27 Sep 2022, 20:26
Poker Face
They/SheToday was one of the rare days that Pax didn't have a class in the morning, and had still somehow gotten up early. They'd somehow had the time to do three laps around the lake and take a shower, still making it on time to breakfast.
Not having anything to do, they decided to take a pack of playing cards with them. So now, they sat, chewing thoughtfully on a piece of toast, legs swinging back and forth casually, as a game of solitaire was laid out in front of them.
Fingers tapped gently on their chin in thought. One card was moved. A pause. Then another card moved. A card turned over. A card was added to the pile.
They were already bored. They needed a worthy opponent. Someone they could thrash in a friendly yet competitive game.
Out of the corner of their eye, they spotted a familiar face sitting at the Hufflepuff table. Someone who would probably be perfect to engage in friendly playing-card combat. A smile on their face, Pax swallowed the last piece of toast and jumped up to their feet.
"Morning, Marius," they grinned at the Hufflepuff, sitting opposite them. "How do you fancy a game?"Reducio
8 Oct 2022, 08:20
Poker Face
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Marius glanced as he felt someone deliberately sit across him and heard his name mentioned. Turned out it was Pax Zhang, a Gryffindor he had trained for Quidditch with when they were both in first grade. Pax was the first person to explain to Marius there were some people who preferred more than just one pronoun; to be honest, the Hufflepuff had not really understood all about it, but he had a feeling today Pax was not here for discussing this.
"Morning," he replied casually, sending his fellow second year a friendly smile. "Sure, a game sounds fun. Quidditch again today?"
He wondered if Pax was still very much interested in attempting to be a beater; lately, the two had not been in touch and Marius himself had been too preoccupied with a couple of things that Quidditch was practically slipping out of his mind and attention - the only stuff regarding the sport that he still loyally kept his eye on was whether his dream slot in the Hufflepuff team was now available.
However, the Chinese-English boy stopped himself from asking the aforementioned question. He figured that it would be more appropriate to do it later, after Pax had given out their answer to his first question.
"Morning," he replied casually, sending his fellow second year a friendly smile. "Sure, a game sounds fun. Quidditch again today?"
He wondered if Pax was still very much interested in attempting to be a beater; lately, the two had not been in touch and Marius himself had been too preoccupied with a couple of things that Quidditch was practically slipping out of his mind and attention - the only stuff regarding the sport that he still loyally kept his eye on was whether his dream slot in the Hufflepuff team was now available.
However, the Chinese-English boy stopped himself from asking the aforementioned question. He figured that it would be more appropriate to do it later, after Pax had given out their answer to his first question.
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Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire - these are the things to fear.
22 Oct 2022, 01:30
Poker Face
They/SheWith an eyebrow raised, Pax shook their head at the offer for quidditch-a rare sight for all to behold. As much as they adored the sport, today didn't seem like a quidditch day. Besides they'd just run three laps around the Great Lake. That was exercise enough for now.
"Actually, I was thinking of something less physical and more...tactical."
From their pocket emerged a pack of cards, standard muggle playing cards. Pax nimbly opened the box and laid out the cards in front of the boy.
For today's challenge, they had chosen a game they thought they had an advantage in, though there was no telling of Marius's abilities to read others and deceive. He could've been a master, Pax wouldn't have known. Either way, the summer had taught them many things, and one of those things was the ability to play this game with what they liked to think was pretty good odds. Thank goodness for their poker-playing relatives.
"Have you ever played poker, Marius?" They asked as they moved the cards around to prepare the game. "If not, then fear not, as I can teach you. No worries if you have no money, there is always something to put on the stakes."Reducio
23 Oct 2022, 12:41
Poker Face
Even with Flash's life being in constant turmoil and upheaval, there were certain things that remained the same through the years. Even though Willow was now Dorion, they were still as close as siblings, and still spent almost all of their meals together. Flash would be a common sight at their side on the Hufflepuff table, and he preferred the company of Hufflepuff students during leisure time. Unlike some other tables, they were not prone to outbursts of yelling, tasteless pranks, nor petty revenge. Here, he could eat in peace, and with one of his most treasured loved ones.
On this particular day though, Flash's attention would be drawn away from his usual company at the recognition of a word-- poker. It wasn't as though poker was a common card game in these walls, there were plenty of magical games to divert one's time with, and not to mention the morally dubious association with gambling. Even more than that, the rules themselves were a bit more complex than would attract their age range, with there being a great deal of subtlty needed to openly lie about one's standing.
The novelty might have been enough on its own to pique his interest, but it would irrevocably be marked of interest due to his last encounter with his eldest brother. During the last Easter break, he had been allowed to stay at Valerius' East End flat rather than go home or stay at Hogwarts. While he had worked most days, during the evenings he had started to introduce Flash to the game. It was an interesting game mechanic for a politician like him, whose livlihood depended on selling his conviction. Flash could see the appeal as well, it allowed for social play with a competitive structure, it was something he regretted he would not have the time to continue to persue once school started back up. Yet here he was, half a year later, having a poker game unfold only a few feet away. He was not normally very spontaneous, but he was terminally curious.
