"You can be my hit man."
Dec. 13th, 2011 04:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brilligspoonsSo, in my head, Charles Xavier is super bad at games that aren't chess. Maybe checkers is okay, but he just really sucks at card and board games. And then I decided that they'd have game tournaments with really high stakes (like, cookies and candy) while they were cooped up in the mansion on rainy days.
There is something like anticipation heavy in the air, and even though Charles is annoyed to have that focused almost entirely on him, there's really nothing else for it. A group of people all focused on the same thing, all invested in the outcome of a single act, all of them holding their breaths and mentally willing one party or the other to make a move, to end their suffering with something, anything - well, it messes with Charles' telepathy, is what it does, which in turn makes Charles antsy. Across the coffee table, his opponent raises an eyebrow at him, daring Charles to make the first move. Charles sniffs and motions disdainfully with one hand as if to say, do your worst, see if it does you any good. Someone on the sidelines giggles, and while Charles whips his head around to see who it was, Erik sets his cards down with a loud thump.
"Two pair," Erik declares. "Jacks and tens."
"There's no way that's what you've been holding this whole time," accuses Charles, turning back to glare at Erik. He tosses his own cards (two nines, a five, and a two - not the best hand ever) down on the chips as the crowd of people around them dissolve into laughter and chatter. Erik merely grins at him and gathers the spoils (four cookies and a bottle of soda) over to his side of the table.
"This might go easier for you if you'd just admit that poker is not your game," Erik says. "You're a terrible bluffer, you know."
"But I like playing cards," Charles protests.
"He's better at rummy, but not by much," Raven calls from across the room from where she's reading some novel or another. "That's about the extent of his skills when it comes to cards. Don't let him tell you he's any good at board games, either."
Erik chuckles as he takes the deck and shuffles it thoroughly. Charles scowls at Raven around Alex's legs. "I'd like to see you try to beat Erik at poker," he says. "His face might as well be carved from stone for all he gives away. It's like playing with a gargoyle."
Raven stands up and crosses the room, setting the book down on a nearby shelf and pushing Sean, Alex, and Hank away from where they're looming over Charles and Erik. She sets herself down next to Charles and raises an eyebrow at Erik. He raises one right back at her, and for the next few moments they merely stare at each other in silence. Charles sighs and raises himself off the floor, wincing at a twinge in his back. "I'll let you two battle it out, then," he says. He motions to the boys with his head, indicating a wood cabinet off to the side of the room. "Parcheesi, gentlemen? Raven's all but assured one of you a win, and I don't think the rain's letting up anytime soon."
"I want to watch Raven take Erik for everything he's worth," Sean says.
"And what makes you think she'll manage that?" Erik asks, still staring at Raven. She merely smiles at him, which apparently comes across as some kind of challenge since Erik immediately starts dealing out the cards. Charles hides a grin behind one hand and settles down on the couch behind Raven to watch the show.
There is something like anticipation heavy in the air, and even though Charles is annoyed to have that focused almost entirely on him, there's really nothing else for it. A group of people all focused on the same thing, all invested in the outcome of a single act, all of them holding their breaths and mentally willing one party or the other to make a move, to end their suffering with something, anything - well, it messes with Charles' telepathy, is what it does, which in turn makes Charles antsy. Across the coffee table, his opponent raises an eyebrow at him, daring Charles to make the first move. Charles sniffs and motions disdainfully with one hand as if to say, do your worst, see if it does you any good. Someone on the sidelines giggles, and while Charles whips his head around to see who it was, Erik sets his cards down with a loud thump.
"Two pair," Erik declares. "Jacks and tens."
"There's no way that's what you've been holding this whole time," accuses Charles, turning back to glare at Erik. He tosses his own cards (two nines, a five, and a two - not the best hand ever) down on the chips as the crowd of people around them dissolve into laughter and chatter. Erik merely grins at him and gathers the spoils (four cookies and a bottle of soda) over to his side of the table.
"This might go easier for you if you'd just admit that poker is not your game," Erik says. "You're a terrible bluffer, you know."
"But I like playing cards," Charles protests.
"He's better at rummy, but not by much," Raven calls from across the room from where she's reading some novel or another. "That's about the extent of his skills when it comes to cards. Don't let him tell you he's any good at board games, either."
Erik chuckles as he takes the deck and shuffles it thoroughly. Charles scowls at Raven around Alex's legs. "I'd like to see you try to beat Erik at poker," he says. "His face might as well be carved from stone for all he gives away. It's like playing with a gargoyle."
Raven stands up and crosses the room, setting the book down on a nearby shelf and pushing Sean, Alex, and Hank away from where they're looming over Charles and Erik. She sets herself down next to Charles and raises an eyebrow at Erik. He raises one right back at her, and for the next few moments they merely stare at each other in silence. Charles sighs and raises himself off the floor, wincing at a twinge in his back. "I'll let you two battle it out, then," he says. He motions to the boys with his head, indicating a wood cabinet off to the side of the room. "Parcheesi, gentlemen? Raven's all but assured one of you a win, and I don't think the rain's letting up anytime soon."
"I want to watch Raven take Erik for everything he's worth," Sean says.
"And what makes you think she'll manage that?" Erik asks, still staring at Raven. She merely smiles at him, which apparently comes across as some kind of challenge since Erik immediately starts dealing out the cards. Charles hides a grin behind one hand and settles down on the couch behind Raven to watch the show.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-13 10:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-14 01:09 pm (UTC)ANYWAY.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-13 11:04 pm (UTC)But really, can I wrap them all up in plastic wrap to keep them save?
no subject
Date: 2011-12-14 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-13 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-14 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 07:52 pm (UTC)Do you mind if I friend you?
no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 08:05 pm (UTC)Sure, I don't mind. Friend away!