1022/Poker Night OF WAR

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Poker Night OF WAR
Date of Scene: 18 June 2017
Location: New York City
Synopsis: Ben Grimm's famous poker game brings in so many interesting people
Cast of Characters: 333, Ares, Dazzler, Jillian Holtzmann, Lady Shiva, Gambit




Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
There are few sureties in this world, when one day octopoidal aliens from the 11th dimension can attack as they look for space hamsters to power their starships and then the next day Fashion Zombies can rise on Fifth Avenue and start attacking lingerie boutiques... Such is life.

So no, there are very few certainties in the world. But few does not mean none. and one of the few certainties that DO exist is that if there is nothing world shattering happening, if your evil double from another dimension is not trying to take over your life or Doctor Doom isn't outside yelling that you shall rue the day.. Well.. if none of that is happening then there is a good chance that there is poker game going on somewhere hosted by Benjamin Grimm aka The Thing

This isn't one of his BIG games, mind you, more the super-world's equivalent of a pick up game for fun. But his games, even the small casual ones, are famous and the rules are still the same as the big events. Doesn't matter if you are a good guy or a bad guy (though it helps the bad guys if they haven't killed anyone recently), doesn't matter if you are human or alien or mutant or even a god, it desn't matter if he has never met you. You /could/ be invited. You don't even need to know Ben /personally/. It /seems/ random, the way letters or emails or texts just appear (how did he get your address? How does he even KNOW you?!? ANd how did he text with those huge fingers?) But apparently their is a method to his madness.

The Poker Room, and yes there is a dedicated poker room at the Freedom Plaza is all ready to go. There are smaller tables set up around with a bunch of hero-sized appetizers, and drinks (both alcoholic and not). The room is MOSTLY dark, like a poker room should be, with the walls hidden in shadow and in the center of the room, under a single illuminating ceiling lamp, is an expensive Poker table set up in the spotlight. Like REALLY expensive. Hard wood and green felt. This thing was hand crafted and probably costs as much as a car, and not a standard family car either. We're talking a tony stark kind of car-made-to-make-women-weak-in-the-knees expensive.

Ben stands at one of the smaller food tables, an unlit cigar clenched between his teeth and a can of beer in his rocky hand. He is out of uniform, dressed in Hawaiian shorts and shirt (not matching) and huge flipflops customized for his rocky feet.

"Yep.. Everythin' looks perfect!" he says with a grin, then checks his watch. "And they should be arrivin' jus' about...... Now!"

Ares has posed:
    Ben Grimm had known the man called John Aaron before. They'd met briefly after the Baxter Building had gotten a pretty big hole in the side of it and his construction team was one of the groups that was brought in to work on it. Ever friendly and ever impressionable the two had hit it off decently well. A few brews had been shared once the work had been done, and each had made various threats to call on the other over time.
    It wasn't until a week ago that Ben had made good on that threat. A message had been on his answering machine from the Yancy Street Regular and for once, John considered attending. It wouldn't be inconvenient, and he wouldn't need a sitter since Alexander was at summer camp.
    He shrugged, and responded with a message of his own that he'd be there, and maybe bringing a +1. In any case he does arrive at the appointed time.
    "Ben. Good to see you," He offers a six pack of beer to the man, his offering of gift for the evening, "Am I early?"

Dazzler has posed:
"How did he even get this number?" was not something Alison thought much about. Mostly because as often as she's traveled extradimensionally, so has the FF. For all she knows she might have even met this Ben.

She's dressed for battle, not for poker - but AGAIN: Knowing Fantastic Fours, anything can happen at any time. It's a lot like being an X-Man. Or a person with superpowers from New York in general. Arriving in style, she points a fingergun and blows a kiss at an elderly security guard in dark glasses before she hits the Poker Room.

"Ben!" Dazzler enthuses, the heart bubbles almost *visible* in her voice. "It's been forever!" Possibly never, but, well, one never knows. "Thanks for the invite! She grabs a beer from the drinks table, offers a cheers to him and to John Aaron.

