Poker ... Wins or Losses?

Posted on Sat 8th Apr, 2023 @ 2:24am by Commander Paul Graves PsyD & Lieutenant Commander Andrew Eberstark & Lieutenant Commander Kiara Lena & Lieutenant Damion Ildaran & Qaraq & Gary Thirteen

1,243 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Neither Yours Nor Mine
Location: Orchids & Jazz, Deck 600
Timeline: MD 10, 1905

Previously ...

"Mr. Qaraq, let me introduce you to two of our players. This is Lieutenant Commander Andrew Eberstark, Chief Tactical & Strategic Operations Officer for 109. And next to him is Commander Paul Graves, who is our Second Officer, and our Chief Counselor. I can't think of two people more qualified to lead you through the intricacies of an original Terran game of chance," Lantz said.

"Oh, we've met," Paul said. "Good to see you again, Qaraq. I hear your casino is doing very well."

"Always a pleasure, Paul," Qaraq said, taking a seat at the table. "The casino is off to a very good start. Profits are up, our clientele seems to be happy, and Brown sector feels more like home every day." Seeing the other man at the table, Qaraq extended a large blue hand. "Mr. Eberstark, is it? Very nice to meet you! I am Qaraq."

Andrew rose halfway from his seat and accepted the handshake, which was a little more forceful than he anticipated, and sat back down, "Call me Andrew and pleasure to meet you," Taking a moment to size up his potential opposition, he asked, "So do you typically partake in these games?"

"I am Broot," Qaraq bellowed. "Broots love competition of any kind." Qaraq turned his horned, iridescent blue face to Paul. "Will you be playing tonight Counselor?"

"I'm half Betazoid, so not exactly," Paul said. "I'm only here tonight because it's Captain Navarra's first time playing poker on 109. I do know how to play this variant, though."

"A foolish decision, considering Betazoids can sense feelings," Qaraq replied. "To a Broot, that would be considered a great advantage."

Paul shot Qaraq a mischievous look. "Oh, I consider it a great advantage, too--but humans would consider it cheating, and I don't want to do that; these people know where I live! So I will play for real for a couple of hands and keep my shields up. Once that gets too tiring, I'll bow out and just watch, and someone else can take my seat."

Kiara chose to see it as a challenge. How long could she block the thoughts and emotions of others befure she started to get a headache? Sometimes it was beneficial to feel the emotions of a room when negotiating, but sometimes she needed to block them out for her own peace of mind. A poker game like this would be a good place to practice.

Jade stepped up in front of the buffet table and raised her voice slightly. "If I could have everyone's attention, we're about to start the games. We have two tables that are half-filled, so I'm going to ask Qaraq, Commander Graves and Commander Eberstark to move to the table with Captain Navarra, and her party, which includes Ambassador Lena, who is observing tonight. If you'd make that move, then we'll have three tables and late comers can fill the fourth one. Feel free to visit the buffet table, and someone will be taking drink orders periodically, or you can come to the bartender behind me. Let the games begin!"

The men called to move did so with alacrity, and everyone settled into play, while Lantz, Velasquez and a couple of the Humaniforms, Gladia and Arkady, moved around the room serving and observing.

"Good evening, Captain Navarra," Paul said as he and Andrew took their seats. "I look forward to a good game tonight."

Navarra smiled and looked at her competition for the night. She could not help but wonder, who here was a true shark.

"Hello, Paul." Navarra said as she watched the newcomers sit at the table. "I hope you all have brought your poker faces for the evening. I think this is going to get very interesting."

Even out of uniform, someone in Starfleet would still have known that Leo Staghorn was a sergeant. He gave off sergeant-in-charge vibes, and he didn't smile at the captain's observation. He glanced around the table, checking for tells, not necessarily for poker tells, but who was nervous, who was assured, who might have the most interest in being a winner. Was there anyone who needed to win? They didn't play for big stakes at Jade's place, but there was always a chance for drama in poker.

"Qaraq, have you been introduced to Captain Navarra yet?" Paul asked the casino owner.

Qaraq had been saying something to the group at the other table, but quickly turned his attention back to his own and smiled. "I'm afraid I haven't!" he said, turning to the Captain. "It is good to meet you at last, ma'am!" he said with the timbre of falling timber. "I am Qaraq, owner of Qaraq's Game Room, the largest casino in Brown Sector!"

Navarra stood as she greeted Qaraq ad extended her hand. She recognized him from her dossier file she reviewed on her way to the Starbase.

"Ahhh yes, Mr. Qaraq. I have heard much about you. I assumed you and I would be meeting very soon, but I didn't think it would be at a poker table. Have you been playing long?" Navarra asked as she tried to size him up.

Qaraq shrugged. "Not long, I suppose," he said. "But hopefully long enough. As I was telling Andrew, Broots love a good competition." He smiled and added, loudly, "And after our game, I invite everyone to an afterparty currently being arranged in the casino, where there will be drinks and hors d'oeuvres and free arcade and pinball games in addition to our usual floor games, including our latest addition, the Dunk Tank! Korfmager and other good ales will be on tap," he looked at Navarra and grinned, "and Starfleet drinks free!"

It was impossible for Jade not to hear the Broot's words, as loud as his voice always was. She sighed. He was going to be a thorn in her side, as much as she liked him. He turned everything into a loud circus, and she was a quiet, peace-loving El Aurian. People come and go. Find the joy in knowing and associating with him, she counseled herself, her father's words from so long ago echoing in the present situation.

Reon stood back and closed the doors, even though more players might yet descend on them. Turning he raised his voice only slightly. "Let the play begin and may the lucky find good cards tonight."

Kiara had been observing everyone as they entered, taking in the general atmosphere, but as Reon called for the game to begin, she turned back to Elena's table to watch. She hadn't seen her friend play in a while, and was sure she'd only improved since the last time. She carefully masked her thoughts and features to not give away her thoughts. She was eager to see how everyone played, and what they thought of their new commander.

Poker truly did offer a way to get good practice at shielding, Paul thought. That might be one reason why he wasn't a huge fan of the game. He liked knowing what sort of situations he was going into, so he typically shielded only enough to avoid being rude, according to his culture. Working around humans had taught him to be even more discreet. Poker against humans, though, required a higher level of shielding than was usual for him. He began to build the shields in his mind, imagining them as mirrors surrounding him, facing outward.

 

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