01-03-2019, 06:22 PM
Long after the last of the clock towers in the oligarchy, and away down the hill below in the sprawl of greater Moscow, had finished chiming the hour, the men and women in Cafe MIO clinked glasses.
“Nox, hm? Well, I’m Sara,” she laughed. “Just asking what they tell me to ask. It’s a pain, I know."
Sara pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows at Ivan, who saved her the trouble of pouring. Or asking him to gamble. Shapely, muscular, winking Ivan.
Sara shook her head sweetly at Ivan’s suggestion.
“I’m beginning to like you,” chuckled the girl in red, stroking Ivan’s ear. He'd knocked one back already. No way she’d dance on the tables; gross.
"Let me guess. Nox is your terrible, superior officer who you’re indebted to. And he’s brought you here tonight, because you’re such a butter-wouldn’t-melt innocent that you’ll take the house. You’re his secret weapon,” she teased, pouring out one more glass for Ivan, but not herself.
Sara glanced sideways at Ivan as she refilled his drink. Ivan was a few years younger than Nox, and a few centimeters taller, and he was good-looking, well-made, but... She stared up at him.
Sara narrowed her eyes to peer harder.
It’s hard to tell in this light, but the flesh of his hands, on the palm and on the back, look bruised. His face— it’s blemished. A little scarred. I can’t be sure, but I’d wager he’d eventually have grafting done to conceal or remove some scars. The chances are, this man was beaten. Quite possibly tortured. The hands are telling. He’s not hiding his scars. It’s not about concealment.
Sara shrugged a no-matter, and decided against asking, right away at least, why they were drinking here.
Cafe MIO was a nice place. Tasteful. They’ve got a pattern on the carpet that’s not the consequence of vomit. That’s rare, for drinking / gaming standards.
The truth was, she’d gravitated into their company easily enough. Nox was affable, a witty conversationalist, and expressed an attitude towards gambling that Sara found appealing, but she had no idea of Nox’s background, career, or attachment, and as she sipped her drink, she realized that was unusual.
That kind of talk always came out. Men talk about themselves, and looked for points of shared experience. They noted the places, people, and hobbies they had in common. Over the time Sara spent in Nox’s company, Nox had not volunteered anything of the sort, which meant that he was either a remarkably privately person, or he was concealing something.
Sara could see that now, too.
Duckling, eh? You don’t know me at all socially, Sara thought. Where is this going? How much of a chance was it that you suddenly started coming to the club and moving in my circle of working girls? I can almost see through you, Nox...
Sara sat back into the plush cushions.
“Let’s just ease our way into this,” she said. “Cards on the table. I’ve only just been put onto this one, so I’m coming up to speed. I know it’s a little awkward that you and I have never encountered each other here before, but I think that’s why I was assigned to serve you. We’ll get to being a little less formal once we’re known to each other. Is this your first time here, both of you?”
Sara took a sip of her drink and watched the table next to theirs.
The cards were tall and brilliantly colored. They flowed from the dealer’s hands like the punch-tokens from a computing machine. There was a charged atmosphere around the table.
Pan had taught Sara the rudiments of the game, a trick-and-trade variety called Prestupleniye i Nakazaniye, but she was hardly an expert. With each hand, it was a constant struggle to remember the basic combination hierarchy and the correct moments to discard, let alone the tips she’d been given. Certain court cards are magic kickers that could break tied hands.
So much to remember. Sara focused on the chief rules. Make the men bid with a little more vigor. Be aware of just how much they have in their pocket.
“Here’s an idea. Why don’t I get you another beer, Nox and you’ll deploy your secret weapon out to win at the tables when a space opens up? I'll keep you company. How’s that?"
Sara looked up at Nox and smiled as if expecting more.
Sara