Jillian Holtzmann has posed:
Holtzmann had already arrived, she'd been here helping set things up and when the others started to show up she just watched them and stayed back near the food. She was NOT in uniform, so she would look like nothing but a young woman in her twenties with an eccentric way of dressing as she was wearing her gray canvas trenchcoat, a set of denim covefralls beneath that and a black tshirt on beneath that, she had some bright red leather fingerless gloves on her hands too... and her yellow tinted eyeglasses cover her otherwise blue eyes.

In Holtz' hand she was holding a can of Pringles potato chips and was just casually munching on them while watching... staring at the new arrivals without a care in the world.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    With John Aaron is a figure that is not well known in the circle of the Fantastic Four. Perhaps they have her listed in a file somewhere but she isn't the type of threat they deal with normally. She is reserved, aloof, a calmness seeming to exude from her as she walks into the room. She is wearing a pair of form fitting black pants, a red blouse with an Asian flair to it, and a black leather trenchcoat over it all. On her feet are simple black slippers.
    As John greets Ben, she gives the man a nod although she doesn't speak to introduce herself. Hearing other arrivals, she glances to them sidelong, evaluating them automatically. For a moment, she flicks her gaze to John in a silent question but then she returns her attention to their host.

Gambit has posed:
Near the table that Ben was at getting snacks a man seems to teleport out of no where. Wearing a really, cool or awkward looking motorcycle suit (Based on how personal opinion), and a silver helmet that's seen better days with red tinted eyes.

"WHOO!" Shouts the man as he appears and laughs a few times, "That never gets old!" Scott says to himself before looking around the room and spying all the ... not super celebrities he expected when BEN FREAKING GRIMM invited him to a poker game.

So what's Scott do, he plays it off like he does know everyone.

"Ben, my man! Thanks for the invite."

"Uh... Destiny's Child! Sweet, lookin' great!" (Dazzler)

"Daniel Day Lewis. Wow! I loved you in There Will Be Blood." (John)

"And girlfriend Lucy Liu! When did you start dating!? Ah who cares!" (Lady Shiva) and he's off to the next one.

"You must be the Fantastic Secretary! Sorry, sorry. Schedule Manager." (Holtzmann)

FOOT - IN - MOUTH.

He ends up back at the table, grabs a plate and loads it up with pretzels and snack foods before pouring himself half a glass of bourbon and moving to find a seat and slowly taking off his helmet.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm ahhs and grins as John walks into the Poker Room, raising his own can of beer. "John! Buddy! Pal! So glad ya could make it!" he booms, and then motions to the large cooler with ice in it on a table. "Just set it down right there! And yer not early. If by early ya mean ya get first dibs on tha best snacks. I got pizza from Johns and a whole buncha Knishes from m' Uncle Jake! Lotsa other stuff too!" he says with pride.. because he /is/ proud of the spread he provides.

When Dazzler arrives The grin gets twice as wide. "Ally! Ya made it!" eh cries, waltzing over and giving er a peck on teh cheel then ruffling her hair. "Wuzn't sure ya would, considerin all that extradinsional doppelganger shinnanigans.. But heck, all tha Ally's I met are good peoples so.. WELCOME!

NExt, He welcomes Jillian. "Miss Holtzman! Excellent! Welcome! I'm Ben! Ben Grimm!" he introduces himself. "So glad ya could make it! COme on in a pull uppa rock!" he motions to the table... Then Shiva Walks in and Ben ooohs and quickly.. He stops a few feet away and.. actually bows?

"/Go aisatsu to kangei/.." he greats and welcomes her in japanese. Then he straightens and offers her that goofy grin. "Please, help yerself to any refreshements and if ya need anythin, don't hesitate ta ask!"