Excusing himself from Dorion's presence, he would walk over to the two, neither whom he recognized. He was a tall boy for his age, and would tower over the younger students, casting a shadow upon the occasion. "Pardon my intrusion."
Flash's eye would look down and scan their faces. One eye was bright blue, the other covered by an eyepatch. Feeling as though he recognized one of them, yet not for the life of him able to pinpoint where from, Hopefully the reason why would simply make itself known in due course of time. After giving them a short moment to either turn him away or allow him to speak, he would continue.
"May I join you? I've been wanting to play this game again for a while." As usual, Flash would be direct and succinct. He had struggled and failed enough in his life already to no longer fear rejection. Even as a 14-year-old, he had the confidence of a world-weary veteran. "My name is Flash Holmwood, fourth year."
Both of them looked quite a bit younger than him, though everyone grew at different rates. He figured the difference in their ages might come up as a question, so led with it instead. He knew some students mistook him for a seventh year, though Flash was in no hurry to grow up. A distraction was precisely what he needed right now.
@Marius Brown @Pax Zhang
For we dreamed a lot//And we schemed a lot//And we tried to sing of love before the stage fell apart
Sta: 9 ★Eva: 5 ★Str: 7 ★Wis: 15 ★AP: 3 ★Acc: 15
4 Dec 2022, 08:15
Poker Face
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"I..." Marius did not know why, but suddenly he felt nervous as Pax asked whether or not he had played Poker. It was, for the Hufflepuff, as if in some ways he had been caught red-handed; but in reality, he had been caught indeed, for he had never in his life tried his hands on Poker. A moment ago the preteen was quite sure there would be no win or lose in the game they were to play, and now his expectation had been turned - and he would likely serve as the losing party.
"I have never," he finally decided to just come clean. Marius enjoyed playing card games, but oddly one of the most popular games was not among his experience. Or perhaps it was not weird, considering that he was the only one in his family who possessed interest in cards, and most games he knew was taught by 'Auntie' Tin, who was not even his biological aunt but rather Mum's close friend who came from overseas.
That ought to explain why his kinds of card game were different than most of his fellow Hogwarts pupils.
However, Pax assured the boy that they could teach him how to play Poker. Marius was glad until the Gryffindor mentioned money and stakes; and unconsciously he raised his voice, "Pardon - what did you say? Money? Stakes? Pax, what did you mean? Aren't we just playing for fun?" And, before thinking whether it would hurt the other student, "Isn't gambling bad?"
Their discussion was interrupted not so long afterwards, when came a dark-haired teenager. He was almost as tall as most adults Marius knew, but he introduced himself as a fourth year. Not wanting to be rude, the Hufflepuff replied, "I'm Brown. Marius Brown. And this is Pax. We're both second years."
"I have never," he finally decided to just come clean. Marius enjoyed playing card games, but oddly one of the most popular games was not among his experience. Or perhaps it was not weird, considering that he was the only one in his family who possessed interest in cards, and most games he knew was taught by 'Auntie' Tin, who was not even his biological aunt but rather Mum's close friend who came from overseas.
That ought to explain why his kinds of card game were different than most of his fellow Hogwarts pupils.
However, Pax assured the boy that they could teach him how to play Poker. Marius was glad until the Gryffindor mentioned money and stakes; and unconsciously he raised his voice, "Pardon - what did you say? Money? Stakes? Pax, what did you mean? Aren't we just playing for fun?" And, before thinking whether it would hurt the other student, "Isn't gambling bad?"
Their discussion was interrupted not so long afterwards, when came a dark-haired teenager. He was almost as tall as most adults Marius knew, but he introduced himself as a fourth year. Not wanting to be rude, the Hufflepuff replied, "I'm Brown. Marius Brown. And this is Pax. We're both second years."
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Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire - these are the things to fear.
21 Mar 2023, 20:45
Poker Face
They/ShePax shook their head in response to Marius. "Gambling can be bad in theory. If you indulge and keep going when it's a bad idea, then yeah it's not great. However, if you take part in a game, knowing your limits, then I'd say it's perfectly fine. Fun, even. Now, are you gonna back out, or you gonna hold your ground?"
At the arrival of the older student, Pax nodded in agreement to how Marius had introduced them.
So, as they geared down and prepared to play, a thought crossed their mind and they kicked themselves for being so forgetful. They did have things they needed to do, damn it. They had a fricking quidditch practice. They couldn't even afford to be late, they'd been the one that had needed to organise it.
"I am so sorry," they began quickly, getting up and gathering anything they'd got out. "But I just realised that I have to go. Quidditch practice, you know how it is. And bad organisation on my part. Anyway, really sorry, but I gotta run."
And with that, they unfortunately had to leave the game as they hurried out, cursing under their breath as to how they could possibly forget.Pax is leaving the thread.Reducio