The Ballad of Lady Luck

[Zandra Tal'verda]

That was close. that was actually close. She realized that she had been holding her breath that entire time and slowly let it out in a long open sigh of relief. When she accepted her winnings, she wasn't her usual cocky self. she only had about a hundred credits left as it was(well, one fifty now). Losing fifty would be awful!
"Stable? Nah, guy. What's the fun in that? I ain't goin' that way til' i have to. Besides, what would someone like me even do?"

 

[Keter]

"Oh I can think of a few things. Teaching Echani techniques comes to mind. And you would be...handsomely compensated," Keter suggested. "Going to deal again or have you lost faith in your luck, little lady?" the blond added with a smile.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The Echani made a face at his suggestion. Teaching. It was what her sister wanted her to do. But he wasn't her sister and he did say something about payment. She collected her deck and thoughtfully shuffled.
"I never lose faith in Lady Luck."
She passed out four cards each.
"Double the bet, Mister? Keep this interesting?"

 

[Keter]

"A hundred credits? How daring my dear," he said with a smile, waving over the cards. "Well, ladies first. But would you consider my offer? I represent certain wealthy individuals who often associate with those who like to...ah...gamble," he added, trying to sweeten the deal.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The girl grinned and shook her head at his insistence.
"Tell ya what," she said, "That can be part of the bet. You win this round and I'll go with you. I win, and you come back to my ship with me."
She winked and turned over her first card before she could even give in a chance to disagree. if she lost, well, she wouldn't have the credits to do much of anything else anyways.
"Six. Your turn!"

 

[Keter]

Keter smirked. Just to accompany her to her ship. He could agree to that much. "Getting bored of the decor here? Seeking a home field advantage?" he joked lightly, though he nodded. "Fair enough," the blond added, waving for another drink as he flipped the rightmost card. A one. Safe start. "Over to you Miss Echani."

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

She grinned as he got a one. Safe, but not exactly ideal. He would get nowhere fast if he kept flipping cards like that. She ran her fingers along each remaining card, tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth. her finger stopped on one, second to the left and she flipped it.
Three.

 

[Keter]

Keter yawned slightly before sipping his new drink, and idly flipped over the card to the left of his one. A nine. Slowly but surely. The blond looked up at her. "No doubts about your bet yet?"

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

She had 9, he had 10. Not bad. She smirked and flipped her card.
6
"None at all. You, cutie, are coming back with me tonight."

 

[Keter]

"You might just regret that," he idly sighed, flipping the third card. A six. He idly swirled his drink, watching the echani through his red eyes.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Now it was sixteen and fifteen. Close, but lady luck always worked in her favor, one way or another.
"I so doubt it."
She flipped her next card. 3.
"Good luck, sunshine. Yer gunna need it."

 

[Keter]

"Indeed. But if there is one thing I have learned...is that luck falls on whomever can make the better story out of the results," the blond shrugged. reaching out with his senses and lifting the card into the air, making it spin in front of the echani as he smirked. Then he let it fall, revealing his number. A four.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Four. Her silly drunk mind did the math. Sixteen plus four was...20. How much did she have?
...18. She stared at the cards for a long time, open mouthed.
"I.... lost?" her voice was weak. she couldn't believe it. that was 100 credits and her freedom that she'd been betting. "I LOST!?"
She buried her face in her hands. Her life was over! Lady luck failed. With a defeated sigh she reached into her purse and counted out 100 credits, then she pushed the small pile towards him without another word.

 

[Keter]

Keter smiled at her. "Now now. You can hold onto that as the down payment for your service. I'm sure you'll find it much more enjoyable than you're imagining. Still, until then, you best get some rest, hmm?" he offered, collecting the cards and handing them over to her.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The girl didn't move. She'd been so reliant on her Lady Luck to win for her. How could she be let down like this? And now she was practically a slave. A paid slave, sure... Which she supposed wasn't exactly a slave, actually, but it was still not what she wanted! She slowly collected the 'down payment' for her future services and stood up, wobbling.
Suddenly, she laughed.
"Ya know, nobodies ever beaten me. Guess this makes you special. Too bad about that wife of yours. You're someone I might just sleep with twice!"

 

[Keter]

Keter shook his head with a smile. "Feel free to tell my wife that," he replied with a shake of his head. "Anyway, I believe it be best for you to get some rest. I'll escort you to your ship, make sure you don't just take off on me." With that he stood up, smiling politely at his newest employee.

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

She wouldn't ever have to see his wife, would she? She was supposed to just train his stupid troops. That was it. She wasn't about to let him make her a friend or family.
"Ooo, Going to walk me home? How romantic," she teased, stowing her cards in her pouch, "Doncha worry. I won't tell your wife."
She winked (or at least tried to wink. It was more of a wince, really) and stumbled to the door, trying her best to remember the way to her ship.

 

[Keter]

He sighed and followed her, offering her an arm. "I prefer the term chivalric. Besides, I've left you penniless. And I am not about to trust a scoundrel like you just yet," he pointed out. "So which way to your happy home?"

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

She narrowed her eyes at him, refusing to take the arm offered.
"Down 'ere," she answered leading him out into the dark, "and keep your 'chiv'ry' to yourself."
She didn't like men trying to be 'nice' just because she was a woman. She was a woman that could probably kill him with her left hand if he wanted. She didn't need his arm-
Or maybe she did because she tripped on nothing and landed on her hands and knees.

 

[Keter]

Keter sighed as he stood over the woman. "Sure you don't want some assistance? I don't want anything happening to my new recruit after all," he pointed out, crouching down to bring his eyes in level with hers. "Though I admire your spirit of independence."