FInally He notes that Scott Lang has shown up in his standard fashion and, shakig his head, the rocky not-quite-a-giant chortles. "Bout time ya showed up, Lang. Always late ta tha party, ain't ya?!" he asks, though in a friendly if teasing manner. "I expect all my silverware ta still be here after tha game." he warns, still friendly and then walks towards his place at the large card table. "Everyone grab a seat and relax. If ya don't know tha ettiquete, it's simple. We can tease.. We can argue. We can bicker.. we can call each other names.. Hell, we can threaten each other.. But it's all in /fun/, got it. This is fer us ta blow off steam and get ta know each other outside of tha super-scene. This is a friendly game and social outreach... and half tha pot goes ta charity."

Ares has posed:
    "This is Jade, she's a..." He stops for a moment, John's gaze drifting askance before he looks back. "An acquaintance. Figured she could tag along if that was alright." He steps past the large rocky man who is their host of the moment. He wanders towards the food table and liberates a few pretzels as is required, then smiles towards Jillian, "John Aaron."
    If she accepts his hand he'll give a shake, two pumps, done. Then adds with a smile. "A pleasure."
    Then he starts towards the poker table as he tosses a pretzel into his mouth and nods towards Scott Lang in way of greeting. Daniel Day Lewis indeed. But his eyes fall upon Alison and he smiles, "Ms. Blaire, I believe my son has some of your songs on his phone."

Jillian Holtzmann has posed:
Jillian nodded to Ben's bolsterous welcoming and then reached out to accept John's handshake. "Holtzmann, I own every episode of every Late Night television show ever aired." She says back to him in a dry and even toned voice, a moment later and she smiled openly.

Jillian would start for the table then and an open chair, but it would be Scott's arrival that would very much intrigue her. She'd pause her walking and just stare right at him, well more specifically, at his suit he was wearing...

Three pringles were put into her mouth, and she just eyed that suit, up and down... up and down... up... and down, not even reacting to his statement toward her as though she hadn't heard it at all.

Dazzler has posed:
Alison Blaire's visual response - the lifted brows, the ice-cold stare, the partly open mouth - all worthy of the standard offended member of the Bey-Hive. But the moment passes, mostly because Ben is Ben and everything is awesome. The big fella even gets a pat on the rocky shoulder, "Likewise, Bens, likewise!"

To John a "Nice t'meet you," and Lady "Jade" Shiva a whispered, "I love your shoes!" before Dazzler drifts over to the table by way of circling Scott and Holtzmann, Ali's eyes going where Holtzie's go... well, just the once. "It's high and tight, I'll give him that!"

Ahem.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm already has a bunch of appetizers on a platter at the table so he saunters around to his (heavily reinfoirced) chair and takes a seat, still grinning with that unlit cigar between his teeth, looking amused as teh others get their initial mingle on. Especially Scott. He expected John to be a social butterlfy, for some reason, the large man seemingly quite affiable from the first moment they met. Allison he expected to be friendly with everyone because, well, ROCKSTAR, even disregadring he switcheroo status! He owns a few Dazzler Albums, though he will never admit it. Now granted, he doesn't know either Shiva nor Holztman personally at all but.. Hey.. He's Fantastic Four. They have intel that puts SHIELD to shame! Outside of their respective professions he's heard some good things about each (Even Shiva). Now Scott... Well yeah, he loves the guy but also invited him because he /is/ a goof. And sometimes that is important. It helps break the ice and also lets him guage others by how they react to him.

He picks up the deck of cards and continues to watch, idly shuffling them with a pro's deftness.. which is ten times impressive since one would thing with huge rocky paws like his, his manual dexterity would be crap.

"I luv it when a game comes tagether..." he mumbles, badly paraphrasing a white-haired cigar-smoking ranger from a popular tv-series.

Gambit has posed:
Scott claims his seat and oohs over the inlaid cup holder that his tumbler fits oh so nicely into. Pleasant.

A few spicy piece of trail mix is picked out before her takes a handful into his mouth and chews on them, staring back at Holtzmann for a few moments. But he too doesn't voice any thoughts but asks Ben without breaking eye contact with the Ghostbuster.

