Find the Queen...

[Weavebreaker]

Two People Max

On some random street downtown...

"Find the Queen..."

"Find the Queen..."

The words caught Anastasia's ears as she saw a small group gathered around a table.

As she drew closer to the voice, she noticed the quick movement of cards across the table as the shifted position rapidly. On the edge of the table, a couple of bucks were bet that some sucker could indeed "find the queen..." She couldn't help but shake her head in disdain that people could still be taken in by such a simple confidence game.

The man maneuvering the cards with such celerity and dexterity seemed like he was in his mid to late twenties and seemed rather unimpressive and scrawny, but the way he handled the cards showed practice or talent. Even if the queen was still on the table, it would be hard to keep up with the shuffling.

"You got where it is?" The skinny card dealer asked the mark.

"Ya that one." The chubby fella said, placing his finger down on a card upon the table. The con flipped the card, revealing the two of clubs and quickly scooped up the money on the corner of the table.

"Awww...tough luck...care to try again?" He asked the chubby fellow who simple shook his head and walked away. The con glanced through the people and caught sight of the tiny blond.

"How about you? Care to test your luck?..." He said, pointing out Anastasia.

Anastasia couldn't help but raise a brow.

"Really? She said in an dry, unamused tone.

[Aenigma]

Aenigma had gone out for a walk after handling some business at the museum. It was something he tended to do when he needed to clear his head. Carrying his messenger bag over his left shoulder, the young Warlock was wandering the streets of Sacramento in search of something. What that something was, he didn't quite know yet. However, sometimes he had that gut feeling that drove him to walk around aimlessly, watching the world around him as he tried to piece the puzzle together.

That day, the skinny guy with the cards caught his attention. A smirk formed on the corner of his lips as he came to a stop not too far off from the con artist. Part of him wondered if the deck even contained a single Queen in it, and he became slightly amused at the thought of how easy it would be for him to find out. He shook his head a couple of times, chuckling to himself.

Pathetic. You've got better things to do with your time.

But did he? Or had he been led here somehow? The Mystagogue wasn't really going to put that much thought into it, turning to continue his walk when he caught a glimpse of the blonde girl nearby. Have I seen you before? He raised an eyebrow slightly as his photographic memory recalled where he had seen her before. It had been at The Rage, during the rave held by the Concilium.

"Why not?" said Aenigma, stepping next to the girl and placing a five dollar bill on the con man's table. "Its just for shits and giggles anyway..." he let his words trail off, giving her a little wink.

She was there that night, so the odds are that she is Awakened.

[Weavebreaker]

The man tilted his head, shooting Aenigma a smile that was a few teeth short. A couple of people stand around the table for amusement as the dealer lays four cards upon the tablewith the queen of hearts facing upwards. "Ready?"

The man flips the Queen face down and begins his routine, mixing and mingling the cards with fluid ease. His forearms and hands seem to block sight to the cards at times.

"Find the Queen..."

"Find the Queen..."

Dex+Larceny versus Wits+Composure or Wits+Larceny +2 Situation Mod for Attention to item

  Hide the Queen

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2013-01-14 12:43:22		Con Man rolls 8 to Dex+Larceny+Skill Spec(+/-)Mods and Penalties (10 Again)		1, 9, 2, 3, 8, 8, 8, 7		4 successes

Weavebreaker cast a quick glance to Aenigma. She recognized him from various affairs she had attended within the awakened society of Sacramento. Part of her wondered if he was an Acanthus moving in to con a con. With Aenigma there and getting involved the whole ordeal held her attention. She tried her best to keep up with where the Queen was.

Hmm...the end one...

  Contested

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2013-01-14 13:05:41		Weavebreaker rolls 8 to Wits+Composure+Situation Mod (10 Again)		3, 2, 7, 1, 7, 1, 8, 3		1 success

[Aenigma]

Aenigma nodded at the man's words, a smirk still on his lips. As the con artist began to shuffle, the young Warlock attempted to enter the man's subconscious. However, as he called on the power of the Supernal, his call was not answered. A slight frown formed on his brow for a brief moment, perhaps a sign of frustration on his part.

