"It seems that I have been proven extremely lucky once again! To meet you, Mrs. Adonai and Mr. Everett on the same table. You do not know just how ecstatic this makes me." His words intrigued the woman as her eyebrows raised in surprise and she was quick to face Johann.
"You are Mr. Everett?"
"Um, yes. I'm Johann Victor Everett, an executive of the Marshal Department." he replied politely.
"I see."
"Well you two already seem to have made an acquaintance, that is utmost pleasurable! Mr. Everett, this is Thea Adonai, from the west as a representative."
Pulling one of the chairs and seating himself, he smiled through his pearly teeth like a child would at an amusement park. Dismissively observing his actions, Thea straightened herself on the chair and faced Thomas with an air of seriousness with which Johann had wished she had treated him.
"Mr. Thomas Trivola, regarding the alliance between-"
"It is out of bounds to discuss that on this very occasion!" He held his right arm high above his shoulders and with his eyes closed, beckoned her to enjoy the moment, "Besides, such, 'extravagant' events are extremely rare at Kriheira are they not?" he added, still grinning.
The comment that had come from him with not so subtle disrespect had been completely ignored by Thea, who hadn't moved a muscle from her position after hearing it.
"Why do you not react to my statement Mrs. Adonai? Are you simply accepting what I say as the truth or do you truly believe in defaming your own nation? To a certain extent, that is very bold yet cowardly at the same instance." His smile faded and what was left was the grindstone of a mouth possessed by an erratic man who ridiculed with such fixation that one might get lost in its fervor and mistake it for genuine questioning.
"I have no reason to." Came the courteous reply, "I assume it is not none of my concern to be bothered by a generationally imbedded thinking of heedless patriotism." Reaching for her book as if it were the most natural thing to do, she leaned back on the highbacked chairs and wrote something down.
"What? But do you not think that it is natural for the person, 'representing', the nation at such a wide level be more deeply engrossed in what it means to be a patriot? Or are you simply fooling me Mrs. Adonai? Would you please be courteous enough to answer me this time?"
But she made no attempt to reply, not even reacting when he spoke.
Johann had expected Thomas to burst, or at least be irritated, and yet what he did was much more effective.
Setting down his interlocked hands on the table, he positioned himself much closer than before and added with a tone devoid of any annoyance or malice, "Was Ms. Rohesia really the one who sent for you Mrs. Adonai?"
Her eyes immediately darted from her book to his triumphant face, prompting her to set it aside and with a stoic tone harboring restraint she replied, "Mr. Thomas Trivola, if you do not desire to fulfil the objective for why I am here in the first place, then I ask of you to avoid blathering insignificant details."
"Oh but I assure you Mrs. Adonai everything that I ask is of significance! Isn't that right Mr. Everett?"
The scapegoat has been thrown into the pit.
"I don't think there's a need for these kinds of questions in the first place." He felt a surge of his own irritation flood onto the scene but being as abstemious as he could to hold his tongue, he made sure to not cross a boundary he'd regret.
After lingering his sights on Johann for a few seconds, his eyes became an unreadable hue of astonishment and confusion followed by acceptance of his current state. He twisted himself to peer at her. With a grave tone he apologized to her even going as far as to bow slightly.
"It seems I had truly overstepped my bounds Mrs. Adonai, as an apology would you be willing to join me for a game of poker?"
She paid no real heed to his request, choosing to shake her head and return to her book.
Giving another nod, a more playful one this time, he turned to Johann and began to shuffle the cards with an uncalled spirit of enthusiasm.
He would soon start flicking the cards but before he got the chance to, a hand, that of a light shade of brown landed on his shoulder with unmatched intensity.
Standing behind him was a man about the same height as him with a moustache that rivaled the density of the facial lawn that Johann had for a mustache, at least that's how Anastasia had described it.
"When did your ass start runnin' off?"
Johann felt more confident in his own facial hair now.
It was the same man that had brazenly interrupted Thomas during the opening speech and now he even had the nerve to show up at this table. He wasn't at all afraid of Thomas, or so it looked like to Johann.
A normal person who did not known Thomas would see him as nothing more than the Average Joe who had been nominated as the runner up in Heaven's beauty contests, and the cream on top of it was his amiable almost over the top social skills that enchanted everyone who met him.
"Ah! Nicholas! It was about time you showed up as well! Although I am not quite, 'sure' about being constantly trailed, if it puts your, 'worries' to a hold than I am certainly happy to fulfil your wish."
What was happening here though, was different.
No one here felt easy around him, the only one that did had no reason—or intention—to be friendly.
In the next moment, Nicholas extended his arm towards the opposite end of the table, his fair palm eager for the greeting.
Thea glared at him but ultimately took it and they shook hands with renowned energy that was completely one sided.
They quickly exchanged names.
His eyes held onto her and moved away slowly.
"Have you met before by any chance?"
"Whadda you think?"
"Right. Nevermind that."
Nicholas viewed the table as if it were a collection of exotic cacti that had been put together in the same room. They all looked mesmerizing in a strange way and even after knowing that it could seriously injure them, someone might still take a seat and have the guts to talk at this table.