"I hope the charity is my wallet, Baskin Robin's isn't gonna be happy if I have to borrow from the till tomorrow." He then winks, still towards Jillian.

But then Alison's comment causes him to face directly forward at the middle of the table and scoot forwards until he's RIGHT UP AGAINST the table.

"Uh- ah- ahem... ca- can-we-play-some-cards." Falls out of his mouth onto the table rapid-fire.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    At the greeting from Ben, Shiva smiles ever so slightly. For those who know her, that's huge. She doesn't generally smile at all. The show of respect is welcome and she bows in return. "The pleasure is mine," she says in a soft alto tone, no hint of an accent.
    At the greeting from Scott, the smile disappears.
    The comment on her shoes? Given a brief nod.
    Best behavior, best behavior. What is she doing here again? Oh yeah, John asked her to come. And made her promise not to kill anyone. That was the big one. She's just not quite sure why she agreed especially with all the easy banter and friendliness going on. She does not sit at the table, instead standing a little behind John and eyeing the goings on. Seems she isn't planned on sitting in on the game itself.

Ares has posed:
    John, for his part, cracks open a beer and then leans to the side, "So how is this game... poker, was it? How is it played?" The tall man narrows his eyes as he looks around among the others and seems to affect what could possibly pass for a slightest cousin to innocence, but then fails when he starts to divvy up the chips at Ben's behest, offering equal sets to each should they so wish.
    For a moment he pauses to look over towards 'Jade' and cocks an eyebrow, "Did you want to play, or are you going to watch and make cutting remarks about our efforts?" For really, what other options are there?

Jillian Holtzmann has posed:
Holtz would make sure to sit down next to Scott and she'd then glance around the table and look at the others, but that suit that Scott was wearing (and had apparently appeared out of seemingly know-where with... intriuged her to no end).

"I love it when a game comes together! Wooo!" She said, raising her hands up high into the air and flashing a grin at everyone! And... after that faded down a bit she slowly lowered her hands down, her right hand going behind Scott, a strange device appearing in her fingers (hopefully out of his sight) and she started taking little readings and scans of his suit.

While she did this, she grinned at Alison. "I have posters of you inside my apartment." She said in a flat and even voice, showing Dazzler a big and happy smile. Nope, she's not weird, not weird at all.

That device in her hand behind Scott buzzes really loudly then and starts to beep, causing her to yank her hand back into her lap!

Gambit has posed:
Scott practically leaps out of his skin and looks back at Holtzmann and then to Ben. "Hey! I thought work wasn't allowed!" The thief says, standing up and moving away from Holtzmann before scoffing and realizing all his supplies are back over there, and it'd take at least two trips... He surrenders.

Walking back to his spot he says to Jade, "You might as well join if we have to teach your +1 how to play, we can teach you as well." While in his head he is declaring their money as good as his!

EASY MARKS!

Dazzler has posed:
"Neat!" Ali remarks in response, grabbing the other seat next to Holtz, Ben on her other side. It's brief, but she means it! She loves fans, fans are awesome. Swirling her beer around and contemplating snacks rather than snacking on snacks, Dazzler's presence *MIGHT* be throwing weird energy readings off at Hotlz's gizmo.

"What's the buy-in anyway, Ben? Half the pot to charity, sure, but where do we start? Your invitation was deliciously vague."

Ares has posed:
    The chips make a click-cla-click-clink as John puts together stacks and starts pushing them around to people who need their stacks. But that beeping draws his attention and he shoots a silent question Jillian's way as he cocks an eyebrow. "Phone call?" He asks lightly even as Scott addresses Jade.
    He gives a nod towards her as if seconding the man's remarks. "Indeed, they can teach you as well." But then he looks back at the table and then turns his attention to Ben, looking to him to start the dealing and the game.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    "I do not wish to learn this game," 'Jade' says simply as she continues to watch, looking at the chips being passed around in that detached sort of way she has. Which may mean she is electing for option #2.
    She moves away instead of hovering, going to the tables of supplies and considering them. And she keeps her insulting comments to herself.
    For now.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm grins at Scott. "Well thats why we're 'ere, ya goof! Cards." he chides the size-changing theif.. er... superhero. "And if ya play yer cards right, see whut I did there, then ya could walk out with a few Benjamins.. No pun intended!" he laughs and starts to deal out cards.

