Re: BRAWL!
Well... Locke had dealt himself almost a little too nice, starting off with a pair of aces. The game went its course, two of them folding out when Locke and the others met a high bet. More money was thrown in, and Locke counted chances in his head quietly. That was much of the wandering gambler's success--being able to read people, fool people, and performing the swift mental math.
A starting ruckus off to the side caught everyone's attention as a man started yelling at one of the redheads at the bar, challenging him to a draw. Locke kept glancing there, glancing at the table. It was their surly friend who had been cleaned out earlier issuing the challenge. Locke recognized the one he was challenging. "Well, that's a poor choice of opponents," he muttered.
"I'll say," the dirty faced fellow said. "That skinny Irish chap should just bow out, not stand there stupid-lookin'."
"I think he'll surpr-." Locke looked to the table as people started laying down their hands. The other man who was doing well in the game and was quite skilled shot a cold look at Locke.
There were five aces on the table. It took a moment for the other three to catch on to the sudden tension, noticing. All eyes immediately turned on Locke. He in turn was looking over them. Because for once he knew he didn't. Dammit, with the distraction any one of them could have slipped an ace out of their sleeve. "One of you boys miscounted what was out there," Locke said quietly.
"You dealt," the other skilled gambler said, tone dangerous with its quiet.
"I dealt honest." Locke snapped his eyes over to Gopher, seeing a bit of sweat on the man's temple. His green eyes glared dangerously. "Why, you sneaky little..."
But then his hand was being roughly grabbed, his sleeve jerked up so hard the button popped off. Locke bore it, but he didn't bother to hide the displeased glare. "Careful, I don't keep cards, but I do keep-." "OW!" "Yes, those." A small throwing blade had cut the man's thumb open. "Besides, it isn't me. It's him."
Gopher decided to go for full victim, though, standing up and acting ready to draw iron. "Ya swindlin' cheat! I oughtta fill you with lead!"
Locke was sitting passively while they checked his other sleeve, sighing with long-suffering patience. He was noticing a number of stirrings around them that the others weren't. "Killing a man without a weapon in his hand is considered terribly poor conduct. You." He nodded at one of the other players. "Check him as well. Especially his left sleeve and pocket. I'm betting he has the card he replaced in his hand with that ace slipped in there somewhere."
Gopher's eyes widened, then went for angry, pulling the gun. "I'll kill you for calling me a cheat, you flannel mouth piece o' horse dung!"
Locke shrugged at him.
"Well? Draw!"
Locke pulled his vest wide with a slow methodical movement for them to see. "Unarmed."
One of the other players looked at him, surprised. "So you're not going to fight at all?"
Locke smiled secretively. "No need. The hammer's coming down right... about... now."