That person, he had decided, was anyone but him.
Thomas frowned when he saw Johann hurriedly leaving his seat, "Do you have no wish to enjoy a fun game of Poker Mr. Everett? If I am not wrong, there must be no errands you need to attend to whether they be...work or even...family related."
He just wanted to go. Nothing that happened here would matter in the long run. It would just be an insignificant meeting with worthless banter and callous confession that would haunt the first one of them to get drunk.
Then why?
Why did Nicholas stop him?
Nicholas retraced his hand from Johann's shoulder and with a cautious look in his eyes, whispered to him, "You sure you wanna go? I' ain' here to sit around and let him do anythin' weird."
"What might the two of you be secretly conversing?" Came the interested question, "Or is it something too sensitive for you to talk about freely?"
Johann still had no desire of staying.
"C'mon. You might learn somethin' new. It won't be good but it maybe worth it, maybe. If you ask me, that small chance is enough for me to stay. What 'bout you?"
"Mr. Everett. The game is starting quite soon and I really hope you are included in it."
Why did he come here in the first place?
Foolish. It was just stupid to think he could seclude himself and hope of running away from this reality.
What was happening back home currently? Was Ethan and Anastasia enjoying themselves? Was Ann working a late shift again? Was Ethan at home or out and about enjoying his youth? Was Reina having fun at such an hour?
Circles. Circles.
It was an endless loop of questions that he wanted answers to, he wanted to run home and find out about every single one of them, like picking flowers from a field, each one of them would be a surprise and none would make him so upset that his stomach feels trapped and his throat felt strangled .
"Well, well, you've certainly made the right choice Mr. Everett. Now, where were we?"
God he wanted to punch his face in.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
"Hmm, quite a surprise Mr. Everett, you are really extraordinary at this game." The competitiveness was missing from his tone, "You have already won the first match, at this pace we might need to hand you our entire bank accounts!" He laughed heartily.
"It was just a damn good stroke of luck. No amateur has won with me before." Added the rugged voice.
"Yeah."
"But you know Mr. Everett, it is quite saddening to see how some of the faces here are not really, 'indulged' in this little competition of yours. That won't do would it?" His eyes had lit up again as if he had decided something, which was never good.
From what he knew, besides Thea, Thomas was the one not paying attention to the game, after all, he let Johann win.
"So, how about a little twist? Is that fine with all of you?" He spreads his hands invitingly, yet all he got was a radio silence from Thea who had been roped into the game and the disgusted look from Nicholas's face.
"How about we wager something? Something that would get our gears going and allow us to, 'immerse' ourselves in this game?"
"A littl' spice never hurt nobody." was Nicholas's answer, he gave Thomas a side eye, "But fella' haven't you already paid for all the drinks?"
He smiled incandescently, "Exactly Nicholas! But drinks? You think too narrow my friend! How about we deal on something that is more, 'appropriate' for the situation? Otherwise Mrs. Adonai may never find it worthwhile."
"And what exactly do you plan on doing?" Asked the indifferent voice.
"Well....let's decide that shall we? How about..." He raised the index and middle finger of his right hand simultaneously, and a waiter a was quick to walk over to him.
He whispered something inaudible to him, then peered back on the subjects at the table,
"Would you folks be interested in some drinks? Please do not be shy! It is simply on the house for tonight!"
"Red wine" Said Thea, her eyes not leaving the cards.
"Nah, I don' drink."
"Anything is fine."
"All right then! Would you please? Oh yes, A red wine, some scotch and a glass of milk for me would you?"
After the waiter quietly made his way to the kitchen at the back, Thomas fixed his posture and with an amused look continued his statement.
"What if we were to wager that whoever wins.....can take their place as an attendee of the private Annual department meeting."
It was like a nuke was dropped.
Nicholas sprang up from his table, and slammed his hand on the desk before sitting back down to avoid drawing more attention, all the while Johann sat there inspecting every inch of Thomas's face, the twitching, the grins and the eyes, all in hopes of finding even the slightest hint of deceit in them. If this was the prank, then it was the worst one he had heard in his life.
"Your habit of ignorance towards important topics is really adamant, Mr. Trivola."
She was the only one still keeping calm.
"Hmm? I don't understand what you mean."
"Do you expect us to believe that such an important event that could reveal entire series of truths could be obtained by a card game? I suppose I would have to leave if such behavior continues." She was quick and sharp in her remark, not holding back even in the slightest, Johann wished he could be this upfront.
"Is this one of the extremely rare instance where you make a miscalculation, Mrs. Adonai?"
"We have no reason to believe in this jargon that you cannot back up."
"Oh? But I can Mrs. Adonai."
"Like hell you do! For the love of the goddess you're a sick one to do this Thomas! Did they rot your brains back in the parliament?"
"What..do you mean Mr. Trivola?"
"The intrigue..the vigor...the energy! OH HO!" Clutching at his own body, she shook himself and grinned like a child. "That's a bingoo!"
Seconds later, the trio stared down at a letter sitting in the middle of the table, by now the waiter had returned with stack of coloured coins that were indiscriminately handed to all of them.
