Book III: Casino Royale (IX): Mind Games

  --- Maeve Roisin ---

  She was dealt two cards -a two of hearts and a four of spades- before glancing at everyone else at the table, seeing if anyone here was going to tell which cards they had. Of the four she was against their reactions were mixed.

  The Alghoul -a race that half reminded her of fanged corpses with oversized and clawed hands- looked like he didn’t care one way or the other about the card in his hands. (Or that could just be the leather skin being hard to read…)

  An Avarician -an almost humanoid bird race with collapsible wings that could be used as hands or instruments of flight- would’ve looked much the same if his second set of eyes hadn’t widened his second set of eyes, a faint smile curving the cheek of his beak. (They really are an expressive lot for a society of cutthroat politicians and mages.)

  Which was a fair sight better than either of the humans at the table, both of whom were ironically the hardest to read despite being the facial structure she was most familiar with.

  The blonde female of the pair was even more stone faced than the Alghoul, something that convinced Maeve that she had to have some kind of background in nobility, or the local equivalent of. (Luckily I have plenty of experience with that sort.)

  By contrast the dark haired male was a completely open book with every emotion on his face, exaggerated in a way that reminded her of those fresh faced actors who had yet to learn the sweet spot of emotion that made a performance memorable. The thing that made him difficult to gauge however was the fact that the man… (is a complete and utter ass…)

  “Oh, that’s good!” The man smiled with a faint laugh, one that had everyone at the table wondering if he legitimately had a good pair of cards or was simply shamelessly lying.

  He’d pulled both on them all thus far, and (it’s frankly becoming annoying.)

  Without even waiting for the first community card the annoying man said, “I’ll raise.”

  The Avarician hemmed and hawed for a moment before folding. The Alghoul called what had to be the man’s bluff. As did the blonde noble lady. She on the other hand raised as well, (because even if my hand is shite I can still act like it's something to be scared of.)

  --- Gregory Fischer ---

  “So assuming for the time being, that our guys haven’t knocked each other out of the tournament, what exactly were you lot planning for your side of this little heist?” He asked as he focused his concerns more on his immediate situation than what the rest of his unit was doing in this mess.

  Owl watched him for a moment before answering that, “While Wolf-”

  “He wants to go by Oni.” Ram cut in, earning a glare from the leader of their little group.

  “While Wolf works on the tournament angle, we will be working on getting into the vault.” Owl finished his (rather poor) explanation curtly.

  Fischer’s eyes drifted around the room before pointing at Fox, “Overwatch.” Ram, “Bodyguard.” Rabbit, “Vaultcracker.” Owl, “Vanguard.” He paused to consider that before adding that, “Wolf functions as a distraction. You probably told him he can compete if he wants -because it’s a decent cover- but you still expect him to fail. And when he does you go for a prize twice the size of what he could’ve won on his own.”

  Owl’s eyes narrowed in that way that told him he was spot on.

  “Plan of egress?” He asked, because he knew the man before him had to have an evac planned. (A good one given how deep we supposedly are within the Royale’s territory.)

  Which is why he wasn’t actually surprised when the older merc told him, “Not going to share that with an unconfirmed asset. Not when you might still sell us out to Ace.”

  “Fair enough.” He conceded with both hands raised, before giving Owl a grin. “Still if I’m going to help, I should at least know how I can help. Overwatch is a clear no go given how Fox needs to be safe to keep you all safe. Placing me as bodyguard puts me too close to the main job regardless of how good Ram is, even if it would leave me two v one. Vanguard lets you keep an eye on me, but also means you’re caged in if I do stab you in the back. Distraction is a possibility but Wolf won’t recognize me and we might screw each other over with a double play.”

  He’d almost forgotten how much… fun it could be to read and dance around someone else’s plans. (And there’s an extra joy in the fact that I legitimately don’t have to stress about what choice they end up making.)

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Owl’s face twitched, ever so briefly turning into a snarl before being smothered. The man quickly running through his own plans on how to twist all of this into his favor, or best make use of Fischer’s presence.

  The fact that he could read the man’s plan enough to do so even with the Book’s restrictions was just another pleasant surprise to this little venture. (Even if it feels a touch inconsistent. I mean why can I read his plan now even when it felt like those skills were being suppressed earlier in the casino?)

  A quick glance to the rest of the group showed that they were each tense in their own ways. Ram’s body was loose but ready to kick off the wall and tackle him to the ground if it came down to it. Similar to how Fox’s hands looked busy with the rifle too bulky for this room but she really had her main hand near a sidearm hidden by said rifle.

  He didn’t have a clear sight of Rabbit given how she was still behind him, but he was certain she was ready to literally stab him in the back if she had to. (Maybe even a quick team takedown between the three of them? Rabbit’s knife, Ram’s tackle driving it deeper, and when I flinch Fox pulls the trigger?)

