“AH, It’s perfectly alright, MC, please don’t cry. We’ll play the game, won’t we, Oliver?” Sirius shot a look at the child faced man, a quiet plea to not see the female cry.

“Fine, let’s just start.” the raven haired man was over it before it’s begun.

“Yay! Now remember, no one is to look at the card before it’s laid down.” She told them.

The game started, each member laid down a card in order of rank. Each card being of no importance until Zero laid down the jack of diamonds.

Thirteen hands shot out from ever direction hoping to get the cards first. The sound of slapping making the audience wince in pain.

The bottom hand, all red and beaten, belonged to Luka, who laid lying under Jonah in order to reach.

“Luka wins this round!” MC cheered out to the crowd.

Eyes turned to Jonah when he spoke, “I believe I should get the cards, after all, I hit two jacks.”

“But,” MC had no words, she was bluntly shocked.

“Non. I get the cards and Luka.” Jonah stopped her, placing a finger on her lips.

“As hard as you hit my hand, no. It’s going to take forever for it to stop looking red. But the game is done, right?” Luka looked hopefully at the blue dressed female.

MC looked away, her eyes towards the ground. “Well, no, the game isn’t over till someone holds all the cards in their hands.”

Blanc looked horrified, “You mean to tell me that there is many rounds to this violent game?”

“I like this game!” Fenrir laughed.

“Of course you do, a violent game for a psychopath is perfect.” Edgar huffed, still obviously ticked about the hit from earlier.

“Next round?” Ray asked, already ready to lay down a card.