Of course he gives John an amused glance. "Oh no.. I ain't fallin fer tha poker-virgin gambit, buddy. I'm not /that/ innocent.. though don't tell m' aunt petunia.. SHe still thinks her Blue Eye bejjamin is a saint. And we all know THAT ain't true.." he har har hars and deals out cards.

"The game is good old fashioned Five Card Stud, people. None of this Texas Holdem crap. Pairs are beat by three of a kind are beat by four of a kind.. Your standard flushes and straights.." he gives the run down as the cards expertly land face down at each persons plot. .. sure he said he wouldn't be giving the rules but, in is way, he is.. He's done this so long he forgets he even does this schtick.. wait for it... he coming to the end.. "And fer tha newbies, jokers are wild. If ya can't guess whut that means, well.. Not my fault. Just means yer easy pickens fer the rest of us." Har har har.

He gives Gillian and her hidden' device a look. "Better not be a card counting thingamabob.." he warns/joke, then nods to 'Jade'. "Feel free ta watch. Playin is not mandatory."

Jillian Holtzmann has posed:
Jillian would grin at Alison and then look toward Scott as he retreated. "I don't bite." She said to the man, trying to instill a sense of comfort in him though it probably did the opposite of that.

At John's question toward her she looked at him. "Mmm?" She asked, glancing down at the little scanner-thing in her hand that was getting some strange readings from. "This?" She said then to Ben as well. "I guess it could do that, but no, thats not whats its intended purpose is. Aaaanyway..." She went to slipped it into her jacket where she'd gotten it.

"I'm ready." She placed her hands onto the table then and wrapped her fingertips against its edge. "Lets win some cards." Its possible she had no idea what game they were even playing.

Gambit has posed:
Scott's pulls his chips up against the padded wall before him and then collects his cards in one hand, not quite looking at them yet, but his jaw drops at Holtzmann's decree and then his eyes move to Ben's baby blues, just flabbergasted by this whole crew.

"Don't any of you make me feel guilty for listening to the audio book "HOW TO PLAY POKER FOR DUMBYS" on the trip over."

Scott looks over his chair back at the snack table and points "Especially you Green lady!" Jade... lets see if his mouth has room for both feet.

Ares has posed:
    John Aaron gives Jillian a good long wary look as he points at his eyes, then points at her, letting her know what's what for sure. But then he grabs his cards and peruses them, then gets on with the game, throwing a few chips in now and then when needed and playing pretty conservatively for the most part. For the most part he seems to only half pay attention to the hand and instead keeps an ear to the conversation.
    "So Ms. Blaire, forgive me if this is presumptuous, but what are your thoughts about the whole auto-tune controvery these days?" He tosses a few cards in, gets a few back. "Some artists were saying that they need it to compete with enhanced individuals such as yourself." He tilts his head towards her, then takes a drink of his beer.

Dazzler has posed:
Piling up her chips and doing a count, Alison *also* looks at her cards as they're dealt. She whistles something either tuneless or hers but *old*, take your pic, rearranging the cards a little before setting them face down in her hand against the tables.

Grinning at John Aaron, "I was an amazeballs singer before anybody had any idea I was a mutant, John. Autotune is whatever, it's just a tool - if your hook isn't good and your song is bad anyway, it won't save you. I've never needed it myself, but when you can use your voice to bring a tear to Odin's eye you don't really need it anyway."

She winks, eyeballs her hand again then puts two face down and pushes them at the dealer. "Two please."

