Carpathia IV: Episode 267 - New Player
Amenaru's Quarters, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
In Amenaru's quarters, though the first time in awhile, it was still a familiar sight for those who came before. A blanket spread across the floor. Snacks spread all around. Drinks in hand. Stellar Sorcery cards in the center of the blanket. Around the cards were four people, Amenaru, Kit, Baal, and Sylvar, engaged in a spirited game. One that was reaching its end.
Sylvar: I don't see a way out of this.
Amenaru: You can concede.
Baal: We will go down fighting!
Amenaru flashed a confident grin.
Amenaru: Suit yourself! Your turn.
Baal and Sylvar looked over their cards, occasionally moving some from one side to the other in Baal's hand with a hushed discussion taking place between them. Few words, but plenty of pointing and nodding. Finally, they came to a decision and placed one card on the blanket.
Baal: Comet mana card...
Sylvar took another from Baal's hand and put it down.
Sylvar: Adamantium Ogre. That might keep us alive for a little while. End turn.
Kit: We'll see about that.
Kit and Amenaru pondered their own cards while Amenaru reached into a crinkly bag of potato chips and pulled out a small handful.
Amenaru: How's Phobos?
Baal: Ah, I think he's going to be fine, but this is going to be an eight-hour diagnostic and evaluation. I said I'd stay with him, but he insisted that I go. Said it was going to be boring. He's probably right. I did tell them everything they need to know. Still, I really want to know the result.
Kit: Like waiting around in a hospital room while your husband is getting treated.
Amenaru: That must have been difficult.
Kit: Not as difficult as it was for you, especially now that we all know that you had a wild time travel adventure.
Amenaru opened his mouth, ready to say something, but no sound came out. He thought for a moment before saying something perhaps different.
Amenaru: I was about to say that I wish I could remember it, but I don't think I do. I never read what I wrote when I came to but I still remember my feelings and they were awful.
Kit leaned in close and put and arm around Amenaru's chest. For his part, Amenaru returned the gesture by stroking Kit's ears.
Baal: Sorry. Didn't mean to bring up an unhappy memory.
Amenaru: It's okay. It's okay. You never know where a conversation will go, right? Let's switch to happier things.
With Kit still gripping him tight, Amenaru went back to studying his cards while Sylvar and Baal did the same with theirs. Just before Amenaru chose a card to play, Sylvar spoke.
Sylvar: Something I've been wondering... Do demigods poop?
The other three all looked at Sylvar with scrunched up faces.
Amenaru: You've been hanging around Ramei too much.
Sylvar: Funny you should say that. He was the one who said that to me first.
Kit: They do. At least, Aionaptara does.
Now, all eyes were on Kit, awaiting details.
Kit: There is a lava pit on the island. He used that.
Baal: That he did and the heat didn't seem to bother him at all. The funny part was that he forgot that we squishy mortals can't do that.
Kit: Fortunately, we had our own portable facilities.
Amenaru: Anything beats a lava pit. The splashback from that would be no joke.
Ending the shit-talk was a chime at the door. Amenaru's face brightened, for he had been waiting for this all evening.
Amenaru: Enter!
The door slid open revealing Darius and Sorchae.
Darius: Sorry we're late!
Sorchae: Always busy in sick bay. We can sit and wait until this game is over.
The four were already scooting around the blanket while Sorchae explained and the usual pleasantries unfolded. Sorchae and Darius taking off their shoes. Baal and Kit repositioning the snacks. Sylvar carefully shifting the cards while maintaining the integrity of the play field.
Amenaru: Something to drink? We have pretty much anything that doesn't have alcohol.
Sorchae: Tea for me. Anything you have will do fine.
Darius: Ginger ale?
Amenaru bounded to his feet and headed to the kitchen.
Amenaru: Perfect! Got a fresh box of Earl Grey we haven't opened yet and plenty of ginger ale.
Amenaru got the kettle on while Sorchae and Darius sat on the blanket, where Kit immediately set about offering them snacks, consisting of chips, pretzels, a veggie tray, and a salami and cheese tray. A selection for any species. Kit and Sorchae picked at the veggie try while Darius went straight for the salami and cheese.
Darius: So, who's winning?
The instant looks of dejection on Baal and Sylvar's faces answered Darius's question before words could be spoken.
Sylvar: They are. If you want to get started playing right away, we may as well concede. We'll be lucky if we survive their next turn.
Baal: Yeah, he's right, as much as I don't want to admit it. New teams then?
Amenaru called out from the kitchen.
Amenaru: You guys go on ahead! I think I'll sit the next one out.
Sylvar: Maybe I should too. I'm still new at this game and I want to watch a match for a change.
Baal: New teams, then! How should we divide up?
Darius: I'm with the doctor!
Sorchae: Please, it's Sorchae. We're having social time.
All at once, every strand of fur on Darius's body seemed to frizz as he lowered his head and tapped the ends of two of his claws together.
Darius: I don't think I can get used to that.
Amenaru emerged from the kitchen with a teacup for Sorchae and a tall glass of ginger ale for Darius. After handing them over, he sat on one side of the blanket in between the two newly-formed teams.
Amenaru: Whatever the teams are, I'm looking forward to watching Sorchae play. I have been since you told me that you play when we were flying up to that tokki junk ship.
Sorchae: And I haven't played since before then. You'll forgive me if I'm a little rusty. Darius, I accept your offer.
Kit: I'll join Baal.
Baal: We're all set then! Your cards or mine, Kit?
Sorchae took a sip of her tea before setting her cup down on the blanket. Only a few realized what was happening next as she unzipped her purse and pulled out a small black box. Amenaru, in particular observed carefully, for it was clear to him right away that something special was about to happen. This was no ordinary box. It was entirely encased in black leather, the softness of which evident just by sight and he wanted to touch it immediately. Inlaid into the leather were ornate gold decorations, gentle swirls ending in points on all sides and heavy hinges in the back. The latch was of particular interest, what appeared to be a dial with three prongs protruding from the sides.
Sorchae twisted the dial in one direction, then the other, and one last time again until it popped open. By now, all eyes were on the box, but all they could see inside was a delicate silk square hiding something within. Sorchae removed the silk covering and underneath, tucked neatly into a depression inside the middle of a tufted pillow, was a stack of Stellar Sorcery cards, shiny and new as if they'd just been unwrapped from the store. Sorchae reached in and removed them gently, shuffling them with graceful aplomb.
Sorchae: So, how do you customarily decide who goes first?
Nobody answered, least of all Baal, whose eyes widened as though he'd just met Lazmaedia herself. Amenaru, however, his face split into a wide grin before he started laughing.
Amenaru: Ha ha! You guys are in deep shit!
Baal, though as horrified as Amenaru was amused, paid him no mind and turned to Kit.
Baal: Kit, get your best deck.
Kit: Yes, I believe you are right.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