Licking away the white marbles of milk staining his lips, and reached into his breast pocket.
"And do not worry! I have made sure that I do not deceive you in any way, because if I were to break my word, you are free to make me experience the consequences."
He set his trusty Mauser C96 flat on the table.
Without even a second to consider what just happened, Thea reached for the gun and found its safety already undone, "I assume you will take responsibility for this."
"What makes you think I will not Mrs. Adonai?"
"Do you mind if I were to keep this on me?"
"Of course not! It is just another gun I bought on a whim, it holds no real value to me." Johann's head was spinning.
"I suppose the rest of you will serve as witnesses, and that is not just for all of you at this table, but for all of you who are eavesdropping on our conversation."
A few heads jerked behind them.
"Shall we begin then?"
He never waited for an answer and begun instantly, "The rules are quite simple, it is just an ordinary game of Texas Hold'em, with some minor, 'tweaks'. We have coins that will constitute for all the points we have, let's start at a modest 200 shall we? And we'll receive 4 cards, and the dealer would need to circulate one of their own cards to the next player clockwise and subsequently that player would pass one of the cards to the next. See? Isn't it quite easy?"
No reply came from any of them, like they were stone faced observers absorbing everything with great detail.
"Alright! And remember, everytime you switch a card you must throw some points in the pile and as Mr. Everett has already won the first game, he'll start with fifty extra poi-"
"What? The wager has been set only at the current moment. Why are we considering his win?"
"That is sadly not my problem now is it Mrs. Adonai? You not cooperating led to your own loss."
She stared at him with profound disapproval but ultimately gave it up.
"What'll be the winnin games huh? Only one of em'?"
"No. It has to be a best of five, so three more game remain for now." He smiled at Johann who had decided in the best of his interest to concentrate with all of his willpower.
Whimpering and complaining at this situation would produce no results. He would be yelling at a wall.
"And Mr. Everett. Additionally for you, I will take it upon myself to exempt you from the upcoming, 'mission'. I will take your worries upon my own self, so cheer up would you?"
In which universe would he trust him?
In which world did he have the will to believe even a single word that was uttered from this god forsaken man?
He could curse him with all of his spirit, though the reality would it wouldn't change a thing.
The trap had been set, and it was better to dance around hoping to avoid it, instead of completely backing off and being decimated later. Thomas was looking at him, he knew that Johann wouldn't bother to take the risks and give his all to win, he would never put himself at such a situation where he would need to take upon such tasks. It would just be more work. Especially where he'd have to see Thomas's distasteful face again.
"Fine." Was the only thing to say.
What followed was a quick exchange of glances between all of them four members, each of them showing completely different demeanors on how to approach it, ones that Johann hadn't caught completely because he was too absorbed on his own winning strategy.
Cards came to his hands and passed, Thomas had been the dealer of the first round. He had been handed cards that weren't exactly favorable, but with time he wished to see them as a viable option.
"Out" Thea called out, setting the cards aside and not betting.
Thomas raised his eyebrows then narrowed his eyes into slits, turning to Nicholas who raised the bet by twenty points, the pot was already at sixty points and it shot up to eighty when Thomas reciprocated by betting another twenty after Johann had backed off.
"Mind showing me your amazing cards, Nicholas?"
"You sure you can handle em'?"
"Oh, I'm sure I can. Your bluffing was on point, sadly...it just doesn't work when you grin like a madman." With curtesy, he laid down his cards which was a sequence of four till six and a joker.
"You're walkin' on thin ice."
"Fortunately for me, that thin ice looks like the north pole in comparison to you."
Nicholas clicked his tongue and slid his cards on the table with frustration, "two queens, a five of hearts and a six of spades. You were close, but I guess sometimes fate just has other plans, doesn't it?" He didn't seem as jubilant as he should be, and instantly started the next game.
The next game was as much as a blur like the last one, the only difference in the one that played out here was that Thea had been glancing at her cards more frequently and with a resolve unbeknownst to all of them.
What would he even accomplish by winning? Thought Johann.
He had only played along because there was no other choice he had. If he was languid than Thomas would've been sure to notice.
Would being exempted from whatever this mission was really going to help him in the first place? He didn't know. He would've been grateful to Thomas for the first time in his life if he had told him exactly what task it was.
He was being dragged across the ground. That was how he felt. Ruthlessly being rummaged in the dirt and left behind.
Thea won. On top of that with an overwhelming victory of ninty points, Johann himself confidently loosing all the extra credits he had been granted, yet he felt a tinge of satisfaction seeing Thomas snort in blanketed irritation. He was once again the one who had asked for a show after betting thirty points but his smile had slowly faded when he saw the result. He was also back on the original amount.
Nicholas had just been observing the entire time, taking short breaths and laughing after he had already backed off after losing ten points at the start.
Repeated.
It repeated.
Thea won again, this time a smaller victory of thirty points.
"Miss. How hard are you tryna' play? Let some of us fellas' win sum game."
"Try if you can."
"Miss! Don' start cryin' when you lose now."
"I won't" said Thea robotically, "There's nothing that's strong enough to make that happen. Nothing"
Nicholas snared and turn his eyes away.