Lady Shiva has posed:
    Shiva had just picked up a pretzel and was about to try it when she hears the comment. She looks over her shoulder at Scott. "I cannot make you feel guilt. That is something that comes from within, when one feels remorse for their actions. If you feel this, it is due to your own duplicity. Release your morality and you will not have such difficulties."
    She turns back to the table and pops the bite size pretzel in her mouth.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm grins and sets the denuded deck down, and picks up his own spread.. fanning them expertly and rearanging the cards into some order that no one else can see... "Which copy did ya get, Scotty? Wuz it the one they asked me ta read? Gota a nice bit oh change fer that one, though I gave it ta tha Yancy Street Recreation Center..." It's no secret Ben is a pretty big philathropist, or that he's from Yancy Street. "Ya know, Scoty.. They are always lookin ger a techie down there.. Ya could make some scratch. Trust me. I know a guy who knows a guy on tha board.." And he isn't above subtly helping (or thinking he is subtly helping) friends. "Howz yer rugrat, by tha way?"

He looks at Jillian again, and John, and grins as the eyes thing. "Don't let that big lug try an intimidate ya. He's really a teddy bear. First day I met 'im a little girl had lost her momma outside a construction yard and he was all trin ta get her ta stop cryin and she would cry MORE and.. well.. It was HILARIOUS.. Big guy like that lookin like he wanted ta break down.."

To Allison he snorts, and trhows in a few chips, raising teh pot. "There are tools, Ally and there are /tools/. Ya got tha voice uv an Angel without that digimawhatchits... Though ya gotta admit, that light show ya do just enhances it even more."

Gambit has posed:
Scott slowly turns his head around, eyes as big as saucers. Welp, he knows what he's going to be doing tonight.

Existential crisis train. Ticket for one. CHOO CHOO! :(

Slowly he picks up his cards and nods to bed, "I'll swing by later in the week when I can get a day off from the 'Basket' before his mood strikes up again, tossing in a few chips and three cards. "She's her usual self, too much for any one parent, but damn if she's not my world."

Getting his three new cards he rolls eyes once and folds, leaning back and crossing his arms in a huff.

Ares has posed:
    A snort is given to Ben as John slouches back the other way, leaving his cards flat upon the table and casually throwing in a bet with the click-clink of the chips scattering a touch. "I had the situation entirely under control. Did she or did she not eventually find her parent? Voila." That having been said he nods once, solemnly, as if having showed him.
    But then he eyes Scott sidelong, "How old is your child?" For some reason the man looks a touch incredulous at the idea of Scott having a sprogling, but he at least says nothing of it. Instead he goes on, "My son is ten years old... summer camp." The last bit is offered just in case someone might be wondering the heck he's doing out so late at night.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    The pretzels are a surprise. Shiva collects a few on a small plate. She manages to find a bottle of water which she carries with her toward the table. A chair is pulled next to John. She sits, pulling up to the table and setting her goodies in front of her while glancing at the chips and cards. She reaches over and picks up John's cards, looking at them before placing them back flat. Then she leans to the opposite side, trying to see the cards that person is holding.
    She hard Ben's instructions and now some of it is making sense.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm grunts and throws in hs cards, realzingthis hand isn't one of his better ones.. besides, he is not one that has to win every round, right, not even the first round. "If by entirely under conrtol ya mean tryin ta bribe her with three ice cream cones from a nearby cart and a my little pony plush you pulled outta your truck.. Say, why did ya 'ave a Rainbow Dash plush in yer truck anyways?" he asks, grinning evilly.

Then he looks between Scott and John and snorts as they cash in as well talk about there respective kids.. which brings a bit of a pan to Ben, though he hides it well. At least he has Franklin and Val. If he can't have his own kids at least he has them..

Jillian won this hand and took her small winnings when she had to leave.. something about a class 1 extradimensional incusrions.. She didn't seem worried so neither was he.