I guess I deserve that...shouldn't fall to my own Hubris, huh?

He shook off the feelings of frustration, as he focused on the cards being shuffled. After all, this was merely a game, and even if he lost five dollars, that wasn't why he had walked over to the girl and the con man in the first place. The smile returned to the Mystagogue's lips as he watched the guy's hands at work, trying to keep a close eye on the cards.

"It's the one in the middle," said Aenigma, his words delivered in a rather casual tone.

  failed spell, 3 suxx to spot the card...1 short dammit! lol

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2013-01-14 14:38:59		Aenigma rolls 2 to forgot the +2 modifier! lol (10 Again)		6, 1		failure
2013-01-14 14:34:26		Aenigma rolls 6 to Perception to "where's the Queen?" (10 Again)		10, 9, 6, 1, 10, 1, 5, 5		3 successes
2013-01-14 14:26:15		Aenigma rolls 7 to Gnosis+Mind to cast "Read the Depths" (10 Again)		7, 5, 4, 3, 7, 3, 2		failure

[Weavebreaker]

The con flipped over Aenigma's selection. It was the two of spades. "Aww better luck next time..." He moved over one and flipped the queen face up.

Weavebreaker shook her head, knowing she would have lost money too, if she had bet. She reached out to place a soft touch upon Aenigma's arm to draw his attention. "I know you from someplace, don't I?" She knew from a few places, actually...

"Want to go again?" He asked casually as he slid the money into his pocket.

[Aenigma]

As the cards were revealed, Aenigma let out a soft chuckle and shrugged at the guy in a nonchalant manner. "Maybe today isn't my lucky day," he said in response, giving the con man a quick wink.

Of course that could change in a matter of seconds...

Feeling the girl's soft touch upon his arm, the young Warlock turned his attention to her. "I believe so," he replied, offering her a friendly smile. "But I don't think we were ever introduced." Before he could rectify that, the con artist spoke up once more.

He turned to look at the guy for a brief moment, turning back to the Obrimos with a smile still on his face. "Wanna give it a go?" he asked in a friendly tone, wondering if she'd be willing to try her luck. "If not, perhaps we could go talk elsewhere?"

[Weavebreaker]

"I am Anna." Weavebreaker did not think it was the most appropriate place to give out shadow names, so she decided to go with a variation of her name.

When he mentions trying her luck, she shook her head. "Going to have to pass. That stuff is fixed..."

"Fixed? It's not fixed, you just have to keep your eye on the card." The con chuckeled.

"Ya...Sureee..." She said glancing back to the card dealer for a moment before returning her attention back to Aenigma.

"I am up for a change of scenery..."

[Aenigma]

The Warlock figured that was unlikely to be her real name, but it wasn't like he expected her to make such a mistake anyway. "Bastian," he said in response, offering her a quick smile. Of course that wasn't his name either. It was merely a fun spin on the middle name of his favorite composer; but it wasn't like anyone was going to figure that one out anytime soon. When she turned down the offer to try her luck, Aenigma just gave her a little shrug. "No worries," he said in response to the Obrimos, shaking his head at the con man's words as he let out a chuckle himself.

"I'll rather walk anyway," said the Mystagogue to the girl, gesturing in the direction of a nearby park.

[Weavebreaker]

The Obrimos followed the Warlock's gesture. "I have only been out here in Sacramento for a couple of months."

"Attending College out here."

"I do have to say it is quite a change from Georgia, but not necessarily a bad one. Still trying to catch my bearings and learn the lay of the land."

"How long have you been out here?"

[Aenigma]

Aenigma listened to the girl as they walked, paying close attention to her words as he guided her to the park. "Ahh, so you are taking classes at Sac State?" he asked, curious if that's where she was going to school. "Change can be good sometimes. At least it keeps things interesting." He offered her a quick smile as he said those words.

"I've been here slightly over a year," said the young Warlock in response to her question. "I'm originally from DC."