  Of course that entire play was worthless when he could simply use a quick paper dash to get behind Rabbit, kick her into Ram’s tackle, before waiting around the door the corner for Fox to chase so that he could steal her sidearm and shoot Owl’s unmasked -and unguarded- face as he broke the redhead’s leg. If it had enough bullets he could even clear all four of them in a single go.

  That thought made him grimace internally, especially when a faint warmth in his chest reminded him. (I don’t have to be that guy. I can easily get away, regroup with Maeve, and get out without having to kill anyone…)

  Unaware of all these thoughts circling Fischer’s head, Owl told him, “You’ll be running a distraction play. Separate from Wolf’s. Where he’s focused on keeping the crowd’s eyes on him, you’ll get close enough to Ace to throw him off our trail.”

  “Doesn’t that run the risk of him ratting us out to the Royale?” Fox asked with a glance to her boss. “If word gets out, Wolf will be surrounded and on his own before we can do anything.”

  “Wolf is the most adaptable of you runts, he can handle himself.” Owl assured her gruffly, eyes never leaving Fischer’s. “Besides we put a com on him and we’ll hear everything he says to Ace. If that line ever dies out we know he stabbed us all in the back and can tell Wolf to run before he can be cornered.”

  He was fairly certain there were a number of flaws with that plan but… Given how he was trying to not be an asshole anymore, he felt better not trying to figure out how to stab these guys in the back just because he could. “Sure, if that’s what you guys want.”

  “It is.” Owl nodded firmly before glancing towards everyone else. “Rabbit, Ram, escort him back to the main room and make sure he goes to see Ace before getting into position.”

  He saw Ram nod just before he felt a pair of hands wrapping around his arm and dragging him out of the room.

  “Come on, let’s go!” Rabbit told him as Ram stepped out leaving Fox and Owl alone. (Probably setting up a contingency to deal with me if I do stab them in the back.)

  “You don’t need to drag me.” He told her, his skin honestly crawling as he suppressed the instinct to ignite his arm and burn her off. Especially with the way her hands were roaming his prosthetic, likely trying to figure out how it worked from touch. “I’d also prefer it if you didn’t fondle me.”

  Off to the side Ram let out an amused sound as he removed his mask to reveal a relatively handsome blonde man, older than Rabbit but still younger than him.

  The explosive expert shot a glare at the blonde, one that probably would set off any bombs she had on hand, even as she let him go and told him that, “That went better than I thought it would.”

  “Really?” He drawled out, mind easily drifting to his previous thoughts on how things could have gone and how he’d be left with four bodies to clean up. (No. Don’t think like that.)

  “Yeah, you can really tell Owl likes you!” Ram laughed as they made their way through the back halls of the casino. “Depending on how you do we might even do some more team-ups! Been a minute since we had a regular collaborator, and you're a Practitioner too! I’m sure Fox would love to talk that mystic stuff over with you!”

  “And while you do that maybe I can talk to your mechanic about that arm of yours. Would really help me up our team’s tech game.” Rabbit suggested, eyes not on him and hands in her pocket as she likely waited for the signal that Fox and Owl were done discussing his murder plans so she could give them access to their communication line.

  “Maybe.” (Though I don’t see that happening.) If only because he never let Toni anywhere near his work if he could help it.

  As they began to near the main area of the casino once more Rabbit did finally give him what looked like a clip on ear ring. One that he could see a vague speaker on his inspected it. (Huh, so the design is intentional… Though it looks less obvious than the one she’s wearing… A relay point maybe?)

  In the end it didn’t matter as he clipped the device onto his ear, and heard a faint bit of static.

  “Alright, tell me if you hear a faint ringing.” Rabbit told him, finger on her own device.

  “Hear it.” He nodded after a moment.

  “Then you’re in and you can hear everyone.” The explosives expert assured him.

  He doubted that, given how if her device was a relay point they likely had several lines they could use. (After all, I can’t hear this Wolf guy.)

  Regardless, it wasn’t something he was going to point out. Especially not as they stepped into the main room where security could see them if they were a little more observant. “Any idea where Ace is?”

  “Up the stairs at the final table. Supposedly the last time they held this tournament they had a bonus game against a member of the Royale for double or nothing.” Fox’s voice chimed in through the com.

  “And let me guess, the house won.” He chuckled dryly, not believing for a second the final game was legit.

  “Yep.” Fox answered simply.

  “Right, then let’s see if I can talk my way past his guards.” He sighed, stepping forward.

  “Good luck!” Ram called after him.

  (Well, luck is always a good thing to have. Especially if I’m going to be playing both sides.) Which is why it kind of sucked he rarely did.