As Shiva sits he offers he a grin. "Sure ya don't wanna be dealt in?" he asks, shuffling tehd eck for the new round, before handing it to Ares.

Dazzler has posed:
The talk of kids makes Ali... drift off a little, a strange faraway look on her face for a moment before she shakes it off. Then Holtzmann wins and bails, which gives her a minute to get up and stretch her legs and get her own snacks. Cheezy poofs, some peanuts. Another beer. Dear God in Heaven, another beer.

"C'mon Jade, Holtzie left a space open. Gotta have 5!"

Gambit has posed:
"You got a kid too?" Scott says towards John with a chin up nod and a smile, "Yeah, cool." He never knows how to talk about his daughter cause he doesn't get to talk TO his daughter too often, so he tends to shy away from it a bit.

"Yeah, Rainbow Warrior is right Jade, it's a poker - um - law." Wink to Ben and a pull from his bourbon with a soft cooing as it slides down like fire.

Ares has posed:
    "The my little pony thing is outright slander, lies and slander." John says easily enough, but he smirks a bit sidelong at The Thing. He does, however, raise the bet for now and keeps on pushing his luck since really, he does enjoy that whole bluffing thing, even to his detriment.
    "Yeah," The Incognito Olympian toys with some of his chips, looking at them as if he wee counting them and then lightly chases off Shiva's messing with his cards with a point of his finger as if daring her to do it again, raised eyebrows instilling the silent threat with _much_ credibility. "I have found my life has been altered by the addition of another creature that insists I provide for it. But perhaps in the future it won't be as entirely horrible as it is." His lip twitches slightly, but he leaves that statement there for now.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    The rebuke from John earns nothing more than a look. There isn't a need for more. He knows just what she means and it involves something along the lines of 'you ain't the boss of me' but it much more eloquent terms.
    "I will attempt to play," she says to the invitation from the others, turning her gaze back to the others at the table. So next hand, she will try to learn this. Mentally, she runs through the rules that had been said at the beginning. She really has no idea what she's doing, the true poker noob.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm actually stops.. and blinks at John and his rather... blunt description of fatherhood. But he can see the beginnings of a smirk on the secret-olympian's lips. The Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing is not as dense as soem people might think. In fact he is pretty darned empathic in the normal sense of the word and he smirs right back at John. "Right, because providin a better world fer someone is always a bad thing.." he jokes.

Another round down, he watches as the round folds withAres winning and collecting his new chips. Time for another. Ben deals the cards, this time including Jade in the hand. "Lady. I think yer probably gonna do much better at this game then these two dumboes right here. Ally may give ya a run fer yer money though.."

Ares has posed:
    John reaches around and pulls his winnings towards himself and starts to add the chips to their proper places in the stacks, yeah he's one of those guys who actually counts his winnings at the table, Kenny Rogers be damned. But he leans to the side and takes up his drink for a sip before he adds in the ante and waits to consider his cards once they're dealt.
    "What is it you do, Mr. Lang?" The tall man asks as he shifts his attention fully to the other fellow, dark brown eyes resting upon him in his rather curious suit.
    "Ben seems to think well enough of you to offer you a position..." He shoots a glance sidelong to The Thing as if to make sure such is the case before he looks back.
    "If he would vouch for you, I could get you considered for a construction job. We're union so it could be a good situation."

Dazzler has posed:
"You're too kind, Ben," Ali thbbbbts immediately thereafter. "But I'm 0 for 2 tonight." Granted, the kid-talk might have thrown her off her game a little. "We're heroes, right? Providing a better world for *everybody* is what we do, isn't it?"

Well. She and Ben are heroes. She doesn't kno about Jade or John... and Scott's a well-meaning question mark.

Gambit has posed:
Scott smiles around and takes another handful of trail mix and then starts coughing, "Spicy! SPICY!" He says before taking a follow up sip of his hard drink.

"You all seem to have your stuff a lot more in order than I do." Scott says with a soft frown as he picks up his cards and looks over them with an awfully stoic face.

"Me? I am ugh... free lance electrition." Nods once, yeah, that one would cover his whole thing as he antes up.

"I didn't know you were a hero too." Scott says with a surprised look towards Dazzler.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    Picking up the cards, Shiva is unreadable. There are no tells to pick up on as she does not have wasted movements in anything she does. She examines the cards, then looks at the pile of chips in front of her. "Why must one be a hero to provide for a better world?" she asks, eyes still on her cards. Which may explain where she falls in the equations.
    She's not sure how this betting thing works so she looks down. "Do we trade cards or bet first?" But she continues. "Villains are sometimes labeled as such because others cannot understand their motives."

Dazzler has posed:
"HA!" Ali can't help it, as soon as she's accused of having her stuff together, it just comes right out before she can stop it. "What you don't know about me, as opposed to what you know about the me who's from here? Brother, I am permanently, irretrievably, universes away from home and surrounded by the alternate selves of people I used to know. Constant strangers. Sometimes friendly, sometimes not so much. Having your 'stuff' together is just a question of keeping moving, no matter what hand you're dealt."

Speaking of, she dumps the new one and takes 5 new cards. Not looking *much* happier, but she calls anyway. "Trade first if you want to, then call or raise," she tells Shiva quietly.

"Life's what you make it, don't let other people's choices define you."

Ares has posed:
    A glance is given towards Ben after Scott answers. The Olympian cocks an eyebrow but then looks back to the man in the BMX sport suit. "Very well, give me your card at the end of the night if you like." But then even as he says something so terribly nice, he leans forwards and raises the pot a bit, passing it on to the next person as he eases back into his seat. There's another sip of beer as he settles in and looks across the table.

Ben Grimm (333) has posed:
Ben Grimm doesn't look up from his new hand.. He definately likes what he sees here.. Grinning to himself he only drops one card to get another.. and raises the pot a bit as well. "Well yeah, we're heroes, Ally.. But that ain't just because we're super. Sumetimes just dointhe right thing, a small thing, can make a normal person more uv a heroe than we aver will be. We just get all tha attention." he points out. er
He looks to Jade and.. actually agrees with her. "I would be lyin, lady, if I said every big bad guy I ever fought was, like, REALLY evil. Sure, a number of em are, but even the worst of the worst have 'ad sum redeemin qualities.. and 'ave done good. Heck, a number of /heroes/ 'ave /been/ villians. SOmetimes what makes a villian a villian ain't who they are, just what they are doin at the /moment/. I mean, look at Doom. Ol'd metalface has dome some real bad crap but even I can't say he doesn't love his people... though sometimes how he shows that love really sucks.."
    hen he looks to Scott and raises a rocky brow. "We may look like we got it together but even tha best of us took a while to GET there.. and we don't /always/ hold it together. Ya think I don't 'ave bad days? I know you 'ave had some. But you keep TRYIN and thats what matters, buddy. You got your schtick. You got yer family. And no matter what crap gets thrown at ya, you keep movin foreward. That is /respectable/." and he then looks at Ares. "Yeah, Scotts a whiz at electrical crap. Trust me, I know. And he's a swell guy, even if he's a real shorty."

Ares has posed:
    "I don't know how you do it, Ben." He looks askance and adds, "Allison." He thwaps down a card and then gets a replacement as he murmurs. "The heroism and all, some people seem to do it for altruism in some ways, and that is noble. Yet many do it for some self-serving purpose." He takes another pull of beer, "Attention, fame, endorsements." He looks upstairs a bit, then back to Ben and shrugs, "And maybe for some science grants. It must be hard to navigate all of those minefields surrounding the whole thing."
    He shakes his head and then lays his cards out, another winning hand, perhaps. But the night is still young and they have many more hands to play. "Anyways. Good you can still do this when surrounded with all the craziness. Now who wants another beer?" He looks around for other orders to help aid the coming hours' passage with lovely lovely booze.